Friday, September 18, 1998
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W O R L D | Friday, September 18, 1998 |
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India for pact on barring
N-strikes ANKARA, Sept 17 — The Indian President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, today cautioned the five internationally recognised nuclear powers that their monopoly over nuclear weapons could not be in the interest of world peace and said India was willing to join any agreement on the non-use of these weapons. Pak "agrees in principle" on talks with India ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 — Pakistan today said it had "agreed in principle" for the resumption of stalled dialogue with india but said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir must get priority. 3 more Vice-Premiers for Russia MOSCOW, Sept 17 — In the ongoing process of government formation, Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov has inducted three more Vice-Premiers in his Cabinet. |
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Landmine treaty becomes law 40 nations ratify pact DUBLIN, Sept 17 — A global treaty banning landmines has become the international law after it was ratified by 40 countries, a spokesman for the Nobel Prize winning group which fought to create it said. NLD likely to form
‘provisional’ govt Troops
massing for attack: Kabila Pak
ex-CJ denied pension?
Taliban
discover mass graves Divergent
views on Mandela’s remarks |
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India for pact on barring N-strikes ANKARA, Sept 17 (PTI) — The President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, today cautioned the five internationally recognised nuclear powers that their monopoly over nuclear weapons could not be in the interest of world peace and said India was willing to join any global agreement on the non-use of these weapons. Speaking at a banquet hosted by his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel, the President also expressed concern over international terrorism and said India was ready to associate itself with the international community to root out this menace. Stating that India pursued with passion the cause of peace and disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, Mr Narayanan said, "A monopoly over nuclear weapons in the hands of few powers cannot be in the interest of peace or equality in the world". He said India had unilaterally declared a moratorium on nuclear testing and would not be the first to use these weapons. "We are willing to join any agreement or arrangement that would ensure the non-use of these weapons and their phased elimination on a non-discriminatory basis," he said. "While the weapons of mass destruction threaten world peace, a new insidious threat has emerged in several parts of the world," he said adding that the international terrorism was causing untold sufferings to innocent people and seeking to destabilise nations and societies. Recalling Mr Demirel’s speech in 1973, Mr Narayanan said he had told him then that India and Turkey were the only two democracies and that by cooperating with each other, they could set an example of the success of democracy especially in the field of social and economic development to the Third World. Mr Narayanan in interviews to Turkish dailies asserted that the nuclear factor has made it compulsory for India and Pakistan to settle their differences peacefully, saying that New Delhi’s nuclear tests have become a catalyst in making the world think of the urgency of disarmament. "It is clear that both India and Pakistan have to evaluate very carefully the consequences before they involved in a clash... I think that from this point of view nuclear tests will have a possible impact’’. Emphasising that India’s nuclear capacity was no threat to world peace and it was only a deterrent, Mr Narayanan in a reference to Indo-Pakistan ties said "our destinies are bound together and the nuclear factor has made that bond tighter. It has made it compulsory for us to settle our differences peacefully.’’ "This will, may be paradoxically, introduce stability in our relationship as we will have to coexist,’’ he said. The President, who was an Ambassador to Ankara in the early seventies, said taking the total political and strategic environment into account, it was necessary for India to acquire nuclear weapons purely for defensive purposes and as a minimum deterrence. Mr Narayanan said nobody listened to India which has been talking about global nuclear disarmament ever since it conducted the first tests in 1974. Describing Turkey’s view calling for finding a solution to the Kashmir issue through bilateral talks between New Delhi and Islamabad as "constructive’’, Mr Narayanan said all secular nations have to guard against fundamentalism mixed with terrorism. Asked whether fundamentalism had affected Kashmir, the President said "the impact of terrorism is felt in Kashmir. However, we think we can deal with it’’. Commenting on the Afghan developments, the President said "New Delhi perceives fundamentalism, including terrorist elements as a danger for India and for the whole region. "Afghanistan is a country of various clans, various ethnic and religious