Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency after a Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet has reorganized the commission and brought it under the foreign minister. The Foreign Ministry’s undersecretary for multilateral relations is the chairman of the commission that comprises representatives from a number of government departments.

The Cabinet also decided to set up a permanent committee at King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology to become a national center for contact and coordination to implement international agreements banning nuclear weapons.

Earlier, King Abdullah briefed the Cabinet on his talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and pledged Saudi Arabia’s full support to Baghdad in order to protect the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also reviewed the outcome of his talks with Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet and said the new agreements with Vietnam would strengthen bilateral ties. The Cabinet also expressed its deep sorrow over the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and scores of other Polish figures in a plane crash a few days ago.

Spelling out the commission’s new powers, Khoja said: “It will serve as the national center for contacting international organizations concerned with implementing agreements on banning chemical and biological weapons, along with other countries that have ratified the treaties in order to implement the ban and meet its requirements.”

The commission will also coordinate with relevant government departments and agencies to ensure effective implementation of the ban. It will also draft general policies relating to the ban on chemical and biological weapons and study relevant international pacts and protocols.

The Cabinet also took a series of measures to contain increase in barley prices in local markets. It said the state would import adequate amounts of barley to ensure enough supply, break monopoly and stabilize prices in coordination with the ministries of finance, agriculture, and commerce and industry.

Traders have been instructed not to charge more than SR4 in profit per each 50 kg bag of barley while the supply committee has been asked to review barley prices and take necessary action in order for consumers to get the cereal at reasonable prices.

Provincial governors have been instructed to supervise inspections of warehouses in order to check violations. “If an importer violates any regulations he would be denied subsidy assistance and banned from importing for six months. If the violation takes place from the supplier he would be banned from doing the job for the same period. If the two repeats the violation they would be banned from practicing the job once and for all,” the Cabinet said. In addition, photos of the violators will be published in three local newspapers at their expense.

Khoja said the Cabinet decided to establish diplomatic relations with Columbia. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has been instructed to sign protocols in this respect. A memorandum of understanding will be signed with Belgium for cooperation in health. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of Aljazira Takaful Taawuni Company.