BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from September 2008

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from September 2008

President Preval urges Haitians to mobilize to rebuild country.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by Haitian Radio Kiskeya on 29 September [From the 'News on the Rails' newscast] President Rene Preval returned to the country on 28 September, after participating in the 63d UN General Assembly. The head of state...

Russia: Ground Troops C-in-C outlines armament shortcomings, needs.
September 30, 2008... Texts of reports by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax and Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 29 September (Interfax): During the preparation for and conducting of the operation to force Georgia to peace, a number of...

New Zealand-China free trade deal hailed.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "NZ-China FTA To Enter Into Force on Wednesday"] WELLINGTON, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) - The New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will...

Jamaican minister joins call for death penalty after young girl murdered.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 29 September Kingston, Jamaica: A government minister along with some of the country's leading business people have called for a resumption of hanging in Jamaica to...

Antigua reiterates support for one-China policy.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 29 September St John's, Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda has reiterated its support for the one China policy and said it was looking forward to continued good relations...

North Korean officials visit potato, pig farms in Taehongdan County.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - Officials of ministries, national institutions and Ryanggang Province visited different parts of Taehongdan County of the province...

Iran: Provincial official estimates drought damages to Ardabil.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by Iranian conservative, privately-owned Fars News Agency website Ardabil, 29 September: The head of the Natural Disasters HQ of Ardabil Province, Ali Eslami, has said that drought and frost caused 3.18bn [342,000...

Pakistan: Chinese engineers reportedly abducted by Taleban still missing.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Karachi-based private Pakistani channel Geo TV website on 30 September Peshawar: Despite the lapse of one month, the government has so far failed to recover the two Chinese engineers, held hostage by the Taleban. ...

China: Shenzhou-7 capsule shipped to Beijing for further studies.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "Shenzhou-7 Capsule Shipped To Beijing for Further Studies"] BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) - The re-entry module of China's Shenzhou-7...

Xinhua hails success, says Shenzhou-7 'perfectly interprets China's products'.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [By Reporter Xu Zhuangzhi: Shenzhou Perfectly Interprets China's Products] Beijing 28 Sep (Xinhua) - Shenzhou-7 manned space mission has achieved a...

Coalition troops kill civilian who ignored warning in Afghan south.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Kabul: ISAF troops shot dead a civilian as he approached their patrol in the volatile Sangin district of southern Helmand province yesterday (29...

North Korean leaders attend meeting to mark Kim Jong-il's work on potato farming.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - A national meeting took place in Taehongdan County, Ryanggang Province on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of...

Southern Sudanese governors organize forum to discuss peace agreement, security.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by Paris-based Sudanese newspaper Sudan Tribune website on 28 September [Report by James Gatdet Dak: "South Sudan Governors' Forum To Discuss Peace Challenges"] The 6th Governors' Forum of Southern Sudan...

Cuba warns against profiteering following hurricane disaster.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 29 September Havana, Cuba: Cuba Monday warned it would deal severely with persons who engage in activities that would result in further hardship to persons still...

Xinhua: Overseas Chinese in Germany proud of successful Shenzhou-7 mission.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua: "Overseas Chinese in Germany Proud of Successful Shenzhou-7 Mission"] Overseas Chinese in Germany proud of successful Shenzhou-7...

Macao chief executive attends China's National Day reception.
September 30, 2008... According to a 30 September Xinhua Domestic report by reporter Liu Weiguo, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce [CCC] in Macau on 30 September held a reception marking the PRC National Day. Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho, Director Bai Zhijian of...

Serbian opposition oppose president's statement on possible partition of Kosovo.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by Serbian private independent news agency FoNet Belgrade, 30 September: Serbian Radical Party (SRS) chief whip Dragan Todorovic today said that Serbian President Boris Tadic's statement that he is even "ready to...

Experts view Macedonia's bleak economic situation.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Macedonian newspaper Dnevnik on 29 September [Report by Valentina Angelovska: "GDP at Same Level for Some 20 Years Now"] Macedonia's gross domestic product [GDP] is at the same level as in 1989, even though 17 years...

Coal-rich Chinese province to boost safety by reducing number of coal mines.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Xinhua by reducing number of : "Coal-Rich Chinese Province To Boost Safety by Reducing Number of Coal Mines"] TAIYUAN, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) - The...

Hong Kong paper says hospital heads fired after deaths of eight newborns.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post website on 30 September Angry parents in Xian have sued a local hospital after eight newborns died in its wards from infections in an 11-day period this month. The...

Iranian press menu on 30 Sep 08.
September 30, 2008... ABRAR (hardcopy) 1. Report cited from ISNA entitled: "Hasan Rowhani: Many experienced people are put aide from state offices." Rowhani says that every inconsistency in decision making process decreases the trust of people towards...

Kazakh police detain members of outlawed Hezb-e Tahrir party.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by state-owned Kazakh news agency Kazinform Zhambyl Region, 30 September: The results of examination of the literature seized from members of the Hezb-e Tahrir religious and extremist party banned in Kazakhstan, have leaked...

North Korean premier sends sympathy message to Syrian counterpart.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - Kim Yong-il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of sympathy to Muhammad Nazi Otri, prime minister of the Cabinet of Syria, on...

North Korean foreign minister sends sympathy message to Syrian counterpart.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun Monday sent a message of sympathy to Walid Al Moualem, minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria, in...

North Korean foreign minister sends message of sympathy to Syrian counterpart.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun Monday sent a message of sympathy to Walid Al Moualem, minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria, in...

Third suspect detained in St Lucia in murder of French doctor.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 29 September Castries, St Lucia: The St Lucia government said it was examining legislation that would allow the extradition of three men wanted in connection with the...

China: Jinan military region conducts five-day 'Lianhe-2008' research exercise.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Report by Zhang Yuqing and Zhang Julong: "(Military) Jinan Military Region's 'Lianhe-2008' Research Purposed Field Drill Is Unveiled."] A research...

Kazakh paper says criminal case against opposition leaders sign of clan war.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by opposition Kazakh newspaper Respublika on 26 September MIA [Ministry of Internal Affairs] is gone crazy. Accusations against opposition leaders may become that same straw that can break camel's back. The Interior...

Ukraine hopes to sign landmark treaty with EU during Sweden's presidency.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by commercial, news-based 5 Kanal TV on 30 September [Presenter] There is one more advocate of Ukraine's entry into the EU - Stockholm fully supports Kiev's integration. So Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko hopes that...

Russian government announces anti-corruption measures for officials.
September 30, 2008... New draft anti-corruption legislation which is due to be adopted by the State Duma should ensure that Russian officials will become far more accountable, head of the Presidential Administration Sergey Naryshkin has announced. A set of...

SAfrican opposition youth group criticizes ANC counterparts over party comments.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by press release service of South African Press Association (SAPA) news agency [Statement Issued by the Inkatha Freedom Party on the SAPA PR Wire Service] 30 September 2008 The Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade...

Chinese financial weekly closed for three months for reporting on a public bank.
September 30, 2008... Text of Paris-based media freedom organization Reporters Sans Frontieres press release on 29 September Reporters Without Borders today condemned a three-month ban slapped on financial weekly China Business Post, accused of having broken...

Security forces kill two "terrorists" in eastern Algeria.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by privately-owned Algerian newspaper Liberte website on 30 September [Report by Fodil S.: "Two Terrorists Slain in Jijel"] At about 0600 hours yesterday, the security forces, which were on operation in the Beni...

Iran provincial press menu on 30 Sept 08 (publications from 06 Sep - 25 Sep 08).
September 30, 2008... NORTHERN PROVINCES Setareh Golestan weekly, printed in Gorgan 13 September 2008 1. The sixth Majlis Gorgan MP, Ma'zru'i: During the ninth government period, the rich have become richer and the poor poorer"; During the...

Zimbabwean airline leaves passengers stranded in London.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by UK-based Zimbabwean news website Zimdaily.com on 29 September [Report by Hatirebwi Nathaniel Masikati: "Air Zimbabwe Leaves Passengers Stranded at Gatwick"] ZIMBABWE - The only direct flight into Harare by the...

