RIYADH: The Cabinet was briefed Monday on government preparations for the Haj pilgrimage designed to provide “comprehensive services to the Guests of Allah to enable them to perform the Haj rituals with ease and in comfort”. Chairing the weekly session, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, instructed government bodies to “redouble their efforts in the service of pilgrims” and facilitate procedures “from their arrival to departure”. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency after the meeting that ministers praised the King's speech concluding the three-day Global Forum on Mass Gathering Medicine held in Jeddah Monday, and also thanked participants in the Forum for their praise of the Kingdom's efficiency in handling the “millions of pilgrims from all over the world who gather in a restricted time and place during the Haj and Umrah seasons”. Khoja said the Cabinet was briefed on the King's communications over the last week, including talks with Palestinian President and PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, which focused on the revival of peace talks for a just and comprehensive peace in the region. On domestic issues, Khoja said that the ministers approved a Minister of Finance recommendation to abolish Real Estate Development Fund (REDF) loan requirements that nationals must be in possession of land to acquire a loan. They also approved a fixed loan sum of SR300,000, and asked REDF to produce a mechanism for cooperation with commercial financial institutions to enable loan seekers to obtain extra financing. The Cabinet further authorized the chairman of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy to finalize and sign a draft cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and Russia for the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy. Ministers also approved the move of Al-Kharj Agricultural Project from under the jurisdiction of the Irrigation and Sewage Authority in Al-Ahsa, paving the way for its incorporation into the Animal Resources Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture. The Agricultural Project's genetic stocks bank, artificial fertilization center, and other facilities will be transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.
