Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 10/6/1997
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of October 6, 1997
- Palestinian official denies rift with Qatar on Mena
A top Palestinian official has denied any differences between the Palestinian Authority and Qatar, over the Middle East and North Africa Economic (Mena) conference due to be held in Doha in November. Palestine, Politics, 10/11/1997 - Netanyahu's got a big problem in America
U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright affirmed:" I have nothing to say to him. We have made efforts and none of them had worked" Regional, Politics, 10/11/1997 - Hariri says auditing report causes political polarization
He said that he couldn't claim that the country was 100% on track but the accusations cast were not true. "What is happening is a shame", he affirmed. Lebanon, Politics, 10/11/1997 - Tunisian cabinet reshuffle
Tunisian leader Zinal Abdin ben Ali reshuffled his cabinet last Thursday, making seven changes including the foreign affairs portfolio and scraping the information department. Tunisia, Politics, 10/11/1997 - Jordan Kicks Mossad out and Yatom to take fall for Netanyahu
Israeli Mossad agents operating in Jordan have reporedly left Amman upon orders from King Hussein who demanded that all Mossad activities in the kingdom be brought to an end Jordan, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Israelis increase call for pull-out from Lebanon
"The price our army is paying, with our children serving in Lebanon is unjustifiable and we do not accept being used as a pretext for the continued occupation of South Lebanon," said a mother whose son is serving in Lebanon. The woman, a resident of Israel's northern settlements next to the borders with Lebanon. Regional-Israel, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Libyan - Egyptian negotiation over Lockerbie
The 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland will be the subject of a Monday hearing at the International court of Justice Libya, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Red Cross says Lebanon-Israel swap could take months
A senior Red Cross official said on Thursday that negotiations for the exchange of dead Israeli soldiers' remains with Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails was facing problems and could take "months" to accomplish Lebanon, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Israel Israel, Politics, 10/10/1997
- Algeria Algeria, Politics, 10/10/1997
- Libya Libya, Politics, 10/10/1997
- Iraq Iraq, Politics, 10/10/1997
- Syria Syria, Politics, 10/10/1997
- Egypt, Ethiopian mediation in Somali problem
Ethiopia and Egypt agreed yesterday to intensify their joint efforts to help warring Somali factions reach a peaceful settlement to the crisis which divides the African country. Egypt, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Netanyahu - Arafat meeting briefed to Egypt Ambassador
Karim said that the meeting also reviewed ongoing efforts to solve the crisis of the ME peace process. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Oman urges world solidarity with Palestinian Authority
Omani State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yousef Ben Al Awi said in a speech to the U.N General Assembly that Israel is reluctant to abide by its peace obligations and the settlement expansion policy, impeding the regional peace-making process. Oman, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Erekat: Tax released . Ross on way back.
Erekat confirmed reports that US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Dennis Ross, is due to return to the region on October 19 and that Palestinian and Israeli negotiating teams will be heading to Washington Palestine, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Students call for the formation of a public body Palestine, Politics, 10/10/1997
- Prisoners oject to Ramleh conditions
The prisoners said that though they are bound to their beds under strict guard, they still have their beds and bags searched many times each day in a provocative manner and complained that family visitations have lately been restricted. Palestine, Politics, 10/10/1997 - Netanyahu steps over foreign ministry to reach out to Syria
Dr. Uzi Arad, held a recent secret meeting with the Secretary General of the Elysee Palace, during which he conveyed a detailed secret message from Netanyahu to Syrian President Hafez Al Assad Regional, Politics, 10/9/1997 - Hussein confirms: I sent a Hamas offer to Netanyahu
Observers in Amman believe the Jordanian stand after the assassination attempt and the way that King Hussein reacted to the failed Mossad operation helped bring Netanyahu and Palestine National Authority President Yasser Arafat together. Jordan, Politics, 10/9/1997 - Israelis attack Azam Azam's Egyptian lawyer
The case has led to a crisis in the relations between the two countries after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu severely criticized the Egyptian judiciary system for sentencing Azzam Azzam. Egypt, Politics, 10/9/1997 - International Atomic Energy Agency calls for nuclear-free zone in Mideast
In a statement issued at a meeting of the UN nuclear energy watchdog-in Vienna, the IAEA urged that Baghdad hand over "without further delay, currently undisclosed nuclear weapons-related equipment, materials and informaton." Regional, Politics, 10/9/1997 - The three leaders, cabinet meet; debt level to be kept stable
"Any increase in the expenditure is out of the question and any decrease of the funds should be replaced by other funds," Hariri said. Lebanon, Politics, 10/9/1997 - North Korean ambassador starts official work in Cairo
The Ambassador of North Korea Beong Yang started his official work in Cairo after the Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa received his credentials. Egypt, Politics, 10/9/1997 - People's Liberation of Sudan has no hope that meeting will succeed
The movement's foreign relations official stated that the Sudanese government wants just to meet with John Garang out of its belief that it will reach an agreement with him similar to the agreements it reached with the other factions. Sudan, Politics, 10/9/1997 - Arafat expects positive results - Albright mad as heck
The sudden summit meeting between Arafat and Netanyahu came amid reports from Washington saying the US Administration has been disappointed at Israel. Netanyahu tried to speak to Albright on the telephone, but she refused to talk and instructed her aides “not to transfer that call to me.” Regional-Palestine, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Sheikh Yassin: A baby back to his mother's womb
Let them leave our civilians alone and we will leave theirs alone. Israel must leave the Palestinian lands and not keep control of half or three-quarters of them. A cease-fire will only be possible if Israel implements these conditions.” we will not fight against the Palestinian Authority and spill Palestinian blood. Palestine, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Joint maneuvers between Morocco and Spain
