Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 1/12/2004

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of January 12, 2004

• Saudi opposition members regret hesitation of the Kingdom toward reforms
  Saudi Arabia's opposition members in exile, and supporters of establishing a constitutional monarchy in the Kingdom, yesterday expressed their regret towards what they considered as Riyadh's hesitation in proceeding on the path of reform. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Abbasi calls for halting fighting and postponing elections in Algeria
  Leader of the Islamic Front for Salvation, Abbas Madani, yesterday extended a general call for halting the bloodshed in Algeria as from the beginning of Eid al-Adha (holiday), by the beginning of February, in the first procedural step for an initiative which he described as a "national people initiative" to solve the crisis in the country. Algeria, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Gulf academic discussions in Manama to enhance reform in the Gulf states
  Academics, researchers, and former officials from the Arab Gulf states took part in a forum which opened yesterday in Manama, Bahrain, dedicated to discuss enhancing reforms in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Gulf, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Statement of the Iraqi Turkmen's delegation visiting Damascus
  Chief and members of an Iraqi delegation representing the Islamic Movement of Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmen Front and Chieftains of Turkmen Tribes, on Thursday, highly lauded Syria's pan-Arab stances towards the Arab causes, her support to the Iraqi people in their ordeal, and her care for Iraq's territorial integrity. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Qathafi remebers Gamal Abdel Nasser, on his anniversary as a committed Arab leader
  Yesterday, thursday, 15 the 86-th anniversary of the birth of the late Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, who became the leading Arab leader for calls and concrete action for Arab unity and justice issues. Libya-Regional, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Ben Ali stresses enhancing joint Arab action
  The Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stressed that Tunisia will be careful during its presidency of the Arab summit in March this year to enhance joint Arab action in all fields, and to contribute in all field as well as to help in the process of developing the Arab League. Tunisia-Regional, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Tunisia removes central bank governor in a limited reshuffle
  The Tunisian government said that the Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali removed the governor of the Central bank, Muhammad Ali al-Dawas, and appointed the minister of finance, Tawfiq Bakkar as his successor. Tunisia, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Blair calls on Syria to honor its responsibilities; No Palestinian peace process before halt of terrorism
  The British prime minister, Tony Blair, adopted the Israeli position which rejects the resumption of the "peace process" with the Palestinians, unless what he called "terrorism" is stopped. He also called on Syria to "honor its international responsibilities" regarding support for the Palestinian organizations. Syria-Palestine-UK, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Mubarak receives Bashir, Sunday Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Arab-western meeting of skills set to take place in Berlin jan 17-18
  Distinguished Arab professionals living in the West and the Middle East, policy makers from the United States and European countries, and representatives from international organizations get together in Berlin January 17-18 for the first Arab-Western Summit of Skills, dedicated to promoting civic and economic infrastructure development in the Arab world. Regional-USA, Politics, 1/16/2004
• al-Ahram: Moussa calls for Iraq's unity, UN role stressed Iraq-Regional, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Arab Parliamentary Federation chief confers with Russian parliamentary delegation Regional-Russia, Politics, 1/16/2004
• There is no new agreement on U.S. Air Base in Incirlik, Turkey Turkey-USA, Politics, 1/16/2004
• U.S. designates Kuwait a major Non-NATO ally of U.S. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 1/16/2004
• Saudi crown prince determined to press ahead with reforms
  Saudi Arabia's crown prince yesterday gave a televised speech to the Saudis on the occasion of the end of the "second national meeting for intellectual dialogue," recently held in Mecca, and announced that the Kingdom "is pursuing a gradual reform policy, and will not permit any one to stand in the face of reforms." Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Saudi Arabia opposition members meet in London next week
  Saudi Arabia opposition figures abroad will hold a press conference in the British capital, London, by the end of next week for one day under the title " the future of democracy in Saudi Arabia." Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Mahdi Akef elected as a Murshid for Muslim brothers in Egypt
  The Ikhwan al-Muslimin (Muslim Brothers) group in Egypt elected Muhammad Mahdi Akef as a general Murshid (guide) for the group in succession of the Mamoun al-Hudeibi who died last Thursday. Egypt, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Abbasi Madani declares his initiative to solve the Algerian crisis today
  The leader of the banned Islamic front for Salvation, Sheikh Abbasi Madani, said he will disclose today in the Qatari capital Doha his initiative which he had declared by the end of last year to solve the Algerian crisis that provides an "outlet" to put an end to the political conflict in Algeria. Algeria, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Bashir insists to implementation of Islamic Sharia: No negotiations over the three areas
  The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced that his government will not negotiate with the rebels over the three disputed areas, situated between the north and the south, and will not accept to halt the implementation of the Islamic Sharia in the north. A matter which will raise a major obstacle before reaching a peace agreement in the continued negotiations in Kenya. Sudan, Politics, 1/15/2004
• OIC wants to participate in International Court of Justice deliberations on separation fence
