February 17, 1999

			EDITORIAL: "THE SUCCESS OF UNIFYING SAUDI ARABIA OPENED UP ALL THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN MODERN HISTORY FOR THE ARABS AND THE MUSLIMS."   KING FAHD CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT ASSAD ON HIS RE-ELECTION AND EXTENDS HIS GOOD WISHES TO KING ABDULLAH IBN AL HUSSEIN TO PURSUE THE GOALS SET BY HIS FATHER. CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES CALLS FOR ALL-OUT EFFORTS FOR GOOD SERVICES TO PILGRIMS.   NEW ENCYCLOPAEDIA FUNDED BY PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ. RESEARCH INTO THE BIOGRAPHY OF KING ABDUL AZIZ IN FOREIGN DOCUMENTS.   AMERICA WARNS SADDAM HUSSEIN OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS THREAT TO TARGET AIRBASES IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES USED TO LAUNCH AIR OBSERVATION PATROLS OVER NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ. THE GULF STATES DESCRIBE THE IRAQI THREATS AS HOLLOW. TURKEY TURNS DOWN BAGHDAD'S REQUEST THAT IT REFUSE PERMISSION TO WESTERN ALLIED AIRCRAFT TO FLY FROM INCIRLIK BASE.   THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES RECEIVES A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT ALI SALIH. THE YEMENI FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS: "THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER BORDERS AND I WOULD RATHER CUT OUT MY TONGUE THAN TO MAKE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BROTHERS OR TO ATTACK THEM." THE UNITED NATIONS AND LIBYA PRAISE SAUDI ARABIA AND SOUTH AFRICA FOR THEIR ROLE IN REACHING AN AGREEMENT TO RESOLVE THE LOCKERBIE CRISIS. AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM AGREE TO INTERNATIONAL TEAM OF OBSERVERS FOR THE LIBYAN SUSPECTS IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE FOUND GUILTY AND IMPRISONED IN SCOTLAND. KOFI ANNAN EXPECTS A SPEEDY END OF THE ISSUE PAVING THE WAY FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS FROM LIBYA. PRINCE SULTAN RECEIVES DELEGATION FROM THE COMOROS ISLANDS AND THE HEAD OF THE AMERICAN TRAINING MISSION. A JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER TALKS IN RIYADH: THE SAUDI AND AMERICAN OIL MINISTERS RE-AFFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF ARABIAN GULF OIL RESERVES IN MEETING THE WORLD'S FUTURE REQUIREMENTS. SECRETARY RICHARDSON CONFIRMS SAUDI ARABIA'S IMPORTANT STRATEGIC POSITION AS A GUARANTEED SOURCE OF OIL FOR THE WORLD MARKET. AS PART OF SAUDI-BRITISH COOPERATION OVER ANTIQUITIES: SAUDI SEMINAR FOR ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN LONDON. THE PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION "HAS HELPED PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES."