Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, on Tuesday chaired the Cabinet's virtual session.

At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the contents of two messages the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince have received from each of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of the Republic of The Philippines and the Lt Gen Mahamat Idriss Déby, Leader of Chad's Transitional Military Council.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the overall meetings that took place between Saudi senior officials and representatives of a number of friendly countries over the past days to enhance bilateral cooperation to wider horizons in various fields, in support of the process of joint Arab cooperation and enhancing the Saudi pioneering role addressing international issues, including global environmental challenges.

In this context, the Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's participation in the Arab foreign ministers consultative meeting, the contents of the statement issued by the 148th session of the GCC Ministerial Council which outlined the efforts made to implement the decisions of Al-Ula summit, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' vision to strengthen the GCC action in all fields as well as the political developments regionally and internationally.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi stated that the Cabinet cited the joint and firm commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America to confront the increasing challenges of climate change, work to enhance the implementation of Paris Agreement, provide support for the "Saudi Green" and " Middle East Green" Initiatives, share bilateral participation in each of them, including the fields of clean energy and sustainable agriculture, exploitation of lands and cooperation to make the G20 Summit in Italy and the Conference of the Parties in Glasgow a success.

The Cabinet was briefed on the preparations and arrangements being exerted by the competent authorities to carry out their security, organizational, preventive and service plans in accordance to an integrated work system designed to provide pilgrims with all means of comfort, and more facilitation to perform their rituals in a spiritual atmosphere, upon the best level of services and facilities, and what guarantees their security and safety from the dangers of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet cited the comprehensive development that Saudi Arabia is witnessing in accordance with the plans and programs of Vision 2030 In this regard, the Cabinet paid tribute to HRH Crown Prince for launching eight housing and medical projects for employees of the Ministry of Defense in a number of administrative regions at a total cost of more than four billion Saudi Riyals, as part of a series of projects implemented at the best standards and specifications, and state-of-the-art medical and technical equipment.

The Cabinet reiterated its condemnation of the continuing violations by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia of the international laws and norms through launching booby-trapped UAVs towards civilians and civilian objects in Saudi Arabia, in a deliberate and systematic manner.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the outcomes reached by each of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.

The Cabinet issued the following decisions:

First:

The Cabinet amended a draft framework agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries governments, as per the Cabinet's Resolution No. (70) dated 2/2/1436 H.

Second:

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Civil Aviation Authority, or his deputy, to sign a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of air transport services between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria, and forward the final version for further authentication.

Third:

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance to issue the necessary licenses to each of STC Bank, under establishment, and the Saudi Digital Bank, under establishment, in accordance with Article (Third) of the Banking Control Law issued by Royal Decree No. (M / 5) dated 22/2/1386 H.

Fourth:

The Cabinet ordered the establishment of an administrative unit as part of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development under the name (Social Specialties Unit).

Fifth:

The Cabinet approved two final accounts of the General Authority of the State on the Funds of Minors, and the like, for the previous two fiscal years.

Sixth:

The cabinet amended of the Law of Religious Pleadings Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/1) dated 22/1/1435 H, as per the resolution.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda including annual reports of each of the Ministry of Interior, Eastern Region's Development Authority, General Prosecution regarding the administrative and financial aspects, the General Authority for King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and took relevant recommendations.