RIYADH — The Council of Ministers session, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh Tuesday, reviewed and followed up on the fluid developments the world is witnessing at the political and security levels, especially with regard to the Russian-Ukraine conflict.

The Cabinet, aligned with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) position on the Ukraine crisis, affirmed the support of international efforts to reach de-escalation in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy, and to restore security and stability and provide a platform to hold negotiations that result in a political solution to the crisis.

The Cabinet also appraised Saudi Arabia’s affirmation during the Munich Security Conference in Germany to support efforts aimed at guaranteeing the security and stability of the Middle East and the entire world.

It sought to work with international partners to end the Yemeni crisis through a comprehensive ceasefire and a solution through the three references (the Gulf initiative and its executive mechanisms, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue, and the UN Security Council Resolution 2216).

The Cabinet also welcomed the UN Security Council resolution to classify the Houthi militia as a terrorist group and expand the arms embargo to include all militia members. Earlier, it was restricted to certain individuals and companies. It expressed aspiration that the resolution would put an end to Houthi militia's terrorist acts and its supporters and neutralize its threat on Yemeni people and international peace and security.

The Cabinet also renewed Saudi Arabia’s unaltered stance towards the importance of making the Middle East an area free of weapons of mass destruction and its remarks during its participation in the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Feb. 28, 2022.

It supported cooperation to ban and restrict their spread, in addition to the importance of all countries to honor their pledges to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Kingdom’s contribution to exerted efforts in this regard.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet, on the occasion of the Founding Day in 1139 Hijri (1727), recalled Allah’s virtues on this safe country, the foremost of which is Islam and the honor to serve the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, the virtue of unification and laying the foundations of peace, stability and justice, in addition to what it realized of development and renaissance at all levels and its prestigious status among nations.

The Cabinet expressed appreciation for heads of state and officials of brotherly and friendly countries for their noble feelings towards the Kingdom on this occasion that celebrates the history of a country that is founded on pillars of ambition and faith throughout all its historical phases to be a beacon of building and civilization.

The Cabinet reviewed the telephone call that Crwon Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy prime minister and minister of defense, received from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which they went over the latest regional and international events, mainly the conditions in Ukraine and their impact on the energy market, and Saudi Arabia’s affirmation to uphold the stability and balance of oil markets and its commitment to OPEC Plus Agreement.

The Cabinet also reviewed the content of the phone call between the Crown Prince and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), said that the Cabinet reviewed various talks and mutual visits between Saudi officials and other countries with the aim of further enhancing relations and boosting friendship, cooperation and collective action relations in a way that realizes joint interests and contribute to the development and prosperity of the region and the entire world.

The minister also noted that the Cabinet examined the contents of the 26th Gulf-European Ministerial Meeting, which highlighted the importance of intensifying joint action towards international peace and security and enhancing cooperation in the field of preserving environment and addressing climate change. It referred to Saudi Arabia’s efforts through the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative that contribute to realizing global targets.

The Cabinet also referred to the 2022 International Petroleum Technology Conference that was held in Riyadh with the participation of ministers, experts and interested figures from 70 countries and its affirmation on Saudi Arabia’s endeavors to guarantee the resilience of the three pillars of energy — security of important energy supplies, the ongoing economic development through providing credible energy resources, and facing climate change.

The Cabinet praised the ability of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) to explore several natural gas fields in the Central Region, the Empty Quarter, the Northern Border Region, and the Eastern Region.

The Cabinet considered Saudi Arabia’s ranking first in the field of providing digital services and their development at the Government Electronic and Mobile Services maturity index — 2020 issued by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, a coronation of integration and joint action among public institutions to realize public digital transformation, which is one of the targets of the Saudi Vision 2030.

The Cabinet also reviewed subjects mentioned on its agenda, including issues that the Shoura Council took part in studying them, and reviewed outcomes of the Economic and Development Affairs Council, Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers.

The Cabinet also authorized the Minister of Energy to hold talks with the Omani side regarding a draft cooperating agreement between the Saudi government and the Omani government in the energy field, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures.

It approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Singapore in the energy field, and another memorandum of understanding in the tourism field between the Ministry of Tourism and the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

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It authorized the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) chairman to hold talks with the UK side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the SFD and the UK Department of State and International Development.

It approved the formation of a committee with the name (the committee of manufacturing vaccines and vital medicines) under the chairmanship of the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, where the committee will be the specialized institution in Saudi Arabia regarding the regulation and manufacturing of vital medicines.

The Cabinet approved the delegation of the tasks of establishing, operating and maintaining the stations of purifying water of dams and groundwater, whose daily capacities exceed 5,000 cubic meters to the Saline Water Conversion Corporation.

The Cabinet also reviewed several issues mentioned on its agenda, including annual reports for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Grains Organization, the Authority of the Care of People with Disabilities, National Center for Social Studies, National e-Learning Center, and Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission, and took necessary procedures regarding these issues. — SPA