October 13, 2006

IN BRIEF ***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a phone call from King Abdullah II of Jordan. During the phone call, they discussed the latest developments in the regional and international arenas in addition to the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Jordan. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Egypt's President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak on the occasion of anniversary of October 6 day. The monarch wished the president permanent good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. A similar cable of congratulations was also sent to the president by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has issued his directives to the ministries of finance, and water and electricity to take the appropriate measures for extending the required support to the electricity sector in a manner that enables the Saudi electricity company make the required electric services available at the short and long terms. This was announced by minister of water and electricity Eng. Abdullah Al-Hussein in a statement to SPA. ********** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Uganda' S President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the occasion of his country's independence day. The monarch wished the president permanent good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. A similar cable of congratulations was also sent to the president by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. ********** Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz ordered an increase of 1,000 more Haj visas for Palestinians. During a recent to the Saudi Arabia, Fatah Movement Central Committee Member and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei thanked King Abdullah, the Kingdom's government and people for their generous support and active political efforts to lift the blockade against the Palestinian people. Qurei had requested King Abdullah to increase the Palestinian Hajj quota during his meeting with the monarch. ********** Rather than attack and embarrass Saudi Arabia to "change and reform" its society, the US must stop "making dictums" that "lead nowhere," said Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Turki Al-Faisal, in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in WashingtonAmerica, he said, must change its policy toward the Arab world in order to "regain its standing throughout the region...""The US and Saudi Arabia have come to recognize that our enduring relations are bound by much more than oil," said the ambassador. "We have a number of important pillars that support our relationship..." Prince Turki named the pillars: "Oil, trade, the war on terrorism, Middle East stability, military cooperation, and the mutual fondness that we have for each other. These pillars form our foundation"Another step we're taking to improve relations is to increase our people-to-people contact. The kingdom is encouraging more delegation of officials and business leaders and citizens to come to the United States to share their views and to learn in kind. We have also expanded a scholarship program to send our students to college abroad. Many of our students will be coming to the United States. More than 10,000 are already studying here. They will not only be receiving a world-class education; they will be forming the next generation of friendships and bonds between Saudis and Americans. They will be the true ambassadors. ********** Dr Abdullah Al Obeid Saudi Minister of Education has unveiled that his ministry will issue a code of conduct for teachers. He said that the ministry is looking into setting up this code in order to preserve the ethics of the teaching profession in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said that big strides have been achieved in the field of the implementation of health insurance system in the kingdom and expressed his hopes that members of the education system will be between the first to benefit from it. ********** The Higher Judicial Islamic Council expressed its support for Siniora's government. After a session headed by Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, the council said Siniora's government was successful in handling the present crisis and could achieve very good results despite the local and international pressure it had to put up with. The council said it was not possible to form a national unity government comprising a part that was for the government and another against it, which hampers decisions. The council's statement added that the present government had responsibilities which must be fulfilled including the creation of an international court into the killing of Rafik Hariri. Meantime Fomer Premier Salim Al Hoss handed over a copy of the memorandum of understanding signed by former Lebanese Premier to Sheikh Qabbani. ********** Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Ali bin Mohammad Al-Hamdan met Yemeni Culture Minister Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Ruwaishan. During the meeting, they discussed ways to bolster and develop cultural cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen through setting joint cultural weeks, organizing visits for art teams, or organizing exhibitions. ********** Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad Kazim Al-Boulani said at the Interior ministers