April 1, 2005

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 APRIL 1, 2005

1//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--CRUCIAL ROLE IF CHINA HITS TAIWAN (Australia's military alliance with the US would put Canberra in a difficult, but crucial, position if China moved on Taiwan, a former Bush intelligence adviser says. International lawyer Rita Hauser said neo-conservatives in the Bush Administration and the US intelligence community saw China as a threat and could provoke Beijing by encouraging Taiwan to declare independence. … "I hope Australia can be a moderator between the two," Dr Hauser said in an interview with the Herald, conducted hours before the Prime Minister articulated a similar sentiment in his speech last night. She said it was hard to see an alternative moderator in the region. Japan, a close US ally but China's historic regional rival, could not fill this role … some members of the US Administration do not accept China's inevitable rise. "It would be a grave danger if those who want to provoke an independent Taiwan get the upper hand [in the Bush Administration]," Dr Hauser said.)

2//Deutsche-Welle/DW-World.de, Germany--EU MULLS COMPROMISE WITH IRAN (Are France, Britain and Germany considering a compromise that would allow Iran to continue some of its nuclear activities while angering the US? EU diplomats say they have not ruled it out. France, Britain and Germany are mulling over a compromise that would allow Iran to keep nuclear technology that can be used to make bombs, diplomats told Reuters Wednesday. "The Iranians have been offering this for a long time," a diplomat with access to the negotiations told the news agency. "What's new is that the EU is thinking about it." … Britain, France and Germany are spearheading an effort to persuade Iran to renounce suspected efforts to develop a nuclear bomb in return for trade, technology and security benefits. They have previously taken the stance that only a complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear program would be acceptable. … "We and the EU-3 remain united in the view that only a full cessation and dismantling of Iran's sensitive nuclear fuel cycle pursuits can provide the kind of confidence we're looking for that Iran has abandoned its nuclear weapons program," Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told AFP. He refused to discuss whether the European-led talks were making progress in reining in Iran's nuclear ambitions. But the tone of his remarks was far from upbeat.)

3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey--ANKARA SEEKS TO BRING SPRING THAW TO US TIES (Top Turkish officials will travel to the United States in the coming months as the government tries to ease the tension caused over Iraq and U.S. discontent with rising anti-Americanism in Turkey. … The visits are seen as a sign of Turkish willingness to restore ties with the United States. Despite mutual criticism in both countries' media, Turkish and U.S. officials have emphasized the importance of maintaining cooperation. One significant test that observers say would reveal the resilience of ties is on the so-called Armenian genocide issue. In an action campaign sponsored by a radical Armenian group in the United States, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), more than 90 congressmen have signed a letter urging President Bush to use the word “genocide” in a traditional commemorative statement issued on April 24, which Armenians claim is the anniversary of the alleged genocide.)

4//The Chosun Ilbo, S. Korea--THE END OF JAPANESE-KOREAN FRIENDSHIP? (The "diplomatic war" with Japan is heating up, with the island country giving Korea a taste of its own medicine. Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura's comment on Wednesday criticizing President Roh Moo-hyun was a mirror image of Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's comment on March 17 that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was "mistaken" and "rude." … Tensions between Seoul and Tokyo over Japan's history textbooks are nothing new, but they have always been played out against a background of a fundamental "friendship." But with President Roh Moo-hyun's call for Korea to play a balancing role in Northeast Asia -- away from the two camps of the U.S. and Japan on the one hand and North Korea-China-Russia on the other -- changed all that. It is becoming clear that Roh was primarily aiming at Japan when he repositioned the nation, indicating that Korea cannot be relied on in any hegemonic standoff between China and Japan to take Tokyo's side. If the line consolidates it would bring a seismic shift in ties.)

5//The Jordan Times, Jordan--JORDAN MUST CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO AVOID POVERTY TRAP (Jordan needs to achieve seven percent annual growth for several years to avoid the trap of marginalization and poverty, a new economic survey warned. Jordan's economy has enjoyed reasonably robust growth following the upheaval of the US led invasion of Iraq two years ago which saw Jordanian exports to its neighbour slump. Much of Jordan's current expansion is attributable its growing manufacturing sector which has also been boosted by the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area agreement signed in 2001. But the report warns that despite its bullish growth Jordan's economy must continue to expand at its current rate of around seven percent in order to create enough jobs to offset the country's fast expanding working population.)

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1//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia April 1, 2005
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/...

CRUCIAL ROLE IF CHINA HITS TAIWAN
By Louise Williams

Australia's military alliance with the US would put Canberra in a difficult, but crucial, position if China moved on Taiwan, a former Bush intelligence adviser says.

International lawyer Rita Hauser said neo-conservatives in the Bush Administration and the US intelligence community saw China as a threat and could provoke Beijing by encouraging Taiwan to declare independence.

Taiwan has been under China's control for only four years in the past century, but Beijing considers the island part of greater China.

China's National People's Congress last month passed an "anti-secession law" authorising "non-peaceful measures" should Taipei declare formal separation, the most explicit military threat yet.

