Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 1/15/2001

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of January 15, 2001

• Miro starts tomorrow a visit to Tunisia, Libya Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 1/20/2001
• House of Representatives Agrees to Publish Bank Financial Irregularities Investigation Report
  The House of Representatives on Friday unanimously agreed to publish a report by the investigation commission on financial irregularities in the CIH bank and asked the government to start judiciary action against those involved in the irregularities. Morocco, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Turkey defends its diplomatic relations with Iraq Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 1/20/2001
• The Turkish ambassador submitted his credentials to al-Sahaf Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Indonesia foreign minister in Damascus with message to President al-Assad
  Indonesia's foreign minister Alawi Shehab and his wife arrived in Damascus on Friday evening in a visit to Syria in a visit which will last for two days. He was welcomed by foreign minister al-Shara. His wife and high ranking foreign ministry officials. Syria-Indonesia, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Moussa in Libya for coordination of stances
  Moussa said that his visit to Libya comes within the context of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative on the Sudanese reconciliation as well as coordinating stances in the coming period. Libya-Egypt, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Moroccan premier meets Arab ambassadors in Teheran Morocco-Iran, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Palestinians propose to move negotiations with Israel to Taba
  Arafat said that his talks with President Mubarak were positive and constructive, noting that the talks centered on means to deal with the new U.S. Administration and the obstacles hindering the peace. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Moussa to discuss with Powell ME issues
  Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said he will meet soon with incoming US Secretary of State Colin Powell to get acquainted with him and to hold bilateral consultations. Egypt-USA, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Palestinian sources expect Arafat to visit Syria
  The London- based al-Hayat daily in its Friday's issue in a report from Damascus said that Palestinian sources expected the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat to visit Damascus during the two next week to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 1/20/2001
• New intensive Palestinian- Israeli negotiations start tomorrow
  The city of Nablus and surrounding areas witnessed massive demonstrations in which the Palestinians chanted slogans rejecting the occupation and its practices and stressed commitment to national rights. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Palestinian - Israeli secret meetings held in Istanbul
  The two Turkish dailies Millet and al-Joumhoreyah said on Friday that a secret meeting was held between the Israeli and Palestinian sides on Thursday evening in the Hilton hotel in Istanbul with the participation of 26 civilian and military officials under strong security measures. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Mexican president stresses consolidation of relations with Morocco as priority in African policy
  Mexican president, Vicente Fox, cited recently in a meeting with new ambassadors of his country consolidation of relations with Morocco as a priority in Mexican African policy. Morocco-Mexico, Politics, 1/20/2001
• International legitimacy maintains Kuwait's full sovereignty
  Emerging from the meeting, Qanai said that he conveyed to Foreign Minister Amr Moussa a memo on Kuwaiti stance towards the recent threats made by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Aziz and Uday, the eldest son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, against Kuwait. He branded as serious those threats. Egypt-Kuwait, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Sharon sends messages to world leaders Israel, Politics, 1/20/2001
• House of Representatives closes fall session Morocco, Politics, 1/20/2001
• The UN and Iraq Iraq, Politics, 1/20/2001
• Damascus: a new, political non- opposition political party established Syria, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Al-Shara confers with Murphy Syria-USA, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Morocco's premier meets Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Morocco-Iran, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Preparations for the meeting of the Syrian- Libyan higher committee Libya-Syria, Politics, 1/19/2001
• King Mohammed leaves Yaounde Morocco, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Arab follow up committee meets in Amman on January 10 Regional, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Indyk admits dangers of settlements, Arafat calls for negotiations until Israeli elections
  The US ambassador in Tel Aviv Martin Indyk said that the settlement policy and construction of ring-roads in the west bank and Gaza resulted in the decline of the Palestinian confidence in the negotiation process. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Al-Assad receives Lebanese, French delegations, a message and invitation from Chirac
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad Thursday received at al-Shaab palace a delegation representing the Lebanese lawyers. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Morocco to attend the coast and desert states summit Morocco, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Arab League: Arab principles are the base in dealing with Bush's administration
  The Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Ismat Abdul Miguid has stressed the Arab League commitment to the Arab principles and the principles of the peace process, based on the international legitimacy resolutions especially resolutions no 338 and 242 provide for Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands up to June 1967 border lines in Jerusalem, the Golan and Lebanese territories so far left under the Israeli conditions. Regional-USA, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Jordan continues preparations to host the Arab summit
  Jordan's foreign minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib on Thursday met with the Arab ambassadors accredited to Jordan and briefed them on the preparations and arrangements carried out by the Jordanian government to host the Arab summit conference in the meeting for the rotating presidency of the summit in March in Amman. Jordan, Politics, 1/19/2001
• Libya hopes France-Africa summit will become European Union-Africa summit Libya, Politics, 1/18/2001
• A new intellectual forum in Damascus
  al-Jebaei accused the authority of monopolizing the power and the wealth as well " the nationalism" and reduced the level of citizenship to the level of the narrow party level and personal clinging and loyalty to certain sides, so as this power has become the owner of the state Syria, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Egyptian - Iraqi relations beyond diplomatic representation
  Egypt's President Mubarak yesterday received Iraqi Vice President and member of the Iraqi Revolution Command Council Taha Yassin Ramadan, who said following the meeting that they touched on Arab reconciliation. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Khaled Bin Sultan appointed as a deputy defence minister in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Moroccan premier holds talks with Iranian officials
  Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, held on Wednesday a second round of political talks with Iranian first vice-president, Hassan Habibi, who hosted a dinner banquet in honor of Youssoufi. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Sudan: seven opposition members face death penalty
  The Sudanese News agency said on Wednesday that seven Sudanese opposition members, accused of leaking military information to foreign sides and the use of violence against the authorities are facing death penalty. Sudan, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Syria reiterates its backing to Kuwait's unity and sovereignty Syria-Kuwait, Politics, 1/18/2001
• US proposals, peace process discussed
  In statements following the meeting Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said the main principles in the US proposals that have been rejected by the Palestinians and ways to move forward under certain rules and conditions have been addressed. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Egypt, home of all Arabs
  Egypt's President Mubarak yesterday received Jassem Khorafi, the speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly and his accompanying delegation. Egypt-Kuwait, Politics, 1/18/2001
• U.S. delegation rallies Baghdad demonstration on ten year anniversary of war on iraq
  The Iraq Sanctions Challenge, a delegation of 50 activists led by former U.S. Attorney General and founder of the International Action Center (IAC) joined a demonstration in downtown Baghdad on Wednesday marking the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led war on Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Gaza barrier negotiations attain no results Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Egypt-Israel negotiations, complete ideas, good intentions Egypt-Israel, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Turkish daily highlights Syrian - Turkish relations
  The Turkish daily radical has stated that despite the difficulties impeding political relations between Syria and Turkey and the postponement of signing the declaration of principles to normalize bilateral relations because of Hattai ( Al- Iskandaroun Sanjak), however, the two countries have decided to maintain cooperation and carry out joint projects in the fields of gas and oil industry. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Palestinian state must be proclaimed before end 2001, says Zaanoun
  The Palestinian National Council (parliament) is working hard to hold a meeting in order to proclaim a Palestinian state, with Al-Quds as its capital before 2001 ends, said Salim Zaanoun, speaker of the Palestinian National Council (parliament). Palestine, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Saddam Hussein threatens to strike Israel
  Iraq's President Saddam Hussein stressed that Iraq is ready to bombard Israel for six continuous months and this is in the first place to liberate the Arab lands, occupied by Israel in 1967. Iraq-israel, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Iraq tries to escape Ode Saddam Hussein's statements on Kuwait
  Iraq's deputy premier Tareq Aziz said that the request addressed by Ode Saddam Hussein, the elder son of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to the Iraqi national council to draw a map for Iraq including Kuwait, represents " a personal view point." Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Arafat health conditions deteriorate
