Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 9/15/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of September 15, 2003
- New Syrian government declared
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday has issued decree No. 348 for the year 2003 accepting the resignation of the government of Mohammed Mustafa Miro. Syria, Politics, 9/19/2003 - Morocco supports Yemeni president's proposal for reactivation of arab joint action Yemen-Morocco, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Jordan's parliamentarians wants resignation of central bank governor
Some 70 Jordanian parliamentarians have called for the resignation of the Jordanian Central Bank governor Umaya Touqan because of the decision taken by the bank to freeze dealings with six leaders of the Palestinian Hamas movement and five Palestinian charity societies. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 9/19/2003 - Spain detains three of Allouni friends
The Spanish police detained five persons, three of them are friends for al-Jazeera correspondent Teiseir Allouni, who is currently detained in Spain. Syria-Spain, Politics, 9/19/2003 - Sahrawi notables received in French national assembly
A delegation of Sahrawi notables representing Sahrawi populations handed on Wednesday to Members of the French National Assembly (lower chamber) a memorandum expressing refusal of the latest UN proposal for the Sahara issue. Morocco-France, Politics, 9/19/2003 - Baker's peace plan will lead to tribal wars in the Sahara, warns Sahrawi dignitary
The latest settlement plan, mooted by James Baker, the UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara, will lead to tribal wars in the Sahara (south of Morocco) and will destabilize the whole region, warned a Sahrawi dignitary, member of the Moroccan Consultative Council for Saharan Affairs. Morocco-UN, Politics, 9/19/2003 - Saudi Arabian official cancels visit to Canada
The Saudi Arabian news agency said that the chairman of the Shoura council Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Hameed has abrogated a visit which was due to Canada in protest of "negative media reports" in Canada regarding Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia-Canada, Politics, 9/19/2003 - UN General Assembly to resume special emergency session on Palestine
The United Nations General Assembly will hold a special emergency session today in a move by Arab and Non-Aligned Movement states to circumvent a United States veto of Tuesday's Security Council resolution demanding that Israel not deport or threaten the safety of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Palestine-UN, Politics, 9/19/2003 - Gaza: Five wounded in confrontations between Hamas, the Palestinian security
Palestinian medical and local sources said that five persons were wounded at least in confrontations that took place on Thursday evening in Gaza between members of the Hamas movement and members of the Palestinian security. Palestine, Politics, 9/19/2003 - IAAE: Syria has not violated its commitments Syria-USA, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Equatorial Guinea president starts visit to morocco Morocco-Equatorial Guinea, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Speaker of UAE national federal council starts visit to Morocco Morocco-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Bashir gets a telephone call from Powell Sudan-USA, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Israeli threat to Arafat, breach of international law, Moroccan body Morocco-Israel, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Computerized elections in Oman to promote confidence in results Oman, Politics, 9/19/2003
- A Moroccan among 3 people arrested in spain for alleged links with al Qaeda Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/19/2003
- Libya demands compenstions for its victims of US 1986 bombing
"The delegation of the relatives of victims of the foiled American Nato barbaric aggression against the Great Jamahiriya in 1986 left Tripoli international airport last night heading to the United Nations headquarters in Geneve to call for compensation for that aggression," the Libyan official news agency JANA said yesterday. Libya-USA, Politics, 9/18/2003 - King Abdullah; Iran is ready to cooperate to avoid Iraqi civil war
The Jordanian King Abdullah II said yesterday that Iran can be ready to cooperate with neighboring states and with the US to avoid a civil war in Iraq and the partition of it. Jordan-Iran, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Pan Arab support for Syria against American accusations
Arab League's Secretary General Amr Moussa has criticized the American accusations of Syria, stressing that these accusations express the American double standard policy which ignores the Israeli arsenal that threatens security and stability in the region. Regional-Syria, Politics, 9/18/2003 - On Kharazi's visit to Saudi Arabia
The Iranian Foreign minister Kamal Kharazi has considered that his visit to Saudi Arabia was a good opportunity to discuss several regional and international issues which are of concern to the two countries. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Settlement of Sahara issue lies in security guaranteed by Moroccan kingy, Sahrawi notables
The only alternative to the latest plan of UN Secretary General's personal envoy to the Sahara, James Baker, which can not be accepted, consists in the kingdom's democratic institutions and the security guaranteed by Morocco, a delegation representing Sahrawi populations of Moroccan southern provinces said in Spain Tuesday. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Intifada Support Committee meets in Damascus
The "Executive Bureau and the Media Committee of the Syrian Arab Popular Committee for Supporting the Palestinian Intifada and Resisting the Zionist Project" held its meeting in Damascus today under the Chairman of the Committee, Ahmad Abdulkarim. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Miqdad and the American veto on expelling Arafat
Syria's permanent representative at the United Nations, Faisal Miqdad underlined the American unjustified use of the veto against a "balanced draft resolution which reflects reality and demands putting an end to the Israeli aggressive practices which contradict the United Nations' Charter and international law." Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Hizbullah negotiates with Israel over non- Lebanese prisoners
The secretary general of the Lebanese Hizbulah Party Hassan Nasrullah stressed that the negotiations held regarding releasing prisoners in Israeli jails will include Palestinians, Syrians and Jordanians beside the Lebanese prisoners. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Snow discusses in Jordan fighting terrorism sponsoring; Chalabi asks Jordan for frozen debts and assets
Jordanian- American talks were held yesterday on "fighting terrorism sponsoring" while the Jordanian government of Ali Abul Ragheb dismissed the decision of the Central Bank in Jordan to freeze assets relating to the Hamas movement. Jordan-USA, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Al-Rai al-Am: Shalom Silvan: Shebaa farms are Syrians
Israel’s foreign minister Shalom Silvan said that the occupied Shebaa farms are not Lebanese territories, and Israel will occupy it until an agreement is reached with Syria concerning it. Israel-Lebanon, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Arab bar association deplore American violations of international law
The Arab Bar Association has denounced the accusations directed against Syria in violation of international law in that these US accusations "represent a continuation of the American policy which is based on the logic of hegemony and the false allegations." Regional-Syria, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Libya will honor its obligations to France Libya-France, Politics, 9/18/2003
- American closes al-Tanf crossing between Syria and Iraq
News reports said that the most important border crossing between Syria and Iraq was blocked by the American forces on the Iraqi side, according to well-informed Syrian sources. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Baker plan will is not viable solution to Sahara issue, official Morocco-UN, Politics, 9/18/2003
- Aznar in Libya Libya-Spain, Politics, 9/18/2003
- Moroccan premier holds talks with UK foreign office minister Morocco-UK, Politics, 9/18/2003
- Rice: We remind the Syrians that they have obligations Syria-USA, Politics, 9/18/2003
- Killers of Moroccan Jew in casablanca belong to Salafia Jihadia, authorities
The killers of Albert Ribibo, a Jewish Moroccan national, who was murdered Thursday in Casablanca, were identified as members of the "Salafia Jihadia" underground radical group, sources close to the investigation said. Morocco, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Teaching of Berber language to be generalized by 2008
The "Amazigh," a Berber language spoken in many parts of Morocco, will be taught by 2008, in all primary and secondary schools in Morocco, announced a government report released here Wednesday. Morocco, Politics, 9/18/2003 - Egypt's Interior Minister: Security and human rights promote each other
Egypt's Interior Minister Assistant, General Muhammad Sha'rawi, said that there was no contradiction between maintaining security and respecting human rights and fundamental liberties. Egypt, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Algeria releases of director of Le Soire D' Algiers
The Algerian authorities yesterday released the director of " Le Soir De Algiers" Fouad Bu Ghanem after he was detained earlier in the capital Algiers in a measure which is the most recent carried out by the government to pursue the private papers which oppose the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika, at a time when the national committee for saving freedom warned against an organized campaign to suppress the freedom of opinion and expression in Algeria. Algeria, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Saudi crown prince meets with Kharazi Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Sudan's foreign minister: peace accord will be signed within two days
Sudan's foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael has announced that a peaceful agreement in southern Sudan will be signed "within the two coming days." Sudan, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Al-Shara: we expect Association Agreement soon, Patten: beginning of the end game
European Union commissioner for foreign political affairs, Chris Patten's visit Syria on 15 and 16 September to boost ongoing negotiations for an Association Agreement with the European Union lead to discussions on developments in the region and he met with President Bashar al- Assad, several cabinet ministers and members of the business community. Syria-European Union, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Al-Assad meets with former Lebanese President Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Al-AhramL Cinieri: Mubarak's visit to France coronation of Egyptian-French relations Egypt-France, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Top brass visits France Wednesday Egypt-France, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Majlis A'Shura reviews salary, gratuity and education issues
"Majlis A'Shura office today held its 11th regular meeting of the year under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Qatabi, President of the Majlis," Oman's official news agency ONA reported yesterday. Oman, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Speaker of UAE parliament to visit Morocco United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Al-Assad confers with Patten on relations, ME conditions
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Tuesday the European Union commissioner for foreign political affairs, Chris Patten and an accompanying delegation. Syria-European Union, Politics, 9/17/2003 - ICRC starts contacts with relatives of moroccans detained in tindouf Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Iran reopens its borders with Iraq before pilgrims next week
The Iranian TV announced yesterday that Tehran will reopen next week its borders with Iraq before pilgrims who wish to visit the holy Shiite shrines in al-Najaf and Kerbala. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Asharq Al Awsat: Memorandum denouncing James Baker's peace plan handed to French authorities
A group of local officials representing southern Moroccan provinces was received on Tuesday in Paris by French Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Read Mueller, to whom it handed, a memorandum denouncing the peace plan of former US secretary of state and personal envoy of UN Secretary General for the Sahara, James Baker, reports the Arabic newspaper Asharq Al Awsat. Morocco-France, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Qatar: the foreign affairs, oil ministers are deputy premiers
