Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 9/29/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of September 29, 2003
- Applicants for Egyptian nationality to children of foreign fathers welcomed Egypt, Politics, 10/1/2003
- Mubarak in Riyadh meets with Fahd, Abdullah; No Egyptian forces to Iraq
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday discussed with the Saudi Arabia's King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in Riyadh the situation in Iraq and the Palestinian territories at a time when the political advisor for the Egyptian President Osama al-Baz said that his country will not send forces to Iraq. Saudi Arabia-Egypt, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Mubarak receives Taha Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 10/1/2003
- Benflis announces his nomination for Algerian presidency
Benflis stressed that the front will pursue in the coming phase a policy totally contradicting those pursued by Butaflika, considering that it will be the "policy of the future, progress, pluralism, freedom and democracy." Algeria, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Khaddam continues visit to Iran
Higher Guide of the Islamic revolution of Iran Ayatullah Ali Khamaeni and Chairman of the Iranian Expediency Academy, Hashimi Rafsangani received separately in Tehran yesterday Syria's Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam. Syria-Iran, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Iraqi council consider return of Baathists; six months not enough to draw constitution
The Interim governing council in Iraq yesterday considered that the period of six months speculated by the US secretary of state Colin Powell to formulate a constitution is not enough, and announced simultaneously it studies returning back members of the former ruling Baath party to their posts in the state administration. Iraq, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Cairo conference refute accusations against Syria
Participants in the meetings of the Coordination Committee for Arab Solidarity Committees have condemned the American-Israeli Campaign against Syria describing it as a threat to peace, stability and security in the region. Syria-Regional, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Testimony of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf evidences abuses, France liberte
The "direct testimonies" of Moroccan prisoners of war in Tindouf (southern Algeria) show they were subject to "abuses" in the prisons controlled by secessionist group Polisario, Chairwoman of the French association "France Liberte," Danielle Mitterand, said Monday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Spanish premier to visit Morocco on December
Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, is to pay a two-day visit to Morocco (December 8-9), to chair with his Moroccan counterpart, Driss Jettou, a high-level meeting between the two countries, announced on Tuesday in Barcelona, Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign affairs, Ramon Gil-Casares. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Qrei returns back to the idea of mini government: 10 to 12 ministers including the 'basics'
A high ranking Palestinian official announced that the designated Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Qrei changed his mind over forming a plenary government and intends to introduce a small formation, whose members not to exceed 12 ministers by the fall of the end of the current week. Palestine, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Al-Balagh: Yemen: five Islamic groups merged in 'al-Jihad base'
Five Islamic groups from Yemen, the Arab Peninsula, Egypt and Algeria announced merging into an organization called "al-Jihad base," threatening to carry out operation targeting Yemeni officials and western interests, according to al-Balagh paper yesterday. Yemen-Regional, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Morocco, Germany speakers probe means to promote parliaments role Morocco-Germany, Politics, 10/1/2003
- Washington detains al-Amoudi under the charge of receiving assets from Libya
An American judicial source announced the detention of the renowned American Islamic intellectual Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi on charge of violating sanctions imposed by Washington on Libya since 1986 and accepting money from Tripoli. Libya-USA, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Japan freezes Hamas assets
The Japanese government decided yesterday to freeze the assets of the political wing of the Hamas movement. Palestine-Japan, Politics, 10/1/2003 - Al-Assad interview with Corriere Della Sera on internal and external policy
Answering a question on the US accusations to Syria that it produces mass destruction weapons, the president said "we responded to those accusations...our response was at the UN Security Council and the UN by proposing a draft resolution on making the Middle East region free of mass destruction weapons. They were angry when they accused us, and when we presented our reply their anger became greater." Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Saudi intellectuals call for implementing fundamental reform
Some 306 Saudi Arabian intellectuals including 51 women have called for the need of starting the implementation of a comprehensive and fundamental reform operation in the country. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Mubarak, Zayed discuss the situation in the region
During his short visit to Abu Dhabi, President Hosni Mubsarak of Egypt discussed with the United Arab Emirates UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan the situation in Iraq and the Middle East peace process. United Arab Emirates-Egypt, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Egyptian police release other 1000 members of the Islamic group, one leader
The Egyptian authorities released Mamdouh Ali Youssef, member of the Shoura council for the Islamic group and one of the most important former figures in al-Fayyoum province. Egypt, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Syrian vice president holds talks with Khatami on ME developments
Iranian President Muhammad Khatami received in Tehran on Monday Syria's Vice - President Abdulhaleem Khaddam. Syria-Iran, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Detroit Arab- American forum:vow for rapprochement; Moussa links Iraq to development; Burns optimist on next generation
The Arab- American economic forum continued deliberations in Detroit, and the secretary general of the Arab League announced in front of the participants that the return back of stability to Iraq is a vital precondition for economic development in the region. Regional-USA, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Arab doctors union calls for release of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf
The Arab Doctors' Union called on Sunday for the "immediate, total and unconditional release of Moroccan prisoners held in Tindouf (southern Algeria)." Regional-Morocco, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Al-Shara outlines Syria's views before UN GA
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Monday described the Middle East region as almost unique in the world in being singularly more victimized than other regions and endured more injuries, more campaigns of misrepresented facts and has been subjected more to the use of force. Syria-UN, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Syrian ministers confer with British defense studies Delegation
Syria's Minister of Higher Education Hani Murtada and Minister of Expatriates Butheina Shaaban in Damascus on Monday met a delegation of the Royal Academic of the British Defense Studies chaired by Major General Roger Lockwood. Syria-UK, Politics, 9/30/2003 - King Abdulah: Jordan will train 30,000 Iraqis
The Jordanian King Abdulah II has called on the USA and the European Union to pressure both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to urge them to resume their negotiations. After he had ruled out sending Jordanian forces to Iraq, Abdullah announced that Jordan has received thousands of Iraqis to train them. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Jordanian premier confers with member of the Iraqi interim council
The Jordanian prime minister Ali Abul Ragheb yesterday met with member of the Iraqi interim governing council Eyad Allawi and stressed "Jordan's care to maintain the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and the importance of achieving its peace and security as well as enabling the Iraqis running their own affairs by themselves." Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Morocco, France relations are exemplary, French former fm
Relations between Morocco and France are exemplary, French former foreign minister, Hubert Vedrine, said on the fringes of the international forum of the Tunisian weekly "R?alit?s." Morocco-France, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Oreikat looms not to accept minister for negotiations affairs; People's front stays out of government
The People's Front for Liberation of Palestine has apologized for not taking part in the new Palestinian government which its designated prime minister has almost finished its formation. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/30/2003 - One year imprisonment for Libyan who tried to attack al-Faisal
Al-Jeeza minor crimes court in Egypt yesterday sentenced the Libyan Mahmoud al-Bashir Ahmad after he was convicted of attacking Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal during the recent meeting of the Arab foreign ministers in Cairo. Egypt-Libya, Politics, 9/30/2003 - Media reform, a vision of a modern Moroccan society, minister Morocco, Politics, 9/30/2003
- Sahrawi delegation in Rome to promote national cause Morocco-Italy, Politics, 9/30/2003
- Iranian nation has every right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes Iran-Regional, Politics, 9/30/2003
- Iraqis assume Iran's border control; Washington build up 15,000 troops
At a time when the "police" of the oil pipelines which is basically composed of former Iraqi military men trained by the American and British occupation forces started yesterday to position in areas of northern Iraq where the oil pipelines are exposed to continuous attacks, the occupation forces on Saturday assigned a new Iraqi force the responsibility of guarding part of the borders with Iran of 335 Km length of the area which is mostly dominated by the Kurds to the north in Eastern Baghdad area, to be the first time in which Iraqis maintain full control on part of their borders since toppling Saddam Hussein. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Bashir expects peace agreement by end of year
