Arabic News .com Front Page for Arab News
Today's Headlines
- Report: Al-Sharaa expected to chair next Syrian government
Well-informed sources told the London-based al-Hayat daily that the regional leadership of the ruling Baath Party in Syria met during the two past days under the chairmanship of the assistant secretary general of the party, Suleiman Qaddah, just a few days after a meeting presided over by President Hafez al-Assad during which the framewark was drawn up to reshuffle the government of Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi. Syria, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Failure in agreement with Egypt to extend gas and electricity networks to Israel
US Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson failed yesterday to reach an agreement with the Egyptian government and Ministries of Electricity and Petroleum to implement a project to transport Egyptian gas to Israel and join Israel to the Arab electric link project. Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Pope John Paul II starts his first visit today to Egypt
Pope John Paul II of the Vatican starts his first visit to Egypt today, which will last for three days during which he will meet with President Mubarak, Pope Shenuda and Sheikh Mohammed Hassan Tantawi of Al Azhar. Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Sudanese sources expect Egyptian ambassador's arrival in Khartoum soon
Sudanese sources in Cairo asserted that Khartoum expects the Egyptian ambassador's arrival during the coming weeks, telling ArabicNews.com that this step is considered a topping for the great improvement which took place in Sudanese - Egyptian relations recently, which included a visit by Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir to Cairo and his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Sudan, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Chief of the EU parliament confers with Jordanian King
The chairperson of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine, currently visiting Jordan, has asserted that the European Union has not changed its position over East Jerusalem and that the EU does not consider this part of the city under Israeli sovereignty. Jordan, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Youssoufi urges Moroccan, Indian businessmen to set up joint ventures
Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi on Wednesday urged Moroccan and Indian businessmen to explore new partnership fields and set up joint ventures. Morocco, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Sudan announces abrogation of al-Tawali law
The Sudanese Ministry of Justice on Wednesday announced official abrogation of al-Tawali political law and replacement of it by the political parties and organizations law. Sudan, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Moussa meets with Ross on peace talks
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met with Dennis Ross, the US peace envoy in the Middle East, who arrived in Cairo today for a quick visit in his current tour of the Middle East. Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Al-Sharaa to hold an Arab tour
The Saudi daily Okaz reported on Wednesday that Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa will visit Saudi Arabia in the course of a tour he will make of several Arab capitals of concern to the Middle East peace process. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Lebanese premier gets message of support from French counterpart
Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss on Wednesday received a message from French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin dealing with the current situation in Lebanon following the recent Israeli aggression. Lebanon, Politics, 2/24/2000 - AL council to be held in Lebanon, March 11 and 12 in solidarity with the Lebanese people
Lebanese Premier Salim al-Hoss on Wednesday welcomed the convening of the next meeting of the Arab League council on the level of the foreign ministers on March 11 and 12 in Beirut. Regional, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Some 15 Islamists detained in Jordan
Sources close to the Jordanian police said on Wednesday that the security forces arrested on Monday in Maan city in the south of Jordan 15 Islamists suspected of being involved in an aggression carried out against the local university's female complex. Jordan, Local, 2/24/2000 - Damascus assures being not in a hurry for peace ratification
Damascus stated today that it is not hurrying to resume its negotiations with Israel, saying it believes this resumption will never be achieved unless Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's government frankly announces a withdrawal to the June 4, 1967 borders. Syria, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Moroccan MPs expound Sahara issue to Indian peers
Moroccan MPs accompanying Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi on his official visit to India, on Wednesday expounded to Indian peers the issue of Moroccan Sahara. Morocco, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Report: Peace talks to resume very soon
