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August 4, 2006 |
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***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from Lebanese Premier Fouad Al-Saniora. During the call, the premier told King Abdullah about the current developments in Lebanon and the details of the brutal massacre committed by Israel in Qana which resulted in killing dozens of innocent people. The Premier also told King Abdullah that Lebanon is not ready to make any discussions before reaching an immediate unconditional cease-fire as well as conducting an international investigation into the Israeli massacres in Lebanon. on his part, King Abdullah expressed his support for the Lebanese position and reiterated that the kingdom will continue its support for Lebanon in all circumstances. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received at the royal court a number of princes, senior officials and a group of citizens who came to greet him. At the outset of the reception, they all listened to a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran along with their interpretation. The audience was attended by a number of princes. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a message from chairman of Iran's Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani. The message was delivered to the king by advisor to the chairman Mohammed Ridha Nouri Shahroudi during an audience in Jeddah. During the meeting, the Iranian advisor conveyed to the monarch the greetings of the Iranian leadership. in turn, the king sent his greetings to the Iranian leadership. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, chief of general intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, advisor to the king; and Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, advisor to the king. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a message from Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Salih. The message was delivered to the king by Yemeni Ambassador to the Kingdom Mohammed Ali Al-Ahwal during an audience in Jeddah. During the meeting, the Yemeni Ambassador conveyed to the monarch the greetings of the Yemeni President. In turn, the king sent his greetings to the president. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the foreign minister; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, chief of general intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, advisor to the king; Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, advisor to the king; and Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, minister of state, cabinet's member and chief of the court of cabinet's presidency. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, received princes and senior officials at the Royal court, Crown Prince's Court and the court of the Cabinet's presidency as well as senior commanders and officers of the Royal guard and a group of citizens who came to greet him. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General arrived after an official visit to France at an invitation Of French President Jacques Chirac. At King Abdul Aziz International Airport, the Crown Prince was received by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the minister of interior; a number of princes; ministers; officials and a group of citizens. The Crown Prince was accompanied by a number of princes and senior officials. Earlier, the Crown Prince left Morocco. At Casablanca airport, he was seen off by Moroccan Premier Idriss Jetto, a number of officials, and Saudi Ambassador to Morocco Dr. Mohammed Al-Bisher. In line with the Royal directives, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister and Supervisor General of the Saudi popular campaign for the relief of the Lebanese people, has issued directives to allocate SR21,375,000 for starting the urgent Saudi relief assistance to the affected and displaced Lebanese people due to the Israeli aggression on their country. Dr Sa'ed al-Harethi, the advisor of Prince Naif, in a statement to SPA, said the urgent relief program includes foodstuffs and medical supplies. He noted that the relief assistance will be distributed in cooperation and coordination with a number of international organizations and official Lebanese institutions. Dr al-Harethi said a working team will be stationing at the affected regions for coordination with the concerned authorities. It is worth mentioning that during the donation campaign organized by the Saudi television last Wednesday an amount of more than SR 109 million in addition to various kind of grants were also collected. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior received France's Ambassador to the Kingdom Charles d'Aragon who handed the Prince a message from French Minister of Interior and Regional Development Nicolas Sarkozy. During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual concern to the two friendly countries. Prince Khalid Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs has donated SR 2 million within the Saudi popular campaign launched for collecting kind and cash donations to the Lebanese people. Earlier, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz issued his directives to launch a donation campaign for helping the Lebanese people. Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Secretary General of National Security Council held talks here today with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Ping Quah. Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan expressed the Kingdom's great concern over the current situation in Lebanon, its deterioration and aggravation, calling on the world community to urge the two conflicting parties on achieving an immediate cease fire and on providing assistance for the Lebanese people. The Prince commended the positive efforts exerted by China to defuse the tension of the dispute between Israel and Lebanon and hoped that China would play a greater role in this regard. In implementation of the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to dispatch a field hospital for the relief of the injured and afflicted people as a result of the Israeli wide scale aggression on Lebanon, the hospital arrived in Lebanon. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Ibn Mohieddin Khojah said that the hospital is an extension to the Kingdom's efforts under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to support Lebanon financially and politically. He stressed that an airlift will start on Monday to provide assistance for the Lebanese people. The ambassador expressed the Kingdom's condemnation of Qana massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces, noting that the Kingdom supports the Lebanese stance. During the year 2005 , the Saudi Fund for Development contributed in financing sixteen16 developmental projects for a total amount of SR. 802.63 million. Social infrastructure received the biggest share of these projects whether in number or in total amount. The SFD financed eight social infrastructure projects for a total amount of SR. 442.63 million representing 55.15% of the total assigned by SFD during the year. Out of these 8 projects, Health and Education sector had 4, 3 for water and one for housing. In addition the SFD contributed in financing 7 projects in the Transportation and communication sector for the construction of roads which amounted to SR. 343 million. This accounted for 42.73% of the total amount allocated for loans in the year. In the Agricultural sector, the SFD allocated SR. 17 million to finance one project representing 2.12 % of the total amount earmarked for loans in this year. Lebanon's Higher Islamic Religious Council held an urgent meeting, headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani and in the presence of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and former premiers. A statement issued afterward strongly denounced the massacre and hailed the resistance. The council also expressed its support to the position taken by the Lebanese government regarding the immediate implementation of a cease-fire. King Mohammed VI affirmed that Morocco remains an "effective partner" in the Middle-East peace process, despite current difficulties in the region. "Thanks to Morocco's credibility and the confidence it inspires regionally and internationally, our country remains an effective partner in the Middle-East peace process, despite current difficulties in the region," affirmed the sovereign in a speech addressed Sunday on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of the Throne Day. The king also underlined that Morocco is committed to "build the Arab Maghreb Union, using a clear, resolute vision. This is all the more necessary, given the longstanding ties of brotherhood and the history, civilization and common destiny binding the peoples of the region. In view of the current international situation, the need to coalesce and join forces has, indeed, become urgent." Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a telephone call from Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora in which he expressed Lebanon's gratitude for the strong-worded statement released by Cairo condemning the Israeli assault on Qana. Saniora voiced appreciation of Egypt's continued assistance to the Lebanese people. Lebanese protesters broke into the United Nations headquarters in Beirut, smashing windows and ransacking offices, after the Israeli air strike killed at least 60 people in Qana. Several thousand people massed outside the building in downtown Beirut chanting "Death to Israel, death to America. We sacrifice our blood and souls for Lebanon." By early afternoon, most protesters had drifted away leaving a few hundred people milling in a car park opposite the building, which was being protected by a line of Lebanese soldiers. Geir Petersen, the personal representative of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in Lebanon, condemned the Israeli attack on the village of Qana and called for an immediate investigation. "I strongly condemn today's killing of tens of civilians by Israeli shelling of residential buildings in the village of Qana," he said in a statement. Petersen was not at the U.N. offices in Beirut when they were attacked. U.N. spokesman Khaled Mansour said the building had been stoned and furniture smashed but no U.N. staff were hurt as they had taken refuge in the basement. He said a small fire was started on the second floor but it had been contained. The Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdul Rahman Ibn Hamad Al-Atiyyah received a telephone call from Lebanese Premier Fouad Al-Saniora. During the call, they discussed the latest developments at the Lebanese arena particularly the criminal and brutal act committed by Israeli occupation forces against innocent civilians in Qana. Al-Atiyyah also condemned in a statement the brutal massacre committed by Israel in Qana, calling for an immediate cease fire and an investigation into Israeli massacres and destruction being inflicted on Lebanon and its people. With no end in sight for the hostilities in Lebanon and civilian casualties rising daily, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is appealing for 100 million Swiss Francs to sharply step up the humanitarian work it is carrying out for the victims of the armed conflict together with its partner the Lebanese Red Cross. In the south of the country, and particularly the villages along the border with Israel, the effects of military operations are rapidly making life unbearably dangerous for the remaining civilians trapped by the fighting. In addition, resources and access