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Today's Headlines
- Salah: Yemeni - Saudi border dispute near end
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said the Yemeni - Saudi committee for determining border demarcation will finish its work in the coming week where they will exchange maps before convening a bilateral summit to discuss joint developments. Yemen, Politics, 5/25/99 - Gaddafi meets with Mubarak in Syrte
Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi on Sunday night held a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who arrived in Syrte earlier in the day. Libya, Politics, 5/25/99 - Arab Parliamentary Union refuses Barak's four No's
Ahmed Fathi Sorour, the speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly and head of the Arab Parliamentary Union stated that the union opposes the four "No's" of Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak. Regional, Politics, 5/25/99 - Uruguay renews support to Morocco's territorial integrity, sign package of agreements
Uruguayan vice-president, Hugo Fernandez Faingold, who is on an official visit in Morocco, renewed on Monday his country's support to Morocco's territorial integrity. Morocco, Politics, 5/25/99 - Moussa to visit Pakistan next week
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa is to arrive in the Pakistani capital in the coming week, heading a delegation that includes representatives of different ministries to participate in the meetings of the joint committee between the two countries, headed by their foreign ministers. Egypt, Politics, 5/25/99 - Saudi crown prince's visit to Morocco, a backing to bilateral cooperation
Prince Abdallah Bin Abdel Aziz, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and vice-president of the ministers' council, is expected in Morocco on Wednesday, part of a tour in seven African, Arab and European countries. Morocco, Politics, 5/25/99 - Emile Lahoud heads to Jordan on Saturday
Jordanian Minister of Information and Culture Nasser Lawzi said that President Lahoud would visit Jordan to meet with King Abdullah to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues. Lebanon, Politics, 5/25/99 - Iraqi opposition meets with US officials
An Iraqi opposition delegation met yesterday with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Washington. Senior US administration officials briefing reporters after the meeting said the delegation would spend the rest of the week meeting with US officials and think tanks. Iraq, Politics, 5/25/99 - African Development Bank's annual meetings open today
Under the sponsorship of President Hosni Mubarak the African Development Bank (ADB) and the African Development Fund (ADF) annual meetings opened today in Cairo. Regional, Economics, 5/25/99 - Syrian - Iraqi transport talks in Damascus
A round of Iraqi - Syrian talks held on Monday at the Syrian Ministry of Transport in Damascus. It was attended by Syrian Transport Minister Mufid Abdul Karim and his Iraqi counterpart, Ahmad Murtada Ahmad, as well as members of the two negotiating delegations. Syria, Economics, 5/25/99 - Qatari emir visits Germany
Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, left Doha today, heading to Germany in his first visit to the country, during which he is to meet with high-ranking officials to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and issues of joint concern. Qatar, Politics, 5/25/99 - Algiers denies Tunisian mediation between Morocco and Algeria
Algeria denied on Monday that Tunisia is undertaking a mediation to break the ice in relations between Morocco and Algeria. Algeria, Politics, 5/25/99 - Disputes prevail in Khartoum on trying Nimeiri
For the second consecutive day after the return of former Sudanese President Jaafar Nimeiri, the political debate continued between the government and the opposition on the possibility of trying Nimeiri, as some opposition filed lawsuits against Nimeiri for acts he committed during his rule from 1969 to 1985. Sudan, Politics, 5/25/99 - Cairo: Discussion of civil organization law starts today
The Egyptian parliament began today discussion of the new governmental project to specify means of establishing civil assemblies and organizations and the scope of these organizations' activities and financing methods. Egypt, Politics, 5/25/99 - Kuwait: A new allowing the women to vote and elect
Prince Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah has approved a draft to amend the election law that will give women the right to vote and participate in the parliament, but Islamic groups refused the draft. Kuwait, Politics, 5/25/99 - Israeli Arab delegation's visit to Syria
Israel Radio on Monday said that a delegation of Palestinian Israelis will visit Syria on June 10. The radio report added that the names of the visitors were sent in lists to Syria for ratification, and a program was laid for this visit including meeting with President Hafez al-Assad and several Syrian figures. Syria, Politics, 5/25/99 - Morocco renews adherence to free, transparent referendum in Sahara
Morocco is strongly attached to a free and transparent referendum far from any pressure, as wished also by Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Moroccan interior minister, Driss Basri, told the Moroccan Tv channel 2M. Morocco, Politics, 5/25/99 - Iraq warns Kurdish leader
A London-based daily said that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has warned Kurdish leaders Mesoud Barzani and Jalal Talibani that their "authority in northern Iraq might be destabilized" if they are dragged into what Baghdad considered US attempts to topple the Iraqi government Iraq, Politics, 5/25/99 - Bahrain - US sign aviation agreement
A statement by US State Department spokesman James Rubin said the agreement will "permit unrestricted service by the airlines of both sides between and beyond the other's territory, without restriction on how often carriers fly, the kind of aircraft they use, and the prices they may charge." Bahrain, Economics, 5/25/99 - Peres wants to visit Morocco
Moroccan sources in Cairo stated today that there are communications currently underway between former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Moroccan royal court to prepare for a visit that will be paid by Peres to Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 5/25/99 - Cheops Pyramid to be opened in days
Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni is to open soon the Cheops (Khufu) Pyramid after 13-month closure for comprehensive rejuvenation and treatment of humidity on its walls as well as introducing new ventilation system. Egypt, Culture, 5/25/99 - On accusing Gaddafi of the Lockerbie incident
The British Foreign Ministry on Monday abstained from commenting on what was published by the British daily "Sunday Times" on Sunday that the British government has evidence of the involvement of Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi in the explosion of the US Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. Libya, Politics, 5/25/99 - Erekat criticizes US vice president's statements
Palestinian chief negotiator and Minister of Local Government Saeb Erekat has criticized the statements of US Vice President Al Gore in which he excluded resolution 181 issued by the UN General Assembly in 1947 concerning the establishment of a Palestinian state. Palestine, Politics, 5/25/99 - UN: Obsolete pesticides pose environmental threat
Unused obsolete pesticides pose an environmental threat to countries in the Near East and Africa, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said yesterday. Regional, Environment, 5/25/99 - Bahrain ranked 1st in Arab golf championships
In the individual events, Lebanese Ali Mahmoud captured the Arab title after gleaning 300 pts advancing Amerou Abou El Alaa of Egypt and Mustapha El Kherraz of Morocco. Regional, Sports, 5/25/99 - Morocco bans temporarily shellfish catching in southern coasts Morocco, Economics, 5/25/99
Short Takes
- Syria urged the Arab states yesterday to adopt a unified program toward Israel and to be careful to make sure of the real initiatives of Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak's government regarding the peace process. The Syrian official newspaper al-Baath stated that the Arab states are the ones who opened the doors of peace in the area and asked Barak's coming government to declare its commitment to the peace process if it really desires to see the area in peace and stability. Go
- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday in Beirut received the speaker of the Egyptian People's Assembly (parliament), Ahmad Fathi Srour, who is leading a Francophonic delegation. Talks dealt with Francophonic matters, matters pertaining to civil law and regulations and future prospects. Go
- The Jordanian weekly al-Majd said in its most recent issue that the former Jordanian parliamentarian Toujan al-Faisal headed for Damascus on Thursday for a private visit. The paper expected that al-Faisal will hold during her ten-day visit to Damascus several press and political interviews. Go
- Morocco has ratified the international convention setting the minimum child-labor age. The convention commits signatory countries to draw a policy to fight all forms of child's labor and the gradual increase of the minimum working age in order to guarantee to children the appropriate conditions for their physical and mental well being. Go
- Institute for research and African studies at Cairo University will convene its annual conference for African studies under the title "Conflicts and civil wars in Africa" on Saturday. Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa will speak in the opening session as well as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mufid Shehab. Go
- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday in Beirut discussed with the British ambassador to Lebanon, David MacLennan, the situation in south Lebanon, regional developments and the international inclination towards reviving the Middle East peace process. Go
- Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani on Monday received a message from his Egyptian counterpart, Amr Moussa. The Qatar News Agency said the message, handed over through diplomatic channels, pertains to bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of mutual concern. Go
- The Jordanian weekly al-Hadath has said, quoting officials in the Jordanian goverment, that Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ehud Barak has made several contacts with Jordanian officials in which he asked to arrange an official visit to Amman. The paper added, quoting the the same sources, that Barak wants his first, mission to be meeting with Jordanian officials in order to discuss the content of his political projects concerning the revival of the Middle East peace process. Go
- Libyan and South African officials held a plenary meeting on Monday in the Libyan city of Syrte. On the Libyan side the meeting was attended by the secretary of the people's committee for the economy and trade (economy minister), Abd al-Hafidh Mahmud Zalitni and the South African side was attended by Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin. Go
- United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Rashid bin Abdallah al-Nuaymi on Monday received a message from his Egyptian counterpart, Amr Moussa, pertaining to the current developments in the region, the Middle East peace process and bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields. Go
- Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, has postponed the two-day visit he was to pay to the Moroccan southern provinces as of Tuesday till he comes back from the African tour he is to start on May 29 by a visit to Senegal. A statement by the prime minister's office said the postponement was decided in view of the visit to the kingdom of Prince Abdallah ibn Abdelaziz, Crown Prince of saudi Arabia and vice-president of the ministers' council. Go
- Morocco's external trade transactions decreased by 1.5 % in the first quarter of 1999 compared to the same period of last year, the Moroccan exchange office said. Trade transactions were worth $ 4.1 billion (40 billion Dh) in the first three months of 1999 compared to $ 4.2 billion (40.7 billion DH) in the first three months of 1998. Moroccan exports, however, recorded a tangible rise of 8.9% last March compared to the same month of 1998 Go