Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 3/10/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of March 10, 2003
- Lahoud underlines the important of Syrian- Lebanese unity of stances regarding developments
Lebanese President Emil Lahoud has stressed the importance of the unity of the Syrian and Lebanese positions concerning current developments and their impact on the decisions of Arab Sharm esh Sheikh summit. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/15/2003 - La Nouvelle Republique: Algeria shouldn't persist in a hundred-years-standby to support would-be state, Algeria's former defense minister
Algeria's former Defence minister, Khaled Nezzar said that his country "shouldn't hold itself in a hundred-years-standby to support the claims of a would-be state." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/15/2003 - NY Times: U.S. Senator wants investigation into fake US evidence against Iraq
It added "Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia said he was uneasy about a possible campaign to deceive the public about the status of Iraq's nuclear program." Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Chile will not vote for any war against Iraq
Chilean Foreign Ministry stressed yesterday that his Country will not support the American- British and Spanish draft resolution that paves the way for war against Iraq. Iraq-Chile, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Maher: Calling off Arab committee's visit to Baghdad inappropriate
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher said on Thursday that the postponing of a visit by the ministerial committee formed by the latest Arab summit in Sharm El-Sheikh was not an appropriate decision. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Ethiopia denies deployment of forces in Somalia
Ethiopia has denied accusations by the Somali government on force deployment in its territories with the aim of introducing more instability in the country. Somalia-Ethiopia, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Negotiations on the Association Agreement between European Union and Syria
The 10th Round of negotiations on the Association Agreement between the European Union and Syria took place in Damascus on 12 and 13 March 2003. The negotiation teams were headed by Tawfik Ismail, Head of the State Planning Commission, on the Syrian side, and on the European side by Christian Leffler, Director for the Middle East and South Mediterranean at the European Commission. Syria-European Union, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Saadat observes food strike
In a statement, the People's Front For the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said that its secretary general Ahmad Saadat detained in Areiha prison started a food strike over what he has been exposed to of "strong measures" by the British and American guards. Palestine, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Algerian paper Al Bilad: former defense minister's statement on sahara shock therapy Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/15/2003
- Mubarak, King Hamad exchange views on special Arab committee Egypt-Bahrain, Politics, 3/15/2003
- Syrian- Kuwaiti relations highlighted Syria-Kuwait, Politics, 3/15/2003
- Maher receives call from Saudi counterpart Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/15/2003
- Middle East biggest loser in case there is war
It said in a report released in London yesterday that Egypt will sustain losses ranging from $ 6 to 8 billion as a result of a decline in tourism and export revenues. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 3/15/2003 - U.S ambassador to Morocco nominated to run U.S. public diplomacy office
The United States Ambassador to Rabat, Margaret Tutwiler, was nominated by US President George Bush to run the state department's public diplomacy office to improve the nation's image, sources close to the Department Of State said on Thursday. Regional-USA, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Two Morocco-Spain task groups to meet in Madrid next week
Two of the five Moroccan-Spanish task groups set up last December to settle the 15-month diplomatic rift that ended in February will be meting in Madrid March 17-18, Moroccan diplomatic sources said Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/15/2003 - Moroccan imprisoned servicemen to receive European parliament's passport for freedom
A Moroccan servicemen, imprisoned since 1976 in the Polisario's detention camps of Tindouf (southwestern Algeria), will be awarded the European Parliament's "Passport for freedom," the initiative coordinator, Dominique Rambaud, announced on Friday. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 3/15/2003 - La Nouvelle Republique: Former Algerian defense minister denies army role in blocking settlement to sahara issue
He further commented that the Sahara conflict is part of "a clash made unavoidable by a bad decolonization" and that "prejudices and mean considerations have turned into an obsession," the aim being to exhaust energies and prevent that efforts go to fields that are more profitable to people. For him, the scene of operations, which was often depicted as a conflict opposing Algerians and Moroccans, via the Sahrawis, has for long hidden far older, larger, more complex and more strategic disputes." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/14/2003 - King's human rights commitment goes beyond settling past cases, says chairman of HR council
