Today's Headlines
- Tunisia celebrates its 46th Independence Day
Following various successive amendments which covered the election law the democratic process has been reinforced and political pluralism in the country was manifested in the increased number of seats the opposition parties got at the parliament and at the municipal council especially since the recent legislative and municipal elections in which the opposition received 20% at the parliament and 6.21% in the municipalities. Tunisia, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Mubarak-Assad talks aim at crystallizing firm Arab stance
Minister Omran said that the visit falls within the context of exchanged trips by the Egyptian and Syrian readerships to serve the best interests of their states and of the entire Arab nation. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Al-Assad meets with Saudi foreign minister
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday received the Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal. Syria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/20/2002
- On the US plan to strike Iraq
The Jordanian paper al-Arab al-Youm on Tuesday issued details of the American plan, carried by the US vice president Dick Cheney to the Arab states he recently visited. The plan invites the Arab states to provide enough aid, or at least not oppose the American operations against Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Syria: Opinion prisoners observe hunger strike
The society in charge of defending human rights in Syria said that several "opinion" prisoners have started an open hunger strike in protest of their "unjustified" detention since more than one year. Syria, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Mubarak discusses peace strategy with Saudi Foreign Minister
Asked about whether a similar initiative would be drafted on what is known as the Iraqi-Kuwaiti case, Maher said he does not know whether an initiative in this respect will be launched, however, what is important, according to Maher, is the presence of clear Iraqi stances that would help discuss the issue positively. Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/20/2002
- On the Syrian- Iraqi oil pipeline
News reports in Amman said that the Iraqi oil minister Amer Rasheed will arrive in Damascus next week to hold talks with his Syrian counterpart Ibrahim Haddad to discuss the "feasibility study" for starting a new Syrian- Iraqi oil pipeline at a capacity of 1.5 million barrels every day. Syria-Iraq, Economics, 3/20/2002
- Iraq, Sudan sign free trade zone agreement
Ramadhan said signing this agreement is a new step towards boosting and developing relations between Iraq and Sudan, and building joint Arab market and comprehensive Arab economic unity. Sudan-Iraq, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Ebeid highlights cooperation between government and citizens
Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid yesterday stressed the importance of cooperation between citizens and the government to overcome challenges facing national action in the coming stage Egypt, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Euro use as single currency calls for reconsidering monetary policies
Addressing the opening session of a symposium held under the title "The Euro and the European Monetary Policy", Goweili anticipated that the euro would have a positive effect on the Arab monetary markets. Regional-European Union, Economics, 3/20/2002
- Belgian organizations call for boycotting Israeli goods
Three non- governmental Belgian organizations have called on the Belgium consumers to boycott the Israeli goods in protest of the European silence concerning the Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. Israel-Belgium, Economics, 3/20/2002
- Cheney: I'll meet Arafat is he implements Tenet plan fully
Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon set a precondition for permitting Arafat to attend the next Beirut's summit to implement the Tenet's plan. Sharon said "I will prevent Arafat from returning back in case Palestinian operations will take place during his absence or if he gives statements which Israel sees as a provocation to violence." Palestine-USA, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Israel continue killing, arrests; Israeli officer killed, three wounded in a Jordan Valley operation
the chairman of Jerusalem municipality Shemon Shtreet criticized the statements made by the UN secretary general Kofi Annan in which he stressed that the military operations in which the Israeli army used warship and planes against the Palestinian camps and cities are but a "traditional war." Palestine-Israel, Military, 3/20/2002
- Talibani describes his visit to Syria as positive
The chairman of the Kurdistani national federation Jalal al-Talibani has described the contacts he had made with the Syrian officials as very positive. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Iraqi- Russian cooperation
The Iraqi oil minister Amer Rasheed has announced that Russia and Iraq are considered two main strategic partners. Iraq-Russia, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Israeli traders boycott European Union goods
The Israeli chamber of commerce has decided to boycott the goods produced by the European Union EU member states, in protest of what it called the bias of these countries to the Arab states. Israel-European Union, Economics, 3/20/2002
- Economic stability basic to security; tax evasion
Adly said the ministry would not disregard any violation by policemen in dealing with citizens Egypt, Economics, 3/20/2002
- Arab leaders will adopt brave stances in Beirut summit
The outcome of the summit will represent a heading for the coming stage, and will be a significant turn in Arab action. Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Moussa: Arabs to back ME land-for-peace plan in Beirut
