BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from January 2002

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from January 2002

Philippines TV reports public support for US troops in Mindanao.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Philippines GMA television on 31 January [News Live presenter Ninna Castro] Various sectors in Basilan favour the arrival of American soldiers in Mindanao. Our colleague, Jiggy Manicad, will report live from Basilan....

Russian foreign minister to visit Tokyo despite sacking of Japanese counterpart.
January 31, 2002... The visit by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to Japan will go ahead as planned 1-3 February despite the sacking on 29 January of Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, the Russian news agencies ITAR-TASS and RIA reported 31 January...

Japanese premier seeks reformer as foreign minister.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 31 January: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday [31 January] he wants someone eager to reform the Foreign Ministry as a replacement for sacked Foreign Minister...

China's Taiwan spokesman denies softening of "one China" policy.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Chen Binhua, entitled: "Zhang Mingqing emphasizes China's resolute adherence to one China principle" by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 30 January: The State Council's Taiwan Affairs...

Indonesia: Nine policemen sent to prison for 1998 student killings.
January 31, 2002... Jakarta: Nine members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) have been dismissed and sentenced to between three and six years' imprisonment by the Military Court 11-8 in Jakarta on Wednesday (30 January). The council stated that the accused...

Iran's UN representative rejects Bush accusations.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA New York, 31 January: Iran's representative office in the United Nations Headquarters here on Wednesday [30 January] brushed off US President George W. Bush's allegations that Iran is...

Zimbabwe: Information Ministry official slams West over "poisonous letters".
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Zimbabwean radio on 30 January The land issue is the main cause of Zimbabwe's differences with Western countries. This was said by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Publicity, Comrade George...

Vietnam's party chief urges crackdown on anti-party documents.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Vietnamese radio text web site on 30 January The Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam [CPV] Central Committee held its first session in Hanoi on 29 January. Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh...

Somalia: Detained journalist released by Mogadishu police.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in Somali by Somali newspaper Mogadishu Times on 31 January Journalist Nuruddin Ma'alin Mukhtar who was arrested while on an assignment to cover proceedings at the parliament was last night released. Reporter Nuruddin...

Hong Kong leader stresses need for integrity in second-term officials.
January 31, 2002... The chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, says he will choose principal officials who share the same beliefs as himself if he is re-elected for a second term. Speaking to electors [i.e. members of the 800-strong Election Committee], he said he...

Kenya: Public hospitals reportedly face shortage of 2,500 nurses.
January 31, 2002... Kenya's public hospitals are facing an acute shortage of over 2,500 nurses, the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) national chairman, Mr Donald C Epaalat, said yesterday. Epaalat called on the government to consider hiring at...

Uganda: Rebel ADF commander reportedly wants to surrender.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Ugandan newspaper New Vision on 31 January The chief commander of the defeated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, Rogers Kabanda, alias Abdallah Yusufu, has sent signals that he is willing to surrender, but some...

Tanzania: Opposition leaders hail president's speech.
January 31, 2002... Opposition political parties have appreciated President Benjamin Mkapa's speech which he made in parliament yesterday, saying that it has given some light on the country's future. Speaking in an interview with The Guardian in Dodoma...

Somalia: Forty people die of cholera in southwestern district.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in Somali by Somali newspaper Mogadishu Times on 31 January Reports from Ceel Waaq [Elwak] in Gedo Region say 40 people have died of cholera in the district. Many people in the district are reported to have been...

China to build new nuclear reactor in Zhejiang.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She Beijing, 29 January: In three years - that is, at the end of the 10th Five-Year Plan period - China will have eight sets of nuclear generators in operation with an increase of 6.6m...

Kazakh National Fund paid 1.8bn tenge into state budget in 2001.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 30 January: In 2001, the Kazakh National Fund made up the revenue shortfall in the state budget (which comprises the republican and local budgets) to the tune of 1.85bn tenge, of...

Swiss government gives go ahead for "key" negotiations with EU.
January 31, 2002... The Swiss government has given the green light for what promise to be "difficult negotiations" with the European Union on 10 key areas. INCLUDEPICTURE d "/common_images/dot_trans.gif"0100090000034c00000003001c00000000...

