Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 2/23/2004
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of February 23, 2004
- Tunisia summit will announce foundation of a new Arab League, includes an Arab parliament and an Arab security council
The Arab League AL assistant secretary general Nour Eddine Hashed said yesterday before the opening of the special meeting of the Arab foreign ministers on Monday that the next Arab summit in Tunisia by the end of March will be an opportunity to announce the foundation of a " new Arab League (AL)." Regional-Tunisia, Politics, 2/28/2004 - King Mohammed underlines compatibility between Islamic ideals and universal human rights standards
Morocco's King Mohammed VI underlined this Friday before human rights ministers from French-speaking countries that "Islamic ideals and values, which are based on the respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, justice and solidarity, are in line with universal standards and principles," stressing that the set of bold measures taken in Morocco illustrate this. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/28/2004 - African federation summit: al-Qathafi calls Washington to give up the mentality of the colonialist
Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi has called on the US to give up the mentality of the colonialist in Africa and to change into the mentality chosen by the Europeans in this continent. Libya-USA, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Mubarak urges African leaders to improve security, resolve disputes to enhance development
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday urged African Leaders to support endeavours to improve the security situation and resolve disputes that are deemed crucial for regional integration and development in the continent. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Invested by order of merit from al-Assad, Shamakhani signs a memorandum of co-operation
The Iranian defense minister, Ali Shamakhani, yesterday concluded a two day visit to Damascus during which he signed a memorandum of understanding in cooperation between the two defense ministries in the two countries and was invested by an order of merit offered by President Bashar al-Assad. Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/28/2004 - O Yahyah highlights Butaflika's achievements
The Algerian prime minister yesterday presented the outcome of economic and social achievements realized in Algeria under the years of the rule of the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika 1999- 2003, recalling that this highlight has no connection with the current elections atmosphere. Algeria, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Rafsanjani deplores Israeli practices against the Palestinians
Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council (EC) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday strongly denounced the "brutal oppressive practices perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people and the US support to Israel." Iran-Israel, Politics, 2/28/2004 - UN suspends its aids to southern Sudan
The UN has stopped its aids for 30,000 persons to the south of Sudan following missile launching incident against its employees in a camp for humanitarian aid in the area, but did not result in casualties. Sudan-UN, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Bahrain, Iran join rejecting the American democratic initiative
Bahrain has rejected the American project to establish democracy in the Middle East, considering that any initiative for political reforms should be made in coordination with the countries of the region. Bahrain-Iran, Politics, 2/28/2004 - ESCWA 's executive secretary highlights Syria's efforts for modernization
The Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Committee for Western Asia (ESCWA) Mirvat Tellawi praised President Bashar al-Assad's efforts in modernizing all sectors in Syria. Syria, Politics, 2/28/2004 - On foundation anniversary, Palestinians Democratic Front calls for dialogue
The Democratic Front For the Liberation of Palestine yesterday renewed the call for serious and comprehensive national dialogue. Palestine, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Nablus municipality head resigned
Chairman of Nablus municipality Ghassan al-Shakaa announced his resignation from his post yesterday because of the chaos prevailing the city since a while. Palestine, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Syria's Minister of Information confers with clergy on Arab issues Syria-Regional, Politics, 2/28/2004
- African summit opened in Sert today, postponing the idea of al- Qathafi to form a unified army
The special committee for the African Federation opened in Sert, Libya, today which seems to proceed towards the idea of postponing the proposal made by the Libyan leader to form one African army, but will discuss adoption of a joint defense policy. Regional-Libya, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Arab ministerial meeting to define position towards the America initiative
An American high ranking source said that the US has received positive stances from leaders of Arab states, implicitly, over the reform initiative proposed recently by Washington. This is, however, at a time when the AL is preparing to convene meetings in Cairo on Monday, in preparations for the Arab summit, expected to be overwhelmed by issues on Iraq and Palestine besides defining the position regarding the American project for changing the " Greater Middle East." Regional-USA, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Financial problem in the Arab league, contributions are very late
Sources in the Arab League said that it suffers a severe financial crisis because its 21 member states are late in paying their annual contributions which toll 100 million dollars. Regional, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Iranian defense minister visits Lebanon today, discusses with al- Assad cooperation between the two armies
The Iranian defense minister Ali Shamakhani visits Lebanon today after he had met in Damascus with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that dealt with " cooperation between the Syrian and Iranian armies." Syria-Iran, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Washington accepts Libya's retraction; lifts travel embargo, permits return of companies
Libya and the US have overcome the crisis of the statements made by the Libyan (prime minister) Shukri Ghanem, in which he stressed that his country had bought peace despite the fact it was not involved in the Lockerbie incident. Libya-USA, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Arab League chief on imposed reforms on the M.E.
The Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Wednesday said the idea of imposing reforms over the Arab and Islamic countries was rejected and unacceptable. Regional, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Activists denounce human rights abuses in Polisario-controlled Camps in Algeria
Participants in a conference on human rights in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) denounced in Rome Tuesday human rights abuses in those camps controlled by the separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Al-Seistani accepts the agreement to hand over sovereignty under conditions: end of year elections to be made by UN decision, supervision
The Shiite clergy Ayatullah Ali al-Seisatni said yesterday he will accept an unelected government and of limited authority to rule Iraq after June 30, the date for handing over sovereignty from the American occupation to the Iraqis if he gets "clear guarantees" like "resolution" from the UN Security Council to make elections by the end of 2004 under the supervision of the UN. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Peres meets with Mubarak in Cairo
Leader of the opposition Israeli labor party Shimon Peres said after the talks he had held in Cairo yesterday with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that the plan of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to dismantle the settlements in Gaza should be also applicable on the West Bank where more and more settlers are living. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Abizaid: Iraq is not an American territory
The commander of the Central American leadership, John Abizaid, said in Cairo yesterday that Iraq will "shortly" get its sovereignty, stressing that the US does not intend to have control on Iraq "for ever." Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/27/2004 - Syria, Mauritania for boosting party cooperation relations Syria-Mauritania, Politics, 2/27/2004
- Sanchaise: Saddam Hussein is in a good health condition Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/27/2004
- King Hamad Bin Isa: Mubarak a wonderful friend in bilateral relations, joint Arab action Bahrain-Regional, Politics, 2/26/2004
- Saudi Foreign minister talks of an Egyptian- Saudi paper
The Saudi foreign minister prince Saud al- Faisal announced yesterday that the Kingdom and Egypt agreed to submit a joint work paper on reforming the Arab condition to the Arab ministerial council by the beginning of next month, according to the Saudi news agency. Saudi Arabia-Egypt, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Al-Deirani files a case against Israel over torture; Nasrullah threatens to revenge the killing of a Lebanese farmer
The Lebanese Hizbullah party threatened to retaliate the Israeli forces killing of one Lebanese citizen on the border in south Lebanon on Tuesday. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Turabi accuses the government of feeding the conflict in Darfour
The secretary general of the opposition Sudanese People's Conference party Hassan al- Turabi criticized the policy pursued by Khartoum towards the conflict in Darfour, stressing that this problem cannot be settled apart from the south. Sudan, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Tripoli defuses the crises with London and Washington: renewed recognition of responsibility over Lockerbie
Libya has defused the crises with the US and Britain when its (foreign minister) Abdul Rahman Shalqam stressed once again yesterday that his country accepted responsibility over deeds of its employees over the Lockerbie aggression and considered the recent statements which doubt these stances as "regrettable and nor precise," in remarks to the statement made by the Libyan (prime minister) Shukri Ghanem to this effect. Libya-USA, Politics, 2/26/2004 - TV program provokes a problem in Bahrain
Seven Bahraini parliamentarians submitted an inquiry for the minister of information, Nabil Yaqoub al- Homer, because of the Program known as "big brother " produced by the( the Middle East TV ) the MBC and broadcasted as from last Friday. Bahrain, Politics, 2/26/2004 - AL: Israel's fence blows up peace efforts
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ended yesterday debates on the legality of Israeli separation wall. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Beshara and the Israeli wall
Palestinian intellectual Azmi Beshara on Wednesday said there was an Israeli consensus to carry on building the apartheid separation wall in the Palestinian territories. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Egypt: judiciary considers a case filed to isolate al-Azhar Sheikh
An Egyptian court in Cairo approved yesterday accepting a judicial case demanding dropping the membership of Sheikh al-Azhar Muhammad Sayed Tantawi from the Islamic research complex in preparation to remove him from his post and set a session for that on March 26. Egypt, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Al-Shara, Faisal, Maher hold telephone talks on developments Regional, Politics, 2/26/2004
- Lebanon accepts the nomination of the new American ambassador
