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March 2, 2007 |
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CROWN PRINCE SULTAN ISSUES HIS DIRECTIVES TO FORM A COMMISSION TO SET AN AWARENESS STRATEGY TO PROTECT WILDLIFE. THE OPENING OF RIYADH BOOKFAIR. THE ARAB LEAGUE REVIEWS THE AGENDA OF THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL. NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PALESTINIAN AND IRAQI ARENAS AND THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR FILE. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz sent a message to Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Salih. President Ali Abdullah Saleh received Prince Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, the Assistant Minister of Saudi Interior who conveyed to the president a message from the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. The message concerned bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, joint cooperation aspects, top of which security field, and a number of issues and developments concerning mutual relations between the two countries, Arab and Islamic nation. The president praised the intimate and strong brotherly relation between the two countries, cooperation level, among of which that in the security field, between them. He then asked the Saudi prince to convey his best wishes to the king and continuous progress and prosperity to the Saudi people. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Deputy Interior Minister, Mohammad Al-Qawsi and the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen,Ali bin Mohammad Al-Hamdan, attended the meeting. The Saudi Interior assistant Minister, Prince Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdul-Aziz, left Sana'a after a short visit to Yemen during which he conveyed a message to President Ali Abdullah Saleh from the Custodian of the two Holly Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz concerning brotherly relations and cooperation fields between the two countries and issues that have joint concern. The Saudi prince was seen off by Yemeni deputy interior minister, major general, Mohammad al-Qawsi and Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Ali bin Mohammad al-Hamdan. On the other hand Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's health condition is "completely normal and stable", his office said, a day after he was flown to a hospital in neighbouring Jordan because of low blood pressure. "The initial results of the medical tests showed that his condition is completely normal and stable. There is no need to worry. The vital and basic parts of his body are all in good condition," a statement said, adding Talabani was fully conscious and in good spirits. According to Reuters, Talabani was admitted to the specialist King Hussein Medical Centre in Amman on Sunday after being flown from Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq. The statement said Talabani had "suffered from fatigue, which led to a loss of a lot of liquids from his body". It said he would undergo further medical tests in Amman. On the other hand the Secretary General of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud announced that the Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for the Environment, and Chairman of the Board of the National Authority for the Protection of Wildlife Conservation and Development has issued his directives for the formation of a commission to develop a strategy awareness in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to preserve the wildlife and environmental clean-up and refine the behavior of visitors to protected areas. The Commission will include the President of the Meteorological and Protection Environment, the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary General for the Protection of Wildlife. In Riyadh under the auspice of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani inaugurated the international Riyadh book fair. The inaugural ceremony of the fair, organized by the ministry of culture and information, was attended by Prince Turki Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, the assistant minister of culture and information. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in his speech on the occasion, read on his behalf by Iyad Madani, welcomed those who are concerned with the cultural affairs at this great cultural event of the international Riyadh book fair. He said the kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed few days ago the organization of the National Festival for Heritage and Culture at Janadriyah, and noted that the national festival for heritage and culture was characterized by its distinguished cultural activities. King Abdullah pointed out that the book fair and Janadriyah festival provide a clear evidence for the authentic cultural activity being witnessed by the kingdom. He noted that culture constitutes a great human achievement, and it stands as a symbol for the greatness of the nations. The King said the book constitutes one of the most prominent features of culture in the Arab and Islamic civilization. 'The biographical books demonstrate love for the book and its classification, reading and acquisition, and moreover they demonstrate the great attention given by the Arab and Muslims societies to the book. The monarch said the organization of the book fair reflects the status of the book in the Arab and Islamic heritage, and it also constitutes a feature for participation in opinions making and their acceptance. 'the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was and will remain concerned with the cultural affairs, and it will remain aware of the role of culture in deepening the original values of the Arab and Muslim societies as well as aware of the role of culture in enhancing the national unity, and ties in the Arab and Muslim world in addition to its role as a way for building bridges between the world civilizations and societies', King Abdullah said. The King prayed to Almighty Allah to enable the Muslim nation to go on the proper path and deepen the great values advocated by the prophet of Islam, Peace Be On Him, who was a prophet for the mankind and mercy for the entire people. In his extempore speech Iyad Madani welcomed the participants of the show, and hoped that the show and its accompanying cultural activities will attract the required attention. Madani expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by Dr Khalid Al-Anqari, the Minister of Higher Education, and his colleagues at the ministry of higher education and their cooperation with the ministry of culture and information to organize this book show. On his part, permanent representative of the Arab league at the UNESCO Dr Nassef underscored the important role of the book in enhancing dialogue of cultures. He noted that the Arab league signed last year a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UNESCO for enhancing cooperation in the cultural, educational and scientific spheres. About 600 national, Arab and foreign publishing houses are participating in the show which displays more than 100,000 titles. The show is organized on an area of 10,500 square meter. Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Subeyel, the Under Secretary of the ministry of culture and information for cultural affairs, said a number of literary men who have positively contributed to enriching the cultural life will be honored. Iyad Madani speaking after opening the book fair, hoped that book fair, which constitutes an important cultural event, will yield positive results. He urged the media to give utmost attention to the book fair, and said it is hoped that the book fair will attract those who are concerned with the cultural affairs and knowledge. He noted that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made big strides in the fields of education as well as information and cultural publications. The inaugural ceremony was attended by a number of princes, Muslim scholars, OIC's Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsan Oglu, members of the accredited diplomatic corps, senior officials in addition to literary men and intellectuals. On the other hand Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Chairman of the Ministerial Cooperation Council met in Riyadh with Abdul Rahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah Secretary-General of the Arab Gulf States Cooperation Council. During the meeting, the they discussed the march of the Gulf joint work in all fields, and reviewed topics on the agenda of the meeting of the Ministerial Council to be held next week at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh. Un's Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has highlighted the great efforts exerted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to reconcile the Palestinian leaders so as to pave the way for the formation of a national unity government. Speaking at the meeting of the UN's committee concerned with the practice of the Palestinian people to their legitimate, Ki-Moon said Makkah agreement, signed by the Palestinian leaders under the auspice of King Abdullah, constitutes an important step. He hoped that the agreement would be effectively implemented. He noted that the Palestinians are looking for freedom and independence, while the Israelis are looking for security, and added 'but each side cannot realize its aspirations without the settlement of the existing dispute. In Cairo the permanent delegates to the Arab League started their meeting prior to the convening of the Arab Summit in Riyadh. The agenda includes the proposed project of the agenda of the Arab summit in Riyadh, in addition to the report of the Secretary-General of the League on the activity of the League who urged Arab states to speed completion of the ratification of the Statute the Council and the Arab peace. Also discussed was Egypt request for the inclusion of the question of the Zionist and Jewish organizations in South Africa which intensify efforts to change the attitude of the government and public opinion there towards the Palestinian cause. Top of the agenda are the developments in the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict, especially the political developments and the activation of the Arab peace initiative and following up the developments in occupied Jerusalem, the settlements and the separation wall, the Intifada and the refugees, UNRWA and economic development and the support the budget of the Palestinian National Authority and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the Arab solidarity with Lebanon and the occupied Syrian Arab Golan, in addition to the developments of the situation in Iraq, development and unity in Sudan, Somalia and the Comoros. The agenda also includes the risks of the Israeli nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction Israeli international peace and Arab national security and the issue of making the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear disarmament and the size and risks of space activity and the Israeli missile on Arab national security the development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the Member States and the changes in the international arena in the fields of arms control and disarmament. The Council will also discuss Arab League Iran's occupation of three islands of the United Arab Emirates and address the damage and procedures arising from the dispute over the Lockerbie case and the rejection of unilateral American sanctions imposed on Syria, in addition to special item on the Council for Peace and Security in addition to the activation of Arab relations with the Arab States African, Asian and European countries, China, South America and supporting the dialogue among civilizations and the establishment of a forum for Arab-Turkish relations and support to Tangier to host the international exhibition in 2012. Meanwhile Israeli troops sealed off the center of Nablus' old city with cement blocks and trash containers yesterday, and moved from apartment to apartment in search of seven Palestinians whose names the army broadcast over local TV and radio stations. Medics said one Palestinian was killed. It was the largest Israeli raid in the West Bank in months, with about 80 jeeps, armored vehicles and bulldozers moving around Nablus for a second day yesterday. Troops enforced a curfew that confined tens of thousands of Palestinians to their homes. Soldiers uncovered two explosives labs in what the army said would be an open-ended sweep. Palestinian officials charged that the offensive threatened efforts to restart peace negotiations. Soldiers operated simultaneously in several areas of Nablus, including the old city, or Casbah, a densely populated militants stronghold with small alleys. Access roads to the old city were blocked by cement blocs and large trash containers. A 42-year-old Palestinian, Anan Al-Teibi, was killed yesterday by a bullet to the neck while he was in his home in the old city, medics said. The man's son was wounded and evacuated to a hospital, the medics said. A neighbor, Nashaat Hijawi, said Teibi was hit by shots on the house fired from a passing Israeli Army jeep. The army said it fired at "suspicious characters" on the rooftop of a building, killing one man and injuring another. Palestinian security officials said 30 people were arrested since the raid began, including two wanted men who were not on the list of seven broadcast names, and the owner of a local TV station. Computers and other equipment were taken from the As-Sanabel station, said the wife of the arrested owner, Naber Brek. Residents said soldiers moved from house to house, searching every room. Mohammed Attireh, 47, who lives in the area, said all the residents of his building were ordered to stay in his apartment while troops searched other apartments. Then the group of more than 20 people was taken to another house, while soldiers searched his apartment. Attireh said troops took over two houses on his street as temporary positions, and that almost every house in the neighborhood was searched. Seven members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, n offshoot of the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, were the apparent target of the raid. In a new tactic, troops broke into transmissions of local TV and radio stations Sunday and broadcast the names of the men, all residents of the old city. Soldiers warned civilians against hiding the fugitives. In another area of Nablus, soldiers surrounded a three-story residential building yesterday, but did not encounter resistance or find wanted men. One apartment was burned in the operation, witnesses said. Dozens of Al-Aqsa gunmen operate in Nablus, organized in small groups without a central authority. Residents have complained that some of the gunmen are terrorizing the city by settling personal scores in shooting attacks, acting as self-appointed vice squads or engaging in black mail. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the Islamic Hamas group condemned the "criminal Israeli assault on Nablus," saying it was designed to undermine Palestinian efforts to form a national unity government. The Nablus operation began before dawn Sunday, with bulldozers closing main roads with piles of rubble. Soldiers ordered residents to remain indoors and said the clampdown would remain in effect for several days to avoid civilian casualties. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat cautioned that the raid would "undermine the efforts that are being made to sustain the cease-fire with Israel." The raid came at a sensitive time for Abbas, who is trying to put together a unity government with Hamas. Abbas condemned the operation and warned that it threatens to hobble a renewed peace push in the region by the United States. "This operation is unacceptable and violates the spirit of the trilateral meeting with (US Secretary of State Condoleezza) Rice and (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert," Abbas said according to his spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina. In London Prime Minister Tony Blair briefed Jordan's King Abdullah II about prospects for a Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, amid warnings from the monarch that time was running out to make progress. Blair consulted with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week and had telephone talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, following their inconclusive meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. King Abdullah II told Jordan's Channel 2 TV that he feared any failure to reach a final settlement in the near future would risk losing "the last opportunity for peace for all of us." The leaders also discussed talks on the future of Iraq expected in March, Blair's office said. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said on a visit to Afghanistan that she hopes moderate members of the Taleban can be drawn away from the extremists. She told the BBC that the Taleban threatened some ordinary Afghans, drawing them into their fold. With time, Britain hoped such people could be separated from the destructive ones, said Mrs Beckett. She made her comments during a visit to the southern province of Helmand, where she met British soldiers. The foreign secretary also met Afghan politicians and civilian officials involved in reconstruction. A high-ranking Iraqi official announced Thursday that the Baghdad conference expected to be held March 10 will pave the way for dialogue between the United States and the countries in the region. "The main goal of the conference is to get international support for the Iraqi government and the national reconciliation and dialogue project in Iraq," said Sami al-Askari, advisor to Iraqi premier Nuri al-Maliki. Al-Askari stressed the role of the neighbouring countries in "monitoring" their "borders" and "not interfering in Iraq's affairs." Iraq confirmed Wednesday that the US, Iran and Syria will participate i Al-Askari announced that foreign ministers of the US, Syria and Iran or their representatives would participate in the talks as well as those of Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Also expected to attend are representatives of the Organization of Islamic Conferences, the Arab League and the European Union. The White House announced Tuesday it would have high-level contact with the Iranian authorities as part of the international meeting on Iraq. The US has been under pressure to include Iran and Syria in dialogue. Despite widespread media speculation of a "shift" in US policy toward Iran, White House spokesman Tony Snow bluntly told the press: "There is no crack. A number of people have been characterising US participation in a regional meeting as a change in policy; it is nothing of the sort." State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reinforced the message, declaring that, contrary to news reports, US policy on Iran was not "going wobbly, shift, turnabout, change". Russia has accepted an invitation from Iraq to take part in an international conference in Baghdad this March on the current situation in the Middle East country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The Iraqi government came up with the initiative for the conference as the situation in the country has deteriorated and invited the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, countries neighboring Iraq and interested regional organizations to the event. "We have and will continue to support all ideas and proposals consistent with this approach," Mikhail Kamynin, a spokesman for the ministry, said in a statement. Early last month the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the current crisis in Iraq could only be addressed through combined international efforts. France will be participating in the international conference on Iraq, due in Baghdad on March 10, it was announced here late Wednesday. The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement it would "favorably answer" the invitation to take part in the conference that would discuss the Iraqi crisis, scale down the tension and break the ice in the region. The Iraqi government has sent official invitations to the states neighboring Iraq, Egypt, the five permanent members of the UN, the UN and the League of Arab States. The landmark conference on Iraqi security and reconciliation, aims at supporting the political process and the Iraqi national government's drive to maintain security and stability in the country. Iran will take part in a Baghdad security conference if it is in Iraq's interest, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said in Tehran. "We will do what we can do to resolve Iraq's problems," Iran's top nuclear negotiator told reporters at a press conference after meeting Iraqi MP Abd-al-Karim al-Anzi, who previously held the post of minister of state for national security affairs. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the US may have a military presence in Iraq for a "prolonged period" and drew a comparison with US bases in Germany and South Korea. He also asked a Senate panel for $2.4 billion to fund research into ways to defeat roadside bombs that have killed more than a thousand US troops in Iraq. Meanwhile the BBC recently reported that U.S. Central Command officials have already chosen an extensive list of targets for missile and bomb attacks inside Iran. The list includes nuclear plants at Natanz, Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr, but also targets most of Iran's military infrastructure including air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centers. The BBC also reports that two "triggers"--or pretexts--for a U.S. attack have also been chosen. One, any confirmation that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, and second, a "high-casualty" attack on U.S. forces in Iraq that could be blamed on Iran. |
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