JEDDAH, 8 March 2005 — Saudi Arabia yesterday welcomed Syrian President Bashar Assad’s announcement to withdraw his country’s forces from Lebanon and hoped that all Syrian forces would soon pull out.
“The Kingdom looks forward to the implementation of the pullout mechanism declared by the Syrian-Lebanese Supreme Council meeting and to the completion of the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon in the near future,” the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting a statement issued by the Cabinet after its weekly session in Riyadh.
Crown Prince Abdullah, who chaired the meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace, called upon the Lebanese people to safeguard their country’s unity and stability and overcome the present crisis “through dialogue between various political forces, keeping away from everything that creates division and discord.”
The crown prince briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks with President Bashar and King Abdallah of Jordan, which focused on Syrian pullout and other major issues.
Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said the Cabinet approved new regulations to protect the Internet and other communications network from hackers as well as to prevent activities that would harm these networks and forestall communication and exchange of information.
Referring to a request by Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi to renew the agreement with GTZ, a German technical cooperation agency, the Cabinet authorized the minister to hold talks with German officials to renew it for five years.
However, the Cabinet proposed two major changes to the agreement. As per the changes, the agreement would be renewed automatically every year if either party does not demand its cancellation at least six months before its expiry. And even after cancellation, its rules would be applicable to the programs and projects, which are not completed, as well as to claims yet to be settled.
The meeting also approved the national strategy and program to combat desertification.
