Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 6/30/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of June 30, 2003
- Kuwaitis head today for ballot centers to cast their votes
Nobody can claim victory, in advance, the elections for the 10th Kuwaiti parliament which will take place today between 246 candidates competing over 50 seats in 25 electoral circles. Kuwait, Politics, 7/5/2003 - A-Watan: Djerjian underlines Syria 's role in ME peace
Former American Ambassador in Damascus and the Director of the James Baker Institute for Strategic Studies, Edward Djerjain, underlined Syria's important role in the Mideast peace process stressing the impossibility of achieving peace without Syria. Syria-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Talibani: the next Iraqi government will not establish relations with Israel
In a press interview, the chairman of the Kurdistani National Federation, Jalal al-Talibani, said the attacks against the American occupation forces in Iraq "are not organized resistance" and are limited to certain areas of Sunni majority, while the Kurdish areas in the north and the Shiite in the south are characterized of being calm. Iraq-Israel, Politics, 7/5/2003 - US diplomat says Washington wants final settlement of sahara issue
US ambassador in Algiers, Janet Sanderson, said Washington wants a final settlement of the Sahara issue, a problem that has been negatively affecting relations between countries of the region for long years. US Supports Political Settlement to Sahara Issue, US Ambassador Algeria-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003 - US ambassador: Morocco will remain strategic partner for USA
Morocco will remain "a strategic partner" for the USA, said Margaret Tutwiller, US ambassador in Morocco in an interview published this Friday by Moroccan dailies "Le Matin du Sahara et Du Magrheb" and "Assahra Al Maghribya." Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Sudanese peace talks resume next Sunday
The Kenyan mediator for peace talks between the Sudanese government and the rebels Lazaro Sombabo has stressed that talks will be resumed next Sunday in Nakoro, west Kenya and will continue for seven days. Sudan, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Butaflika urges for the elimination of terrorism
The Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika announced that "terrorism is directly responsible for the crisis which hit the country as whole, and should be eliminated," while the US called on the Algerians to "look forward to the future" after the release of the two leaders of the Islamic Front for Salvation, Abbas Madanai and Ali Balhah. Algeria, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Syrian- Greek memorandum of understanding
Syria's State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs, Faisal Jawish opened in Athens on Friday a symposium about administrative reform in Syria and Athens in line of the understanding memorandum signed last February between Syria and Greece. Syria-Greece, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Palacio in Morocco, Spanish education, agriculture ministers due next in Morocco
Spanish foreign minister, Ana Palacio, also arrived this Friday in Tetuan (Northern Morocco).The head of the Spanish diplomacy will dedicate, together with Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, the maternity ward of the city's Spanish hospital and the refurbished Spanish "Cervantes" cultural center. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Russian official for resuming ME peace talks on Syrian- Lebanese track
Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Sultanov, has underlined the necessity for adopting steps which lead to resumption of peace process in the Middle East on the Syrian-Lebanese tracks. Regional-Russia, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Mubarak - al-Assad summit on Monday Egypt-Syria, Politics, 7/5/2003
- Libya: the first celebration of the American national day after 20 years
A celebration was held yesterday in Libya on the US National day for the first day since 20 years despite the fact there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries. Libya-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003 - King Mohammed receives Tunisian foreign minister Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 7/5/2003
- US, Egypt and others undermine the International Criminal Court agreement
Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher has stated that the US and Egypt have signed an agreement providing for preventing the handing over of convicted persons of the two countries citizens to the International Criminal Court for war crimes trials, extermination and crimes against humanity. Egypt-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Woman's right a test for democracy in Kuwait, tomorrow
Since several days, the Kuwaitis are preoccupied by following up news leaked from the Hukamaa ( wise men ) of al-Sabah family which was held several days ago. It stated that the meeting dealt with separating the post of the crown prince from the presidency of the Cabinet, a demand advocated by Islamists and Liberals. Kuwait, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Kurdish woman acquires high position in Iraq
In a remarkable development, Mubeira Abu Baker has assumed her post as a governor for Doukan district to the north of Iraq, to be therefore the first Iraqi Kurdish woman to assume this administrative post since the foundation of the modern Iraq in 1921. Iraq, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Trial of Moroccan journalist arrested in connection with casablanca attacks probe adjourned
The court of Rabat decided Wednesday to adjourn to July 9 the trial of director of "Al Ousboue" weekly, Mustapha Alaoui, and rebuffed the defense's request to grant him temporary release. Morocco, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Al-Assad visits Egypt within days
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher announced yesterday that President Hosni Mubarak and the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will shortly hold a summit in Egypt. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Powell: No military plans against Syria; Tlass: US accusations are fabrications
