In This Issue

News - Region

UN GETS IRAQ HANDOVER PLAN
"The United States [May 23] asked for UN endorsement of a hand-over of power to an interim government in Iraq but proposed the US force there could 'take all measures' to keep order and set no date for it to leave. The resolution, co-sponsored by Britain and distributed to UN Security Council members would back the formation of a 'sovereign interim government' that would take office by June 30.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
US AGREES TO SEEK NEW UN RESOLUTION ON IRAQ - GWD Apr 5, 2004

FUTURE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER NAMED
"Former exile Iyad Allawi has been chosen to head an interim Iraqi government after sovereignty is handed back on 30 June. Mr. Allawi - a Shia Muslim - was endorsed unanimously by the Governing Council, member Mahmoud Othman said. A United Nations spokesman has said UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi - who is charged with choosing the interim government - 'respects' the nomination.." Complete report..
Also:
U.S., U.N. BLINDSIDED ON IRAQ PM ANNOUNCEMENT
US DISTANCES ITSELF FROM IRAQI PM
SCIENTIST REJECTS IRAQI PM POST
~~GulfWire Link~~
IRAQ BIDS FAREWELL TO SLAIN CHIEF - GWD May 24, 2004

RIFT DELAYS IRAQI PRESIDENT TALKS
"The new body is due to assume power at the end of June. Many posts are already filled, but differences remain over who should be the figurehead president.."  Complete report..

PACHACHI, AL YAWAR MAIN CANDIDATES FOR IRAQ'S PRESIDENT
"Iraq's Governing Council agreed with the US-led administration and the United Nations on key posts in a new cabinet [May 29].. ..'The Governing Council, Bremer and Lakhdar Brahimi agreed on the list,' council member Ahmad Chalabi said, referring to US Iraq administrator Paul Bremer and UN envoy Brahimi. 'It is not 100 percent certain that the nominees will accept it but it is pretty sure they will'.." Complete report..

ARAB LEAGUE HEAD DOES NOT RULE OUT ARAB TROOPS IN IRAQ
"Arab League head Amr Moussa can see a possible future role for Arab forces in Iraq -- but only once foreign occupiers leave.. ..Moussa said Arab countries might contribute to a future multinational force with a United Nations mandate that would replace the US-led coalition.." Complete report..

BODIES FOUND AFTER REPORTERS ATTACKED IN IRAQ
"Two bodies found in Iraq near where a pair of journalists were attacked last night have been identified as Japanese citizens, prompting Japan's government to urge journalists to leave the country for their own safety.. ..Japan has dispatched more than 500 soldiers to Samawah in southern Iraq and hundreds more naval and air force troops to the surrounding region on a humanitarian mission in support of the US-led coalition.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
KIDNAPPINGS CHALLENGE JAPAN MILITARY - GWD Apr 12, 2004

NAVY FORCE JOINS ANTI-TERROR FIGHT
"A new European task force is to head up the naval fight against terrorism in the Gulf from [Jun 1]. The task force coalition will oversee the Arabian Sea, Strait of Hormuz, Horn of Africa, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Euromarfor, a maritime alliance among France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, will lead Task Force 150 which also includes the US, UK, New Zealand, Pakistan and Germany as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. They will serve under Bahrain-based US Naval Forces Central Command Commander, Fifth Fleet.." Complete report..

GCC FINALIZES PLAN FOR UNIFIED ID CARDS
"The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council took another step toward closer ties among member states by finalizing a plan for unified ID cards for Gulf nationals. The main feature of the cards, which will bear both the GCC's and the member country's logo, is 'inter-operability' - making its features readable in all Gulf states. The cards will use smart card technology and have common security features and accessing devices.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR COMMON GCC ID APPROVED - GWD Sep 22, 2003

ARAB STATES CALL FOR NUCLEAR-FREE MIDEAST
"Saudi Arabia was among several Arab countries that [May 27] renewed calls to make the Middle East a nuclear-free zone. They also want enforcement of United Nations resolutions calling on Israel to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.." Complete report..

DUBAI WITNESSES SURGE IN GCC LANDOWNERS
"The number of GCC landowners registered in Dubai has jumped 75 percent recently.. ..Kuwaitis own 358 plots of land, Saudis 267, Omanis 234, Qataris 170, and Bahrainis 170. The first quarter of 2004 saw a 60 percent rise in the number of land transactions.." Complete report..

IRAN'S PARLIAMENT PICKS FIRST NON-CLERIC SPEAKER IN 25 YEARS
"Iran's parliament elected [May 29] the country's first non-cleric assembly speaker since the 1979 revolution following February polls in which conservatives overturned the reformist majority. Conservative party leader Gholamali Haddadadel, whose daughter is married to a son of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is viewed as a pragmatist.." Complete report..

