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Today's Headlines
- Address by President Hosni Mubarak on The Closing Session of The Africa-Europe Summit Regional, Politics, 4/5/2000
- Mubarak expects Africa- Europe Summit to usher in real partnership
Leaders of 67 African and European countries last night ended a landmark two-day summit in Cairo, pledging more economic cooperation and agreeing to convene again after three years in Europe. Regional, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Africa-Europe summit winds up works in Cairo
The first Africa-Europe summit gathering representatives of 67 African and European countries wound up its two-day works in Cairo Tuesday adopting statements and an action plan to promote Euro-African cooperation. Regional, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Gaddafi commends evolution of Europe-Africa relations
Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi urged for mutual respect between Africa and Europe to mark a new chapter in the continent's relations at the just ended Africa-Europe summit in Cairo, reported the Pan-African news agency PANA. Libya, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Success of Africa - Europe summit
The African - European summit which concluded in Cairo yesterday evening succeeded in reaching agreements on important issues topped by supporting economic cooperation, banning violent disputes and condemning terrorism after long discussions that took two days concerning the different African problems and issues related to cooperation with Europe. Regional, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Royal message to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
King Mohammed VI addressed President Hosni Mubarak a message of thanks and gratitude at the welcome and hospitality the sovereign and his party were met with during their stay in Cairo for the Africa-Europe summit. Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Phone calls between Mubarak and al-Assad
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad discussed the stumbled Middle East peace process in a phone conversation. Egypt, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Parliament for children in the Arab states
In a rare type of event in the Arab states, Yemen has announced parliamentary elections to be especially conducted for children in the premises of Sanaa province on April 12. Yemen, Politics, 4/5/2000 - King Abdullah receives Cohen
Jordan's King Abdullah II met yesterday with US Defense Secretary William Cohen. Jordan, Politics, 4/5/2000 - US says Saleh's visit focuses on cooperation
The April 3-4 visit of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh "reflects the commitment of both governments to work closely together to assure continued democratic and economic development in Yemen," a White House statement said yesterday. Yemen, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Al-Shara meets with EU commissioner
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara met on Tuesday evening with the European Union Commissioner for foreign relations, Christopher Patten. Syria, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Al-Mahdi did not return to Khartoum
Sources at the opposition Sudanese Ummah party said on Tuesday that a high ranking delegation of members of the party will head this week to Khartoum. Sudan, Politics, 4/5/2000 - El-Bashir meets with Merghani in Cairo
Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir met yesterday with Ahmed El-Merghani, the former chairman of the Sudanese State Council, in the headquarters of the Sudanese embassy in Cairo at Merghani's request. Sudan, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Youssoufi to represent Morocco in G-77 summit
Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi will be standing for King Mohammed VI at the first "G-77 + China" summit meeting slated for April 12-14 in Havana, a release from the prime minister's department said. Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Moroccan Human Rights Organization stresses independence
The Moroccan Human Rights Organization (OMDH) has renewed "its total independence" vis-a-vis the state and vis-a-vis political, economic and social actors. Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Abdullah Saleh to visit Tehran soon
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is due to head to Tehran soon for talks on the new relations between Iran and Yemen and the Arab states. He is to meet with Mohammed Khatami, his Iranian counterpart, during the visit. Yemen, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Severe dissent inside the Sudan People's Liberation Army, sources
Informed Sudanese sources stated yesterday that there was armed dissension among troops of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, clarifying that the group was divided into three groups-- one of which joined the governmental forces. Sudan, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Syrian cabinet holds weekly meeting
In its weekly meeting chaired by Premier Muhammad Mustafa Miro, the Syrian Cabinet on Tuesday held a meeting. Syria, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Lebanese - Syrian move to revitalize European role in the peace process Syria, Politics, 4/5/2000
- Saudi Arabia opens its doors to foreign tourists
The Saudi dailies stated on Tuesday that the government of Saudi Arabia is close to opening the kingdom to tourists, by approving general rules to issue tourist visas to foreigners. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 4/5/2000 - Sanaa for regular Arab summits
The Kuwaiti news agency, KUNA, quoted the Yemeni minister of information, Abdul Rahman al-Akwa, as saying on Tuesday upon arriving in Kuwait that his country wants to set up a permanent mechanism for convening regular Arab summits. Yemen, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Ruler of Kuwaiti gets a message from Yemeni president
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Tuesday received a message from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pertaining to bilateral relations and means of developing them. Kuwait, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Annan, Levy meet on south Lebanon
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived on Tuesday in Geneva, where he will meet with Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy to discuss with him the role played by the UN in south Lebanon. Lebanon, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Chirac concerned over Israel not being serious about withdrawal from south Lebanon; China views
French President Jacques Chirac has expressed his concern over non-seriousness of the Israeli position towards withdrawal from south Lebanon. Lebanon, Politics, 4/5/2000 - King Mohammed underscores brotherly ties with Senegal
King Mohammed VI underscored "brotherly ties and close and authentic cohesion" existing between the Moroccan and Senegalese peoples. Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Spanish Premier Aznar to visit Morocco in May
Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar announced in Cairo Tuesday he would undertake an official visit to Morocco in May. Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Union of German tourism companies to convene in Cairo at the end of this year
The union of German tourism companies will convene its coming meeting in Cairo at the end of the current year. Egypt, Economics, 4/5/2000 - Cairo hosts first conference on international system for cell phones
The first conference of the international system for cellular telephones in North Africa (IBC) is to start tomorrow in Cairo. Regional, Business, 4/5/2000 - Arab human rights organization in Jordan: 80 complaints in 1999
The Arab human rights organization in Jordan said on Monday that the kingdom witnessed in 1999 a notable increase in reported cases of human rights violations in quality and quantity. Jordan, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Polisario jails survivors call Annan to shed light on missing persons' fate
An association of survivors of Polisario Jails (ASOCAPO) have called U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to use his "influence and prestige" to shed light on the fate of people reported missing in the jails of the separatist group in Tindouf (southwestern Algeria). Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Student elections in Jordanian university provoke confrontations between police and Islamists
More than 2,000 students at the Jordanian university held a demonstration on Tuesday in protest of limiting the scope of elections for determining the membership of the university's student council, which in March decided to appoint half the members of the 80-member student council instead of holding complete elections, in a measure which was described as an attempt to weaken the presence of Islamists who, historically speaking, dominate student councils at nine state-run universities. Jordan, Local, 4/5/2000 - The UN and the Kuwaiti, Iraqi borders
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday recommended continued work of the UNIKOM mission in Iraq, a mission which has been conducted by the UN to monitor an army free zone on the Kuwaiti and Iraqi sides of the joint borders. Kuwait, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Israeli Knesset delegation in Mauritania
A delegation from the Israeli Kensset on Tuesday started its first official visit to Nouakchott since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Mauritania in October 1999. Mauritania, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Spanish group to inject 25 billion pesetas in Morocco
Spanish Superdiplo group is projecting to open some 40 supermarkets throughout Morocco over the five coming years for a total investment of 25 billion pesetas, reported the economic supplement of El Pais daily. Morocco, Business, 4/5/2000 - Oman will not host the multilateral
An Omani official source said on Tuesday that Oman will not host the multilateral talks on the Middle East on April 11, in line with the resolutions of the Arab League. Oman, Politics, 4/5/2000 - U.N. Human Rights Commissioner in Morocco
United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson, will attend in Rabat on April 14 the closing session of the 5th international workshop of national institutions in charge of human rights promotion. Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2000 - Unemployment rate jumps to 15.1% during third quarter of 1999
The unemployment rate jumped nationwide from 12.9% during the second quarter of 1999 to 15.1% during the third quarter of the year, the number of persons on the dole having gone up from 1.32 million to 1.53 million. Morocco, Economics, 4/5/2000
Short Takes
- British Foreign Office Secretary of State, Peter Hain, lauded the progress scored by Morocco on the path towards modernity. "Morocco, which I visited last December, is undergoing a series of really remarkable political and economic reforms," Hain told the London-based Middle-East Association. Go
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a phone call from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh who is currently visiting the USA, and he informed Mubarak of the results of the talks he held with US officials. Go
- Chinese President Jiang Zemin is due to begin a tour of the Middle East on coming Wednesday by visiting Alexandria, Egypt, during which he will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to support cooperation between the two countries and Middle East issues. Go
- Sudanese Minister of Information and Culture Ghazi Salah al-Din said that the southern rebel movement of John Garang and other movements in the northern parts of the country find no obstacle in recognizing Israel, "but the government of Sudan is not concerned to this effect, because we have nothing to do in recognizing," President al-Bashir said. Go
- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Tuesday received a message from United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan, pertaining to bilateral relations and the desire of the UAE to strengthen these relations in various fields, as well as achieving security and stability in the Gulf region and the Indian Ocean and means of sparing the region the consequences of getting involved in international conflicts and the arms race. Go
- Palestinian Minister of Culture and Information Yasser Abed Rabbo, head of the Palestinian negotiating delegation in final status negotiations with Israel, stated that, "The gaps between the Palestinian and the Israeli sides are still big" and that the peace process and negotiations are getting into a new crisis unless there is an Israeli political decision to be close to the peace process terms of reference and commitment to carrying out international resolutions. Go
- Ahmed Abd El-Rahman, secretary general of the Palestinian Cabinet, commented on news that Israeli fronts are studying the possibility of moving elements of the pro-Israel South Lebanon Army militia to settlement areas, and that their place is dunghill of the history neither Palestine's land nor Lebanon's, adding that this declaration is like launching war on the Palestinian lands and a hostile stance that is not acceptable either by the authorities or by the Palestinian people. Go
- The US European Command said today that Iraqi anti-aircraft guns west of Bashiqah fired on planes enforcing the northern Iraq "no-fly zone." It added that the aircraft "responded to the Iraqi attacks by dropping ordnance on elements of the Iraqi integrated air defense system." Go
- Eight people were killed in a road accident Tuesday near the town of Tan Tan, southern Morocco. Some 22 others were injured, when a passenger bus skidded. The Moroccan Gendarmerie Royale imputed the accident to the bus driver who fell asleep at the wheel. Go
- Morocco will build a $10 million cement plant in Laayoune, major city in the Moroccan southern provinces. The plant will produce 250,000 tons of cement annually and will be operational as of the end of the year. Go
- Morocco will be represented in the Montreal African and Creole cinema festival by six feature and short movies. Go