Today's Headlines
- On the Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa left Damascus on Monday afternoon for Washington, which he will reach this afternoon after he spent the night in London. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Syrian delegation to Washington
The BBC's correspondent in Damascus reported that well-informed sources said the delegation which will be led by Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa to Washington for talks this week with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will include Lt. Gen. Youssef Shakour as a political advisor; Siba Nasser, the director of the Europe department at the Foreign Ministry; Riyadh al-Dawoudi, legal advisor at the Foreign Ministry; and several technicians. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Simple majority for Barak in Knesset allows him to negotiate with Syria
Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak won a simple majority in the Israeli Knesset last night that allows him to negotiate with Syria. This came after a speech delivered by Barak in which he warned that not holding negotiations with Syria will result in the shedding of more blood. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/14/1999
- UN envoy meets Lahoud, urges all to move seriously towards peace
The UN. special coordinator for Middle East Peace, Terry Larson, said in Beirut on Monday that resuming Peace negotiations in the region is a "historic opportunity" and all parties should move forward seriously. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Moussa: It is necessary to provide Arab security net to support Syrian negotiator
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa asserted the importance of providing an Arab security net to support the Syrian negotiator in the coming stage through a coordination machinism that provides such support for any Arab negotiator. Egypt, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Albright describes resumption of peace talks as historic
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said that the resumption of peace talks on the Syrian- Israeli track on Wednesday in Washington would be a historic opportunity for peace in the region. Syria-USA, Politics, 12/14/1999
- El-Bashir: Conflict over power in Sudan
Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir, who dissolved the parliament and issued a state of emergency in Sudan, said this is to control the conflict over power with Islamist leader and Parliament Speaker Hassan Turabi. Sudan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Sudanese president declares emergency, dissolves the parliament
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Monday announced the dissolution of the National Council (parliament) and the imposition of a state of emergency for three months. Al-Bashir said, "Making the new parliamentary elections is a measure to be defined later by the national commission for elections." Sudan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Tripartite Sudanese - Libyan - Egyptian summit in Cairo
The Sudanese daily al-Sahafa has said that the Sudanese, Libyan and Egyptian presidents may hold a tripartite summit shortly in Cairo. Regional-Sudan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Moussa: Egypt supports El-Bashir's decisions
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stated that his country supports Sudan and its government in its steps which aim at assuring Sudan's stability, unity and territorial integrity. Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Gaddafi meets Merghani
Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi met today with the head of the Sudanese opposition Democratic National Alliance, Mohamed Othman Merghani, who arrived in Libya to fulfill an official invitation from Gaddafi. Libya-Sudan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Turabi and the emergency in Sudan
Sudanese Parliament Speaker Hassan Turabi has described the state of emergency announced by Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir as a "coup." Sudan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Sudanese - Ugandan committee holds meetings in Nairobi next month
The Sudanese and Ugandan governments have set January 12, 2000 as a date to set the agreement signed by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni into actual implementation during a meeting of a joint committee in Nairobi and that the measure is to be preceded by the exchange of diplomatic missions under the level of ambassadors between the two countries. Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Abdul Meguid feels assured of political conditions in Sudan
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid made a phone call to Sudan's permanent delegate at the AL and its ambassador in Cairo, Ahmed Abd El-Halim, to learn about the latest developments in Khartoum. Sudan-Regional, Politics, 12/14/1999
- King Abdullah renews confidence in al-Rawabdeh's government
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday renewed his confidence in his prime minister, Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh, after the king attended a special session of the Jordanian Cabinet. Jordan, Politics, 12/14/1999
- A 70% increase in Moroccan-Austrian trade
