Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 2/2/2004
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of February 2, 2004
- Sultan Qaboos receives Sudanese president Oman-Sudan, Politics, 2/7/2004
- American, British, Libyan talks in London: lifting travel sanctions; limited diplomatic exchange
The US has vowed for Libya during a meeting in London for American and British officials with a Libyan delegation to lift the sanctions on travel of Americans to Tripoli ( in the near future), while Libya continue to make progress in its obligations on dismantling its mass destruction weapons programs. Libya-USA, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Al-Hawadeth: Syria welcomes efforts for ME peace process revival, highlights developments
Syria's Minister of Information, Ahmad al-Hassan, stressed that Syria has welcomes any honest effort that aims at activating the peace process to achieve just and comprehensive peace in region. Syria-Regional, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Mubarak-Saleh summit to discuss regional scene; strong bilateral trade push
"Egypt hopes to increase its exports of pharmaceuticals, textiles and leather goods to Yemen, while we can expect more fish exports from Yemen," Badr Eddin said. Egypt-Yemen, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Lebanese parties commends Syria's policy
Lebanese political and national parties in Mount Lebanon highly lauded Syria's pan-Arab stances and her leadership. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Morocco, Libya probe civil aviation, judicial cooperation
Director general of Morocco's national office of airports, Abdelhanin Benallou, examined in Tripoli Friday with Libyan officials means to foster bilateral cooperation in the field of civil aviation. Libya-Morocco, Politics, 2/7/2004 - UN Transports Sudanese refugees to Chad
The UNHCR announced yesterday it will start the transfer of thousands Sudanese refugees from the border al-teinah city on Chad's border into inside Chad. Sudan-Chad, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Landmine maps: 60 mine fields are far from the borders; exchange of captives not linked to fate of Iranian diplomats
The visit of the Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, to Beirut has opened the door wide before the second phase of the exchange negotiations between Israel and the Hizbullah Party. Many issues have been made clear including the desire of the main sides concerned not to relate files to each others. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Annan does not rule out postponing authority transfer to the Iraqis; Bush results of investigations after the elections
In a brief statement he made yesterday the US President George W. Bush announced the formation of a committee to probe pre intelligence information on Iraq's having mass destruction weapons ,which have not so far been found after months of search. Iraq-UN, Politics, 2/7/2004 - Al-Assad get phone call from Erdogan on bilateral relations, developments Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/7/2004
- China Today highlights Egypt's role in ME, Africa Egypt-China, Politics, 2/7/2004
- Lahoud meets Smaha and Khouri for coordination on developments Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/6/2004
- Al-Assad, Sezer discuss joint free Zone area Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/6/2004
- More than 1,000 Syrian intellectuals call for political reforms
The chairman of the committees in charge of defending democratic freedoms and human rights in Syria, Aktham Nueisah, said that more than 1020 Syrian intellectuals, writers and lawyers signed on Wednesday a petition demanding the authorities to make political reforms in Syria. Syria, Politics, 2/6/2004 - Kharazi holds Talks with Lebanese officials in Lebanon Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/6/2004
- Moroccan-Libyan commission meets in Tripoli Libya-Morocco, Politics, 2/6/2004
- Kharazi in Beirut to discuss fate of missing Iranian diplomats
The Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, arrived yesterday in Beirut accompanied by families of four Iranian diplomats missing since 1982, that Tehran thinks are being held in Israel. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/6/2004 - Shalqam visits London on Monday, al-Tureiki attends a celebration in Washington
An American official in Washington said that the US Department Of State permitted the Libyan ambassador at the UN, Ali Abdul Salam al-Tureiki, to visit Washington to attend the national breakfast party yesterday in the most recent indication on the development of relations between the two countries Libya-USA, Politics, 2/6/2004 - Al-Seisatni survived as assassination attempt in al-Najaf
The office of the Shiite Clergy, Ayatullah Ali al-Seisatni, in al-Najaf announced that he survived an assassination attempt he was exposed to on Thursday. A security official in the office said that gunmen opened fire at Ayatullah al-Seisatni while he was greeting people in al-Najaf but he was not damaged. Iraq, Politics, 2/6/2004 - ICRC meets families of Moroccan prisoners held in Algeria
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in Geneva Thursday it has recently visited families of Moroccans held captive in Algeria to comfort them by giving them some of their relatives' whereabouts. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 2/6/2004 - Israel: 59% support the resumption of negotiations with Syria
