Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 1/1/2001

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of January 1, 2001

• Associations decry gap between anti-corruption official discourse and measures
  In a press conference held on the eve of the national anti-corruption day, the associations noted the lack of governmental practical measures against corruption in the past year, arguing that intentions should be supported with judiciary and administrative reforms and with actions to fight corruption, favoritism and nepotism. Morocco, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Clinton renews sanctions on Libya Libya-USA, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Mubarak receives report from Arafat on Washington talks
  Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat met in Cairo on Thursday to review the goings-on of peace process in the light of Washington talks. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Moroccan entrepreneurs visit Libya Libya-Morocco, Politics, 1/6/2001
• New Turkish ambassador to Iraq Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Syria and the Palestinian government
  The Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Damascus quoted Syrian sources as saying that they fear talks about disputes between Syria and the Palestinian Authority, concerning the American proposals and that the most that Syria fears is the violation might be made by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority over the national rights issues as a result of pressures he undergoes. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Moroccan FM ends visit to Cairo
  Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, left this Saturday Cairo where he took part in the extraordinary session of the Arab summit follow up committee. Morocco-Egypt, Politics, 1/6/2001
• US congress delegation to visit Morocco jan.11 Morocco-USA, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Al-Hariri visits Iran, Kuwait, France, Japan, the USA Lebanon, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Sfeir shows more flexibility towards Syria
  The Lebanese daily al-Nahar said that sermons of the Maronite patriarch Nasrullah Sfeir have eliminated his tough stances towards Syrian- Lebanese relations and the presence of the Syrian army in Lebanon. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Butaflika names his representatives to the 'second chamber' of parliament
  The Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika has announced the list of members who will represent him at the Nation's Council "the second chamber" at the parliament in the framework of the one " Presidential third" which is appointed for one time for every three years. Algeria, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Libya denounces the decision to extend sanctions on it Libya-USA, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Washington pursues efforts for Palestinian-Israeli deal
  US Ambassador in Cairo Daniel Kurtzer Thursday said he was posted from Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on the outcome of an Arab follow up committee meeting and President Hosni Mubarak's talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat held in Cairo yesterday. Egypt-Palestine-USA, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Aoun opens fire on the possibility of his return back
  Gen. Michael Aoun has escalated his political attack against the Lebanese rule, government, Cabinet and Parliament as well as Syria, in what seemed intending to undermine initiatives which called for his return back to Lebanon and to hold the Lebanese officials responsible for not permitting him to come back. Lebanon, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Top level Ivoirian delegation expected next week in Morocco Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 1/6/2001
• The first stumble in implementing the Eritrean- Ethiopian agreement
  Ethiopia has renewed its position towards Eritrea. It stressed it will not withdraw its forces from the territories of its neighbor unless the government of Asmara will fulfil its obligations relating to redeployment of its troops. Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Iraqi embassy denies news on difficult health conditions of Iraqi president
  The Iraqi embassy in Moscow has strongly denied assertions made by the Western mass media on the difficult health conditions of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Iraq, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Egypt terms use of nuclear weapons as war crime
  To use nuclear weapons is to commit a "war crime" as defined by the basic declaration of the International Criminal Court (ICC) signed so far by 139 countries, including Egypt. Egypt, Politics, 1/6/2001
• Syria: the first paper in the market without control
  The " Sawt al-Shaab" (voice of people), mouthpiece of the Syrian communist party in Syria on Thursday resumed publications in Syria following a cessation of 50 years in another step towards launching political freedoms, on the ground that that this paper will not belong to the government and will not be controlled by inspection and will appear in the stalls like other government's publications. Syria, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Iraqi pilot remains found in the Iraqi desert
  Iraq has announced that laboratory tests carried out by the International Red Cross stressed that the human remains found in the Iraqi desert are the remains of a Saudi pilot whose plane fell during the Gulf war in 1991. Iraq-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Consultations over arrangements for the next Arab summit Regional, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Israeli continues bombardment of Palestinian houses, destroying plants
  The Israeli occupation forces continued escalation of their aggressions against the Palestinian people, and they bombarded the residential areas, demolished houses and bulldozed fruit trees and above all permitted settlers to build new building for settlement. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Morocco will defend kingty over entire national territory
  Morocco will adamantly defend its sovereignty over the entire national territory, minister of culture and communication Mohamed Achaari affirmed Thursday. Morocco, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Talks between Iraq and the UN postponed