Iran: MP urges reflection of realities in occupied lands by Muslim media.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA Riyadh, 31 January: Majlis representative Elaheh Kula'i here on Wednesday [30 January] called on the Muslim media to reflect more forcefully the realities in the occupied lands. ...

Two indicted on "cult" charges in China - Hong Kong rights group.
January 31, 2002... Text of report, entitled: "Anhui's court prosecutes two responsible persons of 'shouters sect' on charge of 'cult'" by Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on 28 January Our information centre has learned that a...

DRCongo: Belgian foreign minister due in Kinshasa, rebel-held areas.
January 31, 2002... The Belgian foreign minister, Mr Louis Michel, is expected today in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on a visit intended to help put back on track the inter-Congolese dialogue. His visit will be guided by two objectives:...

South Korean minister says "no change" in US policy towards North.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Washington, 30 January: Visiting South Korean Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo said Wednesday [30 January] the US administration's willingness to meet with North Korea has not...

Indonesia: Case proceeds against 45 Laskar members over East Java clashes.
January 31, 2002... Surabaya: East Java police on Wednesday [30 January] sent 45 Laskar Jihad members linked to the Ngawi tragedy (29 November to 2 December [Laskar Jihad members clashed with Ngawi residents angry at the militant Muslim group's attempts to close...

Israel radio says Palestinians fire mortar shells, one slightly injured.
January 31, 2002... Two mortar shells were fired at the Neve Deqalim industrial zone in the Gaza Strip. A local resident was very slightly injured by flying shards... At the French Hill junction in Jerusalem, border policemen apprehended a Palestinian girl...

South Korea lifts ban on US rice.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 31 January: The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) has lifted the temporary suspension imposed on rice imported from the United States. The KFDA said...

Afghan northern area commanders discuss security situation.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Afghan Balkh radio on 30 January Alhaj Col-Gen Ustad Ata Mohammad, first deputy operational commander of the northern zone and commander of the 7th corps, has received at his office Col-Gen Abdol Majid Rozi, deputy...

Iranian, Indian ministers discuss police, security cooperation.
January 31, 2002... New Delhi, 31 January: Deputy Security and Disciplinary Affairs Interior Minister of Iran Gholamhoseyn Bolandian met and conferred with India's Interior [Home Affairs] Minister Lal Krishna Advani here, Wednesday evening [30 January]... ...

Czech news agency schedule of events for 31 Jan 02.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK [This press review has not been edited for content, nor have personal names and party names, abbreviations, etc. been amended.] PRAGUE - 46th session of Chamber of Deputies continues,...

Three now dead after gas explosion in Spain.
January 31, 2002... Three people are now dead after a three-storey block of flats collapsed in Barcelona on Wednesday 30 January, Spanish National Radio reported. Ten people were injured, one of them seriously, and 46 families evacuated after the building...

Israel radio says IDF kill two Palestinians; two Hamas activists arrested.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Israel radio on 31 January A large explosive charge went off near a truck transporting Thai workers in the Qatif Bloc. The workers were unharmed. The two men who had planted the charge were killed in fire exchanges with...

Czech premier urges coordinated stand against "unacceptable" EU farming subsidies.
January 31, 2002... [Presenter] The Czech Republic disagrees with the European Commission's proposal on agriculture subsidies for candidate countries. Prime Minister Milos Zeman has said that Visegrad Four countries [the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and...

USA still intends to talk with North Korea - US envoy to Seoul.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 31 January: US Ambassador to Seoul Thomas Hubbard reconfirmed Thursday [31 January] Washington's desire to hold talks with North Korea. Hubbard said at a breakfast...

Slovak news agency schedule of events for 31 Jan 02.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Slovak news agency TASR web site [This press review has not been edited for content, nor have personal names and party names, abbreviations, etc. been amended.] BRATISLAVA: - Visit Of NATO Deputy Secretary...

Iranian oil minister arrives Athens.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA Athens, 31 January: Iranian Oil Minister Bizhan Namdar-Zangeneh arrived [in] Greece's capital, Athens, Wednesday [30 January] atop an oil delegation comprising of Iranian officials and...

Slovak leftist party softens stance on cabinet fall-gas selloff link.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Slovak commercial news agency SITA web site Bratislava, 31 January: Late [on] Wednesday [30 January], Party of the Democratic Left (SDL) leader Pavol Koncos said some statements by Labour Minister Peter...

