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| May 17, 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 MAY 17, 2004 1//Press Trust of India, India--BLAIR, BUSH PLAN TO VISIT BAGHDAD TO QUELL MOUNTING ANGER (British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush plan to make an unprecedented joint appearance in Baghdad in a "desperate" bid to quell mounting anger over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. They fear the scandal over the torture of captives by US and British troops is threatening to wreck the coalition mission and destabilise the Middle East, the British Sunday Mirror tabloid reported today. The report, however, did not spell out the date when the two leaders will make the trip.) 2//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--BRITISH MP TO PROSECUTE BLAIR FOR IRAQ 'WAR CRIMES' (Rebel MP George Galloway outlined plans to attempt to prosecute British Prime Minister Tony Blair and two leading government figures for war crimes. The politician said he would base the prosecution on legal guidelines set down both in the Criminal Justice Act and in the International Criminal Court...His party membership was suspended after he accused Mr Blair and US President George W Bush of invading the Middle East nation like "wolves".) 3//The
Daily Star, Lebanon--FLUCTUATING CRUDE PRICES
KEY SOURCE OF INSTABILITY (Fluctuating oil
prices should not cause alarm, although they are
a key source of global instability, participants
in a round-table discussion of economic issues
said Saturday at the World Economic Forum in Jordan...Qatari
Oil Minister Abdullah bin Hamed al-Attiyah, who
said the rising prices didn't reach 1981 levels,
attributed the rise to "geopolitics and security
fears."... Larson said US policy focused on
promoting the "diversification and expansion
of oil and gas supplies around the world. We see
our interests advanced when countries in the Gulf
expand and diversify production." He ruled
out that the US was pressuring OPEC members to
increase output...Attiyah agreed. "They never
put pressure on us, believe me," he said. "They
call us to talk, to give their opinion," he
added drawing laughs from the audience.) 5//The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines--MILITARY COUNTS HEADS TO THWART POLL FRAUD (The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday admitted it was conducting a "head count" of all officers in the wake of reports that retired military officials were recruiting active members for a destabilization plot. "We're purposely looking for our men since we're on red alert," Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero, military information officer, said in Filipino. "We need 100-percent troop strength." This after retired police generals had reportedly joined their former comrades in the Armed Forces to recruit active police and military field commanders for a belated plot to cheat in the election count in favor of the opposition.) * * * 1//Press
Trust of India, India May 16, 2004 08:12
PM BLAIR, BUSH PLAN TO VISIT BAGHDAD TO QUELL MOUNTING ANGER London, May 16 (PTI) British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush plan to make an unprecedented joint appearance in Baghdad in a "desperate" bid to quell mounting anger over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. They fear the scandal over the torture of captives by US and British troops is threatening to wreck the coalition mission and destabilise the Middle East, the British Sunday Mirror tabloid reported today. The report, however, did not spell out the date when the two leaders will make the trip. It said Bush and Blair, who are expected to travel to Iraq on separate planes escorted by British and US fighter jets, would make an unprecedented joint appearance in the Iraqi capital and try to reassure the people that the West condemned the actions of "rogue" troops and that those found guilty would be punished. (MORE)
BRITISH MP TO PROSECUTE BLAIR FOR IRAQ 'WAR CRIMES' Rebel MP George Galloway outlined plans to attempt to prosecute British Prime Minister Tony Blair and two leading government figures for war crimes. The politician said he would base the prosecution on legal guidelines set down both in the Criminal Justice Act and in the International Criminal Court. He also predicted Labour would have its worst polling result yet in the upcoming European, local, London Assembly and London mayoral elections. Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party last October over his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war. His party membership was suspended after he accused Mr Blair and US President George W Bush of invading the Middle East nation like "wolves". Speaking at a press conference in London, Mr Galloway said: "We intend to table parliamentary questions and also write to the Attorney-General to seek his permission, as we require, to begin a private prosecution against Mr Blair, Mr (Geoff) Hoon (Defence Secretary) and Mr (Adam) Ingram (Armed Forces Minister) for war crimes and the torture, which has been going on for more than a year." He added: "Prima facie, they have completely failed to live up to their international legal obligations." (MORE) 3//The
Daily Star, Lebanon Monday, May 17, 2004 FLUCTUATING CRUDE PRICES KEY SOURCE OF INSTABILITY OPEC doing its 'best' to stabilize market Compiled by Daily Star staff Fluctuating oil prices should not cause alarm, although they are a key source of global instability, participants in a round-table discussion of economic issues said Saturday at the World Economic Forum in Jordan. Oil prices have soared in recent weeks, with the degenerating security situation in Iraq and a recent terror attack on a petrochemical facility in Saudi Arabia fueling the upward drive. Analysts have cited lost production in Iraq, lower production in Nigeria and Venezuela, as well as exploding demand from China, as factors behind the situation. "We should be concerned, not alarmed, about oil prices," said Alan Larson, the US undersecretary of state for economic affairs. "Oil is available to meet the needs of the global community, but fluctuating prices are a source of concern." Augusto Lopez-Claros, chief economist and director of the Global Competitiveness Program in the World Economic Forum, said "delays in restoring Iraq's oil production" and fluctuating prices are a concern of the international community. "Oil will remain a source of instability in the world, and perhaps in the short-term it is the most significant factor," Lopez-Claros said, citing terrorism and security as other factors. On Thursday, oil prices soared to a record high on the New York Mercantile Exchange, surpassing $41 a barrel and settling at the highest point in the 21-year-history of crude futures trading in New York. Qatari Oil Minister Abdullah bin Hamed al-Attiyah, who said the rising prices didn't reach 1981 levels, attributed the rise to "geopolitics and security fears." "I'm not enjoying the $40 rate," he said at another meeting discussing the effect of oil prices on global economy. "We're doing our best in OPEC to stabilize oil prices." He added that there was no consensus among OPEC members and oil consumers for what a "reasonable price" could be, although Qatar favored the $22 to $28 level. Attiyah estimated Middle East instability was adding an $8 premium to the price of one barrel of crude oil, which stood in New York on Friday at $41.50. But Attiyah did not say whether ministers would support a Saudi proposal to raise output by at least 1.5 million barrels per day when they meet ahead of an oil producer-consumer conference in Amsterdam next weekend and in Beirut on June 3. Larson said US policy focused on promoting the "diversification and expansion of oil and gas supplies around the world. We see our interests advanced when countries in the Gulf expand and diversify production." He ruled out that the US was pressuring OPEC members to increase output. "Talk to ministers who will say there's no pressure," he said. "Understanding the market, demand trend and inventories isn't a simple task. Typically, conversations we have are designed to help (them) understand the market." Attiyah agreed. "They never put pressure on us, believe me," he said. "They call us to talk, to give their opinion," he added drawing laughs from the audience. Former Iraqi Oil Minister Issam al-Chalabi said sabotage of Iraqi oil pipelines and attempts to attack terminals in the southern port city of Basra have contributed to the shortfall of desired Iraqi oil output. "The situation of the industry is in a terrible shape," said Chalabi, chairman of an Iraqi petroleum and economic consultancy firm. (MORE)
RICE, PUTIN SEEK WAY FORWARD IN IRAQ U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice wrapped up her three-day visit to Moscow on Sunday saying she had fresh assurances of Russia's support for U.S. efforts to stabilize the situation in Iraq. But the two countries still remained at loggerheads over how much control the planned Iraqi caretaker government will have over security and other key issues. "I think we, the United States and Russia, share a common understanding of how we should move forward," Rice said in a Russian voice-over in a television interview aired after she completed her series of meetings with top Russian officials, including a closed-door meeting with President Vladimir Putin. In a short interview aired on NTV television's "Namedni" program Sunday, Rice said the United States and Russia had a shared interest in preventing destabilization in Iraq. She offered a generally positive assessment of U.S.-Russian relations, but was noticeably short on details. "Everyone agrees that the most important thing at the moment is to give Iraq stability and pass a UN Security Council resolution. I hope we will be able to prepare the text of this resolution with help of our Russian partners" among others, she said. (SNIP) While Iraq dominated Rice's visit, she discussed a wide range of other issues with Russian officials traditionally high on the agenda between the two countries -- energy cooperation, terrorism, weapons proliferation, Iran's nuclear program, developments in former Soviet republics and the Middle East, according to the U.S. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (SNIP) Russian officials also chose not to probe sore spots for the Bush administration, with the scandal swirling around the torture of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. service personnel mentioned only in passing, the diplomat said. The Russians reassured Rice that Moscow will support a United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing the transition of power from U.S. administration to the planned Iraqi government on June 30, the diplomat said. He said the United States would share the text of the UN resolution with Russia as soon as it was drafted. But he declined to comment on whether Washington and Moscow saw eye to eye on how much control the new government and U.S. military commanders would have over security issues, or when and for how long international peacekeeping troops could be deployed in Iraq. Nor would the diplomat say if the two sides agreed on whether the UN resolution should be adopted before the June 30 transfer of power, or after. (MORE)
MILITARY COUNTS HEADS TO THWART POLL FRAUD The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday admitted it was conducting a "head count" of all officers in the wake of reports that retired military officials were recruiting active members for a destabilization plot. "We're purposely looking for our men since we're on red alert," Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero, military information officer, said in Filipino. "We need 100-percent troop strength." This after retired police generals had reportedly joined their former comrades in the Armed Forces to recruit active police and military field commanders for a belated plot to cheat in the election count in favor of the opposition. Led by a former Philippine National Police chief, the retired generals had been going around Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and Mindanao offering huge sums of money to active police and military officers to join the camp of Fernando Poe Jr., a top police general told the Inquirer Sunday. Among the recruiters, the officer said, was a retired PNP general whose son, a military officer, was implicated in the Oakwook mutiny which tried to overthrow the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last year. (MORE) | ||||||
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