Open
Sources: Middle East - Analysis
U.S.
shifted from military to civilian-led mission in Iraq
more The
United States has ended its seven-and-a-half-year-old military
operation in Iraq and is shifting to a civilian-led mission to
build a partnership with Iraq that will strengthen its government...
Yemen, UK and Saudi Arabia announced next Friends of Yemen
meeting
more The
meeting will be on September 24, 2010 in New York and will assess
progress in Yemen towards reform and stability since their meeting
in London in January. In a joint statement...
U.S. President Obama announced the end of Combat
Operations in Iraq
more The
Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they
were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people.
Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who...
Over 80 percent of Arabs polled are still in principle open to
the two-state solution
more In
a Press Briefing before Israeli-Palestinian talks to take place
in Washington D.C., Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Senator
George Mitchell told that although the U.S. does not...
Yemen
pays heavy price in combating terrorism
more Al-Qaeda
attacks took place during last July targeted security sites and
soldiers were the best evidence that Yemen is still paying the
price of joining in global campaign against terrorism after...
Jordanian King Abdullah met with Israeli DM Barak
more Jordanian
King Abdullah on Sunday held talks with Israeli Defence Minister
Ehud Barak on efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
within a regional context to achieve comprehensive...
The United States now has less than
50,000 troops in Iraq
more In
a special briefing, top U.S. officials explained that this drawdown
also demonstrates the capability of the Iraqi security forces
who have increasingly moved into the lead in providing security
for the...
UN chief issued second report on follow-up to
inquiry into Gaza conflict
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon has issued his second report to the General Assembly
on the follow-up to the report made by the United Nations fact-finding
mission into the deadly...
CIA launched
New Counterproliferation Center
more Director
Leon E. Panetta has announced the creation of CIA's Counterproliferation
Center (CPC). This new unit will combine operational and analytic
specialists dedicated to combating the...
There have been numerous security challenges that continue
to exist in Iraq
more U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq Christopher R. Hill delivered a briefing about
the situation in Iraq. He said that "the role of U.S. troops
has now appropriately shifted from combat...
Senior
UN military official meet top politicians in Lebanon
more The
top United Nations military official in Lebanon held talks with
senior politicians in the country, underscoring the need for
continued close coordination between the world body's...
al-Assad renewed Syria's support to any agreement
among Iraqis
more President
Bashar al-Assad on Monday morning reiterated Syria's support
to any agreement between the Iraqi parties based on maintaining
Iraq's unity, Arabism and sovereignty....
Deepening U.S.-Israel security ties advances prospects for comprehensive
peace
more Under
the Obama Administration, the United States has significantly
expanded its longstanding commitment to Israel’s security, ensuring
that Israel has the means not only to defend itself...
The Iraqi security forces are growing in confidence and capability,
Clinton told Zebari
more U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told her Iraqi counterpart
that "As our Ambassador Chris Hill recently said, our soldiers
may withdraw from Iraq, but our interests will remain...
Syria and France wish to boost bilateral cooperation
more Deputy
Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari and the
French State Minister for Urban Affairs Fadela Amara on Wednesday
discussed boosting Syrian...
EU intends
to promote cooperation with Yemen
more The
European Union (EU) intends to promote its cooperation relations
with Yemen in all areas, an EU diplomat said on Tuesday. In a
press conference held in Sana'a, Head of...
UN described
Israeli measures on Gaza as important steps
more United
Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
Robert Serry welcomed the measures announced by the Government
of Israel as important steps in the right direction...
It's time to put aside pre-conditions, Mitchell
told Netanyahu
more U.S.
Mideast Envoy George Mitchell told Israeli Prime Benyamin Netanyahu
that "it's time to get on with direct talks – formal direct
talks for peace. And I call on President Abu...
Azerbaijani President Aliyev met Syrian Minister of Petroleum
and Mineral Resources
more Describing
such gatherings as a sign of development of the bilateral relations,
President Ilham Aliyev expressed assurance the two countries
would soon yield practical results...
Syria is
Belarus's main partner in Middle East, Lukashenko said
more Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenko affirmed that Syria is Belarus's
main partner in the Middle East, and that his country can cooperate
with all other countries in the region through Syria...
Al-Assad, Aoun Positive Development of Syrian-Lebanese
Relations
more Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad discussed on Tuesday with Head of the
Change and Reform Bloc at the Lebanese Parliament and Leader
of the Free Patriotic Movement Gen. Michel...
U.S. welcomed the new policy towards Gaza announced by Israel
more U.S.
President Obama has described the situation in Gaza as unsustainable
and has made clear that it demands fundamental change. On June
9, he announced that the United States was...
Flotilla incident highlights need for radical shift on Gaza,
says UN envoy
more A
top United Nations official stressed the need for a fundamental
change in the situation in Gaza, noting that the recent tragedy
involving an aid flotilla intercepted by Israel is just another...
Obama discussed extensively how to promote a better approach
to Gaza
more U.S.
President Obama met President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority
at the White House. Obama said U.S. "agrees that Israelis
have the right to prevent arms from entering into Gaza that can...
Stability in Yemen is a challenge for the international community
more “We
need a stable Yemen, as the consequences of its continuing collapse
would be disastrous.”Minister of State Werner Hoyer made this
statement during the meeting of the “Friends...
UN Security Council urged Iraqi leaders to strive towards formation
of new government
more The
Security Council today welcomed the certification of the results
of Iraq’s parliamentary elections, three months after the polls
were staged, and urged the country’s political leaders...
Israel's operation was tantamount to banditry and piracy, Turkish
FM declared
more Davutoglu
told the UNSC that "the multinational civilian flotilla
composed of a few ships and a total of around 600 people from
32 countries, carrying humanitarian aid to the impoverished...
NPT Review
Conference called for substantive measures
more The
consensus Final Document adopted today at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty Review Conference advances the President’s vision for
the peace and security of a world without...
UK remains committed to Middle East solution
more The
Foreign Secretary, William Hague has outlined the UK's commitment
to securing a deal on the two-state solution and peace in the
Middle East. The Foreign Secretary met the Secretary General...
Broad coalition the best option for government in Iraq, UN
envoy
more A
broad-based coalition Government in Iraq is a better alternative
for the people of that country who are eager to see a stable
administration, the United Nations top envoy to Iraq told the...
al-Assad, al-Hariri for continued coordination of Syrian-Lebanese
stance
more President
Bashar al-Assad received here Tuesday Lebanese Prime Minister,
Saad al-Hariri, and discussed with him bilateral relations between
the two sisterly countries. Discussions also dealt with the positive...
Middle East Quartet welcomed proximity talks between Israelis
and Palestinians
more These
talks are a significant step toward direct, bilateral negotiations
and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the establishment
of an independent and viable Palestinian...
Russian-Syrian summit talks confirmed friendly bilateral relations
more The
talks confirmed the friendly relations and long-lasting tradition
of trust between Russia and Syria, Dmitry Medvedev said. Making
a statement for the press, President Medvedev noted...
Palestinian President Abbas demands U.S. response to settlement
expansion
more Abbas
stated that, "The U.S Administration should give us response
to such issues."This came in context of the President’s
answers to journalists’ questions on the Israeli Government...
Syria and Russia want to expand relations on all levels
more President
Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation has said urgent topics
of regional security will have a special place in his talks with
President Bashar al-Assad during his visit to Syria...
Bold steps needed to achieve nuclear-free world, Ban said
more UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon used the screening of a documentary
tracing the history of the atomic bomb to appeal to all nations
to take courageous action to achieve...
Syria called
for compelling Israel to join NPT
more Syria
has called on the international community to seriously work to
compel Israel, the only entity that has military nuclear capacities
without and international observation, to join Nuclear...
al-Assad, pleads for Unified Arab Stance to confront Israel's "hostile
policies"
more President
Bashar al-Assad's meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani on Sunday
focused on the rapidly developing...
Cooperation between Syria and Iran includes all sectors and
infrastructures
more Meetings
of 12th session of the Higher Syrian-Iranian Joint Committee
started on Thursday headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri
and Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad...
