Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 7/7/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of July 7, 2003
- Mauritania releases civilians in coupe attempt investigation
Mauritania's authorities released all civilians who were detained in the context of the investigation in the implications of the failed military coupe which took place in June. Mauritania, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Al-Tareifi: on human rights conditions in Tunisia, 500 political detainees
The chairman of the Tunisian league for human rights, Mukhtar al-Tareifi, said yesterday upon reviewing the society's annual report that the status of human rights conditions in Tunisia has not witnessed any progress worthy mentioning during 2002. Tunisia, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Morocco braced to consolidate democracy through coming elections, Moroccan premier
Moroccan prime minister, Driss Jettou, renewed on Thursday the government's resolve to endeavor so that the coming elections consecrate the democratic process and civil liberties, as part of the rule of law guaranteed by King Mohammed VI. Morocco, Politics, 7/12/2003 - New Sudanese conditions for signing an agreement with Garang
The Sudanese government has linked its signing of a final peace agreement with the rebels under the leadership of John Garang to reaching a "just and applicable" agreement Sudan, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Ivanov starts a Middle East tour tomorrow
The Russian foreign ministry announced yesterday that the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov will start tomorrow a tour to the Middle East that will last five days and aims at enhancing the role played by Russia in search for a solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and to urge the US to quickly form an Iraqi government. Regional-Russia, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Al-Sahaf: Saddam is in Iraq, he should have resigned office
The former Iraqi minister of information, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf, has hinted upon his arrival in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday that he might not return back to Iraq. He expressed conviction that the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is still alive. Iraq-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Egyptian mediation between Israel and the Palestinians
The chairman of the Egyptian intelligence Lt. Gen. Omar Suleiman will head for the city of Ramullah in the West Bank and Gaza within 48 hours in order to lead the Egyptian efforts aiming at fixing the Palestinian truce, despite the rejection of the government of Israel to implement affiliated obligations concerning the implementation of the Roadmap to peace. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 7/12/2003 - US effort to rescue the Roadmap, a new security failure
The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon will head to Washington by the end of this month in the context of the American efforts which aim at rescuing the Middle East Roadmap to peace and prevent its collapse. Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Syria - Kuwait informational dialogue initiated
Kuwaiti delegation of Press Association headed by Chairman of the Association, Adnan al-Rashed visited yesterday the Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA. Syria-Kuwait, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Security, stability crucial for rights' preservation and productive economy, pm Morocco, Politics, 7/12/2003
- al-Hyatt al-Seyasia: Syrian- Sudanese relations are prosperous Syria-Sudan, Politics, 7/12/2003
- Moroccan NGO delegation meets with UK officials, press Morocco-UK, Politics, 7/12/2003
- Keftaro confers with Algerian delegation Syria-Algeria, Politics, 7/12/2003
- Some 80,000 Palestinians in Iraq
The UNHCR has said it will start next week registering 80,000 Palestinians living in Iraq, many of them were expelled from their houses and do not enjoy legal protection since the collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Iraq-Palestine, Politics, 7/12/2003 - Egyptian-Sudanese water ventures under discussion Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 7/11/2003
- Damascus: Government reshuffle is by the end of year
Well-informed sources in Damascus said that the forthcoming reshuffle in Syria is postponed until the end of the current year. Syria, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Al-Assad gets a telephone call from Erdogan Syria-Turkey, Politics, 7/11/2003
- Morocco, Spain set to take fresh start in bilateral relations, minister Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/11/2003
- Kuwait: speculations to separate tomorrow the crown prince, the government presidency posts
Political sources in Kuwait expected yesterday that Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah will issue a decree for separating the two posts of the crown prince and the prime minister which are currently assumed by the crown prince. Kuwait, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Two of three journalists arrested for publishing articles undermining state security released
Two out of the three journalists arrested last June in Oujda (eastern Morocco) for the publication of articles "inciting for crimes that could undermine national security" were released, communication minister and government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah announced on Thursday. Morocco, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Jordan: four -year imprisonment to former intelligence director
Former Jordanian chairman of intelligence, Samih al-Bateikhi, was sentenced yesterday to 8 year imprisonment decreased to 4 after he was convicted of corruption in a measure which is the first of its kind in Jordan. Jordan, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Chamber of advisors draws lots to renew third of members
The House of Advisors (upper parliamentary chamber) drew lots on Wednesday to pick 180 members who will go through elections to renew one third of its 270 members for the second time since 1997. Morocco, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Angolan fisheries minister calls Moroccan operators to invest in his country
Angolan minister of fisheries, Salamao Jos? Luheto Xirimbimbi, called on Wednesday Moroccan businessmen operating in the field to invest in Angola and transfer their know-how and capital to the South African country. Morocco-Angola, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Syrian- Greek party cooperation Syria-Greece, Politics, 7/11/2003
- Yemen, Saudi Arabia exchange suspects
A Yemeni official said yesterday that Saudi Arabia handed over to Yemen three wanted Islamists including two suspects to have had taken part in an attack in 2002 against the giant French oil tanker Limburg. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/11/2003 - Kuwait to separate the post of Crown Prince from the Prime Minister
Political sources in Kuwait said that Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah intends to seperate the office of prime minister held by Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah from his authority as Crown Prince in preparation to implement a series of political reforms following the parliamentary elections held last Saturday. Kuwait, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Mauro Vieira: Brazil supports Arab causes, for a viable Palestinian state
Ambassador Vieira continued that the message presents a project for a summit meeting between American Presidents and Presidents of the Arab states, noting that this is a new project, as it is for the first time such an idea born in that the two regions are meeting to discuss South- South cooperation relations to develop cooperation between them and exchanging experience and discuss items of international agenda of concern to our countries Syria-Brazil, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Court adjourns to friday trial of weekly editor
The first instance court of Rabat on Wednesday adjourned to next Friday the trial of Mustapha Alaoui, editor of "Al Ousboue" weekly, who is sued for publishing a communiqu? by a group that claims responsibility for some of the series of attacks that rocked Casablanca last May 16. Morocco, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Scores killed and wounded in tribal fighting in Somalia
Some 28 persons were at least killed and other 65 wounded in confrontation that took place between warring Somali groups during the past 48 hours. Somalia, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Lebanese, Ukraine president pleased over talks in Kiev
Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma and the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud expressed their satisfaction over the results of talks they held in Kiev on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lebanon-Ukraine, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Sweden, Norway NGOs seriously concerned over situation of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf
Several humanitarian associations in Sweden and Norway expressed during a seminar held last weekend in Gutenburg (Sweden) serious concern over the harsh living conditions of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf camps (south-western Algeria), a Swedish NGO told MAP. Morocco-Sweden, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Spanish minister says visit to Morocco helped define cooperation axes
Spanish agriculture, fisheries and food minister, Miguel Arias Canete, told a joint press conference held in Rabat on Tuesday with general secretary of agriculture and rural development ministry, El Hassan Benabderrazek, that his visit to Morocco helped the two countries define cooperation axes and promote bilateral dialogue. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Kurds force 7000 Shiite to evacuate
Several Bashmarka Kurds who returned back to Khanqin in the downtown of Iraq after the collapse of the Iraqi regime three months ago expelled thousands of Shiite families who settled in the area, at the directives of the former regime, 30 years ago. Iraq, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Egypt delegation for saving the truce; Israelis harassment of Palestinian farmers
An Egyptian delegation arrived in Gaza yesterday in a bid to nave the Palestinian truce from collapse at the time when the Palestinian leadership is exerting intensive efforts for containing the domestic front after Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen threatened to resign. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 7/10/2003 - More than 6,000 Iraqis killed by the US war on Iraq
