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Saturday,
October 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Bush gets power to wage war Talks between India, Pakistan must: Rocca
Open letter to Danish PM French wine, Danish food for Vajpayee Report on honour killings untrue: India |
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Bush gets power to wage war Washington, October 11 Handing Mr Bush a major victory, the Democratic-led Senate voted 77-23 for a war powers resolution negotiated between the White House and Congressional leaders backing a possible use of force to rid Iraq of suspected weapons of mass destruction and possibly oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. “With tonight’s vote in the US Senate, America speaks with one voice,’’ Mr Bush said in a statement, saying that the Congress “Has spoken clearly to the international community and the United Nations Security Council.’’ “Saddam Hussein and his outlaw regime pose a grave threat to the region, the world, and the USA. Inaction is not an option, disarmament is a must,’’ he said. Iraq pledged to give up weapons of mass destruction following the 1991 Gulf War. But the Bush administration accuses Saddam of developing those weapons in defiance of the UN Security Council resolutions — a charge Iraq denies. With Democrats divided on the Iraq issue, Mr Daschle — the top Democrat in the Congress — said the language of the resolution was much better than Mr Bush’s original proposal and was now “a statement of American resolve and values.’’ But West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd, who said Mr Bush had not shown that Iraq posed an immediate threat and argued the highly-charged vote should be put off until after the November 5 Congressional elections, worked to delay the vote, which came in the early morning hours. Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, a strong advocate of toppling Saddam, said the Iraqi leader’s “defiance, if not ended, is a threat to every nation that claims membership in the civilised world by virtue of its respect for law and fundamental human values.’’ But a number of Democrats said the resolution set a dangerous precedent for unilateral pre-emptive strikes, that Bush had not made a case that Iraq posed an imminent threat, and that conflict in Iraq would detract from efforts to root out terrorist groups they said posed a greater threat. Mr Bush insists the Security Council resolve to use force if Baghdad does not comply with inspections, with a threat now endorsed by the Congress that Washington would lead an attack if the United Nations does not. The Council is expected to hold an open debate on Iraq next week, perhaps even before a resolution on possible military action is formally introduced, council members said on Thursday. While Cameroon’s UN Ambassador, Martin Belinga-Eboutou, this month’s Council President, is consulting the body’s membership on a date, most members interviewed expect the meeting next week, possibly by Wednesday, with some 100 speakers addressing the Council. France, which is leading criticism of a US-drafted measure that was circulated informally, stands to benefit from a public meeting, where ambassadors may speak against any unilateral American military strike and in favour of giving weapons inspectors an opportunity to do their work first. The US draft would rewrite the ground rules for inspections and allow any UN member to decide, without further Council consultation, when Iraq has violated any terms of the new resolution and then launch a military strike. France wants two resolutions, which Russia and China back to varying degrees. The first would say that the Council had to meet immediately after a report by UN arms inspectors of “any serious failure by Iraq to comply with its obligations’’ and “consider any measure to ensure full compliance.’’ BAGHDAD:Iraqi generals threw open a sprawling complex that the USA suspects may be developing nuclear arms. Iraq insists it turns out nothing more deadly than toothbrushes. As Western and Iraqi reporters clambered on machine parts or skidded on machine oil, the latest tour showed what past outings have: How hard it would be for any eyes — untrained, in the skies, or expert — to see what Saddam Hussein might wish concealed. UNITED NATIONS: International law specialists, in a letter to the UN Security Council, challenged the legality of the kind of preventive war which Mr Bush has urged against Iraq. “There is no precedent in international law for use of force as a preventive measure in response to a potential threat of violence,” the lawyers said in a letter, to all 15 Council members, released on Thursday. Dated Tuesday, the letter was signed by Peter Weiss, president, Lawyers’ Committee on Nuclear Policy, New York, and by Jacqueline Cabasso, executive director, Western States Legal Foundation, Oakland, California, an affiliate of the Lawyers’ Alliance Against Nuclear Arms.
Agencies |
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Talks between India, Pakistan must: Rocca Washington, October 11 To deal with this challenge, Ms Rocca said the Bush administration was working with both sides to encourage dialogue. Calling the just concluded elections in Jammu and Kashmir a success, Ms Rocca said she hoped that it would be a first step towards peace in South Asia. “The Kashmiri people have shown they want to pursue the path of peace, and now it is time for India and Pakistan to do their part to resume diplomatic dialogue at the earliest possible opportunity,’’ she added. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has “repeatedly committed’’ to ending permanently support for infiltration from his country, she said. “Pakistan needs to hold to this pledge in order to begin resolving the immediate crisis and to remove more fundamental differences with India.’’ “We look to Islamabad to follow through on this commitment in a concerted and proactive manner,’’ she added. She said the USA also welcome the assurances that reports of irregularities, including alleged coercion by the security forces, would be fully investigated by the Indian authorities. Ms Rocca said the USA viewed India as a major emerging democratic power in the world as the President Bush’s National Security Strategy made clear. Counter-terrorism cooperation with India, she said, was also maturing rapidly, including intelligence sharing, training, finance and anti-money laundering cooperation, improving border security, fighting cyber-terrorism, and increasing mutual legal assistance. In the area of business and commerce, the USA and India had an on-going economic dialogue to facilitate private sector investment and cooperation.
