March 18, 2005

IN BRIEF ***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of condolences to Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak on the death of his sister. In his cable, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques offered his deepest sympathy to President Mubarak and his family on the sad demise of the president's sister. Similar cables were sent to President Mubarak from each of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. ********** Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a message from Iranian president Mohammad Khatemi. The message was delivered to the crown prince by Envoy of the Iranian president Dr. Sayid Mohammed Sadr during an audience. ********** Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received at the royal court at Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh princes, ministers, senior officials and citizens who came to greet him. The Crown Prince also received a delegation of Madinah Region-based Faqra and Manabha Tribe from Anzah of Al-Ula Governorate who condemned the criminal acts perpetrated by the deviant group. The Crown Prince thanked them for their support for the Saudi leadership and their loyalty to their religion and homeland. The audiences were attended by a number of princes and officials. ********** Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received in Riyadh Polish Siamese twins, Olga and Dariya who were surgically separated at King Abdul Aziz Medical City of the National Guard on the occasion of their discharge from the Children's Ward following their three-month treatment.The twins were accompanied by their mother and the Saudi medical team which performed the surgery headed by Executive Director General of Health Affairs at the National Guard Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabieah. The Crown Prince presented gifts to the twins, their mother and an accompanying female doctor. The audience was attended by Prince General Miteb Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Deputy Commander of the National Guard for Military Affairs, Nasser Ibn Hamad Al-Rajhi, Chief of the Crown Prince's Court, and Abdul Mohsin Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor at the Crown Prince's Court. In a press statement following the audience, Dr. Al-Rabieah pointed out that the twins are in a good condition, expecting that they will leave for their country within a fortnight. ********** Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his palace princes, ministers and citizens who came to greet and congratulate him on his safe arrival. Prince Sultan also received the Kingdom's Grand Mufti, Chairman of Senior Ulema Commission and Religious Research and Ifta Department Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh. ********** Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, arrived in Riyadh. He was welcomed by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Fahd Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Mite'eb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Rural and Urban Affairs, Prince Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Ibn Aziz, Prince Bandar Ibn Mohammed Ibn Abdul Rahman, Prince Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, personal advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of the Interior, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyahd region, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Gvoernor of Assir, Prince Saud Al-Faisal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh region, Prince Ahmad Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Interior, Prince Fahd Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mussaed, Assistant Minister of Defence for Civil Aviation, Prince Turki Ibn Nasser Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defence and Aviation, Prince Faisal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Mohammed Assistant Chairman of the General Security, Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Nasser Ibn Abdul Aziz Governor of Al Kharj, Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Tabuk, Prince Saud Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Head of the General Intelligence, Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United States of American, other princes, ministers and high ranking military and civilian officials. Prince Sultan had left Morocco. Upon leaving Morocco, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz sent a cable of thanks to King Mohammad VI of Morocco for the hospitality he received during his private visit to Morocco. ********** Presided over by its Chairman Dr. Saleh Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid, the Shoura Council held its 70th session. In a press statement, the Secretary General of the council Dr. Homoud Al-Badr said that the council approved employee disciplinary regulations as well as Zakat (alms) Private Committee regulations. The council also continued its discussion of the civil aviation draft regulations, he added. The Shoura Council approved an amendment of article five of the regulation of non-Saudis' ownership and rent of real estate during a session held and presided over by the chairman Sheikh Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Homaid. The amendment extended the period allowed for non-Saudi Muslims to rent real estate inside the borders of Makkah and Madinah to a renewable period of not more than ten years, secretary general of the council Dr. Homoud Al-Badr said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session. Previously, the allowed period was two years only. The council also approved some recommendations aiming at improving the work of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare. Furthermore, the council approved amendments of the constitution of the International Telecommunication Union. ********** A Saudi high ranking official commenting on the Saudi government's role in holding Ahmed Abu Ali said that, he was detained in Saudi Arabia on serious charges. The Saudi authorities were investigating the background of it, as was the U.S. government. The U.S. government was fully aware of the reasons behind his detention. U.S. officials visited him on a fairly regular basis, found absolutely no evidence of either physical or mental abuse said Adel Al Jubeir. In the end, the decision was made to extradite him to the U.S. because his family wanted him tried in the U.S. and the U.S. government wanted him. So we handed him over to the U.S. Before he was handed over, he was examined by four doctors, one of them American and one of them British, who found no evidence whatsoever of physical abuse. As he was flying back to the United States, he was in the company of an American doctor, who also took a look at him and engaged in extensive discussions with him, and found no evidence of any physical or mental abuse while he was in Saudi detention. So the argument that he was tortured in Saudi Arabia is preposterous or baseless. He talked about spending time in - while he was in detention exercising with other inmates, playing soccer with them, I believe. But at no point in time did he say to anyone, any American official who visited him while he was in detention, or complained to them that he was being abused in any way, shape or form. So we completely reject that allegation. He was held because he was part of an operation that we believe was very serious, added Al Jubeir. The U.S. government was informed about his detention. There may have been other associates with him, but we hold people when we believe that there is a serious crime that may be involved. We do not hold people because other governments ask us to hold people, if we do not have enough to hold them in the first place. ********** Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani Mulki said he expects a conference of countries neighbouring Palestine to be held before the Arab summit in Algeria, scheduled for later this month. He said the conference would focus on maintaining the comprehensive nature of the peace settlement. ********** The Sunday Times said the British security service MI5 is to issue a national alert to polling stations amid fears of a possible attack by Islamic terrorists during the general election. Spy chiefs want police to be placed outside polling stations where senior ministers will vote. Schools, community centres and church halls acting as polling stations will be advised to install CCTV and sweep for explosives. The advice to protect polling stations is being prepared by officers from the National Security Advice Centre, an MI5 unit set up last April to look into ways of protecting key government buildings from attack. They have been seconded to a secret Whitehall committee examining the prospects of an election attack. One senior government official said: "The committee is involved in preparing security advice for returning officers and that advice will be circulated to polling stations." With the poll expected on May 5, there is growing concern in Whitehall that terrorists trained by Osama Ibn Laden might want to launch an election "spectacular". One senior government figure who advises Blair on terrorism warned: "They may time an attack for the election, that is very likely. Look what they did on March 11 last year they changed the course of the Spanish election. "What would it matter to them who they kill as long as they did it in the middle of a general election?" MI5 analysts fear that polling stations in high-profile constituencies could present a "primary" target to terrorists, the paper said. ********** Thousands of protesting unemployed Palestinians stormed the parliamentary building in Gaza city last Saturday, days after the Israeli outgoing Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon said that Israel's "strategic goal" is to phase out Palestinian labor by 2008, as the Palestine National Authority (PNA) said that Israel "cannot wash its hands and walk away in 2008" and urged the Jewish state to reopen its borders for Palestinian workers. The protestors demanded the PNA must act to open the Israeli-Palestinian border crossings to allow them to return to work in Israel. Ya'alon said that Israel's "strategic goal" is to phase out Palestinian labor by 2008, confirming: "This is our policy, this is our political directive and this is because of what has happened here over the last four and a half years." "Israel cannot wash its hands, walk away in 2008 and say we will not have any Palestinian employees from the Gaza Strip. ...Gaza, no matter how big the investments ...from the international community, will not able to preserve tolerable rates of unemployment," Palestinian Labor and Welfare Minister Hasan Abu Libdah told the UPI. When asked what would happen if Israel does not come through and unemployment remains high, Abu Libdah said: "A third intifada." ********** The Republic of Yemen was built up on the base of multiparty policy, freedom of expression, respect of human rights and empowering women's role in the political life, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that in an interview with the French channel TV5. President Saleh pointed out to the achievements have been realized since the unification of Yemen's two parts in 1990 and the stability Yemen has witnessed since that historical event. When asked about his analysis of the events in Iraq, President Saleh said he wished that all Iraqis, irrespective of their religious and sectarian affiliations, participated in the elections. "We had warned that without the participation of all political forces, the elections would be failure". President Saleh expressed his hopes that more American-European sponsorship of the Israeli-Palestinian talks would lead to peace and the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. He warned that the Israeli violence is detrimental to peace and therefore, dialogue should be the only option. ********** Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ibn Amine Madani received at his office OIC Secretary General Akmanuddine Ihsan Oghlu. During the meeting they reviewed issues of mutual interests and ways of activating the international Islamic news agency and the coming campaign under the direction of Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, in support of the children orphaned by the Tsunami. The meeting was attended by Prince Turki Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Culture and Information and Dr Abdullah Al Jasser, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information. ********** The Supreme Committee to Follow up Issues of Arab Community in Israel warned of plans by radical Israeli settlers to harm the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in April. The committee said that any attempt to harm the mosque will lead to "detrimental consequences" that could affect countries of the Arab and Islamic worlds. Spokesman of the committee Abed Anbatawi indicated that the committee, as well as a large number of Palestinians living in Israel will pay a visit to the mosque, which is considered a holy site for millions of Muslims. Speaking to Palestinian radio, Anbatawi stated that "the visit is not the first to be organized by the committee to be in touch with what's happening at the holy mosque at the religious as well as the national levels." Al-Aqsa Institution for the protection of Islamic Holy sites announced that around 10,000 Jewish settlers have started organizing to break into the holy mosque next month. The settlers are planning to enter the mosque, which they call the "Temple Mount", to perform their religious rituals inside the mosque, explained the institution, noting that extremist Jewish groups began distributing posters in some settlements to prepare for the campaign. Vice-President of the Islamic Movement in Israel scholar Kamal Khatib announced in press statements that this Jewish call to storm into Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 10 is part of a "green light" the Israeli police have given to the Jews to enter the mosque under their protection, source reported. Meanwhile, Supreme Judge of Palestine scholar Taysir Al-Temimi warned Israel of any attempt to harm the mosque, indicating that the settlers' plans are real and dangerous and are acknowledged by several Israel security authorities, including the police and the Israeli interior security apparatus who confirmed that some Jewish groups plan to blow up the mosque. Al-Temimi called on Arab, Islamic and international organizations to defend the holy mosque and stop the aggression against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, pointing out that the security wall built by Israel around Jerusalem prevented Palestinians from reaching the mosque. ********** Kuwait and Jordan see eye to eye on most if not all Arab issues, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah stressed. In remarks upon departure headed to Amman heading Kuwait's delegation to the Higher Kuwaiti-Jordanian Committee, the minister remarked relations are developing satisfactorily. The Kuwaiti chief diplomat particularly stressed there is close cooperation and coordination on regional issues such as the Iraq neighbors' meetings and Palestinian Authority support and reform issues. The issue of combating terrorism is also given all due priority in cooperation. Asked if he would discuss an oil grant during the visit, Sheikh Mohammad noted there is economic and political cooperation on several levels. He stated, however, "there would be no talk of an oil grant ... that was only a response to a certain circumstance that is no more." "What we would be discussing," he pointed out, "is investment cooperation issues, and most particularly the role of the private sector." The foreign minister also expressed appreciation for Jordanian facilities for the benefit of Kuwaiti investors, he underlined the large Kuwaiti investments in Jordan and the number of Kuwaiti students studying at Jordanian academies and universities. Around 2,600 Kuwaiti students pursue their graduate and undergraduate studies at Jordanian institutions. On other issues, the minister stressed Kuwait is not pressured into any decision without conviction. ********** An oil concession agreement was signed at the Oil and Gas Ministry between the Sultanate of Oman and India's Reliance Industries. As per the agreement, the Indian company will explore and produce oil in the 21.140 sq km maritime block No18 in the Gulf of Oman. Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhy, Oil and Gas Minister, signed the agreement on behalf of government while the CEO of the Indian company signed for his side. The company will spend around $10 to $30 million in the exploration area without incurring the Omani government any investment risks during the exploration period. During the first three-year exploratory period, the company will conduct a number of geological and geophysical studies and a seismic survey. According to the agreement, the period could be extended further to conduct other exploratory programmes in the block. Nassir bin Khamis al Gashmi, Ministry Under-Secretary, told the media that the company has wide experience in deep-sea oil exploration and production. He added that two other agreements for oil exploration will be signed this year. ********** The United States has quietly approved a plan to relocate its consulate from the eastern section of Jerusalem to a western Jerusalem neighborhood, with construction of the new facility already beginning. The U.S. has been debating for several years moving its consulate, currently located in a largely Arab eastern Jerusalem neighborhood, to the western, more Jewish section of the city, with talks intensifying as the Oslo peace process moved forward and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations culminating in Israel agreeing at Camp David in 2000 to give the eastern section of Jerusalem to the PLO to create its future state's capital. ********** US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cautiously welcomed Syria's withdrawal of its troops from northern Lebanon. But with others remaining in parts of its small neighbor, Rice reiterated the US demand for all Syrian forces to leave. "It's not a bad thing that Syrian forces are moving - clearly