Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 3/15/2004
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of March 15, 2004
- We held frank discussion on detentions; Powell: our relations with Riyadh are strong
The US Secretary Of State Colin Powell sought to contain the tension in the relations between Washington and Riyadh. He expressed after his meeting with the Crown Prince Abdullah in a short visit for Riyadh on Friday " his concern" over detaining 10 reformers, five of them are still under detention, but he was careful to stress that "relations" between the two countries are strong, and we are united against the war on terrorism." Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Damascus: releasing some 500 detainees: a demonstration in Dummar in support to national unity
Signs of detente of the severe acts of riots took place recently in Syria have appeared as the Syrian authorities released more than 500 persons who were detained during the past days. Syria, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Al-Assad confers with Croat President on development, Consulate opened
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Friday Croatian President Stipe Mesic and the accompanying delegation on the bilateral relations between the two countries, the two sides stressed joint desire for boosting those relations in the fields of economy, trade and investment. Syria-Croatia, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Moussa criticizes The Greater Middle East initiative
Moussa warned against dangers of the American project that aims at destroying the Arab League and eliminating the Arab nationality. Regional-USA, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Damascus urges the UN security council to halt the Israeli aggressions
Syria has called on the UN secretary general Kofi Annan and the UN security council to work for halting the Israeli aggressive practices in the occupied Syrian Golan heights. Syria-UN, Politics, 3/20/2004 - A Libyan delegation in Washington shortly to discuss diplomatic representation
American officials said that a Libyan delegation will head for Washington within two weeks in order to prepare for a diplomatic mission there for the first time since decades. Libya-USA, Politics, 3/20/2004 - UN considers the situation in Darfour at the largest humanitarian catastrophe
The UN coordinator for humanitarian operations in Sudan, Mokayesh Capilla, announced that the current conflict in Darfour province to the west of Sudan constitutes today the largest world catastrophe at the humanitarian level and human rights. Sudan-UN, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Moratinos: Spain will not give up fighting terrorism
The EU former EU-ME peace special envoy, Miguel Moratinos, expected to be Spain's next foreign minister, said that the decision of the coming government to bring back its forces from Iraq does not mean that Madrid has given up the war against terrorism. Regional-Spain, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Bush to impose tough sanctions against Syria shortly
Sources in the US congress said that the US President George W. Bush will shortly impose severe economic sanctions against Syria, according to " Syria's accountability law and restoring back the Lebanese sovereignty," which was approved in 2003. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/20/2004 - Amir of Qatar to arrive today in Damascus Syria-Qatar, Politics, 3/20/2004
- Mubarak receives Senegalese president on economic cooperation, development in Africa Egypt-Senegal, Politics, 3/20/2004
- Syrian Kurds demonstration deploring al-Qamishli incidents Syria, Politics, 3/20/2004
- Attajdid: fa8mily visit exchange must not go beyond humanitarian framework, official Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/20/2004
- Morocco and Peru resolved to promote bilateral relations Morocco-Peru, Politics, 3/20/2004
- Kurdish leaderships call for calm, asking to meet with al-Assad; Damascus: a sedition buried at its birth
Damascus said yesterday that the acts of riots which hit al-Hassaka and certain Syrian cities during the past days were aiming at implanting "sedition" in the country, at a time when the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari considered that what had happened was "an internal problem" in Syria which he said he will visit during the forthcoming days. Syria, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Syrian interior minister press conference on al-Qamishli incidents
Syria's Interior Minister Ali Hamoud on Thursday held a press conference on Thursday attended by Syrian, Arab and foreign Media correspondents. Syria, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Washington; we do not support the separation of the Kurds
The US yesterday denied that its position which calls for stopping "oppressing" the Kurds in Syria to constitute an encouragement for "separation." Syria-USA, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Syrian- Qatari summit next week to discuss AL reforms, current issues
News reports said that Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khaleifa al-Thani, will pay a visit to Syria next week and he will hold talks during this visit with President Bashar al-Assad on strengthening and developing bilateral cooperation relations in the context to complete what was discussed during the visit made during the visit made by President Bashar al-Assad to Doha by the end of October, 2003. Syria-Qatar, Politics, 3/19/2004 - El Mundo: Zapatero to pay his first visit abroad to Morocco, Paper
Spain's Prime Minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, also leader of the Spanish Socialist and Labor Party (PSOE), will reserve his first official visit abroad to Morocco, respecting the tradition of his predecessors, reported on Thursday the Spanish daily El Mundo. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Algerian presidential elections campaign launched
The presidential elections campaign was launched yesterday ( Thursday) in Algeria. The elections are to be on April 8 amid heated debate among candidates to win the voters and convince them of their elections programs through people's aggregations and media interventions. Algeria, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Equity and Reconciliation Committee, health department weigh partnership
Health minister, Mohammed Cheikh Biadillah, held Wednesday a working meeting with Driss Benzekri, the president of the Equity and Reconciliation Committee in charge of out-of-court settlement of past human rights abuses. Morocco, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Vice President highlights Syria's policy towards Greater Middle East initiative
Vice President Zohair Masharqa on Thursday rejected US accusations of Syria as baseless, stressing that they would never make her bounce back from her principled positions. He also rejected the US marketing of the so -called Greater Middle East initiative. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Turabi criticizes Washington's exaggeration of magnifying al-Qaida's size
The Sudanese Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi said he does not believe the American allegations over the world- wide spread of al-Qaida organization and its ability to infiltrate the strongest security reinforcement and having access to any part of the world. Sudan-USA, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Princess hails Moroccan-French shared history and memory
Morocco's Princess Lalla Meryem, chairwoman of the "Union nationale des femmes marocaines" (National Union of Moroccan Women), underlined, in Paris Thursday, the "shared history and memory" between Morocco and France, at the opening of the first general assembly of the "Union des femmes decorees de la legion d'honneur," (union of women holders of French legion d'honneur decoration). Morocco-France, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Powell in Kuwait to make talks on Iraq and the Arab reforms
The US secretary of state Colin Powell arrived in Kuwait, his first station in a Gulf tour during which he will also visit Saudi Arabia and discuss in it the situation in Iraq and the Middle East peace process and the American reform initiative in the Arab states. Kuwait-USA, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Jordanian king yesterday paid a sudden visit to Israel
Jordanian King Abdullah II yesterday paid a sudden visit to Israel that lasted for several hours during which he had met with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in Negev, southern Israel before he returned back to his country. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Yemen stops support to a demonstration on Iraq's invasion anniversary
The Yemeni government went back on its promise it had vowed to offering the opposition parties a licensing to organize a huge demonstration today ( Saturday), on the occasion of the first anniversary of Iraq's occupation at the hands of the American occupation forces and its allies. Yemen-Iraq, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Baghdad: the killing of al-Arabeyah photographer by the American bullets Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/19/2004
- King holds talks with Mauritanian President Morocco-Mauritania, Politics, 3/19/2004
- Syria highlights European Parliamentarians role in ME policy making Syria-European Union, Politics, 3/19/2004
- Qatar invites an Israeli minister to an International conference
The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that the Israeli minister of Tourism Bani Eylon who calls for the evacuation of the Palestinians received an invitation from Qatar to take part in an international conference due to be held in Doha. Qatar-Israel, Politics, 3/19/2004 - Prodi calls for ME peace Regional-European Union, Politics, 3/19/2004
- Washington freezes the assets if families if Saddam regime officials Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/19/2004
- Some 17 Kurds killed, confrontation increases pressures in Syria
Syrian Kurdish sources said that the confrontations between the Arab citizens and the Kurds developed during the past 24 hours in the north east part of the country and this resulted in killing 17 persons all of them Kurds, so as number of killings since the eruption of the clashes on Friday reached 36, according to the same sources. Syria, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Washington describes Saudi Arabia detention of reformers as regretted
The US Department Of State has denounced the Saudi Arabian authorities detention of scores of reformers and described this operation as "regrettable." Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Al-Assad holds Talks with Saudi Crown Prince, in a short visit to Riyadh
