The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet session held at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh today. At the outset, he briefed the ministers on the talks he held Saturday with visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, praising the depth of Saudi-Lebanese relations. He also reviewed his recent contacts with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

The Cabinet praised the political, economic and social implications of the speech delivered yesterday by King Abdullah to mark the opening of the 2nd year of the 5th session of the Majlis Al-Shoura. The ministers noted the great progress achieved by the Majlis over the past few years.

Afterwards, the Cabinet listened to reports on the latest regional and international developments and praised the outcome of the 133rd session of the Arab League Council. On the domestic front, the Cabinet reviewed the many cultural and scientific events held in the Kingdom last week, including the Riyadh International Book Fair, where more than 650 publishing houses from more than 30 countries are participating.

The Cabinet approved the addition of an article to Section (IV) of Chapter (V) of the Social Insurance Law issued by the Royal Decree No. (M/33), dated 03/09/1421H.; approved restructuring the two committees on the settlement of insurance disputes and violations in Jeddah and Dammam for three years as of 21/03/1431H.; and approved the organization of the Social Charity Fund.

The Cabinet approved the appointments of Ahmad Al-Zahrani as Administrative Advisor at the Ministry of Justice (15th rank); Abdulrahman Abu Melha as Financial Advisor at the Ministry of Transport (15th rank); and Hussein Asiri as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.