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Today's Headlines
- Al-Assad's address on the occasion of the Syrian Army Day
The president said the foundation of the Syrian army was an important part of the victory achieved by the "epic of independence and the evacuation of the colonialist forces from the territory of homeland." Syria, Politics, 8/2/99 - Saudi crown prince received Iraqi minister
For the first time, Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Sunday received Iraqi Minister of Justice Shabib al-Maliki, within the delegation of Arab ministers of justice and the interior. Iraq, Politics, 8/2/99 - Iraq prepares to hold dialogue with all Arab states
Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan announced his countries' readiness to hold an objective dialogue with all Arab states without exception. Iraq, Politics, 8/2/99 - Inter-Palestinian dialogue starts in Cairo
It was the first meeting held outside the Palestinian territories since 1994, a matter which availed bringing together all members of the committee, including three men who are very well-known for rejecting the Oslo agreement, refusing to return to the self-rule territories and refusing to hold posts in the Palestinian Authority. Palestine, Politics, 8/2/99 - Bahrain moves toward increased economic openness
In a speech he delivered upon visiting the premises of the general leadership of the defence forces, Sheikh Hamad said, "Since we assumed power in the country we have been careful to strengthen the economy. We will exert more efforts to have a developed and open economy." Bahrain, Politics, 8/2/99 - Syria agrees to visit by 13 Arab members of Israeli Knesset
The chairman of the Palestinian National Salvation Front, Khaled al- Fahoum, told a London-based daily that Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa gave him on Wednesday "the initial consent" for the visit of the 13 Arab members of the Israeli Knesset to Damascus, including three members of Israeli parties who are taking part in the governmental coalition chaired by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Syria, Politics, 8/2/99 - Iran talks financial compensation for victims of air raids
Iran asked the Turkish government to pay financial compensation for the victims of the air raids Iran says were launched by Turkish jets on border areas in northwest Iran, due to which five Iranians were killed. Iran, Politics, 8/2/99 - US embassy urges investment in Egypt
The US embassy in Cairo issued yesterday a statement in which it called on US investors to invest in Egypt and gave them a comprehensive account of the available opportunities in its annual report, titled, "The external economic trends." Egypt, Politics, 8/2/99 - Israelis say peace impossible without withdrawal from Golan
An Israeli daily said in a recent issue that 66% of Israelis believe that peace is not possible without a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan. Syria, Politics, 8/2/99 - Syrian and Jordanian technical experts meet in Amman
The participants in the meeting continued discussions topics pertaining to the trade exchange agreements between the two countries and ways of introducing new commodities into the agreement signed in 1975. Jordan, Economics, 8/2/99 - Israel to start withdrawal from the West Bank in October
The Israeli government will start withdrawal from the West Bank according to the Wye River accord on October 1. Palestine, Politics, 8/2/99 - A conference for the Arab businessmen in Tunis
Tunisia is hosting the eighth conference for businessmen and Arab investors from November 23 - 25, under the auspices of Tunisian President Zein El-Abedin Ben Ali. Regional, Business, 8/2/99 - King Mohammed VI chairs ministers council this Monday
King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, chaired this Monday a ministers council, the first since he ascended the Alawite Throne following the demise of his late father, Hassan II, last July 23. Morocco, Politics, 8/2/99 - Finnish delegation arrives in the region
Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen, in her capacity as chairperson of the current rotating presidency of the European Union, arrived in the region on Sunday on a five-day tour to take part in reviving the Middle East peace process. Regional, Politics, 8/2/99 - Report: Syria wants Jordan to return forged passports
A London-based daily has said that the Syrian government has asked its Jordanian counterpart officially to search for hundreds of forged Syrian passports used by Syrian opposition members who live in the Jordanian territories during their travel. Syria, Politics, 8/2/99 - Delegation of Bosnian youths visits Egypt
A delegation of Bosnian youths is to arrive in Cairo at the invitation of the High Council for Islamic Affairs in Egypt, in light of cooperation between Egyptian Ministry of Endowments and the Egyptian embassy in Sarajevo. Egypt, Politics, 8/2/99 - Referendum regarding civil reconciliation law in Algeria on September 16