of Iraq's neighbours meeting held recently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that he is optimistic with the stance of the gathered ministers. He said he has "high hopes in the cooperation of the ministers and governments, especially considering that the security situation in Iraq has become a threat that could spread to the whole region." He said the Iraqi government has a strategic plan for the security of Baghdad. It has implemented the first two phases of the plan, which has proved a success. Shops are open and people are in the street again. Phase 3 would start in Ramadan and will involve cracking down on forgeries. An Iraqi official said Baghdad wants its neighbors to seal their borders to militants who cross into Iraq to fight US-led troops. "We need to improve the security situation in Iraq with more border control," Alaa Al-Taee, an Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman, said on the sidelines of the meeting. "We want... logistical support including more equipment and training of Iraqi police in countries such as Saudi Arabia," he added. The Jeddah meeting emphasized the need for halting the activities of terrorist groups that threaten the security of Iraq and its neighbours, the communiqué said. "This demands effective cooperation between Iraq and its neighbours," it added. Iraq praised the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of borders security. ********** Nato has taken charge of Afghanistan's eastern provinces, which have been under the control of US forces since the Taleban were ousted five years ago. The alliance's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) already commands troops in the north, west and south of Afghanistan, as well as Kabul. Officials say the move will make the force more efficient, as it seeks to secure Afghanistan for reconstruction. Afghanistan represents the biggest ground deployment in Nato's history. Some 10,000 troops - mainly US forces - have come under the command of Gen David Richards from the UK. The addition of US troops brings the total number of troops under Nato command on the ground in Afghanistan to about 31,000. ********** A plane carrying an integrated medical team, including physicians, nurses, technicians and administrators landed at Beirut's rafiq al-Hariri international airport. The medical team will participate in the Saudi field hospital in Beirut which has been extending medical services to the Lebanese people. The medical team was welcomed by a number of officials. ********** The office of the Lebanese Premier has issued a statement stressing that all donations received from brotherly and friendly countries will be distributed on several areas with all transparency. He added that the donation of $ 500 million received by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been transferred to the High Relief Commission. ********** A Saudi donation to the Lebanese Dar Al Fatwa to help people during the holy month of Ramadan has been handed over by Saudi Ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja to the Lebanese Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, who in turn addressed his thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King and the Saudi leadership for their support to the Lebanese people during this difficult time. ********** The Saudi Yemeni joint technical team started in Jeddah its 4th meeting to discuss ways of flow of goods between the two countries. On the Saudi side, the meeting was led by Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al Homoodi, Under Secretary of the ministry of commerce and industry for external affairs while the Yemeni side was chaired by Iqbal Yassin Bahader, Under Secretary of the ministry of industry and commerce for commercial affairs. Addressing the opening session, Al Homoodi said the trade exchange size between the two countries hiked from sr2498 million in 2004 to sr3261 million in 2005, an increase of 30.5 percent. He attributed this to the continuing cooperation among the public and private bodies in the two countries under the instructions of the leaderships of the two neighbouring countries. The meeting is scheduled to discuss matters relating to trade, transport, customs and agriculture and ways of expanding exports between the two countries. ********** An American delegation of private-sector leaders appointed by President George W. Bush visited Lebanon, September 22-23. In a demonstration of the American people's strong support for Lebanon, the delegation are encouraging U.S. private-sector support for Lebanon's reconstruction and development, asking Americans to donate directly to a fund set up to provide help. On their return to the United States, the four executives will meet with President Bush to share their observations and outline subsequent plans. The delegation began their tour of affected areas by viewing the destroyed Medyrej Bridge on the Beirut-Damascus Highway. The U.S. Government has pledged $9 million for its repair. The group also visited the South to assess where funds were most needed and how resources could most effectively be distributed. Noting the importance of education for Lebanon's development and economic prosperity, they spoke with students at American University Beirut and Lebanese American University. The delegation discussed rebuilding priorities with Prime Minister Siniora and met with members