Arabic News .com Front Page for Arab News
Today's Headlines
- Al-Shara conveys al-Assad's two messages to Saudi King, crown prince
King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Sunday received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara at al-Yamama presidential palace. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Syrian- Saudi minutes of meetings signed
Meetings of the Syrian-Saudi joint committee were concluded in al-Riyadh on Sunday evening and minutes of meetings of the 8th session of the joint committee were signed at the premises of the Saudi foreign ministry in al-Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Mubarak inaugurates COMESA Conference
President Hosni Mubarak today inaugurates the first regional economic conference of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), at Cairo International Conference Centre in Nasr City. Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Mubarak: Resisting occupation is legitimate, Golan June 4 line a must
In a full dressed interview to German 'Der Speigel' magazine to be published today, President Hosni Mubarak has underlined the legitimacy of resisting occupation, adding that this principle is one of the essential rights of all peoples. Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Tunisian Foreign Minister in Rabat
Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Benyahya arrived in Morocco Sunday with a message from President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali to King Mohammed VI. Morocco, Politics, 2/28/2000 - A department for supervising the Iraqi interests opened at the Algerian embassy in Damascus
Iraqi diplomats reported that a branch for supervising Iraqi interests will be opened this week in Damascus for the first time since diplomatic relations were severed between the two countries in 1980. Syria, Politics, 2/28/2000 - At last Barak admits Rabin's pledge to quit the Golan
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak admitted on Sunday that former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had deposited with the Americans a pledge of withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights to June 4, 1967 border lines for security arrangements. Barak indicated that the US administration conveyed this pledge in due time to Syria. Regional, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Syrian Foreign Ministry summons French ambassador in Damascus over Jospin's remarks
The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday summoned the French ambassador in Damascus. Syria, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Swazi political mission in Morocco
A Swazi political delegation started Sunday a study mission to Morocco to assess the Kingdom's democratic experience and its applicability in Swaziland. Morocco, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Report: Emir of Qatar to visit Syria
The Qatari daily al-Rayah said on Sunday that Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani will visit Syria on March 21 and 21. Qatar, Politics, 2/28/2000 - ME peace difficulties created dark clouds
Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin Sunday said Egypt is a pillar of the Middle East peace process whose national interest requires making peace in the region. Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Arab League chief discusses situation in Sudan with Sudanese FM
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael on Sunday briefed Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid on the latest conditions in Sudan and the joint Libyan- Egyptian efforts to promote reconciliation efforts in Sudan. Sudan, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Failure in peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the rebels
The rebels in southern Sudan said yesterday there was a failure in the peace negotiations which took place with the Sudanese authorities in Nairobi. Sudan, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Jospin's statements contradict French policy in ME
Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said statements made by French Prime Minister Jospin, where he described Hizbullah operations in South Lebanon as acts of terrorism, contradicted the French policy in the Middle East. Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Chirac: Jospin's remarks in Israel harmed credibility of French policy in Middle East
French President Jacques Chirac had publicly called on his prime minister, Lionel Jospin, to order by asking for a call as soon as he returned to Paris, and telephoned Jospin after the premier told journalists on his return the he had no plans to see Chirac before Wednesday's Cabinet meeting. Regional, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Turkey and the waters of the Euphrates
The Turkish Daily News said on Saturday that Turkey has decided to permit the water of the Euphrates to flow into Syria during the nine-day Eid al-Adha vacation in Turkey so Syria will be able to meet its water requirements. Syria, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Iraqi-Turkish trade cooperation
Turkish Minister of State Edip Safter Gaydali said on Sunday in Baghdad that the volume of trade and commercial cooperation between his country and Iraq will shortly increase to US $2.5 billion, the same level of trade as in 1990. Iraq, Economics, 2/28/2000 - A Libyan official discusses Sudanese problem with Abdul Meguid
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid met with Ali El-Teraiki, secretary general of the public general committee in Libya, to discuss the topics concerning the general Arab situation, especially those related to Africa. Libya, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Iraqi criticism of Annan's declarations concerning the sanctions
Iraq criticized yesterday the statements made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who he referred to continuing the Security Council's consultations to discuss intelligent sanctions against Baghdad. Iraq, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Petroleum cooperation between Chad and Algeria
Chad's minister of mines and energy, Mokhtar Moussa, held talks with his Algerian counterpart, Chakib Khelil, in Algeria. Algeria, Economics, 2/28/2000 - Arab League chief confers with PLO official
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid on Sunday in Cairo discussed with the chairman of the PLO Political Bureau, Farouk Qaddoumi, the latest developments on the Palestinian track in light of the stalemate on this track. Palestine, Politics, 2/28/2000 - News about frustrating a coup d'etat in Iraq and executing 38 militants
El-Zaman Arab newspaper issued in London said that the Iraqi authorities frustrated a coup d'etat during January and executed 38 Iraqi militants. Iraq, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Mubarak, Arafat go over peace hurdles
