Extracts.
Armed Forces Ready for War with Pakistan: Indian Army Chief. Indian armed forces were "fully ready" for a war with Pakistan but a decision on it would have to be taken by the political leadership, Indian Army Chief S.Padmanabhan said here on Friday. Indian armed forces were "fully ready" for a war with Pakistan but a decision on it would have to be taken by the political leadership, Indian Army Chief S.Padmanabhan said here on Friday. Terming the situation along the Indo-Pakistan as "serious", Padmanabhan asserted at the press conference that India had the capability of launching a second strike if attacked with nuclear weapons. However, he indicated that New Delhi would not be the first to use unclear weapons against Pakistan, saying that it would have tobe a (Pakistani) leader who are "mad enough" to consider use of such arsenal. If India's armed forces, people, economic and other key assets were targeted with atomic weapons in the event of a conflict, the armed chief said, the enemy would be "punished so severely" that it's "continuation will become doubtful". A nuclear exchange in South Asia would create "disaster" affecting western and eastern oil supplies and creating a "hue andcry", he said, adding that his country was not to be the first to use nuclear weapons. Shortly after its nuclear tests in May 1998, New Delhi declaredthat it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons against anyone. Padmanabhan admitted that the current situation was comparable to that at the time of Indo-Pakistan war in 1965, saying that it was "true" that there was a scope of limited conventional war between the two neighbors. Indo-Pakistan tensions were escalated since the terrorist attack on Indian parliament in December last year, which New Delhiclaimed was sponsored by Pakistan-based Islamic organizations. "When the two countries mobilize their strength on the borders,it is not normal. the situation can comfortably be described as serious," said the army general. He expressed his confidence that there would be peace and tranquillity along the Indo-China border, whatever might happen elsewhere. Padmanabhan emphasized that relations between India and China had been set on a fairly even keel for the last decade with the signing of a treaty of peace and tranquillity between the two countries. This is the first time an Indian general talked about possibility of a nuclear war between India and Pakistan since lastDecember's attack on the parliament. **** Chinese Premier Holds Talks With Bangladeshi PM. Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Friday held extensive talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on bilateral relations and a wide range of regional and international issues of mutual concern. Chinese Premier Holds Talks With Bangladeshi PM Visiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Friday held extensive talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on bilateral relations and a wide range of regional and international issues of mutual concern. Zhu spoke highly of the development of the Sino-Bangladeshi ties, saying China and Bangladesh are close neighbors and their friendship dates back to long time ago. He said the friendship between China and Bangladesh, built on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, has remained unchanged, no matter what happened on the international arena or in their respective countries. Zhu said the Chinese government has treasured the friendship between the two countries and attached great importance to their cooperative relations. The Chinese government highly appreciated the firm stand of Bangladesh on issues concerning Chinese sovereignty such the issues of Taiwan and Tibet, Zhu said, adding that China thinks highly of the right positions that Bangladesh has adopted on human rights issues. He noted that it is the Chinese government's consistent policy to develop and consolidate the mutually beneficial and cooperative ties between China and Bangladesh. On the bilateral cooperation in the economic and trade fields, Zhu said economic and trade cooperation is an important part of the Sino-Bangladeshi friendship. As a developing country, China has tried its best to provide all possible assistance to Bangladesh, for the Chinese government has given much importance to the Sino-Bangladeshi cooperation, Zhu said. He assured his Bangladeshi counterpart that the Chinese government will continue to encourage and support well-established Chinese enterprises to invest in Bangladesh so that both sides can expand their cooperation in areas of common interest. Prime Minister Zia praised the tremendous achievements that the Chinese people have scored in their economic development, saying a strong and prosperous China will be a great encouragement to the Bangladeshi people. Congratulating China on its successful accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Zia said she believed China will play a more positive role in the WTO. She emphasized that Taiwan is part of the Chinese territory and that Bangladesh will continue to uphold the one-China policy. She thanked the Chinese government and people for their generous assistance to the economic and social development of Bangladesh in the past years. Khaleda Zia said there is a huge potential for the Sino-Bangladeshi cooperation, and believed it has a promising prospect. Earlier on Friday, China and Bangladesh signed seven agreements on economic, trade and cultural cooperation, including an agreement on economic and technical cooperation, and an executive program of the cultural agreement for 2001-2003. The Chinese Premier arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, the first leg of his two-nation tour to South Asia, which will take him to India on Sunday. **** China, Mongolia Issue Joint Communique. The governments of China and Mongolia released the Sino-Mongolian Joint Communique in Beijing Friday. The joint communique says that Mongolian Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar paid an official visit to China from January 7 to 12, 2001. The governments of China and Mongolia released the Sino-Mongolian Joint Communique in Beijing Friday. The joint communique says that