The Kingdom’s keenness on the stability of oil markets.. Referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council’s affirmation of support for international efforts to reduce escalation in Ukraine.. Supporting efforts to ensure the security and stability of the Middle East and the world.. Welcoming the designation of the Houthi militia as a terrorist group..

RIYADH - The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - chaired the session held by the Council of Ministers, this afternoon, Tuesday, Rajab 28, 1443 AH, corresponding to March 01, 2022 AD, at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

At the beginning of the session, the Council of Ministers, on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the Saudi state in the year 1139 AH (1727 AD), recalled the great blessings that God bestowed on this safe country, the first of which is the blessing of Islam and the honor it was given in serving the Two Holy Mosques and their pilgrims, and then the unification that God bestowed upon them. diaspora and laying the foundations of peace and stability and achieving justice, and its development and renaissance at all levels, and a high position among nations.

The Council expressed thanks to their Majesties, Excellencies and Highnesses, and to the leaders, presidents and officials of brotherly and friendly countries for their congratulations and noble feelings to the Kingdom on this occasion, which is a celebration of the history of a homeland that was founded on ambition and faith in all its historical phases to be a beacon of construction and a beacon of civilization.

After that, the Council of Ministers was briefed on the content of the phone call received by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, from His Excellency President Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, during which they discussed regional and international developments, especially the situation in Ukraine and its impact on energy markets, and the Kingdom’s affirmation of its keenness on the stability of markets Petroleum, its balance and commitment to the (OPEC Plus) agreement, as well as the content of the call he made - may God protect him - with His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

His Excellency the Acting Minister of Information, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, explained that the council reviewed the overall talks and exchanged visits between officials in the Kingdom and a number of countries, aimed at strengthening relations and strengthening bonds of friendship, cooperation and teamwork. To achieve common interests and contribute to development and prosperity in the region and the world.

The Council of Ministers followed up on the developments in the world at the political and security levels, referring to what was issued by the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, affirming support for international efforts to reduce escalation in Ukraine through dialogue and diplomacy; This would contribute to restoring security and stability, and pave the way for discussions leading to a political solution to the crisis.

The Council touched upon what the Kingdom affirmed during the work of the Munich Security Conference in Germany of its support for efforts aimed at ensuring security and stability in the Middle East and the world, and working with international partners to end the Yemeni crisis through a comprehensive cease-fire, and to reach a comprehensive political solution in accordance with the three references: (The Initiative: The Gulf Cooperation Council and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216).

The Cabinet welcomed the UN Security Council’s decision to classify the Houthi militia as a terrorist group, and to expand the ban on the delivery of weapons to Yemen to include all militia members after it was limited to specific individuals and companies, expressing the hope that this decision would contribute to putting an end to its terrorist acts and their supporters, and neutralizing their danger to The brotherly Yemeni people and international peace and security.

The Council reiterated the Kingdom's firm position towards the necessity of making the Middle East region free of all weapons of mass destruction, and what it affirmed during its participation in the (Conference on Disarmament) in Geneva on (February 28, 2022), its support for cooperation to ban them and prevent their spread, and the need for all countries to adhere to treaty obligations. Nuclear non-proliferation, and its contribution to the efforts made in this regard.

His Excellency indicated that the Council of Ministers addressed what was included in the twenty-sixth Gulf-European Ministerial Meeting, emphasizing the importance of intensifying joint action towards international peace and security, and consolidating cooperation in the field of preserving the environment and addressing climate change, noting the efforts made by the Kingdom in this regard through my initiatives : (Green Saudi Arabia) and (Green Middle East), which will contribute to achieving global targets.

The Council referred to the 2022 International Petroleum Technology Conference held in Riyadh; With the participation of ministers, experts and interested people from 70 countries, the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure the immunity of the three pillars of the energy world represented in the security of necessary energy supplies, continuous economic development by providing reliable sources of energy, and facing climate change, was emphasized.

The Council of Ministers valued the ability of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) to discover a number of natural gas fields in the central region, the Empty Quarter region, the northern border region, and the eastern region, directing praise and praise to God Almighty for the apparent and inward blessings bestowed on this country.

The council considered that the Kingdom would be ranked first in the field of digital services availability and development in the e- and mobile government services maturity index issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), as a culmination of integration and joint action between government agencies to achieve government digital transformation as one of the objectives of (Vision 2030). ).

The Council of Ministers was briefed on the topics on its agenda, including topics that the Shura Council participated in its study, as well as the conclusions of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the Council of Experts in the Council of Ministers in this regard.

The council concluded the following:

O no:

Authorizing His Royal Highness the Minister of Energy - or his representative - to discuss with the Omani side a draft cooperation agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in the field of energy, to sign it, and then submit the final signed copy, to complete the regulatory procedures.

Secondly:

Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Singapore in the field of energy.

Third:

Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Fourthly:

Authorizing His Excellency the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Fund for Development - or his representative - to discuss with the British side a draft memorandum of cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to sign it, and then upload the final signed copy to complete the formalities.

Fifthly:

Formation of a committee called (the Committee for the Industry of Vaccines and Biological Medicines) headed by His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Sixthly:

Assigning the tasks of constructing, operating, maintaining and reconstructing dam and groundwater water purification plants, whose daily production capacities exceed 5,000 cubic metres, to the Saline Water Conversion Corporation.

Seventh:

Renewing the membership of Dr. Maher bin Saad bin Jadid and Mr. Abdullah bin Ghaithan Al-Shamrani, and appointing Dr. Haila bint Abdullah Al-Khalaf and Ms. Rasha bint Muhammad Al-Balaa to the Board of Directors of the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities.

Eighth:

Approval of promotions to the fifteenth and fourteenth ranks, as follows:

- Nayef bin Ali bin Suleiman Al-Harbi is promoted to the position of (Office Director General) at the fifteenth rank at the Institute of Public Administration.

- Abdul-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Faris is promoted to the position of (branch manager) at the (fourteenth) rank at the General Presidency of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

- Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ali Al-Salem is promoted to the position of (Director General of the President’s Office) at the (14th) rank in the Experts Authority in the Council of Ministers.

The Cabinet also reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda, including annual reports for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Grain Corporation, the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, the National Center for Social Studies and Research, the National Center for E-Learning, and the Nuclear and Radiological Control Authority. The council takes what is necessary on these issues.