In This Issue

News - Region

AMMAN CONFERENCE SLAMS FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS IN IRAQ
"Parliament speakers from eight countries neighboring Iraq ended a two-day conference on Iraq [May 13] by condemning as 'flagrant violations' the recently divulged abuses by the US-led troops on Iraqi prisoners. They also called for removal of 'terrorist groups' from Iraq that pose threat to neighboring states.. ..The conference grouped speakers of legislatures in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Iran and Turkey as well as representatives for the IPU and the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.." Complete report..
Also:
BUSH SHOULD HAVE SACKED RUMSFELD, SAY ARABS
RUMSFELD VISITS ABU GHRAIB PRISON
~~GulfWire Link~~
BUSH APOLOGIZES, CALLS ABUSE 'STAIN' ON NATION - GWD May 10, 2004

WEF MEETING TO DEAL WITH ARAB REFORMS
"..The issue of reforms has taken centre stage because the spiraling violence in Iraq and between Israel and the Palestinians has forced regional economic cooperation projects onto the backburner, analysts said.."  Complete report..

FIRM AGAINST TERROR.. FOR REFORM - GULF SCOPES FUTURE
"..Delivering the keynote address at a two-day international conference on the 'Future of the Middle East' Sheikh Sabah said the aftermath of Sept 11 saw the world giving more attention to combating all forms of terrorism amidst calls for political, social and economic reforms. Another challenge facing the region, according to the Kuwaiti Premier is the situation in Iraq and its effects on Iraq's neighbors.. ..He said differences between several countries and the US over its policies in the region should be tackled in a manner beneficial to the interests of both sides.." Complete report..

MIDEAST DEMOCRATIZATION SHOULD BE HOMEGROWN, SAYS PANEL
"The process of democratization in the Middle East should be gradual, homegrown and not decreed from outside, analysts and politicians said at forum on the region's future held in Kuwait this weekend. Delegates said Washington's Greater Middle East plan for reform in the Arab world contained serious omissions, and they criticized other projects described as promoting democracy.."  Complete report..

'THE MIDDLE EAST IS CHANGING'
"This past weekend, King Abdullah of Jordan played host to many dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, at a World Economic Forum meeting held at the Dead Sea. In his hotel suite, the young monarch spoke to Lally Weymouth of Newsweek and The Post. Excerpts..

POWELL, QOREI HOLD UNPRECEDENTED TALKS TO REVIVE PEACE PROCESS
"US Secretary of State Colin Powell held groundbreaking talks [May 15 in Amman] with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei to reassure him that Washington did not back off from its vision for an independent Palestinian state.. ..Powell also reassured Qorei that the final status issue would be resolved by Israel and the Palestinians and said Bush would like to see a Palestinian state set up by 2005.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
PUSH TO REVIVE MID-EAST ROADMAP - GWD May 10, 2004

POWELL DENOUNCES ISRAEL'S DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIAN HOMES
"Secretary of State Colin L. Powell rebuked Israel on [May 16] for its policy of destroying Palestinian homes, which he said was counterproductive to U.S. efforts to generate new movement on a stalled plan for Middle East peace.."  Complete report..      

POWELL CRITICIZES ARAB GOVERNMENTS - SAYS RESPONSE TO BERG KILLING INSUFFICIENT
"..Powell said he has made clear, specifically to Arab leaders, that systematic torture of prisoners is unacceptable anywhere. Yet, he said, their denunciation of the killing of Nicholas Berg, kidnapped while in Iraq seeking business for his Pennsylvania communication company, fell far short of their attacks on the United States for the treatment of detainees at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.."  Complete report..

ARAB PRESS FREEDOM IS 'CASUALTY IN WAR AGAINST TERRORISM'
"The September 11 attacks not only left a deep impact on the USA, but also on the Arab media as regimes in the region tightened their grip on press freedom, according to Salah Edin Hafedh, secretary general of the Arab Journalists' Union. The regimes used the US war against terror to silence the media using the pretext of measures to avoid giving a platform to terrorists.." Complete report..

