2011/10/04

Oct 3 Others

بيلاروسيا تسعى لاقتراض 400 مليون دولار من إيران و7 مليارات من صندوق النقد الدولي
Belarus is seeking to borrow $ 400 million from Iran and 7 billion from the IMF

http://www.sana.sy/ara/4/2011/10/03/373178.htm
03 Oct 0.2011
Minsk - SANA

Belarus today announced it is seeking for a loan from Iran worth $ 400 million and hopes that the IMF agree on loan urgently a new $ 7 billion to exceed the financial crisis plaguing the country.

The news agency UPI Director of the Board of Directors for the Central Bank of Belarus Nadezhda Armakuva saying to Parliament that the issue of borrowing from Iran $ 400 million is being considered by the Iranian side has taken a decision in principle.

In turn, said Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir amarine: The mission of the IMF to assess the economic situation in the country may begin work tomorrow to consider a new program of assistance worth $ 7 billion.

The Minsk requested assistance from the International Fund in June last after he had to devalue its currency because of its inability to large commercial and increase salaries and provide government loans after the presidential elections last December but the Fund has considered that the government failed to provide the solid economic and promised to send new mission to Minsk In October of this.

The Belarus said last September that it could abandon its plan to get a loan from the International Fund for $ 8 billion.


German foundations deny Erdoğan's claims they fund PKK
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-258766-german-foundations-deny-erdogans-claims-they-fund-pkk.html
03 October 2011, Monday / AYDIN ALBAYRAK, ANKARA


US defense secretary warns of Israeli isolation

http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article510599.ece
By DAVID ALEXANDER | REUTERS
Published: Oct 3, 2011 11:05 Updated: Oct 3, 2011 11:55

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Sunday that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East and said US security commitments should enable it to take "risks for peace."

Panetta, who arrives in Israel on Monday for the first time since becoming Pentagon chief, said he would reaffirm US security commitments to Israel and try to help it improve its increasingly chilly relations with Turkey and Egypt.

"It's pretty clear, at this dramatic time in the Middle East when there have been so many changes, that it is not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated. And that is what has happened," Panetta told reporters on his plane.

Panetta's visit to the Middle East, which includes meetings with Palestinian and Egyptian leaders, comes at a time when Arab popular demand for political change has buffeted the region, raising hopes, tensions and uncertainty.

Protests toppled governments in Tunisia and longtime US ally Egypt earlier this year and touched off a civil war in Libya that led to the ouster of leader Muammar Qaddafi.

But the changes have sometimes been unsettling.

Egyptian protesters invaded the Israeli Embassy in Cairo a month ago in anger over a clash that killed five border guards. The military government's handling of that incident and comments afterward raised concerns about Cairo's future commitment to its peace deal with Israel,

"The timing (of Panetta's visit) couldn't be more apt given the events unfolding in the region and broad range of important issues on the agenda with the Israelis and the Egyptians," a senior defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Panetta meeting Abbas, Fayyad

Panetta will hold separate meetings with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss bilateral defense relations as well as major security issues.

"The important thing there is to again reaffirm our strong security relationship with Israel, to make clear that we will protect their qualitative military edge," Panetta said. "As they take risks for peace, we will be able to provide the security that they will need in order to ensure that they can have the room hopefully to negotiate."

Panetta said he was confident Israel had maintained its military superiority in the region "but the question you have to ask is — is it enough to maintain an military edge if you are isolating yourself diplomatically?

"Real security can only be achieved by both a strong diplomatic effort as well as a strong effort to project your military strength," he said.

Panetta is expected to discuss the security situation on Israel's borders. Protests in neighboring Jordan have led to a change of government, while in Syria President Bashar Assad has largely used violence to put down the demonstrations.

Iran and its nuclear program also will be on the agenda. Panetta said with much of the world opposed to Iran developing its nuclear capabilities, it would be best to work together to try to curb Tehran's ambitions rather than take unilateral action.

In a session officials said was added to the itinerary "relatively recently," the US defense secretary will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to re-engage the Palestinians just days after opposing their bid for statehood at the United Nations.

Panetta said he would stress to both sides that it was important to begin negotiations on a settlement rather than setting conditions for talks or seeking other approaches to resolve the issue.

"The most important thing they can do is go to the negotiating table," he said. "You are not going to achieve Middle East peace by trying to slam-dunk it at the UN. The only way you're going to achieve it is by negotiations."

Israel has agreed to participate in negotiations but the Palestinians have so far declined, saying Israel must first halt its expansion of settlements in occupied territory. Israel recently announced it would add 1,100 new homes to a settlement near Jerusalem.


Kingdom to hire 30,000 Egyptians for Haj work
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article510321.ece
By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS
Published: Oct 2, 2011 23:26 Updated: Oct 2, 2011 23:26

JEDDAH: An agreement has been reached to recruit 30,000 workers from Egypt to work during the upcoming pilgrimage, Haj Ministry sources said on Sunday.


Tourism in Jordan hit hard by uprisings across Arab world
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/Middle-East/2011/Oct-03/150275-tourism-in-jordan-hit-hard-by-uprisings-across-arab-world.ashx
October 03, 2011 02:20 AM
By Musa Hattar

AMMAN: Pro-democracy revolts across the Arab world are taking their toll on tourism in cash-strapped Jordan, where revenues from the key source of hard currency earnings have dropped by 16 percent this year.

Tourism generated $3 billion last year, with 4.8 million tourists visiting. . .

"Travel agents' income has significantly dropped by around 90 percent in 2011 compared to last year," Hamdan said, adding that 70 percent of travel tours and trips from Europe have been cancelled this year.

Tourism, which contributes 14 percent to the gross domestic product. . .

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