Govt to Saudia: Shape up

The Council of Ministers yesterday urged Saudi Arabian Airlines to increase the number of its domestic flights, raise the number of seats to all destinations to meet passenger demand and improve the quality of its services.
“Saudia should continue its efforts to develop its technical and service capabilities so as to provide distinguished services to win passenger satisfaction,” said Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja, quoting a Cabinet statement.
The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, made this statement while discussing the airline’s annual reports for 2009 and 2010.
The Cabinet authorized Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf or his deputy to sign a draft agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion concerning taxes on income and capital, Khoja said.
The Cabinet approved a model of cooperation framework agreement in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy between Saudi Arabia and its neighboring countries.
The Cabinet authorized the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy to discuss with similar institutions in neighboring countries wishing to sign nuclear agreement with the Kingdom.
The Cabinet approved Mohamed bin Suleiman Al-Rebdi as administrative adviser at the Ministry of Interior, Omar bin Mohammed Al-Turki as administrative adviser at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Braik bin Abdullah Al-Qarni as director general of the administrative development at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Suraikh as director general of Riyadh’s branch at Department of Zakat and Income.
The Cabinet approved the final account of the Human Resource Development Fund for the fiscal year 2012.
The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Human Rights Council to strengthen international cooperation between states, and lauded the decisions taken at its last session in Geneva.
Meanwhile, National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah will visit France today and meet with President Francois Hollande, Foreign Minister Roland Dumas and Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian.
Prince Miteb will discuss with French officials major regional and international issues as well as ways of strengthening bilateral relations, the Saudi Press Agency said.
Last year Prince Miteb met with Hollande in Paris and Le Drian in Riyadh and discussed issues of mutual concern. In a statement on the occasion, Prince Miteb highlighted the deep-rooted historic relations between the two countries.