Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 12/9/2002

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of December 9, 2002

• Saudi king pardons prisoners from the Ismaeli sect Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/14/2002
• King Mohammed holds phone conversation with Algerian president Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/14/2002
• King of Bahrain opens the parliament today
  Bahrain today opens the first pages of democracy when the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will inaugurate the parliament in its two councils -- the elected parliamentarians council and the appointed Shoura council. The King is expected to deliver a speech before members of the two councils. Bahrain, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Al-Assad's interview with the British 'the Times' on Syria's policy
  The president pointed out that it is natural for the two countries to coordinate together since Syria has an important role in the region and Britain has an important international role and is concerned with issues of the region. Syria-UK, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Tunisia prevents a demonstration against the war on Iraq Tunisia-Iraq, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Al-Hayat: British official and Syria's ME role, policy
  an official at the British foreign office saying that the British government pins great importance on a Syrian role to make the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein choose the road of peace, rather than force, expressing his country's concern over the Syrian air flights to Iraq and pumping of the Iraqi oil through the Syrian territories. Syria-UK, Politics, 12/14/2002
• UK does flip-flop on UN resolution meaning regarding attacking Iraq
  In a typical pattern of what the US and UK approach to abusing the UN Security Council and its resolutions, in gaining support for a resolution by saying one thing, and then saying the absolute opposite after the passage of the resolution, the UK just announced that there is no need for another UN resolution to authorize striking Iraq, British officials announced in Egypt. Egypt-UK, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Islamic world, a nation of good not axis of evil, ISESCO says
  Touching on the educational, cultural and scientific challenges facing the Islamic world, he emphasized that speeches and words were not sufficient Regional, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Kuwaiti Al-Watan: Moussa says League not biased towards Iraq against Kuwait Regional-Kuwait, Politics, 12/14/2002
• King Mohammed decides to exceptionally allow Galicia fishing ships access to Moroccan exclusive economic zone
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI has decided to exceptionally authorize access to the Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone to Galician ships affected by the catastrophe cause by the wreckage of the Prestige ship off Spanish coasts. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Spanish FM voiced optimism, confidence after meeting in Madrid with Benaissa
  Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Ana Palacio was upbeat and confident after meeting she held in Madrid on Wednesday with Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Syrian Lawyers observe a solidarity sit-in with Palestinians Syria-Palestine, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Romanian president confers with Syrian deputy premier
  The Romanian President, Ion Iliescu, received in Bucharest yesterday Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs, Mohammed al-Hussein. Syria-Romania, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Spanish opposition party PSOE satisfied over Benaissa-Palacio meeting Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Kuwaiti paper: Iraq plans destruction acts against Kuwait
  A Kuwaiti paper said well-informed intelligence sources concerning internal Iraq said that the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has issued a decree for reactivating field work of groups that are so called "the Kuwaiti right league," chaired by Shaalan al-Shummari, through preparing destruction plans inside Kuwait Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Egypt criticizes American plan on development in the ME Egypt-USA, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Netanyahu to hold a European tour Israel-European Union, Politics, 12/14/2002
• Lahoud: Lebanon needs international support to example for tolerance
  While the Lebanese Hizbullah party condemned the Canadian authorities banning of the party's activities inside its territories, the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud said that Lebanon has challenged terrorism and is against terrorism calling on world countries which believe in peace and justice to ensure to Lebanon all support in order to be the country of moderation and tolerance. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Hariri confers with Larsen on ME issues
  Hizbullah stressed that the Canadian decision came in response to the American and Israeli conditions in the framework of their campaigns "against Arabs and Muslims and countries which do not accept to be subjugated to the American will." Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Al-Shara confers with Indian FM
  Syria's Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Shara received in Damascus yesterday the Indian Deputy Foreign Minister, Ragendra Abhanicar and an accompanying delegation. Syria-India, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Morocco-Spain: no date fixed for return of ambassadors to respective posts (Moroccan fm)
  Morocco's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, who held on Wednesday meetings in Madrid with Spanish peer, Ana Palacio, said that "no date was set for the return of Ambassadors to their respective posts (in Madrid and Rabat." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Moussa: AL recognizes Kuwaiti bitterness, but Iraq is in danger
  Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said on Wednesday the pan-Arab organisation is trying to study details of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's latest address in an effort to contain -any more tensions. Regional-Kuwait, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Rumsfeld in Qatar: our interests in the area not limited to oil
  The US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld has denied that oil is the driving force behind Washington's policy in the Middle East and its fight against terrorism. He called for patience over the Iraqi announcement on weapons. He made his remarks during his inspection yesterday of the American leadership center in Qatar which might be used in case an attack is waged against Iraq. Qatar-USA, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Washington received an Algerian request to buy weapons
  The US has announced that Algeria expressed desire to buy American military equipment but did not accept or refuse this request. Algeria-USA, Politics, 12/13/2002
• American forces reinforce presence in Kuwait
  The arrival of American forces continues to Kuwait where these forces are positioned in camps deployed in the desert and intensified training at the border lines with Iraq. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Iraq will present a list in the names of scientists
  The chairman of the Iraqi national control department, lt. Gen. Husam Muhammad Amin, said that Iraq will hand over to the UN, at its own request, a list including names of Iraqi experts who will be interrogated about the military programs of Baghdad, according to UN security Council resolution no. 1441. Iraq, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Iraq accepts a visit of a UN delegate for the Kuwaiti missing
  The UN yesterday announced that the Iraqi government approved for the first time the visit to be carried out by the Russian Yuli Foronitsof to Iraq. He is the UN coordinator for the prisoners and properties that have been missing since the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Iraq-UN, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Pope John Paul II calls on Israeli President to ensure access to Bethlehem
  During his meeting with the Israeli President Moshe Katsav in the Vatican yesterday, Pope John Paul II called for ensuring the liberty of having access to Bethlehem on the occasion of the Christmas. Israel-Vatican, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Tour by the Yemeni President to cover Lebanon, Syria Yemen-Regional, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Syrian- Austrian armies relations reviewed Syria-Austria, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Morocco's premier meets Nigeria's vice-president over bilateral ties Morocco-Nigeria, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Washington urges its citizens in Kuwait to be cautious
  The American embassy in Kuwait has urged its citizens in the country to avoid public places and residential areas where large aggregations for western citizens do exist following the occurrence of two incidents in one residential complex.. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Egypt approves new African Union role Egypt-Regional, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Moroccan parties hail decision to lower voting age to 18
  Several Moroccan parties hailed the Royal decision to lower voting age to 18 instead of 20, in force until now in the Kingdom. Morocco, Politics, 12/13/2002
• Modern governance is not conceivable without democracy, king Mohammed
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Wednesday underlined that modern governance is not conceivable without democracy, calling for enforcing new forms of governance to adapt to the requirements of modern times. Morocco, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Al-Assad confers with US of ME center for peace, economic cooperation
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Wednesday Director of the Middle East Center for Peace and Economic Cooperation in the United States, Wayne Owens and an accompanying delegation. Syria-USA, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Morocco, Spain voice will to promote sound, coherent ties
  Morocco and Spain on Wednesday voiced shared will to promote sound, clear and coherent relations between them. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Iraqi opposition held a preparatory meeting in Tehran
  Officials representing four main Iraqi opposition organizations held a preparatory meeting for the opposition's plenary conference which will be held in London on Saturday. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 12/12/2002
• After promising to be the last shipment, Yemen gets back Skud missiles
