Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 12/20/2004
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of December 20, 2004
- Following Washington, the UN, Britain freeze assets of the Saudi Islamic movement for reforms
The British government decided yesterday to freeze the assets of the opposition Saudi Islamic Movement For Reforms, just one day after the UN Security Council approved similar sanctions against the chairman of the movement Saad al-Faqih and enrolled his name on the so-called terrorism list. Saudi Arabia-UN, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Libyan press strongly criticize Saudi Arabia
The Libyan press on Friday launched strong criticism against Saudi Arabia because of its decision to summon its ambassador in Tripoli and to expel the Libyan ambassador in Riyadh, describing Saudi Arabia as "the kingdom of darkness" ruled by Abu Jahel. Libya-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Japanese diplomat: Egypt's African, Arab position should win it permanent UNSC seat
Egypt's distinguished position in Africa and the Arab states should win it a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, a senior Japanese diplomat said. Egypt-Japan, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Kharrazi in Lebanon highlights Syrian-Lebanese-Iranian consultation
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi stressed importance of consultation and coordination among Syria, Lebanon and Iran in light of the current developments on the regional arena. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Turkey's officials highlight relations with Syria
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday emphasized the ought to continue developing and strengthening the positive ties between Syria and Turkey. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Peace agreement on southern Sudan expected next month
A mediator in the inter-Sudanese peace talks announced that the Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha and the leader of the southern rebels movement John Garang will continue their talks during the Christmas in order to reach a comprehensive agreement before the end of the year. Sudan, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Calls to postpone Iraqi elections; trials of Saddam, aides
al-Sader called each of Israel, the USA and Britain of being behind the bloody attacks against Najaf and Karbala city last Sunday which resulted in killing 66 civilians and injuring other 200, noting that "these terrorist countries want to set the fire of sedition so as to get themselves out of their dilemma." Iraq, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Rumsfeld tour in Iraq, expresses confidenece
The bloody events in Iraq coincided with a round carried out with the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld in each of Musil, Tikrit and Falluja which he said was decided beforehand and its objective is to extend thanks to the American forces on the occasion of the Christmas. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Saudi Al-Jazira: Palestinian presidential nominee stresses Intifada need
Palestinian Nominee for Presidential elections of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Taysir Khaled, on Friday, accentuated the need to continue the Palestinian Intifada and said the Palestinian people has been resisting the Israeli occupation like any resistance against occupation in the world. Palestine, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Egypt discusses forming parliamentary human rights committee Egypt, Politics, 12/25/2004
- New visit exchange between families in southern Morocco and Tindouf
The 29th visit exchange between families in Morocco and their relatives in Polisario-controlled camps in southern Algeria was organized Friday from and to the Moroccan city of Laayoune. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/25/2004 - Morocco denounces 'irresponsible statements' of Canary Islands official on illegal immigration
Morocco's Directorate of Migration and Borders Surveillance refuted firmly on Friday the "irresponsible statements" of president of the Spanish local government of Fuerteventura who "accused Morocco of being responsible for the phenomenon of illegal immigration." Morocco-Canary Islands, Politics, 12/25/2004 - UN Security Council puts al-Faqih on terrorism list
The UN Security Council yesterday enrolled the name of the Saudi opposition member Saad al-Faqih on the international list of persons and establishments stand in support of terrorism. Saudi Arabia-UN, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Revisiting past human rights violations to win the bet of the future, intellectuals and political leaders
Several intellectual and political leaders deemed that making a "mature reading" of past human rights violations is a "pedagogical instrument" to turn the painful pages of the past and face the future with more confidence. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Ahmed Herzenni: I am a not a victim but a militant opposed to all forms of injustice and exploitation
"I am not a victim but a militant opposed to all forms of injustice, exploitation and arrogance," said former detainee Ahmed Herzenni, as he testified in the 2nd session of public hearings broadcast live on Wednesday by the Moroccan first TV channel (TVM). Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Former detainee Abdellah Aaqaou calls for turning the page of human rights violations in Morocco