  A spokesman for the UN said that high ranking talks between the UN and Iraq aiming at ending a bottleneck concerning the stumbled inspection operation for Iraqi weapons was postponed until February. Iraq, Politics, 1/5/2001
• A row in the Jordanian parliament over evacuation of the Palestinians
  Two Jordanian members of parliament have exchanged insults on Wednesday at the parliament and the situation was about to direct fighting between the two unless other parliament members interfered. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Chirac: no peace without Syria and Lebanon Regional-France, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Arab follow up committee refuses the American proposals
  the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara stressed commitment to the return back of all occupied Arab territories including Jerusalem and the Golan and all the Palestinian territories up to June 4, 1967 border lines without giving up or violating the Arab rights and lands. Regional-Israel, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Casablanca court turns down media-trust application to issue new weeklies
  The Casablanca Administrative court turned down the application by the "Media-Trust" group to issue two new weeklies in replacement of the banned "Le Journal" and "Assahifa." Morocco, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Indonesian parliamentary delegation expected in Morocco
  An Indonesian parliamentary delegation, led by speaker of the people's consultative council, is expected in Morocco this Jan. 23-26 for a work visit. Morocco-Indonesia, Politics, 1/5/2001
• Damascus lifts restrictions on traveling to Iraq Syria-Iraq, Politics, 1/4/2001
• US- British bombardment of Iraqi civil installations
  An Iraqi military spokesman said on Monday that American and British jet fighters on Monday bombarded civil installations to the south of Iraq but the spokesman did not note human casualties. Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Butaflika stresses Sudanese reconciliation
  Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika while visiting Sudan stressed on Monday that his country is ready to play a role in order to restore back peace in Sudan. He called on the sides of conflict to return back to the table of negotiations. Algeria-Sudan, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Syrian President discusses with the Italian minister of the Interior conditions in the region
  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday at the Damascus al- Shaab palace received the Italian minister of the Interior Anzo Bianco and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria-Italy, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Arafat and the American proposals
  The chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat on Monday said that the American reply to the Palestinian questions on the American proposals will be given during the 24 coming hours. Palestine-USA, Politics, 1/4/2001
• On the Syrian- Turkish relations Syria-Turkey, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Arab Follow-Up Committee to meet in Cairo today to discuss US proposals
  Meeting of the Committee assigned with following up the Arab Summit Resolutions under Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa. Regional, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Lahoud, Berri discuss developments on the borders
  Lebanese president Emil Lahoud and the Speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri on Wednesday discussed security developments on the borders in light of the escalated Israeli aggressions against the liberated Lebanese territories. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Arafat initially approves the American proposal for negotiations with Israel
  The PLO representative in Washington Hassan Abdul Rahman said that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat has given his initial consent to the American formula for a negotiation settlement with Israel and that the next step is to be taken by the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak. Palestine, Politics, 1/4/2001
• King Abdullah: No peace unless complete Palestinian rights,withdrawal from the Golan
  King Abdullah II of Jordan has stressed that peace is only attainable through restoration of full rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their own state on their native soil and Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Golan until June 4, 1967 border lines. Jordan-Regional, Politics, 1/4/2001
• January 4 , 2001 reaching peace agreement, possible if mysterious points in US plan became clear
  Egypt's Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Bassyouny said that Palestinians are serious in their endeavors for reaching a final peace. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Al-Shara arrives in Cairo to take part in the meetings of the follow up committee
  The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara met on Wednesday at his residence in Cairo with the Egyptian foreign minister Amr Moussa. Syria-Regional, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Al-Hariri guarantees not to arrest Aoun if he returns back
  The Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri has announced that he guarantees Maj. Gen. Michael Aoun not to be arrested if he returns back to Lebanon. Lebanon, Politics, 1/4/2001
• National congress' wins the majority in the Sudanese elections
  The chairman of the general commission for elections in Sudan said on Sunday that 278 candidates have won the legislative elections will occupy their seats at the national council ( parliament) whose total seats is 360, awaiting for announcing the result of other circles. Sudan, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Saudi minister of the Interior to visit Yemen
  The Saudi daily al-Riyadh issued on Monday in al-Riyadh said the Saudi minister of the Interior prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz will hold an official visit to Yemen during the first half of the current month ( January). Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Morocco, Pakistan Debate Economic Cooperation Morocco-Pakistan, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Egyptian medical aids for Iraq
