March 6, 2006

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 MARCH 6, 2006

1//The Japan Times, Japan--JAPAN MAY HIRE CONTROVERSIAL FIRM TO DISMANTLE CAMP IN IRAQ (The Defense Agency is considering hiring a U.S. firm to dismantle the Ground Self-Defense Force's camp in Samawah, Iraq, after the troops pull out by late May, informed sources said Saturday. It would be the first time the Self-Defense Forces have contracted work to a private military contractor in connection with an overseas deployment. The agency is thinking about asking KBR -- a subsidiary of U.S. giant Halliburton Co. for which U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney once served as chief executive officer -- to disassemble the GSDF camp, the sources said. Such a move would be aimed at speeding up the troops' withdrawal and securing the safety of the approximately 600 personnel as they make their way out of Iraq, where they have been conducting humanitarian and reconstruction aid operations. But it could spark a battle due to concerns over allegations that Cheney played a part in getting lucrative U.S. reconstruction projects in Iraq granted to KBR.)

2//Azzaman in English, Iraq--IRAQ PAYS $637 MILLION TO COVER FUEL IMPORTS FROM TURKEY (The Finance Ministry has transferred to Ankara overdue payments totaling $637 million to cover fuel imports from Turkey. The Oil Ministry should have paid the money in 2005 but lack of allocations has reportedly prevented it from doing so. The delay in payment had prompted Turkish fuel exporters to turn off supplies, exacerbating fuel shortages across the country. … Despite its massive oil riches, Iraq has been importing fuel from all of its six neighboring nations but delay in payments has already angered the Saudis who are said to have shut the spigot. Kuwait is also reported to have stopped ferrying fuel to the country which now relies mainly on Iran, Turkey and Jordan to meet domestic needs.)

3//The Daily Star, Lebanon--KUWAITI MP DEMANDS TRUTH ABOUT EMIRATE’S OIL RESERVES (Veteran Kuwaiti lawmaker Ahmad al-Saadun demanded Sunday that the government reveal the truth about the emirate's oil reserves which were reported to be only half of the official figure. "No clarifications have been issued by the Energy Ministry, the Kuwait Petroleum Corp. or its affiliated companies to discount doubts about the credibility of official figures," Saadun said in a question to Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Fahd al-Sabah. "This raises justified and legitimate concerns that these reserves could be depleted in a very short duration on the basis of current production figures," Saadun, a three-time former speaker, said. The controversy began after the authoritative industry newsletter Petroleum Intelligence Weekly (PIW) revealed in January that Kuwait's oil reserves are far below the officially stated amount of 99 billion barrels. The PIW report claimed that Kuwait's remaining proven and non proven oil reserves total about 48 billion barrels, based on internal Kuwait records seen by the newsletter. It also added that fully proven Kuwaiti reserves amount to 24.2 billion barrels only.)

4//The Manila Times, Philippines--‘CORY IS NOT A TARGET’ (Malacanang officials said on Sunday that government probers are not trying to build a case against former President Corazon Aquino for plotting against the government. Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said on Sunday that investigations against supposed destabilizers and coup plotters linked by the Department of Justice to the failed attempt to oust President Arroyo on February 24 are not intended to pin down former President Corazon Aquino. “Cory is not the target. There is no such thing as ‘intended’ targets,” Claudio said in a text message to The Manila Times. Claudio said the government did not predetermine the situation that led to the declaration of Proclamation 1017 as well as persons identified with the thwarted coup. Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Saturday alleged coup probers are going after Aquino because she is a staunch critic of the President.)

5//The Jordan Times, Jordan--CHIRAC VOWS ‘VOICE OF REASON’ ON IRAN (French President Jacques Chirac said Sunday the West would still reach out to Iran for a deal on its disputed nuclear file, in the first address to the Saudi consultative council by a foreign leader. The president's wide-ranging speech in Riyadh also covered Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian elections, reform in the conservative monarchy and the "clash of civilizations" between the West and Islam. "In Iran, the voice of reason that France, the United Kingdom and Germany wanted to be heard on the nuclear file has not been heard, for the time being," Chirac told the appointed advisory council, an all-male body of 150 members. But despite the failure of negotiations between Tehran and the EU, "the hand remains stretched out, and Iran can, at any moment, take it back by restoring its commitment to suspension of sensitive [nuclear] work." … Chirac also expressed support for reforms undertaken by King Abdullah, whom he was to meet later Sunday, and the oil-rich monarchy's fight against Al-Qaeda linked militants since the Islamists rose up against Riyadh in May 2003.)

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1//The Japan Times, Japan March 5, 2006

JAPAN MAY HIRE CONTROVERSIAL FIRM TO DISMANTLE CAMP IN IRAQ

The Defense Agency is considering hiring a U.S. firm to dismantle the Ground Self-Defense Force's camp in Samawah, Iraq, after the troops pull out by late May, informed sources said Saturday.

It would be the first time the Self-Defense Forces have contracted work to a private military contractor in connection with an overseas deployment.

The agency is thinking about asking KBR -- a subsidiary of U.S. giant Halliburton Co. for which U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney once served as chief executive officer -- to disassemble the GSDF camp, the sources said.

Such a move would be aimed at speeding up the troops' withdrawal and securing the safety of the approximately 600 personnel as they make their way out of Iraq, where they have been conducting humanitarian and reconstruction aid operations.

But it could spark a battle due to concerns over allegations that Cheney played a part in getting lucrative U.S. reconstruction projects in Iraq granted to KBR.

The Defense Agency may decide not to have KBR do the job depending on what comes out of negotiations with the local people who own the land used for the GSDF camp, according to the sources.

The government wants to return the approximately 350 hectares of land without taking down the camp, but the local people could demand that it be returned in its original state, the sources said.
Japan has been paying about 30 million yen a year in rent.

In the event full restoration is sought, the agency is considering contracting out the work to dismantle the camp to KBR, the sources said.

(SNIP)

If GSDF personnel were to take down the camp on their own, it would take another several months and possibly increase their danger because security in Iraq is unstable, they said.

KBR has conducted projects in conflict-torn places such as Somalia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, and it has been contracted to do various types of work to support the U.S. military in Iraq, including transporting supplies and fuel, providing meals, processing garbage and delivering mail.

The company is suspected of padding its bill to the U.S. military in March 2005 by charging more than $ 100 million in a contract to supply fuel to Iraqis.

2//Azzaman in English, Iraq March 4, 2006

IRAQ PAYS $637 MILLION TO COVER FUEL IMPORTS FROM TURKEY
By Sameer Naser

The Finance Ministry has transferred to Ankara overdue payments totaling $637 million to cover fuel imports from Turkey.

The Oil Ministry should have paid the money in 2005 but lack of allocations has reportedly prevented it from doing so.

The delay in payment had prompted Turkish fuel exporters to turn off supplies, exacerbating fuel shortages across the country.

(SNIP)

While fuel imports increase and domestic refining capacity shrinks, the country’s already strapped coffers find it hard to meet the spiraling fuel import bill which last year is said to have exceeded $1 billion.

Iraq oil exports are still below the pre-war level and refining capacity is said to have plunged mainly due to insurgent attacks and lack of maintenance.

Currently gasoline imports for example run most of the country’s vehicles and generators with domestic refineries only capable of processing limited amounts of crude into gasoline.

Despite its massive oil riches, Iraq has been importing fuel from all of its six neighboring nations but delay in payments has already angered the Saudis who are said to have shut the spigot.

Kuwait is also reported to have stopped ferrying fuel to the country which now relies mainly on Iran, Turkey and Jordan to meet domestic needs.

3//The Daily Star, Lebanon Monday, March 06, 2006

KUWAITI MP DEMANDS TRUTH ABOUT EMIRATE’S OIL RESERVES

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

KUWAIT: Veteran Kuwaiti lawmaker Ahmad al-Saadun demanded Sunday that the government reveal the truth about the emirate's oil reserves which were reported to be only half of the official figure.

"No clarifications have been issued by the Energy Ministry, the Kuwait Petroleum Corp. or its affiliated companies to discount doubts about the credibility of official figures," Saadun said in a question to Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Fahd al-Sabah.

"This raises justified and legitimate concerns that these reserves could be depleted in a very short duration on the basis of current production figures," Saadun, a three-time former speaker, said.

The controversy began after the authoritative industry newsletter Petroleum Intelligence Weekly (PIW) revealed in January that Kuwait's oil reserves are far below the officially stated amount of 99 billion barrels.

The PIW report claimed that Kuwait's remaining proven and non proven oil reserves total about 48 billion barrels, based on internal Kuwait records seen by the newsletter.

It also added that fully proven Kuwaiti reserves amount to 24.2 billion barrels only.

Saadun demanded a detailed account of the size of reserves in all Kuwaiti fields and reservoirs, including the standards adopted in estimating them and whether they were adopted by local or international sides.

"We must know the full truth on the proven and non-proven reserves and other data regarding the oil wealth," Saadun said.

Kuwait, whose stated oil reserves constitute about 10 percent of global crude reserves, is pumping around 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) and oil income contributes more than 90 percent of public revenues.

(MORE)

4//The Manila Times, Philippines Monday, March 06, 2006

‘CORY IS NOT A TARGET’
Malacañang denies it’s after former president

By Sam Mediavilla, Reporter

MALACAÑANG officials said on Sunday that government probers are not trying to build a case against former President Corazon Aquino for plotting against the government.

Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio said on Sunday that investigations against supposed destabilizers and coup plotters linked by the Department of Justice to the failed attempt to oust President Arroyo on February 24 are not intended to pin down former President Corazon Aquino.

“Cory is not the target. There is no such thing as ‘intended’ targets,” Claudio said in a text message to The Manila Times.

Claudio said the government did not predetermine the situation that led to the declaration of Proclamation 1017 as well as persons identified with the thwarted coup.

Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Saturday alleged coup probers are going after Aquino because she is a staunch critic of the President.

Pimentel said the administration has been trying to link Aquino’s brother, Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Jose Cojuangco, and civil society advocate Pastor “Boy” Saycon, both presidential appointees, to the alliance between communist rebels, rightist military adventurists and anti-Arroyo politicians to justify the planned arrest of Mrs. Aquino.

Last year Aquino challenged Mrs. Arroyo to make the “extreme sacrifice” by stepping down.
She has since repeated her calls in forums and protest rallies.

Claudio said Pimentel only “wanted to make a martyr out of the former president and desperately resuscitate their unjust and hopeless cause” to topple Mrs. Arroyo.

“We hate to disappoint him, but that’s not going to happen,” he said.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, in a telephone interview with The Manila Times, branded Pimentel’s attempt to fuel the political turmoil as another failed speculative move.

He said Mrs. Aquino’s cause is all within the bounds of the Constitution.

(MORE)

5//The Jordan Times, Jordan Monday, March 06, 2006

CHIRAC VOWS ‘VOICE OF REASON’ ON IRAN
French president labels cartoon row a 'clash of ignorance'

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

RIYADH: French President Jacques Chirac said Sunday the West would still reach out to Iran for a deal on its disputed nuclear file, in the first address to the Saudi consultative council by a foreign leader.

The president's wide-ranging speech in Riyadh also covered Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian elections, reform in the conservative monarchy and the "clash of civilizations" between the West and Islam.

"In Iran, the voice of reason that France, the United Kingdom and Germany wanted to be heard on the nuclear file has not been heard, for the time being," Chirac told the appointed advisory council, an all-male body of 150 members.

But despite the failure of negotiations between Tehran and the EU, "the hand remains stretched out, and Iran can, at any moment, take it back by restoring its commitment to suspension of sensitive [nuclear] work."

Chirac said Iran had been "assured that it can develop its nuclear capacity for civilian purposes."

EU powers and Iran failed Friday to strike a deal in last-ditch nuclear talks that could have blocked possible UN Security Council action over Western fears Tehran is secretly developing atomic weapons.

"Nuclear research will go on, and threats, propaganda and bullying will not affect us," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Sunday, referring to the country's controversial uranium enrichment drive.

Chirac also expressed support for reforms undertaken by King Abdullah, whom he was to meet later Sunday, and the oil-rich monarchy's fight against Al-Qaeda linked militants since the Islamists rose up against Riyadh in May 2003.

"I wanted to express France's support for the course he has set his country on," Chirac said of Abdullah. Saudi Arabia was "mobilizing itself courageously in order to assert its moderate role in the face of threats."

(MORE)