August 25, 2006

IN BRIEF ***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of his country's independence day. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah wished the President continual good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Gabon's President El Hadj Omar Bongo Odimba on the occasion of his country's independence day. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah wished the President continual good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. ********** The services of an advisor at the royal court and the governor of Al Joaf region were extended for more four years, according to two separate royal orders. The first order, issued by the royal court, said the service of Salih Bin Taha Khisaifan as advisor at the royal court will be extended for four years, retroactive from August 18, 2006 corresponding to 24 Rajab 1427 H. According to the second order, the service of Prince Fahd Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz as governor of Al Joaf region will be extended for four years, effective September 17, 2006 corresponding to 24 Shaaban 1427 H. ********** Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his office in Jeddah the ambassador of Ethiopia to the kingdom Yosef Abdullah Sukar. During the meeting, the ambassador conveyed to the Crown Prince the greetings of Ethiopia's President Girma Woldegiorgis. On his part, Crown Prince Sultan sent his greetings to the Ethiopian president. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed matters of mutual concern to the two countries. The audience was attended by a senior official at the Crown Prince's court. ********** Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi attributed the increasing dropout of Saudi employees from private companies to low salaries, strict work conditions and lack of job security. "Saudis prefer to have comfortable jobs having less hours and ensuring job security," the minister told reporters after opening an automatic employment system at King Fahd Employment Center here. Saudis often find it difficult to acclimatize with workplaces in the private sector where expatriate workers show their readiness to work for long hours and for comparatively lower salaries. "We are now passing through a phase of Saudis getting acclimatized with the private sector. According to the work contract, a company can insist on a Saudi worker that he pay the cost of training if he leaves before a specific period," the minister explained. A recent study conducted by the Manpower Development Fund (MDF) said that Saudi workers had complained that low salaries, long working hours and job security concerns were driving them away from seeking jobs in the private sector. Among the 8,111 Saudi jobseekers who took part in the survey, 3,738 said low salaries were the main obstacles preventing them from taking up jobs with private companies. But 2,806 said they feared job insecurity while 1,667 complained about long working hours in private firms. Al-Gosaibi did not favor the idea of fixing salaries for Saudi workers. "Salaries will be decided in accordance with supply and demand and qualifications and the experience of workers," he said while urging Saudis seeking higher salaries to improve their skills. However, he pointed out that his ministry had reached an agreement with businessmen that the lowest salary to be paid to a Saudi should be SR1,500 irrespective of his qualifications. Al-Gosaibi said his ministry would coordinate with the Education Ministry to include vocational topics in all levels of studies in order to encourage students to take any job. "General education is increasingly heading to become market-oriented," he added. The minister also disclosed plans to establish 40 new technical institutes and vocational training centers for boys and girls. "We expect that more than 400,000 students will join these centers and institutes within the next five years," he said. He also hoped that Saudi banks would offer more employment opportunities for Saudis after providing them with necessary training. The automatic employment center, which is a kind of databank, allows a jobseeker to find out new job opportunities in the private sector. "We are depending on the private sector to employ the largest percentage of Saudis in the coming period. Saudization in the government sector is almost complete," he said. The minister emphasized the private sector's role as a major employer that offers a wide range of job opportunities. ********** In a meeting with a delegation from the federation of the municipalities of Jizzin Lebanese MP Bahia Al Hariri stressed that the Lebanese people have proved their unity in facing the Israeli aggression. She added that the real challenge is to preserve this unity. ********** Saudi relief aid continues arrive in Lebanon as part of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Lebanon. Relief trucks delivered more than 600 tons of foodstuffs and medical supplies to the Saudi Red Crescent Society in Beirut. In addition, two military planes arrived from Saudi Arabia today carrying relief supplies that will be distributed in coordination with the Lebanese Red Cross. Much-needed medical supplies are also being distributed to Lebanese hospitals. The coordinator of the Saudi Red Crescent Society's regional office, Abdullah Al-Riweili, said in a statement that the aid was provided by the Saudi Popular Campaign for the Relief of the Lebanese People, which was established during the first week of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon at the behest of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. ********** Saudi relief trucks have continued to arrive in Lebanon, carrying 600 tons of medical supplies and food stuffs. The relief materials were unloaded in the stores of the Saudi Red Crescent Society in the presence of head of the consular section at the Saudi Embassy in Beirut Abdel-Hadi Al-Shafi. In a press statement, Abdullah Al-Riweili, the coordinator of the regional office of the saudi red crescent society in Lebanon, said these donations have come through the Saudi popular campaign for the relief of the Lebanese people, which started during the first week of the Israeli war against Lebanon. The campaign was initiated under an order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Al-Riweili pointed out that two military planes arrived from Saudi Arabia earlier at Rafiq Al-Hariri International Airport carrying more relief materials. He noted that the relief materials will be distributed in coordination with the Lebanese Red Cross Society. 