Today's Headlines
- Syrian, Egyptian, Saudi FMs meet today in Palmyra
A three-way meeting is due today in Palmyra. It is to include Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. Regional-Syria, Politics, 5/3/2000
- For the first time in 20 years: Iraqi ambassador starts work as head of Iraqi interests bureau in Damascus
Iraqi Ambassador Mohammed Refeat started his work as the head of the Iraqi interests bureau in Damascus. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Sahara: No referendum without all Sahrawis, speaker
The speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower house of parliament) on Tuesday renewed Morocco's position refusing the referendum in the Sahara without the participation of all Sahrawis. Morocco-Sweden, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Sahara: Annan invites parties to meet Baker in London
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has invited parties to the Sahara issue to meet his personal envoy, James Baker, on May 14 in London, a U.N. spokesman said on Tuesday. Morocco-UN, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Djibouti hosts a reconciliation conference on Somalia
Works of the national reconciliation conference in Somalia were opened on Tuesday in Djibouti in the presence of some 400 Somali representatives with the participation of representatives from various UN organizations, including the UN and governments. Djibouti-Somalia, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Mubarak says Peace backs chances of development
President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday described the joint statement by the UN Security Council five permanent members on full elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on nuclear disarmament as an affirmation of the 1991 six-point Egyptian initiative. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Al-Assad gets a message from Emir of Qatar
President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday received a message from Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Tuesday received the message when he received minister of transport and communications in Qatar, Sheikh Ahmad Bin Nasser Bin Faleh al-Thani. Syria-Qatar, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Luxembourg's deputy premier meets Moroccan parliament speakers
Visiting deputy premier of Luxembourg, Mrs. Lydie Polfer, held separate meetings in Rabat Tuesday with the speakers of the two houses of the Moroccan Parliament, Abdelouahed Radi and Jalal Essaid. Morocco-Luxembourg, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Egyptian - Israeli discussions
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa convened tonight with Israeli Knesset member Uri Savir, the director of the Peres Institute for Peace, who said following the meeting that "a frank discussion took place concerning the current status of the peace process and its future." Egypt-Israel, Politics, 5/3/2000
- A call for increasing salaries in Syria
The BBC's correspondent in Damascus said on Tuesday that Syrian workers called on the occasion of the May Day for increasing their salaries and improving their living conditions, adding that this is the first time this call has been strongly demanded. Syria, Economics, 5/3/2000
- Egyptian environment minister in Morocco next week
Egyptian Minister of State for Environment Nadia Makram Ebeid will start next Tuesday a visit to Morocco that will be crowned with the signing of an agreement on environment protection. Morocco-Egypt, Environment, 5/3/2000
- Heads of the Gulf stock markets in Mascut to tackle improvements
Oman is to host the first meeting for heads of stock markets and financial markets in the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council member states on May 6- 7. Gulf, Economics, 5/3/2000
- Iranian FM concludes successful visit to Qatar
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi has described his visit to the state of Qatar and the talks he held with Qatari officials as positive and constructive. Qatar-Iran, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Saudi foreign minister confers with Iranian defense minister
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met on Tuesday in Jeddah with Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani and members of the accompanying delegation, currently visiting Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Israel welcomes US role in the peace process
Israeli negotiator Oded Eran said that any role played by US diplomacy in the peace process will be acceptable, whatever it is. Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 5/3/2000
- 3,000 commercial shops to participate in Egyptian tourism and shopping festival
The Egyptian Tourism Ministry received requests from 3,000 commercial shops to participate in the Egyptian tourism and shopping festival in its third session, which will begin in mid-July and last until the end of August. Egypt, Business, 5/3/2000
- Arabs - Israel conflict and Iraq - Kuwait issues at Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Jordan
Manifestation of the conflict between the Arabs and Israelis due to continued Israeli occupation of Arab territories and the refugees issues has characterized the three-day meetings of the 103rd session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which started in Amman on Sunday in the presence of 1,400 parliamentary figures from 123 states. Regional-Jordan-International, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Israel should be serious in seeking peace
Osama El-Baz, Presidential Political Advisor, linked Tuesday between the success of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Economic Conference, to be hosted by Egypt later this year and the seriousness of Israel in seeking a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Egypt, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Polish premier in Morocco Thursday
