TRANSLATED TEXT OF NEW SAUDI SUCCESSION LAW

UNCLAS RIYADH 008926 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR A/S WELCH, JJEFFREY, SCARPENTER, GGRAY, CMALLORY POLICY PLANNING FOR KRASNER WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP, JHANNAH, SHADLEY NSC FOR MDORAN, NRAMCHAND BAGHDAD FOR RULE OF LAW COORDINATOR RMURPHY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SA SUBJECT: TRANSLATED TEXT OF NEW SAUDI SUCCESSION LAW REF: RIYADH 8921 ¶1. (U) KING ABDULLAH ISSUED A NEW SUCCESSION LAW ON OCTOBER 20 TO FORMALIZE THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A CROWN PRINCE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION (REFTEL). THE BASIC LAW OF 1992 -- ESSENTIALLY THE CONSTITUTION -- WAS AMENDED TO REFLECT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION. BELOW IS THE TRANSLATION OF THE CHANGE TO THE BASIC LAW AND THE COMMISSION STATUE, AS PROVIDED BY THE SAUDI PRESS AGENCY. -------------- TEXT OF CHANGE TO BASIC LAW -------------- ¶2. (U) BEGIN THE TRANSLATED TEXT: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE. WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALMIGHTY GOD, WE, ABDULLAH BIN-ABD-AL-AZIZ AL SA'UD, KING OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, TAKING COGNIZANCE OF THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED BY ROYAL DECREE NO. A/90 ON 27/8/1412 (1 MARCH 1992),AND AFTER EXAMINING THE DRAFT OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION STATUTE, AND BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST, DECREE THE FOLLOWING: ¶1. ISSUING THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION STATUTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED TEXT. ¶2. AMENDING PARAGRAPH C OF ARTICLE 5 OF THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED BY ROYAL DECREE NO. A/90, ON 27/8/1412 OF THE HEGIRA, TO MAKE IT READ AS FOLLOWS: ¶C. THE CALL FOR SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING AND SELECTING A CROWN PRINCE WILL BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION STATUTE. ¶3. APPLYING THE RULES OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION STATUTE ON FUTURE CASES AND NOT ON THE REIGNING KING AND CROWN PRINCE. ¶4. INFORMING THE COMPETENT DEPARTMENTS OF THIS DECREE FOR ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION. (SIGNED) ABDULLAH BIN-ABD-AL-AZIZ. END TRANSLATED TEXT. -------------- TEXT OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION STATUTE -------------- ¶3. (U) BEGIN THE TRANSLATED TEXT: ARTICLE 1 A COMMISSION CALLED THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION WILL BE FORMED BY A ROYAL DECREE AND WILL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING: ¶1. THE SONS OF THE FOUNDER KING ABD-AL-AZIZ BIN-ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-FAYSAL AL SAUD. ¶2. ONE OF THE SONS OF EACH SON OF THE FOUNDER KING ABD-AL-AZIZ BIN-ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-FAYSAL AL SA'UD WHO IS DECEASED, WHO DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE, OR WHO IS DISABLED BASED ON A MEDICAL REPORT. THESE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE KING, PROVIDED THEY ARE PROVEN TO BE GOOD AND COMPETENT MEN. ¶3. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE KING. ONE OF WHOM IS FROM HIS SONS AND THE OTHER FROM THE SONS OF THE CROWN PRINCE, PROVIDED THEY ARE PROVEN TO BE GOOD AND COMPETENT MEN. SHOULD THE POSITION OF ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION BECOME VACANT, THE KING SHALL FILL THE VACANCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 2 AND PARAGRAPH 3 OF THIS ARTICLE. ARTICLE 2 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL EXERCISE ITS DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT. ARTICLE 3 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL ABIDE BY THE HOLY BOOK OF GOD (THE KORAN) AND THE TRADITION OF HIS PROPHET MUHAMMAD, GOD'S PEACE AND BLESSINGS BE UPON HIM, AND SHALL PRESERVE THE STATE'S ENTITY, THE UNITY OF AND COOPERATION AMONG THE ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS, NATIONAL UNITY, AND THE PEOPLE'S INTERESTS. ARTICLE 4 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION HEADQUARTERS SHALL BE BASED IN THE CITY OF RIYADH AND THE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD ITS MEETINGS AT THE ROYAL COURT. WITH THE KING'S APPROVAL, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION CAN HOLD ITS MEETINGS IN ONE OF THE ROYAL COURT BUILDINGS INSIDE THE KINGDOM OR AT ANY OTHER PLACE SPECIFIED BY THE KING. ARTICLE 5 BEFORE ASSUMING THEIR DUTIES, THE CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS, AND THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION WILL TAKE THE SIPDIS FOLLOWING OATH: I SWEAR BY THE GREAT GOD THAT I WILL BE SINCERE TO MY RELIGION, THEN TO MY KING, THEN TO MY COUNTRY; THAT I WILL NOT REVEAL ANY OF THE STATE SECRETS, WILL PROTECT ITS INTERESTS AND LAWS, WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE UNITY OF AND COOPERATION AMONG THE ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS, UPHOLD NATIONAL UNITY, AND WILL CARRY OUT MY DUTIES WITH SINCERITY, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND JUSTICE. ARTICLE 6 WHEN THE KING DIES, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL CALL FOR SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THE CROWN PRINCE AS A KING OF THE COUNTRY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT. ARTICLE 7 ¶A. AFTER THE SWEARING OF ALLEGIANCE AND AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEMBERS, THE KING SHALL CHOOSE ONE, TWO, OR THREE CANDIDATES WHOM HE DEEMS SUITABLE FOR THE POSITION OF THE CROWN PRINCE. HE SHALL PRESENT THIS CHOICE TO THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION MUST ENDEAVOR TO NOMINATE ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES BY CONSENSUS TO BE NAMED CROWN PRINCE. IN CASE THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION DOES NOT NOMINATE ANY OF THESE, IT SHALL NOMINATE WHOM IT THINKS WOULD BE SUITABLE TO BECOME CROWN PRINCE. ¶B. THE KING CAN AT ANY TIME ASK THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION TO NOMINATE WHOMEVER IT DEEMS SUITABLE TO BECOME THE CROWN PRINCE. IN CASE THE KING DOES NOT APPROVE OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION'S CANDIDATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH A AND B OF THIS ARTICLE, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST VOTE ON ITS CANDIDATE AS WELL AS ONE THAT THE KING SHALL CHOOSE. THE ONE WHO WINS THE GREATER NUMBER OF VOTES SHALL BE APPOINTED THE CROWN PRINCE. ARTICLE 8 THE CANDIDATE FOR THE CROWN PRINCE MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH B OF ARTICLE 5 OF THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT. ARTICLE 9 THE CROWN PRINCE SHALL BE CHOSEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 7 AND WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 30 DAYS FROM THE SWEARING OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING. ARTICLE 10 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL FORM A TRANSITORY RULING COUNCIL COMPOSED OF FIVE OF ITS MEMBERS. THE COUNCIL WILL ASSUME THE TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CASES STIPULATED IN THIS STATUTE. IN ALL CASES, THIS COUNCIL SHALL HAVE NO POWERS TO AMEND THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT, THIS STATUTE, THE LAW OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, THE LAW OF THE SHURA COUNCIL, THE LAW OF THE COUNTRY'S REGIONS, THE LAW OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, OR ANY OTHER LAWS RELATED TO THE GOVERNMENT. IT SHALL HAVE NO POWERS TO DISSOLVE OR RE-FORM THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OR THE SHURA COUNCIL. DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, THE COUNCIL MUST PRESERVE THE STATE'S UNITY AND ITS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INTERESTS AND STATUTES. ARTICLE 11 SHOULD THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION BECOME CONVINCED THAT THE KING IS UNABLE TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS FOR HEALTH REASONS, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL ASK THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL BE FORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUE, TO PREPARE A MEDICAL REPORT ON THE KING'S HEALTH CONDITION. IF THE MEDICAL REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE KINGS INABILITY TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS IS TEMPORARY, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL PREPARE A DOCUMENT TO VALIDATE THIS. THUS, THE KING'S POWERS SHALL DIRECTLY BE TRANSFERRED TEMPORARILY TO THE CROWN PRINCE UNTIL THE KING RECOVERS FROM HIS ILLNESS. WHEN THE KING INFORMS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION IN WRITING THAT HE HAS OVERCOME THE HEALTH REASONS THAT DID NOT ENABLE HIM TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS OR WHEN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION IS CONVINCED OF THIS, IT MUST ASK THE ABOVE-MENTIONED MEDICAL COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A MEDICAL REPORT ON THE KING'S HEALTH CONDITION, PROVIDED THIS IS DONE WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 24 HOURS. IF THE MEDICAL REPORT PROVES THE KING'S ABILITY TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST PREPARE A DOCUMENT TO VALIDATE THIS. THE KING SHALL THEN BE ABLE TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS. IF THE MEDICAL REPORT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE KING'S INABILITY TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS IS A PERMANENT CONDITION, THEN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST PREPARE A DOCUMENT TO VALIDATE THIS. THEN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL CALL FOR THE SWEARING OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE CROWN PRINCE AS THE KING OF THE COUNTRY, PROVIDED THESE MEASURES ARE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 24 HOURS. ARTICLE 12 IN CASE THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION BECOMES CONVINCED THAT BOTH THE KING AND HIS CROWN PRINCE ARE UNABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR POWERS FOR HEALTH REASONS, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST ASK THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE, FORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE, TO PREPARE A MEDICAL REPORT ON THEIR HEALTH CONDITIONS. IF THE HEALTH REPORT ESTABLISHES THAT THEIR INABILITY TO CARRY OUT THEIR POWERS IS CONSIDERED A TEMPORARY CONDITION, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST PREPARE A DOCUMENT TO VALIDATE THIS. THE TRANSITORY RULING COUNCIL SHALL THEN ASSUME THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE STATE AND SHALL TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE'S INTERESTS UNTIL ANY ONE OF THEM RECOVERS. IF THE KING OR THE CROWN PRINCE INFORMS THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION IN WRITING THAT HE HAS OVERCOME THE HEALTH REASONS THAT HAD RENDERED HIM UNABLE TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS OR WHEN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION BECOMES CONVINCED OF THIS, THEN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST ASK THE ABOVE-MENTIONED MEDICAL COMMITTEE TO PREPARE A MEDICAL REPORT ON HIS CASE PROVIDED THIS IS DONE WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 24 HOURS. IF THE MEDICAL REPORT ESTABLISHES THE ABILITY OF ANY OF THEM TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST PREPARE A DOCUMENT TO VALIDATE THIS. THEN HE WILL RESUME EXERCISING HIS POWERS. IF THE MEDICAL REPORT PROVES THAT THEIR INABILITY TO EXERCISE THEIR POWERS IS REGARDED AS A PERMANENT CONDITION, THEN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MUST PREPARE A DOCUMENT TO VALIDATE THIS. IN THIS CASE, THE TRANSITORY RULING COUNCIL SHALL ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ADMINISTERING THE AFFAIRS OF THE STATE. MEANWHILE, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL CHOOSE, WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING SEVEN DAYS, THE MOST SUITABLE ONE FROM THE SONS OF THE FOUNDER KING ABD-AL-AZIZ BIN-ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-FAYSAL AL SA'UD AND THEIR SONS AND SHALL CALL FOR SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO HIM AS A KING OF THIS COUNTRY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT. ARTICLE 13 IN CASE THE KING AND THE CROWN PRINCE DIE AT THE SAME TIME, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL CHOOSE, WITHIN A PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING SEVEN DAYS, THE MOST SUITABLE ONE FROM THE SONS OF THE FOUNDER KING ABD-AL-AZIZ BIN-ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-FAYSAL AL SA'UD OR THEIR SONS AND SHALL CALL FOR SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO HIM AS A KING OF THIS COUNTRY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS STATUTE AND THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE TRANSITORY RULING COUNCIL SHALL ADMINISTER THE AFFAIRS OF THE STATE UNTIL THE KING HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED. ARTICLE 14 A MEDICAL COMMITTEE SHALL BE FORMED, AND IT WILL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING: ¶1. THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF THE ROYAL CLINICS. ¶2. THE MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE KING FAYSAL SPECIALTY HOSPITAL. ¶3. THREE DEANS OF THE FACULTIES OF MEDICINES IN THE KINGDOM TO BE SELECTED BY THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION. THE COMMITTEE SHALL ASSUME THE TASK OF ISSUING THE MEDICAL REPORT MENTIONED IN THIS STATUTE, AND IT CAN SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF ANY PHYSICIANS IT DEEMS SUITABLE. ARTICLE 15 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL BE CHAIRED BY THE ELDEST SON OF THE FOUNDER KING ABD-AL-AZIZ BIN-ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-FAYSAL AL SA'UD. HE WILL HAVE AS HIS DEPUTY THE BROTHER WHO COMES NEXT TO HIM IN AGE. IN CASE NONE OF THESE IS PRESENT, THE MEETING SHALL BE CHAIRED BY THE OLDEST FROM THE SONS OF THE SONS OF THE FOUNDER KING ABD-AL-AZIZ BIN-ABD-AL-RAHMAN AL-FAYSAL AL SA'UD IN THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION. ARTICLE 16 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEETING SHALL BE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IT SHALL HOLD ITS MEETINGS AFTER THE KINGS APPROVAL AND WILL BE ATTENDED ONLY BY ITS MEMBERS AND ITS SECRETARY GENERAL IN ADDITION TO THE ONE WHO TAKES CARE OF ORGANIZING ITS DELIBERATIONS, AFTER THE KING'S APPROVAL. BASED ON THE KING'S APPROVAL, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION CAN CALL ON ANYONE IT DEEMS SUITABLE TO PRESENT EXPLANATIONS OR INFORMATION. SUCH A PERSON WILL HAVE NO RIGHT TO VOTE. ARTICLE 17 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN SHALL CALL FOR THE COMMISSION MEETINGS IN CASES STIPULATED IN ARTICLES 6, 11, 12, AND 13 OF THIS STATUTE. ARTICLE 18 THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEMBERS SHALL BE COMMITTED TO ATTENDING THE COMMISSION MEETINGS. IF A MEMBER IS UNABLE TO ATTEND ANY OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEETINGS, HE MUST INFORM THE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN OF THIS IN WRITING. NO MEMBER CAN PERMANENTLY LEAVE AN ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEETING BEFORE IT IS CONCLUDED EXCEPT WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING. ARTICLE 19 THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SESSION SHALL OPEN THE MEETINGS AND DECLARE THEM CLOSED. HE SHALL ALSO MODERATE THE DISCUSSION, GRANT PERMISSION FOR SPEAKERS TO SPEAK, SPECIFY THE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION, END THE DISCUSSION, AND PRESENT SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION. WITH THE APPROVAL OF 10 OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEMBERS, ANY ISSUE THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA CAN BE DISCUSSED. ARTICLE 20 AN ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEETING SHALL NOT BE LEGAL UNLESS AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF ITS MEMBERS ATTEND, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN OR THE ONE WHO DEPUTIZES FOR HIM. TAKING THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 7 INTO CONSIDERATION, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE ITS DECISIONS WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE ATTENDING MEMBERS. IN CASE THE VOTES ARE EQUAL IN NUMBER, THE VOTE OF THE CHAIRMAN SHALL DECIDE THE RESULTS OF THE VOTING. IN EMERGENCY CASES WHEN THERE IS NO QUORUM, THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION CAN MEET WITH THE PRESENCE OF HALF OF ITS MEMBERS AND IT SHALL ISSUE ITS DECISIONS WITH THE APPROVAL OF TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE PRESENT. ARTICLE 21 MINUTES SHALL BE PREPARED FOR EACH MEETING. THESE MINUTES SHALL INCLUDE THE PLACE OF THE MEETING, ITS DATE, THE TIME OF ITS OPENING, THE NAME OF THE CHAIRMAN, THE NAMES OF THE PRESENT MEMBERS, THE NAMES OF THE ABSENT MEMBERS, THE CAUSE FOR THE ABSENCE IF AVAILABLE, THE NAME OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL, A SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE MADE, THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE, THE RESULTS OF THE VOTING, THE TEXTS OF THE DECISIONS, ANYTHING RELATED TO POSTPONING OR ENDING THE MEETING, THE TIME OF ITS CONCLUSION, AND ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT THE CHAIRMAN THINKS SHOULD BE WRITTEN DOWN. THE MINUTES SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE CHAIRMAN, THE ATTENDING MEMBERS, AND THE SECRETARY GENERAL. ARTICLE 22 VOTING ON THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION DECISIONS SHALL BE DONE BY SECRET BALLOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FORM PREPARED FOR THIS PURPOSE. ARTICLE 23 MEMBERS OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MAY SEE THE AGENDA AND RELATED ISSUES AT THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION MEETINGS HEADQUARTERS. THEY MAY NOT TAKE THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION DOCUMENTS OUTSIDE THE MEETING PLACE. ARTICLE 24 THE KING SHALL APPOINT A SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COMMISSION WHO SHALL FOLLOW UP THE CALLS FOR THE COMMISSION MEETINGS, PREPARE MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS, AND ANNOUNCE THE OUTCOME OF THE COMMISSION MEETINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN. THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION SECRETARY GENERAL CAN SEEK THE HELP OF WHOMEVER HE WANTS AFTER THE KING'S APPROVAL. THE KING SHALL APPOINT A DEPUTY FOR THE SECRETARY GENERAL WHO SHALL ASSUME HIS RESPONSIBILITIES IN SIPDIS HIS ABSENCE. ARTICLE 25 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS STATUTE MAY BE AMENDED BY A ROYAL DECREE AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION. END TRANSLATED TEXT. -------------- APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY GENERAL -------------- ¶4. (U) BEGIN TRANSLATED TEXT: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE. WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALMIGHTY GOD, WE, ABDULLAH BIN-ABD-AL-AZIZ AL SA'UD, KING OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, TAKING COGNIZANCE OF THE BASIC LAW OF THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED BY ROYAL DECREE NO. A/90, ON 27/8/1412, AND OF ARTICLE 24 OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION STATUTE ISSUED BY ROYAL DECREE NO. A/135 DATED 26/ 9 / 1427 OF THE HEGIRA, AND BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST, DECREE THE FOLLOWING: ¶1. HIS EXCELLENCY KHALID BIN-ABD-AL-AZIZ AL-TUWAYJIRI SHALL BE APPOINTED SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ALLEGIANCE COMMISSION. THIS DECREE SHALL BE SENT TO THE COMPETENT PARTIES FOR ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION. (SIGNED) ABDULLAH BIN-ABD-AL-AZIZ. END TRANSLATED TEXT. OBERWETTER