RIYADH, 4 March 2008 — The Council of Ministers said yesterday that Saudi Arabia would stand by the Palestinians with all its potentials against the Israeli aggression. It held the UN Security Council responsible for the Jewish state’s continuous violation of the international law.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also decided to sell 50 percent of Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) in an initial public offering.
In accordance with the Cabinet decision, state-owned Public Investment Fund (PIF) will take the remaining half or 462.5 million shares of the company, which has a capital of SR9.25 billion.
Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said the Cabinet meeting reaffirmed the Kingdom’s solid stand toward the Palestinians’ legitimate rights. It also condemned the Israeli atrocities in the occupied territories.
“The UN Security Council should take the moral and political responsibility for Israel’s practices and continuous violations of the international law,” the Saudi Press Agency said quoting a Cabinet statement.
The Cabinet said Saudi Arabia would continue its efforts to unify Arab ranks, help Arabs take independent decisions without foreign influence. It stressed the need for improving inter-Arab relations.
Madani said the Cabinet took a number of other important decisions. It endorsed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Poland for political consultations between the two foreign ministries; and authorized the labor minister to hold talks with New Zealand officials on reaching an MOU for cooperation in technical and vocational training.
The Cabinet also reviewed progress of work at 780 educational projects across the country.
Meanwhile, the Shoura Council yesterday announced the new chairmen and vice chairmen of its 12 specialized committees. Azeb Al-Musbil is the new chairman of the committee for Islamic and judicial affairs and human rights while Abdullah Al-Dossary is his deputy. The economic and energy affairs committee is headed by Saleh Al-Hosaini and Dr. Amr Rajab is his deputy. Dr. Khalil Al-Khalil is the chairman of the security committee and Shubaili Al-Garni is his deputy. The education and scientific research committee is headed by Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Aasimi and his deputy is Dr. Ahmed Al-Mufreh.
The Culture and Media Committee will be chaired by Dr. Aidh Al-Radadi. Dr. Abdullah Al-Feefi is his deputy.
Dr. Sadaqa Fadhil is the chairman of the foreign affairs committee and Dr. Talal Dhahi is his deputy. Dr. Osama Abu Gharara is the chairman of the financial affairs committee while Hassan Al-Shahri is his deputy.
The chairmen and vice chairmen of the remaining panels are as follows: Social, family and youth affairs committee Dr. Talal Bakri/Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Tamimi; health & environmental affairs committee Dr. Mohsen Al-Hazimi/Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Mulhim; Transport, telecom and IT committee Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijeri/Dr. Faisal Taher; and Administration & manpower committee Saud Al-Shammari/Dr. Falah Al-Subaie.