NPT has
been and remains a cornerstone of U.S. national security
more U.S.
Representative to the UN, Susan Rice, told reporters that the
upcoming conference on nuclear proliferation is a very important
opportunity to strengthen all three pillars of the...
EU and Egypt discussed Europe-Mediterranean developments
more The
European Union and Egypt have met in Luxembourg for the sixth
meeting of the Association Council since the agreement governing
economic, political and cultural relations between them...
Al-Moallem, Mikdad, Bilal discussed bilateral relations with
South African DFM Ebrahim
more Foreign
Minister Walid al-Moallem and his Deputy Fayssal Mikdad met respectively
with Deputy South African Foreign Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim.
They discussed bilateral relations...
Presence of armed militias threaten recent progress in Lebanon
more Despite
major strides in strengthening Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity, the presence of armed militias continues to pose a
threat to the country and the region, warns a new...
Russia and Yemen discussed bilateral relations, global and
regional issues
more After
thoroughly discussing the state of, and prospects for Russian-Yemeni
economic and trade ties, the parties emphasized the importance
of revitalizing contacts between the relevant...
Independent UN rights expert warns Israeli orders may breach
Geneva Convention
more Two
orders by the Israeli military relating to movement in the occupied
Palestinian territory (oPt) may breach the fourth Geneva Convention
and violate the International Covenant on Civil...
Iraq must complete the ongoing democratic process, EU's Ashton
declared
more The
European Union encourages Iraq’s political entities to
engage constructively in the talks needed to ensure the prompt
establishment of a stable government. We hope...
Syrian - Algerian
Future Vision for Cooperation outlined
more 25
agreements, memos, protocol and executive programs for cooperation
were signed here Monday at the conclusion of the 2nd Session
of the Joint Syrian-Algerian Higher Committee...
Special
Forces in Iraq to remain through drawdown
more U.S.
special operations forces in Iraq will remain at current levels
even as the number of American troops there is nearly halved
over the next five months, the top special...
G8 Foreign Ministers tackle Key Global Peace and Security Challenges
more At
the meeting, G8 foreign ministers discussed three broad themes:
i) nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; ii) terrorism;
and iii) security vulnerabilities. “We...
Syria doesn't support indirect negotiations between Palestine
and Israel
more FM
al-Moallem said he emphasized to the committee's members that "Syria
is not a part of any statement issued by the meeting of the committee
in Sirte… Syria considers the issue of...
First Syrian-Turkish Research Forum kicked off
more The
2-day forum discusses human resources finance and management
at the Turkish Research National Council, the strategy of scientific
research, Syrian educational plans, policies...
Ban to attend Arab League summit amid new concerns about the
Middle East
more UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he will participate in
the League of Arab States summit this weekend in Libya amid what
he called a crisis of confidence surrounding...
Syria and Turkey discussed scientific cooperation
more Prime
Minister Mohammad Naji Otri Tuesday discussed means of cooperation
with Turkish Minister of State in charge of Science and Technology,
Mehmet Aydin, and Chairman of...
Obama Administration has worked to promote Israel’s security,
Clinton
told AIPAC
more Clinton:
Let me assure you, and for this entire Administration, our commitment
to Israel’s security and Israel’s future is rock
solid, unwavering, enduring, and forever...
al-Qaeda in Yemen includes various non-Arab nationalities
more A
Yemeni official has described al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan,
Osama Bin Ladin, as "the big devil" and leader of al-Qaeda
in the Arab Peninsula in Yemen, Nasser al-Wuhayshi...
Quartet welcomes the readiness to launch proximity talks between
Israel and
the Palestinians
more The
Quartet emphasizes that the circumstances which made it possible
to agree to launch the proximity talks be respected. The proximity
talks are an important step toward the...
Al-Qaeda's danger in Yemen is lesser than what the media described
more In
interview with Russia Today TV, Minister Al-Hitar referred al-Qaeda
existence to negligence of Arab, Islamic and foreign states those
militants who fought in Afghanistan during the cold war upon
a request from those states which...
Middle East peace process in jeopardy, Germany said
more Israel's
announcement that it plans to build new housing in East Jerusalem
was a serious setback for the Middle East peace process. That
was Angela Merkel's assessment after her meeting with the Lebanese
Prime Minister Saad Rafik...
Al-Assad said Israel complicates any endeavor for realization
of peace
more Syrian
President al-Assad underlined that the current Israeli government
which has repeatedly announced through its foreign minister its
anti-peace stand , complicating any...
Iran dismissed alleged interference in Palestine political
spectrum
more Iranian
Foreign Ministry official on Sunday dismissed alleged Iranian
interference in Palestine political spectrum and said that the
Islamic Republic of Iran calls for solidarity of...
Divide between the Israelis and Palestinians can only be resolved
by negotiations,
Biden declared
more Biden:
Our administration is fully committed to the Palestinian people
and to achieving a Palestinian state that is independent, viable,
and contiguous. Everyone should know...
Biden condemns Israel's planning for new housing units in East
Jerusalem
more The
United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important
issue for Israelis and Palestinians and for Jews, Muslims and
Christians. We believe that through good faith...
Syrian President al-Assad, Qatari Premier discussed
latest Mideast developments
more President
Bashar al-Assad on Saturday discussed with Qatari Prime Minister
and Foriegn Minister Sheik Hamad Bin Jasem Al-Thani latest developments...
Mideast must seek peace, calm and resolve issues
through diplomatic means more Qatari
Prime Minister and FM Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani and Lebanese
Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a joint press conference during
which they stressed the situation...
India - Riyadh Declaration announced a New Era of Strategic
Partnership
more At
the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister of the Republic
of India, His Excellency Dr. Manmohan...
Doha Agreement, a milestone towards
a lasting peace in Darfur more Under
the auspices of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa of Qatar, and in the
presence of Presidents Al-Bashir, Idriss Deby of Chad and Isais
Aforki of Eritrea, witnessed by the...
Israeli claim on sites in occupied
Palestinian
territory matter of concern
more A
senior United Nations official today voiced concern at Israel’s
announcement that it was adding two religious sites in occupied
Palestinian territory to its list of national heritage sites...
U.S. State Department
Senior Official met with Syrian President Assad
more U.S.
Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns: The White
House announced yesterday that Robert Ford will be the next American
ambassador to Syria if...
Israel cannot wage war, Hezbollah chief Nasrallah declared
more Secretary
General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah affirmed on Tuesday
that Israel's must realize that its threats do not frigthen the
resistance, and that any attack on...
Special Briefing on upcoming Iraqi
elections and U.S.-Iraqi Relations
more U.S.
Ambassador Christopher R. Hill: We are working very closely with
the UN and with the U.S. forces to help secure having 26 four-person
monitoring teams...
We must restore Arab solidarity, Syria's
Assad wrote to Mauritania's Abdel Aziz
more President
Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday sent a message to President Mohamed
Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania on the situation in the Arab arena
and the efforts needed to...
Israeli PM Netanyahu met with Russian
President Medvedev in Moscow
more Netanyahu:
I look forward to strengthening our mutual relations in every
field. I look forward to seeing how we can advance peace, and
helping advance peace means helping...
U.S. supports Lebanon’s sovereignty
and independence
more President
Obama spoke with Prime Minister Hariri on the morning of February
12, 2010. The President expressed his strong support, and that
of the American people, for the Prime Minister...
Jordanian King, German Chancellor
Merkel discussed Mideast developments
more His
Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel the latest developments in the Middle East. During
a telephone conversation...
Piracy is a growing
threat to Yemen, regional countries
more Piracy
has evolved again with pirates resume carrying out attacks against
a number of Yemeni and international trades ships. This means
that piracy is still posing a real threat to international...
Israel responded recommendations of
the Goldstone report
more Israel
expresses satisfaction that the U.N Secretary General's report
to the General Assembly reflected accurately the Israeli document
that was submitted this week. This...
Yemen fought terrorism
and suffered from it before 9/11: Prime Minister
more Yemen
has suffered from al-Qaeda and terrorism before 9/11 and it tried
to alert the world that there is a danger from the al-Qaeda Organization,
said Prime Minister Ali Mohammed...
