The Global Intelligence Files,
files released so far...
2878
The Global Intelligence Files

### Index pages

List of Releases

### by Date of Document

unspecified
2001
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011

### by Date of Release

2001-03-13
2010-03-10
2011-03-05
2011-03-15
2012-01-29
2012-02-27
2012-02-28
2012-02-29
2012-03-01
2012-03-02
2012-03-03
2012-03-04
2012-03-05
2012-03-06
2012-03-07
2012-03-08
2012-03-09
2012-03-10
2012-03-11
2012-03-12
2012-03-13
2012-03-14
2012-03-15
2012-03-16
2012-03-17
2012-03-19
2012-03-20
2012-03-23
2012-03-25
2012-03-26
2012-03-27
2012-04-01
2012-04-02
2012-04-24
2012-04-26
2012-04-30
2012-05-10
2012-06-18
2012-06-20
2012-07-01
2012-07-24
2012-07-28
2012-07-29
2012-07-30
2012-07-31
2012-08-01
2012-08-02
2012-08-05
2012-08-06
2012-08-07
2012-08-08
2012-08-09
2012-08-10
2012-08-11
2012-08-12
2012-08-13
2012-08-14
2012-08-15
2012-08-16
2012-08-17
2012-08-18
2012-08-19
2012-08-20
2012-08-21
2012-08-22
2012-08-23
2012-08-24
2012-08-25
2012-08-26
2012-08-27
2012-08-29
2012-08-30
2012-08-31
2012-09-01
2012-09-02
2012-09-03
2012-09-04
2012-09-05
2012-09-06
2012-09-07
2012-09-09
2012-09-10
2012-09-11
2012-09-12
2012-09-13
2012-09-14
2012-09-16
2012-09-17
2012-09-18
2012-09-19
2012-09-21
2012-09-22
2012-09-25
2012-09-27
2012-09-28

### Our Partners

ABC Color - Paraguay
Al Akhbar - Lebanon
Al Masry Al Youm - Egypt
Asia Sentinel - Hong Kong
Bivol - Bulgaria
Carta Capital - Brazil
CIPER - Chile
Dawn Media - Pakistan
L'Espresso - Italy
La Repubblica - Italy
La Jornada - Mexico
La Nacion - Costa Rica
Malaysia Today - Malaysia
McClatchy - United States
Nawaat - Tunisia
NDR/ARD - Germany
Owni - France
Pagina 12 - Argentina
Philip Dorling - Fairfax media contributor - Australia
Plaza Publica - Guatemala
Publica - Brazil
Publico.es - Spain
Rolling Stone - United States
Russian Reporter - Russia
Ta Nea - Greece
Taraf - Turkey
The Hindu - India
The Yes Men - Bhopal Activists
Sunday Star-Times - New Zealand

### Community resources

Supporters Support Wikileaks Follow us on Twitter Twitter this Follow us on Facebook

courage is contagious

# 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 | 841479
Date | 2010-07-30 12:30:04
From | dialogbot@smtp.stratfor.com
To | translations@stratfor.com

Table of Contents for United States
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Minsk Group Co-Chairs issue statement .::. The Armenian News by A1
2) OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Urge Baku, Yerevan to Work Harder For
Nagorno-karabakh Settlement
3) NGO Praises US Ambassador's Contribution to Albania's Democracy, Free
Speech
Report by E. Gjikolli: "John L. Withers II, Model of Courage, Integrity"
4) Russia-Georgia Relations, Prospects for Restoring Contacts With
Abkhazia and South Ossetia Examined
Interview with Temur Iakobashvili, deputy chairman of the Georgian
Government and state minister for reintegration, by Vremya Novostey
correspondent Mikhail Vignanskiy; place and date not given: "Temur
Iakobashvili: 'Georgia Has To Forget About Russia for a While'"
5) Website Says World Situation Demands Russia and US Be Allies
Article by Aleksandr Mozgovoy: "Where Should Allies Be Found""
6) RF Backs Abkhazia/S Ossetia Participation In Geneva Discussions
7) Xinhua 'Analysis': Why Most Pakistanis Label U.S. 'Enemy' Despite
Alliance
Xinhua "Analysis" by Matthew Rusling : "Why Most Pakistanis Label U.S.
'Enemy' Despite Alliance"
8) Moscow Calls U.S. State Dept Compliance Report Biased (Part 2)
9) Moscow Calls U.S. State Dept Compliance Report Biased (Part 2)
10) The Reality of Egypt, a View From the Opposite Sex
"The Reality of Egypt, a View From the Opposite Sex" -- The Daily Star
Headline
11) Tengizchevroil Increases H1 Oil Production 22.5%
12) King Abdullah, Assad Declare United Support for Lebanon's Stability
"King Abdullah, Assad Declare United Support for Lebanon's Stability" --
The Daily Star Headline
13) < a href="#t13">Us Official Says Relations With Russia Benefits
Central Europe
"Us Official Says Relations With Russia Benefits Central Europe" -- KUNA
Headline
14) Egyptian, Saudi Officials Cited Egyptian-Saudi summit Talks in Sharm
Al-Shaykh
The Peace Process and the Situation in Lebanon on Top of Issues Discussed
by the Saudi-Egyptian Summit Al-Hayah headline
15) Iranian State-Run TV Divulges Tehran's Readiness To Resume Nuclear
Talks
16) Two Americans Killed in Airblues Flight ED 202 on 28 July 2010
AFP report: Two Americans among 152 killed in Airblue plane crash
17) Nobility And Criminality in War
"Nobility And Criminality in War" -- Jordan Times Headline
18) Bangladesh Immigration Police Bar BNP Leader Shamsher Mobin From
Flying to US
Unattributed report: Mobin Barred From Going Abroad
19) EU Asks Zimbabwean Firms To Apply on 'Individual Basis' for Sanctions'
Removal
Report by Samantha Chidzero: "EU Set To Remove Sanctions on Individual
Basis"
20) Policy 'Makeovers' May Cause Loss in Supporter Base
"Viewpoint" column by Yi Jung-jae, business editor of the JoongAng Sunday;
Translation by the JoongAng Daily staff: "Presidential Makeovers Good and
Bad"
21) Int'l Modern Dance Competition to Open in Seoul
22) Xinhua 'Analysis': 'British New PM Angers Israelis, Palestinians'
Xinhua "Analysis" by David Harris: "British New PM Angers Israelis,
Palestinians"
23) Xinhua 'Interview': China Shows Strong Resolve To Develop Clean
Energy: ITER
Xinhua "Interview": "China Shows Strong Resolve To Develop Clean Energy:
ITER"
24) S. Korea's Share of Int'l Fusion Reactor Cost to Top 1 Tln Won
25) Iraq War Inquiry To Resume Public Hearings
"Iraq War Inquiry To Resume Public Hearings" -- KUNA Headline
26) Al-Shabaab Vows To Make Mogadishu 'Graveyard' for Additional AU Troops
27) Commentary Questions Credibility of AU's Role in Africa's Development
Commentary by Charles Onyango-Obbo: "Scrap the AU! Africa Might Be Better
Off Without It"
28) WWP Article on Increasing Military Moves in PRC Off-Shore Waters
Article by Chi Shuo-ming: "US Factor Causes Rising Strategic Military
Deterrence Everywhere"
29) ROK's Yonhap: US Urges Burma To Abide by UN Sanctions on DPRK
Yonhap headline: "U.S. Urges Myanmar to Abide By U.N. Sanctions on N.
Korea: State Dept." by Hwang Doo-hyong
30) North Korean Foreign Minister Begins Visit With Tour of Shwedagon
Pagoda
Report by Joseph Allchin: "N Korean visit clouded in secrecy"; For
assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at (800) 205-8615 or
OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
31) North Korean Foreign Minister Visits Burma; US 'Concerned' by Military
Ties
AFP Report: "N Korean FM in Myanmar Amid Nuclear Worries"
32) Cambodian National Bank Intervenes To Stabilize Currency in First Half
of 2010
Report by Poeusda: "Cambodian National Bank Uses 240.58 Thousand Million
Riel To Save the Riel Currency"
33) Russia's Arctic shelf expedition is of state importance - presidential
envoy
34) Roundtable Panelists View Afghanistan, Iran Situations
Figures indicate program running time. For a video of this program,
contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or, if you do not have e-mail, the
OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615. Selected video is also available on
OpenSource.gov.
35) RSA Writer Views 1st Pr eparatory Committee Meeting for Arms Trade
Treaty
Commentary by Dominique Dye: "Moving Forward on an Arms Trade Treaty"
36) Expert Says Ugandan Bomb Attacks Show US 'Uncertainty' To Tackle
Somali Crisis
Report by Kevin J. Kelley: "Kampala Twin Attacks Expose US Uncertainty
Over Somalia"
37) Writer Criticizes US President Obama for 'Racial Skittishness'
Article by Jacob Dlamini: "Hung Out to Dry by Obamas Racial Skittishness"
38) Luring Chinese Tourists
39) Thailand 'Likely' To End Emergency Rule in Six Provinces Excluding
Bangkok
AFP Report: "Thailand Likely To End Emergency Rule in Six Areas --
Minister"
40) Playing Three-Ball Billiards in Beirut
"Playing Three-Ball Billiards in Beirut" -- The Daily Star Headline
41) DPRK Party Organ Lauds Leader's 'Guts' on Warship 'Ch'o'nan,' '
Pueblo,' Other Incidents
Article by reporter Cho'n Yo'ng-hu'i: "Outstanding Leadership That Has
Embroidered the Victorious History With Matchless Gallantry and Guts"; The
author's title in the byline provided by KPM may be different from that
which appears in hard copy
42) US Urges PRC To Press DPRK To Stop Provocations, Abide by
Denuclearization Pledge
Updated version: "UPDATES with more details, background at bottom" per
2237 GMT source update; Yonhap headline: "China Urged to Press N. Korea to
Stop Provocations, Abide By Denuclearization Pledge: State Dept." by Hwang
Doo-hyong
43) China Remains Vigilant of US-ROK Military Drills
Article by Li Daguang, professor of the National Defense University:
"US-ROK Joint Military Exercise Was Eventually Started"
44) Xinhua 'Analysis': British PM Visit To India Focuses on Developing
Economic And Trade Ties
Xinhua &quo t;Analysis" by Wu Qiang : "British PM Visit To India Focuses
on Developing Economic And Trade Ties"
45) Software Push By University to Catch Up With U.S.
46) Report Says US, India, Israel, Russia Working Against Pakistan
Report by Javed Rashid: "1,200 RAW Operatives Asigned to Afghanistan To
Carry Out Actions Against Pakistan"-- Words in quotation marks as
published
47) IMF Approves $15 Mln Stand-By Arrangement For Ukraine
48) RMRB Interviews PRC Academic on 'Theory of China's Economic
Responsibility'
Report by Staff Reporter Cui Peng: "Renminbi Exchange Rate Has Not Been
Undervalued! (Responding to the 'Theory of China's Economic
Responsibility') -- Interview WithHe Weiwen, Director of the China-US
Economics and Trade Research Center at University of International
Business and Economics"
49) ZTS Special Article Questions Mo tive of Exaggerating PRCs Naval
Strength
Special Article by Hong Kong ZTS contributing reporter Shi Ren: The
Motive of Exaggerating Chinas Naval Strength Provides Much Food for
Thought
50) Pakistan Press Nawa-e Waqt 29 Jul 10
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
51) Xinhua 'Roundup': Vietnam To Host First ASEAN Defense Ministers'
Meeting Plus in October
Xinhua "Roundup": "Vietnam To Host First ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting
Plus in October"
52) Freed Dissident Arrives in US, Lashes Out Against Cuban Government
"Freed Cuban dissident arrives in U.S." -- EFE Headline
53) IMF Adopts $15 Bln Anti-crisis Support Program For Ukraine
54) Pakistan Daily--ISI Must Clarify its Collusion With Afghan Taliban
Editorial: Stunning Reticence
55) PRC Expert on Role of Second Artillery in Countering US Encirclement
Dispatch from Beijing news center by reporter Liu Yueh-shan: "Leading Role
of Second Artillery in Defending China's Maritime Rights"
56) Indian, Israeli Agencies Leaked Reports To Defame Country
Report by Abdul Shakur Abi Hassan: "Secret Reports -- Israeli, Indian
Agencies Played Significant Role"
57) Commentary Says India Protesting 'Too Much' Against China-Pakistan
Nuclear Deal
Commentary by PR Chari: Is India Protesting too Much About the Sino-Pak
Nuke Deal?
58) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010) -- NEWS IN BRIEF (3 of
6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010)"
59) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010) -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (2
of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010)"
60) US Must Assess Policy of Distrusting Pakistan, Focus To Stabilize
Afghanistan
Article by Asif Haroon Raja: Time for America To Introspect
61) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29) -- FOREIGN TIPS (5 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29)"
62) DPRK KPA Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun's 'Report' on War Victory
Anniversary
Text of "report" by Kim Yong Chun [Kim Yo'ng-ch'un], vice chairman of the
DPRK National Defense Commission, minister of People's Armed Forces, and
vice marshal of the Korean People's Army, at a central report meeting to
mark the 57th anniversary of the victory of the great Fatherland
Liberation War, held on 26 July at the Pyongyang Stadium -- recorded
63) US Repeats Ch'o'nan Sunk by DPRK Torpedo, Dismisses Russian Claims of
'Sea Mine'
By Hwang Doo-hyong: "U.S. repeats Ch'o'nan [Cheonan] was sunk by N.
Korea's torpedo: State Dept."
64) PRC Expert Sees Warming Up of US-ROK Military Alliance
By staff reporters Shi Shangyu and Zhang Xin, from Beijing, US-ROK
Alliance Warms Up Expert: The Trend is Worth Observation
65) Us Says Corruption in Afghanistan Is 'An Ongoing Challenge'
"Us Says Corruption in Afghanistan Is "An Ongoing Challenge"" -- KUNA
Headline
66) War Document Leaks Not Likely To Affect Pakistans 'Postures' on India
Commentary by Vikram Sood, former head of the Research and Analysis Wing,
Indias external intelligence agency: Night of the Generals
67) Pakistan Army Chief ExtensionCivil Govt Caved In To Military
Pressure
Article by Saida Fazal: Weak Government, Strong Generals
68) ROK 'Viewpoint' Column Urges ROK to Learn From UK Politician
Wilberforce
"Viewpoint" column by Park Sang-ik, professor of history educa tion at
Woosuk University: "Summoning The Spirit of Wilberforce"
69) Xinhua 'Interview': U.S. Solar Energy Technology Farther Advanced Than
Other Countries: Expert
Xinhua "Interview": "U.S. Solar Energy Technology Farther Advanced Than
Other Countries: Expert"
70) Pakistan Author Flays US-Based Indian Lobbies Idea of Division of
Afghanistan
Article by Saleem Safi: Division of Afghanistan?
71) Pakistan Article Terms Reports Accusing ISI as Inconsistent,
Fabricated
Article by Ikram Sehgal: Here we go again!
72) Afghan TV Program Debates Forthcoming Kabul Conference, Use of
International Aid
From the "De Owonay Bahs (Discussion of the Week)" program; for assistance
with multimedia elements, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
73) JI Chief Says Pakistan Signed Afghan Transit Trade Treaty Under US
Pressure
Recorder report: Water dispute emerged due to Indian water aggression:
Jamaat-e-Islami
74) US Plan of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in FATA Full of Flaws
Report by Hamid Waleed: Absence of facilities makes proposed ROZs
imperfect
75) ROK Column Says 'Real Aftermath of Ch'o'nan Incident Has Only Just
Begun'
"Viewpoint" column by Oh Young-hwan, editor of foreign and security
affairs at the JoongAng Ilbo: "Tough Diplomacy or Regime Change?"
76) Russias Energy Cooperation With Iran Comes at 'Wrong Time'
Commentary by Vladimir Radyuhin: The Russian-Iranian Road Map
77) Yeni Ozgur Politika Headlines17 July 2010
The following is a list of news headlines from the Yeni Ozgur Politika
website on 17 July; to request additional processing, please contact OSC
at (800) 205-8615, (202) 338-6735, fax (703) 613-5735, or oscinfo@rc
cb.osis.gov
78) Arabic Daily Sees in Cameron's Remarks About Gaza Blockade Change in
UK Policy
Editorial: "Cameron and Awakening of Conscience"
79) Russian Narcotics Problem Attributed to U.S. Failure To Curb Afghan
Heroin
Article by Yuriy Trofimov: "A Covering Force Against the Narcotics Threat"
80) Macedonian Commentary Rejects ICJ Kosovo Verdict as Result of US
'Pressure'
Commentary by Straso Angelovski: "Noose Around European States' Neck"
81) US Envoy's Remarks Trigger Kosovo Objections to Idea of Special Status
for North
Report by Arben Ahmeti: "Statements on North Disturb Prishtina"
82) Russia Wants US To Focus On Afghan Terrorism, Illegal Drugs
83) Russia is interested in USA's success in Afghanistan - official
84) Danish Daily Says Wikileaks Documents Confirm Medi a Criticism of
Afghanistan War
Editorial by ts [Toger Seidenfaden]: "Wikileaks Yet Another Mess To
Clean up for Obama; Afghanistan Rapidly Becoming a Serious Burden for the
US President"
85) Wikileaks Founder Expects Afghan War Revelations To Influence Future
Decisions
Telephone interview with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in London by
Fernando Navarro in Madrid on 28 July: "'We Provide Reliable Information
Without Pursuing Commercial, Political Interests'"
86) State Minister for Foreign Affairs Says US Entangled in Afghanistan
Unattributed report: "US Will Not Be Able To Withdraw From Afghanistan
Soon: Malik Ammad"-- All Words Within Double Quotation Marks, As Published
87) Iranian Paper Warns of 'Strong Reaction' Against Any Military Action
Editorial headlined "Washington's military threat and Iran's defense
power"
88) Former ISI Chief Says US Wants To Withdraw From Afghanistan
Unattributed report: "Another 10,000 Page Report Regarding Afghanistan
Will Soon Be Made Public -- Gen [ret] Hamid Gul"
89) US Deputy SecState Says US-ROK Drills 'Direct Result' of PRC's Support
for DPRK
Report by Hwang Doo-hyong: "China's failure to blame N. Korea for Ch'o'nan
[Cheonan] led to S. Korea-U.S. joint drills: Steinberg"
90) America's Afghanistan Solution May Only Strengthen Pakistan
"America's Afghanistan Solution May Only Strengthen Pakistan" -- The Daily
Star Headline
91) Cocaine Flow To Russia Increases By 25 Pct Annually - Source
92) Afghan president, US Attorney General discuss corruption
93) Afghan paper sees difficulties for Karzai in talks mediated by
Pakistan's ISI
94) Afghan daily sceptical about new US commander's success
95) Afghan TV Program Reviews Efforts To Combat Narcotics Production,
Smuggling
From the "Mobahesa (Discussion)" program; for assistance with multimedia
elements, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
96) Afghan TV Program Debates Division of Power Between Presidency,
Parliament
From the "Hot Topics" program; for assistance with multimedia elements,
contact the OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
97) Afghan daily fears reversal of McChrystal approach to civilian
casualties
98) Paper urges Afghan government to take 'decisive' action, end war
99) Abolition of AA And Conclusion of Peace Treaty to Replace It Demanded
in S. Korea
100) US Tracking DPRK's Money Flow for Sanctions
Unattributed report: "U.S. Tracking N.Korea's Money Flow For Sanctions"
101 ) UN Command, DPRK Begin 3rd Round of Talks Over Ship Sinking on 30
Jul
Updated version: upgrading precedence, revising headline, adjusting tags
and adding referent items; Yonhap headline: "U.N. Command, N. Korea Begin
Third Round of Talks Over Ship Sinking"
102) Un Vote Declares Access To Water a Basic Human Right
"Un Vote Declares Access To Water a Basic Human Right" -- The Daily Star
Headline
103) United States Seen Interfering in China's Islands Dispute With
Neighbors
Article by Vladimir Skosyrev: "United States Interferes in China's Dispute
With Its Neighbors. Washington Seeks New Partners in Southeast Asia"
104) Deputy USTR Says US-ROK FTA's Ratification to Enhance Exports, Jobs
Updated version: Replacing 1642 GMT version with update provided by source
at 2239 GMT; Following is source-supplied update to referent item; By
Hwang Doo-hyong: " (LEAD) Korea FTA's ratification to enhance exports,
jobs: Deputy USTR (ATTN: ADDS Rep. Levin's remarks in paras 11-12)," "(2nd
LD) U.S. to focus on auto, beef in FTA negotiations: Kirk (ATTN: CHANGES
headline, lead; ADDS remarks by Kirk throughout)"
105) DAG Says No One in Custody Under Suspicion of Contact With Shehzad
"Contact With Faisal Shehzad -- No One Is in Intelligence Agencies'
Custody: Deputy Attorney General" -- Online headline
106) PML Leader Says Army Chief's Service Extension Should Benefit People
Unattributed report: "Army Chief Should Prove Extension Right By Taking
Decisions In Interest Of Nation: Kabir Wasti"
107) Nigerian Women's 100m Record Holder Aims Higher
Xinhua: "Nigerian Women's 100m Record Holder Aims Higher"
108) Xinhua 'Feature': Rain Dampens Rescue Efforts in Pakistani Plane
Crash as Nation Mourns
X inhua "Feature": "Rain Dampens Rescue Efforts in Pakistani Plane Crash
as Nation Mourns"
109) China Calls on US To Contribute To Bilateral Military Exchange
Xinhua: "China Calls on US To Contribute To Bilateral Military Exchange"
110) PRC Military Spokesman Calls On US to 'Handle Carefully' Sensitive
Issues
Updated version: rewording subject line for clarity, adding Urgent,
Military topic tags; Xinhua: "China Calls on US To Contribute To Bilateral
Military Exchange"
111) Polish Special Forces Set To Join Elite NATO Club, Launch Recruitment
Drive
Report by Edyta Zemla: "Searching for Commandos"
112) Peruvian President Announces Cancellation of US Mining Firm's License
"Peru announces cancellation of U.S.-owned miner's license" -- EFE
Headline
113) Jbeil Church Renovated With US Heritage Aid"Jbeil Church Renovated
With US Heritage Aid" -- The Daily Star Headline
114) Experts See No Big US Arms Sales To Taiwan This Year
Unattributed article from the "Taiwan" page: "Experts See No Big US Arms
Sales To Taiwan This Year"
115) 25 Years as An Executive in Korea
116) Interior Ministry Defies LHC For Pleading Dr Aafias Case in US Court
Report by Hamid Nawaz: Non-submission of documentary evidences: LHC seeks
explanation from Secretary Interior Ministry
117) Article Says Gen Kayani's Objective, Goal, Loyalties for Country
Article by Nusrat Mirza: "General KayaniEndorsement of Service Extension"
118) Wikileaks Propaganda Harmful For Pakistan-US Alliance: Foreign
Affairs Secretary
Recorder Report: Wikileaks propaganda a malicious attempt to defame
Pakistan
119) Pakistani Press Takbeer 17-23 Dec 2009
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
120) Mac Chairwoman To Speak On Ecfa In U.S.
By Charles Kang and Fanny Liu
121) Madrid to cooperate with Iraq death probe if judge requests it
122) Spanish judge orders US soldiers' arrest over Iraq killing
123) U.S. Gov't, Congress Leaders Call For Revision of FTA With Seoul
124) S. Korea's Industrial Output Grows 16.9 Pct in June
Updated version: "ADDS finance ministry's assessment of economic
situations in 12-13 para" per 0103 GMT source update on 30 July; "ADDS
details in 2nd para, other info from 4th para" per 0014 GMT source update
on 30 July
125) Tajik cotton blacklisted by USA
126) No Software, No Future
"Viewpoint" column by Lee Cheol-ho, an edi torial writer of the JoongAng
Ilbo: "No Software, No Future"
127) Push in US for Taiwan To Enter ICAO
Unattributed article from the "Taiwan" page: "Push in US for Taiwan To
Enter ICAO"
128) Three Zimbabwean Youths To Attend Young African Leaders Forum in US
From 3-5 Aug
Report by Hendricks Chizhanje: "Zim Activists To Meet Obama"
129) US Agency Says Working With Local Communities in Zimbabwe To Fight
HIV/AIDS
Report by Caroline Mvundura: "US Body Helps Communities Fight HIV/AIDS"
130) PRC Holds Military Exercise in South China Sea 26 Jul; Pundits Blame
US Actions
By ZTS special correspondent Zhuang Jingqian: (Beijing Observations)
China Accelerates Blue-Water Drive Under External Pressure
131) Iranian Paper Says Secretary Clinton To Visit East Asia To Seek
Allies
Report by Faramarz Asghari: " ;Clinton's view on East"
132) People's Daily Online: Is United States Ready To Recognize China as
World Power?
By Zhang Xinyi, People's Daily Online: "Is US ready to recognize China as
world power?"
133) DPRK Party Organ Criticizes US 'Deceptive' Advocacy of Nuclear
Disarmament
OSC plans to process the below Rodong Sinmun signed commentary as referent
item; KCNA headline: "U.S. Deceptive Advocacy of 'Nuclear Disarmament'
Flayed"
134) UN Command, DPRK To Hold 'Third' Round of Talks on 30 Jul
Yonhap headline: "U.N. Command, N. Korea to Hold Third Round of Talks
Friday" by Kim Deok-hyun
135) Pilot Error Blamed For F-5 Fighter Jet Crash in June
136) Koreans in China Decry US-ROK Naval Exercises as Attempt to 'Ignite'
War
KCNA headline: "U.S. and Lee Myung Bak Group's Moves to Provoke Nuclear
War Flailed"137) NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010) -- TOPIC
OF THE WEEK (1 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010)"
138) Court Bans LG Chem Scientist From Joining Foreign Rival
139) 2nd LD Writethru: U.N. Command, DPRK Postpone Military Talks
Xinhua: "2nd LD Writethru: U.N. Command, DPRK Postpone Military Talks"
140) Former Kamran Naval Base Airport To Serve International Flights
141) UNC Says 3rd Round of UN Command-DPRK Colonel-Level Meeting Postponed
Xinhua "Urgent": "3rd Round of U.N. Command-DPRK Colonel-Level Meeting
Postponed"
142) ROK Activists in US to Voice Skepticism About DPRK Role in Ship's
Sinking
Updated version: Adjusting meta-data; Original headline: "In D.C., Liberal
Civic Groups Get Cold-Shouldered"
143) GM's V olt May Be Coming to Korea
144) North Cyberattack Feared, Says Gov't
145) Hidden Youth Unemployment
146) PRC Economy Unlikely To Bottom Out in 2010, but Growth Expects To
Decline
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735; or email: oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov.
147) China Leads the World in Urbanization: Blue Paper
Xinhua: "China Leads the World in Urbanization: Blue Paper"
148) PRC's CICIR Expert Says Sanctions Drive Iran's Nuclear Fusion
Research
"Short Commentary" by Tian Wenlin, associate research fellow at the China
Institutes of Contemporary International Relations: "Offense as Defense"
149) Uncertain Oil Supply May Become New Risk for World Economy: Standard
&amp; Poor's
Xinhua: "Uncertain Oil Supply May Become New Risk for World Ec onomy:
Standard &amp; Poor's"
150) More on China Denying Forcing Foreign Firms To Transfer Technology
151) WTO Backs China in Poultry Dispute With US
152) Further on China Denying Forcing Foreign Firms To Transfer Technology
153) China Denies Forcing Foreign Firms To Transfer Technology
154) RMRB Signed Article Refutes 'Theory of China's Economic
Responsibility'
Article by Guo Jiping: "Theory of 'China's Economic Responsibility' Is
Irresponsible"
155) China To Fund Mega Tourism Project
CMC Headline: "BAHAMAS-TOURISM-China To Fund Mega Tourism Project"
156) Russian-US review of missile challenges to be finished by 2011 -
official
157) : Treaty Procedures for Mobile Land-Based ICBM Inspections Flawed
Article by Midykhat Vildanov under "Realities" ru bric: "Blank Spots in
START-3"
158) Russian Stock Market Posts Gains on Thurs Spearheaded By Transneft
Shares
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Back to Top
Minsk Group Co-Chairs issue statement .::. The Armenian News by A1 - A1+
Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:27:32 GMT
The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Igor Popov of Russia,
Bernard Fassier of France, and Robert Bradtke of the United States,
released the following statement today:
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Ambassador Bernard Fassier of France;
Ambassador Robert Bradtke of the United States; Ambassador Igor Popov of
the Russian Federation) met with the members of the Minsk Group July 28 in
Vienna, Austria.
They briefed the Minsk Group on recent developments in negotiations on the
peaceful settlement o f the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including:
discussions held in St. Petersburg June 17, 2010 by the presidents of the
Russian Federation, Armenia, and Azerbaijan; the meeting of the Heads of
Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries with the Foreign
Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia July 17, 2010; and the joint
statements issued by the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries in Muskoka and
Almaty.
The Co-Chairs stressed that the efforts made so far by the sides of the
conflict have not been sufficient to overcome their differences, and that
additional actions are needed to reinforce the ceasefire and demonstrate a
spirit of compromise. To assist the parties in their efforts, the
Co-Chairs plan to visit the region in early September.
(Description of Source: Yerevan A1+ in English -- website of opposition
A1+ Television taken off the air by the Armenian authorities in April
2002; publishes news in brief, comments and interviews; URL: http://www.a1
plus.am/en )
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.
2) Back to Top
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Urge Baku, Yerevan to Work Harder For
Nagorno-karabakh Settlement - Interfax
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:22:56 GMT
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
BAKU. July 29 (Interfax) - The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will pay
a visit to the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in early September, it was
announced after a meeting in Vienna."The co-chairs stressed that the
efforts made so far by the sides of the conflict have not been sufficient
to overcome their differences, and that additional actions are needed to
reinforce the ceasefire and demonstrate a spirit of compromise," it said
in a statement."To assist the parties in their efforts, the co-chairs plan
to visit the region in early September," it says.The OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs ambassador Igor Popov of Russia, ambassador Bernard Fassier of
France and ambassador Robert Bradtke of the U.S. informed the Minsk Group
about the latest events in the negotiations on settling the conflict at
the meeting in Vienna.Nagorno-Karabakh is located inside Azerbaijan but
has a mainly ethnic Armenian population. It declared itself independent in
1991 leading to a three-year war.Interfax-950215-EOKWCBAA
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.
3) Back to Top
NGO Praises US Ambassador's Contribution to Albania's Democracy, Free
Speech
Report by E. Gjikolli: "John L. Withers II, Model of Courage, Integrity" -
ATA
Thursday July 29, 2010 16:08:04 GMT
The group of women's organizations held Thursday a ceremony to pay tribute
to the contribution provided by outgoing Ambassador Withers.
Withers did not take part in the event for health reasons. Mirela
Arqimandriti, Executive Director of the Gender Alliance for Development
Center, read a letter of thanks and gratitude to him.
"The representatives of the organizations for the protection of the rights
of women and children, as part of human rights, thank you for the
excellent values shown in support of human rights," the letter says.
The letter values the role of Withers and American people in consolidating
democracy and the freedom of the speech in Alb ania.
(Description of Source: Tirana ATA in English -- government press 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.
4) Back to Top
Russia-Georgia Relations, Prospects for Restoring Contacts With Abkhazia
and South Ossetia Examined
Interview with Temur Iakobashvili, deputy chairman of the Georgian
Government and state minister for reintegration, by Vremya Novostey
correspondent Mikhail Vignanskiy; place and date not given: "Temur
Iakobashvili: 'Georgia Has To Forget About Russia for a While'" - Vremya
Novostey Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:36:38 GMT
(Vignanskiy) On this occa sion, the Abkhazians have for the first time
declined to take part in the Geneva negotiations, voicing the complaint
that the meetings are ineffective...
(Iakobashvili) They are being crafty. They will take part -- it is just
that the format will change somewhat and individual meetings will be held.
(Vignanskiy) Abkhazia and South Ossetia want to sign agreements with
Tbilisi on the non-resumption of war. They are saying that they are
dissatisfied with the Geneva negotiations, insofar as the meetings are not
producing a result...
(Iakobashvili) This too is craftiness. A treaty on the non-use of force
has already been signed (the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement put an end to
combat activity in August 2008 -- Ed.). Now Russia is attempting to
portray the Abkhazians and Ossetians as independent players. But this will
never happen. We did not fight against them, but with the Russian
Federation. The Russians themselves want to extricate themselves from th e
situation, to show that they are neutral. It is a trick that will not
work! We are prepared once again to sign an agreement -- but with Russia.
An agreement must have international guarantees.
(Vignanskiy) How do you implement a new government strategy of engagement
of Abkhazians and Ossetians without Russian participation, if you say that
Moscow has complete control in Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
(Iakobashvili) Our strategy has no relation to Russia. These are plans
which concern our populace. Russia can impede their implementation, but in
such event we will raise the issue on the level of international
organizations. In general, I believe it would not be advisable for them to
interfere, because if they do so, the Russians will get a negative
reaction on the part of the population there. Why impede non-political
aspects -- human contacts, trade, education, health care, culture, sports,
the ecology, the establishment of joint enterprises? Our strate gy is
oriented on ordinary people. I do not really understand why all of this
would be blocked -- the movement of people, for example. A kilogram of
tomatoes costs 2 lari (about $1.10 -- Ed.) at a bazaar in Zugdidi, but it
is six times as much in Sukhumi. Abkhazia has experienced a failed tourist
season. One of the reasons for this is high prices.
It is not productive to emplace artificial economic obstacles. We are not
recruiting anyone, not bribing anyone. We want to help our people. It is
political aspects that are being discussed in Geneva. There is no mention
in our concept of status or security. We must learn to separate politics
from humanitarian issues.
(Vignanskiy) Following the 2008 events, skepticism is strong in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia with respect to any plans Georgia might have...
(Iakobashvili) There is no skepticism there. People there are waiting.
They want to be convinced of the degree to which the Georgian side intends
to implement everythin g that has been noted. We will prove that we are
serious!
(Vignanskiy) And to this end Tbilisi is creating the Cooperation Agency
and Trust Fund?
(Iakobashvili) These instruments will help implement what we have planned.
It is not donors that we need, but international partners. We cannot
handle this alone. Consider, for example, the question of education in
Europe and the United States. Or if we talk about relocations, situations
where visas are required. We are happy that the European Union has
responded approvingly to our concept. The world can share its experience.
(Vignanskiy) The world is asking Georgia to straighten out its relations
with Russia...
(Iakobashvili) No one is asking anything. They are only saying that this
would be a good thing. Naturally, we too want normal relations with Russia
-- perhaps even more than Europe or the United States want this. We are
neighbors, after all. But until Russia stops treating us like vassals,
there will be problems.
(Vignanskiy) President Mikhail Saakashvili recently stated that Georgia is
prepared for dialogue with Russia...
(Iakobashvili) We have a minister of foreign affairs who is quite well
known in Russian diplomatic circles. They know him personally. They trust
him. If there is a desire on the part of the Russian side to engage in
dialogue, they know the address and the phone number to call. We can talk
about everything except for two things: the sovereignty and the
territorial integrity of Georgia. We do not bargain over this. We do not
discuss these questions.
(Vignanskiy) Are intermediaries needed for negotiations between Russia and
Georgia?
(Iakobashvili) Time will tell. If they are needed, they will become
available. If we are going to hold an objective discussion, I think that
at some time intermediaries will be necessary, because the level of trust
between the two sides is zero .
(Vignanskiy) What do you have to say about the first visits of the
presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to Nicaragua and Venezuela, which
took place a few days ago? After all, together with the Republic of Nauru
they recognized the independence of these states after Russia did so...
(Iakobashvili) We are happy to see the money of Russian taxpayers being
used to pay for the vacations of 40 Abkhazians and 40 Ossetians in Latin
American countries. All of this is for internal use. Abkhazians and
Ossetians actually understand that these are sham recognitions.
(Vignanskiy) Early August will mark the two-year point following the war
in the Caucasus. What lessons, in your view, must Georgia learn from this?
(Iakobashvili) Here in Georgia, after what has happened, we know how to
deal with Russia. Or more accurately -- we know how not to deal with
Russia at all. We must forget about Russia for a while, until they no
longer occupy our territo ries. This would be the best thing for us.
(Description of Source: Moscow Vremya Novostey Online in Russian --
Website of liberal, small-circulation paper that sometimes criticizes the
government; URL: http://www.vremya.ru/)
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.
5) Back to Top
Website Says World Situation Demands Russia and US Be Allies
Article by Aleksandr Mozgovoy: "Where Should Allies Be Found"" -
Natsionalnaya Oborona Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:25:01 GMT
The article is published by way of discussion and reflects the author's
personal point of view.
In a cer tain sense the Russian-American treaty on the further cutting and
limitation of strategic offensive weapons (SNV-3) (START-3) signed on 8
April in Prague is an anachronism, its own sort of a Cold War relic to the
extent that it seemingly regulates the two sides' rivalry in the military
sphere. But this rivalry, after all, should have been left in the past,
inasmuch as the Cold War was ended at the boundary of the 90s of the last
century.
It is true that there was a side that lost in it -- the USSR that
collapsed. But it is in no way possible to call the United States a victor
in it either. It turned out that the multi-polar world, which at first
they did not want to recognize at all in Washington, is not only good, but
bad. Multi-polarity engendered new challenges, which simultaneously
threatened both the United States together with its European NATO partners
and the Russian Federation together with the SNG (CIS -- Commonwealth of
Independent States) countries.
The Cold War inertia, however, is strong and even very strong. As in the
past, the United States and Russia continue to look upon one another
primarily as upon enemies. This is observed both at the state level and at
the level of everyday life. You do not have to go far for examples. Let us
recall reaction overseas in connection with the events in South Ossetia in
2008 that was insulting for Russia. But what if instead of Russian
peacekeepers 15 American service members were treacherously killed? Almost
1,800 peaceful inhabitants, the majority of whom were Russian Federation
citizens, also perished then. And what if they had American passports? Of
course, the United States could not have leveled the Caucasus Mountains to
the ground, but they certainly would have burned down everything in
Georgia.
On the other hand, it is impossible not to notice the almost joyful tone
of the reports in the Russian media on one or another setbacks of the
United State's and NATO's armed forces in Afghanistan. For us, this
country is still an open wound. And now the Americans and West Europeans
have stepped on the very same rake. And it serves them right! Instead of
fighting narcotics producers and narcotics traffickers, they are pursuing
Bin Ladin and the Taliban. And it is somehow has never occurred to us that
if the Americans and their NATO allies were not in Afghanistan it is still
unknown how the situation would have shaped up in the Middle Asian states,
which they now call Central, that is, on Russia's southern borders. And
we, after all, would have been buried over the roof in narcotics. In
essence, today American and West European troops are carrying out the work
that the Soviet "limited military contingent" did not finish.
In Russia's new military doctrine the approach of NATO's military
infrastructure to the Russian Federation's borders is indicated as a
fundamental foreign threat to our country. Undoubtedly, NATO's military
power represents a threat to Russia, inasmuch as the level of any threat
is determined not by the political figures' statements but by the real
capabilities of the military machine of a concrete country or group of
countries. And such capabilities of NATO are very great in comparison to
the Russian Federation. And still, the threat from the side of the North
Atlantic Alliance, with all of its reality -- this is a kind of plat du
jour that is on the menu of provincial restaurants. It can always be
offered when there is nothing else on hand in the political kitchen. The
very same thing to this day is to be seen in Washington and West European
capitals. From time to time they pull the shadow of the bloodthirsty
"Russian bear" out of the old family cupboard and set it free to "take a
walk" on the pages of newspapers and the screens of the electronic media.
Nevertheless, it is fashionable in the West and in the East to call each
oth er "partners." But this concept is too imprecise and carries hardly
any obligations. After all, players at a card table are partners, as well
has men and women meeting in a brothel. Finally, the unforgettable Lenya
Golubkov was a "partner" of the Mavrodi brothers (REFERENCE to a notorious
mid-90s Russian Ponzi scheme).
The START-3 Treaty signed in Prague can be listed among the partnership
things. There is no harm from it. In it the sides only de jure fixed
positions that already de facto exist in the sphere of strategic nuclear
arms.
But the times require an already different character of interrelations and
a different character of agreements. And precisely -- agreements between
allies. This does not mean that the US and Russia during the period of
time indicated in such a treaty will love each other tenderly and
passionately. There is no need for extremes. What is needed is the
pragmatic approach that once existed during the years of the Second World
War.
Take just the story with anti-missile defense. It must be recognized that
the US here kidded around with Russia about the entire program. By all
accounts, plans to station anti-missile missiles in Poland and the radars
controlling them in the Czech Republic were from the very beginning a
diversionary maneuver. While Moscow, with the fury of a Don Quixote
tilting at windmills, hurled anger at these non-existent objects, the
United States deployed an ABM system at sea with SM-3 missile interceptors
and an Aegis command and control system (for details see Natsionalnaya
Oborona nos. 1 and 2 for 2008). Last year, the US "met Russia halfway,"
having renounced the non-existent ABM in Eastern Europe, and opened the
way to negotiations on START-3.
A great deal of noise was made with regard to the now "overloading"
(perezagruzka), now "resetting" (peregruzka) of Russian-American
relations, but the fact remains -- in the diplomatic and propaganda
spheres the Americans splendidly outflanked us.
Now in Moscow they assert that if the US were to improve its ABM, then
Russia would withdraw from START-3, which is provided for by the
agreement. But a point on a half-year procedure of withdrawing from
treaties of this sort is included in all similar documents. It is enough
to recall the US's withdrawal from the 1972 ABM Treaty. From the point of
view of international law, everything was done irreproachably.
There is no doubt that the US will continue to improve its global system
of anti-missile defense, including directed energy weapons (see the
journal Natsionalnaya Oborona no. 2 for 2010). But it must be recognized
that Washington's concern with regard to the aggressive nuclear ambitions
of a number of states is not without grounds. The US and Russia need to
conduct a coordinated policy, including on ABM, before the matter comes to
a great misfortune.
Only such a naive person as the Russian Federation's Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov could talk about the fact that "there is no evidence of the
military nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear program."
High-ranking Iranian figures are openly declaring this. News arrived from
Tehran at the beginning of the current year about the beginning of
enriching uranium to the 20% level, and in February President Mahmoud
Amadinejad announced that the first batch of higher concentration uranium
has already been produced. At the same time, he emphasized that the plant
in Natanze for enriching uranium can produce even 80% nuclear fuel, that
is, he admitted the possibility of enriching uranium to weapons grade.
This means that in a year to a year and a half Iran will get the material
for its own first nuclear bomb.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's (IRI) missile programs are developing at
similar rapid rates. On 3 February the Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) rocket
delivery system successfully put a bio-capsule into orbit, that is, an
artificial satellite with live organisms. According the data from the FARS
agency, the length of the multi-stage rocket is 27 meters, and the launch
weight is 85 tons. The Explorer-3 is capable of putting 100 kilograms of
useful load into a 500-kilometer orbit.
This rocket, as also was the Safir (Envoy) family of rockets used by Iran
for the peaceful development of space, was created on the basis of the
Shahab (Meteor) type ballistic missiles. The latter in turn are clones of
the North Korean Tepkhodon missiles that are keeping citizens of South
Korea and Japan in fear. They had been developed on the basis of the R-11
and R-17 missiles, better known in the West as the Scud-A and Scud-B
supplied to the DPRK by the Soviet Union.
The Shahab missiles have several modifications, differentiated from each
other by useful load weight and range. According to foreign sources' data,
the Shahab-3 missile flies fo r 1,200 miles, that is, for 1,930
kilometers. It is able to strike targets not only in Israel, but also in
Kazakhstan and in Russia's Caspian and Volga regions. And the Shahab-3D
modification with a flight range of 1,600 miles (2,573 kilometers) already
makes it to Moscow and reaches the East European countries.
It is known that Iran has grievances not only against the US, to which its
missiles cannot reach in the near future, and against Israel, but also
against other states. It is enough to recall President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's recent directive to his administration to "assess the harm
that was inflicted on Iran by the presence on its territory of the
military contingents of the anti-Hitler coalition -- the USSR, US, and
Great Britain -- during the time of the Second World War." The Iranian
president wants to demand compensation for this damage "for the
restoration of the rights of the Iranian people." When the "rights of the
people&qu ot; are talked about in this context it is necessary to prepare
for the worst -- for war. By the way, Tehran is not simply frightening its
neighboring countries with its "meteors," it is carrying out their covert
deployment. The missiles are placed on tractor launchers camouflaged as
civilian trailers.
Iran's military activity also has been sharply intensified in the Caspian.
The constant strengthening of the Islamic Republic's navy is to be seen
there.
Tehran's military preparations are not going unnoticed by neighbors.
Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan have been forced to reinforce
their military forces. Only Russia -- in theory the main figure in the
ODKB (CSTO -- Collective Security Treaty Organization) -- is asleep.
But it would be better for Moscow not to slumber, but together with the
US, its NATO allies, and its own CSTO allies to take energetic steps to
curb Tehran's militaristic ambitions. The time for tough sanctions aga
inst this country already is due and even overdue. Military-technical
cooperation with the IRI should be closed until a regime that is sound of
mind has been established in Tehran. Well, and of course it is necessary
to be engaged in anti-missile defense. Better not alone, but together with
the US and other NATO countries. Inasmuch as Iran's missile and nuclear
projects already are close to the final stage, it is not worth ruling out
support for the US's and Israel's military actions against this country.
They might include transferring intelligence information, providing air
space for the over-flight of combat aircraft, as well as other measures.
Responding to a question from the American television company ABC's
correspondent G. Stephanopolous regarding the Iranian nuclear program,
Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev emphasized that "we cannot watch with
indifference the way one or another nuclear program is being developed
there. And this is precisely why Russia has joined in the work that is
being carried out today by the United States and other countries. However,
the chief of the Russian state noted, "sanctions are a thing that very
rarely work." In fact, sanctions also were imposed by that same United
States against the Soviet Union, but Washington had to rescind them in
connection with ineffectiveness. American sanctions have been in effect
against Cuba for almost 50 years, but the island state lives, albeit with
difficulty.
China, which receives large volumes of oil and gas from Iranian deposits
for its rapidly developing industries, is almost sure not to join in
sanctions against Iran. At the same time, Iran for the PRC is an important
market for the sale of goods, including military goods. Almost all of the
anti-ship missiles in the IRI navy's arsenal, for instance, are of Chinese
manufacture.
And here looms a different, more substantial threat to Russia's national
security -- from the Ch inese direction. It is possible, certainly, to
believe the words of the present leaders of the PRC about the need to
develop cooperation with Russia. The more so that this cooperation is
extremely advantageous to Beijing. But it is impossible not to pay
attention to other circumstances. Military reform of China's Peoples'
Liberation Army is now being carried out in accordance with concepts of
"strategic borders and living space." And it foresees the need for
"increasing the natural sphere of existence," that is, carrying out wars
for the seizure of the territory of other countries in order to ensure the
state's economic activity.
As long ago as 1993 the Military Council of the TsK KPK (CC CPC -- Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China) approved the classified
doctrine of "overcoming (odoleniye) the three norths within the bounds of
the four seas," so that the 21st Century should become the "Chinese
century." Unde r the three "norths," they have in mind the US, Western
Europe, and Russia. And under the four "seas" they have in mind all of the
oceans of the planet. Neither more nor less! Naturally, the Russian
Federation is considered as No. 1 as an object to be "overcome," in any
case the regions of its Far East and Eastern Siberia. On maps that are
printed in Chinese publications, the "correct" border of the PRC passes to
the north of Lake Baykal and Khabarovsk Kray. But those also are
encountered where the border passes along the Urals Mountains. Everything
to the east is Chinese.
China today is the locomotive for getting the world economy out of the
global crisis. But malfunctions happen with any kind of locomotive. The
PRC is severely short of resources: energy, metals, and fresh water. An
oversupply of free hands is creating hotbeds of social tension, especially
in regions where separatist moods are strong.
The even ts in Xinjiang in July 2009 confirm this. Therefore, the question
about "strategic borders and living space" stands out starkly. A quiet
Chinese-ization of the sparsely populated eastern regions of the Russian
Federation already is going on. Not only almost all of consumer goods and
food are being brought there from China, but also the work force for
enterprises of the extraction and processing industries that are oriented
toward export to China.
In many Chinese media, books, and Internet publications the thought of
wars is persistently presented, in which the PLA, naturally, scores a
victory over the adversary. Claims against the "three norths and four
seas" are being bolstered by
the unprecedented growth of Chinese military power. The PRC has at its
disposal modern armed forces capable, if nuclear deterrence did not exist,
of breaking without straining the resistance of troops of the Siberian and
Far Eastern military districts and th e not powerful Pacific Fleet.
By the way, on the PRC's strategic forces, the PLA has at its disposal
200-300 SNV (strategic offensive weapons) delivery systems, of which only
40-80 can "shoot all the way" to the US. How easy it is to figure out th
at all 200-300 Chinese strategic missiles are able to hit targets on the
territory of Russia. And this without taking into consideration tactical
nuclear warhead delivery systems. That is to say, one might as well think
not about cutting nuclear arsenals but about increasing and improving
them.
And it is required to counter the potential Chinese threat together with
the United States. But what does the US need Russia for? Putting it
simply, after the collapse of Russia will come the US's turn. American
experts already now are talking about the fact that 2017 will become the
last year when the United States will be able to defeat the PRC is a
hypothetical military conflict, and by 2025 the PRC will sign ificantly
surpass the US in military power.
Yes, START-3 is not bad, but it already is not playing that role that in
their time fell to SALT-1, SALT-2, and SALT-3. The time has come to look
for new instruments for ensuring global security and stability, including
in the direction of building new alliance relations between Moscow and
Washington.
(Description of Source: Moscow Natsionalnaya Oborona (National Defense)
Online in Russian -- Website of monthly journal focusing in Russian
national security issues; URL: http://www.oborona.ru &amp;
http://nationaldefense.ru)
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.
6) Back to Top
RF Backs Abkhazia/S Ossetia Participation In Geneva Discussions -
ITAR-TASS
Thursday July 29, 2010 14:41:58 GMT
intervention)
VIENNA, July 29 (Itar-Tass) - Russia considers it useful to invite
Abkhazian and South Ossetian representatives to take part in sessions of
the OSCE Standing Committee within Geneva discussions on security and
stability in Transcaucasia, Russian permanent representative to the OSCE
Anvar Azimov said on Thursday on the occasion of the 12th round of Geneva
discussions.The discussions were held on July 27."Sukhum and Tskhinval
should have an opportunity to inform the OSCE about their concerns as long
as our organisation is trying to position itself as a fair 'broker' in the
South Caucasus and as one of the moderators of the Geneva process. By
disregarding the view of Abkhazs and Ossets the Standing Committee will be
deprived of getting an objective assessment on the state of and prospects
for the dialogu e in Geneva. Therefore, the Standing Committee will not
have a full picture on the Geneva discussions," Azimov said.Unfortunately,
the 12th round of consultations in Geneva "did not yield any tangible
results and any breakthrough, including on the key issue - Georgia should
give strict guarantees not to use force against South Ossetia and
Abkhazia", the Russian permanent representative said. "Russia believes
that the priority of international discussions is to work out legally
binding agreements on the non-use of force. This is the essence of the
talks. If there is no progress in solving this problem, it is impossible
to wait for any successful steps on other tracks, including on the
humanitarian dossier," Azimov stressed.Abkhazian and South Ossetian
partners share this position in full, he added.Azimov stressed that
Georgia always resorted to unlawful actions in the frontier zone with
South Ossetia ahead of or during the sessions of Geneva discussio ns and
"artificially heightens tensions in the area and complicates the
constructive dialogue".The 12th round of consultations on security and
stability in the Transcaucasia took place on July 27. The delegations from
the Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the United States and the
Republic of South Ossetia participated in the consultations, which were
held under the auspices of the UN, the European Union and the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The consultations were held in two
working groups - on security and humanitarian issues.Russian Deputy
Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin did not attend the 12th round of the
Geneva discussions. The Russian delegation to the consultations was led by
Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Department of CIS Affairs Alexei
Dvinyatin.The Abkhazian delegation included former Defence Minister Gari
Kupalba and presidential administration official Nadir Bitiyev.Diplomatic
sources told Itar-Tass that the rea son for the lower level of
representation at the consultations lied in the results of the previous
round in early June when the discussion was conducted in the traditional
format of two working groups on security and on humanitarian issues.Back
then, the delegations of South Ossetia and Abkhazia walked out of the
negotiations, protesting against the fact that their opinions were
ignored.Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh said later that Abkhazia would
suspend its participation in the consultations in order to allow "the
mediators to prepare concrete and well-considered proposals."Bagapsh said
Abkhazian representatives continued to insist on "the need to sign
agreements on international security guarantees and the non-use of force
that will help avoid a new conflict with Georgia.""But Georgia refuses to
discuss such document and insists on the withdrawal of Russians troops
from Abkhazia and South Ossetia and on the deployment of international
forces t hat is absolutely unacceptable for our countries," Bagapsh
stressed."Moreover, we are confident that Georgia is encouraged by
international mediators. We won't be able to take part in the discussions
until the situation changes," the Abkhazian president said.Dvinyatin told
Itar-Tass, "The period of summer vacations has resulted in objective cuts
in the Russian delegation, but the main experts are present."He said, "the
absence of the head of the delegation is a temporary phenomenon" and
Russia would not send any "political signals".He said the emphasis would
be on the need fore further work on the document banning the use of force
by Georgia against Abkhazia South Ossetia.They plan to discuss "the
current security situation on the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
with Georgia, including a review of joint mechanisms for preventing and
responding to incidents in border areas," the ministry said.The main
purpose is to "work out legally binding agreements on the non-use of
force," it said, adding, "Russia will continue efforts towards this
goal."The Geneva discussions have been held since October 2008 as part of
the plan proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French
President Nicolas Sarkozy after an armed conflict in South Ossetia in
August 2008.(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.
7) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Analysis': Why Most Pakistanis Label U.S. 'Enemy' Despite Alliance
Xinhua "Analysis" by Matthew Rusling : "Why Most Pakistanis Label U.S.
'Enemy' Despite Allianc e" - Xinhua
Friday July 30, 2010 02:15:36 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Xinhua) -- A new report found a majority of
Pakistanis consider the United States an enemy, in spite of Pakistan' s
role as a key ally in the U.S. fight against radicalism.
Regard for the United States in Pakistan ranks lowest among 22 countries
surveyed in the Pew Global Attitudes survey, with nearly 60 percent of
Pakistanis describing the United States as a nemesis and only 17 percent
expressing a favorable view of the country."America' s overall image
remains very negative in Pakistan," said Andrew Kohut, president of the
non-partisan Pew Research Center.The Pew Research Center report, titled
"America' s Image Remains Poor: Concern About Extremist Threat Slips in
Pakistan," comes at a time when the Obama administration is trying to
strengthen ties with Pakistan.Indeed, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton earlier this month visited Pakistan and pledged 1.5 billion
dollars a year over a five-year period in a bid to beef up Islamabad' s
capacity to aid U.S. strategic goals.But despite the official line of
warming ties, the study found that U.S. President Barack Obama is widely
unpopular in Pakistan -- a sentiment that bucks the trend of many other
countries' admiration for the U.S. president.That in spite of his outreach
to the Muslim world since taking office and a speech from Cairo, Egypt
last year that sought to mend fences in light of U.S. wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.A mere eight percent of Pakistanis expressed confidence that
the U.S. president will make the right choices in world affairs -- his
lowest rating among 22 nations, the report found."Obama' s famous global
popularity does not extend to Pakistan," Kohut said.Kamran Bokhari,
regional director of Middle East and South Asia at global intelligence
company Stratfor, said the president initially generated much hope in the
Muslim world as a result of his outreach efforts.But the U.S. surge policy
in Afghanistan, which has increased civilian casualties, has undermined
Pakistanis' expectations of Obama. Pakistanis now view him in the same
negative light as they did former President George W. Bush."Whatever
expectations were there are gone now," Bokhari said.Many hold the view
that Obama will ultimately do what is in the United States' best interest,
which is not always in line with what Pakistan wants, he added.The recent
WikiLeaks fiasco-- more than 90,000 U.S. military documents were this week
leaked and posted on the Internet-- has also re-enforced feelings of
mistrust.Some of the documents charged Pakistan with playing double agent
and providing sanctuary to Taliban fighters while objecting to U.S. forces
entering parts of Pakistan where Taliban are holed up."WikiLeaks has
eroded a good deal of the goodwill and trust that had been built up ,"
Bokhari said. "I don' t want to exaggerate the extent to which it is a
setback, but it does complicate cooperation."Pakistanis' support for the
United States in the fight against radicalism has declined since last
year. Fewer want Washington to provide support for Pakistani troops,
although around half of those surveyed are still in favor of such efforts,
the study found.Pakistanis widely oppose the U.S. war in Afghanistan and
nearly two-thirds want U.S. and NATO forces to withdraw as soon as
possible, the survey said.Few believe the conflict across the border could
seriously impact Pakistan and 25 percent said a Taliban-controlled
Afghanistan would be bad, whereas 18 percent said it would be good.
Twenty-seven percent said it would not matter and 30 percent expressed no
opinion, the report found.But despite a panoply of negative opinions, most
Pakistanis want better relations with the United States, and the number of
those for whom an improving relationshi p is important rose to 64 percent
from 53 percent last year.The findings are based on face-to-face
interviews taken last spring with 2,000 Pakistani adults, mostly in urban
areas."There's a lot of conspiracy theory that informs the opinions of the
Pakistanis," Bokhari said, adding that such thinking can be found across
all facets of society, including the political and military elite.There
also exists an overall fear that India ranks higher on the U.S. list of
friends than Pakistan -- a reflection of a pre-existing negative opinion
of the United States, he said.(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.
8) Back to Top
Moscow Calls U.S. State Dept Compliance Report Biased (Part 2) - Interfax
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:28:37 GMT
MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax) - Russia is dissatisfied with the evaluation of
Moscow's observance of the START treaty by the U.S. State Department."On
July 28 the U.S. Department of State released its 2010 report "Adherence
to and compliance with arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament
agreements." Without stating any facts, Russia is attributed to those that
violate the nonproliferation agreements," the Russian Foreign Ministry
said on its website on Thursday."The report contains biased assessments of
the compliance of the START treaty by Russia," the ministry said.The
ministry says that according to the report the United States has certain
outstanding issues, namely con cerning the inspection of ICBM RS-24."We
would want to remind that the Russian side in due time took all the
necessary measures to dispel these concerns and at the time of the
expiration of the START Treaty the United States did not express any
grievances concerning its implementation," the ministry statement
says.According to the ministry, the United States claims that a Russian
organization continues dual purpose biological studies. The ministry
believes that the lack of clarity of the U.S. side about Russia's
observance of its commitments recorded in the Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention could have been removed 10 years ago, if in 2001 the United
States would not have blocked multilateral talks on developing a
verification mechanism of the convention.The Foreign Ministry also
dismissed as untrue the claim of the United States that Russia does not
comply with the CFE Treaty."We want to remind you that the treaty in its
1990 wording lost its viability d ue to the refusal of the United States
and other NATO countries to ratify the adapted CFE Treaty in the context
of the continuing enlargement of the alliance which resulted in the
noncompliance of the provisions of the initial treaty by its members," the
statement says.The ministry also describes as incorrect the phrase in the
report about "the presence of Russian forces in Moldova and Georgia
without those states' consent."The Foreign Ministry stressed that there
has not been a single Russian soldier in Georgia for a long time and that
South Ossetia and Abkhazia where Russian military bases are deployed are
no longer parts of Georgia or parties to the CFE Treaty.As for Russian
peacekeepers stationed in Transdniestria, the Foreign Ministry says that
they remain there in line with an agreement between the Republic of
Moldova and the Russian Federation on the principles of the peaceful
settlement of the armed conflict in the Transdniestrian region of the
Republi c of Moldova.ml dp(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-VXMWCBAA
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.
9) Back to Top
Moscow Calls U.S. State Dept Compliance Report Biased (Part 2) - Interfax
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:34:25 GMT
MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax) - Russia is dissatisfied with the evaluation of
Moscow's observance of the START treaty by the U.S. State Department."On
July 28 the U.S. Department of State released its 2010 report "Adherence
to and compliance with arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament
agreements." Without stating a ny facts, Russia is attributed to those
that violate the nonproliferation agreements," the Russian Foreign
Ministry said on its website on Thursday."The report contains biased
assessments of the compliance of the START treaty by Russia," the ministry
said.The ministry says that according to the report the United States has
certain outstanding issues, namely concerning the inspection of ICBM
RS-24."We would want to remind that the Russian side in due time took all
the necessary measures to dispel these concerns and at the time of the
expiration of the START Treaty the United States did not express any
grievances concerning its implementation," the ministry statement
says.According to the ministry, the United States claims that a Russian
organization continues dual purpose biological studies. The ministry
believes that the lack of clarity of the U.S. side about Russia's
observance of its commitments recorded in the Biological and Toxin Weapons
Conventi on could have been removed 10 years ago, if in 2001 the United
States would not have blocked multilateral talks on developing a
verification mechanism of the convention.The Foreign Ministry also
dismissed as untrue the claim of the United States that Russia does not
comply with the CFE Treaty."We want to remind you that the treaty in its
1990 wording lost its viability due to the refusal of the United States
and other NATO countries to ratify the adapted CFE Treaty in the context
of the continuing enlargement of the alliance which resulted in the
noncompliance of the provisions of the initial treaty by its members," the
statement says.The ministry also describes as incorrect the phrase in the
report about "the presence of Russian forces in Moldova and Georgia
without those states' consent."The Foreign Ministry stressed that there
has not been a single Russian soldier in Georgia for a long time and that
South Ossetia and Abkhazia where Russian military bas es are deployed are
no longer parts of Georgia or parties to the CFE Treaty.As for Russian
peacekeepers stationed in Transdniestria, the Foreign Ministry says that
they remain there in line with an agreement between the Republic of
Moldova and the Russian Federation on the principles of the peaceful
settlement of the armed conflict in the Transdniestrian region of the
Republic of Moldova.Interfax-950215-ZZNWCBAA
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.
10) Back to Top
The Reality of Egypt, a View From the Opposite Sex
"The Reality of Egypt, a View From the Opposite Sex" -- The Daily Star
Headline - The Daily Star Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:22:23 GMT
Friday, July 30, 2010
'What is it like to live in Egypt as a Western woman?' Duringthe years I
lived in Cairo, I was often asked this question while visiting mynative
Finland, or when traveling outside the Middle East.My short answer was
'different.'In fact, I was asked this so many times that I decided to
write a book aboutEgypt. I contemplated writing about how I first came to
Cairo as a 22-year-oldArabic language student who hadn-t traveled much and
had never heard ofLonely Planet travel guidebooks. I could explain to
those who asked that I wasimmediately captivated by the orchestrated chaos
and megapolis charm, or thatthe city also drove me crazy at times for this
very reason.I could tell them that every time I stepped outside my door, I
had to takecertain precautions: no bare shoulders or knees, sunglasses to
avoid eyecontact with the idle men on the street, an iPod so I didn-t hear
thewhispers of men I passed by, which usually qualified as sexual
harassment.Indeed, according to a 2008 study by the Egyptian Center for
Women-sRights, 98 percent of foreign women reported being harassed. But,
moreimportantly, 83 percent of Egyptian women also reported harassment,
sometimeson a daily basis. This number did not change based on whether the
respondentwore the hijab (headscarf) or not.Harassment is a nuisance and
sometimes a danger to all women in Cairo, and I amconstantly impressed
with the Egyptian women working to put an end to it. Thereare brave
Egyptian women who are also fighting against the cultural practice
offemale genital mutilation, and for the right to make an individual
choice aboutwearing the headscarf in their workplaces or universities, be
elected toParliament, or be allotted custody of their children in case of
divorce.And so instead of writing about my life as a foreigner in Egypt, I
decided tohighlight the voices of the strong, amazing Egyptians I saw ever
yday and whoinspired me.Among these, feminist author Nawal el-Saadawi is
perhaps the best known. She isin her 70s and still an active speaker and
writer on feminism, health andpolitics.Lesser known to Western audiences,
but not less influential in Egypt, are HibaRa-uf Ezzat and Hiba Qutb.
Ra-uf is a moderate Islamist affiliatedwith the Muslim Brotherhood. She
looks to Islam as a way to improvewomen-s status. She doesn-t call herself
a feminist, although sheespouses 'feminist' values, believing that a woman
can be presidentand that women should serve in the army.Qutb, on the other
hand, is a sexologist. She wears a headscarf and regularlyappears on Arab
satellite channels to discuss sexuality, surprising audiencesby arguing
that Islam invented foreplay.Another woman whose courage impresses me is a
young costume designer in Cairo,Hind al-Hinnawy. She became a celebrity in
Egypt after demanding that herestranged boyfriend, an actor with whom she
had an urfi, or informal marriag e,prove his paternity of their daughter.