The Arab League will back a land-for-peace plan at its upcoming summit in an effort to halt spiralling violence in the Middle East, the organisation's Secretary-General Amr Moussa said yesterday. Regional-Israel, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Yemeni demonstration in support of the Palestinian Intifada, Iraq
A massive demonstration that condemned "the brutal acts committed by the Israeli forces against the unarmed Palestinian people in the occupied territories" was held in the Yemeni city of Taaz. Yemen-Regional, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Declaration of Barcelona on the middle east Regional-European Union, Politics, 3/20/2002
- Bin Laden's brother denies his brother Osma having kidney Failure
Osama bin Laden's brother ( from his mother's side ) has denied news that his brother (Osama) to be in a deteriorated health condition or that he is suffering of any disease in his kidney that required having kidney cleansing operations. Saudi Arabia, Local, 3/20/2002
- Egypt's Five-year plan of 2002/2007 worth LE 362.7 billion
A senior government official yesterday estimated that the total investment requirement for the next five-year-plan (2002/2007) would be LE 362.7 billion, with an annual average investment of LE 73.5 billion, and a yearly growth rate of six per cent. Egypt, Economics, 3/20/2002
- US congresswoman seeks US enforcement of human rights treaties, stoning is cruel
US Representative Betty McCollum (Democrat of Minnesota) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives March 14 that condemns the practice of stoning as a form of execution for crimes Regional, Culture, 3/20/2002
- Establishing a framework for a dialogue of civilizations
He says: Introduction: Unity, Diversity and Hope We are living in a world where borders have collapsed, as has our traditional conceptions of space, time and distance. Cultures and communities are exposed and interact with one another in unprecedented ways as a result of revolutions in information, and we are discovering that our fates and futures increasingly depend on one another Regional, Culture, 3/20/2002
- UK confident about Egypt's investment climate
Since starting operations here British firms have injected up to $15bn into the oil and natural gas sector, he said. Egypt-UK, Economics, 3/20/2002
- Advisory Board on Community Outreach and Marketing formed to promote integrated e-Government services
the board has laid down a detailed plan of action which ensures that 70 per cent of transactions will be conducted electronically by 2005. United Arab Emirates, Local, 3/20/2002
Short Takes
- Member of the Syrian parliament Mamoun al-Homsi today was sentenced for five year imprisonment by a court in Damascus. The sentence was taken under accusations addressed to al-Homsi of attempts to changing the constitution be illegal means. Go
- President of Sudan Omar Hassan al-Bashir said that Sudan believes that the Security Council would not stipulate a resolution to lift the embargo on Iraq. But this embargo should be lifted in effect by Arabs. The Arab Nation needs Iraq to be strong and unified as it represents a basic support to defend the Arab Nation’s security, he said, INA reported today. Go
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday received a telephone call from the Libyan President Muaammar al-Qaddafi during which they discussed current developments in preparations for convening the next Arab summit in Beirut. Go
- The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa has announced that the first Arab economic conference which was called upon by the Amman summit will be held on June 16 in Cairo. Moussa added in a statement he made on Tuesday in Cairo that the conference will include the Arab ministers of the economy and commerce and businessmen in the Arab states and several Arab organizations with the aim to accelerate the foundation of the free trade Organization in a preparation to establish the common Arab market and revitalizing of the common economic work. Go
- The chairman of the Saudi Shoura council Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Hameed has refused the proposal made by the chairman of the Israeli Knesset to meet together on the sideline of deliberations of the International Parliamentary Union, currently held in Marrakesh to discuss the Saudi initiative. Go
- Libyan President Muaammar al-Qaddafi on Tuesday in a telephone call discussed with President of Lesotho Kingdom several African issues, foremost being means of strengthening the African federation and building its establishments and institutions. Go
- The chairman of the Saudi Shoura council Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Hameed on Tuesday in al-Riyadh met with the British minister of state at the foreign office and the official in charge for the Middle East affairs Bin Bradshaw. The two sides reviewed several issues pertaining to cooperation between the Saudi Shoura council and the British House of commons ( parliament) and other issues of mutual concern to the two countries. Go
- The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Tuesday received a telephone call from the US Vice President Dick Cheney. The Saudi news agency said that during the telephone call view points were exchanged on current conditions in the region and certain issues of mutual concern between the two countries. Go
- The United Arab Emirates UAE team specialized in dismantling landmines and in collaboration with the British Battle company are identifying mines left behind the Israeli forces before their withdrawal from south Lebanon, in the two area of Saff al-Hawa and Konin in Bint Jbil district and defused part of these mines. Go
- The ministers of the economy and commerce in the European and Mediterranean states on Tuesday started their meeting in Toledo, Italy. They discussed the issue of cooperation between the European and Mediterranean states and means of developing their partnership. Go
- A western diplomatic source said on Tuesday that Yemen will organize during the three coming months in the south eastern part of the country military maneuvers with the US and Britain. Go
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