Syrian President al-Assad started a short work visit to Libya
more President
Bashar al-Assad on Sunday started a short work visit to Libya
during which President al-Assad will hold talks with Libyan Leader
Col. Muammar Gaddafi on the...
Israeli FM Liberman
met with Brazilian Defense Minister Jobim
more The
Iranian regime is a regime without moral values, and the danger
it will pose to the world if it attains nuclear weapons is clear.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs...
U.S. Dept. of State's senior official
gave a briefing on Yemen
more Amb.
Benjamin: we also know that if we’re going to have a sustainable
long-term engagement with Yemen, if we’re going to deal
with the threats that it faces and that we face as well...
Yemen: Confronting
al Qaeda, Preventing State Failure
more The
unsuccessful attack on a U.S.-bound aircraft on December 25,
2009 serves as a further reminder of the threats that can emerge
when ungoverned and poorly governed places...
Iran, Libya to expand
economic, political and cultural ties
more Iran
and Libya on Friday stressed expansion of bilateral relations
in such areas as politics, economy and culture. The issue was
discussed during a meeting between Iran’s Foreign...
Israeli MFA displayed an undiplomatic attitude, Turkey declared
more Israeli
Ambassador to Turkey Gaby Levy was summoned by the Undersecretary
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu
today (January 12). During the meeting...
We cannot allow Yemen
to become a haven for terrorists
more During
a surprise visit to Yemen, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle
advocated a political solution to the country’s domestic
conflicts. In talks with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, he...
Navy Adm. Mullen outlined
U.S. Military Role in Yemen
more Yemen
has posed a concern as a potential terrorist safe haven for some
time, and the United States will continue to work with its government
to prevent that from happening, the chairman...
Egyptian FM Gheit discussed, in D.C.,
efforts to achieve peace in the Mideast
more The
Spokesman said that the Egyptian delegation is to discuss, in
Washington, means to reinvigorate the efforts to achieve peace
in the Middle East. The delegation is expected to hold...
Jordanian King Abdullah
met Lebanese prime minister Hariri
more His
Majesty King Abdullah and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri
on Wednesday underlined the strong ties between Jordan and Lebanon.
During a meeting with Hariri...
Mullen listed Priorities,
Challenges for U.S. Military
more The
broader Middle East, taking care of troops and their families
and managing risk remain the military’s top priorities,
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Navy Adm. Mike...
Deputy FM Ayalon detailed Challenges
for Israeli Foreign Policy
more Israel's
foreign policy is a foreign policy which has to be managed during
a very complex and severe conflict. Ayalon: We just concluded
a meeting with the Deputy Secretary of Homeland...
Complete details on
recent deadly operations against al-Qaeda in Yemen
more In
a battle demonstrated the strength and ability of the security
forces to protect the homeland's gains and preserving its security
and stability, al-Qaeda in Yemen received on 17 December 2009...
UN expert urged Israel to end Gaza
blockade
more Ahead
of the first anniversary of the Israeli military campaign in
the Gaza Strip, a United Nations independent expert is urging
Israel’s European and North American allies to use the
threat of economic...
EU Foreign affairs Council assessed
Situation in the Middle East (dec 2009)
more France
welcomes the European Union Foreign Affairs Council’s adoption
of conclusions on the situation in the Middle East. This important
text calls, as we hoped, for the urgent resumption of peace negotiations
between...
UNSG Ban appointed
new military commander for UN mission in Lebanon
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of a Spanish Major
General as Force Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping
operation in Lebanon, where Israel fought a 34-day war...
Israel's response to
the EU Foreign Ministers Council statement
more The
statement by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European
Union ignores the primary obstacle to achieving a resolution
between Israel and the Palestinians - the Palestinian refusal
to return to the negotiating table...
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton met
with Quartet Representative Blair
more Clinton:
Well, it’s a delight to welcome back to the State Department
a friend and an extraordinary public advocate for so many good
causes, Tony Blair. As you know, he is the representative from
the...
Prosecutor of UN-backed tribunal meets
Lebanese Justice Minister
more The
Prosecutor of the United Nations-backed tribunal set up to try
the perpetrators of recent political killings in Lebanon, including
the February 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri,
met today with the...
Israeli FM Liberman
met with German FM Guido Westerwelle
more We
of course discussed the situation in the region and the status
of the Middle East peace process. Our goal is a just two-state
solution, with, on one hand, a State of Israel that is recognized
and respected by all of its neighbors and whose citizens...
Strategic political dialogue between
Israel and NATO
more Top-level
dialogue between NATO and Israeli officials demonstrates close
cooperation. NATO’S Deputy Secretary General, Claudio Bisogniero,
will head a top-level delegation scheduled to visit Israel on
23-24 November 2009. The delegation will...
NATO Deputy Secretary
Claudio Bisogniero General to visit Israel
more The
Deputy Secretary General of NATO H.E. Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero
will pay an official visit to Israel on 23-24 November 2009.
He will lead a NATO delegation which will conduct high level
talks with Israeli officials in the framework of the NATO...
Israeli President Peres
met with French FM Bernard Kouchner
more Israeli
President Shimon Peres met with French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner. The two discussed how to overcome the present freeze
in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians so as to
advance the peace process. During the...
Israeli President Peres addressed session of the Brazilian
Congress
more Israel
has made research and development efforts in six new industries
necessary to the future world. Brazil's largeness and Israel's
smallness can complement one another. A large and diverse land
- from the headwaters of the Amazon to the modern architecture
of Brasilia. Its diverse colors produce...
America and the Middle East entered in a New Era
more Another
of my favorite authors, George Bernard Shaw, was an advocate
of a less long-winded strategy. Hosting an event in London one
day, Shaw was approached by the first speaker, who asked how
long he should speak for. Shaw replied that he should probably
limit his remarks to about 20 minutes. The speaker...
UN talked delays formation of government in Lebanon
more The
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon met today with
the country’s Prime Minister-designate and its parliamentary
speaker as he continues his efforts to try to help end the political
deadlock that has prevented the formation of a government, five
months after national elections were held...
General Assembly backed findings of UN report into Gaza conflict
more The
General Assembly today endorsed the report of the United Nations
investigation which found that both Israeli forces and Palestinian
militants were guilty of serious human rights violations during
the conflict in the Gaza Strip at the start of the year. After
two days of debate in the Assembly, at UN Headquarters...
General Assembly debated on UN rights probe into Gaza conflict
more The
General Assembly today began its debate on the report of the
United Nations probe which found that both Israeli forces and
Palestinian militants were guilty of serious human rights violations
during the Gaza conflict earlier this year. The report is the
result of a three-month investigation, led by Justice Richard...
Necessity of continuing coordination between Iran and Syria
more President
Bashar al-Assad sent a verbal message to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
of Iran on the bilateral relations and the developments in the
region. The message was conveyed by Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem
during a meeting with President Ahmadinejad on Wednesday. During
the meeting, President...
Secretary Clinton said U.S. position on settlements has not
changed
more Secretary
Clinton delivered the following remarks Monday morning at a camera
spray upon meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Fassi-Fihri
in Marrakech, Morocco: For 40 years, successive American administrations
of both parties have opposed Israel’s settlement policy.
That is...
Press conference of Israeli PM Netanyahu and U.S. Sec. Clinton
more We
think that the place to resolve outstanding issues and differences
of opinion is around the negotiating table. We think we should
sit around that negotiating table right away. We're prepared
to start peace talks immediately. I think that what we should
do on the path to peace is to simply get on it and get with...
Cooperation between Syria and Russia is strategic partnership
more Speaker
of the Syrian People's Assembly Mahmoud al-Abrash said on Friday
that Syria stopped Turkey-mediated indirect negotiations with
Israel following the Israeli aggression on Gaza, pointing out
that Israel has always been threatening Arab countries and pursuing
the policy of state terrorism. During his talks...
