[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 11/30/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Female #1
Russia voiced it concerns and Europe its anger before the release of a statement by the White House stating that Iran’s announcement of its determination to expand its nuclear activities represents a serious violation of Tehran’s international obligations, and another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself in the international community. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, tried to appease Western countries by stating that a diplomatic solution for the Iranian nuclear issue is still possible.

Reporter, Male #1
After the level of tension between Iran and the West rose to its highest, it now appears that the Islamic republic has returned to defy the superpowers. The Chairman of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani tried to appease the angry Western countries and announced that a diplomatic solution for the Iranian nuclear issue is still possible. He called on the international community to seize this opportunity, if it wanted Tehran to continue working under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has announced its determination to build 10 uranium enrichment plants, which has enraged the West.

Guest, Male #1 (Ahmedinejad)
We need a number of plants to produce nuclear energy, and we should begin to build 5 plants and decide the locations of the other 5.

Reporter, Male #1
The United States considered the Iranian position a serious violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions, and that it represents the Iranian regime’s choice of isolation in the international community. Washington added in its warning that Tehran is running out of time to address the international community’s growing fears of its nuclear program. London announced that the Iranian nuclear program represents an immense source of concern, and is a violation of UN resolutions. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that Iran should be given one last chance to negotiate its nuclear program. Germany announced that it is following with concern the reports about Iran’s building of new plants for uranium enrichment. Meanwhile, Russia expressed its deep concerns about Iran’s plan to expand its uranium enrichment program. The United States and its allies made sharp-toned warnings to Iran by threatening to impose serious economic sanctions on Tehran. “Rather kill myself than be killed” is the slogan that Iran has been carrying for a long time in order to attain nuclear fuel and defy Western warnings. But the situation remains the same until further notice. Khalil Kashif, Alarabiya.

Switzerland’s vote to outlaw the construction of new minarets on mosques has sparked
a wave of international criticism. Islamic religious leaders in the Arab world and Europe and the United Nations human rights watchdog have voiced concern over the vote. The Swiss government and Parliament had rejected the initiative as violating the Swiss Constitution, freedom of religion and the Swiss tradition of tolerance.

Presenter, Female #1
We will now take a look at our webpage: bbc.arabic.com and review some of the topics there. Specifically, let’s go to the “Share your opinion” section and take a look at the comments posted about the ban of minarets in Switzerland. Readers have made different comments on this topic, and some have made jokes as an expression of a new reconciliation. Here, Mr. Mohammed, an Arab gentleman from an eastern province in Egypt, said that the referendum only bans building the minarets, but does not forbid importing them, so he suggested that pre-assembled minarets be imported, commenting that the people affected by the ban should consider this approach. Of course, most people have given a serious take on this topic. Many consider the position of Switzerland an attack on the religion of Islam. Some others see it more realistically, and say that the ban is only on the minarets and not on the mosques, and that minarets are not the symbol of the Islamic belief. Naturally, BBC correspondent Wafa’e Zayan followed this topic directly from the land of the event, Switzerland. Here is a special report, and also a video report for us to take a look at together on the issue of the ban on building minarets in Switzerland.

Reporter, Female #1
As soon as the result of the referendum to ban minarets was announced, some people opposed to it began protesting in front of the parliament, expressing their concerns over the ban’s implications on Switzerland’s image. Contrary to predictions, the Swiss voted for amending the constitution to ban the construction of new minarets on Swiss soil. This consensus has come as a shock to some.

Guest, Male #1
Well, I think that this will paint a negative picture of the Muslim community. It will also have a negative effect worldwide. As a European country, I think this is an embarrassment.

Reporter, Female #1
The Islamic community quickly expressed its dissatisfaction and concerns over the stereotypical images of Muslims in Switzerland.

Guest, Male #2
Personally, I think that this initiative and its acceptance will not change much for Muslims. I also think that there are two sides to the story: one is connected to certain groups in the Swiss politics; and the other is the reaction of Muslims and their activities within the society. Neither of these sides will be kept silent.

