Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 2/2/1998
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of February 2, 1998
- Arab media: Clinton will strike due to sex scandal
Many in the Arab states are questioning why the US insists on applying the United Nations' charter to Arab countries such as Libya, Iraq and Sudan, while ignoring UN and Security Council resolutions against Israel, including resolution No. 425 that provides for Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon without any restrictions or conditions and resolutions No 242 and 338. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Kuwaiti messages to Gulf leaders; plan to remove Iraqi leadership
Sheikh Jaber Ahmed El-Sabah, sent private messages to Gulf leaders and to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, tackling coordination between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is currently headed by Kuwait. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Jordanian PM meets with Arab League chief
Al-Majali and Meguid reviewed the latest developments in the Iraqi governmental crisis with the UN. They also discussed the efforts being made to solve the crisis by diplomacy methods. Jordan-Regional, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Algerian government, parliament discuss security situation
The national public council, along with the government and heads of six parliamentary factions, will begin today a general discussion concerning the security situation in Algeria. Algeria, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Eritrea - Sudan Sudan-Eritrea, Politics, 2/7/1998
- Sadam Hussein releases the Arab prisoners in Iraq Iraq, Politics, 2/7/1998
- Phone conversation between Presidents Gaddafi and Zeroual
Libyan sources said that the talks addressed the Iraqi crisis with the United Nations and that the Libyan president asked for a serious Arab stance to confront the U.S.. Libya-Algeria, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Egyptian activity to suppress terrorism
On Tuesday the deputy of the Yemeni Ministry of Interior, Colonel Mohammed Mather, will visit Cairo heading a security delegation to hold talks with Egyptian officials. Egypt-Yemen, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Conference to discuss influence of terrorism on labor
It will also address creating an activity plan for the organization and its incorporation of labor training and retraining, safety, vocational health, protecting women laborers and child labor. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 2/7/1998 - European delegation to visit Algeria tomorrow
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said that a European parliamentary delegation's visit to Algeria will not include regions that have been sites of terrorist massacres. Algeria, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Farouk Qaddoumi to visit Damascus this week
Farouk Qaddoumi, the chairman of the political circle in the Palestinian Liberation Organization, will visit Damascus on Monday within annual consultations between the two sides. Palestine, Politics, 2/7/1998 - Israel: we'll do what we want, international order for the weak
Kahalani said his ministry will persist in offering all aid asked for by occupied Jerusalem municipality and the Interior Ministry to pull down Arab-owned houses and build new settlements units. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Afro-Arab summit concluded, common economic council established
Libyan President Gaddafi was chosen as chairman of the first current session of the coalition and Tripoli, Libya as its headquarters. North Africa, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Turkey to resume dialogue with Syria
Hakmatar's talks are likely to be followed by meetings between the two countries' ministers of foreign affairs and interior prior to resuming meetings of the joint technical committees on waters, borders and security Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Sudanese president for uniting Arab, Islamic ranks
Bashir said that more than at any time before, Arab and Islamic states need to unite efforts and settle disputes Regional-Sudan, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Jordan's crown prince receives Algerian minister
Crown Prince Hassan discussed with the minister bilateral relations between Jordan and Algeria. They also reviewed the efforts being made to contain the crisis between Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the UN. Jordan-Algeria, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Palestine negates reports of military preparations against Israel
A high-level Palestinian security source has denied reports of Palestinian arrangements for a confrontation with Israel, saying this news is untrue. Palestine, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Iranian Parliament Speaker arrives in Beirut
The Iranian parliamentary speaker said he would discuss with Lebanese officials bilateral relations, including parliamentary and economic ties, in addition to latest developments in the Middle East. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Cairo confirms its commitment towards Sudan's sovereignty
Cairo confirmed its commitment to and respect for Sudanese sovereignty and the importance of combining efforts to achieve a Sudanese reconciliation and to terminate the fighting in Sudan. North Africa-Sudan, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Former Iranian President to visit Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 2/6/1998