UN found more rockets aimed at Israel from southern Lebanon
more A
day after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged maximum restraint
by all sides, United Nations peacekeepers today found four more
rockets, three of them set to be fired, in an area of southern
Lebanon from which a missile zoomed into Israel on Monday. “Such
attacks are evidently aimed at provoking...
Israel-France held second round of talks on strategic issues
in Paris
more - dialogue
on Lebanon Israel and France hold second round of talks
on strategic issues in Paris. Subjects discussed were the bilateral
relations of the two countries, the European Union – Israel
relationship and international issues. The second session of
the Israel-France strategic dialogue was held today (28 October...
Syria said Turkish FM Erdogan condemned Israel's use of "WMDs"
more Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the use
of weapons of mass destruction by Israel is a fact, and that
it is unfair to remain silent while civilians are targeted with
white phosphorus bombs. In a television interview, Erdogan added
that despite the passing of almost nine months since the Gaza...
UK/Arab forum: Meeting the challenges together
more Ivan
Lewis commented on the importance of the UK/Arab social and economic
relationship ahead of the Arab British Economic Forum conference
on Tuesday 27 October. During his opening speech he highlighted
the many examples where UK/Arab cultural relations were deep
and ingrained and pointed to the ongoing and...
IAEA talks on Supplying Nuclear Fuel for Iranian Research Reactor
more The
IAEA is hosting a meeting of representatives from France, Iran,
Russia and the United States at the Agency´s Headquarters
in Vienna. Discussions are expected to focus on the provision
of nuclear fuel needed for the sustained operation of the Tehran
Research Reactor. The reactor produces medical radioisotopes
for therapeutic and...
Amb. Susan E. Rice at the IPC: Facing Tomorrow, Jerusalem
more The
Responsibility We Share for Our Common Future. Thank you, Dr.
Attali, for that kind introduction. Todah rabah. Erev tov. Thank
you very much, and good evening. I’m delighted to be here
with you all, and I’m delighted to be back in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Aznar, President Klaus, President Kuchma, President
Mesic, and President Ivanov...
Speech by Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu on Energy
more Our
security, because dependence on fossil fuels strengthens the
dark regimes that encourage instability and fund terror with
their petrodollars. Our economy, because if we don’t develop
alternative energy sources, the demand for fossil fuels will
increase and the supply will decrease. This will lead to an increase
in prices, which in turn will...
Security Council urges States to help Iran following attacks
more - Security
Council Statement The Security Council today condemned “in
the strongest terms” the terrorist attacks in Iran which
killed 57 people and injured 150 others on Sunday, and called
on all States to “cooperate actively” with the
Iranian authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice. “The
members of the Security Council reiterated...
Ahmadinejad underlined Significance of Iraq's Regional Role
more Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad highlighted the significant role
of Iraq in the region. "Iraq's role in the Islamic region
is very important," Ahmadinejad said at a meeting with visiting
Head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) Ammar al-Hakim
here in Tehran. "The country is among the main bases of
the Islamic rule in the world,"...
Turkish envoy summoned to Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem
more The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the acting Turkish ambassador
to Jerusalem to protest the screening of a Turkish television
series which depicts Israeli soldiers as members of a master
race, who rejoice in killing children. Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman instructed MFA
Deputy Director-General...
Israeli DFM Ayalon responded in Knesset on Goldstone Report
more The
Goldstone Report is a fraudulent, biased and unprofessional document,
and it is one of the things used to censure the State of Israel
by its enemies. There is a reason that not only Israel has voiced
opposition to this report, and not only the United States has
voiced opposition to this report, and not only Canada and Australia
and New...
Long-Term Strategic Partnership betw. Syria and Turkey established
more The
1st ministerial meeting of the Syrian-Turkish High-Level Strategic
Cooperation Council was concluded on Tuesday evening with a closing
session at the Turkish city of Gaziantep. During the closing
the session, the results of the bilateral meetings between ministers
were reviewed in order to establish basis for projects, agreements
and...
Swiss Deputy FM met with Iran Deputy FM over gas deal
more Switzerland
announced on Monday that it attaches much importance to its gas
deal with Iran, stressing that the two countries' relations are
deeply influenced by the contract. "The prospects of the
two countries' relations will be more brilliant by the materialization
of Iran's gas exports to Switzerland," Swiss Deputy Foreign
Minister...
Ongoing investigation about explosion in southern Lebanon
more The
United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said it is investigating,
together with the national armed forces, a reported explosion
that occurred on Monday in the southern town of Tayr Felsay.
A patrol from the UN force, known as UNIFIL, and a Lebanese patrol
visited the site of the incident at around 11:30 last night.
This morning, a UNIFIL...
Minimizing Potential Threats from Iran: U.S. Policy Options
more We
understand Congress's concerns and sense of urgency that you've
all expressed this morning and look forward to working with you
and consulting with you on any legislative effort with the aim...
Iran poses No Threat to Other Countries, Supreme Leader affirmed
more Ayatollah
Khamenei the Commander-in-Chief of Iranian Armed Forces attended
the graduation and oath-taking ceremony of the students of military
academies of the Islamic Republic of Iran's...
Israeli President Peres met with Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero
more President
Peres to Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero: "We do not need
outside judges. We will not allow a majority that is hostile
to Israel to judge us. If the human rights council wants to be
fair, I suggest that it consider Iran's call for the destruction
of Israel." President Shimon Peres today (Thursday, 15 October
2009), held a...
Interior ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries held a meeting
more Interior
Minister of Iraq neighboring countries held on Wednesday a meeting
in Sharm al-Sheikh with the participation of the Syrian delegation
headed by Interior Minister Gen. Said Sammour in addition to
Egypt, Bahrain and representatives of Arab League, the United
Nations and the Organization of Islamic Conference. Gen. Sammour...
Peres said "Hizbullah has turned Lebanon into a powder
keg"
more Peres
addressed the opening of the Fourth Galilee conference. President
Shimon Peres this morning (Tuesday), 13 September 2009, opened
the Fourth Galilee conference at Kfar Blum and referred to yesterday's
explosion in southern Lebanon. He said that Hizbullah has turned
Lebanon into a powder keg that will in the...
Iraqi FM Zebari received DFM of Russian Federation Sultanov
more Foreign
Minister Hoshyar Zebari received at his office Mr. Alexander
Sultanov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia and his accompanying
delegation currently visiting Iraq with...
UN envoy upbeat on chances of forming unity government in Lebanon
more The
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon said today that
the country had entered “a crucial week” for efforts
to end the deadlock over the formation of a national unity...
Amid intensified battles, displaced peoples increasing in Yemen
more Intensified
battles in Harf Sufian district have led to more increasing numbers
of displaced people into al-Usha area near Harf Sufian district.
Harf Sufian district is the greatest one in Amran...
Remarks by U.S. President Obama and Prime Minister Maliki of
Iraq
more - Hillary
Clinton at the U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference President
Obama: "I am grateful to have the opportunity to see Prime
Minister Maliki once again. We had a wide-ranging discussion
about the continuing progress that Iraq is making. We have
seen in the last several months a consolidation of a commitment
to democratic politics...
Humanitarian situation continues to crumble in northern Yemen
more With
fighting between Government forces and rebels showing no signs
of letting up and stores having run out of basic supplies in
northern Yemen, the United Nations refugee agency said... |
U.S. President Obama and Israeli PM
Netanyahu met
more Obama
warned that "There are going to be extremists and rejectionists
who, rather than seeking peace, are going to be seeking destruction.
And the tragedy that we saw yesterday...
France
welcomed adoption of resolution 1937 about UNIFIL
more France
considers the UNIFIL plays a role which is crucial to stability
in Lebanon and to maintaining the cessation of hostilities with
Israel, in the framework of the missions assigned to...
Security
Council extended mandate of UN force in Lebanon
more The
Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, saying its
presence there, as well as that of the Lebanese armed...
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visits
Iraq
more Vice
President Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq to participate in a Change
of Command and Change of Mission Ceremony, fulfilling the commitment
made by the President in his first month...
