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June 11, 2004 |
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***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to King Karl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the occasion of his country's national day. King Fahd wished the Swedish King permanent good health and happiness and the friendly people of Sweden steady progress and prosperity, praising strong relations between the two countries and their peoples. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a reply cable to the Minister of Education Dr Mohammed Ibn Ahmad Al Rashid at the conclusion of the Quran contest held in Makkah Al Mukkaramah between the 14th and the 16th of Rabie Al Awal under the auspices of the Governor of Makkha region and the supervision of the Ministry of Education. In the reply cable the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz thanked everyone for the feelings regarding the devious terrorist attacks and expressed his heartfelt feelings of sympathy to the families of the martyrs, victims of the deviant attacks. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi on the occasion of his country's national day anniversary. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the monarch wished President Ciampi continuous good health and happiness and the people of Italy steady progress and prosperity, lauding the current deep-rooted relations binding the two countries and their peoples. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from King Mohammed VI of Morocco who was reassured about the health of Crown Prince Abdullah following the successful dental surgery he has recently undergone. On his part, Crown Prince Abdullah thanked King Mohammed VI of Morocco for his noble feelings. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from Iraq's President Ghazi Ajeel Al-Yawar. During the conversation, the Iraqi president was reassured of the health of the crown prince following the dental surgery he underwent, wishing him continuous health. On his part, Crown Prince Abdullah thanked the president for his sincere fraternal feelings. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call today from Lebanon's Premier Rafiq Al Hariri. During the conversation, Al Hariri was assured of the health of the crown prince following the dental surgery he underwent, wishing him continuous health. On his part, Crown Prince Abdullah thanked Al Hariri for his sincere fraternal feelings. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received cables from leaders, premiers and officials who were reassured about the health of the Crown Prince following the successful dental surgery he has recently undergone. The cables were from Kuwait's Emir and Premier; Qatar's Emir, Heir Apparent, Premier and First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister; Secretary General of Arab Gulf Cooperation Council; and Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Conference. The officials also included Undersecretary of Islamic Affairs Ministry Saud Ibn Abdullah Ibn Talib and Assistant Undersecretary of Baha Governorate Ahmed Ibn Muneef Al-Muneefi. On his part, Crown Prince Abdullah thanked them for their noble feelings, wishing all permanent good health. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General will patronize the graduation of the first batch of students at the Prince Sultan College for Tourism. Prince Bandr Ibn Saud Ibn Khalid Chairman of the Board of Trustees addressed his thanks and gratitude to Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz for his care and support to the college and to Prince Khalid Al Faisal for his immense support. Dr Ali Ibn Eissa Al Shaabi also addressed his thanks to Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz and said the Second Deputy Prime Minister's patronization is a proof of the support provided to this college adding that there are 44 graduates who completed their studies and the college has sent their applications for work to different hotels and companies. Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector-General Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, who also heads the ministerial environment committee spoke out on the occasion of International Environment Day on June 5, saying that the Kingdom has shown its concern for the environment through adherence to Islamic principles, and joining most of the international agreements and declarations concerned with the environment. The Saudi government, he added, had adopted a number of measures to ensure the best use of the country's natural resources, and, through the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), had played a significant role in the region by its commitment to international agreements on ecology. Prince Sultan talked the International Environment Day and its theme about marine life and said that seas an oceans must be kept clean and marine life should be preserved. Prince Sultan stressed that everyone should be careful about the environment. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior and Chairman of Hajj Higher Committee chaired the Committee's first meeting for the year 1425H. The meeting was attended by Prince Abdul Majeed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Makkah Region and the Committee's Deputy Chairman; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Madinah Region and Member of the Committee; Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs and Member of the Committee and other members. At the outset of the meeting, Prince Naif noted the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier that the Committee should continue its efforts to provide the best services and facilities to pilgrims to perform their Hajj rituals easily and peacefully. The Committee also reviewed topics on its agenda relating to Hajj and pilgrims. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, received at his office here today Arab Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Secretary General Abdul Rahman Ibn Hamad Al-Atiyyah. During the meeting, they discussed a number of matters concerning the GCC joint security. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh region received at his office at Al Hokm palace the Chairman and member of the Board of the Saudi Society for Media and Communications who listened to Prince Salman instructions on the role of the society. Dr Ali Ibn Shuwail Al Qarni talked about the programmes and activities of the Society and future ones to be organized in Riyadh. Foreign Minister Michel Barnier spoke on the phone with Prince Saud Al-Faisal to renew the message of sympathy and solidarity which he had sent last Saturday after the serious attacks on the east coast of Saudi Arabia on May 29 and 30. President Chirac himself sent a message to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia condemning these extreme and deadly actions, and to recall that France stands side by side with Saudi Arabia in its collective effort to fight terrorism. During his conversation with Michel Barnier, Prince Saud al-Faisal thanked France for its trust. He said the kingdom was determined to fight terrorism and emphasized all the efforts made by the kingdom to protect and guarantee the security of foreign residents. The two ministers also reviewed the situation in Iraq and the discussions taking place in the UN Security Council. The Shoura Council held its 13th ordinary session chaired by Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid and discussed a number of items relating to a commercial competition draft regulation. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Secretary General of Shoura Council Dr Homoud Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Badr said that the Council will submit the regulation after its completion to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz according to the Council's regulations. Dr Al-Badr said that the Council is also going to discuss the amendment to the telecommunications system concerning its security and the prevention of hacking into the Internet. The Shoura Council held its 14th ordinary session chaired by Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Council's Secretary General Dr Homoud Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Badr said that the council completed its discussion of a number of items relating to a commercial competition draft regulation in preparation for submitting it to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz according to the Council's regulations. Dr Al-Badr noted that the council also reviewed a report of Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee on a unified system to administer wastes of health care in countries of Arab Gulf Cooperation Council. It also discussed the development of the disciplinary council of pilgrims' guides during Hajj rituals. An official source at the ministry of interior categorically denied news reported by some news agencies which said that police exchanged gun fires with suspected extremists in Jeddah last Saturday early morning, stressing that the news is absolutely incorrect and baseless. The first session of Saudi-South African Joint Committee was concluded in Cape Town by signing minutes of the most important results and recommendations reached by the four working groups which had discussed the fields of cooperation between the two countries. Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim Ibn Abdullah Yamani And South African Minister of Presidency Essop Pahad signed the minutes. The meetings of the second session of the committee will be held in Riyadh later. Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority issued a fatwa, or religious edict, calling on citizens and expatriates to inform on suspected extremists engaged in terrorist activities. The committee that issues religious rulings, headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, "urges citizens and (foreign) residents to inform on anyone planning or preparing to carry out an act of sabotage," the Saudi Press Agency reported. The aim is to "protect the people and the country from the destructive effects of such actions and to shield the planners themselves from the consequences of their actions," the fatwa said. The committee condemned the recent attacks in the Kingdom and urged extremists to "fear God Almighty and come to their senses." It said it issued the edict in response to inquiries about "the appalling events of the past few weeks," which have seen an escalation in the terror campaign blamed on Al-Qaeda sympathizers. Some 85 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a wave of violence which began in May 2003. In one of the bloodiest episodes, 22 people were killed when gunmen went on a shooting rampage and seized hostages in Alkhobar. Authorities have promised large financial rewards for those who help catch most-wanted militants or thwart attacks. Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Ghazi Ajil Al-Yawar, as the President of the Republic of Iraq, and Mr. lyad Al-Allawi, as Iraq Prime Minister. The Secretary-General wished the new president and prime minister total success in leading Iraq towards regaining its full sovereignty, achieving security and stability, and thus reclaiming its distinguished position at the Arab and Islamic levels so that it can contribute to building international peace and security. The Secretary-General commended the key role played by the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Mr. Lakhdar Ibrahimi, in reaching a conciliatory solution that will make possible a transfer of power to Iraqis in smooth conditions on 30 of June. The Secretary-General expressed his full satisfaction at the progress achieved on the road to Iraq's installation of all its constitutional institutions, formation of its government, and election of its national assembly so as to fulfill Iraq aspirations for freedom and independence. The Arab League condemned the terror acts in Al-Khobar in eastern Saudi Arabia. Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amre Moussa told reporters "we condemn all acts targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia and threatening stability in the country". He added "we support all efforts carried out by Saudi Arabia and any Arab country to resist and confront these operations". The Secretary General said foreign powers are behind these attacks and urged for quick reforms. He attacked the neo-conservatives in the US and said they have been a major obstacle in the dialogue because of their hatred to Arab Muslims. Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa þ confirmed that there will be no change in the decision issued þregarding Iraq's representation in the Arab League, when the Iraqi Governing þ Council (IGC) is dissolved by June 30th to be replaced by a new government.þ Speaking to journalists Moussa said that Iraq is a member in the Arab þLeague, pointing out that there are current contacts to coordinate stands with þIraqis over the future development in Iraq, adding that Algeria who is the current Arab member in the Security Council is conducting Arab coordination þover a draft resolution presented to the council over Iraq.þ On the other hand, Moussa noted that a quintet committee which includes þEgypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine, was formed to set a plan to þ take Arab political and diplomatic actions.þ In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram daily, Moussa said the summit issued important resolutions with respect to the Palestinian cause that called for adopting an obvious political stance so as to refuse any promises given to Israel at the expense of the Arab rights. With respect to Iraq, Moussa added that the Arab world pays great heed to the UN role in Iraq in order to help bring the volatile status quo to an end. Asked about the appendixes that aim at developing the AL, Moussa said that they aim at establishing a social and economic council, an Arab bank for investment and development, in addition to promoting the joint Arab economic action. As to establishing an Arab shura council, an Arab court of justice, an Arab security council besides the follow-up committee to implement resolutions, Moussa said that these matters would be discussed by Arab experts and specialists to be submitted to the next summit in Algeria. On the responsibilities of the AL and the Arab countries in implementing the resolutions floated by the Tunis Summit, Moussa said that these responsibilities are interrelated and integrated. However, Moussa added that the final communiqué of Tunis Summit reflected and confirmed all resolutions adopted by the summit. With regard to the participation of some Arab countries in the G-8 Summit, Moussa said the Arab stance as to development and reform would be the basis upon which the Arab countries participating in the summit would benefit from. Asked about the Arab procedures to confront the US GME initiative, Moussa said there should be Arab consultations in the framework of the AL so as to discuss the resolutions of the G-8 Summit. King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue will hold the 3rd National Forum for Intellectual Dialogue titled '' A Woman, Rights, Duties, and Education'' will be held in Madinah on June 12-14. 70 male and female participants from all regions of the Kingdom will take part in the Forum. In a press statement, Sheikh Salih Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Hussain, the Chairman of the National Forum for Intellectual Dialogue pointed out that efforts yielded laying of the final touches to launch the Forum in Madinah, the first capital of Islam. He called on the participants to understand the nature of both men and women, their relations and roles within the framework of integration and harmony, but not within competition and struggle. The United Nations envoy in Baghdad has urged Iraqis to press on with setting up a broad parliamentary-style body to help oversee the new interim government that is charged with organising elections. Lakhdar Brahimi, who played a mediating role in setting up the government announced to take over from the U.S. occupation authority, said a group of about 60 leading Iraqis would criss-cross the country this month to organise a planned national conference in July that would select the new chamber. "It's more than a consultative body but it's less than a legislative body," he told a news conference on Wednesday as he laid out the next step on the path to Iraq's first free elections in January under a transition process agreed with the United States. "It is only an elected government that can legitimately claim to represent the people of Iraq," he said, as debate rumbled on among Iraqis about the choice of interim ministers. Improving security would be a priority, he said The Arab Peace Initiative committee held a meeting þ to discuss ways of putting this proposal into action.