'medical supplies which are beyond the need of the Saudi field hospital in Lebanon will be distributed to the Lebanese hospitals that are facing shortages in these materials', he added. ********** President Hosni Mubarak said that the current stage does not stand cheap outbidding, warning against interference in the Lebanese internal affairs. In statements Al Youm, Mubarak said that the Egyptian capabilities were at the service of the Lebanese people to overcome their current ordeal.The President said that Hezbollah was a part and parcel of the national Lebanese fabric and that any internal divisions would threaten the Lebanese unity. Mubarak said tackling the root causes of terrorism was necessary to succeed in the war against terror. He also warned that any strike against Iran would undermine stability in the region and the whole world. At the beginning, Mubarak said that Egypt was keen on preserving the Lebanese sovereignty and independence, stressing that the Lebanese unity was a priority in the corning period. He said Egypt has intensified efforts and contacts with the Arab countries and the international community for rebuilding Lebanon and offering all necessary assistance to the Arab country following the Israeli offensive. He stressed that the Lebanese people and leadership were able to overcome the current crisis and to settle differences between the Lebanese political powers. Mubarak warned against any attempt to interfere in the Lebanese internal affairs. Mubarak said that Lebanon had not asked for any military support. On the other hand, Mubarak said that sending Egyptian troops outside Egypt was governed by the Egyptian Constitution and laws. He said that sending Egyptian forces to liberate Kuwait had been approved by the parliament. Mubarak stressed that the current stage did not stand any cheap outbidding, calling for rallying Arab ranks. On differences over an emergency Arab summit, Mubarak said that Egypt supported the holding of any Arab summit as long as it was well-prepared and had a specific agenda in order to help promote the joint Arab action and cooperation. Mubarak noted that Egypt had been and will always be supporting the Arab countries. On his meetings with the Arab leaders, Mubarak said the meetings took up all regional developments, especially the situation in Lebanon, Iraq, the Palestinian territories as well as bilateral ties. Mubarak stressed Egypt has maintained strong ties with all Arab countries. On developments in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories, Mubarak said that force was not the right option to solve conflicts. He stressed that building confidence was important to establish peace and necessary to help bring in stability. Mubarak said that tackling the root causes of terrorism was necessary to combat it. Mubarak Calls for Diplomatic Solution to Iran's Issue. On the Western accusations against Iran of being a source of instability in the region, Mubarak said that Tehran was an important country in the region. He called for reaching a diplomatic solution to the current dispute between the United States and Iran, warning that any strike against Tehran would trigger instability in the region and the whole world. Mubarak said that he had repeatedly warned against launching wars against Iraq and Afghanistan. He stressed that unity among the different Iraqi sects was necessary to keep Iraq strong. ********** A Source close to the Saudi Ministry of Water & Electricity has revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi and Egyptian Governments will sign an agreement on August 23 that will combine both counties electricity systems. The agreement is one of a series between Arab countries, stretching from Morocco in the west to the Persian Gulf in the east. Experts assess that the entire Pan-Arab project will be completed by 2010 and will cost $50 billion. Syria and Jordan began connecting their electricity systems in March 2001 and are expected to join forces with Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. Further to the east, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar will first connect their systems, and by 2008 will add United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen to the network. Plans are already at hand to connect with electricity systems of countries in the European Union. ********** The Ministry of Defense and Aviation issued a statement announcing that Saudi Arabia has signed an Understanding Document with Britain to purchase 72 Euro fighter Typhoon aircraft. The agreement is intended to establish a closer partnership in modernizing the Saudi armed forces. Part of the agreement includes the transfer of technology and the establishment of training centers for Saudis in the Kingdom. ********** Moroccan King Mohammed VI ordered the release of 877 prisoners from Moroccan jails on the occasion of King and People Revolution. A Justice Ministry statement said that the prisoners were released from jails in various areas in Morocco. ********** Head