- Lebanon, Mongolia establish diplomatic relations Lebanon, Politics, 2/6/1998
- Mubarak meets with Eritrean president, Italian Mps
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and President Asyas Afworki of Eritrea on Thursday held bilateral talks at the conclusion of Afworki's three-day visit. Egypt-Eritrea, Politics, 2/6/1998 - French Foreign Ministry secretary arrives in Damascus today Syria, Politics, 2/6/1998
- Social cooperation between Jordan and Tunisia
Mamsar reviewed the role of the Ministry of Social Development regarding combating poverty and unemployment, developing local societies, family, childhood, handicapped and support of volunteer and social work. Jordan-Tunisia, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Truce monitors condemn roadside bombing
The five-nation monitoring committee had discussed four complaints filed by Lebanon and one Israeli complaint, each accusing the other side of violating an April 1996 U.S.-brokered understanding that prohibits attacks on civilians. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/6/1998 - Egypt says Iraq will allow UN inspectors in presidential sites
In Baghdad, the Iraqi authorities told the French envoy they are in agreement with basic components of the French initiative launched by President Jacques Chirac to solve the Iraqi crisis with the UN. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Military act against Iraq unjustifiable: Nouri
Khaddam says Israel practices aggression, violates UN resolutions and launches attacks against the Lebanese, the Palestinians and Syrians, and "we" miss any sound confrontation of these Israeli practices, adding that Israel has constantly defied and prevented the UN Security Council Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Arab diplomatic efforts underway to resolve Iraq situation
Esmat Abdel Meguid, the secretary-general of the Arab League, headed to Baghdad at the authorization of Egyptian President Mubarak, who acted as the head of the Arab summit. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/5/1998 - King Hassan appoints Socialist party secretary as premier
Al-Yousifi is expected to propose to the King a coalition government in which the National Rally for Independents led by former Premier Ahmad Osman will occupy a ranking position. Morocco, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Ras Al Amoud settlement in East Jerusalem: A time bomb is ticking again
"The situation," said Husseini, "is tense, terrible and dangerous, just like it was on the eve of the 1987 uprising and the construction in Ras Al Amoud is liable to be the spark that lights the fuse. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Palestinian opposition ask Arafat to refuse negotiations with Israel
Six Palestinian opposition organizations and factions asked Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to stop U.S.-sponsored negotiations which aim at resuming the peace path with Israel. Palestine, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Syrian President reviews developments with Iranian Shoura chief
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Wednesday discussed with the speaker of the Islamic Shoura council in Iran, Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, developments and conditions in the Arab and Islamic arenas. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/5/1998 - 23 Jordanian deputies want minister out over song and dance
They said that the minister had agreed that Jordan Television would broadcast the Third Festival of Arabic Songs which was held in Amman last week. "Those shows included scenes that were out of customs and national morals," the deputies said. Jordan, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Moratinos and Santer to discuss peace process halt
The special envoy of the European Union to the Middle East, Miguel Moratinos arrived in Cairo today for talks concerning ways of enhancing the Arab-Israeli peace process. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 2/5/1998 - More Palestinians arrested Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/5/1998
- A message from ruler of Kuwait to prince of Qatar Qatar-Kuwait, Politics, 2/5/1998
- Italian MPs arrives in Damascus today
During the visit, the delegation will hold political and parliamentary talks with several Syrian officials. Syria, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Report: Arafat names successor Palestine, Politics, 2/5/1998
- Iraqi parliament meets Iraq, Politics, 2/5/1998
- Defector rebel returns to rebel fold Sudan, Politics, 2/5/1998
- Mediterranean group in Luxor today
Ambassador Muhammad Fathi El-Shazli will deliver Egypt's address today at the inauguration in Luxor of the annual meeting of the Mediterranean Forum. Regional, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Kuwait envoy on Gulf tour to discuss Iraq crisis
Kuwait's minister of state for Cabinet affairs, Abdul Aziz al-Dakhil, on Wednesday arrived the United Arab Emirates Gulf-Kuwait, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Libya, Eriterea to establish diplomatic relations at high level Libya, Politics, 2/5/1998
- Libyan Spanish bilateral relations reviewed
Secretary of the the people's committee for foreign relations and cooperation in Libya, Omar al-Muntasir, on Wednesday met in Tripoli met with a Spanish state official for foreign cooperation. Libya, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Jordan's Lower House opposes any attack against Iraq.
Jordan's Council of Deputies on Wednesday condemned threats of a military attack against Iraq, concerning the escalation of Iraqi standoff against the UN. Jordan, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Arab League chief in Jordan for a two-day visit
On his return back from his three-day visit to Baghdad, Friday, Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid, will start a two-day official visit to Jordan. He is to meet with Jordanian senior officials. Regional, Politics, 2/5/1998 - Algeria condemns human rights report for inaccuracy
The Algerian government has condemned the annual human rights report published by the American State Department. Algeria, Politics, 2/5/1998 - The problems of the Egyptians workers in Qatar
Some of the Egyptian workers' contracts that were prematurely terminated by Qatar would have ended in 1999. The Qatari authorities also replaced the Egyptian workers with other expatriate workers. Egypt-Qatar, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Syrian PA, Iranian Shoura Council chiefs stress strong ties
Qaddoura briefed the Iranian delegation on the development of democratic life in Syria and stressed the depth of good relations between Syria and Iran. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Palestinian lawyers say no to Israeli counterparts
The warning followed reports that the Israeli Bar Association is planning to launch joint ventures along with Palestinian and Jordanian lawyers. Palestine, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Iranian, Iraqi FM's talk on crisis
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kaharazi on Tuesday in a telephone call with his Iraqi counterpart Muhammad al-Sahaf stressed his country's rejection of US threats to use military force against Iraq. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Libya, Sudan, Niger presidents meet on African issues
Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the president of the Republic of Niger, Ibrahim Minasra. North Africa, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Israel frees 8 Khiam detainees Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/4/1998
- UAE government benefits United Arab Emirates, Politics, 2/4/1998
- New Moroccan prime minister Morocco, Politics, 2/4/1998
- Algeria, Jordan for promoting bilateral relations
Jordan's Prime Minister Dr. Abdul Salam al-Majali today discussed with the Algerian minister of information and culture, Hamzawi Habib Shaqi, current developments in the region. Jordan-Algeria, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Moroccan party criticizes US ME policy Morocco, Politics, 2/4/1998
- Syrian vice-president, Premier meet with Hariri Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 2/4/1998
- Fugitive
Kuwaiti Interior Minister Muhamad El-Khaled Al-Sabah yesterday stressed that his country was not offering shelter or asylum for any fugitive terrorists. Kuwait, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Panama's leader in Egypt
The Latin American leader, accompanied by a high powered delegation, will hold talks with president Hosni Mubarak on means of fostering bilateral cooperation. Egypt, Politics, 2/4/1998 - Albright wraps it up in Cairo, Abdel Meguid in Iraq today
Secretary Albright put a positive tone on her regional tour saying that she got clear support for a diplomatic solution from the many Arab states and that the Arab states support demand compliance with UN resolutions, adding that Iraq will be to blame for the consequences of not complying with such resolutions. Regional, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Iraq to open new sites, Arab solution sought
Many Arab leaders do not hold the Iraqi president in high esteem, and are faced with the dilemma of how to not cause further harm to Iraq and its people Iraq, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Positive developments: Qatar, Bahrain on phone with Mubarak
Minister of Foreign affairs Sheik Hamad bin Jassim said "We in the state of Qatar do not seek to create crisis and we hope it to end if there was any crisis." Regional-Egypt, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Syrian Golan citizens clashed with Israeli soldiers
Reports from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights said clashes had erupted between the Syrian people of the Golan and Israeli occupation soldiers during the Eid al-Fitr holidays. Syria, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Libyan President meets with El-Bashir
The presidents of Libya, Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic will hold a specialized summit for the African desert countries today in Trabols. North Africa, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Syria warns from striking at Iraq
Syria has warned that using military force against Iraq will lead to more complications in Middle East. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Fatah movement calls for an urgent Arab summit
