Algeria | Bahrain | Comoros | Djibouti | Egypt | Iraq| Jordan | Kuwait | Lebanon| Libya| Mauritania| Morocco | Oman| Palestine| Qatar| Saudi Arabia | Somalia | Sudan | Syria | Tunisia | UAE | Yemen
Algeria
Announcement of presidential election
15 September 2019: Speech by acting president Bensalah setting date for presidential election
Statement by President Bouteflika
11 March 2019, announcing he will not seek a fifth term
Letter from President Bouteflika
3 March 2019, offering reforms in response to street protests.
Text of constitution
As amended in 1996 (in English)
Constitutional amendment
2002 (in French). The amendment recognises Tamazight (Berber) as "equally a national language".
Text of constitution
1989 (in French)
Constitutional amendment
1988 (in French)
Text of constitution
1976 (in French)
Text of constitution
1963 (in French)
Declaration of Tripoli Congress
June 1962 (in French)
Charter of Algiers
April 1964 (in French)
Speech by Charles de Gaulle
Constantine, Algeria, 3 Oct 1958
Declaration of the Soummam Congress
1956 (in French)
Proclamation of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN)
1 Nov 1954 (Historical Text Archive).
US policy towards Algeria
Statement by Robert H. Pelletreau, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, 1996.
Bahrain
Text of constitution (2002)
Previous constitution (1973)
Comoros
Constitution
2001, with amendments through 2009
Djibouti
Egypt
Text of constitution(2014)
Speech by President Morsi
UN General Assembly, 26 September 2012
Speech by President Morsi
In Tahrir Square, Cairo, 24 June 2012, following his confirmation as president of Egypt.
Tahrir documents
A collection of documents from the 2011 revolution, translated into English
President Mubarak on Arab reform
March, 2004
President Hosni Mubarak- speech to the Arab League, October 200
Camp David documents (1978)
Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel
26 March, 1979
Accompanying Letters to the Treaty of Peace Between Egypt and Israel
26 March, 1979
Speech by Anwar Sadat to the Israeli Knesset
20 November, 1977
Speech by President Nasser to the National Assembly
29 May 1967 (mideastweb.org)
Agreement between Sudan and Egypt on the Full Utilization of the Waters of the Nile
Cairo, 8 November 1959
Egyptian-Israeli General Armistice Agreement
Rhodes, Greece, 24 February, 1949
Constantinople Convention of the Suez Canal (1888)
Iraq
See separatepage
Jordan
Press and publications law, 1998
Full text
Towards democratic empowerment and 'active citizenship'
Discussion paper issued by King Abdullah, 2 June 2013
Each playing our part in a new democracy
Discussion paper issued by King Abdullah, 2 March 2013
Making our democratic system work for all Jordanians
Discussion paper issued by King Abdullah, 16 January 2013
Our journey to forge our path towards democracy
Discussion paper issued by King Abdullah, 30 December 2012
Speech by King Abdullah
At the opening of Parliament, 1 November, 1999, shortly after he became king
Other speeches by King Abdullah
Royal website
King Hussein: speeches and letters
1988-1999
Letter to Prince Hassan
The letter in which King Hussein transferred the succession from his brother to his son. 25 January 1999
Jordan-Israel peace treaty
Full text of the treaty between Jordan and Israel signed on 26 October 1994
Washington Declaration
Between Israel and Jordan. 25 July, 1994
Israel-Jordan Common Agenda
14 September, 1993
Kuwait
UN Security Council Resolution 1284
17 December 1999
UN Security Council Resolution 986
("oil for food" resolution)
Security Council Resolutionsrelating to compensation
Key Security Council resolutions(UN website)
Security Council resolution 1441
On the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq. See alsoearlier US draft.
Lebanon
See separatepage
Libya
See separatepage
Mauritania
Text of constitution (1991)
Morocco (and Western Sahara)
Draft constitution, 2011
Full text (in French); English translation here
Constitution, 1996
(English translation); alternative source
Constitution, 1996
(official French version)
Previous constitution
(1992 consolidated version, in English)
King Mohammed VI: first speech from the throne
BBC, 30 July, 1999
UN Security Council Resolution 1215
on Western Sahara, 17 December 1998
Moroccan king promises reform
9 March 2011 (Full text of speech)
Moroccan king promises new constitution
17 June 2011 (Full text of speech)
Morocco: historical documents
Documents are from Historical Text Archive except where indicated
Treaty of Peace between the United States and Morocco
Meknes, 1836
Moroccan pirates
Letter threatening reprisals by the French - 1855 (in French)
Limits of Melilla
Convention between Morocco and Spain - Tetuan, 1859
Loan to be raised in London
Convention between Britain and Morocco - Tangier, 1861
Commercial Treaty
Between Morocco and Spain - 1861
Proclamation
By the French consulate-general - Tangier, 1862
Cape Spartel Lighthouse
Convention between the United States, Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden and Norway and Morocco - 1867
One Day in Morocco
A traveller's account by Edmondo de Amicis, c1870 [Internet Modern History Sourcebook]
British Consular Jurisdiction in Morocco
British Order in Council - 1875
Protection in Morocco
Convention between the United States, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden and Norway and Morocco - 1880
Declaration between the United Kingdom and France
Regarding Egypt and Morocco, with the secret articles signed at the same time - London, 1904
Declaration between France and Spain
Regarding the integrity of Morocco - Paris, 1904
Algeciras Conference
1906 (in French)
Agreement between Germany and France
Regarding Morocco - 1909
Exchange of notes
Between France and Morocco - 1909
Morocco in 1830 - "Marocco from Observations in 1830" with inset map of "City of Marocco (Marraksh Blad Kibira)" [Marrakech] from the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Volume 1, 1832 to accompany "Geographical Notice of the Empire of Marocco. By Lieutenant Washington, R.N." [Texas University library]
Oman
Text of constitution (1996)
Palestine/Israel
See separatepage
Qatar
Text of constitution
Draft approved by referendum on 29 April 2003.
Emir's abdication speech
25 June 2013
Speech by the Emir
Regarding the constitutional referendum, delivered on 28 April 2003.
Saudi Arabia
Text of constitution ("Basic Law", 1993)
Vision 2030
The wide-ranging Saudi development plan announced in 2016. Full text.
Saudi-British 'strategic partnership', 2018
Text of a joint statement issued by the UK and Saudi Arabia on 9 March 2018, during a visit to Britain by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Speech by King Abdullah
25 September 2011, announcing that women would be allowed to take part in elections
Charter to Reform the Arab Stand
An initiative by Crown Prince Abdullah, published on 13 January 2003, for presentation to the next Arab summit.
National Reform Document
A document seeking reform which was mailed to Crown Prince Abdullah in January 2003. The prince later met signatories at his palace.
Speech by Crown Prince Abdullah
Arab summit, Beirut, 27-28 March, 2002
Saudi internet rules, 2001
What internet users are not allowed to do
Speech by Crown Prince Abdullah
Arab emergency summit, Cairo, 21-22 October, 2000
The Treaty of Jeddah
Between Saud Arabia and Yemen, 12 June, 2000
Maps: territorial claims in the Saudi-Yemeniborder area
(British-Yemeni Society Journal, July 2000)
Saudi-Yemeni Memorandum of Understanding
26 February 1995 (full text)
The Treaty of Ta'if
Between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, 29 May 1934 (full text)
Somalia
Transitional National Charter
Full text, 6 June 2000
Puntland: political declaration
"The positions of the people of Sool, southern and eastern Sanaag regions and Buhoodle district of Somalia" - 2003
Puntland: message from the president
4 June, 1999
Sudan
Text of constitution (2011)
Interim constitution (2005)
Text of constitution (1998)
Syria
Syria and chemical weapons
A compilation of official documents
Chemical weapons in Syria: statement by head of investigative team
6 July 2017
UN Security Council resolution 2235
7 August 2015, on chemical weapons
Draft Statement of Basic Principles
Opposition proposal for a political settlement, 9 February 2014
UN Security Council resolution 2118
17 September 2013. Full text
OPCW Executive Council Decision
On Syria's chemical weapons, September 2013. Full text
Geneva communique on Syria, 30 June 2012
Full text
UN Security Council resolution 2042
14 April 2012
UN Security Council statement on Syria
21 March 2012
Syrian constitution, 2012
Approved by referendum, 26 February 2012
Legislative Decree No. 54 Regulating Right to Peaceful Demonstration
21 April 2011
Interview with President Assad
Broadcast by the Syrian TV station, Addounia, on 29 August 2012.
Speech by Bashar al-Assad
Address delivered in Damascus opera house, 13 January 2013, as reported by the government news agency, SANA.
Speech by Bashar al-Assad
Address to the newly-elected Syrian parliament, 4 June 2012 Full text in English
Speech by Bashar al-Assad
Address at Damascus University, 20 June 2011. Full text in English
Speech by Bashar al-Assad
Address to the new Syrian government, 16 April 2011. Full text in English
Speech by Bashar al-Assad
Address to the Syrian parliament, 30 March 2011. Full text in English
Inaugural address
Speech by Bashar al-Assad on his inauguration as President of Syria
Interview with President Bashar
The president outlines his views on a wide range of issues. [Ash-Sharq al-Awsat, 8 February, 2001]
Security Council Resolution 242
22 Nov 1967
Security Council Resolution 338
22 Oct 1973
Syria and Lebanon
Security Council resolution 1636
31 October 2005. Adopted unanimously, the resolution demanded full Syrian cooperation with investigations into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Larsen report
Progress report by the special UN envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen, on implementation of Security Council resolution 1559. Published 25 October, 2005.
Draft Security Council resolution
Draft resolution circulation following publication of the Mehlis report, intended to apply further pressure on Syria. Later amended and approved as resolution 1636.
Assassination of Rafik Hariri
Full text of the Mehlis report, October 2005
Assassination of Rafik Hariri
Full text of the UN fact-finding mission's report, March 2005 ("The FitzGerald Report")
Security Council Resolution 1595
7 April 2005
Security Council Resolution 1559
2 September 2004
Damascus Agreement, 1985
Signed by Elie Hobeika, Walid Joumblatt and Nabih Berry in Damascus.
Tunisia
Text of constitution (2014)
Text of constitution(1959, as amended in 1998)
Speech by President Ben Ali
10 January 2011 (final speech before his resignation)
Speech by President Ben Ali
27 December 2010
Victory speech by President Ben Ali
26 October, 1999, after winning 99.44% of the vote
Manifesto of the Rassemblement Constitutionel Democratique
27 October, 1999 (in French)
The November 7 Declaration
Ben Ali's speech to parliament in 1987 after President Bourguiba was declared unfit to govern
United Arab Emirates
Text of constitution
(1971, with amendments through to 2004)
Text of constitution
(1996 version)
Yemen
See separate page
