Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 6/23/2003

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of June 23, 2003

• PNA: Bush's call to dismantle hamas is call for palestinian civil war Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Women's summit focused on many themes
  The summit agenda of the international women summit, in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh Saturday and run for three days, will cover a variety of themes, atop of which the development of women, women social, economic and political role in he world of today, their rights and their contribution to making the world a better place to live in. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Akher Sa'a: AL reform under way until March 2004
  From today and until next March the Cairo-based Arab League (AL) will be a hive of activity with the main objective of introducing comprehensive reforms to the Arab organisation. Regional, Politics, 6/28/2003
• French, Yemeni presidents call for comprehensive solution in ME region
  Sources close to the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Paris said after the meeting he had with the French President Jacque Chirac that the French President raised more than one time the issue of comprehensive peace in the region. A peace which includes Syria and Lebanon and that Chirac agreed with Saleh on the great concern surrounding the current status in Iraq and the need to accelerate the political solution and restoring sovereignty to the Iraqis. Yemen-France, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Washington: Syria's wounded soldiers are not war prisoners, will return soon
  The US has announced that the wounded Syrians held by it have been medically treated and arrangements are being made to return them home, refusing to describe them as "war prisoners." Syria-USA, Politics, 6/28/2003
• La Stampa: Libya denies an agreement to deploy Italian soldiers
  Questioning the flawed reasoning and demands, he explained " we, at least, need 50 helicopters to monitor our borders, but there is an embargo." He questioned " why should we buy planes to monitor our coasts ? You are rich and yet, you are not putting soldiers to monitor your borders." Libya-Italy, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Moroccan POW tells story of horror in Polisario jails
  From the darkness of his cell in a Polisario jail, a Moroccan national, still jailed by the Polisario separatists in the camps of Tindouf (south-western Algeria), managed to send a book for publishing on his ordeal and that of hundreds of Moroccan POWs at the hands of the Algeria-backed group. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Seale and the situation in ME; Blair made UK prisoner to US policy
  British journalist Patrick Seale has stressed that the statements of the American President George W. Bush and the Secretary of State Colin Powell who refused to blame Israel for its acts of aggression against the Palestinians affirms that the United States has no desire for reaching a just solution for the Palestinian cause. Regional-UK, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Lahoud confers with Larsen Lebanon-UN, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Moroccan minister meets US under secretary for political affairs Morocco-USA, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Egyptian parliamentarian demands Israel sign NTP Egypt-Israel, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Maher leads Egypt's delegation to AU's foreign ministerial meeting Egypt-Regional, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Kuwaiti denial of any meetings with Israelis during the economic forum on the Dead Sea Kuwait-Israel, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Moroccan, European talks on Moroccan POWs in tindouf
  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, held talks here on Thursday with European parliament speaker, Pat Cox, on the fate of hundreds of Moroccan POWs detained in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco-European Union, Politics, 6/28/2003
• Al-Assad inspection visit to Homs, team spirit required for development
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday paid an inspection visit to Homs city in central Syria where he inspected a number of service projects and met senior party and government officials. Syria, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Declaration of Rabat urges for support of LDCs development efforts
  Participants in the extraordinary ministerial conference of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) called on Wednesday developed countries to support their development efforts and live up to their commitments vis-a-vis LDCs. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/27/2003
• UNHCR: Syrian refugees expelled from their houses in Iraq
  The spokeswoman for the UNHCR said yesterday that Syrian refugees were expelled from their houses in Iraq under the threats of weapons since the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime in April. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Yemen: attacks against Hatat mountains halted
  The extent of the Yemeni forces's attack against the positions of Islamists hidden in Hatat mountains in Abyan province was decreased in the second day of the fighting which witnessed bloody starts. Yemen, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Israeli news on delegating Tenet to Syria
  The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said yesterday that the American President assigned the chairman of the Central Intelligence Agencgy (CIA) George Tenet to visit Syria in order to pressure it to take measures against Palestinian groups which take Damascus as headquarters. Syria-USA, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Saudi Arabia arrests the person behind the Riyadh explosions
  Saudi Arabia's official radio said yesterday that the person behind the Riyadh explosions which took place on May 12 has been arrested. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Arab human rights commission urges for suing authors of genocide in iraq
  The Arab Permanent Human Rights Commission condemned on Wednesday, at the end of its extraordinary session, the genocide discovered in Iraq and urged for taking legal action against their authors. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Qathafi meets with Moghabi Libya-Zimbabwe, Politics, 6/27/2003
