The State Cabinet has conveyed condolences to the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and to the families of the victims of Monday’s Villaggio Mall fire.

At its weekly meeting yesterday, the Cabinet approved a draft decision of the Ministry of Business and Trade to fix maximum prices of essentials during the fasting month of Ramadan that begins in the third week of July, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The Ministry has for the past several years been fixing maximum retail prices of some basic commodities that are much in demand during the fasting month to make sure that traders do not raise their prices due to heavy demand.

The Qatari Cabinet has conveyed heartfelt condolences and warm sympathy to the Emir

H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the people of Qatar and the residents living here on the victims and martyrs of the Villagio Mall fire which occurred earlier on Monday. The Cabinet also conveyed sincerest condolences to the families of the victims asking Allah the Almighty to bless the victims and the martyrs of duty and to grant their families solace and fortitude, said Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud following the Cabinet meeting yesterday chaired by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani.

Al Mahmoud also said the cabinet was briefed by the Minister of State for Interior Affairs on the painful incident and the measures taken therein.

The Cabinet meantime condemned massacre which occurred in the Syrian city of Houla on part of the Syrian regime troops and which claimed more than 100 innocent civilians including tens of children and women as well as all acts of killing and intimidation which are still under way in Syria till today, said Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.

The Cabinet also reiterated that these brutal acts, contravening with the international law and the humanitarian values, necessitates urgent, immediate and decisive intervention on part of the UN Security Council to stem the bloodshed in Syria, protect the Syrian people and realise their legitimate demands

Then the Cabinet considered topics tabled on the agenda as follows:

First: taking the necessary measures for issuing a draft law for the protection of the state’s land borders and their secured areas after taking note of the Advisory Council’s recommendation in this respect.

Second: Approving the following draft laws and to refer them to the Advisory Council:

1, a draft law amending some provisions of the law No.10 of 2002 concerning the public prosecution.

2, a draft law amending some provisions of law No.21 of 2004 concerning the ministers.

3, a draft law on regulating the practice of marine actions in the Qatari waters.

Third: Approving the two following draft laws:

1, a draft law on issuing the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and organising the financial institutions.

2, a draft law concerning Qatar Financial Markets Authority.

Fourth: Approving the following: 1, a draft decision of the Minister of Business and Trade obliging the ships and floats to set up the auto-identification system and distress, safety and sea emergency system.

2, a draft decision of the Minister of Business and Trade assigning the maximum rate for prices of some commodities and foodstuff for the fasting month of Ramadan.

Fifth: Approving to join the membership of the Arab federation for combating forgery and counterfeit (AFCFC).

Sixth: Taking the necessary measures for endorsing an agreement on exempting the nationals of the two countries’ holders of diplomatic and private passports from getting an entry visa between the Governments of Qatar and Algeria

Seventh: Approving the following: 1, a draft agreement between the Governments of Qatar and Albania concerning mutual protection of confidential information.

2, A draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up a joint trade ministerial committee between the Governments of Qatar and Costa Rica.

3, A draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in maintenance of biodiversity and wildlife conservation between the Ministry of Environment of the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

Eighth: The Cabinet reviewed the following topics and adopted the appropriate decisions therein

1. The letter of the Deputy Premier and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs on the outcome of the study of a draft law concerning chemical weapons.

2.The letter of the Deputy Premier on an Emiri draft decision for establishing the Doha joint centre to coordinate the rescue and visuals of the Ministry of the Interior in this respect.

3. The letter of the Minister of Environment concerning a proposal of the assumption by the Ministry Of Environment for managing the fishing ports.