Riyadh backs Tunisia's plan to host friends of Syria 

(MENAFN - Arab News) The Council of Ministers on Monday called for drastic measures to end the bloodbath in Syria and welcomed Tunisia's plan to host a conference of Syria's friends on Feb. 24.

The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also welcomed the Doha Declaration signed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.

Speaking about the Doha accord, the Cabinet expressed its hope that "this positive step would contribute to strengthening Palestinian national unity, realizing the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people."

Social Affairs Minister and Acting Information Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said the Cabinet expanded the activities of the permanent committee to implement mutual legal support requests, saying such requests from other countries to Saudi Arabia and vice versa should cover all crimes.

The Cabinet authorized the governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) to hold talks with Vietnamese officials to sign an agreement for the promotion and protection of investment.

The Kingdom will hold talks with Albania to sign an agreement for cooperation in youth welfare and sports affairs, Al-Othaimeen said.

The Cabinet expanded the board of directors of King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) by inducting a number of prominent figures including the minister of culture and information.

It appointed Abdullah Al-Qadi, Aamir Al-Delaijan and Faisal Al-Tamimi to the national committee for geographical data systems for three years.

The meeting commended the king's decision to increase the prize value of the international translation prize from SR500,000 to SR750,000 and the value of prizes given to individuals from SR250,000 to SR500,000 in order to encourage the translation movement.