Extracts. Libya Condemns US Congress' Approval of Sanctions Extension. A senior Libyan official on Saturday condemned as "distressing and surprising" the US Congress' approval of a five-year extension of the 1996 Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. Hassona Shawsh, assistant secretary of Foreign Communication and International Cooperation of Libya's General People's Committee, was quoted by the official Libyan News Agency as saying in Tripoli that the act is completely "rejectable" in form and content as it can not be imposed on other countries. The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted for a five- year extension of the act, due to expire on August 5. The U.S. Senate adopted the same decision late Wednesday. Shawsh said the decision was based on illusions spread by Zionist propaganda organizations and nourished by Zionist lobbies in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives to serve goals which have nothing to do with U.S. interests and its relations with the world. He reaffirmed that relations among countries and peoples worldwide can not be run by such old-fashioned methods inherited from the Cold War, or through hatred and grudge practices fostered by the Zionism against Arabs, Muslims, Africans and other peoples. The Libyan official hoped that the U.S. administration would take into consideration its real interests, and balance and equalize international relations through dialogue, understanding, mutual benefits and human development. Although the U.S. Congress has approved a five-year extension of the act, it is yet to be submitted to President George W. Bush for approval before it becomes a law. The Bush administration is in favor of a two-year extension of the act, which bans foreign enterprises from investing more than 20 million U.S. dollars a year in either Iran's or Libya's energy sector. **** China Builds Military Great Wall Along Border and Coast China has built up a solid military Great Wall along its border and coast, with the strong support of the three generations of leadership of the Communist Party of China. An article by Xinhua's military reporters, designated to mark the 74th anniversary of founding of the People's Liberation Army on August 1, says that during the past centuries foreign powers have frequently invaded China, mainly coming by sea, and they have also ignited wars at the country's frontiers. According to the article, it was late Chairman Mao Zedong who first stressed that "we must build up a large and powerful navy force" in 1953. Since then, the country has been developing a modern fleet consisting of missile destroyers, frigates and nuclear submarines, which are now supported by land-deployed missiles, fighters and bombers, and marine corps. It says that China's late leader Deng Xiaoping and current leader Jiang Zemin <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/jiangzemin.shtml> have paid great attention to the development of the navy. Jiang, Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, has said that special attention should be given to the construction of the navy. At the same time, the country has scored remarkable achievements in improving its frontier defense. The article reveals that during the past five years, China has carried out an unprecedented frontier construction program in nine provinces and autonomous regions sharing borders with foreign countries, with the purpose of developing good neighborly relationships with these countries. Since the 1950s the three generations of leadership have successfully solved a number of border and territory disputes through peaceful means, according to the article. It adds that patrol helicopters, electronic surveillance equipment and other advanced means have been introduced to improve the border defenses. In addition, the country has consolidated the harmonious relationship between the soldiers and local governments and residents. Soldiers have participated in massive local economic development, according to the article. It continues to say that Chinese leaders have shown special care for navy personnel and frontier soldiers. Jiang Zemin has visited frontier sentries and navy bases several times, greatly inspiring soldiers there, the article says. **** Vietnam, Mongolia to Boost Cooperation Vietnam <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/vietnam.html> ese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien held talks with his Mongolia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/mongolia.html> n counterpart Luvsangiin Erdenechuluum in Hanoi on Friday, July 27, discussing measures to boost the friendly cooperation between the two countries, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported. The two foreign ministers agreed on measures to constantly strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, technological, commercial, investment, construction, educational, cultural, healthcare, and tourism fields. To this end, the two countries will organize the 10th session of the Inter-governmental Committee for Economic, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation in September this year, VNA said. Both countries will make better preparations for the early signing of cooperation agreements in education, transport, banking, customs, quarantine, veterinary care, and tourism. Nien and Erdenechuluum affirmed that the two countries will strengthen their cooperation