  A source at the Egyptian" Egypt's Aviation " in Cairo said on Sunday that an Egyptian plane was due to head for Baghdad on Monday carrying a huge delegation of businessmen and huge amounts of medical and humanitarian aids. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Fischler to have more political meetings early next week with Moroccan officials
  European commissioner for agriculture and fisheries Franz Fischler will have more political talks with the Moroccan side early next week, an official of the European Commission (EC) said. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Morocco endeavors to regulate senior officials' salaries, minister Morocco, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Euro-mediterranean leftist parties meet in Casablanca Regional, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Casablanca stock-exchange to get 15 pc of Maroc-Telecom
  Economy, finance, privatization and tourism minister Fathallah Oualalou announced Wednesday 15 PC of Maroc-Telecom capital will be up for grabs at the Casablanca stock-exchange. Morocco, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Baghdad denies news on Saddam's illness
  Baghdad on Wednesday denied news circulated by the Iraqi opposition on that President Saddam Hussein had a heart attack during the huge military parade held in the Capital Baghdad on Sunday. Iraq, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Mauritania defends its normalization of relations with israel Mauritania-israel, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Israel signs the treaty to establish the international criminal court
  Israel on Sunday evening signed the treaty provides for the establishment of the International criminal court which it used to oppose. Israel, Politics, 1/4/2001
• Sharon meets with Netanyahu
  The chairman of the Israeli Likud extremist party Ariel Sharon has stressed that he will halt the Israeli- Palestinian negotiations if he wins the position of the prime minister at the coming Israeli elections. Israel, Politics, 1/4/2001
• An independent bloc inside the Syrian PA
  The Jordanian weekly al-Hilal said in its Tuesday's issue that 21 members of the People's Assembly (PA) in Syria had announced the formation of an independent bloc inside the PA, and that this was the first transformation of its kind in Syria since the foundation of the Syrian PA in 1970. Syria, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Saudi crown prince gets a telephone call from Arafat Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Al-Assad gets message from Sultan Qabous, confers with Lebanese figures
  President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday at 10 a.m. received Sheikh Hilal Bin Salem al-Sayabi, Oman's ambassador in Damascus, who handed him a message from Sultan Qabous Bin Saeed on issues of concern to Syria and Oman. Syria-Oman, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Italian minister of interior in Damascus
  Italian minister of the Interior Anzo Byanco and members of the accompanying delegation in a visit to Damascus which will last for four days. Syria-Italy, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Moussa tackle US proposals, Arab follow-up committee
  Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Tuesday discussed with Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath the US peace proposals on a final Palestinian-Israeli agreement, the Palestinian views on them, and the Arab ministerial follow-up committee, to convene in Cairo on Thursday. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Cabinet to review aspects of the government policy statement
  In this statement, Ebeid will declare the government commitment to accomplish 31 achievements in the new year, with the aim of providing services to citizens, backing economic development, and maintaining subsidy for the limited income categories in achievement of the principle of observing the social dimension. Egypt, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Political leader against exploiting Berber issue for political ends
  Mohand Laensar, leader of the Berber-Oriented Popular Movement party, said he was against the "political exploitation" of the Amazigh (Berber) issue. Morocco, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Arafat heads for Washington
  The chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat left Gaza on Tuesday at dawn for Washington to meet with US President Bill Clinton. Palestine-USA, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Israel closes Rafah crossing, the Jordan valley
  The Israeli occupation forces have closed the crossings in Rafah on the borders with Egypt and the Jordan river crossing between the West Bank and Jordan as from Monday evening. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Iranian dailies criticize statements of the Gulf states
  Iranian dailies issued on Tuesday criticized the statements of the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC recent summit held in Manama especially relating to its position concerning Iran towards the three islands under conflict and expressed regret over this position ( by the GCC member states) towards this issue. Gulf-Iran, Politics, 1/3/2001
• A new minister of the Interior in Qatar
  The ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani on Tuesday in Doha appointed Sheikh Abdullah Khaled al-Thani as a minister of the Interior. A post which was used to be occupied by the prime minister besides his post as a prime minister. Qatar, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Arafat attends arab summit follow-up committee meeting
  Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, is expected in Cairo to attend on Thursday an extraordinary meeting of the follow-up committee, set up last October by the Arab summit. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 1/3/2001
• Iran reiterates refusal of UAE sovereignty on three islands
  The Iranian minister of the Interior Abdul Wahid Mousawi Lari on Tuesday stressed his country's rejection to the demands raised by the United Arab Emirates UAE to have sovereignty over the three Gulf islands, noting that his country will not give an inch of its territories. United Arab Emirates-Iran, Politics, 1/3/2001

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