Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 2/23/1998
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of February 23, 1998
- Cem, Anani conclude talks, affirm call for direct US-Iraq talks
"The King asserted the importance of opening direct dialogue between the USA and Iraq to discuss issues of mutual concern," Annani told reporters. Jordan-Turkey, Politics, 2/28/1998 - Iraqi opposition expects renewal of crisis
Iraqi opposition representatives in Damascus agreed that the crisis over inspecting "presidential" sites in Iraq is not yet over, despite Iraq's signed argeement with the United Nations. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 2/28/1998 - Lebanese minister refutes Israeli premier's statements on withdrawal
Lebanese information Minister Basem al-Sabaa said on Friday that Syria and Lebanon are defending a common right to liberate their occupied territories in southern Lebanon, the western Bekaa and the Golan. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/28/1998 - Khaddam: no peace with occupation; Israel has to abide by UN resolutions
Syrian Vice- President Abdul Halim Khaddam on Thursday said the way to peace in the Middle East is clear: provide for Israel's commitment to UN resolutions, the Madrid's terms of reference, resuming negotiations from the point they stopped at and adherence to obligations approved by the government of Yitzak Rabin. Syria, Politics, 2/28/1998 - Iraq resumes celebrating victory
Iraq resumed celebrating its agreement with the United Nations, praising it as a victory against the United States and a big step toward lifting the sanctions. Iraq, Politics, 2/28/1998 - UN secretary-general's Saharan envoy to Mauritania on Monday
He said registration bureaus in Al-Saragena castle and Sidi Kasem will be opened on March 9 and that he is about to open more new bureaus to absorb all the registrations demands, especially Al-Ouon bureau. Mauritania-West Sahara, Politics, 2/28/1998 - OIC prepares for March meeting
Foreign ministers from the Organization of the Islamic Conference's member states will meet in Doha, Qatar in March to discuss a project proposed by ambassador Ezzedin El-Iraqi, the secretary general of the OIC. Regional, Politics, 2/28/1998 - Moroccan parties refuse to participate in government
The Organization of Democratic Work announced that it will not participate in the Moroccan government being formed by newly-appointed Prime Minister Adbel Rahman El-Youssefi. Morocco, Politics, 2/28/1998 - Jordanian, Turkish FMs for developing bilateral relations Jordan-Turkey, Politics, 2/28/1998
- Saudi Arabia approves Rafsanjani's visit to Shiite districts
The Saudi government's approval of Rafsanjani's visit to these areas is a landmark in the Saudi-Iranian relations which have entered "a new phase," according to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. Saudi Arabia-Turkey, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Palestinians in Jerusalem denied identity cards
Palestinians argue that from the start of the military occupation in 1967, Israel wanted to rid the city of Jerusalem of its Arab majority in order to increase the Jewish presence and achieve a demographic change that would serve its political ambitions in the city. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Khaddam and El-Sharaa will visit Tehran
Damascus had postponed the visit by Khaddam and al-Sharaa two weeks before the last monument, so not to imply that a bilateral alliance formed between the two countries against the US, especially concerning the Iraqi crisis. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Egyptian foreign minister denies crisis with Ethiopia
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, who is participating in the African foreign ministers' conference in Addis Ababa, denied that there is any crisis between Egypt an Ethiopia resulting from "water projects," confirming that Egypt has no objections over the Ethiopian projects. Egypt, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Jordan postpones meetings with Israel
A Jordanian source said the meetings were postponed due to unresolved points between the two parties regarding the preliminary steps for signing an agreement that will arrange commercial relations between the states for the current year. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Pan-Islamic agreement against terrorism
Experts from 24 OIC member countries have drawn up a draft bill for an Islamic agreement to fight terrorism, to be submitted to the OIC foreign ministers during their meeting in Doha in mid-March. Regional, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Celebrating their seventh liberation anniversary, Kuwaitis call for releasing missing Kuwaitis in Iraq Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 2/27/1998
- Qatar for no more cuts in Egyptian labor force
An Arab diplomatic source said that if the Qatari message is officially declared it will be the most important political signal from Qatar of a substantial effort to halt deterioration of relations with Egypt. Qatar-Egypt, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Negotiations between Spain and Algeria
Discussions between Algeria and Spain are currently underway to enhance bilateral relations and combat terrorism. Algeria, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Number of Bus explosion victims rise
The number of victims in the explosion of a bus in the Medea province of Algeria has risen to 10 killed and 16 injured, due to a mine which was set in the vehicle's path. Algeria, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Airport talks still stuck
PLO Executive Committee member Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordachai in Gaza and discussed the outstanding issues of Gaza International Airport. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Saudi Arabia urges France to revive ME peace Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/27/1998
- Saudi - Yemeni relations reviewed Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 2/27/1998
- Jordan for just sharing of waters between Syria, Iraq, Turkey
Jordan's Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Jawad al-Anani on Thursday said Jordan believes in the need for a just partition of waters between Syria, Iraq and Turkey according to international charters. Fertile Crescent-Jordan, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Jordan's prime minister receives Turkish foreign minister
During his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Abdul-Salam al-Majali said that there is a need for tangible steps to revive Palestinian - Israeli negotiations. Jordan-Turkey, Politics, 2/27/1998 - Mossad scandal: update and background
Israel officially admitted its Mossad agents were caught "hot handed" in Switzerland while they were planting listening devices in the country that has very close military relations with Israel and is considered a major consumer of Israeli military products. Israel, Politics, 2/26/1998 - President Mubarak, King Hussein urge Saddam Hussein to abide by UN agreement
King Hussein of Jordan expressed his optimism toward the possibility of holding a meeting between US President Bill Clinton and Saddam Hussein. Egypt-Jordan, Politics, 2/26/1998 - Kuwait: We do not intend to reduce foreign forces
The Kuwaiti minister of defense, Sheikh Salem al-Sabah, said, "We do not intend to reduce the British and American forces within the agreement signed between Baghdad and the secretary-general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan." Kuwait, Politics, 2/26/1998 - Constructive meetings between Turkish and Syrian officials
The spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Najati Otkan, described the talks held in Damascus as very "positive and constructive," adding that Turkey feels satisfied with the results of the visit. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/26/1998 - Turkish Foreign Minister in Jordan today
Cem is to discuss bilateral relations between Jordan and his country with King Hussein, Prime Minister Abdul-Salam al-Majali and Jordan's Foreign Minister Jawad al-Annani. Jordan-Turkey, Politics, 2/26/1998 - Kuwait releases 5 Jordanians Kuwait-Jordan, Politics, 2/26/1998
- German parliamentary delegation arrives in Damascus today Syria, Politics, 2/26/1998
- Communique from King Hussein to the Saudi crown prince Saudi Arabia-Jordan, Politics, 2/26/1998
- Arafat to Netanyahu: Stop evading Oslo agreement
Zeidan ruled out the possibility of Palestinians being able to use the Gaza Airport for their pilgrimage trip to Mecca and Median in Saudi Arabia, due to start 19 March. He said that the Israeli side has delayed the signing of the airport protocol Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Jordan - Iran talk of improving tourism
Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan discussed with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Sader bilateral relations between Jordan and Iran, the UN agreement reached with Baghdad and the results of the Islamic conference held in Tehran late last year. Jordan-Iran, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Iraqi - Kuwaiti disagreement over sanctions report
There were sharp disputes between the Iraqi delegation, headed by Iraq's representative to the Arab League and the Kuwaiti delegation Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Jordan glad Israeli intelligence chief is out
Jordan yesterday welcomed the resignation of the Israeli intelligence agency chief Danny Yatom, who was held responsible for a failed assassination attempt on the life of a Hamas leader in Amman late last year. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Sudanese opposition rejects government's initiative
The Cairo-based northern Sudanese opposition has announced its rejection of an initiative proclaimed by the Sudanese government in assigning its new ambassador to Egypt to acquaint the opposition with the new constitution bill. Sudan, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Hariri - Red Cross Lebanon, Politics, 2/25/1998
- Lebanese-German relations reviewed Lebanon, Politics, 2/25/1998
- Yeltsin for closer cooperation with Syria
