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 King briefed the Cabinet on his phone call made to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, the Emir of the State of Kuwait, and his meetings with the Speaker of National Assembly of Kuwait; the Speakers of Shura, Representatives, National and Nation Councils of Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States participating in the 9th meeting of the councils in the Kingdom; the Executive President and Founder of World Economic Forum; and the Austrian Foreign Minister. 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 the latest developments in the region and the world, and the results of regional and international meetings and consultations regarding them, confirming in this context the Kingdom's deeply concern about the increasing hostile, racial and non-humanitarian rhetoric against refugees in general, and Muslims in particular, re-emphasizing its call for countries, humanitarian agencies, civil society organizations and the media to keep away from any racist rhetoric and contribute to raising awareness and assuming responsibility for the provision of necessary protection for displaced people and refugees fleeing from the fires of unjust authorities and terrorist groups. The Cabinet expressed Kingdom's condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist incidents targeted Al-Arish in Egypt, Al-Khamis City in Libya, and a Republican Guard's bus in Tunisia, which resulted in killing and injuring many people, expressing the Kingdom's condolences to the families of the victims and governments and peoples of those countries, and its wishes of a speedy recovery for the injured people, reconfirming the Kingdom's emphasis on the need to redouble international efforts to root out this dangerous scourge that targets security and stability in all parts of the world without exception. The Minister said that the Cabinet appreciated the recommendations of Interior Ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States in their 34th meeting in Doha that will be reflected positively on Arab Gulf states, and the emphasis of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior during the meeting on the importance of international cooperation more seriously and effectively in combating terrorism, addressing its causes, confronting firmly its perpetrators, supporters and financiers of its activities, and not using the identity of its perpetrators in abuse to a belief, race or particular nation. The cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the meetings of Speakers of Shura, Representatives, National and Nation Councils of Gulf Cooperation Council, wishing their contribution to enhancing the unity of joint Gulf action at all levels.. The Cabinet commended the recommendations of the 4th session of Joint Saudi-Russian Governmental Committee for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation held in Moscow and the two sides' underscoring the importance of promotion of trade and economic exchanges and investment cooperation to a level compatible with the great potentialities of the two countries, citing the signing of 15 agreements in different domains during the meetings. The Cabinet dealt with a number of domestic issues, emphasizing the Kingdom's continuing fight against terrorist acts and activities supporting them with various available means, following the statement issued by the Interior Ministry including the classification of names of leaders and activists of Hezbollah based on the history of their being held responsible for operations running in the benefit of the party throughout the Middle East in addition to other entities working as investment arms of the party who were targeted by the classification decision that targets their wicked activities crossing the border of Lebanon. The Cabinet welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's achievement in the field of soaring non-oil exports which has pumped as much as SR200 billion due to the support and facilities provided by the State for businessmen and national companies, resulting in high quality and competitiveness of Saudi products that helped them to reach international markets. Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said the Cabinet was briefed on the outcome of a number of conferences and symposia held in the Kingdom last week. The Cabinet discussed the issues on its agenda, including some in which the Shura Council has already studied and was briefed on the outcome of each of the Cabinet's General Committee and the Experts Bureau and decided the following: First: The Cabinet authorized the minister of justice or his deputy to sign a draft agreement on cooperation between the ministry of justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Budget Foundation (government registration chamber) at the ministry of justice of Federal Republic of Russia, and forward the signed final version for completing legal procedures. Second: The Cabinet authorized the minister of finance or his deputy to sign a draft agreement on evading dual taxation and preventing taxation evasion on tax on income between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and its attached protocol, and forward the signed final version for completing legal procedures. Third: The Cabinet authorized the minister of foreign affairs or his deputy to discuss with the Bosnian side a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the ministry of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ministry of foreign affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sign it, and forward the signed final version for regular procedures. Fourth: After reviewing a report of the ministry of transport, and the Shura Council resolution No. (76/39) dated 29/07/1436 H., the Cabinet approved International Treaty for Shipping Lines 1966 protocol, endorsed by the General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization on 11/11 / 1988. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the rules regulating the acceptance of government officials of gifts awarded to them on official visits and events. Sixth: After reviewing a report forwarded by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Shura Council resolution No. (77/59) dated 21/12 /1428H, the Cabinet approved national associations and institutions system which aims to regulate, develop and protect national work, and enhance the contribution of citizens in society management, and activate the culture of volunteering and social solidarity. This system lays the legislative foundation for the work of national associations and institutions and states the special rules related to their foundation, management and supervision. Seventh : The Cabinet authorized the President of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) or his deputy to discuss with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of renewable energy between KACARE of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia and the National Energy Management of the People's Republic of China, sign it, and forward the signed final version for further authentication. Eighth: The Cabinet approved the transfer of a number of jobs, documents and researches related to public transport activities, together with their payrolls, from the ministry of transport to public transport commission. Ninth: The Cabinet authorized the Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Food and Drug Authority or his deputy to discuss with the United States side a draft memorandum of understanding for scientific and technical cooperation, exchange of information between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America, sign it, and forward the signed final version for further authentication. The Cabinet also reviewed the annual report of the Agricultural Development Fund for the fiscal year (1434/1435 AH), and took a number of instructions related to the report.
