Ain-Al-Yaqeen - March 19, 2004

		March 19, 2004

THE SAUDI CABINET DENOUNCES THE REGRETTABLE RIOTS AND VANDALISM WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE SYRIAN GOVERNORATE OF HASAKAH AND SOME CITIES.
THE CABINET RENEWS THE KINGDOM'S CONDEMNATION OF ISRAEL'S CONTINUAL AGGRESSIONS AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, AND CALLS UPON THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO SHOULDER ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO HALT THE ISRAELI MASSACRES.
THE CABINET APPROVES THE GENERAL STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING NATIONAL TOURISM.
PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ: THE DECISION INCREASES JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND ENHANCES THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's condemnation of the sinful bombings that took place in the capital of Spain, Madrid, which led to killing and injuring hundreds of people.

The Cabinet stressed that this disgraceful, inhuman and criminal act contravenes the simplest rules of human decency and conscience. The Cabinet expressed again the warmest condolences of the Kingdom's government and people to Spain's government, people and families of the innocent victims.

The Cabinet also denounced the regrettable riots and vandalism which took place in the Syrian governorate of Hasakah and some cities, praying to Almighty Allah to preserve Syria's security, stability and prosperity.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi pointed out that the Cabinet welcomed the set up of the National Society for Human Rights in the Kingdom and wished it all success.

The Cabinet noted that the Society will rely in its activities on the Holy Quran and Sunnah (Prophet's Traditions). It added that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and the Crown Prince have guaranteed the Society's independence as a commission, having its own autonomy and administrative and financial independence along with full authority as regards human rights in the Kingdom.

Dr. Al-Farsi added that Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz informed the Cabinet of the contents of talks, meetings and consultations held in the previous days with a number of leaders and officials of brotherly and friendly countries which focused on the latest developments at the international arena especially the security situation in Palestine and Iraq.

The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's condemnation of Israel's continual aggressions against the Palestinian people, calling on the world community to shoulder its responsibility to halt Israeli massacres, save the Palestinian people and confront Israel's arrogance and insistence on continual violation of Palestinian human rights without any respect for the international legitimacy and the United Nations resolutions.

The Minister of Culture and Information said the Council of Ministers then reviewed its domestic agenda and took the following decisions:

The Cabinet approved the General Strategy for developing national tourism which will be carried out by the Tourism Higher Authority.

The decision noted that tourism industry in the Kingdom enjoys security, stability, proper infrastructure, along with cultural, natural, and economic grounds.

The cabinet described tourism industry not only as rewarding, vital, and productive, but also as an important tributary to the Saudi economy.

The decision said tourism industry occupies an advanced position, similar to the place now occupied by convertible industry in the Saudi economy, and is expected to create 489,000 jobs, a number that will likely reach as high as 1.5 to 2.3 million jobs.

The Cabinet approved a draft agreement of cooperation in the economic, commercial, investment, scientific, technical, cultural, youth and sports fields between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of Eastern Uruguay which was signed in Riyadh on 9/2/1423 H.

The Cabinet also approved a draft agreement of cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Federal Republic of Russia in the oil and gas sector which was signed in Moscow on September 2, 2003.

The Cabinet also approved the appointment of Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Ibn Murshid Al Zighaibi as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Dr. Abdullah Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdullah Al-lihaidan as Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance for Islamic Affairs;

and the transfer of Saud Ibn Mubarak Ibn Abdullah Al-Rafee'a from the position of Director General of Health Affairs for Riyadh Region to Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the same ministry.

On the other hand Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General and Chairman of the Higher Tourism Authority addressed his thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and his entrusted Crown Prince for the Cabinet endorsement of the General Strategy for the development of tourism.

Prince Sultan added that the Strategy is a long term plan through which the tourism sector will be developed adding that the decision increases job opportunities and enhances the role of the private sector.

On another scale United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) head Peter Hansen said that among Arab and world countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the leading contributor to the assistance of the Palestinian people financially and morally.

In an interview with Saudi Press Agency in Berlin, he stated that the Palestinian people urgently need financial, humanitarian and moral aid.

The UN official explained that the Palestinian society has begun to collapse due to violence suffering and the Israeli-built wall that separates the Palestinian society.

Meanwhile two Palestinian bombers killed at least seven other people last Sunday in a double-attack at Israel's port of Ashdod, prompting Israel to cancel talks on arranging an Israeli-Palestinian peace summit.

Police said at least 20 people were hurt in blasts that tore through a warehouse and gate at Israel's second-busiest port as day-shift workers were heading home.

After the blasts, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cancelled talks to set up a much-anticipated summit with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie on reviving the U.S.-backed peace plan.

Israeli helicopters attacked a suspected Hamas weapons workshop in Gaza City early Monday and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called off a summit with his Palestinian counterpart _ a first response to a double suicide bombing that killed 10 Israelis in a heavily guarded Israeli seaport.

The first deadly Palestinian attack on a strategic target in more than three years of fighting sent Israeli officials scrambling to discover security breaches, The Associated Press reported.

The bombers, a pair of 17-year-old high school students from a Gaza refugee camp, apparently managed to slip through the heavily patrolled Gaza border fence, evaded tight security at Ashdod port and used high-grade plastic explosives.

Two groups, Hamas and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, claimed joint responsibility. In a first response to the bombing, Sharon canceled the summit, tentatively set for Tuesday, with his Palestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qureia.

Meanwhile Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called "problematic" Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip should a U.S.-backed peace plan fail.

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose support for Sharon's "disengagement" plan is crucial for cabinet approval, leveled his criticism during a meeting with U.S. envoys, the finance ministry said in a statement.

"Netanyahu emphasized that the plan being considered is problematic and complicated and he still doesn't see that it provides the answers of Palestinian reciprocation vital for Israel's security," it said.

Sharon, who is attempting to win Washington's backing to remove Jewish settlements and possibly withdraw troops from the Gaza Strip should the U.S.-backed peace "road map" remain stalled, also met the envoys.

Netanyahu's criticism comes after sources said Sharon planned to summon army chief Lieutenant-General Moshe Alon to explain reported remarks predicting that a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza would fuel more Palestinian militant attacks.

Netanyahu, 54, was Sharon's main rival for the head of the right-wing Likud last year and still commands support in the party. He is viewed as biding his time to take over party leadership once Sharon, 76, retires.

Objections to the plan by the influential Netanyahu could strengthen the opposition to it from Sharon's pro-settler coalition partners ahead of a meeting the prime minister hopes to hold with President Bush in late March or early April. Settlers accuse Sharon of betraying their cause.

In an effort to keep the settler opposition in check, Sharon is seeking U.S. support for the annexation of major West Bank settlement blocs in return for an evacuation of Gaza, political sources said.

The sources said Sharon could not overcome right-wing resistance in his coalition to ceding 17 small, isolated Jewish enclaves in Gaza unless Israel could cement its hold on larger West Bank blocs seen as strategically vital.

Netanyahu's office said the U.S. envoys stressed that the Israeli plan should not be carried out in such a way as to appear to be "granting a prize to the resistance."

"The test of the Israeli initiative would first of all be in the implementation of this principle, in the answers provided against terror and the diplomatic and security benefits Israel will achieve," Netanyahu told the envoys.

Major players in the Middle East peace process have held a string of mini-summits across the region and in Europe.

The troubled relationship between Egypt and Israel was the focus of considerable attention, with Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom holding talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Shalom told reporters he had briefed Mubarak about Israel's plan to "disengage" from the Gaza Strip a scheme that involves Israel withdrawing from 17 of 21 settlements in Gaza, along with construction of its separation barrier.

Shalom also welcomed what he called a "new time" in relations between Egypt and Israel, which had worsened since the hard-line Sharon was elected prime minister three years ago.

Egypt and other Arab states fear Sharon's disengagement plan will amount to little more than a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat told the opening session of parliament in Ramallah that the Palestinian Authority was "capable of taking control of each zone which will be evacuated, and guaranteeing law and order there." Egypt has also committed itself to restructuring the Palestinian security services to prepare them for taking over security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip should Israel pull out, according to Arafat's security advisor, Jibril Rajoub.

Speaking to the Palestinian daily Al Ayyam, Rajoub said Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who met Arafat, conveyed details of the agreement to the Palestinian leader.

However, Egypt has echoed Palestinian opposition to a withdrawal outside the framework of a negotiated agreement.

Rajoub stressed that Egypt "insists on withdrawal planned in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and says it is ready to help it in enforcing law and order in the event of a pullout from the Gaza Strip."

Suleiman also met Sharon to discuss details of the disengagement plan. The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Meir Dagan, reportedly made a similar, low-profile visit to Egypt in February to discuss a possible Israeli evacuation from Gaza.

Meanwhile Qurei held talks in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, before going on to Oslo and Paris.

Israeli defense minister Shaoul Mofaz also visited Paris, while London played host to Israeli deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert the third senior Israeli official to visit Britain in a month, followed by United Nations' Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.

The main issue within the Palestinian matter has become the Israeli unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. Any Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian land is in deed welcomed. Yet this step might represent the return to earlier plans including "Gaza first" and that is it. In other words, Gaza at first and at last. Sharon wants to withdraw from Gaza for Israeli reasons and considerations and not as a free service to the Palestinians.

In this respect, there is a Palestinian plan of many stages and that would be implemented gradually within five weeks of the withdrawal from Gaza in order to stabilize the situation and take necessary security measures. The plan will unfold in the following manner: During the first week, the Palestinian Authority and the Parliament would call for holding a comprehensive conference in Gaza to be headed by the Prime Minister and the House Speaker and in the presence of all Members of Parliament and the mayors. The Authority would then conduct a media campaign and implement a series of procedures that would insure the rule of law. During the second week, the security agencies would patrol the streets in accordance with a plan that would divide the city into districts in addition to guarding the entrances of ministries and public institutions. While the third week would witness an extensive security campaign that targets theft of electricity and water followed, in the fourth week, by a campaign against outlaws of a criminal nature. Finally, during the fifth week, the Authority would declare public armament illegal.

According to Palestinian sources, all resistance factions have agreed on this plan if a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza takes place. Yet the Palestinian authority insisted that the withdrawal would also include the West Bank, even if partially in this stage. In addition, there is much talk about a role for a limited number of international forces to separate between the parties in conflict. Egypt is also to maintain border security during the first phase.

On the other hand President Bashar al-Assad and President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak of Egypt held a meeting at the presidential court in Damascus airport attended by members of the Syrian and Egyptian delegations. þ

Later, the two Presidents held a bilateral meeting during which talks dealt with the inter-Arab relations, conditions in the Middle East region and the latest developments, especially in the occupied Palestinian territories and Iraq. þ

Talks also centered on the necessity of restructuring the Arab situation and of drawing up an Arab project coping with current circumstances and be compatible with the cultural and socio-economic speciality of Arab communities. þ

The two leaders also reviewed the initiatives made to develop the Arab League and reactivate joint Arab action. þ

Other topics on the agenda of the forthcoming Arab summit in Tunis as well as the outcome of the recent Arab foreign ministers' meeting and President Mubarak's recent tour of Europe. þ

The two Presidents agreed on maintaining consultation and coordination between the two brotherly countries towards the critical events the entire Arab region is witnessing. þ

Later, President Mubarak left here in the evening concluding a short visit to the country. þ

He was seen off at the airport by President Bashar. þ

Mubarak was also seen off by the Vice-President Abdul Haleem Khaddam, the Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara', the Minister of Information Ahmad al-Hasan, Egypt's Ambassador to Syria Hazem Khairat and members of the Embassy staff. þ

Earlier, the Egyptian President arrived in Damascus and was received by President Bashar at the airport. þ

He was also received by Khaddam, al-Shara', al-Hasan and Khairat. þ

Mubarak was accompanied by an official delegation comprising the Information Minister Safwat al-Sharif, the Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher, the chief of the Presidential Court Zakariya Azmi and the President's Adviser for Political Affairs Osama el-Baz.

Commenting on Israel's announcement to halt contacts with the Palestinian side and call off the prospective meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qurei, The Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Studies Institute that "only dialogue is conducive to the resolving of all problems."

The strikes and imposition of penalties and coercive measures lead no where, said Maher, noting that all have to recognize that the suffering of the Palestinian people and the subsequent frustration will end only through peaceful settlement.

"Postponing or canceling meetings will serve no party" he added.

On the coordination between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria, Maher said this does not mean excluding any other country neither indicates the creation of any alliances.

It rather means that there are countries in the region that can easily meet and forge specific stances that will be discussed by the other countries, he said.

Traditionally Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria are playing an important role and act like a locomotive that tugs the Arab train, he added.

Maher said Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk El-Sharaa will be in Cairo within few days.

These contacts are part of preparations to the forthcoming Arab Summit in Tunisia which "We hope would be successful enough to push forward the joint Arab action," said Maher.

Maher said Egypt will carry on with its role in the Middle East peace process despite the latest Palestinian operation in Ashdod port city that left 12 Israelis killed and 20 injured.

On the other hand Egypt's Ambassador to Syria Hazem Khayrat underlined that the timing of the summit held in Damascus between Presidents Hosni Mubarak and Bashar Assad was very important.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Sawt Al Arab from Damascus, he added that with the Tunis Arab Summit coming consultations and coordination as regards the Arab situation are required.

He said that the summit was held out of President Mubarak's keenness on having consultations with Arab leaders to crystallize a unified Arab stance that would be positively reflected on the coming Arab Summit in Tunis.

He underlined that the Egyptian and Syrian stances were identical as regards Arab reforms and means of developing the Arab League performance.

President Hosni Mubarak returned home from Damascus after a flight visit to Syria during which he had consultations with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad on the recent developments in the occupied Palestinian territories after the declaration of the Israeli disengagement plan, possible Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and coordination of Arab stances before the convening of the Arab Summit in Tunis late this month.

The two leaders touched on the results of the recent European tour by President Mubarak and his talks with the leaderships in Italy, France and the United Kingdom as well as Egypt's stand-point regarding outside reform ideas and the US initiative known as "Greater Middle East".

The summit talks also dealt with Egypt's efforts for supporting the peace process in the region including launching a comprehensive Palestinian dialogue among different Palestinian factions for enhancing Palestinian national unity, the need for resuming the peace process on the Syrian track, the situation in Iraq and transfer of power to the Iraqi people according to a specific timetable.

During the summit meeting which started immediately upon President Mubarak's arrival at Damascus Airport where talks were held because of heavy rains in Syria, the two leaders discussed at an expanded meeting the ideas for developing the Arab League and the results of the Arab foreign ministers meeting last week as well as the project which will be offered by Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia to the Arab Summit on reforming the Arab League bodies and creating new mechanisms for developing the joint Arab action.

Then the two leaders held a tete-a-tete meeting at one of the airport pavilions whereas the Egyptian and Syrian delegations held a joint session of talks.

President Mubarak was accompanied during the visit by Minister of Information Safwat Al Sherif, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, Chief of the Presidential Cabinet, Dr. Zakaria Azmi and Presidential Political Advisor Dr. Ossama Al Baz.

Safwat Al Sherif, the Minister of Information said the two leaders agreed on a wide array of issues which will be raised before the next Arab Summit in Tunis adding that the two leaders discussed guidelines of priority issues which will be tackled by the Arab Summit.

He said the two leaders discussed the results of President Mubarak's recent tour of a number of European states and his talks with French President Jacques Chirac, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, with the aim of enhancing efforts aimed at reaching an acceptable formula upon which the Palestinians and Israelis could meet far from unilateral solutions, and pre-conditions so as to correct the course of the peace process.

The two leaders also reviewed the results of the latest contacts by Egypt with the Palestinians and Israelis adding that talks between the two leaders underlined the need that reform of the Arab world should spring from self-visions and should be connected with discussing the main issues in the region.

The Minister of Information said in his statements that the exchange of views between Presidents Mubarak and Assad came to a conclusion that the Arab nation is qualified for launching initiatives on the political, economic, social and cultural reform which is sought by the Arab communities for the interest of their peoples in conformity with peculiarities of each community.

He said reform initiatives should spring from inside the Arab nation and should express the identity and should be coupled with solving conflicts and disputes in the region, mainly the Palestinian cause and the Iraqi issue.

On his part, Syrian Minister of Information Ahmed Al Hassan said in statements following the summit talks that they were positive and constructive.

He hailed President Mubarak's keenness on defending and maintaining Arab rights.

A Syrian presidential statement said the two leaders agreed on the need for sustaining consultations and coordination on critical events in the region.

The statement said the two leaders discussed latest developments in the Middle East, and the situation in Iraq and Palestinian territories.

The statement said the two leaders discussed the reform process in the Arab world and the adoption of an Arab project that conforms with the social, cultural and economic identity of Arab communities.

The statement said the two leaders discussed the items of the Arab Summit agenda adding that the two leaders discussed the results of the latest meeting by the Arab foreign ministers and the tour made by President Mubarak to a number of European states.

Tunisia is ready to host the 16th Arab Summit scheduled in Tunis, March 29-30, 2004, said Monday Tunisian foreign minister Habib Ben Yahia.

He added that Tunisia has started preparing at all levels for the summit conference since the announcement made after the meeting, last month, between President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the secretary general of the Arab League, Mr Amr Moussa, regarding Tunisia's hosting of the summit.

The foreign minister said Tunisia is ready to host the Arab summit. He mentioned Tunisia's long experience in this regard. He pointed out that the country has hosted an earlier Arab summit in 1979 and a West Mediterranean (5+5) summit in December 2003, and will host the World Summit on the Information Society next year.

