Extracts. Iraq Slams UN Oil-for-Food Program The United Nations oil-for-food program has failed to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammad Mehdi Salah said on Monday. Salah told a press conference that Iraq has exported 40 billion US dollars worth of oil since the UN program was launched in 1996, but it has only received goods worth 9.6 billion dollars, an average of seven dollars for each Iraqi every month. The UN Sanctions Committee, dominated by the United States and Britain, has put on hold contracts worth 15.6 billion dollars in an attempt to worsen Iraq's humanitarian situation, he said. The UN oil-for-food deal allows Iraq to sell oil and import food, medicine and oil spare parts under strict UN supervision. However, Salah said that there have been channels outside of the oil-for-food program for Iraq to acquire commodities. "Our right is to export whatever we can to buy commodities Iraqi citizens need," he said. With the 10th anniversary of the 1991 Gulf War looming, Iraq has stepped up a propaganda war against the U.S. and Britain, the major forces opposing the lifting of the sanctions, triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. "Iraq will achieve a final victory over the U.S., Britain and those who help them in the region against Iraq," Salah said. **** Vietnamese Leader Pledges to Boost Ties With CPPCC President of the Presidium of the Vietnam <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Vietnam.html> Fatherland Front (VNFF) Central Committee Pham The Duyet said his front will further strengthen exchange and cooperation with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), contributing to the friendly cooperation between the two countries. Duyet, also a member of the Politburo Standing Board of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Central Committee, made the remarks here on Monday while meeting with a CPPCC delegation headed by Henry Ying Tung Fok, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. In recent years, Duyet said, the relationship between Vietnam and China has been developed continuously. The two countries have signed a land border treaty, an agreement on the delimitation of the Beibu Gulf territorial sea and an agreement on fishery cooperation, bringing the good-neighborly and friendly ties and all-round cooperation between the two countries to a new development stage. He added that the friendly cooperation between his front and the CPPCC has been also increasingly developing under the leadership of the two parties and states. Duyet expressed his confidence that his front and the CPPCC will make concerted efforts to further strengthen the exchange and cooperation, contributing to further development of the friendship between the two parties and countries in the 21st century. Fok said during the meeting that strengthening exchange and cooperation between the CPPCC and the VNFF will further promote the development of the two countries' constructive causes. **** Falun Gong Ban Legal, Based on People's Will: Spokesman The Chinese government banned the Falun Gong cult because the Chinese people demanded action against it, a spokesman of the Information Office of the State Council said in an interview with Xinhua Monday. The ban has been carried out according to law, and people from all walks of life support it, the official emphasized. Before the ban, Chinese across the country had expressed their deep concern over the cult's harmful affect on families, the health of the Falun Gong practitioners themselves, China's social stability as well as its illegal profits made by the ringleaders headed by Li Zhongzhi, the official said. Chinese called on the government to contain the spread of Falun Gong's influence. Meanwhile, relatives of Falun Gong victims, journalists, and scientists have written stories carried in newspapers across the country that shed light on the unlawful activities of the cult, the official said. On June 17, Guangming Daily, one of the leading newspapers in China, published a signed article that said the book "Zhuan Falun," written by the cult leader, Li Hongzhi, is based on pseudo-science and promotes feudalism and superstition. In April 1998, Qilu Evening News, based in Jinan, provincial capital of Shandong <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/shandong.html> Province, carried two critical reports focused on some Falun Gong practitioners who died of illness after they refused medical treatment. A month later, Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> Television aired a segment about a doctoral candidate who became paralyzed when he was practicing Falun Gong. In April 1999, He Zuoxiu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, contributed an essay to a journal published by the Education College of the Tianjin <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/tianjin.html> Normal University that criticized the cult. Since 1998, a dozen local media organizations have released stories and articles exposing the true nature of Falun Gong. In retaliation, Li Hongzhi organized his followers to protest outside these television stations and newspaper offices. The government's ban and crackdowns on the Falun Gong Cult have legal basis and are meant to safeguard social stability and protect people's life and property -- which is the government's main responsibility, he stressed. A cult is a social cancer, he said. The government of any country that has experienced a cult should adopt a watchful and preventive attitude, and handle such groups with a firm hand, he noted. China has always adhered to the policy of resolutely cracking down on cults and the criminal activities of their members, according to the official. On March 14, 1997, the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, revised the Criminal Law at its fifth meeting which provided punishments against cult-related criminal activities in Clause 300. On July 22, 1999, the Ministry of Civil Affairs outlawed Falun Gong according to the Provisions on the Registration and Administration on Social Groups, after finding that the so-called Falun Dafa Society and its Falun Gong organizations had never registered with the ministry and were engaged in illegal activities. On the same day, the Ministry of Public Security issued a circular to prohibit publicity of Falun Dafa in any form as well as any activities disturbing social order or opposing the government. In October 1999, the NPC Standing Committee passed a resolution to ban cults and prevent and punish cult activities. In an explanation of the draft resolution, Hou Zongbin, chairman of the Ninth NPC Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs, said that cults had been