(MENAFN - Arab News) Saudi Arabia yesterday reiterated its support for international efforts to contain the Syrian crisis.
It also urged the United Nations Security Council to issue a resolution immediately that incorporates Kofi Annan's peace plan and a transition plan for Syria.
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, made the call.
The Cabinet also called for measures to force the Syrian regime to respect the resolutions reached at a Geneva meeting on the transition of power in Syria. The Cabinet urged the imposition of sanctions on the regime if it fails to respect the resolutions.
The Kingdom supported the final communiqu issued by the Paris conference that urged the Security Council to issue a resolution forcing the Syrian regime to implement the transition plan.
The Cabinet also denounced Israel's treatment of Palestinians, claiming Tel Aviv had violated their rights, put them behind bars and occupied their land. It urged the international community to take effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing this policy, saying it challenged international will.
It told Israel that its policy was the main reason for the failure of the peace process.
Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet took a number of other decisions, including approving two agreements with Qatar for cooperation in environmental protection and meteorological observation.
It also took a number of decisions related to setting up permanent headquarters for the Supreme Judiciary Council, Supreme Court, Appeals Court, Higher Administrative Court, administrative appeal courts and other courts.
The Cabinet said: "The areas to be allocated for these courts should be in accordance with what has been agreed with the authorities concerned."
Buildings will be constructed within five years for those courts that received land after reaching an agreement with the Finance Ministry. The nature of the region or city will be taken into consideration when allocating land for the courts.
The Cabinet appointed Bandar Al-Wayely (from the Economy and Planning Ministry); Majed Al-Bawaridi (Commerce and Industry Ministry); and Saleh Al-Afalik, Abdul Aziz Al-Ajlan and Mazen Batterjee (private sector) board members of the General Authority of Civil Aviation for three years.
The Cabinet authorized Labor Minister Adel Fakeih to hold talks with his Brazilian counterpart to reach an agreement for cooperation in technical and vocational training.
The Cabinet endorsed an agreement with South Korea for peaceful use of nuclear energy. The accord was signed in Seoul on Nov. 15.
The Cabinet appointed Eqab Alluwaihek deputy governor of the Makkah province for security affairs, Abdullah Al-Mutairy deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs for contracts, Saadi Al-Qarni deputy Makkah mayor for construction and projects, Ahmed Al-Beez assistant deputy minister for engineering affairs at the Health Ministry and Hamad Al-Hudaithy assistant deputy minister for inspection and labor relations at the Labor Ministry.
