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Today's Headlines
- Syria, Jordan and Lebanon joint market discussions
Official Syrian sources said today that Syrian Minister of Economy Muhammad al-Imadi discussed with a high-ranking Jordanian delegation raising the level of commercial exchange between the two countries. Syria, Economics, 8/24/99 - Jordanian - Lebanese agricultural talks
Jordanian-Lebanese talks started on Monday in Amman between delegations from the ministries of agriculture in the two countries, during which discussions centered on evaluating the exchange of agricultural products between the two countries and means of developing agricultural ties. Jordan, Agriculture, 8/24/99 - Norwegian and Dutch foreign ministers in Syria
Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek arrived today in Damascus for an official visit to Damascus to discuss means of reviving the peace process on the Israeli - Syrian track, which has been halted for more than three years. Syria, Politics, 8/24/99 - Commercial company between Egypt, three European states to encourage exports
A joint commercial company among Egypt, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg will start its activity during coming month, aiming at marketing Egyptian exports in the participating European countries. Egypt, Business, 8/24/99 - Palestinian delegation to Washington on Thursday
The secretary of the executive committee of the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas and top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat are to head to Washington on Thursday for an official visit which has been criticized by Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy, who called it a Palestinian tactic to pressure Israel. Palestine, Politics, 8/24/99 - Fatah, DFLP call for comprehensive national dialogue to reach stance for final status talks
The statement confirmed the importance of hastening the preliminary steps aimed at announcing the sovereignty of Palestine in all occupied territories since 1967 in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, adding that this announcement is not negotiable. Palestine, Politics, 8/24/99 - Palestinian - Israeli agreement to be endorsed Thursday
Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have confirmed that they are going to endorse an agreement on a schedule for the implementation of the Wye River accord on Thursday, as the two sides said that progress has been achieved in the negotiations. Palestine, Politics, 8/24/99 - Hawatemah strongly criticises Palestinian opposition groups
The secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, has strongly criticized the Palestinian opposition groups which take Damascus as a headquarters, due to their media, political and military attacks against his group following the disputed that occurred between the two sides in December 1998. Palestine, Politics, 8/24/99 - Rabat hosts an international parliamentary meeting
The Moroccan capital, Rabat, is due to host next month the second session of the preliminary committee for the conference of the national parliaments' leaders, with the participation of about 15 parliament leaders and six members of the executive committee for the International Parliamentary Union. Regional, Politics, 8/24/99 - British delegation concludes visit to Libya
A British delegation which included several members of the British House of Commons from both the Labor and Conservative Parties and several economic activists in Britain following a visit to Libya which lasted for several days. Libya, Politics, 8/24/99 - Sudan agrees to Libyan - Egyptian reconciliation
The leading bureau for the ruling Sudanese National Conference agreed on all items of the proposal carried by the Libyan - Egyptian delegation regarding Sudanese reconciliation as well agreeing on the aspects regarding which discussion took place with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael. Sudan, Politics, 8/24/99 - Syrian, Lebanese officials meet on social insurance
The board of directors of Syria's General Establishment for Social Insurance and the board of directors of the Lebanese National Fund for Social Insurance concluded their meetings in Damascus on Monday. Syria, Economics, 8/24/99 - Damascus hosts symposium on drug combating, money laundry
Syrian Minister of the Interior Muhammad Harba on Monday opened a national judicial symposium on combating drugs and money laundering. Syria, Politics, 8/24/99 - Efforts for Syrian - Palestinian reconciliation
The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am said on Monday, quoting Egyptian sources the paper described as high-ranking, that there current Arab consultations to coordinate Arab stances prior to the forthcoming visit of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in the region. Regional, Politics, 8/24/99 - Japanese parliamentary delegation meets Moroccan officials
A visiting Japanese parliamentary delegation held talks on Monday with Mohamed Jalal Essaid, speaker of the Moroccan chamber of advisors (upper chamber of the parliament) and with Abdelaziz Alaoui Hafidi, first vice-speaker of the house of representatives. Morocco, Politics, 8/24/99 - Algerian president in Italy
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday headed for Rimini, Italy to take part in the annual meetings which are organized in the city in the course of "friendship among peoples." Algeria, Politics, 8/24/99 - AL committee meets on Israeli nuclear activity
The Arab League committee in charge of following-up on and observing Israeli nuclear activities that are in contradiction to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on Monday in Cairo concluded its 6th meeting. Regional, Politics, 8/24/99 - Ministerial committee follows up on Gulf of Suez project
Egyptian Minister of Information Safwat El-Sharif said that the ministerial committee for following up on major projects met yesterday to examine the Gulf of Suez project. Egypt, Economics, 8/24/99 - First Syrian aid arrives in Turkey
