JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers has instructed authorities to treat all GCC citizens equally in employment at government departments and institutions, Information Minister Iyad Madani said.
The Cabinet meeting on Monday night, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, took the decision on employment of GCC citizens in the light of a resolution adopted by the GCC summit in Qatar six years ago.
Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, GCC secretary-general praised the Saudi Cabinet decision to implement the GCC summit resolution.
Madani said the Cabinet also extended the Eid holidays of government employees for three days. According to the revised schedule, they will resume duty after vacation on Oct. 11.
He said King Abdullah instructed the ministers to implement welfare projects as quickly as possible for the benefit of citizens.
The Cabinet emphasized Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to Islam, adding that its domestic and external policies are based on its teachings. “The Kingdom will always try to uphold the values of Islam such as justice, equality, solidarity and tolerance. It will also safeguard the right of a person to have a decent life and to have responsible freedom as well as the right of people to differ within the limits allowed by the Shariah,” the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting a Cabinet statement as saying.
The Cabinet meeting expressed satisfaction over the Kingdom’s winning of 16th position in World Bank’s list concerning investment competitiveness.
The Cabinet said the Kingdom’s economic policy was based on the Islamic concept of maintaining a balance between individual interest and social right and between capital freedom and social responsibility. “King Abdullah has instructed all ministers and officials to follow these basic principles and guidelines,” Madani said.Speaking about other decisions taken by the Cabinet, the minister said it endorsed the defense agreement with Italy that was signed in November last year. It also approved another agreement with Jordan in December 2007 on demarcating the marine border in the Gulf of Aqaba.
The Cabinet appointed Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh and Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari as new members of the National Committee on Combating Drugs. Abdul Rahman Al-Ateek has been named director general of administration at the Ministry of Defense and Aviation while Nasser Al-Houti has been appointed minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry.