Tunisia, stressed Mr Ben Yahia, boasts a high-standard tourism infrastructure allowing it to host such major international events.

A detailed calendar of meeting has been agreed upon with the Arab League secretary general and Arab foreign ministers, he said. The calendar of events includes a preparatory meeting of experts and senior diplomats, on March 22. Arab finance and economy experts will meet March 23, while Arab finance and economy ministers will meet March 24 within the Arab Social and Economic Council in order to discuss the Arab Economic Plan.

Arab ministers of foreign affairs will meet in Tunis, March 26 and 27, to prepare for the Arab summit and discuss the needed documents.

Arab leaders will start arriving in Tunis, March 28th. The Summit itself will take place March 29th and 30th.

This calendar, said the Tunisian foreign minister, was set up by Arab foreign ministers during the recent Cairo meeting of the Arab council of foreign ministers. All arrangements have been made to ensure the success of this summit conference as a "the summit of consensus", he added. Arab foreign ministers and ministers of finance and economy are continuing their discussions to make sure the necessary documents are ready before the summit and that the summit conference meetings are successful, he also said.

Meanwhile Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher stressed the deep-rooted fraternal relations between Syria and Egypt.

In a statement issued, Maher asserted that the summit between President Bashar al-Assad and President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Damascus aimed at enhancing coordination between the two countries regarding the current developments in the region.

He added the two leaders discussed the preparations for the forthcoming Arab summit in Tunis to make it successful and positive in a way that serves the interest of the Arab countries as well as to activate the joint Arab action.

He pointed out that the developments in the occupied territories and on the Iraqi arena had priority of the mutual discussions between the two Presidents, asserting that there will be more contacts and cooperation in the forthcoming stage among officials of the two countries.

Maher called on Israel to stop its continued aggression on the Palestinian people and to sit to the table of negotiations based on the international legitimacy resolutions in order to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region.

On the other hand, Maher underlined that the Arab and Islamic Nations are exposed to a fierce campaign that targets their identity, religion and civilization, stressing the important role of the Arab and Islamic diplomats to highlight the glorious image of the Arab civilization and its permanent establishments in the process of the human civilization.

On the other hand an information source said that the city of al-Hasakah and some other cities in the governorate of al-Hasakah witnessed some acts of riot and sabotage during which some mobs destroyed a number of governmental establishments and public buildings.

The source added that these condemned and unlawful acts took place on the background of the riots that occurred earlier in the city's stadium.

These odd practices constitute an offence to the security of the country and its stability which is considered as the main principle of Syria's national unity, the source stressed.

A committee for investigating the incidents was formed to unveil the reasons of the troubles and those who sparked them.

Meanwhile the Syrian news agency SANA has reported that The Beirut Resolution Bloc condemned the incidents which took place in the Syrian city of Qamishli, warning against foreign attempts to harm Syria's national unity.

In a statement, the Bloc asserted that the only beneficiary from those incidents is the enemy's plots which aim at partitioning the Arab nation, calling for standing by sisterly Syria in facing the foreign challenges.

For his part, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Shiite Council in Lebanon asserted that those incidents represent suspicious movements provoked by mobs that conspire against the Syrians and the Arab nation.

" The recent incidents target Syria's national role and position in the region", he added.

Al-Jazeera area in Northern east Syria witnessed a notable calm after an atmosphere on strong tension prevailed on it preceded by acts of riots and destruction that resulted in human casualties and material losses.

The Syrian TV held responsible these acts on " people that came from neighboring states to carry out acts of destruction," ruling out these behavior to have stemmed from the Kurds who "constitute part of the social fabrics in Syria."

The state of chaos was settled through negotiations that lasted for three days between high ranking Syrian officials who visited al-Qamishli on top of a large security delegation.

Well-informed sources in Damascus said that the Syria's authorities will not deal easily with anyone who " downed the Syrian flag from a government's establishment and insulted it and will not be hesitant towards those who chanted slogans with the US or raised a non- Syrian flag, besides the destruction operations which will cost the governments hundreds of millions will not pass unpunished."

Meantime, the Syrian TV showed pictures for the city of al-Qamishli restoring its calmness and normal life and met with citizens who chanted slogans " long life for President al-Assad." The Syria TV said that "observers find that there is no Kurdish problem in Syria and that the Kurds are Syrian citizens who constitute an integral part of the social fabrics in Syria and have no connection to the riot acts which took place in al-Qamishli city, and those who made these acts of riots came from the neighboring states in extraordinary conditions, moved by foreign hands taking no account for the warm hospitality they receive in the Syria."