þ An Arab League source said that the meeting, held at the level of þ permanent representatives, reviewed an Arab action plan to bring this þinitiative anew on the international front, mainly at the Security Council and þstriving to hold a meeting between the committee with the international þ quartet.þ The committee is chaired by Tunisia and groups Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, þAlgeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Yemen and the þ þArab League secretary general.þ The source said that the committee plans to act within a specific timeframe þ in order to implement this initiative which was launched at the Beirut summit in March 2003.þ þHe said that the committee aims at drumming support for the initiative by þpassing a resolution at the Security Council or the General Assembly adopting þit as a basis for a peaceful solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict.þ The Arab summit, held in Tunis last month, declared that the initiative is þ the sole Arab proposal to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the þregion. The committee's meeting is the first since the Tunis summit. The Arab Troika Committee assigned by the Arab þ Summit outlined in its first meeting an Arab work plan on the regional þand international levels, to follow up the developments in Iraq.þ An Arab diplomatic source said that the committee þ concentrated in its meeting on the means of executing the Arab Summit's decisions regarding the situation in Iraq.þ The committee studied an Arab work plan, which included several steps, such þas improving cooperation with the UN to facilitate the transfer of power to þthe Iraqi people after forming the Iraqi government.þ The source added that the plan emphasized the importance that the UN plays þ a central and vital role in the political process and in building Iraq's institutions, including preparing for the elections scheduled to be conducted þin January 2005 and drafting a permanent constitution, as well as forming an þelected government.þ The committee also highlighted the importance of concentrating the efforts þ on rebuilding Iraq and called the Arab countries, as well as the Arab þ þfinancial funds and institutions to quickly contribute to the rebuilding of þ Iraq.þ The Troika committee includes Tunisia, the current chair country, Algeria the next chair, Bahrain former chairman, as well as Secretary General of the þArab League. Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and the official on the þIraqi portfolio, Ahmad bin Hali, told reporters that the meeting was the first for the committee, which is headed by Tunisia and groups Bahrain and Algeria.þ He added that the committee is responsible for supervising the þimplementation of the Arab summit decision regarding following up the þsituation in Iraq, especially after the formation of the new government, as þwell as consolidating Arab coordination regarding deliberations with the þSecurity Council on the US-British draft on Iraq.þ Hali affirmed that Algeria, the current Arab member at the Security þCouncil, is leading Arab coordination and deliberations on the draft. He þadded that the League and troika members are also coordinating with Iraq þpolitically so as for it to regain full sovereignty after June 30th, as well as supporting efforts of the Iraqi government for the 2005 elections and þ preparing the constitution.þ þHali went on to say that the League plays an important role in all þ þconferences, especially regarding the rebuilding of Iraq, adding that Moussa þhad proposed the holding of a national Iraqi conference which was adopted by þthe United Nations. Fatah has called for lifting the embargo imposed on the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The movement in a statement issued on the 5th of June marking the anniversary of the 1967 war said that the first step to be taken to prove the seriousness of any political move from the Israeli government is to lift the embargo imposed on the Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. Meanwhile Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei welcomed the role played by Egypt in the political process. In his remarks on the resignation of CIA Director George Tenet President George W. Bush said: George Tenet, the director of the CIA, submitted a letter of resignation. I met with George last night in the White House. I had a good visit with him. He told me he was resigning for personal reasons. I told him I'm sorry he's leaving. He's done a superb job on behalf of the American people. I accepted his letter. He will serve at the CIA as the director until mid July, at which time the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John McLaughlin, will serve as the acting director. George Tenet is the -- is the kind of public service you like -- servant you like to work with. He's strong. He's resolute. He served his nation as the director for seven years. He has been a strong and able leader at the agency. He's been a -- he's been a strong leader in the war on terror. And I will miss him. I send my blessings to George and his family. I look forward to working with him until the time he leaves the agency. And I wish him all the very best. The United Nations envoy to Iraq said the US will have to change its behaviour if a shift to sovereignty is to have any meaning. Lakhdar Brahimi told the BBC that complete power must be handed over from the US to the interim government. Until now the US administrator rather than the US-appointed Iraqi governing council had held control, he said. His comments follow a revised version of a Security Council resolution on Iraq from the US and Britain. The new draft states clearly that the US-led multi-national force will leave if asked to by the Iraqi government. Mr Brahimi said further talks on the role and command of troops was needed. "There is a need for a detailed discussion about what they are going to do, how these troops are going to behave, what is the chain of responsibility," he told Radio 4's Today programme. Official spokesman of the White House Scott McClellan said strong steps have been taken by the Saudi Arabian government to crack down on terrorists. "They took strong action to address the situation over the weekend and they are continuing -- you know, Saudi Arabia is someone we're working very closely with in the global war on terrorism. They had an announcement talking about some of the steps they're taking to crack down on terrorist financing, too, and we welcome those steps. Ronald Reagan, who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was "morning again in America," died at his home in California after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease, a family friend said. He was 93. Five years after leaving office, the nation's 40th president told the world in November 1994 that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's, an incurable illness that destroys brain cells. He said he had begun "the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life." Reagan's body was expected to be taken to his presidential library and museum in Simi Valley, California, and then flown to Washington to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. His funeral was expected to be at the National Cathedral, an event likely to draw world leaders. President George W. Bush said: This is a sad hour in the life of America. A great American life has come to an end. I have just spoken to Nancy Reagan. On behalf of our whole nation, Laura and I offered her and the Reagan family our prayers and our condolences. Ronald Reagan won America's respect with his greatness, and won its love with his goodness. He had the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humor that comes with wisdom. He leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he helped save. During the years of President Reagan, America laid to rest an era of division and self-doubt. And because of his leadership, the world laid to rest an era of fear and tyranny. Now, in laying our leader to rest, we say thank you. He always told us that for America, the best was yet to come. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that this is true for him, too. His work is done, and now a shining city awaits him. May God bless Ronald Reagan. An Israeli court senteneced Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti to five consecutive life terms for his role in deadly attacks on Israelis. Barghouti was given 40 years the maximum sentence after he was convicted last month of involvement in shootings that killed four Israelis and a Greek monk. The ruling said Barghouti was "involved up to his neck in terror activity." Before the sentencing, Barghouti rejected the right of the court to judge him, to the cheers of supporters in the courtroom. "The Israeli courts are a partner to the Israeli occupation," Barghouti said. "The judges are just like pilots who fly planes and drop bombs." Barghouti was the West Bank leader of Fatah, the mainstream Palestinian political force. Among the most popular leaders of the young generation, Barghouti, 45, has been mentioned as one of the possible successors to Yasser Arafat, with whom he has had a stormy relationship. For years the small, energetic Barghouti was a close ally of Israeli peace activists, advocating creation of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. However, with the outbreak of violence in September 2000, Barghouti became a strong backer of resistance against Israeli occupation. The Sudanese government and the southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), signed last Saturday Nairobi Declaration on the final round of talks aimed at ending 21 years of civil war. The two sides also signed six peace protocols. They were signed by Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha and SPLM leader John Garang in the presence of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. The signing ceremony was attended by Kenyan Foreign Minister Kalonzo Musyoka, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and Arab League Chief Amr Moussa. At the end of its meeting held in Beirut OPEC issued this statement Given current high and volatile prices and prevailing concerns regarding supply security, and in order to ensure continued, robust, global economic growth, especially in the economies of fellow Developing Countries, the Conference decided to increase the OPEC production ceiling (excluding Iraq) to 25.5 mb/d, with effect from July 1, 2004, and to 26 mb/d, with effect from August 1, 2004, in order to ensure adequate supply and give a clear signal of OPEC's commitment to market stability and to maintaining prices at acceptable levels to both producers and consumers. The Conference also decided to convene an Extraordinary Meeting in Vienna, Austria, on July 21, 2004 to review market developments. |