Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 6/2/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of June 2, 2003
- Court postpones journalist case
The court of Appeal of Rabat on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the case involving journalist, Ali Lamrabet, who was sentenced last May 21 to 4 years in prison and a fine of 20,000 DH (US$ 2,000). The court rejected a request of the defense for the temporary release of the accused. Morocco, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Majlis A'Shura elections awareness team Oman, Politics, 6/7/2003
- Mubarak phones Arafat Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 6/7/2003
- Italian foreign minister visits Beirut today Lebanon-Italy, Politics, 6/7/2003
- In a Maghreb and Middle East tour, Italian FM in Tunisia
An official source said that the Italy's foreign minister Franco Frattini arrived on Friday evening in Tunisia in the framework of a tour on the Maghreb and Middle East states. Tunisia-Italy, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Iraqi resistance continues, Bremer prepares to meet Iraqi leaderships
The American forces in Iraq were exposed to new attacks by unidentified attackers that targeted a patrol near a military air base to the west of the capital Baghdad by missiles and gun machines. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Morocco, Spain commit to upgrading ties
Morocco and Spain renewed Thursday in Madrid their "firm commitment" to consolidating their bilateral cooperation on the basis of political trust and fruitful cooperation. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Syrian- Ukrainian relations highlighted
Chairman of the friendship group with Syria in the Ukrainian Parliament, Anatoli Damanski, highly lauded President Bashar Al-Assad's policy and his firm principled stances towards the Arab Nation causes. Syria-Ukraine, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Chad to expel every one who seeks to destabilize Sudan
An official source in Chad announced on Thursday evening that the government of Chad decided to "expel any person" seeking to destabilize Sudan. Sudan-Chad, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Al Riyadh: Moussa: contacts to hold mini-Arab summit
Arab league Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that contacts are under way to hold a mini-Arab summit to discuss conditions in the region. Regional, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Moroccan FM holds talks with Ivoirian peer; cooperation talks
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohammed Benaissa, held talks in Rabat on Friday with Ivoirian secretary of state and foreign minister, Bamba Mamadou. Morocco-Ivory Coast, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Al-Nahar: Syrian- French cultural relations development
Chairman of the Friendship Associations in the French Senate, Philip Marini described developments of the French Syrian cooperation as an ideal one in the human and cultural fields. Syria-France, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Meeting for the Palestinian leadership led by Arafat
A Palestinian official source said that the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat held a meeting on Friday with senior officials in the Fatah movement and the Palestinian Liberation Organization PLO in order to discuss results of the tripartite summit which was held on Wednesday in al-Aqaba ( Jordan.). Palestine, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Israel continue killings of Palestinian opposition and resistance leaders; US criticizes Hamas for ending talks with Abbas
The US has criticized the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, and described it as an "enemy of peace" after the movement announced it will stop talks with the Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas over ending its attacks against the Israelis. Palestine-USA, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Opening inter-Maghreb borders would boost confidence in the future
Opening borders between Maghreb countries would "boost confidence in the future," said Lecturer Ghile Francis from Granada's Management School. Maghreb, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Riyadh received 18 men from Sudan for interrogation
Saudi Arabia's ministry of the interior has announced it received from Sudan 18 persons. Saudi Arabia-Sudan, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Artillery explosion in Iraq kills one American sailor
An American military spokesman announced that a member at the American naval engineering was killed yesterday Friday in an artillery explosion in the downtown of Baghdad. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Blair, his aides missinformed citizens , the world, to justify Iraq war
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's aides called on the British intelligence to reformulate the file of the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, reported the BBC yesterday. Iraq-UK, Politics, 6/7/2003 - World Bank: fighting poverty a key to achieving world peace and lowering global tensions
