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 briefed the Cabinet on his talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Republic of Djibouti, the Prime Minister of Republic of France Manuel Valls, and the results of his meetings with Foreign Minister of Germany Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the leader of Progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon Walid Junblat, and Director General of World Trade Organization Robert Azevedo. 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 reviewed reports on various regional and international issues, calling in this context on the advent of the new Hijri year 1437 AH, which falls on the Islamic nation and a number of its countries are witnessing conflicts and dissensions, for the joint Islamic action and coordination of sincere efforts to defend the interests of the Islamic nation and for ending what it is witnessing of crises, particularly bloody incidents and conflicts facing a number of Arab countries and Muslim minorities in the world. The Cabinet reconfirmed the Kingdom's condemnation of the recent Israeli escalation against the Palestinian people, including the brutal crimes committed by settlers against Palestinians under the view of occupation authorities, as well as the continuing Israeli violations of Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing the Kingdom's appeals and calls for the international community, including the movements in the Security Council and concerned international organizations, to exert sincere efforts to provide protection for the Palestinian people and stop these crimes and attacks against them. The Minister pointed out that the Cabinet reviewed a number of issues on local affairs and what was being witnessed by cities in the Kingdom during the week of scientific, cultural, and economic activities including 5th National Congress for Quality entitled ''The quality, the strategic choice to achieve sustainability and promote competitiveness'', stressing the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on this scientific event and his confirmation that the quality with its principles and methodologies stems mainly from ancient Islamic principles and visions, that the call to master work and perform it in a good way is a religious demand, and that the improvement of the quality of products and services is an important requirement for the construction of the earth and the Kingdom's determination on proceeding forward in the process of sustainable development to improve the quality of goods and services, the efficiency of markets and support for creativity and innovation activities. The Cabinet commended the activities of Saudi-French Business Opportunities Forum at its second session and the meetings of Saudi-French Standing Coordinating Committee during which a number of agreements and the letter of intent were signed between the Kingdom and France in the presence of the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Economic and Development Affairs Council and Supervisor of Saudi-French Joint Standing Coordinating Committee and the Prime Minister of the Republic of France Manuel Valls, stressing the Kingdom's keenness to develop its trade relations with its key partners such as the Republic of France and to consolidate them to enhance trade and investment exchange and contribute to the support of the two countries' economies. The Cabinet expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery due to the shooting by a person at passers-by in the vicinity of a mosque in Al-Kawthar neighborhood in the city of Saihat of Qatif province, expressing its strong condemnation of this heinous crime, resulted in the killing and wounding of a number of citizens. The Cabinet was briefed on the topics listed on its agenda, including issues it co-shared the Shura Council in their study and decided the following: First: The Cabinet reviewed a draft regulatory arrangements to impose fees on unimproved lands, and entrusted Majlis Al-Shura to study the draft within a period of thirty days. Second: The Cabinet approved cancelling the Center for Measuring Performance of Government Agencies and transferring its staff, property and documents to the Institute of Public Administration, in addition to establishing the National Center for Measuring Performance of Public Agencies. The National Center shall report to the Premier, and its Board of Directors shall be chaired by the President of the Council of Economic Affairs and Development with the membership of Minister State and Member of the Cabinet Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Minister of Economy and Planning; Minister of Civil Service; and Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Mohamed bin Abdulmalik Al Al-Sheikh. The Director General of the National Center shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Third: The Cabinet approved a number of arrangements regarding the draft of public policies for real estate finance. Forth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of water between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, which was signed in Rabat on 01/05/1436. Fifth: The Cabinet approved a number of measures pertaining to the interpretation of the term retirement mentioned in the cancelled justice law and the investigation and public prosecution law. Sixth: The Cabinet approved the formation of a permanent committee at the headquarters of the General Authority of Civil Aviation to be concerned with threats to civil aviation in areas of armed conflict. Seventh: The Cabinet authorized the President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Japanese side a draft agreement in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Japan. Eighth: The Cabinet approved the addition of lawyers to the categories mentioned in item (II) of the Cabinet's Decision No. 162 dated 24/04/1435 that set for the establishment of Judicial Training Centre at the Ministry of Justice. The Cabinet was briefed on the annual reports of the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