of the American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and non governmental organizations. ********** The Saudi popular campaign for Lebanese people relief sent its fourth convoy as part of the land transport for brotherly Lebanese people relief. The convoy included 40 trucks carrying food stuffs and other supplies. ********** Jordan has strongly denied Israeli press reports that it secretly hosted talks between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior Arab officials. "These reports are sheer fantasy and completely wrong," government spokesman Nasser Jawdeh said in comments carried by Jordanian dailies. "All the allegations carried by various media about secret meetings in Jordan between Israeli officials and Jordanian, Saudi, Egyptian or Palestinian officials, be they of a security or political nature, are totally false," Jawdeh said. "These sorts of reports are put about every time there are positive signs emerging in the peace process, probably with a view to damaging it and creating a climate of suspicion around it." ********** President Ali Abdullah Saleh was sworn in to a new seven-year term. In a speech to parliament at the ceremony, Saleh vowed to combat poverty and corruption, pursue and preserve democracy, and improve stability and security. He also swore to preserve freedoms, respect human rights, make changes in various executive institutions, and achieve comprehensive agricultural and industrial development through the next presidential period. He called upon all Yemeni people to live a new life in a cooperative atmosphere of brotherhood, and to steer away from hatred and aversion. Saleh was installed as president after a sweeping victory over his chief rival, Faisal bin Shamlan of the Joint Meeting Parties, in the September 20 elections. In his speech, Saleh confirmed his priorities for the coming period. In addition to the efforts mentioned above, Saleh hopes to create more jobs for people through small- and medium-sized projects, dole out land to young people, expand the social security system, encourage foreign, Arab, and local investments, and offer all the facilities needed for these investments, which will provide new jobs for Yemeni people. The president concentrated in his speech on combating corruption, a major theme of his campaign. "We will uproot firmly all the corruptions and corrupted people from all the institutions of the government, and reactivate the role of the legal authority and the central system for monitoring and accounting in this field," Saleh said. He added that the government would also work to shore up the relationships Yemen has with the other strong, friendly countries in the region. Yemen has received promises from the Gulf countries and donor countries to help combat corruption, limit unemploymentwhich contributes to stabilizing peaceand bolster Yemen's efforts to defeat terrorism. The president called at the end of his speech for all the Yemeni people to begin a new life. "I call on all the people to live a new life which is full of cooperation, love, and brotherhood and excludes hatred and repugnance. I am the president for the Republic of Yemen, not for a specific party, so I am the president for all the Yemeni men and women, and I see them all equally and without any discrimination." Finally, he concluded his speech by saying that the future was full of promise. ********** Sultan Qaboos has sent a cable of greetings to President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on the occasion of the October 6 Anniversary. The Sultan expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes to the president, wishing him good health and happiness and the Egyptian people further progress and prosperity. ********** The European Union hopes to reach a new agreement with the United States on sharing air passenger data next week after failing to do so before the previous pact expired, the European Commission said. U.S. and European negotiators were unable agree in talks in Washington on Saturday, when the existing agreement ended, but both sides said they would try to do so quickly. A European Commission statement said a draft agreement sent to the European side by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be discussed by EU justice and home affairs ministers in Luxembourg, "in the hope of having an agreement the same day." Under post-September 11 anti-terrorism arrangements, European airlines supply U.S. authorities with information on passengers entering the United States including their name, address, payment details and telephone numbers. An EU court struck down the existing deal on a legal technicality in May but gave the European Union and the United States until September 30 to replace it. In the statement, the EU Commission urged the United States to continue to apply safeguards for passenger data laid down in the lapsed 2004 agreement until a new agreement was reached in order to minimize the risk of legal uncertainty and disruption to EU-US flights. The EU statement said Commission Vice President Franco Frattini and Chertoff were in regular contact. "Much progress has already been made," it said. "It is in the interests of all concerned, travellers, airlines, law enforcement agencies and data protection authorities, that a new agreement is concluded as soon possible." U.S. officials have not made clear whether they would be willing to apply the safeguards from the lapsed agreement. Without them, said Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd, there was a risk data protection authorities in EU states would challenge airlines' right to transfer data. Airlines fear this could leave them open to legal action. "There is nothing to prevent the Americans from continuing to apply those safeguards," Todd said. "If they do, there shouldn't be a problem for European airlines that continue to transfer the data." The Association of European Airlines, which represents big carriers such as British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa, has expressed concern at the possibility of "extreme" disruption to services unless a new agreement is reached. Spokeswoman Francoise Humbert said that if airlines did not supply data required by the United States, passengers faced having to provide such information at U.S. airports with consequent queues and delays. A spokeswoman for British Airways said the airline would not be affected even if there was a delay in reaching a new agreement as British carriers were covered by an air navigation order that allowed them to continue to share data. ********** The spokeswoman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that foreign minister Tzipi Livni has received an invitation to take part in a conference in Qatar near the end of October. The conference will deal with the ways to support democracy in the Middle East. Oron said the Minister will meet with Qatari officials, without specifying names. This will be Livni first visit to Qatar. ********** The Sultanate is taking part in a meeting of member states in the UN Pact on Combating Cross-border Crime. The meeting which began in Vienna continues till October 19. It reviews a number of security issues, including combating money-laundering, protecting witnesses, combating illegal immigration and smuggling human beings and the protocol on firearms and ammunition. ********** President George W. Bush and Republicans are sinking under the weight of the Iraq war and the Capitol Hill sex scandal, according to a flurry of polls, endangering their control of Congress in the November 7 elections. Democrats hold a growing advantage heading into the final four weeks of the campaign, with analysts moving more Republican-held seats into the high-risk category and improving the odds of Democrats seizing control of at least the House of Representatives. The polls, all taken after the sex scandal surfaced, show Democratic candidates with huge leads over Republicans amid broad public unhappiness about the Iraq war, Bush's leadership and the Republican-led Congress. Democrats must pick up 15 seats in the House and six seats in the Senate to regain control. The latest polls give Democratic candidates a growing edge of between 13 and 23 percentage points over Republicans on the November ballot, with Bush's approval ratings dropping back into the 30s after a slight bump into the low 40s in September. The polls also found increasing public unhappiness with the Iraq war as violence surges there, and an erosion in the traditional Republican advantage on topics like the war against terrorism and moral values. Republicans have been scrambling for more than a week to contain the fallout over former Republican Rep. Mark Foley. White House spokesman Tony Snow said there was "a lot of volatility" in polls and things could change after the president spends the next four weeks making his case to voters on national security, the economy and other issues. "It's pretty clear that the Foley story has had an impact on public opinion but whether it is going to have an impact on the elections is something the voters will have to decide," Snow said. ********** President Bush signed a bill in Arizona that provides $1.2 billion for fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border to curb illegal immigration. The $35 billion homeland security bill also includes an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The overhaul will "help our government better respond to emergencies and natural disasters by strengthening the capabilities" of FEMA, Bush said. The bill will also "deploy nuclear detection equipment at our ports of entry, raise security standards at the nation's chemical plants, safeguard American cities against weapons of mass destruction and stop terrorists seeking to enter our country," the president said. Standing before Camelback Mountain in Arizona, a state with much debate over border security, he also said the legislation would "give us better tools to enforce our immigration laws and to secure our southern border." Outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox has called the barricade "shameful," comparing it to the Berlin Wall and saying it would hurt U.S.