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May 14, 2004 |
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THE CROWN PRINCE RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ARAFAT AND A TELEPHONE CALL FROM PAKISTAN'S PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF . THE CABINET EXPRESSES HOPES THAT PRESIDENT BUSH'S STATEMENTS WILL NOT DISRUPT THE " ROAD MAP.'' ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREE ON THE ARAB REFORMS DOCUMENT WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE SUMMIT ON THE 22ND THE 23RD OF MAY. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent cables of reply to leaders of the world who condemned the criminal acts which were carried out by some deviant people causing death and injuries to a number of people. King Fahd expressed his thanks to them for their condemnation. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, has sent similar cables. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard have sent reply cables of thanks for sincere patriotic feelings spelled out by Prince Saud Ibn Abdullah Ibn Thinayyan Al Saud, Chairman of Jubail and Yanbu Royal Commission. Earlier Prince Saud Ibn Abdullah sent them messages following the criminal terrorist attack perpetrated by a deviating criminal group which resulted in killing and injuring innocents in the industrial city of Yanbu. The King and the Crown Prince prayed to Almighty Allah for the eradication of criminals and evildoers. They also prayed for preservation of the Kingdom's security and stability. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard have sent reply cables of thanks to Sheikh Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance, who is also the General Supervisor of King Fahd Complex for Printing the Holy Quran and of the symposium titled " Kingdom's Care for Sunnah and Prophet's Biography'' recently organized by the Ministry. The King and the Crown Prince said that we were briefed on the Madinah-based symposium's statement condemning criminal acts perpetrated by a deviating wicked group which is contrary to religion. They prayed to Almighty Allah for the eradication of criminals and evildoers. They also prayed for preservation of security, stability and prosperity of the Kingdom and all Muslim countries. On the other hand Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Salam palace in Jeddah. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince praised Almighty Allah for the successful surgery which has been recently undergone by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, wishing Prince Sultan good health. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi said that the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of meetings, contacts, messages and consultations held in the previous days with a number of leaders of some brotherly and friendly countries. The Cabinet was also informed of reports on the latest developments at Arab and international arenas. The Cabinet lauded the efforts exerted by the ministers of interior of Arab Gulf Cooperation Council in their consultative meeting in Kuwait during which they signed an agreement to combat terrorism and they expressed their stand by and full support to the Kingdom for all measures taken to confront terrorist actions. The Cabinet pointed out that the signing of the agreement came within activation of the strategy of GCC countries to fight extremism which leads to terrorism, and affirmed support for all regional and international efforts aiming at combating terrorism that threatens the security and stability of all countries. The Cabinet thanked all countries that expressed their sympathy with and support for the Kingdom and the efforts exerted to combat terrorism internally and externally, Dr. Al-Farsi added. As regards the latest developments at the Palestinian and Iraqi arenas, the Cabinet affirmed that the troublesome developments in the Palestinian territories and Iraq necessitate that all international efforts and potentials be exploited to confront these extremely dangerous developments that storm the region. The Cabinet emphasized that the delay of the peace process in the region was a result of Israeli government's obstinate stands that always try to destroy the peace process and to stand against the Palestinian people and their right to set up an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital. In this regard, the Cabinet reviewed the statements of U.S. President George W. Bush in which he announced that the date of 2005 for the setting up of an independent Palestinian state as stated by the '' Road Map'' is more likely unrealistic. The Cabinet hoped that these statements will not disrupt the " Road Map,'' especially the timetable of the Israeli withdrawal, indicating that these statements serve Israel's demands and practices that have broken down the grounds of the peace process since its beginning as much as they enhance the unilateral decisions that obstruct the credibility of the international legitimacy and its resolutions. The Minister of Culture and Information said the Cabinet then continued discussions of local items on its agenda and took the following decisions: The Council of Ministers approved the new regulations