RIYADH: The Cabinet on Monday approved a recommendation put forward by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the creation of a new visa category for scientists and experts. This visa will be free of charge. The Cabinet reviewed regional and international developments, especially the situation in Yemen. The ministers were briefed on the results of the 33rd extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with the opposition leaders of Yemen held in Riyadh Sunday to discuss the Gulf initiative on Yemen. Chairing the weekly session, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, lauded the international response over the GCC initiative to help end the ongoing crisis in Yemen. The King praised the statements made by the Arab League, European Union, United States and France calling for the unity and stability of Yemen. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency after the meeting, Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the King briefed the Cabinet on the telephone call and the message he had received from US President Barack Obama. Khoja said the meeting also referred to a number of cultural and economic activities and events that took place last week in the Kingdom, under the King's patronage. On the domestic front, the Cabinet ordered the formation of a committee on science and technology comprising the Ministry of Higher Education, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, and the Council of Health Services. The Cabinet also approved reinforcement of a decision taken more than two years ago, which stipulates that the government bears 50 percent of the seaports' dues for a period of three years, effective from the decision's expiry date. The Cabinet also referred to the security operations carried out in the first quarter of the year that resulted in apprehending a group of drug traffickers and foiling plots targeting the country's security and stability.