Re-demarcating
the Blue Line is underway in Lebanon
more In
the framework of re-demarcating the Blue Line, the Lebanese Army’s
technical committee in cooperation with the topographic team
of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon... Quartet statement turning point in
PLO decision to enter negotiations
more During
a press conference, Chief of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department
Dr. Erakat highlighted the Middle East Quartet statement as a
turning point in the PLO’s decision to enter direct...
Israeli DM Barak met with Quartet
envoy Tony Blair
more Next
week talks are expected to begin in Washington, and we are all
genuinely hopeful that a way will be found to move forward. Defense
Minister Ehud Barak met with Quartet Special...
Efforts to reach direct talks between
Israelis, Palestinians nearing turning point
more Efforts
to promote direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians
are nearing a turning point, a senior United Nations official
said, underlining that success hinges on continued regional...
Brazilian and Syrian President's talks
open
new prospects
more Brazilian
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim asserted that cooperation and coordination
between his country and Syria formed a starting point for building
Arab-Brazilian relations. During a ceremony...
Syria, Lebanon to boost bilateral
relations
more Prime
Minister Mohammad Naji Otri said Sunday what links Syria and
Lebanon is stronger than bets of enemies and conspirators. During
the Syrian-Lebanese Follow-up and Coordination...
Four years after end of Israel-Hizbollah
war, more progress needed
more The
Security Council resolution that ended the war that broke out
between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah four years ago
this week has helped to ensure stability, but the...
New UN report cites lack of progress by Israel and Lebanon
on key obligations
more While
Israel and Lebanon have enjoyed the longest period of stability
in their recent history, not enough progress has been made on
key obligations under the Security Council resolution...
Security Council called for freedom
of movement of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
more Strongly
deploring recent incidents directed at United Nations blue helmets
in Lebanon, the Security Council called for ensuring the safety
and freedom of movement of the peacekeepers...
Israel's nuclear program contradicts
NPT, Syrian report said
more Syria
submitted an initiative in 2003 on behalf of the Arab countries
to the Security Council to free the Middle East from Weapons
of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the...
Still tensions and issues that have
to be resolved, Obama told Netanyahu
more Obama
warmed relations with Israel and met with Prime Minister Netanyahu
at the White House. He explained that "As Prime Minister
Netanyahu indicated in his speech, the bond...
Jordanian King Abdullah,
British FM Hague discussed peace efforts
more Both
discussed means to achieve progress in efforts to resolve the
Arab-Israeli conflict.King Abdullah and Hague underscored the
need to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis...
Spain wasn't a part of the attempts to isolate Syria, al-Assad
told Zapatero
more President
Bashar al-Assad renewed on Monday Syria's stance that peace can
never be realized as long as there is occupation and without
the restoration of the rights, on top of...
Special Briefing took place, tackled
Israel's new policy towards Gaza
more On
June 20, 2010, the Security Cabinet adopted an important decision
regarding its policy towards Gaza. Israeli authorities announced
the details and the specific elements of this...
Syrian President al-Assad's visit
deepens common denominators, said Brazilian MP
more President
al-Assad last Wednesday paid a two-day official visit to Brazil
during which he held talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva and met the Syrian expatriates in Sao Paulo...
Security Council renewed mandate of
UN force in Golan Heights
more The
Security Council agreed to renew the mandate of the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), its peacekeeping operation
in the Golan Heights, for another...
U.S. President Obama and King Abdullah
of Saudi Arabia met
more King
Abdullah told "I would like to say to the friendly American
people that the American people are friends of Saudi Arabia and
its people, and they are friends of the Arab and Muslim...
Serbia, Libya signed agreement on
military, technical cooperation
more Minister
of Defence Dragan Sutanovac and Libyan Minister of Defence and
Chief of Staff of the Libyan Military Major-General Abu-Bakr
Younis Jaber signed an Agreement on Military...
Middle East Quartet said situation
in Gaza is unacceptable
more The
Quartet reaffirms that the current situation in Gaza, including
the humanitarian and human rights situation of the civilian population,
is unsustainable, unacceptable, and not in the interests...
Yemen achieves practical steps towards
local ruling, authorities said
more Yemen
has made tangible and concrete steps on the implementation of
wide power local ruling which represents a political breakthrough
enabling people rule themselves by themselves...
Israel decided to liberalize the blocus
of Gaza
more The
Security Cabinet decided to liberalize the system by which civilian
goods enter Gaza and expand the inflow of materials for civilian
projects under international supervision. The Security...
Confidence and cooperation improves
between Iraq and Kuwait
more The
members of the Security Council noted that the confidence and
cooperation-building period between Iraq and Kuwait, launched
in April 2009, had proven to be useful, and welcomed...
UN Secretary-General proposes six-month extension of UN force
in Golan Heights
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon has recommended that the United Nations peacekeeping
operation in the Golan Heights be extended for another six months,
until 31 December, deeming...
Israel’s commission on Flotilla incident
does not in any way meet Turkey’s clear demand
more Israel’s
declaration that it will establish a commission, composed of
Israeli citizens and two foreign observers, in order to investigate
the Israeli raid against the Freedom Flotilla does not in...
Gaza flotilla inquiry must comply
with standards, UN expert says
more Any
inquiry set up by Israel to investigate the Gaza flotilla incident
which led to the deaths of nine civilians must be given a genuine
capacity to find facts or it will not be considered credible,
the United Nations...
Hizballah remains the most technically-capable
terrorist group, U.S. official said
more Assessing
the Strength of Hizballah, Jeffrey D. Feltman, U.S. Assistant
Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told the Senate that "Hizballah’s
persistence as a well-armed terrorist group within Lebanon, as...
Syrian FM Al-Moallem, North Korean
VFM called for boosting up bilateral relations
more Foreign
Minister Walid al-Moallem on Sunday discussed with Vice Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) Kim Hyong Jun the bilateral...
Global problems, Palestine issue intertwined;
Iranian President Ahmadinejad declared
more President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here late Thursday that global problems
and Palestine issue are interlinked. President Ahmadinejad made
the remarks addressing a group of foreign...
Arab foreign ministers decided to
break Gaza siege
more Arab
Foreign Ministers decided to break the Israeli siege imposed
on Gaza Strip, committed themselves to deliver medical and food
aid and necessary construction materials...
UN Security Council backs call for
impartial probe into deadly raid on Gaza aid flotilla
more The
Security Council condemned the acts that led to the deaths of
at least 10 civilians after the Israeli military yesterday intercepted
a convoy of aid ships bound for Gaza, calling for...
Israel boarded Turkish boat and gravely
jeopardizes its bilateral relations with Ankara
more Turkish
statement from the MFA reads that "Israel has once again
clearly demonstrated that it does not value human lives and peaceful
initiatives through targeting innocent civilians...
Abbas to resume direct talks with
Israel if issues of borders security finalised
more President
Mahmoud Abbas said he hoped direct peace talks can be resumed
with Israel if both sides manage to finalise two issues - borders
and security arrangements, in their ongoing...
Yemeni premier talked on pre-emptive
strikes against Al-Qaeda
more Yemeni
Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawwar has emphasized the importance
of the proposal for dialogue which President Ali Abdullah Saleh
put forward to all political forces for agreement...
Syria, Iran discussed enhancing bilateral
cooperation
more Prime
Minister Mohammad Naji Otri discussed on Tuesday with Iranian
Assistant First Vice-President Agha Mohammadi Syrian-Iranian
bilateral cooperation relations, prospects of developing...
The West has to realize that the Middle
East has changed, al-Assad said
more Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad received on Sunday a written letter
of thanks from French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Syria's role
in releasing Clotilde Reiss. The letter also dealt with the bilateral
relations...
OIC to cooperate with the Islamic
Development Bank Group
more A
newly-signed MOU will enable the two OIC institutions to collaborate
and set-up a mutual mechanism for coordination and support for
the implementation of their various programmes and projects...
Israel rejected call by Russia and
Turkey to include Hamas in diplomatic process
more It
is unacceptable to differentiate between "good" terrorists and "bad" terrorists
on the basis of geography. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs absolutely
rejects calls by the presidents of Russia...
