Today's Headlines
- Bahrain: large participation in complementary municipal elections
The Bahraini voters on Thursday headed for the voting ballots to choose 20 members in the second session of the municipal elections in Bahrain for which no candidates of women, nor the national trends had won and was limited to candidates from the Sunni, Shiite, Islamic and independent trends. Bahrain, Politics, 5/17/2002
- People's Assembly discuss industrial and government modernization
Since 1991 Egypt has consistently pursued the transition from a state-controlled economy to free market principles, and achieved financial stability and a high GDP growth. Egypt, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Jordan sentences Toujan al-Faisal to 18 months for speaking out
Toujan who was wearing the prison's costume said to her daughter (Diana) when she started crying "do not be afraid I will restore back my freedom very soon." Jordan, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Yemeni journalist to be jailed for 8 months
A Yemeni court on Wednesday issued a sentence that suspends from working the Yemeni journalist Seif Muhammad Ahmad al-Hadiri, chief editor of the Yemeni weekly al-Shomou' ( the candles) and to fine him by 10,000 Yemeni riyals because he issued the weekly following a decision from the ministry of the information to suspend it "temporarily" because its renewal file has not completed yet. Yemen, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Mubarak and Al Bashir agreed on expanding Egyptian-Sudanese cooperation
President Bashir said "It was important to exchange views to realise coordination between the two countries at the political and economic levels and cooperation in all fields in view of the fact that the two countries have joint higher interests," Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Invitated by Miro, Sudan's vice president arrives in Damascus tomorrow
At the invitation of the Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro, Sudan's vice President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha will arrived in Damascus tomorrow in a visit to Syria during which he will preside over the Sudanese side to the meetings of the joint Sudanese - Syrian higher committee which will be held in Damascus. Syria-Sudan, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Arab industrial strategy and action plan; total budget is 7 million
The session looked into a project to set up an Arab fund to support and promote industrial technologies and back research centers Regional, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Ruler of Qatar to Ivory Coast, several agreements signed
The ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani has commended the stances taken by the Arab states with the African states especially regarding the Arab- Israeli conflict. Qatar-Regional, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Arab foreign ministers to meet today in Beirut
The Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud has announced that the foreign ministers of the countries of the Arab peace initiative will be meeting today in Beirut and they will listen to reports from Arab ministers who visited Washington in order to give a real picture on the American stand concerning debated issues. Regional-Lebanon, Politics, 5/17/2002
- King Mohammed VI a very modern king, leading his country toward democracy and modernity, US ambassador Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Technological cooperation talks with France
"Joint industrial, electronic and developmental projects will be established with our Egyptian counterparts and French firms will contribute to upgrading local industry and transfer agricultural expertise to support the performance of agricultural research centres," said Boya. Egypt-France, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Al-Shara meets with EU ambassadors accredited in Damascus
The Syrian Foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Thursday met with the ambassadors of the EU member states accredited in Damascus. The meeting was attended by the deputy foreign minister Mrs. Siba Nasser and the EU head of delegation in Damascus Marc Pierini. Syria-European Union, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Visiting Italian president meets Moroccan officials
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who started on Tuesday an official visit to Morocco, met on Wednesday with Moroccan premier and with speakers of the two parliamentary chambers. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Cabinet reviews Middle East peace, economic performance
The Egyptian Cabinet Under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid resumes discussions on strategy of export during the coming period, new programs to increase exports, and opening new markets for Egyptian exports. Egypt, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Maher to hand message from Mubarak to Putin
Egyptian SForeign Minister Ahmed Maher will visit Russia on Thursday to hand a message from President Hosni Mubarak to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Egypt-Russia, Politics, 5/17/2002
- UN envoy upbeat oslo process still valid, despite standstill
Terje Roed-Larsen, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said "Ten years later the process of Oslo has collapsed; the institutions it gave birth to are shattered and almost destroyed, and the spirit that fuelled it is being drowned out by violence, recriminations and distrust." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Arafat and rebuilding of Jenin
The chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Yasser Arafat has appointed Azzam al-Ahmad, member of the PA, as member in the committee for rebuilding Jenin camp for the Palestinian refugees. Palestine, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Solana: Palestinian elections this year; Larsen: The UN might replace the Palestinian Authority
The UN special envoy to the Middle East Terry Rod Larsen on Wednesday in Oslo noted the possibility that the UN might replace the Palestinian Authority in case security will not be established in the region. Palestine, Politics, 5/17/2002
- President Chirac meets Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid
President Jacques Chirac of France received on Thursday in Paris Prince Moulay Rachid, younger brother of King Mohammed VI. Morocco-France, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Modern training for police at new school dedicated by King Mohammed
The king toured the various pavilions of the school and heard explanations on the modern training it offers. Morocco, Judicial, 5/17/2002
- Amended UN sanctions against Iraq for review in six month
The Iraqi minister of information Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf said that "Iraq will deal with UN Security Council resolution 1409 taken by the council in regard to renewing work according to the memorandum of understanding for an additional 6 months." Iraq, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Austria praises Mubarak's role
Austrian Foreign Minister Benita-Maria Ferrero Waldnder praised the pivotal role played by Egypt and President Mubarak from the beginning of the peace march till now. Egypt-Austria, Politics, 5/17/2002
- US-Egypt free trade zone soon
The agreement on a free trade zone between Egypt and USA is due on 7 June, when US trade representative, Robert Zolick will be visiting Cairo. Egypt-USA, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Spanish former premier calls for Spain-Morocco mutual respect, lauds Morocco's efforts for democracy
The 5th Moroccan-Spanish Journalists conference, held May 14-15 in Seville, agreed Wednesday on a honest and sincere dialogue to bring the two peoples closer. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Egyptian-British talks to boost economic and banking cooperation
The Egyptian-British talks dealt with means to promote cooperation between Egypt and Alexandria in the various economic, trade and service domains. Egypt-UK, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Arafat's decision to reform PA courageous
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher Wednesday said that the announcement made by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Wednesday was a natural outcome of an important phase of national struggle. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 5/17/2002
- Israeli forces incur in Ramullah, kills one Palestinian army officer
The Israeli occupation forces on Thursday broke into two areas in Ramullah city in the West Bank after the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon whose party, the Likud, refused the idea of the Palestinian state, said that he expects the foundation of Palestinian state by the ultimate end, but after long negotiations. Palestine-Israel, Military, 5/17/2002
- UN agencies cost estimates of Israel's recent destruction of Palestinian property
Recent Israeli military attacks on the West Bank have caused $361 million in damages, according to new figures released today by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank and the Government of Norway. Palestine, Economics, 5/17/2002
- Algeria: 35 killed or wounded, three police men assassinated
The Algerian official news agency announced that five persons were killed and at least other 30 wounded in a bomb explosion in Tuesday in the weekly market in Tazmalt (in Bajayyah district), 260 Km to the east of the capital Algiers. Algeria, Local, 5/17/2002
- Mrs. Mubarak visits British library Egypt-UK, Local, 5/17/2002
Short Takes
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Libyan counterpart Muammar Gaddafi reviewed in a phone call Wednesday "the situation in occupied Palestine and means to bolster the Palestinian people's steadfastness in the face of the incessant Zionist aggression." Go
- Syrian deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara on Thursday received a phone call from the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa during which consultations dealt with latest developments in the Arab arena especially the first meeting of the Arab peace initiative composed during the recent Arab summit conference held in march in Beirut. The committee will be held May 17 and 18 (today and tomorrow) in Beirut. Go
- President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi of Italy on Thursday called for more rapprochement between the two banks of the Mediterranean. The economic and demographic gap between the two banks of the Mediterranean is so wide that rapprochement has become a necessity to ensure a lasting stability in the region, Ciampi said in a lecture at the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco. Italy believes that the Mediterranean area should be at the centre of interest for the European Union, he said, adding that prosperity in the region goes through an awareness of the shared dangers and challenges. Go
- The world conference on the Middle East in the world security policies was opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. It is organized by Zayed's center for coordination and follow up with the Arab League in order to discuss regional and international issues of concern to the Arab condition and the future of the Arab region under international developments following US September incidents. Go
- European Union Security and International Policy Chief Javier Solana warned on Wednesday the Israelis who rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state existing side by side with an Israeli state. He said that such Israeli rejection was part of the past and encouraged the parties that cast doubt on the legitimacy of Israel's existence. Go
- A Brussels appeals court said yesterday it would rule on June 26 whether Belgium has the right to prosecute Israeli leader Ariel Sharon for war crimes over a 1982 massacre of Palestinian refugees. "The decision will be taken on June 26," appeals court spokesman Guy Delvoie told reporters. Go
- A Palestinian official told the AFP that the Islamic Hamas resistance movement vowed to Saudi Arabia, who is leading the Arab initiative for peace, to stop its "martyrdom operations" inside Israel. Go
- Bangladeshi minister of commerce will visit Morocco next June, heading a business delegation, the Moroccan federation of commerce, industry and services chambers said. The visit was announced at a meeting in Rabat Wednesday between federation president, Aabdellah Zouhir, and Bangladesh ambassador to Morocco, Mohammed Anouar Hussein. Go
- Chairman of Kuwait's "national committee for the prisoners and missing" Sheikh Salem al-Sabah will arrive in Cairo today on head of a delegation in a visit which lasts for three days during which he will hold talks with high ranking Egyptian officials dealing with the problem of the Kuwaiti prisoners which Kuwait alleges are held by Iraq, numbering 506 prisoners. Go
- Chinese health minister, Zhang Wenkang, arrived in Rabat Thursday for a four-day visit to Morocco, at the invitation of his Moroccan peer, Thami El Khyari. The visit aims at fostering bilateral cooperation in the field of healthcare, the Chinese minister told the press upon arrival. Go
- The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) mission working at Moustafa Kamel archeological area in Alexandria managed to unearth rock-hewn tombs dating back to the Ptolemaic era. Go
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