Dr Hauser said she hoped Australia would not be forced to choose between the rising power in its region and its traditional American ally. Taipei had been armed and backed for decades by Washington and would expect the US military to come to its defence if China moved. Australia's military alliance with the US would put Canberra in a very difficult position if hostilities broke out.

"Obviously Australia will remain close to the US but it will also forge a relationship with China that matters. Obviously, it's in Australia's interests to have a close relationship with China.

"I hope Australia can be a moderator between the two," Dr Hauser said in an interview with the Herald, conducted hours before the Prime Minister articulated a similar sentiment in his speech last night.

She said it was hard to see an alternative moderator in the region. Japan, a close US ally but China's historic regional rival, could not fill this role.

"Australia is in a unique position. There's a very close relationship between Bush and Howard on a personal level which helps, but I what I am talking about is also long-range policy."

Dr Hauser said there was no doubt China was building its high-tech military strength, including a sophisticated modern navy, and would, inevitably, make a decision on expanding its nuclear weapons capability. "You talk to the Chinese and from their point of view they are not only the centre of the world, but the centre of the Asia region. Most people in the region believe they just have to live with the big gorilla."

However, some members of the US Administration do not accept China's inevitable rise.
"It would be a grave danger if those who want to provoke an independent Taiwan get the upper hand [in the Bush Administration]," Dr Hauser said.

She served until last year on the US President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and the President's Intelligence Oversight Board, before taking a position at a New York think tank.

(MORE)

2//Deutsche-Welle/DW-World.de, Germany 31.03.2005
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1536790,00.html

EU MULLS COMPROMISE WITH IRAN
Are the EU and Iran set to strike a deal against the wishes of the US?

Are France, Britain and Germany considering a compromise that would allow Iran to continue some of its nuclear activities while angering the US? EU diplomats say they have not ruled it out.

France, Britain and Germany are mulling over a compromise that would allow Iran to keep nuclear technology that can be used to make bombs, diplomats told Reuters Wednesday.

"The Iranians have been offering this for a long time," a diplomat with access to the negotiations told the news agency. "What's new is that the EU is thinking about it."

But US officials dismissed any such move Wednesday, saying that a compromise of this kind is not on the table. The US flatly rejected Tehran's offer to conduct limited uranium enrichment activities and challenged the country to prove it was serious in talks on its suspected nuclear weapons program.

"We and the EU-3 remain united in the view that only a full cessation and dismantling of Iran's sensitive nuclear fuel cycle pursuits can provide the kind of confidence we're looking for that Iran has abandoned its nuclear weapons program," Deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told AFP.

He refused to discuss whether the European-led talks were making progress in reining in Iran's nuclear ambitions. But the tone of his remarks was far from upbeat.

"We're trying to achieve something," Ereli said. "Have we achieved it today? No, we haven't. And don't ask me to assess the likelihood of achieving it tomorrow because I can't."

He said that if the Iranians decide not to cooperate, "the good news is that we, the Europeans and the international community are more on the same page than we've ever been."

Reversing themselves?

Britain, France and Germany are spearheading an effort to persuade Iran to renounce suspected efforts to develop a nuclear bomb in return for trade, technology and security benefits. They have previously taken the stance that only a complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear program would be acceptable.

(SNIP)

A senior State Department official, who asked not to be named, said the administration was determined to give the Europeans all the time they thought they needed to play out the negotiations with Iran.

"I would say these talks have not yet produced the end of their program, but the Europeans are continuing to engage and we'll let them decide when they think they're no longer useful," he said.

(SNIP)

And on Wednesday, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami took reporters on an unprecedented tour of the Islamic republic's closely guarded nuclear sites and vowed never to abandon its drive to enrich uranium.

"Come clean," US warns

"Our response," Ereli said, "is that if Iran were really serious about demonstrating transparency in its nuclear program, it should answer all of the International Atomic Energy Agency's outstanding questions … and stop denying IAEA full and unrestricted access to suspicious sites. The point here is that if there is a commitment to transparency, there are real, effective, meaningful ways to demonstrate that commitment, beyond a staged media event like is being reported."

He called on Iran allow key nuclear officials to be interviewed by the IAEA and to come clean about its centrifuge program to enrich uranium as well as past efforts to extract plutonium as potential nuclear fuel.

He said the Iranians had a choice: "Either make decisions that are characteristic of a responsible member of the international community, or find yourself further isolated and further ostracized."

The EU and Iran are tentatively scheduled for more talks in April in Geneva and London.

3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey Friday, April 1 2005 4:49 am GMT+2 updated at 12:00 P.M.
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=9548

ANKARA SEEKS TO BRING SPRING THAW TO US TIES

Turkish officials will flock to Washington in the coming months for talks while the government nears granting permission for the US to use Incirlik as a logistics hub

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News - Top Turkish officials will travel to the United States in the coming months as the government tries to ease the tension caused over Iraq and U.S. discontent with rising anti-Americanism in Turkey.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to head to the United States in May to attend his daughter's graduation ceremony at the University of California at Berkeley. He hopes to meet with President George W. Bush during his stay but such plans have not yet been confirmed. Erdogan will also pay his first visit to Israel in May in a move expected to have positive repercussions for Turkish-U.S. ties.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül, Parliament Speaker Bülent Arinç and National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan are also lined up to visit the United States in the months to come. Economy Minister Ali Babacan and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan will visit the United States in April to attend a spring meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Litmus test: Armenian issue:

The visits are seen as a sign of Turkish willingness to restore ties with the United States. Despite mutual criticism in both countries' media, Turkish and U.S. officials have emphasized the importance of maintaining cooperation.

One significant test that observers say would reveal the resilience of ties is on the so-called Armenian genocide issue. In an action campaign sponsored by a radical Armenian group in the United States, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), more than 90 congressmen have signed a letter urging President Bush to use the word “genocide” in a traditional commemorative statement issued on April 24, which Armenians claim is the anniversary of the alleged genocide.

There is no proposal for recognition of the alleged genocide in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate at the moment. But diplomatic sources in Washington warned that there was a risk that any resolution calling for recognition of the alleged genocide would be approved once brought before Congress.

Yigit Alpogan, secretary-general of the influential National Security Council (MGK), said yesterday that it would be a first step to see the U.S. administration remain committed to its past stance on the issue in overcoming existing troubles in Turkish-American relations and in making sure that they continue to progress on their healthy basis.

(SNIP)

4//The Chosun Ilbo, S. Korea Updated Mar.31,2005 19:41 KST
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/...

THE END OF KOREAN-JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP?

The "diplomatic war" with Japan is heating up, with the island country giving Korea a taste of its own medicine. Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura's comment on Wednesday criticizing President Roh Moo-hyun was a mirror image of Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's comment on March 17 that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was "mistaken" and "rude."

Diplomatic principles seem to have been thrown out the window, and closed discussions between national leaders are now fair game. Leaving aside concrete bones of contention such as Japanese claims to Korea's Dokdo Islets and distortions of history in the Japan's textbooks, observers say the national strategies of the two nations have started to part ways.

Tensions between Seoul and Tokyo over Japan's history textbooks are nothing new, but they have always been played out against a background of a fundamental "friendship." But with President Roh Moo-hyun's call for Korea to play a balancing role in Northeast Asia -- away from the two camps of the U.S. and Japan on the one hand and North Korea-China-Russia on the other -- changed all that.

It is becoming clear that Roh was primarily aiming at Japan when he repositioned the nation, indicating that Korea cannot be relied on in any hegemonic standoff between China and Japan to take Tokyo's side. If the line consolidates it would bring a seismic shift in ties.

Nor is Japan treating Korea as it used to. Time was when it resigned itself to Korean attacks over its troubled history or the Dokdo Islets. But recently Japan has been fighting back. Foreign Minister Machimura's direct attack on President Roh on Wednesday, or bipartisan support in the Diet for the "protection of Japanese territory" -- Dokdo -- can be seen in this light.

"It's still more of a conflict between the two nations' leaderships rather than a clash between peoples," said Prof. Kim Tae-hyo of Sungkyunkwan University. "But if the estrangement deepens, it could change the structure of a bilateral relationship based on friendship and cooperation."

According to a survey by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI), 72.2 percent of respondents said they support President Roh's recent tough rhetoric against Japan. According to a Cheong Wa Dae survey, the president's approval rating has increased to 38.4 percent. Meanwhile, Japanese society, too, continues to drift to the right.

Coverage of the Roh administration's "New Security Initiative" has taken a back seat to the Dokdo and textbook issues in Japan. But Japanese experts are taking it seriously. "The Korean government is reconsidering its [traditional] foreign policy based on Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and that presents Japan with problems it cannot overlook," the Yomiuri Shimbun commented.

(MORE)

5//The Jordan Times, Jordan Friday, April 01, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition...

JORDAN MUST CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO AVOID POVERTY TRAP
Economic Survey stresses necessity of continuing growth trends

By Osama Habib, Daily Star staff

BEIRUT: Jordan needs to achieve seven percent annual growth for several years to avoid the trap of marginalization and poverty, a new economic survey warned. Jordan's economy has enjoyed reasonably robust growth following the upheaval of the US led invasion of Iraq two years ago which saw Jordanian exports to its neighbour slump.

Much of Jordan's current expansion is attributable its growing manufacturing sector which has also been boosted by the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area agreement signed in 2001.

But the report warns that despite its bullish growth Jordan's economy must continue to expand at its current rate of around seven percent in order to create enough jobs to offset the country's fast expanding working population.

In its annual report on the Jordanian economy for 2004, Lebanon-based Banque Audi underlined the need for the country to create more jobs.

"What is needed is the creation of thousands of jobs a year to reduce unemployment from its critical high level, within the context of a rapidly growing labor force and a rising participation rate," the report said.

In this respect, enhancement of trade and private investment could help generate much needed employment opportunities. The drop in unemployment from 13.5 percent in June 2003 to 12.5 percent in June 2004 is an encouraging development in that direction, the report said.

It added that as social and economic issues are strongly linked, their solution requires a realistic, coherent and comprehensive vision from all concerned authorities. Additional measures in the realms of fiscal, financial and social policies are especially needed.

(MORE)