Extracts. At least 133 Afghan civilians were killed in three villages in Khakrez district in the Southern Afghan province of Kandahar after intense bombing by the US-led coalition, the Afghan Islamic Press said Saturday. **** Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Friday officially turned down the US request to freeze assets of Lebanese resistance guerrilla group Hezbollah, or Party of God. During talks with US Ambassador to Lebanon Vincent Battle in Beirut, Hariri rejected that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, stressing that the Lebanese authorities will not freeze its assets at the US request, Hariri's Information Office said in a statement. "Clearly there is a lot to discuss in this regard, and we understand that the view of the Lebanese government with respect to our request are framed by this position," Battle said after the talks. "We understand very clearly the basis of the decision and will continue discussing this decision with the Lebanese government at several different levels and look forward to cooperation," he said. Washington last Friday announced a list of 22 terrorist groups, including Hezbollah and some Palestinian factions, adding to 66 bodies and individuals on two earlier lists whose global assets, at Washington's request, should be frozen. Lebanon insists that Hezbollah, who spearheaded resistance against Israel <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/israel.html> 's occupation of south Lebanon, be differentiated from terrorist organizations. The group's resistance led to Israel's troop pullout from south Lebanon in May 2000 after a 22-year occupation. Hezbollah vows to continue fighting against Israel as long as it occupies the disputed Shebaa Farms on the Syrian-Lebanese-Israeli borders. **** The 56th General Assembly session Friday adopted a resolution in order to promote dialogue among civilizations as the globalization brings greater interdependence among countries and civilizations. The adoption was announced by the president of the General Assembly, South Korean Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo at the end of the two-day plenary session to mark this year as "the U.N. Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations." The draft resolution was cosponsored by 75 countries, such as China, Afghanistan , Bulgaria , Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, France, Iran, Kuwait , Pakistan , Niger, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. The seven-page resolution is composed of three parts -- the global agenda for dialogue among civilizations, the objectives, principles and participants, and the programs of action. The resolution reaffirmed the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and underlined that "all members have undertaken to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." The U.N. member states reaffirm their commitment to the fulfillment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as "a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations and as a source of inspiration for the further promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms -- political, social, economic, civil and cultural -- including the right to development," the resolution said. The resolution emphasized that all civilizations celebrate the unity and diversity of humankind and are enriched and have evolved through dialogue with other civilizations. "Despite obstacles of intolerance and aggression, there has been constructive interaction through history among various civilizations," the resolution said. "Globalization brings greater interrelatedness among peoples and increased interaction among cultures and civilizations, and encouraged by the fact that the celebration of the United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations at the beginning of the 21st century has underscored that globalization is not only an economic, financial and technological process, ...but that it also presents the challenge of preserving and celebrating the rich intellectual and cultural diversity of humankind and of civilization," the resolution said. On the objectives, principles and participants, the resolution said, "Dialogue among civilizations is a process between and within civilizations, founded on inclusion, and a collective desire to learn, uncover and examine assumptions, unfold shared meaning and core values and integrate multiple perspectives through dialogue." Dialogue among civilizations constitute a process to attain such objectives as the promotion of inclusion, equity, equality, justice and tolerance in human interactions, the enhancement of mutual understanding and respect through interaction among civilizations, mutual enrichment and advancement of knowledge and appreciation of the richness and wisdom founded in all civilizations, the resolution said. On the program of action, the resolution said that states, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations and civil society, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), are invited to facilitate and encourage interaction and exchange among all individuals, including intellectuals, thinkers and artists of various societies and civilizations. "State should encourage and support initiatives taken by civil society and nongovernmental organizations for the promotion of dialogue among civilizations," the resolution said. The 56th General Assembly session Thursday kicked off a two-day plenary meeting to promote the dialogue among civilizations in the world. The meeting was held to commemorate the United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations and consider any follow-up measures. The goal of the U.N. Year is to nurture a dialogue that is both preventive of conflicts -- when possible -- and inclusive in nature. **** German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Friday in Berlin that the official visit by Chinese VicePresident Hu Jintao to Germany s another milestone in solidifying German-Chinese relations. Speaking at a joint press conference after their meeting, Schroeder said they reached agreement on a wide range of issues including anti-terrorism and the role of the United Nations. The Chinese vice president told reporters that the meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere with mutual trust, and produced fruitful results. He expressed satisfaction with the development of Sino-German relations in all aspects. While promising that China would make efforts to push the Sino-German relationship to a new level, he said both sides agreed that the international community should intensify cooperation in fighting terrorism of any form. As countries with great influence in the world, China and Germany shouldered great responsibility in maintaining world peace, he added. Prior to the meeting with Schroeder, Hu also met with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and attended the opening ceremony of the new Chinese Embassy building in Berlin. **** Chinese President Jiang Zemin told United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson Friday that terrorism is a grave threat to international peace and security, and is also a rampant infringement of human rights. During the meeting, Jiang noted that China had recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of resumption of its legal seat in the United Nations. In the past 30 years, China has made unremitted efforts to enhance the role of the UN in safeguarding and promoting international peace, security and development. China opposes terrorism of any form and it firmly supports anti-terrorism resolutions of the United Nations, Jiang said, stressing that the United Nations should play its rightful role in resolving the issue of Afghanistan. Jiang also briefed Robinson on the Economic Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference held in Shanghai in October, noting that the meeting helped the world to better understand China