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Today's Headlines
- Libya establishes general organization for free trade zones
The Libyan government decided to establish a general organization for free trade zones affiliated to the Ministry of Economy and Trade while enjoying financial independence from the ministry. Libya, Economics, 5/12/99 - Arab common market: Low inter-trade reveals problem, part 2
There are a number of problems regarding the Arab common market. Firstly, most Arab states have not pursued policies to encourage inter-Arab trade, which was until 1996 about 6-7% of their total trade, and is usually in the form of organized "protocol trade," or bilateral and restrictive trade agreements. Regional, Analysis, 5/12/99 - In the first step since 1995, Maghreb union committee meets in Algeria
The follow up committee of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), which groups Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, including ministers in charge of the UMA affairs will meet at the beginning of next week in Algiers. Maghreb Region, Politics, 5/12/99 - Syrian waters to be pumped to Jordan within a few days Jordan, Politics, 5/12/99
- Moussa presents report about his visit to Tunis to Mubarak
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a report from Foreign Minister Amr Moussa regarding the results of the Egyptian - Tunisian joint committee for follow-up, coordination and political consultation. Egypt, Politics, 5/12/99 - Saudi crown prince to visit Pretoria
Diplomatic sources in Riyadh said on Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz will head for South Africa on May 18 in the course of his tour which will also include Libya, Italy, Germany and Morocco. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 5/12/99 - Yemeni foreign minister heads to Kuwait
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal is to head on Saturday to Kuwait where he will fulfill an official invitation from his Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah in the framework of normalizing relations between the two countries. Yemen, Politics, 5/12/99 - Syrian-Iranian committee meets in Damascus
The Syrian-Iranian joint permanent committee on Tuesday held a preliminary meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade in Damascus. Syria, Politics, 5/12/99 - Moroccan foreign minister in Paris
Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa, who started on Tuesday a working visit to France, held a one-hour meeting with President Jacques Chirac. Morocco, Politics, 5/12/99 - Lebanon arrests network planning to destroy Syrian, Lebanese military centers
A Lebanese security source has announced it had arrested six members of a "destruction network aiming at carrying out explosion operations against Syrian and Lebanese military centers." Lebanon, Politics, 5/12/99 - Sudanese opposition leaders to meet within days
The Sudanese opposition Democratic National Alliance's leaders are to hold a meeting in Cairo within the coming days, to discuss the outcomes of the meeting held recently in Geneva between Ummah Party leader and former Sudanese Prime Minister El-Sadek El-Mahdi and Hassan El-Torabi, head of the Sudanese Nation's Council. Sudan, Politics, 5/12/99 - Palestinian sources: Closeness with Damascus is not due
Sources close to the chairman of the political department of the PLO, Farouk al-Qaddoumi, have downplayed the importance of indications which were used as basis in speaking about Syrian - Palestinian closeness. Palestine, Reporter's View, 5/12/99 - Yemen excludes convening an Arab summit
Yemen excluded the possiblity of convening a comprehensive Arab summit at the current time. Yemen, Politics, 5/12/99 - Moussa, British ambassador discuss issues of Egyptian extremists in London
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met with David Blatherwick, the British ambassador in Cairo, on the occasion the ending the British ambassador's in Egypt. Egypt, Politics, 5/12/99 - Libya requires entry visa from some Arab states Libya, Politics, 5/12/99
- Libyan FM confers with Eritrean official
The secretary of the people's general committee for foreign relations and international cooperation in Libya, Omar al-Muntasir, met on Monday night in Tripoli with the secretary of the People's Front for Justice and Democracy in Eritrea, al-Amin Muhammad Saeed, and members of the accompanying delegation, currently visiting Libya. Libya, Politics, 5/12/99 - UN committee against torture praises Morocco's political will to establish rule of law
The committee also hailed the publication in the Moroccan official gazette of the anti-torture convention, signaling, therefore, its enforcement in Morocco, the enforcement of an education and awareness program on the issue of human rights for all law-enforcement personnel and in schools and the improvement of inmates conditions. Morocco, Politics, 5/12/99 - Morocco for consolidation of Maghreban cooperation
Morocco is in favor of anything likely to consolidate cooperation between the peoples of the Arab Maghreb and especially between Morocco and Algeria, said Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco, Politics, 5/12/99 - On releasing Jordanian prisoners in Syria Jordan, Politics, 5/12/99
- Eritrea calls for implementation of framework agreement
The Government of Eritrea reiterated to the delegation its adherence to the Framework Agreement as endorsed by the Summit of the OAU Central Organ and its readiness to implement its provisions fully. In this context, and with a view of expediting the implementation of the process, the Government of Eritrea called for the following practical measures Eritrea, Politics, 5/12/99 - Turkey opposes Iran's interference in its interior affairs
Turkey considered the demonstration for supporting the Turkish veiled deputy that was organized in Iran to be interference in its internal affairs. Turkey, Politics, 5/12/99 - Cairo: Releasing Egyptian fundamentalist
For the first time, the Egyptian judicial authorities have released Egyptian fundamentalist Mohammed Ebid Abd Elaal whom the Ecuadorian authorities delivered recently to Cairo at Cairo's request. Egypt, Judicial, 5/12/99
Short Takes
- President Muhammad Khatami of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to arrive in Damascus tomorrow on a three day official visit to Syria at the invitation of President Hafez al-Assad. Khatami will be accompanied by a high-ranking official delegation, including Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ali Abdol-Alizadeh and Oil Minister Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh. Go
- Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Habib El Malki, will visit the United States of America this May 24 through 27. Go
- The Egyptian government launched intensive efforts to convince the European countries to remove the mines planed in El-Alamin and Sinai. Egyptian sources estimate the number of the mines planted as 21,5 million mines, 16,5 million mines of which in the western Sahara, and the rest of mines found in Sinai, Red Sea since Israel has occupied the region. Expenses for removing all the mines amount to 2.4 billion according to the international estimations. Go
- United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Rashed Bin Abdullah al-Nu'eimi has denied his country has any "reservation" over the "closer" Iranian relations with the Arab Gulf states, especially with Saudi Arabia. In a statement to the BBC on Tuesday al-Nu'eimi added that his country backs the establishment of good relations with Iran. He added that the UAE has good bilateral relations with Tehran despite the current dispute over three Gulf islands. Go
- Ministers of water resources in the countries through which the Nile River passes meet today in Addis Ababa in order to negotiate technical aspects of dividing the waters of the river and hold technical consultations. Go
- French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday criticized the Israeli decision provided for closing down offices in Beit al-Sharq (Orient House) in occupied Jerusalem. He described this measure an "an extremely clumsy and probably dangerous act." AFP quoted Chirac, currently in Finland on an official visit, as saying that such Israeli measure is "very grave and dangerous." Go
- The Egyptian government decided to specify 50 million pounds for developing and increasing the volume of Egyptian exports through the Egyptian Bank for Developing Exports. A press statement issued by the bank today stated that the government agreed to grant this amount as a loan to the bank at an interest of 6% on the condition that the bank provide the required loans to the exporters at an interest rate of 8.5%. Israeli chief of staff says he wants troops out of south Lebanon Fifty-five bodies found in Algerian graves, papers say Jewish Settlers Step Up Land Grab A New King Shows His Will Britons in Yemen terror trial want medics quizzed FOCUS-Saudi sees Brent barrel up to $18-20 in 1999 Iraqi troops reportedly attack southern Shiite villages Netanyahu targets Arafat U.S. warplanes bomb Iraqi air-defense sites Emirates camp wins praise from refugees Arens not opposed to PA sovereignty Investment in Golan's capital booms Go