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Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud

November 4, 2010 by · Comments Off on Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud 

Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Asharq Al-Awsat-A close source to Mr. Adel Abdel Mahdi, Vice-President of Iraq and leading member of the Islamic Supreme Council, headed by Ammar al-Hakim, has revealed that he discussed during a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus yesterday, “the need to activate the initiative proposed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, seeking to gather the Iraqi political parties in Riyadh after the pilgrimage to Mecca under the auspices of the Arab League. ”

The source told Asharq al-Awsat, via a telephone interview from Damascus, Abdel-Mahdi that “the Syrian president informed of the importance of this initiative, which does not conflict with the initiative [proposed by the] President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani. The source said that Abdul-Mahdi, who has been nominated by the Prime Minister Iraqi National Coalition, headed by Ammar al-Hakim, “discussed the latest developments in the political situation with President al-Assad, and reiterated that the Supreme Court Islamic Council does not wish to form a government with Nouri al-Maliki (head of state law and the coalition of outgoing Prime Minister of the Government). He also said he believes that the Saudi royal initiative to be a way out of the political crisis in Iraq. “The source added that Abdul-Mahdi claimed the initiative was” worthy, in the interest of Iraqi people, and sincere. ”

In his comments after meeting with President al-Assad and Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, Abdel-Mahdi described the meeting with the Syrian president as “excellent.” He stressed that Syria has “a major role to play in resolving the Iraqi issue through consultation with the Iraqi and regional parties. He also mentioned the initiative of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, saying “there were positive responses in both the Iraqi community and the surrounding region.” Abdel-Mahdi confirmed, “The formation of a government we need in Iraq is a national partnership. The government must be a success and not a repetition of the experience of four years. ”

In addition, Syrian President [Bashar al-Assad] has called for accelerating the formation of a “national unity government with the support of the Iraqi people to be able to restore security and stability in Iraq, reiterating Syrian support for “all Iraqis agree on.” Al-Assad has also “strongly” condemned the bombings that targeted in Baghdad the day before yesterday, and terrorist attack at the church of Our Lady of Hi, last Sunday, saying, “The Syrian people stand side by side with the Iraqi people in the face of t*rror*sm.”

In Baghdad, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told a press conference yesterday: “We received with great interest the generous initiative of the King of Saudi Arabia. This is an admirable initiative with good intentions, to serve the people of Iraq. “Zebari said at the conference” Arab and Saudi Arabia, to understand that government formation is a matter internally, but this initiative could contribute to urge Iraqi leaders to be more positive. “However, he added” we, [as members of] the government, were surprised by this initiative as it we don ‘ had not been informed in advance, and we heard about in the media, “adding that” we have not received an official letter. ”

For his part, Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, yesterday described the Saudi initiative as “positive.” Regarding the efforts to train the Iraqi government, Musa said he held telephone consultations with Prince Saud al-Faisal, foreign minister of Saudi to discuss the subject. He also said yesterday that he met with the outgoing Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Zebari, and also had a phone call yesterday with Abdul-Mahdi. In addition, he will meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and he also met the Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, Barham Salih.

Hu Jintao

November 4, 2010 by · Comments Off on Hu Jintao 

Hu Jintao, (AP) — President Nicolas Sarkozy will woo his visiting Chinese counterpart Thursday with military fanfare, a parade by soldiers on horseback and a glamorous dinner at the Elysee Palace. In return, France expects massive contracts for airplanes and energy.

The three-day state visit by Hu Jintao marks a dramatic turnaround from the tense ties of two years ago, when Sarkozy threatened to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics out of anger about China’s treatment of Tibet.

That stance brought fears that France could lose big business in China, and Sarkozy’s tone has changed. To the distress of human rights groups, Sarkozy’s advisers say he wants to avoid confrontation and go for convergence during Hu’s visit. Sarkozy even plans to greet Hu at the airport on his arrival Thursday, an honor the French president rarely grants visitors.

The French president believes China’s support will be essential as France prepares to take the leadership of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations starting Nov. 12. Sarkozy has set himself ambitious goals, saying France will push for mechanisms to limit excessive currency volatility and swings in commodity prices.

Business interests are also central to the visit, with deals expected for French oil company Total SA and nuclear engineering giant Areva, Sarkozy’s office said.

Even before the visit started, China Southern Airlines said in a statement released through the Hong Kong stock exchange that it would buy 36 jets from European consortium Airbus at a total list price of $3.78 billion.

Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders released doves from cages Thursday to press for the liberation of Chinese dissidents from jail. The media advocacy group was among the organizers of massive protests against China’s human rights record when the Olympic flame passed through Paris in 2008 ahead of the Games.

Many observers have complained that Sarkozy said nothing last month when jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize. Sarkozy’s office says the leaders will discuss “all subjects without taboos” but has not given any details on what he plans to say about human rights.

Sarkozy is to greet Hu at Orly airport outside Paris on Thursday, an event followed by military honors and a horseback escort for Hu through Paris, where he is staying at the luxurious George V hotel.

The two men will hold talks at the presidential Elysee Palace, and then Sarkozy and his wife, model-turned-singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, will host China’s first couple for a state dinner.

The following day the two leaders head to the French Riviera city of Nice for more talks and dinner at a cozy Provencal restaurant. The Nice trip was a suggestion from Hu, who has traveled in France before but has never been to that part of the country, Sarkozy’s office said. Hu departs Saturday for Portugal.

Sarkozy has often flip-flopped on China. Despite his boycott threat, he did back down and attend the Olympic opening ceremony.

Sarkozy again angered China by meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Poland in late 2008. After that the two countries’ high-level contacts were frozen, and France deliberately frozen out during major Chinese purchasing and investment missions to Europe.was

The two countries reconciled with a fence-mending agreement last year. Sarkozy’s conservative UMP party has even signed a cooperation agreement with China’s ruling Communist Party — a move that raised eyebrows in France.

Ben Bernanke

November 4, 2010 by · Comments Off on Ben Bernanke 

Ben Bernanke, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, in an opinion piece, Washington Post, defended the decision of the central bank to buy and $ 600 billion in government bonds and noted that the quantitative easing “easing of financial conditions in the past and, so far, seems to be working again. ” The president of the central bank noted that stock prices rose and interest rates fell in long-term forecast of the decision Wednesday. “Lower mortgage rates will make housing more affordable and allow more homeowners to refinance. Lower rates of corporate bonds to encourage investment. And the more stock prices will increase the wealth of consumers and help build confidence, which can also stimulate spending, “he said. As concerns inflation, Bernanke said the past use had little effect on the amount of money in circulation and did not result of rising inflation.

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