January 19, 2007

UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE CROWN PRINCE: PRINCE SULTAN BRIEFS THE SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE CONTENTS OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS AND CONSULTATIONS. THE CABINET RE-EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIFICATION OF THE PALESTINIAN RANKS AND THE NECESSITY OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND THE UNITY OF THEIR TERRITORIES. THE CROWN PRINCE APPEALS TO ALL LEBANESE TO WORK HARD TO DEFUSE THE TENSION. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General chaired the cabinet's session at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of contacts and consultations held by the kingdom under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz over the previous days with leaders and officials of brotherly and friendly countries on bilateral relations, regional and international issues and the kingdom's stances on tensions in the Middle East, particularly the situations in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon as well as the events in the Sudan and Somalia. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the minister of transport and acting minister of culture and information Dr. Jubarah Bin Eid Al-Suraiseri said that the cabinet re-emphasized the importance of unification of the Palestinian ranks and renunciation of dissension and disagreement among Palestinians, stressing that the aims and motives of all should be directed to halt the suffering of the Palestinian people and to achieve the legitimate aspirations and ambitions of the Palestinian people to set up their state according to the international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. On the situation in Iraq, the cabinet, emphasizing the necessity of preservation of the Iraqi people and the unity of their territories, has voiced the kingdom's sorrow over the continuation and increase in terrorist acts leading to the killing the innocent people, irrespective of the sanctity of Muslim blood. In the name of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince appealed to all Lebanese to work hard to defuse tension, to avoid dangers threatening their country as a result of disagreement and to preserve Lebanon's security, stability and sovereignty. The Crown Prince also called on all parties to positively respond to the efforts being exerted by the Arab League and a number of countries to end the Lebanese crisis. With regard to domestic affairs, the Crown Prince praised Almighty Allah for enabling pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals in ease and comfort. In the name of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz also expressed his appreciation of and thanks to various public bodies and sectors and private establishments for their efforts in the service of pilgrims which have contributed to the success of the Hajj season. Acting Minister of Culture and Information said the cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Chief of Civil Aviation Authority or his deputy was authorized to continue negotiations in the field of air transportation services with the Russian side regarding a draft agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Federal Republic of Russia, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. Upon recommendations of the minister of interior, the cabinet amended articles "two" and "three" of the traffic system issued by the cabinet in 1422 H. regarding insurance on vehicles rather than insurance on driving license to read as follows: Secondly: any company which is licensed to practice cooperative insurance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is allowed to provide insurance on vehicles provided that the insurer was sure of the capability of those companies and that their business matches with the requirements of this kind of insurance. Thirdly: the company should enforce cooperative insurance towards third party on vehicles of individuals and private establishments and companies without exception. Meanwhile, current insurance documents pertaining to driving licenses continue to be valid until their expiration. The Minister of Interior or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the South African side a draft agreement in the field of combating crimes between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the republic of South Africa, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding on bilateral political consultations between the ministry of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which was initialled in Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 2, 2006. The Minister of Justice or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Egyptian side a draft arrangement on cooperation in the judicial field between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. The Minister of Justice or his deputy was authorized to discuss with the Singaporean side a draft memorandum of understanding on scientific and educational cooperation between the ministry of higher education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of education of the republic of Singapore, sign it and forward the final version for further authentication. The Cabinet approved the appointments of Ahmed Ibn Abdul Aziz Bin Ibrahim Al-Yahya as Director General of the General Department for Annuities and Appanage at the Ministry of Finance; Salih Bin Abdullah Bin Saad Al-Shuwairekh as Director General of the Consultants Department at the General Control Commission; Dr. Suleiman Bin Hamad Bin Ali Al-Turki as Economic Consultant at the Ministry of Finance; and Eng. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Nasser as Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs at the Water department, Riyadh region.