Jeddah - The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the results of his talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa on bilateral relations, prospects for cooperation between the two countries and latest developments at regional and international arenas.
The King expressed his appreciation to scholars participating in International Conference of Muslim Scholars on Peace and Stability in the Republic of Afghanistan who expressed in Makkah final statement their thanks to the Kingdom's interest in Muslim issues all over the world.
Hosting the conference and its permanent positions and efforts to achieve security and peace in Afghanistan, reiterating the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia honored by Almighty Allah to serve the Two Holy Mosques since its foundation on all matters in the service of Islam and Muslims, and unifying their ranks and their words, including continuing political efforts exerted to renounce divisions and differences among segments of the Afghan people and provision of humanitarian and economic assistance since the start of the crisis in Afghanistan.
Minister of State, Cabinet's Member and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet welcomed the Makkah final statement issued by the conference on calling on states, organizations and Islamic elites to play their positive roles in achieving security and peace in Afghanistan and condemn the state of fighting.
Calling on all parties to the conflict to respond to Allah's command to stop fighting and reconciliation between brothers, extinguishing the fire of the sedition, and appealing to Muslims in general and scholars in particular to continue their firm stand in front of advocates of violence and extremism in defense of their religion and maintaining the unity of the Islamic world and that dialogue is the best way to end the conflict between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
The Cabinet commended what has been included in the joint statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of South Africa of confirmation of the importance of promoting the joint action to advance the growing relations between the two countries to broader and more comprehensive prospects in all fields
The two its concern of the Palestinian cause and the situations in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon as well as the need to exert more concerted efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, respect the sovereignty of States, non-interference in their internal affairs and stand firmly against any actions to be made by any country to destabilize the countries of the Middle East in general and the Arab Gulf region in particular.
The Cabinet also reviewed the ministerial meeting of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum at its 8th session which was held in Beijing, hailing the Forum's contribution to deepening and strengthening the Arab-Chinese cooperation and friendship between the two sides.
Through renewing support and welcome of the announcement made by President Xi Jinping to establish an Arab-Chinese strategic partnership and commending his announcement to start the executive program of the initiative to build the belt and the road that will link the interests of China and Arab countries for the good and prosperity of all in addition to his speech's content before the Forum of programs and initiatives on supporting industry in the Middle East and the economic advancement.
The Minister stated that the Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation of the suicide attacks that hit two election gatherings in Pakistan and the city of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan resulted in deaths and injuries, reiterating the Kingdom's stand and solidarity with the Republics of Pakistan and Afghanistan against terrorism and extremism, offering condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and the governments and peoples of the two countries and wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
At the local arena, the Cabinet extended its thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, based on the report submitted by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense, for pardoning all military men, who have taken part in the Renewal of Hope Operation of their respective military and disciplinary penalties for their heroism and sacrifices.
Minister Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed said that the Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council and issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Zakat and Tax - or his deputy - to sign the joining of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Multilateral Agreement for the Implementation of Procedures on Tax Treaties to Prevent erosion of tax bases and Transfer of Profits and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Second:
The Cabinet approved the joining of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled 2013. A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Transport and the Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation or his deputy - to sign a draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Georgia in the field of air transport services.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage or his deputy to discuss with the Sudanese side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism and cultural heritage between the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism , Antiquities and Wildlife in the Republic of Sudan and sign it, then forward the final version to complete the formal procedures.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved the organization of the Advisory Committee of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
Sixth:
After reviewing the proposal for regulating business between the lessee (investor) and the government agencies for the long term real estate investment contracts and the recommendation prepared by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs No (22 - 47/39 / D) dated 28/8/1439 AH, the Cabinet decided the following:
1 - The lessee shall have, in the rental contracts registered in the electronic network of rental services, the owner's character in dealing with the contract property within the limits of the rights and obligations stipulated in the contract, without the tenant having to obtain a Power of Attorney from the landlord to get a license from the official authorities to deal with the property in question according to the contract, so long as such act is the tenant's right as provided in the contract.
2. The services being provided by the electronic network include rental services for the endowments' properties.
3 - The General Authority for Awqaf prepares a unified form for the contracts of investing in endowments, registered in the network of rental services, including various options meeting the requirements of all AWqaf investment activities.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved the Statute of the Islamic Organization for Food Security adopted by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at its 40th Session held in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved the minutes of the establishment of the Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council and authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is the President of the Saudi side in the Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council to sign the said minutes.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved the final account of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy for a previous fiscal year.
Tenth:
The Cabinet approved the license for the Iraqi Commercial Bank to open a branch in the Kingdom and authorized the Minister of Finance to decide on any subsequent demands to open other branches of the Bank in the Kingdom.
Eleventh:
After reviewing the report of the Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of the National Program to support the management of the projects, operation and maintenance in public bodies, the Cabinet decided to amend Article (III) of the Cabinet's Decision No. 485 dated 16/11/1436 H to be read as follows : "The program shall be supervised by a Board of Directors headed by the Minister of Economy and Planning and memberships of the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Minister of Finance, Minister of Labor and Social development and three experienced staff to be appointed by Chairman of the Board of Directors of the program.
Twelfth:
The Cabinet approved promotions as follows:
1 - Abdulrahman bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Hunaita to the post of Administrative Adviser (rank 15th) at the Ministry of Defense.
2 - Abdulrahman bin Abdul Karim bin Ibrahim AlQuifli to the post of administrative Adviser (rank 15th) at the Ministry of Defense.
3 - Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Oudah Al-Sa'awi to the post of administrative Adviser (rank 15th) at the Ministry of Defense.
4 - Riyad bin Abdullah bin Shaman Al-Mulehi to the post of petroleum adviser (rank 14th) at the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources.
5 - Ahmed bin Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Sumairi to the post of administrative adviser (rank 14th) at the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of general issues on its agenda, including the annual report of the General Authority for Civil Aviation for a previous financial year and issued its directives towards them.