November 10, 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 NOVEMBER 10, 2004

1//The Independent, UK--BLAIR HAS DEPARTED FROM THE RULE OF LAW, SAYS HIS FORMER ADVISER (Tony Blair's former senior diplomatic adviser on Europe has accused the Prime Minister, and George Bush, of acting illegally over the war on Iraq. In a speech last night, Sir Stephen Wall, who served under Baroness Thatcher, John Major and Mr Blair before leaving Downing Street this year, questioned the Prime Minister's judgement and accused him of "departing from the rule of law". The timing of Sir Stephen's remarks, as the battle for Fallujah begins, were seen as highly damaging for Mr Blair, who faced criticism yesterday for committing British troops to support the assault. Sir Stephen, well-known for his pro-European views, is widely respected in the diplomatic community. One source said: "He is an ultra-loyalist mandarin. It is astonishing that he has done this." His comments also raised further questions about the number of senior civil servants who privately believed the war to be illegal.)

2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--NUCLEAR FISSURES IN IRAN (Although Iran and three European powers have reached a preliminary agreement over Tehran's controversial nuclear program, the ball is in Tehran's hands, where the final decision will be taken. "An intense debate is raging among Iranian ruling clerics over the issue of nuclear programs…According to the pragmatists in Iran, if the Europeans do not get satisfaction, they will side with Washington - which wants the issue to go before the UN - and in a situation where Iran has no friends, apart perhaps from China, the face the risk of sanctions.)

3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey--TURKEY, SYRIA SEEK COMMON STANCE ON IRAQ (Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa began a two-day visit to Ankara yesterday, meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, for talks dominated by the situation in their mutual neighbor, Iraq. Al-Sharaa is seeking a common stance with Turkey at an upcoming international conference on Iraq to be hosted by Egypt on Nov. 22-23 and at a meeting of Iraq's neighbors and the G-8 group of industrialized countries. Iraq's neighbors have been convening at foreign ministerial gatherings since January 2003…Syria agreed this week to resume full diplomatic ties with Iraq and to work with Baghdad on controlling the border to stop illegal crossings. "There has been a positive response by the Syrian government to the Iraqi government's demands of joint security cooperation in controlling the borders and stopping infiltration," Iraq's interim foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said.)

4//The Daily Times, Pakistan--EU POISED TO SEEK MORE TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST US
(The European Union is likely to ask the World Trade Organisation (WTO) soon for the go ahead for $40-50 million in sanctions on US goods in a long-running anti-dumping row, diplomats said on Monday. In another sign of transatlantic trade tension, Brussels was expected to put the request at the next meeting of the WTO’s disputes settlement body (DSB) on November 24. “It is not 100 percent sure, but it is very likely,” said one diplomat in Geneva with knowledge of the case. The European Union, which is backed in its complaint by seven other WTO members, including Japan, has already won the right to retaliate over the controversial US measure, the so-called Byrd amendment. But before the punitive duties are actually applied to goods ranging from ball bearings to candles, pasta and seafood, the EU must go back to the WTO a final time.)

5//The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines--BUSH WIN SEEKING HIKING OIL PRICES; PHILIPPINES AIRS PLEA (World oil prices are expected to stay high following the reelection of US President George W. Bush, who said he would continue beefing up the United States' strategic petroleum reserve. Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said he had made a "personal appeal'' to US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone to ask Bush to implement an aggressive fuel conservation program instead of further increasing the US reserve, at least until world oil prices start going down. "We believe oil prices are still volatile,'' Perez said in a statement Tuesday. "Filling up the US strategic petroleum reserve at a time of record high prices and rising demand is keeping prices up.")

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1//The Independent, UK 09 November 2004 http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=580938

BLAIR HAS DEPARTED FROM THE RULE OF LAW, SAYS HIS FORMER ADVISER
By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor

Tony Blair's former senior diplomatic adviser on Europe has accused the Prime Minister, and George Bush, of acting illegally over the war on Iraq.

In a speech last night, Sir Stephen Wall, who served under Baroness Thatcher, John Major and Mr Blair before leaving Downing Street this year, questioned the Prime Minister's judgement and accused him of "departing from the rule of law".

