May 11, 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 MAY 11, 2005

1//The News International, Pakistan--IRAN LAUNCHES SUBMARINE PRODUCTION (Iran on Tuesday officially launched the production of its first locally built submarine, a craft capable of operating stealthily, state-run television reported. Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Imani was quoted as saying "the enemy would not be able to detect the submarine." He did not elaborate. One submarine has apparently already been built and was shown on television on Tuesday, cruising at sea level. ... The submarine, which is capable of operating in the Persian Gulf and Oman seawaters, can launch both missiles and torpedoes at the same time, the television reported, without specifying the range of the projectiles.)

2//The Moscow Times, Russia--ACRIMONY CLOUDS TREATY WITH EU (The European Union and Russia shook hands on a new partnership agreement Tuesday, even as the two sides struck unusually acrimonious tones. Coming a day after President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a Victory Day extravaganza on Red Square, the meeting was intended to highlight agreement in four areas: economy, security, justice and cultural affairs. ... Conflicting views of history clouded an agreement that -- though largely symbolic in nature -- was to set the course for future negotiations. The two sides pledged to harmonize regulations on the environment, safety and health, and to strengthen multilateral organizations like the United Nations. But Moscow failed to achieve its key goal: an agreement on visa-free travel for Russian citizens to the EU.)

RELATED: EU-RUSSIA DEAL STRUCK AT KREMLIN AT "LOVE" SUMMIT (... The two sides also agreed to discuss easing visa requirements. This came a day after world leaders had gathered in Moscow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two. "This is not the honeymoon," said the President of the European Council in Office Jean-Claude Juncker: "It's love.")

3//BBC News World Edition, UK--ARAB-S. AMERICA SUMMIT UNDER WAY (More than 30 heads of state and representatives from South America and the Arab world are attending the first summit between the regions in Brazil. Brazil's president said he wanted developing nations to redraw the economic map by working together on global challenges such as trade talks. ... The BBC Middle East analyst says the summit had caused some alarm in Washington. Brazil turned down a request by the US government for observer status, and Arab diplomats said Washington put pressure on them not to attend.)

RELATED: SOUTH AMERICA-ARAB SUMMIT SEEKS COUNTER ALLIANCE (... Some analysts consider the rejection of the American request as another sign of worsening relations between Washington and the countries it has traditionally viewed as its backyard, according to Reuters. Larry Birns, director of the Washington-based think tank the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, said he had never seen the US so isolated from Latin America. "Latin America went through a withering experience of American bullying to gain support for the Iraq coalition, and now El Salvador is the only country in the region with troops left in Iraq. It's part of the shakedown of the repercussions of Bush administration foreign policy," Birns said.)

4//Kavkaz Centre, Chechen Republic of Ichkeria--US PREPARES KURDS AND AZERBAIJANIS AGAINST IRAN (Against the background of diplomatic efforts initiated by Washington to blockade the nuclear program of Tehran, the Pentagon and CIA proceed with preparations for possible war against Iran. A few days before it became known that the leaders of Azerbaijani groupings -- the adversaries of Tehran were hastily summoned to Washington, reported Turkish CNN. According to the information of the same TV channel, referring to the Azeri APA agency, the United States are training 20 thousand Kurds in Iraq, in the camps arranged in the territories under the control of Jalal Talabani. The training is aimed at involving the units of Kurd soldiers in the struggle against the Irani regime. According to the CNN-Turk, the trainings are carried out with the participation of the Kurd fighters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey. ... 500 Kurd fighters have already finished military training and crossed the border of Iran. They allegedly have delivered control blows on three objective points on the border of Iran.)

