Chronology May 16, 1968-August 15, 1968

Source: Middle East Journal, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Autumn, 1968), pp. 475-494
Published by: Middle East Institute
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4324341 .
Accessed: 17/03/2014 09:17

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .
http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of
content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms
of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Middle East Institute is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Middle East
Journal.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 CHRONOLOGY
May16, 1968-August 15, 1968

Israeli military authoritiesimposed a curfew in

ArabIsraeliConflict Gaza where the terroristsresponsiblefor the May
21 bombing were believed to be hidden.
United Nations Relief Works Agency
1968 (UNRWA) announced a Kuwayti contribution
of $220,000.
May 17: West Germanyoffered?5m to be paid over May 23: Women in the Gaza Strip demonstrated,
5 yearsto Arab victims of the June war. protestingthe Israeli treatmentof Arabs held for
May 18: In a letter to UN SecretaryGeneralThant, questioningabout the May 21 bombing.
the UAR asked the UN for a prompt and on-the- The Popular Liberation Forces issued a com-
spot investigationof Israelitreatmentof the Arabs muniquesaying its commandoshad killed 3 Israeli
in the occupied Gaza Strip. soldiers and wounded a number of others in an
May 19: The Jordanian Red Crescent Association attack on Israeli military posts north of the
announced that the Red Cross had obtained the Damiyah Bridge.
releaseof 81 Jordanianfarmerstaken prisonerby May 25: An Israeli military spokesmansaid that 3
Israelduring a raid on the east bank on March21. Arab guerrillasand one Israeli soldier were killed
May 20: Israeli Minister Without Portfolio Galili in a gunfightwhen an Israeli patrol intercepteda
said that "the bordersof June 4 no longer exist" band of Arab infiltrators.
and that "theywill have to be replacedby agreed UAR Foreign Minister Riyad said that Israel
and secure frontiers." had "ended"Jarring'smission on May 2 by an-
May 21: The UN SecurityCouncil called on Israel nouncing that direct negotiationshad to precede
to rescind measures "which tend to change the the implementation of the November Security
legal status of Jerusalem"and "desist forthwith" Council resolution.
from taking furtheraction of that kind. Fighting broke out in Dayr al-Balah in the
Israel reportedthat 4 Arabsand an Israeliwere Gaza Strip during Israelicelebrationsmarkingthe
killed in an engagementnear Jericho. anniversaryof the conquest of Jerusalemwhen,
An Israeli civilian jeep in Gaza exploded after Israel reported, Arab students at a UN high
hitting a mine, killing 2 Israelisand wounding 5. school barricadedthe main highway and began
May 22: UAR spokesmanZayyit told a weekly press stoning cars.
conferencethat UN SpecialEnvoy Jarringhad in- May 27: Both Israeli and Jordanianauthoritiesre-
formed the governmenton May 9 that Israel had ported clashes in the Baysan Valley area. Jordan
acceptedthe November SecurityCouncilresolution reported that Israel had sufferedmany casualties
and now, according to reports from Jerusalem, and had lost 4 military vehicles. Israel reported
Israelwas denying such a step saying that Jarring's no casualties.
letter to Thant mentioning Israel's acceptance of May 28: The Israeli military governmentsealed off
the resolutionwas not binding. the Gaza Strip to Arab traffic as Arab demon-
The Israeli Cabinet issued a communiquestres- strations continued. Over 200 women and girls
sing that the governmentwould not be bound by formed a barricadeacross a highway in Muzirat
those parts of the Jarring draft proposal disclosed and were broken up only when Israeli troops
by an Egyptian spokesman. arrived.
The quarterlychronologyof the Journalis compiled from a large number of sources;somewhatmore than
half of the items are drawn from the New York Times; other sources include Mideast Mirror of Beirut,
Middle East Economic Digest of London, Daily Report of Foreign Broadcast Information Service of
Washington, Arab News and Views of New York, bulletins of the United Nations Office of Public Infor-
mation, United Nations, New York, United Nations Newsletter, Middle East EconomicSurvey of Beirut,
EconomicIntelligence of the Chamberof Commerce of Washington, InternationalFinancial News Survey
of the IMF in Washington, Middle East Economistand Financial Service, and Middle East Newsletter of
New York, regularand occasionalbulletins from the offices of press attachesof Middle EasternEmbassies
in Washington,PakistanAffairsof Washington,PakistanNews Digest of Karachiand The MaghrebDigest
of the School of InternationalRelations,Universityof SouthernCaliforniain Los Angeles.
475

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
476 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
May 29: An Israeli military court in Rimallih sen-
tenced Qub'ah, chairmanof the Palestinian Stu-
dents Federation, to 3 years imprisonment on
chargesof belonging to a commandoorganization.
May 30: Israel announced its security forces had
arrested22 Arabs suspectedof belonging to com-
mando organizationsand had seized quantitiesof
mines, grenadesand automaticweapons.
A spokesman for the Palestine National As-
sembly said that agreementhad been reachedon
the allocationof seats in the Assembly,it was re-
ported. Of the 100 seats, 50 would go to the
PLO, the Palestine LiberationArmy (PLA), the
PalestineNational Fund and the PalestineStudent
and Worker Organizations,38 would go to the
Palestine National Liberation Movement (al-
Fath), 10 to the PopularFront for the Liberation
of Palestineand 2 for independents.
May 31: The UN High Commissionerfor Refugees
announcedreceiptof $6,240 and $2,075 from Abu
Dhabi and Dubai respectively,it was reported.
June 1: The Higher Committeefor National Guid-
ance in the West Bank called for all West Bank
citizens to go on a general strike June 5 as a
"peacefuldemonstrationof their determinationto
fight occupationand eradicateits traces."
June 2: The Israeli military governmentorderedall
schools in the Gaza area closed through June 5.
UNRWA announced that the French govern-
ment would increaseits contributionfrom Fr.1m
to Fr.5m.
June 3: Israeli Defense Minister Dayan said that
Jewish settlerswould remainpermanentlyin occu-
pied Jordanand would be protectedby the Israeli
army.
June 4: Israeli and Jordanianforces clashed in the
Manshiyyaharea. Jordan reported that 4 of the
attackingaircraftwere shot down. JordanianUN
representativeFarraaccusedIsrael of "anotheract
of aggression"and said that 30 Jordanianshad
been killed and 60 wounded. Israeli UN repre-
sentative Tekoah accused Jordan of starting the
clash, denied the loss of any Israeli planes and
said that 3 Israelishad been killed and 5 wounded.
June 5: A clash broke out between Israelipolice and
Arabs in a procession commemoratingthe June
war when the police interceptedthe processionat
the edge of the Old City.
Arabs in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
closed all shops and went on strike commemorat-
ing the firstanniversaryof the June war.
In a speech marking the anniversaryof the
June war, UAR President Nisir said "the resis-
tance on the West Bank of the Jordanand in the
Gaza Strip is the glory of the Palestiniansand a
challenge to the enemy."
'Amman Radio reportedthat Jordaniancivilian
casualtiesrose to 34 killed and 134 woundedfrom
the June 4 clash.
June 6: Israeli police broke up a demonstrationin
Jerusalemof Arab studentsand women after the
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
group had laid wreaths on the graves of Arabs
killed in the June war.
June 7: The 26th Arab Boycottof Israel Conference
ended a 14 day meeting in Lebanonin which reso-
lutions were adoptedincluding one permittingthe
entry of agriculturalproducefrom the West Bank
to the east bank of Jordan. Industrialproducts
from the West Bank would be denied entry.
UNRWA announced a Pakistani contribution
of ?8,730, it was reported.
June 9: An Israeli Army report said that 3 Arab
saboteurswere killed during an encounter with
an Israeli patrol north of the Damiyah Bridge.
The Arabs reportedlycarried a Soviet automatic
rifle and sabotageequipment.
A fire and a series of explosions broke out in
an Israeli munitions dump near Ashdod. Israel
said the fire and the explosions were accidental
and gave no casualtyfigures.
June 10: Al-Fath announcedit was responsiblefor
the blowing up of the ammunition dump near
Ashdod on June 9.
June 15: Israeli and Egyptianforces clashed at the
Suez Canal between al-Qantarahand Great Bitter
Lake. In reports,both sides blamed the other for
the clash.
A Lebanesespokesmansaid that 4 people were
wounded during an Israeli mortar attack on Mis
al-Jabalvillage.
June 16: Head of the Israelimilitarygovernmentde-
partmentat General HeadquartersGazit said that
severalthousandpermitshad been issued to Arabs
with relatives in occupied Jordan allowing them
to spend their summerholiday in Jordan.Permits
would not be issued to Arabs from the UAR,
Syria, Iraq and Algeria because of the positions
taken by those countriesagainstIsrael.
Jordan reportedthat about 400,000 Arab ref-
ugees from occupied areas had moved to Jordan
since the June war.
June 17: Fighting broke out in the northernpart of
the Baysan Valley between Jordanianand Israeli
forces. Both accusedthe other side of startingthe
incident.
June 18: Israeli Defense Minister Dayan told a
closed caucusof LaborParty membersthat Israel
must remainpermanentlyat Sharmal-Shaykhand
certain areas of the Sinai Peninsula. Further,he
was convinced that Jordan would not negotiate
with Israel separatelyfrom the UAR and he de-
nouncedthe NovemberSecurityCouncilresolution
as a basis for negotiationswith the Arabs.
The Israeli Army reported killing a 5 man
Egyptianpatrol in an encounternear Ruimini in
the Sinai Peninsula.
June 20: Algerian President Boumedienne said it
was the duty of Palestiniansto fight and resist,not
flee and emigrate every time there was fighting
with Israel.
Al-Fath complained to the Organization of
African Unity (OAU) alleging that Malawi had
 CHRONOLOGY 477
sent severalhundredAfricanmercenariesto Israel. and pledged that the Arabs"will liberatethe occu-
June 21: Jordanianrepresentativeto the UN Farra pied Arab territories."
chargedthat Israeli forces had committed39 vio- UNRWA announced the receipt of Saudi
lations of the cease fire within the past 2 months Arabia'sannual contributionof $297,778.
as part of a new pattern "aimedat the destruction July 6: The Arab Higher Committee for Palestine
of civilian life in the JordanValley." denounced UAR Foreign Minister Riyad's state-
June 22: Israeli Prime Minister Eshkol said that ment as a "stab in the back"and said it was in-
Israel would insist on the Jordan River as her consistentwith the Khartumresolutionsof August
"securityborder"with Jordan but said that the 1967.
government made a distinction between a "se- UAR spokesmanZayyit said that "if the imple-
curity border"and a "political border." mentation of the Security Council's November
Israeli authoritiesreportedthat 11 membersof resolution necessitatedthe presence of the UN
al-Fathwere killed near Jericho. peacekeeping forces, we should have no ob-
June 23: The Israeli Army reportedclashes along a jection."
20 mile front on the Suez Canal north of Great UAR PresidentNasir, in Moscow,said that "we
Bitter Lake. are convincedagain that the Soviet Union supports
Al-Fath reportedshooting down an Israeli heli- the Arabs and the rights of the Arab nations."
copter and killing or wounding 35 Israeli troops July 7: Jordan deprived 8 Arab judicial officials
in a clash on June 22 north of Jericho. working in the West Bank of their pensions and
A UAR spokesmansaid that Israeli forces had other benefits for having cooperatedwith Israeli
opened fire with machineguns on the Suez Canal officials.
Authority hospital in Ismrn'liyyahand that Egyp- UAR spokesmanZayyatsaid that Egypt would
tian troops returned the fire when Israeli forces not give diplomaticrecognitionto or sign a peace
intensified the battle. Reportedly 6 Israeli tanks, treatywith Israel.
3 machine guns and an ammunition depot were July 8: Egyptianand Israeli forces clashed over the
destroyedby Egyptianfire. Suez Canal. An Egyptianmilitary spokesmansaid
June 25: An Israeli military spokesmanannounced the clashes began with Israeli artillery fire and
that an Arab and an Israeli had been killed in a that Israel had lost 5 tanks, with 2 artilleryand
clash north of the Damiyah Bridge. 2 anti-tank posts destroyed and an ammunition
UN SpecialEnvoy Jarringmet with UAR For- dump set on fire. An Israeli military spokesman
eign Minister Riyad in Stockholm. said the clashes began with Egyptianartilleryfire
June 26: Jarring met with Israeli Foreign Minister from the town of Suez, "thus forcing the Israeli
Eban at the Hague. counter-firebatteries to direct their fire on the
June 27: Israeli Defense Minister Dayan said that town to silence the Egyptianfire."
"we cannot escape from preparationsfor a re- July 9: Egyptian officialsreportedthat 39 civilians
newal of war against us." had been killed in 3 exchangesof fire on July 8
Israeli Prime Minister Eshkol said that Israel over the canal.
must not advance any peace proposals because Governorof Suez city Hamid Mahmudsaid he
"each offer we make at this point would become would evacuate all but 60,000 essential oil re-
their minimum position in subsequent negoti- finery and other workers and traders needed to
ations" and that "while Israel'sprime desire re- keep the city alive.
mains peace," the "key is with Egypt which pre- An Israeli spokesmansaid that an army patrol
vents peace with Jordan." killed 4 Arab saboteursin a clash 10 miles south
June 29: Al-Fath issued a communiquesaying that west of the DamiyahBridge.
its commandos,on June 27, had laid explosivesat July 10: The new Palestine National Council, com-
the Israeli military headquartersin Jerichowhich posed of various commando groups, began a
exploded, killing and wounding a number of meeting in Cairo to discusscoordinationof guer-
soldiers, including the military governor of the rilla activity. 'Abd al-Muhsin Qattan was elected
area. Presidentof the session.ZuhayrMuhsinand Wadi'
July 3: On a visit to Denmark,UAR Foreign Mini- Haddadwere elected as Vice Presidentsand Salim
ster Riyad said that the Arab world made a big al-Za'niinas SecretaryGeneral.
mistake when it demanded the annihilation of Jarring reported to Thant on his talks with
Israel, and said, "we accept the realities and one Israeli and Jordanianofficials.
of these is Israel." A report by UN truce observersat the canal
July 5: A Jordanianmilitary spokesman said that made public indicatedthat Egypt was responsible
Israeli forces had fired on troops and farmers for startingthe July 8 incidents.Israeli retaliation,
north of the Damiyah Bridge and Jordanian however,was reportedlyout of proportion.
troops had returned the fire. No Jordanian casual- July 14: Israel reportedthat 2 Arab infiltratorswere
ties were reported. killed in a clash with an Israelipatrol in the West
UAR President Nasir denounced Israel as an Bank.
"imperialistbridgeheadthat separatesArab unity" July 15: The PalestineNational Assemblyagreed to