• President Chirac in Morocco next October Morocco-France, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Omani Treasury Bills Bidding SessionÊ Oman, Politics, 6/27/2003
• Two Syrian parliamentarians call for reducing military service period
  Two members of the Syrian parliament, one is Baathist, demanded the reduction of the military services in the Syrian army to one and a half years, and to concentrate on the quality rather than the quantity of the army. Syria, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Syria official complaint for US attack of Syrian patrol south of Abu Kamal
  The Syrian foreign ministry last Thursday summoned the American ambassador in Damascus following the military incident of attacking a Syrian patrol by the American forces at a border police station to the south of Abu Kamal. Syria-USA, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Morocco, Algeria convene 1st session of joint consular, social affairs committee
  The Moroccan-Algerian consular and social affairs committee, created this June 14-15 during the visit of Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister Mohammed Benaissa to Algeria, started its first session in Algiers on Wednesday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Yemen: many killed and wounded in battles between the army and Islamists
  The battle of Yemeni Hatat mountains has begun between the government forces and scores of armed Islamists who are stationed in the range lands in Abyan province. The clashes resulted in killing and wounding scores of people following the failure of the mediation efforts between the chieftains of the area to convince the gunmen to surrender. Yemen, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Future Iraq army to be limited in size; Former soldiers to receive monthly stipends
  The chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, announced June 25 that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) would begin to pay interim monthly stipends to former Iraqi soldiers and their families by mid-July. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Rebuilding Iraq is the toughest of all missions, Abizaid says
  Resolving reconstruction and stability issues in Iraq presents a complex set of problems that are not strictly a military concern, but instead require a vast array of support, says President Bush's nominee to lead the U.S. Central Command. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Planning begun for Iraq's reconstruction
  The international community and a Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) delegation that includes senior Iraqi bureaucrats began moving toward a new era of assistance for Iraq June 23 with a session to prepare for a major, formal reconstruction conference to be held later in the year. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Pentagon denies arresting al-Sahaf
  The US defense department yesterday denied news reports published by a British daily that the American forces arrested the former Iraqi minister of information Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf. Iraq-USA, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Nayef: positive negotiations with Iran on the detainees
  Saudi Arabia announced yesterday it is making contacts with Tehran concerning Saudi citizens held in Iran for being suspected to have links to al-Qaida organization. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Rights association denies involvement in occupation of MAP office in paris
  The France-based association of human rights in Morocco (ASDHOM) said it was not involved in any way in the occupation of the Paris office of the Moroccan news agency (MAP), and denied having decided or participated in this act. Morocco-France, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Morocco calls UNHCR to release moroccans sequestered in tindouf
  Morocco called the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to extend a humanitarian assistance to the Moroccans sequestered in the Tindouf camps (southeastern Algeria) and promote their voluntary return to their homeland. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Al-Shara discusses ME developments with Papandreau Syria-Greece, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Court adjourns to next july trial of Salafia Jihadia members
  The appeal court of Casablanca adjourned on Wednesday to next July 2 the trial of 31 members of a group named "Youssef Fikri," an offshoot of the Salafia Jihadia. Morocco, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Local Administration Minister statement on elections results Syria, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Syrian- Lebanese water cooperation Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Syrian- German minutes of meetings signed
  Syria's Assistant Minister of Education, Mohammed Yasmena and German Commissioner, Gunter Molak signed in Damascus yesterday the minute of the 7th session of the Syrian-Germany joint Committee for Cultural Cooperation. Syria-Germany, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Iraq's AL representative must be Iraqi national Regional-Iraq, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Syrian- Spanish University cooperation
  Rector of Damascus University, Hani Murtada, met yesterday in Damascus Chairman of the South Institution in Spain, Maria Josepa Lesitros. The meeting dealt with the standing relations of cooperation between the Syrian and the Spanish universities and means of boosting them. Syria-Spain, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Annan recommends ending UN observer mission along Iraq-Kuwait border Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Libyan, Italian agreement on fighting illegal immigrants
  Italy's minister of the interior Giuseppe Pisanu said yesterday that Rome and Italy have agreed to take a series of tangible measures aiming at halting the arrival of illegal immigrants to the Italian coasts. Libya-Italy, Politics, 6/26/2003
• Damascus's international forum for human resources development
  Al-Hussein, who was representing the prime minister, asserted the importance of achieving democracy, transparency, and equality of opportunities. He stressed the importance of this forum because it highlighted a very sensitive and important issue which is the human resources development since the most important kind of investment is the investment of the human resources. Syria-Regional, Politics, 6/25/2003
