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Today's Headlines
- Sudanese foreign minister to visit Algeria to normalize bilateral relations
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael is due to visit the Algerian capital before the end of the current month. Sudan, Politics, 5/24/99 - Mubarak, Arafat discuss future of ME peace after Israeli elections
"We must wait for the formation of the Israeli government but the peace process must be revived with clear measures on the ground," Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said Egypt, Politics, 5/24/99 - Egyptian - Israeli meeting in Sharm El-Sheik soon
Informed Egyptian sources stated yesterday that Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak plans to visit Egypt after finishing forming his government. Egypt, Politics, 5/24/99 - Sudanese president meets with Nimeiri
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir met on Saturday night with former Sudanese President Jaafar Nimeiri who arrived earlier in the day in Khartoum. Sudan, Politics, 5/24/99 - Sudanese government refuses opposition's criticism over Nimeiri's return to Khartoum
The Sudanese government has criticized the attack of some opposition parties over the decision to pardon former Sudanese President Jaafar Nimeiri. Sudan, Politics, 5/24/99 - Barak to announce government on Wednesday, sources say
Diplomatic sources in Cairo expected that the new Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, will proclaim his government on coming May 26. Barak has already started his contacts with representatives of the Israeli parties to from a coalition government. Israel, Politics, 5/24/99 - Iraq stops medicine transactions with Jordanians that deal with Israel
Iraqi sources told ArabicNews.com that Iraq stopped dealing with some Jordanian medicine companies because of their dealings with Israel Jordan, Politics, 5/24/99 - Report: Barak is ready to restore the Golan
The British daily "Sunday Times " on Sunday reported that Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak is ready to restore the Golan to Syria against a general peace settlement. Syria, Politics, 5/24/99 - Palestinian government detains tens of Hamas
The Palestinian Authority began a campaign of detentions yesterday against members of the Hamas movement, the first campaign of its sort since Ehud Barak was elected as Israeli prime minister. Palestine, Politics, 5/24/99 - Arab Israelis visit Syria
The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said on Sunday that a delegation representing Palestinian Israelis will head within the two next weeks to Damascus. Syria, Politics, 5/24/99 - Mubarak, Arafat and Syria
A Jordanian daily on Sunday quoted sources close to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat as saying that he may head with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to Damascus in order to convene a tripartite meeting with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Regional, Politics, 5/24/99 - Iraqi transport minister arrives in Damascus
Iraqi Minister of Transport and Communications Ahmad Murtada Ahmad and members of his accompanying delegation arrived in Damascus on Sunday evening for a five-day visit to Syria. Iraq, Politics, 5/24/99 - Kuwaiti Cabinet discusses Jordanian King's visit, praises al-Hoss' stances
The Kuwaiti Cabinet on Sunday debated in a message sent recently by King Abdullah Bin Hussein Prince Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah in which the King accepted the visit to Kuwait in the "course of the care of the two countries' leadership and promoting them in various fields as well as to exchange viewpoints regarding various debated issues." Kuwait, Politics, 5/24/99 - UN officially announces new secretary general's representative for Sahara
Secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has appointed US national, William Eagleton, as his new representative for the Sahara, Annan's spokesman announced on Friday. Morocco, Politics, 5/24/99 - Gulf states refuse to endorse agreement on intellectual property
Gulf sources stated today that the Gulf Cooperation Council states have informed the United States of their refusal to endorse an accord on intellectual property, believing that signing the agreement will lead other countries to demand similar treatment. Gulf, Politics, 5/24/99 - Egyptian parliament starts discussing a new law for the civil associations
The Egyptian parliament to start tomorrow discussing a new draft law for new civil associations, after obtaining the support of a parliamentary subcommittee that stated in its report that it will fulfill the required needs for developing volunteer work. Egypt, Politics, 5/24/99 - Qatari large gas project with Pakistan
Qatar and Pakistan are presently trying to progress in a project to transport Qatari gas to Pakistan at a project of a cost estimated at US $3 billion. Qatar, Economics, 5/24/99 - AL chief warns against Barak's 'Nos'
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid warned that the "nos" of new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak do not serve the Middle East peace process. He stressed that peace cannot be attainable in the region without the restoration "of the occupied Arab lands in the Golan, south Lebanon and Palestine." Regional, Politics, 5/24/99 - Kuwaiti fund sign $56 mln loan with Morocco
