RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Monday urged the international community to adopt a firm stand against the Israeli threat to the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon and stop its ongoing efforts to Judaize Jerusalem. The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, denounced Israel’s inhuman acts against the Palestinians. It called for global efforts to stop Israel’s arbitrary arrest of Palestinian leaders and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Members at the Cabinet meeting expressed their deep sorrow over the terrorist attacks in Iraq, which killed and injured a large number of innocent people in the country.
“Saudi Arabia rejects terrorism, wherever it may be and whoever is its source,” a statement said.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet expressed its hope that the Iraqi government’s efforts to establish peace and security in the country would be successful.
Khoja said the Cabinet took a number of important decisions. It approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Egypt for military cooperation, and another MoU with Tunisia for cooperation in information technology, communications and postal services. Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif was authorized to hold talks with his Philippine counterpart to discuss an extradition treaty.
Talks will also be held with Ecuadorian officials on a general cooperation accord. The Cabinet wanted changes to the 5th and 12th articles of the International Monetary Fund’s agreement.
The changes would allow the fund to use local currency for investments and cancellation of the investment portfolio after the local fund is revoked.
