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Today's Headlines
- Iranian president starts talks in Qatar
Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani held on Wednesday a meeting with Iranian President Muhammad Khatami, who arrived on Wednesday afternoon in Qatar, his last station on his current Arab tour after stops in Syria and Saudi Arabia. Qatar, Politics, 5/20/99 - Nimeiri arrives back in Khartoum following 14 years in exile
Former Sudanese President Jafar Nimeiri is expected to return to Khartoum on Saturday, following 14 years of exile in Egypt. Sudan, Politics, 5/20/99 - Saudi, Iranian FMs for boosting bilateral relations
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has described the talks held by Iranian President Muhammad Khatami and King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz as very important, saying they helped to further strengthening of exchanged confidence between the two leaders and countries. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 5/20/99 - Sanaa commends closing the file of misunderstanding with Kuwait
The Yemeni Cabinet on Wednesday commended the results of the visit held by the Yemeni deputy premier and foreign minister Abdul Qader Bajmal to Kuwait last Saturday and the restoration of relations between the two countries to normalcy. Yemen, Politics, 5/20/99 - Morocco hopes Algeria would favorably answer reconciliation call
Morocco on Thursday voiced hope that its call for reopening borders with Algeria will find a positive echo in Algiers. Morocco, Politics, 5/20/99 - Tripoli, Addis Ababa sign African cooperation agreement
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that Addis Ababa and Tripoli have agreed to maintain "firm" cooperation in monitoring African issues and intensifying bilateral cooperation. Libya, Politics, 5/20/99 - UAE and Mozambique set up cooperation commission
Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to establish a joint cooperation commission to prevent dual taxation, ensure mutual promotion and protection of investments, and finance a variety of infrastructure and social projects in Mozambique. United Arab Emirates, Economics, 5/20/99 - Moussa receives Eriterian foreign minister
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met with Eriterian Foreign Minister Haile Weldensae who has just arrived in Cairo, coming from Libya, for a two-day visit to Egypt. Egypt, Politics, 5/20/99 - Al-Sharaa confers with Moratinos
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa yesterday received the European Union's Middle East peace process special envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria, Politics, 5/20/99 - French economic delegation visits Saudi Arabia
A French economic delegation that companies representatives of ten French companies specializing in the electronics industry, ceramics and food products will head to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on June 4. Saudi Arabia, Economics, 5/20/99 - Comoran and Moroccan foreign ministers meet in Rabat
The Comoros Islands' foreign minister, Mohamed Yamani Souif, who started on Tuesday a visit to Morocco, met on Wednesday with his Moroccan peer, Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco, Politics, 5/20/99 - Egyptian, Gambian foreign ministers confer today
A session of formal talks were held today between Egypt and Gambia under the chairmanship of the Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and his Gambian counterpart, Bobo Lamin. Egypt, Politics, 5/20/99 - Exempting Tunisian deposits and bonds of foreigners from taxes
The Tunisian government issued a new law that calls for exempting the revenues from deposits and bonds made by foreigners from taxes. Tunisia, Economics, 5/20/99 - Moroccan House of Representatives adopts draft appropriation bill
The Moroccan House of Representatives (lower house of parliament) adopted on Wednesday the draft appropriation bill for 1999-2000. Morocco, Economics, 5/20/99 - 50 percent of shares in Egyptian company for containers sold for 25 million pounds
Orascom Construction Industries bought 50% of the shares of the Egypt company for exchanging containers, Ashiko, in a transaction worth 25 million pounds. Egypt, Business, 5/20/99 - Syrian - Russian agreement on peaceful use of nuclear energy
An agreement was signed in Moscow on Wednesday on the peaceful solution for nuclear energy between the governments of Syria and the Russian Federation for ten years. Syria, Politics, 5/20/99 - Libya: New law for investment in petroleum
The Libyan authorities are currently studying a new law draft for investment in the petroleum sector that would grant incentives to foreign companies to encourage investment in petroleum projects. Libya, Economics, 5/20/99 - 1,000 Egyptian women in the Egyptian stock market Egypt, Business, 5/20/99
- 1.2 million participants in Tunisian phone network by end of 2001
Tunisian economic sources in Cairo expected today an increase in the number of participants in the telephone network by the end of 2001, which is the date for completing the current five-year plan. Tunisia, Economics, 5/20/99 - Areas cultivated with cotton in Syria exceed production expectations
Areas cultivated with cotton in Syria until May 9 reached 242,346 hectares at an implementation rate of 106%. Syria, Agriculture, 5/20/99 - Israel's raids on south Lebanon
Israeli warplanes on Wednesday night raided the western sector of south Lebanon. Lebanese security sources said that Israeli warplanes fired four air-to-surface missiles on the area located near the highway between al-Heneyeh and Zibqin towns, where a large explosion took place. Lebanon, Military, 5/20/99 - Annual meetings for the African Development Bank in Cairo
The annual meetings of the African Development Bank are to start on Saturday in Cairo and last until May 27. The meetings will discuss supporting social and economic development in Africa. Regional, Politics, 5/20/99 - Morocco is able to host 2006 World Cup, minister says
Morocco is able to raise the needed funds for building sports infrastructures to host the 2006 World Cup, the Moroccan sports and youth minister said. Morocco, Sports, 5/20/99 - Mideast tourists visiting Morocco soar in first three months of 1999
The number of tourists visiting Morocco from the Middle East countries increased by 40.5% during the first three months of 1999 to 12,129 against 8,632 during the same period last year. Morocco, Economics, 5/20/99
Short Takes
- Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz today starts an Arab, African and European tour which will last for two weeks. It is to cover South Africa, Italy, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Go
- In the presence of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, the chairman of the constitutional court and three of its members took their constitutional oath on Wednesday at the Damascus al-Rawda palace on the occasion of assuming their new posts. Earlier, President al-Assad received the chairman of the constitutional court, Mahmoud Othman as well as Qusai al-Sheikh, Humeidan Fashtaki and Qasem Shalhoub, members of the constitutional court ,on the occasion of taking their oath according to article 143 of the Syrian constitution. Go
- The Jordanian Royal Airline Company seeks to persuade the Libyan airlines to using maintenance utilities affiliated to it at Amman International Airport, said sources in the Jordanian company, which resumed its trips to Tripoli recently with an average of one trip per week. Go
- A memorandum of understanding was signed between the information and documentation center at the Arab League and the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice. The memorandum aims at strengthening and promoting cooperation between the two sides in the areas of judicial and legal information and realizing the best use of human and material potentials as well as expertise available in each side. Go
- Israeli President Ezer Weizman has indicated that the issue of south Lebanon will be "among matters that to be tackled within the few coming days" by Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak. In an interview with Israel Radio Weizman expressed his hope that a quick solution will be reached in order to pull the Israeli army out from south Lebanon, Weisman added, "There is a new Israeli premier who will proceed forward in this matter." Go
- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, their first meeting following results of the Israeli elections. The visit aims at defining future steps to resume negotiations on the Palestinian track. Go
- Morocco and Tunisia agreed to enhance partnership in the fields of social welfare, family planning, and the protection of children and women. Moroccan secretary of state in charge of social welfare, Said Saadi, who visited Tunisia this week, and Tunisian peer Neziha Zerouk agreed to exchange experiences and coordinate social strategies at the Maghreban level and in international fora. Go