Reporter, Female #1
After the results were revealed, the parties that initiated the referendum, including the Swiss People’s Party, reiterated that they believe that the minarets are a political symbol.

Guest, Male #3
We believe that the minarets are proof of domination. We also wanted to reiterate that there are restrictions on establishing closed communities “in Switzerland, where all the legal systems have influence on the democratic system of Switzerland”.

Reporter, Female #1
A public survey had shown before the referendum that the number of supporters for the ban on building minarets was much smaller than the final results. So what happened?

Guest, Male #4
I think that there is a lack of trust by the Swiss voters on the government’s statement, and also by the political parties and the parliament’s statement. Also, let’s not forget that this initiative came at a time when public opinion was frustrated by the presence of foreigners in general, but didn’t have a clear vision of the future.

Reporter, Female #1
This entire matter is like a slap in the face to the Swiss government, which opposed from the beginning the idea of banning minarets. Now it should reconsider its position. So the Swiss people have settled the controversy of banning minarets. This announcement from the parliament will pave the way for heated discussions in the next several days about the effects of this matter on religious freedom and peaceful coexistence in a democratic country such as Switzerland. Wafa’e Ziyan, BBC, Bern.

The resistance movement, Hezbollah, has called Israel a permanent threat to Lebanon and its leader, Nasrallah said that the resistance is the most effective way to confront Israel and the American hegemony. He made those remarks during a press conference held to announce Hezbollah’s political manifesto.

Presenter, Male #1
An Arab lawyer in Israel has petitioned the Supreme Court on behalf of the National Bank of Egypt and The Egyptian Arab Land Bank, to have the banks’ shares in the King David Hotel in Jerusalem returned. These shares are worth millions of dollars. The case stems from last century, when Israel’s Absentee Property Custodian controlled the shares of the hotel and sold them to an Israeli company. This took place after the hotel fell in the hands of Israel following its occupation of West Jerusalem in 1948. Shirin Lunis has the details from Jerusalem.

Reporter, Female #1
The discussion of this case is still limited to some legal documents, but it may turn into a serious issue or even a crisis between Cairo and Tel Aviv, if the case develops. The National Bank of Egypt and the Egyptian Arab Land Bank petitioned the Supreme Court to request their shares in King David Hotel in Jerusalem. These shares were sold to the Israeli Dan Hotel Corporation through the so-called Absentee Property Custodian, under the authority of the Israeli Finance Ministry, after the hotel was taken over by Israel in 1948.

Guest, Male #1
We submitted a claim to the Supreme Court, following the one we submitted to the local court in Jerusalem two years ago. The National Bank of Egypt and the Egyptian Arab Land Bank are owned by the Egyptian government, and they have shares in the Company of Palestinian Hotels. The shares in 1959 were handed to the Absentee Property Custodian, and in late 2000, it was sold to Dan Corporation. The Egyptian people and Egyptian government demand to get back what belongs to them.

Reporter, Female #1
The two bank lawyers basically rely on the fact that Israel controlled the shares of the two Egyptian banks by violating the law and the peace treaty signed by Egypt and Israel. The treaty requires that the Israeli government forms a joint committee to discuss ways to return the properties confiscated from persons or groups of both sides, before peace can be achieved. The administration of King David Hotel refused to be involved in the case, considering it outside the realms of its responsibility. The Israeli Finance Ministry responded to our request for an interview with one of its officials by saying that it cannot comment on the case as long as it is still being studied by legal institutions.

Guest, Female #1
The peace treaty exists and everyone’s complying with it. But the basic principle of this peace treaty is its adoption by the internal judicial system.