Explaining his vision of the Council action in human rights consolidation, Azziman -- a former justice minister who was appointed last December by the sovereign as CCDH chairman -- said "the narrow approach dictated by a span of our history is now outdated, leaving room for a comprehensive human rights approach that Morocco can and must assume." Morocco, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Canceling Arab League delegation visit to Baghdad
News reports in Cairo said that the committee assigned by the ordinary Arab summit in Sharm Esh Sheikh to move at the UN and Iraq canceled a visit to Baghdad that was due today. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/14/2003 - New crisis threaten collapse of Sudanese peace talks
The current negotiations between the Sudanese government and the rebels (SPLA) of Sudan in Nairobi, Kenya is witnessing a crisis threatening its collapse. Sudan, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Construction of Arab Maghreb Union matter of survival, moroccan speaker says
Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (Lower Chamber), Abdelouahed Radi said in Mauritania on Wednesday that the construction of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA) "is a matter of survival," given an international juncture that is suitable only for strong regional economic groupings. Morocco-Maghreb, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Arafat postpones decision on prime minister post
The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has postponed the ratification of the special law providing for the establishment of the post of the prime minister in the Palestinian authority. Palestine, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Saudi al-Jazeera: Kuwaiti official deny citizens evacuating to neighboring states
The Kuwaiti ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Jaber D'eij al-Sabah, has denied any evacuation of Kuwaiti citizens to Saudi Arabia or to the neighboring states because of fears of a war against Iraq. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Maghreb Union success depends on respect of member states' integrity, Moroccan official Morocco-Maghreb, Politics, 3/14/2003
- Moroccan-Spanish ties too strong to be affected by fleeting tensions, ambassador
Moroccan-Spanish relationships are strong enough to overcome fleeting tensions, Spanish Ambassador to Rabat, Fernando Arias Salgado, told Moroccan weekly in Spanish "La Manana." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Al-Shara confers with EU official on ME issues Syria-European Union, Politics, 3/14/2003
- Moroccan official meets president Catalan president Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/14/2003
- Iraq: 3 more banned missiles, 7 warheads destroyed under UN oversight
United Nations arms inspectors supervised the destruction of three more banned Iraqi missiles and seven warheads today as they continued to scour food plants for possible evidence of biological or chemical weapons. Iraq-UN, Politics, 3/14/2003 - New sahara-maghreb association set up
An association named "Sahara-Maghreb" was recently set up by several civil society militants and associations "to contribute to Maghreb construction and settle regional conflicts." Morocco-Maghreb, Politics, 3/14/2003 - UN withdraws all its observers from the Iraqi borders
The UN observer mission between Iraq and Kuwait announced it had withdrawn all its observers from the Iraqi side of the buffer zones between the two states in a precaution under the current circumstance. Kuwait-UN, Politics, 3/14/2003 - Non-Aligned Movement: Iraq's peaceful disarmament should lead to sanctions lifting Iraq-Malaysia, Politics, 3/13/2003
- Algerian Al Bilad: Former Algerian defense minister's stand on Sahara issue premise for reasonable breakthrough
Nezzar, who served as Algeria's defence minister from 1990 to 1993, told Moroccan weekly "La Gazette du Maroc" that he opposes the creation of a Sahrawi state, arguing that his country "does not need a new state at its borders." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Saudi foreign minister calls on Iraq to take dramatic steps
The Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal yesterday called on Iraq to take "dramatic steps" if it wants to avoid war. Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Libyan responsibility for Lockerbie incident reported
News reports in London said quoting well-informed sources that Libya is willing to accept the civil responsibility for blowing up the American Pan American plane over Lockerbie following negotiations n London, attended by US Department of States Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs head, Assistant Secretary William Joseph Burns. Libya-USA, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Asharq Al-Awsat: Government to submit anti-corruption law
He explained that the law project is part of the government's measures to raise public standards that include ministers' declaration of property, consolidating civil servants control mechanisms and revising the law on public projects allocation. Morocco, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Moscow refuses to expel Iraqi diplomats
