Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 2/18/2002

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of February 18, 2002

• Bouteflika, Gaddafi meet in Libya Libya-Algeria, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Bush to al-Assad: we are committed to peace, based on UN resolutions and Madrid conference
  In his cable of congratulations he sent to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Eid al-Adha, the US President George Bush said that the US is still committed to the realization of a just and comprehensive peace based on UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Morocco voices utter opposition to any discussions of sahara partitioning
  The Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation expressed in a statement released Friday its utter opposition to any discussion on a partition of the Sahara territory and cautioned against the extremely dangerous nature of this proposal for stability in the whole region. Morocco, Politics, 2/23/2002
• King Abdullah speaks on the telephone with Saudi defense minister Jordan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Moroccans of Sahrawi descent turn down any proposal harming Morocco's territorial integrity
  Moroccan of Sahrawi descent, mainly heads of tribes, dignitaries, elected officials and former members of the Polisario separatists, have expressed total refusal to the Sahara partitioning proposal as it harms Morocco's territorial integrity and their attachment to their national identity. Morocco, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Jordanian FM underlines importance of next Arab summit Jordan-Regional, Politics, 2/23/2002
• US discuss Saudi ideas on peace settlement with Israel
  Asked that this would mean that all of the territories and all of the borders would go back to June 6th, 1967, Boucher said "That was the Saudi statement, yes." He added "We agree with our policy that we've always said, and that's (UN resolusions) 242, 338, Land-for-Peace Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Hillary Clinton to holds an official visit to Israel Israel-USA, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Fatah and the Saudi crown prince peace initiative with Israel
  The central committee of the Palestinian national liberation movement Fatah has warned against the grave consequences implied in the initiative of the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz concerning finding a settlement for the Arab- Israeli conflict. Palestine-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Austrian Federal FM Expected in Morocco Next Week Morocco-Austria, Politics, 2/23/2002
• One Israeli settler killed, clashes continue between Israelis, Palestinians
  A source close from the Israeli settlers said that one Israeli settler was killed by a Palestinian on Friday to the north of Jerusalem in the West Bank. The incident took place on a road close to Anarout airport to the north of Jerusalem when the settler was hit by the Palestinian bullets when he was riding his care. The identity of the killed settler was not disclosed. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/23/2002
• The Czech stresses its policy in support of ME peace
  Zeman compared Arafat to Hitler and said that Arafat and the Palestinians should not be negotiated with. Palestine-Czech Republic, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Israeli sources lifting siege imposed on Arafat Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/23/2002
• A decisive meeting for the Sudanese opposition
  It will be chaired by the coalition's chairman Muhammad Othman al-Meirghani and attended by the leaders of the south Sudan's rebel group John Garang and all members of the leadership's commission and the executive bureau in order to discuss the current political issues and the track of a comprehensive political solution. Sudan, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Israel encourages migration of Argentineans to Israel Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/23/2002
• France declines to comment for the moment on UN report on Sahara
  France said on Friday it does not wish for the moment to comment on the UN secretary general Kofi Annan submitted Wednesday to the security council, as debates in the Security council have not yet started. Morocco-France, Politics, 2/23/2002
• G- 8 urged to play an active role in the Middle East
  The Canadian foreign minister Bell Graham on Thursday announced that Canada intends to make use of its current presidency of the G- 8 so as to call on the leaders of its member states to play an active role in the Middle East. Palestine-Canada, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Palestinian Authority urges international community to halt Israeli aggression
  The Palestinian Authority has called on the international community to "double efforts and political and diplomatic moves to halt the Israeli aggression against the unarmed Palestinian people." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Israeli - Palestinian security meeting
  US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday speaking about the Israelis and Palestinians that "There has been, in fact, a trilateral security meeting last night, which we consider to be a very positive development." Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Iraq intercepts American, British planes
  An Iraqi military spokesman has announced that the Iraqi anti aircraft means on Thursday evening intercepted American and British planes while flying over south Iraq and "forced them to flee away." Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Moussa: A Lebanese appointed as commissioner for Arab expatriates affairs
  Arab diplomatic sources in Cairo said that the general secretariat of the Arab League (AL) studies the nomination of one Lebanese living abroad to the post of the commissioner general for the affairs of Arab expatriates. Regional, Politics, 2/23/2002
• Al-Assad hold talks with al-Hariri, Hammoud in Rome, bilateral relations Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Morocco's fm confers with British peer
  International issues of common concern, especially the situation in the Middle East and security in the Mediterranean, were also surveyed at the meeting. Morocco-UK, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Thirty women to sit in Moroccan Parliament
  Under the new organic law, the 325 members of the House will be elected at the direct universal suffrage according to the list voting system, the minister said. Morocco, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Al-Assad meets with Pope John Paul
  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday concluded his visit to Italy by a meeting with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Syria-Vatican, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Al-Assad, Mubarak to meet very soon Egypt-Syria, Politics, 2/22/2002
• CIA official: Libya is not behind the Lockerbie incident Libya-USA, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Bush's message to Arafat on Eid al-Adha Palestine-USA, Politics, 2/22/2002
• France: Sharon's policy doesn't solve anything
  After mounting and wide ranging criticism from Israelis and outsiders against Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon policies' against the Palestinians, Sharon reiterated yesterday his idea to create "buffer zones" to protect the Israelis. Palestine-France, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Morocco, Britain sign inmates transfer accord Morocco-UK, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Europe will not support a U.S. attack on Iraq
  The French ambassador said Europe will not support U.S. military action against Iraq saying the US "would be on their own," Iraq-France, Politics, 2/22/2002
• On Mubarak's visit to the US
  Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher has stressed that the talks the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to hold during his next visit to the US by the beginning of March with the US President George Bush will deal with the deteriorated conditions in the Middle East region and the efforts made to revive the ME peace process. Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Jordan refuses to release three Hizbullah members
  In its Thursday's issue, the Lebanese daily Assafir said that the Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri informed the Hizbullah leadership the refusal of the Jordanian King Abdullah II to release three of its members who were arrested in Jordan two months ago while working for smuggling weapons to Intifada forces in the occupied West Bank. Jordan-Lebanon, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Nine Palestinians killed by Israel, tens wounded
  Nine Palestinian were shot on Thursday and tens others were wounded while the Palestinian held funerals for 7 persons who were killed by Israel on Wednesday in Gaza, amid massive demonstration in Rafah and al-Salaam, Brazil and al-Breij camps vowing continued Intifada. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Arab League chief stresses opposition to striking Iraq, summit urgently need
  The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa has warned that if a just solution for the Palestinian question is not reached stability will not be attained in the region. He stressed that Israel's attempts to liquidate the Palestinian questions reveal its ill desire to attain a just solution for this question. Regional, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Security Council to debate new responses to middle east crisis 'shortly'
  The UN Security council agreed to hold a debate shortly to consider new responses to the Middle East crisis. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Israel bombards Arafat's headquarters for the second time
  Palestinian officials said that Israeli Apache helicopters fired on Thursday at dawn two missiles at a building close to the office of the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat in Ramullah in the West Bank. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Sahara partitioning proposal inapplicable, former official
  Former advisor to the late King Hassan II, Abdelhadi Boutalib, stressed on Thursday the UN secretary general's option to partition the Sahara territory is inapplicable given the nature of the local population made of several tribes. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/22/2002
• US suspends peace talks with Sudan
  US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday that there has been another incident in Sudan, where the government forces attacked civilians saying "the government needs to explain what's going on. On the one hand, the government is talking about reaching peace in these regions, and on the other hand, they are bombing civilian aid workers, and we find it hard to continue the peace efforts until this gets an adequate explanation." Sudan-USA, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Kuwait voices support for Saudi crown prince's initiative
  The Kuwaiti first deputy for the prime minister and the foreign minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad has announced his support for the initiative made by the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on "conditional" normalization with Israel. Kuwait-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Israeli ambassador in Rome summoned by FM over inappropriate statements against Syria
  The Italian foreign ministry has informed the Israeli ambassador in Rome that his recent statements against Syria are inappropriate by an Israeli diplomat accredited in Italy at a time when an official visit is being paid by the Syrian President Bashar al- Assad to Italy. Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/22/2002
• Algeria seeks to create vassal state in Moroccan sahara, diplomat
  Morocco's permanent representative to the United Nations, Mohamed Bennouna, on Tuesday accused Algeria of seeking to create a vassal state in the Moroccan Sahara. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Al-Assad gets a telephone call from Mubarak Syria-Egypt, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Morocco renews rejection of any project or proposal meant to harm its territorial integrity
  The Moroccan political class was unanimous to denounce the Algerian initiative, included in Tuesday's report of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Security Council, to partition the Moroccan southern provinces as an evidence to Algeria's expansionist schemes in the region. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Arabs are serious to attain peace, UAE minister says United Arab Emirates-Palestine, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Seventeen Palestinians killed in Israeli aggression at cities of West Bank, Gaza
  Some 17 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in several cities and villages in the West Bank and Gaza, during air, land and sea and violent battles that took place between Palestinians and the Israeli forces which once again broke into the cities of Ramullah, Nablus and Khan Younis. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Maher confers with Vidovin Egypt-Russia, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Sharon must stop military attacks on Palestinians
  Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Thursday that Israel must stop the military operations against palestinians and that acts of revenge between Palestinians and Israelis had to come to an end. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/21/2002
• On al-Assad's visit to Italy Syria-Iraq, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Jamal Mubarak warns against striking Iraq
  Member of the general secretariat of the Democratic National Party in Egypt Jamal Mubarak has warned against the consequences of directing a military strike by the US against Iraq, stressing that this will be not in the interests of anyone. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Maher confers with British ambassador Egypt-UK, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Three cooperation agreements signed between Syria, Italy
  In the second day of Syria's President al-Assad's visit to Italy, President Bashar al-Assad met with the Italian prime minister and discussed with him prospects of technical and economic cooperation and three cooperation agreements were signed between the two countries covering the areas of investment, the environment and tourism cooperation. Syria-Italy, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Rumsfeld: our existence in Saudi Arabia will be amended, but not shortly
  The US defense secretary Doland Rumsfeld said on Wednesday that the American presence in Saudi Arabia will be re-arranged certainly in future but this will not be made shortly. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Jordan decided to cancel Eid celebrations in solidarity with the Palestinians Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 2/21/2002
• The Guardian criticizes British policy towards Israel
  The Guardian concludes saying "Blair says the conflict is beyond moral judgment, and yet there are few confrontations that are so black and white in terms of morality Israel-UK, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Peres regrets he did not give immediate independence for Palestinians
  The Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres has admitted the mistake committed by Israel in not giving the Palestinians their independence, immediately. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Israeli settlers call for expelling Arafat Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/21/2002
• France: US support for Ariel Sharon blocking any progress
  In an intervew given by M. Hubert Vedrine, France's minister of foreign affairs, to the "RTL" program "l'invite de richard arzt" and asked "is US support for Ariel Sharon blocking any progress towards a political solution? " Vedrine said "This support is encouraging Ariel Sharon to continue with a course of action which can lead only to deadlock, even though the Israeli army is very strong." Palestine-France, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Algerian president meets with parties secretaries
  The Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika on Wednesday started political consultations with the secretaries and heads of the Algerian parties, represented in the parliament on the forthcoming legislative and municipal elections. Algeria, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Morocco Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince's Initiative on Middle East
  Morocco on Thursday welcomed recent statements by Saudi Arabia's crown prince Abdallah Ibn Abdelaziz, on the Middle East conflict. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Cairo welcomes statements made by Saudi crown prince over ME issue
  Egypt has welcomed statements made by the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in which he stressed continued Israeli occupation of the Arab territories obstructs the possibility of normalizing his country's relations with Israel. Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Moroccan-British Talks in London
  Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, conferred in London on Thursday with Peter Hain, secretary of state at the British foreign office in charge of European affairs. Morocco-UK, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Minister Aridi in an open dialogue with university students
  Lebanon's Information Minister, Ghazi Aridi, considered today that despite endorsing the Taef Accord and the peaceful situation Lebanon has been living in ever since, the internal scene is still linked in various sides with the incidents in the region. He added that freedom is a positive characteristic of Lebanon that shall not fall, and it is attached to democracy. He referred herein to the need for an open political discussion in the country at all levels Lebanon, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Rumsfeld says Pentagon won't lie to public
  US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has denied that the Defense Department's new Office of Strategic Influence has plans to place false and deceptive information in the U.S. or foreign press to advance the war effort. Regional-USA, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Sit-in of Solidarity with Palestinian People in Rabat
  The sit-in is a message to the US and European leaders telling them that the Moroccan people, like other Arab peoples, cannot tolerate the massacres and aggressions against the Palestinian people, Secretary General of the Moroccan association of support to the Palestinian struggle, Khalid Soufiani Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Arab League prepare foreign ministerial council's agenda
  Dangers of Israeli nuclear weapon and of Israeli mass destruction weapons on Arab security and making the middle east area free of mass destruction weapons will be also included in the agenda, added the Arab League secretary general. Regional, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Peres cancels visit to Spain
  The Israeli foreign minister Shemon Peres on Tuesday canceled a visit he would have held today to Spain. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/21/2002
• Mubarak phones Jordan's King, receives Saudi intelligence chief Egypt-Regional, Politics, 2/20/2002
• King Mohammed receives CIA chief Morocco-USA, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Al-Assad's views on regional issues
  President Bashar al-Assad said that Syria has never set any conditions on achieving peace in the Middle East. "We always say that Syria does not have certain conditions at all ... when Syria speaks about the bases for peace, it refers to the necessity of implementing Security Council resolutions and Madrid’s terms of reference," he told the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera on Thursday, February 14, 2002. and published today. Syria, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Sudan rejects any US attack against Iraq Iraq-Sudan, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Syrian president in Italy
  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday started a visit to Italy described as to strengthen "the axis of the good" and "Arab- European relations," in his fourth visit to a western state since he assumed presidency and his first since the incidents of September 11. Syria-Italy, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Iraqi delegation holds talks in Turkey Ankara Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Arafat welcomes statements by Saudi crown prince on Israeli- Arab solution
  For the first time Saudi Arabia has talked about normalization of relations with Israel, but in the context of a settlement in the Middle East based on UN resolutions. Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Kuwait: we will not be the base to strike Iraq
  Kuwait on Tuesday announced it will not be the base for the American forces to striking Iraq and stressed that what was stated of deploying 200,000 American troopers in Kuwait for this purpose is "just a rumor that aims at increasing sympathy with Iraq and defaming Kuwait." Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Moussa confers with Vidovin Regional-Russia, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Six Israeli soldiers killed in a palestinian attack
  The killed Palestinians are Mariam al-Bahaeysah (36year old), her daughter Mouna Sami al-Bahaeysah ( 14 year old) and Abdul Wahhab al-Najjar ( 19 year old) in Khan Younis from one family Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Moussa, Arafat reciprocates messages Regional-Palestine, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Hammoud confers with French ambassador Lebanon-France, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Turkish minister and Iraq Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Algerian intellectual defends the Arabic language