Results of an opinion poll published by Tel Aviv university yesterday said that most of the Israelis support the resumption of peace talks with Damascus. Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/6/2004 - British Parliamentarians call for imposing sanctions on Israel
British parliamentarians announced yesterday that malnutrition in Gaza and the West Bank reached a worse situation similar to that in the countries of southern African desert because the Palestinian economy collapsed under the imposed restrictions by Israel. They called for imposing economic sanctions on Israel. Israel-UK, Politics, 2/6/2004 - New American ambassador arrives in Saudi Arabia
The new American ambassador James O Brighter arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is expected to submit his credentials to the Saudi sides concerned immediately after the end of Eid al-Adha vacation. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 2/6/2004 - Sharon denies being involved in corruption cases
Israel's radio said that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon denied committing any violations when he was interrogated by the police yesterday over a bribe scandal. Sharon said he did not know about his son's deals with the Israeli businessman he tried to bribe in the 1990s. Israel, Politics, 2/6/2004 - Spirit of Fez, US outreach road-show for sacred music festival
The annual sacred musical festival of Fez will promote its spirit of cross-cultural exchanges, the respect of cultural plurality and peaceful co-existence during a month-long tour in 18 US cities to start on March 6. Morocco-USA, Politics, 2/6/2004 - New Family Code: protecting women, children and families
Provisions in the new family Code, formerly known as the Mudawana, which was first announced by king Mohammed VI on October 10, and unanimously adopted by both parliament chambers, come to uphold equality between men and women in terms of family responsibility and protect the rights of children and the family cell. Morocco, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Butaflika invites international observers to supervise the elections
The Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika has stressed his determination to invite international observers to investigate the transparency of the forthcoming presidential elections. Algeria, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Algerian- Chinese cooperation in fuels
Chinese President Hu Jintau concluded a state visit to Algeria yesterday. An Algerian official source announced that the two countries decided on this occasion to boost their economic partnership forward, especially in the field of fuels by signing "a framework agreement. " Algeria-China, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Darfour rebels support direct talks over aid
Rebels from west Darfour announced on Tuesday that they will attend talks to permit the distribution of aid in the troubled area, on which relief agencies say that a humanitarian catastrophe is about to take place. Sudan, Politics, 2/5/2004 - al-Khabar: Algeria summons the Saudi ambassador over Abbas Madani
Press sources in Algeria said that the Algerian foreign ministry summoned the Saudi Ambassador in Algeria asking for explanations to "the appearance " of Abbas Madani, the chairman of the banned Islamic front for salvation in "an official reception attended by the Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Algeria-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Euro-deputies plead for release of moroccan POWs
A group of Euro-deputies has pleaded for the immediate and unconditional release of Moroccan prisoners of war (POW) who are still detained by the Polisario separatist group in Tindouf (southern Algeria). Morocco-European Union, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Saddam orders to write the Koran from his blood
After his son Ode was exposed to an assassination attempt which he survived miraculously in 1998, the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ordered one Iraqi calligrapher to write the full text of the holy Koran from his ( Saddam ) blood, according to this artist who is currently living in Amman. Iraq, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Egypt: People conference to boycott the American goods
The Arab committee for boycotting the USA made products and goods will hold a two- day plenary people's conference in Cairo in march with the participation of activists from several Arab states, France, Italy and Belgium. Egypt-USA, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Egypt call on Arafat to reform Fatah, change leaders of Palestinian security department
A high ranking Palestinian official said that Egypt had asked the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to take a series of arrangements, including introducing reforms into the Fatah movement, and changing the leaders of the security department. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Riyadh holds pilgrims lack of calm responsible for Mona incident
Saudi Arabia has defended its organization of al-Haj season for this year and said that the incident of stampede at al-Jamarat bridge which claimed the life of 251 pilgrims could have been avoided, had the pilgrims been organized and not agitated. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Victims of Irbil's twin explosion toll 109, Japanese forces prepare to deploy in Iraq
