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The Syrian Ministry of Tourism decided to reduce the prices of Syrian 2-, 3-, and 4-star hotels for the Arab and foreign customers by nearly 10%. A source in the Syrian embassy in Cairo said this reduction came after adjusting the dollar exchange price to 46 liras for one dollar instead of 42 liras, which was the former price and that this reduction comes in the Syrian government's plan to encourage the Arab and foreign investment in different fields. Go

Kuwait has completed its preparations for the elections of its 50-seat nation's council (parliament), which will be held on next Saturday. Some 288 candidates are competing for these seats amid expectations that more than two thirds of the former dissolved parliament will be members of the new council. Some 190 electoral committees in 42 balloting centers in some 25 election departments were set up to run the elections. Go

Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Yousef Wali stated that the international visits paid by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak aim at achieving Egyptian national interests, topped by pushing forward development projects on its land. This came in press statements yesterday on the occasion of opening a center for land improvement and soil preservation which services Kafr El-Sheik and El-Gharbia governorates at a cost reacheing $20 million Canadian and 20 million Egyptian pounds. Go

US jets flying as part of Operation Northern Watch, which patrols the northern Iraqi no-fly zone, fired today on targets in northern Iraq, southeast of Mosul. A statement from the US European Command said that after being fired on by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery, the US jets attacked an Iraqi communications site that is "used to relay Iraqi radar information from south of the 36th parallel to target ONW aircraft." Go

The International Airport of the Moroccan North-Eastern city of Nador was dedicated on Thursday by a flight coming from Frankfort, Germany, with 189 passengers on board. Go

The Palestinian airline made a plan to develop its fleet by purchasing four passenger airplanes of (D.H.C.8) 'the Canadian'. This transaction will triple the fleet of the Palestinian airline, owned by the government, as the current fleet is comprised of two airplanes. The company makes six weekly trips to Arab capitals, and it intends to establish a route to Turkey soon. Go

The Egyptian general organization for the affairs of international markets and fairs started early preparation for establishing the new session of the Cairo International Market that will be held at the beginning of the coming March. ArabicNews.com learned that more than 50 countries will be invited to participate in addition to a program of economic symposiums that will be held on the margin of this market, in which numerous Egyptian, Arab and foreign investors and businessmen are participating. Go

Egyptian economic sources expected a reduction in the upper limit for the sale and purchase of the US dollar in the Egyptian markets at the exchange companies by 2 piasters to become 343 piasters for buying instead of 345 piasters and 345 for selling instead of 347 piasters. Go

Eritrea has announced that it has controlled advanced positions on the Merireb - Steit front on the borders with Ethiopia during recent battles. It stressed that its forces had killed or wounded some 6,400 Ethiopian soldiers and arrested another 17 soldiers. Go

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received a telephone call on Thursday from the emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa. The Saudi Press Agency said talks during the telephone conversation dealt with bilateral issues between the two countries as well as issues of mutual concern. Go

The Turkish embassy in Israel announced on Thursday that Turkish President Suleiman Demirel intends to visit Israel on July 14. The visit will last for two days. Israel Radio said Demirel will meet during his visit with Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak after the latter assumes his post of office. Demirel will also visit the Palestinian self-rule areas. Go