Morocco and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) signed in Rabat on Friday an agreement under which the Kuwait-based fund grants Morocco a loan worth $56 million (17 million Kuwaiti Dinars) to help finance the construction of a dam and a water supply project in the southern city of Agadir. Morocco, Economics, 5/24/99 - Allies resume attack on Baghdad
US and British aircraft made raids yesterday on Iraq, coming from the Turkish Incirlik air base and attacked Iraqi anti-aircraft sites near Mosoul in northern Iraq, due to which Iraqi citizens were injured. Iraq, Politics, 5/24/99 - New Middle East map coming says Israeli Knesset member
Member of the Israeli Knesset for the Labor Party, Yossi Beilin, has said he expects that during the coming phase "a new Middle East map" will emerge on the ground of resuming negotiations with Israel. Regional, Politics, 5/24/99 - Mubarak confers with former French president
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met on Sunday with former French President Valery Jiscard D'Estaing on the sidelines of the "InterAction Council" conference which opened in Cairo earlier in the day. Egypt, Politics, 5/24/99 - AL chief to visit France
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid will hold talks with high-ranking officials in the French government on the latest developments concerning the Middle East peace process, the need to revitalizing it and to implement the agreements signed with the Palestinians. Regional, Politics, 5/24/99 - Iraqi opposition delegation starts program in Washington
A united delegation representing the Iraqi opposition, including members of the provisional leadership of the Iraqi National Congress and representatives for the Democratic Center Party, left London on Sunday for Washington. Iraq, Politics, 5/24/99 - Shehab calls on Arab organizations to take up issue of Kuwaiti captives
Egyptian Minister of State for Higher Education and Scientific Research Mofid Shehab called on Arab non-governmental organizations to adopt the issue of the Kuwaiti captives before international and Arab circles, considering it a humanitarian issue and one of the results of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Egypt, Politics, 5/24/99 - Morocco, Senegal sign agreement on integration of handicapped persons
Morocco and Senegal signed in Dakar on Friday a protocol of agreement on cooperation in the integration of handicapped persons. The agreement provides for the exchange of information, experience and strategies related to the protection of handicapped persons and other vulnerable social groups. Morocco, Culture, 5/24/99 - Turkish- Israeli relations expanding
The Turkish daily "al-Broub" issued on Sunday said that, "Turkish officers and military-men are receiving training on electronic warfare in Israel while the Israelis use the lands and the airspace in Turkey to train their pilots." Turkey, Politics, 5/24/99 - Unemployment rate in the Palestinian lands increases to 13.9%
The Palestinian Ministry of Labor force showed that the percentage of unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip reached 13.9% of the labor force in the first three months of the current year, an increase of 1% over the same period of last year. Palestine, Economics, 5/24/99 - Gaza to host fair for Egyptian products
The Egyptian organization of markets and fairs is due to organize the first exhibition for Egyptian products in Gaza during June. The exhibition is to last for 10 days, with the participation of 80 companies working in all fields to help develop the Palestinian economy. Egypt, Economics, 5/24/99 - 1999 grain production slumps 42% due to drought
Morocco's Cereal output in 1999 has slumped by 42%, in comparison with the average production of the last five years (6.14 million tons), the ministry of agriculture announced. Morocco, Agriculture, 5/24/99
Short Takes
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met on Sunday in Cairo with the chairman of the national committee of the Chinese political consultation conference, Lee Hwan, and discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern. Following the meeting, the Chinese official stressed that viewpoints were identical in several important issues. He expressed his conviction that a "bright future awaits Chinese-Egyptian relations." Go
- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has asserted his commitment to sincerely strengthening the role played by the Arab League (AL) and to ensuring the necessary conditions to achieve inter-Arab reconciliation to maintain the Arab states' dignity. Go
- Palestinian President Yasser Arafat revealed attempts to convene a regional five-fold meeting for the parties concerned with the peace process. This came in Arafat's answer to reporters' questions after his return from Cairo to Gaza City after his talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss pushing forward the peace process. Arafat did not specify the countries that will participate in the summit. Answering a question regarding the start of an Israeli settling today in Deir Kedis in the West Bank, Arafat expressed his sorrow that Israeli is not stopping the settlement construction, which his happening in more than one place. Go
