RIYADH: The Cabinet approved Monday the Minister of Labor's recommendations for the appointments of chairman and members of the Higher Commission for the Settlement of Labor Disputes. The Commission, which will be chaired by Ibrahim Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Gudaibi, consists of 10 members named by the Cabinet on the minister's recommendation. Chairing the weekly Cabinet, Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, felicitated the nation on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' recovery and discharge from hospital following the successful operation to stabilize vertebrae in his spinal column. The Crown Prince thanked Almighty Allah for the good health bestowed on King Abdullah and extended the Kingdom's thanks to their majesties and excellencies in Islamic, Arab and friendly countries for their gestures of support. Following the meeting, Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, told the Saudi Press Agency that ministers were briefed on international developments and that they reiterated their condemnation of the terrorist attack in Alexandria, Egypt. The Cabinet offered its condolences to President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian people and families of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. The Cabinet also discussed the situation in Iraq and expressed the hope that the new Iraqi government would fulfill the Iraqi people's wish for peace, stability and security. Khoja said Crown Prince Sultan urged officials to comply with King Abdullah's directives on ensuring that all the projects contained in the budget for the current year are completed. Crown Prince Sultan also looked at events and gatherings held recently in the Kingdom, including the 20th session of the Fiqh Academy in Makkah, and the Manuscript Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exhibition opened Monday in Riyadh by Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz. In other business, the Cabinet authorized Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss with his counterparts in Germany, Italy and Spain a possible draft law exempting diplomats in those countries and the Kingdom from the need for obtaining entry visas. The Cabinet also approved an agreement between the Kingdom and Ethiopia exempting the two countries from taxes on air transportation.