  The Israeli daily Maareve quoted western sources as saying on Wednesday that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat has started to suffer weakness of his old age and a weakness in his memory, noting that this was surfaced during the few past months. Palestine, Politics, 1/18/2001
• UN chief criticizes not implementing Eritrea, Ethiopia agreement
  The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has criticized both Eritrea and Ethiopia because they bargain details of the both agreement they signed in December 2000 instead of implementing it. Eritrea-Ethiopia, Politics, 1/18/2001
• More people flee Tindouf sequestration camps
  A new 21-member group of Moroccan sahrawis who were sequestered in the polisario-controlled camps in Tindouf (south-western Algeria) and who returned to their motherland Tuesday denounced "the lies used by the mercenaries to mislead them." Morocco, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Bin Ami to visit Turkey on Friday Israel-Turkey, Politics, 1/18/2001
• Moroccan enterprises called to participate in fund raising operations to assist Palestinians
  The Moroccan employers' association La Confederation Générale des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM) has called all Moroccan enterprises to participate in the operation to raise 5 million dollars to assist Palestinians. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Libya to conduct good offices mission between Morocco and Algeria, khaddafi
  Libya would conduct a good offices mission to reconcile the Algerian and Moroccan brothers, Khaddafi told reporters in Tripoli after the second round of talks he held with King Mohammed VI and that he described as "brotherly and important." Libya, Politics, 1/17/2001
• UAE- Egyptian bilateral relations reviewed United Arab Emirates-Egypt, Politics, 1/17/2001
• On the civil socity and reform discussions in Syria Syria, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Iranian- Jordanian bilateral relations highlighted Jordan-Iran, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Jordanian parliament members call on the King to pardon political prisoners
  The parliamentary freedom committee at the Jordanian parliament has submitted a message to King Abdullah in which it appealed to release a pardoning for the political prisoners. Jordan, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Saudi Arabia - Yemen to sign borders demarcation agreement on Saturday
  News reports said in al-Riyadh on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and Yemen will sign on Saturday in Sanaa the border markers demarcation agreement between the two states with the director general of the German Hanza Luftbeilda company which will be in charge of marking the border. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Efforts to revive the Syrian track Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Israel bombards Palestinian towns and villages
  The Israeli forces on Tuesday continued its bombardment of Palestinians villages and towns. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Iraq denies mediation for reconciliation with Saudi Arabia Iraq-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Syrian - Tunisian higher committee meets on January 21
  The Syrian - Tunisian joint higher committee will meet in Tunisia on January 21- 23. It will be chaired by the two countries prime ministers. Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 1/17/2001
• King Mohammed meets Moroccan community in Libya
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI met in Tripoli Wednesday with representatives of the Moroccan community settled in Libya and decorated a number of them with various wissams (decorations). Libya-Morocco, Politics, 1/17/2001
• 84% of al-Jazeera polled support sahara as Moroccan territory Morocco, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Israeli Rabbi calls for re-deployment in Gaza
  The Israeli rabbi Youssef Eil who is the chief of the Israeli settlers rabbis in the settlements of the West Bank has called on the Israeli army to re-occupy the cities of Gaza, Khan Younis and Rafah together with all areas supervised by the Palestinian Authority. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Arab - African organization urges for African union ratification
  An Arab-African non-governmental organization has appealed to African leaders to have the courage to ratify the African Union document Regional, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Egyptian chamber of commerce refuses to deal with Israel Egypt-Israel, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Annan lauds efforts of Group of 77 as Iran takes over its chairmanship
  As the chairmanship of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China was turned over last week from Nigeria to Iran, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the Group would be at the center of all United Nations efforts to respond to globalization while pursuing environmentally sustainable growth. Regional, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Peace and security on the menu of Africa-France foreign ministers Regional, Politics, 1/17/2001
• Syrian ­ Egyptian Presidents hold a meeting Summit in damascus
  President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on Monday held talks "on the complicated situation caused as a result of Israel's non- commitment to peace obligations, its aggression against the unarmed Palestinian people and the holy shines as well as the continuous threats against the Arab people." Syria-Egypt, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Junblat to visit Syria very soon Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Libya denies disputes with Chad
  The people's general committee for African unity in Libya on Monday strongly denied disputes between Libya and Chad, stressing that relations between the two countries are strong. Libya-Chad, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Khaddafi, King Mohammed hold talks in Tripoli
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI who started Monday an official visit to Libya held in the evening tete-a-tete talks with Libyan Leader Mouammar khaddafi. Libya-Morocco, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Muslim brothers back the 1000 Syrian intellectual statement
  the group said that " talking about the change in our country is still hesitant, shy and reluctant," noting the need to open all doors before the people to shoulder their responsibilities to an effective and positive contribution whose benefits will be for all." Syria, Politics, 1/16/2001
• On the Bahraini National document and a general amnesty
  News reports in Manama said that Bahraini figures have called in a first people's seminar held on the national document ( al-Mithaq al-Watani) in al-Bahrain to strengthen the atmospheres of openness in the country through abrogating the Security state law and to release a general amnesty concerning all detainees and to permit the return back of exiled persons. Bahrain, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Libyan official: libya ready to have relations with USA, on basis of mutual respect
  Libya is ready to have with the United States of America relations based on mutual respect, and even cooperation relations, said Abdeslam Triki, secretary of Libya's people committee for African Unity (minister). Libya-USA, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Moroccan premier flies to Iran
  Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, flew Tuesday morning to Tehran on an official visit to Iran at the invitation of first vice-president of the republic, Hassan Habibi. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 1/16/2001
• On the border disputes between Bahrain and Qatar
  The secretary general of the Qatari Cabinet Abdullah al-Muslimani, who is also Qatar's representative before the International Court of Justice in the Hague stressed the possibility of reaching a political settlement for the border dispute between Qatar and Bahrain even before or after the issuance of the decision of the court, but this will be under the conditions of the compliance of the will of the two states. Qatar-Bahrain, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Syrian mediation between Iraq and the Arab Gulf states
  News reports said on Monday that Syria is currently mediating between Iraq and the Arab Gulf members states especially Kuwait in order to normalize relations and open a new page. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Barak and peace with Syria
  In an interview with the Qatari al-Jazira Satellite TV on Monday, the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak said " I believe we were actually close to reaching an agreement with Syria and when time permits peace will be established between Syria and Israel." Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Sudanese efforts to make reconciliation
  The council of coordinating the southern provinces in Sudan banned groups signatories to the Khartoum peace agreement to have its members carrying weapons inside cities. Sudan, Politics, 1/16/2001
• More 630 Sudanese rebellions killed
  Some 630 rebellions and more 1500 others were considered as wounded or missing, in the battles that took place in the recent days between the Sudanese army forces and rebellions from Southern Sudan led by John Garang in the areas of Kubra al-Loul; and the outskirts of Oeil city to the north of Baher al-Gazelle. Sudan, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Oman, Japan to foster bilateral relations Oman-Japan, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Moroccan and Palestinian legislative branches agree to promote Palestinian cause
  Moroccan and Palestinian legislative bodies have agreed to take steps to promote the Palestinian cause within international parliamentary bodies and inform them about the situation in the occupied territories. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 1/16/2001
• Gambian official says OAU committed error with admission of ghost entity Morocco-Gambia, Politics, 1/16/2001
• King Mohammed pays official visit to Libya
  According to latest available figures, trade deals amount to $ 400 million and there were only few joint investments in the private and public sectors. Cultural cooperation is also short of the two people's aspirations. Libya-Morocco, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Butaflika gets a message from Castro Algeria-Cuba, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Mubarak arrived in Damascus
  President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt arrived today in Damascus. He is accompanied by an official delegation including the ministers of information, foreign affairs, electricity, oil, informatics and telecommunications and the President's advisor's for political affairs Osama al-Baz. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Ruler of Qatar gets a messages from Saudi King, Bangladesh's premier Qatar-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Banned weeklies get publishing authorization
