JEDDAH, 21 June 2005 — Saudi Arabia yesterday expressed its optimism that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s current tour would activate the Middle East peace process. The Kingdom also said that continued tension in the region was hampering development.
The Council of Ministers, during its weekly session chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah in Riyadh yesterday, expressed hope that the flexibility shown by the Palestinian side toward peace initiatives would make Rice’s mission easy.
Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said the meeting viewed the continued tension and instability in the Middle East as obstructions to achieving comprehensive economic and social development.
The meeting condemned the bloody bombings that take place in Iraq daily, saying they were aimed at “promoting division and mutual killings.”
The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for all efforts aimed at strengthening inter-GCC relations.
Referring to the decisions taken by the meeting, Madani said the Cabinet approved alterations to laws related to sick leave for military officers and enlisted men. According to the new regulations, they are entitled to 12 months sick leave in three years with full salary and six months with half salary.
The Cabinet decided to strengthen scientific and educational cooperation with Azerbaijan, Madani said, adding that Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari had been authorized to hold talks with his Azeri counterpart to sign a memorandum of understanding in this regard. The proposed MoU will encourage the exchange of visits by officials, teaching staff and researchers in both countries.
“It also offers training facilities for the staffs of universities and other institutions of higher education in technical, medical and technological areas,” the Saudi Press Agency said. It also includes the exchange of scholarships and academic seats.
The Cabinet meeting approved the appointments of Dr. Sultan ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Anqari as security adviser at the Interior Ministry, Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Sanad, administrative and financial director at the Commission for Investigation and Public Prosecution, and Muhammad ibn Suleiman Al-Ajaji, law expert at the Commission of Experts under the Council of Ministers.
Meanwhile, the Shoura Council yesterday proposed that officials of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice should wear a special uniform and should carry special identity cards, according to Dr. Saleh Al-Malik, the council’s secretary-general.
The Shoura made these proposals while discussing the commission’s annual report, Al-Malik said, adding that the Shoura asked the authorities to provide the commission with necessary manpower and facilities to carry out its mission in an effective manner.
The Shoura meeting asked municipalities to rehabilitate disorganized and poorly-maintained residential districts and give priority to areas of limited income groups when providing utility services.
The Shoura urged the Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry to set out a timeframe for the construction of drainage systems to solve problems caused by rainwater and floods.
“Emphasis must be given to environmental health and combating contagious diseases as well as to improving the capabilities of health supervisors,” Al-Malik said.
