The	O	O
Kimberley	O	O
Provincial	O	O
Hospital	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	DSE	ESE
probably	DSE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
whether	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
patients	O	O
had	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
.	O	O

Medical	O	O
Department	O	O
head	O	O
Dr	O	O
Hamid	O	O
Saeed	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	ESE
patient	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
blood	O	ESE
had	O	O
been	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Institute	O	O
for	O	O
Virology	O	O
in	O	O
Johannesburg	O	O
for	O	O
analysis	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
two	O	O
sets	O	O
of	O	O
tests	O	O
--	O	O
for	O	O
illnesses	O	O
other	O	O
than	O	O
Congo	O	O
fever	O	O
--	O	O
arrived	O	O
back	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
night	O	O
and	O	O
were	O	ESE
negative	O	ESE
.	O	O

A	O	O
set	O	O
of	O	O
tests	O	O
specifically	O	O
for	O	O
Congo	O	O
fever	O	O
were	O	O
still	O	ESE
outstanding	O	ESE
.	O	O

Saeed	O	O
said	DSE	O
indications	O	O
were	O	O
that	O	O
those	O	O
tests	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
negative	ESE	ESE
too	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
his	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
woman	O	O
--	O	O
was	O	O
suffering	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
tick	ESE	O
bite	ESE	O
fever	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
have	O	O
similar	O	O
symptoms	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
woman	O	O
was	O	DSE
admitted	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
hospital	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
after	O	O
complaining	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
severe	O	ESE
joint	O	ESE
pains	O	ESE
.	O	O

She	O	O
also	O	O
had	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
skin	O	ESE
rash	O	ESE
and	O	O
was	O	O
vomiting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
patient	O	O
told	O	O
hospital	O	O
authorities	O	O
she	O	O
became	O	O
sick	O	O
after	O	O
being	O	O
bitten	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
tick	O	O
about	O	O
four	O	O
months	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
the	O	O
woman	O	O
's	O	O
condition	O	O
had	O	O
deteriorated	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	ESE
showing	O	ESE
improvement	O	ESE
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
afternoon	O	O
she	O	O
was	O	DSE
conversing	O	DSE
with	O	O
her	O	O
husband	O	O
after	O	O
being	O	O
semi-comatose	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
morning	O	O
.	O	O

Between	O	O
one	O	O
and	O	O
10	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
are	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
annually	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
about	O	O
20	O	O
to	O	O
25	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
patients	O	O
dying	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
statistics	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
virology	O	O
institute	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
total	O	O
of	O	O
158	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
Congo	O	O
Fever	O	O
were	O	O
diagnosed	O	O
in	O	O
southern	O	O
Africa	O	O
between	O	O
1981	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

Early	O	O
symptoms	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
disease	O	O
include	O	ESE
severe	O	ESE
headaches	O	ESE
,	O	O
red	O	O
eyes	O	O
,	O	O
fevers	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
cold	O	ESE
chills	O	ESE
,	O	O
body	O	O
pain	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
vomiting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
disease	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
contracted	O	O
if	O	O
a	O	O
person	O	O
is	O	O
bitten	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
certain	O	O
tick	O	O
or	O	O
if	O	O
a	O	O
person	O	O
comes	O	O
into	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
blood	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Congo	O	ESE
Fever	O	ESE
sufferer	O	ESE
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	O
completed	O	O
the	O	O
afforestation	O	O
of	O	O
4,000	O	O
hectares	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
six	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
municipal	O	O
forestry	O	O
bureau	O	O
revealed	O	O
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
planted	O	O
trees	O	O
mainly	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
major	O	O
five	O	O
areas	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
severely	O	ESE
endangered	O	ESE
by	O	O
sandy	O	O
wind	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Cai	O	O
Baojun	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
bureau	O	O
in	O	O
charge	O	O
of	O	O
forest	O	O
planting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
shifting	O	O
dunes	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
suburbs	O	O
and	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
successfully	O	O
controlled	O	O
by	O	O
green	O	O
barriers	O	O
of	O	O
trees	O	O
and	O	O
grass	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
helped	O	ESE
upgrade	O	ESE
the	O	O
city	O	O
's	O	O
forest	O	O
proportion	O	O
to	O	O
43	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
23	O	O
percentage	O	O
points	O	O
higher	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
metropolitan	O	O
average	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
200-metre	O	O
belt	O	O
of	O	O
trees	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
planted	O	O
on	O	O
each	O	O
side	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Yongding	O	O
,	O	O
Chaobai	O	O
,	O	O
Dasha	O	O
and	O	O
Wenyu	O	O
rivers	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
previously	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
's	O	O
most	O	ESE
desertificated	O	ESE
land	O	ESE
.	O	O

Forestry	O	O
experts	O	O
said	O	O
dry	O	O
weather	O	O
and	O	O
temperature	O	O
fluctuations	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
cause	O	O
of	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
repeated	O	O
breaching	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
embankments	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Yongding	O	O
and	O	O
Chaobai	O	O
rivers	O	O
also	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
desertification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
with	O	O
heavy	O	O
sand	O	O
being	O	O
deposited	O	O
by	O	O
floods	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
2005	O	O
,	O	O
50	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
of	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
land	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
both	O	O
urban	O	O
and	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
covered	O	O
with	O	O
trees	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
green	O	O
belts	O	O
have	O	O
helped	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
crops	O	O
from	O	O
sand	O	O
,	O	O
wind	O	O
,	O	O
drought	O	O
and	O	O
floods	O	O
to	O	O
guarantee	O	O
grain	O	O
production	O	O
,	O	O
Cai	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
will	O	O
invest	O	O
6	O	O
billion	O	O
yuan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
US$	O	O
720	O	O
million	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
hitting	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
sources	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Forestry	O	O
Administration	O	O
.	O	O

Private	O	O
organizations	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
being	DSE	DSE
encouraged	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
help	O	O
fight	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
vice-director	O	O
Li	O	O
Yucai	O	O
.	O	O

Favourable	O	O
taxation	O	O
policies	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
be	O	O
given	O	O
to	O	O
people	O	O
engaged	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
transformation	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
desertificated	O	ESE
land	O	ESE
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
was	O	O
struck	O	O
by	O	O
sandstorms	O	O
several	O	O
times	O	O
this	O	O
spring	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
sand	O	O
from	O	O
northern	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Inner	O	O
Mongolia	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
floating	O	O
dust	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
's	O	O
uncovered	O	O
construction	O	O
sites	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
causes	O	O
.	O	O

Tajikistan	O	O
:	O	O
drug-busting	O	O
hampered	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
obsolete	O	ESE
equipment	O	ESE

Moscow	O	O
,	O	O
5	O	O
July	O	O
:	O	O
Due	O	O
to	O	O
poor	O	O
technical	O	O
equipment	O	O
,	O	O
Tajikistan	O	O
seizes	O	O
only	O	O
10	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
drugs	O	O
transited	O	O
through	O	O
its	O	O
territory	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
Director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Tajik	O	O
anti-drug	O	O
agency	O	O
Rustam	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
has	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Since	O	O
our	O	O
technical	O	O
equipment	O	O
is	O	O
far	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	ESE
perfect	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
we	O	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
seize	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
less	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	O
10	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Thursday	O	O
edition	O	O
of	O	O
Nezavisimaya	O	O
Gazeta	O	O
.	O	O

Out	O	O
of	O	O
2,200	O	O
kg	O	O
of	O	O
drugs	O	O
seized	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
in	O	O
Tajikistan	O	O
,	O	O
only	O	O
837	O	O
kg	O	O
were	O	O
seized	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
inside	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	O
agency	O	O
seriously	ESE	DSE
needs	DSE	DSE
equipment	O	O
for	O	O
detecting	O	O
drugs	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
special	O	ESE
devices	O	ESE
for	O	O
inspecting	O	O
large	O	O
automobiles	O	O
and	O	O
cargoes	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Nazarov	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
service	O	O
does	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
enough	O	ESE
communications	O	O
equipment	O	O
,	O	O
either	O	O
.	O	O

Paris	O	O
,	O	O
July	O	O
11	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
will	O	O
become	O	O
totally	ESE	ESE
dependent	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
few	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
causing	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
to	O	O
lose	ESE	O
control	ESE	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
French	O	O
weekly	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Nouvel	O	O
Observateur	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Beijing	O	O
is	O	O
unlikely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
annex	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
deployment	O	O
of	O	O
missiles	O	O
along	O	O
its	O	O
coastal	O	O
provinces	O	O
opposite	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
is	O	O
instead	O	O
resorting	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
smarter	ESE	ESE
tactics	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
bringing	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
authorities	O	O
to	ESE	O
heel	ESE	O
through	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
businessmen	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
eager	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
explore	O	O
the	O	O
mainland	O	O
Chinese	O	O
market	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
weekly	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	O
attracted	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
US$	O	O
50	O	O
billion	O	O
in	O	O
investment	O	O
from	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
thus	O	O
far	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
Taipei	O	O
authorities	O	O
bowed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
pressure	ESE	DSE
from	DSE	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
businessmen	O	O
to	O	O
lift	O	O
restrictions	O	O
on	O	O
investment	O	O
in	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	DSE
move	O	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
speed	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
capital	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
arch	ESE	O
rival	ESE	O
.	O	O

Barring	ESE	O
any	O	O
reversal	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
trend	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
weekly	O	O
quoted	O	O
U.S.	O	O
magazine	O	O
Business	O	O
Weekly	O	O
as	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Beijing	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
bring	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
knees	ESE	O
without	O	O
firing	O	O
one	O	O
bullet	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	ESE
factor	O	ESE
which	O	ESE
might	ESE	ESE
deter	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
military	ESE	O
adventurism	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
is	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
readiness	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
fight	DSE	ESE
Beijing	O	O
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
will	ESE	O
bear	ESE	O
witness	ESE	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
determination	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
remain	O	O
a	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
magazine	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
publication	O	O
quoted	O	O
Wu	O	O
Guoguang	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
professor	O	O
at	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
concessions	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
trigger	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
defection	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
Asian	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
fold	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
leaders	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
blink	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
either	O	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
an	O	O
independent	O	O
state	O	O
in	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
boost	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
schisms	O	ESE
in	O	O
Tibet	O	O
and	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
and	O	O
threaten	ESE	O
the	O	O
regime	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
magazine	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Although	ESE	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
scant	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
conflict	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Nouvel	O	O
Observateur	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
buildup	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
southern	O	O
coastal	O	O
provinces	O	O
still	O	O
makes	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
heavily	ESE	ESE
armed	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
next	O	O
only	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
dangerous	ESE	ESE
flashpoint	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
21st	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

Taleban	O	O
commanders	O	O
have	O	DSE
prepared	O	DSE
themselves	O	O
for	O	O
new	O	O
offensives	O	O
on	O	O
positions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Front	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Salvation	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
regions	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
reports	O	DSE
from	O	O
Afghan	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
high-ranking	O	O
Taleban	O	O
commanders	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Mola	O	O
Abdorrazaq	O	O
Akhond	O	O
and	O	O
Mola	O	O
Abdol	O	O
Qahir	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
phonetic	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
visited	O	O
the	O	O
front	O	ESE
line	O	ESE
in	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
northeastern	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Takhar	O	O
Province	O	O
yesterday	O	O
morning	O	O
,	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
dispatched	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
of	O	O
northern	O	O
Balkh	O	O
Province	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Mazar-e	O	O
Sharif	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
command	O	O
of	O	O
Qayum	O	O
and	O	O
Hashim	O	O
to	O	O
Takhar	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
troops	O	O
were	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Dara-e	O	O
Suf	O	O
area	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Samangan	O	O
Province	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
commander	O	O
Yari	O	O
and	O	O
commander	O	O
Samar	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Dehdadi	O	O
military	O	O
fort	O	O
near	O	O
Mazar-e	O	O
Sharif	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Taleban	O	O
senior	O	O
commander	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Abdorrazaq	O	O
Nafis	O	O
has	O	DSE
instructed	O	DSE
the	O	O
Mazar	O	O
military	O	O
fort	O	O
to	O	O
supply	O	O
battle	O	O
zones	O	O
with	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
necessary	O	ESE
means	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Taleban	O	O
have	O	O
also	O	O
launched	O	O
an	O	O
offensive	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Andarab	O	O
area	O	O
in	O	O
Baghlan	O	O
Province	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
military	O	O
experts	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
clashes	O	O
will	O	O
resume	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
and	O	O
UIFSA	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
regions	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
and	O	O
weeks	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
weeks	O	O
Europe	O	O
and	O	O
America	O	O
witnessed	DSE	O
the	O	O
arrangement	O	O
of	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
international	O	O
conferences	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
could	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
one	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
guarantee	O	ESE
the	O	O
peace	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
stability	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
,	O	O
or	O	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
instead	ESE	ESE
deteriorate	O	ESE
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
dealt	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
ban	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
for	O	O
light	O	O
arms	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Genoa	O	O
Conference	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
much	O	ESE
wider	O	ESE
and	O	O
extended	O	O
agenda	O	O
,	O	O
had	O	O
two	O	O
common	O	O
features	O	O
between	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
large	O	O
and	O	O
numerous	O	O
bodies	O	O
of	O	O
dissidents	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
opposing	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
wishes	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	O
interests	DSE	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
small	O	O
but	O	O
powerful	O	O
group	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
second	O	O
feature	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
both	O	O
conferences	O	O
ended	O	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
effective	ESE	ESE
result	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
taken	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
resolutions	DSE	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
there	O	ESE
lacked	ESE	ESE
conclusiveness	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
operational	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
dealt	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
environment	O	O
and	O	O
examined	O	O
the	O	O
condition	O	O
of	O	O
world	O	O
climate	O	O
,	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
appraised	ESE	ESE
as	O	O
an	O	O
exception	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
relative	ESE	ESE
success	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

After	O	O
two	O	O
weeks	O	O
of	O	O
discussion	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
exchange	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
views	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
Conference	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
pay	DSE	ESE
heed	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
resolute	DSE	ESE
demands	DSE	ESE
advanced	DSE	ESE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
participants	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
emphatically	DSE	DSE
insisted	DSE	DSE
on	O	DSE
the	O	O
imposition	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
light	O	O
weaponry	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
paying	DSE	O
heed	DSE	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	O
tantamount	ESE	O
to	O	O
endorsement	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
demand	DSE	DSE
launched	DSE	O
by	DSE	O
those	O	O
countries	O	O
;	O	O
rather	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
result	O	O
came	O	O
out	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
compromise	O	O
solution	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
relative	DSE	O
back	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
group	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
joint	DSE	DSE
demand	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
stand	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
countries	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
was	O	O
encountered	O	O
by	O	O
firm	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
of	O	O
America	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

American	O	O
delegates	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
maintained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
restriction	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
ban	O	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
,	O	O
possession	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
carrying	O	O
of	O	O
light	O	O
armaments	O	O
was	O	O
practically	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
limiting	O	O
the	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
action	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
of	O	O
American	O	O
citizens	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
equal	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
reducing	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
margin	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
while	ESE	O
possessing	O	O
arms	O	O
for	O	O
self-defense	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
factor	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
breeds	ESE	O
insecurity	ESE	O
.	O	O

Critics	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
margin	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
up	DSE	O
held	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
instead	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
heeding	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
wishes	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
protecting	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
of	O	O
world	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
above	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
the	O	O
safety	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
citizens	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
paid	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
attention	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
corporations	O	O
and	O	O
huge	ESE	O
arms	O	O
producers	O	O
and	O	O
military-industrial	O	O
complexes	O	O
that	O	O
reap	O	ESE
tremendous	ESE	ESE
profits	O	ESE
annually	O	ESE
from	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
such	O	O
armaments	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
It	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
noted	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
issues	O	O
moved	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
were	DSE	O
declared	DSE	O
unofficial	O	O
and	O	O
lacking	ESE	O
validity	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
legal	O	O
force	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
participating	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O
-RRB-	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Sentences	O	O
are	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
The	DSE	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
conferences	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
subsequently	O	O
gained	O	O
even	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
prominence	O	ESE
,	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
Genova	O	O
;	O	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
``	O	O
not	O	ESE
obtained	O	ESE
''	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
which	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
subsequent	O	O
intense	DSE	DSE
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
frustration	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
leading	O	O
industrial	O	O
states	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
governments	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
long	O	O
and	O	O
varied	O	O
agenda	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
:	O	O
economic	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
anti-missile	O	O
shield	O	O
defense	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
environmental	O	O
protection	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
crises	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Balkans	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
moratorium	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
accumulated	O	O
debt	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
...	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
They	O	O
meant	DSE	O
to	O	O
reach	O	O
some	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
agreement	DSE	DSE
or	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
those	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
unexpected	ESE	O
events	O	O
left	O	O
all	O	O
that	O	O
in	O	ESE
limbo	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
uncertainty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
conference	O	O
opened	O	O
with	O	O
fierce	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
opponents	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
maintained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
concocted	ESE	O
by	O	O
globalization	O	O
is	O	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
poverty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

When	O	O
Italian	O	O
police	O	O
intervened	O	O
and	O	O
roughly	ESE	O
handled	O	O
the	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
things	O	O
got	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
the	O	O
already	ESE	ESE
volatile	ESE	ESE
situation	O	O
reached	ESE	ESE
boiling	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
violent	O	ESE
clashes	O	ESE
broke	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
killing	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	ESE
protestor	O	ESE
overshadowed	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
other	O	O
issues	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
whole	ESE	O
incident	ESE	O
was	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
unprecedented	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
history	O	O
of	O	O
European	O	O
democracies	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	O
prompted	O	O
a	O	O
whole	ESE	O
range	ESE	O
of	O	O
controversies	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
debates	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
safely	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
claimed	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Genoa	O	O
have	O	O
influenced	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
overshadowed	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
the	ESE	O
very	ESE	O
conferences	ESE	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Bonn	O	O
;	O	O
whereas	ESE	O
,	O	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
onset	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
weak	ESE	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
Genoa	O	O
was	O	O
foreseeable	DSE	ESE
for	O	ESE
most	O	ESE
observers	O	ESE
.	O	O

Because	ESE	O
,	O	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
very	ESE	O
start	ESE	O
it	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
predicted	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
subject	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
developed	O	O
and	O	O
capitalist	O	O
states	O	O
were	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
come	O	O
across	O	O
fierce	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
by	O	O
dissident	O	O
groups	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
in	O	O
poor	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Regarding	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
proposed	O	O
Anti-Missile	O	O
Defense	O	O
System	O	O
too	O	O
,	O	O
neither	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
nor	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
European	ESE	O
Union	ESE	O
,	O	O
had	O	ESE
shown	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
enthusiasm	DSE	ESE
;	O	O
rather	ESE	O
they	O	O
had	O	DSE
all	O	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
reserves	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
.	O	O

Concerning	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
protection	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
emission	O	O
of	O	O
toxic	O	O
and	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
warming	O	O
up	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
planet	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
climate	O	O
too	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
somehow	ESE	O
related	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
agenda	O	O
of	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
had	O	O
relentlessly	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
its	O	O
paradoxical	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
-RSB-	O	O
position	DSE	O
and	O	O
particular	O	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
developed	O	O
states	O	O
by	O	O
her	O	O
previous	O	O
abandonment	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Whereas	O	O
,	O	O
beforehand	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
anticipated	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
hoped	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	DSE	O
agreements	DSE	DSE
reached	O	O
at	O	O
Genoa	O	O
would	O	O
help	O	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
beneficial	ESE	O
results	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Bonn	O	O
conference	O	O
as	O	ESE
well	O	ESE
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
eagerness	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
playing	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
intermediary	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
crisis	O	O
has	O	O
given	O	O
rise	O	O
to	O	O
fierce	DSE	O
competition	DSE	O
between	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
until	ESE	O
each	O	O
party	O	O
seeks	O	DSE
its	O	O
own	O	O
particular	O	O
interest	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
until	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
rivalry	O	ESE
persists	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
question	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
unresolved	ESE	O
.	O	O

What	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
however	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
remarkable	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
conferences	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Genoa	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
most	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
made	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	DSE
interests	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
tastes	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
particular	O	O
groups	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
lobbies	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

Here	O	O
are	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
two	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
prominent	O	O
characters	O	O
attending	O	O
the	O	O
Genoa	O	O
Conference	O	O
.	O	O

Jacques	O	O
Chirac	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
responding	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	DSE
protests	DSE	DSE
leveled	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
opponents	O	O
of	O	O
globalization	O	O
,	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
They	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
present	DSE	O
themselves	O	O
as	O	O
defenders	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
poor	ESE	O
...	O	O
''	O	O

Similarly	O	ESE
,	O	O
Gerhard	O	O
Schroeder	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
German	O	O
Chancellor	O	O
,	O	O
too	O	DSE
had	DSE	DSE
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
participants	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
meeting	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
true	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
elected	ESE	O
representatives	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
these	O	O
political	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	ESE
point	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
interesting	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
calls	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	DSE
reflection	ESE	DSE
:	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
these	O	O
leaders	O	O
reject	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
interference	O	O
of	O	O
others	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
condition	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
destiny	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
while	ESE	O
present	DSE	O
themselves	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
competent	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
far	ESE	O
reaching	ESE	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
then	ESE	O
it	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
said	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
only	ESE	O
the	O	O
elected	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
leaders	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
nation	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
people	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
this	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
entitle	ESE	ESE
them	O	ESE
to	O	O
act	O	O
as	O	O
representative	O	O
or	O	O
legal	O	O
attorney	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
people	O	O
worldwide	ESE	O
!	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Exclamation	O	O
mark	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
In	ESE	O
view	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
the	O	DSE
criticisms	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
made	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
perhaps	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
also	ESE	O
considered	O	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
representative	O	O
of	O	O
powerful	ESE	O
corporations	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
placed	O	O
the	O	O
whole	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
under	O	O
their	O	O
influence	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
result	ESE	O
of	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
also	O	O
controlling	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
politics	ESE	O
globally	ESE	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
too	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
agenda	O	O
was	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
tackle	O	ESE
and	O	O
discuss	DSE	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
urgent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
indispensable	ESE	ESE
factors	O	O
concerning	O	O
the	O	O
life	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
humankind	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
remarkable	ESE	ESE
feature	O	ESE
of	O	O
this	O	O
conference	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
joint	O	DSE
resolution	O	DSE
adopted	O	DSE
by	O	O
180	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
worldwide	ESE	O
--	O	O
in	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
protection	O	O
of	O	O
environment	O	O
,	O	O
and	ESE	O
above	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
reducing	O	O
the	O	O
emission	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
--	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	DSE
isolated	O	DSE
America	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
undeniable	ESE	ESE
way	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
isolation	O	O
that	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
spite	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
discrediting	ESE	ESE
-LSB-	O	O
undermining	ESE	ESE
-RSB-	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
declining	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
comply	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Conference	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
resolution	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
forced	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
least	ESE	ESE
make	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
cooperate	O	O
in	O	O
preventing	O	O
an	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
air	O	O
pollution	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	DSE
recap	O	DSE
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
there	ESE	O
ever	ESE	ESE
existed	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
conferences	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Genoa	O	O
questions	O	DSE
regarding	O	O
:	O	O
promotion	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
improvement	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
conditions	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
defusing	ESE	O
regional	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
global	ESE	O
crises	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
conflicts	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
checking	ESE	O
unleashed	ESE	O
competition	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
rearmament	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
reduction	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
gap	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
mainstream	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
peripheral	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
...	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
addressed	O	O
and	O	O
appropriate	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
serious	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
worthy	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
solution	O	O
could	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
adopted	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
opportunity	O	O
was	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
easily	ESE	ESE
lost	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
the	O	O
meetings	O	O
flopped	ESE	O
completely	ESE	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
regards	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
recent	O	O
conference	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Bonn	O	O
Meeting	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
gatherings	O	O
like	O	DSE
the	O	O
Hague	O	O
meeting	O	O
and	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
conference	O	O
have	O	O
proved	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
failed	ESE	ESE
experiences	ESE	O
,	O	O
nevertheless	ESE	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
climatic	O	O
and	O	O
atmospheric	O	O
crises	ESE	O
are	O	O
growing	O	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
one	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
optimistic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
hopeful	ESE	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
success	O	O
of	O	O
such	O	O
protocols	O	O
and	O	O
pacts	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
agreements	O	DSE
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
protected	O	O
by	O	O
any	O	O
sanctions	O	O
.	O	O

COLOMBO	O	O
,	O	O
Sept	O	O
16	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Tamil	O	O
Tiger	O	O
rebels	O	O
launched	O	O
a	O	O
flotilla	O	O
of	O	O
boats	O	O
to	O	O
attack	O	O
a	O	O
ferry	O	O
carrying	O	O
1,200	O	O
troops	O	O
in	O	O
northern	O	O
Sri	O	O
Lanka	O	O
Sunday	O	O
,	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
an	O	O
explosive-laden	O	O
boat	O	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
ram	O	O
a	O	O
navy	O	O
gunboat	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
suicide	O	O
mission	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
cluster	O	O
of	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
20	O	O
boats	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
separatist	O	O
Liberation	O	O
Tigers	O	O
of	O	O
Tamil	O	O
Eelam	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
LTTE	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
mounted	O	O
the	O	O
pre-dawn	O	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
MV	O	O
Pride	O	DSE
of	O	O
South	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
Point	O	O
Pedro	O	O
coast	O	O
,	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Sanath	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
navy	O	O
gunboats	O	O
and	O	O
helicopter	O	O
gunships	O	O
repulsed	O	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
attack	O	O
and	O	O
first	O	O
reports	O	O
indicated	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
two	O	O
rebel	O	O
craft	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
blown	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
no	O	O
immediate	O	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
casualties	O	O
.	O	O

Fighting	O	O
continued	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
exchange	O	O
of	O	O
fire	O	O
in	O	O
high	O	O
seas	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
navy	O	O
had	O	DSE
called	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
more	O	DSE
gun	O	O
ships	O	O
to	O	O
beat	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
the	O	O
guerrillas	O	O
,	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
ship	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
about	O	O
26	O	O
miles	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
42	O	O
kilometres	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
away	O	O
from	O	O
Point	O	O
Pedro	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
attack	O	O
started	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
There	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
casualties	O	ESE
among	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
moment	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
ship	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
regular	O	O
ferry	O	O
transporting	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
northeastern	O	O
port	O	O
of	O	O
Trincomalee	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
northern	O	O
peninsula	O	O
of	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
1,200	O	O
soldiers	O	O
aboard	O	O
the	O	O
ferry	O	O
.	O	O

Hours	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
ferry	O	O
incident	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
navy	O	O
fast	O	O
attack	O	O
craft	O	O
encountered	O	O
an	O	O
explosive-laden	O	O
boat	O	O
which	O	O
blew	O	O
up	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
apparent	ESE	ESE
Tamil	O	O
Tiger	O	O
suicide	O	O
mission	O	O
,	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
navy	O	O
craft	O	O
had	O	O
approached	O	O
the	O	O
small	O	O
boat	O	O
thinking	DSE	DSE
it	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
distress	O	ESE
as	O	O
an	O	O
elderly	O	O
man	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
teenager	O	O
and	O	O
another	O	O
person	O	O
onboard	O	O
had	O	O
put	O	O
up	O	O
a	O	O
white	O	O
flag	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
it	O	O
neared	O	O
the	O	O
boat	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
came	O	O
under	O	O
attack	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
navy	O	O
vessel	O	O
retaliated	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
fishing	O	O
boat	O	O
exploded	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
All	O	O
three	O	O
people	O	O
onboard	O	O
that	O	O
boat	O	O
evaporated	O	O
,	O	O
indicating	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
packed	O	O
with	O	O
explosives	O	O
to	O	O
ram	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
navy	O	O
fast	O	O
attack	O	O
craft	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Karunaratne	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
navy	O	O
vessel	O	O
escaped	O	O
serious	O	ESE
damage	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
casualties	O	ESE
.	O	O

Tiger	O	O
guerrillas	O	O
,	O	O
leading	O	O
a	O	O
campaign	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
independent	O	O
homeland	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
northeast	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
several	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	O	O
navy	O	O
and	O	O
merchant	O	O
ships	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
using	O	O
boats	O	O
carrying	O	O
suicide	O	O
bombers	O	O
on	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
dozen	O	O
naval	O	O
craft	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
LTTE	O	O
staged	O	O
a	O	O
kamikaze-style	O	O
assault	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
merchant	O	O
vessel	O	O
in	O	O
June	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
explosives-laden	O	O
boat	O	O
rammed	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
bulk	O	O
cargo	O	O
carrier	O	O
,	O	O
MV	O	O
Mercs	O	O
Uhana	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
approached	O	O
the	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
peninsula	O	O
carrying	O	O
food	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
essentials	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
embattled	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Twenty-one	O	O
crewmen	O	O
were	O	O
rescued	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
another	O	O
seven	O	O
went	O	O
missing	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
attack	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
September	O	O
1999	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Sri	O	O
Lankan	O	O
navy	O	O
fought	O	O
Tiger	O	O
rebel	O	O
boats	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
northeastern	O	O
coast	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
the	O	O
guerrillas	O	O
from	O	O
seizing	O	O
a	O	O
Chinese	O	O
merchant	O	O
vessel	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Tiger	O	O
flotilla	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
moving	O	O
towards	O	O
the	O	O
14,000-tonne	O	O
MV	O	O
Yugi	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
confronted	O	DSE
by	O	O
navy	O	O
gun	O	O
boats	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
32	O	O
crew	O	O
members	O	O
had	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
been	O	ESE
hurt	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Tigers	O	O
in	O	O
August	O	O
1997	O	O
seized	O	O
the	O	O
6,000-tonne	O	O
MV	O	O
Princess	O	O
Kash	O	O
off	O	O
Mullaitivu	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
northeastern	O	O
coast	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
vessel	O	O
was	O	O
taking	O	O
supplies	O	O
to	O	O
private	O	O
traders	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
peninsula	O	O
.	O	O

Government	O	O
forces	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
civilians	O	O
depend	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
vital	O	O
sea	O	O
route	O	O
to	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
them	O	O
with	O	O
supplies	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
route	O	O
is	O	O
held	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Tiger	O	O
rebels	O	O
.	O	O

Merchant	O	O
vessels	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
warned	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
operate	O	O
several	O	O
miles	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
coast	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
being	O	O
detected	O	O
by	O	O
rebels	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
northeastern	O	O
seaboard	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
navy	O	O
takes	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
route	O	O
when	O	O
transporting	O	O
weapons	O	O
and	O	O
troops	O	O
to	O	O
Jaffna	O	O
.	O	O

TAIPEI	O	O
,	O	O
Sept	O	O
26	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
reiterated	O	DSE
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
full	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
as	O	O
Washington	O	O
prepared	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
reprisals	O	O
against	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
On	ESE	O
behalf	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
official	O	O
name	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
extend	DSE	DSE
our	DSE	O
full	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
any	DSE	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
act	O	ESE
against	O	ESE
terrorists	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Chen	O	DSE
said	O	DSE
while	O	O
meeting	O	O
Oregon	O	O
governor	O	O
John	O	O
Kitzhaber	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
``	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
stand	ESE	ESE
idly	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
''	O	O
because	ESE	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
were	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
disruption	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
peace	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
mankind	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
released	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
office	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
ROC	O	O
government	O	O
will	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
firmly	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chen	O	O
again	O	O
voiced	DSE	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
condolences	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
families	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
Americans	O	O
killed	O	O
when	O	O
hijacked	O	O
planes	O	O
plunged	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
on	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

Chen	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
came	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
was	O	O
massing	O	O
forces	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
reprisals	O	O
against	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
the	O	O
prime	ESE	O
suspect	ESE	O
Usama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
in	O	O
hiding	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tien	O	O
Hung-mao	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
vowed	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
back	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
in	O	O
fighting	O	O
terrorism	O	O
saying	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
had	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
option	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
but	ESE	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
so	O	O
,	O	O
despite	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
of	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
ties	O	O
between	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
his	O	O
inauguration	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
backpedalled	ESE	O
from	DSE	O
his	O	O
predecessor	O	O
Bill	O	O
Clinton	O	O
's	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
engagement	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
April	O	O
Bush	O	O
approved	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
package	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
since	O	O
1992	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
has	O	O
remained	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
arms	O	O
supplier	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
despite	O	O
switching	DSE	DSE
diplomatic	DSE	DSE
recognition	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Taipei	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
in	O	O
1979	O	O
.	O	O

Leaders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
probably	ESE	ESE
withheld	DSE	ESE
their	DSE	ESE
breath	DSE	ESE
Monday	O	O
evening	O	O
while	O	O
watching	O	O
on	O	O
television	O	O
what	O	O
Russian	O	O
President	O	O
Vladimir	O	O
Putin	O	O
was	O	DSE
about	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
say	O	DSE
to	O	O
his	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
Putin	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
they	O	O
rubbed	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
palms	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
length	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
amounted	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
much	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
expected	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
great	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
that	O	O
towers	ESE	O
over	ESE	O
Afghanistan	ESE	O
has	DSE	O
committed	DSE	O
itself	DSE	O
to	O	O
overthrow	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Taliban	O	O
system	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
pledged	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
``	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
military	O	O
operation	O	O
''	O	O
now	O	O
being	O	O
prepared	O	O
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
has	O	O
exceeded	ESE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
positive	ESE	ESE
neutrality	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
Soviet	O	O
Union	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
pursued	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
War	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
whose	O	O
continued	O	O
validity	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
leaders	O	O
also	O	O
regarded	DSE	DSE
as	O	DSE
desirable	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Putin	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
open	O	O
former	O	O
Soviet	O	O
military	O	O
airfields	O	O
to	O	O
American	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
three	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
former	O	O
Soviet	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Central	O	O
Asian	O	O
countries	O	O
could	ESE	DSE
be	ESE	DSE
regarded	ESE	DSE
as	ESE	ESE
dramatic	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

These	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
Tajikistan	O	O
,	O	O
Uzbekistan	O	O
and	O	O
Turkmenistan	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
these	O	O
are	O	O
sovereign	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
final	DSE	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
would	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
hands	O	O
,	O	O
people	O	O
familiar	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
actual	ESE	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
indicate	DSE	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
states	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
done	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
had	O	O
Moscow	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
different	O	DSE
thing	O	DSE
to	O	O
happen	O	O
.	O	O

One	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
underestimate	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
significance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Russia	O	O
has	O	O
opened	O	O
its	O	O
airspace	O	O
.	O	O

True	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Putin	O	O
only	O	O
permitted	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Americans	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
deliver	O	O
via	O	O
Russian	O	O
airspace	O	O
aid	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
theater	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
military	O	O
operations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
i.e.	O	O
not	O	O
soldiers	O	O
and	O	O
weapons	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
this	O	O
amounts	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
such	ESE	ESE
high	ESE	ESE
degree	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
Russian-American	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
wartime	O	ESE
situation	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
have	ESE	O
never	ESE	O
attained	ESE	O
during	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
10	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
Putin	O	O
has	O	O
established	O	O
the	O	O
prospect	O	O
of	O	O
taking	O	O
further	O	O
steps	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
regard	O	O
.	O	O

Accordingly	ESE	O
,	O	O
Russia	O	O
has	O	O
joined	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
coalition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
virtually	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
reservation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
has	ESE	DSE
written	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
name	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Moscow	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
registration	ESE	O
page	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
side	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
become	O	O
an	O	O
ally	O	O
,	O	O
and	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
what	ESE	O
he	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
making	DSE	O
this	DSE	O
complex	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O

Reformers	O	O
told	DSE	O
Putin	O	O
all	ESE	O
along	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
rare	ESE	ESE
opportunity	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Russia	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
become	O	O
integrated	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
civilized	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

But	DSE	O
main	O	O
stream	O	O
Russian	O	O
military	O	O
policy	DSE	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
to	O	O
keep	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
distance	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
America	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
historically	ESE	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
educating	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Taliban	ESE	O
that	O	O
had	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
demise	ESE	O
of	O	O
Soviet	O	O
occupation	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
consideration	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
differed	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
above	O	O
two	O	O
proved	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
decisive	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
had	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
with	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
has	DSE	O
no	DSE	ESE
greater	DSE	ESE
desire	DSE	ESE
than	O	ESE
to	DSE	O
present	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
the	O	O
Chechen	O	O
independence	O	O
movement	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
chapter	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
He	DSE	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
succeed	ESE	O
with	O	O
that	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
criticized	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	O
than	DSE	O
recognized	DSE	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
policy	DSE	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
however	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
taught	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
lesson	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
had	ESE	DSE
promised	ESE	DSE
everything	ESE	DSE
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
nice	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Putin	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
almost	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
aside	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnia	O	O
``	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
interpreted	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
context	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
struggle	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
reality	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Putin	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
a	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
regarding	ESE	O
Chechnia	ESE	O
,	O	O
some	O	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
look	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Putin	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
receive	O	O
what	O	O
he	O	O
sought	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
a	O	O
quick	O	O
response	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
namely	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
would	O	DSE
continue	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
encourage	DSE	DSE
political	O	O
dialogue	O	O
between	O	O
Moscow	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Chechen	O	O
insurgents	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
one	ESE	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
fail	ESE	ESE
taking	ESE	O
note	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
that	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
response	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
upon	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Chechens	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
unconditionally	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
without	ESE	O
delay	ESE	O
to	O	O
terminate	O	O
every	ESE	O
contact	ESE	O
with	O	O
international	O	O
terrorist	O	O
groups	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
accept	DSE	DSE
Putin	O	O
's	O	O
offer	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
we	O	O
view	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
warning	DSE	DSE
against	O	O
the	O	O
background	O	O
that	O	O
Putin	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
always	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
Usama	ESE	O
Bin	ESE	O
Ladin	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
behind	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Chechen	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
we	O	O
were	DSE	O
witnessing	DSE	O
a	O	O
late	DSE	O
recognition	DSE	O
of	O	O
Moscow	O	O
's	O	O
views	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Russian	O	O
President	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
understood	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
American	O	O
recognition	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
Berlin	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
center	O	O
of	O	O
stormy	DSE	O
celebration	DSE	O
,	O	O
he	O	ESE
vindicated	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
deeper	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
seen	ESE	ESE
behind	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
argued	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
had	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
not	O	O
continued	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
keep	ESE	O
alive	ESE	O
during	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
several	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Cold	ESE	ESE
War	ESE	ESE
stereotype	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
a	O	O
threat	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
concentrated	ESE	O
instead	ESE	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
common	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
twin	O	O
towers	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
collapsed	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Accordingly	ESE	O
,	O	O
at	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
your	ESE	ESE
turn	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
think	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Putin	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Feeling	DSE	DSE
like	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
ally	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	DSE
able	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
ask	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
a	O	O
place	O	O
for	O	O
Russia	O	O
almost	ESE	ESE
inconspicuously	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
in	O	O
NATO	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
joke	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
yesterday	ESE	O
.	O	O

Today	ESE	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
threshold	O	O
of	O	O
expansion	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
joke	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Belgian	O	O
premier	O	O
says	O	O
EU	O	O
leaders	O	O
will	O	O
discuss	O	O
American	O	O
strikes	O	O
at	O	O
summit	O	O

The	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
operations	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
mistakes	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
caused	O	ESE
unease	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
majority	O	O
's	O	O
ranks	O	O
in	O	O
Belgium	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
senators	O	O
spoke	O	O
about	O	O
this	O	O
on	O	O
Mise	O	O
au	O	O
Point	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
programme	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
television	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
PRL	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Liberal	O	O
Reform	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
PSC	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Christian	O	O
Social	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
opposition	O	O
party	O	O
continue	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
strikes	O	O
but	O	O
criticize	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
humanitarian	O	O
operations	O	O
are	O	O
taking	O	O
place	O	O
alongside	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

Ecolo	O	O
and	O	O
Agalev	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
ecologist	O	O
parties	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
asking	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
ending	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bombing	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
the	O	O
PS	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Socialist	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
Senator	O	O
Jean	O	O
Cornil	O	O
still	DSE	DSE
supports	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
being	O	O
increasingly	DSE	DSE
critical	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Guy	O	O
Verhofstadt	O	O
has	O	O
announced	O	O
on	O	O
Flemish	O	O
television	O	O
that	O	O
Europe	O	O
will	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
actions	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
next	O	O
Friday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
19	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
in	O	O
Gent	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
northwest	O	O
of	O	O
Brussels	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
informal	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
EU	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
heads	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
and	O	O
government	O	O
summit	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
Oil	O	O
national	O	O
oil	O	O
company	O	O
's	O	O
enterprises	O	O
produced	O	O
4.9	O	O
m	O	O
t	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
first	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
nine	O	O
months	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
11.6	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
up	O	O
year	O	O
on	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
extraction	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
over	O	O
and	O	O
above	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
-	O	O
336,000	O	O
t	O	O
-	O	O
was	O	ESE
possible	O	ESE
due	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
launching	O	O
of	O	O
new	O	O
wells	O	O
and	O	O
measures	O	O
taken	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
intensify	O	ESE
the	O	O
production	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
company	O	O
's	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
reports	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
extraction	O	O
was	O	O
possible	O	ESE
thanks	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
company	O	O
's	O	O
active	O	O
investment	O	O
policy	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
conducted	O	O
since	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
says	DSE	O
.	O	O

Capital	O	O
investments	O	O
in	O	O
production	O	O
increased	O	O
by	O	O
37	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
nine	O	O
months	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
compared	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
period	O	O
of	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

Capital	O	O
was	O	O
invested	O	O
in	O	O
renewing	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
facilities	O	O
,	O	O
increasing	O	O
volumes	O	O
of	O	O
drilling	O	O
and	O	O
wells	O	O
and	O	O
upgrading	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
company	O	O
processed	O	O
1,697,000	O	O
t	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
and	O	O
fully	O	ESE
provided	O	O
the	O	O
Atyrau	O	O
oil	O	O
refinery	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
west	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
with	O	O
oil	O	O
.	O	O

Kazakh	O	O
Oil	O	O
paid	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
34bn	O	O
tenge	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
is	O	O
148	O	O
tenge	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
budget	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
period	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
60	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
up	O	O
year	O	O
on	O	O
year	O	O
...	O	O

18	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
government	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
separating	O	O
its	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaign	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MOFA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Stanley	O	O
Kao	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
MOFA	O	O
's	O	O
North	O	O
American	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Department	O	O
,	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
amid	O	O
mounting	DSE	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
compromise	ESE	ESE
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
interests	O	O
in	O	O
exchange	O	O
for	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
global	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Kao	O	O
said	O	DSE
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
trip	O	O
to	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
is	O	O
mainly	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
informal	O	O
leadership	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
Economic	O	O
Cooperation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
APEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
forum	O	O
to	DSE	O
seek	DSE	O
expansion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
coalition	O	O
.	O	O

Prior	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
departure	O	O
for	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	DSE
during	O	O
his	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
mainland	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
reaffirm	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
Jiang	O	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
policy	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
see	O	DSE
a	O	O
peaceful	ESE	ESE
solution	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
disputes	DSE	O
between	DSE	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
.	O	O

Kao	O	O
said	O	O
several	O	O
senior	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
made	DSE	DSE
reassurances	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
seek	DSE	DSE
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaign	O	O
at	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
expense	ESE	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
sincerity	ESE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	DSE
promising	DSE	DSE
not	O	DSE
to	O	O
mix	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
its	O	O
counter-terrorism	O	O
drive	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
relevant	O	O
US	O	O
officials	O	O
have	O	O
on	O	O
many	O	O
occasions	O	O
reaffirmed	DSE	DSE
similar	DSE	DSE
commitments	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
ROC	O	O
.	O	O

Commenting	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
waiving	O	O
sanctions	O	O
that	O	O
bar	O	O
sales	O	O
of	O	O
military-related	O	O
equipment	O	O
to	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	O	O
MOFA	O	O
is	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
obtain	O	O
more	O	O
information	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
view	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
power	O	O
is	O	DSE
critical	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
ROC	O	O
's	O	O
national	O	O
security	O	O
.	O	O

Noting	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
consistently	DSE	ESE
attached	DSE	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
regional	O	O
stability	O	O
and	O	O
security	O	O
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
robust	ESE	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
package	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
struck	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
signifies	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
serious	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
security	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Against	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
backdrop	O	ESE
,	O	O
Kao	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
ROC	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
optimistic	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
defense	O	O
cooperation	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
foreign	O	O
wire	O	O
service	O	O
report	O	O
from	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
quoted	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
US	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
official	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
no	DSE	DSE
plans	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
ease	O	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
told	O	O
reporters	O	O
traveling	O	O
with	O	O
Powell	O	O
en	O	O
route	O	O
to	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
APEC	O	O
meeting	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
unequivocally	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
was	O	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
such	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
,	O	O
specifically	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
allow	O	ESE
sales	O	ESE
of	O	O
spare	O	O
parts	O	O
for	O	O
mainland	O	O
Chinese-owned	O	O
helicopters	O	O
as	O	O
another	O	O
weapon	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
There	O	O
's	O	O
no	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
sale	O	ESE
or	O	O
waiver	O	O
contemplated	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Post	O	O
quoted	O	O
US	O	O
officials	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
was	O	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
waiver	O	O
of	O	O
sanctions	O	O
imposed	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
1989	O	O
Tiananmen	O	O
Square	O	O
crackdown	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
to	O	O
allow	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
parts	O	O
for	O	O
Black	O	O
Hawks	O	O
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
sold	O	O
to	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1980s	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
helicopters	O	O
were	O	O
designed	O	O
for	O	O
high	O	O
altitudes	O	O
typical	O	O
of	O	O
much	O	O
of	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
its	O	O
Afghan	O	O
border	O	O
.	O	O

Afghanistan	O	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
under	O	O
US	O	O
bombardment	O	O
for	O	O
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
hand	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
suspect	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
Saudi-born	O	O
dissident	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Usama	O	O
Bin	O	O
Ladin	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
readies	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
war	O	ESE

ZIMBABWE	O	O
is	O	O
amassing	O	O
huge	O	O
quantities	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
and	O	O
ammunition	O	O
using	O	O
two	O	O
African	O	O
allies	O	O
in	O	O
preparation	O	O
for	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
crucial	O	ESE
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
established	O	O
.	O	O

Financial	O	O
Gazette	O	O
investigations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
one-and-a-half	O	O
months	O	O
have	ESE	O
revealed	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Congo	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
DRC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Namibia	O	O
are	O	O
helping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
circumvent	O	ESE
an	O	O
international	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
to	O	O
buy	O	O
huge	O	O
quantities	O	O
of	O	O
guns	O	O
and	O	O
bullets	O	O
for	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
ballot	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
was	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
Harare	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
by	O	O
Europe	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
on	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
appalling	ESE	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
record	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
investigations	O	O
show	O	O
that	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
is	O	O
importing	O	O
and	O	O
massing	O	O
an	O	O
assortment	O	O
of	O	O
guns	O	O
at	O	O
army	O	O
bases	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
in	O	O
preparation	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
violent	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
guns	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
arriving	O	O
secretly	O	O
at	O	O
Suri	O	O
Suri	O	O
airbase	O	O
in	O	O
Chegutu	O	O
before	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
distributed	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
military	O	O
bases	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
farms	O	O
where	O	O
self-styled	ESE	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
have	O	O
established	O	O
bases	O	O
to	O	ESE
intimidate	O	ESE
voters	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
bulk	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
weapons	O	O
have	O	O
arrived	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
DRC	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
cargo	O	O
plane	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
weapons	O	O
consist	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
significant	O	O
portion	O	O
of	O	O
French-made	O	O
guns	O	O
,	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
top	O	O
government	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	DSE
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
distributed	O	ESE
to	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
central	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
party	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
strategy	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
massive	O	O
depletion	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
armoury	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
participation	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
three-year-old	O	O
DRC	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
finding	DSE	O
it	DSE	O
extremely	DSE	ESE
difficult	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
replenish	O	ESE
its	O	O
arms	O	O
stocks	O	O
because	O	O
its	O	O
traditional	O	O
and	O	O
cheaper	O	O
arms	O	O
suppliers	O	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
it	O	O
arms	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
had	O	O
forced	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
to	O	O
implement	O	O
some	ESE	O
unpalatable	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
grounding	O	O
of	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
entire	O	O
fleet	O	O
of	O	O
Hawk	O	O
fighter	O	O
aircraft	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
refusal	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
spare	O	O
parts	O	O
.	O	O

Virtually	O	O
all	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
have	DSE	O
severed	DSE	O
ties	DSE	O
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
imposed	O	O
an	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Although	O	O
we	O	O
can	O	O
still	O	O
buy	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
from	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
Russia	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
greater	O	ESE
part	O	ESE
of	O	O
our	O	O
fairly	O	O
priced	O	O
weapons	O	O
,	O	O
ammunition	O	O
and	O	O
spares	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
sourced	O	O
from	O	O
mainly	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
Sweden	O	O
,	O	O
France	O	O
and	O	O
others	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
can	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
longer	O	ESE
buy	O	O
arms	O	O
from	O	O
Europe	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
moment	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
here	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
a	O	O
top	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Defence	O	O
source	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
left	O	O
with	O	O
no	ESE	O
alternative	ESE	O
but	O	O
to	O	O
buy	O	O
some	O	O
weapons	O	O
via	O	O
our	O	O
allies	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
DRC	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
access	O	O
to	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
European	O	O
weapons	O	O
that	O	O
we	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
preference	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Defence	O	O
Minister	O	O
Sydney	O	O
Sekeramayi	O	O
declined	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
comment	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
the	O	O
allegations	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
sanctions	ESE	O
busting	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
massing	O	O
of	O	O
guns	O	O
at	O	O
army	O	O
bases	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Just	O	ESE
avoid	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
for	O	O
now	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
am	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
going	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
comment	DSE	O
on	O	O
that	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Sekeramayi	O	O
said	O	O
yesterday	O	O
before	O	O
immediately	O	O
cutting	O	O
off	O	O
his	O	O
telephone	O	O
.	O	O

Asked	O	O
why	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
French	O	O
origin	O	O
were	O	O
finding	O	O
their	O	O
way	O	O
into	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
Jerome	O	O
Sautier	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
counsellor	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Lieutenant	O	O
Colonel	O	O
Dault	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
defence	O	O
attache	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
France	O	O
was	O	O
not	O	O
selling	O	O
any	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
said	O	O
they	O	O
had	DSE	O
no	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
arrival	O	O
of	O	O
French	O	O
arms	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
but	O	O
said	O	O
France	O	O
sold	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
several	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
could	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
turn	O	ESE
re-sell	O	ESE
them	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
said	O	DSE
they	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
whether	DSE	O
this	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	O	O
military	O	O
relationships	O	O
with	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
have	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
instance	O	O
,	O	O
sold	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
many	O	O
French-speaking	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
arms	O	O
can	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
turn	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
re-sold	O	O
by	O	O
those	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Sautier	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
illegal	O	O
arms	O	O
trafficking	O	O
outside	O	O
the	O	O
authority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
secretary	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Namibian	O	O
High	O	O
Commission	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
,	O	O
Mati	O	O
Jose	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
no	DSE	DSE
knowledge	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Namibia	O	O
helping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
to	O	O
bust	O	O
the	O	O
arms	O	O
embargo	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
DRC	O	O
's	O	O
ambassador	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Mawapanga	O	O
Mwanananga	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
reached	O	ESE
for	O	O
comment	O	O
.	O	O

Authoritative	O	O
military	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
training	O	O
and	O	O
arming	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	O	O
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
is	O	O
re-elected	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
ballot	O	O
which	O	O
must	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
held	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
March	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
bases	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
established	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
throughout	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	O	O
in	O	O
those	O	O
areas	O	O
which	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
army	O	O
camps	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
will	O	O
operate	O	O
from	O	O
these	O	O
bases	O	O
,	O	O
their	O	O
main	DSE	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
being	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
it	O	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
to	O	O
campaign	O	O
in	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
.	O	O

Opposition	O	DSE
supporters	DSE	O
would	O	O
also	O	O
be	O	O
harassed	O	O
and	O	O
ejected	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
to	O	O
disable	O	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
voting	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
constituencies	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
veterans	O	O
have	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
already	O	ESE
been	O	O
armed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
opposition	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
that	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
supporters	DSE	O
who	O	O
smashed	O	DSE
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
's	O	O
vehicle	O	O
and	O	O
thwarted	O	ESE
his	O	O
planned	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
's	O	O
structures	O	O
in	O	O
Sanyati	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
were	O	O
armed	O	O
with	O	O
guns	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
senior	O	O
government	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
sympathize	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
change	DSE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
but	O	O
judging	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
groundwork	O	O
that	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
am	DSE	DSE
afraid	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
I	O	O
do	O	DSE
n't	O	DSE
see	O	DSE
that	O	O
change	O	O
coming	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
Jose	O	O
Maria	O	O
Aznar	O	O
,	O	O
told	O	O
Argentine	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
that	O	O
Spain	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
absolute	DSE	DSE
confidence	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
Madrid	O	O
has	DSE	O
placed	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
strategic	DSE	ESE
bet	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
on	O	O
Argentina	O	O
overcoming	O	O
its	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	O
official	O	O
sources	O	O
in	O	O
Spain	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
a	O	O
private	O	O
dinner	O	O
held	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
16	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
at	O	O
Moncloa	O	O
Palace	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
seat	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
presidency	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
leaders	O	O
examined	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
problems	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
electoral	O	O
setback	O	O
suffered	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
governing	O	O
Alliance	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
held	O	O
Sunday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
14	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
sources	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
dinner	O	O
attended	O	O
by	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
both	O	O
also	O	O
took	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
inauguration	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Second	O	O
International	O	O
Congress	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Language	O	O
in	O	O
Valladolid	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
center	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
that	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Economy	O	O
Minister	O	O
Rodrigo	O	O
Rato	O	O
,	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Mariano	O	O
Rajoy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Josep	O	O
Pique	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
present	O	O
.	O	O

Rato	O	O
explained	O	DSE
the	O	O
macroeconomic	O	O
measures	O	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
applied	O	O
in	O	O
Spain	O	O
to	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
Government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
aiming	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
a	O	O
zero	O	O
deficit	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
,	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
also	O	O
spoke	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
Ibero-American	O	O
Summit	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
place	O	O
this	O	O
November	O	O
in	O	O
Lima	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
and	O	O
Latin	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Spanish	O	O
leader	O	O
also	O	O
took	O	O
advantage	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
occasion	O	ESE
to	O	O
tell	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
about	O	O
his	O	O
last	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
--	O	O
which	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
15	O	O
October	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
--	O	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
progress	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
operations	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
that	O	O
conversation	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
Aznar	O	O
also	O	O
spoke	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
president	O	O
told	O	DSE
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
.	O	O

Tehran	O	O
,	O	O
Oct	O	O
21	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
--	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
heading	O	O
a	O	O
high-ranking	O	O
delegation	O	O
,	O	O
arrived	O	O
here	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
one-day	O	O
official	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
president	O	O
was	O	DSE
officially	DSE	DSE
welcomed	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
Mehrabad	O	O
International	O	O
Airport	O	O
by	O	O
Minister	O	O
of	O	O
Mines	O	O
and	O	O
Metals	O	O
,	O	O
Eshaq	O	O
Jahangiri	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
informed	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
his	O	O
Iranian	O	O
counterpart	O	O
President	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Khatami	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
avenues	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
increase	O	O
oil	O	O
price	O	O
.	O	O

Venezuelan	O	O
Minister	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Luis	O	O
Alfonso	O	O
Davila	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
senior	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
are	O	O
accompanying	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Tehran	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Khatami	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	DSE
member	O	O
states	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OPEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
join	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
prevent	DSE	O
a	O	O
steep	O	O
fall	O	O
in	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
persistent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
deliberate	ESE	ESE
fuelling	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
cycle	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
is	O	O
pushing	O	ESE
our	O	ESE
already	ESE	ESE
turbulent	ESE	ESE
region	O	O
towards	O	O
inevitable	ESE	ESE
chaos	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
behaviour	O	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
confirms	ESE	ESE
what	O	O
has	O	O
long	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	DSE
interested	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
pursuing	O	O
its	O	O
expansionist	ESE	O
designs	O	O
on	O	O
occupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
and	O	O
Arab	O	O
land	O	O
than	O	O
in	O	O
engaging	O	O
in	O	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
peace-making	O	ESE
--	O	O
a	O	O
route	O	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
require	O	O
its	O	O
unreserved	ESE	DSE
commitment	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

And	O	ESE
therefore	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	ESE
blatantly	ESE	ESE
obstructed	ESE	ESE
all	O	ESE
international	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
European	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
regional	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
consolidate	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli-Palestinian	O	O
ceasefire	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
prerequisite	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Mitchell	O	O
and	O	O
Tenet	O	O
recommendations	O	DSE
.	O	O

Many	O	O
observers	O	O
inside	O	O
and	O	O
outside	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
had	O	DSE
rightly	ESE	DSE
feared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
callously	ESE	ESE
exploit	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
tragedy	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
to	O	O
intensify	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
accelerate	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
aggression	ESE	ESE
against	O	ESE
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
crush	ESE	ESE
their	O	ESE
efforts	O	ESE
towards	O	O
claiming	O	DSE
their	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Sharon	O	O
government	O	O
is	O	O
doing	ESE	O
exactly	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
total	ESE	O
disregard	ESE	O
and	O	O
utter	ESE	ESE
defiance	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
disrespect	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
advice	ESE	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
London	O	O
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
other	O	O
governments	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
restraint	ESE	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
quick	ESE	O
return	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
negotiating	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
opts	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
brute	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
exit	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
,	O	O
can	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
achieved	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
resumption	O	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Mitchell	O	O
report	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Tenet	O	ESE
understandings	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
expects	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
friends	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
it	O	O
with	O	O
understanding	ESE	DSE
,	ESE	O
cooperation	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
full	ESE	DSE
support	ESE	DSE
in	O	O
confronting	O	O
the	O	O
perpetrators	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
devastating	ESE	ESE
attack	O	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
centres	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
instead	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
reciprocating	O	ESE
,	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
that	O	O
since	O	O
its	O	O
creation	O	O
has	O	ESE
benefited	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
US	O	O
protection	O	O
and	O	O
backing	DSE	O
,	O	O
has	O	DSE
turned	ESE	DSE
out	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
fair-weather	ESE	ESE
friend	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Its	ESE	O
self-seeking	ESE	O
manipulation	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
tragedy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	O
Tel	ESE	O
Aviv	ESE	O
has	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
noticed	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
has	O	O
affected	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	ESE
corner	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
earth	ESE	O
,	O	O
adds	O	ESE
yet	ESE	ESE
another	ESE	ESE
burden	ESE	ESE
upon	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
likening	DSE	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
invasion	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
assassinations	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
and	O	O
Osama	O	O
Ben	O	O
Laden	O	O
is	O	O
abhorrent	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
deceptive	ESE	O
ploys	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
negate	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
President	O	O
Yasser	O	O
Arafat	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
National	O	O
Authority	O	O
have	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
are	O	DSE
still	O	DSE
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
while	O	O
under	O	O
attack	O	O
,	O	O
doing	O	O
their	O	O
utmost	ESE	O
to	O	O
demonstrate	O	O
their	O	O
unambiguous	ESE	DSE
commitment	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
stop	O	O
violence	O	O
,	O	O
maintain	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
ceasefire	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
get	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
negotiations	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
entire	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
engaged	O	O
in	O	O
handling	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
crises	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
our	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
that	O	O
Sharon	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
realise	DSE	O
that	O	O
predatory	ESE	O
behaviour	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
tolerated	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
long	ESE	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	ESE
evident	ESE	ESE
international	O	ESE
resolve	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
put	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Arab-Israeli	O	O
conflict	O	O
in	O	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
aspects	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
calls	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
London	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
realisation	O	ESE
of	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
statehood	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
settlement	O	O
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
viewed	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
leadership	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
guarantee	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
peace	O	O
and	O	O
security	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
continued	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
aggression	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
history	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
shown	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	ESE
recipe	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
disaster	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Islamabad	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
new	O	O
Governor	O	O
of	O	O
Punjab	O	O
,	O	O
retired	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Khalid	O	O
Maqbool	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
winner	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Hilal-e-Imtiaz	O	O
Military	O	O
medal	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
born	O	O
on	O	O
9	O	O
March	O	O
1948	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
joined	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
Army	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
1966	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
1971	O	O
Pak-India	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
served	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
infantry	O	O
regiment	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Kashmir	O	O
front	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
his	O	O
career	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
remained	O	O
as	O	O
Brigadier	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Infantry	O	O
Division	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
Corps	O	O
Commander	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
served	O	O
as	O	O
chief	O	O
instructor	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Defense	O	O
College	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Command	O	O
and	O	O
Staff	O	O
College	O	O
,	O	O
Quetta	O	O
.	O	O

Lt.	O	O
General	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Retd	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Khalid	O	O
Maqbool	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
defense	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
attache	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
Embassy	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
for	O	O
two	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
half	O	ESE
years	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
Military	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Governor	O	O
of	O	O
Balochistan	O	O
,	O	O
retired	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Rahimuddin	O	O
Khan	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
law	O	O
graduate	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Punjab	O	O
University	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
received	O	O
his	O	O
Masters	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Science	O	ESE
degree	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
wing	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Defense	O	O
College	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
passed	O	O
the	O	O
Infantry	O	O
Officer	O	O
's	O	O
Advanced	O	O
Course	O	O
and	O	O
Senior	O	O
International	O	O
Defense	O	O
Management	O	O
Course	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

Retired	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Khalid	O	O
Maqbool	O	O
is	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Baloch	O	O
Regiment	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
promoted	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
rank	O	O
of	O	O
Lt.	O	O
General	O	O
on	O	O
28	O	O
October	O	O
1998	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
Corps	O	O
Commander	O	O
of	O	O
Lahore	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
became	O	O
the	O	O
Chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Accountability	O	O
Bureau	O	O
on	O	O
26	O	O
September	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
retired	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
Army	O	O
on	O	O
27	O	O
October	O	O
2001	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
nominated	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
Governor	O	O
of	O	O
Punjab	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
one	O	O
daughter	O	O
.	O	O

Moscow	O	O
,	O	O
6	O	O
November	O	O
:	O	O
Three	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
launched	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
space	O	O
centre	O	O
in	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
units	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Space	O	O
Forces	O	O
at	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
have	O	O
begun	O	O
preparations	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
sixth	O	O
launch	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Proton-K	O	O
booster	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Proton	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
launched	O	O
on	O	O
23	O	O
November	O	O
will	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
satellite	O	O
into	O	O
orbit	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Defence	O	O
Ministry	O	O
's	O	O
needs	O	O
.	O	O

Autonomous	O	O
tests	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
booster	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
under	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
at	O	O
an	O	O
assembly	O	O
and	O	O
testing	O	O
hangar	O	O
at	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
is	O	O
simultaneously	O	O
being	O	O
loaded	O	O
with	O	O
fuel	O	O
components	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Space	O	O
Forces	O	O
reported	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
26	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Progress	O	O
M1-7	O	O
transport	O	O
spaceship	O	O
should	O	ESE
be	O	O
launched	O	O
from	O	O
Baykonur	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Space	O	O
Station	O	O
.	O	O

Its	O	O
launch	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
modernized	O	ESE
Soyuz-FG	O	ESE
booster	O	ESE
designed	O	O
and	O	O
manufactured	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Progress	O	O
aerospace	O	O
centre	O	O
in	O	O
Samara	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
engines	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rocket	O	O
's	O	O
second	O	O
and	O	O
third	O	O
stages	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
modernized	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
this	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
launch	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
modernized	O	O
booster	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Aerospace	O	O
Agency	O	O
,	O	O
Rosaviakosmos	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
one	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
on	O	O
21	O	O
May	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
launch	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Zenit-2	O	O
booster	O	O
produced	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Dnipropetrovsk	O	O
Yuzhmash	O	O
enterprise	O	O
is	O	O
preliminarily	O	O
scheduled	O	O
for	O	O
30	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rocket	O	O
will	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
Meteor-3M	O	O
hydrometeorological	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
into	O	O
orbit	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
their	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
Bayt	O	O
Jala	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Qalqilya	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
withdrew	O	O
from	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
maintained	O	DSE
the	O	ESE
siege	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
closure	O	ESE
around	O	O
the	O	O
city	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
suffering	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
citizens	O	O
in	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
,	O	O
like	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
citizens	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
Bayt	O	O
Jala	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Qalqilya	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
roadblocks	O	O
,	O	O
affecting	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
medical	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
educational	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
social	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
have	ESE	ESE
seen	ESE	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
main	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
this	ESE	O
suffering	ESE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
continuing	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
heavy	ESE	ESE
burden	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
citizens	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
correction	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
mistake	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Government	O	O
made	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
reoccupy	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
cities	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
assassination	O	O
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
minister	O	O
Rehav	O	O
`	O	O
am	O	O
Ze'evi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
reoccupation	O	O
was	O	O
a	ESE	O
kind	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
collective	ESE	ESE
punishment	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
inhabitants	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
cities	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
villages	O	O
around	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
villages	O	O
that	O	O
constitute	O	O
an	O	O
organic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
vital	ESE	ESE
extension	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
cities	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
destroyed	O	O
buildings	O	O
and	O	O
installations	O	O
in	O	O
those	O	O
cities	O	O
,	O	O
arrested	O	O
dozens	O	O
of	O	O
citizens	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
killed	O	O
dozens	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	O
showed	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
right-wing	O	O
coalition	O	O
in	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	DSE	O
pursuing	DSE	O
an	O	O
occupational	O	O
policy	O	O
and	O	O
is	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
,	DSE	O
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
firm	ESE	O
national	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
to	O	O
freedom	O	O
,	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
policy	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
disregards	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
establish	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
just	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
need	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
regain	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
freedom	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
,	O	O
is	ESE	O
reflected	ESE	O
in	O	O
statements	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
brag	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
large	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
or	O	O
arrested	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
reflected	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Israeli	O	O
coalition	O	O
has	O	O
no	O	ESE
agreed-upon	O	ESE
political	O	ESE
plan	O	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
settlement	O	O
plans	O	O
and	O	O
initiatives	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
attributed	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
Israeli	O	O
official	O	O
or	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
unable	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
meet	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
minimum	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
Palestinian	O	ESE
demands	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

These	O	O
initiatives	O	O
and	O	O
plans	O	O
largely	ESE	O
try	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
keep	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
hegemony	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
as	O	O
many	O	O
settlements	O	O
as	O	O
possible	O	O
on	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
lands	O	O
,	O	O
resources	O	O
,	O	O
airspace	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
crossing	O	O
points	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
approach	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
rights	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Government	O	O
is	ESE	O
playing	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
cat	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
mouse	ESE	ESE
game	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
trying	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
use	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
factor	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
perpetuate	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
occupation	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
working	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
push	DSE	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
into	O	O
new	ESE	ESE
labyrinths	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
tunnels	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
inside	O	O
the	O	O
old	O	ESE
tunnels	O	ESE
,	O	O
to	ESE	DSE
distract	ESE	DSE
them	ESE	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
central	O	DSE
demands	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
cycle	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
reoccupation-withdrawal-reoccupation	O	ESE
is	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
approach	O	O
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
secret	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
lies	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
full	O	O
Israeli	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
occupied	O	O
in	O	O
1967	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
termination	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupational	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
presence	O	O
in	O	O
these	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
way	O	O
to	O	O
peace	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
lie	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
devious	ESE	O
methods	ESE	O
to	O	ESE
circumvent	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
inalienable	ESE	ESE
Palestinian	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

Such	O	O
methods	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
complicate	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
add	ESE	O
fuel	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
raging	ESE	ESE
fire	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Energy	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Ernesto	O	O
Martens	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
admitted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
unfeasible	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	O
guarantee	DSE	O
the	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
revenues	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
Finance	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
maintains	DSE	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
estimate	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
export	O	O
platform	O	O
in	O	O
2002	O	O
will	O	O
average	O	O
1.825	O	O
million	O	O
barrels	O	O
per	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
$	O	O
17.00	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
One	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
talk	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
depth	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Finance	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
's	O	O
people	O	O
to	O	O
hear	O	O
the	O	O
criteria	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
that	O	O
benchmark	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
declining	DSE	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
details	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
manner	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
federal	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
secretariats	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
crude	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Criteria	O	O
for	O	O
Economic	O	O
Policy	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Martens	O	O
admitted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
volume	O	O
of	O	O
crude	O	O
exports	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
achieved	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
Pemex	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Mexican	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
figures	O	O
,	O	O
between	O	O
January	O	O
and	O	O
September	O	O
the	O	O
daily	O	O
exports	O	O
of	O	O
barrels	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
exceed	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
of	O	O
1.71	O	O
million	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
September	O	O
alone	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
this	O	O
average	O	O
dropped	O	O
to	O	O
1.64	O	O
million	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Preliminary	O	O
Criteria	O	O
for	O	O
Economic	O	O
Policy	O	O
2002	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
text	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
presented	O	O
to	O	O
Congress	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Finance	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
estimated	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
average	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
$	O	O
17.00	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
mixture	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
predicted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
export	O	O
platform	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
1.825	O	O
million	O	O
barrels	O	O
per	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
volume	O	ESE
appears	ESE	ESE
large	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
economic	O	O
context	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
have	O	O
fallen	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
1999	O	O
levels	O	O
.	O	O

Hence	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OPEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
its	O	O
meeting	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
whether	O	O
or	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
its	O	O
worldwide	O	O
crude	O	O
production	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
effort	O	O
to	O	O
shore	O	O
up	O	O
energy	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Traditionally	O	O
,	O	O
Mexico	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
OPEC	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
;	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
analysts	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	DSE	O
now	DSE	O
tend	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
world	O	O
consumer	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
that	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
adversely	ESE	ESE
affected	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
a	O	O
possible	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
crude	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

George	O	O
Baker	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
Energy	O	O
Intelligence	O	O
,	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
In	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
event	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
Government	O	O
gives	DSE	DSE
priority	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
its	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
game	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
risks	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

And	DSE	O
it	O	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
,	O	O
at	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
given	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
,	O	O
OPEC	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
bill	ESE	O
for	O	O
not	O	O
collaborating	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
supply	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
economy	O	O
is	O	O
very	O	O
closely	O	O
linked	O	O
to	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
hence	ESE	ESE
no	O	ESE
oil	O	ESE
producer	O	ESE
,	O	O
whether	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
OPEC	O	O
or	O	O
not	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
disadvantageous	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Frederic	O	O
Lasserre	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
energy	O	O
sector	O	O
analyst	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
firm	O	O
Societe	O	O
Generale	O	O
,	O	O
held	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mexico	O	O
's	O	O
close	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
prevents	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
from	O	O
becoming	O	DSE
more	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
OPEC	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
US	O	O
authorities	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
have	O	O
it	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Mexico	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
trading	O	O
partner	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
close	O	O
to	O	O
OPEC	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
observed	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
prices	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
gave	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
reminder	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
that	O	O
prompted	O	O
Mexico	O	O
to	O	O
collaborate	O	O
with	O	O
OPEC	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
was	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
Ken	O	O
Miller	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
firm	O	O
Purvin	O	O
&	O	O
amp	O	O
;	O	O
Gertz	O	O
,	O	O
included	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
additional	O	ESE
factor	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Mexico	O	O
sought	O	DSE
out	O	DSE
the	O	O
leading	O	O
producers	O	O
:	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
and	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
prices	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
because	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
competition	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
market	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
in	O	O
US	O	O
territory	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
pointing	O	DSE
out	O	DSE
that	O	O
prices	O	O
have	O	O
not	O	ESE
yet	O	ESE
fallen	O	O
as	O	O
low	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
did	O	O
then	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1998	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
oil	O	O
mixture	O	O
averaged	O	O
$	O	O
10.17	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
:	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
lowest	O	O
levels	O	O
have	O	O
reached	O	O
$	O	O
14.00	O	O
per	O	O
barrel	O	O
.	O	O

Miller	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
worldwide	O	O
economic	O	O
slowdown	O	O
has	O	DSE
shrunk	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
for	O	O
energy	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
could	ESE	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
independent	O	O
producers	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
operate	O	O
in	O	O
coordination	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
cartel	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	O	ESE
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
researcher	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
UNAM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
National	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
University	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Economics	O	O
Department	O	O
,	O	O
Angel	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Vega	O	O
,	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
Fox	O	O
administration	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
fiscal	O	O
reform	O	O
available	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
ruled	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Mexico	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
collaborate	O	O
with	O	O
OPEC	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
event	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
more	O	ESE
serious	O	ESE
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Miguel	O	O
Garcia	O	O
Reyes	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
specialist	O	O
in	O	O
petroleum	O	O
geopolitics	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
College	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mexico	O	O
's	O	O
distancing	O	O
from	O	O
OPEC	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
more	ESE	O
intensified	ESE	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
emphasized	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
Now	O	O
Mexico	O	O
is	O	O
positioned	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
two	ESE	O
fronts	ESE	O
:	O	O
it	O	O
recognizes	DSE	DSE
the	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
reducing	O	O
the	O	O
supply	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	DSE	O
policy	DSE	O
is	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
supply	O	O
it	O	O
with	O	O
more	O	O
crude	O	O
if	O	O
it	O	O
should	O	ESE
become	O	ESE
necessary	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	DSE	O
terms	O	O
of	O	O
market	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
exports	O	O
do	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
play	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
OPEC	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
and	O	O
1999	O	O
lent	ESE	O
credibility	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
achieved	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
of	O	O
prices	O	O
.	O	O

Promises	ESE	DSE
Are	ESE	O
Cheap	ESE	O

The	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
three	O	O
cuts	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
production	O	O
thus	O	O
far	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
purpose	O	O
of	O	O
preventing	O	O
the	O	O
crude	O	O
prices	O	O
from	O	O
becoming	O	O
weaker	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
kept	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
promises	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

THE	O	O
ABDUCTION	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
French	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
has	ESE	O
introduced	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
dimension	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
kidnap-for-ransom	O	O
pestilence	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	DSE
spread	O	DSE
dramatically	O	DSE
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
10	O	O
months	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
kidnap	O	O
gang	O	O
freed	O	O
her	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
driver	O	O
within	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
of	O	O
seizure	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
ransom	O	O
was	O	O
paid	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
abduction	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
delivered	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
devastating	ESE	ESE
blow	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
capacity	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Macapagal	O	O
administration	O	O
to	O	O
crack	O	ESE
down	O	ESE
on	O	O
kidnap	O	O
syndicates	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
grim	ESE	ESE
statistics	O	ESE
trotted	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
by	O	O
Teresita	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese-Filipino	O	O
anti-crime	O	O
``	O	O
crusader	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
who	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
relished	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
role	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Cassandra	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Philippine	ESE	O
National	ESE	O
Police	ESE	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
1992	O	O
when	O	O
organized	O	O
crime	O	O
became	O	O
a	O	O
leading	O	O
preoccupation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
agenda	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
victims	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
predatory	ESE	O
syndicates	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
's	O	O
compatriots	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese-Filipino	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
conventional	DSE	DSE
explanation	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
because	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
wealth	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
logical	ESE	O
prey	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
to	O	O
extract	O	O
ransom	O	O
money	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
perverse	ESE	O
form	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nationalist	ESE	O
racism	ESE	O
and	O	O
redistribution	O	O
of	O	O
national	O	O
wealth	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Abu	O	O
Sayyaf	O	O
kidnapping	O	O
of	O	O
foreigners	O	O
in	O	O
Sipadan	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
Dos	O	O
Palmas	O	O
,	O	O
Palawan	O	O
,	O	O
broke	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
ethnicity	O	ESE
pattern	O	ESE
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
seizure	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
driver	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
in	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
gangs	O	O
struck	O	O
at	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
immunity	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
somehow	DSE	DSE
respected	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
organized	O	O
syndicates	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seizure	O	O
sent	DSE	DSE
alarm	DSE	DSE
bells	DSE	DSE
ringing	DSE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
repercussions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
home	O	O
governments	O	O
and	O	O
countries	O	O
are	ESE	O
as	ESE	ESE
damaging	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
prolonged	O	O
hostage-taking	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Abu	O	O
Sayyaf	O	O
of	O	O
French	O	O
,	O	O
German	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
,	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
and	O	O
Finnish	O	O
nationals	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Estrada	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
President	O	O
Joseph	O	O
Estrada	O	O
had	O	O
to	O	O
cancel	O	O
visits	O	O
to	O	O
Paris	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
European	O	O
capitals	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
after	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	DSE
told	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
receive	O	O
a	O	O
hostile	DSE	O
reception	DSE	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
public	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
lengthy	O	ESE
impasse	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
negotiations	O	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
hostages	O	O
'	O	O
release	O	O
.	O	O

From	O	O
my	O	O
own	O	O
sources	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Philippine	O	O
National	O	O
Police	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
driver	O	O
went	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
French	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
Bicutan	O	O
at	O	O
around	O	O
10	O	O
a.m.	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
call	O	O
from	O	O
school	O	O
authorities	O	O
who	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
her	O	O
son	O	O
had	O	O
some	O	O
accident	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
about	O	O
six	O	O
armed	O	O
men	O	O
in	O	O
uniforms	O	O
blocked	O	O
her	O	O
brand-new	O	O
car	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
no	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
plate	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
at	O	O
Better	O	O
Living	O	O
Subdivision	O	O
,	O	O
Paranaque	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
boarded	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
gang	O	O
drove	O	O
the	O	O
car	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
vicinity	O	O
while	O	O
they	O	O
interrogated	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
for	O	O
about	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
hijackers	O	O
asked	O	DSE
them	O	O
for	O	O
money	O	O
--	O	O
one	O	O
million	O	O
pesos	O	O
was	O	O
mentioned	O	O
--	O	O
which	O	O
she	O	O
had	O	O
supposedly	ESE	ESE
withdrawn	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
bank	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
told	O	O
them	O	O
she	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
such	O	O
money	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
she	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
wife	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
French	O	O
diplomat	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
gunmen	O	O
let	O	O
her	O	O
go	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
PNP	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
mistaken	O	O
identity	O	O
,	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
explain	O	ESE
why	O	ESE
it	O	O
took	O	O
the	O	O
gang	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
identity	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
lady	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
detaining	O	O
them	O	O
for	O	O
about	O	O
two	O	O
hours	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
drove	O	O
her	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
driver	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
squatters	O	O
'	O	O
area	O	O
and	O	O
dropped	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
near	O	O
the	O	O
Bicutan	O	O
exit	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
not	O	O
before	O	O
they	O	O
took	O	O
her	O	O
necklace	O	O
and	O	O
wallet	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
take	O	O
her	O	O
ring	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	ESE
pieces	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
jewelry	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
gang	O	O
fled	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
car	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
took	O	O
a	O	O
tricycle	O	O
home	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
details	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
crime	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
swift	O	O
release	O	O
are	ESE	O
less	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
the	O	O
political	O	O
implications	O	O
.	O	O

Whether	O	ESE
the	O	O
incident	O	O
was	O	O
plain	O	ESE
holdup	O	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
see	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
abduction	O	O
reinforced	O	O
the	O	O
growing	DSE	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
governments	O	O
that	O	O
there	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
breakdown	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
law	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Macapagal	O	O
administration	O	O
is	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
control	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
also	O	O
fueled	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
crime	O	O
statistics	O	O
of	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
represents	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
pessimistic	DSE	ESE
outlook	DSE	ESE
in	O	ESE
contrast	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	DSE	O
more	DSE	DSE
dismissive	DSE	DSE
outlook	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
whose	O	O
statistics	O	O
are	ESE	O
less	ESE	ESE
alarming	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
Ang-See	O	O
's	O	O
statistics	O	O
,	O	O
derived	O	O
mainly	O	O
from	O	O
non-official	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
paint	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
grim	ESE	ESE
picture	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	DSE	ESE
ignored	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
ca	ESE	O
n't	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
burying	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
head	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
sand	ESE	O
and	O	O
offering	O	DSE
explanations	O	DSE
all	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
rather	O	O
than	O	O
check	O	O
the	O	O
rise	O	O
of	O	O
kidnappings	O	O
.	O	O

Ang-See	O	O
's	O	O
close	O	O
collaboration	O	O
with	O	O
former	O	O
PNP	O	O
chief	O	O
,	O	O
now	O	O
Sen.	O	O
Panfilo	O	O
Lacson	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
open	O	ESE
secret	O	ESE
.	O	O

Some	O	O
administration	O	O
officials	O	O
wonder	DSE	DSE
whether	O	O
she	O	O
paints	DSE	O
doomsday	DSE	O
scenarios	DSE	O
just	ESE	O
to	ESE	DSE
embarrass	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
administration	ESE	O
and	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
portray	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
contrast	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
performance	O	ESE
between	O	O
the	O	O
PNP	O	O
under	O	O
Lacson	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
PNP	O	O
leadership	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	DSE	O
no	DSE	ESE
love	DSE	ESE
lost	DSE	ESE
with	O	O
Lacson	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
the	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
had	O	DSE
previously	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
immune	O	DSE
from	O	O
the	O	O
predatory	O	O
attacks	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
gang	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
abduction	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
diplomat	O	O
's	O	O
wife	O	O
naturally	ESE	O
has	DSE	O
generated	DSE	O
anxieties	DSE	DSE
among	O	O
foreign	O	O
governments	O	O
about	O	O
how	O	O
safe	O	O
their	O	O
diplomats	O	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
abduction	O	O
was	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
fake	ESE	ESE
kidnap-for	O	ESE
-	O	O
ransom	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
act	O	O
to	O	O
demonstrate	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
incapacity	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
put	ESE	ESE
crime	ESE	ESE
under	ESE	ESE
control	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
reasoning	O	DSE
behind	O	DSE
this	O	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
gangs	O	O
were	O	O
after	O	O
ransom	O	O
money	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
matter	ESE	O
whether	O	O
their	O	O
victims	O	O
belonged	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
message	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
abductions	O	O
staged	O	O
by	O	O
some	O	O
groups	O	O
that	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
fail	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
embassies	O	O
here	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
,	O	O
French	O	O
,	O	O
German	O	O
and	O	O
Japanese	O	O
,	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
issued	DSE	DSE
advisories	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
their	O	O
nationals	O	O
warning	DSE	ESE
them	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
risks	O	ESE
when	O	O
travelling	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
advisories	DSE	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
prompted	O	O
by	O	O
domestic	ESE	O
lawlessness	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
turbulence	ESE	O
rather	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
possible	O	O
outbreak	O	O
of	O	O
insidious	ESE	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
associated	O	O
with	O	O
al-Qaida	O	O
and	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
and	O	O
provoked	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
rate	O	O
syndicates	O	O
are	O	O
abducting	O	O
targets	O	O
--	O	O
regardless	O	ESE
of	O	O
their	O	O
ethnic	O	O
identity	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
status	O	O
--	O	O
with	ESE	O
impunity	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
faces	O	O
a	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
direct	ESE	O
challenge	ESE	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
capacity	O	O
to	O	O
govern	O	O
from	O	O
the	ESE	O
specter	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
lawlessness	ESE	O
than	O	O
from	O	O
the	ESE	O
daunting	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
of	O	O
sparking	O	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
amid	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
economic	O	O
downturn	O	O
.	O	O

We	ESE	O
do	ESE	DSE
n't	ESE	DSE
need	ESE	DSE
al-Qaida	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
to	O	O
bring	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
turmoil	ESE	O
,	O	O
create	ESE	ESE
uncertainties	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
business	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
frighten	ESE	O
tourists	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
investors	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
perception	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
President	O	O
Macapagal	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
she	O	O
is	O	O
organized	ESE	O
,	O	O
knows	ESE	DSE
her	ESE	O
economics	ESE	O
,	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
her	ESE	ESE
homework	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
unscathed	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
scandals	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
rubbed	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
her	ESE	O
skin	ESE	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
scandal-mongering	ESE	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	ESE	O
downside	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
deterioration	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
is	O	O
her	O	O
nemesis	ESE	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
undoing	ESE	O
all	O	O
her	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
initiatives	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
stage	O	O
to	DSE	O
project	DSE	O
the	O	O
Philippines	O	O
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
staunch	ESE	O
ally	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
coalition	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
diplomats	O	O
raise	DSE	DSE
questions	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
her	O	O
priorities	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

They	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
she	O	O
is	ESE	O
travelling	ESE	ESE
too	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
while	O	O
internal	O	O
problems	O	O
sap	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
energy	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
she	O	O
has	O	ESE
misplaced	ESE	ESE
strategic	ESE	ESE
priorities	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
her	O	O
overseas	O	O
visits	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	ESE
fire	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
raging	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	O
home	ESE	O
,	O	O
these	O	O
sources	O	O
say	DSE	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
or	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Her	O	O
hoses	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
directed	O	O
at	O	O
internal	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
has	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
enemies	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	O
home	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
elsewhere	ESE	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
November	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Many	O	O
Chinese	O	O
farmers	O	O
have	O	O
begun	O	O
growing	O	O
crops	O	O
in	O	O
computer-controlled	O	O
rooms	O	O
instead	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
tilling	O	ESE
fields	O	ESE
with	O	O
spades	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	ESE
apply	O	ESE
fertilizer	O	ESE
,	O	O
water	O	O
fields	O	O
and	O	O
treat	O	O
insect	O	O
pest	O	O
with	O	O
equipment	O	O
controlled	O	O
by	O	O
computers	O	O
in	O	O
intelligent	O	O
farm	O	O
workshops	O	O
.	O	O

Their	O	O
products	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	ESE
high	O	ESE
quality	O	ESE
and	O	O
great	O	DSE
variety	O	DSE
,	O	O
are	O	O
shipped	O	O
to	O	O
supermarkets	O	O
and	O	O
hotels	O	O
and	O	O
sold	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
good	O	ESE
price	O	ESE
.	O	O

More	O	O
than	O	O
150	O	O
agro-technological	O	O
guiding	O	O
systems	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
in	O	O
Yunnan	O	O
,	O	O
Anhui	O	O
,	O	O
Jilin	O	O
and	O	O
Hainan	O	O
provinces	O	O
to	O	O
teach	O	O
farmers	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
cultivate	O	O
grain	O	O
crops	O	O
,	O	O
vegetables	O	O
,	O	O
fruit	O	O
and	O	O
aquatic	O	O
products	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
20	O	O
demonstration	O	O
zones	O	O
built	O	O
between	O	O
1998	O	O
and	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
grain	O	O
output	O	O
was	O	O
increased	O	O
by	O	O
2	O	O
billion	O	O
kg	O	O
,	O	O
saving	O	O
640	O	O
million	O	O
yuan	O	O
in	O	O
production	O	O
costs	O	O
.	O	O

Xinjiang	O	O
Uygur	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
cities	O	O
of	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
are	O	O
experimenting	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
satellite	O	O
positioning	O	O
technology	O	O
for	O	O
accurate	O	O
control	O	O
of	O	O
fertilizer	O	O
application	O	O
.	O	O

With	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
impression	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
excursion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
top	O	O
brass	O	O
to	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
change	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
picture	ESE	O
much	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
game	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
continuing	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Buenos	ESE	O
Aires	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
,	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
creditors	O	O
are	O	O
preparing	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
debt	O	O
negotiation	O	O
with	DSE	O
various	DSE	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
mind	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
one	DSE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
revealed	O	O
piecemeal	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
tour	O	O
headed	O	O
by	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Domingo	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
has	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
irritating	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bankers	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	DSE	O
they	DSE	O
prefer	DSE	DSE
Daniel	O	O
Marx	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
not	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
minister	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
confrontational	ESE	O
style	ESE	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
El	O	O
Cronista	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
told	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
a	O	O
source	O	O
from	O	O
an	O	O
investment	O	O
bank	O	O
who	O	O
followed	O	O
the	O	O
visit	O	O
closely	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
issue	O	O
has	O	O
various	O	O
aspects	O	O
:	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
minister	O	O
's	O	O
gradual	O	ESE
loss	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
credibility	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	DSE
confusion	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
role	O	O
of	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Frenkel	O	O
and	O	O
Merrill	O	O
Lynch	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
team	O	O
's	O	O
apparent	ESE	ESE
lack	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
strategy	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
Alliance	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
obvious	ESE	ESE
domestic	ESE	ESE
difficulties	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
creditors	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
mind	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
negotiation	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
represented	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
more	ESE	O
heterogeneous	ESE	O
steering	O	O
committee	O	O
than	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
1980	O	O
's	O	O
:	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
large	O	O
banks	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
portfolio	O	O
administrators	O	O
,	O	O
pension	O	O
funds	O	O
,	O	O
insurers	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
investors	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Emerging	O	O
Markets	O	O
Creditors	O	O
Association	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
EMCA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
meets	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
case	O	O
,	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
a	O	O
letter	O	O
to	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
consultation	O	O
process	O	O
is	O	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
part	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
solution	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
cautioning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Argentina	O	O
negotiates	O	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
creditors	O	O
now	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
direct	O	O
effects	O	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
chances	O	O
of	O	O
gaining	O	O
access	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
markets	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
can	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
say	O	DSE
`	O	O
take	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
leave	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
,	O	O
'	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
local	O	O
swap	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
source	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
example	O	ESE
.	O	O

Marx	O	O
understands	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
menu	ESE	O
''	O	O
for	O	O
gaining	O	O
the	O	O
creditors	O	O
'	O	O
good	DSE	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Among	O	O
the	O	O
latter	O	O
there	DSE	O
is	DSE	DSE
consensus	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
remission	O	O
of	O	O
capital	O	O
and/or	O	O
interest	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
there	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
options	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
are	O	O
geared	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
of	O	O
each	O	O
one	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	DSE
concern	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
negotiation	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
generated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
leading	O	O
role	O	O
given	O	O
to	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Frenkel	O	O
,	O	O
Merrill	O	O
Lynch	O	O
's	O	O
international	O	O
vice	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
source	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
As	O	O
an	O	O
adviser	O	O
,	O	O
he	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
useful	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
Merrill	O	O
Lynch	O	O
bothers	DSE	DSE
many	O	O
other	O	O
creditors	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
creditors	O	O
interpret	DSE	O
strategy	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
mean	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
definition	O	ESE
of	O	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
and	O	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	ESE
negotiable	O	ESE
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
source	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
A	O	ESE
key	ESE	ESE
man	O	ESE
is	O	O
the	O	O
finance	O	O
secretary	O	O
:	O	O
he	O	O
must	O	O
specify	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
fiscal	O	O
margin	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
spoke	DSE	ESE
even	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
clearly	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
finance	O	O
secretary	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
Marx	O	O
is	O	O
sufficiently	ESE	ESE
patriotic	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
has	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
pleasant	ESE	ESE
personality	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
he	O	O
knows	ESE	DSE
enough	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
good	ESE	ESE
negotiator	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
he	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
disaster	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
was	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
response	DSE	O
.	O	O

On	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
for	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
creditors	O	O
do	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
see	O	ESE
any	O	ESE
signals	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
concrete	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
from	DSE	O
the	O	O
G-7	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
paper	O	O
published	O	O
yesterday	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
CS	O	O
First	O	O
Boston	O	O
bank	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
most	O	O
recent	O	O
statements	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
suggest	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
G-7	O	O
support	DSE	O
-RRB-	O	O
is	O	O
unlikely	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
we	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
precluding	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
surprises	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Faced	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
Crisis	O	O
,	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
Accentuates	DSE	ESE
His	DSE	ESE
Influence	DSE	ESE

Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Adalberto	O	O
Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
continued	O	O
to	O	O
cultivate	O	O
his	O	O
new	O	O
role	O	O
as	O	O
conciliator	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
counterparts	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Mercosur	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Common	O	O
Market	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
minister	O	O
's	O	O
current	DSE	DSE
priority	DSE	DSE
involves	O	O
binding	ESE	O
wounds	ESE	O
opened	O	O
by	O	O
his	O	O
colleague	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Ministry	O	O
,	O	O
Domingo	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
regional	O	O
union	O	O
in	O	O
general	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Brazil	O	O
in	ESE	O
particular	ESE	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
risk	ESE	O
zone	ESE	O
.	O	O

Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
failed	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
attend	O	O
to	O	O
other	O	O
matters	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
ministry	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
Chinese	O	O
colleague	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
preparing	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	O
meet	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
travel	O	O
there	O	O
from	O	O
Buenos	O	O
Aires	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
evident	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
weeks	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
has	DSE	O
taken	ESE	O
responsibility	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
a	O	O
fundamental	ESE	O
task	ESE	O
:	O	O
to	O	O
tone	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
Cavallo	O	O
's	O	O
tendency	ESE	O
toward	ESE	O
confrontation	ESE	O
.	O	O

That	O	ESE
conduct	O	ESE
has	DSE	ESE
heightened	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	DSE
suspicion	DSE	DSE
aimed	O	DSE
at	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	ESE
disadvantageous	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
risking	ESE	ESE
his	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
future	ESE	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
president	O	O
,	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
ultimately	ESE	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
participate	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
's	O	O
order	DSE	O
.	O	O

Finance	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Daniel	O	O
Marx	O	O
has	O	O
again	O	O
handled	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
negotiations	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
restructuring	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
debt	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
management	O	O
by	O	O
Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
foreign	O	O
minister	O	O
convinced	DSE	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
political	ESE	O
disadvantage	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
entailed	O	O
by	O	O
leaving	O	O
that	O	O
official	O	O
aside	O	O
,	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
verge	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
complex	O	O
dialogues	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Treasury	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
multilateral	O	O
and	O	O
financing	O	O
agencies	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
meetings	O	O
at	O	O
Olivos	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
weekend	O	O
of	O	O
3-4	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
appoint	O	O
Marx	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
negotiator	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
fine	O	O
print	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
agreements	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
latter	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
reached	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
event	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
holders	O	O
of	O	O
Argentine	O	O
bonds	O	O
agree	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
swap	O	DSE
the	O	O
instruments	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
yield	O	ESE
high	O	ESE
interest	O	ESE
,	O	O
for	O	O
others	O	O
with	O	O
rates	O	O
not	O	O
exceeding	O	O
7	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

Cavallo	O	O
had	O	O
delegated	O	O
his	O	O
debt	O	O
swap	O	O
strategy	O	O
to	O	O
external	O	O
advisers	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
attorney	O	O
,	O	O
Horacio	O	O
Liendo	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
economist	O	O
,	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Frenkel	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
foreign	O	O
minister	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
personally	O	O
about	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
leap	ESE	ESE
into	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
void	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
represented	O	O
by	O	O
leaving	O	O
Marx	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
negotiations	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
smooth-flowing	ESE	O
dialogue	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
staff	O	O
officials	O	O
.	O	O

Rodriguez	O	O
Giavarini	O	O
's	O	O
management	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
when	O	O
there	O	O
was	DSE	O
a	DSE	ESE
deluge	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
doubts	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
sustainability	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
announced	O	O
by	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
hours	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
had	DSE	O
feverish	DSE	O
contacts	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
international	O	O
diplomats	O	O
and	O	O
leaders	O	O
.	O	O

Resulting	O	O
from	O	O
these	O	O
dialogues	O	O
were	O	O
communiques	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
G-7	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Treasury	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
contents	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
discussed	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
those	O	O
agencies	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	O
putting	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
letterhead	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Seoul	O	O
,	O	O
Nov.	O	O
19	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Yonhap	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
recent	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
details	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
is	O	O
putting	O	O
local	O	O
exporters	O	O
on	O	O
alert	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
at	O	O
its	O	O
seventh	O	O
session	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
Marrakech	O	O
,	O	O
Morocco	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
prescribes	DSE	O
an	O	O
obligatory	O	ESE
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
put	O	ESE
into	O	ESE
effect	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
export	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
heavily	ESE	ESE
damaged	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
get	O	O
30	O	O
leading	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
EU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
lessen	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
amounts	O	O
as	O	O
high	O	O
as	O	O
95	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
levels	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1990	O	O
's	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
business	O	O
circle	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
exports	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
damaged	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
direct	O	O
and	O	O
indirect	O	O
ways	O	O
from	O	O
2008	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
will	O	ESE
begin	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
regulated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
reason	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
industrial	O	O
structure	O	O
depends	O	ESE
heavily	O	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
export	O	O
of	O	O
products	O	O
including	O	O
not	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
durable	O	ESE
appliances	O	ESE
such	O	O
as	O	O
air	O	O
conditioner	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
automobiles	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
should	O	ESE
meet	O	ESE
intensified	O	ESE
environmental	O	O
standards	O	O
before	O	O
they	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
shipped	O	O
overseas	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Also	O	O
,	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
are	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
standards	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
trade	O	O
barrier	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	ESE
pressures	DSE	ESE
from	O	ESE
advanced	O	ESE
countries	O	O
to	O	O
get	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
its	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
is	O	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
strengthen	O	O
.	O	O

South	O	O
Korea	O	O
ranked	O	O
ninth	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
largest	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
producers	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
per-capita	O	O
emissions	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
close	O	O
to	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
advanced	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
this	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
possibly	ESE	ESE
avoid	O	ESE
pressures	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
match	O	O
the	O	O
cuts	O	O
of	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
particular	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	DSE
likely	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
persuade	DSE	DSE
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
including	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
earlier	O	O
than	O	O
planned	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
secure	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
backed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	DSE	O
agreement	DSE	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
industries	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
handicapped	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
stringent	O	O
rules	O	O
that	O	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
simply	ESE	ESE
ignore	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
declared	O	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
intention	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
discuss	DSE	O
its	O	O
duty	ESE	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
down	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
from	O	O
2018	O	O
,	O	O
there	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
advanced	O	O
nations	O	O
will	O	ESE
wait	O	ESE
until	O	ESE
then	O	ESE
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	O
go	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
transform	O	ESE
the	O	O
current	O	O
industrial	O	O
structure	O	O
into	O	O
an	O	O
environment-friendly	O	O
one	O	O
and	O	O
minimize	O	O
industries	O	O
which	O	O
use	O	O
a	O	O
host	O	O
of	O	O
energy	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
petrochemicals	O	O
and	O	O
cement	O	O
manufacturing	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
pour	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
money	ESE	O
into	O	O
businesses	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
energy	O	O
efficiency	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
an	O	O
April	O	O
survey	O	O
of	O	O
416	O	O
firms	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
conducted	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Korea	O	O
Chamber	O	O
of	O	O
Commerce	O	O
and	O	O
Industry	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
KCCI	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
60	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
total	O	O
respondents	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
will	O	DSE
greatly	ESE	DSE
influence	ESE	DSE
local	O	O
firms	O	O
But	O	O
only	O	O
28.4	O	O
percent	O	O
replied	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
rushing	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
conform	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
's	O	O
requirements	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
provide	O	O
domestic	O	O
firms	O	O
real	ESE	O
aid	ESE	O
like	O	O
tax	O	O
reductions	O	O
and	O	O
environmental	O	O
technology	O	O
development	O	O
rather	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
abstractly	ESE	ESE
recommend	ESE	DSE
domestic	O	DSE
firms	O	DSE
promote	O	DSE
energy	O	O
efficiency	O	O
and	O	O
lower	O	O
energy	O	O
consumption	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
an	O	O
industry	O	O
source	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Unless	ESE	O
measures	O	O
that	O	O
comply	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
are	O	O
mapped	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
early	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
competitiveness	O	O
in	O	O
manufacturing	O	O
sectors	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
weaken	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Researchers	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Weizmann	O	O
Institute	O	O
in	O	O
Rehovot	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Technion	O	O
in	O	O
Haifa	O	O
have	O	O
developed	O	O
a	O	O
computer	O	O
so	O	ESE
tiny	O	ESE
that	O	O
a	O	O
trillion	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
could	O	O
fit	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
laboratory	O	O
test	O	O
tube	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
``	O	O
computers	O	O
''	O	O
are	O	O
biological	O	O
molecules	O	O
,	O	O
using	O	O
DNA	O	O
for	O	O
software	O	O
and	O	O
enzymes	O	O
for	O	O
hardware	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
can	O	O
solve	O	O
a	O	O
billion	O	O
mathematical	O	O
problems	O	O
a	O	O
second	O	O
.	O	O

Such	O	ESE
tiny	O	ESE
devices	O	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
one	O	O
day	O	O
fit	O	O
into	O	O
cells	O	O
and	O	O
supervise	O	O
biological	O	O
processes	O	O
,	O	O
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
synthesize	O	ESE
drugs	O	ESE
.	O	O

DNA	O	ESE
strands	O	ESE
exist	O	ESE
in	O	O
almost	O	O
every	O	O
body	O	O
cell	O	O
--	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
biological	O	O
software	O	O
that	O	O
tell	O	O
each	O	O
cell	O	O
and	O	O
molecule	O	O
what	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	O	ESE
you	O	O
look	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
mechanism	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
cell	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
lot	O	O
of	O	O
what	O	O
goes	O	O
on	O	O
inside	O	O
is	O	O
computation	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
do	O	ESE
n't	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
teach	O	O
the	O	O
cell	O	O
new	O	O
tricks	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
just	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
the	O	O
existing	O	O
tricks	O	O
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
order	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Prof.	O	O
Ehud	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Weizmann	O	O
Institute	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
headed	O	O
the	O	O
research	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
scientists	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
DNA-based	O	O
computers	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
over	O	O
existing	O	O
computers	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
silicon	O	O
chips	O	O
.	O	O

Artificial	O	O
chips	O	O
have	O	O
reached	O	O
their	O	O
limits	O	O
and	O	O
ca	O	O
n't	O	O
get	O	O
any	O	O
smaller	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
,	O	O
say	DSE	O
the	O	O
scientists	O	O
,	O	O
tiny	O	ESE
DNA	O	ESE
strands	O	ESE
can	O	ESE
store	O	O
huge	ESE	O
amounts	O	O
of	O	O
information	O	O
in	O	O
minuscule	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
--	O	O
one	O	ESE
cubic	O	ESE
centimeter	O	ESE
of	O	O
DNA	O	O
can	O	O
store	O	O
more	ESE	O
information	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
trillion	ESE	O
CDs	O	O
.	O	O

Prof.	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
says	O	DSE
the	O	O
molecular	O	O
computer	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
kind	O	ESE
.	O	O

Although	O	O
computers	O	O
with	O	O
DNA	O	O
input	O	O
and	O	O
output	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
made	O	O
before	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
always	O	O
involved	O	O
a	O	O
laborious	O	ESE
series	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
reactions	O	ESE
,	O	O
each	O	ESE
requiring	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
supervision	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Previous	O	O
biological	O	O
computers	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
size	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
room	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
supervisors	O	O
and	O	O
computer	O	O
equipment	O	O
worked	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Shapiro	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
method	O	O
,	O	O
all	O	ESE
you	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
to	O	O
get	O	O
an	O	O
answer	O	O
is	O	O
put	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
ingredients	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
test	O	O
tube	O	O
,	O	O
mix	O	O
them	O	O
together	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
check	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
output	O	O
is	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

For	O	O
now	O	O
biological	O	O
computers	O	O
only	O	ESE
know	O	ESE
how	O	O
to	O	O
answer	O	O
simple	O	O
questions	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
yes	O	ESE
''	O	O
or	O	O
``	O	O
no	O	ESE
''	O	O
response	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
typical	O	O
question	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
:	O	O
In	O	O
the	O	O
sequence	O	O
``	O	O
AAB	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
there	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
equal	O	ESE
number	O	ESE
of	O	O
As	O	O
and	O	O
Bs	O	O
?	O	O

Nevertheless	O	ESE
,	O	O
several	O	O
researchers	O	O
worldwide	O	O
have	O	DSE
hailed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
computers	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
new	ESE	ESE
development	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
work	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
I	ESE	O
've	ESE	DSE
seen	ESE	DSE
so	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
Eric	O	O
Baum	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
computer	O	O
scientist	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
NEC	O	O
Research	O	O
Institute	O	O
in	O	O
Princeton	O	O
,	O	O
New	O	O
Jersey	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
he	O	O
questions	DSE	DSE
whether	ESE	O
biomolecular	O	O
computers	O	O
will	ESE	O
ever	ESE	ESE
become	O	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
useful	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
are	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
step	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
direction	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Professor	O	O
Shapiro	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
growing	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
scientists	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
DNA-based	O	O
computers	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
lead	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
a	ESE	O
number	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
useful	ESE	O
applications	ESE	O
--	O	O
they	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
planted	O	O
inside	O	O
cells	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	ESE
watch	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
irregularities	O	ESE
or	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
synthesize	O	ESE
drugs	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
computer	O	O
simulates	O	O
the	O	O
cell	O	O
's	O	O
natural	O	O
mechanisms	O	O
with	O	O
an	O	O
accuracy	O	O
level	O	O
of	O	O
99.8	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

Natural	O	O
DNA	O	O
processes	O	O
also	ESE	O
involve	O	O
inaccuracies	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
corrected	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
genes	O	ESE
,	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Shapiro	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
almost	ESE	ESE
impossible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
reach	O	O
absolute	O	O
accuracy	O	O
using	O	O
biological	O	O
systems	O	O
.	O	O

However	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
uses	O	O
for	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
computers	O	O
are	O	O
designated	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
level	O	O
of	O	O
accuracy	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
adequate	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

So	O	O
how	O	O
does	O	O
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
computer	O	ESE
work	O	ESE
?	O	O

Let	O	O
's	O	O
say	O	DSE
the	O	O
computer	O	O
wants	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
know	O	DSE
whether	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
times	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
DNA	O	O
type	O	O
appears	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
DNA	O	O
section	O	O
is	O	O
odd	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
even	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
DNA	O	O
section	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
input	O	O
''	O	O
--	O	O
is	O	O
inserted	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
chemical	O	O
solution	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
enzymes	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
computer	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
hardware	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
DNA	O	O
sections	O	O
are	O	O
added	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
act	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
software	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
software	O	O
section	O	O
sticks	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
help	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
enzyme	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
tip	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
is	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
will	O	DSE
be	O	DSE
labeled	O	DSE
as	O	O
having	O	O
an	O	O
odd	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
sequences	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	O
enzyme	O	O
then	O	O
cuts	O	O
the	O	O
section	O	O
and	O	O
reveals	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
sequence	O	O
.	O	O

Each	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
B	O	ESE
''	O	O
appears	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
label	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
input	O	O
changes	O	O
from	O	O
``	O	O
even	O	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
odd	O	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
back	O	O
again	O	O
.	O	O

Once	O	O
the	O	O
computer	O	O
has	O	O
dissected	O	O
the	O	O
entire	O	O
input	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	O
determine	O	O
whether	O	O
the	O	O
sequence	O	O
appeared	O	O
an	O	O
even	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
odd	O	ESE
number	O	ESE
of	O	O
times	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
label	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
output	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
computer	O	O
can	O	O
also	O	O
do	O	O
other	O	O
calculations	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
checking	O	O
whether	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
B	O	O
''	O	O
sequence	O	O
appears	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
least	O	ESE
once	O	ESE
,	O	O
or	O	O
at	O	O
most	O	O
once	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
inserting	O	O
different	O	O
types	O	O
of	O	O
software	O	O
DNAs	O	O
.	O	O

Kazakh	O	O
president	O	O
optimistic	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
future	O	O
of	O	O
CIS	O	O

Moscow	O	O
,	O	O
29	O	O
November	O	O
:	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
President	O	O
Nursultan	O	O
Nazarbayev	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
arrived	O	O
in	O	O
Moscow	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
10th	O	O
anniversary	O	O
summit	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
of	O	O
Independent	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
upon	O	O
his	O	O
arrival	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
29	O	O
November	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
certain	ESE	ESE
apathy	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
commonwealth	O	O
has	O	O
developed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
member	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Making	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
point	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Soviet	O	O
republics	O	O
``	O	O
have	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
completely	ESE	ESE
fallen	ESE	ESE
apart	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
have	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
formed	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
sufficiently	ESE	ESE
strong	ESE	ESE
alliance	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
basis	O	O
either	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
a	O	O
real	ESE	O
unification	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
place	O	O
after	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
,	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
have	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
reasons	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
union	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
this	O	ESE
tendency	O	ESE
reflects	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
cultural	O	O
traditions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
were	O	O
formerly	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Soviet	O	O
Union	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
current	O	O
summit	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
hopefully	ESE	DSE
allow	O	DSE
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
lay	O	O
new	O	O
ways	O	O
towards	O	O
rapprochement	O	O
.	O	O

Concerning	O	O
the	O	O
delimitation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
between	O	O
Kazakhstan	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Nazarbayev	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
is	O	O
continuing	O	O
without	O	O
any	O	O
disagreements	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
with	O	O
mutual	DSE	O
respect	DSE	O
for	O	O
each	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
interests	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
documents	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
delimitation	O	O
are	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
be	O	O
signed	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

Getting	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
problem	O	O
of	O	O
broadening	O	O
all-round	O	O
cooperation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
CIS	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
Nazarbayev	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
factor	O	O
-	O	O
globalization	O	O
-	O	O
is	O	O
accelerating	O	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	ESE	O
can	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
stand	ESE	DSE
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
sidelines	ESE	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
global	O	O
tendency	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
president	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Nuevo	O	O
Laredo	O	O
,	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
6	O	O
Dec	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
A	O	O
pollero	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
immigrant	O	O
smuggler	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
suspected	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
having	O	O
facilitated	O	O
the	O	O
entry	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
of	O	O
illegal	O	O
aliens	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
investigated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Mexico	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
informed	O	O
this	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Attorney	O	O
General	O	O
Francisco	O	O
Cayuela	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
preliminary	O	O
investigations	O	O
indicate	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
gang	O	O
of	O	O
Mexican	O	O
Saul	O	O
`	O	O
El	O	O
Guero	O	O
'	O	O
Medina	O	O
specialized	O	O
in	O	O
smuggling	O	O
illegal	O	O
aliens	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
car	O	O
theft	O	O
.	O	O

Medina	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Mexican	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Matamoros	O	O
off	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
of	O	O
Mexico	O	O
and	O	O
which	O	O
borders	O	O
Brownsville	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Texas	O	O
,	O	O
mid-south	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
investigated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Federal	O	O
Bureau	O	O
of	O	O
Investigation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
FBI	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Guillermo	O	O
Narvaez	O	O
,	O	O
Tamaulipas	O	O
Ministerial	O	O
Police	O	O
Chief	O	O
of	O	O
Police	O	O
,	O	O
confirmed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Ministerial	O	O
Police	O	O
discovered	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
El	O	O
Guero	O	O
''	O	O
Medina	O	O
's	O	O
gang	O	O
operated	O	O
from	O	O
Matamoros	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
branches	O	O
in	O	O
India	O	O
,	O	O
Brazil	O	O
,	O	O
Guatemala	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
,	O	O
Honduras	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
El	O	O
Salvador	O	O
.	O	O

Narvaez	O	O
explained	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
FBI	O	O
has	O	DSE
requested	O	DSE
information	O	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
gang	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
used	O	O
false	O	O
documents	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
resident	O	O
cards	O	O
,	O	O
licenses	O	O
,	O	O
social	O	O
security	O	O
numbers	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
seals	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
Texas	O	O
Justice	O	O
Department	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
authorities	O	O
began	O	O
to	O	O
investigate	O	O
this	O	O
gang	O	O
's	O	O
activities	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
possible	O	O
connection	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
arrest	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
Brazilians	O	O
and	O	O
another	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
Iranians	O	O
in	O	O
Texas	O	O
in	O	O
October	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
discovered	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
illegal	O	O
immigrants	O	O
were	O	O
carrying	O	O
false	O	O
documents	O	O
.	O	O

Saul	O	O
Medina	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
in	O	O
Matamoros	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
14	O	O
stolen	O	O
vehicles	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
possession	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
safeguarding	O	O
9	O	O
illegal	O	O
aliens	O	O
,	O	O
among	O	O
them	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
Indian	O	O
origin	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	DSE
perfect	ESE	DSE
agreement	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
polls	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
popularity	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
recent	O	O
study	O	O
by	O	O
Alfredo	O	O
Keller	O	O
has	O	O
confirmed	O	O
the	DSE	O
resounding	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
sustained	ESE	ESE
fall	ESE	ESE
of	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
approval	DSE	DSE
rating	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
President	O	O
had	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
study	O	O
was	O	O
conducted	O	O
among	O	O
a	O	O
sample	O	O
of	O	O
1,000	O	O
adults	O	O
from	O	O
different	O	O
socioeconomic	O	O
groups	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
,	O	O
Maracaibo	O	O
,	O	O
Valencia	O	O
,	O	O
San	O	O
Cristobal	O	O
,	O	O
Barquisimeto	O	O
,	O	O
Maracay	O	O
,	O	O
Barcelona	O	O
,	O	O
Puerto	O	O
La	O	O
Cruz	O	O
,	O	O
Puerto	O	O
Ordaz	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Maturin	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
telling	ESE	ESE
result	O	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
half	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
remove	O	O
Chavez	O	O
from	O	O
office	O	O
to	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
crisis	O	O
.	O	O

From	O	O
this	O	O
group	O	O
,	O	O
49	O	O
percent	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
a	O	O
hypothetical	O	ESE
replacement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	O	O
place	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
institutional	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
whereas	O	O
5	O	O
percent	O	O
agree	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
using	O	O
forceful	O	O
means	O	O
.	O	O

Against	O	O
this	O	O
54	O	O
percent	O	O
,	O	O
43	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
prefer	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
let	O	ESE
him	O	O
govern	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
term	O	O
in	O	O
2007	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
recorded	O	O
trend	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
approval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
also	O	O
registered	O	O
a	O	O
drop	O	O
.	O	O

Whereas	O	O
his	O	O
approval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
reached	O	O
84	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
disapproval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
reached	O	O
11	O	O
percent	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
1999	O	O
,	O	O
both	O	O
ratings	O	O
crossed	O	O
one	O	O
another	O	O
at	O	O
46	O	O
percent	O	O
in	O	O
August	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
disapproval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
reached	O	O
58	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
approval	O	DSE
rating	O	DSE
,	O	O
33	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
result	O	O
also	ESE	O
reflects	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
collapse	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
myth	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
polarization	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
rich	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
applied	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
this	O	O
,	O	O
only	O	O
20	O	O
percent	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
rich	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
powerful	O	ESE
are	DSE	O
against	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
78	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	O	ESE
poor	O	ESE
who	O	O
oppose	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
study	O	O
shows	ESE	O
a	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
pronouncement	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	DSE
favor	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
calling	O	DSE
a	O	O
referendum	O	O
to	O	O
redraft	O	O
the	O	O
Constitution	O	O
and	O	O
restore	O	O
the	O	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
:	O	O
75	O	O
percent	O	O
agreed	O	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
referendum	O	O
,	O	O
whereas	O	O
20	O	O
percent	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

Although	ESE	ESE
Chavez	O	ESE
'	O	ESE
edge	O	ESE
in	O	O
voter	O	O
's	O	O
preference	DSE	DSE
continues	O	O
to	O	O
shrink	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
effects	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
divided	O	O
opposition	O	O
still	O	O
keep	O	O
him	O	O
in	O	O
first	O	O
place	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
which	ESE	O
shows	ESE	O
the	O	O
strength	O	O
of	O	O
radical	ESE	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Given	O	O
several	O	O
names	O	O
of	O	O
possible	O	O
presidential	O	O
candidates	O	O
,	O	O
25	O	O
percent	O	O
voted	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
leader	O	O
;	O	O
21	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Henrique	O	O
Salas	O	O
Romer	O	O
;	O	O
16	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Julio	O	O
Borges	O	O
;	O	O
13	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Alfredo	O	O
Pena	O	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
5	O	O
percent	O	O
for	O	O
Francisco	O	O
Arias	O	O
Cardenas	O	O
.	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Caracas	O	O
El	O	O
Universal	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Internet	O	O
version	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Spanish	O	O
on	O	O
8	O	O
December	O	O
carries	O	O
a	O	O
related	O	O
153-word	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
indicates	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
latest	O	O
polls	O	O
conducted	O	O
by	O	O
four	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
leading	O	O
firms	O	O
show	O	O
a	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
popularity	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
Datanalisis	O	O
'	O	O
November	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
57.4	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
polled	O	O
feel	DSE	DSE
as	ESE	ESE
bad	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
and	O	O
55.3	O	O
percent	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
main	ESE	O
problems	ESE	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
population	O	O
's	O	O
disapproval	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
job	O	O
reaches	O	O
93	O	O
and	O	O
88.4	O	O
percent	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
insecurity	O	O
and	O	O
unemployment	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
respectively	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	O	O
held	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
would	O	ESE
still	O	ESE
win	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
lead	O	ESE
collapsed	O	ESE
from	O	O
40	O	O
to	O	O
24	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

Popular	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Caracas	O	O
Mayor	O	O
Alfredo	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Pena	O	O
climbed	O	O
from	O	O
5.5	O	O
to	O	O
16.8	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Caracas	O	O
El	O	O
Universal	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Internet	O	O
version	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Spanish	O	O
on	O	O
9	O	O
December	O	O
carries	O	O
a	O	O
related	O	O
684-word	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
indicates	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
According	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Luis	O	O
Christiansen	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
Consultores	O	O
21	O	O
polling	O	O
firm	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
facing	O	O
two	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
four	ESE	O
key	ESE	O
ingredients	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
decline	O	O
of	O	O
any	O	O
government	O	O
:	O	O
Unresolved	O	ESE
major	O	ESE
problems	O	ESE
and	O	O
a	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
's	O	O
popularity	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
third	O	DSE
is	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
perception	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
incapable	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
already	O	O
happening	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fourth	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
are	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
a	O	O
substitute	O	O
leader	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
first	O	ESE
factor	O	ESE
deals	O	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
general	DSE	DSE
mood	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Venezuelans	O	O
'	O	O
level	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
optimism	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
currently	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
;	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
feeling	DSE	DSE
pessimistic	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
difference	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
back	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
'	O	O
candidacy	O	O
raised	DSE	DSE
expectations	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	O
lasted	O	O
two	O	O
years	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
feeling	DSE	DSE
pessimistic	DSE	DSE
again	O	O
.	O	O

To	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	ESE
president	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
misfortune	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
80	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
solution	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
unemployment	O	O
problem	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
Christiansen	O	O
explains	DSE	O
,	O	O
`	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
Venezuelans	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
see	DSE	O
unemployment	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
problem	O	O
that	O	O
could	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
solved	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
blame	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
on	O	O
Chavez	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
incapacity	ESE	O
.	O	O

Four	O	O
of	O	O
every	O	O
10	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
blaming	DSE	DSE
this	O	DSE
problem	O	DSE
on	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O
'	O	O

As	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
factor	O	O
,	O	O
43	O	O
percent	O	O
find	DSE	O
nothing	ESE	ESE
positive	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