The timing of Sir Stephen's remarks, as the battle for Fallujah begins, were seen as highly damaging for Mr Blair, who faced criticism yesterday for committing British troops to support the assault. Sir Stephen, well-known for his pro-European views, is widely respected in the diplomatic community.

One source said: "He is an ultra-loyalist mandarin. It is astonishing that he has done this." His comments also raised further questions about the number of senior civil servants who privately believed the war to be illegal.

Sir Stephen, speaking at Chatham House, formerly known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, said it should have been possible for a common European view on Iraq to have been reached before Britain became committed to an "unstoppable course of action" by the United States.

"I believe that in Britain we allowed our judgement of the direct consequences of inaction to override our judgement of the even more dire consequences of departing from the rule of law," he said.

In a sideswipe at Mr Blair, he added that to portray the choice as between effective action American-style, and inaction European or UN-style, was a caricature.

(MORE)

2//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Nov 10, 2004 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FK10Ak02.html

NUCLEAR FISSURES IN IRAN
By Safa Haeri

PARIS - Although Iran and three European powers have reached a preliminary agreement over Tehran's controversial nuclear program, the ball is in Tehran's hands, where the final decision will be taken.

"An intense debate is raging among Iranian ruling clerics over the issue of nuclear programs. On the one hand you have the so-called ultras, most of them sitting in the most powerful but shadowy League of Islamic Associations, that has recently changed its status to the Party of Islamic Associations, pushing hard for emulating North Korea by ending talks with the Europeans, getting out of both the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] and the Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT]," a source told Asia Times Online on condition of anonymity during a short stopover in a European capital.

"On the other, there are the so-called pragmatists, led by Hojjatoleslam Hasan Rohani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme Council of National Security [SCNS] and the regime's senior negotiator with both the IAEA and the European trio, namely Britain, France and Germany, warning the other side that if Iran does not show flexibility in satisfying the demands formulated by the IAEA and the Big Three, one might expect catastrophe, specially now that George W Bush has been re-elected comfortably as president of the United States," he added.

After the weekend's talks in Paris, the Europeans are optimistic that they can get Iran to reach an agreement that will avoid it being referred to the United Nations Security Council and avert the risk of sanctions over its nuclear program. Iran has to be persuaded to suspend its uranium-enrichment program indefinitely as a way to ensure that it does not use the technology to produce a nuclear weapon. Iran has insisted that the suspension be no longer than six months and has sought assurances that it will not be asked to permanently revoke its right to have a nuclear-energy program.

According to the pragmatists in Iran, if the Europeans do not get satisfaction, they will side with Washington - which wants the issue to go before the UN - and in a situation where Iran has no friends, apart perhaps from China, the face the risk of sanctions.

(MORE)

3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey 09 November 2004 http://www.turkishdailynews.com/FrTDN/latest/for.htm#f1

TURKEY, SYRIA SEEK COMMON STANCE ON IRAQ
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa began a two-day visit to Ankara yesterday, meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, for talks dominated by the situation in their mutual neighbor, Iraq.

Al-Sharaa is seeking a common stance with Turkey at an upcoming international conference on Iraq to be hosted by Egypt on Nov. 22-23 and at a meeting of Iraq's neighbors and the G-8 group of industrialized countries. Iraq's neighbors have been convening at foreign ministerial gatherings since January 2003.

Both countries share similar concerns over the future of Iraq, with the capitals worried about a possible disintegration of the country and, in particular, the emergence of an independent Kurdish state in the north.

The conference, which will take place at Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh, will be the first international meeting on Iraq since the U.S.-led war in the country last year.

The conference, which precedes a general election in Iraq slated for January, is to be attended by Iraq's interim government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, countries neighboring Iraq, the G-8 countries, the United Nations, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Both Turkey and Syria are concerned over the increased political influence of the Kurds in the north of Iraq. Turkey is expected to reiterate its position that Iraq's territorial integrity should be maintained and call for more participation of international organizations, particularly the Arab League, in matters relating to the future of Iraq, officials said.

