The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz began the Cabinet meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace today with a briefing on the 12th Consultative Meeting Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Leaders, which he attended last Tuesday in Riyadh. The King also detailed the talks he held with visiting officials last week, including Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Middle East Peace Quartet Envoy Tony Blair, and a telephone call he received from Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir.

For its part, the Cabinet reviewed reports on domestic, regional and international developments, including the recent cultural, political and economic activities held in the Kingdom. In particular, the Cabinet expressed its appreciation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for hosting the Ceremony of the Translation Award of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Turning to its agenda, the Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the Saudi and Brazilian Foreign Ministries; approved the addition of Clause (IV) to the decision of the Cabinet No. (198) dated 01/08/1426H. regarding the laying of sewage lines; approved a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Islamic Affairs between the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance and the Tunisian Ministry of Religious Affairs; and authorized the Minister of Finance to sign two draft agreements and protocols with Poland and the Philippines on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of income tax evasion.

The Cabinet approved the appointments of Abdulrahman Al-Ghunaim as Social Consultant at the Ministry of Social Affairs (15th rank); Eng. Mohammed Al-Urayydh as Civil Engineer Consultant at the Ministry of Education (14th rank); and Abdullah Nahas as Director General of Customs at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah at the Customs Department (14th rank).