JEDDAH: The Cabinet appealed Monday for “self restraint and reason” in the face of violence in Yemen and said the arrival of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and other Yemenis in the Kingdom was an “obligation determined by the religion and sense of brotherhood and neighborliness”. Chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Cabinet heard reports on the latest developments in Yemen and some other Arab countries, and ministers expressed their “sorrow and regret” for incidents resulting in bloodshed, particularly the violence in Yemen which “has led to numerous deaths and injuries”. They urged all parties in Yemen to show “self-restraint and reason” to prevent the country “falling into an abyss of violence and killing”, and prayed to Allah to “protect Yemen from sedition” and “bring security and stability to the Yemeni people”. They further prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and mercy for the fallen. “The Kingdom has received President Ali Abdullah Saleh and a number of injured officials and citizens for medical treatment in the Kingdom at their request,” the Cabinet said. “The Kingdom has responded by accepting all the injured out of its obligation determined by the religion and its sense of brotherhood and neighborliness”. Ministers appealed for further efforts from the Gulf countries to help Yemen achieve a peaceful solution and prevent the situation from deteriorating. They alos hoped the Gulf initiative would be signed by “all parties to help end the crisis and bring a return to stability, security and unity”. Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet condemned the Israeli oppression, torture and arbitrary acts against the Palestinian. Ministers also slammed the construction of illegal settlements in occupied territories. “These acts are a blatant violation of the UN resolutions, a flagrant defiance of the will of the international community, and a blockage of both the resumption of negotiations and the achievement of peace in the region,” the Cabinet said. On the domestic front, Dr. Khoja, said the Cabinet appreciated King Abdullah's approval of a detailed plan containing urgent short- and long-term solutions for increasing the numbers of university graduates so that they could hold scores of available teaching jobs. The King urged the concerned bodies to carry out the plan in accordance with the specified schedule. The Cabinet also approved the organization of the national committee for legalizing and standardizing the works of operation and maintenance. The Cabinet approved a number of measures on the application of quality management systems in the government sector. It also approved the final accounts of Saudi Wildlife Commission for the fiscal year 1428-29H. The Cabinet approved the amendment of Articles (5) and (10) of the Electricity Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M/56) pertaining to electricity co-generation. The Cabinet approved that the concerned bodies shall take necessary measures to implement the decision of the GCC Supreme Council during its 30th session held in Kuwait in December 2009, regarding equality among GCC citizens in the field of technical education.
