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| October 6, 2003 |
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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. * * * 1//Moscow Times, Russia--YUKOS TARGETED IN 3 NEW RAIDS (The new onslaught started just an hour after Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky was attending the World Economic Forum with ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, a public encounter that came amid mounting market speculation that the U.S. oil giant was gearing up to pay billions of dollars for a stake in the newly merged YukosSibneft..."The timing of this attack cannot be a coincidence," said Andrei Ryabov, political analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center. "It sends a serious signal that the forces behind the Yukos attack are not prepared to give up. "With this happening on the same day as the economic forum and on the day Yukos announces the completion of the merger with Sibneft, it appears to send a signal to investors that there is no need to rush into a deal," he said. "It's an attempt to seize the initiative."... Where President Vladimir Putin stands on this, however, remains unclear... A Kremlin spokesman confirmed Friday that Putin met with Raymond at the New York Stock Exchange during his recent visit to the United States.) 2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--PAKISTAN: FBI RULES THE ROOST (The FBI initially kept a low profile, working mostly at the direction of the all-powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's premier intelligence outfit and effectively the architect and orchestrator of Pakistan's strategic policies. Now, however, the FBI works autonomously, with its own separate organizational setup...The FBI cells have established direct control over the law enforcing agencies, such as the police, who take orders from FBI agents. In return, they are believed to be handsomely rewarded financially. The ISI is aware of who is on the FBI's payroll, but can do little about it.) 3//Arab News, Saudi Arabia--SCHROEDER'S VISIT AND GCC-GERMAN TIES (On the surface, the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Germany is so limited that it reflects neither the geographic proximity nor the vital links that exist in several fields between the two sides. A closer look, however, reveals the existence of a "traditional friendship". While this perception is a chance for fruitful political, economic, security and cultural cooperation on the one hand, it arouses high expectations and demands on the other...There is no doubt that the international community is split into two - one favoring a unilateral world order and another wanting a multilateral system. The solution to this vexed issue is of essential interest to the region, Germany and the EU. If a unilateral order prevails, the EU will get even weaker, adversely affecting the region. A consolidated Germany-EU-GCC approach, however, could help turn the tide.) 4//Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines--MACAPAGAL-ARROYO'S FRESH BID FOR PRESIDENCY DRAWS FLAK (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's U-turn announcement that she would seek a second term drew flak Sunday with politicians accusing her of insincerity and political stunts, although some said it could lead to welcome stability...The announcement also appeared timed to gain political leverage from a scheduled October 18 visit by US President George W. Bush, on whose global "war on terrorism" the President has staked her reputation. Senator Edgardo Angara accused Arroyo of insincerity. "We already knew she was running. She was just masquerading all along, a charade. She has been playing with the Filipino people," Angara said.) Related: AFTER U-TURN, MACAPAGAL WOOS CHURCH GROUPS 5//B92, Independent TV/Radio, Serbia--SERBIA COMMEMORATES THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION (Three years ago today, a million Serbs descended on the centre of Belgrade to overthrow the Milosevic government...The parties of the DOS coalition, which came together for the sole purpose of defeating Milosevic are squabbling among themselves and the coalition itself is no longer in touch with the people. Nor do the people still have anything like the energy and enthusiasm with which they swept DOS to power. Most of them see the three-year wait for change as too long. Members of the public interviewed by B92 for today's anniversary say that life is "more normal" than it was but that this is not enough.) Related: ZIVKOVIC DEFENDS THE RECORD * * * 1//Moscow Times Monday, Oct. 6, 2003. Page 1 http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2003/10/06/001.html YUKOS TARGETED IN 3 NEW RAIDS More than 50 investigators and police with machine guns and bulletproof vests swarmed through a business center belonging to Yukos late Friday, raiding the office of key shareholder Vladimir Dubov and the nearby home of Platon Lebedev, who has been jailed in the FSB's Lefortovo prison since July, Lebedev's lawyer said Sunday. (SNIP) The new onslaught started just an hour after Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky was attending the World Economic Forum with ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, a public encounter that came amid mounting market speculation that the U.S. oil giant was gearing up to pay billions of dollars for a stake in the newly merged YukosSibneft. The raids are a significant step-up in prosecutor activity against Yukos shareholders, which began in July with the arrest of Lebedev. They cast a pall on the company's announcement Friday that it had completed its merger with oil producer Sibneft. (SNIP) Analysts have said a hard-line Kremlin faction backing rival
state-owned energy firms Gazprom and Rosneft appears to oppose
Khodorkovsky sealing a deal with a foreign oil major -- a
move that could give Yukos shareholders' protection against
political attack and against questions over the company's
controversial privatization in the mid-1990s. "With this happening on the same day as the economic forum and on the day Yukos announces the completion of the merger with Sibneft, it appears to send a signal to investors that there is no need to rush into a deal," he said. "It's an attempt to seize the initiative." Ryabov said the hard-line Kremlin faction, known as the St. Petersburg siloviki as they came to power on Putin's coattails, would not be able to fight against Yukos should it team up with Exxon. "They would lose all chance of getting hold of Yukos," he said. Where President Vladimir Putin stands on this, however, remains unclear. As the new raids against Yukos were launched, he addressed a hall of foreign investors at the World Economic Forum that included Raymond to reassure them of increasing stability and call for cutbacks in state interference in the economy. In a recent interview with foreign journalists before leaving for a U.S. summit with President George W. Bush, Putin said he could not interfere in the investigations into Yukos because crimes such as murder have been alleged and they are too serious to ignore. Prosecutors have opened at least eight investigations into Yukos and related firms that include accusations of murder, attempted murder, fraud and tax evasion. A Kremlin spokesman confirmed Friday that Putin met with Raymond at the New York Stock Exchange during his recent visit to the United States. News of that meeting has been seen by market watchers as a sign that Exxon could be actively seeking Kremlin approval for the acquisition of at least a blocking stake in YukosSibneft. Meanwhile, as the raids on Yukos rolled on, Raymond met with Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on Friday afternoon to discuss his company's plans in Russia. (MORE)
PAKISTAN: FBI RULES THE ROOST KARACHI - Pakistani forces have killed at least 12 and arrested 12 suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters over the past two days in a major operation at Angoor Adda, a small town on the border with Afghanistan. The operation is being widely hailed in Pakistan as a demonstration of the country's commitment to the US-led "war on terrorism". However, this is only a part of the story. The clash was orchestrated by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a direct result of its deep penetration - and even control - of the Pakistani intelligence establishment. The roots of this involvement can be directly traced to the fallout from the events of September 11, 2001, which saw Pakistan throw in its lot with the US. This entailed Islamabad withdrawing its long-standing support for the Taliban in Afghanistan, which it had helped propel into power in 1996, and opening its air bases to the US military for operations in Afghanistan. It also allowed US intelligence to establish a finger-hold in the country, which the FBI has now turned into a vice-like grip through an ever-expanding network that has infiltrated, to various degrees, Pakistan's armed forces, the police and intelligence agencies. The FBI varies its presence according to requirements in its hunt for al-Qaeda suspects, with the total number deployed anywhere between 50 and 100. It has at least three active cells, in Peshawar, on the border of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where many al-Qaeda are known to hide, in the volatile port city of Karachi and in the capital Islamabad. The FBI initially kept a low profile, working mostly at the direction of the all-powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's premier intelligence outfit and effectively the architect and orchestrator of Pakistan's strategic policies. Now, however, the FBI works autonomously, with its own separate organizational setup. This includes communications to track both mobile and land telephone calls, as well as sophisticated bugging devices. Each cell has these capabilities. In Karachi, the FBI cell operates in the Defense Housing Authority Phase VIII complex. Only two or three army officers are attached to this cell, purely for coordination purposes. Not all are happy with this state of affairs. According to one ISI person posted in Karachi, who requested not to be named when talking to Asia Times Online, "After September 11, 2001, we were given instructions to work along with FBI operators. Initially they were given a room in the ISI's operations office. They used to give commands to us, and we had to obey them. For instance, once they asked us to send a packet somewhere. We packed it and informed them that the parcel was ready. They unpacked the parcel and asked an ISI employee to repack it in front of them. This is the way the FBI operators showed their domination over the ISI staff. At first they asked us to coordinate in operations. Later on they were given a separate place of work, then they cultivated local police officers, and several times they did not bother to inform the ISI about their operations." The FBI cells have established direct control over the law enforcing agencies, such as the police, who take orders from FBI agents. In return, they are believed to be handsomely rewarded financially. The ISI is aware of who is on the FBI's payroll, but can do little about it. (MORE)