Security Council anti-terrorism committees move towards greater
cooperation
more The
heads of the three committees set up by the UN Security Council
to support the efforts of Member States to combat terrorism today
reported increased cooperation within the...
Israel has joined the OECD elite club
of world economies, PM Netanyahu declared
more The
official decision to establish a committee to examine the repercussions
of joining the OECD was made by previous Netanyahu's government
on December 7, 1997. Ten years later...
UN envoy to Lebanon met Arab League and Egyptian officials
on regional peace
more The
top United Nations envoy to Lebanon had a meeting with the chief
executive of the Arab League during which the two officials discussed
the Middle East peace process, including...
Israeli PM Netanyahu welcomed beginning
of proximity talks
more At
the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting on May 9, 2010, Prime
Minister Netanyahu said: "I would like to welcome the Palestinian
Authority's decision to begin proximity talks...
Russian President Medvedev to visit
Syria next week
more President
Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation and his wife will pay
a 2-day official visit to Syria next week. The Russian President
will hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad...
NPT is fundamental to protecting global
peace and security, P5 declared
more Against
the threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the NPT has
served the international community well for the past four decades.
It remains the bedrock of the nuclear non...
Mubarak received the Eritrean President
to discuss
settling the Somali dispute
more The
Official Spokesman outlined that the visit comes within the framework
of the bilateral constant contacts held at the presidential level
to discuss the situations in the Horn of Africa and the means...
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty aims at promoting Non-Proliferation
more The
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) rests
on three interrelated and mutually reinforcing pillars: nonproliferation,
peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and...
Promoting
Disarmament
Promoting
the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy
US
Opening Statement Announcements at NPT Review
Conference
Syrian FM Al Moallem warned the U.S.
of adopting Israeli false allegations
more Foreign
Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Saturday that "While the world
has recognized the constructive role carried out by Syria under
the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad to maintain security...
Israeli PM Netanyahu
celebrated the 150th
Anniversary of Herzl’s Birth
more Herzl’s
determination was not a utopian vision or the result of an innocence
disengaged from reality. Herzl knew very well that not all the
Jews would accept Zionism with open arms...
Middle
East peace process tops Ban’s talks with Israeli Defence Minister
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak today discussed
the prospects for progress on the Middle East peace process,
with the United Nations...
UN chief discussed Middle East peace
process with US special envoy
more Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and United States Special Envoy George Mitchell discussed
continuing efforts to get the Israelis and the Palestinians back
to the negotiating table, as well as the...
President Abbas called for Open Palestinian-Israeli
Dialogue
more President
Mahmoud Abbas, called, today, for an open political dialogue
between the different Israeli and Palestinian forces, parties
and leaders, aside from negotiations; a dialogue...
Israeli Deputy FM Ayalon to leave
on an official visit to the U.S.
more Deputy
Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon will leave tonight (Sunday, 25
April 2010) for an official visit to the US. Ayalon will meet
with senior officials from the American administration...
Syrian-Lebanese relations and their
future prospects discussed
more President
Bashar al-Assad received President of Marada Movement Lebanese
MP Suleiman Frangieh. Talks during the meeting dealt with the
rapidly developed Syrian-Lebanese relations...
Syria's behavior regarding
Hizballah "provocative",
U.S. said
more The
most senior Syrian diplomat present in Washington today, Deputy
Chief of Mission Zouheir Jabbour, was summoned to the Department
of State to review Syria’s provocative behavior...
"Encouraging" changes
under way in Persian Gulf countries
more A
top United Nations official today pointed to “encouraging” efforts
to improve human rights by the six nations that make up the Gulf
Cooperation Council, while also noting ongoing concerns...
Israel's possession of nuclear arsenal
threatens Region's security and stability
more Syria
gives utmost importance to the disarmament and non-proliferation
of nuclear weapons, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on
Saturday. Al-Moallem was speaking before an...
Israel shows no Desire for Peace,
Syria's Assad said
more President
Bashar al-Assad has said Austria has been known for decades for
her "objective, constructive, and just stances" toward various
issues in the world, particularly toward...
King, Obama reaffirm Jordan-U.S. partnership, urge quick Mideast
talks
more His
Majesty King Abdullah and US President Barack Obama on Monday
reaffirmed the Jordanian-US partnership in talks focused on strengthening
bilateral relations and...
UN envoy voices hope for calm and
safe Lebanese municipal elections
more The
top United Nations envoy to Lebanon today stressed the need to
ensure a calm and safe atmosphere ahead of the country’s municipal
elections, which are slated...
Humanitarian crisis brewing in Yemen
as aid funding runs out, UN expert says
more Hundreds
of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yemen
could face “a grave humanitarian crisis” unless aid agencies
receive an urgent injection of funds...
Syrian President and Lebanese politician
reviewed relations
more President
Bashar al-Assad discussed with Lebanese Democratic Party leader
MP Talal Arslan the challenges facing the two countries and the
efforts to further enhance...
U.S. Ambassador
Susan F. Burk on "Toward a Successful NPT Review Conference"
more At
the outset, He stressed that the United States is not approaching
the impending NPT Review Conference in any “business as usual” spirit.
President Obama has put a strengthened...
Necessity
for Continued Syrian-U.S. Constructive Dialogue Underlined
more President
Bashar al-Assad discussed on Thursday with Chairman of US Senate
Foreign Relations Committee Senator John Kerry bilateral relations,
prospects of Mideast peace...
G-8 FMs made remarks stressing threat
from nuclear proliferation is grave
more They
discussed three broad themes: nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament,
terrorism, and security vulnerabilities. Here are the highlights
and tangible outcomes of...
Nobody knows who will head the Iraq government: Allawi or Maliki?
more U.S.
Ambassador Christopher Hill told in a briefing that "we’ve
had an unofficial complete tally of the elections, which has
yielded the plurality of seats to Iraqiya, some 91 seats...
"We heard aggressive declarations
from Arab League leaders," Israeli
DFM said
more On
March 27, 2010, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon reacted
to declarations emanating from the Arab League meeting held in
Libya. "We heard aggressive and problematic declarations...
Egypt wants a common Arab stance on
Non-Proliferation
more Egypt
is intensifying the coordination with its partners in the various
geographical and political groups to defend the Arab interests
during the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review...
Jordanian King Abdullah helds talks with U.S. Envoy Mitchell
more His
Majesty King Abdullah received on 22 March 2010 U.S. Middle East
peace envoy George Mitchell, who briefed the King on the outcome
of his recent talks with Palestinian President...
Israeli authorities must stop restricting Palestinian life
more In
a special briefing to the Security Council, SG Ban Ki-Moon strongly
advised "the Israeli authorities, while addressing their
security concerns, to find a way to further ease the...
Settlement building in Jerusalem must
end, the EU told
more The
EU sent a clear message to the Middle East: Settlement building
must end Foreign Minister Stubb said that feedback about the
idea had been split. "We are pro-Palestinian...
"Jerusalem is not a settlement.
It is our capital," Israeli PM Netanyahu
told AIPAC
more In
Jerusalem, my government has maintained the policies of all Israeli
governments since 1967, including those led by Golda Meir, Menachem
Begin and Yitzhak Rabin...
Egypt voiced concern over tense situation in the Palestinian
territories
more The
Spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that the tense
situation and confrontations in the occupied Palestinian territories
are a cause for concern and...
President Saleh denied U.S. military
presence in Yemen
more "There
is Yemeni-US security cooperation in combating terrorism and
counterterrorism training", said President Saleh in an interview
with pan-Arab Al Arabiya Satellite News...
Al-Assad reiterated Syria's right
on Golan, celebrated relations with Italy
more Syrian
President al-Assad expressed Syria's appreciation for Italy's
support to Syria's right to restoring the occupied Syrian Golan,
and looked forward to a more active European...
The EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the Middle East
more The
EU Foreign Affairs Council will convene in Brussels on 22 March.
The main topics of the meeting are the Middle East Peace Process
and preparations for the EU External...
Jordanian King Abdullah received EU
foreign policy chief Ashton
more During
a meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, King Abdullah warned
of the serious nature of Israel's provocations...
