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Short Takes:
Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek conveyed a communique from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad to the Israeli government expressing the concerns of Syria and its hopes to resume the peace process from its stopping point. Following his meeting with his Israeli counterpart, David Levy, Vollebaek expressed his belief in a great chance for achieving the peace the region, saying there are strong hopes depending on the new Israeli government to achieve this aim. He said that although Syria had confidence in Israel, Syria had begun to lose its patience. Go

The Egyptian foreign minister for African affairs, Ibrahim Ali Hassan, said today that Foreign Minister Amr Moussa will head the Egyptian delegation to the meetings of the Organization of African Unity foreign ministers in the Libyan city of Syrte on September 6 - 7, in preparation for the fourth exceptional African summit, which is to be held on September 7 - 8, according to the call of Libya, approved by the OAU summit held in Algeria during July. Go

The Jordanian authorities on Wednesday announced the establishment of a Jordanian- Syria free trade zone with a capital of 60 million Syrian pounds, to be borne by the two governments and built on the joint borders on an area of 6,000 dunnums. Go

The first deputy for the speaker of the Jordanian Parliament, Bassam Haddadin, has welcomed the idea of establishing integration between Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, hoping that such a formula will be a "cornerstone in establishing an Arab unity." In a statement to the Jordanian daily al-Dostour, Haddadin urged the leaders of the three countries to intensify their efforts to achieve such an objective, indicating that such a "formula" is still so far a "mere desire." Go

King Mohammed VI has renewed an invitation to Chinese President Jiang Zemin to visit Morocco next October. The invitation was extended during a meeting between the sovereign and China's ambassador in Morocco, Mu Wen. Go

The representative of the UN secretary general in charge of following up on the condition of the Lebanese detainees and prisoners in the Israeli jails will visit Lebanon and Israel during September in order to discuss the conditions of the Lebanese detainees. Lebanon's permanent representative at the UN, Salim Tadmuri, said he has told the Lebanese government that the UN official will discuss with the US officials the possibility of releasing Lebanese detainees, to improve detention conditions and treat those detainees in line with international agreements. Go

The Palestinian government's envoy to the US, Hassan Abdul Rahman, has announced that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will head for the US on September 22 for a visit to Washington to hold talks with the US President Bill Clinton on negotiations with Israel. Go

The assistant secretary general of the Syrian Baath Arab Socialist Party, Abdullah al-Ahmar, on Wednesday in Damascus received the secretary general of the Jordanian Communist Party, Munir al-Hamarenah. Talks dealt with relations between the two parties and their activities in serving the interests of the two states as well as the Arab states. Go

King Mohammed VI has congratulated Moroccan athlete, Hicham El-Guerrouj, for his triumph Tuesday in Seville where he won the 1,500 m world title for the second consecutive time. El-Guerrouj, 25, who confirmed his supremacy over the 1,500 m distance, has retained his world 1,500-meter title, setting a new championship record clocking 3:27.65 which is the fifth-fastest time ever run at that distance. Go

The Lebanese daily al-Nahar said in today's issue that according to Palestinian sources in Cairo, the secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, and a group of his close aides have started preparations to move to Cairo after the front's relations with other Palestinian opposition groups that take Damascus as a headquarters have worsened since the handshake between Hawatemah and Israeli President Ezer Weizman on the sidelines of the funeral of King Hussein last February. Go

The second phase of "Iron Magic 1999 " between troops from the United Arab Emirates and US armed forces started on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. The Gulf News Agency said that this phase covers the implementation of several bilateral training between the two sides, aiming at raising fighting capabilities and helping prepare the UAE forces. Go

Morocco's exports of early fruits and vegetables progressed by 31% during the 1998-99 season to 394,000 tons against 300,000 tons sold in the previous season. Exports of tomatoes rose to 12,000 tons while those of potatoes and fruits went up respectively to 62,000 tons and 21,000 tons, says the Moroccan agriculture department in its latest news bulletin. Go

Some 36,157 Moroccans have obtained Belgian nationality during the past twelve years, says a report released by a Belgian center. Go