-Mexican relations. ********** Heads of state or government from more than 30 French-speaking nations wrapped up a two-day summit with a compromise on a declaration calling for a return to calm in war-torn Lebanon. Canada and Switzerland had refused an amendment proposed by Egypt that would have mentioned only Lebanese victims of Israeli attacks and not referred to Israeli victims of Hizbullah rocket attacks. The final declaration spoke of "the dramatic consequences for all civilian populations (involved)" and called for "a complete end to hostilities and a return to calm in Lebanon." French President "Jacques Chirac resolved the problem" by suggesting the text be submitted to a vote, which made Canada accept a more general wording, Hugo Sada, spokesman for the International Francophone Organization (OIF) told AFP. The final wording is close to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which allowed for the reinforcement of U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon and for Israeli troops to withdraw, which they have not yet completely done. ********** President of Lebanon General Emile Lahoud has urged the US Administration to act impartially in dealing with the Arab- Israeli conflict. "I urge the US Administration to respond to the call which I had launched at the UN General Assembly to revive the peace process in the Middle East region," said president Lahoud. President Lahoud told a delegation of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce who called on Baabda Palace that "the US official stands which fully support Israel contradicted views of the American people who believed in democratic practices and in justice. The US impartiality would certainly harm interests of the USA worldwide including Arab states. Arab people are now fed up with US policies in the region. I believe the new Middle East which the USA has been launching propaganda for, has already been blended with the blood of the Lebanese, Iraqis and Palestinians. It seems that the New Middle East will never see the light despite all capacities mobilized by the USA to achieve this goal. The only alternative would be achieving a just, global and comprehensive peace in the region based on UN relevant resolutions and on the Arab Peace Initiative," said president Lahoud. President Lahoud said he was happy to see such a delegation visiting Lebanon to see for itself damage caused by Israeli aggressions and massacres. "The Israeli war on Lebanon has not fulfilled its mission to wipe out the Lebanese resistance." Replying to a question, president Lahoud told the delegation that the peace process in the region should include all countries concerned. "Any disengagement would not lead to a global peace in the region. The US Administration knows well this reality and should not ignore this fact and yield to the world Zionist will. The recent aggression has lashed out all sayings that Israel can play the role of the policeman in the region. The Bush Administration should understand and deal with this new fact. President Lahoud told the American delegation that Lebanon has always denounced terrorism and extremism, adding that the Lebanese resistance can in no way be labelled as a terrorist group. "It in fact, it comprises of Lebanese nationals who have faith in an independent, sovereign Lebanon. They believe that Lebanon should be freed from Israeli occupation. The recent Israeli war on Lebanon could give a glimpse of hope that the peace process in the region could be revived, and all pending matters could be resolved through negotiation. However, peace negotiations should be similar to those of the Madrid Talks based on all UN relevant resolutions," said president Lahoud. President Lahoud made it clear that he does not fear the outbreak of a new civil war in Lebanon, mainly "Because the Lebanese realize well that maintaining their unity would salvage their nation. There might be political divisions, but they are made on democratic bases, and this is what makes Lebanon different from all other countries in the region. I am confident that the Lebanese will not drag their country into another civil war. They know well, that this would harm their institutions, and the unity of their nation," added president Lahoud. President Lahoud pointed out that UN resolution 1701 has not been fully implemented, adding that Lebanon will hold on to the occupied Shebaa Farms and to regaining of the occupied Gipsy town. "Lebanon will continue its efforts to liberate all occupied territories, free all Lebanese detainees, and take over all Israeli land mines maps." President Lahoud who strongly condemned Israeli hostilities in the Palestinian occupied territories repeated Lebanon's support to the full implementation of UN resolution 194 which calls for the return of all Palestinian refugees to their native homeland. President Lahoud told the American Arab delegation that reconstruction process in Lebanon was underway and financial assistance given to Lebanon by various Arab and world states would be given to families and institutions whose properties were destroyed by the recent war equally. "This decision has been made by the Council of Ministers, and we will make sure that all receive compensations equally," said Lahoud. President Lahoud concluded by saying he was optimistic about the future of Lebanon. "Lebanon would regain its leading role regionally and internationally and would be the gateway to the region." ********** Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel-Ilah Khatib briefed Arab League chief Amr Moussa on his country's diplomatic row with Qatar over the UN succession vote. Khatib told Moussa in a telephone call of Jordan's "displeasure" with Qatar for breaking ranks with an Arab decision to back Amman's candidate to succeed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the state-run Petra news agency reported. Amman recalled its ambassador to Doha for consultations over the UN vote. Khatib told Moussa that Qatar was bound by a