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Arab diplomatic sources told ArabicNews.com that "foreign ministers of the of Damascus Declaration countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Emirates, Kuwait, Oman sultanate, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Syria) will convene in coming May in Cairo. The sources also said that Egypt's foreign minister Amr Moussa already addressed the invitation to convene to his counterparts in the declaration countries. Go

Ibrahim Abu Omaira, The head of the joint Egyptian - Moroccan department in the Egyptian commercial chamber union, said that it was agreed between the two sides to allow Egyptian contracting companies to work inside the Moroccan market, telling ArabicNews.com that "a new program for developing the commercial and economic relations that will be raised for the joint supreme committee between the two countries" will be decided on the margin of visit of king Mohammed 6th to Cairo in the coming May, assuring that the program comprises expanding the customs exemption base for products and focusing on developing the joint investment fields. Go

Pope John Paul II is starting a 3 days pilgrimage trip to the holy lands in Jordan and Palestine next Monday and he will visit Nebo mountain the area from which prophet Moses saw 'the promised land' after which he will visit king Abdullah II and his wife Queen Rania as well as members of the Hashemite family in the royal palace. Then he will head to perform prayers in Kharar valley in the eastern bank of Jordan's river in addition to having a mass in Oman's stadium that will be attended by some 50,000 persons. Go

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Islamic resistance movement Hamas, urged Pope John Paul II to declare his refusal to Jerusalem's occupation and joining it to Israel, saying in press declarations yesterday that "we want that the Pope raises his voice to refuse the Israeli occupation to lands by force, adding that the Pope's visit to Jerusalem at the end of the current month is considered an indication on his and the church's refusal to Israel's occupation to the sacred city." Go

Gaballah Ali Gaballah, secretary general of the supreme council for archeology assured to ArabicNews.com that El-Dair El-Bahari temple is due to be opened in Luxor after the its repair, development and renovation work at the end of this month. He said the work done on the temple included combating ground water damage control to avoid leaks to inside the temple, adding that a joint Egypt - French mission is implementing the repairing works and will also decrease the ground water level in Karnak and Luxor as well as in Habo city in El-Bar El-Gharbi in addition to repair works in "City I" temple in Luxor city - in which the German institute for oriental archeology is participating. Go

Egypt's economic minister Yusef Botrus Ghali spoke of "the Egyptian government's intention in presenting a set of new economic laws before the people's assembly (parliament) to encourage Arab and foreign investment in the different Egyptian cities," saying that these laws will cover bonds, mortgage, and other financial issues so that the economic laws become complete to cover the different aspects of the commercial and investment activities for the all investors. Go

Qatar's government is currently examining ideas of establishing an electronic government draft "E. government" by providing all governmental services to citizens and residents through Internet. This is considered the first project of its kind in the area - A statement said that the Qatari embassy in Cairo that "thinking in this project started almost since a year and it will be implemented by the national net committee .. affiliated to the planning council (governmental corporation). Go

The new French ambassador in Cairo Franco De Bevir' asserted that "France's foreign policy toward Middle East will not change, referring that it is based on long run basis, justice principles, facts and on continuity." The French ambassador affirmed in his first press declarations after assuming his work in Cairo since 3 weeks - that the relations between president Mubarak and Chirac are unique and based on mutual trust, clarifying France's desire in establishing an effective and democratic Palestinian country and that the officials in Egypt and France must participate in thinking about future of the area after achieving the peace. Go

Abd El-Azizi El-Kamion, the Yemeni minister of trade and supply assured that "his country is discussing presenting a request to joint the World Trade Organization before end of the current year, adding the request will comprise Yemen's desire to enjoy the complete membership and right to form a negotiating team." Go

The southern Korean authorities agreed on receiving Egyptian oranges in the coming exporting season that will start in October. A source in the Egyptian foreign ministry assured that there is a plan for making the Egyptian agriculture and textile sectors along other exporting sectors especially in light of their competitive advantage at the international level. Go