Reporter, Female #1
The history of this hotel is traced back to 1920’s, when an Egyptian Jewish family initiated its construction. It was later seized by the authorities of the British Mandate, and following a series of events, it was transferred to the Absentee Property Custodian. Since then, it has been sold to an Israeli commercial group and has become one of the most luxurious Israeli hotels, hosting important international officials. It was on this very table that the peace treaty was signed between Cairo and Tel Aviv. The officials of the two Egyptian banks say that this treaty has been violated by Israel’s behavior, after it transferred the shares of the two Egyptian banks in this hotel to Israeli companies. From King David Hotel in Jerusalem, Shirin Lunis, BBC.

Presenter, Woman # 1
More than 40% of Egyptian citizens suffer from poverty. International reports blame the unfair economic policies in Egypt. More details in the report by Muna Ashmawi from Cairo.

Reporter, Woman # 2
According to the latest statistics, more than 45% of the total population in Egypt suffers from poverty. According to the UN report, Egypt is ranked 111 on the list of the poorest countries in the world. Egypt is right after Yemen on the list. The American Global Post Newspaper reported that there is a correlation between the extreme poverty in Egypt and the increase in human organ trafficking. The report also pointed out that the rich who only comprise 20% of the Egyptian population are becoming more wealthy.

Guest, Woman # 3
The farmers have three or four kids. And things continue to get even more expensive.
What can people do? Should people sell their kids?

Guest, Man # 1
Everything is expensive and we have no money or jobs. Life is not like it used to be.
This includes people who work in everything, in electricity, garbage, fixing the roads and everything.

Reporter, Woman # 2
Parliament members from the opposition said that 48 million Egyptian citizens live under the poverty line; most of them live in rural areas. International reports agree that the reasons behind poverty are the unfair economic polices in Egypt and the lack of equitable wealth distribution.

Guest, Man # 2
The basic items that ordinary Egyptians need get more expensive constantly, sometimes the price increases twice a day, but no one says anything. We feel that there is no government supervision. Commercial traders are not monitored, not even the small ones.

Guest, Man # 3
Electricity and food are expensive. Everyday, the price of some things increase by half a pound or one pound. The meat now cost 45 pounds.

Guest, Woman # 4
Everything is expensive; I can’t even afford to buy one pound of meat. We can only look at the meat; we can’t afford to buy it.

Reporter, Woman # 2
The poor and rich in Egypt are isolated from one another. Even the dogs of the rich enjoy their stay at five star hotels. These hotels are very luxurious; one night at these hotels costs as much as 400 dollars. In comparison, the poor in Egypt spend only one dollar a day.

Guest, Man # 4
I give the dogs different kinds of meat. Chicken, beef, lever and sometimes hamburger meat. I use different sources; sometimes I give them fish. I also give them fruits and vegetables. The larger the selection the more vitamins they get.

Guest, Man # 5
It is a matter of luck for dogs. I know that large security companies pay trained dogs 300 pound an hour. These dogs work one hour and rest two hours, so that their sense of smell stay acute. Keep in mind that some Egyptian families do not earn 300 pounds the entire month. I think that mothers are now telling their sons to become watch dogs, so they can bring home 300 pounds a day.

Reporter, Woman # 2
Hundreds of years ago, Ali Ben Abe Taleb, peace be upon him, said that if poverty were a man I would have killed him. Little did he know that Millions of Muslim men, women and children will one day be very poor. They sleep with empty stomachs. They would probably have had better lives if they were dogs owned by kind masters. Muna Ashmawi, NEW TV, Cairo.

Presenter, Male #1
Our al-Jazeera correspondent in Aden said that Yemeni security authorities have carried out sweeps against members of the southern separatist group. The separatists have organized protests to mark the 42nd anniversary of the independence of the former South Yemen from British rule.

Presenter, Female #1
The southern separatists had earlier called on their supporters from all southern provinces to head to the city of Aden in order to take part in Monday’s protests.

