Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 2/16/2004
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of February 16, 2004
- Moroccan expert criticizes shortcomings of Arab human rights charter
He went on that the committee he chairs had the ambition to draw a charter that is more attuned to international legality and to the world's openness and democratic progress Regional-Morocco, Politics, 2/21/2004 - Analysts: reforming Syria's economy needs acceleration and revitalization
Diplomats and analysts said that Syria needs more exerted efforts and greater speed to open up its economy which is controlled by the state, despite the return back of private banks to Syria after 40 years of absence. Syria, Politics, 2/21/2004 - Kuwait calls for understanding western demands for reforms; Moussa: the reforms will fail if not fully discussed
The secretary general of the Arab League (AL), Amr Moussa, considered that the American and European initiatives for political and democratic reforms in the Middle East "are incomplete" because they do not tackle the Arab- Israeli conflict. He said that there is no "opportunity" for initiatives that are not discussed with the parties concerned. Kuwait, Politics, 2/21/2004 - French FM arrives in al-Khartoum in efforts to solve Darfour crisis
France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin arrived yesterday in al-Khartoum in a visit that concentrates on the situation in Darfour, west Sudan. He held talks with his Sudanese counterpart Mustafa Othman Ismael before he had met with the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir later in the day. Sudan-France, Politics, 2/21/2004 - Morocco and Spain start joint sea patrols to control migration
Morocco and Spain started on Thursday conducting joint patrols to control illegal migration between Morocco's southern shores and Spain's Canary Islands. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 2/21/2004 - Libya: An extraordinary African summit on February 27th
A Libyan official source stressed yesterday that Libya will host on February 27 and 28 in Sert a special summit for the members states at the African federation. Libya-Regional, Politics, 2/21/2004 - UN rules out elections in Iraq before authority transfer; Al-Seistani representative calls for desolving municipal council in Karbala
Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbale, the representative of the religious Shiite clergy Ayatullah al-Seisatni in Kerbalaa threatened to flare up an armed people's revolution in the city unless its municipal council which was appointed by the American civil administration is desolved. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/21/2004 - Washington lifts travel to Libya next week Libya-USA, Politics, 2/21/2004
- Hariri confers with Swiss official on development in ME Lebanon-Switzerland, Politics, 2/21/2004
- Lebanese FM arrives in Cairo Egypt-Lebanon, Politics, 2/21/2004
- al-Sharq al-Awsat: Turkish Ambassador: Syria, Turkey have common views over Iraqi issue Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/21/2004
- Egyptian authorities ban Muslim brothers leading figure from travel
The Egyptian human rights organization yesterday ( Thursday) condemned preventing the assistant secretary general of the physicians association, Issam al-Aryan, who is a key figure in the Ikhwan al-Muslimin (Muslim Brothers) group from traveling to Beirut on Monday, where he was presumed to take part in the seminar on the relations between the Islamic world and Europe. Egypt, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Maher stresses the return back of relations with Tehran, shortly
The Egyptian Foreign minister Ahmed Maher announced that there is an agreement, principally to restore back diplomatic relations between Egypt and Iran to their normal position, shortly. Egypt-Iran, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Sudan renews its support to Morocco's territorial integrity
Sudan renewed this Thursday its support to Morocco in the Sahara issue and is looking forward to Morocco resuming its seat within the African Union, formerly known as the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Sudan-Morocco, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Spanish fm confirms legality of Morocco-Spanish joint sea patrols
Spanish foreign minister, Ana Palacio, confirmed that Moroccan-Spanish joint sea patrols to control migration flows in the sea between the Sahara (southwestern Morocco) and the Canary Islands is "conform to the rule of law." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Washington calls on Cairo, the AL to interfere; UN accuses Khartoum of obstructing Darfour relief aid
The American envoy for Sudan affairs, Michael Runner Burger, called following his meeting with the secretary general of the Arab league Amr Moussa, the Arab League and the Egyptian government to work together in order to clam down what he called the grave situation in Darfour, to the west of Sudan, as well as encouraging the Sudanese government and the people's movement to work together in order to reach an agreement over pending issues. Sudan-USA, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Butaflika announces his nomination for elections; Benflis is not optimistic of winning
The Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika announced yesterday he will take part in the presidential elections of next May in order to renew his term of office with the aim to complete economic reforms and establish peace in the country which still suffers the blood shed, while the secretary general of the National Liberation Front, Ali Benflis, also announced his nomination for the elections in order to defend values of "justice and the law," but he expressed pessimism over winning. Algeria, Politics, 2/20/2004 - AL studies Euro -American reforms initiative
Chairman of the office of the Arab League secretary general Hesham Youssef announced that the next Arab summit will study the American and European initiatives debated for reforms and the change in the Middle East and the reservations of the Arab states concerning them. Regional, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Congress proposes to Bush give Syria one last chance
The democratic Congressman Gary Echerman called on the US president George W. Bush to give Syria one last chance to change its policies and to propose a "comprehensive and detailed" initiative in which he explains how Syria can change its behavior in a way that leads to improving relations with the US. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/20/2004 - al-Rai al-Aam: Satterfield stresses Syria's role in the region
Assistant of the US Secretary of State, David Satterfield, has stressed Syria's positive role in determining the future of Iraq. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Cadiz province chief apologizes for presenting truncated Morocco map
President of the Cadiz province council (southern Spain), Francesco Gonzalez Cabanillas, who is leading a Spanish delegation to a meeting of bilateral cooperation with Morocco, apologized Wednesday for having presented a map of Morocco amputated of its southern provinces. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 2/20/2004 - British embassy in Damascus denies closure
British Embassy in Damascus on Thursday denied that it was closed adding it is open for public, but with an early fixed appointment. Syria-UK, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Some 100,000 Arabs left Karkouk, al-Musil
An International report said that some 100,000 Arabs fled from northern Iraq where returning back Kurds demanding the return back of their houses which they said that an Arabization program implemented by the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein forced them to quit. Iraq, Politics, 2/20/2004 - Berri renews Lebanon's rejection of resettling the Palestinians where they do live Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 2/20/2004
- Syrian information minister confers with US Ambassador Syria-USA, Politics, 2/20/2004
- Turkish Minister to visit Syria Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/20/2004
- Al-Baz to reporters in Abu Dhabi: Mubarak, Zayed share identical viewpoints United Arab Emirates-Egypt, Politics, 2/19/2004
- Syrian- Egyptian cooperation in immigrants relating issues Syria-Egypt, Politics, 2/19/2004
- Iraqi women demand 40% of the seats of the new authority
Small groups of Iraqi women demonstrated yesterday in the streets of cities demanding that 40% of the seats in the new authority to be dedicated to them in being constituting more than half of the population. Iraq, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Arab League deplores former Iraqi regime, Israel
A committee in charge of human rights at the Arab League yesterday condemned violations committed by the former Iraqi regime of human rights and the Israeli violations in the Palestinian territories, the Syrian Golan heights and Lebanon. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Kuwait bans Bahraini citizens from entering its lands
The Kuwaiti authorities prevented Bahraini citizens, the chairman of the national reconciliation society, Ali Salman, member of the Democratic national labor society council, Ibrahim al-Sharif, from entering its lands. Bahrain-Kuwait, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Bush thanks Ben Ali, urges an open political process
The Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali, who announced several days ago he will recommend the American President George Bush, upon visiting him in Washington, on the best ways to " fight terrorism," got a call from his American counterpart during their meeting yesterday at the White House to make democratic reforms in Tunisia. Tunisia-USA, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Lahoud meets with the Lebanese and Syrian community in Brasilia Lebanon-Brazil, Politics, 2/19/2004
- Khatami is keen to visit Cairo, deliver al-Azhar sermon
The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher has disclosed that the Iranian President Muhammad Khatami is eager to visit Cairo and deliver a speech at al-Azhar mosque. Egypt-Iran, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Hizbullah, Amal movement for mutual cooperation Lebanon, Politics, 2/19/2004
- Spanish ruling party: Moroccan-Spanish joint patrols not a breach to international legality
The Spanish ruling Popular Party denied allegations by the separatist Polisario movement that Moroccan-Spanish joint patrols in the sea between the Sahara and the Canary Islands to control illegal immigration are breaching the international law. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Syrian official source sees closure of British embassy in damascus as unnecessary measure
An official source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry said that the closure of part of the offices of the British Embassy in Damascus is due to security considerations assessed by the British authorities. Syria-UK, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Information Minister-called for deep dialogue between Muslim world and Europe
He added that this international forum which groups the minds of Moslems and Christians who believe that human intellect is the only guarantor and the indicator to the right and reason. Syria-European Union, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Moussa calls on the Arabs to deal collectively with initiatives Regional, Politics, 2/19/2004
- Al-Baz calls for reviving peace talks on the Syrian track
