The Middle East articles from May 2003

The Middle East archives from May 2003

Comment.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... First, it was the search for weapons of mass destruction. Then it was the pressing need for regime change. Finally, it was the overwhelming desire to liberate the oppressed people of Iraq, following more than 25 years under the jackboot of...

The aftermath: Saddam has gone and Baghdad is in ruins. What now for Iraq and its shell shocked people? (Iraq)(Cover Story).(Cover Story)
May 1, 2003... Scenes of jubilation as the Americans entered Baghdad were all too quickly replaced by pictures of violence and mayhem as the rule of law disintegrated across the city and beyond. The end of Saddam Hussein and his repressive regime came just 21...

Tense times for Kuwait's man in Washington: with bombs falling in Kuwait's backyard, Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah the country's ambassador to Washingon--nervously follows CNN television news, worried about the effect this latest conflict will have on his country. (Kuwait).
May 1, 2003... "I'm glued to the phone, much more than the TV, calling officials and friends back home, getting first-hand information. My chief concern is for Kuwaiti citizens who are here in the US," Salem Al Sabah explained. "We've established hotlines and...

Staking a claim: for many Turks watching the TV pictures of armed Kurdish irregulars surging through the streets of Kirkuk in early April, it was as if they were seeing one of their darkest nightmares come to life. (Current Affairs).
May 1, 2003... While the jolting, videophone images of peshmergas waving Kalashnikovs, smashing statues of Saddam Hussein and carting off wagonloads of booty might elsewhere have been a cause for rejoicing, for the Turkish authorities, they were a causus...

Do as we say, not as we do: the US has shown profound interest in the treatment of political prisoners since American service men and women began falling into Iraqi hands. Yet nobody in Washington seems to want to discuss the Geneva Convention when it comes the 650 "detainees" being held in Cuba. (Guantanamo).
May 1, 2003... Welcome to Camp Delta," said US Army Col. Adolph McQueen, as he cheerfully greeted two reporters at the outer gates of the prison camp housing 650 unhappy captives of America's war on terrorism. The bright blue waters of the Caribbean...

Debunking The Domino theory: a leaked State Department report casts doubt on the idea that the brave new Iraq the Bush administration anticipates, can ever be achieved. (Regional).
May 1, 2003... A classified 26 February State Department document titled Iraq, the Middle East and Change: No Dominoes, has been leaked to the US media. Under the "domino" clause, the document debunks the theory that fostering democracy in Iraq will have a...

Cult of the Kamikaze: coming to grips with suicide bombers as a new wave of attacks is threatened in Iraq. (Regional).
May 1, 2003... Israel's Foreign Ministry has just completed a rough draft of a proposed international convention against suicide attacks and is expected to begin distributing it soon to other governments in an effort to win support to enshrine it in an...

An optimistic outlook: at the age of 79, widely respected Israeli elder statesman, former minister and foreign secretary Shimon Peres, remains optimistic peace can be achieved in his life time. (Israel Palestine).
May 1, 2003... Shimon Peres became prime minister by default after the assassination of would-be peace maker Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. The Israeli left and liberals who had pinned their hopes on him in the 2001 election--when Ehud Barak's Labor Party was...

Between the lines: have US spin doctors found a role for the Shi'ite population of southern Iraq as the `new' Kurds in this latest conflict? (Current Affairs).
May 1, 2003... A new chapter in modern history appeared to be on the horizon as Baghdad came under attack during the early hours of 20 March. Bombing the tyrant and his regime into submission, his down-trodden masses were expected to meet the foreign invaders...

The Latin American connection: the lawless tri-border region between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay is under new scrutiny as a haven for Arab extremists. (Al Qaeda).
May 1, 2003... George W. Bush has sent US Special Forces soldiers to the Philippines, Georgia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Horn of Africa and Colombia in his global war against terrorism. The next battlefield however, may well be a remote jungle region south...

Eastern Europe and Arms Sales Opportunities: Tom Owen looks at who provided military ordinance to Iraq. (Iraq).
May 1, 2003... In the last Iraq war, as in this one, leftist commentators have made great play of the supposed arming of Iraq by the West. Yet there is scant evidence for this. A glimpse at the standard Iraqi armoury reveals vast quantities of Soviet-produced...

Between Iraq and a hard place: the run-up to the war in Iraq left Turkey with few friends. (Turkey).
May 1, 2003... Welcomed into office last November by a wave of approval that rippled from the financial markets to the city ghettos, Turkey's ruling party has since seen more than its fair share of slings and arrows. Accused of inexperience at best and...

Gearing up for change: with formal welcome into the European Union announced this April, Cyprus stands to reap major economic and political benefits. But EU membership also presents significant challenges, both to Cyprus and its non-EU neighbours. (Cyprus).
May 1, 2003... Strollers along the corniche in the resort city of Limassol will hardly notice a difference this season, but the latest expansion of the European Union is expected to bring great changes to the Cypriot economy. Even the elegant Cypriot pound...

France's first TV channel devoted exclusively to the country's young Muslim population.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Beur-TV has begun broadcasting on the Hot Bird satellite that belongs to Eutelsat. Beur is the generic term used by the French to refer to young French Muslims of the second and third generation, whose parents or grandparents emigrated from...

First phase of UAE e-government project underway.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The UAE Ministry of Finance and IBM Middle East has signed a contract for the implementation of the first phase of the federal e-government project. IBM will be responsible for evaluating the readiness of various ministries for the...

E-commerce adoption in Morocco growing at a healthy rate.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Debit and credit cards in Morocco grew by 30% during 2002 to exceed 1.3m. Expected growth in 2003 will be around 25% and will positively contribute to the e-commerce landscape in the market. Nonetheless, low Internet and PC penetration remain...

The crucial oil dimension: however many assurances to the contrary are issued from Washington, few of us believe Iraq's oil wealth did not play a vital part in persuading the US to wage war. And, according to analyst Neil Ford, the prize may be even larger than previously anticipated. (Iraq).
May 1, 2003... Oil has been the word on everyone's lips, whether as the key motivation behind launching the war, or with reference to paying for the massive reconstruction effort that will be required to put the country back on its feet. The private sector is...

GBM reports 11% sales growth in 2002.(Gulf Business Machines)
May 1, 2003... * Gulf Business Machines (GBM) reported that in 2002, business growth was 11% above figures for 2001 with revenues totalling around $130m. While growth was recorded across the board, GBM reported a 21% growth from servers on the total revenue...

Telecom Egypt expands capacity with Nortel Networks.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Telecom Egypt and the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology have signed a five-year frame agreement with Nortel Networks, estimated at approximately $60m for the expansion and modernisation of the Republic's national...

AES sells 32% stake in Middle East energy conglomerate.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The AES Corporation has agreed to sell approximately 32% of its ownership interest in AES Oasis to the Islamic Development Bank Infrastructure Fund, managed by Emerging Markets Partnership in Bahrain. AES expects this sale to close in the...

Sabic and Sud-Chemie become new owners of Linde subsidiary.
May 1, 2003... * The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation and Germany's Sud-Chemie have signed a joint agreement on the acquisition of the Scientific Design Company from Linde. The two entities will manage the company through a 50-50 joint venture.

Saudi investor purchases 12% stake in UAE's Tabreed.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Strategic investor Abdul Raouf Al Bitar has purchased 6.125m shares at Dh 10.20 apiece in Tabreed, the National Central Cooling Company, through the first public auction of its kind on the Dubai Financial Market. Tabreed has completed two new...

Opening the door on Oman. (Business & Finance).
May 1, 2003... Regional governments are hoping for a swift return to `business as usual' as swiftly as possible after a conclusion to the conflict in Iraq. Once security and stability have been established, hopes are high that the tourist industry, which...

Diversifying success: change is afoot in Libya where economic growth continues at a healthy rate. (Libya).
May 1, 2003... Libya's economy is in the middle of a process of transition. Renewed interest in the country's plentiful gas reserves is reducing dependence on crude oil exports, while the government's improved relations with the West is being accompanied by...

MBC upgrades Inmarsat facilities.(Middle East Broadcasting)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Middle East Broadcasting (MBC), an Arabic language television broadcaster, has upgraded its Inmarsat GAN Global Area Network (GAN) portfolio to 17 terminals, supporting the launch of the station's new Al Arabiya 24-hour Arabic news channel....

Jobs for the boys. (Iraq).
May 1, 2003... For American corporations having a tough time, the Iraqi war is an answer to prayer. A decimated stock market, scandals and the precipitous drop in business has many tightening their belts in order to ride out the hard times. But for those with...

Bahraini-Kuwaiti consortium shortlisted for Bahrain's second mobile licence.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has shortlisted a consortium made up of Kingdom Investments, a Bahraini investment company, and Wataniya Telecom, Kuwait's mobile operator, for the second mobile telecommunications licence...

IFC invests $5m in Egyptian agriculture group.(International Finance Corporation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The International Finance Corporation will lend up to $5m to Egypt's Sekem Group to expand the production of organically produced pharmaceutical products, fruits, vegetables, and textiles. The $14.5m project, which is located at Belbeis,...

