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| Monday,
January 22, 2001, Chandigarh, India    |
Israel, Palestinians agree to marathon
talks Asians laud Bush; China
silent Kabila’s allies
to meet today |
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B’desh, Myanmar commanders
meet DHAKA, Jan 21 — The much-awaited flag meeting between commanders of the border security forces of Bangladesh and Myanmar was held in Maungow, a town in Myanmar, on Saturday.
Clinton’s farewell gesture to convicts |
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Offices
in Pak not closed: Taliban Scandal may force
minister out
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Israel, Palestinians agree to marathon talks JERUSALEM, Jan 21 (Reuters) — Israeli and Palestinian negotiators planned to launch marathon peace talks in Egypt on Sunday with time fast running out for a deal before Israel’s prime ministerial election on February 6. “We will make a maximum effort to reach an agreement, but the gaps are still wide,” senior Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Korei told Reuters yesterday. The ministerial-level talks, widely expected to last a week to 10 days, will be held in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Taba and could give a new push to the West Asia peacemaking in the early days of George W. Bush’s US presidency. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ehud Barak today said his aim was to put an end to Israeli rule over the Palestinians as the two sides launched a major push for a breakthrough in talks at an Egyptian resort. But Barak, who trails badly in opinion polls as a February 6 election approaches, also said he was holding firm on the key issues that led to breakdowns in previous peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. “I promise ... to end the occupation and the rule over another people,” Barak said on army radio. However, no final deal appeared possible without agreement on Jerusalem’s most contested religious site and the fate of some 4 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants. “Israel will not accept under any circumstances the right of return of (Palestinian) refugees to Israel,” Barak said, rejecting a fundamental Palestinian demand. “As prime minister I will not sign any document which hands over sovereignty on the temple Mount to the Palestinians,” he added. The new US President, George W. Bush, is likely to keep his distance from the peace process. But Palestinian negotiators have appealed to Bush to get actively involved. Israel’s “peace Cabinet” of senior ministers decided on Saturday to agree to the talks proposed during a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami. Diplomatic sources said Barak saw almost no chance of a swift agreement. “The US peace team, under Clinton, committed a big sin and mistake by trying to cancel the terms of reference of the peace process that were agreed by the USA and the world,” wrote newspaper editor Akram Haniyeh, an adviser to Arafat. “Therefore the Palestinians want the Bush administration to reiterate adherence to the same agreed basis of the peace process,” Haniyeh wrote in a front-page article published on Friday in the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam. Haniyeh was referring to UN resolutions that call on Israel to trade occupied land for secure and recognised borders and for the return of refugees who fled or were forced to leave their homes in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. “We are prepared for serious negotiations and hope the Israeli side will come with the readiness to implement UN resolutions 242, 338 and 194,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said after Israel announced it would attend the talks. However, Israel’s dovish Justice Minister, Yossi Beilin, who was due to participate in the negotiations, told reporters the talks would focus on achieving a framework agreement based on Clinton’s ideas. Besides Beilin, the Israeli delegation will include Ben-Ami, Cabinet Minister Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Barak aide Gilad Sher. Korei, Erekat and Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo will be leading members of the Palestinian team. In the latest twist in 17 weeks of violence, Israeli undercover soldiers in the West Bank arrested a Palestinian university student suspected of being the woman who used an Internet chat room to lure an Israeli teenager to his death. Ofir Rahum, 16, left his home in southern Israel on Wednesday for a rendezvous in Jerusalem with a woman. Rahum’s bullet-riddled body was found on Thursday outside the West Bank city of Ramallah, north of Jerusalem. |
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Asians laud Bush; China silent HONG KONG, Jan 21 (AFP) — Asian leaders congratulated President George W. Bush on his inauguration today and expressed hope the new us administration would continue to promote peace and economic prosperity in the region. The only slightly ominous silence came from China, which opted not to send any message and whose official press ignored the proceedings. Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf was equally confident that the new President would continue to push for peace in South Asia. “Over the past half century, Pakistan-us relations have contributed positively to regional and international peace and stability. We look forward to working together with you to consolidate this long standing relationship,” General Musharraf said. He expressed the confidence that under Bush’s leadership the USA would continue to play a vital role in promoting international peace and harmony. Warm congratulations were also forthcoming from Nepal, where King Birendra pledged support for the Bush administration. However there was no congratulatory message from China, where Bush’s plan to press ahead with a more aggressive defence agenda has raised some hackles. The official press made no mention of the inauguration ceremony nor did it carry any pictures. Bush’s plan to press ahead with a missile defence system could trigger an arms race between the two major powers, military analysts have said. Beijing fears a regional version of the system would be used to protect Taiwan from a possible Chinese attack, although Bush has yet to comment on us policy on Taiwan. |
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Kabila’s allies
to meet today HARARE, Jan 21 — Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe left Harare on Sunday for Angola for an urgent summit of key allies of assassinated Congo President Laurent Kabila, Zimbabwe an government officials said. The officials told newsmen that Mugabe would join Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Namibian President Sam Nujoma and a senior minister representing Congo’s new interim president, Joseph Kabila at the meeting in Luanda. The three leaders deployed thousands of troops in Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998 under the banner of the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help Kabila fight rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda. They have all pledged to continue supporting the former Zaire after the death of Kabila, who was shot by one of his bodyguards last Tuesday. “The president (Mugabe) is going to join his colleagues, the other leaders of the SADC allied forces fighting in the DRC, (they) are going to review the situation in the DRC after the sad and unfortunate murder of President Kabila,” one official said. After Kabila’s death, the Zimbabwean government vowed it would not pull out of Congo “at its greatest hour of need” but Defence Minister Mahachi declined to be drawn on whether Zimbabwe would send in more troops. Zimbabwe has about 11,000 soldiers in the Congo — over a quarter of its 40,000-strong army. In his condolence message, Mugabe praised Kinshasa for its handling of the aftermath of Kabila’s assassination but called on the international community to back the search for peace. His government has pointedly refused demands at home to withdraw from Congo following Kabila’s death. Political analysts say the business interests of some of his associates in the vast mineral-rich central African country has tied Zimbabwe to a war that cannot be won militarily, and where a dignified exit is going to be difficult to find. Meanwhile, the body of assassinated Congo President Laurent Kabila arrived in the capital, Kinshasa, today from his home city of Lubumbashi, state television showed. The coffin containing the body of Kabila arrived aboard a plane at Kinshasa’s N’djili airport shortly after noon. The body is expected to lie in state Kinshasa’s People’s Palace before being buried on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Congo’s new leader Joseph Kabila will be officially sworn in as President after his father’s funeral due on Tuesday, Justice Minister Mwenze Kongolo said yesterday. “He’s the President of the republic,” said Mwenze, in the first government news conference since President Laurent Kabila was shot last Tuesday. “We thought we should pick somebody we all could trust and the name of Joseph Kabila came up,” said Mwenze, who dismissed a common criticism on the streets of Kinshasa that their choice was tantamount to making Congo a monarchy. Mwenze also said the widespread belief that Joseph’s mother was from Rwanda was untrue. He said she was from eastern Congo’s Bangu-Bangu tribe.
— Reuters |
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B’desh, Myanmar commanders
meet DHAKA, Jan 21 — The much-awaited flag meeting between commanders of the border security forces of Bangladesh and Myanmar was held in Maungow, a town in Myanmar, on Saturday. The meeting, concluded in the evening, however, was not conclusive as the Myanmar side assured to inform the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) about their decision regarding the construction of embankment in the Boat Khal on January 23. Bangladesh had earlier requested to stop construction. However, both sides agreed to restrain till a joint survey is conducted as agreed upon at the diplomatic level to ease tension. Meanwhile, reports from the nearby Coxsbazar district town indicates that the disputed embankment , part of which was constructed by Myanmar, has been washed away by high’ tide. A BDR team, headed by Col Rafiqur Rahman, returned to Coxsbazar yesterday evening from Maungow. The Myanmar forces’ delegate did not raise the demand of removal of shrimp cultivation farms in Bangladesh on the bank of the Naf river. Similar farms exist on the Myanmar side also. With the flag meeting and understanding at the diplomatic level, it seems that the tension is over for the time being. There was a two-hour long fire exchange between the two border forces on January 8. Nasaka had refused thrice to hold the flag meeting. Finally, they relented and held the meeting. |
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Harris Republicans’ Joan of Arc WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) — Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris was canonised as the Joan of Arc of the Republican Party on Saturday night, in a triumphant onstage appearance at her home state’s inaugural ball. “In France it was Joan of Arc; in the Crimea it was Florence Nightingale; in the deep south there was Rosa Parks; in India there was Mother Teresa and in Florida there was Katherine Harris,” said singer Larry Gatlin as he introduced Harris to an adoring crowd of Florida Republicans. Republican Harris played a key role in delivering Florida and therefore the presidency to George W. Bush by making a series of decisions as Secretary of State that thwarted Al Gore’s attempts to have disputed votes recounted. Elegant in a low-cut strapless black taffeta evening gown, Harris took to the podium at the National Building Museum to loud cheers and whistles — only minutes after President Bush had finished his traditional inaugural waltz with the First Lady. “We just thank you so very much for your prayers, your letters of support, your flowers, your encouragement during the count and the recount,” Harris said. “And today we have a president of the USA. It is going to be a great next four years — eight years. God bless America.” With her trademark flowing locks, unusually thick makeup and unswerving devotion to the Bush family, Harris became a central character in the protracted post-election drama. For her efforts she was vilified as Cruella de Vil, the villain of Disney film “101 Dalmatians.” For the inaugural ball Harris wore only subtle makeup — although the generous mascara remained — and enjoyed being likened to a Catholic saint (Joan of Arc), nurse Florence Nightingale, revered civil rights activist Rosa Parks and the late Catholic nun and champion of the poor, Mother Teresa of Kolkata. Speaking to Reuters before she made her surprise address to the crowd, Harris dismissed suggestions she would receive an appointment from the Bush administration. Harris also declared she wanted to stay on the list of worst dressed women of 2000 — even after self-styled fashion maven “Mr. Blackwell” took her off the list for improving her appearance. “I want to stay on the list because I was in extremely good company — Elizabeth Hurley and Madonna. I’m not as glamorous as them,” Harris said. Bush’s brother Jeb, the Governor of Florida, was also mobbed by the crowds at the inaugural ball, but he made no appearance onstage. “I’m pleased and proud,” Bush told Reuters of his elder brother’s inauguration as 43rd President. “I’m also pleased to be here with all of my friends from Florida because we made it happen.” |
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Clinton’s farewell
gesture to convicts WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (PTI, Reuters) — Outgoing US President Bill Clinton, in one of his final executive acts exercised his presidential prerogative to pardon about 100 American convicts including his brother Roger Clinton and former partner Susan McDougal. Other convicts who received presidential clemency included the former CIA Director John Deutch, former Cabinet Member Henry Cisneros, newspaper heiress Patty Hearst and former Navaho Nation chief Peter MacDonald. Clinton’s brother, Roger Clinton was sentenced to two years imprisonment after pleading guilty in 1985 to conspiring to distribute cocaine. Clinton’s former partner in Whitewater land deal Susan McDougal’s pardon came just a day afer the Whitewater investigation was closed down under a deal in which Clinton accepted some penalties for giving false testimony in the Monica Lewinsky affair. Former CIA director John Deutch took home his office work which he was not supposed to do, while former Cabinet member ex-Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros, was convicted in a controversy over payments to an ex-mistress. Among those who were disappointed for not getting presidential clemency included Webster Hubbell — a former law partner of Hillary Clinton, Jonathan Pollard — a former navy analyst, one-time Wall Street financier Michael
Milken. Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland): Former President Bill Clinton thanked members of his administration on Saturday for “the ride of my life” as he bade them farewell and headed for his new home in New York state. “You gave me the ride of my life, and I’ve tried to give as good as I got,” Clinton told about 2,000 members of his administration and supporters in a departure ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base. Clinton made clear that although he had left the presidency with the inauguration of President George W. Bush, he would not depart from the public stage. Referring to a supporter’s sign, he said, “You see that sign there that says ‘Please don’t go?’ I left the White House, but I’m still here. We’re not any of us going anywhere.” “If you really believe in what we did these last eight years, you do not have to be in the position of power in government to advance those causes,” he said. He also appeared to hand the mantle of leadership to his wife, US Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying “We’ve got a senator here who will be a voice for you.” |
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Offices
in Pak not closed: Taliban ISLAMABAD, Jan 21 (PTI) — The Taliban today
dismissed as “baseless” reports that Pakistan had ordered the
immediate closure of all offices of the Afghanistan’s ruling militia
in the country. “We have neither closed our offices in Pakistan nor received any order for the closure from the Pakistani authorities,” Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef said. United
Nations: The UN has said it had credible reports that Afghanistan’s Taliban militia had summarily executed more than 100 civilians after taking back a strategic town from the opposition earlier this month. The victims were largely Hazaras, a mostly Shiite Muslim ethnic group that has often been targeted by the Taliban, who accuse them of supporting the opposition. |
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Scandal may force
minister out TOKYO, Jan 21 (Reuters) — Pressure is growing on Japan’s Economics Minister to step down from his cabinet post over cash he allegedly received from a scandal-hit insurance company, Japanese media reported yesterday. The resignation of Fukushiro Nukaga, the Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy, would be yet another blow to the already ailing leadership of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. |
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