unanimous Arab decision to vote for Jordan's UN representative, Prince Zeid al-Hussein, to succeed Annan. Petra quoted Khatib as saying Qatar could have cast more than one vote in the straw polls that took place. "The Qatari delegation ... could have, during the two consecutive straw polls, voted for more than one candidate," Petra quoted Khatib as saying. "But the Qatari delegation not only ignored the unanimous Arab decision to back Prince Zeid, it also showed a determination to oppose the Jordanian candidate." "Several countries in the Security Council voted for more than one candidate and the Qatari delegation could have voted for Prince Zeid and for Thailand's candidate," Khatib added. ********** The U.S. military and the Iraqi government denied that al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri was recently killed by U.S. forces. At least two Arab TV networks and Reuters news agency had reported that al-Masri was killed in a raid in Haditha, but a U.S. military spokesman said those reports are not true. According to Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, the reports "do not appear to have any substance," although he said several "terrorists" had been killed in an operation. "We don't believe al-Masri has been killed during recent coalition forces operations," Johnson said, while admitting they had hoped to kill the terrorist who took over leadership in June after the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Iraqi government backed up the denial of the leader suspected to have been involved in 2,000 car bombs that have killed 6,000 Iraqis since 2004. ********** Two rockets rigged with mobile phones and primed to fire toward Pakistan's parliament were discovered by a construction worker and safely defused by bomb disposal experts, a security official said. The security scare in Islamabad came hours after a homemade bomb exploded without injury in a park in the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi, not far from a residence of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. A construction worker found the rockets on a lawn less than a half-scene from the National Assembly, the official said at the scene. Meanwhile Pakistani security forces have arrested a group of "extremists" behind recent security alerts in the capital, President Pervez Musharraf has said. The suspects were held after rockets and rocket launchers were found near key buildings in Islamabad last week. Gen Musharraf called the plotters' devices "crude" and said the group might have links with al-Qaeda. But the president, the target of a number of assassination plots, was not sure he was the intended victim. "I am not an easy target," the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency quoted him as saying. President Musharraf made his remarks to Pakistani journalists. "We have unearthed the whole gang, caught the culprits who are extremists." He did not say how many suspects were being held or when they had been arrested. Two rockets and a rocket launcher were found close to the parliament building in Islamabad. President Musharraf was in a conference centre about 2km away when the discovery was made. Hours earlier, a small explosive device was detonated in a park close to the president's home in nearby Rawalpindi, although the military dismissed suggestions that the blast was related to Gen Musharraf. Two more rockets were discovered near the headquarters of the ISI intelligence agency in Islamabad. There was speculation that the incidents were aimed at warning President Musharraf's government that its close collaboration with the US and allies in the West would not go unchallenged, BBC correspondents said. ********** A session of talks between the Ministry of Higher Education and a delegation from Melbourne University was held. The Omani side was headed by Dr Rawya bint Saud al Busaidiya, Minister of Higher Education, and Prof Glen Davis, Vice-Chancellor of the University. The talks focused on Sultan Qaboos's Chair for Arab and Islamic Studies at the university and major activities conducted during the past two years. Professor Abdullah Saeed highlighted the significant turnout by academics and members of society who took earnest interest in the activities being organised. The activities included seminars on reviving the Sharia in Indonesia, Islam in southern Thailand and the role of Islamic Education. Prof Abdullah pointed out that the programme conducted by the Sultan's Chair includes a conference on Islam and secularism held last year. During the talks, aspects of academic co-operation between specialised colleges in the Sultanate and the university were discussed. Prof Davis thanked the Omani government for setting up the Sultan's Chair which is capable of giving the Australian society a true picture of Islam within a short period of time, provide an effective mechanism to activate dialogue among civilisations. He said Melbourne University is looking forward to making the centre supportive of dialogue among individuals, scholars and researchers. The session was attended by Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed al Sarmi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Said bin Nassr al Maskary, Secretary-General of the Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture, and from the Australian side by Prof Frank Lapkin, University Deputy Vice-Chancellor. **********