Large majorities of opinion leaders in every region of the world point to poverty reduction as critical to achieving peace, and that sentiment is especially strong in Sub-Saharan Africa (91 percent), and South Asia (87 percent), and the Middle East and North Africa (79 percent). But support is also high in rich countries, where seven in 10 opinion leaders strongly believe that fighting poverty is the path to peace. Regional, Politics, 6/7/2003 - United Nations inspection team arrived in Baghdad Iraq-UN, Politics, 6/7/2003
- British ministry of interior will give Saddam's daughters asylum
British sources said yesterday that the British ministry of the interior will give the daughters of Saddam Hussein Raghad and Rana political asylum if they can leave Iraq peacefully. Iraq-UK, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Kuwaiti- Chinese relations are remarkable, diplomat
A Kuwaiti diplomat stressed yesterday the deep Kuwaiti- Chinese relations, noting that they are based on reciprocated mutual respect and are considered one of the best relations among countries as an example to be followed. Kuwait-China, Politics, 6/7/2003 - Sudanese- Libyan borders closed Sudan-Libya, Politics, 6/6/2003
- Egyptian parliament approves higher human rights council
At a time when Gamal Mubarak, the secretary of policies at the ruling national party, continues his public meetings in several Egyptian governorates, the Egyptian Shoura council yesterday, initially, approved a draft law providing for founding a human rights national council, already prepared and advocated by the newly established secretariat at the party which is headed by the son of the Egyptian president. Egypt, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Some 12 Muslim Brothers members detained in Egypt
A source in the Egyptian police announced that some 12 persons of the banned Muslim Brothers group in North Egypt were arrested on charge of trying to revive the organization. Egypt, Politics, 6/6/2003 - German mp: No settlement to Sahara issue outside Morocco's kingty
"There can be no settlement to the Sahara issue out of Moroccan sovereignty," German Social Democratic Party (SPD) deputy and former state secretary of foreign affairs, Cristophe Zopel, said Thursday. Morocco-Germany, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Moroccan, Spanish prime ministers satisfied over headway in bilateral ties
Moroccan and Spanish prime ministers, respectively Driss Jettou and Jos? Maria Aznar, said this Thursday they are upbeat on Moroccan-Spanish relations and that their meeting in Los Quintos de Mora (150 km south of Madrid) was "very positive." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/6/2003 - US soldier killed, al-Barazani in al-Najaf, al-Seistani asks about occupation's end
The American forces received a new blow yesterday in Iraq with the killing of one of its soldiers and wounding of other 7 in two separate operations in Baghdad and al-Falouja. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Bush reiterates war on terrorism, commends reforms in Qatar
US President George W. Bush renewed his assertion to continue the war against international terrorism, who said was dealt with in the African horn and Iraq, stressing that there is nowhere that terrorist can hide from "America's justice." Qatar-USA, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Moussa denies Sharm Esh Sheikh, al-Aqaba summit targets resistance
The secretary general of the Arab League AL Amr Moussa has considered meetings of the summit took place in the region concerning the Palestinian issue as a chance through which hopes can be achieved for both the Palestinians and the Israelis through the Roadmap. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Maher denies Israeli news on return of Egyptian ambassador
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher has deliberately denied that Sharm Esh Sheikh meetings which were held two days ago tackled the issue of the return of the Egyptian ambassador to Israel. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Moroccan FM holds talks with Italian peer
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, held talks on Wednesday with visiting Italian peer, Franco Frattini. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Khaleifa Bin Zayed, Blair discussed conditions in the region, bilateral relations
The British prime minister Tony Blair yesterday in London discussed with Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the deputy commander of the armed forces in the UAE currently visiting Britain. United Arab Emirates-UK, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Human rights body chair calls for vigilance to avoid abuses in fighting terrorism
Chairman of the Moroccan human rights advisory council (CCDH), Omar Azziman, said vigilance should be observed in the fight against terrorism in order to avoid abuses however serious the crimes are. Morocco, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Coalition forces arrests leader of Iraqi al-Quds army , Eyad al-Rawi
The American central leadership said yesterday that the "al-Quds army" leader which was founded by the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is in the hands of the American- British coalition. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/6/2003 - US under secretary for political affairs meets Moroccan officials
US undersecretary of state for political affairs, Marc Grossman, met in Rabat on Wednesday successively Moroccan premier, Driss Jettou, and minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco-USA, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Arab Parliamentary Union backs Morocco's on Sebta and Melilia Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/6/2003