Meetings of the Syrian-Russian joint committee recently held in Damascus constructively discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and set up ways to develop cooperation in energy, oil, gas, irrigation, transportation, tourism and the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Syria, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Russian Duma chief arrives in Damascus
In an arrival statement at the airport, Selezev said that his country, as a cosponsor of the Middle East peace process, is concerned with the implementation of UN resolutions. Syria, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Jordan calls for using weapons inspection accord
Jordan called for using the weapons inspection accord to get to the root causes of the crisis involving Iraqi government Minister of Information Abdullah Nusour told reporters. Jordan, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Jordan's Crown Prince calls for focus on Mid East problems
"We hope that the days ahead after the agreements have been read and absorbed will be days in which the international community will continue in a comprehensive manner to look at all the region's problems," he said. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Jordan receives Iranian message
Iranian president and curent chairman of the Islamic Conference Mohammed Khatami sent a letter to King Hussein of Jordan, dealing with the Iraqi crisis and diplomatic efforts to resolve it. Jordan-Iran, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Jordan welcomes Iraq-UN deal
Jordan's King Hussein welcomed the deal signed between the Iraqi government and the UN Security Council as the peaceful solution to the crisis that charged the region most. Jordan, Politics, 2/25/1998 - Palestinians react to Netanyahu's Camp David style offer
Chief negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat said there will be no talks about the final arrangement before Israel completes the implementation of the interim agreement. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Moussa: Iraq agreement creates optimism
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that the agreement reached between Iraq and the U.N. aims at easing the tension in the Gulf region and that it is an essential step toward satisfying international legitimacy demands. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Bahraini intelligence chief sacked
The London-based "Bahrain Liberal Movement" on Sunday said that former British army officer Evan Stuart Henderson was relieved from his post as chief of Bahraini intelligence and was replaced by a member of the ruling al-Khaleifa family, Sheikh Khaled Bin Muhammad al-Khaleifa. Bahrain, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Saudi Arabia for further West-East understanding
Al-Farisi said in a speech he delivered at the third session of the Arab-European information conference today that judgements of Western media concerning the Arabs are unrealistic. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Iraq poses no threat to neighbors: UAE
In a statement Sheikh Zayed added that directing a strike against Iraq is bad and loathsome and would inflict endless problems and damage relations between the West and the Arabs and Muslims. United Arab Emirates-Iraq, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Jordan welcomes the deal between Iraq and the UN
King Hussein of Jordan welcomed the deal and said, " The efforts in the next stage should focus on direct contact between the concerned countries to address the issue of sanctions imposed on Iraq following the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam's forces in 1990." Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Libyan, Saudi officials meet on cooperation
The two sides formed a joint committee comprising experts and specialized technicians representing the two sides and prepared for a security agreement to be signed in conclusion of the talks. Libya-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Relations between Egypt and Qatar improving
Fawaz Al-Ataia, the spokesman of the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said that what happened in relations between Qatar and Egypt was a dark cloud and is it finally terminated. Qatar-Egypt, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Bashir to visit Cairo during the coming days
A Sudanese official source said that Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir will arrive at Cairo within days. Dr. Ahmed Abd El-Halim, the new Sudanese ambassador to Egypt, arrived in Cairo yesterday. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Saharan Shiekhs: tribe members' patience not endless
Shiekhs of Saharan tribes said that they have gotten fed up with attempts to prevent people of Saharan origin from registering on the identity lists to establish their eligibility to vote in the upcoming Saharan self-rule referendum. Morocco-West Sahara, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Turkey fears Syrian-Iraqi cooperation