Police arrest 335 drug dealers, 500 addicts in Iran's northwest.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Iranian conservative, privately-owned Fars News Agency website Tabriz, 30 September: In an interview with reporters today, the head of the East Azarbayjan anti-drug police [Mohammad Ja'far Sadeqi-Baghmisheh] has said...

Iranian diplomat responds to assertions on Shi'ism in Algeria - paper.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by privately-owned Algerian newspaper Liberte website on 30 September [Report by Souhila Hammadi: "He Paid a Courtesy Visit to Liberte: Iran's Ambassador Responds to al-Qaradawi About Shi'ism in Algeria"] Yesterday,...

South Korean minister: Relations with North Korea will improve in "near future".
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [Yonhap headline: "Relations With N. Korea Will Improve After Current Cool Spell: Official"] Seoul, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) - Inter-Korean relations that have cooled in recent...

Ukraine berates Russia over Crimea.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by private Ukrainian news agency UNIAN Kiev, 30 September: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has accused Russia of interfering in Ukraine's internal affairs. Despite loud statements by the Russian Federation's leadership...

North Korean agency reports on US, South Korean "aerial espionage" in September.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA [KCNA headline: "At Least 180 Cases of Aerial Espionage Perpetrated"] Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - The US imperialists and the South Korean puppet armed forces...

Zimbabwe's Mugabe seeks to retain key ministries to safeguard cronies - paper.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by UK-based Zimbabwean news website Zimdaily.com on 30 September [Report by Peace Kadiki: "Mugabe's Sinister Plans Over Ministries"] ZIMBABWE - HARARE -More details have emerged exposing plans by Zanu (PF)'s [Zimbabwe...

North Korean foreign minister greets Chinese counterpart on founding anniversary.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA [KCNA headline: "Greetings To Chinese Foreign Minister"] Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - Pak Ui-chun, minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, Tuesday sent a...

North Korean assembly chief sends sympathy message to Syrian president.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) - Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of sympathy to Syrian President Bashar...

Kazakh premier urges governors to keep bread price stable.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by state-owned Kazakh TV on 27 September [Presenter] All necessary measures should be taken to hold the price of bread stable and, first of all, stabilization funds should be provided with grain, Prime Minister Karim...

Georgian population of Abkhazia's Gali District not attending parade - TV.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by state-funded Georgian Public Television Channel 1 on 30 September [Presenter] The Abkhaz separatists have celebrated independence day of [Georgia's breakaway] Abkhazia. The separatist government organized a...

Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai calls for speedy action against food crisis.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by London-based opposition newzimbabwe.com website on 28 September [Text of Statement of Zimbabwe's Prime Minister-Designate Morgan Tsvangirai on Food, Humanitarian Situation in Country Sep 27: "Tsvangirai: We Must Respond...

Belarus, Vietnam discuss military cooperation.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Interfax-Ukraine news agency Minsk, 30 September: Belarus is going to do its best to prevent the system of international security from collapsing, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said, meeting Vietnamese...

DRCongo army chief says rebels disorganized, demoralized.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by DRCongo's UN-sponsored Radio Okapi website on 10 September "The DRCongo army now has better knowledge of the enemy's military strategy than it did before. All its strategic positions are within our troops' striking...

Five Russian diplomats stay in Georgia, envoy hopes for restoration of ties.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by state-controlled Russian Channel One TV on 30 September [Presenter] Russian diplomats have left Tbilisi. Russian ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko and another 20 staff of the diplomatic mission with their...

Burundi vice-president holds talks with Swedish official.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Burundi news agency ABP Bujumbura, 30 September: The first vice-president, Dr Yves Sahinguvu, on Monday evening received in audience the director general for international development cooperation at the Swedish Ministry...

Former Russian PM considers merger with another opposition party.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Strasbourg/Moscow, 30 September: Russian People's Democratic Union [RNDS] leader Mikhail Kasyanov has confirmed that his organization may merge with the Yabloko party. "I...

Police chief vows to ensure full security for Tajik leader's visit to east.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by privately-owned Tajik news agency Asia-Plus Dushanbe, 30 September: The head of state's security will be ensured 100 per cent during his trip to the Rasht group of districts, the head of the regional subdivision of...

