Saudi Arabia on Monday called for the unconditional implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolution to end the conflict in neighboring Yemen and intensifying efforts to send humanitarian aid to the country. The call came during the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy prime minister and minister of interior, at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah Monday afternoon. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi said the council underlined the content of a speech made by the crown prince while receiving the families of soldiers who were martyred on duty in the terrorist bombing that targeted the Special Emergency Force in Asir Province. The bombing on August 6 killed 11 Saudi soldiers and four expatriate workers who were praying at the mosque inside the Special Security Forces compound in Abha. In his speech, the crown prince conveyed the condolences of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to the families of the martyrs and expressed the Kingdom's pride in its citizens who died defending the homeland against the advocates of deviant thought. "Whoever tries to tamper with the security of the Kingdom and its people will meet with a fitting response in the field without delay," he said. The council reviewed efforts being exerted to support the Yemeni people and their legitimate government. It emphasized the importance of the unconditional implementation of the Security Council Resolution No. 2216 to bring Yemen out of its current crisis, simultaneously intensifying efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the brotherly people of Yemen. The council lauded the humanitarian role of King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Work in delivering aid to meet the basic needs of the Yemeni people in line with the directives of the King. The council commended the efforts of the security authorities in Kuwait in thwarting a terrorist plot to destabilize the country by arresting a terrorist cell, which stockpiled a huge arsenal of weapons, ammunition, missiles and explosives. Al-Turaifi said the council also discussed a number of domestic issues. It reviewed the activities of the 9th edition of Okaz Souq, which was opened by Makkah Emir Prince Khalid Al-Faisal on Wednesday. The council stressed the role of Souq Okaz in preserving the nation's culture, heritage and creativity through various events and programs. Al-Turaifi said the council discussed a number of topics on the agenda, including several proposals by the Shoura Council. The council allowed the continuation of the exemption of customs duty on imports from the Palestinian territories. The council authorized the minister of commerce and industry or his deputy to hold talks with Algeria on a draft agreement on consumer protection. The council approved the reshuffling of the National Committee for the Saudi Building Code. The reshuffled committee will have 17 representatives from different ministries, authorities and the private sector. The committee will be under the Saudi Standards Organization and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The council approved the appointment of Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al-Hudhaili as a member of the Board of Directors in the Saudi Credit and Savings Bank as the representative of the Ministry of Finance. With the aim of organizing the General Organization for Pensions, the council approved several measures. The organization's new board of directors will have 10 members with the minister of civil service as chairman.
