Asia Africa Intelligence Wire articles from September 2003

Asia Africa Intelligence Wire archives from September 2003

16,000 Sudanese Refugees Relocated Admist Protests.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Mwanguhya Charles Mpagi A woman was injured in a riot at Kiryandongo refugee camp yesterday. More than 16,000 Sudanese refugees were protesting a government move to relocate them to new...

Adyak, Mayanja to Join Bombers Squad.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Moses Mugalu Coach Dick Katende has called up two more boxers to the national amateur team, The Bombers, to prepare for All Africa Games due next month in Nigeria. Katende, who guided...

Reform Rubbishes Major Mutale's Sacking.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Frank Nyakairu The Reform Agenda has said the recent sacking of Maj. Kakooza Mutale is a gimmick. Mutale was President Yoweri Museveni's advisor on political affairs. The reformists say...

Britain Gives Shs 3.2bn to Northern Uganda.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Badru D. Mulumba A British minister said yesterday that his country is processing £1 million (Shs 3.2 billion) for people in war-ravaged northern Uganda. Mr Hilary Benn, the...

Netherlands Gives Funds to Rural Farmers.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Our Reporter Uganda and Dutch farmers recently signed an agreement of financial support through which local farmers will be helped to improve their enterprises. Mr Chebet Maikut, the...

Pasculli Rejects Cranes Job.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Hassan Badru Zziwa It is still a see-saw game for the Uganda Cranes' top job, with the latest development indicating that Argentine tactician Pedro Pablo Pasculli has declined the task. ...

No Deaths At Kiryandongo Refugee Camp.
September 30, 2003... (From The Monitor (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Frank Nyakairu and Geofrey Walakira UN agency protests relocation Police yesterday dismissed reports that nine people died during the forcible relocation of 16,000 Sudanese refugees from...

China's Hu Jintao calls for political system reform.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China news agency) Beijing, 30 September: Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Tuesday [30 September] called for active and...

Iraqi planning minister says security must come before investment.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) room for an Israeli role in Iraq"; published by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) newspaper Al-Ittihad on 28 September The [Iraqi] minister of planning, Dr Mahdi al-Hafiz, warned that...

EU to increase aid to Bulgaria under preaccession programmes.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Brussels, 30 September: European Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva and Finance Minister Milen Velchev met on Tuesday [30 September] Luis Romero Requena, director general of the European...

Iraqi clinic director warns of high number of cases of allergies, requests drugs.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) and asthma consultancy centre: an increase in allergy related illnesses, we call for the provision of modern medicines for treating them."; published by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)...

European Parliament's Cox arrives in Macedonia, outlines purpose of visit.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Cox - speaks in English with superimposed Macedonian translation] The aim of my visit is to deliver a message from the European Parliament, namely, that following the Thessaloniki summit and in...

Sudan: Rebel leader says end of war "irreversible".
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] Rebel Leader John Garang has said the end of the war is irreversible, and the conflict will end soon. The movement's military leaders welcomed the...

Romanian premier urges cooperation with Bulgaria in Euro-Atlantic integration.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Strasbourg, 30 September: "I do not see why the EU decided to divide the 12 applicant countries into 10+2. But once this has been decided, Romania and Bulgaria must do their best to meet...

OSCE holds federalization seminar for Moldovan, Dniester officials.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] Representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, experts of the Council of Europe and European Union, members of a joint [Moldovan-Dniester] constitutional commission and...

Population census to be carried out in western Afghan province.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) September As our readers and honourable compatriots may know, the primary statistical survey of the second comprehensive Population Census of Afghanistan has started. For this purpose,...

China: Hu Jintao, others attend National Day reception; Wen Jiabao speaks.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) agency Xinhua (New China news agency) Beijing, 30 September: Once again our steadily growing People's Republic of China is ushering in another brilliant red letter day after 54 years of...

Iraq: Article urges coalition to reconsider old currency exchange rates.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The use of two currencies (the [pre-1991 war] Swiss-print dinar and [post-1991 war] Baghdad-print dinar) in Iraqi regions is one of the consequences of the abnormal situation of the era of [the...

China's Hu Jintao stresses building "political civilization".
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) news agency) Beijing, 30 September: The CCP [Chinese Communist Party] Central Committee Politburo held its eighth collective study session on the afternoon of 29 September, chaired by...

Iraqi economist addresses concerns about foreign investment.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Al-Ittihad entitled: "An economist to Al-Ittihad: Foreign investment benefits the development process, and these are the reasons."; published by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)...

Slovak opposition leader rules out party's participation in minority government.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] During an itinerant session of MPs for the People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia [LS-HZDS] in Presov [eastern Slovakia], party chairman Vladimir Meciar spoke of how...

