|
|
February 17, 2006 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|||||
THE COUNCIL EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE THAT THE MUSLIM WORLD IS ABLE TO PROTECT ITS SACRED BELIEFS AND PLACES, IDENTITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS WITHOUT VIOLATING OTHERS' RIGHTS AND WITHOUT INFRINGING ON THEIR SAFETY OR SANCTITY. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES RECEIVED FOUAD AL-SINIORA IN RIYADH. KING ABDULLAH STRESSES SAUDI ARABIA'S FULL SUPPORT TO LEBANON. THE CONCLUSION OF THE WORK OF THE JOINT PREPARATORY COMMITTEE OF THE JOINT SAUDI-YEMENI COUNCIL. DR MOHAMMED IBN IBRAHIM AL-HUDEITHI HIGHLIGHTS THE FOSTERING SAUDI-YEMENI RELATIONS, AND CONFIRMS THE KEENNESS OF THE SAUDI AND YEMENI LEADERSHIPS ON FURTHER CEMENTING BILATERAL COOPERATION. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the council on meetings, messages, talks and contacts he had during the past days with a number of countries' leaders and their envoys on bilateral relations and a number of world issues and the stand of Saudi Arabia on them. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani said that the council was briefed on developments in the region and the world especially the continued Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people who at the same time adhere to the ceasefire announced in the Sharm Al Sheikh summit. The council reiterated Saudi Arabia' denunciation of Israeli forces' insistence on continued assassinations and arrests among the Palestinian people, home storming, setting up of check points, closure of roads and crossing points and all abusive measures which violate the most basic human rights and prevent world will from achieving security and peace in the region. Minister of Culture and Information added that the council was briefed on the latest consequences of the publication of the cartoons blasphemous to Prophet Mohammad Peace Be Upon Him. The council asserted that belief in and respect of all prophets and messengers of God are included in the text of the Holy Quran and constitute the basis for the Muslim's faith. Saudi Arabia expects all countries, governments and non-government organizations to clearly side with the respect of nations' sacred beliefs and places and to support coexistence of civilizations and understanding of civilizations' unique characteristics, and it appreciates all governments and bodies that have stated such stands. The council expressed confidence that, God willing, the Islamic world is able to protect its sacred beliefs and places, identity and unique characteristics as has been the case all the time without violating others' rights and without infringing on their safety or sanctity. Minister of Culture and Information added that the council discussed some local issues including the annual Festival of National Heritage and Culture held in Al Janadreyah, and thanked the National Guard for the efforts to hold this festival. Minister Madani said the Cabinet then reviewed the local items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Cabinet passed the Organization, Hierarchy and Guide of the General Commission for Survey. Accordingly, the Commission's board was authorized to make amendments, if deemed necessary, on its organizational guide. The chief of the Commission reports to the Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. Its board of directors will be formed as follows: - The Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General as chairman - Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation as Deputy Chairman - Members of the board are representatives of the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Economy and Planning; and Finance, and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology; Saudi Geological Survey Commission; and the Commission's Director. Two additional members will be selected for their scientific merits and expertise, and two more members as representatives of the private sector. The board's members will be appointed by the Cabinet for a three-year term of office renewable for one more time only. The Cabinet ratified two arrangements signed on March 24, 2005 between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of the Sudan, one deals with cooperation in the field of combating Illicit Traffic on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and on smuggling of drugs and psychotropic substances. The second arrangement deals with security cooperation between the two countries. According to the two arrangements, the concerned authorities in the two countries exchange information about what would lead to tighten grip on operations of trafficking and peddling in drugs and psychotropic substances as per the United Nations Convention 1988 on the issue. They will also set up mutual security cooperation to combat all forms of crime, including international terrorism, organized crimes, forgery, currency counterfeiting, arms smuggling and trading and money laundering. They also exchange information, research and publications on the issue. The Cabinet ratified amendments on the Arab League Charter previously approved by the Arab summit held in Algiers on 22-23 March 2005. The Minister of Finance or his deputy was authorized to continue discussions regarding the draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Government of the Federal Republic of Russia to evade dual taxation on income and capital taxes and to prevent tax evasion and the protocol annexed to them, sign them and forward the final versions for further authentication. The Cabinet also ratified the draft arrangement on International Railway in the Arab Mashriq (east part of the Arab world) which was approved by the Transportation Committee at the Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut in 2002. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received at his palace in Riyadh Fouad Al Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon. During the audience, they discussed the overall developments and incidents at the Arab and International arenas in addition to aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields. Senior officials from the two sides attended the talks. Visiting Fouad Al Siniora , Prime Minister of Lebanon, left Riyadh tonight following a brief visit to the Kingdom. He was seen off at Riyadh air base by Dr. Jubarah Al Surayseri, Minister of Transport; Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja; Lebanon's Charge d'affaires in the Kingdom Ali Ghazawi; and a representative of the royal protocol. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has held talks in Saudi Arabia which has been working to ease tensions between Lebanon and Syria since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri a year ago. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal pledged his country's "continued support" for Lebanon, at the meeting in Riyadh with Siniora, who later also met with King Abdullah. The premier also held talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who is on a regional tour aimed at easing the global crisis over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed Peace Be Upon Him first published in a Danish newspaper and then in other European media. Siniora briefed the EU chief on "the measures taken by the Lebanese government to prevent a repeat of the attack against the Danish consulate," an official told the Agence France Presse. Angry protestors torched the building housing the Danish consulate in Beirut on February 5 during violent protests over the cartoons. Police was unable to contain the violence that left one rioter dead and led to the interior minister's resignation. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia pledged to provide training and equipment for Lebanon's army and police forces to help bolster security in the country. It also promised economic aid, the paper said. In remarks to reporters in Riyadh, Siniora also hailed Saudi Arabia's "undeniable support for Lebanon." Beirut was receptive to any Arab effort to improve its relations with Damascus "provided the brethren in Syria become convinced that Lebanon is an independent and sovereign country," he said. During his one-day visit to Saudi Arabia to revive Arab mediation efforts, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora reiterated that Saudi Arabia "was and will still be the main support for Lebanon." In an interview with the satellite television station Al-Arabiyya, Siniora said "great attention is given to the role that Arab countries can play, mainly Saudi Arabia and Egypt." He said that "Lebanon is always calling for excellent and special relations with Syria based on mutual respect." He also said "Syria should realize that Lebanon is an independent and sovereign country that is able to be of more help to Syria than when it is a dependent country (on Syria)." Siniora stressed "this should be evident in the positions that the Syrian leadership takes regarding Lebanon." Voicing Lebanon's approval for Arab efforts to re-establish good relations with Syria, Siniora said that Lebanon always welcomes such efforts. In Lebanon hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese have gathered in central Beirut to mark the first anniversary of the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former prime minister. Demonstrators carried pictures of other Lebanese politicians and journalists targeted in bombings over the past year. The city centre was closed to traffic against a background of a massive security deployment for the anniversary. Saad al-Hariri had returned home at the weekend after six months in exile to issue an appeal for a massive turnout. Al-Hariri, the head of the anti-Syrian majority in parliament, said: "I call on all Lebanese to adopt a historic position of unity on this day to show that our national unity is above all else and that the forces of 14 March will remain united." Al-Hariri said in an interview with Lebanese television: "We do not ask for a change of regime in Syria, but that it makes peace. We thank Syria for having ended the war in Lebanon but we will handle our own affairs now. "The Syrian regime did a lot of wrong in Lebanon and spared her neither insults nor threats." On the other hand the head of the Future bloc in Parliament MP Saad Rafiq Hariri extended a hand of cooperation to all those who want to help build a country based on national unity and the pillars of sovereignty and "Lebanon first," in an address to a massive rally in downtown Beirut, in commemoration of the first anniversary of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's assassination. The late leader, MP Bassil Fuleihan and their comrades were killed in a huge car bomb on February 14 in Beirut. In an address to the rally, MP Hariri said the legacy and the memory of the murdered Premier will never disappear and his spirit remains present, as well as all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Lebanon's freedom. He stressed that today's rally marked yet another response to a series of assassinations, bombings, and plots to destabilize the country. He said Lebanese youths, whom MP Hariri described as the pillars of the independence uprising, which drove out Syrian troops, will not allow such plans to materialize, and today's gathering was a manifestation of their commitment to sovereignty and independence. Mr. Hariri urged solidarity in the face of plots by remnants of the security regime to create discord among the Lebanese, and made clear that everyone, regardless of party or sect, should only work to advance Lebanese interests. In reference to the presidential palace, MP Hariri told the gathering that the former custodians and the previous regime had left a "deposit" in Baabda, which they should withdraw, because it symbolizes agony, and because the Lebanese will not allow any deals over the blood of Lebanese martyrs. On the other hand the Saudi Yemeni Coordination Council's preparatory committee concluded meeting in Aden, Yemen, co-chaired by Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Hidaithi, Consultant at the Royal Court and in charge of the committee's file at the Cabinet, and Under Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Hisham Sharaf Abdullah of Yemen. The meeting was preparing for the 17th session of the Council scheduled to be co-chaired by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and Yemen's Prime Minister Abdul Qader Bajammal. The 2nd coordination meeting for the 17th round of the Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council was held in Aden from February 4-6, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdul Qadir Ba Jammal will co-chair the 17th round for Yemeni-Saudi Coordination Council which will be held in Yemen in May. The coordination meeting focused on the executive agreements and programs projects which are to be signed at the next round to activate the on-going cooperation between the two countries. The two sides discussed prospects of bolstering cooperation in economic, commercial, social, petroleum and higher education spheres. The meetings of the joint preparatory committee for the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council began its meetings in Sanaa. The meetings was co-chaired by advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Dr Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Hudeithi and Under Secretary of the Yemeni ministry of planning and international cooperation Hisham Sharaf Abdullah. The participants of the 3-day meetings reviewed issues pertaining to economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries, notably cooperation in the fields of agriculture, transport, environment, oil, gas, minerals and information. Speaking on the occasion, Hisham Sharaf Abdullah said the meetings come at a time when the region is passing through developments which prompt the need to work jointly for enhancing the pillars of security and stability. 'We, in Yemen, work for cooperation with the international community, notably the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has been extending support to Yemen since a long time', he said. He pointed that the two countries are concerned with development, investment and combating terrorism. Hisham Sharaf Abdullah hoped that the Kingdom would positively contribute to plans of combating poverty as stipulated in the five-year development plans through extending grants and soft loans. Hisham Sharaf Abdullah reiterated the keenness of his country on deepening cooperation with the Kingdom in a manner that realizes the aspirations of the two countries and opens new horizons of joint cooperation. On his part, Dr Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Hudeithi highlighted the fostering Saudi-Yemeni relations, and confirmed the keenness of the Saudi and Yemeni leaderships on further cementing bilateral cooperation. He hoped that the meetings would yield positive results and meet the aspirations of the Saudi and Yemeni people. |
|||||
