SBRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
/Provided as a service from the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC/

12.22.11 EDITION

IMF Sees High Saudi Spending And Budget Surplus In 2012: AL ARABIYA

12/21/11

Saudi Arabia is expected to maintain a high level of government spending next year but succeed in posting another large budget surplus without needing to dip into its fiscal reserves, a senior official of the International Monetary Fund said.  SAUDI ARABIA’S REVENUE EXPECTED TO JUMP 35% TO SR992BN IN 2011: Arab News reports citing Al-Rajhi Capital, Government revenue is expected to jump almost 35 percent in 2011 compared to the actual revenue in 2010. The jump in the total revenue is expected mainly due to higher oil production and prices.

Saudi Oil Weakens Iran’s Hand In China: THE NATIONAL

Florian Neuhof | 12/22/11

Saudi crude exports to China have surged, strengthening the Asian country’s hand in a price dispute with Iran.  Last month’s exports of Saudi crude to China rose by 32 per cent over the same period last year to 4.81 million barrels per day (bpd), almost half of the kingdom’s current production, Chinese customs data released yesterday showed.  OIL BOOMLET SWEEPS U.S. AS EXPORTS AND PRODUCTION RISE: The U.S. exported more oil-based fuels than it imported in the first nine months of this year, making it likely that 2011 will be the first time since 1949 that the nation is a net exporter of such goods, primarily diesel, Wendy Koch (USA Today) reports.

‘We Are All Responsible For Promotion of Moderation’: SAUDI GAZETTE

Khaled Al-Shalai | 12/21/11

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, has said that everyone is responsible for promoting the moderate Islamic religion the Kingdom is based on. He also said every citizen has a duty to fight those who want to deviate from this path.

Saudi Unemployment Benefit May Hinder Nitaqat Scheme: ARABIAN BUSINESS

Elizabeth Broomhall | 12/22/11

Plans to introduce a monthly unemployment allowance for more than 700,000 men and women in Saudi Arabia could hinder the Kingdom’s ability to implement its new Nitaqat programme, experts have said.

Neighbors Eye Iraq’s Sectarian Rift With Unease: REUTERS

Angus McDowall and Parisa Hafezi | 12/21/11

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah told U.S. diplomats that by toppling the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the United States had presented Iraq to Iran “on a golden platter.”  That assessment, recorded in a 2005 embassy cable released by WikiLeaks, was affirmed in the eyes of Saudi Arabia’s Sunni Muslim rulers by the outbreak of sectarian squabbling that followed this week’s departure of the last American troops from Iraq after almost nine years of occupation.

Saudi Aramco’s Drilling to Jump 12% Next Year, Ex-Official Says: BLOOMBERG

Wael Mahdi | 12/22/11

Saudi Arabian Oil Co. plans to increase its drilling-rig count by 12 percent next year to 145 to boost natural-gas and oil output from its Manifa field, a former executive of state-run company said. Most of the expansion is for gas development. Saudi Aramco will drill for gas onshore in northern Saudi Arabia and near the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert, as well as offshore in Hasbah field in the Persian Gulf, said al-Husseini. The company will have 50 drilling rigs for oil, 50 for gas, 15 exploration rigs and 30 workover rigs to maintain existing wells next year, he said.

Gulf Economies Likely To Slow Next Year: ARAB NEWS

Andrew Torchia | 12/21/11

Economic growth is likely to slow in most of the Gulf’s oil exporters next year but governments will remain able to spend to counter the impact of any global slump, a Reuters poll of analysts showed on Wednesday.  Gross domestic product in Saudi Arabia, the biggest Arab economy and the world’s top oil exporter, is expected to expand 4.0 percent in 2012, down from an estimated 6.7 percent this year, according to the median forecast in a global poll of 18 analysts.

Saudi Stocks Hit Four-Month High: SAUDI GAZETTE

12/21/11

Saudi Arabia’s shares hit a four-month high, boosted by petrochemicals and banking stocks as attractive dividends draw investor interest.
The index rose 0.66 percent to close Wednesday at 6,330.01 points, hitting its highest since Aug. 6.

ISRAEL: AFTER FRIEDMAN CANDOR, CRITICISM OF ISRAEL NOW MORE COMMON IN THE US

Slowly but unmistakably, space is opening up among the commentariat for new, critical ideas about Israel and its relationship to the United States, Jordan Michael Smith (Salon) writes. Freedom of this sort was visible in the pages of the New York Times last week. Thomas Friedman, the paper’s foreign affairs columnist, wrote that American leaders were betraying the country by outsourcing their foreign policy to Israel. A standing ovation given to the Israeli prime minister by the U.S. Congress this year was “bought and paid for by the Israel lobby,” he wrote. Phrased bluntly as it was, Friedman’s sentence was startling. HAMAS TO JOIN PLO: Hamas on Thursday agreed to join the Palestine Liberation Organization, according to an Associated Press report.

IRAQ: 63 KILLED IN COORDINATED BOMBING

A wave of apparently coordinated bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 63 people and injured around 185, BBC reports.

SYRIA: ARAB LEAGUE OBSERVERS ARRIVE AFTER DAY OF SLAUGHTER

Monitors from the Arab League are due to arrive in Syria under an initiative aimed at ending the violent crackdown on anti-government protests. An advance party of about 30 Arab League observers, accompanied by members of the media, will arrive in Syria on Thursday to prepare for the arrival of the full delegation, which will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree, BBC reports.

TURKEY: FRANCE RISKS IRE FROM TURKEY WITH BILL ON GENOCIDE

French lawmakers have approved a bill aimed at making it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in 1915, stoking Turkey’s anger.

PAKISTAN: PRIME MINISTER WARNS OF COUP

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani warned Thursday of a conspiracy to oust the government, signaling that tension between his civilian administration and the country’s powerful army might be close to a breaking point, Washington Post reports.

IRAN: NAVY TO BEGIN DRILLS

Iran’s navy chief said Thursday his forces plan to hold a 10-day drill in international waters beyond the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf — an exercise that could bring Iranian ships into proximity with U.S. Navy vessels, AP reports.

BAHRAIN: UN RIGHTS CHIEF URGEST GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE PROTESTERS

The United Nations’ top human rights official, Navi Pillay, on Wednesday called on Bahrain to release prisoners detained for joining peaceful demonstrations that swept the Gulf island kingdom earlier this year, Reuters reports.

EGYPT: PREMIER CALLS FOR DIALOGUE

Egypt’s military-appointed prime minister on Thursday called for national dialogue to resolve the country’s political crisis and pleaded for a two-month calm to restore security after weeks of protests and bloodshed, AP/ABC reports.

/The daily news is provided as a service of the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC. Visit www.SUSTG.org for more information and to get a free email subscription to the News Review./</h4></div>

[Courtesy SUSRIS.com]

Editor’s Note:

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, played host to the 32nd Supreme Council of the 30 year-old GCC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The two-day event produced agreement to a proposal of King Abdullah to explore development of a “single entity” for the GCC, a push along the path from cooperation to union. SUSRIS has provided a wrap-up report of the Summit along with a separate report of Prince Saud Al-Faisal’s remarks at a press conference. This report provides the Summit Final Communique and Riyadh Declaration as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. [Check the Special Section on the Summit for more reporting.]

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32nd GCC Summit Final Statement and Riyadh Declaration

Addressing the meeting, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques welcomed the leaders and heads of delegations of the GCC in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, appealing to Allah Almighty to make the meeting an entrance to achieve what the leaders are looking for towards the development and protection of the people of the Arab Gulf region as well as the Arab and Islamic nations.

We gather here today amid challenges that require our vigilance and at a time that necessitates our unity of rank and word, the monarch said, adding that “No doubt, you are all aware that our security and stability are targeted. Hence, we have to live up to the responsibility entrusted to us toward our religion and nations. We, in the Arab Gulf countries, are an integral part of our Arab and Islamic nation. Our duty is to assist our brothers in whatever achieves their hopes, spares their blood and wards off the repercussions of events and conflicts and risks of interference”.

The monarch said, “History and experience have taught us not to stop and watch the status quo as whoever follows such a behavior will find himself in the end of the queue facing loss and weakness. We all don’t accept this situation for our nations, peoples, stability and security.” He added, “Therefore, let me ask you today to go beyond the stage of cooperation to the stage of union in one entity that achieves the good and wards off evil.”

In conclusion, the King appealed to Allah Almighty to bless this meeting to the benefit of the Arab and Islamic nations.

***

GCC Summit Communique: Riyadh Declaration

Riyadh, Muharram 25, 1433, Dec 20, 2011, SPA – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and leaders and heads of delegations of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concluded the meetings of 32nd session of the GCC Supreme Council at Dir’iya Palace in Riyadh today. At the outset of the closing session, verses from the Holy Quran were recited.

The Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, then read the final statement of the 32nd session and Riyadh Declaration:

Following is the text:

The GCC leaders welcomed and blessed the proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the current chairman of the Supreme Council in his opening speech to the 32nd session of the Supreme Council held in Riyadh on 24 Muharram 1433 AH corresponding to December 19, 2011 on the transition from the stage of cooperation to the stage of the Union.

Believing in the importance of this proposal and its positive impacts on the peoples of the region and in line with the provisions of Article IV of the Statute of the Cooperation Council on coordination, integration and interdependence among Member States in all fields to reach their unity, and after the exchange of views on the proposal, the GCC leaders directed the Ministerial Council to form a specialized commission to be selected from Member States, 3 members for each State, that shall be entrusted to study the proposals in all their aspects in the light of the views exchanged between the leaders. The Commission’s meetings shall be held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat which provides all administrative, technical and financial capabilities.

The Member States shall assign their representatives no later than the first of February 2012. The Commission shall provide a preliminary report in March 2012 to the Ministerial Council in its first session in 2012 to be submitted to the GCC leaders. The Commission shall submit its final recommendations to the 14th Consultative Meeting of the GCC leaders.

Riyadh Declaration

In the name of God the Merciful

Praise be to God, prayer and peace be upon the seal of the Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and companions,

As their majesties and highnesses the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who gathered at the 32nd session of the Supreme Council in Riyadh on 24-25 January 1433 H., are aware of the changes, challenges and threats facing the countries of the council, redrawing the situation in the region and targeting the links binding them, a situation requires cementing ranks, unifying views and mobilizing joint energies;

As they stress their full commitment to seriousness and credibility in order to achieve the objectives of the statute of the council, including coordination, integration and interdependence among member states in all fields until reaching their unity;

As they keep pace with the aspirations of their people toward accelerating the pace of joint action and establishing the concept of Arab and Islamic identity of the countries of the GCC and achieving greater coherence, unity, strength and well-being;

And as they declare their determination to promote and document the role of citizens of GCC countries in order to achieve a bright future meeting the aspirations of younger generations and developing their creative potential and capabilities,

1 – Adoption of the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to move beyond the stage of cooperation to the stage of union so that the GCC countries form a single entity to achieve good and repel evil in response to the aspirations of the citizens of GCC countries and the challenges they face.

2 – Speeding up the process of development and comprehensive reform inside their countries so as to achieve greater participation of all citizens, men and women, and open wide future prospects while maintaining security, stability, national cohesion and social welfare.

3 – Improving the domestic front, consolidating the national unity based on equality of all citizens, men and women, before the law and in rights and duties and confronting foreign attempts by troubled entities trying to export its internal crises through sedition, division and sectarian inciting.

4 – Hard work to attain the highest degrees of economic integration among GCC countries and overcome the obstacles that obstruct the march of achievement of the customs union, monetary union and common market of GCC states.

5 – Development of defense and security cooperation to ensure quickly and effectively and in a collective and unified manner confronting any danger or emergency.

6 – Activation of the diplomacy of the GCC to serve the national, Arab and Islamic causes, unified collective communication with all regional and international powers and safeguarding the common interests of the GCC countries in all international forums.

7 – Deepening the common belonging of the GCC youths, improving their identity and protecting their gains by intensifying communication, cooperation and convergence among them and employing educational, media, cultural, sports and scout activities for the service of this goal.

8 – The General Secretariat of the GCC countries shall follow up and report to the Supreme Council.

Issued in Riyadh, 25 Muharram 1433 AH corresponding to December 20, 2011 AD.

***

King Hamad of Bahrain (L) arriving for the GCC Summit

Then, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, delivered a speech in which he expressed thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people on the generous hospitality and warm welcome extended to the GCC leaders at all levels.

He also expressed thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his prudent chairmanship of Riyadh GCC Summit 2011 which led to very positive results of the Summit, particularly towards cooperation and unity.

Concluding his speech, the King of Bahrain extended invitation to the GCC leaders to attend the GCC Summit 2012 in his country.

In his capacity as President of the 32nd session of GCC Member States Supreme Council, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, declared the conclusion of the current session and its works, expressing thanks to all GCC leaders, and wishing them all luck in the next session which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The closing session was attended by the members of the official delegations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including Prince Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Chief of Allegiance-Pledge Commission; Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz; Crown Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior; Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense; Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Megrin bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Khuwaiter, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet; Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance; and Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information also princes, ministers, other members of delegations of GCC leaders and heads of delegations, chiefs of diplomatic missions accredited to the Kingdom, and senior civil and military officials were also present.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

***

GCC Summit: Seeking Unity – SUSRIS Special Section

[Courtesy SUSRIS.com]

Editor’s Note:

Leaders from the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council — Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Oman — met Dec 19-20, 2011 in Riyadh for the 32nd Supreme Council. Today we are pleased to share for your consideration a wrap-up report from the Saudi Press Agency that puts the Council’s   This presentation will be followed by postings of the Summit Communique and other relevant documents on SUSRIS.com. [Check the Special Section on the Summit for more reporting.]

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The 32nd Supreme Council of the GCC Wrap-up

Riyadh, Dec 20, 2011 – SPA – The 32nd session of the Supreme Council for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States issued its final Communique.

The communique said that at the kind invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the GCC Supreme Council held its 32nd session in Riyadh city on Monday and Tuesday on Dec. 19 and 20, 2011 under the chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the current chairman of the Supreme Council.

The session was also held in the presence of GCC leaders Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, who is also the Premier and the Ruler of Dubai; King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed of Sultanate of Oman; Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar; and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, the communique pointed out.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General.

In their final communique, the GCC leaders congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on assuming the presidency of the current session of the Supreme Council, praising his speech’s contents and his keenness to activate the march of cooperation among the GCC countries in all fields.

Leaders at the 32nd GCC Supreme Council included (L-R) Saudi Crown Prince Nayef; Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; Sultan Qaboos of Oman; King Abdullah; King Hamad of Bahrain; UAE Vice President Mohammed Al Maktoum and GCC Secretary General Zayyani. (SPA)

They also extended their sincere condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi people on the death of the late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The GCC leaders also extended their congratulations to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the trust bestowed on him by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques selecting him as Crown Prince and appointing him Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Supreme Council affirmed full support for Bahrain and its leadership in all their actions to ensure the preservation of national unity, reform, development, safety, stability and security and to face any challenges or threats against it.

The Supreme Council approved study of areas of joint cooperation between the GCC and each of Jordan and Morocco, and formed a number of specialized cooperation committees in this matter to reach the desired partnership.

The council also decided to establish a GCC fund for development which will begin by providing support for development projects in Jordan and Morocco with an amount of 2.5 billion dollars for each state. The Supreme Council charged the GCC finance ministers to study the statute and structures required for the establishment of the fund.

The council approved the personal identification as a proof of identity for GCC nationals in the public and private sectors in all member states.

The council approved the uniform rules for the inclusion of securities (stocks, bonds, instruments, and investment funds) in financial markets in the GCC States, and decided to apply them as a guide for two years in preparation for review and mandatory application.

The council adopted the regulations on animal welfare, practice of veterinary medical profession and veterinary products.

The council adopted the regulations of sources of surface water and ground water, sources of water desalination, and sewage treatment and reuse.

The council adopted the law of safety for ships with small cargo not covered by the international maritime treaties in GCC countries.

The council adopted agreement by the Committee on Financial and Economic Cooperation on unified customs tariff of the GCC countries (version 2012) taking effect as of January 2012.

The GCC Supreme Council confirmed in its final communique the support of the GCC Member States for Qatar’s hosting the 2020 Olympic Games, putting all their potential at its disposal to make this important sporting event a success.

Regarding the joint defense and cooperation, the Supreme Council was briefed on the results of the GCC Defence Committee’s 10th session, held in Abu Dhabi in November 2011, on the various areas of military cooperation and joint defense. The summit endorsed the committee’s decisions.

The Supreme Council expressed satisfaction over the achievements in the field of defense integration among the GCC countries, stressing the continuation of the practical steps of the procedures and studies to build a common defense system, realizing the collective security of the GCC countries.

In its final communique, it also stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation, especially regarding the exchange of information among security agencies in the GCC Member States.

On the fight against terrorism:

The Supreme Council denounced the attempt to assassinate Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America, supporting the measures and steps to be taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this regard. The Supreme Council also called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards these terrorist acts which threaten the stability of States and international peace and security. The Supreme Council welcomed the decision by the UN General Assembly approving the decision made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to condemn terrorist attacks against persons enjoying diplomatic immune.

The Supreme Council also expressed its firm support for all regional and international efforts aimed at combating terrorism, and emphasizing at the same time the necessity of activating the decisions and statements by the GCC member states and regional and international organizations and conferences on combating terrorism.

The Supreme Council commended the launch of the United Nations Centre for Combating Terrorism in Vienna, crowning a proposal of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during the Counter-Terrorism International Conference, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in February 2005. The Supreme Council expressed hope that the Center will contribute to addressing and fighting the causes of this phenomenon in addition to strengthening international efforts in supporting stability of international peace and security.

The Supreme Council approved the amended system of the Advisory Board of the GCC Supreme Council.

Supporting the judicial authorities in GCC member states, the Supreme Council assigned public prosecutors and heads of the investigation and prosecution bodies in the GCC member states to propose appropriate mechanisms for achieving continued support provided by GCC member states for the bodies of public prosecution.

The Supreme Council considered the views of the Advisory Board of the Supreme Council regarding the issues that have been studied, namely:

1. The alternative energy and the development of its sources.
2. Unifying the efforts of GCC member states in the field of translation and taking care of Arabic language.
3. Global warming and climate change.
The Supreme Council decided to adopt these views, referring them to the relevant ministerial committees.

In its final communique, the GCC Supreme Council pointed out to its brief on reports on the international relations of the GCC with its counterpart groupings and it welcomed the starting of the strategic dialogue with a number of friendly countries and signing the following memoranda of understanding:

• Strategic dialogue between GCC Member States and Pakistan, March 2011, Abu Dhabi.
• Strategic dialogue between GCC Member States and Australia, March 2011, Abu Dhabi.
• Strategic dialogue between GCC Member States and Russia, November 2011, Abu Dhabi.

It also welcomed the results of the 3rd Joint Ministerial Meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and the People’s Republic of China, held in Abu Dhabi in May 2011, and the results of the 21st joint ministerial meeting of the Joint GCC-European Council held in Abu Dhabi on April 18, 2011.

The GCC Supreme Council also was briefed on a report on the functioning of the GCC’s program for the reconstruction of Gaza, and directed to rapidly implement the agreed upon projects and programs to serve the Palestinian people in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

The Supreme Council expressed deep concern about the continuation of the Iranian interferences in the internal affairs of the GCC countries and its endeavor to sow dissent and inflame sectarian strife among their citizens in violation of their sovereignty and independence. The Supreme Council demanded Iran to desist from such policies and practices; fully comply with the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect, international customs, laws and conventions, and non-interference in the internal affairs; solve disputes with peaceful means and direct dialogue; and not to use or threaten to use force so that security and stability of the region could prevail.

The Supreme Council followed up developments of the Iranian nuclear issue with great concern, stressing the importance of the commitment of Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Supreme Council reaffirmed its firm positions on the importance of adherence to the principles of international legitimacy, resolving conflicts by peaceful means, making the Middle East, including the Arabian Gulf, an area free of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons, noting at the same time international efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear file crisis through peaceful means.

The council affirmed the right of countries in the region to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, under the International Atomic Energy Agency Convention and its supervision, calling for the application of these standards to all countries in the region, stressing the necessity of Israel’s accession to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Weapons Nuclear and submission of all its nuclear facilities to international inspection.

The Supreme Council reviewed developments in the Palestinian arena and stressed that comprehensive, just and lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4th of June 1967 parallel with Eastern Al-Quds as its capital.

The Supreme Council demanded the international community to take a decisive stand to coerce Israel to fully withdraw from all occupied Arab territories to the 4th of June, 1967 parallel in Palestine, the occupied Syrian Arab Golan Heights, and the still-occupied southern Lebanon, and to respect international resolutions and laws in this regard.

The Supreme Council condemned the decision by the Israeli authorities to build housing units in Eastern Al-Quds and the West Bank, and construct a road to link the settlements with occupied Al-Quds in order to isolate the holy city from its Palestinian surroundings and change its demographic nature. The Supreme Council considered this act as null and void in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, stressing that Eastern Al-Quds is a red line that cannot be approached. It stressed that these practices are a challenge to the will of the international community and reveal the hidden Israeli intentions that prove its non-seriousness, and disrespect for efforts being exerted to achieve peace.

The Supreme Council valued efforts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which resulted in the decision accepting the State of Palestine as full member of the organization, considering this step as serving the international law, and enhancing the chances for peace.

The Supreme Council expressed its support for the State of Palestine’s request for admission as member of the United Nations, considering this step as a victory for right, justice, law and international legitimacy, and as a support for the chances of success of negotiations.

The Supreme Council appreciated the efforts made by the Arab League Foreign Ministers Council regarding the situation in Syria, praising the Arab peace initiative adopted by the Arab League Council during its extraordinary session on 28/8/2011 as well as the decisions issued by the Arab League in this regard. The Supreme Council commended the tireless efforts made by the ministerial follow-up committee on the situation in Syria as well as the efforts and decisions made by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Supreme Council called upon the Syrian government to carry out all terms of the Arab initiative and to implement the Arab League Observer Mission Protocol which was signed in Cairo on 19/12/2011 between the Government of Syria and the Arab League. The Supreme Council demanded the Syrian government to immediately stop the killing machine, put an end to bloodshed, remove any form of armed manifestations, and release detainees, as a first step to start implementing the Protocol and to protect the Syrian people, achieve their aspirations and maintain the security, unity and stability of Syria.

The Supreme Council reiterated its full support for the security, stability and national unity of Lebanon, welcoming Lebanon’s payment of its share in the financing of the International Tribunal for the assassination of former President Rafik Al-Hariri.

The Supreme Council affirmed its support for the position of the State of Kuwait on the establishment of the port of Mubarak the Great as being constructed on the territory of Kuwait, within its territorial waters and on borders drawn in accordance with the UN resolutions. The Supreme Council expressed confidence that Iraq’s implementation of its international obligations towards Kuwait will enhance the trust between the two countries and will strengthen the relations between them.

The Supreme Council reiterated its firm stances towards Iraq which are represented in the respect of Iraq’s independence and territorial integrity as well as the non-interference in Iraq’s internal affairs in order to avoid the division of Iraq and maintain its Arab and Islamic identity. The Supreme Council hoped that Iraq will consider the fraternal relations it shares with the GCC member states, by not interfering in the internal affairs of GCC member states in addition to stopping media campaigns that do not serve the development and advancement of the relations between the two sides. The Supreme Council called on all parties and political components in Iraq to shoulder their responsibilities towards building a unified, secure, stable and prosperous Iraq after the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

The Supreme Council stressed the need for Iraq to complete the implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, including the completion of maintaining border markers in implementation of resolution No. 833 as well as the completion of compensating Iraqi farmers in implementation of resolution No. 899. The Supreme Council called on Iraq to accelerate the implementation of these issues, to identify the remaining prisoners and missing citizens of the State of Kuwait and citizens of other countries, and to return the properties and national archives to the State of Kuwait. The Supreme Council urged the United Nations and other relevant bodies to continue their efforts to end these commitments.

The Supreme Council hailed the signing by Yemeni parties of the GCC-sponsored initiative and its protocol in Riyadh, and welcomed the formation of National Reconciliation Government in Yemen, calling on all brothers in Yemen to sincerely and honestly implement all items included in the initiative in order to save Yemen’s unity, security and stability, a fact which will realize the aspirations of the fraternal Yemeni people.

The Supreme Council confirmed supporting the process of development in Yemen, consolidate frameworks of cooperation between the GCC and Yemen and to incorporate Yemen’s economy in the GCC economy.

The Supreme Council welcomed the formation of a transitional government in sisterly Libya, expressing confidence in the capability of the fraternal Libyan people to build a modern state where rule of law would prevail and that the country would entertain security, stability and prosperity.

The Supreme Council congratulated President Munsif Al-Marzouqi on being elected as President of Tunisia by the constituent assembly, wishing Tunisia and its people every security, progress and prosperity.

The Supreme Council also welcomed the accomplishing of the first and second stages of elections for the People’s Assembly in fraternal Egypt, expressing hope that all efforts will synergize to achieve aspirations of the fraternal Egyptian people towards security, welfare and development.

The Supreme Council lauded the patronage of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, for Peace Accords in Darfur, Sudan, signed in Doha, July 2011, which approved Doha Peace Document in Darfur, May 2011, as basis for a comprehensive and peaceful settlement in the province, wishing that this would lead to achieve security, stability and development in fraternal Sudan.

Finally, the communique expressed the Supreme Council’s utmost appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Chairman of the current session of the supreme Council, the Saudi government and the people of Saudi for the welcoming hospitality accorded to the guests of the summit, and the sincerely expressed fraternal feelings accorded to his brothers, their majesties and highnesses the leaders of GCC member states.

Their majesties and highnesses the leaders of GCC members states, welcomed the generous invitation by His Majesty King Hamad bin Eisa Al-Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to host their 33rd session of the Supreme Council of the GCC member states in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in 2012.

Issued in Riyadh, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 25, Muharram, 1433H, corresponding to December 20, 2011

Source: Saudi Press Agency

***

GCC Summit: Seeking Unity – SUSRIS Special Section

SBRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
/Provided as a service from the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC/

12.21.11 EDITION

Gulf Arabs Back Unity after Hinting At Iran Threat: REUTERS

Angus McDowall and Asma Alsharif | 12/20/11

Gulf Arab leaders on Tuesday broadly endorsed Saudi King Abdullah’s call to form a “single entity” in what appeared to be an attempt to form a more united front against a perceived threat from Iran.
RIYADH DECLARATION: The Saudi Gazette reports, The Riyadh Declaration calls for all member states to speed up their individual efforts to ensure regional union and to consolidate the Arab and Islamic identity of the GCC states.

IMF Sees High Saudi Spending and Budget Surplus in 2012: AL ARABIYA

Reuters | 12/21/11

Saudi Arabia is expected to maintain a high level of government spending next year but succeed in posting another large budget surplus without needing to dip into its fiscal reserves, a senior official of the International Monetary Fund said.

KSA’s New Bank Boss Comes In From the Cold: THE NATIONAL

Frank Kane |12/21/11

The appointment last week of Fahd bin Abdullah Al Mubarak as the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (Sama), the kingdom’s central bank, was a surprise in several respects and a minor victory for the country’s modernizers.

Job hunt? Head to Saudi Arabia not Qatar: KIPP REPORT

12/21/11

Regional employers are continuing to drive a consistent escalation in online recruitment activity, according to the Monster Employment Index. “This is especially true in major economies like KSA and UAE where ongoing positive momentum is informing positive hiring trends in sectors like Healthcare, Education and Banking and Finance” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com (India/Middle East/South East Asia).

Saudi Inflation Rate Rises To 5.2% On Higher Food Prices: ARABIAN BUSINESS

12/20/11

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate rose 5.2 percent on an annual basis in November, mainly due to higher food and housing costs, data from the Central Department of Statistics showed on Tuesday.

SMEs to Play Key Role in GCC Job Creation, GDP: ARAB NEWS

12/20/11

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are an important segment of many economies globally in terms of their contribution to GDP (gross domestic product) and employment. This importance is also apparent in some GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states such as the United Arab Emirates which relies on SMEs for 30 percent of its GDP and 86 percent of its employment. Similarly in Saudi Arabia, SMEs contribute to 28 percent of the GDP, according a report “Kuwait’s SMEs: Looking for a Champion” released Tuesday by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz).

How Kingdom Funds Development Projects: ARAB NEWS

Ebraheem Obaidallah Althaibi | 12/20/11

The Saudi Fund for Development’s strategy is centered on supporting priority sectors within the economic and social development plans of the borrowing countries. The Fund was established in 1975 with initial capital of SR10 billion; it now stands at SR31 billion. There are many projects which the SFD has funded such as transportation and communication projects involving the construction of roads and airports as well as railways, the building of ground stations for communication through satellites, improvement of aeronautical telecommunications, agriculture projects, social and education projects. For example, SFD funds the construction of schools, colleges, universities and technical institutes for vocational education and training.

Saudi ‘To Attract $150bn Petchem Investments’: TRADE ARABIA

12/20/11

Saudi Arabia is clearly leading the way toward diversification and manufacturing of value-added products along the petrochemical chain with investments worth a whopping $150 billion, said a new report by Frost & Sullivan.

SR1bn Is Spent Yearly On Saudis’ Treatment Abroad: ARAB NEWS

P.K. Abdul Ghafour | 12/21/11

Saudi Arabia spends more than SR1 billion annually on providing specialized medical treatment for its citizens at foreign hospitals, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia’s Stonehenge-Like Site Still A Mystery: IBT

Sanskrity Sinha | 12/21/11

There is much about this world — the physical and the spiritual — that we still do not know or understand. Principal among these mysterious objects is collection of some 50 groups of stone columns erected at what is today called Al-Rajajil (translated as The Men), near the ancient oasis town of Sakakah in Al-Jawf province in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The monument is located at 040.13.199 longitude and 29.48.664 latitude and the site itself is on high ground, overlooking a large low-lying area to its north, according to the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities.

Saudi Dairy Giant Spends $83M on Argentina Farms: NPR

12/21/11

Saudi Arabia’s largest dairy company said Wednesday it is buying Argentine farm operator Fondomonte S.A. for $83 million in a bid to secure access to animal feed

IRAQ: SECTARIAN TENSIONS GROW AS IRAQI PM ASKS KURDS TO HAND OVER VP

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has urged the Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq to hand over fugitive Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi. An arrest warrant was issued for Iraq’s most senior Sunni Arab politician on Monday on terrorism charges, BBC News reports. MALIKI ‘ACTING LIKE SADDAM’: Iraq’s Nuri al-Maliki is acting like Saddam Hussein in trying to silence opposition and he risks provoking a new fightback against dictatorship, one of Maliki’s predecessors as prime minister said on Tuesday, Asharq Alawsat reports.

SYRIA: 250 KILLED SINCE MONDAY AS OPPOSITION PLEADS FOR UN INTERVENTION TO STOP ‘MASSACRE’

Syria’s main opposition coalition has called for emergency meetings of the UN Security Council and the Arab League to discuss the intensifying violence in the north-west of the country. The Syrian National Council, which is based outside Syria, says about 250 people have been killed since Monday. A human rights group has accused the Syrian authorities of carrying out an “organised massacre” in Idlib province, BBC reports.

EGYPT: HUGE MARCH BY WOMEN TO PROTEST SOLDIER VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

Several thousand women demanding the end of military rule marched through downtown Cairo on Tuesday evening in an extraordinary expression of anger over images of soldiers beating, stripping and kicking female demonstrators in Tahrir Square, David D. Kirkpatrick (NYT) reports.

ISRAEL: UN COUNCIL MEMBERS LINE UP TO CRITICIZE ISRAEL

Most members of the U.N. Security Council voiced deep concerns on Tuesday about the impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and criticized Israel for pressing ahead with the construction of new settlements, Asharq Alawsat reports.

AMERICAN POLITICS: SNAPSHOT OF POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN ELECTION YEAR

President Obama’s approval ratings have moved up while those of Republicans in Congress continue to slide. But on the major issue of the day — the economy — about as many trust the Republicans as Obama, the Washington Post finds

LIBYA: SEIF AL ISLAM, GADDAFI’S SON, BEING HELD BY REBELS

Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the son and presumed heir of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, is alive and well and being held by a rebel militia outside the Libyan capital, according to an American human rights organization that was granted rare access to him. But the group said that Mr. Qaddafi had been denied access to legal counsel as he awaited trial on charges of crimes against humanity, the New York Times reports.

/The daily news is provided as a service of the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC. Visit www.SUSTG.org for more information and to get a free email subscription to the News Review./</h4></div>

SUSRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
/Provided as a service from the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC/

12.20.11 EDITION

Saudi King Abdullah Calls for a Closer Arab Gulf Union: BLOOMBERG

Glen Carey | 12/19/11

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah called on leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to strengthen their alliance into a united “single entity” as they confront threats to national security. ACADEMICS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GCC SUMMIT: A number of Saudi academics say they are optimistic about the ability of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders, who have gathered here for the 32nd GCC Summit, to tackle the political and economic challenges facing the region and the Arab world, Saudi Gazette reports.

Business Forum – Exposure to a Most Promising Market: A Conversation with Abdulaziz Al-Fahad: SUSRIS

12/19/11

In the year since the first US-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum in Chicago challenges in other areas of the relationship have emerged. But the Atlanta Forum’s success – bringing together over a thousand people exploring the booming commercial opportunities in the kingdom – confirmed the enduring, significant role of business relations. Today we are pleased to bring you an exclusive interview with CIT’s Abdulaziz Al-Fahad who told SUSRIS about the Forum’s achievements and about the health of the business-to-business ties between Americans and Saudis.

Saudi Guards Chase Smugglers as Yemen Unrest Spurs Exodus: BLOOMBERG

Glen Carey | 12/20/11

Three men sprint across the sand- swept asphalt road along the frontier between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Colonel Abdullah Bin Mahfouz gets a glimpse of them from his car, before they disappear into the desert bush. The 28-year veteran of the Saudi Border Guard shrugs. “Our intelligence will pick them up,” he says. “We expect anything, any time. It’s very difficult.”

People, drugs and weapons are flooding into Saudi Arabia after 10 months of unrest drove Yemen close to civil war. Saudi authorities, concerned instability may spill into the world’s biggest oil exporter, are stepping up security, building a chain of border watchtowers and installing nighttime scanners at hilltop bases. They are also backing a peace accord to stop Yemen from becoming a failed state that could threaten tankers in the Gulf of Aden and create a base for al-Qaeda attacks.

Saudi British Bank Ratings Reviewed for Downgrade at Moody’s: BLOOMBERG

Shaji Mathew | 12/20/11

Saudi British Bank, the lender 40 percent owned by HSBC Holdings Plc, had its ratings placed on review for possible downgrade at Moody’s Investors Service.

Internet Changing Saudis’ Relationship with Authority, Not Religion: GLOBAL POST

Tariq Al Haydar | 12/20/11

The internet has not dramatically affected the way young Saudis think of religion. That is because it is simply one new variable added to the complex mixture that makes up Saudi society.

Atheeb Gets Nod For SR1.17bn Capital Increase: ARAB NEWS

12/20/11

Saudi Arabia’s Etihad Atheeb Telecom has received regulatory approval to launch a SR1.175 billion ($310 million) capital increase, paving the way for the loss-making firm to resume trading on the Kingdom’s bourse.

Saudi Steel Firm Picks BNP For $3bn IPO : TRADE ARABIA

12/20/11

Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Steel has appointed BNP Paribas as the financial adviser for an initial public offering of its $3 billion steel project north of Jeddah, Middle East Economic Digest said on Tuesday.

700,000 Qualify For Unemployment Allowance: ARAB NEWS

P.K. Abdul Ghafour | 12/20/11

More than 700,000 Saudi young men and women are qualified to receive a monthly unemployment allowance of SR2,000, the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF), an affiliate of the Labor Ministry, said on Monday.

Saudi Military Jet Crashes after Collision with Bird: ARABIAN BUSINESS

Andy Sambidge | 12/20/11

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that one of its air forces jets had crashed in the north-western region of the kingdom.

IRAN: TEHRAN ADMITS SANCTIONS ARE DAMAGING

Iran’s veneer of stoicism toward the Western sanctions that have disrupted its economy showed some new strains on Monday, as the deputy oil minister acknowledged a decline in domestic petroleum production because of dwindling foreign investment, and four-year-old talks between the Iranians and Poland’s biggest natural gas developer collapsed, Rick Gladstone (NYT) reports. IAEA INVITED TO VISIT: Iran has invited the UN nuclear watchdog to visit for talks, a senior Western diplomat said on Tuesday, but it was not clear whether the IAEA would accept without a commitment from Tehran to address suspicions it is seeking atomic weapons, Reuters reports. US ASKS IRAN TO FREE ‘SPY’: The US has asked Iran to free “without delay” a US man of Iranian descent described by Tehran as a CIA spy, BBC reports.

IRAQ: CRISIS SURROUNDING VICE PRESIDENT ESCALATES

In a striking development in the crisis surrounding Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, Iraqi authorities yesterday issued a warrant for his arrest for suspected ties to assassinations and bombings. Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman, Major General Adel Daham, informed a news conference that confessions by suspects identified as al-Hashemi’s bodyguards linked the vice president to killings and attacks on Iraqi government and security officials, Asharq Alawsat reports.

SYRIA: DEFECTORS GUNNED DOWN

Dozens of army deserters have been shot dead by Syrian troops as they tried to flee their bases and join anti-government protests, BBC reports.

EGYPT: VIOLENCE ENTERS FIFTH DAY

Clashes between Egyptian security forces and protesters demanding an end to military rule entered a fifth day on Tuesday, as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the beating of women as a “disgrace,” AFP reports.

LIBYA: RUSSIA STEPS UP DEMANDS FOR NATO ACCOUNTABILITY

Russia has stepped up demands for NATO to account for civilian deaths from the air strike campaign which led to the downfall of Libyan strongman Muammer Gaddafi, Telegraph reports.

POLL: PALESTINIANS DOUBT OUTCOME OF RECONCILIATION TALKS

As new reconciliation talks between Palestinian factions get underway in Cairo, including a meeting set for Wednesday between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, a poll suggests there are serious doubts among the Palestinian people about whether the negotiations will succeed, Babylon and Beyond reports.

/The daily news is provided as a service of the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC. Visit www.SUSTG.org for more information and to get a free email subscription to the News Review./</h4></div>

Editor’s Note:

Leaders from the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council ["The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf"] — Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Oman — met Dec 19-20, 2011 in Riyadh for the 32nd Supreme Council. The call from King Abdullah for the GCC to move forward toward a union, a “single entity,” drew much of the post Summit reporting but the leaders also talked about other important issues including the challenges of Iran and Syria, among others. Today we are pleased to provide for your consideration a readout of the press conference hosted by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal accompanied by GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al Zayyani. This presentation will be followed by postings of the Summit Communique and other relevant documents on SUSRIS.com. [Check the Special Section on the Summit for more reporting.]

***

GCC Summit – Wrapup Press Conference
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Zayyani
Riyadh, Dec 20, 2011

Prince Saud Al-Faisal and GCC SecGen Zayyani meet the press at the conclusion of the 32nd Supreme Council of the GCC, Riyadh, Dec 20, 2011. (SPA)

At the Conclusion of the meetings of the 32nd session of Supreme Council for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States, Prince Saud Al Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs held a press conference at the Media Centre in the Dir’iya Palace here today. The press conference was held in the presence of Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayyani, GCC Secretary General.

At the beginning of the news conference, the Foreign Minister renewed the welcome, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, of the GCC leaders and the accompanying delegations as well as the press and media organs.

He highlighted the decisions included in Riyadh Declaration and the final communique, reflecting the friendly fraternal atmosphere that prevailed in the meetings of the leaders who were transparent in dealing with various issues listed on their agenda.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal also said these decisions largely reflect that the GCC leadership feels its responsibilities in this current phase which the Arab nation is witnessing in all its variables and challenges and its resolve and determination to confront them through the production of a policy he entitled as ‘One Hand Builds, One Hand Protects.’

He added that perhaps the most striking results were the GCC leaders’ welcoming and blessing of the proposal contained in the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud calling on the GCC Member States to move from the cooperation stage to the one of Union.

Such a move would push these goals and objectives as hoped, in line with the Statute of the GCC, the Foreign Minister affirmed.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal also asserted that the meetings of the GCC leaders are always better designed to serve the Gulf issues and to carry love and peace to the Arab and Islamic nations and build friendly relations and mutual respect with all regional and international powers in addition to the service of common interests and the security and peace of GCC Member States as well as the international security and peace under the umbrella of the principles of international legitimacy and laws.

For his part, the Secretary General of the GCC Dr. Abdullatif Rashid Al-Zayyani pointed out that the Supreme Council has approved a number of decisions, draft laws in the context of the Gulf plan to fight non inflectional diseases, the regulation of the consultative commission of the Supreme Council, its internal regulation, and a draft to use smart cards as identity cards by GCC citizens in their transactions, both in the public and private sectors in addition to draft laws for unified rules for listing in stock exchanges, customs tariffs in the GCC member states and public prosecution apparatuses.

The Supreme Council approved the establishing of a commission for Customs Union which will start working in June 2012, but it will limit itself to complete studying the mechanism for distributing customs’ bag within the set timetable, he concluded.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal

Then both, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and the Secretary General of the GCC Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayyani answered questions of journalists. Prince Saud reaffirmed that the talks among the leaders of the GCC member states have focused on the mutual cooperation among member states and tackled various aspects, and that the session was convened in an atmosphere of transparency, frankness and sincerity. The viewpoints were, either typical, or almost identical, on many issues, he added.

On a question on how to unify Gulf Diplomacy vis-a-vis the world, he described the step as a qualitative move of cooperation, pointing to the well known safeguards and terms of a union, since the accords binding the GCC member states are embodying the minimum of cooperation compared to that of a union, he stated. This in itself is necessary for the current stage and essential for cohesion, for we should stand united, particularly during confrontation, he remarked, adding that the Communique has translated all that honestly and faithfully.

For his part, the Secretary General of the GCC, Dr. Al-Zayyani pointed out that police forces in the capitals of the GCC member states have been commissioned to meet in order to set the appropriate and optimum mechanism to establish GCC police.

On a question about the economies of the nuclear energy, Prince Saud said that because no single source of energy is capable of meeting the needs of energy, there should be efforts to solve this problem by diversifying the sources of energy, adding that it is a pity to convert such a peaceful energy to a tool of destruction.

The Syrian have said that they will sign the Arab League Protocol, but not the initiative, Prince Saud remarked, saying that the protocol requires their signing, as for the initiative, they have announced, previously, their approval.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal stressed that the able GCC member states will provide aid to Egypt, saying ‘There are negotiations on some points, but direct aid for direct use has been paid.’ He also said ‘For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it continued providing what Egypt needed for several months. This is not strange because Egypt is the heart of the Arab world and the largest and most important country in the Arab world. Despite problems, Egypt is doing its duty in all stages, of which is the recent Egyptian role in the Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation which it sponsored.’

Prince Saud said ‘I think the union will help bring together all capabilities and potentials of the six countries. Instead of the now scattered diplomatic activities, the union will lead to one line and have a greater impact in the medium and long terms.’

Responding to a question on the contents of Arab initiative, Prince Saud said ‘The Arab initiative calls for a cessation of hostilities as well as the withdrawal of machineries and release of prisoners. It also calls for a reconciliation meeting under the umbrella of the Arab League to avoid a civil war in a brotherly country like Syria. Arab states as a whole do not harbor evil towards Syria nor want any member of the Syrian people be harmed in any way’.

Prince Saud said ‘The aim of the Arab League intervention was to have Arab issues solved by Arabs. We did not find the foreign solutions to be correct in many cases. It is proven by experience that solutions from abroad do not understand our problems, and therefore an Arab solution is best for the case in Syria. The issue will be transferred to international organizations by Syria itself not by us. If Syria rejects the Arab solution, then a substitute proposal is already submitted to the Security Council by Russia.’

Prince Saud expressed hope that the Syrians will listen to the advice of their fellow Arabs and will respond to the Arab initiative, as they signed yesterday the Protocol, which Prince Saud described as a first step to implement the initiative.

On Iran, the Prince said Iran is a neighboring country which enjoys civilization and potentials; we hope its relations would be at their best with GCC member states, but such a question should be directed to the Iranian brothers on why they pursue such a policy towards their neighbors, which leads to distorting the relations with them, he remarked, adding that the Iranian media tries to portray an Arab human being as if he is not worth mentioning among world civilizations.

The recently directed threats to the Emirates in relation to the issue of the (Occupied) islands, is a flagrant menace which was not at all positive, he stated. The maneuvers they are running in the territorial waters of other Gulf states does not reflect good will; however, if they are acting in good will, we would not step back. And if they are to move a step forward we will take two steps forward, because it is part and parcel of our values; we do not like to commit aggression on other states’ interests, we do not harbor any evil against Iran, for the evil is not in part of our politics; rather it is part of the politics pursued by Iran, he affirmed.

On the meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs of the GCC member states in the presence of the ministers of finance, Prince Saud pointed out that the meeting was fruitful and it was preparatory for the summit, while the presence of the ministers of finance was to discuss economic issues that would be submitted to the GCC Supreme Council for approval.

Prince Saud wished stability for Iraq and that Iraqi citizens would be treated on equal footing, in doing their duties and securing their rights, that there would be no discrimination among them, and Iraq would return to be a contributing factor to stability and support for the security of Arab countries; it constituted a harmful factor due to their agony which dictates that Iraqis should pursue a different policy, that’s what we wish.

On the recent visit of the Chief of Iranian Intelligence to the Kingdom, he said that he thinks it was a gesture to show that they are ready to negotiate despite the failed efforts for the ministers of foreign affairs to meet; they might think that on the intelligence level they might be more confident to score than on a diplomatic level, he said. Anyhow, we are ready to negotiate at any level. One negotiates with one’s enemy, let alone a neighbor.

Commenting on the foiled assassination plot on the Saudi ambassador to the United States few months ago, Prince Saud Al-Faisal confirmed that his Ministry has filed a detailed complaint on the issue to the United Nations. As is prescribed by the Islamic norms, a diplomat is more honored than a son, he stated. In our case where there is an attempt on the life of a Saudi diplomat, the culprits have violated the sanctity of two nations, the host nation and the nation of the guest, he said.

In response to a question, he confirmed that Saudi females would join the diplomatic staff.

Speaking about the Gulf Union, he said that among the important points is that there should be rapprochement among youths in the fields of education, scouts and unification of educational curricula in different subjects, spearheaded by history. A youth who belongs to our countries should be taught that we share the same history and that whoever moves in our region would receive the same treatment, he explained.

He confirmed that a contingent plan to extend a 10 billion financial support for Bahrain and Oman was endorsed and that the issue is proceeding forward.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

***

GCC Summit: Seeking Unity – SUSRIS Special Section

SBRIS Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
/Provided as a service from the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC/

12.19.11 EDITION

Dempsey, Saudi Partners Discuss Iraq, Regional Challenges: AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Cheryl Pellerin | 12/18/11

Hours after the last U.S. Forces Iraq convoy crossed the border into Kuwait on its way home, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat down for the first time with Saudi officials here to discuss Iraq and other developments in the region.

Twitter Stake Bought By Saudi Billionaire Alwaleed: THE GUARDIAN

Mark Sweeny | 12/19/11

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the second largest investor in Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, has taken a $300m stake in Twitter.

Riyadh Real Estate Market ‘Booming’ : TRADE ARABIA

12/20/11

The real estate market in Riyadh is getting stronger driven by the continued interest from public and private sectors as well as consumer demand, a report said. This confident outlook is further enhanced by proactive government initiatives to increase spending on housing, benefits, education and infrastructure, stated Jones Lang LaSalle in its quarterly review of the Saudi city.

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Output Fell in October as Demand Fluctuated: BLOOMBERG

Wael Mahdi | 12/18/11

Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s largest oil producer, decreased output by less than one percent in October from a month earlier as it adjusted production to meet fluctuations in customers’ demand, government data showed. DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION AT 10 YEAR HIGH: Saudi Arabia’s crude oil consumption jumped 13.7 percent in October from the previous month, reaching the highest level since at least 2002, government data show, Khaleej Times reports.

Transport System In 6 Saudi Cities Set For Major Overhaul: ARAB NEWS

Ghazanfar Ali Khan | 12/18/11

The Kingdom, which is losing a whopping sum of SR81 billion annually because of the growing number of road accidents, has announced an ambitious plan to overhaul the transport system in six major Saudi cities.

Promising Signs for Saudi Sukuk: ARAB NEWS

Jarmo T. Kotilaine |12/18/11

Sukuk markets in Saudi Arabia have seen steady, albeit unspectacular growth, as leading blue chip names — notably Saudi Electricity Co. and SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.) —have repeatedly tapped the market and a handful of others have followed suit. The Saudi Stock Exchange Tadawul now has secondary trading platform for sukuk with a total eight of listed issuances at present.

Saudis Plugged In With Smartphones And Ipads: THE NATIONAL

Gregor Hunter | 12/19/11

Saudi Arabia’s retail market has been on a roll this year, with stimulus measures in the kingdom leaving many young adults with ever-greater sums of money burning a hole in their pockets.

But as the sector becomes more competitive, which companies are positioned to win out?

Gulf Economic Growth to Dip To 3.7 Percent in 2012: SAUDI GAZETTE

12/18/11

Gulf economies which grew 7 percent despite global and regional turmoil will not see a similar growth rate next year, said Samba analyst Keith Savard who co-wrote the GCC Outlook 2012 report.

SABIC Dividend Move Helps Lift Tadawul Index: ARAB NEWS

Nadia Saleem | 12/18/11

In Saudi Arabia, SABIC, the world’s largest chemicals producer, climbed 1.1 percent to rebound from Saturday’s two-week low after saying it would issue a SR3-per-share dividend for the second half of 2011.

As US Departs Iraq, It Leaves Behind Allies Who Won’t Talk: McCLATCHY

Roy Gutman | 12/19/11

More than five years have passed since Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah last received Iraq’s prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. The Saudi monarch views al-Maliki as untrustworthy and, even worse, as “an Iranian agent.” Saudi Arabia doesn’t allow direct flights between its capital, Riyadh, and Baghdad, and it doesn’t permit direct trade between the two countries. The kingdom is building a fence along the closed 500-mile border. This, too, is a legacy of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as U.S. troops complete their withdrawal: a bitter enmity between two close U.S. allies, with an underlay of sectarian animosity that the United States cannot seem to ameliorate.

Prince Alwaleed tops Arabian Business Rich List with $21.3bn: ARABIAN BUSINESS

12/19/11

“Eight years of publishing the Arabian Business Rich List and eight successive years at the very top. The last twelve months saw the prince consolidate his position as the world’s richest Arab, with his fortune nudging up $900m to $21.3bn. Once again, this figure has been verified by his private office.” 7 OUT OF TOP 10 ARE SAUDIS: Saudis again dominated the Arabian Business Richest Arabs list with seven spots on the top 10, including positions 1-5, Arabianomics reports.

WORLD: NORTH KOREAN DESPOT KIM JONG IL DEAD

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died Saturday on a train trip, a tearful state television announcer, dressed in black, reported Monday, Reuters reports. FROM TWITTER: @blakehounshell (Foreign Policy): “Dead: Osama bin Laden, Muammar al-Qaddafi, and Kim Jong Il. Ousted: Mubarak, Ben Ali, and Ali Abdullah Saleh* #2011”

IRAQ: UNDER COVER OF NIGHT, US WAR ENDS

AP photographer Maya Alleruzzo journeyed with the 3rd Brigade across the border from Iraq into Kuwait, documenting the last vehicles and the last soldiers to leave the country — and the relief they felt after making it successfully to Kuwait, the Washington Post reports. ANALYSIS: IS WAR REALLY ‘GOING OUT OF STYLE?’: “Countries remain armed and hostile, so war is hardly impossible. But where would a new interstate war plausibly erupt? Robert Gates, the former secretary of defense, said this year that “any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined,” Joshua S. Goldstein and Steven Pinker (NYT) write.

ISRAEL: HUNDREDS MORE FREED IN SECOND WAVE OF PRISONER SWAP

Israel completed a prisoner exchange with the militant Hamas movement Sunday night, freeing another 550 Palestinian prisoners in the second stage of a deal that brought home Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza for more than five years, Washington Post reports. NO SIGN THAT US HAS GIVEN ISRAEL GREEN LIGHT: Is it possible that the half-hour meeting last Friday at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland, between U.S. President Barack Obama and Defense Minister Ehud Barkak will be remembered in Israel’s history as the moment at which Barack O. gave the green light to E. Barak – for better or for worse – to attack Iran? Can this be seen as a sort of flashback to the talk between Defense Minister Ariel Sharon and U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig in Washington in May 1982, that gave rise to the (mistaken ) Israeli impression that there was an understanding with the United States over going to war in Lebanon? Amir Oren (Haaretz) writes.

RUSSIA: OIL RIG OVERTURNS

Four vessels, an An-74 plane and two helicopters are involved in search and rescue efforts on Monday after an oil rig overturned in the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East, Ria.ru reports. At least 4 are dead and others are unaccounted for.

EGYPT: DEADLY UNREST CONTINUES

Protesters have been stoning security forces in Cairo on the third day of unrest in the Egyptian capital over the military government, BBC reports.

SYRIA: DEAL SIGNED TO ALLOW PROTEST MONITORS

Syria signed an Arab League initiative Monday that will allow Arab observers into the country as part of peace deal that aims to end the nation’s increasingly bloody 9-month-old crisis, Syria’s foreign minister said, AP reports.

YEMEN: UPRISING OPENS A DOOR TO BESIEGED REBELS IN THE NORTH

Beginning in 2004, in fighting that was largely invisible to the outside world, President Ali Abdullah Saleh sent his armies to vanquish a group of rebels known as the Houthis, after the clan of their leader. The government bombed villages and shelled cities as it accused the Houthis of kidnappings and assassinations. Hundreds of thousands of civilians took shelter in camps.

It was just one of many conflicts that have destabilized Yemen. Separatists continue to press their claims on the south, and a resurgent offshoot of Al Qaeda has seized territory from a government distracted by a popular uprising and a deal for Mr. Saleh to leave power, Kareem Fahim (NYT) writes.

AFGHANISTAN: US WAGING TWITTER WAR AGAINST TALIBAN

The Twitter war began in earnest Sept. 14, in the midst of a sustained attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and the adjacent headquarters of the U.S.-led international military force. Until then, NATO officials had kept close tabs on the messages posted on two accounts linked to the Taliban’s media arm — but had refrained from engaging or acknowledging them, Ernesto Londono (Washington Post) reports.

/The daily news is provided as a service of the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC. Visit www.SUSTG.org for more information and to get a free email subscription to the News Review./</h4></div>

Editor’s Note:

A delegation of educators, led by the UK’s minister for universities and sciences, David Willetts, recently traveled to Saudi Arabia for meetings with their higher education counterparts.  Among the university leaders making the trip was Professor Pamela Gillies, principal and vice chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University who visited Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), the Kingdom’s new women’s higher education institution that is planned to accomodate over 40,000 students.  Professor Gillies met with Rector Dr Huda Mohammed Saleh Al-Ameel and others at PNU and came away impressed with women in higher education in Saudi Arabia and their pursuit of partnerships with the UK “to help them grow their curriculum, improve their quality assurance arrangements and upskill their staff with master’s and PhD qualifications.”  She recounted her trip to Saudi Arabia and visit to Princess Nora University in an article for The Guardian and was kind enough to share it here for your consideration.

***

Dispatches from Saudi Arabia: the case for cross-cultural collaboration
Professor Pamela Gillies

Professor Pamela Gillies, Principal, Glasgow Caledonian University

Just as Saturday’s sun was coming up, we arrived at King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh. As part of a small delegation travelling with the UK’s minister for universities and science, David Willetts, I was well aware of the strict adherence to certain cultural mores that prevailed in Saudi Arabia following my visit to King Faisal Hospital in Jeddah the previous year.

Here I was, however, travelling to the very heart of the kingdom watching a French woman opposite me struggling into her voluminous black abayah as the plane entered its final descent. I knew the British Council had organised for an abayah to be waiting in the hotel but it was the first of many surprises on our 24-hour visit to hear from a fellow female traveller that while it was of course important to show respect for the local culture in Riyadh I would find a more relaxed attitude than I might expect.

Alighting from the plane the slightly crumpled accompanying delegation was whisked through airport formalities. Our group included Professor Eric Thomas, vice-chancellor of Bristol University and president of Universities UK, Dr Joanna Newman, director of UK Higher Education International Unit, and Martin Dole, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, ably supported by Maddalaine Ansell of the Department of Business Innovation and Skills.

The very first thing that we all saw as we left the airport was the Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University, majestically rising from the desert. This, the largest university for women in the world, has the capacity to educate 40,000 female students on a purpose-built campus covering 14sq km with its own monorail system. A visit to it later in the day was the reason for my inclusion in the party as a female UK vice-chancellor. Although the university for women has had a long history producing generations of female teachers, this impressive campus development championed by the king will educate the next generation of women leaders and professionals for the nation across a wide range of disciplines: from health to education, business and social work.

Princess Nora University model inspected by King Abdullah after laying the foundation stone, Oct 29, 2008. (SPA)

It is an extraordinarily powerful symbol of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the higher education and future employment of its women in a nation full of contradictions. While more than 50% of Saudi undergraduates are female only 13.5% are employed, the lowest rate in the world, and 20% of women are illiterate compared to 13% of men. Women will be able to vote in local elections from 2015 and there is clearly a commitment to changing their position in society, although the pace of change will be measured. The female UK delegation, suitably attired in abayahs, arrived in the middle of the day for our much-anticipated visit to the university. We were ushered inside and, now in an all-female environment, the abayahs were quickly shrugged off. We were privileged to meet Dr Huda Mohammed Saleh Al-Ameel, the rector of the university, and her impressive top team of vice-rectors and administrators.

Dr Huda is a leader of intellect with an obvious passion for education and a desire to create the best university for the teaching of women in the world. Her team’s energy, commitment and enthusiasm was infectious and they were frustrated that visits in recent years to the UK to seek partnerships to help them grow their curriculum, improve their quality assurance arrangements and upskill their staff with master’s and PhD qualifications had largely fallen on stony ground. We in the west may not find it easy to accept the restrictions that limit the opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia, but my visit certainly taught me that change is in the air. Perhaps we should not be so reluctant to work in partnership with leaders like Dr Huda, to support her in her educational task within her country. Perhaps for too long we have stayed at home expecting Saudi students to come to us.

And they do come to us in very large numbers. We have more than 20,000 students from Saudi Arabia in the UK at the present time, 16,000 on a special King Abdullah Scholarship programme. During his short visit, the very first of a UK minister for universities to the kingdom, David Willetts worked graciously and tirelessly to promote our higher education sector, its diversity and the quality of our further education colleges. In return, the Saudi minister for higher education expressed his desire for a greater commitment to collaboration, for more research and knowledge transfer agreements between our universities and for assistance in promoting world-class teaching.

There is no doubting the affinity between our nations, unexpectedly captured in an emotional exchange I had over lunch with a woman from the ministry. She described how, after entering the US after 9/11 with her three young children to resume her PhD studies at a university in Kansas, she had been treated with such aggression, hostility and distaste that she feared for her children’s safety and returned to her own country to complete her studies. She added that she had always felt welcomed and safe in the UK, and we agreed that if our UK students were encouraged to study, even for short periods of time in Saudi Arabia, this could only further our understanding of each other, encourage tolerance and dispel fear.

Yes, a surprising visit and leaving on the Sunday morning as the sun rose once again I knew for certain I, with Joanna and Maddalaine, would do all we could to find ways in the months ahead to give practical support to the women we had met who are providing educational opportunities for the many willing hearts in their care.

Professor Pamela Gillies, Principal, Glasgow Caledonian University.

[Originally printed in The Guardian.  Reprinted with permission of the author.]

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About Professor Pamela Gillies

Professor Pamela Gillies, Principal, Glasgow Caledonian University

Professor Pamela Gillies was appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in March 2006. Since becoming the academic and chief executive head of the University, Professor Gillies and her team have set out a new vision for Glasgow Caledonian University ensuring it is one of the most distinctive universities in the UK – a University for the professions with a commitment to the common good.

Professor Gillies is a Governor of the Board of Trustees of the British Council, supporting the educational and cultural work of the British Council in the UK and internationally. She is a Trustee of the Saltire Foundation to promote international business related fellowships and internships for Scotland’s brightest students. She is a member of the Board of CBI Scotland, the first Scottish Vice-Chancellor to be elected to this role.

…more about Professor Gillies [LINK]

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Related Items:

• Educational Ties Sought: UK Universities Minister in KSA – SBRIS – Nov 16, 2011
• Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University – Home Page
• Princess Nora University – Arab News – May 20, 2011
• King’s academic vision for women – Arab News – May 18, 2011
• Glasgow Caledonian University – Home Page
• World’s largest university for women opened – Arab News – May 16, 2011
• Huda to head Nora university – Arab News – Apr 24, 2011

SAUDIBRIT Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
/Provided as a service from the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC/

12.16.11 EDITION

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Eats Fries from McDonald’s: YOUTUBE

A new video released on YouTube shows Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah walking through a shopping mall, eating french fries from American fast food chain McDonald’s. The footage also shows a younger man approach the king and pay his respects, and several of the King’s advisors tasting some fries.

King Abdullah Eats McDonald‘s Fries

The History And Politics Behind Coke’s Saudi Investment: HUFFINGTON POST

12/15/11

To many, Coca Cola’s decision to invest $980 million in buying a stake in leading Saudi beverage manufacturer, Aujan Industries, may simply seem as an attempt to catch up with arch-rival, Pepsi, which for long has been the leader in the Middle East. The agreement was announced earlier this week and the transaction is set to close in the first half of 2012; once it does, Coca-Cola will acquire a 50 per cent stake in the entity that holds the rights to Aujan’s brands and a 49 per cent stake in Aujan’s bottling and Distribution Company, according to Reuters. The Middle East currently contributes a small fraction of Coke’s overall sales; many observers relate this to an Arab League-imposed boycott which lasted from August 1968 to May 1991.

Who is the New Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry? About HE Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah: ARABIANOMICS

12/16/11

The position was previously held by HE Abdullah Alireza since 2008, but the announcement made this week appointed HE Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah to the position. Al-Rabiah was former Deputy Ministry for Industrial Affairs and Director General, Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon), but assumes the role of Minister of Commerce and Industry effective immediately.

Saudi Real Estate Among World Elite In 2012, Says Damac: ARABIAN BUSINESS

Andy Sambidge | 12/16/11

Saudi Arabia is forecast to become one of the best performing real estate markets in the world in 2012, according to Dubai developer Damac Properties.

Saudi Gas Output Will Reach 15 Billion Cubic Feet Per Day By 2016: ARAB NEWS

12/15/11

Saudi Arabia’s gas production will reach 15 billion cubic feet per day by 2016 compared to 7.7 billion cubic feet per day in 2002, a Saudi official said in Dubai. “The Kingdom will also have the largest network of refineries in the Middle East by 2016 with a refining capacity of 3.5 million bpd,” Prince Faisal bin Turki, advisor at the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, said.

Riyadh Sets Stage For Key GCC Summit: ARAB NEWS

12/16/11

Hectic preparations are under way in the capital for the 32nd GCC’s Summit that will take place on Dec. 19 and 20.

Petrochemicals Production In Saudi Arabia To Rise To Over 100 Mln Tpa By 2016: PLASTEMART

12/16/11

Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical industry is expected to attract US$150 billion in total cumulative investments by 2016, said Prince Faisal bin Turki, an adviser to the Kingdom’s petroleum and minerals ministry.

Oil Falls To Six-Week Low As U.S. Industrial Production Drops: BUSINESSWEEK

Moming Zhou | 12/16/11

Crude oil tumbled to the lowest level in six weeks as industrial production declined for the first time since April in the U.S., the world’s largest oil- consuming country.

Afghans Mull Saudi, Turkey For Taliban Office: AFP

12/15/11

Afghan authorities on Thursday named Saudi Arabia or Turkey as the best places to set up a Taliban liaison office abroad to enable peace talks to end a devastating 10-year insurgency.

US Hits Saudi Militant With Sanctions: AP

12/16/11

The Obama administration has added a senior member of a Lebanese militant group to the list of global terrorists subject to U.S. sanctions.

The State Department says Saudi citizen Saleh al-Qarawi is a high-ranking operative for the Abdullah Azzam Brigades in Lebanon.

Rosenbauer Wins $319m Saudi Fire Equipment Deal: ARABIANBUSINESS

12/16/11

Austria-based Rosenbauer International said on Friday it had won a 245.3m ($319.7m) euro order from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior to supply fire engineering equipment.

IRAN: TEHRAN ‘HIJACKED’ US DRONE, SAYS IRANIAN ENGINEER

In an exclusive interview, an engineer working to unlock the secrets of the captured RQ-170 Sentinel says they exploited a known vulnerability and tricked the US drone into landing in Iran, Scott Peterson (CSM) reports. IRAN WARNS US: Iran escalated its confrontation with the United States on Thursday over the captured American spy drone launched from Afghanistan, warning the Afghan government to order a halt to such surveillance flights, NYT reports. OBAMA CAMPAIGN TOUTS END OF WAR: President Obama himself has been relatively low-key about the end of the Iraq War. His campaign has not been so reticent, USA Today reports.

RUSSIA: AIRPORT AUTHORITIES SEIZE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL BOUND FOR TEHRAN

Russia’s customs agency says it has seized radioactive metal from the luggage of an Iranian passenger bound for Tehran. A spokeswoman, Kseniya Grebenkina, said the luggage had been seized some time ago, but could not specify when. The Iranian had not been detained, she said, the Guardian reports.

SYRIA: RUSSIA CIRCULATES SURPRISE UN RESOLUTION

Russia has circulated a UN Security Council resolution aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria, in a move that surprised Western nations. The draft condemns the violence by both Syria’s government and the opposition, but does not mention sanctions. Western nations said the proposal was not tough enough but that they were prepared to work on the document, BBC reports.  TROOPS FIRE ON PROTESTERS: Syrian security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters after Friday prayers at several locations around the country, while the army sent reinforcements into a southern area where military defectors recently launched deadly attacks on regime troops, AP reports.

IRAQ: IN BAGHDAD, AN UNEASY MOMENT OF CLOSURE

Almost nine years after the first American tanks began massing on the Iraq border, the Pentagon declared an official end to its mission here, closing a troubled conflict that helped reshape American politics and left a bitter legacy of anti-American sentiment across the Muslim world, NYT reports.

BAHRAIN: IMPRISONED ACTIVIST’S DAUGHTER DETAINED IN BAHRAIN

A daughter of a prominent Bahraini activist was detained Friday during an anti-government demonstration in the Gulf kingdom, which has been roiled by months of protests and crackdowns, a rights group said, CBS News reports.
/The daily news is provided as a service of the Saudi-US Trade Group, Washington, DC. Visit www.SUSTG.org for more information and to get a free email subscription to the News Review./</h4></div>