Some 90 military men constitute the first Japanese unit to be deployed in Iraq, arrived yesterday at Abdullah al-Mubarak air base near Kuwait. Most members of this unit are engineers in addition to security men for protecting them. Iraq, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Preparations for Sharon- Qrei summit, Sharon studies referendum to dismantle settlements
With the case of a Palestinian - Israeli issue of the seperation wall coming before the International Court Of Justice, as a precedent, the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon loomed his intention to make a referendum on his plan to remove the Jewish settlements from Gaza. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Switzerland rejects a request by Barazan al-Takriti children to free their assets
The state secretariat for economy affairs in Switzerland said that Switzerland refused in January the release of a large sum of the assets of four of relatives of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who asked the Swiss authorities to unfreeze their assets so that they can use them. Iraq-Switzerland, Politics, 2/5/2004 - Baqradouni: Syria's presence in Lebanon is legitimate Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/5/2004
- 700 Syrian activists demand the government reforms
Intellectuals, writers and lawyers called on the Syrian authorities to introduce political reforms and lift the state of emergency which has been imposed on the country since 40 years and to abrogate laws related to this state of emergency. Syria, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Akhbar al-Youm: New Chadian initiative to establish peace in Darfour
The Wali ( governor ) of north Darfour estate of Sudan, Muhammad Othman Kabar, unveiled that there is a new initiative from Chad in order to establish peace in the Sudanese area, expressing the Sudanese government support for this initiative. Sudan-Chad, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Chinese President in Algeria
The Chinese President, Hu Jantau, arrived yesterday in Algiers in a state visit which will last for two days to be concentrated in particular on developing economic relations, especially signing bilateral agreements in the field of energy and communications. Algeria-China, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Syrian- Turkish relatives continue to exchange Eid greetings on borders
Hundreds of Syrian families on Tuesday came to the region of Ras al-Ein to visit relatives from Turkish state of Orfa and to express their congratulations over the ( Eid al- Adha ) holiday, in an atmosphere of happiness that reflects the deep-rooted ties between the two countries. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Washington, Tripoli will discuss normalization of relations
The US Department Of State announced yesterday that the US and Libya will start talks on normalizating their relations ,as this will be a sort of "reward" to Tripoli following measures it had taken in order to abide by its commitment to give up weapons of mass destruction programs. Libya-USA, Politics, 2/4/2004 - King Fahd calls on pilgrims to fight terrorism, Saudi Arabia denies new shoves
The Saudi authorities denied on Monday evening shoving to have taken place in Mona near Mecca, noting that the persons who died had collapsed and were admitted to hospitals due to Fatigue, rather than shoving, as alleged by certain sources. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/4/2004 - al-Ahram: European official welcomes Syria's ME peace initiative
Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the European Commission, Christian Leffler, welcomed Tuesday President Bashar al-Assad's call for the resumption of peace negotiations on the Syrian track from the point where it left off, asserting the EU' s desire for the resumption of peace negotiations on this track. Syria-European Union, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Saudi Riyadh: American-Arab council and the image of the Arabs
Chairman of the National Council for the Arab-American Relations John Antony stressed that the American people don't know the reality of the Arabs due to the American media that provides them with a false image about the Arabs. Regional-USA, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Wolfowitz highlights importance of building Iraq's security forces
Helping Iraqis take control of their domestic security is the key goal of U.S. forces stationed in Iraq, said Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who visited U.S. military facilities in Germany January 31 and in Iraq February 1. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Akhbar al-Youm: Sudan denies any al-Qaida sleeping cells in its lands
The Sudanese minister of the interior, Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hussein, denied the existence of any sleeping cells in Sudan for al-Qaida organization or any other of extremists organizations, noting that there is a security cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the terrorism- fighting area. Sudan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Egyptian judge to participate in International Court of Justice case on Israeli wall
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has decided that one of its judges, a national of Egypt, will fully participate in deliberations on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the occupied Palestinian territory. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/4/2004 - One day after the killing of five Palestinians; an Israeli incursion in Qabatya, 12 activists detained
