KING FAHD OVERSEEING A SESSION OF
THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

SAUDI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

At the outset of the session, the Council discussed a number of domestic issues particularly the preparations of Ministries and governmental departments for the state general budget.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) after the session, the Minister of Information, Dr Fouad bin Abdul Salam Al-Farsy, said that King Fahd directed the Ministers to accord great attention to the service sector, which should be a priority in the Kingdom’s budget. This reflects the importance of the needs of Saudi citizens, who are the target of development plans in the Kingdom. He confirmed that the state is working hard continuously to provide and develop services for the benefit of citizens and the country.

On the international level, the Council reviewed a number of issues, notably the Security Council resolution on Iraq, which was adopted on Friday. In this connection, the Council expressed hope that the resolution will avert war and appease the current crisis in the region.

The Cabinet confirmed the statement issued by the extraordinary meeting of Arab League Foreign Ministers, in which the League welcomed Security Council resolution 1441 pertaining to Iraq, particularly affirmation that the Security Council is the relevant authority to evaluate reports of UN inspectors and that the resolution will not be used as a pretext for military action against Iraq. The Cabinet called on the Iraqi Government to accept the resolution in order to avert potential dangers for the Iraqi people. The Cabinet expressed hope the Security Council will take similar steps to implement resolutions pertaining to the Palestinian issue, to establish a Palestinian state and restore Arab territories occupied since 1967. This action would bring peace and stability to the region.

The Cabinet then discussed other topics on its agenda. It approved the following list of utilities, activities and services that are targeted for the private sector participation: water and sewage; desalination of salt water; communications; air transportation and services; railways; roads, such as the management and maintenance of existing highways and the construction and management of new highways; airport services; mail services; silos and grain mills; port services; services of industrial cities; state shares in certain companies, including Saudi Company for Electricity, banks, Saudi Company for Basic Industries (SABIC), Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC), and shares of the state in local oil refineries; state shares in joint Arab and Islamic companies; government hotels; sports clubs; municipality services, such as the maintenance of slaughter houses, markets and public parks, transportation services and the collection of municipality revenues, cleaning and waste disposal; education services, such as the establishment and maintenance of education establishments, the printing of text books, school transportation, student housing, and renting and maintenance of school and university facilities; social services, such as the management of social care institutions, services for recruitment of Saudis in the private sector; agricultural services, such as services of quarantine, laboratories for diagnosis and veterinary clinics; health services, such as the establishment and maintenance of health facilities, and transportation services for patients.

After reviewing the request of Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, to approve amendment of item 13 of the military retirement system, which was issued under Royal Decree M/24, of 5/4/1395H, and Shoura Council resolution 7/12, of 13/4/1423H, the Cabinet decided to add the following clauses at the end of paragraph A of item 13: It is permitted, upon a decision by the concerned Minister, to extend the service of a medical officer of retirement age to a maximum of 10 years. Extension should cover periods not exceeding five years. The extension period is added for the purpose of pension, but in all cases the medical officer must retire at the age of 65 years. A draft Royal Decree was prepared in this regard.

After the Cabinet reviewed a report by the Minister of Justice on systems presented during the 13th meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Justice Ministers. Included in the latter was a draft of the unified lawyers system. After reviewing the system of lawyers, which was issued under Royal Decree M/38, of 28/7/1422H, the Cabinet decided to apply the resolution of the GCC Higher Council in its 22nd session in Muscat, Oman, 15-16 Shawal 1422H (30-31 December 2001) for an initial four-year period, according to text attached with this resolution.

After reviewing reports presented by the Minister of Finance and National Economy, in which the Minister sought approval for continuing importation of Palestinian products their exemption from custom fees for a further year, effective from 11/9/1423H. The Cabinet decided to continue to adhere to items one and two of the resolution number seven of the Council of Ministers, of 1/11/1422H, with regard to the importation of Palestinian products and for the state to continue to bear customs tariffs on these products for a further year, effective from 11/9/1423H.