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Today's Headlines
- Mubarak receives Canadian Premier
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien arrived in Cairo late Tuesday leading a high-powered delegation on a three-day visit as part of a regional tour. Egypt, Politics, 4/12/2000 - King Mohammed calls for innovative partnership with Italy
King Mohammed VI, who started Tuesday a three-day state visit to Italy, held Tuesday afternoon a first round of discussions with President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and attended a dinner-banquet hosted in his honor by the Italian head of state. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Syria is keen to achieve peace, expert says
The Israeli paper Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that Murhaf Jweijati, an expert in Syrian affairs and a scientist at the Middle East Institute in Washington, described press reports which indicate "toughness" in the Syrian position concerning the peace talks as incorrect. Syria, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Diplomatic reports on Syrian track Syria, Politics, 4/12/2000
- Mubarak tirelessly seeking the best for Egypt
"President Hosni Mubarak works for rebuilding Egypt as fast as possible," said Foreign Minister Amr Moussa late Tuesday. Egypt, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Ciampi hails Morocco as a factor of security in the Mediterranean
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi hailed Morocco's domestic stability and ponderation at the international level, saying it is a factor of security in the Mediterranean region. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - New Egyptian ambassador to Sudan very soon
Egyptian diplomatic sources said that Egyptian ambassador Muhammad Asem will head for Khartoum at the end of this week to assume his post of office as the first ambassador from his country to Sudan in six years after he was appointed by his government to this post two months ago. Egypt, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Morocco, Saudi Arabia set up friendship parliamentary group
A friendship and cooperation parliamentary group will be set up by the Saudi Shoura Council and the Moroccan Chamber of Advisors (upper house of the Moroccan parliament). Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Oman negates and Iran confirms signing a bilateral military agreement
Official sources in the Omani Foreign Ministry denied reports that referred to reaching a defense or military agreement between Oman and Iran, clarifying that mission of the Omani military delegation headed by General Mohammed Bin Mahfouz El-Aredi, commander of the Omani Air Force, to Tehran was in a technical and routine framework. Oman, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Kuwait's crown prince confers with Yemeni parliament speaker Kuwait, Politics, 4/12/2000
- WB participates in 5 economic Programs
Prime Minister Dr. Atef Ebeid met with the World Bank delegation, its resident representative in Egypt Khaled Ikram and Minister of Environment Nadia Makram Ebeid. Egypt, Economics, 4/12/2000 - Libyan, Maltese trade relations discussed
Meetings of Libyan economic activists and a delegation of Maltese economic activists included main trade companies, banking companies and industrial institutions in Malta. Libya, Economics, 4/12/2000 - Establishing an Egyptian - Chinese business council
It was decided to establish an Egyptian - Chinese business council on the margin of Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Cairo next week. Egypt, Business, 4/12/2000 - Arafat: Palestinian state to be declared this year
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat stated yesterday that issue of the Palestinian state has been already determined and that it will be announced during the current year. Palestine, Politics, 4/12/2000 - El-Sadek El-Mahdi to meet with US ambassador in Cairo on Sunday
Former Sudanese Prime Minister El-Sadek El-Mahdi, head of the opposition Ummah Party, is due to meet with the US ambassador in Cairo, Daniel Kurtzer, on Sunday. Sudan, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Hamas denies news reports on its office in Damascus
The Hamas movement has strongly denied reports by Reuters from the Palestinian Authority territories that a high-ranking Hamas movement official and another official at the PLO said this movement has reinforced its presence in Damascus following the collapse of the peace talks between Syria and Israel and that Syria can use its pro-extremist groups against Israel from south Lebanon. Palestine, Politics, 4/12/2000 - On Turkish relations with Israel, the Arabs
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has stressed that his country's relations with Israel will not be at the expense of the Arab states in general and Syria in particular. Turkey, Politics, 4/12/2000 - UAE donation for Jordan
