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Short Takes:
With Egypt's president Mubarak visiting the USA, we thought we run some of these facts by investors about the USA economy: Go

Palestine's ambassador in Egypt told ArabicNews.com that Pope John Paul II convened today in the Palestinian lands a summit meeting among the heads of the Christian churches, which is considered the first of its kind in which the Christians greatly aspire to achieve reconciliation between the Orthodox and Catholics, between whom there are historical disputes. Lotfi Laham, metropolitan of Catholics, said the most important commitments of Pope John Paul II is the Christian unity, which he expressed in declaring the second millennium jubilee. Go

The Palestinian leadership convened its weekly meeting yesterday in Ramallah, headed by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. They discussed the latest political developments in light of the current Palestinian - Israeli negotiations in the USA and the results of the meeting between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Arafat in Cairo in last Wednesday as well as the visit of Pope John Paul II of the Vatican to the Palestinian lands. The leadership welcomed the pope's visit to the area, saying it supports the Palestinian right to declare the establishment of an independent state in September. Go

The volume of commercial exchange between Egypt and the USA decreased to reach $3.28 billion last year. A report issued by the Egyptian Economy Ministry stated that there was an 8.5% decrease in Egyptian exports as there was 10.3% decrease in the non-petroleum exports, while there was an 11.1% increase in petroleum exports. Go

Abd El-Rahim Shalkam, secretary the general Libyan public committee for external communication and international cooperation, emphasized the importance of redoubling efforts during the current stage to establish a stable and secure world, free of political domination and pressure. Shalkam expressed his hope of getting more support from the peace-loving countries in international circles to accelerate the final and complete lifting of the sanctions that were imposed on Libya, which negatively affected the Libyan people's development and progress. Go

Statistics issued by union of Arab banks stated that the net profits of the Arab banking sector during 1999 reached nearly $8.3 billion, up from $7.5 billion in 1998 and $6.8 billion in 1997. The statistics said that total properties of the Arab banks were $55.9 billion in 1999, while they reached $50.8 billion in 1998, adding that the total deposits in the Arab banks reached $363.8 billion, up from $328.6 billion in 1998. Go

The Japanese Bank for International Cooperation has extended Morocco's water company (ONEP/state-run) a loan worth 5.4 million Yens to finance drinking water projects in rural areas. Go

Rabat is playing host to the 7th international child music and song festival. The four-day festival that winds up Sunday is meant to promote child art education and art creativity. Go

The German airline Lufthansa will suspend as of April 1 two of its five weekly flights to Morocco, sources in Berlin said. The two flights will be switched to Libya, the sources said. The move was dictated by financial reasons. Go

"Egypt urged the United Nations General Assembly to share the Security Council in discussing means of building peace in the entire world," Egypt's permanent delegate to the UN Ahmed Abul-Gheit said on Thursday. Go

A French-Spanish holding, led by French Alstom Hydraulique, won a tender to build an electric 450 megawatts power station in the region of Beni Mellal, central Morocco. The power station will cost $ 135 million, a statement by the national power company (ONE) said. Go

Israeli political sources said on Friday that the UN Security Council will discuss shortly the future of the UN forces in south Lebanon following the decision taken by Israel to fully withdraw from south Lebanon on a date not to exceed July. Go

Morocco's Younes Al-Aynaoui (World N 16) was squeezed out at the first round of the $5.72 million Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Miami on Friday. Al-Aynaoui was defeated by Byron Black of Zimbabwe in two sets to one: 3-6, 6-1, 1-6. Go

A training session on "preparation and assessment of agricultural projects in Africa" will be held in the Moroccan northern city of Tangier April 3-21. The training will focus on means to develop competencies in agricultural projects management, seek solutions to problems of financing, information and marketing of agricultural products and exchange points of views and experiences on the systems of management of agricultural projects in African countries. Go