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April 9, 2004 |
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THE CABINET IS BRIEFED ON THE CROWN PRINCE'S MEETING WITH MUBARAK, KING MOHAMMED VI AND HIS VISIT TO AUSTRIA. THE KINGDOM'S STRESSES ITS ENDEAVOUR TO EXERT EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF THE CAUSES OF THE ARAB AND ISLAMIC NATIONS. THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE SITUATION ON THE PALESTINIAN AND IRAQI ARENAS. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz chaired the Cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh. The Cabinet discussed consultations, latest developments and the intensive contacts which followed the postponement of the Arab Summit to set an appropriate climate for its convention as soon as possible and to overcome all obstacles on the track of the interests of the Arab nation. 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 was briefed on the talks held by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, with Egypt's President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak in Sharm El-Sheikh which took place during the Crown Prince's trip to Vienna, Austria. The Cabinet commended the keenness of the two sides on finding an appropriate climate to convene the Arab Summit as soon as possible, smoothing the atmosphere, uniting visions on unified opinions and enhancing efforts to fortify joint Arab action to confront challenges. The Cabinet was informed of the talks held by the Crown Prince with Morocco's King Mohammed VI which dealt with the latest developments at Arab and international arenas and the necessary steps needed to facilitate al appropriate conditions for the Summit to convene at the earliest opportunity. Aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways of enhancing them were also reviewed. The Minister of Culture and Information added that the Cabinet was briefed on the visit to Austria and talks held by Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard with President Dr. Thomas Klestil which resulted in signing an agreement on cooperation in economic, commercial, industrial and technological fields. The Cabinet praised deep relations between the two countries and their keenness on enhancing friendship and cooperation in all fields. The Cabinet noted that the Crown Prince's visit to Austria came within the framework of the Kingdom's continual movement, its consultations with friendly countries, and its political fundamentals to support the issues of Arab and Islamic nations. The Cabinet lauded the endeavors exerted by Austria along with the European Union to advance peace process in the Middle East and praised their recognition of the effective role played by the Kingdom in advancing peace solutions in the Middle East and their recognition of the Kingdom's persistent efforts to achieve peace, security and stability in the region. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Council of Ministers then reviewed the domestic items on its agenda and issued the following decisions: The Cabinet approved the regulations of the Consultative Panel for Sea Scientific Research. The panel is assigned to consider applications submitted by Saudi non-government bodies and individuals who are planning to conduct sea scientific research in maritime regions of the Kingdom, supervise the plans relating to scientific and technological activities conducted in maritime regions, and draw plans for sea scientific research and the follow-up of their implementation. The Cabinet approved the draft memorandum of understanding in the field of judicial relations between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Judiciary of Iran which was signed in Saudi Arabia on 11 July 2003. The Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Higher Education or his deputy to sign the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Higher Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Higher Education Panel of the Philippines and to forward the final version of the memo for further authentication. The Cabinet approved the amendment of Article 15 of the Commercial and Economic Arrangement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Lebanon as per the royal decree No. M/58 dated 19/12/1391 H. to read as follows: "This Arrangement is valid for two years and is renewable automatically for similar periods unless one of the two contracting parties notifies the other in writing, at least three months prior to the expiry date, of its plan to terminate it". The Cabinet approved the appointment of Prince Bandar Ibn Mashari Ibn Saud Ibn Farhan Al Saud as Administrative Advisor at the Ministry of Defense and Aviation; Ali Ibn Mohammed Al Ghulaiqa as Advisor at the Ministry of Defense and Aviation; Eng. Abdul Aziz Ibn Ali Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Abdul Kareem as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Technical Affairs; and Mohammed Ibn Saad Al Madhi in the 15th rank at the Ministry of Interior. On the other hand Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon threatened Yasser Arafat with assassination, calling the Palestinian president a poor insurance risk. The United States said it opposed the assassination of the Palestinian leader. The Israeli Army killed three Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while in Jerusalem's Old City, police stormed the square outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque after Friday prayers. Israeli police said officers used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse Palestinians and arrested 14 after prayers. Dozens of people were wounded, including three journalists. Sharon made his most explicit threat yet against Arafat in newspaper interviews 10 days after Israel assassinated Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in a helicopter strike in Gaza. "I wouldn't suggest either one of them should feel secure. I wouldn't propose that any insurance company give them coverage," Sharon told Israel's Haaretz daily. Responding to Sharon's threats, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told reporters in Washington: "Our position on such questions the exile or assassination of Yasser Arafat is very well known. We are opposed and we have made that very clear to the government of Israel." Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said of Sharon's remarks that the alternative to Arafat would be "chaos, extremism and anarchy" in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Nabil Abu Rudeina described Sharon's comments as "a serious threat which is aimed at scuppering the peace process". "With this fresh threat, Israel is prompting a new and unprecedented escalation which will have dangerous consequences." Israel's government declared in September that Arafat should be "removed". But Arafat, 74, regarded by Palestinians as a symbol of their struggle for statehood, has scoffed at such threats saying he would welcome "martyrdom". Sharon, moreover, has acknowledged he has promised the United States not to harm Arafat. The Israeli premier also directed his warning at Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, saying: "Anyone who kills a Jew or harms an Israeli citizen, or sends someone to kill Jews, is a marked man. Period." Sharon is under pressure from far right coalition partners the same political allies who have long demanded that Israel kill Arafat over his plan to remove soldiers and settlers from most of Gaza and some of the West Bank. Sharon is due to hold talks with the US president in Washington on April 14 to finalize details of the plan. A diplomatic source said US envoys made progress toward hammering out letters of understanding that would be exchanged during the meeting with Bush. Sharon wants US endorsement of Israel's annexation of large West Bank settlement blocs and a rejection of a Palestinian claim of a right of return of refugees displaced when Israel was founded in 1948. The source said US officials were looking for vague wording that would meet Sharon's need to mollify right-wingers opposed to the pullout plan but which would not prejudge negotiations for a final peace agreement. The Maariv daily quoted Sharon as saying all settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank would be evacuated. He said he hoped the Gaza pullout, in what he called the absence of a Palestinian peace partner, would be under way by next spring. But his proposal could be rendered moot should he lose a binding referendum he plans to hold on the issue in his Likud party or if Israel's attorney general accepts prosecutors' recommendations to indict him in a bribery case. The Prime Minister said he plans to evacuate all 21 Israeli settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank. He said a patrol road between the Gaza Strip and Egypt would remain under Israeli control for the time being. Sharon said he would seal off Gaza after a withdrawal, at least initially. "Until we see what happens, we will continue to have control of an envelope around Gaza," Sharon told Maariv. "The contacts between us (Israel and Gaza) will be like between two countries, selling and buying, but we won't have control over what happens inside." The Palestinians say the withdrawal plan is an Israeli ruse to trade Gaza for a permanent hold over most of the West Bank. They say a withdrawal must be coordinated as part of the US-backed road map peace plan, which envisions a Palestinian state by next year. Yasser Arafat brushed off recent threats to his life by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, as Washington warned the Palestinian leader against integrating the hardline Hamas movement into his Palestinian Authority. "I am not afraid of Sharon's threats," the 74-year-old Arafat told the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. "Do you know me as a person who is afraid? I am afraid only of Allah."This is not the first time that Sharon has threatened my life. He forgets that he also threatened me in Beirut," added Arafat in reference to Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, where his Palestine Liberation Organisation was then based. Sharon was slapped down last week by his allies in Washington after giving an interview in which he warned that Arafat was a "marked man". Arafat told the paper he was opposed to the killing of Israeli civilians."I am against killing civilians. I have said this to my people on several occasions, in my name and in the name of the leadership: 'stop killing civilians.'" Since coming to power in 2001, Sharon has boycotted Arafat and his troops have effectively kept the Palestinian leader under house arrest for more than two years. Saying that he sees no partner for peace among the Palestinian leadership, Sharon pledged last December to implement his own unilateral measures to end the conflict, including a pullout from the Gaza Strip. Arafat said he wanted any such move to be coordinated with the Palestinian Authority. He also said he had received assurances from the quartet that drafted the peace road map the US, UN, EU and Russia that any withdrawal would be part of the blueprint. "We have received promises from the quartet and the Americans that the withdrawal will be part of the road map, and I hope it indeed will be," he said. Sharon is to travel to Washington next week where he will meet with US President George W. Bush on April 14 to seek his crucial support for his disengagement plan. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath is also to pay a visit to the US where he will meet senior officials on April 21. "This visit is part of the efforts to relaunch the peace process," said an official in Shaath's office. He is likely to press the point that the Gaza pull-out should be coordinated with Palestinians. International players, such as the United Nations, have warned against possible chaos that would follow a unilateral move. The Palestinian foreign minister said he will travel to Washington this month to discuss Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip with senior US officials. Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said he would be meeting Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on April 21. US officials have said they will not make a decision on the Israeli plan until after the meeting with the Palestinians, he said. Shaath will be in Washington a week after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon discusses the withdrawal plan with US President George W. Bush. "This visit will be very important because we will be able to express our point of view regarding the various issues that are being discussed now, and it will come after Sharon's visit to Washington," Shaath said. Meanwhile several Palestinians were wounded in clashes with the police at one of Islam's holiest sites. Stone-throwing by Palestinian youths after Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque compound, prompted a raid by Israeli police, who fired stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets on hundreds of Palestinians holed up inside the mosque. Several people were wounded during the brief siege, although no serious injuries were reported. Fourteen Palestinians had been arrested by the time the standoff was resolved, Israeli police said. Several journalists were beaten up by police, and one of them had his camera smashed and film confiscated. The Palestinian Authority condemned the police intervention as a "provocation" by the Israeli authorities. It was the most violent confrontation at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound since deadly clashes there in September 2000 escalated into the widespread Palestinian riots and led to the current round of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Thousands of Palestinians barricaded themselves in two mosques in the walled compound for about two hours today, before police agreed to let them leave. Police did not enter the mosques themselves, but were deployed across the compound. The confrontations at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, began after Muslim noon prayers. Police denied they used excessive force. "There were hundreds of Palestinians who started rioting, throwing rocks at police," said police spokesman Gil Kleiman, adding that police acted quickly so Jewish worshippers would not be harmed. After the initial clashes, thousands of Palestinians barricaded themselves in two mosques in the compound. After two hours, the standoff ended peacefully, following negotiations between police and Islamic Trust, which administers the compound. Meanwhile the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) warned against the dangers of tougher aggressive policies Israel is implementing in the Palestinian territories. Israeli army has escalated its aggression against the Palestinians and the Holy Places in Al Quds and started a "land-scorching policy" in many Palestinian towns and villages, Dr Abdullah Al Turki the MWL Secretary General said. He said the United Nations Security Council has to protect international resolution to protect the Palestinians. The MWL's Secretary General urged the U.N. and the U.N. Security Council to condemn the Israeli crimes and take effective steps to prevent Israel from continuing its aggressions against the Palestinians. He also called for the international community to show credibility in defending the Palestinian people in line with international laws. From his side Amr Moussa Secretary General of the Arab League stressed that the attack against Palestinians in Al Aqsa mosque is yet another of the series of Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people. Organization of Islamic Conference Secretary General Dr. Abdul W ahid Belkezez condemned the Israeli forces flagrant breach of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the assault and arrest of tens of attendees of today's Friday public prayers. Dr. Belkezez denounced Israel's policy as escalation of aggression. He also called on the world community, especially the quartet committee members, to interfere in order to put an end to such aggression. Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC) Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyah condemned the Israeli hostile practices and dangerous threats in the occupied Palestinian lands due to the Israeli violation of Al-Aqsa Mosque. In a statement published Sunday, Al-Atyah stressed that the GCC absolutely rejected the policy of provocation and terrorism against the Palestinian people which escalates tension and leads to violence and destruction of any effort to achieve security and stability in the region. In a swift reaction to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's threat to assassinate the elected Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, the European Union, France and Jordan voiced their opposition, condemned Sharon's published announcement as a move that "do not serve peace," and reconfirmed that Arafat is "the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people." The European Union warned against the assassination of the "elected representative of the Palestinian people" and said it would be "unwise" to kill him. Arafat continues to be the "favored partner" for the European Union, especially over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one source close to the EU's Council of Ministers. Another EU source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "It would be unwise to kill Arafat." And the source underscored the condemnation by European foreign ministers on March 22 after the assassination of Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin by Israel. France, a leading EU member, reaffirmed that Arafat is "the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people" after Sharon issued his new menace to the Palestinian president. "We reaffirm that Yasser Arafat is the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people," Spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry Cecile Pozzo di Borgo declared at a news conference to respond to Sharon's remarks. Jordan, also warned the Jewish state against harming Arafat after Sharon's threat. "These persistent threats only increase tension and escalate violence in the Palestinian territories and do not serve peace," government spokesman Asma Khader said. "This threat follows political assassinations that Jordan has condemned," she added, referring most recently to Israel's killing on March 22 of the leader of Hamas, Sheikh Yassin. On the other hand President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon received the Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara' and was handed over a message by President Bashar Al-Assad. The meeting was attended by the Speaker of Lebanon's Parliament Nabeeh Barri, the Prime Minister Rafeek Al-Hariri and the Foreign and Expatriates Minister Jean Obeid. Talks dealt with recent developments in the region, consultations being made to convene the Arab summit and the importance of making good and sufficient preparations with a view to ensuring success of the summit and making resolutions conducive to the confrontation of challenges the entire Arab nation is encountering under the current critical circumstances. Talks also centered on relations between the two sisterly countries, Syria and Lebanon and on ways of enhancing these relations in all domains. President Lahoud asked Al-Shara' to convey a reply message to President Bashar. Following the meeting, Al-Shara' and Obeid made statements to reporters at the Palace. Al-Shara' said he conveyed President Bashar's message to his Lebanese counterpart connected with the development of conditions in the region and with the forthcoming Arab summit. The Foreign Minister said the visit is paid in terms of Syria-Lebanon incessant coordination and consultations. Obeid, for his part, said Al-Shara' meeting with President Lahoud in the presence with senior Lebanese officials is held in term of the keenness that both Syria-Lebanon stances are adopted in the course of other Arab stances for reviving solidarity and re-uniting ranks towards the increasing challenges and the different proposals. Afterwards, Mr. Al-Shara' answered questions raised by reporters. On the current Syrian political movement, the Foreign Minister said that it aims at reconveying the Arab summit and agreeing on its essence and place. The issue of its place must be decisive but not controversial, since the essence is the draft decisions which have been agreed on most of them in Tunis, and others were agreed upon in Cairo. On the result of these consultations, Minister Al-Shara' said the consultations are going on in a positive and constructive way. As Lebanese Foreign Minister pointed out, there are basic foundations between Syria and Lebanon, and among Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. There are also broader Arab contacts, via telephone calls or visits. Moreover, President Bashar Al-Assad will pay visits this week to a number of Arab countries. Mr. Al-Shara' pointed out that it is important to realize the preserving of this summit in order not to leave a political vacuum which is the most dangerous issue that the Arab nation could face. It is true that the Arab League is not as we wish and aspire for, and that Arab solidarity is in its worst state, but preserving the Arab home and meetings is a basic and essential issue at this stage. On the reform, the Foreign Minister said that the required is not what is dictated from abroad, rather it is something that concerns each individual county. Every country and government realizes what is required. But the aim from giving this issue a priority is to cover the basic Arab issues. On the other hand U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that his claims to the U.N. Security Council in February 2003 of prewar Iraq's alleged mobile biological weapons facilities might have been based on incorrect information. Powell said that he worked to verify many of the allegations included in the administration's case for military action against Iraq before he spoke to the Security Council. The claim that prewar Iraq had developed mobile biological facilities was among the most dramatic, Powell said, "and I made sure that it was multi-sourced". Intelligence that two trailers were being used to develop biological weapons now appears not to have been "solid," Powell said. "Now, if the sources fell apart we need to find out how we've gotten ourselves in that position," Powell said. "I have discussions with the CIA about it," he added. Meanwhile US administrators in Iraq declared a Shiite cleric an "outlaw" and announced a warrant for his arrest, heightening a confrontation after battles between his supporters and coalition troops killed at least 52 Iraqis and nine coalition troops, including eight Americans. US officials would not say when they would move to arrest Moqtada Sadr, a move that could potentially spark further clashes. US troops surrounded the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, poised to launch a major operation in response to the grisly slaying and mutilation of four Americans by insurgents there last week. A Marine was killed yesterday in the Fallujah area, the military said, without providing further details. The showdown with Sadr threatens to increase tensions with Iraq's Shiite majority at a time when US troops are heavily burdened with the battle with guerrillas' bloody insurgency. But US authorities appear to be hoping that the Shiite public will not rally around the cleric. Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said the potential for violence depended on "whether (Sadr) decides to come peacefully or whether he decides to come not peacefully. That choice is the choice of Mr. Moqtada Sadr." Sadr, a young cleric who frequently denounces the US occupation in his sermons, was holed up in the main mosque in the city of Kufa, south of Baghdad, and vowed to resist. Several hundred of his armed militiamen controlled the city, holding its police station and blocking off a road leading to the mosque, which was surrounded by his gunmen. US officials said the warrant against Sadr on charges of murdering a rival cleric was issued months ago by an Iraqi judge and that Iraqis only wanted now to carry it out. President Bush portrayed Sadr's removal as a step for protecting democracy. "This is one person that is deciding that rather than allowing democracy to flourish, he's going to exercise force," he told reporters. "We just can't let it stand." Paul Bremer, the top US administrator in Iraq, declared Sadr an "outlaw." "He is attempting to establish his authority in the place of the legitimate authority. We will not tolerate this," he said. Clashes sparked by the arrest last week of a Sadr aide accused in the same murder were a surprise show of power by Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army, previously seen as a rag-tag force. Fighting was particularly fierce in Sadr City, a neighborhood in Baghdad, where militiamen ambushed US soldiers, killing eight and sparking battles that killed 30 Iraqis and wounded 110 others. It took a column of tanks to bring quiet to the area and force the militiamen out of police stations they had seized after police fled. Outside the city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, firing between militiamen and Spanish-led coalition troops killed one Salvadoran soldier and 22 Iraqis. Meanwhile the Bush administration said that the surge in violence that has swept parts of Iraq is the work of a single individual with terrorist connections, not a popular revolt. Vowing to "stay the course," President Bush said the coordinated assaults in three cities by thousands of followers of the anti-American cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, did not have the support of the Iraqi people and would not alter U.S. plans to transfer power to the Iraqis on June 30. "This is one person who's deciding that rather than allow democracy to flourish, he's going to exercise force," Bush told reporters in Charlotte, N.C., after visiting the family of a U.S. soldier who had been killed in Iraq. "The date remains firm." Top U.S. commanders are examining ways to expand the size of the occupation force in Iraq in case reinforcements are needed. On the other hand White House and Department of Defense officials cautioned reporters against using the word "uprising." "That's a gross exaggeration," said one Department of Defense official. "These were attacks by Al-Sadr's followers and are not representative of the Shiite community or Iraqis at large." When asked about the danger of an open rebellion in Iraq, White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters, "This is one individual and some of his followers that we're talking about." McClellan also noted that al-Sadr had declared an alliance over the weekend with Hamas and Hezbollah, two militant Islamic organizations classified as terrorist groups by the State Department. |
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