Saudi Arabia's Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the King briefed the Cabineton the results of his meetings with the new High Commissioner for the UnitedNations Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Moratinos, and BritishChancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond.
The Saudi Arabia's King welcomed pilgrims who startedarriving in the Kingdom to perform the fifth pillar of Islam, praying to AllahAlmighty to help them perform and accept their Hajj rituals, directing variousgovernmental and civil sectors to facilitate performance of Hajj rituals forall pilgrims, provide security, stability and tranquility for them, and improveservices being provided at land, sea and air ports and in various facilities onthe routes of their journey to the Two Holy Mosques and holy sites, as it isusual every year since the founding of the Kingdom and carrying out this greathonor to serve all pilgrims.
Minister of Media Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said in astatement to the Saudi Press Agency that the Cabinet renewed its call to pilgrimsto devote all times to perform Hajj rituals, take care of their brothers andthe privacy of the holy sites and their spirituality, keep away from everythingthat disturbs Hajj and its tranquility by raising any political or doctrinalslogans, and that such actions will not be accepted in any way, all necessarymeasures will be taken to prevent them, and regulations will be applied againstanyone who perpetrates this.
The Cabinet praised the progress being made by Hajj servicesevery year, commending in this regard Makkah Road Initiative, which is one ofthe initiatives being implemented within the National Transformation Programs2020 to achieve the Kingdom's vision 2030 to improve the quality of servicesbeing provided for pilgrims, facilitate the performance of their rituals, andsave times and efforts for pilgrims in a number of countries.
The Minister said that the Cabinet discussed a number ofissues and latest developments at the international arena, commending theagreement during OPEC and OPEC+ meetings to extend the production reductionagreement until the end of the first quarter of 2020, which will contribute tothe stability of oil markets.
The Cabinet also commended the agreement on the draftcharter of cooperation between countries which would establish a sustainablecooperation framework aiming at long-term balance and stability of markets forthe interests of producers, consumers and the global economy.
The Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'swelcoming of the agreement reached in the sisterly Republic of Sudan,expressing the Kingdom's hope that this important step would be the start of anew stage of security and stability that meets the aspirations of brothers inSudan. It also affirmed the Kingdom's steadfastness in support of Sudan and itspeople to achieve stability and prosperity.