RESCUE TEAMS RUSH TO QUAKE-HIT IRAN VILLAGES
"Army helicopters ferried rescue teams into mountain villages in northern and central Iran [May 29], where a senior Iranian Red Crescent official raised the toll from the quake to 35 dead with 250 people injured.. ..[May 29] quake was so powerful that it cracked or shattered windows in the extreme north of the capital, more than 100km from the hardest hit villages.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
THOUSANDS IN IRANIAN CITY KILLED IN QUAKE - GWD Dec 29, 2003

WESTERNERS IN SAUDI MAY MOVE FAMILIES TO BAHRAIN: REPORT
"..after Saturday's deadly attack in Al Khobar in which 25 people, including foreigners, were killed, the neighboring peaceful island of Bahrain may become home for Westerners working in the west of Saudi, the paper noted.."  Complete report..

HARVARD PLANS MEDICAL CENTER IN GULF
"Harvard Medical School was preparing to break ground  on a branch in the Gulf that will help oversea a massive "healthcare city" in the United Arab Emirates, the latest in a wave of US-Arab medical projects that was accelerated by the post-September 11 restrictions on travel to the United States.."  Complete report..

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News - Bahrain

BAHRAINI DEPUTIES CLASH OVER REPORT ON NATURALIZATION
"A Bahraini parliament session ended with "hugs and kisses" shortly after the speaker suspended it when tempers flared during a debate of a report on naturalization, newspapers said [May 26].. ..The clash happened as the Council of Representatives began to discuss a report prepared by 'the Naturalization Committee' which had been investigating claims of abuse in granting the Bahraini nationality.." Complete report..

MINISTERS CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES
"The Bahraini Parliament exonerated two ministers who had been accused by another committee of financial and administrative mismanagement in two social security funds. Minister of Finance and National Economy Abdullah Saif and Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Dr Majeed Al Alawi 'have been cleared of all charges'.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
BAHRAIN GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE FOR 'MISUSE' OF PUBLIC FUNDS - GWD Jan 12, 2004

BAHRAIN 'SHINING EXAMPLE OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE'
"Bahrain stands out as a shining model to the rest of the Gulf in terms of religious freedom and respect for other faiths, says an outgoing church vicar.."  Complete report..  

THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN BAHRAIN AND US POLICY
"The Bahrain Freedom Movement (BFM) is holding a press conference June 1st at the National Press Club.. ..Hussain Abdallah, the US representative of BFM, will speak to reporters about the arrest of democratic activists in Bahrain.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
BAHRAIN RIGHTS CENTER TOLD TO AVOID POLITICS - GWD May 24, 2004

ONLY EIGHT-DIGIT TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO FUNCTION IN BAHRAIN
"The Bahrain telecommunications industry, under the campaign banner - The Numbers - today reminded all subscribers of telecommunications services that only eight-digit numbers would be functional throughout the Kingdom starting 1 June 2004.."  Complete report..

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News - Kuwait

KUWAIT ANNOUNCES DONATION OF $10 MLN FOR IRAQ'S RECONSTRUCTION
"Kuwait announced on [May 25] that it transferred $5 million to the World Bank and another $5 million to the UN fund for the reconstruction of Iraq.. ..Kuwait has initiated and expedited relief aid to Iraq after toppling the defunct Iraqi regime last April, to support the Iraqi people through the establishment of the humanitarian operations center that speeded up humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.." Complete report..

MP'S URGE KPC TO UNVEIL REPORT
"A number of MPs have requested the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) to disclose a special committee report, which is ready and is being withheld by the company's executive director.. ..The report has been prepared by a special committee, which was formed to interrogate KPC's manner of dealing with mediating international firms..." Complete report..

IRAN-KUWAIT SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETS
"The third meeting of Iran-Kuwait security committee convened here on Sunday with the aim of promoting bilateral ties.."  Complete report..

KUWAIT REVISING LAW TO PROTECT HOUSEMAIDS
"Kuwait is issuing new regulations to improve working conditions for more than 400,000 Asian domestic helpers.. ..The regulations stipulate setting a minimum wage, a weekly rest-day, limiting working hours and payment of overtime, all of which are non-existent under the current laws.." Complete report..

KUWAIT BANS 'VULGAR' TALENT SHOWS
"Religious authorities in Kuwait have reportedly banned concerts with women singers as 'un-Islamic' following an outcry over a Lebanese TV talent show. The fatwa was published by Kuwait's Islamic Affairs ministry.. ..The ministry was responding to pressure by Islamist MPs to ban a show featuring winners of the Star Academy series. A Star Academy concert did take place in Kuwait on 6 May, despite demonstrations by hundreds of Islamist activists.." Complete report..

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News - Oman

A Study on the Process and Implications of Oman's Accession to the World Trade Organization  By Dr. Said Amer Al-Riyami GulfWire Perspectives

GLOBAL CEMENT CONFERENCE
"The Sultanate will host the 13th international cement conference and exhibition on November 23.." Complete report..

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News - Qatar

AL JAZEERA SET TO LAUNCH NEW ARABIC WEBSITE
"Al Jazeera.net will shortly launch an Arabic version of its website as part of its expansion plan, a senior official at the channel said [May 26].. ..Chief Editor of the portal, Abdulaziz Al Mahmoud, said that several correspondents have been employed to collect accurate information from reliable sources and not rely on agency news.. ..He added that the website has become a trusted platform in the Arab world for its concept of free media and balanced coverage.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
AL-JAZEERA WARNED OF INCITING TERROR - GWD Feb 9, 2004

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News - Saudi Arabia

MANHUNT FOR SAUDI HOSTAGE-TAKERS
"Police checkpoints have been set up throughout the city in an effort to capture three heavily armed militants.."  Complete report..

FEARS OF NEW AL-QAEDA ATTACKS STALK SAUDI ARABIA 
"Fears of even more spectacular terror attacks haunted Saudi Arabia after three suspected Al-Qaeda militants, who slit the throats of several foreigners among at least 22 killed in a bloody rampage, escaped a 24-hour siege.."  Complete report.. 
Also:
US MISSION RENEWS ITS WARNING TO AMERICAN NATIONALS
AUSTRALIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA WARNED
~~GulfWire Link~~
U.S. WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA ADVISED TO LEAVE - GWD May 10, 2004

EUROPEAN ENVOYS TO MEET TOMORROW FOR SECURITY REVIEW
"Senior European diplomats will hold a meeting [Jun 1] to discuss the security situation in Saudi Arabia and assess measures in place to protect their citizens across the Kingdom.. ..the meetings will also review the security situation in the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, where most of the Western countries have their diplomatic missions. Security has already been stepped up in and around the Diplomatic Quarter.." Complete report..

SAUDI AL QAIDA ISSUES BATTLE PLAN FOR URBAN WARFARE
"A top Al Qaida leader in Saudi Arabia issued a battle plan [May 27] for an urban guerrilla war in the kingdom, already reeling from a recent spate of attacks on Western and security targets. The Arabic-language statement, posted on several websites and purportedly from Abdulaziz Al Muqrin, gave a detailed list of steps militants should take to succeed in their violent campaign against the Saudi government.." Complete report..

SAUDI ACADEMIC FEARS POSSIBILITY OF URBAN GUERRILLA WARFARE
"Al-Qaeda is changing its tactics. After targeting Western expatriates and security forces in the first phase of its terrorist attacks in the Kingdom, it has now turned its attention to oil companies and could later go for urban guerrilla war as part of its strategy to destabilize the Kingdom, according to a Saudi political scientist. Dr. Abdullah Al-Otaibi.. ..said the May 1 attacks on the ABB Lummus complex resulted in casualties among its employees and exodus of the remaining 90 ABB expatriate staff. The shooting at APICORP [Khobar], the investment arm of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was intended to achieve the same goal - drive away the Western expats operating oil facilities.." Complete report..

SHOURA CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST TERROR
"The 120-member Shoura Council [May 30] called for effective action to counter terrorism after four Al-Qaeda suspects killed 22 people including 19 foreigners in Khobar, and emphasized the need to fight the ideological roots of terrorism.. ..'We call for efforts to trace the roots of this deviant ideology and discover its sources in order for men of knowledge to correct,' the misconceptions in the minds of its followers, the Shoura said in a statement.." Complete report..

SAUDI ARABIA WON'T JOIN G8 MEET WHERE ARAB REFORM IS ON TABLE
"Saudi Arabia has become the second US Arab ally after Egypt to shun [June 8-10, Sea Island, Georgia, USA] next month's G8 summit where Washington is to unveil a disputed Middle East reform plan, with Tunisia and Qatar also uncertain to attend.. .. Many Arabs have criticized the initiative, designed to counter militant Islam with political and social changes, for seeking to impose reform from abroad and for failing to address key regional issues such as the Arab-Israeli conflict.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
LEADERS OF YEMEN, BAHRAIN TO ATTEND G-8 SUMMIT - GWD May 24, 2004

US-LED WAR COLONIAL AND ABOUT OIL, SAYS TURKI
"The US-led invasion of Iraq was a colonial war and there were some in the United States who saw it as a means of getting their hands on Iraqi oil.. .. Prince Turki Al Faisal, ambassador to Britain and Ireland, told the Irish Independent that Washington's stated aims in going to war in Iraq masked a more cynical reality. 'No matter how exalted the aims of the US in that war, it was a colonial war'.." Complete report..

