Excerpts: Women's rights.Syria in Lebanon. Islamist speaks.HOW the OPEC
cartel works 22 February 2005

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 22 FEb.'05:"Women and Elections: Let Us Wait for the
Next Phase"Suraya Al-Shehry -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"the right thing to do is to wait for the decision of the government"
"No one should forget that women's skill in political activities has its
roots in the Islamic history."
-------------------
EXCERPTS:
The role of women in the municipal elections and related political
activities has been a topic of hot debates in Saudi Arabia over the past
several months. The core of the issue is to determine whether Islam objects
to or approves women taking up responsible political or social positions.
Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowment and Propagation Saleh
Al-Asheikh confirmed ... .
Anthropological studies show that the male domination is a major feature of
the tribes and clans functioning on a patriarchal pattern such as the Saudi
society.
[IMRA: How profound!]
However, their travels to the Western countries for higher studies and
other purposes following the oil boom in the seventies enabled the Saudi men
to have a first hand knowledge of the modernization in those countries
including the role of women in social and political life. The influence of
the Western-educated people helped the country progress but without ignoring
the tribal respect and regard for women's status. Paradoxically, some other
Saudis who also studied in Western universities were terrified of the
consequences of loosening the restrictions on women.
Instead of making an effort to balance between the old and the new ways and
putting the trust in the rulers, the conservatives in society decided to
enforce stricter male domination as a means to escape the perils of giving
more freedom to women.
... Saudi society was very keen to keep the country uninfluenced by the
developments with regard to women' status in the outside world. The policy
has caused untold miseries to Saudi women. The efforts to liberate them from
the iron grip of the unfair male domination without simultaneous drive to
enlighten society in the matter have failed to produce the desired results.
The diametrically opposite views held by the conservatives and others on the
rights of women have only pulled the people in opposite directions affecting
the welfare of all.
Therefore the right thing to do is to wait for the decision of the
government. ...
Wisdom and flexibility are the two factors that help a country achieve
progress by soldering its citizens to a single unit, every citizen enjoying
his or her rights and fulfilling his or her duties in full.
. . .
... Out of a total population of 18 million in the Kingdom 50 percent are
women and 60 percent of the total are under 21. ... Only around three
million men are eligible to vote. After the final analysis it can be assumed
safely that only two million men would participate in the voting.
No one should forget that women's skill in political activities has its
roots in the Islamic history. It is unfortunate that women, the first
teacher of children in society, are not included in important political and
decision-making bodies. I wonder what factors are being considered when the
merit and eligibility of men and women in our society are examined.

+++JORDAN TIMES 22 Feb.'05:
"Taef accord - the basis of Syrian troop presence"
EXCERPTS:
BEIRUT (AFP) - The Taef accord which brought an end to the 1975-1990
Lebanese civil war also lays down the legal basis for Syria's military
presence in its smaller neighbour.
... Assad said Monday he was willing to withdraw from Lebanon in line with
the Taef accords ... .The Taef accord, which takes its name from the Saudi
city where it was signed in 1989, paved the way for the 1990 end of
Lebanon's 15-year civil war and set out a long-term basis for the presence
of Syrian troops first deployed at the height of the conflict in 1976. It
called for Syria to start redeployments from Lebanon within two years of the
conflict's finish, but an estimated 14,000 soldiers are still stationed in
key positions, as well as an unknown number of intelligence agents.
UN Security Council Resolution 1559, passed in September over the strong
opposition of both Syrian and Lebanese governments, demanded that "foreign
forces withdraw without delay from Lebanon." ...
But the Taef agreement, which has come to be regarded as a de facto
constitution for all of Lebanon's post-war governments, sets no deadline for
the withdrawal of Syrian troops and establishes a special relationship
between the two countries.
The accord does call for the bulk of the Syrian force to be redeployed to
the east of Lebanon's central mountains in the Bekaa Vally near their common
border.
[IMRA: Was supposed to be by 1992 but was overlooked because Syria was
against Iraq in Iraq's war against Kuwait.]
But it allows for the two governments to approve other deployments and
decide on the duration of the troop presence as a whole.
After an interim period not exceeding two years, the agreement specifies
that "the two governments ... shall decide to redeploy the Syrian forces in
the (eastern) Bekaa valley... and if necessary, at other points to be
determined by a joint Lebanese-Syrian military committee.
"An agreement shall also be concluded by the two governments to determine
the strength and duration of the presence of Syrian forces in the
above-mentioned area and to define these forces relationship with the
Lebanese state authorities where the forces exist."
There have been a series of partial redeployments since June 2001, which
have seen Syrian troop numbers fall from a high of 35,000 in 1989. Most are
now deployed in the Bekaa or around the northern city of Tripoli.
Lebanon and Syria have justified their rejection of the resolution by what
they say is a continued threat from Israel, which still occupies Syria's
Golan Heights and the disputed Shebaa Farms region claimed by Beirut,
[IMRA: Despite UN contrary ruling.]
and has continued to violate Lebanese airspace on a regular basis since
its withdrawal of troops in May 2000.
[IMRA: Story also doesn't mention Hizbolah.]

+++JORDAN TIMES 22 Feb.'05:
"Abu Fares referred to attorney general"
By Rana Husseini
QUOTE FROM TEXT:
"his speech tackled Prophet Mohammad's teachings and how to apply ...
rulings such as cutting the hands of theves and lashing people who consume
alcohol. 'I also spoke about normalization with Israel and how it undermines
our national economic interests' "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:
AMMAN - A Lower House deputy accused of violating the Public Assembly Law by
holding an unauthorised political rally has been referred to the attorney
general by the Amman governor ... . ....
.
"Mohammad Abu Fares and two other people were referred to the attorney
general by Amman Governor Abdul Karim Malahmeh for staging an unauthorised
rally following Friday prayers on Feb. 18," Interior Ministry Spokesperson
Faisal Kadi said.
In his letter to the attorney general, the Amman governor said that Abu
Fares and two other men had not received prior approval for the rally from
the administrative governor and had therefore violated the law.
The Public Assembly Law states that organisers of political activities or
gatherings must acquire official consent or approval from the local governor
three days in advance.
Abu Fares ... told The Jordan Times on Monday he has not been contacted
by any legal department regarding any charge.
"I just read in the newspapers ... they cannot do this because I have
parliamentary immunity," he said.
Abu Fares, an Islamic Action Front member, said his speech tackled Prophet
Mohammad's teachings and how to apply Islamic Sharia rulings such as cutting
the hands of thieves and lashing people who consume alcohol.
"I also spoke about normalisation with Israel and how it undermines our
national economic interests," the deputy said.
... Abu Fares said he also spoke about the concept of mosques, describing
them as "the centre of Islamic leadership and the base from which Islamic
armies have been launched."
. . .
Lifting a deputy's immunity requires a two-thirds majority, he added.
. . .
... the attorney general is now required to contact the Lower House speaker
to legally prosecute the MP or wait until the Parliament is in recess to
take legal action against Abu Fares.
The current parliamentary session will end in April 2005.

+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 22 Feb.'05:"Kingdom Keeps 2m bpd Surplus Capacity:
Naimi "
Nasser Al-Salti & Raid Qusti, Arab News -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"the Norwegian minister said she was visiting ... to have a good
conversation on the market and market situation."
"her delegation consisted of representatives of the Association of
Norwegian Oil and Gas Partners to work on better cooperation along with
Norwegian companies working in the Kingdom"
"declined to give a specific figure on what she believed was a
'reasonable price' as it was 'too dificult to say what it should be' "
"market determines what the price is"
" 'producers or consumers -- are concerned with the sudden movements in
price' "
"decide on a reasonable band of price for the organization [OPEC]"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EXCERPTS:RIYADH, 22 February 2005 - . . ."We always maintain a surplus (production) capacity of 1.5 million to twomillion bpd in order to meet unexpected demand, such as happened in 2003 and2004," Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said after talks with visiting NorwegianPetroleum and Energy Minister Thorhild Widvey.. . .Widvey with her team provided a summary of their exploration and productionand their new exploration activities for oil and gas.. . ....When we intend to expand our production, we also take into account the... of oil fields which ranges from 50-100 years. So there is good reservefor the next generation," ... .On the question of costs, Al-Naimi said that additional reserves mean morecosts and since this is an energy the world needs, and is willing to payfor, it is "good business for the producer and the consumer.". . ."I believe we hav!
e... over
80 fields and we are producing from less than 20fields ...," he said."We do not need Manifia to reach the capacity of 12.5 million bpd. There areso many small fields that may increase the capacity beyond 12.5 millionbarrels.". . .He said that today 90 percent of Saudi oil rigs are not owned by SaudiAramco.... the Norwegian minister said she was visiting the Kingdom to have a goodconversation on the market and market situation."We will not be joining OPEC and I do not see it in our political agenda inthe future," she stressed.She said that her delegation consisted of representatives of the Associationof Norwegian Oil and Gas Partners to work on better cooperation along withNorwegian companies working in the Kingdom.... Al-Naimi said ..."We have a joint technical committee that goes ingreat details on progress areas both in production facilities in Norway andSaudi Arabia," ... . [IMRA: Colusive, not competitive.]"We also have a very good relationship with Statoil company!
in the R
and Dare.... These are the things we benefit from besides working together atstabilizing the oil market and assuring supplies to the internationalmarket."... Widvey said, "For Norway it is important to have a price at a reasonablelevel which should not be so high as to damage the world economic growth".. . .Widvey declined to give a specific figure on what she believed was a"reasonable price" as it was "too difficult to say where it should be."However, she believed " it is going to stay at a high level."About the possibility that the world can live with $50 per barrel price andwhether Al-Naimi agreed with that, the minister replied that the Kingdom, asa producer, does not set prices; it is a price taker. The market determineswhat the price is, he said."What we producers are interested in and are trying to prevent is thevolatility of the market. And that is why we do our utmost to reduce themovements in price. What we - producers or consumers - are concerned with isthe sudde!
n movement
s in price." [IMRA: To the benefit of producers.]Al-Naimi said OPEC in its next meeting in March will recommend on the newmix for OPEC basket to decide a reasonable band of price for theorganization. [IMRA: Hardly the market.]. . .He said that "Saudi Arabia is presently producing 9 billion bpd. We have aprogram to increase our production capacity to reach 12.5 million barrels aday by 2008-2009."Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA