June 18, 1999

			EDITORIAL: "THE LOOSING BET"     KING FAHD ISSUES 8 ROYAL DECREES INCLUDING THE NEWLY FORMED SAUDI COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. 4 NEW MINISTERS JOIN THE GOVERNMENT AND A MINISTRY FOR CIVIL SERVICE IS ESTABLISHED.   CHAIRING THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WEEKLY MEETING CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH: SAUDI ARABIA UPHOLDS THE INTEREST OF ITS FELLOW BROTHERS AS ONE OF ITS IMPORTANT PRIORITIES. APPROVAL OF THE IMPORTANT STEP TAKEN IN SIGNING THE MAPS DELINEATING THE BORDERS BETWEEN THE KINGDOM AND QATAR.   CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH MEETS GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARY GENERAL: SAUDI ARABIA IS KEENLY INTERESTED IN BOLSTERING THE DRIVE OF THE GCC AND STRENGTHENING THE TIES BETWEEN ITS MEMBER STATES. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS CONSIDER THEIR MEETING IN-SESSION UNTIL A NEW DATE IS FIXED.     PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ PRAISES THE SUPPORT OF THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES AND CROWN PRINCE FOR THE GENERAL ORGANISATION FOR MILITARY INDUSTRIES. THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE ORGANISATION ENABLED IT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH STEADY STEPS TOWARDS ESTABLISHING MODERN MILITARY INDUSTRIES WHICH WILL SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE SAUDI ARMED FORCES. PRINCE SULTAN IS HONOURED IN BELFAST FOR HIS ROLE IN THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.   PRINCE NAIF IBN ABDUL-AZIZ: THE BORDER AGREEMENT WITH QATAR WILL BE SIGNED SOON. THINGS ARE GOING WELL WITH YEMEN. THE ARAB AGREEMENT FOR FIGHTING TERRORISM IS AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT AIMS AT DEALING WITH THE PHENOMENON OF TERRORISM.     FRUITFUL RESULTS AFTER THE VISIT OF THE SAUDI SHOURA COUNCILS' DELEGATION TO EGYPT. TALKS DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COUNCIL IN JOINING THE ARAB PARLIAMENTARY UNION.     OIL PRICES UP AS OPEC MEMBERS TIGHTEN OUTPUT. SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT INFORM CONSUMERS THAT SUPPLIES WOULD BE REDUCED IN JULY.     ARMED CLASHES BETWEEN YEMENI TRIBES AND SECURITY FORCES. THE COUNCIL OF AL-JOF AND MA'REB TRIBES ALLIANCE EXPRESSES ALARM FOLLOWING THREE ASSASSINATIONS IN SANAA IN ONE WEEK. OPPOSITION PARTIES THREATEN TO BOYCOTT ELECTIONS AMID FLAGRANT BREACHING OF THE LAW.     IN BRIEF