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March 21, 2003 |
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***** Under the Chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques the Council of Ministers issued the following decisions: First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to discuss with the Omani side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman to regulate cooperation between the two countries on freedom-related penalties. The Council of Ministers approved a number of measures and mechanisms related to investment in some minerals and precious stones, and levies on investment revenues.. This decision is valid until the issuance of the Mineral Investment Act. Second: the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources was assigned to prepare a report on a three-yearly basis on the prices of raw materials licensed for investment in the Kingdom. Third: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance and National Economy or his deputy to sign a draft agreement to set up the Saudi Algerian Investment Company and its statute. Fourth: the Cabinet approved the final version of the agreement for technical cooperation regarding the capital deposited at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Fifth: the Cabinet agreed to establish a charity for orphans, to raise funds and use subsidies presented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to assist orphans and those who face social deprivation after being discharged from orphanages. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard has issued his directions to form a committee to study the obstacles facing investors and investments opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The Secretary General of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry Dr Fahd Al Sultan said a group of businessmen have asked for the Crown Prince's permission to participate in setting up the economic system. Al Sultan said he met with officials at the Ministry of planning with regards to the participation of businessmen in the setting up of the eighth five years plan. On the other hand Al Sultan added that the Chambers of Commerce council has set up a committee to solve problems amongst investors. He said the budget of the Council has been reduced by 10% but at the same time this will not affect its performance. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard has received at his palace in Jeddah Prince Sultan Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz the General President of the Youth Welfare and Chairman of the Saudi Football Union, Prince Nawaf Ibn Faisal Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Deputy General President of the Youth Welfare and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Football Union, Prince Turki Ibn Khalid Ibn Faisal Supervisor of the Kingdom's football team and member of the Saudi Football Union, Prince Nawaf Ibn Saad Ibn Abdullah General Supervisor of the Youth football team as well as members of the Saudi Football Union, members of the first team, and officials of the team on the occasion of achieving the championship in the Prince Faisal Ibn Fahd competition held in Kuwait between the 12 and the 26th of Shawal 1423. The Crown Prince congratulated them and urged them to continue on the path of success. From his side Prince Sultan Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Crown Prince for receiving them and stressed that the development of sports has been achieved with the will of God the Almighty and the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard as well as Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. He reiterated the will of all members of the team to represent the Kingdom in the international and regional competitions. The Crown Prince offered the team gifts and rewards. The meeting was attended by Prince Saud Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General stressed the importance of reading the Quran in the introduction book of Prince Sultan Prize for Quran memorization to military personnel. Prince Sultan thanked the competitors and wished good luck and success. Activities of the second Prince Sultan International Prize for Memorization and Intonation of the Holy Quran by the military men took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The contest aims at encouraging the military men in the various Muslim countries to memorize the Holy Quran and understand its meanings. Moreover the contest aims at highlighting the significant role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the service of the Holy Quran, the Islamic spirit of the Saudi armed forces as well as enhancing relations among the military men in the Muslim world. Under the patronage of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Assistant Defense and Aviation Minister for Military Affairs, opened a ceremony to begin activities of the second Prince Sultan International Prize for Memorization of the Holy Quran by the military men of the Muslim countries. Speaking on the occasion, Major General Dr Faisal Bali, the supervisor general of the Prize, highlighted the great attention being given by the Saudi officials to the Holy Quran. He noted that the organization of the contest aims at encouraging the military men for memorization and intonation of the Holy Quran Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan, who inaugurated the website of the Prize on the Internet, said memorization of the Holy Quran paves the way for the person to become a God-fearing man. He noted that the Holy Quran is the way for the Muslims to restore the glories of the past, and to be awakened in the present time to bring about development and progress. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan praised the great attention paid by the Saudi officials towards the Holy Quran. The ceremony was attended by minister of Islamic affairs, endowments, call and guidance Sheikh Saleh Al Al-Sheikh and a number of senior officials. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Special Relief Committee will participate in the activities of the fourth Buraidah exhibition for call on the 22nd of Muharram 1424H under the patronage of Prince Faisal Ibn Bandar Ibn Abdul Aziz, governor of Al Qassim. Dr Faisal Ibn Jafar Bali said the committee which participated in the second and third exhibition in Riyadh will exhibit its relief work in needy countries. He added that the committee will held training sessions amongst which the marketing of charitable projects in addition to publishing some new leaflets and press releases. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received Djibouti Ambassador designate to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Zia-uddin Saeed Bamakhramah. On the other hand, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Pakistani ambassador designate to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Mirza. The meetings were attended by a number of senior officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of the Interior received at his office in Jeddah the Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Dr Andrei Baklanov. During the meeting they reviewed issues of mutual interests between both countries. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, received the Syrian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr Ahmed Nizamuddin. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. The Faculty of Medicine at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah will organize on April, 2003 the second conference for internal diseases, under the chairmanship of Prince Abdul Majeed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Makkah. This was announced by Dr Mohammed Al Ahwal head of the internal diseases department at the university. On the other hand Prince Abdul Majeed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the governor of Makkah and honourary chairman of the Quran memorization committee will patronize the annual ceremony for Quran memorization with the presence of a number of high ranking personalities, on 18/3/1424H in Jeddah. The Chairman of the society Engineer Abdul Aziz Hanafi said the society has 34,000 students and 1845 teachers in 479 mosques. Jeddah-based King Abdul Aziz Hospital and Tumors Center will organize on April 1, 2003, a symposium on the new developments in the field of pediatrics. Dr Jamal Al-Gathmi, the director of training and continuous education at the Hospital and head of the symposium's organizing committee, said a number of pediatricians will participate in the two-day symposium. Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed Malik, the head of the pediatrics department at the hospital, said the participants of the symposium will shed light on infectious diseases in the western region in addition to diseases of endocrine glands, heart and kidney. Dr Faisal Bali, the supervisor general of the second Prince Sultan International Prize for the Holy Quran Memorization has highlighted Prince Sultan's initiative to conduct a contest for the Holy Quran memorization for the military personnel in Muslim countries and give an award named after him on a bi-annual basis. The remarks of Dr Bali came at a press conference held at the officers' club in Riyadh. Dr Bali pointed out that arrangements were underway to expand the scope of the prize so as to cover the Holy Quran interpretation and other sciences in the next contests. He noted that the Prize's committee includes a number of important personalities who are well aware of the sciences of the Holy Quran like Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Akhdhar and Dr Ibrahim Al-Dosari. Dr Bali praised the positive response of the Muslim countries towards the importance of Prince Sultan's international prize in this special sphere of significance to Muslims. Prince Khaled Al Faisal, the Governor of Assir region received at his office the Tunisian Ambassador to the Kingdom Salahuddin Moawi. During the meeting they exchanged friendly talks and bilateral relations. After the meeting the Tunisian Ambassador visited Assir region and expressed his admiration for the development and progress achieved in the cultural and touristic fields. Prince Khaled Al Faisal, the Governor of Assir region received at his office Dr Youssef Al Ateek, Secretary General of the Prince Abdullah Foundation for his Parents and his accompanying delegation. They listened to detailed information from Prince Khaled about the charitable housing projects in the region and projects achieved in this field since twenty five years. They then toured the various charitable projects amongst which King Faisal Charitable project, Prince Sultan Charitable project and other projects in the area. More than 120 handicapped children take part at the Prince Sultan Ibn Salman Award for Quran memorization, which will be launched next month at the center for handicapped children in Riyadh. The participants represents charitable societies and rehabilitation centers in the different regions of the Kingdom. The General Secretariat for the Competition had invited more than 80 areas to take part in the competition as well as organization concerned in the GCC member states. The Chairman of the media committee Dr Abdul Aziz Al Makoushi said all other committees have concluded their preparations and included the names of the participants who should not be more than 15 years old. He said the competition will cost around SR 400 thousand provided by Prince Sultan Ibn Salman. The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has received a telephone call from the American President George W. Bush. They exchanged views on the developments in the international arena and the declining situation between the Palestinians and the Israelis. President Bush stressed that the USA will take a number of steps to push forward the road map, and reiterated the importance of cooperation to achieve success on the Palestinian path in light of the latest political development achieved by the Palestinian Authority. Dr Ghazi Abdul Rahman AlGosaibi the Minister of Water said the World Water Forum held in Kyoto in Japan will accord special care to providing people deprived of water with fresh potable water. He said their number is 1,4 billion all over the world. The Minister added that the Forum will also discuss health water drainage and problems of contaminated water. Dr AlGosaibi said in a press statement that more than 160 countries take part in the Forum which shed light on the problems of water and expressed his wish that the Forum will achieve tangible results especially in the underdeveloped countries. The Minister pointed out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is participating in the Forum with a large delegation under the chairmanship of the Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Water and a number of specialized personalities in addition of the Secretary General of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz International Award for Water, who will introduce to the conferees the aims of the Award. The Shoura Council, presided over by its Chairman Sheikh Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Homaid, approved a regulation to combat commercial cover-up. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Council's Secretary General Dr. Homood Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Badr said that the approved regulation will be submitted to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz for final approval according to regulations. The Shoura Council, presided over by its Chairman Sheikh Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Homaid, also discussed a number of reports on the performance of some governmental departments. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Council's Secretary General Dr. Homood Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Badr said that the council will continue discussion of the reports in future sessions. On the other hand the a number of Shoura Council's specialized committees held their regular weekly meetings. The meetings were attended by members of the committees, a number of governmental officials and businessmen. The committees' final recommendations are submitted to the chairman of the council to send them to the General Commission to consider presenting them to the council for discussion. Saudi Arabia and Russia affirmed the necessity to ensure the stability of the international oil market and prevent any shortfall in oil supplies. The two countries also reached an accord to maintain fair oil prices. This was disclosed during a joint press conference which followed talks between Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eng. Ali Ibn Ibrahim Al-Naimi, and the Russian Energy Minister, Yusufov Igor Khanukovich, in Moscow. In response to a question, Engineer Al-Naimi stressed the Kingdom's readiness to meet any emergency that OPEC could face in the event of declining oil supplies. He pointed out the Kingdom's ability to make up for any potential shortfall in the oil market. He cited steps taken by OPEC in cooperation with major international oil producers such as Russia when there was a reduction in Venezuelan oil supply, and he reiterated that the Kingdom is ready to meet any additional requirements for oil supply. With regard to fair prices, Al-Naimi said that the Kingdom has been exerting great efforts to maintain a fair oil price of between $22 and $28 per barrel, which is the price sought by many oil-producing countries. This would be in the interests of producers and consumers and is a satisfactory price for international companies. With respect to the future of OPEC in the event of war against Iraq, he said that the international oil market needs OPEC. He described reports that OPEC will loose control over the market as "a false perception without any basis in truth basis." He noted that Iraq is one of the founders of OPEC, and that it is in the interests of oil producers and exporters to maintain the Organization in order to preserve the stability of fair oil prices, production and markets. He pointed out that the main oil consumer countries support the Organization due to its significant role in stabilising the international economy. With respect to Saudi investments in Russia, Al-Naimi said that he met with a number of representatives of Russian companies and listened to their perspectives on joint investment between the two countries and means to boost economic ties. For his part, the Russian Energy Minister stressed the necessity of maintaining the stability of the oil market, and noted that it is in the interests of producers and consumers alike to maintain OPEC. The Minister of Health Dr Osama Shobokshi has issued his approval for the graduates of health institutes to join foreign universities to achieve a higher level of education. Conditions have been set up according to the Directives of the Minister of Health. On the other hand the Minister has inaugurated a conference on "Medical practice from the Islamic Perspective." The two-day conference is organized by the administration of joint cooperation and development of projects at Riyadh-based King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. A number of physicians from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and abroad as well as a number of Islamic scholars will participate in the conference. Addressing the conference's inaugural session, Dr Abdel-Halim Kattan, the head of the conference's scientific and organizing committee, said the participants of the conference will review the medical practice from the Islamic point of view in comparison with the medical practice in other non-Muslim societies. On his part, Dr Hussein Al-Jazaeri, the East Mediterranean regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO), said Islam advocates for excellent moral behavior and treating the people kindly and politely irrespective of their religion or color. He criticized the phenomenon of the existing weak human relations between the physician and the patient, and establishing relations on material basis. In an address on the occasion, Minister of Health Dr Osama Shobokshi underlined the importance of the role being played by physicians in the services of their societies. He highlighted the significance of the conference, and said the participants of the conference will review a number of medical, scientific and Islamic topics. As many as 30 papers, presented by a number of specialists from the US, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria in addition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will be discussed at the conference. Arabic language will be the official language of the conference, but there will be simultaneous translation into English. The Saudi Joint Committee for the Relief of Kosovo and Chechnya has finalized the project for supporting minorities in Kosovo, The Executive Director of the Saudi joint committee Mohammed Al Huwaidi said the project is being set up for minorities in Kosovo and has been implemented with the cooperation of the United Nations office in Kosovo. Al Huwaidi said the Committee has set up a program to distribute food baskets, medicines, clothes, fabrics, households, and sanitary products. The project has been implemented over three phases in a number of regions with a total amount of SR 375 thousand and covered one thousand families. The founding committee for the Saudi members of the media has decided the rates of membership. The Chairman of the committee and Editor in Chief of Al Riyadh newspaper Turki Ibn Abdullah Al Sudairi said the committee will resume its work in coordination with the Ministry of Information, while a bank account will be set up. He said membership will include three levels, full membership SR 1000, cooperative membership SR 800 and SR 500 for associate membership. The meeting has also agreed on a period of one month to register memberships. A defense lawyer for several Saudis held at Guantanamo Bay urged the US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to either free them or put them on trial. "On behalf of their families, we urge you to release those detainees who are believed to have committed no crime or wrongful act, and were only involved in