King Abdullah chairs Cabinet session (9/19/11)
September 19, 2011
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz began the weekly Cabinet meeting at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh today with a briefing on his contacts last week with foreign officials. These included talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; a message sent to Tunisian Interim President Foued Mebazaa; a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and audiences with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Chang Qow Lee.The King congratulated the Saudi people in advance of Saudi National Day, which falls on Friday this year. “The celebration of this day reminds us of the great achievements made by the founder of this country, the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud, whose approach was followed by his sons,” he said. “This achievement was based on firm fundamental principles, including adherence to the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, exerting efforts, overcoming all challenges, pursuit of development to achieve growth and development in various fields throughout the country while preserving the values and fundamentals, and living in security and stability in light of a national unity that has become a unique model in appreciation and cohesion between the leaders of this country and its loyal people.”
Afterwards, the Cabinet heard a number of reports on the latest Arab and international developments. The ministers reviewed the final statement issued by the 136th Arab League Ministerial Council meeting, as well as the decisions issued by the 88th session of the Arab League’s Economic and Social Council.
Turning to its remaining agenda items, the Cabinet approved the Headquarters Agreement and the attached Protocol between the Kingdom and the Muslim World League; approved a number of measures regarding the implementation of the Second Phase of the school transportation project; approved measures aimed at alleviating the difficulties faced by directors of internal audits in government bodies; approved measures related to fish investment; and authorized the Ministry of Transportation to set engineering designs for railway networks between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.