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
478 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
set up a coordinatingcouncil with militaryexperts
from each commando organization, it was re-
ported.
July 17: Israeli authorities reported that 13 Arab
guerrillas on a sabotagemission were killed and
one Israeliwounded in an engagementnorth west
of the Dead Sea.
Israel lifted a 13 month curfew on the West
Bank, enabling free movement throughout most
of the area. Use of a strip along the river would
remain restrictedbetween 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. for
securityreasons.
July 18: Israeli security forces announced that 12
Arabs accused of subversive activities had been
arrestedin Nabulus.
July 23: An Israeli jet en route from Rome to Lydda
was hijackedby 3 gunmen who reportedlyidenti-
fied themselves as Arab commandos.The plane,
carrying10 crew membersand 38 passengers,was
divertedto Algeria. An El Al spokesmansaid that
26 passengerswere released,with Algeria detain-
ing the 10 crew members and 12 Israeli passen-
gers. The Algerian news agency reported there
were 37 passengers,with 21 Israelis being de-
tained.
July 24: UNRWA announcedthat Denmark would
make a regular contribution of approximately
$80,000.
UAR spokesmanZayyit said that "we acceptthe
Jarring mission" and that "we want the Jarring
mission to succeed."
July 25: Jordanianand Israeli forces exchangedfire
at Umm al-Shurat.No casualtieswere reported.
July 26: UNRWA announceda Swedishdonationof
approximately$2m as a special contributionfor
educationand training.
July 27: Al-Fath announced its commandos had
killed or wounded a numberof Israeli soldiers in
4 operationsin Israeli territoryfrom July 23 to
25.
Algeria released 10 Israeliwomen and children
detainedfrom the hijackedEl Al plane.
July 28: IsraeliForeignMinisterEbantold a Cabinet
meeting that he had askedThant to help negotiate
the releaseof the hijackedplane.
Israel reportedthat a patrol had killed 2 Arab
guerrillasin a clash along the JordanRiver.
July 29: A spokesmanfor the PLO said that the 12
Israelis held prisoner in Algeria were exchange-
able for Palestine Arabs held in Israel but that
the plane was not exchangeablebecauseit was an
instrumentof war.
Jordanianauthoritiesturnedback Arab refugees
from the Gaza Strip who were trying to emigrate
to the east bank of the Jordan River, charging
that Israeli forces had been trying to force the
refugees into Jordan.
Thant, in reporting on Jarring'srecent activi-
ties, commentedon Jarring's"patience,persistence
and statesmanship"and said "it will be impor-
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
tant and advisablefor him to pursuehis effortsto
promote agreementamong the parties."
Chief of Staff of the PalestineLiberationArmy
(PLA) Subhi al-Jibiri and a number of officers
were suspended by a decision of the Executive
Committeeof the PLO. The new Chief of Staff
appointedwas 'Abd al-Razzaqal-Yahya.
Malawi PresidentBandadenied that his govern-
ment had sent mercenariesto Israel and said the
Arabs of Northern Sudan are "literally butcher-
ing" Africans in the south.
July 30: A US organization,Near East Emergency
Donations, Inc., donated $210,000 to UNRWA
for vocational training of refugees in the Gaza
Strip.
Aug. 2: In a report, U Thant said that Israel was
thwartinghis effortsto look into the humanitarian
problemsresultingfrom the June war by attempt-
ing to broaden the scope of the UN inquiry to
include an examinationof conditions among the
Jewish communitiesin Iraq and Lebanon.
Aug. 3: Israeli militaryauthoritiesimposeda curfew
on Gaza after an outbreakof violence in which 4
people were injured.
Aug. 4: Israeli jets struckwhat Israeli General Bar-
Lev described as a "substantialand unexpected
blow to the terroristorganizations"in a "reprisal
raid" on Salt, reportedly an Arab guerrilla en-
clave. 'Amman Radio reported that 23 civilians
and 5 soldierswere killed in the Israeliattackand
76 civilians and 6 soldiers were wounded.Jordan
also announced that her forces had downed an
Israeli bomber.
Aug. 5: In the UN SecurityCouncil,Jordanianrepre-
sentative Farra accused Israel of a "flagrantand
premediated"attack on Salt and asked whether
the Council might consider sanctions against
Israelto halt her allegedviolationsof the ceasefire.
Addressing the Council, Israeli representative
Tekoah said that the action on Salt was necessary
for the protectionof Israel from Jordanianterror-
ists.
Aug. 6: An Israeli spokesmansaid that helicopter
borne Israeli troops, in "hot pursuit"of an escap-
ing band of Arab saboteurs,followed the band "a
few kilometers" into Jordanian territory. Five
Arabs were reportedkilled and 2 wounded with
no Israeli casualtiesreported.
Aug. 7: The Central Arab Boycott of Israel Office
announcedthat any boycottof Algerian ships and
aircraftwould be met by a counterboycottby Arab
countries.
Aug. 9: The executivecommitteeof the PLO issued
a statementsaying that Chief of Staff of the PLA
Yahya was arrestedon August 1 by a number of
officersof the PLA who had been suspendedJuly
29 and was placedunder house arrestin Damascus
until August 8. The statementcalled on the public
to disregardall claims by the mutineersand their
leaders.
 CHRONOLOGY 479
Aug. 10: A JordanianRed Crossofficialchargedthat his talks there "extremelyuseful."
Israel had used poison gas and napalm in the Au- July 24: The results of the June OPECmeeting in-
gust 4 Salt raid. cluded principlesto serve as a basis for petroleum
Aug. 12: Two commandogroupsof the PLO rejected policy in membercountries.Includedwere recom-
changes by the executive committee saying the mendationsthat the members"as far as feasible"
committee was not entitled to interfere in the explore and develop their hydrocarbonresources
organizations'activities and the prerogativesof directly and that the governments acquire a
their commanders. "reasonableparticipation"in concessionsnot call-
Aug. 13: The InternationalFederation of Airline ing for governmentparticipation,"on the grounds
Pilots Associationsaid that word had gone out to of the principle of changingcircumstances."
Air France,Alitalia and Swissairto ceaseall flights July 30: The ForeignMinistersof the EECagreedto
to Algeria as soon as possible. give the Community'sExecutive Commission a
UNRWA announced a $40,000 contribution mandate to conclude separate preferential trade
from Japan. agreementswith Moroccoand Tunisia.
Aug. 14: The French National Union of Airline Aug. 1: The Deputy Ministers of Communications
Pilots declareda boycott of Algeria. of Jordan,Syriaand Saudi Arabiabegan a week's
meeting in Damascusfor talks on establishinga
telecommunicationsline along the Hejaz Railway.
General Aug. 12: Bankersfrom 19 African countriesinclud-
ing Ethiopia, UAR, Libya, Morocco and Sudan
1968 agreed to set up an associationfor the promotion
of mutual interests in monetary, banking and
May 18: The Arab LeagueEconomicCouncil ended financialaffairs.
a 6 day meeting after approving a Kuwayti pro-
ject to establish a KDs 100m Arab Development
Fund to help promote economic and social devel- Afghanistan
opment in the Arab world. Kuwayt pledged KDs
30m towardsthe Fund. Tunisia, Saudi Arabiaand 1968
Moroccowere not present.
May 30: The 4th meeting of the CoordinationCom- June 9: Indian Minister for Irrigation and Power
mittee of OPEC, held in Vienna, ended. Ashraf K.L. Rao began a 12 day visit to assessthe techni-
Lutfi of Kuwayt was elected chairman of the cal assistance India could offer to develop the
meeting. country'sirrigation and power potential.
June 7: SyrianPresidentAt&sicalled for an immedi- June 13: King MohammadZahir Shah ended a 10
ate union between the UAR, Syria, Iraq and Al- day visit to the USSR with a joint communique
geria "to confront the Zionist imperialist chal- reaffirmingtheir mutual allegiance to the princi-
lenge." ples of peaceful coexistence and saying that the
June 9: Kuwayti Finance Minister 'Atlqi said that withdrawalof Israeli troops from occupied terri-
Kuwayt would abide by its obligations on pay- tories is an absolutely essential condition for
ment to the states affectedby the June war until peace in the Middle East.
the "liquidationof the consequencesof that ag- July 12: The InternationalMonetaryFund approved
gression." a stand-byarrangementauthorizing drawings up
June 11: Arab League Assistant SecretaryGeneral to $7m over the next 12 months by Afghanistan,
'Arif Zihir announceda pledge by Abu Dhabi of it was reported.
KDs 3m to the Arab DevelopmentFund. July 27: India signed an agreementto expand and
June 24: Qatarannounceda pledge of KDs 500,000 diversify trade. India would allow cumin seeds
to the Arab DevelopmentFund. and medical herbs from Afghanistanwith no ceil-
June 25: The OPECended its 16th Conferenceof 2 ing and would diversifyits importsfrom Afghani-
days in Vienna. The resolutionsadopted were to stan.
be published July 25.
July 1: USSR Prime Minister Kosygin made public
a Soviet programfor further arms control includ-
ing support "for the reduction of armamentsin Algeria
variousregions of the world, includingthe Middle (See also Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Israel,
East." Morocco,South Yemen, Syria,Tunisia)
July 21: The 4th anniversaryof the founding of the
Regional Cooperation for Development (RDC) 1968
was celebratedin Iran, Pakistanand Turkey.
July 23: US Ambassadorto the UN George Ball May 16: Talks between SONATRACHand the Ital-
ended a 10 day visit to the Middle East, calling ian oil concernENI resumed,it was reported.