Abdellah Aaqaou, who was detained in the Tazmamart center, called in his testimony during the 2nd session of the public hearings held, on Wednesday, in Rabat by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), for turning the page of human rights violations in Morocco and for involving all the components of the civil society in order to promote a sound and abuse-free atmosphere of co-existence. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Hidou Abdallah calls for reassuring Moroccans that human rights violations will not occur again
Former detainee Hidou Abdallah insisted on Wednesday in his testimony, held part of the second session of public hearings held by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), that past human rights violations should never occur again, so that Moroccans "can live in the respect of their rights and freedoms." Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Mostapha El Amrani describes atrocious detention conditions after independence
Former detainee, Mostapha El Amrani, testified on Wednesday in Rabat, in the framework of the public hearings held by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER) on the atrocious torture and ill-treatments he suffered during his detention in the wake of independence. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - 'Our torturers did not respect our woman nature', says former female detainee
Former political detainee, Maria Zouini, who was arrested in 1977 for belonging to a Left Marxist group, affirmed Wednesday her torturers "did not respect her as a woman," adding that the period of her detention was "arbitrary." Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Saleh Saadallah reports various forms of mistreatment
Former detainee Saleh Saadallah, a victim of past human abuses in Morocco, devoted his testimony, at the second public hearing Wednesday, by the Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), to the abuses and mistreatments he underwent at the time of his detention in 1963 at the police station of Maarif, Derb Moulay Chrif, in Casablanca. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Moussa: we mediate for solving the Saudi- Libyan differences
The secretary general of the Arab league (AL) Amr Moussa said yesterday that the Arab League is trying to mediate in the escalated Saudi- Libyan differences which provoked Riyadh on Wednesday to take a decision to withdraw its ambassador from Tripoli and asked the Libyan ambassador in Saudi Arabia to leave the country. Saudi Arabia-Libya, Politics, 12/24/2004 - UN denies Washington's interference in the Arab development report, to be published in the first half of 2005
The director of the UNDP Marc Maluk Brown said that the Human development report for 2004 involved with the question of reforms in the Arab states will be issued in the first half of 2005. He denied that the Bush administration to have had practiced any sort of monitoring of its content. Regional-UN, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Kharazi in a sudden visit to Damascus, Beirut and Ankara: some want an Iraqi civil war prepares for division
The Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi who had met in Damascus yesterday with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad before he moved to Beirut in a sudden visit, warned that sides he did not specify "are conspiring to set ablaze a civil war in Iraq leading to its partition." Syria-Iran, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Erdogan ends visit to Syria: we will work to double trade
The Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan concluded a two day visit to Syria yesterday by visiting the religious and archeological sites in Damascus and Aleppo. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Bush signs draft law imposing sanctions on Sudan
The US President George W. Bush signed a new law urging the American government to freeze the assets of the Sudanese government and its officials, over the situation in Darfur. Sudan-USA, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Iraq ambassador to Damascus denied knowing of pictures to resistance men with Syrian officials
Iraqi designated ambassador to Syria Hassan al-Alawi has denied what was quoted about him that he knows about pictures for Iraqi fighters with Syrian officials. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Tareq Aziz will not testify against Saddam
The former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz will not be a witness against the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein before the Iraqi criminal court. Iraq, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Returning back to Falluja
The citizens of Falluja city to the west of Baghdad started returning back to their houses to find out a great destruction inflicted by the plenary American attack against the city which started on December 8th. Iraq, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Rumsfeld in Musil
The US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid a sudden visit to Musil in north Iraq where he had inspected the American base which was exposed to a large attack on Tuesday. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Great turnout for the Palestinian municipal elections, Hamas candidates progressing
Preliminary results of the Palestinian municipal elections indicated a progress for the candidates of the Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) in Toulkarem city in the West Bank. Palestine, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Syria buys the apples of the Golan via the UN