These maneuvers are the biggest in the history of the two countries, coming at a time when the differences between the two have increased over the cities of Sebta and Milila occupied by Spain. Morocco, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Arab differences with Britain, US over Lockerbie
Arab League suggestions included assigning a special international envoy to deal with the crisis in order to reach a peaceful settlement to inform the Security Council with a report of the losses incurred by the Libyan people as a result of the embargo. Libya, Politics, 10/8/1997 - In Kuwait illegal residents not sent to Talha
The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry has begun taking new measures towards residence violators to organize procedures on how to deal with violators caught by security patrols. Kuwait, Politics, 10/8/1997 - GCC Justice ministers begin meeting
In his opening address, Ahmed Mohamed Ali al-Subai stressed the importance of the meeting in consolidating ties, coordinating steps and enhancing cooperation among GCC states in all fields and in the justice and law fields in particular "to achieve a unified legal and judicial system." Gulf Region, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Jordan's future after King Hussien
The king said he had full confidence his brother, chosen as his successor 32 years ago, but said the two men had been working out who from among the large royal family was best qualified to succeed the 50-year old prince. Jordan, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Kuwaiti emir sends invitations to heads of state for Gulf summit
Kuwaiti Minister of Information Saud Al Sabah will head the Kuwaiti delegation which will visit the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to meet with their officials and to deliver invitations to the summit. Gulf Region, Politics, 10/8/1997 - The troika meets today
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and speaker Nabih Berri will meet to discuss the 1998 budget project before its draft is examined by the parliament. Lebanon, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Hariri back from Damascus
Hariri's Damascus visit has provided further support to his government and has aimed to repair his relationship with speaker Nabih Berri. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 10/8/1997 - Muslims need to unite
"Islam is under fire every where. What is happening in Palestine, geographic Syria, Pakistan and Turkey are just examples of large-scale assaults on Islam " Salami said. Lebanon-Tunisia, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Committee pursues and affirms preparations for Mena
The tasks include following up the registration process and issuing a booklet on 17 private sector projects to be forwarded to the conference. Qatar, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Gulf states to cut foreign workers
The six Gulf Cooperation Council states set up a special committee last August to draw up guidelines for a new worker strategy which will be discussed by their Planning Ministry undersecretaries on 15 October. Gulf Region, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Saudi Arabia clarifies oil policy toward South Africa
Saudi Prince Sultan expressed regrets over reports in a section of the press that the kingdom was seeking to replace Iran as sole supplier of oil to South Africa. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Algerians on elections amid cease-fire
Algerian local council candidates have hit for the campaign trail for October 23 local elections. Algeria, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Berri's on again - off again support for budget
Speaker Nabih Berri announced that he was not only against raising petrol prices but also against any taxes that would affect the poor, namely those proposed in the n.9 agenda along with the budget's draft. Lebanon, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Media's freedom restricted
Journalists and legal experts agreed that free access to information was not a reality in the Arab world, and discussed ways to protect national cultures from the risks of globalization. Lebanon, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Russian foreign minister in Cairo in coming days
It is expected that the Russian foreign minister's discussions with officials in the region will concentrate on the idea of assigning a permanent Russian envoy to the peace process similar to the US and European envoys. Egypt, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Egyptian parties request Qatar stop sending invitations for Mena
The Egyptian Committee for Combating Normalization requested that the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa, cancel the MENA conference due to be held next month. Egypt-Qatar, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Yemeni opposition parties discuss higher committee of election
According to the constitution, the parliament should elect a new committee within six months after the election. The recent election was held on April 27, but parliament has not yet held the election. Yemen, Politics, 10/7/1997 - Sudanese opposition leader Garang in Cairo soon
An External Relations official in the People's Front for Liberating Sudan confirmed that the Sudanese opposition leader John Garang will visit Cairo during the last days of October. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 10/7/1997 - No blame for roadside bomb
Regarding the bomb blast that killed Khadijah Al Hajj, 45, and her son Ali, 14, on Sunday, the committee "condemned this action and those who carried it out" without casting blame on any one party. Lebanon, Politics, 10/7/1997 - A Sudanese physician tried soon in U.K.
Dr. Mahgoub, a Sudanese physician will be tried soon in Scotland on the charge of torturing opposition figures in Sudan as a favor to the Sudanese government. Sudan, Politics, 10/7/1997 - A tamer Sheikh Yassin is back
Israeli and Palestinian sources alike were busy over the past few days trying to analyze the impact on Palestinian domestic politics by Sheikh Yassin's return to the Gaza Strip with most Israeli observers believing his return would step up suicide attacks by Hamas activists against Israel. Palestine, Politics, 10/6/1997 - Here we go again, this time its Kuwait's turn to shoot Iraqis
Iraq's permanent envoy to the Arab League, Nabil Negm, submitted an official letter to the secretary-general informing him that two Kuwaiti patrol boats opened fire on Iraqi coast guards within the territorial waters of Iraq. Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 10/6/1997 - Imamship in Al Ansar sect to freeze
A source in Sudan confirmed that Ahmed El Mahdi has abandoned the post of Imam in the Al Ansar sect for the time being. Sudan, Politics, 10/6/1997 - The United Nations Relief and Work Agency reduces services
The statements said that reducing services aims to settle the refugees in diverse areas and to prevent them from returning to their homeland. Palestine, Politics, 10/6/1997 - GCC civil defense meeting
GCC civil defense directors opened their ninth meeting in Doha yesterday. Gulf Region, Politics, 10/6/1997