Russia notes "lessons" of 1938 Munich pact, calls for new security agreement.
September 30, 2008... Text of "Commentary by the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Munich Agreement" published on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs...

Mexico: US watchdog issues report on "disappeared" journalists.
September 30, 2008... Text of special report by Monica Campbell and Maria Salazar: "The Disappeared", published by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 30 September Villahermosa, Mexico: It was nearly 8 p.m. on 20 January 2007, when...

Iraqi Kurdish press highlights 30 Sep 08 - default note.
September 30, 2008... No Iraqi Kurdish press headlines will be issued from 30 September to 2 October 2008 owing to the absence of newspapers on the occasion of Id al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan. Source: Sources as listed, in Sorani Kurdish 30 Sep...

Kazakh leader's daughter is most popular politician - poll.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Almaty, 30 September: A public opinion survey held by the Kazakh association of sociologists and political scientists (ASPS) shows that the former leader of the Asar...

Belarus state media misinterpreted OSCE's election report - opposition.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Belarusian human rights group Charter-97 website, on 30 September Belarusian TV channels did not say a single word yesterday about the OSCE ODIHR [Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights] observation mission...

Croatian government endorses Krk island as best location for LNG terminal.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by Croatian state news agency HINA Zagreb, 30 September: The Croatian government on Tuesday accepted a recommendation from the commission evaluating proposed sites for a liquefied natural gas terminal that the...

Grenade attack near US embassy said to have been "nothing but a criminal act".
September 30, 2008... Text of report by opposition Yemeni Alliance for Reform newspaper Al-Sahwah website on 29 September ["Informed Sources: "Today's grenade attack near US embassy was a criminal act" - Al-Sahwah Net headline] Informed sources have ruled...

Serbian president, Bulgarian minister discuss border cooperation.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by Bulgarian national news agency BTA Belgrade, September 30 (BTA Special Correspondent Dimiter [Dimitur] Abrashev) - Bulgarian Interior Minister Mihail [Mikhail] Mikov, who is paying a visit to Belgrade,...

Ukrainian parliament passes law on decommissioning Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by private Ukrainian news agency UNIAN Kiev, 30 September: The Supreme Council of Ukraine [parliament] has approved in the first reading the draft law on the national programme for the decommissioning of the Chernobyl...

Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia agree on fighting illegal migration.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by Romanian government news agency Agerpres Bucharest, Sept 30 /Agerpres/ - Interior Ministers of Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia signed an intergovernmental enlarged cooperation protocol on combating cross border...

Romanian army chief of staff visits Sweden.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by Romanian government news agency Agerpres Bucharest, Sept 30 /Agerpres/ - The Chief of the General Staff of Romania Army, admiral PhD Gheorghe Marin, is paying an official visit to Sweden, September 29...

Russian pundit analyses Moldovan president's rhetoric on rebel region.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Russian political commentary website Politkom.ru on 29 September [Article by Sergey Markedonov, 29 Sep; place not given: "On the Role of Garbage in the Peace Settlement" - taken from HTML version of source provided by...

Yemeni president calls for national unity in Id al-Fitr speech.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by state-run Yemeni news agency Saba website Sanaa, 29 Sep: President Ali Abdallah Salih called on Monday [29 September] all citizens of the country to bear the national responsibility and put interests of the...

Turkmen opposition reports on fuel shortage cases.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by Turkmen opposition website chrono-tm.org on 29 September There is a lack of petrol in Dasoguz Region [northern Turkmenistan, bordering Uzbekistan]. One can observe long rows of vehicles stretching for hundreds...

Russia to step up fight against extremism and nationalism - Medvedev.
September 30, 2008... Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev has given prominence to the issue of countering nationalism and extremism in Russia. "Special emphasis should be put on combating extremism and nationalism," Interfax quoted Medvedev as saying on 30...

Kosovo journalists' body accuses government of "lack of transparency".
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by Kosovo Albanian privately-owned newspaper Koha Ditore on 28 September [Report by Arben Atashi: "Like Previous Governments, Thaci's Government Also Lacks Transparency"] Pristina, 27 Sep - The International Right...

