Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz today chaired the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, and briefed the cabinet on contacts he had had on international developments, including talks with visiting dignitaries such as Senegal's President Abdullah Wade, Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schröder. Such talks, he said, are within the framework of the brotherly, friendly and long-standing relations that the Kingdom has with other countries, based on mutual respect and non-interference with others' affairs as well as Saudi Arabia’s continuing efforts to achieve security and stability for all peace-loving peoples.

The Cabinet expressed its best wishes for the success of the new Palestinian government to achieve the aspirations, ambitions and all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. As for Lebanon, the Cabinet called on its people to preserve its national unity and stability, and to face the current events with wisdom. The Cabinet offered the Kingdom's condolences to Iran on the victims of the recent earthquake in the southeast of that country, which led to the deaths of hundreds of people.

Turning to domestic issues, the Cabinet passed a number of resolutions, including authorization for the General President of Youth Welfare or his deputy to discuss a draft memorandum of understanding on cooperation in sports activities with the Government of the Republic of Austria; and authorization for the Minister of Labor or his deputy to discuss two agreements with the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for regulation of land transportation operations for passengers as well as goods and for cooperation in the area of maritime transportation.

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