The United Arab Emirates' government decided to present a financial donation to Jordan of $200 million to support the Jordanian economy and basic infrastructure projects. Jordan, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Two high-ranking British envoys to visit Syria
An official at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated on Tuesday that two high-ranking British officials will visit Syria in the next few weeks in the course of international efforts aimed at reviving the peace process on the Syrian track. Syria, Politics, 4/12/2000 - French republic ombudsman meets Moroccan officials in Rabat
The French republic ombudsman, Bernard Stazi, who started Tuesday a two-day visit to Morocco, held separate talks in Rabat with Morocco's minister of human rights, Mohamed Aujjar, and minister of civil service and administrative reform, Aziz Husseini. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Sudanese government agrees on draft law to combat terrorism
The Sudanese Cabinet agreed on a draft law for combating terrorism that was presented by Minister of Interior Abd El-Rehim Mohammed Hussein. Sudan, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Saudi, Djiboutian ministers meet on Arab issues
Saudi Minister of Information Fuad al-Farisi met on Tuesday in Riyadh with his Djiboutian counterpart, Government Spokesman Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakrama, currently visiting Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 4/12/2000 - King Mohammed, an outstanding personality, Enzo Bianco says
King Mohammed VI is an outstanding personality who triggered curiosity in the West as a whole, and in Italy in particular, said Italian Interior Minister Enzo Bianco. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Arab financial institutions hold joint annual meetings in Morocco
The Arab financial institutions opened in Fez (central Morocco) their joint annual meetings with several Arab economy and finance ministers attending. Regional, Economics, 4/12/2000 - Saudi Cabinet agrees on foreigners' ownership of projects
The Saudi Cabinet agreed on a new law for foreign investment that allows foreigners to have complete ownership of the projects and properties related to it. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 4/12/2000 - Khaled Mashal: Qatari mediation to bring Hamas leaders back to Jordan continues
Khaled Mashal, head of the political bureau of the opposition Palestinian Hamas movement, said that the Qatari mediation continues to bring back leaders of the movement to Jordan and that Hamas' stance has not changed. Qatar, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Iraqi lawyers ask Jordan to close file of the Italian pilot
The Iraqi lawyers syndicate asked the Jordanian judiciary to halt the legal procedures against Nicola Trifiani, the Italian pilot accused of violating the law and misleading the Jordanian authorities when he flew a small airplane from Rome to Baghdad through Amman, violating the air embargo imposed on Iraq. Jordan, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Establishing a Moroccan commercial bureau in New York
Morocco decided to open a commercial representation bureau in New York City to increase the volume of its exports to US markets. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Saudi minister criticizes British papers campaign on human rights in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, Politics, 4/12/2000
- One student killed, six wounded at the Saint Joseph University
One Lebanese university student was killed on Tuesday and other six of his colleagues were wounded in the explosion of a bomb the killed student was playing with on Saint Joseph University's premises. Lebanon, Local, 4/12/2000 - Many problems to solve before UN plan implementation, says Baker
James Baker, personal envoy of the United Nations secretary general for the Sahara, said in Madrid Wednesday there were many problems to solve to be able to implement the UN settlement plan for the Sahara. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - Baker meets President Chirac after visits to Algeria and Morocco
The UN secretary general's personal Sahara envoy James Baker meets president Jacques Chirac in Paris Wednesday after visits to Algeria and Morocco, said UN spokesman. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2000 - The state, religion, and the indivdual in public life Regional, Analysis, 4/12/2000
Short Takes
- 200 German tourism companies decided to declare Egypt as having a special characteristic during the current year. Egyptian Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Belatgi told ArabicNews.com that a meeting will be held with representatives of those companies next week to determine the needs of the coming tourists through these companies as part of the Egyptian plan to increase the number of German tourists visiting Egypt to 300,000 during 2000, a 20% increase over last year. He said that Germans ranked first in the number of visitors to Egypt. Go