A Russian diplomatic source asked not to be identified announced on Wednesday that Russia has ignored Washington's request to expel two Iraqi diplomats. Iraq-Russia, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Somalia withdraws from reconciliation conference in protest of Ethiopia, IGAD
In a sudden and surprising deterioration of the negotiations aiming at achieving national reconciliation and restoring back the already missed security and stability since 1991 in Somalia, the Somali provisional government has officially decided to withdraw from the reconciliation conference which is hosted by Kenya since the mid of October 2002 under the auspices of IGAD states organization. Somalia-Ethiopia, Politics, 3/13/2003 - EU strategy to integrate neighbor southern Mediterranean countries
These "third" countries will have to work for the privilege of access to the EU's internal market. "In return for concrete progress demonstrating shared values and effective implementation of political, economic and institutional reforms, all the neighboring countries should be offered the prospect of a stake in the EU's internal market," said the Commission. Regional-European Union, Politics, 3/13/2003 - UN officials hail inauguration of first international war crimes tribunal
As the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal was inaugurated Tuesday in The Hague with the swearing-in of its judges, top United Nations officials hailed the occasion as an historic day for international justice and a reaffirmation of the global commitment to protect and promote fundamental freedoms. Regional-UN, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Sudanese efforts to save peace negotiations
The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Ismael has announced that the president's advisor for peace affairs Ghazi Salah Eddine is making intensive contacts in Nairobi to rescue peace negotiations with the new rebel group at Darfur district to the eastern part of the country. Sudan, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Islamic Bank reports on Syria's money deposit to Palestinian Intifada
The head of Islamic Bank for Development Ahmad Muhammad Ali sent today his appreciation and thanks to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian people for the continuous support of Palestinian People. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 3/13/2003 - UN protests latest Israeli military assault on UN-managed school in gaza
A bulldozer demolished the entire front wall, gate and playground outbuilding, UNRWA said, adding that most of the windows in the front of school were broken and some classrooms were damaged during the assault that occurred under Israeli control. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/13/2003 - Annan says 'end of the road' reached as Cyprus talks produce no deal
Following marathon talks in The Hague, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday that the "end of the road" has been reached after Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders failed to agree on a plan that would enable a united Cyprus to join the European Union later this year. Turkey-Regional, Politics, 3/13/2003 - UAE- Syria for activating bilateral relations Syria-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 3/13/2003
- Mubarak reviews guidelines of the new budget Egypt, Politics, 3/13/2003
- U.S. Gen. Tommy Francs meets with Arab leaders Regional-USA, Politics, 3/13/2003
- Security Council condemns violence in Somalia, calls for peace and relief access
Expressing strong regret at the continued fighting in Somalia despite peace agreements, the United Nations Security Council yesterday condemned the factions involved in the conflict and called for an immediate end to all acts of violence and safe access for all humanitarian personnel. Somalia-UN, Politics, 3/13/2003 - King of Bahrain pardons persons convicted of riot acts
The King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, yesterday issued a decree pardoning 21 convicted persons who took part in acts of riots that took place during the recent new year in the capital Manama. Bahrain, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Okaz: Pakistan's information minister: no to war against Iraq Iraq-Pakistan, Politics, 3/12/2003
- NY Times: USA demands Mexico to vote for war against Iraq Iraq-Mexico, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Syrian National Socialist wins three seats at parliament, factional disputes
The Syrian National Socialist party has achieved gain for a party which is still outside the National Progressive Front in Syria, by joining the Syrian parliament with three Parliamentarians after the party's leadership has not recognized Basil Dahdouh as a representative for another faction of the party. Syria, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Al-Shara- Fischer telephone talks Syria-Germany, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Le Figaro: Qathafi: US policy is radicalizing people; proposes Palestinian- Israeli solution
Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi said that there is no justification for the stands supporting war by the US against Iraq and that if a quick victory of a military intervention will take place it will be followed by a catastrophe. He proposed Lebanon as an example for the solution of the Palestinian - Israeli conflict. Libya-Regional, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Al-Jazira: Qatar 's FM denies to have conveyed a message from Saddam to Bush Iraq-Qatar, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Coptic Church: attacking Iraq is against Christianity
