1997 05 01 Thursday No. : 09597
UAE, EGYPT HOLD OFFICIAL TALKS
Official talks began yesterday between Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan and Egyptian Prime Minister Dr Kamal al Ganzuri. The UAE is represented by a high-ranking delegation comprising Ministers, Sheikhs and senior officials and the Egyptians were represented by an equally-senior side. (Following the talks, Sheikh Khalifa and his delegation were also taken to Sharm al Sheikh, south of Sinai, and were welcomed by Governor of South Sinai Major General Mamdou al Zuheiri a senior officials. During his visit, Sheikh Khalifa is inspecting a number of joint UAE-Egypt projects relating to energy, irrigation, agriculture and tourism.)
In a statement after the meeting, UAE Minister of Information and Culture Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan said that Sheikh Khalifa's visit to Egypt affirmed the strong bonds between HH President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan and his Arab brother Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak. "It is an honour for us to be in our second country among our brothers," said Sheikh Abdullah. He said that yesterday's official talks were to complete discussions started on Tuesday night between Sheikh Khalifa and the Egyptian President, adding that they focused on various aspects of bilateral co-operation and means of boosting them.
Sheikh Abdullah said the talks focused on the Arab arena as a whole, the latest developments in the Middle East peace process in the light of Israel's infringement of the principles of the peace process, Tel Aviv's new settlements and oppressive policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in the holy city of Al Quds (Jerusalem), in addition to achieving Arab reconciliation as called for by President Sheikh Zayed and President Mubarak. "Without achieving Arab harmony and reconciliation, it is impossible for us, as Arabs, to confront the challenges facing our Arab nation," said Sheikh Abdullah.
"We cannot compel Israel to commit itself to the Middle East peace process and achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, including the restoration of the Holy City of Al Quds, without unifying our will, desire and ranks," the Minister added. He hailed Egypt's role in the region and its principled stand towards Pan-Arab security, especially in the Middle East peace process, its keenness on Arab interests and closing viewpoints among Arab countries on what is strengthening their power and their position. Sheikh Abdullah expressed hope that the visit of Sheikh Khalifa would further boost the long-standing co-operation between the two brotherly countries in various fields.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Minister of Information Safwat Sharif said that the talks were centred on co-operation between the two countries in the political, economic, agricultural, trade and investment fields. The Abu Dhabi Development Fund financed some agricultural, tourist and housing projects in Egypt. Sharif also pointed out that the viewpoints between the two sides on all Arab issues were identical, adding that there should be a unified Arab stand within the framework of the recent Islamic summit, decisions of the Quds Committee and the recent Arab League Ministerial Council meeting. Premier Ganzouri later hosted a grand luncheon banquet in honour of Sheikh Khalifa and the accompanying delegation. It was attended by a number of Egyptian Ministers and senior state officials.
Egypt's media continued its coverage of the visit by Sheikh Khalifa. Newspapers stressed the importance of such a visit, which started on Tuesday, saying it contributes to the further strengthening of ties between the UAE and Egypt. "It is a continuation of visits and consultations between the two countries to bolster links and serve the interests of the Arab nation, Al Akbar ('The News') daily said. It also highlighted the strong economic co-operation between the two countries and the UAE's contribution to development in Egypt, saying that such a contribution stems from the conviction of the two countries' leaders of the importance of joint Arab action. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)
In a separate but related story, mention is made of a unique project which further indicates the strength of relations between the two countries. The project for the development of the Southern Valley in Egypt is one of the largest projects truly reflecting the great co-operation between the UAE and Egypt under the prudent directives of the UAE's President Sheikh Zayed and Egypt's President Mubarak. Egypt attaches great hope for the development of the Southern Valley in Egypt as it is seen as a relief of the old valley where the population is increasing rapidly.
The gigantic project is expected to solve several agricultural and industrial problems and provide millions of jobs. The project is completely dependent on the Sheikh Zayed Canal, a 350.0 km canal from Nasser Lake at the Aswan Higher Dam to the New Valley, which is being considered as a 'new Nile'. Appreciating the importance of the Canal, President Mubarak was keen to name it after President Sheikh Zayed.
A total amount of 5.5 billion Egyptian Pounds was allocated for the Canal project, which is a permanent stream carrying 25.0 million cubic metres of water daily to the desert for the irrigation of an area of 3.4 million hectares. The 20-year project includes the construction of 18 new cities and works are currently under way for the excavation of 30.0 kms of the 30.0-metre-wide Canal. (The Gulf Today)
AEROSPATIALE LONE FRENCH FIRM TO BID FOR THURAYA
Air industry giant Aerospatiale remains the lone French firm fighting to snatch a UAE satellite deal from US bidders after Alcatel was excluded. Alcatel, which was a strong candidate among four US and French firms vying for the mobile telephone satellite project, has been dropped from the bidding list, UAE officials and industry executives said. "There are now three companies bidding for the project. They are Aerospatiale and two US companies," said Mohammed Omran, Deputy Director of the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, ETISALAT. Alcatel officials at MIDCOM '97 declined to comment on the news but industry sources close to the state-controlled ETISALAT cited technical reasons. "Alcatel had made a good offer but I think it has been excluded for technical reasons," said one source without giving further details. The two companies from the United States competing for the Thuraya ('Chandelier') satellite venture are Hughes and Lockheed. Omran estimated the cost of the project at around $ 850.0 million but sources from a bidding company said that it could exceed that amount if two satellites are launched to cover more areas in Europe and South Asia. (The extreme parameters quoted have been between $ 700.0 million to $ 1.0 billion.)
Apparently expecting to beat out other bidders, Aerospatiale has already created a section for Thuraya and details of the project were outlined on a large board displayed at the three-day telecommunications show. "We are fighting for this contract... we are fully competent for such a project, which is extremely important to us," Pascal Bantegnie, Thuraya Spacecraft Manager at Aerospatiale, told Agence France-Presse, AFP, at the exhibition. "According to our information, the contract will be awarded in July. There are three companies bidding now, including Aerospatiale and two from the US. We have submitted a good bid and we are very optimistic."
Outlining its specifications, Bantegnie said the satellite would have a capacity of 2.5 million mobile phone subscribers and could be launched 42 months after the award of the contract. Its designed operational life is between 12 and 15 years and it would cover vast areas in Europe and Asia. According to Christophe Lanovsky, Commercial Manager of AerospatialeTtelecommunication Satellites section, the Thuraya satellite would cover the Middle East, India, North Africa, Italy, France, Germany and other parts of Europe.
He said the satellite could either be boosted or backed with another satellite to expand coverage to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea and other south Asian countries but he added that this depended on market demand and a decision by the project's shareholders. "It is a turn-key project," he said. It includes building the satellite and ground stations, launching, operation of the satellite and back-up services, such as training and maintenance."
Industry executives said they believed Aerospatiale was the strongest candidate to win the Thuraya contract, given its strong relationship with the Arab world. They noted that the company had launched the Arab region's five satellites since 1981 and was chosen to put a sixth one in orbit in 1998. The French and US Governments have pushed hard for such a venture, the first of its kind in the Middle East and one of the biggest telecommunication contracts in the region. ETISALAT, owned 60.0% by the UAE Government, controls 26.0% of Thuraya, while the remaining shares are held by public and private investors from other Arab countries. (The Agence France-Presse, AFP)
Meanwhile, according to another report from MIDCOM '97, the UAE's Thuraya satellite project does not pose a threat to other global satellite projects, according to its rivals, who say the market is large enough for everybody. Mohammed El Amin, Regional Director of the international organisation Inmarsat, said that with a number of new satellite systems coming into operation over the next few years, it will be up to the markets to decide which system they wish to use. Speaking on day two of MIDCOM '97, yesterday, El Amin said, "Once the systems are operational, we will see how the market develops. There is a big enough market for most systems as long as they are operational on time."
Larry Groberg, Middle East Director of the international satellite consortium Iridium, said the market is larger than its capacity. "Each system will have different characteristics. There will be some competitive overlap," he said, adding that his firm is still undergoing negotiations with several parties in the Gulf and the rest of the Arab world. "The process is expected to consume a lot of time - probably until the end of next year." Problems, he said, were being experienced in relation to licensing formalities and the prolonging of negotiations.
However, the system is expected to be up and running in September 1998 and will provide global coverage for mobile phones. "Our advanced technology will provide global coverage so problems relating to geographical gaps and the lack of necessary telecommunications infrastructure will be overcome," said Groberg. By the year 2000, said Groberg, there will be 350.0 million users of telephones using satellite technology.
Jeff Smith, Managing Director of Caudwell, in summing up the general consensus, said, "The Middle East will be one of the most exciting markets for many years.... [also,] there is a buzz about Asia at the moment from a business point of view," justifying the fact that his company, as part of its efforts to expand into to key markets, has just established an office in Dubai. (The Emirates News)
2,500-YEAR-OLD HOUSING SETTLEMENT UNEARTHED
A 2,500-year-old settlement spread over an area of 1.0 square km has been excavated at the foot of Al Faya Mountain in Sharjah, said Dr Sabah Abboud Jassim, an archaeologist with the Antiquities Directorate of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, yesterday. A local archaeological team headed by Dr Jassim completed the two-month-long excavations last week. A number of important discoveries were made during the excavation. "It is a huge site rich with artifacts," said Dr Jassim.
He told the Khaleej Times that the initial diggings turned up parts of a wall and stone structures. Several significant findings have helped experts pin down the age of the settlement to the first half of the first millenium BC, Dr Jassim added. Listing the findings, he said that the team discovered a large quantity of shards of pots and utensils made of soft stones, as well as stones used for grinding grains. One of the artifacts found at the site is a beautiful painted head of an Arabian leopard (now an endangered species) which Dr Jassim believes was probably a toy or a decorative piece. He said, "This item does not have any special significance because it was found in one of the rooms, along with mud toys, rings, pins, beads and spinning wheels."
Such a discovery, Dr Jassim explained, would have been historically significant if it had been found in a tomb because that would shed light on the religious beliefs of people who lived in the area at that time. "Location of the findings determine their archaeological significance," he added. The site will be excavated further next season. "Since it is a large and rich site, it many take us a few years to complete the dig in that area," said the archaeologist. (The Khaleej Times, also in other papers)