The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held at Al-Salam Palace here today. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet thanked Allah Almighty for the comprehensive development and achievements accomplished by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past six years under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Cabinet stressed that the development witnessed by the Kingdom embodies the King's strong desire to continue achieving comprehensive development for various sectors and to overcome all difficulties that impede the qualitative progress. The Cabinet proudly recalled the gigantic projects and decisions approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques that met the interests of the country and citizens. The Cabinet also hailed the King's pioneering role and efforts at international levels to serve Muslim and Arab causes and to support humanitarian issues and international righteous efforts. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the consultations and telephone calls of last week with a number of leaders of brotherly countries on the latest developments at the regional and international arenas, including the message he received from Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman and the telephone call with Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar. r. Khoja said the Cabinet listened to a number of reports on the latest developments at regional and international arenas. The Cabinet hailed the declaration issued by the Ministerial Meeting of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Indonesia to address the Palestinian cause as well as the statement issued by the Ministerial Committee of Arab Peace Initiative held in Doha. The Cabinet stressed the importance of concerted efforts to push forward the peace process on relevant international legitimacy resolutions and in such a way that ensures the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and establishment of their independent state with Al-Quds as its capital. On domestic front, Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet addressed a number of scientific, cultural and economic activities that took place during the last week in the Kingdom, including the 2nd International Forum and Exhibition of Gulf Environment and Sustainable Development as well as Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Contest for the Prophet's Sunnah and Contemporary Islamic Studies. Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet then reviewed a number of items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Cabinet approved a cooperation agreement in the field of fighting terrorism, organized crime and illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed in Riyadh on 27/11/2010. The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance -or his deputy- to discuss and sign with the Moroccan side a draft agreement on customs cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Kingdom of Morocco. The Cabinet approved an agreement on multimodal transport of goods among Arab countries which was approved by the Council of Arab League on 09/09/2009. The Cabinet approved the addition of a new article to the Law of Real Estate Ownership and Investment by Non-Saudis which was issued according to Royal Decree No. (M/15) dated 17/04/1421H. The article shall read as follows: 'IX- The executive regulation of the Law shall be issued by a decision of the Council of Ministers.' The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of information technology and services between King Abdulaziz City for Sciences and Technology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Advanced Computer Systems Development Center of the Ministry of Information Technology of the Republic of India, signed in Riyadh on 28/02/2010. The Cabinet approved a number of appointments as follows: 1- Saleh bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Sharyan appointed as of 01/07/1432H. to the post of Director General of Finance and Budget (Rank 15) at the Royal Saudi Air Force of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation and the Office of Inspector-General, transferring him from his current post of 'Director General of Control over Performance of General Organizations and Companies' (Rank 14) at the General Auditing Bureau. 2- Ali bin Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Bakri appointed to the post of Planning Expert (Rank 15) at the Ministry of Economy and Planning. 3- Yusuf bin Rashad bin Ali Abu Aish appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4- Turki bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Madhi appointed to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
