JEDDAH, 11 September 2007 — The Council of Ministers yesterday approved the formation of a general authority for housing. The authority will devise the Kingdom’s future housing strategy and carry out low-cost housing projects for the poor.
The Cabinet meeting at Al-Salam Palace, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also endorsed a framework agreement for the promotion of trade between members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Speaking about the housing authority, Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said it would take up matters related to housing strategy from the Ministry of Economy and Planning. It will also set up a housing data bank and carry out studies and research on housing. “The new authority will also take over matters related to low-cost housing from the Ministry of Social Affairs,” Madani said.
He said the authority would work on providing suitable and quality housing facilities to citizens all over the Kingdom within a specific time. It will also take steps to increase the rate of home ownership.
“In order to achieve its objectives, the authority will prepare a comprehensive housing strategy for the Kingdom. It will also propose new rules and regulations and identify those who deserve charitable and low-cost housing units,” he added.
Spelling out the salient features of the OIC agreement to promote trade between the member countries, Madani said it ensures equal treatment for all participating countries and exchange of priority treatment including the most-favored country status within a timeframe. The signatories to this agreement will also provide special concessions to less developed countries during bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
Madani said the Cabinet earlier condemned the Israeli atrocities in the occupied territories and said the Jewish state’s actions were obstructing efforts to establish peace and stability in the region. The Cabinet emphasized the need for adopting a joint Arab stand in order to confront Israel’s practices. It also urged major powers not to ignore the cultural and social situation of the Arab region and the basic rights of its people.
“The application of readymade political ideologies has failed in the past and will continue to fail in the present and future. The future of Israel depends on acknowledging the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to have an independent state,” the Cabinet said.
King Abdullah briefed the ministers on the outcome of his talks with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and underlined Riyadh’s strategic relations with Senegal and other African countries. He also noted the historic and cultural relations between Senegal and Saudi Arabia, adding that the two OIC countries held identical views on major international issues.
The Cabinet authorized the foreign minister to hold talks with his American counterpart in order to change the period of visa in Article 1 of the memorandum of understanding (that organizes visit visas between the Kingdom and the United States) from two years to five years and change the visa fee from SR200 to SR375. The Cabinet also approved Bupa Arabia Cooperative Insurance Company.