POWELL: U.S. TO COMMAND POST-JULY 1 IRAQI TROOPS
"The United States expects the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to put its troops under the command of an American "multinational force commander" after the July 1 establishment of an interim government in Baghdad, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on [May 16].. ..He said if the Iraqi authorities asked the U.S. troops to leave, they would, but stressed this was a hypothetical question.." Complete report..

US TO TURN OVER SADDAM TO IRAQ BY JULY
"The head of Iraq's war-crimes tribunal said [May 11] that the United States has pledged to hand over Saddam Hussein and about 100 other suspects to Iraqi authorities by June 30. The United States plans to return sovereignty to a new Iraqi government by that date. Salem Chalabi told reporters that trials would begin early next year.." Complete report..
Also:
U.S., TRIBUNAL DISAGREE ON SADDAM HANDOFF
~~GulfWire Link~~
IRAQI TRIBUNAL TO TRY SADDAM HUSSEIN - GWD Apr 26, 2004

UN INSPECTORS SEE SIGNS IRAN MAY HAVE TRIED TO MAKE BOMB-GRADE URANIUM 
"UN atomic energy inspectors see a pattern of radiation contamination in Iran which could indicate attempts to enrich uranium to bomb-grade level, diplomats close to the agency said.. .. The report is due in mid-May, possibly next week, and comes as International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are completing months of investigations into US allegations that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons. The IAEA is to hold a meeting of its 35-nation board of governors in Vienna on June 14.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
U.N. NUCLEAR INSPECTOR HEADS TO IRAN - GWD Apr 5, 2004

US SLAPS SANCTIONS ON SYRIA
"US President George W. Bush imposed economic sanctions on Syria [May 11] for allegedly supporting terrorism and failing to stop anti-US guerrillas from entering Iraq.. ..The sanctions ban US exports other than food and medicine, freeze the assets of certain Syrian nationals and entities and restrict US banking relations with the Arab nation.." Complete report..
Also:
REVIEW SYRIA SANCTIONS, GCC URGES US

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News - Bahrain

A VOTE FOR THE FUTURE
"Bahrain's MPs voted [May 13] to make education compulsory for six- to 15-year-olds. Education in government schools is free, but has never been made compulsory. But it will be under the new Education Law.. ..MPs also voted for the formation of a Supreme Council for Education, to develop educational services to meet changing needs.." Complete report..

FUNDS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT STOCKHOLM CONVENTION RULES
"Bahrain has a tight policy when it comes to managing the use, disposal and trading in polluting chemicals but still needs funding to the tune of nearly $350,000 to fully implement the Stockholm Convention for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which the Kingdom signed two years ago.." Complete report..

BAHRAIN DEFENSE FORCE GETS FIRST FEMALE COLONELS
"Two Bahraini female officers from the Ministry of Defense were promoted to the rank of Colonel [May 11] making them the first women in Bahrain to hold such a rank in Bahrain Defense Force (BDF).. ..Brig Dr Sheikh Salman told Gulf News that the awarding of such ranks reflected the government and command realization of the pivotal role women play in shaping the country's future.." Complete report..

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News - Kuwait

KUWAIT WARNS TEHRAN; MISSION MEETINGS RISK TIES
"Meetings at the Tehran mission here between Iranian officials and Kuwaiti Shiite Muslim leaders are an interference in Kuwait's internal affairs and could harm bilateral ties, the country's foreign minister warned in comments published [May 12].. ..The reports claimed that senior members of the National Islamic Alliance, a political opposition group with alleged ties to the international fundamentalist Shiite group Hezbollah, took part in the meetings.." Complete report..

BAN VISAS FOR UNDER-30 WOMEN
"The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor instructed the labor departments not to issue work permits to ladies under thirty years of age belonging to a number of Arab countries.. ..Sources said the ministry took the decision in co-ordination with the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs based on the complaints received at the ministry on the abuse of South African ladies.." Complete report..

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News - Oman

MOOSA TO TAKE PART IN GENEVA SESSION OF WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
"The Sultanate will participate in the 57th World Health Assembly (WHA), which is set to meet in Geneva [May 17]. Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, minister of health, will head the delegation to the six-day meeting.. ..The minister added the annual program of experts who will be sent by World Health Organization to the Sultanate would be decided during the meeting.." Complete report..

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News - Qatar

FORUM ON EMPLOYMENT TO BEGIN ON JUNE 21
"Minister of Economy and Trade H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Thani said the first forum on employment of national cadres will be held at the Qatar International Exhibition Center from June 21 through 23 with the aim of enhancing the national economy.. ..The idea of the forum was adopted to cope with the state's interest in the issue of national labor and replacing foreign labor force with national cadres in the public and private sectors.." Complete report..

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News - Saudi Arabia

SAUDI OFFICIAL CONDEMNS BERG DECAPITATION
"..Speaking in Arabic on [May 12] to the Saudi media in Jiddah, the Saudi summer capital, Prince Bandar said the al-Zarqawi group, which took responsibility for the execution, was "a criminal, deviant and un-Islamic group allied with (Usama) bin Laden and the criminals of Al Qaeda.'"  Complete report..

KINGDOM BLASTS BUSH REMARKS ON PALESTINE STATE
"Saudi Arabia [May 10] blasted US President George W. Bush for questioning an internationally agreed target date for Palestinian statehood, saying it would lead to further delay of the Middle East peace road map.. ..Bush said.. ..the establishment of a Palestinian state might be delayed past the 2005 deadline, as the internationally backed road map was no longer realistic.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
PUSH TO REVIVE MID-EAST ROADMAP - GWD May 10, 2004

MILITANTS AIM TO TOPPLE REGIME: SAUDI PRINCE
"A leading member of the Saudi royal family warned [May 12] that the aim of groups behind a series of deadly terror attacks in Saudi Arabia was to overthrow the regime.. ..said Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz. 'If they succeed in capturing power in Saudi Arabia, all Gulf Arab states and other Arab countries will be affected,' because Saudi Arabia is the seat of Islam, he told a press conference here.." Complete report..

SAUDI DENIES COMPOUND CLASH, SAYS GUARD FIRED SHOTS
"Saudi Arabia said Saturday a guard had fired shots outside a Riyadh compound housing Western expatriates but denied any clash with gunmen and said no arrests had been made.."  Complete report..
Also:
GUNMEN SEIZED AT RIYADH COMPOUND

WHY THE SAUDIS MAY NOT RESCUE OIL MARKETS THIS TIME
"..Global demand for oil is growing faster than at any time in the last 15 years, fueled by robust economies in China and India and a recovery in the United States, according to the International Energy Agency. Now energy industry executives are waiting to see whether Saudi Arabia can make the difference it once did.." Complete report..
Also:
STATEMENT ON SAUDI OIL POLICY BY ADEL AL-JUBEIR

JEDDAH STUDENTS MARCH AGAINST TERRORISM
"For the first time in Saudi history, a peaceful march went ahead in Jeddah as some 200 students from four National Guard schools carrying anti-terror banners took to the streets early [May 10].. ..A source told Arab News that the march lasted for a little over an hour, adding that the police did not interfere.." Complete report..

NAIF VOWS CRACKDOWN ON DRUG TRADE
"Saudi Arabia [May 10] vowed to crack down on the drug trade to protect the Kingdom's youth.. ..The prince appeared primarily to blame illegal residents in the Kingdom for the problem.. ..Saudi Arabia recently announced its drug enforcement agency foiled an attempt to smuggle in more than five tons of hashish in the largest drug bust in the Kingdom's history.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
BIGGEST EVER DRUG BUST IN RIYADH - GWD Apr 19, 2004

SAUDI MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TO LAUNCH TV STATION
"Ministry of Education will soon launch a satellite TV station with the aim of fighting terrorism and extremist ideas and to train members of the young generation on how to conduct productive dialogue with other members of the society.. ..According to the plan, the station will focus on educational programs to help the youth to adopt a more positive view of life.." Complete report..

CENSUS TO START ON SEPT. 15
"The general census, scheduled to start on Sept. 15, will be decisive in determining the Kingdom's economic policy for the next 10 years, according to Economy and Planning Minister Khaled Al-Gosaibi.. ..From now on a census would be conducted every 10 years as is the case in most advanced economies.." Complete report..

SAUDIS 'EASE MIXED MARRIAGE LAW'
"Saudi Arabia's Consultative Council has endorsed a new immigration bill which would make mixed marriages easier by allowing Saudi women to keep their citizenship upon marrying foreigners. The proposed legislation would also enable foreign women who marry Saudi men to apply for nationality. On the other hand, foreign residents will not be able to apply for citizenship until they have lived in Saudi Arabia for at least 10 years - instead of the current requirement of five years.." Complete report..

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News - UAE

CITY TALK: COMPULSORY ARABIC WILL HELP BRIDGE CULTURE DIVIDE
"As the Ministry of Education and Youth plans to introduce compulsory Arabic courses up to Grade XII in public and private schools, the concerns of students and parents are growing. All school students in the UAE, whether they are Arabs or non-Arabs, might be forced to write the same advanced examination in Arabic, a decision hailed and scorned at the same time by a cross-section of the people.." Complete report..

SISTER CITIES FORUM OPENS [MAY 15]
"Dubai is hosting [May 15], for the first time, some 600 delegates to the Sister Cities Forum. The event is expected to further strengthen ties among cities of the world.. ..Senior officials from 11 key cities around the world will take part in the forum. Twinning protocols and cooperation accords with some of the world's top cities enhance Dubai's reputation as a finance and business center.. ..The municipality is considering holding the event once in every two years.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
LOS ANGELES CULTURAL BODY TAKES DUBAI AS SISTER CITY - GWD May 3, 2004

UAE STOPS ISSUING VISAS TO SOMALIS
"The United Arab Emirates has banned Somalis from entering the Gulf state.. ..The official said the ban was valid for one month but it was not clear if it would be renewed.." Complete report..

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

LINK OF THE WEEK

"Ask an Expert"
Energy Information Administration

<<ONE YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #197 WEEK OF MAY 19, 2003

TERRORIST BOMBINGS ROCK SAUDI ARABIA
"Explosions hit a U.S.-Saudi business and three housing compounds used by U.S. and other foreign residents Monday night and early today in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, hours before Secretary of State Colin L. Powell was to arrive there to discuss Middle East peace efforts and the war against terrorism, according to reports from the kingdom.." 

<<TWO YEARS AGO>>
 GULFWIRE DIGEST #148 WEEK OF MAY 27, 2002

MILITARY BIDS TO POSTPONE IRAQ INVASION
"The uniformed leaders of the U.S. military believe they have persuaded the Pentagon's civilian leadership to put off an invasion of Iraq until next year at the earliest and perhaps not to do it at all.. ..Franks told the president that invading Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein would require at least 200,000 troops, far more than some other military experts have calculated.."

<<THREE YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #98 WEEK OF MAY 28, 2001

SAUDI KING EXPANDS ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR SECOND TIME
"..appointed an expanded 120-member consultative Shura council.. ..starts a four-year term on Saturday. It replaces a 90-member body.." 

<<FOUR YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #45 WEEK OF MAY 15, 2000

KINGDOM SIGNS OIC TREATY ON COMBATING TERRORISM
"Saudi Arabia today (May 7, 2000) signed the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Treaty on Combating International Terrorism, the first member state to do so.."  
                
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