on the housing system of families of martyrs and servicemen or civilians missing and/or injured in action and thus sustaining permanent handicap. The new regulations cover those who died in war against enemy or during active duty of keeping security or taking part in military maneuvers or operations; those who sustained complete paralysis, mental disturbance, loss of eyes, or limbs while in action or due to an act of war against enemy or during the active duty of keeping security or taking part in military maneuvers or operations; those who were missing in action or while carrying out military or security tasks. The regulations identified the concept of family and explained its housing allowance. The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Civil Defense Directorate of the Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Development Program. The Cabinet decided to apply the prescribed premium of SR1000 for attending a session of a board of directors with a maximum payment of SR15000 per year for the members of the board of directors of the Electric Services Authority. The Council of Ministers approved the recommendations of the ministerial committee on developing the performance of services provided by the ports in the kingdom. The Cabinet agreed to delegate Abdul Mohsin Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Fares, the Director General of the Zakat (alms) and Income department, to represent the Ministry of Finance in the meetings of the board of directors of the Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) instead of Dr. Jubrah Ibn Eid Al Suraisiry. The Cabinet approved the transfer of Abdullah Ibn Ibrahim Al Abdul Wahab, the Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Education to the position of Director General of the Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Interior; The appointment of Eng. Mohammed Inb Hamad Alyahya as Undersecretary of Youth Welfare for Technical Affairs; The appointment of Rahman Ibn Abdul Mohsin Ibn Hamad Al Mansour as Assistant Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; and Mohammed Ibn Abdul Rahman Ibn Nasser Al Tuwaijri as Director General of the State's Properties at the Ministry of Finance. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a telephone call from Pakistan's President Musharraf. During the call the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments on the regional and international arenas. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a message from Palestine's President Yasser Arafat. The message was delivered to the Crown Prince during an audience with Palestinian Ambassador to the Kingdom Mustafa Hashim Al-Sheikh Deeb. The Ambassador conveyed to the crown prince greetings of President Arafat. In turn, the Crown Prince sent his greetings to the president. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, received the Director of the Anti-Narcotics General Directorate major general Mohammad Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Fraih and Passport Director General major general Salim Ibn Mohammad Alblaihaid whom the Interior Minister appointed in their respective posts. Prince Naif urged the two officials to work hard to carry our their duties. The two officials thanked him for his confidence in them. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz issued his directives to name one of the important quarters in Riyadh (The Martyrs Quarter). The quarter is in north east the city. Side roads will be named after all martyrs from killed in the terrorist attack which took place in Riyadh. Meanwhile The Head of Yemeni side at the Preparatory Committee of Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council and Undersecretary of Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation of the Republic of Yemen Engineer Hisham Sharaf Abdullah and his accompanying delegation arrived in Jeddah. They were received by Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Hidithi, who is in charge of the Cabinet's Special Committee and Head of the Saudi Side at the Preparatory Committee. Al-Hidithi pointed out that the Committee will prepare for the 16th session of the council due to be held in Jeddah on July 17 under the co-chairmanship of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and Yemen's Premier Abdul Qader Bajamal. The meetings of the preparatory committee of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council began in Jeddah. The meetings discussed items on the agenda aiming at boosting cooperation between the two countries. The meetings of the preparatory committee of the 16th session of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council prepared for the 16th session of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council which be held here 17 July 2004. At the end of the meetings, the two sides singed the final minutes which will be submitted to the 16th session of the Saudi-Yemeni coordination council. The Head of Yemeni side at the Preparatory Committee of Saudi-Yemeni Coordination Council and Undersecretary of Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation of the Republic of Yemen Engineer Hisham Sharaf Abdullah and his accompanying delegation left the Kingdom after their