Amir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday appointed the two ministers of foreign affairs and oil, Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani and Abdulah Bin Hamad al-Ateyah respectively as the two deputies for the prime minister. Qatar, Politics, 9/17/2003 - UK foreign office minister meets Moroccan official
British foreign office minister, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, currently on a 3-day working visit to Morocco, met in Rabat Tuesday Moroccan state secretary of foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fasi Fihri. Morocco-UK, Politics, 9/17/2003 - UMA secretary general praises Mauritania's commitment to freedom Mauritania-Maghreb, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Syrian- Kuwaiti parliamentary cooperation
Deputy Speaker of the People's Assembly, Mohammed Issam al-Jamal, received in Damascus yesterday a delegation representing the Kuwaiti Workers Association headed by Chairman of the Association, Thabit Haroon. Syria-Kuwait, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Sahrawi delegation holds talks with Spanish officials
A delegation of representatives and notables of Sahrawi populations held talks here Monday with Spanish secretary of state for external affairs, Ramon Gil Casares. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Iraqi governing council delegation at the UN; Iraq in OPEC's meeting
The Interim Governing Council in Iraq announced yesterday that it will take part in the ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC due to be held on September 24 in Vienna, for the first time since the war in Iraq on March 20. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Jordan gives up decision to freeze Hamas assets
The Jordanian government yesterday backtracked from its decision to freeze the assets of the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas and other five Palestinian societies following criticism addressed to it over this decision. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 9/17/2003 - Al-Watan: AL chief deplores Israeli practices
Arab League secretary General Amr Moussa has criticized the policy of the Israeli government, pointing out that all the evidences indicate that Israel has no intention to realize peace. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 9/17/2003 - The Israeli flag is hoisted in Dubai United Arab Emirates-Israel, Politics, 9/17/2003
- Egypt calls for proper guarantees to ICC
Egypt's permanent delegate to the UN Ahmed Abul Gheit said the member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) didn't complete their mission in concluding a clear-cut and agreed upon definition of the aggression crime and the court's mechanism to be applied in this kind of crimes. Egypt-UN, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Message from al-Assad to Sultan Qaboos
Syria's Vice - President Abdulhalim Khaddam has stressed the importance of consultations among Arab leaders in order to realize the best solution for the critical situation in the region. Syria-Oman, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Boutros Ghali to Al-Ahram: UN is in a crisis
In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram, Boutros Ghali, the prominent Egyptian politician, and former Secretary General of the United Nations and La Francophonie dealt with the present status of the United Nations that was subject to political and military attacks this year. Egypt-UN, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Maher: Egyptian-French cooperation necessary for Mideast peace
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said on Tuesday President Hosni Mubarak's visit to France, that wound up on Monday, was a chance to reiterate that Egyptian-French cooperation necessary for achieving peace in the Mideast region. Egypt-France, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Morocco to accelerate audiovisual sector reform
Moroccan communication minister and the government's spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah, said Morocco is set to accelerate the reform of the audiovisual sector in the upcoming days. Benabdellah told Moroccan daily "Al Alam" in an interview published this Monday efforts are intensified so that the council of government adopts shortly a new law regulating the communication sector in Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 9/16/2003 - US accusations to suppress Syria's political position
A report by by the New York times said the US is ready to reiterate past charges against Syria about weapons of mass destruction. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Iran ready to leave non-proliferation regime
Iran is keeping its options open in considering a move to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the organization set a deadline for Iran to enforce complete exposure of Iran's nuclear activities, and may leave the organization following suit of North Korea. Iran-Regional, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Israel kills a 25-year-old Palestinian; uproots 2000 olive trees in occupied East Jerusalem
Israeli occupation forces shot dead today a 25-year-old Palestinian citizen in the town of Dura, near the Hebron, the IPC reported. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/16/2003 - Kharazi telephones support for Arafat Palestine-Iran, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Al-Assad confers with Sheikh Hussein Fadallah, Obeid Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Crown prince Abdullah, King Hamad discuss ME developments Saudi Arabia-Bahrain, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Jordanian King gets a message from Kusharraf Jordan-Pakistan, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Presidents of Gabon, Congo Arrive in Morocco Morocco-Gabon, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Patten visits SEBC in Damascus Syria-European Union, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Syria- Iraq and Turkey meeting to start inter- train trip route Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Riyadh: Saudi embassy denies links to terrorist cells discovered in Jordan Saudi Arabia-Jordan, Politics, 9/16/2003
- Political leaders broadly satisfied with results of Friday's local elections
Following the announcement of results of Friday's communal elections, during which 54.16% of the 14,620,937 registered voters cast their votes, leaders of political parties that took part in these polls were broadly satisfied with the results and atmosphere of these elections. Morocco, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Press comments on Morocco's local polls results
The communal elections made the headlines of Moroccan dailies published this Sunday. Morocco, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Arafat thanks Syria for its support
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received in Damascus yesterday a phone call from Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Otri- continued consultations on the New Syrian Government
Naji Otri, who is charged with the formation of the new government continued in Damascus continued his discussions and consultations. Syria, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Libya denies efforts to own mass destruction weapons
Libya officially denied yesterday the US accusations saying it had sought to own mass destruction weapons and described the information to this effect as false. Libya, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Al-Assad meets with British house of commons selegation
President Bashar al-Assad received on Saturday a delegation representing the Foreign Affairs Committee in the British House of Commons headed by Donald Anderson. Syria-UK, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Garang for forming a joint force during the transitional period
A source close to the negotiations currently taking place in Kenya between the Sudanese authorities and the southern rebels said that the rebels proposed on Sunday to establish a joint armed forces -- beside their forces and the government's army -- during the transitional period which will last for 6 years, according to a previous agreement. Sudan, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Lahoud: Syrian- Lebanese experience an example to be followed
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has stressed that the Syrian- Lebanese experience of solidarity is a example that could be followed. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Local elections: over 120 women elected
A total of 127 women were elected in the local polls held Friday in Morocco out of 6,024 women who run for seats at communal councils, accounting for 5% of candidates. The score of women in Friday's communal elections marks a slight increase compared to the 1997 communal polls, both as regards female candidacies that stood at 1,657 and the successful women candidates that did not exceed 83. Morocco, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Al-Shara holds talks with Spanish peer
Foreign Minister al-Shara stressed that Syria wants the deliberations of the meeting to reflect the will of the Iraqi people in the first place and to ensures the unity, sovereignty and independence of the Iraqi territories by giving a pivotal role to the United Nations. Syria-Spain, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Saudi foreign minister stresses Syria, Lebanon role in ME peace making
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal has stressed that peace would not be achieved in the Middle East unless it was a just and comprehensive one and unless it included a solution for the Syrian - Lebanese track. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Omran confers with Italian delegation
Syria's Information Minister Adnan Omran met in Damascus yesterday the Italian delegation representing parliamentarians, university teachers, writers and men of letters. Syria-Italy, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Powell: security situation in Iraq is a challenge
The US Secretary Of State Colin Powell said that the security situation in Iraq still represents a challenge, but he stressed his confidence in the success of the American forces to achieving stability and democracy. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/15/2003 - New York Times: Saudi Arabia vowed new measures against terrorism
The New York Times said yesterday that Saudi officials have promised to take a series of new measures to fight terrorism in a meeting with American officials in August. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Al Khaleej: Morocco says Israel's decision to expel Arafat is unacceptable
Morocco deemed Saturday the Israeli decision to expel Palestinian president Yasser Arafat as "unacceptable." "It cannot contribute to the quest for a fair peace" in the Middle East, Moroccan communication minister and government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah, told the UAE daily "Al Khaleej" in an interview published Saturday. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Arab League discusses Israel 's threats against Arafat
The secretary general of the Arab League AL Amr Moussa has announced that the AL will hold an emergency meeting today ( Monday) to discuss the Israeli threats to expelling the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Beirut Arab Assembly deplores Israeli practices against the Palestinians
The Arab Assembly on backing the Palestinian and Iraqi people has condemned the Israeli siege on Palestinians in their towns and cities. Regional-Israel, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Omani's outside the country vote date for A'shura elections Oman, Politics, 9/15/2003
- Arab Foreign Ministers extraordinary meeting Palestine-Regional, Politics, 9/15/2003
- Vidovin and peace in the ME Palestine-Russia, Politics, 9/15/2003
- Al-Shara meets with British Delegation Syria-UK, Politics, 9/15/2003
- Moroccan-Spain relations are very good, Spanish minister
Relations between Spain and Morocco are "very good," said Spanish defense minister, Federico Trillo. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/15/2003 - Iraq seeks a water agreement with Syria and Turkey
Iraq yesterday announced that its share of the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are not enough and it wants to have talks with Turkey and Syria who also benefit from the water of the two rivers. Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 9/15/2003