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Today's Headlines
- Mubarak receives a phone call from the Jordanian king
Jordanian diplomatic sources said that King Abdullah discussed during the two calls the development of the situation in Iraq and the imposed siege on it and the probability of convening an Arab summit during coming month. Jordan, Politics, 5/5/99 - Qatar will raise the case of UAE during Khatami's visit to Doha
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Hassem Bin Jabir said that his country will raise the issue of the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over three Gulf Islands during the discussions to be held during the anticipated visit of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to Doha next week. Qatar, Politics, 5/5/99 - Arafat confirms that Palestinian state is to be proclaimed soon
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said that the Palestinian state will still exist and its strong pillars will be established on the Palestinian lands. Palestine, Politics, 5/5/99 - Ministerial committees to strengthen cooperation between Tehran, Manama
The governments of Iran and Bahrain on Tuesday announced the establishment of two committees to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Bahrain, Politics, 5/5/99 - Lebanese president to visit Jordan
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud will head at the beginning of next week to Jordan for an official visit, the first since he assumed his post, to answer an invitation presented by Jordan's King Abdullah Bin Hussien. Lebanon, Politics, 5/5/99 - Egyptian efforts to solve Sudanese problem
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa held a meeting yesterday evening with the leader of the Sudanese Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed Otham El-Merghany, who said after the meeting that they tackled the Sudanese problem and Egypt's efforts to solve it. Egypt, Politics, 5/5/99 - Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan
A Jordanian weekly said in its recent issue that a state of "concern" is prevailing among the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood members in Jordan over the consequences of the increased closeness between Amman and Damascus on them. Jordan, Politics, 5/5/99 - Kuwaiti Nation's Council to be dissolved for elections following controversy
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jabir Ahmed al-Sabah issued a decree to dissolve the Nation's Council. The Kuwaiti news agency said yesterday evening that the decree includes calling on voters to elect a new council on July 3. Kuwait, Politics, 5/5/99 - Preparations for the Tunisian elections
The ruling RCD started an early election campaign in the recent weeks by collecting the support of public organizations, vocational, social and cultural associations for its list, seeking to maintain the first position. Tunisia, Politics, 5/5/99 - Damascus welcomes Khatami's tour of the region
Damascus welcomed the coming tour of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to the region which will begin with a visit to Syria. Syria, Politics, 5/5/99 - Solidarity conference with the Iraqi people
Iraq on Tuesday officially asked the UN not to cut one third of its oil revenues to pay compensation to victims of the Gulf crisis. In a message sent by Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Iraq said: "The government of Iraq assures that the 40% according to which compensations are cut is unfair, and constitutes a violation of the human rights of the Iraqi citizens, especially their right to survive." Iraq, Politics, 5/5/99 - Ministers of finance in Gulf states to convene on Saturday in Riyadh
Ministers of finance and national economy in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council will convene at the GCC general trusteeship in Riyadh on Saturday the meetings of the 50th session of the financial and economical cooperation committee affiliated to the council. Gulf, Economics, 5/5/99 - Iranian invitation to Jordanian Parliament
Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament Abdul Hadi al-Majali on Tuesday received a message from the chairman of the Iranian Shoura council, Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri. Jordan, Politics, 5/5/99 - Syrian al-Badia festival witnesses great turnout
United Arab Emirates Defense Minister and Dubai Crown Prince Lt. Gen. Muhammad Bin Rashed al-Maktoum together with his three sons arrived in Palmyra (Tadmor) in the heart of the Syrian desert, where events of the annual al-Badia (desert) festival are being held. Syria, Culture, 5/5/99 - Iranian spiritual guide meets with Saudi defense minister
The spiritual guide of the Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Tuesday received Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral cooperation relations between the two countries and their positive impact on general conditions in the region and the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 5/5/99 - Egypt, New Zealand officials discuss WTO election, trade
Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Nagi El-Fotairi received New Zealand's ambassador in Cairo, David Payton. Egypt, Economics, 5/5/99 - Syria denies contacts with Israel over Arnoun
The Lebanese daily al-Safir said that high-ranking Syrian diplomatic sources have denied having made contacts with Israel, especially concerning the occupied Lebanese town of Arnoun. Syria, Politics, 5/5/99 - Eritrean president concludes talks in Sanaa
Eritrean President Assyas Afworki left Sanaa on Monday following two-day talks with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh centered on means of settling the current disputes between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Yemen, Politics, 5/5/99 - Interparliamentary head speaks on importance of Parliaments, UN reform
Angel Martinez said Europe should contribute to the success of this political experience that crowns the efforts for democratization, social justice, and progress and that implies a new dimension for parliamentary life. Regional, Politics, 5/5/99 - Middle East states offer aids to Kosovans
The Middle East countries are witnessing intensive moves to collect donations and dispatching tonnes of humanitarian aid and flying hospitals to Kosovo refugees since the very beginning of the NATO raids on Yugoslavia. Regional, Economics, 5/5/99 - Hizbullah: Netanyahu prepares to strike south Lebanon
Leadership sources in the Hizbullah Party have revealed that there is security data carried through US and French diplomatic channels saying that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to strike against south Lebanon within the coming days. Lebanon, Politics, 5/5/99 - Lebanese resistance escalates resistance
Two members of the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army militia were killed and several others wounded in a bomb explosion targeted at one of their foot patrols on the Jezzine road. Lebanon, Military, 5/5/99 - Bulgarian vice-president in Morocco
Bulgarian vice-president, Todor Kavaldjiev, arrived in Rabat on Wednesday for a four-day visit to Morocco meant to consolidate the economic and political ties between the two countries. Morocco, Politics, 5/5/99 - Jordanian King confers with Israel's Barak
King Abdullah Bin Hussein of Jordan on Tuesday in Amman received the chairman of the Israeli Labor Party, Ehud Barak, who is a candidate for Israeli prime minister in Israel's May 17 elections. Jordan, Politics, 5/5/99 - Moroccan-canadian partnership council pledges support to Moroccan leading projects
The Moroccan-Canadian partnership council held in Montreal this May 3-5 pledged support to the subway and the garbage dump projects in Casablanca and to the promotion of citrus fruits and early vegetables exports to Canada. Morocco, Economics, 5/5/99 - Lebanon's imports from Indonesia's up while exports lag far behind
The agency said Indonesia's non-oil exports to Lebanon increased in 1998 to $68.95 million compared to $47.56 million dollars in 1997. Lebanon, Economics, 5/5/99 - Christine Serfaty turned back at Rabat airport for National security reasons
Ms. Christine Daure Serfaty was turned back to France at the Rabat airport "for activities harmful to Morocco's national interests and causes." Morocco, Local, 5/5/99 - British Jews for peace in the Middle East
British Jews on Tuesday announced that they are planning several activities on the threshold of the forthcoming Israeli elections. They at the same time expressed their interest in achieving a progress in the Middle East peace process, as an embodiment of the desire of Britain on that matter. Regional, Politics, 5/5/99
Short Takes
- The German - Arab chamber for industry and trade is to organize a symposium on May 20 in which Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa will speak about the European - Egyptian partnership in light of the Barcelona process for European - Mediterranean cooperation as well as speaking about the future of economic and political relations between Egypt and Europe. Go
- King Abdullah of Jordan has noted the remarkable relations linking Syria and Jordan. He added that the two states "enjoy historical links." In a statement to CNN broadcast on Sunday, the Jordanian king added: "We are all pleased about this close relationship with Syria." Go
- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is passing through a very critical phase. He called on the international community to promote these negotiations and give them a push forward. Go
- The fourth Arab session on the fight against use of drugs started in Tunis Tuesday with sport experts and doctors from several Arab states attending. The gathering will discuss the dangers of drugs on the health of athletes, the extent of the problem in the Arab states and alternatives to us of drugs. The role of media in facing the phenomenon will be also tackled. Go
- Lebanese intelligence on Tuesday detained two men who are accused of setting up a spy networking and carrying out destruction to benefit the Israeli intelligence. A Lebanese security source said the two men were planning to carry out explosions in Lebanon and to collect information on the moves of the Lebanese army, the Lebanese resistance and political and party figures. Go
- Andrea Robinson, the special coordinator for the Middle East peace process at the Canadian Foreign Ministry, met separately with Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri. Developments in south Lebanon and the Middle East peace process were reviewed along with the situation of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Go
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) will grant Morocco a loan worth 23 million Euro for drinking water and sanitation projects. The loan will be used to improve drinking water and sanitation networks in Meknes (130 km east of Rabat). The delegation will also visit some EIB-financed projects. Go
- Saudi Arabia decided to ban telephone services for sexual conversations presented under the name of friendship phones. A press statement released by the Saudi embassy in Cairo today said that Riyadh decided to use new technology that allows tracing this kind of calls, separating it from other normal phone lines. The statement added that the Saudi Arabian government began 16 months ago to monitor this contact to combat this issue threatening Saudi youth. Go
- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat left for Washington on Tuesday carrying a reply message from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to US President Bill Clinton. Erekat said he will deliver the message to the US special envoy on the Middle East, Dennis Ross. Go
- The Jordanian weekly al-Majd said that the bar association, and engineers and agronomists unions in Jordan have decided to set up committees to investigate several members of these trade unions under charges of taking part in a reception held by the Israeli embassy in Amman. Go
- The Jordanian weekly al-Hadath saidd that the Jordanian and Israeli sides will resume their negotiations on Jordan's share from al-Yarmouk river waters and Tabaraya lake after Israel has pledged to provide Jordan with its full share of the said waters. Go
- The Jordanian Ministry of Information has permitted the circulation of the 'Kull al-Arab" (All the Arabs) daily which is published in al-Nasera in Israel. Thereby, this daily is the first paper which is published in Israel and is circulated in Jordan, the Jordanian weekly al-Sabeel reported. Go
- Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Tuesday in Kuwait received Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and means of giving them a push. Go
- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz met on Tuesday in Jeddah with the US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Saudi news agency reported. No details were given. Go
- Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, will pay a two-day work visit to Senegal on May 29. Go
- Speaker of the chamber of advisors (upper house of the Moroccan parliament), Jalal Essaid, is currently paying an official visit to Malaysia to explore cooperation prospects between the two countries' parliaments. Go
- Faisel El-Husseini, the official in charge of the Jerusalem file in the Palestinian Authority, said that the decrease in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu's popularity made him act like a wounded animal with a dangerous and brutal form. He described the endeavor of Netanyahu's government to close the Palestinian offices in Beit El-Shark (the Orient House) as a serious trend and not a maneuver, because the case is political and not a legal one. Go
- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said it has vaccinated more than 80,000 Somali children against measles. Go
- The Bahraini authorities captured a shipment of hashish worth 2.5 million Bahraini dinars after a high-speed sea chase, Gulf Daily News reported. Go
- A British team found evidence of an ancient human settlement in an excavation of an archaeological site in Kalba, Khaleej Times reported. Sudan accuses Eritrea of shelling village Gaddafi holds Congo talks with Zambia's Chiluba U.S. Quietly Intensifies Attacks on Iraq, Destroying Radar Sites Five years after Oslo, some Palestinians worse off under self-rule Sudan seeks compensation for U.S. missile attack on pharmaceutical factory Saudi prince urges freedom for women New Settlements Strangle Statehood Sudan army says rebels attack oil installations France to open archives on Algerian protest deaths U.S. Denies Holding Talks With Libya In Rome Britain Sees Signs Saddam's Grip Has Weakened PA puts off vote on statehood until July Go