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Today's Headlines
- Mubarak urges Barak to use his election's peace mandate to move forward
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met today with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who briefed Mubarak on the outcome of Barak's meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Egypt, Politics, 7/29/99 - Phone talks between Tunisia's Ben Ali and King Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan
Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali on Wednesday talked on the phone with King Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan on ways to consolidate further the privileged relations binding the two countries, reported the Tunisian news agency, TAP. Tunisia, Politics, 7/29/99 - Vedrine visits Algeria to repair bilateral ties
French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine starts today a two-day visit to Algeria, during which he is to be received by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmad Attaf and meet with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Prime Minister Ismael Hamdani. Algeria, Politics, 7/29/99 - Erekat: Barak talks more than acts
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israeli Prime Minister Barak of talking too much on peace, saying he is completely away from the right way to proceed with the peace process. Palestine, Politics, 7/29/99 - Algeria's Bouteflika was the first head of state informed about king's demise, Basri
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was the first head of state informed about the demise of the late King Hassan II, and it was the Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed himself who told him the news over the phone, said Moroccan Minister of the Interior Driss Basri. Morocco, Politics, 7/29/99 - Youssoufi calls for rapid opening of borders with Algeria
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi hailed the Moroccan-Algerian detente and called for a rapid reopening of common borders. Morocco, Politics, 7/29/99 - Arafat to visit Cairo tomorrow
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is to arrive in Cairo tomorrow for an official visit, during which he is to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is going to brief Arafat on the outcomes of his meeting today with Israeli Prime Minsiter Ehud Barak. The two leaders will also exchange views on Israeli suggestions. Palestine, Politics, 7/29/99 - Syria urges EU to push forward peace process
Syria called on the European Union (EU) Wednesday to play an active role in the Mideast peace process, stalled for over three years. Syria, Politics, 7/29/99 - Yemeni Cabinet tackles economic issues
The Yemeni Cabinet yesterday approved a strategy for food security, the Yemeni news agency, Saba, reported. Yemen, Politics, 7/29/99 - World Food Program fears food crisis in Sudan
The World Food Program expressed yesterday fears of an increase of the food crisis in southern Sudan, along with the continuation of fighting for the second consecutive week in West Nile. Sudan, Economics, 7/29/99 - Indyk: Syria halting activities of Palestinian opposition organizations
In declarations to the United Arab Emirates newspaper al-Khaleej, US Undersecretary of State for Near East Affairs Martin Indyk said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will not be able to reach peace agreements with the Palestinians, Syria and Lebanon if terrorist activities continue. Syria, Politics, 7/29/99 - Italian parliament ratifies Morocco-EU association accord
The Italian Parliament ratified on Wednesday the association accord, concluded between Morocco and the European Union. Morocco, Politics, 7/29/99 - Barzani rejects US projects to topple Saddam Hussein
Nejrafan Barzani, an official in the Kurdistani Democratic Party in Iraq, announced that the Kurds are against any American project aimed at toppling Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The official denied that the Kurdish region is a base for the Iraqi opposition to carry out military action against the government in Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 7/29/99 - Taha Yassin Ramadan: No international decision without lifting sanctions
Iraqi Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yassin Ramadan stated that his country opposes any decisions of the UN Security Council that will not include uplifting economic sanctions. Iraq, Politics, 7/29/99 - Kuwaiti petroleum minister: OPEC should abide by reductions in petroleum production
Kuwaiti Minister of Petroleum Sheikh Saud Nasser al-Sabah said yesterday that the petroleum exporters in OPEC should abide by production reductions, even of prices continue to increase. Kuwait, Economics, 7/29/99 - Moroccan premier calls on hotels to ensure excellent conditions for tourists
Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi called on Wednesday all hotels to ensure the best stay conditions to foreign tourists visiting the kingdom. Morocco, Economics, 7/29/99 - Sharif: Egypt did not ban 90 books
