In This Issue

News - Region

IRAQ COALITION OFFERS $1M BOUNTY
"The US-led coalition has put a $1m bounty on the heads of a dozen of the "most wanted" Iraqis still at large. Officials said 42 of the 55 on the list had been captured or killed.. ..A $10m reward has been offered for the capture of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the man the US suspects of masterminding many attacks on coalition forces.." Complete report..

U.S. SANCTIONS WAIVED TEMPORARILY TO AID IRAN
"The Bush administration [Dec 31] temporarily eased restrictions on doing business with Iran, rules that had prohibited Iranian Americans and others from donating to a large-scale earthquake relief effort. The decision to allow a three-month waiver of sanctions comes after pressure from aid groups and Iranian Americans eager to help the victims in Bam.." Complete report..

IRAN REJECTS US DELEGATION PLAN
"Iran says the time is not right for a high level visit by a US delegation in the wake of the Bam earthquake. US officials were considering sending Senator Elizabeth Dole, a former head of the American Red Cross, on a humanitarian mission. But the State Department said the Iranians were holding the visit 'in abeyance' and the US had decided not to pursue it for the moment.
Iran says the time is not right for a high level visit by a US delegation in the wake of the Bam earthquake.." Complete report..

KING'S VISIT BOOSTS BAHRAIN-QATAR TIES
"Bahrain-Qatar relations were placed firmly on the fast track [Dec 28]. His Majesty King Hamad vowed speedy economic and investment co-operation during high-level talks with the Amir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. They agreed to re-vitalize and resume meetings of the Bahrain-Qatar Joint Higher Committee chaired by each country's Crown Princes.." Complete report..
Also:
BAHRAIN, QATAR TO REACTIVATE JOINT COMMITTEE
~~GulfWire Link~~
MARITIME DELIMITATION AND TERRITORIAL QUESTIONS BETWEEN QATAR AND BAHRAIN - GWD Apr 2, 2001

MORE DRUGS SEIZED IN GULF - U.S.
"U.S. forces say they have confiscated nearly 3,000 pounds of hashish and detained 15 people in the northern Persian Gulf. The seizure is the third interception of boats bearing drugs in the last two weeks by coalition sea forces.. ..The 2,800 pounds of drugs seized were worth about $11 million, Central Command said.." Complete report..
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/02/drug.seizure/index.html
~~GulfWire Link~~
US 'SEIZES AL-QAEDA DRUGS SHIP' - GWD Dec 22, 2003

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News - Bahrain

THE TWO EVENTS THAT MAY SHAPE BAHRAIN'S POLITICAL SCENE
"In the year 2004, Bahrain will witness at least two critical events that might shape the country's political scene for years to come. The first will take place on January 10 when the Parliament holds a special session to discuss a report on the huge losses suffered by the kingdom's two social security agencies.. ..The first is responsible for securing the financial future of government employees while the other looks after the benefits of Bahrainis working in the private sector.." Complete report..

BAHRAIN HOUSE OKAYS GLOBAL TERROR PACT
"An international treaty aimed at checking the flow of money to fund terrorism was endorsed by the Bahraini parliament by a narrow majority following a strong opposition from Islamist MPs who said the treaty could be used to suppress the Islamic movements' legitimate struggle for self-determination.. ..The parliament's decision came a day after the government approved a plan to oversee the spending of money collected by the kingdom's charities.." Complete report..

BAHRAIN SUSPENDS IMPORT OF US BEEF
"Bahrain has suspended all imports of American beef and its by-products, following the discovery of a single case of mad cow disease. It is a precautionary and temporary measure.. ..Only small quantities of US beef are imported into Bahrain.." Complete report..

TUBLI BAY LAND GRAB WARNING
"Authorities pledged [Dec 31] to stamp out illegal reclamation by landowners in the eastern part of the Southern Governorate and Tubli Bay. Anyone illegally reclaiming land will be prosecuted.. ..Reclamation in the eastern part of the governorate is a violation of the law and causes damage to the marine environment, including beaches.." Complete report..

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News - Kuwait

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News - Oman

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News - Qatar

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News - Saudi Arabia

MAKKAH FORUM CALLS FOR END TO SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION
"The second national dialogue forum concluded in Makkah [Dec 31] with a call for an end to discrimination among citizens and making important proposals to fight extremism.. ..Sixty intellectuals, academics, researchers and religious experts including nine women took part in the four-day deliberations organized by the King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
NATIONAL DIALOGUE - GWD Dec 22, 2003

DIALOGUE FORUM TO FOCUS ON SHOURA ELECTIONS, EXTREMISM
"Elections to the Shoura Council and extremism will top the agenda at the second national dialogue forum in Makkah. The five-day event, which began in the holy city with the participation of 60 intellectuals including 10 women, will also discuss fair distribution of wealth in the Kingdom.. ..The first four-day dialogue in June, launched by Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, was instrumental in bringing together all sections of society.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
FIRST NATIONAL DIALOGUE CENTER ESTABLISHED - GWD Aug 11, 2003

MAKKAH FORUM OFFICIAL DEFENDS CHOICE OF SPEAKERS, PAPERS
"No sooner had the second national dialogue forum started debating.. ..some Saudi intellectuals warned the King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center could ossify into an ivory tower. Prominent intellectual Dr. Turki Al-Hamad, who was not invited to the forum, described the King Abdul Aziz Center as 'a pioneering idea' which could help promote tolerance throughout society. But the lineup of research papers did not bode well, Al-Hamad warned. 'If what I heard is correct, most papers presented at the forum represent a single viewpoint, and this conflicts with the nature of dialogue'.." Complete report..