  The chairman of the Algerian society in defense of the Arab language Othman Saadi has expressed his hope that the general secretariat of the Arab League will not ratify the agreement signed recently by the Arab League Education, Cultural and Scientific Organization ALECSO and the Franchophonic organization. Algeria, Politics, 2/20/2002
• French scientists denounce Israeli oppression policy Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Kuwait: Islamic parliamentarians seek to open al-Ghabra file
  Kuwaiti Islamic parliamentarians called on the Kuwaiti minister of information Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd to provide them with information about the Kuwaiti media office in Washington since it was run by Shafiq al-Ghabra whose participation in a seminar with Israelis raised great controversy in Kuwait. Kuwait-Israel, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Sarid calls on Ben Eliezer to stop Israeli army activity in Gaza Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Mubarak-Bush meeting, most important one in Egyptian-US contacts Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Saudi Arabia: Our curricula does not provoke terrorism
  The Saudi minister of al-Awqaf ( Islamic Trust) Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh has condemned the "repressive writings" which held the educational system in Saudi Arabia responsible for the emergence of "terrorist" groups, considering this phenomenon resulting from "wrong understanding of certain texts and for the feelings of Muslims, especially in Palestine." Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Morocco's fm starts work visit to London
  Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, arrived here on Wednesday for a two-day work visit to Great Britain. Morocco-UK, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Sheikh Sabah represents his country to Beirut Arab summit
  A Kuwaiti official source said that the ruler of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al- al-Sabah has assigned the deputy premier and foreign minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah to represent Kuwait at the Arab summit to be held in March in Beirut. Kuwait-Regional, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Saudi Arabia got no official request from Afghani governments on wanted persons
  The Saudi minister of the interior prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz has renewed his assertion that the Saudi authorities until Monday afternoon did not get any official request from the Afghani government over handing over persons wanted in the case of killing the Afghani minister of civil aviation. Saudi Arabia-Afghanistan, Politics, 2/20/2002
• After Laayoune, Italian lawmakers meet Moroccan officials in rabat
  After a stay in Laayoune where they met local officials, a group of Italian lawmakers held on Tuesday in Rabat a series of meetings with Moroccan officials, including prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 2/20/2002
• The scenarios of striking Iraq
  The Kuwaiti paper al-Seyasah said in its Monday's issue, according to Gulf diplomatic sources that the scenarios of the American military strike of Iraq have become clear and agreed upon. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Facts not enough to persuade people, US Pentagon considers fabrication of news
  "The Pentagon is developing plans to provide news items, possibly even false ones, to foreign media organizations as part of a new effort to influence public sentiment and policy makers in both friendly and unfriendly countries, military officials said," the New York Times reported yesterday. Regional-USA, Politics, 2/20/2002
• U.N. Secretary General Proposes Four Options to Settle Sahara Issue
  UN Secretary general, Kofi Annan, recommended on Tuesday to the security council to extend by an addition 2 months the MINURSO mandate in order to have enough time to make a decision on the four options he proposes to settle the Sahara issue. Morocco, Politics, 2/20/2002
• An Israeli Arab party
  The Kuwaiti daily al-Seyasah said in its Tuesday's issue, according to western diplomatic circles in the Jordanian capital Amman that there is an inclination in certain Israeli forces which support the peace process to found an Israeli party in the Arab states, similar to the Arab parties in Israel. Regional-Israel, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Morocco, Canada review cooperation
  Relations between Morocco and Canada and Morocco's role in Africa were the topic of a meeting held here Tuesday between Canada's secretary of state for Latin America, Africa and Francophony and Denis Paradis and Morocco's minister of transport and merchant navy, Abdeslam Znined. Morocco-Canada, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Maher says US presence in Sinai a sign of interest in the region
  Maher expressed his own viewpoint that any change now in the structure of the US contingent would be ill-timed, as the presence of US forces symbolized Washington's interest in peace in the region. Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/20/2002
• Al-Assad starts visit to Italy Syria-Italy, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Sharon fails to dictate military solution Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Saudi Mufti calls for unifying Arab ranks