and vice versa. Through deepening of reform and expansion of opening up, China will continue its modernization and make its due contribution to world peace and development as well as to the cause of human rights. Robinson first congratulated Jiang on the success of the APEC meeting and China's impending accession to the World Trade Organization <http://www.wto.org/> (WTO). She also expressed her appreciation for China's efforts in strengthening international human rights cooperation. She said China had in recent years conducted comprehensive exchanges and cooperation on human rights protection with many nations, and by doing so had earned a good reputation across the globe. The UN human rights office will further its cooperation with China, Robinson pledged. On the issue of anti-terrorism, Robinson agreed with Jiang's view, believing that the international community should show proper concern for the humanitarian crises in Afghanistan Human Rights Co-op with UN Increases Co-operation in promoting human rights in China gained new momentum Thursday as the nation inked with the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) a plan for related projects in the year 2002. This is a follow-up to a similar memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last November for technical co-operation to promote human rights in China this year. "The signing today ... proves that the Chinese Government is serious about co-operation with other countries and the United Nations (in human rights)," said Wang Guangya, China's vice-minister of foreign affairs, after the signing ceremony, adding that it also signals the deepening of China-UN human rights co-operation in the future. China's willingness to pursue human rights co-operation was also stressed by Vice-Premier Qian Qichen during his meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, who is in Beijing for a two-day visit. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to human rights education, Qian said during a meeting held prior to a seminar on human rights education. He added that China is willing to strengthen its communications with the international community and further spread legal and human rights knowledge, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. The spokesman said that Robinson praised the new co-operative agreement with China, saying that it marks a new stage in co-operation between her office and China. Concerning the ongoing fight against terrorism, Qian called for co-operation among different countries and highlighted the role of the UN. Robinson appreciated China's stance, saying that military actions should minimize injuries to the innocent, according to the Chinese spokesman. Calling the co-operation with China constructive, Robinson, though expressing her concern about some human rights cases in China, said that she appreciated the openness her Chinese counterparts have shown in co-operation. In another development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao Thursday denied the accusation of "abuse of human rights" in China's Xinjiang Uygur and Tibet autonomous regions in the anti-terrorism process. "The situation there (Xinjiang and Tibet) is very good," said Zhu at a regular briefing. "If there are problems out there it is the issue of separatists who want to undermine the situation," Zhu said, noting that separatist-minded East Turkistan and the Dalai Lama separatist clique are involved in terrorist activities in these regions. **** The trade ministers from the 142 World Trade Organization (WTO) members meet in Doha on Friday to decide whether to begin new multilateral negotiations to dismantle more trade barriers and set rules on competition and other trade-related issues. They will have to resolve a daunting number of thorny issues if they want to avoid a repeat of the failure in the 1999 Seattle conference. The following are the major items on the table: AGENDA FOR NEW ROUND: All WTO members have reached a consensus that the so-called built-in agenda agreed upon at the 1986-1994 Uruguay <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/uruguay.html> Round, namely the talks to further reduce barriers to global trade in agriculture and services, should go ahead. And the talks on the two fronts were opened in early 2000. But the developed camp, particularly the European Union (EU) and Japan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/japan.html> , wants a broad round, covering all industrial products, investment and competition policies, as well as environmental and labor standards. Despite strong lobbies by rich countries since the Seattle conference, most developing countries remain unenthusiastic about a round covering competition and other areas that are rather new for them. The developing countries are expected to press for their demand to focus the new round on the theme of development -- implementation of previous commitments made in the Uruguay round. AGRICULTURE: Liberalizing farm produce trade has long been sought by the United States and the Australia -led Cairns Group, composed of 18 farm produce-exporting nations which provide no subsidies to their farmers. They want the EU and Japan to eventually eliminate all subsidies within a negotiated definite time table. The EU has indicated readiness to negotiate but refuse to make any advance commitments. Japan and South Korea remain firm against talks to open their farm produce market, citing the agriculture's so-called multi-functionality, such as protection of rural environment and food security. IMPLEMENTATION: This is a primary demand of most developing countries, which want to be given more time to implement market opening agreements and urge developed countries to live up to market access commitments. They insist that they benefit little from the Uruguay Round. The U.S. has softened its stance on the issue which it said "no" in Seattle. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: A possible deal breaker at the Doha meeting. Developing countries led by Brazil and South Africa are seeking a more flexible interpretation of the accord to allow them to override patents to enable them to supply their populations with cheap, generic drugs in case of a medical crisis. The U.S. and Switzerland, both major pharmaceutical exporters, maintain that the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) accord should not be weakened. They say the TRIPS agreement is already flexible enough to enable poor countries to deal with health crisis. ENVIRONMENT: The EU insists environmental issues be included in any new round of trade talks. It calls on the WTO to address worries over the compatibility between environmental policies and trade policies, protection of consumer rights and public health concerns. The developing countries, backed by the U.S. , insist that the existing WTO accords have fully covered all legitimate environmental concerns. They fear the issue could be used to deny entry of their products. LABOR STANDARDS: The EU, an advocate of the issue, says that trade should be linked with the protection of workers' basic rights. The U.S., which was keen on talking about the issue in Seattle, says the issue of labor rights is not part of its agenda. Developing countries fear EU's demand as a veiled attempt to weaken their competitiveness. The contentious issue could be dropped this time around. ANTI-DUMPING: Japan, South Korea, Brazil and some emerging economies demand that anti-dumping rules contained in the Uruguay Round's anti-dumping agreement be clarified and improved. Describing the anti-dumping rules as "a convenient tool for protectionists," they accused the U.S. of abusing the rules by imposing punitive tariffs to protect its own industries, especially steel, from competition. The U.S., which has bluntly denied the charges, says "no way" to renegotiate the agreement. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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