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World Media Watch
by Gloria R. Lalumia
BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.
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1//The Independent, UK--UK MINISTERS IN TRANSATLANTIC RACE FOR UNITY (British political leaders will be criss-crossing the Atlantic for the rest of this month, trying to make sure that Western nations act in unison as the prospect of war with Iraq draws closer...Senior government sources have told The Independent on Sunday that Tony Blair has yet to make up his mind what to do in what some in Whitehall are calling the "nightmare scenario" - in which the US goes to war without obtaining direct sanction from the United Nations Security Council... Privately, ministers are confident that UN weapons inspectors will turn up evidence that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.)
2//Albawaba.com, Middle East portal (unidentified country)--SYRIAN FM IN IRAN, SAYS IRAQ WANTS "POLITICAL SOLUTION"; ASSAD TO VISIT TEHRAN SOON (Iraq wants a "political solution" to its standoff with the United States over its suspected weapons of mass destruction, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq Shara said in Tehran Saturday. "Iraq wants a political solution to the current crisis in the region and does not want war," Shara told reporters after he was welcomed at the airport by his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi, according to AFP.)
3//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--LIBERAL RIFT OPENS OVER WAR
STANCE (Senior Liberal identities said the issue of whether troops should
be dispatched if the UN Security Council did not endorse a resolution
authorising the use of force was deeply dividing the party.
While the Prime Minister, John Howard, has repeatedly said Australia
still hoped for a peaceful solution, he has, in line with the US position,
declined to rule out military action even if it is not sanctioned by
the UN.
4//Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK--DISSIDENTS BLAMED FOR BOMB ATTACKS (A rise in bombings and other incidents in Kabul in recent weeks has prompted a warning from the head of an international force in Afghanistan that "destructive elements" are trying to sabotage peace in the country..."If there is a war in Baghdad, there may be many in Afghanistan who sympathise with Iraq," Zorlu told reporters. "It may cause an increase in terrorist actions or activities against all foreigners, including ISAF forces, United Nations personnel, non-governmental organisations, coalition forces and all civilian businessmen also coming to the country."...Fouzia, who works in the education ministry in Kabul, said the attacks were persuading some Afghan refugees who recently came back to their country to leave again.)
5//The Moscow Times, Russia--RUSSIA, INDIA INK 'LANDMARK' ARMS DEAL (Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes and Russian officials signed an agreement Friday to expand the burgeoning military cooperation between the two nations to include the joint development of a next-generation fighter jet and other weapons projects.)
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1//The
Independent 19 January 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=370713
UK MINISTERS IN TRANSATLANTIC RACE FOR UNITY
By Andy McSmith and Jo Dillon
British political leaders will be criss-crossing the Atlantic for the rest of this month, trying to make sure that Western nations act in unison as the prospect of war with Iraq draws closer.
Senior government sources have told The Independent on Sunday that Tony Blair has yet to make up his mind what to do in what some in Whitehall are calling the "nightmare scenario" - in which the US goes to war without obtaining direct sanction from the United Nations Security Council. Every public utterance by the Prime Minister has left open the prospect that the UK would send troops to fight alongside the Americans, with or without UN backing.
They think that war could still be averted if the Iraqis back down or alternatively, that if they continue to defy world opinion, the UN will sanction a military strike and that British public opinion will fall into line.
But the public's nervousness about war is undiminished, despite the Prime Minister's tough talking. According to research carried out by Opinion Leader Research - headed by Deborah Mattinson, who worked closely with Labour's private polling unit in the run-up to three general elections - people associate the drive towards an unwanted war with Mr Blair personally.
(MORE)
2//Albawaba.com January 19, 2003
http://www.albawaba.com/headlines/TheNews.php3
?action=story&sid=239623&lang=e&dir=
SYRIAN FM IN IRAN, SAYS IRAQ WANTS "POLITICAL SOLUTION"; ASSAD TO VISIT TEHRAN SOON
Iraq wants a "political solution" to its standoff with the United States over its suspected weapons of mass destruction, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq Shara said in Tehran Saturday.
"Iraq wants a political solution to the current crisis in the region and does not want war," Shara told reporters after he was welcomed at the airport by his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi, according to AFP.
(SNIP)
He said the efforts of Syria were compatible with those of Turkey, although Ankara had issued invitations for a regional meeting on the same issue.
Moreover, Shara said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would visit Tehran "at the end of the month or early next month," after the cancellation of a trip initially planned a couple of days ago. He said the cancellation was the result of bad coordination.
(MORE)
3//The Sydney Morning Herald January 20 2003
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/19/1042911270273.html
LIBERAL RIFT OPENS OVER WAR STANCE
By Greg Roberts, John Garnaut and Caroline Overington
Tensions are mounting within the federal Liberal Party over the prospect of Australian troops being committed to a United States-led attack on Iraq without the backing of the United Nations.
Senior Liberal identities said the issue of whether troops should be dispatched if the UN Security Council did not endorse a resolution authorising the use of force was deeply dividing the party. While the Prime Minister, John Howard, has repeatedly said Australia still hoped for a peaceful solution, he has, in line with the US position, declined to rule out military action even if it is not sanctioned by the UN.
A Herald poll, published on Saturday, found 92 per cent of Australians would not support such involvement.
The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, while not backing away from the Government's policy stance, last night said: "The public are right to prefer a United Nations solution and we hope that can be achieved without conflict of any kind."
(MORE)
4//Institute for War and Peace Reporting (ARR No. 44, 17-Jan-03)
http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/arr/arr_200301_44_1_eng.txt
DISSIDENTS BLAMED FOR BOMB ATTACKS
Security chiefs vow to pursue "saboteurs" as explosions continue
to shake the capital.
By Mohammad Naseem Shafaq and Habiburahman Ibrahimi in Kabul
Mohammad Naseem Shafaq and Habiburahman Ibrahimi are freelance journalists
in Kabul.
A rise in bombings and other incidents in Kabul in recent weeks has prompted a warning from the head of an international force in Afghanistan that "destructive elements" are trying to sabotage peace in the country.
Most if not all of these attacks have been blamed on remnants of al-Qaeda or supporters of dissident mujahideen leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, whose artillery and rockets destroyed large parts of Kabul in the mid-Nineties in a power struggle with rival leader Ahmad Shah Masood, and who has since turned his attentions against United States. But so far, there has been no firm evidence linking them to the attacks.
In one of the most serious incidents in the capital, two US soldiers were injured on December 17 when a young Afghan threw a grenade into their jeep. The 17-year-old youth was arrested before he could throw two other grenades, and another young man was arrested after fleeing the scene. Two days later, two Afghans were killed and two French journalists injured outside the main base of the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, when a disabled Afghan with four grenades hidden in his clothing tried to enter the compound. When he was not able to do so, he blew himself up.
On December 23, bombs were planted near the French, German and United Arab Emirates embassies in Kabul, but were discovered and defused by ISAF experts.
Early in January, security forces seized two cars in Kabul, one containing an 82 mm artillery shell with what the national BIA news agency described as an electronic device, and the other containing a kilo of explosives.
A deeply worrying trend has been the discovery of explosives hidden in plastic toys, dolls and pens, which are clearly aimed at children. Commander Abdul Hafiz Salangi, of Share-e-Naw police post, said that on December 22 two kilos of explosive were found packed in a plastic toy car.
While Salangi pointed the finger at al-Qaeda or Hekmatyar, an ISAF spokesman told IWPR, "Investigations in connection with those arrested following recent incidents have not been completed. We cannot say whether they belong to al-Qaeda or Taleban until that time."
(SNIP)
"If there is a war in Baghdad, there may be many in Afghanistan who sympathise with Iraq," Zorlu told reporters. "It may cause an increase in terrorist actions or activities against all foreigners, including ISAF forces, United Nations personnel, non-governmental organisations, coalition forces and all civilian businessmen also coming to the country."
(SNIP)
Despite the confidant predictions of ISAF and police commanders that the security situation was under control, many ordinary people remain unconvinced, and worried about the future.
Fouzia, who works in the education ministry in Kabul, said the attacks were persuading some Afghan refugees who recently came back to their country to leave again, "Our neighbours have just come home from Peshawar, but because of these attacks they are going back. Many more will leave the country if these incidents increase."
5//The Moscow Times Monday, Jan. 20, 2003. Page 6
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/01/20/042.html
RUSSIA, INDIA INK 'LANDMARK' ARMS DEAL
Combined Reports
Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes and Russian officials signed an agreement Friday to expand the burgeoning military cooperation between the two nations to include the joint development of a next-generation fighter jet and other weapons projects
"It's a landmark document," Fernandes told reporters after talks at the Defense Ministry. "We believe that it will contribute to strengthening our military-to-military relationship."
He said the protocol on military cooperation covers Indian purchases of new Russian weapons and envisages cooperation in building a new fighter aircraft and joint production of the Brahmos cruise missile.
The two countries have decided to increase the charter capital of the Brahmos venture from $240 million to $300 million, Indian media reported.
The Brahmos, based on the Russian Yakhont anti-ship missile, has a range of 300 kilometers and flies at twice the speed of sound. It is expected to be deployed in 2004, becoming the first supersonic cruise missile in India's arsenal. India and Russia are also considering exporting the Brahmos.
(MORE)
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© 2003, Gloria R. Lalumia, insight@zianet.com
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