Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Virtually Chairs Cabinet's Session

NEOM, April 20, 2021, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired today the Cabinet's session, convened via video conference. At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet's members appreciated the generous donation being extended by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, to the national campaign on Ehsan Platform, designed to support charitable work. The Cabinet also paid tribute to the leadership's interest in meeting the needs of citizens, exerting generous offering and spending on aspects of goodness, developing the non-profit sector and maximizing its impact, raising efficiency and reliability of its performance, and supporting the humanitarian initiatives, social services and needy groups, to enable them participate in the national development and obtain the means of decent livelihoods. The Cabinet paid close attention to the comprehensive care Umrah performers and worshipers enjoy from all entities working in serving the visitors of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, in Makkah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, during these blessed days, according to an exemplary work system that aims to enable pilgrims and Umrah performers perform their rituals, enjoying the best level of services and facilities as well as the highest standards to preserve their health and safety. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet reviewed the developments of the coronavirus pandemic at the local and international levels, the trends of the curves and indicators based on the reality of relevant statistics and data, and the efforts exerted to achieve immunity for communities and safety for the society. He affirmed the necessity for citizens and residents to continue observe the preventive measures until the pandemic ends, and to speed up taking the vaccine to preserve their health, and contribute to protecting the public health of society. The Cabinet reviewed the contents of the consultations and talks that took place during the past few days, with a number of fraternal and brotherly countries on regional and international developments, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's announced plan to organize an annual summit for the Middle East Green Initiative to contribute to enhancing the environmental aspect and vegetation cover and achieving its goals throughout the region and the world. In the same context, the Cabinet reiterated that it is closely following the current developments related to Iran's nuclear program, citing the emphasis of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia call for Iran to get involved in the current negotiations, evade escalation and desist from jeopardizing the regional security and stability to further tension. The Cabinet underscored the importance of the international community reaching an accord with more stronger and lasting determinants embodying strict monitoring and controlling measures, to prevent Iran from acquiring the nuclear weapon and develop related essential potentials for that. The minister pointed out that the Cabinet renewed condemnation of the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militia's attempts to target civilians as well as civilian facilities, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a systematic and intentional manner, through using bomb laden drones and ballistic missiles, though the Royal Saudi Air Defense has managed to successfully intercept and destroy them. --SPA