- Dubai will host on April 8-12, 2001 the Middle East International Transport Exhibition with the participation of transportation ministers and decision makers from the Gulf Cooperation Council member states. A press statement issued by management of the World Trade Center in Dubai said the fair will discuss several issues that concern the transportation sector in the Middle East, like issuing the unified Arab traffic code and facilitating the movement of Arab cars inside the Arab states without obstacles, as well as making studies concerning establishing new Arab railways. Go
- Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid received a written message from Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael, which supports efforts by Abdul Meguid and the AL to defend Sudan's unity and support it in confronting foreign schemes conspiring against its stability and regional safety, especially its stance toward Canada and its call for raising the Sudanese issue in the United Nations Security Council. Go
- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Tuesday in Jeddah met with British Defense Secretary Geoffery Hoon and members of the accompanying delegation currently visiting Saudi Arabia. During the meeting Hoon conveyed the greetings and good wishes of British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the Saudi crown prince. Go
- It was announced in Geneva on Tuesday that Jordan has officially joined the World Trade Organization to become its 136th member. AP said this announcement comes after 30 days have passed since the Jordanian Parliament ratified the treaty agreed on by the two sides in November, although the singing measures had been delayed due to failure of the WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle, during which it was presumed to have this routine approval of the Jordan's joining of the WTO. Go
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Tuesday in Cairo discussed with the Belgian deputy foreign minister Middle East peace process developments on all tracks and the importance of the European role in pushing the peace process. Go
- British Housing and Construction Minister Nick Ritzford, who is leading a delegation representing 16 British construction companies on a visit to Lebanon, met separately yesterday with Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and Oil and Hydraulic Resources Minister Sleiman Traboulsi, Lebanon new agency reported. Go
- A Jordanian official note asked the Israeli authorities to present the criminals who are accused of burning two young Jordanian men in a hotel in the Israeli city of Eilat recently to a public trial. Omar El-Refai, the Jordanian ambassador to Israel, said the Israeli detentions after the preliminary investigations in the case showed that it is a criminal and not a political case, adding that the Israeli authorities are giving special concern to the case after becoming sure of the perpetrator. He said the Israeli authorities are now detaining three Israelis suspected of being involved in the case for investigation. Go
- The Algerian daily al-Khabar stated on Tuesday that 20 gunmen surrendered themselves to the Algerian security sources during the few past days in Boumerdes province. Go
- Isa Golverdi, first navy zone commander in the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IGRC) said yesterday that Iran was holding ten oil tankers detained on Monday and Tuesday for smuggling Iraqi oil through Iranian waters, the Iranian news agency, IRNA reported. Go
- Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss said yesterday that there is only one internationally-recognized border between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanon NNA reported, adding that al-Hoss said Israeli suggestions that there are four interpretations of the border shows bad Israeli intentions regrding implementation of UN Security Council resolution 425 which calls for Israel's unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon. Go
- The Aden Ports General Authority and the Iranian Company (Saco) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for Saco to make studies and technical plans for a sea port in the city of Al-Mukalla, Saba news agency reported. Go
- Morocco's players, Younes Al-Aynaoui, Hicham Arazi and Karim Alami, qualified Tuesday to the second round of the $ 350,000 Hassan II Grand Prix. Go
- The chief of the general staff of the US armed forces, General Henry Shelton, is to pay a visit to Morocco on April 20. General Shelton's trip to Morocco is the third leg of a tour that will lead him to Jordan and Egypt, an authorized source from the Pentagon said. Go
- President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbazogo, on Tuesday wound up a visit to Morocco. President Mbazogo had spent four days in the kingdom. Go
- The Tangiers port police and customs arrested here Tuesday a French citizen while he was about to leave the port smuggling 20 kg of cannabis. Go
- Morocco's women's Tae-kwondo team participates in the world cup competitions to be held in Lyon, France April 14-16. The eight-member Moroccan team is coached by Morocco'd Hassan Smaili and the Korea'd Yu Nam Sun. Go