President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat Sunday went over the problems confronting the peace process in the Middle East, especially on the Palestinian track, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said. Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Qaddoumi: Jospin ignores details of peace process in the area
Farouk Qaddoumi, head of the political department of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, stated that what happened to French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in the Palestinian territories was his fault after Jospin depicted Hizbullah in Lebanon as terrorists. Palestine, Politics, 2/28/2000 - USA seeks to motivate the peace tracks in the Middle East
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh stated that there is a seriousness from the US side to accelerate the tracks in the peace process which Jordan felt during US peace envoy Dennis Ross' recent visit to Amman. Jordan, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Saudi - Dutch trade cooperation
Saudi Minister of Commerce Osama Jaafar Faqih on Sunday in Riyadh discussed with the Dutch deputy premier and Minister of Economic Affairs Annemarie Jorritsma means of maintaining economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and prospects of their development. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 2/28/2000 - Morocco-EU association accord enters into force March 1
The accord is innovative providing for mutual concessions, especially in matters of financial cooperation, Moroccan secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri, said in a press conference in Rabat. Morocco, Politics, 2/28/2000 - Orascom telecom announces acquisition of largest independent GSMoperator in Africa
A statement by Orascom Telecom said today that it has signed an agreement to acquire 80% of Telecel International, one of the largest independent GSM mobile operators in Africa. Telecel International, which currently brings eleven GSM licenses to Orascom Telecom, was among the first to pioneer wireless technology in Sub-Saharan Africa. Egypt, Business, 2/28/2000 - Tetouan hosts first women enterprises exhibition this March
Women managers association of northern Morocco (AFEN) will hold next March 7-9 in Tetouan (northern Morocco), the first Mediterranean multi-sectorial exhibition of women's enterprises (SMMEF 2000). Regional, Business, 2/28/2000 - Moroccan executive delegation starts gulf tour
A Moroccan executive delegation, led by head of investments at the Moroccan finance and economy ministry, Hassan Bernoussi, arrived in Jeddah Saturday, first leg of a tour in Arab Gulf states. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 2/28/2000 - Confrontations in Somalia
Some 11 persons were killed and 20 others wounded in confrontations in which rockets and anti-tank machine guns were used in a fierce battle that took place among warring Somali groups over winning a contract to maintain a water irrigation canal financed by a German relief group. Somalia, Local, 2/28/2000 - Meguid asks Swiss FM to solve issue of Kuwaiti captives in Iraq
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid discussed with Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss means of Switzerland playing a vital role in issues concerning the humanitarian conditions in the area and the possibility of cooperating with the International Committee of the Red Cross, as Switzerland is the headquarters of this international organization, concerning the Kuwaiti captives in Iraq since 1990. Regional, Politics, 2/28/2000
Short Takes
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday received a telephone call from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder during which the two sides reviewed Middle East peace process developments and obstacles impeding them on all tracks, according to the Madrid principles and the land-for-peace formula. Go
- Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi on Sunday received a message from Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides relating to bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern. The message was delivered to Gaddafi by the chairman of the Cypriot Socialist Party, Lyssarides, during his meeting with Gaddafi on Saturday evening in Tripoli. Go
- The Tunisian association for defending human rights expressed its relief over the atmosphere in which the recent meeting between its chairman, Tawfik Derbala, and Tunisian Interior Minister Abdallah Kallel. Go
- A Moroccan women delegation took part in the 2nd congress of the Islamic women union held in Beirut Feb.25 through 27. The encounter, entitled "Women and future prospects," was attended by 150 participants from 20 Arab and non-Arab countries. Set up in 1996 in Sudan, the Islamic women union is a non-governmental organization that acts as an advisor for the UN economic and social council. Go
- Pope of the Vatican John Paul II has expressed his thanks to and appreciation of the Egyptian people and President Mubarak for their warm reception during his recent historic visit. "I thank God that He allowed me to make my planned trip to Egypt in recent days," the Pope told the faithful in St. Peter's Square before his regular Angelus address. "Now my eyes turn to the Holy Land, land of Jesus Christ, where I will go, God willing, in the last week of March." Go
- Moroccan field and track champ, Asmaa Laghzaoui, won Sunday the 68th Five Mills cross of the IAAF World Challenge in San Vittore Olona, south of Milano. Go
- Yemeni sources said yesterday that eights persons are presented for trial for forming a group to kidnap foreigners in Yemen, asserting that the suspects forged official papers to get funds and that only five suspects attended the trial while the others will be tried in absentia. The sources also stated that this group is involved in planning to kidnap foreigners in Sa'dah' governorate and that its members were arrested before executing their plans. Go
- Heads of the Jewish organizations in the US have sent a message to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in which they protested against criticism addressed by the spokesman of the US State Department concerning statements made by Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy recently to the Israeli Knesset in which he threatened to set Lebanon ablaze. Go
- The Moroccan city of Marrakesh will host the world school cross-country championships, to be held March 10-15. The Moroccan athletics federation has chosen the team that will defend the title Morocco won in 1998 in Lithuania. Go
- Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery located west of Bashiqah fired today on aircraft enforcing the "no-fly zone" over northern Iraq, the US European Command said. It said the aircraft "responded to the Iraqi attacks by dropping ordnance on elements of the Iraqi integrated air defense system." Go