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Today's Headlines
- On al-Sharaa's visit to Moscow
Al-Sharaa added, "However, Syria is defending herself and does not intend to launch aggressions against anyone. But what is taking place around us, proves the bad intentions of others around us. Israel occupies part of our lands and is maintaining armament rapidly and frequently launch threats, which make it necessary to us to be provided with what is necessary for defending ourselves." Syria, Politics, 2/18/99 - Al-Ibrahimi in Riyadh: detente between Taleban and Iran
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Wednesday in Riyadh received the UN secretary general's special envoy for Afghanistan, al-Akhar al-Ibrahimi. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/18/99 - Seven Egyptian electricity companies to be raised for sale
Egyptian Minister of Electricity Maher Abaza said that a percentage of seven Egyptian electricity companies' shares will be raised for general subscription (stocks). Egypt, Economics, 2/18/99 - Eight new agreements between Egypt and Belgium
Egyptian Minister of Trade Ahmed Goweili told ArabicNews.com that these agreements include establishing a joint company in Egypt and Belgium for developing the commercial exchange and cooperation agreement Egypt, Economics, 2/18/99 - Iraqi FM in Yemen, talk of containing crisis with Arab states
Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf on Wednesday started an official visit to Sanaa. Al-Sahaf's visit falls in the context of a tour he is making to the countries of the Arab Maghreb and Sudan. Iraq, Politics, 2/18/99 - Iraqi Kurdish delegation in Tehran
A large Iraqi Kurdish delegation continued its visit to Tehran and meetings with Iranian officials and politicians and with the Iraqi opposition in Tehran. Iraq, Politics, 2/18/99 - Saudi Arabia and Morocco determined to enhance economic relations
Talks focused on ways of intensifying and diversifying economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries.The Moroccan and Saudi officials agreed to increase investments, foster contacts between the two states' private sectors, lower all obstacles hampering the development of trade exchanges and enhance air-sea links. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 2/18/99 - Iraq expects a large scale US aggression on its territories
The Iraqi daily Babel has stated that it expects the US to launch a large-scale attack on Iraq within the coming weeks. Iraq, Politics, 2/18/99 - Tunisian minister of defense visits Qatar and Kuwait
Tunisian Minister of Defense Habib bin Yehia began yesterday visits to Qatar and Kuwait, carrying communiques to their rulers from Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin bin Ali concerning the recent developments between Iraq and the United Nations. Tunisia, Politics, 2/18/99 - Lahoud briefs Lebanese Cabinet on results of his visit to Damascus
In a Cabinet meeting held in Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud briefed the Cabinet members on the results of talks he recently held in Damascus with President Hafez al-Assad. Lebanon, Politics, 2/18/99 - El-Mahdi criticizes El-Turabi's statements regarding Egyptian relations
Former Sudanese Prime Minister El-Sadek El-Mahdi, chief of the Sudanese opposition Ummah Party, stated that the perception by some Sudanese politicians like Parliament Speaker Hassan El-Turabi of Sudanese - Egyptian relations is "narrow." Sudan, Politics, 2/18/99 - Ocalan capture: Mossad kills 3 Kurds in Berlin
Turkish television on Wednesday showed Ocalan tied to a chair on board a private plane which took him from Kenya to Turkey. The Turkish authorities on the other hand, prevented Ocalan's lawyers from entering Turkish territories upon their arrival in Istanbul on Tuesday night from Holland. Regional, Politics, 2/18/99 - UN pays $84 million to victims of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait Kuwait, Economics, 2/18/99
- Lockerbie incident in a crucial phase
The Egyptian ambassador to the UN, Nabeel al-Arabai, stressed on Wednesday that three UN Security Council permanent member states promised to oppose any extension for the sanctions imposed on Libya, if the US and Britain try to extend these sanctions after handing over the two suspected Libyans. Libya, Politics, 2/18/99 - Yemen praises good relations with Saudi Arabia
Yemeni Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal has described Yemeni-Saudi relations as good and developing on all levels. Yemen, Politics, 2/18/99 - 4.7 million tourists visited Tunis
Tunisian Minister of Tourism Salah El-Din Moawi who is currently visiting Cairo said that the Tunisian tourism market was able to attract 4.7 million tourists to visit Tunisia, who spent nearly $2 billion and among whom were one million German tourists while the rest were mostly from Europe. Tunisia, Economics, 2/18/99 - Morocco and Croatia agree to boost trade exchanges
Morocco and croatia agreed Wednesday to develop and diversify their trade exchanges and economic cooperation. Morocco, Economics, 2/18/99 - Maltese commercial delegation to visit Cairo
20 Maltese businessmen are to visit Cairo starting from Saturday through Monday, marketing their products as well as finding agents, importers and distributors. Egypt, Business, 2/18/99 - Jordan: No disputes with Israel on water