Kingdom: DUBAI, 5October 2003 - On the surface, the relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Germany is so limited that it reflects neither the geographic proximity nor the vital links that exist in several fields between the two sides. A closer look, however, reveals the existence of a "traditional friendship". While this perception is a chance for fruitful political, economic, security and cultural cooperation on the one hand, it arouses high expectations and demands on the other. It is true that the scope for German policy in the region is limited - the US is the dominant power, economically, politically and militarily. This, in turn, has had a special impact on the German policy in the Gulf, especially since the US perceived Iran and Iraq as "hostile" countries. Further, if the association has not achieved the recognition that it deserves, it is also partly due to the high expectations that the region has of Germany as an international player. Bilateral relations in the aftermath of World War II and Germany's stance toward the Arab-Israeli conflict were influenced by its antithetic ties with the Arab states on the one side and Israel on the other. Since Germany has had no colonial past in the region, Arab countries expect it to play a strong role within the European Union (EU) and support their interests, especially in finding a solution to the Palestinian question. In this context, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should be viewed as a concerted effort to intensify German engagement in the Gulf region as part of an attempt to redefine its foreign policy in the wake of Sept.11, 2001. From "unlimited solidarity" in lending support to US President George W. Bush's "war against terror" after9 / 11to an emphatic "no" to joining the US-led forces against Iraq in 2003, Germany's diplomatic transition has come full circle. This approach - contrary to the US way of forcing a "regime change" by imposing sanctions and launching pre-emptive strikes - has gelled well with the regional stance. This new approach is founded on Germany's respect for international law and justice. Accordingly, the basis of German foreign policy hinges on the belief in "critical dialogue" - emphasis on engagement over confrontation as a means to evolve solutions to problems in international politics - that has manifested in the attempt to tide over the crisis involving Iran. The change is a result of the realization on the part of the EU that formulated a collective policy on the Middle East, which Germany initiated. The most crucial reason for the change, however, was the high number of asylum-seekers in the country. Since 1960, nearly four million people - mostly Muslims - have migrated to Germany. Ensuring stability in the Middle East through proactive engagement was seen as a key to ward off both migration and domestic Muslim discontent. Schroeder's tour to the region assumes greater significance because GCC-German relations transcend the realm of oil, which is often the most obvious factor in any association with the Gulf countries. Although oil is the most important import item from the GCC countries to Germany, the Gulf is not its chief crude supplier - Russia, Norway, Britain, Libya and Kazakhstan rank way above Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the importance of Germany for the GCC countries still lies in the economic sector. Pushed by the Cooperation Agreement signed between the GCC and the EU in1989, trade ties have been growing steadily, having a positive impact on political cooperation. (SNIP) Iran is another crucial area for GCC-German cooperation. A politically stable Iran is vital for the stability and security of the whole Gulf region. Though the German-Iranian relations are not free of conflicts, Germany has had traditional ties with Iran, which it maintained even after the Islamic revolution and contributed to the implementation of the cease-fire between Iran and Iraq in 1988. That partnership has intensified after President Mohammed Chatom assumed office in 1997. As part of the "critical dialogue" framework, Germany is now taking a lead role in the attempt to reintegrate Iran into the international community through comprehensive communication that covers global, regional and mutual cooperation. Realizing the importance of avoiding another Iraq-like situation in the region, Germany, both individually and collectively as part of EU, has sought to take a proactive role to tide over the Iran-US deadlock. Berlin has offered inducements to Tehran if it stops the disputed nuclear fuel enrichment program and has urged it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty's "Additional Protocol" that provides for intrusive, short-notice inspections. There is no doubt that the international community is split into two - one favoring a unilateral world order and another wanting a multilateral system. The solution to this vexed issue is of essential interest to the region, Germany and the EU. If a unilateral order prevails, the EU will get even weaker, adversely affecting the region. A consolidated Germany-EU-GCC approach, however, could help turn the tide.
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO'S FRESH BID FOR PRESIDENCY DRAWS FLAK President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's U-turn announcement that she would seek a second term drew flak Sunday with politicians accusing her of insincerity and political stunts, although some said it could lead to welcome stability. Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunya said it had been expected that President Macapagal-Arroyo would be criticized for announcing she would run in the May 2004 polls, but stressed this would not distract her. "She is prepared to take criticism against her because of her decision, but she believes that the welfare of the country is of higher interest," Bunya said over GMA Network's radio dab. When the President said last year she would not stand and instead devote her remaining months in office to improving the economy and bringing stability to the volatile Philippines, many did not believe her. It had been widely believed she would announce her change of heart at her Lakes-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakes-CMD) party's conference next week. The recent defections of political allies are believed to have pushed her to move earlier than planned. The announcement also appeared timed to gain political leverage from a scheduled October 18 visit by US President George W. Bush, on whose global "war on terrorism" the President has staked her reputation. Senator Edgardo Angara accused Arroyo of insincerity. "We already knew she was running. She was just masquerading all along, a charade. She has been playing with the Filipino people," Angara said. He said an opposition coalition formed over the weekend was expected to announce an "unbeatable" challenger to Macapagal-Arroyo in a month's time. Among those in the short-list are business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco and senator Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief whose allegations of corruption against Arroyo's family have pulled down her popularity ratings. (MORE) Related: 'To beat the devil...' LESS than 24 hours after announcing that she was seeking a full term in the May elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wasted no time courting the religious vote. (SNIP) Ms Macapagal said she continued to listen to the JIL's advice when she took over in Malacañang, particularly in the religious group's advocacy against corruption and immorality, particularly pornography. The President said that "evil" events like the 1997 Asian financial crisis and 9/11 terrorist attacks were not the work of men but by the devil who thrives in a weak system. She said that to beat the devil, the current system must be changed, including amending the Constitution, to build a strong republic and to implement the true reforms that would cure the country's political and economic ills. (MORE)
SERBIA COMMEMORATES THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION | 20:38 BELGRADE -- Sunday - Three years ago today, a million Serbs descended on the centre of Belgrade to overthrow the Milosevic government. The new president of Yugoslavia installed that day, Vojislav Kostunica, no longer heads the federal state and that state itself no longer exists. The parties of the DOS coalition, which came together for the sole purpose of defeating Milosevic are squabbling among themselves and the coalition itself is no longer in touch with the people. Nor do the people still have anything like the energy and enthusiasm with which they swept DOS to power. Most of them see the three-year wait for change as too long. Members of the public interviewed by B92 for today's anniversary say that life is "more normal" than it was but that this is not enough. "The dictator has gone. Maybe this lot aren't quite what we imagined, but things will improve," said one Belgrader. (SNIP) Some complained about the poor economic situation and the loss of jobs. "Nothing has improved for me," said one Belgrade woman who has lost her job after nearly 25 years. "It seems better to me now. At least then we knew who we needed to overthrow, but now we don't know who to vote for," said another. Otpor, the Democratic Party of Serbia and New Serbia celebrated the third anniversary of the ousting of Milosevic today. (SNIP) Radio B92's Marko Subotic reports that the Otpor suppporters marched from central Belgrade's Republic Sqaure, through Kralj Milan and Takovska Streets, shouting slogans from the October 5 revolution. A large contingent of G17 Plus supporters, including deputy party leader Mladjan Dinkic, joined the Otpor march. Related: (MORE) | |||||
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