Well-informed American sources said that Lebanon notified the American government yesterday its written official consent on appointing the diplomat Jeffery Filtman as an ambassador for the US in Beirut. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 2/26/2004 - Gumhuriyet: Syrian- Turkish water cooperation Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/26/2004
- Four Arab states Sign in Rabat FTZ agreement
Foreign ministers of Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt signed in Rabat this Wednesday the Agadir declaration that provides for the creation of a free trade zone between the four Arab south Mediterranean states. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Mubarak, crown prince Abdullah meet on ME developments Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/25/2004
- Egypt and Saudi Arabia underlines the importance of ME
Egypt and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday stressed the necessity for resuming peace negotiations on the Syrian and Palestinian tracks in order to achieved a complete settlement that contributes to easing the tension in the region. Saudi Arabia-Egypt, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Tunisian president meets with Syrian Premier
President Zine Al-Abidin Ben Ali received in Tunis on Tuesday Prime Minister Naji Otari who conveyed President Bashar al-Assad invitation for President Ben Ali to visit Syria, who accepted it. Tunisia-Syria, Politics, 2/25/2004 - International aid start to reach Morocco's quake-stricken areas
International emergency aid and rescue teams from around the world started to reach the Moroccan northeastern region of Al-Hoceima, to bring support to the populations and help in the search operations, following the powerful earthquake that left at least 560 dead people and over 300 others injured. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Israel kills one Palestinian on the border
The Lebanese police said that the two brothers were grazing their sheep in the area. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Qatar hosts a conference on human rights
Qatar has announced it will host the 12th annual workshop on regional cooperation to strengthen and protect human rights in Asia and the Indian Ocean which will start March 2nd. Qatar, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Syrian FM holds talks with Danish FM; a press conference
Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Tuesday said that ending the Israeli occupation of the occupied territories is the basis for the success of any proposals related to the region referring to the role the European Union might play vis-a-vis the region's issues. Syria-Denmark, Politics, 2/25/2004 - ad-Dostour: Information Minister renewed Syria's position towards peace
Syria's Information Minister Ahmad al-Hassan reiterated Syria's commitment to the international resolutions, the land-for-peace principle and "Madrid terms of reference" which confirm that peace has its foundations, particularly by the Israeli withdrawal from all the occupied Arab lands. Syria-Regional, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Damascus: Facilitations provided for Turks Parliamentarians
Turkish sources in Damascus said yesterday that the Syrian authorities have an extra facilitation to neighboring Turkey by exempting Turkish parliamentarians from entry fees to the country. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Iraq pays its contributions to AL budget
An official source in the Arab league announced yesterday that Iraq has funded its share in the budget of the Arab League for the first time since 15 years. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Jordan returns back 15 Palestinians to Jordan, refuses to receive refugees
Jordan announced yesterday that it will not permit refugees from Iraq or the Palestinian territories to enter its lands, noting the return back of a small group of Palestinian refugees who carry Lebanese documents to Lebanon, stressing that "the security fist controls the border with Iraq and any other border point can not be violated." Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Al-Assad Receives envoy of Bangladesh's prime minister Syria-Bangladesh, Politics, 2/25/2004
- BBC: Libya denies involvement in Lockerbie issue
The Libyan (prime minister) Shukri Ghanem denies his country's involvement in blowing up the American Pan American plane over the Lockerbie village in Scotland in 1988 which resulted in killing 270 persons. Libya-USA, Politics, 2/25/2004 - American Bishop deplores the Israeli wall of separation Palestine-USA, Politics, 2/25/2004
- Al-Zawahri refutes Bush's allegations to eliminate al- Qaida
The second man in al-Qaida organization Ayman al-Zawahri in al-Qaida organization threatened to launch new attacks against the USA. He said that Bush has to reinforce his defense means and security measures in preparation for new attacks. Regional-USA, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Khartoum: Hamas new representative assumes work
