Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 11/11/2002
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of November 11, 2002
- Eritrea's Afworki terms talks with Mubarak as successful
Eritrean President Isaias Afworki termed his talks with president Hosni Mubarak as "successful and created stronger grounds for bilateral economic and trade cooperation." Egypt-Eritrea, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Afworki considers Arab League membership; denies presence of Israeli bases
The Eritrean foreign minister invited his counterpart Ahmad Maher to visit Asmara, said Afworki. Egypt-Eritrea, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Jordan: Shbeilat interrogated over provoking violence
The governor of Amman yesterday summoned former Jordanian parliamentarian and chairman of the "Zionism fighting society" and the official for the committee in charge of supporting Iraq, Leith Shbeilat. Jordan, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Completing border demarcation in Eastern area between Saudi Arabia, Yemen
The chairman of the Yemeni side to the border committee between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Abdullah al-Fadli, said that the committee will meet on November 25 in Jeddah to discuss matters relating to the process of field work for the new border marks project, according to the international border treaty between Saudi Arabia and his country. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Bahrain: Demonstrators call for return of former education minister
Some 200 Bahraini persons on Thursday evening held a demonstration calling for the return back of the former minister of education Muhammad Jasem al-Ghanam to the new government which was formed last Monday which he was fired from, and was replaced by Majid Bin Ali al-Nueimi who used to have the post of the president of the university of Bahrain. Bahrain, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Turkey's Ardoghan meets with an Israeli delegation
The Turkish Ikhlas news agency yesterday quoted well-informed sources in Ankara that an undeclared meeting took place last Monday between the chairman of the Turkish Justice and Development party, Rajab Ardoghan, and a high ranking Israeli delegation during which the two sides discussed the future of Turkish- Israeli relations. Israel-Turkey, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Al-Hayat: Syrian- American dialogue
The London- Based al-Hayat daily reported yesterday that one member of a delegation representing the foreign affairs committee at the US Congress thanked the Syrian officials for their role in saving the lives of Americans because of security cooperation between the two sides in the area of fighting terrorism. Syria-USA, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Al-Seyasah: American- Israeli talks concerning Iraq
The Kuwaiti daily al-Seyasah issued yesterday said that talks held on a higher level between the Americans and the Israelis are being held in Washington to study the dimensions of the American war expected against Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Morocco-EU future relations promising, Moroccan fm
Morocco's minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, who is on a working visit to Brussels, said Thursday future relations between Morocco and the European Union (EU) are promising. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 11/16/2002 - British dailies and the American plans against Iraq
The British daily the Independent reported yesterday that the administration of the US President George Bush started training members of the Iraqi opposition on economic matters for the phase following any American attack against Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Al-Lewa: American citizens leave the Middle east
The Lebanese daily al-Lewa' reported yesterday, according to well- informed diplomatic sources, that the US embassies in the Middle East asked its citizens to leave the region before December 7th, just before or during Eid al-Fiter as a maximum date. Regional-USA, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Maher talls Israel: Roadmap purely American plan
The roadmap is a purely American plan to be adopted by Quartet committee, "said Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Arab states ask for buying Turkish waters
The Turkish authorities yesterday stressed that contacts between it and Israel are still ongoing on what is known as "Managfat project for peace waters" and that these contacts seem positive, but the two sides are waiting the political climate to be clarified in the two countries in order to finalize the deal and start exporting waters to Israel. Regional-Turkey, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Arafat commends the Egyptian role in solving the inter- Palestinian differences
The chairman of the Egyptian general intelligence Lt. Gen. Omar Suleiman on Thursday met with the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat in Ramullah. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Morocco and Spain can reach larger, deeper dialogue, Morocco's fm
Morocco's minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, who is on a working visit to Brussels, said Thursday Morocco and Spain can reach a "larger and deeper" dialogue, based on mutual respect that excludes threat and provocation. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 11/16/2002 - Rumsfeld admits meeting with Saddam Hussein Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/16/2002
- Jordanian government: Maan event is a strong message to everyone
By declaring the city of Maan an area free of weapons and its rejection to any mediation dialogue with the chased outlaws, the Jordanian government has stressed its determination to subjugate all armed groups in the country being Islamists or smugglers. Jordan, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Al-Assad, Chirac: Iraqi consent alienate ghost of war
The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the French President Jacques Chirac considered in a telephone call on Wednesday evening that Iraq's approval of the UN Security Council resolution 1441 as "removing the ghost of war from the region." Syria-France, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Afourki denies Asmara's tense relations with Sudan
He continued "we have also talked about the relation between Eritrea and the Arab League, and the political decision might be postponed, but the effective cooperation between Eritrea and the AL continues and we will do our best to strengthen this relation." Sudan-Eritrea, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Death of Muslim Brothers guide Mustafa Mashhour
It was officially announced yesterday the death of the General Guide of the Ikhwan al-Muslimin (Muslim Brothers) group, Mustafa Mashhour, after he had spent two weeks in Coma. Regional, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Al-Hakim conditional cooperate with US; al-Talibani: Iran's support against Ansar al-Islam
The leader of the Kurdistani National Federation, Jalal al-Talibani, announced in Ankara yesterday that Iran vowed to support his party politically and militarily to fight "Ansar al- Islam" ( Islam partisans) suspected to be involved with Bin Laden group. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Arab follow up committee to meet in Damascus on Wednesday
A source in the Arab League announced yesterday that the Arab follow up committee will hold a meeting in Damascus on November 20 and 21 in order to discuss taking a common Arab position towards the ME peace initiatives. Regional-Syria, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Some 30 countries, establishments in Paris 2 conference to support Lebanese economy
The French President Jacques Chirac has extended invitations to some 30 countries and establishments to take part in the "Paris 2" conference which will be held in Paris on November 23 with the aim of supporting financial and economic reforms efforts in Lebanon. Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 11/15/2002 - Moussa denies withdrawal of Libya, Qatar from the AL Libya-Qatar, Politics, 11/15/2002
- Sharon: The Palestinian state is a reality Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/15/2002
- Amnesty International condemns torture practices in Egyptian jails
Amnesty International yesterday condemned the torture practices applied generally and systematically against prisoners in Egypt. Egypt, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Jordanian government strikes mediation effort in Maan, Abu Sayyaf flees, assistant arrested
The Jordanian government has isolated the mediation offer proposed by parties and trade unions to settle the crisis of Maan city, while news reports talked about the fleeing of the wanted Islamists Muhammad Shalabi known as Abi Sayyaf. Jordan, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Iraq approves UN resolution, Russia prepares for talks on lifting sanctions
Iraq yesterday announced its consent of the UN security council resolution 1441 provides for the return of UN inspectors back to Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Lahoud receives al-Assad message, appreciates Syria's position to avoiding the region risks of war
Lebanese President Emil Lahoud yesterday at Baabda palace received the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara who conveyed to him a message from President Bashar al-Assad relating to developments on the Arab and international arenas. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Kuwaiti judiciary fines al-Jazeera TV
The Kuwaiti civilian court issued a sentence to fine al-Jazeera TV in Qatar to pay a sum of 5001 Kuwaiti Dinars as an initial compensation for four Kuwaiti lawyers who filed a lawsuit against its administration and one of its anchors because of openly defaming Kuwait and its people through one of its weekly programs. Kuwait-Qatar, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Oil trade continues between Damascus, Baghdad
Trade relations in London said that the Iraqi crude oil shipment to Syria will continue in December, in what seems to be that Baghdad and Damascus have passed the effect of the vote which took place in the UN security council concerning UN resolution 1441 in which Syria agreed to the UN resolution regarding UN inspection in Iraq. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Prince Sultan stresses the importance of Saudi- American relations
Saudi Arabia's defense minister prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has called for foiling the attempts made to make a gap between the Islamic states and the US. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Turkey denies Iraqi demands for Atropine
The Turkish health ministry secretary Safar Eidjan has denied news reports that Iraq had asked one of the Turkish companies to provide it with large amounts of Atropine, an immunizing agent for certain chemical gases that has the potential of being used for military purpose. Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Washington's worries over Iraq's demands for Atropine
The US has expressed concern over the information rumored by the mass media on Iraq's request of more than one million of doses of Atropine -- which is used for immunization against Khardal gas (chemical) from a Turkish company. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/14/2002 - 'The Patient Is Dying,' UN Middle East envoy warns
Participants at the donors meeting noted that humanitarian aid is not the answer to the deepening crisis. They stressed that the crisis is fundamentally political, and will continue to worsen unless political decisions are taken to lift closures, curfews and other restrictions on the Palestinian civilian population. The UN has shown itself to be totally impotent in this regard due to US opposition to any effective measures against Israel. Palestine, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Satterfield in Amman meets with Abul Ragheb, Muasher
The US delegate David Satterfield has announced following his meeting yesterday with the Jordanian prime minister Ali Abul Ragheb and with the foreign minister Marwan Muasher that Iraq has to abide by UN security council resolution on dismantling its weapons. Jordan-USA, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Arafat to Netanyahu: This is my country, the country of my ancestors
The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat yesterday criticized the threats made by the Israeli foreign minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday of expelling him if he will is appointed prime minister in the coming Israeli elections. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/14/2002 - Mubarak confers with Afourki Egypt-Eritrea, Politics, 11/14/2002
- Al-Watan: Stumbled US contacts with the US on the Iraqi issue Syria-USA, Politics, 11/14/2002
- On Hamas, Fatah's Cairo's talks Palestine, Politics, 11/14/2002
- Al-Kifah al-Arabi: A likely Arab summit expected Regional, Politics, 11/14/2002
- Iraqi parliament recommends for rejecting UN resolution 1441 Iraq, Politics, 11/13/2002
- Okaz: Jordanian king visits Saudi Arabia Jordan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/13/2002
- Clashes continue, the opposition mediates, the army has not settled the fighting in Maan
Eye witnesses in the city of Maan, in the south of Jordan, said that clashes which continued yesterday are taking place in a mountainous area on the eastern side of the desert city where the extremist Islamists Muhammad Shalabi known as Abu Sayyaf is hiding with his armed fighters. Jordan, Politics, 11/13/2002 - Mubarak, Arafat hold telephone conversations Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 11/13/2002
- Al-Assad confers with Lebanese parliamentarian Qindil, reviews Arab conditions with al-Qlibi Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 11/13/2002
- Afourki in Cairo to discuss the conflict with Sudan
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher has announced, hours after the arrival of Eritrea's President Asyas Afourki to Cairo, that Egypt is interested in solving the differences exited between Sudan and Eritrea, while the Sudanese foreign minister called on Eritrea not to interfere in Sudan's affairs. Egypt-Eritrea, Politics, 11/13/2002 - Sudan FM confers with AL chief
The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said yesterday following his talks with the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa that Sudan had officially asked the Arab League to inform Eritrea not to interfere in the Sudanese affairs. Sudan-Regional, Politics, 11/13/2002 - King Mohammed receives US secretary of commerce
Morocco's King Mohammed VI received in Rabat on Monday US secretary of trade, Donald L. Evans, who was on a 24-hour "courtesy and working visit." Morocco-USA, Politics, 11/13/2002 - Arafat confers with Vadovin Palestine-Russia, Politics, 11/13/2002
- Ode Saddam Hussein urges the Iraqi parliament to accept UN resolution 1441
Son of the Iraqi President, Ode Saddam Hussein, yesterday urged the Iraqi national council ( the parliament ) to accept the new UN resolution concerning dismantling the Iraqi weapons. Iraq, Politics, 11/13/2002 - Satterfield confers with Israeli officials on al-Wazzani issue Israel-USA, Politics, 11/13/2002
- Los Angeles Times: CIA officials cooperate with the Kurds in northern Iraq
The Los Angeles Times said yesterday that officials at the CIA are currently in northern Iraq to collaborate with the Kurds in preparation to launch a military attack against Baghdad. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/13/2002 - Rolin Wavre: The ICRC is in Syria to restore family links broken because of occupation of the Golan;
on "Exploring the Humanitarian Law ( EHL)." A program which is module of 30 hours containing basic ideals and ideas about humanitarian values that would be introduced in the courses of secondary and preparatory school to which Wavre said the Syrian ministry of education was very supportive and showed remarked interest. Syria, Politics, 11/13/2002 - Bahrain: a government of 18 ministers
As expected, the new Bahraini government was formed without any change in what is called "leading positions," with the introduction of 6 new ministers and foundation of certain ministries. Bahrain, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Al-Jazeera: Western source denies deal with Damascus over voting for recent UN resolution
A western diplomatic source in Damascus denied the US to have had finalized any deal with Syria for her voting on the UN Security Council recent resolution concerning Iraq. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Lack of trust in inter-Arab relations weakens Arab position, Moroccan fm
"The trust crisis" which marks inter-Arab relations and the differences opposing certain Arab states contribute to weakening Arab position and adversely impact inter-Arab solidarity and joint action, Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, said on Monday. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Iraq: five persons killed in a Kurdish- Islamic confrontation
Five persons were killed in a clash between Kurdish fighters in Iraq and an armed Islamic group said to be have links to al-Qaida organization. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Calm returns back to Maan
An official Jordanian source said that calm has been returning to the southern city of Maan in Jordan to which Jordanian security forces entered in order to arrest an outlaw group inside the city. Jordan, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Leaders of the Somali factions call on Washington to release al-Barakat Bank assets
The participants in the Somali conference for national reconciliation in Aldourit, Kenya yesterday called on Washington to release the assets of the Somali al-Barakat bank whose sums were frozen one year ago following the events of September 11, 2001 in the USA. Somalia-USA, Politics, 11/12/2002 - New warning for American citizens in Kuwait
The American citizens in Kuwait received a new warning from the US embassy of likely attacks in revenge of the death penalty sentence to be executed in Virginia this week against one Pakistani convicted of killing two agents for the CIA in 1993. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Israel criticizes the European Union
The Israeli government has strongly criticized the European Union member states and accused the European states of not making enough efforts to urge the Palestinian to halt the operations and the resistance acts against the Israeli occupation. Palestine-European Union, Politics, 11/12/2002 - January 28, 2003, the date for the Israeli elections
The Israeli Knesset yesterday set January 28 as a date for holding the general elections which was called upon by the Israeli prime minister last week following the collapse of the governmental elections in Israel. Israel, Politics, 11/12/2002 - Iraq's satisfaction with Arab FM s meeting Iraq-Regional, Politics, 11/12/2002
- Mubarak meets with AL chief on Iraq Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 11/12/2002
- Hariri confers with US delegation Lebanon-Israel-USA, Politics, 11/12/2002
- Al-Anbaa: no delay in the Sudanese negotiations Sudan, Politics, 11/12/2002
- Lahd militia members demonstrate in Israel Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 11/12/2002
- Bahrain's government resigns for a new one
The government of Bahrain yesterday submitted its resignation in preparation to form a new government that precedes the convening of the legislative council which is due to be held in January 2003. Bahrain, Politics, 11/11/2002 - Scores of wounded, killed persons in Maan, Arabs arrested, the city is besieged
Tension increased in the city after Maan tribes refused the demands of the authorities to hand over 30 men wanted by the authorities. Tension started to escalate following the assassination of Laurence Folley, especially after wounding of the Islamists Muhammad Shalabi Jordan, Politics, 11/11/2002 - Saddam Hussein calls the parliament for an emergency session
Baghdad announced that "it calmly studies" the UN Security Council resolution 1441 which was described by an Iraqi source as "bad and repressive," while no official comment or reaction was made on the said UN resolution, except the call Iraq, Politics, 11/11/2002 - Fatah and Hamas start their dialogue in Cairo
An official in the Hamas movement said on the inauguration of a round of dialogue which started in Cairo on Saturday between representatives for the Fatah and Hamas movements that there is no basic differences between the two movements, noting that the difference is with the Palestinian Authority. Palestine, Politics, 11/11/2002 - AL council calls for including Arab experts in the inspection teams
In conclusion of a meeting which was held in Cairo, the Arab ministerial council called for cooperation between the UN and Iraq and asked the UN inspectors not "to perform any provocative act," suggesting including Arab experts in the UN inspection teams. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 11/11/2002 - Al-Ayam: On the Sudanese negotiations
The official spokesman for the rebels movement in southern, Sudan Yasser Araman, has stressed that it is premature to talk about signing an agreement between the Sudanese government and the movement in Mashakos next Saturday, concerning the two issues of dividing resources and authority in the country. Sudan, Politics, 11/11/2002 - The Observer: British intelligence tried al-Qathafi assassination
The British daily The Observer said yesterday that the British foreign intelligence known as MI6 paid large sums of money to a cell that belongs to al-Qaida organization in Libya to assassinate Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi in 1996 and also foiled several attempts made earlier to arrest Osama Bin Laden or to bring him before the court. Libya-UK, Politics, 11/11/2002 - AL council discuss means of supporting the fund of rebuilding southern Sudan
The Arab special committee on Sudan yesterday held its first meeting at the ministerial level at the headquarters of the Arab League (AL) general secretariat. The committee discussed means of reactivating the fund for rebuilding southern Sudan and other relating issues, according to a source at the AL. Regional-Sudan, Politics, 11/11/2002 - Blix, Syria and the UN resolution on Iraq
The chairman of the UN inspection team Hans Blix considered that Syria's voting on the new resolution concerning Iraq has reinforced this resolutions and constituted an Arab support to it. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 11/11/2002 - UK Dailies: plans to invade Iraq
The British daily Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday that Britain is preparing to build up an armored force of 15,000 soldiers during this week in order to be a land fighting force which will be sent to Iraq if diplomatic efforts fail to dismantle its weapons. Iraq, Politics, 11/11/2002 - Mubarak confers with Iraqi FM Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 11/11/2002
- Qatar and the UN resolution on Iraq Iraq-Qatar, Politics, 11/11/2002
- Iraq accuses Turkey of violating its airspace Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 11/11/2002