Shoura Council convenes meetings of the first-year Fifth-session

Riyadh, March 02, SPA -- The Shoura Council held the first ordinary
meeting of the first year of the fifth session, under the
chairmanship of Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh.

He started the business of the Council's first meeting with an
address in which he extended sincere thanks to and appreciation of
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud, and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier,
Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, for the royal
confidence bestowed on all of them.

He stated that work in the Shoura is one of the fundamentals of
Islamic Sharia that must be observed and should lead to real and
genuine concept of consultation and dialogue and avoid exclusion of
any idea that establishes awareness of the public interest and
service the homeland and citizens.
Freedom of presentation and discussion of different views under this
dome is guaranteed for all, because the leadership is keen to make
this a place where minds and diverse experiences are mixed with each
other in order to rationalize the decision, which serves the public
interest and assists the State in its work, he said citing Article V
of the Rules of Procedure for members of the Shoura and the Statute
of the Shoura Council.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the meeting, the
Secretary General of the Shoura Council Dr. Mohammed bin Abdullah
Al-Ghamdi said that the council discussed naming its specialized
subcommittees, their chairmen, vice-chairmen and members.
--SPA