JEDDAH, 18 July 2006 - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reminded the international community, particularly the influential big countries with economic interests in the region, that they are responsible to end the massively destructive war launched by Israel against Lebanon and lift the siege around the Palestine people and their legitimate institutions.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the weekly meeting of the Council of Minister chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani said that the council also noted that the international reaction against the all-out war launched by Israel with all latest destructive weapons supplied to them by some countries "makes clear the extent of the laxity and negligence of the international community toward the crimes committed by Israel."
The council also stressed the absolute support given by some countries to the Israeli policies led to "obstruct the (UN) Security Council taking decision in this matter." Last week the US vetoed a UN resolution condemning Israel's attack of Gaza.
The council also affirmed that those defective policies "led to the siege of the Palestine Authority politically, economically and financially and they aim at upsetting the historical balance and stability in some of the states in the region which in turn paved the way to extremism, frustration and instability, and destruction of the social security. These shortsighted policies also led to the disruption of the national stability of the region resulting in some elements and movements slipping out and slithering into their own decisions which Israel exploited in the most horrendous manner to launch a terrible war against Lebanon and imprison the entire Palestinian people."
The Kingdom also demanded the international community to support the Lebanese government in its efforts to maintain its sovereignty all over the Lebanon.
On the domestic front, the Council of Ministers approved the amendment proposed by Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, to the international Basel Protocol regarding the transportation of hazardous waste across borders. The protocol is in regards to compensation for damages incurred in accidents.
The proposal will also set out the plan to monitor and combat the trading and illegal disposal of the hazardous wastes. The council also approved the formation of a national committee comprising a number of government departments with the task to approve the national strategy on the management of hazardous waste. Its tasks also included the setting out of the plan to monitor the illegal disposal and transfer of hazardous waste.
The council authorized the interior minister or his deputy to discuss the draft protocol of the security cooperation with Iraq and its neighboring governments in order to fight against terrorism and infiltration and organized crime.
Also discussed at the council was the subject of negotiations with the Republic of Georgia on the draft of the general agreement on cooperation between the two countries.
Another decision taken by the council was the approval of the draft agreement submitted by the finance minister to avoid double taxation on income and capital and tax evasion signed in Beijing on Jan. 23.
The council also endorsed the draft agreement on agricultural cooperation with China submitted by the agricultural minister.
