RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will open on Wednesday (Dec. 14) the 7th session of the 150-member Shoura Council which will continue for four years. The Council's speaker Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Asheikh said the King will deliver a speech in which he will shed light on the Kingdom's domestic and foreign policies. "Citizens, political observers, economic analysts and others are anxiously awaiting the King's speech which will confirm the Kingdom's path on the road to development while preserving its security and stability amidst a turbulent world replete with conflicts," he said. The speaker said the King will also clearly state the Kingdom's stance vis-a-vis various regional and international issues and will also speak about its current economic policy. He said the Council, as is its practice every year, will consider the King's speech one of its basic working documents. Al-Asheikh considered the Council's 7th session a new addition to a long consultative process which the late King Abdul Aziz, the founder, had laid down many years ago according to the Islamic Shariah rules based on cooperation, advice, consultation and honest dealing between the ruler and his subjects. "The Council is looking forward to modernizing the rules and regulations in addition to discussing important national issues," he said. The speaker recalled that during its sixth term of office, the Council held 283 sessions and issued 591 resolutions consisting of 112 decisions concerning the regulations and their internal statues, 258 concerning government ministries and 16 decisions approving suggestions on the issuing or updating of new rules. "The Council has also endorsed a number of agreements, pacts and MoUs with many friendly countries," he said. As many as 60 male and 15 female members will join the Council in its new term of office. Ninteen members will leave the Council after completing 12 years. Seven new members joined the Council in its just concluded 6th session while nine were given senior government posts. The Council has 14 specialized committees. The first Council had 60 members. The number increased to 90 in the second session and there are currently 150 members.