spreading in some parts of the country, creating some alarming situations. The range of society that has been affected by Falun Gong, the number of people involved, and the amount of illegal publications that have been distributed make Falun Gong the most dangerous cult encountered by the People's Republic of China since its founding in 1949, Hou said. On October 30, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate published "Explanations on the Application of Law Concerning Crimes Involved in the Organization and Utilization of Cults." On December 26, 1999, the Intermediate People's Court of Beijing sentenced, in the first instance, core Falun Gong leaders Li Chang, Wang Zhiwen, Ji Liewu and Yao Jie in conviction of obstructing law enforcement and causing deaths through cult activities. The court confirmed the Falun Dafa society and local Falun Gong training centers were associated with the cult. And the four received prison sentences ranging from seven to 18 years accordingly. Since then, local courts across the country have sentenced a number of Falun Gong members according to China's Criminal Law, the official said, stressing repeatedly that the government's actions have been based on law. The spokesman reiterated the government's policy on dealing with the members of Falun Gong. The majority of Falun Gong practitioners were deceived by the cult and they should be educated to free themselves from the group's spiritual shackles. Considering the size and scope of the cult, only a handful of Falun Gong members have been severely punished according to law, he noted. So far, 242 backbone Falun Gong members have been given criminal punishments throughout the country, official statistics showed. The judicial departments have punished Falun Gong criminals not for their practice of Falun Gong but for their violation of Chinese law, the official said. Moreover, he said, the judicial departments have followed the principle of basing their sentencing decisions on facts and law. To deal with the Falun Gong issue according to law complies with the State's principle of rule of law, as it aims to protect the rights and interests of the people, maintain stable social development, and preserve the legal authority, he stressed. A number of hard-core Falun Gong elements have recently aired their beliefs publicly in some highly visible places, including Tian'anmen Square, in an attempt to influence non-believers. In response, the municipal government of Beijing has adopted stronger measures, such as increased police patrols, to protect Tian'anmen Square and other places where illegal gatherings have been held. This is meant to guarantee the timely detainment and removal of those Falun Gong members who are engaged in illegal acts, the official said. Cult members who resorted to violence were led away forcefully so that normal social order could be restored as quickly as possible, according to the official. According to the Law on Gatherings, Parades and Demonstrations, activities such as those public demonstrations staged by Falun Gong members must have prior approval from the public security department. The municipal government of Beijing has also issued rules against illegal gatherings, parades and demonstrations as well as any kind of illegal publicity material being posted in public. Falun Gong activists' gatherings on the Tian'anmen Square, held in the name of "protecting or spreading the Fa," are illegal, the official said. Based on the People's Police Law, police have the right to question Falun Gong members who are holding non-approved and illegal gatherings on Tian'anmen Square; police have the right to order them to disperse and can forcibly break up the gatherings should the participants refuse to cooperate; and they have the right to immediately detain those who have disobeyed the order, according to the official. Cult members from elsewhere in the country who have traveled to Beijing to participate in illegal gatherings will be detained or forcibly sent back to their homes by the police. Those who have seriously disturbed social order will be punished or sent to labor camps for reeducation according to law, but those who have violated the Criminal Law and committed crimes will be held responsible in a court of law. The transformation-through-labor system was launched on August 1, 1957, when the NPC Standing Committee approved a resolution of the State Council on the issue. On November 29, 1979, the NPC Standing Committee approved some additional related rules issued by the State Council. In January 1982, the State Council promulgated a provisional regulation on the transformation through labor. According to law, those who have disturbed social order, refused to break their ties with the cult, or committed minor cult-related crimes will be sent to labor camps for transformation. Such cases would need to be approved by the transformation-through-labor administrative commissions under provincial or municipal level governments. The official noted that to this day, none of those who have been sent to transformation-through-labor houses are put into these places solely because they practice Falun Gong but because their participation in demonstrations has disturbed social order. The legal rights of those who are being transformed through labor are protected by Chinese law, including their personal rights, property rights and rights to sue and appeal and communicate, according to the official. Measures are taken to ensure the protection of these rights, he added. The transformation-through-labor institutions follow the policy of educating their inmates and protecting their legal rights, and measures taken to preserve these rights include reduction of sentences, home-based transformation, and early release from the institutions, according to the official. The spokesman denied reports on Falun Gong websites that a female practitioner was beaten to death on Tian'anmen Square on the morning of January 1, 2001. "I could responsibly say that this is a rumor fabricated by Falun Gong groups. Nobody has died on the square since April 25, 1999," he said. **** East Asia Should Pursue Regional Cooperation: Chinese Minister Chinese Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng said Sunday that East Asian countries should pursue regional cooperation in a gradual and orderly manner, taking into account their unique characteristics. "Compared with other regional cooperative mechanisms, particularly the European economic and monetary union, Asian nations are more diversified in history, culture, political regime,and levels of economic development," Xiang said in a keynote speech at the third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Finance