Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 1/12/1998
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of January 12, 1998
- Disputes in Algeria concerning European delegation's visit
Algeria announced its approval of a European delegation's visit after massacres in which as many as 1,400 civilians have been killed during the current month. Algeria-Regional, Politics, 1/17/1998 - Libya asks OPEC to reconsider oil production increase
The Libyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum said it is ready to do without the increase in its production quota which had been approved by the OPEC Libya-Regional, Politics, 1/17/1998 - Kirbeini Kawanin appointed as deputy Sudan, Politics, 1/17/1998
- River navigation resumed between Egypt and Sudan Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 1/17/1998
- Hussein: Inspections will stop of sanctions are not lifted Iraq, Politics, 1/17/1998
- Hamas - Arafat Palestine, Politics, 1/17/1998
- Abu Mazen warns of talks' failure
Mahmoud Abass Abu Mazen, the executive committee secretary for the Palestinian Liberation Organization, has warned of failure for American - Palestinian peace talks between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and US President Bill Clinton. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/17/1998 - Uganda, Egypt move toward closer ties
Preparations are underway for a meeting of the Egyptian - Uganda higher committee due to take place in Kampala during the first half of this year. Egypt, Politics, 1/17/1998 - Algerian sources accuse the Islamic Group of massacres
Sources in the Islamic Salvation Front accused the Armed Islamic Group of being responsible for the massacres committed in Relizane in the west of Algeria at the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Algeria, Politics, 1/16/1998 - Kuwaiti members of parliament question the Minister of Information
Islamic members of the Kuwaiti parliament said they intend to submit a questionnaire to Minister of Information Saud Naser Al Sabah as they believe that he is responsible for selling banned religious books in Kuwait. Kuwait, Politics, 1/16/1998 - New US ambassador in Cairo off to a rocky start
The new American ambassador to Egypt expressed his regret regarding the non-participation of Egypt and other regional leaders in the Middle East and North Africa economic conference. Egypt, Politics, 1/16/1998 - King Hussein warns against retreating from peace
"There has been a minority among each side who would impose their agenda upon us; many tragedies took place in Hebron, Israel and the Palestinian territories," he said. Jordan, Politics, 1/16/1998 - Shaath: catastrophe is ahead of us
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat again warned of a new cycle of violence in the region if his forthcoming visit to Washington and his summit meeting with US President Bill Clinton. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/16/1998 - Arab parliament to support Algeria against terrorism
The Arab Parliamentary Union, headed by Dr. Fathi Serour, decided to hold a conference in Algeria soon to discuss terrorism and the massacres in Algeria. Regional-Algeria, Politics, 1/16/1998 - Labor Party leader meets UNIFIL chief
Yossi Beilin, a member of the Israeli Knesset, met with Maj. Gen. Joije Konrote, at the United Nations headquarters in Jerusalem, few hours after a booby-trapped video-tape exploded at a crossing on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Israel-Lebanon, Politics, 1/16/1998 - Algeria rejects Lebanon initiative Lebanon-Algeria, Politics, 1/16/1998
- Iran - Iraq relations Iraq-Iran, Politics, 1/16/1998
- Ritter - Iraq Iraq, Politics, 1/16/1998
- Syrian-Egyptian summit convenes in Damascus
"We reiterated the need not to weaken our resolve in facing the new developments and to remain strong" Syria-Egypt, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Iranian Revolutionary Guard proud of 1979 occupation of US embassy
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard renewed its support for the operation that led to the occupation of the US Embassy in Tehran and taking its staff as hostage in 1979. Iran, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Galal el-Said elected chairman of Moroccan parliament's second chamber
Dr. Mohammed Galal El-Said, the previous parliament's chairman and a prominent member in the Constitutional Union party, was elected as the speaker of the second chamber of the Moroccan parliament. Morocco, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Arabs need to check on Iraqis conditions said cleric
The head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Iraq Mohammed Baqer Al Hakim, leader of the Iraqi Islamic Shiite opposition, called for checking on the living conditions of the Iraqi people by examining prisons, hospitals and areas that have been subjected to coercion by the Iraqi government. Iraq, Politics, 1/15/1998 - No change on Vatican's Jerusalem stand
The Vatican's Foreign Ministry reiterated the Vatican's solid stand in rejection of recognizing Israel's self-declared sovereignty over Arab Jerusalem. Palestine, Politics, 1/15/1998 - UAE reaffirms Palestinian rights
