JEDDAH, 7 August — Saudi Arabia yesterday urged the international community to take effective action to protect Palestinians as Israel continued its military offensive in the occupied territories, killing innocent civilians and destroying their houses and properties. It also called for an end to Israel’s human rights violations and its assassination of Palestinian leaders.
The weekly Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, emphasized the need to halt Israel’s violation of Islamic holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
“Saudi Arabia condemns all Israeli practices against Islamic holy sites,” the Cabinet statement said in reference to an Israeli move to establish a third Jewish temple at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.
“It is the duty of the free world and peace-loving countries, which intend to establish security and stability in the Middle East, to increase their resolve not to launch new peace initiatives, but to revitalize the mechanism to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the Cabinet statement said.
King Fahd briefed the ministers on the content of a message he received from Syrian President Bashar Assad last week and on the outcome of his recent talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and Algerian Parliamentary Speaker Abdul Qader ibn Saleh, special envoy of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Information Minister Dr. Fuad Al-Farsi said the meeting also approved rules and regulations for protecting the country’s vast collection of historical manuscripts. The rules were proposed by Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, general supervisor of the King Fahd National Library.
The meeting authorized Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal to hold talks with his Ethiopian counterpart to conclude an agreement for cooperation in economic, commercial, investment, technical, cultural, sports and youth welfare areas.
Al-Farsi said the meeting approved an agreement with Malaysia to protect and promoting joint investments. The Cabinet also decided to reach an accord with Hungary for economic, commercial, investment, technical and cultural cooperation. Prince Saud is scheduled to hold talks with Hungarian officials.
The meeting endorsed the final accounts of the General Organization for Grain Silos and Flour Mills for 1996. It appointed Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman Baisa, deputy mayor of Jeddah for municipal projects and construction.
Meanwhile, King Fahd issued a Royal Decree appointing Dr. Saed ibn Khidr Al-Arabi Al-Harithy as adviser at the Ministry of Interior. He also promoted 67 military officers to various ranks.
