- Riyadh, February 01, 2010

  The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held at Al-Yamamah Palace here today.

  At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contacts, meetings and consultations that took place during the last week, including the message he received from Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

  In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja said the Cabinet listened to a number of reports on the developments at international arena. The Cabinet commended the outcomes of London Conference on Afghanistan and Yemen, reiterating the Kingdom's full commitment to maintaining long-term policies to provide aid and assistance for Afghanistan. Also, the Cabinet stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue supporting Yemen, urging the international community to support Yemen to overcome all challenges it faces.

  Dr. Khoja also said the Cabinet discussed a number of issues in domestic affairs, including the projects implemented by various governmental sectors. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques directed the ministers to make sure that the projects are fully implemented at the specified time and in accordance with the budget.

  The Cabinet addressed the economic, cultural and scientific activities which took place in the Kingdom during the last few days, commending the outcomes of the International Exhibition for Higher Education which was held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. More than 300 representatives of foreign universities participated in the Exhibition. The Cabinet also commended the memoranda of cooperation concluded by Saudi universities with several world universities in various fields of sciences, emphasizing that this comes within the Kingdom's continued keenness on enhancing higher education.

Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet then reviewed a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions:

  The Cabinet approved the Kingdom's accession to the Convention on Nuclear Safety which was adopted in Vienna on 17/06/1994.

  The Cabinet authorized the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee to conclude a memorandum of understanding with the National Olympic Committee of America. The Cabinet also authorized the Deputy President of Youth Welfare, being the Vice-President of Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, (or his deputy) to discuss and sign this memorandum of understanding.

  The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance (or his deputy) to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of Islamic affairs and endowments between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

  The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for scientific and educational cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Sciences and Innovation of the Kingdom of Spain which was signed in Madrid on 01/04/2009.

  The Cabinet approved a number of measures regarding the Two Holy Mosques Express Train.

  The Cabinet approved a number of measures regarding the formation of specialized scientific councils in the Experts Commission of the Cabinet that undertakes translation into foreign languages.

  The Cabinet appointed Muhanna bin Abdulkarim bin Mohammed Al-Muhanna as Director General of Central Department of Statistics and Information (rank 15) at the Central Department of Statistics and Information. The Cabinet appointed Fawaz bin Naif bin Nawaf Al-Shaalan as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.