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January 14, 2005 |
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PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ DISCUSSES ORGANIZING ASPECTS OF A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS. PRINCE KHALED IBN SULTAN INSPECTS A MAINTENANCE CENTRE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROUND FORCES' VEHICLES IN ''KHARAJ''. The Saudi Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, congratulated Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazin), the Chairman of Palestine Liberation Organization on winning the presidential election for the post of President of the Palestinian Authority, wishing him all success to achieve security and stability and to fulfil the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people topped by the setup of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital. Crown Prince Abdullah chaired the cabinet's weekly session held at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Monday. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of contacts, meetings, messages and talks held over the previous days with a number of leaders of Arab and friendly countries which dealt with the latest developments at the international arena and the Kingdom's stand towards them. In this regard, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of talks held by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and the Crown Prince with President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. The talks focused on the latest developments at Arab, Islamic and international arenas particularly the situation in Iraq and the Palestinian cause as well as the aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of their enhancement in all fields. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi, the Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Cabinet was informed of the completion of preparations and services provided by all governmental sectors concerned with Hajj to pilgrims in Makkah, Madinah and all sanctuaries. The Cabinet was also briefed on the amendment and new improvement of Al-Jamarat Bridge to facilitate the ritual of throwing pebbles and to avoid any crowding, and it was also informed of other projects in Makkah, Madinah and other sanctuaries. Renewing the Kingdom's welcome of pilgrims, the Crown Prince prayed to Almighty Allah that pilgrims perform their Hajj rituals easily and comfortably and refrain from any matter that might disturb the tranquillity of their Hajj. The Crown Prince urged pilgrims to adhere to the Kingdom's instructions and regulations in perform in their rituals easily and safely. Dr. Al-Farsi added that the Cabinet praised the great generous response of citizens during the national campaign ordered by the King and the Crown Prince to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which recently struck a number of countries in Asia. The Cabinet noted that the campaign demonstrated the Kingdom's humanitarian commitment to helping alleviate the suffering of afflicted people during disasters and ordeals. In the name of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques , the Crown Prince and the Cabinet, Crown Prince Abdullah congratulated Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazin), the Chairman of Palestine Liberation Organization on winning the presidential election for the post of President of the Palestinian Authority, wishing him all success to achieve security and stability and to fulfil the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people topped by the setup of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital. Dr. Alfarsi said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The meeting approved the new system for transporting pilgrims into the Kingdom and returning them to their countries. According to the system, any non-Saudi transportation company bidding for transporting a group of pilgrims, should have a Saudi agent. A pilgrims' carrier is required to deposit a bank warranty of not less than SR100,000 but not more than SR200,000 to cover whatever claims arising against him by pilgrims who might complain from mishaps of accommodation services the agent is supposed to extend. The agent will also be required to provide accommodation for pilgrims who happen to miss their return flights, ship or land trips because of defaults of schedule by their host. This system will be valid after 180 days of its publishing in the official gazette. The General President of Youth Welfare or his deputy was authorized to discuss and then sign a proposed memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and its Italian counterpart to exchange refereeing and training experiences and various aspects of cooperation in this field. The Cabinet approved a proposal presented by the Minister of Higher Education that the Higher Education and Universities Council and the Supreme Committee for Education Policy could proceed with the powers they enjoyed before the issuance of the Cabinet's decision No. 143 dated 3/5/1425 H. which affected their current regulations, pending the issue of new amendments of the affected regulations. The term of office of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Electricity Company, headed by the Minister of Water and Electricity, was extended till 30/11/1426 H. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr. Abdullah Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Abdul Aziz Alme'jel as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education for Cultural Relations; Ahmed Ibn Ali Ibn Ma'eedh Alzahrani as Director General of the General Administration for Consultants at the Saudi Commission for Investigation and General Prosecution; Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Ibn Ahmed Almidaiheem as Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection and Labor Relations at the Ministry of Labour; and Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Alsheeha as Assistant Undersecretary for Animal Resources Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, paid an inspection visit to the headquarters of Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Establishment for his Parents for Developmental Housing, located on an area of 10,000 sq. m. in an eastern neighbourhood of the city of Riyadh. Upon arrival at the venue, he was received by Prince Mit'eb Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Faisal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Assistant Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Turki Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court; Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court; Prince Salman Ibn Faisal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Al Saud; Iyad Ibn Ameen Madani, the Minister Hajj; Dr. Ali Ibn Ibrahim Al Namlah, the Minister of Social Affairs; and Dr. Yousuf Ibn Ahmed Al Othaimeen, the Secretary General of Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Establishment for his Parents for Developmental Housing. Then Crown Prince Abdullah was briefed on the construction drawings and designs of the project. Then he cut the ribbon, dedicating a 400-sq.m. prototype rural residential unit. Casting light on the details of the project, Al Othaimeen said 2070 units of this kind will be constructed in various parts of the Kingdom, including Madinah, Makkah, Baha, Assir, Jazan, and Ihsa. Every unit consists of a living room and three bedrooms, he added. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Commander of the National Guard and Chairman of Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Establishment for his Parents for Developmental Housing has agreed on executing a number of developmental housing projects in a number of Saudi regions. The programs include building 8 new projects to be distributed between Al-Tarf and Al-Jurk villages in Al-Ihsaa governorate, Al-Ghazala village in Hail, Yebs village in Baha, Al-Dihma village in Jazan, Al-Raas village in Jazan and Wadi Al-Hayat village in Asir. The projects include 1500 housing units in addition to the public facilities and services which include mosques, clinics, cultural and social centres, training and rehabilitation centres in addition to administrative centres and commercial buildings. In Riyadh, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, headed at his palace in Riyadh the Ministerial Committee for Administrative Organizing meeting. The meeting, which was attended by a number of princes and ministers, discussed organizing aspects of a number of governmental departments. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, also received at his palace in Riyadh the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom Tan Siri Won Mukhtar Ibn Ahmed who came to bid Prince Sultan farewell at the end of his service as Ambassador of his country to the Kingdom. During the meeting, they lauded the existing relations binding the two countries. In Kharaj, Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General paid an inspecting visit to the centre of maintenance and development of the ground forces' vehicles. Upon his arrival at the venue, Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, was received by General Staff Saleh Ibn Ali Al Mohaya, Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Fahd Al Faisal, Director of the General Authority for Military Industries, Lieutenant General Hussain Al Qubail, Commander of Ground Forces and Major General Staff Awad Al Muhamadi Director of the Supply and Logistics Base. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz shook hands with the Ground Forces' senior officers. Then he inspected the main workshop in the Centre, the main assembly line of the carriers and the station of dismantling old carriers. He also inspected a sample of the new troops carrier ''I C V 350'', which was developed and modernised in the maintenance Centre. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan was also briefed about the developing stages of the Centre and the effort it is exerting in the service of the ground forces. The Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General also visited the housing building of the Centre's staff members and inspected samples of the private houses, the medical centre and the sports halls. Pictures were taken to Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz with the Centre's staff members, and he wrote some words in the visiting book. Before concluding the visit, Pictures were taken to Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz received a memorial present on the occasion. Then Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan headed to the supporting air site of the ground forces in Kharaj, where he was briefed about the tasks of the site and its role in the supporting and supplying operations to the ground forces. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan also visited the supply base in Kharaj, where he was received by the Base Commander Lieutenant General Staff Awad Al Mohammadi and the Base's senior officers. He was briefed about the tasks of the base and the units, human energies and vehicles it includes. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz inspected the maintenance of the base and was shown some of the inventions and innovations created by Saudi hands, the developments of some apparatuses, the tactical communication devices and communications through the satellites. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan expressed his admiration of the high standard achieved by the staff members of the maintenance of the supply base and the constant development of the human element. In a speech he delivered, the Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the staff members of the supply base for the efforts they are exerting to develop the vehicles of the armed forces stressing on the importance of the maintenance centre in the field of the development and maintenance of the military vehicles. Prince Khaled Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz praised the national capabilities in the centre which Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General has given his care and attention. |
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