Extracts. Terrorism Rooted in Gap Between Affluence, Poverty: Russian FM. Calling for the establishment of a center to coordinate assistance to states affected by terrorism, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov Friday said terrorism was rooted in the gap between affluence and poverty. Calling for the establishment of a center to coordinate assistance to states affected by terrorism, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov Friday said terrorism was rooted in the gap between affluence and poverty. The statement was delivered as Ivanov took the floor on the final day of the annual high-level debate of the 56th U.N. General Assembly session, which opened here at the U.N. headquarters on Saturday. "This session is proceeding under the shadow of an unprecedented challenge posed to humankind by international terrorism," he said. "We still have to analyze how we, with the political, economic and military power at our disposal, allowed it to happen." "Either we pool our efforts to construct a really just and democratic world order, guaranteeing equal security and sustainable development to all States, or we continue to fail to counter real threats to global stability and security," he said. After a universal anti-terrorist coalition being formed, he said, "consolidation of the international legal framework for combating terrorism is now on our agenda." "Early completion and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism are a high priority," he said. He called for establishing a center to coordinate assistance to states affected by terrorism, and for a possible inclusion in international law of the concept of State responsibility for failure to take measures against terrorists. "It is a promising idea to establish, under the aegis of the United Nations, a center for coordination of assistance to States in resolving crises caused by terrorist acts," he said. "Russia also proposes studying the inclusion in international law of a principle of responsibility of States for failure to take measures against terrorists in their territory or under their jurisdiction. " "Maintaining and strengthening strategic stability at the global and regional levels, as well as consolidation of non- proliferation regimes for weapons of mass destruction are of key importance in the fight against terrorism," the foreign minister said. "Terrorism is rooted in the gap between affluence and poverty, both within states and in the international arena," he said. "The task of ensuring sustainable development in all regions of the world and of focusing on social aspects of the globalization process is as urgent today as ever." "Successful settlement of regional conflicts should be integral elements of counter-terrorist activities of the international community," he added. "We hope that the initiative by Islamic religious leaders from Russia to organize an international conference on 'Islam against Terrorism' in Moscow will make a contribution in that area," he concluded. **** Chinese Reporter Unveils Defiant Qatari TV Station. Al-Jazeera (The Peninsula), a popular Arab satellite TV channel in Qatar, has become a headache to western countries by broadcasting Bin Laden's two speeches after the "September 11" incident. Global Time's reporter Lu Zhixing lately unveiled the mysterious TV station. Al-Jazeera (The Peninsula), a popular Arab satellite TV channel in Qatar , has become a headache to western countries by broadcasting Bin Laden's two speeches after the "September 11" incident. Global Time's reporter Lu Zhixing lately unveiled the mysterious TV station. As a Chinese once working for 15 years in Damascus, the capital of Syria, Lu can speak fluent Arabic and so his interview request was easily accepted. Like any common institutions, there was no army-man or guard here. Walking into the central hall, Lu was greeted by a reporter just back from Kandaha and he said working there was too tired and dangerous. The hall is for news editing, with dozens of TV monitors on a vast wall and over 30 computers on the desk. The hall is surround by cabins controlling different programs. Al-Jazeera is a private TV channel funded by the state when setting up in 1996, which never interfere with its business. Through selling telefilm and advertising it has amassed quite a sum of money and now is totally independent, says Samir, chief producer of news programs. There is a staff of 600 for the channel, including 100 journalists, most of them being from Arabic countries and working a lot everyday. After beginning of Afghan war Al-Jazeera once signed an agreement with western stations as CNN and BBC on exchanging news, but the agreement would go expire upon the end of the war. The channel's cooperation with CNN on technical training in the early days was also ended long ago. Al-Jazeera brings all kinds of voices to world spectators instead of a single on the principle of equality and fairness, says Samir proudly. Many Arabic leaders, not satisfied with the channel, even asked Qatari government to close the channel, which, however, didn't change its business orientation and program style. After the war was launched Al-Jazeera became the only TV station that provides the world with facts in Afghanistan, for it has set up reporter centers in Kabul and Kandaha, and one in Jalalabad is soon to be established. There is only one reporter for each center, but he would work bravely under danger and difficulties to spread real news to the world. Our reporters always stay at the spot so we got Bin Laden's videotapes easily. It's not any channel leader's instruction to broadcast Laden's speeches, but reporter's decision under the principle that a reporter is responsible to his direct leader. The US is so furious that president Bush once asked Qatar Emir to adopt measures against the channel and Powell also reacted violently. In spite of that, Al-Jazeera still sticks to its business orientation. The relation with Israel s an extremely sensitive issue to Arab world, but the TV station has contacted with Israeli leaders, making it possible for them to voice their points of view and to make Arab leaders hear the voices from their adversaries. The TV station is putting up another studio, Samir told our correspondent in a tone of complacency and confidence when leaving the station. **** Supachai: China Well-posed to Play Pivotal Role in WTO's Future. With strong determinations to fully integrate with the world and a fast-growing economic might, China is well-posed to play a pivotal role in the future direction of the World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO's director-general designate Supachai Panichpakdi said Saturday. With strong determinations to fully integrate with the world and a fast-growing economic might, China is well-posed to play a pivotal role in the future direction of the World Trade Organization (WTO), WTO's director-general designate Supachai Panichpakdi said Saturday. "China joined WTO at a critical moment when members of the organization finally decided to launch a new round of global trade talks, and China's weight in this new round will fine-tune WTO's future," Supachai said soon after his returning from WTO's Doha Meeting. The former Thai deputy premier, also a renowned economist, is expected to take the helm of WTO later next year. China's entry "reassuring" "Despite the harsh reality of growing doubts on trade liberalization and rising protectionist trends, I feel quite reassured that the world's fastest-developing economy determines to live up to the WTO expectations," he noted. Supachai said he was much impressed by the clear vision of the Chinese leadership and public on the importance of the multilateral trading system during China's overly long-winding process to join WTO. After 15 year's persistent efforts, China was confirmed as a member at the 4th WTO Ministerial Meeting in Doha, Qatar, on November 10, and will formally become a full member at the end of the year. However, the future leader of WTO pointed out that China should have been a founding member of the organization in 1995 had the current entry process not been raised into "a excessive level which might be too burdensome for developing countries like China." "Therefore it is quite encouraging to see the Doha Declaration indicating that the WTO will shorten accession proceedings as quickly as possible for 28 countries now negotiating their entry,"he said. "In this light, experiences gained from China's entry could also be analyzed for the benefit of streamlining the process in the future," Supachai said. Developing world stands to gain As a WTO head from the developing world, he said he was glad to see that with China's huge presence, the new round of talks will be better steered into the direction of re-balancing benefits in favor of developing nations. The 9th round of WTO talks, which is agreed to be launched at the recent Doha meeting, will include areas of trade gains for developing countries, e.g., further liberalization of farm trade, more market access for labor-intensive industrial products, elimination of government subsidies and a review of anti-dumping measures. "China's entry will also add more weight for developing countries to prevent some developed members from hooking social issues with trade topics," he noted. Touching upon the worries that China's WTO membership could intensify trade competition, Supachai said, "China's expanding global market share after WTO entry does not mean other trading nations should be at the losing end." "Those countries which produce capital goods, petrochemical products and electronic components should stand to benefit from rising demands as China expand her domestic productions," he said. For instance, he said Japan and South Korea could be able to expand trade profits with China while his home country and other Southeast Asian nations could gain greater excess into the Chinese market in terms of food trade. "Moreover, while China is bound to attract more foreign investments, estimated at 60 billion U.S. dollars annually within first five years of WTO membership, the country will be engaged in more overseas investments from which her neighbors are among the first batch of recipients," said Supachai. A Beginning for Greater Success As a long-time China watcher, the future WTO leader said China's membership of the WTO should be the most beneficial to the evolving process of economic development in China herself. "China's entry comes at a right time that economic reforms are getting into a more complicated stage and need further momentum to push them even harder," he said. China also stands to gain from the acquisition of a permanent Most Favored Nation (MFN) status for permanent normal trade relations with other major world economic powers such as the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> , which will provide China a firmer base in international trade, according to Supachai. "China's current global market share of five percent is bound to double within the