- Arab Parliamentarian Federation support Syria Regional-Syria, Politics, 6/6/2003
- Bush: we have spent a long time in Sharm Esh Sheikh talking about Syria Syria-USA, Politics, 6/6/2003
- Arab follow up committee meets on Monday in Manama Regional, Politics, 6/6/2003
- Cote D'Ivoire FM arrives in Rabat Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 6/6/2003
- Morocco's Istiqlal Party becomes member in international democrat center association
The International Center Democrat association, has accepted the membership of Morocco's Istiqlal party during its meeting here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Spanish premier, Jose Maria Aznar. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 6/6/2003 - Al-Aqaba summit: Bush reiterates support for Palestinian state, Israel's security, enforcement of Roadmap implementation
US President George W. Bush said it is possible to achieve peace in the Middle East, noting that there is great progress for achieving this goal. Palestine-USA, Politics, 6/5/2003 - Under charge of defaming a Bahraini activist lawyer was summoned to court
The Bahraini lawyer and activist Fatemah al-Hawaj said she was summoned on Tuesday by the Attorney General following statements she had made with a Bahraini daily, considered as hostile to an Islamic court Judiciary member. Bahrain, Politics, 6/5/2003 - Bush vows to support Israeli, Palestinian, Arab peace efforts
"We expect both parties to keep their promises," Bush said. Palestine-USA, Politics, 6/5/2003 - Hamas, al-Jihad, al-Shabeya will not drop their guns, will avoid inter- fighting
Al-Ranteisi considered that Abbas "has denied the sufferings of the Palestinian people and just remembered that the Palestinian people are terrorists, killing the Jews," adding "the sufferings before the world has become that of the Jews, and we do not have sufferings, and that the problem is about the Jews and Abu Mazin came to solve it for them." In remarks to the Israelis, al-Ranteisi said "we should cling to the 'right of return' of which Abu Mazin gave no mention." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/5/2003 - EU parliamentary delegation visits Syria
The European parliament represents, in the words of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, "the people of the states brought together in the European Community." Some 375 million European citizens in 15 countries are now involved in the process of European integration through their 626 representatives in the European parliament. The first direct elections to the European parliament were held in June 1979. Only 34 years after the end of the Second World War, the people of the nations of Europe, once torn apart by war, went to the polls to elect the members of a single parliament Regional-European Union, Politics, 6/5/2003 - US concern over increased attacks; political forces reject US plan for interim administration
The Pentagon has expressed concern over the series of operations which targeted recently the American forces in Iraq. It stressed that this country is still abundant with dangers for US soldiers. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/5/2003 - Al-Shara confers with Norway's envoy
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received in Damascus yesterday the special Representative of the Norwegian Foreign Minister. Syria-Norway, Politics, 6/5/2003 - Thousands of Israeli settlers demonstrate in Jerusalem: dismantling settlements is a surrender to terrorism
The Israeli settlers vowed to confront any attempt aiming at eliminating any settlement, in the framework of implementing the Roadmap. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/5/2003 - Lebanese FM confers with AL chief Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 6/5/2003
- Lebanese minister meets Chinese ambassador Lebanon-China, Politics, 6/5/2003
- Damascus: Plan to restructure the economy in 7 years approved
The Syrian cabinet has specified a grace period of 7 years to restructure the Syrian economy, according to a program for economic reforms, announced since one and a half years, aiming at increasing the economic growth rate in Syria to 6%. Syria, Politics, 6/4/2003 - Al-Assad gets amessage on Poland's role in Iraq Syria-Poland, Politics, 6/4/2003
- Arab moderates authorize Bush to complete his program
It seemed from the "half an hour" summit which was held in Sharm Esh Sheikh yesterday that the five Arab leaders who took part in it authorized the US President George W. Bush to complete his work plan in the region, being in Palestine through concentrating on halting the Intifada and linking it to terrorism, or in Iraq where the Arab side seemed to be remarkably neutral, giving no hints to the war Iraq was exposed to or the occupation it undergoes currently. Regional-USA, Politics, 6/4/2003 - Kuwait: 137 persons register for parliamentary elections
The chairman of the Kuwaiti elections bureau Ali Murad announced yesterday that 137 Kuwaitis had registered their names so far to launch the Parliamentary elections which will be held on July 5th over the 50- seat parliament. Kuwait, Politics, 6/4/2003 - Saudi Arabia rejects an American proposal to start normalization with Israel
