Dear colleagues and friends:

  Between the pervious issue of this newsletter and this issue, our region have witnessed major events that affected each one of us in one way or another.  I wish that all the tragic events and the suffering would be over soon.  I hope that, by advancing our scientific work, we can decrease the suffering of our people and build a prosperous future for our Arab Nation.    One of the main decisions adopted by the Damascus meeting of AD/IAP was the establishment of the Arab School of Pathology.  The first session was held in Beirut last December, during which, the audience benefited from very interesting and useful classes in hematopathology.   A Special appreciation should be made to the efforts and help of professors K. Henri, and A. Wetherspoon from the British Division, and professors G. Zaatari and J. Abdelaal from our division.  We hope that the second session of the ASP, which is due to be held in Damascus by the end of 2003, will meet the same success.   Another major achievement of our Division was the annual meeting in Riyadh last year.  Our Saudi colleagues enriched meeting with seminars and lectures by many prominent scientific personalities from all over the world.   I conclude by wishing our Arab Division and you all a continuous success for the benefit of our Arab World.

 Editorial

 This newsletter is as an annual communication medium among the Arab pathologists. It aims to communicate news of regional meetings, practice ideas, experiences, and job opportunities in the Arab world.   News from the council and from the mother IAP is also communicated. Your contributions of any topic of interest to the Arabic pathologists are welcomed.  Please e-mail your article to the address listed at the last page. We look forward to your contributions.

 Wasim F. Raslan, MD, PhD
 Editor of the newsletter