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Today's Headlines
- Damascus: Court lifts immunity off three parliament members
Well-informed sources in Damascus said that the economic security court asked the Syrian ministry of justice to send a message asking for lifting immunity from three members of the Syrian parliament in preparations for trying them on charges relating to corruption. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Mubarak-Saudi Crown Prince Summit, Sharm el Sheikh
Egyptian-Saudi Summit talks open in Sharm el Sheikh today between President Hosni Muharak and Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz the Saudi Crown Prince who arrived in Sharm el Sheikh yesterday on a few days visit. Egypt, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Butaflika in Tunisia to strengthen cooperation
Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika arrived on Wednesday in Tunisia in a visit which will last for three days. The visit falls in the course of revitalizing the Arab Maghreb Union and strengthening economic relations between the two states. Tunisia, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Bahrain offers facilitation to passengers
Bahrain on Wednesday permitted its citizens as from the first of July to travel to three Gulf states by using personal identity cards or a passport. Bahrain, Politics, 6/29/2000 - London meeting on Sahara ends
Delegates of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the separatist Polisario movement held in London on Wednesday a five-hour meeting under the aegis of UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara, James Baker. Morocco, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Rich countries to earmark 0.7% of GDP to women's promotion in south countries
The UN decision to earmark 0.7 of the GDP of rich countries to projects of promotion of women's conditions in South countries is a positive result likely to regain confidence in North-South partnership, said Moroccan secretary of State in charge of handicapped persons, Nezha Chekrouni. Regional, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Bashar al-Assad to the parliament: I will be in the nation's service
Syria's Lieutenant General Bashar al-Assad received yesterday evening People's Assembly Speaker Abdul Qader Qadoura who informed him of the Syrian parliament's consent to his nomination for president. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Moussa speech before OIC Ministerial Meeting
"Globalization should never be considered a conspiracy against Islam but rather a real challenge that should be handled," said Moussa. He added that the Islamic World is in a dire need of an approach to deal with facts as they really are. Regional, Politics, 6/29/2000 - On the Cabinet-reshuffle in Syria
The London-based al-Zaman paper said on Wednesday that sources in Damascus told it that news which talked about the possibility of making ministerial reshuffle in Syria before the referendum for the presidency of Bashar al-Assad for Syria are incorrect and shows ignorance on the pursued political mechanism pursued to this effect. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Bashar al-Assad meets with PDRK party delegation
Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad, the commander in chief of the Syrian army and armed forces on Wednesday received the chairman of the presidency commission of the people's higher council in the people's Democratic Republic of Korea ( PDRK) Kim Yong Nam and members of an accompanying delegation. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Albright, Barak hold joint press conference in Jerusalem
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has described her talks with the Israeli prime Minister Ehud Barak and his foreign minister David Levy as very good. Palestine, Politics, 6/29/2000 - An attack on UN office in Baghdad
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO has announced that two of its staff were killed in an attack launched by an armed man against FAO's office in Baghdad on Wednesday. Iraq, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Denial of Arafat's resignation if negotiations fail
Ahmed Korea, head of the Palestinian legislative council and head of the negotiating Palestinian delegation in the final status negotiations, negated news that was repeated concerning the declaration of the Palestinian president's intention to resign if the Palestinian - Israeli negotiations remained in their current halt. Palestine, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Resuming Syrian - Israeli peace negotiations in August
There is great optimism in Damascus regarding the resumption of the peace process on the Syrian - Israeli track in August. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Sudan releases 47 military prisoners and 230 civilians
Khartoum said it released 47 military prisoners according to the general pardon that was issued by the Sudanese president Omar El-Bashir on 21st June. Sudan, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Moroccan elected unanimously secretary general of OIC
The Organization of Islamic Conference "OIC" on Thursday unanimously elected Morocco's candidate, Abdelouahed Belqziz, as its secretary general. Regional, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Morocco calls OIC to promote inter-civilization dialogue
The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) should promote inter-civilization dialogue and endeavor to establish a universal culture in tune with Islamic values and conciliating between traditional and modern values. Morocco, Politics, 6/29/2000 - On the meeting of Organization Islamic Conference