  Yemen yesterday restored back 15 "Skud" missiles which were on the deck of the Northern Korea ship stopped by the Spanish and American naval forces on Tuesday at al-Arab Sea following intensive contacts between Sanaa which insisted to its right to have the shipment and Washington which showed care to maintain relations with Yemen, "the partner in the war against terrorism." Yemen-USA, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Canada imposes total ban on the Hizbullah party; terrorism cited
  Canada has followed the US step and imposed yesterday a total ban on the Hizbullah party, under the pretext that the secretary general of the Hizbullah part, Hassan Nasrullah had called the armed struggle against Israel. Lebanon-Canada, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Israel invest 3 million in the occupied Syrian Golan heights
  The Israeli radio has stated that the Israeli government will invest a sum of 3 million dollars to develop tourism in the occupied Syrian Golan heights which Israel had annexed in 1981 after it had occupied it in 1967 Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Habash calls for cling to resistance option
  The founder of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine, George Habash, has called for strengthening Palestinian national unity and to proceed forward in the option of resistance in order to deter the occupation. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Some 271 American soldiers were poisoned in Kuwait
  Some 271 American soldiers stationed in Kuwait had health problems that seemed to be resulting from a food poisoning whose nature was not known. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Moussa's statements on Iraq Regional-USA, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Syrian participation at Morocco's Forum Syria-Morocco, Politics, 12/12/2002
• Syrian parliamentarian calls for a new constitution
  In what seemed to be preparations for the next session of the People's Assembly ( parliament), member of the Syrian parliament, and the candidate for the Progressive National Front, Munzir Mousalli, called for a new constitution and new elections law, stressing the need to bring back the role of the People's Assembly in overseeing the executive authority. Syria, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Syrian Kurds demonstrate before the PA, asking for constitutional, cultural rights
  Some 100 Syrian Kurds gathered yesterday in front of the Syrian parliament asking for their rights, stated in a statement they were circulating on passerby at the sight of the policemen, in a first step of its kind by the second main party between the 12 Kurdish parties which is banned in Syria. Syria, Politics, 12/11/2002
• King Mohammed appoints chairman, secretary general and new members of human rights consultative council
  Morocco's King Mohammed appointed this Tuesday Omar Azziman, a former justice and human rights minister, as chairman of the Human Rights Consultative Council (CCDH) and Driss Benzekri as secretary general of the same council. Morocco, Politics, 12/11/2002
• King Mohammed appoints ombusdman
  "By inaugurating the "Diwan Al Madhalim" and the Consultative Council for Human Rights, Our objective is not only to reinforce the existing institutions, which assist Our Majesty in protecting the citizen's rights, but it is also to provide the country with institutions devoted to tracking disorders and redressing possible abuses with respect to the citizen's rights Morocco, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Morocco lowers voting age to 18
  Morocco on Tuesday decided to lower the voting age to 18 instead of 20 in force until now in the country. Morocco, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Aujourd'hui le Maroc: Morocco's fm: all of Moroccan-Spanish pending problems to be surveyed in wednesday's meeting
  Morocco's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa said that he will "inventory pending problems" with Spanish counterpart, Ana Palacio, in a meeting scheduled on Wednesday in Madrid. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Moroccan human rights association holds rally on international human rights day
  Human rights advocates representing various non-governmental associations and organisations chanted slogans claiming the respect of human rights and the truth on "economic crimes" referring to the embezzlement of public funds. Morocco, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Decreasing imprisonment sentences against 70 ( Ismaeli ) Saudis
  Saudi Arabia's King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz gave his instructions to decrease sentences issued against 70 Saudis who follow al- Makarima ( Ismaeli ) sect. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Al-Seyasah: Israeli warning to Syria
  said that the Israeli ambassador in Washington had handed over the US Department Of State last Saturday an Israeli warning to Syria calling in it to withdraw all sorts of anti- armored vehicles and other equipment missiles and weapons which it had given to the Hizbullah party, otherwise Syria will be responsible for the Israeli reactions over using these weapons against Israel. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Rumsfeld receives offer from Eritrea to use its bases in fighting terrorism
  Eritrea's president Asyas Afourki has proposed to the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld who arrived yesterday in Asmara, his first leg in the African horn, putting his country's resources and potentials under the disposal of the USA in the war it leads against terrorism. Eritrea-USA, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Turkish professor and changing the regimes in the region
  Professor Dogo Arkil, member of the teaching staff in the political sciences faculty at Ankara's University, announced that the American military operation against Iraq will not be confined to Iraq only but will cover the region as a whole, adding that a change will be made to the existing regimes and that plans necessary for that have been drawn. Regional-USA, Politics, 12/11/2002
• US finalized preparations for attacking Iraq
  The Kuwaiti daily al- Anbaa reported yesterday quoting well-informed British sources that the US and Britain are intending to call on the UN security council to convene a meeting before the fall of the Christmas, considering that the American forces have become ready to launch a war against Iraq by the fall of January, 2003 instead of February. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Kharrazi: identical stances with Syria, Lebanon
  Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi described relations between Syria and Iran as very distinct, underlining the importance of the exchange of viewpoints between the two countries over issues of common interest. Iran-Syria, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Yemeni president to visit Lebanon Yemen-Lebanon, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Al-Assad, Putin discuss the situation in the region Syria-Russia, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Libyan- Algerian cooperation Libya-Algeria, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Al-Rafeydeen: Blix, al- Barad'e to visit Iraq Iraq, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Kuwait complains to the AL about the Iraqi apology Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 12/11/2002
• Libya: Arab League is outdated Libya-Regional, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Vanguardia: Spain and morocco need to address common problems with courage, Moroccan official
  Regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue, El Yazghri stressed that his country is expecting a "full fledged support" from Madrid, deploring Spain's "incomprehensible attitude," by not supporting UN Secretary General personal envoy's proposal to grant the Sahara population wide autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/10/2002
• King Mohammed receives US under-secretary for MENA region Morocco-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• US burns meets Algerian president in algiers Algeria-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Al-Assad confers with US Senators
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Monday two US. Senators, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE) and senior Republican committee member Chuck Hagel (R-NE). Syria-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• USA renews firm backing to Baker's efforts to end sahara issue Morocco-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Exiled Palestinian number 13 is in Mauritania Mauritania-Palestine, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Al-Aqsa groups vow to continue resistance Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Iraqi criticism for al-Ateyah statements
  A spokesman for the Iraqi National Council (parliament) yesterday criticized statements made by the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdul Rahman al-Ateyah, who described the message of the Iraqi President to the Kuwaiti people as disappointing. Iraq-Gulf, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Al-Anbaa: Khartoum accuses Garang of obstructing peace: Eritrea plays Israel's role
  The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael has accused the rebels in southern Sudan led by John Garang of obstructing peace and unity in the country. He set a precondition that Eritrea should stop the support it gives to the Sudanese opposition, in order to start Sudanese negotiations with it. Sudan, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Iran's FM in Beirut: no common ground between Hizbullah, al-Qaida
  The Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi said yesterday in Beirut that there is no common ground linking between al-Qaida organization and the Hizbullah party at the doctrine or the political levels. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Maher confers with the American ambassadors to Egypt, Israel
  The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher yesterday in Cairo met with the ambassadors of the USA to Egypt and Israel David Welsh and Daniel Kurtz, respectively and exchanged with them views on latest developments in the Middle East region. Egypt-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Israeli delegation in Qatar Qatar-Israel, Politics, 12/10/2002
• On Mousa's visit to Russia
  The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa left Cairo yesterday for Moscow in an official visit to Russia during which he will hold talks with the Russian officials on the current situation in the region especially in Iraq and Palestine and means for consolidating the Arab-Russian relations. Regional-Russia, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Draft recommendations of the opposition conference in London