MUNICIPAL POLL PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY 2005
"Municipal council elections in the Kingdom are planned for the month of.. .. February 2005, a local press report said [May 26]. The report also said that the list of candidates and polling centers would be ready in October this year.. ..Saudi Arabia announced last October that the first elections in the Kingdom would take place within a year for the election of half the members of 14 municipal councils.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
KINGDOM'S FIRST MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE IN OCTOBER - GWD Mar 15, 2004

JAPAN ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SAUDI STUDENTS
"The Japanese government has announced an undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship program for Saudi students wishing to study in Japan.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICIALS TO VISIT JAPAN - GWD Jan 19, 2004

AL-FOWZAN DENIES AL-JAZEERA FATWA
"Sheikh Saleh Al-Fowzan has denied foreign press reports that he issued a fatwa against watching the Doha-based Al-Jazeera satellite channel.  'The report is totally false,'.. ..'The fact is that when I was asked about satellite channels in general, I said it was better to avoid them. I have not mentioned the name of Al-Jazeera. I have prohibited watching only those channels that spread indecency and immorality and create division among Muslims'.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDI EDICT BANS MUSLIMS WATCH AL-JAZEERA - GWD May 24, 2004

SAUDI JAILED FOR BATTERING WIFE
"A Saudi man who severely beat his TV presenter wife has been sentenced to six months in prison and 300 lashes, a Saudi newspaper reports.."  Complete report..

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News - UAE

UAE SIGNS COPENHAGEN DECLARATION ON ANTI-DOPING
"The UAE has become the 22nd Asian signatory to the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping in Sport when Education Minister Ali Abdul Aziz Al Sharhan signed the document in Dubai [May 25]. The Copenhagen Declaration is a non-binding document through which governments have signaled their acceptance of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Anti-Doping Code and their intention to formally accept and implement the Code.." Complete report..

FOUR HUNDRED LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL FIRMS TO PARTICIPATE IN ENVIRONMENT EXHIBITION 2005
"About 400 local and international firms will participate at the Abu Dhabi Environmental Exhibition and Conference, which will be held in January-February 2005.. ..the number of the exhibitors at the show would increase by 30 percent as compared to the 2003 exhibition. This tremendous growth shows the success of the UAE exhibitions industry in the Middle Eastern region.." Complete report..

AE EMPLOYS SATELLITE IMAGERY FOR SECURITY
"The United Arab Emirates has successfully employed satellite imagery for security missions.  UAE officials said satellite images provided by a U.S. firm facilitated efforts to protect critical facilities and support security operations. The images were used by Dubai police and security forces during the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in September 2003.."  Complete report..

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

LINK OF THE WEEK

Country Studies
Library of Congress
Federal Research Division

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ 

<<ONE YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #199 WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2003

SAUDIS SACK EDITOR AFTER CLERIC CALLS FOR BOYCOTT
"Saudi editors at al-Watan, which is owned by a member of the royal al-Saud family, said Editor in Chief Jamal Khashoggi had been sacked Monday evening, hours after Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman al-Jibrin, a member of Saudi Arabia's religious edicts body, issued his edict saying the paper had ridiculed "virtuous" people.. ..Khashoggi, who had been appointed to al-Watan only recently, is seen as a leading reformist voice in Saudi Arabia. He wrote several editorials condemning religious extremism after the suicide bombings that killed 34 people in Riyadh this month.."

<<TWO YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #149 WEEK OF JUNE 3, 2002

SAUDI SEEK TO PUSH PEACE PLAN
"Saudi Arabia, at the center of moves to revive the Middle East peace
process, wants a proposed conference to discuss implementation of an Arab
peace plan authored by Riyadh.."  

<<THREE YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #99 WEEK OF JUNE 4, 2001
 

DIABETES 'WILL STRIKE HALF OF UAE POPULATION IN 25 YEARS'
"Dr Abdul Razzak Madani said fast food diets, obesity and lack of exercise are the contributing factors in the alarming spread of the disease throughout the region. "The last study carried out by the Ministry of Health showed that 18 per cent of the local population is suffering from diabetes.."

<<FOUR YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #48 WEEK OF JUNE 5, 2000 

OIL PRICE SPIKE FIX 
Saudi Arabia's oil minister said producers favored moderate crude oil prices and will act to moderate the current high levels.  In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) he said, "If there are changes in the fundamentals, as some recent reports indicate, then some action might be taken, and as soon as possible, in order to stabilize the market and reduce the recent abnormal spike in the oil price."  He added, "Some more recent reports indicate that demand for oil might be higher than everybody previously expected."

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