Syria yesterday stressed its desire to buy the apples crop from the villages of the occupied Syrian Golan heights as a response to the demands of the Syrian farmers who are under the Israeli occupation. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Two Russian hirelings arrived in Moscow handed over by Qatar
Two Russian hirelings accused of assassinating former Chechenia president Salim Khan Bander Yaieve arrived yesterday in Moscow after Qatar had approved a Russian request that the two men spend the so remaining period of their imprisonment in the Russian jails. Qatar-Russia, Politics, 12/24/2004 - Morocco, Spain organize joint patrols to crack down on illegal immigrants Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/24/2004
- Saudi Arabia expels the Libyan ambassador following accusations of crown prince assassination attempt
Saudi Arabia yesterday withdrew its ambassador from Libya and simultaneously expelled the Libyan ambassador in Riyadh after it accused Tripoli of involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, according to the Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal. Saudi Arabia-Libya, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Libya regrets the Saudi diplomatic measures against it
Libya has expressed its strong regret over the decision taken by Saudi Arabia to withdraw its ambassador from Tripoli and expel the Libyan ambassador form the kingdom on the background of accusing Tripoli of involvement in the conspiracy of assassinating the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. Libya-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/23/2004 - President al-Assad, Premier Erdogan-toured Damascus Historical Sites
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and his spouce on Wednesday evening accompanied Turkish Premier and his spouce on a tour of Damascus historical and archeological sites. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Turkish Ambassador highlights Syrian-Turkish Relations
Turkish Ambassador to Syria, Khaled Cevik has stressed the remarkable development that the Syrian-Turkish relations witnessed lately and after signing Adana agreement on 25 October 1998, saying Syria and Turkey are focusing on developing cooperation between both sides in all domains. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/23/2004 - After American and Egyptian obstacles, the Arab development report issued in the names of its authors
It is expected that the human development report in the Arab states will be published by the end of January 2005 under the names of researchers who supervised its composition, rather under the name of the United Nations Development Program UNDP which financed it. Regional, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Mauritania: Saleh Hanina admit coupe attempt of Weld Taye'
The master mind of three coupe attempts in Mauritania in June 2003, August and September 2004, officer Saleh Weld Hanina, admitted his involvement in these attempts while he was before the criminal court in Wad al-Naqa to the east of Nouakchott yesterday. Mauritania, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Pope Shenouda ends his isolation
Pope of Alexandria Shenouda III returned back to Cairo yesterday ending a "seclusion" he had started on December 8th demanding the solution of problems relating to Copts and releasing young men detained by the police. Egypt, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Victims of Human rights deliver poignant testimonies of sufferings
The first testimony was made by Fatma Aït Ettajer whose son Hassan Semlali was detained in 1974 among the Serfati group. The woman, aged over 70, recounted how families of victims of arbitrary detention have experienced a moral and material plight, after their sons and daughters were kidnapped and transferred from one detention center to another. Morocco, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Hearings of HR abuses victims: Morocco starts unique experience in Arab-Islamic world
On his part president of the human rights documentation center, Habib Belkouch, said he was deeply moved by "the historic moment," stressing that the unique way in which the issue of human rights is addressed in Morocco is an evidence to a political will to move forward in the democratic construction. Morocco, Politics, 12/23/2004 - ICTJ welcomes start of public hearings for victims of human rights abuses in Morocco
The IER is the first truth commission to be established in the Middle East and North Africa region and the public hearings will provide victims with the "opportunity -- unprecedented in the region --to tell their stories before an official body," said the New York-based ICTJ in a release Morocco, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Big celebration in France over the release of the two kidnapped journalists
The two French journalists Christian Shino and George Malbrono on Wednesday arrived in their country amid large celebrations after a detention crisis in Iraq lasted for 4 months. Iraq-France, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Blair to Sharon: Syria takes part in the operations against us in Iraq
The British prime minister Tony Blair said before his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon in occupied Jerusalem yesterday that Syria is working against the occupation forces in Iraq "and directly takes part in the operations against us." Syria-UK, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Blair visits the Palestinian territories
The British prime minister Tony Blair continued his tour in the Palestinian territories after his meeting with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Palestine-UK, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Abul -Gheit: Arabism needed in Iraq to protect from sectarianism Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 12/23/2004
- Sahrawi sequestered in Tindouf camps decides to stay in Morocco
Babaha Ahmed Hammoud, currently in Morocco as part of the visit exchange program between families in southern Morocco and their relatives in Polisario-controlled camps, decided to "stay with his family in Dakhla (southern Morocco) and not return to the camps," said the Office of coordination with Minurso (French acronym for the UN mission in the Sahara) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/23/2004 - Beirut's meeting on the 'Right of Return' for the Palestinians Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 12/23/2004
- Allawi paid yesterday a short visit to Amman Iraq-Jordan, Politics, 12/23/2004
- The Guardian: British Analyst and the U.S. ME Policy Regional-USA, Politics, 12/23/2004
- US freezes assets of Saad Allah al-Faqih over possible ties with al-Qaida
The Saudi authorities froze the assets of the Saudi opposition member who lives in London, Saad al-Faqih, and another citizen Adel Batreji. The decision was taken over suspects that the two men are giving financial and material support to al-Qaida organization. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Egypt's Muslim Brothers deny Mubarak's accusation to them of terrorism
The Muslim Brothers movement has rejected the accusations of terrorism addressed to it by the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Egypt, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Public hearings into past human rights breaches start in Morocco
The hearings, organized by the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (known by its French acronym IER), are broadcast on the two Moroccan TV channels as well as the satellite channel 'Al Maghribia' so as to give the Moroccan public opinion an opportunity to know about past human rights violations that marred the post independence Morocco until 1999. Morocco, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Turkish statement on Erdogan's visit to Syrian
Turkey's Ambassador to Syria, Khaled Cevik, on Tuesday, stressed that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Syria tomorrow will constitute another turning point in the relations between the two countries following President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Ankara early this year. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Asharq paper: any attempt to undermine Morocco's integrity will destabilize North Africa
Any attempt to separate a part of the Moroccan territory will lead to the destabilization of North Africa and will undermine peace and stability in the region, wrote the Qatari newspaper "Asharq." Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Two French hostages released
The French government announced yesterday the release of its two journalists Christian Shino and George Malbrono, who were kidnapped in Iraq in August. Iraq-France, Politics, 12/22/2004 - American professor notes the gap between America and the Arab region
Director of the Middle East Studies Center at the American Ohio University Prof. Alam Bayned said that the gap between the United States and the Arab region is expanding due to misunderstanding each other's views, asserting necessity of reaching a common understanding through avoiding wrong ideas. Regional-USA, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Blair in Baghdad, elections on time
Despite the deteriorated security conditions, the British prime minister Tony Blair and the Iraqi interim prime minister Eyad Allawi stressed in a joint press conference in Baghdad that the Iraqi elections will be carried out in its set date scheduled on January 30th. Iraq-UK, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Israel release Abu Zeid
The medical committee at Rambam hospital in Haifa yesterday decided to release Syrian prisoner Hayel Abu Zeid from the occupied Syrian Golan heights, as part of the decision taken by the Israeli court on Monday, last week, in which it made it obligatory for the Israeli jails not to bring back Abu Zeid to prison. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Cappucci and accusations against Syria
Patriarch of Jerusalem in exile, Patriarch Hylarion Cappucci, has stressed that directing groundless accusations against Syria and putting pressure on her, are aimed at hindering Syria's role regionally and efforts on the international arena. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 12/22/2004 - AL chief calls on Israel to respond to Arab peace initiatives
Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa urged Israel to respond to Arab calls for revival of the peace process in the Middle East and the implementation of peace requirements in line with the international resolutions. Regional-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Resistance is sole choice for Palestinian people, Kaddoumi
Palestinian Foreign Minister and head of Fatah movement, Farouk Kaddoumi, said the Palestinian people have no other choice but to pursue resistance to recover its rights from "people who refuse to renounce their colonialist goals." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Palestinians celebrate Arafat's 40-day death occasion; Abbas clings to peace with Israel
