>From ArabicNews.CoM US missiles for Bahrain Bahrain, Politics, 3/18/99 The US on Tuesday announced that it had officially proposed to Bahrain the sale of some 26 advanced Amraam air-to air missiles and other related equipment in a deal estimated at US $110 million. During his regional tour last week, US Defense Secretary William Cohen proposed the deal to Bahrain. Cohen also proposed for Saudi Arabia Amraam missiles and also discussed a deal to sell several missiles of Amraam type and F-16 jet fighters to the United Arab Emirates. But no mention was made on why such an arms deal was not announced during Cohen's visit to the Gulf. The US deal to Bahrain will also cover 50 systems for launching missiles for F-16 fighters available in Bahrain, missiles containers, computer programs, maintenance equipment and training of pilots. Later in the day, the US State Department informed the congress officially about the proposed sale of some 26 Amraam missiles to Bahrain at a cost of US $110 million. AFP said that in a statement the US Defense Department said that Bahrain can use these missiles to develop the performance of F-16 planes it already owns. The statement added that the US congress still has 30 days to oppose or approve the sale of these medium-range missiles, which had been until recently dedicated only to the NATO member states. US Defense Secretary William Cohen had approved the sale on March 6 during his visit to Bahrain. Israeli FM considers UN resolution on Jerusalem as null and void Regional, Politics, 3/18/99 Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon reiterated on Tuesday his government's ambitions in the occupied city of Jerusalem in aiming to tighten the Israeli occupation on the city and thereby defying, once again, the position voiced by the European Union recently, rejecting the annexation measures taken by Israel against the city. During his meeting with the ambassadors of foreign countries accredited to Israel, Sharon said his "government considers the UN resolution 181 concerning Jerusalem, which was released in 1947 as void and null." Sharon confirmed that "Jerusalem will be always the united eternal capital for Israel." Meanwhile, a high-ranking German official told the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot on Tuesday that, "In a dirty electoral maneuver Netanyahu and Sharon bombarded friendly relations between Israel and the closest European state to it," in reference to the Israeli critical reaction to a statement made by Germany on the Arab identity of Jerusalem. He added, "We have not ever recognized Jerusalem as a united capital for Israel." He accused Netanyahu and Sharon of leaking the message in order to use it for electoral purposes. Report highlights Israel's refusal to join the NPT Israel, Politics, 3/18/99 BBC radio has said that Israel is the only country which refused to sign and ratify the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on preventing the production and dissemination of nuclear arms. In a report in the course of its program "Between the question and the answer" on Tuesday, the radio added that more 170 world countries have signed and ratified the NPT since 1998 at a time when Israeli refused to sign this treaty with the aim of continuing its escape from the possibility of having the UN observers and the International Atomic Energy Agency inspect its nuclear firms and reactors in Dimona, the Negev and near Tel Aviv. The BBC indicated that the Dimona reactor, which produced since 1960 nuclear bombs and spare-warheads is still working until now, adding that no person is allowed to get near it. In this respect, the BBC noted to the life imprisonment sentence taken against Israeli nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu under the pretext that he disclosed top secrets information about the nuclear reactor in Dimonah to the British press. The BBC concluded by saying that Israel's lack of credibility and unwillingness to ratify the NPT will keep the region in a state of tension and continued threats and may result in encouraging other parties to maintain the arms race in the region. Copyright � 1998 Arabic News .com . All Rights Reserved. Send comments & suggestions to the webmaster. ��ArabicNews.com is a trade mark of ArabicNews.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. -Thomas Huxley + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
