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 praised and thanked Allah Almighty for many blessings bestowed upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and for what it is enjoying of security and stability, affirming that the issuance of a number of royal orders pertaining to matters relating to the homeland, citizens and their interests and appointment of a number of princes and ministers emanates from the keenness to continue the march of development and growth being pursued by this country since its foundation by late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. The King expressed his thanks and appreciation to former princes, ministers and officials for their efforts in the service of their religion, homeland and citizens, welcoming the appointed princes and ministers, wishing them all success in their missions and new posts. The Cabinet expressed its thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the royal orders that reflect the wise policy dimensions in the leadership organization in a number of regions as well as administrative organization in government agencies through pumping new blood to enhance the government efficiency and raise the quality of performance. The Cabinet lauded the royal order regarding re-instigation of all allowances, privileges and financial premiums given to civil and military state officials previously cancelled, amended or frozen as per the Cabinet's decision No. 551 dated 25/12/1437H in order to comfort Saudi citizens, citing interpretation by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, chaired by the Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier that these decisions were taken due to international sharp price drop of oil, the country's main source of state revenues. Following that move, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council has taken a number policies, initiatives and programs in order to reset expenditures and priorities to be compatible with the strategy of the Public Investment Fund, aiming to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on oil as a major supplier of the state's revenues, resulting in achieving the objectives, improving the state revenues and reducing the deficit of the general budget in light of the Kingdom Vision 2030. The Cabinet pointed to the royal directives including the establishment of the National Security Center and the adoption of a two-month salary stipend to participants in the front lines of Determination Storm and Renewal Hope operations, affiliating to either of the ministries of Interior, Defense, National Guard and General Intelligence. It also pointed to the royal directives concerning the ending of all stages of public and university education before the beginning of the month of Ramadan 2017, reflecting the country's reliance on the strength and cohesion between the wise leadership and citizens and embodying the care and attention being given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to all citizens of his homeland. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad, said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meetings and discussions with President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt; President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of the Republic of Mali and US Defense Secretary James Mattis. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of reports concerning the latest developments on the regional and international arenas, citing the final communiqué of the Council of Arab Ministers of Finance issued at the conclusion of its regular session held in Rabat, which called for diversifying sources of income and controlling public finances at a pace conducive to growth in addition to improving the business climate and enhancing regional economic and financial integration so as to promote Arab investments and contribute to attracting foreign investments as well as stressing the importance of the continuation to enhancing cooperation with international financial institutions and Arab financial institutions. The Cabinet referred to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's assertion at the UN Security Council of its steadfast position in support of the Palestinian people and support for their inalienable rights, topped by their right of self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including Al-Quds, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and its relevant resolutions as well as international legal standards and principles in addition to the Kingdom's call for Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories and for the cessation of settlement construction on the Palestinian territories, depicting them as illegal procedures and a serious obstacle to peace. Then, the Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's appreciation of and thanks to the government of the Republic of Iraq for its efforts in finding the Qatari and two Saudi abductees and releasing them. The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation regarding the attack that targeted a military base in Afghanistan's Balkh province. The Cabinet also condemned the attack which targeted members of the French police in Paris which resulted in a number of killings and injuries, expressing condolences to the families of the victims and the governments of Afghanistan and France, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's solidarity with Afghanistan and France in the fight against terrorism with all its forms and manifestations. Dr. Al-Awwad said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on its agenda, and took the following decisions: First: the Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea for cooperation in the field of health. Second: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Labor and Social Development, or his deputy, to discuss and sign a memorandum of understanding in the field of labor between the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Labor of South Africa. Third: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, or his deputy, to sign two draft agreements in the field of air transport services between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on one hand and each of the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Djibouti on the other. Fourth: The Cabinet approved a cooperation agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the field of shipping and ports. Fifth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the fields of agriculture between the Ministry of Water, Environment and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Sixth: The Cabinet ordered that the procedure of appointing members of Board of Directors of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) who represent the government, including the chairman and his deputy, should be referred by the company's general assembly in accordance with its regulations. The Public Investment Fund is instructed to take appropriate amendments regarding the company's primary regulations. Seventh: The cabinet agreed that Land plots designated for mosques and their amenities within approved and planned urban zones will be treated as endowments and their deeds shall be issued as such. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance shall supervise these lands and shall keep their official deeds; a "true copy" of the deeds shall be provided to the Department of State Domains. Taking into consideration all relevant legal regulations and Shara' tenets, the Department of State Domains shall be consulted when these lands arise as an issue of discussion. Eighth: The Cabinet approved continued-payment of overtime hours for employees appointed on health jobs (which are not included the list of health jobs) at hospitals, health centers and laboratories with %20 for three years since 17/9/1436H. Ninth: The Cabinet approved a number of amendments to the Officers Service Regulation. Tenth: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the ranks of 15 and 14 as follows: 1- Waheeb bin Mohammed bin Mastour Al-Sahali is promoted to the post of Undersecretary of the Principality (15th rank) at Madinah Principality. 2- Abdullah bin Suleiman bin Mohammed Al-Saqir is promoted to the post of Undersecretary for Rural Affairs (15th Rank) at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. 3- Eng. Mohammed bin Saleh bin Hamoud Al-Dhaban is promoted to the post of Undersecretary of Riyadh Mayor for Municipal Affairs (15th Rank) at Riyadh Principality. 4- Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al-Mannaa is promoted to the post of Security Adviser (14th Rank) at the Ministry of Interior. 5- Eng. Mohammed bin Atiq bin Nasser Al-Alaiwi is promoted to the post of Electrical Consultant Engineer (14th Rank) at the Ministry of Defense. 6- Abdurrahman bin Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Khudair is promoted to the post of Director General of Department of Government Press Service (14th Rank) at the Ministry of Finance. 7- Saeed bin Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Maalwi is promoted to the post of Director General of Performance Control of Ministries and Departments (14th Rank) at the General Auditing Bureau. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general topics on its agenda, including the two annual reports for a previous fiscal year for the Ministry of Transport and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The Cabinet was also briefed on the outcomes of the 97th ministerial session of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC). The Cabinet issued recommendations towards them. The Cabinet was briefed on a joint draft intent declaration regarding regional cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Cabinet directed that the Saudi Fund for Development is to sign the above-mentioned bill.
