Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz began the Cabinet session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah this afternoon by briefing the Council of Ministers on the recent meeting between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and Moroccan King Mohammed VI. Then, the Cabinet listened to a number of reports on the latest regional and international developments. It praised the Kingdom’s speech, delivered before the 17th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Algiers, calling for the protection and promotion of human rights, peace and security throughout the world.

The Cabinet welcomed the outcome of the 22nd Conference of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), including the adoption of an action plan, programs and activities. It also commended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) regarding the promotion of the culture of dialogue between civilizations.

Finally, the Cabinet condemned the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to build fifty housing units in a settlement at Mount Abu Ghneim and to establish a new “synagogue” in Al-Quds [Jerusalem]. It called on the international community to take a firm stand against Israel’s violations of international law and its continued attacks on the occupied Palestinian territories.

Addressing its remaining agenda items, the Cabinet authorized the Crown Prince to sign a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Comoros’ Ministry of Defense for cooperation in the field of defense; approved a general agreement of cooperation between the Kingdom and Gabon; approved the final accounts of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) for fiscal year 2012/13; authorized the Minister of Transport to sign a draft agreement on cooperation between the Kingdom and South Korea in the field of maritime transport; and approved the appointment of Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Quwaiz, Dr. Khalid Al-Rajhi and Dr. Saeed Garman as members from the private sector on the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) Board of Directors for a period of three years.