Arabic News Front Page for 12/21/2001

Today's Headlines

• Meeting of the Arab foreign ministers: we do not accept threats, refuse lists issued concerning resistance
  The Arab foreign ministers stressed in their final statement issued by the emergency meeting in Cairo on Thursday their rejection of threats to using force against any Arab state and considered that as an aggression and a violation to the security and stability of the region and as a violation to the UN and the international law principles and charters. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Yokohama forum renews commitment to combat sexual exploitation of children
  The Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children concluded its work in Yokohama on Thursday after approving a key document, which reinforced pledges made five years ago to undertake concrete initiatives in the fight against the global trade in child sex. Regional, Culture, 12/21/2001
• Israel continues detention campaigns and acts of arrest in the Golan
  The Israeli authorities on Thursday continued the campaigns of arrests and detention against the Syrian citizens in the occupied Golan. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2001
• In coordination with ICRC, Kuwait is ready to search for Iraqi missing
  Kuwait has stressed its readiness to permit the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC to search for Iraqi missing which Iraq stresses they do not exist, but under the condition that Baghdad will " provide all precise information" about the Kuwaitis Iraq is accused to have held. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Morocco's premier: settlement of Moroccan-Spanish divergences goes through frank dialogue
  The Moroccan government is determined to find a solution to all problems and misunderstandings with Spain through clear and frank dialogue, said on Wednesday Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Israel continues escalation measures in the Palestinian territories, three Palestinians shot
  The security meeting held on Wednesday between the Palestinian authority and Israel had failed to achieve any progress at a time when Israel continued escalation of its aggression. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2001
• The democratic front for the liberation of Palestine refuses resistance operations
  The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine on December 18 refused the call made by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat to halt armed works against Israel and called for continuing the Intifada. Palestine, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Arab League ignores a call for dialogue by Somali war lord Hussein Aided
  The Arab League has ignored a call almost official addressed earlier by the Somali war lord Hussein Aided one of the most prominent figures who stands against the provisional Somali resident Abdul Qasem Salad Hassan on the need to open channels of dialogues between the Arab league and the Somali opposition. Somalia, Politics, 12/21/2001
• General assembly supports establishment of Middle East monitoring mechanism
  Resuming its emergency special session on illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday in support of the establishment of a monitoring mechanism for the region. Regional-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Al- Buqa'ee denies holy land foundation connection to terrorism
  The representative of the " holy land" ( al-Ardh al-Muqaddasah) in Jordan has denied any connection for the charity society which he heads, which the US had closed its premises in the US recently, to terrorism. Jordan-USA, Politics, 12/21/2001
• The Saudi no more prefer the US, Europe for tourism
  News agencies officials said that the Saudis no more prefer the US and Europe to spend their vacation and become inclines to visit Arab and Islamic states following September 11 attacks. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 12/21/2001
• Head of spanish socialist party: King Mohammed wants Moroccan-Spanish relations to resume normality
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI wants Moroccan-Spanish relations to resume their normal course, said head of the Spanish opposition "Socialist labor party," Jose Luis Zapatero. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/21/2001
• The first office for the European commission in the Gulf to be shortly opened in al-Riyadh
  The European Union has achieved on December 18 a basic step towards strengthening its trade and economic relations with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council by declaring the opening of an official office for the European Commission EC in al-Riyadh. Gulf-European Union, Economics, 12/21/2001
• Beijing warns Israel of deterioration of relations
  China on Wednesday warned Israel of the deterioration of their bilateral relations if a:satisfactory arrangement will not be made to settle the dispute resulting from Israel's canceling a deal provided for selling Radar planes to Beijing in 2000. Israel-China, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Some 11 killed, wounded in acts of violence in Algeria
  The Algerian papers said in their December 20 issues said that 7 persons were killed and other 4 wounded between Friday and Sunday in acts of violence in Algeria. Algeria, Local, 12/21/2001
• A ship carrying drugs confiscated in Lebanon
  The drug fighting office in Lebanon on Thursday attacked a ship coming from a Latin American state carrying on its board 75 Kg of Cocaine. Lebanon, Local, 12/21/2001
• Kuwait is the first Arab country in using the Internet
  An Egyptian study has revealed that the Kuwaitis are the first among the Arabs in using the Internet, according to a field study carried out by a specialized Egyptian research side. Regional, Local, 12/21/2001
• UN official warns of critical Palestinian economic conditions
  A senior United Nations Middle East envoy on Thursday said the region was experiencing "peace-building in reverse," citing the rising death toll and new studies on the economic conditions facing Palestinians. Palestine, Economics, 12/21/2001
• New U.S. TV messages target Arab-Muslim stereotyping
  Two members of US president George W. Bush's administration on Thursday were present to launch two new television public service announcements that discourage ethnic stereotyping of Arabs and Muslims. Regional-USA, Politics, 12/21/2001
• Morocco, ready for shift to euro
  Morocco is ready for the shift to the Euro, European single currency, and will handle the operation in all trust and serenity, sources from Morocco's central bank "Bank Al-Maghrib" said. Morocco, Economics, 12/21/2001
• Brussels inter-faith meeting calls for end to violence in middle east
  The inter-faith meeting held December 19-20 in Brussels on "God's Peace in the World" called for the end of violence in the Middle East and for the resumption of the peace process, in a spirit of peaceful coexistence. Regional, Religion, 12/21/2001

Short Takes

• The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara has described the final statement of the Arab foreign ministers emergency meeting held in Cairo on Thursday as not meeting the ambitions of the Arab street, completely and did not precisely express the " impulse of the Arab street." Go
• It was announced in cairo that an Egyptian medical team is currently visiting Iraq, including most qualified doctors in heart surgery, the bones and the backbone in order to support the Iraqi people in confrontation of the deteriorated health conditions in Iraq because of the sanctions imposed on it. Go
• The Palestinian resistance movement " Hamas" has announced in an official statement today ( Friday) halting all "suicide " operations inside Israel and halting firing mortars shells. Go
• The Chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat on late Thursday evening in Ramullah, the West Bank met with the EU Middle East envoy Miguel Moratinos, according to the Israeli radio. Go
• The British foreign office secretary Jack Straw announced that there is no link between Iraq and the terrorist attacks of September 11 against Washington and New York and ruled out the US to launch a military operation against Iraq. Go
• Israeli political sources in Jerusalem stressed that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat will not be permitted from heading to Bethlehem to attend the celebrations of the Christmas if he does not meet the Israeli demands to arresting Palestinian resistance men. Go
• Foreign ministers of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) held in Cairo on Thursday a coordination meeting to review items on the agenda of the Union's foreign ministers council slated for next January 17-18 in Algiers. The foreign ministers held their coordination meeting in parallel to the Arab foreign ministers extraordinary session. Go

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