The Global Intelligence Files,
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The Global Intelligence Files

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# The Global Intelligence Files

On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.

## USA/UNITED STATES/AMERICAS

Released on 2012-08-15 00:00 GMT

Email-ID | 665593
Date | 2010-08-12 12:30:06
From | dialogbot@smtp.stratfor.com
To | translations@stratfor.com

Table of Contents for United States
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) UK Arabic Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the UK Arabic Press on 11 Aug 10.
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
2) Chicago Soybean Extends Losses Amid Bearish Markets
Xinhua: "Chicago Soybean Extends Losses Amid Bearish Markets"
3) Xinhua 'News Analysis' on Likelihood of Direct Pelestinian-Israeli
Talks
News analysis by Xinhua reporters Li Laifang, Feng Kang and Zhu Junqing:
Can the Arab League Meeting Help Bring About Direct Palestinian-Israeli
Talks?
4) Georgia Opposes Russia's Decision To Deploy Air Defence Systems In
Abkhazia
5) 11 August 2010
For a copy of the video, contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615. Selected video also avail able at
OpenSource.gov
6) Result of Georgia War -- Strategic Gain For Russia in World Politics
Article by Fedor Lukyanov: "Turmoil After Revenge" (GZT.ru Online)
7) Burjanadze to Write to Mccain About Brutal Treatment of Demonstrators
in Georgia
8) Urdu Press Roundup Discusses Government's Reponse to Flood Emergency
9) Contacts Involving France, US, Others Prevent Israeli Action Against
Lebanon
Report from Paris, Washington, Tel Aviv, and Beirut by Michel Abu-Nijm,
Mina al-Uraybi, Nazir Mujalli, and Paula Istayh respectively: "French
Sources Say Western and Arab Capitals Prevented an Israeli Strike Against
the Lebanese Army. The Sources Told Al-Sharq al-Awsat Baraq Informed
Kouchner of the Intention to Revenge. There Is a Split Over Nasrallah's
'Circumstantial Evidences'. Iran Offers to Compensate Beirut for the US
Weapons"
10) Clinton Discusses Iranian Nuclear Program With Davutoglu
"Clinton Discusses Iranian Nuclear Program With Davutoglu" -- KUNA
Headline
11) American War Spending Enters the Era of Wikileaks
"American War Spending Enters the Era of Wikileaks" -- The Daily Star
Headline
12) Yeni Ozgur Politika Headlines 5 August 2010
The following is a list of news headlines from the Yeni Ozgur Politika
website on 5 August; to request additional processing, please contact OSC
at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, fax (703) 613-5735, or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov
13) Al-Hayah Commentary Urges Riyadh Set Conditions Before Agreeing Better
Iran Ties
Commentary by Saudi writer Abdallah Nasir al-Utaybi: "Ali Larijani Becomes
Pragmatist"
14) Iraqi Kurdish Arabic Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from two Baghdad-based Kurdish
newspapers on 11 Aug. To request additional processing, please call OSC at
(800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, or fax (703) 613-5735.
15) Iraqi Press 11 August 10
The following lists selected items from the Iraqi press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
16) Israeli Arabic Press 6 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Israeli Arabic press on 6
August. To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center
at (800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
17) Turkish Press 11 August 2010
The following lists selected items from the Turkish press on 11 August; to
request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735, or fax (703) 613-5735. For Islamist press highlights, see
GMP20100811006001
18) Article Says WikiLeak Exposes Designs of Foreign Forces in Afghanistan
Article by Asif Haroon Raja: WikiLeak expos es US-NATO atrocities
19) Writer Says Turkey Entitled To Defend Citizens Until PKK Lays Down
Arms
Commentary by Yusuf Kanli: "Prerequisite"
20) Brazil Economic Issues 10-11 Aug 10
21) Argentina Political and Economic Issues 11 Aug 10
For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
22) Foreign Minister Wants Washington, Unasur To Dialog Directly
Report by US correspondent Ana Baron from Washington: "Timerman wants a
direct dialog between the Unasur and the United States"
23) Bolivia Press 11 August 10
For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
24) Xinhua 'Roundup': WHO Declares H1N1 Pandemic Over, But Virus Risk
Remains
Xinhua "Roundup": "WHO Declares H1N1 Pandemic Over, But Virus Risk
Remains&q uot;
25) Palestinian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Palestinian press on 11 Aug.
To request additional processing, or for assistance with multimedia
elements, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735; or fax (703)
613-5735.
26) Xinhua 'Roundup': Palestinians Receive U.S. Approval of Proposal of
Reference for Direct Talks With Israel
Xinhua "Roundup": "Palestinians Receive U.S. Approval of Proposal of
Reference for Direct Talks With Israel"
27) Bangladesh Press 11 Aug 10
The following is a selection of highlights from Bangladesh press on 11 Aug
10
28) Syrian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Syrian press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
29) Israel Can Make Peace With Pa But Lots of Courage Req uired --
Netanyahu
"Israel Can Make Peace With Pa But Lots of Courage Required -- Netanyahu"
-- KUNA Headline
30) Bulgarian Envoy to Washington Discusses Meeting With President Obama
Interview with new Bulgarian Ambassador to the United States Elena
Poptodorova by Sonya Kanikova in Washington; time not given; broadcast by
Deutsche Welle Radio at 0407 GMT on 11 August
31) US Building Asian 'NATO' To Encircle China
By Dai Xu, Air Force Colonel and a military strategist, and translated by
Zhang Ming'ai: "U.S. building 'Asian NATO' to encircle China"
32) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO 119 -- NEWS IN BRIEF (3 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO 119 (August 12, 2010)"
33) ROK Weeklies for 4-10 Aug 10
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or e-mail EAG_Korea@rccb.osis.gov
34) RSA Ambassador to US Presents Credentials to President Obama
Report by Staff Reporter: "Rasool Checks In with Obama"
35) Sensuality on TV Goes Way Too Far
"Viewpoint" column by Kim Hyun-ki, Tokyo correspondent and Translation by
the JoongAng Daily staff: "Sensuality on TV Goes Way Too Far"
36) Korea Ranks High in Spending on Research
37) Turkish Islamist Press 11 Aug
This product lists selected items carried in the Turkish Islamist press on
11 August. To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer
Center at (800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
38) Foreign Buyers Arrive in Zimbabwe To Purchase Diamond Following
Partial Ban Lift
39) Twin Panda Cubs Born in Japan: China's Breeding Center
Xinhua: "Twin Panda Cubs Born in Japan: China's Breeding Center"
40) Okinawa Local TV Evening News 11 Aug 10
For a copy of the video, contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615. Selected video also available at
OpenSource.gov.
41) Xinhua 'Interview': EAC, EU Trade Pact To Benefit Kenya's
Horticultural Sector
Xinhua "Interview" by Daniel Ooko: "EAC, EU Trade Pact To Benefit Kenya's
Horticultural Sector"
42) Bladerunner 51 Boat 'Leap Forward', Concern for US
43) People's Daily Online: Meaning Behind British PM's Diplomatic Moves
By People's Daily Online: "Meaning behind British PM's diplomatic moves"
44) Iranian Commentary Details WikiLeaks Disclosures Made From Classified
Documents
Unattributed commentary: "Revelation of 91,000 Classified Documents of US
War in Afghanistan"
45) Estonia To Sign Antarctic Environmental Protocol
"Estonia To Accede to Environmental Protocol to Antarctic Treaty" -- BNS
headline
46) Nasrallahs Got a Surprise
"Nasrallahs Got a Surprise" -- NOW Lebanon Headline
47) Pakistan Press Nawa-e Waqt 11 Aug 10
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
48) China Buys More Japanese Bonds for Diversification: CASS Scholar
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735; or email: oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
49) DPRK Party Organ on Japan's 'Arms Build-Up,' 'Nuclear Weaponization'
The vernacular full text of the following Rodong Sinmun signed commentary
has been obtained from the KPM website and is attached in PDF format; KCNA
headline: "Japan's Arms Build-up And Nuclear Weaponization Blasted"
50) Mexico Southeastern Crime/Narcotics/Security Issues 11 Aug 10
51) UK-Pakistan Ties Cannot be Made Hostage To Camerons Indiscretion
Article by Malik Muhammad Ashraf: The Regrettable Indiscretion
52) Colombia Political-Economic Issues 10-11 Aug 10
Corrected version: Adding dropped word in headline of last blurb
53) Spanish troops launch new security, development projects in
Afghanistan
54) US Action Shows 'No Special Liking for Whistle-Blowers'
Commentary by Chirosree Basu: A Good Man, but a Bad Soldier
55) Leaked Secrets May Entail 'Massive' Changes in US War Policy
Commentray by Ipsita Chakravarty: Shadow Army
56) Editorial Urges US To Take Notice of Situation in Indian-Held Kashmir
Editorial: World starts raising voice for Kashmiris
57) More Than $2 Bn Foreign Aid Expected for Mindanao Peace
Report by Edith Regalado: "More than $2-billion foreign aid seen for
Mindanao peace"
58) Pakistan Must Strengthen Ties With China Instead of Associating Hopes
With West
Article by Izhar-ul-Haq: Sino-Pak Nuclear Cooperation
59) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 -- FOREIGN TIPS (5 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 (August 12, 2010)"
60) Delhi Editorial Criticizes US Senator for Remarks Against Indian IT
Firms
Editorial: "Cloud on American Dream"
61) Article Says Govt in no Mood To Counter US Agenda Against Pakistan
Article by Shireen M Mazari: Trying to reduce us to nothingness
62) West Indian Press 11 Aug 10
The following is a selection of highlights from the West Indian press on
11 August 2010
63) Xinhua 'Roundup': Canadian Stocks Tumble as Pessimism About World
Economy Increases
Xinhua "Roundup": "Canadian Stocks Tumble as Pessimism About World Economy
Increases"
64) Mexico Regional Press 11 Aug 10
For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
65) Russian, US, Canadian air forces hold antiterrorist drill over North
Pacific
66) Russian, US, Canadian Air Forces Share Zones Over Pacific
67) Taiwan Opinion 12 Aug 10
68) Russian, U.S., Canadian Air Forces Complete Hijack Exercise
69) Indian Media Highlights 10-11 Aug 10
70) Ukraine To Consider Grain Exports Quotas
71) Mugabe Leaves for 'Week-Long' Official Visit to China
Report by Caesar Zvayi: "President Leaves for China"
72) Russia Grain Exports Ban Not To Cause Deficit On World Mrkt-Vilsak
73) Viktor Bout Imprisoned In Thailand Struggles For Release
74 ) Daily urges US to ignore proposal for Afghanistan's division
75) Xinhua 'Commentary': History, Practicality Reunite Colombia, Venezuela
Xinhua "Commentary": "History, Practicality Reunite Colombia, Venezuela"
76) Boeing Presumed Victor in Presidential Plane Bid
77) Fidel Castro Warns World of US Nuclear War Threat
KCNA headline: "Fidel Castro Warns World of U.S. Nuclear War Threat"
78) Restored Venezuela-Colombia ties top story on Iran's Press TV
79) Slovak Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Slovak press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735;
or fax (703) 613-5735.
80) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (1 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 (August 12, 2010)"81)
Cross-Strait News 11 August 2010
82) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (2 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 (August 12, 2010)"
83) Opponents of NATO MD Early Warning Center Protest Outside Czech
Parliament
"Protest Meetings Staged Outside Czech Chamber of Deputies" -- Czech
Happenings headline
84) Hyundai Heavy to Build Giant Solar Power Plant
85) CIA Arrests Youth Suspected of Planning To Blow up PIA Airplane
"Swat Resident Who Threatened To Blow up Airplane Arrested" NNI headline
86) US To Send 'Supercarrier' to Yellow Sea for Joint Drills With ROK
Updated version: Upgrading precedence, adjusting tags, adding ref item;
Yonhap headline: "U.S. to Send Supercarrier to Yellow Sea For Joint Drills
With S. Korea: Adm. Mullen" by Hwang Doo-hyong
87) RMRB Column Urges Calmness, Restraint Over Choenan Incident
Article by Chen Xiangyang, "Calmness and Restraint Are Required More Than
Ever" -- from the "International Forum" column
88) US Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of ROK Fishermen Held in DPRK
By Hwang Doo-hyong: "U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of S.
Korean Fishermen Held in N. Korea"
89) US Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of ROK Fishermen Held in DPRK
Updated version: upgrading precedence and adding refs; By Hwang Doo-hyong:
"U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of S. Korean Fishermen Held in
N. Korea"
90) Yemeni Opposition TV CEO Interviewed on Al-Qa'ida, Huthists, Invasion
of South
Interview with Nasir al-Ja'fari, chief executive officer, CEO, of Aden
Live Yemeni TV channel, by Iyad al-Dulaymi; place and date not given:
"There Is No Unity Until We Call f or Separation; and the South Issue Has
Nothing to Do With Huthists and Al-Qa'ida"
91) Taiwan Opinion 11 Aug 10
92) U.S. Dismisses Reports North Korea Asked For Envoy on U.S. Citizen's
Release
93) Tehran Commentary Argues West's Military Threat Against Iran
'Propaganda Bluff'
Commentary by Hasan Roshvand: "Psychological Bluff Against Iran"
94) Article Discusses Report About Deposits of Minerals in Afghanistan
Article by Arif Ayub: Minerals in Afghanistan
95) Control Yuan Report Questions Legality Of 1949 Martial Laws
By Sofia Yeh &amp; Bear Lee
96) PA Official Calls for Commitment to Quartet Statement Before Direct
Negotiations
Report by Ali al-Salih in London and Kifah al-Zabun in Ramallah:
Abu-Rudaynah: We Suggested to the Americans a Commitment to the Quartet
Statement. He told Al-Sharq al-Awsat: We are waitin g for an Israeli Reply
Within Days
97) Ecfa Benefits Touted At Cross-strait Economic Forum
By Hsieh Chun-wei, Kuo Mei-lan and Y.L. Kao
98) US Envoy to Pakistan Faces Tough Questions Regarding Afghan-Trade
Transit Treaty
Report by Kaswar Klasra: ATTA unacceptable in present form, traders tell
Patterson
99) Index Shows ROK-DPRK Unification Prospects Dim '2 Years in a Row'
Report by Shin Hae-in: "Unification prospects dim 2 years in a row"
100) ROK Editorial Says ROK Military Sending 'Wrong' Message to DPRK
Editorial: "The Military Is Sending The Wrong Message to N.Korea"
101) People's Daily Online Columnist Says Pentagon's Gunboat Policy Irks
China
By People's Daily Online columnist Li Hong: "Pentagon's gunboat policy"
102) Taiwan Political Issues 10 August 2010
103) Interna tional Security Assistant Force 'Confirms' Killing of 3 NATO
Soldiers
Unattributed report: "NATO Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan" Text
disseminated as received without OSC editorial intervention
104) Portuguese Commentary Regrets Obama's Decision To Try Guantanamo
'Child-Soldier'
Commentary by Sofia Lorena: "Stays in His Curriculum Vitae"
105) Correa Touts Economic Advances in Ecuador, Warns of 'Destabilization
Attempts'
Unattributed report: "Correa Asks for New Majority." For assistance with
multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
106) Next 52 Format Talks on Transdniestria to Be Held in September
107) Korea Ranks 4th in R&amp;D Investment Among OECD Nations
108) KT to Lease Network to MVNOs
109) Italian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items fro m the Italian press on 11 August.
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
110) Germany Slammed for Buying Body Scanners From US Cluster Bomb
Manufacturer
Report by "dgs": "Dodgy Deals: Germany Slammed for 'Supporting' Cluster
Bomb Manufacturer"
111) U.S. Does Not Plan to Open New Military Base in Kyrgyzstan -
Ambassador
112) Kyrgyzstan political parties sign OSCE-supported Code of Conduct
113) Lebanese Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Lebanese press on 11 August.
To request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
114) Former President Fox Advocates Legalization of Drugs
Report by Horacio Jimenez: "Calderon and Fox at Odds Over Legalization of
Drugs"
115) US S anctions 'Hurting' ROK's Exports to Iran
Unattributed article: "U.S. Sanctions Hurting Korea's Exports to Iran"
116) Egyptian-Palestinian summit to be held in Cairo on 12 August
117) Arab League waiting for US response on direct talks conditions -
official
118) Mexico Political Issues 11 Aug 10
119) Cosmetics Sales Soar on 'sample Marketing'
120) Hyundai Sonata Earns Top Rating From US Consumer Reports
121) Pan-Arab Writer: Arguments Against Ground Zero Mosque Stinks of
Propaganda
Commentary by Husam Itani: "The Mosque at Ground Zero"
122) Palestinian Press 10 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Palestinian press on 10 Aug.
To request additional processing, or for assistance with multimedia
elements, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735; or fax (703)
613-5735.
123) Malaysia Chinese Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected reports carried in Malaysia's Chinese press
on 11 August; to request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer
Center at (800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
124) Chinese Air Force in Night Drill Over West Sea
125) Tehran Calls Countries That Support UN Security Council Sanctions
'Losers'
Article by Vladislav Vorobyev: "Tehran Finds 'Losers'" (Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Online)
126) ROK Editorial Comments on Status of ROK-US FTA
Editorial: "Politics Behind Trade -- US could suffer big loss, going after
small gain"
127) Hyundai Heavy Industries To Build World's Largest Photovoltaic Plant
Report by Jong-wook Park and Su-hyun Song: "Hyundai Heavy Ind. to Build
World's Largest Photovoltaic Plant"
128) Philippine Palace Ready To Resume Talks With MILF 'Without
Preconditions'
Report by Jam Sisante with RSJ and KBK, GMANews.TV: "Palace: No
preconditions in resumption of talks with MILF"
129) US Immigration Using Incoming Children To Arrest Illegal Poles
Report by Wojciech Lorenz: "US Border Services Treat Polish Childen as
Hostages"
130) Afghan Police Issues July 2010
The following OSC Summary provides a summary of monitored media coverage
on Afghan police issues during July 2010; for assistance with multimedia
elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
131) Hyundai Heavy Inks US$700 Mln Solar Power Plant Deal
132) Iran's President Hails Economic Progress
133) ROK To 'Take Time' To Decide Whether To Seek Sanctions on Iran
Yonhap headline: "S. Korea to Take Time to Decide Whether to Seek
Sanctions on Iran: Senior Source"
134) Iran regional conference a move against USA, says Afghan analyst
135) HK Column: PRC 'Kills Two Birds With One Stone' By Importing US Corns
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
136) Iran paper outlines leaders' response to US military threat
137) Xinhua 'China Exclusive': 0 GMT, Aug. 11
Xinhua "China Exclusive": "0 GMT, Aug. 11"
138) Full text of Sino-US Joint Statement on Energy Security Cooperation
Sino-US Joint Statement on Energy Security Cooperation (Full Text) --
Xinhua headline -- from the Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialog column
139) US Military Needs To Reduce 'Contest Events' To Cut Spending
"News Analysis" by Xinhua reporter Wang Fengfeng: "Cutting Defense
Spending: Pentagon Dares Not Touch The Root Cause"
140) China Reiterates It Remains World's Second Largest Energy User
Xinhua: "China Reiterates It Remains World's Second Largest Energy User"
141) NASA Astronauts Dismantle Broken Pump of ISS Cooling System.
142) Review of Various U. S. UAVs That Are Needed by RF Ministry of
Defense
Article by Vladimir Shcherbakov on the new unmammed flying vehicles [UAVs]
being developed in the United States that are of interest to the Ministry
of Defense of Russia, particularly the hand-lauched UAVs that use hydrogen
fuel cells in their power plants: "How the Problems of Developing
Mini-Drones Are Being Resolved"
143) US Senate To Vote On New START In Sep, White House Confident Of
Ratification
144) Russia Will Not Give Schneerson Library to American Hasids - Ministry
145) New START Has Broader Support In Senate Than Thought -- Clinton</ a>
146) Dollar Soars Over 20 Kopecks on MICEX, Euro Declines (Part 2)
147) PRC Religious Heads 'Denounce' US Commission's Report on China's
Religious Freedom
Report by reporter Wei Wu: "Our Religious Representatives Denounce the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom for Slandering the Freedom
of Religious Belief in Our Country"
148) Russian Stock Exchange Declines Following Disappointing Results From
Fed Meeting
149) Dollar Soars Over 20 Kopecks on MICEX, Euro Declines
150) Astronauts Begin Second Spacewalk To Repair ISS Cooling System
151) Egyptian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Egyptian press on 11 August.
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
152) US Observers Arrive At Russia's SKhK To Monit or HEU Deal
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Back to Top
UK Arabic Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the UK Arabic Press on 11 Aug 10.
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - United Kingdom -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 09:34:39 GMT
1- Article by Randah Taqiy-al-Din saying that the circumstantial evidence
presented by Hizballah about involvement of Israel in assassinating
al-Hariri will be investigated by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (700
words, processing)
2- Article by Abdallah Iskandar analyzing the situation in the Middle East
following the conclusion of US Envoy Mitchell's tour and the International
Quartet's statement (650 words, processing)
3- Report on interview with Basim al-Awadi, adv iser to Iraqi Islamic
Supreme Council leader, about negotiations with Al-Iraqiyah and Kurdistan
Alliance (650 words, processing)
4- Report citing Moroccan officials on the escalation of Moroccan-Spanish
tension (650 words, processing)
5- Article by Jihad al-Khazin on the dwindling of US Resident Obama's
popularity despite his success in passing healthcare reforms and financial
reforms, and the rise of popularity of the democrats (500 words, no
processing)
London Al-Sharq al-Awsat Online in Arabic 11 Aug 10 (Website of
influential London-based pan-Arab Saudi daily; editorial line reflects
Saudi official stance. URL:
http://www.asharqalawsat.com/ http://www.asharqalawsat.com/)
1- Report citing French sources saying French-US-Egyptian intervention
stopped an Israeli military action against Lebanon (300 words, processing)
2- Reports citing Lebanese legal and military experts on the validity of
the evidence provided by Hizballah on the i nvolvement of Israel in
Al-Hariri's assassination (1600 words, processing)
3- Article by Abd-al-Rahman al-Rashid saying that Saudi Arabia has not
been able to solve its most important economic problems despite its wealth
(600 words, processing)
4- Article by Adil al-Turayfi on the links between Al-Sistani and the
United States, and his role in the stability of Iraq (1200 words,
processing)
5- Report citing Palestinian Presidency Adviser Nabil Abu-Rudaynah saying
that US commitment to the Quartet statement is the condition for starting
direct negotiations (200 words, processing)
London Al-Quds al-Arabi Online in Arabic 11 Aug 10 (Website of
London-based independent Arab nationalist daily with strong anti-US bias.
URL:
http://www.alquds.co.uk/ http://www.alquds.co.uk/)
1- Editorial slamming Lebanese politicians and media for rushing to
discredit Hizballah's accusations to Israel of involvement in Al-Hariri's
assassination (1000 words , processing)
London Ilaf.com in Arabic 11 Aug 10 (Saudi-owned, independent Internet
daily with pan-Arab, liberal line. URL:
http://www.elaph.com/ http://www.elaph.com/)
1- Report citing UAE informed source saying that UAE cancelled Airbus and
Boeing deals because of economic reasons (700 words, processing)
Negative Selection:
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Chicago Soybean Extends Losses Amid Bearish Markets
Xinhua: "Chicago Soybean Extends Losses Amid Bearish Markets" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 23:18:14 GMT
CHICAGO, Aug. 11 (Xi nhua) -- Chicago wheat futures steadied on Wednesday,
and the prices were caught between the surging dollar and the supply
concerns, as traders awaited the USDA's new crop production report due out
on Thursday.
Corn inched up, supported by strong export prospects of U.S. corn and the
hot weather in U.S. Midwest, which is adding to the uncertainty about the
USDA's crop estimates. Soybean ended moderately lower.December corn rose
2.0 cents, or 0.5 percent, to 4.11 dollars per bushel. November soybean
lost 6.5 cents, or 0.6 percent, to 10. 155 dollars per bushel.U.S. equity
markets plunged on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve highlighted the
weakness in U.S. economic recovery on Tuesday and noted that it is likely
to be more modest in the near term than expected.The speculation that
global economic recovery is slowing down has sparked heavy selling in
grain futures markets on Wednesday, as investors fled riskier assets,
including commodities and stocks, to safe-haven a ssets like the dollar
and gold. The strong rally in the dollar and the decline in crude oil
price on Wednesday both weighed on grain futures.The agricultural minister
of Ukraine said on Wednesday that Ukraine, the world's biggest barley
exporter, is considering introducing export quotas on wheat and other
export crops, in order to curb surging domestic prices after the adverse
weather had devastated its crop yields. The news has rekindled investors'
concern over global wheat supply shortage and added upward pressure on
wheat price.Traders noted that a flurry of corn export sales announced by
the USDA on Wednesday, including 180,000 tonnes to Egypt, 103,632 tonnes
to Japan, 480,000 tonnes to Mexico and 174,000 tonnes to an unknown
destination, helped to push up corn price.Meanwhile, the USDA announced on
Wednesday a sale of 115,000 tonnes of soybeans to China, which gave some
support to soybean price. But it failed to offset the negative influence
of the bearish markets as we ll as expectations of bumper crops in the
United States.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))
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Xinhua 'News Analysis' on Likelihood of Direct Pelestinian-Israeli Talks
News analysis by Xinhua reporters Li Laifang, Feng Kang and Zhu Junqing:
Can the Arab League Meeting Help Bring About Direct Palestinian-Israeli
Talks? - Xinhua Domestic Service
Wednesday August 11, 2010 20:55:51 GMT
Laifang, Feng Kang and Zhu Junqing: Can the Arab League Meeting H elp
Bring About Direct Palestinian-Israeli Talks?
The foreign ministers of 13 Arab countries will meet at a special
conference of the Arab Peace Follow-up Committee here today, 29 July, to
discuss matters concerning Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. This is
another important diplomatic endeavor these Arab states make to promote
Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
Ahmad bin Hilli, assistant secretary-general of the League of Arab States
(Arab League), told the media the other day that the foreign ministers of
Arab states would hear a report to be presented by Abbas, chairman of the
Palestinian National Authority (PNA), on indirect Palestinian-Israeli
talks, Palestine's contacts with the United States and Palestine's
position; and decide whether they would support direct Palestinian-Israeli
talks on this basis.
Observers maintain that the meeting might adopt a resolution of supporting
the proposal of replacing indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks with direct
tal ks; and that Arab states' support is crucial to PNA's decision whether
it will resume direct talks with Israel.
According to Egypt's media, an official of the Palestinian Liberation
Organization (PLO) Executive Committee said that, at the Arab Peace
Follow-up Committee meeting, Abbas would request the indirect talks be
extended to 8 September. This may create difficulty for the United States,
which expects PNA and Israel to hold direct talks before the time set for
the indirect talks expires.
Under the United States' mediation, Palestine and Israel started their
four-month long indirect talks last May. So far no progress has been made.
Israel has not responded openly to the Palestinian side's requests on
issues about its border and security. The United States, realizing that
that the indirect talks are deadlocked, maintains that the two sides
should address their problems through face-to-face talks. Thus it has made
great efforts to urge PNA to have direct talk s with Israel. Certain
European countries also have urged PNA and Israel to have direct talks.
According to Imad Jad (name as transliterated), an expert of the Center
for Political and Strategic Studies of Egypt's Al-Ahram, maintains that
there are signs that show Palestine and Israel will hold direct talks, but
that the Palestinian side must have Israel's pledge for its border and
security.
Abbas has indicated on many occasions that PNA is ready to have direct
talks with Israel on the premise that progress is made on the indirect
talks, Israel must acknowledge its border prior to the 1967 war and stop
all the settlement constructions, and specific topics of discussion must
be set.
Earlier, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which is now controlling
the Gaza strip, warned on 27 July that Abbas must not have direct talks
with Israel under Arab states' aegis or under US pressure. Hamas is also
against indirect talks with Israel.
Hani Haraf (na me as transliterated), assistant to a former Egyptian
foreign affairs minister, says in his analysis: the meeting of Arab
states' foreign affairs ministers will restate the requests that they have
made over the years, support Palestine's peace talks, urge Israel to stop
its settlement constructions, and appeal to the international community to
take up the responsibility of enforcing the international law. He
maintains that the meeting of peace initiative will give Palestine a "coat
of legitimacy" of holding direct talks with Israel, and Palestine and
Israel will soon start their direct talks.
In early March this year, the foreign ministers of Arab states decided at
the Arab Peace Follow-up Committee to support indirect Palestinian-Israeli
talks, and Abbas accepted the Arab League's proposal and started its
indirect talks with Israel under US mediation. The Israel's continual
construction of new Jewish settlements has obstructed the p rogress of the
talks in one way or another.
The Arab Peace Initiative that Saudi Arabia presented in 2002 restarted in
March 2007. According to the initiative, all Arab states will recognize
Israel as long as Israel withdraws from the lands it occupied in the 1967
war, (recognizes) the founding of the Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem as the capital, and addresses the Palestinian refugee problem
justly.
Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also indicated that
he was ready to hold direct talks with Palestine, but Arab states question
whether direct talks can achieve any results since the indirect talks have
made no progress. The talks that Netanyahu had with Egyptian President
Mubarak in Cairo on 18 July and his exchange of views with Jordan King
Abdullah on 27 July apparently show that he wants the support of these two
Arab states that have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa indicated on 27 July that holding
direct Pal estinian-Israeli talks under the circumstance in which Israel
"has made no guarantee" is tantamount to accepting the status quo of
Palestine's territory. He said the direct talks could not go on.
Egypt's political analysts maintain that both direct and indirect talks
are just formalistic matters, what is more important is whether or not the
two sides are serious with discussing substantive matters, and the
guarantee that Palestine needs is for the sake of building mutual trust
between the two sides.
(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese --
China's official news service (New China News Agency))
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Georgia Opposes Russia's Decision To Deploy Air Defence Systems In
Abkhazia - ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 19:49:53 GMT
intervention)
TBILISI, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- Georgia is disgruntled at Russia's
decision to deploy S-300 air defence systems in Abkhazia."Such actions on
the part of the Russian Federation run counter to the ceasefire agreement
between Georgia and the Russian Federation of August 12, 2008," Vice Prime
Minister, State Minister for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili said on
Wednesday, August 11."This decision reveals Russia's desire to demonstrate
its strength. I think NATO should express concern over such actions by the
Russian Federation because they upset the balance of force in the region,"
he said.Yakobashvili believes that the deployment of S-300 systems in
Abkhazia "is directed more against NATO and the United St ates which are
deploying their air defence systems in Eastern Europe than against
Georgia."Russian Air Force Commander, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin said
earlier in the day that the Russian S-300 air defence systems and air
defence units deployed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia would down all
aircraft that transgress the air space of these republics."The mission of
these air defence systems is not only the protection of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia, but also the prevention of state border transgressions in the air
space and the destruction of any aircraft transgressing the air space of
these republics regardless of their mission," he said."We are planning to
carry out the mission of shielding the Russian military bases in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia comprehensively. The frontline and army aviation will be
on combat duty to support the air defence systems in Abkhazia and South
Ossetia. We have deployed the S-300 air defence system in Abkhazia to
provide air defence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in cooperation with the
air defence systems of the Ground Troops," Zelin said."The S-300 air
defence system covers facilities only in Abkhazia, while army air defence
systems perform this mission in South Ossetia," he said.(Description of
Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
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11 August 2010
For a copy of the video, contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615. Selected video also available at
OpenSource.gov - International -- OSC Multimedia
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:34:34 GMT
This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of
selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government
components.
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6) Back to Top
Result of Georgia War -- Strategic Gain For Russia in World Politics
Article by Fedor Lukyanov: "Turmoil After Revenge" (GZT.ru Online) -
GZT.ru
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:18:57 GMT
Russia has not ended up in international isolation, as many commentators
had predicted. Of course, the world financial crisis played a big rol e.
The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the collapse of the markets forced
us to forget about everything else for a long time.
The main political result of the crisis was probably the defeat of John
McCain in the US presidential elections. Had he become the master of the
White House, the world atmosphere - and the interest of Washington in
Georgia - would have been different.
But I will risk presuming that, even without the crisis, the scenario of
relations of Moscow and the Western capitals would still have been
similar. For objective reasons.
One of the reasons why there was a war on the post-Soviet area was the
position of the US (officially undeclared, but obvious), to the effect
that Russia's opinion is not a hindrance to Washington's implementation of
the strategy that it considers correct.
The inability to counter Russian actions, when Moscow went all out, became
an annoying revelation for the White House. And one more signal to the re
st of the world that American hegemony had not worked out.
Even if Obama had not won the election, any other president would have
gotten the same unenviable legacy. That is, he would have been forced to
choose the priorities and to commensurate the desires with the real
capacities. There probably would not have been any "reset," but a cold
"peaceful co-existence" would certainly be possible.
No matter what politicians and analysts may say about the old-fashioned
nature of reliance on military force, the ability and readiness to employ
it remains the most important factor determining a state's position on the
world arena. The "5-day war" demonstrated this once again.
Two years ago, Russia lost the battle for the sympathies of world public
opinion. It did not get the political support that it had expected, became
convinced of the unreliability of its allies, took on the problems
associated with the unclear future of the tw o territories, negated its
own morally and legally irreproachable position on non-recognition of
Kosovo, and felt the weakness of its own army.
The list of negative consequences of the conflict is long.
But all of them are outweighed by one strategic victory: Moscow forced
others to take it seriously.
An unpleasant surprise for the surrounding world was the fact that, when
Russia talks about "red lines," it turns out that it should not be
shrugged off. For example, representatives of the Western establishment,
who before the war in the Caucasus had not paid attention to Russia's
annoying statements about the need for a new system of security in Europe,
now admit that the formulation of the question is legitimate in principle.
No one intends to accept the "Medvedev plan," but nevertheless the
discussion about reform of the OSCE has become notably livelier, and the
idea of inviting Russia to join NATO has become practically comm onplace
in expert discussions. Moreover, some talk about this not as instrument
for "taming" the Kremlin, but in the context of survival of the alliance
itself as an effective organization.
When it becomes clear that both the OSCE and NATO are not being adapted to
the new realities, perhaps they will recallDmitriy Medvedev's idea about
the new architecture of European security...
After the Georgian war and the economic crisis, Russia has in fact
achieved what it wanted. Even though the president's words in August of
2008 to the effect that Moscow aspires to a "sphere of privileged
interests" evoked great indignation at the time, today this sphere has in
essence been recognized.
Europe and the US have enough of their own problems to spend effort and
time on the post-Soviet area, and China did not aspire to political
influence, but satisfied itself with achieving specific economic goals.
The "5-day war" put a unique e nd to the former agenda. The US and NATO
understood that winning geopolitical "trophies," which remained after the
collapse of the USSR, can no longer serve as the leitmotif for the
strategy in Eurasia.
The real threats and challenges dictate other priorities, and the search
for a new mission for NATO cannot forever be substituted with mechanical
eastward expansion.
Russia has gotten symbolic revenge for the failures and defeats of the
past 20 years. Even though the "prize" that was won is incommensurate with
the scope of what was lost before, the psychological effect is
significant.
Moscow needed a psychological victory over its Western opponents, so as to
rid itself of its inferiority complex - the reasons for many dangerous
instances of casting about in the "zero years." Mikhail Saakashvili
unwittingly gave Russia such an opportunity.
The war evoked an upsurge of panic in the neighboring countries and in the
Wes t: Oh, Russia is undertaking restoration of its empire, the expansion
has begun. But in fact, it was just the opposite.
After the initial euphoria, Moscow soberly appraised the situation that
had developed and came to some disquieting conclusions. Having gotten the
opportunity for regional leadership, Russia became convinced that it is
very difficult to realize not for foreign, but for domestic reasons.
There are more than enough tactical successes, but not enough economic,
political, military and intellectual resources to bring to life the goals
that Moscow is setting for itself both in the CIS, and in the
international arena in general.
The Soviet potential has dried up in every sense of the word - from the
material-technical and organizational to the ideological-political. And
the ineffectiveness of the state apparatus hinders the process of
necessary domestic transformation, even though the fact that the former
model has been exhausted is obvious even to those who are serving as the
hindrance.
The "modernization alliances" with leading countries that were proposed by
Dmitriy Medvedev will hardly help. In order to make use of their fruits,
the active part of society must consciously strive for this. And it is
specifically its sentiments, the mixture of apathy and vague unrest, that
does not favor change.
Especially since, by many indicators, the behind-the-scenes "electoral
campaign" has already started in Russia, and we know from experience that
this is an unsuitable time for great endeavors. In the best case, they
will return to the problems of development when the question of power has
been resolved once again.
At the same time, the international problems that led to the Caucasus war,
among other things, have not been regulated. The general imbalance in the
system of international relations is only becoming more aggravated. The
focus of attention is being shifted to Asi a, and there, among the rapidly
developing states, the position of Russia is weaker than it is in Europe,
even though, at first glance, it appears that there are not the acute
problems in the East as there are with the West.
The crisis of basic institutions has entered its next stage - the behavior
of specific count ries is changing: China and Turkey, Germany and Japan,
Brazil and Iran. The number of players with whom we must come to agreement
is growing before our very eyes. This process will pick up steam, making
world politics ever less predictable and more spontaneous.
The consequences of the Georgian war are of so little interest to the
leading world players today because too many new uncertainties have arisen
since that time. The destination point of the uncontrolled transit is
still unknown.
(Description of Source: Moscow Gzt.ru -- Informative news website owned by
metals magnate Lisin; not affiliated with the Gazeta.ru website; URL:
http://gzt .ru/)
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Burjanadze to Write to Mccain About Brutal Treatment of Demonstrators in
Georgia - Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:57:45 GMT
Georgia
TBILISI. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Leader of the opposition Democratic Movement
- United Georgia party Nino Burjanadze plans to write an open letter to
U.S. Senator John McCain criticizing his ideas about the situation in her
country.At a meeting with journalists on Wednesday she commented on the
senator's article in The Washington Post in which he lauds democracy and
the rule of law in Georgia and denou nces the dispersal of demonstrations
and the violation of human rights in Russia."I am very curious where
McCain has seen democracy and the rule of law in Georgia or its difference
from Russia. Why doesn't he write anything about attacks on peaceful
processions in Georgia exemplified by the incident on May 6 when the heads
of peaceful protesters were broken outside of the police headquarters in
Tbilisi, "Burjanadze, who was the former Georgian parliament speaker,
said.The U.S. senator is not informed about the actual situation in
Georgia, she said."For me America is a symbol of democracy and I hope that
Mr. McCain remains a friend of Georgia not a friend of (Georgian
President) Mikheil Saakashvili. I will ask him all these questions in an
open letter," Burjanadze said.ml ap(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-DPBADBAA
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Urdu Press Roundup Discusses Government's Reponse to Flood Emergency -
Pakistan -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:41:25 GMT
Claiming that it is because of the failure of previous governments to
build dams that we are facing floods devastations today, the editorial
says: "The recent devastation caused by the floods provide us with a
lesson that, if the past rulers had realized the resources and problems of
the country and had constructed smaller dams, the intensity of the
devastation caused by the flood tides could have been minimized. By
diverting the course of the flood tides, they could have turned the
melting of glaciers in the northern parts of the country and other areas
into a blessing. However, for this government and public support,
effective preemptive measures, and steadfast and transparent
implementation of these measures are a prerequisite." Express Article by
Abdul Qadir Hassan Argues Humanitarian Tragedy Looming Ahead
Terming the post-flood situation as a catastrophe, the article states:
"This is a national disaster, which is being termed a flood. This is not
only an enraged flood tide but is a nemesis for our deeds that has assumed
the form of floods. At present, we are looking as to where the flood tides
are hitting and what ruins are being caused there. The real situation will
emerge when the flood will be over and hundreds of thousands of displaced
families will be searching for their homes, which have totally been swept
away. There is nothing left in these areas but disease and a darker
future." Express Article by Asadullah Ghalib Discusses Role of Pr esident
Welcoming the funds raised by the president during his visit to Britain
and his personal donation, the article states: "So far as the flood
torrent is concerned, the president did not forget the flood-affected
people during his visit. His son Bilawal established a fund for the
affected people and the president has donated a large amount of 2.5
million pounds to it, which is equal to 300 million rupees. Though the
president's role in the constitution is a formal one, he is all in all in
the Pakistan People's Party (PPP); therefore, it is his fundamental
responsibility to seek solution to all the problems being faced by
Pakistan. The president can bring about revolutionary reforms in every
field of life if time is given to him to implement his vision." Express
Article by Javed Chaudhry Lashes Out at Apathy of Rulers
Decrying the overall indifference of the rulers with particular reference
to President Zardari's visit to Britain, the article s tates: "Our ruling
elite have no time for the people, no matter if they are ill, stranded in
storms, or inundated by flood water, nor do they have the energy to do so.
No matter whether we believe it or not, when the nation needs leadership,
the head of the Islamic welfare state is sitting in London. The entire
world is laughing at our behavior. We accept all the compulsions of the
president, but the president should accept one thing from our side as
well, which is that he has made mockery of both the democracy and
governance by sitting in London today." Express Article by Iyaz Khan
Appeals to Nation to Come Forward
Urging the people who have been spared by the natural calamity to come
ahead to help their suffering brethren, the article states: "We cannot
speak of the behavior of the politicians. They are extending less
assistance to the affected people and are engaged in point scoring. They
are only interested in foreign visits and statements. Th e spirit to help
has emerged among the nation, but there is need for more. This is an
appeal to all those who are still safe, they sho uld not get new clothes
on Id this year and instead use this money to buy essential goods for the
flood-affected people." Jinnah Editorial Warns Against Delay in Provision
of Relief to Flood-Hit People
Emphasizing that the rulers should chalk out a strategy to rehabilitate
the flood-affected people on a fast track, the editorial states: "The
government should prepare a comprehensive economic policy on an emergency
basis. This is because the traditional estimates, which were based on
hypothesis, have been swept away by floods. Now Pakistan needs such a
comprehensive economic policy that is prepared in view of the realities on
the ground. If the rulers fail in coping with the devastation caused by
the floods and fail in providing shelter to the homeless people, the storm
of the masses may head toward the houses of power and it will not be
possible for anyone to divert it." Jinnah Editorial Deplores Rulers Over
Not Appealing to Friendly Countries
Believing that the government should have approached Pakistan's friends
for assistance at this critical time, the editorial states: "The
government seems unnerved in the face of this unexpected natural calamity.
At first, the government considered it as a routine matter and did not
take it seriously. However, as the devastation caused by the floods
reached the world and the people through the media, it extended its hand
to the United States instead of launching an appeal to the friendly
countries. Then it started narrating its plight before Britain and
France." Jinnah Article by Khalid Jamil Appreciates Army's Role
Expressing regrets that the political leadership resorted to the blame
game in this hour of trial, the article argued: "Only the Pakistan Army
has provided practical support to the flood-affected people, while the
politicians did not refrain from slinging mud at each other and
unnecessarily criticizing each other at this critical occasion. Because of
this, the people are fast losing their confidence (in the government). On
the contrary, the Army did not wade through the flood water for the sake
of photo opportunities nor did it level allegations or resort to the blame
game like the politicians." Ausaf Editorial Urges Rulers To Come Forward
To Help Those Affected by Flood
Advising the rulers to join the relief and rehabilitation activities in
this hour of trial, the editorial states: "The president, prime minister,
chief ministers, and the federal and provincial ministers should
immediately announce that they will not host any official fast-breaking
party in the month of fasting. Those who are billionaires among them
should give millions from their personal money to the fund established for
flood hit-people. The president, prime minister, and chief minist ers
should cancel all their foreign visits and stand by the flood-hit people.
If these people are afraid because of security apprehension and do not
have the guts to stand by the calamity-hit people, they have no right to
remain in government. Such people should resign and go back to their
homes, deploy scores of security guards outside their homes, and live in
isolation." Mashriq Editorial Finds Government Helpless
Referring to the statement of the prime minister that the catastrophe is
beyond the available resources, the editorial states: "By terming the
havoc wrecked by the floods as beyond the government's resources, Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has expressed his helplessness. There is no
room to disagree with the statement of prime minister. The realities on
the ground and the situation substantiate this very fact that not only the
government but the government's resources and its machinery and
administration have also miserably failed in minimi zing the problems of
the affected people. The ludicrous role in this regard was played by those
at the helm of the affairs at the National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA), when they allegedly established a fake relief camp at Mianwali on
the occasion of the visit of the prime minister in a bid to show their
'performance.'" Islam Editorial Argues Government Showed Poor Performance
Lamenting that the government's performance has been very poor in this
situation, the editorial states: "We have to again refer to the poor
performance of the government here, when, despite the warning by the
weather and geographical experts about the environmental changes and the
dangerous situation, the concerned authorities including the federal and
provincial governments did not prepare teams comprising civil defense,
scouts, and retired servicemen to cope with such an emergency situation
and did not acquire the necessary equipment. Therefore, the worst
situation created by the floods exposed the flawed government
infrastructure, the reality of development work, public representatives,
and their performance." Jasarat Editorial Believes Floods Sweeping Away
Government's Image
Maintaining that floods have again proved that the government has failed
to deliver, the editorial argues: "The flood has washed away the remaining
credibility of the government. It will be correct to say about the
president that he was not in the country. The prime minister made it clear
that he was the chief executive of the country in the absence of President
Zardari, and he was in the country as well as all the five chief
ministers. However, it is strange that flood-hit people in every area and
people reeling under miseries complained that they did not see the rulers
even in this hour of trial and that the public representatives did not
visit them to share their grief. The NDMA also did not prove effective in
providing assistance."
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9) Back to Top
Contacts Involving France, US, Others Prevent Israeli Action Against
Lebanon
Report from Paris, Washington, Tel Aviv, and Beirut by Michel Abu-Nijm,
Mina al-Uraybi, Nazir Mujalli, and Paula Istayh respectively: "French
Sources Say Western and Arab Capitals Prevented an Israeli Strike Against
the Lebanese Army. The Sources Told Al-Sharq al-Awsat Baraq Informed
Kouchner of the Intention to Revenge. There Is a Split Over Nasrallah's
'Circumstantial Evidences'. Iran Offers to Compensate Beirut for the US
Weapons" - Al-Sharq al-Awsat Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:39:52 GMT
yesterday, well informed French sources disclosed that Israeli Defense
Minister Ehud Baraq informed French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in a
telephone call after the armed clash between the Lebanese Army and Israeli
forces in Al-Udaysah, south Lebanon, last week that Israel "intends to
carry out a major military operation to discipline the Lebanese Army and
avenge the killing of a senior Israeli officer."
These sources said that contacts were held at the highest levels involving
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab and international parties, and that these
contacts resulted in curbing the tension and the rush to an open-ended
battle.
On a separate issue, public opinion and politicians in Lebanon were
divided over Lebanese Hizballah Secretary General Hasan Nasrallah's
accusations that Israel is involved in the assassination of former
Lebanese Prime Mi nister Rafiq al-Hariri and over the circumstantial
evidences that he produced.
For its part, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in an official statement
yesterday that Nasrallah's statements are "ridiculous and deserve no
response."
Elsewhere, former MP Nazim Khuri, an adviser to the Lebanese president,
criticized "the suspension of US aid to the (Lebanese) Army worth $100
million." Meanwhile, Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Roken Abadi
asserted his country's readiness "to assist the Lebanese Army in
performing its role to defend Lebanon."
Earlier, Chairman of the US House Foreign Relations Committee Howard
Berman took a decision to suspend the funding "because of reports about
Hizballah's influence on the army", as he put it.
(Description of Source: London Al-Sharq al-Awsat Online in Arabic --
Website of influential London-based pan-Arab Saudi daily; editorial line
reflects Saudi official stance. URL :
http://www.asharqalawsat.com/)Attachments:ATTH4YZ5.mhtATTHKYIU.mht
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
10) Back to Top
Clinton Discusses Iranian Nuclear Program With Davutoglu
"Clinton Discusses Iranian Nuclear Program With Davutoglu" -- KUNA
Headline - KUNA Online
Monday July 12, 2010 22:12:21 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - WASHINGTON, July 12 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton called her Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss
the Iranian nuclear program, the State Department announced on
Monday.Assistant Secretary for public diplomacy Philip Crowley told
reporter s that "earlier this morning, the secretary had about a 45-minute
conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu. They reviewed a wide
range of subjects during the call, including the situation with respect to
Iran." "We have ongoing concerns about the nature of Iran's nuclear
program. There are many questions that we have that have gone unanswered,"
he added.Turkey and Brazil reached on May 17 a nuclear fuel swap deal with
Iran where Tehran agreed to send 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched
uranium to Turkey in return for higher grade fuel from Russia and France
for a research reactor."Under these circumstances, from our standpoint,
and what we have made clear in our conversations with many countries is
that this cannot be a situation of business as usual. This is about the
future of the world. This is about the danger of a nuclear-arms race in
the Middle East, which will affect countries outside of the region,
including India," affirmed Crowley."Everyone has a responsibility to do
what each country can to convince Iran to change its present course - we
are moving forward both to implement international sanctions and to
evaluate how we can take additional national measures that puts pressure
on the Iranian government to come forward and engage constructively," he
added.Crowley noted that "as Iran attempts to perfect the technologies
involved in enrichment, it gets closer to that point at which the leap
from a civilian program to a military program is narrowed. We have
definite concerns that if this trajectory continues, that Iran will at
some point approach that moment, that tipping point, if you will, where it
has a de facto military capability."We are doing everything in our power
to delay and deter that moment from occurring. That is why today, at this
point, what we need is international resolve. All countries have a special
obligation to do everything that they can to convince Iran t o move in a
different direction," he added.Crowley also noted that Clinton "reiterated
the United States's commitment to help with the PKK as a designated
foreign terrorist organization. The PKK remains a common enemy of Turkey,
the United States and Iraq and is a threat to the stability of the
region." "We continue to support efforts by Turkey and Iraq to deal with
the problem of the PKK," he added.Turkish officials accuse militants from
the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) of launching attacks on Turkish border
guards from Northern Iraq.Crowley also said that Clinton "encouraged the
foreign minister to continue important dialogue with Israel because that
relationship remains a vitally important one to the future of the region."
Turkish-Israeli relations have been strained since the May 31 Israeli raid
on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters, which resulted in
the killing of 9 Turkish citizens on board.(Description of Source: Kuwai t
KUNA Online in English -- Official news agency of the Kuwaiti Government;
URL: http://www.kuna.net.kw)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
11) Back to Top
American War Spending Enters the Era of Wikileaks
"American War Spending Enters the Era of Wikileaks" -- The Daily Star
Headline - The Daily Star Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:29:15 GMT
Thursday, August 12, 2010
What occurred on the floor of the People-s House two Tuesdayafternoons ago
was, quite possibly, the first ever congressional wikidebate.Lawmakers are
privy to all sorts of classified information and confidenti albriefings
about national security, but as they argued about a new spending billto
fund the war in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, they spent a good
bitof the afternoon bickering about things they-d seen on the
internet.'The debate to remove us from Pakistan becomes urgent in light of
theWikiLeaks expose,' Representative Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat,
saidof the posting of tens of thousands of classified US military
documents on awebsite this week.'I argue that the revelation of this
WikiLeaks, you know, thousands andthousands of documents, is evidence that
we need to work to continue to build(Pakistan-s) democratic institutions,'
Representative David Dreier,a Californian Republican,
countered.Representative Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, argued
that 'thedocuments that were published all over the world yesterday remind
us that wedon-t have any reliable partners; the Afghan government is
corrupt andincompetent.'Representative Howard Berman, a California De
mocrat, said the WikiLeakstreasure trove of documents 'isn-t a reason to
abandon our manyfriends in Pakistan.'It was one of those unnerving moments
when you realize that our leadersdon-t have any better handle on events
than the rest of us. Members ofCongress send troops to war and spend
trillions of dollars of thetaxpayers- (and the Chinese government-s) money
- and yetthey seemed to base their positions on the Afghanistan war on
what they-dread in the newspapers, watched on television or picked up from
the Web. Sevenyears after authorizing an invasion of Iraq in search of
phantom weapons ofmass destruction, lawmakers are basing policy on the
drip, drip, drip ofWikiLeaks?As lawmakers engaged in this wikidebate, the
only solid conclusion to emergewas that President Barack Obama had lost
whatever limited control he had overcongressional Democrats. In a rare
spectacle, the chairman of the HouseAppropriations Committee, David Obey,
a Wisconsin Democrat, announced that hewas opp osing the war spending bill
that he was expected to shepherd to passageon the House floor. 'I have the
obligation to bring this supplementalbefore the House to allow the
institution to work its will,' Obey said onthe floor, 'but I also have the
obligation to my conscience.'Obey, like other liberals, was also angered
that the White House had issued aveto threat that forced him to remove
from the bill funds for education andother domestic projects. The
defection by Obey and 101 other liberals forcedDemocratic leaders to rely
on support from Republicans for the war spendingbill.The liberals,
seething because they were outmaneuvered by Obama, authored aresolution to
force an end to US involvement in Pakistan. Thus began the greatdeluge of
wiki references. 'Yesterday-s revelations in documentspublished by
WikiLeaks,' said McGovern, show that 'the Pakistanintelligence agency
exerts great sway' over militant groups hostile tothe United States. That,
he said, argued for getting out of Pakistan.'I share a high level of
frustration,' Dreier responded,'with the reports that just came out this
past weekend, the WikiLeaksreport.' But, he said, 'these documents have
underscored theimportance ... ... to make sure we build up greater
civilian control' inPakistan.'The most alarming of the reports relating to
WikiLeaks,' Kucinichcontributed, were 'the ones that described the
collusion betweenPakistan-s military service and the Taliban.'Dreier
argued that 'the leak that came out' about the Talibanconnection 'is not a
completely new revelation.'Unmoved, McGovern said that 'in light of all
the questions that have beenraised' by WikiLeaks, 'it seems to me that it
is inappropriate forus to vote yes on a blank check for this
administration to do whatever theywant in Afghanistan.'Representative
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the ranking Republican on theHouse Foreign
Affairs Committee, worried aloud that 'some will focus onthe information
reportedly contained in the m any thousands of classified USdocuments ...
... as justification for this resolution.' She said thatwould be a
'knee-jerk approach to our national security.'However, the knee-jerk
accusation didn-t cause Kucinich to buckle. In hisclosing argument, he
invoked WikiLeaks three more times as justification forpulling out of
Pakistan.Conducting national affairs by wiki is inherently tricky. But if
members of theHouse are getting their intelligence briefings from the Web,
surely the eruditeand informed statesmen of the Senate know better - don-t
they?As House members attempted to out-wiki one another, the Senate Armed
ServicesCommittee was meeting on the other side of the Capitol to question
the incomingcommander of Central Command, General James Mattis. Senator
John McCain ofArizona, the ranking Republican, got right down to business.
'General,thank you again for your service,' he began. 'On the issue du
jourof the WikiLeaks ... ...'Dana Milbank is a columnist for The
Washington P ost. This is a replacementcolumn while David Ignatius is on
vacation.(Description of Source: Beirut The Daily Star Online in English
-- Website of the independent daily, The Daily Star; URL:
http://dailystar.com.lb)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
12) Back to Top
Yeni Ozgur Politika Headlines 5 August 2010
The following is a list of news headlines from the Yeni Ozgur Politika
website on 5 August; to request additional processing, please contact OSC
at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, fax (703) 613-5735, or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov - Yeni Ozgur Politika Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 21:47:13 GMT
Sister of Ape Musa Dies - Vetha Anter, sister of Ape Musa (Musa Anter),
the man considered to be the Kurdish wise man, died in the hospital in
which she was being treated.
Condolences in Elih (Batman) Continue - Condolence visits continue to the
tent that was opened for the Ozdemir Brothers and for Sedat Ozevin, the
former chairman of the Batman branch of the IHD (Human Rights Association)
and Batman Bar Association, who all lost their lives recently in Elih.
Police Attack Condolence Tent - Police used pressurized water and tear gas
in an attack on the condolence tent set up for a HPG (People's Defense
Forces) member who lost his life in Kercews (Gercus), Elih. People
protested the police attack, saying: "The AKP (Justice and Development
Party) government can't even tolerate having prayers said for the dead."
Soysal's Condition is Critical - Nurettin Soysal, a prisoner in the
Diyarbakir D-type closed prison who has lymph cancer, has been h
ospitalized in the Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital because his
situation has deteriorated. Now in intensive care, Soysal's condition
continues to be critical.
Boycott is Request for Autonomy - BDP (Peace and Democracy Party )
Co-Chairman Demirtas called for a boycott and said: "Empty ballot boxes
will demonstrate that the Kurds want Democratic Autonomy."
Turkey Begging For Roj TV - Amed Dicle: The Turkish government is
virtually begging everybody to close down our TV station. The Turkish
authorities are using two different issues to obstruct our broadcasting.
They are claiming that we are propagandizing for the PKK and that we are
receiving money from the PKK.
Kurdish Petitions Confiscated - Officials at the Kurkculer F-type closed
prison confiscated 54 Kurdish petitions written by custodial and convicted
prisoners to the enforcement judge
Why Didn't You Take Measures? - The women of Amed (Diyarbakir) who visited
the grave of Seyman Gunes in Kayapinar, Amed, who was found half-buried a
month and a half ago and who it was later learned had been killed by a
decision made by a family council, called out to the authorities: "You saw
the danger. Why didn't you take the necessary measures?"
Learning a Trade and Contributing to Family Resources - 25 women are both
receiving training and contributing to the family's financial resources by
attending a course on kilim-making that was opened last month by the
Sirnak Balveren Mayorality and is receiving support from the Center for
Public Education and from Is Kur (public agency that supports the
establishment of small businesses).
Was Hanife Burned to Death? - It turns out that 40-year-old Hanife Durak
of Malatya, who was reported to the police as missing 18 months ago, had
been murdered as an intra-familial killing. The prosecutor's office
believes that she may have been burned to death.
Sara Aktas: Empathy or Power to Un derstand - It is not easy to struggle
to exist in a world whose everyday violence smashes the textures of our
lives to bits.
High Temperatures Take Their Toll! - The heat wave that has sent
thermometers soaring to 6-8 degrees above their normal for the season is
causing a string of such human ailments as panic, worry, anxiety,
weakness, and even skin cancer.
TEDAS (Turkey Electric Company) Fines Emptied Village - TEDAS is sending
out electric bills to villages that haven't been visited in the past 20
years. In their reactions, the villagers say that they don't understand
the logic behind this.
Meaningful Meeting of Kurdish And Turkish Youth - Two teams from
Bielefeld, Germany, Yekspor, a team that plays in the Kreis Liga C Group,
and SC Bosphorus, a Turkish team that plays in the Kreis Liga B Group,
paved a new path with a meaningful meeting.
Mud and Cement to Solve Oil Leak! - BP, one of the world's biggest oil
companies, says that they have star ted to implement their
long-planned-for operation that will entirely seal off the oil that is
spilling into the Gulf of Mexico.
Things Get Messy in Italy! - The Italian house of representatives is going
to take a vote of confidence on Minister of Justice Giacomo Caliendo.
Caliendo is under investigation for his possible membership in "P3," a
secret organization made up of politicians and businessmen.
UN Asks Sides to Cool Down - After a clash that broke out on the
Lebanon-Israel border between the military forces of both countries, the
UN Security Council called an extraordinary meeting and asked both sides
to show moderation. Kurdish News:
Kurdish Workers Being Housed in Stables - Thousand of Kurds were forced to
migrate to cities around Turkey when their homes and villagers were burned
down. Because they face so many financial problems, they migrate every
year to Cukurova, Central Anatolia, the Aegean region and the regions
around the Black S ea.
55 Million Cluster Bombs in Ten Years - Iraqi Minister of the Environment
Nermin Osman said that 55 million cluster bomblets had been used between
1991 and 2001.
They Came Together for Seyid Riza - Citizens in Dersim (Tunceli) united in
their rejection of the order to remove the monument of Seyid Riza, a
pioneer of the Dersim rebellion. The people of Dersim people asked the
state authorities to face the truth.
Tandoor Ovens for "Clumsy" Women - When you walk down the streets of
Gulbahce you will see a sample of a tandoor oven, or even a whole group of
just-made tandoors.
Refusing to Become a Tool of the State - The TZP Kurdi (Kurdish Education
and Language Movement) called on Kurdish intellectuals: "Don't allow
yourself to be tools of the state's tricks and deceptions. Lay claim to
your own culture."
Bomb Under City Hall - On the heels of the killing of the former chairman
of the Elih Branch of the IHD and Bar asso ciation and the killing of a
cab driver in Sirnex, a time bomb was found underneath the Dersim city
hall. The bomb was discovered by chance by a city worker.
They Couldn't Tolerate "Feqiye Teyran" - Bekir Kaya, the Mayor of
Wan(Van), was angered by the fact that the governor of Wan refused to
allow a city park to bear the name of Feqiye Teyran. Kaya criticized the
governor's decision and said that this demonstrates the hypocrisy of the
state.
"Cemil Cicek Should Read Koran's Taha Verse" - Regarding the projects he
has carried out to date, Osman Baydemir, the mayor of the Greater
Municipality of Diyarbakir, said, "We started making world-shattering
changes in our region." He went on to say that this was not the first time
that a probe had been launched against him.
"Kurds Take Up Arms to Protect Themselves" - Kerim Bahri, a former MP of
the Kurdistan Federal region parliament said that Turkey left the Kurds no
o ther option other than taking up arms, and said that the Kurds do not
want war but are only trying to defend themselves.
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
13) Back to Top
Al-Hayah Commentary Urges Riyadh Set Conditions Before Agreeing Better
Iran Ties
Commentary by Saudi writer Abdallah Nasir al-Utaybi: "Ali Larijani Becomes
Pragmatist" - Al-Hayah Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 19:23:13 GMT
Only three assumptions can be made to explain this sudden change in the
way Iran deals with events, positions, and the situation in the region.
The first assumption is that Mr Larijani has re ally felt that Tehran has
driven Saudi-Iranian relations to a rough terrain that is no good for
communication, and that it now should deal with this mistake by building
model-type, clean relations with Riyadh. The second assumption is that he
thinks that Saudi Arabia is important in the region but plays roles that
are incompatible with its importance; therefore, through this call for
reconciliation, he wants Riyadh to return to the "right" path, as Iran
sees it. The third assumption is that he is trying to use Iran's
supposedly "advantageous" new relations with Saudi Arabia to get out of
the tunnel of the crisis that is badly shaking Iran's clerical
establishment.
Iran is going through a state of uncertainty. This is clearly reflected by
the recent statements of its leaders. These start with the promise of
complete control of the country's airspace by 2017, according to President
Mahmud Ahmadinezhad, through Iran's complaint to the UN made by i ts
representative Mohammad Khaza'i. In this Iran strongly protested
statements made by Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint
Chiefs of Staff, to the effect that plans are ready to hit Iran
militarily. They end with the two messages sent by Iran to Catherine
Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security
policy, and to IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano. These two messages
represent a new Iranian line based on a commitment to resume negotiations
over its nuclear project.
This state of uncertainty proves to those who follow Iranian affairs that
the sanctions have started to bite deep in Persia. In fact, the strike
waged by tradesmen in Tehran late last August (as published) was one of
the emerging signs of the impact of the international blockade. More such
signs are expected to appear in the next few months, exposing the silence
and blackout of the Iranian media,
The Government of Iran can bear many forms of foreign pressure , except
those related to a military action. It has a considerable and wide
experience in facing up to international pressure in view of the enormous
efforts it has been exerting since 1979 to assert its presence on the
international diplomatic map. However, the Iranian Government is very week
in confronting domestic pressure in any form and from any source. Even
though it has succeeded in running and hiding to overcome the pressure
following the 2009 election, it will not be able to resist if this
pressure is accompanied by that of the merchants who, in fact, are the
most influential group after the clerics.
Thus, Tehran has to look for a lifeline in this stormy sea of events, and
this is why its call for reconciliation with Riyadh is only a "temporary"
tactic that accords with the present stage. This is because it knows, and
this is a third assumption concerning Larijani's statements, that Riyadh's
influence in Washington can contribute first to the dr opping of the plans
of the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and then the lifting of
the economic and military blockade at a second stage. The Iranians believe
in political pragmatism; thus, there is no harm for them in becoming
"pragmatist" in order to maintain their political-religious revolution.
However, in turn, the Saudis can resurrect history and recall the stage of
rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh early in the nineties of the last
century. But then this rapprochement collapsed and it did not succeed in
making the Iranians forget what happened to their pilgrims in 1987, even
if they feign to forget it. Now, here is pragmatist Larijani himself
saying in a recent statement that the killing of the Iranian pilgrims in
Mecca will never be out of the minds of the Iranian people. This is at a
time when the Saudis have forgotten that stage and the subsequent
tragedies left by the Iranians in Mecca, and considered opening a new page
of relations w ith Tehran.
The Saudis are now fully aware of Iran's behavior, and this is why I
believe that this sort of statement is futile at this moment, and that it
does not have any more supporters in Saudi Arabia.
The first assumption concerning Larijani's statement, which is Iran has
realized that it is rowing against the tide in its relations with Saudi
Arabia in the end, requires Riyadh to put on the table a raft of demands
before accepting to shake the hand of Iran on the way to model-type, clean
relations. The first of these demands is stopping offering support to
Hizballah with money and arms, and considering that domestic Lebanese
affairs concern the Lebanese alone. This is in addition to an apology from
Larijani himself for a previous statement in which he said that: "Iran is
proud of supporting Hizballah, and considers it to be a considerable power
upholding an authentic aspect of Islamic thinking, namely jihad!" Iran
should do this; otherwise, it should just imagine a Sunni Lebanese trend
offering material and military aid to rebel Sunni groups to the west and
east of Iran, under the pretext that they uphold an aspect of authentic
Islamic thinking, namely jihad! There is no harm also in Iran just
imagining a group of Lebanese Maronites offering support for the Persian
Christian minority to help them retrieve a small amount of the roles they
lost in the desert of the Khomeynist revolution!
The second demand is that Iran should declare that the Huthists in Yemen
are nothing but a rebel, unlawful, and illegal group. It should also
apologize for Larijani's statements made against Saudi Arabia a month ago,
in which he claimed that the latter is crushing Muslim Huthists in Yemen.
Iran should do this; otherwise, it should just imagine the Yemeni
Government making successive statements about the injustice besetting the
Baluch and the Arabs of the Ahwaz in Iran!
The third demand is that Iran should not inter fere in the formation of a
new government in Iraq, and stop bolstering certain parties that that do
not wish the Iraqi people well. It should also allow all the Iraqi blocs
and groups to compete in the country in a free and responsible manner.
The fourth demand is that Iran should return to the UAE the three Emirati
Tunbs islands or agree to the arbitration of the International Court of
Justice.
The fifth demand is that Iran should give guarantees to strengthen the
trust of Riyadh that the Iranian nuclear program is completely devoted to
peaceful purposes.
Accepting to examine these five demands and then finding solutions for
them will prove that the Iranians have "good faith," as Larijani said in
his new courting statement. Otherwise, this will lead us to the second
assumption, to the effect that Tehran wants to guide Riyadh to the right
path! This will then be enough for me to conclude my article.
(Description of Source: London Al-H ayah Online in Arabic -- Website of
influential Saudi-owned London pan-Arab daily. URL:
http://www.daralhayat.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
14) Back to Top
Iraqi Kurdish Arabic Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from two Baghdad-based Kurdish
newspapers on 11 Aug. To request additional processing, please call OSC at
(800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, or fax (703) 613-5735. - Iraq -- OSC
Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:46:10 GMT
http://taakhinews.org/ http://taakhinews.org )
--Al-Ta'akhi 60-word report citing Sami Shorish, member of the Kurdistan
Blocs Coalit ion, as saying that his coalition's negotiating team came to
Baghdad to engage in more serious and in-depth talks with the other
political blocs.
--Al-Ta'akhi 70-word report citing Firyad Rawanduzi, member of the
Kurdistan Blocs Coalition, as saying that the religious authority might be
able to resolve differences within the "Shiite House," which precluded an
agreement between the SLC and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) on a
single candidate for the post of prime minister.
--Al-Ta'akhi 400-word report citing Haydar al-Suwaydi, MP for the INA, as
saying that MPs should work for the dissolution of parliament and for
conducting a repeat election to end the current political stalemate. He
added: The solution lies in forming a national salvation government that
should remain in office for only nine months. A repeat election will
produce a big bloc that would be assigned the task of forming the new
government, he maintained. Al-Suwaydi expected the curren t situation to
remain unchanged in the coming months.
--Al-Ittihad 1,300-word report citing a media source at the US Embassy in
Baghdad who preferred to remain anonymous as saying that Washington does
not support any candidate for the post of prime minister to the detriment
of others, and that it seeks a national government in which no Iraqi
political component is marginalized. The source added: Some Iraqi
politicians mistakenly believe that Washington supports a second term in
office for incumbent Premier Al-Maliki to Iyad Allawi's detriment. SLC
member Izzat al-Shabandar said that the deadline the INA gave for the SLC
to replace its candidate for the post of prime minister is meant to bring
about the disintegration of the National Alliance so that the INA may
enter into an alliance with the Al-Iraqiyah List and allow the latter to
head the next government. Al-Iraqiyah List member Muhammad Allawi said
that his list will not participate in a government that is headed by
incumbent Premier Al-Maliki. He added that the Al-Iraqiyah List's talks
with the SLC have not thus far produced any positive results, and that the
talks have been deadlocked due to Al-Maliki's insistence on heading the
next government. Allawi maintained that the INA informed the Al-Iraqiyah
List that it will not be part of any government headed by SLC leader
Al-Maliki. (Description of source: Baghdad Al-Ittihad Online in Arabic -
Website of Al-Ittihad, daily newspaper published by the Iraqi Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan, PUK; URL:
http://www.alittihad.com/ http://www.alittihad.com )
--Al-Ta'akhi 200-word report citing Al-Iraqiyah List member Jamal
al-Battikh as warning that a quick US troop pullout from Iraq will result
in a security deterioration across the country. He added that the
political blocs prevented the Al-Iraqiyah List from forming the new
government.
