The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday afternoon. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his best thanks to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his sincere condolences on the death of the nation's loss of the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of his talks with him, which dealt with the overall events at regional and international arenas and cooperation between the Kingdom and the International Organization. The King also briefed the Cabinet on the content of the phone call which he received from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and his assertion to the president of the standing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the Government and the people of Egypt, and that the position of the Kingdom towards Egypt, and its stability and security is fixed and does not change, and that their distinctive and deep-rooted relations are larger than any attempt to disturb them. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet was briefed on a number of reports on the region and the world, in particular on what is being witnessed of crises by a number of Arab countries, expressing its regret for what is happening in the Republic of Yemen of events considered as a threat to the security of Yemen and the region and its stability and the interests of their peoples, stressing that the so-called 'constitutional declaration' issued by the Houthis is a coup against the legitimacy as it is incompatible with the international resolutions related to Yemen, and contrary to the Gulf initiative adopted by the international community, and its executive mechanism, and the outputs of the Yemeni national dialogue. The Cabinet reiterated its condemnation of the heinous and atrocious crime committed by terrorist ISIS organization against the Jordanian pilot, and the killing of two Japanese hostages, stressing the Kingdom's firm position in the fight against the deviating thought and extremist organizations which stand behind it and seek for corruption on the earth, and distort the true values of Islam and its tolerant principles. On the domestic affair, the Cabinet commended the holding of Saudi Festival of Science and Innovation organized in Riyadh by King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity 'Mawhibah' in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and Aramco and SABIC companies, and attended by 762 creative and innovative entrepreneurs to motivate young people to move towards science and innovation and participate in sciences outside academic classrooms. The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Council of Ministers commended the results of the seventy eighth Conference of the Council of Ministers of Health of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, which was held in Riyadh, under the title 'Measuring Performance of Health Systems - Road of Excellence', hoping that these results contribute to the promotion and support plans and strategies, aimed at developing the services provided to the citizens of the GCC countries in various health sectors. The Council also valued the Kingdom's participation in the First Conference of Tourism and Culture, held by the World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 'UNESCO' in the city of Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia, and its highlighting of the Kingdom's efforts in cultural tourism, and projects of architectural heritage. Dr. Altoraifi said the Council of Ministers considered the items on the agenda and took the following: First: The Cabinet approved a 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 in the Republic of Tajikistan, signed in Riyadh on 30/05/1435 AH. Among the most prominent features of this Memorandum: The Memorandum stipulates that the parties shall conduct bilateral talks and regular consultations concerning bilateral relations, exchange views about the regional and international issues of common interest, and coordinate their stance towards the topics under discussion in the periodic and emergency international conferences. Second: After review of what has been submitted by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, and after consideration of Majlis Al-Shura's two resolutions No. (115/60) dated 20/10/2014 and No. (117/61) dated 21/10/2014, the Cabinet approved the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOUs) between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and both of: the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs of the Republic of the Comoros. Two royal decrees have been prepared for this purpose. Among the most prominent features of the two MOUs: They call for cooperation in the field of introducing Islam, showing its virtues and tolerance, fighting extremism and showing its position towards contemporary issues through the exchange of books and research in the field of the call to Allah Almighty, as well as the exchange of invitations to participate in seminars and training courses related to the qualification of preachers and Imams. They also call for cooperation in the field of endowments through the exchange of laws and regulations related to the field of Awqaf management and their investment, in addition to the exchange of information and experiences in the field of organization of Awqaf, their confinement, documentation, registration, development and investment. Third: After review of what has been submitted by the Minister of Finance, the Cabinet approved the Kingdom's subscription in additional shares that have been reallocated for it under the selective increase in the capital of the International Finance Corporation, amounted to (2464 shares), and their total cost shall be paid at a value of $ 2,464,000 in cash. Fourth: The Cabinet approved: A- The formation of the Board of Directors of the National Water Company according to the following: 1- Minister of Water and Electricity president 2- Dr. Loay Al Musallam Chief Executive and Managing Director of the National Water Company member 3- Abdullah bin Ibrahim Ayadhi Representative of the Ministry of Finance member 4- Hani bin Sami Halawani Representative of the Ministry of Finance member 5- Engineer Nasser bin Hadi Al-Qahtani Representative of the Authority for Electricity Regulation and Cogeneration member 6- Dr. Khalid bin Hamza Nahas Representative of the private sector member 7- Dr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Ghoneim Representative of the private sector member B- The phrase (Public Investment Fund) shall replace the phrases (board of directors) and the (Council of Ministers) contained in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article (twenty-third) of the Statute of the National Water Company so as the Public Investment Fund shall take over the functions of the ordinary and extraordinary general assembly in this regulation. Fifth: After review of the report submitted by the Cabinet's Experts Bureau, the Cabinet approved a number of measures including: 1 - Visas of butchers and their assistants, and veterinarians shall be issued under the name: 'Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Project for Benefiting from Sacrificial Meat' and this name shall replace the name of 'Islamic Development Bank' contained in paragraph (3) of the Cabinet's Resolution No. (325) dated 11/11/2007. 2 - Confirmation of taking the necessary statutory procedures to punish whoever exploits - directly or indirectly - the visas referred to in item (1) above, in contrary to the requirements of regulations and instructions in this regard. 3 - Participation of representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the committees that are being sent abroad annually to choose the butchers and their assistants and veterinarians who are being recruited from outside the Kingdom of Saud Arabia and the tasks of these committees include the verification of the integrity of the necessary procedures and arrangements in this regard. 4 - The government agencies involved in these committees referred to in clause (iii) of this resolution, shall prepare a report after two years from the date of the decision including the difficulties and obstacles they faced and suggestions appropriate for it, and that the Ministry of Interior shall submit this report to the King. 5 - The Cabinet's Resolution No. (331) dated 09/06/2014 shall remain in effect on ending the application of the Cabinet's Resolution No. (168) dated 24/02/2014. Sixth: The Council of Ministers approved the final account of the General Organization for Grain Silos and Flour Mills for fiscal year (1434/1435) H. Seventh: The Cabinet approved the organization of the departments of the Council of Ministers. Among the most prominent features of this organization are: 1- The Council of Political and Security Affairs shall identify trends, visions and goals related to those matters and review political and security strategies and plans to do so and follow up their implementation and coordination among them. The Council of Economic Affairs and Development shall identify trends, visions and goals related to economic affairs and development and review economic and development strategies and plans to do so and follow-up their implementation and coordination among them. 2 - Each council shall have a secretariat (or more) belonging to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers that includes a number of advisors and specialists in the areas falling within the its specializations. Each Council shall have an Office of Project Management to be based at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and with the task of verification of the commitment of those parties involved in the implementation of strategies, plans, orders, decisions, goals and visions related to the functions of the Council, and follow-up the projects which these parties implement. Eighth: The Cabinet approved appointments to posts (Ambassador) and (Minister Plenipotentiary) at 14th rank as follows: 1 - Nabil bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Saleh as Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2 - Fahd bin Ali bin Fahd Al-Dosari as Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3 - Ali bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Masood as (Minister Plenipotentiary) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4 - Hamzah bin Said bin Sadaqah Al-Aoufi as (Minister Plenipotentiary) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 5 - Mohammed bin Abdul Ghani bin Mohammed Khayyat as (Minister Plenipotentiary) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 6 - Abdulaziz bin Suleiman bin Hamad Al-Shabrami as (Director General of Directorate General for Administrative and Financial Affairs), rank 14th, at the Agency of Civil Affairs of Ministry of Interior. The Cabinet was briefed on two annual reports for Saudi Authority for Food and Drug and the Department of Zakat and Income, for two fiscal previous years and issued its directives towards them.
