JEDDAH, 7 August 2007 — Custodian of the Two Mosques King Abdullah who chaired the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah yesterday, said that Saudi Arabia was optimistic of finding solutions to all the problems currently troubling many Arab and Muslim countries.
“The Arab and Muslim world possesses the vast potential for awakening, development and the realization of security, stability and prosperity. They are also capable of making fruitful contributions to a better world future by bringing about a rapprochement between various cultures,” he said. King Abdullah emphasized the Kingdom’s desire to preserve the interests, security and stability of the nation. It is also keen on making unified Arab efforts and strengthening the solidarity of the Muslim world.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani said the Kingdom had a realistic understanding of various forces that influence world events. “The Kingdom supports a middle course, moderation and order in the Muslim world. It maintains a policy of open-mindedness and generosity while dealing with the countries of the world,” Madani quoted the council as saying.
The council observed, however, that there were some forces that obstructed peace, stability and progress. “They speak in several voices and work for disunion. They adopt stands far from facts and work for narrow interests. By overcoming these forces, their slogans and ideologies, the crises in the region could be solved,” Madani quoted the king as saying.
The Cabinet approved the recommendation for administrative organization to assign personnel to coordinate information technology in various government departments. The Cabinet OK’d the agreement for the protection and encouragement of mutual investments with India. It allows free transfer of payments for investments and profits between two countries.
