November 25, 2005

THE CABINET LIFTS THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ AND APPROVES THE 8TH DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLES OF THE UN AND ARAB LEAGUE AT THE ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL ARENAS IN ENHANCING SECURITY AND PEACE AT THE ARAB AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ BRIEFS THE CABINET ON HIS VISIT TO EGYPT. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the cabinet's weekly session held at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on his meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa. The meetings focused on the situations and latest developments at the regional and international arenas particularly the Palestinian cause, the situation in Iraq, the situation following the issuance of Judge Detliv Mehlis' report, the International Investigator, on the crime of the assassination of former Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, and the efforts being exerted by the United Nations and the Arab League on various issues of concern to the region and the world. The King emphasized the importance that these two organizations perform their roles at the Arab and international arenas to enhance security and peace at the Arab and international levels, and he renewed the Kingdom's support for all efforts pertaining to the worthy interest of stability and safety for the region and all countries and peoples in the world. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amin Madani said that the Cabinet reviewed the Monarch's inauguration of the permanent headquarters of the International Energy Forum. The Forum crystallized the King's initiative to set up a continual mechanism to achieve fruitful dialogue and consultation between oil producing and exporting countries and importing countries to maintain stability in the oil market and preserve the interests of both sides. The Cabinet commended the contents of the King's speech at the Forum, which clearly highlighted the Kingdom's oil policy and its interest in the stability of the oil market and in meeting the market's needs. The speech also urged consuming countries to reconsider their taxes imposed on oil products and their responsibility for speculations in the oil market. The Cabinet also lauded the Kingdom's keenness on achieving a reasonable and fair oil price and providing sufficient petroleum supplies for all consumers provided that the increase in our producing capacity should not infringe on and harm the fields of next generations. The Cabinet hoped that the efforts of the Forum's Secretariat General would have the effective impact on enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding between producers and consumers. Then the Cabinet was briefed by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General on his visit to Egypt and his talks with Egypt's President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak on the latest developments at the Arab and international arenas topped by the situations in Iraq and Palestine, the stands of the two countries towards them for the enhancement of joint Arab action and ways of enhancing cooperation existing between the two brotherly countries. On the situation in Iraq, the Kingdom hoped that Iraq's National Reconciliation Conference held in Cairo would achieve reconciliation among all Iraqis which is a major requisite for the success of the current political process and the main guarantee for maintaining Iraq's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The Minister noted that the Cabinet expressed its great pleasure over the approval of the ministerial council of the World Trade Organization of the Kingdom's accession to the Organization. The Kingdom will have full membership at the council's meeting in Hong Kong in mid-December. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of the Kingdom's joining of the Organization and the necessity for all sectors to interact with the requirements of this accession to enable the Kingdom to compete in serving its national economy within this framework which organizes the world trade and comprises the greater majority of countries in the world. On local matters, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his appreciation of Makkah's citizens during the festival for their noble, sincere and national feelings. The government of this country, honored by Almighty Allah to serve Islam and Muslims particularly the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, will have no limits on the way for the development and service of Islamic sanctuaries and will proceed on this track, the Monarch told the Cabinet. Concluding his statement, Minister Iyad Madani said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: Upon a report submitted by the Minister of Economy and Planning, the Cabinet approved the 8th development plan for the fiscal years 1425/1426 H - 1429/1430 H. Highlights of the plan are the strategy to improve the standard of living and quality of life for people and offer job opportunities for citizens, to continue to develop education and training and expand the area of applied sciences and technology. Among the main objectives of the plan is to diversify the economic base, improve the national economy's productivity, enhance its competitive abilities through focusing on strategic and transformative industries, particularly densely-used industries in the industry of energy and its by-products, including natural gas, mining, tourism and information technology industries, through eliminating obstacles before investments and expediting the implementation of privatization strategy. Within the development plan's strategy is to increase the contribution of the private sector to the economic development, to development of science, technology and information systems, support scientific research, and proceed to the knowledge economy. Increasing the participation of Saudi women, enhancing the role of families in society, and preserving its Islamic and Arab values through developing the abilities of women and eradicating the obstacles derailing their participation in economic and development activities also run within the plan's objectives. The plan also contains a number of programs and projects pertinent to the welfare of citizens and improvement of their standard of living. The Cabinet approved the civil aviation tariff bill which, among other things, bars any plane that lands in the Kingdom's territory from flying before settling the official landing tariffs, directly and on the spot, or through an accredited agent, also directly and on the spot or later. The system also states the categories on which the authority levies the deserved fees on air transport or flights inside the Kingdom. The Cabinet lifted the economic sanctions it has imposed on Iraq, citing the absence of reasons that led to the decision at the time. The Cabinet also approved the Electricity System which aims at upgrading power services that mainly target the consumers welfare and protect their rights, encouraging the private sector to contribute to and participate in the systematic expansion of power industry, its development and protection of investments and enable it to gain fair economic yields. The new system also aims at ensuring that the electricity is committed to the policies of the state, its orientation and requirements related to the security of power supply, economic development and society welfare. It also targets providing a regular framework for electricity industry and working to create an appropriate environment to encourage legal competition in the field of electricity and encourage local and international investments in the power industry. The Cabinet approved the appointment of Prince Khalid Ibn Faisal Ibn Turki Al Saud as Advisor at the headquarters of the National Guard; Abdul-Ghani Ibn Hamid Ibn Mohammed Khallaf as Assistant Director General for National Information Center at the Ministry of Interior and Othman Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al Thabet as Director General of the Minister's office at the Ministry of Higher Education. On the other hand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received the Minister of Economy and Planning Mr. Khalid Ibn Mohammad Al Qusaibi and other senior officials of the Ministry of Economy and Planning who came to greet the king on the occasion of approval by the Council of Ministers of the state's 8th development plan. During the audience, the king congratulated them on this occasion, wishing them success. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz , the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, other princes and ministers. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received Iraqi Former Prime Minister Dr. Iyad Allawi. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief of the Court of Cabinet's Presidency and Abdul Mohsin Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor to the King. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud received at the Royal Court at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh princes, senior officials and a group of citizens. The Monarch also received a delegation of dignitaries and Shiite Sheikhs from Madinah who pledged allegiance to the King and the Crown Prince. In their speech, they expressed their support for the wise leadership in defending the homeland against deviants who aim to terrorize safe people and destroy properties. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques thanked them for their loyalty to their religion and the homeland, expressing his confidence in all. The audiences were attended by Prince Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Ibn Jelawi; Prince Fahd Ibn Mishari Ibn Jelawi; Prince Bandar Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdul Rahman; a number of princes and officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received senior commanders and officers of the Armed Forces' branches led by Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Sultan Ibn A'di Al-Mitairi who came to greet and congratulate him on safe arrival. Addressing the audience, the Crown Prince conveyed the greetings the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Supreme Commander of All Military Sectors who gives all interest to the Armed Forces. He noted that the Armed Forces are composed of national and Muslim believers and they are in service of the country to preserve its security. The Crown Prince pointed out that the aim is to upgrade and develop the Armed Forces through the provision of equipment and the intensification of training and exercises for all military sectors. He wished them all success for the Kingdom's interest, progress and prosperity.