groups. It is not possible to set up a single model, a fundamentalist regime, in the region. This problem cannot be solved by terrorism and violence. All the groups involved have to come together for finding a solution,’’ he said. Asked whether the Russian turmoil was causing concern to India, the President said that Russia’s stability was important to the rest of the world. That was the reason American President Bill Clinton rushed to Moscow recently. "We have major trade with Russia and we would like to see Russia stable, politically and economically’’. On the restructuring of United Nations, he said India favours reforms in the UN, "we feel that the Security Council should be representative of the multi-polar world. The developing countries which are technically and economically advanced should be represented.’’ Stating that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) had to struggle for democratisation of the UN. The President said it (NAM) has a more constructive role to play in economic cooperation. On bilateral issues, the President said Turkey and Indians have a basic affinity and praised Turkey’s economic progress as "phenomenal.’’ "We admire your consistent secular stand, despite your involvement in Islamic organisations. While being real Muslims in religion, you have maintained a secular attitude in politics and life which is a very significant development anywhere in the world,’’ he remarked. Turkey’s close ties
with Pakistan had never been seen as an obstacle in
improving friendship with India,’’ we
understand your friendship with Pakistan. Nevertheless,
this friendship should not be allowed to become an
obstacle to closer relation between Turkey and
India.’’ he added. |
Pak "agrees in principle" on talks with India ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 (PTI) — Pakistan today said it had "agreed in principle" for the resumption of stalled dialogue with india but said the "core issues" of peace and security and Jammu and Kashmir must get priority. "We have already agreed in principle that the dialogue should be resumed", Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tariq Altaf said here today. But he reiterated
Pakistan’s demand that the "core issues"
of peace and security and Jammu and Kashmir must get
priority in the resumed dialogue. To a question that what would be Pakistan’s standpoint to the Indian insistence that the dialogue should cover all the eight identified outstanding issues between the two countries and not only concentrate on one or two issues, he said "we have always said the dialogue should cover all eight issues but the only thing is that there are certain core issues which must get priority". He said Pakistan is committed to the discussions on all issues under the agreed agenda and "we stand by it". The two Prime Ministers
are meeting for the second time in less than two months
to break deadlock over the bilateral dialogue stalled
since September 1997. |
3 more Vice-Premiers for Russia MOSCOW, Sept 17 (UNI, Reuters) — In the ongoing process of government formation, Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, has inducted three more Vice-Premiers in his Cabinet. Mr Primakov has appointed Mr Alexander Shokin, leader of the “Our Home” party as Deputy Premier in a bid to allay fears about Communists dominating his Cabinet. Mr Vladimir Ryzhkov and Mr Vladimir Bulgak have been inducted as new Deputy Prime Ministers. The Prime Minister also inducted Mr Oleg Sysuev, a former Deputy Premier. The new Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Shokin has been given overall charge of financial affairs of the country. Official circles here hope Mr Shokin’s appointment will dispel fears of many supporters of the market economy regarding restoration of the Soviet model under Mr Primakov’s premiership. The key post of the Secretary of the National Security Council has been entrusted to Gen Nikolai Bordyuzha, who replaces Mr Alexander Kokoshin, who was dismissed last week for speaking against the downgrading of the rouble and making the national currency subservient to western financial institutions. Old Foreign Office hand Igor Ivanov had been inducted as the new Foreign Minister while Mr Igor Sergeev was retained as Defence Minister for his efforts to turn the Russian army into a professional one and his implementation of army reforms. Mr Sergei Stapashin was retained as Interior Minister due to his attempts to bring order in the disturbed areas in the Caucasus. Mr Sergei Shoigu was appointed as Minister for Emergencies. The new Russian Government has announced that it would soon present an interim budget before the Duma. The Budget would contain measures for clearing wage debts to employees of the state sector and the armed forces, sources said. Earlier President Yeltsin had said the process would take another week. Meanwhile, with a troika of anxious European Union Ministers arriving to hear how Mr Primakov and his Communist first Deputy Premier plan to haul Russia out of its deepest crisis in years, Russians queued up again to dump the slumping rouble for dollars. Many savers and some of Russia’s western creditors fear the new government may be tempted simply to print new roubles to pay off huge debts to state employees