The new representative for the Hamas movement started his work yesterday in Sudan which is demanded by the USA to close the offices of the Palestinian organizations. Sudan-Palestine, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Rafah crossing was closed, detention in the West Bank; Sharon escalates criticism against Qurei' government
The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon accused his Palestinian counterpart Ahmad Qurei' that he runs a government of "criminals and liars, adding that this makes him unqualified to negotiate in order to reach a peace agreement." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Al-Habash confers with US Bishop Syria-USA, Politics, 2/25/2004
- Apartheid Separation Wall deplored by Lebanese and Palestinians in demonstrations Palestine-Lebanon, Politics, 2/25/2004
- Mubarak cancels imprisonment penalty in publication issues, rejects western reform initiatives
The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday criticized the American and European initiatives for reforms in the Middle East considering that they seek "to impose certain types of reforms within context of plans, frames and initiatives based on the assumption that this region has become a danger to other peoples." Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2004 - British MPs sign anti- separation wall petition
As many as 168 British MPs, including 124 Labour Party members, signed a petition against the Israeli separation wall now being built in the Palestinian territories. Palestine-UK, Politics, 2/24/2004 - American bishop denounces Israel's apartheid wall
Bishop Clifton Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the Anglican Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., denounced Israel's building of the apartheid separation wall in the West Bank, saying it diminishes prospects of peace in the region. Palestine-USA, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Moussa lashes out at Israeli Officials who attack ICJ for denating into wall
Moussa criticized Israeli officials' statements in which they claimed that the International Court of Justice is not qualified to examine the legality of the Israeli separation wall. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Bahrain hosts meetings of the joint higher committee with Qatar
The joint Bahraini- Qatar higher committee started its meetings yesterday in Manama under the chairmanship of Bahrain's crown prince, Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad al-Khaleifa, and Qatar's crown prince, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, according to an official source. Bahrain-Qatar, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Al-Barad'e: we support Libya's keeping of a civilian atomic capability
The director general of the International Agency for Atomic Energy Muhammad al-Barad'e said in Tripoli, yesterday that the agency will support Libya's request to keep a nuclear program for civil purposes after it will get rid off its military nuclear program, noting that he has agreed with the Libyan officials to "exert all possible efforts to end dismantling the Libyan weapons program by the fall of June. Libya-UN, Politics, 2/24/2004 - European parliament stresses continued fighting in western Sudan
Mmember of the European parliament Richard Hueoit said that there is no evidence on halting the military operations in Darfour area to the west of Sudan despite the confirmation by the government on halting them. Sudan-European Union, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Okaz: Hariri views on regional development
Lebanese Premier Rafic Hariri reiterated his country's call for finding a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and ending the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands in line with the international resolutions. Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Lebanese Mufti, Saudi cabinet deplore Israeli practices
Lebanon's Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Rashed Kabani on Monday said that the apartheid separation wall, being built by Israel, is part of the Israeli aggressive policy on the Palestinian people. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Arab Popular Committee vows support for the Palestinian Intifada
The "Arab Popular Committee for Supporting Intifada and Resisting the Zionist Scheme" denounced the Israeli aggressive practices against the Palestinian unarmed people. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Arafat: Separation wall bars establishment of Palestinian state
Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat warned on Monday that the separation wall built by Israel in the West Bank prevents the setting up of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Sharon: we will not negotiate with the current Palestinian leadership
The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon notified the foreign affairs and security committee at the Israeli Knesset yesterday that Israel will not negotiate with the current Palestinian leadership because it does not implement any of its obligations stated in the Roadmap. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 2/24/2004 - Straw and Palacio denounce Israeli separation wall Palestine-European Union, Politics, 2/24/2004