Western diplomatic sources have expected that Syrian-Israeli negotiations will be resumed following the vacation of Eid al-Adha in the middle of March. Syria, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Arab members of Israeli Knesset argue against aggressions on Lebanon
The Israeli Knesset on Wednesday witnessed tough wrangling between Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy and Arab members of the Israeli Knesset over the Israeli recent strikes against Lebanese civilian installations. Lebanon, Politics, 2/24/2000 - In concluding the Arab water security conference
The Arab water security conference urged at the conclusion of its works on forming a joint Arab perception to confront the risks resulting from the water crisis and to determine mechanisms to confront it. Regional, Economics, 2/24/2000 - Iraq: death of a generation
The numerous death cases and those of killer diseases befalling Iraqi children in the dramatically poorly equipped hospitals stand witness to the death of a whole generation in the sanction-stricken Arab country. Iraq, Health, 2/24/2000 - Palestinian Hamas says it will continue its operations against Israel
The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement said that its campaign against the Israeli security forces did not cause harm, but it undertook resuming the resistance, saying that the detentions will not affect the resistance. Palestine, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Arab Parliamentary Union calls for common Arab market
The Arab Parliamentary Union (APU), which held its 9th congress in Algiers earlier this week, called Arab governments to materialize the projected creation of a common Arab market and an Arab free trade area. Regional, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Yemeni message to Abdul Meguid
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid received a written message from Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal that assures Yemen's readiness to coordinate between the Yemeni initiative concerning a mechanism, of the systematic periodic convening of the Arab summit and his suggestions which contribute to crystallizing joint Arab work. Yemen, Politics, 2/24/2000 - FIFA inspection delegation arrives in Morocco
A FIFA delegation arrived Thursday in Casablanca to inspect Morocco's sports, hotels, telecommunications infrastructure and other facilities related to its candidacy to stage the 2006 World Cup. Morocco, Sports, 2/24/2000 - Moroccan business delegation travels to US to explore $2 billion worth projects
A Moroccan public and private business delegation will head next March to the United States to negotiate an investment program for 20 projects, worth $2 billion. Morocco, Business, 2/24/2000 - Morocco, UNDP sign women promotion agreement
Morocco and the United Nations Development Program signed in Rabat Wednesday a cooperation agreement called "Gender and Development" providing for several measures to promote women's status. Morocco, Economics, 2/24/2000 - Lebanese territories seized by Israel since 1938
A Lebanese citizen has submitted to the Lebanese Foreign Ministry documents which prove his ownership since before the 1940s of lands of an area of 3,000 square kilometers that is at the present situated near the international borders between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Tourism generated $1.6 billion in 1999
Tourism was Morocco's first source of hard currency in 1999 with $1.6 billion, a Moroccan official said. Morocco, Economics, 2/24/2000 - New statistics on Iraqi deaths under UN embargo
The Iraqi Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that some 11,000 Iraqis died in January this year, bringing the number of Iraqis who have died since the beginning of the embargo imposed on Iraqi since 1990 to 2.173 million. Iraq, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Japan conducts feasibility study on water resources promotion in Morocco
The study, to be completed in 20 months, seeks to devise water resources development plans, especially regarding medium-size dams, to set the priorities, assess the costs and select the projects likely to be financed by international or national financial institutions. Morocco, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Moroccan-Japanese parliamentary cooperation probed in Tokyo
A delegation from the chamber of advisors (upper house of the Moroccan parliament) paid a visit to Japan earlier this week where it probed with Japanese officials and MPs means to enhance economic cooperation. Morocco, Politics, 2/24/2000 - Conflicts decimate African Forests, FAO Says
Civil unrest and the rapid conversion of land for agriculture have been identified as the major factors behind the disappearance of Africa's forests. Regional, Agriculture, 2/24/2000 - Israel continues attacks against south Lebanon
Israeli warplanes on Wednesday flew intensively over the western Bekaa area, carrying out tens of provocative and mock raids at a low altitude and dropping thermal balloons to avoid the Lebanese army's anti-aircraft fire. Lebanon, Military, 2/24/2000 - Mubarak congratulates Khatami on reform movement's election victory
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed his confidence that the public support which Iranian President Mohammed Khatami attained will be his support in his efforts to achieve progress for the Iranian people. Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2000