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
480 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
May 19: SyrianDeputy Prime Ministerand Foreign
Minister Mikhts ended a 3 day visit for discus-
sions on the Middle East situation.
May 21: The government announced that it had
nationalized 27 private companies making me-
chanical and electrical equipment, fertilizers and
constructionmaterials.
May 23: The nationalizationof 4 minor fertilizer
concernswas announced.
June 4: A Nigerian federal delegation headed by
Ibrahim Moussa Gashas ended a 4 day visit for
talks on improving the countries'friendship.
June 8: Libyan Prime Minister Bakkush,accompa-
nied by a ministerial delegation, ended a day's
visit for talks on increasingbilateralties, Maghrib
cooperationand discussing the Middle East situ-
ation.
June 13: Franceannounceda reductionin the quota
of AlgeriansenteringFranceto 1,000 a month and
announced that imports of fruits and vegetables
would be banned to protectthe Frenchmarket.
June 14: The governmentnationalized18 companies
in the food, chemical and mechanicalindustries.
June 18: Minister of CommerceNoureddineDellici
announceda series of agreementssigned with the
UAR including Algeria's agreementto repay an
Egyptian loan to build a textile factory and an
agreementcovering the costs of the countries're-
spective diplomaticmissions in Algiers and Cairo.
June 19: In a speech marking the third anniversary
of the overthrow of the Ben Bella government,
President Boumediennesaid that cooperationbe-
tween Franceand Algeria will be jeopordizedun-
less French attitudesare changed,noting that the
major French interest in Algeria was oil and the
major Algerian interestsin Francewere labor and
technical aid.
June 26: The trial of 17 people, including 4 alleged
to have attemptedto assassinateAhmed Kaid on
January24, was postponeduntil July 12.
June 30: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri ended a 2
day visit during which the 2 countriesagreed to
develop economic, technical and cultural cooper-
ation.
July 3: Algeria signed a $4m long term loan for
aiding Yemen in exploiting oil and minerals.
July 5: The country celebratedits 6th anniversary
of independence.
July 10: Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade
Zuhayr al-Khini ended a 6 day visit.
July 12: The trial of people allegedlyinvolved in the
attempton Kaid'slife was postponed.
July 13: South Yemen PresidentSha'bi,accompanied
by a delegation,ended a 6 day visit.
July 15: Soviet Defense Minister Grechko began a
visit as the guest of PresidentBoumedienne.
July 20: SouthYemen signed a technicaland cultural
cooperationagreementwith the country.
July 22: Minister of Energy and Industry Salam,
heading a 37 man delegation, ended a 3 week
visit to the USSR in which protocolswere signed
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
providing for increasedSoviet technical and eco-
nomic aid and a Soviet agreement to buy 5m
hectolitresof Algerianwine in 1969 and 1970.
July 27: Foreign Minister Bouteflikaended a 4 day
visit to France.
July 29: In an interview with Le Monde, Foreign
Minister Bouteflika,commenting on his visit to
France,said that in the "exploratory"talks on the
applicationof the 1965 agreementof oil resources,
he had met with "a great deal of understanding
from the Frenchside" but added "thoughthe will
to cooperateis unquestionablypresent on the po-
litical level, it is not to be found in execution."
Aug. 8: Iran signed a cultural agreementwith the
country.
Aug. 9: Ahmed Medeghri resigned as Minister of
Interior,it was reported.
Cyprus
(See also Syria,Turkey)
1968
June 2: Glavkos Clerides, President of the Cyprus
House of Representatives,and Rauf Denktash,
President of the Turkish Cypriot Communal
Chamber,flew to Lebanonfor private talks.
June 5: Clerides and Denktash ended preliminary
talks in Beirut with a joint communiquesaying
that they had had a useful exchangeof views and
that the talkswould resumein Nicosia on June 24.
June 18: The UN SecurityCouncilvoted to continue
the UN Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) at least
until December15.
June 24: The UN-sponsoredtalks betweenDenktash
and Cleridesresumedin Nicosia with UN official
Osorio-Tafallpresent.
July 1: The US pledged a $4m contributionto the
UNFICYP.
July 5: Thant appealed to all governments"to re-
spond promptly and generously with voluntary
contributions"for the UNFICYP if the force "is
to carry out the task assigned to it," it was re-
ported.
July 25: Talks between Cleridesand Denktashwere
suspended until the end of August. In a joint
communique,they said "therehas been an identity
of views on a number of points" but added that
certain issues remain "which require patient ne-
gotiations if we are to narrowthe existing gaps."
July 26: Switzerland will contribute $200,000
towardsthe maintenanceof the UNFICYP, it was
reported.
Aug. 7: President Makarioswill pay an unofficial
visit to the Scandanaviancountries from August
19 to September2, it was announced.
 CHRONOLOGY 481

exchangecosts of projectsbeing undertakenby the

Ethiopia private industrialsector.
(See also General) June 4: A 20 man Soviet delegationarrivedfor talks
on developingeconomicand technicalcooperation.
1968 June 5: Two Soviet ships began a 5 day good will
visit.
May 21: EmperorHaila Silisse ended a 4 day state June 6: Ruler of Qatar ShaykhAhmad Ibn 'Ali Al
visit to South Korea with a joint communique Thini ended a week's privatevisit.
saying that the talks between the 2 heads of state June 8: The AgriculturalDevelopmentFund of Iran
were markedby a cordial atmosphereand a pro- was set up to promote large scale agriculturalin-
found mutual understanding. dustrialcorporationsand providelong term credits
May 25: The celebrations marking the 5th anni- for agriculturalschemes.
versaryof the founding of the OAU were held at June 12: The Shah ended 2 days of conferencesat
the organization'sheadquartersin Addis Ababa. the White House with US PresidentJohnson,get-
The Emperorended a 4 day state visit to Kuala ting his assuranceof supportin building an "ade-
Lampurand returnedto Ethiopia after a month's quate modern defense force."
tour of south east Asia. June 16: An 11 man Frenchmission, headedby Di-
June 7: The Shah of Iran and EmpressFarahended rector of External Economic Relations Marcel
a 4 day state visit after signing a treatyof friend- Chapelle, arrived for talks on French economic
ship. and industrialcredit worth about $60m.
June 18: Minister of State Gabjeegsy arrived in The Shah ended a week's private visit to the
Yugoslaviafor a 2 day visit. US and began a visit to Italy with EmpressFarah.
June 20: The police commandantfor EasternSudan June 17: The Soviet firmNaftkhimpronexport agreed
announced that the frontier with Ethiopia was to supply 34 turbo-compressorsfor installation
being closed. along the proposedtrans-Iraniangas pipeline. The
June 30: Sweden agreed to contribute$14.09m to- cost, $47.8m, will be paid for out of future ex-
wards a 5 year school program. ports of Iraniannaturalgas to the USSR.
July 16: Chief Administratorof the Ministry of June 23: Japan signed a trade agreementto import
Roads Abashawiarrivedin Kenya for discussions $12.5m of Iraniangoods in the first year and, in
on the construction of a 1,000 mile Kenya- the third year, 240,000 tons of LPG a year.
Ethiopiahighway. June 24: Iraqi Prime MinisterYahya, with a minis-
July 25: Foreign Minister Ketama Yifru arrived in terial delegation, arrived for talks with Iranian
India for talks on a proposednon-alignedconfer- ministers.
ence. July 10: The JapaneseExport-ImportBank agreedto
Aug. 13: An 8 man Sudanesegoodwill mission ended loan $17m to help finance a microwave tele-
a 2 day visit. communicationssystem to be built by Nippon
ElectricCompany.
July 17: The country will take part in a $275m
petrochemicalproject in India, it was announced.
Iran July 20: PakistaniPresidentAyub arrivedfor a 2 day
unofficialvisit.
(See also Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia signed a trade agreement, exporting
Saudi Arabia,UAR) iron ore, lead and phosphatesin returnfor Iranian
crude, aluminumand chemicalproducts.
1968 Indian Deputy Prime Minister Morarji Desai
ended a 6 day visit for talks on economic and
May 19: The Ministry of Economy announcedtax technical cooperation.
concessionson income from agriculturalprojects, Aug. 10: A Saudi Arabianoil delegationarrivedfor
income from dairy products, exports of selected talks on oil cooperationand demarcationof the
goods, incomes of educationalistsand investment Gulf continentalshelf.
on long term approvedhousing projects.
The Shah inauguratedNIOC's new 85,000 b/d
refineryin Tehran.
May 27: Czechoslovakiasigned 2 agreementsto sell Iraq
$5m worth of machineryand parts theto Tabriz (See also Arab Israeli Conflict,General, Iran, Leba-
machineand tools factoryand will supply$300,000 non, Saudi Arabia,South Yemen, Syria,UAR)
worthof equipmentfor the trainingcenterattached
to the factory. 1968
May 29: The World Bankannouncedit had approved
a $25m loan to the Industrialand Mining De- May 17: The Lebanesenewspaperal-Anwairreported
velopment Bank of Iran to help meet the foreign that 2 Kurdish ministers, Ihsan Shirzad (Works

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
482 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
and Municipalities) and 'Abd al-Fattih al-Shali
(Development in the North), offered their resig-
nations, reportedlyprotestingthe governmentsus-
pension of the Kurdish newspaperal-Ta'ikhi in
May.
Details of the 1968/69 budget of Ds
218,775,048 were published.Defense was allotted
34.4% of the budget and education25.01%. In-
come tax would be increasedand duties on im-
ported cars would go from 125% to 150%.
May 18: INOC ChairmanAd*b al-Jadir said that
negotiationswith a number of foreign firms were
in progress for the supply of oilfield equipment
and installationsto developthe northernRumaylah
field.
May 20: President'Arif said that work on the pro-
jected EuphratesDam would begin by next year
"at the latest"and would be financedby a Ds 50m
loan from the USSR.
May 26: Soviet ships ended a 16 day goodwill visit.
May 27: Labor and Social Affairs Minister 'Abd
al-Hamid Hini announced that the number of
trade union organizationswould be cut from 21
to 15 by a processof mergers.
June 4: Baghdad Radio announceda draft law on
the establishment of a Legislative Assembly to
assume legislativepowers during the currenttran-
sition period. The Assembly, to be formed of
members appointed by Republican decree with
Cabinetapproval,would be in charge of working
on a permanentconstitution.
June 9: IPC and MPC agreed to pay a lump sum of
?10m for the period of June 1967 to May 1968
and an extra 7 cents a barrelof future exports as
long as the present "extraordinarycircumstances"
of the companies'enhanced competitive position
due to the Suez Canal closurecontinues.
June 11: The period for objecting to sentencescon-
nected with the 1966 Kurdish rebellion was ex-
tended for 2 months.
June 16: The Amir of Kuwayt Shaykh al-Sabih
al-Salim Al Sabah ended a day's visit with a
communique in which both countries expressed
"their completewillingness to back the Federation
[of Gulf Amirates] in all political, economic,
cultural and technicalfields."
June 18: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri arrivedfor
a short officialvisit.
An Algerian oil delegationended a 6 day visit
to discuss cooperation between the 2 countries'
national oil companies.
June 22: President'Arif acceptedthe resignationof
the 2 Kurdish ministers and appointed Minister
of Agrarian Reform 'Abd al-Karim Farhan as
acting Minister of Works and Municipalitiesand
Minister of State Hammidi Mahdi as acting
Minister for Development in the North.
June 26: The Board of Directors of the state run
General Press Organizationsuspended the news-
paper al-Thawrahfor a week.
June 29: The Ministry of Economyannouncedthat
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
the import of British goods, forbidden after the
June war, was permitted.
July 7: The Middle East News Agency reportedthat
Minister of AgrarianReform Farhanresigned.
July 9: South Yemeni President Sha'bi ended a
week'svisit with a communiqueannouncingIraq's
readinessto give economic support and technical
assistanceto the country.
July 17: Baghdad Radio reportedthat a coup had
overthrownPresident'Arif "to preservethe July 14
revolution and the revolution of March 8." 'Arif
was, reportedly,sent abroad. The announcement
said that all Iraqi airportsand governmentoffices
were closed and a 24 hour curfew had been im-
posed.
A new Cabinetwas formed as follows:
'Abd al-Razzaqal-Nayif Prime Minister
Nasir al-Hani: ForeignAffairs
Ibrahim 'Abd al-Rahman al-Dawuid:Defense
Salih Kubbah:Finance
Salih Mahdi 'Ammash:Interior
Muslih al-Naqshabandi:Justice
Ah~mad'Abd al-Sattaral-Jawird:Education
Anwar 'Abd al-Qadir al-Hadithi: Labor and
Social Affairs
'IzzatMustafa:Health
Taha al-Hajj Ilyas: Cultureand Information
MahmudShit Khattab:Communications
Muhsin al-Qazwini:Agriculture
'Abd al-Majidal-Jumayli:AgrarianReform
Ihsin Shirzad:Public Worksand Housing
MuhammadYa'quibal-Sa'idi: Planning
'Abdallahal-Naqshabandi:Economy
Khalid Makkial-Hishimi: Industry
Mahdi Salih Hantush: Oil and Minerals
Ghayib MawliudMukhlis: Municipaland Rural
Affairs
Diyab al-'Alqiwi: Youth Welfare
Muhsin Dlz'i: Development of the North
'Abd al-Karim Zaydan: Minister of State for
Waqf Affairs
Jasim Kazim al-'Azziwi: Union Affairs
Rashid al-Rift'l: Minister of State f or Presi-
dential Affairs
Naji 'Isa al-Khalaf:Ministerof State
Kazim al-Mu'alla:Minister of State
July 18: MajorGeneralHasan al-Bakrwas appointed
President.
Prime Minister Nayif issued a communique
which laid emphasis on the corruptionof 'Arif's
governmentand stressedthe necessityof bringing
to account those responsible for the June war
defeat.
July 21: ForeignMinisterHani said the government
was not consideringthe resumptionof diplomatic
relations with the US, which "supportsIsrael at
the expense of the Arabs."
Prime Minister Nayif, accompanied by the
editor of a Kurdish newspaper,Salah Yuisuf1,re-
portedly flew to Irbil province to meet with
KurdishleaderBarazani.
 CHRONOLOGY
July 22: ForeignMinisterHani said that Iraq would
honor all her foreign agreements.
July 25: Minister of Informationand Culture Ilyas
announced the government'slifting of all press
censorshipand warned against the abuse of press
freedom.
July 30: The RevolutionaryCommand Council is-
sued a communiqueousting Prime MinisterNayif
and some of the Cabinetmembers.PresidentBakr
was appointedPrime Minister and Commanderin
Chief of the ArmedForces.
July 31: The RevolutionaryCommand Council is-
sued a communique explaining the change of
government, saying that the ousted officials had
tried to divert the revolution into a "right wing
reactionarytrend" and had tried to abolish the
INOC. The new Cabinetmemberswere named as
follows:
Hardin al-Takrlti:Defense
'Abd al-Karim al-Shaykhli:Foreign Affairs
Amin 'Abd al-Karim:Finance
'Abdallahal-Salluim:Culture
'Abd al-Husaynal-'Atiyyah:Agriculture
Jisim Kazim al-'Azzawl: Agrarian Reform
Mahdi al-Ddla'i: Justice
JawadHishim: Planning
Fakhrnal-Yisin al-Qudirl: Economy
Rashid al-Rifi'i: Oil
Shafiq al-Kamali: Youth
'Abdallahal-Khudayr:Unity
'AdnanAyyub Sabri: Ministerof State
Hamid al-Jabbuiri:Minister of State
Taha Muhyi al-Din: Ministerof State
Muhammadal-Karbuli:Minister of State
Aug. 3: The Revolution CommandCouncil issued a
statement pledging to bring about "a peaceful
settlement safeguardingthe interests,securityand
stability of the country and the rights of our
Kurdishpeople in the north."
The Baghdad daily al-Jumhuriyyahreported a
statement by Minister of Oil Rifa'i to the IPC
that the government is determined "to obtain
Iraq's acquiredrights from the companieswithin
a short period of time."
Aug. 4: The RevolutionaryCommand Council an-
nouncedit would establishan academyof Kurdish
culture and grant scholarshipsto Iraqi Kurds to
study at foreign universities.
Aug. 10: Ibrfhim Faysal al-Ansarl was appointed
chief of staff of the army.
Aug. 12: Under a Revolution Command Council
decree the former ministers Nayif, Dawud,
'Alqawi and Hani were appointedto the Foreign
Ministry with the rank of Ambassador.
Israel
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, Jordan, Kuwayt,
Lebanon)
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
483
1968
May 18: Foreign Minister Eban ended a European
tour.
May 20: The Cabinet meeting endorsed the policy
that only peace treaties reached through direct
negotiations between Israel and the Arab states
could lead Israel to withdraw from any of the
occupiedareas.
May 24: Ghana signed a trade agreementproviding
for mutual most-favored-nation treatmentand pro-
viding for measures facilitating the widest pos-
sible exchange of goods between the 2 countries.
May 26: Malawi President Kamuzu Banda arrived
for a 5 day state visit for talks on strengthening
cooperationand friendship between the 2 coun-
tries.
May 28: The governmentpaid the US $3,323,500
in compensationto the families of 24 Americans
killed in the Israeli attackon the US communica-
tions ship last June.
May 29: Two Germanfirms,Mannesmannand Thys-
sen, who had agreed to supply steel for the pro-
posed pipeline from the Gulf of 'Aqabahto the
Mediterranean,denied reportsthat they were boy-
cotting Israel as a trading partner.
June 4: President Shazaropened the Tel Aviv in-
ternationaltrade fair.
June 11: Prime Minister Eshkol announcedbefore
a caucus of parliamentarymembers of the Labor
Party his intention to name LaborMinister Yigal
Allon as Deputy Prime Minister.
June 22: Eshkol said that statementsby other minis-
ters "obligate only those ministers who make
them" and expressed his disapproval of "state-
ments of other ministerson foreign affairs."
June 23: The Cabinet authorizedForeign Minister
Eban to reaffirmpreviousofficialIsraelistatements
on the November SecurityCouncil resolution.
Excavationbegan on the proposed 160 mile
pipeline.
June 26: The French government announced its
authorizationof the delivery to Israel of 25 dis-
assembledmilitary Fouga-Magistertwin jets, de-
signed for advancedmilitary training.
July 1: The Cabinet approved the appointmentof
Allon as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Absorption.
July 6: The US Defense Departmentannouncedit
had reachedan agreementwith Israel on May 30
to sell additional batteries of Hawk anti-aircraft
missiles under a credit arrangement.
July 8: Golda Meir resignedas General Secretaryof
the United LaborParty.
July 9: Director of the Foreign Ministry Gideon
Rafael ended a visit to London.
July 16: US Ambassadorto the UN George Ball
ended a 3 day visit.
July 17: Ebanannouncedplans to meet with African
countries in the Ivory Coast "next month" to
discuss the UN General Assembly agenda.
 484 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL

July 18: West Germanysigned a $33.6m agreement
to finance road building in the Negev and the
developmentof a port 20 miles from Tel Aviv.
The US House of Representativesvoted to
direct President Johnson to sell Israel 50 F-4
Phantomjet fighters.
July 21: Minister of Finance Sapir said that the
June war had cost Israel ?416m.
July 26: Sapir was named to succeedGolda Meir as
SecretaryGeneralof the United LaborParty.
Aug. 6: The US Civil AeronauticsBoard said it
had approvedthe leasing of a Boeing airlinerand
crew to El Al until Algeria releasedthe hijacked June 27: A West German DevelopmentBank dele-
El Al plane.
Aug. 12: Two Syrian pilots landed their MIG-17
jets in northernIsraeland were taken into custody.
A Syrian military spokesmansaid that the planes
took off in poor visibility and were forced to
land "at an enemy airport after their fuel had
run out." Israel reported that the pilots were
being interrogatedand said that the planes landed June 30: Turkey signed a protocol for the mutual
with their fuel tanks nearly empty.
Aug. 14: A Syrian Air Force spokesmansaid Syria
would ask through the InternationalRed Cross
for the return of the 2 Syrianpilots.
Jordan
(See also Arab IsraeliConflict,General,Syria,UAR)
1968
May 19: The governmentannouncedreceiptof $14m
from Abu Dhabi to offset the economicdifficulties July 17: US Ambassadorto the UN George Ball
resulting from the June war.
May 20: Minister of Finance Jayyiisi announcedhe
had signed an agreementwith the UAR on com- July 24: The government acknowledgedreceipt of
pensation for Jordanianproperty affected by na-
tionalizationin Egypt.
May 23: A Greek company, Doxiadis, signed an
agreement to develop the Gulf of 'Aqabah's
southern tourist area.
King IHusaynended a 24 day European tour
during which he held talks on the Middle East
with British and French officials.
May 29: A government communique reportedthat
bands of armed men attackedthe central police
station in 'Amman in an attempt to free a man
held there.
May 30: Jayyiisiannouncedthe governmenthad re-
ceived an offer of $500,000 in US aid with which
Jordan would import Americangoods.
June 9: Saudi Arabia granted the country ?15m
in additional aid for the purchase of military
equipment and the strengthening of Jordanian
armed forces.
June 10: The US told the UN it would provide
$816,000 worth of flour and vegetable oils for
distribution to 200,00 displaced persons in
Jordan.
June 12: US Deputy AssistantSecretaryof State for
Near East and South Asia Rodger Davies arrived
for a 4 day visit.
June 18: Israel Radio reported an attemptedcoup
in Jordanby the armedforces.
June 20: Prime Minister Talhani called the Israeli
Radio report of an attemptedcoup "void of any
element of truth and reality."
June 26: Jayyuisireportedlyannouncedthat 3 agree-
ments for oil exploration,technicaland economic
cooperationand trade exchange had been signed
with a visiting Rumanian economic delegation.
gation ended a 5 day visit after agreeing to a
DM 74m loan towards financing the proposed
DM 95m railway line connecting 'Aqabah and
the Hijaz Railway.
UNESCO agreed to provide about $1m for
scholarshipsand scientificequipment at the Uni-
versity of Jordan.
reductionof transportcosts between the 2 coun-
tries.
July 9: Member of the Policy Planning Council of
the US State DepartmentJohn Campbellarrived
for a 3 day fact finding visit.
A delegation from the Soviet Trade Union
Federationended a week's visit.
July 11: In a Royal decree, 108 people of Palestine
origin living in the Gulf States were given
Jordaniannationality.
July 14: Foreign Minister Rifa'i ended a week's
visit to London for talks with governmentofficials
and UN Special Envoy Jarring.
ended a 2 day visit for talks with government
leaders on the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia's4th aid installmentof ?4,320,987.
Jayyisi said that the US will pay the balance
of its aid to Jordanfor the past year, about $6m,
in Americangoods.
Aug. 6: King HIusaynsaid that the Jordanianarmy
had reorganized itself in an extremely short
period of time, during which it had also obtained
modern weaponsand a high standardof training.
The UAR signed a trade protocol to buy
E?500,000 worth of Jordanianfarm produce in
exchange for Jordan importing E?1.5m worth of
Egyptian industrial and agriculturalgoods.
Kashmir
(See also Pakistan,Turkey)
1968
May 20: KashmirGovernorMohamedMusadeclared
that unless the Kashmirissue is settled through a
fair and impartial plebiscite there would be no

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 CHRONOLOGY
hope for improvementof relationsbetween India
and Pakistan.
Ju-ne30: ShaykhAbdallah,in a public meeting, said
that there could be no talks or a dialogue with
the Indian governmentuntil it concedesthe right
of self determinationto the Kashmiris.
Aug. 1: General Secretaryof the CommunalParty
of India Sundarayyasaid that a large number of
the people of Jammu and Kashmir were for
joining Pakistan and said that the people of
Kashmir should be assured of their "right to
full internal autonomy,"it was reported.
Aug. 9: Studentsin Kashmir,marking the anniver-
sary of the arrest of Shaykh Abdallah, went on
strike protesting India's alleged undemocratic
policies in the country.
Aug. 15: Ten Kashmiriswere arrestedin connection
with an appeal from ShaykhAbdallah for a boy-
cott of 2 local elections in Kashmir.
Kuwayt
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Iraq,
Lebanon,Turkey,Yemen)
1968
May 19: The daily newspaperal-Siyasahwas sus-
pended for a week.
May 26: The 1968/69 budget was published.Total
revenue was put at KDs 258,676,141 with
75.95% of the budget for ordinaryexpenditure,
22.26% for developmentprojectsand acquisition
of propertyand 1.79% for the generalreserve.
May 27: British VickersEngineeringGroups,Arma-
ments Division, announced that Kuwayt had
ordered ?6m to ?7m worth of Vickers 38 ton
battle tanks with high velocity guns and able to
carryanti-tankmissiles.
May 28: Six men accusedof spying for Israel were
reportedlyarrested.
May 30: UPI reportedthat the Saudi Arabian and
Kuwayti governments agreed on fixing their
neutral zone border based on a proposal by a
Japanesesurveyingcompany.
June 24: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri arrivedfor
a 2 day official visit.
June 26: The UN agreed to help set up a $2m
water resourcesdevelopment center and to con-
tribute $568,000 towardsit.
June 27: Foreign Minister Shaykh Sabah.al-Ahmad
Al Sabah.ended a 5 day tour of several Gulf
amirates.
Aug. 1: The AmIr will pay a 6 day state visit to
the US in December, it was announced.
Aug. 10: A Malaysianeconomic delegation arrived
for talks on economic and cultural cooperation.
Aug. 14: Presidentof the World Bank McNamara
announced that the Bank "has taken a further
step to expand and diversify the international
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
485
market for its bonds by selling its first issue" of
KDs 15m of 6?2% 20 year Kuwaytibonds in the
Kuwaytimarket.
Lebanon
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, Cyprus, General,
Iraq, Syria)
1968
May 16: Prime Minister Yafi said that the interim
governmentwill be dissolvedno laterthanMay 25.
May 27: Five units of the French fleet ended a 6
day goodwill visit.
May 29: Yafi said that Lebanonwas strengthening
its defenses and had taken measures to defend
its borders facing Israel, and that the Defense
Ministry was "working out a social service and
military service law under which citizens will
actively participate in strengthening our armed
forces.
May 30: The Prime Minister won a vote of confi-
dence on his May 29 statement,with 62 voting
for, 26 againstand 6 abstentions.
ForeignMinisterButrusbegan a tour of the US
and the USSR.
May 31: Former President Sham'un was wounded
in an assassinationattempt. The government an-
nounced the assailanthad been arrestedand im-
posed a curfew.
June 1: SupremeArmy CommanderBustini issued
a communique banning gatherings, shouting of
slogans, car processionsand the hanging of por-
traits in public places.
June 2: The daily newspaperal-Hayih was suspended
for 3 days after being accusedof publishing in-
correct reports about the attempted assassination
of Sham'uin.
June 6: Foreign Minister Butrus met with USSR
ForeignMinisterGromykoin Moscowfor talks on
the Middle East.
June 7: Iraqi Acting Foreign Minister Ism'll
Khayrallaharrivedin Beirut for a day'svisit.
The government took over control of the In-
ternational Arab Bank, reportedly because the
bank was sufferinga deficit.
June 10: Director General of the Presidential
SecretariatIlyas Sarkis was appointed Permanent
Governorof the Banquedu Liban.CharlesKhfiri
will replacehim as DirectorGeneral.
June 16: Minister of Economy, Labor and Social
AffairsEdouardHunaynresignedfrom the interim
government.
June 18: The EEC announced that the trade and
technical cooperation agreement signed in 1965
had been ratifiedand would come into force on
July 1 for 3 years, or longer by mutual consent.
June 19: The Beirut journal Commercedu Levant
 486 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
reportedthat SaudiArabiahad agreedin principle
to a ?5m developmentloan.
June 24: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amrl ended a 2
day visit.
July 3: A Cabinet reshufflewas announced giving
Prime Minister Yafi the portfolios of Interior
and Labor& SocialAffairs,and giving PierreIddah
the Finance portfolio. Minister of Justice and
Tourism Rashid BaydIinbecame Minister of De-
fense and Tourism, with Minister of Interiorand
EconomySulaymanFranjiyyahbecomingthe Min-
ister of Justice.
July 11: Ruler of Dubai Shaykh Rashid Ibn Sa'd
al-Maktfimarrivedfor a private visit.
July 19: US Ambassadorto the UN George Ball
ended a 3 day visit for talks with government
leaders on the Middle East.
July 27: The Labor and Social Affairs Ministry an-
nounced that all foreign employersmust employ
at least 3 nationals.
Aug. 4: ForeignMinisterButrusprotestedthe Syrian
duties of July 30 calling them "contraryto the
principlesof good neighborlinessand of the Arab
League Charter.
Aug. 6: The Cabinet rejecteda proposalby Finance
Minister Iddah which would have given the Cab-
inet extraordinarypowers to introduce economic
and fiscal reformsby decree.
Aug. 7: The government imposed a U100 tax on
every Syrian lorry entering the country.
The KFAED agreed to a KDs lm loan to help
finance the constructionof silos at Beirut Port.
Aug. 10: Sudanese Prime Minister Mah.jubended
almost a month's private visit during which he
met PresidentHilfu and PremierYafi.
Libya
(See also Algeria, General, Morocco, Tunisia,
Turkey)
1968
May 24: Four companies,MercuryPetroleum,Lion
Petroleum, Libya Desert and Libya Texas, lost
their concessionsbecause of their failure to live
up to the minimum work obligationsas set forth
in their concessioncontracts,it was reported.
May 29: The White House announced that Prime
Minister Bakkuishhad accepted an invitation to
visit Washington on September25 and 26.
June 4: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
announcedthat businessesoperatingin Libyamust
obtain work permits for their foreign employees
and must state in the application the employees'
professionsand placesof work.
June 11: Bakkiish said that while the government
would stand by its commitments to the Arab
world, Libya could not be regarded an as un-
limited source of aid by Arab countriesand that
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
the country needed all its money for its own
development.
June 13: A contractfor the constructionof a sulfur
recovery plant at Port Burayqah terminal was
awardedto Ralph M. ParsonsCo. Ltd. (UK), it
was announced.
June 29: Bakkush ended a 3 day official visit to
Spain with a joint communique saying that "it
was agreed to open negotiationsas soon as pos-
sible to conclude an agreement to expand eco-
nomic and technicalcooperation."
July 3: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri ended a day's
visit.
July 9: Minister of Petroleum Affairs Khalifah
Miusa received US Director of North African
Affairs of the State DepartmentJohn Root.
July 20: Businessmenfrom the Benghaziand Tripoli
Chambersof Commerceended a 5 day visit to
Britain.
July 28: The financialand operatingagreementsbe-
tween the Libyan General PetroleumCorporation
and the French group, ERAP-SNPAwere signed.
July 30: AP reported that Occidental Petroleum
made a strike which tested at between 10,000 and
15,000 b/d.
July 31: A law to encourage foreign investment
was promulgated which included benefits and
exemptions from certain duties and taxes for
foreign investment projects.
Morocco
(See also General)
1968
June 7: Libyan Prime Minister Bakkiish, accom-
panied by a ministerialdelegation,ended a 4 day
state visit for talks cn increasing bilateral ties,
including an offer of indirectaid to the Moroccan
5 year plan, and developingMaghribcooperation.
June 13: France announced a ban on the import
of Moroccanfruits and vegetables to protect its
own market.
June 17: A Cabinet reshuffle was announced in
which Haddou Chiguer was given a new port-
folio of Primary Education, being replaced as
Defense Ministerby MohammedMezziane.Qasim
Z'hiri was given the new ministry of Secondary
and Technical Educationand Abdul Latif Filali
the new ministry of Higher Education.
June 22: West Germanyagreed to give the country
up to 10m of credits for use in the 5 year plan.
June 25: The Shi.h of Iran ended a 4 day private
visit.
Jane 28: Rumania signed an economic cooperation
agreement.
June 29: A US loan of $13m for the purchaseof
agriculturalequipment and projects and for pub-
lic works was signed.
 CHRONOLOGY 487
July 6: Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade Patolichev firm under which EastPakistanwould get material
ended a week's visit after signing a long term worth over Rs 35m for the laying of 256 miles of
trade agreement providing for an exchange of transmission lines.
goods worth $40m a year. June 6: Husain told the National Assemblythat the
July 10: MohammedEl Fassi was named Minister country was no longer taking any part in the
of Culture. military activitiesof CENTO but that the country
July 30: The National Union of MoroccanStudents, still found the economicand culturalactivitiesof
at its 12th congress, called for an end to the 3 some benefit.
year state of emergencyand for the election of a June 8: Finance Minister Uqaili announced the
constituent assembly to write a new constitution 1968/69 budget with receipts estimated at Rs
"basedon the people's sovereignty." 5,396.7m and expendituresat Rs 5,456.5m. The
Aug. 1: A 3 man delegation, led by Secretary deficit would be covered by adjustmentsin exist-
General of the Finance Ministry Karim Lazrak ing taxation.
arrivedin Paris for talks on Frenchaid. June 9: Uqaili said that 55% of the development
The UN Development Programmeagreed to programwould be financedthrough the country's
contribute $729,000 for the development of intemal resources.
agriculturaland water resources. June 24: Defense MinisterRahmanKhan announced
Aug. 6: Morocco and France issued a joint com- an ordinancefactory is being built in East Paki-
munique saying that France would finance con- stan with Communist Chinese help.
structionof a sugar refineryat Sidi Bennour. June 28: Husain, in reviewing Pakistan's foreign
Aug. 13: King Hasan announced a Cabinet re- policy, said that the countrywill never accept the
shuffle in which Farouk Ben Brahim replaced ceasefire line in Kashmir as an international
Moulay Ahmed Alaoui as Minister of Commerce, boundary.
Industry and Mines. Alaoui replaced Thami July 9: It was reportedin India that the USSR had
Ouzzani as Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts agreed to sell arms to the country.
and Ouzzani becameMinister for the Royal Cab- July 11: The World Bank and the International
inet. Finance Corporationsigned agreementsproviding
Aug. 15: Algeria signed an agreement to triple up to $36m to help financea urea fertilizerplant.
mutual trade up to about ?12.5m for both coun- July 13: IDA and Sweden agreed to provide $lOm
tries annually. and $5m respectivelyin credits to help finance
the AgriculturalDevelopmentBank'slending pro-
gram.
Pakistan July 18: AgricultureMinister ShamsudDoha began
an 8 day official visit to the USSR.
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Iran, Iraq, July 21: Yugoslaviaagreedto provide a $50m credit
Jordan,Kuwayt,Lebanon) to finance plants, equipment and commoditiesas
may be agreed upon.
1968 July 22: President Ayub arrived in London for a
visit.
May 16: The US signed a new Food for Freedom July 23: The USSR agreed to grant a $66m credit
Agreementcalling for the delivery over the next for the purchaseof capitalgoods.
year of 400,000 tons of wheat and wheat flour July 27: CommunistChina agreedto financea $29m
worth $21.6m. foundry at Tazila and to provide technical as-
May 19: The USSR agreedto preparewithin a year sistance for the project, it was reported.
a project report of the $28m electrical complex July 30: Minister of Agriculture Doha arrived in
to be set up near Rawalpindi with Soviet as- Belgrad on a 6 day visit.
sistance. Aug. 7: SharifuddinPirzadawas appointedAttorney
May 20: Foreign Minister Husain announced that General.
notice had been given the US on April 6 to close Aug. 11: Foreign Minister Husain announced the
down the communicationsstation near Peshawar government's acceptance of Communist China's
when the 10 year agreement for it expires in offer to assist in controlling wide spread annual
1969. floods in East Pakistan.
May 23: The Aid-to-PakistanConsortiumaccepted Aug. 14: The countrycelebratedits 21st anniversary
the World Bank's assessmentthat Pakistancould of independence.
effectively use assistanceof $550m for the next
year on improved terms.
May 25: A Soviet naval detachmentbegan a 7 day
goodwill visit. PersianGulf
May 26: Two week talks with India over sharing
Ganges River water ended with no agreement. (See also Arab Israeli Conflict,General, Iran, Iraq,
June 4: An agreementwas signed with a Yugoslav Jordan,South Yemen, UAR, Yemen)

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
488 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL

1968 in the concessionof Aramco for the national oil

agency Petromin.
May 26: The rulers of Bahrayn, Qatar and the The Shah of Iran met with King Faysalduring
Trucial states ended a 3 day meeting in Abu a stopoverat Jiddah on the Shih's way to Addis
Dhabi with a communique saying the rulers Ababa.
would meet again on July 1. Minister of Defense and Aviation Sultan Ibn
June 28: Japan'sArabian Oil Company announced 'Abd al-'Azlz arrivedin Spain on an official visit
it would develop a deposit of fine quality oil in heading a 5 man military mission.
an offshorearea of the neutral zone. June 9: The Ministry of Finance and National
The meeting of the Gulf rulers, to be held Economyconsiderablyreducedcustomschargeson
July 1, was postponeduntil July 6, it was reported. a variety of goods to conform with the govern-
June 30: Le Monde reported that the Compagnie ment's policy of promoting a rise in the standard
Franfaisedes Petroles bought a 12?2% share in of living.
Muscat and Oman's offshore exploration conces- June 11: An unnamedSpanishcompanywas awarded
sion. an Rs llm constructioncontractfor government
July 7: The Gulf rulers ended a 2 day meeting in buildings and pilgrim accommodationsat Yanbu'
Abu Dhabi. The organization of amirates will Port.
include the Higher Council of the Gulf amirates, June 20: MuhammadIbrahimMahfzfiwas appointed
with Deputy Ruler of QatarKhalifah Ibn Hamad Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Al Thin! elected as its first chairman.The council June 22: The US Export Import Bank announcedit
will have a rotating chairmanand rotating meet- had granted a $12m loan to help costs of the
ing places and will have a federal council of fertilizerplant under constructionat Dammam.
notables. The budget adopted was for $140,000. June 28: A 3 man delegation headed by Deputy
July 8: Chairman of the Federation Hamad Al Governorof Petromin 'All Ridlaarrivedin India
Thani began an official5 day visit to London. for an 8 day visit.
July 15: Ruler of Sharjah Shaykh Khalid Ibn July 2: Crown Prince Khalid Ibn 'Abd al-'Azlizmet
Muhammadal-Qasimi arrived in London for an with US PresidentJohnson.
"extended visit" as the guest of the British July 5: Interior Minister Prince Fahd Ibn 'Abd al-
government. 'Azlz ended a week's visit to Somalia.
Chairman Hamad Al Thin! said his govern- July 29: Chairman of the Board of Directors of
ment would welcome foreign investment and NIOC ManuchehrEqbal, accompaniedby other
technical skills and announced incentives includ- Iranianoil officials,began an officialvisit.
ing a 2?2% limit on import duties, minimal tax The country agreed to establish diplomatic re-
on income and profits and absenceof restrictions lations with Kenya on the ambassadoriallevel.
on the removal of capital and profits. Aug. 4: PakistaniDefense Minister A. R. Khan be-
July 19: Shell acquireda 20% share in Muscatand gan an 8 day officialvisit.
Oman's offshore exploration concession, it was Aug. 5: The Central Planning Authority concluded
reported. a $1.025 contractwith StanfordResearchCenter
Aug. 2: Bahraynintroducedan indirect tax on gas in which the Center will assist the Authority in
to help financethe country's5 year road improve- economic and social developmentplanning.
ment and constructionprogram. Aug. 7: An Egyptian trade delegation arrived for
Aug. 5: The British firm Costain Civil Engineering talks on wider trade and economic cooperation.
won a ?500,000 contractto build a water pipe-
line and distributionsystem in Muscatand Oman.
Aug. 14: Ruler of SharjahShaykh Muhammadal-
Qasimi began a 4 day private visit to Holland. SouthYemen
(See also Algeria, Iraq, Sudan,UAR, Yemen)
SaudiArabia 1968
(See also Arab IsraeliConflict,General,Iran,Jordan,
South Yemen, UAR, Yemen) May 16: President Sha'bi announced that govern-
ment securityforces had crusheda May 13 rebel-
1968 lion in Ji'ar, Abyan and Shuqrah.Tribesmenwho
had been "temporarilyduped"were reportedlyre-
May 16: Jiddah Radio reportedthat 'Umaral-Saqqaf turning to their homes.
had been appointedMinister of State for Foreign May 26: A UN Development Programmemission
Affairson April 1. headed by MohammedSarfrazarrivedto examine
May 26: Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs the Republic's economy and make short term
'Abd al-Karim Hini ended a 6 day visit. emergency plans.
June 3: Speakingat AUB, Oil MinisterAhmadZaki June 7: The British Foreign Office announcedthat
said that SaudiArabiawas activelyseeking a share compensation for the Btits dismissed from

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 CHRONOLOGY
South Yemen's armed forces would be deducted
from its ?12m post-independenceaid to the
Republic.
June 11: Finance Minister 'Ashish said that the
governmentwould not agree to the Britishgovern-
ment paying compensation to the dismissed
British personnel from the ?12m promisedunder
the November agreement.
Reportsreceivedin Beirut said that the govern-
ment had put down a "leftist insurrection"in the
5th governorate and former Defense Minister
'Ali Salim al-Bayd was reportedlyarrested.
June 12: President Sha'bi announced a new "in-
terim" tax between 5 and 47 2% on wages and
salariesfrom Ds 25 upwards.Foreignersworking
in the private sector were exempt.
June 25: Three Soviet warshipsarrivedfor a 3 day
officialvisit.
June 27: An Egyptian economic adviser, 'Abd al-
Razzaq Hlasan,arrivedto help plan the country's
economic development.
New governorswere appointedfor 4 governor-
ates as follows:
Nuir al-Din Qisim Salah: 1st governorate
MuhammadSa'id Yifi'i: 2nd governorate
Ahmad MuhammadIbn 'Arab: 3rd governorate
Mansur Sayf: 4th governorate
June 28: The government reported that dissident
tribesmensupportedby Saudi Arabiahad revolted
in the 2nd and 4th governorateson June 23,
took Sayyid and cut the road linking Aden with
Dili'. The government was reportedly clearing
out the rebels.
July 3: The Jordaniangovernment announcedthat
9 scholarshipshad been alloted to the Republic.
July 14: An economicdelegation,led by Ministerof
AgricultureAbmad Salih al-Sha'ir,ended a visit
to West Germany where a DM 10m loan was
agreedon for technicaltrainingfor SouthYemenis
in West Germany.
PresidentSha'bi ended 2 weeks of officialvisits
to the UAR, Iraq and Algeria and said he was very
happy with the aid promised the country and
announced a ?4m development loan and a
?250,000 loan for the provision of foodstuffs
from Yugoslavia.
July 15: An economicdelegationled by Minister of
Agriculture Shi'ir arrived in Poland to discuss
possible aid.
July 30: Secretaryof the National LiberationFront
Faysal 'Abd al-Latif al-Sha'bi, addressinga mass
rally, said the government declared a general
mobilization of the armed forces, in the face of
determinedthreatsby the "enemiesof the regime"
supportedby Saudi Arabia and "imperialism."
July 31: FLOSY said that the government forces
had lost 100 men and that 3 government army
units had joined FLOSY fighters in the Sayyid
area. Further,the statementsaid that the SubaybT,
Yifi'i and Fadli areas had expressedsupport for
resistancein Radfan and 'Awlaqi.
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
489
Aug. 1: A money transfertax of 1% on any personal
transfersfrom the country was imposed.
The country'sAmbassadorto Egypt Muhammad
Hadi 'Iwad said that all rebels in the Sayyidarea
were under seige by government forces and he
accusedFLOSY,the South ArabianLeague (SAL)
and the US intelligence services of being behind
the mutiny.
Aug. 2: Commander of the Republic's Security
Forces 'Abdallah Salih Sab'ah, accompanied by
200 men, reportedlyfled to Yemen saying he re-
fused to fight against the rebels trying to over-
throw PresidentSha'bL.
Aug. 3: Foreign Minister Sayf Ahmad al-Dali'l an-
nounced the expulsion of former ruler of FadIl
'Abdallahal-Fadliand brotherof the Minister of
Internal SecurityIHusaynal-'Awadhil.
SecretaryGeneral of FLOSY, Maq!wi denied
there was a split within the Front and said it had
completecontrolover Shi'b,Hawshabiand Wah.idi.
Aug. 4: The governmentclaimed a victory and the
routing of rebel tribesmenin the 4th governorate,
with 81 rebels killed, 40 wounded and 45 taken
prisoner.
Aug. 6: A delegation led by AgricultureMinister
Sha'ir ended visits to West Germany, Bulgaria,
Rumania and North Korea. Sha'ir announced
North Korea would build 4 factories and 12
mobile work shops and would develop 2500 acres
of arable land. Rumania agreed to help explore
the country for minerals.
A trade delegation led by 'Abd al-Malik
Ismi`ll ended a visit to the UAR, Algeria, Yugo-
slavia and Spain.
Aug. 9: The Ministry of Culture, Guidance and
Yemen Unity Affairs announcedthat government
forceshad takenthe city of Sayyid,with 109 rebels
killed and 68 captured.
Aug. 1.0: South Yemen Radio announcedthat their
government troops had cleared out all Yemeni
Royalist forces from the town and fort of Harib
in Yemen.
Aug. 14: SAL denied governmentreportsthat Sayyid
had been capturedand said that fighting was con-
tinuing "on roads and paths leading to the town
and not near it."
Sudan
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, Ethiopia, General,
Lebanon,UAR)
1968
May 18: Minister of FinanceSharif al-Hindi signed
an agreement making Sudan a member of the
Arab common market.
May 20: South Yemen Minister of Economy 'Abd
al-Malik Isma'il arrived for a 5 day official visit
for talks on developing mutual trade.
490 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
May 23: Uganda Defense Minister Onama charged
that Sudanesetroops on May 14 had crossed the
borderinto the village of Dufile and burnedhouses
and killed a womanand, on May 18, exchangedfire
with the Uganda army and police 5 miles inside
the Uganda border.
May 26: Prime Minister Mahjub tenderedthe resig-
nation of his government to enable the new
constituentassemblyto elect a new Prime Minister.
May 27: The constituentassemblyre-electedMahjub
as PrimeMinisterand al-Azharias President.
May 29: It was announced that Niger President
Diori will visit for 6 days, beginning June 20.
June 2: Mahjiubformed a Cabinetas follows:
MuhammadAhmad Mahjub: Premierand De-
fense
'Ali 'Abd al-Rahman: Deputy Premier and
Foreign Affairs
Hasan 'Iwadallah:Interior
Yahya al-Fadll: Education
Sid Ahmad 'Abd al-Hadi: Commerce
'Abd al-Hamid Salih: Health
Kamal 'Abdallah al-Mahdi: Animal Resources
MirghaniZaki al-Din: Agriculture
MuhammadDawud al-Khallfah:Local Govern-
ment
Clement Moore: Industry
Hilary Paulo Logali: Labor and Cooperation
'Abd al-MajidAbu Hasabui:Information
IbrThimal-Mufti: irrigation
Rashid al-Tahir: Works
Sharif Husayn al-Hindi: Finance and Eco-
nomics
Ah.madal-SayyidHamad: Communicationsand
Tourism
June 10: In a policy statementDeputy Prime Minis-
ter Rahman said the most importanttask of the
assemblywas to approvea permanentconstitution.
Further,the governmentwould seek to extend the
working of democracythrough administrativere-
forms and try to maintain the country'sunity.
June 12: The World Bank approvedan IDA credit
of $8.5m to finance over half the cost of educa-
tional projects.
June 16: A delegation headed by Yemeni Prime
Minister 'Amri arrived on a 3 day visit.
June 21: The assembly approved the government's
program on foreign policy.
The Netherlands signed a technical and eco-
nomic agreementexpected to promote the invest-
ment of Dutch capital as well as the exchangeof
experts and technicians,it was reported.
Communist China signed a trade agreement
to increase the volume of trade, with China ex-
porting mainly textiles, steel products,medicines,
tea and stationery in return for cotton and oil
bearing products,it was reported.
June 22: PresidentAzhari received a message from
Uganda PresidentObote expressingthe hope that
the bordersituation could be solved through dip- June 6: Iraqi Acting ForeignMinister Isma'll Khay-
lomatic channels.
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
June 28: Niger PresidentDiori ended a week's visit
for talks with PresidentAzhari.
June 29: The governmentprotestedto Uganda over
alleged over-flights"severaltimes" the past week.
June 30: President Azhari began a 5 day visit to
Somaliato celebrateSomalia'snationalday and to
have talkswith governmentleaders.
July 8: The Soviet Ambassadorconfirmedthe de-
partureof the first military group for training in
the USSR and said he hoped to see Soviet arms
in the militaryparademarkingthe Octoberrevolu-
tion. He also announced that a Soviet military-
technical delegation was expected within the
month.
July 11: India signed a trade and paymentsagree-
ment, increasingmutual tradeup to ?37m for the
year.
July 18: Tanzanian President Nyerere reportedly
ordered the expulsion of 4 Sudanese separatist
leadersfor allegedly using Tanzaniaas a base for
political agitation.
July 23: The SANU issued a statementaccusingthe
governmentof mass killings of Africans in south
Sudan.
Aug. 5: Finance Minister Hindi announceda ?5m
British loan for improving the country'srailway
service.
Aug. 10: The government information service re-
ported that a number of Swiss companies had
offereda loan of possiblyup to ?55m for the con-
structionof an airportin Khartum.
SyrianArab Republic
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, Algeria, General,
Israel, Lebanon)
1968
May 16: Foreign Minister Makhus ended a day's
visit to Algeria.
May 22: Three opposition parties, the Arab Na-
tionalist Movement, the Syrian Arab Socialist
Union and the Arab Socialist Party, banned to-
gether and issued a statementaccusingthe regime
of having providedIsraelwith the excuse to wage
an attackon the Arab states in June 1967 and of
having surrenderedthe Jawlin Heights to Israel.
May 23: The countryagreed to the passageof Iraqi
petroleum products by Turkish railways, it was
reported.
Foreign Minister Makhuisended a week's visit
to Italy for talks with Foreign Minister Fanfani.
May 27: The UAR Suez Canal Authority signed a
$1.163m contractto deepen Tartus Port to 37.3
feet.
rallah arrivedin Damascusfor a day's visit.
 CHRONOLOGY
June 11: Rumania signed a $25m economic and
technical agreement under which Rumania will
give aid for the purchaseof equipment and will
finance some Syrian developmentplans.
June 13: Syria's General Petroleum Organization
(GPO) and the Algerian concern SONATRACH
issued a joint statementsaying that SONATRACH
would carry out geophysicalsurveys in Syria and
help market Syrian oil abroadon behalf of GPO.
June 15: A delegation of the ProgressiveParty of
the Working People of Cyprusended a 5 day visit.
June 16: An Algerian FLN youth delegation ended
a visit.
June 21: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri ended a 2
day visit.
July 13: Yemen contributedYRs 100,000 to the
Syrian war effort, it was announced.
July 14: Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade
Zuhayral-Khanisaid agreementhad been reached
in principle to export lm tons of crude to the
Italian oil firms AGIP and ELF who will pay
half the price in cash and half in Italian goods.
July 27: Prime Minister Zu'ayyin charged that
Lebanonwas harboringSyrianswho were plotting
against the Ba'th party regime.
July 28: The Ministryof Communicationsannounced
it would buy about 10,000 tons of asphalt from
IPC'srefineryin Tripoli and 3,000 tons from Iraq
for road constructionin Syria.
Jaly 29: A decreewas issuedproclaimingthe forma-
tion of a Higher State Security Court "to try
conspirators against the state and saboteurs
against the revolution . . . be they in custodyor
at large."
July 30: New duties were imposed on Lebanese
goods and trucks traveling through or to Syria.
Duties on trucksentering the countrywere about
$25. A 2% duty on the value of goods going to
or from Jordan, Iraq, Kuwayt and the Gulf was
imposed as was a 5 % duty for goods going to
other countries.Industrialgoods of Lebaneseorigin
also would pay a 5% duty.
Aug. 4: The Civil Defense Directorate General
ordereda partialblackoutin Damascusevery night
and a complete blackout during mock and real
air raids.
Aug. 8: Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade
Khini announcedoil barterdeals with the Italian
firm Fiat for 527 heavy lorries valued at $5.5m
for $lOm of crude and with Austria for refined
products in return for crude worth double the
goods imported.
Aug. 11: A Jordanianeconomic delegation led by
Minister of Economy Zu'bi ended talks with a
joint communique saying that Syria would pro-
vide help to Jordanianimportsand exports travel-
ing through Syria, that Syria would help Jordan
in the marketingof Jordanianphosphatesand that
all aid going to refugees in Jordan would be ex-
empt from Syrianduties and taxes.
Aug. 13: A Soviet trade delegation arrived for
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
491
talks with officials on extending trade and pay-
ments agreements.
Tunis'ia
(See also General, Turkey, UAR)
1968
May 16: PresidentBourguibaended 2 day talks in
Washington with US PresidentJohnson after is-
suing a joint communique in which Bourguiba
reaffirmedhis support of the Americanpolicy in
Vietnam.
May 21: Bourguibaended a week's visit to the US.
May 30: West Germany announced it would give
the countrya new long term loan of ?4m to be
used in Tunisia's developmentplan.
June 4: Government officials announced that Col.
Zbiri, alleged leader of the abortive December
rebellion in Algeria, had been granted asylum in
the country.
June 11: Libyan Prime Minister Bakkuish,accom-
panied by Foreign Minister Qadhdhafi,Minister
of Economy Najm and Minister of Planning
'Atiqah ended a 4 day visit for talks on increas-
ing bilateralties, developingMaghribcooperation
and discussionof the Middle East.
June 12: The official news agency TAP reported
that Zbiri had left the country.
June 18: The US signed a SlOm loan to help finance
imports of industrial machinery and agricultural
equipmentfrom the US.
June 24: Foreign Minister Bourguiba Jr. ended a
3 week tour of South Americancountries.
July 1: Minister of Planning and EconomyAhmed
Ben Saleh took over the portfolio of Education
and combinedit with his portfolio.
July 2: The National Assembly unanimouslypassed
a bill setting up a state security court to judge
offenses against state security.
July 3: PresidentBourguibaarrivedin Bulgaria for
a 6 day state visit.
July 4: India signed a tradeagreementgiving Tunisia
$lm of credit.
July 10: Bourguibaarrivedin Rumaniafor a 6 day
state visit.
July 24: The Istanbul daily Yeni Gazette quoted
Bourguibaas saying that "the Arabs alreadyhad
ten differentunions but since Abdel Nasser con-
siders himself president of the Arab world and
not just the United Arab Republic, Arab aspira-
tions towards unity are not advancing-on the
contrarythey are receding."
Aug. 2: The African Development Bank granted a
$2.75m loan to financeirrigationof 5,781 hectares
in the lower MijardahValley.
Aug. 15: Libya signed an agreementto coordinate
the countries' petrochemical plans, including
specializationin the manufactureof petrochemicals
between the 2 countries.
492 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Turkey
(See also Cyprus,General, Iran, Jordan)
1968
May 24: The US AID lent Turkey $14.2m for the
extension of the Eregli iron and steel mill, it was
reported.
June 2: Seven people were reportedlykilled and 20
injured during local elections.
Official election results were announced. The
Justice Party won 38 of the 53 Senate seats in
the third series of elections.The Republicanswon
13, the National Party 1 and the Trust Party, 1.
June 6: Presidentof the TurkishCypriotCommunal
Chamber Rauf Denktas arrived in Ankara for
talks with governmentleaders.
June 10: Studentsat the Universityof Ankaraseized
the School of Languages,History and Geography,
asking for the resignationof the dean and reforms
in the educationalsystem.
June 11: Law students at the University of Ankara
joined students demonstratingand demandedre-
forms in examination regulations and asked for
the freezingof certainfees.
June 14: The US turned over to the government
site 23, a $15m communicationscenter south of
Ankara.
June 18: Governmentofficialsannouncedthey would
receive the design for the $30m bridge acrossthe
Bosphorus by late September.One third of the
cost is to be raisedin Turkey.
June 22: Minister of Power and Natural Resources
Refet Sexgin said the government'soil policy was
to make the country largely self sufficientin oil,
to refine the oil produced in Turkey at Turkish
refineriesand, if possible, to raise oil production
to export levels.
July 7: Pakistan Foreign Minister Husain ended a
6 day official visit with a joint communique in
which Turkey reiteratedits hope that the Jammu
and Kashmir dispute would soon be solved in
accordancewith UN resolutions.
July 9: President of the World Bank McNamara
ended a visit saying that the Bank would increase
Turkey'scredit.
July 13: Foreign Minister Caglayangil ended a 5
day visit to the USSR for talks on possible aid for
Turkishindustrialprojects.
July 15: Tunisian PresidentBourguibaarrivedfor a
10 day unofficialvisit.
July 16: The Ministry of Finance announced that
Turkey had arrangedfor $156m credits for her
1968 importprogramfrom the OECD.
July 20: Students began demonstrationsagainst a
visit by the US 6th fleet.
July 24: The Ministry of Energy and Natural Re-
sources said that oil had been struck at Siverek
which tested at 112 barrelsa minute.
Aug. 2: A trade delegation arrived in Belgrade to
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
discussindustrialcooperationand advancementof
trade.
Aug. 12: Britainagreedto loan $1rmfor the purchase
of British goods and servicesneeded for the coun-
try's economic developmentprogram.
Aug. 14: The UN FAO signed 2 agreementsto give
over $1.5m in food aid to the country.
Kuwayti Trade and Industry Minister Shaykh
'Abdallahal-Jabirarrived for talks on increasing
mutual trade.
Aug. 15: LibyanKing Idris arrivedfor a 10 day un-
officialvisit.
United ArabRepublic
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, Algeria, General,
Jordan,SaudiArabia,South Yemen, Syria,Tunisia)
1968
May 19: Al-Ahr'm reported that UAR authorities
were consideringthe possibility of manufacturing
locally pipe required for the projected Suez-
Mediterraneanpipeline.
May21: The Middle EastNews Agencyreportedthat
the US companyPanamericanOil had struckoil in
the Fayyuimdesert.
The 50 man committeeformed to overhaulthe
ASU (Arab SocialistUnion), in its first meeting,
decidedto permit all membersof the partyto vote
in elections for the party'sreorganization.
May 23: The governmentannouncedit would hold
electionson June 25 to reorganizethe ASU.
May 25: Al-Ahr'm reportedthat diplomaticrelations
with Tunisiawould remainat the charge'd'afaires
level.
June 2: It was reportedin Lebanon that President
Nisir and the ExecutiveCommitteeof the ASU
purged the party of 26 members,including 7 who
were reportedlyinvolved in the abortive plot led
by the late Field Marshal'Amir, becausethey had
"departedfrom the principlesof the Arab Socialist
Union, deviatedfrom the principlesof the National
Charter"and "failed to carryout party decisions."
Included in the purge was former directorof the
Voice of Arab radio Ahmad Sa'id.
June 6: The Ivory Coast signed a commercialagree-
ment providing for $8m of mutual trade begin-
ning in 1969. Under the agreement,the country's
marketwould be open to Egyptianmanufactured
and handicraftgoods and the Ivory Coast would
export coffee,cocao, bananasand other produceto
the UAR.
June 8: Iraqi Foreign Minister Isma'll Khayrallih
arrivedin Cairo for a day'svisit.
June 9: The government signed a feasibility study
contractwith a British firm InternationalManage-
ment and Engineering Group for the projected
pipeline from the Gulf of Suez to the Mediter-
ranean.
 CHRONOLOGY
June 10: The retrial in the SupremeMilitary Tri-
bunal of the 4 commandersof the Air Force for
dereliction of duty in the June war began.
Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri, accompaniedby
a ministerialdelegationincludingForeignMinister
Makki,arrivedfor a 3 day visit.
June 11: Chairmanof Egypt's National Bank Mu-
hammadAbu Shadi said that British, French and
Swiss banks had agreed to extend credit facilities
to Egypt to boost trade exchangesand strengthen
banking relations.
June 13: Al-Ahrnimreportedthat Iran and the UAR
would restorediplomaticrelations.
June 15: Congo (Kinshasa) signed an agreement
to increasemutual trade.
June 21: Al-Ahrnimreportedthat the chargesmade
during the June war of US "collusion" with
Israel were merely attemptsby the Egyptianmili-
tary commanders"to find excuses for themselves"
and there was "no sign" that the US had aided
Israel.
June 22: Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade
Hasan 'AbbasZakliannouncedthat Egypt had re-
paid about E?E210min foreign debts in the last
year.
June 24: The World Food Programmesigned an
agreement providing for the supply of $7.33m
worth of foodstuffsfor 30,000 workerson a new
irrigationprojectin upper Egypt.
June 25: Electionswere held to choose 75,840 local
committeemenfor the new structureof the ASU.
June 26: Yemeni Prime Minister 'Amri arrivedfor
a 2 day visit.
India signed a 1968/69 trade agreementpro-
viding for mutualtradeexchangesup to Rs 640m.
July 2: South Yemeni President Sha'bi ended a 5
day visit for talks with government officials on
possible economic aid.
Reports published in London said that a con-
spiracyto assassinatePresidentNisir was thwarted
in June. Reportedly 35 people, including army
and police officers,were arrested.
July 4: About 200 officersin the military,including
35 majorgeneralsand 33 colonels were pensioned
off, it was reported.
Details of the 1968/69 budgetwere announced.
The budget imposedan unspecifiedincreasein the
national security tax on wages and provided for
an increasein the price for certaingoods to make
up for a E?150m deficit. Of the budget of
E?2,000m, E?312m was allocated for investment
and E?127.5m for an emergencyfund for defense.
The figure for armed forces allocationwas not re-
leased but reportedly is the largest in Egypt's
history.
CommunistChina signed a ?30m trade agree-
ment underwhich the UAR will supplyrawcotton,
rice, textile and chemical productsand diesel oil
in returnfor tea, coffee,cannedmeat,timber,metal,
machineryand spare parts.
July 5: Deputy Governor of the Egyptian Central
This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
493
Bank Mahmiud Sidq1 Murad said that Saudi
Arabiahad agreed to set up a joint bank with the
UAR to financemutualtrade.
July 9: World Bank PresidentMcNamarabegan a 5
day officialvisit for discussionson helping Egypt
finance agriculturaland developmentprojects.
July 10: Nasir ended a week's visit to the USSR
with a joint communiquein which the 2 countries
agreedon "furtherjoint steps"in the conflictwith
Israel and endorsedthe November SecurityCoun-
cil resolution.
July 12: Nisir ended a 2 day official visit to
Yugoslavia.
Editor of al-AhramHaykal said that the USSR
did not want to rush a "hot confrontationwith the
United States"and said "the final judgment re-
mains the question of Arab ability and will to
struggle."Further,Nasir had told Russianleaders
there could be "no negotiations,no peace treaty,
no recognition of Israel and no ceding of Arab
territoriesto Israel"and that the Sovietssupported
this position.
July 14: Voting took place to elect 1,648 people to
form nationalcongressesof the ASU.
July 16: A Sudanesemilitary delegation arrivedfor
a "short"visit.
July 18: FormerUS delegateto the UN CharlesYost
ended a 4 day visit for talks with officialson the
Middle East.
July 23: Nasir was unanimouslyelected presidentof
the ASU.
Nasir, addressingthe 1st congressof the ASU
urged the Arab world not to "be provoked"pre-
maturelyinto another war with Israel saying "we
must have patiencein orderto score victoryin the
end."
July 24: Jordanian Foreign Minister Rifa'l ended
a 5 day visit for talks on the Middle East situation.
TanzanianMinisterof Statefor ExternalAffairs
Chedici Mgonja arrivedfor a day's visit for talks
with ForeignMinisterRiyadon the recentmeeting
of the Organizationof AfricanUnity.
July 26: Nasir arrived in the USSR for medical
treatment.
Aug. 2: Al-Ahiramreportedthat Nasir was respond-
ing well to Sovietmedicaltreatment.
Aug. 3: Minister of Health Muhammadal-Nabawi
al-Muhandisdied at the age of 53.
Aug. 14: Mali PresidentMedibo Keita arrivedfor a
brief visit.
Aug. 15: Minister of Tourism MuhammadHifiz
Ghanim was given the Health portfolio.
Yemen
(See also Algeria, Iraq, Kuwayt, Lebanon, Libya,
South Yemen, Sudan, Syria,UAR)
1968
494 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL

May 21: Reports reaching Beirut said that the 2 July 5: San'i' Radio reportedthat Iryani had agreed,
factionsof the Royalistgroup had been reconciled. on July 4, to retain the presidencyuntil a new
Reportedly, Prince Muhammad Ibn Husayn de- presidentcould be appointed.
cided to form a new 6 man ImamateCouncilwith July 14: San't' Radio reportedthat Muhammad'Abd
himself as it head, replacingMuhammadal-Badr. al-Wasi' Hamshid al-Asbahliwas named Yemen
May 23: Ambassadorto Iraq 'Abd al-Rahipin al- Unity Ministerreplacing'Abduh'Uthmanwho was
Baydani said he had received reports that Prince appointedMinister to Ethiopia.
Muhammad Ibn Husayn was ambushed in an July 24: Santi'Radio reportedthat a 3 day conference
attack on May 21 by Yemeni forces in south east of tribal leadersat Abs ended on June 23 with a
Yemen which killed "a large number of foreign decision to raise a 10,000 man army from tribes-
mercenariesand bandits."The fate of the prince men to ward off threats from followers of Mu-
was unknown. hammadal-Badr.
June 1: The Chairmanof the ImamateCouncilissued July 31: The TreasuryMinistryannouncedthat coins
a decree forming a new Cabinet.Prime Minister issuedunder the pre-revolutiongovernmentwould
of the Cabinet Yahyi was reportedlyrelieved of cease to be legal tenderAugust 1 and could be ex-
the premiership"for health reasons." changedthroughthe Yemen BankbetweenAugust
June 6: The KFAEDannouncedits agreementto loan 1 and September16.
KDs 190,000 to finance the Wadi Zabid project. Aug. 3: A SouthYemen ministerialdelegationended
June 18: Presidentof the RepublicanCouncil Iryani a week's visit with a communiquesaying that the
announced he would not accept renominationto 2 countries had agreed to coordinate industrial
the presidency. policy and would set up a coordinationbureau
June 22: PrimeMinister'Amritold a pressconference affiliatedwith their ministries of Yemen Unity.
in Beirut that Yemen was ready to meet with Further, the countries would not allow their
Saudi Arabia to settle their differencesand called territoryto become a springboardfor opposition
on Arab leaders to make efforts to improve rela- againstthe other country.
lions between the 2 countries.

ARAB REPORT AND RECORD

issuedtwice monthly,is a conciseyet comprehensive
surveyof events in the Arab world from the Atlantic
to the Gulf. Startedin January1966, it is
fast becomingan indispensablerecordfor officials,
businessmenand researchworkers.
The annualsubscriptionof ?30 (or $72) covers
twenty-fourissues,index,binderand airmailpostage
to any partof the world.These are no extras.
For currentissue and furtherdetailswrite to:
ARAB REPORT AND RECORD
84 CHANCERY LANE, LONDON, W.C.2., U.K.

This content downloaded from 128.40.212.111 on Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:17:03 AM

All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions