People's Assembly discusses terrorism, economic and press issues
Egypt-Regional, Politics, 12/20/2000

At its session, due on the 2nd of January under Ahmad Fathy Sorour, the People's Assembly will discuss the Presidential Decree no. 462/2000 related to the agreement of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)on combating terrorism.

Such agreement was endorsed by presidents and governments of all OAU member states on 14th July.

On the other hand, the People's Assembly Transport Committee, at its meeting Tuesday under Hamdi Al-Tahan, approved two agreements with the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and Tunisia.

According to Mohammed Maher, Chairman of the Egyptian Railway Authority, the 16-million-Kuwaiti-dinar loan to be provided by the Fund will help overhaul 60-80 locomotives in order to ameliorate services for the public.

He added that 80 out of 640 locomotives imported in the 1970s and 1980s had received a facelift.

The Agreement on this loan was signed last April and would be repaid over 35 installments after a five-year grace period with an interest rate of three per cent per annum.

The second agreement with Tunisia pertains to transport of persons and goods, using free of charge two countries road networks.

On their part journalists, who had won seats in the new parliament, on Tuesday stressed the necessity of modifying press laws to give more freedoms and cancel all provisions providing for arresting members of the press.

The six MPS were speaking at a press conference held by the parliamentary editors division.

Mahmoud Shazli, and MP from the opposition Wafd party, said the press lawsuits would have priority in the program of journalists sitting in the People's Assembly as well as issues of importance to the people in the constituencies they represent.

Wafd MP Mohammed Abdel Halim stressed the necessity of revoking the laws concerning the arrest of journalists in publication-related cases.

Nasserite MP Hamadeen Sabahi called for supporting the six parliamentarians while MP Mahmoud Marouf stressed the necessity of showing the positive image of journalism.

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