Somali president welcomes President Bush's comments on Somalia.
January 31, 2002... The president of the Transitional Government of Somalia, Abdiqasim Salad Hasan, has commented about President Bush's [State of the Union] address which touched on Somali affairs. Bush said in his address that terrorists where planning to...

Haiti: Minister, Convergence spokesman deplore Haiti's "poor image" abroad.
January 31, 2002... The image of the Republic of Haiti is being tarnished more and more overseas. In an article published this week, the Wall Street Journal warns Argentina against any drifting similar to that of Haiti. Wendell Theodore reports the following:...

Haiti: Aristide willing to pay friendly visit to "opposition brothers".
January 31, 2002... The Press Office of the Presidency has confirmed that the head of state is considering paying a friendly visit to opposition leaders. Jacques Maurice, who was unable to give the exact date of this visit, explained that this friendly visit...

Haiti: Civil Society Initiative Group spokesman criticizes rice scandal.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Haitian Metropole radio on 29 January According to Professor Rosny Desroches, the Lavalas regime should put a stop to the rice of peace business that is being done to the detriment of the country's business sectors....

Russian president's man to North Korea to be used to build trade.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Vladivostok, 31 January: Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia Konstantin Pulikovskiy is to visit the Korean Democratic...

Uganda: Senior army officers reshuffled.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Ugandan New Vision newspaper web site on 31 January The army commander, Maj-Gen James Kazini, has transferred and replaced senior officers. Former army Member of Parliament Lt-Col Tonny Otoa has been appointed...

Kenya-UK trade set to increase, says minister.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Kenyan newspaper East African Standard on 31 January Trade Minister Mr Nicholas Biwott yesterday said Kenya and Britain are reviewing their bilateral trade policies. Biwott said with the reviewed trade policies of...

Tanzania: Africans can solve own problems, says president.
January 31, 2002... African countries are capable of solving their own political problems so long as they have the determination and political will. This was said by President Benjamin Mkapa yesterday in Dodoma when addressing the parliament. In a...

Kenyan navy to join UN-sponsored military exercises off Tanzania.
January 31, 2002... Two Kenya Navy warships and 104 personnel will be involved in a major joint exercise with 16 African and 21 foreign countries, it was announced yesterday. The exercise dubbed "Tanzanite" will take place from 8 to 25 February in the...

Russian prime minister notes improved relations with USA.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Russian news agency RIA Washington, 31 January: The main purpose of the visit by the head of the Russian government to Washington is "a synchronization of watches with the American administration", and discussion and...

Heavy fighting in Gardez, eastern Afghanistan.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Peshawar, 31 January: Heavy fighting is under way in Gardez [capital of the eastern Afghan Paktia Province near the border with Pakistan], and 38 people have been killed on...

Sudan: Transport minister defends southern leaders.
January 31, 2002... In an interview on Sudan Television, the minister of transport, Dr Lam Akol, stated yesterday that the return of some southern leaders from the Sudan People's Liberation Army [SPLA] is not simply an attempt to seek for government posts, just...

Nigeria: President urges citizens to donate generously towards Lagos relief fund.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Nigerian TV on 30 January President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed to philanthropic Nigerians to respond to the needs of the victims of the Lagos explosion and donate generously to the relief fund, noting that God will...

Tanzania: President Mkapa calls for "equitable" ties between rich, poor nations.
January 31, 2002... Excerpt of report by Radio Tanzania on 31 January Dodoma: The president of the United Republic of Tanzania, HE Benjamin William Mkapa, has expressed concern about the nature of the relationship being currently fostered between the poor...

Tourism reported on the rise in Russian Far East.
January 31, 2002... Maritime Territory in the Russian Far East saw a rise in tourist visits in 2001. The Russian news agency RIA said Territory tourism commission head Valeriy Soin told a conference in Vladivostok 31 January that 173,000 tourists from 54...

Sudan: Atmosphere unsuitable for referendum - Ummah Party official.
January 31, 2002... Political forces have said it is impossible to hold a referendum on the right to self-determination - declared in the Khartoum Peace Agreement between the government and the southern factions in March 1997 - because the atmosphere is not...

Picture bulletin: Afghan Balkh radio 0230-0437 gmt 31 Jan 02.
January 31, 2002... 0230 Sign-on with music and programme preview. 0232 Recitation of Holy Koran and interpretation. 0242 "Life of the Prophet": a cleric describes the life of the holy Prophet Mohammad. 0300 "Morning song": Talks about love for the...

British sailor taken to hospital in Russian Far East after storm.
January 31, 2002... Three sailors - one of them British - from the bulk carrier Stolt Efficiency have been taken to hospital in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy in the Russian Far East, ITAR-TASS news agency reported 31 January. The ship en route from Vancouver to...

z-Bottom of Form;z-Top of Form; Sample; Strong; Typewriter; Variable;Somalia: Death of "big ocean species" reported in southern Somalia.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation web site on 31 January Deaths of big ocean species have been reported in southern Somalia, a sign that the extent of marine deaths has gone beyond Kenyan borders. Cases of dead coral...

Anti-Uzbek leaflets found in Tajik capital.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Tajik newspaper Vremya-Dengi on 25 January Unidentified people have circulated leaflets in [the Tajik capital] Dushanbe, inciting Tajiks against the Uzbek government, and particularly against [Uzbek] President Islam...

Terrorism, and ties with NATO to be themes in Russian premier's talks in USA.
January 31, 2002... Washington, 31 January: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov arrived at the Andrews airbase near Washington late on Wednesday 30 January evening local time. [omitted: known list of US officials whom he will meet.] A source in the...

Philippines, USA launch joint military exercise.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Philippines GMA television on 31 January The formal opening of the Balikatan [shoulder to shoulder] exercise has started in Zamboanga city. The national anthems of the Philippines and the United States were consecutively...

Russia: Mental hospital for criminals left unguarded after pay dispute.
January 31, 2002... A mental hospital in Achinsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, which contains more than 100 criminals with mental illnesses has been left unguarded after guards walked out during a pay dispute, the Russian news agency RIA and Russian NTV reported 31...

US troops to retain sovereignty in Philippines - defence secretary.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Philippines GMA television on 31 January, passages within slantlines in English The /opening exercises/ of the Balikatan [shoulder to shoulder] exercises held at the headquarters of the/ Southern Command [Southcom/]...

Local council rebels against governor in eastern Afghanistan.
January 31, 2002... Text of report No 108 by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Peshawar, 31 January: The local council in [the eastern Afghan] Paktia [Province] is in revolt against the governor appointed by the Kabul government. Heavy...

Kenya: AIDS impact to shrink economy by 14 per cent in next decade - official.
January 31, 2002... Kenya's Gross Domestic Product is expected to decline by more than 14 per cent in the next decade because of the effects of AIDS, a government official has said. Mr Joshua Terer, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and...

Israeli army detains two Hamas activists in West Bank.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Israel radio on 31 January A large explosive charge went off near a truck transporting Thai workers in the Qatif Bloc. The workers were unharmed. The two men who had planted the charge were killed in exchanges of fire...

China says Taiwan president and vice-president not welcome as party visitors.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Zeng Jia entitled: "Zhang Mingqing says Chen Shuibian and Annette Lu not on list of DPP members who may visit China in appropriate capacities"; carried by Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She Beijing, 30 January:...

Philippines president, in Canada, appreciates US military assistance.
January 31, 2002... The president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, says her government appreciates the help that the US military is providing in its fight against Muslim separatists. Speaking in Toronto, Mrs Macapagal Arroyo said her government needs...

Japan to compensate cattle farmers hit by mad cow scare.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 31 January: The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry formally decided Thursday [31 January] to use public funds to buy old cattle which farmers cannot sell on the meat...

Two miners die in accidents in Ukraine.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Kiev, 31 January: Two miners died in Ukraine's coal mines on Wednesday [30 January]. The press service of the Emergencies' Ministry told Interfax- Ukraine that one was fatally...

Japanese premier confirms invitation to Russian foreign minister.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 31 January: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is acting foreign minister these days, has reaffirmed the invitation to Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to...

Laos hands over Vietnam more remains of "army volunteers".
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA web site Hanoi, 30 January: The remains of 40 Vietnamese army volunteers, who died in Laos during the [Vietnam] war, were handed over to Vietnam at a ceremony held at the Lao Bao...