Sheikh Hamdan called upon the international community, especially the peace process co-sponsors, to pressure Israel to stop placing obstacles before the peace process, namely to halt the building of Israeli settlements. United Arab Emirates-Palestine, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Cairo hosts meeting of Arab tourism ministers
Deliberations of the extraordinary meeting of the council of the Arab ministers of tourism started on Wednesday, chaired by Egyptian Tourism Minister Mamdouh al-Baltagi Regional, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Lebanon seeks end to Algerian bloodbath
The Algerian crisis was not on the agenda of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting. But recent violence in the north African country nevertheless found its way to the ministers' table. Lebanon-Algeria, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Yemeni President to visit Riyadh
Arab diplomatic sources in Riyadh expected President Saleh to visit Saudi Arabia in the last week of Ramadan. The Lebanese daily al-Nahar said on Thursday. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Israeli protest against redeployment Israel, Politics, 1/15/1998
- Russia - U-2 Iraq, Politics, 1/15/1998
- Algeria - UAE United Arab Emirates-Algeria, Politics, 1/15/1998
- Ritter - Iraq Iraq, Politics, 1/15/1998
- Arab MPs support Cairo - Syria makes distinction
In his address to the conference, Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly Abdul Qader Qaddoura noted the need to distinguish between systematic state terrorism practiced by Israel and people's legitimate struggle for liberating their lands. Regional-Syria, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Kuwaiti-Qatari relations reviewed Kuwait-Qatar, Politics, 1/15/1998
- Lebanon pullout
Israeli defense minister Yitzhak Mordechai said yesterday Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon would be impossible unless the Lebanese government demonstrated that it could take charge of security in the area. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Israeli court sentences four Syrian people from the Golan
The Israeli military court in the occupied town of Lida on Tuesday passed a multi-year imprisonment sentence against four Syrian citizens in the Golan. Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/15/1998 - Eyptian information minister: visit for bilateral consultations
The Syrian information minister discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Safwat al-Sharif bilateral relations between Syria and Egypt, especially cooperation in the field of information. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 1/15/1998 - US vs Iraq: Deja vu all over again
Aziz expressed his doubts that Iraq will see the sanctions lifted soon, saying that the UN inspection team with its current composition is being used as a "game to keep sanctions." Iraq, Politics, 1/14/1998 - Mubarak arrives unannounced in Damascus
In parallel with the presidents' closed-door meeting, Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam and Egyptian Premier al-Ganzouri held a meeting, while the Egyptian and Syrian ministers held another meeting. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 1/14/1998 - No more redeployment maps - Israel piles demands
The Israeli ministerial team preparing maps that determine the scope of the second phase withdrawal of Israeli troops has stopped its work in light of continued differences in guidelines presented by both defense minister Yitzhak Mordachai and infrastructure minister Ariel Sharon Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/14/1998 - El-Bashir not specific on date of his visit
Sudanese parliament head Hassan El-Torabi will not participate in the exceptional conference for the Arab Parliamentary Union to be held in Luxor today. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 1/14/1998 - Yemen denies harboring Egyptian terrorists
Yemen denied the existence of 500 Egyptian terrorists in its territories and said, "It has nothing to do with truth. We do not have any terrorists of any nationality." Yemen-Egypt, Politics, 1/14/1998 - Vedrine says talks in Damascus rich, useful
Vedrine said the financial protocol signed by France and Syria on Tuesday -- the first of its kind in 10 years -- will greatly push bilateral relations forward Syria, Politics, 1/14/1998 - King Fahd calls for Muslim solidarity
Saudi Information Minister Fuad al-Farisi stressed that the unanimous consent of the Arab ministers of the Interior on the draft bill to fight terrorism would consolidate cooperation among Arab states to combat and eliminate all forms of terrorism. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/14/1998 - King Hussein meets with Palestinian president
King Hussein of Jordan late yesterday night met with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. They discussed Palestine-Israel issues and the latest efforts being made to push the peace process forward. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 1/14/1998 - Kurd negotiations Iraq, Politics, 1/14/1998