The Jordanian embassy in Cairo announced today that there are no disputes with Israel on providing Jordan with the water from Tabria lake. Jordan, Economics, 2/18/99 - Some 3,500 Iraqi, Sudanese refugees in Lebanon
Chairman of the UN protection department at the United Nations High Comission on Refugees in Geneva, Dennis MacNamar, said there are 2,500 refugees from Sudan, Iraq and other countries in Lebanon, to which the organization provides aid estimated at US $2 million per year. Lebanon, Local, 2/18/99 - Jordanian prisoners flee, two policemen killed
A high-ranking Jordanian security source said on Wednesday that two policemen were killed by prisoners who were being taken by the prison's car from the state security court in Amman to Sawaqqa prison, in southern Jordan. Jordan, Local, 2/18/99 - Ethiopian warplanes bombard Harsala city in Eritrea Ethiopia, Military, 2/18/99
Short Takes
- A United Nation's secretary general envoy began a visit to Morocco to hold talks with Moroccan officials. Meanwhile, Moroccan diplomatic sources said that the talks will handle specification of implementing agreements to accelerate the implementation of Sahara referendum. Go
- It was announced in Tel Aviv on Wednesday that speaker of the Turkish Parliament Hekmet Citin will visit Israel by the beginning of March, Israel Radio said. The report said that this visit comes at the invitation of the chairman of the Israeli Knesset, Dan Tichon. The radio gave no further explanations on the visit's objectives. Go
- Bahraini Emir Sheikh Issa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa on Wednesday in Manama received the US Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzing and members of his accompanying delegation, currently visiting Bahrain. Go
- Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Wednesday received a message from the Senegal's President Abdou Diouf. The message was delivered by Senegalese Justice Minister Serigne Diop during his meeting with Sheikh Jaber on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Kuwaiti leader met with the Sheikh of al-Azhar mosque in Egypt, Muhammad Sayed Tantawi. Go
- Chairman of the higher Shiite Islamic council in Lebanon Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Shamseddine met during his visit Tuesday to Damascus with Col. Bashar al-Assad and reviewed with him the questions of Arab solidarity and Arab-Islamic solidarity in confrontation of requirements of the current phase on the regional and international levels. Go
- The second secretary for the Saudi prime minister and minister of defense and aviation Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz on Wednesday received a message from Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon. Go
- Egyptian Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagi held yesterday discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart to discuss the touristm potentials of Egypt and increase cooperation in the field of tourism, as well as reviewing Egyptian tourism projects and the plan to upgrade the infrastructure of the Egyptian tourism sector that resulted in a jump in tourism development projects in Egypt. Go
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry refused yesterday Iraq's threats against Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and it expressed its opposition to any new escalation in the area. The Iranian news agency quoted the official spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamid Reda Asfi, as saying that Iran opposes any new tensions in the area and refuses any threat against neighboring countries. Syria agrees to pay damages for attack on U.S. Embassy Owner of bombed Sudan factory wants site back Hamas spiritual leader hospitalized for chest pains Bin Laden Location Still a Mystery Kurds Say More Violence Possible Kurds warn that Ocalan capture could inspire more violence Once bustling Eritrean port town withers under shadow of war Three Greek cabinet ministers resign over Ocalan affair Irish U.N. soldier in Lebanon dies in gun accident Kenya Reshuffles Cabinet Go
Yesterday's Headlines
- Lebanon - Egypt free trade area agreement ratified by parliament
- King Hassan II calls greater human rights awareness in the Arab states
- Syrian Foreign Minister conveys a message from al-Assad to Yeltsin
- El-Baz: Egypt - Jordan relations are close
- Syrian - Iraqi contacts to contain crisis followed Arab FMs meeting
- $130 million from UAE to support Jordanian king
- Moussa: Agreement is near for settling Lockerbie incident
- Contacts to prepare for a meeting between Hawatemah and Arafat
- Egyptian president confers with British trade minister
- Iraq's Aziz speaks on Turkey, the siege on Iraq
- Saudi Arabia receives prominent Moroccan economic delegation
- Moroccan parliament is slow in drafting laws says official from the executive
- France, Qatar carry out joint military exercises
- Egypt reject four Israeli requests to free convicted spy
- Saudi dailies and Saddam's threats
- Swedish Ericsson company implements projects in Syria
- Abdul Meguid intends to resume efforts to solve Kuwait captives issue
- International Muslim village to be built in Indonesia
- U.S Congress staffers visit Moroccan Sahara
- Bin Laden is still in Afghanistan
- Saudi airlines to carry 25,000 Indonesian pilgrims
- Continued Israeli aggressions against Lebanon, one Israeli soldier killed
- Algeria refuses to host meeting of Mediterranean committee of International Socialist
- Belgian group ready to assist Morocco renovate its railway network