  The Jeddah-based organization of Islamic conference (OIC) has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to participate in deliberations over the separation fence being constructed by Israel in the Palestinian territories. Palestine-UN, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Chinese president's visit to Egypt Egypt-China, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Senators call for investigating Muslim charities
  In what will clearly to tarnish broadly the image of Islamic charities and chill their activities and their contributors, the US Senate Finance Committee has asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for its records on more than two-dozen Muslim charities and organizations as part of an investigation into possible links between nongovernmental organizations and terrorist financing networks. Regional-USA, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Israeli- Tunisian contacts to resume relations
  The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that Israel received positive signals from Tunisia on the intention of resuming diplomatic relations between the two countries. Tunisia-Israel, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Moussa confers with Russian deputy foreign minister Regional-Russia, Politics, 1/15/2004
• NGO inform Spanish cardinal on human rights breaches in Tindouf camps Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Libya ratifies NPT Libya-USA, Politics, 1/15/2004
• Coming Arab Summit a chance for a new effective institution of Arab joint action; not just more talk
  Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said that all the Arabs hope that the coming Arab Summit will shape a new phase for the joint Arab action. He added that we have a chance to give a new birth certificate for institutions of joint Arab action in order to perform their role in supporting Arab cooperation. Regional, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Democracy, rule of law, pillars of Morocco's policy, minister
  Moroccan human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, asserted in Tunis Tuesday that democracy and the rule of law are the pillars of Morocco's policy. Morocco, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Arab lawyers urge to address factors favoring international terrorism
  Secretary General of the Arab Lawyers Union (ALU), Ibrahim Samlali, said that the efficient means to fight international terrorism is to address factors that underline it. Regional, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Washington urges agreement, Khartoum prefers signature in Africa
  The American presidential envoy for peace in Sudan, John Danforth, held yesterday talks with the Sudanese vice president, Ali Othman Taha, and the commander of the southern rebels, John Garang, in the Kenyan town of Nivasha, in which he urged them an agreement before January 20th, while the Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said that the Sudanese government prefers to sign the agreement in Africa rather than Washington. Sudan-USA, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Katsaf invites al-Assad for negotiations in secret or in open, without conditions
  He explained that this invitation will be of no result and there will be no peace as long as Israel does not honor UN security council resolutions provide for Israel's withdrawal from the Golan heights occupied in 1967. Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/14/2004
• AL delegation visits Tunisia this month
  A spokesman for the secretary general of the Arab League (AL), Amr Mousa, said that a delegation from the Arab League will head for Tunisia on January 22 to meet with senior Tunisian officials. Tunisia-Regional, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Saudi TV shows pictures for redeeming al-Qaida members
  Saudi Arabia's ministry of the interior accused persons who said to carry deviant thoughts to seek imposition their views by means of " terror." Saudi Arabia, Politics, 1/14/2004
• NGO informs UN on Human rights violations in southern Algeria
  The Sweden-based association for the defense of the population sequestered in Tindouf (ADESETI) informed Monday the UN on human rights breaches and violations against people sequestered in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco-Sweden, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Arafat warns of a new Sykes Picot while Sharon hopes to withdraw from Gaza
  Arafat deplored the "International silence towards the daily crimes committed by the occupation forces against the Palestinians people." He wondered why the world was angered when the Taliban movement destroyed the Buddha statues, while nobody interfered when the statue for Virgin may was destroyed in Bethlehem after it was hit by 13 missiles." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Kuwait installs iron barrier on its borders with Iraq
  Kuwait had decided to install an iron separation fence along the border with Iraq at a length of 217 Km. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Erdogan describes al-Assad's visit to Turkey as constructive Syria-Turkey, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Lahoud renews Lebanon's commitment to just ME peace Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Lebanese Prime minister in Damascus today Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Sultan Qaboos receives written message from Turkish president Oman-Turkey, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Belgian defense minister due in Morocco Morocco-Belgium, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Al-Assad meets with Arab- Russian parliamentary society chief Syria-Russia, Politics, 1/14/2004
• al-Sharq: Djerejian underlines the importance of Syrian- American dialogue Syria-USA, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Burns stresses US support for reviving Syrian- Lebanese track for ME peace negotiations Syria-USA, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Saddam Hussein's status won't affect Iraq's ability to try him Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/14/2004
• Qathafi - Algerian president phone talks on Maghreb unity Libya-Algeria, Politics, 1/13/2004
• King Mohammed in Egypt Today
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI will head to Egypt today to cochair with Egyptian president Housni Mubarak the 5th session of the high joint commission. Egypt-Morocco, Politics, 1/13/2004
• New commission starts receiving compensation requests on past abuses
