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Short Takes:
Syrian diplomatic sources stated today that the coming round of Syrian - Israeli talks starting on January 3 will be a real and decisive test of Israel's intentions toward the peace process. The sources told ArabicNews.com that, "The world, which blessed resuming these discussions, expects deeds from Israel's government that confirm to words, and tangible practical steps that assure the intentions." The sources said a comprehensive peace is the only one that will last and that its key is the complete Israeli withdrawal to the borders of June 4, 1967. Go

Moroccan sources told ArabicNews.com that "(Morocco's King Mohammed VI) will meet the Tunisian president Zine EL-Abidin Bin Ali with whom he will discuss the developments in the Arab Maghreb Union, the relation with the European Union and the bilateral relations between the two states as well as the developments in the Middle East." Go

Sultan Hassan Balqeyah of Brunei arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning to perform al-Omra rituals and visit the prophet's mosque. During his visit, the Sultan of Brunei will meet with high-ranking Saudi officials, especially with King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz. Go

Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid received Butros Butros Ghali, secretary general of the international Francophony organization, yesterday. Go

Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Sunday received a message from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami. The message dealt with the standing friendship and cooperation relations between Iran and Bahrain and means of strengthening them. Go

Diplomatic sources in Damascus said the coming round of Syrian - Israeli discussions that will begin on January 3 may last two weeks, during which will be the weekend and the lesser Bairam. The sources said the new talks will cover the main issues in the peace process to reach an agreement on principles for the following stages of the peace process. They said Syria is about to finish forming its technical, political and military committees to be ready to discuss the main causes raised in the new talks. Go

Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy on Sunday sent messages to his counterparts in various parts of the world, in which he acquainted them with latest developments concerning the Middle East peace process on the Syrian and Palestinian tracks. Go

The Egyptian export development center will organize during April a commercial mission to market Egyptian products in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. The mission aims at increasing Egypt's support for the European states, opening new markets and establishing basis for commencing economic cooperation in all fields and in different activities. Go

Ali Farouk, a leader of the Palestinian Fatah movement in Lebanon, was rescued from an assassination attempt in Ein El-Helwa camp near Saida. Palestinian sources said, "The bullet missed him and hit two passing people, one of whom was badly injured." Go

The Israeli army forces are studying a plan for protecting Jewish housing settlements in Hebron area. Israeli sources said this plan includes establishing a transparent bulletproof barricade, especially in the districts parallel to the areas that are under complete Palestinian security control. They said the committee of the Jewish districts in Hebron opposes the protection plan, saying that it exposes the settlers lives to danger instead of protecting them. Go

The London-based al-Hayat daily said according to Arab diplomatic sources in Washington that the Syrian former army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Hikmat al-Shehabi was in the US capital during the talks held between Barak and al-Sharaa. Go

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mohammed Sayed Tantawi said the divine religions call for peace, cooperation and renunciation of war. Also, Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria said the Muslims and Christians are living in one trench in Egypt. Pope Shenouda, in an Iftar banquet at Saint Mark Church said that Muslims and Christians are working together for the good of Egypt so as to face the challenges of the coming century. Go

The Jordanian daily al-Arab al-Youm said that according to high-ranking diplomatic sources in the Jordanian capital Amman the signing of a peace agreement between Syria and Israel will be done before spring of the year 2000 and that a withdrawal will not be made before reaching a peace agreement between Syria and Israel. In its Sunday issue, the paper quoted the same sources as saying that Syria will not accept moving peace negotiations from Washington to Aqaba in Jordan or to Cairo as has been rumored. Go

President Mouaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya of Mauritania voiced over the weekend his country's full and unconditional backing to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World cup finals. Go

Kuwaiti Nation's Council (parliament) member Walid al-Tabtani has expected that Kuwait will face greater Western pressures to pay for part of the peace settlement in the Middle East, which may reach US $10 billion. Go

Bahrain plans to create a Higher Council for Economic Development to be headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to develop Bahrain's economic strategy, boost investment and help Bahrain compete, Gulf Daily News reported. Go

The Kuwaiti daily al-Anba quoted Lebanese parliamentary sources as saying that that the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and the western Bekaa will be made in April in the year 2000 rather than in July as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak had repeatedly declared. Go

UAE imports for next year could reach dh 128 billion, according to a study by the Research and Studies Department of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court quoted in the UAE Yearbook 1999, compared to dh 100 billion in imports this year, Gulf News reported. Go

The Moroccan community in Abidjan suffered acts of looting in the wake of the military coup which toppled President Konan Bedie, said the foreign affairs and cooperation department. None of moroccan nationals was hurt, said the same source adding the Moroccan ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire is in permanent touch with the 3,000 strong moroccan community. Go

The Omani Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, headed by Minister of National Economy Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki who is also the council's deputy chairman, met yesterday to discuss a 2000 budget estimate from the Ministry of Finance and approve the estimates, Oman Daily Observer reported. Go

Italy's Fiat company for cars agreed to provide five training donations for Egyptian engineers in its factories in all over the world. This came after the meeting between Egyptian Minister of Higher Education Mufid Shehab and representatives of Fiat group who are currently visiting Cairo. Go

Former World field and track star, Said Aouita, was made Morocco's athlete of the century. Aouita gleaned 284 points in a poll by the Moroccan radio and television (RTM). Former football star, the late Haj Larbi Ben M'Barek came in second with 220 points. Go

Sources in Cairo International Airport said yesterday that the airport's customs frustrated an attempt to smuggle nearly 60,000 viagra tablets worth nearly $290,000 US dollars coming from the UK to Egypt. The sources added that the customs officials became suspicious yesterday when a representative of an Egyptian tourism company was escorting a group of UK tourists who were tense. Go

The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in Algeria killed two citizens and wounded other two in Abu al-Hassan region in the Algerian Chlef province. The Algerian daily al-Youm issued on Sunday said that the GIA also blasted a checkpoint for the Algerian security forces in al-Akhdareyah. No casualties were reported. Go

President Suleiman Demirel underlined the importance of political consultations with President Hosni Mubarak either as regards bilateral issues or developments of the situation at regional and international levels. Go

The chairman of Iraq's Follow-Up Committee of Returning Prisoners of War (POWs), Abdurrazzaq al-Hashimi, said on Saturday that humanitarian organizations should pressure Kuwait to account for Iraqis who have been missing in Kuwait since the Gulf War, Iraqi News Agency reported. Go