Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from January 2003

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from January 2003

Go light to start the year right.
January 1, 2003... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Dorothy MJ Ferreria AFTER all the bingeing, now is the time to shed off pounds gained during the holidays. And this means sensible eating-more vegetables high in fiber, low salt, low sugar and...

Recipe for would-be tycoon.
January 1, 2003... (From Philippine Daily Inquirer) Byline: Reggie Aspiras LET'S start the New Year right. With all the questions and recipe requests, in 2004, I promise to answer as many of them as I can. Stay healthy, happy and decently merry! ...

PCS: NO TURNING BACK (Patni Computer Systems revenue is likely to cross Rs900 crore by the end of 2002).
January 1, 2003... (From India Business Insight) Patni Computer Systems (PCS) of Mumbai is now a Rs700-crore company with many foreign subsidiaries and domestic development centres. It employs 5,000 professionals. In 1999, it spun off its hardware...

Iran: Official says over 5,000 "drug mules" arrested last year.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Tehran, 1 January: Presidential Adviser and Secretary-General of an Anti-Narcotics Headquarters Ali Hashemi said here Wednesday [1 January] that over 5,000 people who had ingested narcotics - drug...

Czech politicians assess Havel after his last New Year's address as president.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prague, 1 January: Representatives of the main political parties, with the exception of Communist (KSCM) Deputy Chairman Miroslav Ransdorf, said today they do not mind that President Vaclav Havel...

Pro-Afghan forces rally in Pakistan to bring stability and peace.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) agency Peshawar, 28 December: 6 Jaddi [27 December, the day when Russian forces physically entered Afghanistan] was condemned today in Peshawar. The Afghan consulate held a session in...

Democratic Party of Kosovo leader Thaci issues New Year message.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) site Prishtina [Pristina], 30 December: PDK [Democratic Party of Kosovo] chairman Hashim Thaci has sent his greetings to the Kosova [Kosovo] citizens with the best wishes for the New Year. He...

Romanian president delivers New Year Message to nation.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) In his New Year message President Ion Iliescu has recounted the country's achievement in the political and economic fields, but pointed out that life has not become easier for a lot of people and...

French begin formal terrorism inquiry after arrest of baggage handler.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A judicial inquiry has been started in France after the arrest at Paris's Roissy[-Charles-de-Gaulle] airport on Saturday [28 December] of a baggage handler in possession of firearms and...

Iran: Spokesman dismisses reports on espionage within borders.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Tehran, 1 January: Government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said on Wednesday [1 January] that no report on espionage inside Iranian borders had yet been reported although there might be some on...

Iran allocates over 600m dollars to renovate textile industry, minister says.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A total of 100m dollars has so far been allocated from the currency reserves fund to the country's textile industry. The amount will be used for renovation and refurbishment of the textile...

China: Noted economist Wei Jie interviewed on pros and cons of WTO membership.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) In China's accession to the WTO the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages, Chinese economist Wei Jie has said. In an interview with party paper Renmin Ribao, Wei said: "There is no...

Local commanders clash over US backing in southeast Afghanistan - Iran radio.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) As a result of clashes between two [local] commanders in southeastern Afghanistan today, three people have been killed and two wounded. Our correspondent in [southeastern] Khost reported that...

Ecuador: Government meets single-digit inflation target for 2002.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Satelital radio web site on 30 December Quito: According to a report issued yesterday by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), the government's goal of ending the year with...

ISAF finds arms cache in Afghan capital - Iranian radio.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) In an operation, ISAF discovered an arms cache in [word indistinct] a residential area in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, on Tuesday [31 December]. Announcing this, an ISAF spokesman told...

New approaches to Russian arms trade with India, China needed - paper.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Analysing differences in Russia's approaches to arms sales to India and China, the article emphasizes the importance for Russia of concentrating its efforts on the development and production of...

Iran's current account balance 1.138bn dollars in credit - bank says.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Tehran, 1 January: Iran's current account balance was 1.138bn dollars in the positive in the first half of the current Iranian year (started 21 March 2002), showing a drop of 73 per cent compared...

Peru: Shining Path remnants hold indigenous groups captive in jungle region.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) December A commission consisting of three representatives of the Legislative Branch will travel to the coca leaf growing areas of the Amazon jungle next week to witness "on site" the plight...

CORR Local commanders clash over US backing in southeast Afghanistan - Iran radio.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (Adding dropped word in paragraph five) As a result of clashes between two [local] commanders in southeastern Afghanistan today, three people have been killed and two wounded. Our...

Greek foreign minister affirms EU role in Mideast, as Greece takes EU presidency.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Athens, 1 Jan: Greek Foreign Minister Yeoryios Papandreou said the European Union can play a role in resuming the peace process and guarantee commitment to the international law in the Middle East...

Surrendered arms blown up southeast Afghanistan - Iranian radio.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The southeastern province of Khost has been shaken by a powerful blast. Our correspondent reported from Khost that this afternoon the Sara-Bagh area near the new airport [of Khost] was twice...

Pope reciprocates Italian president's wishes.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) John Paul II has publicly reciprocated the wishes from Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. "I wish to thank the president of the Italian Republic for the wishes he addressed to me in his...

Kyrgyzstan to raise pensions by 15 per cent in spring 2003.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) This year eradication of poverty will be a priority in the country's social and economic development. The [Kyrgyz] government plans to raise the wages of teachers, doctors and other personnel in...

Russian soldiers greet the New Year with a pay rise.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Moscow, 1 January: Russian servicemen will have their salaries increased by 1.5 times as of 1 January 2003. Viktor Ozerov, head of the Federation Council Defence and Security Committee, told...

Venezuela: Minister views talks with opposition, defends Brazilian petrol deal.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) December; ellipses as published Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton Matos, the government delegate to the Negotiations and Agreement Table, has rejected criticism of the commercial operation...

Iran: Labour minister happy with progress of employment plan.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs [Seyyed Safdar Hoseyni] has presented a report on the progress of the employment crash programme at today's cabinet meeting. According to this...

Pope says conflicts must be settled with international law.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The Pope has appealed for international law to settle current conflicts and tensions: "In the face of current conflicts and the threatening tensions of the moment, yet again I invite prayer...

Zimbabwe: Minister says government "will do all it can" to fund fuel imports.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Energy and power development minister, Comrade Amos Midzi, says he is confident the government will do all it can to provide the necessary financing for fuel imports to ease fuel shortages in the...

Iraqi paper praises Saudi foreign minister's denial of report on US bases.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) As part of the disinformation campaign and the psychological warfare that the Western propaganda organs are launching against the Arabs and their causes, a leading American newspaper close to...

Kyrgyzstan brings in WTO customs tariff standards in 2003.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] Customs duties on some products will be lowered this year, under a decision taken by parliament and the government. Compared with 2002, customs duties have been changed on over...

Iran: Oil minister says he is not running for presidency.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Tehran: Speaking about a rumour that the minister of oil is the most important candidate of the Executives of Construction Party for the next presidential elections, the minister said: I am not a...

Slovak president's address: Slovakia has become "respected" state.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Slovak President Rudolf Schuster has stressed that Slovakia is capable of ensuring security of its citizens, unlike some states emerged in the same period as the independent Slovak Republic. He...

Iran: Over 1200 candidates register for municipal elections in Tehran Province.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Tehran: On the third day allocated for the registration of candidates running for city and village Islamic councils in Tehran Province 627 individuals put their names forward. According to an...

Bosnian Croat house stoned during Christmas holidays.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] The house of another returnee to Konjic municipality has been attacked. Ivan Kaleb reports: [Reporter] The crime in Kostajnica on Christmas Eve in which three members of the...

Bosnian police have to be reformed in next three years, says EU mission head.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Sarajevo, 1 January: The head of the newly-established European Union Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia said in Sarajevo on Wednesday [1 January] the EUPM's three-year mandate should result in the...

Minister says Egypt supports Sudan's stability, territorial integrity.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Malakal, South Sudan, 1 January: Safwat al-Sharif, secretary general of the Egyptian ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and Minister of Information, stressed that Egypt is keen on Sudan's...

Kazakhstan declares nine-month ban on checking small business firms.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] A nine-month moratorium on checking enterprises of small and medium-sized business comes into effect today. [Correspondent] Galina Topoleva will tell us under what terms this campaign...

Free economic zone to boost development of western Kazakh region.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter, over video of a port] A decree by the head of state, [President] Nursultan Nazarbayev, to introduce a special economic zone in Mangistau Region [in western Kazakhstan] comes into...

Polish premier says EU referendum shouldn't affect length of cabinet's term.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Zakopane, 1 January: Prime Minister Leszek Miller said that the result of this year's EU membership referendum should not have any influence on the length of his government's term. Miller...

Ukraine: Iranian experts blame pilot error for fatal crash.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The reason behind the crash of a Ukrainian An-140 [aircraft] near Esfahan [on 23 December 2002] was pilot error, according to Iranian experts. They rule out the possibility of air-traffic...

Turkmen president calls general elections in April, sets up Security Council.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Turkmen President Saparmyrat Nyyazow has called general elections for 6 April 2003, Turkmen Press news agency reported on 30 December. The president made the announcement during the session of the...

Turkmen row with Uzbekistan over coup attempt may lead to war - Kazakh paper.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The diplomatic standoff between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan following Turkmen accusations that the Uzbek ambassador had assisted the organizers of an assassination attempt against the Turkmen...

Russia wants NATO to meet new challenges - diplomat.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Moscow, 1 January: Russia's goal is to establish efficacious cooperation with NATO rather than seek a transformation of that alliance into some kind of a political structure, Deputy Foreign...

Belarusian president extols peace, unity in New Year's speech.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has praised unity and tolerance and highlighted the absence of civil strife in a nationwide New Year's address. Lukashenka spoke optimistically about the...

Israeli media group gives "dishonest reporting" award to UK media.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) e-mail news on 1 January The HonestReporting organization, a 55,000-member group that tracks anti-Israel bias in the international media, has announced the winner of its "Dishonest reporting...

Slovak president on "feeling pride in being Slovaks".
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Bratislava, 1 January: Slovak President Rudolf Schuster considers the tenth anniversary of independent Slovakia a reason for Slovaks at home and abroad to ponder the meaning of the intervening...

Israelis hold 70 Palestinians in cultural centre - Palestinian radio.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) January The Israeli occupation troops continue to hold around 70 citizens at Dura Martyrs Cultural Centre, whom they have held since this morning. The occupation troops stormed the centre,...

Turkish premier to start tour of Middle East on 4 Jan.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will begin a tour of Middle East countries within the framework of efforts Turkey is exerting in order to find a peaceful solution to the problem of Iraq. The first leg...

Israel, USA said doing "good job" preventing Iraqi missile deployment.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A senior General Staff officer says the United States is determined to topple Saddam Husayn, and a decision has already been made to operate against him. The date of the attack is unknown, but it...

"Tens of thousands" attend murdered Yemeni opposition leader's funeral - agency.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Sanaa, 1 Jan: Tens of thousands participated in the funeral of the martyr Jarallah Umar, deputy of the General Secretary of the Yemeni Socialist Party [YSP], to his final resting place [sentence...

Czech soldiers not involved in planning war against Iraq, says minister - press.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prague, 1 January: The three Czech soldiers who work in Tampa, Florida, are not participating in the preparation of a possible war against Iraq, Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik (CSSD) told...

Yemen: President chairs cabinet discussion on killing of US doctors, Umar.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Sanaa, 1 Jan: Chairing a cabinet meeting here Wednesday [1 January], President Ali Abdallah Salih was congratulated by the cabinet on the occasion of the New Year before the whole meeting recited...

Turkish organizations in southeast protest against use of region as US base.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Democratic popular organizations, political parties and the economic front in Amed [Diyarbakir] displayed harsh reaction to news claiming that Amed would be the operations centre for some 80,000...

Slovak ex-premier recalls Czechoslovakia's split, criticizes Havel.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] Vladimir Meciar, who was the Slovak prime minister in 1993, has assessed the leading personalities of the time when the Slovak Republic was founded [in 1993]: [opposition Movement...

Iran: Paper says US seeks non-military overthrow of Saddam; Russia involved.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) January US military logistical activity in the region and Western media reports indicate that war against Baghdad is immanent but there are fresh signs that Saddam could be overthrown without...

Slovak premier on reasons for optimism after ten years of Slovak independence.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda has said that the ten years since the foundation of the Slovak Republic following Czechoslovakia's split have proved that "we have managed it". He praised...

Cuba: Highlights of Radio Rebelde news 1100 gmt 1 Jan 03.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Figures in brackets indicate length of time of each item 1. Headlines: President Castro arrived in Brazil yesterday to attend today's swearing in ceremony of President-elect Luis Inacio...

Bulgarian politicians preview challenges, priorities for 2003.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Sofia, 1 January: Opening negotiations on Bulgaria's accession to NATO, closing all chapters at the negotiations with the European Union, holding local elections - the first test for the political...

Iraqi satellite TV reports Unmovic visit to Baghdad site 1 Jan.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) An Unmovic [UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission] inspection team headed for the warehouses of the Al-Majd Company, an affiliate of the Military Industrialization Organization...

Iraqi agency reports one killed, two wounded in US-UK air raids.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Baghdad, 1 Jan: The US administration and its lackey, Britain, have committed a new crime - to be added to their black record of crimes against the peoples who are opposed to the US quest for...

Cuba: Highlights of Radio Havana news 0000 gmt 1 Jan 03.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Figures in brackets indicate length of time of each item 1. Report from Brasilia by Havana Radio Havana Cuba special envoy Angelica Paredes on preparations underway for tomorrow's swearing in...

Saudi TV reports launch of GCC customs union.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) With the implementation of the Customs Union agreement, the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] member states today took a serious step towards building the single customs barrier. Today's move was in...

Iraq: Kurdish paper reports continued conflict between PUK, Ansar al-Islam.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) 30 December; subheadings as published A spokesperson of the Ansar al-Islam [Supporters of Islam, PIK, Kurdish: Pishtiwanani Islam le Kurdistan] Shura Council, announced, on 29 December 2002,...

Iraq's Izzat Ibrahim receives Saudi official, commends ties.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Izzat Ibrahim, vice-chairman of the Revolution Command Council [RCC], has received Al-Shaykh Abd-al-Rahman al-Zamil, member of the Saudi Shura Council and chairman of the Executive Council of the...

Iraq: News opposition party established.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of inaugural statement by newly-founded Iraqi Justice and Development Party, published by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) newspaper Al-Ittihad on 28 December; subheadings as...

Afghan leader Karzai meets representatives of western province.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Esteemed Hamed Karzai, head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, met elders and leaders of Nimroz Province in Golkhana Palace this afternoon. Bakhtar Information Agency, quoting...

Germany donates equipment to Afghan police.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A German police representative has presented a laboratory equipped with sophisticated equipment to the Interior Ministry. This laboratory will be used for criminal investigation purposes. ...

Israeli army officer: Top Al-Qa'idah leader recruiting Palestinians in Gaza.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A senior officer in the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] General Staff says that one of the six leaders of Al-Qa'idah is operating in this region, recruiting Palestinians for terrorist squads....

Afghan general discusses security situation with ISAF commander.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The army chief of staff and commander of ISAF discussed security situation at a meeting today. Besides the security affairs, Gen Asef Delawar and Gen Akin Zorlu also discussed the disarmament...

Afghan security forces seize arms near Kabul.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Security officers of the Defence Ministry have discovered a quantity of arms and ammunition in the outskirts of Charasiab District [in Kabul Province]. The arms and ammunition, including two...

Iran: Esfahan art students continue sit-in, thank Majlis deputy for support.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Esfahan: Students at Esfahan's University of Art are continuing their sit-in for what they say is the failure of the university officials to deal with their demands. Assadollah Montazeri, a...

Israel radio: Three Palestinians with knives killed entering Gaza settlement.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) IDF [Israel Defence Forces] soldiers killed three Palestinians who crossed the Eley Sinay settlement's fence earlier tonight. Our correspondent Nisim Qeynan reports that knives were found in their...

Albanians reject report by Macedonian Health Ministry, WHO on poisoning.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Parents, teachers and officials of Albanian language classes in secondary schools in Kumanove [Kumanovo] have rejected the preliminary report of the World Health Organization [WHO], according to...

Afghan delegation to assess affairs of northern, southern provinces.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) According to a decree issued by the esteemed head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, a delegation was dispatched to northern, southern and southwestern provinces today. The...

Polish official hopes Greece will meet deadlines for EU expansion treaty.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] Today Greece begins its six-month presidency of the European Union. The signing of a treaty on admitting 10 new states to the union is planned for 16 April in Athens under the Greek...

Egypt: Prime Minister reviews plans to provide job opportunities.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Cairo, 1 Jan: Prime Minister Dr Atif Ubayd Wednesday [1 Jan] presided over a meeting at which measures were reviewed to activate government plans to provide job opportunities for youth. It...

Paraguay: ANR head says senators in his faction back president's impeachment.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) December; subheading as published [This paragraph published in bold type] Nicanor Duarte Frutos, president of the Colorado Party [National Republican Association, ANR] Executive Board,...

Peru: Shining Path remnants hold 200 families captive in remote jungle regions.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) An investigation by a Peruvian newspaper has found five remote areas of jungle in Junin and Ayacucho departments where about 200 families of landless Indian peasants, almost all from the Ashaninka...

Summary of the challenges faced in and by the Caribbean in 2002.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Port of Spain, Trinidad: Revival of ailing regional economies, particularly in the smaller Eastern Caribbean states, was the major challenge faced by the Caribbean in 2002 - the year after the...

Missing persons' families end protest in Kosovo capital.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Pristina, 1 January: A protest by 200 mothers and other family members of missing persons, who spent New Year's Eve in the open, ended at the seat of the Kosovo Committee for Protection of Human...

Egyptian reporter visits US Qatari base, interviews minister, US military.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Egyptian newspaper Al-Wafd, in its issue dated 30 December, published a 3,000-word report by Sana al-Sa'id, in which she gave an account of a visit to the Al-Udayd US air base in Qatar and her...

Pakistani premier visits Saudi Arabia, holds talks with leadership.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has called on King Fahd Bin-Abd-al-Aziz and the deputy premier and heads of the National Guard. Crown Prince Abdallah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz hosted a luncheon in...

Yemen: Religious scholars discuss "latest spate of terror attacks".
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Sanaa, 1 Jan: Yemen's scholars association under its chairman Isma'il al-Haji held a meeting here Wednesday [1 Jan] to handle the latest spate of terror attacks that targeted Yemenis and...

Iran: Jailed pollster reportedly sacks his lawyer.
January 1, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Tehran: The lawyer for Behruz Geranpayeh, the director of the National Centre for Research on Public Opinion, officially told the court that he is no longer representing his client. Dr. Amir...