Turkey on Monday received the first batch of the Syrian aid for the victims of the earthquake which hit the country last week. Syria, Politics, 8/24/99 - Further Israeli aggressions against Lebanon
The Lebanese resistance on Monday attacked Israeli forces at the headquarters of battalion 80 of the pro-Israeli militia in al-Jamouseh position. The resistance said one of its groups carried out the attack, inflicting hits on the Israeli forces. Lebanon, Military, 8/24/99 - Israel to abide by Egyptian aviation rules
Israel expressed its understanding of the Egyptian laws and rules that organize aviation in the Egyptian airspace. Egypt, Politics, 8/24/99 - Soccer diplomacy between Iraq and the US
The Iraqi Football Union said it received an invitation from its American counterpart to participate in soccer matches in the U.S.A. Iraq, Politics, 8/24/99 - Palestinian opposition assures its adherence to discussion with Fatah
The opposition People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine expressed its adherence to continuing the discussions it started with the Fatah movement in Cairo in order to advance the interests of the Palestinian people. Palestine, Politics, 8/24/99 - Ericsson chosen to build Morocco's 2nd GSM network
The giant international mobile phone company Ericsson has been chosen as the principal supplier of a GSM network by Medi Telecom, which operates Morocco's second GSM license. Morocco, Business, 8/24/99 - On the two French hostages in Yemen
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has announced that the Yemeni authorities know the identity of the kidnappers of a French couple that was abducted in Yemen and that there is no need to have fears over them. Yemen, Local, 8/24/99 - Arab-Americans criticize blocking of investigation on impact of sanctions on Iraq
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) criticized the State Department's decision to deny permission for a delegation of congressional aides to visit Iraq on a fact-finding mission. Iraq, Politics, 8/24/99
Short Takes
- Egyptian Minister of Insurance and Social Affairs Mirvat Muhanna El-Telawi said that eight centers for human rights working in Cairo called for making their status fit within the requirements of the new law governing non-governmental organizations (law number 153 for the year 1999). The minister told ArabicNews.com The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights' Prisoners Said, Egyptian Women's Causes, Ibn-Khaldon for Development, the Land, and the National Society for the Study and Learning of Human Rights, will see their requests fulfilled during the next six months. Go
- Guinea's president Lansana Conte arrived Monday night in Casablanca for a visit to Morocco. In a statement to the media upon arrival, the Guinean president expressed his country's readiness to cooperate with Morocco for the development of friendship bonds between the Moroccan and Guinean people. Go
- The official responsible for international planning and cooperation in the Palestinian government, Nabil Shaath, stated that representatives of the Fatah movement will hold talks next Thursday with representatives of the Hamas movement on achieving genuine Palestinian unity, according to Israel Radio. The radio quoted Hani al-Hassan, one of Fatah's prominent figures,as expressing his hope of conducting a constructive dialogue that will include all Palestinian groups with the objective of strengthening the Palestinian position in the negotiations with Israel. Go
- Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi on Sunday night in Tripoli received Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and members of the accompanying delegation, currently visiting Libya. Current conditions in the African Horn region and continued efforts exerted by Libya to settle the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea and achieve security and stability in this region were reviewed. Go
- King Mohammed VI of Morocco received on Monday, Abdelkrim El Khatib, secretary general of the Party for Justice and Development (PJD). Since he took over the throne following the demise of his father, king Hassan II, on July 23, the sovereign has received several leaders of political parties, both those represented and not in the government. Go
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met today with the secretary general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, who will also met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's political advisor, Osama El-Baz, DLFP central committee member Ali Badwan, who is also spokesman for Hawatemah, said. Badwan said Hawatemah will inform the Egyptian officials of the results of discussions that took place between the DFLP and the Fatah movement, as well as the future movements. Go
- The Algerian daily al-Alam al-Seyasi has said that reopening borders between Algeria and Morocco will be made at the beginning of October. In its Monday's issue, the paper said that reopening borders between the two states requires special technical arrangements, adding that these borders are witnessing "active transport movement between the two sisterly countries." Go
- The French Development Agency (AFD) has granted Morocco a $16.3 million loan to build low-cost housing. Under a convention signed Monday in Rabat, the AFD lends the Moroccan Agency Against Unhealthy Housing a "long-term concessional loan." With this new loan, the AFD's total financial commitments in Morocco reach $642 million, making of the kingdom the largest recipient of AFD funds. Go
- The Organization of the African Unity stressed on Monday that reviewing its charter will be an item to be discussed in the agenda of the organization's special summit to be held in Syrte, Libya at the beginning of September. Go
- Moroccan tennisman Younes El-Aynaoui defeated on Monday Spain's Francisco Clavet 7-5 and 6-1 to move to the 2nd round of the US tournament of Long Island, New York. Go