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ABOUT
GULFWIRE
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GulfWire
is a public service of the National Council on
U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate
Cooperation Committee
Publisher
Dr. John Duke Anthony
Editor-in-Chief
Patrick W. Ryan
Deputy Editor
Connie R. Trisdale
Editorial Assistant
Margaret Philpot
Research Assistant
B. F. Hammock
GulfWire@ArabiaLink.com
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Council on U.S.-Arab Relations
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U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee
Secretary: Dr. John Duke Anthony
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Suite 1210
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News
- Region
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US
SCRAPS CURBS ON ALIEN VISITORS
"The US government said late [Dec
1] it was scrapping a controversial
control on foreign visitors, mainly men
from the Middle East, introduced after
the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, saying
resources could be better used in the
war on terrorism. The Department
of Homeland Security said with immediate
effect, men from 25 nations, who will
still be photographed and fingerprinted
on arrival, will no longer have to
re-register after 30 days and then one
year after entering America.." Complete
report..
US
JUSTICE DEPT. PROGRAMS HARMED MUSLIM
IMMIGRANTS
"There is growing concern that the
Department of Justice (DOJ) has
over-reached in the post Sept. 11
period, implementing several programs
that have caused harm to Arab and Muslim
immigrants and visitors to the United
States.. ..It has become a shared
concern of many law enforcement
officials and civil rights leaders that
these programs have had a negative
impact not only on the affected
communities but on the United States'
overall effort to combat terrorism, and
the image of the United States
overseas.." Complete
report..
BUSH
NAMES BAKER ENVOY ON IRAQ DEBT
"President Bush tapped veteran
statesman James A. Baker III [Dec 5] to
lead a diplomatic campaign to reduce
Iraq's crushing debt load.. ..Bush
picked Baker, a former secretary of
state and secretary of the Treasury who
is well regarded in foreign capitals, to
appeal to allies in Europe and the
Middle East to forgive a large chunk of
as much as $125 billion in debt amassed
by Saddam Hussein's government.." Complete
report..
Also:
JAMES
BAKER NAMED IRAQ DEBT ENVOY
ANNAN
ORGANIZES 'GROUP OF 17' MEETING ON IRAQ
"Iraq's neighbors, including Iran,
and Security Council members, including
the United States, came together in a
new grouping some delegates hope will
develop into an international conference
on Iraq's future. UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan formed the group of 17
countries as an advisory body that met
for the first time on Monday and several
nations hoped it would be able to take
meaningful action in the future,
participants said.. ..Annan told the 17
ambassadors he would present the
Security Council with a report within a
week on a role the UN could play in
Iraq.." Complete
report..
Also:
BUSH
BACKS GENEVA INITIATIVE
HI-TECH
DEFENSE SYSTEM FOR GULF UNDER STUDY
"The Gulf Cooperation Council
countries plan to acquire a
multi-billion dollar missile defense
system, a top official of the UAE Air
Force revealed [Dec 6] at Dubai 2003.
Major General Khalid bin Abdullah
Mubarak Al Bu-Ainain, Commander of the
UAE Air Force and Air Defense, said
extensive use of missiles combined with
regional instability has prompted the
GCC to consider taking this huge step
into hi-tech defense systems.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
GCC
SECURITY ACCORD - GWD Oct 27, 2003
KINGDOM
TO WITHHOLD $1 BILLION AID FOR IRAQ
"Saudi Arabia will withhold the $1
billion in loans and credits that it
pledged last month for Iraq's
reconstruction. The delay will last
until the security situation is
stabilized and a sovereign government
takes office, according to Saudi and
American officials.. ..The decision is a
temporary setback for the Bush
administration. It had hoped the Kingdom
would set an example for other Arab
governments by providing vitally needed
aid.." Complete
report..
AP:
IRAQ SET TO FORM WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL
"Saddam Hussein and hundreds of his
aides could go on trial for crimes
against humanity and genocide in an
Iraqi-led tribunal that will be
established in the coming days, Iraqi
and American officials told The
Associated Press on [Dec 5].. ..The law
creating the war crimes tribunal - which
could be passed as early as [Dec 7] -
will be similar to proposals made in
Washington in April, one member of
Iraq's Governing Council said. The law
calls for Iraqi judges to hear cases
presented by Iraqi lawyers, with
international experts serving only as
advisers.." Complete
report..
U.S.
WARNS IRAN OVER NUKE PLANS
"The United States says the
International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) should refer Iran to the U.N.
Security Council if it discovers any
more violations of nuclear
non-proliferation agreements -- a step
that has so far been opposed by U.S.
allies in Europe.. ..Iranian officials
have denied that they are trying to
obtain nuclear weapons, insisting that
their pursuit of nuclear technology is
for peaceful purposes. U.S. officials
have disputed that, arguing that
oil-rich Iran has no pressing need to
develop nuclear energy.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
US,
UN LOCKED IN ROW OVER IRAN NUCLEAR PLANS
- GWD Nov 17, 2003
ISRAEL
ASKS POWELL NOT TO MEET GENEVA PACT
AUTHORS
"Israel's vice premier warned it
would be a mistake for Secretary of
State Colin Powell to meet organizers of
an informal Mideast peace treaty. But
Powell said [Dec 2] that just such a
meeting is planned.. ..Top Israeli
officials have rejected [Dec 1] 'Geneva
accord' designed by former Israeli and
Palestinian leaders as failing to
advance the overall peace process. The
Palestinian response has been
mixed.." Complete
report..
Also:
ISRAEL
ISSUES RARE REBUKE TO US
POWELL
MEETS WITH GENEVA CO-AUTHORS
IRAQ-GCC
PLEA
"A member of Iraq's Governing
Council said [Dec 6] that Baghdad wants
to join the GCC and has the right to
belong to the regional organization.
Ibrahim Al Jaafari made the statement
two weeks before a summit meeting of GCC
leaders in Kuwait.. ..Iraq was never a
GCC member, but it was represented in
some of its cultural and sports
organizations. Iraq's ties to the
organization were cut when president
Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion of
Kuwait in 1990.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
POST-SADDAM
IRAQ CAN JOIN GCC: BAHRAIN - GWD Oct 20,
2003
U.S.
TO FORM IRAQI PARAMILITARY FORCE
"The U.S. civilian and military
leadership in Iraq has decided to form a
paramilitary unit composed of militiamen
from the country's five largest
political parties to identify and pursue
insurgents who have eluded American
troops and Iraqi police officers.. ..The
five parties will contribute a total of
750 to 850 militiamen to create a new
counter terrorism battalion within the
Iraqi Civil Defense Corps that would
initially operate in and around
Baghdad.. ..U.S. Special Forces soldiers
would work with the battalion, whose
operations would be overseen by the
American-led military command
here.." Complete
report..
ARAB
WORLD URGED TO MOVE GOVERNANCE ONLINE
"Arab nations need to implement
e-government initiatives in the next
five years to take advantage of the
rapid growth in PC and internet usage in
the region, the director of Dubai's
e-government efforts told a conference
in Yemen.." Complete
report..
ATTACKS
ON AMERICAN TROOPS IN IRAQ BEAR AL-QAEDA
HALLMARKS
"President Bush has said that the
continuing acts of terrorism in Iraq
against coalition forces, aid workers
and innocent Iraqi citizens will not
"shake the will" of the United
States.. ..But just who are these
"killers"? Where did they come
from? Are they working in conjunction
with each other or are they just rogue
groups of angry men roaming the streets
of Iraqi cities and randomly shooting at
and killing US soldiers?.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
'AL-QAEDA'
URGES FRESH ATTACKS - GWD May 26, 2003
SULTAN
INAUGURATES 'PENINSULA SHIELD'
FACILITIES
"Prince Sultan.. ..inaugurated the
new buildings and facilities of the
Peninsula Shield, a joint force of the
GCC countries, in the Northern Region
here [Dec 2].." Complete
report..
ABSENCE
OF DEMOCRACY BEHIND VIOLENCE, SAYS UAE
SOCIOLOGIST
"The recent political violence in
some of the societies in the Gulf region
is bound to increase because of the
absence of real political and economic
reforms and the growing intervention of
the US in the affairs of this strategic
region, a UAE sociologist warned [Dec
2].." Complete
report..
THE
MIDDLE EAST IN 2004
"This time of year it is
traditional to review the outlook for
the next 12 months. Peace and goodwill?
There is always hope. That 2003 will
have proven a turning point in Middle
East history is undeniable.. ..For 2004
the Middle East can hopefully look
forward to a more peaceful year.
Certainly there are no more major ground
offensives by foreign powers in
prospect.. ..And yet, terrorism remains
a major threat.." Complete
report..
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News
- Bahrain
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DEAL
FOR GULF AIR CRASH FAMILIES
"Gulf Air and families of the 36
Bahrainis killed in the Airbus A320
crash off Muharraq in August 2000 have
reached an out-of-court settlement. The
deal was announced in a joint statement
last night by the airline and the
committee representing the bereaved
families.. ..All 143 passengers and crew
were killed when flight GF072 from Cairo
to Bahrain crashed into the sea just off
Muharraq.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
JETLINER
BOUND FOR BAHRAIN CRASHES - GWD Aug 28,
2000
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News
- Kuwait
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KUWAIT
WANTS TO BE FINANCIAL, SERVICE HUB
"Free from the threat posed by
former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein,
Kuwait aims to become a regional
financial and service hub, the minister
of commerce and industry said [Dec. 8].
'Security fears were widespread when
Saddam was in power,' Abdullah al-Tawil
told reporters. 'After the liberation of
Iraq, concerns about the economy and
opening it up took over and we have the
full support of the Cabinet.'"
Complete
report..
2003:
A YEAR OF CHANGE FOR KUWAIT
"The year 2003 will be remembered
as a year of change for Kuwait. The last
six months have been endowed with
several positive developments that have
thrust the economy forward. The most
important development of the year is
undoubtedly the change of regime in
Baghdad. This has resulted in higher
political and economic stability for
Kuwait and the region as a whole.."
Complete
report..
US
OFFICIAL VISITS KUWAIT TO COORDINATE
IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION
"The US assistant commerce
secretary in charge of Iraqi
reconstruction efforts arrived in Kuwait
on [Dec. 8] as part of a Gulf tour to
drum up support for programs to rebuild
the war-torn nation. 'My visit to the
region, particularly here in Kuwait,
will be to highlight our goals of
working jointly with our friends and
partners in developing the economy,
trade and investments with Iraq and her
neighbors,' said William Lash.."
Complete
report..
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News
- Oman
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TOURIST
SHOT IN OMAN
"A European tourist was shot dead
in mysterious circumstances near the
British embassy in Muscat on [Dec 2].
The embassy, in an advisory obtained by
Reuters [Dec. 3], said the shooting took
place in broad daylight in an area with
busy traffic. A British diplomat said
the victim was a German national but
German embassy officials were
unavailable for comment.." Complete
report..
OMAN
TO LAUNCH TOLL-FREE HOTLINE SERVICE ON
AIDS
"Oman will be having its first
toll-free hotline service - that ensures
total confidentiality - for HIV/Aids
patients.. ..This service is also one of
the many services provided to young
people.." Complete
report..
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News
- Qatar
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FRANCE,
QATAR RENEW DEFENSE COOPERATION TALKS
"France and Qatar have renewed
high-level military cooperation talks
amid efforts by Paris to conclude sales
of defense platforms to the emirate..
..The talks were said to have focused on
a range of defense and military projects
for 2004. France supplies about 80
percent of Qatar's military requirements
and faces stiff U.S. competition in the
emirate's plans to purchase new air and
ground platforms.." Complete
report..
A
THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE IN QATAR
"The recent inauguration of the
Education City complex of U.S. and other
foreign campuses in the desert has
thrust Sheika Mozah Nasser al-Misnad
into the international spotlight. In a
region where women customarily maintain
a low profile, the wife of Qatar's ruler
has emerged as the leading force behind
one of the most ambitious recent
projects in the Middle East.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link``
TEXAS
A&M'S QATAR CAMPUS OPENS SUNDAY -
GWD Sep 8, 2003
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News
- Saudi Arabia
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EMBASSIES
ISSUE WARNINGS
"..Another U.S. Embassy warning was
issued [Dec 2] to the 37,000 U.S.
citizens living in Saudi Arabia, saying
that compounds housing Westerners had
come under surveillance by terrorists,
indicating the possibility of another
attack. The embassy mentioned Seder
Village in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
Saudi intelligence found a video
surveillance tape of Seder Village,
along with a list of other compounds
housing Westerners, according to U.S.
officials in Washington.." Complete
report..
Also:
US
SECURITY ALERT IN SAUDI ARABIA
~~GulfWire Link~~
UK
FOREIGN OFFICE ISSUES NEW TRAVEL
ADVISORY - GWD Dec 1, 2003
TERRORISTS
EYE RIYADH RESIDENTIAL COMPOUND, CLAIMS
US EMBASSY
"The US Embassy [Dec 2] warned of a
possible terrorist attack against
residential compounds. A warden's
message said the Seder Village housing
compound in Riyadh had been under active
surveillance by terrorist elements and
warned that other compounds used by
Westerners could also be targeted..
..Security around compounds and in the
Diplomatic Quarter has been
strengthened. Seder Village is under
virtual siege with round-the-clock
patrols by National Guard armored
vehicles.." Complete
report..
Also:
RAID
FINDS SURVEILLANCE OF SAUDI COMPLEX
~~GulfWire Link~~
RIYADH'S
NIGHT OF TERROR - GWD Nov 10, 2003
MUHAYA
BLAST SUSPECT ARRESTED
"Police say they have arrested a
prime suspect in the Nov. 8 bombing of
the Al-Muhaya residential compound in
Riyadh. They have also seized a huge
cache of arms, including a
surface-to-air missile.. ..The ministry
spokesman did not reveal the identity of
the suspect for security reasons but
said police would continue their search
for other members of the terrorist cell.
He warned the public against providing
refuge to terror suspects.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
RIYADH'S
NIGHT OF TERROR - GWD Nov 10, 2003
Also:
US
WARNS OF FRESH RIYADH ATTACKS
TWO
SEIZED IN TAIF AFTER SHOOTOUT
"Security forces captured two
terror suspects following a shootout in
a Taif suburb, a newspaper reported [Dec
5]. A third suspect managed to
escape.." Complete
report..
UNKNOWN
TERROR GROUP THREATENS TO WAGE WAR ON
SAUDI SECURITY FORCES
"An unknown terrorist group has
threatened to wage war against Saudi
security officials, claiming
responsibility for a purported attempt
to assassinate a top officer in Riyadh.
In a communiqué posted on a website,
believed to be affiliated with the Al
Qaida network, the group, which called
itself "Kata'ib Al Haramain"
(the Two Holy Mosques Brigades), said it
was out to "cleanse the holy land
of the foreign agents," in
reference to members of the Saudi
security forces which have been cracking
down on religious extremists since the
suicide bombing in Riyadh last
May.." Complete
report..
REWARDS
POSTED FOR TERRORISTS
"Saudi Arabia [Dec 6] announced the
names of 26 suspects wanted in
connection with terrorist attacks in the
country and offered cash rewards for
information leading to their arrest..
..The ministry has posted an SR7 million
reward for anyone providing information
that stops a potential attack, SR5
million for information leading to the
arrest of a group of terror suspects,
and SR1 million for the arrest of a
single suspect.." Complete
report..
U.S.
REVOKES VISA OF CLERIC AT SAUDI EMBASSY
"U.S. authorities have revoked the
diplomatic visa of an influential
Islamic cleric, and the Saudi government
has decided it will no longer sponsor an
Islamic institute in Virginia where he
sometimes lectured, moves that reflect
both nations' increasing efforts to curb
the spread of extremist Islamic
rhetoric, according to U.S. and Saudi
officials. Jaafar Idris, who was
affiliated with the Fairfax-based
Institute for Islamic and Arabic
Sciences in America, left the United
States two weeks ago after his visa was
revoked.." Complete
report..
AIRLINES
REVIEW NEW HAJ GUIDELINES
"The regulations of the Presidency
of Civil Aviation for the upcoming Haj
were the focus of a meeting of
representatives of government
departments and international airlines
[Dec 7].. ..The meeting reviewed traffic
operations during the last Haj and found
that certain procedural and operational
changes are necessary. The latest
regulations include all necessary
arrangements to secure the return of
pilgrims to their destinations after the
annual pilgrimage..: Complete
report..
PHILIPPINE
EMBASSY SEEKS PARDON FOR JAILED WORKERS
"The Philippines is seeking royal
clemency for nearly 100 migrant workers
jailed in the Kingdom.. ..held for minor
offenses and constitute about half of
the Filipinos serving prison sentences
here.." Complete
report..
EDUCATION
SYSTEM REFORM TO PROMOTE MODERATION:
SULTAN
"The reform of Saudi Arabia's
education system aims to promote
moderation and tolerance of other
opinions and to meet the needs of the
job market, according to Prince Sultan,
second deputy premier and minister of
defense and aviation. He said the
reforms would also strengthen the
students' understanding of Islam and
retain the emphasis on religious
subjects as the basis for the country's
education system.." Complete
report..
Also:
REFORMS
OF EDUCATION SYSTEM TO PROMOTE
MODERATION: SAUDI PRINCE
~~GulfWire Link~~
AL-RASHEED
VOWS TO CORRECT DEFECTS IN EDUCATION
SYSTEM - GWD Jan 6, 2003
NEW
ENGLISH TEXTBOOK WRITTEN BY SAUDI WOMEN
"The new English textbook for both
boys and girls in the first year of
intermediate school was written
exclusively by Saudi women. Some male
teachers are unhappy about this.. ..The
new book, "Say It in English,"
consists of two parts, the student's
book and a workbook. There are 20 units,
with each unit divided into four
45-minute lessons. "The book is
based on language functions in which
grammar is carefully controlled,"
the writers say in their
introduction.." Complete
report..
WOMEN-ONLY
INDUSTRIAL CITY PROPOSED
"A women-only industrial city, the
first of its kind, is to be established
[in Jeddah].. ..The project was proposed
by a group of Saudi businesswomen and
has been welcomed by the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, the paper said
quoting Hussa Al-Aun, a prominent
businesswoman. The industrial city would
focus on manufacturing of foodstuffs,
clothes and handicrafts and offer
training opportunities for women in
crafts like maintenance, painting,
carpentry and masonry.." Complete
report..
LIBYANS
JAILED FOR ATTACK ON SAUD
"Two Libyans were sentenced to one
year in jail apiece by an Egyptian court
[Dec 6] for attempting to assault
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal..
..as the top Saudi diplomat was taking
part in an Arab foreign ministers
meeting.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
GUARDS
FOIL ASSAULT ON SAUDI MINISTER IN CAIRO
- GWD Sep 15, 2003
ABDULLAH
TO OPEN FIRST-EVER FESTIVAL FOR THE
DISABLED
"Crown Prince Abdullah.. ..will
inaugurate the first-ever festival for
the handicapped here on Dec. 16. The aim
is to highlight the need to rehabilitate
those with disabilities. Among other
things, the festival will feature an
exhibition on facilities for the
handicapped, and a seminar on the
education and training for disabled
people as well as a scholarship program
tailored to their needs.." Complete
report..
AIDS
CLINIC OPENED IN RIYADH
"Given a five-fold surge in
reported AIDS cases in the Kingdom over
the last 16 months, the Ministry of
Health [Dec 1] opened an AIDS clinic in
the Riyadh Medical Complex as part of a
program that has seen similar treatment
centers in Jeddah and Dammam.. ..Given a
five-fold surge in reported AIDS cases
in the Kingdom over the last 16 months,
the Ministry of Health yesterday opened
an AIDS clinic in the Riyadh Medical
Complex as part of a program that has
seen similar treatment centers in Jeddah
and Dammam.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
NATIONAL
STRATEGY TO COMBAT AIDS - GWD Dec 1,
2003
SAUDI
INTERROGATORS USE KORAN TO CONNECT WITH
CAPTIVES
"Saudi Arabia, known for harsh
criminal penalties such as beheadings,
is trying a gentler approach to get
information from some al-Qaida captives.
Saudi interrogators often bring clerics
and a Koran to their prison interviews
to establish a religious connection, a
technique that has proved successful in
eliciting information from terrorist
suspects and reorienting them to less
violent religious beliefs.." Complete
report..
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News
- UAE
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RISING
ELDERLY POPULATION SPARKS HEALTHCARE
CONCERN
"While the UAE's young population
is growing at a mercurial pace, its
elderly population is also growing at a
rate of 10.3 percent annually, the
highest in the world. This has prompted
medical experts to emphasize the need
for a substantial increase in healthcare
resources.." Complete
report..
UAE
GROUP HOLDS FIRST MEETING IN BRITAIN
"The first meeting of the new UAE
all-party parliamentary group was held
in the British Parliament on December 1.
Its main aim is to strengthen links
between the United Arab Emirates and the
United Kingdom. Over 40 parliamentarians
have already expressed an interest in
participating in its activities..."
Complete
report..
FOUNDATION
SPENDS $148.3M ON HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS
"The Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation
had spent $148.3 million over the last
ten years in humanitarian and relief
operations.. ..Sixty percent of the
foundation's budget is allocated for
local operations, while the rest of the
fund is directed to foreign projects,
mainly to developing nations in Africa
and Asia.." Complete
report..
CHILD
HEALTH FORUM STARTS
"More than 400 doctors from all
over the world will begin a four-day
pediatric conference [Dec 2], at the
Gulf Hotel's Gulf International
Convention and Exhibition Center. The
11th Conference of the Union of Arab
Pediatric Societies, which will conclude
on [Dec 5], is being held under the
patronage of Health Minister Dr Khali
Hassan.. ..Alongside the conference will
be a medical exhibition in which 22
international, regional and GCC
pharmaceutical and medical equipment
companies will display their
products.." Complete
report..
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Business
- Region
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[GulfWire]
ENERGY FUTURES - 12.05.03
Light Crude (NYM) $30.73 bbl UP from
$29.92 bbl on 11.28.03
Brent Crude (IPE) $28.09 bbl DOWN from
$28.25 bbl on 11.28.03
Heating Oil (NYM) $.8636 gal UP from
$.8335 gal on 11.28.03
Natural Gas (NYM) $6.135 mmbtu UP from
$5.285 mmbtu on 11.28.03
Unleaded Gas (NYM) $.8513 gal UP from
$.82 gal on 11.28.03
Source:
CNNfn
The Best Energy Resource in the
World:
Country
Analysis Briefs
by DOE/EIA
OPEC
AGREES TO KEEP OUTPUT UNCHANGED
"OPEC oil producers agreed [Dec 4]
to keep tight oil supplies on hold for
the northern winter and move
aggressively to shore up high prices
early next year. The Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries left
output limits unchanged at 24.5 million
barrels a day and will meet again on
Feb. 10 in Algiers.. ..Ministers already
appear to have a consensus on the need
for tougher restraints when they meet in
February as demand eases after the
northern winter and to make room for the
recovery in post-war Iraqi
exports.." Complete
report..
Also:
OIL
PRICES SOAR AHEAD OF OPEC MEETING
SAUDI
ARABIA HINTS AT OIL PRODUCTION CUT
KINGDOM
URGES DECISION ON OPEC CEILING
~~GulfWire Link~~
OPEC
KEEPING PRICES TOO HIGH: IEA - GWD Nov
10, 2003
IRAQ
INVITES FOREIGN FIRMS INTO OIL SECTOR
"Iraq will invite foreign oil
companies to Baghdad in February to spur
investment in the country's vast oil
sector, Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr Al
Uloum said.. ..Russian and French
companies are hoping that US, British
and Japanese firms will not dominate the
post-war Iraqi upstream landscape. But
Baghdad has made plain that it will
favor companies from countries that
backed the war against Saddam Hussein
and supported it at the post-war Madrid
donors conference.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
FIRMS
SET TO SUBMIT BIDS FOR REVAMPING IRAQI
OIL INDUSTRY - GWD Aug 18, 2003
QATAR-OMAN
JOINT RESORT PROJECT IN DHOFAR ALMOST
READY: OFFICIAL
"The first phase of a resort being
built in Mirbat, in Oman's Dhofar
region, with investments from Qatar's
Supreme Council for Investment through
Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Dhofar
Tourism Company, has been completed and
discussions are ongoing to implement
other phases of the project, a senior
Omani Tourism official said here last
week.." Complete
report..
MIDEAST
BUCKS SLIDE IN GLOBAL DUTY-FREE MARKET
"The Middle East has emphatically
bucked the trend of declining sales in
the global duty free market, returning
double-digit growth in contrast to a
three per cent downturn generally. The
trends are expected to continue into the
next decade with the region set to
"outpace" the rest of the
world.." Complete
report..
DHL
STEPPING UP FLIGHTS TO IRAQ
"DHL is stepping up flights from
Bahrain to Iraq, to meet increasing
demand.
It will be ferrying tons of extra
Christmas post and parcels for
international forces and other workers
stationed in Iraq, on top of aid and
other goods. The carrier resumed its
several daily flights between Bahrain to
Iraq within two days of one of its
planes being hit by a missile last
week.." Complete
report..
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Business
- Bahrain
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ISLAMIC
BANKING FORUM OPENS
"The 10th World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC)
gets under way in Bahrain today, at the Gulf
International Convention and Exhibition Center,
Gulf Hotel. The event is being held under the
patronage of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin
Salman Al Khalifa and will focus on Islamic
banking and infrastructure development. It will
address topics such as the global regulatory
environment, the role of leasing in infrastructure
development, Sharia compliant contracts for
financing infrastructure development projects and
managing Islamic treasuries and Islamic
securitisation.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
ISLAMIC
BANKS URGED TO TARGET GLOBAL MARKETS - GWD Sep 29,
2003
GROWTH
OF ISLAMIC FINANCE BODES WELL FOR BAHRAIN
"..It is important to note that one year ago
Bahrain was the pioneer in Islamic finance,
whereas now the island nation is at the center of
the fastest growing global finance movement..
..The future may be rosy for Islamic finance but
difficulties remain.. ..In September, the bank
opened a new headquarters in Bahrain. Despite the
prominence of Saudis in this Islamic bank both as
investors and management, Shamil Bank has been
unable to secure a banking license to operate in
Saudi Arabia.." Complete
report..
THAI
TRADE PACT 'TO LIFT BAHRAIN TIES'
"Bahrain's private sector will start feeling
the benefits of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with
Thailand in the next few months. A Thai delegation
is now in Bahrain for the fourth round of
negotiations. The FTA was signed earlier this year
and is not due to be fully implemented until 2010,
but is expected to come into effect for 626 items
- known as an early harvest - soon into the new
year.." Complete
report..
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Business
- Kuwait
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TESTS
CONFIRM ANIMAL ACTIVISTS FED PORK TO SHEEP BOUND
FOR MIDDLE EAST
"Tests have confirmed that animal rights
activists protesting Australia's live export
industry fed ham to sheep waiting for export to
Kuwait, government officials said on [Dec 5]..
..Authorities were forced to stall the export for
more than two weeks while they investigated claims
by Animal Liberation that campaigners, hoping to
prevent the shipment, contaminated the sheep at a
holding pen.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
PORT
AUTHORITIES SEND BACK CARGO OF INFECTED SHEEP -
GWD Sep 1, 2003
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Business
- Oman
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INFLATION
REMAINS BELOW 1PC IN OMAN
"Oman's relatively better macroeconomic
management has been significantly contributing to
its ongoing efforts to maintain stable economic
growth and control inflation considerably. 'The
inflation rate in Oman has been less than one per
cent since 1992, which is evident from the
constant fall in the Muscat Consumer Price Index
(base year 1995). The index registered a fall of
0.3 per cent at 96.8 in September 2003 compared
with 97.1 registered in September 2002,' Ahmed bin
Abdulnabi Macki, minister of national economy and
deputy chairman of the Financial Affairs and
Energy Resources Council.." Complete
report..
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Business
- Qatar
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QATAR
SIGNS GAS DEAL WITH CONOCOPHILLIPS
"Qatar, which holds the world's third largest
gas reserves, has announced another
multi-million-dollar gas liquifying
project.." Complete
report..
Also:
CONOCOPHILLIPS
SIGNS $5 BILLION GAS DEAL WITH QATAR
QATAR
WANTS TO RIVAL DUBAI AS HUB WITH NEW AIRPORT
"Qatar announced on [Dec. 7] it will soon
invite tenders for more than US$2.5 billion in
contracts to start building a new Doha airport
which it envisions as a major travel hub to rival
and even surpass Dubai. 'Construction
companies will soon be able to bid for more than
US$2.5 billion worth of tenders for the first
phase of Qatar's new signature airport'.."
Complete
report..
EXXON/QATAR
SEEK RULE EXEMPTION FOR UK LNG SCHEME
"ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum have applied
for exemption from new rules obliging them to sell
other firms access rights to a liquefied natural
gas terminal they are planning to build in
Wales.." Complete
report..
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Business
- Saudi Arabia
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KINGDOM
REACHES OUT TO ATTRACT INVESTORS
"Saudi Arabia actively seeks local and
foreign investment over the next decade -
especially in the oil and gas sector - a
conference here was told, but some delegates
remained skeptical. The "Investing in Saudi
Arabia 2003" conference, which ended here
yesterday, heard the Kingdom created a better
framework for investment.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
PRIVATE
INVESTORS SHOW KEEN INTEREST IN WATER, ELECTRICITY
PROJECTS - GWD
NEW
LAWS ALLOW FOREIGN INVESTORS TO OWN HOSPITALS -
GWD
SAGIA
CHIEF ASSURES POTENTIAL INVESTORS OF FULL
PROTECTION
"Prince Abdullah ibn Faisal, the chairman of
the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), has said that the Kingdom is one of the
most stable countries in the world despite recent
terrorist attacks. Addressing an investment
conference here [Dec 1], the SAGIA chief indicated
that the investment market in the Kingdom should
open up faster and more comprehensively.. ..The
minister had praise for the wide-ranging radical
economic and political reforms currently under way
in the Kingdom.." Complete
report..
Also:
SAGIA
~~GulfWire Link~~
IDEAL
CLIMATE FOR INVESTMENT IN KINGDOM: SAGIA - GWD Sep
22, 2003
IMF
URGES SAUDI ARABIA TO PUSH PRIVATE INVESTMENT
"The International Monetary Fund urged Saudi
Arabia on Friday to keep up with economic changes,
encourage more private investment and make the
economy less vulnerable to oil price fluctuations.
In a review of Saudi Arabia's economy, the IMF
said growth in the world's largest oil exporter
slowed in 2002 as oil output dropped after
OPEC-imposed production cuts. Non-oil gross
domestic product growth picked up modestly
although private investment remained weak.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
IMF
URGES SAUDI ARABIA TO STEP UP REFORMS - GWD Feb
17,2003
US
WANTS SAUDIS TO BID FOR IRAQ CONTRACTS
"The United States wants Saudi companies to
take part in reconstruction projects in Iraq worth
$18.6 billion. The call came from US Assistant
Secretary of Commerce William Lash while meeting
in Riyadh [Dec 6] with Saudi businessmen at the
Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and
Industry.. ..The US Department of Commerce plans
to conduct seminars and hold regular consultations
to keep the Saudi businessmen informed about
upcoming projects. Meanwhile, new tenders would be
coming out soon and Saudi companies could bid in
joint ventures with American counterparts.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
KINGDOM
IS IRAQ'S LARGEST CREDITOR - GWD Nov 3, 2003
FOREIGN
FIRMS SHOW INTEREST IN BAUXITE PROJECT
"Several international companies have
expressed interest in the SR12 ($3.2) billion Al-Zubairah
bauxite projects in the Eastern Province,
according to the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden)..
..Maaden has already signed a financial
consultancy agreement with Riyadh Bank and the
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group to conduct
a detailed feasibility study of the Al-Zubairah
project. Preliminary studies have proved
that the area between Qasim and Hail in the north
has bauxite deposits of more than 126 million
tons, 57 percent of which is alumina.." Complete
report..
SAUDI
ARABIA'S OIL RESERVES WORTH $6.5 TRILLION
"Saudi Arabia's 260 billion barrels in proven
oil reserves are estimated to be worth around $6.5
trillion.. ..the Kingdom has around 230 trillion
cubic feet of proven gas reserves. The Kingdom
sits on the largest oil reserves - constituting 30
percent of total oil reserves worldwide. The GCC
region sits on 46 percent of total oil reserves
worldwide.." Complete
report..
MAJOR
TRADE FAIR SET TO OPEN IN JEDDAH
"Jeddah's commercial activity gets a boost
with the inauguration of Saudi Arabia's
International Trade Fair (SAITF) at the
International Exhibition and Convention Center,
Madinah Road, [Dec 7].. ..The fair, being held
with the support of the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, has the participation of hundreds of
international companies that are showcasing their
products and services through their country
pavilions or individual stands. The largest
participation is from Malaysia with its 200
companies.." Complete
report..
'HAWALA'
TRANSACTIONS REMAIN POPULAR DESPITE CRACKDOWN
"The authorities in the Eastern Province have
cracked down on 'hawala' or illegal remittance
operators and made several arrests. Saudi Arabia
this year announced several new banking rules in
its fight against money laundering.. .. The main
reason the "hawala" system survives in
the Gulf is the inaccessibility of banks and money
exchanges in remote parts of India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh. Most of the three million expatriates
from those countries work in blue-collar jobs and
hail from remote villages.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
CABINET
OKS ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LEGISLATION - GWD Aug
24, 2003
TOURISM
AIMS TO CREATE TWO MILLION JOBS
"The Shoura Council will discuss [Dec 7] the
general strategy for domestic tourism, which aims
at creating at least two million jobs. The
strategy is meant not only to increase the number
of foreign tourists coming to the Kingdom but also
to reduce the number of Saudis going to tourist
destinations abroad.. .. Saudi Arabia is trying to
make headway in attracting both Saudi and foreign
tourists. The SCT [Supreme Commission for Tourism]
has embarked on a project to develop 10,000
tourist attractions in 40 areas of the
Kingdom.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
$347
MILLION 5-YEAR PLAN TO DEVELOP TOURISM - GWD Sep
29, 2003
COMMERCE
MINISTER AFFIRMS ECONOMIC REFORM AT UNIDO
CONFERENCE
"Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim
Yamani, in his address yesterday to the 10th
International Conference of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
currently in progress in Vienna, Austria, affirmed
the progress made by Saudi Arabia in its program
of economic reform.. ..As a step towards accession
to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Kingdom
recently concluded an agreement with the European
Union that gives Saudi goods and services access
to European markets.." Complete
report..
KINGDOM'S
WTO MOVE OUTSTANDING: US OFFICIAL
"Saudi Arabia has made 'outstanding progress'
toward a trade deal with Washington that can pave
the way to joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). The progress notwithstanding, plenty
remains to be done, a senior US trade official
said.. ..The agreement with the United States is
the last major bilateral hurdle for the Kingdom
before it joins the WTO, the global trade body set
up in 1995 to lower barriers to the exchange of
goods and services among members. Together with
Russia and Ukraine, Saudi Arabia is among the
largest economies in the world still outside the
WTO.." Complete
report..
ANALYSTS
SAY STC SHARES UNDERVALUED
"Saudi Telecom shares are undervalued, a new
report says. The report, published by BMG
Financial Advisors after STC released its
third-quarter results, suggests the real value of
STC shares to be SR441 per share rather than the
SR412 it is selling for in the market. The report
said BMG upgraded STC from a "Reduce" to
an "Add" for investors.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
CIRCULATION
OF STC SHARES TO INCREASE LIQUIDITY: AL-SUWEILIMI
- GWD Jan 27, 2003
MORE
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAUDI WOMEN
"More and more job opportunities are becoming
available to Saudi women -provided they are
willing to take them and society allows them to do
so.. ..One of the main obstacles to women's
employment is social restrictions and perceptions.
Clearly, however, with increasing economic
pressures and lack of adequate job opportunities,
more women are choosing to work instead of staying
at home.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
ARAB
WOMEN ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND IN ALL FIELDS - GWD
Jul 14, 2003
THAILAND
FAVORS NORMALIZATION OF TIES WITH KINGDOM
"Thailand is hoping to normalize ties with
the Kingdom after 13 years of strained diplomatic
relations.. ..Relations deteriorated following the
murder of three Saudi diplomats and a businessman
in February 1990.. ..one indication of improving
ties is the growth in the volume of bilateral
trade. 'Trade between the two countries has grown
to $1.7 billion in the first 10 months of 2003
over $1.2 billion for the corresponding period
last year'.." Complete
report..
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Business
- UAE
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UAE
PURSUES LONG-TERM OIL EXPANSION STRATEGY
"The UAE is pushing ahead with a long-term
program to expand its oil production capacity to
four million barrels a day within seven years and
maintain its status as a dominant player in the
global market. The country's two main oil
producers have just announced huge projects to
boost output at their onshore and offshore fields,
while other small firms are expanding to maintain
and raise their capacity.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
UAE
PUMPS OVER $8B INTO OIL SECTOR IN FOUR YEARS - GWD
Sep 1, 2003
DIFC
TO ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT LAW COURTS
"Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC),
which is waiting for the final go-ahead from
federal authorities before it takes off, will
establish independent law courts after the
enactment of the Commercial Courts Law.. ..the
court will operate under the supervision of an
internationally reputed chief justice and will be
totally independent from DIFC and DFSA, the
regulator. DIFC will also have its own Arbitration
Law with internationally recognized standards.
Based on the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law, this law will be capable
of ratifying foreign awards within the
jurisdiction of DIFC.." Complete
report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
UAE
CLEARS WAY FOR ESTABLISHING DIFC - GWD Jul 21,
2003
DUBAI
PORTS SECURES MAJOR ROMANIAN DEAL
"Dubai Ports International (DPI) has won the
management contract for the new container terminal
in Romania's Port of Constanza - making it the
first contract for the Dubai organization in
Europe. The others in the bidding were Contship
Italia, Dragados of Spain, HiliPort of Malta, and
local bidders. The terminal will be the biggest on
the Black Sea and DPI's contract involves an
18-year rental concession. Operations at the new
terminal are expected to commence in the first
quarter of 2004.." Complete
report..
UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES CITY MAY BUY MIZNER PARK FOR $140
MILLION
"Mizner Park soon could become part of the
vast real-estate portfolio of a wealthy Middle
Eastern city. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
is putting money toward a reported $140 million
deal to buy Mizner Park [Boca Raton, Florida] from
its owner, New York-based Teachers Insurance and
Annuity Association.. ..the Abu Dhabi Investment
Authority, manages an estimated $150 billion in
overseas investments, according to the U.S. State
Department.." Complete
report..
MOHAMMED
TO OPEN INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE SHOW
"General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of
Defense, will open [Dec. 7] Dubai 2003, the eighth
International Aerospace Exhibition at the Airport
Expo Center. Some 550 exhibitors representing
leading international companies specialized in
manufacturing of air defense and civil aviation
equipment and systems, and weapons technologies
are taking part in the event.." Complete
report..
Also:
80
US FIRMS TO ATTEND DUBAI AIR SHOW
~~GulfWire Link~~
DUBAI
AIR SHOW 2003 CONTRACTS 95PC BOOKING - GWD Jul 7,
2003
UNB
GETS $275M IN UNIQUE ACCORD
"The Union National Bank (UNB) broke new
ground yesterday with a $275 million fund-raising
exercise unique to the UAE and one, which could
pave the way for a raft of similar types deals. A
total of 31 local, regional and international
banks took part in the exercise and successfully
completed the multi-million dollar syndicated term
loan facility for the UNB.. ..The syndication
achieved-ed significant over subscription, with
around $300 million raised from the market, but
UNB decided to raise the amount from the initial
$150 million to $275 million.." Complete
report..
MORE
THAN 550 CARS TO GO ON DISPLAY AT MOTOR SHOW
"Organizers Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC)
announced that over 550 cars will be on view at
the 7th Middle East International Motor show,
which will be held from December 11th to 15th at
the DWTC Complex, reflecting a surge of more than
83 per cent in the number of automobiles on
display over the previous edition of the
show.." Complete
report..
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Link
of the Week / GulfWire Flashback
- Four Years of GW
|
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Link
of the Week
SAUDI
EMBASSY SITE - RECENTLY UPGRADED
<<ONE
YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#174) WEEK OF DEC 9, 2002
US
TO PUSH DEMOCRACY FOR MUSLIMS
"The United States has set out its plans to
intensify its promotion of democracy throughout
the Muslim world. Richard Haass, a senior
State Department representative, told the Council
on Foreign Relations there was a lack of democracy
in much of the Muslim world, and in the Arab world
in particular. The desire to promote an
idealized vision of the world has always been part
of US foreign policy, often sitting uneasily
alongside the demands of power politics..."
<<TWO
YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#125) WEEK OF DEC 10, 2001
BUSH
POINTS TO IRAQ AS HIS NEXT TARGET
"President Bush gave warning yesterday that
"rogue states" with weapons of mass
destruction would be his next priority in the war
against terrorism, in a signal that Iraq could
soon be targeted.."
<<THREE
YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#75) WEEK OF DEC 11, 2000
WASHINGTON
MIDEAST STAND CRITICIZED
"President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
criticized the U.S. for being biased toward Israel
in its Middle East policies.. .."The solution
to the Palestinian issue should be with the
participation of Arab and Islamic countries as
well as other countries with influence in the
world community.. and the decision must come from
the international community and not one
country.." The criticism is consistent with
the increasing level of frustration among some
conservative Gulf Arab leaders over the U.S. role
and positions in the Middle East peace process
since the failure of Camp David II and the
eruption of the Al Aqsa Intifada in
September.."
<<FOUR
YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST (#22) WEEK OF DEC 6, 1999
TALLEST
HOTEL
"The posh Burj al-Arab (Tower of Arabs)
officially opened last week in Dubai. The sail
shaped luxury hotel at 1060 feet tall is about 200
feet shorter than the Empire State Building in New
York, but tops the previously tallest hotel, the
Baiyoke Sky in Thailand, by about 40 feet.."
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