Ministers' Meeting, which was held in Kobe, western Japan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/Japan.html> . "Therefore, there is still a long way to go and arduous task ahead for these nations, and they must choose a cooperative pattern suitable to the regional characteristics rather than copy others' models," Xiang said. Since the East Asian cooperation was initiated by the Leaders' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and South Korea in 1997 in the aftermath of a financial crisis which hit Asia, Xiang said, the East Asian cooperation started from the financial field, instead of starting from trade cooperation as the case in other regions. Xiang also said that the current cooperation among the East Asian countries should start from the areas where the consensus can be more easily reached, and then spread gradually to other areas on the basis of consolidation. The East Asian cooperation has emerged along with the vigorous momentum of regionalization in global economy, which is consistent with economic globalization, he said. He noted that the globalization, while having accelerated world economic development, has also brought about the problem of uneven distribution of benefits and accentuated global economic polarization. As a result of dramatic advancement of modern information technology, the Digital Divide has further widened the income and development gap between the developed and developing countries, Xiang said, adding that many developing countries found themselves increasingly marginalized in the course of globalization. The Chinese finance minister expressed his belief that economic cooperation in East Asia will help maintain the financial stability and economic development in the region, and enable Asian nations to participate in the global cooperation and make contribution to the orderly progress of globalization. Finance ministers from 10 Asian countries and 15 European nations attended the two-day meeting, which concluded earlier Sunday. **** Sudan, China Wind up Political Consultations Sudan and China ended on Sunday a new round of political consultations between the foreign ministries on bilateral ties and regional issues of common interest. The two-day consultations were presided over by Ali Youssif, director of the Asia Department of Sudan's Foreign Ministry and Liu Guozeng, director of the West Asia and North Africa Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry <http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/> . The meeting dealt with the various aspects of bilateral ties and the latest regional and international developments, Youssif said. On the economic, trade and investment exchanges, the Sudanese side expressed hope for expanded Chinese cooperation in the oil and petro-chemical industries, he added. The two sides underscored the importance of launching a gas- powered electricity station in Al-Jili, the Sudanese official said, adding that the two sides were looking forward to a meeting of the joint ministerial committee in Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> next February. They agreed to exchange visits of senior officials of both countries to improve coordination of positions on international and regional issues of common concern, Youssif said. During the two-day consultations, the Chinese side offered an official invitation to Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Abdul-Rahman Numeiri to visit China in April, he added. Meanwhile, the two sides agreed to follow up the results of the Sino-African Forum and enhance the Sino-African relations, Youssif pointed out. The meeting also discussed the developments of the Middle East peace process and highlighted the necessity of implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 238 and restoration of legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Sudanese official noted that the two sides agreed to work towards the establishment of a new world political and economic order on the basis of multi-polarization, equality, and justice among all countries as well as respect for the principle of non- interference in the internal affairs of others. The developing countries must join forces to ward off the threats of globalization and develop cooperation among themselves, the meeting underscored. Meanwhile, the chief of the Chinese delegation said the meeting was part of political consultations on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common concern. There is a time-honored trust between the leaders of both countries, Liu said, pointing out that China and Sudan <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Sudan.html> need to enhance consultation, especially on the ministerial level, under the new world circumstances. The two countries need to develop their friendly relations and cooperation and coordinate their positions on international affairs with a view to serving the common benefits of the developing countries, Liu pointed out. The Chinese official said that he met with both Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail and Numeiri and exchanged with them views on issues of common concern. Liu also visited a project launched by the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation in Sudan. Terming the project as successful, Liu said that it would benefit both sides and was a symbol of cooperation and friendship between China and Sudan. The Chinese official expressed his country's and Sudan's common desire to develop cooperation in the oil project. **** Sudan, China Wind up Political Consultations Sudan and China ended on Sunday a new round of political consultations between the foreign ministries on bilateral ties and regional issues of common interest. The two-day consultations were presided over by Ali Youssif, director of the Asia Department of Sudan's Foreign Ministry and Liu Guozeng, director of the West Asia and North Africa Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry <http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/> . The meeting dealt with the various aspects of bilateral ties and the latest regional and international developments, Youssif said. On the economic, trade and investment exchanges, the Sudanese side expressed hope for expanded Chinese cooperation in the oil and petro-chemical industries, he added. The two sides underscored the importance of launching a gas- powered electricity station in Al-Jili, the Sudanese official said, adding that the two sides were looking forward to a meeting of the joint ministerial committee in Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> next February. They agreed to exchange visits of senior officials of both countries to improve