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, chaired today the Cabinet's virtual session.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of the message he has sent to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, in which he confirmed the firm ties binding the two countries and peoples.

Then the Cabinet reviewed the overall talks and consultations His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had with each of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi; Russian President's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, covering the bilateral relations and ways of enhancing and developing them as well as discussing the developments of regional and international situations and coordinating the efforts being exerted towards them in a way that enhances security and stability.

In this regard, the Cabinet reiterated the importance of continuing lending support for solving the Syrian crisis and finding a political path to serve as an asset to reach a settlement and stability of the situation in Syria in a way that guarantees security for its people and protects them from terrorist organizations and sectarian militias which impede reaching a real solution.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet has reaffirmed the Kingdom's support for the efforts of the United Nations envoy for Yemen to reach a comprehensive ceasefire and a start of an inclusive political process according to the three references (the GCC Initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the national dialogue and the UN Security Council resolution No. 2216). The Cabinet underlined the importance of extending weapons embargo on Iran as it is continuing to provide the terrorist Houthi militias with advanced weapons and drones used to terrify the Yemenis and target civilians and civil objects in the Kingdom deliberately and systematically.

The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's support for the international efforts aimed at ensuring that the Iranian regime does not develop a nuclear weapons system and ballistic missiles, making the Arab gulf region free of all weapons of mass destruction, and respect the independence and sovereignty of countries and not to interfere in its internal affairs.

The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's congratulations to Libya, its government and its people on the occasion of granting confidence to the government of national unity, and its support for the efforts leading to a political solution to the crisis. The Kingdom hopes that this step will achieve security, stability and development in Libya, preserve its unity and sovereignty, and prevent external interference that endanger Arab regional security.

Dr. Al-Qasabi indicated that the Cabinet reviewed Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments at the local and international levels, and the latest statistics and indicators related to the virus, in light of the efforts made to control the fluctuation in the infections curve. The Cabinet also reviewed the continued expansion of the vaccination campaign, and the launch of more vaccination centers in various regions of the Kingdom, in order to preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents, limit the spread of the virus, and facilitate vaccination with approved vaccines that have shown high protection from infection.

The Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the results 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 authorized Minister of National Guard, Chairman of the Saudi side of the Saudi-Russian Economic Committee - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft agreement to establish the Saudi-Russian Economic Committee between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Russian Federation.

Second: The Cabinet authorized Minister of Media, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Broadcasting Authority - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of radio and television between Saudi Broadcasting Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and TV.RI Channel of the Republic of Indonesia, within the framework of the Joint Saudi-Indonesian Committee.

Third: The Cabinet approved the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's accession to the protocol supplementary to the 1970 Hague Convention, relating to the suppression of the unlawful seizure of aircraft (Beijing Protocol 2010).

Forth: The Cabinet approved the governing principles of the Assembly of Arab House of Representatives.

Fifth: The Cabinet approved the agricultural system, which, when comes into effect, shall cancel the following systems:

- The fishing, investment and protection of living aquatic resources in the territorial waters of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/9) dated 3/27/1408 H.

- Livestock system, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/13) dated 3/10/1424 H.

- The beekeeping system, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/15) dated 3/13/1431 H.

- The Organic Agriculture system, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/55) dated 9/16/1435 H.

- Regulations of organizing trade in agricultural machinery, issued by Cabinet Resolution No 96 dated 21/5/1405 H.

Sixth: The Cabinet approved the privatization system.

Seventh: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14 and 15 ranks, and appointed an ambassador.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.