  The company of Two of the three weeklies which were banned last December, for "attempting to the state security," obtained an authorization to issue new publications, a judiciary source said. Morocco, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Jordan refuses to settle the Palestinians Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Blockade on Iraq should go no further
  Egypt's Presidential political adviser Osama Al-Baz said that the blockade on Iraq and the prolonged suffering of its people should not continue for good. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Former US official Ramsi Clarck visits Iraq
  An aviation department source has stated that former US justice secretary Ramsi Clarck arrived on Saturday evening in Baghdad from Amman on board of a Royal Jordanian airlines plane in a gesture of solidarity with Iraq against the sanctions imposed on it since 10 years. Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Moratinos mediates for exchanging prisoners between Israel, Hizbullah Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Maghreb Union, imperative for the region, Sahara issue, Moroccan - Algerian problem, Libyan official
  The Arab Maghreb Union is an imperative for the people of the region and for the promotion of joint Arab and African action, said Libyan secretary of African unity, Ali Abdesslam Triki, at a meeting with the Moroccan reporters currently visiting Libya to cover the official visit King Mohammed VI is paying to Libya as of this Monday. Libya, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Libya will spare no effort to ensure total success to royal visit, triki
  Libya will spare no effort so that the official visit King Mohammed VI pays to Tripoli as of this Monday be crowned with total success. Libya-Morocco, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Gambian Speaker in Morocco Morocco-Gambia, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Palestinians never give up sovereignty over Jerusalem
  Mubarak: Jerusalem, land, borders, refugees are issues that neither Arafat nor the Palestinian Authority can give up or bargain with. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Jordanian King gets a message from Barak
  During the meeting, the Jordanian King stressed the need of exerting every possible effort to prevent the waste of time in order to achieve peace according to international legitimacy resolutions and the principles on the ground of which the peace process was built. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Saudi- Iranian joint committee meets on Tuesday
  The Saudi- Iranian joint committee holds meetings of its third session on Tuesday in al-Riyadh under the chairmanship of the Saudi minister of commerce Osama al-Faqih and his Iranian counterpart Muhammad Shareyat Madari.. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Somali accusations for Ethiopia
  Somalia's prime minister Ali Khalaf Jalayed has accused the Ethiopian forces of occupying towns in the Southern West of Somalia and arresting and terrifying Somali forces and providing with arms opposition groups in an attempt to undermine the international efforts to re-building Somalia. Somalia-Ethiopia, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Sudanese opposition leader to return back home
  Well-informed Sudanese sources unveiled that the leader of the Sudanese opposition coalition abroad Muhammad Othman al-Meir Ghani is intending to return back to the country in the near future. Sudan, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Negotiations between the Sudanese government and the opposition
  Well-informed Southern Sudanese sources have revealed that secret negotiations have been conducted between the government and Reyak Mashar in order to convince him to return back to Khartoum to occupy the post of the vice- President in addition to his former post at the presidium of the Southern provinces coordination council. Sudan, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Mossad spy trial started
  The Supreme State Security Court began its first session to try defendant Sherif Fawzi Al Filali on charges of spying for the Israeli Mossad. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Morocco hosts in February Arab childhood forum
  Morocco will be hosting next February the Arab childhood forum that will examine a set of issues related to childhood in the Arab world. Regional, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Attempts to settle the conditions of Hamas leaders
  The Jordanian weekly Sheihan said in its Saturday issue, according to well-informed sources that the foreign minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem al-Thani held by the end of last week a secret visit to Amman during which he conveyed a message from the Hamas leaders who are in Doha Jordan-Qatar, Politics, 1/15/2001
• Saudi, Iraqi Haj arrangements talks
  Minister of al-Haj affairs in Saudi Arabia Eyad Bin Ameen Madani has discussed with the Iraqi minister of al-Awqaf and Islamic affairs Abdul Menem Muhammad Saleh on Saturday in al-Riyadh means of facilitating the process of the Iraqis performance of al-Haj rituals in Mecca, said the Saudi News agency. Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 1/15/2001

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