Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 1/26/1998
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of January 26, 1998
- Britain and US condemn Saudi Arabia and other Arab states on human rights
we question whether the British government is putting too much economic focus on Saudi Arabia noting Britain's, "failure to foresee the likelihood of collapse of the Iranian government and regime and the adverse consequences to Britain of having become overcommitted to the Shah." Regional, Politics, 1/31/1998 - Algeria criticizes statements by Iranian meddling in its affairs
A spokesperson from the Algerian Foreign Ministry described the statements of Ayatollah Seyed-Ali Khamenei holding the Algerian authorities responsible for the Algerian massacres as rousing scorn and resentment. Algeria-Iran, Politics, 1/31/1998 - Yemeni speaker: Setback arises in border demarcation with Saudi Arabia
He was surprised by this setback after progress was made and after Yemeni President Ali Abdalla Saleh had repeatedly stated that the discussions over this issue are nearly over. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/31/1998 - Jordanian economy would face huge losses if US attacks Iraq
"Jordan is still depending highly upon Iraqi oil and Iraq is still the main Jordanian partner in trade," he added. Jordan might lose heavily this time again, al-Annani said. Jordan, Politics, 1/31/1998 - UN Identity Committee lists voters eligible for Western Sahara referendum
Morocco and the Polisario agreed in September 1997 in Houston to hold the self-rule referendum which will put an end to a struggle that started 23 years ago. Morocco-West Sahara, Politics, 1/31/1998 - Negotiations between Sudanese government and opposition in February
Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Osman Mohamed Taha confirmed this news and said Sudan will participate in the direct negotiations that will be held in Nairobi next April. Sudan, Politics, 1/31/1998 - King Hussein receives Bahraini Crown Prince Jordan-Bahrain, Politics, 1/31/1998
- Sudan-Egypt ties
Sudan's state minister at the Foreign Ministry, Bishop Ghabriel yesterday welcomed the "rapid positive developments" in his country's relations with Egypt. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 1/31/1998 - No hopes lifted by Albright's visit Saturday
Palestinian officials believe they have no reason to lift their hopes as US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrives in the region Saturday night since the main scope of her visit "is to try and forge an anti-Iraq coalition and not necessarily to deal with the stalled peace talks between Palestine and Israel. Regional, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Algerian-Libyan relations improve
Algerian-Libyan relations have improved recently after they had been strained following the expulsion of Algerian citizens, who were subjected to beatings in a detention camp in the border center of Al Dayab. Algeria-Libya, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Menem, Mubarak inaugurate a nuclear reactor
The 22-megawatt reactor, which was bought by Egypt from Argentina in May 1997, will operate in the city of Anshas, east of Cairo. Egypt, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Humanitarian societies in Tunisia condemn Algeria massacres
They expressed their anger over the attacks on the Algerian people. The organizations called on the Algerian government to shed light on the recent massacres, identify those responsible for them, and hold trials for those who committed those massacres. Tunisia-Algeria, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Arafat honors Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
Arafat expressed his appreciation for Yassin's role in the Palestinian national resistance while offering the Sheikh a holy Quran during a ceremony held to honor the Palestinian religious leaders. Palestine, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Al Turabi is waiting for a private invitation to visit Egypt
Al Turabi did not respond to two previous invitations from his Egyptian counterpart to attend the conferences of the International and Arab Inter-Parliamentary Federations two weeks ago because the climate during those two conferences was not favorable. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 1/30/1998 - A Jordanian Parliamentary delegation to Kuwait and Syria
The Jordanian Parliament is intended to send a parliamentary delegation to Damascus to discuss the question of the Jordanians imprisoned in Syria. Jordan-Syria, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Iranian envoy meets Hrawi: No dialogue with Washington
Abtahi said he conveyed a verbal message from Iranian President Khatami to the Secretary General of the Hizbullah Party Hassan Nasrallah voicing support for the Lebanese resistance against the Israeli occupation and praising the sacrifices made by the Hizbullah Party. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Netanyahu's statement on the Golan condemned
The Arab League has strongly condemned the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Israel's non-withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan. Regional-Israel, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Algerian Foreign Minister: Britain has become a safe haven for terrorists
In Tehran, the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution Ali Khamenei said the Algerian government is considered responsible for the massacres targeting Algerian civilians Algeria, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Iranian Envoy meets with Hizbullah Chief
Iranian envoy Muhammad Ali Abtahi on Thursday met with the secretary-general of the Hizbullah Party, Hassan Nasrallah. Talks dealt with the continued Israeli aggressions against the areas of south Lebanon and the western Bekaa. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 1/30/1998 - Hariri in Saudi Arabia Lebanon-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/30/1998
- Iraq - sites Iraq, Politics, 1/30/1998
- Saddam: Iraq will fight back Iraq, Politics, 1/29/1998
- On Eid al-Fitr Saudi Arabia calls for a just peace
Saudi Arabia has expressed hope that security and stability will be realized in the world, especially in the Middle East, through establishing just and comprehensive peace. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Israeli official to meet with Baz soon
A top aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will meet with President Hosni Mubarak's advisor, Dr. Osama El-Baz, to discuss the outcome of last week's Washington meetings. Egypt, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Iraq: Crisis is made up
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad al-Sahaf had harsh words for chief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler and said that there is no crisis over the inspections, only one issue to be resolved: access to presidential sites. Iraq, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Sons of Egyptian women may get Egyptian citizenship!
Those sessions are expected to result in a legislative amendment to the current law dealing with conditions for granting Egyptian citizenship in order to solve the problems of hundreds of women. Egypt, Politics, 1/29/1998 - PLO official: Israel misleading US administration
Abbas said Palestinian-American peace talks have achieved no progress, noting that the Palestinians confirmed their commitment to signed agreements. Palestine, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Israeli defense minister to visit Israel-Egypt, Politics, 1/29/1998
- Hamas chief calls for halting cooperation with Israel
The founder of the Palestinian national resistance movement, Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin has demanded halting security cooperation and coordination between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Palestine, Politics, 1/29/1998 - A message from Bahrain's ruler to his Qatari counterpart Bahrain, Politics, 1/29/1998
- Mubarak, Gaddafi talk on bilateral issues Egypt-Libya, Politics, 1/29/1998
- Aziz begins tour to calm down current crisis with UN Iraq, Politics, 1/29/1998
- Syria's Khaddam views on national issues
Those who have normalized relations with Israel or are seeking normalization are taking a very important card away from Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese negotiators and are giving this card to Israel, Khaddam said. Syria, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Lebanese President received a message from Iranian counterpart Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 1/29/1998
- Israel refuses an active European role in ME peace
David Bar-Illan said the Europeans hold stances similar to those advocated by the Palestinians, thereby they cannot carry out the role of neutral broker. Israel, Politics, 1/29/1998 - British foreign secretary to visit Cairo
British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Derek Fatchett will visit Cairo by the beginning of February to discuss the contribution of the European Union, currently headed by Britain, to the Israeli -Palestinian peace process. North Africa, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Israeli defense minister stresses need for dialogue with Syria
Mordechai repeated his stand in refusing to enact a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon without concluding a security agreement with the Lebanese government. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 1/29/1998 - Albright is coming: no progress anticipated
Preparations are underway to receive by Saturday night the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who will arrive in Israel and possibly tour a number of Middle Eastern countries. Palestine, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Al Baz: Egypt rejects military intervention in Iraq
Osama Al Baz, confirmed that Egypt rejects any alliances in the Middle East region, as such alliances will threaten regional security. Egypt, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Intelligence chief in Israel warns of Hamas attacks
Chief of Israel's military intelligence branch, Moshe Ya'alon, told a Knesset security and foreign affairs committee that Hamas had become more radical since the release of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin from an Israeli prison and Mousa Abu Marzouk who was detained in the US. Israel, Politics, 1/28/1998 - France wanders if UN's Butler should leave UNSCOM
France has expressed regret over statements made by the chairman of UNSCOM in Iraq, Richard Butler, in which Butler said Baghdad owns biological weapons able to exterminate Tel Aviv, Israel. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Iranian, Iraqi presidents to meet after feast
The sources did not fix a date for the meeting, which, if it happens, will be the first Iraqi-Iranian summit following the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Donations from UAE children to Iraqi school children
250,000 Iraqi children under 12 are not able to go school, either because they cannot afford to purchase books and pens or because they are obliged to work to support their families. United Arab Emirates-Iraq, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Egypt FM: Sacking Egyptian workers in Qatar is a bad message
Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Tuesday threatened a "tough" answer on the continued Qatari campaign to liquidate the Egyptian labor force in Qatari establishments. Egypt-Qatar, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Constitutional committee revokes ban on political parties
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party expressed his readiness to participate in the current government on condition that the political charter that had been signed recently should be put into effect. Sudan, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Jordan ready to help Algeria
"What is now going on in Algeria is a crime. There have been people slaughtered." "The ugly image of killing spoils our reputation and deforms our image abroad," said Jordanian Foreign Minister Jordan-Algeria, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Israel responds to Butler Iraq comments Israel, Politics, 1/28/1998
- Iranian envoy delivers a message to President al-Assad
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad Tuesday received a communique from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami, during a meeting with Iranian envoy at the Presidential Palace in Damascus Syria-Iran, Politics, 1/28/1998 - Israeli premier: No Golan pullout Israel-Syria, Politics, 1/28/1998
- Jordanian Queen Nour to visit Israel Jordan-Israel, Politics, 1/28/1998
- A modern electoral law for Jordan
Jordan's cabinet authorized a higher commissioner to set up a modern electoral law to make elections easier, Prime Minister Dr. Abdul-Salam al-Majali said. Jordan, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Arafat faces crisis as minister resigns
Palestinian Labor Minister Samir Ghosheh has submitted his resignation over "deep differences with the Palestinian leadership on a number of issues." Palestine, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Khaddam: Turkish-Israeli alliance endangers Arab security
The Syrian vice-president emphasized the need for pushing the peace talks forward, confirming Syria's readiness to resume peace talks from the point at which they stopped. Syria, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Israel demands change in Palestinian national charter
After studying the copy, it was clear Arafat canceled eight of the charter's articles totally and 14 partially. Israeli political circles accused the Palestinian Authority of circumvention. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/27/1998 - King Hussein of Jordan receives Israeli defense minister
"We ought to do the utmost to bring the Middle East peace process back on track," King Hussein stated. "We must to push it toward a complete and permanent peace that secure the rights of all sides," King Hussein said. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Qatar kicks more Egyptians out
Egypt's ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Manis said that the Qatari authorities have terminated contracts of all Egyptians working in Qatari telecommunications establishments. Egypt-Qatar, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Kuwait, Oman review bilateral relations Kuwait-Oman, Politics, 1/27/1998
- The head of the European delegation visiting Cairo
President Hosni Mubarak will meet with Jacques Santer, the head of a delegation affiliated with the European Union, during Santer's two-day official visit in February at the beginning of his tour of the Middle East region. Egypt, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Palestinian state... soon
Ahmad Abdel Rahman, secretary-general of the Palestinian cabinet, said the interim period set by the PLO-Israeli Oslo accord ends in mid-1999. Palestine, Politics, 1/27/1998 - African ties
The AL's assistant chief for political affairs said as long Arabs are eager to "protect their future interests," establishing further political, economic and cultural relations with the African states is inevitable. Regional, Politics, 1/27/1998 - Hizbullah expels maverick sheikh and previous leader
Hizbullah accused Tufeili of inflicting "moral and political" damages on the party's resistance movement. It also accused the sheikh of seeking to create divisions in the ranks of Hizbullah through his actions. Lebanon, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Mubarak calls for fighting terrorism practiced under the name of Islam
Mubarak said, "We have to denounce and condemn those terrorist killers who allege themselves as protectors of Islam, because, in effect, they are the enemies of the 'Almighty God' and Islam." Egypt, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Assad unhappy with America's negligence of Syrian peace track
This resentment appeared during Assad's meeting with 3 members of the US congress, who asked Assad to clarify the Syrian role in supporting Lebanon. Syria, Politics, 1/26/1998 - King Hussein: Middle East passing through a very hard time
Yesterday evening King Hussein and President Mubarak, at the Presidential Headquarters in Cairo, held talks behind closed doors. The meeting was followed by an opening discussion between both delegations. Jordan-Egypt, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Yemen - Eritrea arbitration over Great Henish Island begins
Oral arguments between Yemen and Eritrea will begin Monday in the British capital concerning Henish Island, which was occupied by Eritrea on December 15, 1995. Yemen-Eritrea, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Jordan to seek release of Jordanians in Arab prisoners Jordan-Syria, Politics, 1/26/1998
- Yemeni-Saudi bilateral relations reviewed Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/26/1998
- A message from Gaddafi to UAE President Libya-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 1/26/1998
- Erekat: US asked to recognize Palestine Palestine, Politics, 1/26/1998
- Iraqis say Clinton to deflect attention from scandal by striking Iraq
Iraqi newspapers stated that US President Bill Clinton might authorize a military action against Iraq to deflect attention away from his personal scandals. Iraq, Politics, 1/26/1998 - US-Syrian dialogue to remove Syria from terrorism list
Damascus and Washington have recently initiated a dialogue pertaining to lifting the name of Syria from the list of terrorism-sponsoring states. Syria, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Syrian FM confers with new UNFP representative Syria, Politics, 1/26/1998
- Israeli defense minister in Amman today Jordan, Politics, 1/26/1998
- Iraq notes outstanding issues with Iran
Sahaf said the forthcoming meeting of the Iraqi-Iranian joint committees will be an opportunity to settle certain suspended issues between the two countries. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Saudi king meets with Kuwaiti, UAE officials Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/26/1998
- Iranian envoy visits Damascus today
Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa will visit Tehran on February 14 to take part in the meeting of the Syrian-Iranian higher committee. Syria-Iran, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Salaries raised
Jordan's cabinet during its meeting yesterday decided to raise the salaries paid to members of the Lower House of parliament. Jordan, Politics, 1/26/1998 - Egypt - India ties
Egypt's trade and supply minister met with the Indian state Ministry for Foreign Affairs on means of activating the role of the Egyptian - Indian joint committee. Egypt, Politics, 1/26/1998