of the Future bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri warned against the dangerous consequences of Israeli breaches of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, following Israel's commando raid in eastern Lebanon. MP Hariri said the operation was one of a series of Israeli violations of the Resolution indicating an Israeli plot to hamper the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South, and to torpedo the expansion of the operations of UNIFIL, the international UN force in the region. In a statement, head of the Future bloc also urged UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to take measures to ensure the implementation of Resolution 1701, especially in providing the basic political and security requirements for the deployment of the Army in the South, as well as to allow UNFIL to carry out its mission in compliance with the Security Council Resolution. He stressed that the Israeli raid in the Bekaa Valley amounted to a dangerous message to the international community, which should not be ignored. ********** Egypt has instructed its ambassadors to the five Permanent UNSC member states plus Spain, Italy, Germany, the EU and the UN to convey Cairo's grave concern over Israel's violation of UNSC Resolution 1701. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit has instructed the ambassadors to convey Egypt's deep concern over the Israeli violation of the UNSC resolution on the cessation of hostilities with Lebanon. The violation stemmed from an Israeli raid on Saturday on the southern Beqaa under the pretext of stopping the transfer of a batch of arms to Hezbollah, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. This shows Israel is giving itself the right to interfere militarily to stop what it regards as a security threat, which contravenes UNSC Resolution 1701 and threatens the renewal of confrontations between the two sides, he added. Abul-Gheit called on the UNSC to adopt a firm position to have Israel understand that such actions are unacceptable. He also stressed the importance of not being deluded by the fallacy of imposing security by force in southern Lebanon. ********** The Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Dr Bakr Abdul Monem has warned from another massacre against the Palestinian people. In a statement to the Russian newsagency Novosti he said another Israeli attack against the Palestinian people is expected and the world community must be aware of that. He spoke about the political differences in Israel which will lead to a war against the Palestinians and stressed that the Palestinian people live in very bad conditions. He also spoke about the suffering of the Palestinian people. ********** The Lebanese March 14 coalition has addressed its thanks to Arab countries atop of which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAe, Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries for the help they provided to Lebanon on all levels. The coalition praised the unity of the Lebanese people and the stand of the government of Premier Saniora during the crisis. ********** The Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has condemned the abduction of Dr Nasseruddin Al-Shaer, the Palestinian Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and Higher Education, from his house in Ramallah. The abduction has come within the framework of Israeli operations to kidnap important Palestinian figures, said the statement issued by the GCC general secretariat. "Earlier Dr Aziz Al-Duweik, the speaker of the Palestinian legislative council, and tens of members of the council and the Palestinian government were kidnapped," it added. 'With such practices, the Israeli authorities are trying to undermine the Palestinian political regime', said the statement, adding that such repressive measures will only lead to more violence, extremism and hatred. The GCC urged the international community to put pressure on Israel until it releases all Palestinian officials. 'Such arrests constitute a flagrant violation of the international law and contradicts with the fourth Geneva convention of 1949', the statement added. ********** Maqbool Ali Sultan, minister of commerce and industry of the Sultanate of Oman will visit India to co-chair the fifth India-Oman Joint Commission meeting in September and the Joint Business Council meeting in which private sector from both sides will be participating. The meeting will discuss trade and investments between the two countries. Two symposiums will be held in New Delhi and Mumbai. The agenda includes discussions of many issues such as health, tourism, transport and communications, higher education, cultural cooperation and cooperation in manpower. ********** Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed former Shin Bet deputy chief Ofer Dekel to spearhead efforts to bring about the return of kidnapped soldiers Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Dekel was a paratrooper, joined the Shin Bet in 1975 and retired in 2005 after he was not appointed its head. In a parting interview with Yediot Aharonot in June 2005, seven months before the Palestinian Authority election, he said Israel would eventually negotiate with Hamas. His name surfaced recently as a candidate for police inspector-general.... The appointment was seen as an attempt to show the families that Olmert was putting the issue at the forefront of his priorities, even though the IDF would pull out from Lebanon without their return. ********** The Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Eliasson, said the Israeli commando operation was a threat to the UN 1701 resolution. "The Israeli military action in south eastern Lebanon risks engendering a counter-attack from Hezbollah and the return to hostilities," he added. ********** Britain is considering demanding the extradition of two Israeli soldiers on charges of killing a British aid worker and a film-maker. The government's top law officer has confirmed that Britain has not ruled out forcing Tel Aviv to hand over the soldiers in line with a 50-year-old international law. Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith revealed the seriousness of the government's investigations into the issue following a visit to Israel last month. The cases of film-maker James Miller and peace activist Tom Hurndall have developed into a thorny international dispute since they were killed in separate incidents three years ago. Miller was shot in the neck while filming a documentary. Hurndall was shot dead by an Israeli soldier in Gaza a few weeks later. Families of the two men launched vociferous campaigns for justice. Activists were outraged when it emerged the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) officer accused of killing Miller had not been disciplined for the episode - and had been promoted. Although an IDF sniper was jailed for eight years for Hurndall's manslaughter, his parents have called for an investigation of the actions of the soldier's commanders. Amid intense pressure from campaigners, the UK government was expected to keep the fallout from the incidents as restrained as possible. But now Goldsmith has revealed the most drastic measures to resolve the row remain under active consideration by the government. ********** Egypt expressed apprehension and astonishment over an Israeli attack against Lebanese positions in Al-Beqaa valley at dawn. A statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry indicated that such an operation would fling the region into the pre-UNSCR 1701 stage. Such an attack would give the other party a reason to respond and by turn a renewal of armed clashes would ensue. The statement underlined the importance that the UN Security Council should undertake its responsibilities to prevent any escalation of the situation. The statement also underscored the importance of respecting UNSC resolution 1701, which ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit has contacted the foreign ministers of some UNSC members urging them to intervene to stop such deterioration of the situation, added the statement. ********** The Lebanese president Emile Lahoud spoke about the events that have happened since that war, praising the patriotic and united Lebanese army to continue deployment in the South, their strength due to the support of the Lebanese. He added that the victory was not only for Lebanon but for all Arab nations. Lebanon has come up as a winner by preserving his sovereignty and unity. "It is time for work", he added, declaring that it is time for the Lebanese to rely and depend on themselves in these periods. ********** The activities of the 7th GCC Scouts Camp, held under the theme of "educating mates, commitment and safety" concluded in Salalah, Oman. Scout Camp Leader , Waleed bin Ayoub Al Zadjali, gave a speech at the occasion in which he lauded the scouts' success in implementing the regulations and customs par excellence. Another speech was delivered by Head of Kuwaiti delegation, Abdulla Abdulla Al Gallaf, in which he affirmed that this years activities had enriched the knowledge and skills of the participants towards a better future of the GCC scouts movements. ********** United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has given instructions to alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people and contribute in reconstruction of basic infrastructure destroyed by the Israeli aggression. Under Sheikh Khalifa's instructions, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools in southern Lebanon and hospitals at Bint Jubail, Marjayoun and Al Arqoub at the expense of the UAE government. Sheikh Mohammed gave his instructions for compensating affected Lebanese fishers at Al Ozaei jetty and rehabilitation of facilities there to ensure sustainable sources of living for the Lebanese fishers. Sheikh Mohammed also ordered that the President's directives on the UAE's contribution in the reconstruction effort in Lebanon be implemented urgently and without any delay in order to ease the suffering of the brotherly Lebanese people. ********** Israel said it had formed a ministerial working group on Syria, in what is seen as a first step towards the possible renewal of peace talks that have been stalled for more than six years. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni established the group "to raise all the issues and interests of Syria vis-a-vis Israel and make a diplomatic assessment," her ministry said in a statement. It said group's work was not related to "any type of negotiations" with Damascus. But according to local media, the group will submit a report on the chances of renewing peace talks with Syria. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that Israel should prepare for talks with Syria. "Every war creates opportunities for a broadened political process ... We must establish talks with Lebanon and prepare the conditions for a dialogue with Syria," Peretz said. ********** German Foreign Minister, Franlk Walter Steinmeier has called for a Permanent Conference for Security in the Middle East similar to the Security and Cooperation Forum in Europe which appeased the tension during the cold war period. Steinmeier told the Deutsche News Agency (DPA) that such conference would contribute to a peace solution in the Middle East. Meantime the German Foreign Minister stressed the need for coordinating international efforts to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict describing it as the core of all matters. ********** The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his