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Today's Headlines
- Morocco marks Green March anniversary
On this day, 24 years ago, some 350,000 men and women, holding up the Quran (Islam's holy book) and the national flag as their sole arms, marched through the artificial borders set by the colonial powers to free the southern areas and translate into reality the reunification of the Kingdom. Morocco, Politics, 11/6/99 - France to swap 700 million FF of Moroccan debt
France agreed to swap next year 700 million French Francs (F.F) of the debt Morocco owes to Paris, following a decision by the Paris club to lift the swap ceiling from 20 to 30%. Morocco, Economics, 11/6/99 - Gulf states to have a unified radar and communication systems
The defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states will convene on November 17 on the margins of the aviation fair that will be held in Dubai on November 14 - 18. Gulf, Politics, 11/6/99 - Mubarak, Chirac discuss peace
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Jacques Chirac met yesterday to discuss the latest developments surrounding the Middle East peace process. The two sides agreed to coordinate their stances toward peace. Egypt, Politics, 11/6/99 - Emir of Bahrain meets with King Abdullah
Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa met on Thursday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, who was on a two-day visit to Bahrain. Bahrain, Politics, 11/6/99 - King Mohammed receives French premier
King Mohammed VI received on Friday in Marrakesh visiting French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin. Morocco, Politics, 11/6/99 - Dialogue continues between Lebanese government and Jumblatt, Hariri
The Syrian leadership has succeeded in preparing a political atmosphere that will ensure contacts between Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Lebanese opposition factions, especially former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who will visit the Lebanese presidential palace in Baabda tomorrow, and the chairman of the Lebanese Social Progressive Party, Walid Jumblatt. Lebanon, Politics, 11/6/99 - $800 million in Egyptian exports to Iraq next year Egypt, Economics, 11/6/99
- Egypt participates in establishing five sugar factories in Iran
Akbar Kasemi, the head of bureau dealing with Iranian interests in Cairo, said today to ArabicNews.com that Egypt had agreed to finance the establishment of five sugar factories in the Iranian Khorasan at a cost of $1.049 billion. Egypt, Economics, 11/6/99 - Tehran to participate in Cairo International Fair next March
Mogtabi Khestortag, the Iranian deputy trade minister and head of the exports development center, said the trade volume between Egypt and Iran is weak, despite the strong historical relations between the two countries. Egypt, Economics, 11/6/99 - Famine in southern Somalia Somalia, Economics, 11/6/99
- Youssoufi: Morocco needs fisheries sector for internal development
Moroccan officials and fisheries professionals argue that the new partnership should seek the promotion of joint ventures in fisheries-related sectors such as shipyards, ships maintenance, and sea-food processing, in addition to fish-farming. Morocco, Economics, 11/6/99 - Ruler of Bahrain receives Prince Andrew
The ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleif,a on Friday in Manama received Prince Andrew, son of the Queen of Britain, currently visiting Bahrain in the course of a Gulf tour. Bahrain, Politics, 11/6/99 - UK commercial delegations to visit Egypt at the beginning of next year
UK commercial missions will visit Egypt at the beginning of coming year to discuss the special arrangements for establishing the free trade zone between the two countries. Egypt, Economics, 11/6/99 - In protest against Israeli suppression, Syrian prisoners in Golan threaten open hunger strike
The Syrian prisoners of the occupied Golan in Israeli prisons threatened an open hunger strike unless their situations are improved and "injustice is lifted up," said Medhat El-Saleh, a member of the Syrian People's Assembly who leads a campaign to reform their situation. Syria, Politics, 11/6/99 - Jospin: Morocco's political experience a source of hope
French prime minister, Lionel Jospin, praised in Marraakesh Friday Morocco's choices, its stability and the place it holds in French external relations. Morocco, Politics, 11/6/99 - Rabat, France views on peace, Iraq
Morocco and France on Friday voiced firm backing to a fair, lasting and global peace in the Middle-East. Morocco, Politics, 11/6/99 - Jordanian airlines to be privatized within one year Jordan, Business, 11/6/99
- $100,000 prize for the best Arabic film in Bahrain cinema festival