ZUMA THANKS ASIA FOR SUPPORTING NEPAD.
September 30, 2003... (From SAPA (South African Press Association)) Africa is encouraged by the warm embrace and enthusiasm of a number of Asian countries in supporting the New Partnership for Africa's Development, South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana...

Czech premier, president agree parliament still to debate EU constitution.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prague, 30 September: The Czech parliament should debate the proposed common European constitution, President Vaclav Klaus and Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla agreed at their meeting at Prague...

Greek defence minister says military drill in Cyprus to be held as planned.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Greek National Defence Minister Ioannis Papandoniou stressed that the arms systems acquired by the Greek Armed Forces during the past few years cover fully the Greek Cypriot unified defence...

Serbian police: AKSh planning "terrorist" acts on eve of Belgrade-Pristina talks.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The Serbian Interior Ministry has said today that it has information that the Albanian terrorist organization ANA [Albanian National Army - AKSh in Albanian] is planning attacks in southern...

Slovak cabinet criticized over failure to reach joint stance on EU constitution.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] The fact that practically three days before the Saturday [4 October] intergovernmental conference in Rome the [Slovak] government failed to form a united position on the issue of the...

Bulgarian premier addresses UN General Assembly.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) New York, 30 September: "I came to New York to confirm Bulgaria's firm support for the United Nations whose principles, goals and spirit of solidarity occupy a central place in my country's...

China's Wen Jiabao meets "friendship award" winners.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Beijing, 30 September: China welcomes more foreign talented people to come to take part in its construction, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here Tuesday [30 September]. China will improve...

Estonian president hails ties with China.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China News Agency) Riga, 30 September: Estonian President Arnold Ruutel on Tuesday [30 September] hailed the smooth and fast development of the relations between Estonia and China. ...

President Kuchma reiterates Ukraine's EU bid.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Kiev, 30 September: Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has stressed the invariability of his country's strategic course for European and Euro-Atlantic integration at a meeting with members of a...

China's Wu Yi meets overseas Chinese businessmen, invites overseas investment.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 September: The Chinese government sincerely welcomes overseas Chinese to participate in the country's construction and promote trade and economic...

Italy against Croatia deciding on economic zone before Venice meeting.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Zagreb, 30 September: Italy would not advise the Croatian government to declare an economic zone in the Adriatic before the Venice conference on fisheries in the Mediterranean scheduled for...

China's Wu Yi, others present "friendship award" to foreign experts.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 September: Fifty foreign experts working in China were granted this year's "friendship award" at a ceremony here Tuesday [30 September], in recognition...

China's National Day marked in Cambodia.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China News Agency) Phnom Penh, 30 September: A grand reception was held Tuesday evening [30 September] by Chinese embassy here to mark the 54th anniversary of the founding of the...

Croatian state prosecutor launches probe into wiretapping allegations.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] Here is a report by Damir Devic and an exclusive statement he obtained from the state prosecutor's office on what the state prosecutor will do [regarding the HDZ's allegations of...

Deputy premier: Turkey banned entering Iraq unilaterally by US loan conditions.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) September Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin has assessed the ongoing discussions regarding the condition that Turkey should not enter north Iraq unilaterally in exchange for the 8.5bn...

Kosovo Serb MP, EU's Cox note Albanian leaders resisting dialogue with Belgrade.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Pristina, 30 September: Oliver Ivanovic, member of the Kosovo Assembly presidency, said tonight, following a meeting with European Parliament President Pat Cox, that they had both arrived at...

Romanian premier rejects idea of autonomy on ethnic criteria.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Mediafax Strasbourg, 30 September: Prime Minister Adrian Nastase said on Tuesday [30 September], in the plenum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] that one cannot...

Two branches of Orthodox church in Estonia fall out over assets.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The meeting between Patriarch Aleksiy II of Moscow and All Russia and Metropolitan Stephanos of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church under Constantinople took place in a "regrettable"...

Syrian radio reports vice-president's talks with Iran's Khamene'i, Rafsanjani.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i, the supreme leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, received Vice-President Abd-al Halim Khaddam this morning. Khaddam conveyed to his excellency President Bashar...

ECAPE DPP NTSALUBA RESIGNS.
September 30, 2003... (From SAPA (South African Press Association)) Provincial Director of Public Prosecutions, Mzwandile Ntsaluba, 47, has quit his position following his arrest at the weekend on drinking and driving charge in East London. His resignation was...

Jordan to train 30,000 Iraqi policemen, 26 air traffic controllers.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The cabinet held a meeting under Prime Minister Ali Abu-al-Raghib today. Information Minister Dr Nabil al-Sharif said after the meeting that the cabinet was briefed on the results of the talks...

Israeli citizen facing human-trafficking charges in Moldova.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] The Court of Appeal today examined the case of an Israeli citizen, (?Ghedali Asaf), who was arrested in Moldova and is suspected of being the head of an international...

Bosnia: Following huge rally, ex-ruling party offers to be pensioners' advocate.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Sarajevo, 30 September: The [former ruling] Social Democratic Party of Bosnia-Hercegovina [SDP] has been stunned by the humiliating attitude and the insensitivity of the current government...

Supervisory board declines to recall Polish public television chairman.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Warsaw, 30 September: The supervisory board of the [public] Polish Television Joint Stock Company [TVP SA] has not recalled Robert Kwiatkowski from the post of chairman of TVP. A motion for his...

Impact of EU constitution not explained to people - Czech president.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prague, 30 September: The Czech government has not yet sufficiently explained to people what consequences the adoption of the European constitution will have for them, Czech President Vaclav...

Jordanian king arrives in France, to hold talks on Mideast with president.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) site Amman, 30 September: Their Majesties King Abdallah II and Queen Raniya started on Tuesday [30 September] a short working visit to France where the king is expected to hold talks on...

Polish government criticizes opposition legislative quality proposals.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Warsaw, 30 September: The government negatively assessed a draft law on setting up a National Legislative Council forwarded by the [opposition] Polish Peasant Party (PSL), the Government...

Three kidnappers sentenced to death in China's Henan Province.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China News Agency) Zhengzhou, 30 September: Three people were sentenced to death by the Luoyang Intermediate People's Court on Tuesday [30 September] for kidnapping, murder and...

Official says overseas-funded banks must accept Chinese supervision.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 September: Overseas-funded banks in China must comply with the supervisory requirements set by the country, said an official with the China Banking...

Iran: Khamene'i's representative lambastes EU, rejects NPT.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The managing-editor of the daily Kayhan, Hoseyn Shari'atmadari, who is also the representative of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i, at Kayhan Institute, has sharply criticized the...

SA THANKS ASIA FOR SUPPORTING NEPAD.
September 30, 2003... (From SAPA (South African Press Association)) (REPEAT OF OUR "TICAD-ZUMA" TO FIX SLUG, HEADLINE) Africa is encouraged by the warm embrace and enthusiasm of a number of Asian countries in supporting the New Partnership for Africa's...

China: Liaoning official presents "facts" of Yang Rong case.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Zhongguo Xinwen She Shenyang, 29 September: Wang Jindi, deputy secretary general of the Liaoning provincial government, pointed out here today that Yang Rong, former chairman of the...

Premier says Romania "might" introduce visas for Moldovan citizens.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Mediafax Strasbourg, 30 September: Romania will observe the regulations of European Union in the perspective of her accession to this union, by including the obligation of visas for...

Iran: Commentator says consensus of opinion in Russia on nuclear cooperation.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Announcer] The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement saying that Russian and Iranian foreign ministers had met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. Quoting [Russian...

Afghan forces discover weapons, drugs in Herat.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The officials of the criminal department of Herat Security Command recovered some weapons, munitions and drugs today. Speaking to Bakhtar Information Agency, an official of the press office...

Romanian premier: New negotiations on European constitution "not necessary".
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Mediafax Strasbourg, 30 September: The draft of the European constitution also includes Romania's opinions regarding the European Union, and is not necessary for the provisions of this...

Algeria: OSCE official stresses need for world cooperation against terrorism.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) At the end of his visit, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE] Bruce George, Mr George Bruce, this morning held a news...

Czech president argues against "radical step" of drafting EU constitution.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Czech President Vaclav Klaus has argued that he is in favour of European integration resulting in "a rationally integrated, free and productive Europe". At the same time he said he was opposed...

Romanian premier says signing basic treaty with Moldova "not necessary".
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Strasbourg, 30 September: Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase reiterated during the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on Tuesday [30...

Czechs, Poles can support their EU strategies - premiers.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Prague, 30 September: At their forthcoming intergovernmental conference of the EU the Czech Republic and Poland can jointly advocate their interests, Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and Polish...

Serbian commission intends to destroy evidence of last year's election - party.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The DOS [Democratic Opposition of Serbia, ruling Serbian coalition] majority in the Serbian Election Commission [RIK] has decided to destroy all evidence of last year's presidential election...

Premier says Romania ready to participate in Dniestre conflict mediation.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Mediafax Strasbourg, 30 September: Romania is ready to participate if asked, to the mediation of the Dniestre region conflict only as part of a common initiative of the international...

Afghanistan: Deputy Herat governor, Pakistani official discuss ties.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Alhaj Mir Abdol Khaleq, the deputy governor of Herat, met the deputy ambassador of the Pakistan embassy in his office this morning. Bakhtar Information Agency reports - in line with the...

Joint Afghan Defence Ministry, US delegation visits Herat.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A joint eight-member delegation comprising officials of the Afghan Defence Ministry and US forces, headed by Fraco Shiela [both elements phonetic] arrived in Herat Province this morning to...

Foreign minister confirms US support for reforms in Montenegro.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] The US Congress has recommended to the Senate to provide support for the Montenegrin reforms to the amount of 17m dollars, Montenegrin Foreign Minister Dragisa Burzan has announced...

Al-Barghuthi addresses trial, says Palestinian independence price of peace.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) 30 September The Palestinian Member of Parliament kidnapped by Israel in April 2002 and lingering in jail ever since, warned that the price of peace for Israelis is independence for the...

Russian Security Council discussed development of border structures.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] The strategy for and the protection of the state border were the main issues at today's session of the Russian Security Council. It was decided to concentrate more forces on the...

Ukrainian president's remarks on economy, foreign policy, opposition.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma does not intend the dismiss the cabinet despite his strong criticism of the cabinet's record. Speaking at a scheduled news conference in Kiev on 30 September,...

Russian church leader to tell Putin about successful Estonian visit.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] Patriarch Aleksiy II of Moscow and All Russia has drawn conclusions from his six-day visit to Estonia and given an exclusive interview to Estonian Television. In an interview with...

Live link with regional centre launches single Bosnian Serb broadcasting net.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Doboj, 30 September: Broadcast of reports via a live link from Doboj [in northern Bosnia] with the main news bulletin of the [Bosnian] Serb Republic Radio-Television (RTRS) has kicked off the...

Polish government sends draft 2004 budget to parliament.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Warsaw, 30 September: Prime Minister Leszek Miller and Minister of Finance Andrzej Raczko has presented to Sejm [lower house of parliament] Speaker Marek Borowski government-prepared draft 2004...

Danish state agrees new North Sea oil deal.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) subheadings as published: Several years' confrontation between Folketinget [the Danish parliament] and A. P. Moeller about North Sea Oil has ended in compromise. Economy Minister Bendt...

Serb police arrests Satanists behind Novi Sad Catholic cemetery desecration.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Police in Ujvidek [Novi Sad, Serbia-Montenegro] arrested those who desecrated graves in the town's Catholic cemetery during Sunday night [28 September], the chairman of the Alliance of Vojvodina...

Denmark to offer immigrants lifetime pensions to return home.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) subheadings as published: Almost 12,000 immigrants aged over 65 currently live in Denmark. Many of them are so badly integrated into Danish society that they become isolated and lonely -...

TV report considers Estonian changeover to the euro.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Presenter] The use of the European common currency, the euro, will provide new challenges to all new EU member states. Vahur Kraft, president of the Bank of Estonia, thinks that the euro will...

Spanish Prime Minister Aznar to visit Morocco in December.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Madrid, 30 September: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will co-chair with Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou the next session of the high level Moroccan-Spanish meeting which will be...

Mexican Pres. Fox to Visit Japan Oct. 15-18.
September 30, 2003... (From Jiji) Tokyo, Sept. 30 (Jiji Press)--Mexican President Vicente Fox will visit Japan as a state guest on Oct. 15-18, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Tuesday. During the four-day stay, Fox will pay a courtesy call on...

Swedish police 'let Iranian murderer escape'.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) September It's been reported that when Kurdish political activist Karim Mohammedzadeh was murdered here in 1990, the National Security police agency let the suspected murderer, an Iranian...

Bolivia: Leadership, aims of strikes, protests not unified - paper.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) In spite of the various mobilizations and strikes and the lack of negotiations to bring them to an end, "the conflict has not managed to converge around a single leadership" according to a...

Newly appointed military officials visit Afghan central army corps.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The newly appointed officials in the Ministry of National Defence visited the central military corps in order to get familiarized with the training system and the duties of the staff there. ...

Battery Charging is a Neat Job, Says Gbenga Abejide.
September 30, 2003... (From P.M. News (Nigeria) - AAGM) Byline: Ganiyu Obaaro Mr. Gbenga Abejide, a battery charger, spoke to P.M.News on the uniqueness of the profession. His choice of Acme Road in Agidingbi area of Ikeja, the administrative and...

King Oyo Condemns Child Abuse.
September 30, 2003... (From New Vision (Uganda) - AAGM) Byline: Maurice Okore THE King of Toro, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru has advised parents to stop abusing their children because they are the foundation of a greater nation. Oyo said this while...

Afghan security forces arrest armed smugglers with stolen goods.
September 30, 2003... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Two smugglers, who stole historical relics, were seized with some ammunition and weapons in Kabul today. Bakhtar Information Agency reported that nine large and small historical statues, a...