In an unprecedented scenario, she wenton television to publicly share her
story, and Egyptians - including theGrand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa - took
her side. And even when the estrangedboyfriend refused to take a DNA test,
the court nevertheless declared him thefather.After a two-year legal
battle, her daughter, Lina, received a birth certificateand was finally
recognized as an Egyptian citizen.And it is not only contemporary Egyptian
women who continue to surprise andinspire. The Egyptian Feminist Union was
established in 1923 by a charismaticheiress, Huda Shaarawi, only three
years after the successful suffragettemovement in the United States. And
in the 1950s, an Egyptian feminist namedDoria Shafik went on a hunger
strike demanding equal rights for thecountry-s women.This is why, when I
sat down to write a book about how I felt about living inEgypt as a
foreign woman, I instead ended up providing a broader look atEgyptian
society as a whole, of the Egyptians, both male and female, who
defystereotypes and create change in politics and culture, religion and
economics- and who do it with a sense of humor. You cannot write about
Egyptianswithout writing about their jokes, hence, my book 'Hold on to
Your Veil,Fatima!' was born.Sanna Negus is the Middle East correspondent
for YLE Finnish BroadcastingCompany and author of 'Hold on to Your Veil,
Fatima! And Other Snapshotsof Life in Contemporary Egypt' (Garnet
2010).THE DAILY STAR publishes this commentary in collaboration with the
CommonGround News Service (www.commongroundnews.org).(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.
11) Back to Top
Tengizchevroil Increases H1 Oil Production 22.5% - Interfax
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:10:17 GMT
ALMATY. July 29 (Interfax) - Tengizchevroil extracted 12.5 million metric
tonnes (99.5 million barrels) of oil in the first half of this year, a
22.5% increase from the 10.2 million tonnes (81.2 million tonnes) it
produced in the first half last year, the company said in a statement.Oil
sales in January-June rose to 12.8 million metric tonnes from 10.2 million
tonnes in H1 2009.The company exported 8 million metric tonnes of oil to
Novorossiysk via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pipeline (7.5 million
tonnes in H1 2009). The rest of the oil was transported by rail to Odessa,
Feodosia, and Aktau, and further on to Batumi and Kulevi in Georgia.The
company extracted 676,000 metric tonne s of liquid oil gas and sold
688,000 tonnes in the first quarter (534,000 and 539,000 tonnes in H1
2009, respectively). Production of dry gas increased to 4 billion cubic
meters (bcm) and sales to 3.5 bcm (3.2 and 2.4 bcm, respectively).Chevron
owns 50% of Tengizchevroil, ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc. 20%, the
Kazakh state 20% through national company KazMunaiGas, and the
Russian-U.S. joint venture LUKArco 5%.Tengizchevroil works the Tengiz and
Korolevskoye oil and gas deposits in the western Atyrau region of
Kazakhstan.Cf(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950140-IREWCBAA
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
King Abdullah, Assa d Declare United Support for Lebanon's Stability
"King Abdullah, Assad Declare United Support for Lebanon's Stability" --
The Daily Star Headline - The Daily Star Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:22:13 GMT
Friday, July 30, 2010
BEIRUT: The Saudi king and Syrian president emphasized their keenness
tosupport the calm that Lebanon has been witnessing since the formation of
anational unity Cabinet, the state-run Syrian National News Agency (SANA)
saidThursday.King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz and President Bashar Assad
voiced support for anymeasure that enhances Lebanon-s stability, unity and
trust among itspeople.BOTh leaders made their remarks during talks at the
presidential palace inDamascus.The Saudi monarch arrived in the Syrian
capital on Thursday as part of aregional tour that comes amid heightened
tensions in the Middle East, accordingto SANA.Assad and King Abdullah al
so stressed that the current Arab situationnecessitated promoting Arab
ties and looking for mechanisms to enhance Arabsolidarity and joint
action.The visit comes as Syria which held sway for three decades over
Lebanon, triesto open a new chapter in ties with its smaller
neighbor.Regional tensions are also high over recent reports that Syria
sent Scudmissiles to Hizbullah and suspicions that the party-s patron Iran
wantsto acquire nuclear weapons.Syria, which denied sending Scuds, is
Iran-s strongest ally in the Arabworld.On Thursday, the Syrian government
advised the United States againstinterfering in King Abdullah-s visit to
Damascus, saying the twocountries 'know better' how to stabilize the
Middle East.US State department official Philip Crowley said on Wednesday
Washington hopedSyria would play a constructive role in the region and
would respond to theSaudi monarch-s concerns about Iranian 'threats' to
MiddleEast stability.'Obviously, King Abdullah has played a signific ant
leadership role in theregion. So his prospective travel to Syria and to
Lebanon is consistent withhis search for peace,' Crowley said.A Syrian
Foreign Ministry statement said the United States 'has no rightto define
our ties with the countries of the region and interfere in thecontent of
the talks the Saudi monarch will have in Damascus.'Saudi Arabia and Syria
have long been on opposite sides of a deep rift in theArab world, with
Syria backing resistance groups such as the Lebanese Hizbullahand
Palestinian Hamas. The kingdom is a US ally, along with Jordan and
Egypt.But relations begun to thaw in recent years, and Thursday-s two-day
visitis a sign the countries are trying to show a united front as tempers
mount inthe region, including those in Syria-s neighbor Lebanon over
pendingindictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime
Minister RafikHariri.Many in Lebanon have blamed Syria for the
assassination, a claim that Damascusdenies. Hariri was a Sunni leade r
with strong Saudi links, and his killingexacerbated already-strained
tensions between Riyadh and Damascus..An international tribunal
investigating Hariri-s death has not announcedwho will be charged, but the
president of a UN tribunal probing the killing,Antonio Cassese, has said
he expects an indictment by the end of this year.Hizbullah leader Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah said last week members of his groupwill be among those
indicted.Nasrallah-s announcement appeared to be an attempt to undercut
theeffects of any indictment, and he dismissed the tribunal as an
'Israeliplot.' Many in Lebanon worry that if the tribunal implicates
Hizbullah inthe Hariri assassination, it could lead to another round of
clashes betweenLebanon-s Shiite and Sunni communities, such as the bloody
conflict thatconvulsed Beirut in 2008.Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son
of late Rafik, has first blamed Syria forkilling his father. But Hariri-s
ties with Damascus have warmed followingthe Syrian-Saudi rap proachment
that led to the formation of a national unityCabinet headed by Hariri.The
prime minister has so far made four trips to Damascus since he came
tooffice in November 2009.Tensions in Lebanon have generated so much
concern that Assad was expected toaccompany the Saudi monarch to Beirut on
Friday. Reports said that Assad, theSaudi king, and Lebanese President
Michel Sleiman would hold a tripartitesummit at Baabda palace on
Friday.However, The Central News Agency (CNA) reported Thursday that the
summit, whichwould be attended by Hariri, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
and a number ofofficials, would not see reconciliation between some
Lebanese leaders orbetween Assad and some Lebanese officials.The gathering
is rather aimed at defusing mounting tensions in light of reportsabout the
possible indictment of Hizbullah in Hariri-s assassination.Assad-s
expected visit to Lebanon is the first since his troops withdrewfrom the
country in April 2005. Similarly, King Abdullah pays his first visitto
Beirut since he ascended the throne in the same year. Qatari Emir Hamad
BinKhalifah Al-Thani will also visit Lebanon Friday evening.Sleiman on
Thursday discussed with Hariri the upcoming visits of Arab leadersto
Lebanon, along with efforts aimed at enhancing calm and stability in
thecountry. Arab flags fluttered in the main roads leading to Baabda
palace andRafik Hariri International Airport, along with photos of top
Arab leadersvisiting Lebanon on Friday. - Agencies , with The Daily
Star(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.
13) Back to Top
Us Official Says Relations With Russia Benefits Central Europe
"Us Official Says Relations With Russia Benefits Central Europe" -- KUNA
Headline - KUNA Online
Tuesday June 29, 2010 20:36:03 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - WASHINGTON, June 29 (KUNA) -- A senior US official
affirmed on Tuesday that the positive progress in US-Russian relations
will benefit Central Europe ahead of Secretary of State Hillary Clintons
trip to the region."We want to get beyond the notion that European
diplomacy and security is a zero-sum game and that countries in Central
Europe need to choose whether they are going to be pro-Russian or
pro-American," said Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs Philip Gordon in a press briefing about Clintons trip."One of the
things we said about the relationship with Russia is that when the United
States has a better relationship with Russia, that is actually a benefit
to countries in Central Europe, because they do not feel obliged to choose
or orient one way or another," he added.Clinton will be travel to Kiev,
Krakow, Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi from July 1st to 5th.Gordon said that
she will focus in Ukraine on the strategic partnership between the two
countries while describing the decision by Ukraine to get rid of all of
its highly enriched uranium as "a very significant step in our efforts to
prevent nuclear terrorism worldwide." Clinton will also participate in the
second meeting of the US-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission."We have
a broad relationship with Ukraine, and expect that they will discuss
economic and energy issues, defense cooperation, the development of
democracy, among other topics," noted Gordon.In Poland, Clinton will
discuss with foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski the issues of Afghanistan,
Iran, European security, economic and energy issues, and "our common
interest in promoting good governance and human rights, especially in
terms of the European Union's Eastern Partnership." Clinton will also stop
in three south Caucasus countries, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, to
promote efforts to resolve regional conflicts and strengthen regional
peace and stability." Gordon said that since President Barack Obama
announced the new US policy towards Russia 18 month ago "he made clear
that we had common interests with Russia that we wanted to pursue in
nuclear nonproliferation, Afghanistan, disarmament, economics, and we were
determined to pursue those where we had concrete common interests." "We
feel we have made significant progress in the 18 months that we have been
pursuing this different relationship with Russia," he added.Meanwhile, FBI
agents arrested 10 people on charges that they spent years in the United
States as spies for Russia, using fake identities and tryin g to collect
intelligence about US policy."We would like to get to the point here there
is just so much trust and cooperation between the United States and Russia
that nobody would think of turning to intelligence means to find out
things that they could not find out in other channels. We are apparently
not there yet," noted Gordon."We are moving towards a more trusting
relationship. We are beyond the Cold War. I think our relations absolutely
demonstrate that," he added.In return, State Department spokesman Gordon
Duguid affirmed that the State Department did not have a role in the
ongoing investigation and mentioned that US officials are communicating
with Russian officials about the Department of Justice-led
investigation.(Description of Source: Kuwait 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. Permissio n 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
Egyptian, Saudi Officials Cited Egyptian-Saudi summit Talks in Sharm
Al-Shaykh
The Peace Process and the Situation in Lebanon on Top of Issues Discussed
by the Saudi-Egyptian Summit Al-Hayah headline - Al-Hayah Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:23:59 GMT
(Description of Source: London Al-Hayah 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.
15) Back to Top
Iranian State-Run TV Divulges Tehran's Readiness To Resume Nuclear Talks -
Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 1
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:49:51 GMT
Department has disclosed its readiness to hold talks with Iran within the
framework of the Vienna Group (5+1 and IAEA) on fuel exchange. The
spokesman of the state department, Phillip J Crawley, told a press
conference that we (USA) are fully ready for talks with Iran on the fuel
exchange issue for Tehran research reactor. Four days ago, the foreign
minister of our country (Manuchehr Mottaki) had told the fringes of the
tripartite Tehran Declaration meeting in Istanbul that Iran is ready to
hold talks on the basis of the Declaration.
(Mottaki) We declare our readiness for entering debate on the finer
details of talks in various fields and (hearing) various views within the
framework of the Vienna Group. So, this is an announcement of the
readiness of the Islamic Republic for the start of Vienna talks. This
statement is on the table and it can act within the framework that has
been defined and take its course of execution.(Newscaster) Crawley also
supported the suggestion of EU foreign policy commissioner Catherine
Ashton for holding talks between Iran and the 5+1 group. Iran had earlier
declared that it would hold talks with 5+1 after the end of the holy month
of Ramadan.(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)
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.
< br>
16) Back to Top
Two Americans Killed in Airblues Flight ED 202 on 28 July 2010
AFP report: Two Americans among 152 killed in Airblue plane crash -
Business Recorder Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:37:23 GMT
ISLAMABAD: Commercial company Airblue's flight ED 202 carrying 152 people
crashed in a ball of flames on Wednesday into densely wooded hills outside
Islamabad amid heavy rain and poor visibility, killing everyone on board.
Thick smoke and flames shot into the sky above the smouldering wreckage,
partially buried on a remote hillside alongside pieces of charred flesh
and body parts in the worst crash involving a Pakistani passenger jet in
18 years. Airblue's flight ED 202 from Karachi was being diverted into
land at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International airport when witnesses
saw it f lying at an unusually low altitude before a deafening boom. The
plane disintegrated into a gorge between two hills, enveloped in cloud and
some distance from the road, severely hampering rescue efforts and
limiting visibility for helicopters hovering overhead, an AFP
correspondent said. "I saw a big ball of smoke and fire everywhere with
big pieces of aircraft rolling down the hill," police official Haji Taj
Gul said. "The plane was flying very low. Then we heard a loud noise,"
said Wajih-ur Rehman, a resident of the exclusive E-7 neighbourhood in the
Margalla foothills. "Nobody survived," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told
private TV channel. Health officials said DNA tests would be the only way
to identify many of the remains. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and
Airblue said there were 152 people, including six crew, on board the
doomed plane. Seven children, including two babies, were on the passenger
manifest, an official said. "It' s a big tragedy. It's really a big
tragedy," Malik said. The US embassy said two Americans were on the
flight. The Austrian government said an Austrian-born businessman was on
board as well. Officials suggested the flight had been diverted due to bad
weather, but it was unclear why the jet was flying so low and close to the
Margalla Hills -- off the normal route for aircraft arriving from Karachi.
One pilot said that a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from
Karachi had been diverted to Lahore only half an hour before the Airblue
plane crashed because of bad weather in Islamabad. Government and civil
aviation authority said all possible causes would be investigated,
including terrorism, bad weather and sabotage, although officials gave no
indication that an attack might have been to blame. Information Minister
Qamar Zaman Kaira told private TV channel that the plane's black box
flight data recorder had been found. "Experts will analyse this and they
will also analyse the conversation between the control tower and the
pilot. After that we will be a position to say something about the cause
of the crash," he said. Airblue spokesman Raheel Ahmed said the Airbus 321
took off from Karachi before 8:00 am (0300 GMT) and speculated that bad
weather could have the cause, saying the plane had no technical fault when
it took off. Rescue official Arshad Javed told AFP of horrifying scenes at
the crash site after the routine commuter flight turned to carnage. The
government declared a day of national mourning and called off a cabinet
meeting as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his grief over the
"tragic incident" and offered prayers for the dead. Anguished families
were in tears after hearing of the disaster while waiting to meet their
relatives at the Islamabad airport arrivals terminal.
(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder.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.
17) Back to Top
Nobility And Criminality in War
"Nobility And Criminality in War" -- Jordan Times Headline - Jordan Times
Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:22:07 GMT
30 July 2010
By Rami G. Khouri One of the paradoxes of leading Western democracies
ishow they can be at once so noble and so criminal. A particularly
impressiveaspect of countries like the United States and the United
Kingdom is theirpolitical openness, particularly their insistence in many
cases on publiclyanalysing and evalua ting their government policies, to
learn if mistakes weremade, and presumably to learn from those mistakes. A
case in point is theongoing inquiry in the United Kingdom into the 2003
invasion of Iraq.At one such public hearing last week the former head of
British domesticintelligence service MI5, Eliza Manningham-Buller, made
three important pointsabout the Iraq war that should be relevant today for
Western policy makers onAfghanistan and Iran. The first was about the
total absence of any credibleinformation linking the Iraqi Baathist regime
to the terror attacks of 9-11.The second was about how the
Anglo-American-led invasion of Iraq radicalisedsome young British citizens
who saw the wars in Afg?anistan and Iraq as "attackon Islam." The third
was about the incomplete nature of the intelligence onIraq. Terror threats
in the UK increased dramatically after the Iraq invasion,and by 2004 "we
were pretty well swamped (with domestic terrorism plots andthreats)," ;
she said. The decision to invade had also boosted Al Qaeda's abilityto
move into Iraq in a way that it could not previously. Have the US, UK
andtheir NATO allies learned anything from the Iraq war experience? Not in
allareas, it seems. The situations today in Iran and Afghanistan suggest
thatpolicies are still being implemented with the same weaknesses that
officialslike Manningham-Buller so honestly admit. Much of the case
againstIran's alleged desire to obtain nuclear weapons is based on
fragmentary andinconclusive bits of information and a great deal of
speculation andideological distemper, coupled with the hysteria that is
common in Washingtonwhen pro-Israeli lobby groups use their influence with
American member ofCongress who are at once mostly ignorant of Middle
Eastern realities and deeplyvulnerable to electoral blackmail. The
evidence to accuse, pressure, sanction,distrust and threaten Iran is ?hin
as silk thread. In some light conditions, itis alluring and worth
examining further; in others, it disappears completely.Moving towards
likely military conflict in Iran on the same factually, legallyand
ethically shaky basis as the dishonest drive to invade Iraq seems like
arather poor performance for Western democracies that like to trumpet
themselvesas custodians and purveyors of the democratic rule of law. When
they behave asthey did in Iraq, and continue to do now with Iran, they are
little more thancriminals, rogues and delinquents hiding behind the
magnificent glow of theMagna Carta, habeas corpus, and other fine?legacies
they can rightly boastof. In Afghanistan, we also witness today the same
sort of ruffianbehaviour that creates problems as serious as those it
purports to resolve.While the initial anti-Qaeda rationale for the war in
Afghanistan was rathermore convincing and legitimate than the Iraq
adventure, both its conduct andduration suggest that something
fundamentally wrong is at hand, because newenemies are created as fast as
existing foes are vanquished. Last Friday,according to Afghan officials, a
NATO air strike killed 52 civilians who weresheltering in a house near an
active battle between NATO forces and Talibanfighters in the south of the
country. This is not an isolated incident, butrather part of a pattern
inherent in the use of high-tech firepower by aforeign invader whose
technical prowess is rarely matched by culturalsensitivity or local
political support. The newly leaked American armedforces documents on the
Afghan war indicate clearly that attacks againstcivilians generate
antipathy and anger among a civilian population andpolitical elites that
should be vital allies. The mounting numbers of civilianskilled, the New
York Times reported, "left the Americans seeking cooperationand support
from an Afghan population that grew steadily more exhausted,resentful,
fearful and alienated." By all accounts, the Taliban grow strongerand the
war effort in Afghanistan is not going w ell for the US-led NATO
forces,who can kill at will but have much more difficulty winning the
politicalsupport of populations whose mothers, wives, sisters, and
children they killindiscriminately. Sure, the killing is often a "mistake"
or "collateraldamage." Yet you would think that the world's oldest and
strongest democracieswould learn after considerable experience in invading
foreign lands that such"mistakes? are in fact the routine consequence of
assaults defined by thinjustification, considerable ignorance, little
caring for what actually happensto the local population during or after
the fighting, and the combination ofpoor intelligence and zombie-like
ideological frenzy that continues to be welldocumented in the case of the
Iraq invasion.30 July 2010(Description of Source: Amman Jordan Times
Online in English -- Website of Jordan Times, only Jordanian English daily
known for its investigative and analytical coverage of controversial
domestic i ssues; sister publication of Al-Ra'y; URL:
http://www.jordantimes.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.
18) Back to Top
Bangladesh Immigration Police Bar BNP Leader Shamsher Mobin From Flying to
US
Unattributed report: Mobin Barred From Going Abroad - The Daily Star
Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:45:54 GMT
Immigration police at Shahjalal International Airport barred BNP
Vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury from leaving for New York last
night.Mobin, a former foreign secretary, told The Daily Star that
immigration police prevented him from leaving the country for not having
clearance from the authorities concerned.Asked if they had any written
order, police personnel said they received verbal instruction in this
regard, Mobin said.An immigration official, preferring anonymity,
confirmed the incident but declined to elaborate any further.Mobin said he
was scheduled to fly by a Singapore Air Lines flight at 11:55pm to attend
the second annual meeting of international civil service commission in New
York.He said he is one of the members of the commission.The BNP leader is
now on an interim bail for two months in a case filed in connection with
torching vehicles on June 26, the day before the party's countrywide
hartal.Police arrested him from Mohakhali in the capital during the
daylong hartal on June 27.
(Description of Source: Dhaka The Daily Star online in English -- Website
of Bangladesh's leading English language daily, with an estimated
circulation of 45,000. Nonpartisan, well respected, and widely read by the
elite. Owned by industrial and mark eting conglomerate TRANSCOM, which
also owns Bengali daily Prothom Alo; URL: www.thedailystar.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
EU Asks Zimbabwean Firms To Apply on 'Individual Basis' for Sanctions'
Removal
Report by Samantha Chidzero: "EU Set To Remove Sanctions on Individual
Basis" - The Zimbabwe Guardian
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:12:11 GMT
Who ensures that those sanctions are removed?"Are they trying to divide
and rule people in Zanu-PF?" he asked.
(Description of Source: London The Zimbabwe Guardian in English --
UK-based website carrying n ews reports and opinion articles on Zimbabwe
that appear to be supportive of ZANU-PF; URL: http://www.talkzimbabwe.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
Policy 'Makeovers' May Cause Loss in Supporter Base
"Viewpoint" column by Yi Jung-jae, business editor of the JoongAng Sunday;
Translation by the JoongAng Daily staff: "Presidential Makeovers Good and
Bad" - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:41:16 GMT
Inconsistency is not a privilege unique to the female species. Men, too,
change. Even the high and the mighty, like the president, are entitle d to
it. But there is a catch. You must change for the better. Otherwise, you
are bound to be ridiculed.Makeovers usually flop when overdone. Early
Presidents Syngman Rhee and Pak Cho'ng-hu'i (Park Chung-hee) went
overboard by changing the Constitution several times in order to cling to
power. Their pride was overblown, and they thought no one could replace
them, generating public disgust.To succeed in transformation is simple. Do
the opposite of Rhee and Park: be selfless and true. Such sincerity can
win over hearts from different corners. This rule of thumb is particularly
effective in economic policies that affect varying political
interests.President Kim Dae-jung was an expert in chameleon-like
adaptation in response to different circumstances. The president's first
job in office was to sign a bailout from the International Monetary Fund
to keep the country afloat during a financial crisis in late 1997. He
earned the epithet "IMF Plus" for going further than IM F demands on
layoffs, collective lawsuits and mergers and acquisitions.For a
dissident-turned-president, endorsing massive layoffs was a hard pill to
swallow. He had to turn against his loyal working-class supporters. He was
elected on a campaign pledge to bargain for a two-year moratorium on the
layoff system.But after a few days in office, he yielded to the IMF
package. The godfather of the working class came under fire for becoming
an advocate of the conglomerates. Despite the price of betraying his
voting base, the long-time opposition leader morphed because he believed
it was the best thing for his country.A successful metamorphosis is
rewarded. Systematizing layoffs was a long-time goal for Korean business,
ending a system in which jobs were secure for life. President Kim, having
made the business sector's wishes come true, was able to get his own
demands in return. He demanded stringent reforms and restructuring from
conglomerates. The successful quid pro quo enabled South Korea to graduate
from the IMF debt program in just two years.President No Mu-hyo'n (Roh
Moo-hyun) was not only President Kim's protege in democratic ideology, but
also in his ability to transform himself. The one-time human rights
activist had long been anti-conglomerate. As a presidential candidate, he
vowed to reform the conglomerates.But he changed after moving into the
Blue House (ROK Office of the President). He was an avid, pro-capitalist
salesman on overseas trips. During a visit to Russia in September 2004, he
declared, "Business defines the country." While visiting India the next
month, he said he was proud of Korean companies. Then in November that
year in Brazil, he said that Korean companies were true patriots.But
sadly, it was never a true love. He remained uncomfortable with the
business sector until the end of his term. Despite his generous praise
abroad, he went on with business-bashing at home.The Roh transformation
peaked when he signed a f ree trade agreement with the United States. Most
of his aides strongly opposed it, but the president was steadfast in
pursuing the pact.He directly phoned President George W. Bush when the
negotiations hit a snag at the last minute. Then-Trade Minister Kim
Hyun-jong said President Roh had his own philosophy on opening markets.
The deal also cost him his voting base in the rural areas, but he pushed
forward because he, too, believed it was best for his country.Now we come
to President Lee Myung-bak (Yi Myo'ng-pak) and his makeover. We can no
longer recognize the entrepreneurship of his days in industry, or his
doctrine that growth is more important than wealth sharing. He frequents
marketplaces and shops to connect with ordinar y citizens.His new
pro-working class attitude has made him anti-business. Recently, he railed
against large companies for spending and investing little despite their
ample cash reserves, making the lives of citizens more difficult. He also
chided large capital companies for slapping high interest rates on
consumer loans.His aides are worse. They say they differ from past
administrations in their populist policies and reckless business-bashing.
They also say their policies don't prioritize wealth equality over
growth.The administration should learn from its predecessors by coming out
honestly to seek support and sacrifice from their main supporters - in the
case of this government, the elite and business class. Only with sincerity
can a convert gain sympathy and support and possibly succeed.We should
remember self-renouncing leaderships that pushed ahead with the best
interests of the nation even at the cost of betraying their supporters.
His predecessors have done it and so can President Lee.(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.
21) Back to Top
Int'l Modern Dance Competition to Open in Seoul - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 06:13:02 GMT
modern dance-competition
Int'l modern dance competition to open in SeoulBy Kim HyunSEOUL, July 29
(Yonhap) -- A rare international competition in modern dance will be held
in Seoul next month, with 36 solo dancers from around the world vying for
the US$7,000 grand prize, organizers said Thursday.The 1st Korea In
ternational Modern Dance Competition, set for Aug. 7-12 and hosted by the
Dance Association of Korea, aims to create a stage where young dancers can
exchange their nations' techniques and trends in non-traditional,
experimental dance, they said.Participants will come from all around the
world: 21 are from Korea and 15 others are from Belgium, China, France,
Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela and the
United States, organizers said.All dancers will perform solo and bring
their own music. Scoring will be based on their dancing ability,
expression and style, said Kim Bock-hee, president of the organizing
committee and dance professor at Hanyang University."Diversity counts in
modern dance. It's extremely difficult to evaluate young dancers who have
different talents, but some of them will be distinctively superb, I
think," Kim said. "In modern dance, a dancer performs with his or her own
idea, but it's also very important how viewers interpret them."A
competition dedicated to modern dance while excluding the more
commercially popular genre of ballet is highly rare around the world, she
added.In addition to the grand prize, the competition is also to award
$5,000 for the gold prize, $3,000 for silver, $2,000 for bronze as well as
other special awards.The seven-member jury includes Mark Baldwin, artistic
director of the Rambert Dance Company in Britian; Luc Louis de Lairesse,
Ballettoday's founder and artistic director in Belgium; and Radu
Poklitaru, the choreographer of the Kyiv Modern Ballet in
Ukraine.(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.
22) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Analysis': 'British New PM Angers Israelis, Palestinians'
Xinhua "Analysis" by David Harris: "British New PM Angers Israelis,
Palestinians" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:24:24 GMT
JERUSALEM, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The past week has perhaps left the Israeli
government somewhat confused as to the nature of its relationship with the
new British government of Prime Minister David Cameron.
There was a collective sigh of relief in Israel when British cabinet
agreed last Thursday to legislate an amendment to the country's universal
jurisdiction law. That move was the start of a process that should prevent
Israeli leaders from facing arrest in Britain for alleged perpetration of
war crimes.However, in the interim Cameron surprised Israel by launching
strong attacks on the Jewish state d uring his visit to Turkey, an event
that in part overshadowed the next leg of his overseas travels -- to
India.FROM ELATION TO CONCERNAs it stands, the British statute books allow
for attempts to prosecute Israelis for their alleged crimes against
Palestinians. On more than one occasion in recent years, Israeli leaders
have been forced to cancel trips to the country because the threat of
arrest hung over their heads.Those who did land on British soil narrowly
avoided capture.In October, Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke at
the Labor Party's annual conference alongside then British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown. On the same day, Palestinians unsuccessfully attempted to
have him arrested.Four years earlier, Doron Almog, a senior Israeli
general, was advised not to disembark from his plane at Heathrow because
he would face arrest.As a result of these and other cases, one involving
Tzipi Livni, who was Israel's foreign minister at the time, Israel has
been pressuring Lond on to make the change.The Labor government said it
would do what it could but then lost the general election. However,
Cameron picked up the mantle and promised to introduce the reform."At the
moment anyone can apply to the courts for an arrest warrant. That is a
right that the Government wants to protect," read a statement from
Britain's Justice Ministry."However, because the evidence necessary to
issue an arrest warrant may be far less than would be needed for a
prosecution, the system is open to possible abuse by people trying to
obtain arrest warrants for grave crimes on the basis of flimsy evidence to
make a political statement or to cause embarrassment," the statement
continued."The government has concluded, after careful consideration, that
it would be appropriate to require the consent of the Director of Public
Prosecutions before an arrest warrant can be issued to a private
prosecutor in respect of an offense of universal jurisdiction," added
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke.The move was welcomed by Israel with the
country's Ambassador to the Court of St. James Ron Prosor, defining it as
"a step in the right direction."With relations seemingly getting back on
track and Israel immediately talking of a possible Britain role in the
peace process, Cameron chose to attack Israel regarding its maritime
operation to prevent a convoy of boats from bringing aid to the Gaza
Strip.The incident on May 31 led to the killing of nine people on board a
Turkish ship. Israelis claimed their officers were attacked by those on
board and in order to extricate themselves, the Israelis used live
fire."What we saw happen, was taking place in international waters and
this attack can only be termed as piracy. There is no other word to
describe it," Cameron said of the Israeli operation as he answered
questions in a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.During his Turki sh visit Cameron also referred
to the Gaza Strip as a "prison camp." In clarifying that remark he said he
had made a similar comment several weeks previously in the House of
Commons of the British parliament.PLEASING NO ONEWhile the Britain-based
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) welcomed Cameron's comments in Turkey
saying they reflect ed popular British opinion, the organization is
exasperated with the universal-jurisdiction announcement."Disappointed is
not the word. We are incredibly concerned that the British government does
not seem to realize that it has a responsibility under international law
to prosecute those suspected of war crimes and bring to justice those who
have committed war crimes," the PSC's Director of Campaigns and Operations
Sarah Colborne said on Thursday."What this change will do is to allow
those people who have committed war crimes to walk freely in this
country," she added.Likewise the Israelis have been left with a bitter
taste in their mouth. The fact that Cameron describes himself as "a
critical friend of Israel," means he will not be trusted by the Jewish
state in the same way its leaders confided in his two predecessors, Gordon
Brown and Tony Blair, according to Jonathan Rynhold, a British born senior
research associate at the Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies near
Tel Aviv.The new strategy of Britain seems to be about appeasement, said
Rynhold. He points to the British dialogue with Hezbollah, the south
Lebanon-based organization with its own military wing."He's gone to Turkey
at a time when Turkey has invited (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad,
is supporting the Iranian position on the nuclear question...is inviting
the Sudanese leader who is wanted for genocide, and in that environment he
says all of this about Israel. You have to say that is something different
and problematic," said Rynhold.While Israelis and the U.S. pro-Israel
lobby were init ially concerned about the stance of United States
President Barack Obama, in recent months he does appear to have given
considerable credence to Israel's diplomatic position.The British,
however, appear to be moving in a different direction, so much so that
Rynhold believed this could well make Israel turn to France in place of
Britain as one of its main allies in Europe.(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.
23) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Interview': China Shows Strong Resolve To Develop Clean Energy:
ITER
Xinhua "Interview": "China Shows Strong Resolve To Develop Clean Energy:
ITER" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:33:59 GMT
PARIS, July 28 (Xinhua) -- China had shown its commitment to developing
clean energy through its strong support for an international alternative
energy program, the head of the program's China office said Wednesday.
The program, known as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
or ITER, aims to emulate the power of the sun to provide limitless clean
energy, Luo Delong told Xinhua during a telephone interview."China's
active participation in the international nuclear fusion project reflects
the country's determination to promote the development of clean energy,"
Luo said."It is also in line with China's long-term energy strategy," Luo
said.In a bid to solve the energy shortage and maintain sustainable
development, China is working to develop fossil energy and fission energy
while vigorously seeking alternative energy sources, according to Luo.Now
it seemed ITER might be a reliable answer to the problem of energy in the
long run, he said."I can give you an example: after ITER nuclear fusion,
the deuterium extracted from one liter of sea water can produce as much
energy as that of 300 liters of gasoline," and fusion energy had huge
potential, "because it uses the inexhaustible sea water as material," he
said.Moreover, the ITER process won't produce greenhouse gases or cause
any pollutants such as high-radiation uranium waste, which made it an
ideal energy source for both environmental protection and security, Luo
said.China had devoted a lot of effort and funds to the project, he
said.Luo said China had made great efforts in helping establish the
organization and the country would inject about 10 billion yuan (1.4
billion dollars) to the project, about 10 percent of its total cost.China
would also undertake nearly 10 percent of the project, producing various
components and transporting them to Cadarache, southern France, where the
ITER's reactor units would be constructed, he said.On Wednesday, the ITER
Council, the governing body of the ITER Organization, approved the
baseline of overall schedule and costs for the project.Representatives of
the seven ITER members -- China, the European Union, India, Japan, South
Korea, Russia and the United States, attended the meeting in Cadarache.The
council said in a statement the ITER project, with a designed capacity to
produce 500 megawatts (MW) of fusion power, had fixed a goal to achieve
the first plasma in November 2019.The ITER project was proposed in 1985
and research assessment and design work for an experimental reactor were
begun in 1988.A related ITER Agreement was signed in Paris in November
2006 by ministers from the seven ITER members, officially launching the
project.According to the ITER Agreement, the ITER project will la st 35
years and require a total investment of up to 10 billion euros.It is the
second largest international science and engineering project behind the
International Space Station, and is also the biggest international science
and technology cooperation in which China has taken part so
far.(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.
24) Back to Top
S. Korea's Share of Int'l Fusion Reactor Cost to Top 1 Tln Won - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 02:52:48 GMT
ITER cost shar ing-increase
S. Korea's share of int'l fusion reactor cost to top 1 tln wonSEOUL, July
29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's share of the cost for building an
experimental fusion reactor is expected to exceed 1 trillion won (US$841
million) due to construction delays and the need to make technical
adjustments, the government said Thursday.The Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology said a special board meeting of the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project agreed Wednesday to push
back the completion date by two years and to increase the allotment that
must be paid by each of the seven member countries.The ITER, being built
in Cadarache, France, is an international experiment to see if a super-hot
plasma field, and naturally abundant tritium and deuterium can create an
artificial sun on Earth. If the project is successful, it could provide
mankind with a limitless energy resource."With the latest delay, South
Korea's portion of the cost shari ng is expected to rise correspondingly
from 876.7 billion won to an estimated 1.07 trillion won. The total is a
provisional sum that is subject to change," a ministry official said."The
total covers the 10 key components Seoul needs to build for the ITER, as
well as local research and development, and personnel costs."The ministry
said that the total cost of construction is expected to reach 6.51 billion
euros (US$8.45 billion) from the previous 5.08 billion euros, with the
completion date of the reactor being pushed back to November 2019 from
late 2017.Detailed plans for the ITER were drawn up in 2001 with actual
work kicking off in October 2007.South Korea is a member of the ITER
consortium, made up of the European Union (EU), the United States, Japan,
Russia, China and India. The EU must foot 45 percent of the total cost
with other countries responsible for around 9 percent of the total
each.The ministry official said that because of the delay, actual tests to
see if the test bed works should now begin in 2020, with authorities to
determine the commercial feasibility of the reactor between 2027 and
2037.Once the process is complete, ITER members may decide whether or not
to build a full-fledged demonstration plant that can actually generate
power.(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.
25) Back to Top
Iraq War Inquiry To Resume Public Hearings
"Iraq War Inquiry To Resume Public Hearings" -- KUNA Headline - KUNA
Online
Tuesday June 29, 2010 10:20:14 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - LONDON, June 29 (KUNA) -- The Chilcot Inquiry into
the Iraq War was resuming public hearings Tuesday after a break of nearly
four months because of the general election. Former UN weapons inspector
Hans Blix and ex-Director General of the domestic Intelligence service,
MI5 Baroness Manningham-Buller are among the witnesses who were appearing
before the inquiry over the next month, the inquiry administration
announced. The fresh round of evidence sessions will also hear from
ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott and two former heads of the Army,
General Sir Mike Jackson and General Sir Richard Dannatt. A string of
diplomats, government officials and military officers will be questioned
as well. There was speculation that previous witnesses - potentially
including former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - would be
recalled to give further evidence. But they were not included in a list of
35 people who wil l appear in the new round of hearings at the Queen
Elizabeth II conference centre in central London. Lieutenant General
Andrew Figgures, former deputy chief of defence staff, has been called
before the inquiry for a second time, but is giving evidence on a separate
subject. Brown commissioned the Chilcot Inquiry in June last year with a
remit to consider the whole period of Britain's involvement with Iraq from
2001 to 2009, including the run-up to war, the invasion and its aftermath.
Sir John Chilcot said he hopes to publish a report by the end of this
year. Public hearings were adjourned from March 8 until today because the
inquiry panel, chaired by former senior civil servant Sir John, wanted to
ensure it remained outside party politics during the election campaign.
During this break, inquiry members travelled to France and the United
States to interview key players in the conflict. They met Paul Bremer, who
administered Iraq as George Bush's "vice-consul" from 2 003 to 2004, and
former French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin. Today's witnesses
are Douglas Brand, chief police adviser to the Ministry of Interior in
Baghdad from 2003 to 2004, and Sir John Holmes, Britain's ambassador to
Paris from 2001 to 2007.(Description of Source: Kuwait 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.
26) Back to Top
Al-Shabaab Vows To Make Mogadishu 'Graveyard' for Additional AU Troops -
AFP (World Service)
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:32:38 GMT
(Description of Source: Paris AF P (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.
27) Back to Top
Commentary Questions Credibility of AU's Role in Africa's Development
Commentary by Charles Onyango-Obbo: "Scrap the AU! Africa Might Be Better
Off Without It" - The East African Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:49:57 GMT
(Description of Source: Nairobi The East African Online in English --
Website of the weekly (Monday) English-language newspaper published by the
Nation Media Group; coverage is primarily concentrated on Ke nya,
Tanzania, and Uganda but includes other regions as well; URL:
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/)
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.
28) Back to Top
WWP Article on Increasing Military Moves in PRC Off-Shore Waters
Article by Chi Shuo-ming: "US Factor Causes Rising Strategic Military
Deterrence Everywhere" - Wen Wei Po Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:41:11 GMT
Chinese scholars are most worried about a Sino-US clash at sea; they had
hardly finished speaking when the US factor in Chinese coastal waters is
becoming increasingly strong. Despite China's strong opposition, the
military exercise announced by the United States and the ROK due to the
Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) incident has taken place in the Sea of Japan close to
China's northern doorstep, although the carrier has not entered the Yellow
Sea, as had been earlier announced. The deterrent force of a
three-dimensional assault in the air over the sea, on the sea, and below
the sea, is extremely intense. During the same period, US Secretary of
State Hillary (as received) said in a speech at the ASEAN Regional Forum
held in Vietnam that the US Government expresses concern over the
sovereignty disputes regarding the Nansha and Xisha islands, and the
United States has already prepared to intervene in this long-standing
problem between China and other Asian countries. From south to north, with
crescent-shape encirclement of China's coast, the United States is
demonstrating the deterrent force of military strategy by "attacking with
words and scaring by force." US-ROK Military Exercise Displays Strat egic
Deterrent Force
The US-ROK joint military exercise called "Invincible Spirit" has
mobilized the most advanced sea and air armed power of the two countries;
although the United States and ROK have announced that the exercise is
aimed at giving a clear "warning" to the DPRK on account of the Ch'o'nan
incident, as the exercise is being staged at China's front door, it is
stirring up the sensitive nerves of the Sino-US relationship. (passage
omitted on scale of exercise, weaponry involved)
In fact, US F-22s can fly for a long time at supersonic speed; after
taking off from Kadena Airbase on Okinawa, it will take them only 40
minutes to one hour to accurately attack Kim Jong Il's office, nuclear
installations, missile bases, and other military targets throughout the
DPRK; this is massive deterrence. Of course, at such a flying speed, it
will not take them much longer to get to Beijing, and this is naturally a
similar deterrence against China .
Military strategic deterrence is becoming an important means in east Asian
regional diplomacy and international influence, and a new post-Cold War
trend. In particular, following the end of the Cold War, US military
strategy has switched to the east and the center of gravity has moved to
the Asia-Pacific region; in northeast Asia the Korean Peninsula is one of
the important focal points, and the original balance on the peninsula has
been broken; in southeast Asia the South China Sea is the focus of
controversy, and the US factor will establish the balance of power in this
region. Military exercises over these regions are increasing all the time,
stirring up sensitive nerves in each country and also increasing possible
friction. Russia recently staged an eastern military exercise for 2010 in
the Sea of Japan; it seems that the Russian Navy turned out in full force;
the Northern, Pacific, and Baltic fleets send large squadrons to display
their military power. South Ch ina Sea Becomes Focus of Controversy
between Peripheral Countries
These regions are of important strategic significance, including security,
national territory, territorial waters, political power and so on, and
there are also some nontraditional goals such as economic security. The
interests of all world powers are f ocused here; the DPRK nuclear issue is
still touching the nerves of China, the United States, Russia, Japan, the
DPRK, and the ROK. And the disputes over South China Sea island
sovereignty involve the coastal countries of southeast Asia. The countries
around the South China Sea are in dispute over Nansha and Xisha island
sovereignty. This sea area has become a sensitive zone in regional
security. "Accidental firing" will become a routine event. The Philippine
president recently signed a territorial waters baseline law, which
includes some of the Nansha group in Philippine territory. The United
States is also now sticking in an oar for "fre edom of navigation,"
deepening the regional complexity.
Hanoi has speeded up its military modernization process, regarding the
selection and purchase of more air force and naval patent installations as
the most important thing. Since the 1990s Vietnam has acquired 12 Russian
Sukhoi multi-role jet fighters, and earlier this year it ordered 12 more
with a value of over $500 million, seeking to double its air force
strength. In recent years, Russia has also helped Vietnam to strengthen
its navy building, and has provided it with six small frigates and two
missile frigates. Not long ago Russian media reported that
Rosoboronexport, an arms exporter, has agreed in principle to provide
Vietnam with six super-quiet "Kilo" submarines, worth $1.8 billion. Since
Vietnam at present only has two mini-submarines, these Russian-built boats
will enable Vietnam to achieve a big flying leap in anti-submarine and
anti-warship capability.
Recently the Malaysian Navy has frequently displayed new warships
targeting the South China Sea; the navy has now entered the new generation
of MEKO100 coastal cruisers. Reports point out that the tasks facing the
MEKO100 cruisers will no longer be just responsibility for marine patrols
but will be higher intensity combat tasks. Analyses point out in this
regard that Malaysia has long been on watch for some islands in China's
Nansha archipelago; should a South China Sea conflict occur, Malaysia's
coastal cruisers will fully act as the backbone force confronting the
Chinese Navy.
China is not showing weakness either; it is building a deep-water port and
submarine base on Hainan to guard against US reconnaissance. The US global
strategic network, citing US naval intelligence, claims that in early 2010
Chinese naval submarine units suddenly intensified patrols in the South
China Sea; before the argument between China and the United States over
arms sales to Taiwan died down, the Chinese Navy had a lready started
patrols in this disputed sea area. It is said that US military satellite
reconnaissance has observed a large number of submarines entering and
leaving the Chinese Navy's Yulin base, probably changing patrol shifts.
With various countries displaying their military strength in east Asia,
and military strategic deterrence replacing friendly exchanges, the
confrontational nature of military strategic deterrence has overspread
dialogue, and friction is on the rise in the region; small-scale conflicts
are even possible in the short term.
(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:wwp0729a.pdf
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission f or use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
29) Back to Top
ROK's Yonhap: US Urges Burma To Abide by UN Sanctions on DPRK
Yonhap headline: "U.S. Urges Myanmar to Abide By U.N. Sanctions on N.
Korea: State Dept." by Hwang Doo-hyong - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 23:24:08 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.
30) Back to Top< br>
North Korean Foreign Minister Begins Visit With Tour of Shwedagon Pagoda
Report by Joseph Allchin: "N Korean visit clouded in secrecy"; For
assistance with multimedia elements, contact OSC at (800) 205-8615 or
OSCinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - Democratic Voice of Burma Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 19:38:10 GMT
North Korea's foreign minister, Pak Ui-chun, arrived in Burma today on a
four- day visit as the highest-level delegate from the reclusive state to
travel to Burma since bilateral relations were normalised in 2007.
Pak Ui-chun visits Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon (DVB)
Few details have been made public about Pak's itinerary, but today he
visited the famous Shwedagon Pagoda and the National Museum in Rangoon,
and is due to travel to the capital Naypidaw on Friday. There he will meet
with his counterpart, Nyan Win.< br>
The visit has not officially been announced by either government, and Nyan
Win will have just returned from a trip to India with junta chief, Than
Shwe. It is not known whether Pak will meet with the reclusive senior
general.
Fresh speculation about military ties between the two countries will
likely follow: the apparently warming relationship has concerned the US,
which points to suspicious North Korean ships docking in Rangoon and a DVB
expose about Burma's nuclear intentions, via military defector Sai Thein
Win, as evidence.
Pak is a veteran of North Korean foreign policy, having held posts as
ambassador to Russia for 18 years as well as heading missions in Syria,
Algeria and Lebanon.
His visit will represent a large step forward for bilateral relations
between the two countries, which soured in 1983 when a bomb detonated by
North Korean agents killed members of a South Korean delegation in
Rangoon, who were visiting the Martyrs Mausoleum.
The attack failed to take out its intended target, South Korean President
Chun Doo Hwan, but resulted in a suspension of bilateral relations between
the North and Burma.
Their shared pariah status has been a warming factor in relations as both
countries struggle to overcome isolation, particularly in regards to
trading partners. Earlier this year the Burmese junta
http://www.dvb.no/news/burma-revels-in-kim-jong-il/2938 honoured North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il with a special ceremony for his birthday. Both
have been under US scrutiny for their weapons trading and the alleged
North Korean assistance to Burma's nascent nuclear programme.
Hilary Clinton said before the recent ASEAN Regional Foreign (ARF)
Ministers meeting in Hanoi that "we continue to be concerned by the
reports that Burma may be seeking assistance from North Korea with regard
to a nuclear programme."
The US extended sanctions on Burma after the Hanoi meet, which was a
ttended by Pak, citing links to North Korea as one of the main reasons.
Washington is currently undertaking with South Korea joint naval exercises
off the coast of North Korea, which will involve the US nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier, the George Washington. The operation was given added
poignancy by the alleged North Korean sinking of the South Korean naval
vessel, the Cheonan. The US and South Korea indicted the North for the
sinking, which killed 46 sailors, but refused to let North Korean
officials examine the aged evidence.
Burma and North Korea's shared antipathy of the US may feature heavily in
talks, as North Korean looks to include a regional ally its stand-off
against Washington. Photograph obtained from
http://www.dvb.no/ www.dvb.no
(Description of Source: Oslo Democratic Voice of Burma Online in English
-- English-language version of the website of a radio station run by a
Norway-based nonprofit Burmese media organization and Burmes e exiles.
Carries audio clips of previously broadcast programs. One of the more
reputable sources in the Burmese exile media, focusing on political,
economic, and social issues; URL: http://www.dvb.no)
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.
31) Back to Top
North Korean Foreign Minister Visits Burma; US 'Concerned' by Military
Ties
AFP Report: "N Korean FM in Myanmar Amid Nuclear Worries" - AFP
Thursday July 29, 2010 06:37:16 GMT
(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong service of
the independent French press 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.
32) Back to Top
Cambodian National Bank Intervenes To Stabilize Currency in First Half of
2010
Report by Poeusda: "Cambodian National Bank Uses 240.58 Thousand Million
Riel To Save the Riel Currency" - Reaksmei Kampuchea
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:54:22 GMT
According to a report on the first half of 2010, published on 26 July, the
CNB bought US dollar 17 times and sold the US dollar 16 times.
The same source also said that in the 17 transactions to buy the US
dollar, the total amount of US dollar bought was $41.26 million using
172.9 thousand million Riel. In the 16 tra nsactions to sell the US
dollar, the CNB used $16 million to absorb 67.68 thousand million Riel
from the market.
Mrs Tal Nai Sim, CNB director general, said on the same day (26 July) that
in the first half of 2010 the Riel suffered a slight devaluation against
the US dollar. The Riel, however, had been fairly stable compared to the
depreciation of other currencies.
According to the above report, there was roughly a two percent increase in
the exchange rate against the dollar. In other words, at the end of the
second half of 2009, the exchange rate was only 4,182 Riel, and in the
first half of 2010 it went up to 4,266 Riel.
The same source also said that this decline was caused by the general
appreciation of the US dollar and the influence of world financial crisis
which affect the flow of fund into the country, and also the weak balance
of payment while the government's expenditure was up.
By 26 July, the following is the exchange rate in Cambod ia: one US dollar
is bought for 4,264 Riel; one US dollar is sold for 4,270 Riel. In the CNB
website the affirmed official rates are: $1=4,237 Riel for buying, and
$1=4,245 Riel for selling.
(Description of Source: Phnom Penh Reaksmei Kampuchea in Cambodian One
of the oldest and most widely read pro-government daily newspapers. Title
translates as "Light of Cambodia." Circulation between 15,000 and 20,000.)
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.
33) Back to Top
Russia's Arctic shelf expedition is of state importance - presidential
envoy - Rossiya 24
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:16:33 GMT
presidential envoy
Text of report by state-owned Russian news channel Rossiya 24 on 29
July(Presenter) A Russian scientific expedition has left for the Arctic.
Under the plan, the flagship of the Russian Polar fleet, the Akademik
Fedorov, will be back no sooner than in 100 days' time. The main goal of
the expedition is to ascertain the boundaries of the Russian continental
shelf. To this end, the scientists will use unique equipment installed on
board the ship. Vitaliy Arutyunyan has more.(Artur Chilingarov,
uncaptioned, pointing at a map) This is an absolutely unique expedition
linked to studying the continental shelf, the boundaries of the
continental shelf of the Russian Federation.(Correspondent) Before the
ship sets off, the crew are once again checking the route of the
expedition: from the Laptev Sea to the Pole, further to the Ostrov
Vrangelya island, the East Siberian and the Chukchi seas. Making its way
through ice is a usual thing for the Akademik Fedo rov. But the Arctic
Ocean can surprise one at any moment, that is why every detail is
important.(Valeriy Viktorov, captioned as the captain of the Akademik
Fedorov) The route is the usual one: the Karskiye Vorota strait, the
Proliv Vilkitskogo strait. This is the area where the work will be
conducted. There is cyclone activity there now that helps destroy the ice
mass. We hope that by the time we get there, things will become
easier.(Correspondent) The Akademik Fedorov will spend exactly 100 days in
the Arctic. During that period the scientists will carry out geological
and seismic exploration of the continental shelf. To that end, unique
equipment has been installed at the ship, including a multibeam echo
sounder that will make it possible to determine the depth with high
accuracy.(Artur Chilingarov, captioned as special presidential envoy for
international cooperation in the Arctic and the Antarctic) This work is
necessary for us to be able to present in a few years a bid to the United
Nations for the Russian (continental) shelf and its boundaries. We will be
working beyond the 200 mile zone. All this work will be carried out beyond
the 200 mile zone, in the sector that we consider Russian.(Correspondent)
The special presidential envoy describes the expedition as having special
state importance. Russia must prove that the underwater Lomonosov and
Mendeleyev ridges are a continuation of the continental shelf. According
to experts, there are enormous deposits of oil and gas there.The
information for the United Nations commission will be gathered by more
than 60 scientists: oceanographers, cartographers, hydrographers and even
meteorologists. Most of them are young people: emphasis has been made on
them.(Nina Chervyakova, captioned as a member of the expedition) We have
always been taught that by profession we are hydrometeorologists and that
this is a profession that implies service to nature and to one's
fatherland. That is why it is very impo rtant.(Correspondent) Russia plans
to prepare its bid to the UN for the Arctic shelf by 2013. Meanwhile, its
main rivals, the United States and Canada, are also sending a joint
expedition to the Arctic, which begins on 7 August. The issue at stake is
an area of 1.2m square kilometres in the Arctic.(Description of Source:
Moscow Rossiya 24 in Russian -- State-owned, 24-hour news channel
(formerly known as Vesti TV) launched in 2006 by the All-Russian State
Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), which also owns Rossiya
TV and Radio)
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.
34) Back to Top
Roundtable Panelists View Afghanistan, Iran Situations
Figures indicate program running t ime. For a video of this program,
contact GSG_GVP_VideoOps@rccb.osis.gov or, if you do not have e-mail, the
OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615. Selected video is also available on
OpenSource.gov. - Cubavision
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:46:22 GMT
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
1. 2230 GMT Moderator Randy Alonso Falcon introduces "The World at
Mid-Week" program which is to discuss the revelations, in WikiLeaks, of
more than 92,000 US documents on the war in Afghanistan, new civilian
casualties in that conflict, and the debate over the failed US strategy in
that war. In addition, he says, the program will analyze new European
Union and Canadian sanctions against Iran and statements by the Iranian
Government. He announces his guests for the first segment of the program:
Granma International commentator Elson Concepcion Perez and Prensa Latina
journalist Leonel Nodal Alvarez, who is also an analyst of topics on Asia
and the Middle East. Alonso also announces Reinaldo Taladrid's "The
Corner" segment for later in the program.
2. 2232 GMT Alonso presents a short video clip saying that US President
Barack Obama "has minimized the importance of classified reports on the
invasion of Afghanistan" published in the international media. Alonso
shows another short clip where Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad
describes as "ridiculous" the policies of Europe and the United States
with regard to his country.
3. 2233 GMT Alonso reads Fidel Castro's "Reflections by Comrade Fidel"
commentary series: "The Strategic Victory," published originally on the
site Cubadebate on 27 July. Filed as LAP20100728464001.
4. 2245 GMT Today's News segment involves a video clip on the oil slick,
100 days after it first happened.
5. 2250 GMT Alonso says that war seems to be the Empire's favorite topi c,
adding that US Congress supports a new budget to continue military actions
in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other areas. Alonso asks Concepcion to tell
figures of new military budget, as well as significance that analysts give
to such figures. Concepcion says that yesterday House of Representatives
approved $33 billion, additional to $130 billion already approved at
President Obama's request. Concepcion states that there is criticism
within Congress itself about the new figure. Alonso states that he wants
to recall that Obama, as a candidate and later on, as president, stressed
during his inauguration that he would not do like former President Bush
who asked for additional funds for wars. Alonso further states that this
is the second time that the US President has violated his promise.
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
6. 2254 GMT Alonso turns to Nodal asking him to comment on new casualties
in southern Afghanistan and on reports and analys es in the international
media with regard to civilian casualties. He also asks Nodal to assess the
documents that have just been disclosed. Nodal states that the 92,000
documents contain a lot of information on civilian casualties. He adds
that the documents have caused quite a commotion in the world. Nodal says
that there is so much to read and discover in the documents that some
European and US publications are publishing manuals on how to read and
process all the information. Nodal emphasizes that the most important
thing is the effect that such information will have on the public. Nodal
says that "it makes no sense to continue adding funds to a war that makes
no sense."
7. 2300 GMT Nodal reads excerpts of a commentary appearing in The New York
Times on the documents and wonders how many casualties there are for sure
and mentions some casualty figures for June and so far in July.
8. 2302 GMT Alonso states that on Friday, 45 people were killed during the
bombing of "defenseless civilian population" by NATO forces. Alonso reads
remarks by Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani who said that
Afghanistan will become a new Vietnam for the United States.
9. 2304 GMT Alonso shows a video clip of WikiLeaks founder as he reported
about the military documents on the war in Afghanistan, as well as
reaction to such documents. Concepcion says that these documents and
previous documents, as well as remarks by US and NATO generals prompt many
questions about President Obama's strategy. Concepcion says that experts
feel that Afghan resistance is smarter and that it is using the war of
attrition strategy against its opponents and that the Taliban occupy 70%
of the country.
10. 2312 GMT Alonso asks Nodal to report on the US reaction to the
document, especially on what has been the White House reaction and what
analysts are saying. Nodal reports that President Obama first said that he
was worried and t hen played down importance of documents, saying that
they were old reports. Nodal states that the documents might be old to
President Obama but not to the public. He speculates about what will
happen if the United States pulls out of Afghanistan. According to Nodal,
the US problem is how to do it without losing face.
11. 2317 GMT Alonso states that "analysts agree that the main result of
the documents is that the US strategy has been a disaster in Afghanistan."
He thanks his guest for sharing with him the first segment of today's
Roundtable.
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
12. 2319 GMT Alonso introduces Taladrid's "The Corner" segment. Taladrid
announces that he has received over 50 responses to his contest from last
week and says that contest winner will be announced next week. Taladrid
says that by analyzing the Middle East situation, specifically the
possibility of a military action against Iran, he has been thinking about
the closest antecedent to this topic in order to draw conclusions or
lessons from it. He stresses that such antecedent is Operation Orchard, an
Israeli action against Syria to destroy an installation. Taladrid goes
back in history to review what he terms were six different media versions
of what truly happened. Taladrid also reviews reaction from various US and
Israeli officials, citing one statement: "it was a clear message to Iran,
Israel has the right to self-defense and it includes offensive operations
against weapons of mass destruction that pose a threat and the United
States justifies such attacks." Taladrid ends by stating that this is an
antecedent that perhaps deserves more analysis and more points of
comparisons with regard to possible scenarios for the complex situation in
the Middle East.
13. 2333 GMT Alonso announces his guests for the second segment of the
program: Idalmis Brooks Beltran, specialist of the International Relations
Department of the C entral Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, PCC;
and Roundtable journalist Oliver Zamora Oria who will "review the most
recent reports on US and Israeli threats against Iran, European and
Canadian sanctions against that nation, and Iranian reaction to such
events."
14. 2334 GMT Alonso says that new measures taken by European Union and
Canada against Iran were announced yesterday. Alonso asks Zamora to tell
about content of measures and their objectives. Zamora says analysts think
that these are the most severe measures taken by the European Union with
regard to any country. Zamora states that the measures are "the European
version of those taken by the United States." In other words, he says,
"this is a joint strategy" between the United States and its European
allies. Zamora lists the measures and makes a brief analysis of them.
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
15. 2340 GMT Alonso asks Brooks B eltran to tell about the opinion of "the
spokesmen of war in the United States and Israel." She refers to what
Taladrid just mentioned about "the United States and Israel agreeing on
their positions." She says Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is visiting
the United States and cites Barak as reported by an Israeli newspaper:
"Jerusalem and Washington share the same diagnosis that Iran is determined
to reach a nuclear military capacity," adding that a series of measures
must be taken against Iran, Brooks Beltran says. Brooks Beltran also
mentions statements by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the European
and Canadian sanctions and stresses that what this is all about is an
effort "to continue the offensive policy against Iran."
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
(Cubavision, 28 Jul 10)
16. 2346 GMT Alonso shows a video clip on the Iranian president's reaction
to the European Union sanctions against Iran and asks Zamor a to comment
on it. Zamora states that "Iran shows a firm position not to yield under
pressure and to defend its right to have nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes." Alonso asks Brooks Beltran to comment on the European reaction.
She mentions remarks by the British prime minister and by Russian
officials on the sanctions, as well as the rejection of the Brazilian and
Turkish leaders.
17. 2354 GMT Alonso states that these were the news from a region where
peace is at stake. He thanks his guests and ends the program.
Reception: Good
Duration of broadcast: 84 minutes
(Description of Source: Havana Cubavision in Spanish -- Government owned,
government-controlled television station)
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.
35) Back to Top
RSA Writer Views 1st Preparatory Committee Meeting for Arms Trade Treaty
Commentary by Dominique Dye: "Moving Forward on an Arms Trade Treaty" -
Institute for Security Studies
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:56:02 GMT
(Description of Source: Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies in
English -- Independent policy research institute providing research and
analysis of human security issues in Africa to policy makers, area
specialists, and advocacy groups. The think tank is headquartered in
Pretoria, South Africa with offices in Kenya and Ethiopia; URL:
http://www.iss.co.za)
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 Com
merce.
36) Back to Top
Expert Says Ugandan Bomb Attacks Show US 'Uncertainty' To Tackle Somali
Crisis
Report by Kevin J. Kelley: "Kampala Twin Attacks Expose US Uncertainty
Over Somalia" - The East African Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:49:54 GMT
(Description of Source: Nairobi The East African Online in English --
Website of the weekly (Monday) English-language newspaper published by the
Nation Media Group; coverage is primarily concentrated on Kenya, Tanzania,
and Uganda but includes other regions as well; URL:
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/)
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.
37) Back to Top
Writer Criticizes US President Obama for 'Racial Skittishness'
Article by Jacob Dlamini: "Hung Out to Dry by Obamas Racial Skittishness"
- Business Day Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 06:49:21 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg Business Day Online in English --
Website of South Africa's only business-focused daily, which carries
business, political, and general news. It is widely read by decisionmakers
and targets a "higher-income and better-educated consumer" and attempts to
attract "aspiring and emerging business." Its editorials and commentaries
are generally critical of government policies; URL:
http://www.bday.co.za/)
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.
38) Back to Top
Luring Chinese Tourists - The Korea Times Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:52:01 GMT
(KOREA TIMES) - Eased visa issuance should just be beginning
It's been some time since Seoul subway operators added Chinese to Korean,
English and Japanese for their station announcements. The problem is, more
than a few Chinese visitors complain that the broadcast rather increases
their confusion because of incorrect diction and pronunciation.This
episode illustrates the wide gap between Korean officials' eagerness to
attract nouveau-riche tourists from the rapidly-growing neighbor and their
half-baked steps.Korea also often finds itself a few steps behind i ts
major competitors. A case in point was the Justice Ministry's announcement
Tuesday on the eased rules in visa issuance. The ministry is right to
sharply expand the beneficiaries of multiple visas from high-income to the
middle-income Chinese while reducing the number of documents required for
it.Yet Japan, which is fiercely competing with Korea to draw Chinese
tourists, will drastically lower the threshold annual income for visa
issuance from 250,000 yuan (about $37,000) to 60,000 yuan ($8,800)
beginning next month. The per capita income of some Chinese cities,
including Shanghai, has topped $10,000, but Korea's visa criteria is based
on a decade ago when China's per capita GDP remained at $1,000.Often, more
serious problems occur after the Chinese tourists pass Korean
immigration.Annoyed by package tour programs at "dumped" prices, marked by
cheap accommodation and dining, forced shopping and rampant overcharging
at shops, quite a number of Chinese tourists are reportedly vowing not to
revisit Korea. Many Koreans only have to recall how they felt during
similar tours to China and other Southeast Asian countries to be in the
shoes of the visiting Chinese. Korea was ranked at ninth out of 10 major
destinations in Chinese tourists' satisfaction, trailing behind Thailand
and Vietnam.The number of middle-class Chinese currently totals about 49
million, almost equal to Korea's total population, but is expected to soar
to 200 million in a few years, and China's overseas travelers will be the
fourth biggest in number, following the United States, Germany and Japan.
Yet the dumping tours and other gloomy industrial reports here explain why
the eased visa issuance alone cannot attain the government's ambitious
goal to more than double the number of Chinese tourists to 3 million by
2002.Industry experts cite three basic factors as essentials for promoting
tourism eating, shopping and sleeping and say Korea can boast a
comparative advantage over major competitors in none of these.Some are
more cynical, criticizing the number of inbound tourists rather declined
whenever the government conducted "Visit Korea Year" campaigns in the
past, pointing to the gap between slogans and corresponding actions.It may
be a good starting place if the government boldly cancels the licenses of
cheap tour operators, while introducing an incentive system, in which it
gives subsidies in proportion to the foreign tourists'
satisfaction.(Description of Source: Seoul The Korea Times Online in
English -- Website 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)
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.
39) Back to Top
Thailand 'Likely' To End Emergency Rule in Six Provinces Excluding Bangkok
AFP Report: "Thailand Likely To End Emergency Rule in Six Areas --
Minister" - AFP
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:05:52 GMT
(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong service of
the independent French press 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.
40) Back to Top
Playing Three-Ball Billiards in Beirut
"Playing Thr ee-Ball Billiards in Beirut" -- The Daily Star Headline - The
Daily Star Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:27:01 GMT
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Lebanon is caught up in a game of political billiards these days, each
sideplaying a second ball against the third. And who is benefiting most
from thissituation? Syria-s President Bashar Assad.For Prime Minister Saad
Hariri, the alignment with Syria has brought dividends.Hizbullah has never
felt so isolated, and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah-sspeech just over a week ago
was, above all, a reminder of the favors the partyrendered to Damascus.
Hariri has been under no undue pressure to terminateLebanon-s relationship
with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, despiteNasrallah-s charge that it
is 'an Israeli project,' and thatis because he knows that Syria will not
allow Hizbullah to change the rules ofthe game in Beirut.But if Hariri is
using the Sy rian ball against Hizbullah, what advantage do theSyrians
have in using Hariri against Hizbullah? Simply, to bring the partysquarely
under Syria-s sway, after five years when it was Syria thatdepended mainly
on Hizbullah - because it held the ground - todefend its Lebanese stakes.
During that time, Iran-s influence in Lebanonexpanded, denying Syria the
paramount role it had played in the country fordecades. Assad now wants to
reverse that equation, and is doing so byexploiting his new Sunni
alliance, with Hariri for sure, but chiefly with SaudiArabia, whose King
Abdullah will alight in Beirut this week to bless the neworder.Hizbullah,
in turn, hoped to use its denunciation of the special tribunal toweaken
Hariri. The Syrians are of two minds on the matter. Their
Lebanesespokesmen are calling on the prime minister to turn against the
tribunal, whileAssad appears not to have made such a request. The Syrians
are keeping severalirons in the fire. They know that an accusation aga
inst Hizbullah mayeventually hit them, a fact of which they were reminded
by Walid Jumblatt,himself a corsair plying the uneasy seas between Syria,
Hariri and Hizbullah.But they are also aware that the tribunal-s
prosecutor, Daniel Bellemare,will not soon indict Syrians (if anyone), so
they can use the prospect of legalaccusations to make Hizbullah more
dependent on Damascus.Hizbullah can be reassured by the fact that Syria
wants the party to bend toSyrian priorities, but it has no desire to see
Hizbullah decisively damaged.Nor for that matter is Assad likely to oppose
a war in southern Lebanon ifHizbullah is required by Iran to retaliate
against an Israeli or Americanattack against the Islamic Republic. In
fact, Syria could well view a conflictas an opening to enhance its control
over Lebanon, perhaps even return to thecountry militarily.How so? Assad
would point out that only Syria can stabilize Lebanon in theaftermath of a
war that devastates lives and infrastructure, dis credits thegovernment
(as wars tend to do), tears down the United Nations security edificein the
south, and confirms Hizbullah as a major regional headache. If the
partymanages to resist Israel for several weeks - and Syria has
everyintention of ensuring it does - this would alarm the Arab states,
Israeland the United States, whose approval is needed to sanction some
sort of Syriancomeback.As the columnist Hazem Saghieh wrote last week in
Al-Hayat, Syrian leaders havebeen good at reversing their alliances in
Lebanon for Syria-s greaterbenefit. In 1976, the Syrian Army entered
Lebanon at the request of theMaronite leadership to fight the Palestine
Liberation Organization and theLebanese National Movement. President Hafez
Assad sought to avoidLebanon-s becoming a PLO base, which might have
forced Syria into aconfrontation with Israel. So he used the Maronite
invitation to invade Lebanonand bring the PLO to heel, before turning
against the Maronites and reconcilingwith the Pale stinians when Egypt
began talks with Israel.You have to assume that the Syrians, in the way
they bludgeoned the PLO, willseek to do the same to the Sunni community in
the not too distant future. Afeature of Syria-s presence in Lebanon was
the suffocation of independentSunni political activity that could threaten
Damascus- hold over Lebanon- all the more important given its potential
repercussions on theSunni-Alawite rapport in Syria. Saad Hariri has sought
to challenge that rule,most recently by pursuing the institutionalization
of the Future Movement,which may emerge as a Sunni 'big tent.' Yet this is
not a move thatSyria will accept lightly.For Syria to play a regional
balancing role, it needs to continue maneuveringbetween the Arab world and
Iran - in other words it cannot afford to seeIran marginalized. That
should be a further source of comfort to Hizbullah, butalso a thought
American policy-makers must bear in mind when assuming that itis possible
to play Damascus off against Tehran. But then again as a prominentofficial
remarked in Beirut recently, Washington is in a 'coma'regionally, by so
downgrading its presence, a major factor in pushing the Arabstates, Turkey
and Iran to compete over the ensuing vacuum.Syria-s objective in Lebanon
is to re-impose the hegemony it once had- without its army if it has to,
and with if it can manage that. Amongits immediate priorities is to place
its people in key security andadministrative posts, which may lead to
friction with Hizbullah, which haspower over the main security agencies.
Administrative nominations appear to bestalled, and reports suggest that
Syria is responsible for this, onlyincreasing its leverage in the
future.Lebanon may be a game of billiards, but it is Bashar Assad who is
holding thecue. And one can use a cue for many things, not least striking
the Lebanese atthe knees, an old Syrian specialty.Michael Young is opinion
editor of THE DAILY STAR . His 'The Ghosts ofMartyrs Square: An Eyewitness
Account of Lebanon-s Life Struggle'(Simon &amp; Schuster) was recently
published.(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.
41) Back to Top
DPRK Party Organ Lauds Leader's 'Guts' on Warship 'Ch'o'nan,' 'Pueblo,'
Other Incidents
Article by reporter Cho'n Yo'ng-hu'i: "Outstanding Leadership That Has
Embroidered the Victorious History With Matchless Gallantry and Guts"; The
author's title in the byline provided by KPM may be different from that
which appears in hard copy - Rodong Sinmun (Electronic Edition)
Friday July 30, 2010 02:33:17 GMT
being created on the Korean peninsula. The gang of South Korean puppets
and traitors -- which fabricated a gross smear act, the incident of the
sinking of the warship "Ch'o'nan" -- is bringing the situation to the
brink of a war while babbling about "military retaliation" and so on. The
one who masterminds this reckless anti-Republic, confrontational commotion
behind the scenes is none other the United States. While accusing us as if
we were to blame for the incident of the sinking of the warship that has
occurred this time, the United States is widely spreading the rumors on
"threats from North Korea" in the international arena. Regarding the
incident that has occurred this time, the US Obama administration has
ordered the US forces based in South Korea to maintain a combat posture to
get ready for a Korean war and has forwardly depl oyed ultra-modern "F-22"
fighters in Okinawa, Japan. The US imperialists are planning to conduct a
joint anti-submarine exercise in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) of Korea with
the South Korean puppet belligerent forces. Enormous forces, including a
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, "Aegis" destroyers, and a
nuclear-powered submarine, will reportedly participate in this exercise.
The anti-Republic, confrontational commotion that the US imperialists are
kicking up with the incident of the warship "Ch'o'nan" as an opportunity
is reaching an extreme point, and because of this the situation on the
Korean peninsula is dashing headlong toward the threshold of a war.
The world is closely watching the situation on the Korean peninsula --
which is on the brink of explosion -- with serious concerns and
apprehensions.
The DPRK National Defense Commission (NDC), in its spokesperson's
statement, made it clear our hard-line position that "We will respond to
enemies' reckless 'response' with an all-out war of justice." Regarding
our annihilate-the-enemy will and spirit to respond to "retaliation" with
harsher retaliation and to "punishment" with our own style of
indiscriminate punishment, the world is saying that military-first Korea
is booming out again the sound of the gunfire of an ultra hard-line
response.
Today, while resolutely countering the enemies' atrocious anti-Republic,
confrontational commotion, our army and people are achieving great leaps
forward and great innovations with the thunderous drumbeat of the general
offensive to open the gate of a powerful state. It is because they hold in
high esteem Comrade Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il) -- who is an
ever-victorious, iron-willed commander -- as a great leader (ryo'ngdoja)
that our army and people, while displaying their unyielding spiritual
strength, are smashing the enemies' atrocious anti-Republic,
confrontational comm otion and powerfully beating the drum of the victory
of the great battle of powerful socialist state construction.
Great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so'ng) taught as follows:
"Comrade Kim Jong Il possesses indomitable will, audacity, outstanding
strategies, and art of command, as the supreme commander of the
revolutionary armed forces, and this is a guarantee for the ceaseless
consolidation and development of our revolutionary armed forces and for
their constant victories."
The incident of the warship "Ch'o'nan" -- which is an anti-Republic act of
fraud -- clearly shows the United States' invariable hostility toward the
DPRK and its wild ambition for aggression, which is aimed at leading the
political and military confrontation on the Korean peninsula to an extreme
point and then igniting the fuse of a second Korean war without fail.
The history of DPRK-US confrontation spans far more than half a century.
During this pe riod, harsh tribulations have blocked the path ahead of us
many times, because of t he military provocation maneuvers that the US
imperialist aggressors and their stooges have ceaselessly perpetrated.
But, our people have constantly prevailed by holding in high esteem the
outstanding military-first commander who deals formidably heavy blows to
the US imperialists with the revolutionary faith and will -- which remain
steadfast in any thunder and lightning -- and with matchless gallantry and
guts and with endlessly versatile strategies.
DPRK-US confrontation is the confrontation of ideology and conviction and
the confrontation of gallantry and guts. The commander's gallantry and
guts are a guarantee of victory in the confrontation with enemies. Without
gallantry and guts, it is impossible to avoid frustration and failures in
confronting enemies, even if there are strategies. Thus, there is a
proverb saying, one should build up guts before building up martial arts,
i f he wants to become a brilliant commander. We are confronting the
arrogant and wicked United States face to face and fighting with it, which
is a self-claimed "sole superpower" of the world. This being the
situation, it is impossible to prevail in the war of confrontation with
the US imperialists without bold audacity and firm will.
Great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il is the ever-victorious, iron-willed
commander who is standing guard over the destiny of the fatherland and the
nation and socialism while holding sway over the strong imperialist
enemies with the strategies of sure victory and with matchless gallantry
and guts that no one in the world has ever possessed. Viktor Kulikov,
first deputy defense minister of the former Soviet Union and supreme
commander of the Warsaw Treaty forces praised in his book, "The brilliant
gallantry with which he fights, once he decides to fight, and he prevails;
the firm resolve to respond to strength with strength a nd to overpower
gun barrel with gun barrel; these are the traits of Comrade Kim Jong Il as
a brilliant commander, who has made the Korean people a victor knowing no
defeat in today's Cold War."
What is shown by this cry of the heart of Kulikov who experienced the
lesson of the former Soviet Union that collapsed because it had no right
leader (ryo'ngdoja), even if it had powerful military strength?
The world still vividly remembers it. Forty two years ago, in 1968, the
armed spy ship "Pueblo," which was boasting about itself as a "hiding
emperor" of the US Navy, was captured by our heroic people's army, while
committing espionage acts after crawling into the territorial waters of
our country. When this incident occurred, the attention of the world was
focused on Korea. At the time, "Pueblo" was the newest-type armed spy ship
of the US imperialists equipped with the most developed instruments and
equipment. This spy ship dis guised as an "oceanography ship" was
fulfilling an espionage mission while frequenting the waters of other
countries in order to detect the situations of the ports and military
targets of Pacific nations. Thus, when this spy ship was captured after
intruding into the territorial waters of our Republic, the US imperialists
ran amok like the herds of wolves hit by bullets, while screaming that
this was the first of its kind in their history. Desperate in such a
situation, the US imperialists concentrated enormous forces of aggression,
more than enough to wage a modern war, in the vicinity of the Korean
peninsula and oppressively intimidated and blackmailed in a way of
ultimatum that our country must make an "apology" and must return
"Pueblo"; otherwise, they would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons. This
was the peak of shamelessness and arrogance.
Precisely at this juncture, the respected and beloved general, when he was
asked by the g reat leader to make a decision in the position of the
supreme commander on how the case of "Pueblo" should be handled,
resolutely said that he would never release the "Pueblo" crew, unless a
letter of surrender is submitted by the United States, and that he would
not return "Pueblo" but display it at a museum, because it is what has
been gained from a battle.
At one point in time, the respected and beloved general confidently said,
the pomposity of the United States -- which looks down on small countries
for the reason that the United States is a big country -- should be
deflated. The tragedy of the United States lies in the fact that it still
does not know the DPRK very well ...... (ellipses as published) The
peoples of the world will see how we will receive a letter of surrender
from the United States. The iron-willed conviction and unwavering
gallantry and guts of the great general -- who remained steadfast in the
midst of the milita ry threat of the United States that was falling upon
us from all directions and the pressure of modern revisionists and who
firmly defended the dignity and sovereignty of the country with ultra
hard-line responses -- gave indomitable will and faith in victory to our
people. Since then, our army and people overwhelmed the enemies with ultra
hard-line responses thanks to the great general's gallantry and guts. In
the end, the United States had to hang out the white flag to our people
and apologize to them. Regarding the acute DPRK-US standoff surrounding
the "Pueblo" incident at the time, a foreign publication said as follows:
"During the 'Pueblo' incident, who had apologized and who had prevailed?
It was the United States that had surrendered. The DPRK of President Kim
Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il achieved a historic victory, while not
backing away even a step in the military standoff with the United States.
The documentary on the Caribbean Sea crisis is continuously shown not only
in the United States but also around the world, but the DPRK-US military
standoff surrounding the 'Pueblo' incident and the surrender of the United
States are historically more meaningful incidents."
"Pueblo" -- which is still being detained at the bank of Taedong River as
our gain from the war of DPRK-US military confrontation -- is serving as a
historic proof that shows our army and people's spirit of sure victory and
their audacious guts, who never forgive but mercilessly mow down those who
infringe on the sovereignty and security of military-first Korea, no
matter who they are.
In the DPRK-US standoff, the United States has never been able to escape
the destiny of a disgraceful looser. The "EC-121" large spy plane incident
and the "P'anmunjo'm incident" -- which have been recorded in history --
as well show that the wars of the acute DPRK-US confrontation -- which
broke out because of the United States' provocations -- always ended in
the United States' surrenders and apologies and in our victories. The
situation was embarrassing to the extent that even a high-ranking figure
of the US military screamed, "North Korea is like a scorpion. If trodden
on, it stings."
The world still remembers the 1990s when the flaming clouds of a nuclear
war loomed over the Korean peninsula.
The US imperialists -- who had become more overbearing following the end
of the Cold War -- frantically perpetrated a maneuver aimed at isolating
and stifling our Republic and bringing down our own style of the socialist
system centered on the popular masses by raising the so-called "nuclear
issue." The US-led international "nuclear suspicion" racket kicked up
against the Republic in 1993; the "special inspection" imposed on our
nuclear facilities; the staging of the "Team Spirit" joint military
exercise -- a large-scale nuclear war exercise; and putting the means of
nuclear attacks and the forces of aggression into the Korean peninsula ...
(ellipses as published); all these were the US imperialists' deliberate,
brigandish, anti-Republic provocations and war maneuvers aimed at
disarming and harming us. At this juncture, great leader Comrade Kim Jong
Il audaciously led the war of DPRK-US nuclear confrontation to constant
victories.
By dropping a bombshell that our people -- who hold dear the sovereignty
of the nation and the peace of the country -- do not desire a war but will
not beg for peace, if their dignity is trampled underfoot, and that the
enemies can never recklessly touch even an inch of the soil and a blade of
grass of our Republic, the respected and beloved general gave a conviction
of sure victory to our people and dealt heavy blows to the enemies. At the
same time, he had us to take a strong countermeasure against the reckless
maneuver of the United States that was incr easing the intensity of the
military threat to and pressure on us with the "nuclear issue." In March
1993, a semi-war state was declared to the entire country, the entire
people, and the entire army through an order of the Korean People's Army
(KPA) supreme commander, and then a statement of the Republic's government
on our country's withdrawal from the NPT was announced. The United States
succumbed to our ultra hard-line response and laid down the nuclear club
and was dragged out into the site of DPRK-US talks against its will. It
was another proud victory we had achieved and a historic event in the
history of DPRK-US standoff that the DPRK-US Agreed Framework was adopted,
and we received even the US President's letter of assurances. Regarding
this, the peoples of the world were unable to hold back their amazement,
while saying, "It is an event tantamount to cracking earth," and "it was a
heavy blow of giving a stinging slap in the face of the b ig power."
The war of DPRK-US standoff is still going on. The United States is
talking about "change," "reconciliation," "stability on the Korean
peninsula," and "preventing a war," but in actuality it has never given up
its wild ambition to invade our Republic in order to hold a grip on Korea
in its entirety and use it as a foothold for the reactionary strategy on
Asia. The US imperialists have established a specific plan for a war of
northward aggression, postulating a "contingency" on the Korean peninsula,
and are running amok in trying to put the plan into implementation. It is
not long ago that they openly raved about a preemptive nuclear strike
against our Republic. The fabricated act of the warship "Ch'o'nan" this
time, too, is an artifice aimed at bringing the situation on the Korean
peninsula to a state of hypertension and lighting the fuse of a new Korean
war with this as an excuse. Howeve r, our army and people are overpowering
the United States' offensive of pressure on the DPRK with the guts and
spirit of Mt Paektu given by the respected and beloved General Kim Jong Il
-- who is the most brilliant commander under heaven -- and with the
military-first might. It is our revolutionary way of response and our
mettle to draw a sword, if enemies wield knives, and to level a cannon at
the enemies, if they brandish rifles. No one in the world can withstand
us, who hold in high esteem General Kim Jong Il, an outstanding
military-first commander, who innately possesses the strong guts and
gallantry -- with which he remains absolutely steadfast in all the storms
and even before tens of millions of strong enemies -- and outstanding
strategies and who have the spiritual strength of the millions of soldiers
and people and the might of their single-hearted unity, which is more
powerful than a nuclear weapon.
Military-first Korea will eternally continue to add lust er to the history
of constant victories in DPRK-US standoff, because it has the great
general.
(Description of Source: Pyongyang Rodong Sinmun (Electronic Edition) in
Korean -- Daily of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea;
posted on the Korean Press Media (KPM) website run by the pro-Pyongyang
General Association of Korean Residents in Japan; URL:
http://dprkmedia.com)Attachments:DPRKoreaUSrelationsRS12Jul10.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
42) Back to Top
US Urges PRC To Press DPRK To Stop Provocations, Abide by Denuclearization
Pledge
Updated version: "UPDATES with more details, background at bottom" per
2237 GMT source update; Yonhap headl ine: "China Urged to Press N. Korea
to Stop Provocations, Abide By Denuclearization Pledge: State Dept." by
Hwang Doo-hyong - Yonhap
Friday July 30, 2010 01:12:06 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.
43) Back to Top
China Remains Vigilant of US-ROK Military Drills
Article by Li Daguang, professor of the National Defense University:
"US-ROK Joint Military Exercise Was Eventually Started" - Liaowang
Friday Ju ly 30, 2010 01:32:45 GMT
The cause of the exercise was the "Ch'o'nan" incident, which led to much
hubbub in the past few months. That was a rarely seen incident occurring
in the western sea area of the Korean Peninsula for many years.
In recent years, conflicts occurred between the navies of the south and
north sides of the peninsula for several times. With the backing of the
United States, plus the absolute superiority of the economic and
technological power, the ROK Navy possessed absolute superiority. With its
strong maritime force, the ROK never took the DPRK Navy seriously, and
basically gained an upper hand in the confrontation between the two sides.
The much weaker DPRK Navy continued to exist in an overpowered condition,
and suffered losses almost in every maritime conflict. However, in the
"Ch'o'nan" incident, the ROK Navy suffered a serious loss that was not
seen over many years.
Aft er the "Ch'o'nan" incident, the ROK government put the blame on the
DPRK in a high-profile way, and submitted a resolution to the United
Nations; and the DPRK also refuted the ROK in a high-profile manner. On 20
May, the ROK government published the investigation report about the
"Ch'o'nan" explosion and sinking incident. The report said that the
warship's sinking had nothing to do with running against a rock, steel
fatigue, and internal explosion. The report listed various evidence items,
asserting that the "Ch'o'nan" was sunk after "being attacked by the DRPK
military force with a torpedo". However, the investigation process and
conclusion had many questionable points, and the current evidence was not
sufficient in determining that the DPRK was the culprit.
As of last June, the United States and the ROK threatened, with a big
fanfare, to carry out a joint military exercise in the Yellow Sea. When
the north and south sides of t he Korean Peninsula were locked in another
round of confrontation because of the ship sinking incident, the holding
of the US-ROK joint military exercise would just indicate that the United
States and the ROK were intent on further escalating the tension on the
Korean Peninsula.
The US-ROK military exercise was aimed at giving a warning to the DPRK. On
20 July, Kim Tae-Young, ROK minister of national defense, held talks with
Robert Gates, US secretary of defense, at the ROK Ministry of National
Defense. At the meeting, Kim Tae-young said: Through the "Ch'o'nan"
incident, the ROK deeply felt the importance of the ROK-US alliance. On
the same occasion, Gates said that the military exercise, which would
contain antisubmarine and other drills, would "raise our long-range
operation capability and confidence". He said that the main purpose of the
military exercise was to give a "strong signal" to the DPRK.
The joint statement published a fter the meeting of the two defense
ministers said: The US-ROK joint military exercise in the Sea of Japan,
which would began on 25 July, would be part of a series of military
exercise activities between the two countries in a period to come, and
would be an "exercise with defensive nature". It was aimed at making it
clear to the DPRK that the DPRK "must stop the hostile actions", and the
ROK and the United States would strengthen their joint defense capability
for the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
This time, the US-ROK joint military exercise was the largest-scale
exercise carried out by the two militaries after 1976. The United States
dispatched the aircraft carrier "George Washington" with a displacement is
97,000 tons, three destroyers, and one submarine to take part in the
military exercise. The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
"George Washington" is one of the world's largest aircraft carrier. I t
carries more than 6,000 American sailors and airmen and about 80 aircraft.
Some American media held that the move of sending the "George Washington"
to take part in the military exercise was to give an "intimidation" to the
DPRK.
The ROK side would dispatch a large-sized landing ship "Dokdo" with a
displacement of 4,500 tons (as printed), several conventional warships,
and multiple F-15K fighter aircraft to take part in the exercise. In
addition, several latest F-22 fighters would be sent from the US base in
Okinawa to join the ROK F-15K fighters and other more than 200 aircraft in
taking part in the exercise. This would be the first time the F-22
fighters appeared in a military exercise on the Korean Peninsula. The F-22
fighter is a kind of advanced fighter aircraft that can carry out attacks
on the DPRK nuclear facility in Nyongbyon within 30 minutes after
take-off, and can carry out operations in the whole territory of the DPRK
withi n one hour.
John MacDonald, director of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command's operation
bureau, said: "Four F-22 fighters will take part in the exercise's joint
strike training. This is to demonstrate the importance of the ROK-US
allied relationship." Reportedly, the US Cyber Command will also take part
in the cyber defense drill in the exercise, and the US military may also
carry out aerial refueling drills. The two defense ministers also stated
that the two sides agreed to carry out a series of joint military
exercises in the Sea of Japan and in the Yellow Sea in the next few
months, but they did not reveal the timetable of the series exercises nor
the number of forces, purposes, and specific venues of the exercises. The
ROK and the United States will continue to carry out intensive
consultations and formulate concrete plans for their future training. The
two sides also discuss the follow-up measures related to the postponement
of the operation command powe r transfer.
In addition, the US and ROK authorities also expressed concern over the
situation on the Korean Peninsula. The US force would continue to be
stationed in the ROK and maintain the current size of 28,500 troops so as
to guarantee a sufficient joint operation capability. On behalf of the US
government, Gates once again promised to provide the nuclear protection
umbrella for the ROK, and also provide conventional weapons and missile
defense for the ROK. The ROK side emphasized the importance of maintaining
the current alliance between the two countries.
On the other hand, on 20 July, the US-led "UN Forces Command" notified the
DPRK of the timetable of the joint military exercise in the Sea of Japan.
The ROK Ministry of Defense notified the United States, Australia, Sweden,
Britain, which took part in the investigation of the "Ch'o'nan" incident,
China, Japan, Russia, and the 16 nations with personnel in the UN forces
in the Korean Wa r of the timetable of the joint military exercise.
At the very beginning, the ROK side once announced that the exercise would
be carried out in the Yellow Sea, which is an area close to China's
economic developed areas and political center; afterwards, the media once
reported that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "George Washington"
would sail to the Yellow Sea and take part in the exercise. This matter
caused the Chinese side's serious attention. China openly expressed
opposition to the holding of the US-ROK Yellow Sea joint exercise five
times within a month.
Though in his speech on 20 July, Gates particularly mentioned that the
military exercise would not be a threat to China, as all people know,
while the U S force, being the world's strongest force, stages a military
exercise in an area close to China's territory, China cannot but maintain
high vigilance. The military exercise carried out by the US military in
the Sea of Japan may not pose a direct threat to China, but as it plays a
weighty role in East Asia, the United States should act prudently and take
the overall interests into account.
This time, the change of the venue of the US-ROK joint military exercise
from the Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan indicated that the US side was
clear that such event was never insignificant to China-US relations. The
Chinese side should not feel like winning something while seeing that the
US aircraft carrier "George Washington" did not come to the Yellow Sea,
and should pay closer attention to the follow-up military exercises to be
carried out by the United States and the ROK in the coming months, calmly
watch the development of events, and prudently utter remarks.
(Description of Source: Beijing Liaowang in Chinese -- weekly general
affairs journal published by China's official news agency Xinhua, carrying
articles on political, social, cultural, international, and economic
issues)Attachments:lw0726 .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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
44) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Analysis': British PM Visit To India Focuses on Developing
Economic And Trade Ties
Xinhua "Analysis" by Wu Qiang : "British PM Visit To India Focuses on
Developing Economic And Trade Ties" - Xinhua
Friday July 30, 2010 00:26:31 GMT
NEW DELHI, July 30 (Xinhua)-- British Prime Minister David Cameron
Thursday wound up his two-day visit to India after holding talks with his
Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
He also attended Thursday an important British-Indian business forum with
the top entrepreneurs of b oth countries here and attended the signing
ceremony of a 1.1 billion-U.S. dollar project to jointly make 57 "Hawk"
trainers for the Indian military in the southern city of Bangalore
Wednesday.This visit was Cameron's first to a major developing country
since assuming office and the first visit by a British PM to India since
2005. He was accompanied by seven cabinet ministers and 50 British
entrepreneurs as well as many people from the circles of education,
culture and arts.Regarded as the largest ever delegation to India since
India's Independence in 1947, the visit also showed the great importance
paid by London to India.On the eve of his visit, Cameron published an
article on British-Indian relations in the Indian daily The Hindu, in
which he called for "a stronger, wider and deeper relationship" between
the two countries, while emphasizing huge potentials in cooperative fields
such as economy, trade and security.As per the agreement struck between
New Delhi and London during Cameron's visit, one can see that economic and
trade cooperation remain the focus bilateral relations. But the new
characteristics of British-Indian relations can also be summarized as
following:BRITIAN WISHES TO "RETURN" TO INDIA IN ECONOMIC FIELDDespite the
fact that Britain was the former colonial power in India, its influence in
the international arena has fallen greatly since World War II and its
political and economic influence in India itself has also greatly
diminished over the past several decades.Before he landed in India Tuesday
evening, Cameron said he came here "in a spirit of humility". He said
sentiment and "a shared history" can no longer build a new special
relationship between the two countries and Britain must win its position
in India though fierce international competition.The prime minister also
pointed out that the aim of Britain is to again become one of the top five
trading partners of India. Las t year, British-Indian trade fell to 4.5
billion U.S. dollars, and Britain became India's 18th largest trading
partner.The recent change of government in Britain was mainly caused by
economic recession resulting from the global economic meltdown. After he
came to power, Cameron carried out the largest deficit cut and economic
austerity plan since Prime Minister Thatcher.London has realized that if
Britain wants to recover from the economic slowdown, it must seek wider
market overseas, especially in Asian countries. The Foreign Office has
also launched a campaign of economic diplomacy. Under this
circumstances,Cameron thus chose India as the first developing country to
visit. The two governments agreed to carry out a wide-range of cooperation
in all fields, increase investment in each other's country, and set up a
CEO joint team to stimulate such endeavors.BRITAIN WANTS TO SHARE INDIA'S
ARMS MARKETIndia is well-known for relying on foreign -- in particular
Russian -- military equipment and technology to modernize its military
forces, due to its limited home armament development capabilities. Over
the past several years, India has been stepping up the purchase of foreign
armaments.Britain, with its ownership of military high technology, wishes
to share the Indian arms market. The Hawk project is one example of its
efforts to do so. Besides this trainer, Britain also cooperates with India
in Jaguar military aircraft production and it intends to build ships for
India's Coast Guards.On the other hand, with restrictions of technology
import from the U.S., India wishes to obtain advanced military and nuclear
technology from Britain, which is an important member of NATO.BRITAIN AND
INDIA OWN GREAT "SOFTWARE POWER" FOR DEVELOPING TIESDue to historical
reasons, Britain and India have very close relations in people contacts
and personnel exchange. India has some 2 million immigrants in Britain.
The two countries also enjoy close ties in educatio n, academics, science
research, arts, sports and other fields, which make up a huge "software
power" for developing bilateral ties.During Cameron's visit, the two
countries agreed to widen and deepen exchanges and cooperation in these
fields. Britain also promise to continue absorbing the most talented
people from India.CAMERON'S CRITICISM OF PAKISTAN DRAWS ATTENTIONDuring
the visit, Cameron twice criticized Pakistan for not doing enough to crack
down on terror groups on its soil. This could be regarded as an unusual
gesture from London to boost the position of India, which has been blaming
Pakistan for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.Political analysts and senior Indian
officials immediately welcomed the British PM's remarks as "unusually
blunt", but they also pointed out that the remarks came in the light of
furthering defense ties as Britain clearly look at India as a potential
buyer for defense equipment which may see the country breathe easy as it
is recuper ating from recession which hit the country two years back.Some
analysts also speculate that Cameron's new attitude towards Pakistan could
signal a shift of policy of the United States and NATO in Afghanistan, as
the Western countries might " encourage" India to be more actively
involved in Afghanistan once NATO withdraws from the war-torn
country.(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.
45) Back to Top
Software Push By University to Catch Up With U.S. - JoongAng Daily Online
Friday July 30, 2010 00:37:4 4 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Seoul's Sungkyunkwan University will establish a new
department with the tentative name "software academy" to nurture future
computer software developers starting next year.
"Local corporations have a hard time recruiting quality talent in the
software sector because they have long concentrated on hardware," the
university's admissions head, Kim Yoon-jea, told the JoongAng Ilbo
yesterday. "This new department aims to nurture talent that will meet the
demand of corporations, much like the university's semiconductor systems
engineering department."Sungkyunkwan's plan benefits students who enter
the academy, providing some with four-year full scholarships and
assistance with dormitory expenses. The university plans to admit 30
students for the four-year course in the next academic year and will
initially select students by an early admissions process that starts next
mo nth. The university wants to expand the number of students in the
course to 100.The idea of establishing a software engineering department
was inspired by Yi Ko'n-hu'i (Lee Kun-hee), CEO of Samsung Electronics. In
a recent meeting with university officials, Lee said that Samsung
Electronics alone needs 30,000 software researchers, but Korea only has
18,000.Lee went on to say that Samsung will hire the remaining 12,000
researchers from countries overseas, such as software powerhouse
India."State universities in the United States run collegiate honor
programs and provide incentives to talented students so as not to lose
them to Ivy League schools," another official from Sungkyunkwan University
said. "We're taking a similar strategy to attract talented students who
plan to apply for popular departments such as medical studies."Shin
Dong-ryeol, dean of the university's information, communication and
engineering department, said many young Koreans neglect the software
sector. "For many Korean students, software is a 4-D industry, meaning
it's difficult, dangerous, dirty, and doesn't guarantee a rosy future,"
Shin said. "Even top universities like Seoul National University and Kaist
failed to get full enrollment in their computer engineering
departments."To realize its ambitious plan, Sungkyunkwan University
already recruited four Kaist professors who specialize in software
research and development. It plans to recruit software experts from
international giants such as Intel, Microsoft and Qualcomm.The university
plans to offer professor positions even if applicants don't have
doctorates."Korea has the world's best technology in making (hardware
products), but there are very few Koreans who can work on architecture or
develop a platform that runs smartphones, such as Apple's iOS or Google's
Android," Shin said.(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in
English -- Website of English-languag e 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.
46) Back to Top
Report Says US, India, Israel, Russia Working Against Pakistan
Report by Javed Rashid: "1,200 RAW Operatives Asigned to Afghanistan To
Carry Out Actions Against Pakistan"-- Words in quotation marks as
published - Jang
Thursday July 29, 2010 16:43:46 GMT
It i s being said that the Indian Government, supported by the United
States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Israel, has started work on
actions against Pakistan. It has been learned that the infamous agencies
of the four countries have started targeting Pakistan. "CIA" and "Mossad"
are cooperating with India to act against Pakistan. It has been disclosed
that Operation Baluchistan has been assigned Code 222, Three Two via
Dubai; Karachi Code Four Square via South Africa, while Waziristan, Wana,
and other tribal areas have been assigned Code Beirut and NATO (as
published). Terrorism will be further fueled in Baluchistan, and forces
will be targeted in coming days. Moreover, top officials may also be
targeted. It has been learned that senior "RAW" officials called on the
US, Russian, and Afghan intelligence officials to share the results of
teams monitoring Pakistan.
The Indian "RAW" will work on targeting "ISI" (Inter Serv ices
Intelligence). Meanwhile, other secret services will assist India. It has
been learned that Dalmiya got training from the German intelligence
agency. CIA officials in Afghanistan particularly trust the German
intelligence in Afghanistan.
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Jang in Urdu The War, an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations)
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.
47) Back to Top
IMF Approves $15 Mln Stand-By Arrangement For Ukraine - ITAR-TASS
Thursday Ju ly 29, 2010 08:59:58 GMT
intervention)
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The Executive Board of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday approved a 29-month 15.15
billion-U.S. dollar Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Ukraine in support of
the country's economic reform.Kiev might receive 1.89 billion U.S. dollars
immediately after the program's adoption.The previous IMF program for
Ukraine has been cancelled. According to earlier reports, it was suspended
over the failure of Ukraine's former authorities to fulfill a number of
its terms and conditions."Ukraine is emerging from a difficult period
during which the economy was severely hit by external shocks and
exacerbated by domestic vulnerabilities. The authorities are committed to
addressing existing imbalances and putting the economy on a path of
durable growth, through important fiscal, energy, and financial sector
reforms," John Lipsky, First Deputy M anaging Director and Acting Chair,
said following the board's discussions."At the core of the authorities'
economic program is a comprehensive consolidation strategy to safeguard
fiscal sustainability. Fiscal adjustment will start in 2010 and deepen in
2011-2012 backed by robust structural reforms of the pension system,
public administration, and the tax system," he said.He also dwelled on the
reforms in Ukraine's gas sector. In his words, such reforms will include
"domestic price hikes and broader reforms supported by other multilateral
institutions, which will help eliminate energy subsidies and create a more
modern and viable sector, while protecting the most vulnerable with better
targeted social assistance programs."According to Lipsky, another major
direction of reforms is "to rehabilitate the financial system and enhance
the National Bank of Ukraine's independence and accountability.""The
planned recapitalization of banks and steps t o strengthen the supervisory
and institutional framework are essential to restore financial stability,
tackle the mounting problem of impaired assets, and eliminate impediments
for robust economic recovery," he stressed.In an annex to the press
release, the IMF summed up the Ukrainian government's economic plans it
intends to support. Such plans include reducing the general government
deficit to 3.5 percent of GDP in 2011 and to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2012,
and "setting public debt firmly on a downward path below 35 percent by
2015," as well as initiating "reforms to modernize the gas sector and
eliminate Naftogaz's deficit starting from 2011."(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
Commerc e.
48) Back to Top
RMRB Interviews PRC Academic on 'Theory of China's Economic
Responsibility'
Report by Staff Reporter Cui Peng: "Renminbi Exchange Rate Has Not Been
Undervalued! (Responding to the 'Theory of China's Economic
Responsibility') -- Interview WithHe Weiwen, Director of the China-US
Economics and Trade Research Center at University of International
Business and Economics" - Renmin Ribao Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:57:55 GMT
He Weiwen: Absolutely not. According to the real effective exchange rate
indexes for major currencies in June released by the Bank for
International Settlements on 15 July, the index for the renminbi was
118.8, a drop of 0.98% from the May figure of 119.97. However, this was
mainly because of the appreciation of the Euro, the Japan ese yen and the
pound sterling. This in fact shows that the renminbi exchange rate was
fluctuating both ways and was moving more and more in line with changes in
the international market.
In its calculation of the exchange rate index, the Bank for International
Settlements set the average exchange rate level at 100 in 2005. Calculated
on this basis, the real effective exchange rate index for the renminbi in
June this year was 118.8, meaning that it had gone up by 18.8% in
cumulative terms since the exchange rate reform in 2005. In the same
month, the US dollar index was 94.31, meaning that it had dropped by 5.69%
since 2005. The Euro index was 92.59, representing a drop of 7.41%; the
yen index was 100.61, up 0.61%; and the pound sterling index was 81.38,
down 18.62%. From these we can say that the extent of appreciation of the
renminbi over the past five years was obviously the biggest.
The real effective exchange rate of the renminbi had gone both up and down
in the past five years. The index reached its highest point of 126.06 in
February 2009 and had dropped by 5.76% by June this year. Why? Because the
renminbi was pegged with the US dollar at that time and the dollar
exchange rate was at a high level. The dollar index was 99.42 that month.
Today, with the dollar index dropping by 5.24%, it is by no means strange
to see fluctuations in the renminbi exchange rate. When we analyze this
issue, we should not cut history apart but should base our judgment on the
entire process.
We will be able to see the picture more clearly by looking further back in
time. In January 1994, the renminbi exchange rate index was 75.97, the US
dollar index was 94.21, the Euro (known as the European Currency Unit at
that time) index was 98.05, and the yen and pound sterling indexes were
128.05 and 90.99 respectively. On this basis, the renminbi has risen by
56.38% and the dollar by 0.11%, while the Euro, the Japanese yen and the
pound sterling ha ve dropped by 5.57%, 21.43% and 10.56% respectively. In
other words, only the renminbi has appreciated substantially, the dollar
remains at the same level, and all other major currencies have fallen.
Thus, accusations that the renminbi exchange rate has been forced down and
is continuously falling are totally contrary to facts and go against
professional knowledge. US Trade Deficit With China Has Nothing To Do With
Renminbi Exchange Rate
Reporter: China's trade surplus is a focal point of the West's attack
against the renminbi exchange rate. Do you think the US trade deficit with
China has to do with renminbi undervaluation?
He Weiwen: China's trade surplus increased rapidly between 2005 and 2008.
Interestingly, those were also years when the floating exchange rate of
the renminbi against the dollar had risen by 21.2% in cumulative terms. In
2009, there was no change in the renminbi exchange rate against the dollar
but the trade surplus fell by nearly US $100 billion to US$196.06 billion.
Obviously there are no direct correlations between level of the renminbi
exchange rate and foreign trade surplus.
Although China is having a considerable trade surplus at present, the
figures vary great ly between different trading partners. In the first
half of this year, China's trade surplus totaled US$55.3 billion,
including a combined deficit of US$101.46 billion with Japan, the ROK and
Taiwan and surpluses of US$77.05 billion and US$62.03 billion with the
United States and the European Union respectively. During this period, the
renminbi exchange rate dropped against the Japanese yen, remained steady
against the dollar and fell after going up against the Euro. According to
the trade weighted exchange rates of the Bank for International
Settlements, the weight of the Japanese yen, the Korean won and the Taiwan
dollar in renminbi was 31.6% while that of the US dollar and the Euro was
21% and 18.6% respectively. China has trade de ficits with countries
having the biggest weight index. How can the exchange rate be used to
explain the US trade deficits with China?
In fact, the main reasons for China's trade surplus is that it has played
concrete parts in international division of labor and in the international
flow of goods formed in the industrial chains. This is clearly manifested
in relations between the United States, Canada and Mexico and between
Germany and the East European countries.
The United States registered an increase of 53.7% in global exports in
cumulative terms between 1997 and 2009. During this period, its exports to
China rose by 443.4%, 8.26 times faster than the former. If the renminbi
exchange rate was indeed undervalued, how do you explain this opposite
result? The increase in US exports to China was 1.19 times the increase in
US imports from China. However, the global trade situation of the United
States during this time was quite to the contrary, with import growth
outpacing export growth by 1.47 times. This is an obvious indication that
compared with the currencies of other major trading partners of the United
States, the renminbi exchange rate has not been undervalued and is in fact
slightly to the United States' advantage. Imbalance of World Economy
Mainly Due to Imbalance in United States
Reporter: The Economic Policy Institute of the United States published a
report entitled "Unfair China Trade Costs Local Jobs" in March this year,
saying that trade deficits with China have displaced 2.41 million jobs in
the United States over the past seven years. Is this conclusion
scientific?
He Weiwen: This conclusion simply cannot stand close examination. In 1999
and 2000, US trade deficits with China increased by US$11.77 billion and
US$15.1 billion respectively while jobs increased by 3.172 million and
2.005 million respectively. In 2001, 1.78 million jobs were lost although
US trade deficits with China decreased. T here was no change in the
renminbi exchange rate against the dollar during this period. In 2008, the
number of unemployed in the manufacturing sector increased by 473,000. The
number soared to 1.523 million in 2009, but trade deficit with China
posted a sharp drop of US$41.2 billion from a year ago. There was also not
much change in the renminbi exchange rate against the dollar over this
period. It is obvious that the unemployment problem in the United States
has no correlations with China's trade surplus or the renminbi exchange
rate.
The root cause for changes in the US unemployment rate lies in economic
cycles and productivity. Between 2001 and 2003, output in the US
manufacturing sector dropped by 5.01% in cumulative terms but productivity
increased by 15.15%. Theoretically there should be a job loss of 3.02
million, but actually only 2.896 million jobs were lost. The two figures
are quite close. Between 2008 and 2009, output in the manufacturing sector
dropped by 9.6% while productivity rose by 5.9%. Theoretically there
should be a job loss of 1.907 million but the actual number of jobs lost
was 1.996 million. The two figures were also were close, proving once
again that they have no correlation with the renminbi exchange rate.
Views in the West that the imbalance of the world economy was also due to
the undervalued ren minbi exchange rate are even more unreasonable. Let us
not concern ourselves with the established fact that the root cause of the
international financial crisis lies in Wall Street's greed and US
financial institutions getting out of control and only look at the
prevailing arguments about the imbalance of the world economy. Actually
this imbalance is due to imbalance in the United States. More
specifically, the United States has a huge current account deficit, but
the amounts are not too big for other deficit countries.
The US current account deficit saw a big drop in 2009 mainly because its
trade defic it registered a substantial drop of US$315.26 billion. Of
this, 63% came from a smaller trade deficit in mineral fuels (mainly crude
oil). The primary reason for US trade deficit is the energy problem, the
cornerstone of which is oil price. The core of oil price lies in the
solution of speculative futures trading in the United States and Britain,
that is, the financial issue. Only by properly resolving this issue will a
big part of the problem of US trade deficits be resolved.
Another important reason for US trade deficits is that multinational
companies are shifting their production bases and setting up subsidiaries
abroad and then importing goods back from these subsidiaries to maximize
their profits. This is called "buying one's own goods." According to the
2007 base figure, the deficit (with China) would be reduced by at least
US$234.5 billion if this factor is taken out of the equation and would
only account for 28.2% of the (total) trade deficits that year.
Thus, the United States should bear the main responsibility for resolving
the imbalance of the world economy. It should put its own house in order
rather than always putting the blame on China. Maintaining Exchange Rate
Stability is Manifestation of China Assuming Its Responsibility As A Major
Power
Reporter: If this is the case, why is it that the theory of "the
undervalued renminbi exchange rate," which has no scientific basis
whatsoever, hotly disputed in individual countries in the West, and why is
China repeatedly asked to "assume its responsibility as a major power"?
He Weiwen: Actually the major critics of the renminbi exchange rate issue
are a handful of US members of congress. Senator Charles Schumer did not
major in economics and is not an expert on exchange rates. Obviously he
had his reasons for doing what he did.
First, political needs at home. At a time of weak US economic recovery and
high unemployment, mak ing a scapegoat of other countries is the simplest
and most beguiling method. With the Democratic Party facing a grim
situation in mid-term elections, some analysts believe the Democratic
Party may lose its position as the majority party in the House of
Representatives, which is why they must do their best to win labor votes
and make job increase their major slogan. Solving the employment problem
requires money from the government, including tax cuts and subsidies for
employers and relief for employees. The Obama administration needs to
spend between US$30 billion and US$50 billion at least to create jobs for
2 million people. However, the federal government cannot afford the money
with its high deficits. Putting the blame on China does not cause any
money and allows them to shirk responsibility while winning votes. This is
a good business with small investment and big profits.
Second, the need to shirk responsibility for the international financial
crisis. Since the financial crisis was mainly caused by the United States,
it is only natural that it should pick up the tab for the consequences. A
very absurd argument has now cropped up. It says the United States and
China should share the responsibility, because the undervalued renminbi
exchange rate has resulted in China's huge trade surplus and led to excess
liquidity in the United States. If China does not accept this, it is not
assuming its responsibility as a major power, and China is to blame should
crisis erupt again in future.
This kind of accusation is very absurd. To say nothing about how much of
China's surplus has turned into US liquidity, had it not been because of
Wall Street's greed, had financial institutions not not gone so terribly
out of control, and had the United States done everything according to
rules, would the subprime crisis have taken place at all? How could it
have produced the domino effect as it did?
Third, the need to curb China. If we looked back at the consequences of
the United States forcing the Japanese yen to appreciate, it would not be
difficult to see its intentions in forcing the renminbi to appreciate.
However, gone is the history of unilateral attempts to force a sovereign
state to make sacrifices. China will never sacrifice its own development
to suit the needs of the inhibitor.
Facts have told us that the renminbi exchange rate has not affected the
process of world economic recovery. History in the past two decades told
us that major fluctuations in international monetary markets would always
be followed by economic turmoil or recession.
The foundation of world economic recovery remains fragile and the European
debt crisis is just showing signs of stabilizing. The common
responsibility of China and other major powers is to join hands to
maintain the basic stability of the exchange rates of major currencies
like the US dollar, the Euro, the renminbi, the Japanese yen and the pound
sterli ng, prevent major fluctuations in the monetary market, prevent a
resurgence of financial speculation, and create a basic environment for
the steady recovery of the world economy and world trade for this purpose.
In addition, China also needs to do its utmost to ensure steady and fast
economic growth and provide a strong market and strong confidence for the
world economy and world trade. This alone is China's best performance as a
responsible major power.
(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:rmrb0728rmb.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
49) Back to Top
ZTS Special Article Questions Motive of Exaggerating PRCs Naval
Strength
Special Article by Hong Kong ZTS contributing reporter Shi Ren: The
Motive of Exaggerating Chinas Naval Strength Provides Much Food for
Thought - Zhongguo Tongxun She
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:32:06 GMT
Jin Canrong, a Chinese expert of international studies, said: In the
crisis of the Taiwan Strait in 1996, the commander of the US Pacific
Command laughed at China, saying how China was able to send the soldiers
across the sea. However, in 2006, the then defense secretary cried out in
alarm that the military strength of China's mainland had far exceeded the
need to deal with the Taiwan Strait. "The change in their remarks has
shown that the Chinese Navy has indeed made globally recognized
achievements. However, it is obvious that China is a new player on the
sea. Co mpared with the United States, which has been on the sea with
great ease for more than 100 years, China's concern over sea power has
remained only in the 'fetal stage'."
A Sweden expert said: Taking a panoramic view of the world history, one
will find that all European and American powers have attached great
importance to sea power. Up to the present, the US armed forces still
practice the principle of "wiping out the enemy on the sea, instead of
bringing them to our territory." Therefore, it is not difficult to
understand that when China has become strong, its navy can very easily
touch "a sensitive nerve of the Westerners."
Regarding the "bold assumption" of the US scholar, a commentary of
Britain's "Financial Times" said, "National defense literature is always
flooded with daydreams of upcoming outbreaks of wars and China has always
attracted such attention." "However, China is indeed taking a more
confrontational strategy to safeguard it interests in that region." As a
matter of fact, for some time, the Western media are flooded with the
concern about the greatly increased strength of the Chinese Navy.
"Is it true that China and the United States will inevitably have a war in
this century?" When a "Global Times" reporter asked David M. Finkelstein,
the director of China studies of the "Center for Naval Analyses," a famous
institution that collects large quantities of research data for the US
Navy, about this, his first reaction was a "shock."
David M. Finkelstein said: Neither the United States nor China should
lightly put forward such a "disastrous" assumption. "What we should ask is
how the two countries should build up trust and manage differences,
instead of asking whether or not conflicts can be avoided." David M.
Finkelstein also warned that since the scopes of movement of the navies of
the two countries "are continuously getting closer and closer," if no good
communication mechanism can be established, this "will lead to some
unnecessary risks and incidents we do not want to see as what happed in
the past."
Bernard D. Cole, an expert of Chinese Studies of the US National War
College, also shared the same view: "There are bound to be various kinds
of differences between China and the United States, but I see no problem
in the future that should make us assume that a war will break out between
the two countries. Most people of our two countries do not understand the
details about the progress in our naval or diplomatic affairs."
(Description of Source: Hong Kong Zhongguo Tongxun She in Chinese --
PRC-owned press agency (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 u se may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
50) Back to Top
Pakistan Press Nawa-e Waqt 29 Jul 10
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735. - Nawa-e Waqt
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:26:36 GMT
pictures on page 1 show rescue workers searching for bodies amid wreckage
of the plane that crashed into Margalla Hills of Islamabad, relatives of
passengers wailing over tragedy, and Information Minister Qamar Zaman
Kaira addressing news conference. Lead Story: Report by special
correspondent: Passenger plane of private company hits Margalla Hills; 152
killed; mourning announced across country today
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that all aspects, including
subversion, would be looked upon. (pp 1, 9; 1,200 words) Rel ated News:
Report by Mohammad Nawaz Raza: How plane entered into red zone despite
being in right direction? Why green signal for landing given when clouds
enveloped airport? (pp 1, 9; 400 words) Report by special correspondent:
Lower flight by plane, heading toward Margalla Hills, permission for
landing in stormy weather; not heading toward alternative airport? Civil
aviation experts will have to focus on these questions (pp 1, 9; 300
words) Report by special correspondent: Prime Minister orders immediate
investigation into incident (pp 1, 9; 100 words) Report by Sajjad Tirin:
Tragic accident of plane; sorrowful atmosphere grips country (pp 1, 9; 300
words) Report by special correspondent: 13 lucky persons did not get into
plane; some got booking cancelled at eleventh hour (pp 1, 9; 200 words)
Report by special correspondent: Two American nationals were also on board
plane (pp 1, 9; 100 words) Nawa-e Waqt report: Airport runway was not
blocked before plane crash: Manager (pp 1, 9; 100 words) Report by special
correspondent: There is need to make investigation transparent, make
report public: Wing commander (retired) Nasim Ahmed (pp 1, 9; 200 words)
Report from monitoring desk: Plane crashed due to pilot error; last
conversation comes to light; warning was given to plane that it was
getting away from runway (pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report by special
correspondent: Was there a plan to hit plane against some important
building? (pp 1, 9; 100 words) Report by Waqar Abbasi: Youth parliament
prime minister, six members also killed (pp 1, 9; 400 words) Report by
special correspondent: Horrific explosion occurred as plane struck
Margalla Hills: Deputy inspector general police (pp 1, 9; 300 words)
Report by special correspondent: 107 relatives of crash victims brought to
Islamabad from Karachi by special flight (pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report by
special correspondent: PIMS administration confirms receiving 70 bodies
(pp 1, 9; 300 words) Report by special corres pondent: Black box not
found; special center set up to hand over dead bodies; close relatives
should get themselves registered: Information minister (pp 1, 9; 600
words) Page 2: News From Islamabad, Rawalpindi
Page 2 has a column besides local news and advertisements. Column by
Rafique Dogar: See sun rising in Sargodha
The column discusses defeat of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in
by-elections in Sargodha. (800 words) Page 3: National, International
Reports
The page 3 has national and international news. APP report: Southern
Afghanistan; foreign solider killed in Taliban attack (p 3; 80 words)
Report by special: Setting up of power commission only way to prevent
targeted killings in Karachi: Hashmat Habib (pp 3, 10; 300 words) Page 4:
News From Suburbs Column by Dr Ajmal Niazi: There are other sorrows in
life apart from love
The column discusses Nawaz Sharif's remarks over the extension in the
service of Army chief. (1,000 words) Page 5: S pecial edition on fan
manufacturing industry Page 6: Advertisements Page 7: Classified Ads Page
8: Continuation of Reports From Other Pages 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 delegation of task force on education
meeting President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
chairing meeting on economic situation. The lower half of the page has
quarter-page advertisements. Nawa-e Waqt report: Some other dictator may
impose martial law if judicial review powers clipped: Chief Justice
In his remarks during hearing on 18th Amendment, chief justice has said
that those imposing martial law always assailed basic structure of
constitution. (pp 8, 12; 500 words) Online report: Religious scholars
should play important role for interfaith harmony: President Zardari (pp
8, 12; 200 words) Report by spec ial correspondent: We are scrutinizing
degrees on daily basis; facing tremendous pressure; media giving political
color: HEC Vice chancellors (pp 8, 12; 400 words) Reuters report: Contacts
with militant forces not proper; Pakistan should take action against
groups promoting terrorism: British prime minister (pp 8, 12; 400 words)
BBC report: Pakistan dismisses David Cameron's statement (pp 8, 12; 200
words) Report by special correspondent: Pakistan is my country; will
return: Pervez Musharraf (pp 8, 12; 200 words) Report by special
correspondent: We will extend every possible cooperation for peace in
Balochistan: Interior minister (pp 8, 12; 200 words) Nawa-e Waqt report:
Connection with Faisal Shahzad; report regarding five missing persons
sought (pp 8, 12; 100 words) Online report: Plane crash tragic; no
subversion made: Defense minister (pp 8, 12; 300 words) Report by special
correspondent: Crash should thoroughly be investigated, made public:
Senators (pp 8, 12; 300 words ) Report from monitoring desk: Plane was out
of safety area; appears to be pilot error: PIA chief (pp 8, 12; 100 words)
Report by special correspondent: Army prevents people, media from going to
site of crash (pp 8, 12; 200 words) Nawa-e Waqt report: Hardships faced in
rescue operation: Gen Nadeem; there is no report about recovery of black
box (pp 8, 12; 200 words) INP news report: I did not fulfill many desires
of Zardari; refused to allot 14,000 canal land to Prime Minister Gilani's
sons: Outgoing Azad (Pakistan-administered)Kashmir prime minister (pp 8,
12; 400 words) APP report: Zardari to visit UK in August (pp 8, 12; 200
words) Report by special correspondent: Decision about two weekly holidays
should be revised: Shahbaz Sharif (pp 8, 12; 100 words) Report by special
correspondent: Rains wreak havoc; 39 die in several cities (pp 8, 12; 300
words) Report by special correspondent: We have finalized preparations for
long march; mob of people to enter into Islamaba d after Id: Haider Zaman,
Hazara province leader (pp 8, 12; 500 words) Report by Ittrat Jaffery:
Collection of general sales tax; consensus evolved between center,
provinces (pp 8, 12; 300 words) Page 13: Feature Report Report by Javed
Siddique: Air Blue 202; passengers of valley of death; why accident
occurred; what was cause of delay in landing on runway; investigation
continues (1,000 words) 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: Shifting of heavy conventional arms by US, UK to
Afghanistan; we should worry about our security
The editorial discusses a report published by an English daily that US has
shipped large quantities of arms to Afghanistan that pose great threat to
human lives. Presence of such large quantity of a rms near Pakistani
border poses a permanent threat to peace and security of region. (800
words) Editorial: Deplorable accident of private plane
The editorial deplores the tragic crash of passenger plane and suggests
transparent inquiry. (200 words) Editorial: Baluchistan; resolve issue
with prudence, sagacity
The editorial discusses statement of interior minister that some 100,000
settlers have so far migrated from Balochistan. The government should
ascertain causes behind hatred. (300 words) Article by Javed Qureshi:
Fruitless talks between foreign ministers of Pakistan, India (last
episode) (500 words) Article by Khalid H Lodhi: 'Those in field of
journalism should also hold themselves accountable' (800 words) Article by
Aziz Zafar Azad: Benefactors of PPP...General Gul Hassan, Gen Kayani
(1,000 words) Page 15: Articles
Page 15 has articles on national and international issues. Article by
Justice (ret) Manzur Hussein Gilani: Are liberated parts of Jamm u and
Kashmir state constitutional enigma or part of Pakistan? (1,000 words)
Article by Fazal Hussein Awan: Siachen; withdrawal of forces not solution
to problem (600 words) Article by Sultan Mahmud Hali: Plight of Indian
Army (800 words) Article by Suhail Anjum Malik: Benefits, losses of
friendship with Jews, Christians (800 words) Page 16: Politics
Page 16 has articles and reports with pictures on domestic political
scene. Article by Nawaz Raza: Extension in service of army chief; decision
political, or administrative; Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) terms it outcome of US
pressure (1,000 words) Article by Salman Ghani: Extension in service of
army chief dominates political scenario; another blow to PML-N; loses seat
in Sargodha after fake degrees issue (1,000 words) Article by Ahmed Kamal
Nizami: Will four big remain safe until 2013; 3-year extension in army
chief's service; final round between PPP, PML-N likely after Id (1,000
words) Article by Yousaf Khan: Government's writ required for law, order
in Karachi (800 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)
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.
51) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Roundup': Vietnam To Host First ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting
Plus in October
Xinhua "Roundup": "Vietnam To Host First ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting
Plus in October" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 13:39:21 GMT
HANOI, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will host the first ASEAN Defense
Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in the capital city Hanoi on Oct. 12
this year, said Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh here
at a press conference on Thursday.
The meeting is expected to draw defense ministers from member countries of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and eight ASEAN
dialogue partners including Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic
of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States, and representatives
from the ASEAN Secretariat, said Vinh.Vinh said that the meeting marks a
new development in the cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners
to deal with increasingly complicated and transnational security issues.
It is aimed at building trust and confidence among participating
countries.The conference takes place in the context that peace and
development has become a tendency and cross-border non-traditional
challenges are emerging which a single country cannot solve, he
said.During the upc oming meeting, the defense ministers are expected to
discuss a variety of issues including humanitarian aid, disaster relief,
maritime security, counter-terrorism, and peace- keeping
operations.Vietnam, as the host country for the meeting and ASEAN Chair
this year, wants to discuss a new regional security structure and
cooperation to address non-traditional challenges, according to Vinh.To
prepare for the meeting, Vietnam has held several meetings among ASEAN
senior defense officials and ASEAN defense ministers to prepare the agenda
and program activities for the first ADMM- Plus, Vinh said.Vietnamese
officials will also visit ASEAN partners like China, Russia and the United
States for consultations about the issues related to the meeting, he
said.The ADMM-Plus is a unique forum as it is a place where defense
ministers from big and small, rich and poor countries and countries with
different ideologies sit together and talk about peace, cooperation and
development, said Vinh. The meeting is of symbolic and historical
significance. A Joint Declaration to be issued at the end of the meeting
will be of great importance, reflecting the political will and commitments
for practical cooperation of defense ministers from participating
countries for peace, stability and development in the region and the
interests of each country, said Vinh.(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.
52) Back to Top
Freed Dissident Arrives in US, Lashes Out Against Cuban Government
"Freed Cuban dissident arrives in U.S." -- EFE Headline - EF E
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:00:42 GMT
(Description of Source: Madrid EFE in English -- Independent Spanish press
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.
53) Back to Top
IMF Adopts $15 Bln Anti-crisis Support Program For Ukraine - ITAR-TASS
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:19:35 GMT
intervention)
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The board of directors of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday adopted a new 2.5-year
anti-crisis support program for Ukraine worth 15.15 billion U.S.
dollars.Kiev might receive two billion U.S. dollars immediately after the
program's adoption.The previous IMF program for Ukraine was suspended over
the failure of Ukraine's former authorities to fulfil a number of its
terms and conditions.(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.
54) Back to Top
Pakistan Daily--ISI Must Clarify its Collusion With Afghan Taliban
Editorial: Stunning Reticence - The Frontier Post Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:32:39 GMT
As the whistle-blowing Wikileaks website's revealing of a treasur e-trove
of about 90,000 secret US military files has stirred a storm, the western
capitals are scrambling desperately on to a firefighting mission to cope
with the grave consequences of the disclosures, all about the US-led war
in Afghanistan. But stunning is the reticence of the Islamabad
establishment. The main thrust of the revealed documents is though on the
civilian killings by the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, assassination
missions run by a secret US Task Force 373, and the acquisition of lethal
weaponry and fighting prowess by Taliban. But in their bid to offload the
bristling burden of the damning revelations from their backs, the western
capitals are cunningly deflecting the focus on to the ISI's alleged
collusion with Taliban that makes only an insignificant part of the
disclosures on patently questionable grounds. The Americans have already
done it. The others too are seemingly in the works. And yet this Islamabad
establishment is blithely sitting pretty, li stlessly, inertly and
unintelligently, even as their machination is unmistakably so evident.
This is shocking and bewildering, to say the least. This establishment
must bear one thing in mind. The western publics now stand overwhelmingly
disillusioned of the Afghan war. And as the casualties of western troops
are mounting in the wake of President Barack Obama's stepped-up war
strategy, the western capitals contributing troops for fighting or
training have begun resounding with the public screams for their return
home. And although some western government have buckled under this
domestic public pressure and decided to pull out, some in deep hock of
Washington are still showing doggedly to hang on. But they will now be in
a real dire predicament. Certainly, western human rights groups will make
a burning issue of the Afghan civilian casualties, as indeed the German
activists did not long ago when a German commanding officer called in an
air raid that snuffed out Afghan civilia ns. The German claimed they were
insurgents. Inquiries ordered after much dillydallying by the German
defence establishment established beyond doubt the victims to be mostly
civilians. And the saga ended in the resignation of German defence
minister and the military chief and the court martial of the commanding
officer. Henceforth, nonetheless, it will be much different. The rights
groups will not be standing alone. They will have a disillusioned public
on their side as well, no lesser to put more punch in its voice for
withdrawal from a war that is now being increasingly viewed popularly not
just in Europe but even in the United states as a sheer waste of both
blood and treasure. Given this, the western nations still in the war party
will need a whipping boy to distract their public attention away from home
to the outside. That scapegoat is sure to be Pakistan. Make no mistake
about it. Although the western media as yet stays focussed by and large on
the main thrust of the disclosures, their Indian counterparts are already
in a riotous binge of whip-lashing Pakistan. And, more or less, so are the
CIA's assets in Afghanistan. All that may change not inconceivably. The
corporate western media may team up, as is their wont, to bash Pakistan,
particularly its ISI, sooner than later. Nor should the Islamabad
establishment remain any oblivious of the perceptible reality that the
US-led adventurism in Afghanistan has reached the endgame. Barring a
miracle, it is a lost cause, so irretrievably has gone wrong their war in
Afghanistan for the war party's own foibles, frailties and cowardliness.
In similar conditions in Vietnam, they picked on Cambodia, principally,
and Laos, secondarily, as their scapegoats for their unwinnable war and
pulverised both the unfortunate nations with massive aerial bombardments
for mon ths devastatingly. Possibly, Pakistan could come in for a similar
aggressive adventurism, notwithstanding pious vows pouring in from certain
American quarters, but obviously so expediently. Will then someone in t he
security establishment in Islamabad go through the allegations contained
in the revealed files against the ISI, analyse them for their health and
motives, and brief the national media on this score? Sitting inert and
doing nothing, this establishment must understand, will ultimately cost
Pakistan dearly. If it has not the guts to come upfront, it can at least
hold a selective briefing of mediapersons. Even it can leak its brief to
the national media, as others often do. But inertia it must shed off in
any case and make its say when these allegations are largely based on the
takes of the Afghan spy agency, National Directorate of Security, a
Tajik-dominated apparatus whose hatred and hostility to Pakistan has been
inbred, compulsive and proverbial. It should not be let go with its
vileness, uncontested, unchallenged and scot-free to the great hurt to
this country.
(Description of Source: Peshaw ar 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)
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
PRC Expert on Role of Second Artillery in Countering US Encirclement
Dispatch from Beijing news center by reporter Liu Yueh-shan: "Leading Role
of Second Artillery in Defending China's Maritime Rights" - Wen Wei Po
Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:46:39 GMT
The US-ROK military exercise is now putting on a show in the Sea of Japan;
and the US secretary of state recently aimed remarks at China's South
China Sea sovereignty. The traces of US encirclement for the geopolitical
containment of China are visible. In the face of US containment, China has
already made the necessary response, and a series of military exercises
have recently unfolded in the China's off-shore waters. "Second Artillery"
Fights in Coordination in Either Sea Area
The well-known Chinese military expert Liu Jiangping stated when we
interviewed him on 28 July that as regards US military strike capability,
whether the US-ROK joint military exercise is staged in the Sea of Japan
or the Yellow Sea, the threat to China is the same; hence, although the
United States has moved the exercise location to the Sea of Japan, China
is bound to react.
Liu Jiangping holds the view that the Yellow Sea is straight at the heart
of China, and the South China Sea is related to China's economic lifeline;
both seas are extremely important for C hina. Hence, the PLA will have
considerable "countermeasures," to protect national security and core
interests from violation.
He said that since the Yellow Sea and South China Sea are different, the
PLA's "countermeasures" are also not the same. The Yellow Sea is linked to
land interests, hence the countermeasures consist of all-round action by
land, sea, and air; whereas the South China Sea is a vast sea area, so the
navy is the main force for dealing with this. And the Second Artillery
Corps (strategic missile units) fights in coordination in either sea area.
He stated that according to past rules and war "skills and tricks," it
appears that the threat of war cannot break out in both sea areas at the
same time, and the relevant branches of the armed forces should unfold
combat force at any time according to the timing of the threat and the
changes in degree. The Second Artillery is the quickest in support, and
its missile guidance data can be reloaded in a few minutes; the air force
can fulfil its missions relatively fast from the time that orders are
received. Call to Speed up Building of Blue-water Navy
Liu Jiangping holds the view that facing the increasingly serious and
overbearing external threats, the only way for the Chinese armed forces is
to make preparations as early as possible and deploy in advance some
combat forces in the Yellow Sea and South China Sea, and also ensure
mutual assistance and effective strikes at any time. Apart from that,
China also needs to selectively build a mixed combat force to deal with
threats from a higher level. He stated that today when the globalization
process is continually accelerating, and China's overseas interests are
becoming more extensive by the day, the "brown-water navy" is now far from
capable of meeting national interest needs, and we should speed up the
building of a blue-water navy.
(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:wwp0729.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
56) Back to Top
Indian, Israeli Agencies Leaked Reports To Defame Country
Report by Abdul Shakur Abi Hassan: "Secret Reports -- Israeli, Indian
Agencies Played Significant Role" - Nawa-e Waqt
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:11:09 GMT
in leaking the secret report, which was published in the US and British
dailies. The sources disclosed to the Nawa-e-Waqt
that the purpose behind leaking these reports was to defame Pakistan
throughout the world and declare it a terrorist state.
The sources add that the Mumbai attack was also a drama staged by RAW
(Research and Analysis Wing, an Indian intelligence agency) and Mosad, the
Israeli intelligence agency, to target Pakistan. India is taking advantage
of that attack even, now. The Mumbai attack was planned in Israel, and the
Israeli civilians were made to stay at such places where they could be
attacked. Making the Israeli civilians a scapegoat, support could be
earned throughout the world, the Pakistani defense and intelligence
agencies could be defamed and economic sanctions could be imposed on
Pakistan.
According to the sources, the purpose behind the reports of secret
contacts between the Pakistan Army and the Taliban is also the same. India
has had to face utter failure in spite of dozens o f diplomatic missions
in Afghanistan, and it could not fulfill its plan vis-a-vis Balochistan.
The Indian intelligence agency in collaboration with Mosad, prepared plan,
meant to expose Pakistani links with the Taliban to defame Pakistan.
(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 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
Commentary Says India Protesting 'Too Much' Against China-Pakistan Nuclear
Deal
Commentary by PR Chari: Is India Protesting too Much About the Sino-Pak
Nuke Deal? - Daily News and Analysis Online
< br>
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:26:34 GMT
Disconcertingly, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) did not discuss China's
controversial plan to build two new atomic power stations in Pakistan in
its annual five-day meeting held in New Zealand. Apparently, the matter
did come up but was not placed on the formal agenda.Earlier, Beijing was
requested several times to clarify its position on this plan, but had not
bothered to reply. A statement issued after the NSG meeting tamely "took
note of briefings on developments concerning non-NSG states. It agreed on
the value of ongoing consultation and transparency". Such was the extreme
circumspection shown by the NSG for China's sensitivities.The NSG came
into existence in 1974 in response to India's diversion of nuclear imports
for its peaceful nuclear explosion. It has transformed itself into a
watch-dog organisation that coordinates international ex port controls
over transfers of civilian nuclear material, equipment and technology to
non-nuclear weapon states to prevent their use for manufacturing nuclear
weapons.All such transfers can only be affected under international
safeguards and inspection arrangements. By definition the NSG's guidelines
only apply to non-nuclear weapon states that are members of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), although they can be extended to states
outside the NPT, provided they place their entire nuclear program under
international safeguards and inspections.India and Pakistan are not
members of the NSG and both possess nuclear weapons. But India succeeded
in entering the Indo-US nuclear deal in 2008 after it secured a waiver
from the NSG Guidelines following intense US pressure on its members.
India accepted several constraints on its nuclear program in return for
this concession.Like agreeing to separate its military and civil nuclear
programs and accept international safeguards on its entire civilian
program. Thereafter, India has entered into nuclear trade deals with a
number of NSG members.In truth, the Bush administration undertook these
extraordinary actions favouring India for several political and economic
reasons, but largely to establish India as a strategic counterweight to
China.China is aware of these larger strategic implications of the Indo-US
nuclear deal.Its role was highly dubious when India's case came up before
the NSG. It assured India and the US that it would not obstruct the
passage of the Indo-US nuclear deal. But, it instigated several NSG
countries to oppose the deal, while asserting that it had the right to
offer a similar deal to Pakistan.Ultimately, a demarche by India and
American pressure succeeded in persuading China to moderate its
opposition, but it is clear now that China was biding its time for
evolving its own reaction to the Indo-US nuclear deal.The China-Pakistan
nuclear deal clearly violates the NSG's rules and regul ations in the
absence of a special dispensation. China's argument is that its supply of
nuclear reactors to Pakistan does not require any NSG approval, since this
deal is a continuation of its earlier agreement to supply two nuclear
reactors to Pakistan, which is disingenuous.The US has expressed deep
concern considering the appalling nuclear proliferation history of
Pakistan. China's nuclear proliferation history is the same considering
its linkages to North Korea, Pakistan, Myanmar, Iran and Syria -- the
notorious aberrant nations in the international system. At the moment
China has yet to decide which way to jump -- heed the international
sentiment or defy the same to progress its 'lip-and-teeth' relationship
with Pakistan.Unsurprisingly, Pakistan's official spokesman has claimed
that Pakistan's nuclear program "is purely for peaceful objectives".
Apparently, India has sought to influence the NSG members from behind the
scenes.But its official non-officials have gone berserk claiming that the
Sino-Pak nuclear deal, by making Pakistan an exceptional to the NSG
guidelines, will lead to a collapse of the NSG. Apropo s, India had also
been made an exception to the NSG Guidelines.Arguing that this is
justifiable because India's proliferation record is shining, but
Pakistan's record is besmirched ignores the unfortunate fact that the NSG
itself was created after India's diversion of civilian nuclear imports for
its "peaceful nuclear explosion".And the US had ignored Pakistan's steady
march to nuclear capability in the eighties when its cooperation was
needed to torment the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Even now, the US speaks
softly because it requires Pakistan to enable the withdrawal of US troops
from Afghanistan by 2011. And, China has huge deposits in US Federal
reserves.The length of the Chinese purse has, indeed, become the beginning
of all wisdom. Or, to put it in the Mumbai dialect, "Agar khisey main
paise hota, to sabhi Ram Ram bolta".Realpolitik spells discretion and
avoidance of firm positions. Having benefited from US realpolitik, India
is protesting too much with its ineffectual diplomatic manoeuvres.
(Description of Source: Mumbai Daily News and Analysis (DNA) online in
English -- Indias first "all-color page" English-language daily, owned by
the Diligent Media Corporation, a joint venture between industry majors --
the Dainik Bhaskar (Indias number one Hindi daily) Group and Zee Group.
Launched on 30 July 2005, DNA started with a subscribed circulation of
300,000. The daily targets a young readership; URL: www.dnaindia.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
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010) -- NEWS IN BRIEF (3 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010)" - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 05:40:33 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.
59) Back to Top
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010) -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (2 of
6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010)" - Yonhap
Thursday Ju ly 29, 2010 05:30:25 GMT
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea staged a tough diplomatic duel
last week over the sinking in March of a South Korean warship at the
regional security forum held in Hanoi, but the annual conference only
expressed "concerns" over the sinking of the warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)
without naming North Korea as the culprit.In the Asean Regional Forum
(ARF) held in the Vietnamese capital, South Korea demanded North Korea
acknowledge its responsibility for the incident and apologize, but North
Korea said it has nothing to do with the warship and claimed that South
Korea, instead, should apologize.This year's ARF session came just weeks
after the U.N. Security Council condemned the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) attack
that left 46 sailors dead near the Yellow Sea border on March 26. The U.N.
Council's presidential statement, however, did not directly link it to
North Korea.The forum brought together the for eign ministers from 26
countries plus the European Union under the aegis of the 10-member
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).In a statement, the top
diplomats who attended the ARF meeting expressed "deep concerns" on July
24 over the incident, but did not pinpoint North Korea as the perpetrator
behind the sinking.The position taken by this year's ARF is almost the
same as that taken by the U.N. Security Council on July 9. "The ministers
expressed deep concerns over the sinking of the Republic of Korea's naval
ship, the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan), resulted from the attack on 26 March 2010,"
said the statement issued by the ARF chairman.South Korea voiced
satisfaction with the ARF statement. "The ARF chairman's statement duly
reflects this year's meeting and contains a message censuring North
Korea's provocation and attack, and discouraging armed provocations to
protect peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," South Korean Foreign
Ministe r Yu Myung-hwan (Yu Myo'ng-hwan) said.The ARF statement was issued
a day after the annual forum ended its session on July 23, underlining
difficulties in reconciling the two nations' wide differences on the
matter.The U.N. statement did not name North Korea as the culprit, only
condemning the "attack" that led to the ship sinking. North Korea has
denied any role in the sinking and has accused South Korea of fabricating
the investigation results.In the ARF statement, the ministers stressed the
importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and
in the region, and called on all concerned parties to resolve all disputes
by peaceful means.The ministers also "reaffirmed their support for the
complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and
encouraged the parties to return to the six-party talks in due course,"
and underscored the importance of relevant U.N. resolutions, according to
the statement.North Korean diplomat s attending the security forum
reiterated calls for an end to the sanctions imposed on North Korea and
the signing of a peace treaty as conditions to returning to the six-party
talks, which have been stalled since early last year.U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton did not meet with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak
Ui-chun in Hanoi, but she met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to
discuss North Korea and other issues.China, North Korea's major ally and a
veto-wielding council member, is the host of the six-party talks,
involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia, which have
been deadlocked over U.N. sanctions imposed after Pyongyang's nuclear and
missile tests early last year.Yang demanded on July 23 that all parties
concerned turn the page on the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) incident for an early
revival of the six-party tal ks.Clinton said in Seoul on July 21 the time
is not ripe for the resumption of the talks. A new round "is not something
we're l ooking at yet," Clinton said, noting that North Korea has shown no
commitment to halt provocative actions or forswear nuclear weapons. "To
date, we have seen nothing."Ahead of the ARF statement, South Korea
pressed North Korea on July 23 to apologize for torpedoing its warships,
but North Korea refused to comply, as the rival states tussled over how to
reflect their views in the chairman's statement.South Korean Foreign
Minister Yu, speaking at the forum, pressed North Korea to "clearly and
truthfully acknowledge its provocation on the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) and
apologize for it."Along with the sinking of the 1,200-ton South Korean
warship, North Korea's nuclear programs were high on the agenda of the
forum. Yu accused North Korea of continuing its nuclear development in
defiance of the international community.Pak Ui-chun, the North Korean
foreign minister, rejected the South Korean demand for an apology, arguing
that it has not been determined yet who i s responsible for the sinking of
the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)."The Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) case is still not resolved
and a fair and objective probe must take place," Pak was quoted by South
Korean officials as saying. "We've asked to send our inspection team, but
South Korea and Washington have refused."Pak reiterated the North Korean
position that the country would only return to the six-party nuclear
disarmament table when sanctions imposed on it are lifted, they said.On
July 23, a North Korean diplomat warned there would be "physical response"
to the planned joint naval exercises between South Korea and the United
States, and said it will not apologize for the sinking."There will be a
physical response against the steps imposed by the United States
militarily," said Ri Tong-il, spokesman for the North Korean delegation
for the ARF. "The exercises are another expression of hostile policy
against the DPRK (North Korea)."South Korea an d the United States began
high-powered four-day drills on July 25 in the East Sea as a resolute
signal to the North that its provocations will not be tolerated. Officials
of the two allies said the maneuver was a defensive one meant to deter the
communist regime.Ri responded by saying any military drills involving a
warship like the USS George Washington, the nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft
carrier, cannot be considered defensive."There are many sophisticated
weapon equipments," Ri said. "(The drills are) against the sovereignty of
the DPRK and security of the DPRK. It's a great threat to the Korean
Peninsula and also to the region of Asia as a whole."Ri again accused
Seoul of fabricating the probe results with "political and military
motives" and conspiring with the United States. The North could never
accept the South's attempts to "dump responsibility" on Pyongyang, he
said.Meanwhile, North Korea's foreign minister has complained that high
tensions caused by what he called "provocative actions" taken by South
Korea and the U.S. in connection with the sinking of a South Korean
warship are hurting the North's economy, South Korean officials said on
July 24.Minister Pak Ui-chun strenuously complained the March 26 sinking
has driven the peninsula "to the brink of war," they said."Our great
leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il) has prepared monumental policies on
international investment, expansion of tourism and growing economic
development," Pak told the forum, according to them."More than ever, we
need stability. But the South Korean military brought up the Ch'o'nan
(Cheonan) incident, which only offered one-sided results and raised doubt
even within South Korea, and is making life difficult for us."Pak boasted
that his country made "miraculous achievements" in its steel and machinery
industries last year and is looking to develop its light industry and
agricu lture, according to the South Korean officials.(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) Back to Top
US Must Assess Policy of Distrusting Pakistan, Focus To Stabilize
Afghanistan
Article by Asif Haroon Raja: Time for America To Introspect - Pakistan
Observer Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:20:21 GMT
Gen Petraeus has taken over same lot of demoralized coalition troops with
little heart left to fight purposeless war. US military and NATO have
never remained in sync; mi sunderstanding among them is likely to increase
in coming months. Synchronized coordination among six intelligence
agencies is lacking. Afghan Army and paramilitary forces are another
headache needing emergent refurbishment. Introduction of Blackwater in
security and military affairs has its own set of ramifications. He plays
with the same battle plan conceived by his predecessor Gen McChrystal and
approved by him. He is bounded by Af-Pak plan to draw a wedge between
Taliban and Al-Qaeda, divide Taliban and defeat the hardliners. He too is
keen for operation in NW for he feels that move into Kandahar with a heavy
force would expose his southern flank and rear to militants in NW.
The Soviets had withdrawn from Afghanistan exactly one year after
Gorbochov announced his intentions on 09 February 1988. None had believed
that Soviets would ever withdraw since the big bear had no history of
retracing its steps. Taliban rightly feel that they have in principle
achieved the s econd miracle within a span of three decades. The day
Americans pull out, it will be like the history of rise of Islam under
Holy Prophet (pbuh) in 6th century getting re-enacted when the two super
powers of the time, the Persians (Sassanian Empire) and the Byzantine
Empire under Romans, having fought with each other for a longtime finally
got defeated at the hands of ill-equipped Muslim Arabs on horsebacks.
Notwithstanding that Taliban have an influence over more than 70% of
territory in Afghanistan, yet they are far from taking over reigns of
country. Until and unless they capture Kabul and dismantle US bases in
Baghram and Kandahar, which are the main power centres of coalition forces
and Karzai regime, victory will remain illusive. Kabul's fall is
obligatory to achieve total victory. Kabul can capitulate if focus of
terror attacks is shifted to the capital city, northern route towards
Salang Pass is blocked, supplies coming from Pakistan are disrupted, and
like IE Ds and suicide attacks which have taken maximum toll of ISAF
ground troops, means to combat aerial power acquired. Russia would be too
willing to provide latest version of SAMs as a quid pro quo to stingers
provided to Mujahideen by Americans in 1987-88, which accelerated the rot
of Soviet forces.There is growing skepticism among policy makers in USA.
The critics say that US military and civil officials associated with
Afghanistan lack clarity, vision and have no set goals and their
benchmarks are based on vague assumptions making achievement of goals that
much unattainable. Shadow boxing for authority is continuing between
Pentagon under Robert Gates cum CIA and State Department under Hillary
Clinton cum White House. For Obama, next one year period is crucial to
achieve some measure of stability in Afghanistan since it will have a
direct bearing on the outcome of elections in USA in 2011-12.
It is time for USA to introspect and to perform postmortem as to why today
t he US finds itself in such a sorry state. Washington should make a
candid assessment as to what the US gained in blindly trusting India and
Israel and what it lost in distrusting Pakistan. Isn't it ironic that
after punishing Pakistan for nine years on fabricated charges, the US has
now begun to realize that stability of Pakistan is critical to stability
of Afghanistan, South-Central Asia and for US national security? Who will
account for immeasurable human and economic losses suffered by Pakistan?
Had the US played a fair game with Pakistan and co-opted the Army and ISI
in its war plans, it could have emerged as a victor. At this critical
stage, the US needs a General like Gen Patton or Gen McArthu r to steady
the ship and snatch the victory from the jaws of sure defeat. Like
McChrystal, Petraeus too is a spent cartridge with nothing to gloat about.
He is no match to one-eyed Mullah Omar who has proved his mettle and has
all the qualities of a great leader. Petraeus will sw im with the tide but
doesn't have the aura and drive to lift the sagging morale of 46-nation
troops he commands, galvanize them into a well-knit team and kindle in
them requisite warrior spirit to push back the surging tide and turn it in
favorable direction. I may hazard to add that best of military plans fail
under an indecisive and weak leader while an average plan succeeds under a
dynamic leader.
Therefore rather than wasting time in hatching conspiracies against
Pakistan, focus should be on selecting the right man and giving him full
liberty of action to run the show. He should dispassionately take stock of
the obtaining situation, resources available, go about refurbishing grey
areas, revise battle plans in accordance with ground realities and see if
pitched battles are desirable. Any military leader with little grey matter
would conclude that it is pointless to reinforce failure and would advise
that from henceforth all efforts should be made towards salvaging the
precarious situation through dialogue only and not through a mix of
dialogue and use of force since it would prove counter productive.
The intellectually bankrupt think tanks in USA instead of publishing
anti-Pakistan articles scripted by Indian writers in US newspapers and
magazines should critically examine as to why the US failed to usher in
democracy, political stability and economic prosperity in war-torn
Afghanistan? They should seek answers as to why USA could not win over the
Afghans or train ANA and police despite spending trillions of dollars? An
answer should be found as to why colossal amount was wasted on futile
chase of Osama and other high profile militant leaders without any
success? They should search their hearts and come out with honest opinion
whether efforts wasted on dividing and killing Taliban will prove
productive and whether it will be desirable to waste time and resources on
propping up dead horse of ANA.
The US strategists must n ow ponder over the coming withdrawal phase of
coalition troops, starting in July 2011, whether it will be a clean break
under a Geneva like accord or it will be a running battle, or total
airlift of manpower leaving behind all the heavy baggage, tanks, guns,
mines, explosives and ordnance. They must contemplate upon northern outlet
through Central Asia and southern outlet through Pakistan as to what steps
are required to make them safe for supplies as well as rearward road
moves. The civil leaders like James Jones, Holbrooke, Eikenberry and
others in the meanwhile should also do their homework and stick to their
domain rather than poking their noses in military affairs and trying to
become military strategists. As a matter of fact it was because of
hardnosed Holbrooke's aggressive attitude which gave rise to
civil-military tensions. He was behind making Af-Pak policy, which was
devised to balkanize Pakistan on Yugoslavian model. He tried to assert his
authority in Pakistan b ut his inflated ego was deflated by Lt Gen Shuja
Pasha in April 2009 and ever since he has put on the guise of affability.
However, beneath the mask of friendliness, he remains firm in his set
goals.
Michael Hughes has once again refreshed balkanization theme through his
recent article appearing in Huffington Post, which is another reminder
that hawks within Obama Administration pumped by Israeli and Indian
lobbies have not given up their nefarious designs against Pakistan.
Hillary has reiterated that Osama is in Pakistan and that any terror
attack on USA with connection to Pakistan will have devastating impact on
Pak-US relationship. It is rather late in the day to indulge in such
tomfoolery. America should concentrate on stabilizing Afghanistan.
The writer is a defence analyst and writes for national, internation al
newspapers/websites.
(Description of Source: Islamabad Pakistan Observer Online in English --
Website of the pro-military daily with reade rship 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.
61) Back to Top
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29) -- FOREIGN TIPS (5 of 6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29)" - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 05:50:44 GMT
SHENYANG, China, (Yonhap) -- China has acquired the rights to use another
one of North Korea's northeastern ports, signaling deepening e conomic
ties between the ideological allies, a Chinese official said on July
22.China has used the North Korean port of Rajin in North Hamgyong
Province for commercial trade since 2008. An official at the Tumen city in
northeast China said that a Chinese state company has now also obtained
the rights to use the port of Chongjin, about 70 kilometers south of
Rajin.South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles North Korea
affairs, said it could not immediately confirm the comments by the Chinese
official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.Since North Korean leader
Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il)'s visit to Beijing earlier this year, the two
countries have been strengthening their economic cooperation. China is the
foremost ally of the cash-strapped North, which is under deepening
sanctions for its nuclear testing.The Chinese official also said in an
interview with Yonhap News Agency that North Korea and China have also
agreed to allow Chinese companies to use North Korea's r ailways from
Tumen to Chonjin.The series of agreements would "facilitate trade from
Tumen," the official said, adding the Chinese company that struck the deal
to use the port of Chongjin will use it to carry out shipping agreements
with three Chinese companies.------------------------ China Allowed to Use
Another N. Korean Port: Official SHENYANG, China, July 22 (Yonhap) --
China has acquired the rights to use another one of North Korea's
northeastern ports, signaling deepening economic ties between the
ideological allies, a Chinese official said Thursday.China has used the
North Korean port of Rajin in North Hamgyong Province for commercial trade
since 2008. An official at the Tumen city government in northeast China
said that a Chinese state company has now also obtained the rights to use
the port of Chongjin, about 70 kilometers south of Rajin.South Korea's
Unification Ministry, which handles North Korea affairs, said it could not
immediately confirm the comment s by the Chinese official, who spoke on
condition of anonymity.Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (Kim
Cho'ng-il)'s visit to Beijing earlier this year, the two countries have
been strengthening their economic cooperation. China is the foremost ally
of the cash-strapped North, which is under deepening sanctions for its
nuclear testing.The Chinese official also said in an interview with Yonhap
News Agency that North Korea and China have also agreed to allow Chinese
companies to use North Korea's railways from Tumen to Chonjin.The series
of agreements would "facilitate trade from Tumen," the official said,
adding the Chinese company that struck the deal to use the port of
Chongjin will use it to carry out shipping agreements with three Chinese
companies.------------------------ Hong Kong to Continue Implementing U.N.
Sanctions on N. Korea HONG KONG (Yonhap) -- The government of Hong Kong
affirmed its commitment on July 23 to continue implementing punitive U.N.
sanc tions imposed on North Korea to end its nuclear ambitions."Hong Kong
will continue to exercise vigilance in enforcing our regulation to
effectively implement the United Nations Security Coucil sanctions against
DPRK (North Korea)," Josephine Lo, an official at the Commerce and
Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong government, told Yonhap News,
using the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea."Our law enforcement agencies will take appropriate actions on those
found in violation of the laws," she said.The comment was made after U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's announcement on July 28 that the U.S.
will hit North Korea with a new set of sanctions to punish it for its
sinking of a South Korean warship and prevent it from further
provocations.Those sanctions will "strengthen our enforcement of U.N.
Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874" adopted after North Korea's
first and second nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, Clinton said at a joint
press conference in Seoul after a meeting with South Korea's foreign and
defense ministers.Hong Kong legislated what is called the U.N. Sanctions
Regulation in June 2007 to implement the U.N. Security Council Resolution
1718, according to Lo.In January, Hong Kong amended the regulation to
implement the new and expanded sanctions against North Korea under the
Security Council Resolution 1874, she said.A source in Hong Kong said
earlier on July 23 that the U.S. has identified about 200 bank accounts
with links to North Korea, and that the country is expected to freeze some
100 of those suspected of being used for weapons exports and other illicit
purposes banned under U.N. resolutions.The U.S. State Department said the
U.S. will carry out new sanctions within two weeks to cut off money from
illicit trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and counterfeit
currency or luxury goods flowing into the North Korean leadership.North
Korea has bristl ed at the announcement of new sanctions and Seoul's plan
to conduct large-scale joint naval exercises with the U.S., claiming the
moves pose grave threats to regional peace.------------------------ U.S.
Closely Watching Front Companies for N. Korea to Evade Sanctions
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States said on July 26 it is closely
looking at front companies North Korea has been using to evade
international sanctions imposed after its nuclear and missile tests early
last year."This is something that we watch carefully," State Department
spokesman Philip Crowley said while responding to the report that
Washington has found more than 100 North Korean accounts in foreign banks
involved in illicit activities. "We're looking to identify front companies
which help North Korea evade existing sanctions."U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said last week that Washington will blacklist more North
Korean entities and individuals to cut off money flowing to its leaders
through the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and counterfeit and
luxury goods in violation of U.N. resolutions."As the secretary announced
last week, we're going to take additional steps," Crowley said. "We'll
have more to say about that in the next couple of weeks."Crowley did not
comment on reports that Pyongyang might conduct a third nuclear test,
following underground detonations in 2006 and 2009."I can't really answer
that question without getting into intelligence matters," the spokesman
said. "But as we've made clear, the military exercises that are under way
are defensive in nature. And what we would like to see from North Korea
are fewer provocative words and more constructive
actions."------------------------ Obama Urged to Engage in Direct,
High-level Dialogue with N. Korea WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- A senior U.S.
senator on July 27 called on the Obama administration to engage in direct
high-level dialogue with North Korea to break the impasse on nuclear talks
and ease heightening tensions after the North's sinking of a South Korean
warship.Speaking to a forum in Washington to mark the anniversary of the
armistice signed at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, Senator John Kerry
(D-MA), called for "engaging in direct, candid, high-level dialogue" with
North Korea with the goal being "to test whether North Korea is prepared
to take concrete steps to return to the path of denuclearization and
peace."Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also
demanded that the Obama administration "remain equally ready to pursue a
peaceful, negotiated solution to the underlying security challenges that
have kept the Korean Peninsula locked in a Cold War for far too long, even
as we are fu lly prepared to deter and defend against any North Korean
aggression, a fact underscored by upcoming joint military exercises and
the delay of the planned transfer of wartime operational control to South
Korea."BOTh Seoul and Washington have called on Pyongyang to forswear
further provocations and demonstrate its denuclearization pledge before
returning to the six-party talks, which the North has boycotted since
early last year, when the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions for
Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests.U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said last week that a new round of the nuclear talks "is not
something we're looking at yet," citing no commitment by the North to halt
provocative actions or forswear nuclear weapons.Chinese Foreign Minister
Yang Jiechi demanded on July 23 that all parties concerned "turn the page"
on the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) incident toward an early revival of the
six-party talks.North Korea insists on the removal of sanctions and the
signing of a peace treaty to replace the armistice as conditions to
returning to the six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, the U.S.,
China, Japan and Russia.A sustained diplomatic engagement still "remains
the best way to convince North Korea to change its dangerous and
destabilizing pattern of behavior," Kerry said. "Strategic patience, the
popular shorthand for the administration's North Korea policy, must not be
allowed to turn into strategic indifference.""We must help illuminate the
path to peace -- making clear the ways in which South Korea, the United
States, and other members of the six-party talks stand ready to address
the North's legitimate security concerns and assist in its economic
revival provided that its ceases its hostile actions, take credible,
verifiable steps to abandon once and for all its pursuit of nuclear
weapons, and resume a good faith dialogue to address the many issues left
unresolved when the Korean War ground to a halt 57 years ago," the senator
said.------------------------ U.S. Officials to Focus on 'Framework' of
N.K. Sanctions in Seoul Next Week SE OUL (Yonhap) -- U.S. officials are
expected to focus on the "framework" of additional sanctions on North
Korea when they come to Seoul next week, a diplomatic source here said on
July 27.Robert Einhorn, the State Department's special advisor for
nonproliferation and arms control, is expected to arrive in Seoul with a
delegation that includes officials from the defense and treasury
departments and the National Security Council. The visit is part of the
delegation's anticipated travel through Japan, Malaysia and Singapore as
Washington seeks their cooperation in tightening the financial noose
around North Korea.The U.S. officials will meet their South Korean
counterparts at the foreign and the finance ministries, according to
sources here. It wasn't determined whether they will also hold talks with
Seoul's financial regulators."The (U.S.) officials will talk about how to
add and execute new sanctions," the diplomatic source said. "Their
discussions wil l be mostly about forms and means of sanctions, rather
than about sharing any new intelligence on North Korea."U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton announced in Seoul last week that Washington will
impose new sanctions on Pyongyang's leaders as punishment for the sinking
of the South Korean warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) in March. The U.S. has
reportedly identified some 200 bank accounts linked to North Korea and was
expected to freeze about half of them suspected of being used in weapons
exports.Seoul and its allies blame the North for the torpedo attack on the
warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) that killed 46 sailors. North Korea denies any
role in the sinking.In Washington, a diplomatic source told reporters that
the new sanctions would be carried out in three phases, starting with a
new list of North Korean companies or individuals subject to sanctions to
ultimately have financial institutions in third countries halt dealings
with them.The U.S. will sever ties with instituti ons that do not
cooperate, the source said.In 2005, the U.S. designated Macau-based Banco
Delta Asia as being linked to the North's illicit financial activities.
The move effectively froze some US$25 million in North Korean accounts at
the bank and ostracized the bank in the international financial
community.Last summer, the U.S. froze assets of North Korean companies for
their suspected involvement in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs
and banned U.S. firms and individuals from doing business with
them.(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.
62) Back to Top
DPRK KPA Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun's 'Report' on War Victory Anniversary
Text of "report" by Kim Yong Chun [Kim Yo'ng-ch'un], vice chairman of the
DPRK National Defense Commission, minister of People's Armed Forces, and
vice marshal of the Korean People's Army, at a central report meeting to
mark the 57th anniversary of the victory of the great Fatherland
Liberation War, held on 26 July at the Pyongyang Stadium -- recorded -
Korean Central Broadcasting Station
Thursday July 29, 2010 05:30:25 GMT
Today, we are celebrating the 57th anniversary of the victory in the great
Fatherland Liberation War in an exciting environment where all the
officers and men of the people's army and people are achieving dazzling
changes on all fronts of the construction of a powerful state with a
do-or-die resolve to firmly smash, with the ever-victorious military-first
might, the maneuvers of th e US imperialists and the South Korean puppet
clique (todang) for provoking a new war.
The 27th day of July, Chuch'e 42 (1953), when our army and people defeated
the US imperialists in the arduous three-year Fatherland Liberation War
under the wise leadership of the great leader (suryo'ng) Comrade Kim Il
Sung (Kim Il-so'ng), is the day of second national liberation that
defended the independence of the fatherland and the sovereignty of the
nation from the aggression of the imperialist allied forces and the day of
a great war victory that shattered the myth of the powerfulness of the US
imperialists, who had been boasting of being the strongest in the world,
and brought the beginning of the US imperialists' entry into a road of
decline. (applause)
On the occasion of greeting the meaningful anniversary of war victory, in
accordance with the authorization of the great leader (ryo'ngdoja) Comrade
Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il), general secretary of the Workers Party o f
Korea (WPK), chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission (NDC), and
supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), I warmly
congratulate, in the name of the WPK Central Committee (CC), the WPK
Central Military Commission (CMC), and the DPRK NDC, the anti-Japanese
revolutionary fighters, war veterans, and wartime persons of merit who
performed immortal feats in the Fatherland Liberation War to defend the
independence of the fatherland and the gains of the revolution. (applause)
I also extend warm congratulations to the officers and men of the KPA and
the DPRK Interior Forces, who are firmly grasping the gun of the
revolution and impregnably defending our socialist fatherland, and to all
the people who are performing proud feats in the construction of a
powerful state. (applause)
In addition, I express lofty respect to the heroic fighters of the
people's army and patriotic martyrs who fought brilliantly and bravely in
the Fatherland Liberation War by dedicating their valuable lives.
(applause)
At this moment of celebrating the 57th anniversary of the victory in the
Fatherland Liberation War, our army and people are fervently looking back
on the immortal achievements of the great leader (suryo'ng) Comrade Kim Il
Sung, who led the great anti-US war to victory with the chuch'e-based
military idea and art of war, outstanding resourcefulness, and tested art
of command, and they are brimming with a blazing resolve to carry on the
feat and tradition of winning the war victory in the 1950s of the previous
century and achieve ultimate victory in the anti-US confrontational war
under the respected and beloved Comrade Kim Jong Il's military-first
revolutionary leadership. (applause)
The Korean war was a war of aggression, which the United States prepared
for craftily for a long time and instigated in a smear manner in order to
pave a road of aggression against Asia and realize its ambition for world
supremacy.
The US imperialists -- which emerged as the head boss of imperialism after
World War II, set forth world supremacy as a general goal of their
external strategy, and designated the geopolitically important Korean
peninsula as the first target -- drove the South Korean puppet army to
ceaselessly perpetrate armed provocation maneuvers in the whole area of
the 38th parallel line under an ambition to turn the whole of Korea into
the bastards' complete colony and a bridgehead for continental invasion.
The US imperialists, which had been running amok in military provocations
and real war exercises according to a plan for Korean war, suddenly lit
fire to the fuse of a war of aggression against our Repub lic at dawn on
25 June 1950.
On that very day of provoking the war in accordance to a scenario worked
out in advance, the US imperialists unlawfully convened the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) and shifted the blame for the outbreak of war to
us, and by permitti ng armed intervention of the United States and its
following forces against Korea and forcibly passing series of resolutions
on organizing the UN forces led by the US military, they starkly disclosed
their brigandish nature as an aggressor and war fanatic.
The maneuver of the United States, which covered up its identity as a
warmonger and disgraced the UN arena by trampling on the UN Charter and
illegally using the name of the UN, is a brigandish act that has no legal
validity of any kind and a grave crime against international law that
cannot be justified with anything.
Our people's Fatherland Liberation War enforced by the US imperialists was
a war of justice for national liberation aimed at defending the
independence of the fatherland and the sovereignty of the nation, a stern
class struggle against the enemies of people, and at the same time, it was
a fierce anti-imperialist, anti-US struggle aimed at opposing the
aggression of imperialist allied forces, in cluding the US imperialists,
and defending the security of mankind and world peace.
The US imperialists mobilized more than two-million-strong troops for the
Korean war, including one third of their country's army and one fifth of
their air force, the majority of their Pacific Fleet, and the armies of
their 15 satellite countries, as well as the South Korean puppet army and
the Japanese militarists and a tremendous amount of the latest combat
equipments, and they employed the most savage methods and means of war
unprecedented in the world history of war.
The US imperialist aggressors indiscriminately destroyed and burned
everything in our country and committed atrocities of inhuman slaughter
everywhere by even using internationally banned germ weapons and chemical
weapons.
The US imperialist aggressors, however, could by no means force the
surrender of the revolutionary army and people led by the great leader,
and our people's army and people rose up lik e mountains to vigorously
launch into a sacred war of justice and achieved a historic victory by
dealing a severe military, political, and moral defeat to the aggressors.
(applause)
The victory in the Fatherland Liberation War was a miracle in the history
of modern war achieved by the chuch'e-based military idea and art of war,
matchless courage, and outstanding commanding art of the great leader
Comrade Kim Il Sung, a gifted military strategist, an ever-victorious
brilliant commander of iron will, and a legendary hero. (applause)
The great Comrade Kim Il Sung -- who frustrated the enemies' invasion in
the early days of the Fatherland Liberation War and had the aggressors
ruthlessly annihilated and mopped up with an immediate counter-attack --
presented a militant slogan called "Everything for war victory!" and
reformed all work of the country into a wartime system, and vigorously
organized and mobilized the entire party, the entire army, and all of t he
people to wage a sacred war of justice against the US imperialist
aggressors.
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, who bestowed a decisive meaning on
the might of the ideology of the popular masses in the revolutionary war,
brought the revolutionary enthusiasm and blazing patriotism of the
officers and men of the people's army and people into high play, and by
skillfully employing outstanding strategies and tactics and art of war, he
defeated the numerical and technological superiority of the enemies with
strategic and tactical superiority based on political and ideological
superiority and thus continuously pushed the aggressors into a corner.
The fact that our inexperienced people's army dealt an irrevocable
crushing defeat to the enemies, always grasping the initiative in the
confrontational war with the formid able imperialist enemies during the
period of the Fatherland Liberation War, serves as a proud demonstration
of the invincibility and might of the unique military strategy, idea, and
art of war, outstanding resourcefulness, and commanding art of the great
leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, who smashed the imperialists' theory of
omnipotence of weapons by thoroughly materializing the military principle
of chuch'e throughout the entire course of war and created a world example
of anti-imperialist revolutionary war. (applause)
The Fatherland Liberation War was an all-people revolutionary war in which
the might of cohesion and unity of our army and people rallied firmly
around the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung was brought into full play.
(applause)
During the arduous days of war, the great leader always went among the
soldiers and people and vigorously spurred them to war victory, while
sharing joys and sorrows with them.
The great leader even went to the foremost fronts where fiery rain was
pouring down, braving risk to himself, and personally guided the
operations and combats of the people's army units on the spot and
instilled invincible wisdom and bravery in the fighting warriors, and by
going into the people, he adopted revolutionary measures to stabilize
their living and strengthen the rear.
The people's army soldiers and people -- who had keenly realized from
depths of their hearts through the dreamlike happy life during five years
after national liberation and the days of war victory that the great
Comrade Kim Il Sung is indeed a savior of their life and a defender of
their destiny -- fought by dedicating everything they have to achieve the
war victory with an indomitable faith and optimism that they would win
without fail, thanks to the leader. (applause)
The brilliant and brave people's army fighters and people literally turned
themselves into human bombs, even when series of bombs were pouring down
and the sky and land were burning, and defended each height and each inch
of land with blood, and struggled by sacrificing themselves to assist the
wartim e production and the frontlines.
The matchless bravery, spirit of sacrifice, and mass heroism displayed
highly among the officers and men of our people's army and people during
the days of the Fatherland Liberation War were the manifestation of
sublime ideological and spiritual traits regarding it as the highest honor
and great happiness to fight by unsparingly dedicating their youth and
life in order to desperately defend their leader, party, fatherland, and
system. (applause)
During the period of the Fatherland Liberation War, all the peace-loving
people of the world actively supported and backed our people who were
waging a sacred war of justice, and in particular, the Chinese people
helped us with blood by dispatching volunteer forces organized with their
outstanding sons and daughters to the Korean front.
We appreciate and never forget this. (applause)
Our people, by winning a brilliant victory in the Fatherland Liberation
War under the outst anding leadership of the great leader Comrade Kim Il
Sung, honorably defended our glorious Republic and the gains of the
revolution, and they smashed the US imperialists' maneuvers for provoking
a new world war and defended the security and peace of mankind.
The historic victory in the Fatherland Liberation War showed that even the
people of a small country are amply capable of defeating any enemy,
however formidable, if all the people fight resolutely against the enemies
in firm unity around the leader, and thus vigorously encouraged the
struggle of the world's revolutionary people fighting for independence and
ushered in an era of new upsurge in the anti-imperialist, anti-US
struggle. (applause)
The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung, who shattered the myth of the
powerfulness of the US imperialists for the first time in history by
leading the Fatherland Liberation War to victory and once again rescued
the destiny of the fatherland and nation from a life-and-de ath crisis,
lives forever as a symbol of victory of the anti-imperialist cause of
independence, and the leader's achievement of winning victory in the
anti-US war will remain forever immortal, along with the history of the
fatherland. (applause)
The immortal achievements performed by the great leader Comrade Kim Il
Sung in winning the war victory and the ever-victorious tradition of
heroic Korea are being carried forward firmly from one century to the next
and year after year under the outstanding military-first revolutionary
leadership of the respected and beloved Supreme Commander Comrade Kim Jong
Il. (applause)
Even after the sound of gunfire stopped in the Fatherland Liberation War,
the United States, far from drawing a due lesson from the crushing defeat
it sustained in the Fatherland Liberation War, created grave obstacles
before our revolution, while ceaselessly perpetrating military provocation
maneuvers against our Republic, including the armed spy shi p Pueblo
incident, the large spy plane EC-121 incident, and the P'anmunjo'm
incident.
Our people's army and people, who impregnably consolidated the military
position of the revolution by thoroughly implementing the military line of
self-defense and the one-a-match-for-100 slogan under the leadership of
the party and the leader, have honorably defended the dignity of the
fatherland and the gains of the revolution, while smashing the enemies'
maneuvers for provoking a new war every step of the way. (applause)
In the 1990s of the previous century, the US imperialists, by taking
advantage of the collapse of socialism in various countries due to a great
global political crisis, focused the brunt of their attack on our
Republic, which was advancing with the banner of socialism and the banner
of anti-imperialist, anti-US struggle unchangingly held high, and they
unprecedentedly reinforced the pressure and offensive against us by coming
up with the nuclear issue.
< br>The respected and beloved Supreme Commander Comrade Kim Jong Il --
who scientifically analyzed the international environment faced by our
revolution and the trend of the rapidly changing situation at a time when
severe trials approached before the fatherland and nation -- established
the military-first politics, which places priority on military affairs and
regards the revolutionary armed forces as a core, in all fields at a new
lofty height, and thus provided a firm political and military guarantee
for winning ultimate victory in the anti-US confrontational war.
The great Comrade Kim Jong Il raised the entire army into a powerful army
of idea and faith that regards the death-defying defense of the leader as
the number one life and into the invincible and ever-victorious
revolutionary powerful army of Mt Paektu fully equipped with modern means
of offense and defense in the course of continuously traveling on the road
of making on-the-spot inspections of the people' s army units day and
night, and by leading the do-or-die anti-US confrontational war in the
van, he rescued the destiny of the country and nation and paved a way out
for the prosperity of the fatherland. (applause)
Our army and people firmly defended our idea and system and our dignity
and cause and highly displayed all over the world the majestic appearance
and might of chuch'e Korea by single-handedly suppressing and smashing the
anti-Republic isolating and crushing maneuvers of the US imperialists and
imperialist reactionaries, who devote themselves to coercion and
high-handedness while looking upon themselves as the world's sole
superpower. This is truly the greatest victory and a historic miracle
achieved through the respected and beloved Comrade Kim Jong Il's unique
military-fist politics and military-first revolutionary strategy.
(applause)
This great victory achieved in the anti-US confrontational war clearly
proved that the ever-victorious history and tradition of our people's army
and people, who highly uphold in the van of the military-first revolution
the resp ected and beloved Comrade Kim Jong Il, who is an unsurpassed
heaven-sent brilliant commander, are eternal and that there is no strength
in this world that can match the might of our single-hearted unity rallied
firmly around the leader (ryo'ngdoja). (applause)
Our army and people -- who are advancing under the respected and beloved
Supreme Commander Comrade Kim Jong Il's outstanding military-first
leadership, grasping the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung's achievements
of winning the war victory as a treasured sword in the anti-imperialist
revolutionary struggle -- will firmly smash the aggression and challenge
of the imperialist reactionaries and vigorously accelerate the victorious
advance of our-style socialism in the future, too, as in the past.
(applause)
On this meaningful occasion of celebrating the anniversary of war victory
with the great p ride and dignity of victors, by reflecting the endless
admiration of all the party members, officers and men of the people's
army, and people, I offer the loftiest respect and eternal glory to the
great leader (suryo'ng) Comrade Kim Il Sung, who highly displayed the
dignity and honor of our fatherland and nation by leading the Fatherland
Liberation War to victory and made an immortal contribution to mankind's
cause of anti-imperialist independence, and I extend the greatest honor
and the most fervent gratitude to the great leader (ryo'ngdoja) Comrade
Kim Jong Il, who is displaying the heroic spirit of chuch'e Korea all over
the world with his unique military-first revolutionary leadership.
(applause)
Comrades!
A touch-and-go situation, in which a war may erupt at any time, is
prevailing on the Korean peninsula today due to the vicious anti-Republic
confrontation of the United States and its following forces and their
maneuvers for provoking a new war.
Th e US imperialists, who make a business of war and regard killing and
plunder as a mode of their existence, are scheming to use the Japanese
reactionaries and the South Korean puppets as a shock brigade in a war of
northward aggression by cooking up a tripartite military alliance among
the United States, Japan, and South Korea, in a bid to realize by all
means their ambition for aggression they failed to accomplish in the past
Korean war, and they are frantically staging exercises for a war of
aggression by committing vast armed forces and combat equipments.
The US imperialists have decided on a preemptive nuclear attack as a basic
method of Korean war, and they are countering our proposal for concluding
a peace agreement with such nuclear war exercises as the Key Resolve and
Foal Eagle joint military exercises, and sometime ago, they once again
blatantly disclosed an attempt to mount a nuclear attack against our
Republic in a so-called Nuclear Posture Review.
T he US imperialists, which are scheming for the permanent division of our
country, put the Lee Myung-bak (Ri Myo'ng-pak, Yi Myo'ng-pak) gang of
traitors (yo'kcho'k p'aedang) -- which has been viciously perpetrating the
maneuvers for confrontation against fellow countrymen with the backing of
outside forces since the early days of coming to power -- at the forefront
of anti-Republic confrontation to brutally trample on the historic
North-South joint declarations and drive North-South relations to an
overall catastrophe.
The sinking incident of a puppet naval ship that recently took place in
the West Sea (Yellow Sea) of Korea is a shameless fabricated act
(nalchogu'k) cooked up by the United States in collusion with the Lee
Myung-bak gang of traitors in order to accomplish their filthy political
and military objective, and it is an extra-large criminal smear act
(moryakku'k) aimed at coming up with a pretext for a new war of aggression
against our Republic.
The US imperialists and the South Korean puppets, who have been running
about wildly in the anti-Republic crushing maneuvers while unreasonably
linking the naval ship's sinking incident to us, are staging combined
naval training on the largest scal e in history by embarking on reckless
acts of actual warfare (silcho'nhaengdong) against us in the end and
mobilizing vast armed forces of aggression, including an aircraft carrier,
submarines, and hundreds of fighters, in East Sea (Sea of Japan) of Korea,
and they are scheming to light fire to the fuse of a nuclear war by all
means by expanding such military provocation step by step.
The DPRK NDC, which assumes responsibility for the national defense of the
country and the security of the nation, has solemnly declared that we
could openly oppose with our powerful nuclear deterrent the nuclear war
exercise commotion the US imperialists and the South Korean puppets are
enforcing; that in response to the enemies' deliberate driving of the
situation to the brink of war, we would, at any time necessary, commence
our-style sacred war of retaliation based on nuclear deterrent; and that
we would take all measures to the end to ferret out the truth behind the
Ch'o'nan ship incident. (applause)
The United States should realize that behind the war of aggression it
provoked on 25 June is the victory of military-first Korea achieved on 27
July.
Right now, our millions of soldiers and people are boiling their blood
with an enemy-annihilating resolve to firmly smash the brigandish US
imperialists -- a sworn enemy and an old foe -- and the Lee Myung-bak gang
of traitors, which is fawning on and following them and running amok
frenziedly in order to push the nation to nuclear disaster, and to vent
their deep-rooted grudge a hundred- and a thousand-fold.
We will further bolster our nuclear deterrent in a newly advanced manner
to cope with the increasing nuclear threat of the United States.
This is our fair and square independent right and a merciless method of
response employed by our revolutionary armed forces, which always emerge
victorious by meeting the enemies head-on with the courage and attack
spirit of Paektu. (applause)
Should the US imperialists and the Lee Myung-bak gang of traitors provoke
a new war of aggression in our country to the end, despite our repeated
warnings, we will totally explode our tremendous military potential,
including our self-defensive nuclear deterrent, and reduce to ashes the
aggressors and all their strongholds, thereby clearly showing the enemies
what a real war is like and completely getting rid of the root cause of
war, and we will accomplish by all means the historic cause of the
fatherland's reunification so eagerly desired by the entire nation.
(applause)
Today's situation, in which the US imperialists and their following forces
are running amok indiscriminately, calls upon our army and people to more
h ighly hold up the military-first banner.
The great leader (ryo'ngdoja) Comrade Kim Jong Il has pointed out that the
entire party, the entire army, and all of the people should uphold the
party's military-first leadership and fight more resolutely for a great
new victory of our revolution.
The military-first (politics) serves as a lifeline of our revolution and a
treasured sword of sure victory. (applause)
By resolutely defending and thoroughly embodying the respected and beloved
Comrade Kim Jong Il's military-first politics and military-first
revolutionary line, we should adhere to and glorify generation after
generation the immortal achievements of winning the war victory and
traditions achieved by the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung with the
military-first (politics) and become honorable victors in the anti-US
confrontational war.
All the party members, officers and men of the people's army, and people
should unchangingly cherish one mind of lo yalty to the party and leader
(suryo'ng) in any trial and adversity and become passionate fighters of
death-defying defense of the leader and guns-and-bombs heroes dedicating
their lives to desperately defend the great Comrade Kim Jong Il, who
represents our destiny and serves as an eternal banner of victory.
(applause)
All the officers and men of the people's army and people should arm
themselves strongly with our party's chuch'e idea and military-first idea
and loyally uphold the party's military-first leadership by uniting like
steel around the Party CC headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong Il, thereby
more highly displaying the might of our single-hearted unity, which has
been consolidated resolutely amid the flames of the anti-imperialist
revolutionary struggle.
The people's army, which is the backbone (chungch'u) of self-defensive
national defense capabilities and the first-line unit in the anti-US
confrontational war, should hold high the slogan called, & quot;Let us
defend with our lives the Party CC headed by the great Comrade Kim Jong
Il," and ceaselessly intensify the movement to win the title of O
Chung-hu'p Seventh Regiment in order to further reinforce the entire army
into the guns-and-bombs ranks of death-defying defense of the leader and
the invincible and ever-victorious Mt Paektu revolutionary powerful army,
and should maintain a high state of agitation and protect the outposts in
the sky, land, and sea of the fatherland like an impregnable fortress.
All the party members and working people should arm themselves strongly
with our party's chuch'e-based viewpoint of war and anti-imperialist class
consciousness and firmly establish the spirit of attaching importance to
military affairs in the whole society, and thus give top priority to
developing the national defense industry, faithfully learn military
affairs, more firmly consolidate the whole country into an impregnable
fortress, and make full preparati ons for war.
By carrying on the proud tradition in which the army and people defeated
the enemies while sharing their life and death within the same trenches
during the past period of the Fatherland Liberation War, we should more
highly display the might of great army-people unity based on the
revolutionary soldier spirit, with the army assisting the people and the
people assisting the army.
At present when the historic WPK representatives conference is ahead, the
revolutionary enthusiasm and militant spirit of our army and people are so
high as to soar to the sky. (applause)
All the party members, officers and men of the people's army, and people
should highly uphold this year's joint editorial, the joint slogans issued
by the Party CC and the Party CMC, and the idea and spirit of the letter
from the Kimch'o'l (Kim Ch'aek Iron and Steel Complex) working class and
more vigorously accelerate the march of great upswing, overflowing with
the conviction of s ure victory and optimism.
We should perform greater miracles and feats on all fronts of the
construction of a powerful state, including the light industrial and
agricultural sectors and the four leading sectors, and thus greet the WPK
representatives conference with high political enthusiasm and brilliant
labor results, glorify this year greeting the party's 65th founding
anniversary as a year of great change (taebyo'nhyo'k) worth a special
mention in the history of our fatherland, and fling open the gate to a
powerful state without fail in the meaningful year 2012. (applause)
All the brethren in the North, the South, and overseas should unite firmly
under the banner of the 15 North North-South Joint Declaration and the 4
October Declaration, which are great programs for reunification common to
the nation, and open a new phase of independent reunification, while
boldly smashing the maneuvers of the splittists at home and abroad.
The victory of our revolu tion is certain, as the immortal achievements of
winning victory in the anti-imperialist war performed by the great leader
Comrade Kim Il Sung, who defeated the two formidable US and Japanese
imperialist enemies in one generation, are radiating right and there is
the ever-victorious military-first leadership of the respected and beloved
Comrade Kim Jong Il, who is the world's best brilliant commander, as well
as the invincible and ever-victorious revolutionary armed forces and the
single-hearted unity of millions of soldiers and people, which is mightier
than atomic bombs. (applause)
Let us all unite firmly around the Party CC headed by the great Comrade
Kim Jong Il and fight more vigorously for ultimate victory of the anti-US
confrontational war, the fatherland's reunification, the construction of a
powerful state, and the cause of the chuch'e revolution under the uplifted
military-first banner. (applause)
Long live the revolutionary idea of the great leader ( suryo'ng) Comrade
Kim Il Sung! (a round of hurrah and applause)
Long live the great leader (ryo'ngdoja) Comrade Kim Jong Il! (a round of
hurrah and applause)
Long live the glorious WPK, the organizer and guide of all victories of
our people! (a round of hurrah and applause)
(Description of Source: Pyongyang Korean Central Broadcasting Station in
Korean -- DPRK state-run domestic radio
network)Attachments:KYCSpeechatKorWarAnnivKCBS26Jul10.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
63) Back to Top
US Repeats Ch'o'nan Sunk by DPRK Torpedo, Dismisses Russian Claims of 'Sea
Mine'
By Hwang Doo-hyong: "U.S. repeats Ch'o'nan [Cheonan] was sunk by N.
Korea's torpedo: State Dept." - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:03:24 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.
64) Back to Top
PRC Expert Sees Warming Up of US-ROK Military Alliance
By staff reporters Shi Shangyu and Zhang Xin, from Beijing, US-ROK
Alliance Warms Up Expert: The Trend is Worth Observation - Wen Wei Po
Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 03:01:21 GMT
triggered worries among people of all sectors about the situation in East
Asia. In an interview with the Wen Wei Po, Hong Yuan, a well-known
strategist and deputy secretary general of the World Political Study
Center of the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), pointed out: The
US-ROK joint military exercises have broadened to the scope of "United
Nations troops". Before the exercises, they have informed many countries
about the exercises, particularly including the 16 countries of the
"United Nations troops" that took part in the Korean War, which indicates
that the United States and ROK have elevated the exercises to the height
of a war on the Korean peninsula.
Hong Yuan pointed out: The joint military exercises have rapidly warmed up
the US-ROK military alliance, and it seems that the US-ROK military
alliance very likely will replace the US-Japan alliance. Although it is
fundamentally impossible to replace the US-Japan alliance, the strong
momentum of the new alliance is worth observation. The upcoming military
exercises are extremely unfavorable to the stability and harmony in the
East Asia region. Whether the exercises are carried out in the Yellow Sea
or the Sea of Japan, China is involved as the target of the exercises, and
China's security and interests have been harmed.
Hong Yuan said: In this era, which is characterized by nuclear weapons and
space technology, a country should enhance its consciousness of its
strategic boundary and should have buffer zones with other powers, and
these buffer zones should be respected by the two sides.
(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:wwp0726b.pdf
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by t he
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
65) Back to Top
Us Says Corruption in Afghanistan Is 'An Ongoing Challenge'
"Us Says Corruption in Afghanistan Is "An Ongoing Challenge"" -- KUNA
Headline - KUNA Online
Wednesday June 30, 2010 21:42:11 GMT
(KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY) - WASHINGTON, June 30 (KUNA) -- The United States
said on Wednesday that the issue of corruption is "an ongoing challenge"
in Afghanistan while declining to comment on the allegation by
Afghanistan's Attorney General that he was threatened in his job by the US
ambassador to Kabul."There are many things that the government is doing,
but we have to recognize that this is a si gnificant ongoing
challenge..there is not the kind of robust financial structure in
Afghanistan that there is in the developed world," said Assistant
Secretary of State for public diplomacy Philip Crowley in a press
briefing."That actually may work to Afghanistan's advantage given what is
happening here in the last couple of years. But this is largely a cash
economy. There is a lot of money flowing through Afghanistan, and out from
Afghanistan," he added.Crowley affirmed that US officials will answer
questions by Congress about "the accounting systems that are being put in
place, the transparency that is being put in place." "The ability of
Afghanistan to track money flows around the country has expanded
significantly in recent months. President Karzai just this week has
recommitted himself publicly to rooting out corruption," he
added.Afghanistan's Attorney General Ishaq Alko told reporters that US
ambassador to Kabul Karl Eikenberry threa tened to have him removed from
his job if he did not take actions against an Afghan banker allegedly
involved in fraud."I would simply say that Ambassador Eikenberry is doing
his job as our civilian representative in Kabul. He has regular contact
with officials of Afghan government from President Karzai through the
Cabinet to local officials when he travels out around the country "he
continues to encourage the Afghan government to follow through on the
vision that President Karzai has laid out, particularly regarding
corruption and capacity within the Afghan government," said Crowley when
asked about the report.He declined to comment on the specific exchange
between the Afghan attorney general and the US ambassador saying that
Eikenberry "continues his important work in working with, but also
encouraging the Afghan government to do everything it can not just because
we're telling them to, but because this is important in terms of showing
the Afghan people that this is a government that is going to root out
corruption, this is a government that is going to expand the services that
are available to its people.Meanwhile, US Attorney General Eric Holder is
visiting Kabul to hold talks with Afghan officials about improving the
justice system and fighting corruption."The Department of Justice has been
very significantly involved in promoting the rule of law inside
Afghanistan. You have got to strengthen institutions of government. People
have to have confidence that if corruption or malfeasance is discovered,
it will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted," noted Crowley."That
continues to be our message to the government of Afghanistan, and in fact,
we are helping Afghanistan to expand its capacity to do these various
things," he concluded.(Description of Source: Kuwait 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.
66) Back to Top
War Document Leaks Not Likely To Affect Pakistans 'Postures' on India
Commentary by Vikram Sood, former head of the Research and Analysis Wing,
Indias external intelligence agency: Night of the Generals - The Asian
Age Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:55:04 GMT
This is not the first time that a Pakistan Army Chief has decided to stay
on beyond his scheduled date of departure. The vers-ion that the civilian
government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani granted Gen. Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani this extension is a myth that very few believe. In fact,
speculation and justificati-o ns for his extension were making the rounds
in Islamabad in early summer this year. By May 2010, there were articles,
sponsored undoubtedly, suggesting that Gen. Kayani had become
indispensable to the scheme of things in Pakistan; that Pakistan was
passing through a critical phase and continuity as the Army Chief was
essential; that Gen. Kayani would not seek extension but would gracefully
accept if invited to serve the country for a little while longer.Pakistani
analyst Ayesha Siddiqa had earlier commented that a decision to extend the
term would depend upon three factors -- an agreement within the GHQ, a nod
from the United States and support of the government. With the
Zardari-Gilani government perennially on the backfoot, there would have
been very little resistance from the political setup. It is true that the
US would like continuity and Gen. Kayani became the preferred option, as
he was perceived to be able to deliver on US objectives.In the immediate
future, Gen. Kay ani will have to keep the war on terror against selected
sections going, keep the US at arm's length when it relates to the
Pakistan Army's other strategic assets considered vital to its perceived
aims in Afghanistan and India without any stoppage of funds from the US.
He will also have to make some arrangements for those who will feel they
have been deprived of the top slot because of this extension. For
instance, at least 16 lieutenant-generals -- some of whom are now corps
commanders -- are due to retire after November 23, 2010 and before Gen.
Kayani's extended term expires in November 2013. This includes Lt. Gen.
Shuja Pasha, Gen. Kayani's successor as ISI chief and who is already on a
year's year extension. Gen. Pervez Musharraf had not extended the terms of
his generals but accommodated them in civilian assignments. Increasing
numbers of Pakistani military officers who will now be due for promotions
as major-general and lieutenant-general or equivalent will be those re
cruited during Gen. Zia-ul Haq's days of excessive Islamisation.The
Pakistan Army -- with its ultimate control on policies relating to India,
Afghanistan and the nuclear button -- has shown remarkable tactical
brilliance in enhancing its position in its own country but has left the
country with very little resilience to tackle its major internal
socio-economic problems. Outsiders see the march of folly of a nation with
a crumbling economy, dwindling exports and the sole source of dollars
being handouts by the US and the International Monetary Fund, with
terrorists knocking at various doors even in Punjab. Yet it continues to
convince its people that "enemy" India is still trying to undo Pakistan.
In the process, Pakistan has been involved in a two-front jihad, has
punched above its weight and thus finds itself in the middle of a
crippling and tragic blowback. Caught in the brinkmanship of its rhetoric,
Pakistan's rulers are unable to retreat from the cul de sac int o which
they have pushed their country.Pakistan's tragedy has been that its civil
society is today under siege from Islamic radicals and the Army, and these
radicals and terrorists have been raised by the Army. With all other
systems of law and order collapsing, civil society is dependent on the
same Army for its own security and well-being. That is why at various
moments in the history of Pakistan whenever the Army has been seen to take
over the reins upfront, there have been many from within this liberal
society who actually showered accolades on the Army.
The invisible hand of Rawalpindi was patently visible in the fiasco of the
recent talks in Islamabad. Now that we have Gen. Kayani in charge of
policy towards India and Afghanistan for the next three years, we should
expect some hardening of attitudes. Pakistan's tactics in Jammu and
Kashmir have already begun to change. Terrorist violence in the Valley has
diminishing returns for Pakistan under the present circum stances; it wins
Pakistan no new friends and attracts adverse attention from the US. We
take solace behind encouraging statistics, but they tell only a part of
the story. Stone-throwing tactics in the Valley portrayed as a people's
movement in the new tactic where the state is made to look increasingly
helpless and vicious.Pakistan's postures on India are not going to be
affected by the recent disclosures by WikiLeaks. Despite the usual
exultation in India forever looking for Western approval, the leaks do not
say anything new. They are more about the US. The speed with which US
national security adviser James Jones supported the Pakistan government
immediately after the disclosures, confirming US commitment to deepening
partnership with Afghanistan and Pakistan, the manner in which AfPak
special envoy Richard Holbrooke certified Pakistan was part of the
solution in Afghanistan and the timing of the release of $500 million
during Hillary Clinton's Islamabad visit (where she called on Gen. Kayani)
-- these only confirm the desperation of America's Afghan situation.
Besides, Gen. Kayani's and the ISI chief's closeness to the Haqqani
networks, their close liaison and protection of the Quetta Shura impinge
directly on the US effort in Afghanistan. Pakistan has strengthened its
assets in Afghanistan by inducting Lashkar-e-Tayyaba terrorists into
Afghanistan.Pakistan carefully assessed the limitations of US military
power and Indian decibel. The Americans had needed Pakistan to launch into
Afghanistan in 2001; nine years later they need Pakistan to come to an
honourable ar-rangement in Afghanistan, wh--a-tever that might be. Given
the paranoia that affects Punjabi officers in the Pakistan Army al-ong
with the desire to avenge 1971, there is need for India to prepare for the
future and stre-n-g-t-hen its defence and intelligence capabilities
substantially -- in quality and quantity. We face multiple fronts --
Pakistan, Ch-i-na, terrorism and the ungua rded sea.
While India-Pakistan talks may become desirable at some future date under
suitable circumsta-n-ces, they are neither irreversible nor
uninterruptable. India must dispel the impression that there is no option
except to talk to Pakistan and lose on the negotiating table what we have
won on the battlefield. Therefore, bet-ween the option to talk and total
war there are several options that can be exercised and we should be
prepared for the long haul.
(Description of Source: New Delhi The Asian Age online in English --
Website of the daily The Asian Age, with its flagship edition in New
Delhi; also published from Kolkata, Mumbai, and London. Run by T.
Venkattram Reddy, the owner of Hyderabad-based Deccan Chronicle group.
Maintains pro-government, centrist editorial policy. Chronicle and Age
share editorial content and their combined circulation is claimed to be 1
million; URL: www.asianage.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally cop yrighted 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.
67) Back to Top
Pakistan Army Chief ExtensionCivil Govt Caved In To Military Pressure
Article by Saida Fazal: Weak Government, Strong Generals - Business
Recorder Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:26:32 GMT
ARTICLE (July 29 2010): In which other functioning democracy an army
chief's appointment or extension in service gets as much importance as has
the extension given to COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani? None. The reason
is simple. In democracies the power resides with elected governments
which, like in the case of our next-door neighbour India, normally decide
military appointments on the basis of seniority princ iple, and announce
the same in a routine, unobtrusive way.
But the Zardari/Gilani government has done the opposite. As if in a state
of emergency, the Prime Minister appeared on the TV shortly before
midnight the other evening just to say that he had decided to grant the
army chief an extension in service, not for one year, two years, but a
full three-year term because, he said, it is necessary to have continuity
in army leadership while the war against terrorism has entered a critical
stage. Both, the manner of the announcement and its rationale have raised
serious concerns. The incumbent's retirement was due in November, which
meant the government could take its time to make up its mind. More
important, as Gilani said later, it was an administrative decision. In
that case, it should have been treated like a routine administrative
matter, the announcement going out in the form of a notification, issued
by the Ministry of Defence. The Prime Minister did not need to ma ke an
urgent, three-minute address-to-the-nation just to read out a service
extension order.
So far as the continuity argument goes, people have rightly pointed out
that the army, being one of this country's most disciplined and
professional organisations, individuals should not matter in ensuring
continuity of the war effort. But the Prime Minister argued that a 'Sipah
Salaar' (military commander) is never changed in the middle of a war. For
his benefit, it would be useful to point to some old and new examples from
history, which suggest otherwise. Take the case of Khalid bin Walid, the
invincible commander of Muslim army under Caliph Omar. Just as the general
was poised to make a triumphant march into Damascus, the Caliph issued the
general's own marching orders. In modern times, US president Abraham
Lincoln changed seven generals during the course of the American Civil
War. And while the Korean War raged on, president Harry Truman removed the
famous and flamboyant General Douglas MacArthur - revered in his country
as a war hero for his performance during World War II- of the command of
US forces in Korea. Just last month, President Obama fired General Stanley
McChrystal, commander of US forces in Afghanistan - though in this case
the general asked for his ouster.
Leadership, of course, is important in every field of human endeavour, but
modern armies are more attuned to institutional than individual authority
in planning and executing wars.
Notwithstanding the counter-arguments, the Prime Minister did have the
prerogative to ask General Kayani to stay on for another year (three years
is rather excessive). He could have saved himself much of the criticism he
now faces had his office followed the regular appointments/extensions
procedure, and refrained from offering flimsy justifications. He acted the
way he did, it seems, because the other side was getting impatient to see
things in black and white rather than to wait for the government to resort
to its usual delay and obfuscation tactics. It is obvious that the
government caved in to pressure, and, in a state of nervousness, ignored
the need to maintain poise and composure.
The Prime Minister has since been making blunderous statements one after
another to justify the controversial decision. Aside from the ones
mentioned earlier, he has been saying things, which range from
self-contradictory to just plain outrageous. Whi le claiming it was an
administrative decision and hence there was no need to consult the
Opposition, he said he had called Nawaz Sharif but he was not available on
the phone. If it was a mere administrative decision, what was the need to
call the PML-N leader?
In an inadvertent statement last Friday Gilani actually revealed what the
mere 'administrative decision' had tried to achieve. After this, he said,
all "major stakeholders" that, according to him, include the President,
the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the COAS, are in a "secure
position" till 2013. Basically, he is saying now that the army chief has
what he wanted the hope and expectation is that he would let the President
and Prime Minister complete their respective terms. Thus individual dreams
and desires get precedence over thoughtful efforts aimed at strengthening
of the democratic institutions.
The Prime Minister has a lot of explaining to do to the public. First of
all, how does the army chief become a stakeholder in the system in the
league of the executive and judiciary heads? He leads a government
organisation, not any of the state institutions that comprise the
executive, parliament, and judiciary. Second of all, an elected government
should look to the people for securing the position of its president or
the prime minister rather than a general. The entire episode is reflective
of the sad state of our democracy.
It needs to be said that a civilian government is as stro ng as is its
ability to deliver good governance, internal and external security. Soon
after taking over power, the PPP government abdicated responsibility
regarding the challenges extremists in Swat and the tribal areas posed to
the writ of the state. The Prime Minister announced handing over complete
control of counter-insurgency operations to the military leadership. At
the same time, the government started an ill advised confrontation with
the judiciary, disregarding public opinion, but agreeing to do the needful
on the intervention of the quiet general, thus helping him restore, in the
public eye, the army's image that had been badly sullied by his
predecessor.
Corruption cases, a confrontational posture toward the judiciary, and poor
governance have kept weakening the government's position, lending
corresponding clout to the army and a say in vital security as well as
governance affairs. Slowly and steadily, it has regained an upper hand.
The GHQ, instead of the civilian leadership, has been negotiating the
terms of economic and military assistance with American officials. Before
the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived for the strategic
partnership dialogue earlier this month, various civilian departments
presented their input at the GHQ, leaving it to consolidate and finalise
our side's proposals. This skewed civil-military relationship should be a
matter of worry for all those who care about this country's future as a
stable democracy.
(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder.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.
68) Back to Top
ROK 'Viewpoint' Column Urges ROK to Learn From UK Politician Wilberforce
"Viewpoint" column by Park Sang-ik, professor of history education at
Woosuk University: "Summoning The Spirit of Wilberforce" - JoongAng Daily
Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:47:09 GMT
In 1952, the British newspaper The Times wrote that expecting democracy to
bloom in Korea was like expecting a rose to bloom in a trash can.In
retrospect it's quite an interesting point of view, as it seems as though
the newspaper forgot about England's own past.In the early 19th century,
politicians in England often gained votes by offering ample amounts of
food and drink to the public. Voters, in turn, often made public demands
for money in exchange for their backing at the polls.It was quite similar
to Korean politics in the 1950s, when votes were bought with makgeolli, or
traditional rice wine, and shoes.In the aftermath of the industrial
revolution in Korea, many electoral districts in rural areas suffered from
population declines as people increasingly moved to cities. Voters in
these areas were often bribed with money. There were also many "pocket
electoral districts," where elite families in rural towns publicly
revealed their favorite candidates and then bribed or coerced voters to
back their choices.In England, the politician William Wilberforce played a
decisive role in upgrading British politics. Wilberforce entered politics
at the age of 21 and over time formed a network of influential like-minded
politicians who rejected the practice of buying votes with bribes.The
corrupt and decadent culture of the British aristocrats was deep-rooted.
The Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King George III, was known to enjoy
cavorting around with many different women and also had a gambling habit.
His lawmaker friends often paid off his astronomical debt with money from
state coffers.At the time, the British parliament was filled with
alcoholic lawmakers. William Pitt, who was known as a well-mannered
politician, was a no exception, appearing at parliament meetings
drunk.Wilberforce's first goal was to overturn tradition. He was
determined to improve the standing and image of aristocrats and believed
that parliament must initiate the campaign to raise the country's ethical
and moral standards.He was determined to improve the politics of the
country to a world-class level.Through strategies that involved promoting
the greater good in an effort to pressure society, Wilberforce managed to
establish a law that laid out punishments for unethical and immoral
actions undertaken by high-ranking public servants, such as excessive
drinking and lewd behavior. The spirit of the Victorian age (1837~1901),
which emphasized morality, was born through such efforts.Another one of
Wilberforce's successes was abolishing slav ery. Anti-slavery campaigns
were unpopular at the time because Britain was the world's strongest
maritime force. It played a key role in transporting African slaves to
North America, which was a profitable affair for both the country and for
its people.The value of the slave trade to England at the time was
equivalent to the importance of the defense industry to the United States
today. The country's royal families, aristocrats and merchants all treated
the abolitionists as unpatriotic traitors.Under the circumstances, a
politician who advocated for the complete abolition of slavery had to
abandon his lofty goals of winning a high post. In other words, he had to
move the greater good to the forefront of personal gains.At the same time,
he had to be someone with enough persuasiveness and popularity to convince
the public, and he had to be someone with the intellect to handle a
complicated issue.Wilberforce, who survived two assassination attempts,
was that someone. His campai gn led to the Slavery Abolition Act, which
abolished slavery in most of the British empire within a year. Wilberforce
learned of the news on his deathbed and died three days later.The world
before Wilberforce and the world after he died were completely different;
it was the diffe rence between lead and gold.The public, which used to
despise politicians, had a different mind-set. In the era after
Wilberforce, politicians had to adhere to public standards in the realm of
morals - or at least pretend they were doing so.The role of a politician
is to be a respected leader, and we owe much of that mentality to
Wilberforce.Korea has seen many political leaders since its liberation
from Japan's colonial rule, but most of them have had plenty of flaws. In
many cases, our leaders have actually fallen short of the average ethical
and moral standards of the general public. Rather than leading the people,
they actually create problems through scandalous words and actions.Will it
ever be possible for Koreans to be blessed with a political leader with
noble ambitions, one who can reform the frivolous and shallow spirit of
21st century politics?(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.
69) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Interview': U.S. Solar Energy Technology Farther Advanced Than
Other Countries: Expert
Xinhua " ;Interview": "U.S. Solar Energy Technology Farther Advanced Than
Other Countries: Expert" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:34:13 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Though the Unites States comes only the
fourth place as a solar energy market, behind Germany, Italy and Japan,
its solar energy technology is farther advanced than any other country in
the world, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the U.S. Solar Energy
Industries Association, said.
Germany is a larger market than the United States and Japan has bent to
the photovoltaic industry for decades. But it is the United States which
holds the cutting edge, he said."When you look at the innovation that's
coming out of our universities and our research laboratories as well as so
many of the companies, I would actually argue that with respect to the
actual technology, the efficiencies, the applications that solar is used
and automatically the scale on which solar is applied, the U.S. is
significantly farther advanced than either Germany or Japan with respect
to technology development," Resch told Xinhua.Photovoltaics was invented
in the United States' Bell Labs; the lowest cost panels are manufactured
by a U.S. company, First Solar; the highest efficient panels in the world
are manufactured by a U.S. company, Sun Power, Resch noted.According to
the expert, the future development of solar energy industry depends on
breakthroughs or innovations in regard to the cost, efficiency and the
appearances of solar panels.Regarding cost, he explained that since a
solar panel is a commodity product, every company out there is trying to
drive their cost down. "If you can lower your cost and assure that you
have high quality, then automatically you are going to win the
race."According to Resch, the wholesale price of photovoltaic panels has
come down by nearly 50 percent in th e last two years. Currently in the
United States as an incentive to promote this industry, all homeowners and
businesses get a 30 percent tax credit from the federal government and
state governments.There has been a big push around the world to improve
the efficiency of solar energy, Resch said, citing some Chinese companies
which he said have made great strides."There are tremendous new companies,
new products that will be available in the next 12 to 18 months that will
both lower the cost as well as increase the efficiency of solar," he
said.In regard to the appearance of solar panels, Resch says the future
trend is to merge the panels with the buildings they are installed into so
they are not so protruding as now. "Specialists will come in and look how
to integrate solar into the skin of the building, into the roof materials
of a building, into the shingles of a building," he said.Dow Chemical is
making a product that looks just like a roof shingle tha t were previously
used in the United States with solar integrated into it. That kind of
building-integrated solar panel is something that consumers want, Resch
said."You are starting to see it more and more commercially available. And
I think it's really going to change the image of solar energy and
automatically the application of solar in the United States."Resch says
the biggest competition in the industry will occur between crystalline
silicon and thin film."Crystalline silicon still represents the vast
majority of the solar manufacturing today. But thin film products are
coming on in a significant way," Resch said.(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.
70) Back to Top
Pakistan Author Flays US-Based Indian Lobbies Idea of Division of
Afghanistan
Article by Saleem Safi: Division of Afghanistan? - The News Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:05:49 GMT
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The CIA is arguably the most powerful intelligence agency in the world and
maintains an espionage network in every part of the world. Some of the
Pakistani rulers, besides being obedient US admirers, are the CIA's
informants as well.
It appears that power has blinded American policymakers regarding
Afghanistan and Pakistan. They have committed blunders upon blunders.
Despite the thousands of US soldiers present in Afghanistan and a large
network of informants extending to remote villages and towns there, US
policymakers hav e failed to appreciate the ground realities. The
Americans have yet to set realistic policy goals for the region. Recent
history is witness to the fact that the US always tried to convert the
impossible into the possible.
The Americans' single-minded pursuit of defeating the USSR in Afghanistan
overlooked the consequences of radicalisation of the Muslim world. After
achieving this goal, the US pitched Mujahideen factions against each
other. Initially they even supported the Taliban movement. But after 9/11,
the US presented the throne of Kabul to the same old warlord who had been
punished by the Taliban once.
In the struggle against the Taliban, the Americans grew ambitious enough
to set new objectives in the region. They tried to encircle China, squeeze
Iran, control Central Asian natural resources, punish Pakistan and make
India a dominant regional player. In reaction, all these forces covertly
supported the Taliban to make Afghanistan another Vietnam for Ame rica. If
some of the contents of Wikileaks reports are true, then that will be the
result of the American tactics in Afghanistan.
Instead of reviewing past blunders, the US wanted to make Karzai a
scapegoat for its own failures. After the failure of this scheme, the
Americans tried to replicate Iraq's counterinsurgency in Afghanistan to
form regional private tribal militias to fight the insurgency. This plan
was doomed to fail from the outset. Therefore, the Indian lobbies in the
US have now floated the idea of division of Afghanistan into a Pakhtun
south and non-Pakhtun north.
The ex-US ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill, an Indian lobbyist, has
advised the US and Nato countries to follow this path. He suggested that
the US and Nato forces should stay in northern Afghanistan and use that
area as a staging ground against the Pakhtun south. This US-India plan is
unlikely to succeed.
The idea of the division of Afghanistan is reflective of the sick mind s
still living in the past. If Iraq, with stronger and more distinct
sectarian and linguistic divisions than Afghanistan, could not be divided
on these lines, Afghanistan is least expected to go that way. Afghanistan
has various linguistic groups and identities, which are airing grievances
of exploitation at the hands of the dominant "other."
But Afghans have proved to be the staunchest of nationalists in the
region. Afghan poetry expresses love and longing for the homeland. Afghan
songs praise Pakhtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks alike. Afghan literature
has the highest intensity of nationalism in the region while the country's
music is all about "Afghaniyat."
Almost all Pakhtun Afghans can speak Darri and every non-Pakhtun Afghan
understands Pashto. In contrast with the region, the Taliban movement is
predominantly Pakhtun, but it also boasts of individuals from other
linguistic groups. The movement is fast spreading in northern and wester n
Afghanistan.
Gulbadin Hikmatyar, who is considered a Pakhtun, hails from the extreme
northern province of Kunduz. His party consists of people from other
linguistic groups. He has married off his daughter to a Tajik. One of the
four most trusted lieutenants of Ahmed Shah Masood and Qasim Faheem was a
Pakhtun from Laghman. Abdullah Laghmani was deputy to the Afghan
intelligence chief and was killed in a suicide attack some time ago.
Kunduz in the north is a majority Pakhtun province while Herat in the
south is a majority Tajik region. The central province of Logar too is a
predominantly Pakhtun area but a large number of Tajiks also live here.
Northern Afghanistan is not populated by a single linguistic group.
Hazaras populate central Afghanistan while Tajik and Uzbek regions in the
north are separated by the Pakhtun region of Kunduz. The tension between
Uzbeks and Tajiks exacerbates the tension between Pakhtuns and Tajiks.
Similarly, the Hazara community is u nwilling to live with either Tajiks
or Uzbeks. The last presidential election was witness to the fact that
Uzbek Abdul Rasheed Dostam, Tajik Qasim Faheem and Hazara Ustad Muhaqqiq
supported the Pakhtun Hamid Karzai against Tajik Dr Abdullah. Currently,
an Uzbek and a Hazara are vice presidents. In the presidential elections,
no candidate from Pakhtun, Hazara, Uzbek and Tajik communities ever
invoked race or linguistic affiliation.
The Taliban resistance is not based on language or race. The movement
surfaced against the excessively unruly commanders of Pakhtuns like
Hekmatyar, Ustad Sayyaf, Yunus Khalis and Sibghatullah Mujaddidi. The
Taliban had fought against Pakhtun commanders from Kandahar to Kabul.
After the surrender of Kabul, they brutally hanged Dr Najibullah, a
Pakhtun, but not a Tajik or Uzbek. Mullah Omar had not sacrificed his rule
and taken up a fight with the only superpower for the sake of Pakhtuns,
but for Arabs.
Despite knowing these realities, those who plan the division of
Afghanistan are living in a fools' paradise.
The writer works for Geo TV.
(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.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.
71) Back to Top
Pakistan Article Terms Reports Accusing ISI as Inconsistent, Fabricated
Article by Ikram Sehgal: Here we go again! - The News Online< /div>
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:44:29 GMT
In another major attack on Pakistan's credibility as a responsible entity
among the comity of nations, among the 92,000 secret US documents about
the Afghan war leaked to the media by WikiLeak, a number of reports
accused Pakistan's premier intelligence agency of being in collusion with
the Taliban. The "war logs" also alleged ISI involvement in plots to kill
President Hamid Karzai as well as planning strategy for attacks against US
and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Independent analysts warned that most
of the intelligence material was of questionable value, coming from
sources inimical to Pakistan. Clearly fabricated, inconsistent and
certainly not verified, it was not surprising that most emanated from the
National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's premier intelligence
agency, which was taken over lock, stock and barrel by India's RAW when
the Northern Alliance came to power. As director general of the ISI in the
late 1980s, Lt Gen (Retd) Hameed Gul was actively working with the CIA in
aiding the Taliban. His views are well known and have not really changed.
His extreme stance is presently at variance with the moderate nature of
the "great silent majority" of Pakistanis. One does not agree with him on
any number of issues, however one does respect his integrity and
patriotism. To suggest that he would support the Taliban actively in any
way, particularly when the army that he loves and served with distinction
is at war with them, is, in his own words, "preposterous." There is a
radical difference between the ISI that existed during the Afghan war and
the ISI that exists today. Clandestine organisation like the ISI, the CIA,
MI-5 and the former KGB, of necessity operate in grey areas. But that any
would work against the best interests of the state is ridiculous. The
Pakistani army shields Pakistan from its enemies, the ISI provides the
outer shield for Pakistan and the army. Our enemies' motives in their
constant attacks on the ISI are well known: reduce the shield and you
compromise the security and integrity of Pakistan. The documents leaked by
WikiLeak include details of war crimes by US and coalition forces and the
involvement of Karzai's family in drug smuggling, yet these got only
cursory media attention. Nowhere in the 92,000 documents does there seem
to be any mention of India, good or bad. One may well ask: why this golden
silence on India? True to form, the Afghan presidential spokesman, Waheed
Omar, studiously focused on Pakistan, saying the "documents could help
raise awareness on the sanctuaries Islamabad provides for militant
groups." That about sums up Afghanistan's hostility to Pakistan and its
ingratitude for all the sacrifices Pakistan has made (and is making) for
Afghanistan. Only the week before, the Pakistani government had signed a
memorandum of understanding under which the Afghans will receive
most-favoured free access to Pakistani ports as well as to roads/railways
communications infrastructure. It is time our foreign policy to discover
self-respect. One is forced to use language that is not diplomatic: till
they learn to shut up and keep shut, we should allow only food essentials
for Afghanistan to transit through Pakistan, and nothing else. As regards
transit facilities for India to Afghanistan, either through Karachi port
or Wagah, somebody in our government needs to get their head examined for
even agreeing to talk about it. We do not need Afghanistan, they need us.
The US has forcefully condemned the leaks as harmful to their national
security interests. However, there is a hint of a "wink" and a "nod" to
put Pakistan under further pressure "to do none." One has great respect
for Admiral Mike Mullen. What he has achieved in calming the suspicions
and f ears of our armed forces is remarkable but this doublespeak in the
US establishment is shocking. One is heartened by comments by US lawmakers
who have taken into account the tremendous s acrifices rendered by
Pakistani security forces in dealing with the militants. They rightly say
that the leaks do not represent facts as they exist on the ground today.
Richard Haass, chairman of the Council of Foreign Relations appeared on a
show (hosted by CNN's Fareed Zakaria) to announce blithely that Pakistan
allows Al-Qaeda to roam about freely in Pakistan and manipulates
Afghanistan in its designs against India. While Indian Muslim Fareed
Zakaria (an original "Uncle Tom") has a vested interest in showing himself
as being more loyal than the king, these accusations were mind-boggling.
We are the ones suffering most at the hands of Al-Qaeda and, to correct
Haass, just look at the geography. It is the other way around: it is India
that manipulates Afghanistan for its own purpos es against Pakistan. With
experience in the White House working with both the younger and elder
Bush, Haass was an insider in the making of decisions affecting millions.
In his Essay "Dilemma of Dissent," Haass disclosed that "very frequently
the rulers and their close aides made important (decisions) without proper
enquiry, analysis or debate." Those facilitating such decision-making
Haass calls "enablers." One way to avoid becoming an "enabler" was to
resign. That unfortunately requires a conscience. Richard Haass became an
"enabler" rather than risk "being ignored or overruled." Bluntly put, many
American soldiers and Iraqis across the board have died (and are dying)
because people like Haass wanted to stay within the reaches of power. If
any order is unlawful, further action is a matter of morality. People like
Haass sacrificed morality at the altar of their own careers. To quote from
my article "Defining C haracter" published on May 28, 2009: "Richard Haass
may be brilliant, he is also a self-confessed intellectually dishonest
person." Yet, people like Haass proliferate in the upper reaches of US
decision-making and can rule the airwaves to spread false perceptions.
Perception is nine-tenths of media law. To quote from my recent article
"Pie in the sky": "Propaganda is a deliberate attempt to persuade people
by any available media to think and then behave in a manner desired by the
source, it is really the means to an end. There could be individual
Taliban sympathisers in the ranks of Pakistan's intelligence agencies and
other official circles, but to say that Pakistan provides concerted
institutional support...is nonsense, it demeans not only the blood that
our soldiers have shed fighting the Taliban but that of our innocent
civilians also." As a coherent platform for our national security
strategy, our present media policy is quite impracti cal and is tilted
inwards, rather than being focussed externally. The stakes are high, a
comprehensive media strategy must incorporate the new ground realities and
must project Pakistan abroad by coalescing and force-multiplying the
talent and potential of the private sector. The attacks on the army and
the ISI have grave national repercussions for us, and they will happen
again and again unless we do something.
The writer is a defence and political analyst.
(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained fr om the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
72) Back to Top
Afghan TV Program Debates Forthcoming Kabul Conference, Use of
International Aid
From the "De Owonay Bahs (Discussion of the Week)" program; for assistance
with multimedia elements, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800)
205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - National TV Afghanistan
Tuesday June 29, 2010 17:53:19 GMT
President Hamid Karzai recently paid an official visit to Japan. Part of
our program discussion today focuses on President Karzai's visit to Japan
and his achievements during the visit. Moreover, the Kabul International
Conference is due to be held in Kabul on 20 July this year. Our program
will also discuss the Kabul Conference. The program guests are Najibollah
Manalay, media adviser to the Ministry of Finance, Azrakhsh Hafezi, head
of international relations of Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce and
Industries, and Sadeqizadah Nili, lawmaker and member of the economic and
financial commission of the lower house of parliament. Studio
(Announcer) As you know, President Hamid Karzai visited Japan recently.
Earlier, he also visited other countries such as China. Would you please
elaborate on the economic significance of the president's recent visits,
and especially his visit to Japan? Hafezi
(Hafezi) (passage omitted on opening pleasantries)
The significance of a country to a very large extent depends on the extent
of its foreign relations. Isolated countries tend to be insignificant
countries. After many years of isolation, fortunately Afghanistan has now
been at the center of international attention over the past several years.
However, we have not been able to take full advantage of th e
opportunities and the conditions that the international attention to
Afghanistan brings about. Unfortunately, to date we have not been able to
define the contours of our interests. We have not been able to produce a
clear strategy toward self-sufficiency, poverty reduction, job creation,
and an increase in per capita income. We have not made a thorough
assessment of the opportunities and favorable conditions available to us.
At times, I have been part of Afghan delegations abroad, but we have not
been able to defend the interests of the people of Afghanistan through
effective proposals that will convince our interlocutors of our
viewpoints.
(Announcer) What factors are relevant here, especially over the past nine
years?
(Hafezi) One main factor for our lackluster performance is that we always
react to events rather than moving ahead of events. In fact, we are not
even moving along with events; we always trail behind developments. For
example, the intern ational intervention in Afghanistan occurred as a
consequence of the 9/11 violent attacks on the World Trade Center in the
United States. The international community came to Afghanistan and
overthrew the Taliban regime, but it took us three to four more months
before we established a government in Afghanistan. This serves as an
example of the fact that we do not think about alternatives in advance;
oftentimes we are caught offguard. Subsequent to the overthrow of the
Taliban regime, the international community invited us to come and rebuild
our country. Afghanistan's national unity had suffered as a result of
prolonged conflict and we should have repaired the country's national
unity. This means national unity, not in the sense of the unity of tribes
as is often construed, but our ability and willingness to make maximum use
of all the capacities available in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, however, we
have not been able to make good use of all our national capacities becau
se of rampant factionalism where we categorize each other with all sorts
of labels and political agendas. Factionalism breeds exclusivity; hence,
when a particular faction attains power, it tends to exclude members of
other factions no matter how capable they might be. Such practices
undermine and reduce our capacities and the result is that we are heavily
dependent on NGOs.
To date, over $1.2 billion in international assistance has been spent on
what is called capacity building, but I do not know what the results have
been. The fact is that we do have capacities and we have a lot of talented
people in our nation, but these capacities are not being used. As for the
president's visits to foreign countries, I was also among those who
accompanied the president to China as well as to other countries
previously. The president readily delivered a speech outlining the
national needs. However, what is needed is that, before the president's
foreign visits, we should have specialist teams to study the capacities
and potential benefits in foreign countries that the president visits.
(Announcer) Well, you are saying that preparations were not made in
anticipation of the visit, but it is said that Japan has announced $5
billion in new assistance to Afghanistan. How can we not welcome this?
(Hafezi) There are two separate issues here; one is the international
community's goodwill toward us, and the other is the question of whether
or not we have the capacity to sufficiently benefit from the international
community's goodwill. Over the past nine years, the international
community has exercised very favorable policies and been very generous
toward Afghanistan. The international community has given over $51 billion
in assistance to Afghanistan over the past nine years. Now the question is
how we should channel the international community's assistance. Japan is
among the countries with the highest amount of assistance to Afghanist an.
In the past, they were interested in building schools, but it seems that
now they are also interested in the energy sector and road building. I
must say that what has happened over the past nine years in terms of
development in Afghanistan has been unprecedented in the country's
history. I do not even agree with the use of the term reconstruction with
respect to Afghanistan, because we did not have much that we could
reconstruct in the past. We started from below zero level. Nevertheless,
we have made progress over the past many years and this progress is
because of the fact that the Afghans are talented and adaptable.
(Announcer) The president's visit to Japan is said to be of historic
significance. Moreover, it is said that the Afghan delegation also
elaborated about the Afghan Government's programs during the visit. Can
you please tell us what it all means? Manalay
(Manalay) The president's visit to Japan and to the United States had many
importan t aspects. An important aspect of the president's visit to the
United States was its political significance. The president was very well
received in the United States. This shows that Afghanistan has found its
place at an international level now and foreign countries are respecting
Afghanistan, no matter what the domestic political wrangling might be in
the country. As for the economic significance of the president's visit to
Japan, the latter has broadened the area of its assistance to Afghanistan.
In the past, Japan was interested in school building in Afghanistan. As a
result of the president's visit, Japan has committed to help Afghanistan
in road building. As we know, Afghanistan is a landlocked country and the
ring road that connects Afghanistan to the neighboring countries is very
important for the country's economic self-sufficiency. During his visit to
Japan, the president also mentioned that Afghanistan would give investment
priority to Japan as a leading d onor country to Afghanistan. Although, as
Mr Hafezi said, the details of this policy are not clear yet, in general
the policy gives investment priority to countries that are providing
assistance to Afghanistan. This means that now we select our own
customers, rather than letting our economic policies be dictated by
foreign power rivalries. Such policies will help Afghanistan move toward
economic self-sufficiency in the future.
(Announcer) As Mr Hafezi said, the available capacities in Afghanistan
have not been thoroughly studied in the past. On the other hand, during
the president's visit, Japan announced $5 billion of assistance to
Afghanistan over the course o f the next five years. As a member of the
finance commission of the lower house of parliament, how do you see the
prospects of such a significant assistance being spent in Afghanistan?
Will there be any improvement in how this assistance is spent in the
country? Nili
(Nili) (passage omitted on ope ning pleasantries)
Over the past many years, Afghanistan has fortunately enjoyed an
unprecedented status at an international level. If we look at the history
of Afghanistan, the country has never received so much international
assistance that it has in the past nine years. Afghanistan has been so
fortunate in the past many years that even countries with acrimonious
relations between themselves tend to have common views on Afghanistan. We
should be grateful to the international community for their assistance to
Afghanistan. Afghanistan's development budget is entirely dependent on
foreign assistance. Even our normal budget is also dependent on foreign
assistance; over 40% of the government's normal budget comes from the
international assistance. Unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that we
have not been able to provide even for our normal budget. However, the
important point is as to how best the international assistance is used in
the country. Unfortunately, we have not been able to make the best use of
the international assistance available to us. The parliament discusses and
approves the normal and development budgets every year. Unfortunately, the
development budget recently sent for parliamentary approval shows a
reduction in development expenditure. Similarly, the government has not
been able to spend its normal budget fully. On average, I do not think
that the government was able to spend more than 45% of its normal budget
last year. These facts and figures indicate that the government does not
have the capacity to make best use of the international assistance
available to Afghanistan.
Ironically, however, significant funds are allocated for capacity building
every year. The recent budget also had an allocation for capacity
building, but the lawmakers had a lot of reservations saying that,
although significant funds have been sought and allocated toward capacity
building over the past many years, there was lit tle evidence that the
government has improved its capacity. The reduction in the development
budget and the inability of the government to spend its normal budget in
full point to low capacity in the government. Unfortunately, the
international community has also reduced its development assistance to
Afghanistan. The reduction of the international community's development
assistance to Afghanistan serves as a warning bell to us that we should
enhance our capacity. I hope that we will be able to enhance our
capacities and make best use of the international assistance available to
us.
(Announcer) Various foreign countries have given certain commitments to
Afghanistan, but how can Afghanistan enhance its capacities?
(Nili) Well, part of the problem might be the lack of qualified human
resources. Here, I am not saying that there are no professionally
qualified personnel at the ministries. There are professionally qualified
officials in various ministries, but there are questions about their
commitment to Afghanistan. Oftentimes, ministers who have lost their
ministerial positions have tended to return to the foreign countries from
where they had come. Hence, there is a lack of commitment to the interests
of Afghanistan. The second problem is that the timing of the budget
approval process in the parliament is not helpful. The budget comes to
parliament during the spring, but I think it would be better if the budget
came to the parliament a few months before spring in early winter. This
would allow the parliament enough time to debate the budget without taking
up the spring, which is important for the government's activity. The third
problem is that the procurement laws are too cumbersome. I think the p
rocurement laws should be streamlined in order to expedite the process.
(Announcer) During the president's visit to Japan, the Japanese
authorities committed to continue their assistance to Afghanistan. They
have also made a commitment to increase the ratio of their assistance
channeled through the Afghan Government even beyond what was agreed in the
Paris Conference previously. Do you think that such foreign visits will
continue to bring about more positive results?
(Hafezi) Certainly, over time we have gained more experience, enhanced our
capacities, and reduced our shortcomings. However, we would have liked to
do much more than we have to date. Japan is the second-largest economy in
the world. Experience has shown that the Japanese assistance to
Afghanistan is spent in the most efficient way with the least amount of
waste and mismanagement. We should be grateful for the Japanese assistance
to Afghanistan. Japan, the United States, and European Union have been the
leading donors to Afghanistan for a long time. Now a question is asked as
to how best the international assistance to Afghanistan can be spent,
whether through the NGOs, through the government on infrastructural
development, or a mix of the government and the NGOs as has been the case
in the past many years.
The challenge is to ensure that the bulk of the international assistance
is actually spent on the projects rather than wasted in overhead
administrative costs and corruption. As Mr Nili mentioned, the procurement
law is one of the problems. Another problem, as I said earlier, is the
fact that we always tend to trail behind the events. For example, the last
budget was approved by the parliament nearly three months past the
beginning of the financial year. Finally, they compromised in the national
interests of Afghanistan and passed the budget. In order to avoid a repeat
of the situation in the future, I suggest that, before the budget is sent
officially to the parliament, arrangements should be made to make the
major allocations available to the public through the media so that the
public can have an input into the process and the parliamentarians will
deliberate uno fficially about it. As for the official presentation of the
budget to the parliament, the Ministry of Finance may find it difficult to
do it in early winter because Afghanistan is an aid-dependent country.
Without the timely allocation of international assistance to Afghanistan,
the Finance Ministry may not be able to finalize the budget.
As far the Afghan leadership's international visits are concerned, I think
they have been very beneficial. The president's visit to America helped
quell misunderstandings with the international community. His visits to
Japan, China, and his participation in the London Conference were all
useful. Soon there will be another international conference in Kabul. I
suggest that the Ministry of Finance and the finance commission of the
lower house of the parliament come up with a comprehensive and attractive
proposal that encourages further international assistance to Afghanistan.
The Afghan Constitution provides for a market economy in Afghanistan. The
market economy needs certain scruples and conditions in order to succeed,
but we have not been able to meet those conditions and principles in
Afghanistan to date.
It is true that Afghanistan's mineral resources are of great importance to
the country's economy. During his visit, the president said that, as a
leading donor country to Afghanistan, Japan will be given precedence to
invest in Afghanistan's mining sector. I would like to urge the president
and the government to create incentives for the expatriate Afghan private
sector to invest in the development of the country's economic
infrastructure. My question is as to what incentives the government is
willing to offer in order to attract investment from the expa triate
Afghan community in the development of the country's economic
infrastructure such as the creation of a national oil industry or the
creation of a national steel industry. Is the government willing to offer
investment incentiv es to the Afghan private sector, or will it continue
with the practice of treating favorably the foreign companies that merely
produce good proposals and employ good consultants.
(Announcer) Over the past nine years, there have been many national and
international conferences on Afghanistan. However, for the first time, the
forthcoming conference in Kabul will be hosted by the United Nations. Why
is the United Nations hosting this conference?
(Hafezi) You may recall that the first international donors conference on
Afghanistan was held in Tokyo. Recently, Tokyo was once again host to
President Hamid Karzai. In the past, Afghanistan did not have sufficient
infrastructure and the facilities to convene conferences within the
country. However, in the course of the past nine years, the facilities for
holding international conferences have been developed in Afghanistan. I
remember that initially the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul did not even
have water for wa shing, but now we have a number of hotels including five
star and four star hotels to host conference participants. Similarly, we
also have the transport capabilities to hold such events in country. The
fact that the forthcoming conference is going to be held in Kabul
indicates that the international community has come round to recognize our
capacities, which is good for the country. It also indicates that the
international community is not concerned about security threats and they
are confident that the conference can be held in safety. Holding the
conference in Afghanistan has many advantages. Normally, the size of
Afghan delegations to international conferences on Afghanistan held
outside the country had to be relatively small, often not exceeding 60
participants. In fact, it would be difficult to transport more than 60
people to conferences outside the country. The forthcoming conference in
Kabul does not suffer from such constraints. The Afghan participants to t
he conference can be more numerous. Similarly, while in Kabul the
international participants to the conference would find it very easy to
get in touch with Afghan officials in the government.
(Announcer) As media adviser to the Ministry of Finance, what can you tell
us about preparations for the Kabul conference?
(Manalay) The forthcoming Kabul conference is different from the other
international conferences on Afghanistan over the past nine years. First,
the Kabul conference has been called by Afghans. Second, the Afghans do
not intend to call for international assistance in the Kabul conference.
In the previous international conferences, foreign donors made financial
commitments toward the reconstruction of Afghanistan. In the Kabul
conference, the Afghans will give a commitment to the international
community that we will spend the international assistance efficiently.
Similarly, the Afghan Government will show in the Kabul conference that it
has brought certain changes in its approach to economic management. In the
past, the reconstruction activities were based on projects where projects
were identified and implemented in a haphazard way without much certainty
about their success or failure. Now the reconstruction process is based on
programs, meaning that the projects are interrelated. For example, a water
management project in a village will also entail energy generation,
agriculture, environmental considerations, road and infrastructure
building projects. This is a new development in Afghanistan, for which the
Afghan Government has rearranged its organizational structure.
In accordance with the new arrangement, the entire government apparatus
has been divided into five circles (sections). Government ministries are
part of the circles in accordance with their fields of activity. In the
economic field we have three circles, the first one being the
reconstruction and development of economic infrastructu re. This circle
includes the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Commerce and Industries,
Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and
Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock.
The second circle within the economic field pertains to the reconstruction
and development of rural agriculture. This circle includes the Ministry of
Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, the Ministry of Energy and Water,
the Department of Local Governance, and the Ministry of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development. The third circle in the economic field
pertains to the development of human resources in the country, which
includes the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry
of Women's Affairs, and the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs. Hence, we
take a comprehensive look at the country's economy and the international
assistance. Where we have a development proposal, it will include all
aspects of development, such as agricultu re, water management, rural
rehabilitation and development, and roads, in a given area. Such an
approach will make us more effective.
As for the question of why we are doing things in this way now and not
before, I must say that previously we did not have enough capacity to
undertake and implement such comprehensive programs. Fortunately, we have
developed our capacities over the past nine years, and now we are able to
undertake such programs. The second reason as to why we were not able to
implement comprehensive programs was that in the past we were not thinking
about our own economy ourselves; rather, we used to implement
prescriptions given to us by others. Now, we have acquired the capacity to
put forth our own prescriptions and make the international community
accept them.
(Announcer) On what basis you are saying that we have acquired such
capacity now?
(Manalay) Well, a lot of our cadres have learned through experience over
the past nine years . The standard of our universities has risen
considerably compared to four or five years ago. Many other Afghan cadres
have been trained in foreign countries. Overall, Afghanistan's capacity
has risen in the course of the past many years. The other pleasant news is
that, in accordance with a recent assessment by the World Bank, over 80%
of the international assistance channeled through the Afghan Government is
actually spent in Afghanistan, whereas the ratio of funds spent in
Afghanistan by other organizations is only about 20% of the total funds
that they receive from the international donors. This is also proof that
the Afghan Government has acquired the capacity to manage international
assistance more efficiently. The government's capacity might not be at its
peak and there is still room for more improvement, but there is no doubt
that the government has enhanced its capacities. This means that we have
the capacity to take a fresh look at the country's economic dev elopment.
(Announcer) Are we fully prepared for the Kabul Conference?
(Manalay) We have made preparations for the Kabul Conference in the areas
of economic development and the management of international assistance.
Our preparations are over 80% complete. At present, several ministers,
deputy ministers, and senior government officials are in Herat
deliberating about the Kabul Conference. Similarly, we have made a lot of
progress in the areas of security and governance. The local governance
policy has been prepared, and it is a very comprehensive and beautiful
policy. We might have had problems and missed some opportunities in the
past, but most of the opportunities have been used rather diligently.
However, we have gained experience from the past which is helping us
perform better now.
(Announcer) Mr Manalay said that the government is well-prepared to hold
the Kabul conference on 20 July, but the fact is that over the past nine
years the internati onal donor community has provided o ver $62 billion
toward Afghanistan's reconstruction, of which only about 20% has been
channeled through the government and the rest has been spent through other
organizations. Are there any prospects that the Kabul Conference will
remedy the situation in accordance with the wishes of the people of
Afghanistan?
(Nili) I think it is very important that an international conference is
going to be held in Afghanistan for the first time. It is important to the
international community. Having provided enormous financial assistance and
deployed troops to Afghanistan, the international community expects to
have the right answers for their people. Certainly, the Kabul Conference
is very important to the international community because it proves that
Afghanistan has come so far through the past nine years that it is capable
of convening such an international conference inside the country.
Similarly, the Kabul Conference is important to th e United Nations and
also to Afghanistan because it will have a positive psychological impact
on the people of Afghanistan by virtue of the fact that representatives of
the international community demonstrate their confidence to come to
Afghanistan and consult with government officials in the country. These
are some of the factors that make the Kabul Conference very important and
we all should acknowledge the importance of holding the conference in
Kabul.
However, on another note, there is a huge gap between what is announced in
terms of international financial commitment to Afghanistan and what
actually takes place in the country. The situation with the low percentage
of international financial assistance being channeled through the Afghan
Government is unacceptable. One of the main problems that we often
encounter in the parliament with respect to the budget is that most of the
budget is beyond the control of the Afghan Government. We are
representatives of the people and the public have certain expectations of
us to ensure that their problems are addressed in the budget. However, as
soon as we try to introduce any changes to the budget, we are told that
the relevant parts of the budget are beyond the control of the government
and they cannot be changed. We do appreciate the government's compulsion
in this respect, but the point here is that there is a huge gap between
what the international community says and what changes and developments
really take place in Afghanistan. At any rate, what is important here is
that the government makes the necessary preparations to make sure that
both the government and the people benefit from this opportunity.
(Announcer) The fact is that the government did make the necessary
preparations and made its presentations in previous international
conferences. However, there are still problems and challenges. Are there
any chances that Kabul Conference will improve the coordination?
( Nili) I think every international conference has its positive points.
The fact that the forthcoming conference is going to be held in Kabul is a
positive point in itself.
(Announcer) Should we suffice with the mere fact that the conference is
going to be held in Kabul?
(Nili) No, we should aim to achieve results from the conference. As Mr
Manalay said, the government wants to show its accountability to the
international community.
(Announcer) Look, there have been previous conferences as well, such as
the Paris Conference, London Conference, Tokyo Conference, and so on.
However, the people expect more than this. (Words indistinct), but how do
you assess this?
(Nili) As I mentioned, there is a huge gap between what is said in terms
of international assistance to Afghanistan and what actually takes place
in terms of change and development in the country. The situation has
reached the point where members of the international community themselves
are criticizing it and questioning the soundness of effectively returning
over 70% of the international assistance to donor countries. This has
disappointed our peop le and the government. The Afghan Government and the
parliament have a responsibility to make sure that the international
assistance is spent in the most efficient way in the country.
(Announcer) Does that meaning that there should be a new framework?
(Nili) Yes, but I think unfortunately we do not have such a new framework.
Ask me why and I will tell you that, for example, we are the
representatives of the people of Afghanistan in the parliament. The
parliament directly represents the people of Afghanistan. I am a member of
the parliament's economic and financial commission, but we have not been
consulted about the details of the Kabul Conference, nor have we received
any drafts of the proposals that the government is going to present in the
Kabul Conference.
(Announcer) Does that mea n that none of the proposals that Mr Manalay
mentioned earlier have been sent to the parliament?
(Nili) That is true. None of these proposals have been sent to us, nor did
the government consult with us about the London Conference earlier. After
all, the parliament represents the people, and is part of the state as a
whole. It wants to facilitate public participation in such initiatives.
Unfortunately, however, the government still suffers from this weakness of
avoiding consultations with the parliament for reasons that elude my
understanding.
(Announcer) Two issues might be pertinent to the Kabul Conference; first,
the capacity to spend international assistance efficiently, and second,
the issue of corruption, which is always present in discussions. How can
the Kabul Conference create public confidence?
(passages indistinct to end of program)
(Description of Source: Kabul National TV Afghanistan in Dari and Pashto
-- State-run television)
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.
73) Back to Top
JI Chief Says Pakistan Signed Afghan Transit Trade Treaty Under US
Pressure
Recorder report: Water dispute emerged due to Indian water aggression:
Jamaat-e-Islami - Business Recorder Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:33:19 GMT
LAHORE (July 29 2010): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Chief Syed Munawar Hassan
claimed here on Wednesday that water dispute between the provinces of
Pakistan has emerged due to Indian water aggression against Pakistan.
India has constructed 62 dams over rivers violating the international
agreements but unfortunately Pakistani foreign Minister and Indus Water
Commissioner were advocating India instead of raising this issue at
international level in favour of Pakistan, alleged Munawar while talking
to media after attending an 'All Pakistan Growers Convention' arranged by
the Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) at Mansoora. Regarding Pak-Afghan Transit
Trade agreement, he said it was signed under US pressure and Hillary
Clinton visited Pakistan to get this deal struck. He was of the view that
this should be debated in the parliament. The JI Chief also said that
Pakistan should not go for composite dialogue under US pressure. He said
Kashmir and water were the real issues and this should be included in the
agenda of talks. Regarding target killing in Karachi, he termed it a fight
between land mafia and Qabza group. He said both the parties present in
the government were holding responsible each other for it. He said that
MQM had occupied various flats and lands to set up its party offices. He
demanded invest igation in to May 12 incident, to ensure peace in Karachi.
Munawar also alleged that Maulana Fazal ur Rehman had assured President
Asif Ali Zardari that he would not let MMA revived, which had exposed its
real face. Earlier addressing the convention, the JI Chief called for
uniting all segments of the society including growers and workers to
launch an organised movement for changing the existing system, which
according to him only promotes corruption and injustice. 'Pakistan has all
the resources and most hard working human resource in the world but the
existing system is not delivering properly as it only promotes the
usurpers and looters,' Munawar said. He said that existing system only
make rich people richer and add to the miseries of the poor. He said a few
thousand people were enjoying all the available resources of the country
and to change the situation, all segments of the society have to support
those parties and leadership, which wanted to change the existing syst em.
KBP President Sardar Zafar Hussein speaking on this occasion said that
this gathering of farmers demand that sugar millers should be asked to
issue cheques to the sugarcane growers in future instead of CPR, so in
case of non-payment farmers could adopt some legal course of action. He
also urged the government to take steps for ensuring water supply to the
farmers in Cholistan and other areas of the province. He said that
government should also ensure printing of price on the bags of fertilisers
so as the growers could know the real price and avoid over-charging.
(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder.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.
74) Back to Top
US Plan of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in FATA Full of Flaws
Report by Hamid Waleed: Absence of facilities makes proposed ROZs
imperfect - Business Recorder Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:33:23 GMT
LAHORE (July 29 2010): Exclusion of critical products from this duty-free
eligibility, high cost and long shipment hours to US market and absence of
higher levels of infrastructure and security are making proposed
Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA) full of flaws. Expressing deep concerns over these flaws,
textile circles feared that these tangible flaws would fail the US plans
to help build Pakistan's domestic industry, create employment
opportunities, and provide sustainable development. Further, it would also
demonstra te to Pakistanis that the US is not serious about its long-term
engagement with Pakistan and the region, added these circles. It may be
noted that the current legislation pending before Congress seeks to create
trade preference zones in Pakistan's conflict ridden and destitute
Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) to ensure jobs and long-term
prosperity in a region widely regarded as an al Qa`ida safe haven. It is a
noble idea, but is flawed for three critical reasons. Textile circles
pointed out that despite that fact that the ROZs relating bill aims to
spur textile and apparel production in FATA, it excludes critical products
from this duty-free eligibility, namely cotton knit tops and cotton
trousers. These products, they said, make up 25 percent of the total value
of US imports from Pakistan. Exclusion of these products is an obvious
disincentive for new investment in apparel in Pakistan's border regions,
they added. Secondly, they said, a quick turnaround time on orders and not
lower cost enables Pakistan to compete against regional competitors like
China and India in the US market. A geographically isolated area like FATA
with long distance from ports and the cotton producing regions of Pakistan
with weak transportation links would cost more and take longer to reach
the US market, eliminating Pakistan's comparative advantage. Also, added
textile sources, prospects for a successful ROZ are limited given that the
FATA region remains embroiled in conflict and any further expenditure in
the region would strain an already fragile government budget. Meanwhile,
the textile circles are also advocating that no benefit can be accrued
unless a reduction to the US tariff on textile exports from ROZs is put in
place. According to these circles, abolition of current 8.1 percent
average tariff on towels, sheets, comforters and curtains is a must to
benefit from proposed ROZs.
(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in Engli sh --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder.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.
75) Back to Top
ROK Column Says 'Real Aftermath of Ch'o'nan Incident Has Only Just Begun'
"Viewpoint" column by Oh Young-hwan, editor of foreign and security
affairs at the JoongAng Ilbo: "Tough Diplomacy or Regime Change?" -
JoongAng Daily Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:05:55 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English -- Website
of English-language daily which provides English-language summaries and
full-tex ts 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.
76) Back to Top
Russias Energy Cooperation With Iran Comes at 'Wrong Time'
Commentary by Vladimir Radyuhin: The Russian-Iranian Road Map - The
Hindu Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:38:48 GMT
The mixed signals on Iran that Russia has been sending in recent days have
puzzled many western analysts. A little over a month after it went along
wit h the United States in supporting tougher sanctions on Iran, Moscow
signed a framework pact on wide-ranging cooperation with Tehran in
hydrocarbons and announced a similar plan for nuclear energy projects.A
road map for long-term cooperation in oil, gas and petrochemicals that
Russia and Iran signed last week calls for interaction and partnership in
transportation, swaps and marketing of natural gas, as well as sales of
petroleum products and petrochemicals, according to the Russian Energy
Ministry. Russia will help Iran set up a $100 million LNG plant to supply
the natural gas to 8,000 settlements in remote regions of Iran. The two
sides agreed to negotiate concrete projects in the energy field before the
end of the year. They will also look into setting up a joint bank to
finance projects in hydrocarbons and to evolve mechanisms to use the
respective national currencies in bilateral deals.In another zigzag move,
Russia apparently helped set up and strongly backed a Turkey- Brazil
brokered deal with Iran in mid-May to swap Iranian low-enriched uranium
for higher enriched fuel for use in medical reactors. A little later,
however, Moscow threw its weight behind the Washington-championed United
Nations sanctions.Russia's Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said last week
that he saw "practically no limits" to cooperation with Iran in the energy
field. "No sanctions will hinder our cooperation in hydrocarbons. It does
not contradict either the U.N. Security Council sanctions or international
law," he said after signing the road map document on Wednesday with
Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi. He also said the two sides had
agreed to draft road maps for cooperation in the fields of nuclear energy
and conventional electricity generation as well. Russian companies were
"ready to supply oil products to Iran without any doubt," provided the
commercial terms were attractive.The sanctions that were voted on on June
9 do not b an the kind of projects Russia and Iran agreed to launch under
the road map, but they fly in the face of additional unilateral penalties
the U.S. and the European Union slapped on Iran. U.S. laws punish any
company that exports refined oil products to Iran.Russian officials have
stated several times that they disapproved of the unilateral sanctions,
but two weeks ago Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev did not rule out
further U.N. sanctions if a CIA report claiming that Iran may have enough
fuel for two nuclear weapons proved correct. Mr. Medvedev said he was
alarmed by the report.Two weeks ago, Mr. Medvedev warned for the first
time that Iran was moving closer to acquiring the "potential to build
nuclear weapons." The same week, he urged Iran to explain the "military
components" of its nuclear programme. On the same day, a top Russian
defence industry official, however, said a contract to supply S-300 air
defence missiles to Iran, which the U.S. and Isra el vehemently objected
to, had not been cancelled even though Moscow conceded that the deal fell
under the sanctions regime.U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates termed
Russia's policy on Iran "schizophrenic" because Moscow viewed Tehran as a
security threat and, at the same time, pursued commercial deals with the
country. "The Kremlin appears once again to be playing both sides;"
"Moscow is trying to sit on two chairs;" "Russia and China go back and
forth between Iran and the West" -- these are some of the typical comments
in the western media. The West's frustration seems to come from the
expectation that after it signed on to new sanctions against Iran, Russia
would toe the U.S. line as part of the ongoing resetting process in
U.S.-Russian ties.Russia 's vote for the sanctions last month was, in
part, an act of balancing its improved relations with the U.S. against its
interest of closer ties with Tehran. A Russian veto would have mad e
President Barack Obama extremely vulnerable to opposition attacks in
Congress for hitting the "reset" button with Moscow. Russia also felt the
new censure of Iran could serve a useful purpose in prodding Tehran to
open up more of its nuclear programme.Moscow has repeatedly said it is in
a very different position vis-a-vis Iran, compared with the U.S. "Let's
face the truth: the United States has no cooperation with Iran and has
nothing to lose. Iran is not your partner," Mr. Medvedev said in an
interview to U.S. journalists last month.Iran is an important partner of
Russia on security issues in Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Caucasus and
the Caspian. Russia is Iran's main source for arms and technology. In the
past 15 years, Russia has supplied Iran with combat aircraft, helicopters,
diesel submarines, tanks and air defence systems. The Bushehr nuclear
plant in Russia that is preparing to start up later this year may be the
first of a number of nuclear p ower projects that Iran plans to build with
Russian help.The two countries, which hold about 20 per cent of the global
oil reserves and 42 per cent of natural gas between them, have been
steadily expanding cooperation in the energy field. They were the
principal movers behind the establishment two years ago of the 11-member
Gas Exporting Countries Forum, dubbed the "Gas OPEC." Russia's natural gas
monopoly, Gazprom, has offered technical support and indicated its
willingness to help finance a planned gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan
and India (IPI).Russia's biggest private oil major LukOil pulled out from
the Anaran project in Iran and halted gasoline deliveries to that country
in April in order to safeguard its investments in the U.S. However,
Russia's state-owned companies which have no business going in the U.S.
have not severed ties with Iran. Late last year, Gazpromneft, an oil
subsidiary of Gazprom, signed an agreement with the National Iranian Oil
Company (NIOC) to jointly develop two oilfields in Iran. Gazprom also has
an agreement with the NIOC to develop the South Pars gas field and build
an oil refinery in Iran.That said, the Russian-Iranian energy road map has
seemingly come at the wrong time as it could conceivably jeopardise the
Kremlin's plans to extend the "reset" in relations with the U.S. to the
sphere of high technologies. In a keynote speech to Russian ambassadors
earlier this month, Mr. Medvedev called for building "modernisation
alliances" with Europe and the U.S. to facilitate the economic
modernisation of Russia.Moscow, however, appears confident that its pledge
of energy cooperation with Iran would not derail the new partnership with
the West. It is of course in Washington's interests for Moscow to maintain
ties with Iran as it gives a lever of influence on Teheran and provides a
back channel for communication with its leadership. But the massive
projects outlined in the Russian-Iranian r oad map go far beyond the
tactical needs of keeping Tehran engaged.The Kremlin appears to have taken
quite seriously Mr. Obama's election promise of solving the Iranian
problem through a bold outreach to Tehran. The past 18 months of intensive
contacts with Mr. Obama have also convinced Mr. Medvedev that the new U.S.
President may be more open to Russia's arguments on Iran than his
predecessor was. "He is a thinker, he thinks when he speaks," and "tries
to listen to his partner," Mr. Medvedev famously said in an interview this
year.The Russian President has been urging his American counterpart to
adopt a new approach to Iran by creating "a system of incentives" for Iran
to give up its nuclear ambitions. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
said in an interview this year that any settlement of the Iranian nuclear
problem must include full-fledged security guarantees to Iran and its
broad involvement in all region a l issues. "The previous U.S.
administration was reluctant to give such promises to Iran... but I think
now a solution will be found," Mr. Lavrov told the Echo of Moscow radio
station in February.At the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review
conference in May, the five permanent U.N. Security Council members issued
a statement in support of making the Middle East a nuclear weapons-free
zone, which would ultimately force Israel to scrap its atomic arms. This
could be a signal that the Obama administration is taking a broader view
of the problem of Iran's nuclear programme.However, the unilateral U.S.
sanctions on Iran that go far beyond the U.N. penalties do not suggest any
new thinking in the White House. Unless of course it is a manoeuvre to
silence Mr. Obama's critics at home and jockey for position before
launching a new dialogue with Iran.If the Russian leadership's calculus is
correct, it will be a win-win situation for Moscow. If, however, it is
wrong about Mr. Obama, Russia will face a painful choice between
backtracking on its promises to Iran -- for a third time after repeatedly
postponing the start-up of the Bushehr nuclear plant and freezing the
S-300 contract -- and risking its "reset" with the U.S.
(Description of Source: Chennai The Hindu Online in English -- Website of
the most influential English daily of southern India. Strong focus on
South Indian issues. It has abandoned its neutral editorial and reportage
policy in the recent few years after its editor, N Ram, a Left party
member, fell out with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and has
become anti-BJP, pro-Left, and anti-US with perceptible bias in favor of
China in its write-ups. Gives good coverage to Left parties and has
reputation of publishing well-researched editorials and commentaries; URL:
www.hindu.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inqu iries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
77) Back to Top
Yeni Ozgur Politika Headlines17 July 2010
The following is a list of news headlines from the Yeni Ozgur Politika
website on 17 July; 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
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:43:35 GMT
KCK (Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan): You Will Not Be Able to
Extract Yourself from This! - The KCK stated that with the exposure of the
fake overture policy it has now become evident that the AKP (Justice and
Development Party) and Turkish state have decided on a unilateral war and
said: "They are reinstating the Ciller era policies."
BDP (Peace an d Democracy Party): "This Is What Was Expected of You" - We
refer you first to the people, then to God. You are going to have to
explain yourself for this, both in this world and in the next."
Boycott Campaign From BDP - Today, the BDP, which has decided to boycott
the referendum on the constitutional change package, is launching a major
campaign. Saying "we want a democratic constitution and will will not be
going to the polls," the BDP will be holding central rallies in the cities
of Amed (Diyarbakir), Wan (Van), Istanbul, Izmir and Adana.
Assassination Announcement From HPG (People`s Defense Forces) - The HPG
has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Gendarmarie Specialist
Sergeant Yasin Ak that took place in Gever (Yuksekova). Eight soldiers
were also killed in the guerilla attack on a van that was transporting
soldiers in Eleziz (Elezig).
Hotel Fire: 40 Deaths - 40 people died and more than 20 people were
injured in a fire that broke out during the night in a hotel in
Al-Sulaymaniyah in South Kurdistan two days ago.
400 NGOs Will Say "Stop the War" - As non-governmental organizations
continue to issue statements regarding the surge in armed confrontations
and military operations, it has now been learned that all of the NGOs of
the region are going to gather and make a plea for peace.
PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) Member Abdullah: "This is Hostility" -
Saying that the bombing carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces on the
Federal Kurdistan Region had caused damages to the civilian population,
author Arez Abdullah, a Politbureau member of the PUK, said, `We consider
Turkey's attacks to be an act of hostility."
Musle'man (Muslim) Erdogan- When the Mushriks (Pagans) who opposed the
Muslim prophet were killed in battle, their killers vented their anger on
them by cutting off their noses and ears and splitting their bodies open.
This trad ition was termed Musle. Yesterday the Turkish prime minister
defended this tradition, drawing the ire of the Kurds.
Third Death - The father of Ercan Yesilkaya, the soldier from Mus who
allegedly committed suicide, said his son was killed "because he is a
Kurd." This is the third suspicious death of a soldier originating from
Hosgeldi Village.
Gate to Conscience - In his film Berf (Snow),director Erol Mintas relates
the proud silence of a mother who was not allowed to retrieve the body of
her son, who was killed as a guerrilla.
Pilgrimage to Ehmede Xani - The importance of Ehmede Xani as a moral value
for Kurds is making itself felt more each day. Rather important studies
have been carried out on this moral value and will continue to be carried
out in the future.
Book Yildizlarin Yolculari (Passengers of the Stars) - Yildizlarin
Yolculari, the first volume of a three-part novel written by Nurettin
Aslan has now been published. While th e book tells the story of Ibrahim
Kaypakkaya, slices of the lives of such important youthful leaders of the
'68 generation as Mahir Cayan, Deniz Gezmis, and Sinan Cemgil are also
touched upon and their influence on the people described.
Documentary on Sacred Sites Screened - Sacred sites that were submerged
under the waters of the Seyrantepe and Uzuncayir dams in Dersim (Tunceli)
are the subjects of a documentary film entitled Gole Chetu-Hizir Mekani
(Chetu Lake- Place of Hizir).
Germany Says "Yes" to UNCRC - Germany has now approved the articles of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on which it had originally cited
reservations. According to the new articles, the upper age limit for
accepting refugees as children has been raised from 16 to 18 years.
According to this, all refugees under the age of 18 are officially
recognized as children.
Torture, Rape, and Death! - A woman known as NB, who was arrested in Iran
on allegations of being a member of the PJAK (Free Life Party of
Kurdistan), described her fear-filled days in prison.
Breath With Artificial Lungs - American researchers have succeeded in
getting mice to breathe for six hours with "simple" artificial lungs.
Ticks Kills 20 in Seven Months - Saying that the Department of Health,
which has not yet produced a vaccine, cannot halt the deaths caused by
ticks, SES (Union of Health Workers) Chairperson Bedriye Yorgun said that
the policies guiding health services should prioritize preventive health
care.
Oil Leak Stopped Temporarily - The latest efforts undertaken by BP have
succeeded in capping the seafloor oil well that caused such a huge
environmental disaster. Whether or not the system works will become clear
after a 48-hour testing period.
Hundred-Year-Old Grandmother Searches for Her Family`s Bones - The only
wish of Hanim Dogru, who for 72 years has been bearing the pain of
suffering in her heart, is that hist ory demand answers to the massacre
carried out on the Kurds, and that the remains of her family be located.
Germany Blocks EU Refugee Law - Some EU countries are acting to block the
EU Commission's plans to harmonize the laws governing refugees. Germany
wants to preserve its own policies on refugee matters.
Will Israel Relinquish Control to HAMAS? - Israeli Foreign Minister
Avigdor Liebermann said that control over the Gaza Strip may be
transferred to HAMAS.
War Criminal Suspect To Be Released - The first session heard in Holland's
International Criminal Court of The Hague proved unsuccessful. The court
decided to release Congo militia leader Thomas Lubanga, who is being tried
for war crimes, while he awaits trial.
Village Guards in Action in Afghanistan - Afghanistan President Hamid
Karzai has bowed to the pressures being brought to bear by the US and is
permitting a village guard system to be established to oppose the Taliban.
This development i s stirring the Afghani peoples' bad memories of the
1980s. Kurdish News:
Kurds Want New Constitution - According to a public survey regarding the
referendum carried out among 667 people in Amed, 39.8% of those surveyed
said 'yes' to the referendum, while 38.1% said 'No.'
Annihilation Only Objective of Government - Kurdish People's Leader
Abdullah Ocalan said that even though he had published a three-step peace
plan, the state and the government have not taken any of those steps thus
far. The state views the solution to be total destruction, and the
government is in the midst of preparations for a major operation.
Erdogan Speaks Only of War Preparations - While in a meeting he held with
AKP provincial chairmen, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke of the
necessity of dialogue with opposition parties, he also refused to meet
with the BDP because they had sent him photographs of the torture of HPG
members.
Nisebin (Nusaybin) Women Issue Criminal Complaint against Bakirci - Women
in Nisebin gathered in front of the Nizebin court house to issue a
criminal complaint against AKP Rize Mayor Halil Bakirci
In South Women Commit Suicide - Women in South Kurdistan are often the
victims of tradition. Five women committed suicide this week.
Unity of Democratic Forces is Necessary - Saying that those people who
affirm the constitutional package should not expect their support, BDP
Co-Chairperson Gultan Kisanak said that the path to a democratic
constitution will be paved if all democratic forces unite.
"We Do Everything Possible to Oppose the PKK" - Speaking in Washington,
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hosyar Zebari said that they have no information
about the 240-person list of PKK members that Turkey requested from the
Iraqi and American governments.
Eight Village Guards Lay Down Arms - Village guards in Sirnex (Sirnak) who
do not want to participate in operations have laid down their arms. In the
past two months, 168 village guards in the area have relinquished their
weapons. Now three days ago eight village guards in Qileban (Uludere) who
didn't want to go out on operations also laid down their arms.
Hotel Burns in Al-Sulaymaniyah: 40 Dead -Two nights ago 40 people were
killed and 21 more were injured in a hotel file in Al-Sulaymaniyah.
According to information received, two nights ago at 2245 hours local time
the Soma Hotel caught fire and 40 people lost their lives as a result.
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.
78) Back to Top
Arabic Daily Sees in Cameron's Remarks About Gaza Blockade Change in UK
Policy
Editorial: "Cameron and Awakening of Conscience& quot; - Al-Quds al-Arabi
Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 11:28:58 GMT
Cameron demanded an immediate end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip and
the passage of goods and humans in both directions without obstacles. This
is a new approach by the ruling coalition government in Britain which
angered Israel and satisfied the HAMAS movement's government which
controls the Strip. It signifies that a change has occurred in British
foreign policy dictated primarily by economic interests.
Britain, whose governments deferred in the past to the dictates of the
special relationship with the United States, has started to realize how
wrong it is to continue with this approach, especially after it became
embroiled in two losing and costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It
therefore decided to invest its foreign policy in serving its economic
interests and this explains its openness to rising regio nal and
international forces like India and Turkey and paying attention to the
money depository in the Arab Gulf region. It also explains David Cameron's
present tour that has included these countries. It was not a coincidence
that Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, was his first
stage of this tour. It is true that Cameron is looking for greater
cooperation from Turkey in the blockade imposed by the United States on
Iran and it is also true that he wants to slow down its rush toward the
Islamic east at the expense of its relations with Europe. But it is also
true that Cameron knows very well that Turley, which ranks 16 th in the
list of the strongest economies in the world, is a new market for Britain
and a rising great power that is wrong to ignore.
The Israeli anger is understandable. Britain has always been its strongest
ally and supporter of all its wars in region. Cameron's veiled
condemnation of the blockade of the Strip does not mean estr angement or a
change in these policies but is in any case a step in this direction.
The Western world has started to run out of patience with Israel and its
policies and feels it has become an economic, moral, and security burden
on it and therefore the countdown to get rid of it gradually has started.
Cameron is totally right when he talks about the Gaza Strip as a large
prison. We wish he had compared it to the Nazi detention camps and wish
more if he had condemned the Israeli war on the Strip and the war crimes
the Israelis committed during it, particularly the use of white
phosphorus. But the time when Israel carried out war crimes and the
blockade without being brought to account or facing objections has started
to recede, or so we believe.
Cameron's statements reveal an awakening in the Western conscience toward
a blockade that should not have been imposed or continue for four years
from which 2 million persons are suffering from the ugliest kinds of s
uffering as the civilized world stands watching. It might be a real
awakening that broadens further toward the greater tragedy, namely, the
tragedy of the Palestinians under the occupation, the continuing
settlement activity, the racist walls, and the isolation roadblocks.
(Description of Source: London Al-Quds al-Arabi Online in Arabic --
Website of London-based independent Arab nationalist daily with strong
anti-US bias. URL: http://www.alquds.co.uk/)
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.
79) Back to Top
Russian Narcotics Problem Attributed to U.S. Failure To Curb Afghan Heroin
Article by Yuriy Trofimov: "A Covering Force Against the Narcotics Threat"
- Delovoy Vt ornik Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 18:20:03 GMT
The Director of the RF Federal Service for Control Over the Trafficking of
Narcotics (FKSN), Viktor Ivanov, recently reported at a session of the
State Duma that the situation with drug addiction in the country has
reached a critical level. It affects around 30 million Russians directly
or indirectly; that is, practically every fifth resident of the country.
He noted that the narco-business makes enormous money from this human
calamity, which then circulates in the shadow economy and serves as a
basis for the financial support of terrorism and organized crime,
including in the North Caucasus and Central Asia.
