Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 11/25/2002

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of November 25, 2002

• Al-Walid Bin Talal: the Saudis will withdraw their investment from the USA
  The Saudi Prince al-Walid Bin Talal has warned that certain Saudi investors might withdraw their assets from the USA because of the media campaign which targets the Kingdom and talks on its ill cooperation with Washington in the war against terrorism. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Al-Anbaa: Washington conditions for peace talks resumption between Syria, Israel
  American and European diplomatic sources said that the administration of the US President George Bush informed the Syrian officials that Washington is ready to start Syrian- Israeli and Lebanese- Israeli peace negotiations in the framework Syria-USA, Politics, 11/30/2002
• After desolving the engineers Union, Jordan bans anti- normalization trade unions committee
  The Jordanian divan ( court) in charge of explaining the Jordanian laws has decided to ban committees promoting anti-normalization with Israeli launched by vocational trade unions in Jordan. A matter which avails the government to desolve these committees. Jordan, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Liberation: Barazani and the war against Iraq
  The chairman of the Kurdistani Democratic party, Masoud al-Barazani, announced that the war against Iraq is very possible because the Americans have commited a lot into this direction, and that toppling attempts and conspiracies failed to topple the Iraqi president. Iraq, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Yemen, Kuwait exchange information over al-Qaida members
  The Kuwaiti and Yemeni security systems have exchanged information concerning persons in each of the two states suspected to be members in al-Qaida organization. Kuwait-Yemen, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Sweden to give asylum to Palestinians of the West Bank, Gaza
  Sweden yesterday announced it will give political asylum to the Palestinians who arrive on its territories from the West Bank and Gaza, because of the continued acts of violence there. Palestine-Sweden, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Palestinians deny connections to Kenya's two attack operations
  The international cooperation minister in the Palestinian Authority, Nabil Shaath, announced in Berlin that the two operations which took place on Thursday in Kenya against Israelis and were claimed by "Palestine Army" were not carried out by a "Palestinian organization." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Jerusalem Day celebrated
  Syria's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Keftaro, has asserted that "the Israeli crimes, massacres and inhuman practices perpetrated against the Palestinian people are considered real crimes which history hadn't witnessed the likes before." Regional-Palestine, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Israeli anti poisonous gas covers to Kuwait
  The Israeli daily Haartez reported yesterday that the Israeli defense ministry, in consultation with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and the Israeli foreign ministry approved that the Israeli "Shell On" is permitted to sell preventive suits against poisonous gases to Kuwait for fears that Kuwait will be exposed to an Iraqi aggression. Kuwait-Israel, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Egypt organize world conference on petrochemical industry
  Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum will hold conference on petrochemical industries in January. Politics, 11/30/2002
• Syria: exempting customs director from his post Syria, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Algerian experts to cooperate with Moroccan peers in assessing refinery fire losses Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Syria's support for Lebanon at Paris II conference Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Chamber of representatives adopts government's program Morocco, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Israel warns its citizens from traveling to 6 countries, including Egypt
  The Israeli foreign ministry issued, following the double operation in Kenya, new directives to the Israeli tourists warning them from travelling to six countries which are Thailand; Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt, including Sinai. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 11/30/2002
• Al-Assad gets a telephone call from Chirac Syria-France, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Al-Assad confers with Japanese ME envoy
  Toshimitsu expressed Japan's appreciation of Syria's constructive role on both regional and international levels adding that Japan is convinced that power cannot solve the peace problem of the Middle East except by the UN related resolutions and on top of them the two resolutions 242 and 338. Syria-Japan, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Moroccan floods: Algerian envoy arrives in Morocco
  Algerian employment and national solidarity minister, Taieb Belaiz, envoy of Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, arrived on Wednesday in Casablanca, heading a top level delegation. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Jordan: dissolving the Engineers trade Unions
  The supreme court of justice in Jordan issued a decision for desolving the engineers trade union council on the ground of a complaint submitted by members in the Union against the legitimacy of the elections which took place in April. Jordan, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Al-Shara confers with Japanese ME envoy
  Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Shara received in Damascus on Thursday the first Secretary of the Japanese Foreign Minister, Toshimitu Motegi and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria-Japan, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Some 13 persons killed in explosion in Israeli hotel in Mombassa Israel, Politics, 11/29/2002
• AL denounces US decision to support Israel militarily and economically Regional-Israel, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Yemen asks Washington to hand back al-Nashiri
