W O R L D

India demands greater voice in
United Nations
Jakarta, April 20
India today asked Asian and African countries to join hands in shaping “a new United Nations” that would give them “greater voice” in its decision-making process.

External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh (right) with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda after the opening of the Asia-Africa Ministerial Meeting at the Jakarta Convention Centre on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

WB shortlists panel of experts for Baglihar dam
Islamabad, April 20
The World Bank has shortlisted a panel of experts for arbitration on the Baglihar dam dispute, Dawn learnt through Washington-based diplomatic sources on Tuesday.

Kishanganga project talks on May 7
Islamabad, April 20
Pakistan today said a team of Indian officials and experts would be here on May 7 for talks on the Kishanganga hydropower project.

We’ll not allow IAEA inspectors into Pak: Pervez
Manila, April 20
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said today he would never allow foreign inspectors into the country to examine its nuclear facilities.

Five new LeT aliases on US terror list
Washington, April 20
Taking its global war on terror forward, the US State Department has in a public notice amended its Executive Order of September 23, 2001, on the list of terrorists and terrorist groups worldwide to include five more transliterations by the which the militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba is reportedly known by.

China invites Taiwanese leader for talks
Beijing, April 20
In a significant move to ease cross-straits tensions, China has invited a top Taiwanese opposition leader to visit the mainland later this month for the first high-level political exchanges between the two sides since 1949.

Benedict XVI expected to be Pope with a mission
Vatican City, April 20
Pope Benedict XVI may travel less than his globetrotting predecessor, but few expect him to act like a caretaker Pope.

India demands greater voice in United Nations
Jaishree Balasubramanian

Jakarta, April 20
India today asked Asian and African countries to join hands in shaping “a new United Nations” that would give them “greater voice” in its decision-making process.

“This is a forum where, we the countries of Africa and Asia, should determine to shape a new United Nations that gives us a greater voice in its decision-making processes so that the UN becomes an effective and efficient instrument to tackle shared threats and meet shared needs,” External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh told the Asian-African Ministerial Meeting here.

Noting that the UN was set up in 1945 and was based on the power realities of that time, Mr Natwar Singh said “it is now necessary to undertake the reform of the United Nations, the Bretoon Woods institutions and in particular the UN Security Council, to reflect the realities of 2005.”

In this context, he felt, it was important to increase the membership of the UN security council.

Foreign Ministers from over 40 countries are here to attend the ministerial meeting, a precursor to the Asian-African Summit 2005 to be held on April 22 and 23. The summit will also pay tributes to the founding of the grouping 50 years ago in Bandung where India was led by its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955. — PTI

WB shortlists panel of experts for Baglihar dam
Qudssia Akhlaque
By arrangement with The Dawn

Islamabad, April 20
The World Bank has shortlisted a panel of experts for arbitration on the Baglihar dam dispute, Dawn learnt through Washington-based diplomatic sources on Tuesday.

The move has come in response to Pakistan's request for appointment of a neutral expert to settle the lingering issue.

The bank would soon despatch the list of experts to the governments of Pakistan and India for their feedback, the sources said, adding the bank would ask the two countries to indicate their nominee within a reasonable time-frame, most likely a month.

The panel includes experts of international repute on water disputes, mostly Europeans and Americans.

A leading World Bank expert notes that a neutral expert could be nominated in consultation and consent with both parties.

In case Pakistan and India differ in their choice of expert then the Bank would first ask them to select a consensus candidate by themselves.

If the two countries fail to do so, the Bank would use its own discretion to appoint the expert, the sources said.

The Government of Pakistan formally sought the World Bank mediation over the dispute on January 17. Under Article 9 (2) (a) of the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan can seek the intervention of the World Bank which brokered the treaty.

The bilateral water-sharing treaty gives both countries the third-party option.

Kishanganga project talks on May 7

Islamabad, April 20
Pakistan today said a team of Indian officials and experts would be here on May 7 for talks on the Kishanganga hydropower project.

“This is yet another project where massive violation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 is taking place,” Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Jalil Abbas Jinali told mediapersons here this afternoon.

“An Indian team has been invited to Pakistan on May 7 to discuss the project,” Mr Jilani said, adding: “We have already asked the Indian government to discuss the project under 9(1) of the treaty.” He reiterated if there was no agreement (on Kishanganga), obviously this would be yet another case, which would go to the World Bank.

On the Baglihar dam issue, he said in case India was sincere in resolving the issue, they must stop construction on the project.

Mr Jilani had recently linked the resumption of bilateral talks on the Baglihar hydropower project with an immediate halt to the ongoing construction of the dam by India.

“We can go for bilateral track provided work on the project is stopped and discussions held under the Indus Water Treaty of 1960,” Mr Jilani said.

On January 18 this year, Pakistan had approached the World Bank after the collapse of the last round of talks between the water officials in New Delhi for the appointment of a neutral expert for the settlement of the dispute on Baglihar, which Pakistani officials claim is being constructed by India on the Kishanganga. — UNI

We’ll not allow IAEA inspectors into Pak: Pervez

Manila, April 20
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said today he would never allow foreign inspectors into the country to examine its nuclear facilities.

“That is tantamount to admitting that we cannot be trusted in our own house,” he told a breakfast meeting of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

Asked whether he would allow inspectors from the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the country’s nuclear facilities, General Musharraf said: “Why?”

“Our nuclear programme is for the protection of the people of Pakistan,” he said.

“You have to understand that this is a very sensitive issue for us.

“And our people are sensitive to outsiders coming into our country asking questions. It’s as though we cannot be trusted,” he said. — AFP

Five new LeT aliases on US terror list

Washington, April 20
Taking its global war on terror forward, the US State Department has in a public notice amended its Executive Order of September 23, 2001, on the list of terrorists and terrorist groups worldwide to include five more transliterations by the which the militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba is reportedly known by.

In the new Executive Order dated April 13 and announced publicly on Tuesday (April 19), the State Department said that it had received intelligence that suggested that the Lashkar-e-Toiba was using five new aliases in addition to the seven that were already listed by it.

The order was issued on the eve of General Musharraf’s visit to Delhi as part of his cricket diplomacy initiative. It was indicative of Washington’s determination to crackdown on terrorist organisations across the board, and particularly in the Indian subcontinent.

The order said that the five new aliases viz. Paasban-e-Kashmir, Paasban-i-Ahle-Hadith, Pasban-e-Kashmir, Pasban-e-Ahle-Hadith and Paasban-e-Ahle-Hadis would be added to the present list to ensure effective security measures against their representatives as and when they showed up.

The Lashkar-e-Toiba is already known by the following names — Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (Let), Lashkar-i-Taiba, Al Mansoorian, Al Mansooreen, Army of the Pure, Army of Righteous and Army of the Pure and Righteous. — ANI

China invites Taiwanese leader for talks

Beijing, April 20
In a significant move to ease cross-straits tensions, China has invited a top Taiwanese opposition leader to visit the mainland later this month for the first high-level political exchanges between the two sides since 1949.

Lien Chan, Chairman of the Kuomintang Party of Taiwan, will hold a historic meeting with Hu Jintao, Chinese president and general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), on April 29, party officials said today.

Apart from Beijing, Lien will also visit other mainland cities of Nanjing, Xi'an and Shanghai from April 26 to May 3, officials said. Kuomintang is the main opposition party of Taiwan.

The meeting with Hu during Lien's eight-day visit will mark the first high-level contact in almost 56 years between the two parties since the defeated Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan after a bitter civil war and the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.

It follows a recent ice-breaking trip made to Beijing by the party's Vice-Chairman Chiang Pin-kung, during which he met Jia Qinglin, the fourth-ranked leader in the CPC's hierarchy.

However, the Kuomintang's move to have high-level political exchanges with the CPC has angered Taiwan's pro-independence minded President Chen Shui-bian.

Chen, who ended more than five decades of Kuomintang party rule in Taiwan by defeating Lien in the 2000 presidential elections, has warned Lien against making the visit without government. — PTI

Benedict XVI expected to be Pope with a mission
Richard Boudreaux

Vatican City, April 20
Pope Benedict XVI may travel less than his globetrotting predecessor, but few expect him to act like a caretaker Pope.

Rather, the 78-year-old pontiff is expected to pursue an activist agenda, topped by a mission to revitalise the Catholic faith and identity where it is threatened by secularism, particularly in Europe.

But after persuading two-thirds of the College of Cardinals to elect him, the new pontiff must now lead a one-billion-member flock that is deeply divided over the church's direction and his own promise to stay the course. How he will persuade Catholics that he is pastor to them all is uncertain.

The mixed reaction to the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger reflects his familiar role as a lightning rod for the harshest criticism levelled at John Paul's 26-year reign.

Catholics around the world welcomed Ratzinger's election as an act inspired by God. Many others said they were in shock.

‘‘This is a disaster,’’ said Rea Howarth, co-director of the Quixote Center, a Catholic lay organisation based in Brentwood that is involved in human rights work in Latin America. ‘‘The church has lost so much credibility. Now I'm afraid that more Catholics will just turn their backs and walk away.’’

‘‘Ratzinger is a polarising figure, who seems to prefer combativeness to compromise and compassion,’’ said Mary Grant, a spokeswoman for Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

But some prominent critics of Ratzinger said they were hoping for something different in Pope Benedict.

The new Pope is expected to stress ‘‘culture of life’’ issues, doing battle against gay marriage, euthanasia and stem cell research. He would ensure that theological speculation is contained within narrow limits.

— By arrangement with the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post