and pensioners. German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, arriving in Moscow for talks with British and Austrian colleagues, said Mr Primakov had the EU’s full confidence in dealing with the recession. “We will help him and we wish the new Russian Government luck,” Russia’s RIA news agency quoted Mr Kinkel as saying. But Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country holds the EU Presidency, took a rather different tone in remarks to German radio before flying to Russia. He suggested Western Europe, while unwilling to send more cash, should provide the Russians with economic experts. That is not an offer Mr Mrimakov is likely to accept — he has criticised the Western-inspired monetarism of previous failed governments and has looked to Soviet Perestroika-era experts instead. Mr Primakov had said he expected to name a full cabinet by the end of this week. Under the constitution, he has until Friday to present the President with his proposals. Communist leader Gennady
Zyuganov has said his party will take no part in
government with the exception of Mr Maslyukov — move
some analysts say reflects a reluctance to take the blame
for new hardships before elections are due within two
years. |
Landmine treaty becomes law DUBLIN, Sept 17 (Reuters) — A global treaty banning landmines has become the international law after it was ratified by 40 countries, a spokesman for the Nobel Prize winning group which fought to create it said. The West African state of Burkina Faso ratified the treaty yesterday, achieving the trigger number of signatories which would make it binding, Mr Steve Goose of the international campaign to ban landmines said. “It’s nice to have Burkina Faso being the one to make it a law since African countries are the most mine-affected in the world,” Mr Goose a delegate attending a landmines conference in the Irish capital, said. Jody Williams received the 1997 Nobel Peace prize on behalf of the anti-landmines campaign for its work to rid the world of a weapon, which according to the United Nations, kills or maims a child every hour. The treaty will force countries to destroy all stockpiles within four years, remove mines from the ground within 10 years and bind governments to compensate their victims. Major mine-producing
countries which had yet to ratify the treaty — the
USA, Russia and China — had nonetheless virtually
stopped exporting landmines due to the campaign, Mr Goose
said. |
NLD likely to form ‘provisional’ govt BANGKOK Sept 17 (Reuters) —Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) may mount a direct challenge to the military government by forming a provisional government, exiled NLD members said today. The NLD, led by charismatic 1991 Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, was likely to announce the move in the next few days, they said at a news conference here. The NLD yesterday said that 251 of its members who were elected during the last general election in 1990 had given a 10-member party committee the power to act and pass political resolutions on their behalf. The members never took their seats because the military government refused to recognise the results of the poll. “The 10-member committee which has a mandate from members will make the crucial announcement in the next few days, and most likely is going to declare the forming of a provisional government,” Mr Teddy Buri, elected to represent Mandalay in 1990, said. The NLD committee is chaired by party chairman Aung Shwe and includes Mr Suv Kyi. Most of the other members also sit on the NLD’s central committee. “I would like to take
this opportunity to appeal to the international community
to support such a government in case it is formed,”
Mr Buri added. |
Troops massing for attack: Kabila KINSHASA, Sept 17 (Reuters) — President Laurent Kabila has said his forces are massing to attack rebel-held towns in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking at a rally of about 30,000 Kinshasa residents yesterday to celebrate their victory over rebels in the last week of August, Mr Kabila said that despite the war Congo would go to the polls next year as planned. He drove to the rally in the eastern district on N’Djili in a heavily armed military convoy brimming with truck-mounted anti-aircraft guns and shock troops wielding machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades. “Don’t forget that the Ugandans are still in Kisangani and Bunia (in the north-east), and in the east the Rwandans are in Goma and Bukavu,” he said. “But all these towns are being encircled and our forces are massing up. The local inhabitants, who are following the example of Kinshasa, are arming themselves to take on the enemy.” Tutsi-led rebels, who took
up arms on August 2 in a bid to topple Mr Kabila, hold a
vast swathe of eastern Congo, including the towns of
Uvira, Bukavu and Goma. |