  The Yemeni "September 26th " paper, mouthpiece of the Yemeni ministry of the interior, said yesterday that Yemen asked the US formally to hand Abdul Rahim al-Nashiri who was detained later and Washington stressed he is the responsible for the Gulf region in al-Qaida organization. Yemen-USA, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Moroccan fm pleads for Africa's debts canceling
  The Moroccan minister deplored the fact that the indebtedness issue, recognized by Cairo's action plan as a major impediment to development programs, has not seen any significant progress, adding that a free, prosperous and developed continent would be an active and wealth generating partner and a creditworthy customer that would contribute to the consolidation of international peace and security. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 11/29/2002
• Muscat: right to vote for all Omani citizens in 2003
  The Omani minister of the interior Saud Bin Ibrahim al-Bouseidi announced in a statement the expansion of the participation base of citizens in the elections of the Shoura council which will be held in 2003, at the directives of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, so as the right to voting will be for "every and each Omani who will be 21 year old in the first of January, 2003." Oman, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Moscow, Annan talks about lifting Iraq sanctions within months; first day of inspections 'typical'
  The first day of inspection for the Iraqi weapons passed peacefully without obstacles and the inspectors got what they want, hoping that this day will be "typical" for future cooperation between the Iraqi government and the UN. Iraq, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Syria: exempting TV and radio director, satellite channel from posts
  The Syrian cabinet decided to exempt the director general of the radio and TV establishment Fayez Sayyegh and the director of the Syrian TV satellite station Ala' Nemeh from their post because of broadcasting a TV interview with the American ambassador in Damascus Theodore Qattouf in which he called on Damascus to change its foreign policy. Syria-USA, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Barazani: US had decided what to do, we were not informed
  The chairman of the Kurdistani Democratic Party, Masoud al-Barazani, has announced that the US administration "had drawn plans concerning Iraq and did not brief the Iraqi opposition groups on them," stressing the refusal of these groups for any American military rule of Iraq after toppling the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Iraqi opposition conference in London on January 13
  Officials in the main opposition Iraqi groups said that the plenary conference for the Iraqi opposition will be held in London on January 13 through 15 after the completion of preliminary meetings in Washington and the last of these meetings will be held on January 2md and 3rd. Iraq, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Washington seeks to train 5,000 Iraqi opposition in Hungary
  The spokesman for the Hungarian government said yesterday that Washington asked permission to use a military base to the south of Budapest to train American soldiers and employees in preparation for war against Iraq. Iraq-Hungary, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Yemen and cooperation with the USA
  Abdul Karim al-Eryani, the advisor of the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, indicated that the Arab states will minimize their cooperation with the US in the war against terrorism if the latter launches a war against Iraq. Yemen-USA, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Mubarak to Israeli president: A Knight Without A Horse not against Judaism or Israel
  The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot disclosed the latest message by President Mubarak to Israeli President Moshe Katzav, where Mubarak voiced difference in opinion with Katzav on the TV series, as the latter considered it anti-Semitic. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 11/28/2002
• More Syrian relief aids to the Palestinians Syria-Palestine, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Middle East: UN protests armed Israeli raid on international staff member's home
  The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has protested to the Israeli military at the treatment of one of the Agency's international staff members and her family, who were subject to degrading searches and unjustified detention. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/28/2002
• UN refutes Israel's claim that Jenin project manager was killed amid firing in camp
  The United Nations has refuted Israeli claims that a slain aid worker managing a UN project in the West Bank was killed amid gunfire. "Our preliminary findings into the circumstances surrounding the death of Iain Hook in Jenin do not concur with the statement made by the Israeli military that firing had been coming out of the UNRWA compound in Jenin," Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Arab organization asks bush to reject more military aid to Israel
  The Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress will have to decide whether or not to approve this staggering request for billions more in U.S. dollars for Israel. The Regional-USA, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Al-Shara reviews with Karam Syrian- Lebanese relations Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Powell: relations with Saudi Arabia are good Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Syrian- Ukraine transport relations Syria-Ukraine, Politics, 11/28/2002
• Israeli delegation heads for Washington Israel-USA, Politics, 11/28/2002
• EU welcomes release of Riad al-Turk Syria-European Union, Politics, 11/27/2002
• AL chief confers with Bahrain's Cabinet affairs minister Bahrain-Regional, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Jordanian King in Moscow: Russia is the sound of logic
  The Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Jordanian king Abdullah II have expressed their desire to strengthen relations between their two countries in the military and economic fields. This was expressed during the fourth visit of the King to Russia since he ascended to the throne in Jordan in 1999. Jordan-Russia, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Jordanian Islamists annoyed by prince Nayef; Curfew lift from Maan
  The Jordanian authorities lifted the curfew imposed on the city of Maan, at a time when an opinion poll showed that most of the Jordanian are displeased with the way the government dealt with the incidents in Maan Jordan, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Butaflika calls on the government to carry out partial local elections
  Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika has called for proceeding with the partial local elections in the municipalities where results of voting were canceled because of acts of riots, stressing the need that these elections must be held under best conditions. Algeria, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Qaddoura highlights People's Assembly legislative achievement
  Speaker of the People's Assembly Abdul-Qadder Qaddoura indicated on Tuesday that the Assembly has achieved during the 7th legislative course a series of achievements represented by the approval of many decrees, laws legislation as well as agreements with Arab and foreign countries. Syria, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Sudanese political forces oppose the call of the government on provisional phase arrangements dialogue
  Sudanese official sources stressed yesterday that Washington invited the Sudanese government to meet in the USA with representatives for the rebels in an attempt to settle differences before convening the new round of peace talks which will start in January 2003. Sudan, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Russian plan to topple Saddam Hussein to prevent US occupation of Iraq
  The Paris- based al-Watan al-Arabi magazine said, according to well-informed sources, that the military and intelligence leadership in Moscow had prepared a plan to topple the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein by a military coupe or an assassination operation in order to protect the Russian interests in Iraq and the region and to block the road against an American occupation of Iraq. Iraq-Russia, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Adel Fleifel status uncertain
  An official source in the Bahraini national security department announced on Monday evening that reservations were made on the former state security intelligence officer col. Adel Fleifel who returned on Monday to Bahrain in the framework of the "right to return," guaranteed by the constitution in Bahrain according to article 17. Bahrain, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Abu Mazen renews call to halt militarizing the Intifada; A Palestinian committee to contact the Israeli peace camp
  The secretary general of the PLO executive committee Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin ) has renewed his call to halt the suicide attacks and to return back the citizen's public face of the Intifada, while the Palestinian authority has formed a committee to follow up negotiations with the "Israeli peace camp." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Fatah and Hamas dialogue to be resumed after Eid al-Fiter
  One of the Fatah key figures and member of the inter- Palestinian dialogue Ahmad Ghneim stressed that the current dialogue between the Fatah and Hamas movement on a "common political vision" is achieving "progress" noting preparations for another meeting in Cairo after Eid al-Fiter. Palestine, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Lebanon provides entry visas for Russians
  It was announced in Moscow that the Lebanese government had decided to give entry visas to Russian citizens, according o agreements finalized recently by the Lebanese and Russian sides. Lebanon-Russia, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Syrian party official confers with Arab parties secretary Syria-Regional, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Iraq's oil for food program extended just for nine days Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Ethiopia releases Eritrean prisoners Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 11/27/2002
• Al- Faisal hands message to Mubarak from King; No US pressure concerning Iraq
  The Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al-Faisal denied following his meeting with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt yesterday in Cairo any American pressures on the Arab states concerning the Iraqi issue. Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Al-Assad confers with al-Hariri Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Belgium refused to host Iraq opposition because timing
  Michel announced yesterday from Cairo that his country refused to receive the Iraqi opposition conference which was due to be held in Brussels because its timing as it does not comply with the recent resolution of the UN security council Iraq-Belgium, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Algerian- Syrian joint statement boosting relations
  A joint statement was issued yesterday in Damascus on the visit of the Algerian National Reform Movement Party to Syria. Algeria-Syria, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Riyadh inspects charity funding: We delivered Washington an investigation on Princess Haifa's donations
  Saudi Arabia has taken two remarkable steps to contain "the attack" it feels is being carried against it from inside the US. It announced it had delivered the American authorities the results of an investigation made on the financial donations carried out by the daughter of the former Saudi King Faisal, princess Haifa, the wife of the Saudi Ambassador to Washington, Prince Bander Bin Sultan, at a time when Riyadh launched deepened investigations on the activities of all charity organizations in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Maan is isolated, Abu Sayyaf's son protected by tribes
  A cautious calm prevailed yesterday on Maan and its citizens stayed indoor after the Jordanian security authorities renewed curfew. Jordan, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Saudi Arabia has no sleeping cell; Kuwait: targeting American soldiers is individual incident
  Kuwait on Sunday stressed that opening fire at two American soldiers in Kuwait was "an individual incident" and does not indicate that there is a "security unrest" in the country, stressing solid relations with the US. Kuwait-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Barazani, Talibani in France for a conference on the Kurds
  The secretary general of the Kurdstani National Federation, Jalal al-Talibani, and the leader of the Kurdistani Democratic Party, Masoud al-Barazani ,yesterday arrived in Paris to convene meetings and joint talks with high ranking officials there and to take part in the works of the special conference on the future of the Kurds in Iraq Iraq-France, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Last Palestinian deportees leave Cyprus
  Abdul Wahid Dawoud, the last Palestinian deportee exiled to Cyprus for lifting the siege on the " church of Nativity" in Bethlehem last may left the island yesterday to an undisclosed location. Palestine-Cyprus, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Jumblat for good relations with Syria Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 11/26/2002
• On UNDOF mission in the Golan Syria-Canada, Politics, 11/26/2002
• Yemen: Some 1000 prisoners were released Yemen, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Saudi crown prince, President Saleh review developments Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Al-Shara renews Syria's rejection to close al-Jihad offices: Road Map is an illusion
  Al-Shara added "they can not ignore, anyway the other 10 non- permanent members at the UN security council, as they did in the past. This mistake, we will not permit it to be repeated." Syria-Palestine, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Saudi - Sudanese agreement on comprehensive cooperation
  Following Eid al-Fiter in December, Sudan and Saudi Arabia will sign a cooperation agreement that will cover all walks of life. An agreement described by the Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael as the first of its kind in relations between the two states. Sudan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Syria:licensing of four private press printings
  Syria's Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro issued a decision for licensing the issuance of four non- political private publications, according to the Syrian official news agency SANA. Syria, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Demanding trial of former Bahraini intelligence officer over torture
  Some 1500 Bahraini took part in a sit in called for by Bahraini political societies in front of the ministry of justice in the capital Manama in protest of the return of former intelligence officer Adel Fleifel to Bahrain. He is accused of committing violations of human rights and of practicing torture. Bahrain, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Al-Watan: A railway linking Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia
  The Saudi daily al-Watan reported in Saturday that Iraq is currently studying a project to link Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia by a railway. Regional-Iran, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Saudi FM, Atomic Energy official in Cairo today
  Egypt has called on the US "to maintain an agreement with other members of the Quartet committee for peace and countries concerned on efforts that will be conducive to a peaceful settlement on the grounds declared by the Arab states's peace initiative which can achieve peace through establishing two independent states," Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 11/25/2002
• One person killed, seven wounded, a curfew in Maan
  Clashes renewed yesterday in the southern Jordanian city of Maan in which the Jordanian authorities have reintroduced curfew following the killing of one persons and wounding other seven. Jordan, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Riyadh denies royal financing of two September 11 persons; US Congress shakes US- Saudi relations
  American- Saudi relations were shaken yesterday, with the call made by several US Congress members and the state of justice to open investigations on the accusations addressed to the royal family in Saudi Arabia of financing two of the persons accused of taking part in September 11 incidents through its embassy in Washington. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Egypt, Yemen, and Jordan deny to have got US messages about Iraq
  Jordan, Yemen and Egypt have denied receiving messages from the USA asking for whether the three states are ready to cooperate in a likely war against Iraq. Regional-USA, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Al-Khazraji denies accusations addressed to him
  Former Iraqi army chief of staff Nizar al-Khazraji who sought asylum to Denmark in 1996 denied accusations of war crimes addressed against him and stressed that he is a victim of a conspiracy based on lies. Iraq, Politics, 11/25/2002
• The US and peace in Sudan
  US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter H. Kansteiner, III , considered that peace circumstances in Sudan are better now than before because of the agreement reached last week between the Khartoum government and the rebels in southern Sudan. Sudan-USA, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Israeli forces delay ambulance while UNRWA project manager dies in jenine
  Ian Hook, a senior UN official from Britain was shot dead Friday the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin as Israeli soldiers who circled the camp denied immediate access to the ambulance, doctors and witnesses said. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/25/2002
• International federation of journalists castigates Israel over bad treatment of journalists
  The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists said that Israeli border police who terrorized a group of journalists and assaulted a cameraman in West Bank city of Hebron reflected a "continuing mood of prejudice and intolerance" among Israeli security personnel in their dealings with media. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Morocco, United Arab Emirates, among 13 countries added to list of countries whose male nationals must register with U.S. government
  US Attorney general, John Ashcroft, announced on Friday a new list of 13 countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen) whose male citizens must register with the government. Regional-USA, Politics, 11/25/2002
• Canadian satisfaction over recent inter- Sudanese negotiations Sudan-Canada, Politics, 11/25/2002

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