February 23, 2007

THE SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTER APPROVES THE BILL ON THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HONESTY AND COMBATING CORRUPTION. THE CABINET EXPRESSES ITS CONFIDENCE THAT THE KEENNESS OF THE PALESTINIANS AND THE LEBANESE ON THEIR THE UNITY AND INDEPENDENCE WILL OVERRIDE ANY OTHER DIFFERENCES. THE CABINET COMMENDS THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF HERITAGE AND CULTURE IN JANADRIYAH. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet's session at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on communications and consultations with state leaders and envoys he held over the previous days on bilateral relations and regional and international issues. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Bin Amin Madani said that the cabinet has, since Makkah agreement, followed with concern the latest developments at the Palestinian arena and expressed its hope that the world community and influential countries having impact on the Palestinian cause will support a national government that speaks in the name of all Palestinian strata when it is formed. The world community should compel Israel to meet its responsibilities as regards the international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab peace initiatives. As to Lebanon, the Cabinet expressed its confidence that the keenness of Lebanese parties on the unity and independence of their country will override any other differences. On Iraq's affairs, the Cabinet affirmed the kingdom's support for any efforts which lay stress on Iraq's unity and its Arab and Islamic affiliation. The Cabinet hoped that the Iraqi government will implement its announced program to provide security, to seek national harmony and to amend the constitution for the sake of ensuring equality among Iraqis in rights and duties. With regard to domestic affairs, the Cabinet commended the national festival of heritage and culture in Janadriyah which is a symbol linking the homeland with its heritage. The festival also creates a platform for an open and responsible dialogue between intellectuals in the kingdom and their counterparts in Arab and Muslim world and international cultural arenas. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of commitment to the values of dialogue which came in the king's address to the guests of the festival. The Monarch stressed that these values should not be misused to strengthen the concepts that harm religion and human principles. The Cabinet lauded the King's speech to chairman and members of the board of human rights commission. The Monarch affirmed the heavy responsibility being assumed by the bodies concerned with the defense and preservation of these rights. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: Upon recommendations of the ministerial committee for administrative organization regarding restructuring some governmental sectors the activities of which are related to international trade, the cabinet issued the following measures: First: the ministry of commerce and industry continues to run the missions and responsibilities related to international trade, including the requirements of the world trade organization according to the following arrangements: - the ministerial committee formed according to the royal order dated 27/1/1404 H. continues to fulfill the duties prescribed, including the assignment and responsibilities incurred as a result of the kingdom's accession to the WTO. - provides support for the ministry's technical affairs and foreign trade departments, including recruiting eligible staff, to enable it fulfill its responsibilities. Second: the kingdom's permanent representative office to the WTO will be independent from its permanent representative office to the united nations in Geneva. The head of the office-- the Saudi commercial representative to the WTO-- reports directly to the department in charge of foreign trade in the kingdom. With reference to the Shoura Council decision, the Cabinet approved the bill on the national strategy for the protection of honesty and combating corruption which calls for protecting honesty through enhancing cooperation among government concerned authorities and combating corruption in all its forms and fortifies the Saudi society against it. Based on a recommendation of the Military Service Council, paragraph (H) of item (First) of article five of the military pension system applies to the staff of the national security who graduated from the national republic of china and from the French naval college. The Cabinet approved granting a license for the set up of Al Shaqeeq company for water and electricity. On Saudizatin of jobs at gold and jewellery shops, the Cabinet took a number of new measures including: Saudization of jobs at gold and jewellery showrooms and shops continues to be a target, with a focus on training, particularly in-job training under the supervision of the ministry of labour and the general corporation for technical education and vocational training. The prescribed 10 percent rate of Saudi employees in each gold and jewellery facility will suffice for the current time, the cabinet said, adding that the number of Saudis could increase gradually at a rate ranging from 2 - 5 percent annually, provided that gold and jewellery manufacturers forge appropriate training programs and attractive incentives for the youth to join the profession. Gold and jewellery shops are not allowed to employ non-Saudis unless authorized by the ministry of commerce and industry which conducts for candidates practical tests at the ministry's control and quality laboratory. Non-Saudis are also not allowed to practice selling precious metals and fine stones outside the shop or the factory nor market them over other shops. Upon recommendations of the Minister of Health, the Cabinet approved the formation of the national committee for combating tobacco, particularly the spread of the harmful habit among the young people. The Cabinet appointed Eng. Abdullah Bin Sulaiman Al-Ribai'an as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Bank for a three-year term, effective the date of issue of this decision; and Abdul Rahman Bin Ali Aqeeli; Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Waily; Mahdi Bin Yaseen Ramadan; and Abdullah Bin Bakr Qadi as members of the board of directors of the Agricultural Bank for the same period and duration. The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Kareem Bin Salih Al Mufrej as Assistant Under Secretary of the Governorate of Al-Joaf; Mohammed Bin Abdul Kareem Bin Ibrahim Al-Quafli as Administrative Consultant at the General Presidency of the Holy Haram and Prophet's Mosque Affairs; and Dr. Fahd Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al-Khidir as Director General of the Riyadh branch of the Presidency of the Commission for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.