Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 3/1/2004

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of March 1, 2004

• Mubarak, Chirac hold joint press conference Egypt-France, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Mubarak warns of dictated reforms without consultations Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Islamic affairs minister redefines Ulema role
  Morocco's Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Taoufiq, said the Ulema (Islamic scholars) need to re-define their traditional mission and apprehend their role in the respect of Morocco's democratic choices and as a religious duty that is part of the respect of the community will while abiding by the goals of the sharia (Islamic law). Morocco-Regional, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Shara-Kharazi hold telephone talks Syria-Iran, Politics, 3/6/2004
• al-Riyadh: APU chief for boosting Arab parliamentary action Regional, Politics, 3/6/2004
• King's reforms had positive impact on Morocco-US FTA, prime minister
  Initiatives and reforms conducted by Moroccan king Mohammed VI in various fields have had "a positive and decisive impact" on the conclusion of a free trade agreement with the United States, said, here Thursday, Moroccan Premier Driss Jettou. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Bush administration intends to impose sanctions on Syria, soon
  Officials at the US Congress and other well-informed sources said that the administration of the US President George W. Bush intends to impose certain sanctions on Syria within weeks because of what they called its support of the terrorist groups and of not preventing fighters from entering Iraq. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Turkish governor for good economic relations with Syria
  Syrian and Turkish businessmen held a meeting on Friday in the presence of Aleppo Governor, Osama Adi, and Turkish State Minister of Foreign Trade Affairs, Kushad Tuzmen. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Syria renews call to make the ME a zone from of WMD
  Syria on Thursday night reiterated its call to the UN Security Council to adopt its draft resolution on making the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Syria-Regional, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Sheikh Tamim, Chirac discuss conditions in the ME
  Qatar's crown prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held talks in Paris with the French President Jacque Chirac during which they discussed developments of conditions in the Middle East region and reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries and means of developing them. Qatar-France, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Five worshippers were killed in an attack in front of a mosque; Sanaa denied assassination attempt on President's son Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Former UN chief criticized US policy in Iraq
  The UN Former Secretary General, Butros Butros Ghali, has criticized the US policy in Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Family exchange seeks to relieve blockade of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf, official
  The exchange of visits between Moroccans sequestered in the Polisario-run camps of Tindouf (southwestern Algeria) and their relatives in the Moroccan Sahara is meant to relieve the blockade imposed on the captives, said Hamid Chabar, the Moroccan governor in charge of coordination with the MINURSO (French acronym for the UN mission in the Sahara). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Bremer talks about ' embassies for the occupation after June 30: We withdraw from cemeteries at the request of clergies
  The American administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, yesterday considered the occurrence of a civil war in Iraq as "a weak possibility," and that the attempt made by the executors of the two massacres in Karbala and Baghdad is to implant tension in the country and "will not succeed." Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Fighting erupts between Garang forces and al-Rabb party
  The southern rebels of Sudan announced that violent confrontations took place on Tuesday between them and the fighters of Uganda's al-Rabb resistance fighters army in southern Sudan. Sudan, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Al-Seistani bans entering Iraq, only from official openings
  The Shiite clergy Ayatullah Ali al-Seistani yesterday issued a Fatwa in which he banned entry into the Iraqi lands only through unofficial crossings. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Sorour refuses invitation from head of the Knesset to visit Israel
  Speaker of the Egyptian parliament, Ahmad Fatehi Sorour, yesterday refused an invitation from the chairman of the Israeli Knesset to deliver a speech before its members on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of signing the Israeli- Egyptian peace treaty which falls on March 23rd, stressing that he can not fulfill the invitation as long as Israel continues to occupy Arab lands and the " independent Palestinian state is not established." Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/6/2004
• Muslim Brothers propose a reform initiative in Egypt
  The general Murshid ( Guide ) for the Muslim brothers in Egypt, Muhammad Mahdi Akef, called for converting Egypt into a Parliamentary republic and the abrogation of the executive authorities of the President of the Republic. Egypt, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Morocco, a key political and economic partner, US official
  The free trade agreement concluded, in Washington Tuesday, between the United States and Morocco, further strengthens the "already solid relations" between the two countries, said US Trade representative Robert Zoellick who described Morocco as a "key political and economic partner" in North Africa and the Middle east. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Benflis accuses Butaflika of obstructing justice; Algerian state council freezes liberation front assets