Reporter, Male #2
The Security Committee of Aden has warned against what it referred to as “attempts to stir public chaos and disturb the peace in the city of Aden.” Clashes erupted earlier between armed men and security forces in the area of Hablien. Members from the southern separatists group have cut off the main road between Aden and Sana’a after they were banned from entering Aden to take part in today’s protests. The southern separatists have called for a rally in Aden to mark the anniversary of independence of the former South Yemen. The southern separatists called for what they referred to as “the great march to Aden from all southern provinces”. The Yemeni authorities have banned the protestors from entering Aden. Confrontations between the Yemeni forces and the supporters of the southern separatists in lahj and Abian have shown that the Yemeni government was not able to restrain the wave of protests, which have escalated during the past two years. Many southerners are calling for secession from North Yemen, and for improving living conditions in southern Yemen. In addition, they are calling for power-sharing and the establishment of an independent state. According to observers, the government’s success in achieving a military victory over the separatists is not enough to extinguish the anger of some southerners, who believe they are being marginalized economically and politically. Yemen witnessed a civil war in 1994, after 4 years of division that ended in the defeat of the separatist forces.

Presenter, Female #1
Joining us from Sana’a is Dr. Abed-Baki Shamsan, a professor of Political Science at the University of Sana’a. Dr. Abed-Baki, this campaign that has preceded the anniversary of the independence…..in what context can we put it? And where will it lead to?

Guest, Male #3
This campaign was expected. A rally was planned for November 30th. We, in Yemen, have seen it coming. By the same token, the Yemeni authorities were expected to tone it down. However, these waves of protests have been increasingly gaining momentum, especially over the past two years. The Yemeni authorities have not found practical solutions for the economic and political problems facing the southerners. The southerners had simple demands but these demands started growing bigger day by day. Today, we are entering a very serious stage, as the situation is further fueled by political and economic problems. The low standard of living in southern Yemen further exacerbates the situation. The Yemeni authorities know exactly what needs to be done. Therefore, we must find solutions to deal with this problem. We are dealing with several issues, such as the situation in Saada, the elections, the protests, the economic crisis, as well as the low standard of living.

Presenter, Female #1
For many years, Dubai has been an attractive business hub and a renewed economic model in the world. Today, Dubai was scrutinized after one of its trading companies, dubbed Dubai World, launched an economic maneuver. Dubai World is seeking to delay debt payments, a practice often adopted by similar trading companies. However, some media outlets have capitalized on this latest move by Dubai World, in an attempt to stir fear in the Emirates. The media rhetoric will not stand a chance, as it contradicts the overall economic situation in Dubai and the Emirates. Joining us in the studio is Abed-Rahman al-Salih, the Director General of the Department of Finance in the Emirate of Dubai. Abed-Rahman al-Salih, welcome. First, some are mixing-up the restructuring of Dubai World and the overall financial situation in Dubai. Can you clarify this mix-up? Why was the delay of debt payments made for only 6 months?

Guest, Male #1
Yes, it appears that there is a big confusion at the media level. The press is mixing-up the restructuring of Dubai World and the overall situation in the Emirate of Dubai. Dubai World was founded on the principles of trade, and its dealings, whether with the lenders or the investors, are based on these principles. The company usually conducts studies to assess its trading position and investment opportunities before seeking funds for its projects. This confusion caused by the media is totally unacceptable. The media referred to Dubai World as a company owned by the government, and this is wrong. Dubai World has launched major strategic projects in the Emirates. The company is now facing a crisis, which is part of the global financial crisis, similarly to other companies around the world. The company is facing a problem in paying back its debts. Therefore, the government took this decision, which serves the interest of all concerned parties, including investors, lenders, and contractors. The decision is to reconstruct the company in order to help improve its future performance.

Presenter, Female #1
In the event another company undergoes restructuring, do you expect the media to launch a similar campaign to the one launched against Dubai World?

Guest, Male #1
The media must learn from its past experiences. They should look at the financial situation of any company in terms of the size of its debt, financial commitments, and whether the company is state-run and whether it’s federally insured. In addition, the lenders must bear part of the responsibility in accordance with their lending agreement with the company. The lenders must evaluate the company based on its investments and projects, and not on government guarantees.