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Today's Headlines
- Mubarak heads to Washington on Saturday
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will start on June 26 an official visit to Washington, during which he will meet with U.S President Bill Clinton to discuss the Mubarak - Gore draft and the US aid presented to Egypt. Egypt, Politics, 6/24/99 - Emir of Bahrain meets Sheikh Zayed Bahrain, Politics, 6/24/99
- Al-Assad: Barak is strong, sincere and wants peace; Barak: Durable peace with an agreement with Syria Syria, Politics, 6/24/99
- Rabat expects very near opening of relations with Algeria Morocco, Politics, 6/24/99
- Algerian president wishes Moroccan premier prompt recovery
President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria has sent a message to Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi wishing him prompt recovery following the surgery operation he underwent last Sunday Algeria, Politics, 6/24/99 - Al-Sharaa meets Canadian prime minister
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Wednesday in Ottawa received Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa who conveyed to Chretien a message from Syrian President Hafez al-Assad pertaining to bilateral relations between Syria and Canada and current developments concerning the peace process. Syria, Politics, 6/24/99 - Oman not to mediate between Syria and Israel
Omani Minister of Information Abdul Aziz al-Ruwas has asserted that the change in the Israeli attitude towards the peace process under the government of Ehud Barak, is a set precondition to resume contacts between Muscat and Israel. Oman, Politics, 6/24/99 - Arafat in Cairo today to discuss peace developments with Mubarak
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will arrive in Cairo today to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak concerning recent developments in the Middle East peace process. Palestine, Politics, 6/24/99 - Saudi - Yemeni committee on border demarcation concludes latest session
A joint statement was released on this occasion which said that, "Talks were held in atmospheres of understanding," and that field technical teams will resume their works in monitoring the 29th border marks stated in the reports of borders concerning al-Taif agreement. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/24/99 - Moroccan foreign minister in Madrid
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, arrived in Madrid on Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Spain at the invitation of his Spanish peer Abel Matutes. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/99 - Jordanian minister highlights excellent ties with Syria
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib has described Jordanian - Syrian relations as excellent. Jordan, Politics, 6/24/99 - Indyk, Gulf foreign secretaries discuss means of countering Iranian threats
US Undersecretary of State for Near East affairs Martin Indyk said the US and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are concerned over the non-traditional armament programs in Iran and Iran's production of ballistic missiles. Gulf, Politics, 6/24/99 - Tehran criticizes US claims concerning Iranian defense programs
The Iranian Defense Ministry has strongly criticized US claims concerning Iranian defense programs. It stressed that the attempts made to promote these claims are groundless and that they are rather an attempt to obstruct the development of relations and the atmosphere of confidence in the Gulf region. Iran, Politics, 6/24/99 - Israel evacuates its office in Qatar
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that its trade mission in Qatar will evacuate its premises following a dispute with the owner of the place. Qatar, Politics, 6/24/99 - No agreement reached between Iraqi Kurds in Washington
The US State Department said on Wednesday that the delegations of the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Mesoud al-Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by Jalal Talibani have not yet reached an agreement and that their talks which started in Washington one month before are still continuing. Iraq, Politics, 6/24/99 - Iranian FM arrives in Sudan tomorrow
During his three-day visit, the Iranian minister will meet with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese Parliament Speaker Hassan al-Turabi, and other Sudanese officials. Sudan, Politics, 6/24/99 - Baghdad: UN envoy discusses oil-for-food agreement
He said his country is ready to establish direct talks with parties which oppose the Iraqi stance, adding that the best way to illuminate their concern is a responsible and calm discussion Iraq, Politics, 6/24/99 - Iraq: Any proposal on removing sanctions needs our comsultation
Iraq reiterated its opposition to the British draft proposal presented to the United Nations Security Council regarding the sanctions imposed on Iraq, a proposal described by Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan as a clear interference in Iraq's internal affairs. Iraq, Politics, 6/24/99 - Pope Shenuda: No persecution of Copts, and we do not accept foreign intervention
Pope Shenuda III of Alexandria said, "The country does not practice persecution against the Coptics and our relations are distinguished with all officials in the country." Egypt, Politics, 6/24/99 - Britain hopeful of restoring full diplomatic relations with Sudan
Britain said Wednesday that it was hopeful that full normal diplomatic relations will be restored with Sudan following a meeting held on Wednesday between British Foreign Office Minister Geoffrey Hoon and Sudanese permanent under-secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hassan Abdin, MAP reported. Sudan, Politics, 6/24/99 - Arab League warns against Israeli armament programs
Abdul Meguid added that Israel's position in refusing to join the NPT and to subjugate its nuclear institutions to investigations adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency constitutes a great concern to the Arab states, a matter which would affect prospects for coexistence and peace in the region. Regional, Politics, 6/24/99 - Palestinian-U.S. committees to start meeting
A number of U.S.-Palestinian committees met in Ramallah on Wednesday to discuss means to boost cooperation in various domains, and to speed up payment of promised U.S. aid to the Palestinian people. Palestine, Politics, 6/24/99 - Three Lebanese civilians wounded in south Lebanon by Israeli forces
Three Lebanese civilians were wounded on Wednesday as a result of Israeli raids and bombardments which targeted several villages in south Lebanon. In retaliation, the Lebanese resistance carried out a series of operations against the Israeli positions and announced it had killed an officer of a ranking position in the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army militia, Youssef Atawi when an explosive charge went off on Masharoun road. Lebanon, Politics, 6/24/99 - Al-Hoss: No unilateral agreement with Israel; no merger for SLA troops in the army Lebanon, Politics, 6/24/99
- Prince Sultan air base opened in al-Kharaj
Under the patronage of the Saudi defence minister and second deputy premier, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, on Tuesday Prince Sultan air base in al-Kharaj province (70 km to the north of Riyadh) were opened. Saudi Arabia, Military, 6/24/99 - Dubai gold imports total 199 tons
Dubai's gold imports during the last five months of the current year reached 199 tons, including 25.5 tons during April and March, 22.5 in February and 33.1 in January. United Arab Emirates, Economics, 6/24/99 - Israeli-Arab millionaire distributes tens of bullet-proof vests in Knesset
An Arab Israeli millionaire on Wednesday distributed bulletproof vests to the 10 Arab members of the Israeli Knesset. Israel, Politics, 6/24/99 - All Moroccan-Spanish thorny issues were reviewed, says speaker of Moroccan upper legislative chamber
Speaker of the Moroccan chamber of advisors (upper chamber of parliament), Mohamed Jalal Essaid, who wound up on Wednesday a working visit to Spain, said all thorny issues were covered with serenity and transparency in the talks he held in Madrid. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/99
Short Takes
- It was decided to establish a new Iraqi bank named the Commercial Summer with a capital of 400 million dinars to be run by the private sector. Official sources said the new bank will contribute to resuming the agricultural, industrial and tourism projects stopped due to the economic sanctions and that it will present different banking services in the framework of the state's financial policy. Go
- Libyan-Italian talks started in Tripoli on Tuesday in the presence of experts and technicians on the people's committee for agriculture in Libya and a delegation representing Italian companies and establishments specializing in the area of agricultural investment. Go
- Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, Forests, and Agrarian Reform Ventsislav Vurbanov arrived in Amman on Wednesday on top of a high-ranking delegation in a visit to Jordan. During his visit, the Bulgarian minister will meet with his Jordanian counterpart Hashem al-Shabboul and other Jordanian officials and discuss with them areas of cooperation and developing relations between the two countries in the agricultural fields. Go
- Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Hamdi El-Banbi stated that Egypt is one of the few countries in the world using its natural resources whether it was petroleum or natural gas. He said, "Egypt focused on using natural gas in generating electricity, petroleum industries and fertilizers." He added, "Egypt is the second country in the world and the only one in the area that uses compressed natural gas in cars." Go
- Chief of the Aden - Abyan Islamic Army group, Zein El-Abidin Abu Bakr El-Mehdar, who is sentenced to death for kidnapping and killing Western tourists in Yemen, asked his followers yesterday not to launch revenge attacks until the judgment of the court of appeals is issued in the case. El-Mehdar directed this call during the second hearing in appeal in Zingebar City in southern Yemen. He added that he has information that his men are planning actions during a political conference in Sanaa to be convened at the end of this month, but he gave no further details. Go