Mongolian Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar paid an official visit to China from January 7 to 12, 2001. During the visit, Enkhbayar met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He also held talks with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. The leaders reached a consensus on a broad range of issues including the current international situation, Sino-Mongolian relations and their respective domestic situation. Both sides agree that the regional situation and international situation are undergoing important and profound changes at the turn of the century, and it is of strategic importance to continueto develop a long-term, stable and healthy good-neighborly cooperative relationship of mutual trust between the two countries. The joint communique says both sides are satisfied with the present state of bilateral relations and reiterate they will make further efforts to expand cooperation in various fields. The joint communique says both sides hold that the traditional high-level exchange of visits and contacts between China and Mongolia are of special significance to their bilateral relations and play an important role in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation. Both sides agree to increase cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, and tourism, in exchanges of personnel, and in international and regional affairs.Both sides express satisfaction with the ongoing second round of border checks between the two countries. The joint communique says that Mongolia sets developing all-round friendly cooperation with China as one of the priorities in its foreign policy, which China expresses appreciation and support.China attaches importance to its relations with Mongolia and will continue to devote itself to the development of good-neighborly relations of friendly cooperation with Mongolia. Both sides agree to respect the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the development mode of the other side. The Chinese side expresses support to the nuclear-free zone status of Mongolia, and the Mongolian side reiterates that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. On its part, the Mongolian side supports China's principle on the Taiwan issue, that is, "one country, two systems" and peacefulreunification. The Mongolian side does not support "Taiwan independence," the joint communique says. On economic cooperation, the two sides hold that rapid progresshas been made in Sino-Mongolian economic and trade cooperation, but there is still a great potential in this area. Both sides express willingness to advance bilateral cooperation in great depth and width so as to elevate bilateral economic and trade relations to new height. The joint communique says that two sides have exchanged views on major projects such as developing natural resources and connecting infrastructure facilities in eastern Mongolia and northeastern China. The Mongolian side congratulates China on its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both sides agree to develop economic and trade cooperation in accordance with WTO rules. The joint communique says that during the Mongolian prime minister's visit, the two sides signed an agreement on China providing free aid to Mongolia for economic and technological cooperation, and exchanged letters on China providing refined oil to Mongolia on the account of China's 2001 donation. The two sides agree to support cooperation between the two countries in the humanitarian field and cooperation between non-governmental departments. The two sides hold that all countries should abide by the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter and widely accepted basic norms governing international relations. The domestic affairs should be decided by the government and its people of the country concerned, international affairs should be handled by relevant governments and peoples through negotiations on an equal footing, and the democratization of international affairs should be advocated. The joint communique says that it is the consensus between the two sides that the history, culture, social systems and development patterns of various countries should be respected, anddifferent cultures and social systems in the world should and can coexist by learning each other's good points for common progress and seeking common ground while reserving differences. Both sides stress that the United Nations is an intergovernmental international organization with the widest representation, whose role in maintaining world peace and security,resolving international disputes and promoting economic and socialcooperation cannot be replaced by other international or regional organizations, and should be strengthened. Both sides condemn any form of international terrorism, and appeal for further international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, with the major role of the UN and its Security Council in this field brought into play. The two sides speak highly of the achievements made by the two countries and their people in domestic construction, which is of great importance to regional peace and stability. The joint communique says that Mongolian Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar thanked China for its warm welcome and conveyedgreetings from Mongolian leaders to Chinese leaders. Enkhbayar invited Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to visit Mongolia and Zhu accepted the invitation. **** President Jiang Meets ROK National Assembly Speaker. President Jiang Zemin said Friday that China is ready to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to join efforts with the ROK to push bilateral cooperative partnership in various fields to a new high. President Jiang Meets ROK National Assembly Speaker President Jiang Zemin said Friday that China is ready to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with the Republic of Korea (ROK) to join efforts with the ROK to push bilateral cooperative partnership in various fields to a new high. Jiang made the remark in a meeting with Lee Man-Sup, the speaker of the ROK National Assembly. Jiang recalled his meeting with Lee eight years ago and praisedLee for his efforts towards the two