The Coptic Orthodox Church sent a message to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urging the international organisation to maintain the international legitimacy and prevent an unjust war against the Iraqi people. Iraq-Egypt, Politics, 3/12/2003 - UAE president confers with Omani delegation to Omani- UAE joint committee United Arab Emirates-Oman, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Syria, Lebanon will not take part in the Arab committee to Iraq
A Lebanese diplomatic source has ruled out the participation of the Syrian and Lebanese foreign ministers in a visit to be held by the Arab committee emerged from the Arab summit to Baghdad, amid the vagueness overwhelming the nature of its mission in Baghdad. Lebanon-Iraq, Politics, 3/12/2003 - American-Arab association campaign against new aid to Israel
With over $3 billion annually in military and economic assistance from the American taxpayer, Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid despite the fact that 200 countries and territories are poorer than Israel. While Israelis are earning approximately $18,000 per capita per year, the income of millions of Americans falls well below this level. Israel-USA, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Lahoud: Syrian- Lebanese joint stances Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Vatican denies mediation for quitting Saddam Iraq-Vatican, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Islamic information ministers on Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon
Islamic States Information Ministers have condemned the threats against Syria and Lebanon and asserted their complete support to Syria's efforts for the restoration of the occupied Golan Heights through the complete Israeli withdrawal to June 4 1967 line. Regional, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Australian official resigned in protest of his country's policy towards Iraq Iraq-Australia, Politics, 3/12/2003
- Arab ministerial delegation to meet Hussein on Saturday
The Egyptian Middle East News Agency said yesterday that the Arab ministerial delegation will head for Baghdad on Friday to meet with the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the next day, in an Arab attempt to avoid war against Iraq through consultation with the Iraqi leadership. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Egypt's borders are red lines, our armed forces capable of deterring any aggressor Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/12/2003
- EU urged to pressure polisario to release 1,160 Moroccan prisoners
The EU has recently urged for "the immediate" liberation of all Moroccan POWs, insisting that "a line must be drawn between the human aspects of the conflict and its political ramifications." Morocco-European Union, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Sudan denies plane downing; battle against rebels in Darfur ends
The Sudanese government has denied news talking about the downing of an army helicopter for the Sudanese army in Darfur district at the hands of the new rebel group or what is called "Darfur Liberation Front" which leads the opposition against Sudan from outside the country. Sudan, Politics, 3/12/2003 - News of nearby agreements to end Lockerbie crisis: Libya to shoulder civil responsibility for Lockerbie
Libya is about to reach a political agreement with the US and Britain by accepting to shoulder the civil responsibility exploding the plane in the Lockerbie incident of1988 and paying compensation of 10 million dollars to each family of the 270 victims. Libya-USA, Politics, 3/12/2003 - Tantawi receives Russian delegation Egypt-Russia, Politics, 3/12/2003
- French president hopes quick progress in maghreban integration, sahara issue Maghreb-France, Politics, 3/11/2003
- Al-Assad before new parliament: democracy needs dialogue, and implementation skills
The president underlined that in his oath taking speech he talked about transparency which means clarity and honesty but some have understood it as wearing imported masks. He also indicated that democracy means accepting the opinions of others, while objectivity means seeing all sides of the issue, and freedom means commitment and national responsibility but some people have misunderstood these terms, adding that even tolerance was misunderstood for weakness. Syria, Politics, 3/11/2003 - New family code to be revolutionary, official
The text of the new Mudawana (family code) will be revolutionary after the Mudawana reform consultative commission closes its works, said head of the commission M'hamed Boucetta. Morocco, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Arab League: ministerial committee relayed to US rejection of war option Regional-Iraq, Politics, 3/11/2003
- La Gazette du Maroc: former Algerian defense minister opposes sahrawi state creation
Former Algerian Defence minister, Khaled Nizzar, said he opposes the creation of a Sahrawi state, arguing that his country "does not need a new state at its borders." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Russia will vote against a new resolution on Iraq
Russia Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov stressed on Monday that Russia will vote against the American British new resolution regarding the Iraqi issue at the UNited Nations Security Council. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Assafir: Lebanese FM: the Arab committee will not visit Iraq on Thursday
