Extracts. "One Country, Two Systems" Vital to HK's Prosperity, CPPCC Vice-Chairman The principle of "one country, two systems" is vital to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, business tycoon Henry Ying Tung Fok said Monday. "Hong Kong will fare better when the state goes well," said Fok, who is a vice-chairman of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in an interview with Xinhua. The essential issue for Hong Kong at present is how to implement the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong, and full implementation will benefit not only Hong Kong but also the economic development of the country as a whole, he said. What Hong Kong should do to implement the "two systems" is for it to maintain the norms, values and cultural concepts of market economics and continue to give play to the important role of Hong Kong as a trading port, Fok said. He stressed that without the support of the mainland, Hong Kong could not keep its prosperity and stability. "Frankly speaking, Hong Kong would not even have enough drinking water without the mainland," he said. As it is easy to get in touch with the mainland in Hong Kong, foreign companies have flocked to the territory to open representative offices, he said, citing statistics that the number of these companies increased from 2,500 in 1999 to 3,000 in 2000. He also suggested that Hong Kong properly handle its relations with the neighboring Pearl River Delta and the interior areas of the mainland, saying that this is also vital to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. He quoted Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa as saying that it is important to take the development of Hong Kong and the development of the Pearl River Delta as that of a regional economy, seize opportunities to maintain Hong Kong's dynamic and further promote economic growth in the whole region. **** Israeli Officials Raps Tightening Blockade of Palestinian City of Ramallah The Israeli army's tightened blockade of the West Bank city of Ramallah and other areas has sparked criticism among Israeli officials who argue the blockade would do Israel more harm than good. Ephraim Sneh, new transportation minister who until recently served as deputy defense minister, told Army Radio on Monday that the disadvantage of the Israeli closure on Palestinian areas "is that it causes serious embitterment among the general public, the sense that they have nothing left to lose, and it also causes the state of Israel severe damage internationally." He called on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who intends to finalize the makeup of his security cabinet on Monday, to include his cabinet in making security policies. Minister of Science, Culture and Sports Matan Vilnai, a former senior army officer, said that through "the injury to innocent populations, we are pushing more and more Palestinians to the path of terror." On Sunday, the Israeli army tightened its siege on Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank, saying that the move was to thwart a planned terrorist attack. Palestinians said blockades around the West Bank cities of Jericho and Jenin were also enhanced. Israel has sealed off the West Bank and Gaza since the start of the Palestinian uprising late last September, citing security reasons. The Palestinians view the blockade as collective punishment, which barred more than 100,000 Palestinians from work in Israel and strangled their economy. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who was reportedly not notified in advance of the decision to tighten the blockade on Sunday, said the siege policy "requires review and will be reviewed." Israel Radio Monday quoted unnamed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers as saying the blockades were liable to turn formerly unradicalized Palestinians into militants. The radio report said that officers of the Central Command, which oversees IDF operations in the West Bank, "dismissed" the blockade, saying that it could spawn future terrorism. In reaction to criticism, the Israeli Prime Minister's office issued a statement to defend the move, saying that the the closure on Ramallah was tightened "in the wake of specific information on a terrorist attack from within the city." Israel Radio quoted an unnamed senior security official as disclosing that a number of those suspected of involvement in the planned attack were arrested in an operation the official said was made possible by the closure clamped on the city. **** Britain Wishes to Strengthen Cooperation with DPRK Britain wishes to expand and strength cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the political, economic and cultural fields, a visiting Foreign Office official said Monday. John Kerr, permanent under-secretary of Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told a press conference at the Koryo Hotel that during his three-day stay in Pyongyang, he had met with Kim Yong Dae, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and held talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and other senior officials. At the talks, they discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, disarmament, non-proliferation and US-DPRK relations. He also reaffirmed Britain's support for the North- South Joint Declaration. Kerr said Britain respects the sovereignty of the DPRK, has no intention of interfering with its internal affairs and wishes to continue the dialogues between the two countries. He also said Britain and the DPRK would sign two agreements on investment guarantee and avoidance of double taxation, as part of the efforts to boost the development of bilateral relations. Kerr, head of the British Foreign Office delegation, arrived in Pyongyang last Saturday at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry. The two countries established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level on December 12 last year. **** Venezuelan President Visits Cuba Venezuela <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/Venezuela.html> n President Hugo Chavez arrived Sunday on a brief working visit to meet with his Cuban counterpart Fedel Castro on bilateral cooperation. In an arrival statement, Chavez said Castro and he will discuss and update a bilateral cooperation agreement signed last October. Under the agreement, Cuba <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/cuba.html> will offer assistance in medical and sports areas to Venezuela, which promises oil supply in preferential terms in return. Chavez was received by Castro at the airport, the third meeting between the two leaders within on year. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations, and said there is a bright future for their cooperation. The Venezuelan president will also visit hundreds of Venezuelan patients receiving free treatment in Cuba under their agreement. Chavez has just concluded his three-day official visit to the Dominican Republic. **** Expert: US Arms Sales to Taiwan Threaten Sino-US Relations Sales of advanced and high-tech weapons to Taiwan by the new administration of US President George W. Bush will greatly damage Sino-US relations, according to a leading Chinese expert on Taiwan affairs. The Bush team is due to make a decision next month on the annual arms provision to Taiwan. On the top of Taiwan's shopping-list are sophisticated weapons such as destroyers equipped with the AEGIS satellite anti-missile system. "If the United States makes a misjudgment and gives more military support to Taiwan's political adventurism, cross-Straits ties and Sino-American relations will surely experience significant changes," warned Xin Qi, a research fellow with China's Peace and Development Research Centre, in a signed article that lists three reasons for the concern. First, since Taiwan has already acquired weapons for a TMD (Theatre Missile Defence) system, selling more advanced weapons to the island is tantamount to restoring the military alliance between Taiwan and the United States. This would greatly threaten the continuation of good Sino-American relations. Second, the United States has interfered in China's internal affairs with the Taiwan Relations Act, which legalizes arms sales to the island. The US military intervention has encouraged pro-independence forces in Taiwan and thus sown seeds of trouble in the Asia-Pacific region. Third, if the new US Government goes ahead with its foreign policy of viewing China as a strategic competitor as compared to a "strategic partner," which is what the Clinton administration saw China as, China will be forced to respond by making policy adjustments. The research fellow's warning echoed the views of several high-ranking Chinese officials who have urged the United States to scrap its arms sales to the island. **** Annual CPPCC Session to Close Monday Afternoon The Fourth Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is scheduled to close Monday afternoon, before new members are co-opted to the CPPCC Standing Committee. According to sources with the secretariat, a number of conclusions are expected to be adopted at the closing meeting, including the Political Resolution of the 4th Session of the 9th CPPCC National Committee, the Resolution on the Work Report of the Standing Committee, and the Resolution on the Report on Proposals since the 3rd Session of the 9th CPPCC National Committee, as well as a report on the examination of the proposals given by the Subcommittee for Handling Proposals. **** ran's Khatami to Moscow on Monday for Landmark Visit Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is expected in Moscow early Monday on his first trip to Russia since coming to power in May 1997, his office announced. Khatami, who will be heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation, is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, his office said in a statement. The landmark trip "confirms the strategic rapprochement between Iran and Russia in all fields," Iran's ambassador to Moscow, Mehdi Safari, was quoted as saying Sunday by state television. Khatami and Putin are expected to discuss a variety of issues, including bilateral ties and international issues, notably those relating to the Middle East and Afghanistan, according to the Russian embassy in Tehran. The talks are also expected to touch on country rights to the Caspian Sea's energy reserves. **** Mexico Rebel Leaders March into Mexico City After a long march, 24 masked Mexico's Zapatista rebel commanders, headed by Subcomandante Marcos, marched into the downtown of the Mexican capital and received a warm welcome from thousands of their supporters. Standing on a flatbed truck at the Zocolo square, Marcos told his 150,000 supporters, "We are here as rebels who cry out: democracy, justice, liberty." Marcos, who has led a seven-year war against the government demanding indigenous rights, said, "the hour of the Indian people has come." He called for the recognition of Indian rights and culture. The Zapatista leaders arrived in the capital city after 14 days and 3,000 kilometers drive from their stronghold in the jungles of Chiapas with safety and passage assurance from the government. Mexican President Vicente Fox has repeatedly pledged that, for the sake of political stability, economic development and the peace in Chiapas, the government is willing to enter dialogue with Zapatista rebel leaders. The rebels also said that they are ready to reach a peace deal with the government if the congress passes the indigenous rights bill, the government recognizes Indian rights and culture, demilitarizes Chiapas and releases arrested Zapatista rebels. Observers believe that because of the different interpretations of the term of "autonomy," it will not be easy for the two sides to reach a final peace agreement. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
