By Faris Al-Qahtani

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Shoura (Consultative) Council will ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to place Saudi women in leading position in Saudi diplomatic missions abroad.

The council members are expected to vote on the ministry's annual report next Tuesday.

The council's Committee on Foreign Affairs has adopted the report asking the ministry to empower Saudi women by giving them leading positions in the Kingdom's embassies, consulates and its other missions abroad.

The council is also expected to encourage Saudi diplomats and administrators to work in the unfavorable stations in Africa and Asia by giving them extra incentives.

Maadi Al- Madhab, council member, said the incentives may include increasing their years of service counting one year to be equal to two in addition to financial increases.

He said such incentives will realize justice among the ministry's staff and will help encourage them to work in these areas which they do not usually prefer.

The council will also ask the ministry to enable its qualified women staff to find jobs in international organizations.

The committee asked the ministry to further develop its internet website enriching it with important information about the Kingdom in English, French and Spanish languages.

It also asked the ministry to support the Saudi diplomatic missions in New York, Geneva, Brussels and Vienna with qualified carders who are well-versed in international relations and international law.

The committee also asked for drafting a document on the Saudi foreign policy which should contain solid analysis of regional and international environments, the available opportunities and the challenges.

It said the priorities of the foreign policy should be clearly explained in the document so as to be a guide for the diplomats.

The council is expected to ask the ministry to appoint male and female lawyers in its embassies and consulates.