Egypt on Wednesday called for reviving the peace process on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks, saying Syria has expressed readiness for the resumption of the process on the basis of the UN resolutions 242 and 338 and the land-for-peace principle. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Minister of relations with parliament meets president of Sudan Sudan-Morocco, Politics, 2/19/2004
- Butaflika announces his nomination on Sunday Algeria, Politics, 2/19/2004
- American- Yemeni joint maneuvers in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday
A Yemeni official source stressed that the leader of the American central leadership John Abizaid stressed he will pay a visit to Yemen on Saturday in order to attend joint military maneuvers between Yemen and the USA. Yemen-USA, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Reopening of Morocco's Liaison Bureau in Tel Aviv depends on progress in Middle East peace process, Minister
Moroccan minister delegate to foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib fassi Fihri has insisted that any reopening of Morocco's Liaison Bureau in Tel Aviv, depends on the progress made in the Middle East peace process. Morocco-Israel, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Red Cross: Israel's barrier violates humanitarian law
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday said that Israel's controversial West Bank separation barrier violates international humanitarian law because it cuts across Palestinian land. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Governing council threatens to detain Sadoun Hammadi Iraq, Politics, 2/19/2004
- One Egyptian killed, one wounded by Israeli bullets
The Israeli police said that police members killed one Egyptian weapons smugglers and wounded another yesterday in Negev where they sneaked from Egypt. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/19/2004 - Saudi Arabia, Yemen end border disputes; Abdullah, Saleh: the two states security is integrated
Saudi Arabia and Yemen announced yesterday the end of their differences over the cement wall being built by Riyadh on the Yemeni borders, and Sanaa says it chopped part of the joint lands dedicated for grazing. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Organizations boycott the Egyptian national council for human rights
Some 15 human rights organizations said they will not cooperate with the new national council for Human rights in Egypt, considering that it does not enjoy credibility under the emergency law enacted in Egypt since 23 years. Egypt, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Inter- Sudanese peace talks resume; al-Turabi: US pressure does not guarantee peace
Peace talks resumed yesterday between the Sudanese government and the southern rebels, as the leader of the opposition Sudanese People's Congress Hassan al-Turabi considered that the American pressure on Sudan to end the war with the rebels had brought the two sides together towards peace but is not enough to make the agreement a guarantee of peace and valid. Sudan-USA, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Yamani calls on the Gulf states to prioritize education, population
Saudi Arabia's former minister of oil, Ahmad Zaki al-Yamani, who is also member of the board of Qatar council for education and science, stressed the importance to prioritize human resources and concentrate on education so as to increase the potentials of the state in the Gulf region. Qatar-Gulf, Politics, 2/18/2004 - King calls Maghreb leaders to make up for lost time
Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, has called on the other leaders of the Arab Maghreb Union to make up for the lost time and carry on the action aiming at materializing this union, a long-cherished dream by the people of the region. Morocco-Maghreb, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Algeria: Government coalition support Butaflika
Supporters of the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika on Monday formed a front whose nucleus is composed of three parties belonging to the current governmental coalition, with the aim to support his nomination for the presidential elections on April 8th, despite the fact that Butaflika did not nominate himself officially for the elections. Algeria, Politics, 2/18/2004 - King of Bahrain meets Moroccan FM
King of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, received in Manama this Tuesday Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, who arrived in the Bahraini capital on the same day to participate in the Morocco-Bahrain high commission. Bahrain-Morocco, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Syrian- Iranian joint committee final statements
Syrian Premier Muhammad Naji Otari on Tuesday stressed that viewpoints between Syria and Iran were identical on the necessity of achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region according to "Madrid conference", Land-for-peace principle and UN related resolutions that call on Israel to withdraw from Arab occupied territories to the line of June 4th, 1967. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/18/2004 - AL delegation heads for Tunisia in preparations for Summit
A delegation representing the general secretariat of the Arab League left yesterday for Tunisia in order to prepare for the Arab summit due to be held before the end of March in Tunisia. Regional-Tunisia, Politics, 2/18/2004 - New Moroccan Labor code to improve and protect women's labor rights
The newly enacted Labor Code in Morocco aims at improving and protecting women's rights at work, said, here Tuesday, Moroccan minister in charge of Moroccan expatriates. Morocco, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Acts of violence returned back against the Kuwaitis in Iraq
