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| February 20, 2004 |
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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. * * * WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2004 1//The Dawn, Pakistan--OPERATION IN S. WAZIRISTAN (Not satisfied with the performance of tribal leaders in nabbing and handing over people harbouring and helping Al Qaeda remnants , the administration in the South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday told tribesmen it was launching its own search and cordon operation to flush out militants. "Our patience is wearing out. They have been too slow in catching and turning over people we suspect harbour and facilitate Al Qaeda and Taliban remnants.) 2//Arab News, Saudi Arabia--KINGDOM WARNS US AGAINST IMPOSING REFORMS (Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said yesterday he was skeptical about US efforts to promote democracy in the Arab world and warned against demanding too-quick reforms in the Kingdom. "We would like to learn from you but we would like you not to impose things on us," Prince Saud said in a speech at the European Policy Center, singling out the US ambassador to the European Union, Rockwell Schnabel, in the audience several times.) 3//The Japan Times, Japan--JAPAN IGNORES U.S. PRESSURE, WILL DEVELOP IRANIAN OIL FIELD (Choosing money in the face of diplomatic pressure from the U.S., the government said Thursday it has struck a long-delayed deal with Tehran to grant a Japanese consortium rights to develop Iran's huge Azadegan oil field. The $2 billion deal will give Japan access to one of the world's largest oil reserves. Dependent on imports for almost all its energy needs, Japan has been seeking its own source of stable crude oil since it lost its rights of negotiation in Saudi Arabia in 2000.) 4//The Independent, UK--IRAN POLL MARKS REFORMISTS' FALL FROM GRACE (The elections, and politics in general, are seen as a game for the elite, which cannot be influenced by the people. The reformists are held to have miserably failed after winning successive mandates to create real change. And President Khatami, once adulated, is falling ever further into popular disfavour.) 5//The Daily Star, Lebanon--THE ODD COUPLE: ISRAEL AND RUSSIA CHALLENGE OPEC (The first tanker to sail from Israel with a cargo of Russian crude pumped through the Tipline left Eilat, bound for Asia, in November. According to British energy analyst Simon Henderson, an expert on the Gulf, that event "has the potential to greatly impact the international oil market... The new route also puts Israel firmly on the oil industry map, but more importantly it will strengthen Russia's position in the global energy market, challenging Saudi Arabia's as the pre-eminent oil producer.) * * * 1//The
Dawn 19 February 2004 Thursday 27 Zilhaj 1424 OPERATION IN S. WAZIRISTAN PESHAWAR, Feb 18: Not satisfied with the performance of tribal leaders in nabbing and handing over people harbouring and helping Al Qaeda remnants, the administration in the South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday told tribesmen it was launching its own search and cordon operation to flush out militants. "Our patience is wearing out. They have been too slow in catching and turning over people we suspect harbour and facilitate Al Qaeda and Taliban remnants. Therefore, we told them we are launching our own search and cordon operation to back their efforts", Administrator South Waziristan, Muhammad Azam Khan, told Dawn by phone from the regional headquarters, Wana. According to him the 'ultimatum' was conveyed to a large jirga of Ahmadzai Waziri tribesmen in Wana. Officials here, meanwhile, denied that the search-and-cordon operation had anything to do with the 'hammer and anvil' approach the US Commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Barnes, said his troops would adopt on the other side of the Pakistan-Afghan border. "This is our own initiative. It has nothing to do with what the Americans may or may not do on the other side. We are doing our job to flush out ... militants and that's all", Mr Azam Khan said. Officials said they were compelled to take a tougher action because of the rather slow movement of the tribal lashkar in their efforts to seize and hand over tribesmen harbouring and helping militants. A tribal force of volunteers has been able to hand over 48 of the 82 tribesmen wanted by the authorities on suspicion of sheltering and helping militants since early last month. (MORE)
KINGDOM WARNS US AGAINST IMPOSING REFORMS BRUSSELS, 20 February 2004 - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said yesterday he was skeptical about US efforts to promote democracy in the Arab world and warned against demanding too-quick reforms in the Kingdom. "We would like to learn from you but we would like you not to impose things on us," Prince Saud said in a speech at the European Policy Center, singling out the US ambassador to the European Union, Rockwell Schnabel, in the audience several times. "Even in your schools you prevent the use of the cane to teach students," he added. The prince said he was hoping for more information from the Bush administration about reports that it is preparing to launch this June a "Greater Middle East Initiative" modeled on the 1975 "Helsinki pact," which the West used to press for greater freedoms and human rights behind the Iron Curtain. "The results on the Soviet Union we all know," Prince Saud said. "It was broken up, it suffered economic deprivations, its people the unhappiest people for at least two decades. "So if this is presented as a lure to the Arab countries, we really don't see much lure in the Helsinki accords." (MORE)
JAPAN IGNORES U.S. PRESSURE, WILL DEVELOP IRANIAN
OIL FIELD By MAYUMI NEGISHI Choosing money in the face of diplomatic pressure from the U.S., the government said Thursday it has struck a long-delayed deal with Tehran to grant a Japanese consortium rights to develop Iran's huge Azadegan oil field. The $2 billion deal will give Japan access to one of the world's largest oil reserves. Dependent on imports for almost all its energy needs, Japan has been seeking its own source of stable crude oil since it lost its rights of negotiation in Saudi Arabia in 2000. Iran would meanwhile gain much-needed foreign investment to become the second-largest producer within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The deal came despite considerable pressure from Washington, which has accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons program and sought to isolate the country. (SNIP) But key details, such as how to woo necessary cooperation of foreign firms, remain undecided. Japan has yet to secure a partner that has the technology to drill for or produce crude oil. The 210 billion yen initial investment may very well double. Japan, a huge importer, has been negotiating with the Iranian government for over three years, even as the U.S. has been applying pressure to withdraw due to concerns over Iran's alleged nuclear arms program. Iran's recent pledges to accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy agency are assumed to have helped move talks forward, although the U.S. alleges that Iran has not remained true to its word.
IRAN POLL MARKS REFORMISTS' FALL FROM GRACE Iranians will today elect their parliament amid one of the most serious political crises in the Islamic republic's history. The poll is likely to mean the end for President Mohammad Khatami's reformist movement and his chances of effecting real change. But Nahid, a 19-year-old medical student will not be voting. She said: "I don't have anybody to vote for and the things I want done will not be done by the deputies on offer. I voted for President Khatami in his second presidential election but the present situation is 100 per cent his fault. If he took a firmer stance, things would have improved." On the streets of Tehran, her feelings are echoed across all classes and ages. The elections, and politics in general, are seen as a game for the elite, which cannot be influenced by the people. The reformists are held to have miserably failed after winning successive mandates to create real change. And President Khatami, once adulated, is falling ever further into popular disfavour. More worrying for the conservative jurists who stand to benefit from the reformists' fall from grace, the public appears to be rejecting a direct order from the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to vote. "I do not respect the Supreme Leader, so why should I follow his orders?" asked Nahid, whose traditional clothing defines her as a member of the social group conservatives would like to claim as their own. (MORE)
THE ODD COUPLE: ISRAEL AND RUSSIA CHALLENGE OPEC Pipeline becomes vital artery for shipments to far
east markets Ed Blanche BEIRUT: Israel's vice-premier and trade minister, Ehud Olmert, was in Moscow last week with a particular message: "We want more Russian oil." Moscow is only happy to oblige, because a 250-kilometer pipeline running from Ashkelon on the Mediterranean to Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba has become a vital artery for Russian oil exports to the Far East, the fastest-growing energy market in the world and one Moscow wants to dominate. By sidestepping the Suez Canal, the Trans-Israel Pipeline, known as the Tipline, opens up a shorter and cheaper route for Russian oil exports to Asia and thereby threatens Arab exports from the Gulf. The first tanker to sail from Israel with a cargo of Russian crude pumped through the Tipline left Eilat, bound for Asia, in November. According to British energy analyst Simon Henderson, an expert on the Gulf, that event "has the potential to greatly impact the international oil market. Russian oil exports are unconstrained by the quotas of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, and a steady stream of expanded Russian shipments via the Tipline could ... lower prices worldwide." The new route also puts Israel firmly on the oil industry map, but more importantly it will strengthen Russia's position in the global energy market, challenging Saudi Arabia's as the pre-eminent oil producer. These days, Russia and Saudi Arabia are jockeying for the No. 1 spot as a world oil supplier with around 8 million barrels per day (bpd). A confrontation between Saudi-dominated OPEC and Moscow seems inevitable. (SNIP) The Americans have long wanted to undermine OPEC and US control of Iraq's oil, wealth could go far to achieve that. But the Russians seem to be ones making the running right now, and want to overtake Saudi production levels within five years. According to Simon Kukes, chief executive officer of Russia's giant Yukos oil company, Russian output could reach 11 million bpd by 2009. (MORE) | |||||
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