  The official spokesman for the liberation front party, Abdul Salaam Mujahid, who supports Ali Benflis criticized the sentence of the state's council and considered it as an unprecedented step because it is in contradiction with the sentence issued by the same council in the case of convening the extraordinary conference. Algeria, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Arab Foreign Ministers wind up deliberations
  Arab Foreign Ministers wound up on Wednesday the deliberations of their extraordinary session with the participation of Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara. The Ministers approved the tri-partite Syrian-Egyptian-Saudi project as a united document for improving the common Arab action and activating its mechanisms. Regional, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Sanaa - Riyadh tighten border control measures
  Yemeni and Saudi Arabia's military officials announced they had agreed to form two field committees to study measures necessary to ensure tightened control of border between the two states. Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Talibani cancels his Syrian, Iranian and Turkish passports
  The office of the "Kurdistani National federation" in Damascus on Monday said that its leader Jalal al-Talibani handed over since months his Syrian, Turkish and Iranian passports he used to have before the collapse of the Iraqi regime to the authorities in these countries. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/4/2004
• New Israeli occupation forces hostilities against the Syrians of the Golan
  Israeli military bulldozers uprooted more than 1800 fruit trees of all kinds in lands owned by Syrian Arab citizens in Majdal Shams town, along with many hundred-years-old olive trees Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Syria deplores Baghdad, Karbala bombardments
  Syria on Tuesday evening strongly condemned the "Heinous bloody crime" in Baghdad and Karbala in which over one hundred of Iraqi citizens were killed and warned that its target was "to plant divisions and turmoil in sisterly Iraq." Syria-Iraq, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Washington expects the conclusion of Sudan's talks before the end of the month
  The US secretary of state Colin Powell expressed his hope that points that are still pending in the peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the southern rebels will be resolved before the end of March. Sudan-USA, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Mrs. Asmaa al-Assad in her first official visit to Beirut on Sunday
  Syria's First Lady Asmaa al-Assad will pay her first visit to Lebanon by the beginning of next week, where she will preside over the Syrian delegation to the "woman and armed conflict" forum, to be held under the patronage of Lebanon's First Lady Andrea Lahoud. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Al-Shara - Solana meet on ME developments
  Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara met Wednesday in Cairo the EU Foreign Policy and Security Coordinator Javier Solana in the presence of the special European envoy to the Middle East peace Mark Ottie. Shara-Solana talks centered on the latest developments in the region and importance of getting the ME peace process out of its current deadlock, and Syria's important role in this direction as well. Syria-European Union, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Morocco's Islamic affairs minister meets delegation of US Christian right
  Morocco's minister of Habous (Islamic endowments) and Islamic affairs, Ahmed Taoufiq, me on Tuesday with a visiting delegation from the US Christian Right coalition. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Iraqi preliminary constitution to be signed Friday Iraq, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Yemeni forces chase wanted persons in Abyan
  the witnesses said the fire exchange event took place after the five members of the armed group intercepted the cashier of the education office of Khanfar directorate and stole from him 45 million Yemeni Riyals ( USD 250,000) the cashier had already got from the Bank as salaries for teachers in the directorate." Yemen, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Al-Wattan: European sources voice support to the Arab cause in conflict with Israel Regional-European Union, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Egypt parliament speaker calls for Israel's withdrawal from Arab lands Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Qatar invites Lieberman to attend a conference in Doha
  The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that the Israeli minister of communications, Avigdore Lieberman, received a personal message from the Qatar minister of communications, Akbar al-Baker, inviting him to take part in a conference on " communications, tourism and public travels " to be held by the beginning of May in Doha. Qatar-Israel, Politics, 3/4/2004
• Moroccan fm: Arab citizens' welfare, priority in Arab joint action
  Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, said yesterday priority in the Arab joint action should be given to ensuring Arab citizens' welfare and meeting their needs. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Six Algerians including Butaflika, Benflis qualified for presidential elections
  The Algerian constitutional council has announced the final list of candidates for the presidential elections due to be on April 8th. Algeria, Politics, 3/3/2004
• The Jordanian media higher council defies a parliamentary decision
  Chairman of the media higher council in Jordan, Ibrahim Ezz Eddine, has criticized the decision taken by the Jordanian parliament providing for rejecting the decision of the higher council and demanding the return back of the ministry of information which was canceled by the government in the context of a reform program. Jordan, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Al-Anbaa: Several leaders of Darfour rebellion killed
  The Sudanese daily al-Anbaa said yesterday that the Sudanese government forces killed several leaders of the rebel movement in Darfour and detained others. Sudan, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Qathafi commends the improvement of relations with the US, considering it as victory
  The Libyan leader, Col. Muammar al- Qathafi, on Tuesday said the improvement of relations between Libya and the US after Libya had approved the elimination of the weapons of mass destruction constitutes a large victory. Libya-USA, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Women's condition promotion, among Morocco's priorities, Minister
  The promotion of women's condition, is among the main objectives of Morocco's policy said on Monday Moroccan Secretary of state in charge of family, solidarity and social action. Morocco, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Egyptian president starts tomorrow a European tour
  President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt starts tomorrow a tour to cover Italy, France, and Britain in order to feel the impulse of the three capitals on the position of the European Union concerning the American initiative to reform the Greater Middle East. Egypt-European Union, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Iraq: mourning, calls for calm, eulogy for killings of Karbala, Baghdad
  Leaders of the Shiite community in Iraq called for calm after one day of bloody explosions in Karbalaa and Baghdad, while today, official morning started declared by the governing council for three days. Preparations started to hold a funeral eulogy for more than 182 killed persons. Iraq, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Yemen prescribes a pre- entry visa on the Iraqis
  The Yemeni ministry of the interior prescribed entry visas on the Iraqis wishing to visit Yemen and banned every one who does not obtain a prior visa from entering the country. Yemen-Iraq, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Conditions for Arab parliament not yet gathered, Moroccan speaker
  Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, said Tuesday conditions are not yet gathered for the creation of an Arab parliament. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Syrian Premier confers with Turkish Anadolu news agency chief Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Human Rights workshop convened in Doha Qatar-Regional, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Arab Parliamentary Union wraps up deliberations Regional, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Maher: Israeli Aggression is an obstacle for ME peace Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Sweden-based NGO draws attention of UN rapporteur on torture to plight of persons sequestered in tindouf camps Morocco-Sweden, Politics, 3/3/2004
• Mubarak: reform steps are calculated
  Egypt's President Mubarak said Egypt yesterday submitted an initiative for reforming the Arab League in cooperation with Saudi Arabia and Syria, expressing the belief that remaining Arab states would not hesitate to join this initiative that aims at reforming the Arab League. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Kuwaiti constitutional movement reconsiders its position concerning woman
  The Islamic constitutional movement in Kuwait has taken an important step in boosting its vision concerning political participation mechanism. It had announced it will assess and study its position concerning the political rights of women Kuwait, Politics, 3/2/2004
• American moves in Cairo, Arab ministerial council adopts the Egyptian initiative
  The US under secretary of state for political affairs Marc Grossman arrived in Cairo yesterday coming from Morocco in a visit during which he will discuss with the Egyptian officials the American project known as the " Greater Middle East initiative." Regional-USA, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Greater Middle East: US Not Seeking to Impose Reforms, Grossman
  The US is not seeking to impose reforms on middle East countries, said in Morocco Monday US undersecretary for political affairs, Marc Grossman, following a meeting with King Mohammed VI in the Mediterranean city of Al Hoceima. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/2/2004
• King receives Tunisian president's envoy
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI of Morocco received on Monday Tunisian minister of tourism and handicraft, Abderrahim Zouari, envoy of President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Arab Foreign Ministers start meetings on following the Joint Arab Action
  The Extraordinary Session of Arab Foreign Ministers' Council dedicated to discuss the issue of developing and promoting the Arab work and the mechanisms of the joint Arab action began on Monday in Cairo its deliberations.The Ministers reviewed the Tri-partite Syrian-Egyptian - Saudi project for reforming the Arab League and activating its performance in addition to other Arab projects and proposals. Regional, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Gulf states support Qatar in its crises with Russia
  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have expressed their support for the state of Qatar in its crisis with Russia over the assassination of the former President of Chechenea, Salim Khan Yanderbaieve, in Doha. This was expressed in conclusion of the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh. Gulf-Qatar, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Jordan: reforms should stem from an internal will
  The spokeswoman for the Jordanian government Asmaa Khuder said that Jordan emphasizes that democratic reforms should stem from an internal will, but did not declare a decisive position on accepting or rejecting the American plan concerning the Greater Middle East intitiative. Jordan-Regional, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Khartoum suspends contacts with the opposition national coalition
  Sudanese press reports said that the Khartoum government suspended contacts with the opposition national coalition which it had signed with its chairman a framework agreement in December 2003. Sudan, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Acts of protests in Algeria over formation of electoral committee
