The Militarization of the European Union: A civilizational mistake.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: The Militarization of the European Union: A civilizational mistake Network members - Here is an excellent analysis by Jan Oberg of the EU's drive to militarize itself in the wake of the war in Kosovo. Important links are made here between military and economic motives. Steve Staples http://www.transnational.org/pressinf/2000/pf107_EUmilitarisation.html The Militarisation of the European Union: A civilisational mistake PressInfo # 107 December 7, 2000 By Jan Oberg, TFF director It was quite predictable that the EU would militarise itself. In fact, one of the world's leading peace researchers, TFF adviser Johan Galtung, predicted that in his book about the EU from 1972, "A Superpower in the Making." It is not in the nature of big powers to see greatness in nonviolence, dialogue, tolerance or in playing the role of one among many. The EU - - whose main players are former colonial powers and present nuclear powers and/or culturally violent - - began their militarisation some ten years ago with the French-German military co-operation, and it got another boost with the French-British agreement in 1998 in Saint Malo. And today's EU Nice Summit is likely to put the militarisation of EU on an irreversible path, most likely to a new Cold War. Today it is the so-called Eurocorps which is formally in charge of NATO/KFOR in Kosovo. Internally, the EU struggles with ever deeper vertical integration, i.e. more and more standardisation and harmonisation of ever more areas, and with horizontal integration of more and more countries. Externally, it decided a year ago at its summit in Finland to become a world player by setting up a sizeable military Rapid Reaction Force by the year 2003. There are various proposals in the direction of a "United States of Europé" (USE), there is a common currency, a common foreign and security policy, common or harmonised laws, a structure with functions that look increasingly like a super-state with a President. There is a stepped up civilian and military industrial integration and rationalisation. And at its summit in Nice in southern France, beginning December 6, a European Charter is on the table. Rhetoric and reality We are told that a European "Army" is not in the offing. But can the EU really move on with integration in virtually all other regards and not end up having something that looks surprisingly much like an integrated military? If so, it will be unique in history. Isn't it in the nature of defence and military matters that they require more centralisation, central control, harmonisation, interoperability, standardisation and integration than most civilian spheres? The Headline Goals for the force in the year 2003 was planned a year ago at 60.000 troops. Already committed, however, are almost 70.000. With reservists this will add up to 225.000 under arms. And not exactly traditional peace-keeping arms. Among other resources, Sweden for instance has assigned AJS 37 Viggen fighters, a submarine, corvettes and a mechanised battalion. Britain has pledged 18 warships and up to 72 combat aircraft. Ministers tell the citizens that it is for disaster relief, humanitarian aid, natural catastrophes, mine clearing and peacekeeping. It will serve as a back-up for diplomacy and it will only be used as a last resort when everything else has been tried to avert conflicts from erupting into violent struggle. But if it is modelled upon the case of Kosovo, that is the example par excellence of the failure of preventive diplomacy, of diplomacy backing up force. The civilian aspects of crisis management We are also told that the EU's most important part is civilian and that civilian crisis management, coupled with early analysis, early warning and violence-preventive diplomacy is the main thing; however, the present structure and balance of resources does not bear out that point. Earlier, the Commission has developed an inventory of 25 categories (encompassing 300 specific actions) for civilian crisis management. Among them we find virtually anything such as counter-terrorism operations, support to free media, training of intelligence and judicial staff as well as conflict resolution training centres. So, some priorities had to be set up. According to the documents from the EU Feira European Council summit in June this year, an Interim Committee for civilian aspects of crisis management had its first meeting only three days before the Summit (June 16) and could hardly have developed much of an identity. Appendix 3 of the Feira document approaches the civilian aspect in this manner: "The reinforcement of the Union's capabilities in civilian aspects of crisis management should above all, provide it with adequate means to face complex political crises by: - acting to prevent the eruption or escalation of conflicts; - consolidating peace and internal stability in periods of transition - ensuring complementarity
Italy: Clashes Over Haider Visit - BBC