Dubai Festival City gets $10m power substation.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Developers of the Dubai Festival City real estate project and Emirates Trading Agency have started construction of a 110 megawatt primary substation to provide the initial power requirements of the development.

Rally energy expands drilling programme in Egypt.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Rally Energy reported that a significantly expanded drilling programme was approved for the Issaran field in Egypt. At least 34 wells are planned in the next 12 months with the majority targeting the Nukhul formation.

Ajman sewerage commences work on treatment plant.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * Construction work has commenced in Ajman on the main sewage treatment works that mark the cornerstone of the Dh 515m ($140.2m) sewerage treatment project that is now underway in the Emirate.

New kid on the block: nothing excites the economic community quite like the discovery of a new energy source. But reports of relatively modest offshore reserves in Mauritania--for decades an economic backwater--have caused more ripples than most. (Mauritania).
May 1, 2003... Mauritania, which has maintained a low international profile for several decades, has hit the headlines thanks to the discovery of offshore oil reserves. But too many observers seem to be deciding how to spend the potential bounty before it has...

BCFC's earnings up 28% in 2002.(Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company)
May 1, 2003... * Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company recorded a 27.7% growth in earnings last year reaching 4.8m Bahraini dinars (BD) equivalent to $12m. Operating income increased by 22.9% to BD 8.6m in 2002 and operating expenses increased by only 14.9%

BMA launches Islamic commodity instrument initiative.(Bahrain Monetary Agency)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... * The Bahrain Monetary Agency is to begin dealing in Islamically structured commodity instruments. Short-term commodity transactions have been developed with the Kingdom's Islamic banking industry.

Sultan Qaboos mosque. (Mosaic).
May 1, 2003... The Omani ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, like all wise leaders, attaches great importance to his country's economic and social development. Over the past three decades he has transformed Oman from a sleepy desert backwater into the bustling...

A Kurdish conundrum: the Kurdish painter Rostam Aghala talked to Chris Kutschera. (Mosaic).
May 1, 2003... Most Kurdish and Iraqi painters are haunted by the effect Saddam Hussein's dictatorial regime has had on the minds and personal freedoms of the country's people. However, these influences are not apparent in the work of Rostam Aghala, not...

Baghdad's Spy: a Personal Memoir of Espionage and Intrigue from Iraq to London.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Corinne Souza published by Mainstream Publishing ISBN 1 84018 703 4 price: 15.99 [pounds sterling] hardback Baghdad's Spy is the story of Britain's foreign intelligence service 1958-2001 as told from the unique perspective of the...

Islam, Liberalism, and Human Rights.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Katerina Dalacoura published by IB TAURIS ISBN 1 86064 866 5 price 14.95 [pounds sterling] paperback Are human rights a universal norm or are they a `western' value and therefore inappropriate and irrelevant for other cultures? How...

Shrewd Sanctions: Statecraft and State Sponsors of Terrorism.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Meghan L. O'Sullivan published by Brookings institution Press ISBN 0 8157 0601 4 price 14.75 [pounds sterling] paperback At a time when challenges abroad demand the careful use and co-ordination of all foreign policy tools, this...

Afghanistan: a Modern History.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Angelo Rasanayagam published by IB TAURIS ISBN 1 86064 846 0 Price 24.50 [pounds sterling] hardback Since 11 September 2001, Afghanistan has dominated the news, as it did for a long time during the Soviet occupation two decades ago,...

In the Wake of the Dhow: the Arabian Gulf and Omann.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Dionisius A. Agius published by Ithaca Press ISBN 0 86372 259 8 price 35.00 [pounds sterling] hardback The Arabian dhow, with its characteristic features, is one of the most evocative images of the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Indian...

Saudi Customs and Etiquette.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Kathy Cuddihy published by Stacey International ISBN 1 900988 52 6 price 7.50 [pounds sterling] paperback Wobbling one's coffee cup to indicate satisfaction, purposefully excluding any idiomatic reference to shoes, and taking care...

Just Like a River.(Book Review)
May 1, 2003... By Muhammad Kamil Al Khatib translated by Michelle Hartman and Maher Barakat published by Arris Books ISBN 1 84437 003 8 price 6.99 [pounds sterling] paperback Originally published in 1984, Just Like a River (Hakadha nahar) is the...

Quotes from around the world after the fall of Saddam. (The Last Word).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... US President George Bush: You deserve better than tyrrany corruption and torture chambers. You deserve to live as free people. And I assure every citizen of Iraq, your nation will soon be free. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair: This...