Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 11/18/2002

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of November 18, 2002

• Respect of freedoms, an irreversible choice, Moroccan government says
  The consolidation of the rule of law and the respect of rights and freedoms are an irreversible choice for Morocco, Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou said on Thursday. Morocco, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Morocco determined to consolidate local democracy
  The Moroccan government said it was determined to consolidate local democracy and decentralization as a means of social and economic development. Morocco, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Izzat Ibrahim met with Iraqi opposition members abroad
  Iraqi opposition members who are in an unprecedented visit to Baghdad said yesterday that Iraq is preparing to adopt a new constitution that permits pluralism in the country and guarantees the freedom of the press. Iraq, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Ardojan promises to develop relations with the Arab states, upon receiving Arab diplomats
  The leader of the Turkish Justice and Development party, Rajab Tayeb Ardojan, met at the headquarters of the party yesterday with the Arab ambassadors accredited in Ankara. These 17 Arab ambassadors were all careful to attend the meeting. Regional-Turkey, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Maan citizens accuse Jordanian government of launching a revenge war
  One Jordanian citizen from Maan city, Muhammad al-Khattab, pointed to houses which were hit by the shells, of tanks and machinegun bullets, and accused the Jordanian authorities of launching a war in this city. Jordan, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Yemeni authorities intensify campaign in Mareb, al-Jouf to arrest, assassinate al-Qaida leader
  The Yemeni ministry of the interior yesterday started circulation of pictures of wanted persons of al-Qaida organization at the country's land, sea and air crossings in an attempt by the Yemeni government to find the wanted elements following the collapse in the "Yemen's cell" -- following the assassination of Qaid Sanyan al-Harithi in an operation which was carried out by the Yemeni security authorities in coordination with the CIA. Yemen, Politics, 11/23/2002
• European Parliament calls for suspension of agreement with Israel
  They called on France to prepare a bill to suspend economic cooperation with Israel, similar to that on which the Belgian Parliament is set to vote. Palestine-European Union, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Euro-deputy resigns to protest silence over Israeli policy
  Euro-deputy and former Portuguese president Mario Soares has reigned from his position as chairman of the European Parliament's delegation on relations with Israel. Palestine-European Union, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Jordan: banning of sit in, a meeting
  The Jordanian government prevented a sit in by the Jordanian vocational trade union and a meeting for the committee in charge of resisting trade unionist normalization (with Israel), which were due yesterday. Jordan, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Khaled al-Shummari: the Kuwaiti who opened fire at two American soldiers
  Well-informed sources told the Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas issued yesterday that the Kuwaiti soldier who opened fire at two American soldiers on Thursday is named Khaled al-Shummari. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Nasrullah: Israel rejected a proposal for exchanging prisoners
  The secretary general of the Lebanese Hizbullah party has commended the support given by Syria and its leadership to the Lebanese national resistance. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 11/23/2002
• British employee killed by the Israeli bullets in Jenin Palestine-UK, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Arab follow-up committee extraordinary meeting marks start of new arab order, Moroccan FM Regional-Morocco, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Pope John Paul's concerns over Palestinian, Iraqi sufferings Regional-Vatican, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Washington intends to withdraw some of its diplomats in Jordan Jordan-USA, Politics, 11/23/2002
• Former Eritrea defense minister in Khartoum for toppling Afourki; 84 persons arrested for spying to Asmara
  The Sudanese daily Akhbar al-Youm issued yesterday said that the authorities arrested 84 persons suspected to have formed a "grouping for spies to Eritrea." Sudan-Eritrea, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Washington gives 11 Arab states one month to define their position concerning attacking Iraq Regional-USA, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Morocco's new government places economic development on top of priorities
  Given the key role of financial markets in economy and promoting investment-oriented savings, the government said it will endeavour to restructure the public and private financial sectors and promote the efficiency of the channels financing the economy. Morocco, Politics, 11/22/2002
• King Mohammed receives message from Saudi crown prince Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Egypt: starting trial for an extremist handed over by Washington
  Al- Zayyat said that the American authorities held Suleiman since three years and when they found there is no evidence against him they decided to deport him to Egypt without disclosing reasons behind detaining him in the USA. Egypt-USA, Politics, 11/22/2002
• China: No UN authorization of no fly zone; US planes strike Iraqi positions
  China yesterday stressed that there is no resolution issued by the UN security council or others concerning the two "no fly zone" in northern and southern Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Riyadh does not rule out Saudis participation in Maan riots
  The Saudi minister of the interior prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz said yesterday that he does not rule out the participation of Saudis in the acts of violence which took place last week in Maan. Prince Nayef told journalists "This is regrettable and this matter is of concern to our brothers in Jordan, hoping this will not be so. But might be that because of Maan closeness to the Saudi borders." He gave no further explanations." Saudi Arabia-Jordan, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Al-Assad congratulates Lahoud on the occasion of Lebanon's national day
  He noted the struggle mounted by the people of Syria and Lebanon and yielded in achieving independence for the two states. He also noted the continued coordination and cooperation between Syria and Lebanon for mutual interests and the struggle to liberate the occupied territories. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 11/22/2002
• The Arab Follow Up Committee 's final communique
  The Communique underlined the necessity of commitment to Beirut Arab Summit and activating Arab solidarity in defence of the Arab Nation interests and in safeguarding her right and national security and realizing economic integration for the establishment of Arab Joint Market. Regional, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Moroccan government pledges to carry on media reform
  The Moroccan government on Thursday renewed pledge to carry on the reform of Morocco's media to enable it face the challenges of modern times. Morocco, Politics, 11/22/2002
• US congress delegation visits Kuwait Kuwait-USA, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Korean party opposes seoul's support for U.S.-led campaign against Iraq
  The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) on Thursday voiced opposition to Washington's request for South Korea to provide support in the event of a U.S.-led military campaign against Iraq Iraq-South Korea, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Two American soldiers wounded in an attack in Kuwait
  The Kuwaiti ministry of the interior announced yesterday that the person who opened fire yesterday against two American soldiers near the capital Kuwait is a police man in the Kuwaiti ministry of the interior and the he had fled away to Saudi Arabia. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 11/22/2002
• US-based body slams US tracking of Iraqi americans
  If correct, this proposed plan would ethnically profile thousands of individuals, including American citizens, which smacks of guilt by association and the incrimination of an entire ethnic population, ADC added. ADC emphasized to members of the Iraqi-American community and the Iraqi-immigrant community that equal protection and due process rights are afforded to everyone, including non-citizens, in the United States. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/22/2002
• Algeria wants stronger ties with Morocco, Bouteflika says Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Crown prince Abdullah: we want peace given an opportunity in Iraq Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Al-Assad discusses with al-Barazani importance of Iraq's unity, averting dangers
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad yesterday in Damascus received the chairman of the Kurdistani Democratic party in Iraq, Masoud al-Barazani. Discussions dealt with issues relating to Iraq. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Syrian prime minister congratulates Abdullah Ghoule, invites him to visit Syria
  The Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro extended an invitation for his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Ghoule to visit Syria. The invitation was extended in a telephone call during which Miro congratulated Ghoule on the new Turkish government. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Al-Shara confers with Hammoud Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Absence of Saudi, Bahraini, Kuwaiti FMs from Doha's Gulf ministers
  The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait on Tuesday did not attend the preparatory meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit due to be held on December 22 and 23 in Doha. Gulf-Qatar, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Abu Marzouk: No truce with the enemy Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Al-Seyasah: Inter- Arab consultations concerning Iraq
  Well-informed sources in Damascus told the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyasah yesterday that the short visit held by President Bashar al-Assad to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and the surprising visit held by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to Syria all came in the context of inter- Arab consultations to delegate the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, in his capacity as the chairman of the Arab summit to Baghdad. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Prince Nayef: More than 100 convicts under terrorism charges Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Iraqi parliamentary delegation meets Moroccan officials
  Speakers of the Moroccan House of Advisers (parliament upper house), Mustapha Okasha, and of the House of Representatives (lower chamber), Abdelouahed Radi, held in Rabat Tuesday separate meetings with a visiting Iraqi parliamentary delegation. Iraq-Morocco, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Sudan: results of peace negotiations below expectations
  Ghazi Salah eddine, the advisor of the Sudanese President for peace affairs, has described the second round of negotiations between the Sudanese government and the rebels as successful but being less than what was expected. Sudan, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Baghdad: suspension of Babel daily
  The Iraqi ministry of information issued a decision banning the issuance of "Babel" daily, which is supervised by the son of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, for one month as from Yesterday, over violating the laws of the ministry of information. Iraq, Politics, 11/21/2002
• London does not oppose convening a meeting for the Iraqi opposition
  The British foreign office stressed its approval to convene a meeting for the Iraqi opposition in London, to be dedicated to bridge the gap between the various groups. Iraq-UK, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Arab follow up committee discusses grave challenges Regional, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Barghouthi's trial to be resumed today
  The trial of the secretary of the Fatah movement and members of the Palestinian legislative council Marwan Barghouthi will resume today in the central court in Tel Aviv, according to the Barghouthi lawyer, the Israeli Shamai Livovitch. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Home arrest for al-Khazraji in Denmark
  A Danish court yesterday imposed home arrest on the Iraqi army chief of staff Nizar al-Khazraji in order to prevent him from escaping a possible trial over war crimes. Iraq-Denmark, Politics, 11/21/2002
• US welcomes Lebanese measures to solve financial problems Lebanon-USA, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Belgium and the Iraqi opposition Iraq-Belgium, Politics, 11/21/2002
• An Israeli- Greek missile deal at $ 80 million Israel-Greece, Politics, 11/21/2002
• Arab follow up committee meets today in Damascus Regional-Syria, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Sanaa admits collaboration with Washington in assassinating al-Harirthi
  The Yemeni minister of the interior lt. Gen. Rashad al-Oleimi yesterday announced that the missile attacks launched by a pilot-less American plane against a car which was carrying six members of supposed al-Qaida organization, especially among them Abu Ali al-Harithi, to the east of Yemen by the beginning of November, was implemented in collaboration between Yemen and the USA. Yemen-USA, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Saudi crown prince gets a telephone call from Lebanese premier Saudi Arabia-Lebanon, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Washington confirms request to Damascus to close Islamic Jihad offices
  The US Department of State yesterday announced that it had asked the Syrian authorities to close the offices of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Damascus. Syria-USA, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Sudan's refuses Uganda's request on chasing al-Rabb army fighters Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Gulf ministerial meeting approves 35 items for Doha summit
  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial meeting which concluded its works yesterday evening under the chairmanship of the Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber al-Thani approved 35 items relating to various issues and topics and files to be debated at the 23rd GCC summit due to be held in Doha on December 22nd. Gulf-Qatar, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Al-Hayat: On the contacts between Syria, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia Regional-Iraq, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Hammoud: UN resolution 1441 is booby trapped
  The Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud yesterday told journalists that the meeting of nine Arab foreign ministers due to be held today in Damascus will study the situation in Iraq after the arrival of the UN inspectors in Baghdad. Lebanon-Iraq, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Turkish security delegation in Syria discusses armies' cooperation
  A Turkish security delegation started as from Monday an official visit to Damascus in order to hold security talks that will fall in the course of the Turkish- Syrian security coordination which started since 1998. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Maher, AL chief confer with Moratinos
  Moussa explained that the "International community which take a tough position concerning the accusations addressed to Iraq to violating UN resolutions should take the same tough measure concerning the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people." Egypt-European Union, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Mashakos negotiations to resume in January