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa left Cairo yesterday, heading to Nairobi to chair the Egyptian delegation at the two-day meetings of the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) summit, which will begin its works tomorrow in the Kenyan capital. Go
- The Turkish daily al-Broub on Sunday quoted Turkish officials as saying that the "key to peace in the Middle East region might be Lebanon." The paper added that the Turkish officials feel that achieving a progress in Lebanon may be " conducive to several positive developments regarding Syria." Go
- Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Sunday received a message from Turkish President Suleiman Demirel. Kuwaiti radio said the message pertains to developing and promoting bilateral relations between the two countries. Go
- The Israeli daily Maariv reported on Sunday that the political program of the government of newly-elected Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak calls for resuming negotiations with Damascus on the ground that the volume of the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in 1967, is to be linked to the nature of peace and security arrangements that Israel will get from Syria. Go
- A telephone call was made on Sunday between the Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa, and Iranian President Muhammad Khatami. Gulf News Agency reported that during the telephone conversation views were exchanged on several issues of concern to the two countries, especially means of promoting current relations and bilateral cooperation in the service of the interests of the peoples of Iran and Bahrain in various fields. Go
- The Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas said in its Sunday issue that Col. Bashar al-Assad, son of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, will visit Kuwait at the end of May in the course of a tour which will also include the United Arab Emirates. Go
- Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani has received a message from Chad's President Idriss Deby concerning bilateral relations between the two countries and several issues in the international arena. Gulf News Agency said that Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Jasem Bin Hamad al-Thani received the message during his meeting with Chad's Foreign Minister Mahamat Saleh Annadif in Doha on Sunday. Go
- The British daily "The Sunday Times" said the British government hopes to resume natural relations with Libya as soon as possible. The paper added in its Sunday edition that the British Foreign office said British officials had recently met with Libyan officials. Go
- The al-Souk (market) area in Makadishu on Saturday and Sunday witnessed vast acts of protests during which gunfire was heard following attempts made by the Somalis to restore the money that had already paid to travel to Australia by sea. Go
- Syrian President Hafez al-Assad met on Sunday in Damascus with former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Talks dealt with conditions and developments in the Middle East. Go
- Iranian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Ali Shamkhani held talks on Sunday with his Lebanese counterpart, Ghazi Zeiter, dealing with bilateral relations and defense cooperation between the two countries. The two sides signed several agreements to cooperate between the two countries. Go
- King Abdullah of Jordan on Sunday concluded his visit to the US. His visit had been scheduled to include meetings with the Arab ambassadors accredited at the UN and a meeting with heads of Jewish organizations. Go
- Uruguayan vice-president and speaker of the Senate, Hugo Fernandez Faingold, is expected in Morocco this May 23-26. Morocco and Uruguay will sign a series of cooperation agreements during the visit, a statement of the Moroccan prime minister's office says. The Uruguayan official's visit to Morocco is part of a north African tour that led him to Tunisia to consolidate cooperation ties between his country and the region. Go
- Morocco and the Netherlands initialed a draft convention on the transfer of prisoners, so that the two countries' nationals serve their prison sentence in their home country. Go
- The European commission has granted Moroccan development associations an assistance worth four million Ecus to support their actions. Go
- Morocco and Poland signed here on Thursday an agreement on cooperation in sea transports. The agreement defines the legal framework for cooperation between Moroccan and Polish ship owners for a mutually-profitable use of the potentials offered by sea traffic between the two countries. Go
- Morocco was elected Thursday chairman of the African Insurance Organization at the organization's 26th annual conference held here. The meeting which also decided to hold its upcoming conference in Abuja (Nigeria) accepted the membership of 30 African insurance companies, including 10 Moroccan companies. Go
- The Saudi airline decided to establish links between the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Riyadh, and Alexandria, Egypt at the beginning of June with trips from Jeddah on Wednesday and Friday and trips from Riyadh on Saturday and Tuesday. Go