Short Takes
- King Abdullah of Jordan on Wednesday telephoned Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. King Abdullah stressed Jordan's backing for the "brothers" in Lebanon after the recent Israeli aggressions. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and the need for continued consultations and meetings between officials in the two states. Lahoud stressed Lebanon's desire to foster relations between the two "sisterly countries." Go
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday in Cairo received a message from US President Bill Clinton connected to peace in the region and bilateral relations between the US and Egypt. The message was handed over by US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson during his meeting with the Egyptian president. Go
- Ahmed Qrei, head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that US peace process envoy Dennis Ross neither gave the Palestinians any answers concerning the controversial subjects with Israel nor presented new suggestions for pushing forward the peace process, saying that these causes concern implementing the transitional agreement, the redeployment in 6.1% of the West Bank's lands, the issue of maps and delivering the areas surrounding Jerusalem, as well as the third redeployment which Israel tries to bury. He added that there is a real crisis in negotiations with Israel, and he urged the USA to practice its role to save peace in the area. Go
- The follow-up committee for the Moroccan-Egyptian high joint commission entrusted with preparing for the May session will hold a meeting in Cairo early March. Go
- Sultan Qaboos of Oman on Wednesday received a message from Turkish President Suleiman Demirel connected to the Turkish celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Ottoman's scientific and cultural heritage. Go
- Egyptian tourism sources expected that the Japanese tourism flow to Egypt during the year 2000 may reach 100,000 tourists due to the Egyptian activities witnessed in Japan currently, which are held under the title "Egypt's year in Japan," which cover economic, tourist, artistic and cultural activities in the main cities in Japan. Go
- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has received a telephone call from Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa. During the telephone conversation talks dealt with bilateral relations and issues pertaining to Arab and international conditions. Go
- Morocco's Hicham Arazi was defeated Wednesday at the second round of the $800,000 London indoor tournament, part of the ATP fixtures. Arazi, world no 13, was squeezed out by French Fabrice Santoro in two sets, 6-4, 6-2. Go
- The United Arab Emirates said today that Abu Dhabi will host the sixth fair and conference for communications in the Middle East, "Mid Com 2000," on May 15 - 16, which is considered the largest and most important conference and fair for the communications industry in the area. Go
- The French presidential couple and Princess Lalla Meriem (sister of King Mohammed VI) attended on Tuesday the closure ceremony of the Moroccan year-long festival in France. Welcomed by rose petals, the Moroccan princess, French President Jacques Chirac and his spouse Bernadette Chirac, attended at the Opera Comique of Paris the show that closed a festival celebrating friendship and longstanding ties between Morocco and France. Go
- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Wednesday in Riyadh received oil ministers in the Gulf Cooperation Council members states, who are holding their 23rd conference at the GCC's general secretariat in Riyadh. Views were exchanged on issues debated on the agenda of the meetings of the GCC oil ministers. Go
- Director-General of the Moroccan news agency MAP, Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, conferred in New Delhi Wednesday with head of the Press Trust of India (PTI), M.K Razdan, on means to upgrade existing cooperation ties between the two agencies where Razdan lauded the role played by MAP and PTI in the promotion of the ideals of the non-aligned movement and the consolidation of South-South cooperation. Go
- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said his country is currently seeking to attract Arab and foreign investments. In interview with Algerian television yesterday Bouteflika said there is a plan to send governmental and non-governmental delegations to Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan, the Gulf region, South Africa, South Korea, India and China to discuss means of attracting a large number of new investments to Algeria to achieve comprehensive development. Go
- Montaser El-Zayat, lawyer of the Islamic Group in Egypt, assured the consent of Frankfort's court to handing over Egypt extremists who asked for asylum in Germany. He said the court refused the appeal presented by Abd El-Akhar Hamad and Mohie El-Din Ahmed Abd El-Moneam against the German authorities' decision to hand them over to Egypt, saying that they asked for the right of asylum after reaching the German city of Hamburg on January 26 coming from an Arab state. Go