Russian 58th Army stages exercise at high-altitude training ground.
January 31, 2002... [Presenter] Units of the 58th Army of the North Caucasian Military District are at the Daryal training ground in North Ossetia, practising combat tactics on mountainous terrain. The exercise is being watched by our correspondent Yevgeniy...

North Korea says Japan using UN missions for "overseas aggression".
January 31, 2002... Text of commentary carried by 29 January Nodong Sinmun, entitled: "The Self-Defence Forces are forces of aggression even if they are wearing the UN cap" by North Korean radio on 29 January The Japanese reactionaries, who opened the door...

Malaysia: US commander visits, observes anti-terrorism operation in Sabah.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Malaysian news agency Bernama web site Semporna, 30 January: The United States Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command Adm Dennis Blair on Wednesday [30 January] witnessed an on-going military operation code-named...

Somalia: Two people killed in land mine blast in southern district.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Somali newspaper Xog Ogaal on 31 January Reports reaching us from Buur Hakaba District [south-central Somalia] say a Landrover hit a land mine in an area between Buur Heyba and Buur Hakaba, Bay Region, killing two people...

Spaniard thought held in Guantanamo no zealot, says cousin.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Spanish national radio on 31 January [Presenter] Ahmed Abderrahmane [phonetic], one of the [suspected] Al-Qa'idah members captured in Afghanistan and being held at the Guantanamo base, could be a 27-year-old Spanish...

Iran: Daily says Bush statement "not unusual".
January 31, 2002... Text of commentary in English by Iranian newspaper Kayhan International on 31 January US President George W. Bush's harsh statements against Iran, Iraq and North Korea, in his State of Union address on Tuesday [30 January], are neither...

Iran reaches agreement with India on joint mechanism to fight terrorism.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi, 30 January: India and Iran Wednesday [30 January] decided to create a joint institutional mechanism to fight terrorism and work on an extradition treaty and an accord on providing mutual...

Taiwan officials support cross-strait free trade area proposal.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Luis Huang; carried in English by Taiwanese Central News Agency web site Taipei, 30 January: A Republic of China [ROC] government official said Wednesday [30 January] that he will be happy to see the formation of a free...

Palestinian radio reports two killed, other incidents.
January 31, 2002... Text of report by Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine on 31 January The Palestinian Military Liaison Office has no knowledge about the martyrdom of two citizens, who, according to Israeli sources, were killed by the occupation troops...

Senior Russian MPs split over closure of radar station in Cuba.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 January: State Duma deputies differ over the closure of the Russian radar station in Lourdes, Cuba. State Duma defence committee chairman Gen Andrey Nikolayev...

Georgia rules out joint security operations with Russian army.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Tbilisi, 31 January: Georgia is not planning special operations with the Russian army or security forces in the Pankisi gorge, Interfax was told at the Georgian State Security...

North Korea criticizes South opposition party's attitude to Mt Kumgang.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, 31 January: A gang of the "Grand National Party" (GNP) in South Korea is pulling up the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] over Mt Kumgang tourism in a bid to...

Germans play down partners' anger over Airbus project.
January 31, 2002... Berlin: In the opinion of Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping, the European armament project Airbus A400M can start. After the decision in Karlsruhe [to delay the final decision on funding until after September], he called his European...

Russian Supreme Court discusses theft of firearms from armed forces.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 January: More than 8,000 firearms have been stolen from or lost in the Russian armed forces in the past seven years, the chairman of the Russian Supreme Court's military...

Over 200 Russian aircraft banned from landing at EU airports.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 January: After 1 April, more than 200 Russian aircraft will be unable to fly to EU countries, Interfax was told at the Russian Transport Ministry. A ministry source...

Radiation detected in truck at Russian waste disposal facility.
January 31, 2002... Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 31 January: A road administration truck was detained at the entrance to a waste disposal facility in northern Moscow yesterday. The level of radiation in the immediate...

Nigeria: Chamber of commerce says fuel price rises hamper liberalization.
January 31, 2002... The recent fuel price hike announced by Petroleum Price Review Committee (PPRC) may have come to members of the organized private sector as a rude shock and breach of trust, on the part of federal government, going by an official statement...