Syria and Egypt see unlimited bilateral
business and trade opportunities
more Deputy
Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari affirmed
that the 1st Syrian-Egyptian Businessmen Council is part of the
natural course of Syrian-Egyptian relations, and that it represents
a new...
Israeli PM Netanyahu met with Brazilian President Lula da Silva
more Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening met with Brazilian President
Luis Ignacio (Lula) Da Silva. The two leaders agreed to hold
joint biannual meetings between the two governments, alternatively
in Israel and Brazil, as well as...
Syria's role as center for crossing
electric
and petroleum energies discussed
more Activities
of National Energy Conference on the 2nd day focused on energy
economies, Syria's role as a center for crossing electrical and
petroleum energies, economic administration...
Build trust and freeze settlements, said EMPA about the Middle
East conflict
more The
stalled Middle East peace talks dominated the sixth plenary session
of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), in Jordan
(12-14 March). The Israeli policy...
Enduring Partnership between the United
States
and Israel
more U.S.
Vice-President Biden: Israel’s history is a tale of remarkable
accomplishment. On a perilous patch of desert with sparse natural
resources, you have built perhaps the...
U.S.
seeks Saudis’ help for U.N. Sanctions on Iran
more In
his meetings with Saudi officials, Defense Secretary Gates explained
the overall U.S. approach on Iran, the official said, noting
that President Barack Obama offered...
IAEA Director General called for greater
access to Nuclear Power
more At
the International Conference on Access to Civil Nuclear Energy,
hosted on Monday, 8 March 2010 by the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation, the...
Egyptian FM Gheit received Tony Blair, Quartet Representative
to the Middle East
more Spokesman
for the Foreign Ministry stated that Foreign Minister, Ahmed
Aboul Gheit received on the 8th of March, Mr. Tony Blair, the
Quartet Representative to the...
Security Council commends Iraqi peaceful,
inclusive and democratic political process
more The
members of the Security Council welcome the holding of parliamentary
elections in Iraq on 7 March 2010. The members look forward to
the announcement of Iraq...
Iraqis have chosen a new government
to lead their country at a critical time
more Clinton
on Iraqi National Elections: Thanks to the efforts of the Iraq
High Electoral Commission and the Iraqi Security Forces, men
and women from all parts of Iraq were...
Political
developments top UN envoy’s talks with Lebanese Prime Minister more The
implementation of the 2006 Security Council resolution calling
for a full halt to fighting between Israel and Hizbollah topped
a senior United Nations official’s talks with...
Israeli PM Netanyahu met with Panamanian
President Martinelli
more Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem, met with visiting
Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, who emphasized his country's
and people's friendship for...
Syria to buy gas and deepens relations with Azerbaijan
more Prime
Minister Mohammed Naji Otri held talks with the visiting Azerbaijani
Minister of Industry and Energy, Natig Aliyev, on cooperation
relations between Syria and...
Decision on heritage it is neither
a diplomatic decision nor a
political more Israeli
PM Netanyahu: "It could be that some elements in the international
system mistakenly think that this is a diplomatic decision, a
political decision. In fact, it is neither a diplomatic...
A Palestinian State: when? Europe
must help open up a genuine political way
forward
more Joint
article by Bernard Kouchner and Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish
Minister of Foreign affairs, published in the Le Monde newspaper.
On 17 December 2007, the International...
A dynamic set of terrorism and proliferation
threats emerged
more U.S.
Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins on Global Threat Reduction: Today,
preventing terrorist acquisition of WMD and halting the proliferation
of WMD to dangerous...
UN refugee agency ‘cautiously
optimistic’ over Yemen ceasefire
more The
United Nations refugee agency today said that it is encouraged
by the first – and so far holding – ceasefire between
Government forces and rebels in northern Yemen...
Prince Saud Al-Faisal
and Hillary Clinton held joint press conference
more Prince
Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, and Hillary Clinton, the
U.S. Secretary of State, held a joint press conference, marking
the end of the one-day official visit of...
Saudi Ambassador met with Syrian Minister
of Petroleum
more Syrian
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Sufian Alaw received
here today Saudi Ambassador to Syria, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Al-Eifan. During the meeting, they...
Officials hope ceasefire
in northern Yemen will hold
more UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that he is encouraged
by news of a ceasefire agreement having been struck in northern
Yemen, where 250,000 civilians have been...
International efforts
needed to prevent crisis escalation in Yemen
more MEPs
are deeply concerned about the long-standing and growing presence
of al-Qaeda, and the deteriorating security, social and economic
problems in Yemen, which they think...
French PM Fillon to visit Syria on
19 February 2010
more The
French government announced on Wednesday that French premier
Francois Fillon is going to visit Syria from February 19th to
21st. President Bashar al-Assad received earlier...
Russia discussed the
situation in inter-Palestinian relations with Hamas' Mashaal
more Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov,
met in Moscow with a Palestinian Hamas delegation led by Politbureau
Chief Khaled Mashaal on February 8...
Egypt opposes the escalating Israeli
harsh tone against any Arab country
more Foreign
Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said that the exchange of severe
statements recently regarding possible war in the region is a
matter of convern and should be stopped. Aboul Gheit...
Israel wants to "reach peace
with our neighbors", PM Netanyahu declared
more Netanyahu:
In order to continue ruling our own destiny, we must establish
our collective ability in three main fields – in security,
the economy and education. I do not intend...
Yemen on the Brink
and Implications for U.S. Policy
more The
unsuccessful attack on a U.S.-bound aircraft on December 25,
2009 serves as a further reminder of the threats that can emerge
when ungoverned and poorly governed places...
Yemen has "a responsibility
to provide leadership", British official Ian Lewis told
BBC
more Foreign
Office minister Ivan Lewis is currently in Yemen meeting with
leaders and representatives of local NGOs operating in the country.
In his first engagements yesterday he called on President Ali
Abdallah Salih and Prime Minister...
Israeli Deputy FM Ayalon to speak at Munich Security Conference
more The
deputy foreign minister will speak on the topic of "Stability
and Security in the Middle East". Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs Daniel Ayalon will speak on Saturday night (6 February...
Recent Agreements with Syria show positive evolution, Turkish
PM said
more Recent
Agreements signed between Syria and Turkey form major shift in
Syrian-Turkish relations and positively affect the region, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday...
Syrian President Bachir al-Assad started
an official visit to Qatar
more President
Bashar al-Assad and Mrs. al-Assad on Thursday afternoon started
a two-day visit to Qatar, and were received by Emir Sheikh Hamad
bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar...
The escalating ties betw. Mideast
Terrorism and Criminal Activity
more While
our discussion today will focus on Middle Eastern terrorist groups’ links
to criminal activity, it is important to bear in mind that the
threat of terror and the origins of terrorist...
Designations of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP) & Senior Leaders
more The
Secretary of State has designated al-Qa’ida in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under
Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality...
Saudi Arabian Prince Saud Al-Faisal,
Chinese FM Jiechi met
more Prince
Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, highlighted here today
Saudi Arabia's vision on achieving international security and
peace. That vision is emanating from our respect...
Yemeni FM says no agreement allows
US jets to wage raids
more Foreign
Minister Abu- Bakr al-Qirbi has denied reports about agreement
between Sana'a and Washington on security coordination allowing
the latest to wage missile attacks and air raids...
Saudi King Al Saud met with MI6 Chief
Sir John Sawers
more The
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Al Saud received at his palace here today the Head of British
Secret Intelligence Service Sir John Sawers and...
Israel denounced anti-Israel statement
by Turkish PM
more Israel
respects Turkey and is interested in continued normal relations
between the states, but expects the Turkish side to reciprocate
with a similar approach towards Israel. PM Erdogan’s...
Israeli PM Netanyahu decided to close
Israel's Southern Border
more Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening, decided to close Israel's
southern border to infiltrators and terrorists by building a
barrier along the border with Egypt. Construction of...
Unifying the Arab ranks
compulsory, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said in a statement
more Prince
Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, explained here today that
the message he conveyed from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to Syrian President...
Saudi Arabian FM received Hamas Political
Bureau Chief Meshaal
more Prince
Saud Al-Faisal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, received here
today Hamas Political Bureau Chief and the Secretary General
of Jihad Movement in Palestine Khaled Meshaal. During the...
Iran, Lebanon called
for expansion of relations
more Visiting
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki conferred on Monday
with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on expansion of mutual
relations as well as regional developments. At the meeting...
German FM Westerwelle sees progress
towards greater stability in Lebanon
more The
Lebanese Parliament’s vote of confidence in the new Government
means progress towards greater stability in the country. This
is a positive signal for the region as well. The new Lebanese
Government...
Syria, France inked agreement on Financial
Cooperation
more An
agreement on financial cooperation was signed on Friday by Syrian
visiting Finance Minister Dr. Mohammad al-Hussein and French
Minister of Economy, Finance and Employment Mrs. Christine Lagarde...
Israeli PM Netanyahu
met with Russian NSC Secy. Patrushev
more Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening met with Russian National
Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. The two men discussed
the main strategic issues on the agenda and the strengthening
of bilateral...
UN’s Middle East envoy
urged halt to demolitions, evictions in East Jerusalem
more The
top United Nations envoy to the Middle East today reiterated
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for an immediate end
to demolitions, evictions and the instalment of Israeli settlers
in Palestinian...
Israeli PM Netanyahu proposed 10-month
Suspension of new Construction
more Prime
Minister Netanyahu told Security Cabinet members at the start
of today's meeting that, "In the international circumstances
that have been created, this step will promote Israel's broad...
Conclusion of Iraqi
President Jalal Talabani's visit to France
more The
visit is considered the finest types of visits in the diplomatic
etiquette, the first of this kind throughout the history of relations
between Iraq and France, the streets of Paris were decorated
with Iraqi flags throughout the visit and official ceremonies...
Jordanian King dissolved House, ordered
early elections
more A
Royal Decree was issued on Monday to dissolve the Lower House
as of Tuesday, November 24. Meanwhile, another decree ordered
that legislative elections be held in accordance with the existing
Elections Law. No date was set for the early...
White House dismayed at Gilo's expansion
decided by Israel in Jerusalem
more We
are dismayed at the Jerusalem Planning Committee’s decision
to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of
Gilo in Jerusalem. At a time when we are working to re-launch
negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts...
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made
a 2-day work visit to France
more President Bashar
al-Assad started on Thursday a two-day work visit to France to
hold talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France on the bilateral
relations between the two countries and the latest development
in the Middle East. During the visit, President al-Assad met
a number...
Chinese Deputy Prime Minister to visit
Syria later in November
more Chinese
Deputy Prime Minister Hua Liang pays a three-day official visit
to Syria later in November, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on
Thursday. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said that Hua will
hold talks with senior Syrian officials on cooperation in fields
of trade, investment...
Israeli PM Netanyahu said negotiations must start immediately
more The
history of the Jewish people has been marked by a paradox. We
are at once both small and great. We are few in number but luminous
in achievement. In the ancient world, the Jews were a small people
on the foothills of Asia touching the Mediterranean. But in Alexandria
some 2200 years ago, the Bible was...
Syrian-Turkish relations example for best relations among countries
more President
Bashar al-Assad and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey on Sunday
underlined that the Syrian-Turkish relations have become an example
for best relations among countries to be followed, referring
to what has been achieved of practical steps to establish the
strategic cooperation council and cancel...
United States works very hard for Israeli-Palestinian solution
more Philip
J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs. Well,
we are – we’re working very hard on trying to get
the two sides to sit down and get to the point where they can
begin negotiating towards the goal that both sides want, and
really the entire world wants. I think that whatever we have
said...
Israeli naval force intercepted a disguised Iranian weapon
ship
more A
special Israel Navy force intercepted and boarded a ship 100
miles off the coast of Israel. The ship, carrying the flag of
Antigua, was carrying weapons under civilian disguise. On Tuesday
(November 3, 2009) a special naval force detained and boarded
a merchant ship carrying the flag of Antigua about 100 miles
west of the coast...
Piracy, a concern that still endangers international navigation
more Piracy,
which is being evolved in regional waters near coasts of the
Gulf of Aden, has become a problem threatening nearly 70 percent
of world trade's size crossing through the Gulf of Aden to Bab
al-Mandab towards Suez Canal. All countries, even great powers,
could not find reasons behind emerging...
Supreme Leader: Iranian nation will not be deceived by US gov’t
more - Islamic
Republic, more profound than U.S. thinks - U.S.
does not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs - Supreme
Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said
on Tuesday that Iranian nation will not be deceived by the
US government’s conciliatory gesture. “As long
as the US government has not...
Jordan and Egypt discussed developments in the region
more His
Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday held talks in Cairo with Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak focused on recent developments in the
region and means to boost bilateral ties. King Abdullah and Mubarak
urged better Arab coordination at “this critical stage” to
unify the Arab position on the current challenges...
Final settlement based on two state solution, Jordan King said
more His
Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday said regional peace and security
will not be attained through Israel's unilateral actions in Jerusalem,
its continued building of settlements and barriers or its use
of armed force, but by reaching a final peace settlement to the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.
King...
IAEA received initial response from Iran on fuel agreement
more - statement Iran
has submitted an initial response on a draft agreement on fuel
for its civilian nuclear research facility to the head of the
United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it
was announced today. Last week, the country asked for more time
to consider the proposal on the provision of fuel for the site...
NATO-UAE Relations & Way Forward
- Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
more Keynote
Address by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Why do
I believe such strong engagement is important? Simply put, because
the security of the countries here in the Gulf region, as well
as in the Mediterranean, matters a great deal to NATO. And similarly,
I believe that the Alliance matters a great deal...
Hizbollah must disarm to ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty
more - UN
looking into latest rocket firing Disbanding militias
in Lebanon - especially Hizbollah, which fought a war with
Israel in 2006 – is “of vital importance” to
the country’s democracy and sovereignty, Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon writes in a new report, where he voices satisfaction
at progress made towards stability...
The Situation in the Middle East - the View from Israel, DFM
Ayalon
more Deputy
Foreign Minister Ayalon: For me it's a great pleasure, indeed
a privilege, to be here at the London School of Economics, which
we see as a great academic institute and a center of excellence.
Within this framework it is also my honor to address you and
give you the point of view which I think should be heard...
UN nuclear inspectors arrived in Iran to visit newly-disclosed
facility
more Inspectors
from the United Nations atomic watchdog have arrived in Iran
to visit a recently-disclosed uranium enrichment facility. The
Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed
late last month by Iran about the construction of the plant,
which is located in the city of Qom. The visit was announced...
French cooperation in Yemen to be long-standing and diverse
more Yemen
and France maintain political, economic, cultural and scientific
cooperation relations. France supported the unification of Yemen
in 1990 and the preservation of its unity during the civil war
in 1994. It played the role of mediator in the conflict over
the Hanish Islands between Yemen and Eritrea. Since its reunification...
IAEA Draft Agreement circulated at Nuclear Fuel Talks on Iran
more - IAEA
Director General´s Remarks - U.S.:
(draft proposal) acceptable by Friday - The technical meeting
addressing Iran´s request for the supply of nuclear fuel
for the Tehran Research Reactor concluded. The parties received
a detailed, technical agreement for consideration from the
International Atomic Energy Agency. In a brief...
Israeli PM Netanyahu met with EU High Representative Solana
more - with
U.S. Amb. Susan Rice The Prime Minister hosted Javier Solana,
the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security
Policy and Marc Otte, the Special Representative for the Middle
East peace process today. The meeting took place in an very
positive atmosphere. Solana reiterated that the EU’s
relations with Israel...
UN envoy discusses recent incidents in southern Lebanon with
AL
more - with
Egyptian FM Aboul Gheit The United Nations Special Coordinator
for Lebanon met today with the head of the Arab League to discuss
several recent incidents, including the September rocket attack
on Israel and the discovery of some listening devices in south
Lebanon. Michael Williams told reporters in Cairo afterwards...
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