Extracts. Tibet Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Peaceful Liberation More than 20,000 people rallied Thursday in Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of the plateau administrative region. Chinese vice president Hu Jintao, also head of the central delegation, attended the grand gathering and delivered a speech. On May 23, 1951, the central government of China signed a 17- article agreement with the local government of Tibet. Then, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stationed in Lhasa in October the same year. As an integral part of China, Tibet carried out democratic reforms in 1959, which turned serfs, accounting for 95 percent of the total population in Tibet, into masters of their own destiny. **** People's Daily Hails 50th Anniversary of Tibet Peaceful Liberation People's Daily publishes a commentary Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The paper expresses greetings to ethnic people in Tibet on the special day and conveys thanks to officials and people who contribute to the development and stability of the region. Fifty years ago, the central government of New China and the local government of Tibet signed the agreement on the peaceful liberation of Tibet. The 50-year history since the peaceful liberation proves that without the Communist Party of China (CPC) and support of people across the country, there would be no new Tibet like there is today. The commentary says that the agreement marked a turning point for Tibet, enabling it to break away from the control of imperialism and consolidating the nation's unification. Following the peaceful liberation, people in Tibet insist on socialism under the leadership of the CPC. They have made full efforts to carry out reform, opening up and modernization construction. Great achievements have been reached in politics, economy and culture over the period, during which people from all ethnic groups in Tibet have totally changed their life from isolation to opening up, from darkness to brightness, from under-development to progress and from poverty to wealth, the article says. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held a national meeting in June to discuss the development of Tibet. The meeting, the fourth of its kind in history, urged to pay attention to two major issues of Tibet -- economic development and social stability. The meeting called for related departments and officials to carry out the CPC's policies on religion, to further support Tibet 's development while at the same time smashing separatists activities. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, with Jiang Zemin at the core, guidelines and policies on the new-period development of Tibet will be constantly carried out to lead the region to a more prosperous future. **** Falun Gong: Anti-Humanity, Denounces People's Daily The People's Daily will publish a commentary Friday condemning the notorious Falun Gong cult, headed by Li Hongzhi, for its anti-humane nature. The newspaper said recently that an ailing Liu Renfang, a Falun Gong follower peasant in southwest China's Sichuan Province, refused to go to hospital and take any medicine at home. Instead, she came to Beijing to "protect" Falun Gong doctrine, where she finally died of her illness. However, according to the commentary, her practitioner peers discarded her body in a river in Beijing's Tongzhou District in order to pass the responsibility and to keep the death secret from the public. The commentary pointed out that this action is an irrefutable evidence showing how Li Hongzhi and his organization in the United States control his followers in China. They and their followers in Beijing have discussed and arranged how to deal with the body and avoid being held responsible. The newspaper analyzed that because of the evil nature of Li and his organization they are sure to slaughter life and endanger the country. They dare not expose the fact to the public and the followers. "They are true liars," stressed the paper. The commentary concluded that to value life, people should keep on battling the evil cult. **** Times Predicts: Financial Crisis May Occur in Taiwan The latest Asian edition of Times points out that Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> may face the most negative economic growth since the beginning of 1970s. The island may repeat the financial crisis as happened in Thailand <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/thailand.html> . The magazine predicted that in the coming six months, Asia's economic growth rate would break the lowest record since the Asian financial crisis in 1997. This round of Asian financial crisis may be originated in the sluggish economic growth in the US, because the major economic sources of Asian countries and regions are from exports. Reports say that major debtors of Taiwan's banks are real estate companies and since Taiwan's real estate business is in recession, over 20 percent of loans become bad assets, resulting in the negative growth, and possibly the lowest level since the beginning of 1970s. All economic indices have slumped, which proves the prediction of the Times. The weighted average index of Taiwan's stocks last Friday dropped to 4,500 points, setting a new low record since August 1995. **** DPRK, Russia to Develop Equal and Reciprocal Cooperative Ties The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/dprk.html> ) will develop equal and reciprocal cooperative ties with Russia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/russia.html> , Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, said Wednesday. Yang made the remarks at the reception given by Valery Denisov, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the historic meeting between DPRK leader Kim Jong Il and Russian President Putin. Yang said that the DPRK has steadily strengthened cooperation and relations in various fields including politics, the economy, military affairs, culture and sports in the spirit of the DPRK- Russia joint declaration during the past one year. The DPRK believed such equal and reciprocal cooperation would further expand and develop in the future, Yang noted. Russian Federation is paying great attention to peace, stability and detente on the Korean Peninsula. Russia supports the aspiration of the Korean people for peaceful and democratic reunification reflected in the North-South Joint declaration, said Valery Denisov. To put an end to Korea's division is not only the desire of the Korean people but an essential condition to ensure a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula and in all areas of Asia, he added. The official Rodong Sinmun said Thursday in an editorial that the Pyongyang meeting between the heads of the two countries and the adoption of the joint declaration are historic events which provided a solid groundwork for developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in all fields. The development of the DPRK-Russia relations is in full accord with the interests of the peoples of the two friendly neighbors, added the article. **** Israeli-Palestinian Security Meeting Yield No Results An Israel <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/israel.html> i-Palestinian security coordination meeting were held in Tel Aviv late Wednesday night, but failed to yield results to urge both sides to stick to ceasefire, Israel Radio reported on Thursday. The meeting, also attended by US representatives, "failed to make any progress regarding the implementation of the ceasefire between the two sides," the radio said. Since the U.S.-brokered truce took effect on June 13, Israel and the Palestinians have held several rounds of security meetings, but never made any progress or reached any agreement. It was not immediately clear whether the two sides would hold another session as the situation on the ground is on the brink of a total breakdown. Since Tuesday night, Israel have sent armored vehicles and paratroops to the West Bank to beef up its deployment there, which made the international community suspect that Israel would launch a massive operation to eliminate the Palestinian National Authority led by Yasser Arafat. Earlier Tuesday, Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at the West Bank town of Bethlehem, killing four Palestinians, including members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, in retaliation for the killing of two Israelis in a suicide bombing attack Monday evening in northern Israel. **** China, Belarus Vow to Expand Cooperation China and Belarus will make every effort to expand bilateral cooperation in various areas, said a joint statement issued Thursday in Minsk. Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who is on a state visit to Belarus, met with his Belarussian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko Thursday morning. Jiang also met with Belarussian Prime Minister Vladimir Yermoshin, speakers of the upper and lower chamber of Belarussian National Assembly. The statement, issued following the meetings, says the first ever state visit to Belarus by China's head of state has injected new vigor in bilateral relations and will help the relations grow stably for a long time. The two sides agree that all political documents signed by the two sides are the firm basis to ensure a full-range cooperative China-Belarus relations be developed in the 21st century. The two sides are determined to expand their mutually-beneficial relations through unremitting efforts. The two sides agree they will maintain constant contact between senior leaders of the two countries to exchange views on the development of bilateral relations and major issues of the world. The two leaders reaffirmed that they hold the same or similar views on a series of major international issues. Both insist that coordination and close cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations be enhanced and joint efforts be made for the establishment of a fair and rational international political and economic order. The statement says the role and functions of the United Nations, the world's most recognized and most authoritative organization composed of sovereign states, cannot be replaced by that of any other international organizations. Only by abiding by the objectives and principles of the UN Charter and generally-acknowledged norms of international laws, and taking the special characteristics of different nations into consideration, can the international community survive the challenges of the 21st century through collective efforts, says the statement. The two sides stressed that they will never accept any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign state under any pretext that is against the objectives and principles of the UN Charter. China and Belarus reiterated that it is within the sovereign power of each state to choose its own political, economic and social development approach. They support each other on their efforts to maintain independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Belarus reiterated that it will uphold its consistent policy on the issue of Taiwan, which is that there is only one China in the world and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The two leaders also stressed that the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM) signed in 1972 is a cornerstone for international strategic balance