The Saudi Council of Ministers affirms the protection of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab and supports the two-state solution to the Palestinian issue.

The Saudi Council of Ministers stressed, on Tuesday, the importance of ensuring the protection of freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and the return of conditions in Hormuz to what they were before February 28, and not imposing any fees or restrictions, stressing its refusal to use these vital passages as a tool for pressure, threats, or harming the interests of countries. In line with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

During its session, chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister in Riyadh, the Council strongly condemned the continuation of officials of the Israeli occupation authorities and extremist settlers in attacking the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its religious and historical status, and the continuation of expansionist attempts to infringe on the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, reiterating that a just and lasting peace cannot be achieved except by implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

During its follow-up of developments in political issues on the regional and international arenas, the Council welcomed the statement issued by members of the UN Security Council condemning the continued attacks by the Houthi terrorist militia on the Kingdom and commercial ships, threatening the security of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and undermining efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen.

At the beginning of the session, the Saudi Crown Prince briefed the Council of Ministers on the contents of the phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council in Sudan, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the content of his meeting with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the Emirates, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Office, and what took place during the talks in terms of reviewing relations between Saudi Arabia and their countries, and ways to support and develop them in many fields, in addition to... Discussing the latest developments in the situation in the region and the efforts made to enhance security and stability regionally and internationally.

During the session, the Council discussed the results of Saudi Arabia’s participation in the work of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly at its eighty-first session, praising in this context the national efforts and its role in this global event under the leadership and support of multilateral action systems at various levels. In a way that serves international peace and security, consolidates the approach of dialogue and diplomacy, and contributes to addressing global crises and challenges and enhancing the response to humanitarian needs.

The Council considered that Saudi Arabia would provide financial support to the programs of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center in continuation of its efforts to combat this scourge in all its forms and manifestations, and in confirmation of the importance of the Center and its effective contribution to building the capabilities of countries, unifying global efforts, and consolidating international cooperation in this field.

He noted the progress achieved at the level of establishing the General Secretariat of the “Mecca Agreement” for Joint Defense and the formation of the committees and working teams emanating from it, and the steps taken in the meetings of the foreign ministers and chiefs of the general staff in the Kingdom, Pakistan and Turkey. To move forward in supporting aspects of coordination and integration between the three countries, and to begin embodying the obligations of the agreement in military cooperation that enhances collective deterrence and defense.

The Council of Ministers reviewed a number of reports on local affairs, appreciating the successive international acclaim for the leadership of the “Saudi Model for Quality Education and Training” in building an integrated system of programmes, tools, standards and a wide base of data and information. It contributes to ensuring the adequacy of educational outcomes, preparing national cadres to compete globally, and establishing a culture of excellence and innovation. In line with the objectives of the Human Capacity Development Program and “Saudi Vision 2030”.

The Council reviewed the topics on its agenda, including topics that the Shura Council participated in studying. It also reviewed the conclusions reached by the Councils of Political and Security Affairs, Economic Affairs and Development, the General Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the Council of Experts of the Council of Ministers regarding them.

The Council issued a number of decisions, including approving an agreement between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkey regarding mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and private passports. Authorizing the Minister of Culture - or his representative - to discuss with the American side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom and the Smithsonian Institution in the United States, and to sign it.

The Council authorized the Minister of Health - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the health fields with the Djiboutian side. He approved a memorandum of understanding between the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority in the Kingdom and the Central Oversight and Inspection Authority in Syria in the field of preventing and combating corruption.

He approved the continuation of the membership term of the members of the Supreme Judicial Council, the Administrative Judicial Council, the Public Prosecution Council, and the Council of the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Unit of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, until a successor to them is appointed, and the relevant regulations are amended, and approved the governance of studying requests for the transformation of government agencies in accordance with the rules and arrangements for how employees and workers are treated in the sectors targeted for transformation and privatization.

The Council also decided that mosques and their facilities should be among the public facilities to which the Public Facilities Protection System is applied, until the endowment system project comes into force. The Minister of Finance authorized the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to approve lists of prohibited and restricted goods and goods of a special nature issued in approval decisions within the framework of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.

The Council approved the final accounts of “King Faisal University” for the previous fiscal year, and directed what was necessary regarding a number of topics on the agenda of the Council of Ministers, including annual reports for the “General Endowments” Authority, the “Saudi Red Sea Authority”, the National Center for Waste Management, the Center for Supporting Development Bodies and Strategic Offices, and King Abdulaziz University.