June 4, 2004

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.

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WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR JUNE 4, 2004

1//The Daily Star, Lebanon--IRAQ'S NEW OIL MINISTER AIMS TO HIKE PRODUCTION (Iraq's new oil minister, Thamer Ghadban, welcomed Thursday the injection of $800 million from the US-led coalition to achieve his main goal of hiking production..."Our priority is to raise oil production so that we can increase exports and have hard currency revenue for Iraq, because we are conscious this is our only wealth," Ghadban said, reflecting on the challenges when Iraq recovers its sovereignty on June 30...Ghadban was sworn in as oil minister in the transitional government Tuesday, replacing Mohammed Bahr al-Ulum, who had been picked by his father, a member of the outgoing Governing Council, and failed to impress the coalition. He said he would start work to revive oil projects left dormant under his predecessor. Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world.)

2//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--BUSH WARNS LATHAM ON IRAQ PULLOUT (US President George Bush has delivered an unprecedented blow to the Labor Party, describing Mark Latham's policy of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq as "disastrous"...Mr Bush's comments are the strongest yet to emerge from the White House against Labor's position and are a highly unusual intervention in Australian domestic politics. The remarks will provide a stark contrast in the coming election between Labor and the Coalition's policy on Iraq and relations with the US.)

3//Inter Press News Service Agency, Italy--ARAB LEADERS RETICENT OVER INTERIM IRAQ GOV'T (Arab states seem to be adopting a wait-and- see attitude, and reserving their kudos, after Iraqi leaders cut a deal Tuesday with the United States and United Nations on a new interim government that will lead the country towards its first elections, next year, in a post-Saddam Hussein era. While reservations were expressed over whether the interim Iraqi government could lead the occupied country to political independence, Arab leaders, however, were careful to congratulate only the appointed interim president. Sheikh Ghazi Ojeil Yawar, an influential tribal chief appointed as president in defiance of the United States, called for the United Nations to give Iraq full sovereignty when the U.S.-led occupation authority is wound up on Jun. 30.)

4//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--INDIA FRETS OVER YANGON-PYONGYANG DEAL (Nothing scares India more than the prospect of another nuclear power on its border, especially when that country is run by the military. So Myanmar's evident success in wooing North Korea to help it build a nuclear reactor has ruffled more than a few feathers among bureaucrats in India's Foreign Office at a time when a new foreign minister is trying to shape a new foreign policy...A Western diplomat explains that in spite of the knowledge that Myanmar has nuclear ambitions, the US is hamstrung as it is involved with North Korea on far larger issues. Western embassies in Yangon were aware of the presence of two representatives of North Korea's economic bureau negotiating with Myanmar leaders for a final agreement on the nuclear deal, but failed to elicit any proper explanation from the military authority beyond that the country "does not have any ambition to have nuclear weapons"...Another concern...is the location of the proposed reactor, surrounded by territories controlled by insurgents in Myanmar such as Wa, Kachin and Karens, who might decided to procure fissile materials from the reactor.

5//The Scotsman, UK--CLAIMS OF CHIRAC'S LOWEST SWIPE YET AT RIVAL (The long-standing rivalry between the French president, Jacques Chirac, and his young protégé Nicolas Sarkozy reached new lows this week with claims that a presidential aide tried to pass photographs of the finance minister's naked wife to two magazines in an effort to undermine the ambitious politician...The claim that Mr Chirac's camp had stooped to such ungentlemanly behaviour in its efforts to discredit Mr Sarkozy was greeted with shock in France where such a violation of the rules surrounding politicians' private lives is traditionally considered taboo. However, it may not be the first occasion that the Elysée has resorted to below-the-belt tactics in its political battle to prevent the popular Mr Sarkozy from becoming too powerful.)

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1//The Daily Star, Lebanon Friday, June 04, 2004
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=4828

IRAQ'S NEW OIL MINISTER AIMS TO HIKE PRODUCTION
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

BAGHDAD: Iraq's new oil minister, Thamer Ghadban, welcomed Thursday the injection of $800 million from the US-led coalition to achieve his main goal of hiking production.

"As a sovereign ministry, we will have a total of $800 million to work with," Ghadban said, after US overseer Paul Bremer released funding which had been frozen under the minister's predecessor.

"Our priority is to raise oil production so that we can increase exports and have hard currency revenue for Iraq, because we are conscious this is our only wealth," Ghadban said, reflecting on the challenges when Iraq recovers its sovereignty on June 30.

"We will also focus on the internal needs of Iraqis," he said, referring to the fuel shortages which have plagued motorists and private firms.