countries' friendship, adding that Lee's current visit will contribute to further development ofbilateral ties. Jiang said that China-ROK relations have witnessed a rapid and overall development over the past decade. He listed the frequent political exchanges with deepening mutual understanding and the expanding mutually beneficial and mutually complementary economic cooperation. The two countries' cooperative partnership has entered a new period of overall cooperation, Jiang said. Facts have shown that China-ROK friendly relations of cooperation are in the fundamental interest of the people of both countries and conducive to peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, the region and the world as a whole, said Jiang. Jiang said that safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula is of fundamental interest to the Korean nation and all parties concerned. He said he believed the peninsula's south-northrelations will make new progress in the new year with joint efforts from both sides. As a friend and neighbor of both sides, China will, as always, support the national reconciliation process on the peninsula and the improvement of South-North relations through dialog so as to realize their independent and peaceful reunification, and China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard, Jiang said. Lee said there will be a series of activities this year markingthe 10th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and expressed hope that both sides will make concerted efforts towards a lastingfriendship for generations to come. Lee said China's successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games all point to China's increasing international status. He said he believes that China will play an even bigger role inthe world in the future. Lee also spoke highly of China's economic growth and said China's entry into the WTO is a result of abiding by the reform and opening policy. He expressed hope that bilateral economic and trade cooperation would be furthered following China's WTO entry and that ROK businesses would have opportunities to take part in the development of China's western areas. He expressed thanks for China's constructive role in promoting national reconciliation and the independent and peaceful reunification on the Korean peninsula. **** China Hands Over New Conference Center to Bangladesh. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Saturday attended an inauguration ceremony for a new international conference center built for Bangladesh with the assistance of China. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Saturday attended an inauguration ceremony for a new international conference center built for Bangladesh with the assistance of China. Zhu said the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center is a manifestation of the friendship between China and Bangladesh. Whatever changes may take place on the international arena, China will always be an old friend of Bangladesh, said the Chinese premier. He expressed appreciation to the good work of the engineers, technicians and workers of both countries in their construction of the center built on a Chinese government loan. For her part, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said the new conference center is a symbol of the warm friendship between China and Bangladesh, which is another demonstration of the cordial relations and close cooperation between the two countries. The multi-purpose conference center, which has a construction area of 19,926 square meters, was completed in July 2001. Premier Zhu is in Dhaka on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh, after which he will make an official visit to India. **** U.S. Ford to Cut 35,000 Jobs, Shut Five Plants. Ford Motor Co., the world's second largest automaker, plans to cut 35,000 jobs worldwide and close five plants and drop four vehicles in a massive restructuring, the company announced on Friday. Ford Motor Co., the world's second largest automaker, plans to cut 35,000 jobs worldwide and close five plants and drop four vehicles in a massive restructuring, the company announced on Friday. The job cuts include 22,000 in North America. Ford Motor Co. would close assembling plant in Madison, New Jersey, the Ontario truck plant, the St. Louis assembly plant, Cleveland Aluminum, and Vulcan Forge in Dearborn, Michigan. Vehicles to be dropped are the Escort, Cougar, Villager and Lincoln Continental. "We strayed from what got us to the top of the mountain, and it cost us greatly," Ford Motor Co.'s CEO William Clay Ford Jr. said from company headquarters in Michigan. He called the restructuring a "painful, but necessary" effort to return the company to profitability. **** Pakistan Sends Envoys to Arab Countries. Pakistan on Friday sent two emissaries to three Arab states to muster their support as border tension between Pakistan and India has reached an alarming stage, according to a report of the local News Network International (NNI) . Pakistan on Friday sent two emissaries to three Arab states to muster their support as border tension between Pakistan and India has reached an alarming stage, according to a report of the local News Network International (NNI) . Communication Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi and leader of Muslim League party Ejaz-ul-Haq will visit Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar as special emissaries of President General Pervez Musharraf. "This is a part of the government's diplomatic offensive in the wake of the Indian aggressive posture to take the friendly countries into confidence," a government official was quoted as saying. India has sent diplomats and politicians to several countries as part of its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan, as tension between the two countries mounted following the attack on the Indian Parliament on December 13, for which New Delhi blamed some Pakistan-backed Kashmiri groups. The two envoys will call on Saudi crown prince and other high ranking Saudi officials during their four-day stay in the Kingdom. They will arrive in the UAE on January 13 and will proceed to Qatar on January 15. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