--Al-Ta'akhi 180-word report citing Al-Iraqiyah List member Aliyah
Nusayyif as saying that the international community and the United States
support a second term in offi ce for incumbent Premier Al-Maliki.
Meanwhile, the INA and the Al-Iraqiyah List are opposed to this, he added.
--Al-Ta'akhi 130-word report citing SLC member Haydar al-Jurani as saying
that the SLC wants the National Alliance to be a cohesive entity. Salman
al-Jamili, key leader of the Al-Iraqiyah List, said that there is a real
chance of cooperation between the Al-Iraqiyah List and the INA to form the
next government. He added: The INA is more realistic than other political
forces, especially the SLC, for it believes in partnership and in the
peaceful exchange of authority.
--Al-Ta'akhi 120-word report citing Al-Iraqiyah List member Arshad
al-Salihi as saying that he is optimistic that the Kurdish negotiating
team's working paper will bring about a breakthrough, which would help
resolve the standoff over the formation of the new government. It is worth
noting that the Kurdish nego tiating team arrived in Baghdad yesterday for
talks with the political blocs on a working paper it drafted two days
after the recent talks held between Premier Al-Maliki and Kurdistan Region
President Mas'ud Barzani in Arbil. Miscellaneous Reports
--Al-Ta'akhi 250-word report citing new Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hasan
Dana'ifar as saying that Iran is not interfering in Iraqi domestic affairs
in a manner that would destabilize Iraq. He was referring to US statements
that accused Iran of interfering in Iraqi domestic affairs. Dana'ifar
added: We condemn these statements. We have the right to file lawsuits
against those making these accusations at international courts.
--Al-Ta'akhi 230-word report citing Qasim Alwan, a Basra-based political
analyst, as saying that the timing of the current US troop withdrawal from
Iraq is inappropriate.
--Al-Ittihad 900-word report citing a news conference held by new Iranian
Ambassador to Iraq Hasan Dana'ifar at which he said that the international
sanctions clamped on Iran will not negatively impact economic ties between
Baghdad and Tehran. He regarded the smuggling operations carried out
between northern Iraq and Iran an Iraqi domestic affair, noting that Iran
does not need oil derivatives.
--Al-Ittihad 230-word report citing Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali
al-Dabbagh as saying that the cabinet approved the opening of two US
consulates in the Arbil and Basra governorates.
--Al-Ittihad 1,000-word report citing Kaka Rash Siddiq, head of the Kirkuk
Office of the Committee on the Implementation of Article 140 of the
Constitution, as saying that 600 families evicted from Kirkuk during the
era of the defunct regime will receive their compensation checks in the
coming days. Kirkuk Governor Abd-al-Rahman Mustafa received a delegation
of FRIATEC, a German supplier of pipes. He also received several officials
of the Kirkuk Chamber of Commerce. Press Commentaries
--In a 450-word e ditorial in Al-Ittihad, Deputy Chief Editor Abd-al-Hadi
Mahdi says: The Kurdish stand on the political efforts currently under way
to form the new government is being misunderstood once again. Just like
the other entities which have their own stands and demands, the Kurdistan
Blocs Coalition has its own stands and demands. Asking for the
implementation of constitutional provisions does not mean blackmailing
others or seizing an opportunity to make gains. Since the drafting of the
permanent Iraqi Constitution, the Kurds have been insisting on the
implementation of Article 140, which does not only apply to Kurdistan, but
to the rest of Iraq as well. However, the efforts made regarding the
implementation of this article were lacking in good faith. To avert what
happened in the past, the Kurdish negotiating team is demanding the
implementation of this article. The question is: Why are others afraid of
the implementation of this constitutional provision, which offers a clear
road map for a solution to the problem pertaining to disputed areas? This
article was meant to return things back to normal. It is puzzling that
many politicians are s aying that Article 140 has been rendered null and
void. This is indicative of ignorance of the law. Compliance with the
constitution cannot be selective. Premier Al-Maliki should not be
criticized for saying, during his recent visit to Arbil, that Article 140
is unstoppable because it is a constitutional provision. Rather, he should
be supported. This is because if this article is implemented properly,
many outstanding issues will be resolved. But it remains to be said that
the demands of the Kurdistan Blocs Coalition are not exclusively confined
to the implementation of this article. For there is a host of other
demands that the Kurds want to be met. Once these demands are met, it will
be easy to resolve the current crisis.
--In a 700-word article in Al-Ittihad, Sati Raji says: The United Nations
Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) submitted a report to the UN Security
Council (UNSC) containing a comprehensive assessment of the situation in
Iraq. The importance of the report lies in the fact that it was compiled
by a neutral body, which renders the report highly valuable. The report
made a long list of the failures of the Iraqi state. It pinpointed the
failures and setbacks of the Iraqi state. The report said that Iraq failed
to honor its obligations to Kuwait, which torpedoes Iraq's demand for a
release from the mandate of Chapter VII of the UN Charter. This is major
Iraqi policy failure. Besides, the report said that the US troop
withdrawal raises concern over the safety of UNAMI personnel, which sends
a negative signal to the countries that want to open embassies in Baghdad,
and to the firms that want to make investments in Iraq as well.
Furthermore, the report explicitly mentioned the security situation, which
is yet to be stabilized, as well as the continued terrorist att acks and
assassinations. The report noted that minorities in Iraq have continued to
experience harassment and acts of violence. Furthermore, it noted the
deterioration in basic services, particularly electricity, as well as the
problems pertaining to disputed areas and outstanding issues between the
federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The UNAMI
report revealed that the process of building the new Iraqi state stopped
at a certain phase, and that outstanding issues are yet to be resolved.
The report has failed to elicit any government response, and the
government's talk regarding the need to remove Iraq from the mandate of
Chapter VII of the UN Charter has evaporated into thin air. The report has
removed from circulation the sweet words used to paint a rosy picture of
the situation in Iraq. The report is objective, and that is why no
government agency has dared to question either its content or the
intentions of those who drafted it.
--In a 2 ,500-word article in Al-Ta'akhi, Mundhir al-Fadl says: On 6
August, the US State Department issued a list of 44 terrorist groups and
organizations. Most of them were Islamic bodies, including HAMAS, the
criminal Al-Qa'ida Organization, and Ansar al-Islam. The list also
included the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an organization that is
engaged in a fight for the freedom of the Kurdish people suffering Turkish
Government persecution. Meanwhile, the US State Department failed to put
some terrorist groups and organization on its list, including the Arab
Socialist Ba'th Party, whose members can be likened to German Nazis. This
shows clear disparities in US standards. Besides, this is reflective of
the absence of an internationally acceptable definition of terrorism.
Moreover, the US State Department list failed to mention the state
sponsors of terrorism, such as Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Ba'thists
have carried out a long list of criminal and terrorist attacks in Iraq.
That said, one wonders why the State Department failed to put the Ba'th
Party on its list of terrorist groups and organizations. This is
indicative of double standards.
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
15) Back to Top
Iraqi Press 11 August 10
The following lists selected items from the Iraqi press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735. - Iraq -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 15:18:23 GMT
following issues: I. CONTACTS TO FORM NEW ALLIANCES
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 900-word repo rt citing
Muhammad Iqbal, parliament member for the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front, as
holding the leaders of the winning parliamentary blocs, who refuse to give
mutual concessions, responsible for the delay in the formation of the new
government five months after the parliamentary elections. The report cites
senior Al-Iraqiyah List Leader Salah al-Juburi as holding the State of Law
Coalition and Iraqi National Alliance responsible for the delay in the
formation of the new government and urging them to recognize the list's
constitutional right to form the new government.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page and on page 2 a 1,000-word
report by Ali al-Tayyar on the study the Washington Institute for Near
East Policy, WINEP, published recently on the horizon of forming the new
Iraqi government during the holy month of Ramadan. The study predicts that
the Iraqi political forces would reach a deal based on the reduction of
powers given to the prime minister and the forma tion of the National
Security Council.
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on the front page a 700-word report citing
President Talabani as emphasizing the importance of forming a national
partnership government. The report cites senior Kurdistan Coalition Leader
Mahmud Uthman as saying that the Kurdish negotiating team arrived in
Baghdad yesterday, 10 August, to hold detailed negotiations with the
winning political forces on the distribution of the senior positions in
the new government.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 150-word report entitled "Al-Fadilah
Party: Party Will Not Join Opposition If Iraqi National Alliance Refuses
To Participate in New Government."
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 300-word report entitled "Muhammad
Allawi: Al-Iraqiyah List Insists on Forming New Government, State of Law
Coalition Will Eventually Accept Position of Political Council for
National Security.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 320-word report entitl ed "Al-Damaluji:
Kurdistan Coalition Demands Al-Maliki Reach Agreement With Al-Iraqiyah
List, Iraqi National Alliance."
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 300-word report entitled "Iyad Allawi:
Al-Iraqiyah List Rejects Concept of Power Sharing With Any Party, List
Seeks To Form New Government."
Al-Alam publishes on the front page and on page 2 a 1,000-word report
citing Izzat al-Shabandar, senior State of Law Coalition leader, as
playing down the importance of the Iraqi National Alliance's recent
ultimatum pertaining to the nomination of another candidate for the next
prime minister's post by yesterday, 10 August. The report cites senior
IISC Leader Jalal al-Din al-Saghir yesterday as saying that if the State
of Law Coalition and Al-Iraqiyah List coalition reach an agreement on the
formation of the new government, the alliance may join the opposition.
Al-Alam publishes on page 2 a 2,300-word interview with Vice President
Tariq al-Hashi mi on the latest political and security developments in
Iraq and the ongoing negotiations between the Al-Iraqiyah List and other
parliamentary blocs on the formation of the new government.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on the front page a 240-word report
citing Manal Finjan, member of the Iraqi National Alliance, as saying that
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, during his visit to the Kurdistan Region,
gave assurances to the Kurds to meet their demands in return for
supporting Al-Maliki. The report also cites Aliyah Nussayyif, member of
the Al-Iraqiyah List, as saying that the list does not acknowledge any
meeting between the political blocs that ignores the right of the list to
form the next government.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on the front page a 390-word report
citing Ma ysun al-Damaluji, member of the Al-Iraqiyah List, as saying that
the list has been frustrated by the State of Law Coalition's response to
the working paper that the list presented to the coalition, and affirming
that the list would not abandon its constitutional right to assume the
post of prime minister in the next government. The report also cites
Muhsin al-Sa'dun, member of the Kurdistan Coalition, as expecting the
political blocs to reach an agreement on the distribution of the senior
posts with the aim of forming the next government. Al-Sa'dun added that
the foreign and internal pressures, as well as the deterioration of the
security situation, make it incumbent upon the political blocs to settle
this issue next week.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on the front page a 240-word report
citing Adnan al-Sarraj, member of the State of Law Coalition, as saying
that the list will not leave the National Coalition. Al-Sarraj added that
the rejection of the nomination of the coalition's candidate for the prime
minister's post is considered interference in the coalition's affairs.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on the front page a 140-wo rd report on
the statement the Kurdistan Region's Presidency issued saying that Kurdish
President Mas'ud Barzani, the British ambassador to Iraq and the British
consul in the region held a meeting at the Salah-al-Din Resort in Arbil
during which they discussed the latest political and security developments
in Iraq and the ongoing negotiations between the political blocs on the
formation of the next Iraqi Government. They also discussed ways of
promoting bilateral relations between the region and Britain in all
fields, especially the investment sector.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 180-word report citing
Shaykh Hamid Mu'allah, member of the Iraqi National Alliance from the
Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council, as saying that the alliance still insists
on its demand that the State of Law Coalition nominate another candidate
instead of outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for the post of the next
prime minister.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 210-word report on the
statement the Iraqi Woman Movement issued calling on the parliament
members to pressure their leaders in order to hold a parliamentary session
with the aim of settling the issue of distributing the senior posts and
the formation of the next government or hold reelections if they fail to
settle this issue.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 180-word report
citing Muhammad Sa'dun al-Sayhud, member of the State of Law Coalition, as
saying that a number of former parliament members are obstructing the
formation of the next government.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 720-word report citing
Kurdish President Mas'ud Barzani as denying that the US delegation that
recently visited the Kurdistan Region had called on the Kurds to give
concessions with the aim of quickly forming the next government. The
report also cites Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as affirming that the
withdrawal of the US forces from Iraq and t he delay in the formation of
the next government will not affect the security situation in the country.
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on the front page a 280-word report citing
a number of politicians and observers as saying that Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki's visit to the Kurdistan Region has given new impetus to the
negotiations on the formation of the next government.
Al-Sabah carries on page 3 a 550-word report citing Ruz Nuri Shawis,
deputy prime minister and chairman of the Kurdish delegation that is
entrusted with holding negotiations with the political blocs, as saying
that the meeting between Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Kurdish
President Mas'ud Barzani brought about a major approximation between the
two parties. The report also cites Mahmud Uthman, member of the Kurdistan
Coalition, as saying that the coalition will hold decisive mee tings with
the other political blocs in the next few days. The report also cites the
Iraqi Islamic Party as cal ling on the political blocs to reconsider their
stances and give concessions in order to quickly form the next government.
Al-Adalah publishes on the front page a 360-word report citing Mahmud
Uthman, member of the Kurdistan Coalition, as saying that the Kurdistan
Coalition will hold decisive meetings with the other political blocs in
the next few days. The report also cites Baha al-A'raji, member of the
Iraqi National Alliance, as saying that the alliance has started holding
negotiations with the Al-Iraqiyah List and will start holding talks with
the Kurdistan Coalition next week with the aim of forming the next
government. He added that the alliance is waiting for the State of Law
Coalition to nominate another candidate instead of Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki for the post of the next prime minister. Al-A'raji affirmed that
the alliance would ally with the list and Kurdistan Coalition to form the
next government if the State of Law Coalition insisted on nominating A
l-Maliki for a second term. The report also cites Salman al-Jumayli,
member of the list, as saying that there is a real opportunity to
cooperate with the alliance in order to form this government. The report
also cites Sa'd al-Muttalibi, member of the State of Law Coalition, as
saying that the meeting that was held between Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki and Kurdish President Mas'ud Barzani in Arbil was fruitful.
Al-Adalah publishes on the front page a 210-word report saying that Vice
President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi and a delegation from the Al-Iraqiyah List
held a meeting during which they discussed the latest political
developments in the Iraqi political arena, including the formation of the
next government. During the meeting, Abd-al-Mahdi stressed the importance
of respecting the constitution.
Al-Adalah publishes on the front page a 200-word report saying that Sayyid
Ammar al-Hakim, chairman of the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council, and Ruz
Nuri Shawis, deputy prime minister and member of the Kurdistan Coalition,
held a meeting during which they discussed the issue of the formation of
the next Iraqi Government and the results of Prime minister Nuri
al-Maliki's visit to the Kurdistan Region.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 3 a 780-word report saying that Vice President
Adil Abd-al-Mahdi and the new Iranian ambassador to Iraq held a meeting
during which they discussed ways of promoting bilateral relations between
the two countries in all fields. The report also cites the Iranian
ambassador, during a press conference at the Iranian Embassy's
headquarters in Baghdad, as saying that Iran supports the formation of the
next Iraqi Government in which all the Iraqi components and political
blocs would participate, and denying the US officials' accusations that
Iran supports the armed militias in Iraq. The Iranian ambassador condemned
all the criminal attacks that have targeted the Iraqi citizens.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 3 a 670-wor d report citing Maha al-Duri,
parliament member for the Iraqi National Alliance from the Al-Ahrar Bloc,
as saying that the suspension of the talks with the State of Law Coalition
has not affected its negotiations with the other political blocs. The
report also cites Khalid al-Asadi, member of the coalition, as calling on
the alliance to quickly nominate its candidate for the post of prime
minister in the next government. The report also cites Muhammad Mashkur,
member of the alliance from the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council, as saying
that the alliance will hold a meeting soon to discuss the coalition's
insistence on nominating Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for a second term.
The report also cites Muhammad al-Bahadili, member of the alliance from
the Al-Ahrar Bloc, as saying that the alliance is seeking to form a
government in which all the political blocs would participate.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 3 a 220-word report citing Muhammad Allawi,
member of the Al-Iraqiyah List, as saying that the list insists on
assuming the post of prime minister in the next government. Allawi added
that the State of Law Coalition would accept the post of the chairman of
the Political Council for National Security.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 2 a 300-word report citing Muhammad Allawi,
leader in the Al-Iraqiyah List, as saying that the list is strong and does
not suffer from any kind of controversies like the other lists. The report
cites Mahmud Uthman, leader in the Kurdistan Coalition, as saying that the
coalition does not object to any candidate for the post of the prime
minister. The report cites Ala Talabani, member in the coalition, as
saying that the Kurdish factions would vote for Nuri al-Maliki in order to
settle the current political crisis in the country.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 5 a 100-word report citing Ali al-Khatib,
deputy chairman of the Shiite Waqf Directorate, as calling on the
religious authorities to intervene in the form ation of the next
government and nominate a suitable candidate for the post of the prime
minister.
Al-Mada publishes on page 2 a 200-word report citing Deputy Prime Minister
Ruz Nuri Shawis as saying that the meeting between Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki and Kurdish President Mas'ud Barzani was useful because it
brought the State of Law Coalition and Kurdistan Coalition closer.
Al-Mada publishes on page 4 a 500-word report entitled "Female Activists,
Civil Society Organizations in Dhi Qar Governorate Call for Speeding up
Formation of Government."
Baghdad on 10 August publishes on the front page a 100-word report saying
that the Coordination Committee of the Al-Iraqiyah List held a meeting to
discuss the latest developments in the political situation and the
negotiations to form the next government.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 300-word report
citing Shaykh Sabah al-Sa'idi, leader in the Iraqi National Alliance, as
saying that Nuri al-Maliki is ready to do everything in his power and give
up the principles and values in order to stay in the post of the prime
minister.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August publishes on the front page citing Basim
al-Awadi, media adviser of Ammar al-Hakim, chairman of the Iraqi Islamic
Supreme Council, as saying that Nuri al-Maliki has won the support of the
United States and a regional country to stay in power.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 500-word report citing Vice
President Tariq al-Hashimi as saying that the United States is exerting
pressure on the Al-Iraqiyah List to keep Nuri al-Maliki in his post as a
prime minister for another term and that the list refuses to give up its
constitutional right to form the next government.
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 150-word
report saying that a heated debate erupted among the members of the
Islamic Da'wah Party as some of the members reject the insistence on
giving the post of prime minister to Nuri al-Maliki. The report adds that
Oil Minister Husayn al-Shahristani might split from the State of Law
Coalition and join the Iraqi National Alliance.
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 100-word report
citing Mahmud Uthman, leader in the Kurdistan Coalition, as saying that
the religious authorities in the Al-Najaf Governorate can solve the
political crisis in the country if they end the tension between the two
main components of the National Alliance. II. REACTIONS TO MERGER OF STATE
OF LAW COALITION, IRAQI NATIONAL ALLIANCE
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on the front page a 360-word report
citing Ali al-Allaq, senior State of Law Coalition leader, as saying that
the coalition refuses to nominate another candidate for the next prime
minister's post. The report cites observers as predicting the collapse of
the Iraqi National Coalition due to the ongoing dispute between the State
of Law Coalition and Iraqi National Alliance over the nomination of the
next prime minister.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 200-word report citing Haydar
al-Jurani, senior State of Law Coalition leader, as saying that that the
coalition wants to maintain the Iraqi National Coalition's coherence.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 300-word report citing Amir
Thamir, parliament member for the Iraqi National Alliance, as predicting
that the alliance and State of Law Coalition would resolve their disputes
and nominate a candidate for the next prime minister's post.
Al-Adalah publishes on the front page a 110-word report citing Shaykh
Hamid Mu'allah, member of the Iraqi National Alliance, as saying that the
resumption of the negotiations with the State of Law Coalition would
depend on nominating another candidate for the post of prime minister
instead of outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki by the coalition. III.
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND C OMMENTS
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on the front page a 500-word report on
the statement the Iraqi Islamic Party issued on 9 August, urging the rival
political forces and leaders to put the interests of the Iraqi people
before their personal interests and to give mutual concessions in order to
quickly form the new government. The statement expresses concern over the
recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad and other governorates and warns of
the dangerous consequences of the current political and constitutional
vacuum on the security situation in the country. The report says that
under the patronage of Party Chairman Dr Usamah al-Tikriti, the party
organized celebrations in the Al-Fallujah District to mark its 50th
anniversary.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on the front page a 100-word report
entitled "Adil Abd-al-Mahdi Strongly Criticizes Al-Maliki, Confirms:
Al-Maliki's Government Is De Facto Government."
Dar al-Salam on 10 August pu blishes on the front page a 120-word report
citing an official source at the Kurdish Awqaf Ministry as saying that the
Kurdish Crescent Monitoring Committee, in cooperation with the Sunni Waqf,
will meet in Arbil on 10 August, to announce the first day of the holy
month of Ramadan.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on the front page a 400-word report
citing Muhammad Mahdi al-Bayyati, senior member of the Iraqi Islamic
Supreme Council, IISC, as strongly criticizing outgoing Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki for giving concessions pertaining to the implementation of
Article 140 of the Constitution to the Kurdish leadership during his
recent visit to Arbil.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on the front page a 340-word editorial
by the newspaper's chief editor attributing the recent security breaches
in Baghdad and other governorates to the delay in the formation of the new
government.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 760-word report citing I
mad Ahmad, member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's Political Bureau,
as denying his party's involvement in the export of oil to Iran.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page a 400-word report citing
General Ralph Baker, deputy commander of the US forces in Iraq, as
affirming the withdrawal of 15,000 US troops from Iraq before 1 September,
in compliance with the US-Iraqi security agreement.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page a 400-word report citing
Cabinet's Secretary General Ali al-Allaq as describing Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki's recent decision to give Transport Minister Amir Abd-al-Jabbar
a compulsory leave as legal and constitutional. Al-Allaq denies that
Abd-al-Jabbar had refused to sign contracts with two airline companies
owned by former Kurdish Premier Nijarvan Barzani in compliance with
Al-Maliki's instructions.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page a 500-word editorial by
Chief Editor Isma'il Zayyir commenting o n new Iranian Ambassador to Iraq
Hasan Dana'ifar's statements during his first news conference in Baghdad
saying that his country is planning to file lawsuits against the US Army
commanders in Iraq for holding Iran responsible for the recent terrorist
attacks in Iraq and demanding war reparations.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page and on page 3 a 760-word
report by Ali al-Tayyar entitled "US Congress Suspends Military Assistance
to Lebanese Army Over Suspected Ties with Hizballah."
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 2 a 600-word report citing observers
from the Diyala Governorate as warning of the implications of the ongoing
disputes between the Al-Iraqiyah List and Iraqi Islamic Party over the
senior positions in the local government on the security situation in the
governorate. The report says that the list and State of Law Coalition have
reached an agreement to replace the governor.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 5 a 300-wo rd report entitled
"Talabani Congratulates Muslims on Holy Month of Ramadan, Calls for
Formation of New Government."
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 5 a 500-word report entitled "Cabinet
Endorses Inauguration of Two US Consulates in Basra, Arbil."
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 2 a 400-word report entitled "Women's
Organizations in Dhi Qar Call for Resolving Current Political Crisis in
Country."
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 3 an 800-word report on the news
conference new Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hasan Dana'ifar held in Baghdad
yesterday, 10 August. Dana'ifar denies his government's interference in
the formation of the new government and the nomination of the new prime
minister.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 500-word report strongly
criticizing the Algerian and other Arab presidents for their recent
statements saying that they will not attend the upcoming Arab summit that
will be held in Baghdad in March 2011 if the US forces have not withdrawn
from the country by then.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 300-word report citing an
official source at the cabinet secretary general's office as affirming
that the cabinet instructed the ministries and state institutions to ban
public breakfasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Mu'tamar devotes part of the front page and all of page 4 to a report a
300-word report on the news conference new Iranian Ambassador to Iraq
Hasan Dana'ifar held in Baghdad yesterday, 10 August.
Al-Mashriq publishes on the front page a 370-word editorial by Dr Hamid
Abdallah condemning the recent attacks that targeted a number of traffic
police officers and wardens in Baghdad.
Al-Alam publishes on the front page and on page 3 a 1,200-word report
citing Jasim al-Sa'idi, chairman of the Baghdad Governorate Council's
Services Committee, yesterday, 10 August, as saying that the local
government cannot expose th e local companies that violated their
contractual obligations because they are affiliated with senior officials
in the government. The report cites former Parliament Member Bushra
al-Kinani as affirming that the parliament has not been able to follow up
the widespread corruption in the implementation of strategic projects in
the country.
Al-Alam publishes on the front page a 100-word report entitled "Baghdad
Rehabilitates Hotels in Preparation for Arab Summit."
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 4 a 680-word report citing
Sayyid Sadr-al-Din al-Qubbanji, official in charge of the Iraqi Islamic
Supreme Council in the Al-Najaf Governorate, during his meeting with a
number of journalists, as calling for endorsing the Journalists Protection
Draft Law.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 2 a 300-word report citing Iraqi Government
Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh as saying that the cabinet has endorsed the Iraqi
Foreign Affairs Ministry's recommendation to o pen two US cons ulates in
the Arbil and Basra Governorates.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 3 a 90-word report on the statement the office
of Ibrahim al-Ja'fari, chairman of the National Reform Trend, issued
saying that Al-Ja'fari arrived in Turkey and would hold meetings with the
Turkish president and foreign minister to discuss ways of promoting
bilateral relations between the two countries. (OSC plans no further
processing)
Al-Zaman publishes on the front page a 120-word report saying that the
cabinet has endorsed the recommendation of the Foreign Ministry to open US
consulates in the Arbil and Basra Governorates.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 2 a 300-word report saying that Salah-al-Din
Advisory Council Chairman Ahmad Abdallah Abd was conditionally released
from prison and that he resumed his activities as council chairman. The
report adds that members of the Diyala Advisory Council for the
Al-Iraqiyah List and State of Law Coalition have suspended their me
mbership in the council.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 5 a 300-word report saying that the Iraqi
Turkomans Front issued a statement in which it condemned the recent
statements made by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Article 140 of the
constitution and the situation in the Kirkuk Governorate.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 2 a 200-word report citing the new Iranian
ambassador to Iraq as saying that Iran encourages the Iraqi political
factions to form the government as soon as possible and that it does not
support any specific candidate or entity at the expense of the others.
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August devotes all of page 5 to an interview
with Al-Iraqiyah List Chairman Iyad Allawi which was broadcast on the
Al-Iraqiyah Satellite Television Channel.
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August devotes all of page 12 to a report on
late Lebanese Religious Authority Ayatollah Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah.
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah devotes all of page 19 to a report entitled
"Political Islam Does not Build Country, Establish Democratic State." IV.
SECURITY AND MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 250-word report citing
Wasit Governorate Council Chairman Mahmud Abdallah Talal as saying that
the Council's Security Committee held a meeting with the local councils to
discuss the latest security developments in the governorate.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 150-word report citing
Ninawah Governor Athil al-Nujayfi as affirming plans to reduce the number
of curfew hours in the governorate during the holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 2 a 200-word report saying that the
Al-Karkh Criminal Court sentenced a terrorist to death for his involvement
in a number of terrorist attacks.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 2 a 100-word report saying that the
Basra Criminal Court sentenced two terrorist to life imprisonment for
their i nvolvement in a terrorist attack in the Hay al-Husayn District in
Basra.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 2 a 100-word report citing an official
source at the Al-Sadir Hotel in Baghdad as affirming that a small fire
broke out at the hotel yesterday, 10 August.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 3 a 900-word report entitled
"Explosion of Two Bombs Attached to Cars in Southern Baghdad; Katyusha
Rocket Falls in Green Zone; Traffic Police Officer Escapes Assassination
Attempt in Al-Tubji District; Awakening Council Leader Killed in Northern
Babil Governorate."
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 5 a 700-word report by Imad al-Akhras
entitled "Checkpoints Turn Ba'qubah into Large Prison."
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 130-word report entitled
"Baghdad Operations Command Takes Measures To Combat Attacks Against
Traffic Police Officers."
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 200-word repor t entitled "Dh i Qar
Police Chief: Directorate Allocates Five Billion Dinars To Install
Surveillance Cameras in Al-Nasiriyah."
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 100-word report entitled "Clashes Break
out Between Police, Unidentified Insurgents in Southern Baghdad."
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 3 a 300-word report entitled "Plan To
Withdraw Traffic Police Officers, Wardens From Streets."
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 190 word report
citing Hana al-Ta'i, member of the Iraqi National Alliance, as saying that
the number of terrorist acts in the country has dropped.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 90-word report citing
Jinan al-Ibtisam, member of the State of Law Coalition from the Basra
Governorate, as condemning the terrorist act that targeted the innocent
civilians in the governorate, and calling on the local government to
dismiss the Basra police director. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 300-word report
citing Basim al-Awwadi, media adviser of the Iraqi Islamic Supreme
Council, as saying that the de facto government is obliged to protect the
citizens and provide them with the necessary public services. The report
cites the Al-Sadr Trend's Political Commission as condemning the recent
terrorist attacks that targeted the innocent citizens in the Basra
Governorate.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 300-word report citing
Hashim Lu'aybi, media director of the Basra Governorate Council, as saying
that the council has decided to question Basra Police Commander Adil
Dahham about the recent terrorist bombings and the dereliction of duty by
the security forces in the governorate. The report also cites Ali Ghanim,
chairman of the Security Committee at the Basra Governorate Council, as
holding the police agencies responsible for the bombings.
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 670-word report citing
Interior Ministry Undersecretary Ahmad al-Khafaji as saying that the
ministry has adopted new security measures to protect the traffic
policemen from the terrorist attacks in the capital.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 3 a 220-word report citing Vice President Tariq
al-Hashimi as saying that the attempts by the terrorist groups to
destabilize the security situation and undermine the security of the
society demonstrate the failure of the foreign agendas to impose
domination on the will of the Iraqi people.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 4 a 90-word report citing the Higher Judicial
Council as saying that the Al-Karkh Criminal Court has passed the death
sentence against a person who was convicted of implementing terrorist
acts. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Sabah publishes on page 4 a 100-word report citing Dhi Qar Police
Director Sabah al-Fatlawi as saying that the governorate has allocated
five billion Iraqi dinars to install su rveillance cameras at a number of
streets in the Al-Nasiriyah City. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Sabah carries on page 4 a 350-word report citing security sources as
saying that six persons, including a policeman, were killed and 24 others
were injured in a number of terrorist operations that targeted the
innocent citizens in several areas of Iraq. The report also cites a
security source as saying that an Awakening Council leader was injured in
an explosion that targeted his car in Al-Durah.
Al-Adalah publishes on the front page a 190-word report citing the deputy
commander of the US forces in Iraq, during a press conference at the Joint
Media Center in the Green Zone, as saying that the US forces will withdraw
15,000 soldiers from Iraq at the end of August according to the signed
security agreement between the two countries.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 420-word follow-up report citing General
Traffic Director Ja'far al-Khafaji as saying that the Interior Ministry,
in cooperation with the Baghdad Operations Command, has prepared a plan to
support and protect the traffic policemen. The report also cites Qasim
Ata, spokesman of the command, as saying that the elements of the
Al-Qa'ida Organization and Ba'th Party are targeting the patrols of the
traffic police with the aim of creating chaos on the Iraqi streets.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 3 a 360-word report by the editor citing a
police source as saying that a policeman was injured during clashes that
erupted between a Federal Police patrol and a number of terrorists in the
Jurf al-Sakhr Sub-District, south of the capital. The report also cites a
police source in the Al-Musayyab District as saying that Jurf al-Sakhr
Awakening Council's Commander Malik Yasin was assassinated and two of his
bodyguards were injured when unidentified gunmen attacked his car. The
report also cites Babil police source as saying that a citizen was injured
in an explosion near a checkpoint in the Musayyab District, north of the
governorate. The report also cites another police source as saying that
two civilians were killed and 13 others were injured, including a number
of policemen in two explosions west of the capital. The report also cites
another police source as saying that a traffic officer escaped an
assassination attempt in an explosion of a sticky explosive device that
was planted in his car in the Al-Tubji Neighborhood in the
capital.Al-Adalah publishes on page 4 a 730-word follow-up report
commenting of the recent terrorist acts that have targeted the traffic
policemen in the capital.
Al-Zaman publishes on the front page a 60-word report saying that a
traffic policeman survived as assassination attempt when an explosive
device planted in his car was detonated in the Al-Tubji District in
Baghdad.
Al-Zaman publishes on the front page a 250-word report saying that the
Al-Iraqiyah List issued a statement in which it condemned th e
assassination attempt against Ninawah Governor Athil al-Nujayfi. The
report cites Husam al-Azzawi, leader in the list, as saying that the
security situation depends on the stability of the political system and
the building of an institutional country.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 2 a 200-word report saying that the security
forces arrested the terrorist who hurled a hand grenade at a convoy,
injuring nine people in the Mosul District in the Ninawah Governorate. The
report adds that six people were injured when an explosive device
targeting a convoy was detonated in Mosul.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 4 a 300-word report citing Maytham Lafta
al-Fartusi, chairman of the Health and Environment Committee in the Maysan
Advisory Council, as calling on the international organizations to help in
the removal of landmines in the governorate.
Al-Mada publishes on the front page a 400-word report citing Haydar
al-Jurani, leader in the State of Law Coalition, as saying that the Iraqi
Army is able to handle the security responsibility after the withdrawal of
the US forces and that it has achieved many things recently.
Al-Mada devotes half of page 2 to a report on the recent clashes between
the security forces and the terrorists in the Al-Saydiyah District in
Baghdad.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 200-word report
citing Ali Muhsin al-Tamimi, parliament member for the Al-Sadr Trend, as
saying that the senior posts in the security institutions are being sold
to those who pay more and that while the security forces are not improving
their performance, the terrorists are developing and improving their
capacities.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 300-word report
citing a source as saying that pirates were able to launch attacks on
three ships in the Iraqi territorial waters in the Arab Gulf and that they
were able to rob these ships and escape. V. HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUES< br>
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 230-word report entitled
"Iraqi Islamic Party Organizes Monthly Meetings for Families of Martyrs in
Baghdad."
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 300-word report entitled
"Hit Youths Forum Organizes Training Course for Youths in District; CHF
Organization Organizes Seminar To Help Poor, Displaced Families in
Al-Ramadi in Al-Anbar Governorate."
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 550-word report citing
Diyala Health Director Dr Ali Husayn al-Tamimi as affirming that the
directorate held an expanded meeting to discuss the directorate's 2011
budget. Al-Tamimi affirms the inauguration of three children's wards at
the Al-Batul Educational Hospital in the governorate.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page a 700-word report citing
poor families from the Diyala Governorate as outlining their suffering due
to the lack of jobs and services and high prices of fruits, vegetables,
and other food items in the local markets.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on the front page a 170-word report citing
Baghdad Governor Salah Abd-al-Razzaq as affirming the inclusion of
foreigners, who have sustained damage due to terrorism or military
operations, in the Baghdad local government's compensation program.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 600-word report saying that Dr
Abd-al-Samad Rahman Sultan, minister of immigrants and displaced persons,
met with delegations from the neighboring countries to discuss the
situation of the Iraqi refugees residing in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 400-word report citing Diyala
Police Directorate Spokesman as saying that tribal disputes are
responsible for 5 percent of the ongoing violence in the country. The
report cites Mazin Habib al-Khayzaran, deputy chairman of the Diyala
Governorate Council's Tribal and National Reconciliation Committee, as
outl ining the committee's efforts to resolve the disputes between the
Sunni and Shiite tribes in the governorate.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 5 a 500-word report citing an official
source in the Dahuk Governorate as urging both the Kurdish and Iraqi
Government to provide aircraft to fight the fire that broke out in the
forest near the Zawitah Tourist Resort two days ago.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 5 a 200-word report on Kurdish Health
Minister Dr Tahir Hurami's speech at the seminar that was organized in
Arbil to discuss the Psychological Health Draft Law.
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 8 a 600-word report saying that the Iraqi
Center for International Studies, in cooperation with the Ibn Rushud
Education College, will organize the first international scientific
conference on radioactive pollution in Iraq in Baghdad on 23-24 November.
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 4 a 700-word report citing Baghdad Media
Center Director Ali al-Khalid i as affirming the graduatio n of the first
group of trainees from the center.
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 4 a 400-word report entitled "Iraqi Families
Prepare for Holy Month of Ramadan, Express Concern Over Increases in
Prices of Food Items."
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 4 a 260-word report entitled "Political
Prisoners Establishment Distributes 10 Million Iraqi Dinars in Housing
Grants to Former Political Prisoners Owning Residential Land Plots."
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 4 a 300-word report entitled "Civil Society
Organizations File lawsuit Against Temporary Parliament Speaker."
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 350-word report citing Nasir
Karim Qasim, director of the Solar Energy Research Center of the Science
and Technology Ministry, as saying that Iraq is suffering from a very
severe environmental crisis.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 155-word report citing a
media source a t the Environment Ministry as saying that all the sites
that the US forces in Iraq have handed over to the Iraqi Defense Ministry
are free from toxic materials.
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 500-word report citing acting
Trade Minister Dr Safa-al-Din al-Safi as saying that the ministry has
decided to distribute additional rationed food items to the families that
receive the Social Protection Network allowances during the holy month of
Ramadan.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 5 a 140-word report citing Environment Minister
Narmin Uthman as saying that the allocation of $20 billion is insufficient
for solving the problem of desertification in the country.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 5 a 270-word report citing an official source
at the Health Ministry as saying that the ministry sent 207 patients
abroad for treatment.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 4 a 180-word report on the statement the media
office of Baghdad Governor Dr Salah Abd-al-Razzaq i ssued saying that the
governorate will compensate the foreign victims of the terrorist attacks
and military operations in the country.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 4 a 70-word report on the statement the
Al-Najaf Governorate's media center issued saying that Al-Najaf Governor
Adnan al-Zarfi inaugurated a diabetes treatment center at the Al-Sadr
Hospital in the governorate at a cost of more than one billion Iraqi
dinars. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Zaman publishes on page 3 a 200-word report saying that 12 people have
died of insect-born diseases in the marshlands in the Al-Khayrat District
in the Karbala Governorate.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 5 a 300-word report entitled "Experts: Iraq
Witnessing Dangerous Environmental Crisis."
Al-Mada publishes on the front page a 200-word report citing Immigrants
and Displaced Persons Minister Abd-al-Samad Abd-al-Rahman Sultan as saying
that the government is not arranging the return of the I raqi refugees to
Iraq by force and that it is implementing programs to encourage them to
return to the country. VI. ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC SERVICES ISSUES
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 500-word report citing
citizens as outlining their suffering due to the hot weather and
electricity crisis.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 350-word report citing an
official source at the Ninawah Agriculture Directorate as outlining the
directorate's projects in the past two years.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 400-word report saying
that Dhi Qar Governor Talib Kazim al-Hasan met with the representatives of
a Japanese oil company to discuss the development of the Al-Nasiriyah Oil
Field.
Dar al-Salam on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 300-word report on the
Salah al-Din Governorate Council's 27th session that was presided over by
acting Council Chairman Ammar Yusuf, which was devoted to discussing an
offer subm itted by an investment company for the construction of 1,000
residential units in the governorate.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 2 an 800-word report on the recent
increase in the number of bottled water vendors on Baghdad's streets due
to the hot weather and frequent traffic congestions.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 600-word report citing Al-Karkh
Electricity Director Sabah Aqrab as outlining the directorate's activities
and achievements.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 600-word report citing acting
Trade Minister Safa al-Din al-Safi as outlining the ministry's efforts to
provide the rationed food quotas during the holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 400-word report on the recent
increases in the prices of food items in Baghdad's markets prior to the
holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 600-word report on the
celebrations the Al-Diwaniyah Education Directorate organize d to honor
top students and the schools that achieved distinguished results in the
last academic year.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 9 a 1,000-word part two of a
three-part report by Dr Salam Sumaysim entitled "Stock Market, Economic
Development."
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 4 a 200-word report citing an official
source at the Electricity Ministry as affirming the linkage of the old and
new Jamilah auxiliary power stations in Baghdad.
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 4 a 1,300-word report citing fishermen
from the Basra Governorate as outlining their problems and demands.
Tariq al-Sha'b devotes most of page 5 to public complaints.
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 4 letter by the Electricity Ministry
responding to articles published by the newspaper.
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 4 a 250-word report citing an official source
at the Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry as saying that
the ministry has decide d to transfer the assistant professors who failed
to achieve scientific promotion six years after their appointment to other
ministries.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on page 5 a 210-word report citing
Abd-al-Hadi Salman, an Iraqi economist, as saying that the Iraqi
Government has failed to rehabilitate the industrial sector in the
country.
Al-Muwatin on 10 August publishes on page 5 a 170-word report citing an
Iraqi economist as saying that the fires that broke out in the
Al-Sulaymaniyah Governorate have negatively affected the tourism sector in
the governorate.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on the front page a 200-word report
citing Dr Mahdi al-Allaq, chairman of the Central Agency for Statistics
and Information Technology of the Planning and Development Cooperation
Ministry, as saying that the population census is a technical and not a
political issue.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on page 4 a 100-word report citing Kamil
al-Sa'di, Ba ghdad deputy governor for technical affairs, as saying that
all the strategic projects in the capital will be implemented by foreign
companies. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on page 4 a 160-word report saying that
the Water Resources Ministry is implementing a water project in the
Al-Harthah Sub-District in the Basra Governorate.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on page 4 a 170-word report saying that
the Agriculture Ministry participated in the workshop that was organized
by the Iraqi Institute for Economic Reform during which ways of
rehabilitating the agricultural sector in the country were discussed.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 220-word report citing
Kirkuk Governor Abd-al-Rahman Mustafa as saying that the governorate's
quota from the oil revenues during the past five months amounted to 130
billion Iraqi dinars.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 180-word report citing
Diyal a Water Director Murtada al-Makdami as saying that his directorate
has completed a water treatment station north of the Ba'qubah City that
will supply water to more than 5,000 people.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 220-word report citing the
media spokesman for the Dhi Qar Governorate Council as rejecting the idea
of turning the agricultural land into housing and commercial land, saying
that this step negatively affects the agricultural situation in the
governorate.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 250-word report citing
Ra'id Sa'i, director of the Maysan Investment Commission, as saying that
the commission has prepared a plan to invest in the tourist areas in the
governorate.
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on the front page a 240-word report citing
Qahtan al-Juburi, minister of state for tourism and antiquities, as saying
that the ministry has discovered 12,000 new archeological sites in seve
ral areas of the country dur ing the past three years.
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 100-word report citing a
source at the Oil Ministry as saying that the ministry has decided to
increase the kerosene quota of the private electricity generators during
the holy month of Ramadan. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on page 4 a 200-word report citing a
source at the Baghdad Municipality as saying that the municipality has
allocated seven billion Iraqi dinars for the cleaning sector in the
capital.
Al-Bayan on 10 August carries on page 4 a 100-word report on the statement
the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry issued saying that it has organized
a number of training courses for the unemployed persons who are registered
by the ministry. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Sabah publishes on page 2 a 150-word report citing Trade Ministry
Undersecretary Walid al-Hilu as saying that the ministry has formed a
higher committee that will be e ntrusted with the task of examining and
paying the due payments to the traders who imported the rationed food
items for the ministry.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 2 a 190-word report citing an official source
at the Culture Ministry as saying that a number of major international
companies are competing to implement the Cultural Al-Najaf City Project in
the Al-Najaf Governorate.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 5 a 320-word report citing Oil Ministry
Undersecretary Mu'tasim Akram as saying that the ministry provides the
Baghdad Governorate with 6.5 million liters of gasoline a day.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 120-word report citing a media official at
the General Directorate for Electricity Power Transmission as saying that
the directorate's engineering and technical teams have rehabilitated five
electricity power towers that were sabotaged three days ago.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 an 80-word report saying that the
Electricity Power Projects Direct orate is implementing a project to link
the New Jamilah Electricity Power Station with the Old Jamilah Electricity
Station. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 55-word report saying that Dhi Qar
Governor Talib al-Hasan inaugurated a pedestrian bridge in the
Al-Nasiriyah City at a cost of 360 million Iraqi dinars. (OSC plans no
further processing)
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 60-word report citing Al-Diwaniyah
Municipality Director Jawad Kazim Gharqan as saying that the department
has distributed 3,473 land plots to the government employees, displaced
persons, martyrs families and senior officials. (OSC plans no further
processing)
Al-Adalah publishes on page 2 a 280-word report citing a media source at
the Baghdad Municipality as saying that the municipality has completed the
rehabilitation of a number of streets at a cost of 1.5 billion Iraqi
dinars. The source added that the Baghdad Water Directorate completed 91
percen t of the rehabilitation of drinking water networks in a number of
areas in the capital at a cost of five billion Iraqi dinars.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 4 a 75-word report citing Karbala Martyrs
Establishment Director Ahmad al-Tayyar as saying that the local government
has allocated a land plot to construct a housing complex for the martyrs'
families in the governorate. (OSC plans no further processing)
Al-Adalah publishes on page 6 a 330-word report citing the construction
and housing minister as saying that the ministry is implementing a number
of strategic projects to construct 28 housing complexes in Baghdad and the
governorates.
Al-Adalah publishes on page 6 a 110-word report on the statement the Water
Resources Ministry issued saying that the ministry will implement an
irrigation project in the Basra Governorate at a cost of 350 billion Iraqi
dinars.
Al-Zaman publishes on the front page a 100-word report citing Sabah
Abd-al-Kazim, chairman of the Legal Department at the Contracts and
Licenses Directorate at the Oil Ministry, as saying that Iraq will be one
of the main exporters of gas to Europe in the next two years.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 2 a 300-word report saying that dozens of
citizens in the Karbala Governorate staged a demonstration in protest over
the poor electricity services that are provided to them. The demonstrators
called for dismissing the chairman of the Electricity Directorate in the
governorate and for dissolving the parliament which has failed in forming
the government.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 3 a 200-word report saying that the Culture
Ministry has allocated 800 million dinars to expand the Imam Ali Holy
Shrine in the Al-Najaf Governorate.
Baghdad on 10 August publishes on page 4 a 200-word report saying that the
Salah-al-Din State Company is implementing projects to rehabilitate its
own buildings and a number of its production lines.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 Aug ust devotes all of page 6 to a report on the problem
of drought in Iraq.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August devotes all of page 13 to a report entitled
"Economic View of US Invasion of Iraq: Reasons, Results." VII. PRESS
COMMENTS
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 2 a 900-word article by Amir al-Hilu
on the suffering of the Iraqi people due to the hot weather and
electricity crisis.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 3 a 600-word article by Jihad Zayyir
commenting on the recent calls for reelections to resolve the current
political crisis over the formation of the new government, and urging the
new parliament to play its role in forming the new government.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 4 a 600-word article by Hasballah
Yahya strongly criticizing the Iraqi political leaders for delaying the
formation of the new government in order to maximize their gains while
neglecting the problems of the Iraqi people.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes o n page 9 a 500-word article by Sadiq
al-Azraqi criticizing the rival Iraqi political forces for not focusing on
the new government's economic programs.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 11 a 1,000-word article by Sadiq
Bakhan urging the new government to consolidate patriotism in order to
combat the ongoing sectarianism in the Iraqi society.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 11 a 500-word article by Ahmad Shakir
al-Halfi strongly criticizing the Trade Ministry for its failure to
provide complete rationed food quotas.
Al-Sabah al-Jadid publishes on page 11 a 600-word article by Sami Hasan
urging the UN Security Council to intervene to resolve the current
political crisis over the formation of the new government.
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 3 an 800-word article by Abd-al-Razzaq
al-Safi on the growing public resentment at the disputes between the rival
political forces and leaders over the senior positions in the new
government.
Tari q al-Sha'b publishes on page 4 a 1,200-word report by Lewis Fu'ad
al-Mi'mar criticizing the Trade Ministry for reducing the number of
rationed food items.
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 5 a 500-word article by Kifah Muhammad
Mustafa strongly criticizing the Iraqi officials and political leaders for
their undeserved privileges in the Green Zone while neglecting the
problems of the Iraqi people.
Tariq al-Sha'b publishes on page 8 a 900-word article by Ni'mah
Abd-al-Latif entitled "World Bank, Educational Policies."
Tariq al-Sha'b devotes all of page 10 to a report listing the names of a
new group of the 2,612 Iraqi Communist Party's martyrs who have been
granted pension recently.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 5 a 600-word article by Hamzah al-Janabi
entitled "Environmental Pollution, Diseases."
Al-Mu'tamar devotes most of page 5 to public compla ints.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 8 a 700-word article by A'ishah a l-Mari
holding the Al-Qa'ida Organization responsible for the recent attack
against the Japanese oil vessel in the Arab Gulf.
Al-Mu'tamar publishes on page 8 a 760-word article by Nihad Isma'il
entitled "Arab Satellite Television Channels, American Conspiracy."
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 6 a 760-word article by Abd-al-Amir al-Majar
entitled "Lebanese Spies, Early Lesson for Iraqis."
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 6 a 1,300-word article by Abd-al-Husayn
Sha'ban criticizing Israel for the ongoing human rights violations against
the Palestinian people.
Al-Mashriq publishes on page 7 a 600-word article by Shamil Abd-al-Qadir
urging the Iraqi people to protect the holy shrines of all of the Iraqi
sects.
Al-Mashriq publishes on the back page an 800-word article by Sabah al-Lami
discussing the Al-Qa'ida Organization's new strategies in the next period.
Al-Alam publishes on page 5 a 600-word article by Ahmad Sa'dawi empha
sizing the importance of normalizing and strengthening the Iraqi-Iranian
relations on the interests of the two countries basis.
Al-Alam publishes on page 8 a 600-word article by Maytham Lu'aybi
discussing the concepts of debts and loans.
Al-Alam publishes on page 11 a 700-word article by Abd-al-Khaliq Gitan
commenting on Vice President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi's recent statements and the
ongoing exchange of accusations between the rival political leaders.
Al-Alam publishes on page 11 a 1,000-word article by Shubbar al-Husayni
evaluating the performance of outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in
the past four years and discussing his chances of securing a second term
in office.
Al-Alam publishes on page 11 a 700-word article by Nasir al-Hajjaj
criticizing the Iraqi lawyers and jurists for not performing their duties
in society.
Al-Alam publishes on the back page a 600-word article by Ahmad al-Muhanna
accusing the Shiite forces of trying to depriv e the Al-Iraqiyah List of
its right to form the new government for sectarian reasons.
Al-Da'wah on 10 August publishes on page 9 a 230-word article by Salah
Nadir al-Mandilawi commenting on the delay in the formation of the next
government.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 300-word article by Hamid
Amin commenting on the report that the United Nations recently issued
saying that 25 percent of the Iraqi people are living below the line of
poverty.
Al-Istiqamah on 10 August publishes on page 6 a 550-word article by Baqir
al-Fadli commenting on the delay in the formation of the next government
and UN Security Council's Resolution 1936 in which it extended the work of
the UN Mission in Iraq to another year.
Al-Bayan on 10 August publishes on page 3 a 330-word article by Dr
Abdallah al-Itabi commenting on the reasons for the State of Law
Coalition's insistence on nominating Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for a
second term.
Al-Sabah publishes on page 3 a 270-word article by an observer strongly
criticizing the Algerian Government for rejecting the participation in the
next Arab Summit in Baghdad under the pretext that there are foreign
forces in Iraq. The writer rejects this excuse since the foreign forces
will withdraw from Iraq seven months before the convening of the next Arab
summit.
Al-Zaman publishes on page 3 a 400-word article by Imad Allaw entitled "Is
Iraq an Oil Producing Country?"
Al-Zaman publishes on page 15 a 500-word article by Sabah Ali al-Shahir
entitled "Regionally Accepted Prime Minister."
Baghdad on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 600-word article by Husam
Tabrah who comments on the significance of an interview with Al-Iraqiyah
List Chairman Iyad Allawi which was broadcast on the Al-Iraqiyah Satellite
Television Channel.
Baghdad on 10 August publishes on the front page a 300-word article by
Abd-al-Rahman al-Azraqi who criticizes the p olitical factions that do not
recognize the right of the Al-Iraqiyah List to form the next government.
Baghdad on 10 August publishes on page 2 a 300-word article by Abu-Fatimah
al-Khafaji who says that the immature politicians envy Al-Iraqiyah List
Chairman Iyad Allawi for having good relations with world and Arab
leaders.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August publishes on page 11 a 300-word article by Kifah
Mahmud Karim entitled "Everything for Sake of Posts in Iraq."
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August publishes on page 6 a 500-word article
by Hasan al-Bazzaz entitled "Assessing Democratic Option in Fighting
Terrorism in Iraq."
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August publishes on page 10 a 500-word
article by Ghalib al-Zanjabili entitled "Al-Maliki: Who's Friend?"
Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah on 10 August devotes half of page 10 to an article
by Qasim al-Ubudi entitled "Impact of Electoral System on Partisan
Coalitions." VIII.CORRUPTION
Al-Sabah publishes on the front page a 160-word report citing Ziyad Ahmad,
chairman of the Integrity Committee at the Diyala Governorate Council, as
accusing a number of local officials of stealing the documents of the
Electronic Government Project to cover up administrative corruption cases
in this project.
Al-Bayyinah on 10 August devotes all of page 5 to a report on the spread
of corruption in the government institutions.
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
16) Back to Top
Israeli Arabic Press 6 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Israeli Arabic press on 6
August. To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center
at ( 800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Israel -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:22:43 GMT
http://www.islammov.net/ http://www.islammov.net/ )
The 700-word editorial on page 2 of Kull al-Arab entitled "The Negev: A
Transfer of 80,000 Citizens" claims that besides the five Arab villages in
the Negev that experienced house demolitions so far, another 45 villages
are under the same threat. The editorial claims that these actions by the
Israeli Government "necessitate submitting complaints to international
organizations, (because) what Israel is doing is an action of hostility
against its own citizens." The editorial concludes by saying that "what is
worse is that the popular and official incitement continues against those
Arabs, who are accused of breaking the demographic balance, especially
because they marry more than one woman." (Nazareth Kull al-Arab in Arabic
-- Independent Israeli Arab weekly; URL: http://
http://www.alarab.co.il/ http://www.alarab.co.il/ ) Head of Committee of
Arab Local Councils Foresees no Change in Status of Israeli Arabs
In a 2,000-word interview on pages 12 and 22 of Al-Sinnarah, Ramiz
Jaraysi, mayor of Nazareth and head of the committee of Arab local
councils, says that the latest strikes and demonstrations declared by Arab
local councils come in protest against the conduct of the Israeli
Government in regard to "master plans, house demolitions, and authority
areas " along with the deprivation of Arab councils from budgets. Jaraysi
also tells the newspaper that the major methods of struggle available to
Israeli Arabs today are: Popular protest, appeals to Israeli courts and
Knesset members, and bringing the problems of Israeli Arabs to the
awareness of the international community. As for the prospects of success
in this struggle, Jaraysi says that he antici pates no change or
improvement in the near future, noting that "whenever there is a crisis,
we are compelled to take some action and then we make some achievements."
(Nazareth Al-Sinnarah in Arabic -- Independent, largest circulation
Israeli Arab weekly; URL:
http://www.sonara.net/248.php3 http://www.sonara.net/248.php3 )
Commentator Says US Withdraw From Iraq Sign of Defeat
The 400-word commentary on page 2 of Sawt al-Haqq wa al-Hurriyah by Editor
in Chief Hamid Aghbariyah, entitled "Iraq as a Sign of What is Yet To Come
in Afghanistan" claims that the decision of US President Barack Obama to
withdraw the US Army from Iraq by the end of August 2010 is "a sign of an
upcoming defeat in Afghanistan that will become the talk of the nations
and a subject for historians and observers for years to come." The
commentary concludes by saying that despite the declaration of US
President Barack Obama that his "efforts will be foc used on fighting
'terrorism in Afghanistan,' the situation of the US occupation in this
Muslim country that smashed the Soviet bear indicates a defeat that will
make the defeats in Iraq and in Vietnam look like a joke." (Umm al-Fahm
Sawt al-Haqq wa al-Hurriyah in Arabic -- Weekly mouthpiece of the northern
branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel led by Shaykh Ra'id Salah; URL:
http://sawt-alhaq.com/ http://sawt-alhaq.com ) Commentator Accuses Israeli
Media of Incitement For War
The 700-word commentary on page 2 of Sawt al-Haqq wa al-Hurriyah by Tawfiq
Muhammad, general overseer of media outlets in the Islamic Movement,
entitled "On the Verge of a New War?" claims that the Israeli media had
played a major role in inciting the Israeli Government to launch the war
on Gaza at the end of 2009 by "exaggerating every event in the Strip in a
way that makes every news 'consumer' believe it was a major security
event." The commentary says that t oday the Israeli media is doing the
same thing in relation to the recent missile attack on Elat, inciting for
a major military operation against HAMAS in Gaza. Report on Druze
Delegation From the Golan To Convince MK Nafi To Resign Kull al-Arab
carries a 900-word report on page 4 on efforts by BALAD to convince MK
Sa'id Nafi, former member of the party, to resign from the Knesset and
thus allow the execution of the rotation agreement between BALAD and
former RA'AM-TA'AL MK Abbas Zakhur. The report goes on to say that a
delegation consisting of Druze notables from the Golan Heights met Nafi at
his house in Bayt Jan in order to convince him to resign upon request from
BALAD Secretary General Awad Abd-al-Fattah. The report says that so far,
all the attempts to convince Nafi to resign have failed.
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
17) Back to Top
Turkish Press 11 August 2010
The following lists selected items from the Turkish press on 11 August; to
request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735, or fax (703) 613-5735. For Islamist press highlights, see
GMP20100811006001 - Turkey -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:29:09 GMT
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/
Calling for "an honest debate" on Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir's
suggestion that "a yellow-red-green-colored flag should wave beside the
star-and-crescent flag in front of the municipality," Mehmet Akyol in an
850-word article in the same newspaper describes the demand for regional
autonomy as "p remature" and adds: "We first need to understand each other
before finding out how to live together. All else is destined to hit the
walls of ignorance, prejudice, and hatred." (processing)
Writing in the same newspaper, Yusuf Kanli in a 900-word article refers to
the withdrawal of US combatant troops from Iraq and argues that the
government might have launched the Kurdish overture with the aim of
protecting the Kurds in northern Iraq. Asserting that the Kurds' demand
for autonomy will eventually lead to Turkey's division, Kanli underlines
that Turkey is entitled to defend its citizens until the PKK lays down
arms. (processing)
The fact that moderate Kurdish politicians such as Ahmet Turk and Aysel
Tugluk have been elected cochairman of the DTK means that the PKK will
soon announce a cease-fire, says Cengiz Candar in a 700-word article in
Radikal and adds that if the 12 September referendum is held in a peaceful
environment, the Kurdish people wi ll be able to freely vote in favor of
the package. Imrali should also display the same common sense, argues
Candar and adds: "If the point that has been reached makes Imrali realize
that civilian and democratic politics will be more influential in Turkey
in the future, the messages that will be conveyed from there will be based
on the new balances both in terms of Ocalan's own future and the general
interest of the Kurdish political movement." The path for Turkey's
democratic future will further be paved with the PKK's cease-fire decision
and a rational message that will be received from Imrali, concludes
Candar. (Istanbul Radikal Online in Turkish -- Website of pro-secular and
liberal daily owned by Dogan Media Group; URL:
http://www.radikal.com.tr/ http://www.radikal.com.tr )
Rather than waging a war with the aim of ending the war, the army and the
PKK are waging a war with the aim of satisfying the anger of the "enraged"
Turks and Kurds a nd continuing with the war, says Taraf columnist Ahmet
Altan in a 700-word article and draws attention to the need for "a
willpower that aims to ensure that the Turks and the Kurds live more
happily, more freely, more prosperously, and in further equality as well
as the need for the courage that will put this determination into action.
There is need for a Turkish and a Kurdish Mandela to this end, asserts
Altan and argues that Erdogan may assume the role of the Turkish Mandela,
while Abdullah Ocalan may assume the role of the Kurdish Mandela.
(Istanbul Taraf Online in Turkish -- Website liberal daily supportive of
the Justice and Development Party government's reform efforts, and of the
military's disengagement from politics; URL:
http://www.taraf.com.tr/ http://www.taraf.com.tr ) Referendum on
Constitutional Amendment Package
Joost Lagendijk, in a 750-word article in Hurriyet Daily News, assesses
the criticism leveled by Republican People's Party, CHP, Ch airman Kemal
Kilicdaroglu and Milliyet columnist Riza Turmen against the constitutional
amendment package and says: "The choice on September 12 is not between an
independent or a politicized judiciary, as Kilicdaroglu wants us to
believe. It is between keeping a system in place, which is not
representative of present-day Turkey or modernizing the key judicial
bodies, reflecting Turkish plurality and enabling them to critically
monitor every party in power." (processing)
Erdogan displays great anger during his campaign for the referendum
because he knows that if he is not able to come to power in the next
elections, he will be referred to the High Tribunal, says Tufan Turenc in
a 500-word article in Hurriyet and maintains that Erdogan is trying to
reshape the Constitutional Court and the High Council of Judges and
Prosecutors, HSYK, with the aim of protecting himself and his colleagues.
Also questioning whether the crisis at the Supreme Military Council, YAS,
aimed at assisting Erdogan to win the referendum, Turenc adds: "Was it
worth creating so much tension in this country for eight days? If Hasan
Igsiz and the 11 generals who have not been promoted are innocent, how
will they be compensated? What about the illegal and unlawful arrest
warrants issued prior to the YAS meeting? Furthermore what about the fact
that 16 generals were summoned to testify in the midst of the YAS meeting?
Is it not true that all this shows that the judiciary is acting in line
with the demands of the political government? Is it not true that this
destroys the respectability of the state of law?" (Istanbul Hurriyet
Online in Turkish -- Website of pro-secular, mass-appeal daily, one of
country's top circulation papers, owned by Dogan Media Group; URL:
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ http://www.hurriyet.com.tr )
In a 2,000-word letter to Hurriyet, Nationalist Action Party, MHP,
Chairman Devlet Bahceli explains the reasons behind his de cision to vote
against the constitutional amendment package in the referendum.
Does anyone believe that the Kurdish problem will be resolved by
stationing a special army along the border, asks Oral Calislar in a
710-word article in Radikal and, underlining that "the problem is not on
the other side of the border," says: "It will be possible to begin solving
this problem by admitting that the murderers of Vedat Aydin who had been
taken from his home in Diyarbakir and executed by shooting had received
their instructions from the state." The Justice and Development Party,
AKP, government which has achieved considerable results in overcoming the
military hegemony should courageously face the Kurdish reality, asserts
Calislar and calls on the government to communicate with the Peace and
Democracy Party, BDP, for understanding the demands of the Kurds. Rather
than being a military problem, the Kurdish problem is a social and
political problem and a solut ion will be found only by looking at the
problem in this manner, underlines Calislar and adds: "The Kurdish problem
will be resolved with the Kurds."
Assessing Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc's letter to Hurriyet on why
he will vote in favor of the package, Radikal 's Murat Yetkin in a
530-word article stresses that no one cares about the contents of the
package and that "the referendum has turned into political polarization."
The AKP officials' statement to the effect that the opposition parties,
the PKK, and the media have united against them have also led to political
polarization, argues Yetkin and cites Arinc's criticism against the
opposition for not acting constructively during the preparation of the
package. Arinc may be right in his criticism, notes Yetkin and asserts
that if the CHP had assigned a representative to the Constitutional
Conciliation Committee that had been established by Arinc, it would have
been possible to prepare a mor e democratic constitutional amendment
package that would not lead to concerns about civilian dictatorship or the
rule of the majority and that would embrace broad sectors.
Ismet Berkan, drawing attention to the battle of world between Erdogan and
Kilicdaroglu in a 500-word article in the same newspaper, criticizes the
CHP leader for responding to the prime minister's unpleasant and
aggressive style in the same manner. Is it appropriate to start a fight
with the same style, asks Berkan and says: "Is it not true that acting in
this manner means accepting to wrestle on the prime minister's wrestling
mat? For a moment the CHP members should ask themselves: Is it not true
that we would be at a different point if Kilicdaroglu were to say: 'The
country is in need of solutions, rather than fights. My interlocutor is
the nation, rather than the prime minister. The prime minister is merely
my political rival'?" YAS / Criticism Against the Turkish Armed Forces,
TSK
The TSK has always topped the list of the most trustworthy institutions in
Turkey and it has been turned into a target during the past several years
in an effort to destroy this image, says Fikret Bila in a 350-word article
in Milliyet and stresses that the weaker the TSK is, the more comfortable
it is be to wage a struggle against the foundation philosophy of the
Turkish Republic and Ataturk's reforms and principles. Bila calls upon the
TSK to respond to the accusations and to display transparency.
(processing) (Istanbul Milliyet Online in Turkish -- Website of
pro-secular daily, one of country's top circulation papers, owned by Dogan
Media Group; URL:
http://www.milliyet.com.tr/ http://www.milliyet.com.tr )
The fact that the civilians controlled the latest YAS meeting is of
historic importance in terms of the civilian-military ties and therefore,
in terms of Turkish democracy, says Vatan 's Rusen Cakir in a 550-word
article and assesses the reasons for th e success of the civilian
government. Drawing attention to how powerful the AKP government is
throughout the country and talking about the support extended to the
government not only by the pro-AKP media organs but also by the media
organs of the Fetullah Gulen Community and the Taraf newspaper, Cakir also
argues that the government has actively included the supporters of the
Gulen Community in the TSK in the fight for rendering the military
ineffective. In conclusion, says Cakir, "it is possible to say that the
winners and the losers thus far have been considerably shaped. Therefore
in the period ahead we may witness new kinds of power struggles and
especially wars for sharing the gains between the winning sides (or the
sides that think that they have won)." (Istanbul Vatan Online in Turkish
-- Website of pro-secular daily owned by Dogan Media Group; URL:
http://www.gazetevatan.com/ http://www.gazetevatan.com )
Describing the victory won by the AKP i n the YAS meeting as a "Pyrrhic
victory," Mumtaz Sosyal in a 360-word article in Cumhuriyet says: "Yes,
with the efforts of the AKP government "one of the criteria of the world
and the EU" that is summarized as the operation of the military under the
civilian government appears to have been captured, but at what cost? The
confidence in the judiciary, the president, and the traditions of the army
has been shaken... Even worse, this latest developments have shaken the
influence of Turkey's most important trump card in the world politics --
the influence of its army." (Istanbul Cumhuriyet Online -- Website of
Kemalist daily; URL:
http://www.cumhuriyet.com/ http://www.cumhuriyet.com )
The fact that the civilian will has taken control of the 2010 YAS meeting
is a beginning, rather than a final achievement, says Yasemin Congar in a
700-word article in Taraf and emphasizes that Turkey's democratization
requires the rearrangement of the ti es between the military and the
judiciary. The fact that Hasan Igsiz who is being charged with plotting
against the elected government has not been promoted is appropriate, says
Congar and stresses that if the General Staff works under the National
Defense Ministry, "the criminal customs" in the army will eventually
diminish. After all, says Congar, this will be a reasonable step in terms
of implementing in Turkey the system that is adopted in the NATO
countries." Crisis Between the Government and the Judiciary
According to a 300-word unattributed report in Taraf, a crisis similar to
the YAS crisis has emerged due to the fact that the jurist members of the
HSYK insist on appointing a "reinforcing judge" to work with the judges
and the prosecutors in charge of the Ergenekon case and on the promotion
and relocation of Prosecutor Ziya Oz. The report says that Justice
Minister Sadullah Ergin and Justice Ministry Undersecretary Ahmet Kahraman
atten ded the HSYK meeting yesterday in order to prevent the jurist
members from issuing a "pirate decree." UN Inquiry into Gaza Flotilla
In a 500-word commentary in Milliyet, Semih Idiz asserts that despite the
fact that the inquiry into the Mavi Marmara incident gives Israel quite a
headache, this does not mean that Turkey will achieve the results that it
desires. Things could have been different if the UN secretary general had
a strong personality and if he were able to stand upright, says Idiz.
(processing) Appointment of Ambassador Francis Ricciardone to Turkey
According to a 200-word report by Ilhan Tanir in Vatan Kansas Senator Sam
Brownback, who according to Tanir is known with his support for the
Armenian claims, has stopped Ricciardone's appointment. Tanir explains
that the delay does not mean that Ricciardone will not be approved and
notes that the Senate will reach the final decision in this regard.
Material in the World News Connection i s generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
18) Back to Top
Article Says WikiLeak Exposes Designs of Foreign Forces in Afghanistan
Article by Asif Haroon Raja: WikiLeak exposes US-NATO atrocities -
Pakistan Observer Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:47:32 GMT
While US private Bradley Manning under interrogation may be made into an
scapegoat, the question is whether it was he who transferred over 92000
documents on to his computer and then passed it on to WikiLeak or was it
Julian Assange who with the help of insiders in Pentagon managed to gain
access to classified archives stored in a safe house? Julian rather than
feeling scary on being poi nted out is in upbeat mood and is tantalizingly
giving interviews to the media justifying his act and asserting that
'bastards must be sorted out'. He has interacted with media in London
knowing that majority of British are against war on terror and US
policies.
Logically, WikiLeak after delivering a severe blow to US military by
exposing demonic behavior of US soldiers operating in Iraq should have
either been blacked out or kept under strict watch. No such thing was done
as a result of which it has repeated its act at a much bigger scale and
created a worldwide stir second time. If WikiLeak was not in Washington 's
control, New York Times, a mouthpiece of CIA, should not have been among
the drumbeaters. Guardian also tows official policy and is a not a rebel
newspaper; and so is Der Spiegel. So why this highly damaging report has
been allowed to go public; it is simply bewildering? It indicates another
failure of US, which will further aggravate the jumble in which the US is
intertwined.