Syria agreed this week to resume full diplomatic ties with Iraq and to work with Baghdad on controlling the border to stop illegal crossings. "There has been a positive response by the Syrian government to the Iraqi government's demands of joint security cooperation in controlling the borders and stopping infiltration," Iraq's interim foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said.

(MORE)

4//The Daily Times, Pakistan Wednesday, November 10, 2004
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-11-2004_pg7_49

EU POISED TO SEEK MORE TRADE SANCTIONS AGAINST US
Reuters/AFP

GENEVA: The European Union is likely to ask the World Trade Organisation (WTO) soon for the go ahead for $40-50 million in sanctions on US goods in a long-running anti-dumping row, diplomats said on Monday.

In another sign of transatlantic trade tension, Brussels was expected to put the request at the next meeting of the WTO’s disputes settlement body (DSB) on November 24.

“It is not 100 percent sure, but it is very likely,” said one diplomat in Geneva with knowledge of the case.

The European Union, which is backed in its complaint by seven other WTO members, including Japan, has already won the right to retaliate over the controversial US measure, the so-called Byrd amendment.

But before the punitive duties are actually applied to goods ranging from ball bearings to candles, pasta and seafood, the EU must go back to the WTO a final time.

Authorisation is guaranteed, however, as the request could only be blocked by the unanimous decision of all members, including those bringing the complaint.

Diplomats said that Japan, which has initial permission to impose $80 million in duties in the same case, could join the EU in seeking the green light to act.

The other countries involved - Brazil, Canada, Chile, India, Mexico and South Korea - were still deciding, diplomats added, although some thought India and South Korea would join Brussels.

The situation would be clear by Wednesday, which is the deadline for getting items on to the meeting’s agenda.

In a ruling in late August, a panel of WTO arbitrators upheld the case of Brussels and its allies that their exporters were being harmed by the amendment, under which US anti-dumping duties are shared out amongst local companies.

The arbitrators set a complex formula for determining the level of damages the eight could levy. The amount for the first year amounted to some $150 million, with Japan and the EU getting the largest share.

The US government has repeatedly asked Congress to repeal the measure, named after veteran Democratic Party Senator Robert Byrd, but the amendment has strong backing in the legislature.

Trade relations between the EU and the United States are already under strain from a number of disputes, ranging from allegations of illegal state aid to their plane makers to EU restrictions on genetically modified foods.

Earlier on Monday, the EU announced that it was asking the WTO to tell the United States and Canada to drop sanctions they imposed over the 25-nation bloc’s ban on hormone-treated beef.

The EU’s executive commission said the sanctions were illegal since the bloc had already refined the ban to comply with a negative WTO ruling.

“The EU ban on certain growth-promoting hormones is now in full respect of our international obligations,” EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said.

“There is no reason why European companies should continue to be targeted by sanctions when they export to Canada and the United States,” he said in a statement.

(MORE)

5//The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines Posted: 5:35 AM | Nov. 10, 2004
http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_breaki...

BUSH WIN SEEKING HIKING OIL PRICES; PHILIPPINES AIRS PLEA
Abigail L. Ho
Inquirer News Service

World oil prices are expected to stay high following the reelection of US President George W. Bush, who said he would continue beefing up the United States' strategic petroleum reserve.

Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said he had made a "personal appeal'' to US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone to ask Bush to implement an aggressive fuel conservation program instead of further increasing the US reserve, at least until world oil prices start going down.

"We believe oil prices are still volatile,'' Perez said in a statement Tuesday. "Filling up the US strategic petroleum reserve at a time of record high prices and rising demand is keeping prices up."

He said the US West Texas Intermediate crude benchmark was still quite high at $49.58 a barrel as of Nov. 5.

The US could save a lot on fuel consumption with nationwide fuel conservation, he said.

"An aggressive energy conservation measure in the US will help ease oil demand at a time of tight supply and eventually bring prices at reasonable levels,'' Perez said.

He said Asian countries, like the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, had adopted energy efficiency measures to help ease the impact of escalating oil prices on their respective economies.

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