5//RIA Novosti, Russia -- Opinion & Analysis: U.S. IN CASPIAN REGION AND RUSSIA'S POSITION (... Significantly, the U.S. program also includes setting up special task forces, whose mission will be similar to those Russia has proposed for its regional plans: "a rapid reaction not only to terrorist attacks at oil pipelines, but also to any emergency situations in the Caspian countries." A command center equipped with most up-to-date radars will be established in Baku and the entire Caspian zone will become its responsibility. Some analysts say the Azerbaijani authorities have already agreed in principle to the proposal. The implementation of the Caspian Guard program will pose a threat primarily to the defense interests of Russia and Iran, as it includes observation systems for the air and sea, and will place a vast territory under U.S. control. As they try to consolidate the naval forces of the Caspian states in their common interests, Moscow and Tehran are in favor of preventing the Caspian's militarization. However, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are not concealing their desire to modernize their naval forces, in which the U.S., in contrast to Iran and Russia, is helping them.)

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1//The News International, Pakistan Wednesday May 11, 2005-- Rabi-us-Sani 02, 1426 A.H.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/may2005...

IRAN LAUNCHES SUBMARINE PRODUCTION

TEHRAN: Iran on Tuesday officially launched the production of its first locally built submarine, a craft capable of operating stealthily, state-run television reported. Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Imani was quoted as saying "the enemy would not be able to detect the submarine."

He did not elaborate.

One submarine has apparently already been built and was shown on television on Tuesday, cruising at sea level. The Defence Ministry has commissioned an unspecified number of the craft that's been dubbed "Ghadir." Ghadir is a site in the Arabian Peninsula that's holy to Shias, the overwhelming majority of Iran's 69 million people.

The submarine, which is capable of operating in the Persian Gulf and Oman seawaters, can launch both missiles and torpedoes at the same time, the television reported, without specifying the range of the projectiles.

In December, Iran announced the production of a line of stealth torpedoes that could be launched from helicopters, ships or submarines. Iranian officials have repeatedly said the Islamic Republic will defend itself should the United States or archrival Israel initiate any aggression. Pressure has mounted on Iran recently with suspicion over its nuclear program which Washington suspects is aimed at building unconventional weapons, a charge Iranian officials vehemently deny.

(SNIP)

Iran already mass-produces the Shahab-3 missile, capable of reaching Israel and US forces stationed in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It also has since 1992 produced its own brand of tanks, armoured personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane.

2//The Moscow Times, Russia Wednesday, May 11, 2005. Issue 3162. Page 1.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/05/11/003.html

ACRIMONY CLOUDS TREATY WITH EU
By Alex Fak, Staff Writer
Staff Writer Anna Smolchenko contributed to this report.

The European Union and Russia shook hands on a new partnership agreement Tuesday, even as the two sides struck unusually acrimonious tones.

Coming a day after President Vladimir Putin hosted world leaders at a Victory Day extravaganza on Red Square, the meeting was intended to highlight agreement in four areas: economy, security, justice and cultural affairs.

But bitter feelings over the Soviet Union's post-World War II domination of Eastern Europe, combined with frustration over foot-dragging in trade relations, framed the summit, attended by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

The nonbinding accord "shows that with sufficient political will, Russia and Europe can find mutually acceptable solutions," Putin told a televised news conference. At the same time, he lashed out at new EU member Latvia, which still has not signed a border treaty border with Moscow since achieving independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

"We are ready to sign an agreement on borders. ... We hope they will not be accompanied by idiotic -- in terms of their content -- demands of a territorial nature," Putin said.
He added that it was time to put historic grievances to rest.

(SNIP)

Conflicting views of history clouded an agreement that -- though largely symbolic in nature -- was to set the course for future negotiations.

The two sides pledged to harmonize regulations on the environment, safety and health, and to strengthen multilateral organizations like the United Nations.

But Moscow failed to achieve its key goal: an agreement on visa-free travel for Russian citizens to the EU.

(SNIP)

The accord is important from a symbolic point of view, said Katinka Barysch, chief economist at the Center for European Reform, a think tank in London.

"Of course, this is a non-legally binding cooperation agreement that just puts existing issues under new headings. Yet for over a year, they could not agree on signing it, which gives an indication that the relations are not particularly good at the moment."

At a summit a year ago, Brussels agreed to endorse Russia's candidacy to the World Trade Organization, in an apparent trade-off for Moscow's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

But in a briefing on Monday, Mandelson told journalists that while Russia could still squeeze into the WTO "in the early part of 2006," its ministries needed to be signing from the same hymn book.

The country has so far been unable to reach an agreement with Washington, which is insisting that Russia open up financial markets and enforce intellectual property rights.

"Russia needs to take advantage of the window between now and the summer to get the accession tied down," Mandelson said.

The EU is Russia's largest trading partner, buying more than half the country's exports, mostly as oil and gas. Bilateral trade reached $125 billion last year.

RELATED: EU-RUSSIA DEAL STRUCK AT KREMLIN AT "LOVE" SUMMIT
http://www.euronews.net/create_html.php?page...

... The two sides also agreed to discuss easing visa requirements. This came a day after world leaders had gathered in Moscow to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two. "This is not the honeymoon," said the President of the European Council in Office Jean-Claude Juncker: "It's love."

3//BBC News World Edition, UK Tuesday, 10 May, 2005, 19:59 GMT 20:59 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4533489.stm

ARAB-S. AMERICA SUMMIT UNDER WAY

More than 30 heads of state and representatives from South America and the Arab world are attending the first summit between the regions in Brazil.

Brazil's president said he wanted developing nations to redraw the economic map by working together on global challenges such as trade talks.

Algeria's leader stressed the importance of political action, specifically to help the Palestinians.

Observers say the talks aims to build ties as a counterweight to the US.

'Right to resist'

Security is tight in Brasilia, with 9,000 troops on patrol as delegates arrived for the opening ceremony.

Brazil is pushing for what it calls South-South co-operation, whereby developing countries might adopt a common approach to global challenges, such as trade negotiations.

"We're seeking fair and just trade free of subsidies imposed by rich countries that ensures that poor countries receive the benefits of globalisation," Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said.

(SNIP)

The talks will end on Wednesday with a declaration that is expected to criticise Israel and back Syria.

The summit declaration is also expected to uphold the right of people to resist foreign occupation.

(SNIP)

The BBC Middle East analyst says the summit had caused some alarm in Washington.

Brazil turned down a request by the US government for observer status, and Arab diplomats said Washington put pressure on them not to attend.

RELATED: SOUTH AMERICA-ARAB SUMMIT SEEKS COUNTER ALLIANCE
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-05/10/article04.shtml

... Despite its lofty goals, the summit has been largely ignored by Arab leaders with only five taking part.

... Arab diplomatic sources in Brasilia told AFP that the Bush administration pressured several Arab countries to stay away after the host turned down a US request for observer status at the summit.

Some analysts consider the rejection of the American request as another sign of worsening relations between Washington and the countries it has traditionally viewed as its backyard, according to Reuters.

Larry Birns, director of the Washington-based think tank the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, said he had never seen the US so isolated from Latin America.

"Latin America went through a withering experience of American bullying to gain support for the Iraq coalition, and now El Salvador is the only country in the region with troops left in Iraq.

"It's part of the shakedown of the repercussions of Bush administration foreign policy," Birns said. South American nations were overwhelmingly opposed to the US-led invasion-turned-occupation of oil-rich Iraq. (MORE)

4//Kavkaz Centre, Chechen Republic of Ichkeria 2005-05-08 16:45:56
http://www.kavkazcenter.info/eng/content/2005/05/08/3775.shtml

US PREPARES KURDS AND AZERBAIJANIS AGAINST IRAN
Musa Stone

The crisis provoked by the desire of Washington to let Iran develop its nuclear program makes many analysts predict the gravest consequences of the American-Iranian confrontation.

However, although the United States openly threatens Iran with military intervention, Tehran, to all appearances, does not intend to submit to blackmail.

(SNIP)

Against the background of diplomatic efforts initiated by Washington to blockade the nuclear program of Tehran, the Pentagon and CIA proceed with preparations for possible war against Iran. A few days before it became known that the leaders of Azerbaijani groupings -- the adversaries of Tehran were hastily summoned to Washington, reported Turkish CNN.

According to the information of the same TV channel, referring to the Azeri APA agency, the United States are training 20 thousand Kurds in Iraq, in the camps arranged in the territories under the control of Jalal Talabani. The training is aimed at involving the units of Kurd soldiers in the struggle against the Irani regime.

According to the CNN-Turk, the trainings are carried out with the participation of the Kurd fighters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey.

CNN-Turk reported about the termination of the first stage of training. According to the TV channel, the officers of the Talabani guard are involved in the trainings. 500 Kurd fighters have already finished military training and crossed the border of Iran. They allegedly have delivered control blows on three objective points on the border of Iran.

According to reports of CNN-Turk, the leaders of Azeri groupings -- the opponents of Irani regime are already in Washington, where the details of the operation with the participation of Azerbaijanis against Iran are being considered.

According to APA, CNN-Turk reminded about the fact that Azerbaijanis constitute the greater part of the Irani population, and Tehran has been keeping them under control for a long time. As a case in point, the TV channel reported that the Azerbaijanis were deprived of the right to provide education in their native language.

5//RIA Novosti, Russia 09:43 11/05/2005
http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20050504/39817504.html

Opinion & Analysis: U.S. IN CASPIAN REGION AND RUSSIA'S POSITION
RIA Novosti Commentator Pyotr Goncharov

MOSCOW-- Iran has offered support for a Russian initiative on the Caspian Sea states alone establishing a joint rapid reaction force in the region.

"These Caspian states should come to terms on the establishment of a rapid reaction force," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi.

(SNIP)

The idea of forming a rapid reaction coalition force in the Caspian region is not new. In August 2002, the Russian Caspian flotilla conducted naval exercises in the Caspian to practice rapid reactions not only to terrorist attacks on oil pipelines but also to emergency situations in Caspian countries. A high-ranking representative of Iran's navy who was present at the exercises praised Russia's naval strength there and recalled with delicate irony that both Moscow and Tehran were in favor of "preventing the militarization of the Caspian region." His irony was to the point because Tehran's call for the other Caspian states to join Russia's initiative may seem belated.

These apprehensions have come on the back of a recent lightning visit to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The visit was made in great secrecy, which immediately reminded one of a statement by General James Jones, NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, in which he said that the U.S. planned to establish military bases in the Caspian area and was drafting the Caspian Guard program for the coming decade. Under this project, the U.S. attaches particular importance to Azerbaijan, seeing it as a prime location for deploying mobile rapid reaction forces and for solving its foreign policy problems in the region, mainly those concerning Iran.

Significantly, the U.S. program also includes setting up special task forces, whose mission will be similar to those Russia has proposed for its regional plans: "a rapid reaction not only to terrorist attacks at oil pipelines, but also to any emergency situations in the Caspian countries." A command center equipped with most up-to-date radars will be established in Baku and the entire Caspian zone will become its responsibility. Some analysts say the Azerbaijani authorities have already agreed in principle to the proposal. The implementation of the Caspian Guard program will pose a threat primarily to the defense interests of Russia and Iran, as it includes observation systems for the air and sea, and will place a vast territory under U.S. control.

As they try to consolidate the naval forces of the Caspian states in their common interests, Moscow and Tehran are in favor of preventing the Caspian's militarization. However, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are not concealing their desire to modernize their naval forces, in which the U.S., in contrast to Iran and Russia, is helping them. Kazakhstan's navy will soon receive a ship displacing more than 1,000 tons free of charge. The republic will establish military infrastructure along its coast using American money. The U.S. is offering the same to Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, Washington is said to be considering a plan of forming a tripartite union of the U.S., Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the region. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and even Turkey may eventually join it. Meanwhile, Russia's initiative is only being discussed in the media. All five Caspian states are unlikely to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the "demilitarization, non-militarization or limited militarization" of the Caspian area. The continuing wrangling over the Caspian Sea's legal status only serves to prove this, as Iran and Turkmenistan have chosen to reject the understandings reached by Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan on dividing the Caspian seabed.

But one thing is certain. The arrival of the U.S. in the Caspian region will certainly upset the policies Moscow and Tehran pursue in a region that is important for both countries.