The US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced that Washington will not launch military operations against Syria and Iran, who are accused by Washington of supporting the Palestinian resistance groups at a time when the Syrian defense minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass rejected the American threats against his country on accusations of having mass destruction weapons and of sheltering former Iraqi officials and terrorism organizations, describing these accusations as fabrications. Syria-USA, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Libyan- Italian agreement to fight migration
Libya and Italy yesterday signed an agreement to fight illegal migration from the countries of North Africa to Europe via Italy, but the agreement did not indicate that it is possible for the Italian forces to run patrols on the Libyan coasts, as stated before upon talking about the context of the agreement, after this issue raised a heated debate in Libya as Tripoli refused to give up part of its sovereignty in this regard. Libya-Italy, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Moroccan FM received by Romanian president
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohammed Benaissa, who is currently on a two-day visit to Romania, was received here on Wednesday by Romanian president, Ion Iliescu, on the sidelines of the Moroccan-Romanian joint commission. Morocco-Romania, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Al-Baz, Larsen review ME developments
Egyptian President's Political Advisor, Osama Al-Baz reviewed in Cairo on Thursday with the UN Envoy for the Middle East peace Terry Rod Larsen, developments in the region, the exerted efforts for moving the Middle East peace process forward in addition to means of implementation of the Roadmap. Egypt-UN, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Saudi Arabia: main convicted persons in Riyadh explosion detonated himself
Saudi Arabia announced that Turkey Naser al-Dandani, the main suspected person in the Riyadh explosions had detonated himself as he was being chased by the police in al-Jouf area. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Tunisia FM arrives in Morocco Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 7/4/2003
- Al-Assad confers with al-Hoss, Franjieh Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 7/4/2003
- Seminar on Moroccan-Spanish relations to be organized in Spain Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/4/2003
- Sudan, Ethiopia end border dispute
The agreement which was signed between Sudan and Ethiopia has ended the border crisis between the two countries and the conflict on the ownership of lands in al-Fashqa area, to the east of "Sundus" and Atrabawi river was contained. Sudan-Ethiopia, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Madanai, Balhah released
The Algerian authorities yesterday released the last of the imprisoned leaders of the Islamic Front for Salvation ( al-Jabha al-Islameyah Le alinqaz ), Abbasi Madani and Ali Balhah, who completed a 12- year sentence imprisonment over "violating state security," following the abrogation of legislative elections in 1992, which the front was about to win at the time. Algeria, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Morocco extends Djibouti financial assistance to support medical sector Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/3/2003
- Sudanese authorities detains opposition figure Ghazi Suleiman
The Sudanese security forces yesterday arrested opposition member Ghazi Suleiman, less than two hours from a press conference for the opposition which aimed at broadcasting the "Khartoum declaration," according to his family. Sudan, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Kuwait: a candidate for parliament promises to permit breweries
The candidate for the parliamentary elections in Kuwait, Muhammad Rashed al-Hafeiti, had promised to work for legalizing breweries in an attempt to attract the attention of voters for his campaign. Kuwait, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Talibani meets Khaddam, al-Ahmar: View points are identical concerning Iraq
The Syrian Vice President, Abdul Halim Khaddam, and the assistant secretary general of the Baath Arab Socialist Party, Abdullah al-Ahmar, received the chairman of the Kurdistani National Federation, Jalal al-Talibani, in two separate meetings in Damascus yesterday. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Qathafi confers with Afourki, gets message from Ukraine counterpart Libya-Eritrea, Politics, 7/3/2003
- Iraqi Shiite make assurances to the Sunni: we will not revenge. Saddam's atrocity was on all
Al-Shahamani continued that the essence of repression was interests, rather whether the oppressor was a Shiite or Sunni. Iraq, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Private TV stations licensed in Kuwait
Kuwait's minister of information Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has issued a decision to permit the licensing of three private TV stations via satellites from the state of Kuwait. Kuwait, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Maher asserted the importance of the coming African summit in Maputo
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher asserted the importance of the coming African summit, to be held in Maputo, Mozambique, next week due to the tough circumstances facing the African continent Egypt-Regional, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Le Figaro and the USA
French daily Le Figaro has stressed that American companies' monopolization of all projects of construction in Iraq affirm that the American war on Iraq aimed only at controlling Iraq's economy. Iraq, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Al-Shahri arrested having weapons; Saudi Arabia: US also teaches terrorism
The Saudi Arabian authorities arrested the suspect Zafer Abdul Rahman al-Shahri and seized with him weapons in the southern part of the kingdom, according to the Saudi ministry of the interior yesterday following an operation to chase him on Sunday resulted in wounding 10 men in a helicopter crash. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Spain calls for consensual solution to Sahara issue
King Juan Carlos of Spain, whose country took over this month the UN Security council presidency, called on Tuesday for a "consensual and swift" solution to the Sahara conflict within the United Nations. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Maher makes telephone calls with Powell, Silvan