A group of British and American researchers said yesterday that the number of killed because of the American- British war against Iraq reached more than 6,000 following statistics that covered the victims in remote areas in Iraq. Earlier statistics said that 5500 Iraqis were the victims of the war. Iraq, Politics, 7/10/2003 - Conference on Palestinian refugees concluded in Cairo Palestine-Regional, Politics, 7/10/2003
- Saudi- British military cooperation Saudi Arabia-UK, Politics, 7/10/2003
- Sharon to visit Britain on Sunday Israel-UK, Politics, 7/10/2003
- Al-Assad's cancels Economic Courts as part of economic reforms
Syria's Deputy Premier for Economic affairs, Muhammad al- Hussein, has said that the Legislative Decree number 33 for the year 2003 issued by President Bashar al-Assad yesterday comes in the framework of the currently development and modernization march in Syria. Syria, Politics, 7/9/2003 - CIA former director and Israel Nuclear weapons
The former Director of the American Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Stansfield Turner called for putting the Israeli nuclear arsenal under the international supervision and to put pressure Israel to disarm its nuclear weapons. Israel-USA, Politics, 7/9/2003 - Al-Assad confers with Larsen: Syria did not ask to be included in the Roadmap
President Bashar al - Assad received in Damascus yesterday evening the special envoy for Peace Process in the Middle East Terry Rod Larsen and the accompanying delegation regarding the roadmap to peace. Syria-UN, Politics, 7/9/2003 - Kwaiti says it identified four missing Kuwaitis dead in Iraq
The spokesman for the search team for "misssing Kuwaitis and prisoners in Iraq" Fayez al-Oneizi said yesterday that the remains of four Kuwaiti missing were found in a mass grave in al-Samawa area to the south of Iraq. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 7/9/2003 - Peking: The Iraqi ambassador, his wife hide with their weapons in the embassy
The implications of the war in Iraq had a new development in Peking where the ambassador is in an armed confrontation with his employees, while the Chinese police stand not far prepared for fighting. Iraq-China, Politics, 7/9/2003 - Occupation wants to privatize oil, Saddam declares himself resistance leader
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has declared himself as a leader for the Iraqi resistance. He called on the Iraqis in a new taped message broadcast yesterday for "the unity of the rank" in order to "expel the invaders" considering that gangs and secret operations are the best way to resist the occupation as well as trade boycott and civilian unrest. Iraq-USA, Politics, 7/9/2003 - Arab officials ponder creation of Arab customs union Regional, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Al- Baz underlines importance of Syrian- Egyptian summit Syria-Egypt, Politics, 7/9/2003
- New government in Mauritania Mauritania, Politics, 7/9/2003
- France underlines the importance of Syrian- Lebanese track Syria-France, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Southern Morocco NGOs delegation meets officials, NGOs in london Morocco-UK, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Iraqi- Kurdish official visits Damascus Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Arab League chief in Morocco next week Regional-Morocco, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Al-Sharq al Awsat: Larsen stresses Syrian- Lebanese role in peace Syria-UN, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Morocco ready to make Angola profit from its experience in fisheries Morocco-Angola, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Syrian - Cuban health cooperation Syria-Cuba, Politics, 7/9/2003
- Al-Assad- Mubarak for end of occuation in Palestine and Iraq
A joint press statement was issued at the end of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Cairo. It says: In line with the brotherly invitation of President Hosni Mubarak, President Bashar al-Assad paid yesterday a short visit to Cairo. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Sudan's VP: Sudanese-Egyptian relations to see landmark boom Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 7/8/2003
- Interior minister on modernization
Syria's Interior Minister, Ali Hammoud, has stressed that the Ministry has made a good progress regarding the laws' modernization in the framework of development and modernization march under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria, Politics, 7/8/2003 - On Kuwait's women's rights for participating in the elections
It is presumed that Kuwait has been prepared more than any time ago to recognize the political rights of the Kuwaiti women. Kuwait, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad and the Kuwaiti woman Kuwait, Politics, 7/8/2003
- Jordan Islamists for postponing elections; foiling plan to blow up American targets
The Islamic movement in Jordan has called on the government to postpone the municipal elections which is due by the end of the current month because according to them "these elections are being held in a non- democratic and unfair law." Meantime, the Jordanian authorities announced foiling a plan to blow up American targets in Jordan including the American embassy in Amman. Jordan, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Mubarak calls on Israel to abide by ME peace requirements Egypt-Israel, Politics, 7/8/2003