UNI |
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Chand is new PM of Nepal Kathmandu, October 11 Mr Badri Prasad Mandal of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party is the Deputy Prime Minister in the new Cabinet while Narendra Bikram Shah, a former Foreign Secretary is the Foreign Minister. A renowned neurosurgeon has been appointed as the Health Minister while former Ambassador Badri Prasad Shrestha is the new Finance Minister. Mr Chand, 63, was the Prime Minister in a non-party government, from July 1983 to March 1986, before the Himalayan Kingdom adopted multi-party democracy in 1990. He has also served as the premier two times since then — from April 6, 1990 to April 19, 1990 and from March 12, 1997 to October 7, 1997. King Gyanendra sacked the Sher Bahadur Deuba government last week after the then Prime Minister asked for postponing the November general elections because of the Maoist threats. Earlier in the day, the King separately met senior leaders of six main parties — the Nepali Congress Party (Koirala faction), the National Democratic Party, the United Marxist-Leninists Party, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, the United Front and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party. WASHINGTON: A senior US official urged King Gyanendra to respect Nepal’s Constitution, after he delayed a deadline to cede the power he assumed after accusing his government of incompetence. The monarch earlier missed a self-imposed handover date to appoint an interim government after sacking Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Cabinet on October 4 over their handling of a vicious Maoist insurgency. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca yesterday renewed US support for Nepal’s battle against the Maoists, in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, a political think-tank. “As a friend of Nepal we believe the preservation of a constitutional monarchy and a multi-party democracy is critical to resolving this national crisis.
UNI, PTI |
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Open letter to Danish PM Copenhagen, October 11 The letter, written by Wallayat Khan, member of the Copenhagen City Council, was published as a half-page advertisement in Politiken, a newspaper. The following is the letter: “Dear Prime Minister, “You have got a high position at the European Union, but we have a Pakistani-Danish bond, and the people from Kashmir demand that in your meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, you should bring up the issue demanding that India should withdraw troops, and take steps to establish peace. It will not only help the people of Kashmir, but will also be fruitful for India and Kashmir. “Q-Pakistan is ready to take back its soldiers to peace-time position. Why not India? “Q-Pakistan is willing for unconditional dialogue with India. Why not India? “Q-Pakistan wants to talk to India. Why not India? “Q-Pakistan is going to reduce military budget. Why not India? “Q-For the benefit of Indians, why can’t India take steps? “Remember that Pakistan has given total support to your party, the Socialist People’s Party. Vajpayee has to stop accusing and threatening Pakistan.”
ANI |
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French wine, Danish food for Vajpayee Copenhagen, October 11 This was followed by turkey tournedos with lasagna of tomato, courgette and thyme, which was served with 1998 Jean Jacques Girard.
ANI |
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Report on honour killings untrue: India United Nations, October 11 India is of firm belief that “selective reproduction of unsubstantiated reports which are based on here say seriously affects the credibility and importance” of the report, said Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, Indian representative at the United Nations Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. He was referring to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s report which stated that the Special Rapporteur continued to receive reports of so-called honour killings from India, among other countries. He also took objection to the report contending that the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has worked to “ensure” that the issue of trafficking in women and girls is recognised in India. Stressing that this reference is “erroneous and misleading,” he said the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956 supplemented by the Indian Penal Code prohibits trafficking in human beings.
PTI |
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A dazzling show in the offing More than 1,300 artistes from 22 countries will converge on the Esplanade Theatres on the Marina Bay — at the world premiere of Singapore’s first world-class performing arts centre on October 12. The Esplanade is located on six hectares of prime waterfront land at the Bay, which is part of Singapore’s civic district. The Esplanade was inching towards its finishing touches when I visited Singapore in April. The 1,600-seat Concert Hall (with an additional 200 seats in the Gallery) has noteworthy acoustic features, including reverberation chambers, acoustic canopy and acoustic
curtains. These will enable the hall to effortlessly adapt to different music styles and to provide optimum sound quality. The Concert Hall also houses a pipe organ with 4,889 pipes and 61 stops which has been designed and built by Johannes Klais Orgelbau, one of the world’s renowned organ-building families. The 2,000-seat theatre is spread over four levels in an intimate horseshoe-shape style of traditional Italian opera houses. The theatre is designed to present all genres of the performing arts — from classical, traditional or contemporary dance to intimate or large-scale performances. Other features of the stage include two full-sized stages which facilitate swift scene changes, an adjustable proscenium arch that can be adjusted to suit any performance type and a large orchestra pit that can fit up 100 musicians The three-week opening festival from October 13 to November 3 will celebrate the finest of popular and
classical, traditional and contemporary forms of theatre, music and dance in all of Esplanade’s venues. The opening day of October 12 will feature an extraordinary show that will entertain and enthrall. Starting with an outdoor fiesta in the early evening, the dramatic official opening ceremony at sunset will precede the world premiere of “Reminiscing the Moon” . This is a creative collaboration between the Singapore Dance Theatre, international artistes and the Esplanade to commemorate the occasion. Meanwhile, the fiesta will continue with music, aerial acts, roving theatre and other activities along the 33-metre-long waterfront. The climax of the evening will be “Harbour Spectacular”, a dazzling 30-minute show specially created to unite the land, bay and sky around the Esplanade. October 20 will be a special night for Indian music lovers. Violin maestro, Dr L. Subramaniam, known for his superb blending of Carnatic and Western classical music, will perform for the first time with one of the world’s finest sarod players, Amjad Ali Khan. |
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15 DEAD IN BLAST IN CHECHNYA 3 DEAD IN INDONESIAN QUAKE CURFEW IN LANKA AS 3 DIE IN VIOLENCE CHINESE FORCE TO PROTECT TIBET’S FORESTS 4 SUSPECTED ISLAMIC TERRORISTS HELD IN ITALY IRA FACES CALLS TO DISBAND |
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PERVEZ TO RETAIN ARMY CHIEF'S POST 18 PAKISTANIS HELD IN MOROCCO |
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