The Middle East articles from March 2003

The Middle East archives from March 2003

Comment.(Iraq War, 2003-)(Column)
March 1, 2003... The majority of people living in the Gulf feel that a US strike on Iraq--with or without the backing of UN--is now inevitable. Nobody in the region seems to want it to happen but Saddam Hussein's near neighbours feel the matter is out of their...

The road show rolls on. (Current Affairs).
March 1, 2003... In the face of all opposition US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair continue to lobby and cajole international political players into accepting the rightness of their cause. It wasn't just the Iraqi dictator Saddam...

Israel: post-election challenges: Winston Churchill's caveat about "lies, damned lies and statistics" notwithstanding, which figure truly epitomises the 28 January election in Israel? (Current Affairs).
March 1, 2003... Likud nearly doubled its tally of seats from 19 to 37, and fully 400,000 voters switched to the party since the parliamentary poll of 1999 making Ariel Sharon the first Israeli Prime Minister to be re-elected in a decade. In short, Likud scored...

On the eve of war, Iraqis turn to God; since 1980 Iraq has been a country at war. Now the happless Iraqi nation prepares for the latest onslaught. (News From Baghdad).
March 1, 2003... There are no doubts in Baghdad that a war will come. Stockpiling of foodstuff, digging of backyard wells, hoarding of medicines and the building of fences around residential areas and homes are but a few ways in which Iraqis are preparing for...

Meanwhile in Kuwait. (Current Affairs).(foreign relations)
March 1, 2003... As the world was buzzing with diplomatic activity--Iraq's games with weapons' inspectors and Washington's decision to turn the military heat on Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein--it was nail-biting time for the citizens of Kuwait, who had more...

Omanis announce electoral reforms; Oman's Minister of Interior has announced a series of measures which will make a significant contribution to promoting increased democracy in the sultanate. (Current Affairs).
March 1, 2003... Oman has taken an important step towards democracy with the introduction of a series of new voting measures that will allow Omanis to have an increased influence in the way their country is run. At a press conference held at the Muscat Press...

Europe: the politics of hate: Jews and Muslims have been the victims of racist attacks in France. (Current Affairs).
March 1, 2003... France's internal race relations have come under the spotlight recently following a series of well-publicised anti-Semitic attacks at the beginning of the year. Both the Jewish and North African Muslim communities of France have been targeted...

Yemen: the stakes are higher; in the last few months instability in Yemen has increased, reaching the highest levels since the civil war in 1994. (Current Affairs).
March 1, 2003... The British and US governments recently issued stern warnings to their citizens against travelling to Yemen. The US State Department advised Americans that terrorists linked to Al Qaeda have plans to strike US interests, while the British...

Tehran's man in London: Golnar Motevalli talked to the Iranian Ambassador to the UK, HE Morteza Sarmadi. (Interview).(United Kingdom)(Interview)
March 1, 2003... Given the impending attack on Iraq, much of the international community is keeping a wary eye on the country's neighbours and the degree of support (or lack of) they might expect should a US attack go ahead. Iran is very much at the forefront...

The $50 billion arms bazaar: the countries of the Middle East region are spending billions of dollars on purchasing arms with individual governments investing vast sums of money to build their military capabilities. (Business & Finance)(Cover Story).
March 1, 2003... This year, Arab governments in the Middle East and North Africa are expected to spend a staggering $50bn on their military forces. While a portion will pay wages of soldiers and officers, much of that money will be used to purchase complex,...

Turkey: is the honeymoon over? After being greeted with mild euphoria by Turkey's usually hard-headed financial markets last November, it seems the honeymoon has now ended for the country's new Justice and Development Party (AKP) government (Current Affairs).
March 1, 2003... After a landslide victory by the AKP in the 3 November general election, which left Turkey with its first single party government in years, markets soared. The softer than soft Turkish currency, the lira, also showed an impressive performance...

CNN: nothing justifies war. (Newstand).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... France, Russia and Germany have issued a joint declaration calling for U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq to be reinforced as part of an attempt to disarm Saddam Hussein peacefully. Reading the declaration in the presence of visiting Russian...

BBC: tension increases. (Newstand).(British Broadcasting Corporation Ltd. reports on Iraq-United States relations)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Mr Putin told journalists: "We believe that use of force may lead to an unpredictable escalation in tension." BBC Paris correspondent James Coomarasamy says France and Russia appear to be on the same diplomatic wavelength. Both nations...

What OPEC did next ...: in the face of rising concern over conflict in Iraq and the troubles in Venezuela, what will the 10 member cartel pull out of the hat to calm the troubled oil market this time? (Oil).
March 1, 2003... With the oil price remaining stubbornly above the $30 a barrel mark, oil cartel OPEC decided in January to increase its total production quota by 1.5m barrels a day (b/d). The OPEC ceiling was therefore increased from 23m b/d to 24.5m b/d with...

NBB's annual profits reach $51m.(National Bank of Bahrain)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * The National Bank of Bahrain recorded $51m in profits for 2002 compared to $48.1m in 2001. The increase resulted from consistent and steady growth in the Bank's core business and good performance by the Bank's treasury. Bahrain's banking and...

Halal Hedge Fund set to boost Islamic finance world's Shari'ah Funds.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * A US offshoot of Meyer Capital has created the first Halal Hedge Fund. Targeting an asset base of $500m with a minimum investment of $10m, the fund is challenging traditional thinking in Islamic finance, which requires financial products to...

Yemen Islamic bank expanding operations to Arab world.(Tadhamon International Islamic Bank)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Yemen's Tadhamon International Islamic Bank (TIIB) plans to venture into three new markets in the Arab world--the UAE, Syria and Egypt. The bank will soon apply to the relevant central banks for permission to open shop.

International consortium makes oil discovery in Algeria.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Sonatrach and partners Maersk Olie Algerie and Eni/Lasmo Oil announced an oil discovery at the Hassi Berkine North East prospect on Block 404 in Algeria. The Canaccord Capital Corporation plans to increase its...

Oman benefits from calm waters; Oman's port development at Salalah is quietly rising to prominence in the region. (Shipping).
March 1, 2003... Muscat has kept a low profile as the Middle East's political temperature has risen over the last 18 months, in keeping with the sultanate's policy of emphasising its stability. The government has been able to concentrate on progressing its...

DEL names Mitsui for Qatar-UAE pipeline procurement mandate.(Dolphin Energy Limited)(United Arab Emirates)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Dolphin Energy Limited (DEL) has awarded a mandate to Mitsui and Company of Japan for procurement of the line pipe for the Dolphin Project. The energy initiative has been established to produce and supply over 400,000 metric tonnes of...

Iran to sell surplus drinking water to Kuwait.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Iran is considering providing 300m cubic metres of its surplus drinking water to Kuwait annually, Iranian Minister of Energy said. The two nations recently agreed to set up a working committee to study the project's legal, economic and...

Saudi Arabia: mining on two fronts: the state-owned Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Ma'aden, will play a vital part in aiding the kingdom's diversification goals. (Business & Finance).(Saudi Arabian Mining Co.)
March 1, 2003... Efforts to diversify the Saudi economy have run up against a multitude of problems: the lack of alternatives, the more attractive investment opportunities available in the oil and gas sector and the lack of domestic expertise. Yet the...

Danish pump manufacture sees 18% growth in Middle East revenues.(Grundfos )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Denmark-based pump manufacturer Grundfos earned $35m in revenues from its Middle East operations in 2002. This figure represents an 18% growth in the company's sales in the region over the previous year 2001. The region accounts for 2.6% of...

Ducab wins $16m order from Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity.(Dubai Cable Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * The Dubai Cable Company has won an order worth over Dh60m ($16m) from the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority for the manufacture and supply of more than 500km of 33kV cables in 2003

Turkey's autoparts sector targets Middle East in $7bn export drive.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Turkey is targeting Middle East demand for vehicle spare parts and accessories, as part of its strategy to raise its worldwide automotive sector exports from $4.5bn to $7bn within five years.

Qatar: the tiny emirate of Qatar, is on track to become the Gulf's new super-energy power. (Economic Report).
March 1, 2003... The tiny emirate of Qatar, is on track to become the Gulf's new super-energy power joining the ranks of the world's major liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers and exporters within the next three to five years. Qatar, under the guidance of the...

Tapping into Libyan resources: after years in the doldrums, foreign investment in Libya is poised for take off and, ironically, the internationally much maligned Great Man Made River project will provide the launch pad for this renewed economic activity. (Water).
March 1, 2003... Libya has not been a favourite destination for foreign investment for many years. The country's policies of tight economic control, coupled with Tripoli's reputation as a staunch opponent of the West and a rather Byzantine bureaucracy, excluded...

CEMEX Egypt's sales volume up 20%.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * CEMEX Egypt recorded a 20% growth in cement volumes in the fourth quarter of 2002, versus the same period a year ago and an increase of 18% for the full year 2002. Demand from the self-construction sector, as well as higher penetration in...

ZIIC posts $12m net profits for 2002.(Zamil Industrial Investment Company )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Saudi Arabia's Zamil Industrial Investment Company recorded a net profit of $12.1m for the year 2002. Earnings per share rose from SR2.35 in 2001 to SR7.54 at the end of the fiscal year. In addition, the shareholders' equity also reported a...

Australia's Clipsal invests $1.63m in new Sharjah factory.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Australian electrical components manufacturer Clipsal will invest Dh6m ($1.63m) in a manufacturing facility that is scheduled to be set up by year's end in Sharjah. The company already has an assembly facility in Sharjah Airport International...

Emirates Post's net profit crosses $27m.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Emirates Post recorded $27.2m in profits for the year 2002, an increase of 11% over the previous year, on revenues of Dh243.7m. The corporation has allocated Dh78.4m for 2003 developmental and expansion projects across the UAE.

