Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 3/28/2005
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of March 28, 2005
- Syria to completely pull out its forces before the Lebanese elections
Syria said it will withdraw all its forces existing in Lebanon before the elections so as this announcement will end any speculation on the presence of 10,000 soldiers in the Bekaa plain, in the east of Lebanon. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Karami fails to form a government
Sources in the office of the designated Lebanese prime minister expected he will reject to form a government after he had failed to convince the opposition to take part in a national unity government. Lebanon, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Syrian forces complete first phase of withdrawal
Damascus has completed the first phase of the withdrawal plan by pulling out its forces to the Bekaa plain, in the east of Lebanon, and pulled out more than one third of its forces deployed there into inside the Syrian territories. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Parliament fails to choose speaker;booby trapped car in Karkouk
The Iraqi National Assembly ( parliament) held its second session on Tuesday after a two and a half hours delay without choosing a speaker for it. Iraq, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Golan citizens committed to their syrian identity
British newspaper of Financial Times said Tuesday that the Syrian citizens of the occupied Golan are committed to loyalty to their motherland and wished that their ordeal under the Israeli occupation would get international attention. Syria-Israel, Politics, 3/30/2005 - UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Sudan
The UN Security Council agreed to impose sanctions on the travel and assets freezing of individuals in Darfur district who violate the truce and are responsible for committing ugliest crimes against civilians, and also limiting the flow of weapons to the region. Sudan-UN, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Turkish PM calls for consolidation of relations with Morocco
Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called on, in Ankara Monday, for the consolidation of cooperation with Morocco, saying different accords are due to be signed between the two countries. Morocco-Turkey, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Bush meets Iraqi voters on efforts toward democracy
President Bush said the more than 8 million Iraqis who participated in the January 30 Iraqi elections sent "a powerful signal" that they "intend to claim their liberty and build a future of freedom for their country." Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Annan says exoneration by Iraq Oil-for-Food report 'great relief'
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday it was a "great relief," after so "many distressing and untrue allegations," that an independent committee probing alleged misconduct and mismanagement in the United Nations Oil-for-Food program for Iraq had exonerated him of any wrongdoing in the award of a contract to a firm that employed his son. Iraq-UN, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Khatami inspects uranium enrichment complex
Talking to reporters, Deputy IAEO Head for International and Planning Affairs Mohammad Saeedi termed the uranium enrichment project of Natanz as the 'heart of the fuel cycle' of Iran Iran-USA, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Deportation of Sahrawi children to Cuba by 'Polisario' denounced
Two Moroccan women gave Tuesday, on the sidelines of the meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights, a moving testimony on the coercive deportation of Sahrawi children to Cuba by the "Polisario." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/30/2005 - King Mohammed receives Comoro Islands FM Morocco-Comoro, Politics, 3/30/2005
- OIC calls to stop expanding Israeli settlements Regional-Israel, Politics, 3/30/2005
- Egyptian newspaper criticizes Washington's policy in the region Regional-USA, Politics, 3/30/2005
- Satterfield confers with Hammoud Lebanon-USA, Politics, 3/30/2005
- Management reforms underway address findings of Volcker probe, UN official says
The United Nations is putting in place better management practices that address the shortcomings revealed in the latest interim report by an independent panel looking into allegations of wrongdoing in the Oil-for-Food program for Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Chief of Staff said yesterday. Regional-UN, Politics, 3/30/2005 - Iran summons the Egyptian charge de affairs Egypt-Iran, Politics, 3/30/2005
- Arab League criticizes U.S. officials statements on introducing democracy Regional-USA, Politics, 3/30/2005
- Reforms in Syria: Baath party national congress furnishes for the regional congress in June
Well informed sources in Damascus said that the 10th Regional Congress of the Baath Arab Socialist party in Syria will be held by the beginning of June and will be preceded by a national ( pan Arab) congress for the party which will be the first in 22 years. Syria, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Asefi stresses boosting relations with Arab and Islamic states United Arab Emirates-Iran, Politics, 3/29/2005
- Parliamentary elections in Qatar within one year
The Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasem al-Thani said that this country will witness legislative elections in the period extending between June this year and June next year giving no fixed date for the voting. Qatar, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Qatar: reform will not be affected by the Doha explosion
Qatar's foreign minister and first deputy premier, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem al-Thani, said that the explosion which targeted recently a British children school in Doha will not prevent Qatar from proceeding into the series of reforms it had launched since years. Qatar, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Al-Assad: security in Lebanon was not Syria's task
The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad considered that the UN report on the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri is "a political report based on views rather than evidence." Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Elyawer rejects the presidency of the parliament
Sources close to the Iraqi president, Ghazi Elwayer, whose term of office has expired, said he had rejected accepting the post of the speaker of the interim National Assembly. Iraq, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Nabil Fahmi: Egypt is not party to Bush guarantees to Sharon
Egypt has called on the US Administration to adopt a clear-cut stance towards the Israeli government plan for expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank and building more houses there. Egypt-USA, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Lebanese presidency rejects accusations against Lahoud
The Media Office at Lebanese Presidency on Monday dismissed some media and politicians accusations against Lebanese President Emile Lahoud's for his stance vis-a-vis the assassination crime of former Lebanese Premier Rafic Hariri. Lebanon, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Lebanese figures and parties reject foreign intervention
Lebanese national parties in Baalbek underlined rejection of foreign intervention, asserting the importance of rapprochement and dialogue based on the Taif accord and the national principles in facing all attempts to harm the national unity. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Number of foreign fighters among gunmen in Iraq increases
The leader of the American central leadership Gen. John AbiZaid said that the number of foreign fighters in the lines of gunmen in Iraq increased recently. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Patriarch Hazim: Selling church lands in Jerusalem unacceptable
Patriarch Ignace IV Hazim of Antioch and All East for the Roman Orthodox declared that any selling of lands that belong to the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem is unacceptable as they are endowments and nobody has a right to decide their status. Palestine, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Sahara: Pakistan aspires for an acceptable solution
Pakistan aspires for an "acceptable solution" between Morocco and Algeria with regard to the Sahara question, affirmed Pakistan's ambassador in Rabat, Attiya Mahmoud. Morocco-Pakistan, Politics, 3/29/2005 - Junblat rules out dismantling Hizbullah weapons now Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/29/2005
- China supports Iran on nuclear issue Iran-China, Politics, 3/29/2005
- Seistani denies intervention in politics, a government is expected very soon in Iraq
The Shiite clergy on Iraq Ayatullah al-Seistani said on Sunday he does not interfere in the political life except when it is necessary, especially in crisis times. This was expressed during his meeting with the UN envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Qadhi. Iraq, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Lahoud's assurance to ensure security
The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud made use of attending a mass service on Easter in Bkerky church, the headquarters of the Maronite Church in the mount of Lebanon, to stress that the Lebanese authorities are determined to enhance security. Lebanon, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Scores of Muslim Brothers detained in Cairo during demonstrations
The Egyptian security forces detained 100 members and supporters of the banned Ikhwan al-Muslimine (Muslim Brothers) groups during and prior to the demonstrations which demand political reforms organized by the group in Cairo though it was banned by the Egyptian ministry of the interior. Egypt, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Junblat meets Nasrullah
Opposition Druz parliamentarian Walid Junblat started on Sunday talks with the secretary general of the Lebanese Hizbullah party Hassan Nasrullah at the headquarters of the party. Junblat said the talks assured of the support to the Lebanese resistance's role, and that the talks did not cover the issue of arms. Lebanon, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Syrian forces continue withdrawal from Lebanon
While Lebanon is preparing today, Monday, to celebrate the 40th day after the death of the late Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, amid tense security atmospheres, the Syrian forces continued on Sunday their withdrawal from the Lebanese territories. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Anniversary of breaking down border gate between Libya and Egypt
Today marks the 14th anniversary of the Leader of the Revolution's move "demolishing the artificial Border Gate between Great Jamahiriya and Egypt," JANA reported. Libya-Egypt, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Syrian-Tunisian joint higher committee concludes deliberations
Syria and Tunisia on Sunday signed a number of agreements, protocols and understanding memorandums. Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Palestinian inclination to include Hamas, Islamic Jihad to PLO
Leader of the Palestine Islamic Jihad movement Muhammad al-Hindi on Monday announced his movement and the Islamic resistance ( Hamas ) might join the PLO for the first time. Palestine, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Washington intensifies contacts with the Syrian opposition
The American administration has intensified contacts with the Syrian opposition, amid fears that the state of unrest in Lebanon will cause wider instability in the region, according to American officials. Syria-USA, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Morocco, Somalia set to boost bilateral cooperation
Moroccan Foreign Minister, Mohamed Benaissa, held talks, in Marrakech Friday, with his Somali peer, Abdellah Cheikh Ismail, on means to boost bilateral cooperation. Morocco-Somalia, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Moroccan parliamentarians on American tour to shed light on Sahara issue
A Moroccan parliamentary delegation of the Socialist Alliance group is currently on a tour in north and south America to throw light on the Sahara issue, and inform officials in the region about its latest developments. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Iran slams US double standard policy; US seeks to change nuclear treaty
Iran on Sunday strongly condemned the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's statements on Iran. "Rice's statements indicate that the US adopts a double standard policy in dealing with the world countries, it seeks to violate international laws and conventions through following the unilateral policy," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said in a statement. Iran-USA, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Egyptian sentenced to life imprisonment for spying for Iran
Iran has strongly criticized the judicial verdict issued in Cairo against an Egyptian citizen accused of spying for Iran. The spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry Hamid Rida Aseifi said in a statement that the verdict is not based on evidence. Egypt-Iran, Politics, 3/28/2005 - Lebanese clergy denounces al-Boushreyah blast in Lebanon Lebanon, Politics, 3/28/2005
- Al-Assad confers with Tunisia's Ghannoushi Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 3/28/2005
- Prime minister of Somalia in Lybia Libya-Somalia, Politics, 3/28/2005
- Aram al-Awal calls for dialogue among Lebanese parties Lebanon, Politics, 3/28/2005
- Lebanese envoy to the UN Security Council Lebanon-UN, Politics, 3/28/2005