Sources said the Turks are preparing to face the results of such closeness through improving relations with Iran, noting that Turkish President Suleiman Demirel sent a message to Iranian President Muhammad Khatami underlineding the importance of coordination and cooperation. Fertile Crescent-Turkey, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Meguid expresses optimism toward U.N - Iraqi agreement
Meguid said that the political solution to the crisis will avoid a dangerous situation in the Middle East region that would have led to a disaster threatening the whole area. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Syrian, Belarusian information relations reviewed Syria, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Algerian President meets Japanese envoy
Talks with the Algerian president dealt with economic and technological cooperation between the two countries and the Iraqi crisis. Algeria, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Cairo hosts AL human rights meetings
During its three-day deliberations, the committee will discuss human rights principles, taking into account social, cultural and religious differences. Regional, Politics, 2/24/1998 - A message from Yeltsin to ruler of Kuwait Kuwait, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Israeli intelligence chief resigned over failure to assassinate Hamas chief Israel, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Kuwaitis freed Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Gaza airport Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/24/1998
- A message from Iranian President to ruler of Kuwait Kuwait-Iran, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Chairman of Sudanese Democratic National Assembly to visit Libya
A Sudanese opposition source said the chairman of the Sudanese Democratic National Assembly will head to Libya in the coming days to meet the Libyan president Moammar Gaddafi and hig-ranking officials in the Libyan government. Sudan, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Rafsanjani called for bolstering Arab-Islamic ties
Former Iranian President Akbar Hashami Rafsanjani on Monday called for fostering cooperation between Arab and Islamic states, stressing Iran's desire to maintain closer ties with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 2/24/1998 - New secretary-general for Moroccan Independence Party Morocco, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Vedrine to visit Saudi Arabia next week Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/24/1998
- Manama hosts Arab-European media conference
AL Assistant SG Ahmad Bin Hali told the European-Arab information conference held in Manama on Monday that peace in the Middle East is a pressing need. Regional, Politics, 2/24/1998 - Chirac, al-Assad review current situation in ME region
Chirac briefed Assad on the contents of the talks he held with the UN chief Kofi Annan and on the arrangement reached between the UN and the Iraqi government. The French President said France supports this accord, brokered following Annan's negotiations with the Iraqi government. Syria, Politics, 2/24/1998 - King Hussein of Jordan reacts to chaos in Maan
Following a visit to the Ministerial House the king told reporters, "No one is above the law." Concerning the situation in Maan, the king said, "The situation is calm. Measures have been taken, armed forces as well as police entered the city." Jordan, Politics, 2/23/1998 - Palestinians relieved by Baghdad deal
At his office in the ministry of local government, chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat, listened to the latest news coming from Baghdad on the signing of the agreement between Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He looked very relieved. Palestine, Politics, 2/23/1998 - Turkish diplomat arrives in Damascus
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Ekud Tchitirji, director general of the political department at the ministry, will arrive today in Damascus for an official visit. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/23/1998 - Iranian official: Our forces are on alert
The assistant Iranian foreign minister for African and Arab affairs, Mohammed Sader, said Iranian forces are on alert because of the circumstances in the region. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 2/23/1998 - Bahrain's ruler receives communiques from Bangladesh, Senegal
Sheikh Issa also received a communique from President Abdou Dayyouf of Senegal relating to bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, delivered by Senegal's ambassador to Bahrain during his meeting on Sunday with Sheikh Issa. Bahrain, Politics, 2/23/1998 - Saudi, Iranian agriculture ministers meet Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 2/23/1998
- Russian Duma delegation to visit Damascus tomorrow Syria, Politics, 2/23/1998
- Jordan concerned about demonstrations
Hinting at the decision to ban all demonstrations in Jordan, Majali said that the government would not allow anyone to bypass legal and constitutional channels when questioning the government about its decisions and measures. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 2/23/1998