- Algeria arrests FIS leader Algeria, Politics, 1/14/1998
- Cairo hosts UAP conference today
The extraordinary session of the Union of Arab Parliamentarians starts deliberations in Luxor city today to voice Arab solidarity with Egypt in her confrontation of criminal acts aimed at undermining its national stability. Regional-Syria, Politics, 1/14/1998 - Hussein praises Washington's efforts in the region Jordan, Politics, 1/14/1998
- Iranian, Egyptian relations discussed by foreign ministers
The two ministers exchanged viewpoints concerning developments in the world and their impact on the Islamic world. Egypt-Iran, Politics, 1/14/1998 - Palestine rejects Israeli demands and conditions
Yasser Arafat will present in his upcoming summit meeting with US President Clinton next week an updated list of Israeli violations of the interim agreements between the PLO and Israel. Arafat will stress the urgency of an effective role to be played by the US in order to move the peace process forward. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/13/1998 - Jordan: No political motive behind assassination on Iraqi diplomat
"There were no political motives for the assassination attempt; it was not related to the nature of the diplomat's work or post," a governmental source said. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 1/13/1998 - Sudanese parliament chairman agrees to meet Sudanese opposition leader
Sudan will regulate a referendum next April on a new constitutional project. Hassan El-Tourabi said, "This constitution fulfills future and present necessities, as the coming governments will not be able to adjust it according to their needs." Sudan, Politics, 1/13/1998 - King Hussein receives French foreign minister
The French Foreign Minister, in a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Fayez al-Taraunah before he departed Jordan, said that France would do its best to revive the peace process, but France is not going to have new initiatives, he added. Jordan, Politics, 1/13/1998 - France for unconditional Israeli pullback from Lebanon
Following his talks with President Hrawi,Vedrine stressed that the critical situation in the Middle East must not continue unabated, and the stalemate in the peace process must be ended. Lebanon, Politics, 1/13/1998 - Moussa meets with Libya's Ghazali
They discussed bilateral relations between Egypt and Libya, methods supporting them, and development in all fields. In addition they discussed the high joint Egyptian - Libyan committee's works. Egypt-Libya, Politics, 1/13/1998 - Arab countries study activating Arab - European dialogue
The meeting aims to study relations between Arab and European countries in light of the regional and international developments witnessed by the region. Regional, Politics, 1/13/1998 - Nehnah: Massacres nourished by Algerian system's errors Algeria, Politics, 1/13/1998
- Bahrain for a new page with Iraq
In a statement, Sheikh Mubarak called upon Iraq to abide by UN resolutions so its embargo can be lifted. Gulf-Iraq, Politics, 1/13/1998 - Principal convict in the explosions in Eden is a Syrian outlaw
After the disappearance of the leader of the Fighting Pioneers, most of his followers scattered in Europe while a few remained in Jordan. Yemen-Syria, Politics, 1/12/1998 - Hizbullah leader turns down Israeli offer
"There will be no negotiations, no discussion of strategies, arrangements or security guarantees" until Israel withdraws its troops from the south, Nasrallah said Sunday. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 1/12/1998 - Sudanese opposition leader ready for reconciliation
Sadiq Mahdi, the former Sudanese prime minister, told reporters he was supporting dialogue to forge national reconciliation in this country. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 1/12/1998 - Netanyahu survives no-confidence vote Israel, Politics, 1/12/1998
- Libya: US has double standard Libya, Politics, 1/12/1998
- Iraq to deny Ritter access Iraq, Politics, 1/12/1998
- FIS calls for massacre inquiry Algeria, Politics, 1/12/1998
- El-Bashir will arrive soon in Cairo
The Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs, arrived today in Cairo on a short visit to meet Amr Moussa to discuss arrangements for President Bashir's visit to Egypt. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 1/12/1998 - French Foreign Minister begins regional tour in Beirut
Vedrine, who heads a 25-member delegation, inaugurated Monday morning a new French consulate in Beirut in the presence of Boueiz and French diplomats. Lebanon, Politics, 1/12/1998 - Rafsanjani to visit Saudi Arabia in February
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former Iranian president, will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia in February, accompanied by a high-level delegation. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 1/12/1998 - Sheikh Yassin to visit Saudi Arabia soon
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Hamas' founder, will visit Saudi Arabia to receive medical treatment, as the medical care there is advanced. Palestine, Politics, 1/12/1998