wife, Aliza, will soon be summoned for questioning by the State Comptroller's Office on suspicion of receiving benefits worth some half a million dollars. State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss is looking into suspicions that the Olmerts were given an exorbitant discount on the purchase price of a garden apartment on Jerusalem's Cremieux Street. According to these suspicions, Olmert's associates worked to help the contracting company that renovated the house to obtain unusual permits from the Jerusalem municipality. These permits significantly increased the profitability of the project. The Prime Minister's Office said in response that "the prime minister has not received any request from the comptroller's office." Officials in Olmert's office said that they were looking into the report. The comptroller said in a statement that he has been looking into the matter for several months, collecting documents and statements from those involved. "We haven't turned to the prime minister yet for a reaction," the comptroller said in a statement, adding that the report on the investigation was "premature." The Olmerts bought a garden apartment for a price of $1.2 million. According to the comptroller's findings, however, the apartment's true value is between $1.6 million and $1.8 million. Thus at the time of the sale, Olmert apparently received a discount worth between $400,000 and $600,000. The State Comptroller's Office believes that the evidence amassed to date justifies summoning Olmert and his wife for questioning. The Olmerts will probably be questioned by a team of investigators from the State Comptroller's Office and by a retired police officer, Major General Yaakov Borovsky, who serves as the comptroller's adviser in his war against corruption. Soon after the couple is questioned, the comptroller is expected to submit his findings to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, so that the latter can decide whether to open a criminal investigation. The Prime Minister's Office said in response: "The prime minister has not received any request from the comptroller's office. We have trouble believing that once again, the State Comptroller's Office has chosen to go to the media before going to the prime minister." ********** The United Nations (UN) has the final say in selecting UN peacekeepers to monitor the cessation of hostility between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and not the Israelis. Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the UN would determine which countries would make up the peacekeeping mission after countries like France, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei voiced their willingness to participate in the mission. "It is up to the UN to decide. Malaysia had offered her services to be part of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on the basis of justice and durable peace in the Middle East," he told Bernama. He was commenting on a Reuters report stating that Israel wanted only countries that had diplomatic relations with her to participate in UNIFIL while those without diplomatic ties like Malaysia would not be acceptable. Syed Hamid said he believed the selection of peacekeeping troops to southern Lebanon would be made by the UN based on past performance of the countries concerned in peacekeeping missions. He said Malaysia had been involved in several peacekeeping missions and the UN had commended the country on the services rendered such as in Congo, Bosnia Herzegovina and Timor Leste. "Malaysia was also involved as part of the monitoring body on the southern Philippine conflict and Aceh in Indonesia. We have the experience and equipment for such a mission. That was why Malaysia offered her services as a member of the UN force," he said. He added that Malaysia was ready to send between 850 and 1,000 of her troops to southern Lebanon. He said during his three-day visit to Beirut as head of the delegation of Foreign Ministers of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Lebanese government had expressed its acceptance for Malaysian troops to be involved in the mission. Asked whether Malaysia would be involved in the disarmament of Hezbollah, Syed Hamid said: "It is up to the Lebanese government to decide on the matter as it is an internal issue, and where Malaysia feels she should not be involved." ********** The European Union pledged to play a key role in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Lebanon. It also vowed to help find a political solution in the Middle East conflict. Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomaki, whose country holds the current EU presidency, made the pledge at a press conference in Helsinki. Lehtomaki returned Thursday from her Middle East tour. She visited Lebanon on August 14-16 and Israel on August 17 as the EU envoy. Accompanying Lehtomaki was Louis Michel, the European commissioner for development and humanitarian aid. Lehtomaki said that people in Lebanon had started returning to their homes from the temporary camps immediately after the ceasefire came into force. The need for humanitarian assistance in southern Lebanon was enormous, she stressed. The EU would be a leading force in the reconstruction process, Lehtomaki said, adding that the EU member states and the EU Commission had jointly pledged 115 million euros (147 million U.S. dollars) in humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Lehtomaki also told reporters that following the ceasefire, a comprehensive solution for the entire region must be found and that it was the only way to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development for the whole region. In devising a political solution, the situation of the Palestinians must not be forgotten, she added. **********