Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet s session held at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh yesterday. At the outset of the meeting, Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and President Abdulfattah Al-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on the outcomes of the talks between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Egyptian President, citing the enhancement of the firm historical relations between the two sisterly countries, the consolidation of the joint cooperation, the dedication to the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, and the strengthening of the regional and international security and stability, confirming that the talks and the signing of numerous agreements, memorandums of understanding and executive programs in different fields reflect the depth of the firm fraternal ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt and their endeavor to enhance the historical relations binding them to best serve the two countries, their peoples and interests. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting, Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Arj, Minister of Civil Service and acting Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet hailed the results of the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Egypt, citing the signing of 17 agreements, among which is a maritime border demarcation agreement between the two countries, other memorandums of understanding and executive programs in addition to 21 investment agreements and MOUs in a number of fields, a matter once more underscores the keenness of the two countries to furthermore consolidate the bounds of fraternity and solidarity between them, noting that the erection of a causeway to link the two countries who fall at the heart of the world is considered, as the monarch has put it, a historical step to link the Asian and African continents and a qualitative leap of great advantages that would augment the trade exchanges between the continents of the world to an unprecedented levels and support the exports of the two countries in the world. In addition, the causeway represents an international outlet for promising projects in the two countries and a basic crossway to passengers including pilgrims, Umrah performers and tourists. The Cabinet commended the hospitality and welcome accorded to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the accompanying delegation during his visit to the Egypt's Council of Representatives and the great public reception that reflects the depth of the close ties between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples, appreciating the contents of the speech delivered by the King before the Egyptian Parliament in which he confirmed the influential role of the Council in the promotion of the historical relations between the two countries, and that the basic foundation of relations at all levels is the firm conviction among the Saudi and Egyptian peoples that the two countries are interdependent brothers. The Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was briefed on the contents of the message received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn and the results of receiving the Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States and Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan and a number of its members. The Cabinet reiterated the contents of the speech delivered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, upon receiving the Minister of Housing and the Ministry's senior officials and those interested in housing in the public and private sectors, and his confirmation that the state is firmly going on paces of the growth and development with the commitment to its pure faith and preserving it and will continue the construction and completion of this march towards the comprehensive and balanced development in all regions of the Kingdom, and that the provision of suitable housing for citizens and means of a decent life are of his priorities and personal attention. The Cabinet was also briefed on the outcome of the meeting of the Supreme Hajj Committee, headed by Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, commending the great attention and prestige as well as generous patronage being accorded by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Two Holy Mosques, pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors and his great keeness, ongoing follow-up and permanent directives that great efforts of care and patronage provided by the concerned authorities to pilgrims and Umrah performers should be equal to the sanctity and magnification of the Two Holy Mosques and the honor being bestowed by God Almighty upon the Kingdom as leadership and people to serve Islam and take care of the holy sites as well as the provision of safety, security and reassurance to their visitors of pilgrims and Umrah performers, and the confirmation on deterring whoever tries to harm the security of Hajj and pilgrims. Al-Arj said the Cabinet was briefed on the issues listed on its agenda, some of them were reviewed earlier by the Shura Council. The Cabinet decided the following: First: After having seen a report submitted by the Ministry of Interior on the recommendations of an ad hoc committee to study the situations of fleeing housemaids from the homes of their sponsors, and who have filed financial claims against those sponsors or those who were left bogged at Saudi airports or inlets due to the delay of their sponsors to receive them, the Cabinet decided to transfer the duty of offering them accommodation prior to solving their problems to the Ministry of Labor who will, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs, manage to allocate appropriate resort centers for them according to fixed timetables. Second: The Cabinet authorized the Deputy Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense or his deputy to discuss with the Ethiopian side a draft agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of Ethiopia on cooperation in the field of defense, sign it and forward the final version for legal authentication. Third: The Cabinet approved the establishment of the Saudi Turkish Coordination Council and authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign it. Fourth: The Cabinet authorized the Ministry of Defense (air forces) to continue providing security and armed protection for civil airports in coordination with the Civil Aviation General authority according to the national program for airports security for a duration of three years, prior to forming an unified entity to undertake the job. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the following appointments: 1- Fahd bin Abdullah bin Miteb Al-Mazyad as security consultant in the 14th rank at the ministry of interior. 2- Talal bin Mohammed bin Mahmoud Al-Damari as Administrative consultant in the 14th rank at the General Presidency of Youth Welfare. 3- Mohammed bin Sultan bin Mohammed bin Jarees as Director general of the General President of Youth Welfare in the 14th rank. 4- Waleed bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Ruwaished as Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic trade at the 14th rank at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 5- Mohammed bin Ali bin Mishbeb Al-Gahtani as Director General for Legal Affairs in the 14th rank at the Court of General Control 6- Eng. Mohammed bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Husseini as scientific research expert in the 14th rank at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. 7- Abdullah bin Hasan bin Othman Al-Nasr as scientific research expert in the 14th rank at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The Cabinet was, then, briefed on a number of general issues, including an annual report of the Human Rights Commission for the fiscal year 1435/1436 H. The Cabinet issued the relevant instructions.