Fatah, headed by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said the Palestinian choice of peace is "strategic, provided it leads to just peace" but it warned that if just peace is not attained in the region "all options are open for the Palestinian people." Palestine, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Differences in the Algerian Parliament
The heads of the parliamentary coalitions had reached an agreement through which they will open a discussion of the Algerian security situation after the majority was convinced by the verbal answer offered by the government. Algeria, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Yemeni President, Saudi crown prince discuss bilateral relations Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 2/3/1998
- Arafat prisoner release Palestine, Politics, 2/3/1998
- Jordanian crown prince receives a communication from US secretary of state Jordan, Politics, 2/3/1998
- Jordanian FM informs Parliament on Iraqi crisis development
Jordan's Foreign Minister Fayez al-Tarauneh briefed the Parliament's Arab Affairs Committee on developments in the Iraq-US crisis and its consequences on the region in general and Jordan in particular. Jordan, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Turkish initiative to end Iraqi crisis Turkey-Iraq, Politics, 2/3/1998
- AL secretary to visit Iraq to defuse crisis
Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid today said he intends to head to Iraq to meet with Iraqi officials in an attempt to defuse the Iraqi crisis. Monte Carlo radio reported. Regional, Politics, 2/3/1998 - OIC concern over plans to strike Iraq
OIC secretary Ezzeddine al-Iraqi stressed increasing tension in the Gulf region is a result of the deterioration of relations between Baghdad and the UN committee in charge of dismantling Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Erekat meets with Moussa, El-Baz
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, met separately yesterday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and Osama El-Baz, president Mubarak's political advisor. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 2/3/1998 - Hope for an end to Iraqi crisis
Despite the harsh rhetoric being issued by the parties involved in the UN - US - Iraq inspection team crisis, a glimmer of hope seems to exist for a solution to the standoff, despite continued US threats of military action. Iraq, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Jordan warns against explosion of Iraq situation
"No Arab country should use weapons against any other Arab nation," he said. Saddam Hussein "requested that all Arabs to commit to confront, militarily, the state that breaches," this principle, the king said. Jordan, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Egypt and Jordan calling for diplomatic solution to Iraqi crisis
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has called on the international community to solve the crisis with Iraq through diplomatic methods. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Albright fails to move forward, but keeps the ball in play
Albright's meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials on Saturday and Sunday have obviously brought no real results except for the fact that both sides agreed to send emissaries to Washington to resume contacts there under US auspices. Regional, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Algeria prevents Sheikh Abbas Madani meeting Salvation Front leaders
The Algerian government has prevented Sheikh Abbas Madani, the leader of the Islamic Salvation Front, from receiving leaders of the outlawed front. Algeria, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Iraqi crisis discussed between Jordan and Iran
"We have to do the utmost to solve the crisis peacefully, because military escalation will result in aggravation of the situation," Khatami said. He said that Iran would cooperate in that direction. Jordan-Iran, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Jordan refused its airspace and borders for US attack
Jordan refused to allow its airspace to be used by any parties if the crisis between Iraq and the US escalates and Washington resorts to military action, an authorized governmental source reported. Jordan, Politics, 2/2/1998 - PLO sets rules of comprehensive peace
The Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee set the rules for any progress in the stalled peace process in the Middle East and said that without those elements being taken into account, comprehensive peace in the Middle East will remain as far as it has always been in the past. Palestine, Politics, 2/2/1998 - Argentine president in historic visit to Beirut Lebanon, Politics, 2/2/1998
- Meetings of Egyptian-Lebanese Higher Committee
The meetings will focus on following up the results of previous meetings which were held in Beirut and which focused on boosting commercial and security cooperation. Egypt-Lebanon, Politics, 2/2/1998