King Abdullah chairs Cabinet session (12/12/11)
December 12, 2011
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz began the Cabinet session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh today with a briefing on his latest contacts with foreign leaders, including a telephone call he received from U.S. President Barack Obama. Regarding foreign affairs, the Cabinet condemned the recent raids carried out by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of Palestinians, including women, children and the elderly. It also noted Israel’s practice of draining and polluting the water resources of Palestine, which has led to a lack of resources for its people.The Cabinet welcomed the outcome of the Afghanistan International conference held in Bonn last week, stressing the Kingdom’s commitment to the unity and stability of Afghanistan. The ministers also congratulated Yemen on the formation of a new national reconciliation government, which was achieved as a result of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) peace initiative. Finally, the Cabinet expressed hope that a meeting of Arab foreign ministers scheduled for next week in Cairo will succeed in stemming the bloodshed in Syria and restoring stability and security to that country.
Next, the Cabinet discussed a number of events that took place in the GCC states last week, including a meeting of GCC interior ministers and GCC ministers of municipalities held in Abu Dhabi, as well as a meeting of speakers of GCC parliamentary councils held in Jeddah. The ministers welcomed the approval of the establishment of a GCC police force and a permanent security committee tasked with monitoring industrial security and the protection of vital installations.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi briefed the Cabinet on the results of the 17th Meeting of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Durban, South Africa. He confirmed the Kingdom’s position in favor of a balanced approach that promotes environmental protection, while allowing for sustainable global economic growth.
Reviewing its remaining agenda items, the Cabinet approved amendment to paragraph (IV) of the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (1200), dated 9/9/1397 H.; approved the Regulation of Maritime Areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; authorized the Minister of Justice to sign an addition to the proposed amendments attached to the Unified Draft Law for the Family Courts of GCC member states; approved the implementation of the decision of the GCC Financial and Economic Committee regarding the extension of the amended regulations to exempt national industry inputs from customs taxes; approved amendments of a number of provisions relevant to the rules of supplies policy according to Cabinet decision No. (855), dated 26/5/1396 AH.; and approved the organization of the Saudi Center for the Efficiency of Energy; approved a unified system to extend insurance protection to GCC soldiers working outside their countries in any GCC member state.
The Cabinet approved the appointments of Abdulqadir bin Salem Basfar as Branch Director General of the General Auditing Bureau in Makkah Province at the General Auditing Bureau (15th rank); Ahmed Al-Saadi as Branch Director General of the General Auditing Bureau in Eastern Province at the General Auditing Bureau (15th rank); Mohammed Al-Ghaithi as Branch Director General of the Civil Status at the Ministry of Interior (14th rank); and Ibrahim Al-Najashi as Consulting Civil Engineer at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (14th rank).