Polish P:remier Jerzy Karol Buzek starts Thursday a two-day official visit to Morocco for talks with Moroccan officials on ways to consolidate bilateral cooperation. Morocco-Poland, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Moratinos confers with Palestinians
The chairman of the Palestinian delegation to the final status talks with Israel has stated that the Palestinian and Israeli sides have not yet found a mechanism to start discussion on substantial issues pending in these negotiations. Palestine-Israel-European Union, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Barak and south Lebanon
The Israeli daily Maariv issued on Tuesday said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has recently instructed the leadership of the Israeli Army to obstinate totally from violating Lebanese sovereignty following the planned withdrawal to the international borders. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Hurdles hindering technological transfer should be removed
Egypt has underlined the need that all obstacles and restrictions hindering the transfer of nuclear technology for the peaceful use by non-nuclear states especially developing ones, be removed. Egypt, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Egypt sets up national human rights council
Commenting on the Egyptian government's intention to set up a human rights council, Hafez Abu Saada, secretary general of the Egyptian Human Rights Organization, cited the CCDH experience in Morocco which helped settle a set of human rights issues, mainly the recognition of the rights of victims of repression to compensation and the return from exile of opponents. Egypt, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Amnesty International delegation visits Algeria
A three-member team affiliated to Amnesty International started a 10-day visit to Algeria today. Algeria, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Lockerbie suspects to be tried today; evidence less certain
The trial of the two Libyans who are accused of Lockerbie incident in Scotland on December 1988, which resulting in killing 270 persons, will start today in Camp Ziest, Holland. Libya-UK, Judicial, 5/3/2000
- Egypt succeeds in anti-terrorism fight
The US administration has anew accentuated the Egyptian government’s great success in fighting terrorism and promoting international cooperation in the fight against this phenomenon. Egypt-USA, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Arab capital markets congress in Beirut
The 6th congress on "Arab capital markets" will be held in Beirut May 18-19. Regional, Economics, 5/3/2000
- Israeli forces evacuate positions in south Lebanon
The Israeli occupation forces have intensified their preparations for withdrawal from south Lebanon and started to evacuate four positions on the border inside the occupied Lebanese territories. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 5/3/2000
- Four Seasons opens its first hotel in Cairo
The Four Seasons company for tourism establishments is to open its first hotel in Cairo next week. Egypt, Business, 5/3/2000
- Continued Israeli aggressions against south Lebanon
The Israeli artillery on Tuesday shelled Habboush river course, al-Zahrani river area, al-Tasse spring course and al-Kofour valley areas. The Israeli shelling was accompanied by heavy Israeli sorties and mock raids over southern Lebanese areas. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 5/3/2000
- Israeli test missile path goes above US ships in Mediterranean
The Pentagon reported that an Israeli missile was fired where the path of the missile when over US military ships. Israel-USA, Military, 5/3/2000
Short Takes
- Lebanese Premier and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss spoke on Tuesday on the telephone with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara. Latest regional developments were reviewed. Go
- Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib left Amman on Tuesday morning heading for Doha on a one-day working visit to Qatar. In statements to reporters, al-Khatib said he is carrying a message from Jordan's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani on the latest developments in the Arab, international, and bilateral relations between Jordan and Qatar. Go
- Saudi Arabia's second deputy premier and defense minister, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, on Tuesday in Jeddah discussed issues of mutual concern with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and members of the accompanying delegation. Go
- United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan received a message on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi from Djiboutian President Ismael Omar Guelleh pertaining to cooperation and relations between the two states. Go
- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met on Tuesday in Jeddah with US Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs David Welch and discussed issues of mutual concern. Go
- Tunisian Prime Minister Muhammad al-Ghanoushe held economic and other cooperation talks on Tuesday in Tunisia with the Switzerland's minister of foreign affairs, Joseph Deiss, currently visiting Tunisia. Go
- The Arab travel fair was opened on Tuesday in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, by Information and Culture Minister Sheikh Abdallah Ibn Zayed. Over 700 travel companies representing 59 countries are taking part in the event to go on till May 5. Go
- The US European Command said that Iraq had fired anti-aircraft artillery from near Bashiqah at aircraft patrolling the northern Iraq "no-fly zone" yesterday and today. Both days it said, "Coalition aircraft responded to the Iraqi attacks by dropping ordnance on elements of the Iraqi integrated air defense system." Go
- Morocco won the bronze medal at the world school rugby championships, held April 28-May 2 in Dunkerque, France. Go
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