Today's Headlines
- Iran: Relations with Syria historic and remarkable
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi has described relations between Syria and Iran as historical and remarkable. In a televised statement on Thursday in Tehran, the Iranian foreign minister said, "Syria is a very important country and it stands in the forefront in confrontation with Israel." Regional-Iran, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Decision of the Palestinian central council meeting
The central council of the Palestine Liberation Organization has concluded its session but without taking a decision pertaining the declaration of sovereign state. It considered itself to be in an "open session" and that it will convene a general session in June following the Israeli elections. Palestine, Politics, 4/30/1999
- UN chief recommends additional extension of MINURSO mandate, a new referendum date
In a report released Thursday, the UN secretary general set July 2000 as a new date for the referendum and submitted a revised time-table for all operations related to the referendum. Morocco, Politics, 4/30/1999
- UNRWA donor countries meet in Amman
An unofficial meeting of major donor countries and host governments for the Palestinian refugees started in Amman on Wednesday with the participation of some 26 Arab and foreign countries including Syria. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 4/30/1999
- UNRWA's donor countries increase financial contributions
The organization's commissioner general, Peter Hansen, told reporters in a press conference that UNRWA, which provides services to some 3.5 million Palestinian refugees, is still in a difficult financial condition despite the tough measures it has taken. Regional-Palestine, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Libyan leader announces his country to hold meetings with Washington and London
Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi told the Saudi daily "Okaz" that his country would hold talks with the USA and Britain to settle "pending issues." Libya-USA, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Hamas ready to join a government when Palestinian state is established
The Palestinian Hamas movement has expressed its readiness to take part in the general elections and to join to a government when a Palestinian state is established. Palestine, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Jospin shortens visit to Cairo because of Kosovo
Sources in the French embassy in Cairo said that France has decided to shorten the work program of the visit by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin to Cairo, which starts tomorrow, to two days instead of three. Egypt, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Mauritanian president: Arabization of education isolates the country
He continued that the "Arabized educational curricula isolates us, and the one who is isolated is a hopeless case." He asserted that the objective now is to be able to have command of "sciences and technology in the age of globalization." Mauritania, Politics, 4/30/1999
- One Israeli soldier wounded in south Lebanon
An Israeli security source said on Thursday that one Israeli soldier was wounded in his leg during a confrontation that erupted near a military site on the border of the area occupied by Israel in south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 4/30/1999
- Moroccan premier pleads for friendly settlement to Sebta and Melillia issue
The Moroccan premier pleaded for a friendly settlement to the issue of Sebta and Melillia, two Moroccan northern cities still under Spanish rule. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Morocco and Spain pledge to give new momentum to bilateral relations
Morocco and Spain pledged to give a new momentum to their relations and to seek the appropriate mechanisms to enhance bilateral cooperation in all areas. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Some 20 Iraqis wounded in American raids
An Iraqi military spokesman said on Thursday that some 20 Iraqis were wounded in air raids launched by the US warplanes on Thursday on the northern and southern parts of Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Officials of Mideast, North Africa regions discuss inter-Arab tourism
Tourism officials in the Middle East and North Africa regions are discussing ways of activating inter-Arab tourism during their 18th meeting which opened this Friday at the Syrian capital. Regional-Syria, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Iraqi opens dam on the Tigris tributary
Iraq on Wednesday opened a huge dam on one of the tributaries of the Tigris river at a total cost of US $10 million. Work started in the dam, 180 km northwest of Baghdad in 1996. More than 2000 Iraq engineers, technicians and workers took part in the construction of the dam. Iraq-Russia, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Ehud Barak in Jordan on Sunday
Jordanian official sources expected that Jordan's King Abdullah is to meet with leader of the Israeli Labor Party and candidate for Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak on Sunday. Jordan, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Moroccan-Yemeni joint cooperation commission meets in Rabat
The Moroccan-Yemeni joint cooperation commission opened works in Rabat on Thursday to look into ways of enhancing partnership between the two Arab states. Morocco-Yemen, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Four offers to develop Saudi communications network
Four international companies that work in communications presented offers to develop the telephone network in Saudi Arabia over two years at a cost of $6 billion to provide more than two million lines. Saudi Arabia, Business, 4/30/1999
- Jordanian, French chambers maintain cooperation
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Paris on Thursday signed in Amman a cooperation agreement with the Jordanian Trade Chambers Federation. Jordan-France, Economics, 4/30/1999
- European Union stops imports of Egyptian peanuts
The commissariat of the European Union in Cairo yesterday formally notified the Egyptian government the stoppage of imports of Egyptian peanuts, due to harmful chemicals which cause cancer. Egypt-European Union, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Free trade agreement between Lebanon and Yemen
