The Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura) held meetings yesterday and today, presided over

by Chairman Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Jubair, and discussed an amendment to the Saudi Arabian

Airlines Act to enable authorities to punish whoever defames the national carrier, misuses its

property, or mistreats its clients, in accordance with a suggestion by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul

Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General,

who is also chairman of SAA's Board of Directors, to insert a new article in the Act to impose

harsh penalties to the extent of termination of service.  The meeting agreed that the council's

management and organization committee would consider this.

Yesterday the council approved a number of recommendations presented by the specialized

educational affairs committee, aimed at taking the required measures and procedures for

meeting the requirements of the business market and contributing in a positive manner to the

development of Saudi manpower.  The council underscored the importance of enhancing

cooperation with the private sector so as to carry out cooperative training programs, and

facilitating private sector investment in institutes of technical education.   The council urged

the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training to diversify its

sources of financing and to call on the private sector to contribute to financing of some of the

construction projects.  It also urged the organization to expand its data base and extend

comprehensive information about the existing and expected situation of manpower as well as

to work for boosting the role of the non-governmental sector.
After discussing a report submitted by the foreign affairs committee, the council approved an

amendment of the cooperation agreement pertaining to establishment of a commission for

combating desert locust in West Asia and East Africa. 
The council also heard a report from the economic and financial affairs committee concerning a

proposal presented by the Ministry of Defense and Aviation pertaining to the establishment of

duty-free markets at Saudi international airports, and approved the proposal provided that they

are managed by Saudi investors.

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