Chairman of the PLO executive committee Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin) stressed attachment to peace with Israel and vowed to "follow the steps of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat," calling on Israel to return back to the table of negotiations in order to reach a final solution for the conflict between the two sides. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2004 - Lebanese movement warns against damaging ties with Syria Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 12/22/2004
- Bahraini FM: Mubarak did not ask Gulf States to set up relations with Israel Bahrain-Egypt, Politics, 12/22/2004
- Moussa: Time ripe for just settlement between Palestinians, Israelis Regional-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2004
- Gulf summit in Manama: Bahrain King stresses importance of reforms in the region
The King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa, stressed at the inauguration of the 25th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit proceeding forward in making reforms inspired by the peoples of the region. He said that the message of the GCC summit to the world is that of openness and partnership. Gulf-Regional, Politics, 12/21/2004 - The Gulf summit agenda
the GCC summit is being held amid calls for changes advocated by Gulf societies in defense of human rights in each of Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE in order to accelerate political reforms and to highlight human rights in the Gulf region. Gulf, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Sharp differences between Manama and Riyadh delay Gulf summit session
One Gulf official announced that a second session of the 25th GCC summit was due to be held on Monday evening in Manama but was postponed until Tuesday morning after an amendment was introduced on the program. Bahrain-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Erdogan's interview on visit and relations with Syria
He added that pushing the bilateral relations between Turkey and Syria would no doubt positively reflect on the two peoples and countries. "This signals great desire on the part of both sides to further develop these relations and take positive steps in this regard," he added. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Public hearings of human rights abuses victims, braced to initiate reconciliation in Morocco
The public hearing sessions of victims who suffered from human rights abuses in Morocco in the period running between Morocco's independence (1956) and 1999 are braced to constitute a remarkable stage to start reconciliation of Moroccans with their past, in a first experience of the kind in the Arab-Islamic world. Morocco, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Maghreb foreign ministers wind up meeting, Libya accepts to keep UMA chairmanship
The Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) council, comprising foreign ministers of the five member-countries, wound up a meeting in Tripoli, with Libya announcing it is relinquishing its previous decision to step down from the grouping rotating chairmanship. Maghreb-Libya, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Iraq elections begin process to democratic government, Bush says
US President George W. Bush said Iraq's January 30, 2005, elections are the beginning of a process that will lead to the drafting of a new Iraqi constitution and the election of "a fully democratic constitutional government" by December 2005. Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Darfur rebels attack oil institutions
The Sudanese government accused the Darfur rebels of attacking oil establishments in Darfur south where battles were renewed between the two sides and the African Union forces were obliged to provisionally postpone the monitoring mission. Sudan, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Libyan mediation efforts in Sudan
In Nigeria's capital Abuja, a Libyan delegation is leading mediation efforts of the African Union. The delegation held talks with representatives for the Sudanese government and the rebels in an attempt to convince them to stop the fighting in Darfur and resume the negotiations. Sudan-Libya, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Iran rejects Europe's request to recognize Israel
Iran rejected yesterday the request made by the European Union to recognize Israel and stop supporting the Palestinian organizations as a precondition for improving relations between the two sides. Iran-European Union, Politics, 12/21/2004 - All Muslems must give greater support to protect the identity of Al-Quds, King Mohammed
To protect the identity of Al-Quds and its time-honoured cultural heritage, all Muslims must give greater support to the commendable efforts expended by the Beit Mal Al-Quds Agency in a coordinated, complementary way Palestine-Regional, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Abbas ends a political tour
Chairman of the Palestine Liberation organization (PLO) Mahmoud Abbas ended a diplomatic tour that lasted 8 days during which he visited 8 Arab states. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Reports to Mubarak on activities of human rights Council Egypt, Politics, 12/21/2004
- Moroccan delegation sheds light on Sahara question in Colombia
A delegation from the southern Moroccan region of Oued Eddahab-Lagouira shed light, during a recent visit to Columbia, on the latest developments of the Sahara question. Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Al-Assad held phone talks with King Abdullah Syria-Jordan, Politics, 12/21/2004
- Jordanian FM visits Egypt today Egypt-Jordan, Politics, 12/21/2004
- Canadia's prime minister meets Qathafi Libya-Canada, Politics, 12/21/2004
- Morocco, EU sign accord on funding program of Borders Control Management
Morocco and the European Union (EU) signed, in Rabat Monday, a convention, providing for 40 million Euro to fund Morocco-EU program on Border Control Management. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 12/21/2004 - Al-Assad confers with Iranian vice-President Syria-Iran, Politics, 12/20/2004
- New political movement formed in Kuwait calls for pluralism, authority transfer
A new political movement has emerged on the political scene in Kuwait under the name "al-Adala Wal- Tanmiyah" (justice and development). The movement was formed by a number of young media people and academics." Kuwait, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Benaissa in Tripoli to take part in UMA FMs meeting Libya-Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2004
- Qathafi agrees to continue his presidency for the Maghreb Union
The Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi has agreed to continue his chairmanship for the Arab Maghreb Union until the convening of the Union's summit which will be set shortly. Libya-Maghreb, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Moussa: Mubarak's warning on attacking Iran reflects strategic vision
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa hailed Egypt's call to hold a conference in Sharm el-Sheikh next March, due to be attended by the G-8, to discuss developments and reforms in the Middle East. Regional-Iran, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Mubarak: Palestinian State would be created by 2008
As for his warning in Der Spiegel magazine only three weeks before the US-led attack on Iraq that such war would lead to a catastrophe and create hundreds like Osama Bin Laden, which has proven correct, he said he hoped he would have been mistaken. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 12/20/2004 - FIDH welcomes public hearings into human rights abuses in Morocco
Around 200 victims, families of victims and witnesses of violations are due to participate in the hearings, which are scheduled to take place in 10 different cities, starting in the capital, Rabat, over a period of around 10 weeks. Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Limited redeployment for the Syrian forces in Lebanon
The Lebanese army announced that the Syrian army carried out on Sunday a new limited redeployment operation in Lebanon and closed the Syrian intelligence centers in Beirut and north Lebanon. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Saudi crown prince is absent from Gulf summit
The Saudi royal court ( Divan) announced in a statement that the defense minister prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz will chair the delegation of the Kingdom to the summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council which will open deliberations in Bahrain on Monday and Tuesday. Saudi Arabia-Gulf, Politics, 12/20/2004 - EU pressures on Syria to implement UN resolution 1559
The European Union has called on Syria to implement the UN Security Council resolution no. 1559 which calls for the withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon. Syria-European Union, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Morocco needs to open up on nuclear technologies, minister
The Moroccan economy needs to open up on nuclear technologies because of the energy bill, said on Friday Moroccan Minister of National Education, Higher Education, Cadres Training and Scientific Research. Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Abbas wraps up visit to UAE, arrived in Jordan
Chairman of the Palestine Liberation organization PLO Mahmoud Abbas has briefed President of the United Arab Emirates UAE Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the exerted efforts to make the elections next month. United Arab Emirates-Palestine, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Sudanese government stops attacks in Darfur; rebels doubt
The Sudanese government has announced cling to an immediate and unconditional cease-fire with the rebels in Darfur and asked the African union and the UN to try and get a similar commitment from the rebels. Sudan, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Britain warns its citizens in Kuwait against attacks
Britain has called on its citizens in Kuwait to be cautious following American information on the possible attacks targeting western attacks there. Kuwait-UK, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Morocco, Senegal sign series of cooperation agreements
The accords are meant to encourage bilateral cooperation in training, information and experience exchange, and improve the quality of services in prisons to facilitate inmates reinsertion in social life. Morocco-Senegal, Politics, 12/20/2004 - Erdogan to pay an official visit to Syria Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/20/2004
- EU approves neighbourhood action plans
Action plans projected as part of the European neighbourhood policy, consisting of a raft of political, economic and social opportunities to Europe's neighbours, including Morocco, was approved Friday by the European summit in Brussels. Regional-European Union, Politics, 12/20/2004