Pak ex-CJ denied pension? ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (PTI) —Ailing former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Sajjad Ali Shah, whose differences with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif led to a serious constitutional crisis last year, has alleged that the government was denying pension to him, but vowed to get it. Justice Shah, who is currently undergoing treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science for heart ailment, claimed that his pension papers were returned by the Supreme Court on the “flimsy” reason that his permanent address was not mentioned. He also said that the apex court was pressing him for vacating the official residence where he was still residing. “I have no permanent address in Pakistan and am living in the official residence, which the apex court wants me to vacate before they give me pension,” Justice Shah was quoted by the media here. He had been removed from office in December last year following a controversial order passed by a 10-member Bench which termed his appointment as illegal three years ago. Differences between Justice Shah and Prime Minister Sharif surfaced when the former Chief Justice opposed the government’s move to reduce the number of Supreme Court judges in August 1997. Later, Justice Shah summoned Mr Sharif in a contempt of court case and the situation led to the supporters of the ruling Muslim League Party storming the building in November 1997. The crisis led to the
resignation of the then President, Farooq Ahmed Khan
Leghari, who refused to accept the government’s
demand to cancel the appointment of Justice Shah. |
Clinton not to quit over Lewinsky issue WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (PTI) — US President Bill Clinton has said he had no plans to resign because of fall-out over the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal and assured that it had not affected his ability to lead the country. "They (American people want me to go on and do my job and that’s what I intend to do," Clinton told a joint news conference with visiting Czech President Vaclav Havel yesterday. Facing questions for the first time about the Lewinsky matter since independent counsel Kenneth Starr’s report on the affair was forwarded to US Congress on last Friday, Clinton insisted that the scandal was not affecting the conduct of foreign or domestic policy by him. He cited the Cruise missile attack on alleged terrorist camps in Afghanistan as proof that the controversy had not affected his ability to act. Clinton however, refused to say whether the graphic details about the sexual relationship with Lewinsky included in the report were true, saying he did not want to "get mired in all the details here." "I have atoned for it," he said adding that he was working on his "inappropriate relationship" with the former White House intern with his family. Clinton also did not offer any new explanation for his contention that he did not have sexual relations with Lewinsky based on a belief that oral sex did not constitute sexual relations. "I have said for a month now that I did something that was wrong," the President noted. DPA: "I have never stopped leading the country in foreign affairs this entire year and I never will,’’ he added. Clinton made the comments at the State Department during a press conference with visiting Czech President Vaclav Havel. In his first press conference since the release last week of documents by independent counsel Kenneth Starr, alleging 11 impeachable violations of the law, the embattled President ticked off a list of foreign and domestic policy endeavours he was and is engaged in, including efforts to stabilise the world economy, peace in northern ireland and the West Asia and the tinderbox of Kosovo. "My objective (in solving economic problems) was embraced by the leaders of the world,’’ Clinton stressed. Mr Clinton said his moral authority and leadership was being demonstrated every day. That was more important than the opinion of his opponents he added. He promised he would continue to pursue his agenda, "without obscuring my personal acknowledgement of what I did wrong and my determination to put things right.’’ among those to whom he needed to make amends, he said, was his family, Mr Clinton said. Clinton, who has admitted to an "improper relationship" with Lewinsky faces possible impeachment by the House of Representatives over alleged perjury and obstruction of justice in trying to cover up the liaison. Editorials in at least 30 newspapers have called on Mr Clinton to resign, citing his conduct and loss of moral authority, but latest opinion polls show the majority of Americans want him to stay in office although they disapprove of his private conduct. The House of
Representatives’ Judiciary Committee, which last
week released the report by Starr on his investigation of
the President, is expected to release a videotape of
Clinton’s testimony before a Special grand jury, a
prospect which has disquieted the White House, which
fears glimpses of a sometimes evasive and combative
Clinton could further erode public support. |