  Sudan's ambassador to Kenya and members of the Sudanese government delegation to Mashakos negotiations described the memorandum signed by the Sudanese delegation with the rebels on Monday as a step forward on which a building can be maintained in the forthcoming negotiations session which will be resumed in January 2003. Sudan, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Japanese special envoys to be delegated to the region
  A spokesman for the Japanese government has announced that his country will send special envoys to several countries in the region, including Syria later this month in order to urge these countries to convince Iraq to collaborate with the UN inspectors. Regional-Japan, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Al-Khazraji arrested in Denmark Iraq-Denmark, Politics, 11/20/2002
• ADC cautions media on israel's deceptions
  Media across the United States reported that worshipers had been attacked and that an appalling massacre had taken place. Officials including Secretary of State Colin Powell, UN General Secretary Kofi Annan and EU foreign policy director Javier Solana all issued stern condemnations of the "terrorist attack" based on this account. Reports the next day in the Israeli press, however, exposed the absolute fiction of this official account. Leading Israeli newspapers including Ha'aretz, reported that the attack Palestine-USA, Politics, 11/20/2002
• Mubarak receives phone call from Gaddafi Libya-Egypt, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Al-Assad, Mubarak review Iraqi crisis, Israeli aggression, Arab soliderity
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and President Egypt's Hosni Mubarak held a meeting at al-Shaab palace attended for the Syrian side by the deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, the minister of information Adnan Omran and the minister of communications Muhammad Bashir al-Munajjid. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Conditions worsen in Maan; citizens demand compensations for losses Jordan, Politics, 11/19/2002
• France commends the release of Riad al-Turk
  France yesterday described the release of the Syrian opposition member Riad al-Turk as a "positive signal" from the side of Syria. Syria-France, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Qathafi, Prodi hold telephone discussions Libya-European Union, Politics, 11/19/2002
• On reforms in Syria
  The Syrian economist Nabil Sukkar has stated that the media in Syria talked for the first time about reform in Syria at the political and economic levels, but so far there is still more rhetoric than action -- as if that many of the decision makers think that by talking -- they can compensate for what they should have done. Syria, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Saudi ministry denies wounding of security men in clashes with Bin Laden's supporters
  The Saudi ministry of the interior has denied the wounding of 8 Saudi security men on Saturday evening in a clash with persons suspected to be supporters for Osama Bin Laden. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Washington calls Israel to stop sorties over Lebanon; Damascus refuses closure of al-Jihad offices
  The US Administration had asked Israel, through its under secretary of state David Satterfield, to stop the sorties of its warplanes over the Lebanese airspace very soon. Syria-USA, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Osama Al-Baz four conditions for Arab-Israeli co-existence in ME
  The Islamic Thought Forum Sunday evening turned into a crowded popular gathering of the lovers of science and culture. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Efforts in support of inter- Sudanese negotiations
  Chief Kenyan negotiator in the Government Commission for Development for East Africa states IGAD, Lazaros Sobyeyo, to the current Sudanese talks between the government and the rebels have expressed his hope to sign an agreement between the two sides in light of the negotiations which were held along the five past weeks. Sudan, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Belgium refuses to receive the Iraqi opposition conference
  Belgium yesterday refused to host the conference of the opposition Iraqi groups in Brussels, noting that time is "inappropriate" for this meeting after the UN had launched the inspection operations for weapons in Iraq. Iraq-Belgium, Politics, 11/19/2002
• On opening Nisbin border gate between Syria, Turkey
  The head official for Nisbin district of the governorate of Mardin, south east of Turkey, Omar Olo, said that Turkey is waiting for a Syrian reply in order to open the border gate in Nisbin for transit passage. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 11/19/2002
• Al-Shara holds two phone talks with Saudi, Bahraini FMs Syria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Syrian human rights committee welcomes al-Turk's release
  The official spokesman for the defense committee for human rights in Syria Aktham Nueiseh has welcomed the release of Riad al- Turk, according to the special pardoning issued by President Bashar al-Assad. Syria, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Al-Assad confers with Lebanese PM, MP Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Amir of Qatar gets a phone call from Yemeni president, a message from the Lebanese president Qatar-Regional, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Al-Assad in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia: UN resolution 1441 alienated the war
