 |
Friday,
December 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
UN extends Iraq plan for 6 months Quattrocchi hearing adjourned Lanka, LTTE wrap up political
deal Russia misled by ‘Indian propaganda’ |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Maoists attack police posts, 3 cops killed India tells Israel to end
violence
|
|
UN extends Iraq plan for 6 months United Nations, December 5 After more than a week’s haggling and negotiations, the council unanimously adopted the compromise resolution hours before a nine-day extension to the programme was to expire yesterday. The USA had insisted that the programme be extended for 90 days. But, that was not acceptable to other members. The 90-day period would have ended in early March which, analysts said and other council members feared, might coincide with possible American action against Iraq. In that case, the USA could have held up the extension till after the war. Earlier, Washington proposed a two-week extension to allow it to add some items to the more than 400-page list of thousands of items for the import of which Iraq needs the permission of the council. Russia backed by other members of the council circulated an amendment to the US proposal which would have extended the programme automatically after two weeks. In the negotiations that followed, Washington, faced with opposition from all other members to its proposal, okayed six-month extension after Russia agreed to review the list within 30 days. Moscow had spearheaded the opposition to the US proposal. Reports have suggested that the USA wants to add some 50 items which include antidotes to chemical and biological agents and devices which could be used for jamming its “smart weapons” which find targets with the help of satellite based Global Positioning System (GPS). Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Lavrov described the adoption of resolution as victory for the Security Council and common sense. “I would say it is victory for Iraqi people,” he said. Earlier, Secretary-General Kofi Annan had reminded the council that the programme was meant for common Iraqi people. US Ambassador John Negroponte told reporters that the USA would swiftly move to present the additions to the list so that Iraq does not take advantage of loopholes to import materials and items which would strengthen its capabilities for producing conventional arms and weapons of mass destruction. Diplomats said, “The USA has made a “wise” decision that preserves council unity and keeps the humanitarian programme going without making it “hostage” to approval of an updated list of goods with possible military applications”. The programme was to expire on November 25 midnight but was extended for nine days to give diplomats time to hammer out an agreed approach. Iraq, which is moving very cautiously, did not stop pumping oil during the nine days and exported around 1.7 million barrels a day. The programme is monitored closely by the UN which runs the escrow account in which revenue of sale of oil is deposited and payments are made for the goods imported by Iraq. PTI |
|
Quattrocchi hearing adjourned Kuala Lumpur, December 5 Hearing an Indian petition challenging a Sessions Court verdict rejecting the plea for Quattrocchi’s extradition to stand trial in the Bofors pay-off case, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Augustine Paul said the charges against the businessman were vague and India should have been more “assertive in determining their legal stand.” “We are all left in the jungle of Bofors,” the Judge said, observing that New Delhi should at least have submitted “tentative charges” against Quattrocchi. Mr Justice Paul adjourned the case for Monday when Quattrocchi’s lawyers would present their arguments against the Indian appeal made through Attorney-General of Malaysia. Quattrocchi will be present in the court on Monday. During the arguments, Mr Justice Paul said there was enough evidence that he (Quattrocchi) had received kickbacks but that could be corruption. “Where is (the question) of cheating,” the Judge queried. Arguing India’s case, Attorney-General’s counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin said the Sessions Court decision rejecting the extradition plea was “premature”. The judge did not have jurisdiction to summarily dismiss the case without going into the merits, he said. The counsel argued that even in the event of absence of charges, the Sessions Court would have had sufficient evidence to make its findings. The Judge had been served the requisite papers which contained more information than he would have got from the charges. Outside the court, Quattrocchi said the impression was wrong but his lawyers would talk in the court on the issue. “I have never received any money from anybody. At the most I could have received a commission. But I neither received a commission nor a kickback,” he said. Quattrocchi’s lawyer Mohammad Shafee Abdullah said so far as payment of money was concerned, there could be arguments on kickbacks and even that could be innocently explained. “Reading the accusation papers it appears that there are evidence that he has received a kickback but he may be able to explain that. But who has he cheated,” the Judge asked. When Mr Kamaruddin read out the details of Bofors case, he said “he may have cheated Bofors not the Government of India and the Government of India should charge Bofors for that.” Mr Justice Paul said the Attorney-General of Malaysia should have at least satisfied himself before getting into extradition proceedings. Reacting to the Judge’s comment regarding kickback, Quattrocchi said, “I have not received any money from anyone. I have nothing to do with Bofors. I will let my lawyers talk. I have received neither a commission nor kickback.” Quattrocchi’s counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the Judge only stated that as far as the payment of money was concerned, there could be an argument of kickback but even that could be innocently explained.
PTI |
|
Lanka, LTTE wrap up political deal Oslo, December 5 The Sri Lankan government and the LTTE negotiating peace here since Monday agreed on a “federal model” that could form the basis for a final settlement to the conflict, they said. “We are working on a framework,” the chief negotiator of the LTTE, Anton Balasingham said. “It is a breakthrough because we are addressing core issues. We are focusing on a federal model right now.” His counterpart on the government side, G.L. Peiris, said the two sides reached a “major decision” that would tremendously boost their hopes of ending three decades of ethnic bloodshed that had claimed over 60,000 lives. “What we now have are not hollow expectations. They are based on a significant agreement. It will be a tremendous boost to the peace process,” Peiris said. He said the two sides believed they would have to spend another month before they could hammer out an agreement, but it was possible here in Oslo during the current round of talks that will conclude today. Political discussions had remained off-limits during earlier peace attempts. Peiris said an announcement by LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran last month that he was willing to accept extensive regional autonomy within the framework of one country formed the basis for talks.
AFP |
|
Russia misled by ‘Indian propaganda’ Islamabad, December 5 The Delhi Declaration signed yesterday by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on the issue of cross-border terrorism and not on the “Kashmir movement”, a Foreign Ministry statement here said. “It is unfortunate that the Russian leadership has been taken in by the Indian propaganda,” it said, adding that Islamabad was disappointed at “the unwarranted and unbalanced references to Pakistan contained in the so-called Delhi Declaration.” Acknowledging Moscow’s role in normalising Indo-Pak ties, the statement said, “Pakistan expects Russia, as a major power, to play constructive role in addressing the grave and fundamental problems in peace and security in South Asia”.
PTI |
|
Maoists attack police posts, 3 cops killed Kathmandu, December 5 Nearly 40 armed rebels believed to be from the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) raided a police outpost at Lahan in the Siraha district about 100 km south-east of Kathmandu yesterday, officials said, adding that three police officers were killed. Another group of armed rebels attacked a police post in the Kapilvastu district in south-east Nepal last night but no casualties have been reported so far, they said, adding that the policemen were away patrolling nearby villages. Maoist leader Prachanda yesterday renewed a call for peace talks to end the insurgency and said the rebels had appointed a team to negotiate a peace deal with the government. They said they would put an end to attacks on political groups and infrastructure. State officials, however, did not immediately respond to the offer of talks.
PTI |
|
India tells Israel to end violence United Nations, December 5 “We call for immediate cessation of violence, whether on account of military activity or act of terror against innocent and unarmed civilians”, Indian Ambassador V. K. Nambiar said participating in a debate in the UN General Assembly on the Middle East situation. He said India denounced terrorist attacks on Israel , asserting that there was no moral justification for terrorism on any ground whether political or ideological or religious.
PTI |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Oslo, December 5