News reports from Sharm Esh Sheikh said that Saudi Arabia, the creator of the renowned Arab initiative to settle the Arab- Israeli conflict, refused a proposal made by President George W. Bush during the consultation meeting with the Arab leaders to start Arab normalization with Israel before starting practical steps to the implementation of the Roadmap which is conducive to the foundation of the Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia-Israel, Politics, 6/4/2003 - European figures call for the release of Tareq Aziz
The French- Iraqi friendship society which includes hundreds representing all political trends said in its call that the "war lunched by the US against Iraq was illegal in the view of the international law, a matter which makes the detention of Iraqi military and civilian leaders as illegal." Iraq-European Union, Politics, 6/4/2003 - Iraq: fears of extremists winning weakens chances to have Iraqi elections
Following a meeting they held in Iraq yesterday, the representative of the UN in Iraq Serjio De Milo and the American administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer vowed to work together for rebuilding Iraq, at a time when the Iraqi groups rejected the American decision to abrogate convening of a national conference. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/4/2003 - Iraqi ambassador to Syria summoned to Baghdad
The former Iraqi ambassador in Damascus, Muhammad Rifat al-Ani, received a request from his foreign ministry to return back to Baghdad, two months following the closure of the Iraqi embassy in Damascus and suspension of its activities. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 6/4/2003 - US soldier was killed
A US military spokesman has admitted that an American female soldier was killed yesterday at dawn to the north of Baghdad as she was shot in a recent series of attacks against the American forces in Iraq during the few past days. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/4/2003 - French scholar and the US -ME policy Regional-France, Politics, 6/4/2003
- Al-Rai al-Am: Sudan hands over 17 Saudis arrested in West Kardavan Sudan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/4/2003
- Russia for comprehensive ME peace Regional-Russia, Politics, 6/4/2003
- Syrian-British Society launching ceremony in London Syria-UK, Politics, 6/4/2003
- Some 287 Syrians send petition to al-Assad: A call to convene a national conference to withstand changes
Some 287 Syrians representing intellectuals, political activists, lawyers, engineers and others extended a petition to President Bashar al-Assad sent by registered mail in Damascus on May 17, in which they called for a "comprehensive national reform" Syria, Politics, 6/3/2003 - New laws to fight corruption called for
Corruption is an insidious phenomenon that needs updated laws likely to uproot its causes, the Moroccan economic affairs and economy upgrading minister said. Morocco, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Arab- American summit held in Sharm Esh Sheikh today
The Arab- American summit will be held today at Sharm Esh Sheikh resort on the Red Sea in the presence of 6 Arab states. Beside USA President George Bush, the summit will be attended by five Arab leaders: President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Jordanian King Abdullah II, The King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas. However, the Moroccan Monarch will be absent. Regional-USA, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Newspapr editor Mustafa Bakri detained
The Egyptian security forces yesterday arrested the chief editor of the Egyptian weekly al-Osbo' Mustafa Bakri and his brother Mahmoud Bakri, the deputy chief editor in order to implement an imprisonment sentence for one year that was issued against him in 1998 in a case of defaming the chairman of al-Adalah ( justice) party. Egypt, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Anger sweeps tribes; Sheikh and former Iraqi soldiers
The Iraqi groups yesterday retaliated to the decision of the American occupation to form a "consultation" political council that will help in ruling the country. They stressed yesterday clinging to convening a national conference, while anger increased in the lines of the Iraqi tribes chieftains who left a meeting they had in Baghdad with a high ranking American official. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Moroccan women parliamentary delegation visits Germany
A Delegation of Moroccan women parliament members started on Sunday a work visit to Germany for meetings with several German officials and MPs. Morocco-Germany, Politics, 6/3/2003 - AL Ahram: Bush administration supports Sudan's integrity but not willing to enforce it
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail praised Cairo Khartoum eternal relations, asserting that the current integration will not start from zero point but it will add to the previous built achievements. Sudan-Regional, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Jack Straw rejects investigation into mass destruction weapons claims against Iraq
The British foreign minister Jack Straw rejected yesterday the idea of having an independent investigation on the reality of having mass destruction weapons in Iraq, as demanded by two former British ministers, at a time when a published opinion poll indicates that a great percentage of British citizens have become skeptical over the existence of such weapons in Iraq. Iraq-UK, Politics, 6/3/2003 - New association created to fight racism, hatred culture