Historically, Russia's population has never experienced a pathological
draw to narcotics. Therefore, one can claim that the current outbreak of
drug addiction in the country is specially heated up and provoked from
outside. Ch arlie Cogan, once the head of CIA operations in Afghanistan,
admits that back in the 1980s, U.S. special services viewed Afghan
narcotics as a means to deliver a blow on the USSR, as a unique
psychotropic weapon of mass destruction.
With the arrival of the Americans in Afghanistan, the production of
opiates in that country increased by 44 times, bringing more than $100
billion of annual income to the international narco-mafia. Hence the
heroine contagion has spread like cancerous metastasis in Russia through
Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
It is well known that citizens of the Central Asia republics to this day
enter the Russian Federation without foreign passports, but with so-called
"internal documents". This permits narcotics couriers to cross the borders
back and forth dozens of times a year with their lethal goods. They are
caught, but far from all of them and not always. In addition, the
extremely simplified procedure for obt aining RF citizenship has been in
effect for them since the 1990s. As a result, more than half of such
suitcase traders have Russian passports. The head of the FSKN, Viktor
Ivanov, said justifiably to the State Duma that we can no longer remain
hostage to decisions hastily made in the first years after the collapse of
the USSR -- above all the vague, incoherent administrative-regulatory
regimes for the state border. To be specific, it is time to stop the flow
of Afghan narcotics that are freely crossing Central Asia into Russia.
No country can cope with such a task by itself. Even Iran, which has
fenced itself off from Afghanistan with 5-meter deep ditches, set up
scaffolds there every 300 meters, and deployed 60 percent of its Ground
Troops to guard the border. Moscow would like to act in a more civilized
manner and certainly through joint efforts. For example, by enlisting the
military contingents of the United States and NATO located in Afghanistan
to eliminate pop py plantings. At the 52nd Session of the UN Commission on
Narcotic Drugs, which took place in the spring of 2010 in Vienna, the
Russian delegation suggested including the problem of narcotics production
in Afghanistan in the summary documents. The proposal was blocked by the
delegates of the United States and a number of European Union countries.
This can be understood because Afghan heroin has in reality American
protection. According to the UN report, the largest number of narcotics
are produced in the three provinces of Afghanistan where American troops
are stationed.
The concentration of American troops and the concentration of opium po ppy
plantations coincide strikingly. Should they wish, the Americans, who have
the corresponding experience since the times of the Vietnam War, could
accurately determine the location of the opium plantations from satellites
and then apply herbicides to these areas from unmanned aerial vehicles,
and solve the problem thoroug hly and finally in a short period of time.
Such a possibility exists, but there is no desire to end the
super-profitable narco-business that also has a definite political
orientation.
Russian special services -- State Narcotics-Trafficking Control, the FSB
(Federal Security Service), and the MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs) --
have more than once provided their American colleagues and official Afghan
authorities with accurate intelligence on Afghan laboratories where
narcotics are manufactured, on large heroin storage buildings, and on the
main traffic routes of narco-caravans. There has been no reaction to this.
The American military contingent basically counters trafficking in opiates
in the country's south, where it is impossible to set up large-scale
narcotics production because of constant military operations. However in
the north, where a minimum of 3,000 tons of ready heroin is lying in
storage caches alone, the Americans have built bridges and roads that
connect Afghanistan with Tajikistan and beyond and through Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan, and with Russia.
One should not count on any serious obstacles to the narcotics contagion
on this route. In Kyrgyzstan, the Narcotics Control Agency was eliminated
in the fall of 2009, although the republic long ago had been turned into a
gigantic laundry for laundering criminal finances from the entire world,
including the money of the narco-barons. The Kazakh government does not
keep a complete record of foreign citizens or persons without citizenship
who cross the border with the Russian Federation. Transport from the Asian
countries is not subject to inspection there. The enormous length of the
Russian-Kazakh border -- 7,600 km -- and its weak control infrastructure
allow Afghan narcotics to move across it into Russia practically without
obstacles. Can one hope for a change for the better after Kazakhstan
joined the Customs Union on 1 July of this year? Th e border has, in fact,
been finally opened!
It seems that Russia will have to count mainly on its own resources in the
struggle to save its population from the narcotics threat. In June 2010,
RF President Dmitriy Medvedev approved the Strategy of the State Narcotics
Policy of the Russian Federation Through 2020. This is the first document
of such a level in the newest Russian history to create a reliable legal
foundation for countering the narcotics threat.
* * * INCIDENTALLY A Russian diplomat became the head of the UN's Office
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
The new head of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime has experience on the
highest level and is very well-informed about the situation in the world
and the problems facing UN subunits. Such is the evaluation that UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave to Russian diplomat Yuriy Fedotov, who
was appointed to this post.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime was created in 1997. It is now the
leading int ernational agency in the field of narcotics control and crime
prevention. And that it should be headed by a Russian representative is in
the opinion of many observers only natural. For in recent times Russia has
become the unconditional leader in forming a broad, international
coalition against the narcotics threat coming from Afghanistan. More than
90 percent of the narcotics entering the world black market are produced
there.
Moreover, many criminal routes lie across the Central Asia countries and
Russian territory and have not only reached Europe, but also the United
States. Russia, together with the members of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (ODKB) is waging a constant and effective battle
against the spread of the Afgh an potion around the globe.
Tens of tons of narcotic substances and the means for their production
have been confiscated. But nevertheless, up to 75 tons of narcotics end up
in Russia every year. Around 30,000 person die from the ir use, and the
number of victims of drug addiction is also growing in Europe. In fact,
the covering force on the transit routes for Afghan narcotics could be
made stronger.
The ODKB countries have already more than once invited representatives of
the coalition of international forces located in Afghanistan to join the
joint antinarcotics operation Barrier. However, real steps to meet have
not yet followed. In addition, in the time of the presence of foreign
troops in Afghanistan, the production of narcotics there has grown ten
times.
Meanwhile the military from the United States and the NATO countries
continue to decline from a decisive struggle with the narcotics business
in Afghanistan territory. On this alarming background, the appointment of
a representative of Russia to the position of head of the UNODC acquires
special significance and opens up new possibilities, an expert and
chairman of the Advisory Council of the Institute of Demographics,
Migration, and Regional Development, Yuriy Krupnov, believes.
"The Russian Federation should make full use of this situation. First of
all, it is essential to seriously discuss the problems if Afghan narcotics
production anew on a world level, on the level of the UN. In August, the
Russian Federation will preside over the UN Security Council.
"I think that through the joint efforts of the chairman of the UN Security
Council and the newly-appointed director of UNODC, it will be possible to
move fundamentally the problem of Afghan narcotics production. It is
important that the world community recognize the real level of the threat.
"An appointment of this type could not have taken place without
consolidating all of the leading states of the world. Therefore, we see
the formation of a wide antinarcotics coalition, and we hope that Russia
will make full use of this opportunity," Yuriy Krupnov said.
The Afghan narcotics threat has become real for practically the entire
world. Therefore it is necessary to fight against this evil by uniting the
efforts of the international community. It is now important that Russia's
partners from the United States and other countries in the UN's
antinarcotics department find a common language as soon as possible by
working out a strategy and tactics for joint operations. This must be
done; otherwise, Afghan narcotics will continue to destroy and maim
people's futures.
(Description of Source: Moscow Delovoy Vtornik Online in Russian --
Website of weekly business supplement published in the Moscow paper
Russkiy Kuryer and 41 regional newspapers; URL: http://www.dvtornik.ru)
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.
80) Back to Top
Macedonian Commentary Rejects ICJ Kosovo Verdict as Result of US
'Pressure'
Commentary by Straso Angelovski: "Noose Around European States' Neck" -
Vreme
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:48:16 GMT
Serbia and Kosovo are irrelevant in this case, although, being our first
neighbors, they can easily trigger inconveniences and problems for the
Republic of Macedonia as well. They are irrelevant in the sense that no
one here in Macedonia must take sides, as the ethnic Albanian politicians
and analysts in Macedonia have already done. The Hague verdict must not be
a source of euphoria -- either for or against it, but it should be
interpreted merely in terms of the Republic of Macedonia's national and
state interests and in accordance with international law, which is still
in effect. If we bear this in mind, we can unfortunately reach only one
con clusion: the day when the Hague court reached its non-binding
decision, it initiated a process of the international community's
disintegration in the form that it has existed for 60 years now, that is,
as the guarantor of peace in Europe and the European states following WWII
through the existing international law. We may conclude that the Balkan
wars, which the United States imposed in the beginning of the 1990s, were
aimed precisely at the forceful change of the international order and
international law. I have been writing for years now that the United
States is slowly but steadily entering the bloody game that the world once
witnessed and that was called Hitler's fascist attempt to violently alter
the world order. Namely, the United States has begun the bloody
dismantling of the existing international order, guaranteed with documents
and institutions, such as the United Nations, in order to forcefully
destroy international law through the wars that it has initiated an d in
some of which it is taking part by bombarding European territory with
banned depleted uranium and with its aggressions on Iraq and Afghanistan.
The non-binding ruling that the United States imposed through the Hague
court with its pressure has thus put a noose around the neck of almost all
European states, thus jeopardizing their future and the future of united
Europe. It has put a noose around their neck and they are now merely
waiting to feel when the right time is to push the chair beneath their
feet. Namely, the already accepted principle of a violent secession of a
part of the territory of a sovereign state that is a UN member and the
redrawing of the guaranteed borders may be a fuse for such or similar
activities in a number of European states. The already accepted principle
of solving any kind of problems with the force of arms, rather than
through peaceful talks and agreements, will stir passions and incite the
justified desire to take up arms among a number of European minorities
that have been dreaming of an independent state for decades. Since
international law has once been violated, it will unfortunately no longer
be a guarantee for anyone's safety, territorial integrity, and adopted
sovereignty. As international law has once been violated with the cynicism
of the stronger, this will especially be dangerous for the small European
states, which have been building their sovereignty, security, and
inviolable borders precisely on this law. This is why we, here in
Macedonia, are witnessing the current events. We are being blackmailed to
change the state's name and lose our identity to make an alliance with
NATO, which would guarantee our safety and security. Instead of
international law and the voluntarily signed international documents
continuing to guarantee our security, we are being offered a militant and
military option as a guarantee for our security in the name of the new
world order. And naturally, if we rej ect it, we will experience Serbia's
fate, because NATO does not have the time to read the documents that
guarantee our sovereignty, independence, and inviolable borders. Besides,
it needs to spend the remaining reserves of depleted uranium.
I will risk being misinterpreted at this point, but I definitely believe
that the small states' future depends exclusively on the respect of law
and the legal order, rather than on taking "sides," regardless of how
powerful "the side" that we will rely on seems. The quisling governments
some 70 years ago, too, believed that the inclusion in the powerful
military alliance of Hitler's fascist Germany, which wanted a bloody
change of the international order, was the only solution for their safety.
Still, following the slaughterous wars, it was confirmed that the real
guarantee for all of them was not the sheer military power of fascist
Germany and the desire for a new world order, but international law, which
ha s been protecting them over the past 60 years. The analogy of the
current developments with the global events from that time is rather
obvious. There are too many coincidences here for this to be accidental.
This is why I will mention Russian President Medvedev's plan, which
proposes a sort of a new Helsinki treaty that will guarantee peace,
stability, and inviolability of all European states' borders and will
establish a principle according to which any potential dispute between the
European states will be resolved with talks, rather than with the use of
arms and bloody outcomes.
In the end, prior to Ilinden (2 August national holiday), I will send out
a message from the Krusevo Manifesto that is topical nowadays as well. I
will send it out to all those living in Macedonia, regardless of their
ethnic or party affiliation. This is what the Macedonian people wrote 107
years ago: "If you, too, take us as your brothers and wish us well, if you
plan to live with us again, and if you are dignified sons of mother
Macedonia, you can help us in one thing, which will be of great assistance
to us: not to side with the foes, not to take up arms against us, and not
to commit atrocities!"
Respect the words of the Krusevo Manifesto and Happy Ilinden!
The author is leader of TMORO-VEP (Macedonian Fatherland Organization for
Radical Renewal-Vardar, Aegean, Pirin, Prespa).
(Description of Source: Skopje Vreme in Macedonian -- independent
political daily)
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.
81) Back to Top
US Envoy's Remarks Trigger Kosovo Objections to Idea of Special Status for
North
Report by Arben Ahmeti: "Statements on North Disturb Prishtina" - Koha
Ditore
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:07:17 GMT
Even though on vacation in his country, US Ambassador to Kosova
Christopher Dell has disturbed the Kosovar public with a statement made in
a news conference in Washington last week, where he emphasized for the
first time that the north of Kosova could receive a status similar to the
South Tyrol and that in principle he has seen a willingness on Prime
Minister Thaci's part to agree to that.
Dell's statements have prompted the opposition parties to criticize the
government, government officials to switch off their phones, and Prime
Minister Thaci not to accept questions from journalists. Although he did
not respond to the media, Prime Minister Thaci was not able to avoid
Kosova Assembly deputies, who requested explanations from him during a
session on Thursday. Instead of Thaci, Deputy Prime Minist er Hajredin
Kuci answered deputies' question, ruling out the possibility that special
status for the north has been accepted as an option.
"We must wait for Ambassador Dell to return to Kosova and explain this
statement," Kuci said. "What I want to say is that we must read the
ambassador's statement properly and I want to say that the ambassador's
statement, the United States' views, and those of others are things that
we review, but we have not thought about a special status or anything
similar."
According to him, the government is prepared for a solution within the
Constitution and the Ahtisaari Plan. Kuci said that a special status for
the north was not an option, adding that, nevertheless, this issue would
be discussed with Ambassador Dell.
The US Embassy in Kosova also preferred to wait for the ambassador to
return from his vacation to give additional explanations about the
statement if it is deemed necessary.
In fact, d uring his meeting with journalists in Washington, Dell did not
agree with the term "special status for the north," but he admitted that
there could be arrangements similar to the South Tyrol model.
According to the transcript of the news conference, when asked by a
Serbian journalist whether Kosova Prime Minister Hashim Thaci would be
open to the idea of autonomy for the Serbs of the north of Kosova, US
Ambassador to Prishtina Christopher Dell said that the prime minister was
open to resolving the issue within the European context.
According to the official transcript of the news conference posted on the
US State Department's website, Ambassador Dell said:
"What I have heard him (Prime Minister Thaci) say publicly in Kosova on
many occasions -- is that within the context of a European Union that
consists of many regions and is recognized as such, he is prepared to look
creatively at ways in which the special nature of the north of Kosova c an
be accommodated within the boundaries of the unitary state of Kosova, but
given -- recognizing that in the Europe of the 21st century there is room
for special status -- not status, that is the wrong word -- special nature
of regions within single countries. To be less cryptic, we are referring
here to regional arrangements such as exist in Belgium, South Tyrol, many
parts of Europe," Dell said. Gashi: Whole of Kosova Has Special Nature
Tome Gashi, who is a legal adviser to Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, did not
want to give a direct answer as to whether or not his boss was open to
"creative" solutions for the north, as Dell said. However, he did not
hesitate to conclude that nobody has the right to use "creative ways" to
come up with a special status for any part of Kosova. He mocked Dell's
statement that the north has a "special nature," saying that a ll parts of
Kosova "have a special nature, which is their destiny."
"Nobody should in any way try to find 'creative ways' to give a special
status, within a European or Balkan context, to these parts of the state
of Kosova. In my view, the European context means a special status for a
territory of a state that remains an integral territory of that state and
peaceful. In the Balkan context, a special status for a territory of a
state often ends up with secession or unification of the territory of a
state with another state. However, the Balkan version often creates
suffering, bloodshed, and a personal and collective tragedy for one or
another nationality," Gashi said.
This prime minister's adviser went even further, assessing that not only
the north but all parts of Kosova have a "special nature."
"Every country, every state in the world has a special 'nature,' and this
goes also for the entire territory of Kosova, and not only for the north
of Kosova. The central part of Kosova also has a 's pecial nature,' as
well as the southern part, Anamorave (Pomoravlje), Dukagjin (Dukadzin),
Llap (Lab), the area of Drenice (Drenica; area in central Kosovo), and
there are many other special natures in the state of Kosova. All these
specifics are a destiny and not a spare territory of Kosova," Gashi said.
The lawyer, who is also a legal adviser to the prime minister, warned that
the north of Kosova accounts for approximately 30 percent of the territory
of Kosova.
"I do not believe that the states led by the United States, which have
helped Kosova win from a 'special nature' a special status, which is
supervised independence, will allow the game of creativity to be played to
shrink the newest state in the world by 30 percent," Gashi said.
Tome Gashi said that he was making these statements because of the
decisions that his boss has to make in "difficult times."
"Advisers are good when they advise wise state leaders wh o have a
historic responsibility to make just decisions at difficult times," Gashi
said. According to him, "historically, anyone who has signed any agreement
that ended up with the loss of state territory has been called a traitor."
"It is very easy to imagine how national treacheries end up, and they
always end up the same; only the form changes," Gashi said. Maloku: Thaci
Cannot Treat Kosova as Private Property
In their reactions, representatives of the opposition parties in Kosova
avoided commenting on the US ambassador's position on the north, dealing
only with the part where Dell concluded that "the prime minister has a
positive mood about the special nature of the north."
"If the prime minister of Kosova has treated Kosova as his private
property without asking anyone in Kosova, then he has made a big mistake,
a very bad mistake," AAK (Alliance for the Future of Kosovo) Deputy
Chairman Naim Maloku said.
Ibrahim Makolli, deputy chairman of the other opposition party, the AKR
(New Kosovo Alliance), opined that Dell's statement was disturbing.
"Dell's statement is quite disturbing for the country. The prime minister
should give an answer to the citizens regarding the veracity of those
statements. We should not think about a special status for any part of the
territory of Kosova, because under the Ahtisaari Plan, the municipalities
with a Serb majority already have more powers compared to the
municipalities inhabited by an Albanian majority, and this implies some
kind of special status," Makolli said.
In his view, Kosova does not need to rush and be afraid of the talks with
the neighboring counties, "but some conditions should be met beforehand;
the first condition is for Serbia to renounce territorial claims over
Kosova, and the second condition is for Serbia to recognize Kosova as an
independent and sovereign state."
LDD (Dem ocratic League of Dardania) Deputy Chairman Naser Rugova said
that Kosova was declared a sovereign state with the existing borders.
"There is a kind of tendency among some prime ministers and presidents to
tell the people one thing, and in meetings with diplomats say a different
thing. Somebody is lying, either the prime minister with the coalition
partners is lying, which means the entire spectrum of the international
diplomacy, the most powerful states, which ultimately are sponsors of the
independence of Kosova," Rugova said. (Preceding sentence as published)
According to him, such "unserious" calculations diminish Kosova's
authority in the eyes of our international friends.
"They diminish the seriousness and the institutional approach of the
state. Our friends, and Dell himself, have often addressed us and told us:
Do your homework. I believe in Ambassador Dell's statements, I believe in
his seriousness," Rugova said .
(Description of Source: Pristina Koha Ditore in Albanian -- large,
influential daily published by prominent activist Veton Surroi, who has
ties to Western pro-democracy organizations)
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.
82) Back to Top
Russia Wants US To Focus On Afghan Terrorism, Illegal Drugs - ITAR-TASS
Friday July 30, 2010 01:15:03 GMT
intervention)
WASHINGTON, July 30 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia wants U.S. and NATO forces to
succeed in Afghanistan, but cannot agree with all their actions, according
to a high-ranking Russian security official."We assist U.S. and NATO
operations in Afghanistan and we are interested in their success," Deputy
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Vladimir Nazarov told Tass on
Thursday after completing a working visit to the United States.However "we
do not agree with everything they do in Afghanistan," he added.Nazarov
explained Russia wants the coalition to focus on the fight against
terrorism and illegal drugs in Afghanistan and said the task cannot be
accomplished by an army."We would like to see more efficient actions aimed
first and foremost against terrorism and drug trafficking. We believe the
effort is insufficient. The actions shall be professional, pinpointed and
carried out with the use of special forces and means," he said."We are
constantly telling our U.S. partners and we know it from our own
experience that the armed forces are not adapted to the fight against
terrorism," Nazarov said, adding special forces and pinpointed actions
"would prevent losses among c ivilians that are unacceptably high
today."He said Russia is also greatly concerned over the situation in
neighboring Pakistan. "The terror machine created in the 1980s on the
territory of Pakistan that was nurtured also with American money continues
to operate, this time against those who created it," Nazarov
said.(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.
83) Back to Top
Russia is interested in USA's success in Afghanistan - official -
ITAR-TASS
Thursday July 29, 2010 22:28:53 GMT
Text of report b y Russian state news agency ITAR-TASSWashington, 29 July:
Russia is interested in the US and NATO forces' success in Afghanistan but
does not agree with everything they do, Russian Deputy Security Council
Secretary Vladimir Nazarov told ITAR-TASS after his working visit to
Washington.He had had several meetings at the Department of State and the
US National Security Council. For instance, he had meetings with the US
president's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard
Holbrooke.Nazarov described interaction on Afghanistan as "an important
area of cooperation" between Russia and the USA. He recalled that the
well-known agreements on Afghan transit are "our real contribution,
including material and financial contribution, to security" in a
neighbouring country. On the whole, "we are contributing to the US and
NATO operation in Afghanistan and actions of the coalition forces. We are
interested in their success," the senior Russian officia l said.However,
"we do not agree with everything they are doing in Afghanistan," he
continued, referring to the USA and its allies."We would like to see more
effective measures, aimed primarily at combating terrorism and drug
trafficking," Nazarov said.He admitted that the Afghan drug trade causes
particular concern in Russia. "We believe that not enough is being done in
this area," Nazarov said. "In our opinion, these actions must be
professional and precise and use first of all special forces and
resources".From his point of view, this approach "would help avoid
civilian casualties (in Afghanistan), which at the moment are unacceptably
high". The secret documents which were published recently by the WikiLeaks
organization "confirmed our worries", he said. "We have been constantly
telling our American partners, including on the basis of our own
experience, that armed forces are generally ill-equipped to fight
terrorism," Nazarov said.The situation in Pakistan is a cause of great
concern in Russia too, he said. "The machine of terror which was built in
Pakistan in the 80s and fuelled, in particular, by American money, is,
unfortunately, still in operation - but now against those who created it,"
he said.During his stay in Washington, Vladimir Nazarov also discussed
bilateral relations between Russia and the USA on the level of the
security councils of the two countries. This cooperation "is constructive
and characterized by mutual interest," Nazarov said. "In our view, it
helps build confidence, and resolve several difficult problems of regional
and international security and bilateral relations."During the visit, an
agreement to continue contacts was reached and plans for further expansion
of cooperation were outlined.(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in
Russian -- Main government information agency)
Material in the World News Conn ection 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
Danish Daily Says Wikileaks Documents Confirm Media Criticism of
Afghanistan War
Editorial by ts [Toger Seidenfaden]: "Wikileaks Yet Another Mess To
Clean up for Obama; Afghanistan Rapidly Becoming a Serious Burden for the
US President" - Politiken.dk
Thursday July 29, 2010 22:21:21 GMT
In that sense President Obama is right that there is nothing crucially new
with regard to the foundation on which he decided in favor of the new US
strategy last spring.
But that the reports confirm the media picture - plus new concrete details
- that is precisely the issue. It turns the leak into a major problem for
all those who have asserted that the media are painting too pessimistic a
picture of the war.
The picture now confirmed by tens of thousands of internal documents is a
picture of a war that is not about to be won -- on the contrary.
It now looks like a majority of the Democratic members of Congress in the
United States will vote against the next military appropriation for
Afghanistan. Since all Republicans will vote against, and a minority of
Democrats as well, the political shift will have no practical
consequences.
But that the majority of the President's own party no longer support the
war is nevertheless a very strong signal for how quickly Afghanistan can
become a serious burden for Obama. Eight Catastrophic Bush Years
The best he can do is to adhere to the decision to start the US withdrawal
next summer.
But his and the superpower's political problem lies in the increasing
difficulty of concea ling that the withdrawal is a strategic defeat.
Defeats, no matter how responsible and necessary they are to admit, are
bitter pills to swallow, after all.
The President must console himself with how little attention the US
withdrawal from Iraq, which is now approaching in earnest, has attracted.
And that is regardless of the fact that the Americans are also not leaving
behind a stabilized country.
How many, for example, have noticed that there still has been no new
government formed after the election that was held many months ago?
And that under no circumstances will it be the winner of the election -
the nevertheless somewhat secular Allawi - who will have the crucial
influence.
Obama's task, in this as in so many other areas, is to clean up the mess
after eight catastrophic Bush years. It is necessary, but not popular.
His hope for reelection is dependent on the Republicans in all likelihood
putting up an extremely scanty alternativ e.
(Description of Source: Copenhagen Politiken.dk in Danish -- Website of
independent, large-circulation, left-of-center national daily. Circulation
on weekdays: 107,788 (2008). URL: http://www.politiken.dk)
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
Wikileaks Founder Expects Afghan War Revelations To Influence Future
Decisions
Telephone interview with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in London by
Fernando Navarro in Madrid on 28 July: "'We Provide Reliable Information
Without Pursuing Commercial, Political Interests'" - El Pais.com
Thursday July 29, 2010 17:14:35 GMT
(Navarro) Are you enjoying your 15 minutes of fame or has your mission
just begun?
(Assange) That is not for me to say.
(Navarro) Do you think that this leak can influence future political
decisions?
(Assange) Of course. The US and Pakistani administrations are well aware
of the information that has been published. The files provide a detailed
account of the current situation in Afghanistan. However, our only
motivation is rendering a public service and being aware that we have to
offer relevant stories that influence people.
(Navarro) From the first day, the documents have been compared to the
"Pentagon Papers" on the Vietnam war. Has this leak generated the same
controversy?
(Assange) Yes, I even believe that these documents are more harmful to the
United States than the Pentagon Papers. They deal with a wide range of
issues, ranging from the death of a child to major operations that
resulted in hundreds of deaths.< br>
(Navarro) At that time, Richard Nixon said that Daniel Elsberg, who had
leaked the information to The New York Times, was the most dangerous man
in America. Do you see yourself as dangerous?
(Assange) The banks and wealthy and powerful people pose the most serious
danger to the United States. I have no problems and I am not afraid of
being arrested.
(Navarro) What do you think about the United States' reaction?
(Assange) We were prepared for such a reaction. We expected them to try to
distract public attention from their responsibilities in this matter. This
is serious.
(Navarro) Hamid Gul, former head of the Pakistani intelligence services
(ISI (Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence)), said that the
documents were fakes.
(Assange) The information comes from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The sources
have links to combat units and embassies. There are a number of reasons
they offered this information. First, for money. Second, out of personal
interest. Third, to reveal the truth.
(Navarro) Why do you think that the sources prefer Wikileaks over a
traditional newspaper?
(Assange) Because they rely on us for bringing information to light.
Furthermore, we are good at protecting our sources. We do not give up when
it comes to rendering a public service. To us, providing reliable
information is always possible and we pursue neither commercial nor
political interests.
(Navarro) By choosing The New York Times, The Guardian, and Der Spiegel to
spread the information, Wikileaks became a new intermediary between the
source and the journalist. Is that the way you see yourselves?
(Assange) Yes, because our technology and infrastructure are at the
service of all media and organizations. However, Wikileaks is not a
foundation. We take a different view. Our aim is different from the
traditional one, because, apart from disclosing documents, we neither give
in to p ressure nor pursue personal interests. The video showing the
killing of journalists in Iraq is proof of this.
(Navarro) Do the media pay for the information?
(Assange) Demanding money in exchange for the information is not part of
our philosophy. We will consider this in the future, but we have not yet
done so. Financing ourselves is our next goal.
(Description of Source: Madrid El Pais.com in Spanish -- Website of El
Pais, center-left national daily; URL: http://www.elpais.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.
86) Back to Top
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Says US Entangled in Afghanistan
Unattributed report: "US Will Not Be Able To Withdraw F rom Afghanistan
Soon: Malik Ammad"-- All Words Within Double Quotation Marks, As Published
- Jang
Thursday July 29, 2010 16:00:57 GMT
affairs, has said that baseless reports similar to the one published on
the website Wikileaks
have been published in the past as well. However, he has said that it is
not necessary that every such report will be associated with the US State
Department or Pentagon. He has said: "There are several think tanks in the
United States, which can indulge in such activities, and I do not see
these reports as a part of any great game."
Expressing his views in "Kal Tak," an Express News program, he has said:
"I do not consider the report on Wikileaks as the US Administration's part
of a great game. These have been leaked by an official, and the Afghan
president and US officials are now blaming Pakistan. The United States h
as now been entangled in Afghanistan."
Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), said:
"Thousands of our activists, two members of assembly, and now, the son of
Mian Iftikhar Hussain have been killed. One of our political leaders had
said that the Taliban had reached Margalla hills near Islamabad and that
we were fighting Pakistan's war. The federal government has to decide
about military action in North Waziristan. Therefore, we cannot express
opinion on this. Only the prime minister can convene a conference, and
only he can express opinion on this issue. Prime minister had also agreed
with Nawaz Sharif's suggestion. He said that a few political parties
secretly support the Taliban. The United States said that we should
negotiate with the Taliban. You should tell me as to whether we should
negotiate with the assassins, who lash our girls and cut our people's
throats."
Ahsan Iqbal, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (P ML-N), said
that scapegoats were being searched for the United States. Pakistan and
its agencies were being blamed through baseless reports, he said. He said
that Nawaz Sharif had proposed a national conference with an aim to evolve
a strategy regarding the elimination of terrorism, Afghan affairs, and the
US pressure.
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Jang in Urdu The War, an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations)
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.
87) Back to Top
Iranian Paper Warns of 'Strong Reaction' Against Any Military Action
Editorial headlined "Washington's military threat and Iran's defense
power" - Qods Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:33:50 GMT
approved, will be the axis of Israel's military action against Iran. The
issue of an attack by the usurper Israel on Iran has always been bandied
about extensively by the White House echelons, since the victory of the
Revolution, whenever it suited their diplomatic needs. Hence, it is not a
very new term.
Over the past few days, a new US scenario for the Middle East has been
placed on the agenda. This scenario is based on sanctions against some
regional countries, with the objective of downsizing their defense and
combat capability and breaking them up.The Western countries are well
aware that all kinds of military actions on the part of the US or the
usurper Zionist regime will have unexpected reactions from Iran. In such
an eventuality, there would not be any opportunity for embarking on the
reasons for the attack or the possible choices, and only a crushing
response by Iran in certain areas in the event of adoption of probable
choices would be propounded.Washington knows fully well that other
countries would not be reticent about not being concurrent (with the US)
with regard to Iran. Disillusionment on this issue can be evaluated in
McCrystal's remarks. This is because his declaration of the realities
regarding NATO's defeat and the presence of America in Afghanistan
resulted in his removal from office.In such circumstances, when the public
opinion and economic interests of all the countries, who are tired of
following the US and are in the throes of returning their forces from Iraq
and Afghanistan, would not accept another war and thus will avoid
congruence with the White House. Hence, the US will have to bear all the
expenses and almost all the economic repercussions. This is no t
acceptable for a country that has always offloaded its expenditure on the
shoulders of its appendages.Washington's defeat in its attacks on Iraq and
Afghanistan and its sustaining of more than a billion dollars in war
expenses in these two wars, with a loss of 5,300 personnel in casualties,
has resulted in the lack of support of the US public opinion for the White
House's adventurist policies.So, another similar action against a country
like Iran would impose greater expenditure on the American economy. Some
statistics show the US as the most debt-ridden country in the world with a
debt of $14,000 billion, making it unlikely that despite a budget deficit,
it would be able to sustain the expenses of another war.It is obvious that
any kind of attack on Iran would result in a spectacular rise in oil
prices, the danger of which would steer the vulnerable economies of the
world towards a financial crisis. If the oil price reaches $150 a barrel,
(the level it had reached in the summer of 2008) the cost of gas would
also encounter a sudden rise. Then the price of gasoline in the US would
reach more than $4 per gallon.The thought that the public opinion within
the US would justify the allegations of the White House echelons, based on
pursuing their country's interests 12,000 kilometres away and will be
willing to support their warmongering policies, is too far-fetched.If a
consensus regarding the adoption of the policy of aggression against Iran
were to gain strength, the scenarios of the Islamic Republic's combat
would make them regret their decision.Iran has always been endowed with
sagacious and prudent leadership and has so far been able to neutralize
the attacks, propaganda deluge and psychological war of the enemy with its
intelligent planning. So far, this is one of the most important
compositions of Iran's capabilities against the powers of the world
arrogance.Iran's eminent leader has adopted a stance on various occasions
in accordance with the US threats and had said in the highlights of some
of his speeches: "If the US was to attack Iran, American interests would
be endangered all over the world."During the course of the hallowed
existence of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian people have affirmed
their concurrence with the policies of their officials and have proved,
how, at various junctures, they have entered the scene with a sense of
duty and have displayed their exemplary role in practice.Presence in
various areas of cooperation with the system, whether on the scene of the
enemy's violent battle, or soft warfare, is an example of the support of
the martyr-nurturing nation of Iran, which has played a role at every
juncture.An assessment of the dossier of the Iraq-Iran war is a suitable
example of the sacrificing qualities of the people of Islamic Iran, in
which every person with any level of culture (ethnicity) prevented the
enemy from attaining its objectives, by being united and cohesive arou nd
the Islamic values.In the event of a clash between Iran and the US or its
illegitimate progeny, the usurper Jerusalem regime, it will revive the
memory of the model of the irregular combat and disgraceful defeat of this
regime in 2006.The enemies of Iran should not forget that even with the
utilization of all their military capability, diplomacy, the media, and
all their regional and supra-regional allies, they could not defeat the
Islamic resistance movement (REFERENCE to Hizballah) in Lebanon. Instead,
the outcome of the battle was contrary to the belief of the experts and
analysts of the Western political and military academies.With its
inspiration from the model of Iran's resistance, the Hizballah was able to
inflict an unforeseeable defeat on land, sea, and air, in an unequal
combat on the despotic Israeli army that boasted of legendary
invincibility. Even the Tel Aviv rulers were compelled to acknowledge
defeat within the framework of the Vinogradov Committee.The Is lamic
Republic has suitable geopolitical capability, which, in the event of any
aggression, can inflict irreparable economic and political damages on the
US's regional sympathizers and its supra-regional allies.Iran's strategic
depth around its borders and in southwest Asia and even beyond, in the
former geographical expanse of SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization),
comprises one of the most important of compositions, which cannot be
denied by the enemies and ill-wishers of the system. The readiness of the
Armed Forces, especially the Basij (volunteer forces) comprising 12
million people, has boosted the Islamic Republic of Iran's element of
capability, quantitatively as well as qualitatively.The claims that have
been propounded should be considered as a psychological war to test public
opinion and the ruling elite, in order to pursue their avaricious
objectives in an atmosphere of a soft war.It is quite clear that a threat
of war, the practical warfare on behalf of Sad dam, sanctions and the
actually entry into the arena of a soft war, are all issues which are not
new for the Iranian nation. By embarking on propaganda, they are seeking
to intensify pressures on the Iranian people.Accordingly, the Islamic
Republic of Iran as an active member of the international community is
willing to broaden relations on the basis of logic and negotiations, which
are vehemently aligned with its national interests and security.If other
governments wish to tread against the path of international norms and
hinder the Iranian nation from achieving its rights, they will encounter
the strong reaction of the Iranian nation.(Description of Source: Mashhad
Qods Online in Persian -- website of conservative Mashhad daily published
by the Qods Cultural Foundation of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (Astan-e
Qods-e Razavi); URL: http://www.qudsdaily.com)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be o btained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
88) Back to Top
Former ISI Chief Says US Wants To Withdraw From Afghanistan
Unattributed report: "Another 10,000 Page Report Regarding Afghanistan
Will Soon Be Made Public -- Gen [ret] Hamid Gul" - Nawa-e Waqt
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:26:59 GMT
Intelligence) chief, has said that the leaked report on Afghanistan is
only one part of report. More pages will soon be made public.
Talking to the Nawa-e-Waqt, Gul said that as the United States had to
withdraw from Afghanistan, it was creating a suitable situation, and was
giving an impression that Pakistan was not cooperating with us. Gen (ret)
Gul said that the coming report would inform that the US troops were i
nvolved in killing 737 Afghan civilians. Gen (ret) Gul said that the
report would also mention corruption in the country and narcotics
smuggling from Afghanistan.
(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 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 Deputy SecState Says US-ROK Drills 'Direct Result' of PRC's Support for
DPRK
Report by Hwang Doo-hyong: "China's failure to blame N. Korea for Ch'o'nan
[Cheonan] led to S. Korea-U.S. joint drills: Steinberg" - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:09:30 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
America's Afghanistan Solution May Only Strengthen Pakistan
"America's Afghanistan Solution May Only Strengthen Pakistan" -- The Daily
Star Headline - The Daily Star Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:24:03 GMT
Thursday, July 29, 2010
In the almost nine years the United States has been fighting
inAfghanistan, any thoughtful perso n who follows the war has had a
recurringworry: Can America rely on Pakistan? Can our allies in that
turbulent countryclose the Taliban-s safe havens along the border? And,
for that matter,are the Pakistanis really trying?The massive disclosure of
war-related documents this week by WikiLeaks raised anumber of questions,
but none more important than the Pakistan conundrum.Although the Obama
administration has downplayed the leaks in general, seniorofficials agree
that Pakistan-s ability to close the sanctuaries is anabsolutely crucial
issue.'These safe havens are a big question mark in terms of our
successrate,' said General Jim Jones, the national security adviser, in
aninterview at the White House Tuesday. He noted that the Taliban and
itsaffiliates have used these havens to arm, train, regroup and
gatherintelligence - confounding US strategy.The Pakistanis have denied
that their intelligence service is aiding theTaliban, and they have noted
the raw and fragmentary nature o f the WikiLeaksinformation.But the fact
remains that the Taliban continues to operate effectively frombases inside
Pakistan - and, indeed, is escalating its attacks. Unlessthis changes, the
American effort in Afghanistan is likely to fail.Jones praised the
Pakistani military for stepping up its operations in theborder region over
the past 18 months, but he stressed: 'There-smuch more to do and not a lot
of time to do it.'Jones drew on his own travels to the region over the
past decade to explain whyPakistan is a 'hinge' in the war effort. He
noted that from 2003 to2005, the organized enemy presence in Afghanistan
was relatively low, withperhaps 100 Al-Qaeda and 3,000 Taliban fighters
there.A 'pivotal time' came in 2006, Jones argued, when the
Pakistanimilitary decided to 'cut a deal' with tribal leaders that
allowedthe Taliban insurgents to cross freely from Afghanistan if they
didn-tattack Pakistani forces. Jones, who was serving as NATO commander at
the time,said he was 'i ncredulous' at the truce and warned the Pakistanis
itwould never work.Opening this 'highway from Afghanistan to Pakistan'
allowed theTaliban a 'momentum change' from 2007 to 2009, so that they
beganto gain the upper hand, Jones recalled. It-s this continuing
momentumthat the Obama administration has tried to check with its troop
surge.The WikiLeaks hemorrhage has been damaging partly because it came at
a timewhen the US mood about Afghanistan was darkening. Even hawkish
officials havebecome increasingly concerned that success - even a minimal
'Cplus' version - may not be possible within a realistic timeframe.White
House officials talk these days about seeking an 'acceptableendstate' in
Afghanistan, rather than victory. This means a patchworkprocess that
brings greater security through a stronger Afghan national armyand police,
plus the tribally based 'local police.' The crucialdriver will be a
political process of reconciliation, brokered partly
byPakistan.Administration off icials agree on the need for diplomatic
engagement with theenemy, but they see no sign yet the Taliban is willing
to play - with onepossible exception. Jones noted that elements of the
Taliban might be willingto meet one US condition for talks, which is to
disavow Al-Qaeda. 'TheTaliban generally as a group has never signed on to
the global jihad businessand doesn-t seem to have ambitions beyond its
region,' Jones said.Senior officials denied another seeming WikiLeaks
revelation - that theTaliban has been using shoulder-fired missiles to
down US aircraft. One said hehadn-t seen any reliable confirmation of
these reports, but he stressedsuch missiles would 'be a big change in
battlefield geometry.' Asto recent rumors that Iran may be shipping such
weapons, the official said hehad no confirmation but that if such
game-changing weapons entered Afghanistan,'we will not be able to sit idly
by.'It-s usually a mistake to try to 'call' a faraway conflict- up or
down, success or failu re - on the basis of fragmentaryinformation. But
right now, any observer would say that Afghanistan is goingbadly, that the
US counterinsurgency strategy hasn-t been proved, and theAmerican public-s
patience is dwindling.That brings us back to closing the Taliban safe
havens in Pakistan. It-sa measure of America-s strategic difficulty that
this uncertain optionwith a reluctant partner may now offer the best
possibility for reaching the'acceptable endstate.'Syndicated columnist
David Ignatius is published twice weekly by THE DAILYSTAR.(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.
91) Back to Top
Cocaine Flow To Russia Increases By 25 Pct Annually - Source - ITAR-TASS
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:22:52 GMT
intervention)
MOSCOW, July 29 (Itar-Tass) -- Supplies of cocaine to Russia grow by about
25 percent each year, head of Russia's Federal Service for control over
drugs' turnover /FKSN/ Viktor Ivanov said."This is an average for the past
three years," he said.Cocaine from several South American countries is a
major drug threat along with cocaine from Afghanistan, he said."The drug
mafia prefers new trans-continental routes using Western Africa's
regions," he said. "From there cocaine is transported both to North
America and to Europe, and, of course, they work out routes to Russia,
too."(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main
government information agency)
Material in the W orld 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
Afghan president, US Attorney General discuss corruption - National TV
Afghanistan
Wednesday June 30, 2010 19:12:32 GMT
Text of report by state-owned National Afghanistan TV on 30 JuneHamed
Karzai, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Wednesday
met US Attorney-General Eric Holder at the Presidential Palace in
Kabul.According to the information provided by the Presidential Press
Office, to Bakhtar News Agency (BNA), the sides discussed the fight
against administrative corruption from various angles and the causes of
the phenomenon. The Afghan attorney-g eneral (Mohammad Eshaq Aloko) also
attended the meeting.The president provided the visiting attorney-general
with information about the process of administrative reforms and providing
civil services in the country. He said that the Afghan government had made
visible achievements in this regard over the past a few years and the
process was under way successfully.Referring to anti-corruption efforts,
he said that the Afghan government had launched serious and decisive war
against the evil and unlawful phenomenon and wished that administrative
corruption would soon be curbed in the country.Karzai added that the fight
against the ugly practice would succeed when the USA and the international
community reform their contract systems and urged them to avoid giving
contracts to Afghan officials, members of parliament or their relatives
because it would create obstacles for the implementation of the law in
Afghanistan.The president described the existence of private security
companie s and providing equipment to them as a threat to the Afghan
government and urged the international community to stop supporting these
firms and help the government to put an end to their activities.Karzai
insisted that the USA and the international community should not give a
political dimension to administrative corruption in Afghanistan because
the more political steps are taken, against this phenomenon, the more
problems it would create.The president once again called on the USA and
the international community to accomplish the fight against the menace
through full bilateral coordination.The US attorney-general welcomed the
fight against administrative corruption by the Afghan government and said
that the USA would review giving contracts to Afghan officials,
parliamentarians and their relatives and would reform the contracting
system in Afghanistan. However, the Afghan government, in its part, should
accelerate the fight against administrative corruption, he noted.(Video
shows the Afghan president and US attorney-general exchanging views at a
meeting, some other Afghan and US officials at the meeting)(Description of
Source: Kabul National TV Afghanistan in Pashto -- state-run television)
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
Afghan paper sees difficulties for Karzai in talks mediated by Pakistan's
ISI - Hasht-e-Sobh
Wednesday June 30, 2010 15:54:15 GMT
Pakistan's ISI
Text of editorial, "Dealing with Pakistan, start of another crisis and
repeat of bitter experience" by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper
Hasht-e Sobh on 28 Ju ne. Subheadings have been inserted
editorially:According to a report by Al-Jazeera, Hamed Karzai, President
of Afghanistan, has recently met with Sarajoddin Haqqani, leader of the
Haqqani terrorist group, and his son, at the presidential palace in Kabul.
Al-Jazeera has reported that Gen Ashfaq Kiyani, Pakistan's army chief, and
the head of the ISI have paved the way for this meeting.However, the
president's office and Pakistan's army officials have not said anything
about this meeting. But if such a meeting has taken place, one can assess
it from different angles. If it took place through the mediation of the
ISI head and Pakistan's army chief, as Al-Jazeera has reported, it shows
that Pakistan is eager to believe in Hamed Karzai as their close ally
because they think that he is the one through whom they can ensure their
long-term interests in Afghanistan.The Pakistani authorities have
officially rejected having any link with the Haqqani terrorist group,
which has claimed re sponsibility for carrying out most of the terrorist
attacks and suicide bombings against Afghan and foreign forces in
Afghanistan. However, accompanying Sarajoddin Haqqani inside the country's
presidential palace and holding talks with President Hamed Karzai shows
that now Pakistani officials want to make their link with the Sarajoddin
Haqqani terrorist group public. Doing so, the Pakistani government wants
to receive a large amount of money from the Afghan government and ensure
its long-term interest in the country as the issue of NATO's withdrawal
from the country has become heated and Hamed Karzai has shown an
inclination towards holding talks with the Taleban.Global and regional
support neededHowever, it is very early to talk about the result of these
covert talks as Hamed Karzai will not be able to agree to a big deal with
Pakistan so simply, as any kind of political deal with Pakistan should
have the general support of ordinary Afghans, different political circles
and civil institutions in the country. Undoubtedly, Karzai has much power
as the president of Afghanistan, but again he is a single individual of
this country and he cannot represent the wants, ideas and expectations of
all Afghans. If the Afghan government reaches an agreement with Pakistan,
it will be quite impossible for the government to make it public as most
Afghans still remember all those cruelties the Pakistani government has
committed against them and they will not let anyone make any deal on their
destiny at any cost, though it will be a profitable transaction for the
government.Moreover, the Afghan government needs to have global and
regional support for signing any political agreement with Pakistan. There
are other players involved in the Afghan situation, who have their own
interest in Afghanistan, and sometimes their interests contradict with the
interests of Pakistan. The list includes a number of big powers and
neighbouring countries. If the Afghan government ag rees to such a deal
with Pakistan that affects the short-term or long-term benefits of a
number of big powers or neighbouring countries, in such a case, they will
not let the government sign such a deal with the Pakistan. First, they
will try to prevent the Afghan government from agreeing to such a deal
with Pakistan through holding talks and threatening to halt their
financial support. If the government does not accept their idea, and
insists on its own stance, they will stop through lobbying force. In such
a case, Afghanistan will once again experience the atrocities of the
1990s, in which all armed groups in the country start fighting each other
and Pakistan's dream of ensuring its long-term benefit in the country will
remain just a dream.Karzai should win back people's trustUnfortunately,
Hamed Karzai and his team have faced a number of serious and big
challenges regarding their country's problem and they do not know that
Pakistan is the only country helping the Taleban and terrorists towards
achieving their aims. It is right though that Pakistan supports the
Taleban, the Haqqani group and Hezb-e Eslami armed commanders and provides
them with sanctuaries after training and equipping them, but due to the
absence of a powerful, legitimate and reliable government in the country,
these groups get stronger every day. Moreover, the president and his team
do not know anything about the factors of the Taleban's empowerment, and
paves the way for Pakistan's interference in the country's affaires.
Karzai should look for these factors and investigate them; he should also
bring reform in his government, improve his and his team's management
skills and try to revive his lost trust among the people in order to have
a legitimate, reliable and powerful government in the country. In such a
case, neither Pakistan nor any other country will dare interfere in our
country's affairs and we will not be bound to pay for that.One will assume
that Karzai will reach an agreement with Pakistan; in such a situation can
one claim that the Afghan turmoil will end? A man with a sound mind can
never accept such an assumption as the move towards agreeing to a
political deal with Pakistan will cause controversy and mount serious
problems among different political groups and ordinary people in the
country and this will finally lead to a repeat of the past bitter
experiences. Moreover, such an agreement may mean that Karzai and his
companions have ignored the main factors of turmoil in the
country.(Description of Source: Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari -- Eight-page
secular daily launched in May 2007; editor-in-chief, Qasim Akhgar, is a
political analyst and Head of the Association for the Freedom of Speech. )
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.
94) Back to Top
Afghan daily sceptical about new US commander's success - Hasht-e-Sobh
Wednesday June 30, 2010 14:30:53 GMT
Text of article by Zia Zirak entitled "Fighting with Taleban, war imposed
on Karzai", published by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper
Hasht-e Sobh on 28 JuneFollowing the resignation of Gen McChrystal, Obama
appointed Gen David Petraeus in his place (as head of US-led coalition
forces in Afghanistan) to implement the USA military strategy for
Afghanistan and control the NATO member countries' growing concern about
Gen McChrystal's resignation. The Afghan government and NATO have
appreciated Obama's decision to appoint Gen David Petraeus as McChrystal's
successor.However, following McChrystal's dismissal, the Western media
outlets expressed concern about Petraeus being successful in the Afghan
war. Gen Petraeus was successful in the Iraq war but the Americans have
warned him to be careful because Afghanistan is very different from Iraq
as McChrystal's experiences of Iraq war did not help him in carrying out
military operations in Marja and other districts of Helmand Province.In
view of this scepticism, Gen Petraeus has a difficult task ahead of him in
Afghanistan and no one knows whether his mission in the country will be
successful. The most difficult situation Petraeus faces in Afghanistan is
the negative mentality that the fight against the Taleban is America's
fight against them (the Taleban), not Afghans. The Afghan government and
some political circles in the country have already put aside the idea of
war against the Taleban and it is said that the fight against the Taleban
is a war imposed on Karzai because it has made him stand against his
Pashtun brothers. The military presence of the Taleban in the country is
no longer a t hreat to Karzai as he can ensure peace in the country
through them to save his political power for a few more days. Karzai has
even shown a kind of inclination to the Haqqani terrorist group through
Pakistan's mediation effort because he has already acknowledged defeat in
the fight against the Taleban.Pakistan has supported different armed
groups, such as the Taleban, Haqqani group and Hezb-e Eslami armed
commanders, fighting against the Afghan, Indian and USA governments. Now,
if Karzai wants to save his political power, he needs to share power with
these groups.If the Afghan government and Pakistan reach agreement on the
issue of including the Taleban and Hezb-e Eslami in power, efforts by
Petraeus efforts without an initiative by the Afghan leadership will not
bear fruit, as it will be his fight against the Taleban and Haqqani
terrorist group, not the Afghan government's. This is a bitter fact that
the Obama administration and the anti-Taleban forces in Afghanistan have a
lready understood.It seems that in such a situation; Petraeus is bound to
accept the imposed political solution for talks with the Taleban proposed
by the Afghan and Pakistan governments. The Afghan government was not
ready to include Pakistan's efforts in the peace process as it did not
want to share power with the Taleban and Hezb-e Eslami. At that time the
government was sure that America would win the war fought against the
Taleban and supported by Pakistan, but now, Karzai and his close
companions no longer believe in such an idea. The reason is that Karzai,
with his weak leadership, does not feel bold enough to be able to defeat
the Taleban.According to reports published through national and
international media outlets, it seems there has been more political
coordination between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to Pakistan's
military spokesman, Pakistan has found its place in the Afghan problem
since the US formally announced that it will start withdrawing its force s
from Afghanistan in July 2011. It is clear that Pakistan will support
talks with the Taleban as it wants that group to have its place in the
political future of the country. Is it true that Pakistan will fill the
power vacuum left after the American forces leave the country? Has Obama's
deadline for withdrawing his forces form Afghanistan helped Pakistan to
get more involved in the Afghan situation?There are signs of Pakistan's
overwhelming involvement in the Afghan conflict. Fore example, Karzai has
dismissed his intelligence chief and minister of interior as a sign of
good will to Pakistan. The Pakistani spy chief and army chief of the staff
have already visited Kabul, and Karzai has boosted his efforts to hold
talks with the Taleban. He has stepped up his anti-Western comments and
has even held foreigners responsible for increasing poppy cultivation.In
such a bewildering situation, no one knows what will happen to the
military strategy of Gen David Petraeus in Afghanist an. It is clear
though that there are different standpoints regarding the strategy of the
fight in Afghanistan and some White House officials no longer believe in
military strategies. The Europeans have also supported the idea of talks
with the Taleban but NATO does not have any intention of postponing the
Kandahar military operation until told to do so.(Description of Source:
Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari -- Eight-page secular daily launched in May
2007; editor-in-chief, Qasim Akhgar, is a political analyst and Head of
the Association for the Freedom of Speech. )
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
Afghan TV Program Reviews Efforts To Combat Narcotics Production, Smuggli
ng
From the "Mobahesa (Discussion)" program; for assistance with multimedia
elements, contact the OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - National TV Afghanistan
Tuesday June 29, 2010 19:57:10 GMT
First of all, I would like to introduce our program guests including
Mohammad Daud Daud, deputy interior minister for counternarcotics, and
Deputy Counternarcotics Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Azhar. Dear viewers, as
you know, international counternarcotics day was commemorated in Kabul
last Saturday (26 June). President Hamid Karzai delivered a comprehensive
speech at the commemoration event. We wanted to discuss President Karzai's
speech, and also give you more information about the achievements of the
relevant organs in combating narcotics in the country. Studio
(Announcer) I just wanted to have a pause about some of the remarks that
President K arzai made in his speech at the event. He said that, although
Afghanistan has been a victim of terrorism, the coalition forces have come
to Afghanistan to fight against terrorism. He said that, despite the
presence of the foreign forces in Afghanistan, rather than seeing a
reduction in the volume of narcotics produced in the country, we have
actually witnessed increasing amounts of narcotics over the past many
years. I wanted to hear your views about the issue. Daud
(Daud) Thank you. At the outset, I would like to say that Afghanistan
commemorates counternarcotics day at a time when the country has had good
achievements in its counternarcotics campaign. Moreover, the United
Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and the Ministry of
Counternarcotics have also issued their latest report, which includes
statistics on drug addiction in Afghanistan. The report is indeed an alarm
bell that serves to show the enormous harm narcotics inflicts on the
people of Afghanis tan.
The president addressed the commemoration of counternarcotics day
yesterday. The main point is that the government's counternarcotics
campaign has successfully reduced the amount of narcotics in the provinces
where the government has control and where the rule of law is taking hold.
In the current year, three more provinces will join the ranks of the
opium-free provinces. This will bring the total number of opium-free
provinces to 23. Moreover, we expect a 50% reduction in the volume of
narcotics produced in Afghanistan this year. Narcotics are mainly produced
in provinces where the insurgents have a strong presence. The production
of narcotics is strongly related to the presence of the Taliban and
Al-Qa'ida. Where narcotics are grown, Taliban and the Al-Qa'ida are
present. Conversely, where the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida are present,
narcotics are grown. According to the United Nations report, there has
been a significant reduction in both narcotics traffick ing and the import
of chemical materials used for processing narcotics in the more secure
regions of Afghanistan. The bulk of narcotics trafficking has taken place
across the Afghan borders in the insecure regions of the country. This
proves that there is a strong relationship between narcotics and
terrorism.
For many years after their intervention in Afghanistan, the international
community left the campaign against narcotics to the Afghan Government. It
was only after 2008 that the international community started to give us
military backup support in the counternarcotics campaign. Moreover, in the
current year, most of the opium fields have been infected by a disease
that will reduce the volume of opium produced this year. We will make sure
to take joint measures with the international community to prevent the
cultivation of opium next year so as to keep the volume of production low.
Subsequently, we will step up our measures to eradicate opium from the
countr y completely.
(Announcer) You mean that the president's remarks about the increased
volume of narcotics in the country were actually mean to refer to the
insecure regions?
(Daud) Surely, surely. At present, over 99% of the narcotics problem,
meaning production as well a s trafficking, is concentrated in the five
insecure provinces of Afghanistan.
(Announcer) According to the UN report, there are 1 million drug addicts
in Afghanistan. What programs does the Ministry of Counternarcotics have
for the treatment of the drug addicts in the country, and how many of
these drug addicts have already been treated as part of any such programs
by the Ministry of Counternarcotics? Azhar
(Azhar) As the esteemed deputy interior minister for counternarcotics
said, the Ministry of Counternarcotics, Ministry of Public Health, and the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime carried out a joint survey over
the past six months that was issued last week, showing that there are over
1 million treatable drug addicts in Afghanistan. The focus of the report
is on the main problem, which is opium and heroin addiction. The report
does not pay much attention to marijuana and alcohol addiction in the
country. Overall, there are around 40 to 43 drug addiction treatment and
rehabilitation centers in the country, which are run by the Ministry of
Public Health and various NGOs. This number of drug addiction treatment
and rehabilitation centers is sufficient only for about 10% of addicts in
the country. As you know, the treatment and rehabilitation of narcotics
addicts is very expensive. On the other hand, the donor organizations and
countries involved in the establishment of the treatment and
rehabilitation centers do not enjoy sufficient coordination and agreement
over technical and financial issues among themselves. Some donor sources
believe that it is better to create mobile treatment centers that will
move around and stay for a period o f three months at each location to
treat people. Such an arrangement can be very expensive, and there is
little agreement on it among the donor sources. As a consequence of the
report, the Ministry of Counternarcotics is required now to undertake
certain policies and plans in coordination with the international
community and donor sources toward the treatment and rehabilitation of
drug addicts and also to prevent the further spread of drug addiction in
the country.
(Announcer) That means that the 43 centers across the country are enough
for the treatment and rehabilitation of only about 100,000 people, while
over 900,000 more addicts do not have access to treatment and
rehabilitation.
(Azhar) As I said earlier, the treatment and rehabilitation of drug
addiction is very expensive. Afghanistan is a poor country. Moreover,
because of the problem of insecurity, donor organizations and countries
cannot establish treatment centers in all areas of the country. Ne
vertheless, as I said, we have produced certain policies to address the
issue. Recently, we had a meeting with the donor community and the UNODC.
The donor community and the UNODC gave commitments that they will support
us to address the problem. Obviously, it is a serious problem to have 1
million addicts in the country. When we say 1 million addicts, you can
count that 1 million families are also suffering as a result of such a
high rate of addiction.
(Announcer) There are reportedly 16 million drug addicts in the world, of
which 1 million are in Afghanistan. If we were to say that $1 or $2 are
spent on each addict in Afghanistan, the total would be $1 million or $2
million per day in the country. How serious are the economic costs of drug
addiction in the country, particularly on families?
(Daud) Quite apart from its economic costs, drug addiction is a horrible
phenomenon in Afghanistan. It has a terrible impact on families. As you
know, in our cultu re and society drug addiction is also a social stigma.
There are 16 million opium addicts and 160 million marijuana, cocaine, and
alcohol addicts in the world. Drug addiction has even more serious
implications than its economic costs for the country. Urban crime is
closely related to drug addiction. We are also concerned that terrorists
and the enemies of peac e and security may try to use drug addicts for
their own purposes in the future. We have started discussions with the key
sectoral ministries as well as the United Nations to devise the ways and
means of addressing the problem. The president promised in his speech that
he would consider allocating funds for the purpose. We hope that we will
be able to do more in this area in coordination with the key ministries
and the United Nations. The rate of treatment and rehabilitation of drug
addiction in the country is far less than 10%; it is in fact below 1%. The
number of drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers in
Afghanistan is dismally inadequate.
Five years ago, for the first time a preliminary survey was carried out on
the rate of drug addiction in Afghanistan. The survey at the time showed
that there were 250,000 drug addicts in the country. Hence, according to
the latest survey, there has been a dramatic increase in the rate of drug
addiction over the past five years in the country. Hence, we have come up
with specific proposals to tackle the problem. First, we need to establish
major treatment and rehabilitation centers in the major cities, where the
addicts will be accommodated and provided with the right conditions to
earn a livelihood. The most important thing in their treatment and
rehabilitation of drug addicts is to create incentives for them so that
they are motivated to abandon drugs in a sustainable way. Relevant figures
from the developed countries show that without such measures as to
motivate drug addicts to quit addiction, over 70% of them r eturn to the
habit. Without creating the right conditions to ensure the sustainability
of addiction treatment, treatment will not be effective. Hence, we need to
determine where we are going to establish the treatment and rehabilitation
centers as a matter of priority. The second important matter is the
question of how we can find funding for these centers. For this purpose,
we have held discussions with the UNODC, the USAID which is one of the
biggest donors to Afghanistan, and the Government of Afghanistan,
including the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Counternarcotics.
Third, preventative measures against drug addiction constitute the most
important element of the counternarcotics strategy. Figures show that over
95% of the drug addicts in Afghanistan are returning refugees, especially
from the neighboring countries.
These are all the consequences of the three decades of conflict in
Afghanistan. We have to undertake preventive measures in order to sa ve
the coming generations from the scourge of drugs. We need to launch public
awareness campaigns through the media and whatever other means about the
scourge of drugs so that the coming generations desist from drugs. Two
weeks ago, we participated in a major conference organized at the
initiative of the Russian president. The conference was about the effects
of Afghanistan's narcotics on drug addiction in Russia. The Russian
president expressed very deep concern about the issue. Over 30,000 Russian
youths die every year because of drug addiction. In fact, we are
witnessing a major tragedy in Central Asia, our neighboring countries, and
other countries of the region because of Afghanistan's narcotics. Another
and even more serious phenomenon is the production of artificial drugs in
more developed countries that have managed to eradicate or reduce the
volume of drugs derived from natural plants such as opium. I was just
reading an article today that said that at least some 13 million people in
the United States have used artificial drugs at least once in their
lifetimes one way or another. Similarly, this problem is serious in Asian
countries such as Japan and Thailand. The use of artificial drugs is many
times more dangerous than the use of drugs derived from natural plants.
(Announcer) As Mr Daud said, the majority of the drug addicts in
Afghanistan are former Afghan refugees who return to Afghanistan from
foreign countries. Poverty and unemployment a re some of the major
contributory factors to drug addiction in the country. However, as
mentioned earlier, there are 16 million drug addicts in the world. As Mr
Daud mentioned, many people in developed countries such as the United
States have taken to the use of artificial drugs. What are the causes of
such high rates of drug addiction in developed countries?
(Azhar) Before answering your question, I would like to add something to
what General Daud said. As part of the joint survey between the Ministry
of Counternarcotics and the UNODC, 2,614 drug addicts were interviewed.
The questionnaire asked them to mention the reasons as to why they took to
drugs. The first answer from the majority of the drug addicts was that
they became addicts because drugs are very easily accessible in
Afghanistan. Hence, in addition to the fact that majority of the drug
addicts in the country are Afghan refugee returning from foreign
countries, the accessibility of narcotics is also a major cause of the
high rate of drug addiction in the country. As part of our policy and in
coordination with the Ministry of Interior, we intend to strengthen the
law enforcement measures against drug dealers so that narcotics are not so
easily available in the market. As for your question, it is true that
poverty, unemployment, family problems, psychological pressures, and such
other factors are all contributing to the high rate of drug addiction in
Afghanistan. As far as the causes of drug addiction in more developed
countries are concerned, my understanding is that psychological problems
and work pressure constitute the most important factors. While people in
Afghanistan might not even fully appreciate the ills of drug addiction,
people in the more developed countries are much more aware of its
maladies. Criminality, lack of the rule of law, and oppressive regimes are
also contributing to drug addiction in foreign countries, because these
factors contribute to an increase in mental health problems among the
public. As we all know, there are multinational and multiethnic terrorist
groups based in our neighboring countries. These terrorists are bent on
destructive activities in Afghanistan. Many people who join these
terrorist groups are those who have fled oppressive regimes in their own
countries. Hence, lack of democracy, oppressive regimes, lack of the rule
of law, and such other factors contribute to the problem of drug addiction
i n any country.
(Announcer) As far as we know, you provide millions of dollars to the
provincial authorities of those provinces where narcotics production is
reduced to nil. On the other hand, you spoke about financial constraints
with regards to the treatment of drug addicts in the country. Is it not
possible to allocate some of those funds for the treatment of drug
addicts? Very briefly please.
(Azhar) It is true that we used to provide $1 million to any province that
would attain opium-free status in the past. That policy was based on a
cabinet resolution. However, in accordance with our new policies, we would
design development projects for the provinces ourselves. As such, we would
make sure to include projects for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug
addicts in project packages that we design for the provinces.
(Announcer) Just following on your earlier point that there are security
concerns that terrorist organizations might make use of d rug addicts, on
the other hand we also spoke about the contributory factors to the high
rate of drug addiction in the country. What measures have been taken to
address these concerns and problems? I also have another question for you.
Earlier, you spoke of a reduction in the amount of narcotics trafficked
out of Afghanistan and also the amount of chemical materials imported to
Afghanistan for narcotics processing. On a related note, President Karzai
said in his speech on Saturday that the government does not have
sufficient control over Afghanistan borders, but the international
community's forces are present along the Afghan borders. As we know,
gigantic amounts of narcotics are in fact trafficked across Afghanistan's
borders. The trafficking of narcotics across the Afghan borders is not so
tiny that they cannot be interdicted; it is undertaken in large truckloads
and containers. Hence, why do the international forces not take action
against drug trafficking in Afgha nistan?
(Daud) First of all, let me say that, in accordance with the survey, the
contributory factors to drug addiction in the country in order of
precedence are: first, the low level of public awareness about the
injuries of drug addiction; second, the easy and cheap accessibility of
drugs in Afghanistan; and third, poverty and unemployment. These problems
can push anyone to all sorts of problems and crimes. Therefore, in
meetings with other government institutions, international partners, and
the NATO forces in the country, we have discussed the question of finding
the ways and means of helping the drug addicts in the country. We have
proposed that we should establish centers to collect all the drug addicts,
followed by treatment and job creation programs so as to ensure that those
who are treated rejoin their families as healthy members.
As for the second part of your question, it is essential that we create
the right conditions for alternative income for the narcotics growers.
Afghanistan is an agricultural country, but unfortunately we have not made
much progress in the area of alternative income for the farmers yet. The
US ambassador announced last week that the United States has allocated
over $250 million toward alternative income in Afghanistan in the current
year. Focusing on the alternative income program will allow us to separate
the farmers from the drug traffickers on the one hand, and on the other
hand improve the quality of Afghanistan's products so that they can be
more easily marketable. Hence, the alternative income program is about
alternative job creation, better agriculture, and quality improvement, and
finding markets for our agricultural produce. We have to do a lot of work
in this field. Recently, we have also heard about the wealth of
Afghanistan's mineral resources. Investment in Afghanistan's mineral
resources can also help the situation by creating employment opportunities
and alternative inc ome for a lot of people. As for your question
regarding the drug trafficking networks in Afghanistan, let me say that we
started our work from a level of below zero initially. The
narcotics-trafficking networks are very powerful and like a spider's web
they have established a presence in the whole world. We needed time to
identify these networks. We needed a very strong intelligence capability
to do the work. Over time and with the help of the international
community, we have managed to attain very high capacity in the field,
which has allowed us to identify the drug trafficking networks not only in
Afghanistan but also in the region and beyond. We have made progress
against drug trafficking networks in Afghanistan, and we hope to detain
and prosecute all the drug trafficking linchpins in Afghanistan. In one
case, we even followed their trails and networks as far as Spain. I would
like to assure the people of Afghanistan that we will spare no effort and
we will use a ll our capacities to rescue the people of Afghanistan from
the scourge of drugs, and the humiliation that drugs have wrought on the
great people of Afghanistan, and save the world from narcotics exported
from Afghanistan.
(Announcer) Yes, and what about the question of a reduction in drug
trafficking across the Afghan borders?
(Daud) Yes, as I said, there has been a significant reduction in the
trafficking of drugs out of Afghanistan and the import of chemical
materials used in narcotics processed in the more secure provinces where
the government has more effective control. The bulk of drug trafficking
and import of chemical materials used in narcotics processing take place
across Afghan borders near insecure regions of the country. We have
implemented a joint counternarcotics program with Iran and Pakistan in
cooperation with the United Nations. We also have another joint program
with the Central Asian countries in cooperation with the UNODC. These
program s have been very successful. We have interdicted significant
amounts of chemical materials on our borders. We have also identified,
chased up, and eliminated multinational drug trafficking networks.
(Announcer) Thank you general, but I have another brief question as well.
You mentioned about the counternarcotics conference in Moscow. In fact,
the president also referred to that conference and called on the Central
Asian countries such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to help Afghanistan in
the counternarcotics campaign. What sort of cooperation can the Central
Asian countries offer in the counternarcotics campaign? Have there been
any understandings between Afghanistan and these countries in the
counternarcotics campaign to date?
(Daud) Surely Afghanistan's counternarcotics problem is not merely
confined to Afghanistan; it is an international problem. We acknowledge
the fact that Afghanistan's narcotics are a threat to foreign countries as
well. Hence, tack ling the problem needs international resolve. There are
countries that often criticize us, but I have told them that their
criticism is not the solution and called on them to come forward and
cooperate with us. Cooperation from the neighboring countries in the first
place, the regional countries in the second place, and the major powers in
the third place can be very effective in our counternarcotics campaign. We
have held tripartite discussions with Russia and the Central Asian
countries in the context of CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic
Cooperation), and now even Turkey has joined our discussions. We work on a
joint program. There is a broad level of coordination and commonality of
view on counternarcotics between these countries. We work on intelligence
sharing and joint operations so that the drug traffickers find no safety
in the region.
(Announcer) How helpful are you that Afghanistan will be rescued from the
scourge of narcotics that has tarnished it s international image?
(Daud) As I said, narcotics are a global challenge and need international
cooperation. I can see that there is good cooperation with the neighboring
countries and at the regional level. We hope to expand our cooperation
even further, and be witness to huge achievements in the future.
(Announcer) (passage omitted on concluding remarks)
(Description of Source: Kabul National TV Afghanistan in Dari and Pashto
-- State-run television)
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
Afghan TV Program Debates Division of Power Between Presidency, Parliament
From the "Hot Topics" program; for assistance with multimedia elements,
contact the OSC Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or
oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. - National TV Afghanistan
Tuesday June 29, 2010 18:51:31 GMT
(Announcer) What is your definition of the current government system in
Afghanistan? Can we call it an absolute presidential system?
(Mojaddadi) In my view we cannot call the current political system in
Afghanistan a purely presidential system. Although the president's powers
are recorded in the constitution in great detail, we cannot call the
system a presidential form of government. I think it is a mixed system
that has the features of both presidential and parliamentary systems.
(Announcer) Does that mean we cannot call it a presidential system?
Mojaddadi
(Mojaddadi) In my view, we cannot call it an absolute presidential system.
(Announcer) Some experts believe that Afghanistan's political system has
borrowed certain f eatures of the presidential system from the United
States and of the parliamentary system from the United Kingdom. Do you
think this is correct?
(Mojaddadi) I think Afghanistan's political system has borrowed the
features of both parliamentary and presidential systems from some of the
countries that assist Afghanistan. The president cannot dissolve the
parliament and the parliament cannot depose the president in our political
system. Similarly, there is a provision for a Loya Jirga in our political
system. Hence, I think it is a mixture of the two systems.
(Announcer) Does the current political system really have deficiencies?
(Mojaddadi) In my view, the current political system has concentrated most
of the powers in the office of the president, while the president is too
often busy in foreign visits and meetings with the representatives of
foreign countries. This situation does not leave the president with enough
time to discharge his responsibilit ies as the head of the government.
Although the two vice presidents are supposed to act on his behalf as
heads of the government, they do not have enough powers to do so
effectively either. The other problem with the current political system is
that the cabinet ministers have to seek parliamentary approval for their
appointments individually. Had it been a parliamentary system, people
would have voted for a package of programs and the cabinet as a whole. In
case of failures in the performance of the cabinet in such a system, the
prime minister would have taken responsibility and resigned from the
position. Similarly, a parliamentary system would have given the president
a symbolic role and the president would have had enough time to work on
foreign policy and engagements with foreign dignitaries. By the same
token, the prime minister would have time to work on the economic policies
and other domestic affairs.
(Announcer) Hence, in your view are these the main de ficiencies of the
current system?
(Mojaddadi) The other deficiency of the current political system is that
political parties do not have any role in the parliament. Lawmakers are
not elected on the basis of a party system. Hence, oftentimes it is very
difficult to have well-organized discussions and reach conclusions in the
parliament. In a system based on the role of political parties, political
parties produce their pol icies and programs and the people vote for such
policies and programs. However, in the current system, almost anyone can
find their way into the parliament. There is not even a minimum
requirement of educational qualifications for parliamentary candidates. In
the current political system, the parliament is very heterogeneous.
Similarly, there are many deficiencies in the executive branch of the
state as well.
(Announcer, interrupting) Thank you, we will come back to talk about the
deficiencies later.
Do you agree with the view th at the current political system in
Afghanistan is not an absolute presidential form of government and that it
is a mixed system? Bashar
(Bashar) I do not agree with the view that the current political system in
Afghanistan is a mixed system. Absolutely, it is a presidential system.
The constitution also clearly states that Afghanistan has a presidential
system of government. What is the meaning of the presidential system? A
presidential system is the one in which people directly elect the
president. This means that the president does not get his or her vote of
confidence from the parliament, plus other powers that the president
enjoys in accordance with the constitution as we discussed.
(Announcer) Are you saying that the political system in Afghanistan is an
absolute presidential system?
(Bashar) Absolutely, it is a presidential system. The nature of the
parliament in Afghanistan is not exactly the same as that of the
parliament in England. In En gland, the parliament is formed on the basis
of political parties. However, in Afghanistan, most parliamentarians are
independent candidates. Look at the list of the current parliamentary
candidates, and you will see that most of them are standing as independent
candidates. Even in cases where some candidates might be affiliated to
political parties, they still present themselves as independents.
Therefore, I believe that, unless political parties are strengthened in
Afghanistan, the question of balancing the powers of the executive and
legislative branches of the state cannot be addressed. Strong political
parties can exert pressure on the president as well as on the parliament.
If I were to say that England's political system should be implemented in
Afghanistan ...
(Announcer, interrupting) ...Some experts believe that the political
system in Afghanistan is a mixture of presidential system in America and
the parliamentary system in England. Do you not agree with this view?
(Bashar) Absolutely not. I cannot agree with this view. Afghanistan's
political system is neither copied from the United States nor from the
UK's political systems. It is an independent political system as
stipulated in the constitution. That certain features of the political
system may overlap with some features of other political systems does not
necessarily mean that they have been copied from those political systems.
Afghanistan has an independent constitution that is neither related to
England's parliamentary system nor to America's presidential system.
(Announcer) Do you see any deficiencies in the current political system in
Afghanistan?
(Bashar) The deficiencies are in the constitution ...
(Announcer, interrupting) ...Such as those to which Mr Mojaddadi referred,
that the president has too much power and the parliament does not have
sufficient powers?
(Bashar) With all due respect to Mr Mojaddadi, I am afraid I do not agree
with him. I do not agree with him because we are all supposed to live
under the authority of the law. The constitution was approved by the
parliament and it was accepted by the people. The constitution cannot be
changed, and no one has the authority to interfere with the provisions of
the constitution, except through a Loya Jirga. The constitution clearly
states that Afghanistan has a presidential system of government. I do not
agree with the assertion that the president is too powerful a nd the
parliament does not have sufficient powers in Afghanistan. The fact is
that the parliament has not been able to use its powers effectively. The
parliament has powerful tools at its disposal ...
(Announcer, interrupting) Do you mean that the parliament enjoys
sufficient powers but it is not able to make use of its powers?
(Bashar) Exactly, the parliament has powers, but it has not been able to
make use of them. For example, if a bill is passed throug h the parliament
but vetoed by the president, the parliament has the power to overrule the
president's veto. This means that, if the parliament wants to pass a piece
of legislation into law, it can do so irrespective of whether or not the
president vetoes it. When the parliament overrules the president's veto on
a legislative bill, the bill is deemed to have acquired the status of an
enforceable law. However, it is quite another thing that this parliament
does not exhibit sufficient internal unity. With all due respect to Mr
Mojaddadi here, you go to the parliament and you will find out that not
even 20% of the lawmakers are present. They are all absent or running from
one ministry to another. Instead of sitting in the parliament and
instructing the government to do things, they are running after this
minister or that minister and begging them to do this thing or that thing
for them. This is unbecoming of a lawmaker's status and prestige.
(passage omitted on co mmercial interval)
(Announcer) Dear viewers, now our third guest Mr Hasan Haqyar has also
joined the program. Welcome to the program Mr Haqyar.
(Haqyar) Thank you.
(Announcer) Mr Haqyar, just before you arrived, we were discussing the
character of the political system in Afghanistan. Mr Mojaddadi was saying
that we cannot exactly characterize the current political system in
Afghanistan as presidential, and Mr Bashar was saying that it is
absolutely a presidential system. What is your view about the character of
the existing political system in Afghanistan? Haqyar
(Haqyar) In the name of God the Gracious and the Merciful. In accordance
with the constitution, the political system in Afghanistan should be a
presidential system. The government also apparently claims that there is a
presidential system in Afghanistan. However, weak government institutions
and prevalent anarchy in the government make it appear as though the
presidential form of go vernment is just for show in Afghanistan. Even
now, many provincial governors are still acting independently of the
central government. Government officials hardly feeling bound to
government authority either, and there are always tensions between the
government and the parliament.
Earlier, the professor (Bashar) mentioned that the parliament has the
authority to overrule the president's veto on legislative bills. In
practice, however, a number of times the parliament has overruled the
president's veto but the president has simply disregarded the parliament's
decisions. For example, recently the president proposed his cabinet
ministers for parliamentary approval. The parliament did not approve a
number of the proposed cabinet ministers. In accordance with the
constitution, the president should have prepared another list of proposed
ministers and sent it to the parliament for approval. The problem is that
the president does not respect the decisions of the parli ament. The
proposed ministers who did not win votes of confidence from the parliament
are still serving as acting ministers in the cabinet.
Similarly, in the case of the former minister of foreign affairs, we all
witnessed that, despite the fact that the parliament withdrew its vote of
confidence from him, he continued to serve as foreign minister until the
end of the government's term. The withdrawal of the vote of confidence
from the former foreign minister meant that he was not a legitimate
minister anymore, but Karzai did not give any importance to the
parliament's deci sion and let his foreign minister continue in the
position. All this means that the presidential form of government is there
just for show. For example, provincial officials in Mazar (Balkh Province)
do not accept the authority of the central government. The governor openly
takes position against the president. He openly issues resolutions against
the president and disregards the president's instructions; yet, he still
serves as governor.
(Announcer) Hence, is your view that the presidential form of government
is there just for show, but in reality it does not exist in Afghanistan
currently?
(Haqyar) Exactly, the presidential system is just for show.
(passage omitted on the program announcer and participants continuing on
the above themes)
(Description of Source: Kabul National TV Afghanistan in Dari and Pashto
-- State-run television)
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.
97) Back to Top
Afghan daily fears reversal of McChrystal approach to civilian casualties
- Weesa
Tuesday June 29, 2010 13:19:10 GMT
casualties
Text of editorial, "Wrong prediction that can destroy both international
community, Afghans", by pro-government Afghan newspaper Weesa on 28
JuneFox News is quoted as saying that the new commander of NATO and
American forces in Afghanistan, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will
introduce changes to the nature of military operations immediately after
officially taking charge in Afghanistan. The report by Fox News says some
American military commanders have told the new commander (Petraeus) that
the restrictions imposed on them to avoid civilian casualties have tied
their hands and they cannot effectively fight insurgents. A senior
American military official said some months ago that the efforts to avoid
civilian casualties had posed a threat to the lives of their soldiers.This
clearly shows that American soldiers want the previous freedom that
authorizes them to wilfully carry out their operations and not care about
civilian casualties. They want so much freedom that they can turn their
guns on whoever comes their way and kill people and destroy villages like
Genghis Khan. They believe that every tall person wearing a turban should
be killed whether or not he is Mullah Omar or Usamah. This is the attitude
of the American army to the Afghan people and, in general, to mankind.
Unfortunately, they are wrong again. If they think they will save their
lives by causing more bloodshed, it is their serious blunder. They do not
take into account the recent reaction to these arbitrary deaths.They do
not think how civilian casualties will impact on the people. They do not
care about civilian casualties or think how seriously it will humiliate
their war. The fact is that the biggest problem of America and the
international community and the key success of the insurgents is that the
international community has undermined the confidence of the Afghan people
and this has helped insur gents to consolidate their influence. Gen
McChrystal was at least against such a strategy. If the American forces
are granted unlimited freedom to set ablaze everything and kill everyone,
they should also increase the number of their coffins because the Afghan
nation will definitely react to such actions.(Description of Source: Kabul
Weesa in Pashto -- pro-government daily launched in early 2006; supports
reconciliation with the Taliban and Hekmatyar's groups.)
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.
98) Back to Top
Paper urges Afghan government to take 'decisive' action, end war - Weesa
Tuesday June 29, 2010 11:39:13 GMT
Text of article by M Shafiqi headlined "Afghanistan's future; three
probabilities" published by pro-government Afghan newspaper Weesa on 28
JuneAl-Jazeera television network has reported that Sirajuddin Haqqani
(son of Jalaluddin Haqqani) has left for Kabul and held talks with
President Hamed Karzai with the mediation of Pakistan's military
intelligence, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). Let us not comment on how
true this report is and whether it is part of a propaganda campaign. The
main question is what is the strategy of international community and
Afghans for the Afghan war? Can it meet the demands of the Afghan people
and how practical it is? There are three probabilities about Afghanistan.
First, military solution to the war. Second, political solution to the war
and third, the continuation of the current situation.Regarding the
military solution to the war, we can say that we have missed many
opportunities. The international communit y committed some serious
blunders in Afghanistan and the region following the overthrow of the
Taleban's government. It is clear that those blunders were serious whether
they were made intentionally or unintentionally. The Afghan government and
system were not strengthened. The efforts to reach reconciliation with the
insurgents and bring them into political process were foiled. Not only
these efforts were impeded but also those insurgents, who were not
fighting the system, were forced to reorganize and strengthen the enemies
of system.The international community did not exert adequate pressure on
Pakistan (to stop backing insurgents). As a result, the enemies of the
government and system turned into an organized and strong force. The
actions of international military forces, weakness of Afghan government's
local administrations and corruption helped insurgents to consolidate
their influence and turn into a dangerous force. Now it is not easy and
simple to destroy this front because there is lack of consensus within the
international coalition over a decisive fight and coordination between the
Afghan government and the international coalition.They do not pursue
common goals and more importantly, the Afghan people no longer back the
actions of international forces as in the past. What is more disturbing is
that neither members of the international coalition has the will to take a
decisive action against the insurgents. Even if (the international
coalition) decides to eliminate insurgents through the use of military
force, it is difficult that this approach will prove successful, given the
extent of casualties (on the part of foreign troops) and its
consequences.Secondly, it is not easy, but possible to seek a political
solution and reach reconciliation with insurgents. It requires some
sacrifices and this issue is the main obstacle impeding the adoption of
reconciliation approach. There is a possibility of reconciliation and
agreement. But, if r econciliation is reached with insurgents, the
international forces will have no pretext for their presence in
Afghanistan. The main problem is that the international forces believe
that reconciliation and agreement are against their interests. One of the
reasons for Gen McChrystal's removal is that he was supporting the Afghan
government's national reconciliation programme.It is easy to undermine the
peace and reconciliation process because it is hard to ideologically unite
a generation hit by prolonged wars. It is pursuing minor objectives and
goals, and some groups have been established for such minor objectives.
These groups can be used as a tool to achieve such objectives. It is
impossible to hire or buy suicide bombers. (Sentence as published)
Reconciliation and agreement needs to be reached with many sides. It is
also difficult to successfully execute this process at the same time.The
neighboring countries, in particular Pakistan, are key sides in this
process. The rec ent meetings between the Afghan and Pakistani
intelligence and military circles are part of these efforts. It is not
easy to reach complete reconciliation and agreement with insurgents at the
present stage. However, one should believe that war and bloodshed will not
last forever and peace will definitely be restored someday. The Afghan
people's main demand is to put an end to the ongoing war that sheds their
blood and destroys their country. But, the international community wants
war and crises to continue. Our people can no longer tolerate war and
therefore, peace and reconciliation should be reached with
insurgents.Thirdly, perhaps the objective of international community, in
particular the present American power brokers is that the present
situation should continue, meaning that neither reconciliation should be
reached nor should war be shifted to the main centers (where insurgents
are trained and funded) to end war. They do not want to destroy the
centers where insurgent s are trained and equipped.They want a symbolic
government in Afghanistan that has relative control over Kabul and a few
major cities and the rest of the country should witness rivalries and
bloodshed between different groups. Such a situation will bring a gradual
death to the Afghan people. Now it is the responsibility of the Afghan
government and people not to remain indifferent at this decisive stage.
They should clear up everything with the international community and not
lend an ear to the withdrawal or non-withdrawal of their troops.They have
no intention to leave Afghanistan. The Afghan people should not fall prey
to a foreign war. Our senior officials have the right to determine their
people's destiny at the present dark stage. The international community
should pursue its regional and international objectives. However, our
people should not fall prey to their rivalries and objectives. This is
possible only when the ongoing devastating war is ends.(Description of Sou
rce: Kabul Weesa in Pashto -- pro-government daily launched in early 2006;
supports reconciliation with the Taliban and Hekmatyar's groups.)
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.
99) Back to Top
Abolition of AA And Conclusion of Peace Treaty to Replace It Demanded in
S. Korea - KCNA
Friday July 30, 2010 03:41:18 GMT
Abolition of AA and Conclusion of Peace Treaty to Replace It Demanded in
S. Korea
Pyongyang, July 30 (KCNA) -- The Youth and Students Solidarity for
Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration of South Korea on Tuesday
released a statement titled "Abolish Armistice Agreement and Conclude
Peace Treaty."The statement accused the United States of having increased
the danger of a war on the Korean Peninsula since the signing of the AA in
wanton violation of it.The situation on the peninsula is so tense that a
war may break out any moment, it said, denouncing the U.S. and the Lee
Myung-bak (Yi Myo'ng-pak) regime for kicking off the largest-ever joint
naval exercises for aggression against the DPRK in the East Sea of
Korea.It termed the joint military exercises dangerous war moves which
might wreck the peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast
Asia and, moreover, spark off a new big war.It stressed the need to
abolish the AA, build a peace-keeping mechanism on the Korean Peninsula
and thoroughly implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4
declaration for the purpose of achieving the independent reunification,
peace and prosperity of the nation.It demanded the United States and the
Lee Myung-bak (Yi Myo'ng-pak) regime stop at once the joint military
exercises threatening peace and opt for settling the issue through
dialogue.(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official
DPRK news agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)
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.
100) Back to Top
US Tracking DPRK's Money Flow for Sanctions
Unattributed report: "U.S. Tracking N.Korea's Money Flow For Sanctions" -
Chosun Ilbo Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:27:14 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard c opy 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.
101) Back to Top
UN Command, DPRK Begin 3rd Round of Talks Over Ship Sinking on 30 Jul
Updated version: upgrading precedence, revising headline, adjusting tags
and adding referent items; Yonhap headline: "U.N. Command, N. Korea Begin
Third Round of Talks Over Ship Sinking" - Yonhap
Friday July 30, 2010 01:37:19 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonha p 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.
102) Back to Top
Un Vote Declares Access To Water a Basic Human Right
"Un Vote Declares Access To Water a Basic Human Right" -- The Daily Star
Headline - The Daily Star Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:22:17 GMT
Friday, July 30, 2010
BEIRUT: Access to clean water and sanitation were declared
fundamentalhuman rights Wednesday in a landmark vote by the UN General
Assembly.The passage of the nonbinding resolution which calls water 'a
human rightthat is ess ential for the full enjoyment of life and all human
rights' issupposed to have more than just symbolic significance for
governments which aregrappling with the dual pressure of rising demand and
falling wateravailability.Lebanon - which voted for the resolution - has
been slowly erodingits fresh water reserves for decades and experts fear
that demand couldincrease by 80 percent in the next 15 year and that the
country could run outof ground water supplies by 2015 if current trends
are not reversed.'Issuing a nonbinding resolution does not have a direct
legal obligationon countries (which are) party to the UN,' said Darine
al-Hage, executivedirector of Lebanese NGO Alef: Act for Human Rights.
'However, suchresolutions usually could develop into being a source of
international law andcould eventually generate drafting-related
conventions to be discussed withinthe UN country members, which applies to
Lebanon as a state party.'The resolution, which advocates th presentation
of a nnual reports on wateraccess to the Security Council, also puts added
pressure on the internationalcommunity to fund water-management projects
in poorer countries.The resolution was adopted by a vote of 122-0 but 41
predominantly advancednations, including the United States, abstained in
the vote.'The (US) is deeply committed to finding solutions to our
waterchallenges,' US diplomat John Sammis told the General Assembly.'(But
the resolution) describes a right to water and sanitation in a waythat is
not reflective of existing international law.'Previous attempts to define
access to clean water as a basic human right failedin 2008 after several
developed countries again moved to have references towater stricken from
the resolution.Advocacy groups at the time attributed the failure to the
consequences forBOTtled water exporters, which, it was feared, would be
forced to sell theirproducts to water poor countries at a reduced rate.The
new resolution, put forward by Bolivia, was a dvanced on the basis
thatinadequate access to water kills more people every year than any wars
orconflict. Some 4.5 million people, including 1.5 million children under
the ageof 5 are thought to die every year due to insufficient access to
clean drinkingwater.(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.
103) Back to Top
United States Seen Interfering in China's Islands Dispute With Neighbors
Article by Vladimir Skosyrev: "United States Interferes in China's Dispute
With Its Neighbors. Washington Seeks New Partners in Southeast Asia" -
Nezavisimaya Gazeta Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:28:35 GMT
The Chinese government has reacted sharply to the attempt by US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton to intervene in the long-running dispute between
the PRC and its neighbors over the ownership of islands in the South China
Sea.
Speaking at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries'
forum in Vietnam, Clinton intimated that the United States' national
interests are to play the role of mediator in settling the conflict over
the approximately 200 islands and atolls claimed by China, Vietnam,
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
PRC Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi stated that American mediation would lead
only to the increase of tension in the region. "What will happen if this
question turns into an international or a multilateral issue? Its solution
will become more diffic ult, and the situation will deteriorate," he
indicated.
The Chinese official press accused the Secretary of State of a cynical
attempt to stymie the strengthening of China. "America hopes to restrain
China with the aid of military means," the Renmin Ribao newspaper claims.
And the English-language Global Times expressed itself even more
trenchantly: "China will never give up the right to defend its cardinal
interests via military methods," the publication writes.
These words should not be taken for the bravado of the reporters working
in the newspaper. Back in March Beijing warned American officials visiting
the PRC that the South China Sea is the sphere of its cardinal interests.
According to the information of The New York Times, China is preparing its
Navy to counter a potential adversary. It is actively building aircraft
carriers and nuclear submarines armed with ballistic missiles.
The dispute over the islands in the South China Sea, into which virtually
all the coastal countries have been drawn, bears a very acute character.
The maritime trade route through which China delivers energy sources and
through which goods from the Middle Kingdom find their way to Europe and
the Near East passes through this region. In addition, it is believed that
rich resources of oil and gas are hidden under the seabed.
In 1988 a battle erupted between the Chinese and Vietnamese navies in the
region of the disputed Paracel Islands. Three Vietnamese ships were sunk.
Beijing has also warned foreign oil companies that they should not
conclude agreements with Vietnam to prospect for oil in this region.
The strengthening of China's positions in East Asia is of concern to its
neighbors. The other day, Japan announced for the first time in the past
three decades that it will increase its submarine fleet. Earlier,
submarines were acquired by Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia.
The mood of anx iety of China's neighbors is a factor allowing Washington
to strengthen ties with traditional allies and to recruit new ones. Tokyo
has agreed to retain the American military base in Okinawa, while South
Korea decided to keep its armed forces under the command of an American
general.
In conversation with Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Pavel Kamenov, a leading
research assistant at the Russian Academy of Sciences Far East Institute,
recalled that in 2002 the coastal countries of the South China Sea agreed
in Phnom Penh that they should have equal access to resources and to
resolve vexed questions by means of consensus. China proceeds in its
policy on the basis of the provisions of this document. The exacerbation
of the situation , in the expert's opinion, is caused by the fact that the
United States is apprehensive about the growth of China's powe r, and
fears losing its dominant influence in the region. "China, on the other
hand, is seeking to establish normal relations wi th the United States.
But not at the price of concessions on problems touching the PRC's
security," Nezavisimaya Gazeta 's interlocutor concluded.
(Description of Source: Moscow Nezavisimaya Gazeta Online in Russian --
Website of daily Moscow newspaper featuring varied independent political
viewpoints and criticism of the government; owned and edited by
businessman Remchukov; URL: http://www.ng.ru/)
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.
104) Back to Top
Deputy USTR Says US-ROK FTA's Ratification to Enhance Exports, Jobs
Updated version: Replacing 1642 GMT version with update provided by source
at 2239 GMT; Following is source-supplied update to referent item; By
Hwang Do o-hyong: "(LEAD) Korea FTA's ratification to enhance exports,
jobs: Deputy USTR (ATTN: ADDS Rep. Levin's remarks in paras 11-12)," "(2nd
LD) U.S. to focus on auto, beef in FTA negotiations: Kirk (ATTN: CHANGES
headline, lead; ADDS remarks by Kirk throughout)" - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:19:35 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.
105) Back to Top
DAG Says No One in Custody Under Suspicion of Contact With Shehzad
"Contact With Faisal Sh ehzad -- No One Is in Intelligence Agencies'
Custody: Deputy Attorney General" -- Online headline - Jang
Thursday July 29, 2010 18:41:12 GMT
arrest of five individuals by the intelligence agencies under suspicion of
contact with Faisal Shehzad, who is under arrest in Time Square attack
case, the Supreme Court has asked the attorney general to submit the
detailed report by 6 August. The hearing was conducted by a three-member
Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
On this occasion, presenting the report to the learned court, Deputy
Attorney General (DAG) Tariq Agha said that no person was in custody of
the intelligence agencies under the suspicion of contact with Faisal
Shehzad.
Asghar Hussain, the lawyer of the two missing persons, Salman Ashraf and
Ahmed Raza, said that, in a meeting with the family members of the two,
the interior m inister had clarified that they would be released after the
investigation.
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Jang in Urdu The War, an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations)
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.
106) Back to Top
PML Leader Says Army Chief's Service Extension Should Benefit People
Unattributed report: "Army Chief Should Prove Extension Right By Taking
Decisions In Interest Of Nation: Kabir Wasti" - Jang
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:56:00 GMT< /div>
League (PML), has said to Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani that he
should prove his extension right by taking decisions in the interest of
the Pakistani nation, instead of the United States or the ruling Pakistan
People's Party (PPP).
In a statement of his, he said that the decision of extending army chief's
service tenure is good; however, the army chief would have to show that
the decision has benefited the Pakistani people. He said that considering
the growing chaos in the country, corruption, refusal to abide by Supreme
Court's orders, rental power, LNG, Pakistan Steel, Pakistan International
Airline (PIA), and other scandals, the army chief had been granted
three-year extension. He said therefore, the army chief should play his
role.
He said that it would be utterly wrong to say that the army has no role in
politics; it always had and would always have in future. He said:
"Therefore, I want to sa y to the army that it should not be a silent
spectator because the country is moving toward failure."
He said that if General Kayani kept serving only the United States and
corrupt politicians, the nation would be completely disappointed with the
army, which would be very dangerous for the integrity and security of the
country. He said that the decision of extending service tenure was a right
decision; however, it should benefit the people. He said that the courts
should have strong support so that they could hold strict accountability.
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Jang in Urdu The War, an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations)
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.
107) Back to Top
Nigerian Women's 100m Record Holder Aims Higher
Xinhua: "Nigerian Women's 100m Record Holder Aims Higher" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 18:09:46 GMT
NAIROBI, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's rising women sprint star Blessing
Okagbare believes she can only get better after breaking the 14-year-old
African Championships record in women's 100m to give Nairobi's 17th
Championships its first event record on Thursday.
Starting slow from the blocks, the University of Texas El Paso General
Studies major accelerated from 40m and dipped across the line in a
remarkable 11.03 in Nairobi's high altitude, matching her season's best
that was run at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon that mad e her Africa's
fastest woman this year."I wanted to run faster but the tension was so
high before the start," Okagbare told Xinhua after emerging tops in the
final."I was afraid of false starting and I decided to get off the blocks
slowly and try to catch up from 30m to 40m. I know I did not make the best
start but it's a huge relief the 100m is out of my way, I'm so
relieved."The 22-year-old is gunning for three victories at the
championships, with the 200m and long jump competitions still to
come."There's not much time to celebrate this. I have to keep on training
and focusing for the other two events," the athlete who gave Nigeria their
second gold in a matter of minutes said. Okagbare obliterated the 11.05
previous championship best run by her compatriot, Mary Onyali in 1998.Seun
Adigun had given the West Africans their first gold when she fired to a
13.14 victory in the women's 100m hurdles final.Asked whether training in
the United States had improved her craft, Okagbare disclosed: "The good
thing about training there is because I can focus since its all about me,
myself and I as well as how far I can push myself."The new African women
dash champion ended the reign of compatriot, Damola Osayomi who took
bronze (11.22) with Gabon's Pau Milama (11.15), who made a great start,
dipping for silver."I believe I can only get faster with time and my aim
is to be as competitive as I can be at the top level. For now, I thank God
for this victory that has made me very happy," she said.(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.
108) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Feature': Rain Dampens Rescue Efforts in Pakistani Plane Crash as
Nation Mourns
Xinhua "Feature": "Rain Dampens Rescue Efforts in Pakistani Plane Crash as
Nation Mourns" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 10:07:11 GMT
ISLAMABAD, July 29 (Xinhua)-- Nature joins the aggrieved Pakistani nation
Thursday that mourns the death of 152 people killed in Wednesday's
passenger plane crash in the capital city Islamabad, as desperate
relatives were frustrated because search for a dozen more missing bodies
was seriously compromised due to heavy monsoon rains.
There was not a single eye that did not burst into tears when three bodies
including a newly-wed couple arrived in Karachi early Thursday morning.
Five more bodies are also being sent by air to Karachi, an aviation
sources told Xinhua.Submerged d eep into grief and sorrow many others
awaiting relatives did not wink an eye the whole night still frustrated
around airports and hospitals for news about their perished loved ones.
The funeral prayers in absentia (an Islamic faith observance to pay homage
to dead) has also been offered across the country.Some relatives of the
victims protested at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS),
Islamabad, on Thursday morning for delay in handing over of bodies of
their relatives. Most remained clueless even after traveling long
distances to Islamabad about the remains of their relatives."We spent an
uncomfortable night under the open raining sky after traveling to
Islamabad," complained Mubashir, whose sobbing red eyes matched all others
around at the PIMS hospital. "We have been asked to run around to morgue
in one corner and for DNA test to the other," he added.All onboard 152
people including six crew members were perished when the private airliners
Airbus-321 medium sized jet crashed a minute after it lost communication
with airport's control tower at 9:43 a.m. local time into the wooded
Margalla hills surrounding the northeast of Islamabad on Wednesday amid
heavy rains and dense fog.The ill-fated flight also carried two Americans,
a spokesman of the United States embassy in Islamabad confirmed with
Xinhua.Some 138 bodies were brought to PIMS after being airlifted by seven
Pakistani military helicopters that supplemented the rescue efforts on
Wednesday widely participated by an infantry battalion troops,
firefighters, politicians and local residents.After completing postmortem
on 112 bodies, 94 were shifted to morgue, hospital sources said, adding
that 55 bodies were handed over to their relatives after identification.
However, rest of agonizing relatives would have to wait for a week until
the DNA test results to identify the torn body parts of the victims.The
"Black Box" of flight ED-202 also could not be found, Pakistani
information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira admitted before the media after
conflicting statements about the recovery and subsequent decoding of the
much need equipment to explore the cause of the crash. The minister also
announced half a million rupees compensation for each victim of the
crash.Pakistani Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, who took an aerial view of
the site along with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and chief
ministers of the four provinces on the day of incident, also joined the
latest official chorus on the missing informative equipment.Despite heavy
rains, with masks wrapped over their noses, a 35- member team search and
rescue team of capital city's municipal authority is still searching for
the Black Box and remains of the remaining victims in a saddened
atmosphere filled with smells of blood, decomposing and burned human body
parts at the site of the plane crash in the foothills of Margalla
hills."Black Box can help us in the invest igation," Interior minister
Rehman Malik said as a 6-member investigation committee has been formed to
investigate the incident that is keeping the white and green crescent and
star studded Pakistani flag at the half mast, as both Prime Minister
Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari announced Thursday as a day of
mourning in the Islamic nation.(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.
109) Back to Top
China Calls on US To Contribute To Bilateral Military Exchange
Xinhua: "China Calls on US To Contribute To Bilateral Military Exchange" -
Xinhua
Friday July 30, 2010 04:31:52 GMT
BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday called on the United States
to "handle carefully" sensitive issues such as arms sale to Taiwan and
contribute to the development of military-to-military relations between
the two countries.
Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng, spokesman of China's Ministry of National
Defense made the call after being asked to comment on the possibility of
military- to-military exchanges between the two countries in the near
future after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked at length
about U.S. "national interests" in the South China Sea recently.China has
attached great importance to and has taken a positive attitude towards the
development of military relations between the two countries, Geng said,
adding China has made unremitting efforts in this regard.He urged the U.S.
to create &qu ot;favorable environment and conditions" to promote
military- to-military relations between the countries.In January, China
cut off some military exchanges with the U.S. following the Pentagon's
decision to sell a nearly 6.4-billion-U.S.-dollar arms package to Taiwan,
an inalienable part of China.Subsequently, none of the planned high-level
visits between the two militaries have been possible over the last six
months.(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.
110) Back to Top
PRC Military Spokesman Calls On US to 'Handle Carefully' Sensitive Issues<
br>Updated version: rewording subject line for clarity, adding Urgent,
Military topic tags; Xinhua: "China Calls on US To Contribute To Bilateral
Military Exchange" - Xinhua
Friday July 30, 2010 04:35:51 GMT
(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.
111) Back to Top
Polish Special Forces Set To Join Elite NATO Club, Launch Recruitment
Drive
Report by Edyta Zemla: "Searching for Commandos" - rp.pl
Thurs day July 29, 2010 12:10:41 GMT
"There are a lot of people interested in serving in the special forces,
which is why every commander has the right to choose only the best," Major
Jacek Poplawski from the DWS explains. "That is why both the head of the
Special Forces and the commanders of particular units routinely take
advantage of this right by carrying out various types of selection courses
that correspond to the characteristics of the given unit under their
command."
"We need to organize selection courses in order to choose the best
applicants. But expanding the ranks of our units is not everything," an
officer from the GROM explains. "People leave and we routinely have to
fill in these vacancies." No Worse Than the Americans
As Rzeczpospolita has learned, a informational-promotional campaign will
soon be launched to attract individuals interested in serving as command
os in the Army.
"Among other things, we plan to publish information on special forces
units and the selection process in military interest magazines," says an
officer from the GROM.
As Rzeczpospolita's sources emphasize, the most difficult selection
process is reserved for the GROM. The unit has been compared to the best
special forces regiments in the world: the US Delta Force, British SAS, or
Israeli Sayeret Matkal. The GROM's strength lies in its commandos. They
have to be selected very carefully. Applicants' skills, predispositions,
strength, and character are all put to the test.
"I cannot imagine someone being accepted into the GROM who has not gone
through the selection process. This is a kind of test that is designed to
show whether a given individual is fit to serve in the unit," says Andrzej
Kruczynski, the former commander of a GROM combat group.
General Slawomir Petelicki was the founder and two-time commander of the
JW (military unit) 2305 GROM special forces regiment, which is celebrating
its 20th anniversary this year. Together with a group of handpicked men,
Petelicki also personally went through the unit's first selection process
in the mountains of the United States. "We showed the Americans at the
time that even though we were just beginning, we were still able to
perform under the most difficult conditions," Gen Petelicki says.
Following this test, Gen Petelicki began to recruit the first commandos in
Poland together with American Delta Force instructors.
Piotr Cien-Maciejczyk was one of the people who found themselves in this
first group. He graduated from the Land Forces Military Academy in Wroclaw
in 1991. Murderous Mountain Trek
"Among our graduating class of 200, 25 people were accepted into the JW
2305 after the first selection," Cien-Maciejczyk recalls.
Before this happened, however, the young officers did not even know what
the unit's purpose was or what tasks it performed. They also had no
information about how to prepare for the selection process or whether it
would even take place at all. They had to get to the Bieszczady Mountains
on their own in a matter of hours. Once there, they faced a murderous trek
through the mountains.
What does the selection process usually look like? One of the tests
involves crossing a rope suspended over a stream -- the so-called
commando's bridge. Another test requires applicants to reach a designated
spot armed with only a map and without using any roads or encountering any
people. The applicant's knowledge of topography is tested en route, and
one of the exercises entails, for example, finding specific locations that
have been marked by instructors. Applicants are often woken up in the
middle of the night and given another route to complete. These first
exercises are only a warm up, in addition to serving as an intelligence
test.
< br>"The selection process is primarily a test of character," says
Cien-Maciejczyk.
Cien-Maciejczyk became an instructor during his time in the GROM and now
conducts his own selection courses. "Each one is different," he says. "A
lot depends on the weather and the tasks assigned by instructors."
This opinion is confirmed by Krzysztof Przepiorka, another former GROM
officer. "Out of a group of 30 applicants, there were times when no one
passed the selection process and was admitted to the GROM basic training
course."
In spite of this, on average, one out of every 10 applicants passes the
test. Civilians Also Can
The GROM's selection process was primarily developed on the basis of the
British model.
"After completing the process, only the best recruits are accepted into
the unit -- individualists who share a great passion for the special
forces," says Gen Petelicki.
He adds that the s election process in the GROM continues even after the
initial test. "First during training and then in combat operations. No
mistakes can be concealed because human lives are at stake."
Future GROM commandos are most often recruited from other military units,
the police, or intelligence agencies. Even so, civilians can also apply to
serve in Poland's most elite special forces unit. University graduates
such as physicians and computer scientists are particularly encouraged to
apply.
(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)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiri es regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
112) Back to Top
Peruvian President Announces Cancellation of US Mining Firm's License
"Peru announces cancellation of U.S.-owned miner's license" -- EFE
Headline - EFE
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:24:26 GMT
(Description of Source: Madrid EFE in English -- Independent Spanish press
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.
113) Back to Top
Jbeil Church Renovated With US Heritage Aid
"Jbeil Church Renovated With US Heritage Aid" -- The Daily Star Headline -
The Daily Star Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:24:02 GMT
Thursday, July 29, 2010
BEIRUT: United States Ambassador Michele Sison and Minister of
CultureSalim Wardy, toured a newly renovated church of Behdaidat in the
area of Jbeilon Wednesday in a show of cultural collaboration between the
two countries.The pair toured the 13th century church and viewed its many
frescoes that havebeen restored to their former glory thanks to a
contribution from the USAmbassador-s Fund for Cultural Preservation. The
reconstruction work hasbeen conducted in partnership with the Culture
Ministry-s Directorate ofAntiquities.The US Embassy contributed $44,000 in
September 2009 to fund the project, whichis seen to be of grave cultural
and touristic value to the region and it ishoped the renovation will
reinvigorate the local economy as well as inc reasethe number of visitors
to the site.'This project will preserve these local treasures for future
generations,as well as provide an economic stimulus to the region through
increasedtourism,' a US Embassy statement said. 'The Ambassador-s
Funddemonstrates the United States- respect for other cultures-
richtraditions by assisting in the preservation of culturally
significantlandmarks, historical artifacts and oral traditions.'Since 2003
the US has provided some $400,000 for cultural preservation projectsin
Lebanon which has gone toward preserving the Ras-Nahel Khalwet
religioussite in the Chouf Mountains and the Mubarakeh Tower in Tyre.It
has also helped to revive the Hermitage of Mar Bichay at the Mar
AntoniosMonastery in Ehden, a Roman-era temple in Temnin in the Bekaa, and
thecannon-mounting sites and a 13th-century Crusaders- church on the
Rabbitand Fanar Islands off the coast of Mina, near Tripoli.The US
Ambassadors Fund is 10 years old and has helped to restore some 6 40sites
of cultural importance across the world. - The Daily Star(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.
114) Back to Top
Experts See No Big US Arms Sales To Taiwan This Year
Unattributed article from the "Taiwan" page: "Experts See No Big US Arms
Sales To Taiwan This Year" - The China Post Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:53:23 GMT
TAIPEI -- U.S. officials will defer any major new arms sales to Taiwan
until at least 2011 as Beijing s teps up pressure on Washington, where
mending Sino-U.S. ties is a priority, defense analysts say.
Sales of anything more than minor parts or low end upgrades will wait
until early next year, possibly much longer, letting Taiwan trail further
in the balance of power against China but advancing relations between the
two superpowers, analysts say.
China has used stronger language and action this year, including the
snubbing of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, to deter arms sales to
Taiwan, the self ruled and democratic island Beijing claims as its own and
has threatened to take by force if necessary.
Taiwan depends on its staunchest informal ally the United States for arms
and wants new systems to keep up with China.
The island says military strength is crucial even though the two sides
have discussed trade and transit links since 2008 under China-friendly
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou after decades of hostilities, lifting local
financial markets .
A delay in getting new weapons systems would further tip a balance of
power that already favors China, putting Beijing in an even stronger
position to push any potential political resolution between the two sides.
China is rapidly modernizing its military, putting particular emphasis on
boosting its air force and navy. Taiwan says it has seen no sign of China
removing missiles aimed at the island and estimates the number may rise
from about 1,400 to as high as 2,000 this year.
Yet U.S. President Barack Obama is seen focusing more on domestic issues
and ties with China, the world's third-largest economy and holder of
billions of dollars in U.S. treasuries.
"It's a combination, the perfect storm," said Wendell Minnick, Asia bureau
chief with Defense News. "You've got Obama dealing with domestic issues,
you've got China ramping it up and you've got better Taiwan-China ties."
Some analysts anticipate a brief resumption of arms sales in early 2011
because Sino-U.S. contact normally dwindles at that time of year when both
sides take holidays. But most expect Obama to defer the deals as long as
China and Taiwan get along.
"Given improvement in cross-Strait relations, Washington doesn't want to
see any escalation of arms, so I don't think anything will come out of
2011," said Raymond Wu, managing director of Taipei-based political risk
consultancy e-telligence.
Stuck in the pipeline are an upgrade to Taiwan's existing U.S.-made F-16
fighter jets, six new cargo aircraft and an overhaul to a fleet of
Lafayette frigates, Minnick said. Taiwan has also asked for 66 new
later-model F-16s.
Any of those deals would outrage China, which reacted angrily when the
U.S. government approved a US$6.4-billion arms package earlier this year.
Increasingly confident as its economic might grows, China postponed
Sino-U.S. military exchanges and threatened sanctions against U.S. f irms
that sell arms to Taiwan, although little has come of that threat to date.
"China's words and actions are stronger compared to the past," said Niu
Jun, a Peking University international relations professor. "It's not a
new tactic but it's getting stronger."
U.S. officials are coy about the timing of future arms sales, insisting
that they do not consult China. But analysts say Washington listens
attentively whenever Beijing makes noise.
"When it all boils down to it, it is Chinese pressure and threats," said
Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council.
(Description of Source: Taipei The China Post Online in English -- Website
of daily newspaper which generally supports the pan-blue parties and
issues; URL: http://www.chinapost.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. I nquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
115) Back to Top
25 Years as An Executive in Korea - JoongAng Daily Online
Friday July 30, 2010 00:47:44 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Just two days before leaving the country in which he has
lived for 25 years, William Oberlin, 66, former president of Boeing Korea,
seemed quite calm. In an interview yesterday at the company's office in
central Seoul, Oberlin didn't shed any tears, but instead pleasantly
shared his fond memories of Korea and also his excitement at starting his
retirement in Hawaii.
"I think I've got everything done that I need to get done before I leave,"
he said. "And I can do everything else that I wanted to do in Korea when I
come back here (to visit), probably around Christmas time."Though Oberlin
is originally from Texas, he considers Korea his second home, not only
because his wife is Korean and he has family and friends here, but also
because he's personally witnessed the country's modern history taking
shape."Korea now is a very wired society, and to some degree, even more
than the United States," he said, adding that Koreans can do more online
than American citizens can."The United States is slowly trying to catch up
to where Korea is, as far as broadband capability," Oberlin said. "Koreans
use the Internet for just about all the daily functions that normally
would have been thought of before as something done over the telephone or
by filling out a form."The former executive did emphasize just how recent
Korea's growth into an IT power was. He remembers vividly his first peek
of traditional Korea, when he arrived at Gimpo International Airport in
1985."I was a helicopter salesman for the Boeing Company, and we used
Telex (automated telegrams) to communicate," he explained. "The first
Boeing office opened in 1988 here in the Kyobo Building, and we had a
Telex machine," a rarity at the time.Not very long after, around the early
1990s, Korea began adopting the Internet and e-mail as business tools, and
in no time, "Korea took off like a rocket and left countries like the
United States behind."Oberlin also recalled the growing number of family
cars on the streets, the modernization of the Seoul skyline and the growth
in the number of Korean-American returnees."Until many years ago, you
didn't see a lot of gyopos or Koreans who've been living overseas coming
into Korea," he recalled. "Now, they're everywhere, and I think they add a
lot to the country from a society and business point of view."One of the
greatest improvements, Oberlin said, was the establishment of
organizations run to promote business here, such as chambers of commer
ce.Oberlin himself has held many roles that contributed to the Korean
business community, including his two terms as chairman of the American
Chamber of Commerce in Korea, from 2003 to 2004 and 2007 to 2008."One of
the policies I wanted to ensure that Amcham followed was that whatever
we're trying to do to improve the foreign business community should at the
same time improve domestic Korean business," he said."We didn't really
want to choose sides - it's not like us against them - but it's about
improving the opportunities in many regards," he said.The most frustrating
problem he faced at Amcham, Oberlin said, was the Korea-U.S. free trade
agreement."It's not Korea's fault but the U.S." that the deal is not yet
ratified, he mused. Nevertheless, Oberlin expects it to pass in six to
eight months."There's a mechanism in the agreement that alleviates some of
the concerns businesses hold," he said, calling the bilateral trade deal
balanced , and fair. Oberlin also noted complaints from foreign businesses
about Korean government regulation."What you need in a regulatory business
environment is transparency so that it's fully understandable and
comprehensible, but more than that, predictable," he said. "Businesses
don't like unpredictability, as it means risk, and to a business, risk is
money."What's troublesome in Korea today is probably the lack of labor
flexibility," he said, calling it difficult to lay off workers, even
temporarily, in lean times. To promote flexibility, Oberlin suggested the
government help create a social safety net for workers to make sure they
are taken care of until business picks up again.Oberlin is confident that
"the Korean government is moving quite well in the direction of creating a
social security net for laborers."(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.
116) Back to Top
Interior Ministry Defies LHC For Pleading Dr Aafias Case in US Court
Report by Hamid Nawaz: Non-submission of documentary evidences: LHC seeks
explanation from Secretary Interior Ministry - Business Recorder Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:05:34 GMT
LAHORE (July 29 2010): The Lahore High Court (LHC) o n Wednesday sought
explanation from Secretary Interior Ministry asking as to why the ministry
failed to provide documentary evidences with regard to innocence of Dr
Afia Siddiqui to the ministry of foreign affairs for the delivery to the
US court.
Earlier, a reply on behalf of Sohail Khan, Director General American Desk
at the Ministry of Foreign Ministry was submitted in the court. The reply
revealed that an official letter along with press clippings telling facts
about the Dr Afia's case had been sent to Pakistani Ambassador Hussain
Haqqani in the US. It said the ambassador would deliver the same to the US
State Department and the court, which was going to announce its verdict in
Afia's trial on August 16.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffrey, who filed contempt petition against the
ministry, pointed out that the interior ministry had not given documentary
evidences to the Foreign Ministry but relied on media reports only. He
said the Interior Ministry did not follo w court's directions in letter
and sprit. The court observed that it seemed the Interior Ministry had not
taken solid steps to plead the case of Dr Afia before the US court.
He directed the Interior Secretary to file reply by August 2 and explain
his position in the case. Barrister Jaffrey pleaded that last month the
court had directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write an official
letter to the trial court at the US district court of New York stating
that Dr Afia Siddiqui was illegally kidnapped from Karachi in 2003 along
with her three innocent children.
He contended that Sohail Khan, Director General American Desk at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs had flouted court's orders due to influence
and pressure and did not write a letter despite of several reminders. He
sought contempt of court proceedings against the ministry's official.
(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The gro up also owns Aaj News TV;
URL: http://www.brecorder.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.
117) Back to Top
Article Says Gen Kayani's Objective, Goal, Loyalties for Country
Article by Nusrat Mirza: "General KayaniEndorsement of Service Extension"
- Jang
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:38:16 GMT
three-year extension to his service tenure. Nobody is surprised over it,
for everybody knew that it would happen because of several reasons. The
first is that Gen Kayani has a great role in the restoration of democracy;
and the second is that Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf played havoc with
the image of the Army so much so that public emotions against the Army
increased to the point of hatred. Gen Kayani, with extreme dexterity but
patience and tolerance, restored the image of the Army. Then, he won
popularity in Pakistan through taking control of Swat, Malakand, and South
Waziristan, and also astounded the Western world.
The people were raising an outcry before Swat operation that the Taliban
of Swat were only 60-km away from Islamabad. This development sent a wave
of concern to the West. They were thinking that Pakistan was trapped in a
quagmire, and now it was about to slip from hands. The US military
officers wanted to visit Swat and see for themselves whether it was really
in Pakistan's control. They used to ask Gen Kayani how it had happened.
They were told that it was our land. The people here are patriotic. They
suffered troubles, but kept the Pakistani flag high.
Similarly, the successes in Malakand and South Waziristan raised the
importance of Gen Kayani in the eyes of the West and they started
considering him a successful general. However, a sort of jealously crept
in why the Pakistan Army succeeded and why they could not succeed in
Afghanistan. They should know that they are occupying forces, and we have
succeeded in our country. We are battling the terrorists with the help of
our own people. Then, people had expected that he would be appointed chief
of all three forces. Perhaps, it might happen in future.
According to the confirmed sources, Lieutenant General (ret) Athar Ali,
defense secretary general, and Lt Gen Imtiaz, Army Welfare director
general, jointly prepared the summary of extension in his service tenure.
Both these generals are childhood classmates of Gen Kayani. All three of
them studied in the same school in Jhelum, whereas the successes of this
taciturn general in Swat, Malakand, and South Waziristan were mentioned,
several other concerns also came under discussion, like the judiciary m ay
summon him in some case after his retirement. The suggestions given in
this connection said that as the general, himself, was not desirous of
extension in his service tenure. Therefore, his tenure should be extended
for three years keeping his services in view. However, to make this
extension honorable, it was thought he would be requested for extension
through a parliamentary resolution. The cabinet should do so (request Gen
Kayani) or (conjunction as published) the prime minister should announce
this decision.
The idea of extension through resolution was dropped on logical grounds.
The cabinet approval was also not termed necessary. However, to keep his
image intact, the prime minister gave an extraordinary importance to the
issue of extension in his service tenure through a special announcement
aired on radio and television.
It is pertinent to mention that the US officials are impressed by the way
Gen Kayani talks, his strategy, his continued success and his way of
devising a military strategy as a good general. Gen McChrystal was quite
close to Gen Kayani. However, considering the sensitivity of the
situation, Gen David Petreaus, also, admits his importance. He also came
to meet him. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has held a one-to-one
meeting with him, during her recent visit and also supported extension in
his service tenure and she even expressed so.
However, it was thought here that the government would not extend service
tenure of Gen Kayani if it were in its power. It is also being said that
the decisive war against terror that is going to be launched in October
will receive a serious blow if continuance of Gen Kayani is not
maintained. Therefore, the incumbent g overnment had no options except to
issue a notification of extension in service tenure of Gen Kayani in an
honorable way. Now, after this extension in service, the year of
retirement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Gen Ashfaq Per
vez Kayani is the same. According to the prime minister, the tenure of his
office and that of the president is also the same as that of the Army
chief.
There is no doubt that Gen Kayani has played an important role in
promoting democracy. Had he not played his role, it was not possible to
get rid of a tyrant ruler like Gen (ret) Pervez Musharraf. His plan of
helping the PML-Q (Pakistan Muslim League-Qaid Azam) win and continue to
be president, himself, would have succeeded. However, it is also a fact
that Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani made no compromise on loyalty with the
country and sanctity of his institution. He showed out this Gen (ret)
Pervez Musharraf, who practically promoted Gen Kayani, for, that way, the
institution of the Army was getting unpopular among the public and
interests of Pakistan were at stake.
That general was a strange man who was ready to sign any deal with anyone
for his own interests. He permitted approximately 100 US officials to look
for Usama Bin Ladin in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and they
formed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). They turned this entire movement
against Pakistan in three phases. First, their objective was to wage a war
against the United States, which was a popular creed. Then, the war
against the Pakistan Army was termed necessary as it was friend of the
United States Third, since the Pakistani people were not supporting them,
killing of innocent people was declared legitimate. Here, they were
exposed and the Pakistani people united against them, and the war on
terror was won. The Pakistani Armed Forces protected this country by
offering sacrifices of blood and moved forward this strategy with
steadfastness and perseverance. This led to the increase in the popularity
of Gen Kayani in the country as well as abroad.
Therefore, in that case, it should be kept in view that the objective,
goal and loyalties of Gen Kayani are for the country, not for any person
or a party. The refore, the government should now have some sense and
should avoid resorting daily to immature attitude and lowly mannerisms. It
should say good-bye whether it is the issue of accountability or fake
degrees, tale of corruption or issue of maladministration or bad
governance. It should gag the mouths of the shopping malls, shops,
barrows, and purses of corruption, for a new chapter is about to start,
now. The situation, circumstances and the Pakistani people will force the
Pakistani institutions to bring back the plundered wealth. If justice
rules here; if interests of the country are protected; if Pakistan's power
is recognized, and foreign pressure is thwarted; if the government thinks
about the Pakistani people's welfare and the corruption ends; if people
get employment opportunities, prices come down, and peace and safety rule
in Pakistan; there is a chance that the extension in Gen Kayani's service
tenure will win endorsement.
(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Ja ng in Urdu The War, an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports improvement in Pakistan-India relations)
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.
118) Back to Top
Wikileaks Propaganda Harmful For Pakistan-US Alliance: Foreign Affairs
Secretary
Recorder Report: Wikileaks propaganda a malicious attempt to defame
Pakistan - Business Recorder Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:16:47 GMT
ISLAMABAD (July 29 2010): Secretary Foreign Affairs Salman Bashir on
Wednesday condemne d the Wikileaks propaganda in strongest possible terms,
terming it a malicious attempt to defame Pakistan before the international
community.
Talking to a select group of journalists on Wednesday, he said although
the US administration disowned the allegations made against security
forces and intelligence agencies of Pakistan for their roles in Afghan war
and supporting Taliban, yet persisted that such propaganda tantamounts to
defame government, security forces and intelligence agencies.
The US administration must stop this propaganda which is damaging Pak-US
alliance in war against terror. He said Pakistan has always gone by the
book and never violated the UN Charter in last 60 years. He said we did
not need any certification from anyone or dictation how to run security
forces or intelligence agencies. "We all act in the best interest of our
country and hold our own norms and values according to our religion," he
added.
Earlier, during procee dings of the National Assembly's PAC Sub Committee,
he agreed to hold a ministerial meeting to formulate new rules for opening
fresh accounts by government department with foreign missions abroad. He
informed the committee that opening an account abroad by government
departments was not a pre-requisite to obtain permission from the ministry
of foreign affairs. But the Foreign Office was answerable to audit for
such account, which was irrelevant.
The PAC issued directive that all government departments would obtain
formal permission from the ministry of foreign affairs and the ministry of
finance prior to opening an account abroad for any purpose. In this
respect, PAC directed to hold a meeting of the ministry of foreign
affairs, the ministry of finance and the audit department to make fresh
rules.
(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder .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.
119) Back to Top
Pakistani Press Takbeer 17-23 Dec 2009
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735. - Takbeer
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:42:06 GMT
1. Saifullah Khalid
claims that armed foreigners swagger anywhere at will. The country is an
easy target of terrorism, and hundreds of innocent people have been killed
in such activities; however, there is a new phenomenon which is more
worrisome. A number of Americans have been caught moving in big vehicles
with fake license plates in differen t cities. They behave arrogantly and
refuse to be frisked. Such incidents have taken place in Islamabad,
Lahore, and also near the Chashma nuclear plant. A Punjab minister says
that they are on intelligence duty. It is a pity that they are let to go
under diplomatic immunity, and law enforcers are taken to task for
responding to the call of duty. All this is undesirable and should be
condemned. (pp 9-11, 2,300 words)
2. Najmul Hasan Arif portrays a gloomy side of Lahore. US personnel have
now swarmed Lahore. In the guise of Blackwater, journalists, members of
NGOs, or simply intelligence personnel, they strut anywhere in Punjab.
They have taken photographs of all important installations in Lahore with
impunity. The security staff on Egerton Road leading to the US Consulate
witnesses unhindered movement of 8-10 such dubious vehicles everyday. Asif
Zahoor, a Ravian, tried to frisk them, but was admonished and forbidden to
indulge in such activities in the future. These elements have also been
found to be active in Multan, Vehari, Bahwalpur, and surrounding areas.
What do they do there? (pp 12-13, 2,000 words)
3. Muhammad Qasim says that the CIA lies to Prime Minister Gilani,
according to Rehman Malik. After the CIA admitted that like in Iraq,
Blackwater was helping US forces in the war on terror, both the prime
minister and Rehman Malik have been proved wrong, who, earlier, refuted
even the existence of Blackwater in Pakistan. Three vehicles with fake
license numbers in black against red, which is the norm for diplomatic
vehicles, have been seen moving around. They are believed to target VIPs
like Dr A. Q. Khan and to destabilize Pakistan with wanton suicide
attacks. (pp 14, 600 words)
4. Threats of terrorism during Ashura (10th day of Muharram) are likely,
according to a Takbeer correspondent. Karachi seems to be wrapped up in
fear as Ashura approaches. Sixty three mosques and 80 imambargahs (place
where Shia Muslims gather to mourn the martyrdom of
Imam Hussain bin Ali) in 13 areas have been declared highly sensitive, and
law-enforcement agencies have taken extra measures to check any terrorist
activity. CCTV cameras have also been installed at sensitive places. (pp
18-19, 1,450 words)
5. An article by Abu Jalal says that the Balochistan Government has been
put to test and questions if it will cow down bureaucracy. The Pakistan
People's Party has emerged as the biggest party in Gilgit-Baltistan, and
Syed Mehdi Shah has rightfully become the chief minister of the new
province. So far, bureaucracy had been virtually calling the shots, and it
will be a big challenge for the new chief minister to deal with an
unbridled bureaucracy. However, it can be expected that Gilgit-Baltistan
will enter mainstream Pakistani politics and have its identity recognized.
(pp 20-23, 2,850 words)
6. An article by Abdul Hafeez Abid talks about the meaninglessness of the
Balochistan Package. It i s strange that the man who has been called a
murderer by the present government and who is also said to be responsible
for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is allowed to leave in dignity and
with full honors. The Balochistan Package is meaningless and until and
unless the murderer of Akbar Bugti is brought to book, Baluchis will not
be satisfied. The popularity that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had won
by leading the procession for restoration of judiciary is gradually
declining. It should play the role of a genuine opposition and not a
friendly opposition. Musharraf can, at least, be tried for his admission
that he sold the country to the United States, if not for any other crime.
(p p 24-27, 3,100 words)
(Description of Source: Karachi Takbeer in Urdu -- "Chanting of God is
Great," a weekly published by Afghan jihad veteran Rafiq Afghan. Carries
religious and political content and criticisms of the United States,
India, and the Pakistani Government. Circulation unknown.)
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.
120) Back to Top
Mac Chairwoman To Speak On Ecfa In U.S.
By Charles Kang and Fanny Liu - Central News Agency
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:18:22 GMT
Taipei, July 29 (CNA) -- Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Lai
Shin-yuan is scheduled to visit the United States, where she will deliver
a speech to a Washington-based think tank Aug. 4 on a landmark
cross-Taiwan Strait trade pact, an MAC official said Thursday.
Lai was invited by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to deliver the
speech on cross-strait relations in the wak e of the economic cooperation
framework agreement (ECFA) with China that was signed June 29.The speech
will be hosted by Gary Schmitt, a resident scholar at the AEI who is also
director of the institute's Program on Advanced Strategic Studies.Lai,
Taiwan's top China policymaker, will be the second Cabinet member to
explain the ECFA in the U.S. Government Information Office (GIO) Minister
Johnny Chiang also briefed several think tanks and media outlets in the
U.S. early this month about the trade pact.In addition to her keynote
speech at the AEI, Lai is also expected to talk about the ECFA during a
speech to overseas Taiwanese representatives in Los Angeles Aug. 6, the
MAC official said.The AEI said in its invitation that although signing the
ECFA signifies improved cross-strait relations, there are still conflicts
between China and Taiwan left unresolved, which is why it invited Lai to
speak on the issue.(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.
121) Back to Top
Madrid to cooperate with Iraq death probe if judge requests it - EFE
Thursday July 29, 2010 14:36:55 GMT
Text of report by Spanish news agency EfeMadrid, 29 July: Justice Minister
Francisco Caamano has said today that if National High Court Judge
Santiago Pedraz - who has ordered the search and capture of the (US)
soldiers accused over the death of the cameraman Jose Couso - requests
international legal cooperation, his department will "of course" provide
it."As we do with all judicial warrants, orders et cetera which judges
decide must be processed through the Justice Ministry," Caamano added at a
news conference to report on the agreement to transfer justice powers to
Murcia (province in southeast Spain), on being asked about Pedraz's
decision. He said the Justice Ministry respects the judge's decision and
recalled that the Supreme Court recently agreed "there were elements" to
support continuing the investigation and it therefore ordered the National
High Court to reopen the investigation into the death of the Telecinco (TV
channel) cameraman Jose Couso on 8 April 2003 in Baghdad (Iraq)."Judge
Pedraz's decision is a decision taken in the exercise of jurisdiction and
therefore in the exercise of his independence, which we must all respect,"
he said.Pedraz ordered the search, captur e and imprisonment with a view
to extradition of the three American soldiers accused over the cameraman's
death and asked the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) for
authorization to travel to the scene of the events and conduct an
inspection to investigate them.For their part, the journalists who
witnessed the cameraman's death expressed their readiness to travel to the
city together with the judge to show him in situ how the events took
place.(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.
122) Back to Top
Spanish judge orders US soldiers' arrest over Iraq killing - EFE
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:39:12 GMT
Text of report by Spanish news agency EfeMadrid, 29 July: National High
Court Judge Santiago Pedraz has ordered the search, capture and
imprisonment with a view to extradition of the three American soldiers
accused in the case of the death of the Telecinco (Spanish TV channel)
cameraman Jose Couso on 8 April 2003 in Baghdad (Iraq).Legal sources said
the judge also requested authorization from the General Council of the
Judiciary (CGPJ) to travel to Iraq between October and November for a
visual inspection of the scenes of the events.The Supreme Court ordered
the National High Court to reopen the investigation into Couso's death, on
the grounds that the military strategy known as "shock and awe" -
consisting of actions like the bombardment of people and property
protected in armed conflicts, like that which claimed Couso's life - is
criminally attributable to those w ho direct those operations.(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.
123) Back to Top
U.S. Gov't, Congress Leaders Call For Revision of FTA With Seoul - Chosun
Ilbo Online
Friday July 30, 2010 01:31:15 GMT
(CHOSUN ILBO) - U.S. administration and congressional leaders have called
for a drastic revision of the U.S. free trade agreement with Korea since
U.S. President Barack Obama set forth a guideline for concluding bilateral
FTA talks before the upcoming G20 summit in Seoul in November.
In a recent sp eech to members of the Communications Workers of America,
Sander Levin, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means which
oversees the Korea-U.S. FTA, called for revising the agreement. He
reiterated the importance of improving access to markets of "all
industrial products," including automobiles and beef.Levin said U.S.
companies currently "cannot ship refrigerators into Korea" while Korea has
"a completely open market" in the U.S.U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Wednesday told reporters, "It's been no secret that the biggest number of
complaints and concerns we've had about the Korean agreement were, in some
people's minds, just the unacceptable disparity in market access for
autos."He said imported cars account for less than 10 percent of the
Korean auto market, adding that it is hard to accept the fact that Korea
sells about 790,000 autos in the U.S. a year compared with a mere 7,000
American cars shipped to Korea.Kirk also complained about Korea putting
restrictions on imports of American beef, although the World Organization
for Animal Health (OIE) has classified the U.S. as "a controlled risk
country" for mad cow disease, meaning the beef is considered
safe.(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.
124) Back to Top
S. Korea's Industrial Output Grow s 16.9 Pct in June
Updated version: "ADDS finance ministry's assessment of economic
situations in 12-13 para" per 0103 GMT source update on 30 July; "ADDS
details in 2nd para, other info from 4th para" per 0014 GMT source update
on 30 July - Yonhap
Friday July 30, 2010 01:55:27 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.
125) Back to Top
Tajik cotton blacklisted by USA - Asia-Plus
Thursday July 29, 2010 08:18:17 GMT
The USA has blacklisted Tajik cotton for the suspected use of child labour
in its production, the Tajik weekly newspaper Asia-Plus reported on 21
July.Cotton produced in Tajikistan was included in the "black" list of the
USA for the first time, the report says.Tajikistan has sold 45,500 t of
cotton, worth 66.4m dollars, to foreign states so far this year, the
report says.Tajik cotton fibre was exported to Russia (28.4 per cent),
Turkey (27.4 per cent), Iran (25.5 per cent), Ukraine (5.6 per cent),
Moldova (3.1 per cent), Pakistan and Uzbekistan (2.4 per cent each) and
Belarus (1.5 per cent), it says, adding that the average price of cotton
fibre rose by 427 dollars compared to January-June 2009 and reached 1,459
dollars per tonne.According to information from the Tajik statistic
agency, the export of cotton from Tajikistan to the USA during the past
six months of this year did not even reach 0.5 per cent of the c ountry's
overall cotton export volume, the report says.(Description of Source:
Dushanbe Asia-Plus in Russian -- Privately-owned sociopolitical weekly;
launched in January 2000 by Asia-Plus media group; Chief Editor Umed
Bobokhonov, who reportedly owns Asia-Plus media group)
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.
126) Back to Top
No Software, No Future
"Viewpoint" column by Lee Cheol-ho, an editorial writer of the JoongAng
Ilbo: "No Software, No Future" - JoongAng Daily Online
Friday July 30, 2010 00:43:42 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Seoul National University's computer engineering
department has been unable to fill its classrooms for six years.
The biggest buzz words in the tech industry are definitely Apple Inc.. The
company has enthralled consumers as well as investors. Its stock price has
nearly doubled in just a year, topping Microsoft in the value of its
market capitalization. Apple has become the irrefutable new alpha dog of
the technology industry valued at over $200 billion, more than double what
Samsung Electronics is worth.Apple has hit home runs three times in a row
with the successes of the iPod, iPhone and iPad. In the accounting books,
Samsung Electronics is ahead with double the revenue of Apple and better
profits. Yet the Korean tech company's stock remains undervalued.Samsung
Electronics maintains dominance in mobile phones and electronics hardware.
It is the industry's most valuable player in semiconductors and liquid
crystal displays. Its product designs are top notch. The company's new
do-it-all handset Galaxy S with Android 2.1 software has become a
formidable competitor in the smartphone shoot-out.But the stock market
remains unimpressed because it doesn't have faith in the company's
longer-term value due to its lack of a software edge. Investors are wary
of how long Samsung Electronics can stay ahead in the fast-evolving tech
industry without core software inventiveness. The staggering ascension of
Apple is largely due to innovative software.Samsung Electronics cannot
help but envy Apple and Google for their respective mobile operating
platforms iOS and Android. It belatedly jumped onto the bandwagon by
acquiring local operating system developer TmaxSoft. But tech pundits
shook their heads. The software manpower in Korea is largely devoted to
developing game and portal applications. There are few resources left to
work on mobile open systems, insiders say.Fortunately, Samsung was able to
run Android on Galaxy S phones for free. But no one knows when Google will
start charging for its mobile operating system. The company also may
demand exclusive use of Android on all Samsung phones. Being on the
receiving end is always a place of insecurity and
vulnerability.Smartphones are only the beginning of smart technologies.
People are already talking about smart TVs and smart cars. Software will
be the survival tool in the tech ecosystem from now on. Without its own
software, no company will be able to remain competitive. Samsung and LG
will one day wake up and find themselves serving as factory lines for
foreign brands.We are not the only ones short of software manpower.
Qualified and well-trained software manpower is hard to find everywhere
except for the United States because most have been scouted by American
multinational companies and lured by fat salaries and benefit plans.We
have brought this zugzwang upon ourselves. Until 2000, computer
engineering departments of top technology universities like Seoul National
University and Kaist were the most popular among to p-tier high school
graduates. In fact, these departments generated more than 300 high growth
potential engineers.But now, computer engineering majors largely find jobs
in small companies. Large companies prefer graduates with overseas degrees
and software technology has long been snubbed. Software flagships NHN and
NCsoft have stayed afloat in this widely neglected field.Seoul National
University's computer engineering department has been unable to fill its
classrooms for six years in a row and graduates from the three top
technology universities with degrees in computer science number less than
100 a year.Software is a field that thrives on distinct and intense
talents, observes Kim Hyung-joo, professor of Seoul National University
School of Computer Science and Engineering."In the operating system field,
we don't need that many," he said. "Just 30 to 50 key members can make the
differe nce. They must be equipped with high intelligence, educational
background and ample experience."About 10 prodigies earn for 100,000 staff
members in software companies like Apple, Microsoft and Oracle. Among the
staff, many are from South Korea. They opted to go abroad on advice from
their seniors who told them working at local companies was a poor
prospect.The Korean software ecosystem has long been in danger. Under the
current system, it can't last for more than six or seven years. We have no
resources to challenge the infinite new world of smart technologies. We
should take interest in the newest success stories. A few that hit the
jackpot from software development can dictate the course of the
race.Without excellent manpower, we have no hope in the high-end market.
We will miss our opportunity to surf the future wave without a dedication
to software. The face of Samsung Electronics' chief executive Choi Geesung
does not look bright in spite of the company's record
earnings.(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.
127) Back to Top
Push in US for Taiwan To Enter ICAO
Unattributed article from the "Taiwan" page: "Push in US for Taiwan To
Enter ICAO" - Taipei Times Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 00:49:32 GMT
PAGE:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/Ne ws/taiwan/archives/2010/07/29/2003479096
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/07/29/20034 79096
TITLE: Push in US for Taiwan to enter ICAOSECTION: TaiwanAUTHOR:PUBDATE:
The resolution supporting Taiwan gaining observer status is expected to be
passed by the US House of Representative's Foreign Affairs CommitteeBy
William LowtherSTAFF REPORTER, WASHINGTONThursday, Jul 29, 2010, Page 3US
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on Tuesday called on US President
Barack Obama's administration to immediately push for Taiwan to be awarded
observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).(TAIPEI TIMES) - SAFETY: The resolution supporting Taiwan gaining
observer status is expected to be passed by the US House of
Representative's Foreign Affairs CommitteeBy William LowtherSTAFF
REPORTER, WASHINGTONThursday, Jul 29, 2010, Page 3
US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on Tuesday called on US President
Barack Obama's administration to immedi ately push for Taiwan to be
awarded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).
Blaming China for working behind the scenes to keep Taiwan out of ICAO,
she said: "The provincial and shortsighted manipulations of Beijing's
leaders who seek to deny Taiwan international space cannot stand in the
way of airport safety and security."Speaking on the floor of the House of
Representatives as a resolution was introduced calling for Taiwan to be
accorded ICAO observer status, Ros-Lehtinen said there was no doubt that
Taiwan, which provides air traffic control services for more than 1.3
million flights a year, needs to be part of the international organization
responsible for air safety and security."This is especially true in a
post-Sept. 11 world where security in the sky is of paramount importance
to not only the American people, but to all across the globe," she
said."It is time to bring to an end Beijing's petty parlor g ames of
one-upmanship and humiliating slights in the running of international
organizations," she said.Ros-Lehtinen added that if "the alleged thaw" in
cross-strait relations was to have any true significance, it must and
should begin in the meeting rooms of the ICAO and other international
organizations."Those passengers, including our American citizens who
travel on one of the almost 200,000 international flights headed to and
from Taiwan each year, expect and deserve every protection than can be
afforded," she said."The time to let Taiwan -begin to have constructive
and meaningful participation in (the) ICAO is long overdue. The United
States' State Department, as this resolution suggests, must assume a
leading role to ensure this happens as quickly as possible," she said.The
congressional resolution, which has now gone to the Foreign Affairs
Committee where it is expected to pass, argues that Taipei has been
impeded in its efforts to ma intain civil aviation practices in line with
international standards because of its inability to contact the ICAO for
up-to-date information.Nevertheless, "Taiwan has made every effort to
comply with the operating procedures and guidelines set forth by the
organization," the resolution says.It adds that the US government should
take a leading role in gaining international support for the conferral of
observer status to Taiwan in the ICAO and the US Department of State
should provide briefings to, or consult with, the US Congress on all
developments.(Description of Source: Taipei Taipei Times Online in English
-- Website of daily English-language sister publication of Tzu-yu Shih-pao
(Liberty Times), generally supports pan-green parties and issues; URL:
http://www.taipeitimes.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 dir ected to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
128) Back to Top
Three Zimbabwean Youths To Attend Young African Leaders Forum in US From
3-5 Aug
Report by Hendricks Chizhanje: "Zim Activists To Meet Obama" - ZimOnline
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:33:36 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg ZimOnline in English -- Zimbabwe
independent online news service, based in Johannesburg, critical of
government: URL: http://www.zimonline.co.za/)
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 Agency Says Working With Local Communities in Zimbabwe To Fight
HIV/AIDS
Report by Caroline Mvundura: "US Body Helps Communities Fight HIV/AIDS" -
ZimOnline
Thursday July 29, 2010 12:33:35 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg ZimOnline in English -- Zimbabwe
independent online news service, based in Johannesburg, critical of
government: URL: http://www.zimonline.co.za/)
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.
130) Back to Top
PRC Holds Military Exercise in South China Sea 26 Jul; Pundits Blame US
Actions
By ZTS special correspondent Zhuang Jingqian: (Beijing Observations) Chi
na Accelerates Blue-Water Drive Under External Pressure - Zhongguo
Tongxun She
Thursday July 29, 2010 16:04:31 GMT
military training ground over the past week due to the effects of US-ROK
military exercises and provocative US behavior on the South China Sea
issue. According to the latest information, the Chinese Navy held a joint
operations exercise involving the three major fleets in a part of the
South China Sea on the 26 th. This, along with the military drills held
earlier in the Yellow Sea, gave rise to a situation similar to a pincer
movement. Observers in Beijing pointed out: The background to China's
current naval exercises could not be clearer, namely, the need to
"unsheathe the sword" to deal with external threats.
According to CCTV reporting, the main combat ships of the People's
Liberation Army's (PLA) East Sea, North Sea, and South Sea Fleets, such as
the warships with hull numbers 171 and 116 and other modern warships with
which the armed forces have been outfitted in recent years, all
participated in the South China Sea exercise. The current exercise was the
largest modern naval warfare exercise staged by the Chinese Navy since the
PLA's founding. Not only did it effectively test the results of the Navy's
modernization drive in recent years, but it also sent an important signal
in the current complex regional environment. Chen Bingde, member of the
Central Military Commission and chief of general staff; Wu Shengli,
commander of the Navy; and other senior military officers observed the
military exercise.
While observing the combined live-ammunition drill involving actual troops
from multiple branches of the Navy organized by the South Sea Fleet, Chen
Bingde said emphatically: We should pay close attention to developments
and changes in the situation and tasks and make sound preparations for
military struggles. We must take practical steps to make military training
a strategic priority, focus on developing a systemic combat capability,
advance the profound transformation of military training, and further
create an upsurge of military training.
Experts on international issues in Beijing pointed out: The United States
has recently initiated a new round of tactics in Asia to contain China by
unfurling a virtual "maritime chain" in waters near China. Besides
maintaining vigilance against being dragged into disputes deliberately
provoked by the United States, China must pay attention to accelerating
its blue-water drive and take the initiative to break through this virtual
chain of siege.
In fact, the US containment of China's rise in Asia has been a rather hot
topic in the international arena over the past two years. Singaporean
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, in a speech in the United States last year,
advocated US engagement in Asian affairs to counterbalance China's m
ilitary and economic power.
The US emphasis this year on mapping out its strategic disposition in Asia
to tighten control of the Asia-Pacific region and contain China is an
important part of that effort.
But these are different times. Tremendous changes have occurred in the
environment in Asia and in the world at large. Although the United States
is still the most powerful country, it cannot possibly return to the
heyday of its global military disposition in the 1960s and 70s. Military
hegemony is facing growing obstacles in the world.
Some experts pointed out: Asia, particularly China, has always resolutely
resisted US military hegemony. Every military provocation will only spur
China to strengthen its military power. China is now in a crucial period
of development. Its will to safeguard stability and peace has never been
stronger. The United States' current provocative strategic disposition
will only cause China to accelerate the development of its mil itary
power, especially its blue-water military power, with even firmer resolve.
It is reported that a naval flotilla comprising the "Zhenghe" training
ship and the "Mianyang" missile frigate from the Chinese Navy will visit
five South Pacific nations at the end of July, the first long-distance
voyage in mixed formation. Observers pointed out: The Chinese military is
accelerating its "blue-water" drive in response to changes in the
situation. There will be more and more such moves.
(Description of Source: Hong Kong Zhongguo Tongxun She in Chinese --
PRC-owned press agency (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.
131) Back to Top
Iranian Paper Says Secretary Clinton To Visit East Asia To Seek Allies
Report by Faramarz Asghari: "Clinton's view on East" - Siyasat-e Ruz
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:22:32 GMT
(Description of Source: Tehran Siyasat-e Ruz in Persian -- conservative
daily close to Ahmadinezhad; published by Ali Yusefpur, a member of the
Islamic Revolution Devotees' Society (Jam`iyat-e Isargaran-e Enqelab-e
Eslami); www.siasatrooz.ir)
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.
132) Back to Top
People's Daily Online: Is United States Ready To Recognize China as World
Power?
By Zhang Xinyi, People's Dai ly Online: "Is US ready to recognize China as
world power?" - Renmin Ribao
Thursday July 29, 2010 09:12:06 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)
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.
133) Back to Top
DPRK Party Organ Criticizes US 'Deceptive' Advocacy of Nuclear Disarmament
OSC plans to process the below Rodong Sinmun signed commentary as referent
item; KCNA headline: "U.S. Deceptive Advocacy of 'Nuclear Disarma ment'
Flayed" - KCNA
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:25:52 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)
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.
134) Back to Top
UN Command, DPRK To Hold 'Third' Round of Talks on 30 Jul
Yonhap headline: "U.N. Command, N. Korea to Hold Third Round of Talks
Friday" by Kim Deok-hyun - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 07:18:48 GMT
and North Korea will hold a third round of military talks Friday (30 July)
ove r the sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on the North, the UNC
said.
"Representatives of the Korean People's Army and the UNC Military
Armistice Commission will hold a colonel-level meeting in Panmunjom
(P'anmunjo'm) tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.," the UNC said in a statement
released Thursday.The talks were originally set for Thursday, but they
were postponed after the two sides failed to reconfirm the date.The
representatives first met on July 15 to discuss the sinking of the warship
Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) and to arrange general-level talks.Confrontation
continued, however, with Pyongyang denying responsibility for the sinking,
while the UNC proposed a task force to jointly assess whether the sinking
violated the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.A team
of multinational investigators concluded in May that a North Korean
torpedo fired from one of its submarines sank the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan),
killing 46 sailors.South Korean and U.S. forces on We dnesday wrapped up
the four-day, large-scale military exercises off the South's east coast in
a show of force to deter North Korea from future aggression.About 20 ships
and submarines, including the 97,000-ton aircraft carrier USS George
Washington, 200 aircraft and 8,000 personnel were mobilized for the
"Invincible Spirit" exercises."These defensive, combined training
exercises are designed to send a clear message to North Korea that its
aggressive behavior must stop," Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of the some
28,500 U.S. troops in the South, said in a statement released by the U.S.
Forces Korea on Thursday.The drills also showed that South Korea and the
U.S. "are committed to enhancing our combined defensive capabilities,"
Sharp said.(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 cite d. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
135) Back to Top
Pilot Error Blamed For F-5 Fighter Jet Crash in June - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 06:35:16 GMT
fighter jet crash-probe result
Pilot error blamed for F-5 fighter jet crash in JuneBy Kim Deok-hyunSEOUL,
July 29 (Yonhap) -- Pilot error, compounded by poor visibility due to
heavy fog, caused a fighter jet to crash into the sea last month, Air
Force investigators said Thursday.The F-5 fighter jet crashed into the sea
on June 18 as it was returning to a base in the eastern coastal city of
Gangneung, 237 kilometers east of Seoul, after a training mission. Two
pilots on board were killed.The Air Force said there was "limit ed outside
visibility" because of heavy fog at the time of the crash and that the
pilots, about 6 kilometers from the runway, apparently did not notice that
their fighter jet was approaching the sea."The investigation concluded
that the pilots failed at their visual landing as they were landing
through thick fog," an Air Force investigator said.Citing cockpit
conversations in the final minutes before the crash and an examination of
wreckage of the plane, investigators found no anomalies in the fighter
jet's engine, airframe or electronic controlling systems, the Air Force
said.The supersonic F-5 fighter, developed by Northrop Grumman of the
United States, first flew in South Korea in 1975.South Korea plans to
decommission all of its aging F-5 fighter jets by 2020. Currently, the Air
Force operates about 170 F-5s.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in
English -- Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Material in the W orld 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.
136) Back to Top
Koreans in China Decry US-ROK Naval Exercises as Attempt to 'Ignite' War
KCNA headline: "U.S. and Lee Myung Bak Group's Moves to Provoke Nuclear
War Flailed" - KCNA
Thursday July 29, 2010 05:46:39 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)
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.
137) Back to Top
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010) -- TOPIC OF THE WEEK (1 of
6)
Yonhap headline: "NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 117 (July 29, 2010)" - Yonhap
Thursday July 29, 2010 05:24:37 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.
138) Back to Top
Court Bans LG Chem Scientist From Joining Foreign Rival - Dong-A Ilbo
Online
Thurs day July 29, 2010 04:47:56 GMT
The Korean company is a leading manufacturer of rechargeable batteries,
one of the nation's top 10 new growth engines.
The Seoul Central District Court said Wednesday that it banned four LG
employees from working at Enerland for up to 18 months after their
resignation. Enerland is a subsidiary of the U.S.-based A123 Systems.
LG had submitted an application to the court to ban six of its battery lab
researchers from moving to other companies and leaking confidential
information.
In addition to the four employees, a former electrolyte developer and a
director in charge of the battery production process already moved to
A123. On the six former staff, the court banned them from leaking LG's
business secrets or releasing them to a third party, including Enerland.
A123 is a rechargeable battery maker established by alumni of
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT. The company is LG's rival
and once competed against LG in a battery supply competition.
Enerland is a wholly owned subsidiary of A123.
(Description of Source: Seoul Dong-A Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translation of vernacular hard
copy items of the second-oldest major ROK daily Dong-A Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- generally pro-US, anti-North
Korea; URL: http://english.donga.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.
139) Back to Top
2nd LD Writethru: U.N. Command, DPRK Postpone Military Talks
Xinhua: "2nd LD Writethru: U.N. Command, DPRK Postpone Military Talks" -
Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:05:27 GMT
SEOUL, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The third round of colonel-level talks between
the U.S.-led U.N. Command (UNC) and the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) has been postponed, the UNC said.
The meeting, intended to discuss the deadly sinking of a South Korean
warship in March, was tentatively due to take place on Thursday in the
truce village of Panmunjom. But the two sides had failed to confirm the
date.Further contacts between the two sides are underway to discuss a new
date for the meeting, a UNC official told Xinhua.The DPRK has been blamed
as the culprit for the sinking of the warship Cheonan, which took lives of
46 sailors, after a multinational investigation concluded that the ship
sank due to a torpedo attack from the DPRK. But it denies its
involvement.At the last meeting, held on July 23, the UNC proposed a joint
group to assess any armistice vio lations in the warship's sinking, and
the two sides exchanged ideas and further details for convening the joint
group, according to a UNC press release.The DPRK, meanwhile, urged the
United States to unconditionally receive the inspection group dispatched
by Pyongyang, saying "it was necessary to investigate the truth of the
incident objectively and scientifically," DPRK's state-run KCNA said.The
first round of such meeting after the Cheonan incident came on July 15,
during which the two sides agreed to convene general- grade talks over the
warship sinking.The U.S.-led UNC, which said it is charged with the
enforcement and maintenance of the Armistice Agreement, has convened 16
rounds of talks with the DPRK since the General Officer Talks forum
between the two sides launched in 1998. However, the DPRK always insists
that the "UNC" was unjust, and the so-called "United Nations troops" is
just U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.The DPRK said it will send
inspectors to South Korea to verify Seoul's claim after the probe results
came out, but Seoul rejected Pyongyang's demand.(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.
140) Back to Top
Former Kamran Naval Base Airport To Serve International Flights -
ITAR-TASS
Thursday July 29, 2010 02:20:32 GMT
intervention)
HANOI, July 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The airport of Russia's former naval base
Kamran in central Vietnam will serve international flights. The Vietnam A
irlines Company will operate its first international flight to Kamran from
Seoul, local media said.Russian air companies may start new regular
flights to connect Central Vietnam with Russia's Far East and Moscow.The
Kamran airport in Russia's former naval base became a commercial airport
in May 2004. Five years later, as a new passenger terminal was constructed
in 2009, the airport got a status of an international one.The new
international air hub will give a strong impetus to the social and
economic development of the region and will attract foreign tourists who
come to enjoy sea resorts there.Russia's Navy left Kamran back in May
2002. Vietnam announced that the Kamran Bay will no longer remain a
military base, though both China and the USA had requested to rent it.
Hanoi made a decision to transfer the "major citadel of socialism in Asia"
of the "cold war" times into a tourist centre will most moderns
infrastructures, and managed to do so quite quickly . The only object that
keeps the memories of the base is the monument to Russian and Vietnamese
military that died for peace and stability in the region.(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.
141) Back to Top
UNC Says 3rd Round of UN Command-DPRK Colonel-Level Meeting Postponed
Xinhua "Urgent": "3rd Round of U.N. Command-DPRK Colonel-Level Meeting
Postponed" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 02:11:26 GMT
meeting between the U.S.-led U.N. Command (UNC) and the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been postponed as the two sides
failed to agree on the detailed timetable, the UNC said.
(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.
142) Back to Top
ROK Activists in US to Voice Skepticism About DPRK Role in Ship's Sinking
Updated version: Adjusting meta-data; Original headline: "In D.C., Liberal
Civic Groups Get Cold-Shouldered" - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:24:03 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)
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.
143) Back to Top
GM's Volt May Be Coming to Korea - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 01:24:26 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - GM Daewoo will consider launching its American parent's
latest electric vehicle - the Chevrolet Volt - o n the Korean market next
year, according to the local unit's President and Chief Executive Mike
Arcamone.
General Motors started receiving orders for the electric vehicle in the
United States yesterday, when it also publicly released the retail
price."We will bring a Volt demonstration fleet to Korea next year to
examine consumer interest before deciding on the launch in the market,"
Arcamone said in a release, while noting that the automaker will invest
robustly in advanced vehicle engineering to spur the development of
environment-friendly possibilities including hybrids."Chevrolet Volt is
going to bring innovative change to the global auto market," he said.The
U.S.-based auto giant is promoting the Volt as the industry's first and
only electric vehicle with extended range capability. It runs on an
electric motor with a gasoline generator capable of charging the battery.
It cannot, however, run directly from a gasoline motor, which separates it
f rom typical hybrids. GM puts the vehicle's range at about 500 kilometers
(311 miles), with the first 60 kilometers powered by electricity stored in
its 16-kilowatt lithium-ion batteries, and the next 440 kilometers with
the generator powering the electric engine.The Volt will be sold in the
United States to customers in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut,
Texas, New Jersey and Washington D.C. starting in November for a $41,000
sticker price, though U.S. government tax incentives will bring that down
to $33,500.(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. P ermission 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
North Cyberattack Feared, Says Gov't - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 00:54:35 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - The presidential office is on alert against a
cyberattack by North Korea after receiving intelligence reports, the Blue
House (ROK Office of the President) said yesterday.
"The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) obtained intelligence on a
possible cyberattack from North Korea," Blue House (ROK Office of the
President) spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung told reporters. A relevant team at the
Blue House (ROK Office of the President) is on emergency alert footing
from Tuesday in cooperation with the NCSC, she adde d.The possible
cyberattack seems to be associated with the North's threat of a "sacred
war" to retaliate against the large-scale joint naval drills between South
Korea and the United States in the East Sea, which ended yesterday, she
added.The Web sites of the Blue House (ROK Office of the President) and
several other key government offices were hit last year and in recent
months by a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, a
massive number of access attempts, which are believed to have been from
the communist regime.(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 copyrighte d 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.
145) Back to Top
Hidden Youth Unemployment - JoongAng Daily Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 00:50:36 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - Park Hyun-min, 29, wants to work in the human resources
industry. He studied in the United States to improve his English and
participated in numerous HR workshops. But Park sits in a Starbucks
coffeehouse every day to scour job notices, but to no avail.
"I wish I could get invited for a job interview just once," he said. "If
only they would tell me what I'm doing wrong."Korea's young adults are
struggling to land jobs despite an expanding economy and improving job
prospects overall . Positions for young adults, those between 25 and 29,
are dwindling. But excessive expectations and a surplus of highly educated
young job seekers are compounding the problem, according to a report by
the Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI) released yesterday.During
the first half of 2010, the total number of available jobs increased by
283,000 from a year ago, but entry-level positions for young adults
decreased by 34,000. In June, 313,000 jobs were added, but jobs for young
adults fell by 85,000, the sharpest drop since October 2009.The SERI
report suggests the situation is even more dire than it appears. "Though
official statistics say that young adults without jobs make up 8.6 percent
of those unemployed, the actual ratio is likely to be much higher," said
Sohn Min-jung, head researcher at SERI and co-author of the report.The
report took into account "discouraged job seekers," or those unemployed
who are no longer taking any action to get jobs . Based on that
calculation, it estimated that the jobless rate among young adults was 23
percent."Unemployment among young adults can result in severe
consequences, including reducing lifetime income in the long-term," said
Park.There are two main reasons for growing unemployment among young
adults, according to the report.First, there is a mismatch between
business needs and university education in some cases. Those who gain a
degree in education have a 89.3 percent chance of finding a job, but those
with a degree in the humanities only have a 44.5 percent chance.Moreover,
rising college attendance has inflated the sense of entitlement among
young job seekers. The college attendance rate in Korea has jumped from
33.2 percent of university-age youth in 1990 to 81.9 percent in 2009."To
remedy this, creating more jobs is a given. But reforming the current
education system so that young adults can gain a definite career plan and
receive an education that fits th eir goals is necessary," said
Park.(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.
146) Back to Top
PRC Economy Unlikely To Bottom Out in 2010, but Growth Expects To Decline
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735; or email: oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. -
Liaowang
Friday July 30, 2010 04:05:02 GMT
(Description of Source: Beijing Liaowang in Chinese -- weekly general
affairs journal published by China's official news agency Xinhua, carrying
articles on political, social, cultural, international, and economic
issues)Attachments:lw0726b.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
147) Back to Top
China Leads the World in Urbanization: Blue Paper
Xinhua: "China Leads the World in Urbanization: Blue Paper" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 16:14:09 GMT
BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) - As China's urban population reached 46 percent
of the total population last year, Chinese urban dwellers became the
largest such population in the world, according to a 'blue paper' released
on Thursday.
By the end of 2009, China's urban population reached 620 million as both
the annual birth rate and the total urban population became the world' s
largest, according to "City' s Blue Book: China's Urban Development Report
No. 3," which has been released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
and the Social Sciences Academic Press.It said China's urban population is
twice that of the population of the United States and one quarter more
than the total population of 27 countries of the European Union.By 2015,
urban residents in China will make up about 52 percent, and by 2030, 65
percent of the total population in the country, it said."A milestone
change for urban development will take place when urban people make up
more than 50 percent of th e population and thus surpass the number of
rural people," the paper said."The 50-percent point phenomenon will occur
in the mid-12th Development Program period (2011-2015) when both the
number of urban and rural Chinese will reach 680 million," it said.The
role of the urban economy will be further strengthened by that time, it
said, adding that the urban economy would continue to drive the domestic
demand.(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.
148) Back to Top
PRC's CICIR Expert Says Sanctions Drive Iran's Nuclear Fusion Research
& quot;Short Commentary" by Tian Wenlin, associate research fellow at the
China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations: "Offense as
Defense" - Renmin Ribao Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 13:46:30 GMT
If we look back at the nuclear gamble over the (past) few years, even
though the United States has repeatedly (tried to) contain Iran's nuclear
program, the level of Iran's nuclear research and development has
continued to rise. It has created a nuclear program from scratch, and
today it has even built an improved nuclear fuel cycle system. In this
sense, there is not much benefit in using the sanctions approach to tackle
Iran. On the contrary, it will be counterproductive. The fact that Iran
has started nuclear fusion research is exactly a result of single-minded
US and European pressure.
For Iran, developing its nuclear program and other scientific research has
become a "major policy guideline" involving national dignity and security
strategy. It cannot possibly yield to economic sanctions. On the contrary,
by continuing to intensify its blockade and sanctions against Iran, the
United States can only force Iran to conduct independent research and
development, even stimulating the growth of Iran's research and
development capabilities to some extent.
(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:rmrb0726iran.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
149) Back to Top
Uncertain Oil Supply May Become New Risk for World Economy: Standard &amp;
Poor's
Xinhua: "Uncertain Oil Supply May Become New Risk for World Economy:
Standard &amp; Poor's" - Xinhua
Thursday July 29, 2010 13:24:19 GMT
BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The uncertainty of energy supplies, in
particular crude oil, might become a new risk for the world economy, a
leading economist said Thursday.
"We think there is enough strength to keep the recovery going. However,
it's still fragile. There are things that can go wrong," said David Wyss,
global chief economist of Standard &amp; Poor's, a world leading rating
agency."Leading possibilities right now would be another oil price spike,
perhaps caused by geopolitical stress in the Middle East, or that we could
get another freeze in financial markets, perhaps triggered by what's
happening in South Europe," W yss said during a roundtable meeting with
Chinese news media.Wyss said there are some signals showing that the world
economy is cooling off a bit, but he thinks the problem is just a moderate
correction."I do not see a double-dip recession," he said.Growth prospects
for China's economy remains robust but some softening was expected in the
coming quarter, largely on the back of problems in Europe, and stimulus
measures in some developed economies, Wyss said.China, the world's third
largest economy, expanded 10.3 percent year on year in the second quarter
this year, slower than the previous two quarters, but the cooling down was
considered good for economic restructuring.Meanwhile, David Peers, the
global head of S&amp;P's Sovereign and International Public Finance, said
the impact of the euro zone crisis on China will be manageable."The first
link is trade. Sluggish economic growth in the euro zone over the medium
term suggests China's exports to the euro z one are likely to grow
slowly," Peers said.Secondly, he said, Chinese banks have links with
European banks, but China's exposure to the credit risks of those
institutions and euro zone sovereigns is relatively modest.Wyss believed
that China would face key constraints for a long time, including education
and capital."China needs high saving rates to create capital and improve
educational systems and graduation rates to sustain the country's current
growth," Wyss said in a brief press release after the meeting.The
economist predicted that the euro could be appreciated against the U.S.
dollar by the end of this year, because the euro zone's situation is
becoming stable.In addition, he said, some economies that hold big foreign
reserves would buy back after heavy selling of the single currency during
the recent sovereign debt crisis."On the other hand, the United States is
still struggling from a huge trade deficit," Wyss said.(Description of
Source: Be ijing 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.
150) Back to Top
More on China Denying Forcing Foreign Firms To Transfer Technology - AFP
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:54:02 GMT
that it unfairly forces foreign firms to transfer technology as the price
of admission to its huge market, saying its policies were in line with
world trade rules.
"Countries around the world have taken a lot of measures to encourage
technology innovation," a commerce ministry official, who declined to be
nam ed, told AFP."The Chinese policies are in line with relevant WTO
rules."The comments were in response to a US Chamber of Commerce report
this week that accused China of abusing the allure of its vast market to
push foreign companies to transfer their latest technologies to Chinese
competitors.This was a "blueprint for technology theft on a scale the
world has never seen before", it said.The chamber's report is the latest
in a chorus of complaints by foreign businesses and governments over
perceived unfair policies and market restrictions in the world's
third-largest economy.US Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined the fray on
Wednesday, responding to the chamber's complaints by saying Washington
planned to push Beijing on the issue."That is going to be one of the top
items that we continue to engage China on," Kirk told reporters in
Washington.China committed at high-level Sino-US talks in May that its
innovation policies would be non-discriminat ory, protect foreign
intellectual property rights (IPR), and ensure open markets and trade,
according to Washington.Beijing also pledged to leave the terms and
conditions of technology transfer, production processes, and other
proprietary information to individual enterprises, Kirk's deputy Demetrios
Marantis said earlier this month.China launched its "indigenous
innovation" campaign in 2006, officially to encourage the development of
domestic technology and thereby reduce its reliance on foreign
know-how.The commerce ministry official said the push did not discriminate
against foreign companies and that IPR protection was "key to encouraging
homegrown innovation"."China will further strengthen IPR protection,
including that of foreign companies, exactly because we encourage
homegrown innovation," he said.Tensions flared after Beijing issued rules
late last year under the innovation campaign that were widely seen by
foreign businesses as squeezi ng them out of the government's
multi-billion-dollar procurement market.Concerns over indigenous
innovation extended to security encryption rules, domestic patent laws and
preferential policies for domestic companies, the US Chamber of Commerce
report said.(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong
service of the independent French press 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.
151) Back to Top
WTO Backs China in Poultry Dispute With US - AFP
Thursday July 29, 2010 04:05:27 GMT
has ruled in China's favour in a dispute with the United States over
imports of Chinese chicken, state media reported Thursday.
China's commerce ministry has received the final ruling from the WTO,
which is expected to come into effect soon and help open up the US market
for China's finished chicken breast exports, the China Daily said."It (the
final ruling) will be announced in one or two months, and the result is...
China wins," the report said, citing an unnamed source within the
ministry.A ministry official confirmed to AFP that China had received the
WTO ruling, but declined further comment.Beijing says Washington is
breaching international trade rules through several measures including an
appropriations bill, which it says result in a complete ban on imports of
Chinese poultry.The WTO set up a panel in July last year to examine the
complaint following China's request.China and the United States halted
imports of each other's poultry in 2004 over fears about the spread of
bird flu.Imports of some US poultry products to China ha ve since been
resumed but Chinese officials have complained that the United States
continues to hold up reciprocal imports of Chinese poultry.China and the
United States have been at loggerheads over a range of trade issues
including a spat over China's currency, which critics say is kept
undervalued by Beijing to give its exporters an unfair
advantage.(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong
service of the independent French press 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.
152) Back to Top
Further on China Denying Forcing Foreign Firms To Transfer Technology -
AFP
Thursday July 29, 2010 03:33:13 GMT< /div>
that it unfairly forces foreign firm to transfer technology as the price
of admission to its huge market, saying its policies were in line with
world trade rules.
"Countries around the world have taken a lot of measures to encourage
technology innovation," a commerce ministry official, who declined to be
named, told AFP."The Chinese policies are in line with relevant WTO
rules."The comments were in response to a US Chamber of Commerce report
released this week that accused China of abusing the allure of its vast
market to push foreign companies to transfer their latest technologies to
Chinese competitors.This was a "blueprint for technology theft on a scale
the world has never seen before", it said.The chamber's report is the
latest in a chorus of complaints by foreign businesses and governments
over perceived unfair policies and market restrictions in the world's
third-largest economy.US T rade Representative Ron Kirk joined the fray on
Wednesday, responding to the chamber's complaints by saying Washington
planned to push Beijing on the issue."That is going to be one of the top
items that we continue to engage China on," Kirk told reporters in
Washington.(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong
service of the independent French press 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.
153) Back to Top
China Denies Forcing Foreign Firms To Transfer Technology - AFP
Thursday July 29, 2010 03:10:57 GMT
that it forces foreign companies to tr ansfer technology as the price of
admission to its huge market, saying its policies were in line with world
trade rules.
"Countries around the world have taken a lot of measures to encourage
technology innovation," a commerce ministry official, who declined to be
named, told AFP."The Chinese policies are in line with relevant WTO
rules."(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong
service of the independent French press 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.
154) Back to Top
RMRB Signed Article Refutes 'Theory of China's Economic Responsibility'
Article by Guo Jiping: "Theory of 'China's Economic Responsibi lity' Is
Irresponsible" - Renmin Ribao Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 03:17:28 GMT
By Guo Jiping
1.
The ship of the world economy has sailed
away from the storm and a ray of hope has emerged.
What is inexplicable is that China, which has contributed enormously to
saving the ship from capsizing, has once again become the target of
criticisms by the politicians and media in some countries and the party
held responsible for all kinds of problems. Even people who finally began
to ask themselves "what China has done right" have relapsed into the old
habit of asking "what China has done wrong."
"The Chinese people save too much. They lend money to the United States at
low interest rates, fueling a consumption frenzy and a housing bubble in
the United States."
"The renminbi is grossly undervalued. It should apprec iate at least 40%."
"China's massive US bond holdings have given China a tool to control US
domestic and foreign policies."
"China will gobble up the energy of the whole world."
"China sabotaged the Copenhagen climate change conference and is the
biggest obstacle to global action on climate change."
"If China does not adjust, it will be impossible to rebalance the world
economy."
It seems that every problem in the world economy was caused by China and
that whether the world economy will recover also depends on China's policy
measures. Not only must China be held accountable for the imbalance in the
world economy, but it is also China's responsibility to rescue the world
economy.
The theory of "China's economic responsibility" is becoming another
linguistic environment that China cannot but have to face.
2.
"Exchange rate responsibility," "surplus nati on responsibility,"
"creditor nation responsibility," "savings nation responsibility," "major
energy-consuming nation responsibility," "major carbon dioxide emitting
nation responsibility."
The theory of "China's economic responsibility" appears to be a rigorous
system. There are signs that China is becoming a synonym for
responsibility.
If you examine it more closely, you will see that the various
"responsibility" theories noted above are nothing new. But what are the
facts?
China has stabilized the renminbi's exchange rate at a fair and balanced
level. That very fact alone is a positive contribution to the world
economy. China has gone one step further by pressing ahead with the reform
of the its currency exchange rate regime and increased the flexibility of
its currency's exchange rate. By continuing to perfect its managed
floating exchange rate system, China has promoted the essential b alance
in the international payments and the stability of the financial market.
China's trade surplus to a large extent reflects changes in the
international division of labor and the trade structure. It is the result
of the deepening of the division of labor in the world's industry, a
process that took place under the auspices of the developed countries and
against the backdrop of globalization. China does not pursue a trade
surplus deliberately but instead is devoted to accelerating the change of
its mode of economic development, including changing its mode of trade
expansion and steering trade development in a direction that is balanced
and sustainable.
China is the United States' largest creditor nation. In fact, what people
should worry about is "debtor nation responsibility," rather than
"creditor nation responsibility," which is akin to turning things upside
down. China is justified in caring about the security of its overseas
assets and demanding that the relevant debtor nation keep its word and
live up to its commitments.
There are many countries in the world today that have fallen heavily into
debt. These countries always consume and spend money ahead of time. When
they go bankrupt, others who have worked hard and lived frugally get the
blame. "The one who ruins the family fortune points the accusing finger at
the good person." China's netizens surely have hit the nail on the head.
On a per capita basis, China's energy consumption and CO2 emissions still
rank rather low in the world. Still, China has taken forceful actions to
deal with the energy and climate change issues. China aims to boost
non-fossil fuels energy to about 15% of its total primary energy
consumption by 2020, at the same time slashing carbon dioxide emissions
per unit GDP by 40% to 45% compared with 2005.
China long ago has plainly enunciated its principled stand on a string of
major issues that affect the world's economic future. It has forcefully
responded to the irresponsible theory of "China's economic responsibility"
with responsible actions.
3. A financial crisis that swept across the entire globe has thrusted
China onto the front of the world stage.
"Not only does China represent the future, but already it is representing
the present." These words by Time magazine are most representative.
China's critics have continued to ramp up their attacks on China with a
mix of jealousy, misgivings, and fear. Severely battered by the crisis,
some people's sense of superiority has taken a tumble. Witnessing China's
outstanding performance in handling the crisis and its development
potential in the post-crisis era, these people have become even more upset
and have intensified their criticisms of China's "irresponsibility."
The worst is now behind us and the world economy is seeking a new mode of
growth and a new management structure. The reform now under way has
touched the nerve of some countries that dominate the world economic
system.
For those people used to their big-spending ways who must now tighten
their belts, pain is unavoidable. With public opinion souring, some
politicians have scrambled to find a "scapegoat" to distract public
attention.
Those who cooked up the theory of 'China's economic responsibility" have
an underlying motivation, which is to force China to follow their course
of adjustment, comply with their standards, and take up more
responsibilities so as to ensure the maintenance of their dominance in the
international economic and financial systems. If China does not operate in
accordance with these people's demands and standards, it will be labeled
"irresponsible."
4.
Clearly it is unreasonable and unfair to blame China for all the problems
in the world economy and impose on it the responsibility for resolving
every contradiction.
The theory of "China's economic responsibility" is a camouflage for the
serious contradictions in the world economy today, especially the root
cause of the crisis.
The root of the international financial crisis can be found in an
international economic and financial order that is unfair and unsound as
well as the irresponsible financial and fiscal policies of a number of
countries.
The post-World War II international economic and financial system was
created based on the desires and needs of a handful of developed
capitalist countries. This system is now undergoing an epochal change. In
the wake of the international financial crisis, successive G20 summits
have taken steps to reform the management structure for the global
economy. However, there has been no fundamental change to date to a
management structure dominated by the developed countries or to the
pattern of interests distribution.
"The dollar is our currency but it is your (the world's) problem," There
is no more candid way to describe the harm caused the world by the
hegemony of the dollar than these "wise words" by John Connally, a former
US Treasury secretary, back in the 1970's. Through its misuse of the
dollar's hegemonistic position, the United States has objectively created
a virtual economy and a bubble economy, which joined forces with the
excessive consumption before the crisis, a financial and fiscal policy
that relied on excessive borrowing, and an overly lax regulatory policy to
create the international financia l crisis that spread around the world
from Wall Street.
To date the international economic and financial system's institutional
flaws and systematic and structural risks have yet to be resolved. Making
the international economic and financial systems fairer and global
economic development more balanced is a joint responsibility for the
developed countries and developing countries.
5.
The theory of "China's economic responsibility" reflects a tendency
popular in recent years to overestimate China's power.
When outsiders look at China, their frame of reference often is their own
experiences. However, such experiences are one-sided. For instance, when
they see that the supermarkets are stocked with more and more Chinese
products, when they read reports in the media that go on and on about
China's rapid economic development, or when they visit China and witness
the forest of skyscrapers or the web of expressways, it is natural that
people are awestruck. Some public opinion polls in the US even show that
many Americans believe, erroneously, that China has overtaken the US in
the total size of the economy.
Some research institutions overseas base their China studies on the
disciplines of quantitative statistics and data analysis as practiced
under Western social sciences. Their research lacks in-depth studies and
often is di vorced from the reality in China.
All these observations of China are superficial. What people see is the
fact that China has changed more rapidly in the past 30 years than any
other country in all history. But they overlook that China's development
is still ridden with a host of problems, some of which are unquantifiable.
China has a huge population and a weak foundation. There is an imbalance
between urban and rural developments. There are severe environmental and
resource constraints. Employment pressure in society is enormous. There
are still many poor people in China who have yet to shake off poverty.
China is still a developing country.
As long as these problems remain unsolved, China can only do what it is
capable of. China cannot take up responsibilities that exceed its ability.
6.
A study by Morgan Stanley shows that Chinese products save US consumers
$100 billion each year.
China's development has created opportunities for the wor ld and furthered
global progress, to the great benefit of developed countries such as the
United States. If a nation raises questions about China's development even
as it enjoys the dividend of China's development, in effect it is
dismissing out of hand the development rights of 1.3 billion people.
Jim Watson, a climate expert with the University of Sussex in Britain,
said that European powers and the United States are anxious to capture
world leadership in the present century on the strength of their economic
prowess and their superiority in environmental protection science and
technology, which explains why they appear to be perennial China critics.
When it comes to the issues of energy, resources, and climate change, some
people make demands on China using the criteria of developed countries,
complain about China using too much energy based on their so-called
calculations, and ignore the fact that China's energy consumption on a per
capita basis is far less than that in the West. In so doing, these people
in fact are betraying their own -held sense of moral superiority and their
unspeakable ulterior motives deep down inside.
The only way to make a fair assessment of China's economic responsibility
and understand China's development is to respect China's development
rights.
7.
Like other economies in the world, the Chinese economy has been hit hard
by the international financial crisis. Clearly it is irresponsible to
portray China simplistically as the "biggest winner" of the crisis.
A shrinking foreign demand at one point caused China's foreign trade to
decrease markedly, economic growth to slow, enterprise profits to fall,
and social employment pressure to rise. The Chinese government wasted no
time in adopting an economic stimulus package and the Chinese economy
rebounded within a short period of time.
China has adopted a proactive fiscal policy and an appropriately easy
monetary p olicy. As a result, its economy was the first to turn the
corner. In addition, it properly handled the relations among maintaining
stable and relatively rapid economic growth, adjusting the economic
structure, and managing inflationary expectations, and worked hard on
increasing the sustainability of economic growth.
China pursues a foreign trade strategy featuring a basic balance between
imports and exports. It is a strategy that is based on expanding the
domestic demand and spurring consumption. China is working hard to turn
itself from "the world's factory" into the "world's market" to create
external demand for the world and strongly support the stable recovery and
balanced growth of the world economy.
China is not pointing any fingers or trying to pass on any crisis onto
others, let alone put up trade barriers. China is moving forward with a
heavy responsibility on its shoulders, dealing with the crisis jointly
with the other countries in the world. It has made important contributions
to the stabilization and recovery of the world economy and projected the
image of a responsible large country.
8. History is a mirror. Mankind always seeks progress through
introspection.
In the course of the reform and adjustment of the international economic
and financial system, it is even more imperative that those countries that
are in a dominant position do some serious soul searching and take
concrete action to set an example. In the long haul, any action that seeks
to shift responsibility onto others will hurt others without benefiting
oneself. It is short-sighted to plot and scheme for petty gains. Those who
behave that way will only deepen the crisis.
Right now the world economy is making a gradual recovery. Yet the
foundation of the recovery is still fragile. To extricate ourselves from
our plight, we must urgently continue to step up cooperation.
By helping one another, the countries of the world have sailed away from
the eye of the storm of the financial crisis. Now it is equally important
that they help one another in pressing ahead with development that is
strong, sustainable, and balanced.
(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:rmrb0726econ.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, US Dept. of
Commerce.
155) Back to Top
China To Fund Mega Tourism Project
CMC Headline: "BAHAMAS-TOURISM-China To Fund Mega Tourism Project" - CMC
Thursday July 29, 2010 00:22:23 GMT
The statement said that the diplomat, who is due to return here on 18
August, will meet with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham "to formally receive
the approval of the Chinese Government". The ambitious complex had come to
a halt more than two years ago when US casino operator Harrah's
Entertainment pulled out. Initial plans for the two billion dollar mega
project included the construction of a 3,000 room hotel, a 50-foot
circular waterfall and 18-hole Jack Nicklaus championship golf course, and
200,000 square feet of meeting space.
The developers had said that the project would have resulted in creating
11,000 jobs, including 6,000 permanent positions.
(Description of Source: Bridgetown CMC in English -- regional news service
run by the Caribbean Media Corporation)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright holde
r. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce.
156) Back to Top
Russian-US review of missile challenges to be finished by 2011 - official
- ITAR-TASS
Thursday July 29, 2010 20:57:23 GMT
official
Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASSWashington, 29 July:
The Russian and US presidents' instruction to prepare a joint assessment
of missile challenges in the 21st century must be fulfilled before the end
of this year, Russian Deputy Security Council Secretary Vladimir Nazarov
told ITAR-TASS after his working visit to Washington. He was the leader of
an authoritative group of Russian experts who held another round of
consultations on this subject at the Department of State the US National
Security Council.The consultations began at the end of last year and this
was the third round. According to Vladimir Nazarov, the parties already
have "a common version of the joint report" which must be submitted to the
presidents. The task is now to "broaden common ground", although some
"fundamental differences remain, which we can not ignore and will have to
record this in the joint document", Nazarov said.He said the report "is
meant to be finished by the end of this year". "I think we will manage
this," Nazarov said. In the remaining time, additional rounds of
consultations can be held, if necessary, he said.Asked whether
Washington's and Moscow's assessments of missile threats are similar,
Vladimir Nazarov said that the USA "a priori do not like some regimes,
irrespective of what technology they have and whether they have them at
all". As for the Russian side, "today Russia does not see missile threats
coming from so-called 'problem' or 'threshold' state s," Nazarov said.At
the same time he stressed that Russia and the USA "have a basis for
cooperation" in countering missile threats because "the prospect of
threshold states acquiring missile and especially nuclear and nuclear
missile potential is a threat to security in the whole world", including
Russia. However, it will be possible to speak about practical steps by
Moscow and Washington in this direction only after the joint report is
adopted.Russia assumes that work "on neutralizing missile challenges" will
"rely on political and diplomatic methods", Nazarov said."We assume that
it is political and diplomatic means that can be used to prevent potential
missile challenges turning into real missile threats," he
said.(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in Russian -- Main
government information agency)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must b e obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
157) Back to Top
: Treaty Procedures for Mobile Land-Based ICBM Inspections Flawed
Article by Midykhat Vildanov under "Realities" rubric: "Blank Spots in
START-3" - Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye Online
Thursday July 29, 2010 19:43:12 GMT
About the author: Midykhat Petrovich Vildanov is a major-general,
professor of the Academy of Military Sciences, candidate of military
sciences, and honored military specialist of the Russian Federation
The State Duma has held parliamentary hearings to examine the START Treaty
and the Protocol thereto with a view to preparing these documents for
ratification. According to Konstantin Kosachev, head of the State Duma
Committee for International Affairs, these documents have been subjected
to a professional, meaningful, article-by-article discussion. The
representatives of all factions had no complaints about the text of the
treaty. But the parliamentarians nonetheless failed to receive answers to
a number of questions that arose, and they have requested additional
materials.
A "group of wise men" comprised of former ambassadors and diverse experts,
including people who were involved in preparing the previous START Treaty,
has been enlisted in the work on the documents. "We intend to complete the
work before the end of July," Konstantin Kosachev has said. It has to be
assumed that special attention will be given to analyzing the content of
Paragraph 14 of Section VI of Part Five governing the conduct of
inspections of reentry vehicles (boyegolovka) emplaced on intercontinental
ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (S
LBMs). There it is recorded: "For a deployed ICBM or deployed
SLBM...before the front section is viewed the inspected Party may cover
reentry vehicles and other equipment, with individual covers.
"In such a manner that the covers shall not hamper inspectors in
ascertaining that the front section contains the number of reentry
vehicles equal to the number of reentry vehicles declared for the deployed
ICBM or deployed SLBM. Inspectors shall have the right to view such covers
prior to their placement on the reentry vehicles. The inspection team
shall conduct an inspection of reentry vehicles emplaced on a deployed
ICBM or deployed SLBM as provided for in the Annex on Inspection
Activities to this Protocol."
It was emphasized during the parliamentary hearings that the START Treaty
removes all discriminatory measures with regard to Russia's nuclear force
grouping, particularly its mobile component. As far as the inspections of
reentry vehicles em placed on the mobile land-based Topol, Topol-M, and
Yars ICBMs are concerned, however, what manifests itself for the Russian
side is the unilateral nature of their execution, inasmuch as the
Americans do not possess missile complexes such as these. It is also
appropriate to recall the Russian side's 15-year-long experience of
support for the humiliatingly one-sided inspections of reentry vehicles
emplaced on the mobile land-based Topol and Topol-M ICBMs conducted by the
Americans within the framework of the "old" START Treaty. And it was only
the termination of this treaty that prevented American inspectors
inspecting the reentry vehicles emplaced on the mobile land-based Yars
ICBM.
The results of an analysis indicate that the Russian side will be
compelled to adapt the "old" monitoring and inspection procedures for
reentry vehicles emplaced on mobile land-based ICBMs to accommodate the
new START Treaty, or to announce its refusal to conduct them . This
conclusion is corroborated by the following arguments. UNPLANNED MARCHES
Under the terms of the Protocol to the new treaty the Americans have the
right to request the inspection of reentry vehicles emplaced on any
self-contained launcher of any missil e regiment armed with mobile
land-based Topol, Topol-M, and Yars missile complexes. The purpose is to
ascertain that the self-contained launcher does not contain more than the
declared number of reentry vehicles. Subsequently, in line with the
procedure for conducting this inspection, the combat readiness of the
self-contained launcher is lowered and a march to a maintenance facility
(missile base) is prepared and undertaken. There, using specialized
equipment and instrumentation, a sequence of technical measures is
conducted on the missile and its front section, which are exhibited to the
American inspectors.
The missile complexes' design engineering and operating documentation
makes no provision for t he execution of these operations at the missile
regiments' permanent deployment locations, and it is categorically
prohibited. The Americans are well aware of this. But because the missile
regiments are located at some distance (5-60 km) from the missile base,
the self-contained launchers of all missile regiments accomplished
unplanned marches at the Americans' behest throughout the 15-year term of
the "old" START Treaty. Moreover, the American inspectors rode in a bus
right behind the self-contained launcher so as to preclude its turning off
at a neighboring regiment, forest tract, or derelict structure, where
Russia's strategic missilemen might secretly remove an excess (undeclared)
reentry vehicle or switch the self-contained launcher.
The missilemen have gotten used to this nonsense, but it continues to be
viewed fondly by officials, the drafters of the previous START Treaty, and
various experts, because they regard it as the apotheosis of openness, m
utual trust, and transparency. Who -- one wonders -- are these "wise men"
who devised and agreed to such an inspection procedure, and are they
involved in the parliamentary hearings? OUR INEXPLICABLE SHYNESS
For the missile division and missile regiment commander, implementation of
the said procedures has entailed the disruption of combat training plans,
unplanned engine use and fuel consumption, cancellations or deferments of
servicing and maintenance for nuclear missile weaponry, the urgent
preparation of routes of march, people, armament and military equipment,
disruption of the personnel's daily routine, and so forth. It is essential
to emphasize that undertaking marches with a self-contained launcher
including missile and attached front section is classed as a particularly
critical operation. In this context, there is no ruling out the occurrence
of conditions conducive to road traffic accidents and technological
emergencies, or departures from the r equirements of the nuclear and
fire/explosion safety of nuclear missile armament, inasmuch as combat
training programs make no provision for marches of this sort and personnel
are not obligated to train for them.
In certain regions of the Russian Federation where formations of mobile
land-based missile complexes are stationed, threats of terrorist acts are
periodically declared and different force majeure circumstances
periodically arise that impact the safety and security of the organization
of marches involving launchers. The principal leadership personnel of the
army, division, and missile regiment are therefore mobilized for control
and monitoring of the launcher convoy's preparation and march, and the
entire system of command posts, from Strategic Missile Troops Central
Command Post through to the missile division's command post inclusive,
gets drawn into the process. This diverts the alert-duty personnel of
command and control facilities from the performance o f their primary
alert duty missions. Yars ICBM -- a missile of great interest to our
Western partners
Photo from
http://www.kapyar.ru/ www.kapyar.ru site
Upon the emergence of the self-contained launcher from its Krona
installation, the American inspectors would examine the structure to
determine that there was no second self-contained launcher in there,
although this was technically impossible. Command and control of the march
was conducted in line with the standard arrangements, a traffic control
service was deployed, and the basic types of operations, technical, and
logistic support for the march were implemented with the involvement of
the local internal affairs agencies. It is entirely clear that the
performance of measures to conceal the launcher's route no longer makes
sense.
On arrival at the maintenance facility the launcher occupied a special
installation, and a set of technical measures was conducted on the missile
and its front secti on, following which the Americans were allowed to view
it. And when the American inspectors had departed, a substantial sequence
of operations was performed to restore the specified temperature and
humidity regime, accomplish the return march, and return the
self-contained launcher to its original state.
It should be stressed that the execution of the above-cited inspection
procedures in a unilateral context, and moreover with the Americans riding
along as part of the launcher convoys, has always been a source of
exasperation for the strategic missilemen, and it adversely impacted
morale. Unpleasant opinions have been voiced about the Soviet (Russian)
negotiators and parties to the preparation and ratification of the "old"
START Treaty. There is no doubt that the Americans have been able to
familiarize themselves thoroughly with the Topol complex's specifications
and performance characteristics that were being protected, and with the
procedure for prepari ng, accomplishing, and supporting a march involving
a self-contained launcher. Their growing interest in the Topol-M and Yars
mobile land-based complexes -- which was confirmed during the
Russian-American talks to prepare the new START Treaty -- is entirely
natural. And it will manifest itself again, of course, during
implementation of the treaty measures.
A natural question, therefore: Why has the Russian side not availed itself
of Article XVIII of the "old" START Treaty? Let me recall it: "Each Party
may propose amendments to this Treaty. Agreed amendments shall enter into
force in accordance with the procedures governing entry into force of this
Treaty." And why was the content of the said prejudicial procedure not
defined more precisely by Russia's representatives within the framework of
the Joint Commission on Inspection and Compliance, which (from 1994)
convened periodically in Geneva for a period of up to 30 days? WE MUST ACT
LIKE THE Y DO
According to information from the relevant Russian Federation agencies of
state administration and military control, the specific procedure for
inspections of reentry vehicles emplaced on Topol, Topol-M, and Yars
mobile land-based ICBMs will be defined in the Annex on Inspection
Activities to the Protocol, which is among the package of treaty
documents. It is also being reported in this context that all the
degrading monitoring and inspection procedures that occurred in the "old"
START Treaty will be excluded. But permit me to have my doubts.
In the specialists' estimation, the conduct of inspections relating to
reentry vehicles emplaced on mobile land-based ICBMs and involving viewing
of the front sections by the Americans at the missile regiments' permanent
deployment locations (without a march to the maintenance facility) has not
been fully formulated in technical respects for peacetime conditions. The
missile regiments lack the installatio ns (there is no need for them) that
meet nuclear safety requirements, as well as the specialized equipment and
instrumentation designed for work with the front sections. There are no
stipulations in the guideline documents and the combat and operating
documentation governing the peacetime perf ormance of work such as this.
But a special tent is required in order to screen the work done on the
front sections outside the structure. And what is required all in all is a
special decision from the missile complex's general designer, the
inauguration and funding of experimental design work, and the revision and
refinement of the design engineering and operating documentation. In terms
of the Topol-M and Yars mobile land-based complexes, work such as this is
both technically complex and dangerous, and conducting it in the interests
of reentry vehicle inspections is inadvisable even at a maintenance
facility.
In this connection, the procedure for implementing Paragraph 14 of Section
VI of Part Five concerning the conduct of inspections relating to reentry
vehicles emplaced on mobile land-based ICBMs requires serious and thorough
analysis involving representatives of the client, the Moscow Institute of
Thermal Technology, the Russian Federation's nuclear weapons complex, and
the interested main directorates of the Russian Federation Ministry of
Defense. At the same time it would be necessary to propose a solution to
the traditional problem of hard and soft covers.
The conduct of inspections relating to reentry vehicles emplaced on mobile
land-based ICBMs must be unequivocally excluded from the treaty
procedures. In place of this it is essential to formulate an Agreed
Statement or to provide the Americans with written guarantees from the
Russian Federation's military-political leadership that the front sections
of the mobile land-based ICBMs do not contain more reentry vehicles than
the number declared. Incidentally, a similar example of a pragmatic
approach by the American side already exists in the text of the Protocol
to the START Treaty. So, the Americans have been able to secure the
inclusion in the Protocol of a Second Agreed Statement that regulates for
the Russian side monitoring of the nonconversion of four Ohio-class cruise
missile-armed nuclear submarines to accommodate the Trident-2 SLBM. That
said, the sea-based Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles (each boat carries
up to 154 missiles) are not being exhibited to the Russian inspectors.
Furthermore, resolution of the problem of inspections of reentry vehicles
emplaced on mobile land-based ICBMs is being allowed to take a "long
voyage" by being referred to a bilateral consultative commission. But this
has not yet been constituted.
(Description of Source: Moscow Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye Online in
Russian -- Website of weekly military newspaper published by Remchukov's
Nezavisimaya Gazeta; URL: http://nvo.ng.ru/)
< br>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.
158) Back to Top
Russian Stock Market Posts Gains on Thurs Spearheaded By Transneft Shares
- Interfax
Thursday July 29, 2010 15:36:40 GMT
MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax) - The Russia stock market went up on Thursday
following gains on world exchanges and oil prices while the euro increased
against the U.S. dollar. The main advancer for the day was Transneft (RTS:
TRNF).Benchmark stocks on the RTS Index went up 1.95% to 1,503.68 (after
hitting a session maximum of 1,510,37 points) and 1.68% on the MICEX to
1,418.35 points.Futures on the RTS Index dropped by 3.7 points a gainst
the base assets, indicating a neutral mood among investors.The market
leader for the day were prefs in Transneft, soaring 10.9% following a good
financial report (according to Russian standards) for the first half of
2010 and news that the state had reduced the stake of sellable shares in
the company from 27.1% to 3%.Other advancers on the MICEX Stock Exchange
were VTB (RTS: VTBR), up 1.5%, Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) - 2.3%, Gazprom Neft
(RTS: SIBN) - 3.4%, MMC Norilsk Nickel (RTS: GMKN) - 1.7%, Lukoil (RTS:
LKOH) - 0.5%, Rosneft (RTS: ROSN) - 1.7%, Sberbank (RTS: SBER) - 2.7%,
Surgutneftegas (RTS: SNGS) - 1.8% and Tatneft (RTS: TATN) - 1.7%Posting
gains on the MICEX Stock Exchange were IDGC Holding, up 5.7%, Inter RAO
UES (RTS: IRAO) - 5.4%, TGK-1 (RTS: TGKA) - 3.8% and TGK-13 (RTS: TGKM) -
2.5%.Posting losses were Diod, down 2.1%, PIK Group of Companies (RTS:
PIKK) - 1.8%, Seventh Continent (RTS: SCON) - 1.2% and Uralsvyazinform
(RTS: URSI) - 0.9%Total RTS Classic Trading for the day came to $12.939
million, RTS Standard deal - $339.7 million and MICEX Stock Exchange
transaction - over 46.535 billion rubles.Ih(Our editorial staff can be
reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950140-JLQWCBAA
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.