BBC Rome clashes erupt over Haider visit = Hundreds of protesters marching against the visit of Austrian far-right leader Joerg Haider to the Vatican have clashed with Italian riot police. Mr Haider, in Rome for the lighting of a Christmas tree given by his home province of Carinthia, stoked the controversy with the latest in a series of apparently anti-Semitic remarks he has made during his political career. Demonstrators threw bricks and cobblestones and police responded with tear gas and beat many demonstrators to the ground with batons, witnesses said. They had been trying to force their way down the avenue leading to St Peter's Square, where the Austrian Christmas tree is standing under heavy police. But their path was blocked by police vans, while police formed a phalanx with shields and batons and charged the demonstrators. One person was injured in the clashes The confrontation took place about 500 metres from the square, but the ceremony went ahead undisturbed, with the Austrian populist sitting in a place of honour near the tree. Pope John Paul II did not attend the tree-lighting ceremony, but earlier in the day Mr Haider had a private audience with him. Controversial remark Mr Haider's visit has provoked protests by politicians, the Jewish community, wartime deportees and students. Rome's Jewish shopkeepers switched their lights off when the Christmas tree's lights were switched on. Mr Haider's response, quoted by the Italian news agency Ansa, was to say: "If they want to save electricity, let them do it." Vice-President of the World Jewish Congress Lord Janner said the Jewish protest was "both dignified and appropriate" while Mr Haider's "revolting response" was precisely what was expected of him. "It is immensley sad that such a great Pope would lower himself by meeting this international pariah," he added. Papal audience Mr Haider's audience with the Pope was over in three minutes. The Pope gave him a copy of his New Year message warning against nationalism, racism and xenophobia, but Mr Haider had no time to deliver his pre-prepared remarks. The Vatican accepted the offer of a Christmas tree in 1997, when Mr Haider was not governor of Carinthia. Mr Haider resigned as head of Austria's far-right Freedom Party after the party's success at last year's general election earned it a place in the governing coalition. He is notorious for making remarks apparently sympathetic to the policies of Nazi Germany, and for xenophobic views on immigration. Protesters in Rome on Saturday said his visit was "a provocation and an offence to the city's history". The Vatican has defended the meeting on the grounds that the Holy See is open to all. The Vatican's number two, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, told the La Repubblica newspaper: "We must make a difference between an error and one who errs." Vatican uneasy BBC Rome correspondent David Willey says the Vatican is clearly embarrassed at the political row that has broken out over the Haider visit. However, the officials insist that timing of the release of the anti-xenophobia message was coincidental. The controversy over Mr Haider's visit has been sharpened by a row over remarks he made earlier this week criticising the Italian Government as "overly generous" on immigration. Prime Minister Giuliano Amato said on Friday he would write to Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel to express his government's displeasure at Mr Haider's criticism of President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Italy's policies on immigration. "The government cannot but judge extremely severely such criticisms, which are even more unacceptable coming from someone who holds an official position in another European Union country," Mr Amato said. Mr Haider had said that Austria should reconsider its membership of the EU's open-borders Schengen agreement because of Italy's stance. The Italian president responded by explaining that Italy had always been a country of migration and was a humane society. Then, in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper, the Austrian populist said President Ciampi's response was typical of a left-wing politician. _
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR
IRAQ SANCTIONS MONITOR Number 172 Monday December 18,2000 India may buy crude oil from Iraq at 7 usd/barrel: report BOMBAY (AFX-ASIA) - The Indian and Iraqi governments are working on a deal whereby India will buy from Iraq crude oil at 7 usd a barrel in exchange for wheat supplies, the Economic Times reported, quoting unnamed ministry sources. A government delegation will be visiting Iraq shortly to finalise the price at which India will finally buy the oil and the amounts involved, it said. The report said the deal, which is part of an oil-for-wheat programme, is subject to UN approval. The deal will also help India find an export market for its bumper wheat crop, the report added. It said the immediate effect of the deal would be to check the increasing oil pool deficit, estimated to be in the region of 120 bln rupees by the end of the current year to March. If the deal goes through, the oil pool deficit may be wiped out and even contribute positive cash flow into the account, the newspaper said. It said the pricing of the oil is likely to be arrived at by subtracting some cents from the average of the Dubai and Oman oil prices, yielding the approximate price which India will pay per barrel to Iraq. The reduction in the price is due to the inferior quality of Basrah light oil as compared to Dubai and Oman, it added. __ Iraq sends mixed signals with new oil premium demand By BridgeNews Nicosia--Dec. 18--Confusion continued to surround Iraqi oil exports, despite a limited resumption, due to the latest reported Iraqi demand for a premium of 40 U.S. cents to be paid into a non-U.N. account, the Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) reported Monday. The U.N. Sanctions Committee, which oversees the oil-for-aid program, is due to meet and discuss the issue on Dec. 19. MEES pointed out that while some cargoes had loaded and left from the Gulf terminal of Mina al-Bakr, there had been no exports from the Turkish export terminal of Ceyhan, in part due to a fall in Russian Urals differentials, which has left Kirkuk uncompetitive in December. "MEES soundings indicate there are two theories to explain the confusion surrounding the surcharge issue," it said. "The first is that the companies lifting from Mina al-Bakr have reached some kind of special agreement with SOMO--to pay the surcharge by barter or other arrangement. "There has been speculation, for example, that the recently concluded agreement between Iraq and India--covering, among other things, the exchange of more Indian wheat for an increased volume of Iraqi oil--might have provided a mechanism for circumventing the payment of the surcharge," it added. MEES said the other theory is that SOMO is exempting lifters under the 8th U.N. oil-for-food program (as all the current customers are) because of the costly $60,000 per day demurrage that the lifters who already had their ships at Mina al-Bakr have been paying. There are 56 approved contracts for 77 million barrels yet to be sold from the 8th phase, which officially ended on Dec. 5. Companies with tankers in the northern Gulf are Bayoil, Vitol, Koch, Coastal, Taurus and IOC. "For the moment, though, lifters who do not want to pay a surcharge are faced with a confused picture. The Security Council is also left wondering how to prevent the surcharge when there is no physical evidence that it is being paid. This, perhaps, is Iraq's intention," MEES said. These factors are combining to create uncertainty about the volume of Iraqi crude that will reach the markets in December. Aside from the confusion over the surcharge, SOMO needs to take steps to adjust the price of Kirkuk crude to make it competitive with Urals. Unless the price formula is amended, there are likely to be only small volumes, if any, of Kirkuk crude exports from Ceyhan before January. _ Russia, US urge Baghdad to resume cooperation with UN BridgeNews Moscow--Dec. 18--Russia and the United States at their consultations over the weekend urged Iraq to resume cooperation with the United Nations in the arms control sphere, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday. Russia believes the restoration of international control over the banned Iraqi military programs and resumption of Baghdad's cooperation with the United Nations will pave the way for lifting the U.N. sanctions against Iraq, the spokesman added. "While discussing the situation around Iraq, Russian and U.S. officials have supported the idea of restoring Baghdad's cooperation with the United Nations as soon as possible in the sphere of arms monitoring," the spokesman said. Russia also called for finding political solution to the no-fly-zones problem, he said. Moscow has repeatedly said it does not recognize the no-fly zones, enforced by the United States and Great Britain, and condemned the continuing U.S./U.K. air strikes against Iraq. The sides have agreed to "deepen the discussion" of the issues related
COLIN POWELL ON STAR WARS
- Original Message - From: Global Network Against Weapons Nuclear Power in Space [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;@mindspring.com Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 7:45 PM Subject: COLIN POWELL ON STAR WARS http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,15-52851,00.html === + December 18, 2000 Powell insists defence rests on 'Star Wars' From Ian Brodie in Washington GENERAL Colin Powell, America's new Secretary of State, has said that the Bush Administration would make national missile defence (NMD) an essential part of US strategic policy. Russia, China and America's allies have all been alarmed at the idea of NMD. General Powell made the comment after being invited at the weekend to take up the role by George W. Bush, the President-elect. Critics have said that building an NMD system would risk a new arms race with Russia and China. Britain and other Nato allies have expressed reservations, although Mr Bush has spoken of the need for ballistic missile defences to include America's allies. General Powell offered the rationale for NMD first given by Ronald Reagan, for whom he worked as National Security Adviser. He said: "I harken back to the original purpose of such a defence, to start diminishing the value of offensive weapons." It was time to take away the blackmail inherent in some regimes having such weapons and "thinking they can hold us hostage", he said. Robin Cook, the British Foreign Secretary, is known to be worried by the US plan because it would mean breaching the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and could damage relations with Russia. During the election campaign Mr Bush called for deployment of a more expansive missile system than the limited "Son of Star Wars" pursued under Mr Clinton, who put off making a final decision after a string of failed tests. Mr. Bush said that ballistic missile defences should also protect America's allies. The Republican platform promised that a Bush Administration would spend billions of dollars to research and deploy a robust missile defence system, including sea-based missiles, that would extend a shield around Europe, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Mr. Bush's advisers argue that the rise of Iraq, Iran and North Korea as potential missile-building states has changed the strategic balance. General Powell described Russia and China as countries the US would attempt to work with "not as potential enemies or adversaries, but not yet as strategic partners". He also said that the new Administration will undertake a review of the role of US troops in Bosnia and Kosovo. As well as reaching out to the black community with the appointment of General Powell, and of Condoleezza Rice as National Security Adviser, Mr Bush sought to include the Hispanic community by choosing Al Gonzales, a judge on the Texas Supreme Court, as his chief White House lawyer. Mr. Bush flew from Texas to Washington last night for meetings with Alan Greenspan, chairman of the Federal Reserve, President Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore and members of Congress. He will also interview potential Cabinet members. In state capitals across the United States today, 538 members of the Electoral College will be meeting to cast their votes for President: 271 for Mr Bush and 267 for Mr Gore. Despite speculation, no "faithless electors" have come forward to say that they will switch votes. === + = Bruce K. Gagnon Coordinator Global Network Against Weapons Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 90083 Gainesville, FL. 32607 (352) 337-9274 http://www.space4peace.org [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Solidarity Statement with the Palestinian People taken in Athens meeting
- Original Message - From: SolidNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 11:17 PM Subject: CP of Greece, Solidarity Statement with the Palestinian People taken in Athens meeting SolidNet The purpose of the Solid Net ( Solidarity Network ) is to inform on the activities as well as the ideological and political views of different Communist and Workers Parties on National and International issues. All articles in the SolidNet are the responsibility of the authors and in no way commit this Web Site. [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.solidnet.org CP of Greece, Solidarity Statement with the Palestinian People taken in Athens meeting - From: Communist Party of Greece http://www.kke.gr, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Solidarity Statement with the Palestinian People taken in Athens meeting We representatives of Communist and Workers Parties of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf Region and the Red Sea, meeting in Athens on 16th December 2000 at the fringes of the 16th Congress of the Communist Party of Greece, declare our condemnation to the Israeli bloody aggression on the Palestinian people, and confirm our full support with their legitimate just struggle for independence and national sovereignty and the return of the Palestinian refugees according to the resolutions of the international legitimacy and condemn the American policy that take the side of its strategic ally Israel. We salute the just struggle of the Palestinian people and its heroic steadfastness and great sacrifices in facing the Israeli aggression, and we appeal to all peace-loving and freedom forces all over the world to accelerate their solidarity activities with the Palestinian people to: 1. Stop the Israeli aggression and its bloody crimes and lift the Israeli military, economic sanctions imposed on the Palestinian people. 2. Continue the struggle and pressure on all levels to force the Israeli government to abide to the international legitimacy especially resolutions 242,338,194 and implement them to ensure the complete Israeli withdrawal from all Arab territories in Syria and Lebanon occupied since the 5th of June 1967, and demolish all its settlements and establish the Palestinian independent sovereign State with Eastern Jerusalem as its capital. 3. Provide immediate international Protection to the Palestinian People to ensure their security until their independence. 4. Form international investigation commission to investigate the Israeli occupation, and punish the criminals according to the International Law and Geneva agreement. 5. Demand the UN sponsor to the future negotiations to brake the American monopoly in leading the negotiations, due to the American role in taking bluntly the side of Israel in its aggression. Athens, 16th December 2000 Egyptian Communist Party AKEL of Cyprus Communist Party of Greece Tudeh Party of Iran Iraqi Communist Party Communist Party of Kurdistan-Iraq Communist Party of Israel Jordanian Communist Party Lebanese Communist Party Palestinian Peoples Party Communist Party of Sudan Syrian Communist Party Syrian Communist Party
Resolution of the meeting of Communist and Worker's Parties in Athens16/12/2000
- Original Message - From: SolidNet [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 11:21 PM Subject: CP of Greece, Resolution of the meeting of Communist and Worker's Parties in Athens16/12/2000 SolidNet The purpose of the Solid Net ( Solidarity Network ) is to inform on the activities as well as the ideological and political views of different Communist and Workers Parties on National and International issues. All articles in the SolidNet are the responsibility of the authors and in no way commit this Web Site. [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.solidnet.org === CP of Greece, Resolution of the meeting of Communist and Worker's Parties in Athens16/12/2000 --- From: Communist Party of Greece http://www.kke.gr, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] === STATEMENT OF COMMUNIST AND WORKERS PARTIES OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, THE GULF REGION AND THE RED SEA In Athens, at the 16th of December 2000, there has been held a meeting of Communist and Workers Parties of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf Region and the Red Sea. There was consensus among the Parties concerned as far as the necessity of holding this meeting was concerned and of the need of further coordination of their joint action, because of the significant developments since their latest meeting in Athens, in March 1997. In this meeting, new developments covering this period and conclusions deriving from the following issues have been debated: 1) The failure of the peace process in Palestine and the brutal effort of repression unleashed against the new Intifadha by the Israels military forces. 2) The aggressiveness of imperialism on international and regional level has been manifest during this period with NATO attacks against FR of Yugoslavia, showing its brutal face in the effort to impose imperialist new order in the region. The new NATO doctrine, officially adopted in April 1999 in Washington, does not recognize the rules of International law and the UNO and constitutes a direct threat against all peoples. 3) The development of anti-imperialist and anti-NATO movements of a whole range of forces opposing barbarity and wars emanating from imperialism and fighting against them. 4) The rise of peoples mobilization and the development of broad popular movements against G- 8, WTO, IMF, WB but also EU Summit meetings policies constitute new elements of resistance against the policies of capital, which goes on concentrating wealth in ever fewer hands, increasing poverty, spreading unemployment and wishing to wrest from the working people all their rights and gains. 5) The importance acquired by the broad and multiform character of anti-imperialist forces and movements, both in the developed capitalist countries and in the developing ones, embracing national liberation, patriotic, progressive and democratic forces and movements interested in world problems as peace, environment etc and the class conscious labour and communist forces. 6) The important position of communist and labour forces among the decisive factors in organizing of the general effort of the movements and organizations resisting imperialism and of the various activities in developing in this field. The participants agreed in the following positions of struggle and solidarity: They condemn the effort of and coordinate their struggle against the creation of a new International Law, vindicating the rotten principle that Might is Right. They support the principle of non - intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign independent states and the respect of the states integrity and independence. They defend the right of each people to choose in a sovereign way their manner of government and determine their own future. They declare their opposition against NATO and its new doctrine, which does not recognize borders or limits of action, as well as against any effort of broadening the said organization eastwards or southwards. They oppose the creation of forces of rapid intervention and the creation of a separate EU army. They agree: upon the necessity of undertaking active initiatives against the policies of imperialist countries and transnational enterprises and of intensifying the struggle against the policies and resolutions of G- 8, WTO, IMF and WB, which express domination of imperialism and monopoly capital, aiming at the rights of working people and at the countries and peoples that resist against their plans upon the need of development of a broad movement of defense of the gains of the working people and upon the undertaking initiatives for coordination and cooperation with the class organizations of working people
Nostradamus wrote:
Who wants to be Leader?... - Original Message - From: Charles Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 7:18 PM Subject: Re: To CB Re: [CrashList] Common Ground From Nostradamus'Predictions: In 1555, Nostradamus wrote: Come the millennium, month 12, In the home of greatest power, The village idiot will come forth To be acclaimed the leader. ___ Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
Forum discusses farm crisis and Cuba
- Original Message - From: Barry Schier [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 18, 2000 3:45 PM Subject: [CubaNews] Forum discusses farm crisis and Cuba The Militant - upcoming issue with Christmas 2000 date Forum discusses farm crisis and Cuba (front page) BY ROMINA GREEN AND PAUL SILER DES MOINES, Iowa--Two Midwest farmers discussed "the worldwide crisis of agriculture--from Iowa and Wisconsin to the United Kingdom and Cuba" at a Militant Labor Forum here December 2. One speaker was Wisconsin dairy farmer Randy Jasper, who had just returned from a trip to the United Kingdom where he participated in a November 14 rally organized by farmers and truckers against soaring fuel prices. The other, Larry Ginter, is an Iowa hog farmer active in Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and other struggles. Ginter noted the national and international competition between agriculture-related corporations lies behind the economic squeeze on farmers, and workers as well. Jasper said that four companies now control 80 percent of cattle and hog slaughter, and three control 80 percent of grain production. He noted that this trend toward consolidation of companies during the years of the Clinton administration is "going just as fast as it did under the Republicans." Jasper explained how one consequence of this concentration is that farmers confront high prices from their suppliers and low prices for the commodities they sell. "My milk prices now are what they were 30 years ago," he explained. "Take your wages back 30 years and leave your rent and food prices alone--where would you be?" Both farmers also took up the question of biotechnology--genetically engineered crops--under capitalism. Ginter noted that biotechnology has the potential to "solve the age old problems of hunger, sickness, and unsafe food." But it has a "sinister side or an ulterior motive of power and greed" as well. "It is truly the double-edged sword." Thousands of farmers are facing problems with StarLink corn, which has not been approved for human consumption. Many farmers were not told of various problems with growing the corn and now cannot sell their crop because StarLink corn has been mixed in. Ginter gave the example of the "aptly-named terminator gene," which sterilizes seeds to prevent them from being used again the following year to plant with. Many Third World peasant farmers who replant the seeds of their recently harvested crops, "would be forced to buy year after year from the agribusiness conglomerates," he said. Jasper told of the big impact that the negative side of biotechnology had on him as an activist and fighter. "Everybody reaches a line in the sand," he explained. "For me, it was when Bovine Growth Hormone [BGH] came around." This substance speeds up the production of milk in dairy cows, he explained, but in a manner that endangers the health of the cows and the quality of dairy products. Out of their experiences fighting the crisis conditions generated by capitalism on the land, both of these veteran activists have learned about the land reform and socialist revolution in Cuba, a country where unlike in the United States or United Kingdom, as Jasper put it, "Farmers are highly respected and make money." Jasper's observations, based on his participation in a delegation of U.S. farmers and workers hosted by the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) of Cuba last Spring, were a particular focus of interest at the forum. He said there were 900 cooperatives represented at the congress, noting the high number of small farmers in the country. Despite the collapse of trade and aid from the former Soviet Union in the early 1990s, something Cubans "called the Special Period--we'd have called it the disaster area--Cuban farmers have actually raised their production," Jasper explained. "They have their own school, health care, doctor, a community building right on their farm." "In reality," Jasper stated, "I think the Special Period probably made them a lot stronger. Because they've actually increased production considerably without chemicals. "In reference to what we have," he said, "Cuba is a poor country. But they're happy. They have what they need, so they're not poor. About 80 percent of what they produce on their farms is sold to the government at a good price, where they make money. Five percent more is paid in taxes. Fifteen percent is sold on the open market." Jasper was struck by the respect for farmers and farming shown by the people he met in Havana. He noted that delegates to the ANAP congress stayed with people in the city who volunteered to put them up. The U.S. government "is scared of Cuba for one reason: the attitude of the people," Jasper insisted. "Because if people here felt the way people do there, the government we have, which is run by big business, would be in trouble. That's the fear of Cuba."
Korean Central News Agency Dec 18
TODAY'S NEWS (December.18.2000 Juche 89) [CONTENTS] * Greetings to Slovene Prime Minister * Kim Jong Il praised as captivating leader * Establishment of diplomatic relations between DPRK and UK hailed * Secretary of U.S. Army denies shooting orders for Rogun-ri mass killings * Anti-reunification remarks condemned * Many films produced * Repeal of SL urged in S. Korea * Removal of concrete wall urged For Spanish-speaking people * comunicado conjunto de cuarta ronda de conversaciones a nivel de ministro * vana ilusion de japon Greetings to Slovene Prime Minister Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Hong Song Nam, premier of the DPRK cabinet, on Dec. 15 sent a message of greetings to Janez Drnovsek upon his reelection as Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia. The message wished him greater success in his responsible work. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun sent a message of greetings to his counterpart of Slovenia Dimitrije Rupel. Kim Jong Il praised as captivating leader Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- The Egypt-Korea Friendship Association published a bulletin on Dec. 10 to mark the 9th anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's election as Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. Kim Jong Il is a brilliant commander possessed of far-sighted wisdom and matchless courage and will, the bulletin said, and went on: His organizing ability and commanding art are very extraordinary. The iron discipline and perfect order in which the whole army and country and all people act as one on the instruction of the Supreme Commander have been established in the DPRK. And the revolutionary commanding system and military discipline have been established and the strong sense of organization and discipline has prevailed within the people's army. All these would have been unthinkable without his distinguished leadership ability. Benevolent and army-first politics is his peculiar political mode. What attracts particular attention is the policy of giving priority to the army. He is, indeed, an ideal statesman and fascinating leader perfectly possessed of literary and military accomplishments. Establishment of diplomatic relations between DPRK and UK hailed Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary hails the recent opening