BMA issues first Insurance Regional Office licence to Norwich Union.(Bahrain Monetary Agency)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * The Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) has issued a licence to Norwich Union Insurance to establish its regional office in Bahrain. The Regional Office will serve Norwich Union operations in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Saudi...

Egypt's El Rashidi El Mizan acquired by senior management.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... * Egyptian Halawa and Tahini producer El Rashidi El Mizan has been acquired for 92m Egyptian pounds ($20m) by a consortium which includes the senior management team, the Rashidi family and CDC Capital Partners.

Dubai goes on the rails; the joint pressures of a growing population and a stretched transport infrastructure in the municipality have combined to force a radical rail solution. (Business & Finance).
March 1, 2003... The Dubai municipality has opted to build a rapid rail transit system to cope with the rapidly growing travel demands over the next two decades as the population escalates. The ambitious programme was announced by the municipality at the...

A new world of choices: Saudi Arabian Airlines, consistently the region's premier national carrier, has recorded an increase in traffic despite the overall downturn in the aviation industry. (Business & Finance).
March 1, 2003... At a time when most of the world's airlines are complaining of a significant downturn in revenues, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) has announced an increase in passenger traffic during 2002. In the post 11 September 2001 world, international...

The changing face of Iran: society things are changing in Iran economically and socially but not quickly enough for some of the under 30 year-olds who make up more than two-thirds of the population of the Islamic Republic. (Mosaic).
March 1, 2003... With 69% of Iran's population under the age of 30, the traditional, Islamic parliamentary elites are acutely aware of the potential political dynamism of these upcoming generations. Most young and educated Iranians are keen to emulate western...

Water, water everywhere ... Despite their rich literary culture few Arabs are able or willing to make reading a part of their everyday lives, regional publishers complain. (Mosaic).
March 1, 2003... Arabic may be the one of the worlds oldest and richest extant languages, but few Arabs are reading its modern literature, writers and publishers say. With literacy rates varying between 40% for Mauritania and a high of 85% in Lebanon,...

It's not the real thing; a newly launched `Islamic' soft drink is cutting into US profits but is Mecca Cola just a fad or a serious contender for a slice of the lucrative Muslim market? (Mosaic).
March 1, 2003... The 1.5-litre bottles are Palestinian green, with their labels printed in French as well as Arabic. "Not to be mixed with spirits," says a warning label. Just introduced in France by Tawfik Mathlouthi, the 46-year old founder of Mecca Cola...

Alexandria: Past, Present and Future.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By Jean-Yves Empereur published by Thames and Hudson ISBN 0 500 301 107 price 6.95 [pounds sterling] paperback Created 2,300 years ago through the wish of Alexander the Great, Alexandria is still the largest city in the Mediterranean...

War Without End.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By Dilip Hiro published by Routledge ISBN 0 415 28802 9 price 12.99 [pounds sterling] paperback "The first war of the 21st century" That is how President George W. Bush described the start of a war against terror signalled by the...

A Survey of Arab-Israeli Relations 1947-2001.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Edited by David Lea published by Europa publications ISBN 1 85743 141 3 price 95.00 [pounds sterling] hardback This is the first edition of a new title in Europa's range of international reference books, documenting the principal events in...

Water in the Arabian Peninsula: Problems and Policies.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... Edited by Kamil A Mahdi published by Ithaca Press ISBN 0 86372 246 6 price 35.00 [pounds sterling] hardback Water scarcity in this dry region limits development possibilities and reduces the scope for economic diversification. The rapid...

El Dorado Canyon: Reagan's Undeclared War With Qaddafi.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By Joseph T Stanik published by Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 983 2 price $34.95 America's war on terrorism did not start on 11 September 2001. In 1986, long before the overt war in Afghanistan and the covert war against Al Qaeda, US...

Mamluk Art: the Splendor and Magic of the Sultans.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By Salah El Bahnasi published by Museum with no Frontiers ISBN 1 874044 37 6 price 14.95 [pounds sterling] paperback From slaves to sultans, the history of the Mamluks comprises palace uprisings and bloody intrigues, but also a visionary...

Women's Costume of the Near and Middle East.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By Jennifer Scarce published by Routledge Curzon ISBN 0 7007 1560 6 price 19.99 [pounds sterling] paperback The historical and cultural richness of the Near and Middle East is reflected visually in its costume. In this book Jennifer Scarce...

Muhammad: Prophet of Islam.(Book Review)
March 1, 2003... By Maxime Rodinson published by Tauris Parke Paperbacks ISBN 1 86064 827 4 price 12.95 [pounds sterling] paperback In light of recent events, a need has arisen in the West to know more about Islam and its teachings. This book is the...

Charity begins at home. (The Last Word).(Column)
March 1, 2003... Over a year ago more than 600 non-United States nationals were shipped to the American naval base in Guantanamo Bay. Today, they languish there still. Classified as `unlawful combatants' they are denied prisoner of war status as defined by the...