Middle East Politics.Net » agreements

Israel and New Building Projects

davidhulme — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:46:09 +0000

The White House has issued a statement (September 5) about the Israeli government’s latest building plans. Hoping to retain settler support and then follow up with a freeze on construction to meet US demands, PM Netanyahu announced the latest permissions–Helena Cobban comments.

David Hulme

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Israel, Hamas, Fatah Prisoner Swap

davidhulme — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:11:33 +0000

Helena Cobban has a very detailed run down on the latest Israeli-Palestinian behind-the-scenes negotiations over prisoner releases that could free key Hamas and Fateh militants from Israeli hands, and one Israeli soldier held in Gaza since 2006. All of this could be the precursor to declaration of another truce between Hamas and Israel. At the same time reconciliation between Hamas and Fateh seems to be proceeding with a view to shared responsibilities and new elections.

David Hulme

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Joint US-Palestinian Education in Jerusalem

davidhulme — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:54:07 +0000

I welcome the news that New York state’s Bard College and Jerusalem’s Al Quds University will offer joint programs beginning next academic year. According to the New York Times, “The plan, relying largely on outside financing, includes a liberal arts honors college and a master’s degree program in teaching, both located at Al Quds and granting joint degrees, as well as a model high school to serve as an educational laboratory. The starting date for the first two is September; the high school is to open in 2010.”

David Hulme

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Great Turnout of Signatories, but not Jordan

mmunguia — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:16:58 +0000

The Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan, Mette Ravn, stated his surprise at the number of signatories that turned out for the global ban on cluster munitions. He added that there is still an extra effort that needs to be made in order to get other countries to join.

On Tuesday, about 92 countries put their names on the humanitarian treaty of the decade during the opening of the Convention on Cluster Munitions at Oslo’s City Hall on. The convention is to remain open until Friday and puts a global ban on the use of stockpiling and production of cluster munitions and creates requirements for the destruction of the stockpiles. Among the countries that signed were Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Laos–some of those most impacted by this problem.

The treaty was not signed by Jordan even though it is a leader in the Mine Ban Treaty, because it is not affected by cluster munition, but has stockpiles.

Mayra Munguia

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Extended Stay by Libya in the Philippines

dcrowley — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:47:36 +0000

Libya currently has an international monitoring team in Mindanao in the Philippines and has agreed to extend its stay for another three months. Sadek As Osman, the person in charge of the team said that the decision reflects “Libya’s renewed support of the peace process” between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The extended stay of Libya’s monitoring team is supposedly welcomed by representatives of both sides. Japan also called upon Manila to revive negotiations with the MILF.

David Crowley

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Successful Negotiations between Libya and EU

dcrowley — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:39:49 +0000

According to Mr. Hugues Mingarelli, the officer in charge of the European Commission’s external relations, negotiations between the European Union and Libya in regards to an economic partnership agreement have “got off to a good start,” and suggests that Libyan authorities should continue in this direction in order to maintain “this pace of progress in the negotiations.” The recent negotiations have been “aimed at establishing a legal framework between the two parties,” in order to create a free trade area between Libya and the EU, and the proposed agreement might not be the same as those signed with other countries, regionally similar to Libya. Mr. Mingarelli also said that if negotiations succeed, the EU would be willing to assist Libya with its illegal emigration problem.

David Crowley

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Most Environmentally Friendly Refinery Coming to Libya

dcrowley — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:32:13 +0000

Zwara Oil Refining Company (owned by the Libyan Government) has appointed HSBC Bank as the financial advisor for a new oil refinery in north-western Libya. This will be the first major government-sponsored project that will be commercially financed. It will refine about 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil and will use existing infrastructure, especially with the Libya Oil Holding company and Tamoil to distribute it regionally as well as internationally. Dr. Shamekh, chairman of the company states that “This project will be the most environmental friendly refinery ever built.” He also goes on to state that the refinery will service local, regional and international markets as well as the fact that this is the first “commercially structured project [...] costing around $4 billion.”

David Crowley

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US and Saudi Arabia Agree to Joint Research Project

Holly MacGillivray — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:27:36 +0000

The United States state Department announced a new plan of greater cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about a range of scientific research programs. The two nations will be cooperating and working together in the fields of plant genomics and biotechnology, health, agriculture, water purification and other areas. The memorandum was signed on Tuesday and is said by the State Department to support “greater agency to agency cooperation…formalizing a long-standing relationship between the two countries… involving cooperation between technical agencies, academic institutions, and private industry.” This agreement will allow scientists from both nations to have access to each other’s information and research on each field of study. As a part of the arrangement Saudi Arabia is planning on spending about $30 billion over 5 years to upgrade its science and technology infrastructure in the kingdom.

Holly MacGillivray

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Iraq Finally Approves US Security Pact

hackenda — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:20:29 +0000

The Iraqi government took the last step toward accepting the security agreement with the United States today. The three-person Presidency Council finally approved the pact, which was ratified by Iraqi Parliament last week. The main condition of the pact mandates the withdrawal of US troops from the country, with the last of them completely out by the end of 2011.

Ironically, the approval came on a relatively violent day in Iraq, compared to recent activity in the state. Currently, some of the most vicious attacks are occurring in the city of Fallujah, notorious for violence earlier in the war between the US and Iraq, and considered the heart of Sunni insurgency efforts. Control of Anbar Province, where Fallujah is located, was handed over to Iraqi security forces three months ago, because the US troops considered the security situation to be adequately improved. In the months to come before the end of 2011, it will be important to take note of how the security situation evolves.

Haley Hackendale

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Yemen and Philippines to Coordinate Higher Education

bkeenan — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:44:01 +0000

Yemen and the Philippines got together on Wednesday to discuss their scientific and cultural cooperation. Their main topic of discussion was the higher education possibilities in Yemen and the Philippines. The Philippines already has their foot in the door of higher education and Yemen hopes to get a helping hand in learning about their style of higher education. One way that Yemen would be helped by the Philippines is a trading of English teachers between the two countries.

Brad Keenan

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