Trade exchange between Morocco and Austria recorded a 70% increase totalling 623.7 million Dhs in the first eight months of the year, instead of 365.3 million Dhs for the same period last year. Morocco-Austria, Economics, 12/14/1999
- Mubarak monitors economic performance, projects developments Egypt, Economics, 12/14/1999
- Egypt ranks first among 33 world emerging markets
Egypt came first among 33 emerging capital markets at a global level for the seventh consecutive month this year, according to the recent report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Egypt, Economics, 12/14/1999
- Arabs call for creation of unified Arab parliament
The Arab solidarity commission --stemming from the Arab Parliamentary Union (APU)-- on Monday called for the creation of a unified Arab parliament. Regional, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Call for the preservation of the Moulouya River
The association "man & environment" based in the eastern Moroccan city of Berkane has launched a call for the preservation of the Moulouya River, which is a shelter to several endangered species such as the Aydoum gull, pink flamingo, and grey teal. Morocco, Environment, 12/14/1999
- Mauritanian weekly reports dissensions in Polisario ranks Morocco, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Mashaal: Arab efforts to end the crisis between Hamas and Jordan
The chairman of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal, told the London-based al-Hayat daily that Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani stressed "his country's backing to the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights." Qatar, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Two members of Hamas killed
The Israeli security forces killed two persons belonging to the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement. Palestine-Israel, Local, 12/14/1999
- AL chief exchanges messages with Arab leaders on freeing Middle East from nuclear weapons
Arab League Secretary general Esmat Abdul Meguid on Monday received a message from Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Bin Jasem al-Thani. The message, which was handed over by the Qatari ambassador to Egypt, is connected to the efforts made by Qatar to make the Middle East a zone free from nuclear arms. Regional-Qatar, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Trade exchange between Arab Gulf states and Iraq
Arab Gulf sources have said that several Arab Gulf states are developing their economic relations with Iraq. Gulf-Iraq, Economics, 12/14/1999
- Government to open investigation on Fez building collapse
Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi said on Monday that the government will open an investigation to determine the responsibilities in the collapse last week of a building that killed 47 people and injured 40 others in Fez, central Morocco. Morocco, Local, 12/14/1999
- Morocco, Bolivia sign memorandum of understanding
Morocco and Bolivia signed a memorandum of understanding instituting political consultations between the two countries' foreign departments. Morocco-Bolivia, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Assistant to Abu al-Einin arrested in Tyre
Lebanese security sources reported on Monday that the Lebanese Army has recently arrested a Palestinian military official, an assistant to the secretary of the Fatah movement ,Col. Sultan Abu al-Einin, in Tyre (south Lebanon). Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 12/14/1999
- Festival for Arab song in Doha
The Qatari capital, Doha, will host between January 8 and 11 the festival of the Arab song, which is organized by the Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network with the participation of Qatari television. Qatar-Regional, Culture, 12/14/1999
- Israeli forces continue attacks against Lebanon
The Israeli forces on Monday renewed their attacks against areas adjacent to the occupied part of south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 12/14/1999
Short Takes
- Sudanese diplomatic sources in Cairo said that the factors that pushed Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir to dissolve the parliament and declare a state of emergency are external conspiracies and internal conflict. The sources stated that what took place is an internal affair that does not give the right to any country or front to interfere in Sudan's affairs, adding that the conspiracy is continuous in Sudan and expressing their hopes that the government and the opposition make haste to find a solution to the Sudanese crisis in the framework of the Egyptian - Libyan initiative. Go
- Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa on Monday received a telephone call from Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid. Discussions dealt with the Middle East peace process in light of resuming negotiations in Washington tomorrow. Go
- The Committee of the Political Parties' Affairs in Egypt refused a request presented by Mamdouh Ahmed Ismail, one of the lawyers known to belong to the Islamic Group, to establish the El-Sharia Party, because its program does not comprise new goals that are different from the existing parties, in addition to the party's call for establishing a state on a religious basis, which is refused by the Egyptian constitution. The committee was headed by Kamal Helmy, head of Egyptian Shoura council, and had the membership of Justice Minister Farouk Seif al-Nasr and Kamal El-Shazeli, minister of state for Shoura and people's council affairs. Go