coordination of positions on international and regional issues of common concern, Youssif said. During the two-day consultations, the Chinese side offered an official invitation to Sudanese Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Abdul-Rahman Numeiri to visit China in April, he added. Meanwhile, the two sides agreed to follow up the results of the Sino-African Forum and enhance the Sino-African relations, Youssif pointed out. The meeting also discussed the developments of the Middle East peace process and highlighted the necessity of implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 238 and restoration of legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The Sudanese official noted that the two sides agreed to work towards the establishment of a new world political and economic order on the basis of multi-polarization, equality, and justice among all countries as well as respect for the principle of non- interference in the internal affairs of others. The developing countries must join forces to ward off the threats of globalization and develop cooperation among themselves, the meeting underscored. Meanwhile, the chief of the Chinese delegation said the meeting was part of political consultations on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of common concern. There is a time-honored trust between the leaders of both countries, Liu said, pointing out that China and Sudan <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Sudan.html> need to enhance consultation, especially on the ministerial level, under the new world circumstances. The two countries need to develop their friendly relations and cooperation and coordinate their positions on international affairs with a view to serving the common benefits of the developing countries, Liu pointed out. The Chinese official said that he met with both Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail and Numeiri and exchanged with them views on issues of common concern. Liu also visited a project launched by the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation in Sudan. Terming the project as successful, Liu said that it would benefit both sides and was a symbol of cooperation and friendship between China and Sudan. The Chinese official expressed his country's and Sudan's common desire to develop cooperation in the oil project. **** Li Peng Calls for Joint Efforts to Develop Sino-Indian Relations Visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China Li Peng <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/npcchair.html> Saturday called for joint efforts to further promote and develop friendly relations between China and India <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/india.html> . In separate meetings with leaders of Indo-China friendship associations and business organizations, Li said he came to the South Asian country with friendship from China. The Chinese leader, who started his week-long official goodwill visit to India on Tuesday, said that he has experienced a profound friendship between the two peoples. To maintain and further develop the existing relations between the two countries, Li said, it is necessary for the two governments, parliaments and political parties as well as non- governmental organizations to make joint efforts. Describing the leaders of the friendship organizations as friendship envoys of Sino-Indian relations, Li expressed his hope that they make unremitting efforts to bring "a constructive and cooperative partnership" of the two countries to the 21st century. Li also urged them to ensure that more younger people take part in the friendship cause and make it pass on from generation to generation. While meeting the Indian businesspeople, Li listened to their suggestions on bilateral cooperation in fields of infrastructure, information industry, tourism and medicine. He said that trade between the two countries had increased by 10 times in the past decade, saying that the encouraging trend should be maintained because there still exists vast potential for further development. At present, Li said, the trade volume between the two neighbors are far from big and does not match their status as big countries, adding, however, the existing level of foreign trade had laid a firm foundation for a further development. He also said that China is about to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and it would surely open wider to the outside world after its entry into the WTO. Li noted that China and India are complementary in technological cooperation with their comprehensive industrial systems built in the last 50 years and their economic growth rates, which have been among the fastest in the world in recent years in the course of economic reforms. Further improvement of political relations between Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> and New Delhi would accelerate the economic and trade relations between the two countries, Li believed. The NPC chairman invited the Indian association leaders and businesspeople to visit China, as such contacts would serve to enhance bilateral friendly relations between the two countries. **** Chinese Vice President Starts Visit to Cyprus Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/vpresident.html> arrived in Cyprus <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Cyprus.html> Monday to start his two-day official visit to this Mediterranean island country, during which he will hold in- depth talks with Cypriot leaders on a wide range of issues. In a written statement distributed at the airport, Hu expressed satisfaction with the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Cyprus in political, economic, cultural and other fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations nearly 30 years ago. He said the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing relations with Cyprus and is ready to work together with the Cypriot side to elevate the existing relations to a higher level in the new century for the benefit of the two peoples. The Chinese vice president said that the purpose of his visit is to further enhance mutual understanding, deepen friendship and develop cooperation. "I have full confidence in a complete success of this visit and in its contribution to further growth of the friendship and cooperation between China and Cyprus," he said. Hu's visit comes at the invitation of Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides. He is to hold talks with Clerides and other senior officials on bilateral and regional issues and preside over the signing of agreements on investment protection and telecommunications cooperation. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