and coordination at the regional and international forums, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asian-Pacific region and the world at large, according to VNA. Erdenechuluum is paying an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and has attended the meeting of the 8th ASEAN Regional Forum here. Erdenechuluum also met separately with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An in Hanoi Friday. Vietnam and Mongolia signed an agreement on cultural cooperation here on the same day. **** Iraq to Give Russia Priority in Oil Dealings: Official Iraq will give priority to Russian companies in oil dealings, Faez Abdul Shahin, undersecretary of the Iraqi Oil Ministry, was quoted as saying by the Al-Ittihad weekly Saturday. "We hope that our business dealings with Russia will increase not only in the oil sector, but also in other sectors," Shahin told the weekly. Calling Russia "a political ally and a friendly country," Shahin said Iraq decided to reward Russia with more business opportunities for its opposition to the so-called "smart sanctions." Early this month, Russia threatened to veto a proposal by Britain and the United States in a bid to tighten control over materials that can be used for military purposes. The "smart sanctions" proposal was therefore blocked at the United Nations Security Council, which instead agreed to extend the oil-for-food program for another five months ending November 30. The humanitarian program, now in its 10th phase, allows sanctions-stricken Iraq to sell crude and use part of the proceeds to buy food, medicine and other essentials to offset the impact of the 11-year-old sanctions. Iraq, under sweeping sanctions since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, has firmly rejected the "smart sanctions" and demanded a total lifting of the embargo. President Saddam Hussein, appreciative of Russia's pro-Iraq stand, told visiting Russian envoy Nikolai Kartuzov on July 18 that his country wanted to increase economic cooperation with Russia. Sino-US Ties Improving: President Jiang he Sino-US relations are improving and China and the United States should make joint efforts to promote world peace and development, said Chinese President Jiang Zemin Saturday afternoon in Beijing. Jiang made the remarks when meeting visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell at the Great Hall of the People. During the meeting, Powell conveyed US President George W. Bush's greetings to Jiang. Jiang extended thanks for the greetings and asked Powell to pass on his regards to Bush. Jiang said the Sino-US ties are improving and he is looking forward to President Bush's China tour this autumn. Since 1972 when China and the United States began to open door to each other, the Sino-US ties have yielded historic results in diversified fields, from which both Chinese and American people as well as people all over the world have benefited, Jiang said. Jiang said that the United States is the biggest developed country in the world, while China is the biggest developing country. Therefore, both countries should assume a long-term perspective to promote the world peace and development in the new century. The world is colorful and diversified. Various civilizations and social systems will co-exist in a long run and they should learn from each other and seek common development while putting aside their differences, which is of vital importance to world peace, stability and development in the new century, Jiang said. Jiang reiterated the principled stance of the Chinese government on the Taiwan issue. China will continue to abide by the basic guideline of " peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" framed up by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, Jiang said, adding that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese and no one else would be more wishful than the Chinese government to resolve the Taiwan issue through peaceful means. As long as the Taiwan authority accepts the "one China" principle, we can hold talks on any issue, Jiang said. The three Sino-US joint communiques are the basic framework for handling the Sino-US relations and the Taiwan issue, Jiang said, noting that the Sino-US relations could be developed on a healthy track as long as the principles set in the three joint communiques are honored. Powell said that President Bush is looking forward to the face-to-face meeting with Jiang in autumn, which will be aimed at seeking dialogue and cooperation. The United States wishes to develop a constructive relationship with China. Powell said he believes that enhancing exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries is of vital importance. He invited Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan to visit Washington after Tang attends the United Nations Assembly session in New York in September. China's policy of reform and opening up has brought about tremendous benefits to the people, the United States wishes to see continued development and progress of China and it wishes to seek mutual improvement through cooperation, Powell said. On the Taiwan issue, Powell stressed that the Bush administration, just like its predecessors in the past three decades, will continue to abide by the "one China" policy. Jiang and Powell also exchanged views on other issues of common concern during the meeting. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