If we go by the so-called veracity of documents accusing Pakistan of its
linkage with Taliban since 2004 and presence of Haqqani network and
Al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan, one fails to comprehend as to why the US
military failed to take physical action against known targets particularly
when it has been making extensive use of drones against suspected targets
in FATA? Why did they keep sleeping over it for over five years and why
the sudden hullabaloo now? Why have the top guns of USA led by Hillary
started to hound Pakistan so viciously? There is something cooking.
I reckon many more suchlike revelations exposing Indo-US-Israeli grimy
designs and dirty games would take place in coming months when US military
would get stranded and helpless in Afghanistan . In Iraq deep hostility
between British senior military commanders towards their American allies
revealed in classified government documents was leaked to Daily Telegraph.
The US militar y was described as 'a group of Martians'. Anatol Lieven in
his article titled 'The National Interest: All Kayani's Men', confirmed
that Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan was created to pitch it against Pak Army
and enmesh it in fighting on home ground irreversibly. NY Times identified
brother of Karzai as a CIA operative and a major opium dealer and having
close ties with Taliban. David Obeg, Chairman House of Appropriations
Committee vehemently maintained that Afghanistan is a similar quagmire
like Vietnam that could bankrupt Obama's domestic agenda. He said US had
unreliable partners in Vietnam and now in Afghanistan . It had been
predicted by economic wizards that American economy would be spiraling out
of control sooner than later and would reach critical point by end 2010
and implode by mid 2011. USA has become a bankrupt country. Americans
being largest consumers in the world are unable to borrow further monies
to buy cheap goods from China , Japan and other Asian countries. D emand
for dollar has evaporated; dollar status as a reserve currency and its
usefulness is being questioned more vocally. Dollar value is fast
deprecating and its banks are closing.
Whereas it is a reality that no US think tank, newspaper or official has
ever written a single sentence on Indo-US-Israeli-Afghanistan nexus and
their designs against Pakistan , WikiLeak has lifted the curtain. Although
under US pressure head of this website has attempted to minimize the
damage by telling an Indian news reporter that all reports less the ones
pertaining to Pakistan were unreliable, it cannot be denied that US
military has suffered the mo st from this disclosure. What is most
worrisome for US military operating in Afghanistan is the exposure of
names of their Afghan informers and some within Taliban ranks working as
double agents? Their fate is sealed since the Taliban would never spare
them. This factor will further shrink US battle intelligence capability,
thereby compoun ding their problems during ongoing testing times.
Thanks to few upright people in USA and western countries as well as
whistle blowing independent websites, the world is now getting more
educated about deepening mess in Afghanistan . Sooner than later, pieces
would start falling in right places and real picture would emerge, which
had been kept hidden all these years. There have been occasional reporting
of use of excessive force by ISAF in Afghanistan, about torture tales in
Gitmo, Bagram Base and Abu Gharib jails, but none could imagine the scale
and gruesome nature of atrocities against Afghans as disclosed by
WikiLeak. 150 bombing incidents on civilians killing mostly women and
children had never been reported. Wedding ceremonies, funerals, children
school buses and passenger buses have not been spared by trigger happy
Yankees. Jets, gunship helicopters and drones have caused maximum
casualties. Logs have also indicated use of Blackwater to capture or kill
marked Taliban. WikiLeak has provided incriminating material for their
trials for committing war crimes.
There were strong reasons for sacked Gen McChrystal to restrain his
swashbuckling cowboys from firing indiscriminately and causing large scale
civilian fatalities. Hawks in Obama Administration had constantly pushed
him for quicker results without caring for human destruction. Irked by
their haughty behavior, he decided to call it a day. Is there some
connection between WikiLeak-Rolling Stone-McChrystal? Moreover, is there a
connection between Times Square incident, visit of three rasping top US
leaders to Islamabad in July, WikiLeak revelations, Cameron's derogatory
remarks and Karzai's diatribe?
WikiLeak has inadvertently provided a golden opportunity to Pakistan to
expose hidden designs, subversive activities and black deeds of occupation
forces in Afghanistan and to blunt their smear campaign. The world is now
eagerly looking towards whistle blowing websites li ke WikiLeak to throw
light on following ambiguities: 1. Other than the declared objectives of
USA, what was the hidden motivation to occupy Afghanistan? 2. What was the
purpose behind setting up a huge intelligence centre at Jabal-al Siraj
near Kabul comprising six intelligence agencies? 3. How did Osama bin
Laden and whole lot of Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders' laird in Tora Bora
slip out in December 2001, which subsequently became the key cause of US
intractable troubles in Afghanistan? 4. Is Osama dead or alive and if
alive where is he located? 5. How did defeated, ousted fugitive Taliban
managed to regroup so speedily and started hitting back at occupation
forces from 2003 onwards? 6. Details of harrowing atrocities committed by
Northern Alliance warlords against captured Taliban and Pakistani
prisoners after the fall of Taliban regime in December 2001. 7.
Details of $3 billion spent by CIA to win loyalties of corrupt Afghan
warlords to help form a government in Kab ul under puppet Hamid Karzai. 8.
Details of profits earned from illegal drug trade in Afghanistan and who
all shared the profit to run covert operations against Pakistan and Iran.
9. Particulars of tens of Pakistan specific training camps and
intelligence setups of RAW-Mossad in Afghanistan and their methods of
indoctrination of suicide bombers. 10. Idea behind Af-Pak policy and why
did it fail to kick off. 11. How come 16000 foreign troops coupled with
9000 Afghan troops backed by massive aerial and ground firepower failed to
overpower few hundred ill-equipped Taliban in Marjah which has jeopardised
US offensive drive in southern and eastern Afghanistan?
--The writer is freelance analyst.
(Description of Source: Islamabad Pakistan Observer Online in English --
Website of the pro-military daily with readership of 5,000. Anti-India,
supportive of Saudi policies, strong supporter of Pakistan's nuclear and
missile program. Chief Editor Zahid Malik is the author of books on
nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan; URL: http://www.pakobserver.net)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
19) Back to Top
Writer Says Turkey Entitled To Defend Citizens Until PKK Lays Down Arms
Commentary by Yusuf Kanli: "Prerequisite" - Hurriyet Daily News.com
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:08:11 GMT
The Sunnis were made to hate the Shiites; Shiites were made to hate the
Sunnis; Sunni and Shiite Arabs were made to hate the Kurds. That is the
outstanding "success" of the United States' occupation of Iraq. In today's
Iraq, Sunni and the Shiite elements might be seen at each other's neck,
involved in a merciless campaign of attrition against each other.
Tomorrow, no one should be surprised if these hordes illegality joined
forces against something worse than the enemy: the Kurdish "brothers"
living in "autonomous Kurdistan" in northern Iraq, who collaborated
voluntarily with occupation forces.
It might not come immediately after the planned Aug. 31 withdrawal of
American combat troops but sooner or later at one point the rest of Iraq,
irrespective of their religious affiliations, will unite in a campaign to
punish the "traitors" who collaborated with the enemy, a phenomenon
considered in the Middle Eastern culture of being worse than the enemy
itself. Such an unfortunate development would of course further
destabilize Iraq, but will be unavoidable unless either the United States
maintains a sufficiently strong force with high deterrence power in
northern Iraq even after withdrawal of its combat forces from ou r
neighboring country or if the Americans convince Ankara to become a
"protector" of the "autonomous Kurdistan" of Iraq.
Is it possible for a Turkey having problems with its own ethnic Kurds and
fighting for the past 25 years a separatist terrorist gang which besides
elements in Turkey has its headquarters and some major camps in the
territory of that "autonomous Kurdistan" to become a protector for the
Kurds of Iraq, the loyal collaborators of Turkey's strategic partner
United States in the decade-long Iraq catastrophe? That is the guiding
reason behind the American-contracted yet still ambiguous "Kurdish" or
"democratic" opening or the "peace and brotherhood project" of the ruling
Justice and Development Party, or AKP government.
While the "opening" long turned into a "closure" because of the
incomprehension problems the contractor has been suffering as regards to
what was wanted from it and how it would achieve the project, the
government, shy to formally declare the failure of the task it was
contracted, has been in efforts to find a face saving way out.
In the mean time, while vast sections of the Turkish society were sent
into a phobia that the country might be eventually divided because of the
ambiguous nature of the "opening" micro-Kurdish nationalists aspiring to
some sort of a self rule if not full partition from Turkey started
stepping up their demands.
Now the talk is centered on an ambiguous "democratic autonomy" as if
people of this country are fool enough not to understand that such a
development is nothing less than a phased partition of Turkey or a step by
step carving out of a Kurdistan from Turkish territory.
It was first Osman Baydemir, the mayor of Diyarbakir, who lately spelled
out the idea. Then, it became clear that Baydemir and others were all
voicing what the separatist chieftain Abdull ah Ocalan has said in his
enforced-life-term cell at the Imrali island prison.
Most lately, executives of the Peace and Democracy Party, or the BDP, the
political wing of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK,
terrorist gang convened a "Democratic Society Convention" during which
they clapped hands and danced to the tunes of the PKK's song and declared
how democratic and united Turkey would be if Turkey agreed to establish
regional autonomous administrations, among them a Kurdish autonomous
region in eastern Turkey where along with the Turkish flag the flag of the
separatist terrorist gang would be hoisted.
More? As if this nation is fool enough to accept such oddities, it was
demanded that the PKK should be converted into a regional army of the
autonomous Kurdistan; including the PKK chieftain all convicted terrorists
should be provided with an amnesty or at least should be subjected to
"house arrest." Furthermore, as if Turkey is a counterpart of the gang, it
was stressed that Turkey and the PKK should simultaneously stop use of
force...
There is absolutely a need to resolve the Kurdish problem. The Kurdish
problem, like the overall democratization problem of Turkey, must be
resolved within the framework of democracy, supremacy of law and without
hurting the national and territorial integrity of Turkey with such odd
ideas like "democratic autonomy." Until after there is a resolution and an
end to separatist terrorist violence, it is the prime responsibility of
Turkey to take whatever measure is require for the defense of its
citizens. And of course, should there be a real opening for a real
resolution of this important problem, the prerequisite is the laying down
arms by the PKK gang.
(Description of Source: Istanbul Hurriyet Daily News.com in English --
Website of Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review, pro-secular daily,
with English-language versions from other Dogan Medi a Group dailies; URL:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
20) Back to Top
Brazil Economic Issues 10-11 Aug 10 - Brazil -- OSC Summary
Thursday August 12, 2010 03:07:35 GMT
http://www.estadao.com.br/ http://www.estadao.com.br ) Argentina Fears
Retaliations from Brazil
- Sao Paulo O Estado de S. Paulo's Marina Guimaraes reports that Argentine
entrepreneurs from the agriculture machinery sector fear that Brazil might
retaliate due to Argentina's restrictions to products imports. According
to Carlos Castellani, vice president of the Chamber of Agriculture Mac
hinery Manufacturers, Carlos Castellani, "there may be tensions with
Brazil due to the delay in granting imports licenses to product
originating from the neighboring country." Brazilian Industry Not Ready
For Ethanol Market Growth, Says Study
- Brasilia Agencia Brasil's Daniel Mello reports on 11 August that the
Brazilian industry is not prepared for the ethanol market expansion which
is expected to occur over the next ten years, according to a study
prepared in partnership between the IADB and the Sao Paulo State
Federation of Industries (FIESP). According to one of the managers of the
study, the Brazilian industry still does not view the biofuels market that
is being created with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
particularly among more developed countries. (Brasilia Agencia Brasil
WWW-Text in Portuguese -- Government-owned news agency. URL: as of filing
date: http://www.agenciabrasil.gov.br/ ) Resumption of
Colombian-Venezuelan Relations Expect ed To Pressure Brazilian Exporters
- Sao Paulo Valor's Marcos de Moura e Souza reports that Brazilian
exporters are expected to again face competition from Colombia in the
Venezuelan market as the Andean countries resume their trade flow after
restoring diplomatic relations yesterday. According to the report,
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian President-Elect Juan Manuel
Santos met yesterday to discuss the normalization of commercial and
diplomatic ties. (Sao Paulo Valor Online in Portuguese - Website of
financial daily published jointly by the Folha and Globo media
conglomerates; URL:
http://www.valoronline.com.br/ http://www.valoronline.com.br ) Lula Wants
To Mark Mercosur Consolidation During Term in Office
- Sao Paulo Sao Paulo O Estado de S. Paulo's Celia Froufe reports on 10
August that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants his term in office
during the Mercosur presidency over the last months of the year to be
remembered for the pr ogress made in the social and productive areas of
the region. According to the report, the information was given by the
Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha, after a
ministerial meeting with the President. "The President will be the
president of Mercosur until 31 December and wants to be the mark of
consolidation," Padilha stated. President Lula Earmarks Funds For
Brazilian Nuclear Program
- Sao Paulo O Estado de S. Paulo's Marta Salomon reports on 10 August that
according to the Minister of Science and Technology Sergio Rezende,
President Lula has decided to earmark a sum of 127 million reais (R) in
the 2011 federal budget, for investments in the Brazilian nuclear program
and to overcome the delay in the nuclear fuel cycle to export enriched
uranium by the end of the decade. According to the report, the Brazilian
nuclear program was discussed in a reserved meeting between Lula and a
group of ministers two weeks ago. The self-sufficiency i n the nuclear
fuel cycle, planned initially for 2013, was dismissed in the meeting. The
target now is to reach that objective the following year, but that depends
on investments in the first year of Lula's successor's term in office. The
amount earmarked is the first part of the money needed to expand the
conversion scale of the uranium concentrate into gas, in an intermediary
phase of uranium enrichment still entirely carried out overseas, and to
increase the manufacture of ultracentrifuges. The total cost of the new
plants is R348 million in three years. President Lula Sanctions Budget
Guidelines Law for 2011
- Sao Paulo Folha de S. Paulo reports on 10 August that President Lula
sanctioned the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO) for 2011. According to the
report, the text was published today in the Daily Gazette. The LDO has the
objective of guiding the drafting of the fiscal and social security budget
and the budget for public sector investments. (Sao Paulo Folha de Sao Pa
ulo Online in Portuguese - Website of generally critical of the
government, top-circulation newspaper; URL:
http:www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp) Administration Expects Industrial
Production To Grow by 11.5% This Year
- Sao Paulo Folha de S. Paulo's Thais Bilenky and Mario Sergio Lima report
on 10 August that despite the drop in industrial production in the second
quarter, the administration projects a growth of 11.5% in 2010 in relation
to 2009 in accordance with the Brazilian Economics in Perspective Report,
released on 10 August. Social Networks Contributed To 335 Million Reais in
Online Purchases
- Sao Paulo Folha de S. Paulo's Gabriel Baldocchi reports on 10 August
that social networks such as Orktut, Facebook, and Twitter are influencing
the virtual trade in Brazil and according to a study conducted by e-bit, a
consulting firm on e-commerce information, the media contributed to
spending in the amount of R335 million in virtual trade in the first half
of the yea r, and e-commerce grew by 40% in the first half of the year in
comparison with the same period of 2009. Brazil Should Increase Ownership
of Petrobras, Says ANP Director
- Sao Paulo Folha de S. Paulo reports on 10 August that the general
director of the National Petroleum Agency (ANP), Haroldo Lima, upholds
that the government should increase its ownership of the Brazilian
Petroleum Corporation (Petrobras) after the company is capitalized.
According to Lima the price of oil reserve that the federal government
will use in the operation should be the highest possible, because that is
"good for Brazilians." Bovespa Drops 1.17% with Data from China, US;
Dollar Rate Reaches 1.76 Reais
- Sao Paulo Folha de S. Paulo reports on 10 August that Brazilian bonds
recorded a devaluation early today following international markets and
investors around the world are operating cautiously prior to the Federal
Reserve meeting this afternoon after economic data showed tha t growth is
decelerating in the United States and China.
The following media were scanned and no file worthy items were noted:
(Description of source: Sao Paulo Brasil Economico - Online version of
economic daily; URL:
http://www.brasileconomico.com.br/ www.brasileconomico.com.br )
(Rio de Janeiro JB Online in Portuguese - Website of center-right
commercial daily affiliated to the Catholic Church; URL:
http://jbonline.terra.com.br/ http://jbonline.terra.com.br )(Rio de
Janeiro O Globo Online in Portuguese -- Website of Rio de Janeiro's top
cir culation daily, part of the Globo media conglomerate; URL:
http://oglobo.globo.com/ http://oglobo.globo.com )(Brasilia Correio
Braziliense Online in Portuguese -- Website of pro-government daily
generally differs from printed version, which is available on site to
subscribers; URL:
http://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/ http://www.correiobraziliense.com.br
)(Porto Alegre Zero Hora (Intern et version-WWW) --- Porto Alegre's
leading daily
http://zerohora.com.br/ URL:http://zerohora.com.br )
(Brasilia Jornal de Brasilia (Internet Version-WWW) in Portuguese ---
Brasilia daily URLhttp://www.jornaldebrasilia.com.br/)
(Sao Paulo Agencia Estado in Portuguese - Center-right, largely
pro-administration news agency)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
21) Back to Top
Argentina Political and Economic Issues 11 Aug 10
For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Argentina - OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:48:11 GMT
- Buenos Aires Clarin's Augusto Rojas reports from Santa Marta that
Colombia and Venezuela reinitiated diplomatic relations last night after a
long meeting here between their respective presidents, who thanked former
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner for his good offices as Union of South
American Nations (Unasur) secretary general. (Buenos Aires Clarin.com in
Spanish -- Online version of highest-circulation, tabloid-format daily
owned by the Clarin media group; generally critical of government; URL:
http://www.clarin.com/ http://www.clarin.com ) Kirchner Plays Up-Down Role
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Mariano Obarrio reports that Kirchner's role in
the mediation between Colombia and Venezuela provoked "criticisms" in
Brasilia and "upset" in Caracas, but he finally paved the way for
yesterday's summit, in which Colombia and Venezuela agreed to restart
diplomatic relations. (Buenos Aires lanacion.com in Spanish -- Website of
conservative, se cond highest-circulation daily; generally critical of
government; URL:
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/ http://www.lanacion.com.ar ) (OSC translating
as LAP20100811021002) Kirchner Celebrates Mediation as Own Achievement
- Buenos Aires El Cronista reports that Kirchner played a "key" role in
unblocking the conflict between the two Caribbean countries and will
utilize his role to counteract the months of inaction and overlapping of
posts that provoke some complaints and distrust among regional presidents.
(Buenos Aires El Cronista.com in Spanish -- Website of independent
newspaper owned by Spain's Recoletos Group, focusing on financial
information; URL:
http://www.cronista.com/ http://www.cronista.com ) (OSC translating as
LAP20100811021003)
Chavez, Santos, Kirchner (Tiempo Argentino)
Colombian Senator To Visit Kirchner
- Buenos Aires Pagina/12's Katalina Vazquez Guzman reports from Medellin
that Piedad Cordoba will visit Bueno s Aires in the coming days to present
a proposal to the Unasur secretary general to combine regional efforts to
seek a solution to the war. (Buenos Aires Pagina/12 Online in Spanish --
Online version of center-left daily owned by Clarin media group; generally
supports government; URL:
http://www.pagina12.com.ar/ http://www.pagina12.com.ar ) Commentary Core
Issue Not Resolved
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Leandro Uria writes that the pact between
Venezuela and Colombia was "foreseeable" and does "not" resolve the core
issue. Chavez needs media impact to reinforce the ruling party for the
legislative elections next month and Santos activates a vital commercial
link for his economic plan. What about the presence of the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in Venezuela? "Well, thank you." There was
only a general commitment from Chavez that they will not be tolerated by
his government. Therefore, they will be the issue in "a nother summit, or
another fight." Other international issues Foreign Minister Wants
Washington, Unasur To Dialog Directly
- Buenos Aires Clarin's US correspondent Ana Baron reports from Washington
that Hector Timerman arrived here yesterday very confident that his
meeting with Hillary Clinton today will be very positive and he said that
"I would like there to be a direct dialog between Unasur and the United
States. He added that Costa Rica was negotiating for President Obama to
receive the Unasur presidents. (OSC translating as LAP20100811021004)
Timerman To Request More Access to US Markets
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's US correspondent Silvia Pisani reports from
Washington that Timerman arrived in the United States amid praise of
Argentina by Hillary Clinton. Timerman was no less courteous and said the
Secretary of State was ki ndly disposed to the region in general and to
Argentina in particular and he attributed that to her "good
relationship&qu ot; with Cristina Kirchner. However, differences will
surely arise over Honduras, which Washington wants to return to the OAS,
but Timerman has said that "we cannot back a coup d'etat." Timerman also
said that he wanted to improve access to US markets for Argentine foods,
especially meats and fruits. (OSC translating as LAP20100811021005)
National Presidential Irony in Buenos Aires Farming Heartland: Prioritize
Pocket, not Heart
- Buenos Aires Clarin reports -324 word- that at a ceremony in Bragado
yesterday, Cristina Kirchner utilized a famous statement made by late
Economy Minister Juan Carlos Pugliese amid the 1989 hyperinflation and,
convinced that her administration is criticized by those who benefited
from the Kirchnerite "model," challenged different sectors of the economy,
especially farming: "don't put your hand on your heart, but in your pocket
and notice what we have constructed in these seven years." In her long
address, deliv ered in a "campaign tone," she praised her own
administration, criticized the opposition, and again "agitated the ghosts"
of the 1990s, "when the news was the auctions of the farms, because they
could not be sustained. And let us look at how we are today," she urged
the farming sector. Participants included Governor Daniel Scioli and local
Mayor Aldo San Pedro. In related news, Presidency website adds on 10
August -1,322 words- that the president inaugurated public works in
Bragado yesterday. Opposition Bill To Limit Presidential Decrees Advances
- Buenos Aires Clarin's Atilio Bleta reports that the opposition imposed
its majority yesterday -eight votes to seven- in the Senate plenary
meeting of the Constitutional Affairs and General Legislation Committees
and approved the bill to modify Necessary and Urgent Decrees (DNU). It is
now ready to go to debate. Two Dissident Justicialists Fail To Attend
'Conciliation' Meeting
- Buenos Ai res Clarin's Leonardo Mindez reports that Federal Peronist
(PF) leaders met for dinner last night to overcome recent public
differences and to reschedule the launch of the faction, which will be in
Federal Capital on 10 September. "It was the night of conciliation," but
only former President Eduardo Duhalde, Deputy Felipe Sola (Buenos Aires),
Chubut Governor Mario Das Neves, Senator Adolfo Rodriguez Saa (San Luis),
Senator Juan Carlos Romero (Salta), Deputy Ramon Puerta (Misiones)
participated. Senator Carlos Reutemann (Santa Fe) and Deputy Francisco de
Narvaez (Buenos Aires) were did not attend. Carrio Says Coalition Finished
- Buenos Aires Clarin's Nicolas Winazki reports that Civic Coalition (CC)
leader Elisa Carrio told Clarin yesterday that "from today the Civic and
Social Agreement (ACyS) will be another thing. It no longer exists as it
was diagrammed." She added that she did not expect the four ACyS parties
-CC, Radical Civic Union (UCR), G eneration for National Encounter (GEN),
and Socialism- to jointly contest next year's presidential election. Vice
President Wants To Redefine
- Buenos Aires La Nacion reports that in a visit to Tres Arroyos
yesterday, Julio Cobos said that the ACyS "does not break because the CC
may not be there. There are many other sectors and now it is necessary to
restructure and redefine it." Santa Fe Governor Aggravates Opposition
Crisis
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Jaime Rosemberg reports that Hermes Binner
aligned with Casa Rosada yesterday and aggravated the opposition crisis:
He stated that soybean withholding rates should be decided by the
Executive Branch (PEN), in the framework of a national economic plan, and
not by Congress, as the opposition proposes. Farming Sector Criticizes
Binner
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Mercedes Colombres reports that Binner
demonstrated yesterday that "from love to hatred there is only one step."
He "fervent ly" defended the farming sector in 2008 and has now aligned
with the government. His stance has caused growing unrest in the farming
sector and been criticized by several sector leaders, one of whom, Hugo
Biolcati, Argentine Rural Society (SRA) head, said that it was "strange"
that Binner would change stance, go against the farming sector and his
party, and seek to segment Congress. Kirchner Seeks Agreement With
Socialism
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Obarrio reports that Cristina Kirchner's
administration has celebrated Binner's defense of the withholdings and
considers him an ally. "Binner could be Nestor Kirchner's vice president,"
said a penguin yesterday. "There is nothing of that," commented Interior
Minister Florencio Randazzo. Meanwhile, the former president is in
telephone contact with Binner from Olivos much more than reported and
feels deep admiration for him. Is this "another experience like that with
Julio Cobos, an op position leader for vice president?" "No! Forget it.
Binner is much more serious," commented an official source. Meanwhile,
Casa Rosada knows that Socialism is divided between Binner and Santa Fe
Senator Ruben Giustiniani and the ideal situation for some Kirchnerites
would be a pact with the Socialists to back Binner to be reelected,
although the Santa Fe Constitution prohibits it, or to return to Rosario
as mayor. In Cordoba, Kirchner has closed an agreement with former
Governor Jose Manuel de la Sota. Commentary Opposition Fractures Increase
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's political columnist Joaquin Morales Sola writes
that with "increasingly more fractures and weaknesses" in the opposition,
the reelection of one of the Kirchners would "not" be impossible next
year; he would only need to muster 40% of votes in the first round and to
be 10% above his runner-up. (OSC translating as LAP20100811021006) Other
issues Federal Judge Acquits Pr esident's Former Secretary
- Buenos Aires Clarin's Omar Lavieri reports that in the case
investigating illegal enrichment, Claudio Bonadio has acquitted Daniel
Alvarez after proving that his patrimonial increase "is justified."
Document Reinforces Investigation Into Alleged Navy Bribes
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Paz Rodriguez Niell reports that in the case
investigating alleged corruption in the Navy's purchase of vessels from
Ferrostaal in 2006, the Defense Ministry has given Federal Judge Ariel
Lijo reserved testimony given by a former company executive in Germany
confirming the operation, the amount of the alleged bribe, and the
identity of the intermediary. Ministry sources said that the document has
been "found" in the National Directorate of Transparency. Nobody explained
how access was had to a copy of a document from a case being investigated
in Germany. Yesterday, La Nacion contacted Navy sources, who stated that
they could not conf irm the existence of the bribes and they would
"continue cooperating with justice." Air Force Warns About Pilot Migration
to Private Airlines
- Buenos Aires Clarin's Guido Braslavsky reports that at the ceremony to
mark the 98th anniversary of the Air Force yesterday, Commander-in-Chief
General Normando Costantino admitted that the "constant migration of
qualified personnel toward private activity is an unavoidable reality" and
he urged to make a "core change" to create "professional and personal"
expectations in the military aeronautical profession. This is the first
time "in years" that one of the top military commanders dares mention a
"taboo" issue publicly. Minister Nilda Garre did not attend the ceremony
and Defense was represented by International Relations Secretary Alfredo
Forti.
A retired Federal Police (PFA) chief, 63, was murdered in Villa Lugano
late
last night, when he resisted a n attempt to rob his car. He is the fourth
policeman murdered in less than a week and the eight year-today; already
more than the nine murdered last year (Clarin)
Spanish Judge Insulted in Cordoba
- Buenos Aires Clarin's Marta Platia reports from Cordoba that when
Baltasar Garzon, accompanied by Human Rights Secretary Eduardo Luis
Duhalde, took a seat yesterday morning in the public gallery behind the
"crystal cage" that prot ects former dictator Jorge Rafael Videla, former
repressor Luciano Benjamin Menendez, and 29 accomplices, who are charged
with dictatorship crimes against humanity, the repressors waited for
proceeding to begin formally, requested the right to withdraw to an
adjacent room, and departed en masse. Later, Garzon was insulted by two
persons as he going to a press conference. This led to a scuffle between
the couple and HIJOS (Children of the Disappeared) until police removed
the couple. Later, Governor Juan Schiarett i, who received Garzon,
condemned the attack on the judge "with all my strength." Economic Gas
Shortage Impacts on Industry
- Buenos Aires La Nacion's Francisco Olivera reports that the Argentine
Industrial Union (UIA) announced in its monthly report yesterday that
activity increased 11.7% in June on June 2009. This is 0.5% up on
first-half 2008. Nevertheless, it indicated that losses were registered,
for the first time this year, in the production of paper, cardboard, and
chemical products, due to the gas shortage. Money Laundering: More
Controls for Car Purchases
- Buenos Aires Clarin reports that the Official Gazette (BO) published a
Financial Information Unit (UIF) resolution yesterday, which, creates a
data base to centralize information about new automobile purchases and
obliges individuals and corporations to present sworn statements of the
origin of funds when the purchase exceeds 50,000 pesos ($12,710).
Material in the World News Conne ction is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
22) Back to Top
Foreign Minister Wants Washington, Unasur To Dialog Directly
Report by US correspondent Ana Baron from Washington: "Timerman wants a
direct dialog between the Unasur and the United States" - Clarin.com
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:39:03 GMT
"Argentina is a partner that we value. We have very good cooperation in
the areas of nuclear non-proliferation, in the fight against terrorism and
against drug trafficking, and also in peacekeeping missions, essentially
in Haiti," a US diplomat told this correspondent.
Timerman believes that bilateral relations are c urrently going through a
very good phase since there is no major conflict between the two nations.
"I am not going to make any complaint about the CIA report that says that
Argentine statistics are not credible, simply because the CIA has no
credibility," he explained during his conversation yesterday with three
Argentine journalists, including this correspondent. During that
conversation he made it clear that it was Hillary who had telephoned him
to invite him to come to visit her in Washington.
"Hillary and Cristina have been on good terms since they were both
senators. They have established a good relationship between them," he
explained. According to Timerman, despite all the concern in Washington
about the war in Afghanistan or the conflict in the Middle East, part of
Hillary's heart is in Latin America.
"She has a soft spot in her heart for our region," he said, explaining
that he wants to use these "favorable winds& quot; for two things: to
increase bilateral trade between Argentina and the United States, and to
heighten the State Department's interest in institutions like Unasur
(Union of South American Nations).
"I would like to have a direct dialogue between Unasur and the United
States," said Timerman, adding that Costa Rica is working on the
possibility of having Obama meet with the Unasur presidents.
In fact, yesterday when the State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley,
described the issues that Hillary is thinking of discussing with Timerman,
he included the talks between Chavez and Santos, but at no time did he
mention Unasur's role in bringing about a rapprochement between the
presidents of Venezuela and Colombia.
BOTh sides are well aware of the differences between Buenos Aires and
Washington in regard to Honduras. The United States wants Honduras to
return to the OAS, while Argentina says that the conditions are not yet
right. This will witho ut a doubt be the most sensitive issue in today's
meeting.
FCC Meeting
Foreign Minister Hector Timerman met yesterday with the chairman of the US
Federal Communications Commission (the FCC is the equivalent of Comfer
(Federal Broadcasting Commission) in Argentina), Julius Genachowski, to
"discusses experiences" related to the media.
"This is the first time that we have had a democratic law in Argentina
regulating the audiovisual system, so it is reasonable for us to be in
contact with other democratic countries that have fought monopolies, as
Argentina has done," said Timerman. When Clarin asked him shortly before
the meeting if he intended to explain to Genachowski that the difference
between the United States and Argentina (on this issue) is that there is a
state-controlled media monopoly in Argentina, his answer was terse: "No.
Because there is no state monopoly in Argentina," he said.
(Description of Source: Buen os Aires Clarin.com in Spanish -- Online
version of highest-circulation, tabloid-format daily owned by the Clarin
media group; generally critical of government; URL: http://www.clarin.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
23) Back to Top
Bolivia Press 11 August 10
For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Bolivia -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:59:25 GMT
-- La Paz La Prensa reports on the worsening conflict in Potosi.
Yesterday, local government, civic and social leaders broke off relations
with the executive branch and so me protesters took over the power plant
supplying the San Cristobal Mine and are threatening to cut off the power
supply, which would bring mining activity to a standstill. Yesterday, a
Potosi delegation traveled to Sucre to participate in talks with Autonomy
Minister Carlos Romero, Presidency Minister Oscar Coca and a delegation
from Oruro, but the talks were called off before they began. Civic leaders
are demanding that the government sends a delegation to Potosi to
negotiate regional demands. Meanwhile, the population is suffering from
food shortages as a result of the 14-day strike with roadblocks. (La Paz
La Prensa.com in Spanish -- Digital version of conservative daily with
modest circulation. Owned by Editores Asociados, S.A., member of the Grupo
Lider media conglomerate which also includes PAT (Periodistas Asociados de
Television), television network recently acquired by the Daher family of
Santa Cruz; URL: http:/www.laprensa.com.bo/) MAS, District Court Threaten
To Prosecute CNE
-- La Paz La Prensa reports that Movement Toward Socialism (MAS)
candidates and the La Paz Court of Justice threatened yesterday to
prosecute National Electoral Court (CNE) members if they fail to abide by
a court ruling to redistribute three Plurinational Legislative Assembly
(ALP) seats to the MAS. On 5 August, the La Paz court ruled in favor of an
appeal filed by three MAS candidates and instructed that three opposition
deputies relinquish their seats. On 9 August, the CNE ruled that it was
impossible to redistribute the seats and pointed out that there are no
"plurinational" candidates, a term apparently used erroneously in the
court ruling.
Trond cartoon in
La Razon depicts CNE President Antonio Costas batting back three deputies
being thrown out of the ALP. Editorial Examines Morales's State of Nation
Speech
-- La Paz La Prensa, in its editorial, analyzes President Evo Morales's 6
August Independence Day speech, in which he identified several weaknesses
of his administration: increased drug trafficking, falling investments,
corrupt MAS members, and the growth of black market activities. "The
acknowledgement of those weaknesses, to which he added conciliatory
expressions which Bolivian society would have liked to hear always, made a
message that could be praise-worthy if it were not for the doubts created
because of the profound contradictions between what is said and what is
done." For although Bolivia wants democracy and peace, argues the editor,
since coming to power Morales's government has adopted a strategy of
"first regional and racial confrontation, followed by cultural, ethnic,
economic, and social confrontation." The editorial concludes with the hope
that Morales's message was sincere and that the government starts working
to correct its errors and resolve the country's problems, "setting
arrogance aside and taking a dose of humility and service" because that is
why it was elected. Digcoin: United States Funds Incineration of Seized
Coca
-- La Paz La Razon reports that the government has delegated the task of
incinerating at least 109 tons of confiscated coca to the US Narcotics
Affairs Section (NAS). Luis Cutipa, director of the General Directorate
for Coca Leaf and Industrialization (Digcoin), has said he is unaware of
the budget required, but that NAS will destroy the coca in Capinota, near
Cochabamba. He also said that there was at least 909 more tons of coca in
Digcoin warehouses that should be destroyed under law. (La Paz La Razon
Online in Spanish -- Digital version of conservative newspaper, owned by
the Spanish Promotor a de Informaciones, S. A. (Prisa) media conglomerate,
which also includes ATB Red Nacional de Television. Although it is not
part of Grupo de Diarios de America, it reproduces special reports by this
group of conservative Latin America dailies; URL:
http://www.la-razon.com http: //www.la-razon.com ) Defense Ministry
Defends 'Patriot Plan'
-- La Paz La Razon reports that the Defense Ministry has issued a
communique in response to criticism of the so-called "patriot plan" that
offers military training to civilians. "The security and defense of the
Plurinational State of Bolivia is not the exclusive task of the Armed
Forces. It is the responsibility of all Bolivians and, within this
context, this kind of experience is encouraged," the communique states.
Morales Enacts Customs Reform Law
-- Bolivian Government News Agency (ABI) reports that President Morales
enacted the Tax Code and Customs Law Reform Law yesterday. Chamber of
Deputies President Hector Arce said: "We are going to have greater
production and more employment", on explaining that by controlling
smuggling, the government will eliminate "disloyal" market competition.
(La Paz Agencia Boliviana de Informacion in Spanish -- Website of govern
ment-owned news agency; URL:
http://abi.bo/ http://abi.bo/ ) Morales Opens State Cardboard Factory
-- ABI reports that President Morales opened the state's first cardboard
factory in Vinto, near Oruro, yesterday, with an investment of 50 million
bolivianos ($71.17 million). "Today is a historic day for the department
and for the country. We are delivering one of our industries and we hope
to continue with other companies," Morales said on asking for social
control to ensure the company's future sustainability. ABI reports that
the new company, called Cartonbol, will create 164 direct and 200 indirect
jobs and will benefit 1,500 families. Uruguay's Mujica Offers To
Facilitate Atlantic Port
-- ABI reports that Uruguayan President Jose Mujica has said his country
is willing to give Bolivia and Paraguay access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaking on a weekly radio program yesterday, Mujica explained that the
option would require work on the Martin Garci a Canal, for which Argentina
would have to give its approval. Government Repeats Invitation To Resolve
Potosi Conflict, Denies Militarization
-- ABI reports that government spokesman Ivan Canelas said yesterday that
Potosi civic leaders "should set aside their intransigence, call off the
pressure tactics and attend talks as the best way to resolve the region's
demands." He said the government had repeatedly demonstrated its
willingness to resolve the conflict and denied rumors that it was planning
to militarize the region. World Bank Guarantees $500 Million
-- Cochabamba Los Tiempos reports that yesterday the World Bank guaranteed
$500 million in loans for development projects until 2012 and announced a
new strategy for 2011-2015, under which the government can access more
credit. Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank director for Andean countries, who
met with President Morales in La Paz yesterday, said: "We have seen marked
progress in the country, in i ts economy, in the poverty figures, in the
social figures, a stable macroeconomic management. That is why, in a new
World Bank support strategy, we are going to offer Bolivia financial
services that are accessible to medium-income countries." (Cochabamba Los
Tiempos.com in Spanish -- Website of conservative newspaper with widest
circulation in Cochabamba, owned by the Canelas family. Published in
partnership with the Rivero family, member of the Grupo Lider media
conglomerate which also includes PAT (Periodistas Asociados de Television)
television network, owned by the Daher family of Santa Cruz; URL:
http://www.lostiempos.com/ http://www.lostiempos.com )
Santa Cruz de la Sierra El Deber.com.bo in Spanish was scanned and no
file-worthy items wer e noted.
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Xinhua 'Roundup': WHO Declares H1N1 Pandemic Over, But Virus Risk Remains
Xinhua "Roundup": "WHO Declares H1N1 Pandemic Over, But Virus Risk
Remains" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:33:19 GMT
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO)
officially declared the H1N1 flu pandemic over Tuesday, with
Director-General Margaret Chan saying the new virus had "largely run its
course."
The announcement came about 15 months after the WHO confirmed initial
outbreaks of influenza H1N1 in Mexico and the United States on April 24,
2009, followed by concerted global efforts to fight the new virus that has
spread to 214 countries and regions and led to at least 18,449
deaths.Nevertheless, Chan war ned the announcement did not mean the H1N1
virus had gone away, and that "localized outbreaks of different magnitude
may show significant levels of H1N1 transmission."The virus was first
named human swine flu due to preliminary findings that it is genetically a
reassortment of swine flu, human flu and avian influenza (bird flu). The
name continued to be used in many countries although the WHO later changed
its name to influenza H1N1 in April.The flu pandemic turned out less
severe than expected. In April last year, Chan declared "a public health
emergency of international concern," highlighting that the virus was
unpredictable.The WHO raised its flu pandemic alert level twice in three
days from April 27 and further raised it in June to phase six, the highest
level of alert, meaning the virus had led to a flu pandemic.By early
November 2009, influenza H1N1 was the most common cause of human flu. The
number of confirmed infections continued to increase, inc luding over
10,000 deaths worldwide, prompting high alerts or emergency warnings in
the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Mongolia.Scientists devoted
themselves to developing a vaccine. A biological product company in
Beijing announced in August last year it had developed a vaccine that had
proved safe to human beings in clinical tests. China authorized the
product for vaccination in September, followed by similar authorizations
elsewhere.Vaccination was carried out in most of the countries affected by
the new virus, covering the whole population of some cities and regions.
It is believed to have helped slow the spread of the virus.The spread of
the virus began to slow in late 2009. The number of confirmed infections
in the United States, Canada and elsewhere also decreased. On April 12,
2010, a review of the global response was launched.Scientists also found
the virus to be less virulent than they had feared. U.S. researchers found
the fatality rate of the infected patie nts to be between 0.007 percent
and 0.045 percent, about the same as that of a seasonal flu.Now the WHO is
confident enough to call pandemic over."The world is no longer in phase 6
of influenza pandemic alert. We are now moving into the post-pandemic
period," Director-General Chan said Tuesday.However, she called for
continued vigilance and surveillance."Based on experience with past
pandemics, we expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behavior of a seasonal
influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come," the WHO
chief said."Based on available evidence and experience from past
pandemics, it is likely that the virus will continue to cause serious
disease in younger age groups, at least in the immediate post-pandemic
period," she said."Groups identified during the pandemic as at higher risk
of severe or fatal illness will probably remain at heightened risk, though
hopefully the number of such cases will diminish," she ad ded.(Description
of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))
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25) Back to Top
Palestinian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Palestinian press on 11 Aug.
To request additional processing, or for assistance with multimedia
elements, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735; or fax (703)
613-5735. - West Bank &amp; Gaza Strip -- OSC Summary
Thursday August 12, 2010 04:49:24 GMT
Front page of Ramallah Al-Hayah al-Jadidah (Electronic Edition) in Arabi c
-- PA-owned daily, supportive of the presidency; URL:
http://www.alhayat-j.com, on 11 August:
President Abbas Meets with Mitchell, News about Progress in Efforts to
Launch Direct TalksIsrael Develops Plan to Challenge Government's Decision
to Boycott Settlement ProductsIsrael Threatens to Withdraw from UN's
Investigation in Freedom Flotilla Attack
Front page of Jerusalem Al-Quds in Arabic -- independent, largest
circulation, pro-Fatah daily; URL: http://www.alquds.com, on 11 August:
Abbas-Mitchell Meeting Was 'Profound, Very Positive'Israeli Bulldozers
Destroys 150 Tombs in Ma'man Allah Cemetery Under Cover of
DarknessChristian Churches Reject Israeli Tax-Paying DecisionKuwait Is
Committed to Pay Funds It Pledged to Pay at Surt Summit in Libya
Direct Talks
In its 400-word editorial entitled: "Pressures on the PA," on page 16,
Al-Quds says that the Palestinians have no objections to direct talks
which they consider "the st rategic choice for settling their cause and
for achieving their legitimate national rights." It adds that the
Palestinians will not have their cause become "a scapegoat for settling
other regional issues," and that pressures exerted on them will not help
achieve stability and security in the region.In his "Marks on the Road"
daily column, under the title "Talks again?" on page 5 of Al-Hayah
al-Jadidah, Yahya Rabah says in a 750-word commentary that PA's decision
regarding the direct talks "deserves a large-scale discussion, whether
this decision was positive or negative." He goes on to say that he was not
pleased with Arab League's Follow-up Committee's decision to move to
direct talks with Israel, leaving the time and way to president Mahmud
Abbas. He concludes by saying that the chance is still there to improve
the US and international stances and that President Abbas is not calling
for a complete change in the US-Israeli rel ations but rather some
development which can allow the talks to succeed.
A cartoon on page 16 of Al-Quds by Khalil Abu-Arafah, shows Ehud Baraq and
Binyamin Netanyahu before the Israeli fact-finding committee, each blaming
the other in the Freedom Flotilla events, saying: "He was responsible!"
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Xinhua 'Roundup': Palestinians Receive U.S. Approval of Proposal of
Reference for Direct Talks With Israel
Xinhua "Roundup": "Palestinians Receive U.S. Approval of Proposal of
Reference for Direct Talks With Israel" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 20 10 20:44:18 GMT
RAMALLAH, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior official revealed on Wednesday that
the Palestinian leadership received a preliminary approval from the United
States over a proposal that the Quartet committee for peace in the Middle
East issue a statement defining a reference for direct peace talks with
Israel.
Hana Amira, member of Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) executive
committee, told Xinhua that U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell informed
President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday that the U.S. has accepted in principle
the proposal that the Quartet Committee issues the statement.The
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has been pushing towards the issue
that the Quartet committee, which includes the United States, Russia, the
European Union and the United Nations, is the one which defines a
reference for the direct peace talks with Israel.The PNA wants the
Quartet, which will convene in September, to defin e a reference for the
direct peace talks with Israel, which includes setting up a ceiling, an
agenda and a time schedule for the talks, in addition to having the role
of observing the talks."The proposal is still under discussion in order to
put a proper vision over the Quartet's statement," said Amira, adding that
the Palestinian side has not received any answer from the Israeli side on
the issue. "We expect that Israel would rebuff the proposal because it is
not serious in the peace talks."The proposal was one of three proposals
the Palestinians had presented to the United States in order to launch
direct peace talks with Israel. Washington rebuffed two proposals and
promised to consider the one related to the Quartet.The first proposal is
that U.S. President Barack Obama issues a statement that defines a
reference for the direct peace talks with Israel, including guarantees,
and the second proposal is to hold a three-way meeting that includes
senior Is raeli, Palestinian and U. S. officials. The two proposals were
rejected.Meanwhile, Yasser Abed Rabbo, PLO executive committee secretary
general, had earlier on Wednesday told "Voice of Palestine" Radio in an
interview that the Palestinians are in favor of the proposal that the
international Quartet defines a reference for the direct peace talks with
Israel."In case the Quartet defines the reference for the direct peace
talks with Israel, it will be an observer that will treat the issues which
are related to the references of the peace process and setting up a time
schedule for the negotiations including the cessation of settlement," said
Abed Rabbo.The Palestinians hope that the statement of the Quartet
Committee, which was issued on March 19 and called for holding talks based
on halting settlement, implementing the international resolutions and on
the principle of the two-state solution, would be considered by both
Israel and the United States.However, P alestinian officials and observers
said that the Palestinians' choice of approving the Quartet's statement to
define a reference for the peace talks and even sponsor the talks with
Israel "is a clear Palestinian disappointment from the U.S. sponsorship of
the peace process.""The Palestinians consider the sole American
sponsorship of the talks had reached its end," said Amira, adding that
Washington "is not a mediator anymore after it had failed to pressure on
Israel to halt settlement activities in the Palestinian territories,
mainly in East Jerusalem."He accused the United States of retreating from
its pledges towards the requirements of the peace process, adding that the
U.S. "has been only exerting pressure on the Palestinians in order to
convince them to go for direct negotiations without any guarantees.
"Mekhemer Abu Se'da, the political science professor at the Gaza- based
al-Azhar University, told Xinhua that the U.S. "pass es through a crucial
situation these days on the eve of the congress elections in November,"
adding "the U.S. wants to go for direct talks between Israel and the
Palestinians by all means.""The U.S. may accept the proposal related to
handing the Quartet a sponsorship of the talks as one of the means to
encourage the Palestinians to go for direct talks with Israel, based on
the vision of the two-state solution, but without having any substantial
progress," said Abu Se'da.Eyad al-Barghouti, another political analyst
from the West Bank, told Xinhua that he rules out that the choice of
involving the international Quartet in the direct talks would succeed in
pressuring on Israel to achieve what the Palestinians want, mainly halting
settlement.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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27) Back to Top
Bangladesh Press 11 Aug 10
The following is a selection of highlights from Bangladesh press on 11 Aug
10 - Bangladesh -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:41:25 GMT
The Dainik Janakantha publishes an unattributed report entitled "US
Welcomes Signing of Deal With India." The report says the United State of
America has welcomed Bangladesh's decision to give India transit facility.
Such connectivity is crucial for regional development, said James F
Moriarty, the US ambassador in Dhaka, while talking to reporters after a
meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni on 10 August. According to the
report, the US envoy appreciated the singing of agreement with India for
$1 billion loan and said that bilateral interests are involved with the
deal. During the meeting, the envoy and the minister discussed matters of
mutual interest with particular reference to giving recognition to Kosovo
as an independent state.
(Description of Source: Dhaka Dainik Janakantha in Bangali - Lone
multi-edition Bengali daily, with an estimated circulation of 100,000.
Pro-Awami League and known for critical investigative reports on radical
Islamic groups.) Dhaka Court Issues Warrant of Arrest Against WPC Chairman
on Charges of Hurting Muslim Sentiments
The Dainik Inqilab publishes an unattributed report entitled "Warrant of
Arrest Issued Against Dev Narayan in Case for Hurting Religious
Sentiment." The report says a Dhaka court on 10 August 2010 issued warrant
of arrest against Dev Narayan Moheshwar, president of World Peace Council
(WPC), on the charges of hurting religious sent iment of the Muslims.
According to the report, the arrest warrant came as a metropolitan
magistrate took cognizance of the allegation of hurting Muslim sentiments
by Dev Narayan through filing a writ petition seeking correction of a
verse of the Kuran on the kurbani (sacrifice) of prophet Ibrahim. The
report says an aggrieved Muslim in Dhaka filed the case against him.
(Description of Source: Dhaka Dainik Inqilab in Bengali - Pro-Islamic
daily; editorial policy is pro-Islamic, anti-secular and generally opposes
Indian and western policies.) Deadlock Continues in BNP Over Constituting
Full-Fledged Committees in All Organizational Districts
The Dainik Inqilab publishes a report by Shafiul Alam Dolan entitled
"Begum Khaleda Zia Extremely Unhappy With Five Party Joint Secretary
Generals." The report says that the main opposition party, Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP), is yet to complete formation of full-fledged
committees in all organizational distri cts across the country for
internal conflicts. According to the report, Begum Khaleda Zia,
chairperson of the BNP, is extremely unhappy with five joint secretaries
general of the party for their "negligence of duty and failure to resolve
internecine conflicts" to constitute full-fledged committees in the
remaining 16 organizational districts. Quoting relevant sources, the
report says the BNP chief earlier entrusted six joint secretaries general
to resolve the crisis, but all of them failed excepting one. The report
says that Zia issued a fresh order to constitute the district committees
within the current month of August 2010. BJI Leader Says Ruling BAL Takes
Up War Crimes Issue To Hurt Political Opponents
The Dainik Sangram publishes an unattributed report entitled "Issue of War
Crimes Trial Undertaken To Hit Opponents Through Political Slogans, Says
ATM Azhar." The report says ATM Azharul Islam, acting secretary general of
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Isl ami (BJI), said that the ruling party, Bangladesh
Awami League (BAL), has taken up the issue of war crimes trail to hit its
political opponents. The issue of war crimes trial was settled by Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, the first president of the country, the BJI leader said.
According to the report, Azharul Islam made the observations at a party
rally in Dhaka on 10 August.
(Description of Source: Dhaka Dainik Sangram in Bangali - Daily newspaper
published by the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party.)
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28) Back to Top
Syrian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Syrian press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, pl ease call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735. - Syria -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:34:04 GMT
http://thawra.alwehda.gov.sy/ http://thawra.alwehda.gov.sy)
In a 340-word editorial in Tishrin entitled "The Truth, The Truth," Chief
Editor Samirah al-Masalimah says: "While Israeli leaders are trying to
exchange accusations in the case of the assault on the Freedom Flotilla,
and while the Zionist administration continues to ignore the consequences
of the Goldstone report, and the assassination of Mahmud al-Mabhuh in
Dubai, Israel finds itself in a real confrontation with the hypothesis of
its assassination of former (Lebanese) Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri in
February 2005." The writer adds: "Although the conjecture presented by
Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah is not evidence, however, finding real answers to
the threads that wer e presented, and the indicators they carry, will lead
to forming a complete picture of what has been committed by Israel in
Lebanon. That is why Israel's disregard for all this, and belittling of
what has been presented to the public opinion, sees the expected reaction
in the media and on the political level and through the statements of the
Zionist enemy's leaders." Al-Masalimah continues: "We say again that
Israel's prior denial, which escalated over months in the form of leaks
and accusations of Hizballah, was only driven by an Israeli realization
that Hizballah will not tolerate this accusation, and that it will reveal
what it has of conjecture and facts."Indicating that "if the Zionist
accusations are the result of a hostile political attitude toward the
resistance," the writer says that "the resistance's accusations of Israel
are the result of information and conjecture, and the considerable work it
has done, not only to point the finger a t the perpetrator, but also to
defend Lebanon and uncover the truth." She concludes: "The realization of
justice cannot come at the expense of justice itself, and neither can
justice be in its &amp;#8594 place when the innocent is accused, while the
real perpetrator has the power to accuse and tamper with the real
investigative work; and this leads to the call to search for the simple
truth and not the false one." (Description of source: Damascus Tishrin
Online in Arabic -- Website of the government-owned newspaper; URL:
http://tishreen.info/ http://tishreen.info)
In a 180-word report in Al-Ba'th entitled "Turkey Supplies 300 MW To
Support Syria's Electricity," Marwan Hwayjah quotes Electricity Minister
Ahmad Qusay Kayyali saying that "Syria will be fed with an additional300
MW of electrical energy from Turkey, so that the total amount of energy
that is pumped by Turkey to Syria to support its electrical needs would
reach 500 M W through the connecting line between the two
countries."Kayyali informed Al-Ba'th that "this additional Turkish supply
to the Syrian electricity network is currently being finalized, and
coordinated with the Turkish side through the respective ministries in the
two countries," indicating that "the matter has been discussed from all
its angles with the Turkish minister of electricity, so that the
additional supply starts in the next few days after the completion of the
required arrangements." (Description of source: Damascus Al-Ba'th Online
in Arabic -- Website of the newspaper of the ruling Ba'th Party; URL:
http://www.albaath.news.sy/ http://www.albaath.news.sy)
In a 385-word article in Al-Watan entitled "Why all These Weapons to
Israel?," Khurshid Daly says: "Observers of the track of US-Israeli
relations during the past few months must reflect on the huge military
deals between the two sides, as a simple review of wha t happened between
them in this domain puts us in front of a huge amount of deals and
military assistance, most notably: First, President (Barack) Obama asked
Congress for 205 million US dollars to cover the expenses of the
establishment by Israel of the Iron Dome system, which intercepts
short-range missiles," while the second deal is "the support announced by
Obama, during his recent meeting with (Binyamin) Netanyahu at the White
House, for Israel's nuclear program in the name of deterrence and the
special security requirements of Israel."The writer adds that the third
arrangement is "the declaration by the US Department of Defense through
Jeffrey Wieringa, director of the Pentagon's Defense Sales, of an imminent
deal for the sale of F-35 aircraft to Israel," while the fourth is "the
declaration of Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro that the United
States is considering providing a military aid package to Israel,
described as the larg est, after the White House asked Congress to approve
an amount of 2.775 billion dollars as special security assistance to
Israel." The writer continues that the fifth deal observed is "the signing
by the two sides of an agreement to develop the Israeli missile defense
system Arrow 2 and move to the system Arrow 3, so that it would be able to
shoot down long-range missiles from a higher altitude, and specifically
out of the atmosphere; in other words, the ability to confront Iran's
advanced missiles in the event of war between the two sides."He concludes
by saying that "the question that everyone asks here is: What is behind
all this quantity of weapons? In fact, to understand what is going on, it
is necessary to examine two issues. First, that the deals confirm that
US-Israeli relations are stronger than the differences in priorities that
have emerged between Obama's administration and Netanyahu's government
during the recent period. Second, the basic hea dline behind these weapons
is to ensure Israel's qualitative edge, without excluding that this could
be in the context of the preparations for a new war, that Israel needs to
implement its agenda, if the American efforts to impose a specific
settlement on the region fail. (Description of source: Damascus Al-Watan
Online in Arabic -- Website of the independent daily; URL:
http://www.alwatan.sy/ http://www.alwatan.sy)
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29) Back to Top
Israel Can Make Peace With Pa But Lots of Courage Required -- Netanyahu
"Israel Can Make Peace With Pa But Lots of Courage Required -- Netanyahu"
-- KUNA Headline - KUNA Online
Monday July 12, 2010 07:48:38 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - WASHINGTON, July 12 (KUNA) -- Israel's Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed here Sunday that his country can make
peace with the Palestinian Authority but it requires "a lot of courage
from our side, from me, and it also requires courage" from the Palestinian
President.Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that it is
"going to be a very tough negotiation," adding, "I think we should get on
with it and seek to negotiate peace between Israel and the Palestinian
Authority. We'll have to deal with Hamas later." As for whether he
believes that there can be a Palestinian state by 2012, Netanyahu said, "I
think there can be a solution. It may be implemented over time," adding,
"I think, can we have a negotiated peace? Yes. Can it be implemented by
2012? I think it's going to take longer than that.&qu ot; Furthermore, the
Israeli Premier said that he thinks focus has to remain on the "real
problem in the Middle East. It's not Israel, it's these dictatorships that
are developing nuclear weapons with the specific goal of wiping Israel
away." He continued saying that "Iran is closer to developing nuclear
weapons today than it was a week ago or a month ago or a year ago. It's
just moving on with its efforts." "I think there's a great danger to the
world, not only to my country, but to the United States, to the Middle
East, to peace, to all of humanity, from the prospect that such a regime,
that brutalizes its own people, that sponsors terrorism more than any
other regime in the world, that this regime acquires atomic bombs is very,
very dangerous," he remarked.He added that "when the President (Obama)
says that he's determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons
and that all options are on the table, I think that's the right stat ement
of policy."(Description of Source: Kuwait KUNA Online in English --
Official news agency of the Kuwaiti Government; URL:
http://www.kuna.net.kw)
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Bulgarian Envoy to Washington Discusses Meeting With President Obama
Interview with new Bulgarian Ambassador to the United States Elena
Poptodorova by Sonya Kanikova in Washington; time not given; broadcast by
Deutsche Welle Radio at 0407 GMT on 11 August - BTA Radiotelevizionen
Monitor Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:32:51 GMT
(Kanikova) Yesterday Elena Poptodorova officially took up the post of
extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Bulgaria to the United
States after President Barrack Obama received her credentials. The
ceremony took place in the White House. The US President and Ambassador
Poptodorova held a brief meeting at which they exchanged views on US-
Bulgarian ties and priorities. In an interview for Deutsche Welle the new
Bulgarian ambassador discussed Bulgaria's priorities that she had
presented at the meeting.
(Poptodorova) I outlined our main priorities. These include the importance
that Bulgarians attach to abolishing visas for the United States, the
importance of our economic cooperation and the efforts to promote it, and
the need for more investments. Of course, I did not pass over the topic of
the energy sector where the United States plays a particularly important
role for diversifying Bulgaria's energy sources. Of course, we discussed
the joint missile defense system and the need for the Lisbon summit to
adopt the political declaration that is now being drafted in Brussels and
that will mark the beginning of the efforts to build the system. We placed
emphasis on the issue, even though we discussed it briefly.
(Kanikova) What priorities did the US President identify in Bulgarian-US
ties?
(Poptodorova) What was most important for me was his understanding and
assessment of the significance of Bulgaria-US relations and the importance
that both Bulgaria and the United States attach to our bilateral ties.
President Obama noted Bulgaria's valuable contribution to the global
security operations and the fact that Bulgaria's consistent policy
contributes to stability in Europe and outside it. Speaking about our
bilateral ties, President Obama noted the importance of our economic ties
and completely agreed that it was necessary to develop these ties and to
promote investments in the future.
(Kanikova) Did the President give any indication as to when there could be
ne w developments in the visa talks?
(Poptodorova) Frankly speaking, the President could not possible give a
definite answer to this question. And I did not expect him to do that. My
task was to draw his attention to the issue. I cannot set deadlines, but I
hope that this will happen in the foreseeable future.
(Kanikova) You said that you had discussed, albeit briefly, the missile
defense system with President Obama. What was his stand on the matter?
(Poptodorova) Of course, we discussed only political messages. He stressed
that the National Security Council and the State Department were working
very intensively on the declaration that will be adopted in Lisbon and
that will mark the beginning of the efforts to build the system. From
August to November work on the document will be done mainly in Brussels to
draft the political framework of the missile defense system.
(Kanikova) This was an interview with new Bulgarian Ambassador to the
United S tates Elena Poptodorova. This is Sonya Kanikova from Deutsche
Welle in Washington.
(Description of Source: Sofia BTA Radiotelevizionen Monitor Online in
Bulgarian -- Website of transcripts from radio, television, and print
media provided by BTA press agency, which is state-owned but politically
neutral)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
31) Back to Top
US Building Asian 'NATO' To Encircle China
By Dai Xu, Air Force Colonel and a military strategist, and translated by
Zhang Ming'ai: "U.S. building 'Asian NATO' to encircle China" - Zhongguo
Wang
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:39:51 GMT
(Description of Source: Beijing Zhongguo Wang in English --Official PRC
portal site, hosted by the China Internet Information Center, under the
auspices of the China International Publishing Group and the State Council
Information Office. URL: http://www.china.org.cn/English/)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO 119 -- NEWS IN BRIEF (3 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO 119 (August 12, 2010)" -
Yonhap
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:20:42 GMT
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Unusually heavy rainfalls caused human losses and heavy
property damage in North Korea in July, the North's media reported on Aug.
5.Flash floods also submerged about 5,560 houses and 350 public buildings
and washed away some 14,850 hectares of farmland in the month, the North's
official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report, monitored in
Seoul.The report said torrential rains caused human losses and damage to
industrial facilities but gave no details.Thousands of hectares of
farmland were submered in the provinces of South Hwanghae, North Pyongan,
South Hamgyong, while roads and bridges were destroyed in South Pyongan
and Kangwon provinces, it said.The KCNA did not report how much rain fell
in North Korea in July, but South Korea's weather agency said on Aug. 4
that an average rainfall in North Korea in July reached 315.8 millimeters,
139 percent higher than normal. The agency forecast more rain in North
Korea this weekend.One day later, the North's state Korean Central TV
Broadcasting Station also said heavy rains have been continuing in North
Korea after causing serious damage last month. "Relatively heavy downpours
recently fell in North Pyongan, Jagang, Ryanggang and part of South
Pyongan provinces."During the period from July 31 until noon of Aug. 6,
Junggang area in Jagang Province received 191 millimeters of rain, the
most in the country, followed by Wonsan, South Hamgyong Province, with
188mm; Manpho, Jagang Province, with 156mm; Sijung, a county in the same
province, with 139mm, the report said.Taechon and Chonma, both in North
Pyongan Province, received 130mm and 129mm of rain, respectively, while
113mm fell in Songwon of Jagang Province, it
added.------------------------N. Korea Warns of 'Most Powerful'
Retaliation If S. Korea Provokes WarSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned
on Aug. 5 of "the most powerful means" of retaliation if South Korea
triggers a conflict during its naval drill off the west coast, where South
Korea says the North torpedoed its warship in Ma rch.In a bulletin carried
by the official Korean Central News Agency, the North's Committee for
Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said that the five-day drill that
kicked off on Aug. 5 is a "deliberate military provocation aimed at
invading the North.""Our people and the military will crush the provokers
and their stronghold with the most powerful war tactics and strike means
beyond imagination if they ever dare to set a fire," said the committee, a
semi-official organ that handles inter-Korean matters.The North's military
command overseeing the Yellow Sea border has already threatened "strong
physical retaliation" against the South Korean drill, which came after
Seoul and Washington conducted joint maritime exercises in the East Sea
late last month.The North denies it sank the South Korean Ch'o'nan
(Cheonan) warship even though a multinational investigation in May found
Pyongyang responsible for the incident, which killed 46 sailors.The South
Korean exercise comes as Seoul and Washington are mounting their pressure
on Pyongyang to come clean on the deadly torpedoing by crafting further
sanctions against the North.The North Korean committee did not clarify
what weapons the country would use in the event of a clash with South
Korean forces. The country is believed to have enough plutonium to create
at least six nuclear bombs and has conducted two nuclear tests in the
past.------------------------North Korea Reopens Hotel, Restaurant on
Scenic Mt. KumgangSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea has reopened a South
Korean-built hotel and restaurant in Mt. Kumgang on its eastern coast and
has started to receive visitors, a pro-Pyongyang daily published in Japan
said on Aug. 7.The Choson Sinbo said Hotel Mt. Kumgang and the Mokrangwan
restaurant opened for busines s on July 20 and will offer services to both
foreign and local guests.However, the newspaper reported that none of the
visitors has spent the night at the 215-ro om hotel."All the tourists so
far have stayed overnight at Wonsan and only visited the mountains during
the day," it said. Wonson is located further north in South Hamgyong
Province.The hotel was built and operated by South Korea's Hyundai Asan
Corporation and had been used by tourists from the South until 2008, when
a North Korean guard shot and killed a female tourist at a nearby
beach.Since the fatal shooting in July 2008, Seoul has banned tourists
from the mountain report, with Pyongyang taking steps in early October to
freeze all Hyundai assets and start its own independent operations.
Hyundai employees at the site were also expelled from the resort.The tours
to Mt. Kumgang -- hailed as a symbol of reconciliation between the
countries -- began in late 1998, and nearly 2 million South Koreans
visited the zone before they were suspended.South Korean's Unification
Ministry said local companies invested an estimated 420 billion won
(US$374 million) to develop the border resort that includes a golf course,
several restaurants and a 157-room floating hotel called the
Haekumgang.------------------------North Korea Legislates New Resident
Administrative LawSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea recently enacted a law
aimed at providing better administrative support for the people in what
appears to be an effort to facilitate the people's livelihoods in line
with the country's goal in becoming a "prosperous nation" by 2012.The
(North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Aug. 9 that the
Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly passed the "resident
administrative law."The KCNA said that the law stipulates "the principal
issues" that an administrative clerk or other hands-on workers in
provincial, municipal and the military bodies must uphold in properly
carrying out residents' administrative work.Included in the "residents'
administrative work" is the provision of housing, food, water and
education , as well as support in areas of labor, commerce and public
health, the report said.North Korea has implemented a series of military
and economic campaigns to become a "Kangsong Taeguk" -- a great,
prosperous and powerful nation -- by 2012, the centennial of Kim Il Sung
(Kim Il-so'ng)'s birthday.North Korea watchers see the legislation as an
effort for the country to reach the goal by 2012, the date at which many
outside observers believe Pyongyang will engineer a hereditary power
transfer from Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il) to his third son, Jong-un, who
is 27 years old.The KCNA also said that the SPA Presidium also legislated
a labor protection law, which enforces mandatory education about work
safety, the provision of supplies for labor protection, adequate rest and
other principle issues relevant to the nation's labor protection
policies.It also enacted a bill stipulating the principles and missions of
the (North) Korea's Chamber of Commerce (KCC) in its operation s regarding
economic exchanges. The KCC was established in August 2004, and a smaller
inter-guideline was ratified by the North's Cabinet.North Korea passed
eight bills, including those for farms, waterworks and environmental
protection.------------------------U.N. Command, North Korea End Talks
without ProgressSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea and the American-led United
Nations Command (UNC) ended their fourth round of talks on Aug. 10 over
the sinking of a South Korean warship but made no progress in arranging
general-level talks, an official at the UNC said.Colonel-level military
officers from the two sides met for about two hours at the border village
of Panmunjom (P'anmunjo'm), a day after the North's military fired a
barrage of artillery shells near its western sea border with the South,
straining already high tensions on the Korean P eninsula."During the Aug.
10 meeting, the two sides basically confirmed each side's stance, and a
new date was not proposed for follow -up talks," said the UNC official on
condition of anonymity.In a brief statement released later in the day, the
UNC said the latest talks ended with both sides "agreeing to conduct a
colonel-level meeting at a date to be determined."The North's state-run
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also carried a report on the talks with
the UNC, disclosing its proposal for the formation of a joint inspection
group with the U.S. for an early opening of bilateral general-level
military talks."The U.S. forces side was urged to affirmatively respond to
the DPRK's proposal for field investigation by the inspection group of its
National Defense Commission for making an objective and scientific probe
into the truth about the 'Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)' case," said the KCNA report.
DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea.The colonel-level talks were designed to set up the
date, agenda and protocols for general-level discussions on armistice
issues related to the sinking of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) warship in March,
in which 46 sailors were killed.A team of multinational investigators
concluded in May that North Korea torpedoed the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan), but
the North has denied any role in the sinking, denouncing the investigation
results as a "sheer fabrication."In previous meetings held from last
month, North Korea and the UNC had made little progress toward the
general-level talks as North Korea repeated its denial of responsibility
for the ship sinking and renewed calls to send its own team of inspectors
to the South to review the investigation results.The UNC proposed a task
force to jointly assess whether the sinking violated the armistice
agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.The general-level talks have
served as a measure to ease tensions on the divided peninsula since
1998.The UNC, which monitors the Korean War armistice, is led by the top
U.S. commander in the South. The U.S. stations some 28,500 troops in South
Korea.------------------------N. Korea Urges Humanitarian Treatment for S.
Korean Pastor Returning HomeSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea urged South
Korea on Aug. 11 to be "humanitarian" to a South Korean pastor who will
return home this weekend after visiting Pyongyang without Seoul's
permission.But the Red Cross message, quoted by the North's official
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), did not contain any reply to an earlier
message the South's Red Cross had sent to call for the release of the
seven crew members of a South Korean fishing boat Pyongyang is
holding.Rev. Han Sang-ryol of South Korea entered the socialist state by
air June 12 and has since toured the North, reportedly giving speeches
denouncing President Lee Myung-bak (Yi Myo'ng-pak) and his policies.He is
set to return to South Korea on Aug. 15 through the truce village that
straddles the heavily armed border between the two countries, the KCNA
said.South and North K orea remain technically at war after the 1950-53
Korean War ended in a truce. South Koreans are allowed to enter the North
only with permission from the government.The North Korean report,
monitored in Seoul, said the North's Red Cross sent its South Korean
counterpart a message urging Seoul to treat Han "from a humanitarian
perspective."South Korean authorities are planning to apprehend Han as
soon as he steps on South Korean soil Sunday, which marks the 65th
anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule.The Red Cross
message "stressed that it hopes for necessary measures to guarantee the
safe return" of the pro-unification activist, the report said without
elaborating.Earlier on Aug. 11, South Korea sent through its Red Cross a
message calling on the North to release the crew of the fishing boat
Daeseung "promptly in line with internat ional law and customs and on
humanitarian grounds."The seizure took place on Aug. 8 amid heigh tening
military tensions between the divided countries. South Korea is trying to
figure out whether the boat trespassed into the North's exclusive economic
zone. The North has not yet commented on the boat.(Description of Source:
Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
33) Back to Top
ROK Weeklies for 4-10 Aug 10
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or e-mail EAG_Korea@rccb.osis.gov - Press Selection List
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:10:04 GMT
http://w eekly.chosun.co.kr/ http://weekly.chosun.co.kr/
1. Article by senior editor Cho'ng Chang-yo'l on the results of research
by Song T'ae-ho, professor of KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science
and Technology), on the torpedo that hit and sunk the ROK naval ship
Ch'o'nan. The article notes questions raised by some specialists,
including professor Yi Su'ng-ho'n of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, about
the fact that the letters "No 1" (1 po'n) written on the North Korean
torpedo propulsion system, which was retrieved from the waters near the
site of the naval ship's sinking, did not disappear although they asserted
that it should have been burned off at the point of explosion. Professor
Song, through his specialist and detailed research, produced proof that
the temperature of the back side of the disc of the torpedo propulsion
system -- on which the letters were written -- had not risen even 0.1
degree after the explosion, making it impossible for the letters to
disappear despite the explosion. The article also notes that Song's paper
on the calculation of the temperature of the disc was confirmed by 26
fellow KAIST professors and opened to the public on KAIST's website.
(1,200 pp 14-17)
2. Article by Ha T'ae-kyo'ng, head of Open Radio for North Korea, on the
North Korean power elite. The article states that based on secret sources
in North Korea, the National Defense Commission (NDC) will begin taking
control of the party through the party representatives conference to be
held in September, which means that the NDC, centered on the military,
will be defined as the supreme guiding organization in the North Korean
Constitution; that in an emergency, Kim Cho'ng-u'n will be elected as the
NDC chairman; and that of the power elite, Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il) and
Kim Cho'ng-u'n are relying on People's Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong Chun
(Kim Yo'ng-ch'un) in the military field; on O Kuk Ryol (O Ku'k-ryo'l) in
the field of opera tions against South Korea; on Jang Song Thaek (Chang
So'ng-t'aek) in the fields of relations with China and finance; on Cho'n
Pyo'ng-ho (Jon Pyong Ho) and Chu Kyu-ch'ang (Ju Kyu Chang) in the
munitions field; on U Tong-ch'u'k (U Tong Chuk) in the counter-espionage
field; on Ju Sang Song (Chu Sang-so'ng) in the field of public peace; on
Jo Myong Rok (Cho Myo'ng-rok) and Kim Cho'ng-kak (Kim Jong Gak) in the
field of military politics; on Ri Yong Mu (Ri Yong-mu, Yi Yong-mu) in the
civilian field; and on Kang So'k-chu (Kang Sok Ju) in the field of
relations with the United States. (1,500 pp 68-70)
Seoul Weekly Dong-A in Korean -- Weekly newsmagazine (formerly
transliterated as Chugan Tong-a) published by and similar in editorial
orientation to Dong-A Ilbo. URL:
http://weekly.donga.com/ http://weekly.donga.com/
1. Article by reporters O'm Sang-hyo'n and Pae Su-kang on the election of
Yi Chae-o of the Grand National Party (GNP) in the by-election held on 28
J uly. The article notes that Yi and lawmakers close to him may form
friendly relations with lawmaker Yi Sang-tu'k, the president's brother,
and tense relations with the pro-Pak Ku'n-hye faction; that nonetheless,
if lawmaker Yi Chae-o comes to the fore as a presidential candidate,
lawmaker Yi Sang-tu'k may oppose him and form friendly relations with the
pro-Pak faction; that lawmaker Yi Chae-o may maintain a certain distance
from the president, lower himself for some time, and be engaged in
politics in his own way; and that the pro-Pak faction is wary of lawmaker
Yi Chae-o, worrying that he might pick a quarrel with the faction once
again. (1,200 pp 16-17)
2. Article by Chungang University professor Kim T'ae-hyo'n on the
international politics situation surrounding the Northeast Asian region.
The article states that the reason China is showing such a strong attitude
toward the US-ROK plan for economic sanctions against North Korea and
their joint military exercise is t hat China believes the United States
and the ROK are trying to overthrow the North Korean regime, which China
has protected to some extent; that therefore, the United States and the
ROK may have to convince China that their goal is not to overthrow the
North Korean regime but to change it; and that the political situation in
this region depends on how the United States and the ROK can convince
China that the change of the North Korean regime may stabilize the
situation in this region and that the change will eventually benefit not
only China but other countries as well. (1,200 pp 18-19)
Seoul Hankyoreh21 in Korean -- Weekly newsmagazine (formerly
transliterated as Hangyore 21) published by and similar in editorial
orientation to Hankyoreh. URL:
http://www.hani.co.kr/h21/ http://www.hani.co.kr/h21/
1. Article by Cho'ng Uk-sik, head of the Peace Network, on the response by
the United States and the ROK to the sinking of the ROK naval ship and the
reaction of China and North Korea to the US-ROK response. The article
states that even while North Korea is condemning the United States and the
ROK, it makes it clear that it wants dialogue; that the denuclearization
of the Korean peninsula and the advancement of a peace system through the
Six-Party Talks can contribute greatly to the settlement of the conflict
between the United States and China, whose relations have recently
worsened because of their different policies toward North Korea; and that
as China and Russia seem to want to resume the Six-Party Talks, and as the
United States and Japan do not seem to have any reason to refuse them, it
is deplorable that the ROK is not providing unconditional agreement to
resume the talks. (1,500 pp 28-30)
Seoul Sisa Journal in Korean -- Widely read independent weekly
newsmagazine, which tends to be critical of US foreign policy. URL:
http://www.sisapress.com/ http://www.sisapress.com/
1. Article by reporter Cho'ng Rak -in on the phenomenon North Korean
escapees' return to North Korea. The article notes that of around 20,000
North Korean escapees who live in South Korea, about 200 returned to North
Korea; that of those 200, some may have been North Korean spies when they
first escaped from North Korea; that the North Korean Government takes a
position of forgiveness to those escapees who have returned to North
Korea; that the North Korean Government has a list of the escapees; that
the South Korean system of managing North Korean escapees is seriously
defective; and that one of the reasons why they are returning to North
Korea is South Korean society's cold treatment and indifference toward the
escapees. (1,500 pp 12-15)
2. Article by Paek Su'ng-chu, head of Security and Strategy Center, Korea
Institute for Defense Analyses, on the North Korean reaction to the US-ROK
joint military exercise. The article states that one of the reasons North
Korea stresses the strengthening of its nuc lear deterrent in reaction to
the joint military exercise is that North Korea may believe the United
States and the ROK may not be able to punish it militarily even if North
Korea strengthens its nuclear deterrent. This is because after North
Korea's first nuclear test, a South-North summit was held, and after its
second, China shared the burden caused by the UN resolution on sanctions
against North Korea. The article also notes that possible methods of
strengthening its nuclear deterrent may include: first, conducting the
four rounds of nuclear tests considered necessary for the completion of
its nuclear weapon system; second, conducting a missile test which will
display its technological capacity to load a nuclear weapon; and third,
demonstrating its ability to manufacture a nuclear weapon using a method
that does not involve the use of plutonium.
The article continues by stating that North Korea may attempt to
strengthen its nuclear deterrent at a time when its eff orts to escape the
situation created by the sinking of the ROK naval ship Ch'o'nan are
completely frustrated; that such an attempt may be made around the time of
the G20 summit to be held in Seoul in November to maximize the symbolic
effect of the attempt; that in conclusion, North Korea's assertion that it
will strengthen its nuclear deterrent can be considered both as a
multi-purpose threat and an advance notice of provocations; that while
North Korea will advance its nuclear program regardless of the US-ROK
joint military exercise, the program should be considered within the
context of North Korea's power succession and the building of a powerful
state. (1,000 pp 68-69)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
34) Back to Top
RSA Ambassador to US Presents Credentials to President Obama
Report by Staff Reporter: "Rasool Checks In with Obama" - Times Live
Thursday August 12, 2010 04:06:34 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg Times Live in English -- Combined
website of the credible privately-owned daily and weekly newspapers The
Times and Sunday Times, with an emphasis on news from South Africa. The
site also features multimedia and blogs. URL: www.timeslive.co.za)
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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
35) Back to Top
Sensuality on TV Goes Way Too Far
"View point" column by Kim Hyun-ki, Tokyo correspondent and Translation by
the JoongAng Daily staff: "Sensuality on TV Goes Way Too Far" - JoongAng
Daily Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:45:52 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English -- Website
of English-language daily which provides English-language summaries and
full-texts of items published by the major center-right daily JoongAng
Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed as an insert to the Seoul
edition of the International Herald Tribune; URL:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Korea Ranks High in Spending on Research - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:41:50 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Korea spent 3.37 percent of its gross domestic product
on research and development in 2008, the fourth highest amount among
developed countries, according to a report released by the Knowledge
Economy Ministry yesterday. Korea invested a total of 34.5 trillion won in
R&amp;D ($29.2 billion) in 2008, which is double the amount invested in
2001 with 16.1 trillion won.
R&amp;D investment was led by the private sector, accounting for 75
percent of the total, with the rest provided by government. This is
similar to ratios in other countries including the United States, Japan,
China and Germany.Most of the private sector R&amp;D investments were
conducted by large conglomerates, which made up 72 percent of the spending
among b usinesses."In an effort to improve the balance of the country's
overall R&amp;D structure in the private sector, it is crucial that more
investments should be made by small firms," the ministry said.In terms of
the government's investment in the R&amp;D sector, the amount has been
growing around 10 percent each year since 2002, with a focus on
application and development research rather than basic research.Most of
the R&amp;D budget was spent by the Knowledge Economy Ministry on
developing industry convergence technology, followed by the ministries of
education, defense and land."With the steady investment in R&amp;D, the
nation's level of scientific technology infrastructure is improving
rapidly," said a ministry official, noting that the number of research
papers submitted to gain international patents was the fourth largest in
the world."There is a limit to gaining benefits, however, because the
number of world's best-selling produ cts from Korea is decreasing and
despite more investment on R&amp;D, the performance is not resulting in
the creation of new industries and markets," the official said.According
to the ministry, the number of product categories in which Korea is a
global leader in terms of market share has dropped from 87 in 2000 to 53
in 2007, while China has increased from 698 to 1,128 products."Investing
more money on R&amp;D is more than necessary in that it leads to actual
economic outcomes," said Jang Seong-keun, a research fellow at the LG
Economic Research Institute. "But what's more important is to use the
investment well so that it leads to revolutionary technology and
products."(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English
-- Website of English-language daily which provides English-language
summaries and full-texts of items published by the major center-right
daily JoongAng Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed as an inser
t to the Seoul edition of the International Herald Tribune; URL:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Turkish Islamist Press 11 Aug
This product lists selected items carried in the Turkish Islamist press on
11 August. To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer
Center at (800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Turkey -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:06:45 GMT
In a 573-word article entitled "Why is This Man Frightening us?" Yeni
Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul asserts that the international community
needs to heed Cuban leader Fidel Castro's statements cautioning of the
possibility of a catastrophic nuclear escalation resulting from a
US-Israeli strike against Iran followed by the assassination of US
President Barack Obama. Karagul argues that global events in the past 20
years and increasingly frequent warnings of a nuclear war triggered by the
Iranian or Korean crisis give reason to treat Castro's remarks as a
serious alert from a seasoned statesman based on verifiable concerns about
the future.
In a 454-word article entitled "The Power of Change," Yeni Safak columnist
Fehmi Koru cites the "power of change" as the driving force behind Deniz
Baykal's resignation as Republican People's Party, CHP, leader following a
video scandal after "years of resistance to efforts to depose him" and the
decisions made in line with the political authority's demands at the
recent Supreme Military Council, YAS, meeting, which differed from earlier
"quiet " YAS meetings, where the military used to get what it wanted.
Explaining the nature of this "change," Koru claims that the sequence of
events started by the September 11 strikes and later by the global
economic crunch boosted Turkey's international importance in a way that
increased the ruling AKP's self-confidence, putting it in a position where
it could push ahead with its democratic agenda. (Istanbul Yeni Safak
(Ankara edition) in Turkish - Daily targeting Islamic reformists; close to
the ruling Justice and Development Party - URL:
http://www.yenisafak.com/ http://www.yenisafak.com ) Vakit
Under the headline, "Dirty Tricks Against Oz," Vakit carries a front-page
report which asserts that Prosecutor Zekeriya Oz is said to be under
pressure from the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor in Istanbul to
withdraw from the Ergenekon investigation on the grounds that he has been
discredited. According to the report, Oz has been resisting these
pressures with the result that he has been inundated with irrelevant files
so that he might be prevented from devoting proper attention to the
Ergenekon probe.
In a 1,354-word article entitled "Who is Encouraging Polarization, Who
Wants Reconciliation?" Vakit Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya slams the
Peace and Democracy Party, BDP, for the way it is engaging in "despotism"
in requiring Kurdish voters to "boycott" the forthcoming referendum on the
constitutional amendment package, in this way "attempting to hold their
will hostage." He claims that the BDP's stance on the referendum provides
an inkling of the sort of Nazi and Stalinist practices that it would
employ if it ever came to power "God forbid." Karakaya also responds to
CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Action Party, MHP, leader,
Devlet Bahceli's statements accusing the AKP of pursuing policies that
encourage nationwide polarization. He ass erts that perceived causes of
social rift like the Alevi-Sunni, Turkish-Kurdish, Rightist-Leftist, and
secular-Islamist disputes have always existed in this country, that the
AKP cannot be accused of creating these disagreements, and that what it is
trying to do is to prevent polarization by implementing peace and
brotherhood projects.
In a 626-word article entitled "Welcome Ramadan," Vakit columnist
Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that the holy significance of Ramadan has been
accentuated this year through its coincidence with debates on the
Constitution, the functions of the YAS and the HSYK, attempted coups,
scandals involving the Turkish Armed Forces, etc. (Istanbul Anadolu'da
Vakit (Internet Version-WWW) in Turkish - Islamic fundamentalist daily -
URL:
http://www.vakit.com.tr/ http://www.vakit.com.tr ) Zaman
Under the headline, "Disinformation: Sole Recourse of Sledgehammer
Suspects," Zaman runs a front-page report which accuses su spects in the
so-called Sledgehammer coup plot of trying to invalidate evidence
authenticated by three different courts of law through false claims.
Former First Army Commander Cetin Dogan's recent press statement asserting
that he never endorsed the CD-ROMs presented as evidence of the
anti-government conspiracy with which Sledgehammer suspects are charged
constitutes a concrete example of such attempts, the report says.
In a 530-word article entitled "Who is Afraid of Nuclear Iran?" Zaman
columnist Abdulhamit Bilici comments on the "huge" divide between the Arab
street and the Arab governments in terms of the perception of a nuclear
Iran, indicated by the "striking" results of an opinion poll conducted
jointly by the University of Maryland and Zogby International.
In a 406-word article entitled "The Situation of Political Parties in the
Run-up to the Referendum," Zaman columnist Mehmet Kamis warns Prime
Minister Erdoga n about the "aggressive" style he is using in his rally
speeches calling for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum. Kamis claims
that Erdogan's emphasis on his administration's overall performance during
his campaign for the constitutional reforms is set to play into the hands
of pro-status quo groups by misrepresenting the referendum as a general
election.
In a 482-word article entitled "Response to Criticism," Zaman columnist
Ali Bulac censures certain commentators for subjecting him to what he
describes as unwarranted criticism and claiming that he intends to vote
against the constitutional amendment package in the forthcoming referendum
based on an article published in a weekly newspaper in which he listed his
objections to an amendment in the reform package that entails "positive
discrimination" for women. (Istanbul Zaman (Ankara Edition) in Turkish -
moderate pro-Islamic daily supportive of Nurcu Sect leader Fethullah Gulen
- URL
http://www.zaman.com.tr/ http://www.zaman.com.tr ) Today's Zaman
In a 754-word article entitled "Is it Money That Keeps Turkey Denying What
Happened to Armenians?" Today's Zaman columnist Orhan Kemal Cengiz argues
that Turkey is unwilling to confront the facts about the 1915 events
involving Ottoman Armenians because facing the past would entail "the
shattering of so many national myths and taboos. (It) means questioning
the identity of the founders of the Turkish Republic, the Turkish War of
Independence, modernization, the Ottoman past and so many other things."
(processing)
In a 714-word article entitled "Another Step Forward," Today's Zaman
columnist Dogu Ergil describes what took place at the latest YAS meeting
as "a necessary step toward the normalization and democratization of the
regime" through appointments to critical military posts designed to "rein
in" Turkey's "maverick" military an d prevent it from waging a fight
against perceived "internal enemies." (processing)
In an 802-word article entitled "Erratic Behavior is a Loser," Today's
Zaman columnist Yavuz Baydar interprets the results of the latest YAS
meeting as meaning that "Turkey's fragile system passed yet another test
of durability, as it became clear that the elected can - and hopefully
will - prove that it is the power of the vote that defines who will decide
on the appointments in the bureaucracy and - again hopefully - restore
harmony within the state, and not vice versa." (processing) (Istanbul
Today's Zaman (Ankara Edition) in English - moderate pro-Islamic daily
supportive of Nurcu Sect leader Fethullah Gulen - Root URL:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web )
Milli Gazete
In a 663-word article entitled "What is Happening in the Directorate of
Religious Affairs?" Milli Gazete columnist Mehmet Sevket Eygi holds a
"reformist" group within the Directorate of Religious Affairs that
"represents itself as an expert par excellence in the interpretation of
the Koran" responsible for the "disgraceful" campaign for "interreligious
dialog" that some time ago took the form of a "farce" in Mardin where
Muslim clerics and priests from various churches crossed a wooden bridge
symbolizing As-Sirat amid the sound of bells and the Islamic call to
prayer. Eygi also warns of what he describes as efforts by a pro-Fazlur
Rahman sect to seize control of the Directorate of Religious Affairs.
(Istanbul Milli Gazete (Internet Version-WWW) in Turkish - Mouthpiece of
the Felicity Party (SP), affiliated with Necmettin Erbakan's National View
Organization - URL:
http://www.milligazete.com/ http://www.milligazete.com ) Bugun
In a 694-word article entitled "Have You Heard That a Kurdish Autonomous
Region Has Been Declared?" Bug un columnist Gulay Gokturk argues that
Kurdish groups' declaration of "democratic autonomy" in the southeast
following the recent "Democratic Society Congress" is part of a
potentially "suicidal" plan by the terrorist PKK and the Turkish "deep
state" to set the scene for ethnic disturbances in the region with the
ultimate intention of creating a major political crisis that would
paralyze the ruling AKP and allow the "deep state" to once more take the
reins of power. (Istanbul Bugun (Ankara edition) in Turkish - Conservative
paper supportive of the AKP government - URL:
http://bugun.com.tr/ http://bugun.com.tr )
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38) Back to Top
Foreign Buyers Arrive in Zimbabwe To Purchase Diamond Following Partial
Ban Lift - AFP (World Service)
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:10:31 GMT
(Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English -- world news
service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Twin Panda Cubs Born in Japan: China's Breeding Center
Xinhua: "Twin Panda Cubs Born in Japan: China's Breeding Center" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:49:13 GMT
CHENGDU, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) - A giant panda gave birth to twins Wednesday
morning at an animal park in Japan, a panda breeding research base in
southwest China's Sichuan Province said Wednesday.
The male-female twin cubs were delivered at the Shirahama Animal Park in
Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda
Breeding, whose specialists are working with the park in panda breeding
research, said in a statement.The male cub, weighing 158 grams, was born
first at 6:40 a.m. (Beijing Time), an hour earlier than his 123-gram
sister."The cubs and their mother, Liang Bin, are in good conditions", the
statement said.Liang Bin conceived the cubs after mating with Yong Ming,
another panda at the Japanese park, in March.The 10-year-old mother panda
was also born in Japan shortly after her mother, Mei Mei, came to Japan in
July 2000 from Sichuan.Besides Wednesday's delivery, Liang Bin had
previously given birth to a pair of twins.China and Japan jointly launched
a panda breeding research program in 1994, after which 12 panda cubs have
been born in Japan and 11 of them remain alive.China has established the
panda-breeding programs in collaboration with Japan, the United States and
European countries. The program seeks to increase global understanding of
the endangered species' feeding and breeding.All the pandas born overseas
belong to China.Meanwhile, Sichuan is experiencing a panda "baby boom"
with 16 cubs born so far this year in the Chengdu base and the Wolong
Giant Panda Protection and Research Center.More than 10 pandas are
expected to give birth over the next one or two months at the Wolong
center.About 1,600 giant pandas live in the wilds of China, mostly in
Sichuan Province and the northwestern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu.
Another 290 pandas are in captive-bred programs worldwide, mainly in the
Chinese mainland.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in En glish --
China's official news service for English-language audiences (New China
News Agency))
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Okinawa Local TV Evening News 11 Aug 10
For a copy of the video, contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615. Selected video also available at
OpenSource.gov. - Japan -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:48:39 GMT
The main local news segment of "Haisai News 610" carries as its 1st story
a 2.5-minute report on a meeting held between Deputy Chief Cabinet
Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama, accompanied b y Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary
Kinya Takino, and Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima at the Okinawa
Prefectural Government building. Fukuyama explained events leading to a
Japan-US agreement on the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS)
Futenma to Henoko in Nago. The governor said that the agreement was a
180-degree change from the Okinawan residents' desire to have the Futenma
relocated outside of Okinawa.The 2nd story of the day is a 2-minute report
on local residents conducting a noise survey produced by aircraft at
Kadena Air Base The survey was made today between 0600 and 2200, during
which a total of 128 takeoffs and landings were recorded, making a maximum
of 101.2 decibel of noise.The 3rd story of the day is a 2-minute report on
Ginowan residents appealing at the Supreme Court for the suspension of
late night and early morning flights from MCAS Futenma.
The 4th story is a 2-minute report on an annual photo exhibition held at
Ginowan City Hall to mark th e 6th year anniversary of the US military
helicopter crash to Okinawa International University campus.Naha NHK
Television in Japanese is the Naha-based station of Japan's public
broadcast network Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK). Naha OTV Television in
Japanese, "OTV Super News" 0917-0955 GMT (1817-1855 local) Click here to
view the streamed video in .wmv formatThe main local news segment of "OTV
Super News" carries as its 1st story a 2-minute report on Deputy Chief
Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama who visited Okinawa to explain to
Okinawa Governor Nakaima an outline of a Japan-US agreement announced in
late May on the relocation of Futenma Air Station to Henoko. After his
meeting with the governor, Fukuyama said to reporters that he could not
get the governor's approval of the relocation plan.The 2nd story of the
day is a 2-minute report on a group of Ginowan residents appealed to the
supreme court to stop night-time flights at Futenma Air Station.
The 3rd story of the day is a 1-minute report on Kadena residents
conducting a survey today on noises emitted by aircraft at Kadena Air
Base. Results of today's study will be disclosed to the public.Naha OTV
Television in Japanese is an affiliate of Fuji Television, part of the
Fuji-Sankei group. Naha RBC Television in Japanese, "RBC THE NEWS"
0915-0955 GMT (1815-1855 local) Click here to view the streamed video in
.wmv formatThe main local news segment of "RBC THE NEWS" carries as its
1st story a -minute report on the Fukuyama-Nakaima meeting on the planned
relocation of the Futenma to Henoko. Fukuyama explained, among other
things, why the Hatoyama administration had to agree on the relocation
plan. Fukuyama said that the central government would continue to hold
discussions with Okinawa on the issue.Naha RBC Television in Japanese is
affiliated with TBS Television, which has ties with major daily Mainichi
Shimbun. Naha QAB Television in Japanese, "Sta tion Q" 0928-0953 GMT
(1828-1853 local) Click here to view the streamed video in .wmv format
"Station Q" carries as its 1st story a 1.5-minute report on the
Nakaima-Fukuyama meeting on the Futenma's relocation to Henoko. Nakaima
said that although he appreciated Fukuima's explanations, he still had
many questions to ask over the relocation issue.The 2nd story of the day
is a 1-minute report on the survey conducted to measure noises from
aircraft at the Kadena Air Base.Naha QAB Television in Japanese is an
affiliate of TV Asahi, owned by major daily Asahi Shimbun.
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
41) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Interview': EAC, EU Trade Pact To Benefit Kenya's Horticultural
Sector
Xinhua "Interview" by Daniel Ooko: "EAC, EU Trade Pact To Benefit Kenya's
Horticultural Sector" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:48:29 GMT
NAIROBI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's horticultural industry is set to
benefit from the soon to be signed trade pact between the East Africa
Community (EAC) and the European Union (EU) in terms of market access.
Jane Ngige, the CEO of the Kenya Flower Council said in an interview with
Xinhua on Wednesday that Kenya which exports 1,000 tonnes of fruit and
vegetables every day to Europe is expected to double its exports to EU
with the signing of the Economic Partnerships Agreement between the EAC
and EU in November."Horticulture industry is expected to get a boast after
the signing of the agreement between the EU and EAC in November. We expect
to sustain the same momentum because we w ill be accessing the European
markets without even paying tariffs," she said.The EU has set a November
deadline to conclude long-running negotiations with East Africa over the
signing of a new economic partnership agreement (EPA).The new deadline
followed an unsuccessful round of talks in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in June
this which was aimed at unlocking a stalemate on the signing of a
framework on the Economic Partnership Agreement (FEPA).The Kenyan
horticulture industry which provides thousands of jobs in a country with a
high unemployment rate was hit hard by airport closures across Europe in
April this year after European airspace was closed down because of the
cloud of volcano ash in the sky.Industry insiders estimated that Kenya
lost between 3 million dollars to 4 million dollars a day in lost
horticulture exports as the closures continued in April.In cold storage
units and warehouses in the key growing area of Naivasha, about 90
kilometres of southwest of Nairobi and in the capital Nairobi vegetables
had to rot and flowers wilt as the airport closures continued.The
situation forced the growers to dump hundreds of tons of vegetables and
millions of flowers.Ngige said the EU-EAC trade pact will enable the
sector to meet the increasing demand for top quality produce in the export
market. "After the signing of the agreement, we will be getting more
orders and the returns will be good because we will be accessing European
markets freely," she said after Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) announced a 4
million shillings sponsorship for the upcoming annual Naivasha
Horticultural Fair set to take place in September this year.Bank officials
said the move is another step by the regional bank to widen its footprint
in all economic sectors as it continues its growth momentum across the
five East Africa countries where it operates. "Naivasha is host to about
50 multinational flower and horticultural companies. This is a huge growth
opport unity for KCB that is the region's largest bank in terms of asset
base standing at over 226 billion shillings (2.5 billion U.S. dollars),"
said KCB Divisional Director in charge of corporate banking Wilfred
Sang.Last year vegetable and flower exports from Kenya were worth close to
900 million U.S. dollars, making it the biggest foreign exchange earner
and contributing roughly one fifth of the entire economy.This represented
14.8 percent drop in the quantity of exports and a decline of 2.9 percent
in value expressed in Kenya shillings.The Greek debt crisis in June this
year also filtered into Kenya's horticultural industry, causing foreign
exchange losses running into billions of shillings as the country
reassesses its overdependency on the turbulent European Union
market.Players said then the crisis that had battered investor confidence
across Europe and pushed the euro to its lowest level in 13 months had
significantly eroded their earnings, delaying their recovery fro m other
recent shocks like drought, the global financial crisis and the recent
export interruption by the Iceland volcano eruption.Kenya sells 82 percent
of her horticultural exports in EU countries where payment is made in the
Euro, leaving only 18 percent to the dollar dominated destinations of the
United States, Middle East, Japan and Russia.For many years, the industry
has relied on the stability of the euro to navigate through tough economic
times, including the global economic crisis of last year.(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Bladerunner 51 Boat 'Leap Forward', Concern for US - Voice of the Islamic
Republic of Iran Radio 1
Wednesday August 11, 2010 09:28:04 GMT
(IRGC) said that Iran has obtained the world's fastest missile-launching
warship. According to Admiral Ali Fadavi, while this vessel was being
transported from South Africa, it was surrounded by fifteen 50-meter long
US ships for 18 hours. It was delivered to Iran under the escort of the
Guards Corps. You certainly want to hear more details about it. Seyyed
Mehdi Ja'fari has the report.
(Correspondent) Admiral Ali Fadavi's first news conference in his capacity
as commander of the IRGC navy, the force that moved to Bandar-e Abbas with
its structure a while ago in order to implement the new strategy of the
Guards Corps, based on patrolling the sea (as heard), had a lot of
messages for domestic and foreign audiences. At his news conference,
Fadavi said that the Guards Corps obtained the world's fastest British
boat Bladerunner 51 for the first time. The way Iran obtained this boat
has strongly worried Obama, and it was so important that the commander of
the IRGC navy described its purchase as a leap forward in the capability
of the navy.(Ali Fadavi) When this vessel was transported from South
Africa to Iran one and a half years ago, the ship carrying this vessel was
surrounded by US ships from 0600 to 2200 (as heard). After an IRGC
helicopter loaded missile-launching vessels and a special IRGC naval unit
on that ship, the Americans did not dare to touch and halt the ship. This
vessel was made by a British company. As all media said, it is a
Bladerunner vessel.The design of this ship is totally different. I know
personally people who in fact designed it. They worked for 30 years to
ensure that this ship is not just a little bit more advanced, but
represents a leap forward in shipbuilding in the world.This vessel is at
our disposal. In 1390 (Iranian year starting from 20 March 2010), there
will be a greater number of them in the Guards Corps navy. It is not that
we do not have them now, we do have them, but if we will have more of them
in the 15th (as heard).The vessel is for sailing contests, it is not a
missile or torpedo-launching ship. This is something that people use for
sailing contests in the world. The thing that turns it into the ship which
made the US President express concern and say that he will personally
follow up how this ship went (to Iran) at a time when they (Iranians) are
being sanctioned in European countries and elsewhere, is not the ship
itself. The main thing is the work that has been done here. The
missile-launcher was not installed on this ship elsewhere, it was
installed here. We did the same thing last year, too. For certain, a
country like Britain is hundreds of years ahead of other countries in the
issue of designing boats. We do not need to start from where they started.
We are starting from the point they have reached now - by attaining the
highest peaks of technology. During the war (presumably Iran-Iraq war), we
bought a ship from Britain. During the following years, we bought (ships)
from Italy. Now we bought it from the British again. This means that
sanctions and statements do not mean that anybody can control
it.(Correspondent) Since the acquisition of the Bladerunner-51, which
according to The New York Times, was carried out by cheating the United
States and came from the South African port of Durban, the Guards Corps
has turned this British boat into a nightmare for US ships in the Persian
Gulf through alterations and the installation of missile-launchers. This
made US Defense Secretary Robert Gates speak for the first time about the
need to change the strategy of using warships.(Ali Fadavi) You should read
the latest statements US Defense Secretary Gates made at a US naval base
about 35-36 days ago. This is the first time in American history that a US
secretary of defense questioned the strategies that had been entrenched in
US military capabilities for several hundreds of years - in terms of the
capabilities of its Guards Corps naval forces (as heard). He says we
(changing tack), for example, as one of permanent strategies of the
American navy, which played its specific role, he is talking about the
elimination of aircraft carriers - in terms of the damage that it can
experience in confrontation with the IRGC forces (as heard). He said since
they can experience such damage from the Guards Corps navy, we must
consider altering our way of thinking.(Description of Source: Tehran Voice
of the Islamic Republic of Iran Radio 1 in Persian -- Iranian state-run
radio, officially controlled by the office of the supreme leader)
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holder. Inquiries re garding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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People's Daily Online: Meaning Behind British PM's Diplomatic Moves
By People's Daily Online: "Meaning behind British PM's diplomatic moves" -
Renmin Ribao
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:39:51 GMT
(Description of Source: Beijing People's Daily Online in English --
Internet-only English version of Renmin Ribao, the daily newspaper of the
CPC Central Committee. URL: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn)
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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Iranian Commentary Details WikiLeaks Disclosures Made From Classified
Documents
Unattributed commentary: "Revelation of 91,000 Classified Documents of US
War in Afghanistan" - Javan Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 15:05:13 GMT
According to a report by Javan news agency, WikiLeaks is an international
organization based in Sweden, which started its operations in 2007 through
an online website and has been publishing other country's classified
documents from time to time. In an unprecedented move, this website
published more than 91,000 classified documents of the Pentagon and other
US intelligence agencies about the US operations in Afghanistan between
2004 and 2009 and has caused a lot of objections.
The published documents have several main points that have made US,
Pakistani, Afghan, and Polish officials react. Perhaps o ther governments
might be forced to react to its content as well. Taliban Have Heat-Seeking
Missiles
The documents published by WikiLeaks confirm that the Taliban have
heat-seeking antiaircraft missiles, which they are using to target
American helicopters. Although, to date the US officials have denied this
fact, in May 2007 for instance an American Chinook helicopter crashed in
Afghanistan's Helmand Province because of a missile, causing the death of
all on board. At that time, the Americans claimed that the incident was
because of random gunfire, but the documents published by WikiLeaks show
that the Taliban used heat-seeking missiles to target the helicopter. The
document further mentions that, on the basis of reports available on the
type of projectile, the launch rate, and the type of power of the
projectile, the missile was bigger than an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade)
and was likely to be a surface-to-air missile. Pakistani Intelligence
Service Is Helping Ta liban
Some parts of the documents reveal that the Pakistani intelligence service
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was arming the Taliban against India, of
which the Indians were aware of course. In one of the documents for
example, it shows that the ISI paid $15,000 to the Taliban to assassinate
Indian contractors in Afghanistan. Another document reveals that Pakistan
Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani ordered the attacks on the Indian
Embassy in Afghanistan. US War Crimes
One of the most controversial issues that challenge the US Government is
that some of the revealed documents show the US soldiers committing war
crimes in Afghanistan and the US military keeping it a secret. WikiLeaks
founder Julian Assange said that the war crimes were kept secret. He said
that there are thousands of pages that show the war crimes and the US
Government must prosecute its own soldiers instead of criticizing him.
According to The Guardian, the WikiLeaks documents sho w attacks on
civilians in Afghanistan in 144 instances. In one instance in 2007, US
soldiers killed 19 and injured 50 unarmed Afghan civilians in Jalalabad
city just because someone shot at them. Reactions
Washington has condemned the leaking of the classified documents and said
this action will hamper US national security. White House Spokesperson
Robert Gibbs tried to cover over the intelligence scandal and termed these
classified documents inconsequential, saying that these documents do not
reveal anything new about the nature of war in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon announced that it may take weeks to assess the real impact of
the leaking of these 91,000 classified documents of US operations in
Afghanistan. The US Defense Department plans to investigate the leaks to
make sure that it does not endanger its military personnel and NATO forces
in Afghanistan. The Pentagon announced that currently it is engaged in an
inquiry into the source of the leaked classifi ed intelligence, which is
the largest scandal in US history. In this regard, Pentagon Spokesman
Colonel Lapan said that it might take days or weeks to evaluate these
documents, which have been called the Afghanistan war diaries. According
to some analysts, the leaked documents might also hamper the White House
efforts to attract more support for the war in Afghanistan.
Condemning the leaks, Pakistan also called the documents baseless and
lacking credibility. After the release of the documents, Afghan President
Hamid Karzai said that the news shocked him. His office also confirmed
that the documents clearly endorse the view that victory over terrorism
will be gained by the targeting of terrorist safe houses and their
financial and ideological sources, not by attacking villages.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has regretted the publication of
these documents and said that it will endanger the lives of Polish
soldiers in Afghanistan. Iran, WikiLeaks Documents
Some of the leaked 91,000 classified documents are about Iran and its role
in using the Taliban to wage a secret intelligence war against the US. In
one part of the documents, it has been mentioned that with the help of a
seven-member group of Taliban leaders, Iran valued at $1,700 the killing
of an Afghan soldier and $3,500 for the killing of an Afghan official.
Another report claims that the Iranian intelligence agency spent more than
$2 million in helping Golboddin Hekmatyar in Afghanistan. In recent times,
these accusations have been repeated in American intelligence reports, but
Iran has constantly denied destabilizing Afghanistan.
(Description of Source: Tehran Javan Online in Persian -- website of
hardline conservative daily affiliated with the Islamic Revolution Guards
Corps (IRGC); www.javannewspaper.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Estonia To Sign Antarctic Environmental Protocol
"Estonia To Accede to Environmental Protocol to Antarctic Treaty" -- BNS
headline - BNS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:44:39 GMT
According to the covering letter to the Environment Ministry bill
accession to the protocol will entitle Estonia to participate with the
right of vote in Antarctic Treaty consultative meetings. Until the present
Estonia has taken part in Antarctic Treaty consultative meetings without
the right of vote. Accession to the protocol is also the precondition for
the organization of any activity in territories regulated by the Antarctic
Treaty.
At present there are about 40 research stations from 26 countries in
Antarctica. In 2001 an Estonian Antarctic Expedition (ESTANTEX) project
was drawn up in cooperation with an initiative group of Estonian polar
explorers and the Foreign Ministry by which creation of a base on the Wood
Bay coast in Antarctica is being planned. The precondition for the
organization of expeditions is accession to the Protocol on Environmental
Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
On accession to the protocol Estonia will become member of CEP (Committee
on Environmental Protection). Accession to the protocol will also make it
possible for Estonia to accede to the Protocol on Environmental Protection
to the Antarctic Treaty (COMNAP). Already in June 2004 COMNAP endorsed the
Estonian intention to accede, setting accession to the protocol as a
preliminary condition.
The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 in Washington and it entered into
force in 1961. By the treaty the territorial claims of seven countries to
different parts of the continent were frozen and all territories and
glaciers south of the 60th latitude were declared an area where any
military activity is prohibited and which is designated for an indefinite
period as an object of peaceful research and international scientific
cooperation. Estonia acceded to the Antarctic Treaty as the 45th country
and it entered into force with respect to Estonia from May 17, 2001.
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was drawn
up on October 4, 1991 Madrid and it entered into force from January 14,
1998. The protocol establishes strict environmental requirements in the
Antarctic Treaty territory and any activity in connection with mineral
resources other than for the aim of science was prohibited. Besides, a
specially protected and organized system of territories was introduced and
principles of the assessment of the environmental impact of human activity
were established.
(Description of Source: Tallinn BNS in English -- Baltic News Service, the
largest private news agency in the Baltic States, providing news on
political developments in all three Baltic countries; URL:
http://www.bns.ee)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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46) Back to Top
Nasrallahs Got a Surprise
"Nasrallahs Got a Surprise" -- NOW Lebanon Headline - NOW Lebanon
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:16:07 GMT
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday that
he
will reveal during his August 9 press conference irrefutable evidence
provingthat Israel was behind the 2005 assassination of former Prime
Minister RafikHariri.During a speech marking the fourth anniversary of the
2006 July War, he saidthat the Jewish State had a plan to frame Hezbollah
in the killing of Hariri.Following next weeks conference, Nasrallah said
the Lebanese government "shouldappoint a responsible (authority on the
issue) if it finds what I say to benoteworthy.""We are ready to
collaborate with the government."He addressed Tuesdays clashes between the
Israeli and Lebanese troops, sayingResistance fighters in South Lebanon
were instructed to remain calm and notinterfere in the clashes.However, he
said that the Resistance placed itself at the disposal of the LAFin case
it needed assistance.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) exchanged firealong the northernmost section of their common
border on Tuesday, with eachside accusing the other of having started the
fighting.Two Lebanese soldiers, a journalist and a senior Israeli officer
were killed inthe cla shes, according to sources from both sides.The
Hezbollah chief commended the Lebanese army soldiers, calling
themcourageous.He said that if Hezbollah were to intervene in Tuesdays
clashes, some will tryand accuse the party of taking the opportunity to
obstruct the Special Tribunalfor Lebanon (STL).He said, however, that the
Resistance will "cut off the hands of Israel" if itwere to attack the
Lebanese army."The LAF protects the Resistance, just as the Resistance
protects the LAF, andthe Lebanese people protect the LAF and the
Resistance. This is the formula."Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon urged maximum restraint Tuesdayafter the Lebanese-Israeli
clashes.Ban, who is on a visit to Japan, said through his spokesperson,
Martin Nesirky,that he was deeply concerned at the exchange of fire
between Lebanese andIsraeli forces.The UN boss urged all parties to
maintain the cessation of hostilities andensure full respect of UN
Security Council Resolution 1701.The United States and the European Union
also urged restraint on both sides.-NOW Lebanon(Description of Source:
Beirut NOW Lebanon in English -- A privately-funded pro-14 March
coalition, anti-Syria news website; URL: www.nowlebanon.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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47) Back to Top
Pakistan Press Nawa-e Waqt 11 Aug 10
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Nawa-e Waqt
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:19:40 GMT
pictures on page 1 show Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani talking to the
flood-affected people, people i n Sukkur shifting to safer places in view
of possible flood tide, and Nawaz Sharif addressing the flood-affected
people at Dasu. The lower half of the page has quarter-page advertisement.
Lead Stories: Report by special correspondent: Floodwater enters into
Kalabagh, Harnai; people migrating to safer places; 6 million people need
food immediately
Detailed account of flood devastations in different parts of the country.
(pp 1, 9; 2,000 words) Online report: The government not to rest until
rehabilitation of flood-affected people: President Zardari (pp 1, 8; 300
words) Online report: We will not hesitate to stop development work to
assist flood-hit people: Prime minister; political parties to be taken
into confidence about situation (pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report by special
correspondent: I have come to share grief of flood-affected people; Hazara
province to come into being at proper time: Nawaz Sharif, PML-N (Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz) chief (pp 1, 9; 400 words) Repor t by special
correspondent: Leaders of Hazara province movement wear black armbands to
protest Nawaz Sharif's arrival (pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report on press
release: The government should hand over aid received from abroad to
affected provinces: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif (pp 1, 9; 400
words) Report by Suhail Abdul Nasir: Ten foreign helicopters flying over
country's airspace to assist flood-affected people; six helicopters
provided by US, four by Afghanistan; US helicopters take off from Tarbela;
return at night (pp 1, 9; 300 words) NNI report: We will decide about
construction of Kalabagh Dam if provinces agree: Deputy Information
Minister (pp 1, 9; 500 words) Report by Tariq Ismail: Negligence of Taunsa
Barrage management; dozens of village destroyed (pp 1, 9; 400 words) APP
report: General Kayani visits affected areas in Sind, Balochistan, Punjab
(pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report by special correspondent: Finance minister
briefs ambassadors on flood devastations (pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report by
special correspondent: We will assist Pakistan in accordance with its
needs: Chinese ambassador (pp 1, 9; 200 words) AFP report: Pakistan should
learn from floods, build more and more dams: US ambassador; US secretary
of state says this is best time to win support of Pakistani people; US
Ambassador Patterson says 6 million people affected, US soldiers providing
assistance (pp 1, 9; 500 words) SANA report: Allegation of violating
constitution; Sind High Court declares former military ruler Pervez
Musharraf proclaimed offender (pp 1, 9; 200 words) APP report: President's
UK visit was scheduled 3 months ago: Information minister (pp 1, 9; 200
words) Internet news: Defense minister confirms tossing of shoe at
President Zardari (pp 1, 9; 100 words) Report by special correspondent:
PEPCO suffers loss of 4 billion rupees (PRe) because of floods; grid
stations in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa destroyed: Minister for water, power (pp
1, 9; 300 words) Report by special correspondent: National Security
Council sends its recommendations to prime minister (pp 1, 9; 300 words)
Nawa-e Waqt report: No one can change genuine constitution; attempt to
introduce presidential system failed; powers were returned to prime
minister under public pressure: Chief justice (pp 1, 9; 800 words) Report
by special correspondent: Minorities free to follow their religion:
President, prime minister (pp 1, 9; 300 words) Report by Ittrat Jaffery:
Pakistan's talks with IMF to be held as scheduled (pp 1, 8; 200 words) BBC
report: Iraq, Afghan wars; severe financial h ardship; post of one
military commander, 50 generals, admirals quashed; announcement to cut
defense budget (pp 1, 9; 400 words) Page 2: News From Islamabad,
Rawalpindi
Page 2 has a column besides local news and advertisements. Column by Taiba
Zia: Imran Khan; future prime minister
The column discusses statement of Imran Khan that he would be the next
prime minister of the country. Imran Khan 's popularity is growing among
the Pakistani-US people. (800 words) Page 3: National, International
Reports
Page 3 has national and international news. Column by Rafique Dogar:
President Zardari had not gone to London but was summoned
The column terms the president's visit to London as mission 'save me, make
me do any service in return' mission. (800 words) SANA report:
Afghanistan; deaths of civilians increased by 31 percent: UN (pp 3, 10;
200 words) Page 4: News From Islamabad's Suburbs Column by Saeed Aasi:
Land about to be ruined; write what I say
The column discusses havoc wreaked by floods in the country. (800 words)
Page 5: Business, Commerce Column by Dr Ajmal Niazi: Government, folly
The column opposes President Zardari's European tour at a time when the
country was reeling under worst floods. (800 words) Page 6: Continuation
of Reports From Other Pages; Advertisements Page 7: Classified Ads Page 8:
Continuation of Reports From Other Page s Page 9: Continuation of Reports
From Other Pages Page 10: Continuation of Reports From Other Pages Page
11: Sports World Page 12: National, International Reports
Prominent pictures on page 12 show Marwi Memon, Pakistan Muslim
League-Qaide-Azam (PML-Q) leader, talking to the Nawa-e Waqt, and Pir
Afzal Qadri, Sunni Ittehad Council vice chairman, speaking in Waqt House.
The lower half of the page is covered by advertisements. Report by Sultan
Sikandar: Terrorism 'business' of terrorists, rulers: Pir Afzal Qadri;
peaceful policy of Ahl-e Sunnat should not be deemed as weakness
Speaking in Nawa-e Waqt house, Qadri said that strategy about long march
would be drawn up on 26 August convention. (pp 8, 12; 300 words) Report by
special correspondent: International donors do not trust government's
system of spending: Marwi Memon; Pakistan League of America has announced
to give PRe 30 million for flood-affected people (pp 8, 12; 400 words) APP
report: Decision to take s trict action against those displaying weapons
in Karachi (pp 12, 8; 300 words) NNI news report: Coalition rulers
destroyed Pakistan's image in world; PML-Q leader Pervez Illahi (pp 8, 12;
300 words) Report by special correspondent: The South Korean ambassador
pays farewell call on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff committee (pp 8, 12;
200 words) Report by special correspondent: Journalists continue protest;
APNS (All Pakistan Newspapers Society), CPNE (Council of Newspaper
Editors) condemn closure of private television channels (pp 8, 12; 200
words) NNI report: Rulers fight last battle against media: Former
Information Minister Durrani (pp 8, 12; 200 words) Report by Ashraf Javed:
Interior Ministry decides to hire services of suspicious firm for National
Database Registration Authority's Europe operations (pp 8, 12; 200 words)
Report by special correspondent: Special committee of public accounts
committee expresses indignation over corruption in aid meant for the
Afghan refugee s (pp 8, 12; 200 words) Report by special correspondent: We
will bring medical certificates to light if 'psychological patients' fail
to observe restraint: PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq (pp 8, 12; 500 words)
Report by special correspondent: Pakistan ideology i s our soul; will work
for it till last: Nawa-e Waqt chief Majid Nizami (pp 8, 12; 600 words)
Page 13: Special Edition on holy month of the Ramadan Page 14: Editorial,
Lead Articles
Page 14 has editorials and articles besides the regular gossip column "By
the way" and regular series of Islamic teachings from the Koran. It also
has couplets from Allama Iqbal and Muzaffar Warsi, and a saying of
Qaid-e-Azam. Editorial: Flood devastations and importance of Kalabagh Dam;
Mr. Prime Minister! Get Kalabagh Dam built if you have realized
The editorial discusses statement of Yousuf Raza Gilani that the floods
had not wreaked such havoc if Kalabagh Dam would have been built. It is a
fact that intensity of fl oods can be reduced if more and more dams are
built. We can avert such devastations as being witnessed in country by
building water reserves. (1,400 words) Editorial: Who gave contract to
Israeli company? Yet another demonstration of good governance
The editorial discusses indignation expressed by Senate standing committee
on interior over awarding of contract to an Israeli company by Pakistan
State Oil. The standing committee should have raided the office, took
record into custody, and got sedition case registered against those
involved. (300 words) Editorial: German police close mosque, adjacent
cultural center
The editorial criticizes Germany for following the same (anti-Islam)
course that the rest of the West is following. (300 words) Article by
Sikandar Khan Baloch: Time has come that....
The article maintains that defeat has become the writing on the wall for
the US and its allies in Afghanistan. (1,200 words) Article by Professor
Naeem Qasim: Bree ze
The article discusses message of Sufism. (800 words) Article by Dr Ijaz
Ahsan: Our rulers, respect for law (600 words) Article by Amirah Ahsan:
Why master has tied? (last episode) (600 words) Page 15: Literature Page
16: Reports, Articles Report by Gohar Ali Gohar: Displacement of 104
million people; emergency appeal by the United Nations; floods write
tragic tales of havoc in motherland; hundreds still missing (1,000 words)
Article by Dr Muhammad Amjad: Red Mosque tragedy; General (retired) Pervez
Musharraf's stance; the world media bent on proving Pakistan failed state
(1,500 words)
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
48) Back to Top
China Buys More Japanese Bonds for Diversification: CASS Scholar
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735; or email: oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Wen
Wei Po Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:27:29 GMT
(Description of Source: Hong Kong Wen Wei Po Online in Chinese -- Website
of PRC-owned daily newspaper with a very small circulation; ranked low in
"credibility" in Hong Kong opinion surveys due to strong pro-Beijing bias;
has good access to PRC sources; URL:
http://www.wenweipo.com)Attachments:wwp0811b.pdf
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49) Back to Top
DPRK Party Organ on Japan's 'Arms Build-Up,' 'Nuclear Weaponization'
The vernacular full text of the following Rodong Sinmun signed commentary
has been obtained from the KPM website and is attached in PDF format; KCNA
headline: "Japan's Arms Build-up And Nuclear Weaponization Blasted" - KCNA
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:22:53 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)Attachments:JapanRS11Aug10.pdf
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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50) Back to Top
Mexico Southeastern Crime/Narcotics/Security Issues 11 Aug 10 - Mexico --
OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:04:55 GMT
Mexico City El Universal on 10 August reports that a man was found shot to
death in the Sagitario neighborhood of Mexico State's Ecatepec
municipality. There were no shells at the scene, so authorities believe he
was thrown from a vehicle. Two other men were found shot to death in the
Jardines de Morelos neighborhood of the same municipality. Authorities
found 14 9-mm shells at the scene. (Mexico City El Universal (Internet
Version-WWW) in Spanish -- Major centrist daily. Root URL as of filing
date:
http://www.el-universal.com.mx/ http://www.el-universal.com.mx/ ) Police,
Military Operations Target La Barbie in Morelos, Guerrero, Mexico State ,
Mexico City -
Mexico City Reforma on 11 August reports that a series of police and
military operations have been conducted simultaneously in Morelos,
Guerrero, Mexico State, and Mexico City in search of Beltran Leyva boss
Edgar Valdez, a.k.a. La Barbie. So far there have been no arrests or
significant seizures. In Morelos, there have been operations in
Cuernavaca, Jiutepec, Yautepec, Temixco, Jojutla, and Cuautla. In
Guerrero, there have been operations in Acapulco, Chilpancingo, and
Iguala. Sources say the operations also target Hector Beltran, a.k.a. El
H., who rivals La Barbie for control in the aforementioned states. On 10
August, federal police conducted an operation at the Antigua Residential
Complex in Vasco de Quiroga and at Cumbres de Santa Fe, in western Mexico
City. They searched homes and cars for an alleged group of drug
traffickers. Although authorities did not specify for whom they were
searching, investigations indicate that the Beltran Leyva Cartel has used
that area for six years, as a residence and a place to launder money and
conduct drug transactions. (Mexico City Reforma in Spanish -- major
centrist daily newspaper, advocates journalism reform. URL:
http://www.reforma.com/ http://www.reforma.com/ ) Mexico City Drug
Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 4 In Custody -
Mexico City Reforma on 11 August reports that Gerardo Nurit Arevalo Montes
de Oca and Armando Bedolla Monroy got into an argument outside a store on
Degollado Street, in the Guerrero neighborhood of Mexico City's Cuauhtemoc
delegation. They were allegedly arguing over a drug shipment that was
lost. The argument ended, but Nurit followed Bedolla to his home at Apt.
A2, No. 151 Degollado Street. Alejandra Bedolla Monroy, sister of Bedolla,
opened the door and was shot in the head. Her family responded with
gunfire from inside the apartment. Nurit was killed and his brother,
Cristian, who was accompanying him, was injured. The following people were
arres ted: Armando Bedolla, Joel Martinez Gonzalez, David Rodriguez
Arellano, and Carlos Antonio Bedolla Hernandez. According to a neighbor,
Nurit lived at No. 179 Degollado Street and was said to have sold drugs.
Four Kidnappers Arrested in Mexico State -
Mexico City Reforma on 10 August reports that an anonymous caller reported
four armed men in two taxis at the corner of Rayon and Aldama Streets, in
the Chapultepec municipality of Mexico State. Police arrested Alejandro
Contreras Perez, Cesar Villanueva Garcia, Jose Juan Ruiz Sanchez, and
Ricardo Manuel Beltran. "We have elements to prove that these four
subjects were waiting on someone to kidnap them," said a police chief who
preferred to remain anonymous. Authorities seized two Tsuru taxis; a 9-mm
Prieto Veretta weapon with the initials of the National Defense
Secretariat (Sedena); and a 9-mm Taurus PT AF firearm, automatic. Two
Kidnappers Arrested, Victim Rescued in Mexico State -
Mexico City Reforma on 10 August reports that two suspected kidnappers
were arrested at a safe house on Lot 7, Block 10, Tepeyac Street, in the
Sagitario II neighborhood of Mexico State's Ecatepec municipality. David
Resendiz Trejo and Jose Antonio Perez Jimenez allegedly committed a
kidnapping on 4 August, and police traced calls in which they demanded 10
million Mexican pesos ($787,080) in ransom. Progreso Municipal Police
Officer Caught Peddling Crack -
Merida Diario de Yucatan on 11 August reports that Luis de Jesus Alvizar
Canto, a 19-year-old municipal police officer in Progreso, Yucatan, was
caught peddling crack with a woman who claimed to be his mother, Martha
Elena Gonzalez Perez. They were in possession of 122 bindles of crack,
which they were selling for 100 Mexican pesos each ($7.85) in the
Flamboyanes housing development of Progreso. (Merida Diario de Yucatan in
Spanish -- Yucatan State daily newspaper. URL:
http://www.yucatan.com.mx/ http://www.yucatan.com.mx/ ) Blo g del Narco
Profiles Zetas as Threat to Central American Stability -
Mexico City Blog del Narco on 10 August, through a user named "navajas,"
reports that the Zetas are now the most violent organization in Mexico and
that their areas of operation are southern Mexico and Central America, but
they also have representatives in Italy and Spain, according to reports
from authorities. Several Central American countries have warned that the
group is a danger to regional stability. Guatemala, for example,
acknowledged that, in March, the Zetas threatened to kill President Alvaro
Colom. (Mexico City Blog del Narco in Spanish -- Blog created on 2 March
2010 by a "sole author" claiming to be "neither in favor of or against"
any criminal groups; URL:
http://www.blogdelnarco.info/ http://www.blogdelnarco.info ) SECURITY
Consulting Firm: Mexico Still Far from Affecting Money-Laundering
Structures -
Mexico City El Economista on 4 August re ports that Eduardo Guerrero, an
associate at Lantia Consultants, said that Mexico is still far from
significantly affecting organized crime's money-laundering activities. He
said that even countries with advanced technology have been unable to deal
effective blows in that area. It is difficult to detect the amounts of
money laundered from illegal activities because the money moves quickly
through financial networks, is easy to hide, and can be broken up to avoid
detection. In order to attack money laundering, Guerrero said, "We need
international connections, qualified staff that is not easy to hire and a
real political decision, because here we can begin to affect very
high-level interests." (Description of Source: Mexico City El
Economista.com.mx in Spanish -- Website of major national business and
financial daily, founded in 1998 and published by Periodico El Economista,
S. A.; URL
http://eleconomista.com.mx/ http://eleconomista.com.mx ) Garcia Luna: 40%
of Police Do Not Fight Crime -
Mexico City Notimex on 6 August reports that Genaro Garcia Luna, secretary
of public security, spoke at the international forum called "Towards a 21
st Century Police Model for Mexico," put on by the National Governors
Conference in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. He said 40% of the country's
police do not fight crime. Education, he indicated, is another problem,
given that 90% of police officers have only an elementary-school
education. (Mexico City NOTIMEX in Spanish -- State-controlled Mexican
press agency) MIGRATION Wife of "Greg" Linked to Cuban Trafficking -
Mexico City El Universal on 11 August reports that the Office of the
Deputy Attorney Specializing in Organized Crime (SIEDO) is investigating
Niurka Saliva for alleged participation in trafficking undocumented Cuban
migrants into Mexico. She is the wife of Gregorio Sanchez, former mayor of
Cancun who was arrested on 26 May for suspected ties to organized cr ime.
It was allegedly through the System for Comprehensive Family Development
(DIF), over which she presided until her husband's arrest, that the
migrants were trafficked. Months ago, it was revealed that 150 Cuban
citizens were on the municipal payroll, 80 of them on the DIF payroll,
specifically. In June, Saliva was questioned by the Office of the Attorney
General of the Republic (PGR) and she was certified as a suspect, so she
cannot leave the country.
The following media were scanned and no file-worthy items were noted:
Mexico City Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, Mexico
Secretariat of Public Security, Mexican Naval Secretariat, Mexico City
Secretariat of National Defense, Coatzacoalcos El Liberal del Sur, Mexico
City Proceso, Oaxaca Noticias, Oaxaca El Imparcial, Poza Rica de Hidalgo
La Opinion, Tuxtla Gutierrez Cuarto Poder, Villahermosa Tabasco Hoy,
Mexico City La Jornada, Centro de Medios Independientes (Indymedia)
Chiapas, Zapatista National Li beration Army
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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UK-Pakistan Ties Cannot be Made Hostage To Camerons Indiscretion
Article by Malik Muhammad Ashraf: The Regrettable Indiscretion - The
Frontier Post Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:41:25 GMT
The statement by the British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit
to India that Pakistan was exporting terror, has come as a rude shock to
the people of Pakistan and to all those who believe in adherence to the
internationally recognized diplomatic norms in the conduct of inter-state
relations. It was irresponsible, naive and reflected extreme insensitivity
to the role that Pakistan was playing in the war on terror as a frontline
state. The government of Pakistan, its people, intellectuals and media
rightly felt incensed by the unimaginative and regrettable indiscretion by
the British Prime Minister. Pakistan has shown unswerving allegiance to
the objectives of the global struggle against terrorism by taking a clear
cut stance on the issue, irrespective of the sacrifices it had to render
in terms of men and material, shriveling impact on its economy and
agonizing trials and tribulations that its people are going through due to
the retaliatory actions of the terrorists. It is an irrefutable fact that
the Pakistan army has successfully assaulted the strongholds of the
terrorists and extremists in Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan and also
undertaken several operations along the Pak-Afghan border. In these
engagements it has probably lost more men than the NATO forces in
Afghanistan. Similarly the civilian casualties also run into thousands in
addition to the destruction of property worth billions of rupees, in the
suicide attacks. In the backdrop of the foregoing realities and the fact
that the UK along with US is a major ally of Pakistan in the war against
terrorism, the accusation sounds very painful, more so because it fits
well into the Indian strategy of maligning Pakistan. It is amazing how
conveniently he looked the other way to the Indian atrocities in Kashmir
and its involvement in terrorist acts within Pakistan, especially in
Balochistan. The reaction shown by the government of Pakistan on this
episode, wide-spread condemnation of his convulsions by the media and the
anguish exhibited by the politicians, therefore, is fully justified and is
also indicative of the amount of hurt that it has caused. His actions have
also invoked severe criticism even in Britain. The former British foreign
secretary David Miliband in an article in The Independent last Sun day
said that the words of the Prime Minister were " copious and created mess"
In other words he committed a diplomatic faux pa. Britain's Stop the War
Council asked Cameron to apologize to Pakistani people for deeply hurting
them. A former Director General of MI-5 Baroness Buller told the Chilcot
panel "I am surprised that Cameron had the nerve to say such a thing. By
speaking in India against Pakistan David Cameron has renewed tensions
between the two nations. He has become part of the proxy war between
Pakistan and India and has clearly taken Indian side. This should not be
the role of the British Prime Minister." Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister
has also distanced himself from what Cameron has said. Similarly a number
of MPs and leaders of the Muslim community have rubbished his utterances.
The British Prime Minister failed to appreciate the fact that in regard to
political settlement and end of war in Afghanistan and regional peace--now
a cherished goal of UK and US-- Pakistan was a key player in achieving
these objectives and needed their continued economic and military support
rather than being subjected to such ill-advised indictments. Whether he
did it in playing-to-the-gallery mode; in one of his moments of levity or
even as a deliberate expression, it has already generated a negative fall
out fraught with the potential to affect diplomatic relations between the
two countries. We are hearing loud voices of some politicians and a
section of the media in Pakistan demanding the government not to take this
insult meek ly. Some politicians, including Nawaz Sharif had also urged
President Zardari to cancel his ensuing visit to UK as a mark of protest
against Cameron's lose-cannon like behaviour. Undoubtedly, what Cameron
has said is an unpalatable diplomatic provocation but what our politicians
and some of the intellectuals are proposing, is also not desirable for the
same reason. Two wrongs don't make a right. Relation s between states are
very intricate and require an astute and visionary handling. They cannot
be made hostage to such statements and consequent impulsive responses.
Such an approach can further exacerbate the damage. In the conduct of
international relations, engagement is the name of the game. Dialogue
through continued engagement and keeping the channels of communication
open is invariably a preferred option and arguably the most effective way
of promoting understanding and resolving the conflicts. It is also our
avowed policy and commitment to settle the disputes through diplomatic
interaction and parleys. If we can do that in case of India then why can't
we show similar attitude towards a long time friend?
(Description of Source: Peshawar The Frontier Post Online in English --
Website of a daily providing good coverage of the Northwest Frontier
Province, Afghanistan, and narcotics issues; URL:
http://www.thefrontierpost.com)
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Colombia Political-Economic Issues 10-11 Aug 10
Corrected version: Adding dropped word in headline of last blurb -
Colombia -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:21:02 GMT
POLITICAL ISSUES:
Colombia, Venezuela Reestablish Diplomatic Relations (Reuters photo posted
on Elespectador.com on 10 August)
Santos, Chavez Agree to Reestablish Diplomatic Relations
-- Bogota El Espectador reports on 10 August that President Juan Manuel
Santos has announced the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between
Colombia and Venezuela. "The outcome has been very positive; we have
decided that our two countries will reestablish diplomatic relations and
follow a roadmap allowing us to analyze all aspects of relations.
President Chavez and I are in agreement about the importance of placing
the needs of our people above any personal consideration." He also alluded
to a commitment made by Chavez not to allow the presence of terrorist
groups in his country's territory. "This is an important step in order to
keep our relations on solid ground." (Bogota elespectador.com in Spanish
-- Website of right-leaning daily owned by Bavaria Group and Santodomingo
family; URL:
http://www.elespectador.com)(osc/ http://www.elespectador.com)(OSC will
translate a similar item) Santos Hails New Chapter in Relations With
Venezuela
-- El Tiempo reports on 10 August that President Juan Manuel Santos has
expressed great satisfaction at having been able to reestablish relations
with Venezuela. "We have held straightforward , direct, and sincere
dialogue, which is how it must be in all good relations, and I think we
have taken a big step toward reestablishing trust, which is another of the
basic conditions of any relationship," said Santos. With a visibly calm
Hugo Chavez looking on, the president of Colombia expressed satisfaction
at the outcome of the meeting, insisting that 'two people deciding to turn
the page and think about the future of their peoples is cause for
celebration." The two leaders agreed to--among other things--create a
series of bilateral commissions in order to address sensitive issues, such
as the debt owed to Colombian exporters, social investment along the
border, joint infrastructure projects, and security. (Bogota eltiempo.com
in Spanish -- Website of pro-Liberal Party, most influential newspaper
published by Casa Editorial El Tiempo with the largest circulation in
Colombia; URL:
http://www.eltiempo.com/ http://www.eltiempo.com ) (OSC will translate re
lated items) Bautista Could Be Next Ambassador to Venezuela
-- Bogota El Espectador reports on 11 August that former Communications
minister Jose Fernando Bautista could become Colombia's next ambassador to
Venezuela. During a joint press conference following the reestablishment
of diplomatic relations with Venezuela, President Juan Manuel Santos said
that he had thought of Bautista as a possible candidate because he was
someone with a noteworthy background in public and diplomatic service and
who was from the border department of Norte de Santander. Chavez Concedes
Colombian Sovereignty Over DCA With US
-- Bogota El Tiempo reports on 11 August that Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez has recognized Colombian sovereignty over the issue of a defense
cooperation agreement (DCA) with the United States. Following a meeting
with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in Santa Marta, Chavez
reported that he and Santos had discussed the matter. He added, however,
that th e important thing is "that none of those agreements compromise the
sovereignty of a neighbor or become a threat." Brazil Applauds
Reestablishment of Relations Between Colombia, Venezuela
-- Bogota El Tiempo reports on 11 August that the Brazilian Government has
expressed "great satisfaction" at the news of the reestablishment of
diplomatic relations between Colombia and Venezuela. The Foreign Ministry
issued a statement noting that this new development "creates a fresh
opportunity to return to the dynamism and understanding that has
historically characterized relations between the two countries." Ecuador
Says Copies of R eyes Files Could Be Important for State Security
-- Bogota El Tiempo reports on 11 August that the computer material given
to Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa by Juan Manuel Santos was a copy of
the original hard drives recovered at the bombed camp of the late Raul
Reyes. In addition to clearing up that aspect, Ec uador's Security
Minister, Miguel Carvajal, said that authorities expected that the
computer files "could contain elements that are important for State
security." Garzon Recovering From Surgery, Could Go Home in Coming Days
-- Bogota El Espectador reports on 11 August that Vice President Angelina
Garzon is recovering satisfactorily from heart surgery and is expected to
be moved out of intensive care at any time. Hospital director Carlos
Alberto Cardona said that Garzon's convalescence period would keep Garzon
away from official duties for at least another month.
ECONOMIC ISSUES: Resignation of Turbay Could Be Precursor to Reform of
Comptroller's Office
-- Bogota Portafolio reports on 10 August that Comptroller General Julio
Cesar Turbay presented his resignation before the end of his
constitutionally mandated term had concluded. He departs, however, having
left behind a proposal for a revamping of the figure of Comptroller.
Turbay proposed that the Comptroller General's Office, which has been
criticized for being an after-the-fact oversight mechanism with no real
bite, be given new attributes that would include the power to suspend
contracts and other administrative proceedings. It would also be given
authorization to order searches, collect evidence, and suspend public
officials from duty during an investigation. The Uribe government had
approved of some of the provisions of the proposal, but the Santos
administration has yet to make its position known. (Bogota
Portafolio.com.co in Spanish -- Website of economic and business
newspaper; URL:
http://www.portafolio.com.co/ http://www.portafolio.com.co )
COMMENTARY: El Tiempo Editorial Says Santos, Chavez Achieved 'Triumph of
Audacity'
-- El Tiempo asserts on 11 August that the decision made by Juan Manuel
Santos and Hugo Chavez to reestablish diplomatic relations was "without a
doubt good news." It considers it "a triumph of the a udacity displayed by
both leaders and the dedication of their foreign ministers who decided to
take the bull by the horns...." In addition to giving cause for hope to
Colombian exporters, the editorial feels that yesterday's encounter serves
as "confirmation that Juan Manuel Santos has a style that is very
different to that of his predecessor...." El Colombiano Editorial Says
Achievement of Santos, Chavez Was 'Turning Page'
-- El Colombiano asserts on 11 August: "Turning the page and looking to
the future--starting out from scratch--was the big achievement made
yesterday in the first face-to-face meeting between Santos and Chavez, who
managed to place the wellbeing of their peoples before any personal
differences." (Medellin El Colombiano.com in Spanish -- Website of
pro-Conservative Party, leading Medellin daily; URL:
http://www.elcolombiano.com/ http://www.elcolombiano.com ) La Republica
Editorial Urges Guarded Optimism in Wake of Ree stablishment of Relations
With Venezuela
-- La Republica insists that the positive outcome of yesterday's meeting
between Juan Manuel Santos and Hugo Chavez must be met "calmly" and with
the understanding that the Venezuelan leader "knits together and unravels
diplomatic protocols with equal ease." It applauds the implications for
trade that the new situation could bring, but insists that "the issue of
binational security must go hand-in-hand if further frustrations are to be
avoided." (Bogota larepublica.com.co in Spanish -- Website of business and
financial newspaper; URL:
http://www.larepublica.com.co/ http://www.larepublica.com.co ) Tickner
Says Path to Normalcy in Relations Wit h Venezuela 'Long'
-- El Espectador commentator Arlene Tickner uses words like "surreal" and
"tropical" to describe the unexpected turn of events in the "drama"
between Colombia and Venezuela. She concedes that " ;this soap opera
defies any attempt at 'rational' analysis," but still detects an internal
logic that could suggest how this chapter came to pass. Tickner considers
it to have been "risky" nonetheless for Santos and Chavez to agree to meet
with one another so soon. She agrees that the importance of the formal
reestablishment of relations "must not be underestimated," but insists
that "the road that must be travelled in order to achieve minimal normalcy
and trust is still long." Morales Says Santos 'Honeymoon' To End
-- El Espectador commentator Mario Morales asserts on 8 August that the
"honeymoon" is just about over for Juan Manuel Santos. He said that much
of the enthusiasm and hopes surrounding the arrival of Santos to Casa de
Narino can be attributable to what he calls "unprecedented media
cleansing" over the last 48 days." According to Morales, Colombians have
been led to confuse "optimism and hope ," unaware that the former relies
on objective elements that are just not there. He predicts that the
"favorable perception" for Santos will continue for awhile yet thanks to
symbolic reconciliations with Venezuela and the Judiciary, but that things
will become clearer once the real problems begin to set in.