participation in the meetings of the Committee to prepare for the 16th session of the council due to be held in Jeddah on July 17. At King Abdul Aziz International Airport, they were seen off by Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Hidithi, who is in charge of the Cabinet's Special Committee and Head of the Saudi Side at the Committee and a number of officials. On the other hand Arab Foreign ministers approve to hold the Arab summit on May 22, 23 The Arab summit will be held in Tunis on May 22 and 23, Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Bin Yehia announced, after convening Arab foreign ministers have approved a relevant Tunisia-sponsored proposal. He told a joint press conference with the Arab League Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, that the ministers, who have finished a summit preparatory meeting, have also finished with the agenda for Arab leaders' summit . He noted the discussions during the meeting were serious and their results were fine. He also denied the presence of any inter-Arab disputes related to Arab issues, but said there were viewpoint differences. The official said the discussions related to reforms in the Arab world did not constitute reactions to any international initiatives or proposals. Moussa, for his part, said the file prepared by Arab foreign ministers was comprehensive and has topics related to all political and economic issues and includes ones related to reforming the Arab League. He affirmed that reform in the Arab world was an Arab decision , and not related to outside pressures or to the US-supported Greater Middle East Initiative or any other ones. He also renewed Arabs' commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative and criticized the US bias to Israel, saying the Arabs were disturbed by the US promises for Israel related to the return of Palestinian refugees and the borders. Arab foreign ministers, in a statement issued marking the conclusion of three days of preparatory talks for the upcoming summit, called on US President George W Bush to abide by his perspective on the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. The ministers, in the statement, also urged Bush to adhere to the principles of the Middle East peace process, namely the relevant United Nations resolutions and the land-for-peace theme. The statement, to be submitted to the summit, noted that issues on the final settlement concerning the Palestinians and Israelis should be addressed by the two concerned parties. They condemned all Israeli military operations on Palestinian and Arab territories, indiscriminate attacks against civilians and Palestinian leaders that lead to violence and counter violence. They also denounced the policy of state terrorism, practiced by Israel and called on the UN to take immediate action to stop the daily genocides against the Palestinian civilians. The statement said the international community must take immediate action to coerce Israel to enforce a cease-fire, secure protection for the Palestinian people and resolve the problem of the Palestinians in diaspora. The Arab foreign ministers' statement affirmed keenness on the territorial sanctity of Iraq and condemnation of torture by coalition personnel of Iraqi inmates in the prisons. It stressed on the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and independence of Iraq, non-intervention in states' internal affairs and affirmed pivotal role of the UN in securing adequate circumstances for power handover on June 30. The statement condemned serious violations of human rights by the former Iraqi regime during the occupation of Kuwait and its bids to hide facts concerning Kuwaiti prisoners, whose remains have been uncovered at mass graves in Iraq. It also denounced the regime's violations against the Iraqi people and supported the prosecution of the regime's figures by an Iraqi court and according to Iraqi laws. They affirmed the call for clearing the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction and coercing Israel to abide by international pacts in this regard. The executives also declared support for Sudan's unity and absolute backing for the UAE's sovereignty on Gulf islands that have been occupied by Iran. The officials affirmed emphatic condemnation of all forms of terrorism and declared readiness to aid efforts under the UN umbrella to fight this peril, while calling for distinction between the terrorism and occupation. Arab foreign ministers also endorsed the concepts of democracy and human rights in a document prepared for approval at an Arab summit in Tunis on May 22 and 23, officials said. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem told reporters after three days of talks in Cairo that the document also called for an independent judiciary and promoting civil society, and covered the status of women in the Arab world. "The most important features of the draft declaration is that it asserts the need to develop the Arab system of government and civil society...in the field of deepening the practice of democracy," Belkhadem said. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa later told a news conference the summit would take place on the dates proposed by the Tunisian government, May 22 and 23. In a separate document approved by the ministerial meeting, the Arab foreign ministers said Arab governments were committed to comprehensive political, economic, social, cultural and educational reform for the sake of development. It said the governments would "reinforce the spirit of citizenship and equality, expand the field of participation in public affairs and support freedom of responsible expression". Arab foreign ministers, meeting in Cairo will submit a resolution to the Arab Summit in Tunisia to condemn the crimes of Saddam Hussein's regime during the occupation of Kuwait in 1990-1991. A diplomatic source told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the resolution would include a "condemnation of the human rights violation that took place during the occupation of Kuwait by the Saddam regime and the intentional misleading in regards to the fate of Kuwait's POWs and detainees." The draft resolution calls for the trial of those who committed crimes against the Kuwaitis and third countries' nationals in front of an Iraqi court and not to provide safe haven for them. The foreign ministers were meeting in Cairo to prepare for the postponed Arab summit which is scheduled to be held in Tunisia on May 22 and 23. Arab foreign ministers have agreed to form a follow-up committee for the Iraqi issue including current president of the Arab Summit (Tunisia), former president (Bahrain) and upcoming (Algeria) in addition to the AL Secretary General, to follow up the developments in Iraq. An Iraqi diplomatic source said that the decision on Iraq was taken unanimously. He added it was based on a former decision and they added parts to it relevant to prisoners' abuse in Iraqi jails, UN role in Iraq and preparations for the January 2005 elections. The ministers had held their fourth meeting at the AL headquarters, headed by Tunisian Foreign Minister Al-Habib Bin Yahia, and attended by AL Secretary General Amr Mousa to discuss items included in the agenda of the 16th Arab Summit to be held in Tunisia on May 22-23. The meeting concentrated on the issue of reforms in the Arab World and the draft statement proposed by Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Qatar and Yemen on Arabs' vision of internal reform. Iraqi Foreign Ministers Hoshyar Zebari said that the Arab Foreign Ministers agreed on a draft law regarding the developments in Iraq, which includes a clear condemnation of the practices against the Iraqi prisoners. In a statement to reporters, Zebari said that the law is based on the resolutions issued during the Cairo meeting last March and Tunis meeting also, asserting that Iraq is not accepting any other suggestions and is insisting on the resolutions issued before by the Arab foreign ministers. Whether the draft law includes sending Arab forces to Iraq, Zebari said "we will hold on to the previous resolution which does not touch on this subject". He described the resolution as "balanced" and serves the Iraqi people at this stage, noting that the Arab League will make efforts to ease the transfer of sovereignty and end the occupation. Zebari said that he did not preview any new pictures of the practices against the Iraqi prisoners, but depended on the pictures published by the media. An official source said that the majority of Arab ministers agreed to hold the summit in Tunis on May 22 and 23, while the foreign ministers wrap up their fourth closed session Sunday evening to discuss the issues listed on the agenda. Algerian Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Belkhadem said there is no Maghreb bloc in the Arab ministerial meetings in Cairo, but "there is an establishment including Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) states which coordinates work among themselves." In a press statement on the sidelines of Arab Foreign Ministers meetings, Belkhadem said, a worksheet had been submitted to show AMU vision of the democratic reform issue in the Arab World. Belkhadem pointed out that the AMU initiative on reform is not a reply to the United States project. Regarding the situation in Iraq, Belkhadem called for a larger role to be played by the United Nations and the occupation should come to an end, adding that a decision had been taken by Arab FMs, which would be presented to the upcoming Arab summit. He added that the Arab countries are trying to formulate a comprehensive unified document relevant to encouraging democracy, confirming that what is left in this respect is relevant to woman's role, activating civil society role and human rights. Belkhadem pointed out that Algeria has been applying democracy for 15 years and is not in need to external reforms. Arab Foreign Ministers had began their preliminary meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, as a precursor to the Arab Summit that is scheduled to be held in Tunisia at the end of this month. Official spokesperson for the Arab League's Secretary-General told reporters that the meetings discussed issues that are still hanging, which have been postponed from the meeting held in Tunisia earlier this year. The spokesperson said developments in the issue of Iraq, as well as the Palestinian case in light of recent Israeli escalation of aggression, was also addressed by the Arab Foreign Ministers. Moreover, Yemen's "Road Map" for Iraq was also touched upon, as well as the issue of Arab human rights and the upcoming summit's final communique draft, he added. The Ministers had started their meeting by discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict and developments in the Palestinian issue, the spokesperson continued, adding that this round of meetings are all closed-door sessions. Arab Foreign Ministers discussed the Arab-Israeli conflict and the latest developments in the Palestinian issue in a closed-door session in their preliminary meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. An Arab diplomatic source said after the first session the Ministers tackled the Palestinian issue. He added that a ministerial committee headed by Tunisia while Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and Morocco will be members. The committee is designed to prepare a unified resolution project on the Palestinian issue to manifest Arab solidarity against the Israeli assassination campaign against Palestinian figures. The Ministers decided to leave the second part of the session to discuss the Iraqi issue. Iraq's foreign minister presented new photos of abuse against Iraqi prisoners saying there were more sickening photos, the source added. Meanwhile Spokesman of the Secretary General of the Arab League, Counselor Hussam Zaki said that there is an Arab consensus over a Tunisian proposal to hold the Arab Summit on the 22-23 of May. In a press statement on the sideline of the works of the closed night session, Zaki expected that this issue would be resolved during meetings of the Arab Foreign Ministers, indicating that the discussions have concentrated on the Palestinian and the Iraqi issues, as well as Brazil's proposal to hold an Arab-Latin summit in Brazil by end of this year. He explained that the Ministers' discussion of those two issues does not mean that other issues are being marginalized, noting that issues of reformation in the Arab World, and improving the Arab League and the Economic Council will be discussed during the next two days' sessions. Zaki pointed out that the Ministers' concern that their discussions be closed and unannounced was to guarantee that the documents and the draft resolutions would not be disclosed. Arab foreign ministers started their third session of preparatory meetings in the Arab League to continue discussing among other issues reforms in the Arab world. Spokesman of the Secretary General Hussam Zaki said ministers will talk about the development of joint Arab work. The meeting covered the recommendations of the Arab League's Secretary General Amr Moussa which are considered mutual ground for the proposals made by several Arab countries. Also, a draft statement on the Arab's vision on reform in the Arab world was discussed. Zaki said the ministers reviewed two draft resolutions one on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the other on the situation in Iraq. An official source at the Arab League said amendments that condemn the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers have been made on the draft resolution on Iraq which has been approved in Tunis. He said "The draft resolution asserts a wide role for the UN in Iraq and the importance of speeding up the transfer of authority to the Iraqi people and the ending of the foreign occupation in Iraq." The issue of deploying Arab troops with international forces, a recommendation made by UN envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Al-Ibrahimi was not referred to in the ministerial draft resolution that will be raised to the awaited Arab summit. On the Palestinian draft resolution, he said ministers stressed that the issues of borders, refugees and the Palestinian state must be left for final settlement negotiations and that the American guaranteed for Israel must not affect those pivotal issues. The Arab League Secretariat has prepared a draft statement on the Arab vision on reform in the Arab world that takes into consideration the points made in the recommendations of several Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Yemen and Tunisia. As for the US initiative on reform in the greater Middle East, he said it is "non-debatable" and out of the question. The foreign ministers also discussed updating the Arab human rights charter to be raised to the next Arab summit scheduled for May 22 and 23. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs, discussed current developments in the region in light of decisions taken by Arab foreign ministers at the end of their meeting with Amr Moussa, Arab League secretary-general, at the League headquarters. In a statement to press, he said the foreign ministers' meeting was a very positive development. He added there was a consensus among Arab states on the decisions reached by the ministers which he said constituted a programme designed to support national plans of each Arab country to enhance the economic and cultural aspects of Arab citizen's life. The minister said his meeting with Amr Moussa came within the context of discussing issues of joint interest for the Sultanate and the Arab League. |
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