Egyptian Minister of Information Safwat El-Sharif yesterday denied media reports that Egypt has banned more than 90 books. "This is mere fabrication and completely unfounded," Sharif said. Egypt, Culture, 7/29/99 - Egypt to set up technology center
The Egyptian Cabinet yesterday approved a presidential decree which calls for setting up a center for the "transfer, development and settlement of technology," Minister of Information Safwat El-Sherif said. Egypt, Economics, 7/29/99 - Reactions to Barak, Bouteflika meeting continue
For the third consecutive day, the widespread reactions on the meeting of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on the margins of King Hassan II's funeral continued yesterday. Algeria, Politics, 7/29/99 - Israel continues aggression on south Lebanon, siege of village
Israeli occupation forces shelled the south Lebanon villages of Majdal Zoun, Eita Jabal, Hadatha, al-Sawan, Kaakaeet - Jesser and Zoutar yesterday Lebanon, Military, 7/29/99 - Egyptian businesswomen to Abidjan on September
The assembly of Egyptian businesswomen is to take part in an international symposium on investment in Abidjan on September 8 - 11. Egypt, Economics, 7/29/99 - Foreign investment soars in past 6 months
The foreign investment attracted by Morocco during the past 6 months increased by 49.6% to $226 million against $150 million recorded during the same period last year. Morocco, Economics, 7/29/99
Short Takes
- Egypt has refused the Israeli call for mutual cooperation in field of protecting the navy and environment in Mediterranean basin. The secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities, Gaballah Ali Gaballah, told ArabicNews.com that the council received a request from the branch of marine antiquities in Israel to agree upon a project for marine antiquities in which the concerned corporations would take part. Go
- King Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan, Commander of the Faithful, will perform on Friday noon the Friday prayers at Al-Hal Fass Mosque (near the Royal Palace of Rabat) and will deliver the speech of the throne the same day later in the evening, the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery said in a release. Go
- King Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan, accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, received on Wednesday Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi. The king held a working session with the prime minister. Go
- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak told Palestinian President Yasser Arafat that he has "every intention of implementing the Wye agreement if that was their mutual desire," US National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said yesterday. Berger said that Barak and Arafat each phoned US President Bill Clinton to discuss the July 27 Palestinian - Israeli meeting. Go
- The US European Command said today in a statement that US aircraft flying as part of Operation Northern Watch, which supervises the no-fly zone over northern Iraq, were shot at by Iraqi anti-aircraft fire, responding by bombing anti-aircraft artillery sites north of Mosul. Today is the third straight day that clashes have occurred in northern Iraq. Go
- Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes began a working visit to Algeria yesterday, during which he said that Spain will support "the process of opening and reform" initiated by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Algerian News Agency reported. Go
- Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz met early today with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine. The deputy spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said the two discussed the situation in the Maghreb, the Middle East and Iraq. The spokesperson said the two ministers agreed to keep one another informed regularly. Go
- Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Asfur received a message from Yemeni Minister of Supply and Trade Abdul Aziz Kumaim, delivered by Yemen's ambassador to Jordan, dealing with the meeting of the Jordanian - Yemeni joint committee, scheduled to meet in November, which will address bilateral economic relations. Go
- 400 soldiers from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Kosovo yesterday to participate in the international peacekeeping force (Kfor) there, Khaleej Times reported, adding that the troops trained in France and are being supervised by French forces. Go
- Nepal is in the process of setting up an embassy in Qatar, Gulf Times reported, adding that there are 30,000 Nepalese workers in Qatar. Go
- Bahrain played host to more than 2 million visitors in the first half of 1999, Gulf Daily News reported, adding that total arrivals in the first six months of this year were up by 9.4% over their 1998 levels. Go
- Morocco's imports increased by 3.8 % during the past semester to $ 413 Million against $ 398 Mln reported same period last year. Exports also moved up by 2.4 % from $ 278 Mln to $ 285 Mln, the Moroccan Exchange office says in its latest newsbulletin tracing Morocco's transactions with foreign countries. Go