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REGIONAL NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 |
AsiaViews, Edition: 13/III/April/2006
New Delhi, April 5: US secretary of state Condoleeza Rice has described, for the first time, the US-India civilian nuclear energy agreement as a "strategic achievement." Giving up all pretence of a stand-alone civilian nuclear energy deal, Ms Rice informed the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Wednesday that "the initiative itself elevates the US-India relationship to the new strategic level that we desire" in the region and abroad.
Ms Rice said that India was "increasingly doing its part to support the international community?s efforts to curb the dangerous nuclear ambitions of Iran." Her opening remarks centred around the strategic importance of the deal for the US which with India was "laying the foundation for cooperation on major issues in the region and beyond." She took up the points of criticism voiced by US legislators and influential organisations within the US one by one in what emerged as a strong pitch to get the US Congress to see this agreement through without amendments and change.
Judging from initial reactions recorded by the Associated Press, Ms Rice was not entirely successful with the chair of the Senate committee, Republican Senator Richard Lugar, noting that while the deal would establish safeguards at more Indian nuclear reactors, "it would not prevent India from expanding its nuclear arsenal."
Significantly, Ms Rice?s stress on the strategic aspect of the agreement was in total variance with the Manmohan Singh government?s assurance to Parliament that the nuclear energy agreement was a stand-alone arrangement, and had no strategic dimension to it. The government had been emphatic in pointing out that the US was not using the agreement to derive strategic benefit or to pressure India on any related issues. Ms Rice, on the other hand, sought to convince her senators that the deal would derive tremendous strategic benefits for the US not just in the region but beyond.
Ms Rice also touched upon the economic aspect of the initiative by pointing out that it would add as many as "three to five thousand direct jobs in the US and about 10,000 to 15,000 indirect jobs in the US" as it would be able to engage in nuclear commerce and trade with India. She said that nuclear cooperation with India will provide a new market for American nuclear firms, as well as assist India?s economic development. Earlier, Ms Rice had said that India would purchase at least two of the seven or eight nuclear reactors it would be shopping for from the US. State department officials have pointed out over the past weeks that the agreement, if approved, would revive the US nuclear industry.
Ms Rice also said that through the agreement India had been brought into the nonproliferation framework and the regime had thus been strengthened. She took care to add that India should not join as a nuclear weapons state, "a view that we continue to hold." She pointed out that India had refused to accept a unilateral freeze or cap on its nuclear arsenal and while "we had raised this with the Indians, (they) had said that its plans and policies must take into account regional realities." She said that India could not accept an arms control agreement unless it included Pakistan and China.
The US secretary of state also insisted that the agreement did not complicate US relations with countries like North Korea or Iran. She said that India could not be compared to these countries for while they were violating their IAEA obligations, India was making new obligations by bringing the IAEA into its nuclear programme. Besides, India was supporting the international community?s efforts to curb Iran?s dangerous nuclear programme. She said the agreement would not lead to an arms race and was "simply seeking to address an untenable situation." She said it would enhance energy security. "In sum, the US-India civil nuclear cooperation," Ms Rice concluded, "is a strategic achievement."
Mr Lugar referred to the closed-door hearing held last Wednesday that had been attended by senior officials, including undersecretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns. He said that the discussions at that time had "only scratched the surface" and pointedly reminded Ms Rice of the need for the administration to continue to be "responsive." The US Congress appears to be sharply divided over the agreement, which is seen by some legislators as a strategic step forward while others, like Senator Barbara Boxer, Democratic member of the Foreign Relations Committee, was quoted by AP as saying: "I do not share the view that closer US-India ties will be a counterweight to China, which seems to be the unstated yet driving force behind the deal." She added: "This type of thinking is not only outdated and dangerous, it flies in the face of reality."
By: Seema Mustafa
The Asian Age April 6, 2006
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 )
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REGIONAL NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 |
AsiaViews, Edition: 13/III/April/2006
COLOMBO: There is a marked increase in the recruitment of children in the East for combat training by the LTTE.
Spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Helen Olafsdottir said, "the SLMM has observed a marked increase in child recruitment in the East presumably by the LTTE."
Olafsdottir said this on being asked by the Daily News if there was a drop in child recruitment campaigns propelled by the LTTE following the Geneva talks.
She was categorical in stating, "these incidents still remain open for inquiry. There is no ruling that the LTTE had recruited child soldiers so as to be charged with violation of the CFA for the recruitments."
However, there is a healthy maintenance of the CFA in spite of the situation she maintained and said there was no tension on the CFA in spite of recent incidents including the explosion of a Sri Lanka Navy vessel in the sea off Kalpitiya, which the Navy says they have evidence to prove that this was an attack carried out by the LTTE.
As pointed out by Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, six LTTE suspects which the Navy had arrested prior to the Kalpitiya incident had divulged information about those LTTE cadres who blew the Naval craft in Kalpitiya by detonating their own trawler.
Helen Olafsdottir said the SLMM was to have constant meetings with the two parties to implement the CFA in full force.
Meanwhile, the new SLMM chief Ulf Henricsson is expected to make minor changes in terms on the effective implementation of the CFA.
He is very concerned about the situation, said Olafsdottir.
By: Chamikara Weerasinghe
Daily News, Sri Lanka April 6, 2006
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 )
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REGIONAL NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 |
AsiaViews, Edition: 13/III/April/2006
COLOMBO: The country's economy is expected to show further buoyancy in 2006 with all key sectors on course to achieve their targets with the Government set to maintain the projected economic growth.
The robust performance of the industrial, agriculture and services sectors is expected to continue this year and inflation projected to drop drastically.
Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B.Jayasundera told the Daily News that according to 2005 statistics, the Sri Lankan economy has grown from six to 6.3 per cent while inflation declined to less than seven per cent on a year on year basis.
He said over a 12 month period the country's interest and exchange rates have also stabilised with international and official reserves reaching nearly $3 billion.
"The country's national debt in relation to the GDP has declined from 105 per cent in 2004 to 94 per cent in 2005. Overseas remittances have reached US$ 2.7 billion and they continue to remain buoyant in the first three months of 2006," Dr. Jayasundera said.
This development is in spite of the tsunami setback which had an adverse impact on tourism and fisheries. "Overall we expect development activities to proceed smoothly further strengthening the economy," Dr. Jayasundera added.
He said despite international competition apparel exports grew by 10 per cent in US$ terms and the Government was planning to set up dedicated economic zones for the textile industry attracting investors from the region which would further boost the garment sector.
According to the Central Bank, improvements in the agricultural sector in 2005 are expected to continue in 2006 with favourable weather conditions and improved water levels in the major reservoirs.
The industrial sector output is expected to benefit from the sustained external demand, the expansion in capacity and improved market access. Value addition from power generation is projected to increase as a result of the higher proportion of hydropower generation.
The performance in the Services Sector in 2005 with the improved performance in port services, telecommunication, trade, and financial services sub-sectors is expected to continue in 2006.
The Central Bank also states that international trade is expected to expand further in 2006 benefiting from the sustained external demand.
The volume of monthly tea exports reached the highest ever record of 24.9 million kgs in January 2006 on the back of higher demand from Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States and Syria.
The total export earnings from tea increased by 4.0 per cent to US$ 67 million in January 2006.
By: Channa Kasturisinghe
Daily News, Sri Lanka April 6, 2006
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 )
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REGIONAL NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 |
AsiaViews, Edition: 13/III/April/2006
A court decision reinstating a reputed organized crime kingpin as a parliamentary candidate in Kyrgyzstan is prompting widespread concern about the Central Asian nation?s stability.
On April 3, the Supreme Court overturned a Central Election Commission (CEC) decision, enabling controversial entrepreneur Ryspek Akmatbayev to run in a parliamentary by-election. The CEC had earlier disqualified Akmatbayev, saying he did not meet a residency requirement. Akmatbayev is now widely viewed as the favorite to win the April 9 vote to fill the vacant parliamentary seat once held by his brother, Tynychbek, who was murdered during a prison riot in 2005.
According to civil society activists, the court decision concerning Akmatbayev?s candidacy was heavily influenced by politics, and has damaged President Kurmanbek Bakiyev?s image. Many observers believe that Bakiyev engineered Akmatbayev?s reinstatement to further the president?s own political ends. In helping to disperse a Bishkek protest of Akmatbayev supporters on March 31, Bakiyev urged the candidate to file an appeal.
Edil Baisalov, the leader of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, a local non-governmental organization, assailed the president for what he characterized as a move toward "the legitimization of gangsterism." He said that civil society advocates were striving to organize a popular demonstration on April 8 in an attempt to exert pressure on the government to implement a stabilization program. The country has been plagued by crime and corruption since the 2005 Tulip revolution.
Akmatbayev?s candidacy also appears to have unnerved Russia, which has been competing with the United States for influence in Kyrgyzstan. Commenting on Akmatbayev?s parliamentary ambitions, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said that Moscow was "closely watching the situation in Kyrgyzstan, but by no means will interfere in the internal affairs of this country."
"We are interested in seeing [Kyrgyzstan] developing progressively," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Kamynin as saying April 4. "We [Russian officials] believe that the leadership and public and political forces of the [Kyrgyz] republic, supported by effective legislation, will be able to neutralize any attempts by local criminals to break through into government bodies."
Akmatbayev, who was acquitted of murder charges in January, denies any links to organized crime. The CEC has said it will appeal the Kyrgyz court ruling, but political analysts generally believe that the decision will stand, given the existing domestic political circumstances.
Political analyst Nur Omarov is among those analysts who believe Akmatbayev?s candidacy is beneficial for Bakiyev, who has been engaged in power struggles against both the Kyrgyz parliament and Prime Minister Feliks Kulov. The sudden reversal on Akmatbayev?s candidacy is fueling the perception among the population that the presidential administration has entered into a tactical alliance with leaders of the country?s underworld. "Unfortunately, the incoherent steps on the part of authorities has led people to assume that the country?s leadership has become dependent on criminals," Omarov said.
Akmatbayev?s entry into the legislature could provide Bakiyev with a wedge with which he could divide MPs and thus reduce parliamentary opposition to his efforts to retain a strong presidential system in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, Akmatbayev is an avowed enemy of Kulov.
While Bakiyev stands to gain if Akmatbayev wins as expected the country could end up being a big loser. Political analyst Syrgak Abdyldayev said several international organizations would consider downgrading its activities in Kyrgyzstan if Akmatbayev gained a parliamentary seat. "The legitimization of Akmatbayev would play a negative role in politics," Abdyldayev said.
An Akmatbayev victory would discredit the parliament in the eyes of many Kyrgyz and could serve as the catalyst for a movement to dissolve the legislature and call new elections ? a development that would appear to be to the president?s liking.
Omarov agreed that the court ruling has the potential to touch off a chain of events that culminates in the parliament?s dissolution. At the same time, it could merely raise the stakes in the confrontation between the executive and legislative branches. Omarov suggested that anti-Bakiyev MPs could take steps to counter the president, possibly finding a pretext to prevent Akmatbayev from taking his seat in the event that he wins the parliamentary race. "It all depends on the parliament?s action," Omarov said.
Eurasianet April 5, 2006
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 December 2010 06:12 )
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