• More newspapers, magazines licensed in Syria
  The Syrian prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro has issued several decisions to license the Democratic Arab federation party to issue a paper under the name: the Democratic Arab, issued in Damascus every 2 month. Syria, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Saudi Arabia stresses freezing donations, denies financing Hamas; rehabilitates 1000 preachers
  Saudi Arabia announced yesterday it had stopped more than 1000 preachers of mosques until they undergo rehabilitation courses to promote moderate attitude and reject extremism represented by al-Qaida organization. A matter which seemed as a campaign of reform ( Islah ) in the very influencial religious institute in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Bahrain's crown prince, Shaloum discuss the situations of Bahraini Jews
  The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot yesterday issued a report on the meeting which brought together Bahrain's crown prince Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa with the Israeli foreign minister Shalom Silvan during which he gave him assurances on the condition of the small Jewish community living in Bahrain. Bahrain-Israel, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Maher: Palestinian truce within days; Fischer for European role in Roadmap
  The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher announced yesterday that he expects a truce agreement to be reached by the Palestinian groups within the few coming days, noting the Egyptian efforts in this regard. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 6/25/2003
• King Mohammed vows increased interest to NEPAD initiative
  The sovereign also spelled out Morocco's intent "to make the most of the forthcoming discussions, to develop a road map which will enable it to defend the interests of all members and to voice their common concerns in the international forums, mainly WTO, the UN, and even within the Group of 77 and China." Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Khartoum, the rebels extends ceasefire
  The government's commission for development, IGAD, which mediates the Sudanese peace talks yesterday announced that the fighting sides in Sudan will extend the ceasefire after it expires by the end of June. Sudan, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Yemen: Besieging 80 Islamists in the mountains; tribal mediation, over al-Harithi issue
  The military attack launched by the Yemeni forces in the mountainous areas in Abyan province against a group of armed Islamists, with the participation of tanks and helicopters besides reinforcements from the private forces was expanded. Yemen, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Twenty-two individuals fined for illegal religious grouping
  The first instance court of Tangiers on Monday fined 22 people 3,000 dirhams, nearly US$ 300, on charges of illegally forming a religious group. Morocco, Politics, 6/25/2003
• President Mubarak wants youth to look for private employment, not government jobs Egypt, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Burns: I asserted Bush administration's determination to implement roadmap Egypt-USA, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Qatari Ambassador awarded with the Syrian order of merit over services Syria-Qatar, Politics, 6/25/2003
• Lawyers put a time-table for Lockerbie agreement
  A message by Libya's lawyers sent to the families of victims of the Pan American plane explosion in 1988 said that the lawyers of the two sides agreed to choose a bank by July 3rd in order to deal with the compensations amounting to 2.67 billion dollars. Libya-USA, Politics, 6/25/2003
• King Mohammed VI Back to Morocco from Mauritania Morocco-Mauritania, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Chamber of advisor passes Labor Law
  The chamber of advisors (upper parliamentary chamber) unanimously adopted this Monday the labor law, regulating relations between employers and employees. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Al-Assad confers with Fischer Syria-Germany, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Morocco floats proposals for Arab Human Rights charter updating
  Morocco submitted to the Arab standing commission of human rights' meeting in Cairo, a set of proposals to update the Arab human rights charter and adapt it to ongoing mutations worldwide. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Saudi Arabia proceeds liberalizing its economy
  The chairman of the general investment for commission in Saudi Arabia Prince Abdullah Bin Faisal Bin Turkey has announced that the kingdom will proceed forward in the strides to liberate its economy despite its failure to finalize a deal for developing natural gas industry at billions of US dollars. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Moroccan king's visit to Mauritania set to boost already excellent relations
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI's visit Sunday to Nouakchott after the failed coup attempt in Mauritania will boost the already solid relations that the Maghreban states enjoy, says observers in the Mauritanian capital. Mauritania-Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Provisional release of Mustafa and Mahmoud Bakry; arrests of Muslim brothers
  The Cairo criminal court yesterday sentenced the release of the two press journalists after accepting the appeal submitted in an earlier verdict to jail them for one year. Egypt, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Ordeal of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf under the spotlight in Belgium Morocco-Belgium, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Al-Shara, Fischer hold Press conference in Damascus
  Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara has stressed that the comprehensiveness and justice are basic parts in any forthcoming peace process referring that Syria is ready to move forward according to her clear interests. Syria-Germany, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Eight persons arrested for advocating and financing terrorism
  The general prosecutor at the court of appeal of Rabat, Lahcen Laoufi, announced that eight persons were arrested for advocating terrorism, obtaining foreign funds to be used in terrorist acts, forging passports and hiding information that could have helped in the ongoing probe on last May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Germany, Lebanon for reactivating ME peace