and security. The relevant resolutions jointly initiated by China and Belarus and some other countries and adopted by the UN assembly in 1999 and 2000 to maintain and uphold the ABM is of great importance, says the statement. It says China and Belarus will increase contacts between the legislatures, government departments and social organizations of the two countries, and expand cooperation in areas of science and technology, education, culture, public health, social security, tourism and sports. Jiang invited President Lukashenko to visit China again and Lukashenko accepted his invitation. The specific time for the visit will be decided through diplomatic channels. **** Chinese President Arrives in Moldova for State Visit Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived in Chisinau Thursday afternoon to begin his state visit to Moldova, the third leg of his five-nation European tour. Jiang was greeted by Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin at the airport. At a grand welcome ceremony, Jiang was offered a bouquet, bread and salt and a small cup of red wine as the highest level of courtesy to foreign leaders. The two presidents also inspected the guards of honor. Jiang said in a written statement upon arrival that the aim of his current visit to Moldova is to enhance friendship and expand cooperation. During his stay in Moldova, the Chinese president is expected to exchange views with Voronin and some other leaders of the country on the development of bilateral relations and other issues of mutual concern. "I firmly believe that the visit will help expand the common ground and mutual understanding between our two countries, and bring the bilateral friendly cooperation to a higher level in the new century," Jiang said. Moldova is the third leg of Jiang's five-nation tour, which will also take him to Ukraine and Malta. He has visited Russia and Belarus. **** Israel to Present Objections to International Monitors Proposal Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to present US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer with Israel's reservations on a proposal raised by G8 foreign ministers to send international monitors to the region, government sources said Thursday. Earlier Thursday, the foreign ministers from the seven industrialized nations and Russia urged Israel and the Palestinians to accept outside monitors to help stop the violence between them. The ministers, meeting in advance before a G8 summit slated for July 20-22 in Genoa, Italy this weekend, stressed in a statement after their two-day meeting that the implementation of the recommendations published in May by an international fact-finding committee on the violence was "the only way to break the deadlock, to stop the escalation and to secure the political process." "We believe that in these circumstances, third party monitoring, accepted by both parties, would serve their interests in implementing the Mitchell report," the statement said. In response, Sharon's media adviser Ra'anan Gissin told Israel Radio that the Jewish state, who opposes such a proposal from the beginning, would not accept an international observing force for " both practical reasons and reason on principle." The G8 includes the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia. The G8 statement was "a wrong decision at the wrong time," Gissin asserted, adding that an international force would not be a "magical form" to end the violence, which had lasted for nearly 10 months and left over 600 people dead, most of them Palestinians. He claimed that Israel opposes any efforts to internationalizing the violence in the region and fears that the Palestinians would continue their attacks against Israeli "under the protection of an international force." "Observers could only be useful if both sides have an agreement on the implementation of the ceasefire, and there has to be observance of the ceasefire," Gissin stressed, "Unfortunately and regrettably, I must say that there has been no ceasefire at all as the Palestinians continue their violence and incitement." He added that Israel has "terrible experiences" in the past with the United Nations observers, referring to Israel's recent brawl with the U.N. for a videotape it claimed could enhance its chance to rescue three Israeli soldiers kidnapped last October by Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, or Party of God. Earlier Thursday, Israel's Ha'aretz daily reported that the European Union and the United States are considering an initiative to set up a "liaison mechanism" to oversee the ceasefire between the Palestinians and Israel and the implementation of the international fact-finding committee's report, or the Mitchell report. The proposal for the mechanism is expected to be raised during the G8 summit, the report said. However, Gissin hinted that Israel would oppose such an idea, as there has already a liaison mechanism in the form of security coordination among Israeli, Palestinian and U.S. security officials. Earlier Thursday, Israeli opposition leader Yossi Sarid called on the government to accept the proposal for international observers to monitor the ceasefire with the Palestinians and the implementation of the Mitchell report. The presence of international monitors is vital because without their presence, it would be impossible to keep future agreements as there is no trust between the Israelis and Palestinians, said Sarid, leader of the leftist Meretz Party. Moreover, a "reliable and balanced third party" will assist in rebuilding the trust between the two sides, he added. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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