Editors crack down on Clinton cartoons RESTON (Virginia), Sept 17 (AP) — Drawing caricatures of US President Bill Clinton should be a snap these days for editorial cartoonists, given what is now known about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Right Not exactly. Editors are cracking down on some of the offerings and many are also policing themselves. “There’s a great temptation to treat it as a joke and there’s a lot of pressure to do so because of the subject matter,” said Tom Toles, editorial cartoonist for The Buffalo News. “This conversation should not be played out in a public forum,” he said during a break at an editorial cartoonists’ seminar sponsored by the American Press Institute, a group that helps train journalism professionals and educators. Mr Clinton’s affair with the former White House volunteer has provided plenty of material for late-night TV talk shows but hasn’t made work any easier for editorial cartoonists. The vulgar allegations that keep surfacing in the Clinton scandal and sensational details that spilled out of independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr’s report are far more outrageous than anything a cartoonist could get away with in a drawing meant for a newspaper. Most said they stay away from taking easy, and obvious, shots: “The better cartoonists will take the high road,” said Mike Keefe of the Denver Post. “You can be funny without being gross,” said Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Constitution. Syndicated cartoonist Paul Conrad, a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, showed some examples of recent drawings that never made it into print. One featured the President and his wife taking their dog for a walk. Mrs Clinton is leaning towards her husband. “Bill,” she asks, “as long as we’re neutering buddy. ...”. The drawing was axed by
Conrad’s editors, as well as by his syndicate. Most
cartoonists agreed that the nature of the
President’s latest scandal has pushed the line of
decorum further than ever. |
Judiciary panel chief ‘had affair’ WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (AFP) — The US lawmaker leading the panel that will decide whether to pursue impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton has admitted to having had an extra-marital affair himself. Following revelations published in the internet magazine, Salon, Conservative Republican Henry Hyde, one of the most respected members of Congress, acknowledged an affair in the 1960s, lasting more than four years, that shattered his mistress’ marriage. Mr Hyde (74) was apparently angered by the report, saying in a statement: “The only purpose for this being dredged up now is an obvious attempt to intimidate me and it won’t work.” In a letter to members of the US House Judiciary Committee, Mr Hyde warned that the White House could be trying to raise doubts about the committee members’ credibility. “Some supporters of
the President, possibly including the White House staff,
may be attempting to collect and disseminate derogatory
personal information about members of Congress,
particularly those serving on the House Judiciary
Committee,” Mr Hyde wrote. |
Taliban discover mass graves ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 (AFP) — The Taliban authorities have discovered three mass graves in northern Afghanistan containing the bodies of 900 Islamic militia soldiers, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported. The graves have been found near the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, a former opposition stronghold captured by the Taliban early last month, the private information service said yesterday, quoting Taliban sources. The sources said the Taliban soldiers buried in the graves were massacred in May, 1997, following an abortive attempt by the Islamic militia to take control of the area. The Taliban forces were
pushed out of Mazar-e-Sharif then by the forces of Uzbek
warlord Abdul Malik and Shia Hezb-I-Wahdat. Malik first
allied with the Taliban, but later turned against them. |
Divergent views on Mandela’s remarks JOHANNESBURG, Sept 17 (PTI) — Leaders of the Indian community in South Africa have expressed divergent views over President Nelson Mandela’s recent statement that those leaving the country were cowards. Mr Mandela had made the comment after a survey found that about 80 per cent of skilled professionals would leave the country if they had the chance. Mr Mandela attacked those wishing to join the “brain drain” saying: “We are convinced that the real South Africans are being sorted out in this process”. “The reason people are leaving this country is simply because the democratically elected government fails to give them protection. So they exercise their own freedom of movement,” said noted columnist, lawyer and former politician Pat Poovalingam. The survey found that most of the professionals of all racial groups want to emigrate mainly to the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Hundreds of those joining
the brain drain are professionals of Indian origin. |
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| Separatists agree to truce BILBAO (Spain) : The armed Basque separatist organisation, ETA, which has been waging a bloody 30-year campaign for a Basque state in northwestern Spain, has announced an open-ended truce, Euskadi Informacion newspaper said. It announced the truce in a communique to the newspaper late on Wednesday, saying it had “decided to make its contribution to the new political scenario of a dialogue by adjourning its armed activity”. — AFP Chilean President 30 feared dead Suharto’s
wealth Viagra tests ‘Princely’
bill Flights suspended ‘No talks
with Libya’ |
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