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad yesterday held a visit to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia during which he met on Sunday evening with King Fahd and with the crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and held talks in the two states on the debated American plan for finding a settlement in occupied Palestine. Al-Assad also held talks on the Syrian position at the UN Security Council and Iraq's acceptance of the UN resolution 1441 and the return back of UN inspectors. Syria-Regional, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Kuwait's Amir gets a message from Saudi crown prince Kuwait-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Barazani the attack on Iraq was postponed, not canceled Iraq-Syria, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Bahrain: A Shoura council free from Islamists
  The King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Saturday appointed the 40 members of the Shoura council, and therefore to complete the national council ( parliament) following the parliament's elections which took place in October. Bahrain, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Operations in Riyadh in search for al-Qaida members, 8 Saudi soldiers wounded in clashes
  Some 8 Saudi security men were wounded, many of them in critical health conditions on Saturday in Riyadh in a clashes with persons suspected to be supporters for Osama Bin Laden, one of them was wounded and then arrested, according to a source for the Saudi opposition and one eye witness Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/18/2002
• King Mohammed wants competitive press for Morocco
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Friday stressed the need for Morocco to have a competitive press, able to cope with the challenges of the new millennium. Morocco, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Morocco's Communication Minister Vows to Solve Media Problems
  Moroccan communication minister, Nabil Benabdellah vowed to solve problems facing the Moroccan media. Morocco, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Mubarak warns against changing of regimes by force
  President Hsni Mubarak of Egypt on Saturday called for subjecting the Israeli mass destruction weapons to the same inspection system imposed on Iraq. He warned against the attempts of investing the campaign to fighting terrorism for changing regimes by means of force. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Satterfield concludes in Cairo his tour on the ME Egypt-USA, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Blix arrives today in Baghdad; Iraq calls on the UN to stop the American violations
  With the arrival of the chief of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq, Hans Blix, with his team today in order to resume the inspection operations in implementation of the UN security council resolution 1441, Baghdad has renewed its call to the UN to have its observers in the buffer zone between Iraq and Kuwait control the violations conducted by the British and American planes in southern Iraq and to inform the UN Security Council about that. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/18/2002
• While the Jordanian army continue operations, warning for implications of Maan
  Jordanian officials stressed yesterday that the campaign carried out by the army to arrest wanted citizens in Maan is continuous, though it is taking a shape that differs from that during the seven past days. They stressed that the security forces have now full control on the conditions in the city and that arresting other wanted persons is a matter of time. Jordan, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Sudanese negotiations blocked
  Peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the rebels reached a blockage yesterday because of differences in the view points between the two sides concerning the issue of sharing the authority and the resources. Sudan, Politics, 11/18/2002
• British Embassy in Sanaa blocked Yemen-UK, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Gulf foreign ministers meet tomorrow in Doha
  Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will tomorrow convene the 85th preliminary meeting for the 23rd Gulf summit of the GCC leaders due to be held in Doha in December. Gulf-Qatar, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Libya: No deal to give political asylum to Saddam's family
  Libya has deliberately denied information published by the British "The Times" which said that the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is ready to pay Billions of US dollars to Libya in order to grant political asylum for members of his family. Libya-Iraq, Politics, 11/18/2002
• Sudan studies American measures on treatment citizens of certain countries
  The Sudanese foreign ministry assigned its administration on American affairs a task to study the American measures concerning treatment of citizens of certain countries including Sudan. Sudan-USA, Politics, 11/18/2002

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