  Well-informed sources at the Iraqi opposition said that the preparatory committee of the opposition conference which will be held on Saturday in London has reached the draft of the conference's final recommendations. Iraq, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Syrian- Turkish cities signed cooperation agreement
  An agreement of cooperation was signed yesterday between the Syrian city of Qameshli and the Turkish city of Nousaybeen. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Israel prepares for a military operation
  The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Aam reported yesterday that western diplomatic sources expressed conviction that Israel is preparing for a military operation in the form of a large attack ( taking the form of muscles flexing) under the pretext of retaliating the Mombassa operation in Kenya. Israel-Regional, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Washington recommends citizens to be cautious in Lebanon
  The US yesterday renewed calls for its citizens in Lebanon to be cautious, stressing that it has intensified the security of its diplomats in Beirut. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• American simulated maneuvers in Qatar
  A US military spokesman said yesterday that the American forces started yesterday large maneuvers using computer simulations in order to test the technological capacities of the headquarters of a leadership in Qatar that might be in charge of any war against Iraq. Qatar-USA, Politics, 12/10/2002
• Algeria renews desire for better ties with Morocco Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Mubarak holds telephone conversations with Saleh Egypt-Yemen, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Iranian FM in Syria on regional issues
  SYria's Foreign Minister, Farouk al-Shara received yesterday in Damascus Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharazi and the accompanying delegation. Syria-Iran, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Foreign ministers of Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia discuss political, security cooperation
  The foreign ministers of Yemen, Sudan and Ethiopia decided to hold their next meeting in Khartoum by the end of the current month. Yemen-Sudan, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Kuwaiti FM refuses to comment on Saddam's speech addressed to the Kuwaitis Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Al-Qaida claims responsibility for Mombassa attack; alert in Kenya Israel-Kenya, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Al-Watan: Yemeni FM: Israeli fingers behind Yemeni - Eritrea differences
  The Yemeni foreign minister Abu baker al-Qurabi has stressed that the Israeli fingers are behind certain Yemeni- Eritrea differences. Yemen-Eritrea, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Moussa discusses with Russian officials Iraqi and Palestinian developments
  The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa has stressed that the developments of the Iraqi issue and the deteriorated conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories and means of tackling them will be the focal for the discussions he will hold with the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov and high ranking Russian officials during his visit to the Russian capital, Moscow, which started yesterday and will last for three days. Regional-Russia, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Eritrea- Ethiopian meetings to discuss border demarcation
  The Ethiopian - Eritrea military coordination committee will hold its first meeting in Nairobi, which has not met since last April, at the level of military leaderships in order to discuss several issues including border demarcation and elimination of the consequences of war since the signing of the ceasefire agreement. Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Iraq's denies connection to killing of opposition member, al-Mayahi
  A well-informed source at the Iraqi embassy in Lebanon has denied any connection for the Iraqi authorities to the killing of the Iraqi opposition member, Walid Ibrahim al-Mayahi, whose body was found in an apartment he lives in al-Sader Islamic complex in the Lebanese southern city of Tyre. Iraq-Lebanon, Politics, 12/9/2002
• As new UN arms experts arrive in Iraq, inspectors visit chemical factory
  With new United Nations weapons experts arriving in Baghdad, teams from the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today continued their operations in Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Israeli threats after wounding two of its soldiers in south Lebanon; unidentified group claimed responsibility
  In an incident which is the first of its kind since last August, two Israeli soldiers were wounded, one is in a critical health condition, when their armored car blew up, just 30 meters from the Lebanese borders off "Burket Resha" which is facing the Israeli Zarghit settlement (Tabreikha). Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 12/9/2002
• Hamas, Fatah to resume talks within days
  The official in charge of planning and international cooperation in the Palestinian Authority Nabil Shaath has announced that talks between the Hamas movement and Fatah will be resumed within days. Palestine, Politics, 12/9/2002

Previous Week · Politics · Business and Economics · Local · Algeria · Bahrain · Comoros · Djibouti · Egypt · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Libya · Mauritania · Morocco · Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Syria · Saudi Arabia · Somalia · Sudan · Tunisia · United Arab Emirates · Yemen