  The general Mufti in Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah on Monday called on the Arab and Islamic states to unify their world and position to withstand the heavy events and conditions imposed on the Arab and Islamic nations. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Al-Shara meets with the Swedish ambassador Syria-Sweden, Politics, 2/19/2002
• US to found a central leadership base in Bahrain
  The British Tabloid "The Sun" issued on Monday said that the US is intending to found a central leadership base in Bahrain in order to supervise the land war to be carried out by some 200,000 US soldiers from Kuwait under the cover of intensive air bombardment operations against Iraq from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey as well as planes carriers in the Gulf. Bahrain-USA, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Congo President arrives in Sudan Sudan-Congo, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Understanding between the People's Congress and Garang movement
  The statement criticized the "repressive and oppressive measures carried out by the regime in Sudan against the People's Congress" and condemned "the violation of human rights and non abidance of international norms." Sudan, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Somalia: 15 persons killed in battles between government supporters and opposers
  Eye- witnesses aid that battles took place on Monday morning between groups opposing or supporting the Somali provisional government in the city of Bardira to the southern part of the country resulted in killing 15 persons and some other 40 were wounded. Somalia, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Arafat's price to attend the Arab summit Palestine-Regional, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Two Palestinian operations near Jerusalem, Gaza, four soldiers killed
  One Israeli woman settler and two soldiers were killed and many other soldiers were wounded in a "suicide" operation in which the Palestinians attacked an Israeli armored vehicle in Gaza on Monday. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Egyptian diplomat calls for releasing sailors arrested by Israel Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Maher, Richard Hass discuss peace process
  Maher dismissed as "a trick nobody would buy, the Israeli government's concentration, at present, on holding talks with Palestinian legislative council speaker Ahmad Korei. Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/19/2002
• A telephone call between al- Shara, Hammoud Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Report: Iraqi rebel group balk at US proposals
  The Christian Science Monitor reported last week that Ayatollah Mohammad Bakr al-Hakkim, leader of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) the leader of one the armed Iraqi opposition groups in Iran says "he doesn't want Washington's help." Iraq, Politics, 2/19/2002
• European agreement on an independent performance towards ME developments
  A source at the European Commission has stressed that the countries of the European Union have agreed on the main headlines for the policy to be pursued in the Middle East. Palestine-European Union, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Italian legislators call for settling Sahara issue
  A group of Italian lawmakers underscored in Laayoun on Monday the importance of settling the Sahara issue to establish peace and stability in the Mediterranean basin. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 2/19/2002
• A meeting for EU, GCC foreign ministers
  The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states will hold a meeting in Madrid on February 28th with their counterparts at the European Union. Gulf-European Union, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Israeli official describes israeli siege of president Arafat as stupidity
  Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, Abraham Burg, criticized as "stupidity" Ariel Sharon's aggressive policy and siege of President Yasser Arafat in his headquarters in Ramallah, which has been imposed since December 2001 Israel-Palestine, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Israeli council for peace calls for unilateral withdrawal
  Giving a powerful boost to the growing peace camp in Israel, the Council for Peace and Security has announced plans to launch a campaign calling for a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and most of the West Bank, reports the Palestine Media Center. Israel-Palestine, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Saudi embassy in Kabul re-opened
  The Saudi embassy in Kabul on Monday re-opened its embassy in Kabul following five months of closure following the attacks which targeted the US in September, 2001. Saudi Arabia-Afghanistan, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Maher meets Irish lawmakers
  Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher met Monday with an Irish parliamentary delegation, currently visiting Egypt. Egypt-Ireland, Politics, 2/19/2002
• Arab follow up committee meets in Cairo Regional, Politics, 2/19/2002
• King Mohammed meets UAE's Sheikh Zayed
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI held in Abu Dhabi Monday a meeting with Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyane, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Al-Assad gets a telephone call from Aznar Syria-Spain, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Tenet informs Mubarak of US determination to strike Iraq Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Bahrain dissolves Shoura council to prepare for parliamentary elections
  The King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Saturday ordered dissolving of the appointed Shoura council and thereby paved the way before making free parliamentary elections for the first time in 27 years. Bahrain, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Mubarak confers with Norway's foreign minister Egypt-Norway, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Al-Qaddafi, Aznar discuss bilateral issues Libya-European Union, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Israel's policy to impose security by force is failure Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Al-Assad, Mubarak to meet very soon, paper says
  The Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal said in its Sunday's issue that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad will be meeting with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt very soon in order to hold consultations on developments of conditions in the Palestinian territories and the international initiatives debated to revive the Middle East peace process. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Mubarak gets a message from al-Qaddafi
  al-Tureiki stressed that the message relates to the current Arab condition and latest developments of the situation in the ME, the issue of Sudan, as well as Libyan- Egyptian bilateral relations and means of developing them. Egypt-Libya, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Time to reconsider UN sanctions against Iraq
  Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Sunday that it was time to reconsider the UN sanctions against Iraq. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Powell responds to mounting criticism of US stand on Iraq
  Canada's Toronto Star said Prime Minister Jean Chretien stood firm that the war on terrorism does not extend beyond Afghanistan. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Thousands of Israeli pro-peace supporters call on Sharon to end occupation Israel-Palestine, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Maher, Petersen review regional,international issues
  Talks focused on several issues including the-situation in the Middle East, Sudan, Iraq and issues of mutual interest, he added. Egypt-Norway, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Palestinian Intifada retaliates Israel's attacks
  former Israeli army chief of staff Amnoun Shahak admitted the failure of the military solution in the occupied Arab territories. He stressed that this policy has made things more complicated and froze the international efforts while Youssef Labid, the chairman of Shenwe bloc at the Israeli Knesset expressed his regret over the policy pursued by Sharon against the Palestinians. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Jordanian foreign minister confers with Russian ME envoy
  The Jordanian foreign minister Marwan al-Maashar on Sunday in Amman discussed with the Russian ME special envoy Andre Vidovin conditions in the region especially on the Palestinian arena. Jordan-Russia, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Moussa, Turayki discuss means to restore Arab solidarity
  Secretary-General of the Libyan People's Committee for African Unity Abdul Salam Al Turayki hailed efforts exerted by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa to deal with the Iraqi-Kuwaiti state of affairs. Libya-Regional, Politics, 2/18/2002
• President Saleh and Cheney's tour
  The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has stressed that the issue of the Arab- Israeli conflict will be the focal point in the discussions to be held by the Yemeni President with the US Vice President Dick Cheney who will visit Yemen in the framework of a tour in the region. Yemen-USA, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Arab follow up committee meets today
  The 10 states members at the Arab follow up committee of the recent Arab Summit holds a meeting today ( Monday ) at the level of its representatives at the Arab league to discuss the draft report which will be submitted to Beirut's summit. Regional, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Iraqi opposition figure describes aftermath of Saddam Hussein
  Maj. Gen. Najib al-Salehi who was nominated by certain Iraqi opposition forces to be the President of Iraq has stressed his care to open a new page of relations with countries ajoining his country. Iraq, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Saudi Arabia to reopen its embassy in Kabul
  The Saudi daily Okaz issued on Sunday said that an official Saudi delegation will have headed on Sunday for Kabul to reopen the Saudi embassy there. Saudi Arabia-Afghanistan, Politics, 2/18/2002
• New facts in Lockerbie incident
  The director of the Sudanese legal reforms and training institutes Awad al-Hassan al-Nour has disclosed new facts emerged in the Lockerbie case, noting that these facts might change the course of the case. Libya, Politics, 2/18/2002
• Sorour calls for bridging cultural gab between both flanks of Mediterranean
  Narrowing the scientific and technological gap between the two flanks of the Mediterranean Sea is a must as disparity in the level of development can harm their relationship, said Egyptian People's Assembly Speaker Ahmad Fathi Sorour. Egypt-European Union, Politics, 2/18/2002

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