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Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz said his country is holding consultation with some Arab states to plan for stronger Arab economic cooperation. In press statements yesterday Crown Prince Abdullah depicted this plan as being away from the politics and said that its first role will be for the people. He said the plan must be based on the principles of the joint Arab market and Arab economic unity, as well as on an adjustment in which the economic changes are considered. Go

A delegation from the Vatican headed by Carlo Maria Ficano, the authorized of the Papal embassies in the world, arrived yesterday in Baghdad to hold discussions with Iraqi officials to prepare for the anticipated visit of Pope John Paul II to Iraq, which is expected to take place at the end of January. The delegation is scheduled to visit the places that Pope John Paul plans to visit in Iraq. Go

Moroccan Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa started this Tuesday a visit to Egypt for talks with his peer, Amr Moussa. According to Egyptian diplomatic sources, talks between the two foreign ministers will deal with bilateral relations and Arab issues, mainly the evolution of the Middle East peace process. Go

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa met on Monday in Damascus with South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Bahdad. Talks dealt with Middle East peace process developments, as well as bilateral relations and means of boosting them in all fields. Go

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa discussed with members of the Egyptian economic forum preparing for the first economic conference for the countries of the African COMESA assembly that will be opened by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on February 28. Go

The secretary general of the Saudi Shoura Council, Hamoud al-Bader, said on Monday in Riyadh that the council has approved an agreement project between Syria and Saudi Arabia in the area of maintaining cooperation in fighting illegal trading in drugs. Go

The Central Bank of Egypt in its report on the performance of the economy, said the rate of growth went up to 6% against 5.7% in 97198 and the rate of inflation declined to 2.9% annually against 4.5% in 97/98. The report also indicated that the state budget deficit hit 1.3% of the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) whereas the trade balance improved as its deficit dropped to $1.7 billion against 2.5 billion in 97/98. Go

Syrian Minister of Industry Ahmad Nizameddine has opened a new production line at the General Company of Detergents (SAR). The new production line has a daily production capacity of 50 tons, which is enough to meet the need of the local market and to export the surplus. The company has concluded contracts with some Arab states to export 3,000 tons of detergents at a cost of US $2.3 million. Go

The Chamber of Advisors (upper chamber of the parliament) has decided not to table questions which were asked by MPs at the House of Representatives (lower chamber). The speaker of the chamber, Mohamed Jalal Essaid, also announced that the two chambers have decided to set up a coordination committee to harmonize their actions. Go

A session of Canadian - Algerian parliamentary talks was held yesterday in Algeria under the chairmanship of Beshir Bu Meaza, the head of the Algerian State's Council, and Gildas Molgat, chairman of the Canadian Senate, who arrived in Algeria yesterday accompanied by a delegation from the Canadian legislature and a delegation of Canadian businessmen and investors for a one-week visit. Go

The secretary general of the leadership of the Fatah movement and groups of the PLO in Lebanon, Sultan Abu al-Einin, has sent cables of congratulations on the Lebanese national day. The cables were addressed to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Abu al-Einin hoped for "lifting the siege imposed on the Palestinian camps, especially in the south and to cut off tough measures taken at the entrances of these camps that are of adverse impact of our [Palestinian] people," the Lebanese daily al-Safir reported on Monday. Go

The meetings of the general assembly of the Arab Union of printing, covering and paper industry and the 40th session of the union's board of directors concluded yesterday. Algerian Minister of Industry Abdelmadjid Menasra delivered an address at the opening of the meetings in which he called for establishing an Arab plan to confront challenges posed by globalization. Go

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday recommended extending the work of UNDOF (the UN Disengagement Forces in the Golan) for another six months. In a report he submitted to the UN Security Council Annan said, "The situation was calm in the said sector and no serious incidents were reported." But the UN chief reiterated that the situation in the region is still dangerous and will continue to be so until a comprehensive settlement is reached covering all aspects of the Middle East question. Go