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OPINION
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By
Alessandro Bruno
The End of the Bulgarian Medics Debacle:
A Franco-Libyan Victory of Sorts
On
the very day he was elected, last May 6, Sarkozy mentioned
the 'Bulgarian medics' affair' as one of his foreign policy
priorities. He showed a rather unusual interest in the
matter, considering there was no direct French connection,
other than that Bulgaria is a fellow EU member state.
Aside from the implications of the role played by Sarkozy's
wife, who flew to Tripoli twice, on July 12 and on July
23 (the second time accompanied by Ferreo-Waldner, EU
Commissioner). Read
the opinion here.
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| 199th.
issue - Week ended July 24, 2007
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Environmental
Affairs
North Africa's Water
Crisis: The Moroccan Case
Morocco, just like most parts of North Africa, is facing
another drought year. While the biggest victim is agriculture
with its negative impact on economic performance, households
are not likely to suffer from water shortages. This is because
the nation's 116 major water dams have been well planned
to supply enough drinking water for the population at this
stage... [read
here]
Banking
Libya Privatizes Sahara Bank, Sells 19% Stake to BNP Paribas
BNP
Paribas was selected this week as the strategic partner of
Sahara Bank by the Central Bank of Libya. The French banking
giant becomes the first foreign bank to develop full service
banking activities in Libya, in accordance with BNP Paribas'
strategy of becoming one of the top tier financial groups
in the Mediterranean Basin... [read
here]
Profile
Tunisia's
Domestic Airliner Tuninter Changes Name
The
small Tunisian airline carrier Tuninter, a subsidiary of state
carrier Tunisair, is re-branding itself and has changed its
name to Seven Air. The new name is meant to highlight the
company's coverage of the nation's seven airports. Operating
over the past 15 years, the company serviced some 6 million
passengers. Headed by Moncef Zouari, the company expanded
its fleet by taking possession on July 7, 2007 of a new 70-seat
ATR 72-500. Its growth strategy is focused on strengthening
its low-cost offering. [read
here]
Energy
and Mining
Active
Summer Season for the Petroleum Sector in Tunisia
While Pioneer Natural Resources Company announced on July
1st its fifth discovery on its operated Jenein Nord Block
(50% interest assuming ETAP participation) in Tunisia, Cooper
Energy confirmed that it has just completed its first international
operation in the North African country on schedule and without
incidents. Circle Oil, for its part, signed a farm-in contract
agreement with EXXOIL, the operator of the exploration program,
and Oil Field Services Company for the drilling of two onshore
wells in Tunisia. [read
here]
Energy
and Mining
KBR
to Build a $2.8 Billion LNG Plant in Algeria
Algerian oil company Sonatrach hired the American Kellogg
Brown and Root (KBR) to build a large capacity LNG processing
plant in Skikda, in the northeast of the country. KBR will
receive $2.81 billion for a plant that will handle 4.5 million
tons of LNG per year. Negotiations lasted a year and a half,
and have nearly collapsed after KBR asked for $3.145 billion
in an offer submitted in January 2007. [read
here]
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Environmental
Affairs: North Africa's Water Crisis: the Moroccan Case
Environmental
Affairs: North Africa's Water Crisis: A Brief Look at Morocco's
Dam System
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