to water and basic services are very limited. Medical evacuations and aid operations are fraught with difficulty and cannot meet the needs. To cope with the crisis, the ICRC has expanded its staff in Beirut, Tyre and Marjayoun and has been travelling to villages close to the border to deliver aid and facilitate medical evacuations together with the Lebanese Red Cross. However, some convoys have been turned back by intense fighting in the area. Across Lebanon, the funds requested will serve to expand health programmes and support medical facilities serving 650,000 people, as well as to help treat up to 5,000 war-wounded. The ICRC will increase its deliveries of food and other essential relief items for at least 200,000 residents and displaced people for whom local organizations and host families are currently the main source of aid. Access to clean water will be improved for more than 1,200,000 people. Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to King Mohammed VI of Morocco on the occasion of Enthronement Day. Lieutenant-General Malik bin Sulaiman Al Ma'amari, inspector-general of police and customs, received at the ROP's General Command the British defence chief of staff, and his accompanying delegation currently visiting the Sultanate. During the meeting, viewpoints were exchanged and aspects of cooperation and matters of joint interest discussed. The meeting was attended by Lieutenant-General Ahmed bin Harith Al Nabhani, SAF chief of staff and Major-General Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Riyami, ROP assistant inspector-general of police and customs for operations. Nabhani meets UK guest: Lieutenant-General Ahmed bin Harith bin Nasser Al Nabhani, also received separately in his office, the British defence chief of staff and his accompanying delegation. They exchanged cordial conversation on a number of issues of common concern to the armed forces in the two countries and ways of promoting the same particularly in the field of joint exercises. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officers at the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) headquarters. The British defence official, accompanied by Lieutenant-General Ahmed bin Harith bin Nasser Al Nabhani, visited SAF museum, where he acquainted himself with Bait Al Falaj Castle and its defensive towers and architect, in addition to historical manuscripts and models which talk about the rich Omani ancient history. A French humanitarian group reported unusually severe injuries. One of its doctors reportedly raised the possibility that Israel used cluster bombs. French group Medecins du Monde said its emergency doctor, Regis Garrigues, who has travelled regularly to Gaza "noted the particular gravity and severity of injuries" from the latest conflict. Garrigues was quoted as telling French newspaper Liberation that "this resembles the effects of cluster bombs," particularly dangerous because they have a high level of duds that can explode much later after the attack. General Mansour Al Turki spokesman of the Interior Ministry announced that 6 people were detained in Abha and Khamis Mushayt. He said the detainees were cases of light weapons and ammunitions. The working group affiliated to the Saudi-American Strategic dialogue held its second meeting in Washington under the chairmanship of Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America to discuss joint cooperation in the fields of education, exchange and human resources. The Saudi delegation included representatives from the ministries of interior, higher education and the Shoura Coucil. The American side was led by Scott Carpenter. Former Lebanese premier Najib Al-Mikati has lauded the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to allocate $500 million for the Lebanese people and to deposit $1 billion at the central bank of Lebanon so as to enable the country confront the Israeli aggression. In a statement to SPA, he said the Kingdom has always been giving a great attention to the Arab cause. He lauded the efforts exerted by the Kingdom to end the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. On his part, Charles al-Shidiak, the chairman of the republican reform party of Lebanon, hailed the Kingdom's continuous support to Lebanon. "The initiative of King Abdullah demonstrates the Kingdom's keenness on enabling Lebanon to overcome the crisis caused by the Israeli aggression', he said. Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, received Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, British Chief of the Defence Staff. Sayyid Fahd welcomed the guest and his delegation. They discussed ways of enhancing bilateral relations, current regional and international developments and matters of common concern. Sayyid Fahd stressed the importance of such meetings in the light of the developing bilateral relations. The guest praised the wise domestic and foreign policies adopted by the Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Qaboos and Oman's leading role in enhancing friendship with other countries and the development efforts and successes achieved in Oman in various fields. The meeting was attended by Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan's Armed Forces. Lt General Malik bin Sulaiman al Maamari, Inspector-General of Police and Customs, also received the British official. They discussed co-operation and matters of joint interest. Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan's Armed Forces, also received Air Chief Marshal Stirrup. They exchanged cordial talks and discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in different fields, particularly the joint exercises and the exchange of various specialised training expertise, in addition to issues of mutual interest. Lebanese MP Bahia Al-Hariri stressed that the Lebanese will not give up their national peace again. She emphasized in a meeting in Magdalioun with members of education authorities in Sidon and surrounding areas that the Lebanese are united in the face of the Israeli attacks and are facing the challenges. A high-raking IDF officer in the Northern Command told the Israeli radio: "We are continuing with our message that we are not interested in fighting with Syria," the officer said, "But we are fully prepared for a Syrian attack, in the case of which we will strike back extremely hard." The officer said he believed Damascus had been receiving the clear message Israel had been sending its way that it did not want to fight Syria. He added that last Saturday's IAF attack on a road that led from Syria into Lebanon near the Syrian border was meant to thwart weapons smuggling attempts. The UN Human Rights Committee has called on the United States to immediately abolish all secret detention facilities, in a report raising deep concerns about the conduct of the "war on terror". Information on secret detentions was "credible and uncontested", the panel said in its final report after an examination of the United States' human rights record. "The state party should immediately abolish all secret detention facilities. It should also grant prompt access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to any person detained in connection with an armed conflict," the committee said in its final recommendations. "The committee is concerned by credible and uncontested information that the state party has seen fit to engage in the practice of detaining people secretly and in secret places for months and years on end," it added. A Syrian air force official denied reports that Syrian air defence force had shot down an Israeli scout, the independent Syria news website reported. The official was quoted as saying that an Israeli scout flew over the Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border and that it was Lebanese air force which opened fire at it, not Syrian air force. The official added that the Israeli scout did not attack any air defense base in Syria. A Lebanese paper earlier reported that Syrian air force had shot down an Israeli plane which had entered Syrian airspace and shot at Syrian bases. Holland's Green Party called on the Dutch government to stop participating in any U.S. weapons transport to Israel. In a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Ben Bot, lawmaker Farah Karimi said she wants to know whether Holland is used as a stopover for such weapon distributions. Distributing weapons to areas in armed conflict, or assisting third parties in doing so, is against Dutch law. Syrian President Bashar Assad Sunday 30 /7/2006 received a verbal message from President Mubarak on the latest developments of the situation in Lebanon and efforts being exerted by Egypt to bring about a ceasefire. The message was conveyed by Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit. Egypt's ambassador to Syria Hazim Khayrat said that Abul- Gheit expressed Egypt's appreciation of the Syrian leadership's efforts to evacuate Egyptians from Lebanon. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman ambassador Alaa Al- Hadidi reaffirmed Egypt's keenness on maintaining coordination and consultation with Syria to defuse the crisis and end the Israeli military operations in Lebanon. He said that Abul- Gheit's visit to Syria was part of an Egyptian drive to stop escalation and further deterioration. At the same, President Hosni Mubarak phoned Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas Sunday30/7/2006. Both leaders' tackled means of putting an end to a relentless Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip. The White House offered condolences for the deaths of more than 60 civilians in Israeli air raids on the Lebanese village of Qana, and insisted that only a permanent ceasefire would prevent the additional loss of innocent life. This was a horrible event," chief White House Spokesman Tony Snow told reporters Sunday, adding, "we continue to counsel the Israelis on the importance of restraint." "You need to understand the importance of restraint, and you also have to understand that at the end of this Israel (must be) in a position to have ties with the democratic government of Lebanon and others in the region, and also in a position to proceed with talks toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians." Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah telephoned the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Al-Saniora to express Kuwait's full solidarity with Lebanon. The Prime Minister condemned the Israeli brutal aggression against Lebanon, noting Israel's merciless tactics against Lebanese civilians, namely infants. The Premier reiterated Kuwait's absolute support for Lebanon, stressing the necessity of establishing an immediate ceasefire. Meantime Kuwait announced Sunday it would deposit USD 500 million in Lebanon's Central Bank to help Lebanon overcome the ongoing Israeli assault, which left hundreds of people dead and injured. The USD 500 million deposit decision was adopted by the Kuwaiti government in its weekly meeting, an official statement said. This will be added to USD 300 million donation approved by the cabinet as well to help in reconstruction efforts in Lebanon. The tally of the assistance is coupled with ongoing delivery of humanitarian supplies to the needy people in Lebanon. Israeli sources have unveiled the losses suffered in the tourism sector due to the war on Lebanon. A report from occupied Al-Quds and has confirmed that a large number of businessmen in Israel asked the government to work for an immediate cease-fire in order not to damage the economy. The report said the tourism sector has suffered 95% deterioration and 30% of the plants in Haifa are closed. |