  Acts of violence erupted in Jejil province to the east of Algiers during which the demonstrators on Saturday and Sunday stole public buildings's contents in protest of organizing ballot centers for the presidential elections due on April 8th, 2004. Algeria, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Sharon visits Washington this month to win support for the separation plan
  The Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon will visit Washington this month in an attempt to get the consent of the US on his plan aiming at removing most of the settlements in Gaza. Israel-USA, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Morocco rules out granting asylum to Haitian president
  The Moroccan government has ruled out granting asylum to Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide who fled his country in the face of rebellion. Morocco-Haiti, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Al-Assad receives Speakers of Arab Parliaments Syria-Regional, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Amir of Qatar, Yemeni President discussed bilateral relations, means of supporting them Qatar-Yemen, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Saudi cabinet praises outcome of Mubarak's recent visit Somalia-Egypt, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Svoboda supports Syria's joining the EU Syria-Czech Republic, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Belgian parliamentarian: Syria is a significant country regarding ME peace Syria-Belgium, Politics, 3/2/2004
• Cabinet first session to discuss abolition of journalists imprisonment draft law Egypt, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Saudi Arabia: a commission will supervise charity donations
  Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it will establish a new charity "donation" commission to supervise all works of relief and aid dispatched abroad, in an attempt to put an end to the American accusations that part of these donations go to the hands of "terrorists." Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Kuwait proceeds towards realizing women's political rights
  It seems that the Kuwaiti government has found the way that enables it to introduce women's right to be a candidate and to vote despite the strong opposition from most of the social strata in Kuwait. This is however, through linking any future political reform to approving these rights. Kuwait, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Gulf states discusses reforming the Arab league
  Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states resumed their ministerial meeting yesterday in Riyadh. In two sessions they had held on Saturday, the ministers discussed plans to reform the Arab League and develop its mechanism in order to debate it to its ministerial council to be held in Cairo today ( Monday). Gulf-Regional, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Al-Shara and Svoboda joint press conference in Damascus
  Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Sunday held a press conference with his Czech counterpart Cyril Svoboda, during which both sides discussed a number of important issues on the regional and international arenas, and issues of mutual concern. Syria-Czech Republic, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Khaddam meets an Iraqi Tribal Delegation
  Syria's Vise-President Abdul Halim Khaddam on Sunday criticized the US initiative for reform in the Middle East saying that this initiative preceded the First World War. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Morocco, Russia to give new impetus to bilateral relations
  Morocco and Russia have pledged to give a new impetus to bilateral relations, at the end of the first meeting of the two countries Joint Commission, in accordance with the "Declaration of the strategic Partnership" signed in October 2002 in Moscow by visiting King Mohammed VI and president Vladimir Putin. Morocco-Russia, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Al-Assad meets with Arab- American anti- discrimination committee
  President Bashar al-Assad received on Sunday a delegation representing the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee headed by the Regional Director Imad Hamed. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/1/2004
• provisional rules postpones the constitution; One soldier from Estonia killed in Iraq
  One official at the Palestinian authority announced that members of the governing council in Iraq decided not to sign officially the state run law for the provisional period which will continue until the end of 2005 before next Wednesday. Iraq, Politics, 3/1/2004
• US Under Secretary to visit Morocco part of 'Greater Middle East Initiative', spokesman
  US Under-Secretary of State Marc Grossman, is expected on Monday in Tangiers (Northern Morocco) part of a tour to several Arab states to 'pursue dialogue with Governments and representatives of the region' on President George W. Bush's initiative of the "Greater Middle East," said, in Washington Friday, State department Spokesman Richard Boucher. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Jordan rejects to give Gaza's refugees Jordanian nationality
  Jordan stressed it will not take part in the implementation of the alternative homeland policy through settling the Palestinians who are in Jordan and who carry provisional passports by converting these passports to permanent ones. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 3/1/2004
• AI-Ahram: Arab FMs probe today in Cairo setting up body to follow up AL resolutions Regional, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Al-Assad confers with Lebanese clergy, official Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Syrian- Ukraine military cooperation Syria-Ukraine, Politics, 3/1/2004
• ESCWA's executive director's visit aims at bolstering cooperation with Syria Syria, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Sadoun Hammadi in Jordan Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Al-Rajoub in Egypt to discuss outcome of Fatah meetings with Egypt Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 3/1/2004
• Russian diplomat criticizes US Greater Middle East initiative Regional-Russia, Politics, 3/1/2004

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