A Yemen trade delegation concluded a visit to Beirut yesterday, after economic discussions with Lebanese businessmen. Lebanon-Yemen, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Egypt: Nile water will not go to any country outside the basin
Egyptian Minister of Public Works and Water Resources Mahmud Abu Zied said that the Nile water will not go to any country outside the Nile basin. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Leader of the Islamic Jihad directs criticism to Hamas
The leader of the Islamic movement in the Palestinian territories, Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, directed indirect criticism to the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, due to participation of its spiritual guide, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin on Wednesday in opening the central council's meeting as a supervisor. Palestine, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Egyptian - Indian partnership agreement signed
The new Egyptian - Indian commercial partnership agreement was signed with initial letters between the two countries. Egypt-India, Politics, 4/30/1999
- Holland finances Egyptian projects on B.O.T system
Many Dutch corporations decided to finance many Egyptian projects on the B.O.T (build-operate-transfer) system, the most prominent of which are establishing a wind-powered electricity station with an annual output of 300 megawatts as well as establishing a commercial harbor in the El-Ein El-Sokhna area on the Red Sea. Egypt-Netherlands, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Water basins found around Amman
Photos taken by Russian satellites of Jordan showed that there are large water basins surrounding the Jordanian capital Amman. Jordan, Economics, 4/30/1999
- German banks and companies search for investment opportunities in Egypt
The Federal Union of German Industries (BDI) along with German Companies for Investment and Development (DEG) called on the Egyptian government to seeking to have a German partner to establish mutual projects with the aim of exporting to German markets. Egypt-Germany, Economics, 4/30/1999
- Reviving the agreement of Middle East's bank
ArabicNews.com learned that the United States is currently making intensive diplomatic communications in the Middle East area to revive the project of the bank for economic cooperation and development in the Middle East. Regional-USA, Economics, 4/30/1999
Short Takes
- The committee for facilitating trade exchange between Egypt and Libya is to hold its second session in Cairo on Monday, lasting for three days to discuss a cooperation protocol between trade ministers in the two states, the head of trade representative body affiliated to the Egyptian Ministry of Trade, Alaa Khalil, told ArabicNews.com. He added that Libya has approved the draft protocol, but he reserved judgement on some of its items, pointing out that they will also discuss setting up a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two countries and to establish a free trade zone between them. Go
- Syrian Deputy Commander in Chief, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass met on Thursday with the two directors of the signals and the electronic war departments at the Russian armed forces. The Syrian minister also received later in the day deputy director of international military cooperation at the Russian Defense Ministry. Go
- Morocco has suppressed visa requirements for Kuwaiti nationals wishing to visit Morocco, the Kuwaiti news agency, KUNA, reported. The decision came into effect as of Wednesday (April 28), KUNA said, quoting the Moroccan embassy in Kuwait City. Go
- Official Jordanian sources and Jordanian diplomatic sources in Tehran said on Thursday in statements to reporters that the political advisor to the Jordanian King, Adnan Abu Odeh, will arrive in Tehran on Saturday, carrying a written message from King Abdullah Bin Hussein to Iranian President Muhammad Khatami. Go
- US State Department Spokesman James Rubin said yesterday that the US is "very pleased that there's a step forward in Libya's actions" and reiterated that representatives of the US would be present, along with Libyan and British representatives, at an upcoming meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss Libya's compliance with UN resolutions. Go
- US State Department spokesman James Rubin said yesterday that the US welcomes the Palestinian decision to delay a decision on making a unilateral announcement of a Palestinian state at the Oslo accords' expiration on May 4 until after May 17 Israeli elections. Go
- The UN Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution by consensus on human rights assistance to Somalia calling on all parties in Somalia to respect human rights and abide by international humanitarian law and protect UN personnel, humanitarian workers and representatives from NGOs and the media. Go
- Morocco will host next May 2-7 a colloquy on the standardization of Arab cooperatives' regulations. The event, to be attended by cooperative managers and executives of several cooperatives, will review the different laws governing cooperatives in the Arab world and the possibility of setting up a data bank for the exchange of experiences in management, marketing, accountancy, quality control and development of human resources. Go
- The Yemeni news agency, Sabaa, has reported that Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal received an invitation on Thursday to visit Kuwait in the context of the "normalization process between the two countries." Go
- Deputy Spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry Sarmad Atajni on Thursday described the cooperation protocol signed on Wednesday in Damascus during the visit of a Turkish technical delegation at the Ministry of Transport as a positive step in improving relations between Syria and Turkey in the service of the two countries. Go
- Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon has asserted that the postponement in declaring Palestinian statehood is an Israeli achievement. Israel Radio quoted Sharon as saying on Wednesday that the adherence of the Israeli government to its political opposition to the declaration of the Palestinian state has foiled any gain that might be attained by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in this respect. Go
- Saudi Minister of Industry and Electricity Hashem Yamani on Wednesday in Riyadh held a round of talks with New Zealand's foreign minister and members of the accompanying delegation, currently visiting Saudi Arabia. Go
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