relief, charity and humanitarian work," lawyer Kateb Al-Shemmari said in a memo submitted to the US embassy in Riyadh. "If there are specific charges against them, we believe they should urgently have a fair trial," added the memo which was accepted by the US embassy. Shemmari, who is also Secretary General of the Committee for the Defense of Guantanamo Detainees, called for families of detainees, lawyers and the press to be allowed to visit them. Rafah governorate in the Gaza strip has issued a report on the extent of the damages suffered by citizens over two years as a result of the continuous Israeli aggression. The report said the damages include the killings of 250 citizens amongst whom 45 children less than 18 years old while the number of injured reached 1800 persons. The number of people handicapped has reached 110 persons, and the number of houses fully demolished is 738 houses and the number of houses partly demolished has reached 274 houses. French President Jacques Chirac denounced US President George W Bush's decision to launch a war. Chirac said on Tuesday there was no justification for a unilateral war on Iraq. "There is no justification for a unilateral decision to resort to war," Chirac said in a statement recorded at the Elysee presidential palace. Use of force was "contrary to the will of the UN Security Council," he said. "Iraq does not represent today an immediate threat that would justify an immediate war," Chirac said. The use of military force against Baghdad "is a serious decision, while the disarmament of Iraq is proceeding and inspections have shown that they were a credible alternative to disarm this country", the French leader said. The French president made a final plea in favour of diplomacy, asking that the UN Security Council resolution that sent arms inspectors back to Iraq be respected. In London Home Office Minister and Southampton MP John Denham has become the third government minister to resign over the Iraq crisis. In his resignation speech to the House of Commons, the MP for Southampton Itchen said he resigned as he could not vote with the government on plans to go to war. He criticised United States "unilateralism" and said he could not support military action when there was no international consensus. Mr Denham's resignation comes after Leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook and the health minister Lord Hunt stepped down over objections to war without a fresh United Nations mandate. Mr Denham said: "For me this has been about...whether we can put our hands on our heart and say the greater part of those who should be supporting us do so. "I do not believe they do." The former Christian Aid and Oxfam worker was appointed Minister of State for the Home Office in June, 2001, after serving as Southampton Itchen's MP since April, 1992. Mr Denham joined the Home Office from the Department of Health just after the June 2001 general election. Commenting on President George Bush's warning to the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that he should leave the country, Vatican spokesman Joaquim Navarro said the United States shoulders a dangerous historical responsibility. He said in a statement that who ever says that all peaceful means have been exhausted will bear the responsibility before God, his conscience and history. Russia will do all it can to restore peace if the United States launches a military attack against Iraq, a senior Russian official said as Russia's foreign minister prepared to travel to New York for a foreign ministers' meeting at the United Nations. "The world, including Russia and other interested countries, must do everything necessary to seek a path that returns the situation around Iraq to a peaceful channel," said Oleg Chernov, deputy secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Security Council. Putin condemned military action against Iraq, warning that war would be a mistake. China's new president, Hu Jintao, spoke by phone with his Russian and French counterparts, emphasising Beijing's opposition to war. He emphasised efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully should not be abandoned. Hu told Russian President Vladimir Putin that "the door to peace should not be shut and China has made great efforts in this regard." . He expressed similar sentiments to French President Jacques Chirac. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, called war on Iraq unjustifiable and asked that UN weapons be given more time. "Does the threat posed by the Iraqi dictator justify a war, which is sure to kill thousands of innocent children, women and men? My answer in this case was and is: No!" Schroeder said in prepared remarks broadcast on ARD national television. Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa Thursday said this is a sad day for all the Arabs . In statements, Moussa said it is sad that an Arab nation and people are coming under a military attack that does not take into consideration the civilians...we are very sorry and angry. Commenting on the start of military attacks on Iraq, Moussa called on the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, as a body in charge of keeping international peace and security, and move fast to halt the war and the aggression on Iraq. He referred to intensive consultations with Arab foreign ministers and their delegates to the Arab League to take the necessary steps, adding that the league's ministerial meeting will convene within the coming few days. He said he will hold contacts with the Arab Group at the United Nations because the UN Security Council should bear the responsibility in keeping international peace and security, even if it has been marginalised in taking the decision of war. He added that he was contacted by the Iraqi side informing him of what has occurred, pointing out that he held contacts with all the Arab bodies for consultations on the coming step. Asked whether he will hold contacts with the European side in this respect, he replied: possibly. Meanwhile, the Arab League chief has invited for an emergency meeting at the level of permanent representatives to discuss the Arab position with the onset of the US-led war on Iraq at dawn Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac have reaffirmed their support to peaceful, political and diplomatic settlement of the Iraqi issue. They stood for further efficient use of the United Nations in compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1441. During a telephone conversation held between them, Putin and Chirac exchanged opinions. Russia and France, both veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council, have repeatedly expressed opposition to military operation against Iraq and called for further UN inspection in the country. |