The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said yesterday in Doha that some 90% of pending problems in the peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the souther rebels were solved, thanks to the recent agreement between the two sides. He expressed his hope to reach peace in Sudan by the fall of the current year. Sudan-Qatar, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Sahrawi dignitary satisfied with European MPs and officials' support to morocco
A Sahrawi dignitary who led a delegation of representatives of Moroccan Sahrawi populations said, at the end of a tour to several European countries, he was satisfied with the support displayed by European MPs and officials to Morocco. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Liberation front announces candidate for elections; Algeria: army kills 150 gunmen
Bin Flis said that the "national liberation front is in a good health and all officials and activists are supporting their secretary general," considering that his party has become a defender of a "policy which completely opposes the policy of the candidate President Butaflika." Algeria, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Moroccan human tights minister meets head of UN HR commission
Moroccan minister of human rights, Mohammed Aujjar, met here Friday president of the UN human rights commission, Najat Hajjaji (Libya), currently on a visit to Morocco. Morocco-UN, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Guardian: US and UK plots to undermine Syria; Call for stopping US acts and threats
The civil campaign in support of Palestine and Iraq in Beirut has called UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to prevent the use of the UN by great Powers to exert pressures on states that oppose them. In a memo sent to Annan today, the campaign expressed its concern over the "Syria Accountability Act" considered by US Congress, stressing that the non - interference in the affairs of others is a basic principle of UN. Syria-UN, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Yemeni President gets a message from crown prince Abdullah
Yemen's President Ali Abdulah Saleh yesterday received a message from the Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz relating to cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen especially in the security field. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Al-Shara said US comments on Iraq's constitution are positive
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara described US Secretary of State Colin Powell's proposal on a new Iraqi constitution within six months as the first open talk showing some good intentions on the American presence in Iraq. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Khaddam confers with member of the Iraqi governing council
Syria's Vice President Abdulhaleem Khaddam received in Damascus on Sunday Secretary General of the Iraqi National council and member of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council, Eyad Allawi. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Bremer says Iraqis not ready for a quick turnover of power
The civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, says the current Iraqi Governing Council recognizes that it is not ready to assume governing powers in Iraq, despite calls from some for a quick turnover of power to the Iraqis. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Bremer wants Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to stop asking Iraqis for money
US Administrator of Iraq asked Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and others to forgive or delay request for payments from financially strapped Iraqis. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Kuwait rejects US and Iraqi Council to forgive debts
Kuwait's minister of information Muhammad Abu al-Hassan said that the issue of compensating damages resulting from the invasion of Iraq in 1990 is an "indisputable matter at the UN Security Council which had its say and submitted the matter to the compensations committee which approved the allotted sums, not only for Kuwait, but also for the damaged countries." Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Failed attempt to assassinate Yemeni parliamentarian
An attempt was foiled yesterday to assassinate the Yemeni parliament member for the ruling party Nabil Sadeq al-Basha by unidentified persons in Samara area in Ab province, 90 Km to the south of the capital Sanaa. Yemen, Politics, 9/29/2003 - First Arab-US Economic Forum opens today
Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa left yesterday for Detroit to open the first Arab-American Economic Forum, which the Arab-American organisations in the US have arranged in cooperation with the AL. Regional-USA, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Celebration marking Intifada third anniversary
The Arab Committee and the Arab Syrian Popular Committee for backing the Intifada and Resisting the Zionist Project, held a celebration in Damascus today marking the occasion of the start of the Intifada. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/29/2003 - Mubarak to visit UAE today Egypt-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 9/29/2003
- No Saudi forces to Iraq Saudi Arabia-Iraq, Politics, 9/29/2003
- Arab al-Youm: Al-Saadi rejects bribe offer from US to say to say Iraq had mass destruction weapons Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/29/2003
- Al-Baz: Israel is not serious about peace Egypt-Israel, Politics, 9/29/2003
- Al-Baz: Sending international monitors to Palestinian territories necessary Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 9/29/2003
- A new Russian envoy to the Middle East Regional-Russia, Politics, 9/29/2003