not a bad thing - but it is also not compliance with 1559," she said, referring to a UN resolution, which calls for all Syrian forces to leave. "If there's an ultimatum, it's 1559. It's get out," she added. ********** The first round of negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Sultanate and the US began in Muscat. The Omani side in the three-day round is led by Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan, Commerce and Industry Minister, while the US team is headed by Catherine Novelli, Assistant Trade Representative for Europe and Mediterranean Affairs. Maqbool in his opening address said the decision by the governments of the two countries to start FTA negotiations comes as a natural development of the historical ties of friendship and economic co-operation that have existed for a very long time. Those ties have gained greater momentum during the recent past with the signing of the trade and investment framework agreement last year. The minister said the United States is a key trading partner of the Sultanate. By the removal of barriers and obstacles to trade, the FTA is liable to lead to a further increase in the volume of the trade exchange between the two countries. Oman's exports are expected to find greater access in the US market. Novelli said the agreement will enhance the future vision of both the countries, and expressed hopes that bilateral relations with all GCC states would further develop. She said free trade agreements have proved capable of enhancing economic growth rates and finding more job opportunities. ********** Dr Rajha bint Abdulameer bin Ali, Minister of Tourism, conveyed His Majesty Sultan Qaboos's greetings to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, the German government and people when she was received by the Chancellor here yesterday. The minister is currently on a visit here to participate in the International Tourism Bourse (ITB). The Minister exchanged remarks on aspects of co-operation including the tourism sector. Schroeder expressed his satisfaction at the tangible progress in bilateral relations. He said his recent visit to the Sultanate had made him more willing to activate the existing bilateral co-operation. The German Chancellor said he would convey to German tourism companies the Sultanate's desire to have his country's contributions in Oman tourism projects. He said the Sultanate witnessed development and growth in all fields and possessed the kind of tourism potential that appeals German tourists. Rajha told the German Chancellor that the Sultanate likes to see German companies participate in tourism projects and German tourists in the Sultanate. She said that the door is open for German companies to play a greater role in managing or investing in the Sultanate's tourism projects and also to boost German tourist visits. The German Chancellor asked the minister to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes of good health to His Majesty the Sultan and further progress and prosperity to the Omani people. tourist visits. ********** US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said Washington has not backed a military strike by Israel against suspected Iranian nuclear sites, contrary to press reports. When asked by ABC television's "This Week" program to respond to a report in the London Sunday Times that Israel may launch a unilateral attack on Iran if diplomacy fails, Rice insisted that Washington is committed to following a diplomatic course. "The United States has now, with the European allies, put forward, I think, a strengthened now diplomatic hand for the European three to play," she said, referring to Britain, Germany and France. "It really is now up to the Iranians to do what they need to do. Obviously, the president of the United States always has his options open, but we really do believe that this can be resolved diplomatically." "What we've forged with Europe is a common front, a common approach to dealing with Iran that says Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon, that Iran's international obligations must be upheld," Rice told ABC. "That means they cannot develop a nuclear weapon under cover of civilian nuclear power," she said. "It says that if Iran is not willing to live up to those obligations, then there will be a supported referral to the (UN) Security Council." ********** The Saudi lawyers team assigned to settle the Saudi detainees in Guantanamo, led by lawyer Ahmed bin Mohammed Madh-har and the membership of Dr. Mohammed bin Omar Al Madani Al-Idrisi, Salih Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Salem, Kitab bin Fahd Al-Shammari and Khalid bin Fahd Al-Salem, the team's Secretary General, has held a meeting.The team, which met yesterday, welcomed a statement by a senior US official about the possibility of handing over a big number of detainees to their home countries. They also discussed the possibility of consulting with US legal offices, who are currently defending some Guantanamo prisoners, to get acquainted with the latest developments of the cases of Saudi prisoners. ********** Iraqi security forces discovered the bodies of 19 people, all of them having been shot dead, in the restive Iraqi-Syrian border town of Qaim, a police source said in Ramadi. "Nineteen bodies, including that of a woman, were discovered in Qaim with bullet wounds," the source said. The identities of the bodies were not clear, but murders are regularly carried out in the restive province of Al-Anbar, the stronghold of the resistance of Islamists and Saddam Hussein loyalists in Iraq. Qaim, where insurgents are suspected of regularly crossing into Iraq from Syria, is the site of regular clashes between rebels and US forces. ********** Israel has agreed to hand over the West Bank cities of Jericho and Tulkarm to Palestinians, Army Radio reported. The radio said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had agreed in a meeting with Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Youssef to pull Israeli troops away from Jericho. Tulkarm would be handed over early next week, the radio said. **********