Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz today chaired the regular weekly meeting of

the Council of Ministers, which reiterated the Kingdom's support for the national reconciliation process in

Somalia and the positive outcome of the recent conference in Djibouti. The cabinet welcomed the

formation of a transitional parliament and a legislative council, and the election of a speaker and deputies

to a Somali national assembly. The cabinet expressed the hope that the other Somali factions who had

been distancing themselves would soon join the ranks of national unity, and that Somalia would once

more enjoy its role in the Arab, Islamic and international arenas as an element of security and stability in

the region and in the global community.

The cabinet also reiterated its support for the legitimate right of the Palestinians to establish an

independent state on their national territories with Al-Quds [Jerusalem] as its capital in accordance with

United Nations resolutions 242 and 338.
Addressing the cabinet, King Fahd declared that challenges faced the Arab world; but that it had won a

number of crucial victories on international platforms through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, citing

the efforts made by the League of Arab States and other Arab organizations in this regard. He confirmed

that the Arab world is capable of an active international role through greater coordination and solidarity.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he said, ever since the days of its founder King Abdulaziz, has taken firm

positions on the unity of Arab ranks based on his belief that the Arab world shares one nationality and one

identity and faces one destiny. This position has gained the respect and appreciation of sisterly and

friendly countries everywhere.
The cabinet then approved the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan for the period from 2000 to 2004.

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