Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, chaired the Cabinetâ€TMs session held at Al-Salam palace in Jeddah today. In a statement to SPA following the meeting, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja, the Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet was briefed on the outcome of a number of conferences, initiatives, scientific, economic, cultural and social activities held over the week in several Saudi cities, highlighting the great significance of the speech delivered on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud before the eleventh Asian Media Summit held under the theme 'The Media and Diversification to Enrich the Transmission Experience' and the monarch's confirmation on the role of the responsible word in all media outlets. The Cabinet also asserted that the launching by the Crown Prince of the National Initiative for Traffic Safety under instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques embodies the serious keenness of the nation's leaders on whatever is concerning the life of citizens, expressing thanks to the Association for Crippled Children which started the implementation of the initiative as well as other partners and donors, calling on all citizens and expatriates in the Kingdom to comply with this initiative which tackles a sensitive and serious issue in view of the increasing number of traffic accidents which cause daily fatalities and tragic body injuries. The Cabinet was also briefed on the outcome of the efforts exerted by specialized security authorities leading to the discovery of the plots designed by a terrorist organization, thanking all security authorities on this achievement and paid tribute to the cooperation it found from citizens to face the betraying plots aiming to destabilize the country and harm the youths and properties of the nation as well as its approach based on the holy book of Quran and the deeds and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The council pointed to the conference, 'Euromoney Saudi Arabia 2014' in its ninth edition which was organized in collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and Euromoney Foundation under the slogan 'Innovation and Competition: Change of the Dynamics of Globalization.' The minister said that the cabinet then discussed a number of reports on the latest developments, reiterating the Kingdom's condemnation of the continuing attacks and excavation works in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli occupation authorities which put obstacles and prohibitive procedures against the entry of worshipers and prevent them from exercising their legitimate right to worship, stressing that the Kingdom holds Israel fully responsible for the deterioration of the situation in the Holy Alquds and any negative consequences resulting from the attacks carried out by the occupation forces and settlers and warns against all that would change the identity of the historical, religious and legal status of the holy places and any action leading to the demographic change of the city of Alquds. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohiuddin Khoja said that, based on the king's directives, the cabinet was briefed during its meeting held on 13.7.1435 H. on a number of topics and took the following decisions on them: First: The cabinet approved a memorandum on cooperation and strategic dialogue between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Government of Japan, signed in the city of Riyadh on 13/02/1433 H. Second: After reviewing what has been submitted by the Ministry of Interior on the phenomenon of expatriates' control on some commercial activities, the Cabinet approved a number of arrangements, including the following: 1 - To support the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, by men and money, to enable it properly apply the combat system of covering-up, and enable agencies that are responsible for issuing licenses to intensify inspection campaigns and report to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the illegal practices resulting from covering-up. 2 - The Ministry of Social Affairs shall study the establishment of consumption cooperatives societies and expand them. 3 - The Ministries of Interior and Labor shall continue the Saudization process of business activities and professions that are considered as yielding good revenues and enjoying interest of citizens. Third: The Cabinet approved the extension of the signed agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of France on the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income, inheritance and estates and the (Protocol) thereto, approved by Royal Decree No. (M / 4) on 14/12/1982, which was modified by the (Protocol ) approved by the Royal Decree No. (M / 11) dated 11/12/1991, for a period of five years with effect from January 01, 2014. Fourth: After reviewing the report submitted by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, who is also Chairman of Real Estate Contributions Committee, the Cabinet approved a number of arrangements, including the following: 1 - The amendment of paragraphs (2), (5) and (6) of item (First) of the committee's working mechanism, issued by the Cabinet's resolution No. (48) dated 09/02/2009. 2 - The Real Estate Contributions Committee shall accelerate the liquidation of all real estate contributions in accordance with its working mechanism and the Royal Orders relevant. 3 - The Supreme Judicial Council shall, promptly and in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, assign enough number of judges in order to speed up the adjudication of cases concerning the land plots, belonging to real estate contributions referred to in the two Royal Orders (5002 / m b) and the date of 01/07/2008 and No. (41182) dated 27/07/2012. Fifth: The cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding in the field of civil service (public office) between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, signed in Rabat, dated 12/24/1434 H. Sixth: The cabinet approved the appointments of Isam bin Ibrahim bin Hasan Bait Almal as ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Eng. Nasir bin Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Alfoozan as administrative advisor at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (15th rank); Talaat bin Ibrahim Abualhasan Almoslmani as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulatif Alabdulatif as director general of administrative and financial affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (rank 14). The cabinet was briefed on past annual reports of the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution and the General Presidency for Youth Welfare. The cabinet took note of their contents and issued its directives towards them. The Cabinet's General Secretariat will submit the decisions of today's meeting to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his directives in this regard.