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher has discussed in a telephone call he received yesterday from his American counterpart Colin Powell the current developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and results of the meeting which was held on Tuesday between the Palestinian authority prime minister Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Egypt-USA, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Colombian deputy-speaker announces reopening of Colombian embassy in Rabat Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 7/3/2003
- Straw concludes a visit to Kuwait Kuwait-UK, Politics, 7/3/2003
- World Women Summit calls for favorable environment for better participation of women
The World Women Summit called for a clear political commitment to guarantee democracy and good governance and provide a favorable environment for a better political and economic participation of women. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Al- Shara's interview with al-Jazira TV on regional issues, the USA
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara has stressed that Syria will be ready to attain the opportunity for peace if it is available and that peace will not be achieved without Syria and Lebanon. Syria-USA, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Court in Bahrain postpones the question of two Bahraini journalists
The lawyer of two Bahraini journalists accused of publishing information banned by the authorities said that the court postponed considering the case until September, at his request, in order to give more time to study the case. Bahrain, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Islamic Labor Front boycotts municipal elections in Jordan
The Islamic Labor Front party ( Hizb Jabhat al-Amal al-Islami), the largest Jordanian political parties decided to boycott the municipal elections which will be held by the end of July in protest of the provisional law according to which the elections will be made. Jordan, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Talibani in Damascus: occupation prevents fighting
The leaders of the Kurdistani National Federation Jalal Talibani yesterday in Damascus said that the American occupation forces have to stay in Iraq in order to avoid disorder and to prevent inter- fighting and the regrouping of partisans of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Abbas, Sharon start Jerusalem meeting with optimism to achieve peace
The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that the opportunities to reach a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is much greater than in the past. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Morocco, Libya probe bilateral cooperation Libya-Morocco, Politics, 7/2/2003
- Sahroudi: relations with Syria are good Syria-Iran, Politics, 7/2/2003
- Syrian soldiers freed by US Syria-USA, Politics, 7/1/2003
- King Mohammed leads the way to LDCs to development, Benin's official Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/1/2003
- Sudan: al-Bashir promises to achieve peace within one month
Al-Bashir told the crowd that they do not need ammunition and guns, rather residential areas, curricula books, medicines, electricity and telephones. He added that the southern and northern people of Sudan need to work together to rebuild a united Sudan free of sectarianism Sudan, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Saudi Arabia: 11 policemen wounded in helicopter landing; a 'director general' to fight poverty
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has appointed "a director general" for the work team assigned to draw a national strategy to fight poverty in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Al-Assad; Mubarak hold telephone talks Egypt-Syria, Politics, 7/1/2003
- Irish FM vows commitment for just ME peace Lebanon-Ireland, Politics, 7/1/2003
- Amnesty International to move toward the liberalization of moroccan POWs in Algeria
Amnesty International (AI) will start on September 6 a train of actions to free the Moroccan POWs sequestered in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria), a representative of the organization announced here on Saturday at a forum part of the "Moroccan Sahara Week" that is organized in Brussels Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Key issues on Egypt-US cooperation tackled
A high-ranking delegation led by President Hosni Mubarak's Political Advisor Osama al-Baz and Gamal Mubarak, Chairman of the National Democratic Party's Political Committee has concluded a tour to the US early this week during which three lengthy sessions of talks were held with a number of high-ranking American officials on the regional and international situation Egypt-USA, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Al-Watan: Saudi Arabia on regional issues
Saudi Arabia's minister of the interior Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz has stressed that no official information has arrived from Yemen on that there are Saudis killed among those who were chased by the Yemeni forces. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Telephone call between Qatar's FM, Mahmoud Abbas
Qatar's foreign minister Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani yesterday made a telephone call with Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas. Qatar-Palestine, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Al-Khaleij: Al-Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein to visit Syria
Al-Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein, the chairman of the Royal constitutional movement in Iraq said he might visit Syria in the context of his current tour on several Arab states he had already started last week in the United Arab Emirates UAE. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Ireland ready to defend Morocco's request to have advanced status with EU
Ireland, which will take up as of next January the rotating chairmanship of the European Union, said it is ready to defend Morocco's request to have an advanced status with the European Union (EU). Morocco-Ireland, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Morocco, Portugal agree to boost strategic partnership Morocco-Portugal, Politics, 7/1/2003
- Al-Shara confers with Larsen Syria-UN, Politics, 7/1/2003
- AL urges the end of Israeli occupation of Arab lands Regional-Israel, Politics, 7/1/2003
- King Mohammed underlines pledge to women's promotion
He added "We are also endeavouring to rid women of all the forms of injustice they are subjected to, and we seek to upgrade the existing legislation, taking into account the fact that women have shown a keen awareness of their rights and obligations, and that Morocco has made significant progress in all fields, thus, as Amir al Muminin, defender of the faith and its followers, I have set up a special committee and instructed its members to pay heed and carefully examine all the grievances voiced by women's associations Morocco, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Egypt's Human Rights Organization's report
At a time when the Arab stares are witnessing international debates on the status of human rights in the region and discussing the need to implement human rights reforms and ensure civil liberties, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) announced the publication of its 13th annual report on human rights in Egypt on 23 June. Egypt, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Al-Bashir: the people's liberation army will be the main partner in the next government
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al- Bashir has called the rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army to be the main partners in the next Sudanese government. Sudan, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Kuwaitis prepare to elect new parliament
Kuwaitis will head for balloting boxes on July 5th to choose the parliamentarians of the new parliament ( Ummah council), amid tremendous changes taking place in the region and hopes that these elections will be conducive to making fundamental changes inside the state establishments. Kuwait, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Qaddoumi conveys a message from Arafat to President al-Assad
The Political Department Chairman of Palestinian Liberation Organization Farouk al-Qaddoumi said today that he conveyed a message from President Yasser Arafat to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad concerning the situations in the region, particularly in Palestine. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Al-Shara- Qaddoumi and Maher
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received in Damascus on Saturday a phone call from his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher. Syria-Regional, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Al- Assad meets with Irish FM on ME developments
al-Assad underlined that there are the Madrid reference, the Security Council's resolutions and of land for peace formula, stressing that these terms of reference need a clear work mechanism in order to reach a just and comprehensive peace. He also added that most of the European officials confirm that these references are the best base for realizing just and comprehensive peace in the region. Syria-Ireland, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Al-Shara press conference with Irish counterpart
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara has called on giving the Palestinians more time to accomplish their national dialogue. Syria-Ireland, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Launching ceremony of the National Millennium Development Goals report of Syria
The Millennium Development Goal MDG's goals comprise eight global targets for 2015 that leaders of 147 countries and governments set at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit. They focus on cutting extreme poverty and hunger by half, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. Syria, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Wafiq al-Samaree searched for Saddam Hussein; Sunday Times: al-Rawi is hiding in the desert
The British daily Sunday Times said yesterday that the chief of staff of the Iraq's disbanded Republican Guards army units in the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, Seif Eddine Faleih Hassan Taha al-Rawi, is hiding in a small city in the heart of the desert after he had pretended he was dead and organized a fake funeral for himself. Iraq, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Libyan- Italian talks on fighting illegal immigration; Shalqam: not at the expense of our sovereignty
The secretary of the Libyan people's general committee for foreign contacts and international cooperation, Abdul Rahman Shalqam, renewed his assertion yesterday that his country will not permit patrols for Italian police in the Libyan territories Libya-Italy, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Cairo: Mubarak's talks with Moughabi
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed with President of Zimbabwe Robert Moughabi the situation in Africa and means of developing bilateral relations. Egypt-Zimbabwe, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Lebanese Synodus wraps up visit to Syria
The Holy Synodus of the Roman Royal Catholics, headed by Patriarch, Gregarious III Laham has concluded its second stage session in Beirut following the first stage session in Damascus. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 6/30/2003 - BBC controversial documentary on Israel's nuclear arsenal
The documentary splashed fiery questions in its introduction. Which country in the Middle East has undeclared nuclear weapons program? Which country has secret biological and chemical capabilities? Which country in the Middle East whose nuclear sites are not inspected internationally? Which country in the Middle East sentenced one of its citizens to 18 years after he divulged secrets of its nuclear programs? Israel, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Israel asks for dismantling Palestinian groups, despite the declared truce
The Islamic resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and the Islamic Jihad announced in a joint statement suspension of their military operations against Israel for three months. The leading figure in the Hamas movement Abdul Aziz al-Ranteisi confirmed this statement. He said that the truce will be valid as from Sunday ( yesterday). Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Yemen: seven extremists arrested in Abyan
During the two past days, the Yemeni forces detained 7 members of the Islamic "Aden Army" in Hatat mountains in Abyan province, during new mopping up operations in that area where extremists are hiding. Yemen, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Al-Assad receives Iranian deputy FM Syria-Iran, Politics, 6/30/2003
- Maher calls for just, comprehensive ME peace Egypt-Regional, Politics, 6/30/2003
- Al- Baz calls for implementing UN legitimacy in ME Egypt-Regional, Politics, 6/30/2003
- Morocco, France ties praised as model Morocco-France, Politics, 6/30/2003