Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers has commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for the royal pardon granted to all soldiers deployed on borders wih Yemen. The royal pardon covers all “military men” taking part in “Operation Restoring Hope”.

The weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, chaired by King Salman, appreciated the pardon recommended by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam Bin Saad said.

King Salman briefed the Cabinet on his talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that covered bilateral relations, prospects for cooperation between the two countries and latest developments at regional and international arenas, Dr. Saad was quoted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) as saying.

The King lauded the efforts of scholars who participated in the international conference on Afghanistan and issued the Makkah Declaration on adopting ways and means to secure peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Makkah Declaration urged all countries, organizations and Islamic elites to play their positive role in achieving security and peace in Afghanistan. The declaration also called for extinguishing the fire of sedition, appealing to Muslims in general and scholars in particular to continue their firm stand before advocates of violence and extremism in defense of their religion and maintaining the unity of the Islamic world.

The Cabinet commended the joint communique issued by the Kingdom and South Africa on the importance of promoting their joint action to advance the growing relations between the two countries. The communiqué also voiced concern over the plight of Palestinians and volatile situations in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon as well as the need to exert more concerted efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

The Cabinet commended the contribution of Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in deepening and strengthening the Arab-Chinese cooperation and friendship. It also welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s announcement to establish an Arab-Chinese strategic partnership and to start the executive program of the initiative to build the Belt and Road that will link the interests of China and Arab countries for the good and prosperity of all.

The minister said the Cabinet denounced suicide attacks in Pakistan and the city of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan.

Dr. Saeed said the Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shoura (Consultative) Council and issued decisions that include signing of a draft agreement between Saudi Arabia and Georgia in the field of air transport services and its approval for organizing the advisory committee of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA).

The Cabinet also allowed Iraqi Commercial Bank to open a branch in the Kingdom.