Meeting of the fivefold committee for the periodic mechanism for convening the Arab summit. Regional, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Iran declares readiness to support Kuwait in reconstructing oil refinery
Iran said it is ready to support Kuwait in reconstructing al-Ahmadi refinery after an accident which forced the shut down of the refinery. Kuwait, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Beshara reiterates his backing to the Lebanese national resistance
Azmi Beshara, member of the Israeli Knesset for the Arab list, has called on the Israeli government to determine the responsibility of Israel's involvement in South Lebanon. Israel, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Iraq and the UN sanctions
Iraq's vice President Tareq Aziz announced on Wednesday that his country's government does not accept the principle of permanent sanctions on Iraq and that it refuses the UN monitoring of its weapons. Iraq, Politics, 6/29/2000 - OIC foreign minister tie peace in west asia to creation of palestinian state
Foreign Ministers of Islamic countries meeting here have confirmed that the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Ashareef as its capital is the genuine and basic guarantee to set up a lasting peace in West Asia. Regional, Politics, 6/29/2000 - IFC Creates Moroccan Private Equity Fund
A new US $ 21 million private equity fund has been created to invest in small and high-growth-sector companies mainly in Morocco and also in Algeria and Tunisia. Maghreb Region, Economics, 6/29/2000 - Turkish- Syrian relations are improving
In its Wednesday's issue, the Turkish daily Mellit stressed that relations between Syria and Turkey have been witnessing positive developments, adding that the two countries's interests require the consolidation of peace, friendship and stability. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - Egypt calls for reshaping UN role
"The process of redesigning the UN role in economic and social fields is a difficult one in light of differences in interests between advanced and developing states on one hand and among developing countries on the other Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the UN" Ahmed Abul-Gheit said. Regional, Politics, 6/29/2000 - On the division of al-Ghajar village in the Golan
The chairman of the local council of the occupied village of al-Ghajar in the occupied Golan Suleiman Khatib met on Wednesday in the presence of the village's chieftains with the Jordanian Ambassador to Israel Omar al-Refa. The meeting aims at urging Jordan to interfere to prevent the division of the village, according to UN resolution, according to the Israeli radio. Syria, Politics, 6/29/2000 - WB extends loans to Mali, Algeria, Tunisia
The World Bank announced on Wednesday a series of loans to Mali, Tunisia and Algeria to boost the economic situation in the three African countries. Maghreb Region, Economics, 6/29/2000 - Iraqi farmers wounded in a Gulf war missile explosion
Some 15 Iraqi peasants were wounded in the province of al-Anbar when a missiles from the remains of the Gulf war of 1991 went off. Iraq, Local, 6/29/2000 - Ethiopian, American, Eritrean experts meet in July
A governmental source in Addis Ababa said on Wednesday that experts from Ethiopia, Eritrea and the African Unity Organization and the US will meet by the beginning of July in Washington to discuss on means of implementing the cease- fire agreement signed on June 18 between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ethiopia, Politics, 6/29/2000
Short Takes
- The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat emphasized that Israel should carry out the third stage of the Israeli redeployment before convening a three-way summit between Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and U.S President Bill Clinton. Go
- The Hebrew language Israeli army radio said on Wednesday that the tripartite meeting which includes the US President Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat will be held in Washington by the mid or end of July. Go
- Morocco's King Mohammed VI, supreme chief and chief of the general staff of the Royal Armed Forces, chaired on Wednesday the graduation ceremony of the 34th class of the armed forces academy in the 3rd air base in Kenitra, 35 Km north of Rabat. Go
- Visiting chief of staff of the Gabonese army, Gen. Augustin Anguile, on Tuesday visited the general staff of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (joined armies). Go
- Egypt's Supreme Council of Culture under the Chairmanship of Culture Minister, Farouq Hosni, declared Saturday names of Mubarak award winners for literature, arts and social sciences for the year 2000. Renowned artist Hussein Bikar won LE 100,000 worth Mubarak award for arts. A book entitled "Role of foreign aid to Israel 48-96- building a state" by Ahmed Sayed Ahmed Naggar won a prize of merit in the field of economy. Go
- The Malaysian capital is hosting, in conjunction with the 27th session of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), a Muslim trade exhibition. Organizers said they expected to attract 10,000 visitors during the exhibition, which will be open to the public on July 1, and 2. Participants in the exhibition dubbed "Muslim showcase 2000" hope to forge strategic business alliances and new ties with local and international traders. Go
- Informed sources in Cairo denied that the Radioactive material found in an Egyptian village was wrongfully disposed off as used nuclear waste assuring that tests in Meet Halfa village shows that the village is completely free of any radiation sources. A source at the atomic power organization said that this kind of material was imported without the knowledge of the atomic power organization to be used in soldering petroleum pipe as well as some other industrial purposes. Go