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Butaflika is the strongest for the Algerian presidency
Though achievements under the rule of the Algerian president Abdul Aziz Butaflika are not convincing for many, but he seemed to be the most likely to win the next Presidential elections. Algeria, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Jordanian king calls on the Arab summit to agree on reforms
The Jordanian King Abdullah II yesterday called on the next Arab summit to work for enhancing democratic reforms in the region so as to avoid imposing it from the outside. Jordan-Regional, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Nile basin states rule out amending 1929 treaty
The Nile basin countries discuss today in Kenya projects on irrigation, electricity and drainage where they seek to reach a unanimous stand on important statistics concerning waterfall rates and amounts of Nile river waters. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Duke Of York calls for promoting trade with Morocco
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, left Morocco on Wednesday, after holding talks with Moroccan foreign trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, during which the prince called for the promotion of trade between the two countries. Morocco-UK, Politics, 3/18/2004 - International Symposium on 'Arabs after war on Iraq' wrapped up
The participants in the international symposium "Arabs after War on Iraq," recently held in Tunis from 14 to 16 March, called for solving the Palestinian cause, restoring the Iraqi sovereignty and national integrity. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 3/18/2004 - Al-Shara meets with Saudi peer on sideline of Syrian- saudi summit Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 3/18/2004
- Morocco deeply concerned by dangerous escalation against Palestinian people Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 3/18/2004
- Amr Moussa Arab League monitors Israeli massacres in Gaza Regional-Palestine, Politics, 3/18/2004
- Al-Assad meets with Canadian church delegation Syria-Canada, Politics, 3/18/2004
- Gul: Riots are not in the service of Turkey; Damascus reacts judiciously, clashes renewed Syria, Politics, 3/17/2004
- Jordanian King in Turkey
King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed with the Turkish President Ahmad Necdet Sezer in Ankara yesterday bilateral relations and recent developments in Iraq and the Middle East. Jordan-Turkey, Politics, 3/17/2004 - Two minutes on TV for each electoral candidate; Algeria completes preparation for the elections
The Algerian prime minister Ahmad Yahya, chairman of the preliminary committee for the Presidential elections said that some 18 persons, are eligible to election on April 8, warning that the Algerian authorities will not permit threatening stability and security during the election process. Algeria, Politics, 3/17/2004 - Inter- Sudanese peace talks extended until Monday
The Sudanese government and the southern rebels decided to extend the bilateral peace talks which aim at settling the case of sharing the authority and agreement on the areas under disputes for several days. Sudan, Politics, 3/17/2004 - Kuwait calls for the execution of Saddam Hussein
The Kuwaiti attorney general Hamid al-Othman said in statements issued yesterday that Kuwait will call for the death penalty of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein over crimes he had committed against Kuwait. Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 3/17/2004 - Four American missionaries, one German, one Dutch were killed; Bremer to Kurds: Saddam will pay for Halabja massacre
The American civil administrator of Iraq, Paul Premer, promised the Kurds, during his participation in a celebration of Halabja massacre anniversary that the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his aides will be tried over the chemical attack which resulted in killing 5,000 persons in this city 16 years ago. Iraq, Politics, 3/17/2004 - Al-Assad is today in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 3/17/2004
- Former AL chief calls for counting the Greater ME project Regional-USA, Politics, 3/17/2004
- Damascus accuses arrivals from neighbors, denies the existence of a Kurdish problem
Al-Jazeera area in Northern east Syria witnessed yesterday a notable calm after an atmosphere on strong tension prevailed on it on Sunday preceded by acts of riots and destruction that resulted in human casualties and material losses. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Syrian citizens in Brussles protest against attacking embassy
Hundreds of Syrian and Arab citizens in Brussels on Sunday evening gathered in front of the Syrian embassy in the Belgian capital to protest recent events against it and solidify and express loyalty to Syria as a state and leadership. Syria-Belgium, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Saudi Arabia to reconsider human rights violations
A high ranking Saudi Arabian official said on Sunday that Riyadh is about to form a governmental commission in charge of investigating human rights violation reports. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Morocco adopts consumer protection strategy
