The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on this evening. At the outset of the session, King Salman briefed the Cabinet on the telephone conversation he had with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, and his meeting with the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani.

Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel Al Toraifi said following the session that the Cabinet reviewed the latest regional and international developments. The Kingdom re-affirming it condemnation of the terrorist bombings at the Imam Al-Sadeq Mosque in Kuwait, the attack at the Tunisian seaside resort of Sousse, and the terrorist attack at a chemical plant near Lyon, France. The Cabinet stressed that such terrorist acts are contrary to all Islamic values and principles and expressed its condolences to the governments and people of Kuwait, Tunisia, and France, and the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

The Cabinet also condemned today's terrorist bombing in Cairo which killed Egypt’s Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat. The Cabinet expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to the government of Egypt and people, and to the family of the deceased, praying to Allah to have mercy on him and to inspire his family patience and solace.

The Cabinet re-emphasized in this regard, the Kingdom's rejection, condemnation and denunciation of all forms of violence and terrorism, and its solidarity and stand with sisterly and friendly countries in confronting terrorist acts to maintain their security and stability.

The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of the continuing acts of violence, discourse of hatred, incitement and racial discrimination against the Muslim community in Myanmar. The Cabinet stressed that the humanitarian tragedy being experienced by Rohingya Muslims and their exposure to an ethnic cleansing campaigns require urgent action from the international community to call on the Government of Myanmar to adopt a transparent and comprehensive policy to stop all practices of persecution and deportation, and to speed the recognition of Rohingya Muslims minority without any discrimination or ethnic classification.

The Cabinet was briefed on the results of the official visit by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to France and his meeting with President Francois Hollande and senior French officials. 

Turning to domestic issues, the Cabinet was briefed on the results of the 22nd Annual Meeting of Governors of Regions. The meeting, under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, discussed plans to boost development and enhance services for citizens. This year’s agenda focused on modernization and development of Provincial System, ways to measure the performance of governors and chiefs of administrative centers, and the state of unplanned communities. The Cabinet extended its thanks and appreciation to King Salman for patronizing laying of the foundation stone ceremony of Khair Makkah charitable investment project allocated for Society for Children with Disability, and contributing SR 50 million ($13.33 million) for the project.

The Cabinet praised the efforts of Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the board of directors of the Society for Children with Disability and all those interested in charitable and volunteering works as well as all contributors and supporters of such charitable deeds for what has been achieved by the Society.

Minister of Culture and Information Al Toraifi said that the Cabinet was briefed on the topics on its agenda, including topics in which the Shura Council participated in their study, and on the reports of both its General Committee and Experts' Bureau regarding them, and decided the following: approved an amendment the Civil Defense Regulation; amendment the name of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage; approved the two mutual memorandums between the United Nations Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister regarding the actions that can be taken by the Kingdom with respect to diplomatic bags of the United Nations.