Excerpts: Hamas in Russia.International Atomic Energy Agency concerned about
Iran's plan.New sanctions on Iran.Saudi rhetoric.Largely empty Dubai tower
closed down indefinitely 9 February 2010

+++SOURCE: JORDAN TIMES 9 Feb.'10:"US blocking unity efforts - Mishaal",
Reuters
QUOTE: "Islamist(Hamas) group refuses to recognize Israel"
FULL TEXT:MOSCOW (Reuters) - Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal on Monday(8 Feb)
accused the United States of undermining Palestinian unity efforts and said
he saw no chance for peace in the Middle East under Israel's current
leadership. Shunned in the West because his Islamist group refuses to
recognise Israel - a position he said stands - Mishaal used a hospitable
Russia as a platform to blame Washington and Israel's hardline government
for a lack of progress. His remarks underscored barriers on the road to
Palestinian reconciliation and to renewing Middle East peace talks. Hamas
wants a reconciliation deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rival
Fateh movement "as fast as possible", Mishaal told a news conference after
meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who invited him to Moscow.
"Unfortunately, there are a whole series of hurdles to a swift
reconciliation, first of all external influence and concerted pressure from
the United States," he said, which he said was using "various means" to
scuttle the efforts.

+++JORDAN TIMES 9 Feb.'10:"IAEA chief 'concerned at Iran uranium plan' ",
Agence France Presse

SUBJECT: Jnternational Atomic Energy Agency concerned about Iran's plan.

VIENNA/PARIS (AFP) - IAEA chief Yukiya Amano expressed concern on Monday
over Iran's decision to begin higher enrichment of uranium, after the agency
received a letter from the Islamic republic informing it of the move.
"IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano noted with concern this decision, as it
may affect, in particular, ongoing international efforts to ensure the
availability of nuclear fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor," said Gill
Tudor, spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA).
"The director general reiterated the agency's readiness to play an
intermediary role on the issue of the Tehran Research Reactor," she added.

+++SOURCE:EGYPTIAN GAZETTE 9 Feb.'10:"West ups pressure on Iran",News
agencies

SUBJECT:New sanctions on Iran
qUOTE: "Russian lawmaker...said new sanctions should be discussed -- a step
Moscow had previously opposed"

Paris--The United States and France on Monday(8 Feb) said it was time to
impose new sanctions on Iran after Tehran announced plans for a major
expansion of its nuclear programme.
Iran said it would soon start producing higher-grade nuclear fuel and add 10
uranium enrichment plants over the next year, raising the stakes in its
long-running stand-off with Western powers over its atomic plans.

Iran also said it has told the UN nuclear agency it will start enriching
uranium to higher levels, shrugging off international fears that such a move
will bring it closer to being able to make nuclear warheads.
Western powers condemned the moves, which Germany said was a sign that Iran
is not cooperating with the international community which wants the fuel to
be upgraded abroad.
A top Russian lawmaker called Tehran's move "a sure step backward" and said
new sanctions should be discussed - a step Moscow has previously opposed.

+++SOURCE: NAHARNET (Lebanon) 9 Feb.'10:"Saudi Government Urges
International
Response to Israeli Threats Against Lebanon, Syria"
SUBJECT: Saudi rhetoric

"The Saudi government on Monday(8 Feb.} urged the international community
"for taking a firm stance on the issue of Israeli threats against Lebanon,
Syria, and the Palestinians."
During a session headed by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi
government also called for "intensifying efforts to stop the inhumane
Israeli practices against the Palestinian people and for halting arbitrary
arrests, aerial strikes on the Gaza Strip, desecrating Islamic holy sites,
and policies and plans aiming at judaizing Jerusalem."

+++SOURCE: WASHINGTON POST: 9 Feb.'10World's tallest tower closed a month
after opening" '10,y ADAM SCHRECK,The Associated Press
SUBJECT: Difficulty in Dubai
QUOTE: "The first of some 12,000 residential tenants and office worlers are
supposed to move into the building this month."

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The world's tallest skyscraper has
unexpectedly closed to the public a month after its lavish opening,
disappointing tourists headed for the observation deck and casting doubt
over plans to welcome its first permanent occupants in the coming weeks.
Electrical problems are at least partly to blame for the closure of the Burj
Khalifa's viewing platform - the only part of the half-mile high tower open
yet. But a lack of information from the spire's owner left it unclear
whether the rest of the largely empty building - including dozens of
elevators meant to whisk visitors to the tower's more than 160 floors - was
affected by the shutdown.
The indefinite closure, which began Sunday(7 Feb), comes as Dubai struggles
to revive its international image as a cutting-edge Arab metropolis amid
nagging questions about its financial health. . . .The precise cause of
the $1.5 billion Dubai skyscraper's temporary shutdown remained unclear.
In a brief statement responding to questions, building owner Emaar
Properties blamed the closure on "unexpected high traffic," but then
suggested that electrical problems were also at fault. "Technical issues
with the power supply are being worked on by the main and subcontractors and
the public will be informed upon completion," the company said, adding that
it is "committed to the highest quality standards at Burj Khalifa."
Despite repeated requests, a spokeswoman for Emaar was unable to provide
further details or rule out the possibility of foul play. . . .
The shutdown comes at a sensitive time for Dubai. The city-state is facing a
slump in tourism - which accounts for nearly a fifth of the local economy -
while fending off negative publicity caused by more than $80 billion in debt
it is struggling to repay. . . .
Dubai opened the skyscraper on Jan. 4 in a blaze of fireworks televised
around the world. The building had been known as the Burj Dubai during more
than half a decade of construction, but the name was suddenly changed on
opening night to honor the ruler of neighboring Abu Dhabi.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of seven small sheikdoms that comprise the
United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi hosts the federation's capital and holds
most of the country's vast oil reserves. It has provided Dubai with $20
billion in emergency cash to help cover its debts. . . .
The opening date had originally been expected in September, but was then
pushed back until sometime before the end of 2009. The eventual opening date
just after New Year's was meant to coincide with the anniversary of the
Dubai ruler's ascent to power.. . .
Work is still ongoing on many of the building's other floors, including
those that will house the first hotel designed by Giorgio Armani that is due
to open in March. The building's base remains largely a construction zone,
with entrance restricted to the viewing platform lobby in an adjacent
shopping mall. The first of some 12,000 residential tenants and office
workers are supposed to move in to the building this month. The Burj Khalifa
boasts more than 160 stories. The exact number is not known. . . .
=============
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA