by Gloria R. Lalumia
World
Media Watch
by Gloria R. Lalumia
BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.
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1//The Moscow Times, Russia--HOT NEWS: PRESIDENT'S ACTION IN HOSTAGE CRISIS SUPPORTED BY 85% OF RUSSIANS (An impressive 85% of Russians approve President Vladimir Putin's handling of the hostage crisis, a poll carried out by the All-Russian Public Opinion Center suggests.)
2//The
Independent, UK--BERLUSCONI EDGES AHEAD IN BATTLE OVER JUDGES (An act
of parliament designed, opponents charge, to keep Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi's closest political and business ally out of jail, drew one
step closer to becoming law yesterday... Recently, Mr Berlusconi's high
popularity rating has begun to slump. "But that's not because of
the trial," says Dr James Walston of the American University at Rome,
"but because he's messing with the economy..."
3//The Japan Times, Japan--TOKYO, PYONGYANG TRADE ACCUSATIONS AS TALKS
COMMENCE (Suzuki also urged North Korea to halt a uranium enrichment program
Japan suspects is being used to develop nuclear weapons. But Jong was
quoted as saying the demand was "totally unacceptable." The
North Korean delegates insist that the root of the nuclear weapons issue
is what it describes as a policy of antagonism by the United States, the
official said.)
4//Asia
Times Online, Hong Kong--TANKER BLAST SPAWNS A YEMENI COAST GUARD (...the
US will deliver a first shipment of nine boats early next year to strengthen
the Yemeni coast guard...Several analysts are apprehensive about the new
relations with the US. "I think our government knows how dangerous
military cooperation with the US can be," political analyst Mohammed
Saeed told IPS.)
5//The Newsmexico.com, Mexico--OAS CHIEF GAVIRIA MEETS CHAVEZ IN CRISIS
MEDIATION BID ("We are here to promote a dialogue toward a peaceful
resolution between the government and the opposition," the OAS chief
said. Military officers who last week tried to launch a rebellion against
Chavez have since refused to leave their encampment in Francia Square,
where they were joined by hundreds of supporters in the opposition stronghold
of Altimira, vowing to remain until Chavez steps down.)
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1//The
Moscow Times Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002, 10:19 PM Moscow Time
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/doc/HotNews.html#28673
HOT NEWS: PRESIDENT'S ACTION IN HOSTAGE CRISIS SUPPORTED BY 85% OF RUSSIANS
MOSCOW. Oct 29 (Interfax) - An impressive 85% of Russians approve President Vladimir Putin's handling of the hostage crisis, a poll carried out by the All-Russian Public Opinion Center suggests.
The poll taken on October 25 - 28 involved 1,600 Russians. Asked How do you evaluate the way the Russian president handled the situation? 85% chose answers in the very positively/rather positively range while 10% in the rather negatively/very negatively range while 5% were undecided.
2//The Independent 30 October 2002
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=347193
BERLUSCONI
EDGES AHEAD IN BATTLE OVER JUDGES
By Peter Popham in Rome
An act of parliament designed, opponents charge, to keep Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's closest political and business ally out of jail, drew one step closer to becoming law yesterday.
Opposition MPs tried to force the Italian parliament to reconsider the bill with new amendments this week, but a committee of MPs approved the passage of the law in its present form. It remains for the Senate to pass the Cirami bill, a certainty, and for the President to sign it, which is likely.
(SNIP)
The bill will allow defendants with "legitimate suspicion" that the judges are biased to have the trial switched to an alternative jurisdiction. Mr Berlusconi's supporters insist the law will merely restore a right withdrawn from defendants some years ago, when it was said that accused Mafiosi were escaping justice by having their cases switched.
(SNIP)
Recently, Mr Berlusconi's high popularity rating has begun to slump. "But that's not because of the trial," says Dr James Walston of the American University at Rome, "but because he's messing with the economy. Many people say, 'We know he's a crook but so what as long as he delivers on the economy.' But now he's no longer delivering."
3//The Japan Times Oct. 30, 2002
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20021030a1.htm
TOKYO, PYONGYANG TRADE ACCUSATIONS AS TALKS COMMENCE
KUALA LUMPUR -- Japan and North Korea remained divided Tuesday on the key issues of abductions and nuclear weapons as they opened their first talks on normalizing diplomatic relations in two years, a Foreign Ministry official said.
The North Korean delegates ignored Japan's calls to halt Pyongyang's nuclear arms development program and accused Tokyo of "breaking its promise" over the homecoming arrangements for the Japanese abductees.
(SNIP)
Suzuki also urged North Korea to halt a uranium enrichment program Japan suspects is being used to develop nuclear weapons.
But Jong was quoted as saying the demand was "totally unacceptable." The North Korean delegates insist that the root of the nuclear weapons issue is what it describes as a policy of antagonism by the United States, the official said.
Suzuki and Jong, the ambassadors in charge of the bilateral normalization talks, had similarly frustrating conversations over a working lunch, the official said.
Diplomatic niceties were not observed at the beginning of the talks, apparently because the two sides failed to work out the details of how to proceed in preparatory talks on Monday.
(MORE)
4//Asia Times Online October 29, 2002
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/DJ30Ak04.html
TANKER
BLAST SPAWNS A YEMENI COAST GUARD
By Nabil Sultan (Inter Press Service)
SANA'A, Yemen - The political spillover from the terrorist attack on the French tanker Limburg is beginning to spread as wide as the oil that flowed from its breached hull.
(SNIP)
"Our security systems found a house near Mukalla port in which the boat is said to have been prepared for the attack," al-Alimi said. "Security forces have arrested many suspects and placed them under investigation." But he could not be certain whether al-Qaeda supporters were behind the explosion. He offered no details on how many people had been detained or who they were.
"Islamic groups in Yemen are uniting," says the radical London-based cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri who is wanted by Yemeni authorities for links with the Aden Army, an extremist Yemeni organization that claimed responsibility for the Limburg attack. "Al-Qaeda members are joining other groups." He did not name the other groups.
(SNIP)
Investigations into the attack on the Limburg have brought difficult political issues in their wake. The government is grappling with questions of al-Qaeda links with extremist groups in Yemen. And there is strong debate over how far Yemen should accept US help in fighting terrorism.
The US has offered active support to Yemen to fight these groups. "The value of a coast guard becomes apparent," Gen Tommy Franks, commander-in-chief of the US Central Command, said on a visit to Yemen October 17. He discussed several lines of US support for anti-terrorism operations in a meeting with President Ali Abdallah Saleh. Following that meeting, the US will deliver a first shipment of nine boats early next year to strengthen the Yemeni coast guard.
US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns followed up that visit with a meeting with President Saleh in Sana'a on October 26. "We are committed to help the Yemeni government in the economic field and to fight radicals here," Burns said.
(SNIP)
Several analysts are apprehensive about the new relations with the US. "I think our government knows how dangerous military cooperation with the US can be," political analyst Mohammed Saeed told IPS.
The US has been supporting social projects in Sana'a and in other provinces. But many Yemenis are opposed to US bases on Yemeni land or sea. "America takes more than it gives," says Hamoud Bisher, a computer engineer. "US forces should go to Palestine to protect innocent children," says Fakhri Rajab, a retired soldier. The US help is on offer; accepting it is the problem.
5//The Newsmexico.com 10/29/2002
http://www.thenewsmexico.com/noticia.asp?id=38624
OAS CHIEF GAVIRIA MEETS CHAVEZ IN CRISIS MEDIATION BID
CARACAS (AFP) - Organization of American States' Secretary General Cesar Gaviria met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez here Monday in an attempt to facilitate dialogue as rebellious officers continued their protest.
(SNIP)
A cautious Gaviria, with representatives from the Carter Center and the United Nations Development Program, said the group planned to sit down later with opponents who are calling for a referendum before the half-way point in the Venezuelan leader's term of office that does not come until mid-2003.
"We are here to promote a dialogue toward a peaceful resolution between the government and the opposition," the OAS chief said.
Military officers who last week tried to launch a rebellion against Chavez have since refused to leave their encampment in Francia Square, where they were joined by hundreds of supporters in the opposition stronghold of Altimira, vowing to remain until Chavez steps down.
A coup following two days of demonstrations Apr. 11-12 removed Chavez from power for approximately 47 hours, before he was reinstated. Since then, criticism of Chavez has continued unabated.
Gaviria and his delegation were scheduled to meet with both sides over the next two days.
The government wants to meet with sectors of the opposition for talks Wednesday, Rangel said Sunday, adding that the foreign minister, and the education and labor ministers would take part in that meeting.
Opposition has not yet responded to the invitation.
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©
2002, Gloria R. Lalumia
insight@zianet.com
Updated listings of Radio for Progressives on the internet at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
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