The Lebanese minister of expatriates and foreign affairs yesterday evening denied in a statement to the Lebanese daily Assafir issued today that the Arab Ministerial committee which has returned recently from New York has decided to visit Baghdad on Thursday. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Sudan accuses opposition forces, Chad's tribes of supporting the rebels in Darfour
The Sudanese information minister al-Zahawi Ibrahim yesterday accused what he called "remains of the opposition and Chad's tribes of providing weapons to the rebels of Darfour" who control Murra mountain area to the west of Sudan. Sudan-Chad, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Saudi Arabia wants the UN to have Israel dismantle mass destruction weapons
Saudi Arabia said on Monday that dismantling the mass destruction weapons should be obligatory for all countries of the region and not only for Iraq, in remarks of Israel's having the nuclear weapons. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Iraq: Amer Rasheed is an acting oil minister
The Iraqi TV has announced that the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein yesterday appointed Amer Rasheed as an acting minister of oil, just two months after his resignation from his post as a minister of oil. Iraq, Politics, 3/11/2003 - Kuwait will not prevent war on Iraqis, and wants God to protects the Iraqis Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 3/11/2003
- Continued support necessary to finalize Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process, Annan
While progress has been made, the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process is now at a critical stage and the international community should continue lending its support in order to finalize the border demarcation, according to a report by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan released today in New York. Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 3/11/2003 - In The Hague, Annan holds talks on finalizing Cyprus deal
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday met with the Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulous, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, in The Hague in a last-minute bid to gain approval of a plan that would enable a united Cyprus to join the European Union next month. Turkey-Regional, Politics, 3/11/2003 - New Syrian parliament speaker seeks political role for parliament
The Syrian People's Assembly opened yesterday its first session of the 8th Legislative Session. The new members elected Mohammed Naji Otari as the Head of the new People's Assembly for the 8th legislative term. Syria, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Moroccan women's role in public affairs management highlighted
Morocco's Human Rights Minister, Mohamed Aujjar highlighted, here on Friday, Moroccan women's role in public affairs management, based on equal political rights with men. Morocco, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Iraq considers receiving Arab summit delegation on the crisis
The Arab League announced that Baghdad has agreed to receive its ministerial committee stemmed from the recent Arab summit in order to hold talks with the Iraqi officials concerning the current crisis. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Riyadh: American forces in Saudi bases for defense
The Saudi defense minister Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has stressed that his country's authorities have actually closed Ar'ar airport in the north east of Saudi Arabia near the borders with Iraq before civil aviation. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Al-Ahram: US may know of illigal weopan in Iraq because it supplied them
Former Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Khalil said that the law of nations would be enforced in case of the contradiction between the Egyptian-Israeli peace accord and the joint Arab Defense Treaty. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Sudan urges Arab states to hurry in rebuilding the south
The Sudanese government has warned the Arab states and its voluntary organizations against linking contributions to rebuilding the south to achieving peace, and urged them to hurry in financing developmental projects so as to reach a voluntary unity between the northern and southern parts of the country. Sudan-Regional, Politics, 3/10/2003 - King Abdullah meets with Sharon Jordan-Israel, Politics, 3/10/2003
- Destruction of Iraqi warheads and missiles proceeds under UN supervision
The United Nations yesterday supervised the destruction of six more Al Samoud 2 missiles and 11 additional warheads in Iraq, according to a spokesman for the world body. Iraq-UN, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Bassiouni dismisses Israel's alleged annexation of border area
Shura Council member Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Bassiouni dismissed allegations by Yediot Ahronot newspaper's web site that the Israeli authorities annexed AL Mothalath El-Bahari (sea Triangle) area between the Egyptian Israeli borders in southern Eilat. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/10/2003 - Gemayel discloses meeting with Saddam two weeks ago Lebanon-Iraq, Politics, 3/10/2003