ALGERIA-POLITICS

CAN ALGERIA'S PUBLIC IMAGE BE FIXED?

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan came to a close and as Algeria witnessed the year 2000, the Algerian people and government face yet another crisis, this time abroad: an inaccurate worldwide perception that Algerians are radical Islamist terrorists. continue here

MOROCCO-ECONOMY

LATEST NEWS ON BANKING AND THE ECONOMY

Morocco has reduced interest rates on saving account deposits by 1.67 percent to 3.89 percent to follow the low trend of 52-week T-bills rate, an official at the finance ministry told Reuters on Wednesday. "The monetary authorities have cut the minimum creditor rate on saving account deposits (depots en compte sur carnets) by 1.67 percent to 3.89 percent from the previous 5.56 percent," the official said. The new rate is effective from January 1 until end June, he added. Interest rates on saving accounts have been indexed on the average 52-week T-bill rate issued in auctions during the second half of 1999, when its was reduced to 3.89 percent from 4.89 percent, the official said. .continue here

TUNISIA-MOROCCO
President Ben Ali Meets With King Mohamed VI Of Morocco

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali discussed on Tuesday, December 28, 1999, with visiting King Mohamed VI of Morocco bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. Both leaders called for the convening of an Arab summit as early as possible and welcomed the resumption of Syrian-Israeli negotiations. continue here

ALGERIA -ECONOMY/POLITICS

BOUTEFLIKA OUTLINES POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC GOALS FOR 2000

In a speech to the nation made last Friday evening, President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika set his new year's objectives for Algeria. For the president, one of the new government's main tasks would be the consolidation of the civil harmony process " the cornerstone of any action of revival underway in the country."continue here

ALGERIA -ECONOMY/POLITICS

Army/AIS Reach Agreement - AIS to dissolve continue here

REGIONAL AFFAIRS

LIBYA’S SCUD MISSILES?
Just as a new chapter is being written in the history of British-Libyan relations, reports indicate that SCUD missiles capable of hitting targets in Europe with chemical or biological warheads have been smuggled through Britain to Libya. continue here

MAURITANIA: PREMIER OUTLINES ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
On December 27, the National Assembly held a public session under the chairmanship of National Assembly Speaker Cheikh Sid Ahmed Ould Baba, during which it listened to the prime minister's report on the government's performance during 1999 and the general outlines of the government's program for the year 2000. continue here

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