Today's Headlines
- The Arab foreign ministers meeting in the Arab League Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Arab FMs meet in 112th Cairo session
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat briefed members of the participating delegations on the revised Wye accord signed on Sep. 5, according to which Israel and the Palestinians pledged to draw up a framework for final peace talks by Feb. 15 and to complete the process by September 2000. Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999
- King of Jordan visits Lebanon today
Jordan's King Abdullah II is scheduled to arrive today in Beirut with his wife, Queen Rania, for a two-day official visit to Lebanon at the invitation of Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. Lebanon-Jordan, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Ben Ali promises more democracy and political multiplicity
President Zein al-Abidin Ben Ali of Tunisia said the achievement of comprehensive development has become one of his government's targets to continue the development of democratic progress and political multiplicity, which serve the Tunisian people. Tunisia, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Bouteflika vows to have a new phase in Algeria
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has asserted that Algeria will be witnessing a new phase. He added that the "state" will meet all its obligations and will definitely close a page of sorrows. Algeria, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Algerian gunmen to surrender to the government
Algerian judicial sources said that 29 Armed Islamic Group members will surrender to the specialized authorities during the coming days in the framework of the "Civil Concord Law." Algeria, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Moussa lauds al-Sahaf's council leadership
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa gave in a statement his full consent to Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahaf's administration of the Arab League ministerial council's sessions. He described it as being good and said it took place objectively in a good Arab style. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Report: Al-Mu'allim's term of office in the US concluded Syria, Politics, 9/13/1999
- UAE's intensive contacts on Walt Disney issue
United Arab Emirates Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan has made intensive contacts with the ministers of culture in the Arab and Islamic states in order to study means of pressuring the Walt Disney Company not to exhibit an Israeli pavilion in which occupied Jerusalem is shown as the capital of Israel. United Arab Emirates-Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Moussa, al-Sharaa deny tensions in relations between Egypt and Syria
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa denied reports regarding tensions in Syrian - Egyptian relations. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Saudi crown prince confers with ALO official
Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz met on Sunday in Jeddah with the director general of the Arab Labor Organization, Ibrahim Mousa, currently visiting Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Turkish thanks to Syrian president, people for their help after earthquake
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Sunday received a cable from Turkey thanking him for Syrian efforts in helping Turkey at a very difficult time. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Children's parliament holds second session
The Moroccan Child's Parliament held its 2nd Session in the Atlas mountainous resort of Ifrane this September 11-12 under the topic of the generalization of schooling and struggle against illiteracy and children's labor. Morocco, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Garang calls for delaying Sudanese opposition meeting in Cairo
Sudanese sources said yesterday that Colonel John Garang, the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army decided not to come to Egypt on October 2 as scheduled to participate in the meeting of the leaders of the Sudanese opposition Democratic National Alliance. Sudan, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Jordanian premier meets with British Parliamentary delegation
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul al-Raouf al-Rawabdeh on Sunday in Amman reviewed with a British parliamentary delegation led by Phyllis Starkey the Middle East peace process and the role played by the European Union in this respect, the promotion of countries of the region, and bilateral relations between the two countries." Jordan-UK, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Morocco calls for Arab summit
Morocco called on Sunday for the holding of an Arab summit as soon as possible. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Syrian exports to Iraq reach US $250 million
The director general of the Iraqi General Expositions Company, Fawzi al-Zaher, has stated that Syrian commodities have been received with much interest in the Iraqi markets, especially ready-made garments and food stuffs. He added that Syrian exports to Iraq for this year have been increased by US $50 million. Syria-Iraq, Economics, 9/13/1999
- Damascus hosts Arab illiteracy eradication workshop
The Arab labor workshop on revitalizing the role played by non-governmental organizations and local associations in eradicating illiteracy and teaching adults concluded its deliberations on Saturday in Damascus. Regional-Syria, Education, 9/13/1999
- Iraq calls for converting Middle East into nuclear-free area
Iraq on Sunday called for a Middle East free from weapons of mass destruction as a prerequisite for permitting the return of UN inspectors to Iraq. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Peace contacts with the US
A well-informed Syrian source told the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily that intensive contacts have recently been made between Damascus and Washington in preparation for a coming US move that will relaunch contacts on the Syrian - Israeli peace track. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Amman is determined to arrest Hamas officials
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh stressed on Sunday that Jordan is determined to arrest the five officials in the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement against whom arrest warrants were released at the end of last month and not to permit any anti-Arab activities in its territories. Jordan, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Iraqi paper denounces Wednesday Security Council meeting
An Iraqi daily published on Sunday denounced the meeting to be held by the UN Security Council's five permanent member states next Wednesday in London in an attempt to have reach stances towards Iraq. Iraq-UN, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Central Bank: 3.1 million tourists visited Egypt during the first nine months of fiscal year 98-99
An economic report of the central bank issued yesterday said that the first nine months of the fiscal year 1998 - 99 witnessed a remarkable improvement in tourism traffic to Egypt, as the number of tourists reached 3.1 million, an increase of 20.2% Egypt, Economics, 9/13/1999
- On Jordanian Muslim Brothers
The media spokesman for the Muslim Brothers group in Jordan, Jamil Abu Baker, said the four leading members of Hamas against whom warrants of arrest were issued will return to Jordan and that they have the desire and the determination to return, but no date has yet been set for this return. Jordan, Politics, 9/13/1999
- 250 businessmen participating in conference on trade development among Arab, European states
More than 250 businessmen will participate in the third conference for developing commercial trade among the Arab and European states, which will be held in Port Said, Egypt on October 22 - 24, Mohamed Abd El-Fatah El-Masri, secretary general of the Egyptian trade chamber's union and head of commercial trade in Port Said, said. Regional-European Union, Economics, 9/13/1999
- Gulf states back Arab issues
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Saturday expressed their backing for Syria's demands to resume peace negotiations from the point at which they broke off. The GCC ministers called on Israel to withdraw to the June 4, 1967 border lines from south Lebanon according to UN resolution 425. Gulf, Politics, 9/13/1999
- A preliminary meeting for Sudanese reconciliation
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said at the conclusion of a closed-door meeting of the ministerial council of the Arab League council dedicated to discussing the Sudanese issue and "the foreign conspiracies against Sudan," that representatives of the government and the opposition in Sudan will meet during the second half of October in order to prepare for the national reconciliation conference. Sudan, Politics, 9/13/1999
- Morocco to set up center on women's status
Morocco will set up an information and documentation center on the status of women, announced Mohamed Said Saadi, Moroccan secretary of state in charge of social protection, family and children. Morocco, Culture, 9/13/1999
Short Takes
- The foreign ministers of the European ministers meeting in Brussels today decided to lift the remaining sanctions left on Libya except those pertaining to banning of weapons. In a statement, the EU foreign ministers extended an invitation to Libya to hold negotiations with the EU concerning Libya 's joining of the free trade Zone which is scheduled for the countries of the Mediterranean. Go
- Avigdor Kahalani, head of the Israeli Third Way party, confirmed his readiness to hand over the Golan for peace with Syria. Israeli observers regarded Kahalani's statement as worth noting, as he was calling for continuing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan and opposed holding talks with Syria. Go
- The meetings of the trade ministers of the Group of 77 are starting tomorrow in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, for three days to discuss coordinating the positions of the group's member states in the November meetings in the US city of Seattle of the World Trade Organization. ArabicNews.com learned that the most important subjec to be discussed include adopting a unified stance among the developing countries in negotiations regarding agriculture, services and intellectual property that will start in the year 2000, in addition to liberating investments, freedom of competition, electronic trade and customs fees. Go
- Egyptian - Mexican economic talks are to be held today in Cairo to establish economic cooperation agreement between the two countries in light of the visit of Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Salama Shater in August within his tour of Latin American countries, including Chile and Uruguay, in which number of symposa were held to inform the society of businessmen and the investors about the Egyptian investment atmosphere, the Egyptian products these markets need, and the possibility of increasing the trade movement between Egypt and these countries. Go
- The agreement on the headquarters for the Arab Contractors' Union, which comprises 18 Arab states, was signed yesterday in Cairo. Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Organizations' Affairs Samir Seif El-Yazal said the union's presence in Egypt will give it a strong push regarding the progress of the Egyptian contracting sector. He added that it will contribute to developing technology in the Arab contracting sector as well as developing work mechanisms in this important economic sector. Go
- The Sudanese Cabinet yesterday approved a trade agreement to expand commercial activities between the two states and provide facilities for commercial cooperation regarding customs fees, the establishment of joint projects, exchanging exhibitions, and sharing training and expertise, Saba reported. Go
- The problems between Morocco and Algeria "are a mere summer cloud, and the difficulties will finally be overcome," said the Moroccan minister in charge of the Arab world and the Maghreb, Abdeslam Znined. Morocco and Algeria are bound by neighborliness ties and it is natural that simple or difficult problems arise between neighbors as they arise between the members of the same family," Znined said. Go
- King Mohammed VI has sent a message to president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia. The message will be delivered by Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa, who arrived in Tunis on Sunday evening. Go
- Sultan Qaboos of Oman on Sunday received a message from Argentine President Carlos Menem pertaining to bilateral relations. The Gulf News Agency said the special envoy for Sultan Qaboos, Tweini Shahin, received the message during his meeting on Sunday in Muscat with the Argentine ambassador accredited to Oman. Go
- Dubai will host an international conference on desertification on February 12 -15, 2000, which is to include the attendance of more than 50 graduate students and exhibits by more than 100 companies, Khaleej Times reported. Go
- The Egyptian department of exhibitions and organizing markets (a governmental body) is organizing the first exhibition for Egyptian products in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on September 16 - 22 with the participation of 235 Egyptian companies that work in all economic fields, aiming at opening new markets to Egyptian exports in the African states. Go
- The chamber of the Egyptian cinema industry decided to establish offices for distributing Egyptian films abroad instead of relying on non-Egyptian external distributors. Go
- Bahrain is to allocate BD84 million in its budget for next year to go toward education, according to Education Minister Abdulaziz Al Fadhel, Gulf Daily News reported. Go
- A Moroccan economic statement issued today confirmed that Moroccan phosphate sales have increased by 5.7% during the first half of this year to $680 million compared to last year. Phosphates are one of the most important items on which Morocco depends in its exports, as it has 75% of the world's supply of phosphates, and it is regarded as the largest exporter of phosphates and their products in the world. Go
- Bilateral trade between Japan and the Gulf states went down by 23.2% last year in comparison to the $31.3 billion reached in 1997. This came in a press statement issued today by the Japanese foreign trade organization, Jetro, in Cairo. The statement added that this drop is related to low petroleum prices last year. Go
- Funds from aid sent from Iraq to Turkey will be used to build a housing complex to be called the Iraqi Red Crescent Village, Iraqi News Agency reported, adding that construction was to begin by today. Iraq has pumped $10 million worth of oil to Turkey to fund aid after Turkey was hit last month by a devastating earthquake. Go
- The US European Command said today that Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) northeast and northwest of Mosul fired on jets patrolling the northern Iraq "no-fly zone." The jets responded by attacking "an air-defense-warning site south of the city of Mosul and an AAA site northwest of that city." No indication was given of whether the sites were inside the no-fly zone. Go
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