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Short Takes:
Deliberations of the sixth annual conference of the economic research forum for the Arab states, Iran and Turkey started in Cairo on Thursday and will last for four days. Some 200 researchers, economists and businessmen who are members inside and outside the countries of the forum are taking part. The forum's executive director, Heba Jandousa, said the conference will discuss 26 reports dealing with three main issues: labor markets, trade and labor markets in the region. Go

European economic sources stated today in Cairo that at a time in which the world direct foreign investments increased by 38.7% to reach $643.9 billion in 1998, the outflows of these investments to the Middle East and North African decreased by 6% to reach $7.3 billion. Go

The total number of road accidents in the Saudi Arabia reached 135,000 in one year, resulting in 3,474 deaths and 128,727 injuries. A statement issued by the Saudi Interior Ministry today said the Saudi interior ministry intends to organize an information campaign through newspapers, magazines, radio and television make drivers aware of the harm caused by excessive speed. Go

The Moroccan post office "Barid Al-Maghrib" has issued a stamp worth 6 dirhams ($ 0.6), of which 5 dirhams will go to the anti-poverty campaign. The anti-poverty campaign, staged under the chairmanship of King Mohammed VI, is the second drive of the kind to alleviate poverty in the country through national solidarity. Go

The US embassy in Tel Aviv announced on Thursday that US first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will visit Israel on November 9, where she will deliver a speech at the annual conference dedicated to commemorating the anniversary of the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Israel Radio quoted the US embassy as saying that Mrs. Clinton will also visit the Palestinian government areas. Go

The annual Lisbon Forum for Human Rights North-South Dialogue opens in Rabat today to debate, for three days, "The democratic process and human rights protection in the Mediterranean." Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi and former fishery commissionner of the European Commission Emma Bonino will be awarded the Forum Prize for the year 1999. Go

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Amnesty International urged the Lebanese authorities to "respect the right to freedom of expression and drop charges of 'insulting' Islam lodged against popular Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife." Amnesty International said that bringing Khalife to the court is "a gross infringement of his right to freedom of expression and a violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Lebanon is a state party as well as the Lebanese Constitution which guarantees freedom of opinion." Go

A delegation of experts from the Arab council of childhood and development is visiting Morocco to define a project to face the phenomenon of homeless children. The visit comes in implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed last September between the council and the Moroccan secretariat of state for social protection, family and children. Go

The Egypt Air Corporation is studying a new plan to insure the airplanes and protect the passengers from kidnapping operations and hijacking. An official source in the corporation said yesterday evening that this plan focuses on having the support of security officers with high physical fitness and the ability to confront urgent situations. They will be provided with the most modern devices through which they can attack the kidnappers after a study of security shortage in the hijacking accident of Egyptian airplane from Turkey. Go

A business delegation will arrive in Cairo on Tuesday from Argentina on an Arab tour including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. The delegation will be headed by Marselio Ava Gadro, the first undersecretary of the Argentinean Foreign Ministry, and members of the Argentinean - Arab trade chamber. The delegation will number between 15 and 25 businessmen concerned with the Arab region, said the Argentinean embassy in Cairo today. Go

Moroccan Economy and Finance Minister Fathallah Oualalou announced that his department is looking into a law to alleviate the debts of over-indebted civil servants. Oualalou said the law would replace the outdated 1942 text. He said an estimated 228,000 persons would benefit from the law, 38% of the civil servants whose total debts amounted in 1998 to around $1.4 billion. Go

The Moroccan national railways office ONCF held meetings with French SNCF this Oct 15 in Marrakesh, and belgian SNCB on Oct 22 in Rabat. The meetings with European partners tackled issues of new technical and professional regulations, new railway computer-management programs, technology experiments, exchange in areas of maintenance of facilities, running equipment and integrated freight as well as spare parts procurements. Go

Turkish President Suleiman Demirel joined his prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in confirming that relations between Turkey and Israel are not directed against any other country. Go

Six American nationals on board the sailboat "Wife Of Bath" were rescued Sunday 34 miles west of the Mehdia Harbor on the Atlantic. As soon as the SOS message was issued, the sea-rescue unit and the Royal Gendarmerie sailed to the area and managed, despite adverse weather conditions, to organize the rescue using the "Birgit Sabban" cargo cruising by to the port of Kenitra. Go