Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz today presided over the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers and paid tribute to the Saudi people's voluntary demonstration of benevolence during the holy month of Ramadan, remarking that this reflects the Kingdom's commitment to the instructions of the Islamic faith based on the Holy Qur'an and the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad whose exhortation to his followers was that Ramadan be a month of forgiveness as well as one of strengthening of relations with the Almighty, a month not only for fasting from dawn to dusk, but for assisting the poor and reaching solutions for any problem.   The people of Saudi Arabia therefore take the annual opportunity of this holy month to perform acts of benevolence, spend nights in worship of God, renew social cordiality through gathering together for the meal that breaks the fast, make visits to each other, and increase their religious knowledge by reciting the holy book or listening to it, by attending the lessons given night and day at mosques and Islamic centers, and by reading commentary by learned scholars in the mass media.

 Information Minister Dr. Fuad Al-Farsi reported that the King called on Muslims all over the world to celebrate this holy month by enhancing their solidarity, cooperation and united stance.  The cabinet then reviewed a number of developments in the Arab, Islamic and international arenas, and expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the fifteenth session of the Arab Interior Ministers Conference recently held in Tunisia, especially the draft agreement on combating terrorism.   The cabinet went on to reiterate the Kingdom's position on the fight against crime and its aim to eradicate all crime-related symptoms, a position that emanates from the principles of the Islamic religion.
The cabinet then issued a number of resolutions, including endorsement of a cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in the field of youth and sports signed in Tunis on February 27, 1997;  an amendment of Article 79 of the Companies Act;  and a recommendation that Saudis who plan to marry non-Saudis present certificates of medical fitness pertaining to the non-Saudi partner.

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