THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ CHAIRED THE CABINET'S SESSION AT ALYAMAMAH PALACE IN RIYADH ON MONDAY. AT THE OUTSET OF THE SESSION, THE KING BRIEFED THE CABINET ON COMMUNICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS HE HAD OVER THE PREVIOUS DAYS ON BILATERAL RELATIONS AND REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. IN A STATEMENT TO SAUDI PRESS AGENCY (SPA) FOLLOWING THE SESSION, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION IYAD BIN AMEEN MADANI SAID THAT THE COUNCIL COMMENDED THE CURRENT PRACTICAL STEPS TO ANNOUNCE THE FORMATION OF THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT AND EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THESE STEPS WILL ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO END THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND CONFRONT THE UNJUST MEASURES THEY SUFFER UNDER ISRAELI AUTHORITIES. ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SAID THE COUNCIL REITERATED THE KINGDOM'S STAND ASSERTING THE UNITY OF THE HOMELAND AND PEOPLE OF IRAQ, SAFEGUARDING ITS SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE, DISTANCING IT AWAY FROM ALL FORMS OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, AND PROMOTING THE NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AMONG ALL ITS GROUPS. IN THIS FRAMEWORK, THE COUNCIL EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL BAGHDAD CONFERENCE WHICH WAS HELD RECENTLY IN THE IRAQI CAPITAL WOULD BRING ABOUT HOPES FOR RECONCILIATION WHICH WILL MAKE IRAQIS EQUAL IN RIGHTS AND DUTIES. THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SAID AFTERWARDS, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED THE ISSUES ON ITS AGENDA AND TOOK THE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS.