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa received today Hani El-Hassan, a member of the central committee of the Fatah movement and official of the foreign affairs for the Palestinian national liberation movement Fatah, who is currently visiting Cairo. Go
- Kuwaiti diplomatic sources in Cairo denied the existence of any mediation by Algeria for a reconciliation between Kuwaiti and Baghdad. The sources told ArabicNews.com that the visit of the Algerian president's personal envoy to the country recently came at the invitation of the Kuwaiti Information Ministry, that it has nothing to do with Kuwaiti - Iraqi relations and that reports that Algerian envoy Mohie El-Din Amimour is exerting mediation efforts is nothing but an Iraqi maneuver-- nothing more and nothing less. Go
- The envoy of the Russian President Boris Yeltsin for Middle East affairs, Vassily Serdin, arrived in Amman on Monday in a visit to Jordan which will last for three days to hold talks dealing with latest developments concerning the Middle East peace process as well as bilateral relations. Go
- The secretary general of the Libyan people's committee for foreign contacts and international cooperation in Libya, Omar al-Muntasir (the foreign minister), on Sunday evening held a meeting with the political commissioner of the Ugandan national resistance movement, the first deputy for the Ugandan premier and foreign minister, Eriya Kategaya, and the minister of state for foreign affairs and regional cooperation in Uganda, Amama Mbabazi. Go
- An official at the Cypriot Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed Cyprus' readiness to host peace talks between Syria and Israel, adding that Nicosia will shortly submit an official proposal in this respect to the Syrian and Israeli governments. Go
- Qatar has expressed hope that resuming negotiations on the Syrian track will be conducive to a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jasem Jaber al-Thani considered the decision of resuming talks as a step towards reactivating the Middle East peace process in order to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy resolutions and the land-for-peace formula. Go
- The Egyptian committee for solidarity expressed its relief toward the decision of the Syrian government to resume negotiations with Israel from the point at which they stopped in 1996, confirming its support for the Syrian stance and its adherence to resuming the negotiations and not wasting the results reached by the Syrian and the Israeli sides in their former negotiations. It also confirmed in a statement yesterday evening its appreciation for the Lebanese stance which adheres to negotiations on the Syrian - Lebanese track and continuation of the resistance in the south. Go
- Turkey expressed its pleasure for Israel and Syria's readiness to commence the peace negotiations between them, which were stopped in March 1996. Go
- Finnish non-governmental organization "The All World Children" intends to create a center for disabled and abandoned children in the Moroccan southern city of Agadir. The center will accommodate 140 abandoned children and 60 disabled ones, the sponsors said, adding that the project is a contribution to the integration of children in their environment. The Finnish NGO will contribute $800,000 to the project. Go
- Dubai companies will organize a trade, industrial and services exhibition in Algeria next May 4-8. Director General of the Dubai chamber of trade and industry Abdelrhamn Al- Mitiw'i told a news conference Monday, the exhibition, the first by UAE companies in the Arab Maghreb is an opportunity to expand UAE companies' foreign markets. Go
- French photographer Gerard Rondeau exhibits since Dec. 8 at Paris' Eugene Delacroix Museum a series of photographs depicting Morocco with a selection of drawings by Delacroix during his stay in the kingdom in 1832. Go
- Morocco has taken all necessary measures to reach $350 million in privatization receipts, Moroccan Public Sector and Privatization Minister Rachid Filali said on Tuesday. Go
- Bahrain International Airport and Gulf Air are prepared for the changeover to the year 2000, said Bahrain's Y2K Forum deputy chairman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Atiyatullah Al Khalifa, Gulf Daily News reported. Go
- A holy see delegation started on Monday a visit to Amman to prepare with Jordanian authorities the pope's visit to Jordan next March, reports Italian news agency ANSA. Pope Jean Paul II will start his trip to the holy sites in Palestine, Jordan and Israel by Amman before heading to the "Nebo" height, 35 km from Amman. Go
- The Moroccan unemployment rate increased 2.2% in the third quarter reaching 15.1% at the end of September, the statistics department said. In its monthly Statistical References, the department said the number of job seekers increased from 1,328,000 to 1,531,000 in September with women under the age of 35 and graduates most affected. Go
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