Ain-Al-Yaqeen - December 1, 2006

		December 1, 2006

THE CABINET REVIEWS THE DIRECT INFLUENCE OF THE POSITION OF THE USA ON THE ISSUES OF THE REGION AND POINTS TO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THIS INFLUENCE TO BE IN ACCORD WITH THE REGION'S ACTUAL CONDITION, ITS HISTORICAL EQUILIBRIUM, TO SUPPORT ITS STABILITY, AND TO PURSUE EQUITABLE MEANS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ENDING ITS CONFLICTS.
THE CABINET AUTHORIZES THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO DISCUSS WITH THE US SIDE DRAFTING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING ISSUES PERTAINING TO CHILDREN CUSTODY.
THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM THE EMIR OF KUWAIT AND A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT OF YEMEN.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques commended his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, US Vice President Dick Cheney and Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong during their visits to the kingdom over the previous days.

The Monarch pointed out that these talks come within the framework of the kingdom's keenness on strengthening its relations with various countries to enhance the national interests and to serve peace and security in the region and the world.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Bin Amin Madani said that the Cabinet reviewed in this context the direct influence of the position of the United States of America on the issues of the region, and pointing to how important it is for this influence to be in accord with the region's actual condition and its historical equilibrium, to support its stability, and to pursue equitable means that contribute to ending its conflicts.

Expressing the Kingdom's painful sorrow over the violence befalling Iraq, driven as it is by sectarianism and extremism, the Cabinet condemned all acts of violence, regardless of who commits them.

It further called on the United Nations to take the leading role, and on the permanent members of the Security Council to shoulder their responsibilities and to execute the roles demanded by assuming this permanent membership in the Security Council.

As for the Palestinian issue, the cabinet emphasized that it is high time to take seriously the arrangement for an international conference on the Palestinian issue so that peace initiatives and resolutions of the international legitimacy are brought into an immediate practical process, and that the Palestinian people become protected from the terrorism Israel heedlessly commits against them.

The Cabinet condemned the criminal assassination act of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Algemayel, expressing hope that this terrorist act will not affect Lebanon's stability and security. It called on all Lebanese political powers to preserve Lebanon's unity, sovereignty and stability and to maintain the language of dialogue, renewing the kingdom's permanent support for Lebanon and its people.

On the domestic affairs, the cabinet reviewed the kingdom's cultural and economic movement, contacts with sisterly and friendly countries in cultural and heritage fields and in holding conferences and symposiums.

The Cabinet expressed its appreciation of their positive results and the expansion of the circle of fruitful and constructive dialogue among all countries, peoples and organizations

The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:

The Cabinet approved the final accounts of the state for the fiscal years 1421-1422H., 1422-1423H and 1423-1424H.

The Cabinet decided to amend item (thirdly) of the cabinet's decision no. 67 dated 11/4/1411H. to read as follows: "a committee comprising the ministry of municipal and rural affairs, ministry of interior, ministry of health and the general commission for food and drugs undertakes the duty of investigating food poisoning incidents, determines the reason and who is to blame, and forwards the results of the investigation to the minister of municipal and rural affairs, suggesting the appropriate punishment. On his part, the minister decides the penalty; the accused has the right to appeal before the court of grievances within 60 days of being notified of the verdict.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy to discuss with the US side drafting a memorandum of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US administration as regards the issues pertaining to children custody, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication.

Upon recommendations of the Shoura Council, the Cabinet endorsed the accession of Yemen to the following GCC affiliate organizations:

1- Health Ministers Council

2- Arab Education Bureau for Arab Gulf Countries

3- Labor and Social Affairs Ministers Council

4- Arab Gulf Soccer Cup Tournament.

The Cabinet authorized the Secretary General of the Higher Commission for Tourism or his deputy to sign, in consultation with the head of the Saudi side in the Saudi Turkish joint committee, a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of tourism between the Higher Commission for Tourism in the Kingdom and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey.

Upon a request of the Minister of Finance, the Cabinet agreed to augment the kingdom's contribution to the capital of the Islamic Development Bank as approved by the bank's council of governors.

The Cabinet approved the appointment of Hamad Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Sulaiman Al-Subaih as administrative consultant at the Ministry of Justice and Fahd Bin Ahmed Bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Sudairi as director general of administrative affairs at the general staff.

On the other hand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has received a message from the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah.

The message was delivered to the Monarch by Mohammed Dhaifullah Sharar, Advisor at the Kuwaiti Emiri court, during an audience with the King at his palace in Riyadh.

The Kuwaiti envoy conveyed to the king the greetings of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah. In turn, the King sent his greetings to the Emir of Kuwait.

The audience was attended by Saud Bin Saeed Al-Mut-Hami, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet for Shoura Council Affairs, and Kuwait's Charge d'affaires in the Kingdom Nasser Al-Enzi.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz also received a telephone call from President Ali Abdullah Salih of Yemen.

During the conversation, they discussed the situations at the regional and international arenas, led by the situation in the Middle East and reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them.