SAUDI SCHOLARS WARN AGAINST CHANGING SCHOOL BOOKS
"Some 150 Saudis, including judges, university professors and a cleric with links to Muslim militants, have signed a document warning the kingdom against changing its Islam-based school curricula. The warning.. ..was signed on January 1, a day after Saudi intellectuals, clerics and prominent personalities recommended educational reforms at the end of a conference held to tackle the roots of militancy.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
EDUCATION SYSTEM REFORM TO PROMOTE MODERATION: SULTAN - GWD Dec 8, 2003

AL-QAIDA-LINKED MILITANTS BEGIN TARGETING SAUDI SECURITY OFFICIALS
"Now that Saudi Arabia is cracking down on terrorism, Islamic militants with links to al-Qaida have a new target, the kingdom's top security officials. A Western diplomat says it's a new strategy to resist the anti-terror rackdown. The diplomat says an explosive tossed at a parked car in the Saudi capital last night targeted a senior official from a Saudi agency similar to the FBI.." Complete report..
Also:
DIPLOMAT: MILITANTS EYEING SAUDI OFFICIALS

BRIGADIER FOUND DEAD
"A senior military officer in the southern border city of Jizan was found shot dead in front of his house on [Jan 3].. ..Brig. Gen. Hadi Mabjer Al-Sahli, chairman of the military council at the border guards command in the Jizan region, took place soon after Fajr prayers as people in the neighborhood had seen him at the mosque for the prayer.." Complete report..

TOP WANTED TERRORIST SURRENDERS
"One of the Kingdom's most wanted terror suspects surrendered to security authorities [Dec 30], the Interior Ministry announced. A ministry spokesman welcomed the surrender of Mansour ibn Muhammad Ahmed Faqeeh, one of 26 suspects wanted in connection with terrorist attacks in the Kingdom.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
BACKGROUND OF THE MOST WANTED TERRORISTS - GWD Dec 15, 2003

3 LINKED TO SAUDI BLAST ARRESTED
"Saudi security authorities have arrested three men in connection with an explosion that targeted a senior security official.. ..The Okaz daily, quoting an unidentified security official, said the suspects were picked up shortly after [Dec 28] attack.. ..A Western diplomat said the attack was against a senior member of the Interior Ministry's Mabahith branch, the Saudi equivalent of the FBI.." Complete report..

INTERIOR MINISTRY REDRAFTING NEW NATURALIZATION BILL
"The Shoura Council will return to the issue of softening the Kingdom's naturalization law as soon the Interior Ministry has redrafted some of its articles.. ..According to the new proposals, foreigners who have been living in the Kingdom continuously for no less than 10 years may be able to apply for Saudi citizenship.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SHOURA MEMBERS FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT ON CITIZENSHIP LAW - GWD Nov 3, 2003

PRIVATE INVESTORS PLAN SR6BN MINA TENT PROJECT
"Saudi investors are planning a SR6 ($1.6) billion project to help accommodate a quarter of a million more pilgrims in Mina by setting up some 200 tents in the surrounding mountains.. ..Plans are under way to expand camping areas in the holy sites to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims, which is estimated to reach 3.8 million by the end of the current Five-Year Development Plan (2000/2005).." Complete report..

SAUDI OFFICIAL DENIES SUICIDE PILOTS REPORT
"Saudi Arabia [Dec 28] denied a British newspaper report that security forces seized two planes packed with explosives near Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport, foiling a plot to blow up a British Airways jet.." Complete report..

SPECIAL TRAINING
"Some 10,000 secondary school graduates will be given special training under a military training program, which begins on Feb. 21.. ..Military training will be given in the first semester while the remaining two will be devoted to training in computer science, electrical and mechanical technology and office management.." Complete report..

HAJ MINISTRY TO ISSUE NEW REGULATIONS FOR TAWAFA ORGANIZATIONS
"New regulations for organizations handling domestic Haj pilgrims will be issued shortly, according to Haj Minister Iyad Madani.. ..Pilgrims from different parts of the Islamic world have started arriving in the Kingdom for the Haj, which is expected to start on Jan. 30. More than two million pilgrims are slated to perform Haj this time.." Complete report..

4,000 DETAINED, WEAPONS SEIZED
"Saudi Arabia has arrested over 4,000 infiltrators and seized vast quantities of weapons and drugs in the south of the country.. ..The Kingdom has recently stepped up security along its southern border, a traditional route for drug and arms smuggling, following the May 12 bombings in Riyadh. Saudi authorities said weapons and explosives smuggled across the border from Yemen were used in the attack that killed 35 people.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
PAPER: SAUDIS SEIZE ARMS AT YEMEN BORDER EVERY HOUR - GWD Aug 24, 2003

NEW COLLEGE OF MEDICINE TO BE SET UP IN RIYADH
"Crown Prince Abdullah.. ..has ordered the establishment of a new world-class college of medicine in Riyadh, it was announced here [Dec 31].. ..The announcement came after the crown prince laid the foundation stone for an SR100 ($26.6) million nursing college in the capital city.. ..The nursing college is located at the King Abdul Aziz National Guard Medical City and is designed to accommodate 1,000 female students.." Complete report..

SAAD AL-MAHDI APPOINTED ARRIYADIAH EDITOR IN CHIEF
"Saad ibn Faleh Al-Mahdi has been appointed editor in chief of Arriyadiah sports daily, a sister publication of Arab News.. ..Al-Mahdi, a prominent Saudi journalist with more than 20 years experience, replaces Saleh Al-Hamadi.. ..Al-Hamadi will continue to write for the group's publications.." Complete report..

RIYADH DAILY CLOSES DOWN
"Riyadh Daily, one of the Kingdom's three English dailies, has folded. After 19 years of financial losses, the paper's last issue appears [Dec 31].. .. The decision to close down Riyadh Daily ends a period of uncertainty among its employees, who were given to understand that it would continue in a truncated form of eight pages, as against 24 pages in its heyday.." Complete report..

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News - UAE

UAE PLANE WITH AID, RCA TEAM FLIES TO IRAN TODAY
"The UAE [Dec 27] said that a plane carrying relief supplies and a team from the Red Crescent Authority (RCA), will fly [Dec 28] to Iran's Kerman airport to provide emergency aid to victims of the earthquake that devastated the city of Bam. The airlift was ordered by President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.." Complete report..

DUBAI POLICE UNDERGOES MAJOR RESTRUCTURING
"As part of his vision of the future, and to improve the efficiency of Dubai Police, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and UAE Minister of Defense, in his capacity as Head of Dubai Police and Security, [Jan 3] ordered the overhaul of the force.." Complete report..

IMPORT OF US AND CANADIAN MEAT BANNED
"Sheikh Salim bin Hilal Al Khalili, minister of agriculture and fisheries, has issued a ministerial decision banning the import of live cows and its products and derivatives - from the US and Canada. Exempted from the decision are dairy products and its derivatives, provided that such products are accompanied by an approved certificate to ensure they are produced by farms free from mad cow disease.." Complete report..

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Link of the Week / GulfWire Flashback - Four Years of GW

LINK OF THE WEEK

Embassy of Qatar in the United States

A good first stop when looking for any subject on Qatar.

                        <<ONE YEAR AGO>>
                    GULFWIRE DIGEST (#178) WEEK OF JAN 6, 2003

SAUDI AID TO DEVELOPING NATIONS TOTALS $74.93B
"Saudi Arabia has assisted developing countries to the tune of over SR281 ($74.93B) billion since the mid-1970s. The aid represents nearly four percent of the country's average GNP.. ..The figures do not include humanitarian assistance provided by the Kingdom.."

                         <<TWO YEARS AGO>>
               GULFWIRE DIGEST (#129) WEEK OF JAN 7, 2002

GUNNING FOR SADDAM - SHOULD SADDAM HUSSEIN BE AMERICA'S NEXT TARGET IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM?
"..To date, President Bush has maintained that the war on terrorism will be a long one, with many phases. Right now, those who want first to eliminate the Taliban's hold on Afghanistan have the president's ear. Some experts say that may change. All sides agree that if Saddam is connected to the anthrax assaults on the United States, the president's hand will be forced, and war with Iraq will be inevitable.." GULFWIRE COMMENT:  This excerpt is from a "Frontline" (PBS) comprehensive web presentation on the issue.  It includes a number of useful resources and is worth a look.

                         <<THREE YEARS AGO>>
               GULFWIRE DIGEST (#79) WEEK OF JAN 8, 2001

SAUDI ARABIA AND QATAR IMPLEMENTING GCC CUSTOMS UNION
[SaudiArabia.Net] The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar have issued executive orders for implementation of the decision of the 20th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC concerning setting up a customs union among its member states effective March, 2005. GCC Secretary-General Jameel Al-Hujeilan welcomed this initiative, and noted that State of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, and the
United Arab Emirates have issued similar orders.

                         <<FOUR YEARS AGO>>
              GULFWIRE DIGEST (#26) WEEK OF JAN 3, 2000

QATAR-BAHRAIN TIES 
The heads of state of Qatar and Bahrain announced a breakthrough in improving their bilateral ties, strained by long running territorial disputes according to Reuters.  Qatar's Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani met in Bahrain on Tuesday with Bahrain's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.  A statement issued late Tuesday said a joint committee would meet to discuss better cooperation between Doha and Manama.  Qatar and Bahrain will also exchange ambassadors for the first time and discuss the possibility of building a causeway linking the two states.  The case regarding conflicting claims to islands and territory before the International Court of Justice is expected to be heard this May, but last week's breakthrough included an agreement to withdraw the case if the two can reach a bilateral solution.

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