Bahrain club for cinema in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and the Cabinet decided to establish the first Bahraini cinema festival for displaying Arabic films. Bahrain, Culture, 11/6/99 - Crisis between the settlers and Barak
Things deteriorated yesterday between the Israeli settlers and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak due to their refusal to evacuate the settlements as Barak specified, while another group of settlers started establishing new settlements in the occupied Arab lands. Palestine, Politics, 11/6/99 - Baghdad regrets Nouakchott's severing of relations
The secretary general of the Arab people's forces conference and member of the Iraqi National Council (parliament), Saad Qasem Hamoudi, said, "Mauritania's decision to boycott diplomatic relations with Iraq is regrettable and unjustified." Iraq, Politics, 11/6/99 - Two Lebanese resistance men killed in confrontation with Israeli forces
The Lebanese resistance on Friday announced the death of two of its members in a confrontation that took place with Israeli forces on Tuesday night. Lebanon, Military, 11/6/99
Short Takes
- Djiboutis' president's political advisor, Fahmi Ahmed El-Haj, assured that Djibouti will not establish diplomatic or commercial relations with Israel. He told ArabicNews.com today that, "There are no US pressures on Djibouti to establish relations with Israel," stating that establishing relations with Israel will not take place except after Israel gives back all the occupied Arab lands to Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. El-Haj added, "Mauritania established diplomatic relations with Israel at an inadequate time, and this will affect Mauritania's relations with the Arab countries." Go
- President Husni Mubarak of Egypt had phone talks with King Mohammed VI on Thursday evening. The two heads of state exchanged viewpoints on a set of issues of mutual concern, reported the Egyptian media. Go
- King Abdullah II of Jordan will hold an official visit to Japan on November 30, said Jordanian official sources in Amman on Friday evening. Go
- The Egyptian Ministry of Public Enterprise, which is responsible for implementing the privation program for Egypt's public companies, said that it is commencing the sale of 15 companies to a main investor during the coming two months. The companies' value is 3 billion Egyptian pounds, and it includes the companies working in fields of foreign and internal trade, fertilizing and cement. A press statement issued by the ministry said that the investors could present purchase offers directly to the ministry to negotiate concerning 48 companies raised for sale until the end of current year. Go
- Lebanese Minister of Communications Issam Naaman emphasized today the unity of the Lebanese and Syrian tracks in the Middle East peace process, saying in press statements that the repeated Israeli attacks on south Lebanon are due to Israel's desire to seperate the two tracks. Go
- The Palestinian leadership issued at the conclusion of its meetings tonight in Ramallah under the chairmanship of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat a statement in which it was said that the Oslo summit which took place lately that included Arafat, US President Bill Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, gave a new strong push for peace and for the Palestinian - Israeli negotiations. The final status negotiations are to start between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government on November 8 in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Go
- French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin called on Friday for a "positive" settlement to the Sahara issue. "instead of imposing solutions, it would be better to ensure a positive way out to this extremely complex problem," Jospin said at a press conference held in Marrakesh. Go
- Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Yousef Wali said the government decided to cultivate 2.5 million feddans of wheat this season, among which are 500 feddans in new areas, clarifying that an expansion will be made this year in using new seeds which will cover 80% of cultivated areas with wheat that has higher yield. He added that the Egyptian government will work to encourage Egyptian farmers to export corn and wheat crops at international prices. Go
- Turkey has decided to hold a new round of joint military maneuvers with the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus on November 25 - 26. Ankara will refrain from landing war aircraft in the Turkish Cyprus. Turkish military sources depicted this as a positive reaction from Turkey to Greece refraining from landing its war aircraft in the Greek Cyprus during the maneuvers that took place during the last month. Go