Moroccan minister of industry, trade and telecoms, Rachid Talbi Alami, said Monday that his department has adopted a strategy that puts consumers at the center of economic and social development. Morocco, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Two authority candidates win the elections in Comoros
The committee in charge of ratifying results of the legislative elections which took place on Sunday in Comoros said that the preliminary first results of the voting showed that two parliamentarians in the Greater Comoros Islands won in the first session of the voting. Comoros, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Jordan: A new law for the press
The Jordanian government has prepared a draft law that mends the valid printing and publication that guarantees the reinforcement of press freedom especially preventing holding journalists in custody or jailing them over publication matters and abrogating prior monitoring on the press. Jordan, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Zapatero pledges 'magnificent relations' with neighboring Morocco
Spain's incoming Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Monday pledged to maintain "magnificent relations" with its southern neighbor Morocco, and to open "a new era of good relations" with the kingdom. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Damascus denies the visit of an American delegation to al-Qamishli
Damascus yesterday denied a news by the Israeli daily Haartez in which it said that an American delegation moved secretly on Sunday from Iraq into al-Hassaka area in northern Syria. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Al-Faisal calls on Straw to pressure Israel
The Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Saud al-Faisal has called upon his British peer Jacque Straw during their talks in Riyadh yesterday to practice European Pressures on Israel to halt its massacres against the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia-UK, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Syrian- Egyptian coordination for Tunisia's Arab summit
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher stressed the deep-rooted fraternal relations between Syria and Egypt. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Bin Yahya: Tunis is ready to hoist the Arab summit
The Tunisian foreign minister, al-Habib Bin Yahya, said that Tunis is ready to host the 16th Arab summit which will be held on march 29 and 30. Tunisia-Regional, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Ivory Coast reiterates firm support to political solution to Sahara dispute, Minister
The Government of Ivory Coast has reiterated its " firm support " to a political and final settlement of the Sahara dispute opposing Morocco and the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-Ivory Coast, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Ivory Coast praises King's decision to cancel poor countries debt
The government of Ivory Coast has praised King Mohammed VI's decision to cancel the debt owed to Morocco by the least advanced African countries, and to suppress tariff barriers to allow their basic products access the Moroccan market. Morocco-Ivory Coast, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Syria rebuffs foreign dictations, party official says
Syria on Monday strongly rejected foreign dictations and pressures labeling the so-called initiative of Greater Middle East as a "rejected intervention," but noted keenness on dialogue maintained with the United States. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Al-Qurabi and Syria's accountability law
Yemeni Foreign Minister, Abu Bakr al-Qurbi, on Monday stressed the necessity of creating one Arab vision to strengthen the Arab attitude towards the proposed initiatives. Yemen-Syria, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Abu al-Abbas will be buried in Syria
An official in the Palestine Liberation Front said yesterday that the body of the secretary general of front Muhammad Abbas ( Abu al-Abbas) who died in an American detention camp in Iraq will be buried in Syria after Israel had refused to permit him into the West Bank. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Islamic regional bureaus conference for boycotting Israel
Chairman of the Syrian delegation to the 7th Conference of liaison officers of the Islamic Regional Bureaus for the boycott of Israel, Mohammad al-Ajami, stressed that the conference is held in Jeddah to serve the Palestinian cause and to support the Palestinian people in their resistance. Regional-Israel, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Gas producers meeting winds up
The fourth Ministerial Conference of Gas Producing Countries agreed on Monday on the Egyptian suggestion to set up an executive office for the forum. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/16/2004 - Al-Assad confers with GCC chief Syria-Gulf, Politics, 3/16/2004
- Lahoud voices support for the Palestinians's Right of Return back home Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 3/16/2004
- Al-Faisal voices support for Palestinian rights Saudi Arabia-Palestine, Politics, 3/16/2004
- Egypt's Mufti: strong rejection to outsider imposed reforms Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/16/2004
- Arab League chief confers with German Parliamentarian Regional-Germany, Politics, 3/16/2004
- In protest of al-Qamishli incidents, some 30 Kurds broke into the Syrian embassy in Brussels, detained
News reports in Brussels said that the breaking in operation of the building of the Syrian embassy in the Belgian capital Brussels, carried out by a group of Kurds ended. Syria-Belgium, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Mubarak meets al-Assad in a short visit to Damascus
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt arrived in Damascus on Sunday for a short visit to Syria. Mubarak was received at Damascus international airport by President Bashar al-Assad. Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, Information Minister Ahmad al-Hasan and the Egyptian Ambassador in Damascus also received Mubarak. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Benflis vows to implement 100 democratic commitments: democracy, , liberalization of media
The candidates for Presidential elections in Algeria Ali Benflis, presented to the International center for the press yesterday the outline for his election program which was under the titled "a renewed national project," including 100 commitments he had vowed to implement if he wins against the current President Abdul Aziz Butaflika. Algeria, Politics, 3/15/2004 - First parliamentary elections started in Comoros federation
The first legislative elections started in Comoros federation yesterday ( Sunday) with the participation of some 255,160 voters. Comoros, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Gulf media campaign against the evils of terrorism
The Gulf joint program production for the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC announced yesterday the beginning of a media campaign against the "evils of terrorism." Gulf, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Germany for revitalizing the ME Peace Process
The Chief of the Foreign Relations at the German Parliament, Folcker Roukh, on Sunday stressed the necessity of an effective international role to move the peace process in the Middle East forward. Regional-Germany, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Syrian- Lebanese coordination underlined
Lebanese Minister of State Talal Arslan stressed the necessity of coordination between Syria and Lebanon to combat the current challenges that face the Arab states. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Khartoum criticizes an American report over Darfour
Khartoum yesterday accused one American official of being biased to the Sudanese rebels by publishing a worrying report on the humanitarian situation in Darfour area to the west of the country. Sudan-USA, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Syrian information source and al-Hasakah riot acts
An information source said that the city of al-Hasakah and some other cities in the governorate of al-Hasakah on Saturday witnessed some acts of riot and sabotage during which some mobs destroyed a number of governmental establishments and public buildings. Syria, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Occupation tightens control on Iraqi borders; Four American soldiers killed in two attacks in Baghdad
The American army announced that four of its soldiers were killed in two separate explosions in Baghdad. A spokesman for the occupation forces said that three soldiers were killed and another was injured in an explosion that took place in an area to the south east of the capital, while the forth was injured by another explosion and died yesterday because of his wounds. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Israel refuses burying Abu al-Abbas in Ramullah
The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said yesterday that the Israeli government refused a request proposed by the Palestinian authority for permitting the burial of the secretary general of the Palestine liberation front, Muhammad Abbas "Abu al-Abbas", in Ramullah. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Egyptian MP speaker for implementing International resolutions
Speaker of the Egyptian Shoura Council Mustafa Kamal Hilmi has stressed the country's firm stance towards the necessity of implementing international resolutions. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Okaz: Fattouh criticized the Greater Middle East initiative
The new speaker of the Palestinian legislative Council Rouhi Fattouh strongly criticized the so-called Greater Middle East, saying that Washington wants a big Middle East on its own standards and vision. Palestine-USA, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Sharon: we will not pay one penny to return back the Egyptian ambassador Egyptian companies export cement to build the wall
The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday that he is not ready " to pay one penny " for returning back the Egyptian ambassador to Israel while Egyptian parliamentarians call for disclosing names of Egyptian companies and businessmen who exported cement shipments to Israel to build the wall of separation in the West Bank. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 3/15/2004 - Arab Chambers of Trade meet in Damascus Regional-Syria, Politics, 3/15/2004
- Vice President Khaddam confers with Iraqi al-Watan party delegation Syria-Iraq, Politics, 3/15/2004
- Al-Shara holds telephone talks with AL chief Syria-Regional, Politics, 3/15/2004
- Kenya dismisses disagreement with Egypt on Nile waters Egypt-Kenya, Politics, 3/15/2004