King Abdullah chairs Cabinet's session

King Abdullah chairs Cabinet's session
Jeddah, Sep. 26, SPA -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the weekly session of the Council of Ministers here today. At the beginning of the session, the king expressed appreciation to leaders of countries, various figures and officials of Arab, Islamic and international organizations and bodies for their genuine feelings toward the Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia as it celebrated its 75th national day, and said that these feelings reflected the high position occupied by the kingdom in the hearts of people. He added that this high position is due to the moderate course followed by this country since its foundation by the late King Abdulaziz Al Saud.

In his statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Mr. Iyad bin Ameen Madani said that the council listened to a briefing by Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, on his participation in the senior-level meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in its 60th

session and his meetings and consultations with many world leaders. The Minister of Culture and Information said the king briefed the council on the results of his talks with presidents of Yemen and Sudan which focused on boosting cooperation between the kingdom and both Yemen and Sudan for the benefit of the Ummah (nation) in general; the discussions addressed also the overall developments in the region and the world.

On the Palestinian issue, the council stressed that the Israeli escalation and acts of violence and terrorism against the Palestinians aim at aborting progress on the road of peace and require an end to the silence by the international community toward this continued Israeli arrogance.

On the Issue of Iraq, the council expressed hope that all would realize that it is in the interest of the region that Iraq should remain a unified Arab-Islamic political entity representing all its people and sects and free of interference in its internal affairs. The Minister said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alsalem was appointed additional member of the Tourism Higher Authority's board of directors according to a recommendation of the Minister of Interior.

The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the foreign ministries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Azerbaijan in the benefit of the two countries in different fields, bilaterally, regionally and internationally.

The Cabinet endorsed the new labor bill aiming at replacing expatriates by Saudi nationals. The new system instructed all businesses to recruit not less than 75 percent of its laborers. However, if that was not possible, the Minister of Labor was allowed to reduce that rate. Businesses accommodating 25 or more workers are compelled to recruit at least a four percent qualified handicapped.

Women were allowed to join whatever vacancies in all fields suiting their physiology. Businesses with 50 female workers or more are compelled to establish a nursery to care for the children of less than six-year olds whose mothers are joining the facility. The Cabinet approved the regulations licensing real estate shares. No real estate could be announced before winning the approval of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Upon the recommendation of the Minister of Transport, the Cabinet decided to add the Ports Authority to the membership of the Standing Committee for the Law of the Sea.

An appeal committee assigned to consider financial securities disputes was formed of the following:

1. Ahmed bin Mohammed Alkhuwaiter of the Finance Ministry as Chairman

2 & 3. Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Al Miqren of the Cabinet's Experts Commission and Falah bin Ali Almansour of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as members.

The Cabinet approved the transfer of Hassan bin Fadhl Mihdar Oqail from the post of Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economics and Planning for Financial and Administrative Affairs to the post of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for Internal Commerce, and the appointment of Saad bin Abdulrahman Saadi to the 14th rank at the Governorate of Riyadh Region.