of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the United Kingdom. This event is a result of the independent foreign policies and activities of the two countries, the commentary observes, and goes on: Independence, peace and friendship are the idea of the consistent foreign policy of the Worker's Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK. Guided by this idea, the DPRK has developed friendly relations with different countries of the world advocating independence and invariably maintained the stand to develop friendly relations with those capitalist countries that respect the DPRK's sovereignty and are friendly to it. The normalization of relations between the DPRK and countries of the European Union will positively help expand and develop relations with them in various fields and ensure peace and security in northeast Asia and, furthermore, in the rest of the world. There is increasing concern of the international community for the DPRK and it has become an irresistible trend of the times for different countries to improve relations with the DPRK. The DPRK government will as ever develop the relations of friendship, cooperation and good-neighborliness with all countries of the world that advocate independence, respect the DPRK's sovereignty and are friendly to it. Secretary of U.S. Army denies shooting orders for Rogun-ri mass killings Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Caldera, secretary of the U.S. Army, when interviewed by a U.S. Daily on Dec. 14 denied shooting orders related to the mass killings of civilians in Rogun-ri, according to the South Korean "Yonhap News" (internet). He said that an investigation of Rogun-ri case that occurred in the summer of 1950 has been made for over 1 year but did not find conclusive evidence that the then u.s. soldiers had orders to shoot civilians. "Yonhap News" recalled that McCloskey, member of the U.S. private advisory panel in charge of supervising the investigation of Rogun-ri case, had noted in early December he strongly disagrees with the hazy conclusion of an investigation team of the U.S. Army that they did not find enough evidence that the U.S. soldiers had orders to shoot civilians. McCloskey, saying that the Pentagon was too quick to dismiss the testimony of U.S. Korean war veterans, asserted that there is no question that there were orders, "Yonhap News" held. Anti-reunification remarks condemned Pyongyang, December 18 (KCNA) -- Some countries surrounding Korea recently made remarks harmful to Korea's reunification to throw a wet blanket over the
China. People´s Daily Dec 19
Extracts. Tuesday, December 19, 2000, updated at 12:23(GMT+8) Jiang Zemin to Arrive in Macao for Anniversary Celebrations Chinese President Jiang Zemin is scheduled to arrive in Macao by special plane Tuesday afternoon to attend the celebrations of the 1st anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Jiang, who is also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, will fly into Macao from Beijing in the company of SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah. During his December 19-21 stay in Macao, Jiang is scheduled to attend a banquet later Tuesday and a grand gathering celebrating the SAR's first anniversary Wednesday morning, and meet with some local celebrities. Jiang's upcoming visit to Macao has become a hot topic for local residents and hit the headlines of major local newspapers. Large red lanterns and banners with welcoming words for Jiang are seen in downtown areas in the coastal city with strong festive flavor. Macao returned to the motherland on December 20, 1999, when Jiang attended a ceremony here and declared that China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao. Top 10 Chinese News Events of 2000 The editor-in-chiefs and deputy editor-in-chiefs of 11 major Beijing-based newspapers, 2 national news agencies and 2 national radio stations December 18 selected China's Top 10 News Events of the year 2000. The following are the events in descending order of significance: 1. The 5th Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held during October 9-10 mapped the blueprint for the country's development in the 2001-2005 period. Chinese President Jiang Zemin pointed out at the plenary session that in the new century China will build a well-to-do society in an all-around way. 2. A State Council meeting on developing China's western regions was held from January 19-22. The meeting urged all localities to take every opportunity to accelerate economic development in China's western regions. The meeting also initiated the developing the west movement all around the country. 3. The China-Africa Cooperation Forum -- Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 was held from October 10-12 and was attended by nearly 80 ministers from African countries and leaders of about 20 international and African regional organizations. The documents adopted at the forum mapped out the development course for the long-term, stable and mutually-beneficial Sino-African partnership in the 21st century. The forum provided a good opportunity for China and African countries to coordinate their positions on the challenges of globalization, promoting world peace and development, and protecting the interests of developing countries. 4. China wrapped up its amazing Olympic run on October 1 in Sydney with 59 medals, including 28 golds, 16 silvers and 15 bronzes, finishing third behind the United States and Russia. 