  Lebanese President Emil Lahoud has called the European Union to play a wider role to revive the peace process in the Middle East on all tracks. Lebanon-Germany, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Washington confirms attacking Syrian procession, five Syrian border guards wounded
  The US administration confirmed yesterday that its forces last Wednesday had an attack against a procession of cars believed to have carried remarkable members in the former Iraqi leadership, that might have included Saddam Hussein and his two sons Ode and Qusai. Syria-USA, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Morocco unveils comprehensive program to modernize administration
  Morocco unveiled here on Monday a comprehensive plan to modernize public administration through several reforms. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003
• London kidnapping attempt against al-Faqih ended in wounding him
  Unidentified persons yesterday injured the chairman of the Saudi Arabian opposition leader of Haraket al-Islah al-Islami (Islamic reform movement) Saad al-Faqih in his house in London in an attack in which he blamed for the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Moussa: The Arabs want to renew relations with Washington
  The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa said yesterday that the Arabs want to rebuild relations with the USA after tensions in these relations because of the war against Iraq and cooperation to achieve peace in the region. Regional-USA, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Tripartite attempt in the Dead Sea to revive economic normalization, Jordanian- Israeli agreements
  The world economic forum which concluded its deliberations in al-Shouna at the Dead Sea, in Jordan, witnessed an Israeli, Jordanian, Palestinian attempt to strengthen the normalization of relations, economically. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Rice to head for the region next week Palestine-USA, Politics, 6/24/2003
• Local Administration councils elections start in democratic atmosphere
  Citizens across Syria yesterday began to exercise their right to vote at the 657 balloting centers to elect their representatives to the Local Administration Councils in a free and democratic atmosphere. Syria, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Baz calls for swift implementation of Middle East peace plan
  Egypt's Presidential Political Adviser Osama Al-Baz yesterday left for New York for an official visit to the US. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Arab leaders say US policies add to Middle East insecurity
  Al-Thani admitted Arab governments need to change: "We need to be more transparent and to tell our people the truth." Regional-USA, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Secretary of ruling party in Mauritania arrested
  Mauritania police yesterday arrested the secretary of the ruling party Mahmoud Weld Hammadi in the context of the current investigations to find out the persons befhind the failed coupe in Mauritania which took place on June, 8. Mauritania, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Al-Anbaa: Truce extended between Khartoum and the rebels
  The Sudanese government and the rebels of southern Sudan have announced the extension of cease fire signed between them in October 2002 until September 30 this year. Sudan, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Al-Assad receives Roman Catholic Church delegation
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Saturday members of the holy synodus of the Roman Catholic Church led by the Patriarch of Antioch and All East Gregorius III Lahham. Syria, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Commander of the Saudi air forces removed
  Saudi Arabia's King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz has decided, according to a royal decision, stated by the Saudi news agency to remove the commander of the defense forces in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Somali presidential elections postponed until end of June
  The chairman of the technical committee of IGAD organization which sponsors the Somali reconciliation conference has announced the postponement of the Presidential elections which were due during the two past days in Nairobi, until the end of the current month. Somalia, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Acts of riots in Jordan over results of elections
  The Jordanian governorates of Amman, Irbid, Jarash and al-Karak witness during the two past days, demonstrations and acts of riots over the results of the recent Jordanian Parliamentary elections. Jordan, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Omran confers with Lebanese counterpart
  Information Minister Adnan Omran received in Damascus Lebanese Counterpart Michel Samaha. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Al Ahmar conveys al-Assad's greetings to Malaysian PM
  Malaysia's Prime Minister Makatheir Muhammad, who is Secretary of the Malaysian Amno Party, held a meeting on Saturday with Assistant Secretary General of the Baath Arab Socialist Party Abdullah al-Ahmar, who is taking part in Amno Party conference, together with other delegations. Syria-Malaysia, Politics, 6/23/2003
• UN facts finding commission delegation in Syria on Israeli practices
  The Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Mu'allim late Friday received the delegation of the special committee concerned in investigating the Israeli practices violating the human rights of the Arab citizens in the occupied Arab territories. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 6/23/2003
• Peace sponsors: we 'condemn' killing of Israelis, express 'deep concern' and 'understanding' for killing Palestinians
  Members of the diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East -- the United Nations, United States, Russian Federation and European Union -- today hailed positive developments in the peace process and urged further efforts by both Israel and the Palestinian authorities to consolidate the gains achieved so far, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement issued on behalf of the group. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 6/23/2003

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