The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held at Al-Safa palace in Makkah this evening. At the outset of the meeting, the monarch welcomed the kings, heads of state, leaders of delegations of the Islamic member countries of the Islamic Cooperation Organization and other invitees to the extraordinary Islamic Solidarity summit scheduled for Makkah tomorrow and was reassured of the current preparations to host the conference, appealing to Allah Almighty to make their summit a success. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja, the Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet has expressed hope of the host country that the summit, which enjoys being held in the world's holiest place and the holy month of Ramadan, could meet the aspirations of the Islamic nation, particularly uniting ranks, achieving solidarity and comprehensive development, adopting moderation and tolerance, rejecting extremism, terrorism, sectarianism which definitely lead to rifts, differences and discord, confirming that the call of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to hold this summit embodies his keenness and interest of the affairs of Muslim people amid the current unpleasant situation witnessed by the Islamic world, including consecutive challenges and disastrous circumstances in some parts of it, a matter requires unification of efforts and solidarity to face these challenges. Dr. Khoja said that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the development of events in the region and the world, as well as issues at local affairs. He stressed the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud when he had received the annual report on the activities of King Abdulaziz National Dialogue Center for the year 1433AH, which emphasized the importance of dialogue in strengthening the national unity and achieving consensus and cohesion between citizens. The report had also affirmed the King's directives to continue this approach for enhancing cohesion of the society, the unity of visions and keeping away from religious and intellectual classifications and the use of the language of classification which is not worthy of the society that has grown up on the teachings of Islam and its tolerant values. The Cabinet appreciated the Royal Order approving the overall plan of Makkah and the Holy Sites as a strategic framework for its development until the year 1462 AH, and the implementation of public transport project in Makkah (trains - buses). The most important features of the project are the establishment of a rail network (Metro) that covers the entire city consisting of four metro lines with a total length of 182 km including 88 stations covering the areas of current and future development according to the overall plan of Makkah and a plan of buses which integrates with the rail network and includes highway bus networks with a total length of 60 km, and 60 stations, as well as local bus networks with lengths of 65 km and 87 stations, in addition to a support bus network for train and bus stations with a line length between 5 to 10 km. The value of the implementation of this project amounts to SR 62 billion to be implemented in three phases, the cost of the first phase amounts to SR 25.5 billion to be carried out in three years, while the second phase cost amounts to SR 19 billion to be implemented within five years, and the last stage to be implemented within two years at a cost of 17.5 billion. The Minister of Culture and Information pointed out that the Cabinet continued the discussion of its agenda and issued the following decisions: First; - The formation of standing committees in the principalities of all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as is the case in Riyadh Region Principality, to coordinate projects. Representatives from relevant authorities shall participate in these committees. Second; The Cabinet approved the organization of Fiqh Academy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The most prominent features of the organization are: 1 - Fiqh Academy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be established and associated with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance under the supervision of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance. The Academy aims to clarify Sharia rulings relevant to contemporary issues through collective jurisprudence without adherence to a particular doctrine. 2 - A high Commission shall be formed for the Academy to draw its general policies and set its plans and programs. The Commission shall consist of a President with a rank of minister, Vice President with excellent rank, two members from Senior Scholars Council, and three specialists to be appointed by a royal decree. 3 - The Academy shall have a Council representing its scholarly entity that shall consist of Academy's President, Vice President, 50 key members and 10 non-key members. The Council shall be appointed and re-formed by a royal decree. Third; The Cabinet decided to appoint the following as members of the Board of Directors of the General Organization for Saudi Arabian Airlines for three years effective from the date of the issuance of the decision: 1- Mohammed bin Homoud Al-Mazyad, Representative of the Ministry of Finance 2- Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Hakami, Representative of the Ministry of Economy and Planning 3- Dr. Faisal bin Hamad Al-Sugair, Representative of the Civil Aviation Authority 4- Ahmed Bin Saleh Al-Humaidan, Representative of the Ministry of Labour Three Representatives of the Private Sector: 5- Eng. Abdullah bin Saeed Al-Mubti 6- Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser 7- Abdulhadi bin Ali bin Saif Shayif The renewal of the membership of the following (from the private sector) at the Board of Directors of the General Organization for Saudi Arabian Airlines for three years as of 24/4/1433 AH. 1- Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Athel. 2- Abdulrahman bin Rashid Al-Rashed. Fourth; The Cabinet approved the following appointments: 1- Abdulrahman bin Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al-Ruasa, Education Adviser at the Ministry of Education at rank 15th. 2- Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Abdullatif, Director General of Riyadh Region Branch at Control and Investigation Bureau at rank 15th. 3- Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Aqeel, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4- Sultan bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Anqari, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 5- Saad bin Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Yahya, Assistant Undersecretary for Religious Endowments at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance at rank 14th. 6- Tariq bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Omran, Director General of the Office of the Minister at the Ministry of Justice at rank 14th.
