The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh today. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed thanks to the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for their noble feelings towards him and also expressed appreciation to leaders and heads of countries who inquired about his health or sent their wishes of health and wellness. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques then briefed the Cabinet on his meeting with the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, as the President's visit to Saudi Arabia reviewed aspects of Saudi-Sudanese relations in various fields and opportunities to develop them, including development and investment aspects, in addition to discussing issues of common interest between the two countries. The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the British Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia and his talks with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to expand the scope of bilateral relations, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the formation of the Strategic Partnership Council between the Governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. The Cabinet reviewed the content of the phone call His Royal Highness the Crown Prince received from the Japanese Prime Minister, during which they reviewed prospects for cooperation and opportunities for their development. Moreover, they discussed regional and international issues and efforts being exerted in their regard, including the developments in Ukraine. The Cabinet in this regard reiterated Saudi Arabia's position that supports efforts aimed at settling disputes through peaceful means and dialogue to end the conflict and stop military operations, thus contributing to restoring security and stability. The Cabinet also stressed the crucial role of the OPEC+ agreement in the balance and stability of oil markets. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet applauded the signing of a document between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to develop the Dorra offshore gas field in the Arabian Gulf, in order to support growth in various vital sectors in the two countries and in implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed on 24 December, 2019, that stipulates working on developing and exploiting the strategic field to meet the growth of local demand for natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Cabinet considered the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia's aggressive attacks targeting civilian objects and vital and economic facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a systematic and deliberate manner a dangerous escalation expressing the militia's position in regard to the invitation extended by Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States in order to host inclusive Yemeni-Yemeni consultations, and underline the militia's approach of rejection towards all international efforts and initiatives, including the Saudi Initiative, aiming to reach a comprehensive political resolution to end the Yemeni crisis. The Cabinet stressed the statement of Foreign Ministry's official source that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's will not incur any responsibility for any shortage in oil supplies to global markets in light of the attacks on its oil facilities by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia, stressing the importance of the international community realizing the gravity of Iran's continued behavior of equipping the terrorist Houthi militia with the technology of the ballistic missiles and advanced UAVs with which they target the Kingdom's production sites of oil, gas and refined products, resulting in serious consequences for upstream and downstream sectors affecting the Kingdom's production capability and its ability to fulfill its commitments, undermining without a doubt, the security and sustainability of energy supplies to global markets. The Cabinet highlighted the importance of the international community's undertaking its responsibility to preserve the energy supplies and stand firm against the Iran- backed Houthi terrorist militia, deterring its malicious attacks that represent direct threat to the security of oil supplies in these extremely sensitive circumstances witnessed by the global energy markets. The Cabinet stressed the content of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's speech delivered during the Yemen Donor Conference 2022, which was held in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations, where Saudi Arabia affirmed that it will continue to support Yemen with relief and humanitarian programs in coordination with UN, international and local partners, to alleviate the humanitarian suffering resulting from the escalation of the militia, which requires a firm position from the international community to protect the Yemeni people and reach sustainable solutions that can realize peace, security and development for Yemen and its people. The Cabinet welcomed United Nations General Assembly's adoption of March 15 of each year as the International Day for combating Islamophobia, stressing that the Kingdom will continue to work with all brotherly and friendly countries and partners and international and regional organizations to support all efforts aimed at encouraging dialogue among religions and civilizations and promoting a culture of tolerance and moderation at all levels. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions: First: Approving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to join the Pacific Alliance as observer member. Second: Approving a memorandum of understanding on Islamic affairs between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic Sheikhdom in the Republic of Croatia. Third: Authorizing the Minister of Finance – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Egyptian side regarding a draft agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and government of Egypt on investments of the Public Investments Fund in Egypt, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Fourth: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Chairman of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Kuwaiti side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saline Water Conversion Corporation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research in Kuwait in the water desalination field, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Fifth: Approving a memorandum of cooperation on the intellectual property between the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Sixth: Appointing Dr. Walid bin Suleiman Abanmi, Eng. Bandar bin Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, and Sarah bint Issam Al-Muheideb as members of the private sector in the board of directors in the Nafaqah Fund. Seventh: Appointing Dr. Ahmad bin Saleh Al-Ajiri, Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Rakhis, Ahmad bin Saleh Al-Sudais as members of the board of directors of the Institute of Public Administration as members of expertise and specialty. Eighth: Approving the guidance unified general principles for mining at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, which are accredited by the Petroleum Cooperation Committee at GCC. Ninth: Approving promotions to the 15th and 14th ranks.