Incidents to kidnap Kuwaitis in Iraq returned back once again to threaten each Kuwaiti thinking of heading to Iraq, finding himself a captive for a gang that would ask for a large sum of money to release him. Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Arab Bar Association meeting call for ending American occupation of Iraq
The participants in the 2 -day international and Arab Bar Association Conference, held in Kuwait on Tuesday, called for ending the American occupation of Iraq as soon as possible, and transferring the power to Iraqis in order to govern and run their own affairs, and preserve their territorial integrity. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 2/18/2004 - Sheikh Zayed confers with Mubarak United Arab Emirates-Egypt, Politics, 2/18/2004
- AL's concerns over Israeli digging under Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque Palestine-Regional, Politics, 2/18/2004
- NGO calls on European Parliament to probe fate of Moroccans sequestrated in Southern Algeria Morocco-European Union, Politics, 2/18/2004
- Syrian Premier to visit to Tunisia
Prime Minister Naji Otari will on Feb 22 pay an official visit to Tunisia during which he co-chairs the Feb. 22-24 meetings of the joint Syrian-Tunisian Higher Committee. Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 2/18/2004 - London: our embassy in Damascus has been closed since one week Syria-UK, Politics, 2/18/2004
- Terry Weight once again in Beirut Lebanon-UK, Politics, 2/18/2004
- Cabinet approves draft laws on family court, nationality
The Egyptian Cabinet approved today a final draft for the law on family court in preparation to referring it to President Hosni Mubarak and then to the Shura Council and People's Assembly. Egypt, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Syrian Premier - Iranian Vice President chair joint Higher Committee-Meetings
The Syrian-Iranian Higher Committee, cochaired by the Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reda Aref and the Prime Minister Naji Otari began meetings at the headquarters of the Syrian Premiership. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Syrian- Kuwaiti relations are deeply rooted
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara stressed that the meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries was the most successful, describing its results as positive. Syria-Kuwait, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Maghreb Union, a strategic aim, says Algiers
The Algerian government on Monday stated that the Arab Maghreb Union remains a "strategic objective" and a must dictated the new international changes and a common destiny shared by peoples of the Maghreb. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Riyadh, Sanaa discuss settling border differences
Saudi Arabian officials announced yesterday that the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh will hold talks with the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz today in Riyadh in an attempt to solve the differences over a barrier built by Saudi Arabia on the border between the two states. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Yemeni president discusses security deployment plan
The Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, discussed yesterday in Sanaa with senior security and military officials and many of his Aides "the security deployment plan in various parts of the republic and the rate of implementing the general training plan for the armed forces, set by the Ministry of defense and the army chief of staff for the training year 2004." Yemen, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Amir of Qatar issues a decree on terrorism fighting
The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, has issued the terrorism fighting law after it was approved by the Qatari government and the Shoura council, according to the Qatari news agency. This law, however, is considered the first of its kind in this state. Qatar, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Qathafi gets invitation to visit Belgium
Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi received an invitation from the Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt to visit Belgium in a step that reflects the increasing European openness to Tripoli. Libya-Belgium, Politics, 2/17/2004 - ISESCO denounces excavations under Al Aqsa Mosque
The Rabat-based Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) on Monday condemned the excavations carried out by the Israeli occupying authorities under the Aqsa Mosque and which caused the collapse of the path leading to one of the main gates of this Mosque. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 2/17/2004 - American presents for the Syrian ministry of culture
Minister of Culture Mahmoud al-Sayed on Monday received from Mrs. Margaret Scobey, US Ambassador to Syria, a present from the US Embassy in Damascus to the Syrian General Directorate of Archeology and Museums. Syria-USA, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Delegation of American Jews leaders visit Morocco
A delegation of leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is visiting Morocco this Feb.15-17, the organization announced in a release. Morocco-USA, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Parliamentary committee in Kuwait investigates the fuel of the American army
The Kuwaiti Ummah council ( parliament) approved unanimously yesterday the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate corruption accusations in the deals providing the American army in Iraq with fuel. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Donors conference in Abu Dhabi by the end of February
The Iraqi minister of planning, Mahdi al-Hafez, said yesterday that an international conference will be held in Abu Dhabi on February 28 and 29 to get aids estimated at a value of 15 billion dollars, dedicated to rebuilding Iraq. Iraq-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 2/17/2004 - Iran for boosting economic relations with Syria Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/17/2004
- Students of the AUC demonstrate against Israeli Practices Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/17/2004
- Al-Assad ends the economic security court
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has abrogated the economic security court which was founded in 1977. It is the main extraordinary court in Syria in addition to the state security court which is specialized in political issues. Syria, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Mubarak, Zayed meet in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates-Egypt, Politics, 2/16/2004
- Mubarak meets Qabous marking the beginning of a Gulf tour
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday arrived in Oman where he had started talks with Sultan Qaboos Bin Said over several Arab and international issues. This is in the context of a Gulf tour. Egypt-Oman, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Arab, foreign observers prevented from taking part; Bahrain: constitutional conference calls on the government for dialogue
In conclusion of the "constitutional conference" which was held in Manama yesterday, four opposition Bahraini political societies called on the government for "dialogue" stressing "commitment to the national labor work and constitutional monarchy," including the principle of "political and party pluralism and a rotating authority." Bahrain, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Saleh visits Riyadh to discuss border issues
An Arab diplomatic source announced that the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh will visit on Tuesday the Saudi capital Riyadh to hold talks with the Saudi officials over the barrier installed by the Saudi authorities on the borders between the two states. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Information Minister outlines Syria's policy towards ME developments
Syria's Information Minister Ahmad al-Hassan has confirmed that Syria always welcomes the resumption of negotiations from the point they stopped at, since it views that peace based on the international resolutions, "Madrid terms of reference" and Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, is its strategic option. Syria-Regional, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Hawatemah: Damascus expulsion of Palestinian groups is a debated issue
The secretary general of the Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine, Nayef Hawatemah, said that Syria's expulsion of several leaders of the Palestinian leadership from its lands is a debated issue," stressing that "this matter is in the hand of the Syrian leadership which decides it." Syria-Palestine, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Algeria rejects abrogation of emergency, Three Islamists killed
The Algerian government yesterday defended the state of emergency active in the country since 12 years and stressed it will not lift it despite international pressures, justifying that Algeria is fighting what it called Islamic extremism. Algeria, Politics, 2/16/2004 - An Egyptian party calls for Pharoes revival
The Egyptian party affairs committee on Saturday received documents providing for establishing a new controversial party called for Pharoses in Egypt and splitting it from the Arab and Islamic nation. Egypt, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Sudan expects releasing some of its detainees in Guantanamu
The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael said that two Sudanese of Guantanamu detainees in Cuba were released and that preparations are underway to return them back to the country. Sudan, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Final statement of Arab states neighboring Iraq's FMs
The foreign ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries yesterday issued a final statement wrapping up their deliberation today in Kuwait, in which they stressed that most of the points that had been agreed upon in the Damascus Final Statement in their previous meeting were reiterated, particularly the preservation of the Iraqi unity of people and land, as well as enabling Iraq to run its affairs and resources. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Interim Governing Council to continue in case elections are delayed
Kurdish member in the Interim Governing Council, Jalal al-Talibani, expected the council to continue ruling Iraq if elections will not be made before June 30 this year, the date when the authority will be handed over to the Iraqis. Iraq, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Hizbullah vows to retaliate any Israeli violations
The secretary general of the Hizbullah Shiite party in Lebanon Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah threatened to retaliate as from now on any Israeli violations of the Lebanese sovereignty by land, sea or air. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/16/2004 - Khouri highlights Syrian- Lebanese relations Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 2/16/2004
- Amawy: Protecting Arab system, nationalism priority Egypt-Regional, Politics, 2/16/2004
- AL-Shara describes results of Kuwait's meeting as positive, no infiltration from the Syrian borders to Iraq Syria-Iraq, Politics, 2/16/2004
- Al-Assad meets with Russian delegate, a message from Putin Syria-Russia, Politics, 2/16/2004
- Egypt, South Africa to discuss FTA Egypt-South Africa, Politics, 2/16/2004