A line of Israeli armored vehicles and tanks yesterday at dawn broke into the town of Qabatyah, to the south of the city of Jenin, in the West Bank. Palestinian sources said that the Israel force entered the town backed by 20 armored vehicles and tanks. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Peres re-elected as a chairman for the Labor party
The leader of the Israeli opposition labor party Shimon Peres was reelected as chairman of this party for additional two more years. Israel, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Yediot Ahronot: Shalom expects the fall of Sharon government
The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom expected the fall of the government of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in case he carried out his plan to remove the Jewish settlements from Gaza. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/4/2004 - Sheikh Zayed confers with al-Baja Jee United Arab Emirates-Iraq, Politics, 2/4/2004
- AL delegation to visit Germany Regional-Germany, Politics, 2/4/2004
- Maher to take part in the meeting of Iraq neighboring states FMs Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 2/4/2004
- Israeli soldiers killed during maneuvers in the Golan Syria-Israel, Politics, 2/4/2004
- Damascus releases 92 political prisoners
The Syrian authorities on Saturday released 92 political prisoners. A matter which raises the number of released prisoners since last Thursday to 122 persons. Syria, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Mubarak: Arab summit to be held in March in Tunisia, collective efforts are needed
the Egyptian President called for collective Arab efforts in order to achieve the supreme Arab interests. He added "if every one of us work just for himself, a positive result will not be attained." Egypt-Regional, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Yemen rejects Riyadh building of a wall on its borders
News reports in Sanaa said that Yemen notified Saudi Arabia its objection to build a separation wall along its borders in a way violates the border demarcation agreement between the two countries. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Al-Oroush links negotiations to approval of Amazigh as an official language
Tansiqeyat al-Oroush ( the largest tribes in Kbylie berber area) threatened to stop negotiations with the Algerian government and resume demonstrations if the latter ( the government) does not vow to use the Amazigh language as an official through other means excluding the referendum. Algeria, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Confrontations between the army and the rebels in west Sudan
The Sudan Liberation Movement said that violent confrontations took place recently between it and the Sudanese forces to the west of the country resulted in killing hundreds of persons. Sudan, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Mubarak will not attend the economic summit in Iran
The Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, said yesterday that President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt will not take part in an economic summit to which he was invited to attend by the end of February in Iran. Egypt-Iran, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Barazani commits to federation despite Irbil double bloody attacks
Chairman of the Kurdistani Democratic party, Masoud al-Barazani, said that he is clinging to demand a federal Iraq despite the suicide attack which targeted the headquarters of his party in Irbil to the north of Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Because of shoving in the first days of the Eid, some 244 pilgrims die at al-Jamra throwing at al-Aqaba
Saudi Arabia's minister of pilgrims, Eyad Bin Amin Madani, said that 244 pilgrims died and a similar number were wounded as a result of a stampede of two million Muslims to throw al-Aqaba Jamra in Mona, near Mecca, in the first day of Eid al-Adha. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Nasrullah: fate of remaining prisoners is still unknown
The Secretary General of Hizbullah Party in Lebanon Hassan Nasrullah said the resistance would do its best to determine the fate of the remaining prisoners, those missing and the remains of the martyrs whose whereabouts are still unknown. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Al-Khalij: Catholic Patriarch: Jerusalem Arab city and capital of faiths for Moslems and Christians
Patriarch Lutfi Laham of the Greek - Catholics in the occupied Palestinian lands urged for maintaining the Arab identity of the occupied city of Jerusalem and facing attempts to Judaize the sacred city. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/2/2004 - al-Khaleej: Bshara stresses Syria's commitment to just peace
Palestinian Intellectual Azmi Bshara stressed Syria's commitment to her firm and national principles, asserting her honest desire for the realization of just and comprehensive peace in the region. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Israel withdraws from Bethlehem, criticizes Annan
The Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the city of Bethlehem, the West Bank after hours from incurring its military vehicles in it for the second time in 24 hours. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/2/2004 - Lahoud and the release of Arab captives from Israel Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 2/2/2004
- Al-Shara confers with Lebanese peer on development Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 2/2/2004
- Kharrazi highlights Lebanese Resistance Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/2/2004