A group of citizens active in several associations have banned together to set up an association they named "The Moroccan Organization against the Culture of Racism and Hatred." Morocco, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Conference about Democracy opened in Beirut
Activities of the International conference on democracy and peace, organized by the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, opened in Beirut on Monday. Regional-Lebanon, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Al-Assad meets with UAE culture minister Syria-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 6/3/2003
- Moussa, Berri review developments Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 6/3/2003
- Arab economic unity council meets in cairo Regional, Politics, 6/3/2003
- Berri is the chairman of the Arab parliamentary Union Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 6/3/2003
- Lebanese, Syrian common stances stressed Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 6/3/2003
- Message from ruler of Kuwait to Sheikh Zayed of UAE United Arab Emirates-Kuwait, Politics, 6/3/2003
- G-8 leaders agree in principle to support NEPAD
"The U.S. and the UK found $70 billion to fight the war in Iraq. They can't find $25 billion to halve poverty in Africa and put every child in school," said an executive of the humanitarian group Oxfam. Regional, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Muller: we will continue to support Yemen in fighting terrorism
The director of the US Federal Investigation Bureau ( FBI) Robert Muller stressed following talks he had held with the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh that his country will continue its support for Yemen especially in the area of terrorism fighting. Yemen-USA, Politics, 6/3/2003 - Libya severs relations with Iraq
Libya announced yesterday severing its diplomatic relations with Iraq and closing its embassy in Baghdad because of the American decision to end diplomatic immunity all diplomats in Iraq. Libya-Iraq, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Occupation abrogates national conference for direct rule with an Iraqi consultation council
The US occupation of Iraq has stepped its latest measure towards backtracking from previous promises and obligations, and the establishment of a direct rule where no Iraqis take part. This was reflected in the decision taken to abrogate the convening of the "national conference" and instead to appoint "a political council" within weeks in charge of providing advice and consultation to the occupation forces. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Baghdad's airport is still exposed to attacks, Basra rejects appointed British ruler
Some, 5,000 Iraqis demonstrated yesterday in the downtown of al-Basra in protest of the British army appointing of one of its army officers to run the area. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Turkish delegation in Syria confers with prominent officials
Syria's Speaker of the People's Assembly, Naji Otari and Minister of Information, Adnan Omran yesterday received in two separate meetings a Turkish delegation representing various cultural, parliamentarian and information spheres headed by the Head of the Turkish Strategic Studies, Mohammed Baker Uglu. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Criminals won't forestall Morocco's democratic drive, official says
The criminal acts perpetrated on May 16th in Casablanca "will in no way forestall Morocco's democratization process," said here on Friday Morocco's Human Rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar. Morocco, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Ukrainian ambassador statement on relations with Syria
Ukrainian Ambassador to Damascus, Vladimir Koval, highly lauded the modernization and development process which Syria witnesses under the leadership of President, Bashar Al-Assad. Syria-Ukraine, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Final statement of Tehran's Organization of Islamic Conference
Organization of Islamic Conference Foreign Ministers have concluded their deliberations in Tehran. The conference's final statement stressed the importance of the establishment of the Palestinian state and implementing all UN resolutions regarding this issue. Regional, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Al-Assad confers with US congress member
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received yesterday a delegation from the US Congress headed by Congressman Darrel Issa. Syria-USA, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Syria - German friendship association statement on ME developments
The chairman of the Syrian-German friendship Association, Olaf Fieldman, has stressed the importance of the Syrian role in the Middle East region, highlighting the great achievements so far on all levels. Syria-Germany, Politics, 6/2/2003 - Egypt seeks firm commitment from Israel to peace Egypt-USA, Politics, 6/2/2003
- Libya, Britain for boosting bilateral relations Libya-UK, Politics, 6/2/2003
- Gambia's foreign minister visits Kuwait Kuwait-Gambia, Politics, 6/2/2003