next five to ten years," he said. Another major gain for China is the use of WTO's Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve the rising number of the trade disputes and thus protect her legal rights, said Supachai. For example, China's recent dispute with Japan on trade of tatami straw, anions and mushrooms could have been prevented by resorting to this mechanism at the WTO, he said. "Most importantly, by being part of the WTO, China should be considered as a full member of the world economic community, and this should add to the political clout of China in world affairs and can provide China with a balancing weight in the global power equation," Supachai noted. However, the future WTO chief said the adjustments for China for the first five years after accession could be a tough task. The all-round reform process to realize China's commitments to WTO in agriculture, legal and administrative, banking, telecom and other sectors will not be easy, sometimes even painful, but eventually it will lead to a strong foundation for the Chinese economy, he said. "China's accession into the WTO is only the beginning saga of a successful story of applying openness and cooperation as a strategy to the maximum benefits for China and the rest of the world as well," Supachai concluded. **** Kenyan Deputy Speaker Meets Chinese Delegation. Kenya's Parliament Deputy Speaker Joab Omino met with a Chinese delegation led by Chen Guangyi, chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of China 's National People's Congress (NPC), at the Parliament Building in Nairobi on Friday. Kenya�s Parliament Deputy Speaker Joab Omino met with a Chinese delegation led by Chen Guangyi, chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of China 's National People's Congress, at the Parliament Building in Nairobi on Friday. During the meeting, Omino spoke highly of profound friendship existed between the peoples of Kenya and China through cordial exchanges over the past long period of time. He noted that the visit of the Chinese delegation to Kenya would play an active role in promoting cooperation and exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries and their special committees. Omino reaffirmed the Kenyan government and Parliament's adherence to the One China policy, saying that Kenya would as always continue to support China on the human rights issue. He also expressed his congratulation on China's recent entry to the World Trade Organization and his wish for furthering trade and economic cooperation between Kenya and China. The Chinese delegation arrived here on Thursday at the invitation of the Kenyan Parliament. During its stay in Kenya, the Chinese delegation paid courtesy calls on Kenyan Finance Minister Chris Okemo and Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee and interim Chairman of Kenya-China friendship group under Kenyan Parliament George Musila respectively. Chen Guangyi also had working talks with his Kenyan counterpart over such issues as legislation, supervision, parliamentary exchanges, economic development, bilateral trade and development of tourist sector. **** Li Peng Expresses Satisfaction With Sino-Tunisian Ties. Visiting top Chinese legislator Li Peng said on Friday in Tunis that the Sino-Tunisian relations can be cited as a good example in bilateral cooperation among developing countries. Li said that China and Tunisia, both developing countries, share identical or similar views on major international issues. Li Peng: China and Tunisia share identical or similar views on major international issues. Visiting top Chinese legislator Li Peng said on Friday in Tunis that the Sino-Tunisian relations can be cited as a good example in bilateral cooperation among developing countries. During a meeting with Tunisian President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali, Li said that China and Tunisia, both developing countries, share identical or similar views on major international issues. --in safeguarding world peace and in struggling for the establishment of a political and economic order The two countries support and cooperate well with each other in safeguarding world peace and in struggling for the establishment ofa fair and just international political and economic order, he pointed out. --in economic construction He added that they also help each other in their respective economic construction. --China to promote further relations of cooperation with Tunisia China attaches great importance to promoting its friendly relations of cooperation with Tunisia in the new century, especially in trade and economic areas, he said. --in China's WTO entry and one-China policy Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, thanked the Tunisian side for supporting China's entry into the World Trade Organization and adhering to the one-China policy. --on the Middle East issue On the Middle East issue, Li reiterated China's stance of supporting the just cause of the Palestinians and Arabs as a whole. Ben Ali: high-level exchanges surely conducive to the promotion of bilateral ties. Ben Ali told Li that high-level exchanges between the two countries are surely conducive to the promotion of bilateral ties. --expressed admiration for China's economic achievements Recalling his visit to China in 1991, Ben Ali expressed his admiration for China's achievements in economic construction. China's policy of reform and opening-up proved to be effective in bringing a relatively comfortable life to its 1.3 billion people, he pointed out. --on world issues On world issues, Ben Ali said that handling world issues like anti-terrorism campaign and human rights must keep away from practicing double standards. common view Both Li and Ben Ali agreed that most developing countries have found themselves in an even worse situation under the impact of economic globalization. Describing the phenomenon as unfair, the two leaders called on developed economies to help solve the problem. Li is on the second day of his three-day visit to Tunisia, the last leg of his five-nation visit to North Africa and Latin America. **** Iran, Pakistan Pledge to Enhance Security Cooperation. Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up an interior ministerial commission to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the field of security, the official IRNA news agency reported Friday. Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up an interior ministerial commission to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the field of security, the official IRNA news agency reported Friday. The agreement was contained in a memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad on Thursday by Pakistani Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider and his Iranian counterpart Abdolvahed Musavi Lari, who has just concluded his four-day official visit to Pakistan. According to the document, the two neighbors agreed to make concerted efforts to implement the decisions taken by the Pakistan-Iran Special Committee jointly headed by the two interior ministers and another Joint Border Commission. The two sides also agreed on the extradition of criminals. In order to implement the agreement, the two ministers will issue instructions to their border security forces to mutually cooperate in curbing illegal activities and apprehending outlaws who cross from one country to the other. The two neighbors also decided to establish tax-free border markets and their ministries of commerce have been tasked to finalize the details. Lari started his Islamabad tour on Tuesday to try to bring Tehran and Islamabad's stances on regional issues, particularly those pertaining to the ongoing Afghan crisis, closer to each other. During his visit, Lari met Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf and held formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart Haider. "My talks with Pakistani leaders were fruitful and in a very cordial environment," Lari said before his departure for home. Shiite Iran does not recognize Afghanistan 's ruling Taliban and has strongly criticized neighboring Pakistan for its previous backing of the Sunni fundamentalist militia. Iran condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States , but opposes the US-led military campaign against Afghanistan for harboring prime suspect Osama bin Laden. **** China Donates Mine-sweepers to Eritrea. A ceremony was held on Friday in the Eritrean capital city of Asmara, at which China donated a batch of mine-sweeping apparatus to Eritrea. A ceremony was held on Friday in the Eritrean capital city of Asmara, at which China donated a batch of mine-sweeping apparatus to Eritrea. Chinese Ambassador to Eritrea Chen Zhanfu, Eritrean officials and Chinese military experts were present at the ceremony. Officials from the Chinese embassy said that Chinese military experts will conduct personnel training for Eritrea and go on a fact-finding mission to learn about landmine conditions in the country. The Chinese government has enhanced cooperation with relative international organizations and countries on landmine-sweeping over the past years. In 1999 and 2000, China hosted two mine- sweeping training programs in cooperation with relative agencies of the United Nations. Last year, China donated 10,000 U.S. dollars to a U.N. fund for the sweeping of landmines. Since the beginning of this year, China has donated mine-sweeping apparatus to African countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and Eritrea. **** CPPCC Chairman Li Ruihuan Meets PNG Speaker. Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met Friday with Bernard Narokobi, speaker of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Parliament in Port Moresby. Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met Friday with Bernard Narokobi, speaker of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Parliament in Port Moresby. The leader of China's top advisory body arrived in this capital of PNG Thursday for a four-day official goodwill visit as guest of the PNG government. Li said that he had a frank conversation in separate meetings with PNG Governor-General Silas Atopare and Prime Minister Mekere Morauta Thursday, and reached extensive consensus. Both sides agreed that the current relations between China and PNG are very good and there still exists great potential and prospects for this friendly relationship, which both hope to give an overall push, he said. Li also briefed the PNG speaker on China's political party system. Narokobi said that the PNG people appreciate China's important role in the international political arena and its achievements in the economic and social development. Noting that PNG will learn from China's experiences in solving the food and housing problems and in protecting the women's rights, he said he also appreciated the organizing shape of China's political system and that of the CPPCC. Later Friday, the speaker hosted a reception in Li's honor. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