5. Cheng Kejie was executed on September 14 by the No.1 Intermediate People's Court of Beijing after the confirmation and approval by China's Supreme People's Court. Cheng, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was found guilty of accepting huge sums of bribes, in collaboration with his mistress Li Ping. 6. Twenty-five separate cases of multi-billion-dollar smuggling scams in the east China port city of Xiamen were openly handled on November 8. Fourteen people involved in the cases were sentenced to death. Investigations found that the Lai Changxing smuggling group and others had smuggled refined oil, vegetable oil, cars and cigarettes worth 53 billion yuan (approximately US$6.4 billion) and evaded customs duties of up to 30 billion yuan since 1996. 7. China has basically reached its three-year object of turning its large and medium-sized state-own enterprises (SOE) from losing money into profit-making ones, thanks to the government's "pro-active fiscal policy" and various reform measures, declared Sheng Huaren, minister in charge of the State Economic and Trade Commission, on December 11. SOEs are expected to see a yearly profit of 230 billion yuan (approximately US$28 billion) in 2000; most of the 14 industries such as textiles, petrochemical, machinery, electronic,
Weekly News Update on Colombia #568, 12/17/00
WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS ISSUE #568, DECEMBER 17, 2000 NICARAGUA SOLIDARITY NETWORK OF GREATER NEW YORK 339 LAFAYETTE ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012 (212) 674-9499 [EMAIL PROTECTED] *8. COLOMBIA: UNION LEADER SURVIVES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT On Dec. 15, Colombian union leader Wilson Borja was wounded and two people were killed in an attack against Borja by hired killers in front of his home in Bogota. The union leader was hit by three bullets but was declared out of danger. One of the alleged attackers was killed, as was a street vendor caught in the crossfire between Borja's bodyguards and the attackers. One of Borja's bodyguards was wounded. Borja, president of the National Federation of State Workers (Fenaltrase) and a member of the Colombian Communist Party, blamed rightwing paramilitary groups for the attack, and said they had been threatening him recently. Borja has been part of a group seeking to initiate peace talks between the government and the National Liberation Army (ELN). Colombia's main labor federations, the Unitary Workers Federation (CUT), the General Confederation of Democratic Workers and the Colombian Workers Confederation (CTC), responded to the attack against Borja by calling a protest strike for Dec. 18. CUT president Luis Eduardo Garzon said 70 unionists have been murdered so far this year; other local organizations say that number is at least 116. Most were killed by rightwing paramilitaries. [El Nuevo Herald 12/16/00 from Reuters; La Republica (Lima) 12/16/00 from EFE] Meanwhile, Colombian defense minister Luis Fernando Ramirez said in an interview on Dec. 12 that some military officers have joined paramilitary groups or guerrilla groups because they can earn more money there than in the army. "I have to say that some people from the [military] institution even quit to go join the self-defense [paramilitary] and guerrilla groups because they were paying them more money," Ramirez told the Bogota daily El Tiempo. [LR 12/13/00 from AFP] *9. COLOMBIA: U'WA WIN FIDELITY DIVESTMENT, PICK NEXT TARGET Colombia's 5,000-member U'wa indigenous tribe has stepped up its campaign to stop the Los Angeles-based oil company Occidental Corp. (Oxy) from drilling on their traditional lands. On Dec. 12, U'wa chief Roberto Perez visited the San Francisco offices of investment firm Sanford C. Bernstein and delivered a letter of protest asking the company to dump its Oxy stock. Sanford C. Bernstein is the latest target in the campaign to defend U'wa land, after Boston-based Fidelity Investments dumped about 60% of its Oxy stock, worth over $400 million, in September following an extensive campaign against Fidelity by the U'wa and their supporters. A Fidelity spokesperson insisted that the 60% divestment from Oxy was "based solely on the merits of the company, and was not connected in any way to the U'wa campaign." Oxy began drilling at the Gibraltar 1 test well on U'wa land in early November, after months of delay due to court battles and protests [see Update #562]. [Reuters 12/13/00; U'wa Emergency Updates 12/6/00, 12/13/00] Fidelity's divestment came after demonstrations and civil disobedience actions were held at more than 75 Fidelity offices worldwide. Over the past year, the New York-based Sanford C. Bernstein Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Alliance Capital Management L.P., increased its shares by 10 million to become Oxy's top investor, and as of Nov. 29 controlled over 53 million shares of Oxy stock valued at more than $1.1 billion dollars. Sanford Bernstein's Vice Chair, Roger Hertog, can be reached at the company's headquarters at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153-0185; fax #212-756-4453; phone #212-756-4389. [U'wa Emergency Updates 12/6/00] Last April Hertog promised the U'wa that he would seriously investigate the matter and look into his company's investments in Oxy, then let the U'wa know his position. Since then, his company acquired the additional 10 million shares of Oxy stock without communicating again with the U'wa. [U'wa Working Group Press Release 12/12/00] === Weekly News Update on the Americas * Nicaragua Solidarity Network of NY 339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 * 212-674-9499 fax: 212-674-9139 http://home.earthlink.net/~dbwilson/wnuhome.html *[EMAIL PROTECTED] ===