The following media were scanned and no file-worthy items were selected:
(Cali El Pais in Spanish -- Website of Pro-Conservative Party daily; URL:
http://www.elpais.com.co/ http://www.elpais.com.co )
(Bogota Semana.com in Spanish -- Website of private, most influential
weekly news magazine; URL:
http://www.semana.com/ http://www.semana.com )
(Bogota Office of the President in Spanish - Official website of the
Colombian Presidency; URL:
http://web.presidencia.gov.co/ http://web.presidencia.gov.co/ )
(Bogota Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Colombia in
Spanish -- Official website of the C olombian Ministry of National
Defense; URL:
http://www.mindefensa.gov.co/ http://www.mindefensa.gov.co )
(Bogota Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Colombia in
Spanish -- Official website of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign
Relations; URL:
http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/ http://www.cancilleria.gov.co )
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
53) Back to Top
Spanish troops launch new security, development projects in Afghanistan -
EFE
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:20:58 GMT
Afghanistan
Text of report by Spanish news agency EfeMadrid, 11 August: The Spanish
Prov incial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the Afghan province of Badghis
has launched several projects to bolster security measures and rural
development in two new districts of the province where they are working,
Qades and Bala Morghab.According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the
head of the Spanish PRT, Col Martinez Trascasa, along with the governor
and the deputy governor of the province, took part in a meeting yesterday
of notables, a "shura" held in the town of Rabat, in the district of
Qades.It was also attended by the provincial security and police chiefs,
the head of prosecution services of the province and local notables, along
with representatives of the American and Spanish international cooperation
agencies.The main reason for the meeting was to learn about the main
requirements of the people of the area in order to draw up the next
projects and report on work in progress.The Ministry of Defence noted that
a few days ago another "shura" took p lace to refocus investment in rural
development in the districts of Moqor and Bala Morghab.It was attended by
the head of RC (Regional Command)- West, Gen Berto, the head of the
Spanish PRT, the provincial governor and representatives of the American
and Spanish cooperation agencies.At the meeting, development projects were
presented in the spheres of improvements to living conditions, methods of
irrigation, solar energy, wells for drinking water, road building and
stockbreeding.These meetings, in addition to giving an impetus to
development projects in the three biggest districts of the province of
Badghis, are also used for a security follow-up in view of the coming
provincial elections of 18 September, according to the
ministry.(Description of Source: Madrid EFE in Spanish -- Spanish
semi-official independent news agency)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder . Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
54) Back to Top
US Action Shows 'No Special Liking for Whistle-Blowers'
Commentary by Chirosree Basu: A Good Man, but a Bad Soldier - The
Telegraph Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:19:01 GMT
Radically democratic or traitorously self-promoting -- how are the State
and citizens to regard the makers of WikiLeaks and their many anonymous
sources?
WikiLeaks' publicizing of the Afghanistan warlogs is believed to be as
significant as the release of the Pentagon Papers of the 1970s, and has
called for a comparison between the whistle-blowers of the two different
generations. A comparison of Daniel Ellsberg, the Seventies hero, with
Bradley Manning, alleged to have leaked substantial parts of the warlogs
from his post in Iraq, would have been natural. Instead, it is the
WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange, who has been placed on the same
pedestal as Ellsberg more often than Manning over the last few
weeks.Surely, Manning has more things in common with Ellsberg than
Assange? Both Ellsberg and Manning were in the service of the government
when they decided to leak state secrets. Both exposed the bitter truths
their governments were keeping from the public, and risked their careers,
if not their lives, in doing so. Assange is a whistle-blower, but there is
a difference between breaking the service code (like Ellsberg and Manning)
and making a career out of whistle-blowing (like Assange). Of course,
Manning's relegation to a relatively obscure position can be attributed to
the media's realization that giving him attention may do more harm than
good to his impending trial. But such consideration seems not to have
stopped the mainstream media in Manning's own country from attempti ng the
kind of character assassination that the Nixon administration had once
tried with Ellsberg, though less successfully. Manning is seen as a
weakling (possibly gay), who had taken a recent break-up rather badly.
Having failed as a soldier, he was biding his time till being sent back
home, when the 'public good' bug bit him.Ellsberg had also witnessed
similar muckraking, but somehow Manning's status as a soldier seems to
have made him more vulnerable than the Harvard-educated Ellsberg, who, as
part of the American thinking classes, seemed to be more entitled to
moralizing than Manning.Thinking soldiers are a problem worldwide, more so
in the United States of America. No one had been willing to hear out Jimmy
Massey, former Marine staff sergeant, when he came back from Iraq and
alleged in 2005 that US soldiers were killing civilians. This was more
than a year after the disclosures on Abu Ghraib, and what the US soldiers
were up to in Iraq should not have been news. Yet, M assey was torn apart
by the mainstream as well as the right-wing media in the US which called
him a liar. To the man on the street, he was an outright traitor and an
apology for a soldier. Soldiers are expected to go out there to kill, not
to duck their heads between their knees.It is these time-honoured notions
of what constitutes the duties of the soldier, the citizen and the patriot
that the US now, and most other nations with skeletons in their cupboards,
will depend on to secure themselves in this new world of global
communication, where governments are losing control over the way
information is disseminated. These notions turn morality into a project of
self-aggrandizement, making people like Ellsberg and Manning look like
creatures hell-bent on self-promotion.The strategy has already managed to
harness the fickle ethics of hackers like Adrian Lamo to the service of
the state. The increasing emphasis on the value of soldiers' lives,
supposed to be in mortal peril from the leaks, may also finally turn the
mainstream media in the US and elsewhere from being part of WikiLeaks'
reckless adventure to the tame appendage of the state apparatus. America's
old fears are right there under the surface. The opposition to the mosque
near Ground Zero makes this obvious. The Obama administration has only to
rekindle that war-time psychology to remind people that the nation is a
little more important than individuals and their moralizing.The government
has already started doing this. Its decision to prosecute state emp loyees
who pointed out illegal actions of the Bush regime law was meant to show
that it has no special liking for whistle-blowers. The justice department
also recently decided to subpoena a New York Times journalist to force him
to disclose his sources. So the heroism of the press may soon be stamped
out. Of course, to make matters abundantly clear, the punishment for
Manning will have to be made exemplary. The longest prison sentence in t
he Abu Ghraib case was 10 years. Manning may get 52 years for being a good
human being but a bad citizen-soldier.
(Description of Source: Kolkata The Telegraph online in English -- Website
of Kolkata's highest circulation English daily, owned by ABP Group, with a
flagship publication Anandabazar Patrika in Bengali. Known for in-depth
coverage of east and northeast India issues, and India-Bangladesh
relations. Maintains an impartial editorial policy. Circulation 457,100;
URL: www.telegraphindia.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
55) Back to Top
Leaked Secrets May Entail 'Massive' Changes in US War Policy
Commentray by Ipsita Chakravarty: Shadow Army - The Telegraph On line
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:02:54 GMT
Secrecy has magical properties. When WikiLeaks released the Afghan War
Logs into the public domain, it managed to dent a certain impenetrability
that surrounds the US military and its operations. Although the reports
largely substantiated what everyone was already aware of, there was
renewed anger about a pointless war. There was also that slightly
salacious thrill of reading something 'classified', something forbidden.
All this had not been reported, it was 'leaked'.Thousands of classified
military reports were now laid before the public gaze, each report
identified with a code. In each, details of the operation are barked out
in military-speak. The nature of the operation could be "enemy action",
"friendly action" or "non-combat event". People are KIA (killed in action)
or WIA (wounded in action). The casualties are "friendly", "host nation",
"civilian" or "enemy". The words sting with authenticity. This is no
well-crafted news report. This is unmediated raw material reaching
thousands all over the world. Here, at last, was an organ of the State,
shorn of all secrecy. And WikiLeaks had caught it in a compromising
position.Like Bentham, those involved with WikiLeaks seem to believe that
the State keeps secrets for its own "sinister purposes". There is, of
course, a strong argument for greater transparency, for information to be
circulated and discussed. The freedom of information is a right recognized
by international law. But the law also recognizes the right to privacy and
the need to classify information in the interests of national security.
The US government has blustered about the threat to security and the fate
of Afghan informers named in the leaked files was cited in the argument
against WikiLeaks. But no condition of accoun tability applies to those
who work for WikiLeaks. Unlike journalists in mainstream media houses,
most contributors work anonymously. Apparently, even WikiLeaks is not
aware of their identities.One is faced with a shadow army of vigilantes
who gather material, often through questionable means, and make them
public, no matter what the consequences. In many ways, WikiLeaks lacks
transparency as much as the governments it exposes. It deals not so much
in information as in secrets. The leaks are not only about what one does
not know but also what, governments and authorities have decided, one is
not supposed to know. Operating on the razor-edge of legality, WikiLeaks
has continually questioned these boundaries. Yet this subversive source of
information has been increasingly 'legitimized'. The warlogs were given to
mainstream newspapers, which verified the data before publishing it. The
leaks have also acquired a legitimizing power. They give us names, dates
and numbers, establish ing rumours as facts. The US government has been
forced to acknowledge that it is aware of these facts; this acknowledgment
will entail massive changes in war policy.Secrets, if used well, can
become powerful weapons.
(Description of Source: Kolkata The Telegraph online in English -- Website
of Kolkata's highest circulation English daily, owned by ABP Group, with a
flagship publication Anandabazar Patrika in Bengali. Known for in-depth
coverage of east and northeast India issues, and India-Bangladesh
relations. Maintains an impartial editorial policy. Circulation 457,100;
URL: www.telegraphindia.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
56) Back to Top
Editorial Urges US To Take Notice of Situation in Indian-Held Kashmir
Editorial: World starts raising voice for Kashmiris - Pakistan Observer
Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:47:32 GMT
THE situation in Occupied Kashmir is assuming new dimensions with the
passage of every day because of atrocities by the occupation forces, who
are using all sorts of brute power at their disposal to crush the
legitimate demands of the Kashmiri people for right of self-determination.
Massive human rights abuses including shooting of peaceful demonstrators,
custodial killings, gang rapes and systematic destruction of homes and
businesses of Kashmiris have once again forced the local population to
stand up against the tyrannical rule.
India has imposed curfew in a bid to silence Kashmiris but a peep into the
eyes of the protesting men, women and children conveys their unparalleled
determination not to compromise on the ir birthright. New Delhi has sent
thousands of additional troops to suppress the voice of Kashmiris. In this
perspective, it is somewhat encouraging that at long last some members of
the international community have started taking note of the state
terrorism in Occupied Kashmir. Apart from the UN Chief Ban Ki Moon, some
other countries have also issued statements expressing concern over
deteriorating situation there. But it is all the more significant to note
that voices of solidarity are now also being raised within India, which
shows growing realization that Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and they must
get their legitimate rights. The Central Committee of the Communist Party
of India (Maoist) has saluted the Kashmiri protestors for their resolve in
securing their rights while Naxals have equated the stone throwing youth
of Kashmir to the bow and arrow equipped tribals of dandakaranya. This is
of far more importance as these are sentiments of people within India and
hopefully these would prick the conscience of champions of human rights
like the United States and the United Kingdom to shun the tendency of
closing their eyes to state terrorism in Occupied Kashmir just because of
their commercial interests.
(Description of Source: Islamabad Pakistan Observer Online in English --
Website of the pro-military daily with readership of 5,000. Anti-India,
supportive of Saudi policies, strong supporter of Pakistan's nuclear and
missile program. Chief Editor Zahid Malik is the author of books on
nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan; URL: http://www.pakobserver.net)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
57) Back to Top
More Than $2 Bn Foreign Aid Expected for Mindanao P eace
Report by Edith Regalado: "More than $2-billion foreign aid seen for
Mindanao peace" - Philstar
Monday July 12, 2010 07:12:12 GMT
DAVAO CITY, Philippines - At least more than $2 billion in foreign aid is
expected to be poured into Mindanao in the next few months to reduce
poverty and attain peace in the strife-torn south, Social Welfare
Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman said.
Soliman announced the foreign funding assistance would come in the form of
grants and soft loans with the US and Japan as the biggest donors.
"The international community has signified intention in helping bring
about peace in Mindanao," Soliman said.
She added the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank have both also
pledged to come up with $400 million each for Mindanao in the next few
years.
The country is also reportedly set to avail of the $1 20-million soft loan
from US government's Millennium Challenge program.
Other international donors such as Spain and the European Community also
pledged certain amounts for the development of Mindanao.
The government is reportedly eyeing another $1 billion in foreign funding
for a five-year period program.
Soliman said the chances for peace in Mindanao are higher if government is
able to effectively address the poverty plaguing most parts of the
strife-torn region.
Soliman said the Department of Social Welfare and Development is working
in close coordination with the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the
Peace Process (OPAPP) in implementing the proposed programs and projects
aimed at reducing poverty in the south.
"We will see what arrangements can be done to begin the peace process
especially since we also have the case of the internally displaced persons
(refugees)," Soliman said.
Soliman stressed the government is bent on implementing the three phases
of poverty reduction that would include the conditional-cash-transfer
program for families with three children in school who shall avail of a
P300 monthly allowance each and another P500 for the mother.
Soliman said government would also spend the foreign funding assistance on
community-driven projects that would be identified by local government
units.
The third phase involves sustainable livelihood programs for the affected
communities, she said.
Soliman added the government would focus on the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the region that fared very low in the Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) standards.
(Description of Source: Manila Philstar in English -- News and
entertainment portal of the STAR Group of Publications, a leading
publisher of newspapers and magazines in the Philippines. Publications
include The Philippine STAR, a leading English broadsheet in the country;
Pilipino STAR Ngayo n, a tabloid published in the national language;
Freeman, Cebu's oldest English language newspaper; Banat, a tabloid
published in Cebuano; and People Asia Magazine, which profiles
personalities in the Philippines and the region; URL:
http://www.philstar.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
58) Back to Top
Pakistan Must Strengthen Ties With China Instead of Associating Hopes With
West
Article by Izhar-ul-Haq: Sino-Pak Nuclear Cooperation - Pakistan
Observer Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:41:23 GMT
Declaring the reservations of USA and India as baseless regarding Sino-Pak
civil nuclea r agreement, Pakistan rejected the Indian demand to explain
its position. Islamabad has clarified that the nuclear cooperation between
Pakistan and China is in accordance with the international laws on which
no one should feel insecurity. On the other hand Beijing has also
categorically rejected the objections raised by the US and India and has
explained that no country can justify itself in terms of having
reservations on civil nuclear agreement between Pak and China as it is, by
all means, is in keeping with the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) rules.
In Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) meeting in New Zealand, China announced to
build a 650 mw nuclear power plant in Punjab, Pakistan and adopted the
stance that the US had also signed an agreement of the same nature with
India, so it was irrational to lay down pressure upon China in this
regard. According to Indian news Daily Mr. Zhai Dequan the Deputy
Secretary General of China Arms Control and Disarmament Assoc iation
explicitly proclaimed that China would extend cooperation to Pakistan in
connection with civil nuclear power plant and it would provide financial
assistance in building two atomic reactors here.
It is a proven fact that the Democratic Republic of China is not only
Pakistan's best neighbor but also a time-tested and reliable friend who
always live up with all the standards of friendship in every ordeal to
Pakistan that is why the Sino-Pak friendship is considered to be sweeter
than honey and higher than Himalaya .China extends its cooperation to
Pakistan in all spheres of life but unfortunately our rulers have been
eyeing at America despite knowing that the US have always been preferring
India to Pakistan in major issues like cooperation in defence, joint
military exercises, transfer of atomic technology and trade. India who is
crazy for achieving hegemony in the region and who has been exposed to
have expansionist designs wants to tarnish Pakistan's security, f reedom
and sovereignty. In this scenario how Pakistan can stop taking drastic
measures for its defence. The Pak China civil nuclear agreement is
indigestible for India, despite that it has had 130 agreements for
cooperation in defence and atomic spheres with various countries including
US,UK,Russia,France and Israel which has increased its defence capability
up to four-fold as compare to Pakistan.
India's nuclear deal with world powers has rendered it so arrogant that it
not only threatens Pakistan but also it is engaged in hatching
conspiracies against Pakistan's security. Similarly India has expressed
intentions of conducting a takes in Pakistani soil in the name of
eliminating terrorism, but the US neither took the notice of India's
war-craze, nor it our expressed apprehensions in this connection.
But on the other hand the cooperation between Pakistan and China is
stinging Washington and New Delhi and the former is holding out assurance
to the latter that it would be seriously examine the Sino-Pak strategic
cooperation deal. It indicates the West dual standard for Pakistan that
the atomic non proliferation treaty which the US did not considered to
comply with, was brought as a hurdle for Pakistan, and America,UK,India
and European Union were vehemently realizing that the Pak China nuclear
cooperation must be in accordance with the IAEA rules.
After witnessing such a situation question arises that as to where these
countries were, when the civil nuclear deal was taking place between the
US and India and as to why they did not think whether or not the deal was
in accordance with the international laws regarding atomic non
proliferation. No one pressurized India or stressed the US to avoid the
agreement that time realizing the fact that if could create disequilibrium
of power in South Asia resulting in a hazard toward peace.
The fact is that the US wants to establish India's hegemony in this region
by furnishing it w ith latest nuclear technology and defence arsenal. On
the basis of a number of India's nuclear cooperation deal with world
powers it also exerts efforts to suppress China who badly defeated it in
1962 war. If the ground reality is this then what is the purpose of IAEA
rules, NPT and CTBT? Are these international treaties for nuclear non
proliferation aimed at entangling countries like Pakistan?
Beijing undoubtedly announced in the meeting of nuclear supplier group to
built nuclear power plants in Pakistan. In the wake of Beijing's gallant
announcement Pakistan must also get rid of the war of American interest
which in merely shaking the basis of national honor and devastating its
sovereignty. Islamabad, instead of associating hopes with the West, should
take further steps to strengthen relations with China which would
obviously be in the best national interest.
New Delhi and Washington objects that this deal will breach the
international protocol, regarding the trade of nuclear equipment and
material. U.S also object that this deal will overstep "the guidelines of
the 46-country Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which bars nuclear commerce
between Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) members like China and
non-member states like Pakistan". The states objecting the deal perhaps
overlook the fact that, Pak-China Nuclear Deal was concluded in 1986, once
China was neither the member of NSG nor it had signed the NPT. China
signed the NPT in 1992 and became the member of NSG in 2004. By 2004,
almost 3/4th progresses had already been made on the deal between Pakistan
and China.
Pakistani Foreign Office has rejected the Indo-US concerns over the
Pak-China civil nuclear deal.Regarding the mandate and origin of NSG; it
is worth mentioning that, it was created after the nuclear test of India
in 1974, once India diverted the fuel meant for the atom for peace to its
weapon programme. NSG was created in 1975, to regulate and sta ndardize
the nuclear trade, in reaction to Indian misuse of nuclear material.
Legally, the creation of NSG is not governed through an international
treaty, but is an international cartel of nuclear technology suppliers. On
September 6, 2008, the NSG granted a waiver to India, allowing it to have
civil nuclear technology and nuclear fuel from other countries. With these
concessions, India became the only country having the nuclear weapons,
which was non-signatory to NPT, but allowed to undertake the nuclear trade
with rest of the world. The waiver allowed India, "both trigger list and
dual-use items (including technology), waiving the full-scope safeguards
requirements of the NSG guidelines." It also allowed India for bi-lateral
agreements and regular consultations. Now the question arise, if India,
the primary nuclear proliferators, could be given such a concession by the
NSG, why Pakistan be deprived from it?
The US has said it would vote against an exempti on for China to sell two
civil nuclear reactors to Pakistan at the Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting.
Making it clear that the US would oppose the recent decision of China to
sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan, a top Obama administration official
told lawmakers that Washington would vote against the Sino-Pak deal when
it comes before the Nuclear Suppliers Group. This is for the first time
that such a clear statement has emerged from the Obama Administration;
days after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistan that US would
work with it on civil nuclear energy, during her just concluded Islamabad
visit..
The expansionist intents of triangular devilish powers i.e. America, India
and Israel are not hidden obscure now so Pakistan needs to shun playing
the role of American front line ally and realize that its future is
concerned with China. It is laudable that once again China inscribed a new
history of Sino-Pak friendshi p by rejecting US pressure and announcing to
offer a priceless gift of nuclear cooperation deal. Pakistan as a
sovereign state has its own national interest without succumbing to any
unjustifiable foreign pressure. It would not only ensure regional peace
but also it would shatter the Indian dreams of being hegemonic giant in
South Asia.
(Description of Source: Islamabad Pakistan Observer Online in English --
Website of the pro-military daily with readership of 5,000. Anti-India,
supportive of Saudi policies, strong supporter of Pakistan's nuclear and
missile program. Chief Editor Zahid Malik is the author of books on
nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan; URL: http://www.pakobserver.net)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
59) Back to Top
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 -- FOREIGN TIPS (5 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 (August 12, 2010)" -
Yonhap
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:30:48 GMT
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States on Aug. 5 announced a new list of
state sponsors of terrorism that does not include North Korea despite
concerns over Pyongyang's suspected delivery of weapons to militant groups
in the Middle East.Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba are still listed under the
annual congressionally mandated Country Reports on Terrorism 2009."The
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK/ North Korea) was not known to
have sponsored any terrorist acts since the bombing of a Korean Airlines
flight in 1987," the report said. "On October 11, 2008, the United States
removed the designation of the DPRK as a state sponsor of terrorism in
accordance with criteria set fo rth in U.S. law, including a certification
that the government of the DPRK had not provided any support for
international terrorism during the preceding six-month period and the
provision by the DPRK of assurances that it will not support acts of
international terrorism in the future."North Korea was first put on the
list after the downing of the Korean Air flight over Myanmar in 1987,
which killed all 115 people aboard. Its delisting came in October 2008
under the Bush administration, which saw progress in the six-party talks
on ending the North's nuclear weapons programs.The report comes amid
allegations of North Korea's involvement in the provision of weapons to
some Asian and Middle Eastern countries.U.S. officials have raised
concerns over North Korea's alleged nuclear and missile technology
transfer to Myanmar, formerly Burma.Israel said in May that the 35 tons of
North Korean arms seized at the Bangkok airport in December were destined
for the Hamas and Hizbullah militant groups via Syria.Dennis Blair, then
U.S. director of national intelligence, said only that the cargo was bound
for the Middle East.Daniel Benjamin, coordinator of the State Department's
Office for Counterterrorism, told reporters that the department has been
"looking into" those allegations."The secretary and others in the
administration have been clear that if we find that Korea is, indeed,
sponsoring terrorism, obviously we will revisit the issue of the listing
as a state sponsor," he said. "But North Korea was de-listed in accordance
with U.S. law in 2008 and it was at that time certified that North Korea
had not supported any terrorism in the previous six months."Arms sales are
believed to be one of the major sources of revenue for North Korea,
suspected of being behind nuclear and missile proliferation in Syria,
Iran, Pakistan and several other countries. For its nuclear and missile
tests, Pyongyang has been under strict U.N. reso lutions banning the trade
of conventional arms as well as weapons of mass destruction.The State
Department, meanwhile, noted that the U.S. in May last year re-certified
North Korea as "not cooperating fully" with U.S. counterterrorism efforts
under the Arms Export and Control Act."Pursuant to this certification,
defense articles and services may not be sold or licensed for export to
North Korea from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010," the report said.
"This certification will lapse unless it is renewed by the Secretary of
State by May 15, 2010."------------------------N.K. Bank Loses Lawsuit for
Defaulting on Loan in U.S. CourtNEW YORK (Yonhap) -- A state-run North
Korean bank has lost a lawsuit for not paying back a loan it borrowed from
a Taiwanese bank nine years ago, the New York district court said on Aug.
6.The District Court of New York confirmed it ordered the Foreign Trade
Bank of Korea to pay compensations of just under US$6.77 mil lion to the
Mega International Commercial Bank (MICB) in a ruling made earlier in the
week.The North Korean bank is widely viewed as Pyongyang's main foreign
exchange earner with branch offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong
Kong.The ruling follows formal lega l action taken by MICB on Jan. 14
after the North Korean financial institution did not pay the $5 million it
borrowed in 2001 and missed its interest payments.Under the loan agreement
the North Korean bank should have returned the principle and interest by
Sept. 15 2004, but only paid a total of $462,000 in backlogged interests
from late 2008 through May 2009.A source at the South Korean consulate in
New York said it is very rare for a North Korea-related commercial dispute
to be settled in a U.S. court.He added that the latest ruling will
probably have negative consequences on the communist country's effort to
borrow money from abroad and will further hurt its credibility in the
international business community.O ther legal sources said that while
there is no way to tell if the trade bank will pay the compensation, MICB
may try to freeze any assets held by the North Korean financial
institution in the United States in an effort to recoup its
loans.------------------------North Korea Could Face Inflation from Fiscal
Expansion: ReportSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea could face inflation as its
regime may seek to expand fiscal spending to assuage complaints of
salaried workers and to stabilize markets amid a protracted slump of its
economy, a report said on Aug. 6."If prices of products continue to
fluctuate and transactions freeze in the market amid instability after the
North's recent currency reform, the possibility is high that even salaried
workers at state-run companies will be much affected," the Korea
Development Institute in Seoul said in the report.To assuage the
complaints of those people, a key supporting group for the regime,
Pyongyang might seek to print and supply more money to the workers, which
the report said could result in inflation, prompted by budgetary
deficit."If this turns out to be the case, deficit-sparked inflation will
take place, worsening price fluctuations that the North has already been
undergoing," the report said.Caused by a protracted economic slump, the
shortage of dollars in the North will make it tougher to cope with its
currency market instability, another factor that could push the regime to
print out money to shore up its economic system.Last year, the North
conducted a reform of its currency by knocking two zeros off its currency
in a way to curb soaring inflation. The reform, however, is regarded as a
failure by experts as it rather pushed up prices and increased confusion
in the market.A recent report from the Unification Ministry here showed
that North Korea's consumer prices have surged in the past five months,
attributing the hike to the failed currency reform and the appreciation of
China's yuan.------------------------North Korea Goes YouTube-savvy in Its
Propaganda OffensiveSEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea has apparently
registered an account with the iconic U.S. video-sharing site YouTube,
uploading clips that praise the isolated regime and defend itself against
accusations that it attacked a South Korean warship.At least 10 clips were
found on Aug. 10 under the name of uriminzokkiri, which represents the
North's Web site. The name in Korean means "on our own as a nation" and
was registered July 14.The uploaded footage contain regurgitations of
official cant that honor the North's leader, Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il),
and the usual South Korea bashing. The Aug. 2 upload contained an
elaborately produced three-minute clip lashing out at South Korea's
foreign minister.Another clip, uploaded the same day and also produced in
Korean, ridicules Seoul for its failure to stop the U.N. Security Council
from placing Pyongyang's denial in its statement deploring the deadly
March sinking of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) warship.Forty-six South Korean
sailors died in the sinking that a multinational investigation found the
North responsible for in May. Military tensions have since soared between
the two countries, which remain t echnically at war after the 1950-53
Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.North Korea has
been expanding the use of the Internet in its propaganda offensive,
observers say. In June, a North Korean woman believed to be an agent
uploaded a clip praising her communist country on YouTube, drawing media
attention here and abroad.North Korea is also believed to be operating a
unit dedicated to hacking foreign Web sites, including those of the United
States and South Korea. Early this year, South Korea set up a cyber
defense command to deal with such threats from the
North.------------------------Teenage U.S. Environmentalist to Visit N.K.
on Bold Peace MissionSEOUL (Yonhap) -- A teenage American boy is tr
aveling to North Korea with his parents this week with a letter urging the
socialist country's leader Kim Jong-il to allow the creation of a "peace"
forest that would grow over the heavily armed inter-Korean border, the
world's last cold-war frontier, his father said on Aug. 10.Jonathan Lee's
eight-day trip to North Korea by way of China is scheduled to start Aug.
12 and will include a meeting with a North Korean government official, his
father, Kyoung Lee, told Yonhap News Agency before leaving Seoul with his
son.Jonathan's father said the trip, which is highly unusual, has been
sanctioned by North Korea, despite there being diplomatic relations with
Pyongyang and Washington. Since January, a U.S. citizen named Aijalon
Gomes has been held in North Korea for illegal entry."You may be wondering
why a 13-year-old boy wants to go into North Korea, especially right now
when there are a lot of problems," Jonathan Lee, a Korean-American from
Mississippi, wrote in his letter addressed to the North Korean
leader."Well, I've been talking about planting chestnut trees in North
Korea for the past three years. The reason I have is because I want to
help the environment and help the people at the same time. Now is the
right time because many wish for peace right now on the Korean
peninsula."Jonathan's father said he believe that the safety of his family
in North Korea won't be a problem, because the visit was made possible
through the socialist regime's U.N. representative office in New
York.Jonathan's family was scheduled to leave Seoul for China on Aug. 10,
where Jonathan will deliver the same letter to Chinese President Hu
Jintao, the father said. The boy also wrote to South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak (Yi Myo'ng-pak) and U.S. President Barack Obama in which he
discussed his trip and proposal, said his father.The family says that they
also requested a meeting between Jonathan and the 68-year-old North Korean
leader, Kim J ong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il). But the North has only mentioned the
possibility of a meeting with a "senior" official.If Jonathan's wish to
plant a forest of chestnut trees in Panmunjom (P'anmunjo'm), along the
border between the two Koreas, did come true, it would be a stark contrast
to the surrounding area heavily fortified with barbed wire and military
personnel, he believes.Panmunjom (P'anmunjo'm), the village where the
truce that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was signed, lies within the
Demilitarized Zone, a four-kilometer-wide swath of land bisecting the
peninsula.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial
news agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
60) B ack to Top
Delhi Editorial Criticizes US Senator for Remarks Against Indian IT Firms
Editorial: "Cloud on American Dream" - The Pioneer Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:12:48 GMT
Take it as rancour or a wake-up call. Within the space of a few days two
separate indictments have come from US quarters against a resurgent Indian
industry. First, there were reports that Indian factories producing goods
for global labels -- Marks and Spencers, Gap and Next -- were in fact
operating like 'sweat shops', using methods that flouted regulations on
child labour and forced labour, the practice of which involves routinely
pressuring workers to do overtime at slashed rates or else face being laid
off. More recently, the country's famed information technology sector
comprising global giants like Infosys, Wipro and TCS got a rude shock when
it was branded a 'chop shop', a highly derogatory description by the US of
'foreign companies' that outsourced high-paying American technology jobs
to temporary immigrant workers from other countries at lower salaries.
Given that the charges are coming from responsible people there, India
cannot gloss over them. Not too long ago, the US President, Mr Barack
Obama, had made the infamous declaration, "Say no to Bangalore", referring
to the increased outsourcing of US business to the IT firms located in
Karnataka's capital. The latest 'chop shop' shocker came from a Senator
and Democrat leader, Mr Charles E Schumer. He quoted the highly respected
Infosys Technologies as an example, in the process indirectly pointing to
the $60-billion Indian software services sector, which is seen by many US
politicians as a major cause for huge job losses in the US. Detractors
like Mr Schumer must understand that the Indian IT sector has become a
force to reckon with across the globe not by engaging in dubious practices
but by providing quality service at competitive rates. Perhaps, the US,
still reeling from the impact of the global meltdown, is desperately
looking to blame someone, and the flourishing Indian software industry is
a good enough target. It believes, wrongly, that overseas Indian IT firms
have an unfair advantage because they engage cheap immigrant labour or do
not follow ethical manufacturing, trading and service practices.In any
case, the US is hardly a role model to lecture others in this matter.
After all, despite all its so-called stringent business laws, clean
accounting methods and ethical standards, Washington was hit by a series
of misdemeanors by its financial giants that led to the meltdown. It would
be nice if senators like Mr Schumer cleaned up the rot from within their
establishment rather than waste energy on hectoring emerging economies.
While declarations like those by Mr Schumer may be driven by domestic
political compulsions, one cannot deny outright the absence of Indian
firms where cheap labour is exploited, short-cuts resorted to and
transparent accounting methods discarded. They must be dealt with
severely, with the application of laws of the land and by further
legislation if needed, because they are the ones who tarnish the image of
an entire country.
(Description of Source: New Delhi The Pioneer Online in English -- Website
of the pro-Bharatiya Janata Party daily, favors nationalistic foreign and
economic policies. Circulation for its five editions is approximately
160,000, with its core audience in Lucknow and Delhi; URL:
http://www.dailypioneer.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
61) Back to Top
Article Says Govt in no Mood To Counter US Agenda Against Pakistan
Article by Shireen M Mazari: Trying to reduce us to nothingness - The
Nation Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:41:22 GMT
The present rulers have certainly tried to reduce Pakistan to a joke in
the eyes of the world. Here we are confronting one of the largest natural
disasters of the world, as even the UN has conceded, and our President has
been busy frolicking in Europe with his team of loyalists who are giving
out lies, half-truths and propaganda - in fact anything to conceal the
truth. Take for instance, the claim that the President's trip to the UK
was an official trip. After being asked through an email from a Pakistani
journalist, whether this was the case, the British Foreign Office
spokesperson, Natasha Khan, responded (August 6th) with this one-liner:
"President Zardari is not on an official state visit." President Zardari
himself claimed that he was in the UK to develop trade links with the
international community but ended up having only one official meeting -
and that to with PM Cameron, not any trade delegation. As for the Marshall
Plan he claims he got the UK to agree to, only he seems to be aware of it
as there has been nothing coming out from the British government and
apparently all that has happened is that we once again pleaded with the
Brits to take up the case of access for Pakistani exports to the EU
markets with Brussels.
Meanwhile, costs aside - and those too are substantial given the nightly
rate at the London five star hotel the President and his entourage stayed
at, plus the costs of the chartered flight to Birmingham, plus the costs
of the dozen or so luxury limos that were hired and thousands of pounds
paid for the hiring of the International Convention Centre in Birmingham
and so on - it is what was said and left unsaid that was truly damaging
for Pakistan. The first issue is of course the most critical - the
unsubstantiated accusations uttered by UK Prime Minister Cameron in India
against Pakistan, and his refusal to retract or even modify them. One had
expected that at the very least President Zardari would take this issue up
since he not only refused to cancel his trip, but also refused to cancel
his meeting with Cameron. Unfortunately, in his meeting with Cameron, no
protest was registered. To make matters worse, President Zardari actually
seemed to be in agreement with Cameron's remarks because in an interview
given later to The Telegraph (August 7th), he made a reference to rogue
spies when talking of the ISI whom he said were a thing of the past. So
effectively he was echoing what Cameron had said, but to show how he was
making the difference he added that he had full control over the
intelligence agencies and only now "everybody is completely accountable!"
So if the Pakistan nation or any state institution was expecting a strong
defence against the Cameron remarks they were not going to get it from the
Presidency! In fact, President Zardari did not even take up the issue of
the Pakistani students who were arrested on alleged terrorist charges and
then found not to be guilty but were still deported - thereby having their
future all but destroyed. Yet, we heard nothing on this count either from
President Zardari. If he saw the ISI guilty as charged by Cameron, surely
he could have pleaded the cause of these innocent Pakistani youth at
least?
It is no wonder, then, that the British political elite can ride roughshod
over Pakistan and the British media can go to town ridiculing and
lampooning the Pakistani head of state. Even someone who is considered a
friend of Pakistan like Baroness Wasti made a strange defence of Prime
Minister Cameron's remarks in an article by declaring that friendship "is
meaningless unless you can be ho nest with each other!" That is true but
does honesty demand that you publicly level unsubstantiated allegations
against your friend in the territory of the foe of that friend? Where was
the mutual respect Wasti talked about in Cameron's remarks and subsequent
reiteration of that position? However, given President Zardari's absurd
remarks about the UK-Pakistan historical relationship - and one only has
to go throw the history of Partition to realise this - obviously even
Baroness Wasti feels she can pull a fast one on Pakistan while defending
her Party leader and Prime Minister!
President Zardari's tragedy is that no one is Pakistan, save his own loyal
band, was in a mood to take the cudgels up in his defence or at least
against the manner in which he was treated in the UK. After all, he defied
his suffering nation to go on this jaunt at a time when he should have
been offering succour and support to his flood-ravaged people. It is our
tragedy that our leaders are in no mood to defend Pakistan, its people or
its institutions against the negative agendas of external foes posing as
friends. In fact, since successive governments have allowed the US to kill
our people while violating our sovereignty at will, one can conclude that
neither the previous uniformed dispensation nor the present civilian
democratic dispensation is prepared to take up the cudgels for the
Pakistani nation against the US and the agenda of the Indo-US nexus. As
for the UK, it never befriended Pakistan, especially on the issue of
Kashmir and if our leaders are not well-versed in our history, they need
to get rid of this critical deficit. That is the only way they will
finally realise who has truly been Pakistan's friend in our times of need.
While the President has been enjoying Europe, the floods have revealed the
sheer incompetence of our bureaucracy and the total lack of disaster
management infrastructure. Despite ERRA and then NDMA and the earlier
spendin g on the NLC -- it is time the Planning Commission investigated
the NLC since it came into being under its purview - we have progressed
not an iota in terms of coping with natural disasters, or manmade ones
either. While one concedes that these floods are unprecedented, yet every
year the monsoons bring floods and every year there is a disaster with no
SOPs that immediately become operationalised. Only on paper we have grand
schemes one after another but they remain confined to dusty files at best.
Pakistan's bureaucracy is truly a white elephant that continues to
undermine the welfare of the people rather than furthering it. Not that
the political rulers are faring much better. Where there is disaffection
with the workings of local officials, for instance in Punjab, they are
simply being removed or transferred. But the problem is that for any new
person to come into an outlying area in the midst of a disaster is to make
the situation much worse since he is not acquainted at all with the lay of
the land so to speak. Yet, this is what has happened in many parts of
southern Punjab which has further aggravated the flood disaster. Despite
all the photo ops of the CM and PM touring disaster areas - either by boat
or helicopter - once they are gone so is any presence of the civil
administration. When all is said and done it is the military that is
showing a continuous presence, especially in difficult-to-access areas or
areas that are off the national radar screen.
At this time, substantive external humanitarian aid would have been
welcome but most external donors, especially the rich developed states are
showing no signs of giving any cash to the government because of a trust
deficit. It is truly shameful that even in these times of humanitarian
crisis of a scale larger than the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2004
Tsunami put together, foreign donors including our so-called allies are
not prepared to trust our leaders to pass on the money th ey would get to
those in need. As a nation we should hang our heads in shame for having
leaders who inspire no monetary trust or credibility, even when their
people have been hit by catastrophic floods. Truly our rulers are seeking
to reduce us to nothingness. Mercifully, this nation is far greater and
more resilient than all its detractors.
(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
62) Back to Top
West Indian Press 11 Aug 10
The following is a selection of highlights from the West Ind ian press on
11 August 2010 - India -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:52:31 GMT
The editorial says two huge container ships collided while coming into the
port at Mumbai and the oil from the ship spilt into the sea. It says the
ship MSC Chitra has suffered the most damage in the collision and nearly
300 containers from that ship have sunk into the sea. Though some of the
containers are still floating, some have sunk to the bottom of the sea and
that poses threat to the traffic of ships, it says. It says though the
task of recovering the containers still afloat and those sunk to the
bottom is under way with the help of a foreign company, there is no
guarantee that the task would be totally successful. The editorial says
the Coast Guards succeeded in stopping the oil leakage from the ship on 9
August, the oil slick has spread far and wide by now. It says this oil
slick pose s a grave threat to the marine ecosystem. It is always a big
challenge to keep the damage through such accidents to the minimum, it
says.
Pointing out the loss to the fishermen, the editorial wonders how the loss
would be compensated. It says Mumbai ports are becoming more and more
dangerous for the past few years because of the neglect by concerned
agencies. In the past 13 years, 10 small and big ships have sunk here and
over 30 small boats are lying here unclaimed, it says, adding it also
poses a grave threat to the environment and security. The agencies
responsible for maintaining the coastline and ports are not doing their
duty properly, otherwise the crisis would not have been created, the
editorial concludes.
(Mumbai Sakal in Marathi -- Widely read Marathi daily published in Mumbai)
Loksatta Editorial Says Maharashtra Environment Deteriorates Owing To
River Pollution Loksatta
online of 11 August in Marathi carries an approximately 800-word edit
orial entitled: "The Ugly Face of Rivers." The editorial says though
Maharashtra is lagging behind other states in industrialization, foreign
investment, economic growth, etc., it has maintained its lead in one
thing--river pollution. It says its environment is deteriorating and the
Central Pollution Control Board report says rivers in Maharashtra top the
pollution list. Recalling that union Forest and Environment Minister
Jairam Ramesh termed the rivers in Maharashtra as "big sewers," the
editorial says river pollution not only poses a health hazard, but also
creates problems of livelihood for people living on its banks.
The editorial says along with increasing river pollution, the chasm of
inequality in rural and urban areas is also increasing, which is giving
rise to conflict between them. It says there is no need to give figures to
prove how big a share the cities have in polluting rivers. It says it is
not easy to take up the challenge of improving the condition of polluted
rivers, but we would have to take up that challenge. The editorial says if
indu strial pollution were checked, it would reduce the burden of
pollution on rivers. It says the real challenge is of treating the
effluent being created in cities.
The editorial says the reason for looking at rivers with such seriousness
is that they are mirrors of the environment around. It says their
condition gives an idea about the environment around. The editorial says
improvement in rivers would solve most of the problems related to
environment. The editorial says if there are basic problems like river
pollution even after 50 years, all the talk about development and progress
is meaningless.
(Mumbai Loksatta in Marathi -- Widely read Marathi-language daily, part of
Indian Express Group, with circulation of 340,000. Focuses on local news
of India's financial center, Mumbai)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyri ghted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
63) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Roundup': Canadian Stocks Tumble as Pessimism About World Economy
Increases
Xinhua "Roundup": "Canadian Stocks Tumble as Pessimism About World Economy
Increases" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 22:31:58 GMT
TORONTO, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian stocks tumbled on Wednesday as
pessimism about the global economy increased amid further signs of a
slowing recovery. The S&amp;P/TSX Composite Index closed 256.08 points or
2.16 percent lower at 11,582.21.
All the sectors on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) registered losses with
the index measuring the diversified met als and mining sector losing 4.41
percent.Lundin Mining Corp. decreased 7.40 percent. First Quantum Minerals
Ltd. declined 5.24 percent. Teck Resources Ltd., Canada's largest
base-metals producer, dropped 4.02 percent.Crude oil for September
delivery reduced 0.71 percent to 77.34 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New
York Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday. Gold for September delivery lost
0.13 percent to 1,199. 90 U.S. dollars an ounce. Copper shrank 2.17
percent. Raw materials account for about half of Canada's export revenue.
Oil is Canada's largest export.The index measuring the energy sector on
the TSX reduced 2.84 percent. Suncor Energy Inc., Canada's largest energy
producer, tumbled 4.00 percent. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. declined
3. 93 percent.The index measuring the financials sector on the TSX
decreased 2.40 percent. Manulife Financial Corp., Canada's largest
insurer, dropped 4.28 percent. Royal Bank of Canada, the country's largest
lender, reduced 2.42 percent.Stat istics Canada said on Wednesday that
Canada's trade deficit with the rest of the world widened to 1.1 billion
U.S. dollars in June from 695 million U.S. dollars in May.In the United
States, the National Association of Realtors released a report on
Wednesday showing the median price of a single-family home crept up 1.5
percent to 176,900 U.S. dollars in the second quarter, versus the previous
year.According to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday,
the country had a 165.04 billion U.S. dollars budget deficit in July. The
United States is Canada's largest trade partner.A raft of data from China
reflected a mostly downbeat July -- inflation rates missed expectations,
industrial production eased to the lowest level this year and retail sales
slowed.On the currency front, the Canadian dollar depreciated further
against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday.One U.S. dollar was buying
1.0463 Canadian dollars at 5 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), compared with one
U.S. dollar buying 1.0303 Canadian dollars on Tuesday.(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
64) Back to Top
Mexico Regional Press 11 Aug 10
For assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Mexico -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:56:53 GMT
Acapulco, Guerrero, El Sur reports that the Secretary General of the
National Action Party (PAN) in Guerrero Oscar Medina Rodriguez affirmed
that the poll the was presented by the former head of the party and
current national councillor Carlos Millan Sanchez that claims that 65% of
the members of the PAN are against joining the Party of the Democratic
Revolution (PRD)-Labor Party (PT)-Convergence Party alliance is false.
"The party members are in favor of the coalition and we do not know where
he got those numbers. (...) The Party has a structure, the leader is
Senator Adrian Rivera Perez who has not instructed any polls to be carried
out; he has been conducting official surveys with the members about
joining a coalition along with the national committee, there are good
possibilities of joining an electoral coalition and any declarations that
express the contrary are strictly personal, and do not represent the PAN,"
said Medina. (Acapulco El Sur Online in Spanish - Website of daily from
Guerrero State; URL:
http://www.suracapulco.com.mx/ http://www.suracapulco.com.mx ) PT Rejects
Supporting Acapulco Mayor, PRI --
Acapulc o, Guerrero, El Sur reports that the head of the PT in Guerrero
Fredy Garcia Guevara has ruled out he possibility of his party supporting
Acapulco Mayor Manuel Anorve Banos and the Institutional Revolutionary
Party (PRI) in the gubernatorial race due to the fact that the national
executive board has determined to participate in a coalition with the PRD
and the Convergence Party as part of the Dialogue for the Reconstruction
of Mexico (DIA) Alliance. CHIHUAHUA Congress Officially Declares
Governor-elect; Duarte Not Present --
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, El Diario reports that during an extraordinary
congressional session, Cesar Duarte Jaquez was officially declared the
Chihuahua Governor-elect. Duarte, who was not present at the session, will
serve his gubernatorial term from 4 October 2010 to 3 October 2016. Also
absent was the parliamentary coordinator of the PAN Fernando Alvarez
Monje. (Ciudad Juarez El Diario Online in Spanish -- Website of most
widely read daily in border area, founded in 1976 and published in
Chihuahua State; URL:
http://www.diario.com.mx/ http://www.diario.com.mx ) POLITICS
General Urbano Perez Banuelos
QUINTANA ROO Cancun Hotel Zone Controlled by Zetas Cartel --
Merida, Yucatan, PorEsto! reports that General Urbano Perez Banuelos not
only allegedly turned the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) in Cancun
over to the organized crime, but he also "gave" the control and management
of the Cancun Hotel Zone to the Zetas cartel. According to undisclosed
official sources in the secretariat, when the Mexican Army was tightening
its grip around the criminal organizations with a series of arrests and
operations in September 2009, the head of the police granted full impunity
to the criminals that were operating inside the main tourist area by
banning the entrance of the military forces into the area. According to
the statistics presented by the local authorities, the criminal acti vity
in the hotel zone has increased by 80% and it is affecting both the
businesses and the residential areas. The incidence of drug dealing and
prostitution in the heart of the hotel zone has also greatly increased.
(Merida PorEsto! Online in Spanish -- Website of high-circulation Yucatan
State Por Esto! daily, moderately critical of the federal government; URL:
http://www.poresto.net/ http://www.poresto.net ) ECONOMY OAXACA One
Million Hectares Alloted for Mining Industry --
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Diario Despertar reports that since 2008, twenty mining
projects have been approved an d have been granted to fifteen different
foreign and domestic companies in order to promote the exploration and
exploitation of 12.5% of the territory in the state of Oaxaca, which
amounts to approximately one million hectares of land. However, according
to studies that have been conducted, the arrival of mining companies to
the towns and municipalities has generated a number of problems that have
resulted in conflicts and even violence. The mining history in Oaxaca goes
back to colonial times and is filled with episodes of looting and the use
of the land by foreign-owned companies, a situation that continues to date
with the Canadian, US, Australian and European mining companies that are
settled in the area. Oaxaca is rich in a great diversity of minerals
including silver, gold, lead, zinc, iron, titanium and uranium. In spite
of the economic potential that the mining industry brings about, it also
implies the creation of serious environmental, social, and cultural issues
that must be addressed. (Oaxaca Diario Despertar Online in Spanish --
Website of daily from Oaxaca State, founded in 2008 and published by
Editorial Tercer Milenio, S.A.; URL:
http://www.diariodespertar.com.mx/ http://www.diariodespertar.com.mx )
The following media were scanned and no file worthy items were found:
Guadalajara Mural.com, Hermosillo El Imparcial.com, M erida El Diario de
Yucatan, Mexico City El Universal.com.mx, Mexico City Excelsior Online,
Mexico City La Jornada Online, Mexico City Milenio.com, Mexico City
Reforma.com, Monterrey El Norte.com, Oaxaca El Imparcial Online, Tijuana
Frontera.info, and Tuxtla Gutierrez Cuarto Poder.com.mx
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Russian, US, Canadian air forces hold antiterrorist drill over North
Pacific - Channel One TV
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:42:36 GMT
North Pacific
Text of report by state-controlled Russian Channel One TV on 11
August(Presenter) Military pilots from Russia , the USA and Canada have
completed the first stage of an antiterrorist exercise over the Pacific.
The pilots' joint training was coordinated by two command centres, one in
Khabarovsk and one in Alaska. At the start of the manoeuvres,
reconnaissance aircraft were ordered up, alongside NATO and Russian Air
Force fighters. Irina Chechuy has the details.(Correspondent) The
antiterrorist exercise is being held over the north Pacific. Until now,
military pilots from Russia, the USA and Canada have never staged joint
manoeuvres on such a large scale. The operation was codenamed Vigilant
Eagle. According to the exercise scenario, terrorists hijacked a civilian
aircraft, Gulf Stream, which took off from the USA on an international
flight. There are 10 people on board. The terrorists' demand is that the
aircraft be allowed to land at a certain aerodrome in the Russian Far
East, after which contact with the crew is lost.(Col Todd Balfe, Canadian
Air Force, back translated from Russian ) At first the aircraft is
escorted by US F-22 Raptor fighters, and then in the Russian air space,
they are replaced by the MiG-31 and the Su-27. Our main goal is to
practise the escorting of the aircraft and the handover of control over it
from one country's air force to colleagues from another
country.(Correspondent) Reconnaissance and tanker aircraft from the
countries taking part in the drill are also involved. Joint work goes on
everywhere, in the air and on the ground. The drill is coordinated by the
US and Russian air forces, at the Elmendorf base in Alaska and at a
command post in Khabarovsk.(Robert Martin, North American Aerospace
Defence Command deputy chief for current operations, back translated from
Russian) There is communication and exchange of information at every stage
of the drill, from takeoff in Anchorage and throughout the flight. For us,
it is a very useful experience.(Correspondent) After the end of the
exercise, the civilian aircraft flew back immedia tely, taking the same
route. This time the Russian Air Force escorted it to the US border and
handed it over to US pilots. The North American Aerospace Defence Command
and the Russian Air Force Command are pleased with the results of the
joint manoeuvres.(Igor Sulim, chief of the frontline and army aviation
directorate of the Russian Air Force Main Command) It is not about who is
better. We have one objective, the fight against air terrorism. We find
areas of common interests and achieve the objectives mutually successfully
and well.(Correspondent) This first stage of the exercise, which concluded
in the air over the Pacific, has already been described by airmen as very
successful, and by the Americans, even as historic. It has been decided
that manoeuvres of this type will be repeated regularly.(A report by
Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS identified the "reconnaissance"
aircraft involved in the exercise as Russia's A-50 and USA's AWACS."The
exercise leade rship assesses the results as positive and believes that
the objectives have been achieved," a later ITAR-TASS report quoted
Maj-Gen Sulim saying. "The personnel at command posts as well as fighter
pilots and the crews of S-50 (as received) and AWACS control aircraft
displayed high professionalism in their actions, which was the foundation
of the overall success. Not a single element of the exercise failed, in
the air or on the ground," he added.A report by corporate-owned Russian
military news agency Interfax-AVN quoted Russian Air Force
Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Zelin as saying: "The exercise plan has been
carried out in full. I have already ordered the crews of our aircraft to
return to their bases." He said the exercise was necessary because of "the
potential threat of hijacking of aircraft and their flight towards Russia,
the USA or Canada", adding that "it was necessary to practise joint
actions (...) so as to avoid the repeti tion of 9/11". Zelin also said
that the zones of responsibility of the Canadian, US, and Russian Air
Forces were determined "for the prevention of hijacking of aircraft and
unauthorized flights towards populated areas". He also suggested holding
similar drills in Europe, Interfax-AVN reported.)(Description of Source:
Moscow Channel One TV in Russian -- Large state-owned network covering
most of Russia and parts of the CIS)
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66) Back to Top
Russian, US, Canadian Air Forces Share Zones Over Pacific - ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:36:34 GMT
intervention)
ZARYA VILLAGE, Moscow Region, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The air forces of
Russia, the USA and Canada at their first-ever joint exercise Vigilant
Eagle-2010 defined areas of responsibility over the northern Pacific Ocean
to prevent the hijacking of aircraft and recurrences of the tragedy of
Sept. 11, 2001, Russian Air Force Commander Colonel-General Alexander
Zelin told reporters on the eve of the 89th anniversary of the Russian Air
Force."Today, this exercise has been successfully completed. The plan was
fully implemented. I have already given orders to the crews of our
aircraft to return to base," Zelin said.He explained the need for these
exercises stemmed from the "potential risk of seizure of aircraft and
their movement towards Russia, the United States or Canada.""It was
necessary to work out a pattern for joint action: the transfer of control
of the situation from the air force of one country to another,
accommodation of the hijacked plane, and joint action to force it to land,
as well as other tasks crucial to ensuring there be no more 9/11s," said
Zelin."We identified the areas of responsibility of the Canadian, U.S. and
Russian air forces to prevent hijacks of aircraft and unauthorized flights
in the direction of cities," said the Russian Air Force commander.The
first Russian-American counter-terrorism exercise involving the Air Force
and civil air traffic control services began in Alaska on August 8. It was
codenamed Vigilant Eagle. As the official representative of the North
American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Major Michael Humphreys told
Itar-Tass earlier, according to the exercise's scenario, terrorists have
hijacked an American civil aircraft during an international flight.
Communication with the plane has been lost. The simulator plane flew from
Alaska to the Far East, and then back along the same route.To detect and
track the target fighter planes were ordered in to the air. In addition,
two reconnaissance aircraft - Russia' s A-50 and a U.S. AWACS - as well as
tanker planes of the two countries participated in the exercise.According
to the scenario, the terrorists hijacked a Gulfstream airplane carrying
ten passengers that left Anchorage (Alaska) towards the Far East. U.S. Air
Force fighter jets intercepted the plane and accompanied it to the border.
As the plane approached the border of Russia, NORAD handed over
responsibility for its interception to the Russian Air Force, which was
supposed to keep track of the aircraft until its landing. The next day the
plane began the return journey along the same route and now the Russian
Air Force kept track of the "hijacked plane" to the U.S. border and there
handed over control over to U.S. pilots from NORAD.The Vigilant Eagle
exercise was coordinated by the air forces of the two countries in
Khabarovsk and from the base Elmendorf (Alaska) with support from
specialists at the Fede ral Air Navigation Service of Russia and the U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration. The exercises are conducted under an
agreement on military cooperation signed by the presidents of the Russian
Federation and the United States of America. Canadian Air Force personnel
was used. NORAD is a joint US-Canadian command.(Description of Source:
Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
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67) Back to Top
Taiwan Opinion 12 Aug 10 - Taiwan -- OSC Summary
Thursday August 12, 2010 04:37:49 GMT
- According to a column in Chung-kuo Shih-pao by Liu Pin, recently both
the US government and the US academic field gave a high grade for Ma
Ying-jeou's performance, and the most impressive thing is that an ECFA
(economic cooperation framework agreement), which was most strongly
criticized by the DPP, was Ma's most remarkable achievement in the eyes of
the United States. In fact, the United States has never held a negative
view over intensified cross-Strait exchange, and neither had it worried
that Taiwan and mainland China were getting too close. A legislator had
tried to make US officials express concerns over the close ties between
Taiwan and mainland China, but he failed. The United States is not
worried, the article says, and Taiwan is also confident because there is
in fact a big gap between Taiwan and mainland China in terms of democracy,
laws, and humanities. Moreover, Ma Ying-jeou has pledged "no unification,
no independence, and no use of forces" in his inaugural speech, and he
enjoys a good credibility for his words. The United States is only unhappy
with the US beef event. A small flaw cannot obscure the Ma regime's
achievement, the article says; but the United States would not forget the
event because it is a matter concerning international credibility. (Taipei
Chung-Kuo Shih-Pao (Internet Version-WWW) in Chinese -- Internet version
of daily newspaper provides good coverage of political affairs, generally
takes a pro-unification stance. Root URL as of filing time:
http://www.chinatimes.com.tw/ http://www.chinatimes.com.tw ) "Beijing
Recognizes Only Half of 1992 Consensus"
- According to an article in Lien-ho Pao by Chen Yi-hsin, Tamkang
University professor, ARATS (Association for Relations Across the Taiwan
Strait) Deputy Director Li Yafei said on 11 August that the "1992
consensus" refers to the consensus that the ARATS and the SEF (Strait
Exchange Foundation) reached in 1992, and under which each side of the
Taiwan Strait orally interprets th eir insistence on the one China
principle. However, what Li Yafei has said is somehow different from what
we think. We think the 1992 consensus refers to an important consensus
reached in 1992, and it means that each side of the Taiwan Strait
interprets "one China" separately. We said so, and mainland China agreed,
and based on the consensus, there were the Wang Daohan-Koo Chen-fu
meetings afterwards. The KMT has been insisting on the 1992 consensus, and
regarding it as an important foundation for cross-Strait relationship.
After Ma Ying-jeou won the presidential election in 2009, both Hu Jintao
and then US President Bush both pointed out that the 1992 consensus would
be the key to the start of cross-strait talks. The thing is that in Li
Yafei's recent remark, he has only mentioned the first half of the formula
- "one China, separately interpreted by each side of the Taiwan Strait,"
and ignored the second half. By doing so, he has destroyed the gist of th
e 1992 consensus. (Taipei Lien-ho Pao (Internet Version-WWW) in Chinese -
Website of a leading daily newspaper which consistently favors pan-blue
politicians and issues. Root URL as of filing time:
http://www.udnnews.com.tw/ http://www.udnnews.com.tw ) "Referendum
People's Basic Rights"
- According to an article in Tzu-yu Shih-pao by a doctor named Shen
Cheng-nan, the TSU's ECFA proposal was again rejected by the Referendum
Screening Committee. It was because people's pressure was not big enough,
the article says, so the Referendum Screening Committee and the political
force behind the committee dared to do whatever they wanted. The Costa
Rican Government also rejected a referendum proposal several times, but it
yielded at last in the wake of the people's continuous protests. Holding
an ECFA referendum is Ta iwan people's basic rights, and Taiwan people
should not remain silent when their basic rights are being infringed.
(Taipei Tzu-yu Shih-pao -- In ternet version of widely read Taiwan daily
which supports Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) position and often
exhibits a pro-independence bias, especially in its editorial and other
opinion pieces. Root URL as of filing time:
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/ http://www.libertytimes.com.tw ) "Without
Opposing ECFA, How Can We Protect Taiwan?"
- According to an article in Tzu-yu Shih-pao by Tsai Mu-chang, DPP
Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said recently that we should focus on the five
municipality elections instead of wasting our energy on opposing ECFA in
vain. There is a logic mistake and a misjudgment in her words, the article
says. It is the "line" that distinguishes the KMT and the DPP, and the
ECFA is a key issue that separates the unification line and the
independence line. Ma Ying Chiu and Wen Jiabao promoted the ECFA with
all-out efforts because the KMT and the CPC were joining hands to absorb
Taiwan's funds and to head for unification. T herefore, the ECFA issue
should be the major topic in the five municipality elections, the article
says, and it would be ridiculous if the DPP abandons this battlefield.
Without calling on people to oppose the ECFA and therefore arouse people's
Taiwan-protection awareness, how can the DPP race against the KMT, which
owns a huge sum of party assets? (Tzu-yu Shih-pao)
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68) Back to Top
Russian, U.S., Canadian Air Forces Complete Hijack Exercise - Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 15:27:16 GMT
ZARYA, Moscow region. Aug 11 (Interfax-AVN) - An international exercise
involving Russia, the United States and Canada aimed at making it more
difficult for terrorists to hijack planes has ended over the northern
waters of the Pacific Ocean, Russian Air Force commander-in-chief
Alexander Zelin said on Wednesday.The Vigilant Eagle "drill was
successfully completed today. The exercise plan has been fulfilled. I have
already commanded that our aircraft crews return to their bases," the
commander-in-chief said.The need to conduct the drill was due "to the
potential risk of aircraft hijacking and their movement towards Russia,
the U.S. or Canada," he said."Joint operations had to be practiced such as
handover of control (from one country's Air Force to another's), meeting
(a hijacked plane), joint operations to force landing and other tasks to
avoid a repeat of the September 11 tragedy," the commander-in-chief
said.During the exercise the Russian, Canadian and U.S. air forces divided
responsibility zones "to prevent the hijacking of aircraft and
unauthorized flights to populated areas," he said.Similar drills must also
continue in Europe, given that such maneuvers called Combat Commonwealth
are already being held in the CIS, he said.The Russian and U.S. air forces
have successfully conducted the joint exercise to practice cooperation in
the event of an aircraft hijacking by terrorists, Russian Defense Ministry
spokesman Vladimir Drik told Interfax-AVN earlier.During the exercise, a
chartered jet played the role of a hijacked commercial airliner flying
across the Pacific. "The flight plans were duly submitted. The aircraft
was hijacked after takeoff," Drik said.Using airborne warning and control
system (AWACS) aircraft, the U.S. air force escorted the hijacked airplane
and passed on information about the hijacking and terrorists to Russia.As
part of the drill, the Russian air force's A-50 airborne early warning
aircraft then took off to take "control over the hijacke d plane
&amp;#8743 was transferred from AWACS to A-50 when approaching Russian
airspace," the official said.Also, fighter aircraft took off from a
Russian airfield to intercept and escort the hijacked airplane until it
left Russian airspace, Drik said.The ground-breaking drill marked a new
stage in international cooperation in preventing possible threats
emanating from air terrorism, he said.The exercise involved Russian air
force's command posts in the Far East and the North American Aerospace
Defense Command.kk ap(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-DUZZCBAA
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69) Back to Top
Indian Media Highlights 10-11 Aug 10 - India -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:38:26 GMT
: Indian apparel exporters are "in for fresh trouble" as the US Government
has put India among a list of countries that use child labor (Business
Standard, SAP20100810494009). US Visa
: Terming the US proposal to increase visa fees as discriminatory, Indian
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said it would cost Indian firms $200
million extra a year and "make them less competitive" (PTI,
SAP20100811950023). Indian industry feels the US President has not issued
any red signal on the march of its IT industry (Business Standard,
SAP20100811494002). Defense Cooperation
: Ahead of the September US visit by the Indian defense minister, New
Delhi and Washington exchanged notes on fostering defense cooperation
through more equipment sales, greater joint exercises, frequent high-level
exchang es and the possibility of inking three military agreements (The
Hindu, SAP20100811532001). Kashmir
: In his first initiative to address the latest Kashmir unrest, the Indian
prime minister on 10 August urged Kashmiris to "give peace a chance" and
promised a political solution "that addresses the alienation and emotional
needs of the people" there through sustained "internal and external"
dialogue (
http://www.pmindia.gov.in/ www.pmindia.gov.in, SAP20100810534020). Singh's
speech has evoked mixed reaction in the state with separatist leaders
maintaining that jobs and economic packages can't be substitute to the
right of self-determinations while the mainstream parties see it as an
opportunity to restore peace in the Valley (Greater Kashmir,
SAP20100811384003). HuJI Attack Alert
: Intelligence inputs say Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami is planning terror
attacks in West Bengal and Assam before 15 August (DNA,
SAP20100811571001). New NIA Wing
: A special wing will be set up under the National Investigation Agency to
keep a close watch on terror funding. (DNA, SAP20100810571001). Maoists
Expand Base in Bihar
: Confined to south Bihar till a few years ago, Maoists have now started
making their presence felt in the northern parts of the state (The
Telegraph, SAP20100810571002). Nuclear Liability Bill
: With the Bharatiya Janata Party joining hands with the Left in opposing
the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill, the government is "nervous" of getting
the Bill cleared before early November (New Indian Express,
SAP20100810532017). Private Participation in Defense Technology
: All India Defence Employees Federation has opposed the Defense
Ministry's nod for private sector participation in defense technology. The
federation has threatened strike if the decision is not rolled back (New
Indian Express, SAP20100810532018). Rise in Mobile Internet Users
: According to estimat es from the Internet and Mobile Association of
India, telecom operators and Internet companies, the number of people who
may have accessed Internet through their mobile phones in the past eight
months has gone up to around 20 million as against 12 million in 2009
(Indian Express, SAP20100810534012).
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70) Back to Top
Ukraine To Consider Grain Exports Quotas - ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:13:55 GMT
intervention)
KIEV, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine has already harvested 28.136
million tons of grain out of the overall 42 million tons it plans to
harvest in 2010, a source in the country's ministry of agrarian policy
told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.According to the source, the initial plans
were to harvest 46 million tons of grain, still less the record-breaking
2008 harvest of 53 million tons.Ukraine's Agrarian Fund has already
announced its plans to set up a state grain fund of 5 million tons to keep
the prices down. During the past week, bread prices were reported to go up
in a number of Ukrainian regions, although governmental efforts brought
them down to their usual level.Meanwhile, Minister of Agrarian Policy
Nikolai Prisyazhnyuk did not rule out that prices for bread baked from
grain of the new harvest might go up. Unfavourable climate conditions -
heavy rains in early June followed by unprecedented heat - have forced the
ministry to adjust its harvest forecasts.According to experts, Ukraine is
in for wheat deficit, which might be covered through wheat imports. "The
wheat harvest is expected not to exceed 8 mi llion tons, while the
country's demand is 12 million tons," said Alexander Zhemoida, deputy
director general of the Ukrainian Agrarian Chamber. In his words, wheat
will be imported from the United States and Canada, since the country
cannot count on imports from neighbouring Russia, also hit by drought and
wildfires.The ministry of agrarian policy has suggested the government
introduce quotas on grain exports to prevent price hikes on the domestic
market. The issue will be discussed by the government on
Wednesday.According to the ministry, 17.49 million tons of wheat have
already been harvested from an area of 6.19 million hectares, which
accounts for 97 percent of the forecasted figure, given an average crop
capacity of 282 kilograms per hectare. The barley yield is 9.13 million
tons (98 percent of the forecast), with crop capacity of 212 kilograms per
hectare. A total of 478,000 tons of rye have been threshed with the
average crop capacity of 178 kilograms per hectare , and 482,000 tons of
peas (98 percent of the forecasted figure) have been also harvested.
Harvesting campaign has started for buckwheat and millet.(Description of
Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
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Mugabe Leaves for 'Week-Long' Official Visit to China
Report by Caesar Zvayi: "President Leaves for China" - The Herald Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:37:21 GMT
(Description of Source: Harare The Herald Online in English -- Website of
state-owned daily that frequently acts as a mouthpiece for ZANU-PF and
nominally distributed nationwide; URL: http://www.herald.co.zw)
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Russia Grain Exports Ban Not To Cause Deficit On World Mrkt-Vilsak -
ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:20:06 GMT
intervention)
WASHINGTON, August 11 (Itar-Tass) - The temporary ban on the exports of
grain introduced by the Russian government will not cause its considerable
deficit on the world market, US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack told
journalists on Tuesday in a telephone conference during his visit to
Canada.The US agriculture secretary stressed a bove all that the US
authorities unquestionably realise that Russia has found itself in a
difficult situation and its farmers are facing a severe drought and
large-scale forest fires. However, in the current situation, unlike
similar circumstances in the past, fortunately there is an impression that
other countries, including the United States, will compensate for the
decline caused by the RF suspension of grain supplies to external markets,
Vilsack noted. "There are other countries, including the United States,
where wheat production is steady and robust enough not to put us in a
situation where we were several years ago when there was a potential
shortage globally," Vilsack told reporters. "Working with our Canadian
friends and others in the (European Union) we'll be able to deal with the
difficulties Russia's situation created.""Fortunately, for the United
States and the rest of the world, the United States and other countries
are prepared to prov ide the wheat that is necessary to meet the global
needs... so we don't face serious shortages," he said.Commenting on the
issue of American poultry supplies to the Russian market he said that
Moscow sought to get the right to inspect enterprises producing poultry
meat for exports to the RF. It was not part of an agreement (on the
resumption of American poultry supplies to Russia), the agriculture
secretary said.According to him, Washington has already handed to Moscow
the list of all (American) enterprises capable of fulfilling the
conditions of the agreement, but the Russian side has put forward another
demand - they want to visit these enterprises. Meanwhile, from the
viewpoint of the US government, there is no actual need in that, Vilsack
said.Asked to specify if he had already discussed the world grain market
situation with his Canadian colleague Jerry Ritz he answered in the
negative explaining that they had not held a meeting yet. Vilsack
simultaneously confirmed that he planned to consider this issue at talks
with Ritz. He said, he thinks that some districts of Canada will also face
certain challenges (with the grain harvest).(Description of Source: Moscow
ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
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Viktor Bout Imprisoned In Thailand Struggles For Release - ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:25:58 GMT
intervention)
BANGKOK, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian businessman Viktor Bout
imprisoned in Thailand is ready to take resolute measures for his own
release, Bout declared in a statement that was turned over to Itar-Tass
office by his lawyer. Exactly a year has passed since the Thai court
passed the verdict, refusing to extradite Bout to the United States, but
Bout still remains in custody, pending resolution by the Appeals'
Court.Over the past year a total of 27 appeals, asking to release Bout on
bail, had been submitted, but all of them were turned down despite
declarations made by the Russian embassy that came out as a co-guarantor.
"The answer was that I am a foreigner and can escape from the country,"
Bout said."Being convoyed to courtroom with rusty handcuffs on, wearing
clothes that humiliate human dignity, banning my correspondence in
Russian, shortening visitors' presence from 30 to15 minutes and
prohibiting telephone calls do not conform even to minimal standars of the
international law," Bout said. The Thai authorities declared equal rights
to everyone but denied these rights to me. Being kept under arrest in
confine ment, I am serving punishment as a criminal despite a verdict of
acquittal. Unlike the rest of the convicts I do not know when my term in
prison ends. I am fully determined to struggle and press ahead for
justice. I am grateful to all who support me in my struggle," Bout said.In
an interview to Itar-Tass Viktor Bout said Tuesday that "being denied
release on bail the authorities obviously resort to double standards. They
give this right to everyone, even to suspects in terrorism, except
myself," Bout said."On August 11, 2009 the Thai Court relieved me of all
charges and refused to extradite me to the United States. The US side
attempted to revise the case and had been putting all kinds of pressure on
Thai justice to procrastinate the case," Bout said. He ridiculed western
media allegations that Thailand wants to exchange Bout either into Russian
oil delivered at a discount or even a funnier deal- chicken exports to
Russia in exchange for Bout's relea se. Viktor Bout dismissed these
speculations as "a dirty PR campaign" and expressed hope that common sense
would triumph and that the Royal court would be just to him."I am not
discouraged and is prepared for a resolute struggle for my freedom," Bout
stressed. He expressed hope that he would be released on bail, pending
resolution by the Appeals Court. "Keeping an innocent man behind iron bars
for a whole year is a blatant violation of human rights," Bout said.Viktor
Bout was detained in Bangkok on a US warrant in March, 2008 as a suspect
in weapons smuggling to the FARC organization in Colombia.In August 2009,
the Thai court dropped all the charges against Bout. Since then the
innocent Russian citizen is expecting the Appeals Court's decision in
custody, sharing a prison cell with 39 other inmates in a maximum security
prison.(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main
government information agency)
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Daily urges US to ignore proposal for Afghanistan's division - Weesa
Monday July 12, 2010 12:49:51 GMT
Text of editorial entitled "This country has not changed" published by
pro-government Afghan newspaper Weesa on 10 JulyMr Robert Blackwill, the
former US ambassador to India, has recently advised America to divide
Afghanistan into two parts as an alternative to America's defeat in
Afghanistan. His proposal has been published simultaneously in an American
and The Times India dailies. Afghanistan is not a McDonald's burger that
can half be eaten or given to someone or divided into two parts. However,
there are two points clear in this American diplomat's meaningless
article:Firstly, the present American policy is truly facing failure and
humiliation in Afghanistan and now they are trying to seek a solution to
it. However, no one can come to this country with ill intentions and leave
it with victory. Afghanistan defeated two empires in the early and late
last century. They had come to destroy and disintegrate our country. God
willing, these remarks will play a major role in boosting our national
unity and will open the eyes of those who seek their interest in the
presence of others.Afghanistan is not a piece of land that has no owner
and that America or any other country can willingly divide into many parts
or use it for its personal objectives. The Soviet Union is a clear example
of this. It failed in its conspiracy to get the fraternal ethnic groups
embroiled into fighting with tribal militias and this is a lesson to every
other empi re.Secondly, foreign countries, which have come to Afghanistan
under the mandate of the UN Security Council, are completely careless
regarding the Afghan people. They are pursuing their own objectives and
they may suffer humiliation and defeat because of their intentions to
divide our country. The Afghan people, intellectuals, media and the
government should not remain silent about these remarks by the former US
ambassador to India. Every side should react to these remarks.This
American has seriously insulted all of us, especially Tajik, Uzbek and
Hazara brothers by saying that they will cooperate with America in
dividing their country. There are stooges like the pro-Russia supporters
in every nation. If senior American officials view Afghanistan from the
perspective of Robert Blackwill and count on a few stooges, they will
suffer defeat and humiliation. If America truly wants to avoid a strategic
defeat in Afghanistan, its only way is to ignore such futile proposals and
reg ard Afghans as an independent and proud nation and respect their
opinions, values and national sovereignty.(Description of Source: Kabul
Weesa in Pashto -- pro-government daily launched in early 2006; supports
reconciliation with the Taliban and Hekmatyar's groups.)
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Xinhua 'Commentary': History, Practicality Reunite Colombia, Venezuela
Xinhua "Commentary": "History, Practicality Reunite Colombia, Venezuela" -
Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:08:54 GMT
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos an d
his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez agreed Tuesday to reestablish
diplomatic relations after a long meeting in Santa Marta, a city on
Colombia's Caribbean coast.
What impressed the world was not only the two leaders walking shoulder to
shoulder at a colonial-era residence where South American independence
hero Simon Bolivar died in 1830, but also their description of bilateral
relations as "brotherly countries."From a rupture on July 22 to the
restoration, the dramatic change in bilateral relations in merely 19 days
spoke of a truth -- the two Andean countries are neighbors after all.
Neighbors that share a deep historical and cultural origin, a long
friendship and substantial common interests. Bitter disagreements and
outside influence will not leave the two countries in a tense spot for
long.The mere choice of Santa Marta as the venue for the presidential
meeting carried symbolic meaning. Both countries became Spanish colonies
in the 16th century and have had similar experiences in fighting against
colonial rule and striving for independence.Chavez, who regards Bolivar as
the inspiration of his socialist movement, said it was appropriate to mend
fences at such a sacred place. During their meeting, both leaders quoted
Bolivar several times as their inspiration, an reflection of the historic
and cultural bonds between the neighbors.Bitter disagreements over the
status of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and relations
with the United States have separated the two countries in recent
years.Bogota's claim at the Organization of American States last month
that its rebel militants were hiding in Venezuelan territory became the
last straw. Venezuela severed ties with its neighbor and beefed up its
military at the border in retaliation.But it is a fact that the once close
economic and trade activities between Colombia and Venezuela plummeted
from 7 billion U.S. dollars to 700 million dollars last year amid fears o
f a potential war.Considering the challenges of shoring up their economies
in the wake of the global financial crisis, the countries' break-up was
set to lead to loss-loss. Practical economic calculations and substantial
interest for people on the border finally took the upper hand in the
dispute.Santos told reporters after the meeting that the rapprochement
between two men with "so many and such frequent differences decide to turn
the page and think of the future ... That's something I think we have to
celebrate."Chavez said he doesn't support the Colombian rebels or any
other insurgent group, adding that the neighboring countries are starting
down a new road after years of often thorny ties under Santos'
predecessor.In Latin America, behind diplomatic rows often lies the shadow
of major powers. Different relations with the major powers, sometimes,
become a factor leading to a diplomatic crisis between two countries. It
is undeniable that the influence of major co untries would not go away
with the rapprochement between Venezuela and Colombia.However, reducing
outside influences and ironing out diplomatic feuds in the interests of
two neighbors are the highlight of their reconciliation, and will be an
important revelation for developing neighborly relations in the
future.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))
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Boeing Presumed Victor in Presidential Plane Bid - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:10:01 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Boeing Co. of the United States will likely win a
contract to build Korea's new presidential jet as its archrival EADS, the
European parent of Airbus, decided not to submit a bid, informed sources
said yesterday.
Korea plans to buy a presidential jet by 2014 to replace its presidential
plane put into service in 1985.President Lee Myung-bak (Yi Myo'ng-pak) is
using a Boeing 747-400 jet for overseas trips under a five-year lease
contract with Korean Air ahead of the planned purchase.However, the plane
is outdated, and only a few passengers could board the plane.The Defense
Acquisition Program Administration, Korea's weapons procurement agency in
charge of the presidential jet project, is reopening a tender that failed
on Aug. 3 because it attracted only one bidder, Boeing.But EADS would not
submit a bid by the Monday deadline for the second-round tender, a
well-informed military source said, clearing the way for a potential
Boeing win." ;EADS decided not to submit a bid for the presidential plane
contract because it sees little chance of winning," the source said on
condition of anonymity."It seems that EADS pulled out because the cost in
the bidding is huge and the company's image could be tarnished if it fails
to win."An official at the Seoul office of EADS declined to comment on the
matter.With the exit of EADS, the DAPA will review the sole bid by Boeing
and complete price negotiations by October."If all things go smoothly,
Boeing will be able to sign a formal contract for the new presidential
plane in December," said another source at the DAPA.A DAPA official said
the agency is planning to purchase a plane with about 300 seats.The most
likely candidate for the new presidential plane is expected to be the
Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The price on the plane could exceed 300 billion won
($254 million), considering that it will have several options added
exclusively to protect the presid ent including missile evasion systems
and the latest communication systems. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner typically
has between 250 and 290 seats.(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily
Online in English -- Website of English-language daily which provides
English-language summaries and full-texts of items published by the major
center-right daily JoongAng Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed
as an insert to the Seoul edition of the International Herald Tribune;
URL: http://joongangdaily.joins.com)
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Fidel Castro Warns World of US Nuclear War Threat
KCNA headline: "Fidel Castro Warns World of U.S. Nuclear War Threat&quo t;
- KCNA
Thursday August 12, 2010 03:51:28 GMT
addressing a session of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba on
August 7, warned the world of the U.S. nuclear war threat.
He said that if the U.S. attacks Iran and the DPRK, it will spark off
armed conflicts in the Far East, the Near East and the whole Eurasian
continent simultaneously.In that case a nuclear war will break out
worldwide, he said, stressing the need to urgently defuse such
threat.(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK
news agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)
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Restored Venezuela-Colombia ties top story on Iran's Press TV - Press TV
Wednesday August 11, 2010 09:04:44 GMT
The top stories on Iran's state-run English-language news channel Press TV
at 0400, 0500 and 0600 gmt on 11 August were the re-establishment of
diplomatic ties between Venezuela and Colombia, Pentagon's rejection of
Afghan leader Karzai's call foreign security firms to be shut down, US
Middle East Envoy George Mitchell's talks with the Palestinian Authority
president, a deadly landslide in China and floods in Europe.Commenting on
the re-established Venezuela-Colombia ties, Gregory Wilpert, captioned as
a Latin America expert from New York, said over the phone that there were
"strong economic reasons" why Colombia wanted to improve relations with
Venezuela. A Press TV correspondent added that "it is yet to be seen what
concrete measures Col ombia and Venezuela are going to take when it comes
to the sensitive issue of US military bases and the alleged presence of
Colombian rebels on Venezuelan soil".Press TV said Pentagon had "played
down Afghan President Karzai's call for foreign private security firms
operating in his country to be shut down". It quoted "a Pentagon
spokesman" as saying that "Washington acknowledges that there are problems
with the firms but he (spokesman) adds that the US is working on
addressing the issue raised by Karzai".Press TV said US Middle East envoy
George Mitchell's talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian Authority
president had ended without any agreement on direct talks between Israel
and the Palestinian Authority. The TV said a rally had been staged by
activists from Al-Mubadara Party in Ramallah to urge the Palestinian
Authority not to resume direct talks with Israel. It added that the public
in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip "strongl y opposes switching to direct
talks". The TV interviewed Mustafa Barghoutl from Al-Mubadara Party who
said that Israel was the only party to benefit from the direct
negotiations "while settlements continue to grow".Press TV said rescue
operations are continuing in China to find survivors after the weekend
mudslide that killed over 700 people. Press TV also reported that 11
people had been killed in floods that had hit Germany, Poland and the
Czech Republic.(Description of Source: Tehran Press TV in English --
24-hour English-language news channel of Iranian state-run television,
officially controlled by the office of the supreme leader)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Slovak Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Slovak press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735;
or fax (703) 613-5735. - Slovakia -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:09:51 GMT
http://www.sme.sk/ http://www.sme.sk
1. Sme website carries "full transcript" of Prime Minister Radicova's 10
Aug address delivered in Assembly ahead of vote on government's policy
statement. (3,170 words; some points covered by EUP20100810172011,
EUP20100811172002)
2. Zuzana Petkova, Silvia Pnackova report with further details on nearly
finished 4-million-euro refurbishment of villa in lucrative part of
Bratislava, allegedly planned to become "luxurious" residence of prime
minister under Fico government; Fico again denies knowing about the works,
even though former Government Office head, Igor Federic, negotiated on
villa's possible use for prime minister during Fico's tenure. (900 words)
3. Report says choice of locations where Army members can spend holiday at
costs largely covered by Defense Ministry remains restricted, since 2009,
to facilities in Slovakia, while 20-25 servicemen can annually spend
holiday in Hungary, Austria, or Czech Republic within exchange programs.
(370 words)
4. Commentary by Abel Ravasz, chief analyst with Publicus Slovensko survey
agency, views factors behind rise of Hungary's extreme Jobbik party, warns
against similar rise of far-right Our Slovakia People's Party (LSNS). (780
words)
Bratislava
mailto:Pravd@.sk Pravd@.sk in Slovak -- Website of high-circulation,
influential center-left daily; URL:
http://www.pravda.sk/ http://www.pravda.sk
1. Vanda Vavrova report on opposition leader Fico's criticism, allegations
addressed to Defense Minister Galko in connection with his app ointment of
Milan Hudec to post of Military Intelligence Service chief, Hudec's
suspension owing to problem with security clearance. (580 words;
processing)
2. Commentary by Vanda Vavrova on above affair over Hudec security
clearance says it illustrates "long-existent" problems of Slovakia's
intelligence services. (310 words; processing)
Bratislava Hnonline.sk in Slovak -- Website of leading independent
political and economic daily; owned by the publisher of Czech Hospodarske
Noviny and often reprints its articles; paper of record; URL:
http://www.hnonline.sk/ http://www.hnonline.sk
1. Report says Defense Ministry suspends implementation of 60-million-euro
contract with BAE Systems on supply of MOKYS mobile communications system
for Slovak Army owing to discovery of "certain irregularities concerning
quality of supplied radio technology;" Ministry to decide on further steps
after testing the technology in Aug. (180 words)
Bratislava Plus 7 Dni Online in Slovak -- Website of best-selling glossy
weekly covering political, economic, and social issues; somewhat
sensationalist; regularly publishes investigative stories on political
corruption; URL:
http://www.plus7dni.sk/plus7dni http://www.plus7dni.sk/plus7dni
No. 32 (5-11 Aug)
1. Lukas Milan report on Direction-led Defense Ministry's signing, shortly
before 12 Jun parliamentary election, two contracts, worth 57 million
euros in total, on modernization of Army's Russian-made Mi-17 transport
helicopters that are approaching end of their service life. (1,770 words;
processing)
2. Interview with Richard Sulik, Assembly Speaker and SaS chairman, on
causes and settlement of dispute between SaS and Ordinary People faction;
SaS's taking the faction on its election ticket; his decision to become
Assembly Speaker despite "dreaming" of finance minister post; his adapting
to more formal dressing style in his new post; government's policy
statement; SaS's contribution bonus scheme; his plan to reduce number of
MPs' official trips abroad; coalition's plan to abolish so-called Meciar
amnesties; SaS-initiated refer endum on MPs' immunity from prosecution.
(3,000 words)
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NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (1 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 (August 12, 2010)" -
Yonhap
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:14:40 GMT
M
81) Back to Top
Cross-Strait News 11 August 2010 - Taiwan -- OSC Summary
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:36:40 GMT
-- According to this Chung-shih Tien-tzu Pao unattributed roundup report,
the Cross-Strait Peace and Prosperity Forum, organized by Want Daily to
mark the newspaper's first anniversary, opened in Taipei on 11 August. The
report claims that Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Lien Chan and Li
Yafei, vice chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the
Taiwan Strait (ARATS), attended the opening ceremony. According to the
report, Tsai Eng Meng, chairman of the Want Want Group, said at the
ceremony that peace in the Strait is a prerequisite for creating wealth
and that the ECFA will bring Taiwan more business opportunities. The
report claims that the forum is the first high-level economic forum held
between the two sides since the signing of the ECFA.
http://news.ch
inatimes.com/mainland/0,5245,50504472x132010081100754,00.html
http://news.chinatimes.com/mainland/0,5245,50504472x132010081100754,00.html
"Li Yafei Goes to Taiwan, Seeks Cross-Strait Mutual Trust"
-- According to this Chung-yang T'ung-hsun-she (Central News Agency, CNA)
special report by Liu Cheng-ch'ing, after ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin said
in Australia a few days ago that the "1992 consensus" was a cross-Strait
common political basis, ARATS Vice Chairman Li Yafei, who is in Taiwan to
attend the Cross-Strait Peace and Prosperity Forum, also talked about the
"1992 consensus" at the forum and when he met with Strait Exchange
Foundation (SEF) Vice Chairman Kao Koon-lian. The report claims that
mainland affairs analysts believed Chen and Li's move showed that
Beijing's intention was to accumulate mutual trust. According to the
analysts, putting aside disputes is the essence of the "1992 consensus,"
and therefore the two sides can use the consensus to create room for
ambiguity and to move forward. The report also claims that Li said on 11
August that the "1992 consensus" was that the two sides could orally have
separate interpretations of the "one-China" principle that both sides
uphold. However, according to the report, Li did not clearly state that
the "1992 consensus" was "one China, with each side having its own
interpretation," which President Ma Ying-jeou has reiterated recently.
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008110300&amp;pType1=PD&amp;pType0=aIPL&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008110300&amp;pType1=PD&amp;pType0=aIPL&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
"Chang Jung-kung Says Two Sides Can Seek Common Ground While Reserving
Differences Under '1992 Consensus'"
-- According to this CNA report by Li Shu-hua, KMT Deputy Secretary
General Chang Ju ng-kung said on 11 August that China has focused on
interpreting the "1992 consensus" as the "one-China principle" and that
Taiwan has focused on the "one China, with each side having its own
interpretation." He said although the two sides viewed the consensus
differently, the important thing was to seek common ground while reserving
differences. Commenting on ARATS Vice Chairman Li Yafei's remark on the
"1992 consensus," Chang said Li's remark basically was in line with the
fact. Chang also admitted that the mainland side has never acknowledged
publicly the principle of "one China, with each side having its own
interpretation." However, according to Chang, the important thing was that
the two sides have constantly engaged in consultations and have put aside
disputes, and this proved that the "1992 consensus" has been carried out
effectively.
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008110271&
;amp;pType1=PD&amp;pType0=aIPL&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008110271&amp;pType1=PD&amp;pType0=aIPL&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
"Li Yafei Talks About '1992 Consensus,' Makes Consistent Statement"
-- According to this CNA special report by Huang Chi-k'uan, the statement
made by ARATS Vice Chairman Li Yafei on 11 August in Taipei on the "1992
consensus" was the same as what China has always stated on the issue in
the past. The report claims that it is worth noting whether the mainland
side would accept the development of the "1992 consensus" into the "one
China, with each side having its own interpretation" in the international
community. According to the report, Beijing's advocating of the "one-China
principle" in the international community does not mean that it is ready
to talk about the "one China, with each side having its own interpreta
tion," because China does not want it to develop into a "two China"
principle. The report also calls on the public to pay attention to the
issue that if China withdraws its missiles aimed at Taiwan under the "one
China" principle, would it demand that the United States stop selling arms
to Taiwan to observe the Joint Communique on arms sales to Taiwan signed
between China and the United States on 17 August 1982.
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008110301&amp;pType1=PM&amp;pType0=aCN&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008110301&amp;pType1=PM&amp;pType0=aCN&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
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NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (2 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 119 (August 12, 2010)" -
Yonhap
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:20:43 GMT
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Raising already high tensions, North Korea seized a
South Korean fishing boat that was operating in the East Sea near the
North's territorial waters, the Unification Ministry said on Aug. 8.Four
South Korean and three Chinese crew members were on board when a North
Korean patrol boat apparently towed it to the northeastern port of
Songjin. North Korea has yet to offer any word on the state of the
crew.The incident came amid deadlocked inter-Korean relations. South Korea
and the U.S. recently held massive naval drills south of the East Sea
border between the Koreas, after they accused Pyongyang of sinking a Sou
th Korean warship in the West Sea in March, killing 46 sailors.The 41-ton
squid fishing boat, Daeseung 55, was apprehended on Aug. 8 from waters
presumed to be within the North's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the
East Sea.One of the crew members told the South's Coast Guard via a
satellite phone that the vessel was seized by a North Korean patrol
boat.The captain of the boat reported "normal conditions" around 6:30 p.m.
on Aug. 7 when contacted by South Korean maritime authorities via regular
radio contact."But we lost the signal around 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 8 and later
confirmed via satellite that the boat was being towed by a North Korean
patrol boat heading to North Korea's northeastern port of Songjin," a
Coast Guard official said.The ship, which sailed from the port of Pohang,
North Gyeongsang Province, on Aug. 1, was expected to return around Sept.
10, the official said.The Coast Guard said it was investigating whether
the boat trespassed into the No rth's exclusive economic zone and called
for the prompt release of the crew in line with international law and
customs."It has been found that the Daeseung crew is being investigated by
North Korean authorities," a coast guard official said.The boat had been
operating in a joint fishing area off the North's eastern area of
Musudan-ri before it was seized, a defense source in Seoul said.A
unification ministry spokesman said it appears that the North Korean
authorities are questioning the seven crew members.North Korea has offered
no word yet on the seized fishing boat, the Unification Ministry said on
Aug. 9."So far, there has been no notification from the North Korean side
regarding this incident," ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told
reporters.South Korea has urged the North to release the boat as early as
possible. "The government has urged the North to deal quickly with the
case and release our crew members and their boat in accordance with inter
national law and practices," Chun said.Chun also said it is still unclear
exactly where the fishing boat was seized, including whether it was inside
the North's EEZ as presumed. The government and the Coast Guard are trying
to confirm details of the seizure, he said.Identifying whether the 41-ton
Daeseung trespassed into North Korea's waters is key to determining how
South Korea will deal with the seizure, spokesman Chun told
reporters."We're going to determine what our next steps will be, based on
the investigation," Chun said, adding he is not aware of any contact
between China and South Korea over the seizure.As there was no response
from the North, South Korea's Red Cross sent a message to the North on
Aug. 11 urging the prompt release of the crew.North Korea accepted the
message delivered through a western military hotline between the two
countries at 10 a.m., Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said
in a briefing.The message, addressed to the N orth's top Red Cross
official, contains a call by his South Korean counterpart to free the
seven crew members of the Daeseung "promptly in line with international
law and customs and on humanitarian grounds," Lee said."We have also asked
the North to explain in detail how the fishin g boat was seized," Lee
said, adding the Red Cross channel is often used in inter-Korean issues
involving civilian boats.The seizure came amid high tensions between the
two Koreas in the wake of the deadly March sinking of the South Korean
warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) near their western sea border.Following the
joint South Korea-U.S. military drills in the East Sea in July, South
Korea conducted its own massive naval exercises for five days from Aug. 5
designed as a show of force and a warning against further North Korean
provocations.On Aug. 9, North Korea fired more than 100 rounds of
artillery along the Yellow Sea border near the area where South Korea had
just ended the nava l drills that mobilized some 4,500 troops.In July of
last year, a South Korean fishing boat, the Yeonan, accidentally crossed
into North Korea's waters and was towed to a nearby port. The boat was
released about a month later.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in
English -- Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
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Opponents of NATO MD Early Warning Center Protest Outside Czech Parliament
"Protest Meetings Staged Outside Czech Chamber of Deputies" -- Czech
Happenings headline - Czech Happenings
Wednesday August 11, 2010 08:23:04 GMT
The protests, monitored by policemen, were calm and no incidents occurred.
Some 30 activists from the No Bases group with banners protested against
the planned establishment of an early warning centre of the U.S. missile
defence system in the Czech Republic planned within the NATO missile
defence. The centre is to start working in mid-2011.
Its opponents are collecting signatures and they have announced a
demonstration to be held on Wenceslas Square in Prague centre on September
4.
No Bases staged many protest rallies in the past against the planned
project of a U.S. missile defence radar base on Czech soil that the U.S.
administration scrapped in the end.
About ten people from the ProAlt group criticising the government-planned
reforms and budget cuts met outside the lower house. The ProAlt statement
has been signed by some 100 people so far.
Moreover, seven women protested outside the Chamber of Deputie s against
the absence of women in the coalition cabinet of Petr Necas (Civic
Democrats, ODS) of the ODS, TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV).
They carried banners reading "Government without women - the first of the
new government's reforms" and "Government without women is illegitimate."
(Description of Source: Prague Czech Happenings in English -- Internet
magazine with focus on political and economic reporting, published by CTK
subsidiary Neris; URL: http://www.ceskenoviny.cz)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
84) Back to Top
Hyundai Heavy to Build Giant Solar Power Plant - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:36:49 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Hyundai Heavy Industries said yesterday it had signed a
$700 million deal with U.S.-based Matinee Energy on Monday to build the
world's largest solar energy power plant.
The plant, which will be located in Arizona, is seen as a breakthrough in
Korea's ambitions to become a leading global supplier of green energy
technology. Hyundai Heavy Industries, the nation's largest shipbuilder,
claims it is the only company in Korea to produce a complete line of solar
power equipment, including polycrystalline silicon, solar batteries,
modules and solar power systems.Hyundai will build two facilities: a
150-megawatt solar energy power plant in Dragoon, Arizona, and a smaller
25-megawatt unit in nearby Cochise, both of which are located in the
southeastern part of the state. Hyundai will be responsible for the
engineering, procurement and construction of the plants. The solar energy
module, a core part of the plant, will be produced at Hyundai's facility
in Eumseong, North Chungcheong."The deal will establish Hyundai as an
international supplier of large-scale solar energy power plants," said Kim
Kweon-tae. "We will do our best to win additional orders of large plants
in the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia."The project
represents the first phase of a 900-megawatt solar energy project that
will be located at 15 sites in California and Arizona, for which Hyundai
Heavy Industries had been in negotiations since March. Hyundai won the
order against competitors in Germany and China, which are leaders in the
global solar energy industry. Hyundai is expected to get follow-on orders
from Matinee Energy for the project.Meanwhile, Hyundai Heavy Industries
also announced yesterday that it acquired management control of Hyundai
Oilbank from the Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Co.
after a prolonged court battle. The dispute had centered on whether
Hyundai had first rights to buy back a 70 percent stake in Oilbank that
was being sold by IPIC. IPIC agreed to sell the shares to Hyundai after
the International Chamber of Commerce recently ruled in favor of the
Korean company.(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in
English -- Website of English-language daily which provides
English-language summaries and full-texts of items published by the major
center-right daily JoongAng Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed
as an insert to the Seoul edition of the International Herald Tribune;
URL: http://joongangdaily.joins.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
85) Back to Top
CIA Arrests Youth Suspected of Planning To Blow up PIA Airplane
"Swat Resident Who Threatened To Blow up Airplane Arrested" NNI headline
- Nawa-e Waqt
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:47:16 GMT
an airplane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), bound from London to
Lahore. It has been said that a youth named Asad Iqbal had earlier
threatened the PIA through a fake telephone call that the flight from
London to Lahore would be blown up. Iqbal had threatened to blow up the
PIA airplane many times earlier as well.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Mian Azhar Farooq said that the suspect
was undergoing investigation and that more information was expected.
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India.)
Material in the World News Connectio n is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
86) Back to Top
US To Send 'Supercarrier' to Yellow Sea for Joint Drills With ROK
Updated version: Upgrading precedence, adjusting tags, adding ref item;
Yonhap headline: "U.S. to Send Supercarrier to Yellow Sea For Joint Drills
With S. Korea: Adm. Mullen" by Hwang Doo-hyong - Yonhap
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:45:47 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright ho
lder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
87) Back to Top
RMRB Column Urges Calmness, Restraint Over Choenan Incident
Article by Chen Xiangyang, "Calmness and Restraint Are Required More Than
Ever" -- from the "International Forum" column - Renmin Ribao Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 22:36:29 GMT
The ROK has declared that the purpose of the military exercises is to step
up the effort to deter the DPRK and prevent recurrence of incidents
similar to the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) incident. In fact, however, questions
have been voiced in the ROK since its military and civilian joint
investigation group revealed at a briefing on 20 May that the Ch'o'nan
disaster was caused by torpedo attacks from a small submarine of the DPRK.
In late June, the investigation group admitted errors in the drawing of
the DPRK torpedo revealed at the briefing. Public opinions in the ROK
believe that if the Ch'o'nan incident becomes another unsolved mystery, it
will not only deal a heavy blow to the ROK government but also damage the
ROK's national creditability.
Hence, the ROK government vigorously lobbied the international community
in a bid to solicit its "unanimous acceptance" of the investigation
result. However, in an interview with US newspapers on 18 June, Russian
President Medvedev said: It is only one of the possibilities that the
attack from the neighboring country (DPRK) was the cause of the sinking of
the Ch'o'nan. On 9 July, the UN Security Council adopted a chairman's
statement on the Ch'o'nan incident, condemning the attack that caused the
sinking of Ch'o'nan but did not clearly indicate that the attack was
committed by the DPRK.
On 20 July, the ROK and the United States finalized the d ates of the
joint military exercises. Furthermore, Washington announced new sanctions
against the DPRK, including the freeze of its assets, in order to prevent
the DPRK from carrying out "nuclear proliferation and other illegal
activities." According to analyses by some ROK media, the ROK and US
governments are very dissatisfied with the UN Security Council chairman's
statement and, therefore, want to use joint military exercises to increase
the creditability of the investigation result on the Ch'o'nan incident
and, at the same time, take the opportunity to force the DPRK to abandon
its nuclear program. In the event that the DPRK can no longer stand the
heavy pressure and picks up the "marginal tactics" again, then the ROK and
the United States can push the Security Council to adopt a new resolution
on sanctions against the DPRK.
Experts on East Asian defense affairs maintain that although ROK-US
military exercises can help the ROK government distr act outsiders'
attention from the Ch'o'nan incident, the exercises will escalate the
tense and complicated situation on the Korea Peninsula and affect the
security situation in Northeast Asia. On 31 July, KCNA condemned the
ROK-US military exercises as the "prelude" to an attempt to start the
second Korean War and to push the Peninsula toward an "explosive,
dangerous situation." Some ROK analysts also point out: The large-scale
ROK-US military exercises are conducive to strengthening ROK-US alliance,
but they can also constrict the ROK's room for diplomatic maneuver.
As far as the ROK government is concerned, proper handling of the Ch'o'nan
incident and its aftermath affects the foundation of its governance. After
assuming the presidential office, Lee Myung-bak discarded his two
predecessors' "sunshine policy" toward the DPRK, saying that the policy
had not only failed to dissuade the DPRK from abandoning its nuclear
program but also put the ROK in a passive position in relations to the
DPRK and weakened ROK-US alliance. Therefore, Lee Myung-bak decided to
demand the DPRK to give up its nuclear program and open up as the
precondition for the ROK's massive economic aid to the DPRK. Meanwh ile,
the Lee Myung-bak government focused his administration on developing the
economy. The ROK economy's good performance in recent years has won the
government high approval rate from the people.
However, in the wake of the Ch'o'nan incident, the security issue has
replaced the economy as the top priority task of the administration of the
ROK government, which has since taken a tougher policy toward the DPRK. On
24 May, the ROK government announced a ban on DPRK ships to enter ROK
waters and suspended ROK-DPRK trade and other exchanges. Immediately
after, the DPRK announced comprehensive freeze of DPRK-ROK relations and
abrogated the DPRK-ROK non-aggression agreement. On 2 June, in the ROK
national election and loca l elections, the ruling Grand National Party
suffered a setback, indicating public misgivings about the possibility of
war caused by the tough policy toward the DPRK. Even though the Grand
National Party won victory in the 28 July reelections and supplementary
elections of National Assembly members and the government has taken charge
of the political situation once again, if the ROK-US military exercises
further aggravate the security situation on the Peninsula and the region,
the ROK government is likely to receive a still lower approval rate from
the people.
(Description of Source: Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese -- Online
version of the daily newspaper (People's Daily) of the CPC Central
Committee. URL: http://paper.people.com.cn)Attachments:rmrb0804rok.pdf
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, U S Dept. of
Commerce.
88) Back to Top
US Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of ROK Fishermen Held in DPRK
By Hwang Doo-hyong: "U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of S.
Korean Fishermen Held in N. Korea" - Yonhap
Wednesday August 11, 2010 21:28:34 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
89) Back to Top
US Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of ROK Fishermen Held in DPRK
Updated version: upgrading precedence and adding refs; By Hwang Doo-hyong:
"U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Resolution For Release of S. Korean Fishermen Held in
N. Korea" - Yonhap
Wednesday August 11, 2010 21:31:36 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
90) Back to Top
Yemeni Opposition TV CEO Interviewed on Al-Qa'ida, Huthists, Invasion of
South
Interview with Nasir al-Ja'fari, chief executive officer, CEO, of Aden
Live Yemeni TV channel, by Iyad al-Dulaymi; place and date not given:
"There Is No Unity Until We Call for Separation; and the South Issue Has
Nothing to Do With Huthists and Al-Qa'ida" - Al-Arab Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 15:32:37 GMT
Al-Ja'fari stated that "the cause of the southern populace bears no
relation to Al-Qa'ida or the Huthists," and that "the Sanaa regime is
always trying to link us to them, even though we are on parallel lines
which cannot meet." He spoke about the channel's funding sources,
clarifying that most of its workers are volunteers, in addition to some
contributions from the sons of southern Yemen.
The text of the interview is as follows:
(Al-Dulaymi) First, can you tell us about the channel and the conditions
under which it was established?
(Al-Ja'fari) I would first like to thank Al-Arab newspaper for having me,
its concern for the southern (Yemen) issue, and its pursuit of truth.
Regarding the channel and its establishment, as you know, the southern
cause must be accompanied by a media outlet, which may help to reveal many
of the facts practiced by the Sanaa regime against the unarmed southern
people. There is a mass media blackout imposed by the Sanaa regime, which,
after its invasion war with the South, strove to hold many agreements with
Arab media outlets and exert many pressures upon southern activists in
Arab states. There are many accords into which we do not want to enter.
This has made us lack the financial resources that were present abroad.
Here we find the opportunity to address the highnesses, kings, amirs, and
presidents to aid the southern people, tend to their wounded, and help the
southern martyrs who fell in cold blood from the bullets of the Sanaa
regime's forces.
Aden Live adopts the peaceful struggle, and tries, with its modest
resources, to reveal some of the cri mes committed by the Sanaa regime
against the southern people. These crimes take place in order to sow
discord among southerners, despite the Southern Mobility Movement's (SMM)
ongoing denouncement of the crimes of violence committed by the regime
against its supporting southerners. The channel, in turn, quickly sheds
light upon the incidents, revealing their true colors and showing them to
the viewers.
All of this is in addition to covering and broadcasting some southern
activities, especially weekly activities, live in audio until we receive
video footage, in addition to some interviews with SMM leaders directly by
phone and interviews with the channel's correspondents internally. Here I
take this opportunity to thank all employees of the Aden channel inside
(Yemen) and overseas, since they are working as volunteers without pay.
This is in addition to talk and journalism shows broadcast live from
London.
The channel was founded two years ago, and its firs t broadcast was via US
Intelsat, through which it still broadcasts today. Its first broadcast was
on 11 February 2009, and was internal (in the country). Most of our
viewers were from the South in the country, and from many Gulf and Arab
states. On 5 January 2010, the channel broadcast on Nilesat on Atlantic
Bird 4 for 25 days, after which the Sanaa regime interfered and influenced
an important figure, Nasr Taha Mustafa, CEO of the SABA news agency, to
purchase -- with millions of dollars -- the same frequency on which we
used to broadcast from the same company with which we had contracted. He
then broadcast a channel called Yemeniyyah on our same frequency, later
changing the channel's name to the Aden cha nnel in an attempt to mislead
the Arab and southern viewers.
We were then able to sign a contract with another company with the same
satellite, Nilesat. We returned to broadcasting on the same satellite on
27 May 2010, and we are still broadcasting, although t he Sanaa regime is
trying to disable our broadcast or mislead the companies by saying that
our channel promotes violence by taking some pictures and presenting them
with untruthful interpretations in a vain attempt to convince them. Sadly,
the Sanaa regime is one that uses the methods of deception, even against
foreigners. If it is unsuccessful, it uses the southern population's money
by drafting expensive, alluring contracts.
(Al-Dulaymi) You are accused of calling for the separation of the South.
Do you confirm that?
(Al-Ja'fari) We do not call for separation, because there is no union in
the first place, and what happened in 1990 was (merely) an attempt at a
union, but it never succeeded, because one of the parties breached
agreements and accords which were established for this attempted union.
War was then declared on the South, and, therefore, they (the regime)
invaded in the name of the union. We demand independence and the
restoration of the souther n state by peaceful resistance. This is our
option until we achieve our goals.
(Al-Dulaymi) From the viewpoint of some, the channel's statement is a
violent instigation. You call the Yemeni forces the occupation forces, and
call the operations targeting them resistance operations, correct?
(Al-Ja'fari) The Sanaa regime is trying to pin this charge on us in order
to ruin our image. Our statement was peaceful, and we relate facts as they
are. The one committing the violence and instigation is the Sanaa regime.
As for calling the Yemeni forces the occupation force, the southern people
are the ones who call them so, and we relay it in turn. Sometimes we say
the forces of the Yemeni Arab Republic, and many times we call it the
Sanaa regime. They are occupation forces who took the South using military
force, imposed unity using force, baptized it with blood, and have as
their motto "unity or death." They are the ones calling for violence and
instiga ting the people to spit in our faces. As for describing operations
which target them as resistance, this is untrue; because the SMM does not
conduct military resistance operations, and they were not adopted by our
people. Our people are raising the banner of peaceful resistance and
struggle. The operations occurring against the army are executed by
parties allied with the regime itself. They are the settlement of scores
between security executives, and the regime is taking advantage of them,
alternating between blaming the SMM and Al-Qa'ida in order to blackmail
the world.
(Al-Dulaymi) Do you classify yourselves as a resistance channel?
(Al-Ja'fari) We are a channel that relates the facts as they are. We are
on our people's side in their peaceful struggle. We resist violence and
the imposition of faits accomplis.
(Al-Dulaymi) Anyone listening to your media statements will see that you
are in a raging war with the Yemeni regime in Sanaa.
(Al-J a'fari) Yes, on a daily basis, the South offers martyr after martyr
and scores of wounded, but sadly, the Arab media is deluded regarding the
truth of the southern situation. We are puzzled by this ignorance of
events. If an event is covered, it is covered in a very untrue manner, and
this is due to the security embargo and interference in the
correspondents' work by the Sanaa police system. In our role as
journalists, we do not bear arms. Those who bear arms are the Sanaa
regime's forces. The people who fire bullets are the officers of the Sanaa
regime against an unarmed people who came out in peaceful protests to
denounce the occupation and demand its departure. These people also sought
the release of all prisoners from detention camps and an end to the
ongoing military siege of the southern areas.
(Al-Dulaymi) Who is fundin g your satellite channel?
(Al-Ja'fari) As I said before, the channel's resources are very modest. We
work as volunteers, and ther e are some charitable southerners who
contribute from their own personal wealth. We did not get support from our
southern merchants, because they respect the laws of the country in which
they live. The Sanaa regime tried to establish these laws in many other
Arab states as well.
(Al-Dulaymi) What is your relationship with President Ali Salim al-Bid? Is
Al-Bid truly a supporter of your channel?
(Al-Ja'fari) President Ali Salim al-Bid is the legitimate president of the
South. Our relationship with him is excellent, and our relationship with
the southern administration is also excellent. We are a voice for all the
southern people of all affiliations. President Ali Salim al-Bid supported
our channel after leaving Oman; however, his financial resources did not
allow him to continue his support. We take this opportunity to ask our
brothers in the South and peace lovers to stand by this southern flame so
that it may grow and continue to better present its peace ful message.
(Al-Dulaymi) What obstacles prevent you from working in Yemen? Do you have
any known correspondents there?
(Al-Ja'fari) Of course we may not work inside when the Sanaa regime is
driving us out. Many of the channel's correspondents have been arrested
and tried on the charge of dealing with the Aden channel, and there are
still many volunteer correspondents behind bars. Our correspondents are
volunteers. Their love for their country turned them into correspondents,
and we consider all the sons of the South as our correspondents, and
always look for the true story and relay it, in turn, to the world.
(Al-Dulaymi) As far as the media slant of the Aden channel is concerned,
do you support the Huthists in their war? Do you support Al-Qa'ida in its
operations?
(Al-Ja'fari) Our southern cause has nothing to do with the Huthists, and
we cannot be supporters of Al-Qa'ida. The Sanaa regime is always trying to
link us to them, even though w e are on parallel lines which cannot meet.
Al-Qa'ida is the product of the republican palace in Sanaa. The Yemeni
regime is trying to delude the world that Al-Qa'ida exists in the South,
while they are the ones who supported Al-Qa'ida in the 1994 war,
describing us as atheists and blasphemers. A fatwa remains against us
until now. As for the Huthists, Ali Abdallah Salih established and
supported them, and asked for the Iranians to help them, in order to
create a balance in Sa'dah, as he says, against the Salafist trend led by
Shaykh Muqbil al-Wadi'i and the Yemeni Congregation for Reform. When the
US raised the "Axis of Evil" slogan and considered Iran a part of this
axis, Salih tried using this slogan and declared war against the Huthists
in order to blackmail the world and use the Shiite trend, of which this
regime is already part to scare the neighboring countries.
(Al-Dulaymi) Do you believe that your channel can play a positive role in
the Yemeni c risis?
(Al-Ja'fari) With its modest resources, our channel is relaying the facts
as they are, whether those taking place in the South, or those occurring
elsewhere in Yemen. The others -- the international community and the
media -- must learn from these facts so that everyone knows the truth of
what is happening there and so they push the neighboring Arab states and
regions and the international community to respond to the demands of the
southern (Yemeni) people, who have chosen a peaceful struggle toward
liberation. It is only a matter of time until the day when the southern
people have their country back again, and the international community must
be well informed that the southern people will not back away from its
choice of liberation. This is what we in the Aden channel can feel through
our presence in the South.
(Al-Dulaymi) How do you assess the condition of the media inside Yemen?
(Al-Ja'fari) Media in Yemen is guided. There is no me dia wit h
professional, neutral standards. What happened to Al-Ayyam newspaper and
its publishers reveals the truth about media present there. The Sanaa
regime allures, and then intimidates to force them to not relay the truth
in the South. Whomever opposes that is doomed to prison, trial, or the
appropriation and closure of his newspaper. Day and night in the South, we
see newspapers close, websites blocked, and correspondents and journalists
still behind bars of the prisons of democracy echoed by the Sanaa regime.
That is why most media outlets operating in Yemen dare not relay the truth
as it occurs.
(Description of Source: Doha Al-Arab Online in Arabic -- Website of
independent, large-circulation pan-Arab daily with close ties to the
ruling family; sometimes critical of government policies; URL:
http://www.alarab.com.qa/)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright ho
lder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
91) Back to Top
Taiwan Opinion 11 Aug 10 - Taiwan -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:05:28 GMT
- According to an article in Chung-kuo Shih-pao by Li Yun-chieh, Open
University professor, while visiting Washington, MAC (Mainland Affairs
Council) Chairperson Lai Hsing-yuan on 4 August called on mainland China
to scrap the law concerning using force against Taiwan. However, scrapping
the anti-secession law would not be an easy thing for mainland China, the
article says. On the one hand, it is a national law passed by the NPC
(National People's Congress). On the other hand, Beijing would still have
to provide for the situation of the DPP regaining power. Beijing's stance
is clear. That is, economic an d trade negotiations remain the focus of
cross-Strait exchanges, but it does not mean that political and military
issues cannot be mentioned. In other words, although the condition for
resolving the political issue is unripe, efforts should still be made to
create the proper conditions. However, Taiwan is a democratic society, and
the government's power is restricted by elections. Because the five
municipality elections are to be held and the blue's electoral prospects
are not promising, it is unlikely for the Ma Ying-jeou regime to hold
political talks with mainland China. To resolve the cross-Strait political
deadlock, Beijing should seriously consider giving new meaning to "one
China," the article says. It should replace the "one China principle" with
"one Chinese nationality" (yi ge zhong hua min zu), and based on that
foundation, should squarely face the issue of the "ROC," the article says.
(Taipei Chung-Kuo Shih-Pao (Internet Ve rsion-WWW) in Chinese -- Internet
version of daily newspaper provides good coverage of political affairs,
generally takes a pro-unification stance. Root URL as of filing time:
http://www.chinatimes.com.tw/ http://www.chinatimes.com.tw ) "Tsai Ing-Wen
Fails To Stop Split"
- According to an article in Lien-ho Pao by a retired diplomat named Lu
Yi-cheng, Yang Chiu-hsing has formally announced that he is quitting the
DPP and running for Kaohsiung mayor as an independent candidate. In
Tainan, Hsu Tien-tsai may follow Yang's example, and the DPP is facing a
major split. On the eve of quitting the DPP, Yang Chiu-hsing finally told
the truth. He said that the rise of mainland China is a fact, and it is
imperative for the DPP to face cross-Strait interaction in a pragmatic
manner. The DPP should also understand that the two sides of the Taiwan
Strait are no longer in a hostile situation. Yang also expressed his
support for the ECFA (economic cooperation framew ork agreement). If he
was not determined to leave the party, he would not have used those words,
the article says. DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen did a poor job in handling
the situation, and since Yang has left the party, the DPP should have
refrained from saying bad things about Yang; neither should it expel Yang.
On the other hand, the KMT should also avoid trouble, the article says,
and all the things should be withheld until the end of the elections.
(Taipei Lien-ho Pao (Internet Version-WWW) in Chinese - Website of a
leading daily newspaper which consistently favors pan-blue politicians and
issues. Root URL as of filing time:
http://www.udnnews.com.tw/ http://www.udnnews.com.tw ) "Formula of
Interpreting One China Separately Does Not Work"
- According to an article in Tzu-yu Shih-pao by the former director of
Taiwan Hsin-sheng Pao, Lu Yi-ming, recently the tension between the United
States and China hiked, and the Korean Peninsula and the South Ch ina Sea
are the centers of the conflict. Beijing, in order to break out of
US-Japanese containment, is forcing Taiwan to remain neutral and to accept
the "one China principle." However, the United States also will not see
its strategic interests being infringed. Against that background, Ma
Ying-jeou's China-leaning stance will lead to an unstable situation, the
article says. Now, even the formula of "one China, separately interpreted
by each side of the Taiwan Strait" cannot work. For example, MAC
Chairperson Lai Hsing-yuan recently was forced to return to Taiwan ahead
of schedule because her call in the United State for China to scrap the
anti-succession law was deemed by Beijing a move with ulterior motives. At
an interim meeting of the KMT's 18th Plenary Session, Ma Ying-jeou omitted
the sensitive issue of the missile withdrawal in his report. Moreover, the
United States suspended its 2010 arms sale to Taiwan. All this has exposed
the fact that the so- called improved cross-Strait relationship that the
Ma regime is so proud of is actually nothing but self-dwarfing and
surrender, according to the article. (Taipei Tzu-yu Shih-pao -- Internet
version of widely read Taiwan daily which supports Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) position and often exhibits a pro-independence bias,
especially in its editorial and other opinion pieces. Root URL as of
filing time:
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/ http://www.libertytimes.com.tw )
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
92) Back to Top
U.S. Dismisses Reports North Korea Asked For Envoy on U.S. Citizen's
Release - Yonhap
Wednesday August 11, 2010 20:4 5:19 GMT
US citizen-NK detention
U.S. dismisses reports North Korea asked for envoy on U.S. citizen's
releaseBy Hwang Doo-hyongWASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- The United States
Wednesday dismissed reports that North Korea has asked Washington to send
an envoy to discuss the release of an American citizen held there for
illegal entry."I'm not aware of such a request," State Department
spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.Crowley was discussing Aijalon
Gomes, 30, of Boston, who was sentenced in May to eight years in a labor
and reeducation camp and fined about US$700,000 for illegal entry on Jan.
25.North Korea said last month that Gomes was hospitalized after an
attempted suicide, and some reports said he was on a hunger strike.Gomes,
who taught English in South Korea, is the fourth American held in the
North since early last year.He reportedly sympathized with another
American, Robert Park, 28, who was rele ased in February after crossing
the Chinese border on Christmas Day to draw international attention to
North Korea's poor human rights record.Two American journalists were set
free last August, when former U.S. President Bill Clinton visited
Pyongyang. The journalists were on a reporting tour covering North Korean
defectors when they were caught in March 2009.North Korea in June
threatened to increase punishment for Gomes under a wartime law, citing
what it called a U.S. campaign to condemn North Korea for the sinking of
the South Korean warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) that killed 46 sailors in the
Yellow Sea in March.The U.N. Security Council condemned the attack that
led to the sinking of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan), but did not directly blame
North Korea due to China's opposition.North Korea denies responsibility,
dismissing the outcome of the international probe that blamed a torpedo
fired by a North Korean mini-submarine.The U.S. has repeatedly urged the
North to release Gomes on humanitarian grounds.Crowley said last week that
Washington had directly contacted North Korea for the release of Gomes "on
multiple occasions," but ruled out sending an envoy for his release at
least for the time being, apparently due to the escalating tensions over
the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)'s sinking.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in
English -- Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
93) Back to Top
Tehran Commentary Argues West's Military Threat Against Iran 'Propaganda
Bluff'
Commentary by Hasan Roshvand: "Psychological Bluff Against Iran" - Javan
Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 15:53:55 GMT
Many people ask whether a military strike on Iran is certain and the West
has reached a stage where it has no other alternative than to use its last
trump card in this game, or is this yet another major bluff of the White
House authorities to compensate for their loss of honor to some extent.
Which incident has made the West so angry that it made such unacceptable
remarks? It knows that its reaction and reflection will result in a
serious situation for them.
First, last year the US and European governments and all the hegemonic
powers been hoping for a change in the Iranian situation. However, after
the magnificent election was held and the incidents that followed were
managed, they realized that they cannot compete with Iran. In order to
achieve their goals, they resorted to all the available tools like
information, media, and financial assistance for the sedition. However,
the outcome of this assistance and the blatant activities against the
internal affairs of Iran gained a negative response from the people's
behavior and show of national power on 9 Dey (30 December) and 22 Bahman
(11 February), as well as on other national and religious occasions. The
harsh statements of Musavi and Karrubi could not bring the "American
train" back on the "track" of the reformists against the Islamic
Revolution. The open statements of the West in support of the sedition
leaders also could not deviate the people from their sovereignty and
values.
Second, the West reduced all its soft and hard measures in dealing with
Iran after the election. After the defeat in the election, it launched the
wornout scenario of sanction, which has been used since the beginning of
the Islamic Revolution as a measure to put the Islamic Republic on the
back foot. They believed that the passing of successive resolutions and
increasing the co mpanies and officials on the list of sanctions would be
the most effective tools to contain and defeat Iran. They did not consider
the UN Security Council resolution sufficient, and thought that
complementing it with the resolutions of the US and the EU will certainly
prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the wornout scenario of
sanctions. They know very well that Iran has passed through such a phase
many times and, whatever problems it encounters, will not impede the
progress of Iran or compel it to retreat from demanding its rights.
Third, the last action of the West's propaganda machinery against Islamic
Iran was to beat the drum of war, and this was also through the regime
that has lost two wars in the region during the last two years. What
common sense will accept that the regime that has suffered great losses
against the Hizballah of Lebanon and HAMAS, and that also in a small
territory, can have the potential for a military clash with Iran? It is
natur al that the public opinion in the country and regional and other
countries also do not accept that the regime, whose weakness has been
exposed now, will dare to confront Iran, which through its belief has
changed the impossible into the possible. Therefore, the action of the
Congress should be taken as a major psychological and propaganda bluff.
The same applies to the lies of the "Zionist" regime, whose destruction
and collapse we are witnessing every day in the region.
However, why do the "Zionist" regime and the US authorities beat the war
drums against Iran? Certainly there are a few r easons for this, but the
most important reason can be explained as follows.
First, covering up the intelligence defeat of the Americans during past
few months, the arrest and punishment of Rigi, the American intelligence
scandal in the Shahram Amiri case, the publication of more than 100,000
documents on the Internet regarding the aggressive violation o f human
rights by the US and British troops in Afghanistan, and hundreds of failed
security and intelligence measures are the reasons that justify the use of
warmongering language by the West against Iran. The authorities in the
West, particularly the US and the "Zionist" regime, believe that, through
a military action against Iran, they will deviate public opinion from the
mess that they have created.
Second, pinning hopes on domestic seditious leaders who are still being
supported by the West and, if necessary, taking military action that can
help the seditionists reach their unrealistic objectives, is another
objective of this project. The remarks of the allies of the seditious
leaders and their think-tank in London, along with those of White House
authorities and the "Zionist" regime, and their utter joy at the
statements and actions of the White House to pressurize Iran, points to
this reality that the counterrevolutionary movement and fierc e enemies
abroad have links with some perverse streams internally. Therefore, the
lies of attacking Iran should be assessed accordingly.
(Description of Source: Tehran Javan Online in Persian -- website of
hardline conservative daily affiliated with the Islamic Revolution Guards
Corps (IRGC); www.javannewspaper.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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Article Discusses Report About Deposits of Minerals in Afghanistan
Article by Arif Ayub: Minerals in Afghanistan - The Nation Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:41:23 GMT
On June 17, 2010, the New York Times and the res t of the US media led
prominent stories on US geologists having discovered vast deposits of
iron, copper, gold, lithium and other minerals in Afghanistan worth an
estimated one trillion dollars. For good measure, the Afghan government
claimed that actually their resources were worth three trillion dollars.
While these reports are absolutely true, they are equally meaningless.
Firstly, the discoveries are not new and were first brought to
international attention by the Russian geologists in the 60's. Secondly,
the figure of one trillion dollar is the technological value of the
survey. More important is the financial feasibility report, particularly
the economic feasibility report, which also includes the environmental
impact.
In Kabul, I had seen the Russian reports in the Ministry of Mines which
covered almost all the discoveries being currently announced by the US
media including the petroleum and gas deposits in northern Afghanistan.
The Taliban Minister said with c onsiderable irony that the Afghan
government had been very concerned about the welfare of their future
generations and therefore had made no attempt to exploit these resources.
The Haji Gak iron deposits which are particularly mentioned in the reports
were discovered in the early 60's and in fact our Commerce Minister Ghulam
Farooque Khan had suggested that instead of the Karachi Steel Mill we
should consider the alternative of a Steel Mill at Kalabagh using Afghan
ore. However, there was difficulty in ensuring regular supplies given the
Afghan attitude towards Pakistan in those days, because of the hard line
policies of Daud Khan. It was a case of Pashtun adventurism winning over
Pashtun pragmatism. After 50 years, the situation has not changed much.
The only country bold enough to take the plunge to invest massively in
Afghanistan has been China. The China Metallurgical Group and Jiangxi
Copper Company won a bid in 2007 to develop the Aimak Copper Mine paying a
royalty of $400 million per year to the Afghan government, whose total
revenues currently are at one billion dollars. The Chinese are also
planning to put up a power plant in Logar to run the copper mine and also
build local road connections and transnational railways lines in an
investment that is expected to reach four billion dollars. According to
reports, the Aimak Mine alone is expected to produce 12 million tons of
copper out of Afghanistan's total estimated reserves of 60 million tons of
copper.
Details of the US Geological Survey conducted in 2007 are as follows:
Mineral Potential Value in current prices ($ Billion)
Iron 421
Copper 274
Niobium 81
Cobalt 51
Gold 25
Molybdenum 24
Rare Earth Elements 7
Asbestos 6
Silver 5
Potash 5
Aluminium 4
Graphite 1
Lapis Lazuli 1
Fluorite 1
Phosphorus 1
Led, Zinc, Mercury, Strontium 1
Sulphur, Talc , Magnetite, Kaolin 1
In their preliminary assessment of non-fuel mineral resources for
Afghanistan, the US Geological Survey estimated that 2.2 billion tons of
iron was available in the Haji Gak deposit alone with 69 percent iron. In
addition, there are also considerable deposits between 47 and 68 percent
iron, making it one of the largest iron deposits in Asia. So far, the
Indian companies are in the lead bidding for the mining rights including
Essar Minerals, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam and Ispat Industries. The Chinese
Metallurgical Group was also a bidder but pulled out after allegations
that it had won the Aymak copper contract by paying $30 million in bribes.
Besides these non-fuel deposits the Russian had discovered considerable
quantities of oil and gas in the area around Mazar-i-Sharif, some of which
is already being exploited, with small fertiliser factory. There are also
confirmed deposits of Naphtha in the Polekhumri region, while repor ts of
petroleum d eposits in the Kandhar and Helmand region.
Despite this immense geological wealth many of the deposits are in zones
dominated by the insurgency and have little or no infrastructure. In the
Afghan bureaucracy, corruption is high and government performance and rule
of law are weak. Afghanistan therefore has a long way to go before it can
take advantage of its mineral wealth. We had a similar experience in
Pakistan where we have been unable to utilise the Thar coal deposits or
the copper deposits at Rekodiq (which are comparable to those at Aimak).
The New York Times seems to have realised that it had been a victim of
media hype and within one week it accepted the conventional wisdom that
the minerals in Afghanistan required considerable investment for mining
and processing, as well as for infrastructure development in railways and
roads, which would be particularly expensive in the mountainous and
undeveloped regions of Afghanistan where these minerals are normal ly
found. Gold, silver, copper and other minerals are usually located in ore
that must be reached by tunnel, blasted out by the tons, carried to the
surface and ground to powder for processing. Digging the shafts and
building elevators, processing plants and infrastructure can cost several
billion dollars for a single mining operation. Economic recoverability
also requires that a resource cannot only be produced, but also exported
for less money than its sale value, in order to provide enough return on
investment to account for the associated risks of the investor. This
assumes that the US military would succeed in securing the lines and
supply lines and they would be in the country for the next 10 years in
order for the project to bear fruit. Electricity plants also need to be
built close to the sites since mining projects require enormous amount of
energy. In Afghanistan, despite the passage of 10 years, the US has still
not been able to provide the generators to make func tional the Kajkai
hydroelectric project on Helmand River. It seems unlikely therefore that
the new power projects could be established within the economic framework
of time relevant to the mining projects.
The writer is a former ambassador.
(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
95) Back to Top
Control Yuan Report Questions Legality Of 1949 Martial Laws
By Sofia Yeh &amp; Bear Lee - Central News Agency
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13: 14:49 GMT
Taipei, Aug. 11 (CNA) -- Members of Taiwan's highest watchdog body
questioned on Wednesday the legality of the martial laws proclaimed in
1949, calling into question rulings based on the laws that included jail
sentences and the confiscation of property.
Taiwan was under the rule of martial law for 38 years before it was lifted
on July 15, 1987.Liu Hsing-shan, one of three members of the Control Yuan
who completed an investigative report on martial law, said that the
Kuomintang-led Nationalist government proclaimed a series of martial laws
three times between 1948 and 1949. The last, declared on Nov.22, 1949,
specifically put the entire Taiwan area under martial law.The Nationalist
government moved to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war against
Chinese communists.The last group of martial laws put in place did not
include the signature of then acting President Lee Tsung-jen, who fled
directly from the main land to the United States before the Chinese
Communist Party took total control of China.Lee took over as acting
president of the Republic of China after Chiang Kai-shek stepped down as
head of state on Jan. 21, 1949, following a series of setbacks in battles
against Communist troops.Liu and Control Yuan members Huang Huang-hsiung
and Yeh Yao-peng spent one year completing the investigation after
receiving appeals from former Legislator Hsieh Tsung-min and others who
said they were wrongly jailed or had property confiscated."We are not sure
whether the martial laws were invalid, but we think they might have been
flawed, and the answer can only be given by the Constitutional Court," Liu
said."If the court deems they were illegal because (they did not include
the signature of the president) , then the legality of military court
rulings that jailed suspected 'Communist spies or traitors' and
confiscated their property might have to be reconsidered as a result,&qu
ot; he added.Liu however, ruled out the possibility of the Control Yuan
taking the initiative to ask for a constitutional interpretation on the
issue."It's up to those who suffered from the martial laws, or their
descendants, to decide whether to apply for a constitutional
interpretation," he said.Huang said that dealing with the issues would be
a severe challenge to the government as President Ma Ying-jeou has
stressed his commitment to the protection of human rights. Ma incorporated
a pair of United Nations covenants -- the International Covenant on Civil
Rights and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights -- into domestic law on May 14, 2009.Hsieh
lauded the move by the three Control Yuan members as "courageous" and
tantamount to "the first human footstep on the moon, as no one over the
past decades has dared to touch the highly sensitive martial laws issue."
Hsieh, who also served as a president ial adviser under former President
Chen Shui-bian, failed in his bid last year to appeal for a constitutional
interpretation on the legality of the martial laws."I will call on all the
sufferers of the martial laws to sue the grand judges who turned down my
last appeal, and then to ask again for a constitutional ruling on the
issue," he added.(Description of Source: Taipei Central News Agency in
English -- "Central News Agency (CNA)," Taiwan's major state-run press
agency; generally favors ruling administration in its coverage of domestic
and international affairs; URL: http://www.cna.com.tw)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
96) Back to Top
PA Official Calls for Commitment to Quartet Statement Before Direct
Negotiations
Report by Ali al-Salih in London and Kifah al-Zabun in Ramallah:
Abu-Rudaynah: We Suggested to the Americans a Commitment to the Quartet
Statement. He told Al-Sharq al-Awsat: We are waiting for an Israeli Reply
Within Days - Al-Sharq al-Awsat Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:17:31 GMT
(Description of Source: London Al-Sharq al-Awsat Online in Arabic --
Website of influential London-based pan-Arab Saudi daily; editorial line
reflects Saudi official stance. URL: http://www.asharqalawsat.com/)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Ecfa Benefits Touted At Cross-strait Economic Forum
By Hsieh Chun-wei, Kuo Mei-lan and Y.L. Kao - Central News Agency
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:58:40 GMT
Taipei, Aug. 11 (CNA) -- Taiwan's top economic planner and ruling
Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Lien Chan both said Wednesday that the
economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) Taiwan signed with China
last month will benefit both sides and breathe new life into industries on
both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) Chairwoman Christina
Liu said at a cross-strait economic forum that the ECFA is expected to
help improve Taiwan's economic structure and allow industries on both
sides to complement each other.Because Asian countries, most of which are
reliant on exports, were hit hard by the 2008-2009 financial crisis, they
should adjust their economic and in dustrial structures now that the
troubles are over, to avoid another financial meltdown, Liu said.She noted
that there is a clear trend that the industries Taiwan has prioritized for
development are almost the same as those to which China has given priority
for promotion. These industries include green energy, electric cars, green
architecture, medical and healthcare, culture, innovation and
education.Liu added, therefore, that the two sides should think about how
to cooperate in developing these industries and help the industries on
both sides to complement each other and create mutual benefits.Citing the
advantages each side has to offer, Liu said that in addition to its vast
market, China offers abundant opportunities at a time when it is making
great efforts in infrastructure development, while Taiwan has strong "soft
power." Taking as an example the Taiwanese businesses operating in China,
Liu said that RT-Mart International Ltd., a Taiwanese retail brand that
entered China in 1997, has become a famous chain in China by using
Taiwan's "soft power." With the warming relations between the two sides
and the allowing of Chinese investment in Taiwan, factors that hindered
the development of Taiwan's industries and hurt its people's livelihoods
in the past have been removed, according to Liu.She also said Taiwan is
working hard to solicit foreign investment and expressed hope that more
investors from China, the United States and Europe will invest in Taiwan
now that the ECFA has been signed.Lien for his part said Taiwan is
entering a "golden era" thanks to the ECFA signing because it is expected
to help bring numerous business opportunities and revitalize industries on
both sides of the strait.He said the ECFA will help reverse Taiwan's
economic slump over the past decade, allow the country to compete with
other countries in the world on an equal footing and enhance cross-strait
mutual trust and cooperation.On the b enefits the ECFA will bring for
Taiwan, Lien said it will help boost Taiwan's economy and exports, adding
that Taiwan will be in an even better position after it further completes
agreements with China on trade in products, trade in services and
investment guarantees.The KMT honorary chairman also said the ECFA will
not only be good for Taiwanese businesses seeking to expand their global
reach but will also help attract foreign investment to Taiwan, lay the
foundation for Taiwan to establish economic cooperation agreements with
its trade partners and even make Taiwan an Asia-Pacific economic and trade
hub.Lien said business opportunities are already emerging in the wake of
the ECFA signing. For example, tariff exemptions and preferential market
treatment for hundreds of products and services under the ECFA's "early
harvest" lists are expected to attract more overseas Taiwanese businesses
to re-invest in Taiwan, he said.Now that the ECFA has been signed, he
added, T aiwan should focus more on exploring China's domestic market, as
China is mapping out its 12th five-year economic plan, which means that
its domestic demand is expected to grow.(Description of Source: Taipei
Central News Agency in English -- "Central News Agency (CNA)," Taiwan's
major state-run press agency; generally favors ruling administration in
its coverage of domestic and international affairs; URL:
http://www.cna.com.tw)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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US Envoy to Pakistan Faces Tough Questions Regarding Afghan-Trade Transit
Treaty
Report by Kaswar Klasra: ATTA unacceptable in present form, traders tell
Patterson - The Nation Online
< div style="font-weight:normal">Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:36:10 GMT
ISLAMABAD - Ambassador of United States to Pakistan Anne W Patterson found
herself in hot water on Tuesday when she was asked critical questions with
regard to Pak-Afghanistan Transit Trade.
"What made the USA to push Pakistan to sign much controversial
'Pak-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement' which not only puts question
mark on national security of the Pakistan but also threatens thousands of
people associated with goods transport system in Pakistan", Ann Patterson
was asked when she came to address the officials and members of business
community of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Insiders told TheNation on condition of anonymity that the traders made it
crystal clear to Patterson that 'Pak-Afghanistan Transit Trade' in present
form was not acceptable to them as it could put the future of Pakistani
truckers at stake. Ho wever, they suggested if the goods transporters of
Pakistan were assigned a role to transfer goods from Wagah border to
Torkhum (Pak-Afghanistan border), from where the trucks of Afghanistan
could take them home, only then it could make some sense.
Ann Patterson is said to have ignored these questions and remained
tight-lipped, however instead she stressed that Pakistan needed to improve
its investment climate to lure the foreign investors. US was also
encouraging its international partners to see Pakistan as a good
investment destination, she added.
Anything that has a US imprint in Pakistan is surely in for trouble these
days, or at least has been for some time. Be it the Kerry-Lugar bill,
movement of vehicles belonging to US embassy/consulates, or the American
influenced 'Pak-Afghan transit Trade' everything is greeted with
suspicion, and surely credit goes to the Americans themselves.
Pakistan Anti-US feeling is growing high in Pakistan, and especial ly
since the first American boot in Afghanistan left its footprint in Oct of
2001 anger here has only grown.
Apart from other things, during the past couple of months there has been
seen an increasing number of incidents involving US embassy vehicles being
stopped, searched and detained, across Pakistan on account of possessing
illegal arms and ammunition.
Pakistan and the US have long been allies: both helped the Afghan nation
defeat the USSR, then turned the tables on the Taliban government in
Afghanistan. But throughout the years common people of Pakistan have had a
hate relationship with US policies towards their country.
For sure Pakistanis hate the Americans on some grounds. In a bid to
justify their hate towards Americans they are very right to argue that why
the US is opposing Pak-China Civil Nuclear deal when they had already
signed a Civil Nuclear deal with India.
Following issues of Kerry-Lugar bill and movement of vehicles belonging to
US embassy/consulates without proper documents, Pakistanis, now, have
started questioning controversial Pak-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement
as they are under the impression that the US pressurised Pakistan to sign
it.
Ambassador Patterson told the business community that that US was more
interested to invest in Pakistan's energy sector and strengthen its
economic base as without sustainable energy availability, it would not be
possible for Pakistan to improve its industrial productivity and achieve
better economic growth. She said US was cooperating with Pakistan in
setting up small power plants in wind, solar and other sectors.
US provided helicopters and financial and material support to Pakistan as
a part of initial $ 10 million aid as the cost to Pakistan's economy is
mounting due to flood damages. She said US was also considering additional
aid request from Pakistan and had already provided $ 245 million to it for
construction of dams and other water facilities.
US Ambassador said that Pakistan had lowest tax-to-GDP ratio in the region
and desired enough improvement in tax collection as no Government could
run its affairs without proper tax payment from its citizens. She said US
was also cooperating with Pakistan in bringing tax reforms.
According to a press note issued from media section of Islamabad Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of
Commerce &amp; Industry lauded the US Government for providing Pakistan
helicopters, boats, temporary bridges and some other supplies to cope with
the massive floods.
(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inqui ries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Index Shows ROK-DPRK Unification Prospects Dim '2 Years in a Row'
Report by Shin Hae-in: "Unification prospects dim 2 years in a row" - The
Korea Herald Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:49:44 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul The Korea Herald Online in English --
Website of the generally pro-government English-language daily The Korea
Herald; URL: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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ROK Editorial Says ROK Military Sending 'Wrong' Message to DPRK
Editorial: "The Military Is Sending The Wrong Message to N.Korea" - Chosun
Ilbo Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:16:20 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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People's Daily Online Columnist Says Pentagon's Gunboat Policy Irks China
By People's Daily Online columnist Li Hong: "Pentagon's gunboat policy" -
Renmin Ribao
Wednesday August 11, 2010 09:08:49 GMT
Eight months ago, President Obama stated to the world that "the rise of a
strong, prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of
nations." But, the warmth of relationship is hardly tangible today.Though
seriously in debt, the US' military never runs out of money, and its
smoking gunboat never decelerates and lowers its juggernaut nose. The
jumbo carrier, USS George Washington, after staging a high-profile
exercise with South Korea in the Sea of Japan and hosted a group of
Vietnamese generals in the South China Sea, is said to present another war
game with South Korea in the Yellow Sea, from where China's capita l city
is within F-18s' radius.Beijing is certainly unhappy. A Chinese Foreign
Ministry statement said the Beijing had repeatedly "expressed our clear
and firm position" on any maneuvers in the Yellow Sea. And, a Chinese
general warned that U.S. plans to bring George Washington to China's
doorstep may provoke "economic retaliation". Some online commentators have
recommended Beijing take low-profile moves to express China's displeasure,
including a temporary halt to buy U.S. debts. Others speak of a
tit-for-tat.This country must not overreact. After all, the Pentagon is
just showing off, or at most, projecting its military power and
predominance, although Uncle Sam has become financially precarious in its
foundation each passing day. It is odd that American economists have
warned some of their cities are lighting less of their street lamps at
night (to save dollars), but their state-of-the-art war ships are cruising
day and night in three of the four ocea ns. In China, we will call it
"bai-ja-zi" (prodigal).Global affairs watchers have pointed out that
behind the latest bellicose military postures, Washington clearly has a
geopolitical agenda. Despite President Obama's earlier promise that "the
United States does not seek to contain China", an arc of American "allies"
circling China is what his administration tries to form and shadow this
country. No wonder at last month's southeastern Asia security meeting in
Hanoi, State Secretary Clinton extended her hand to former arch foe,
Vietnam.US' intention to plant seeds of distrust between China and its
neighbors has swayed some. For instance, not long ago, an aging politician
from ASEAN claimed that if China's rising military and economic power were
not "balanced" by America, Uncle Sam may risk losing its global
leadership. See? Quite a few in the region, clawing to the old order with
the U.S. at the central, are just shocked and awed by Chi na's rapid
economic growth.Vietnam joined the U.S. in harsh attacks on China on the
settlement of South China Sea claims at the Hanoi meeting, where Clinton
suggested an international mechanism to solve the issue, for the first
time, hinting at direct U.S. involvement. Beijing is not alone in opposing
it. Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo has told Washington to
keep out:"It's ASEAN and China. Can I make myself clear? It's ASEAN and
China. Is that clear enough?" he told reporters.It will be a long time, I
guess, before the U.S. does not pose its noses around the globe. Some are
to hail the day's coming, while others will loath it.But, China, with a
history of 5,000 years and a culture of benevolence, could be resilient
and tolerant in responding to the current U.S. military aggressiveness. It
could just shrug off the ill-will from the Pentagon, and concentrate on
China's own path of economic expansion, military modernization, and
aligning with all the frie ndly countries worldwide.
(The articles in this column represent the author's views only. They do
not represent opinions of People's Daily or People's Daily Online)
(Description of Source: Beijing People's Daily Online in English --
Internet-only English version of Renmin Ribao, the daily newspaper of the
CPC Central Committee. URL: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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Taiwan Political Issues 10 August 2010 - Taiwan -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:27:29 GMT
-- According to this Tzu-yu Shih-pao report by Li Hsin-fang, as the
legislature is to hold a second extraordinary session to review the ECFA,
Yao Chia-wen, head of the Taiwan Nation Alliance, and a number of heads of
Taiwan localization groups announced on 9 August that they would hold
sit-in protests outside the Legislative Yuan on 16 and 17 August to voice
their opposition to the ECFA. According to the report, they said the
Legislative Yuan has become a rubber stamp of approval on the Presidential
Office and the Executive Yuan's proposals. The report claims that the
localization groups also supported holding a referendum on the ECFA.
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/11/today-fo2.htm
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/11/today-fo2.htm "Citizen
Congress Watch (CCW) Plans To Hold 'Blindfold' Rally on 14 August"
-- According to this Tzu-yu Shih-pao report by Ch'en Hui-p'ing, the CCW is
to launch a "blindfold" protest march on 14 August to show their
discontent over the legislature's wa y of handling the ECFA. CCW Executive
Director Ho Tsung-hsun said on 9 August that in an extra legislative
session held in July the legislature spent less than six minutes to decide
to send the ECFA to a second reading. Ho said the CCW wanted to hold the
rally before the second extra session begins to remind the legislators
that they should do their job. According to the report, Ho hoped that one
thousand protesters would show up at the rally on 14 August.
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/11/today-fo3.htm
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2010/new/aug/11/today-fo3.htm "Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) Says President Ma Not Sincere About Signing Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) With United States"
-- According to this Lien-ho Pao report by Kuo An-chia, the DPP caucus
held a press conference on 10 August and raised doubt about the Ma
government's pledge to push forward the signing of a FTA with the United
States. DPP legislator Wong Chin-chu said th at in a Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' (MOFA) policy performance report dated 17 April 2009, the MOFA
has suspended action plans on promoting the signing of a FTA with the
United States. However, according to Wong, the MOFA stated in a 2010
budget plan that it would vigorously push forward a Taiwan-US FTA.
http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/BREAKINGNEWS1/5778646.shtml
http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/BREAKINGNEWS1/5778646.shtml "Li Yafei Says To
Promote Further Cross-Strait Cooperation"
-- According to this Chung-yang T'ung-hsun-she (Central News Agency, CNA)
report by Pien Chin-feng at the Taoyuan International Airport, Li Yafei,
vice chairman and secretary general of China's Association for Relations
Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), arrived in Taiwan on 10 August to attend
a cross-Strait Peace and Prosperity Forum. The report claims that Li and
his group are expected to stay in Taiwan for three days. According to the
report, Li said that after the two sides ha ve signed the ECFA
cross-Strait economic cooperation and exchanges have been in a good
situation. Li stressed that basing on this the two sides should discuss
how to promote further cooperation. According to the report, Li is in
Taiwan to attend the forum and to visit the Strait Exchange Foundation
(SEF).
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008100272&amp;pType1=PD&amp;pType0=aIPL&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
http://www.cna.com.tw/ShowNews/Detail.aspx?pNewsID=201008100272&amp;pType1=PD&amp;pType0=aIPL&amp;pTypeSel=&amp;pPNo=1
"Chao Chun-shan Says Two Sides Not Ready To Engage in Military, Political
Talks"
-- According to this Chung-kuo Shih-pao report by Wang Ming-yi, Mainland
Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Lai Shin-yuan recently urged the mainland
side to give up its policies and laws that allow the use of force against
Taiwan, and a media report claims that Lai's move has caused the two sides
to harbor su spicions. Commenting on the controversy, Chao Chun-shan,
chairman of the Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace Studies (FAPS), said on 9
August that the two sides did not change the negotiation process of
"handling economic issues first and political issues later." He said
cross-Strait negotiations are not affected by the controversy. According
to the report, Chao and his delegation went to China in July and have met
with Beijing's Taiwan affairs officials. Chao said he did not believe
Beijing would misjudge the situation and make an unnecessary political
reaction. The report claims that Chao also stressed that the mainland side
knew quite well the Ma government's policies and its political situation,
and in the next two years the two sides probably will not be ready to
engage in talks on delicate political issues and military confidence
building measures.
http://news.chinatimes.com/mainland/0,5245,50504463x112010081000239,00.html
http://news.chinatimes.com/mainl
and/0,5245,50504463x112010081000239,00.html
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103) Back to Top
International Security Assistant Force 'Confirms' Killing of 3 NATO
Soldiers
Unattributed report: "NATO Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan" Text
disseminated as received without OSC editorial intervention - Bakhtar News
Agency
Monday July 12, 2010 11:44:36 GMT
(Description of Source: Kabul Bakhtarnews Agency in English --
Afghanistan's first official news agency; URL:
http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af)
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source cited. Per mission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
104) Back to Top
Portuguese Commentary Regrets Obama's Decision To Try Guantanamo
'Child-Soldier'
Commentary by Sofia Lorena: "Stays in His Curriculum Vitae" - Publico
Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:36:52 GMT
(Description of Source: Lisbon Publico Online in Portuguese --
Lisbon-based, center-left, national daily newspaper; privately owned by
SONAE group (led by Jardim Goncalves); readership: 77,000; URL:
http://jornal.publico.pt/)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US D ept. of
Commerce.
105) Back to Top
Correa Touts Economic Advances in Ecuador, Warns of 'Destabilization
Attempts'
Unattributed report: "Correa Asks for New Majority." For assistance with
multimedia elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Hoy.com.ec
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:45:59 GMT
Speaking before the full Assembly to an audience of more than 1,200, the
chief of state divided his address into two parts. In the first, he
displayed his ability as a former professor in underscoring his
administration's economic and social achievements.
In the second, he talked about opposition to his administration, saying
that it is embodied in "an indigenous leadership that tells lies,"
"certain corrupt newspapers," and a legis lative opposition that is
attempting to "block at all costs" administration bills.
He began by denouncing a group of indigenous leaders, without mentioning
names, accusing them of lying to the country and employing violence to
demand their rights. He reiterated the charge that their activities
against the government are financed by nongovernmental organizations and
accused them of being separatists for wanting "to make the Amazon region
independent of the rest of Ecuador."
Correa also mentioned the plebiscite in the canton of La Concordia, in the
province of Esmeraldas, saying that his is the first administration that
"is confronting the problem instead of avoiding it." He said that those
who are "against asking the people about their destiny" may be subject to
a recall effort.
Then, charging that one segment of the press was "corrupt," he showed a
five-minute video clip with footage of well-known newspap er and
television reporters.
He then warned the legislative opposition that he could at any time
dissolve it, underscoring: "...we will never be afraid to put our posts at
the disposal of the citizenry."
He said that he is trying to accelerate the process of social change in
the country through "new rules on investment." To this end, he announced
that he would be submitting two emergency economic bills: the production
and the public finances codes.
In conclusion he emphasized the need to forge alliances, saying that the
immediate challenge is "to build a new political majority."
The president's speech was applauded by most of the audience, but one
group of legislators, mainly from the MPD (Democratic People's Movement)
only applauded Vice President Lenin Moreno after his address.
Moreno Cites Accomplishments: Improving Life for the Handicapped and a
Better Mood
Vice President Lenin Moreno focused his ann ual report on the work done by
the Manuela Espejo Mission, which serves the disabled in the country's
poorest areas.
In his 24-minute address he emphasized that the Citizen Revolution "is
being carried out without weapons and in all spheres of life." He said
that his efforts have been social rather than political, adding that "for
the first time, a vice president has set aside the often anonymous work of
managing enormous amounts of classified expenditures, shadowy public
funds, desperate privatizations, and on more than one occasion,
conspiracies and destabilization efforts." He said that the vice
presidency now enhances governability on the basis of loyalty. Among his
accomplishments he singled out the release of children from jails and the
restoration of a positive and friendly mood in the country.
Unasur To Promote Y-ITT Plan in Mexico
One week after signing the trust agreement for the Yasuni-ITT Initiative
with the UNDP, Presiden t Rafael Correa reported yesterday that Unasur
(Union of South American Nations) would submit the project at the climate
change summit that will be held in Cancun, Mexico this November.
He mentioned, however, that he has a "Plan B" in the event that his
request for international contributions to prevent the development of some
846 million barrels of oil in the ITT block in Yasuni National Park is
unsuccessful. This is one of the most important ecological reserves in
Ecuador and, in fact, the world.
The Correa administration is asking for $3.6 billion a year in
international contributions to avoid oil development there, which means
forgoing some $7 billion a year in revenues. The administration is thus
telling the world that it wants to help ease the impact of climate change,
as leaving that oil in the ground would mean that millions of tons of CO2,
a severe contaminant, would not be emitted. "We cannot be the dupes on the
planet," Correa sai d yesterday, adding that if there is no response from
the international community, he will develop this oil "responsibly and
without dramatics."
Administration's Accomplishments
"Goodbye to Neoliberalism and the Washington Consensus"
"We are leaving neoliberalism behind. They are no longer dictating
economic policy to us on the basis of the Washington Consensus, in which
no Latin American was involved, to our shame," said President Correa,
emphasizing that his administration is giving priority to human beings
over capital. He reported that from 2006, a year before he took office, to
last year, public investment increased from 6% to 13% of GDP, also noting
the 0.36% growth rate in 2009 in spite of the impact from declining
remittances, oil prices, and exports. He went on to mention the $300
million in savings on interest payments thanks to the renegotiation of the
Global 2012 and 2013 bonds, a renegotiation that he described as
successful. The president said that his administration is appropriating
all of these revenues for public works, roadways, education, and health
care, in contrast to his predecessors, who prioritized debt repayment.
"The Reality Is Different from the Message"
Jaime Carrera, director of the Fiscal Policy Monitor, said that reality
unfortunately stands in contrast to Rafael Correa's message. He added that
growth prospects are poor, that progress has not been made in
competitiveness, that the economy is at a standstill, and that inflation
is higher than in 2006.
"Social Investment Already Stands at $15 Billion"
President Rafael Correa said that he has invested around $15 billion in
education and health care. He acknowledged, however, that total social
spending in Ecuador still amounts to only 8.3% of gross domestic product,
a low level for a Latin American country. As for health-care policy, the
chief executive underscored the c itizen revolution's flagship
accomplishment of having lowered infant malnutrition, which currently
stands at 26% nationwide, with an urban rate of 19% and a rural rate of
35%. Correa added that he was concerned, however, because half of the
people suffering from this disease are found in indigenous communities.
"This disease is the result of poverty and lack of information," he said.
He noted, however, that the anemia rate in the country is down around 12
percentage points during his 3 1/2 years in office.
Still Worrisome Numbers
In the view of the administrative dean of the University of Azuay, Carlos
Cordero, the country's growth and unemployment rates are still worrisome
because they continue to worsen. He believes that this situation is
largely the result of a bad investment climate in Ecuador.
President Seeks Support for Large-Scale Mining
Correa made special mention of the 362 mining concessions that have been
handed out since 2007 and denied that industrial or large-scale mining is
adversely affecting water sources, as indigenous, social, and
environmental circles critical of this activity claim. The chief of state
lashed out against these circles in his speech yesterday. "Who are we
kidding? Our ancestral peoples were and are silver- and goldsmiths... We
are inventing myths in order to avoid the country's future," he said,
adding that mining would create some 7,000 direct and 25,000 indirect
jobs. "We are sensible humanists and environmentalists, not environmental
fundamentalists. Mother Earth is important to us, but what is most
important are human beings, and we need to give them prosperity," he
emphasized. He said that no one has done more than his administration has
to combat poverty, which besets mainly the indigenous population. He
admitted, however, that Ecuador remains one of the most inequitable
countries in the region.
PRE Supports Mining Industry
PRE (Ecu adoran Roldosist Party) Assembly member Dalo Bucaram described
the administration's track record in the oil and mining industries as
positive. "We are moving forward as part of a revolution, and let's hope
that the opposition does not continue to block the democratic path and
that the conspirators inside the AP (Alliance for the Country) itself do
not thwart the president's work," he said.
Warns Bankers and Again Mentions Conspiracy
Rafael Correa devoted at least 30 minutes of his speech yesterday to
reminding the owners of financial institutions that the deadline
established by the Constitution for them to sell off mass media companies
and others not related to financial activities is this October.
Correa emphasized that it is a "momentous and irreversible step" in his
citizen revolution to prevent financial groups from controlling the mass
media. He added, however, that the restriction extends to any other
activity unrelated to bank ing. He called on the people and the Assembly
to make sure that no one sneaks out of this obligation. The chief of state
then reaffirmed once again that there are "attempts at destabilization by
those who do not accept the changes that the country is undergoing."
"This is a political message." This is how former Economy Minister
Mauricio Pozo sees the president's warnings to and charges against the
financial sector. "This sends a political message, the upshot of an
ideological taboo for the current president," Pozo said, adding that
entrepreneurs must be free to invest.
(Description of Source:Quito Hoy.com.ec in Spanish -- Digital version of
unaffiliated daily owned by Diario Hoy multimedia company, third in
readership in Ecuador; URL: http://www.hoy.com.ec)Attachments:Correa.jpg
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Next 52 Format Talks on Transdniestria to Be Held in September - Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:12:45 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The next meeting of the participants in the
negotiations on settling the conflict over Transdniestria in the 5+2
format will take place in September.Russian State Secretary and Deputy
Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin had a telephone conversation with the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Chairman-in-Office's
Special Representative for Protracted Conflicts Bolat Nurgaliyev on
Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Karasin and
Nurgaliyev "exchanged opinions on the Transdniestria settlement
negotiating process, pro spects for resuming official meetings in the 5+2
format (Moldova and Transdniestria as the parties of the conflict, Russia
and Ukraine as the guarantor countries, the OSCE as a mediator, and the
European Union and the U.S. as observers), and modalities of the next
meeting between the participants in this format planned for September this
year," it said.The talks in the 5+2 format were suspended in February
2006, but consultations in this format have been continued.va mj(Our
editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-NJYZCBAA
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107) Back to Top
Korea Ranks 4th in R&amp;D Investment Among OECD Nations - Chosun Il bo
Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:21:11 GMT
(CHOSUN ILBO) - Korea's investment in research and development ranked
fourth largest in 2008 among member nations of the OECD for a fourth year
in a row.
According to statistics released Tuesday by the Ministry of Knowledge
Economy, the country spent W34.5 trillion (US$1=W1,182) on R&amp;D in
2008, or 3.37 percent of its GDP.Around 75 percent of Korea's R&amp;D
investment came from the private sector, higher than in China (72.3
percent), the U.S. (71.9 percent), and Germany (69.9 percent).More than 70
percent of the money from the private sector was spent by big businesses,
indicating that conglomerates are spearheading the country's R&amp;D
investment.The government's R&amp;D budget has grown 10.5 percent annually
since 2002, outpacing the overall national budget growth rate of 6.5
percent.Meanwhile, the largest chu nk of the government's R&amp;D funds
this year, W4.41 trillion, was earmarked for the Ministry of Knowledge
Economy, followed by W4.39 trillion for the Ministry of Education, Science
and Technology, and W1.80 trillion for the Defense Acquisition Program
Administration.(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English
-- English website carrying English summaries and full translations of
vernacular hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo,
which is conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
108) Back to Top
KT to Lease Netwo rk to MVNOs - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:36:57 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - KT, the country's largest fixed-line operator and
second-largest mobile carrier, announced yesterday that it will be lending
out its networks to three "mobile virtual network operators," shortly
after that type of telecommunications firm was legalized.
An MVNO is a company that does not have a cellular network of its own, but
still provides mobile phone services, such as voice minutes, text
messaging and data traffic, by renting bandwidth from telecom
operators.Korea's National Assembly passed a bill early this year to allow
MVNOs to enter the telecom market in efforts to lower barriers to entry
and increase competition in the country's highly saturated telecom market,
which has so far been dominated by three companies: SK Telecom, KT and LG
U+, in order of market share.With the move, KT becomes the first of the
three to deal with an MVNO. KT will lend its networks to three companies:
Entaz, which will offer a mobile portal service with games, cartoons and
electronic books, Free Telecom and Evergreen Mobile, which will offer
prepaid voice call and data usage services targeting temporary customers
such as foreign visitors."We will help these companies offer
differentiated service and find untapped, niche markets so that together
we can create a mobile ecosystem," said Gwak Bong-gun, director of KT's
Fast Incubation Center, in charge of its MVNO business initiative.KT's
announcement comes before any deal from SK Telecom, which the Korea
Communications Commission had said it would force to lend network space to
MVNOs as the market leader.Observers say KT sees the MVNO business model
as a chance to form an ecosystem, a buzzword in the IT industry that
refers to a business platform that includes network hardware, operating
system, software, ven dors and services."There are still niche markets
like foreigners, so we believe MVNOs can discover untapped customers in
the telecom market," said Yang Hyeon-mi, director of KT's Personal
Customer Strategic Team.Market observers say the MVNO business model could
revitalize Korea's telecom market and lower mobile phone service fees. As
MVNOs don't need to build their own networks, they can offer mobile phone
services at lower costs.Countries like the United States and Germany are
known to have a large number of MVNOs. In Britain, some 25 MVNOs enjoy
some 10 percent of mobile phone users as subscribers.(Description of
Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English -- Website of
English-language daily which provides English-language summaries and
full-texts of items published by the major center-right daily JoongAng
Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed as an insert to the Seoul
edition of the International Herald Tribune; URL:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
109) Back to Top
Italian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Italian press on 11 August. To
request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735;
or fax (703) 613-5735. - Italy -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:33:19 GMT
1. Vatican daily L'Osservatore Romano takes its cue from weather-related
disasters in Asia, Africa, East Europe to fault world's governments over
'delays' in addressing climate change. (p 2; 150 words; processing)
2. Northern League Secretary Bossi discusses likelihood of early election.
(p 8; 650 words; processing)
3. FLI set to question government's foreign policy, preferential ties with
Libyan leader Al-Qadhafi, Russian PM Putin, which 'are giving our European
and US allies much cause for concern.' (p 10; 450 words; processing
250-word excerpt)
4. Guido Olimpio cites 'sources' on allegation top Turkish, Iranian
intelligencers recently met to discuss arms for Hizballah. (p 17; 350
words; processing)
5. Northern League backs Veneto Governor Zaia's stance opposing GMOs. (p
23; 250 words; processing)
6. Former Palermo Mayor Ciancimino's son, wife 'confirms' PM Berlusconi
had dealings with cosa Nostra. (p 25; 750 words; processing)
7. Finmeccanica consultant Cola denies money laundering charge. (p 27; 100
words; processing)
Milan Il Giornale in Italian -- right-of-center daily owned by the
Berlusconi family
1. Mario Cervi backs Italy's ongoing involvement in ISAF mission. ('La
Stanza di Mario Cervi' co lumn; p 35; 500 words; processing)
Milan Il Sole-24 Ore in Italian -- leading financial and economic daily
1. Finmeccanica lands major Panama security system contract. (p 30; 350
words; processing)
Negative selection: Rome La Repubblica ; Turin La Stampa ;
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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Germany Slammed for Buying Body Scanners From US Cluster Bomb Manufacturer
Report by "dgs": "Dodgy Deals: Germany Slammed for 'Supporting' Cluster
Bomb Manufacturer" - Spiegel Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:42:21 GMT
(Description of Source: Ha mburg Spiegel Online in English --
English-language news website funded by the Spiegel group which funds Der
Spiegel weekly and the Spiegel television magazine; URL:
http://www.spiegel.de)Attachments:image-119725-panoV9free-bhvc.jpg
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111) Back to Top
U.S. Does Not Plan to Open New Military Base in Kyrgyzstan - Ambassador -
Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:24:02 GMT
BISHKEK. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Washington does not plan to construct a new
military base in Kyrgyzstan or in any other country in Central Asia, but
it suggests building a center to train Kyrgyz dr ug control and
counter-terrorism units, U.S. Ambassador to Bishkek Tatiana Gfoeller said
at a news conference on Wednesday.The idea of creating such a training
center has already been discussed at talks with Kyrgyzstan's interim
government, Gfoeller said.Earlier, a spokesman for the Kyrgyz interim
government denied Western media reports claiming that the U.S. planned to
open a military base in the town of Osh in the south of the republic.Manas
International Airport outside Bishkek currently houses a U.S.-controlled
transit center used to support the counter-terrorism operation in
Afghanistan.tm mj(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-CXWZCBAA
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
112) Back to Top< /a>
Kyrgyzstan political parties sign OSCE-supported Code of Conduct -
UzReport.com
Wednesday August 11, 2010 09:23:07 GMT
- Kyrgyzstan political parties sign OSCE-supported Code of Conduct
11.08.2010 12:43:01 Representatives of 26 political parties in Kyrgyzstan
signed on 11 August an OSCE-supported Code of Conduct at a ceremony in
Bishkek.The Code of Conduct outlines principles guiding the parties'
behaviour during the campaign ahead of the 10 October election. It was
elaborated with support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with
the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the
International Republican Institute, the United States Agency for
International Development and the OSCE-supported non-governmental
organization "Parliament of Political Parties"."Kyrgyzstan's political
parties des erve a lot of credit for reaching agreement on this Code,"
said Lilian Darii, the acting head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "It
demonstrates a constructive and responsible approach to democratic
politics, and proves that compromise and consensus are possible even in
the heat of intense political competition. I trust that this Code will
help turn the upcoming election into a factor for stability in
Kyrgyzstan."Erkingul Imankojoeva, the head of the Presidential
Administration's department for public relations, said: "The signing of
this code of ethics today will help guarantee a transparent election
process, based on democratic principles. We are certain that by adhering
to the Code of Conduct, the parties will demonstrate to the nation of
Kyrgyzstan and the international community that in our country one can
achieve one's goals with respect for the law."Roza Aknazarova, the head of
"Parliament of Political Parties", called on all the signat ories "to
respect its norms and rules, which will contribute to stabilization in the
country. We hope that the parties will be able to make the election free
and fair, and to help preserve peace and harmony for the future of our
children and the unity of Kyrgyzstan."Other parties in Kyrgyzstan may
still sign up to the Code. The text has been published by key media
outlets in Kyrgyzstan and is available in the Kyrgyz, Russian and English
languages on the OSCE Centre's website.The OSCE Centre supported the
negotiation process and signing ceremony as part of its assistance to the
country ahead of the election.(Description of Source: Tashkent
UzReport.com in English -- Business information portal; URL:
http://uzreport.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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113) Back to Top
Lebanese Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Lebanese press on 11 August.
To request additional processing, please call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735. - Lebanon -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 17:55:15 GMT
"Damascus praises the facts; Tehran says it is a purely Lebanese issue;
Israel says the accusations are ridiculous"
"The Special Tribunal has an eye on Nasrallah's documents; a Lebanese
investigation committee is confusing and not influential" Al-Akhbar
"Tel Aviv avoids a debate with Nasrallah by saying he is evading the
stalemate he is in" Al-Safir
"The Future Movement transfers the accusation against Israel to Bellemare;
Mirza opens the case of collaborator Ghassa n al-Jad"
"The international investigation is put to the test by the information
(brought up by Nasrallah); the trend is to postpone the indictment"
Al-Diyar
"The president to Al-Diyar: No one but Israel has an interest in driving
the situation to explode"
"Birri: If the United States stops arming the Lebanese Army, we will bring
weapons from underground" Al-Anwar
"The Future Movement bloc calls for referring Nasrallah's documents to the
Special Tribunal" Al-Liwa
"Hizballah throws Nasrallah's file to the government" Coverage in details
1. Beirut Al-Nahar (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic (Independent,
moderate, centrist, and Christian; URL:
http://www.annahar.com.lb/ http://www.annahar.com.lb
a. Front-page report cites Special Tribunal spokesperson Fatimah al-Isawi
responding to a question by Al-Nahar about Hizballah Secretary General
Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's revelations: & quot;All I can do is reiterate
what the prosecutor's office has already said, i.e. that all trustworthy
evidence is being examined." An official source told Al-Nahar that
"Lebanon cannot interfere in the tribunal, which is the only one
commissioned by the UN Security Council resolution to look into the 2005
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri and subsequent
assassinations." On the political level, the same source said that "a
Lebanese investigation committee would sow confusion in the tribunal's
operations without affecting it on the purely legal level." Ministerial
sources predicted that the forthcoming session of the Council of Ministers
will examine two key issues: first, the initiative aiming to provide
weapons to the Lebanese Army, and; second, the facts presented by
Nasrallah accusing Israel in the assassination of former Prime Minister
Al-Hariri. (1,200 words)
b. Article by Nabil Bu-Munsif saying that the war of assas sinations in
Lebanon established the equation of "indictable conviction" with which
each party sums up its overall vision of the domestic crisis. For five
years, the 14 March group kept looking for an important question: Why do
they not believe us when all the proof we have verifies the political
accusation we made? The 14 March group had a lot of proof to bring an
indictment. The writer says that Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah succeeded in a
month and a half in cancelling the first indictment reached by the 8 March
group, i.e. accusing fundamentalist groups of the assassination, and
establishing a new indictment against Israel. He did not need to make much
effort to convince his allies of that. (500 words)
c. Article by Rajih al-Khuri headlined: "America Is Pushing Lebanon to the
Iranian Lap," asking: "How long will some sides in the United States
continue to lead Congress like a blind cow? How long will the subsequent
administrations in the White Ho use remain a toy in the hands of the
Zionist lobby, and lured into adopting stupid policies that harm the
American interests in the Middle East?" According to the writer, these
questions are raised among Lebanese circles who are following up on the
Israeli campaign in Congress to prevent the armament of the Lebanese Army.
The writer says that representative Eric Cantor called for punishing the
Lebanese Army, ignoring the 7,000 Israeli violations of Resolution 1701.
According to the writer, this is shameful logic that emerged in Congress
amid the silence of Obama's administration. The alternative is pushing
Lebanon to fall into the lap of the Iranian armament offers. (800 words)
2. Beirut Al-Akhbar Online in Arabic -- Website of Al-Akhbar, a political
daily espousing Arab nationalist views, pro-resistance, pro-Syria; URL:
http://www.al-akhbar.com/ www.al-akhbar.com
a. Report by Hasan Ullayq on the Israeli collaborators and the
shortcomings of the Intelligen ce Bureau, saying that, in 2006, Hizballah
handed over to the Intelligence Bureau information about Ghassan al-Jad.
But the Intelligence Bureau did not arrest him. In May 2009, the Lebanese
Army Intelligence revealed that Al-Jad collaborates with Israel. But
Al-Jad escaped to France and the Lebanese Army could not arrest him. The
writer says that Hizballah gave the Intelligence Bureau information on
five Israeli collaborators in 2006, but the bureau ignored them. The
writer says that Al-Jad belongs to the executive group of collaborators,
as he was tasked with executive missions. The writer says that Defense
Minister Ilyas al-Murr asked the Lebanese Army Intelligence not to arrest
Al-Jad before additional information becomes available, but he escaped at
this time and did not come back. As for collaborator Adib al-Alam, the
writer says that it was revealed for the Intelligence Bureau that he was
present in Sin al-Fil near the site of the assassination of Deputy Antoine
Ghanim when the assassination took place. When asked about the
coincidence, he said that he was driving his wife to a beauty salon in the
area. His detained wife said the same, so the investigations stopped at
this end. The writer says that this is a strange coincidence, as this
collaborator was tasked by Israel with monitoring Jubayl's coastline
because it wanted to evacuate one of its officers, two years before Ghanim
was assassinated. (1,200 words)
b. Article by Ibrahim al-Amin saying that after the recent address of
Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah, the 14 March group ignored the facts he relayed,
and refused any serious discussion that leads to the truth. Just like
Israel, they considered Nasrallah's words as ridiculous. Israel is afraid
that Nasrallah's proof would lead to investigations with it, while the 14
March group is afraid that his proof would uncover the forgery practiced
by this group and lead to an indictment that does not accuse the
resistance. (1,100 words)
c. Article by Muhammad Badir on Israel's reaction to the facts revealed by
Hizballah Secretary General Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah in his recent press
conference. The writer says that Israel and the 14 March group tried to
undermine the facts Nasrallah relayed. Israel's reaction was restricted to
a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry describing Nasrallah's
accusations as lies and ridiculous. The writer cites articles and
commentaries from the Israeli media commenting on Nasrallah's conference.
(1,000 words)
d. Article by Abd-al-Kafi al-Samad on the reactions to Hizballah Secretary
General Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's press conference. The writer cites a
Future Movement source saying that "the press conference was devoid of any
real substance," adding that "I am sad because Nasrallah did not reach any
result. We expected him to provide clear-cut evidence, but he did
nothing." Asked why the Future Movement does not wish or accept the fact
that Israel ass assinated Al-Hariri, he says: "Because Israel did not
assassinate Rafiq al-Hariri, and because, after Nasrallah's address, I am
sure that Hizballah was involved in the assassination." (700 words) 3.
Beirut Al-Safir Online in Arabic -- Website of Al-Safir, independent and
leftist, espousing Arab nationalist views; URL:
http://www.assafir.com/ www.assafir.com
a. Front-page report saying that the domestic cacophony dealing lightly
and maliciously with Hizballah Secretary General Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's
statements did not manage to change the new course taken by the
accusations, especially since some positions are based on unbending
stubbornness. Judicial and legal sources asserted to Al-Safir that
Nasrallah's statements are of the kind that cannot be overlooked or
marginalized, and that the international investigation commission has to
take them into consideration and look into them. State Prosecutor Sa'id
Mirza told Al-Safir that the investigation comm ission is, in principle,
bound to follow up on the indicators and elements of proof provided by
Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah. Mirza said that efforts are ongoing to gather
information about Israeli collaborator Ghassan al-Jad, adding that this
might take some time. (1,300 words)
b. Article by Sati Nur-al-Din titled: "Any Country But Not the United
States," saying that, in Beirut, there is unjustified concern over the
growing campaign in Congress on the Lebanese Army, a campaign aimed at
stopping the US support for the army under the pretext that it falls under
Hizballah's influence. The writer says that the campaign is not only a
competition among Congress members to win the votes of the Jewish
Americans. Rather, it is more like an American endeavor to impose new
conditions on the aid dedicated to the Lebanese Army. The writer says that
the Al-Udaysah clashes were an Israeli ambush to prove that the behavior
of the Lebanese Army is unreliable. The writer says that today Congress
and Israel want to put out a list of instructions as to the role of the
Lebanese Army, its agenda, and deployment, in a way that goes in line with
the additional 100 million dollars. The writer concludes by saying that we
have to replace the US aid with aid from any country in the world, but not
the United States. (500 words)
c. Article by Denise Atallah Haddad on the 14 March group's reaction to
Hizballah Secretary General Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's press conference. The
writer cites sources from the Future Movement saying that the conference
was positive, as Nasrallah made sure to maintain calm and avoid
escalation. But the source adds that the facts revealed by Nasrallah were
not new, as we already know that Israel continues to conduct surveillance
activities in Lebanon, and that we could not see how this is related to
the assassination of Al-Hariri. Future Movement sources say it is not
their role to respond to Nasrallah, as "we are not concerne d with
acquitting Israel. What concerns us is the truth and justice." For his
part, Lebanese Forces Deputy Antoine Zahra says that "if the sayyid
expects any Lebanese citizen to try to acquit Israel, he will be
disappointed. We expected a clear-cut condemnation from him, but he only
accused Israel based on analysis." (1,000 words)
d. Article by Nasir al-Sayigh titled: "Was the Sayyid Convincing?" The
writer says that the sayyid was not convincing, because the proof he
provided on Israel's involvement in the crime of the assassination of
Al-Hariri was not convincing for a Lebanese group that did not want to be
convinced. On the contrary, the sayyid was convincing, since the proof
will be dealt with by a certain Lebanese group as decisive and final. This
is because the Lebanese have different convictions. The writer says that
the proof, although important, does not ascend to the level of concrete
evidence. But Nasrallah provided new substance fo r a new investigation.
(800 words) 4. Beirut Al-Diyar Online in Arabic -- Website of Al-Diyar,
pro-Syria political daily; URL
http://www.addiyaronline.com/ http://www.addiyaronline.com
Report saying that President Michel Sulayman asserted to Al-Diyar that he
is confident the hardships currently endured by Lebanon because of the
conflict over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will not lead, as some
fear, to the deterioration of the situation in the country. Sulayman said:
"The recent statements regarding a worsening of tension and crises are
merely prenatal pain." The president said that "no one but Israel has an
interest in driving the situation to explode." Commenting on some people's
calls on the government to withdraw Lebanese judges from the Special
Tribunal and stop providing funding for it, Sulayman said that defiance
and tense rhetoric will not lead to any acceptable solution; rather, calm
and reasonable behavior are the appropriate wa y to do it. According to
available information, Speaker Birri will later on express his stance on
the tribunal, culminating in an important position to be expressed during
the commemoration of Imam Musa al-Sadr's disappearance on 31August. (800
words) 5. Beirut Al-Anwar Online in Arabic -- Website of Al-Anwar,
moderate, centrist, and independent daily; URL:
http://www.alanwar.com/ www.alanwar.com
Article by Rafiq Khuri on Hizballah Secretary General Sayyid Hasan
Nasrallah's press conference, saying that the evidence and facts provided
by Nasrallah against Israel open a door that the International
Investigation Committee kept closed. But no one knows whether or not the
committee will take Nasrallah's information into account. Moreover, the
writer adds, the facts given by Nasrallah are accompanied with a political
analysis based on a theory that contradicts the theory on which the
international investigation is based. The writer says that it is not easy
to convin ce everyone regarding what Nasrallah said, and it is not easy to
cancel the Special Tribunal. But it is clear that Nasrallah scored an
important goal in the war of the image, and that what he provided reveals
that Hizballah has a first-class intelligence-security machine. (500
words) 6. Beirut Al-Liwa Online in Arabic --Website of Al-Liwa, a
mainstream Sunni political daily;URL:http://www.aliwaa.com.lb
Report says that three telecommunications experts from the office of
General Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare started their secret mission in
following up on the investigations with the suspects who work in the
telecommunications sector on charges of collaborating with Israel. The
experts want to make sure whether or not these suspects have fiddled with
the data and phone calls pertaining to the investigations. (400 words)
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Former President Fox Advocates Legalization of Drugs
Report by Horacio Jimenez: "Calderon and Fox at Odds Over Legalization of
Drugs" - EL UNIVERSAL.com.mx
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:46:54 GMT
He assured that in his administration "there existed balances that today
are broken in a fight without limits for drug trafficking markets and
routes, for control of these markets that now exist and were not there
before."
Fox said that "today we are working for the United States, and while they
do not do their job, in Mexico the Army's image is deteriorating and the
number of deaths is growing.
"Also, there is the incredible disinterest and idleness of the United
States in this area; we have put ourselves to work for them, to be
suffering here the deaths and the crimes, the cartels though they don't do
their job in limiting their markets and reducing the transfer of arms and
bullets and reducing money laundering," Fox said in a radio interview with
journalist Carlos Loret de Mola.
In yesterday's edition, El Universal published a proposal made by former
President Vicente Fox to legalize the production, trading, and
distribution of drugs and to tax them at high levels.
"I am not proposing negotiations or anything else like it, I am proposing
a renewed vision," he said.
"The violence will be reduced in its intensity and an open market will be
achieved, a legal market of management, distribution, and sale of drugs,
of course under well-established rules and order, as was done with
cigarettes or as has been done with alcohol, and in this manner we will
depoliticize the issue and attack it at the roots. Prohibition did not
work at all."
When the reporter asked the former president why he did not do it, Fox
said, "We were not in the emergency that we are now. I did not feel that
it was time."
Last March businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego said he proposed legalizing
drugs to both President Felipe Calderon and Vicente Fox, at the time, and
they both rejected such a plan to avoid antagonizing the US Government.
During the interview, Loret de Mola asked Fox if it was true that he did
not broach the issue of legalization so as not to disturb the United
States. Fox responded: "I believe that we have to take the risk, as they
are sitting in the most comfortable chair." Critical Use of Armed Forces
Former President Fox criticized the use of the Armed Forces in the fight
against crime."We do not agree. I've never been for the use of the Mexican
Army for police work. It is neither ready for that, nor does it corresp
ond to its constitutional responsibility. The image of the Mexican Army is
deteriorating more and more every day and it is being exposed to more and
more human rights violations.
"They should return to their barracks as soon as possible. This work needs
to be met from within the police force. We must urge and advance toward
the creation of a single police force quickly."
Yesterday Fox also defended his proposal on the social networks. In
response to his readers after the publication of his article: "Drug
Addiction, Organized Crime, and Safety: Time for Reflection and
Proposals", on his Centro Fox blog, the former Mexican president pointed
out that to legalize trade in narcotic drugs "is to bring order and to
recognize the reality," and is by no means "to attest that drugs are not
terribly harmful." Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each person to
decide whether or not to use.
(Description of Source: Mexico Ci ty EL UNIVERSAL.com.mx in Spanish --
Website of influential centrist daily; URL http://www.eluniversal.com.mx)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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US Sanctions 'Hurting' ROK's Exports to Iran
Unattributed article: "U.S. Sanctions Hurting Korea's Exports to Iran" -
Chosun Ilbo Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 03:51:29 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Egyptian-Palestinian summit to be held in Cairo on 12 August - MENA Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:57:07 GMT
Text of report by Egyptian state-run news agency MENA websiteCairo, 11
August: President Husni Mubarak will hold a bilateral summit in Cairo on
Thursday (12 August) with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas to discuss
the latest developments in the Palestinian arena and the peace process.A
diplomatic source at the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo said the Palestinian
leader will post Mubarak on the outcome of his talks in Ramallah on
Tuesday with US Peace Envoy George Mitchell to push forward the Middle
East peace process.The two leaders will also review efforts to launch
direct negotiations with the Israeli side and the Palestinian negotiations
file.(Description of Source: Cairo MENA Online in English -- Government
news agency; URL: http://www.mena.org.eg)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Arab League waiting for US response on direct talks conditions - official
- MENA Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:29:01 GMT
Text of report by Egyptian state-run news agency MENA websiteCairo, 11
August: The Arab League is waiting for a US response on the conditions set
by the Arab Peace Initiative committee for starting Palestinian-Israeli
direct negotiations, Arab League (AL) Assistant Secretary General Muhammad
Subayh said Wednesday (11 August).Holding direct negotiations without a
timetable and with ongoing settlement activities is just for public
relations, he told reporters.The Arab League backs the stand of
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas calling for having guidelines governing
direct talks, including a timetable, AL Assistant Secretary General
Mohamed Subayh said.This was the content of the message which the Arab
Peace Initiative committee sent to US President Barack Obama who is so
much enthusiastic for holding direct talks, he added.The Israeli response
to such message is well-known; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
wants just to speak about peace while proceeding with wa r practices in
Gaza and East Jerusalem in addition to Lebanon, he said.Subayh said the
ball now is in the US' court. Asked if Israeli violations of Lebanon meant
to wriggle out of the peace process, Subayh said this is the modus
operandi of Israel when any US official visits the region to push forward
the peace process.(Description of Source: Cairo MENA Online in English --
Government news agency; URL: http://www.mena.org.eg)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Mexico Political Issues 11 Aug 10 - Mexico -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:36:54 GMT
-- Mexico City El Univ ersal reports that President Felipe Calderon
declared during the fourth session of the Dialogue for Security that if
the fight against organized crime had been launched four or five years
earlier, Mexico would be in a better situation today. Calderon's remarks
came after former President Vicente Fox declared that violence levels were
lower during his administration, and proposed the legalization of drug
use, production, distribution, and sales. (Mexico City EL UNIVERSAL.com.mx
in Spanish -- Website of influential centrist daily; URL
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx http://www.eluniversal.com.mx ) (OSC is
translating this article as LAP20100811016003 Mexico: Calderon Hints Fox
Failed To Act Against Drug Trafficking) Calderon Confident of Victory
Against Crime, Warns Violence To Continue
-- Mexico City Reforma reports that President Felipe Calderon warned that
even though victory would be achieved in the fight against organized
crime, it would take some time for the violence that affected Mexico to
disappear. (Mexico City REFORMA.com in Spanish -- Website of major
center-right daily owned by Grupo Reforma; URL:
http://www.reforma.com/ http://www.reforma.com/ ) (OSC is translating this
article as LAP20100811016004 Mexico: Calderon Warns Violence To Continue)
PRI, PRD Leaders Criticize Political Use of Security Issues
-- Mexico City El Universal reports that the national leaders of the PRI
(Institutional Revolutionary Party) and the PRD (Party of the Democratic
Revolution) criticized what they described as a political, electoral use
of security issues, as well as political espionage by the government's
intelligence bodies. Furthermore, the party leaders denied President
Felipe Calderon's accusation that Mexico's political parties had failed to
do their part in the fight for security. Interior Secretary Argues Against
'Petty' Interests Preventing Progress, Security
-- Mexico City Reforma reports that during the signat ure of a cooperation
agreement between the Interior Secretariat (Segob) and the Chamber of
Deputies, Interior Secretary Francisco Blake lamented the persistence of
"petty" attitudes and "selfish interests" which prevented Mexico's
progress and security. "Living with greater security, order, respect, and
harmony should be one of our great objectives as Mexicans, and we will
only achieve this with a determined commitment that sets the general
wellbeing ahead of any petty individual or group gains," Blake declared.
The Interior secretary added that "the insistence on imposing their
position by those who represent selfish interests has not led to anything
positive for our country (...)." PRI Deputy Felipe Solis Acero lamented
the tone of Blake's remarks and declared that they were not conducive to
political dialogue or agreements between the government and Mexico's
opposition parties. Legislators Call for Investigation of Corruption in
PF, Not Punishment for Protesting Agents
-- Mexico City La Jornada reports that PT (Labor Party) Senator Ricardo
Monreal Avila, coordinator of his party's Senate benches, defended the
need for a complete investigation of the Federal Police (PF), after a
number of agents in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, protested against the
alleged corruption of their commanding officers. Monreal added that
"rather than punishing or disciplining the agents who took part in that
protest, the authorities should conduct an in-depth investigation."
Meanwhile, PAN (National Action Party) Senate coordinator Gustavo Madero
declared that the accusations launched by the PF agents against their
superiors were already being investigated. (Mexico City La Jornada Online
in Spanish -- Website of major left-leaning daily, critical of PAN an d
PRI administrations; URL:
http://www.jornada.unam.mx http://www.jornada.unam.mx ) Editorials &amp;
Commentary: Centrist Daily Sees PAN as Loser o f Spat Between Calderon,
Fox
-- An editorial in Mexico City El Universal declares that during the
Vicente Fox administration, "the dismantling of the Mexican State's
institutions" and the increasing power of organized crime gathered pace,
and it argues that President Felipe Calderon has a point when he complains
of the situation that he inherited from his predecessor in this area.
Nevertheless, the editorial argues that with Fox expressing increasingly
vocal criticism of his successor's security strategy, the party to which
they both belong -- the PAN -- stands to lose, with the PRI sure to
exploit these differences between the current and former presidents.
Commentator Sees Political Agreements as Possible Outcome of Dialogue on
Security
-- A commentary by Jorge Fernandez Menendez in Mexico City Excelsior
affirms that few substantial changes are possible to the current strategy
in the fight against organized crime, and he argues that the best possibl
e outcome of President Felipe Calderon's Dialogue for Security with
political and social leaders will be political agreements, which would
allow a more effective implementation of the current strategy. As an
example, Fernandez Menendez declares that the proposed unification of
police forces will only be possible through political agreements, which
will allow the authorities to override the opposition of municipal
governments to this measure. The commentator goes on to defend the need
for "absolute pragmatism" to reach any agreements in this area. (Mexico
City EXonline in Spanish -- Website of major right-of-center daily
Excelsior owned by Grupo Imagen; URL
http://www.exonline.com.mx http://www.exonline.com.mx ) Commentator Sees
US Factors as Flaws of Mexico's Security Strategy
-- A commentary by Jose Antonio Crespo in Mexico City Excelsior argues
that "one of the most serious errors of (the Mexican Government's) current
strategy against drug traf ficking cartels has been to base its possible
success (...) on variables that are outside of our government's control
(...)." Crespo affirms that while there are many measures that Mexico can
take -- including cleaning up its police forces, tackling corruption among
its public officials, improving its customs system, etc. -- there is
nothing that the country can do to reduce demand for drugs in the United
States, to impose stricter gun laws in that country, or to act against the
cartels operating north of the border. Crespo affirms that the United
States has "powerful political and social reasons" which prevent it from
taking effective action in these areas, and he argues that "if the success
of our strategy depends (on US action), then let us declare it a failure."
The following media were scanned and no file-worthy items were noted:
(Mexico City Milenio.com in Spanish -- Website of independent, centrist
daily owned by Grupo Editorial Milenio; URL:
http://www.milenio.com/ http://www.milenio.com/ )
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Cosmetics Sales Soar on 'sample Marketing' - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:10:04 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - As more wealthy Koreans travel overseas, common sense
might predict a fall in department store sales of cosmetics as duty-free
shops cut into the market. Yet just the opposite is taking place, with
cosmetics booths within department stores showing double-digit on-year
growth.
Shinsegae Department Store saw the fastest rise in cosmetics sales, at
15.9 percent on-year, followed by Lotte and Hyundai at 14.9 and 10.2
percent, respectively.Industry experts credit the results the large
numbers of product samples given out to customers.The study conducted by
the JoongAng Ilbo and the cosmetics buyer at Hyundai Department Store
determined the top six best-selling imported cosmetics products, and the
number of free samples given out on average with purchase. The results
were quite surprising. When a customer bought a 98,000 won ($83) set of
Lancome Genifique Yeux Eye Concentrate, five samples worth 92,000 won were
provided. The price at duty-free shops was found to be $64 on average,
with no samples. A Biotherm UV Supra D-Tox set, sold at department stores
for 48,000 won, came with free samples worth 38,000 won, while the same
set without samples cost $36 at duty-free.The generous giveaways are even
attracting Chinese tourists."An increasing number of Chinese visitors are
purchasing cosmetics at department stores after comparing the value with
duty-free shops," said Moon Tae-hoon, a cosmetics representative at
Hyundai's Apgujeong branch. "Chinese visitors are very happy since samples
are not provided in China even if many products are purchased."Samples are
also given out in other regions such as the United States, Europe and Hong
Kong, but only in very small amounts. "Sample marketing" on this scale
seems to be unique to Korea.(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily
Online in English -- Website of English-language daily which provides
English-language summaries and full-texts of items published by the major
center-right daily JoongAng Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed
as an insert to the Seoul edition of the International Herald Tribune;
URL: http://joongangdaily.joins.com)
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Hyundai Sonata Earns Top Rating From US Consumer Reports - Chosun Ilbo
Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 01:21:11 GMT
(CHOSUN ILBO) - Hyundai Motor's redesigned Sonata was selected as a
top-rated family sedan by Consumer Reports in its New Car Preview 2011
published on Monday. The car appeared on the cover of the U.S. magazine, a
first for a Korean auto.
"The Sonata has agile handling, a steady ride, good accommodations,
easy-to-use controls, and impressive performance and fuel economy for the
class," the independent consumer watchdog said.Hyundai was also named
among "the top five most considered brands by new car shoppers" in a
survey by Kelley Blue Book, pushing aside Nissan to join the list for the
first time. Ford topped the list, followed by Toyota, Chevrolet and
Honda.The survey by KBB, one of the most trusted auto buying guides in the
U.S., was conducted between April and June on 3,000 consumers.(Description
of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English website carrying
English summaries and full translations of vernacular hard copy items of
the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is conservative in
editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic, anti-North Korea, and
generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Pan-Arab Writer: Arguments Against Ground Zero Mosque Stinks of Propagan
da
Commentary by Husam Itani: "The Mosque at Ground Zero" - Al-Hayah Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 11:06:42 GMT
(Description of Source: London Al-Hayah Online in English -- Website of
influential Saudi-owned London pan-Arab daily. URL:
http://www.daralhayat.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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122) Back to Top
Palestinian Press 10 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Palestinian press on 10 Aug.
To request additional processing, or for assistance with multimedia
elements, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735; or fax (703)
613-5735. - West Bank &amp; Gaza Strip -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:39:42 GMT
Leadership Expects Mitchell Today To Bring US Administration's Reply to
Letter of Arab Follow-up Committee
Jerusalem: Israeli Bulldozers Starts Demolition of Hundreds of Graves in
Ma'man Allah Cemetery
Nasrallah Shows 'Evidence' and "Not Final Evidence Accusing Israel of
Being Involved in Al-Hariri's Assassination
Netanyahu Defends Assault on Freedom Flotilla and Alleges That Israel Has
Moved According to International Law
Front page of Ramallah Al-Hayah al-Jadidah (Electronic Edition) in Arabic
-- PA-owned daily, supportive of the presidency; URL:
http://www.alhayat-j.com, on 10 August:
Abbas: We Are Waiting for US Response During Meeting With Mitchell Today
Netanyahu Declares Before "Terkel Committee" that He Bears Full
Responsibility for Attack on Freedom Flotil la
Abbas Lays Wreath of Flowers on Tomb of Poet Darwish in Memory of His
Death
UN's Ki-moon Denies Presence of Secret Deal in Probe Into Freedom Flotilla
Front page of Jerusalem Al-Quds in Arabic -- independent, largest
circulation, pro-Fatah daily; URL: http://www.alquds.com, on 10 August:
President Abu-Mazin (Mahmud Abbas): We Are Subject to Unprecedented
Pressures, We Will Not Dissolve PA, But It Could Collapse, if Cutting Aid
Continues
Cabinet Denounces Ongoing Israeli Violations in Jerusalem and West Bank;
Company's Commitment to Fair Collection System Is Key To Solve Gaza's
Power Crisis
Popular Move To Confront Foreign Pressures Seeking To Impose Direct
Negotiations According to Israeli Conditions
Domestic Affairs Al-Quds
on page 18 runs a 700-word editorial under the title "The Significance of
Medical Development." Al-Quds hails Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's
inauguration of the Palestine Medica l Complex in Ramallah. Al-Quds views
such step "as an extremely important step," seeking to alleviate the
suffering of the Palestinian citizens." Al-Quds also praises "the generous
donation" extended by Bahrain and Kuwait for supporting a number of
complex hospitals. Al-Quds goes on to say that this medical complex "is a
source of pride among the achievements of the Palestinian Authority (PA),
and the efforts of construction, rebuilding, and developing in all domains
should continue, despite all challenges and Israeli practices." Al-Quds
publishes another title "The Documents Shown by Sayyid Nasrallah." In this
context, Al-Quds discusses the news conference held by Hizballah Secretary
General Hasan Nasrallah on 9 August in which Nasrallah revealed documents
pertaining to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq
al-Hariri in 2005, and Israeli role in the assassination. Al-Quds calls
for forming an international co mmittee which should be required to
"question Israel over its potential role in the crime" of Al-Hariri's
assassination, so that "suspicions should not still surround Lebanese or
Syrian parties."
In his 1,500-word daily column "The Pulse of Life," under the title "HAMAS
and Concocted Crisis," on page 22 of Al-Hayah al-Jadidah, Adil
Abd-al-Rahman attacks the HAMAS Movement for concocting the issue of power
outage in the Gaza Strip, through inciting against the PA and accusing it
of being behind the crisis. Abd-al-Rahman opines that "the electricity
crisis in the Gaza Strip is a concocted and exposed crisis before
Palestinian citizen in the Gaza Strip, because he has realized after his
bitter experience with HAMAS that the HAMAS leadership is spreading lies
and falsehoods against the national legitimacy, in general, and the
government of Dr Salam Fayyad, in particular." Abd-al-Rahman adds that
HAMAS, through this " concocted crisis," is seeking to "create the gap"
between Palestinian citizens and PA, "avoid implementing the requirements
of national reconciliation through exaggerating PA mistakes," and entrench
"the option of the Taliban-style Emirate" in the Strip. Abd-al-Rahman says
further that "the time has come for HAMAS to stop its games and move
forward focusing its attentions on achieving the national reconciliation,
because it is the natural reaction at the serious crimes and violations of
the Israeli occupation." In closing, Abd-al-Rahman urges the political
forces and civil society institutions in Gaza, Palestinian territories,
and Diaspora to "press the HAMAS Movement" to work on achieving the
national reconciliation."
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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NT IS, US Dept. of
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123) Back to Top
Malaysia Chinese Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected reports carried in Malaysia's Chinese press
on 11 August; to request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer
Center at (800) 205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Malaysia -- OSC
Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:07:47 GMT
2. Unattributed report entitled "Malaysian Bar Council Wants Royal
Commission To Probe Into Loophole in Prosecution Mechanism Over Teoh's
Inquest." The Malaysian Bar Council has again appealed for the calling of
a Royal Commission of Enquiry to probe into the death of political aide
Teoh Beng Hock after the Attorney General Office produced new evidence
toward the end of Teoh's Inquest. In a statement, Bar Council President
Ragunath said that the commission should also look into the shortcomings
of Malaysia's criminal justice system. (p 11; 400 words) Petaling Jaya
Nanyang Siang Pau in Chinese -- One of Malaysia's oldest Chinese dailies.
Provides wide coverage of both domestic and international news. Per Audit
Bureau of Circulations data, Nanyang Siang Pau has a circulation of
114,049. It was acquired by timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King in 2007. Prior
to 2007 it was owned by the ruling coalition component party Malaysian
Chinese Association (MCA).
3. Article by Zhang Jin Wei entitled "Consequence of US, China, and
Vietnam Involvement in South China Sea Sovereignty Dispute." The writer, a
China affair commentator, opines that it is dangerous move for the United
States trying to use Vietnam to contain China. (p A9; 800 words) Kuala
Lumpur Oriental Daily News in Chinese -- One of the few remaining Chinese
dailies not under control of timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King. Provides
independent views on do mestic political issues and has emerged as one of
the strongest critics of the government. Per Audit Bureau of Circulations
data, Oriental Daily News has a circulation of 102,802
4. Unattributed report entitled "US Investor Earle M. Jorgensen To Setup
Steel Distribution Center in Johor's Iskandar Development Region." In a
simple launch of its Steel Distribution Center in Johor, Earle M.
Jorgensen regional manager for Asia said that his company planned to use
Malaysia as its base to explore potential Asian market particularly the
market in China and Vietnam. (p A13; 400 words)
5. Report by Lam Chi Fong entitled "Late Announcement by Attorney General
Office of Teoh's Personal Note in Teoh's Inquest Triggers Explosive
Controversial in Malaysia's Judiciary, Enforcement Operations." This
report discusses the late announcement of Teoh's "note" by the Attorney
General Office for the Teoh's Inquest and its impact on the Malaysian
society, judiciary and enforcement operations. (p A4; 1,500 words) China
Press in Chinese -- Carries general domestic and political news. Along
with sister publication Nanyang Siang Pau, it came under timber tycoon
Tiong Hiew King's media empire in 2007. Per Audit Bureau of Circulations
data, China Press has a circulation of 231,539.Bureau of Circulations
data, Oriental Daily News has a circulation of 102,802.
6. Unattributed report entitled "Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) To Go for
Direct Party Election for First Time." At a press meeting, PKR Deputy
President Syed Husin said for the first time, the PKR will hold direct
election. Approximately 400,000 PKR members will pick their national
leaders through an eight-day staggered election in October and November.
(p A6; 400 words) Penang Kwong Wah Jit Poh in Chinese -- Oldest Chinese
daily in Malaysia. Focuses mainly on news from northern peninsular
Malaysia. Along with Oriental Daily News it is one of the few Chinese dail
ies not under timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King's control. Per Audit Bureau of
Circulations data, Kwong Wah Jit Poh has a circulation of 71,350.
Negative Selection Petaling Jaya Malaysiakini in Chinese --
Chinese-language version of the leading alternative online news portal
owned by Mkini Dotcom. Offers independent news and views, focusing mainly
on political issues. Often features exclusive interviews with leading
opposition and government figures. Exact readership unknown; URL:
http://www.malaysiakini.com
Negative Selection
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Chinese Air Force in Night Drill Over West Sea - Chosun Ilbo Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:45:47 GMT
(CHOSUN ILBO) - Chinese fighter jets took part in an unprecedented night
flight drill recently over the West Sea preparing for a U.S. air raid.
Quoting the Chinese People's Liberation Army Daily, the South China
Morning Post on Wednesday reported fighter jets from the North China Sea
Fleet took off from the Liaodong and Shandong peninsulas for a night drill
over Bohai Gulf.The drill lasted about two hours in the early morning.
"Data collected from night flying will help our army to cope with combined
operations on modern battlefields," the PLA Daily commented."The air
division is equipped with new generation fighter jets," the daily added
without specifying the number and model.The Hong Kong daily quoted Ni
Lexiong, a Shanghai-based security expert and retired general, as saying
the drill "had also been part of an escalating response to joint U.
S.-South Korea military drills in the Yellow (West) Sea." He said the
Chinese military wants to send a message "that it is also capable of
dealing with night attacks."(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo
Online in English -- English website carrying English summaries and full
translations of vernacular hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily
Chosun Ilbo, which is conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly
nationalistic, anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL:
http://english.chosun.com)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
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Tehran Calls Countries That Support UN Security Council Sanctions 'Losers'
Article by Vladislav Vorobyev: "Tehran Finds 'Losers'" (Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Online) - Rossiyskaya Gazeta Online
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:50:58 GMT
The reason for the diplomatic "shoot-out" was the statement by IAEA
representative Jill Tudor, who announced: "Tehran has violated the UN
Security Council resolution." In her words, on 17 July in the Iranian
center in Natanz, international experts registered the operation of two
cascades comprised of 164 linked centrifuges. Yet, as Tudor recalled, the
Security Council had instructed Iran to suspend activity associated with
enrichment.
"There is nothing new about the fact that certain circles are trying to
raise a fuss over this question," the official representative of the
Iranian MFA, Ramin Mehmanparast, did everything he could to calm the
situation. "In February of this year, the president (Mahmud Ahmadinejad -
Ro ssiyskaya Gazeta) announced that, since Iran had not been given fuel
for the research reactor in Iran, we ourselves will begin work on
enriching uranium to 20 percent in Natanz. There is nothing to add to
this."
But the attempt to calm the situation clearly did not work. Evidently that
is why Mehmanparast found something to add. Furthermore, he did so by
going outside the scope of diplomatic protocol. We do not know whether he
coordinated his further statements with the country's supreme leadership,
or whether he had verbalized what he had previously heard many times at
meetings with participation of Iran's political leaders. In any case, what
journalists heard next did not remain unnoticed in many world capitals.
And first and foremost in Moscow and Beijing.
According to announcements of world information agencies, Mehmanparast
called the countries that support the sanctions "losers," emphasizing that
the states that are participating in t his "political game" will deprive
themselves of access to the Iranian market. That is, at the official MFA
level in Tehran, they consider "losers" to be, among others, Russia and
China, which also supported the Security Council sanctions. In other
words, having driven itself into a diplomatic corner, now Tehran is trying
to find others to blame for its problems. And it has thought of nothing
better to do than to accuse of all sins specifically those states that had
tried to defend the national interests of Iran to the last.
The response to the statement of the clearly irate Iranian MFA came from
Washington. "There is no justification for Iran's continuing to enrich
uranium to a level of 20 percent," said the official US State Department
representative, Philip Crowley. "Iran really is not fulfilling its
international obligations... Iran must take a more constructive position
and cooperate with the IAEA. And this time, the term "must" already sounds
precise not only in English, but in all of the other languages of the UN
Security Council members.
(Description of Source: Moscow Rossiyskaya Gazeta Online in Russian --
Website of government daily newspaper; URL: http://rg.ru/)
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ROK Editorial Comments on Status of ROK-US FTA
Editorial: "Politics Behind Trade -- US could suffer big loss, going after
small gain" - The Korea Times Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:16:39 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul The Korea Times Online in English -- Web
site of The Korea Times, an independent and moderate English-language
daily published by its sister daily Hanguk Ilbo from which it often draws
articles and translates into English for publication; URL:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
127) Back to Top
Hyundai Heavy Industries To Build World's Largest Photovoltaic Plant
Report by Jong-wook Park and Su-hyun Song: "Hyundai Heavy Ind. to Build
World's Largest Photovoltaic Plant" - MK English News Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 08:33:16 GMT
Through the contract, the HHI has become the first Korean busin ess to
make inroads into the U.S. photovoltaic market. The HHI will build two
photovoltaic plants in Arizona, a 150-megawatt plant in Dragoon and
another 25-megawatt plant in Cochise, totaling 175 megawatts in capacity.
The Dragoon plant, in particular, is going to be the largest single
photovoltaic plant in the world.The construction project in the state of
Arizona is part of a large photovoltaic project that is run by Matinee
Energy to build photovoltaic plants in 15 regions of California and
Arizona, achieving a total capacity of 900 megawatts by late 2012. The
U.S. government provides $ 1.3 billion in subsidy and extra tax reliefs,
and JP Morgan Securities Inc. will secure finance for the entire
project.The HHI, which began receiving orders actively from March, won the
contract beating top-rate photovoltaic companies from Germany and China.
The company, as an Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contractor,
will be in charge of everything from engineering, installa tion to trial
operation of the new plants. Solar modules, the essential incorporating
part of a photovoltaic plant will be produced and delivered in the HHI
photovoltaic plant located in Eumsung, North Chungcheong province.
(Description of Source: Seoul MK English News Online in English -- Website
of the English subsite of the leading economic daily Maeil Kyo'ngje (Daily
Economy) published by "Maeil Business Newspaper &amp; MK Inc."; URL:
http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
128) Back to Top
Philippine Palace Ready To Resume Talks With MILF 'Without Preconditions'
Report by Jam Sisante with RSJ and KBK, GMANews.TV: "Palace: N o
preconditions in resumption of talks with MILF" - GMA News.TV
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:47:35 GMT
The Philippine government is ready to resume peace talks without
preconditions with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after the
Ramadan, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday.
Lacierda said the government hopes the MILF, which has expressed
disapproval over the continued stay of US troops in Mindanao, will not set
preconditions before it returns to the negotiating table.
"Sabi po ng Pangulo magsisimula tayo ng peace process pagkatapos ng
Ramadan. Wala po kaming preconditions, sana naman wag nilang gawing
precondition yung sinasabi nilang US presence sa (Mindanao) (The president
said peace talks will resume after the Ramadan. We don't have
preconditions, so we hope they won't use as a precondition the removal of
US troops in Mindanao)," he said at a press briefing.
MILF chairman Ibrahim Murad was recently quoted in reports as saying that
the presence of US soldiers in Mindanao only complicates the situation in
the conflict-ridden region.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Benigno
"Noynoy" Aquino III said peace negotiations with the MILF can resume after
the Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting which begins on August 11 and
ends on September 9.
University of the Philippines College of Law dean Marvic Leonen, an expert
on ancestral domain issues, has been designated to head the government
panel that will negotiate with the MILF. Other members of the panel have
yet to be named.
Lacierda said he will leave it up to Peace Adviser Teresita Deles to
decide whether to retain Malaysia as a third-party facilitator in the
peace talks. Talks started 1997
The Philippine government has been holding talks with the MILF since 1997,
during the time of former Pre sident Fidel Ramos. During the short-lived
Estrada administration, talks were virtually non-existent as the
government waged an all-out war campaign against the secessionist group,
resulting in the seizure of major and satellite camps of the MILF across
Central Mindanao.
Talks resumed during the Arroyo administration, but peace efforts were
jeopardized in late 2008 when the Supreme Court barred the signing -- and
eventually ruled as unconstitutional -- of a memorandum of agreement on
ancestral domain between the government and the MILF expanding the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The junking of the MOA-AD triggered
violent acts from a faction of the MILF.
Subsequent discussions between the government and the Moro secessionists,
however, resulted in an agreement to continue talks under the next
administration.
(Description of Source: Quezon City GMA News.TV in English -- Official
website of GMA News and Public Affairs; carries national, regional, a nd
business news and news videos from GMA 7 and sister TV station QTV.
Targeted at Filipinos nationwide and overseas; URL: http://www.gmanews.tv)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
129) Back to Top
US Immigration Using Incoming Children To Arrest Illegal Poles
Report by Wojciech Lorenz: "US Border Services Treat Polish Childen as
Hostages" - rp.pl
Thursday August 12, 2010 00:24:37 GMT
airports in order to force their relatives who are staying in the United
States illegally to turn themselves over to the authorities.
Such incidents have occurred twice. On 02 July, officials a t New York's
Newark airport detained the six-year-old Julia K., who flew in under the
care of stewardesses. Although her aunt and uncle were waiting for her,
immigration officials demanded that the child should be collected by her
father, illegally residing in the United States. They threatened that
otherwise the child would be sent to a youth detention center in Texas.
The father turned up at the airport together with his lawyer. He collected
his child, but will most likely be deported to Poland.
At the same airport on 28 July, officials detained the 12-year-old
Ewelina, whose parents sent her to summer camp in Pennsylvania. However,
officials did not consent for her to be collected by a friend of the
family. In their opinion, the only one who had the right to do so was her
30-year-old brother, who had illegally prolonged his stay in the United
States. This time, as well, they threatened to send their child to a youth
center. But the brother did not give in and did n ot show up at the
airport. The efforts to free the young girl took 10 hours.
"My daughter was treated well, but the adults were threatened with the
prospect that the child would be sent to a center. She was released only
when I authorized the consul to collect her. Ultimately they did turn her
over to the person who had been waiting for her from the beginning,"
Rzeczpospolita is told by Krzysztof K., Ewelina's father.
The Polish Consulate in New York filed a protest with the State
Department. "We respect the issue of US immigration law, but we cannot
allow children to be used to blackmail members of their families and to
lure them to the airport. Especially in the latter case the officials
definitely went too far, because the child's brother is not her legal
guardian and no one had the right to summon him," Rzeczpospolita is told
by Consul Marek Skulimowski.
The US State Department has not yet reacted. US Customs and Border
Protection explains that it acts in the interests of the children. "We do
not want to torment anyone, but we have a duty to make sure that a child
is turned over to its rightful guardians. If a child is meant to be picked
up by someone else, the child has to have an official document confirming
their identity," we are told by John Saleh from US Customs and Border
Protection.
Ewelina's father stressed that he would have no complaint if the point
were to check whether a child might be illegally transported across the
border. But his child was being used to exert pressure on a family member.
"I appeal to the parents of children traveling to the United States alone
to make sure that they are carrying the proper authorization for those who
pick them up. That will enable them to avoid such traumatic experiences,"
he says.
Poland is the only country belonging to the Schengen zone whose citizens
have to hold US visas. The main reason for this is the high rate of
rejected visa applications. US authorities also suggest that many Poles
illegally prolong their stay in the United States, although they are not
able to measure that precisely.
(Description of Source: Warsaw rp.pl in Polish -- Website of
Rzeczpospolita, center-right political and economic daily, partly owned by
state; widely read by political and business elites; paper of record;
often critical of Civic Platform and sympathetic to Kaczynski brothers;
URL: http://www.rzeczpospolita.pl)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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130) Back to Top
Afghan Police Issues July 2010
The following OSC Summary provides a summary of monitored media coverage
on Afghan police issues during July 2010; for assistance with multimedia
elements, contact OSC at 1-800-205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. -
Afghanistan -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:57:54 GMT
M
131) Back to Top
Hyundai Heavy Inks US$700 Mln Solar Power Plant Deal - Yonhap
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:28:28 GMT
Hyundai Heavy-solar power plant
Hyundai Heavy inks US$700 mln solar power plant dealSEOUL, Aug. 11
(Yonhap) -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., South Korea's top shipbuilder,
said Wednesday it has signed a US$700 million contract to build solar
power plants in the United States.Under the agreement with the U.S.-based
Matinee Energy Inc., Hyundai Heavy will build two solar power plants in
Arizona th at generate 150 megawatts and 25 megawatts of energy,
respectively.The plants are slated to be completed by the end of 2012, the
company said, adding that the 150-megawatt plant will be the biggest solar
power plant in the world.According to Hyundai Heavy, the solar modules for
the new plants will be manufactured at the company's plant in Eumseong,
131 kilometers south of Seoul."This will be an opportunity for Hyundai
Heavy to become a global solar power firm. The company will strive to win
solar power plant deals in the U.S. as well as Europe and Asia," said Kim
Kweon-tae, a Hyundai Heavy executive.Hyundai Heavy has been in talks with
the U.S. energy group since April to take part in a project to build solar
power plants in Arizona and California to generate a combined 900
megawatts of energy.The move comes as the leading shipbuilder is seeking
to diversify its business portfolio by tapping into the renewable energy
sector. In 2008, the company completed the const ruction of its first
solar-cell plant, which generates 30 megawatts of power
annually.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial
news agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Iran's President Hails Economic Progress - Vision of the Islamic Republic
of Iran Network 1
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:49:04 GMT
economic dynamism in the country and said: Today Iran is on track to
progress in a manner in which there is a national celebration for our
achievements every week.
Mr Ahmadinezhad added that there ar e many industrial projects that wait
months to be inaugurated.The president said that certain enemies'
ill-conduct will increase the country's determination for progress.The
president also congratulated the people on the start of Ramadan and told
the world Muslims that this month is the best opportunity to prepare
oneself for a joyous year and to move towards progress.(Description of
Source: Tehran Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1 in Persian
-- state-run national television, officially controlled by the office of
the supreme leader)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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ROK To 'Take Time' To Decide Whether To Seek Sanctions on Iran
Yonhap headline: & quot;S. Korea to Take Time to Decide Whether to Seek
Sanctions on Iran: Senior Source" - Yonhap
Wednesday August 11, 2010 06:00:09 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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Iran regional conference a move against USA, says Afghan analyst - Pajhwok
Afghan News
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:30:13 GMT
analyst
Text of report in English by Afghan independent Pajh wok news agency
websiteKabul: A regional conference on Afghanistan to be hosted by Iran is
just another way of Tehran exerting its influence in the country, several
analysts said on Wednesday (11 August).Iran on Tuesday announced it would
host a regional meeting on stabilizing Afghanistan. It did not give a date
or say which countries had been invited, however the announcement comes
just days after the second vice-president made a trip to Iran.However,
some analysts say the conference is unlikely to break any new ground as it
is just an attempt by Iran to interfere in Afghanistan's domestic affairs
and make problems for the West. "Iran wants to create obstacles for
America by holding this conference," Abdol Ghafor Liwal, head of the
Centre for Regional Studies, said."As Iran has been working on a dangerous
cultural intervention, I do not trust that the conference will be held,"
he said, but he did not clarify the cultural intervention.Even as the
Iranian government is under pressure from the international community to
give up its nuclear ambitions, it has been trying to undermine the West by
meddling in Afghanistan's affairs, political science professor at Kabul
University, Nasrollah Stanakzai, said.He said the Afghans know the Iranian
government very well and the regional conference was likely to be
ineffective. However, a professor of economics, Masud, said Iran was
trying to become a diplomatic broker in the region by hosting similar
conferences. While Iran was using such conferences for its own benefit,
Afghan officials should do likewise, he said.Masud also cautioned
Afghanistan about relying too heavily on international or regional
partners."Afghanistan's problems should be solved at the regional level.
It has been proven that America and its allies failed to solve the
problems in the region as they did in Iraq," Iranian President Mahmud
Ahmadinezhad said last week.Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki,
in a speech at the Kabul Conference in July, also insisted Afghanistan's
conflict could only be solved at the regional level.(Description of
Source: Kabul Pajhwok Afghan News in English -- independent news agency)
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Commerce.
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HK Column: PRC 'Kills Two Birds With One Stone' By Importing US Corns
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Ching Chi Jih Pao
Thursday August 12, 2010 02:46:25 GMT
(Description of Source: Hong Kong Ching Chi Jih Pao in Chinese -- "Hong
Kong Economic Ti mes," non-PRC-owned economic daily with good sources in
the PRC and a slightly pro-Beijing editorial line)Attachments:ccjp0812.pdf
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Iran paper outlines leaders' response to US military threat - Jomhuri-ye
Eslami Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 10:39:14 GMT
Text of unattributed report headlined "Overwhelming response of Iran to
American military threat" published by Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami
on 4 AugustThe threatening remark by the US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of
Staff Michael Mullen on the readiness of a plan for milita ry attack on
Iran was followed by a serious and definite reaction of Iranian political
and military officials.Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs (Manuchehr
Mottaki) has stressed that if the US takes any measures against Iran, it
will experience a more pitiable fate than the one it has experienced in
Iraq or Afghanistan. He has said: America should not put its dignity up
for auction.Mottaki added: They have been making such remarks for a long
time. They went to some places, about which they made (such) remarks.
However, what we see is their fate (as written).He added: If they take any
measures against Iran, their fate will be worse than the total of the
pitiable experiences they had in Iraq and Afghanistan.Talking to Al-Alam
TV channel, Mottaki stated: We think there are still some wise people in
America who will think and investigate and will not put the American
dignity up for auction.Regarding Michael Mullen's remark on attack on
Iran, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' S pokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast
also said: Remarks by American military officials cannot be proven. We
witness many remarks by them, which are not thought out properly. We
believe the reason for such remarks is a kind of anger due to successive
failures in achieving their goals and their military campaigns in the
region. They have had no outcome but that of creating more insecurity and
more loss for innocent people and their forces. Therefore, creation of a
negative atmosphere results from a psychological and propaganda war, which
they intend to take advantage of. However, no one pays attention to such
remarks.Maj-Gen Salehi: Army's threefold forces are completely ready
against threatsIran's Army Commander-in-Chief (Maj-Gen Ata'ollah Salehi)
also stressed that the army's threefold forces are completely ready to
face threats. He said: The sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic with
regard to inspection of ships, are definitely not acceptable to
us.According to (not mentione d), during the sidelines of his visit to
Region 1 of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army's Marine Forces in Bandar
Abbas, Maj-Gen A'taollah Salehi told journalists: The main goal of this
trip is to observe the latest progress in repair and reconstruction of
surface and subsurface ships and also the submarine that will be set on
the sea in the upcoming 10 days.He added: We have been seafaring in
far-off regions for more than a year now, therefore, we should have the
power to control, administer and command in the far-off regions.Salehi
remarked: Equipping flotillas with domestic apparatus, which is both
domestically-made and up-to-date, has made us hopeful about being able to
increase our stay in far-off waters.He pointed that the army's threefold
force is completely ready against threats, adding: Over the past three
years, the army forces have improved considerably. Their missions now take
place from coastal waters (presumably of the Persian Gulf) to war-off
waters of Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.Salehi further said: The imposed
sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, with regard to inspection
of ships, are definitely not acceptable to the Islamic Republic. In Iran's
view, Somali pirates do not differ from the American ones.Salehi added:
All the 25 countries that are carrying out missions in far-off waters
function under one union, so they use each other's facilities and
ports.Commander Purdastan: American soldiers will surrender with smallest
flickCommander of Iranian Army's Ground Forces (Brig-Gen Ahmad Reza
Purdastan) said: Today, the enemy has failed in solving many of its
problems and does not have the power to bear, resist or open another
front. American soldiers will surrender with the smallest flick.According
to Fars (News Agency), at the conference of iron fortresses (as published)
held at Imam Ali Military University and attended by the commanders of
Ground Forces Battalions, Commander Ahmad Reza Purdastan said that after
its d efeat in the hard warfare front, the enemy has opened the soft
warfare front against us.He said: The enemy has aimed at our youths in the
soft warfare and is trying to fulfil its goals and plans, through some
methods.Purdastan added: The enemy is providing grounds for creating
pessimism towards the system among the youths and is creating unrest and
protests in the country. We should be good trustees for our soldiers and
sons. We should reinforce the youths' beliefs and faith by providing
cultural plans and constructive solutions.The army's Ground Forces
commander stated: Today, the enemy has failed in solving many of its
problems and does not have the power to bear, resist or open another
front. The American soldiers will surrender with the smallest
flick.Purdastan said that the Supreme Leader's (Ayatollah Khamene'i's)
view of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ground Forces, on the whole, is an
ideal and divine one. He remarked: The best model for soldiers are
characteristics a nd features of the Holy Prophet (Muhammad). Today, many
people are fascinated with his bright personality.He added: We are serving
the Hezbollah (Party of God) and Islam army; and the Holy Koran has urged
us to have a good and pleasant behaviour.The commander of army's Ground
Forces referred to the country's military commanders, saying: An
administrator should be able to show his capability of commandeering and
administration to employees, officials and commanders by proving his
qualifications and abilities. Identification of problems, shortcomings and
dilemmas is one of the duties of an administrator. An administrator should
find the appropriate solutions to disorders before they are
created.(Description of Source: Tehran Jomhuri-ye Eslami Online in Persian
-- website of conservative daily officially licensed to Supreme Leader
Khamene'i, but aligned with Expediency Council Chairman Akbar
Hashemi-Rafsanjani; www.jomhourieslami.com)
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137) Back to Top
Xinhua 'China Exclusive': 0 GMT, Aug. 11
Xinhua "China Exclusive": "0 GMT, Aug. 11" - Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:37:00 GMT
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's consumer price index (CPI), one of
the main gauges of inflation, rose in July to its highest level since
October 2008, boosted by rising food prices after widespread floods.
* 1st Ld-Writethru: Survival chances slim for 18 miners trapped in flooded
colliery in NE ChinaTONGHUA, Jilin, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The whereabouts of
the 18 miners who had been trapped for two days in a flooded colliery in
northeast China's Jilin Province remained unknown Wednesday, and
authorities said their survival chances were slim.* 1st Ld: Death toll in
China mudslide rises to 1,117, 627 missingZHOUQU, Gansu, Aug. 11 (Xinhua)
-- The death toll in the massive mudslide in northwest China's Gansu
Province has risen to 1,117, with 627 still missing, local authorities
said Wednesday.Also see:* 1st Ld-Writethru: Collapse of the
mudslide-formed barrier lake in NW China unlikely: officialBEIJING, Aug.
11 (Xinhua) -- It is unlikely the mudslide-formed barrier lake in
northwest China's Zhouqu County will collapse, China's vice minister of
water resources told a press conference here Wednesday* 1st Ld-Writethru:
No reports of epidemic outbreak in mudslide-hit region: officialBEIJING,
Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- There have been no reports of an epidemic outbreak or
public health incident in the northwestern Zhouqu County that was hit by a
massive mudslide Sunday, a health official said Wednesday.* 1st L
d-Writethru-China Exclusive: Rescuers face dilemma in clean-up at
mudslide-ravaged townZHOUQU, Gansu, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The stench of
death hung over the northwest China county of Zhouqu Wednesday, three days
after the deadliest mudslide in decades buried almost 2,000 people in
their homes.* Relief supplies for mudslides-flattened NW China county
adequate: officialBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The relief supplies are
adequate for mudslides-devastated Zhouqu County in northwest China's Gansu
Province, said an official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs Wednesday.*
Rescuers fight to drain lake before new rains hit mudslide-leveled NW
China townZHOUQU, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The fight to drain a dangerous
debris-formed lake gained new urgency Wednesday amid fears that a breach
could bring further devastation to a northwest China county that was
leveled by the country's deadliest mudslide in decades on Sunday.BUSINESS
&amp; FINANCE* China reiterates it remains world's second l argest energy
userBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China reiterated Wednesday it remains the
world's second largest energy consumer, as its energy consumption last
year was still more than 200 million tonnes of standard oil equivalent
below that of the United States.* 2nd LD-Writethru: China's fiscal revenue
rises 25.7 pct in first seven monthsBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's
fiscal revenue jumped 25.7 percent from a year earlier to 5.11 trillion
yuan (about 750 billion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months, the
Ministry of Finance announced Wednesday.* 2nd Ld-Writethru: China's new
lending drops to 532.8 bln yuan in JulyBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- New
yuan-denominated lending in July fell to 532.8 billion (78.6 billion U.S.
dollars) from 603.4 billion yuan in June, the People's Bank of China
(PBOC), the central bank, said in a statement Wednesday.* 2nd
Ld-Writethru: China's industrial value-added output up 13.4 pct in
JulyBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The growth of China' s industrial
value-added output was up 13.4 percent in July year on year, 0.3
percentage points down from June, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
said on Wednesday.* 2nd Ld-Writethru: China fixed asset investment up 24.9
pct in first seven monthsBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's fixed asset
investment in the first seven months rose 24.9 percent year on year to
11.98 trillion yuan (1.77 trillion U.S. dollars), the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) announced Wednesday.* 1st Ld-Writethru: China's July
retail sales up 17.9 pct: NBSBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's retail
sales, the main gauge of consumer spending, rose 17.9 percent year on year
in July to 1.22 trillion yuan (180.8 billion U.S. dollars), the National
Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced Wednesday.FEATURE* Xinhua Insight: No
stone to go unturned in China's head countby Xinhua writer Guo
LikunBEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- From counting toothbrushes on building
sites to using remote sensing satellite ma ps, China's officials, scholars
and census takers are racking their brains to make this year's national
census of the world's most populous country as accurate as possible.About
6.5 million census takers will go door-to-door in the first 10 days of the
census, which begins on Nov.
1.----------------------------------------------------YOUR QUERIES:Duty
editor: Yuan Ye @ 8610 6307
3665---------------------------------------------------- FTP file name:
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Full text of Sino-US Joint Statement on Energy Security Cooperation
Sino-US Joint Statement on Energy Security Cooperation (Full Text) -- Xin
hua headline -- from the Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialog column -
Xinhua Domestic Service
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:21:23 GMT
As the world's larges energy production and consumption nations, China and
the United States share common interests and responsibilities and face
common challenges in ensuring energy security. China and the United States
pledge to adhere to the principle of mutually beneficial cooperation,
diversified development, and coordinated guarantee to ensure energy
security; recognize that energy security and clean energy complement each
other; and agree to increase cooperation in stabilizing the international
energy market, guaranteeing diversified supply of energy, and utilizing
energy rationally and effectively.
Stabilizing the International Energy Market
China and the United States share the consensus of safeguarding the
stability of world energ y market. The international energy market plays
an important role in satisfying the demand and stabilizing the supply of
energy. Despite big fluctuations in international energy prices in recent
years, it is the top and best choice of the two countries to meet the
future energy demand through market mechanism.
China and the United States reiterate the consensus reached by the energy
ministers of five nations on establishing an open, transparent, highly
efficient, and competitive energy market, including transparent and
effective legal and monitoring frameworks. The two sides decide to
increase the transparency of energy market; avoid sharp fluctuations of
oil prices; and continue to cooperate closely with the International
Energy Agency (IEA) and other international energy organizations
(institutions) to ensure the security and stability of international
energy market. The two countries hope to launch exchanges on the
establishment of energy early warning and emergenc y response system; step
up the monitoring of energy market; and jointly prevent manipulation of
the oil futures market.
China and the United States reaffirm the G20 Summit's promise to increase
market transparency and stability. Preferably, monthly production and
consumption data are made public comprehensively, accurately, and in a
timely manner; and, under suitable circumstances, oil refinery and reserve
data are published.
China and the United States reaffirm the G20 Summit's promises to regulate
and gradually cancel, within an interim period, fossil fuel subsidies,
which are poor in efficiency and which promote waste; and to stimulate
investment in the fields of clean energy, renewable energy, and energy
efficiency and provide funding and technology support for developing
countries' projects in these fields.
China and the United States recognize their common interests in increasing
the transparency and stability of energy market and promoting mutual
understanding and increased bilateral cooperation in international and
domestic energy issues; and consent to establishing a working group to map
out formal arrangements for cooperation between the US Energy Information
Administration and Chinese National Energy Administration, including
information sharing and technical support, data collection for energy
production (conventional and unconventional), acquisition of end
consumption data through investigation, short- and mid-term forecast
methods, energy information analysis and dissemination tactics, and so on
and so forth.
Guaranteeing Diversified Supply of Energy
China and the United States fully understand the importance of global
energy production, especially the development of clean energy. The two
sides intend to work together to ensure the stable and secure supply of
energy on the basis of adhering to the principle of giving priority to
domestic demand, diversified development, and increased cooperation. The
two countries will explore rapid communication and coordination mechanism
in the event of major crises in energy supply; safeguard energy-producing
countries' stability; ensure the safety of international energy passages;
and encourage enterprises of the t wo countries to jointly develop oil and
gas resources in third countries in a bid to increase oil and gas supply.
China and the United States jointly pledge to increase investment in the
energy realm. The two countries are committed to developing their domestic
energy supply through open market and broad competition. The two countries
welcome external investment on prospecting and developing the relevant
resources.
China and the United States understand the importance of fully developing
and utilizing unconventional energy resources in their own country. In
accordance with the Memorandum of the US State Department and Chinese
National Energy Administration Concerning Cooperation in the Realm of
Shale Gas , the two sides have drawn up and signed the Action Plan of the
US State Department and Chinese National Energy Administration on Sino-US
Work on Shale Gas Resources. The two countries plan to use the US side's
experience in developing unconventional natural gas to carry out
cooperation -- under the premise of complying with China's relevant laws
and regulations -- in the evaluation of shale gas resources, their
prospecting and exploiting technology, and relevant policies to facilitate
the exploitation of shale gas resources in China. The two countries take
this opportunity to approve the contacts in the realm of shale gas between
the US Department of Energy and Trade and Development Agency and the
Chinese National Development and Reform Commission. The two countries
announce that the fifth Sino-US energy policy dialog and 10 th Sino-US oil
and gas forum will be held in the United States in September 2010. The
topics of the oil and gas forum will focus mainly on the developm ent of
shale gas, including a study tour of shale gas fields in the United
States.
China and the United States fully recognize the importance of clean energy
technology for realizing diversified supply of energy and guaranteeing
energy security. The two countries reiterate the consensus in the
Memorandum of Understanding on Increased Cooperation in Climate Change,
Energy, and Environment, Sino-US Memorandum on Cooperation in Partnership
in Renewable Energy, Protocol Concerning the Establishment of Sino-US
Joint Research Center on Clean Energy, and Sino-US Memorandum on Further
Strengthening Cooperation in the Nuclear Security of Westinghouse AP1000
Nuclear Reactor ; and, in line with the principle of "joint research and
shared risks and successes," will continue to jointly invest in the
research and development of technologies related to clean coal, safety and
operation of nuclear power (advanced nuclear energy), renewable energy,
intelligent power grid, sha le gas, advanced bio-fuel, and electric car,
as well as in-depth pragmatic cooperation in their research and
development, production, and popularization. On the basis of properly
resolving the issue of protecting intellectual property rights and in
accordance with the pattern of nuclear technology transfer in the two
countries, the Chinese National Nuclear Safety Administration and US
Nuclear Regulatory Commission are willing to make efforts to promote
cooperation in the nuclear safety technology of high-temperature
gas-cooled reactor.
China and the United States unanimously agree that diversified fuels for
motor vehicles is very important to the two countries' energy security in
the next few decades. To this end, China and the United States are
committed to promoting popularization of the advanced technologies of
electric cars, energy-saving cars, and alternate fuels. The two sides
reiterate the importance of cooperation in the Sino-US Initiative on
Electric Cars.
Utilizing Energy Rationally and With High Efficiency
China and the United States recognize that energy conservation and better
energy efficiency can help the two countries significantly to resolve
challenges in energy security, climate change, and environmental
protection; and are the important way to achieve sustainable growth.
China and the United States reaffirm the promises made by the meeting of
the energy ministers of five countries to adopt measures for promoting
energy conservation and efficiency and to develop and utilize energy
technologies for sustainable growth of the environment in a bid to
strengthen global energy security.
China and the United States plan to carry out cooperation in saving energy
and raising energy efficiency under the framework of the Sino-US 10-Year
Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Cooperation in Energy and Environment ;
as well as increase dialogs and hold energy efficiency forums, striving to
raise energy efficie ncy in industry, construction, and energy-using end
products; and to promote bilateral cooperation in auditing and
benchmarking industrial energy efficiency, construction standards, signs
and grades, testing and sign of energy-using end products, personnel
training, demonstration projects, and promotion of trade and investment.
(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese --
China's official news service (New China News Agency))
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139) Back to Top
US Military Needs To Reduce 'Contest Events' To Cut Spending
"News Analysis" by Xinhua reporter Wang Fengfeng: "Cutting Defense
Spending: Pentagon Dares Not To uch The Root Cause" - Xinhua Domestic
Service
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:25:11 GMT
Analysts pointed out that the federal government is in a deep financial
predicament and the Pentagon's spending cuts will merely cure the symptoms
and not the causes. The United States should perhaps reflect on the
fundamental cause of its inflated defense spending.
"Sacrificing the Knight To Save the King"
The Joint Forces Command that Gates proposed to close down is one of the
US military's ten major joint operations commands. Its commander has
always been a four-star general. But this command is not responsible for
war planning or command. Rather, it is responsible for organizing joint
training or cooperation training to ensure that all branches of the US
military are capable of coordinated operations. In his assessment on 9
August, Gates recognized the command's achieve ments in providing support
for the US military's joint training and actions as well as arbitrating on
matters of military discipline, but he said it is also a redundant
bureaucratic organization.
Gates only hinted at the matter, but researchers outside the US Government
were not so generous. Thomas Donnelly, a military analyst at the American
Enterprise Institute, said the Joint Forces Command never accomplished its
task of strengthening coordination between all branches of the military.
Cooperation between the US Army and Marine forces in Iraq and Afghanistan
was mostly coordinated by the Central Command, which is responsible for
Middle East affairs, or commanders in the specific theaters. It did not
have much to do with the Joint Forces Command.
The US media believe that, as the deficit increases dramatically and the
economic slowdown leads to a decrease in tax revenues, the Department of
Defense, which spends money as if it were water, naturally and particul
arly stands out. The purpose of Gates' move is to "pre-empt" Congress
before it puts military spending on the chopping block.
Gates once said: "My greatest fear is that in economic tough times people
will believe that defense spending cuts can solve the nation's deficit
problems and make up for the debts of other government departments."
Under pressure, Gates in June ordered the Department of Defense and the
three services to cut unnecessary spending in the hope of saving more than
$100 billion over five years. On 9 August, in addition to proposing that
the Joint Forces Command be dismantled, he also planned to remove several
sections in the Department of Defense. He demanded that 10 percent of the
spending on contractors be cut annually over the next three years, while
at the same time freezing the number of high-level civilian and military
officials at the Department of Defense, seeking to eliminate at least 50
military positions for gener als and 150 high-level civilian positions
over the next two years.
Ability Falls Short of Wishes
The United States has the largest military expenditure in the world. Since
the "911" incident in 2001, US military spending has grown by around 12
percent each year. Even after inflation factors are deducted, the growth
rate has been as high as seven percent. Excluding the battlefield spending
in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US defense budget for this fiscal year
reaches $535 billion. If the spending for those two wars is included, the
military spending for this fiscal year reaches $663.8 billion, almost
double the amount compared to ten years ago.
The large amount of funds caused the Defense Department organizations to
inflate rapidly, with the civilian staff reaching 745,000 persons and
contractors numbering 766,000.But as the federal government falls into a
financial predicament, it is facing spending cuts. Even though the Obama
administration has clearly stated that it will not cut military spending,
the annual growth in military spending is expected to be a mere 1-2
percent, lower than the 2-3 percent growth rate necessary for the US
military to maintain operational capabilities and modernize itself.
At the same time, the United States is facing an unprecedented federal
deficit and once-in-a-century financial and economic crisis. Statistics
from the Treasury Department show that accumulated federal deficit has
reached trillions of dollars and the deficit for the whole year is
expected to reach $1.4 trillion, around 10 percent of GDP.
Under these circumstances, it is only a matter time that Congress will
take the defense budget to the chopping block.
Cannot Cure Root Cause
Gates' decision caused an uproar in Washington.US President Obama and
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen immediately expressed
support, but the reaction from Congress was mixed.
Analysts believe tha t Gates' action appears to be very large, but he did
not answer the question of exactly how much these measures would save.
Regarding this, Maren Leed, a high-level research fellow at the US Center
for Strategic and International Studies, said that Gates' decision may not
be able to ensure a true military spending cut.
The Wall Street Journal used a graphic analogy: If the Department of
Defense was taking part in a decathlon contest, Gates did not explain
whether the Department was losing 10 pounds of weight to take part in the
ten events, or simply taking part in seven of those events.
Observers here believe that such commentary have deep significance. The
real root cause of the drastic rise in US military spending over the past
ten years has been the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the ubiquitous
"war on terror."If the United States truly wants to cut its military
spending, it may have to do more than just "slimming down." It m ay have
to reduce the Defense Department's "contest events" and achieve its goals
through diplomatic means instead of wielding a big stick to strengthen its
so-called "national security."
(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese --
China's official news service (New China News Agency))
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140) Back to Top
China Reiterates It Remains World's Second Largest Energy User
Xinhua: "China Reiterates It Remains World's Second Largest Energy User" -
Xinhua
Wednesday August 11, 2010 12:08:53 GMT
BEIJING, Aug . 11 (Xinhua) -- China reiterated Wednesday it remains the
world's second largest energy consumer, as its energy consumption last
year was still more than 200 million tonnes of standard oil equivalent
below that of the United States.
The joint statement by the National Energy Administration and the National
Bureau of Statistics of China came three weeks after the International
Energy Agency (IEA) said China replaced the United States last year to
become the world's largest energy consumer.China's energy consumption was
2.146 billion tonnes of oil equivalent last year, compared with the 2.382
billion tonnes the U.S. Energy Information Administration says the U.S.
consumed last year, the statement said."The energy consumption per capita
in China last year was just one fifth of that of the United States," the
statement stressed, adding that China's energy consumption keeps growing
amid the nation's rapid industrialization and urbanization.To reduce its
dependen ce on energy to fuel economic growth, the Chinese government has
taken a series of energy conservation and emission reduction measures,
including shutting obsolete factories."China's total energy consumption
growth has slowed year by year," the statement said.According to the IEA,
China consumed the equivalent of 2.252 billion tonnes of oil in 2009, 0.4
percent more than the 2.17 billion tonnes the United States
consumed.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))
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NASA Astronauts Dismantle Broken Pump of ISS Cooling System. - In terfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:19:33 GMT
WASHINGTON. Aug 11 (Interfax-AVN) - NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson
and Doug Wheelock during their second unscheduled spacewalk removed the
breakdown pump module of the cooling system on the U.S. segment of the
International Space Station (ISS).NASA announced Wednesday evening that at
the beginning of the spacewalk Wheelock succeeded in disconnecting the
pump module from the last ammonia pipe. This time unlike the first
spacewalk on August 7 there was almost no escape of the toxic liquid.After
that the astronauts disconnected five electric cables from the pump
module. They also removed four bolts attaching the module to the
section.After that Shannon Walker who remained inside of ISS should place
the breakdown module on a mobile transporter using the Canadian artificial
limb SSRMS.During his spacewalk last Saturday Wheelock failed to re place
the pump.In the early hours of August 1 the pump module pumping the
ammonia that cools the modules of the U.S. segment broke down. As a result
one of the two cooling circuits of the U.S. segment stopped functioning.
The attempts to restart the pump module failed, so NASA decided that
unscheduled spacewalks should be made to replace the pump
module.mlInterfax-950040-YLCADBAA
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Review of Various U. S. UAVs That Are Needed by RF Ministry of Defense
Article by Vladimir Shcherbakov on the new unmammed flying vehicles [UAVs]
being developed in the United States that are of interest to the Ministry
of Defense of Russia, particularl y the hand-lauched UAVs that use
hydrogen fuel cells in their power plants: "How the Problems of Developing
Mini-Drones Are Being Resolved" - Voyenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:40:43 GMT
According to the most conservative estimates, in the last decade alone,
the Pentagon has acquired no less than 12,500 UAVs of various types--UAVs
that are narrowly specialized. Such UAVs usually have a take-off weight
ranging from about .25 kilograms to 6.5 kilograms and a wingspan ranging
from .7 meters to 2.7 meters. They can be transported, along with the
control panel and, if necessary, auxiliary equipment, in one or two
backpacks. The drones snapped together and made ready for launch in a
matter of minutes. After that, the soldier only has wave his hand, in a
literal sense, and send the aerial mini-robot flying up into the sky (that
is, the soldiers uses his hand to hurl the drone into the sky).
Two hours are not sufficient.
At the same time, regardless of its small dimensions and weight, the
man-portable UAVs are quite capable of conducting of reconnaissance,
primarily in the optical and/or infrared ranges. They are also able to
transmit reconnaissance information about the enemy to the control panel
of the operator in real time, providing a current picture of the situation
on a battlefield for the commander of a subunit and even an individual
soldier.
The payload of these UAVs usually include compact video cameras, photo
cameras, and televisions. An electric motor, powered by a battery, is used
as the power plant for the UAVs. That makes it possible to reduce the
noise and weight of the UAV. At the same time, it makes the UAV more
explosion-proof and fireproof.
But, on the other hand, such drones also have a number of shortcomings.
The most serious shortcoming is the small duration of the flight, wh ich
is due to the small size and take-off weight of the drone. Its small size
does not allow the placement of a significant quantity of power sources
onboard. As a result, as a rule, the mini-drones are not able to be in the
sky for more than one or two hours.
Of course, for the fulfillment of the majority of tasks, for which such
UAVs were designed, this is enough time. All the same, the mini-drone is a
means for operational reaction. It is a pre-strike staging vehicle, so to
speak. However, after analyzing the results of the operation of UAVs of
this class, including their operation in combat conditions, for example,
during the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the American generals and
military experts reached a conclusion on the necessity to increase the
flight duration of the man-portable drones by a factor of 1.5 or a factor
of 2. And, if possible, by even more than that.
Recently, in an interview, a representative of a department of the U. S.
Air Force Research Laboratory, which engages in research in the sphere of
the adaption of hydrogen fuel cells to power plants of flying vehicles of
various types, made the following statement to journalists: "A long flight
duration is very important for the military. That will make it possible
for the American soldiers to keep targets under observation for a longer
period of time and it will also make it possible to carry out
reconnaissance and observation over a large area until the drone ends its
flight or is recalled for a recharging of the battery or the replenishment
of the fuel supply. On a modern battlefield, information is a key factor.
Consequently, by increasing the flight duration, we can significantly
increase the amount of reconnaissance information that is accessible for
us and forces that are allied with us."
A hybrid engine.
In this connection, however, a question immediately arises: How can the
flight duration of the UAV be increased without a substantial increase in
its size and weight? Indeed, it is not possible, at the present time, to
obtain a positive result by increasing the effectiveness of the operation
of the batteries or an increase in the number of them aboard the UAV: The
engineers are not promising to develop batteries with greatly improved
working characteristics in the near future.
A number of companies and organizations, of course, are trying to develop
more compact engines, which use organic types of fuel, or engines of the
hybrid type. Thus, in the beginning of 2010, the American agency, DARPA
(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), awarded a contract to Aurora
Flight Sciences that provides funding for the first stage of development
of small UAVs with hybrid power plants of a new type. The power plant will
consist of an electric motor and a compact turbo-diesel engine.
The new motor must have more effectiveness, horsepower, and fuel
efficiency. It also must make less noise in comparison with the gas
engines that are being used today. At the same time, its power must not be
less than 10 horsepower. The purpose of this work, which is being carried
out by specialists of Aurora Flight Sciences, is to adapt a diesel engine,
which requires heavy fuel, to drones. At the present time, that is not
expedient, mainly because of the relatively large sizes and weights of
motors that use diesel fuel or JP-8.
However, such engines are still only prospective projects. At the present
time, it is necessary to increase the flight duration.
Hydrogen fuel cells.
It has been managed to find a solution. The use of hydrogen fuel cells as
energy sources. Fortunately, real break-through results have been achieved
in this sphere in recent years in the West.
For example, Protonex, a company which engages in the development of
hydrogen fuel cells, recently demonstrated the possibility of increasing
the flight duration of a UAV, which was equipped with hydrogen fuel cells
(the take-off weight of the UAV was 6.3 kilograms), to nine hours. And,
according to the specialists of Protonex, the volume of the fuel cells and
fuel cartridge together is a little less than that of a 2-liter bottle of
Coca-Cola.
Previously, the company had developed a wide range of fuel elements with
powers ranging from 100 to 500 watts. True, in this case, it was necessary
to put a lithium-ion battery onboard the UAV in order to obtain additional
power during the take-off and landing of the UAV. The battery itself,
however, is recharged by the hydrogen fuel cell in flight.
In an interview with the leading American political-military weekly,
Defense News, Scott Pearson, the head of the Protonex company, said that
drones, equipped with hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries, can
remain in the air two to three times longer than their counterparts, which
have traditional power plants with electric motors.
The results of th e tests made a good impression on the leadership of the
U. S Department of Defense, which soon awarded a contract to the company.
The contract amounts to 3.3 million dollars and it is for the development
of an improved type of fuel cell, as well as the accompanying equipment
and instrumentation.
It is planned that the hydrogen fuel cell, on the development of which
specialists of Aurora Flight Sciences have been working, will be
integrated into the power plant of a Puma AE UAV, which was developed by
the company, AeroVironment. The length of this UAV is 1.4 meters. The
wingspan is 2.7 meters. The drone is designed for the conducting of
reconnaissance in daytime and nighttime conditions, for which it is
equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras . The power plant of
the drone is an electric engine (that is, the electric engine turns the
UAV's propeller, whereas the fuel cell powers the cameras, communications
gear, and flight controls and recharges the batteri es for the electric
motor). All of the onboard equipment is for reconnaissance. The systems
for flight control and communications with the ground based controller
also have electrical power.
It was not by chance that AeroVironment was selected for this project. The
specialists of this company had the honor of developing the RQ-11A
"Raven", perhaps the most famous hand-launched UAV in the world. The
weight of the Raven is 1.9 kilograms. The fleet of these UAVs in the U. S.
Armed Forces alone numbers about 4,000. The first flight of these drones
took place in 2001 and just a few years later, in 2003, they were accepted
into the arsenal of the U. S Armed Forces. Subunits of the Special
Operations Command of the U. S, Armed Forces was the first to receive the
Ravens in significant quantities. In accordance with the initial contract,
about 850 drones of this type were purchased. Each drone cost about 35,000
dollars (the cost of one whole system is about 250 thous and dollars).
Problems of technology.
The following is stated in one of the advertising bulletins of the
Protonex company: "All that you have to do is add water. After that, you
will obtain a fuel with a high energy density."
The reference here is to hydrogen, which is released when (sodium)
borohydrate is mixed with simple water and exposed to a catalyst and heat.
The gas that is obtained enters directly into the fuel cell to the anode,
which uses a small amount of platinum as a catalyst to divide the hydrogen
into protons and electrons. The latter form an electrical current which
flows to an external circuit. This electrical current is necessary for the
operation of the power plant and the onboard equipment. The protons, in
turn, are conducted through a hydrogen proton exchange membrane in the
fuel cell to a catalytic cathode, where they combine with oxygen in the
air to produce water. Water is necessary for obtaining hydrogen. Such is
the cycle of substances within the bounds of one drone.
Of course, the duration of such a semi-closed cycle is contingent of the
supplies of the basic substance--sodium borohydrate. The expended fuel
cartridges can either be discarded in flight or brought back and
subsequently sent for recharging. In this connection, a special control
system, built into the cartridge, automatically regulates the degree of
the reaction and the rate of hydrogen production.
Representatives of Protonex said that a distinguishing feature of this
fuel-energy system, which is being developed in accordance with the
contract that was awarded by the Pentagon, is the fact that all of the
components used in this system, including the fuel and the residue, are
not toxic and not combustible. Moreover, the system is cost-effective and
that is of no small importance.
In an interview with journalists, Steven Gitlin, the press secretary for
AeroVironment, emphasized: "We see a great pot ential for our Puma AE UAV,
which is equipped with a system of hydrogen fuel cells. Such a drone can
be used quite effectively for perimeter monitoring (guarding) or for
flying ahead of a ground convoy for an extended period of time."
Moreover, it should be emphasized that AeroVironment, which produces the
Puma AE drones, is making modifications not only for subunits of the U. S.
Army, border services, and the U. S. Air Force, but also for special
operations. It is also making modifications for the U. S. Navy and the U.
S. Coast Guard.
This drone is like an "omnivore". That is reflected in the very name of
the UAV. AE stands for All- Environment, which means that it can be used
in all conditions. In particular, a modification of the Puma has been
designed for the Navy and the Coast Guard. It is waterproof and,
consequently, it can carry out a safe landing on a water surface. These
UAVs are operated with a hand-held control panel, measuring 15.24
centimeters by 25.40 centimeters, with a screen that measures 10.16
centimeters by 15.24 centimeters (Note: The screen displays video
transmissions from the UAV and has five knobs for directing the UAV and
its onboard electro-optical and infrared cameras.).
Representatives of the U. S. Department of Defense said that it is planned
to complete the first stage of the program, which is aimed at the
development of a UAV, with an increased flight duration and with a
prospective power plant based on hydrogen fuel cells, in 2010-2011. With
positive results of tests, it is planned to accept such UAVs into the
arsenals of the various branches and combat arms of the Armed Forces of
the United States in the shortest time possible.
The military of other countries are also showing interest in these
prospective developments. It seems that such drones would also be very
useful for the Russian militarized structures. But the trouble is that,
unfortunately, we shamelessly lag b ehind the West in the sphere of the
development of such fuel cells and air-independent power plants.
(Description of Source: Moscow Voyenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer Online in
Russian -- Website of the weekly newspaper focusing on military and
defense industrial complex issues published by Almaz Media, a subsidiary
of the defense industrial firm Almaz-Antey -- URL: http://vpk-news.ru/)
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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
143) Back to Top
US Senate To Vote On New START In Sep, White House Confident Of
Ratification - ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:40:39 GMT
intervention)
WASHINGTO N, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The new U.S.-Russian Treaty On
Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive
Arms (also known as the new START Treaty) will be put to vote in the U.S.
Senate shortly after the middle of September and the White House has no
doubt that it will be ratified, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
said."Next month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will bring the
new START treaty one step closer to ratification," she said her remarks on
the ratification of START, made in the Senate on Wednesday, August
11."Last week, I was pleased to meet with Chairman John Kerry to discuss
the committee's schedule for consideration of the treaty on September 15th
or 16th and in the full Senate soon after. The Chairman and Ranking Member
Senator Lugar have constructed a good plan, and I am confident about the
prospects for ratification," Clinton recalled."In the weeks and months
since the treaty was submitted to the Senate, it has earned bipartisan
support from senators on both sides of the aisle as well as statesmen in
and out of government from both parties. They understand that once the new
START treaty is ratified and enters into force, it will advance our
national security and provide stability and predictability between the
world's two leading nuclear powers," the secretary said.She urged American
legislators to ratify the treaty and brushed off assertions that Richard
Lugar was the only opposition Republican to support the document."We have
indications of much more bipartisan support than that," she said.For the
treaty to be ratified, it has to be supported by two-thirds, i.e. 67 votes
of 100. This means that the Democratic Obama administration needs the
support of at least eight Republicans in the Senate.Clinton admitted that
the treaty had become a hostage of political squabbles over the upcoming
interim elections in November. Nevertheless she expressed conf idence that
the "vast majority of senators will judge this treaty on the merits.""I
believe that this treaty is too important and it will merit the most
thoughtful and substantive response from members of the Senate. It should
not be in any way caught up in election year politics. When I look back at
the record of overwhelming support - 95 to nothing, 98 to 3 - I mean, just
an enormous bipartisan commitment to continue arms reduction as a policy
that is embraced by both sides of the aisle, I believe that the vast
majority of senators will judge this treaty on the merits," Clinton
said.She said the decision of John Kerry, the chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, to postpone the vote on the treaty in the committee
from August to September was "a gesture of good faith"."The Chairman's
decision to give members of both sides of the aisle additional time to
review the underlying materials, but set a committee vote for the middle
of Sep tember, is a gesture of good faith and underscores the tradition of
bipartisan support," she said."But when the Senate returns, they must act,
because our national security is at risk. There is an urgency to ratify
this treaty because we currently lack verification measures with Russia
which only hurts our national security interests. Our ability to know and
understand changes in Russia's nuclear arsenal will erode without the
treaty. As time passes, uncertainty will increase. With uncertainty comes
unpredictability, which, when you're dealing with nuclear weapons, is
absolutely a problem that must be addressed. Ratifying the new START
treaty will prevent that outcome," Clinton said.She believes that the
delay in ratification will not affect U.S.-Russia relations
negatively."And the Russians understand that we have a process we go
through that they also now go through with their Duma. We've stayed in
close touch in sharing schedules and what we've been do ing. And so I
don't see any affect whatsoever from our pursuit of ratification on the
reset of our relations," Clinton said.The U.S. administration hopes that
the Senate will ratify the new Russian-American START treaty before the
end of this year."The Administration remains optimistic about the
prospects for New START. Over the course of the past two and a half
months, no significant opposition or credible arguments have emerged. We
have said all along that we hope to have the Senate approve the treaty by
the end of the year, and we believe they are on track to do that," State
Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said earlier.Clinton and Kerry met
in early August to talk "about the new START agreement .875 the fact that
the Senate has delayed the vote until September 15th or 16th, it's neither
a surprise nor a cause of concern, and we understand that the treaty will
be the first item of business for the committee the week the Senate
returns next month, " Crowley said."We would hope and expect at the end of
this process next month, that we'll have widespread bipartisan support for
the New START Treaty," he added.For the treaty to be ratified, it has to
receive two-thirds of votes in the Senate, i.e. 67 of 100.Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier that U.S. President Barack Obama
and he had agreed to carry out ratification procedures "simultaneously" to
avoid awkward situations on both sides.(Description of Source: Moscow
ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
144) Back to Top
Russia Will Not Give Schneerson Library to American Hasids - Ministr y -
Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 18:14:27 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that the
decision by a federal judge in Washington that historical books and
documents, known as the Schneerson collection, should be returned to the
U.S.-based Chabad Lubavitch movement is illegal."The Schneerson Library
has never belonged to Chabad. It never left Russia and was nationalized
because there were no legal heirs in the Schneerson family. The 'return'
of these books to the U.S. is not an issue in principle," the Russian
Foreign Ministry's Department of Information and Press said in the
comments posted on its website on Wednesday."On the contrary, it is
American Hasids who must return to Russia seven books from the same
collection that they lent from the Russian State Library in 1994 through
the U.S. Congress library for two months and have wit hheld illegally for
16 years now.""The non-governmental religious organization of American
Hasids called Agudas Hasidei Chabad based in the New York district of
Brooklyn spent more than 15 years demanding on unclear grounds that Russia
should 'return' to the U.S. the so-called Schneerson Library, a collection
of books on Judaism, which had for centuries been collected in the
Smolensk province by the family of the Russian Empire subjects, the
Schneerson rabbis," the Department said.By law, "it would be logical, if
the U.S. court, mindful of the immunity of the Russian Federation and its
property against the jurisdiction of a foreign court, ruled that this
matter is outside its jurisdiction and any claims by plaintiffs must be
dealt with exclusively at Russian courts," the ministry said. "By the way,
no one is depriving American Hasids of this opportunity," it
said."Unfortunately, the U.S. judge made an unlawful decision, which
cannot be enforced in Russia, as a matter of fact. There is no agreement
between Russia and the U.S. on mutual recognition and enforcement of civil
judgments," the statement said.It was reported that on August 6 a federal
judge in Washington ruled that Hasids had proved the legality of their
claims to ancient Jewish books and manuscripts which, by his definition,
are kept at the Russian State Library and the Russian Military Archive
'illegally.'Part of the collection gathered by Lubavitch rabbi Joseph I.
Schneerson was nationalized by Bolsheviks in 1918 and ended up at the
Russian National Lenin Library. The remainder was taken out of the Soviet
Union by Schneerson who emigrated in 1930s.About 25,000 pages of
manuscripts got into the hands of the Nazi and were found later by the Red
Army, which handed them over to the Russian State Military
Archive.Lubavitch Hasids have sought the restitution of the Schneerson
collection since the late 1980s. According to some reports, first Rus sian
President Boris Yeltsin promised to James Baker, State Secretary in the
George Bush Sr. administration, to return the sacred documents to
Hasids.kkInterfax-950040-KJCADBAA
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Commerce.
145) Back to Top
New START Has Broader Support In Senate Than Thought -- Clinton -
ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:46:38 GMT
intervention)
WASHINGTON, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The new U.S.-Russian Treaty On
Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive
Arms (also known as the new START Treaty) has broader bipartisan support
in the U.S. Senate tha n thought, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
said.In her remarks on the ratification of START, made in the Senate on
Wednesday, August 11, Clinton urged American legislators to ratify the
treaty.She brushed off assertions that Richard Lugar was the only
opposition Republican to support the document."We have indications of much
more bipartisan support than that," she said.For the treaty to be
ratified, it has to be supported by two-thirds, i.e. 67 votes of 100. This
means that the Democratic Obama administration needs the support of at
least eight Republicans in the Senate.Clinton admitted that the treaty had
become a hostage of political squabbles over the upcoming interim
elections in November. Nevertheless she expressed confidence that the
"vast majority of senators will judge this treaty on the merits.""I
believe that this treaty is too important and it will merit the most
thoughtful and substantive response from members of the Senate. It sh ould
not be in any way caught up in election year politics. When I look back at
the record of overwhelming support - 95 to nothing, 98 to 3 - I mean, just
an enormous bipartisan commitment to continue arms reduction as a policy
that is embraced by both sides of the aisle, I believe that the vast
majority of senators will judge this treaty on the merits," Clinton
said.She said the decision of John Kerry, the chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, to postpone the vote on the treaty in the committee
from August to September was "a gesture of good faith"."The Chairman's
decision to give members of both sides of the aisle additional time to
review the underlying materials, but set a committee vote for the middle
of September, is a gesture of good faith and underscores the tradition of
bipartisan support," she said."But when the Senate returns, they must act,
because our national security is at risk. There is an urgency to ratify
this treaty because we currently lack verification measures with Russia
which only hurts our national security interests. Our ability to know and
understand changes in Russia's nuclear arsenal will erode without the
treaty. As time passes, uncertainty will increase. With uncertainty comes
unpredictability, which, when you're dealing with nuclear weapons, is
absolutely a problem that must be addressed. Ratifying the new START
treaty will prevent that outcome," Clinton said.She believes that the
delay in ratification will not affect U.S.-Russia relations
negatively."And the Russians understand that we have a process we go
through that they also now go through with their Duma. We've stayed in
close touch in sharing schedules and what we've been doing. And so I don't
see any affect whatsoever from our pursuit of ratification on the reset of
our relations," Clinton said.The U.S. administration hopes that the Senate
will ratify the new Russian-American START treaty before the e nd of this
year."The Administration remains optimistic about the prospects for New
START. Over the course of the past two and a half months, no significant
opposition or credible arguments have emerged. We have said all along that
we hope to have the Senate approve the treaty by the end of the year, and
we believe they are on track to do that," State Department spokesman
Philip J. Crowley said earlier.Clinton and Kerry met in early August to
talk "about the new START agreement .875 the fact that the Senate has
delayed the vote until September 15th or 16th, it's neither a surprise nor
a cause of concern, and we understand that the treaty will be the first
item of business for the committee the week the Senate returns next
month," Crowley said."We would hope and expect at the end of this process
next month, that we'll have widespread bipartisan support for the New
START Treaty," he added.For the treaty to be ratified, it has to receive
two-thirds of votes in the Senate, i.e. 67 of 100.Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said earlier that U.S. President Barack Obama and he had agreed
to carry out ratification procedures "simultaneously" to avoid awkward
situations on both sides.Meanwhile, the United States and Russia have
completed negotiations on three annexes to the Protocol of the New START
Treaty."The United States and the Russian Federation have completed
negotiations on three Annexes to the Protocol of the New START Treaty and
formally exchanged the text today in Moscow," Crowley said earlier."These
Annexes contain the technical information and detailed procedures that
will be used in implementing the New START Treaty verification regime," he
said.The annexes provide formats for the treaty's notifications and "spell
out the procedures for the conduct of inspection activities and the
exchange of telemetric information", the spokesman said."This completes
the Treaty docum ents that will be transmitted to the Senate in May for
its advice and consent to ratification," Crowley said.(Description of
Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
146) Back to Top
Dollar Soars Over 20 Kopecks on MICEX, Euro Declines (Part 2) - Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 16:32:45 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The U.S. dollar increased substantially on the
MICEX on Wednesday, hitting its highest point for August while the euro
decreased following its performance on the Forex, declining oil prices and
negative s tock market trends. The ruble weakened slightly against the
Central Bank's bi-currency basket.The dollar went up by 20.75 kopecks in
MICEX trading to close at 30.2575 rubles/$1 while the euro decreased by
12.7 kopecks to finish at 39.35 rubles/EUR1.The dollar rose to 30.3
rubles/$1 at one stage. It has risen on the MICEX for three days in
succession, gaining 45-50 kopecks.The bi-currency basket (set at $0.55 and
0.45 euro) went up by six kopecks to 34.35 rubles, also an August-high.The
Central Bank has raised its dollar rate for Thursday 18.1 kopecks to
30.205 rubles/$1, but lowered its euro rate 8.18 kopecks to 39.4417
rubles/EUR1.The dollar averaged up 19.58 kopecks in Today deals on the
MICEX to 30.2072 rubles/$1, and 21.02 kopecks to 30.2294 rubles/$1 in Tom
deals. Overall dollar trading came to $4.91 billion, of which $933.4
million in Today and $3.976 billion in Tom deals.The euro averaged down
8.45 kopecks in today deals to 39.4392 rubles/EUR1 and 7.05 kopecks in Tom
deals to 39.4311 rubles/EUR1. Volume was EUR248.3 million, including
EUR72.3 million in Today and EUR176.2 million in Tom deals.Money-market
rates altered little, with the MosPrime Rate for overnight loans edging up
2 basis points to 2.75%.Ih pr(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950140-LACADBAA
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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
147) Back to Top
PRC Religious Heads 'Denounce' US Commission's Report on China's Religious
Freedom
Report by reporter Wei Wu: "Our Religious Representatives Denounce the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom for Slandering the Freedom
of Religious Belief in Our Country" - Xinhua Domestic Service</ div>
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:11:31 GMT
Imam Chen Guangyuan, president of the China Islamic Association, said the
report twisted facts and inverted right and wrong. It adopted a "double
standard" and connived in extremism and terrorism. It was infuriating. "As
the head of the China Islamic Association, I strongly protest this." China
is home to 10 ethnic minority groups. More than 20 million people believe
in Islamism. Their religious faith and religious life are protected and
respected by the government in accordance with the law. He said Islamism
is a peaceful religion and Muslims advocate harmony and solidarity. They
are staunchly opposed to killing innocent people. The people who
instigated, organized, and took part in the seriously violent crimes that
involved beating, smashing, looting and burning in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on 5
July last year did not represent Islamis m or Chinese Muslims. Their
extreme actions completely went against the Islamic spirit and have
sparked ethnic and religious hatred, upset social order, and destroyed
Chinese Muslims' lives that have been getting better and better since the
launch of reform and opening up. It was simply not a religious issue. The
greater and escalating efforts taken by the government of our country to
apply measures to stop the violent and terrorist actions in accordance
with the law, in a bid to restore social order, were entirely meant to
safeguard the fundamental interests of people of various ethnic groups in
Xinjiang. The efforts helped to protect the security of their lives and
properties. We Muslims firmly supported that. In the incident, no single
Muslim or Mosque in Xinjiang was involved in any act of violence. Rather,
many Muslims risked their lives to rescue people of different ethnic
groups. Imams in Xinjiang took the initiative to help the government to
maintain social stability . They criticized extremist twisted facts and
evil ideas. There was no such thing as "arrest by the government."
Religious activities were held as usual and none had been "banned." The
United States should pay more attention to it own issues related to
religious freedom instead of insisting on criticizing others with ulterior
motives.
Zhang Jiyu, vice chairman of the Taoism Association, said that since the
reform and opening up began, our country's government has been fully
implementing a policy of freedom of religious belief. Many temples and
churches have been restored and opened. The doctrines and cultures of
different religions have been promoted and spread. With the support of the
government, Taoists in China successfully held the "International Daode
Jin" forum, which fully demonstrated the positive environment in which
religious freedom thrives and different religions can promote their own
cultures. Various religions in China have seen sustainable growth and
progress. Citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief. Everyone can see
that. However, the report of the US Commission on International Religious
Freedom ignored all these facts. It is biased and prejudiced and
deliberately twisted facts, making criticisms of our country's freedom of
religious belief. What makes us religious people particularly baffled and
angry is that the report actually continued to claim the issue concerning
the violation of the law and the crimes of "Falungong," an evil cult that
China's religious sector and people of various ethnic groups hate deeply,
was a religious issue. That completely neglected the interests of
religions in China and all the Chinese people. It also turned a deaf ear
to the righteous voice of religious figures in China and all the Chinese
people. The Chinese Government's legal prohibition of the "Falungong" as
an evil cult was an attempt to safeguard the fundamental human rights of
cit izens and freedom of religious belief.
Liu Bonian, vice president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association,
said over the past three decades since reform and opening up began,
Catholic clergymen and worshippers in China have been living a happy
religious life. China's Catholic Church has selected and sent nearly 100
priests, students and nuns to some 10 Catholic universities in the United
States to study religion. That was without precedence in the history of
the Chinese Church. We strongly believe that religious development in
China is now in its prime. When representatives of the US Commission on
International Religious Freedom were invited by the State Administration
for Religious Affairs to visit China in 2005, they also paid a visit to
the Catholic Patriotic Association. They noticed the actual situation of
the Chinese Church and shared their genuine views, saying they believed
China had made a lot of achievements through its policy of freedom of
religious b elief. Yet, in the annual report, they were driven by
political motives to confuse right with wrong, which violated the teaching
in the Bible which says "simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be
'no'." We religious people cannot accept that.
An evil cult, the "Falungong" confronts and endangers society. It runs
counter to the principles of various legitimate religions. It is simply
not a religion. Yet the US Commission on International Religious Freedom's
report cheered for it in a bid to use an evil cult to destroy the
stability and economic growth of Chinese society. People do not approve of
that and it will affect the normal development of the friendship between
the people of both countries, and their national ties.
Master Xuecheng, vice chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, said
the so-called annual report of the US Commission on International
Religious Freedom is usually steep in cliches and it is not worth making
any ef fort to refute it. The United States' double standard for handling
religious and human rights issues at the international level is a
hegemonic act in the realm of religion. It is a form of interference in
other countries' internal affairs and amounts to serious violation of
human rights. Buddhism believe in causes and retribution, and it tells
worshippers "not to tell lies." "I still remember clearly what they said
when they visited the Buddhist Association of China in 2005. After they
returned home, they cooked up a series of lies." As with other religions,
Buddhism in China enjoys full rights to freedom of religious belief.
Chinese Buddhism consists of three linguistic families, namely Chinese,
Tibetan, and Paali. They are close like brothers. When Yushu in Qinghai
was hit by a major earthquake this year, the Buddhist Association of China
immediately issued a proposal calling on Buddhist followers to donate
money and materials to help the disaster areas . "We also held a 'well
wishing ceremony' hoping the dead would go to the Pure Land soon, the
injured would recover soon, and the survivors would enjoy increasing
wisdom." In particular, he pointed out that in 2008, a very small number
of unscrupulous people committed violent crimes that involved beating,
smashing, looting and burning in Lhasa, under the manipulation of the
Dalai Clique. They undermined Tibet's stability and attempted to create
social riots. That was all a well planned political plot hatched by the
Dalai Clique, with a view to splitting Tibet from the country and
disrupting the normal, harmonious and secure lives of Tibetan people. The
plot seriously hampered the Tibetan people's interests. The US report
bashed the Chinese Government for taking necessary measures to suppress
the riot. That was maddening! Hopefully the United States will stop using
religion to interfere with China's internal affairs, and do more things
that are good for the friendsh ip between the people of the two countries.
According to Reverend Yu Xinli, deputy head of the National Committee of
the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China,
China's freedom of religious belief is real. Today, Christians in China
can conduct normal religious activities. The Chinese Church has published
more than 50 million copies of the Bible. In 2006, the Chinese Church
successfully held the "Chinese Church Bible Work Exhibition" (Zhongguo
Jiaohui Shengjing Shigong Zhanlan) in the United States. The event
attracted thousands of American people, and former US President Jimmy
Carter also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. That was a solid piece
of evidence. In order to provide high quality religious services at the
Beijing Olympics in 2008, the municipal government of Beijing lent us
support to build several churches so as to meet the needs of worshippers
to attend religious services. We also published copies of the bible for
the Olympics, which were given to Christians who came from various
countries to attend the Olympics in Beijing. This fully demonstrated
China's freedom of religious belief.
According to Living Buddha Nacang, deputy head of the Advanced Buddhism
College of Tibetan Language Family of China, the report of the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom once again exposed the
United States' typical trick of grossly interfering in other countries'
internal affairs by making accusations and criticisms regarding the
correct policy of freedom of religious belief adopted by our country's
government, and its solemn position on defending national solidarity and
the integrity of national territory. The Chinese Government has adopted
many important measures to protect and enhance the freedom of religious
belief of Chinese citizens, including residents in Tibet and Xinjiang. The
enormous amount of money distributed by the central government to repair
Tibetan Buddhist venues, s uch as the Potala, embodied the government's
attempt to protect freedom of religious belief. The criminal acts of
beating, smashing, robbing, and burning that took place in 2008 were
obviously meant to create trouble to disrupt the Olympics. The riots took
away 10-odd precious lives and resulted in immense loss of properties. And
a small number of monks who violated the law by taking part in the acts
breached Buddhist rules and seriously tarnished the reputation and image
of Tibetan Buddhism. We Buddhists firmly supported the government taking
necessary measures to tackle the seriously violent crimes that involved
beating, smashing, robbing, and burning, in accordance with the law.
We also urge the United States to stop supporting the 14 th Dalai Lama and
to make him stop organizing activities aimed at splitting the motherland.
(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese --
China's official news service (New China News Agency))
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148) Back to Top
Russian Stock Exchange Declines Following Disappointing Results From Fed
Meeting - Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 15:42:49 GMT
meeting
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The Russian stock market on Wednesday dropped
to a two-week low following the decline on world markets following the
disappointing results of a meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserves and weak
U.S. economic stats.Benchmark stocks on the MICEX went down by 1.49% to
1,376.88 points and by 2.16% to 1,460.67 points on the RTS Index.Futures
on the RTS Index dropped against the base asset by 14.8 points, indicating
a negative mood among investors.Decliners on the MICEX Stock Exchange were
VTB (RTS: VTBR), down 2.4%, Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) - 2.5%, Gazprom Neft (RTS:
SIBN) - 1.1%, MMC Norilsk Nickel (RTS: GMKN) - 2% and 2.9% on the RTS
Index, Lukoil (RTS: LKOH) - 1.1%, Rosneft (RTS: ROSN) - 2%, Rostelecom
(RTS: RTKM) - 1.5%, Sberbank (RTS: SBER) - 2.3% and 3.3% on the RTS and
Surgutneftegas (RTS: SNGS) - 1.3%.Polyus Gold (RTS: PLZL) went up by 2.3%
owing to rising gold prices.Posting losses among second tier stock on the
MICEX were TGK-9 (RTS: TGKI), down 4.3%, Sollers (RTS: SVAV) - 4.2%, IDGC
Holding - 4%, Novolipetsk Metallurgical Combine (NLMK) - 3.9% and MMK
(RTS: MAGN) - 3.4%.Posting gains were Raspadskaya (RTS: RASP), up 4.4%,
Irkutskenergo (RTS: IRGZ) - 2.4%, Transneft (RTS: TRNF) - 1.1% and
North-West Telecom (RTS: SPTL) - 0.6%.Total RTS Classic Trading came to
$8.057 million for the day, RTS Standard deals - $411.175 million and
MICEX Stock Exchange transac tions - over 39.109 billion rubles.Ih(Our
editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950140-ZXBADBAA
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149) Back to Top
Dollar Soars Over 20 Kopecks on MICEX, Euro Declines - Interfax
Wednesday August 11, 2010 14:49:03 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The U.S. dollar increased substantially on the
MICEX on Wednesday, hitting its highest point for August while the euro
decrease following its performance on the Forex, declining oil prices and
negative stock market trends. The ruble weakened slightly against the
Central Bank's bi-currency bas ket.The dollar went up by 20.75 kopecks in
MICEX trading to close at 30.2575 rubles/$1 while the euro decreased by
12.7 kopecks to finish at 39.35 rubles/EUR1.The bi-currency basket (set at
$0.55 and 0.45 euro) went up by six kopecks to 34.35
rubles.Interfax-950140-THBADBAA
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150) Back to Top
Astronauts Begin Second Spacewalk To Repair ISS Cooling System -
Interfax-AVN Online
Wednesday August 11, 2010 13:37:07 GMT
intervention)
Astronauts begin second spacewalk to repair ISS cooling system (11.08.10
17:20:45) WASHINGTON. Aug 11 (Interfax-AVN) - NASA astro nauts Tracy
Caldwell Dyson and Doug Wheelock began their second spacewalk to work on
fixing a failed cooling system on the U.S. segment of the International
Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday. NASA said the unscheduled spacewalk was
made from the Quest lock chamber of the U.S. segment and will last for
6-6.5 hours. The astronauts are wearing U.S. Extravehicular Mobility Unit
(EMU) space suits, one of two suits used by crew members on the ISS, the
other begin the Russian Orlan suit. It is Wheelock's fifth spacewalk since
2007 and Caldwell Dyson's second.(Description of Source: Moscow
Interfax-AVN Online in English -- Website of news service devoted to
military news and owned by the independent Interfax news agency; URL:
http://www.militarynews.ru)
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Commerce.
</ div>
151) Back to Top
Egyptian Press 11 Aug 10
The following lists selected items from the Egyptian press on 11 August.
To request additional processing, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Egypt -- OSC Summary
Wednesday August 11, 2010 08:28:08 GMT
http://www.ahram.org.eg/ http://www.ahram.org.eg/
1. Article by Imad Uryan states that many signs indicate that a regional
war involving Iran and probably Syria and Lebanon is "highly unlikely"
this summer, since domestic conditions in the United States and its
allies, as well as in Israel, are not favorable. The writer explains that
the United States is "fighting three wars", in Iraq, Afghanistan and in
the economic market. He believes it is "next to impossible for Israel&
quot; to wage war on Iran on its own. (p 6; 550 words)
2. Article by Abd-al-Muhsin Salamah accuses the government of neglecting
strategic agriculture and leaving arable lands to a group of brokers and
profiteering merchants. The writer believes that the Russian wheat crisis
will not be the last, as long as the government "persists in its random
agricultural policy." (p 7; 500 words)
3. Dispatch from Moscow argues that the disasters that affected Russia
recently triggered "indirect competition" between the Russian president
and his prime minister. (p 7; 1,200 words)
Cairo Al-Akhbar -- state-owned daily; root URL:
http://www.elakhbar.org.eg http://www.elakhbar.org.eg
1. Article by Dr al-Sayyid Amin Shalabi examines the debate on whether or
not skirmishes on the Lebanese borders constituted the prologue for war in
light of an article by a German Middle East expert. (p 16; 1,000 words)
Cairo Al-Jumhuriyah -- state-own ed daily; root URL:
http://www.gom.net.eg http://www.gom.net.eg
1. Report says 25 members of al-Ghad Party in al-Fayyum tendered their
resignations to protest against rigging party elections. (p 1; 200 words)
2. Editorial notes that the Israeli government refused to let the
international fact-finding committee interrogate the soldiers who took
part in the attack against the freedom fleet and opted for a "theatric
investigation". (p 8; 120 words)
Cairo Al-Wafd -- opposition New Wafd Party daily; root URL:
http://www.alwafd.org http://www.alwafd.org
1. Report cites Constitutional Jurist Dr Yahya al-Jamal as saying he
handed Zakariya Azmi a memorandum detailing suggested constitutional
amendments, hoping he would convey them to President Mubarak. However,
al-Jamal has not received a reply, the report says, citing al-Jamal's
remarks to a televised program on the "Modern Masr" network. (p 1; 120
words)
2. Report cites the Israeli Information and Document Center as saying the
rockets that were fired on Elat and Aqaba came from a "moving truck in
southern Sinai" (p 1; 150 words)
3. Article by Ala Uraybi examines the need "to renew the Coptic religious
statement", which he finds "insufficient" to establish a civilian state.
(p 5; 500 words)
4. Article by Muhammad Shirdi hopes the government will "fast on
statements and promises in Ramadan" to avoid "sins" and spare writers the
need to comment on their statements. (p 16; 600 words)
5. Article by Muhammad Amin highlights Wafd chairman's remark that "Egypt
is too big to be bequeathed to heirs". (p 16; 600 words)
Cairo Al-Misri Al-Yawm --Independent daily focusing on domestic issues
1. Front- page report says inflation reached 10.7 percent as a result of
the hike in food prices by 15.7 percent in July. (p 1; 400 words)
2. Report by team of correspondents says the campaign in support of Jamal
Mubarak announced that it has collected 22,500 signatures. Meanwhile, the
counter campaign "Egypt is too big for you" became more active in
Damietta. The report cites NDP sources as saying Ahmad Izz issued strict
instructions to party branches to refrain from joining campaigns in
support of Jamal Mubarak. (p 3; 300 words)
3. First part in a 2-part interview with Former Egyptian Ambassador in
Washington Nabil Fahmi, in which he talks about Congress pressure on the
Egyptian government in connection with the issue of Sa'd-al-Din Ibrahim
and economic aid, as well as other issues. He talks about Egypt's
relationship with Iran, the war on Iraq, Bush's last visit to Egypt, the
issue of Ayman Nur, among other issues. (p 17; 3,500 words)
Cairo Al-Dustur --Weekly edition of independent anti-regime daily
newspaper
1. Rerun of article by Chief Editor Ibrahim Isa on power transition in
Egypt after Muba rak. The article wonders about the fate of a country
"where businessmen, profiteers, corrupt people and a media with a blind
conscience try to hand down to the president's son in exchange for
sustained wealth and power." The article was originally published on 13
May 2009. (p 3; 3,000 words)
2. Special page by Muhammad al-Jarihi examines the campaign to bequeath
power to Jamal Mubarak. Reports talk about "the club of bequeathal
sponsors", which includes Jamal Mubarak, Ahmad Izz and NDP Media Secretary
Ali-al-Din Hilal, in addition to other profiteers. A report in this
special page cites politicians as they say the bequeathal project has
failed. Another report reviews the "five sticks in the wheel of
bequeathing power": ElBaradei, popular rejection of Jamal, Jamal's lack of
charisma, rejection of the idea within the regime, and the ambiguous
position of the military establishment. (p 4; 4,000 words)
3. Article by Mukhtar Nuh examine s whether the Muslim Brothers can give
up democracy and power transition to maintain the entity. (p 6; 4,500
words)
Cairo Rose Al-Yusuf --State-run daily newspaper
1. Article by Abd-al-Qadir Shuhayb hopes people will adjust their conduct
during the month of Ramadan and train themselves on how to engage in
dialogue. (p 2; 700 words)
Cairo Al-Shuruq Al-Jadid -- Independent pro-reform liberal daily,
moderately critical of the government
1. Report by team of correspondents cites the US ambassador as she
declares her government's preparedness to cover a potential shortage in
the Egyptian food market. The ambassador was speaking at a news conference
at the Ministry of Agriculture. (p 1; 650 words)
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152) Back to Top
US Observers Arrive At Russia's SKhK To Monitor HEU Deal - ITAR-TASS
Wednesday August 11, 2010 07:30:19 GMT
intervention)
TOMSK, August 11 (Itar-Tass) -- A group of U.S. observers has arrived at
the Siberian Chemical Combine (SKhK) in the town of Seversk, Tomsk Region
to check Russia's performance under an interstate agreement on
weapon-grade uranium treatment, traditionally referred to as Russia-U.S.
HEU deal, an SKhK spokeswoman Yevgenia Suslova told Itar-Tass on
Wednesday.During the next two weeks, the U.S. observers will conduct works
at all the agreed inspection points at SKhK's chemical and metallurgical,
isotope separation, and conversion plants, where highly enriched uranium
(HEU) is downgraded to low enriched uranium (LEU), she said. Moreover,
U.S. experts will conduct regular repl acement of radioactive sources at
the LEU-HEU mixing control unit at the isotope separation plant. The
control unit is equipped with non-destructive inspection devices that
monitor the flow and concentration of the separated material in all flows
in the mixing unit, where HEU is blended with LEU."The control unit makes
it possible to verify that the Russian side strictly keeps to the
Russia-U.S. HEU deal terms," Suslova stressed.The Megatons to Megawatts
Program is a unique, commercially financed government-industry partnership
in which bomb-grade uranium from dismantled Russian nuclear warheads is
being recycled into low enriched uranium used to produce fuel for American
nuclear power plants. The program is implemented under the Russian-U.S.
agreement of February 18, 2009.SKhK was established during the Cold War
period to liquidate the U.S. monopoly in nuclear weapons. After chiefs of
Russian and U.S. nuclear power department signed in Vienna an agreement to
shut down Russian reactors manufacturing weapon-grade plutonium in 2003,
SKhK stopped its two plutonium-producing nuclear reactors in
2008.Currently, SKhK engages in uranium enrichment for nuclear plants,
both Russian and foreign. Under a national plan for the development of
power facilities, it was decided to build Siberia's first nuclear plant on
the base of the Siberian Chemical Combine.(Description of Source: Moscow
ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)
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