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Today's Headlines
- US First Lady Clinton in Morocco lauds local community actions
Morocco is a country respectful of laws, legislation and difference while upholding the Islamic values of tolerance, Ms Clinton said, before stressing the importance of solidarity, concord and entente between the various components of the community. Morocco, Politics, 6/18/99 - A campaign in the Syrian press to reform outdated economic laws
Calls have increased in Syria to reform laws which govern the Syrian economy, especially as among these laws are those that date back several decades that have become a great constraint before reactivating the country. Syria, Economics, 6/18/99 - Calls for pan-Arab summit continue
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa has opposed reservations to convening an Arab summit conference. He asserted the importance of convening a pan-Arab summit, stating that his country finds no reason not to convene such a summit. Regional, Politics, 6/18/99 - Barak ready to negotiate with Syria following formation of new government
Western sources quoted Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak as saying that negotiations between Israel and Syria have resulted in maintaining agreements on most of the matters pertaining to the security arrangements and the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Golan. Syria, Politics, 6/18/99 - Gaddafi postpones visit to Sudan to today
The Sudanese presidency said on Thursday night that Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi has postponed his visit to Sudan, due on Thursday, until today. Sudan, Politics, 6/18/99 - Khartoum, Garang resume negotiations in mid July
An official in the Sudanese People's Liberation Army led by Col. John Garang on Thursday in Nairobi announced that negotiations between the southern rebels and the Sudanese government will resume on July 19 in the Kenyan capital. Sudan, Politics, 6/18/99 - Bahrain releasing 320 political detainees
Newspapers in Bahrain said that hundreds of prisoners who were recently released will given jobs and training by the government, as the Bahraini government is currently issuing a general pardon for 320 political detainees. Bahrain, Politics, 6/18/99 - Two new Israeli raids in South Lebanon, daring resistance operations continue
Meanwhile, The Lebanese President indicated that there will be a" modern election law" that will be an introduction to political reforms, which is the base for all reforms for the coming generations." Lebanon, Politics, 6/18/99 - Establishing an Arab bank in Algeria with $110 million capital
A group of investors and businessmen in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates intends to establish an Arab bank in Algeria with a capital of $110 million that deals with private companies on the Arab level in general and Algeria in particular, said Ali El-Shorafa, head of an investment group that is currently visiting Algeria. Algeria, Business, 6/18/99 - French cooperation minister in Morocco, 3 billion in cooperation in 1988
Josselin will co-chair with Moroccan minister of Foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, the meeting of the Moroccan-French standing committee on cultural scientific and technical cooperation. Morocco, Economics, 6/18/99 - Morocco, France discuss cooperation in housing matters
The talks, conducted on the Moroccan side by secretary of state for housing, Mohamed Mbarki, also covered the exchange of experience in taxes levied on rented real estate, as well as cooperation with the French development agency and other French donors to finance the construction of low-cost lodgings and struggle against unhealthy housing. Morocco, Economics, 6/18/99 - Arafat stresses the need to convene the Arab summit shortly
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Thursday asserted the need for the urgent holding of the plenary Arab summit which was called for by Egypt and Morocco. Palestine, Politics, 6/18/99 - Iraq fears of the British proposal
The Iraqi side has received the British proposal for suspending UN sanctions imposed on Iraq with welcome, accompanied by anxiety and caution. Iraq, Politics, 6/18/99 - Austerity economic measures in Jordan to cut expenditures
The Jordanian government has taken a series of tough measures aimed at guiding public expenditures as a result of the critical economic condition in Jordan, and in light of the state's limited financial resources. Jordan, Economics, 6/18/99 - Morocco's crown prince met Libyan leader in Pretoria
Morocco's Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed returned Thursday home after a three-day visit to Pretoria, where he attended the inauguration ceremony of new South African president Thabo Mbeki. Morocco, Politics, 6/18/99 - Egyptian - Algerian parliamentary talks
The chairman of the Arab Parliamentary Union, Fathi Sorour, who is also the speaker of the Egyptian Parliament has praised the march of democracy in Algeria and its success in deterring all attempts aimed at destabilizing the country. Egypt, Politics, 6/18/99 - Mubarak accepts a visit to Yemen
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday discussed with Yemeni Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdul Karim al-Iryani bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern between the two countries. Yemen, Politics, 6/18/99 - $200 million from Iran for investment projects in Egypt
Iran is currently studying contributing to establishing many joint investment projects in Egypt in the fields of industry, services, transportation and basic infrastructure with investments of $200 million. Egypt, Economics, 6/18/99 - Some Iranians continue to show insensitivity towards Egypt
The clouds of a new crisis began to appear relations between Egypt and Iran, which had recently witnessed an improvement after the agreement of the Iranian authorities to remove the name of Khaled El-Islambouli, the killer of late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, from one of the main raids in Tehran. Egypt, Politics, 6/18/99 - Iranian president, speaker confer with Syrian Parliament speaker
Iranian President Muhammad Khatami on Thursday in Tehran received the speaker of the People's Assembly in Syria, Abdul Qader Qaddoura, in the presence of the Syrian ambassador in Tehran, Ahmad al-Hassan. Syria, Politics, 6/18/99 - King Hassan calls for peace and dialogue in the Mediterranean
the king expressed hope that the gathering would contribute to sensitize the mounting generations so that they engage on the best paths, those of "peace between peoples, and dialogue between cultures, religions and civilizations." Morocco, Politics, 6/18/99 - Hillary Clinton dedicates surgery ward at Fez maternity hospital
US First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, dedicated on Thursday a surgery ward at the Fez maternity hospital. Morocco, Culture, 6/18/99 - Israeli investment in Jordan
A Jordanian paper reported that the visit of an Israeli delegation, which included the Israeli ambassador in Amman and a group of Israeli experts, came to complete an agricultural investment project that the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture is trying to establish in al-Msherfey district on the outskirts of al-Karak city within the framework of an official agreement between Jordan and Israel. Jordan, Economics, 6/18/99 - Slavery in Mauritania
US non-governmental humanitarian organizations and the Mauritanian representative of S.O.S. Slaves have asserted that the practice of slavery is still existent in Mauritania. Mauritania, Politics, 6/18/99 - IPU concludes deliberations
The constituent conference of the Islamic Parliaments Union (IPU) concluded its deliberations on Thursday in Tehran by ratifying its new set constituent law and electing member of its executive committee. Regional, Politics, 6/18/99 - Oman endorses agreement with Philips to drill for petroleum
Oman and the Philips Petroleum Corporation have endorsed an agreement to drill for petroleum. Oman, Business, 6/18/99 - Moroccan government accelerates privatization process
Official sources in the Moroccan government set up a list of 20 companies owned by the country, inlcuding two banks, to be sold to the private sector immediately, while 38 other companies were removed from the privatization list that were raised for sale since 1993. Morocco, Economics, 6/18/99 - Attempted Mauritanian - Israeli normalization in health field failed Mauritania, Politics, 6/18/99
- Unemployment rises to 21 percent in Morocco's urban areas
Unemployment in Moroccan urban areas stood at 21 % up to last March, the Moroccan Statistics department said. Unemployment in Moroccan cities, which stood at 19 % last year, affects now 1.15 Million persons. Morocco, Economics, 6/18/99 - 15 million pounds for first Egyptian company for exporting data technology
A group of Egyptian businessmen finished establishing the first Egyptian company for exporting data technology to the markets of Arab, African and foreign countries with a capital of 15 million pounds. Egypt, Business, 6/18/99 - Judgement handed down against Islamic Group members
The Egyptian Supreme Court issued yesterday its judgments in the issue of reviving the regulation of Islamic Group known as El-Motanzah. Egypt, Judicial, 6/18/99
Short Takes
- Completion of the construction work on the new harbor of El-Ain El-Shokhna in Suez governerate is currently taking place, paving the way for opening the harbor at the beginning of the year 2000. General Mamdouh El-Zohariri, the governor of Suez, stated that nearly 1.5 kilometers of the first stage of the waterfront is finished and that 24 kilometers of the double road between Suez and Ain Sokhna, which is 44 kilometers long, has been paved. He also said a bid would be raised for establishing electric converter stations with a capacity fo 220 kilowatts, which will start in February, 2000. Go
- Morocco has allocated around $ 1.01 bln for the implementation of the national program destined to supply drinking water to rural zones. Addressing Thursday the chamber of advisors (Senate), Moroccan minister of equipment, Bouamour Taghouane, said about 11 million inhabitants will benefit from the program necessitating annually about $ 25 Mln. Go
- Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani on Thursday in Doha received a message from the chairman of the National Reconciliation Council in the Republic of Niger (the president), dealing with means of strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Go
- Iranian President Mohammed Khatami pledged yesterday to defend the religious minorities in Iran. Khatami also stated that his task is to defend his people and protect Christian and Jewish minorities. Go
- Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi arrived in Beirut on Thursday in a 48-hour visit to Lebanon, during which he will deliver a message to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud from his Iranian counterpart, Muhammad Khatami. The Iranian official news agency, IRNA, reported from Tehran that Beirut will be the first stop in Kharazi's tour of the region, which will last for five days and will also include Jordan. Go
- A delegation of the Kuwaiti Committee of POWs and missing persons is currently visiting Morocco. The visit is meant to express gratitude and thanks to King Hassan II for his constant efforts to reach a solution to the issue of Kuwaiti POWs. Go
- 287 new companies were established in governerates of upper Egypt with a capital of 1.4 billion pounds, said Ibrahim Fawzi, head of Egypt's general organization for investment. Go
- Morocco's imports increased in 1998 by 8.5 % to $ 9.9 billion against $ 9 bln in 1997, says the Moroccan exchange office in its latest release. Exports plummeted to $ 6.9 bln compared with $ 8.5 bln sold in 1997. The European union remains Morocco's 1st trade partner. Asia comes in the 2nd place advancing USA and Africa. Go
- Egyptian astronomers and archeologists discovered an ancient sun observatory in the Nabta area in Toshka, Upper Egypt, where ancient Egyptians shepherds lived and established the observatory to learn about climate changes, the seasons and the dates of the rain-carrying summer winds to breed their cattle. Muslim Shlatul, a professor of space and sun research in the Royal Research Institute in Helwan stated that the observatory was discovered through U.S. - Egyptian cooperation and it was found to be the most the ancient observatory in the world yet discovered. Go
- Over 140 pro golfers from USA, Europe, Africa and Asia are taking part in Morocco's 9th golf open which started Thursday at the Royal Golf Club of the Atlantic coastal city of Agadir. The Moroccan open, listed in the PGA (Professional Golf Association) tour, includes several side competitions such as the Sahara Cup (opposing an African team to a European one) and Pro-am cup (wherein amateur golfers team up with Pros). Go
- US jets today bombed an Iraqi radar installation east of Mosul, which had targeted aircraft flying in Operation Northern Watch over the northern no-fly zone in Iraq, a statement from Incirlik air base in Turkey said. Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery also fired on the aircraft, the statement said, adding that the planes left the area safely. Go