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June 10, 2005 |
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***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz sent a cable of congratulations to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the occasion of his country's National Day. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Monarch wished King Carl XVI continuous good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. 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 Eliza Mannigham Powler, Chief of Britain's Homeland Security and the accompanying delegation. The British official conveyed to Crown Prince Abdullah the greetings of the British leadership. In turn, Crown Prince Abdullah sent his greetings to the leadership. The audience was attended by Advisors at the Crown Prince's Court Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud and Abdul Mohsin Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijri, and Britain's Ambassador to the Kingdom Sherard Cowper Coles. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Chairman of Environment Ministerial Committee and Chairman of Board of Directors of National Commission of Wildlife Conservation and Development noted that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz stressed through the governing statute the necessity of preserving environment and its bio and non-bio components as natural, renewable and environmental heritage contributing to the conservation of a balanced, stable and healthy environment in the service of human beings' prosperity and health. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency on the occasion of the World Environment Day falling on Sunday, Prince Sultan pointed out as ancestors, the inhabitants of Arabian peninsula have lived in a delicate balance and full harmony with their fragile desert environment and little natural resources, we are in a pressing need of following the steps of ancestors in dealing with environment clearly on basis of tolerant Islamic religion. Prince Sultan affirmed that the Kingdom has taken all possible steps to preserve environment and its bio-diversity in the Kingdom through the establishment of a number of bodies concerned with environment taking into consideration environment safety while designing all developmental projects on the basis of continual environmental assessment. As the slogan of celebration this year is '' Planning for Earth Future, Green Cities'', the Kingdom has given great significance to plants, he said. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and Chairman of Board of Directors of National Commission of Wildlife Conservation and Development chaired the board's 20th meeting. In a statement following the meeting, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and the Commission's Managing Director said that the meeting was briefed on a follow-up report prepared by the Board's Secretariat on the decisions issued at the Board's 19th meeting and the approval of authorizing the Commission to prepare a draft regulation on zoos in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture. He added that the Board approved the Commission's proposal of its desire for forming Saudi Association for Bio-diversity Conservation within the framework of tasks and activities of Saudi Environment Association. Prince Saud added that the Board also approved the Commission's organization of a national forum for conservation strategy, noting that the Board also approved the formation of National Committee of Human being Program and Vital Surrounding. The meeting was attended by Prince Turki Ibn Nasser Ibn Abdul Aziz, the General President of Meteorology and Environment Protection, princes, ministers and officials. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his palace in Riyadh Prince Sultan Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the General President of Youth Welfare, his deputy Prince Nawaf Ibn Faisal Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Mohammed Ibn Faisal Ibn Saud Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, President of Al Hilal club, members of the Board of Directors of the club, members of the administrative and technical organs of the club and players of the club's soccer team. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz congratulated Al Hilal family on winning Crown Prince cup for 1425 H., National Solidarity Championship against terrorism and late Prince Faisal Ibn Fahd championship cup. The meeting was attended by Prince Turki Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Culture and Information. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received the Mexican ambassador to the Kingdom Raul Lopez Lira. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed a number of issues of mutual interest. The meeting was attended by Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal Ibn Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, Supervisor of Information and Analysis at Prince Sultan's office. The Shoura Council's General Assembly for Parliamentary Relations Department held its first session, led by Chairman of the council Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Homaid and attended by the council's Secretary General and Secretary General of Parliamentary Relations Department Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Al-Malik and a number of members of the general assembly. Dr. Al-Malik said that this meeting is held to elect the general assembly nominees for the executive committee of the Parliamentary Relations Department. He also said that the main achievement of the assembly is joining the Arab, Islamic, continental and international parliamentary unions. Al-Malik added that they elected five members to the executive committee and they are as follows: Dr. Yazeed Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Ohali, Dr. Abdul Aziz Ibn Naif Al-Oraier, Dr. Abdullah Sadiq Dahlan, Dr. Shuaish Ibn Saud Al-Mutairi and Falah Ibn Faraj Al-Subaie. The Shoura Council also discussed two reports of the Ministry of Transport for fiscal years 1422/1423 and 1423/1424H. Presided over by the council's chairman Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Homaid, the council was briefed on the development of maritime transport sector along with the promotion of the private sector to invest in transport utilities . The Secretary General of the council Dr. Salih Al-Malik said the council also discussed an annual report of Control and Investigations Board for fiscal year 1423/1424H., two reports of Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for fiscal years 1422/1423 and 1423/1424H and other reports on domestic affairs. Security forces in Al Madinah Al Munawarrah have detained one o the main suspects in the killing of retired Brigadier Daher Al-Orwi Al-Jahni. Mazhar a Pakistani national is the third suspect to be detained from a gang that attacked the victim's house and hanged him after chaining members of his family and steeling all their valuable belongings and large amounts of money. Police had arrested a number of suspects in the murder case that shocked residents in a neighborhood north of Madinah. Retired Col. Daher Al-Orwi, 72, was found dead at his house in Al-Mulaileeh. The arrested suspects included two Pakistanis who had worked for Al-Orwi for a long period. The duo, however, denied any involvement in the murder, according to a police source, Al-Madinah daily said. Daifullah Al-Orwi, the victim's brother, said Al-Orwi did not have any known enemies in the area. He said the culprits definitely knew about his brother's movement. He did not rule out the possibility that those who killed him had some disagreement with him in the past. Residents described the crime as horrendous and point fingers at the community of overstayers in the area. Jordanian Interior Minister Awni Yirfas denied the presence of any Saudi political detainees in Jordanian prisons. He confirmed to "Al Watan" newspaper the presence of Saudis being tried for criminal acts. The Jordanian Minister all stressed that no Saudi nationals have been tried in Jordan for terrorist acts. While the Jordanian general security department refused to unveil the number of Saudis in Jordanian prisons, information received said that they are between 10 and 15 all arrested for criminal acts mainly drug smuggling. The department denied that any of the arrested is wanted by the Interpol. Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers, received members of the Saudi trade and investment delegation. He welcomed the guests whose visit comes to further enhance bilateral cooperation. He spoke about the economic aspects in the Sultanate and the positive impact of joint economic cooperation. He also stressed the importance of such meetings to further enhance the good bilateral relations in the interest of the two peoples in the light of the directives of the two leaderships. They also discussed ways of promoting trade exchange and encouraging private sectors in both the countries to set up joint ventures. They also reviewed key regional developments. Members of the delegation said they were delighted to visit the Sultanate and acquaint themselves with the civilisational achievements which covered all parts of the country, thanks to the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. They also praised the outcome of their visit to the Sultanate and the decision to establish the Omani-Saudi Businessmen's Council to further enhance investment. The meeting was attend by Salim bin Said Al Ghattami, president of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), and the Saudi charge d'affaires in the Sultanate. Oman's fast growing private sector launched a $15 billion "The Blue City" - the first of its kind in the Middle East - to be built over 35 square kilometers in one of Oman's most breathtaking beaches, some 100 kms north of Muscat, to boost not only tourism but other sectors also. The first phase of the 15-year mega project called AL-Madina Al-Zarqa in Arabic, which is in tune with Oman's economic surge based on diversification, will be completed by 2009 at a cost of $1.8 billion at Swadi Beach. "We are today witnessing the birth of an entire new city in the Sultanate - a master-planned and economically driven development which will propel Oman into a prominent multi-disciplinary living destination worldwide," Anees Essa, chairman and managing director of Al-Sawadi Investment and Tourism Company (ASIT) told a crowded press conference. Also present were about 90 foreign journalists who flew in specially to cover the event. Hours later, The Blue City was unveiled by Minister of National Economy Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki at a colorful ceremony at Al-Bustan Palace Hotel in the presence of the Royal Family members, ministers and other top-notch personalities to make it a memorable affair, according to a press statement. A high-level committee has been set up at the Labor Ministry to approve applications for the recruitment of foreign manpower and investigate complaints by companies whose recruitment applications have been rejected. Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi made the decision to set up the recruitment affairs committee. It will be chaired by the undersecretary for labor affairs and the members will be the undersecretary for planning and development and two assistant undersecretaries. "The panel will look into recruitment applications arriving at labor offices and will make appropriate decisions after studying actual requirements. It will also listen to complaints of applicants," Al-Gosaibi said, adding that the committee would begin work in two weeks. The panel is significant as it will streamline recruitment of experienced and skilled foreign manpower which is required by companies. Some foreign investors have complained that they have been unable to start their projects because of a lack of qualified personnel to operate them. "We have set up the committee in order to understand the actual requirements of businessmen and allow them to discuss their problems," Al-Gosaibi said, adding that the committee would consider a company's compliance with Saudization regulations as well as its contribution to the national economy when studying its applications. He said the applications for recruitment must be submitted to the labor offices with the necessary papers attached and the committee would approve them after studying the actual labor requirement of the companies. Although the government has restricted foreign recruitment as part of its campaign to create jobs for unemployed Saudis, Al-Gosaibi said his ministry had no plan to stop recruitment completely. The ministry had decided to cut down foreign recruitment in order to tackle the imbalance in the job market and create jobs for Saudis, Al-Gosaibi said. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed Palestinian legislative elections set for July 17. No new date was set and no reason was given for the postponement. A Hamas spokesman in Gaza, condemned Abbas' decision, which he said goes against a truce agreement that Abbas reached with militant groups in Cairo, Egypt, in March. Abbas has pushed for election reforms and the Palestinian Elections Commission has said it could not mount the elections by July 17 if voting laws were changed by the Palestinian legislature. Hamas, has accused Abbas and Fatah political movement of delaying the elections so they can shore up support. Syria has refuted recent Israeli comments about Damascus' missile tests, which it said "demonstrate Israel's persistent aggressive intentions," the official Syria Times reported. The paper quoted Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlullah as saying the accusations showed that Israel was participating in the current pressure on Syria for its own hostile stances and policy. Israeli security officials have accused Syria of test-firing three Scud missiles last week, including one that broke up over Turkey. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, describing the testing as "very dangerous," urged the international community to stop any country in the Middle East from developing Scud missiles, adding his country could not accept what he described as an arms race. Dakhlullah, said "every state has defensive weapons, especially when it is located in an area of Israeli tension, aggression and occupation." Meanwhile, the minister noted dangers of Israeli nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction, reaffirming Syria's consistent call for rendering the Middle East region free of such weaponry, the paper said. Russia and the United States have put forward a joint initiative at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, which aims to counter the threat of a possible use by terrorists of radioactive sources of increased danger. A draft decision has been circulated, which contains a political obligation of the OSCE member-states to join the IAEA Code of Conduct in order to ensure the security and safety of radioactive sources and implement its governing principles. The draft decision calls on the states to strengthen cooperation with each other and support the IAEA efforts in this field. The Code of Conduct was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors in September 2003. Forty OSCE member-states, including Russia, have already joined it, and 28 countries have announced their intention to ensure that effective control over the import and export of radioactive sources is put in place by the end of 2005 in accordance with the IAEA Governing Documents. The Russian-US initiative in the OSCE is a follow-up particularly to the Group of Eight's agreements. On the occasion of the 38th anniversary of June 1967 war, Almasar National Islamic Movement-Palestine called on the international community and the Quartet to implement international resolutions concerning the Palestinian issue. The movement reiterated the importance of enhancing national unity, continuous resistance in order to realize the Palestinian aims and the implementation of resolutions 242, 338 and 194. The movement called for exercising pressure on Israel for the implementation of its commitments including stopping its aggression against the Palestinian people, the embargo imposed on them, building settlements and attacks against the Muslim holy sites atop of which Al-Aqsa mosque Hundreds of mourners, including key opposition leaders, flocked to the funeral of assassinated Lebanese journalist last Saturday amid intensifying calls for an international inquiry into his assassination. Waving Lebanese flags, many mourners wept as they gathered around the casket carrying Samir Kassir, who was killed when a bomb exploded in his car. The death of the 45-year-columnist who wrote for the leading An-Nahar newspaper has shocked a country still coming to terms with the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri. The United States asked the U.N. Security Council to expand its probe into Hariri's killing to include Kassir. Kassir's assassination came four days after the start of Lebanon's staggered parliamentary polls. Hariri's son Saad -- a Sunni Muslim leader -- and Druze Muslim chief, Walid Jumblatt, attended the funeral at a central Beirut church. "Samir Kassir will remain among us and will never die. He was a rare symbol of courage, knowledge, and intelligence," Nayla Tueini, a fellow journalist and daughter of An-Nahar's general manager Jibran, said. "His words have become the beacon of light that will never go out." A Lebanese security source said last Friday that the United States' FBI was helping with the probe into Kassir's killing. An FBI team has visited the bomb site to collect evidence. A French team was also set to help, the source said. Kassir also held French nationality. He was said to have received several death threats. "The killer is well-known," Elias Atallah, leader of the Democratic Left movement Kassir helped found, told mourners. "The killer is the one trying to take away every nice thing, our freedom, and all attempts for our renaissance." The four-member team from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was seen last Friday searching the site where Samir Kassir was killed the previous day by a bomb placed in his car. Hundreds of Lebanese journalists, family members and opposition officials meanwhile maintained a vigil in downtown Beirut to mourn Kassir. The crowd carrying candles and portraits of Kassir gathered around the statue of the Martyr, chanting "freedom, freedom". The FBI men, wearing white overalls and carrying cameras, were busy searching the site of last Thursday's bombing and taking samples. They refused to speak to any reporters, but Lebanese security sources confirmed that "the team are indeed involved in the investigation". During the operation, Kassir's wife Gizelle Khoury was also at the site. She did not speak to the FBI agents. Lebanese justice minister Khaled Qabbani confirmed that Lebanon had requested the help of U.S. and French experts in the investigation. Kassir, originally Palestinian, held dual Lebanese-French nationality. The 45-year-old was assassinated in Ashrafiyeh neighbourhood in East Beirut. The Lebanese journalist working at "Al-Nahar" Arabic newspaper was killed in a car explosion in Beirut. A bomb was planted in his car. The Israeli defense minister Shaul Mofaz reiterated again that the handover of three West Bank cities to the Palestinians will be put off for further weeks and stipulated the Palestinians to prove they are serious to counter "terror" beforehand. Speaking in a interior meeting held by the military and security establishments to prepare for the anticipated summit between the president Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli prime minister on 21 June, Mofaz spokesperson said that the meeting discussed a number of proposals to a show a good will gestures towards Abu Mazen but Mofaz refused to hand back the security control over three Palestinian cities to the Palestinian National Authority. Haratez daily quoted a security sources saying "Israel is interested in transferring the three cities to the PA, "but not at any price," and will insist on the Palestinians' keeping their promises. He also added Mofaz is interested in transferring three more West Bank cities to the Palestinian National Authority prior to the start of the implementation of the disengagement plan, slated August 15. Israel handed back two Palestinian cities of the West Bank; Tulkarem and Jericho to the PNA security control and put off the handover of three others Qulqelia, Bethlehem and Ramallah claiming that the Palestinian National Authority failed to stop the attacks against the Israelis. According the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings in late February, Israeli have to hand back the security control over five west bank cities to the Palestinian national authorities but Israel has been frozen over a dispute on the PA' program to handle the "wanted" issue. President Abbas issued in mid April a decree to set up two committees in charge of solving the issue of the wanted people by Israel by recruiting them in the PNA institutions. The Israeli confidence building measures set forth on the meeting were limited to already agreed upon measures in the past but Israel have not implement it . For example, returning back the Palestinian families, whose one of it member committed an explosion attack. The families were expelled from the west bank and Gaza strip besides to returning back home the Bethlehem deportees who were expelled to Gaza Strip and Europe. The Israeli government has endorsed a plan for the Judaization of Al-Quds that focuses on three main areas: employment, housing and the revival of the city center; the plan's cost of $ 280 million will be spread over a number of years. Israeli Prime Minister Sharon also instructed Finance Ministry to prepare an alternative for encouraging young couples to live in Al-Quds. In order to convert Al-Quds into a center of employment, the Government will work to encourage new factories and entrepreneurs to come to Al-Quds, while encouraging the absorption of new workers. To this end, the Israeli Government will provide incentives for new entrepreneurs in industry and to workers in the high-tech and communications fields. The Israeli Government will also provide scholarships to students who continue to live and work in Al-Quds even after they finish their studies. Assistance will also be given to technology start-ups and there will be expanded tourism marketing activities. In order to expand the housing supply in Al-Quds, the Israeli Government will advance planning and marketing for residential plots. Public areas will be developed in order to improve quality of life, culture and recreation in the city. The plan also determines that Government institutions will be moved to the city center in order to attract further activity. Similarly, a plan will be determined for encouraging the construction of commercial structures an offices and for improving the appearance of the city center. Prime Minister Sharon said that the plan assists in strengthening the Israeli presence in Al-Quds and converts it into a city that attracts investors, students, tourists and new residents. The validity of labor visas will be restricted to one year beginning June 8, according to Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi. "The visa will be canceled after a year and will not be renewed nor will its validity be extended," the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying. However, Gosaibi said, the beneficiaries could request alterations to visas such as changing the name or nationality within six months after issuance. The new measure has been taken after reports of misusing visa extensions for the purpose of forgery and illegal visa transactions, he added. "Many firms have disappeared after receiving visas or their ownership has been transferred to others," Gosaibi said explaining the reasons for taking the new decision, which he added, would prevent duplication of visas. The new move comes as part of the government's efforts to reduce dependence on foreign workers and create more employment opportunities for Saudis. In February this year, the Council of Ministers adopted a number of decisions to assist in the country's Saudization drive and said companies which failed to comply with Saudization regulations would not be awarded government contracts. "All relevant government agencies as well as universities and the media must support the measures taken by the Labor Ministry to cut the number of labor visas, train Saudis and activate the private sector's role in the employment of Saudis," a Cabinet statement said. The Kingdom has decided to cut the number of foreign workers to 20 percent of its total population within 10 years. The commander of the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, said an investigation had identified five incidents in which the Quran appears to have been mishandled by his personnel. But Brig. Gen. Jay Hood said he has found "no credible evidence" that personnel at the military prison flushed a Quran in a toilet. Hood spoke to reporters on the interim findings of his investigation after spending the afternoon briefing defense committees on Capitol Hill. The five suspect incidents were among 13 involving alleged mishandling that were culled from a review of about 31,000 documents representing three years worth of records. Ten allegedly were by guards and three by interrogators, said Hood, who has held his job since March 2004. "We found that in only five of those 13 incidents, four by guards and one by an interrogator, there was what could be broadly defined as mishandling of a Quran," he said. "None of these five incidents was a result of a failure to follow standard operating procedures in place at the time the incident occurred," Hood added. In six of the 13 incidents, a guard "either accidentally touched a Quran, touched it within the scope of his duties, or did not actually touch the Quran at all," he said. "We considered each of these incidents resolved." In the other two incidents -- both involving interrogators -- "we found that a Quran was either touched or stood over during an interrogation. The first incident does not appear to be mishandling, as it involved placing two Qurans on a television," Hood said. "The Quran was not touched during the second incident, and the interrogator's action during the interrogation was accidental." The Iraqi government says Saddam Hussein will face only 12 charges when he goes on trial, despite a possible 500 cases against him. A spokesman said the 12 charges of crimes against humanity were fully documented and there was no point "wasting time" dealing with all 500. He reiterated the government's plan to start the trial within two months. The judge in charge of the trial says the former dictator's morale is low because of the number of accusations. Government spokesman Leith Kubba said on Sunday: "We are completely confident that the 12 fully documented charges that have been brought against him are more than sufficient to ensure he receives the maximum sentence." Saddam Hussein, who was ousted by US-led forces and captured in December 2003, faces the death penalty if convicted. Speaking on the shortened charges, Mr Kubba said: "The position of the government is to speed up the trial." Some of the charges Saddam Hussein will face will concern the chemical attack on the Kurdish village of Halabja in 1988, the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the repression of Shias in 1991. There were conflicting reports on whether insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was wounded. "We are not quite sure if he is alive or dead," said Interior Minister Baqir Jabbur, citing information on al-Zarqawi's injuries the government received several days ago. At the Pentagon, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Carter Ham said that he cannot corroborate reports about the insurgent leader's possible injuries and sought to downplay such a development. "While al-Zarqawi is an important character, his organization is bigger than just one guy," Ham said. "His demise, whether he is captured, which would be preferable, or if he is killed or wounded, that would not cause al Qaeda in Iraq to cease to function." |