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Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Bin Ali has renewed his assertion that the democratic process is not complete without women, which he considered a "basic supporter in achieving his programs for the coming years." In a speech he delivered on the occasion of inaugurating the works of the 11th conference of the national Union of the Tunisian Women that he is "confident" that the presence of 800 women consultants in the new municipal councils will pave the way for the women to prove themselves and their capability in perpetuating democratic culture and effective contribution in achieving local development and improving standards of living in the country. Go

The Russian Foreign Ministry has asserted that priority lies at the present in resuming talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks in the Middle East peace process very soon, adding in a statement released on Thursday that Russia, in its capacity as one of the Middle East peace process' cosponsors, intends to effectively take part in this process, according to UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425, in collaboration with the US Middle East peace cosponsor, the European Union and other sides concerned. Go

Algerian sources asserted that Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will make a partial adjustment in the government during the coming month, adding that the reshuffle will include removing Yazid Zerhouni, minister of interior and local authorities, for health reasons and that El-Hashemi Galar, Bouteflika's special secretary, will be assigned to this ministry. Go

The customs and indirect taxes department celebrated Wednesday the graduation of the first class of women customs-officers. The ladies in light-blue will be working at the custom controls in the kingdom's airports. The graduation of this batch is a milestone in women's integration of activities which used to be exclusive realms for men, said customs general manager Abderazaq El Mossadaq. Go

Some large merchants of consumer goods in Egypt decided to establish a new company for establishing supermarkets with a capital of LE100 million to confront foreign competition inside the Egyptian market, which started with the British Sainsbury company which currently has eight locations all over Cairo and is getting ready to open 65 more all over Egypt. El-Sayed Abdin, head of the grocery department in the trade chambers union, told ArabicNews.com that shares of the new company will be raised for a general subscription later for individuals and merchants who wish to practice this activity. Go

The British delegation of the industrial projects is concluding its visit today to Cairo during which they discussed available opportunities in the Egyptian market to expand the commercial exchange between the two countries in the chairmanship of Tony Iamiz, one of the prominent businessmen in the UK who care with investment in the Arab area. The delegation comprises representatives from British companies like British Aerospace, which work in a variety of fields, among which are the defense and civil aviation industries, technologies for defining products, printing cartoon packages, electronic observation, BAS, textiles and sports clothes. Go

Sami Bashir, regional manager of the international communications union for the Arab region, stated that there is one future for the communications industry in the Arab states, telling ArabicNews.com that developing the communications field is no longer the responsibility of the Arab governments but the work of private corporations. He hailed the developments Egypt created in the communications field and data, as well as the policy practiced by the Egyptian government in this field under the auspices of President Hosni Mubarak. Go

Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, visiting the United Arab Emirates, agreed with UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan on the establishment of a ministerial committee aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation between the two Gulf states, Bahrain Tribune reported. Go

A French cultural center was opened yesterday in Lattakia, Syria. The center comprises a lot of activities such as Drama, Music, cinema and signing shows in addition to establishing sessions in teaching the French language. Go

The Moroccan oil drilling agency ONAREP passed contracts with the Lone Star Energy Corporation for geological and geo-physical studies on the Loukos offshore north and Loukos offshore south areas on the atlantic coast spanning from Tangier to Rabat. Go

The Japanese government will grant a $ 228,903 assistance to a number of Moroccan associations dealing with local development. The projects to be financed by the donation cover the sectors of irrigation, health, water supply, and electrification in five Moroccan provinces. Go

The Lebanese government finished the final touches on the meetings of the Arab foreign ministers' council which is to be held tomorrow and Sunday in Beirut, Lebanon in the framework of the Arab support for Lebanon in confronting Israeli threats. Go