(SNIP)

"Our third priority will be to meet the needs of the Electricity Ministry," whose power stations will require higher oil production to function fully, Ghadban said.

Ghadban was sworn in as oil minister in the transitional government Tuesday, replacing Mohammed Bahr al-Ulum, who had been picked by his father, a member of the outgoing Governing Council, and failed to impress the coalition.

He said he would start work to revive oil projects left dormant under his predecessor. Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world.

2//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia June 4, 2004 - 1:19AM
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/04/10862035

BUSH WARNS LATHAM ON IRAQ PULLOUT
By Louise Dodson in Washington and Cynthia Banham

US President George Bush has delivered an unprecedented blow to the Labor Party, describing Mark Latham's policy of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq as "disastrous".

Speaking after a one and a half hour meeting with the Prime Minister, John Howard, at the White House, Mr Bush said withdrawing the troops would "dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq" and "embolden our enemy which believes it can shake our will".

"It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that we're pulling out," Mr Bush said as the two leaders met reporters in Washington early today, Australian time.

"It would say that the Australian Government doesn't see the hope of a free, democratic society [in Iraq]. It would embolden the enemy to believe that they could shake our will."

Mr Bush's comments are the strongest yet to emerge from the White House against Labor's position and are a highly unusual intervention in Australian domestic politics. The remarks will provide a stark contrast in the coming election between Labor and the Coalition's policy on Iraq and relations with the US.

Mr Howard reaffirmed that Australian troops would remain in Iraq and complete the tasks assigned to them.

The Prime Minister's White House visit suggested relations between him and Mr Bush are as warm as ever. The President invited Mr Howard to join him in the Old Family Dining Room for an intimate breakfast. Their later meeting was attended by senior Bush advisers, including the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and the White House chief of staff, Andy Card.

(MORE)

3//Inter Press News Service Agency, Italy June 3, 2004
http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=24016

ARAB LEADERS RETICENT OVER INTERIM IRAQ GOV'T
Peyman Pejman

DUBAI, Jun 3 (IPS) - Arab states seem to be adopting a wait-and- see attitude, and reserving their kudos, after Iraqi leaders cut a deal Tuesday with the United States and United Nations on a new interim government that will lead the country towards its first elections, next year, in a post-Saddam Hussein era.

While reservations were expressed over whether the interim Iraqi government could lead the occupied country to political independence, Arab leaders, however, were careful to congratulate only the appointed interim president.

Sheikh Ghazi Ojeil Yawar, an influential tribal chief appointed as president in defiance of the United States, called for the United Nations to give Iraq full sovereignty when the U.S.-led occupation authority is wound up on Jun. 30.

But the sticking point is still Washington's insistence that 150,000 foreign troops, most of them from the United States, remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future to provide security.

After two days of bitter confrontation, the U.S. government and U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi finally accepted Yawar in the largely ceremonial role of head of state after their preferred candidate, elder statesman Adnan Pachachi, turned down the job.

In return, the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council agreed to dissolve itself with immediate effect and accepted a cabinet line- up under Iyad Allawi, who was appointed prime minister.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Yawer said his goal was to make Iraq one nation, "without murderers and criminals."

The first cautious reactions to the new Iraqi interim government came from Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, whose organisation is meant to embody the 22 Arab states.

Referring to the selection of Yawar as the interim president, Moussa said: "As long as there was consensus of opinion between all those connected with the subject, then Mr Yawar represents the joint will of the Governing Council."

Moussa stopped short of making any comments about the new interim government.

(SNIP)

Like the Arab League chief, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was equally circumspect.

According to the official Middle East News Agency, the Egyptian leader affirmed "Egypt's complete support for his (Yawar's) future plans to underpin the pillars of sovereignty, independence and authentic national governance."

Prime Minister Allawi and his cabinet did not even receive a mention in Mubarak's statement.

Similar statements were made in neighbouring Jordan by Foreign Minister Marwan Moashar.

(SNIP)

But the only welcoming voice came from Iran.

"This government may not fulfil all of our expectations, but it is a step forward. We are happy that this government has begun its work," Hassan Rowhani, a cleric who heads the Islamic republic's Supreme National Security Council, told IPS.

The reluctance of many Arab states to openly welcome the new interim Iraqi government stems from the fact that they are unsure of the future role of the United States in the occupied country.

Many Arab leaders are wary the interim government will have limited authority to steer the country towards National Assembly elections, scheduled at the end of January 2005, given the interference of the United States in every aspect of post-Saddam Iraq -- from security to politics.