  The Equity and Reconciliation Commission, whose 16 members were inaugurated by King Mohammed VI last Wednesday, has set a month deadline (from January 12 to February 13) to receive compensation requests for material and moral damages sustained as a result of past human rights abuses related to forced disappearance and arbitrary detention. Morocco, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Al-Shara confers with Gul on ME developments Syria-Turkey, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Algeria: presidential candidates want to prevent government fraudulent in the elections
  A source at one of the candidates for the presidential elections in Algeria, to be held in April, said that the candidates for the elections who intend to be nominated, and have been meeting since Sunday, are preparing a memorandum on fraud in the elections. Algeria, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Joint Arab and international journalists delegation visits Iraq
  The general secretariat of the Arab journalists union decided to send a delegation to Iraq on January 19, to get acquainted with the conditions of Iraq people and the press. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Morocco highlights need to foster Arab League's role
  Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohammed Benaissa, highlighted over the weekend the need to promote the Arab League's role and the implements of Arab joint action. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Syrian official statement on peace with Israel
  Indicating that the Israeli gesture of inviting the Syrian president to visit Israel is for public consumption, a senior media source in Syria replied to a SANA correspondent to the Israeli statements regarding Syria, saying that the proper mechanism for peace is negotiations, stressing that the problem doesn't lie in visits or initiatives. Syria-Israel, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Lebanese president, premier confers with EU special envoy
  Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud on Monday said Syria and his country have a united policy over the Middle East situation, adding both states seek to boost stability in the region. President Lahoud said during a meeting with the EU envoy to the Mideast peace process, Marc Oti, that threats and pressures would neither change the convictions of Syria and Lebanon, nor affect their national and pan-Arab stances. Lebanon-European Union, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Bremer: no place for militias in a united Iraq
  Bremer said "we have never said that the coalition support the existence of militias," adding that "in a united Iraq, there is no place for political parties that have armed groups." Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Le Figaro Madame: Morocco could become women rights model among Muslim countries, academic
  "Morocco could become a model for Muslim countries in the field of women's rights," said law professor Fatima Belqadi, the first woman appointed at Morocco's Advisory Council of Human Rights (CCDH). Regional-Morocco, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Morocco's social reforms aim at more significant participation of women in active life, speaker
  Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (parliament lower chamber), Abdelouahed Radi, said Morocco's social reforms are meant to ensure a more significant participation of women in active life. Morocco, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Abdullah Bin Zayed: Yemen is not yet qualified for gulf membership
  The United Arab Emirates minister of information and culture, Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, said yesterday during a forum on challenges facing the Gulf region that Yemen is not qualified to join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. United Arab Emirates-Yemen, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Yemen's regional conference on human rights wrapped up deliberations
  The Inter-Governmental Regional Conference on Democracy, Human Rights and the Role of the International Criminal Court concluded Monday its deliberations, with the participation of Arab and international delegations. Regional-Yemen, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Jordan parliamentarians want reply to Israeli threats and to bar Shalom Shalom
  Some 41 members of the Jordanian parliament signed a memorandum asking the government not to receive the Israeli foreign minister, Silvan Shalom ,who will be visiting Jordan later this month, and to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman, on the ground of statements made by officials in the ruling Likud party threatening to evacuate the Palestinians to Jordan. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Salafeyah movement members end boycott of American diplomats
  The al-Salafeyah movement in Kuwait has ended a boycott of American diplomats that it had announced following the US occupation of Iraq. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Sultan Qaboos receives message from French president Oman-France, Politics, 1/13/2004
• 30,000 Jordanian women oppose banning veil in France
  Some 30,000 Jordanian women addressed a message to the French President, Jacque Chirac, expected to be handed over to the French embassy in Amman, in protest of Paris's decision to ban wearing the veil in educational establishments and schools, as part of a ban on all religious symbols in schools. Regional-France, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Jerba Unionist Declaration - anniversary Libya-Tunisia, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Arafat rejects Sharon's 'disengagement plan' Palestine-Israel, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Burns in Cairo Egypt-USA, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Doha forum concluded: Clinton calls on Muslim to be fair with America
  The American- Islamic dialogue forum concluded in Doha yesterday, where the former US president Bill Clinton called on Muslims not to judge the Americans through the Middle East peace process only. Regional-USA, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Mauritania: American experts to reinforce the army
  The US under secretary of state for African affairs, who is in charge of western Africa affairs Pamela Bridgewater, currently visiting Nouakchott, announced that Washington sent military experts to Mauritania in order to "enhance the potentials" of the Mauritanian army in the area of monitoring borders and fighting terrorism via it. Mauritania-USA, Politics, 1/13/2004
• Libyan organization call for freedom in the country
  Participants in the seminar held in London on human rights called on the government of Libya to make fundamental change in its political life, and for the respecting public freedoms and human rights. Libya, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Contacts between Egypt, Libya to solve visa problem restores normalcy
  Libya yesterday denied it had imposed entry visas on Egyptian citizens into its land, and described it as "mere lies and groundless." Libya also said that some 500 Egyptians entered Libya on Saturday without entry visas, at a time when officials from the two sides tried to contain the crisis between the two states. Libya-Egypt, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Jettou-Powell meeting friendly and positive
  Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, who is currently paying an official visit to the United States, and US State Secretary, Colin Powell, had "wide-ranging" and "friendly and positive discussion," said spokesman for the state department, Richard Boucher, adding that the two officials noted "the long friendship" between Morocco and the United States. Morocco-USA, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Asefi underlines regional coordination over Iraq
  Official spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamid Reza Asefi, has stressed the importance of coordination and consultation among all the region's states, particularly, among Iraq's neighboring states, for maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and independence. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Qaradawe rejects post of Murshid of Muslim Brothers; does not want restrictions
  The Islamic clergy, Youssef al-Qaradawi, yesterday denied news which spoke of his nomination for the post of the general Murshid for the Ikhwan al-Musilimin (Muslim Brothers) group, after the death of the general Murshid, Muhammad Ma'moun, al-Hudeibi in Egypt last week. Egypt, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Khartoum expects a nearby peace agreement
  The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced that a comprehensive peace agreement with the southern rebels will be signed "shortly," while Khartoum said that the agreement with the southern rebels will not be the typical example for implementation an agreement for the Darfour area. Sudan, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Yemen hosts regional conference on democracy and human rights; hope for International Criminal Court
  The Inter-Governmental Regional Conference on Democracy, Human Rights and the role of the International Criminal Court opened in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sunday. Regional-Yemen, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Le Quotidien d'Oran: Algeria failed to set up equity and reconciliation commission
  Algerian paper Le Quotidien d'Oran regretted in a column published this Saturday that Algeria did not set up an Equity and Reconciliation Commission and that it was Morocco that took the initiative. Algeria, Politics, 1/12/2004
• De Villepin visits the Gulf in support of the French presence
  The French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin starts today a visit to the United Arab Emirates, starting a Gulf visit that lasts for three days, which will also include Oman, Kuwait and Qatar and Bahrain and aims at strengthening the French presence in an area characterized of a great strategic importance. Gulf-France, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Washington Post: US official reveals the US intended to invade Iraq prior to 9/11 events
  Lending support to those who said that the US was using the Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction issue and other related issues as pretext for political motives, the Washington Post reported Saturday that "Former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill charged in remarks released Saturday that President Bush began planning to oust Saddam Hussein within days of taking office and before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001." Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Qatar's foreign minister affirms Gulf security policy
  Qatar's deputy premier and foreign minister, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem al-Thani, said that the Gulf states have not to feel ashamed from being protected by the US, and urged these gulf states to eliminate their differences so as to withstand challenges of globalization. Qatar-Gulf, Politics, 1/12/2004
• EU envoy stresses that ME peace is impossible without Syria
  Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Sunday received the special European Union envoy for the Mideast peace process Marc Oti and the accompanying delegation. Syria-European Union, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Renewed Egyptian underlining of Syria 's cling to ME peace
  Political Advisor to the Egyptian President Osama al-Baz stressed Syria's interest and real desire to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the Mideast, based on the international resolutions and Land-for-Peace formula, asserting that her call to resume peace negotiations from the point it stopped proves this desire. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Talibani commends Egyptian- Kurdish relations
  Member of the Interim Governing Council in Iraq, and leader of the Kurdistani National Federation party, Jalal Talibani, commended yesterday in front of an official Egyptian delegation Kurdish- Egyptian relations. Iraq-Egypt, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Egypt plays down Pearl's description of it as a dictatorship
  Statement by pro- Israel, Richard Pearl, describing Egypt as a dictartoship, were considered as baseless by Egyptian circles. Egypt-USA, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Moussa : Egyptian-Iranian relations heading to normalization Regional-Iran, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Libya news agency echoes Leader's view on need for single Palestinian - Israeli state Libya-Palestine, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Ethiopia Foreign Minister does not reject the Algiers agreement with Eritrea Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 1/12/2004
• Denmark to set up European cooperation with all Arab countries Egypt-Denmark, Politics, 1/12/2004

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