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Short Takes:
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told ArabicNews.com that the meetings of the European - African summit that are commencing today and tomorrow in Cairo "are considered a golden chance to focus and to learn the problems facing the black continent."Fischer said this focus on Europe's southern neighbor is especially true since the European Union has become one of the most important regional blocs in the world within the new international system that was formed after the fall of the former Soviet Union. Fischer said, "There is a joint European foreign policy that is unified on many issues, among which is giving attention to the African continent and attempting to solve its problems in a way that does not lead to increasing its debts or the imposed burdens on the people of this continent." Go

King Mohammed VI arrived in Cairo Sunday evening to attend the Africa-Europe Summit and was guest to a dinner banquet hosted by Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qaddafi in honor of African heads of state taking part in the summit held April 3-4. Arab league secretary general Ismat Abdel Maguid was also present at the banquet. Today, the king met Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo, President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo and Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bachir and the chairman of the European Commission Romano Prodi Go

Presidential Political Advisor Osama Al-Baz affirmed that the Africa-Europe Summit would declare a plane of action with specific steps aiming to support Africa's economy. In an exclusive interview with "Al-Ahram" daily, Baz expounded that such plan of action covers many pivots to help African countries attract foreign investments and transfer sophisticated technology. The summit, added Baz, calls on the international community to reduce foreign debts and to increase African share in international trade. Go

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mostafa Ossman Ismail said that a Sudanese - Egyptian summit will be convened on the margin of the African - European summit conference in Cairo. In answering journalists' questions he said, "There is a summit that will also be held on margin of this conference's works among the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, the Sudanese Omar Hassan El-Bashir and the Libyan Moamer Gaddafi," adding that achieving national rapport in Sudan and the joint Libyan - Egyptian initiative will be discussed in these two summits, in addition to the steps reached and the future perception of its works. Go

Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar arrived today heading a delegation of 40 political and informational leaders to participate in the European - African summit that takes place today and tomorrow. Jespair Dias Blanco, the charge d' affairs of the Spanish ambassador in Cairo, said there are many goals of this large participation in this unique summit, especially as Madrid believes that Egypt is playing a main and central role in Africa, the Middle East and the Arab states. He said Spain and Egypt are tied with strong and distinguished friendship relations. Go

The minister of state for financial and industrial affairs in the United Arab Emirates, Muhammad Khalfan Bin Kharbash, has announced that a first round of negotiations will start today in Abu Dhabi to discuss two agreements on protecting and encouraging investment, avoiding double-taxation concerning the income and the capital between the two countries. Go

Bahraini economic sources stated that Manama and Tehran recently agreed on establishing a maritime line between Bahrain and Iran and increasing the volume of commercial exchange between the two countries. The sources said Bahrain would become one of the importance stations for Iran's exports to the Gulf states and the Middle East, saying that the primary agreement took place during the visit paid by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi to Bahrain last week, adding that many agreements will be signed soon between Manama and Tehran to support joint cooperation. Go

A conference on Arab-American relations towards a bright future will be held in Amman on April 10. It will be attended by more 80 scholars and intellectuals from the Arab states and the US, besides Jordan. Go

The studies and research center on the developing countries in the faculty of economy and political science in Cairo University is organizing tomorrow a conference concerning Israel's domination of the African markets and its effect on Arab national security. The conference tackles Arab - African relations after the end of the cold war between Russia and the USA and the fall of the Soviet Union, the Israeli expansion in Africa and its conflicts.The conference will look a the history of the Arab - African relations to formulate a future vision of the economic and political relations between the Arab - African countries. Go

During its weekly session held on Sunday, the Israeli government discussed military and political reports on conditions in occupied south Lebanon. These reports were proposed by the Premier and war minister Ehud Barak and by the army's chief of staff, Shaoul Mofaz. Go

Morocco is taking part in the first European meeting of youth councils and parliaments, currently held in Lamoura (50 Km from Geneva) The encounter, attended by more than 250 youth and adults from some 20 European countries, is aimed at gathering the actors of youth councils in Europe and contributing to the building of the European citizenship. Go

Iraq has protested to the Arab League against US and UK air flights in Iraqi airspace from bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Iraqi News Agency reported, adding that Iraq rejects the "no-fly zones" in its northern and southern regions and that US and UK jets flying in Iraqi airspace had killed one Iraqi civilian and wounded eight others between March 14 and 22. Go

Oman will export its first shipment of liquid natural gas (LNG) to South Korea on Thursday, Oman News Agency reported, adding that South Korea is to receive 4.1 million tons of Omani LNG annually. Go

Yemen's Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources yesterday signed an agreement between the US oil companies Adeer and Ocidental and Yemen's Saba Oil National Company and Yemeni Company for Oil Investments for oil exploration in Shabwah governorate, the Yemeni news agency, Saba, reported. Go