(MORE)

4//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong June 4, 2004
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FF04Df03.html

INDIA FRETS OVER YANGON-PYONGYANG DEAL
By Arun Bhattacharjee

NEW DELHI - Nothing scares India more than the prospect of another nuclear power on its border, especially when that country is run by the military. So Myanmar's evident success in wooing North Korea to help it build a nuclear reactor has ruffled more than a few feathers among bureaucrats in India's Foreign Office at a time when a new foreign minister is trying to shape a new foreign policy.

According to sources within the country's intelligence community, Myanmar's effort to purchase a reactor was known to Russia, the United States and China, as over the past four years the military junta in Myanmar has approached India, Russia and China in its quest, but failed to gain its objective. India refused in 2000 on the grounds that Myanmar's energy needs were being served by its petroleum resources, besides India's concern that the US would not like India to supply a nuclear reactor to country that was under US sanctions.

Diplomatic sources reveal that the Russian refusal was more on economic grounds, as it felt that Myanmar was not in a position to pay in hard currency for the reactor. Myanmar initially wanted to pay 10 percent as an advance, but the Russians apparently wanted 25 percent, US$200 million up front and another $800 million later, part of which would meet the cost of its engineers and technocrats who would be working to set up the reactor. Myanmar's effort to purchase a reactor from China did not succeed either as China is under international scrutiny along with Pakistan for proliferation of fissile materials.

Now it has come to light that Myanmar is finally preparing to set up a nuclear reactor at Natmauk in the Myothit area in the central part of the country with help from North Korea. India is concerned because of the North Korea-Pakistan nexus regarding the nuclear-delivery-capable Ghouri missiles built with North Korean assistance, and doubly concerned to see another neighbor, Myanmar, becoming nuclear, as any material supplied by North Korea is unlikely to be under supervision of the United Nations watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

(SNIP)

A Western diplomat explains that in spite of the knowledge that Myanmar has nuclear ambitions, the US is hamstrung as it is involved with North Korea on far larger issues. Western embassies in Yangon were aware of the presence of two representatives of North Korea's economic bureau negotiating with Myanmar leaders for a final agreement on the nuclear deal, but failed to elicit any proper explanation from the military authority beyond that the country "does not have any ambition to have nuclear weapons". Myanmar's senior leaders apparently clarified that they have always worked for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and for that they approached Russia in 2002 for a nuclear reactor for "medical use".

Brajesh Mishra, a former security adviser to Indian ex-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who dealt with China and Southeast Asia, explains that India's concern about the deal involves three possible threats. First, North Korea, while a party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, could use Myanmar as a proxy for the development of nuclear weapons. Second, India does not want another nuclear nation along its eastern border while it already has one on the north and another on the west. Third, an impoverished Myanmar spending funds for nuclear development is likely to be an unstable country, which is not in India's interest.

Another concern, says P R Chari, former director of the Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses and a researcher in defense affairs, is the location of the proposed reactor, surrounded by territories controlled by insurgents in Myanmar such as Wa, Kachin and Karens, who might decided to procure fissile materials from the reactor.

5//The Scotsman, UK Fri 4 Jun 2004
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=634292004

CLAIMS OF CHIRAC'S LOWEST SWIPE YET AT RIVAL
Susan Bell in Paris
The long-standing rivalry between the French president, Jacques Chirac, and his young protégé Nicolas Sarkozy reached new lows this week with claims that a presidential aide tried to pass photographs of the finance minister's naked wife to two magazines in an effort to undermine the ambitious politician.

The photographs of Mr Sarkozy's wife Cecilia, who is his closest political aide, were taken 20 years ago while she was sunbathing, the satirical news weekly Le Canard Enchaine, reported on Wednesday.

The claim that Mr Chirac's camp had stooped to such ungentlemanly behaviour in its efforts to discredit Mr Sarkozy was greeted with shock in France where such a violation of the rules surrounding politicians' private lives is traditionally considered taboo.

However, it may not be the first occasion that the Elysée has resorted to below-the-belt tactics in its political battle to prevent the popular Mr Sarkozy from becoming too powerful.

Last month the left-wing daily Libération alleged that the interior ministry, led by Mr Chirac's faithful lieutenant Dominique de Villepin, had leaked false information to the press that one of Mr Sarkozy's closest aides was implicated in a paedophile scandal.

The finance minister is reportedly so worried about behind-the-scenes plotting and back-stabbing by the Elysée that has had a secret panic button installed beneath his desk to summon armed police officers from the adjoining office in the event he is attacked.

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