Official sources in the Algerian capital said yesterday that the referendum regarding the civil reconciliation law will take place on September 16. Algeria, Politics, 8/2/99 - Report: Barak to visit Qatar, Oman
An Israeli daily said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will soon visit several Arab states, including Qatar and Oman. Israel, Politics, 8/2/99 - Retrial for 27 suspects in Sudan
The constitutional court in Sudan issued a judgment of retrying 27 suspects accused of participating in carrying out a series of explosions in the capital, Khartoum, last year. Sudan, Judicial, 8/2/99 - Moroccan political parties adhere to policy traced by King Mohammed VI
Moroccan political parties of all trends have voiced backing and adherence to the orientations traced by King Mohammed VI in his first Throne Speech, delivered last Friday. Morocco, Politics, 8/2/99 - A new version of the arrest of Qatari coup convict
A new version of the scenario for the arresting of the main person who is accused in the foiled coup attempt in Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Hamad al-Thani, emerged on Wednesday in Beirut. Qatar, Politics, 8/2/99 - Jordanian engineer union denies membership to graduates from Israeli universities
The Jordanian engineers syndicate's council decided not to accept the membership of any graduate from any of the Israeli universities, also breaking with Jordanian tourism offices after the union discovered the offices were agents of the Israel airline company, El Al. Jordan, Politics, 8/2/99 - Morocco launches tender for building $250 million power plant
Morocco launched last weekend an international tender for the building of a $250 million combined-cycle power plant in the northern zone. Morocco, Business, 8/2/99 - Communications between Tehran and Paris
Communications are currently being made between Paris and Tehran in order to determine a new date for the visit of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami to France that was originally scheduled for last April. Iran, Politics, 8/2/99 - A festival for comedy in Algeria
The Algerian province of Tipaza has organized a four-day festival for comedy that is to start tomorrow, in which 26 comic groups representing 15 states will participate, as well as a large number of well-known comic actors in Algeria. Algeria, Culture, 8/2/99 - Egyptian exports rise in early 1999
Nontraditional Egyptian exports increased in the first four months of 1999 by 15.5% over the same period last year. Egypt, Economics, 8/2/99
Short Takes
- At the invitation of Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdah, Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi will arrive in Amman today. The Syrian prime minister will hold talks with Jordanian officials on economic, trade, cultural and scientific relations between Syria and Jordan. Go
- Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa on Sunday in Damascus met with Arab Israeli intellectual Azmi Bishara. Talks dealt with developments in the Palestinian arena and the future of the Middle East peace process. Go
- The general trusteeship of Arab Journalists Union released a statement in which it denounced the attempts to put an end to freedom of the press in Lebanon because of presenting Melhem Karam, the deputy chairman of the union and the chief editor of the weekly magazine El-Hawadith, for investigation, as well as another number of Lebanese journalists, on accusations of publishing news and subjects that harm the unity of Lebanon. Go
- Egypt has named one of its top diplomats as its new ambassador to Washington, said a spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The spokesman added that Nabil-Fahmi, a former advisor to Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and the current Egyptian ambassador to Japan, will take up his post in the United States in September. The Egyptian spokesman added that ambassador Ahmad Maher al-Sayyed, who has been serving in Washington for several years, will be retiring. Go
- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on Sunday in Jeddah received Syrian Minister of Justice Hussein Hassoun, who will take part in the meetings of the joint committee of the council of the Arab ministers of justice and the interior. Go
- Russia's main envoy to the Middle East, Victor Posuvaluk, died early Sunday in Moscow at 59, the Russian News Agency reported. Posuvaluk, who was the deputy foreign minister, died following a long illness, the Itar-Tass news agency said. Go
- Egypt's foreign debts were reduced by $1.6 billion from $29.8 billion to $28.2 billion between December 1998 and June 1999, Ismail Hassan, governor of the Egyptian Central Bank, said. Go