- Yemen, Saudi Arabia cooperation in terrorism fighting
Yemen and Saudi Arabia yesterday announced in conclusion of the annual session of the Yemeni- Saudi coordination council in Sanaa, their determination to strengthen their cooperation in the security field and to double efforts to fight terrorism. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Russian commitment for peace in ME Regional-Russia, Politics, 7/8/2003
- Syrian and Lebanese armies cooperation in landmines dismantling Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 7/8/2003
- Jordanian - Saudi military talks Jordan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/8/2003
- EU lifts sanctions from Iraq
The European Union yesterday officially decided to lift most of the sanctions imposed on Iraq, in line with the recent resolution of the UN Security Council but kept several measures like freezing the assets of the toppled Iraqi President and his former regime members. Iraq-European Union, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Moroccan-British ties upgrading, UK ambassador
Moroccan-British relations are upgrading, with Morocco becoming Britain's third largest partner in North Africa and the Middle East, British Ambassador to Morocco, Hadon Boyd Warren Gash, said. Morocco-UK, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Saudi crown prince commend seriousness of Palestinian peace position
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has commended the unity of the Palestinian position and the strategy of the Palestinian Authority in dealing with the Roadmap to peace, all reveals the seriousness of the Palestinian position. Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 7/8/2003 - Expected change in Syria raised internal debate
Officials in Syria have now a unanimous agreements that the change internally has become "a national mission" that requires taking urgent and appropriate decisions quickly, and without hesitation, as time is running short, especially in the course of the events taking place at the regional level. Syria, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Syrian- Egyptian summit today in Cairo Egypt-Syria, Politics, 7/7/2003
- On the Kuwaiti parliamentary elections
The setback which hit the liberal trend, gives signals that the coming Kuwaiti government will have its happy days while dealing with the Parliament whose general lines were drawn in Saturday's elections. Kuwait, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Al-Baz calls for enhancing Egyptian- Sudanese relations Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 7/7/2003
- Saudi - Yemeni coordination: the two states security and stability are one
Saudi Arabia and Yemen stressed determination to fight terrorism, during the meetings of the 15th session of the Yemeni- Saudi coordination council in Sanaa held under the chairmanship of the Yemeni prime minister Abdul Qader Bajmal and the second Saudi deputy premier and minister of defense Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz who arrived in Sanaa on Saturday on top of a delegation including 17 ministers. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Libya, Niger for boosting relations Libya-Niger, Politics, 7/7/2003
- Kuwaiti government desolved
Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah accepted the resignation of the prime minister and members of the government as from yesterday, on the ground that they continue performing their mission until a new government is formed. Kuwait, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Miro visits Ankara on July 28th
Syria's prime minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro will hold an official visit to Turkey, which is the first by a Syrian prime minister in decades in order to discuss prospects of economic and trade cooperation. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Sudanese peace talks resumed Sudan, Politics, 7/7/2003
- Israel dodges implementation of roadmap, Sorour tells German parliamentarians Egypt-Israel, Politics, 7/7/2003
- Al-Assad confers with Brazilian president envoy
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Sunday Brazilian Presidential Enovy Mawro Vierra carring a letter from the Brazilian president connected with his forthcoming visit to Syria in the framework of a tour in the Middle East, as well as with his desire to hold a meeting between Latin American countries and the Arab states with the aim of boosting cooperation in view of the presence of Arab communities in Latin American countries, which are playing important role in these countries. Regional-Brazil, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Syrian Awqaf minister confers with Vatican officials Syria-Vatican, Politics, 7/7/2003
- Jeddah: Talks by Saudi, Iranian ministers of justice
Saudi Arabia's minister of Justice Abdullah al-Sheikh and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Hashimi Shahroudi yesterday in Jeddah discussed judicial cooperation agreement. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 7/7/2003 - Kampala accuses Khartoum of arming al- Rabb army
Uganda's defense minister announced that high ranking Uganda army officers visited Khartoum during the past days and discussed, according to Kampala, the issue of Sudan's resumption of providing weapons to al-Rabb army for resistance in Uganda. Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 7/7/2003