- Maher, Obeid joint press conference in Cairo Egypt-Lebanon, Politics, 2/24/2004
- Danish prime minister visits Syria today, then Israel Syria-Denmark, Politics, 2/24/2004
- Japanese Foreign Minister underlines Syria's ME role Syria-Japan, Politics, 2/24/2004
- Al-Azhar University students demonstrate against the Israeli wall of separation Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 2/24/2004
- Syrian judiciary releases two Kurdish activists
The supreme security state court in Syria released two Kurdish political activists after alleviating a judiciary sentence against them, while sentence decision against other 6 was postponed. Syria, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Dialogue session for public, private banks in Damascus
Syria's Finance Minister Muhammad al-Hussein on Sunday chaired a session of dialogue about the private and public banks' activities. Syria, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Amnesty International visits Libya for the first time since 16 years
A delegation representing Amnesty International started Sunday talks with the Libyan officials on the occasion of the first visit of a team of this organization to defend human rights to Libya since 1988, according to one member of the delegation. Libya, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Al-Ahram: AL: Israel is avoiding International Court of Justice on apartheid Wall because of weak case
The Arab League (AL) described Israel's decision to boycott Monday's scheduled hearings by the International Court of Justice in the Hague on the apartheid separation wall being built in the West Bank as a reflection of its weak position and pretext marketed to justify its anti-peace move. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Syrian Prime Minister in an official visit to Tunisia
Syria's Prime Minister Naji Otari and an accompanying delegation on Sunday paid a visit to the tourist baths "Jasmine Region." He listened to a briefing on the new tourist city, its tourist utilities, facilities, services, ancient markets and cultural institutions. Tunisia-Syria, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Morocco at the heart of America's strategic alliance in Middle east, Congressmen
"Morocco has always been at the heart of America's strategic alliance in the Middle east'" and has " repeatedly proven its friendship with the United States," a group of Congressmen said in a letter sent recently to President George W. Bush. Morocco-USA, Politics, 2/23/2004 - ICRC meets with former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in US custody on Saturday, two months after his capture, an ICRC spokeswoman told reporters. Iraq, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Butaflika nominates himself for a second presidential term of office
The Algerian president Abdul Aziz Butaflika has announced officially his nomination for the presidential elections due to be on April 8th to win a five- year period term of office. Algeria, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Darfour governor announces the surrender of large number of rebels
The governor of West Darfour was quoted as saying that "large numbers" of rebels in West Darfour area surrendered following the amnesty issued by the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir earlier this month. Sudan, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Jordan seeks to abrogate an Israeli decision for expelling thousands of Palestinians
The spokeswoman for the Jordanian government, Asmaa al-Khuder, stressed that Jordan got positive indicators through diplomatic contacts with the Israeli government stating the initial consent of the Israeli government to back away from a preliminary decision that bans the travel of citizens of the occupied territories only by Palestinian passports as from the first of March. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 2/23/2004 - US Former Official criticizes his country's policy towards Iraq
The former U.S. undersecretary of state, Edward Walker, criticized his country's policy in Iraq, calling for transfer of power to the Iraqis and enabling them to run their own affairs by themselves. Iraq-USA, Politics, 2/23/2004 - UN issues its report on Iraq today; Abdul Hamid denies demands of Jordanian, Kuwaiti lands
Current President of the Interim governing council in Iraq Mohsin Abdul Hamid denied statements attributed to him that he will demand Jordan and Kuwait to restore back Iraqi lands offered to them by the former regime. Iraq-UN, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Shalqam invites Mubarak to the African federation summit
The secretary of the people's committee for foreign relations in Libya ( the foreign minister) Abdul Rahman Shalqam announced he had handed over the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak an invitation to take part in the African federation summit which will be held in Libya on February 27 and 28. Libya-Egypt, Politics, 2/23/2004 - AL-Shara confers with Swiss envoy on development Syria-Switzerland, Politics, 2/23/2004
- Hurriyet: Russian Official highlights role in Iraq Iraq-Russia, Politics, 2/23/2004