King Salman Chairs Cabinet's Session

Riyadh - The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Tuesday afternoon.

At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his telephone contacts with President Donald Trump of the United States of America and their discussion of distinguished relations and ways of developing them in the light of the strategic partnership between the two countries, and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Republic of Maldives and President Joko Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Cabinet confirmed the contents of the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques when he graced the reception ceremony held by the citizens of Madinah and his launching of a number of projects in the region and his confirmation of the State's keenness, since its foundation, on the service of Makkah and Madinah and pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors, which is the approach of the State and its people.

The Cabinet also extended its thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for inaugurating Haramain High Speed Rail, and announcing the start of its trips within his directives to exploit all possibilities to serve pilgrims according to the Kingdom's Vision 2030, including the provision of basic transport services through major projects that facilitate the convenience and comfort of pilgrims and all passengers.

The Cabinet also commended the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' directive for granting $ 200 million to the Central Bank of Yemen in support of its financial position to contribute, in addition to the previous total of $ 3 billion, to the alleviation of the economic burdens off the Yemeni people, confirming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's continuous approach to stand with the Yemeni people and support the Yemeni government to restore Yemen's security and stability and enable it to carry out its duties for the benefit of Yemeni citizens.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense briefed the Cabinet on the results of his official visit to the State of Kuwait based on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' directives and in response to the invitation of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait and its results in discussing the enhancement of the two countries' ties and interests in all fields as well as in affirming their historical relationships under the leaderships of the two countries.

The Minister of Media Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the Cabinet praised the public financial strategy and its contribution to reducing deficit rates, supporting the public finance sustainability and economic growth over the medium term, the successful implementation of several initiatives to develop non-oil revenues, improving spending efficiency and mechanisms for supporting beneficiaries. The Cabinet also praised the contents of the Preliminary-Budget Statement for the fiscal year (1440/1441 2019), which was announced for the first time in the history of the Kingdom's budget reflecting the steps of developing the preparation and implementation of the general budget and raising the levels of financial disclosure and transparency within the programs to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which embodies the trend of the government of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in continuing the implementation of initiatives, projects and programs that will achieve previously announced and planned economic and fiscal targets and programs.

The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's assertion, before the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, of its firm positions and principles in its foreign policy towards a number of issues in the Middle East region, foremost the permanent trend towards peaceful solutions regarding disputes and preventing their progression, adoption of the mediation efforts, and the emphasis on the principle of respect for national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, the importance of adherence to international norms and laws, the Kingdom's rejection of interfering in its internal affairs or imposing any dictates from any country, the continuous efforts in combating extremism and terrorism, and that the Kingdom's message is based on true partnership with the world for a prosperous present and a bright future.

The Cabinet reviewed the joint statement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab Republic of Egypt, where they assured Human Rights Council's failure to adopt a unified draft resolution on the situation in Yemen, in the absence of cooperation by some countries with international resolutions dealing directly with the human rights situation and their insistence on not taking into account the legitimate concerns of countries and their clear observations on the report of the international and regional expert group presented to the 39th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Cabinet also reviewed the statement made by the Kingdom before the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the United Nations in New York, and its emphasis on the importance of the Palestinian cause for Islamic and Arab nations, the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and the right of the State of Palestine to sovereignty over all Palestinian land occupied in 1967 including Jerusalem (Al-Quds), adherence to peace as a strategic solution, resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative submitted by the Kingdom in 2002 and adopted by Arab and Islamic countries demanding the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian people and to implement the international resolutions that dictate ending the Israeli occupation and the full withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories.