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| April 5, 2004 |
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World Media Watch by Gloria R. Lalumia BUZZFLASH NOTE: WMW provides BuzzFlash readers foreign views and perspectives that are not usually available from the media here in the U.S. The presentation of these articles from these international publications is not an endorsement of their viewpoints. * * * WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR APRIL 5, 2004 1//The Independent, UK--ID CARDS 'TO BE ENFORCED BY 2008' (Everyone in Britain could be forced to have identity cards within five years under a fast-track plan by David Blunkett which is backed by Tony Blair and gaining support within the Cabinet...Government sources said yesterday that the "centre of gravity" in the Cabinet was now moving towards a "big bang" introduction of a compulsory system. Last Thursday, Mr Blair told a press conference that cards would be brought in "probably more quickly than we anticipated".) 2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--IRAQI OIL: HANGING IN THE BALANCE (But as US and Iraqi oil engineers push to raise output, it is far from certain whether production can be further increased - or even sustained at current levels - in the near future. Gerald Butt, an oil industry analyst with the Cyprus-based Middle East Economic Survey, says the current production level will likely have to drop in the short term to allow engineers to make badly needed repairs...He also notes that Iraq's oil sector remains beset by uncertainties, ranging from still unreliable - though improving - electricity supplies to security problems.) 3//The Mena Report, Jordan--US OCCUPYING AUTHORITIES RESTRUCTURE IRAQI COMPANY LAW (US presidential envoy to Iraq and administrator of the occupying Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Paul Bremer signed into law an order that will revise Iraq Company Law of 1997...Important changes to the company law include ensuring substantially equal treatment of foreign investors with local nationals for purposes of establishing entities and reducing the steps and time necessary to form companies and requiring the Registrar of Companies to act within set time periods in processing company formations and recapitalizations.) 4//The Daily Star, Lebanon--ARABS DIVIDED OVER US PLAN (Arabs are still divided over the United States plan for introducing political reforms in the Arab world, despite eight days of high-level talks and a flurry of meetings by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa...But one of the most important results of the failure of the Tunis summit was the birth of an Arab quadripartite alliance of Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Morocco to face up to the tripartite alliance of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria and their satellite states, according to official reports sent to Beirut. Another result of the failed summit was the birth of a moderate Arab alliance including Qatar, Yemen and Sudan. 5//The Moscow Times, Russia--DUMA RETHINKS BAN ON PROTESTS (In the wake of "serious social resonance," the State Duma's United Russia majority backpedaled from outright support of a bill banning rallies in many public places Friday, just two days after voting in favor of it... Critics from the left and right have castigated the bill as a violation of democratic norms and an attempt to stifle freedom of expression. They also accused the bill's pro-Kremlin backers of trying to insulate themselves from unpleasant criticism by keeping protesters far from sight. Calling the question of permitted venues "the hottest debate," Gryzlov said amendments would be made to allow protests outside seats of state power except presidential residences, which will remain off limits.) * * * 1//The
Independent 05 April 2004 ID CARDS 'TO BE ENFORCED BY 2008' Everyone in Britain could be forced to have identity cards within five years under a fast-track plan by David Blunkett which is backed by Tony Blair and gaining support within the Cabinet. Last month's bombings in Madrid and last week's arrest of suspected Islamic terrorists in Britain have persuaded more ministers that compulsory ID cards will have to be introduced much sooner than they originally envisaged. The Government announced last November that it would phase in voluntary identity cards from 2007-08 and decide in 2013 whether to make the scheme compulsory. But Government sources said yesterday that the "centre of gravity" in the Cabinet was now moving towards a "big bang" introduction of a compulsory system. Last Thursday, Mr Blair told a press conference that cards would be brought in "probably more quickly than we anticipated". (SNIP) Mr Blunkett was forced to water down his proposals for ID cards last November after objections from several cabinet colleagues including Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, and Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary. But Cabinet sources say opposition to ID cards has weakened since the Madrid attacks. "The realities of the last few weeks have had a big impact," one said. Ministers agreed last week that MPs would be able to vote on a compulsory system without the need for fresh legislation. A draft Bill to be published next month will provide for a full day's Commons debate on a motion which opponents would be allowed to amend. The Home Secretary plans to bring in legislation in the Parliamentary session beginning in November 2005. This would set up a voluntary scheme for hi-tech cards storing people's unique "biometric" details, such as iris images or fingerprints from 2007-08. A decision on a compulsory system could now follow soon after that. (MORE)
IRAQI OIL: HANGING IN THE BALANCE Charles Recknagel is a senior correspondent for
Gulf Affairs and related issues in Prague. Iraqi oil production slumped dramatically following the United States-led invasion last year, but it is now routinely back up to immediate pre-war levels. In past weeks, daily production has been running between 2.3 million and 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd). That is right around the prewar average of 2.5 million bpd. The sustained high level of output is good news for Washington, which has raced to get oil production back up as quickly as the dilapidated state of Iraq's oil infrastructure would allow. The US plans to fund much of the country's reconstruction through oil revenues. But as US and Iraqi oil engineers push to raise output, it is far from certain whether production can be further increased - or even sustained at current levels - in the near future. Gerald Butt, an oil industry analyst with the Cyprus-based Middle East Economic Survey, says the current production level will likely have to drop in the short term to allow engineers to make badly needed repairs. (SNIP) He also notes that Iraq's oil sector remains beset by uncertainties, ranging from still unreliable - though improving - electricity supplies to security problems. "There are so many uncertainties, not least the security and not least the ability of engineers to keep functioning a lot of equipment that is badly in need of repair, not just at the oil fields but at pumping stations and so on. There are questions about the electricity supply and, while it has improved enormously over recent weeks, it still is not 100 percent reliable," Butt says. A top Iraqi oil official said recently that Washington's slowness to release new money for oil-field repairs adds to the uncertainty surrounding further production increases. US media recently quoted the head of Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) as saying that production can only increase with substantial further investments. Shmakhi al-Faraj said, "If we don't really invest, if we don't keep things rolling, then we can't increase production." (SNIP) As oil engineers now strive to raise production, Iraq is making good progress in also increasing its capacity for getting oil to world markets... (MORE)
US OCCUPYING AUTHORITIES RESTRUCTURE IRAQI COMPANY LAW US presidential envoy to Iraq and administrator of the occupying Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Paul Bremer signed into law an order that will revise Iraq Company Law of 1997. The new law creates a modern legal environment that eliminates many of the avenues of corruption used by the former regime. Both the Minister of Finance and the Finance and Planning Committee of the Iraqi Governing Council were consulted and their approval given, reported a press release. The revised law eliminates restrictive barriers to the formation of corporations, encourages the infusion of capital into existing Iraqi companies, removes the remnants of Iraq's centrally planned and controlled economy, and officially opens the door for foreign investment in Iraq by making the Company Law consistent with a CPA order on foreign investment. Important changes to the company law include ensuring substantially equal treatment of foreign investors with local nationals for purposes of establishing entities and reducing the steps and time necessary to form companies and requiring the Registrar of Companies to act within set time periods in processing company formations and recapitalizations. Individuals will now be able to form single member limited liability entities and limits will be removed on the percentage of shares that a single shareholder can hold with respect to Iraqi private sector joint stock companies. Companies will no longer has to conform with state planning goals as a condition for approvals.
ARABS DIVIDED OVER US PLAN By Khalil Fleihan, Daily Star senior writer Arabs are still divided over the United States plan for introducing political reforms in the Arab world, despite eight days of high-level talks and a flurry of meetings by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. Arabs are also divided over the US-backed Greater Middle East Initiative, an informed diplomatic source said Sunday. The Arab summit, which was supposed to take place on March 29, was indefinitely postponed after Arab foreign ministers could not agree on a reform plan. Meanwhile the issue of reforms in the Arab world is expected to be discussed at the upcoming summit meetings, including a NATO summit, a US-European summit, a G8 summit and the long-awaited Arab League summit, which was canceled in Tunis last month, the source added. (SNIP) But one of the most important results of the failure of the Tunis summit was the birth of an Arab quadripartite alliance of Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Morocco to face up to the tripartite alliance of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria and their satellite states, according to official reports sent to Beirut. (SNIP) Another result of the failed summit was the birth of a moderate Arab alliance including Qatar, Yemen and Sudan.
DUMA RETHINKS BAN ON PROTESTS In the wake of "serious social resonance," the State Duma's United Russia majority backpedaled from outright support of a bill banning rallies in many public places Friday, just two days after voting in favor of it. "The draft needs a considerable amount of additional work," Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov conceded Friday. The bill would outlaw protests near most public buildings -- from government offices to schools and concert halls -- as well as embassies, sensitive industrial facilities, main streets, railroads and pipelines. Critics from the left and right have castigated the bill as a violation of democratic norms and an attempt to stifle freedom of expression. They also accused the bill's pro-Kremlin backers of trying to insulate themselves from unpleasant criticism by keeping protesters far from sight. Calling the question of permitted venues "the hottest debate," Gryzlov said amendments would be made to allow protests outside seats of state power except presidential residences, which will remain off limits. "The bill passed Wednesday ... created a rather serious social resonance," said Gryzlov, who also heads the United Russia faction. "It will be amended before the second reading," he said. The second reading of the bill is to take place April 28, the same day as a second reading of amendments to the Criminal Code that would toughen punishments for terrorism. (MORE) | ||||||
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