Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers on Tuesday congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman on the great achievement made in terms of returning the Kingdom’s oil supplies to the levels it was prior to the sabotage attack on two oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais.

The weekly session of the Cabinet, chaired by King Salman at Al-Salam Palace here, hailed the great efforts made by Saudi Aramco to overcome the effects of vandalism on its oil facilities.

Minister of Media Turki Al-Shabanah said, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, that the Cabinet commended the swift response of Saudi Aramco, with activation of emergency systems, and the efficiency and dedication of its employees, both Saudis and expatriates, saying that these have played a major role in overcoming the crisis.

The Council said that the international community has a great responsibility to put an end to the Iranian acts of aggression and subversive policies while pointing out that the use of Iranian weapons in the sabotage attack on the Aramco oil facilities is a threat to international peace and security and an unjustified aggression on energy supplies to world markets, which was strongly condemned by the international community.

The Cabinet also stressed that the Kingdom’s decision to join the International Maritime Security Construct comes in support of regional and international efforts to deter and counter threats to maritime navigation and global trade as well as to ensure the security and continuity of the flow of energy supplies to the global economy and contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.

At the outset of the session, the King, on the occasion of the 89th National Day, thanked God for the many blessings the Kingdom enjoys and the security, prosperity and great development it witnesses in all fields while preserving its fundamentals derived from the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah.

“On this occasion, when we feel proud of the national cohesion and unity and the Kingdom’s distinguished international position, we thank the leaders and officials of friendly countries and all officials and citizens of the Kingdom for their greetings, praying to Allah Almighty to help and guide us so that the Kingdom remains a strong fortress to serve Islam and Muslims, as well as the Two Holy Mosques and the causes of Arab and Islamic nations, support justice and contribute to the establishment of security and stability throughout the world.”

Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s condemnation of the terrorist bombings that targeted a passenger bus in Karbala, Iraq, and an election rally of the Afghan President and an army base in Kabul, stressing the Kingdom’s solidarity with Iraq and Afghanistan and support for them against all forms of violence, terrorism and extremism.

It also offered condolences to the governments and people of the two countries and to the families of the victims, while praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.