Sri Lankan Defence Ministry website introduces Tamil pages.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order website on 30 September The official website of the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order of Sri Lanka, defence.lk, has launched its Tamil...

Iran: Former president's remarks censored by national media.
September 30, 2008... Text unattributed news item from 'behind the window' column: "National media and dexterous censorship of Khatami's live speech", published in Iranian newspaper Mardom Salari on September 27. National media has censored live speech of...

Officials hope EU mission to facilitate Russian troops' pullout from Georgia.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by state-funded Georgian Public Television Channel 1 on 30 September [Presenter] Before a news conference [EU foreign policy chief] Javier Solana has met members of the Georgian authorities. [National Security Council...

China: Wen Jiabao speaks at National Day reception; Hu Jintao, others on hand.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Report by reporters Li Bin and Zhang Jingyong: "State Council Hosts National Day Reception to Mark the 59th PRC Founding Anniversary; Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo,...

Kazakh inflation edges up to over 8 per cent in Jan-Sep 2008 - premier.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax Astana, 30 September: The inflation rate in Kazakhstan was 0.6 per cent in September and 8.1 per cent since the start of the year, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov...

Serbia not to approve EULEX's deployment in whole of Kosovo - Belgrade official.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Kosovo-Albanian privately-owned newspaper Express, on 27 September [Report by Shpend Limoni: "No for EULEX"] Pristina, 26 Sep -- If the European Union remains indifferent toward Serbia's efforts to have the...

Ukrainian paper says Crimean parliament majority likely to split.
September 30, 2008... The parliamentary majority in the Crimean parliament is likely to split in the near future due to deepening contradictions between the Communists and the faction of the Party of Regions, a Ukrainian daily has written. It predicts that the...

Hu Jintao stresses socialism with Chinese characteristics at study session.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["When Attending the Eighth Collective Study of the CCP Central Committee Political Bureau, Hu Jintao Stresses the Need To Earnestly Study and Implement the...

Fifty Tamil Tigers, 10 Sri Lankan soldiers said killed in heavy fighting.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order website on 30 September Terrorist casualties were observed to be on the rise according to Wanni [north Sri Lanka] battlefield reports as security forces were...

Hungary affected by US crisis, euro convergence programme to go ahead - premier.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Hungarian newspaper Nepszabadsag on 27 September [Report by Bence Krivan: "Gyurcsany: We Are Committed to the Convergence Programme"] The crisis that started in the United States can cause a damage of at most a few...

North Korea must comply with non-proliferation treaty - South Korean official.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Vienna, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) - North Korea must take steps to comply with the 2005 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, a senior...

Macedonian army chief thanks US for "unselfish support" at drill end ceremony.
September 30, 2008... Excerpt from report by Macedonian public radio, Radio Skopje on 29 September [Report by Petar Serafimovski - recorded] Macedonia is determined to tackle the obstacles and become a full-fledged NATO member despite Greece's...

Kosovo official discusses creation of independence recognition lobbying agency.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Kosovo-Albanian privately-owned newspaper Express, on 28 September [Report by Shpend Limoni: "Buying Image"] Pristina, 27 Sep -- The institutions of Kosovo are seeking alternative ways to increase the number of...

Iran to set up TV station in Bolivia.
September 30, 2008... Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website Tehran, 30 September: A senior Iranian diplomat has said that Iran plans to set up a TV station in Bolivia. Hojjatollah Soltani added that negotiations...

Turkmen president meets defence, security chiefs.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by state-owned Turkmen TV Altyn Asyr channel on 30 September Upon his return from [western] Balkan Region, Turkmenistan's president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, held a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers at Asgabat...

Slovakia has "strong interest" in extending broad-gauge railroad - premier.
September 30, 2008... Text of report by Slovak privately-owned independent newspaper Sme website, on 26 September [Report by Lubos Jancik: "Prime Minister No Longer Mentions 2010 as Date of Launch of Construction of Broad-Gauge Railroad"] The broad-gauge...