Chavez	DSE	O
'	O	O
strengths	ESE	O
include	O	O
his	O	O
personal	O	O
qualities	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
27	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
clear	ESE	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
work	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
17	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
words	ESE	O
,	O	O
Christiansen	O	O
points	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
these	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
strengths	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
campaigning	O	O
candidate	O	O
instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	O	O
president	O	O
with	O	O
three	O	O
years	O	O
in	O	O
office	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
two-thirds	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelans	O	O
consider	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
problems	ESE	O
shows	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
losing	O	O
strength	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
third	O	ESE
aspect	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
stability	O	ESE
:	O	O
The	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
ability	O	O
to	O	O
keep	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
shrinking	ESE	O
.	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Consultores	O	O
21	O	O
analyst	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
extreme	O	O
Chavez	O	O
opponents	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
42	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
is	O	O
larger	O	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
extreme	O	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
could	ESE	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
a	O	O
confrontation	O	O
for	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	O	DSE
that	O	O
Chavez	O	O
still	O	O
leads	O	O
voter	O	O
's	O	O
preference	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
28	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
-RSB-	O	O

ANKARA	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
A.A	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
21.12.2001	O	O
-	O	O
Yasin	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
,	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
SP	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Felicity	O	O
Party	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
's	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Group	O	O
,	O	O
claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
programs	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
International	O	O
Monetary	O	O
Fund	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
are	O	O
implemented	O	O
experience	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
social	ESE	O
explosion	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
occurred	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
began	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
he	O	O
held	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
TBMM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Turkish	O	O
Grand	O	O
National	O	O
Assembly	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
by	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mr.	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
State	O	O
Minister	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Kemal	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Dervis	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
have	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
former	O	O
Argentine	O	O
Economics	O	O
Minister	O	O
Domingo	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
fate	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
IMF	O	O
programs	O	O
were	O	O
implemented	O	O
,	O	O
have	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
suffered	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
taking	ESE	DSE
lessons	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
the	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
spoke	DSE	O
as	O	O
follows	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
This	O	O
government	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
finally	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
social	ESE	O
explosion	ESE	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
befallen	ESE	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Yesterday	DSE	O
,	O	O
Argentina	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
was	DSE	O
being	DSE	O
portrayed	DSE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
everything	ESE	ESE
there	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
going	ESE	ESE
fine	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
Argentina	O	O
was	O	O
having	ESE	ESE
success	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Well	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
until	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
brought	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
point	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
death	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
there	O	O
's	O	O
a	O	O
transitory	O	O
motion	O	O
that	O	O
's	O	O
seen	O	O
in	O	O
corpses	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
what	ESE	O
happened	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Argentina	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Noting	DSE	O
that	O	O
a	O	O
temporary	ESE	O
golden	ESE	O
age	ESE	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
experienced	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
IMF	O	O
knows	DSE	DSE
very	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
how	O	O
to	O	O
calculate	O	O
just	ESE	O
when	ESE	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
deliver	O	O
the	ESE	O
actual	ESE	ESE
death	ESE	ESE
blow	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
delivered	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
blow	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
hit	ESE	O
Argentina	ESE	O
.	O	O

What	DSE	ESE
you	O	ESE
're	O	ESE
calling	O	DSE
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
ideal	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
kingdom	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Those	O	O
who	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
,	O	O
explaining	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
is	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
forces	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
money	ESE	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
these	O	O
latter	O	O
``	O	O
toy	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
palms	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
hands	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Hatiboglu	O	O
responded	DSE	O
as	O	O
follows	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
journalist	O	O
's	O	O
question	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
whether	O	O
Argentina	O	O
had	O	O
intentionally	O	O
been	O	O
brought	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
current	O	O
situation	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
There	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
fantasy	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
kingdom	ESE	O
that	O	O
utilizes	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
.	O	O

Those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
behind	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
behind	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
business	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
.	O	O

Just	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
Kemal	ESE	O
Dervis	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
our	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
if	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
able	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
orient	ESE	O
Turkey	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
any	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	ESE
choose	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
able	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
whatever	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
want	ESE	DSE
with	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
government	O	O

Claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
family	O	O
structure	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
solidarity	O	O
in	O	O
Turkey	O	O
are	O	O
different	O	O
from	O	O
those	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
charged	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
means	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
Family	O	O
Law	O	O
,	O	O
efforts	O	O
are	O	O
underway	O	O
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	ESE
away	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
these	O	O
.	O	O

Criticizing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
spoke	DSE	O
as	O	O
follows	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
With	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
Prime	ESE	O
Minister	ESE	O
,	O	O
this	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
brought	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
prosperity	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
it	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
just	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
dragged	ESE	ESE
along	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

With	DSE	O
these	ESE	O
three	ESE	O
musketeers	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
a	O	O
reference	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
three-party	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
this	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
dragged	ESE	ESE
along	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
wo	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
get	ESE	ESE
anywhere	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Yasin	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
also	O	O
criticized	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
program	O	O
wherein	O	O
classical	O	O
Turkish	O	O
`	O	O
divan	O	O
'	O	O
literature	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
taught	O	ESE
in	O	O
schools	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
instead	O	ESE
,	O	O
pre-Republic	O	O
and	O	O
post-Republic	O	O
literature	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
taught	O	ESE
.	O	O

Stating	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
intended	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
bring	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
onto	O	O
the	O	O
agenda	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
oversight	O	O
mechanisms	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
No	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
wage	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
nation	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Criticizing	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
well	O	O
the	O	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
Kemal	O	O
Alemdaroglu	O	O
as	O	O
rector	O	O
of	O	O
Istanbul	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
failure	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
discuss	ESE	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Higher	O	O
Education	O	O
Research	O	O
Commission	O	O
had	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
instrumental	ESE	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
charged	DSE	O
that	O	O
President	O	O
Ahmet	O	O
Necdet	O	O
Sezer	O	O
had	O	O
appointed	O	O
Alemdaroglu	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
aware	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	DSE
allegations	ESE	DSE
concerning	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
.	O	O

Responding	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
question	O	DSE
,	O	O
Yasin	O	O
Hatiboglu	O	O
asserted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
controversial	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
2002	O	O
calendar	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
prepared	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
SP	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
rather	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
calendar	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
made	O	O
news	O	O
had	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
composed	O	ESE
by	O	O
a	O	O
private	O	O
firm	O	O
.	O	O

France	O	O
's	O	O
Chirac	O	O
talks	O	O
to	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
's	O	O
Musharraf	O	O

Paris	O	O
,	O	O
28	O	O
December	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
:	O	O
President	O	O
Jacques	O	O
Chirac	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
``	O	O
de-escalation	ESE	O
''	O	O
between	O	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
28	O	O
December	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
evening	O	O
with	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
President	O	O
Pervez	O	O
Musharraf	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Elysee	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
French	O	O
presidency	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
French	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
spending	O	O
the	O	O
seasonal	O	O
holiday	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Bregancon	O	O
fort	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Var	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
department	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
took	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
initiative	O	DSE
of	O	O
telephoning	O	O
his	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
opposite	O	O
number	O	O
to	DSE	O
convey	DSE	O
``	O	O
his	O	O
very	DSE	DSE
strong	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
rising	DSE	DSE
tension	DSE	DSE
between	DSE	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
source	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Everything	ESE	ESE
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
done	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
everyone	ESE	O
to	O	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
de-escalation	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mr	O	O
Chirac	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
cycle	O	O
will	O	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
dangerous	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
ordered	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Central	O	O
Intelligence	O	O
Agency	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CIA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
assassinate	ESE	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
opponents	O	O
wherever	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
they	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
!	O	O

This	O	O
directive	O	O
is	O	O
issued	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
claiming	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
lead	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fight	ESE	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
throughout	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
Imam	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
God	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
satisfied	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
issued	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
fatwa	DSE	DSE
against	O	DSE
Salman	O	O
Rushdie	O	O
for	O	O
insulting	DSE	O
the	O	O
Prophet	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
peace	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
upon	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
holy	ESE	O
Koran	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
protested	DSE	DSE
against	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
fatwa	O	DSE
.	O	O

They	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	O
act	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
and	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
crushed	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
principles	ESE	ESE
!	O	O

In	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
coordinated	O	ESE
move	O	ESE
the	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
all	O	O
recalled	DSE	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
Tehran	O	O
in	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
under	ESE	ESE
pressure	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

By	O	O
clarifying	O	O
the	O	O
Imam	O	O
's	O	O
edict	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
insulting	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
Prophet	O	O
was	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
violating	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
millions	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
throughout	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
was	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
simply	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
directive	O	O
from	O	O
God	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
confirmed	O	O
by	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
clerics	O	O
throughout	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

Now	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
issued	DSE	DSE
an	DSE	O
assassination	ESE	O
order	DSE	O
against	O	O
millions	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
beings	ESE	O
without	ESE	O
having	ESE	O
any	ESE	ESE
proof	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	O
documentation	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
therefore	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
appropriate	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
all	O	O
Islamic	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
withdraw	O	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
were	ESE	ESE
honest	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
blaming	DSE	DSE
Iran	O	O
for	O	O
violating	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
,	O	O
then	O	ESE
they	O	ESE
should	ESE	ESE
recall	ESE	ESE
their	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

After	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	ESE
violating	O	ESE
the	O	O
rights	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
human	O	O
being	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
many	ESE	O
many	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
beings	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
following	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
blow	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
received	O	O
on	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	O	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
pre-historic	ESE	O
times	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	ESE
obvious	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	ESE
will	DSE	O
put	DSE	O
up	DSE	ESE
with	DSE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
cruelty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

No	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
will	DSE	ESE
allow	DSE	ESE
this	O	O
human	O	O
achievement	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
discovery	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
God-given	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	ESE	O
achieved	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
research	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
wasted	ESE	ESE
away	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
thinks	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
silence	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
justice-seeking	DSE	O
cries	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
peoples	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
with	O	O
the	ESE	O
sound	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
explosions	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
7-ton	ESE	O
bombs	ESE	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
thinks	O	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	ESE
justify	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	O
own	ESE	ESE
inhuman	ESE	ESE
behavior	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
shadow	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
noise	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

OVER	O	O
2,374	O	O
Bayelsa	O	O
State	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
received	O	O
free	O	O
medical	O	O
services	O	O
for	O	O
various	O	O
ailments	O	O
,	O	O
courtesy	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Niger	O	O
Delta	O	O
Development	O	O
Commission	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NDDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
breakdown	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
statistics	O	O
of	O	O
patients	O	O
that	O	O
benefited	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
exercise	O	O
showed	O	O
that	O	O
106	O	O
received	O	O
general	O	O
surgeries	O	O
,	O	O
20	O	O
had	O	O
eye	O	O
cataract	O	O
operations	O	O
,	O	O
260	O	O
got	O	O
eye	O	O
glasses	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
988	O	O
others	O	O
had	O	O
general	O	O
consultations	O	O
.	O	O

Apart	O	ESE
from	O	O
Odi	O	O
whose	O	O
people	O	O
topped	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
beneficiaries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
they	O	O
got	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
733	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
2	O	O
,	O	O
374	O	O
persons	O	O
treated	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
other	O	O
councils	O	O
which	O	O
participated	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
free	O	O
health	O	O
care	O	O
are	O	O
Kolokuma/Opukoma	O	O
,	O	O
284	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
Kaiama	O	O
,	O	O
213	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
among	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

Co-ordinator	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
Mr	O	O
Sean	O	O
Nortman	O	O
,	O	O
told	O	O
reporters	O	O
that	O	O
52	O	O
volunteers	O	O
from	O	O
various	O	O
fields	O	O
in	O	O
medicine	O	O
help	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
a	O	ESE
reality	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
combined	O	O
goal	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
providing	O	O
free	O	ESE
quality	O	ESE
health	O	ESE
care	O	ESE
in	O	O
this	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
dispensing	O	O
of	O	O
prescribed	O	O
drugs	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
undertaking	O	O
surgeries	O	O
that	O	O
came	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
medical	O	O
site	O	O
daily	O	O
,	O	O
we	ESE	O
made	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
we	O	O
come	O	O
in	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
health	O	O
advice	O	O
and	O	O
education	O	O
,	O	O
hopefully	ESE	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
further	O	O
problems	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Nortman	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
journalists	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
NDDC	O	O
Executive	O	O
Director	O	O
,	O	O
Finance	O	O
and	O	O
Administration	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Timi	O	O
Alaibe	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
choice	O	O
of	O	O
Odi	O	O
was	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
deliberate	ESE	DSE
policy	O	DSE
to	O	O
give	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
still	O	O
recovering	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
trauma	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1999	O	O
sad	ESE	O
incident	O	O
a	DSE	O
sense	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
belonging	ESE	O
.	O	O

Alaibe	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
commission	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
genuinely	ESE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
change	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
tide	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Bayelsa	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
NDDC	O	O
states	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
long	ESE	ESE
neglected	ESE	ESE
over	O	ESE
years	O	ESE
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
investigation	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
oil	O	O
spillage	O	O
that	O	O
occurred	O	O
in	O	O
Umudike	O	O
Ohaji	O	O
Egbema	O	O
council	O	O
in	O	O
Imo	O	O
State	O	O
which	O	O
left	O	O
eight	O	O
persons	O	O
dead	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
others	O	O
injured	O	DSE
is	O	DSE
ready	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
member	O	O
representing	O	O
the	O	O
Ohaji	O	O
Egbema	O	O
Oguta	O	O
Federal	O	O
Constituency	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
Tony	O	O
Okere	O	O
disclosed	O	O
this	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
while	O	O
fielding	O	O
questions	O	O
from	O	O
reporters	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
constituency	O	O
office	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
would	O	DSE
be	O	DSE
presented	O	DSE
before	O	O
the	O	O
house	O	O
as	O	O
soon	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
resumes	O	ESE
sitting	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
compositions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
committee	O	O
included	O	O
representatives	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Directorate	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Resource	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
National	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Corporation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NNPC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
Shell	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
host	O	O
community	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	O	ESE
justice	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
fairness	O	ESE
,	O	O
law	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
party	O	ESE
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
NDDC	O	O
,	O	O
Okere	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
commission	O	O
of	O	O
siting	O	O
projects	O	O
in	O	O
non	O	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
might	O	ESE
derail	ESE	O
from	O	O
its	O	O
set	DSE	O
objectives	DSE	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
Angela	O	O
Merkel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
chairwoman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Christian	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
job	O	O
had	O	O
long	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
open	ESE	ESE
secret	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
although	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
but	ESE	O
she	ESE	O
knew	ESE	DSE
how	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
she	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
prepared	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
go	ESE	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
it	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
uncertainty	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
which	O	O
her	O	O
rival	O	O
,	O	O
Bavarian	O	O
Premier	O	O
Edmund	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Christian	O	O
Social	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
's	O	O
Bavarian	O	O
sister	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
also	O	O
shrouded	DSE	O
himself	DSE	O
that	O	O
made	O	O
the	DSE	O
question	DSE	O
of	O	O
who	O	O
would	O	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
parties	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
22	O	O
September	O	O
elections	O	O
as	O	O
chancellor	O	O
candidate	O	O
against	O	O
incumbent	O	O
Gerhard	O	O
Schroeder	O	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
exciting	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
has	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
long	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
from	O	O
his	O	O
refusal	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
sacrifice	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
election	O	O
that	O	O
once	ESE	ESE
looked	ESE	ESE
impossible	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
win	ESE	O
,	O	O
through	O	O
his	O	O
statement	DSE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	ESE
under	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
circumstances	ESE	ESE
run	O	DSE
against	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
wishes	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Ms.	O	O
Merkel	O	O
and	O	O
her	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
willingness	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	ESE	O
her	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
divisive	O	ESE
vote	O	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
carefully	ESE	ESE
tread	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
path	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
candidacy	O	O
,	O	O
spurred	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
by	O	O
many	O	O
and	O	O
reined	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
by	O	O
others	O	O

But	O	O
he	O	O
let	ESE	DSE
slip	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
opportunities	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
turn	ESE	ESE
back	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
because	O	ESE
the	O	O
forces	O	O
that	O	O
drive	O	O
him	O	O
--	O	O
his	O	O
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
affect	O	O
change	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
sense	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
duty	DSE	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
peers	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
ambition	O	DSE
--	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
permit	ESE	ESE
him	O	ESE
to	O	O
pass	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	O
chance	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
seized	O	O
it	O	O
once	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
preferred	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
chairwoman	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
has	ESE	O
always	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
the	O	O
basic	O	ESE
premise	O	ESE
for	O	O
a	O	O
CSU	O	O
chairman	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
candidacy	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bigger	O	ESE
sister	O	ESE
party	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
does	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
course	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
guarantee	ESE	O
success	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
polls	O	O
--	O	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
solidarity	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
campaign	O	O
.	O	O

Certainly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
has	ESE	O
done	ESE	O
everything	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
to	O	O
spare	ESE	O
himself	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
mentor	O	O
,	O	O
Franz	O	O
Josef	O	O
Strauss	O	O
.	O	O

Rather	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
waited	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
be	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Having	O	O
marginalized	ESE	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
grandees	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
afford	ESE	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
the	O	O
chancellor	O	O
candidate	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
lurch	ESE	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
cogent	ESE	ESE
argument	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Stoiber	O	O
's	O	O
favor	O	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
running	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
hopeful	ESE	O
and	O	O
not	O	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
ticket	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
last	ESE	ESE
resort	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
CDU	O	O
chose	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
because	ESE	O
it	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
victory	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
is	ESE	O
floundering	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
seriously	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	DSE
have	ESE	DSE
thought	ESE	DSE
six	O	O
months	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Union	O	O
parties	O	O
could	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
have	ESE	DSE
wished	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
which	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
their	O	O
campaign	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
their	O	O
ranks	O	O
can	ESE	O
turn	ESE	O
this	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Stoiber	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nonetheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
will	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
made	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
realize	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
command	O	O
the	O	O
CDU	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
his	O	O
power	O	O
base	O	O
lies	O	O
in	O	O
Munich	O	O
and	O	O
not	O	O
in	O	O
Berlin	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	DSE
invitation	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
kingmakers	ESE	O
to	ESE	DSE
accept	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
crown	ESE	O
comes	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
cost	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nor	DSE	O
will	DSE	O
Mr.	DSE	O
Stoiber	DSE	O
have	DSE	O
any	DSE	ESE
illusions	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
what	O	O
it	O	O
means	O	O
to	O	O
lead	O	O
an	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
,	O	O
although	ESE	O
he	O	O
can	DSE	DSE
be	DSE	DSE
confident	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
that	O	O
what	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
stake	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
Edmund	ESE	O
Stoiber	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
nor	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Union	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
Germany	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
.	O	O

Havana	O	O
,	O	O
January	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Cuba	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
create	O	ESE
obstacles	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
hold	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
war	O	O
prisoners	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
of	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	DSE
expressed	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
holding	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
prisoners	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
territory	O	O
.	O	O

Guantanamo	O	O
is	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
territory	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
create	O	ESE
obstacles	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
transfer	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
prisoners	O	O
there	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
in	O	O
U.S.	O	O
hands	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish	O	O
-	O	O
American	O	O
War	O	O
in	O	O
1898	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
give	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
sealed	O	O
from	O	O
Cuba	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
heavily	O	O
guarded	O	O
,	O	O
27	O	O
-	O	O
kilometer	O	ESE
perimeter	O	ESE
fence	O	ESE
,	O	O
despite	O	O
Cuban	O	DSE
objection	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
its	O	O
continued	O	O
existence	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
country	O	O
would	O	DSE
maintain	O	DSE
close	O	O
contacts	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
personnel	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
first	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
20	O	O
war	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
arrived	O	O
Friday	O	O
afternoon	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
southeastern	O	O
tip	O	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
about	O	O
1,000	O	O
kilometers	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Havana	O	O
.	O	O

JAMMU	O	O
,	O	O
India	O	O
,	O	O
Jan	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Four	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
soldiers	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
Saturday	O	O
in	O	O
cross-border	O	O
shelling	O	O
in	O	O
Kashmir	O	O
,	O	O
Indian	O	O
officials	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Lieutenant	O	O
Colonel	O	O
H.S.	O	O
Oberoi	O	O
said	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
troops	O	O
had	O	O
started	O	O
shelling	O	O
Indian	O	O
border	O	O
villages	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Krishna	O	O
Ghati	O	O
area	O	O
of	O	O
Poonch	O	O
,	O	O
255	O	O
kilometres	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
158	O	O
miles	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
northwest	O	O
of	O	O
Jammu	O	O
,	O	O
Kashmir	O	O
's	O	O
winter	O	O
capital	O	O
.	O	O

Indian	O	O
forces	O	O
retaliated	DSE	O
,	O	O
killing	O	O
four	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
soldiers	O	O
and	O	O
destroying	O	O
six	O	O
bunkers	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
there	O	O
were	O	O
no	O	ESE
Indian	O	ESE
casualties	O	ESE
,	O	O
although	O	O
some	O	O
homes	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
deserted	O	O
by	O	O
villagers	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	ESE
damaged	O	ESE
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
Jan.	O	O
12	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Yonhap	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Criminals	O	O
have	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
increasingly	O	DSE
preying	ESE	DSE
on	O	O
Korean	O	O
travellers	O	O
and	O	O
residents	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
of	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
opening	O	O
of	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
in	O	O
1992	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
three	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
15	O	ESE
Koreans	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
murdered	O	ESE
,	O	O
177	O	O
were	O	O
assaulted	O	O
,	O	O
95	O	O
kidnapped	O	O
or	O	O
illegally	O	O
confined	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
64	O	O
robbed	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Korean	O	O
Embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
said	O	O
Saturday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
figures	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
feared	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
higher	O	O
since	O	O
many	O	O
cases	O	O
were	O	O
not	O	O
reported	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
embassy	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
most	O	ESE
frequent	O	ESE
crimes	O	ESE
involved	O	O
the	O	O
loss	O	O
or	O	O
theft	O	O
of	O	O
Korean	O	O
passports	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
.	O	O

Last	O	O
year	O	O
alone	ESE	O
,	O	O
1,800	O	O
Korean	O	O
passports	O	O
were	O	O
reported	O	O
missing	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
--	O	O
1,000	O	O
in	O	O
Shenyang	O	O
,	O	O
Liaoning	O	O
Province	O	O
,	O	O
400	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
and	O	O
200	O	O
in	O	O
Shanghai	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Missing	O	O
passports	O	O
find	O	O
their	O	O
way	O	O
to	O	O
human	O	O
traffickers	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
About	O	O
90	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
foreigners	O	O
'	O	O
missing	O	O
passports	O	O
are	O	O
Korean	O	O
's	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
missing	O	O
passports	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
used	O	O
mostly	O	O
for	O	O
crimes	O	ESE
like	O	ESE
illegal	O	ESE
entry	O	ESE
,	O	O
downgrading	ESE	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
credibility	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
crimes	O	O
committed	O	O
by	O	O
Koreans	O	O
has	O	O
also	O	O
been	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
the	O	O
crimes	O	O
are	O	O
illegal	O	ESE
trafficking	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
forgery	O	ESE
of	O	O
passports	O	O
,	O	O
drug	O	O
production	O	O
and	O	O
transportation	O	O
,	O	O
smuggling	O	O
,	O	O
overstaying	O	O
visas	O	O
and	O	O
drunk	O	O
driving	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
1.6	O	O
million	O	O
Koreans	O	O
travelled	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
up	O	O
from	O	O
1.34	O	O
million	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
Korean	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
hit	O	O
16,000	O	O
,	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
any	O	O
other	O	O
country	O	O
;	O	O
Japan	O	O
trailed	O	O
with	O	O
15,000	O	O
students	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
government	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
City	O	O
was	ESE	O
an	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Yet	ESE	O
it	O	O
refuses	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
treat	O	O
those	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
war	O	O
as	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
refers	DSE	O
to	O	O
them	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
unlawful	ESE	ESE
combatants	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
entitled	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
protection	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1949	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
signed	O	O
and	O	O
which	O	O
sets	O	O
out	O	O
rules	O	O
for	O	O
treating	O	ESE
enemy	O	ESE
soldiers	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
shackles	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
,	O	O
houses	O	O
them	O	O
in	O	O
unprotected	O	ESE
chain	O	ESE
link	O	ESE
compounds	O	ESE
-LRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
places	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
threatens	DSE	ESE
``	O	ESE
intense	ESE	ESE
interrogation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	DSE	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
convenient	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
it	O	O
sets	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
dangerous	ESE	ESE
precedent	ESE	O
for	O	O
all	O	O
soldiers	O	O
who	O	O
face	O	O
capture	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Canada	O	O
's	O	O
.	O	O

Perhaps	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
perverse	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
have	O	O
rules	O	O
for	O	O
warfare	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
perverse	ESE	ESE
place	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

And	O	ESE
so	O	ESE
,	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
19th	O	O
century	O	O
,	O	O
most	O	O
nations	O	O
that	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
themselves	O	ESE
civilized	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
adhered	O	ESE
to	O	O
such	O	O
rules	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
1949	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
specifies	O	DSE
that	O	O
any	O	O
belligerents	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
-	O	O
be	O	O
they	O	O
regular	O	O
soldiers	O	O
,	O	O
militia	O	O
members	O	O
or	O	O
volunteers	O	O
``	O	O
operating	O	O
in	O	O
or	O	O
outside	O	O
their	O	O
territory	O	O
even	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
this	O	O
territory	O	O
is	O	O
occupied	O	O
''	O	O
-	O	O
must	O	ESE
be	O	O
accorded	O	O
prisoner	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
status	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
convention	O	O
exempts	O	O
only	O	O
those	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
spies	O	O
and	O	O
saboteurs	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
do	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
clearly	O	DSE
identify	O	DSE
themselves	O	O
as	O	O
belligerents	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
clearly	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
meant	ESE	O
to	O	O
apply	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
Al	O	O
Qa'ida	O	O
fighters	O	O
captured	O	O
after	O	O
vicious	ESE	O
battles	ESE	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
fighters	O	O
who	O	O
made	O	O
no	O	ESE
secret	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
who	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
,	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
supporting	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
who	O	O
they	O	O
thought	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
enemies	O	O
were	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
then	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
dealt	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
properly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
less	ESE	ESE
leeway	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
must	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
treated	O	ESE
humanely	O	ESE
.	O	O

Their	O	O
captors	O	O
are	DSE	O
forbidden	DSE	O
from	O	O
inflicting	O	O
``	O	O
outrages	ESE	ESE
upon	O	ESE
personal	O	ESE
dignity	O	ESE
''	O	O
or	O	O
``	O	O
inhumane	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
degrading	ESE	ESE
treatment	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	ESE
required	O	ESE
to	O	O
give	O	O
their	O	O
captors	O	O
information	O	O
beyond	O	O
name	O	O
,	O	O
rank	O	O
and	O	O
serial	O	O
number	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
convention	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
must	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
quartered	O	ESE
under	O	O
conditions	O	O
as	O	O
favourable	O	O
as	O	O
those	O	O
for	O	O
forces	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detaining	O	O
power	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
billeted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

To	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
precise	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
treated	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
jailed	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
U.S.	ESE	O
at	O	O
its	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

Those	O	O
detainees	O	O
,	O	O
brought	O	O
shackled	O	O
,	O	O
shaved	O	O
and	O	O
blindfolded	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
kept	O	O
in	O	O
chain	O	O
link	O	O
pens	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
constant	O	ESE
glare	O	ESE
,	O	O
night	O	O
and	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
halogen	O	O
lamps	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
The	O	O
blindfolding	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
deliberate	O	ESE
disorientation	O	ESE
,	O	O
discomfort	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
constant	O	ESE
light	O	ESE
are	O	O
staples	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
police	ESE	O
states	ESE	O
all	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
is	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
break	O	ESE
down	O	ESE
the	O	O
inmate	O	O
,	O	O
weaken	O	ESE
him	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
of	O	O
sleep	O	O
and	O	O
thereby	O	O
make	O	O
him	O	O
more	O	ESE
pliable	O	ESE
when	O	O
the	O	O
interrogators	O	O
begin	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
serious	O	ESE
work	O	ESE
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
is	DSE	O
brazen	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
flouting	ESE	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
secure	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
knowledge	DSE	O
that	O	O
neither	O	O
its	O	O
citizens	O	O
not	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
complain	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Indeed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
many	O	O
Americans	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
Canadians	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
probably	ESE	ESE
think	DSE	ESE
anyone	O	ESE
connected	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	DSE	O
terror	O	O
attacks	O	O
deserves	ESE	ESE
whatever	ESE	ESE
he	ESE	ESE
gets	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	O
are	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
problems	O	O
with	O	O
this	O	O
understandable	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
knee-jerk	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
response	O	O
.	O	O

First	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
assumes	DSE	O
that	O	O
those	O	O
selected	O	O
for	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
are	O	O
connected	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
.	O	O

Maybe	ESE	ESE
some	O	O
are	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
better	ESE	ESE
idea	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
line	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
specified	O	O
just	O	O
who	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
holding	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

More	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
though	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
is	ESE	O
using	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
broadest	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
brooms	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
sweep	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
detainees	O	O
for	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

American	O	O
intelligence	O	O
agencies	O	O
-	O	O
doubly	DSE	ESE
embarrassed	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
their	O	O
failure	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
foresee	DSE	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attack	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
inability	O	O
to	O	O
locate	O	O
Usama	O	O
Bin	O	O
Ladin	O	O
-	O	O
are	ESE	ESE
probably	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
picky	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
who	O	O
they	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
intense	O	ESE
interrogation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
fundamental	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
though	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
logic	O	ESE
.	O	O

Is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
?	O	O

Many	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
including	O	O
me	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
saw	DSE	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
monstrous	ESE	ESE
criminal	ESE	ESE
outrage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
rather	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
act	O	ESE
of	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
determined	DSE	DSE
otherwise	O	ESE
.	O	O

By	O	O
treating	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
as	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
was	O	DSE
able	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
call	O	DSE
into	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
of	O	O
self-defence	O	O
mandated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	ESE
act	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
war	O	ESE
,	O	O
then	O	O
it	ESE	O
becomes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
weird	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
monstrous	ESE	O
.	O	O

Both	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
City	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
are	O	ESE
legitimate	O	ESE
wartime	O	ESE
targets	O	ESE
-	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
economic	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
latter	O	O
military	O	O
.	O	O

Anyone	O	O
waging	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
targeted	O	O
Manhattan	O	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
damaging	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
American	O	ESE
economy	O	ESE
-	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
attack	O	O
did	O	O
.	O	O

So	O	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	ESE
act	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
war	O	ESE
,	O	O
why	O	O
are	O	O
those	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
aftermath	O	O
not	O	O
treated	O	O
as	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
?	O	O

It	O	O
is	DSE	ESE
considered	DSE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
self-defence	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
to	O	O
invade	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Why	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
not	ESE	DSE
considered	ESE	DSE
equally	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Afghans	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
allies	O	O
to	O	O
resist	O	O
this	O	O
invasion	O	O
?	O	O

These	O	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
abstract	ESE	ESE
questions	O	ESE
.	O	O

Countries	O	O
sign	O	O
on	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
not	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
altruistic	DSE	O
but	O	O
to	DSE	O
ensure	DSE	O
that	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
soldiers	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
well	O	ESE
treated	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
captured	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
assumption	DSE	DSE
is	DSE	O
that	O	O
what	O	O
we	O	O
do	O	O
to	O	O
them	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
done	O	O
to	O	O
us	O	O
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
hope	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
instance	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	ESE
terrible	ESE	ESE
equation	ESE	ESE
does	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
hold	O	DSE
.	O	O

Uganda	O	O
:	O	O
Voice	O	O
of	O	O
Africa	O	O
radio	O	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
nationwide	O	O
coverage	O	O
by	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
2002	O	O

Voice	O	O
of	O	O
Africa	O	O
Radio	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
VOA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
expand	O	O
its	O	O
network	O	O
to	O	O
cover	O	O
all	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
's	O	O
production	O	O
manager	O	O
,	O	O
Hajji	O	O
Isa	O	O
Sebi	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	O
station	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	ESE
yet	O	ESE
a	O	O
year	O	O
old	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	O
will	O	O
reach	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
country	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
have	O	DSE
all	O	DSE
the	O	O
equipment	O	O
required	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Sebi	O	O
was	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
5	O	O
January	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
closing	O	O
a	O	O
Bwavu	O	O
Mpologoma	O	O
Project	O	O
business	O	O
skills	O	O
training	O	O
course	O	O
at	O	O
Kyaggwe	O	O
Road	O	O
Primary	O	O
School	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
course	O	O
was	O	O
organized	O	O
by	O	O
Uganda	O	O
Change	O	O
Agent	O	O
Association	O	O
and	O	O
VOA	O	O
.	O	O

Sebi	O	O
also	O	O
gave	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
certificates	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
profound	ESE	ESE
economic	O	ESE
crisis	O	ESE
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
has	O	O
coincided	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
wave	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
social	DSE	O
tension	DSE	O
during	O	O
recent	O	O
days	O	O
.	O	O

Riots	DSE	ESE
and	DSE	ESE
widespread	DSE	ESE
strikes	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
government	O	O
buildings	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
plundering	O	O
of	O	O
stores	O	O
have	O	O
left	O	O
scores	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
dead	O	ESE
and	O	O
casualties	O	O
.	O	O

Public	O	DSE
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
an	O	O
increase	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
people	DSE	O
's	DSE	O
anger	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
have	O	O
finally	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
collapse	O	O
of	O	O
Fernando	O	O
Delaroe	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
following	O	O
several	O	O
days	O	O
of	O	O
protest	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Because	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
misguided	ESE	ESE
policies	O	ESE
of	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
politicians	O	O
,	O	O
Argentina	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
state	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
stagnation	ESE	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
fourth	O	O
consecutive	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
unemployment	O	O
rate	O	O
has	O	O
passed	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
hard	O	O
currency	O	O
is	O	O
continuously	O	O
being	O	O
devalued	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
debts	O	O
are	O	O
around	O	O
$	O	O
132	O	O
billion	O	O
and	O	O
poverty	O	O
is	O	O
dominating	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
like	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
virus	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
Argentina	O	O
has	O	O
enjoyed	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
's	O	O
advice	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
execution	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
policies	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	ESE
main	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
caused	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
shock	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
restrictive	ESE	O
economic	O	O
policies	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
adopted	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
advice	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
IMF	O	O
experts	O	O
.	O	O

Incidentally	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
riots	O	O
also	O	O
occurred	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
's	O	O
announcement	O	O
of	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
debts	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
paralyzed	ESE	O
economy	O	O
was	O	O
unable	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
tolerate	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
hardline	ESE	ESE
policies	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
finally	ESE	O
resulted	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
witnessing	ESE	O
today	ESE	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
IMF	O	O
officials	O	O
deny	DSE	DSE
any	O	O
connection	O	O
their	O	O
policies	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
reports	O	O
indicate	O	O
that	O	O
now	O	O
an	O	O
IMF	O	O
executive	O	O
delegation	O	O
is	O	O
actively	O	O
making	O	O
changes	O	O
to	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
.	O	O

Another	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
connections	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
economy	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
country	O	O
has	O	O
attracted	O	O
a	O	O
large	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
foreign	O	O
investment	O	O
by	O	O
international	O	O
companies	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
continent	O	O
to	O	O
Europe	O	O
.	O	O

Some	ESE	O
$	O	O
76	O	O
billion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
132	O	O
billion	O	O
debt	O	O
is	O	O
accounted	O	O
for	O	O
by	O	O
foreign	O	O
loans	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
were	O	O
lavished	ESE	O
on	O	O
Argentina	O	O
.	O	O

Anyway	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
now	O	O
in	ESE	O
addition	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
investor	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
is	ESE	O
ignoring	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
commitments	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
current	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
heat	O	O
of	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
introduced	O	O
new	O	O
initiatives	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
them	O	O
are	O	O
halting	O	O
the	O	O
payment	O	O
of	O	O
debts	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
execution	O	O
of	O	O
supportive	O	O
actions	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
controlling	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
state	O	O
expenses	O	O
,	O	O
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
employment	O	O
,	O	O
giving	O	O
food	O	O
help	O	O
and	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
out	O	O
new	O	O
loans	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
new	O	O
monetary	O	O
policies	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
there	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
few	ESE	ESE
ambiguous	ESE	ESE
points	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
:	O	O
1	O	O
--	O	O
What	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
Argentina	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
is	ESE	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
global	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
and	O	O
how	O	ESE
much	O	ESE
effect	O	ESE
will	O	O
it	O	O
have	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
economies	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
present	O	O
stagnation	O	O
?	O	O

2	O	O
--	O	O
What	O	ESE
reaction	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
likely	O	ESE
from	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
international	O	O
institutions	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
policies	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
instance	O	O
halting	O	O
the	O	O
payment	O	O
of	O	O
debts	O	O
?	O	O

3	O	O
--	O	O
Finally	ESE	O
,	O	O
what	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
awaits	ESE	O
Argentina	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
crisis-stricken	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
?	O	O

As	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
transported	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
cells	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
enters	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
new	O	ESE
stage	O	ESE
that	O	O
is	O	O
completely	O	ESE
different	O	ESE
from	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
armed	O	O
confrontation	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Amidst	O	O
the	O	O
heat	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
battles	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
background	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
double	ESE	ESE
crime	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
hit	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
international	O	O
opinion	O	DSE
is	O	DSE
now	O	DSE
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
overlook	DSE	O
some	O	O
inhumane	ESE	ESE
practices	O	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
made	O	O
on	O	O
this	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
front	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
has	O	O
changed	O	O
fundamentally	ESE	ESE
since	O	ESE
the	O	O
batches	O	O
of	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
started	O	O
arriving	O	O
one	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
to	O	O
Guatanamo	O	O
base	O	O
shackled	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
caged	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
cages	ESE	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
longer	O	O
than	O	O
eight	O	O
feet	O	O
and	O	O
wider	O	O
than	O	O
six	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
attention	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
moved	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
to	O	O
follow	O	O
what	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
an	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
uncomfortable	ESE	DSE
situation	O	O
''	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
has	O	O
prompted	O	O
two	O	O
of	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
closest	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
express	DSE	DSE
their	DSE	DSE
``	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
''	DSE	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
were	O	O
transported	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
treated	O	O
in	O	O
captivity	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
obvious	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
statements	DSE	O
by	DSE	O
US	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
are	O	O
``	O	O
illegitimate	ESE	ESE
fighters	O	ESE
''	O	O
upon	O	O
home	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
convention	O	O
on	O	O
POW	O	O
's	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
apply	O	O
have	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
helped	ESE	ESE
alleviate	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
abandoning	ESE	O
its	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
until	O	O
now	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
well-known	O	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
principles	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
treating	O	O
the	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
continued	ESE	O
US	O	O
ambiguity	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
using	O	O
the	O	O
title	O	O
of	O	O
prisoners	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
specifically	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
or	O	O
``	ESE	O
illegitimate	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
combatants	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
trying	O	O
them	O	O
in	O	O
private	O	O
and	O	O
closed	O	O
martial	O	O
court	O	O
,	O	O
do	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
help	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
maintain	O	DSE
international	O	DSE
sympathy	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
its	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
campaign	O	O
of	O	O
Western	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
heightens	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
become	O	ESE
urgent	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
Washington	O	O
to	O	DSE
clarify	O	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
stand	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
treating	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
destiny	O	O
so	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
it	O	O
would	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
recorded	O	O
in	O	O
history	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
number	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
in	O	O
weeks	O	O
and	O	O
lost	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reputation	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
commitment	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
principles	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
took	O	O
centuries	O	O
to	O	O
gain	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
13	O	O
January	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
proudly	DSE	DSE
announced	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
a	O	O
gathering	O	O
of	O	O
pro-	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
elements	O	O
that	O	O
beginning	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
travel	O	O
documents	O	O
would	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
addition	O	ESE
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
English	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
was	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
gift	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
groups	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
another	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
signal	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
promoting	DSE	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
split	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
motherland	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
maintain	ESE	ESE
sharp	ESE	ESE
vigilance	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
this	O	O
move	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
passports	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
has	DSE	ESE
long	DSE	ESE
premeditated	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
carefully	O	DSE
planned	O	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
gradually	O	O
implemented	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
early	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
notified	O	O
various	O	O
departments	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
``	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
official	O	O
''	O	O
symbol	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
name	O	O
tags	O	O
,	O	O
seating	O	O
plates	O	O
,	O	O
menus	O	O
,	O	O
guest	O	O
books	O	O
,	O	O
writing	O	O
paper	O	O
and	O	O
invitations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
avoid	O	O
using	O	O
the	O	O
symbol	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
national	O	O
emblem	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
should	O	ESE
replace	O	O
it	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
symbol	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
national	O	O
flat	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

If	O	ESE
it	O	O
is	O	O
absolutely	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
feasible	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
should	O	ESE
use	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
symbol	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
plum	O	ESE
blossom	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
May	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
activist	O	O
Yao	O	O
Jiawen	O	O
claimed	O	DSE
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
instructed	O	DSE
its	O	O
``	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
English	O	O
translation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
on	O	O
passports	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
name	O	O
all	O	O
overseas	O	O
agencies	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
''	O	O
agencies	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
caused	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
various	O	O
aspects	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
had	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
respond	O	DSE
in	O	O
low	O	O
key	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
19	O	O
June	O	O
,	O	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
met	O	O
with	O	O
``	O	O
legislators	O	O
''	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Progressive	O	O
Party	O	O
and	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
publicly	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
addition	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
English	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
passports	O	O
''	O	O
was	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
imperative	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

We	DSE	O
should	ESE	ESE
notice	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
passports	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
isolated	ESE	ESE
incident	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Its	O	O
harm	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
limited	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
incident	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
lies	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
an	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
step	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
to	O	DSE
promote	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
once	O	DSE
made	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	O
``	O	O
four	O	O
noes	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
''	O	ESE
when	O	O
he	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
``	O	O
four	O	ESE
noes	O	ESE
''	O	O
are	O	DSE
pledges	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
not	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
declare	O	DSE
independence	O	DSE
,	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
title	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
push	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
`	O	O
state-to-state	O	O
relations	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
included	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
constitution	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
a	O	O
referendum	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
status	O	O
quo	O	O
in	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
independence	O	O
;	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
is	O	O
``	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
abolish	O	ESE
the	O	O
guiding	O	O
principle	O	O
of	O	O
national	O	O
unification	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Unification	O	O
Commission	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
one	O	O
month	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
changed	O	O
his	O	O
tone	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
92	O	DSE
consensus	O	DSE
''	O	O
was	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
``	ESE	DSE
consensus	ESE	DSE
''	ESE	O
without	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
consensus	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
August	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
preached	DSE	DSE
again	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
unification	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
necessarily	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
final	ESE	O
choice	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
November	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
manufactured	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	O	ESE
``	O	O
three	O	O
acknowledgements	DSE	O
and	O	O
four	O	O
suggestions	DSE	DSE
''	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
strait	O	O
``	O	O
are	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
subordinated	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
each	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
do	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
represent	ESE	ESE
each	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	DSE	O
his	O	O
2001	O	O
New	O	O
Year	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
proposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
ambiguous	ESE	ESE
``	O	ESE
conformity	O	ESE
theory	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
takes	O	O
the	O	O
tone	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
unification	ESE	O
but	O	O
promotes	ESE	ESE
independence	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
nature	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
May	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
claimed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
``	O	O
conformity	O	ESE
theory	O	ESE
''	O	O
was	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
unification	O	ESE
,	O	O
nor	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
conformity	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
gradually	DSE	DSE
promoted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
so-called	O	ESE
``	O	O
correcting	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Recently	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
``	O	O
Press	O	O
Bureau	O	O
''	O	O
stopped	O	O
using	O	O
the	O	O
symbol	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
map	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
concerned	O	DSE
forced	O	O
a	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
NGO	O	O
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
word	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
English	O	O
annual	O	O
.	O	O

Now	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
add	O	DSE
the	O	O
English	O	O
word	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
travel	O	O
documents	O	O
.	O	O

All	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
activities	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
'	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
separating	O	O
from	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
ideology	O	O
,	O	O
culture	O	O
,	O	O
history	O	O
,	O	O
education	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
all	ESE	ESE
attempts	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
separate	O	ESE
Taiwan	O	O
from	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
change	O	O
its	O	O
status	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
purpose	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
create	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
public	O	O
announcement	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
events	O	O
fully	ESE	ESE
indicates	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
has	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
given	DSE	DSE
up	DSE	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
used	O	O
the	O	O
method	O	O
of	O	O
nibbling	ESE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
promote	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
promotion	DSE	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
is	O	O
from	O	O
his	O	O
misjudgment	ESE	O
of	O	O
two	O	O
situations	O	O
:	O	O
the	O	O
internal	O	O
situation	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
external	O	O
situation	O	O
.	O	O

Internally	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
legislative	O	O
''	O	O
election	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
's	O	O
recognition	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Support	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Lee	O	O
Teng-hui	O	O
and	O	O
overseas	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
forces	O	O
makes	O	O
him	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
difficulties	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
deadlock	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
's	O	O
confidence	ESE	DSE
crisis	ESE	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
agenda	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
'	O	O
top	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Irresponsible	ESE	O
promotion	DSE	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
intensification	O	O
of	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
ties	O	O
are	O	O
definitely	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
blessings	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Externally	O	ESE
,	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
are	O	O
increasingly	O	ESE
improving	O	ESE
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
will	O	O
visit	O	O
China	O	O
soon	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
made	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
change	O	O
its	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
policy	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
exaggerated	ESE	O
Sino-US	O	O
conflicts	O	O
and	O	O
placed	DSE	DSE
hopes	DSE	DSE
on	O	DSE
seeking	ESE	DSE
benefits	ESE	O
from	O	O
such	O	O
conflicts	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
unwise	ESE	ESE
idea	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
worth	ESE	ESE
special	ESE	ESE
attention	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
mainland	O	O
's	O	O
stance	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
has	O	ESE
never	O	ESE
changed	O	ESE
.	O	O

Taiwan	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
inseparable	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
.	O	O

Any	DSE	ESE
type	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
absolutely	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
permitted	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
mainland	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
greatest	ESE	DSE
sincerity	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
peaceful	ESE	O
unification	ESE	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
also	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
determination	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
necessary	O	DSE
preparations	O	O
for	O	O
preventing	O	O
``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
all	O	O
separatist	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
cling	ESE	O
obstinately	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
course	O	ESE
and	O	O
continue	O	O
its	O	O
steps	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
gradual	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
intensify	ESE	ESE
cross-strait	O	ESE
relations	O	O
and	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
eat	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	ESE
bitter	ESE	ESE
fruit	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Tomorrow	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
announce	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
plan	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
complete	O	O
elimination	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
monetary	O	O
standard	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
conversion	O	O
of	O	O
deposits	O	O
and	O	O
loans	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	ESE
those	O	ESE
owing	O	ESE
less	O	ESE
than	O	O
$	O	O
100,000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
conversion	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
done	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
to	O	O
one	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
owe	O	O
between	O	O
$	O	O
100,000	O	O
and	O	O
$	O	O
300,000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
conversion	O	O
rate	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
1.2	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
making	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
difference	O	O
between	O	O
this	O	O
rate	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
dollar	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
help	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
the	O	O
banks	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
El	O	O
Cronista	O	O
reported	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
giving	O	O
them	O	O
a	O	O
bond	O	O
or	O	O
certificate	O	O
against	O	O
future	O	O
revenues	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
tax	O	O
on	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
exports	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
5	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
assistance	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
will	O	O
reportedly	O	O
provide	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
4	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Debts	O	O
of	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
$	O	O
300,000	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
converted	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
.	O	O

Barring	O	ESE
last	O	ESE
minute	O	ESE
changes	O	ESE
,	O	O
no	O	DSE
announcement	O	DSE
is	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
allowing	O	O
the	O	O
peso	O	O
to	O	O
float	O	O
freely	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
or	O	O
about	O	O
changes	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
timetable	O	O
for	O	O
easing	O	O
bank	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	ESE
these	O	ESE
restrictions	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
were	O	O
established	O	O
by	O	O
Domingo	O	O
Cavallo	O	O
and	O	O
tightened	O	O
by	O	O
his	O	O
successor	O	O
,	O	O
Jorge	O	O
Remes	O	O
Lenicov	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
savers	O	O
are	O	O
barred	O	O
from	O	O
accessing	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
65	O	O
billion	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
pesos	O	O
and	O	O
mainly	O	O
dollars	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
on	O	O
deposit	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
constraint	O	O
,	O	O
combined	O	O
with	O	O
the	ESE	O
difficulties	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
withdrawing	O	O
money	O	O
for	O	O
daily	O	O
use	O	O
from	O	O
salary	O	O
direct-deposit	O	O
accounts	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
heightened	O	ESE
social	O	ESE
unrest	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
people	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
staged	DSE	ESE
marches	DSE	ESE
,	DSE	O
banging	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
pots	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
pans	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
other	DSE	O
demonstrations	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
prevailing	O	O
economic	O	O
situation	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
analysts	O	O
feel	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
fledgling	O	O
Duhalde	O	O
administration	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
making	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
ending	O	O
convertibility	O	O
without	O	O
first	O	O
resolving	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
arise	O	ESE
from	O	O
this	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
foregone	DSE	DSE
conclusion	DSE	DSE
here	O	O
in	O	O
Argentina	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
tried	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
convince	DSE	DSE
Cavallo	O	O
to	O	O
abandon	O	O
the	O	O
one-to-one	O	O
peg	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
orderly	O	ESE
fashion	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
former	O	O
minister	O	O
and	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
de	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
later	O	O
stepped	O	O
down	O	O
,	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
drove	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
IMF	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
away	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
lending	DSE	O
any	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Its	O	O
last	O	DSE
show	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
8	O	O
billion	O	O
in	O	O
aid	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
zero	O	ESE
deficit	O	ESE
''	O	O
tactic	O	O
.	O	O

Such	O	ESE
budgetary	O	ESE
discipline	O	ESE
turned	ESE	DSE
out	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
thus	ESE	O
shattering	ESE	O
the	O	O
rigid	O	O
convertibility	O	O
system	O	O
and	O	O
putting	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
sectors	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
economy	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
commission	ESE	O
.	O	O

Lack	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
confidence	DSE	DSE
led	O	O
to	O	O
massive	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
of	O	O
savings	O	O
into	O	O
safer	O	O
places	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
outflows	O	O
forced	O	O
some	O	O
banks	O	O
to	DSE	O
ask	DSE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
to	O	O
set	O	O
limits	O	O
.	O	O

Cavallo	O	O
could	ESE	O
think	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
the	O	O
curbs	O	O
on	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
former	O	O
Minister	O	O
Roque	O	O
Fernandez	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Argentine	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
while	O	O
influential	O	O
businessman	O	O
Arnaldo	O	O
Musich	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
FIEL	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Latin	O	O
American	O	O
Economic	O	O
Research	O	O
Foundation	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
-	O	O
Techint	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
inexcusable	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Burdensome	O	O
Legacy	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
provisional	O	O
governments	O	O
that	O	O
took	O	O
over	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
abbreviated	O	O
De	O	O
la	O	O
Rua	O	O
administration	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
quickly	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
end	O	O
the	O	O
currency	O	O
board	O	O
system	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
until	ESE	ESE
tomorrow	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
month	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
taking	ESE	O
office	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
it	O	O
announce	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
plan	O	O
to	O	O
overcome	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
crisis	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
history	O	O
.	O	O

Duhalde	O	O
will	O	O
confirm	O	O
that	O	O
$	O	O
2	O	O
billion	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
made	O	O
available	O	O
immediately	O	O
to	O	O
mitigate	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
social	O	ESE
disaster	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
money	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
approved	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Inter-American	O	O
Development	O	O
Bank	O	O
.	O	O

Accompanied	O	O
by	O	O
Remes	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	DSE
talk	O	DSE
tomorrow	O	DSE
about	O	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
assistance	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	O
for	O	O
:	O	O
to	O	O
fulfill	O	O
the	O	O
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
create	O	O
a	O	O
million	O	O
jobs	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
basic	O	O
health	O	O
care	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
undertake	O	O
small	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
projects	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
will	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
mention	O	DSE
imminent	O	DSE
political	O	O
reform	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
call	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	DSE
Congress	O	O
to	O	O
enact	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
remarks	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
solely	O	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
about	O	O
which	O	O
millions	O	O
of	O	O
Argentines	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
obsessed	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
some	O	O
years	O	O
now	O	O
.	O	O

Mortgage	O	O
loans	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
debts	O	O
of	O	O
small	O	O
and	O	O
mid-sized	O	O
companies	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
automotive	O	O
loans	O	O
under	O	O
$	O	O
100,000	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
paid	O	O
back	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
identical	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
same	O	O
will	O	O
go	O	O
for	O	O
secured	O	O
loans	O	O
under	O	O
$	O	O
300,000	O	O
and	O	O
personal	O	O
loans	O	O
of	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
$	O	O
10,000	O	O
.	O	O

Debts	O	O
over	O	O
these	O	O
amounts	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
repaid	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
defray	O	O
20	O	O
cents	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
debtors	O	O
will	O	ESE
actually	O	ESE
pay	O	O
1.2	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
banking	O	O
restrictions	O	O
will	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
being	O	O
,	O	O
remain	O	O
unchanged	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	DSE	O
tacit	DSE	DSE
assumption	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
timetable	O	O
for	O	O
easing	O	O
them	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
speeded	O	O
up	O	O
``	O	O
as	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
conditions	O	O
permit	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
coupons	O	ESE
''	O	O
for	O	O
savers	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
buy	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
frozen	O	O
funds	O	O
as	O	O
collateral	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
will	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
break	O	ESE
down	O	ESE
the	O	O
budget	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
and	O	O
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
issue	O	O
currency	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
controlled	O	O
manner	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
exceed	O	O
3.5	O	O
billion	O	O
pesos	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
undertake	O	O
the	O	O
difficult	O	ESE
task	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
reversing	O	ESE
the	O	O
sudden	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
wealth	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
4.9	O	O
percent	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
without	O	O
pushing	O	O
inflation	O	O
beyond	O	O
15	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
dollar	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
allowed	O	O
to	O	O
float	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
promised	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
.	O	O

Everything	ESE	ESE
depends	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
anticipated	O	O
aid	O	O
of	O	O
between	O	O
$	O	O
15	O	O
billion	O	O
and	O	O
$	O	O
20	O	O
billion	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
what	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
requested	DSE	O
of	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

Adjustment	O	O
Index	O	O
Will	O	ESE
Be	O	ESE
New	O	ESE
Variable	O	ESE

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
points	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
Duhalde	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
plan	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
based	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
monetary	O	O
benchmark	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
govern	O	O
the	O	O
issuance	O	O
of	O	O
pesos	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
refunding	O	O
of	O	O
deposits	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
frozen	O	O
in	O	O
accounts	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
this	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
Jorge	O	O
Remes	O	O
Lenicov	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
team	O	O
has	O	O
developed	O	O
an	O	O
index	O	O
or	O	O
formula	O	O
including	O	O
such	O	O
parameters	O	O
as	O	O
projected	O	O
annual	O	O
inflation	O	O
rates	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
issuance	O	O
of	O	O
money	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
system	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
financial	O	O
tool	O	O
for	O	O
redrafting	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
contracts	O	O
involving	O	O
economic	O	O
activity	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
,	O	O
post-convertibility	O	O
era	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
similar	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Celic	O	ESE
''	O	O
index	O	O
that	O	O
Brazil	O	O
uses	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Unidad	O	O
de	O	O
Fomento	O	O
''	O	O
that	O	O
Chile	O	O
used	O	O
until	O	O
August	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
monetary	O	O
benchmark	O	O
that	O	O
Brazil	O	O
employs	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
Chile	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
common	O	O
one	O	O
in	O	O
today	O	O
's	O	O
world	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
inflation	O	O
target	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
target	O	O
a	O	O
rule	O	O
is	O	O
developed	O	O
to	O	O
determine	O	O
the	O	O
interest	O	O
rate	O	O
needed	O	O
to	O	O
hit	O	O
the	O	O
target	O	O
for	O	O
price	O	O
rises	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
money	O	O
issued	O	O
thus	O	O
winds	O	O
up	O	O
being	O	O
a	O	O
function	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
variables	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
a	O	O
target	O	O
in	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
monetary	O	O
policy	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
used	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
tool	O	ESE
for	O	O
promoting	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
.	O	O

Until	O	O
August	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
Chile	O	O
had	O	O
an	O	O
incremental	O	O
adjustment	O	O
mechanism	O	O
that	O	O
included	O	O
an	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
band	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
ceiling	O	O
and	O	O
floor	O	O
.	O	O

Monetary	O	O
adjustments	O	O
were	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
what	O	O
was	O	O
called	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
unidad	O	ESE
de	O	ESE
fomento	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
an	O	O
indexing	O	O
system	O	O
that	O	O
included	O	O
various	O	O
price	O	O
indices	O	O
and	O	O
adjusted	O	O
contracts	O	O
in	O	O
accordance	O	O
with	O	O
actual	O	O
changes	O	O
.	O	O

Brazil	O	O
started	O	O
using	O	O
an	O	O
inflation	O	O
target	O	O
once	O	O
its	O	O
1999	O	O
devaluation	O	O
stabilized	O	O
the	O	O
real	O	O
and	O	O
achieved	O	O
low	O	O
inflation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
explained	O	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	ESE
theoretically	DSE	ESE
saw	DSE	ESE
tools	O	ESE
like	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
unidad	O	O
de	O	O
fomento	O	O
''	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
of	O	O
adjusting	O	O
the	O	O
deposits	O	O
of	O	O
savers	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
remain	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
restrictions	O	O
until	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
next	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
index	O	O
will	O	O
persumably	ESE	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
applied	O	O
for	O	O
another	O	O
two	O	O
or	O	O
three	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
ruled	O	O
out	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
may	O	ESE
include	O	O
loans	O	O
already	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
.	O	O

Renes	O	O
is	O	O
working	O	O
alongside	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
technicians	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
,	O	O
World	O	O
Bank	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
Treasury	O	O
Department	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
of	O	O
Brazil	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
services	O	O
were	O	O
also	O	O
used	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
crises	O	O
in	O	O
Mexico	O	O
and	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
.	O	O

-LSB-	O	O
Buenos	O	O
Aires	O	O
Ambito	O	O
Financiero	O	O
in	O	O
Spanish	O	O
on	O	O
1	O	O
February	O	O
adds	O	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
following	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
measures	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	DSE
be	O	DSE
announced	O	DSE
tomorrow	O	DSE
:	O	O
''	O	O
`	O	O
Dirty	O	O
'	O	O
float	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
to	O	O
abolish	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
1.4	O	O
pesos	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
move	O	ESE
towards	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
single	O	ESE
,	O	O
floating	O	O
rate	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
will	O	O
intervene	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
sudden	O	O
swings	O	O
.	O	O

Intermediate	O	O
solutions	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
completely	DSE	O
ruled	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
periodic	O	O
adjustments	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
exchange	O	O
rate	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
a	O	O
crawling	O	O
peg	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
or	O	O
a	O	O
band	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	ESE
oblige	O	ESE
the	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
to	O	O
intervene	O	O
by	O	O
selling	O	O
dollars	O	O
to	O	O
defend	O	O
a	O	O
given	O	O
value	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
peso	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
wait	O	DSE
until	O	O
it	O	O
had	O	O
sealed	O	O
an	O	O
accord	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
before	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
float	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
negotiations	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
several	O	O
weeks	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Remes	O	O
will	O	O
not	O	O
be	O	O
flying	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
until	O	O
14	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
to	O	O
move	O	O
ahead	O	O
before	O	O
receiving	O	O
international	O	O
aid	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
released	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
2.6	O	O
billion	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
pending	O	O
disbursement	O	O
since	O	O
December	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
bolster	O	O
reserves	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
peso	O	O
is	O	O
allowed	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
float	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Total	O	O
release	O	O
of	O	O
salary	O	O
direct-deposit	O	O
accounts	O	O
:	O	O
All	O	O
employees	O	O
will	O	ESE
soon	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
able	O	ESE
to	O	O
access	O	O
their	O	O
entire	O	O
salary	O	O
by	O	O
making	O	O
cash	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
from	O	O
savings	O	O
accounts	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
will	O	O
completely	O	O
eliminate	O	O
the	O	O
ceiling	O	O
of	O	O
1,500	O	O
pesos	O	O
per	O	O
month	O	O
that	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
January	O	O
version	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
banking	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
measure	O	O
will	O	ESE
benefit	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
the	O	O
4	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
workers	O	O
who	O	O
earn	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
amount	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
until	O	O
now	O	O
was	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
danger	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
team	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
aware	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
any	O	O
additional	O	O
money	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
will	O	O
go	O	O
straight	O	O
into	O	O
purchases	O	O
of	O	O
dollars	O	O
since	O	O
this	O	O
could	O	ESE
represent	O	ESE
the	O	O
percentage	O	O
of	O	O
income	O	O
that	O	O
an	O	O
individual	O	O
is	O	O
able	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
save	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
measure	O	O
is	O	O
designed	O	O
to	O	O
send	O	O
a	O	O
signal	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
people	O	O
gradually	O	DSE
regain	DSE	DSE
confidence	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Raising	O	O
the	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
ceiling	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
regular	O	O
savings	O	O
accounts	O	O
to	O	O
1,500	O	O
pesos	O	O
a	O	O
month	O	O
was	DSE	O
under	DSE	ESE
consideration	DSE	ESE
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
for	O	O
now	O	O
the	O	O
limit	O	O
of	O	O
1,200	O	O
a	O	O
month	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
apply	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
gradual	O	ESE
increases	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Deposits	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
:	O	O
Time	O	O
deposits	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
rate	O	O
.	O	O

Once	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
converted	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
refund	O	O
timetable	O	O
for	O	O
dollar	O	O
deposits	O	O
will	O	ESE
initially	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
maintained	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
other	O	O
words	O	O
,	O	O
refunds	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
begin	O	ESE
until	O	ESE
January	O	O
2003	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	DSE
an	DSE	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
reached	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
IMF	O	O
and	O	O
economic	O	O
conditions	O	O
improve	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
timetable	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
moved	O	ESE
forward	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
people	O	O
can	O	O
get	O	O
cash	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
possibility	O	ESE
of	O	O
keeping	O	O
a	O	O
portion	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
deposit	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
President	O	O
Duhalde	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
requested	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
altogether	O	O
ruled	O	O
out	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
legal	O	O
problems	O	O
with	O	O
implementing	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
time	O	O
deposits	O	O
in	O	O
pesos	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
refund	O	O
timetable	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
maintained	O	O
;	O	O
it	O	O
provides	O	O
for	O	O
withdrawals	O	O
in	O	O
cash	O	O
as	O	O
of	O	O
March	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Installment	O	O
checks	O	O
for	O	O
time	O	O
deposits	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
money	O	O
subject	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
refund	O	O
timetable	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
used	O	ESE
for	O	O
purchases	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
with	O	O
restrictions	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
credited	O	ESE
to	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
deposit	O	O
accounts	O	O
.	O	O

Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
used	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
to	O	O
purchase	O	O
items	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
cars	O	O
and	O	O
apartments	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
12	O	O
,	O	O
18	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
24	O	O
installments	O	O
into	O	O
which	O	O
time	O	O
deposits	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
divided	O	ESE
,	O	O
depending	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
amount	O	ESE
,	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
endorsed	O	ESE
.	O	O

Transfer	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
deposit	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
authorized	O	O
only	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
purchase	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
account	O	O
holder	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
able	O	ESE
to	O	O
move	O	O
it	O	O
from	O	O
one	O	O
bank	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
big	ESE	ESE
drawback	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
this	O	O
system	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
hardly	ESE	ESE
anyone	ESE	ESE
will	DSE	DSE
be	DSE	DSE
willing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
real	O	O
estate	O	O
for	O	O
peso-denominated	O	O
installment	O	O
checks	O	O
that	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
cashed	O	O
sometime	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
can	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
used	O	ESE
,	O	O
though	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
smaller	O	O
transactions	O	O
or	O	O
to	O	O
pay	O	O
for	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
purchase	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Issuance	O	O
of	O	O
bonds	O	O
indexed	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
value	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
dollar	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
Central	O	O
Bank	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
start	O	O
issuing	O	O
bonds	O	O
in	O	O
pesos	O	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
another	O	O
alternative	O	O
to	O	O
purchasing	O	O
dollars	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
to	O	O
issue	O	O
very	O	O
short-term	O	O
bills	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
30	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
now	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
indexed	O	O
to	O	O
any	O	ESE
ongoing	O	ESE
depreciation	O	ESE
.	O	O

An	O	O
arrangement	O	O
with	O	O
an	O	O
attractive	O	ESE
implicit	O	ESE
interest	O	ESE
rate	O	O
could	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
devised	O	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
course	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	O	DSE
drum	O	DSE
up	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
in	O	O
full-fledged	O	O
default	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
No	O	O
withholding	O	O
on	O	O
oil	O	O
exports	O	O
:	O	O
In	O	O
conclusion	O	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
reverse	O	O
itself	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
20	O	O
percent	O	O
tax	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
planning	O	DSE
to	O	O
levy	O	O
on	O	O
these	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
We	O	O
would	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
have	ESE	DSE
raised	ESE	DSE
all	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
money	O	ESE
and	O	O
would	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
sending	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
bad	ESE	ESE
signal	ESE	ESE
overseas	O	ESE
by	O	O
discriminating	O	O
between	O	O
sectors	O	O
,	O	O
'	O	O
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
senior	O	O
source	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Ministry	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
any	O	ESE
event	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
industry	O	O
may	O	ESE
be	O	O
asked	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
advance	O	O
on	O	O
taxes	O	O
due	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
had	DSE	ESE
been	DSE	ESE
under	DSE	ESE
consideration	DSE	ESE
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
weeks	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
any	O	ESE
withholding	O	ESE
arrangement	O	O
is	O	O
implemented	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
apply	O	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
exports	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	ESE
just	O	ESE
some	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Bonds	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
to	O	O
compensate	O	O
banks	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
banks	O	O
will	O	O
receive	O	O
long-term	O	O
government	O	O
bonds	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
as	O	O
compensation	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
losses	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
arise	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
conversion	O	ESE
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
balance	O	O
sheets	O	O
.	O	O

Estimates	O	O
are	O	O
that	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
arrangement	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
devised	O	O
the	O	O
red	O	O
ink	O	O
will	O	O
total	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
12	O	O
billion	O	O
pesos	O	O
or	O	O
some	O	O
$	O	O
6	O	O
billion	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
banks	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
this	O	O
option	O	O
.	O	O

They	DSE	O
wold	DSE	DSE
rather	DSE	DSE
hold	O	DSE
a	O	O
financial	O	O
claim	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
than	O	O
place	O	O
the	O	O
entire	O	ESE
burden	O	ESE
on	O	O
their	O	O
debtors	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
forced	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
declare	O	O
bankruptcy	O	O
if	ESE	O
they	O	O
got	O	O
no	O	O
relief	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Phase	O	O
1	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
swap	O	O
remains	O	O
in	O	O
dollars	O	O
:	O	O
Banks	O	O
,	O	O
Pension	O	O
and	O	O
Retirement	O	O
Fund	O	O
Management	O	O
Companies	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
insurance	O	O
companies	O	O
exerted	DSE	DSE
strong	DSE	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
prevent	ESE	O
all	O	O
accounts	O	O
from	O	O
being	O	O
converted	O	O
into	O	O
pesos	O	O
at	O	O
1.4	O	O
to	O	O
1	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
managed	O	O
to	O	O
keep	O	O
their	O	O
bonds	O	O
in	O	O
foreign	O	O
currency	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	O
supposed	O	O
to	O	O
start	O	O
collecting	O	O
interest	O	O
this	O	O
April	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
before	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
move	O	O
ahead	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
debt	O	O
rescheduling	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
international	O	O
and	O	O
local	O	O
investors	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
swap	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
-RSB-	O	O

KABUL	O	O
,	O	O
Feb	O	O
3	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Fresh	O	O
fighting	O	O
has	O	O
broken	O	O
out	O	O
between	O	O
rival	O	O
warlords	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
northern	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Mazar-i-Sharif	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	DSE
Sunday	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
to	O	O
two	O	O
hour	O	O
''	O	O
battle	O	O
Saturday	O	O
between	O	O
forces	O	O
loyal	DSE	O
to	O	O
Uzbek	O	O
warlord	O	O
General	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Rashid	O	O
Dostam	O	O
and	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
rival	O	O
Tajik	O	O
commander	O	O
Atta	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
,	O	O
defence	O	O
ministry	O	O
official	O	O
Mira	O	O
Jan	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

No	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
injured	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fighting	O	O
stopped	O	O
when	O	O
local	O	O
authorities	O	O
intervened	O	O
,	O	O
Jan	O	O
told	O	O
AFP	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
was	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
minor	O	ESE
clash	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
investigations	O	O
are	O	O
continuing	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
will	O	DSE
identify	O	DSE
the	O	O
culprits	ESE	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
clashes	O	O
and	O	O
punish	ESE	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
reported	O	O
clash	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
fortnight	O	O
involving	O	O
the	O	O
forces	O	O
of	O	O
Dostam	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
deputy	O	O
defence	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Tajik	O	O
fighters	O	O
.	O	O

Dostam	O	O
's	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
ethnic	O	O
Tajiks	O	O
loyal	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
former	O	O
Afghan	O	O
president	O	O
Burhanuddin	O	O
Rabbani	O	O
previously	O	O
battled	O	O
in	O	O
Kunduz	O	O
province	O	O
,	O	O
east	O	O
of	O	O
Mazar-i-Sharif	O	O
,	O	O
leaving	O	O
11	O	O
dead	O	O
.	O	O

Dostam	O	O
and	O	O
Rabbani	O	O
's	O	O
factions	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
as	O	DSE
uneasy	O	DSE
partners	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fragile	O	O
Northern	O	O
Alliance	O	O
that	O	O
fought	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
militia	O	O
from	O	O
1996	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
hardline	O	O
Islamic	O	O
regime	O	O
crumbled	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
face	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
bombing	O	O
in	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

Jan	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
fighting	O	O
between	O	O
local	O	O
commanders	O	O
a	O	O
symptom	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
23	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
devastated	ESE	O
Afghanistan	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
These	O	O
battles	O	O
have	O	O
always	O	O
happened	O	O
in	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
occur	O	O
usually	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
personal	DSE	ESE
interests	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
factional	O	ESE
infighting	O	ESE
has	DSE	DSE
raised	DSE	DSE
fears	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
long-standing	O	O
ethnic	O	O
rivalries	O	O
could	O	ESE
again	O	ESE
split	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
defeat	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
was	O	O
delivering	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
Speech	O	O
to	O	O
both	O	O
Senate	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
Congress	O	O
on	O	O
29	O	O
January	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
unprecedented	ESE	ESE
wordings	ESE	ESE
he	O	O
lashed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
DPRK	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
labeling	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
reacted	DSE	DSE
strongly	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
counter-attacked	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
this	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
natural	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
rational	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Some	O	O
senior	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
officials	O	O
and	O	O
experts	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Western	O	O
allies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
criticized	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
is	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
less	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
untenable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Albright	O	O
:	O	O
First	O	O
to	O	O
Launch	DSE	O
Attack	DSE	O

On	O	O
1	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
interviewed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Broadcasting	O	O
Corporation	O	O
,	O	O
Madeleine	O	O
Albright	O	O
,	O	O
former	O	O
US	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
,	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
remark	DSE	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
gross	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
Bush	O	O
currently	O	O
uses	O	O
in	O	O
handling	O	O
foreign	O	O
affairs	O	O
has	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
things	O	O
``	O	O
in	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
utterly	ESE	ESE
disorderly	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
lost	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
putting	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
together	O	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
gross	ESE	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O
She	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
particularly	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
listing	O	O
the	O	O
DPRK	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
way	O	O
of	O	O
doing	O	O
things	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
possibly	ESE	ESE
cause	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	DSE
lose	DSE	DSE
popular	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
among	DSE	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

Albright	O	O
particularly	DSE	DSE
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
she	O	O
had	DSE	O
contacted	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
reached	DSE	O
agreement	DSE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
DPRK	O	O
.	O	O

Whereas	ESE	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
``	O	O
single-handedly	ESE	ESE
destroyed	ESE	ESE
''	DSE	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
relationship	O	O
she	O	O
had	O	O
established	O	O
with	O	O
Korea	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Clinton	O	O
age	O	O
.	O	O

Albright	O	O
also	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
stage	O	O
is	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
complicated	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
issue	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
questions	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
still	ESE	DSE
needs	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
aid	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Iran	ESE	O
.	O	O

Carpenter	O	O
,	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
non-governmental	O	O
research	O	O
organization	O	O
the	O	O
Cato	O	O
Institute	O	O
,	O	O
holds	DSE	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
by	O	O
name	O	O
is	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
understand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
It	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
strange	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
Bush	O	O
to	O	O
include	O	O
Korea	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
Korea	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
actively	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
terrorist	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

Furthermore	O	ESE
,	O	O
``	O	O
according	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
in	O	O
our	O	O
hands	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
nuclear	O	O
project	O	O
has	O	O
all	O	O
along	O	O
been	O	O
frozen	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
mid-1990s	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
why	O	O
Bush	O	O
listed	DSE	DSE
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
one	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
terrorist	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Some	O	O
commentaries	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
including	O	O
Korea	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
list	O	O
would	O	ESE
irritate	DSE	ESE
Korea	O	ESE
and	O	O
would	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
Japan	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Republic	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Korea	ESE	O
-LRB-	ESE	O
ROK	ESE	O
-RRB-	ESE	O
feel	ESE	DSE
disturbed	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

An	O	O
analytical	O	O
article	O	O
carried	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
including	O	O
Iran	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
list	O	O
is	ESE	O
all	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
astonishing	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
article	O	O
says	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
tried	DSE	O
hard	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
establish	DSE	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
relationship	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
last	O	O
fall	O	O
and	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
appreciation	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
condemnation	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Iran	O	O
also	O	O
indicated	O	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
case	O	O
US	O	O
pilots	O	O
were	O	O
hit	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
landed	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
would	O	O
give	O	O
them	O	O
assistance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
analyst	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
worried	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
attack	DSE	O
on	O	O
Iran	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
possibly	ESE	ESE
forfeit	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	O
recent	ESE	O
efforts	ESE	O
.	O	O

Carpenter	O	O
also	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
way	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
door	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
improving	ESE	ESE
relations	ESE	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
completely	ESE	ESE
blocked	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
that	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
unfortunate	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
cast	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
chance	ESE	O
for	O	O
improving	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

Now	DSE	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
completely	ESE	ESE
closed	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
door	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
improvement	O	O
of	O	O
ties	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

Difficult	O	ESE
for	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
France	O	O
To	O	DSE
Agree	O	DSE
with	O	O
US	O	O

After	O	O
he	O	O
set	DSE	DSE
forth	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
theory	ESE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
met	O	O
with	O	O
increasing	DSE	O
attacks	DSE	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
US	O	ESE
closest	O	ESE
allies	O	ESE
also	DSE	O
thought	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	O
hard	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remark	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
report	O	O
carried	O	O
in	O	O
British	O	O
Daily	O	O
Telegraph	O	O
on	O	O
2	O	O
February	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
British	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Jack	O	O
Straw	O	O
queried	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
theory	ESE	O
set	DSE	O
forth	DSE	O
in	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
thinking	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
remark	ESE	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
attempts	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
anti-terror	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
play	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
party	ESE	O
politics	ESE	O
.	O	O

Straw	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
had	DSE	O
become	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
closest	DSE	O
allies	DSE	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
''	O	O
incident	O	O
,	O	O
now	O	O
they	ESE	O
may	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
stand	ESE	DSE
shoulder	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
shoulder	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

French	O	O
President	O	O
Jacques	O	O
Chirac	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
subscribe	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
theory	ESE	ESE
advanced	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
.	O	O

Chirac	O	O
's	O	O
assistant	O	O
indicated	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
good-and-evil	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
conform	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
actual	O	O
conditions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
present-day	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
French	O	O
presidential	O	O
office	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
make	O	O
open	O	O
comments	O	O
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
only	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
what	O	O
Bush	O	O
says	O	DSE
is	O	O
directed	O	O
mainly	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Economic	O	O
Forum	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
NATO	O	O
Secretary	O	O
General	O	O
George	O	O
Robertson	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
charging	DSE	DSE
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
with	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
produce	O	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
.	O	O

Observers	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
maintain	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
NATO	O	O
Secretary-general	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
indicates	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
feels	DSE	DSE
uneasy	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
policy	O	O
which	O	O
seems	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
be	ESE	DSE
determined	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
expand	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
scope	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
anti-terror	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

White	O	O
House	O	O
and	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
Hasten	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Smooth	DSE	O
the	O	O
Matter	O	O
Over	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
bid	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
alleviate	O	ESE
the	DSE	O
sentiments	DSE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
official	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
discretely	DSE	DSE
assured	DSE	DSE
US	O	O
allies	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
does	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
hint	O	DSE
to	O	O
take	O	O
military	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
admonishes	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
subordinates	O	O
that	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
mass	O	O
media	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
spirit	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
literal	O	ESE
meaning	O	ESE
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
strictly	ESE	ESE
acted	O	ESE
upon	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	ESE	O
causing	ESE	O
doubts	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
external	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
1	O	O
February	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
collect	O	O
various	O	O
statements	O	O
and	O	O
send	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
embassies	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
countries	O	O
worldwide	O	O
,	O	O
so	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
calm	O	O
down	O	O
foreign	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
negative	DSE	DSE
reactions	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Richard	O	O
Boucher	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
will	O	O
send	O	O
all	O	O
relevant	O	O
information	O	O
and	O	O
summaries	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
information	O	O
to	O	O
our	O	O
embassies	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
places	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
to	ESE	DSE
facilitate	ESE	DSE
understanding	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
related	ESE	O
arguments	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

An	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
official	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
US	O	O
diplomats	O	O
to	O	O
countries	O	O
concerned	DSE	DSE
are	O	DSE
authorized	O	DSE
to	O	O
explain	O	O
to	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
may	DSE	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
doubts	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	DSE
aimed	O	DSE
at	O	O
dispelling	O	O
various	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
doubt	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
about	O	O
to	O	O
dispatch	O	O
troops	O	O
to	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
enlightened	ESE	O
officials	ESE	O
in	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
patch	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
''	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
statements	O	O
,	O	O
especially	O	ESE
his	O	O
latest	O	O
one	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
reckless	ESE	DSE
threats	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
namely	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
day	O	O
after	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
threat	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
crush	ESE	ESE
these	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
use	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
developing	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
,	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Powell	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
before	O	O
the	O	O
Senate	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Relations	O	O
Committee	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
characterizing	DSE	DSE
these	O	O
counties	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
axis	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
evil	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
mean	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
intends	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
invade	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
added	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
initiate	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
dialogue	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
we	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
work	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
our	ESE	ESE
friends	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
allies	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
on	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
such	ESE	O
regimes	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

These	DSE	ESE
are	O	ESE
fine	ESE	ESE
words	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
do	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
reflect	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reality	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
hard-line	ESE	ESE
wing	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
comprising	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Dick	O	O
Cheney	O	O
,	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
Adviser	O	O
Condoleezza	O	O
Rice	O	O
have	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
final	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
in	O	O
running	O	O
affairs	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
have	ESE	O
direct	ESE	O
influence	ESE	O
on	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
.	O	O

Oddly	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
speculations	DSE	DSE
swirled	DSE	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
that	O	O
Powell	O	O
listened	O	O
to	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
threats	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
like	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
citizen	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
had	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
read	O	DSE
the	O	O
speech	O	O
before	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
delivered	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
he	O	O
was	ESE	DSE
supposed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
do	ESE	DSE
by	ESE	O
virtue	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
post	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
he	O	O
subsequently	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
these	O	DSE
speculations	DSE	DSE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
mean	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
baseless	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

At	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
rate	ESE	O
,	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Powell	O	O
's	O	O
remark	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
readiness	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
enter	DSE	ESE
dialogue	DSE	ESE
with	O	O
these	O	O
``	O	O
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
friends	ESE	O
on	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
them	O	O
involves	ESE	O
some	ESE	ESE
contradictions	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

For	O	O
he	O	O
affirmed	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
first	DSE	O
speech	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
dialogue	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
Iraq	O	O
until	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
it	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
accepted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
arms	O	O
inspectors	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
current	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
will	ESE	O
consult	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
closest	O	ESE
allies	O	O
,	O	O
whether	O	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
or	O	O
its	O	O
followers	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Third	O	O
World	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
already	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
punish	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
any	O	O
country	O	O
it	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
poses	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
danger	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Hebrew	O	O
State	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
lumped	DSE	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
with	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
mislead	ESE	ESE
Arabs	O	ESE
and	O	O
Muslims	O	O
and	O	O
to	ESE	O
create	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Islam	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
alone	ESE	ESE
targeted	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
these	O	O
days	O	O
ruled	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
alliance	ESE	O
between	O	O
two	O	O
main	O	O
lobbies	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
arms	O	O
lobby	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
lobby	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
sees	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	O
world	DSE	O
through	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
eyes	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Ari'el	ESE	O
Sharon	ESE	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
therefore	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	ESE
expect	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
is	O	O
facing	O	O
a	O	O
recession	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
repeat	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
father	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
mistake	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
being	O	O
defeated	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
elections	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
economic	O	O
factors	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
therefore	ESE	DSE
planning	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
trigger	ESE	O
wars	ESE	O
here	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
to	O	O
revive	O	O
the	O	O
flagging	O	O
arms	O	O
industry	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
run	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
typical	ESE	O
Texan	ESE	O
mentality	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
closer	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
cowboys	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
civilized	ESE	ESE
mentality	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
dialogue	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
coexistence	ESE	O
among	O	O
peoples	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
mentality	O	ESE
simultaneously	ESE	ESE
raises	ESE	DSE
apprehensions	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	DSE
resentment	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
international	O	O
economic	O	O
prosperity	O	O
can	O	O
be	O	O
built	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
stability	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
wars	ESE	O
.	O	O

A	ESE	ESE
catastrophe	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
engulf	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
industry	O	O
progressed	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
expense	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
stability	ESE	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
keeping	O	O
Arafat	O	O
captive	O	O
,	O	O
under	ESE	O
siege	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupying	O	O
forces	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
an	ESE	O
affront	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
dignity	ESE	DSE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
International	ESE	O
justice	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
powder	ESE	O
keg	ESE	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
at	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
point	O	ESE
explode	O	ESE
,	O	O
devastating	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
remains	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
security	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
same	O	O
security	O	O
that	O	O
Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
assassin	ESE	O
,	O	O
uses	DSE	O
as	DSE	O
an	ESE	O
excuse	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
instigate	ESE	ESE
struggles	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
wars	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
promote	ESE	ESE
instability	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
pretends	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
besieges	O	DSE
Arafat	O	O
because	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	DSE
unable	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
confront	O	DSE
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
resistance	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
natural	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
guerilla	ESE	O
operations	ESE	O
successively	O	O
occur	O	O
,	O	O
even	O	ESE
inside	O	ESE
the	O	O
fortified	O	O
settlements	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
begins	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
wonder	DSE	DSE
whether	ESE	O
the	O	O
accusations	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
instructing	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Israeli	O	O
targets	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
his	O	ESE
captivity	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
round-the-clock	O	O
Israeli	O	O
surveillance	O	O
,	O	O
were	ESE	O
founded	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
only	ESE	DSE
interpretation	ESE	DSE
for	O	O
these	DSE	O
accusations	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
has	O	O
formidable	ESE	ESE
supernatural	ESE	ESE
powers	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
enable	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
defend	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
homeland	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
the	O	O
unlimited	ESE	O
capabilities	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupying	O	O
forces	O	O
equipped	O	O
with	O	O
all	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
mighty	ESE	O
US	O	O
weapon	O	O
technology	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
US-made	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
machine	ESE	O
to	O	O
settle	O	O
this	O	O
unequal	ESE	ESE
battle	O	ESE
became	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
farcical-yet-provocative	ESE	O
,	O	O
statements	O	O
made	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
minister	O	O
of	O	O
defense	O	O
now	O	O
present	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
helping	O	O
aggressive	ESE	O
Israel	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
traitorous	ESE	ESE
agent	O	ESE
at	O	O
the	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
its	O	DSE
terms	O	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
assassinate	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Ben	O	O
Eliezer	O	O
's	O	O
hallucination	ESE	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
mere	ESE	ESE
expression	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
to	O	DSE
persuade	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
world	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
brutality	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupying	O	O
forces	O	O
'	O	O
practices	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	ESE
even	O	ESE
embody	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
bankrupt	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
criminal	ESE	ESE
extremism	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
gain	ESE	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
its	O	O
continuing	O	O
occupation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

Ben	O	O
Eliezer	O	O
's	O	O
raving	ESE	O
coincided	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
arrival	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
assassin	ESE	O
boss	O	O
Sharon	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
exerting	DSE	DSE
pressures	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
persuade	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
that	O	O
removing	O	O
Arafat	O	O
could	ESE	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
surrender	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
halt	O	O
violence	O	O
as	ESE	O
he	ESE	O
calls	ESE	DSE
it	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
and	O	O
Ben	O	O
Eliezer	O	O
never	ESE	DSE
stopped	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
consider	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
no	O	O
patriotic	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
substitute	O	O
agent	O	O
to	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
,	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
gang	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
do	DSE	O
not	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
symbolizes	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
struggle	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
attitude	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
showed	DSE	ESE
its	DSE	ESE
true	DSE	ESE
hostility	DSE	ESE
for	O	O
a	O	O
leader	O	O
and	O	O
chairman	O	O
elected	O	O
by	O	O
his	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
peace	O	O
Envoy	O	O
Burns	O	O
has	O	DSE
expressed	O	DSE
this	O	O
after	O	O
his	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
president	O	O
Mubarak	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	DSE
declared	O	DSE
that	O	O
US	O	O
contacts	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
with	O	O
Arafat	O	O
considering	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
elected	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
chairman	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
wish	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Burns	O	O
's	O	O
statements	O	O
reflect	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
position	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
signals	O	O
a	O	O
return	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
balance	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
position	O	O
in	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
reality	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Palestinian-Israeli	O	ESE
struggle	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
,	O	O
gentlemen	ESE	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
assassin	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
realize	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
injustice	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
last	ESE	O
long	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
security	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israelis	O	O
depends	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Palestinians	O	ESE
'	O	O
regaining	O	O
their	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
besieging	O	DSE
Arafat	O	O
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
has	O	O
turned	O	O
him	O	O
into	O	O
the	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Mandela	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
struggle	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
foretells	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
's	O	O
claims	O	DSE
will	O	O
inevitably	ESE	ESE
falls	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
how	ESE	ESE
long	ESE	ESE
Sharon	ESE	O
humiliates	ESE	ESE
Arab	ESE	ESE
dignity	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
relaying	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
protection	O	O
and	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
forgot	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
principles	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
role	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
defending	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
international	ESE	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Italian	O	O
farmer	O	O
charged	O	O
with	O	O
illegally	O	ESE
slaughtering	O	ESE
cattle	O	ESE

Benevento	O	O
,	O	O
13	O	O
February	O	O
:	O	O
A	O	O
67-year-old	O	O
farmer	O	O
from	O	O
Benevento	O	O
near	O	O
Naples	O	O
was	O	O
arrested	O	O
today	O	O
on	O	O
charges	O	O
of	O	O
illegally	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
cattle	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
man	O	O
was	O	O
caught	O	O
by	O	O
police	O	O
while	O	O
secretly	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
a	O	O
cow	O	O
at	O	O
his	O	O
farm	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
meat	O	O
was	O	O
confiscated	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
tested	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
if	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
contaminated	O	ESE
with	O	O
``	O	O
mad	O	O
cow	O	O
''	O	O
disease	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	ESE
bovine	O	ESE
spongiform	O	ESE
encephalopathy	O	ESE
.	O	O

Police	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
had	O	O
stepped	O	O
up	O	O
farm	O	O
inspections	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
of	O	O
Campania	O	O
amid	O	O
heightened	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
illegal	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
practices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
wake	O	O
of	O	O
Italy	O	O
's	O	O
first	O	DSE
suspected	DSE	DSE
case	O	DSE
of	O	O
vCJD	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
fatal	O	O
brain-wasting	O	O
human	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
BSE	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
case	O	O
concerns	O	O
a	O	O
23-year-old	O	O
woman	O	O
from	O	O
Menfi	O	O
in	O	O
southwest	O	O
Sicily	O	O
whom	O	O
health	O	O
officials	O	O
said	DSE	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
had	O	ESE
almost	ESE	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
contracted	O	O
the	O	O
disease	O	O
in	O	O
Italy	O	O
and	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
five	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

Federico	O	O
Piccoli	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
top	O	O
neurologist	O	O
at	O	O
Palermo	O	O
hospital	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
helping	O	O
to	O	O
treat	O	O
the	O	O
woman	O	O
,	O	O
immediately	O	DSE
warned	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
further	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
vCJD	O	O
in	O	O
Sicily	O	O
were	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
expected	ESE	ESE
because	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	ESE
illegal	O	ESE
slaughter	O	ESE
of	O	O
animals	O	O
still	O	ESE
goes	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
here	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
comments	O	DSE
were	DSE	DSE
immediately	DSE	DSE
contested	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
meat	O	O
industry	O	O
representatives	O	O
and	O	O
vet	O	O
associations	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
Green	O	O
party	O	O
said	DSE	O
yesterday	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
evidence	ESE	O
that	O	O
illegal	O	O
slaughtering	O	O
practices	O	O
were	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rise	ESE	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
southern	O	O
regions	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Campania	O	O
,	O	O
Sicily	O	O
and	O	O
Puglia	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
meat	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
entering	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
food	ESE	O
chain	ESE	O
.	O	O

Italy	O	O
launched	O	O
a	O	O
BSE	O	O
cattle-testing	O	O
programme	O	O
in	O	O
January	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
compliance	O	O
with	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
regulations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
so	O	O
far	O	O
56	O	O
cases	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
mad	O	O
cow	O	O
''	O	O
disease	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
detected	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
a	O	O
Hizbullah	O	O
attack	O	O
against	O	O
Israel	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
requested	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
efforts	O	O
be	O	O
deployed	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
,	O	O
official	O	O
sources	O	O
disclosed	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
an	O	O
American	O	O
message	O	DSE
was	O	DSE
delivered	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
claims	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Hizbullah	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
contemplating	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
new	O	O
military	O	O
operation	O	O
to	O	O
mark	O	O
the	O	O
anniversary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
assassination	O	O
of	O	O
then-Hizbullah	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Abbas	O	O
Mussawi	O	O
.	O	O

Mussawi	O	O
was	O	O
killed	O	O
on	O	O
Feb.	O	O
17	O	O
,	O	O
1992	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli	O	O
helicopter	O	O
fired	O	O
a	O	O
missile	O	O
into	O	O
his	O	O
car	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
fears	DSE	DSE
were	ESE	O
based	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
Israeli	O	O
information	O	O
about	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
likelihood	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Security	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
had	O	O
reinforced	O	O
security	O	O
measures	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese-Israeli	O	O
border	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
having	O	O
adopted	O	O
a	O	O
series	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
precautionary	O	O
procedures	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

For	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
purpose	O	ESE
,	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
were	O	O
deployed	O	O
en	O	O
masse	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
48	O	O
hours	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
sources	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Lebanese	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	O
avoided	DSE	O
publicly	O	O
commenting	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
message	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
sources	O	O
reaffirmed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
remained	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
its	DSE	O
position	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
violations	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
's	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	O
Blue	ESE	O
Line	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
are	O	DSE
usually	ESE	DSE
committed	ESE	DSE
by	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
Israel	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	O	O
all	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
provocative	ESE	O
activities	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
one	O	O
official	O	O
source	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
referring	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
particular	DSE	O
to	O	O
air	O	O
raids	O	O
and	O	O
other	ESE	O
aggressive	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
Lebanon	ESE	O
.	O	O

Lebanese	O	O
authorities	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
curb	O	O
such	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
infractions	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
official	O	O
source	O	O
added	DSE	O
,	O	O
rather	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
adopt	DSE	DSE
Israeli	O	DSE
claims	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
seek	DSE	O
security	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
state	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
government	O	O
official	O	O
in	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
politicians	O	O
recently	O	O
,	O	O
hostility	DSE	O
toward	O	O
Hizbullah	O	O
has	O	O
grown	ESE	O
tremendously	ESE	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
months	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
official	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
rule	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
seeing	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
animosity	ESE	ESE
reflect	ESE	ESE
negatively	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
and	O	O
Syria	O	O
-	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
in	O	O
general	O	O
-	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
eve	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
summit	O	O
scheduled	O	O
for	O	O
March	O	O
in	O	O
Beirut	O	O
.	O	O

TAIPEI	O	O
,	O	O
Feb	O	O
17	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
is	DSE	O
keeping	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
wary	DSE	DSE
eye	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
China	O	O
visit	O	O
despite	O	O
assurances	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
that	O	O
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
interests	O	O
would	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
traded	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
trip	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
guaranteed	DSE	DSE
Taipei	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
dilute	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
backing	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
better	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Chang	O	O
Siao-yueh	O	O
told	O	O
AFP	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Through	O	O
some	O	O
proper	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
told	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	ESE	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
surprises	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
during	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
top	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
handling	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
affairs	O	O
,	O	O
Richard	O	O
Bush	O	O
--	O	O
no	O	O
relation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
--	O	O
also	O	O
sought	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
ease	DSE	DSE
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
a	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
He	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
are	ESE	O
getting	ESE	O
better	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Joseph	O	O
Wu	O	O
,	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
National	O	O
Chengchi	O	O
University	O	O
's	O	O
Institute	O	O
of	O	O
International	O	O
Relations	O	O
.	O	O

Richard	O	O
Bush	O	O
is	O	O
chairman	O	O
and	O	O
managing	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Institute	O	O
in	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AIT	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
body	O	O
authorised	O	O
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
to	O	O
handle	O	O
exchanges	O	O
since	O	O
it	O	O
switched	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
recognition	O	O
from	O	O
Taipei	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
in	O	O
1979	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
president	O	O
embarked	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
week-long	O	O
tour	O	O
of	O	O
Asia	O	O
late	O	O
Saturday	O	O
with	O	O
stopovers	O	O
in	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
will	O	O
meet	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
on	O	O
February	O	O
21	O	O
and	O	O
22	O	O
.	O	O

Wu	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
believed	DSE	DSE
overall	O	DSE
Taiwan	O	DSE
interests	DSE	DSE
were	O	ESE
protected	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
knocks	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
because	ESE	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
enjoyed	O	O
``	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
''	O	O
among	O	O
decision-makers	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
announced	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
2001	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
arms	O	O
package	O	O
to	O	O
Taipei	O	O
since	O	O
1992	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
four	O	O
Kidd-class	O	O
destroyers	O	O
,	O	O
eight	O	O
diesel	O	O
submarines	O	O
and	O	O
12	O	O
P-3C	O	O
submarine-hunting	O	O
aircraft	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
sale	O	O
infuriated	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
which	O	O
regards	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
an	ESE	O
integral	ESE	ESE
part	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
territory	O	O
awaiting	O	O
reunification	O	O
,	O	O
by	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
if	ESE	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Before	O	O
leaving	O	O
for	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
discuss	O	O
with	O	O
Beijing	O	O
trade	O	O
issues	O	O
arising	O	O
from	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
entry	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Organisation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terror	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fate	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
peaceful	O	O
resolution	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
sovereignty	O	O
dispute	O	O
between	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
which	O	O
split	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
in	O	O
1949	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwanese	O	O
officials	O	O
are	DSE	O
nonetheless	DSE	ESE
concerned	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
speech	O	O
through	O	O
videoconference	O	O
to	O	O
hundreds	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
American	O	O
students	O	O
from	O	O
Harvard	O	O
,	O	O
Yale	O	O
,	O	O
Columbia	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
US	O	O
universities	O	O
,	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Annette	O	O
Lu	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
obstruct	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
ties	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
As	ESE	ESE
usual	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Beijing	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
try	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
persuade	DSE	DSE
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
into	O	O
saying	O	DSE
something	ESE	DSE
disadvantageous	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
Asian	O	O
trip	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mindset	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	O
impair	ESE	O
the	O	O
healthy	O	O
interaction	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
has	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
an	O	O
ad	O	O
hoc	O	O
group	O	O
to	O	O
monitor	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
Asia	O	O
trip	O	O
around-the-clock	O	O
and	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
,	O	O
Chang	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
de	O	O
facto	O	O
embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
had	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
similar	O	ESE
task	O	ESE
.	O	O

Compounding	O	DSE
fears	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
speculation	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
may	O	ESE
sign	O	O
a	O	O
fresh	O	O
communique	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
issues	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
and	O	O
prevention	O	O
of	O	O
nuclear	O	O
proliferation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
have	O	O
sealed	O	O
three	O	O
joint	O	O
communiques	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1970s	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
was	O	O
issued	O	O
during	O	O
then-president	O	O
Richard	O	O
Nixon	O	O
's	O	O
landmark	O	O
trip	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
1972	O	O
while	O	O
another	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
signed	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Ronald	O	O
Reagan	O	O
era	O	O
,	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
gradually	O	O
reduce	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Wu	O	O
defended	DSE	DSE
Taipei	O	O
's	O	O
cautious	O	O
approach	O	O
,	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Beijing	O	O
could	ESE	O
try	O	O
to	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
to	O	O
gain	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
upper	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
interest	DSE	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
harmed	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
leaders	O	O
took	ESE	O
advantage	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
occasion	O	ESE
by	O	O
making	DSE	O
remarks	DSE	O
unfavorable	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
failed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
defend	ESE	DSE
Taipei	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Wu	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Taipei	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
angered	DSE	DSE
when	O	O
then-president	O	O
Bill	O	O
Clinton	O	O
pledged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
three	O	O
nos	O	O
''	O	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
China	O	O
visit	O	O
in	O	O
1998	O	O
.	O	O

Clinton	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
independence	O	O
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
two	O	O
Chinas	O	O
''	O	O
or	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	O
member	ESE	O
of	O	O
any	O	O
organisation	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
statehood	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
requirement	O	O
.	O	O

TOKYO	O	O
,	O	O
Feb	O	O
18	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	DSE	O
Monday	O	O
that	O	O
all	ESE	O
options	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
even	O	ESE
as	O	O
Germany	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
against	DSE	DSE
any	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
adventure	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
in	O	O
Iraq	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
Asian	O	O
tour	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
dismissed	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	O
chilly	DSE	O
reception	DSE	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
rhetoric	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
telling	DSE	O
reporters	O	O
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
will	O	O
keep	O	O
all	ESE	O
options	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
resolve	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
issues	ESE	O
peacefully	ESE	O
,	O	O
whether	O	O
it	O	O
be	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
or	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
speaking	O	O
next	O	O
to	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
lumped	DSE	DSE
those	O	O
three	O	O
countries	O	O
together	O	O
in	O	O
what	O	O
terms	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
language	O	O
that	O	O
has	DSE	O
riled	DSE	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
renewed	DSE	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
pledge	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
thwart	ESE	O
terrorist	O	O
groups	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
mate	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
with	O	O
regimes	O	O
hoping	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
acquire	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
nations	O	O
will	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
is	O	O
extended	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
People	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
love	ESE	DSE
freedom	ESE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
we	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
nations	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
are	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
nations	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
terrible	ESE	ESE
history	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
nations	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
so	ESE	ESE
dictatorial	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
're	O	ESE
willing	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
starve	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
we	ESE	O
ca	ESE	O
n't	ESE	O
allow	ESE	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
mate	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
organizations	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Asked	O	O
about	O	O
French	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Hubert	O	O
Vedrine	O	O
's	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	O	O
''	O	O
concept	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
simplistic	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	ESE
understand	DSE	ESE
what	O	ESE
happens	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
arena	O	O
;	O	O
people	ESE	O
say	ESE	DSE
things	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	DSE	O
the	O	O
leaders	O	O
I	O	O
've	O	DSE
talked	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
exactly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
what	ESE	ESE
needs	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
happen	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
understand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
our	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
history	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
given	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
unique	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
defend	ESE	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
arrived	O	O
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
Sunday	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
week-long	O	O
trip	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
take	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
Seoul	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
held	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
effort	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
leaders	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
``	O	O
specifically	O	DSE
''	O	DSE
talk	O	DSE
about	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
any	O	O
other	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
official	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
travel	O	O
to	O	O
Seoul	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
day	O	O
will	O	O
visit	O	O
the	O	O
heavily	O	O
fortified	O	O
no-man	O	O
's	O	O
land	O	O
between	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
and	O	O
communist	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
maintains	O	DSE
some	O	O
37,000	O	O
troops	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Korean	O	O
peninsula	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
de-militarised	O	O
zone	O	O
dividing	O	O
South	O	O
Korea	O	O
from	O	O
its	O	O
hardline	O	ESE
communist	O	ESE
northern	O	ESE
neighbour	O	ESE
``	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
places	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
earth	ESE	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
his	O	O
tough	DSE	DSE
stand	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
P'yongyang	O	O
has	DSE	ESE
provoked	DSE	ESE
concern	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
Seoul	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
President	O	O
Kim	O	O
Tae-chung	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
five-year	O	O
term	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
prise	O	O
the	O	O
hermit	O	O
state	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
isolation	O	O
.	O	O

South	O	O
Korean	O	O
ministers	O	O
fear	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
tough	DSE	DSE
talking	DSE	DSE
may	ESE	ESE
put	ESE	ESE
back	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
Kim	O	O
's	O	O
so-called	O	ESE
Sunshine	O	O
Policy	O	O
of	O	O
establishing	O	O
a	O	O
permanent	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
.	O	O

Angry	DSE	DSE
anti-US	DSE	DSE
protests	DSE	DSE
erupted	DSE	O
in	O	O
Seoul	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
arrival	O	O
with	O	O
police	O	O
storming	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Chamber	O	O
of	O	O
Commerce	O	O
and	O	O
detaining	O	O
32	O	O
students	O	O
occupying	O	O
the	O	O
building	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
three-hour	O	O
occupation	O	O
,	O	O
protesters	O	O
hurled	O	DSE
leaflets	O	DSE
proclaiming	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
war	ESE	ESE
freak	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
diplomats	O	O
say	O	DSE
Bush	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
seek	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
Kim	O	O
's	O	O
Nobel	O	O
Prize	O	O
winning	O	O
policy	O	O
by	O	O
offering	DSE	O
new	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
North	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
remaining	DSE	O
firm	DSE	O
about	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
missile	O	O
sales	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
feared	DSE	DSE
chemical	O	O
and	O	O
biological	O	O
weapons	O	O
programmes	O	O
.	O	O

North	O	O
Korea	O	O
remains	DSE	O
unconvinced	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
calling	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
the	ESE	O
head	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
an	ESE	ESE
empire	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O
Its	O	O
state	O	O
media	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
last	O	O
week	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
``	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
bellicose	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
heinous	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
president	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
added	DSE	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
was	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
intended	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
fan	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
hysteria	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
US	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
no	O	O
firm	O	O
military	O	O
plans	O	O
exist	O	O
for	O	O
expanding	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terror	O	O
launched	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
said	DSE	O
late	O	O
Sunday	O	O
that	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
President	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Hussein	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
go	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	ESE	O
've	ESE	O
made	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
secret	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
we	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
safer	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
the	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
regime	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
they	ESE	ESE
deserve	ESE	ESE
instead	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
regime	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
Adviser	O	O
Condoleezza	O	O
Rice	O	O
told	O	O
CBS	O	O
television	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
Baghdad	O	O
,	O	O
under	O	O
UN	O	O
sanctions	O	O
since	O	O
its	O	O
1990	O	O
invasion	O	O
of	O	O
Kuwait	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
developing	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
Baghdad	O	O
insisted	DSE	DSE
Sunday	O	O
it	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	O
threat	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
threatening	ESE	DSE
Iraq	O	O
and	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
contrary	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
are	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
ones	ESE	O
attacking	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
round	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Ath-Thawra	O	O
,	O	O
mouthpiece	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Baath	O	O
party	O	O
in	O	O
Baghdad	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Iraq	O	O
possessed	O	O
such	O	O
weapons	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
threaten	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
threaten	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
possesses	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
that	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
entire	ESE	ESE
planets	ESE	ESE
?	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
Berlin	O	O
,	O	O
Germany	O	O
's	O	O
chief	O	O
government	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Uwe-Karsten	O	O
Heye	O	O
told	O	DSE
journalists	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
federal	O	O
government	O	O
can	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
imagine	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
an	DSE	DSE
interest	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
engaging	O	O
in	O	O
an	ESE	O
adventure	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Iraq	ESE	O
.	O	O

Chancellor	O	O
Gerhard	O	O
Schroeder	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
pledged	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
undivided	ESE	DSE
support	ESE	DSE
''	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
a	O	O
week	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Germany	O	O
is	DSE	O
ready	DSE	ESE
for	O	ESE
risks	O	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
military	O	O
ones	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
adventures	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
insisted	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
right	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
allies	ESE	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
informed	O	O
and	O	O
consulted	O	O
about	O	O
US	O	O
plans	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
German	O	O
government	O	O
spokesman	O	O
said	DSE	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
useful	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
UN	O	O
observers	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
enter	ESE	ESE
Iraq	O	ESE
again	O	ESE
to	O	O
check	O	O
for	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
.	O	O

German	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Joschka	O	O
Fischer	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
sharply	DSE	DSE
criticised	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
remarks	DSE	O
,	O	O
telling	DSE	O
a	O	O
newspaper	O	O
that	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
concept	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
gets	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
nowhere	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Iran	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	DSE	O
long	DSE	ESE
had	DSE	ESE
tense	DSE	ESE
relations	DSE	ESE
with	O	O
its	O	O
western	O	O
neighbor	O	O
,	O	O
voiced	DSE	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
US	O	O
strike	O	O
against	O	O
Iraq	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
solved	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
peaceful	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
initiatives	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
secretary	O	O
general	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
more	O	ESE
active	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Kamal	O	O
Kharazi	O	O
told	O	DSE
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
also	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Iraq	O	O
gives	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
favourable	ESE	DSE
response	O	DSE
and	O	O
allows	DSE	O
UN	O	O
weapon	O	O
inspectors	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

Kharazi	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
150	O	O
foreigners	O	O
arrested	O	O
recently	O	O
on	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
border	O	O
with	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
were	O	O
not	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
terror	O	O
network	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
admitted	DSE	DSE
some	O	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
sympathisers	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
sent	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
home	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
those	O	O
being	O	O
held	O	O
were	O	O
40	O	O
women	O	O
,	O	O
between	O	O
70	O	O
and	O	O
80	O	O
children	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
men	O	O
of	O	O
European	O	O
,	O	O
North	O	O
African	O	O
and	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
origin	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
a	O	O
handful	O	O
of	O	O
Afghans	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
source	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
affair	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
become	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
embarrassing	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
for	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
insistence	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
on	O	O
judging	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
al-Qaeda	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
alleges	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Tehran	O	O
has	DSE	O
allowed	DSE	O
al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
ida	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
regime	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
Iranian	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
hotly	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
but	O	O
said	DSE	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
provided	O	O
with	O	O
evidence	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
another	O	O
verbal	DSE	O
attack	DSE	O
Kharazi	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
of	O	O
wanting	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
exercise	ESE	DSE
``	ESE	O
world	ESE	ESE
dictatorship	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
horrible	ESE	ESE
attacks	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
of	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
rulers	O	O
have	O	O
proved	O	O
that	O	O
they	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
trusted	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	ESE	O
are	ESE	DSE
seeking	ESE	DSE
unilaterally	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
masters	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
and	O	O
want	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
sweep	ESE	O
aside	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
competitors	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
countries	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Afghan	O	O
interim	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Yunus	O	O
Qanooni	O	O
told	O	O
AFP	O	O
that	O	O
two	O	O
suspects	O	O
in	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
's	O	O
murder	O	O
of	O	O
aviation	O	O
and	O	O
tourism	O	O
minister	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Rahman	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
arrested	O	O
in	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
and	O	O
could	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
sent	O	ESE
back	O	ESE
to	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
is	O	O
giving	O	O
two	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
speeches	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
is	O	O
improvised	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
devoid	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
slips	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
tongue	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
second	O	O
is	O	DSE
carefully	ESE	DSE
written	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
studied	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
every	ESE	ESE
aspect	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
represents	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
official	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
controversy	O	O
about	O	O
which	O	O
type	O	O
is	O	O
more	O	ESE
credible	O	ESE
.	O	O

Perhaps	ESE	ESE
improvisation	O	ESE
is	O	O
a	O	O
better	ESE	ESE
indication	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
inclinations	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
personal	DSE	DSE
convictions	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
improvising	O	O
he	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
expressing	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
runs	O	O
through	O	O
his	O	O
mind	O	O
since	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
tongue	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
extension	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
written	O	O
speeches	O	O
are	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
indicative	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	O
drafted	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
decision-making	DSE	O
circles	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	DSE
final	O	DSE
decision	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
Address	O	O
,	O	O
given	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
joint	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
and	O	O
Senate	O	O
every	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
pre-prepared	O	O
speech	O	O
.	O	O

Every	ESE	DSE
phrase	ESE	DSE
in	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
carefully	ESE	O
studied	ESE	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
the	O	O
phrase	O	O
that	O	O
referred	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Axis	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
term	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
created	O	O
by	O	O
Mussolini	O	O
signifying	O	O
the	O	O
alliance	O	O
of	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
Italy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Japan	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
term	O	O
used	O	O
by	O	O
former	O	O
President	O	O
Reagan	O	O
to	O	DSE
describe	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Soviet	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
was	O	O
self-destructive	ESE	O
,	O	O
causing	ESE	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
to	O	O
collapse	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
within	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
come	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
combining	O	O
the	O	O
words	O	O
of	O	O
Mussolini	O	O
and	O	O
Reagan	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
successful	ESE	ESE
choice	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
viable	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
describe	O	DSE
terrorist	O	ESE
organizations	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
,	O	O
then	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
viable	ESE	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
for	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Besides	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
politicians	O	O
refer	DSE	O
to	O	O
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
purposes	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
intimidation	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
exaggeration	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

During	O	O
World	O	O
War	O	O
II	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
axis	O	O
countries	O	O
were	O	O
very	O	ESE
strong	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
bound	O	ESE
by	O	O
an	O	O
alliance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	O
axis	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
represents	O	O
small	O	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
linked	O	O
by	O	O
any	O	O
alliance	O	O
or	O	O
cooperation	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
Iran	O	O
were	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
longest	ESE	O
destructive	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
half	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
20th	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
living	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
isolation	ESE	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
keeping	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	O
everyone	ESE	O
else	ESE	O
.	O	O

Its	O	O
name	O	O
was	O	O
only	ESE	O
mentioned	DSE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
remove	ESE	O
suspicion	ESE	DSE
around	O	O
the	O	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
hostility	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
Islam	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
eager	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
open	O	O
a	O	O
dialogue	O	O
with	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
since	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
reform	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
is	O	O
progressing	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
expense	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
traditional	O	O
,	O	O
conservative	O	O
school	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
unlikely	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
with	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
leaves	ESE	O
Iraq	ESE	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
circles	O	O
want	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
antagonize	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
to	O	O
go	O	O
to	O	O
war	O	O
with	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
wages	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
Iraq	O	O
then	O	O
this	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
necessity	ESE	O
,	O	O
like	ESE	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
choice	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
confirms	O	O
the	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
inclinations	ESE	DSE
of	O	O
some	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Administration	O	O
.	O	O

21	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Relations	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	O	O
increasingly	ESE	O
become	O	O
``	O	O
harmonious	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
close	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
since	ESE	O
U.	O	O
S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
and	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
current	O	O
mainland	O	O
visit	O	O
is	O	O
unlikely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
affect	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
two-way	O	O
ties	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
presidential	O	O
aide	O	O
said	DSE	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Secretary-General	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
Office	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shih-meng	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
U.	O	O
S.	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
assured	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
will	O	ESE
stick	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
his	DSE	O
commitments	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
help	O	DSE
protect	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
he	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
anything	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
damage	ESE	ESE
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
interests	DSE	O
while	O	O
visiting	O	O
mainland	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
Chen	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
purpose	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
mainland	O	O
trip	O	O
is	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
thank	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.-led	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
war	O	O
following	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
terror	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
Chang	O	O
Shiao-yue	O	O
,	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
,	O	O
reiterated	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
had	O	O
briefed	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
mainland	O	O
visit	O	O
before	O	O
his	O	O
departure	O	O
and	O	O
made	DSE	DSE
it	DSE	DSE
clear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
trip	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
hurt	ESE	ESE
Taiwan	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
interests	ESE	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
added	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
has	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
a	O	O
task	O	O
force	O	O
to	O	O
monitor	O	O
developments	O	O
and	O	O
deal	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
contingencies	O	ESE
.	O	O

Feb	O	O
21	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Interfax	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Russia	O	O
's	O	O
Interior	O	O
Ministry	O	O
is	O	O
looking	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
report	O	O
about	O	O
Russian	O	O
entrepreneur	O	O
Viktor	O	O
Bout	O	O
's	O	O
involvement	O	O
in	O	O
arms	O	O
supplies	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
terrorist	O	O
organization	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Interior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Nikolai	O	O
Bobrovsky	O	O
ordered	O	O
a	O	O
detailed	O	O
probe	O	O
and	O	O
verification	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
information	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Interior	O	O
Ministry	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Yuri	O	O
Shuvalov	O	O
told	O	O
Interfax	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
,	O	O
23	O	O
Feb	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ZTS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
concluded	O	O
a	O	O
two-day	O	O
working	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
exchanged	DSE	DSE
in-depth	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
major	O	O
international	O	O
and	O	O
regional	O	O
issues	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
reached	DSE	O
extensive	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
consensus	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Both	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
sides	O	O
hold	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
visit	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
achieved	ESE	O
positive	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
successful	ESE	ESE
results	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
media	O	O
also	O	O
generally	O	O
maintained	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
positive	DSE	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
toward	O	O
the	O	O
trip	O	O
and	O	O
welcomed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
visit	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
success	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

When	O	O
he	O	O
revisited	O	O
the	O	O
Great	O	O
Wall	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
could	DSE	O
hardly	DSE	ESE
hide	DSE	ESE
his	DSE	ESE
excitement	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
Chinese	O	O
officials	O	O
to	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
places	O	O
where	O	O
Nixon	O	O
had	O	DSE
stood	O	DSE
when	O	O
he	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
ice-breaking	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Great	O	O
Wall	O	O
30	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
front	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
TV	O	O
camera	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
stepped	O	O
several	O	O
steps	O	O
forward	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
spot	O	O
where	O	O
Nixon	O	O
had	O	DSE
stood	O	DSE
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
show	ESE	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
that	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relationship	O	O
continues	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
move	ESE	O
ahead	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
existing	ESE	O
basis	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
editorial	O	O
,	O	O
Wen	O	O
Wei	O	O
Po	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
30	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
Nixon	O	O
developed	O	O
strategic	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
strategic	O	O
interests	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
the	ESE	O
need	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Soviet	ESE	O
Union	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Thirty	O	O
years	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
now	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
itself	O	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
sole	ESE	ESE
superpower	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
event	O	O
makes	ESE	O
Bush	ESE	O
aware	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
major	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
terrorist	O	O
groups	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
US	O	O
security	O	O
is	O	O
threatened	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
without	O	O
support	DSE	O
from	O	O
other	O	O
big	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
win	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
then	O	O
rediscovered	DSE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
big	O	O
country	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
side	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
globe	O	O
--	O	O
and	O	O
tries	O	O
to	O	O
develop	O	O
``	O	O
constructive	O	ESE
cooperative	O	ESE
relations	O	ESE
''	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
since	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
in	DSE	O
accord	DSE	O
with	O	O
US	O	O
strategic	O	ESE
interests	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
appreciates	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
role	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
plays	O	O
in	O	O
helping	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
between	O	O
India	O	O
and	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
would	O	O
mediate	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
'	O	O
behalf	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
can	O	O
resume	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
saying	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
``	O	O
people	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
work	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
pursue	ESE	ESE
gains	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O
That	O	O
Bush	O	O
chooses	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
increase	O	O
contacts	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
shows	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
global	ESE	O
issues	ESE	O
alone	ESE	O
,	O	O
nor	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
afford	ESE	O
to	DSE	O
ignore	DSE	ESE
China	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
major	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
see	O	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
stopped	DSE	O
referring	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	DSE	O
strategic	DSE	ESE
competitor	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
since	ESE	O
a	O	O
confrontation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
biggest	O	O
countries	O	O
on	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Pacific	O	O
brings	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
's	O	O
public	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
hold	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
is	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
delivering	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
message	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
threat	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
advocates	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Republican	O	O
Party	O	O
:	O	O
Now	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
engage	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
positive	ESE	O
manner	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
addition	O	ESE
,	O	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
stay	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
``	DSE	DSE
admiration	DSE	DSE
''	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
surprise	DSE	DSE
''	DSE	O
on	O	O
several	O	O
occasions	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
development	O	O
and	O	O
changes	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
China	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
tremendous	ESE	ESE
development	ESE	ESE
potential	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	O	O
22	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
speech	O	O
at	O	O
Tsinghua	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
again	O	O
stated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
me	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
use	ESE	DSE
words	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
describe	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
earth-shaking	ESE	O
changes	ESE	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
Ta	O	O
Kung	O	O
Pao	O	O
editorial	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
obviously	ESE	O
Bush	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
remarks	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
courtesy	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hosts	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
that	O	O
development	O	O
and	O	O
changes	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
did	ESE	O
indeed	ESE	O
leave	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
deep	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
impact	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
's	O	O
readjustment	O	O
and	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
policies	O	O
toward	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

Regarding	O	O
the	O	O
major	O	O
contents	O	O
and	O	O
purpose	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
speech	O	O
at	O	O
Tsinghua	O	O
University	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
overseas	O	O
public	O	O
opinion	O	DSE
had	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
promotion	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
values	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
China	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
editorial	O	O
,	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
's	O	O
Shang	O	O
Pao	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
reform	O	O
and	O	O
opening	O	O
up	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
people	O	O
want	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
understand	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
easiest	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
understand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
today	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
or	O	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
early	O	O
days	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
reform	O	O
and	O	O
opening	O	O
up	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
broad	O	O
mass	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
young	O	O
college	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
particular	O	O
,	O	O
know	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
US	O	O
values	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
people	O	O
not	ESE	DSE
only	ESE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
American	O	O
democracy	O	O
,	O	O
freedom	O	O
,	O	O
religions	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
they	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
know	ESE	DSE
quite	ESE	DSE
well	ESE	DSE
about	O	DSE
American	O	O
social	O	O
,	O	O
economic	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
political	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
beyond	ESE	ESE
Bush	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
imagination	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
student	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
yesterday	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
handle	O	O
social	O	O
problems	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
problem	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
violation	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
getting	ESE	O
worse	ESE	ESE
day	ESE	ESE
after	ESE	ESE
day	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
!	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
was	ESE	O
made	ESE	O
prominent	ESE	O
during	O	O
Premier	O	O
Zhu	O	O
Rongji	O	O
's	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
the	DSE	O
questions	DSE	O
posed	DSE	O
to	O	O
Bush	O	O
by	O	O
Tsinghua	O	O
students	O	O
.	O	O

Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
public	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Government	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
extremely	DSE	DSE
concerned	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
and	O	O
dissatisfied	DSE	O
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
realize	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
core	ESE	ESE
issue	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	ESE	O
greatly	ESE	ESE
responsible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
slow	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
``	ESE	O
Taiwan	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
forces	O	O
running	ESE	O
rampant	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
earnestly	ESE	ESE
abide	ESE	ESE
by	O	ESE
the	O	O
three	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
joint	O	O
communiques	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
relevant	DSE	O
commitments	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
properly	ESE	O
handle	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
from	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
strategic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
long-term	ESE	ESE
perspective	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
vital	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
,	O	O
to	ESE	O
peace	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
stability	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
healthy	ESE	O
development	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Sino-US	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
.	O	O

West	O	O
aims	DSE	DSE
`	O	O
to	O	O
prop	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
MDC	O	ESE
'	O	ESE

Herald	DSE	O
Reporter	O	O
-	O	O
THE	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
imposed	O	O
targeted	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
senior	O	O
Government	O	O
officials	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
alleged	ESE	O
deteriorating	ESE	O
political	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
weekend	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Government	O	O
has	O	DSE
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
sanctions	O	O
are	ESE	O
meant	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
prop	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
MDC	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Mr	O	O
Willard	O	O
Chiwewe	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
West	O	O
was	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
hurry	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
prop	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
move	O	O
follows	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
last	O	O
Monday	O	O
to	O	O
impose	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Cde	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
ministers	O	O
,	O	O
senior	O	O
Government	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
a	O	O
freeze	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
alleged	ESE	O
overseas	O	O
assets	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
travel	O	O
ban	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
15-nation	O	O
bloc	O	O
.	O	O

Dismissing	DSE	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
move	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
would	ESE	O
withstand	ESE	O
the	O	O
sanctions	O	O
imposed	O	O
by	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
and	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
abandon	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
land	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
are	O	DSE
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
placing	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
leaders	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
do	O	O
n't	O	O
come	O	O
to	O	O
Europe	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
Europe	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
What	O	O
will	O	ESE
I	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
wanting	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
?	O	O

We	O	O
can	O	O
visit	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
and	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
at	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
rally	O	DSE
in	O	O
Nkayi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
EU	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
was	O	DSE
roundly	DSE	DSE
condemned	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
move	O	O
as	O	O
neo-colonial	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nigeria	O	O
,	O	O
Tanzania	O	O
,	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
lambasted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
EU	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
show	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
solidarity	O	ESE
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
Tanzanian	O	O
President	O	O
Benjamin	O	O
Mkapa	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
African	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
let	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
manipulated	ESE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
powerful	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	O	O
neo-colonialism	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
economic	ESE	ESE
colonialism	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

I	DSE	O
'm	DSE	DSE
saying	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
because	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
are	ESE	DSE
beginning	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
forget	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
Berlin	O	O
where	O	O
they	O	O
had	O	DSE
gone	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Balkanisation	ESE	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
continent	O	O
into	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
later	O	O
came	O	O
to	O	O
colonise	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Namibia	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
had	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
invite	DSE	DSE
observers	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
elections	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
there	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
justification	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
's	O	O
move	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
body	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
regard	DSE	O
itself	O	O
as	O	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
competent	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
others	O	O
in	O	O
election	O	O
observation	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
travel	O	O
ban	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
senior	O	O
Government	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
certain	O	ESE
persons	O	ESE
''	O	O
with	O	O
business	O	O
dealings	O	O
with	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Government	O	O
officials	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
families	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
sanctions	O	O
also	O	O
applied	O	O
to	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
``	O	O
formulate	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
implement	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
benefit	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
policies	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
undermine	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
injure	ESE	ESE
Zimbabwe	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
democratic	ESE	O
institutions	ESE	O
or	O	O
impede	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
functioning	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
multi-party	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
targeted	O	O
travel	O	O
restrictions	O	O
against	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Zimbabwe	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
crisis	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
advance	ESE	ESE
positive	ESE	ESE
change	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
signalling	DSE	DSE
our	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
democratic	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
focusing	O	O
international	O	O
scrutiny	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
appropriate	O	O
actors	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
embassy	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
maniacs	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
continue	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
spew	ESE	ESE
out	DSE	ESE
vicious	DSE	ESE
remarks	DSE	ESE
against	O	O
us	O	O
,	O	O
despite	O	ESE
the	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
denunciation	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
people	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

Following	O	O
his	O	O
vicious	ESE	DSE
remarks	DSE	DSE
that	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
our	O	O
country	O	O
an	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
address	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
revealed	O	O
that	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
talked	O	DSE
nonsense	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
targets	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
war	O	O
will	O	ESE
include	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
international	O	O
terrorist	O	O
organizations	O	O
but	O	O
also	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
develop	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
WMD	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

There	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
question	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
WMD-developing	O	O
countries	O	O
he	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
including	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

High-ranking	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
US	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Cheney	O	O
,	O	O
actively	DSE	DSE
chimed	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
his	O	O
absurd	ESE	ESE
remarks	O	ESE
.	O	O

Inspecting	O	O
US	O	O
Air	O	O
Force	O	O
bases	O	O
some	O	O
time	O	O
ago	O	O
,	O	O
Cheney	O	O
maintained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
WMD	O	ESE
threats	O	ESE
.	O	O

High-ranking	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
and	O	O
defense	O	O
departments	O	O
made	O	DSE
preposterous	ESE	DSE
remarks	O	DSE
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	O
exporter	ESE	O
of	O	O
WMD	O	O
,	O	O
ballistic	O	O
missiles	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
relevant	O	O
technology	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	ESE
another	ESE	ESE
diversionary	ESE	ESE
tactic	ESE	ESE
to	O	DSE
divert	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
people	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
provoked	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
had	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
announcement	DSE	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
it	O	O
had	O	O
caused	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
great	O	ESE
controversy	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
us	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
everyone	ESE	ESE
knows	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
getting	DSE	DSE
strong	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
denunciation	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
rejection	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	ESE
being	O	ESE
cornered	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
impartial	ESE	DSE
public	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
referring	DSE	O
to	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
an	ESE	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Bush	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
made	ESE	ESE
such	ESE	O
remarks	ESE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
address	O	O
.	O	O

Because	ESE	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
absolutely	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
go	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
reputation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
all	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
vicious	ESE	ESE
conduct	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
indeed	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
ring	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
empire	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
perpetrates	ESE	ESE
spiteful	ESE	ESE
conduct	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
kinds	ESE	O
worldwide	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
that	O	O
possesses	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
largest	O	O
quantity	O	O
of	O	O
WMD	O	O
and	O	O
inflicted	ESE	ESE
nuclear	ESE	ESE
disaster	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
humankind	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
placed	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
situation	O	O
in	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
complex	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
going	ESE	O
haywire	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
dominate	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
but	ESE	O
gangster-like	ESE	ESE
logic	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
label	DSE	DSE
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
dignified	ESE	O
sovereign	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
UN	O	O
members	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
an	ESE	ESE
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Hence	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
world	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
decrying	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	ESE	O
such	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
extent	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
a	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
residents	O	O
even	ESE	O
within	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
denouncing	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
reckless	ESE	ESE
remarks	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
matter	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
fellow	O	O
who	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
address	O	O
inevitably	ESE	ESE
submitted	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
resignation	O	ESE
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
news	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
announced	O	O
that	O	O
David	O	O
Frum	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
official	O	O
who	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
address	O	O
,	O	O
had	O	ESE
submitted	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
resignation	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
signifies	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
he	ESE	O
inevitably	ESE	ESE
had	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
leave	ESE	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
driven	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
anti-Bush	ESE	O
hot	ESE	O
winds	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
around	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
imperialist	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
maniacs	ESE	O
are	O	O
clinging	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
new	ESE	ESE
conspiracy	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
order	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
escape	ESE	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
predicament	ESE	O
and	O	O
divert	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
arrows	ESE	O
aimed	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
in	O	O
other	O	O
directions	O	O
.	O	O

What	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
crafted	ESE	DSE
out	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
was	O	O
our	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
sales	O	O
of	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
WMD	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
ballistic	O	O
missiles	O	O
and	O	O
concerned	O	O
technology	O	O
sales	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
add	ESE	O
credibility	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
imperialist	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
maniacs	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	ESE
conspiracy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
did	DSE	O
not	DSE	DSE
forget	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
label	DSE	DSE
our	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
number	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
WMD	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
ballistic	ESE	O
missiles	ESE	O
sales	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
concerned	ESE	O
technology	ESE	O
sales	ESE	O
that	O	O
were	O	O
already	O	O
mentioned	O	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	ESE
accustomed	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	O
are	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
trickery	ESE	ESE
!	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
fall	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
we	O	O
mentioned	DSE	O
earlier	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
which	O	O
produces	O	O
and	O	O
possesses	O	O
the	O	O
greatest	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
nuclear	O	O
weapons	O	O
and	O	O
WMD	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
that	O	O
threatens	DSE	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
with	O	O
these	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
weapons	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

Not	DSE	DSE
satisfied	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
develop	O	O
new	O	O
nuclear	O	O
weapons	O	O
by	O	O
resuming	O	O
underground	O	O
nuclear	O	O
tests	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
blatant	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
worst	ESE	ESE
rogue	ESE	ESE
state	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
someone	ESE	O
harm	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
invite	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
criticism	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	DSE
rejection	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
world	O	O
people	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
authorities	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
these	ESE	O
acts	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
making	ESE	O
remarks	ESE	O
that	O	O
smear	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
faces	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

We	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
unmonitorable	O	O
for	O	O
20	O	O
secs	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
unjust	ESE	ESE
acts	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
fight	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	ESE	O
imperialist	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
maniacs	ESE	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
try	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
threaten	ESE	ESE
national	ESE	ESE
dignity	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
and	O	O
settle	DSE	ESE
scores	DSE	ESE
with	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
can	ESE	O
never	ESE	ESE
dampen	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
bend	ESE	ESE
our	O	O
unwavering	DSE	DSE
will	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

AMMAN	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
unemployment	O	O
rate	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
48,000	O	O
engineers	O	O
has	O	ESE
dropped	O	ESE
by	O	O
1.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
since	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
senior	O	O
official	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Jordan	O	O
Engineers	O	O
Association	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
JEA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
said	O	DSE
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rate	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
was	O	O
around	O	O
8.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
two	O	O
months	O	O
of	O	O
2002	O	O
it	O	O
dropped	O	O
to	O	O
7	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
JEA	O	O
President	O	O
Azzam	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
total	O	O
of	O	O
unemployed	O	O
engineers	O	O
currently	O	O
stands	O	O
at	O	O
3,360	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
association	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
provided	O	O
867	O	O
unemployed	O	O
engineers	O	O
with	O	O
job	O	O
opportunities	O	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
public	O	O
and	O	O
private	O	O
institutions	O	O
,	O	O
thereby	O	O
contributing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
decline	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
association	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
contacting	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
private	O	O
institutions	O	O
to	O	O
supply	O	O
them	O	O
with	O	O
engineers	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

Both	O	O
the	O	O
JEA	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Housing	O	O
and	O	O
Public	O	O
Works	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
trained	O	O
759	O	O
new	O	O
engineering	O	O
graduates	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
to	O	O
prepare	O	O
them	O	O
for	O	O
job	O	O
opportunities	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
JEA	O	O
's	O	O
obligations	O	O
stipulated	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
bylaws	O	DSE
is	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
training	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
members	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
training	O	O
takes	O	O
the	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
full-time	O	O
internship	O	O
lasting	O	O
from	O	O
six	O	O
months	O	O
to	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
graduates	O	O
are	O	O
placed	O	O
in	O	O
professional	O	O
settings	O	O
to	O	O
gain	O	O
firsthand	O	O
experience	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
workplace	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	DSE	O
aim	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
the	O	O
engineers	O	O
a	O	O
real	ESE	ESE
chance	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
practise	O	ESE
what	O	O
they	O	O
studied	O	O
in	O	O
theory	O	O
at	O	O
university	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

Engineers	O	O
specialised	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
electricity	O	O
field	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
hired	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
electric	O	O
company	O	O
for	O	O
eight	O	O
hours	O	O
per	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
trainee	O	O
is	O	O
paid	O	O
between	O	O
JD120-150	O	O
per	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
association	O	O
defrays	O	O
JD30-50	O	O
of	O	O
that	O	O
monthly	O	O
salary	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
JEA	O	O
official	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
association	O	O
annually	O	O
allocates	O	O
JD100	O	O
,000	O	O
for	O	O
training	O	O
graduates	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
year	O	O
it	O	O
plans	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
trainees	O	O
to	O	O
1,000	O	O
graduates	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
require	O	O
more	O	O
funds	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
association	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
willing	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
cover	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Hneidi	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
engineering	O	O
sector	O	O
has	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
graduates	O	ESE
than	O	O
job	O	O
openings	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
association	O	O
's	O	O
representative	O	O
offices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
states	O	O
look	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
bring	O	O
engineers	O	O
from	O	O
Jordan	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
Hneidi	O	O
.	O	O

Unemployment	O	ESE
prevails	O	ESE
mainly	O	ESE
among	O	O
chemical	O	O
,	O	O
mechanical	O	O
and	O	O
civil	O	O
engineering	O	O
graduates	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
engineers	O	O
specialised	O	O
in	O	O
electrical	O	O
,	O	O
computer	O	O
and	O	O
architectural	O	O
engineering	O	O
have	O	O
no	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
finding	O	ESE
jobs	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
Jordanian	O	O
public	O	O
and	O	O
private	O	O
universities	O	O
'	O	O
engineering	O	O
departments	O	O
is	O	O
around	O	O
6,000	O	O
,	O	O
excluding	O	O
those	O	O
in	O	O
agricultural	O	O
engineering	O	O
.	O	O

Around	O	O
2,000	O	O
new	O	O
engineers	O	O
enter	O	O
the	O	O
job	O	O
market	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
annual	O	O
basis	O	O
.	O	O

Currently	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
engineering	O	O
students	O	O
in	O	O
universities	O	O
prefer	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
specialise	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
electrical	O	O
or	O	O
computer	O	O
disciplines	O	O
because	O	O
the	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
them	O	O
is	O	O
higher	O	O
.	O	O

MKAPA	O	O
SAYS	DSE	O
PUNITIVE	O	O
ACTION	O	O
AGAINST	O	O
ZIM	O	O
PREMATURE	ESE	O

Tanzanian	O	O
President	O	O
Benjamin	O	O
Mkapa	O	O
joined	O	O
his	O	O
African	O	O
counterparts	O	O
here	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
in	O	DSE
rejecting	DSE	DSE
calls	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
Australia	O	O
and	O	O
Canada	O	O
for	ESE	O
punitive	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
on	O	O
March	O	O
9	O	O
and	O	O
10	O	O
.	O	O

Speaking	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
executive	O	O
session	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Heads	O	O
of	O	O
government	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Australian	O	O
east	O	O
coast	O	O
resort	O	O
on	O	O
Coolum	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
any	ESE	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
sanctions	O	O
or	O	O
suspension	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
premature	ESE	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
scene	O	O
is	O	O
evolving	ESE	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

It	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
evolving	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Coolum	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
we	O	O
are	O	O
to	DSE	O
make	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
intelligent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
rational	ESE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
then	O	O
we	O	O
need	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
scene	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	ESE
played	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
there	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
had	O	O
observers	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
we	ESE	O
listen	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
reporters	O	O
.	O	O

Mkapa	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
he	O	O
has	O	O
a	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
which	O	O
assumed	DSE	O
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
poll	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
That	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
ridiculous	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
wait	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
see	ESE	O
...	O	O
Let	O	O
the	O	O
observers	O	O
give	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
observation	DSE	O
and	O	O
then	ESE	O
we	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Mkapa	O	O
reiterated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
quiet	ESE	O
diplomacy	ESE	O
was	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
correct	ESE	ESE
route	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
follow	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
shared	O	DSE
by	O	O
his	O	O
other	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
colleagues	O	O
.	O	O

Mkapa	O	O
also	O	O
indirectly	DSE	DSE
criticised	DSE	DSE
British	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tony	O	O
Blair	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
on	O	O
record	O	O
as	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
think	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
has	O	O
reached	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
we	O	O
will	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
alienation	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
going	O	O
on	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
like	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	O
assumption	DSE	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
unless	ESE	ESE
Mugabe	O	O
or	O	O
Zanu-PF	O	O
loses	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
delayed	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
opting	DSE	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
so	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
privacy	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
traditional	O	O
retreat	O	O
,	O	O
away	O	O
from	O	O
advisers	O	O
and	O	O
officials	O	O
.	O	O

Blair	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
warned	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
54-member	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
's	O	O
reputation	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
damaged	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
it	O	O
failed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
decisive	ESE	ESE
action	ESE	O
against	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
BBC	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
Blair	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
hopeful	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
did	O	O
win	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
then	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
suspension	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
h	O	O
would	O	O
follow	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
violations	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
taking	O	O
place	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
identified	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
top	ESE	O
violator	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
last	ESE	O
Christian	ESE	O
year	ESE	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
restrictions	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
citizens	O	O
under	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
excuse	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
fighting	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
.	O	O

So	O	O
far	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
has	O	DSE
denied	ESE	DSE
its	ESE	O
citizens	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
legitimate	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
military	O	O
courts	O	O
to	O	O
try	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
charged	O	O
with	O	O
terrorism	O	O
without	ESE	O
giving	O	O
the	O	O
accused	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
of	O	O
appeal	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
basic	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	O	O
appoint	O	O
a	O	O
lawyer	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
has	ESE	O
violated	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
minorities	ESE	O
and	O	O
in	ESE	O
particular	ESE	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
minority	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
migrated	O	O
to	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
is	O	O
keeping	O	O
the	O	O
Taleban	O	O
and	O	O
Al-Qa	O	O
`	O	O
idah	O	O
prisoners	O	O
in	ESE	O
metal	ESE	O
cages	ESE	O
named	ESE	O
detention	ESE	O
centres	ESE	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
refusing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
identify	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
as	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
another	ESE	O
example	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
violations	O	O
in	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

Only	ESE	ESE
after	ESE	ESE
the	O	DSE
extensive	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
media	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
organizations	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
compelled	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
partially	DSE	ESE
recognize	DSE	ESE
this	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
interesting	ESE	ESE
point	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
America	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
expelled	O	O
from	O	O
membership	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
organization	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
repeated	ESE	O
violation	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

How	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
under	ESE	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
circumstances	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
America	O	O
allow	O	O
itself	O	O
to	O	DSE
express	DSE	DSE
an	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
?	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
unilateral	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
identify	ESE	DSE
any	ESE	ESE
limits	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
presidency	O	O
in	ESE	O
particular	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
adopted	DSE	DSE
unilateral	ESE	DSE
policies	O	DSE
over	O	O
such	O	O
international	O	O
issues	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
of	O	O
strategic	O	O
arms	O	O
,	O	O
environmental	O	DSE
concerns	O	DSE
including	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
to	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
criminal	O	O
court	O	O
and	O	O
lately	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
current	O	DSE
expression	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
records	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
is	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
continuation	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
unilateral	ESE	DSE
policy	ESE	DSE
pursued	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
American	O	O
administration	O	O
assumes	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
interfere	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
all	O	O
international	O	O
issues	O	O
and	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
itself	O	ESE
does	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
care	DSE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
concern	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
community	O	O
vis-a-vis	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
policies	O	O
which	O	O
at	O	O
times	O	O
influence	O	O
a	O	O
large	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
virtue	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
express	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
issues	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
authorities	O	O
-	O	O
after	O	O
massacring	ESE	ESE
thousands	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
under	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
excuse	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
fighting	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	O
continuing	O	O
-	O	O
can	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
expect	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
to	DSE	O
take	DSE	O
seriously	DSE	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
issued	O	O
by	O	O
their	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
therefore	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
blame	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
world	O	O
for	O	DSE
viewing	DSE	DSE
such	O	DSE
reports	O	DSE
as	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
tool	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
advance	ESE	O
America	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
foreign	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
.	O	O

TEHRAN	O	O
The	O	O
concluding	O	O
ceremony	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
First	O	O
International	O	O
Police	O	O
and	O	O
Security	O	O
Equipment	O	O
Exhibition	O	O
was	O	O
held	O	O
last	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
's	O	O
Public	O	O
Relations	O	O
Office	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
ceremony	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
presence	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
security	O	O
and	O	O
government	O	O
officials	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
large	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
foreign	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
attaches	O	O
from	O	O
15	O	O
foreign	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
participants	O	O
praised	DSE	DSE
those	O	O
companies	O	O
which	O	O
emerged	O	O
superior	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
ceremony	O	O
,	O	O
Seyed	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Jalali	O	O
Parvin	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
managing	O	O
director	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
board	O	O
of	O	O
directors	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
Law	O	O
Enforcement	O	O
Forces	O	O
'	O	O
Cooperatives	O	O
Foundation	O	O
,	O	O
presented	O	O
some	O	O
awards	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
superior	O	O
companies	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
taken	O	O
part	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

Touching	DSE	ESE
on	DSE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
modern	O	O
technology	O	O
in	O	O
preventing	O	O
and	O	O
reducing	O	O
crimes	O	O
in	O	O
society	O	O
,	O	O
Parvin	O	O
also	O	O
thanked	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
active	O	DSE
participation	O	DSE
of	O	O
local	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
companies	O	O
at	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
First	O	O
International	O	O
Police	O	O
and	O	O
Security	O	O
Equipment	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
assessed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
achievements	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
as	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
useful	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
satisfactory	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
hoping	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
police	O	O
and	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
equipped	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
and	O	O
most	O	O
modern	O	O
technology	O	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
can	O	O
expedite	O	O
their	O	O
activities	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
campaign	O	ESE
against	O	ESE
crimes	O	ESE
.	O	O

Pointing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
presence	O	O
of	O	O
Interpol	O	O
officers	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
representatives	O	O
,	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
attaches	O	O
from	O	O
different	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
,	O	O
Slovakia	O	O
and	O	O
Italy	O	O
,	O	O
Parvin	O	O
said	O	DSE
despite	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
fact	O	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
exhibition	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
kind	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	DSE
extensively	DSE	DSE
welcomed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
many	O	O
companies	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
gave	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
news	O	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
holding	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
similar	O	O
exhibition	O	O
by	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
in	O	O
Moscow	O	O
and	O	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
companies	O	O
would	ESE	O
present	O	O
their	O	O
equipment	O	O
at	O	O
this	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
ceremony	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
Sa-Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Ava-e	O	O
Nasr-e	O	O
Novin	O	O
and	O	O
Mahan	O	O
Industry	O	O
companies	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
foreign	O	O
companies	O	O
from	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Netherlands	O	O
received	O	O
awards	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
superior	O	O
companies	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
exhibition	O	O
.	O	O

AMMAN	O	O
--	O	O
Jordan	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
will	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
pact	O	O
on	O	O
impeding	O	ESE
global	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
recent	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Faris	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Corporation	O	O
for	O	O
Environment	O	O
Protection	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GCEP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Soon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
delegate	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
representative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
HH	O	O
Prince	O	O
Zeid	O	O
Ben	O	O
Raad	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
told	O	DSE
The	O	O
Jordan	O	O
Times	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
an	O	O
exact	O	ESE
date	O	O
for	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
agreement	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1997	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
legally	O	O
obliged	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
8	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
below	O	O
1990	O	O
levels	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
between	O	O
2008	O	O
and	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
main	O	O
source	O	O
of	O	O
large-scale	O	O
air	O	O
pollution	O	O
,	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
is	O	O
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	DSE	DSE
stressing	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
``	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
different	O	O
international	O	O
conventions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

With	O	O
the	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
GCEP	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
attract	O	O
more	O	O
funding	O	O
to	O	O
contribute	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
in	O	O
reducing	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
trap	O	O
heat	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
thus	O	O
causing	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

GCEP	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
agency	O	O
operating	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Municipal	O	O
and	O	O
Rural	O	O
Affairs	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Environment	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
point	O	O
of	O	O
reference	O	O
for	O	O
environmental	O	O
pacts	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
formally	O	O
bound	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
accord	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
complete	O	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
by	O	O
June	O	O
1	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
by	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
contravenes	ESE	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
a	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
slammed	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
countries	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
produced	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
alternative	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
strategy	O	O
aimed	O	O
at	O	O
encouraging	O	O
industries	O	O
to	O	O
trim	O	O
their	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
Canada	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
shown	DSE	ESE
reluctance	DSE	ESE
towards	O	O
signing	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	O	O
cut	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
GDP	O	O
by	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
2.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
and	O	O
cause	O	O
economic	O	O
damage	O	O
worth	O	O
30	O	O
billion	O	O
Canadian	O	O
dollars	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
$	O	O
19	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

JAKARTA	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Agency	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
:	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
and	O	O
Singapore	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
settle	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
differences	ESE	O
quietly	O	O
following	O	O
a	DSE	DSE
row	DSE	DSE
over	O	DSE
claims	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Senior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Lee	O	O
Kuan	O	O
Yew	O	O
that	O	O
terrorist	O	O
leaders	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
large	O	O
in	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
,	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Hassan	O	O
Wirajuda	O	O
said	O	DSE
as	O	O
quoted	O	O
by	O	O
AFP	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
two	O	O
governments	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
actually	ESE	ESE
reached	DSE	ESE
an	DSE	O
agreement	DSE	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
settle	O	O
their	O	O
dispute	DSE	O
openly	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
to	O	O
settle	O	ESE
whatever	O	ESE
had	O	ESE
arisen	O	ESE
from	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
by	O	O
Senior	O	O
Minister	O	O
Lee	O	O
Kuan	O	O
Yew	O	O
through	O	O
official	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Hassan	O	O
told	O	O
reporters	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
neighboring	O	O
countries	O	O
have	O	O
several	O	O
mechanisms	O	O
for	O	O
handling	O	O
disputes	DSE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
without	O	O
elaborating	O	O
.	O	O

Lee	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
said	DSE	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
regional	O	O
extremist	O	O
cells	O	O
are	O	O
still	O	O
at	O	O
large	O	O
in	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Singapore	O	O
government	O	O
statement	O	O
identified	O	O
Indonesian	O	O
Muslim	O	O
cleric	O	O
Abu	O	O
Bakar	O	O
Ba'asyir	O	O
as	O	O
one	O	ESE
ofthem	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
claim	O	O
sparked	O	O
protests	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
demonstrations	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Jakarta	O	O
and	O	O
Hassan	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
``	O	O
provocative	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Singapore	O	O
late	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
13	O	O
suspected	DSE	DSE
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Jemaah	O	O
Islamiyah	O	O
terrorist	O	O
group	O	O
for	O	O
allegedly	ESE	DSE
plotting	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
blow	O	O
up	O	O
US	O	O
targets	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
says	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
have	O	O
named	O	O
Ba'asyir	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
runs	O	O
a	O	O
Muslim	O	O
boarding	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
Central	O	O
Java	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
leader	O	O
.	O	O

Ba'asyir	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
filed	O	O
a	O	O
100	O	O
million	O	O
dollar	O	O
libel	O	O
lawsuit	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Singapore	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
cleric	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
questioned	O	DSE
by	O	O
Indonesian	O	O
police	O	O
but	O	O
not	O	O
detained	O	O
,	O	O
denies	DSE	ESE
any	O	ESE
links	O	ESE
to	O	O
international	O	O
terror	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
he	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
alleged	O	ESE
mastermind	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
Muslim	ESE	ESE
fighter	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Indonesia	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
come	DSE	DSE
under	DSE	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
several	O	O
quarters	O	O
to	O	O
take	ESE	O
tougher	ESE	ESE
action	ESE	ESE
against	O	ESE
alleged	O	ESE
terrorist	O	O
leaders	O	O
but	O	O
has	DSE	O
played	DSE	ESE
down	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
threat	O	ESE
.	O	O

March	O	O
14	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Interfax-Kazakhstan	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
A	O	O
railroad	O	O
link	O	O
opened	O	O
between	O	O
Almaty	O	O
and	O	O
Tehran	O	O
when	O	O
train	O	O
No.	O	O

19/20	O	O
Almaty	O	O
-	O	O
Tashkent	O	O
-	O	O
Turkmenabad	O	O
-	O	O
Seraks	O	O
-	O	O
Meshked	O	O
-	O	O
Tehran	O	O
departed	O	O
from	O	O
Almaty-2	O	O
station	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
evening	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
line	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
memorandum	O	O
signed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
,	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
,	O	O
Kyrgyz	O	O
,	O	O
Tajik	O	O
,	O	O
Turkish	O	O
,	O	O
Turkmen	O	O
and	O	O
Uzbek	O	O
railroad	O	O
administrations	O	O
in	O	O
Baku	O	O
on	O	O
October	O	O
31	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
link	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
extended	O	O
to	O	O
Istanbul	O	O
when	O	O
a	O	O
railroad	O	O
is	O	O
built	O	O
around	O	O
Lake	O	O
Van	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
train	O	O
will	O	O
cover	O	O
the	O	O
3,300-kilometer	O	O
route	O	O
to	O	O
Tehran	O	O
through	O	O
Kazakhstan	O	O
,	O	O
Uzbekistan	O	O
,	O	O
Turkmenistan	O	O
and	O	O
Iran	O	O
in	O	O
68	O	O
hours	O	O
.	O	O

Both	O	O
tourists	O	O
and	O	O
businessmen	O	O
are	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
use	O	O
the	O	O
route	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kazakh	O	O
Railroad	O	O
Company	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

A	O	O
detailed	O	O
document	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
issued	O	O
after	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
recent	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
Council	O	O
session	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
document	O	O
serious	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
was	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
expanding	O	O
military	O	O
presence	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
level	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
demanded	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
policy	O	O
of	O	O
dominating	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
suicide	O	O
bomb	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
investigating	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
and	O	O
coming	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
proof	O	O
,	O	O
put	DSE	ESE
all	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
blame	DSE	ESE
for	O	O
terrorism	O	O
on	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
result	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
formed	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
aim	DSE	O
of	O	O
bringing	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Taliban	ESE	O
,	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
bombardment	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	O
continuing	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
operation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
manner	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
defenseless	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
innocent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
Muslims	ESE	O
were	ESE	O
blown	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
ammunition	ESE	O
is	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
dreadful	ESE	ESE
events	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
whole	O	O
world	O	O
witnessed	O	O
this	O	O
loathsome	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
no	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
--	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
community	O	O
--	O	O
raised	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
voice	DSE	DSE
against	O	DSE
this	O	O
horrifying	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
oppression	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Encouraged	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
shameful	ESE	ESE
silence	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
announced	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
declaring	DSE	DSE
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
`	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	O
announced	DSE	O
to	O	O
target	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
manner	O	O
as	O	O
!	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

North	O	O
Korea	O	O
has	O	O
also	O	O
been	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
target	O	O
due	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
that	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
being	DSE	DSE
blamed	DSE	DSE
for	O	DSE
transferring	O	O
nuclear	O	O
technology	O	O
and	O	O
weapons	O	O
to	O	O
Islamic	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seven	O	O
countries	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
terms	DSE	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
threat	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
and	O	O
against	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
can	O	O
use	O	O
nuclear	O	O
weapons	O	O
,	O	O
also	O	O
include	O	O
Russia	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
above-mentioned	O	O
statement	O	O
by	O	O
China	O	O
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
ever	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
important	ESE	ESE
country	ESE	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
document	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
very	ESE	DSE
openly	ESE	DSE
told	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
the	O	O
number	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	O	O
damaging	ESE	O
solidarity	ESE	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
violating	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
there	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Iranian	O	O
President	O	O
Mohammed	O	O
Khatami	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Austria	O	O
,	O	O
protested	DSE	DSE
against	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
dictatorial	ESE	O
move	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
made	O	DSE
by	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
terming	DSE	DSE
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
as	O	O
`	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
preparing	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
.	O	O

Apparently	ESE	ESE
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
attitude	DSE	DSE
looks	ESE	ESE
like	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
reaction	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

American	O	O
intellectual	O	O
Noam	O	O
Chomsky	O	O
has	DSE	O
proved	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
writings	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
accomplishment	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
goals	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
aggression	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
psyche	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
traced	ESE	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
1818	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
American	O	O
cowboys	O	O
used	ESE	O
blind	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
oppress	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
blacks	ESE	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
raising	DSE	DSE
artificial	ESE	DSE
slogans	DSE	O
of	O	O
preservation	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
democracy	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	O	O
developing	O	O
standards	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
living	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
actual	ESE	O
US	O	O
objective	DSE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
protection	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
interests	O	O
worldwide	O	O
for	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
does	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
care	DSE	ESE
for	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
values	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
analysis	O	O
of	O	O
Chomsky	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
World	O	O
War	O	O
II	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
think	O	DSE
tank	O	DSE
had	DSE	DSE
planned	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
subjugate	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
few	O	O
regions	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
economic	O	O
progress	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Third	O	O
World	O	O
were	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
period	O	O
,	O	O
anti-Soviet	DSE	ESE
hysteria	DSE	ESE
was	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
promoted	DSE	DSE
strongly	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
CIA	O	O
was	O	O
given	O	O
the	O	O
task	O	O
to	O	O
topple	O	O
governments	O	O
and	O	O
install	O	O
rulers	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
own	DSE	O
choice	DSE	O
.	O	O

As	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
result	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
governments	O	O
in	O	O
Guatemala	O	O
in	O	O
1954	O	O
and	O	O
1963	O	O
,	O	O
Dominican	O	O
Republic	O	O
in	O	O
1984	O	O
,	O	O
Brazil	O	O
in	O	O
1965	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
Chile	O	O
in	O	O
1973	O	O
were	O	O
toppled	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
mentioned	DSE	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
documents	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
Council	O	O
memorandum	O	O
number	O	O
68	O	O
issued	O	O
in	O	O
1950	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
US	ESE	O
supremacy	ESE	O
has	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
be	ESE	DSE
maintained	ESE	DSE
at	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
cost	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
derived	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
attack	O	O
on	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
without	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
logic	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
impulsive	ESE	ESE
action	ESE	ESE
but	O	O
the	O	O
psychology	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
maintaining	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
supremacy	ESE	O
was	O	O
fully	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
planned	DSE	DSE
this	O	DSE
suicidal	O	DSE
attack	O	DSE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
due	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
hegemony	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
maintain	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
that	O	O
its	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
makes	O	O
an	O	O
assessment	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
different	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
prepares	O	O
a	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
violations	O	O
all	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	ESE	O
never	ESE	O
tried	ESE	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
a	O	O
self-assessment	ESE	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
events	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
completely	ESE	ESE
ignored	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
international	O	O
convention	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
and	O	O
by	ESE	O
doing	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
negated	ESE	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
constitution	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
approximately	O	O
1,000	O	O
Pakistanis	O	O
were	O	O
thrown	O	O
into	O	O
jail	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	O
person	O	O
,	O	O
Mohammed	O	O
Butt	O	O
,	O	O
died	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
heart	O	ESE
failure	O	ESE
during	O	O
detention	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
court	O	O
case	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
others	O	O
arrested	O	O
nor	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
given	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
defend	O	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
.	O	O

Five	O	O
hundred	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
arrested	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
are	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
kept	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
cages	ESE	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
island	O	O
near	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
prisoners	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
placed	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
inhuman	ESE	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
and	O	O
the	ESE	O
reason	ESE	O
for	O	O
keeping	O	O
them	O	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
island	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
US	O	O
law	O	O
does	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
apply	O	ESE
there	O	ESE
.	O	O

As	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
lesson	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
others	ESE	O
!	O	O
,	O	O
various	O	O
American	O	O
TV	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
daily	O	O
,	O	O
show	O	DSE
shots	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
under	O	O
which	O	O
these	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
kept	O	O
.	O	O

Above	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
media	O	O
has	DSE	O
reported	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
involvement	O	O
of	O	O
Jews	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
events	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
ruled	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
media	O	O
also	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
120	O	O
Israeli	O	O
spies	O	O
were	O	O
arrested	O	O
and	O	O
were	O	O
exiled	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
orders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Justice	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
shows	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
double	ESE	ESE
standards	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
but	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
selfishness	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
also	ESE	O
exposes	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
background	O	ESE
of	O	O
keeping	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
troops	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
basis	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
parts	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
China	O	O
is	ESE	DSE
justified	ESE	DSE
in	O	DSE
demanding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
creating	O	O
conflicts	O	O
and	O	O
by	O	O
embarking	O	O
upon	O	O
the	O	O
policy	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
oppression	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
supremacy	ESE	ESE
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
interfering	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
affairs	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
society	O	O
is	O	O
engulfed	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
.	O	O

Racial	DSE	DSE
prejudice	DSE	DSE
has	O	ESE
assumed	O	ESE
alarming	ESE	ESE
proportions	O	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
protection	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
women	O	O
rights	O	O
including	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
respect	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
sanctity	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
report	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
above-mentioned	O	O
document	O	O
by	O	O
China	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
eye	ESE	ESE
opener	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
viewed	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
true	ESE	ESE
perspective	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Pakistan	O	O
also	O	O
needs	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
rethink	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
regard	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
way	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
fully	DSE	DSE
supporting	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
after	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
2001	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
total	ESE	O
benefit	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
earned	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
United	ESE	O
States	ESE	O
.	O	O

Pakistan	O	O
has	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
earned	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	O
bad	ESE	ESE
name	ESE	ESE
but	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
its	O	O
internal	O	O
and	O	O
external	O	O
problems	O	O
have	O	ESE
increased	O	ESE
manifold	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Pakistan	O	O
should	ESE	O
draw	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
conclusions	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	DSE
light	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
circumstances	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
this	O	O
report	O	O
issued	O	O
by	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
blindly	ESE	DSE
accepting	ESE	DSE
every	O	DSE
demand	DSE	DSE
made	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
responding	DSE	O
positively	DSE	O
to	O	O
every	O	O
American	O	O
phone	O	O
call	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	ESE
every	ESE	ESE
single	ESE	ESE
step	ESE	O
carefully	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

CAPE	O	O
TOWN	O	O
March	O	O
14	O	O
Sapa	O	O
SA	O	O
ADOPTS	DSE	O
CALM	ESE	O
AND	ESE	O
FORWARD-LOOKING	ESE	O
APPROACH	O	O
TO	O	O
ZIM	O	O

President	DSE	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
adopted	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
calm	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
forward-looking	ESE	O
approach	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
government	O	O
statement	DSE	O
said	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
a	O	O
second	O	O
day	O	O
since	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
swept	O	O
to	O	O
victory	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
controversial	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
again	O	O
avoided	DSE	O
pronouncing	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
freeness	O	O
and	O	O
fairness	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
is	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
world	O	O
leaders	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
whether	ESE	O
punitive	O	O
action	O	O
should	O	ESE
be	O	O
taken	O	O
against	O	O
Harare	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
consulting	O	O
world	O	O
leaders	O	O
and	O	O
assessing	O	O
a	O	O
host	O	O
of	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
reports	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
On	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
these	O	O
reports	O	O
and	O	O
consultations	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
proceeding	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
that	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
will	O	O
act	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
collective	O	O
international	O	O
effort	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
statement	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
made	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
due	O	ESE
course	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
urgent	ESE	ESE
challenge	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
people	O	O
for	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
stability	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
promote	O	O
a	O	O
climate	O	O
for	O	O
national	O	O
unity	O	O
in	O	O
pursuit	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
these	O	DSE
objectives	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
interest	ESE	O
of	O	O
our	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
our	O	O
region	O	O
and	O	O
our	O	O
continent	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
statement	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
constant	O	O
consultation	O	O
with	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Don	O	O
McKinnon	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
's	O	O
President	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Australia	O	O
's	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
John	O	O
Howard	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Howard	O	O
were	O	O
mandated	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Heads	O	O
of	O	O
Government	O	O
Meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
fate	O	O
once	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observers	O	O
mission	O	O
submitted	O	O
its	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Earlier	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
interim	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
did	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
adequately	ESE	ESE
allow	O	O
free	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
fair	ESE	DSE
expression	ESE	DSE
of	O	DSE
will	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
electorate	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

All	ESE	DSE
eyes	ESE	DSE
are	ESE	DSE
now	ESE	DSE
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
troika	O	O
on	O	O
whether	ESE	O
it	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
government	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
penalised	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
terms	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
's	O	O
mandate	O	O
,	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
could	ESE	O
range	O	O
from	O	O
collective	O	DSE
disapproval	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
suspension	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
decided	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
returned	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
power	O	ESE
undemocratically	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
had	O	O
taken	O	O
note	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
reports	O	O
from	O	O
various	O	O
observer	O	O
missions	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
urged	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
all	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
to	O	O
put	ESE	ESE
aside	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
differences	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
to	O	O
work	ESE	O
together	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
future	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
reports	O	O
included	O	O
one	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
's	O	O
council	O	O
of	O	O
ministers	O	O
who	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
``	O	O
substantially	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
which	O	O
said	DSE	O
``	O	O
in	ESE	O
general	ESE	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	O	ESE
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
credible	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
had	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
noted	O	DSE
the	O	O
SA	O	O
Observer	O	O
Mission	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
SAOM	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
report	DSE	O
which	DSE	O
had	DSE	O
found	DSE	O
that	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	O
adequately	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
considered	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
statement	O	O
was	O	O
silent	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
report	DSE	O
which	DSE	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
regional	O	O
bloc	O	O
's	O	O
own	O	O
election	O	O
norms	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
standards	O	ESE
--	O	O
which	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
was	O	O
signatory	O	O
to	O	O
--	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
met	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
Deputy	O	O
President	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Zuma	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
sent	O	O
as	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
's	O	O
special	O	O
emissary	O	O
to	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	O
this	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
Pretoria	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
calm	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
forward-looking	ESE	ESE
approach	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
's	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Lakela	O	O
Kaunda	O	O
told	O	DSE
Sapa	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
deputy	O	O
president	O	O
had	O	O
given	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
a	O	O
special	O	O
message	O	O
from	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
SAOM	O	O
's	O	O
interim	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

Kaunda	O	O
declined	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
give	O	O
details	O	O
and	O	O
said	O	O
Zuma	O	O
would	O	O
report	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
later	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
was	O	O
accompanied	O	O
by	O	O
Labour	O	O
Minister	O	O
Membathisi	O	O
Mdladlana	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
served	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
ministerial	O	O
task	O	O
team	O	O
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
also	O	O
held	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
counterpart	O	O
Simon	O	O
Muzenda	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
news	O	O
agencies	O	O
said	O	DSE
Zuma	O	O
told	DSE	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
state	O	O
radio	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
arrival	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
those	O	O
discrediting	DSE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
electoral	O	O
process	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
listen	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
what	O	O
the	O	O
Africans	O	O
are	O	DSE
saying	O	DSE
''	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
government	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
happy	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
SAOM	O	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
were	O	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

SAOM	O	O
head	O	O
Sam	O	O
Motsuenyane	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
a	O	O
radio	O	O
interview	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
stopped	ESE	ESE
short	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	ESE	O
unable	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
explain	ESE	O
the	O	O
apparent	ESE	ESE
contradiction	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
released	O	O
later	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
Kaunda	O	O
said	O	O
Zuma	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
ongoing	O	O
consultation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
governments	O	O
.	O	O

Zuma	O	O
had	O	O
informed	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
SAOM	O	O
report	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
process	O	O
involving	O	O
various	O	O
bodies	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
SADC	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
OAU	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
organisations	O	O
,	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
would	O	O
await	O	O
these	O	O
reports	O	O
before	O	O
responding	O	O
definitively	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Both	O	O
the	O	O
Deputy	O	O
President	O	O
and	O	O
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
on	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
need	O	DSE
for	O	O
continued	O	O
consultation	O	O
and	O	O
co-operation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
governments	O	O
to	O	O
address	O	O
economic	O	O
matters	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
shortage	O	O
of	O	O
grain	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
continued	O	O
co-operation	O	O
,	O	O
trade	O	O
and	O	O
investments	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
bilateral	O	O
issues	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Zuma	O	O
also	O	O
pledged	DSE	DSE
continued	ESE	DSE
support	ESE	DSE
for	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

JOHANNESBURG	O	O
March	O	O
16	O	O
Sapa	O	O
MBEKI	O	O
TO	O	O
MEET	O	O
WITH	O	O
MUGABE	O	O
AND	O	O
TSVANGIRAI	O	O
IN	O	ESE
HARARE	O	ESE
ON	O	ESE
MONDAY	O	ESE

-LRB-	O	O
CORRECTS	O	O
TITLE	O	O
OF	O	O
AUSTRALIAN	O	O
PM	O	O
,	O	O
UPDATES	O	O
WITH	O	O
ZUMA	O	O
ATTENDING	O	O
INAUGURATION	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
President	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
would	O	O
fly	O	O
to	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
later	O	O
with	O	O
opposition	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
presidential	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Bheki	O	O
Khumalo	O	O
told	O	DSE
Sapa	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
.	O	O

Khumalo	O	O
said	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
President	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
would	O	O
also	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
talks	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	O
culminate	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
met	O	O
Australian	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
John	O	O
Howard	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
inaugurated	O	O
again	O	O
as	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
president	O	O
on	O	O
Sunday	O	O
following	O	O
his	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
re-election	O	O
last	O	O
weekend	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	O	O
first	O	O
elected	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	O
effectively	ESE	ESE
ruled	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
country	O	O
ever	O	ESE
since	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Howard	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
mandated	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Heads	O	O
of	O	O
Government	O	O
Meeting	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CHOGM	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
action	O	O
should	O	ESE
be	O	O
taken	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Their	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
would	O	O
be	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
's	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
legitimacy	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
those	O	O
prepared	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
SA	O	O
Observer	O	O
Mission	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
team	O	O
earlier	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
did	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
adequately	ESE	ESE
allow	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
free	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
fair	ESE	DSE
expression	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
will	ESE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
electorate	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
SADC	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
endorsed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Forum	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
judging	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
March	O	O
9-11	O	O
election	O	O
``	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
conform	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
norms	O	O
and	O	O
standards	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Forum	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
signed	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
to	O	O
by	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
team	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
organisation	O	O
's	O	O
Council	O	O
of	O	O
Ministers	O	O
,	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
hand	ESE	O
,	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
vote	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
true	ESE	ESE
reflection	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
will	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OAU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
also	O	O
backed	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwean	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
describing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
poll	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
credible	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

South	O	O
Africa	O	O
's	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
also	O	O
endorsed	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
interim	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
that	O	O
''	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
o	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
verall	O	O
...	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
charged	O	DSE
with	O	O
conducting	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
discharged	O	O
their	O	O
work	O	O
satisfactorily	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
team	O	O
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
had	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
characterised	O	DSE
by	O	O
``	O	O
polarisation	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
tension	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
incidents	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	DSE	O
terms	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
Commonwealth	DSE	O
's	DSE	O
mandate	DSE	O
,	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
could	ESE	O
range	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
collective	ESE	DSE
disapproval	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
suspension	ESE	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
was	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
already	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
record	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
also	O	O
had	O	O
other	O	O
issues	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
consider	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

CHOGM	O	O
had	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
look	O	O
at	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
helping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
with	O	O
land	O	O
reform	O	O
and	O	O
food	O	O
aid	O	O
.	O	O

State-sanctioned	O	O
land	O	O
invasions	O	O
,	O	O
several	O	O
times	O	O
declared	DSE	O
illegal	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
courts	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
drought	O	O
have	O	O
disrupted	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
food	O	O
production	O	O
and	O	O
famine	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
already	O	ESE
looming	O	ESE
in	O	O
much	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Ronnie	O	O
Mamoepa	O	O
said	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
's	O	O
deputy	O	O
,	O	O
Jacob	O	O
Zuma	O	O
would	O	O
represent	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
controversially	ESE	O
re-elected	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
latest	O	O
inauguration	O	O
,	O	O
scheduled	O	O
for	O	O
Sunday	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
.	O	O

No	DSE	ESE
reason	DSE	ESE
was	DSE	O
provided	DSE	O
why	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
attend	O	O
.	O	O

Reports	O	O
from	O	O
Lagos	O	O
indicated	O	DSE
that	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
would	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
attend	O	O
.	O	O

Several	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
heads	O	ESE
of	O	O
state	O	O
had	O	O
by	O	O
Saturday	O	O
indicated	O	O
they	O	O
would	O	O
attend	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Tanzania	O	O
's	O	O
Benjamin	O	O
Nkapa	O	O
and	O	O
Malawi	O	O
's	O	O
Bakili	O	O
Muluzi	O	O
,	O	O
currently	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
's	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

Mamoepa	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
key	ESE	O
points	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
agenda	O	O
now	O	O
was	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
and	O	O
social	O	O
stability	O	O
``	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
context	O	O
of	O	O
national	O	O
unity	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Islamabad	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
18	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
-	O	O
Central	O	O
Leader	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
People	O	O
Party	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
PPP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
former	O	O
provincial	O	O
minister	O	O
of	O	O
North-West	O	O
Frontier	O	O
Province	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NWFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Seyed	O	O
Qamar	O	O
Abbas	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
US	O	O
state	O	O
department	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
in	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
America	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
report	ESE	O
as	O	O
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
violator	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
told	DSE	O
IRNA	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
America	O	O
has	O	O
killed	O	ESE
thousands	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	O
in	O	O
almost	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
parts	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
globe	ESE	O
particularly	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

America	DSE	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
guise	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
so-called	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
killed	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
injured	ESE	ESE
thousands	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
Afghans	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
are	O	O
maltreated	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
weeks	O	O
ago	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
state	O	O
department	O	O
in	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
annual	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
had	DSE	O
revealed	DSE	O
that	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
are	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
violators	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
has	O	O
a	O	ESE
double	ESE	ESE
standard	ESE	ESE
policy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
denounces	DSE	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
violation	O	ESE
but	O	O
supports	DSE	DSE
Israel	O	O
for	ESE	O
perishing	ESE	O
the	O	O
Muslims	O	O
in	O	O
Palestine	O	O
and	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Abbas	O	O
criticized	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
those	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
nations	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
independant	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
real	ESE	ESE
sense	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
and	O	O
do	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
take	O	DSE
dictation	ESE	DSE
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
or	O	O
accepts	DSE	DSE
its	O	DSE
supremacy	ESE	DSE
are	DSE	O
labelled	DSE	O
as	O	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
violators	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Those	O	O
who	O	O
submit	DSE	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
policies	O	O
are	O	O
showered	ESE	O
upon	ESE	O
favours	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
always	ESE	ESE
follows	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
interests	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
and	O	O
against	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
lies	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
covert	ESE	ESE
motive	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
its	O	O
strategic	O	O
and	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Abbas	O	O
added	DSE	O
.	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
can	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
kept	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
dark	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
can	O	O
see	O	O
and	O	O
observe	O	O
the	O	O
unjust	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
discriminatory	ESE	O
policies	ESE	O
of	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

People	ESE	O
do	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
believe	ESE	DSE
whatever	ESE	O
the	O	O
America	O	O
says	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Israeli	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Binyamin	O	O
Ben-Eli	O	O
`	O	O
ezer	O	O
,	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
stated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
success	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
failure	O	ESE
of	O	O
US	O	O
envoy	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
hinges	ESE	DSE
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
might	ESE	O
carry	O	O
out	O	O
a	O	O
suicide	O	O
or	O	O
shooting	O	O
attack	O	O
that	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
Israel	O	ESE
retaliate	O	ESE
,	O	O
thus	ESE	O
bringing	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
cycle	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Consequently	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Zinni	O	O
will	ESE	O
find	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
difficult	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
attain	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
cease-fire	O	O
and	O	O
commence	O	O
the	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Tenet	O	O
understandings	O	O
and	O	O
Mitchell	O	O
recommendations	O	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
allegation	DSE	ESE
contradicts	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
simplest	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
ground	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Israel	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
that	O	O
occupies	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Gaza	O	O
Strip	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
that	O	O
possesses	O	O
vast	ESE	O
military	O	O
power	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
uses	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
incursions	O	O
into	O	O
and	O	O
raid	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cities	O	O
and	O	O
refugee	O	O
camps	O	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	O
intimidate	ESE	O
women	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
children	ESE	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	ESE
assassinate	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
activists	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
citizens	ESE	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	O
destroy	ESE	O
buildings	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
facilities	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
infrastructure	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
roads	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
water	ESE	O
pipes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
electricity	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
telephone	ESE	O
poles	ESE	O
;	O	O
to	ESE	O
attack	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
ambulances	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
kill	ESE	O
medical	ESE	O
teams	ESE	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
to	ESE	O
carry	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
retaliatory	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
suppressive	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
devastating	ESE	ESE
practices	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
--	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
Palestinians	ESE	ESE
alone	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
is	DSE	O
waiting	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
hear	DSE	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
Israeli	O	O
statement	O	DSE
regarding	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
recognition	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
national	O	O
rights	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
readiness	O	DSE
to	O	O
withdraw	O	O
from	O	O
all	O	O
lands	O	O
occupied	O	O
in	O	O
1967	O	O
,	O	O
put	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Gaza	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
support	O	DSE
the	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
independent	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
state	O	O
de	O	O
facto	O	O
.	O	O

Such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
statement	ESE	O
will	O	ESE
actually	ESE	ESE
constitute	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
era	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
the	O	O
end	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
era	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
counterviolence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Clearly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
side	O	O
has	DSE	O
acceded	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
all	DSE	ESE
demands	DSE	ESE
--	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
recognized	DSE	DSE
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
right	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
exist	ESE	O
on	O	O
78	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
historical	O	O
Palestine	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
concessions	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Such	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
statement	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
serve	ESE	ESE
Zinni	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
mission	ESE	O
but	O	O
would	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
accelerate	ESE	O
the	O	O
attainment	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
permanent	O	O
arrangement	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Israel	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
gain	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
in	O	O
exchange	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
lands	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
end	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
colonialist	ESE	O
occupation	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
renunciation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
mentality	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
domination	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
expansion	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
which	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
caused	ESE	O
calamities	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
catastrophes	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
five	ESE	O
decades	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
coming	ESE	O
days	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
weeks	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
show	ESE	O
whether	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
actually	ESE	ESE
ready	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
positively	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
objectively	ESE	O
deal	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
national	O	O
rights	O	O
without	ESE	O
trying	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
maneuver	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
obstacles	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
set	ESE	O
impossible	ESE	O
conditions	ESE	O
during	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
case	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
is	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
make	O	DSE
sure	O	DSE
that	O	O
certain	O	O
measures	O	O
are	O	DSE
adopted	O	DSE
as	O	ESE
soon	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
possible	O	ESE
to	O	O
pave	O	O
the	O	O
road	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
question	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
compliance	DSE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
required	O	ESE
commitments	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
test	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
readiness	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
facilitate	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
envoy	O	O
's	O	O
mission	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
readiness	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
establish	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
just	ESE	O
peace	ESE	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
interest	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
parties	O	O
concerned	O	O
.	O	O

C'wealth	O	ESE
mission	O	ESE
conduct	O	ESE
questionable	ESE	ESE

By	O	O
A	O	O
Special	O	O
Correspondent	O	O
-	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
Tony	O	O
Blair	O	O
,	O	O
privately	O	O
did	O	O
two	O	O
things	O	O
concerning	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
``	O	O
retreat	ESE	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
that	O	O
raise	DSE	O
questions	DSE	O
about	O	O
today	O	O
's	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
troika	ESE	O
of	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
and	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
Blair	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
had	O	O
received	O	O
an	O	O
interim	O	O
report	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
that	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
-	O	O
before	ESE	O
Zimbabweans	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
had	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
chance	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
vote	ESE	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
how	ESE	O
could	ESE	O
Blair	O	O
have	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
report	O	O
''	O	O
when	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
else	ESE	ESE
had	O	O
received	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
report	ESE	O
that	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
channeled	ESE	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
members	O	O
,	O	O
asked	DSE	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
53	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
retreat	O	O
?	O	O

The	O	O
British	O	O
leader	O	O
fudged	ESE	DSE
his	O	DSE
reply	O	DSE
and	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
were	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
distinct	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Blair	ESE	O
report	ESE	O
''	O	O
had	O	DSE
already	ESE	DSE
been	ESE	DSE
written	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	O
London	ESE	O
before	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Commonwealth	ESE	O
mission	ESE	O
even	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
for	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Their	O	O
mission	O	O
was	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
rubber	ESE	ESE
stamp	ESE	DSE
the	O	DSE
adverse	DSE	DSE
report	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Britain	O	O
had	O	DSE
already	O	DSE
written	O	DSE
.	O	O

Blair	O	O
's	O	O
second	O	O
faux	ESE	O
pas	ESE	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
assembled	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
came	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
remarkably	ESE	ESE
conciliatory	DSE	ESE
speech	DSE	O
by	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
Dr	O	O
Stan	O	O
Mudenge	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
,	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
urged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
minister	O	O
not	O	O
to	DSE	O
attack	DSE	O
Blair	O	O
frontally	O	O
over	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
negative	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
preparations	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
dispassionate	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
precise	ESE	ESE
manner	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
minister	O	O
did	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
Mudenge	O	O
rose	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
feet	O	O
,	O	O
strode	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
Blair	O	O
and	O	O
thrust	DSE	ESE
out	DSE	ESE
his	DSE	ESE
hand	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
hand	O	ESE
symbolised	O	ESE
reconciliation	O	ESE
;	O	O
and	O	O
Blair	O	O
accepted	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
Mudenge	O	O
proposed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
bury	ESE	ESE
past	ESE	ESE
differences	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
work	O	O
together	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
place	ESE	O
unable	DSE	O
to	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
dispute	DSE	DSE
between	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
former	O	O
coloniser	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
breathed	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
collective	DSE	DSE
sigh	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
relief	DSE	O
at	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
healing	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	ESE
an	DSE	ESE
unanswered	DSE	ESE
question	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
minds	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
leaders	O	O
:	O	O
How	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
the	O	O
British	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
seen	O	O
the	O	O
purported	ESE	O
``	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
''	O	O
when	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
?	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
back	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	ESE
strange	ESE	ESE
things	O	ESE
were	O	O
happening	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
mission	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
pre-booked	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
partly	O	O
Government-owned	O	O
Sheraton	O	O
Hotel	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
spurious	ESE	O
grounds	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
African	O	O
National	O	O
Union-Patriotic	O	O
Front	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Zanu-PF	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
centre	O	O
was	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
adjoining	O	O
building	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observers	O	O
moved	O	O
out	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
privately	O	O
owned	O	O
Meikles	O	O
Hotel	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
,	O	O
unlike	ESE	O
the	O	O
Sheraton	O	O
where	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
newspaper	O	O
The	O	O
Herald	O	O
is	O	O
distributed	O	O
to	O	O
guests	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
pro-opposition	ESE	O
Daily	O	O
News	O	O
is	O	O
given	O	O
freely	O	O
to	O	O
guests	O	O
.	O	O

Furthermore	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
anyone	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
Press	O	O
can	O	DSE
testify	O	DSE
,	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Meikles	O	O
farms	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
acquired	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
reform	O	O
programme	O	O
.	O	O

Meikles	O	O
Hotel	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
as	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
hot	ESE	ESE
bed	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
opposition	ESE	O
politics	ESE	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
elections	O	O
,	O	O
80	O	O
rooms	O	O
at	O	O
Meikles	O	O
Hotel	O	O
were	O	O
booked	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
British	O	O
Broadcasting	O	O
Corporation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
BBC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
their	O	O
openly	DSE	DSE
hostile	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
and	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
BBC	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
accreditation	O	O
to	O	O
cover	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
foreign	O	O
journalists	O	O
were	O	O
assembled	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
hotel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
moved	O	O
in	O	O
with	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
taking	O	O
a	O	O
complete	O	O
floor	O	O
for	O	O
himself	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
entourage	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
notable	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
move	O	O
again	O	O
although	ESE	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
had	O	O
now	O	O
joined	O	O
them	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
hotel	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
the	O	O
curious	ESE	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
and	O	O
behaviour	O	O
by	O	O
individual	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
mission	O	O
who	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
sworn	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
secrecy	ESE	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
mission	O	O
and	O	O
who	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	DSE
expressed	ESE	DSE
their	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
only	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
the	O	O
chair	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
mission	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
Australian	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Federal	O	O
Parliament	O	O
,	O	O
Julie	O	O
Bishop	O	O
,	O	O
vented	DSE	DSE
her	DSE	DSE
anger	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
and	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
electoral	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
's	O	O
media	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
composition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
mission	O	O
raised	DSE	DSE
further	DSE	DSE
questions	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Why	ESE	ESE
were	ESE	O
several	O	O
former	O	O
and	O	O
recent	O	O
employees	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
accredited	O	O
as	O	O
observers	O	O
?	O	O

Normally	O	O
staff	O	O
make	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
in	O	O
support	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
mission	O	O
populated	O	O
by	O	O
more	ESE	O
eminent	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
neutral	ESE	O
persons	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Namibian	O	O
woman	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observer	O	O
mission	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
well-respected	DSE	O
,	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Speaker	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Council	O	O
in	O	O
her	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
held	DSE	DSE
different	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
those	O	O
stated	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
released	O	O
only	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
results	O	O
were	O	DSE
known	O	DSE
.	O	O

Although	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
missions	O	O
nominally	O	O
operate	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
consensus	O	DSE
''	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
and	O	O
others	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
similar	O	DSE
view	O	DSE
were	DSE	DSE
dismissed	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
troublemakers	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
by	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
staff-cum-observer	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
final	ESE	ESE
straw	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
Australia	O	O
had	DSE	O
abandoned	DSE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
pretence	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
fairness	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
sides	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
dispute	DSE	O
came	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Australian	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
John	O	O
Howard	O	O
,	O	O
ordered	O	O
his	O	O
High	O	O
Commissioner	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
not	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
Sunday	O	O
's	O	O
inauguration	O	O
of	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
President	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Australians	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
common	O	O
with	O	O
other	O	O
white	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
EU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
,	O	O
Norwegians	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Swiss	O	O
stayed	O	O
away	O	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
event	O	O
saying	O	O
they	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
and	O	O
therefore	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
are	O	O
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
realities	ESE	O
that	O	O
Presidents	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
of	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
and	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
of	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
confronted	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
flew	O	O
from	O	O
Harare	O	O
last	O	O
night	O	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Australian	O	O
leader	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
third	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
troika	O	O
.	O	O

Howard	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
isolated	O	ESE
at	O	O
the	O	O
three-member	O	O
meeting	O	O
at	O	O
Marlborough	O	O
House	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
Secretary-General	O	O
,	O	O
Don	O	O
McKinnon	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
Zealand	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
known	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
condemn	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
close	O	O
by	O	O
,	O	O
Howard	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
British	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
western	O	O
media	O	O
.	O	O

Presidents	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
and	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
have	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
benefit	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
observer	O	O
missions	O	O
to	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
the	DSE	O
support	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
vast	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
line	O	O
with	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
consensus	O	O
,	O	O
the	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
majority	O	O
are	O	O
taken	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
views	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
whole	O	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	DSE
doubt	ESE	DSE
Blair	O	O
will	DSE	O
fight	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
the	O	O
solution	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	ESE
present	ESE	ESE
impasse	ESE	ESE
lies	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Zimbabwe	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
Africa	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Britain	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
Europe	ESE	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
21	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
China	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
to	DSE	O
abide	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
policy	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
warning	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
act	O	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
trample	ESE	ESE
upon	ESE	O
the	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
Joint	O	O
Communiques	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
result	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
unfavorable	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
impact	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
question	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
relates	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
sovereignty	O	O
and	O	O
territorial	O	O
integrity	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
an	ESE	O
essential	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
issue	ESE	O
and	O	O
is	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Chinese	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Zhang	O	O
Qiyue	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
anything	O	ESE
against	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
spirit	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
Joint	O	O
Communiques	O	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
briefing	O	O
in	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
question	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
official	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yiau-min	O	O
's	O	O
recent	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
replied	O	DSE
that	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Vice	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Li	O	O
Zhaoxing	O	O
has	O	O
put	O	O
forward	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
stand	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
matter	DSE	O
while	O	O
making	DSE	O
strong	DSE	O
representations	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
government	O	O
with	O	O
the	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
treats	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	ESE
seriousness	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
deserves	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

She	O	O
said	O	DSE
during	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
working	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
state	O	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
both	O	O
countries	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
and	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Hu	O	O
Jintao	O	O
would	O	O
visit	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
within	O	O
one	O	O
month	O	O
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
has	ESE	O
already	ESE	O
done	ESE	O
several	ESE	O
things	ESE	O
which	O	O
are	ESE	O
against	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
Sino-U.S.	O	O
Joint	O	O
Communiques	O	O
.	O	O

Zhu	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
side	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
stop	ESE	ESE
interfering	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
by	O	O
interfering	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

HONG	O	O
KONG	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
26	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
disallowed	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
routine	O	O
port	O	O
call	O	O
in	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
American	O	O
naval	O	O
vessel	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
consulate	O	O
said	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
government	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
requested	DSE	DSE
visit	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
USS	O	O
Curtis	O	O
Wilbur	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
destroyer	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
from	O	O
April	O	O
5	O	O
to	O	O
9	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	O	DSE
adding	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
this	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
a	O	O
routine	O	O
port	O	O
call	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
No	O	ESE
reason	O	ESE
was	O	O
given	O	DSE
for	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
disapproval	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
added	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
bar	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
USS	O	O
Curtis	O	O
Wilbur	O	O
with	O	O
some	O	O
346	O	O
crew	O	O
is	DSE	ESE
seen	DSE	ESE
as	O	ESE
reflecting	O	ESE
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
anger	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
allow	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yao-ming	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Florida	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
conference	O	O
this	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	DSE
twice	O	DSE
summoned	O	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
ambassador	O	O
for	O	O
dressings	DSE	O
down	DSE	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
a	O	O
state-controlled	O	O
newspaper	O	O
reported	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
was	DSE	O
preparing	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
cancel	O	O
naval	O	O
exchanges	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	DSE	ESE
retaliation	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
time	O	O
such	O	O
a	DSE	O
request	DSE	DSE
was	DSE	DSE
turned	DSE	DSE
down	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
in	O	O
May	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
collision	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
US	O	O
spy	O	O
plane	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
Chinese	O	O
fighter	O	O
jet	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
air	O	O
space	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
China	O	O
Sea	O	O
on	O	O
April	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
US	O	O
naval	O	O
visits	O	O
to	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
resumed	O	O
in	O	O
July	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
were	O	O
two	O	O
other	O	O
similar	O	O
episodes	O	O
of	O	O
permission	DSE	O
being	DSE	O
denied	DSE	O
before	O	O
that	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
handover	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
British	O	O
colony	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
was	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Yugoslavia	O	O
was	O	O
bombed	O	O
,	O	O
killing	O	O
three	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
NATO	O	O
air	O	O
campaign	O	O
three	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
was	O	O
under	O	O
British	O	O
rule	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
navy	O	O
made	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
65	O	O
port	O	O
calls	O	O
a	O	O
year	O	O
and	O	O
Beijing	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
agreed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
stopovers	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
territory	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
Chinese	O	O
sovereignty	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
envoys	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
fresh	O	DSE
bid	O	DSE
to	O	ESE
save	O	ESE
Mugabe	O	ESE

AFRICAN	DSE	O
superpowers	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
stepped	O	O
up	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
broker	O	O
a	O	O
comprise	O	O
between	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
ruling	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
party	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
ward	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
the	O	O
crisis	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
illegitimacy	ESE	O
facing	O	O
controversially	O	O
elected	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
administration	O	O
.	O	O

Presidents	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
,	O	O
sensing	DSE	DSE
outright	ESE	DSE
isolation	ESE	DSE
of	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
refusal	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
many	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
to	DSE	O
recognise	DSE	O
his	O	O
win	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
dispatched	O	O
African	O	O
National	O	O
Congress	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Kgalema	O	O
Motlanthe	O	O
and	O	O
prominent	O	O
West	O	O
African	O	O
diplomat	O	O
Adebayo	O	O
Adedeji	O	O
to	O	O
try	O	O
to	O	O
hammer	O	O
a	O	O
compromise	O	O
between	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
has	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
March	O	O
9-11	O	O
vote	O	O
was	O	O
massively	ESE	ESE
rigged	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
thousands	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
supporters	ESE	O
denied	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
vote	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
envoys	O	O
met	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
and	O	O
Saturday	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
and	O	O
outlined	O	O
their	O	O
brief	O	O
and	O	O
how	O	O
they	O	O
intended	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
proceed	O	O
in	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
break	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
impasse	O	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
also	O	O
met	O	O
the	O	O
top	O	O
leadership	O	O
of	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
included	O	O
national	O	O
chairman	O	O
John	O	O
Nkomo	O	O
and	O	O
administration	O	O
secretary	O	O
Emmerson	O	O
Mnangagwa	O	O
,	O	O
both	O	O
heavily	O	O
tipped	O	DSE
to	O	O
become	O	O
vice	O	O
presidents	O	O
and	O	O
possible	ESE	O
successors	O	O
to	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
have	O	O
given	O	O
the	O	O
duo	O	O
three	O	O
weeks	O	O
to	O	O
come	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
solution	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
help	O	ESE
bridge	O	ESE
the	O	O
rift	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
political	O	O
parties	O	O
and	O	O
arrest	O	O
the	O	O
deteriorating	O	O
political	O	O
and	O	O
economic	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
political	O	O
parties	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
asked	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
draw	O	O
up	O	O
agendas	O	O
for	O	O
talks	O	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
step	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
finding	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
compromise	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
crisis	O	O
.	O	O

Diplomatic	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	DSE
African	O	O
leaders	O	O
are	O	DSE
frantically	DSE	DSE
making	DSE	O
efforts	DSE	O
to	O	O
bring	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
on	O	O
board	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
formation	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
facilitate	O	O
recognition	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
government	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
and	O	O
unlock	O	O
much-needed	O	O
foreign	O	O
aid	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
suspended	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
has	O	DSE
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
fresh	O	O
elections	O	O
conducted	O	O
under	O	O
international	O	O
supervision	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
within	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
shortest	ESE	O
possible	ESE	O
period	ESE	O
.	O	O

ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
however	O	DSE
wants	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
and	O	O
join	O	O
it	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
whose	O	O
composition	O	O
is	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
yet	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
sources	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
formation	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
coalition	O	O
government	O	O
being	O	DSE
pushed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
and	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
was	O	O
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
ideal	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
stave	O	O
off	O	O
international	O	O
isolation	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
but	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
received	DSE	O
with	DSE	O
mixed	DSE	ESE
feelings	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
governing	O	O
party	O	O
.	O	O

Others	O	O
say	DSE	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
only	ESE	O
wants	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
on	O	O
board	O	O
to	O	O
facilitate	O	O
international	O	O
recognition	DSE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
financing	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
programme	O	O
and	O	O
land	O	O
reforms	O	O
.	O	O

It	DSE	O
is	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
hardliners	O	O
in	O	O
ZANU	O	O
PF	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
current	O	O
treason	O	O
charges	O	O
against	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
used	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
bargaining	ESE	ESE
chip	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
arm-twist	ESE	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
compromise	O	O
with	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
54-nation	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
15-nation	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
and	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
Eastern	O	O
Bloc	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Scandinavian	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
most	O	O
Western	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
Japan	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
re-election	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
blatant	ESE	ESE
fraud	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
marred	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
state-sponsored	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
has	O	DSE
received	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
regional	O	O
leaders	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
,	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

Settlers	O	O
Have	O	O
Taken	ESE	O
Palestine	ESE	O
Hostage	ESE	O

A	DSE	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
ago	O	O
the	O	O
parties	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Palestine	O	O
conflict	O	O
found	O	O
themselves	O	O
at	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
crossroads	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
escalation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
has	O	O
now	O	O
cost	O	O
over	O	O
1,000	O	O
people	O	O
their	O	O
lives	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
space	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
18	O	O
months	O	O
.	O	O

One-third	O	O
Israelis	O	O
,	O	O
two-thirds	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

Circumstances	O	O
have	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
situation	O	O
where	O	O
today	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
parties	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
find	O	O
themselves	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
road	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
leads	ESE	O
swiftly	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
abyss	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Thursday	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
Summit	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
capital	O	O
of	O	O
Beirut	O	O
ended	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
resolution	O	O
whose	O	O
content	O	O
illustrated	O	O
how	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
come	ESE	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
that	O	O
took	O	O
place	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Sudanese	O	O
capital	O	O
of	O	O
Khartoum	O	O
in	O	O
1967	O	O
,	O	O
shortly	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
victory	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Six	O	O
Days	O	O
War	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	O	O
then	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
heads	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
three	O	O
noes	O	O
:	O	O
no	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
negotiations	ESE	O
with	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
no	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
recognition	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
peace	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	O	O
Thursday	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
resolution	O	DSE
that	O	O
proposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
recognition	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
normal	ESE	O
relations	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
an	ESE	O
end	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
conflict	ESE	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
Israeli	O	O
withdrawal	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
has	O	O
occupied	O	O
for	O	O
almost	O	O
35	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
mention	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
cardinal	ESE	O
problems	O	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
3	O	O
million	O	O
Arab	O	O
refugees	O	O
-	O	O
was	O	O
couched	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
terms	O	ESE
softer	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	O
at	O	O
any	O	O
time	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
summit	O	O
's	O	O
declaration	O	DSE
was	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
piece	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
news	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
has	O	O
produced	O	O
since	ESE	O
the	O	O
Oslo	O	O
Accords	O	O
between	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Yitzhaq	O	O
Rabin	O	O
and	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
leader	O	O
Yasir	O	O
Arafat	O	O
were	O	O
signed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
lawn	O	O
in	O	O
front	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
in	O	O
1993	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
resolution	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
put	O	O
forward	O	O
by	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
plea	ESE	O
addressed	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
people	O	O
over	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
heads	ESE	O
of	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	O
Arab	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
was	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	DSE
any	ESE	DSE
doubt	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
from	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
standpoint	DSE	O
the	O	O
resolution	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
welcome	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
resolution	O	O
forced	ESE	O
him	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
corner	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
neither	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
nor	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
give	O	O
up	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
territories	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
so	O	O
he	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
unmasked	ESE	ESE
in	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
eyes	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
as	O	O
the	ESE	O
man	ESE	O
standing	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
few	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
chance	ESE	O
came	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
Sharon	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
rescue	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Thursday	O	O
evening	O	O
a	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
suicide	O	O
bomber	O	O
attacked	O	O
a	O	O
hotel	O	O
in	O	O
Natanya	O	O
where	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
hundred	O	O
people	O	O
had	O	O
gathered	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
traditional	O	O
Passover	O	O
meal	O	O
.	O	O

Twenty-two	O	ESE
people	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
killed	O	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
addition	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
suicide	O	O
bomber	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
130	O	O
were	O	O
injured	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bomber	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
Hamas	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
radical	O	O
Muslim	O	O
organization	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
intelligence	O	O
service	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
name	O	O
figured	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
list	O	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
had	O	O
shortly	O	O
before	O	O
handed	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
security	O	O
service	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	ESE	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	O	O
action	O	O
to	O	O
neutralize	ESE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
list	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
did	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
lift	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
finger	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

That	O	O
same	O	O
night	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
security	O	O
cabinet	O	O
met	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
take	O	O
steps	O	O
to	ESE	O
destroy	ESE	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
terrorist	O	O
structure	O	O
,	O	O
arrest	ESE	O
its	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
confiscate	ESE	O
arms	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
so	O	O
on	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

As	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
first	O	ESE
step	O	ESE
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
were	O	O
sent	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
town	O	O
,	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
Arafat	O	O
has	O	O
his	O	O
headquarters	O	O
and	O	O
from	O	O
where	O	O
the	O	O
autonomous	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
areas	O	O
are	O	O
administered	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
few	O	O
weeks	O	O
previously	O	O
Sharon	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
irrelevant	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Now	O	O
he	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Arafat	O	O
was	O	O
an	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	DSE	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
a	O	O
prisoner	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
own	O	O
headquarters	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
has	O	O
effectively	ESE	O
ceased	ESE	O
to	O	O
function	O	O
.	O	O

Prior	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Natanya	O	O
massacre	O	O
Washington	O	O
had	O	O
imposed	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
limitations	O	O
on	O	O
Sharon	O	O
.	O	O

Israeli	DSE	O
's	O	O
antiterrorist	O	O
operations	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
bring	O	ESE
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
to	O	O
collapse	O	ESE
,	O	O
Israeli	O	O
forces	O	O
must	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
reconquer	O	ESE
the	O	O
territories	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
jurisdiction	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
authority	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Arafat	O	O
the	O	O
man	O	O
must	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
molested	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
time	O	O
Washington	O	O
is	O	O
largely	ESE	ESE
keeping	ESE	ESE
silent	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
not	O	O
sent	O	O
the	O	O
usual	ESE	DSE
appeals	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

Quite	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reverse	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
Anonymous	O	O
U.S.	O	O
sources	O	O
say	O	DSE
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
holds	DSE	O
Arafat	DSE	O
responsible	DSE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
mediator	O	O
Anthony	O	O
Zinni	O	O
's	O	O
endeavors	O	O
to	O	O
arrange	O	O
a	O	O
cease-fire	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
now	O	ESE
foundered	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
these	O	O
sources	O	O
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
accepted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
cease-fire	O	DSE
proposal	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
while	O	O
Arafat	O	O
hesitated	DSE	O
.	O	O

Before	O	O
he	O	O
had	O	DSE
announced	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Natanya	O	O
massacre	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
counteraction	O	O
occurred	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
being	O	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
thus	O	O
given	ESE	O
Sharon	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

His	ESE	O
problem	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
what	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
do	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
action	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
taking	O	O
place	O	O
can	ESE	O
at	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
throw	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
groups	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
balance	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
solve	ESE	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
security	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
root	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
settlements	O	O
on	O	O
occupied	O	O
territory	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
settlers	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
number	O	O
around	O	O
220,000	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
taken	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
Government	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
consequently	ESE	O
both	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
peoples	ESE	O
hostage	ESE	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	ESE
master	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
escalation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
this	O	O
he	O	O
as	O	O
defense	O	O
minister	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
1982	O	O
invasion	O	O
of	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
being	O	O
forced	O	O
into	O	O
exile	O	O
in	O	O
Tunis	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
at	O	O
present	O	O
Sharon	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
entertaining	DSE	DSE
similar	DSE	DSE
thoughts	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
create	DSE	O
step	O	O
by	O	O
step	O	O
a	O	O
situation	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
rid	O	O
himself	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	ESE
conflict	O	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
winners	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Military	ESE	ESE
superiority	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
solve	ESE	O
problems	ESE	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
fundamentally	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
a	O	O
political	O	O
nature	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
day	ESE	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
tanks	O	O
again	O	O
leave	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
sown	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
seed	ESE	O
for	O	O
new	O	O
terrorist	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

Terrorism	O	O
thrives	ESE	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
atmosphere	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
hate	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
military	O	O
force	O	O
are	O	O
creating	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fertile	ESE	O
soil	ESE	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
future	O	O
terrorists	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
recruited	O	O
.	O	O

Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
31	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Jiaxuan	O	O
Sunday	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
immediate	ESE	O
withdrawal	O	O
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
leader	O	O
Yasser	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
residence	O	O
and	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
personal	O	O
safety	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
ensured	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
opposes	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
condemns	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
recent	O	O
violent	O	O
activities	O	O
in	O	O
Israeli	O	O
territory	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
expresses	DSE	DSE
condolence	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
sympathy	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
solicitude	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
family	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
Tang	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
phone	O	O
conversation	O	O
with	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
and	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Shimon	O	O
Peres	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
abrupt	ESE	O
escalation	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
caused	ESE	ESE
huge	ESE	ESE
casualties	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
property	ESE	O
losses	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
personal	O	O
safety	O	O
was	O	O
severely	ESE	ESE
endangered	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
deeply	DSE	DSE
concerned	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
sudden	ESE	ESE
deterioration	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
Tang	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Arafat	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
initiators	O	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
talks	O	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
made	O	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
efforts	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	DSE
push	ESE	DSE
forward	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
peace	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
Tang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
stressing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
disastrous	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	ESE
would	O	ESE
happen	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
region	O	O
if	O	ESE
unexpected	O	ESE
incidents	O	ESE
took	O	O
place	O	O
to	O	O
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
safety	O	O
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	O	O
implement	O	O
Resolution	O	O
1402	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Security	O	O
Council	O	O
unconditionally	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
withdraw	O	O
its	O	O
troops	O	O
completely	ESE	O
from	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
areas	O	O
and	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
through	O	O
peaceful	ESE	ESE
means	O	ESE
.	O	O

Tang	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
Israel	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
so	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
serve	O	O
the	O	O
overall	O	O
requirement	O	O
of	O	O
security	O	O
and	O	O
stability	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
own	O	O
long-term	O	O
interest	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	ESE
pressing	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
moment	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
both	O	O
exercise	ESE	O
maximum	ESE	O
restraint	ESE	O
and	O	O
adopt	O	O
concrete	O	O
measures	O	O
to	O	O
stop	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
immediately	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
create	O	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
for	O	O
resumption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
peace	O	O
talks	O	O
,	O	O
Tang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Peres	O	O
briefed	O	O
Tang	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
Tang	O	O
's	O	O
enquiry	DSE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
promise	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
threaten	ESE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
's	O	O
personal	O	O
safety	O	O
and	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Palestine	O	O
National	O	O
Authority	O	O
.	O	O

JAMMU	O	ESE
,	O	O
Apr	O	O
2	O	O
--	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
Dr.	O	O
Farooq	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
today	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
Pakistan	O	O
army	O	O
for	O	O
breeding	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
in	O	O
India	O	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
against	ESE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
wishes	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
their	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
peace	O	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
For	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
sustenance	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
survival	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Pak	O	O
generals	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
throttling	ESE	O
the	O	O
voice	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistanis	O	O
who	O	O
wish	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
live	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
friendship	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
cordiality	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
their	O	O
neighbours	O	O
'	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
while	DSE	O
addressing	DSE	O
a	O	O
function	O	O
organised	O	O
by	O	O
United	O	O
Public	O	O
High	O	O
School	O	O
at	O	O
Channi	O	O
Himat	O	O
here	O	O
this	O	O
afternoon	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
Pakistan	O	O
as	O	O
mother	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
if	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
has	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
rid	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
this	O	O
menace	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
perpetrators	ESE	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
border	O	O
had	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
dealt	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
firmly	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
mere	ESE	O
positioning	ESE	O
of	O	O
army	O	O
at	O	O
borders	O	O
was	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
as	O	O
infiltration	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
continuing	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ultras	O	O
were	O	O
indulging	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
blood-shed	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
lunaticism	ESE	O
has	O	O
touched	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
heights	ESE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
sparing	O	O
the	O	O
worship	O	O
places	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
referred	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
attack	O	O
in	O	O
Raghunath	O	O
bazaar	O	O
and	O	O
temple	O	O
complex	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
cautioned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
people	O	O
against	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
enemy	ESE	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
extra	ESE	O
vigil	ESE	O
will	O	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
help	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
nabbing	O	O
suspects	O	O
.	O	O

Reiterating	DSE	O
that	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
will	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
give	DSE	ESE
up	DSE	ESE
terror	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
ultimately	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
demon	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
reared	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
eat	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
vitals	ESE	O
.	O	O

`	O	O
Those	ESE	O
digging	ESE	O
graves	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
others	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
get	ESE	ESE
engraved	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
while	O	O
citing	O	O
the	O	O
example	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Pakistan	O	O
is	DSE	O
attempting	DSE	O
hard	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
India	O	ESE
in	O	O
communal	ESE	O
flames	ESE	O
so	O	O
that	O	O
forces	O	O
are	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
borders	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
internal	O	O
situations	O	O
,	O	O
thereby	ESE	O
leaving	O	O
field	ESE	O
day	ESE	O
for	O	O
ultras	O	O
to	O	O
cross	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
side	O	O
.	O	O

Dr	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
also	O	O
dwelt	O	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
spread	O	O
of	O	O
education	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
teaching	O	O
younger	O	O
generation	O	O
means	ESE	ESE
steering	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
nation	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
prosperity	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
progress	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

`	O	O
Concentrate	DSE	O
on	O	O
those	ESE	O
today	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
builders	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
nation	ESE	ESE
tomorrow	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
teachers	O	O
community	O	O
while	O	O
appreciating	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
involvement	O	O
of	O	O
parents	O	O
in	O	O
career	O	O
building	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
wards	O	O
.	O	O

Responding	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
demands	DSE	DSE
put	DSE	O
forth	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
memorandum	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
residents	O	O
of	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Himmat	O	O
,	O	O
Narwal	O	O
,	O	O
Malik	O	O
Marker	O	O
Bye-Pass	O	O
,	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Bija	O	O
,	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Rama	O	O
,	O	O
Chhanni	O	O
Kamala	O	O
and	O	O
Ambedkar	O	O
Nagar	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
will	O	O
get	O	O
examined	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
regarding	O	O
addition	O	O
of	O	O
11th	O	O
and	O	O
12th	O	O
classes	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
launching	O	O
a	O	O
coaching	O	O
class	O	O
for	O	O
various	O	O
competitive	O	O
exams	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
has	O	O
no	O	ESE
such	O	ESE
facility	O	ESE
.	O	O

Dr	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
also	O	O
dwelt	O	DSE
on	O	O
various	O	O
social	O	O
services	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
answer	ESE	O
to	O	O
meeting	O	O
the	O	O
growing	O	DSE
demand	O	DSE
of	O	O
tap	O	O
water	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
localities	O	O
of	O	O
Jammu	O	O
is	O	O
tapping	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
Chenab	O	ESE
water	O	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
purpose	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
regard	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
a	O	O
Rs	O	ESE
400	O	ESE
crore	O	ESE
scheme	O	ESE
had	O	O
been	O	O
prepared	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
years	O	O
back	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
currently	O	O
under	O	O
process	O	O
for	O	O
implementation	O	O
.	O	O

Expressing	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
dwindling	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
values	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
society	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
youngsters	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
get	DSE	ESE
inspiration	DSE	ESE
from	O	O
their	O	O
glorious	ESE	DSE
past	ESE	DSE
and	O	DSE
respect	ESE	DSE
their	ESE	O
parents	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
teachers	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
due	DSE	O
regard	DSE	O
to	O	O
elders	O	O
and	O	O
teachers	O	O
is	O	O
imperative	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
harmonious	ESE	ESE
society	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Dr.	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
presented	O	DSE
best	O	DSE
teacher	O	O
award	O	O
and	O	O
appreciated	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
performance	O	O
of	O	O
student	O	O
artists	O	O
who	O	O
presented	O	O
cultural	O	O
items	O	O
.	O	O

Minister	O	O
for	O	O
Sports	O	O
and	O	O
Labour	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Harbans	O	O
Singh	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
guest	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
spoke	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
occasion	O	ESE
.	O	O

Among	O	O
others	O	O
present	O	O
were	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Mohammed	O	O
Syed	O	O
Akhoon	O	O
and	O	O
Mrs	O	O
Bimla	O	O
Luthra	O	O
,	O	O
MLAs	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Ministers	O	O
of	O	O
Legislative	O	O
Assembly	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
besides	O	O
students	O	O
and	O	O
parents	O	O
.	O	O

Mr	O	O
Akhoon	O	O
presented	O	O
a	O	O
memento	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Chief	O	O
Minister	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
management	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
school	O	O
.	O	O

JERUSALEM	O	O
.	O	O
April	O	O
4	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Interfax	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
will	O	O
leave	O	O
the	O	O
Pilgrim	O	O
's	O	O
House	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
owned	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Moscow	O	O
Patriarchy	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
they	O	O
fulfil	O	O
their	O	O
military	O	O
tasks	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
response	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
army	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
demand	DSE	O
made	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Orthodox	O	O
Church	O	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
the	O	O
Pilgrim	O	O
's	O	O
House	O	O
so	ESE	O
as	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
undermine	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
peacekeeping	O	O
mission	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Moscow	O	O
Patriarchy	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Holy	O	O
Land	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
army	O	O
told	DSE	O
Interfax	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
now	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
at	O	O
such	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
uses	O	O
all	O	O
possible	O	O
points	O	O
of	O	O
observation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
army	O	O
representatives	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
it	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
necessary	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
possible	O	O
civilian	O	O
casualties	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
During	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
operation	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
necessity	O	O
emerged	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
the	O	O
Pilgrim	O	O
's	O	O
House	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
use	O	O
it	O	O
for	O	O
surveillance	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
once	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
tasks	O	O
are	O	O
fulfilled	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
will	O	O
leave	O	O
this	O	O
building	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
representatives	O	O
told	DSE	O
Interfax	O	O
that	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
``	O	O
strictly	DSE	ESE
adhere	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
moral	O	ESE
norms	O	ESE
,	O	O
respecting	DSE	O
sanctuaries	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
religions	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	O
act	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
stages	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
army	O	O
has	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
strongly	DSE	DSE
denied	DSE	DSE
reports	O	DSE
about	O	O
an	O	O
assault	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Cathedral	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Nativity	O	O
in	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
allegedly	O	O
began	O	O
recently	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Contrary	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
some	O	O
media	O	O
reports	O	O
,	O	O
Israeli	O	O
soldiers	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	ESE
storming	O	ESE
into	O	O
the	O	O
church	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
continual	O	DSE
fire	O	DSE
by	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
snipers	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
taken	O	O
positions	O	O
near	O	O
the	O	O
church	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
service	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
representatives	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
said	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
rumors	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
assault	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
prompted	O	O
by	O	O
false	ESE	O
information	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
circulated	O	O
among	O	O
foreign	O	O
journalists	O	O
by	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
sources	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Bangkok	O	O
,	O	O
09	O	O
April	O	O
Kyodo	O	O
--	O	O
Thailand	O	O
expects	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
's	O	O
official	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
for	O	O
a	O	O
free-trade	O	O
agreement	O	O
Friday	O	O
when	O	O
Thai	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Thaksin	O	O
Shinawatra	O	O
meets	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Premier	O	O
Zhu	O	O
Rongji	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sidelines	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
regional	O	O
economic	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
local	O	O
dailies	O	O
said	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

Thaksin	O	O
will	O	O
leave	O	O
Thailand	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
to	O	O
visit	O	O
Hainan	O	O
Island	O	O
in	O	O
southern	O	O
China	O	O
to	O	O
attend	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
two-day	O	O
Boao	O	O
Forum	O	O
for	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
starts	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

Local	O	O
dailies	O	O
quoted	O	O
senior	O	O
Commerce	O	O
Ministry	O	O
official	O	O
Boontipa	O	O
Simaskul	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
if	O	O
China	O	O
agrees	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
form	O	O
a	O	O
bilateral	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
frame	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
set	O	ESE
immediately	O	ESE
.	O	O

Boontipa	O	O
,	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
's	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Business	O	O
Economics	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
time	O	O
frame	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bilateral	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
shorter	O	ESE
than	O	O
the	O	O
10-year	O	O
time	O	O
frame	O	O
envisaged	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
a	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
between	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Association	O	O
of	O	O
Southeast	O	O
Asian	O	O
Nations	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ASEAN	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
Thailand	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
.	O	O

Senior	O	O
officials	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
10-member	O	O
ASEAN	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
are	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
in	O	O
Beijing	O	O
from	O	O
May	O	O
13	O	O
through	O	O
15	O	O
to	O	O
draw	O	O
up	O	O
a	O	O
blueprint	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
regional	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
meeting	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
initiative	O	O
got	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
nod	DSE	O
from	DSE	O
their	O	O
leaders	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
annual	O	O
ASEAN-China	O	O
leaders	O	O
'	O	O
summit	O	O
in	O	O
Brunei	O	O
last	O	O
November	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
China-ASEAN	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
largest	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
combined	O	O
market	O	O
of	O	O
nearly	O	O
1.8	O	O
billion	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
regional	O	O
gross	O	O
domestic	O	O
product	O	O
of	O	O
US$	O	O
2	O	O
trillion	O	O
and	O	O
international	O	O
trade	O	O
worth	O	O
$	O	O
1.2	O	O
trillion	O	O
.	O	O

ASEAN	O	O
comprises	O	O
Brunei	O	O
,	O	O
Cambodia	O	O
,	O	O
Indonesia	O	O
,	O	O
Laos	O	O
,	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
,	O	O
Myanmar	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Philippines	O	O
,	O	O
Singapore	O	O
,	O	O
Thailand	O	O
and	O	O
Vietnam	O	O
.	O	O

Thailand	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
had	O	O
preliminary	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
bilateral	O	O
free-trade	O	O
area	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

Thaksin	O	O
will	O	O
also	O	O
meet	O	O
with	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
and	O	O
South	O	O
Korean	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Lee	O	O
Han	O	O
Dong	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
sidelines	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
before	O	O
leaving	O	O
for	O	O
home	O	O
Friday	O	O
evening	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
European	O	O
Parliament	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
convened	O	O
yesterday	O	O
in	O	O
Strasbourg	O	O
,	O	O
decided	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
advise	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
15	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
to	O	O
impose	DSE	O
economic	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
specifically	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
suspend	O	O
association	O	O
agreements	O	O
with	O	O
Jerusalem	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
addition	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Parliament	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
imposing	DSE	O
a	O	O
weapons	O	O
embargo	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Authority	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	ESE
some	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
,	O	O
European	O	O
politicians	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
threatened	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
suspend	O	O
economic	O	O
ties	O	O
with	O	O
Israel	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	O
move	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
in	ESE	O
light	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
close	O	O
and	O	O
extensive	O	O
trade	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
EU	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
cause	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
damage	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Earlier	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
Belgian	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Louis	O	O
Michel	O	O
,	O	O
who	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
miss	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
provoke	DSE	ESE
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
threatened	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
once	DSE	DSE
again	DSE	DSE
reconsider	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Jerusalem	O	O
.	O	O

European	O	O
Commission	O	O
President	O	O
Romano	O	O
Prodi	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
similar	DSE	DSE
sentiments	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
in	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
opinion	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
should	ESE	DSE
consider	DSE	DSE
imposing	DSE	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
``	O	O
punishment	ESE	O
''	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
in	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
against	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
operations	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israel	O	O
Defense	O	O
Forces	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
goes	ESE	O
for	O	O
Spanish	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Josep	O	O
Pique	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
offended	DSE	DSE
after	O	O
Israel	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
allow	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
and	O	O
EU	O	O
foreign	O	O
policy	O	O
chief	O	O
Javier	O	O
Solana	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
with	O	O
PA	O	O
Chairman	O	O
Yasser	O	O
Arafat	O	O
in	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Parliament	O	O
's	O	O
recommendation	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
chances	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
association	O	O
agreements	DSE	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
suspended	O	O
are	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
slim	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
a	ESE	DSE
recommendation	ESE	DSE
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
European	ESE	O
Parliament	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
happen	ESE	O
;	O	O
the	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
has	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
be	DSE	O
taken	DSE	O
by	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Commission	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
's	O	O
Council	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministers	O	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
all	O	O
15	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministers	O	O
sit	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
be	DSE	ESE
unanimous	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Countries	O	O
like	O	O
France	O	O
and	O	O
Belgium	O	O
are	O	O
easily	ESE	ESE
capable	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
voting	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
other	O	O
states	O	O
--	O	O
including	O	O
Germany	O	O
and	O	O
Britain	O	O
--	O	O
have	O	ESE
exhibited	O	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
more	DSE	ESE
balanced	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli-Palestinian	O	O
conflict	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
fact	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
certain	O	O
countries	O	O
have	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
more	DSE	ESE
balanced	DSE	ESE
view	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	DSE
doubt	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
anti-Israeli	DSE	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
will	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
be	DSE	O
adopted	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Europeans	O	O
know	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
repeated	DSE	O
denunciations	DSE	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
mention	ESE	O
its	O	O
punishment	O	O
,	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
lead	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
solution	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
change	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
positions	DSE	O
on	O	O
vital	O	O
security	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
European	O	O
states	O	O
eliminate	O	O
customs	O	O
breaks	O	O
afforded	O	O
to	O	O
Israeli	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Europeans	O	O
wish	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
influence	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
arena	O	O
--	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
direction	O	O
that	O	O
many	O	O
in	O	O
Israel	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
wholeheartedly	DSE	DSE
--	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
able	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	O
promote	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
positions	DSE	O
in	ESE	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
manner	ESE	O
.	O	O

A	O	ESE
unilateral	O	ESE
move	O	ESE
is	ESE	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
prejudice	ESE	ESE
Europe	O	O
's	O	O
status	O	O
in	O	O
helping	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
a	O	O
solution	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
.	O	O

EU	O	O
External	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Commissioner	O	O
Chris	O	O
Patten	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
this	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
Tuesday	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
canceling	O	O
the	DSE	O
association	DSE	O
agreements	DSE	O
between	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
would	ESE	O
do	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
enhance	O	ESE
Jerusalem	O	O
's	O	O
readiness	DSE	ESE
to	O	ESE
listen	O	ESE
to	O	O
European	O	O
representatives	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
holds	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
with	O	DSE
regard	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
threats	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
EU	O	O
leaders	O	O
also	ESE	O
holds	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
for	O	DSE
threats	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
certain	O	O
European	O	O
states	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
means	O	O
of	O	O
punishment	O	O
they	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
already	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
implementing	ESE	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
reports	O	O
that	O	O
vital	O	O
components	O	O
German	O	O
factories	O	O
are	O	O
supposed	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
supply	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
defense	O	O
establishment	O	O
are	O	O
arriving	O	O
slowly	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
arrival	O	O
of	O	O
vital	O	O
supplies	O	O
from	O	O
other	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

One	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
assume	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	O	O
act	O	O
under	ESE	O
the	ESE	DSE
pressure	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
deeds	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	O
oversights	ESE	O
that	O	O
are	ESE	O
often	ESE	ESE
tainted	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
significant	ESE	ESE
degree	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
hypocrisy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Oil	O	O
prices	O	O
took	O	O
a	O	O
sharp	O	O
downward	O	O
trend	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
quiet	O	O
semi-coup	O	O
d'etat	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
affiliated	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
army	O	O
generals	O	O
who	O	O
deposed	O	O
the	O	O
popularly	O	O
elected	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
price	O	O
of	O	O
crude	O	O
had	O	O
taken	O	O
a	O	O
dramatic	ESE	O
upsurge	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
aftermath	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ever-deteriorating	ESE	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	ESE
unilateral	O	ESE
cut	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
of	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
oil	O	O
by	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Hussein	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
similar	O	ESE
threats	DSE	ESE
by	DSE	O
several	O	O
other	O	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
dethroning	ESE	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
is	O	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
message	DSE	DSE
that	DSE	O
disobeying	ESE	O
Uncle	ESE	O
Sam	ESE	O
would	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
cataclysmic	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
asked	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
government	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
level	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
oil	O	O
output	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
who	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
his	O	O
ala	ESE	O
Fidel	ESE	O
Castro	ESE	O
left-leaning	DSE	O
anti-American	DSE	O
philosophy	DSE	O
had	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
occasions	O	O
rebuffed	DSE	DSE
US	O	DSE
requests	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
more	O	O
oil	O	O
exports	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
direct	O	O
response	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
preach	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
planet	ESE	O
,	O	O
recognizing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
no	DSE	DSE
longer	DSE	DSE
tolerate	DSE	DSE
someone	O	O
like	O	O
Chavez	O	O
reverted	ESE	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
old	ESE	ESE
bullying	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
dictatorial	ESE	ESE
tactics	ESE	O
and	O	O
arranged	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
army	O	O
coup	O	O
by	O	O
several	O	O
avowed	DSE	O
pro-American	ESE	O
generals	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
managed	O	O
to	O	O
remove	O	O
Chavez	O	O
from	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
a	ESE	O
few	ESE	ESE
short	ESE	ESE
hours	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
third	O	O
largest	O	O
exporter	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
within	O	O
OPEC	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
fourth	O	O
as	O	O
far	O	O
as	O	O
worldwide	O	O
production	O	O
is	O	O
concerned	O	O
.	O	O

Venezuela	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
nation	O	O
since	O	O
its	O	O
oil	O	O
directly	O	O
impacts	O	O
crude	O	O
prices	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
markets	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
very	DSE	ESE
little	DSE	ESE
doubt	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
Chavez	O	O
did	O	O
not	ESE	O
voluntarily	ESE	O
resign	O	O
his	O	O
office	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
removed	O	ESE
from	O	O
power	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
.	O	O

Evidently	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
phone	O	O
conversation	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
Chavez	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
daughter	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
forced	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
resign	O	ESE
and	O	O
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
army	O	O
's	O	O
non-negotiable	ESE	O
conditions	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
event	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
apparent	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
intends	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
conspicuous	ESE	ESE
role	O	ESE
and	O	O
exert	DSE	O
increasing	DSE	O
pressure	DSE	O
as	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
oil	O	O
issue	O	O
is	ESE	O
concerned	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
by	O	O
wielding	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
authority	ESE	O
and	O	O
exercising	ESE	O
dictatorial	ESE	O
powers	ESE	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
only	O	ESE
superpower	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
determined	DSE	DSE
to	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
front	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
centre	ESE	O
role	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
intricate	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	ESE
game	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
free	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
all-important	ESE	O
strategic	O	O
product	O	O
otherwise	O	O
known	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Black	O	ESE
Gold	O	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
fall	O	O
of	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
crystal-clear	ESE	DSE
message	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
warning	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
to	O	O
anyone	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
who	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
contemplating	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
use	O	O
oil	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	ESE
political	O	ESE
tool	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
news	O	O
leaked	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
reoccupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cities	O	O
confirms	ESE	O
that	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
have	O	DSE
committed	O	DSE
dozens	ESE	O
of	O	O
premeditated	ESE	O
massacres	ESE	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
civilian	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
carnage	ESE	O
is	DSE	O
planned	DSE	O
and	O	O
implemented	O	O
in	ESE	O
compliance	ESE	O
with	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
Israeli	O	O
field	O	O
marshals	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
atrocities	ESE	ESE
are	DSE	ESE
masterminded	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
high	O	O
level	O	O
Israeli	O	O
officials	O	O
including	O	O
Shimon	O	O
Peres	O	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
declared	O	DSE
the	O	O
reoccupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cities	O	O
closed	O	O
military	O	O
areas	O	O
into	O	O
which	O	O
media	O	O
people	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
allowed	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	O
happened	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
Bosnia	ESE	O
Herzegovina	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
repeated	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
larger	ESE	O
scale	ESE	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

People	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
killed	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
masses	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
buried	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
collective	ESE	O
graves	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
crime	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
humanity	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Israeli	O	O
government	O	O
is	O	O
committing	O	ESE
crimes	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
against	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
tried	O	ESE
by	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
tribunal	O	O
just	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
the	O	O
governments	O	O
of	O	O
Rwanda	O	O
and	O	O
former	O	O
Yugoslavia	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
international	O	O
tribunal	O	O
for	O	O
war	O	O
crimes	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
established	O	O
in	O	O
Rome	O	O
and	O	O
started	O	O
its	O	O
works	O	O
officially	O	O
last	O	O
Thursday	O	O
with	O	O
the	DSE	DSE
approval	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
more	O	O
than	O	O
60	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
tribunal	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
responsible	O	O
for	O	O
trying	O	O
war	O	O
criminals	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
we	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
Security	O	O
Council	O	O
resolution	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
tribunal	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
entire	O	O
Arab	O	O
World	O	O
are	DSE	O
waiting	DSE	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
proof	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
law	ESE	O
protects	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
beings	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
general	ESE	O
regardless	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
their	O	O
color	O	O
,	O	O
ethnicity	O	O
and	O	O
religion	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
world	O	O
community	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
tolerate	DSE	ESE
crimes	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
waiting	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
see	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
international	O	O
laws	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
selective	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	O
applied	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
cultural	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
ideological	ESE	ESE
considerations	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
public	O	O
opinion	O	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
and	O	O
Islamic	O	O
world	O	O
is	DSE	O
following	ESE	O
closely	ESE	O
what	O	O
is	O	O
happening	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
World	O	O
Community	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
a	O	O
step	O	O
toward	O	O
referring	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
criminals	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
permanent	O	O
tribunal	O	O
for	O	O
war	O	O
crimes	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zionist	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
administrations	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
they	O	O
succeeded	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
defeating	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
valiant	ESE	O
intifadah	O	O
.	O	O

Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
administrations	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
position	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
``	ESE	O
victor	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
have	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
international	O	O
or	O	O
regional	O	O
peace	O	O
conference	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
have	DSE	O
also	DSE	O
announced	DSE	O
that	O	O
President	O	O
Yasir	O	O
Arafat	O	O
is	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
fit	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
coming	O	O
phase	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
addition	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
seek	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
convince	DSE	DSE
other	O	O
parties	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
two	O	O
ideas	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
are	DSE	DSE
waiting	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
concerned	O	O
parties	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
,	O	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
which	O	O
these	O	O
two	O	O
administrations	O	O
will	DSE	O
set	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
own	DSE	O
conditions	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
table	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
towns	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
under	ESE	O
occupation	ESE	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
Authority	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
institutions	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
destroyed	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	ESE	O
Arafat	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
still	ESE	DSE
besieged	ESE	DSE
at	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
office	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
hostage	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
leaders	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
held	ESE	ESE
hostage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
entire	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
now	ESE	O
experiencing	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
utmost	ESE	ESE
suffering	ESE	ESE
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
daily	O	O
lives	O	O
.	O	O

All	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
thing	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
something	ESE	ESE
different	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zionists	O	O
have	O	O
succeeded	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
achieving	ESE	O
these	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
deep-rooted	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
succeeded	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
succeed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
breaking	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
this	O	O
valiant	ESE	O
people	O	O
or	O	O
in	O	O
forcing	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
relinquishing	ESE	O
their	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
ending	O	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
glorious	ESE	ESE
struggle	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
thus	O	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
these	O	O
criminal	ESE	O
administrations	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
imagine	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	O
triumphed	ESE	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
now	ESE	O
in	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
position	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
dictate	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
conditions	ESE	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
great	ESE	ESE
people	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
real	ESE	ESE
victor	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
battle	ESE	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
not	ESE	O
the	O	O
Zionists	O	O
.	O	O

For	ESE	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
reasons	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
occupation	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
towns	O	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
last	O	O
,	O	O
so	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
forces	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
withdraw	O	O
from	O	O
these	O	O
towns	O	O
sooner	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
later	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
addition	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
now	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
impossible	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
ever	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
control	O	O
the	O	O
movement	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
million	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
actually	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
deep-rooted	ESE	ESE
facts	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	O	O
towns	O	O
and	O	O
refugee	O	O
camps	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
destroyed	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
will	ESE	O
soon	ESE	O
be	O	O
reconstructed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
skillfully	ESE	O
adapted	ESE	O
themselves	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
circumstances	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
reconstruction	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
place	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
quickly	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
what	O	ESE
the	ESE	O
criminals	ESE	O
in	O	O
Tel	O	O
Aviv	O	O
and	O	O
Washington	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Most	ESE	ESE
importantly	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
however	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
these	O	O
criminals	ESE	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
largest	ESE	O
illusion	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
they	ESE	ESE
imagine	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	ESE	O
succeeded	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
liquidating	ESE	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
and	O	O
destroying	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
infrastructure	O	ESE
after	O	O
having	O	O
succeeded	O	O
in	O	O
liquidating	O	O
or	O	O
arresting	O	O
a	O	O
small	O	O
or	O	O
large	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
's	O	O
leaders	O	O
and	O	O
strugglers	ESE	O

Another	ESE	ESE
deep-rooted	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
organizations	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
resistance	O	O
still	ESE	O
preserve	O	O
their	O	O
organizational	O	O
structure	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
characterized	ESE	DSE
by	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
superb	ESE	O
ability	ESE	O
to	O	O
renew	O	O
their	O	O
leaders	O	O
and	O	O
replace	O	O
the	O	O
ones	O	O
who	O	O
fall	ESE	O
along	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
path	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
martyrdom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

These	O	O
criminals	ESE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
this	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
we	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Arabs	O	O
,	O	O
do	DSE	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
direct	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
's	O	O
infrastructure	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
actually	ESE	ESE
widened	ESE	O
and	O	O
turned	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
volcanoes	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
boiling	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
rage	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	O	DSE
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Uri	O	O
Avneri	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
veteran	O	O
Zionist	O	O
writer	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
's	O	O
structure	O	O
``	O	O
exists	ESE	O
within	ESE	O
millions	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
and	O	O
also	O	O
within	ESE	ESE
tens	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
millions	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
Arabs	ESE	O
in	DSE	O
whose	DSE	O
chests	DSE	O
the	DSE	DSE
fire	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
anger	DSE	DSE
is	DSE	O
blazing	DSE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
If	ESE	ESE
more	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
martyrdom-seeking	O	O
ones	O	O
fall	O	O
,	O	O
other	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
martyrdom-seeking	O	O
ones	O	O
will	O	O
emerge	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
ready	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
follow	O	DSE
in	O	O
their	O	O
footsteps	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	DSE
conclusion	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
which	DSE	O
we	DSE	O
come	DSE	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
administrations	O	O
have	O	O
aggravated	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
entity	O	O
's	O	O
historical	ESE	O
impasse	ESE	O
through	O	O
the	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
committed	ESE	O
together	ESE	O
when	O	O
they	O	O
had	DSE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
``	ESE	O
force	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	ESE
can	O	ESE
break	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
will	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
impose	ESE	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
people	O	O
what	O	O
other	O	O
means	O	O
failed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
impose	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Contrary	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
visible	O	O
scene	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
illusion	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
Sharon	O	O
and	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
this	ESE	O
Zionist-US	ESE	O
crime	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
confirmed	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Zionist	O	O
entity	O	O
's	O	O
historical	ESE	ESE
impasse	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
constantly	ESE	ESE
aggravating	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
Arabs	O	O
'	O	O
recognition	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
this	O	O
entity	O	O
's	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
exist	O	O
''	O	O
is	O	O
now	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
distant	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	O
before	ESE	O
despite	ESE	O
some	O	O
official	O	O
Arab	O	O
``	ESE	O
recognitions	ESE	ESE
.	ESE	O
''	ESE	O

Millions	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Arabs	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
Palestinians	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
non-Palestinians	ESE	O
alike	ESE	O
,	O	O
now	ESE	O
have	DSE	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
conviction	DSE	ESE
stronger	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	O
before	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
effect	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
impossible	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
achieve	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
coexistence	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
with	O	O
this	O	O
usurping	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
occupying	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
aggressive	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
racist	ESE	O
entity	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
hero	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Gulf	O	O
War	O	O
,	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
did	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
exactly	ESE	ESE
cover	ESE	O
himself	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
glory	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
his	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
mission	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
president	O	O
's	O	O
envoy	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
task	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
create	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
peaceful	O	O
environment	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
currently	O	O
affected	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
unrecognized	DSE	O
and	O	O
undeclared	DSE	O
war	DSE	O
between	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
man	O	O
who	O	O
defeated	O	O
Iraq	O	O
in	O	O
1991	O	O
in	O	O
only	O	O
six	O	O
weeks	O	O
issued	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
message	O	DSE
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	DSE	O
most	ESE	O
he	DSE	O
hoped	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
something	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
mutual	O	O
cease-fire	O	DSE
agreement	O	DSE
.	O	O

Another	O	O
round	O	O
of	O	O
talks	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
held	O	O
today	O	O
between	O	O
Powell	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
chief	O	O
players	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
events	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
standstill	ESE	O
situation	ESE	O
,	O	O
makes	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
US	O	O
foreign	O	O
policy	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
put	O	O
to	O	O
a	ESE	O
very	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
test	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
needs	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
discipline	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
decades-long	O	O
ally	O	O
,	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
not	O	ESE
ruin	ESE	ESE
its	O	ESE
relations	O	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
Arabs	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	ESE
impression	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
that	O	ESE
,	O	O
under	O	O
US	O	O
sponsorship	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
deliberated	DSE	DSE
too	ESE	DSE
long	ESE	DSE
about	O	DSE
the	O	O
violence	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
latest	O	O
round	O	O
of	O	O
violence	O	O
was	O	O
initiated	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
day	O	O
in	O	O
September	O	O
2000	O	O
when	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
took	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
upon	ESE	ESE
himself	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
provoke	ESE	ESE
his	O	O
Muslim	O	O
neighbors	O	O
by	O	O
visiting	O	O
an	O	O
Islamic	O	O
religious	O	O
building	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
colonel	O	O
and	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
directly	ESE	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
massacre	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Beirut	O	O
camps	O	O
Sabra	O	O
and	O	O
Shatila	O	O
,	O	O
used	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
return	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
an	ESE	ESE
opportunity	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
settle	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
accounts	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
years-long	ESE	ESE
enemies	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Powell	O	O
's	O	O
words	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
we	O	O
are	O	O
working	O	O
on	O	O
this	O	O
plan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
are	O	DSE
unclear	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
he	O	O
did	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
say	O	DSE
what	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
is	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
conference	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
is	O	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
unclear	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
relation	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	ESE
ambiguity	O	ESE
,	O	O
Powell	O	O
's	O	O
words	O	O
definitely	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
taken	ESE	O
seriously	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
considering	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
precisely	ESE	ESE
Washington	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
practicing	O	O
a	O	O
one-sided	ESE	ESE
approach	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
for	O	O
18	O	O
months	O	O
now	O	O
and	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
chief	DSE	O
opponent	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
positioning	O	O
of	O	O
peace	O	O
troops	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
warring	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
$	O	O
3	O	O
billion	O	O
military	O	O
aid	O	O
for	O	O
Israel	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
strong	O	ESE
Jewish	O	ESE
lobby	O	ESE
at	O	O
home	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Untied	O	O
States	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
play	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	O
role	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Middle	ESE	O
East	ESE	O
conflict	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
protector	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Israeli	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
warnings	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
appeals	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
peace	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
openly	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
takes	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
side	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
conflict	O	O
,	O	O
labeling	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
other	O	O
side	O	O
terrorists	ESE	O
,	O	O
similar	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
carried	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
attacks	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Twin	ESE	O
Towers	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
New	ESE	O
York	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
entirely	ESE	ESE
improper	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
defense	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
continues	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
exert	DSE	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
neighboring	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
,	O	O
Syria	O	O
and	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
supporting	DSE	O
terrorist	O	O
organizations	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
Hezbolah	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	ESE	O
worrying	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
among	O	O
Powell	O	O
's	O	O
priorities	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
Beirut	O	O
were	O	O
the	O	O
talks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Hezbolah	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
an	DSE	O
announcement	DSE	O
that	O	O
terrorists	O	O
might	ESE	O
open	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
front	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
some	O	O
circles	O	O
,	O	O
these	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
an	O	O
alleged	DSE	ESE
new	O	ESE
front	O	ESE
are	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
an	O	O
attempt	O	O
to	O	O
resolve	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
smaller	ESE	ESE
Israel-Palestine	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
bigger	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

For	ESE	ESE
example	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
new	ESE	O
Israeli-Arab	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
received	O	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
negative	ESE	ESE
points	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
.	O	O

Maybe	ESE	ESE
Joschka	O	O
Fischer	O	O
's	O	O
plan	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
suspending	O	O
Germany	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
aid	O	O
for	O	O
Israel	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
,	O	O
possible	O	O
EU	O	O
economic	O	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Tel	O	O
Aviv	O	O
is	O	O
honorable	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
late	ESE	O
and	O	O
disturbingly	ESE	ESE
long-term	ESE	ESE
plan	O	ESE
.	O	O

Europe	O	O
does	DSE	O
not	DSE	O
have	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
united	DSE	O
stance	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
violence	O	O
in	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
,	O	O
Nablus	O	O
,	O	O
Bethlehem	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
refugee	O	O
camps	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
only	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
that	O	O
secures	O	O
its	O	O
borders	O	O
by	O	O
occupying	O	O
territories	O	O
of	O	O
another	O	O
state	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
EU	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
and	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
peace	O	O
initiative	O	O
through	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
Powell	O	O
seem	ESE	ESE
like	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
late	ESE	ESE
resolution	ESE	O
,	O	O
considering	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
approximately	O	O
one	O	O
month	O	O
ago	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
participating	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
in	O	O
Beirut	O	O
held	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
olive	DSE	O
branch	DSE	O
to	O	O
Israel	O	O
through	O	O
the	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
of	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
's	O	O
heir	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
throne	O	O
,	O	O
Prince	O	O
Abdullah	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
contained	O	O
two	O	O
points	O	O
:	O	O
recognition	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
a	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
state	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
Arab	O	O
neighborhood	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
recognition	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
'	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
did	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
goodness	ESE	O
to	O	O
look	O	O
at	O	O
this	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
,	O	O
demonstrating	O	ESE
arrogance	ESE	ESE
toward	ESE	ESE
everything	ESE	ESE
Arab	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
same	ESE	O
manner	ESE	O
Israel	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
Arafat	O	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
Ramallah	O	O
and	O	O
Palestine	O	O
,	O	O
labeling	DSE	ESE
him	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
troublemaker	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
politician	ESE	O
incapable	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
controlling	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
suicide	ESE	O
bombers	ESE	O
.	O	O

NEW	O	O
DELHI	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
22	O	O
--	O	O
INTERNATIONAL	O	O
call	O	DSE
charges	O	DSE
have	O	DSE
finally	ESE	ESE
started	ESE	ESE
tumbling	ESE	ESE
down	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
Bharti	O	O
Telesonic	O	O
Ltd	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
long-distance	O	O
arm	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Bharti	O	O
group	O	O
offering	O	O
tariffs	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
40	O	O
percent	O	O
lower	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
existing	O	O
rates	O	O
.	O	O

Announcing	O	O
this	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
Mr	O	O
Sunil	O	O
Mittal	O	O
,	O	O
Chairman	O	O
&	O	O
amp	O	O
;	O	O
Managing	O	O
Director	O	O
,	O	O
Bharti	O	O
Enterprises	O	O
,	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
tariffs	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
made	O	O
available	O	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
ILD	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
international	O	O
long	O	O
distance	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
services	O	O
being	O	O
launched	O	O
on	O	O
May	O	O
1	O	O
,	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
revised	O	O
downwards	O	O
as	O	O
and	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
demanded	O	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
present	O	O
rate	O	O
cut	O	O
of	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
40	O	O
percent	O	O
on	O	O
peak-time	O	O
rates	O	O
is	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
be	O	O
lowered	O	O
after	O	O
Videsh	O	O
Sanchar	O	O
Nigam	O	O
Ltd	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
VSNL	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
ILD	O	O
operators	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
yet	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
begin	O	ESE
services	O	ESE
,	O	O
announce	O	O
their	O	O
rates	O	O
.	O	O

Unlike	O	O
the	O	O
STD	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
subscriber	O	O
trunk	O	O
dialing	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
services	O	O
where	O	O
a	O	O
further	O	O
rate	O	O
cut	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
feasible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
services	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
scope	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
improvement	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

As	O	O
per	O	O
the	O	O
tariff	O	O
plan	O	O
announced	O	O
by	O	O
Bharti	O	O
,	O	O
peak-time	O	DSE
call	O	DSE
charges	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
SAARC	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
South	O	O
Asian	O	O
Association	O	O
for	O	O
Regional	O	O
Cooperation	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
region	O	O
will	O	DSE
be	O	DSE
offered	O	DSE
at	O	O
Rs	O	O
21.18	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
as	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
present	O	O
Rs	O	O
21.82	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
Rs	O	O
24	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
as	O	O
against	O	O
Rs	O	O
31.30	O	O
to	O	O
Rs	O	O
40	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
applicable	O	O
now	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	ESE
non-peak	O	ESE
hours	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
call	O	O
rates	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
SAARC	O	O
regions	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
lowered	O	O
to	O	O
Rs	O	O
18	O	O
from	O	O
Rs	O	O
18.95	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
at	O	O
Rs	O	O
21.18	O	O
per	O	O
minute	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
Rs	O	O
27.69	O	O
to	O	O
Rs	O	O
36	O	O
.	O	O

Mr	O	O
Mittal	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
original	O	O
plan	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
the	O	O
ILD	O	O
services	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
IndiaOne	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
middle	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
company	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
awaiting	O	O
security	O	O
clearances	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
commissioning	O	O
certificate	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Telecommunications	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
DoT	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Interconnect	O	DSE
agreements	DSE	DSE
had	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
signed	O	O
with	O	O
almost	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
cellular	O	ESE
operators	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	DSE	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
Bharat	O	O
Sanchar	O	O
Nigam	O	O
Ltd	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
BSNL	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Mahanagar	O	O
Telephone	O	O
Nigam	O	O
Ltd	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MTNL	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
would	O	O
also	O	O
be	O	O
signed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
days	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
agreements	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
as	O	O
many	O	O
as	O	O
nine	O	O
foreign	O	O
carriers	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
globe	O	O
had	O	O
already	O	O
been	O	O
signed	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
include	O	O
AT	O	O
&	O	O
amp	O	O
;	O	O
T	O	O
,	O	O
Sprint	O	O
,	O	O
Teleglobe	O	O
,	O	O
Eteselat	O	O
,	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Telecom	O	O
,	O	O
British	O	O
Telecom	O	O
and	O	O
SingTel	O	O
to	O	O
name	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
nine	O	O
carriers	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
90	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
traffic	O	O
coming	O	O
to	O	O
India	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Bharti	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	ESE
requisite	O	ESE
clearances	O	ESE
,	O	O
will	O	O
offer	O	O
its	O	O
network	O	O
to	O	O
all	O	O
carriers	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
non-discriminatory	O	ESE
basis	O	ESE
.	O	O

Carriers	O	O
will	O	O
now	O	O
connect	O	O
to	O	O
Bharti	O	O
's	O	O
network	O	O
and	O	O
enjoy	O	O
rates	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
enable	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
deep	O	O
discounts	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
end-consumer	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
total	O	O
investment	O	O
of	O	O
Rs	O	O
100	O	O
crore	O	O
is	O	O
planned	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
Rs	O	O
75	O	O
crore	O	O
has	O	ESE
already	O	ESE
been	O	ESE
spent	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

IndiaOne	O	O
had	O	O
laid	O	O
approximately	O	O
14,000	O	O
km	O	O
of	O	O
optical	O	O
fibre	O	O
cable	O	O
covering	O	O
90	O	O
cities	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
company	O	O
has	O	O
contracted	O	O
submarine	O	O
cable	O	O
capacity	O	O
from	O	O
network	O	O
i2i	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
backed	O	DSE
it	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
satellite	O	O
connectivity	O	O
to	O	O
build	O	O
in	O	O
redundancy	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ILD	O	O
network	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
IP	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Internet	O	O
Protocol	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
centric	O	ESE
backbone	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
multiservices	O	O
platform	O	O
comprises	O	O
TDM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Time	O	O
Division	O	O
Multiplexing	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
switch	O	O
layer	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
ATM	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Asynchronous	O	O
Transfer	O	O
Mode	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
and	O	O
IP	O	O
layer	O	O
and	O	O
intelligent	O	O
network	O	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
value-added	O	O
services	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
company	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
also	O	O
planned	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
start	O	O
offering	O	O
Internet	O	O
telephony	O	O
services	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
and	O	O
deploy	O	O
Voice	O	O
over	O	O
Internet	O	O
Protocol	O	O
to	O	O
strengthen	O	O
its	O	O
ILD	O	O
presence	O	O
.	O	O

Israeli	O	O
Arab	O	O
leaders	O	O
yesterday	O	O
pledged	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
fight	DSE	O
a	O	O
proposed	DSE	O
25	O	O
%	O	O
-30	O	O
%	O	O
cut	O	O
in	O	O
National	O	O
Insurance	O	O
Institute	O	O
child	O	O
benefits	O	O
for	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
not	O	O
served	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
or	O	O
completed	O	O
national	O	O
service	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
forum	O	O
of	O	O
Arab	O	O
council	O	O
heads	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
meet	O	O
tomorrow	O	O
to	DSE	O
draw	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
action	DSE	O
campaign	DSE	O
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	O	DSE
thwarting	ESE	DSE
the	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
,	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
package	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
put	O	DSE
forward	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Treasury	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
NIS	O	O
13	O	O
million	O	O
cut	O	O
in	O	O
government	O	O
spending	O	O
.	O	O

Shawqi	O	O
Khatib	O	O
,	O	O
chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
monitoring	O	O
committee	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
Arab	O	O
leadership	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Arabs	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
hardest	ESE	ESE
hit	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
approves	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
in	O	O
child	O	O
benefits	O	O
.	O	O

Khatib	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
also	O	O
chairs	O	O
the	O	O
forum	O	O
of	O	O
Arab	O	O
council	O	O
heads	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
leadership	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
diametrically	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
any	O	O
cutbacks	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
when	O	O
those	O	O
affecting	O	O
the	O	O
lower	O	O
socio-economic	O	O
strata	O	O
of	O	O
society	O	O
.	O	O

His	O	O
words	DSE	DSE
were	DSE	DSE
echoed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Muhammad	O	O
Zaydan	O	O
,	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kafr	O	O
Manda	O	O
Local	O	O
Council	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
town	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
population	O	O
of	O	O
14,000	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
top	O	O
of	O	O
unemployment	O	O
lists	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
months	O	O
.	O	O

Zaydan	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
proposed	DSE	DSE
cut	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
child	DSE	O
benefits	DSE	O
would	O	O
deal	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
body	ESE	ESE
blow	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
all	O	O
those	O	O
already	O	O
classed	DSE	O
as	O	O
being	O	O
below	O	O
the	O	O
poverty	O	O
line	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Those	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
work	O	ESE
now	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	ESE
rely	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
benefits	O	ESE
to	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
their	O	O
families	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	O
find	O	O
themselves	O	O
in	O	O
an	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
situation	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	ESE	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
ramifications	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
children	ESE	O
skipping	ESE	O
school	ESE	O
,	O	O
going	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
onto	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
streets	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
getting	ESE	O
mixed	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
crime	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
drugs	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	DSE	O
already	ESE	DSE
see	ESE	DSE
that	ESE	O
now	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
unemployment	O	O
situation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Officially	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
23	O	O
%	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
working	O	O
population	O	O
are	O	O
registered	O	O
as	O	O
looking	O	O
for	O	O
work	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
council	O	O
officials	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
real	O	O
figures	O	O
are	O	O
much	ESE	ESE
higher	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
maintain	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	ESE	O
women	O	O
and	O	O
young	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
lost	O	O
their	O	O
jobs	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
who	O	O
are	O	O
either	O	O
no	O	O
longer	O	O
registered	O	O
or	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
sign	O	O
as	O	O
jobless	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
place	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
remember	DSE	DSE
when	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
prime	O	O
minister	O	O
Yitzhaq	O	O
Rabin	O	O
did	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
discrimination	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
existed	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
and	O	O
equalized	O	ESE
child	O	ESE
benefits	O	ESE
regardless	O	ESE
of	O	O
whether	O	O
parents	O	O
had	O	O
served	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
or	O	O
not	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Zaydan	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
applauded	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
move	O	O
because	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
it	O	O
made	O	O
us	O	O
begin	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
feel	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
we	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Arabs	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
integral	ESE	ESE
part	O	ESE
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
society	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
this	O	O
move	O	O
goes	O	O
through	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
once	DSE	DSE
again	DSE	DSE
feel	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
we	O	O
are	O	DSE
being	ESE	DSE
discriminated	ESE	DSE
against	ESE	DSE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Confounding	O	O
previous	O	O
forecasts	DSE	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
economic	O	O
recovery	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
Bureau	O	O
of	O	O
Statistics	O	O
today	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
industrial	O	O
output	O	O
remained	O	ESE
unchanged	O	ESE
in	O	O
February	O	O
trend	O	O
data	O	O
.	O	O

Trend	O	O
figures	O	O
for	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
showed	O	O
a	O	O
5.5	O	O
%	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
industrial	O	O
output	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
figure	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
high-tech	O	O
crisis	O	O
is	O	O
continuing	O	O
.	O	O

High-tech	O	O
output	O	O
fell	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
annualized	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
in	O	O
January-February	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
an	O	O
8.5	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

Output	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
electronics	O	O
,	O	O
transportation	O	O
tools	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
pharmaceutical	O	O
industries	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
of	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
industrial	O	O
sectors	O	O
posted	O	O
output	O	O
increases	O	O
of	O	O
0-7	O	O
%	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
terms	O	O
.	O	O

Output	O	O
in	O	O
consumer	O	O
industries	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
food	O	O
,	O	O
beverages	O	O
,	O	O
textiles	O	O
,	O	O
clothing	O	O
,	O	O
footwear	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
printing	O	O
,	O	O
declined	O	DSE
by	O	O
an	O	O
average	O	O
of	O	O
2.5	O	O
%	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
terms	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
4	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
slowdown	O	O
in	O	O
industry	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
an	O	O
annualized	O	O
2.5	O	O
%	O	O
fall	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
industrial	O	O
wage-earners	O	O
,	O	O
similar	O	O
to	O	O
January	O	O
's	O	O
decline	O	O
and	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
2.8	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
wage-earners	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
by	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
12,000	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
10,000	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
average	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
per	O	O
employee	O	O
work	O	O
hours	O	O
was	O	O
unchanged	O	O
in	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
an	O	O
annualized	O	O
2.5	O	O
%	O	O
decline	O	O
in	O	O
January	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
4.8	O	O
%	O	O
drop	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
trend	O	O
data	O	O
for	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

Seasonally	O	O
adjusted	O	O
figures	O	O
indicate	O	O
industrial	O	O
activity	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	ESE
declining	O	ESE
.	O	O

Industrial	O	O
output	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
cumulative	O	O
3	O	O
%	O	O
since	O	O
mid-2001	O	O
and	O	O
10	O	O
%	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
disturbances	O	O
in	O	O
late	O	O
September	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seasonally	O	O
adjusted	O	O
number	O	O
per	O	O
employee	O	O
work	O	O
hours	O	O
has	O	O
fallen	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
overall	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
since	O	O
October	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
uses	O	O
the	O	O
seasonally	O	O
adjusted	O	O
data	O	O
to	O	O
calculate	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Economy	O	O
Index	O	O
and	O	O
estimate	O	O
business	O	O
activity	O	O
.	O	O

5:14	O	O
pm	O	O
Sat	O	O
May	O	O
4th	O	O
,	O	O
2002	O	O
--	O	O
Thirty-two	O	O
non-governmental	O	O
organisations	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
NGOs	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
today	O	O
said	O	DSE
they	O	O
have	O	O
suspended	O	O
all	O	O
engagements	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
Commission	O	O
or	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
for	O	O
100	O	O
days	O	O
since	O	O
April	O	O
24	O	O
-	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
appointments	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
commission	O	O
took	O	O
effect	O	O
.	O	O

Speaking	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
,	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
organisation	O	O
,	O	O
Hakam	O	O
president	O	O
Ramdas	O	O
Tikamdas	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
boycott	O	DSE
was	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
poor	ESE	O
response	ESE	O
to	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
numerous	O	DSE
recommendations	DSE	DSE
thus	O	ESE
far	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
note	DSE	DSE
with	DSE	DSE
deep	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	ESE
largely	DSE	ESE
ignored	DSE	ESE
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
maiden	O	O
report	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
assembly	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Whereas	O	O
the	O	O
Kesas	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
submitted	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
public	O	O
inquiry	O	O
,	O	O
earned	O	O
the	O	O
disdain	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
wrath	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Dr	O	O
Mahathir	O	O
Mohamad	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
who	O	O
summarily	DSE	DSE
dismissed	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
product	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
`	ESE	O
western	ESE	ESE
biased	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
during	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Selangor	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Assembly	O	O
Hall	O	O
in	O	O
Kuala	O	O
Lumpur	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Kesas	O	O
report	O	O
irked	DSE	DSE
Mahathir	O	O
after	O	O
it	O	O
found	O	O
the	O	O
police	O	O
guilty	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
using	ESE	O
excessive	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
during	O	O
a	O	O
mass	O	O
anti-government	O	O
gathering	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
Kesas	O	O
highway	O	O
on	O	O
Nov	O	O
5	O	O
,	O	O
2000	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
failed	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
respect	DSE	DSE
or	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
lamented	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
decline	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
.	O	O

Ramdas	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
failure	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
adhere	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
commission	O	O
's	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
creates	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
Suhakam	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
but	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
mere	ESE	ESE
public	ESE	ESE
relations	ESE	ESE
tool	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Over	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
two	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	ESE
Malaysia	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
deteriorated	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
increasing	O	O
numbers	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
detained	O	O
without	O	O
trial	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Internal	O	O
Security	O	O
Act	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
blanket	O	O
police	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
assemblies	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
restrictions	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
of	O	O
free	O	DSE
speech	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
expression	O	DSE
and	O	O
with	O	O
further	O	O
restrictive	O	O
amendments	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
laws	O	O
,	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
further	ESE	DSE
denied	ESE	DSE
our	ESE	O
democratic	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
also	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
yet	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
show	ESE	ESE
its	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
respect	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
universal	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
principles	O	O
by	O	O
ratifying	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
instruments	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
namely	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Covenant	O	O
on	O	O
Civil	O	O
and	O	O
Political	O	O
Rights	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Covenant	O	O
on	O	O
Economic	O	O
,	O	O
Social	O	O
and	O	O
Cultural	O	O
Rights	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Covenant	O	O
Against	O	O
Torture	O	O
.	O	O

Controversial	O	ESE
appointments	O	ESE

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
another	O	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
raised	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
independence	O	O
following	O	O
the	O	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
former	O	O
attorney-general	O	O
Abu	O	O
Talib	O	O
Othman	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
new	O	O
chairperson	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
decision	DSE	DSE
not	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
renew	O	DSE
the	O	O
appointments	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
commissioners	O	O
,	O	O
Anuar	O	O
Zainal	O	O
Abidin	O	O
,	O	O
Prof	O	O
Mehrun	O	O
Siraj	O	O
and	O	O
Dr	O	O
Salleh	O	O
Mohd	O	O
Nor	O	O
.	O	O

Ramdas	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
it	O	DSE
was	DSE	DSE
perceived	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Anuar	O	O
and	O	O
Mehrun	O	O
,	O	O
instrumental	ESE	ESE
behind	O	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
scathing	DSE	ESE
Kesas	DSE	O
report	DSE	O
,	O	O
were	O	ESE
dropped	O	ESE
for	O	O
performing	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
duties	DSE	O
without	ESE	ESE
fear	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
favour	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
three	O	O
commissioners	O	O
have	O	O
now	O	O
been	O	O
axed	ESE	O
is	O	O
a	O	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
signal	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
other	O	O
commissioners	O	O
that	O	O
their	O	O
tenure	O	O
is	O	O
dependent	O	O
on	O	O
whether	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
they	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
pleased	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
executive	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
clearly	ESE	ESE
undermines	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
independence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commission	O	O
and	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
erode	ESE	ESE
public	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
confidence	ESE	DSE
on	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

On	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
hand	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
there	O	O
is	O	O
nothing	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
public	O	O
records	O	O
which	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
Abu	O	O
Talib	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
protecting	DSE	O
civil	O	O
liberties	O	O
and	O	O
advancing	DSE	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

Claiming	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
nothing	ESE	ESE
personal	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
said	O	DSE
their	O	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
defense	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1987	O	O
`	O	O
Ops	O	ESE
Lalang	O	ESE
'	O	O
where	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
100	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
detained	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
ISA	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Internal	O	O
Security	O	O
Act	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Abu	O	O
Talib	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
his	O	O
tenure	O	O
as	O	O
AG	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
attorney	O	O
general	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
instrumental	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
impeachment	O	O
of	O	O
then	O	O
Lord	O	O
President	O	O
Salleh	O	O
Abas	O	O
and	O	O
five	O	O
Supreme	O	O
Court	O	O
judges	O	O
in	O	O
1988	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
NGOs	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
appointment	O	O
of	O	O
five	O	O
new	O	O
commissioners	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
being	O	O
made	O	O
up	O	O
mostly	O	O
of	O	O
retired	O	O
civil	O	O
servants	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	O
commissioners	O	O
are	O	O
retired	O	O
Treasury	O	O
deputy	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
Ramon	O	O
Navaratnam	O	O
,	O	O
permanent	O	O
representative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Hasmy	O	O
Agam	O	O
,	O	O
Institute	O	O
of	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Understanding	O	DSE
Malaysia	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Ikim	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
director-general	O	O
Dr	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Monir	O	O
Yaacob	O	O
,	O	O
retired	O	O
Education	O	O
director-general	O	O
Asiah	O	O
Abu	O	O
Samah	O	O
and	O	O
retired	O	O
National	O	O
Population	O	O
and	O	O
Family	O	O
Development	O	O
Board	O	O
director-general	O	O
Dr	O	O
Raj	O	O
Abdul	O	O
Karim	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	O
concern	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
whether	O	O
persons	O	O
used	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
role	O	O
of	O	O
policy	O	O
implementors	O	O
can	O	O
objectively	ESE	O
assess	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
critique	DSE	O
executive	O	O
policies	O	O
which	O	O
impinge	ESE	ESE
on	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Ramdas	O	O
.	O	O

Elaborating	O	O
further	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
,	O	O
Ramdas	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
will	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
hold	O	DSE
any	O	O
dialogues	O	O
,	O	O
send	O	O
any	O	O
memorandums	O	O
or	O	O
complaints	O	DSE
to	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
the	O	O
meantime	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
will	O	O
monitor	O	O
the	O	O
commissioners	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
discharge	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
statutory	O	O
duties	O	O
in	O	O
respect	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
pending	O	DSE
complaints	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
inquires	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
will	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
note	O	DSE
to	O	O
what	O	O
extent	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
will	O	O
monitor	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
compliance	O	O
with	O	O
previous	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
various	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
issues	O	O
contained	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
maiden	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Parliament	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
other	O	O
reports	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

Ramdas	O	O
said	DSE	O
Suhakam	O	O
's	O	O
performance	O	O
will	DSE	ESE
be	DSE	ESE
judged	DSE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
statements	O	O
issued	O	O
or	O	O
reports	O	O
produced	O	O
but	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
improvement	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
When	O	O
the	O	O
bill	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
Act	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
was	O	O
tabled	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
parliament	O	O
,	O	O
our	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
Minister	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Syed	O	O
Hamid	O	O
Albar	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
promised	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
positive	ESE	ESE
development	ESE	O
in	O	O
protecting	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
promoting	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
in	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
are	DSE	O
now	DSE	O
looking	DSE	O
at	DSE	O
Suhakam	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
institution	O	O
to	ESE	O
fulfill	ESE	O
this	ESE	DSE
promise	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
Ramdas	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
will	O	O
meet	O	O
again	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
100-day	O	O
period	O	O
to	O	O
review	O	O
their	O	O
position	O	DSE
.	O	O

Apart	O	ESE
from	O	O
Hakam	O	O
,	O	O
other	O	O
notable	O	O
NGOs	O	O
involved	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
Trades	O	O
Union	O	O
Congress	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MTUC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Suaram	O	O
,	O	O
Amesty	O	O
International	O	O
's	O	O
Malaysian	O	O
chapter	O	O
,	O	O
Jamaah	O	O
Islah	O	O
Malaysia	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Jim	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
Sisters	O	O
in	O	O
Islam	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
SIS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Boycott	O	ESE
unfair	ESE	ESE

In	O	O
a	O	O
related	O	O
development	O	O
,	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
commissioner	O	O
Prof	O	O
Hamdan	O	O
Adnan	O	O
told	O	O
malaysiakini	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
disappointed	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
boycott	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
unfair	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
of	O	O
resorting	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
measures	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
commissioner	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
work	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
Suhakam	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
advancement	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
boycott	O	DSE
could	ESE	ESE
create	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
were	O	O
acting	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
self	ESE	ESE
interest	ESE	O
and	O	O
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
honest	ESE	ESE
about	ESE	O
championing	ESE	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	ESE
action	O	ESE
shows	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
NGOs	O	O
themselves	ESE	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
acknowledge	DSE	DSE
Suhakam	O	O
and	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
work	DSE	O
with	O	O
us	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Hamdan	O	O
.	O	O

Srinagar	O	O
,	O	O
May	O	O
5	O	O
:	O	O
With	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
charred	O	O
remains	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
more	O	O
persons	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
debris	O	O
at	O	O
Varmul	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
toll	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Syed	O	O
Karim	O	O
Sahib	O	O
encounter	O	O
has	O	O
risen	O	O
to	O	O
six	O	O
.	O	O

Elsewhere	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
seven	O	O
militants	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
securityman	O	O
were	O	O
among	O	O
11	O	O
people	O	O
killed	O	O
since	O	O
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
defence	O	O
spokesman	O	O
said	O	O
today	O	O
the	O	O
charred	O	O
remains	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
more	O	O
persons	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Varmul	O	O
encounter	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
were	O	O
recovered	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
debris	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
burnt	O	O
houses	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
and	O	O
ammunition	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
place	O	O
included	O	O
six	O	O
AK	O	O
rifles	O	O
,	O	O
15	O	O
magazines	O	O
and	O	O
two	O	O
radio	O	O
sets	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
exchange	O	O
of	O	O
fire	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
militants	O	O
and	O	O
troops	O	O
at	O	O
Sadnara	O	O
,	O	O
Panzalla	O	O
in	O	O
Varmul	O	O
district	O	O
today	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
civilian	O	O
Fayaz	O	O
Ahmad	O	O
Mir	O	O
was	O	O
killed	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
are	O	O
investigating	O	O
.	O	O

Two	O	O
militants	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
encounter	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
troops/SOG	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Special	O	O
Operations	O	O
Group	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
at	O	O
Dhok	O	O
Wali	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Poonch	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
identity	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
slain	O	O
militants	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
ascertained	O	ESE
.	O	O

Body	O	O
of	O	O
Feroz	O	O
Ahmad	O	O
Dar	O	O
of	O	O
Gaddapora	O	O
,	O	O
Shopian	O	O
was	O	O
recovered	O	O
from	O	O
village	O	O
Hajipora	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
deceased	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	O	O
shopkeeper	O	O
by	O	O
profession	O	O
was	O	O
abducted	O	O
by	O	O
unidentified	O	O
gunmen	O	O
from	O	O
his	O	O
house	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
have	O	O
registered	O	O
a	O	O
case	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Lashkar	O	O
militant	O	O
was	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
encounter	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
at	O	O
Chor	O	O
Gali	O	O
in	O	O
Shopian	O	O
area	O	O
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

Unidentified	O	O
gunmen	O	O
forced	O	O
entry	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
house	O	O
of	O	O
Sulaiman	O	O
alias	O	O
Muhammad	O	O
Sultan	O	O
of	O	O
Khawas	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Budhal	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
of	O	O
Rajouri	O	O
district	O	O
yesterday	O	O
and	O	O
shot	O	O
him	O	O
dead	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
have	O	O
taken	O	O
cognizance	O	O
.	O	O

Three	O	O
unidentified	O	O
persons	O	O
were	O	O
shot	O	ESE
dead	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Chola	O	O
Nallah	O	O
near	O	O
LoC	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Line	O	O
of	O	O
Control	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Poonch	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
soldier	O	O
sustained	O	O
injuries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
shoot	O	O
out	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
soldier	O	O
Ram	O	O
Karan	O	O
Singh	O	O
died	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
exchange	O	O
of	O	O
fire	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
militants	O	O
at	O	O
Bhelti	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Doda	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

Details	O	O
are	O	O
awaited	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
militant	O	O
whose	O	O
identity	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
ascertained	O	ESE
was	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
encounter	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
troops	O	O
at	O	O
Mutgala	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Gool	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

Shanghai	O	O
,	O	O
May	O	O
9	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
XINHUA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
spreading	O	O
AIDS	O	O
epidemic	O	O
is	O	O
threatening	ESE	DSE
Asia	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
,	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
officials	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Program	O	O
on	O	O
HIV/AIDS	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
UNAIDS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Health	O	O
Organization	O	O
and	O	O
bank	O	O
delegates	O	O
at	O	O
``	O	O
Investing	O	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
's	O	O
Health	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
Asian	O	O
Development	O	O
Bank	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ADB	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
seminar	O	O
held	O	O
here	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Statistics	O	O
show	O	O
that	O	O
about	O	O
two	O	O
people	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
region	O	O
are	O	O
infected	O	ESE
every	O	ESE
minute	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
total	O	O
of	O	O
over	O	O
one	O	O
million	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
infected	O	O
in	O	O
2001	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
AIDS	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
casting	ESE	ESE
shadow	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
Asia	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
miracle	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
turning	O	O
into	O	O
a	O	O
global	ESE	O
crisis	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
accounts	O	O
for	O	O
60	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
population	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Michel	O	O
Sidibe	O	O
,	O	O
Director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Country	O	O
and	O	O
Regional	O	O
Support	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
UNAIDS	O	O
.	O	O

Research	O	O
newly	O	O
released	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
WHO	O	O
indicates	O	O
that	O	O
societies	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
heavy	O	ESE
burden	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
disease	O	ESE
tend	O	O
to	O	O
experience	O	O
a	O	O
multiplicity	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
severe	O	ESE
impediments	O	ESE
to	O	O
economic	O	O
progress	O	O
especially	O	ESE
to	O	O
sustainable	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
suggests	O	ESE
that	O	O
each	O	ESE
10	O	ESE
percent	O	ESE
improvement	O	ESE
in	O	O
life	O	O
expectancy	O	DSE
at	O	O
birth	O	O
is	O	O
associated	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
rise	O	O
in	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
of	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
0.3	O	O
to	O	O
0.4	O	O
percent	O	O
per	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
With	O	O
an	O	O
alarming	ESE	ESE
infection	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
in	O	O
many	O	O
Asian	O	O
Pacific	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
care	O	O
for	O	O
AIDS	O	O
is	O	O
over-burdening	ESE	O
the	O	O
health	O	O
care	O	O
system	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
taking	ESE	DSE
away	ESE	DSE
from	ESE	O
provision	O	O
of	O	O
other	O	O
health	O	O
services	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Sidibe	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
countries	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
India	O	O
where	O	O
AIDS	O	O
was	O	O
still	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
early	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
AIDS	O	O
pandemic	O	O
,	O	O
timely	ESE	O
control	O	O
measures	O	O
were	ESE	DSE
critical	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
head	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
explosive	ESE	ESE
growth	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
infection	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
these	O	O
demanded	ESE	DSE
heavy	ESE	O
expenditure	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Jeffrey	O	O
Sachs	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Center	O	O
for	O	O
International	O	O
Development	O	O
at	O	O
Harvard	O	O
University	O	O
and	O	O
chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
WHO	O	O
Commission	O	O
on	O	O
Macroeconomics	O	O
and	O	O
Health	O	O
,	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
fully	DSE	ESE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
investing	O	O
in	O	O
health	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
overall	O	O
development	O	O
strategy	DSE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
his	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Macroeconomics	O	O
and	O	O
Health	O	O
:	O	O
Investing	O	O
in	O	O
Health	O	O
for	O	O
Economic	O	O
Development	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
released	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
WHO	O	O
last	O	O
December	O	O
,	O	O
Sachs	O	O
estimated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
total	O	O
annual	O	O
health	O	O
outlays	O	O
in	O	ESE
world	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
least	O	ESE
-	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
rise	O	ESE
by	O	O
17	O	O
billion	O	O
U.S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
by	O	O
2007	O	O
and	O	O
29	O	O
billion	O	O
U.S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
by	O	O
2015	O	O
and	O	O
AIDS	O	O
prevention	O	O
and	O	O
care	O	O
would	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
half	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
low-income	O	O
countries	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
able	O	ESE
to	O	O
pay	O	O
14	O	O
billion	O	O
U.	O	O
S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
and	O	O
21	O	O
billion	O	O
U.S.	O	O
dollars	O	O
respectively	O	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Sachs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
WHO	O	O
's	O	O
recommendations	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
each	O	O
developing	O	O
country	O	O
include	O	O
increasing	O	O
investment	O	O
in	O	O
health	O	O
and	O	O
relevant	O	O
areas	O	O
like	O	O
education	O	O
,	O	O
water	O	O
and	O	O
agricultural	O	O
development	O	O
;	O	O
the	O	O
establishing	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
temporary	O	O
National	O	O
Commission	O	O
on	O	O
Macroeconomics	O	O
and	O	O
Health	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
NCMH	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
chaired	O	O
jointly	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Ministers	O	O
of	O	O
Health	O	O
and	O	O
Finance	O	O
to	O	O
organize	O	O
and	O	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
medical	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
economic	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
AIDS	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
diseases	O	O
.	O	O

Sachs	O	O
also	DSE	O
addressed	DSE	O
the	O	O
exacerbating	ESE	O
condition	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
AIDS	O	O
pandemic	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
China	O	O
had	O	O
the	O	O
technical	O	O
ability	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
AIDS	O	O
infection	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
still	ESE	O
needed	ESE	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	O	O
strategy	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
local	O	O
surveillance	O	O
network	O	O
,	O	O
increasing	O	O
government	O	O
subsidiary	O	O
and	O	O
free	O	O
medicine	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
seminar	O	O
is	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
serial	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ongoing	O	O
35th	O	O
Annual	O	O
Meeting	O	O
of	O	O
ADB	O	O
's	O	O
Board	O	O
of	O	O
Governors	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
victory	O	O
leaves	O	ESE
West	O	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
tatters	ESE	ESE

HARARE	O	O
:	O	O
Western	O	O
countries	O	O
were	DSE	O
left	DSE	O
frustrated	DSE	O
and	O	O
impotent	O	O
after	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
formally	O	DSE
declared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
had	O	O
overwhelmingly	ESE	O
won	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
extent	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
which	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
outmanoeuvred	ESE	O
the	O	O
west	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
made	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
when	O	O
southern	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
issued	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
surprise	ESE	DSE
statement	O	DSE
declaring	DSE	O
the	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
move	O	O
is	O	O
almost	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
scupper	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
hope	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
suspending	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
next	O	O
week	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
weekend	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
,	O	O
prodded	ESE	O
by	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
extend	O	DSE
the	O	O
range	O	O
of	O	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
targeting	O	O
more	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
leadership	O	O
.	O	O

Earlier	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
imposed	O	O
a	O	O
travel	O	O
ban	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
19	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
regime	O	O
and	O	O
froze	O	O
their	O	O
overseas	O	O
assets	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
there	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
illusions	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Britain	O	O
or	O	O
elsewhere	O	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
measures	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
real	ESE	ESE
leverage	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
registrar-general	O	O
,	O	O
Tobaiwa	O	O
Mudede	O	O
,	O	O
declared	O	DSE
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
had	O	O
won	O	O
a	O	O
fifth	O	O
term	O	O
in	O	O
office	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
from	O	O
all	O	O
120	O	O
constituencies	O	O
were	O	O
returned	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
had	O	O
won	O	O
1,685,212	O	O
votes	O	O
against	O	O
1,258,401	O	O
for	O	O
challenger	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
leader	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	ESE
foresaw	DSE	ESE
electoral	O	ESE
fraud	ESE	ESE
but	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
daylight	ESE	ESE
robbery	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
find	DSE	O
ourselves	DSE	O
unable	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
endorse	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
purported	ESE	O
election	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
president	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

It	DSE	O
's	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
biggest	ESE	O
election	O	O
fraud	ESE	ESE
I	O	O
've	O	O
witnessed	O	O
in	ESE	O
my	ESE	O
life	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
onus	ESE	O
was	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
lead	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
,	O	O
whether	ESE	O
passively	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
seek	DSE	DSE
no	O	DSE
confrontation	O	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
state	O	O
because	ESE	O
that	O	O
's	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
themselves	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
action	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
Harare	O	O
townships	O	O
where	O	O
people	O	O
stood	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
line	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
two	DSE	O
days	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
vote	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
belief	DSE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
consigning	ESE	O
Mugabe	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
,	O	O
angry	DSE	DSE
residents	O	O
looked	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
to	O	O
confront	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	ESE
need	DSE	ESE
Tsvangirai	O	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
tell	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
he	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
steal	ESE	ESE
this	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Noel	O	O
Gukuta	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
youthful	O	O
MDC	O	O
voter	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
soldiers	O	O
have	O	O
guns	O	O
so	O	O
we	O	O
can	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
fight	O	DSE
him	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	ESE
can	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
sure	ESE	ESE
he	O	O
can	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
rule	O	ESE
us	O	ESE
.	O	O

We	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
strike	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
march	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
must	ESE	ESE
show	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
we	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
goats	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
country	O	O
took	O	O
the	O	O
news	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
victory	O	O
with	O	O
no	DSE	ESE
great	DSE	ESE
celebrations	DSE	ESE
or	DSE	O
protests	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
sensing	O	DSE
murmurs	DSE	DSE
about	DSE	O
revolt	DSE	O
,	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
on	O	O
full	O	O
alert	O	O
,	O	O
deployed	O	O
troops	O	O
in	O	O
key	O	O
townships	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
police	O	O
set	O	O
up	O	O
roadblocks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
roads	O	O
into	O	O
Harare	O	O
to	O	O
stop	O	O
and	O	O
search	O	O
vehicles	O	O
for	O	O
weapons	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
UK	O	O
foreign	O	O
secretary	O	O
,	O	O
Jack	O	O
Straw	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
For	O	O
months	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
has	O	O
conducted	O	O
a	O	O
systematic	ESE	O
campaign	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
designed	O	O
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
an	O	O
outcome	O	O
-	O	O
power	ESE	O
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
costs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
senior	O	O
state	O	O
department	O	O
official	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
later	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
're	O	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
further	O	O
steps	O	O
,	O	O
given	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
things	O	O
that	O	O
happened	O	O
before	O	O
and	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Apart	DSE	ESE
from	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
result	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
jolt	ESE	O
yesterday	O	O
was	O	O
that	O	O
election	O	O
observers	O	O
from	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
and	O	O
Namibia	O	O
effectively	O	DSE
endorsed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	ESE
our	O	ESE
considered	DSE	ESE
view	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
reflects	ESE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
wishes	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Namibia	O	O
's	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
watertight	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
without	ESE	ESE
room	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
rigging	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
team	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
observers	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
they	O	ESE
had	O	ESE
seen	O	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
threatened	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
integrity	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
trio	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
decide	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
action	O	O
next	O	O
week	O	O
is	O	O
made	O	O
up	O	O
of	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	DSE	O
back	DSE	O
suspension	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
Thabo	O	O
Mbeki	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Nigerian	O	O
president	O	O
,	O	O
Olusegun	O	O
Obasanjo	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
the	O	O
leadership	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
congress	O	O
of	O	O
trade	O	O
unions	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
calling	O	DSE
a	O	O
two-day	O	O
general	O	O
strike	O	O
to	O	O
test	O	O
whether	ESE	O
there	O	O
would	ESE	DSE
be	O	DSE
popular	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
a	O	DSE
longer	O	DSE
protest	O	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
various	O	O
civil	O	O
rights	O	O
groups	O	O
are	O	O
meeting	O	O
today	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
mass	O	O
civil	O	O
disobedience	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
's	O	O
lawyers	O	O
are	O	O
also	O	O
studying	O	O
the	O	O
possibility	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
legal	O	ESE
action	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
final	O	O
results	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
made	O	O
a	O	O
net	O	O
gain	O	O
of	O	O
votes	O	O
compared	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
election	O	O
in	O	O
every	O	O
province	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
evidence	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
vote	O	ESE
tampering	O	ESE
in	O	O
some	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
ballots	O	O
dropped	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
box	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
cross	O	O
by	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
name	O	O
were	O	O
not	O	ESE
fraudulent	O	ESE
.	O	O

There	O	O
has	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
no	O	DSE
criticism	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
count	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
runaway	ESE	ESE
victory	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
justice	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
Patrick	O	O
Chinamasa	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
was	O	O
won	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

US	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
termed	DSE	DSE
inaccurate	ESE	DSE

ISLAMABAD	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
5	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
government	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
Report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
factually	O	ESE
inaccurate	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
unwarranted	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
reflected	O	DSE
tendency	O	DSE
of	O	O
some	O	O
states	O	O
to	O	O
sit	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
judgment	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
reports	O	O
fails	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
acknowledge	O	ESE
the	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
policy	O	ESE
measures	O	O
and	O	O
initiatives	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
to	O	DSE
promote	O	DSE
and	O	O
protect	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
issued	O	DSE
by	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Office	O	O
spokesman	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
termed	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
factually	ESE	ESE
inaccurate	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
unwarranted	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
pointed	O	DSE
out	O	DSE
that	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	DSE
goals	DSE	DSE
set	O	DSE
at	O	O
an	O	O
April	O	O
2000	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
conference	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
achieved	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
added	O	DSE
had	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
ignored	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

Enlisting	O	O
these	O	O
initiatives	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
recalled	O	O
that	O	O
these	O	O
include	O	O
promulgation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Juvenile	O	O
Justice	O	O
System	O	O
Ordinance	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
permanent	O	O
commission	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
status	O	O
of	O	O
women	O	O
,	O	O
police	O	O
and	O	O
jail	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
national	O	O
policy	O	O
and	O	O
plan	O	O
of	O	O
action	O	O
for	O	O
elimination	O	O
of	O	O
child	O	O
labour	O	O
and	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
fund	O	O
for	O	O
rehabilitation	O	O
of	O	O
working	O	O
children	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
added	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
amended	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
Citizenship	O	O
Act	O	O
of	O	O
1951	O	O
to	O	O
enable	O	O
women	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
descent	O	O
to	O	O
claim	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
nationality	O	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
children	O	O
born	O	O
to	O	O
foreign	O	O
husbands	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
mass	O	O
awareness	O	O
campaign	O	O
was	O	O
launched	O	O
as	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
observance	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Year	O	O
2000	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
of	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
and	O	O
Human	O	O
Dignity	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
added	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
addition	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
also	O	O
ratified	O	O
ILO	O	O
Conventions	O	O
100	O	O
on	O	O
equal	O	O
remuneration	O	O
and	O	O
182	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
elimination	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
worst	O	ESE
forms	O	ESE
of	O	O
child	O	O
labour	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
signed	O	O
the	O	O
Optional	O	O
Protocols	O	O
to	O	O
Convention	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Rights	O	O
of	O	O
Child	O	O
.	O	O

Recently	O	O
the	O	O
system	O	O
of	O	O
joint	O	O
electorates	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
introduced	O	O
respecting	ESE	DSE
the	O	DSE
wishes	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
minority	O	O
communities	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	O	ESE
these	O	ESE
developments	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
states	DSE	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
record	O	O
remained	O	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
is	O	O
unacceptable	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
a	O	O
gross	ESE	ESE
misstatement	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
facts	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
therefore	O	O
,	O	O
feels	DSE	DSE
constrained	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
reject	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
assessment	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
about	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
tendency	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
states	O	O
to	O	O
sit	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
judgment	ESE	ESE
over	O	O
others	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
cause	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
better	ESE	ESE
served	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
states	O	DSE
,	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
cooperation	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
understanding	ESE	DSE
address	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
they	O	O
face	O	O
in	O	O
promoting	O	O
and	O	O
protecting	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
it	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
says	O	DSE
he	O	O
is	DSE	O
wide	DSE	ESE
awake	DSE	ESE
for	O	ESE
polls	O	ESE

HARARE	O	O
,	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
:	O	O
A	O	O
defiant	DSE	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
said	DSE	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
had	O	O
lost	ESE	O
ground	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
through	O	O
complacency	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
but	O	O
would	ESE	O
win	ESE	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
anyway	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
state	O	O
radio	O	O
reported	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
are	O	DSE
now	O	DSE
wide	DSE	DSE
awake	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
said	O	DSE
at	O	O
a	O	O
rally	O	O
Monday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	ESE
wo	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
let	O	ESE
the	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
win	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Mugabe	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	O
donkey	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
controlled	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
British	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
colonial	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
fledgling	O	O
MDC	O	O
won	O	O
57	O	O
of	O	O
120	O	O
elected	O	O
seats	O	O
in	O	O
June	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
elections	O	O
as	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
popularity	O	O
plunged	O	O
amid	O	O
economic	O	ESE
devastation	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
chaos	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
released	O	O
a	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Monday	O	O
that	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
extrajudicial	O	ESE
killings	O	ESE
,	O	O
undermining	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
independence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
judiciary	O	O
and	O	O
waging	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
systematic	ESE	O
campaign	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
targeting	O	O
supporters	O	O
and	O	O
potential	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Security	DSE	O
forces	O	O
tortured	O	O
opponents	O	O
,	O	O
ruling	O	O
party	O	O
militants	O	O
abducted	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
police	O	O
arrested	O	O
opposition	O	O
supporters	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
themselves	O	O
the	O	O
victims	O	O
of	O	O
crimes	O	O
.	O	O

Freedom	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
and	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
assembly	O	O
were	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
severely	ESE	ESE
restricted	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
his	O	O
speech	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
thanked	DSE	DSE
African	O	O
leaders	O	O
for	O	O
refusing	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
buckle	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
pressure	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
suspend	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
of	O	O
Britain	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
former	O	O
territories	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
summit	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
54-nation	O	O
grouping	O	O
in	O	O
Australia	O	O
.	O	O

Britain	O	O
,	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
Canada	O	O
and	O	O
New	O	O
Zealand	O	O
demanded	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
suspension	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
state-sponsored	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
abuses	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
defer	O	O
the	O	O
possible	ESE	O
suspension	O	O
until	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
observers	O	O
report	O	O
back	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
a	O	O
victory	ESE	O
against	O	O
Britain	O	O
's	O	O
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
introduce	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
apartheid	ESE	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
serve	O	O
Western	O	O
interests	O	O
in	O	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Tendai	O	O
Biti	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
affairs	O	O
spokesman	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
trying	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
hide	ESE	O
his	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
intimidation	O	ESE
behind	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
rift	O	ESE
with	O	O
Britain	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
Zimbabwe-Britain	O	ESE
crisis	O	ESE
.	O	O

Our	DSE	O
people	O	O
are	O	O
being	O	O
brutalised	ESE	ESE
by	O	ESE
fellow	O	ESE
black	O	ESE
Zimbabweans	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
we	O	O
would	DSE	O
want	DSE	ESE
our	O	ESE
African	O	ESE
brothers	O	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
have	DSE	DSE
understood	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

African	O	O
leaders	O	O
closed	ESE	O
ranks	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
summit	O	O
out	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
fear	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
problems	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
and	O	O
good	O	ESE
governance	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
mirrored	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
their	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Biti	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
state-run	O	O
Herald	O	O
newspaper	O	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
government	ESE	O
mouthpiece	ESE	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Tuesday	O	O
British	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tony	O	O
Blair	O	O
had	O	O
showed	O	ESE
personal	ESE	ESE
arrogance	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
an	DSE	ESE
obsession	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	ESE
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
shallowness	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
commitment	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
democracy	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
election	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
and	O	O
Sunday	O	O
presents	O	O
the	O	O
strongest-ever	ESE	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
to	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
rule	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
opposition	O	O
accuses	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
using	O	O
violence	O	O
,	O	O
intimidation	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
new	O	ESE
security	O	ESE
laws	O	O
to	DSE	O
cow	ESE	O
its	O	O
voters	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
it	O	O
from	O	O
effectively	O	O
campaigning	O	O
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
diplomats	O	O
based	O	O
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
said	O	O
Monday	O	O
police	O	O
prevented	O	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
finishing	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
with	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
declared	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
with	O	O
about	O	O
35	O	O
ambassadors	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
staffs	O	O
illegal	O	O
under	O	O
new	O	O
security	O	O
laws	O	O
requiring	O	O
police	O	O
permission	O	O
for	O	O
political	O	O
gatherings	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
called	O	DSE
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
food	O	O
shortages	O	O
gripping	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
and	O	O
measures	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
combat	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
diplomats	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Police	O	O
had	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
immediate	O	ESE
comment	O	ESE
.	O	O

State	O	O
radio	O	O
also	O	O
reported	O	O
Monday	O	O
that	O	O
three	O	O
opposition	O	O
lawmakers	O	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
bribe	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
air	O	O
force	O	O
commander	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
calm	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
if	O	ESE
Mugabe	O	ESE
were	O	ESE
removed	O	ESE
.	O	O

Opposition	O	O
officials	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
claim	DSE	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
government	O	O
smear	ESE	ESE
campaign	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Foreign	O	O
governments	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
pressed	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
restore	O	O
the	O	O
rule	O	O
of	O	O
law	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
promised	DSE	DSE
he	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	ESE
violence	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
escalated	O	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
dozens	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
February	O	O
.	O	O

Officials	O	O
bristle	DSE	O
at	DSE	O
US	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O

Local	O	O
authorities	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
-	DSE	O
but	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
surprise	DSE	ESE
-	O	O
with	O	O
regard	O	O
to	O	O
excerpts	O	O
about	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
copy	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
delivered	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
official	O	O
source	O	O
who	O	O
described	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
reaction	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
an	O	O
annual	O	O
event	O	O
and	O	O
emphasized	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
not	O	O
directed	O	O
at	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
only	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
covered	O	O
several	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
copy	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
criticizes	DSE	DSE
what	O	O
it	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
the	O	O
weakening	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
central	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
prerogatives	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
handed	O	O
over	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
deputy	O	O
chief	O	O
of	O	O
mission	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Embassy	O	O
in	O	O
Awkar	O	O
,	O	O
Carol	O	O
Kalin	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
's	O	O
acting	O	O
director-general	O	O
,	O	O
Naji	O	O
Abi	O	O
Assi	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
source	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
would	O	O
soon	O	O
deliver	O	O
copies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
various	O	O
ministries	O	O
concerned	O	O
,	O	O
especially	O	ESE
the	O	O
Interior	O	O
and	O	O
Municipalities	O	O
Ministry	O	O
,	O	O
prior	O	O
to	O	O
relaying	O	O
its	O	O
observations	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
discrediting	ESE	O
Lebanon	O	O
by	O	O
portraying	DSE	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
as	O	O
being	O	O
undemocratic	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
uncivilized	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
abusing	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
source	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
source	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
'	O	O
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
contents	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
conveyed	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
Ambassador	O	O
Vincent	O	O
Battle	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
returned	O	O
from	O	O
Washington	O	O
on	O	O
Saturday	O	O
after	O	O
participating	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
conference	O	O
of	O	O
American	O	O
envoys	O	O
posted	O	O
to	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Each	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
Lebanon	O	O
sends	O	DSE
an	O	DSE
explanation	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
factors	O	O
outside	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
control	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
source	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
point	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
was	O	O
an	DSE	O
observation	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
judiciary	O	O
was	O	O
subjected	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
political	O	ESE
pressure	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
referring	DSE	O
to	O	O
it	O	O
as	O	O
being	O	O
``	O	O
independent	O	ESE
in	O	O
principle	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
's	O	O
reference	O	O
to	O	O
intelligence	O	O
agents	O	O
'	O	O
monitoring	O	O
the	O	O
activities	O	O
of	O	O
opposition	O	O
politicians	O	O
and	O	O
tapping	O	O
the	O	O
phones	O	O
of	O	O
certain	O	O
government	O	O
leaders	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
harms	ESE	ESE
Lebanon	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
image	O	ESE
as	O	O
a	O	O
democratic	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
source	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

On	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
praised	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
role	O	O
played	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Lebanese	O	O
press	O	O
,	O	O
describing	O	DSE
it	O	O
as	O	O
containing	DSE	O
daily	DSE	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
practices	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
prisoner	O	O
not	O	O
a	O	O
POW	O	O
?	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
brings	O	O
Afghan	O	O
detainees	O	O
to	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O

It	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
going	O	ESE
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
club	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
describing	O	DSE
the	O	O
new	O	O
military	O	O
detention	O	O
camp	O	O
at	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
,	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
nobody	ESE	ESE
ever	ESE	ESE
expected	ESE	DSE
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
110	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
prisoners	O	O
admitted	O	DSE
to	O	O
``	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
are	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
hardest	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hard	ESE	ESE
core	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
men	O	O
who	O	O
had	O	O
killed	O	O
``	O	O
dozens	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
dozens	ESE	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

But	ESE	O
though	ESE	O
it	O	O
may	O	ESE
lack	O	ESE
tennis	O	ESE
courts	O	ESE
and	O	O
a	O	O
putting	O	O
green	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
amenities	O	O
are	O	O
better	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
you	O	ESE
'd	O	ESE
find	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
cave	O	O
at	O	O
Tora	O	O
Bora	O	O
.	O	O

True	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
now	O	ESE
confined	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
6-ft	O	ESE
.	O	O
by	O	O
8-ft	O	O
.	O	O
chain-link	O	O
enclosures	O	O
with	O	O
concrete	O	O
floors	O	O
and	O	O
tin	O	O
roofs	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
thinks	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
pejorative	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
call	O	O
them	O	O
cages	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
relief	O	O
will	O	O
come	O	O
;	O	O
in	O	O
three	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
replace	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
with	O	O
something	O	O
more	O	ESE
permanent	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
meantime	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
--	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
place	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
called	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
early	O	O
1990s	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
housed	O	O
Haitian	O	O
refugees	O	O
--	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
given	O	O
thin	O	O
green	O	O
mats	O	O
and	O	O
blankets	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
to	O	O
sleep	O	O
and	O	O
pray	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
are	O	O
allowed	O	O
to	O	O
shower	O	O
and	O	O
exercise	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
are	O	O
provided	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
medical	O	O
exam	O	O
upon	O	O
admission	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
diet	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
is	ESE	O
someone	ESE	O
making	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
point	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
diversity	ESE	O
here	ESE	O
?	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
ranges	O	O
from	O	O
bagels	O	O
and	O	O
cream	O	O
cheese	O	O
to	O	O
rice	O	O
and	O	O
beans	O	O
--	O	O
all	O	ESE
eaten	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
plastic	O	ESE
utensils	O	O
--	O	O
after	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
may	O	ESE
clean	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
teeth	O	ESE
with	O	O
specially	O	O
shortened	O	O
brushes	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
The	O	O
caution	O	O
makes	ESE	O
sense	ESE	O
;	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
Mamdouh	O	O
Salim	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
operative	O	O
awaiting	O	O
trial	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
City	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1998	O	O
embassy	O	O
bombings	O	O
,	O	O
used	O	O
a	O	O
comb	O	O
to	O	O
stab	O	O
a	O	O
prison	O	O
guard	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
eye	O	O
.	O	O
-RRB-	O	O

So	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
,	O	O
humanitarian	O	O
groups	O	O
have	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
muted	ESE	O
in	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
conditions	O	O
at	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
.	O	O

Last	O	O
week	O	O
a	O	O
delegation	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Committee	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Red	O	O
Cross	O	O
arrived	O	O
to	O	O
inspect	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
and	O	O
offer	DSE	DSE
private	DSE	DSE
recommendations	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
its	O	O
operation	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
press	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
'	O	O
lot	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
a	O	O
public	O	O
issue	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
contention	O	DSE
among	O	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
conduct	O	O
be	O	ESE
above	ESE	ESE
suspicion	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Three	O	O
detainees	O	O
are	O	O
said	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
have	DSE	DSE
claimed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
British	O	O
citizens	O	O
.	O	O

Politicians	O	O
and	O	O
commentators	O	O
in	O	O
London	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
now	DSE	DSE
clamoring	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
all	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
guaranteed	ESE	ESE
treatment	O	ESE
in	O	O
accordance	O	O
with	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Daily	O	O
Telegraph	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
paper	O	O
usually	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
conservative	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
makes	ESE	O
Pat	ESE	O
Buchanan	ESE	O
look	ESE	O
vegetarian	ESE	O
,	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
Washington	O	O
of	O	O
the	ESE	O
need	ESE	O
to	O	O
draw	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
distinction	O	O
between	O	O
civilized	ESE	O
society	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
apocalyptic	ESE	ESE
savagery	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
destroy	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
heart	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
matter	ESE	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
question	O	O
of	O	O
legality	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
resisted	DSE	DSE
calling	O	DSE
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
prisoners	O	O
of	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
preferring	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
terms	O	O
unlawful	ESE	O
combatants	O	O
or	O	O
battlefield	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
's	O	O
easy	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
those	O	ESE
holding	O	ESE
true	O	ESE
POWs	O	ESE
are	O	O
bound	O	O
to	O	O
release	O	O
them	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
hostilities	O	ESE
;	O	O
but	ESE	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
last	ESE	O
thing	ESE	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
do	O	O
with	O	O
men	O	O
who	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
al-Qaeda	O	ESE
operatives	O	ESE
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
by	O	O
convention	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
though	ESE	O
the	O	O
law	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
murky	ESE	ESE
here	ESE	O
-RRB-	O	O
POWs	O	O
do	O	ESE
n't	O	ESE
need	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
tell	O	O
their	O	O
captors	O	O
anything	O	O
other	O	O
than	O	O
their	O	O
name	O	O
,	O	O
rank	O	O
,	O	O
serial	O	O
number	O	O
and	O	O
birthday	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
Washington	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
point	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detention	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
conduct	O	O
interrogations	O	O
and	O	O
thus	O	O
head	O	O
off	O	O
new	O	O
acts	O	O
of	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
contemplate	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
irregular	O	O
forces	O	O
captured	O	O
in	O	O
battle	O	O
need	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
considered	ESE	ESE
POWs	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
apply	O	ESE
to	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
free-floating	O	O
band	O	O
of	O	O
terrorists	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
not	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
those	O	O
at	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
are	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
men	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
--	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
wo	O	DSE
n't	O	DSE
say	O	DSE
how	O	O
many	O	O
--	O	O
were	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
and	O	O
presumably	ESE	DSE
thought	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
were	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
army	O	O
.	O	O

Are	O	ESE
they	O	ESE
POWs	O	ESE
?	O	O

Washington	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
no	O	DSE
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
had	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
clear	O	ESE
chain	O	ESE
of	O	O
command	O	O
and	O	O
was	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
legitimate	ESE	ESE
government	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
unfortunately	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
has	O	O
no	ESE	O
business	ESE	O
making	O	O
such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
determination	O	ESE
.	O	O

Those	O	O
who	O	O
fall	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
enemy	O	O
's	O	O
hands	O	O
are	O	O
entitled	O	O
to	O	O
POW	O	O
status	O	O
until	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
competent	O	ESE
tribunal	O	O
''	O	O
has	O	DSE
determined	O	DSE
their	O	O
status	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
n't	O	O
happened	O	O
.	O	O

More	ESE	O
curious	ESE	O
still	ESE	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
matter	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
'	O	O
ultimate	ESE	O
fate	ESE	O
.	O	O

Rumsfeld	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
laid	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	O
four	O	O
options	O	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
trial	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
trial	O	O
in	O	O
U.S.	O	O
criminal	O	O
courts	O	O
,	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
home	O	O
countries	O	O
for	O	O
prosecution	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
continued	O	O
detention	O	O
``	O	O
while	O	O
additional	O	O
intelligence	O	O
is	O	O
gathered	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
last	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
distinct	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
plans	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
build	O	O
2,000	O	O
cells	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
This	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
a	ESE	O
big	ESE	ESE
deal	ESE	ESE
down	O	ESE
there	O	ESE
for	O	O
at	O	ESE
least	O	ESE
two	O	ESE
years	O	ESE
,	O	O
guaranteed	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Army	O	O
Lieut.	O	O

General	O	O
B.B.	O	O
Bell	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
commands	O	O
Fort	O	O
Hood	O	O
,	O	O
Texas	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
military	O	O
police	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
deployed	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
it	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
find	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
justification	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
such	ESE	O
detention	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
or	ESE	O
anywhere	ESE	ESE
else	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Leaving	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
``	O	O
indefinitely	ESE	ESE
beyond	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reach	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
any	ESE	ESE
legal	ESE	ESE
regime	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Economist	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
would	O	ESE
put	O	ESE
America	O	ESE
--	O	O
pre-eminently	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
nation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
laws	ESE	O
--	O	O
itself	O	O
outside	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
law	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Until	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
Pentagon	O	ESE
sorts	O	ESE
out	O	O
the	O	O
legal	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
from	DSE	O
Europe	O	O
is	O	O
likely	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
grow	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Still	ESE	O
,	O	O
things	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
worse	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
nobody	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
yet	O	ESE
forced	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
listen	O	O
to	O	O
Fidel	O	O
Castro	O	O
's	O	O
long-winded	ESE	O
speeches	O	O
.	O	O

Now	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
really	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
cruel	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Jordan	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O

AMMAN	O	O
-	O	O
Jordan	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
will	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
pact	O	O
on	O	O
impeding	O	ESE
global	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
a	O	O
recent	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Faris	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
General	O	O
Corporation	O	O
for	O	O
Environment	O	O
Protection	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GCEP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Soon	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	O
delegate	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
representative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
HH	O	O
Prince	O	O
Zeid	O	O
Ben	O	O
Raad	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
told	O	DSE
The	O	O
Jordan	O	O
Times	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
an	O	O
exact	O	ESE
date	O	O
for	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
agreement	DSE	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
been	O	O
set	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1997	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
UN	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
legally	O	O
obliged	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
8	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
below	O	O
1990	O	O
levels	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
between	O	O
2008	O	O
and	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

Although	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
main	O	O
source	O	O
of	O	O
large-scale	O	O
air	O	O
pollution	O	O
,	O	O
Jordan	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sign	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
is	DSE	O
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	DSE	DSE
stressing	DSE	DSE
its	O	O
``	O	O
commitment	DSE	DSE
towards	O	O
the	O	O
different	O	O
international	O	O
conventions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Juneidi	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

With	O	O
the	O	O
signing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
GCEP	O	O
hopes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
attract	O	O
more	O	O
funding	O	O
to	O	O
contribute	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
in	O	O
reducing	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
trap	O	O
heat	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
thus	O	O
causing	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

GCEP	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
agency	O	O
operating	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Municipal	O	O
and	O	O
Rural	O	O
Affairs	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Environment	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
point	O	O
of	O	O
reference	O	O
for	O	O
environmental	O	O
pacts	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
formally	O	O
bound	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
accord	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
complete	O	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
by	O	O
June	O	O
1	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
by	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
contravenes	ESE	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
slammed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
countries	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
government	O	O
produced	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
alternative	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
strategy	O	O
aimed	O	O
at	O	O
encouraging	DSE	O
industries	O	O
to	O	O
trim	O	O
their	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

Other	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
Canada	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
shown	DSE	ESE
reluctance	DSE	ESE
towards	O	O
signing	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
it	O	O
would	O	O
cut	O	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
GDP	O	O
by	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
2.5	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
and	O	O
cause	O	O
economic	O	O
damage	O	O
worth	O	O
30	O	O
billion	O	O
Canadian	O	O
dollars	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
$	O	O
19	O	O
billion	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

72	O	O
Hours	O	O
At	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
detention	O	O
camp	O	O
reaches	O	O
capacity	O	O
,	O	O
reporters	O	O
are	O	DSE
invited	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
watch	O	O
the	O	O
interplay	DSE	O
between	O	O
detainees	O	O
,	O	O
guards	O	O
and	O	O
doctors	O	O
.	O	O

GUANTANAMO	O	O
BAY	O	O
NAVAL	O	O
BASE	O	O
,	O	O
Cuba	O	O
-	O	O
It	O	O
begins	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	ESE
shiny	O	ESE
speck	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
southeast	O	O
skies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
lone	O	O
landing	O	O
strip	O	O
here	O	O
at	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
oldest	O	O
U.S.	O	O
base	O	O
overseas	O	O
.	O	O

Within	O	O
minutes	O	O
the	O	O
lumbering	O	O
,	O	O
gray	O	O
C-141B	O	O
Starlifter	O	O
flies	O	O
low	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
tarmac	O	O
and	O	O
over	O	O
a	O	O
patch	O	O
of	O	O
palm	O	O
trees	O	O
,	O	O
as	ESE	O
if	ESE	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
annual	O	O
air	O	O
show	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
a	O	O
hot	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
windy	O	ESE
afternoon	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
deep	O	ESE
blue	O	ESE
waters	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
postcard	ESE	ESE
backdrop	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
cargo	O	O
jet	O	O
finally	O	O
lands	O	O
,	O	O
approaching	O	O
the	O	O
landing	O	O
strip	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
west	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	ESE
noise	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
deafening	O	ESE
.	O	O

Almost	O	ESE
immediately	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
crack	O	ESE
security	O	O
force	O	O
of	O	O
mostly	O	O
baby-faced	ESE	O
Marines	O	O
surrounds	O	O
the	O	O
plane	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	ESE
wear	O	ESE
black	O	ESE
baseball	O	ESE
leg	O	O
guards	O	O
and	O	O
bulletproof	O	O
vests	O	O
and	O	O
carry	O	O
M-16	O	O
rifles	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
Humvees	O	O
mounted	O	O
with	O	O
.50	O	O
-	O	O
caliber	O	O
machine	O	O
guns	O	O
and	O	O
40mm	O	O
grenade	O	O
launchers	O	O
take	O	O
their	O	O
positions	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
Navy	O	O
helicopter	O	O
whirls	O	O
overhead	O	O
.	O	O

Once	O	O
the	O	O
aircraft	O	O
is	O	O
secured	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	ESE
freak	ESE	ESE
show	ESE	ESE
begins	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
sort	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Hannibal	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Cannibal	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
production	ESE	O
.	O	O

Down	O	O
the	O	O
back	O	O
ramp	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
mammoth	O	O
aircraft	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
slowly	O	O
unload	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
detainees	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
34	O	O
altogether	O	O
.	O	O

Wearing	O	O
bright	O	O
orange	O	O
wool	O	O
knit	O	O
caps	O	O
,	O	O
blacked-out	O	O
goggles	O	O
,	O	O
earmuffs	O	O
,	O	O
white	O	ESE
surgical	O	ESE
masks	O	ESE
,	O	O
bright	O	O
orange	O	O
jumpsuits	O	O
,	O	O
denim	O	O
jackets	O	O
,	O	O
beige	O	O
mittens	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
taped	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
wrists	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
handcuffs	O	O
and	O	O
ankle	O	O
shackles	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
look	ESE	ESE
natural	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
look	O	O
like	ESE	O
giant	ESE	O
bright	ESE	O
orange	ESE	O
flies	ESE	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
a	O	O
25-hour	O	O
flight	O	O
of	O	O
mostly	O	ESE
sitting	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
hobble	O	ESE
along	O	ESE
as	O	O
the	O	O
Marines	O	O
,	O	O
who	ESE	O
look	ESE	O
twice	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
big	ESE	O
,	O	O
walk	O	O
them	O	O
out	O	O
and	O	O
frisk	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
soldier	O	O
handles	O	O
a	O	O
captive	O	ESE
like	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
mannequin	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
moving	O	O
him	O	O
back	O	O
,	O	O
forward	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
side	O	O
-	O	O
before	O	O
lifting	O	O
him	O	O
straight	O	O
off	O	O
his	O	O
feet	O	O
and	O	O
onto	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
two	O	O
waiting	O	O
buses	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Walk	O	ESE
!	O	O
Walk	O	O
!	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
shout	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Shut	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
!	O	O

Head	DSE	O
down	O	O
!	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Man	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
scared	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
TV	O	O
camerawoman	O	O
watching	O	O
with	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
media	O	O
pool	O	O
from	O	O
about	O	O
400	O	O
yards	O	O
away	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
freaky	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
chimes	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
her	O	O
colleague	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
here	O	O
because	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
``	O	O
hard-core	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
terrorists	O	O
-	O	O
willing	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
escape	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
kill	DSE	O
themselves	DSE	O
and	DSE	O
others	DSE	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
now	O	ESE
they	O	O
do	O	O
pretty	O	ESE
much	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
directed	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
walk	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
shut	O	O
up	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
lower	O	O
their	O	O
heads	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
board	O	O
buses	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
ferry	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	O
take	O	O
them	O	O
across	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
detention	O	O
facility	O	O
known	O	O
as	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
sign	O	O
near	O	O
the	O	O
ferry	O	O
slip	O	O
conveys	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
strange	ESE	O
vibe	ESE	O
of	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
45-square	O	O
mile	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
detention	O	O
camp	O	O
comprises	O	O
some	O	O
3	O	O
acres	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
sign	O	ESE
touts	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
area	O	O
's	O	O
wildlife	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
brown	O	O
pelican	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Antillean	O	O
manatee	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
bottlenose	O	O
dolphin	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	ESE
hawksbill	O	ESE
turtle	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Watching	O	O
wildlife	O	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	DSE
fun	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
sign	O	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
A	O	O
pair	O	O
of	O	O
binoculars	O	O
is	O	O
helpful	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Last	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
10th	O	O
flight	O	O
from	O	O
Kandahar	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
southeastern	O	O
tip	O	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
arrived	O	O
,	O	O
bringing	O	O
the	O	O
total	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
detainees	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
to	O	O
288	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
day	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
another	O	O
12	O	O
came	O	O
,	O	O
effectively	O	O
filling	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
to	O	O
capacity	O	O
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
allowed	DSE	O
reporters	O	O
to	O	O
record	O	O
audio	O	O
and	O	O
report	O	O
the	O	O
landings	O	O
live	O	O
via	O	O
cell	O	O
phone	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
flights	O	O
began	O	O
arriving	O	O
Jan.	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
allow	DSE	DSE
cameras	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
time	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
released	O	O
pictures	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
-	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
knees	O	O
,	O	O
wearing	O	O
the	O	O
goggles	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
surrounded	O	O
by	O	O
guards	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
images	O	O
created	O	O
an	O	ESE
international	O	ESE
uproar	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Rights	O	O
groups	O	O
cried	DSE	ESE
inhumane	ESE	ESE
treatment	O	ESE
.	O	O

Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
allegations	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
insisting	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
have	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
better	ESE	O
here	ESE	O
than	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
he	O	O
did	O	O
what	O	O
he	O	O
routinely	ESE	O
does	O	O
when	O	O
questioned	O	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	DSE
prosecuting	O	DSE
the	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
:	O	O
He	O	O
reminded	O	DSE
critics	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
arrive	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
told	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
undergo	O	O
a	O	O
45-minute	O	O
intake	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
,	O	O
like	O	O
the	O	O
airstrip	O	O
landing	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
monitored	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Red	O	O
Cross	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
routine	O	O
includes	O	O
a	O	O
delousing	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
chemical	O	O
washdown	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
physical	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
detainees	O	O
also	O	O
get	O	ESE
fingerprinted	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
photographed	O	ESE
.	O	O

They	O	O
get	O	O
a	O	O
toothbrush	O	O
,	O	O
mint-flavored	O	O
toothpaste	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
bottle	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Lively	O	O
Salon	O	O
''	O	O
antidandruff	O	O
shampoo	O	O
,	O	O
soap	O	O
,	O	O
flip	O	ESE
flops	O	ESE
,	O	O
a	O	O
foam	O	O
sleeping	O	O
mat	O	O
,	O	O
two	O	O
buckets	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
washcloth	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
canteen	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
prayer	O	O
cap	O	O
,	O	O
two	O	O
blankets	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
sheet	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Koran	O	O
and	O	O
two	O	O
towels	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
for	O	O
praying	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
,	O	O
strangely	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
get	O	O
to	O	O
write	O	O
home	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
has	DSE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
soft	ESE	ESE
spot	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
mothers	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
or	O	O
al-Qaida	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	O	O
,	O	O
base	O	O
officials	O	O
try	O	O
to	O	O
glean	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
'	O	O
real	O	O
names	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
letters	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
many	O	O
tend	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
multiple	O	O
aliases	O	O
during	O	O
interrogations	O	O
.	O	O

When	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
done	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
assigned	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
cells	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
will	O	O
begin	O	ESE
their	O	ESE
new	O	ESE
lives	O	ESE
.	O	O

These	O	O
are	O	O
8-feet-square	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
chain-link	O	O
sides	O	O
and	O	O
tin	O	O
roofs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
Halogen	O	ESE
lights	O	ESE
stay	O	ESE
on	O	O
all	O	O
night	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
next	O	O
day	O	O
starts	O	O
with	O	O
prayer	O	O
call	O	O
about	O	O
5	O	O
a.m.	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
sign	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
pole	O	ESE
at	O	O
the	O	O
edge	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
points	O	O
the	O	O
direction	O	O
to	O	O
Mecca	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
come	O	O
from	O	O
31	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabia	O	O
,	O	O
Yemen	O	O
,	O	O
Pakistan	O	O
,	O	O
Algeria	O	O
,	O	O
England	O	O
,	O	O
Egypt	O	O
,	O	O
Australia	O	O
,	O	O
France	O	O
,	O	O
Russia	O	O
,	O	O
Belgium	O	O
and	O	O
Sweden	O	O
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
say	O	DSE
there	O	O
are	O	O
Christian	O	O
prisoners	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
Muslims	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
prayer	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
'	O	O
day	O	O
goes	O	O
like	O	O
this	O	O
:	O	O
breakfast	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
shower	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
every	O	O
other	O	O
day	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
sick	O	O
call	O	O
,	O	O
noon	O	O
prayer	O	O
,	O	O
lunch	O	O
,	O	O
recreation	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
15	O	O
minutes	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
of	O	O
times	O	O
a	O	O
week	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
mail	O	O
call	O	O
,	O	O
sunset	O	O
prayer	O	O
,	O	O
dinner	O	O
,	O	O
evening	O	O
prayer	O	O
and	O	O
bedtime	O	O
around	O	O
9	O	O
p.m.	O	O

Each	O	O
meal	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
get	O	O
is	O	DSE
considered	O	DSE
halal	O	DSE
,	O	O
or	O	O
religiously	O	ESE
appropriate	O	ESE
for	O	O
Muslims	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
typical	O	O
breakfast	O	O
includes	O	O
oatmeal	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
orange	O	O
,	O	O
fresh	O	O
bread	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
bottle	O	O
of	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
lunch	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
's	O	O
pasta	O	O
or	O	O
vegetable	O	O
stew	O	O
,	O	O
dry	O	O
cereal	O	O
including	O	O
Froot	O	O
Loops	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
box	O	O
of	O	O
raisins	O	O
,	O	O
two	O	O
granola	O	O
bars	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
bag	O	O
of	O	O
chips	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
bag	O	O
of	O	O
peanuts	O	O
and	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
dinner	O	O
they	O	O
get	O	O
white	O	O
rice	O	O
,	O	O
red	O	O
beans	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
banana	O	O
and	O	O
water	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
Army	O	O
Capt.	O	O
Sean	O	O
Campion	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
guards	O	O
,	O	O
characterizes	DSE	ESE
life	O	ESE
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
utter	ESE	ESE
boredom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
If	O	ESE
you	O	O
do	O	ESE
your	O	ESE
job	O	ESE
right	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Campion	O	O
,	O	O
32	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Kansas	O	O
City	O	O
,	O	O
Mo.	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
nothing	O	ESE
is	O	O
scheduled	O	O
to	O	O
happen	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
guards	O	O
mostly	O	O
communicate	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
via	O	O
simple	O	O
English	O	O
commands	O	O
and	O	O
hand	O	O
signals	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
're	O	O
not	O	O
holding	O	O
any	O	O
lengthy	O	DSE
debates	O	DSE
with	O	O
them	O	O
or	O	O
anything	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Campion	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

Marine	O	O
Corps	O	O
Lt.	O	O
Abuhena	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Saiful-Islam	O	O
,	O	O
39	O	O
,	O	O
speaks	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
than	O	ESE
almost	O	ESE
anybody	O	ESE
at	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
chaplain	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
ministers	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
five	O	O
hours	O	O
every	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
says	O	DSE
that	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
month	O	O
of	O	O
pilgrimage	O	O
,	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
faithful	O	O
journey	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
holy	O	O
city	O	O
of	O	O
Mecca	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
detects	DSE	DSE
more	ESE	DSE
anxiety	ESE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
considering	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
special	O	O
meal	O	O
for	O	O
March	O	O
10	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
role	O	O
of	O	O
chaplain	O	O
is	O	O
unique	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Saiful-Islam	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
go	DSE	DSE
with	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
preconceived	DSE	DSE
idea	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
person	O	O
is	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
so	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

As	O	O
a	O	O
chaplain	O	O
we	O	O
approach	DSE	O
them	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
hate	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
sinner	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	ESE
hate	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
sin	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Somebody	O	O
asks	O	O
Saiful-Islam	O	O
if	O	O
the	O	O
relationship	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
and	O	O
God	O	O
has	O	O
changed	O	O
since	O	O
their	O	O
capture	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
God	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
abandoned	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
That	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
hope	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
God	ESE	O
is	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
hope	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
do	O	DSE
ask	O	DSE
me	O	O
what	O	O
's	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
happen	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
this	O	O
moment	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
do	DSE	O
n't	DSE	O
have	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
answer	DSE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Concertina	O	O
wire	O	O
and	O	O
nine	O	O
guard	O	O
towers	O	O
surround	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
American	O	O
flag	O	O
is	O	O
everywhere	O	O
-	O	O
painted	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
guard	O	O
towers	O	O
,	O	O
flying	O	O
high	O	O
in	O	O
front	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
facility	O	O
.	O	O

Unlike	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
parts	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
pretty	O	O
setting	O	O
.	O	O

Turkey	O	O
vultures	O	O
hover	O	O
over	O	O
thick	O	O
brush	O	O
and	O	O
scraggly	O	O
hills	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
day	O	O
two	O	O
at	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
34	O	O
newly	O	O
arrived	O	O
from	O	O
Kandahar	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
German	O	O
shepherd	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
handler	O	O
patrol	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
's	O	O
perimeter	O	O
.	O	O

Bright	O	ESE
orange	O	ESE
figures	O	ESE
sit	O	ESE
in	O	O
their	O	O
cells	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
praying	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
or	O	O
two	O	O
prisoners	O	O
run	O	O
for	O	O
exercise	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
fenced	O	O
area	O	O
,	O	O
wearing	O	O
handcuffs	O	O
but	O	O
no	O	ESE
ankle	O	ESE
shackles	O	ESE
.	O	O

Every	O	ESE
so	O	ESE
often	O	ESE
a	O	O
prisoner	O	O
is	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
five	O	O
interrogation	O	O
rooms	O	O
,	O	O
freshly	O	O
built	O	O
wood	O	O
buildings	O	O
with	O	O
air	O	O
conditioners	O	O
and	O	O
no	O	O
windows	O	O
.	O	O

Three	O	O
guards	O	O
accompany	O	O
him	O	O
-	O	O
one	O	O
on	O	O
either	O	O
side	O	O
and	O	O
one	O	O
behind	O	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
puts	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
hand	O	ESE
behind	O	O
the	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainee	O	O
,	O	O
forcing	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
look	O	O
down	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
done	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
provide	O	O
positive	ESE	O
control	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
U.S.	O	O
Army	O	O
Col.	O	O
Terry	O	O
Carrico	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
effect	ESE	O
the	O	O
prison	O	O
warden	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
means	O	ESE
he	O	O
ca	O	O
n't	O	O
look	O	O
ahead	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
ca	O	O
n't	O	O
make	O	O
a	O	O
plan	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
know	DSE	DSE
where	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
going	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
technique	O	ESE
across	O	O
correctional	O	O
facilities	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Except	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
occasional	O	O
spitting	DSE	O
incident	DSE	O
or	DSE	O
threat	DSE	O
,	O	O
officials	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	ESE
docile	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Base	O	O
officials	O	O
suspect	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
already	O	O
in	O	O
custody	O	O
pass	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
word	DSE	O
along	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
arrivals	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
treated	O	ESE
okay	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
very	DSE	DSE
unsure	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Carrico	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
They	O	O
did	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
if	O	ESE
we	O	O
were	O	O
going	O	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
care	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
hurt	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
or	O	ESE
kill	O	ESE
them	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Some	O	O
guards	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
talk	O	O
about	O	O
their	O	O
views	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Army	O	O
Capt.	O	O
Darrell	O	O
Sides	O	O
,	O	O
30	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Fort	O	O
Benning	O	O
,	O	O
Ga.	O	O
,	O	O
makes	DSE	ESE
no	DSE	ESE
bones	DSE	ESE
about	DSE	O
considering	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
terrorists	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
were	O	O
all	O	O
watching	O	O
television	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
security	O	O
here	O	O
I	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
consider	DSE	DSE
tighter	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
death	ESE	O
row	ESE	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
prison	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
morning	O	O
run	O	O
to	O	O
Fleet	O	O
Hospital	O	O
20	O	O
takes	O	O
place	O	O
as	O	O
scheduled	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
for	O	O
prisoners	O	O
needing	O	ESE
medical	O	ESE
attention	O	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	ESE
fair	O	ESE
number	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
.	O	O

Some	O	O
are	O	O
underweight	O	ESE
,	O	O
others	O	O
are	O	DSE
missing	O	DSE
toes	O	DSE
,	O	O
fingers	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
limbs	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
hospital	O	O
is	O	O
several	O	O
miles	O	O
from	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
,	O	O
off	O	O
Recreation	O	O
Road	O	O
.	O	O

Along	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
,	O	O
if	O	O
allowed	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
would	O	O
get	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
a	O	O
bit	O	O
of	O	O
Americana	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
portrait	O	O
built	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
forces	O	O
seized	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Spanish-American	O	O
War	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
1903	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
government	O	O
signed	O	O
a	O	O
lease	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
contract	O	O
,	O	O
extended	O	O
indefinitely	O	O
in	O	O
1934	O	O
,	O	O
can	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
broken	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
by	O	O
mutual	O	O
agreement	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
growth	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
has	O	O
left	O	O
Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
surprisingly	ESE	O
close	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
suburban-style	O	O
military	O	O
community	O	O
of	O	O
beige	O	O
,	O	O
green	O	O
and	O	O
yellow	O	O
houses	O	O
in	O	O
subdivisions	O	O
with	O	O
names	O	O
like	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
Circle	O	O
and	O	O
West	O	O
Iguana	O	O
.	O	O

Two	O	O
boys	O	O
in	O	O
white	O	O
karate	O	O
outfits	O	O
run	O	O
down	O	O
palm-lined	O	O
Sherman	O	O
Avenue	O	O
.	O	O

Another	O	ESE
child	O	ESE
,	O	O
no	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
than	O	O
3	O	O
or	O	O
4	O	O
,	O	O
plays	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
gym	O	ESE
set	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
young	O	O
woman	O	O
keeping	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
watchful	DSE	ESE
eye	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Also	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
road	O	ESE
is	O	O
the	O	O
W.S.	O	O
Sampson	O	O
Elementary	O	O
School	O	O
,	O	O
replete	O	O
with	O	O
yellow	O	O
school	O	O
buses	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Morale	O	O
Welfare	O	O
and	O	O
Recreation	O	O
Cooper	O	O
Field	O	O
with	O	O
baseball	O	O
and	O	O
soccer	O	O
fields	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
's	O	O
outdoor	O	O
movie	O	O
house	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
playing	O	O
the	O	O
movie	O	O
,	O	O
The	O	O
Majestic	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
20-bed	O	O
hospital	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
high-tech	O	O
,	O	O
air-conditioned	O	O
white	O	O
tent	O	O
which	O	O
looks	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
futuristic	ESE	O
movie	ESE	O
set	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
low	O	O
ceilings	O	O
,	O	O
fluorescent	O	O
lighting	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
padded	O	ESE
white	O	ESE
walls	O	ESE
,	O	O
floors	O	O
and	O	O
ceilings	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
staff	O	O
calls	O	DSE
it	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
temper	O	DSE
tent	O	DSE
.	O	O
''	O	O

On	O	O
this	O	O
morning	O	O
,	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Navy	O	O
hospital	O	O
corpsman	O	O
Shuron	O	O
Jerome	O	O
,	O	O
19	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Houston	O	O
is	O	O
poring	O	ESE
over	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
box	O	ESE
of	O	O
Valentines	O	O
sent	O	O
to	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
by	O	O
schoolchildren	O	O
in	O	O
Pennsylvania	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Wish	DSE	ESE
you	O	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
your	O	O
family	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
one	O	ESE
child	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
written	O	ESE
.	O	O

Jerome	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
hospital	O	O
feels	ESE	DSE
no	ESE	ESE
different	ESE	ESE
than	O	O
a	O	O
hospital	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
states	O	O
,	O	O
save	O	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
high	O	ESE
security	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
various	O	O
languages	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
speak	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
French	O	O
,	O	O
Russian	O	O
,	O	O
Urdu	O	O
and	O	O
Arabic	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
little	O	ESE
English	O	ESE
,	O	O
she	O	O
says	O	DSE
.	O	O

While	O	O
she	O	O
sees	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
as	ESE	O
patients	ESE	O
,	O	O
she	O	O
allows	DSE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
not	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
regular	ESE	O
patients	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

She	O	O
often	O	O
finds	O	DSE
herself	O	DSE
thinking	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Oh	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
my	ESE	ESE
God	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
related	O	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
or	O	O
related	O	O
to	O	O
that	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
I	O	O
still	O	O
try	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
treat	DSE	O
them	DSE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
patient	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Fleet	O	O
Hospital	O	O
20	O	O
has	O	O
nine	O	O
patients	O	O
today	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
bulk	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
work	O	O
includes	O	O
blast	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
gunshot	O	DSE
wounds	O	DSE
from	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

Just	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
day	O	ESE
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
surgeon	O	O
took	O	DSE
out	O	DSE
the	O	O
eye	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
patient	O	O
who	O	O
had	O	O
suffered	O	O
a	O	O
sports	O	O
injury	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
younger	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
pressure	O	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
eye	O	O
had	O	O
become	O	O
unbearable	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
story	O	O
got	O	ESE
international	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
because	O	ESE
it	O	O
seemed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
underscore	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
fact	O	O
that	O	O
tensions	DSE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
were	ESE	O
easing	ESE	O
.	O	O

Indeed	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
invited	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
surgeon	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
cup	O	O
of	O	O
tea	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
staff	O	O
gives	O	O
reporters	O	O
a	O	O
quick	O	O
tour	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
hospital	O	O
,	O	O
allowing	DSE	O
photographs	O	O
of	O	O
some	O	O
sections	O	O
but	O	O
not	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
an	O	O
al-Jazeera	O	O
television	O	O
crew	O	O
walks	O	O
through	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
staff	O	O
rolls	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
patient	O	ESE
who	O	O
has	O	O
just	O	O
had	O	O
his	O	O
right	O	ESE
index	O	ESE
finger	O	ESE
amputated	O	ESE
as	O	O
a	O	O
result	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
gunshot	O	O
wound	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
cameraman	O	O
continues	O	O
filming	O	O
while	O	O
a	O	O
nurse	O	O
covers	O	O
the	O	ESE
patient	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
face	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
recovery	O	O
room	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
's	O	O
body	O	O
starts	O	O
trembling	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
doctors	O	O
explain	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
common	O	O
reaction	O	O
as	O	O
patients	O	O
awake	O	O
from	O	O
anesthesia	O	O
.	O	O

Still	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
provides	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
bit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
drama	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Michel	O	O
!	O	O
Michel	O	O
!	O	O
''	O	O
yells	DSE	O
a	O	O
doctor	O	O
still	O	O
in	O	O
her	O	O
operating	O	O
clothes	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
You	O	ESE
're	O	ESE
doing	O	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Another	O	O
doctor	O	O
,	O	O
speaking	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
French	O	O
accent	O	O
,	O	O
adds	DSE	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Good	ESE	ESE
job	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
buddy	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
interpreter	O	O
comes	O	O
in	O	O
to	O	O
talk	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
patient	O	O
.	O	O

Eight	O	O
other	O	O
young-looking	O	O
men	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
shaved	O	O
heads	O	O
and	O	O
beards	O	O
growing	O	O
,	O	O
recover	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
cots	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
sleep	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
medical	O	O
staff	O	O
relies	O	O
on	O	O
linguists	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
communicate	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
they	O	O
've	O	O
also	O	O
come	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
inventions	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
longhand	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
English	O	O
phrases	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
Arabic	O	O
counterparts	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
pinch	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
patients	O	O
the	O	O
list	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
includes	O	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
phrases	O	O
:	O	O
I	O	ESE
'm	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
pain	O	ESE
.	O	O

Thirsty	O	ESE
.	O	O

Hungry	O	ESE
.	O	O

Bathroom	O	O
.	O	O

Urinate	O	O
.	O	O

Arm	O	O
.	O	O

Hand	O	O
.	O	O

Leg	O	O
.	O	O

Back	O	O
.	O	O

IV	O	O
Hurts	O	ESE
.	O	O

Cold	O	O
.	O	O

Hot	O	O
.	O	O

Sick	O	O
,	O	O
will	O	ESE
throw	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
.	O	O

While	O	O
calm	O	O
has	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
Fleet	O	O
Hospital	O	O
20	O	O
,	O	O
officials	O	O
elsewhere	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
are	DSE	O
bracing	DSE	O
for	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
inevitable	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
the	O	O
death	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

Not	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
hands	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
guards	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
with	O	O
300	O	O
already	O	O
in	O	O
custody	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
scores	ESE	ESE
in	O	ESE
poor	O	ESE
health	O	ESE
to	O	O
begin	O	O
with	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
say	DSE	O
something	O	O
is	O	ESE
bound	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
happen	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
briefing	O	O
with	O	O
reporters	O	O
,	O	O
Marine	O	O
Corps	O	O
Brig.	O	O
Gen.	O	O
Michael	O	O
R.	O	O
Lehnert	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
commander	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
prison	O	O
project	O	O
,	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
work	O	O
to	O	O
improve	O	O
living	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
and	O	O
our	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Within	O	O
a	O	O
couple	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
will	O	O
move	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
called	O	O
Radio	O	O
Range	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
utilities	O	O
are	O	O
more	O	O
readily	O	O
available	O	O
and	O	O
cells	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
cots	O	O
,	O	O
air	O	O
conditioning	O	O
and	O	O
toilets	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
general	O	O
is	O	O
awaiting	O	DSE
congressional	O	DSE
approval	O	DSE
before	O	O
building	O	O
for	O	O
Radio	O	O
Range	O	O
begins	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	ESE
now	O	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
camp	O	O
at	O	O
capacity	O	O
,	O	O
flights	O	O
here	O	O
have	O	O
stopped	O	O
.	O	O

Zambia	O	ESE
hails	DSE	ESE
result	O	ESE

LUSAKA	O	O
--	O	O
Zambian	O	O
President	O	O
Levy	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
yesterday	O	O
hailed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
re-election	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
counterpart	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	DSE
defeated	O	DSE
opponent	O	DSE
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
result	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
am	DSE	DSE
pleased	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
learn	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
re-election	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
as	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
As	O	O
chairman	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
and	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
friendly	O	ESE
neighbour	O	ESE
,	O	O
I	O	O
congratulate	DSE	DSE
President	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
on	O	O
his	O	O
re-election	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

Three	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
10	O	O
losing	O	O
presidential	O	O
candidates	O	O
in	O	O
Zambia	O	O
's	O	O
December	O	O
27	O	O
vote	O	O
have	DSE	O
petitioned	DSE	O
the	O	O
Supreme	O	O
Court	O	O
to	O	O
nullify	O	O
the	O	O
results	O	O
,	O	O
charging	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mwanawasa	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
by	ESE	ESE
fraud	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Fall	O	O
And	O	O
Rise	O	O
Of	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O

In	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
dust	O	O
is	O	O
finally	O	ESE
settling	O	ESE
after	O	O
the	O	O
dramatic	O	O
turbulence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
two	O	O
weeks	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
once	O	ESE
again	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
the	O	O
helm	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
has	O	O
returned	O	O
to	O	O
its	O	O
barracks	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	O	O
grieving	ESE	DSE
Venezuelans	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	O
n't	DSE	ESE
quite	ESE	ESE
at	DSE	ESE
peace	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Their	O	O
loved	ESE	O
ones	ESE	O
were	O	O
gunned	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
,	O	O
first	O	O
by	O	O
sympathizers	O	O
of	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
subsequently	O	O
by	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
short-lived	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
was	O	O
ousted	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
on	O	O
April	O	O
12	O	O
after	O	O
17	O	O
persons	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
during	O	O
an	O	O
anti-Chavez	DSE	DSE
protest	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
apparently	O	ESE
by	O	O
sharpshooters	O	O
faithful	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

Pedro	O	O
Carmona	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
powerful	O	O
businessman	O	O
,	O	O
stepped	O	O
into	O	O
power	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
but	O	O
was	O	ESE
forced	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
resign	O	ESE
the	O	O
next	O	O
day	O	O
.	O	O

Following	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
,	O	O
40	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
mostly	O	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	O	O
,	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
while	O	O
protesting	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

A	O	O
probe	O	O
of	O	O
what	O	ESE
transpired	O	ESE
should	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
offing	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
has	O	ESE
placed	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
cronies	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
every	O	O
democratic	O	O
institution	O	O
,	O	O
from	O	O
congress	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
courts	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
prevent	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
honest	ESE	ESE
inquiry	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

So	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
appears	ESE	ESE
complicit	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
initial	O	O
wave	O	O
of	O	O
killings	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
to	O	O
taped	O	O
radio	O	O
conversations	O	O
broadcast	O	O
yesterday	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
on	O	O
radio	O	O
and	O	O
television	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
ordered	O	O
tanks	O	O
and	O	O
troops	O	O
to	O	O
surround	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
unarmed	O	ESE
civilian	O	O
protesters	O	O
marched	DSE	O
against	DSE	O
him	O	O
on	O	O
April	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chavez	O	O
administration	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	O
ordered	O	O
the	O	O
deployment	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
prevent	O	ESE
public	O	ESE
order	O	ESE
disturbances	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Given	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
death	ESE	ESE
toll	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
claims	DSE	DSE
seem	ESE	ESE
rather	ESE	ESE
flimsy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
unfortunate	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
this	O	O
hemisphere	O	O
's	O	O
second-oldest	O	O
democracy	O	O
.	O	O

At	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
when	O	O
democracy	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
losing	ESE	O
currency	ESE	O
in	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
Argentina	O	O
,	O	O
coups	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
potentially	ESE	ESE
destabilizing	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
happy	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
collectively	O	O
have	O	O
overcome	ESE	O
the	O	O
era	O	O
of	O	O
coup	O	O
d'etats	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
when	O	O
events	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
took	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
the	O	O
appearance	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
there	O	O
was	O	O
a	DSE	DSE
reaction	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
everyone	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Brazil	O	O
's	O	O
President	O	O
Fernando	O	O
Henrique	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
's	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
are	O	O
quite	ESE	ESE
valid	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
he	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
downplayed	ESE	DSE
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Chavez	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
alarming	ESE	ESE
faults	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
leader	O	O
has	DSE	O
struck	DSE	O
friendships	DSE	O
with	O	O
Cuban	O	O
,	O	O
Libyan	O	O
and	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
leaders	O	O
with	O	O
great	O	ESE
fanfare	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
open	DSE	ESE
defiance	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
U.S.	O	O
interests	O	O
has	O	O
wooed	DSE	O
Venezuelans	O	O
wary	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
U.S.	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

Indeed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
after	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
muscle-flexing	ESE	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
has	O	DSE
little	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
offer	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
choked	ESE	ESE
off	ESE	ESE
foreign	O	O
investment	O	O
by	O	O
doubling	O	O
the	O	O
royalty	O	O
payments	O	O
oil	O	O
companies	O	O
must	O	ESE
pay	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
by	O	O
restricting	O	O
corporate	O	O
ownership	O	O
on	O	O
some	O	O
oil	O	O
projects	O	O
to	O	O
49	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
alienated	ESE	DSE
workers	O	O
at	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
state-owned	O	O
oil	O	O
company	O	O
,	O	O
Petroleos	O	O
de	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
replacing	O	O
long-serving	O	O
professionals	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
supporters	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
consolidated	O	O
his	O	O
power	O	O
by	O	O
rewriting	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
constitution	O	O
in	O	O
1999	O	O
.	O	O

Interestingly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Chavez	O	O
initially	O	O
rose	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1990s	O	O
because	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
discontent	DSE	DSE
with	DSE	O
former	O	O
President	O	O
Carlos	O	O
Andres	O	O
Perez	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
had	O	O
ordered	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
to	O	O
shoot	O	O
at	O	O
crowds	O	O
in	O	O
1989	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
tell	ESE	ESE
if	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	DSE
voluntarily	O	DSE
give	O	DSE
up	O	DSE
power	O	O
when	O	O
his	O	O
term	O	O
in	O	O
2006	O	O
,	O	O
one	ESE	ESE
thing	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
certain	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
A	O	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
investigation	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
massacre	ESE	O
of	O	O
April	O	O
2002	O	O
is	O	O
certainly	ESE	ESE
called	ESE	DSE
for	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

US-Japan	O	O
climate	O	O
talks	O	O
end	O	O

Representatives	O	O
from	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	O	O
finished	O	O
two	O	O
days	O	O
of	O	O
talks	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
in	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
discussed	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
co-operating	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
science	O	O
and	O	O
technology	O	O
fields	O	O
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
meeting	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
since	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
unveiled	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
US	O	O
plan	O	DSE
calling	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
voluntary	ESE	O
limits	O	O
on	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
rather	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
mandatory	ESE	ESE
targets	O	ESE
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
start	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
meeting	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
said	O	DSE
it	O	DSE
would	DSE	DSE
promote	DSE	DSE
research	O	O
and	O	O
development	O	O
into	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
says	O	DSE
it	O	DSE
still	ESE	DSE
intends	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
ratify	DSE	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
caused	ESE	DSE
an	O	DSE
international	O	DSE
outcry	DSE	DSE
when	O	O
he	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
1997	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
hindered	ESE	ESE
US	O	ESE
economic	O	ESE
growth	O	ESE
.	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
rigged	ESE	ESE
election	O	ESE

The	O	O
election	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
was	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
ugly	ESE	ESE
travesty	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
which	O	O
all	ESE	O
of	O	O
southern	O	O
Africa	O	O
will	O	ESE
suffer	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Voters	O	O
lined	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
hours	ESE	O
at	O	O
polling	O	O
stations	O	O
,	O	O
many	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
in	ESE	O
vain	ESE	O
.	O	O

Supporters	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
opposition	O	O
candidate	O	O
were	O	DSE
intimidated	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	O
beaten	ESE	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
the	O	O
long-serving	O	O
,	O	O
increasingly	ESE	ESE
tyrannical	ESE	ESE
president	O	ESE
,	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
declared	O	O
the	O	O
winner	O	O
.	O	O

International	O	O
observers	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	ESE
process	O	ESE
deeply	ESE	ESE
flawed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
has	O	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
declared	O	O
results	O	O
.	O	O

Unfortunately	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
some	O	O
leading	O	O
African	O	O
countries	O	O
like	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
have	O	ESE
compounded	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
problem	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
accepting	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
victory	O	O
despite	ESE	O
earlier	DSE	DSE
assertions	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
rigged	ESE	ESE
election	O	O
.	O	O

By	ESE	O
failing	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
hold	ESE	DSE
firm	ESE	DSE
they	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
damage	ESE	ESE
their	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
credibility	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
also	ESE	O
ignore	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
nearby	O	O
African	O	O
states	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
misrule	ESE	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
include	O	O
explosive	ESE	DSE
political	DSE	DSE
frustration	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
a	O	O
swelling	ESE	ESE
tide	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
desperate	ESE	ESE
refugees	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
growing	DSE	ESE
reluctance	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
foreign	O	O
companies	O	O
and	O	O
donors	O	O
to	O	O
invest	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Washington	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
Western	O	O
governments	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
now	O	ESE
strengthen	O	ESE
the	O	O
current	O	O
mild	ESE	O
sanctions	O	O
against	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
steps	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
far	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
effective	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
they	O	O
were	O	O
joined	O	O
by	O	O
major	O	ESE
African	O	ESE
states	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
led	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
liberation	O	O
struggle	O	O
against	O	O
white	O	O
minority	O	O
rule	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
1970	O	O
's	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	ESE
systematically	ESE	ESE
wrecked	ESE	ESE
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
freedoms	O	O
to	O	O
prolong	O	O
his	O	O
22-year-old	O	O
hold	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
.	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
economic	ESE	O
beacon	ESE	O
,	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
basket	ESE	ESE
case	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
blessed	ESE	O
with	O	O
fertile	O	O
agricultural	O	O
land	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
dozen	O	O
years	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
rule	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
relatively	ESE	ESE
prosperous	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

That	O	O
picture	O	O
changed	O	O
radically	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
mid-1990	O	O
's	O	O
when	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
shifted	O	O
onto	O	O
a	O	O
highly	ESE	ESE
destructive	ESE	ESE
course	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
incited	ESE	ESE
violent	ESE	ESE
land	O	ESE
seizures	O	ESE
that	O	O
have	ESE	O
taken	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
disastrous	ESE	ESE
toll	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
agricultural	O	O
investment	O	O
and	O	O
production	O	O
and	O	O
launched	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
broad	ESE	O
assault	ESE	O
on	O	O
journalistic	O	O
freedom	ESE	O
and	O	O
judicial	O	O
independence	ESE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
campaign	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
with	O	O
help	O	O
from	O	O
a	O	O
small	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
loyal	O	ESE
core	O	ESE
of	O	O
former	O	O
liberation	O	ESE
fighters	O	ESE
turned	ESE	ESE
thugs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Thugs	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fraud	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
keep	O	O
the	O	O
78-year-old	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
forever	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
recovery	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
wait	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
departure	O	O
.	O	O

Many	O	DSE
fear	DSE	DSE
violence	O	O
after	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
vote	O	O

HARARE	O	O
,	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Wellington	O	O
Chinyama	O	O
sat	O	O
down	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
barber	O	O
's	O	O
chair	O	O
,	O	O
unfolded	O	O
his	O	O
newspaper	O	O
and	O	O
without	O	O
glancing	O	O
up	O	O
asked	O	DSE
the	O	O
young	O	O
man	O	O
trimming	O	O
his	O	O
hair	O	O
the	O	O
question	O	O
that	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
virtually	O	O
everyone	O	O
's	O	O
mind	O	DSE
here	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
So	O	O
Joseph	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
you	O	O
prepared	O	O
yourself	O	O
for	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
?	O	O
''	O	O

As	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
go	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
polls	O	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
to	O	O
re-elect	O	O
or	O	O
oust	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
only	O	O
leader	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
has	O	ESE
ever	O	ESE
known	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
question	O	O
of	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
win	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
almost	ESE	ESE
secondary	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
how	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
loser	O	ESE
and	O	O
his	O	O
followers	O	O
will	O	O
respond	O	O
.	O	O

Surveys	O	ESE
show	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
challenger	O	ESE
,	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
trade	O	O
union	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
a	O	O
surge	O	O
in	O	O
political	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
accusations	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
governing	O	O
party	O	O
changed	O	O
election	O	O
laws	O	O
to	O	O
rig	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
vote	O	O
have	O	O
fanned	O	DSE
widespread	DSE	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
among	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
,	O	O
election	O	O
monitors	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
diplomats	O	O
that	O	O
neither	ESE	O
political	O	O
party	O	O
nor	ESE	O
their	O	O
supporters	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
final	O	O
tally	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	ESE	O
does	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
take	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
vivid	ESE	ESE
imagination	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
envision	DSE	ESE
a	O	O
scenario	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
ground	O	O
where	O	O
either	O	O
rioters	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
take	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
streets	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
days	O	O
to	O	O
come	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
an	O	O
African	O	O
diplomat	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

Most	ESE	ESE
disturbing	ESE	ESE
are	O	ESE
pronouncements	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
senior	O	O
government	O	O
officials	O	O
and	O	O
military	O	O
leaders	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
allow	ESE	DSE
this	O	O
former	O	O
British	O	O
colony	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
political	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
a	O	O
television	O	O
interview	O	O
broadcast	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
day	O	O
,	O	O
Didymus	O	O
Mutasa	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
spokesman	O	O
for	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
ruling	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
veterans	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
independence	O	O
war	O	O
found	DSE	O
the	O	O
prospect	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
government	O	O
intolerable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
People	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
said	DSE	DSE
being	O	DSE
ruled	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
is	O	O
being	O	O
ruled	O	O
by	O	O
Ian	O	O
Smith	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Mutasa	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
prime	O	O
minister	O	O
of	O	O
white-ruled	O	O
Rhodesia	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
was	O	DSE
known	O	DSE
before	O	O
gaining	O	O
independence	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Under	O	O
these	O	O
circumstances	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	ESE
there	O	O
were	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
coup	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
would	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
definitely	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	O	O
least	O	O
34	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
died	O	O
in	O	O
political	O	O
violence	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
almost	O	O
all	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
.	O	O

State	O	O
Department	O	O
officials	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
numerous	O	ESE
human	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
violations	O	ESE
during	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
campaign	O	O
,	O	O
an	DSE	ESE
allegation	DSE	ESE
vehemently	DSE	ESE
denied	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
officials	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
newspaper	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
had	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
high	O	O
alert	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
recalled	O	O
soldiers	O	O
from	O	O
neighboring	O	O
Congo	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
deployed	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
.	O	O

Police	O	O
Commissioner	O	O
Augustine	O	O
Chihuri	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
reports	O	O
.	O	O

Many	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
see	DSE	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
's	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
contest	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
immovable	ESE	O
forces	ESE	O
:	O	O
a	O	ESE
78-year-old	O	ESE
autocrat	O	ESE
desperate	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
remain	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
opposition	O	O
party	O	O
dominated	O	O
by	O	O
restless	DSE	O
young	O	O
citizens	O	O
weary	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
government	O	ESE
corruption	O	ESE
,	O	O
food	O	O
shortages	O	O
and	O	O
unemployment	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	O	ESE
Mugabe	O	O
announces	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
has	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
people	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
believe	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
and	O	O
will	O	ESE
storm	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	ESE
castle	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Sibongile	O	O
Mbuyiso	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
opposition	O	DSE
supporter	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
wins	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
will	O	O
announce	O	O
martial	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
throw	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
in	O	O
jail	O	O
for	O	O
plotting	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
kill	O	DSE
him	O	O
and	O	O
send	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
streets	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Government	O	O
officials	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
charged	DSE	DSE
Tsvangirai	O	O
and	O	O
two	O	O
other	O	O
officials	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
with	O	O
high	O	ESE
treason	O	ESE
for	O	O
allegedly	O	O
plotting	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
assassinate	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
charge	DSE	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
largely	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
heavily	O	O
edited	O	O
videotape	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
refers	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
elimination	O	O
''	O	O
of	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
was	O	O
responding	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
question	O	O
posed	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
Canadian	O	O
publicist	O	O
with	O	O
whom	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
meeting	O	O
and	O	O
who	O	O
subsequently	O	O
signed	O	O
a	O	O
contract	O	O
with	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
.	O	O

Political	O	O
analysts	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
charges	DSE	DSE
may	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
laid	O	ESE
the	O	O
groundwork	O	O
for	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
jail	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
as	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
last-ditch	ESE	ESE
effort	O	ESE
to	O	O
stay	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
power	O	ESE
should	O	ESE
he	O	O
lose	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
that	O	O
outcome	O	O
is	O	O
certainly	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
foregone	ESE	ESE
conclusion	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

Opposition	O	O
officials	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
22	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
polling	O	O
agents	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
abducted	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
surge	O	O
in	O	O
violent	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
swing	O	O
districts	O	O
could	ESE	DSE
persuade	O	DSE
enough	O	DSE
opposition	O	O
supporters	O	O
to	O	O
vote	O	O
for	O	O
ZANU-PF	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
victory	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
addition	O	ESE
,	O	O
governing	O	O
party	O	O
officials	O	O
have	O	O
revised	O	O
election	O	O
laws	O	O
and	O	O
procedures	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
manner	O	O
that	O	O
could	ESE	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
independent	O	O
election	O	O
observers	O	O
.	O	O

ZANU-PF	O	O
officials	O	O
have	O	O
told	O	O
election	O	O
observers	O	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
intend	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
polling	O	O
stations	O	O
in	O	O
rural	O	O
areas	O	O
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
their	O	O
strongholds	O	O
and	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
stations	O	O
in	O	O
urban	O	O
areas	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
.	O	O

Observers	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
could	ESE	O
produce	O	O
long	O	O
voting	O	O
lines	O	O
and	O	O
discourage	DSE	O
some	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
supporters	O	O
from	O	O
casting	O	O
ballots	O	O
.	O	O

ZANU-PF	O	O
election	O	O
officials	O	O
also	O	O
plan	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
use	O	O
civil	O	O
service	O	O
employees	O	O
to	O	O
monitor	O	O
the	O	O
vote-counting	O	O
and	O	O
bar	O	O
independent	O	O
monitors	O	O
from	O	O
nonprofit	O	O
organizations	O	O
from	O	O
assisting	O	O
in	O	O
such	O	O
routine	O	O
tasks	O	O
as	O	O
transporting	O	O
ballot	O	O
boxes	O	O
to	O	O
counting	O	O
stations	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
residency	O	O
requirement	O	O
introduced	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
bans	O	O
registered	O	O
voters	O	O
from	O	O
casting	O	O
ballots	O	O
if	O	O
they	O	O
can	O	O
not	O	O
provide	O	O
leases	O	O
or	O	O
utility	O	O
bills	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
names	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
,	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
foreign	O	O
diplomats	O	O
and	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
supporters	O	O
,	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
disenfranchise	O	ESE
hundreds	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
thousands	ESE	O
of	O	O
young	O	O
opposition	O	O
supporters	O	O
who	O	O
live	O	O
with	O	O
their	O	O
parents	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Clearly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
everything	O	O
he	O	O
can	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
steal	ESE	ESE
this	ESE	O
election	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	O
John	O	O
Makumbe	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
science	O	O
professor	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
University	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
said	O	DSE
at	O	O
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
Thursday	O	O
night	O	O
that	O	O
if	O	O
he	O	O
won	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
prosecute	O	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
ease	O	ESE
pressure	O	ESE
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
remain	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
prosecution	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
attack	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1980s	O	O
in	O	O
Matabeleland	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
home	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Ndebele	O	O
tribe	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
posed	O	O
the	O	ESE
most	O	ESE
significant	O	ESE
threat	O	ESE
to	O	O
his	O	O
leadership	O	O
.	O	O

An	O	O
estimate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
killed	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
ranges	O	O
from	O	O
10,000	O	O
to	O	O
20,000	O	O
.	O	O

Six	O	O
days	O	O
that	O	O
shook	O	O
Venezuela	O	O

CARACAS	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Here	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
crisis	O	O
that	O	O
shook	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
six	O	O
days	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
41	O	O
people	O	O
were	O	O
killed	O	O
and	O	O
323	O	O
were	O	O
injured	O	O
:	O	O

Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
9	O	O
:	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
largest	O	O
trade	O	O
union	O	O
joins	O	O
a	O	O
strike	DSE	O
by	O	O
managers	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
massive	O	O
state-run	O	O
oil	O	O
company	O	O
,	O	O
demanding	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
resignation	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
board	O	O
of	O	O
directors	O	O
appointed	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

Wednesday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
10	O	O
:	O	O
Union	O	O
leaders	O	O
extend	O	O
the	O	O
strike	O	O
for	O	O
24	O	O
hours	O	O
because	O	O
of	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
`	O	O
aggressive	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
and	O	O
`	O	O
intolerant	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
response	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
demands	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
strike	O	O
is	O	O
later	O	O
made	O	O
indefinite	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Oil	O	O
exports	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
80	O	O
per	O	O
cent	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
foreign	O	O
revenues	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	DSE
threatened	O	DSE
as	O	O
the	O	O
strike	O	O
stops	O	O
production	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
major	O	O
refineries	O	O
.	O	O

Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
11	O	O
:	O	O
Some	O	O
50,000	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
business	O	O
and	O	O
union	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
mass	O	O
to	O	DSE
demand	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
resignation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
urges	DSE	DSE
supporters	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
back	DSE	DSE
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
orders	DSE	O
a	O	O
suspension	O	O
of	O	O
broadcasts	O	O
by	O	O
private	O	O
television	O	O
networks	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Pro-government	O	O
and	O	O
opposition	O	O
demonstrators	O	O
face	O	O
off	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
least	O	O
15	O	O
people	O	O
are	O	O
killed	O	O
and	O	O
almost	O	O
100	O	O
are	O	O
wounded	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
A	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
10	O	O
top	O	O
military	O	O
officials	O	O
declare	DSE	DSE
their	DSE	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Leading	O	O
military	O	O
officials	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Chavez	O	O
government	O	O
resign	O	O
.	O	O

Friday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
12	O	O
:	O	O
Army	O	O
commander	O	O
General	O	O
Efrain	O	O
Vazquez	O	O
announces	O	O
that	O	O
Chavez	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
resign	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Business	O	O
leader	O	O
Pedro	O	O
Carmona	O	O
replaces	O	O
Chavez	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
President	O	O
,	O	O
dissolves	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Assembly	O	O
,	O	O
dismisses	O	DSE
the	O	O
Supreme	O	O
Court	O	O
,	O	O
revokes	DSE	O
49	O	O
controversial	O	O
Chavez	O	O
decrees	DSE	O
and	O	O
announces	O	O
Presidential	O	O
elections	O	O
in	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Latin	O	O
American	O	O
leaders	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Costa	O	O
Rica	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
trade	O	O
summit	O	O
denounce	DSE	DSE
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
breakdown	ESE	O
of	O	O
constitutional	O	O
order	O	O
.	O	O

Saturday	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
13	O	O
:	O	O
In	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
American	O	O
States	O	O
says	O	DSE
it	O	DSE
is	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
apply	O	O
against	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
a	O	O
charter	O	O
requiring	O	O
sanctions	O	O
for	O	O
any	O	O
member	O	O
that	O	O
abandons	ESE	O
democracy	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Pro-Chavez	DSE	DSE
rioting	DSE	DSE
breaks	O	O
out	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
The	O	O
commander	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
paratrooper	O	O
brigade	O	O
-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
old	O	O
unit	O	O
-	O	O
refuses	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
recognise	DSE	DSE
orders	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
is	O	O
transferred	O	O
from	O	O
an	O	O
army	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
of	O	O
Orchila	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
Sea	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Thousands	O	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
supporters	DSE	O
march	DSE	O
towards	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Carmona	O	O
takes	O	O
refuge	O	O
at	O	O
Tiuna	O	O
Fort	O	O
,	O	O
southwest	O	O
of	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Top	O	O
military	O	O
leaders	O	O
say	O	DSE
their	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Carmona	O	O
is	O	O
conditional	O	O
upon	O	O
his	O	O
respecting	ESE	O
democratic	O	O
institutions	O	O
and	O	O
allowing	O	O
Chavez	O	O
to	O	O
leave	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
freely	ESE	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Carmona	O	O
announces	O	O
the	O	O
restoration	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Assembly	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
Chavez	O	O
cabinet	O	O
members	O	O
move	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
and	O	O
hold	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Carmona	O	O
resigns	O	O
the	O	O
interim	O	O
presidency	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
vice-President	O	O
,	O	O
Diosdado	O	O
Cabello	O	O
,	O	O
takes	O	O
over	O	O
as	O	O
acting	O	O
President	O	O
.	O	O

Carmona	O	O
is	O	O
arrested	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
his	O	O
cabinet	O	O
and	O	O
general	O	O
staff	O	O
.	O	O

Cabello	O	O
promises	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
restore	O	O
constitutional	O	O
order	O	O
.	O	O

Sunday	O	O
:	O	O
Chavez	O	O
leaves	O	O
Orchila	O	O
Island	O	O
aboard	O	O
a	O	O
helicopter	O	O
and	O	O
heads	O	O
to	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

-	O	O
Chavez	O	O
officially	O	O
re-takes	O	O
the	O	O
presidency	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
emotional	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
ceremony	O	O
at	O	O
4:30	O	O
am	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
0830	O	O
GMT	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
then	O	O
calls	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
peace	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
calm	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
`	O	O
the	O	O
unity	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O
'	O	O

-	O	O
Emergency	O	O
workers	O	O
say	O	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
total	O	O
,	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
41	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
killed	O	O
and	O	O
323	O	O
injured	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
rioting	O	DSE
around	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
since	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
Predicts	DSE	O
Victory	ESE	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
Election	O	O

Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
incumbent	O	O
President	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
Saturday	O	O
predicted	DSE	DSE
victory	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
two	O	O
-	O	O
horse	O	O
presidential	O	O
race	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
he	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
defeated	ESE	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
MDC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Looking	O	O
tired	O	O
but	O	O
blithesome	O	O
after	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
month	O	O
of	O	O
daily	O	O
election	O	O
campaigns	O	O
throughout	O	O
the	O	O
southern	O	O
African	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
cast	O	O
his	O	O
vote	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
weekend	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
facing	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
from	O	O
his	O	O
main	O	O
rival	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
veteran	O	O
leader	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
in	O	O
power	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
gained	O	O
independence	O	O
from	O	O
Britain	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
accompanied	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
polling	O	O
station	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
school	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
poor	O	O
suburb	O	O
of	O	O
Highfield	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
Harare	O	O
by	O	O
family	O	O
members	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
two	O	O
children	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
told	O	O
journalists	O	O
after	O	O
casting	O	O
his	O	O
ballot	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	DSE
than	DSE	DSE
confident	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
winning	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
results	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
I	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
won	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
thought	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
process	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
rigged	ESE	ESE
were	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
MDC	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
prejudging	ESE	DSE
and	O	DSE
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
direct	O	O
the	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

Tension	O	O
has	O	O
risen	O	O
sharply	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
months	O	O
,	O	O
after	O	O
long	O	O
and	O	O
sometimes	O	O
violent	O	O
election	O	O
campaigns	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
party	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
accused	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
of	O	O
using	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
electoral	O	ESE
manipulation	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
rig	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
defying	DSE	DSE
international	O	O
pressure	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
back	ESE	DSE
down	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
his	O	O
controversial	O	O
land	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
has	O	DSE
said	O	DSE
he	O	O
needs	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
new	O	O
six	O	O
-	O	O
year	O	O
mandate	O	O
to	O	O
complete	O	O
the	O	O
reforms	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
these	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
taken	O	O
over	O	O
excess	O	O
and	O	O
idle	O	O
farms	O	O
from	O	O
white	O	O
farmers	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
own	O	O
the	O	O
bulk	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
arable	O	O
land	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
resettle	O	O
landless	O	O
peasants	O	O
.	O	O

Nearly	O	O
500,000	O	O
people	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
resettled	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
program	O	O
has	O	O
drawn	O	DSE
sharp	DSE	DSE
international	DSE	DSE
rebuke	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
from	O	O
former	O	O
colonial	O	O
power	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
has	DSE	O
vowed	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
press	ESE	DSE
ahead	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
reforms	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
imposed	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
19	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
close	O	O
associates	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
took	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
same	O	DSE
move	O	DSE
,	O	O
accusing	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
of	O	O
violating	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
cracking	ESE	ESE
down	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
and	O	O
judiciary	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
controversial	ESE	O
land	O	O
reform	O	O
is	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
pillar	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
electoral	O	O
strategy	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
political	O	O
analysts	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
could	ESE	ESE
work	O	ESE
either	O	ESE
way	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
view	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
March	O	O
election	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
chapter	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
long	ESE	O
struggle	ESE	O
against	O	O
colonial	O	O
rule	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
led	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
early	O	O
1960s	O	O
until	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
independence	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
have	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
deliver	O	ESE
and	O	O
safeguard	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
heritage	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
young	O	O
generation	O	O
-	O	O
land	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
taken	O	O
from	O	O
our	O	O
forefathers	ESE	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
recent	O	O
rally	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
talked	O	DSE
about	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
keep	O	O
safeguarding	ESE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
sovereignty	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
land	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
he	O	O
dies	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	DSE
dream	ESE	DSE
which	O	O
the	O	O
veteran	O	O
leader	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
forced	ESE	ESE
him	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
sacrifice	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
bright	ESE	O
teaching	O	O
career	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1950s	O	O
to	O	O
lead	O	O
his	O	O
compatriots	ESE	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
colonial	O	O
rule	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
that	O	O
ambition	DSE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
fully	ESE	ESE
tested	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
ballot	O	O
box	O	O
this	O	O
weekend	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
Caucus	O	O
a	O	O
US	O	O
Provocation	ESE	O
:	O	O
Commentary	O	DSE

On	O	O
April	O	O
9	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
23rd	O	O
anniversary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
'	O	O
troublemaking	ESE	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Congress	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
unveil	O	O
a	O	O
70-member	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
caucus	O	O
.	O	O

Most	O	O
congressional	O	O
caucuses	O	O
are	O	O
issue-based	O	O
or	O	O
for	O	O
particular	O	O
racial	O	O
groups	O	O
but	O	O
this	O	O
one	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
devoted	O	ESE
solely	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
inalienable	ESE	ESE
part	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	DSE
claimed	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
caucus	O	O
will	O	O
serve	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
channel	O	O
for	O	O
legislators	O	O
from	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
to	O	O
exchange	O	O
ideas	O	DSE
.	O	O

Such	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
provocative	ESE	ESE
move	O	ESE
will	O	O
obviously	ESE	ESE
overshadow	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
renewed	O	ESE
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
a	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
dangerous	ESE	ESE
level	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
may	O	ESE
provide	O	O
fodder	ESE	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
military	O	O
forces	O	O
and	O	O
play	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
separatist	O	O
extremists	ESE	O
.	O	O

One	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
group	O	O
's	O	O
goals	DSE	DSE
is	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
promote	ESE	DSE
US	O	O
military	O	O
ties	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
comes	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
there	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
conspicuous	ESE	ESE
signs	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
ever-increasing	ESE	ESE
US-Taiwan	O	O
military	O	O
ties	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
mid-March	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
side	O	O
granted	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
``	O	O
Defence	O	O
Minister	O	O
''	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yiau-ming	O	O
a	O	O
visa	O	O
so	O	O
he	O	O
could	O	O
attend	O	O
a	O	O
conference	O	O
sponsored	O	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
military	O	O
contractors	O	O
in	O	O
Florida	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
the	O	O
sidelines	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
met	O	O
senior	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
officials	O	O
including	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Defence	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Paul	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
and	O	O
Assistant	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
James	O	O
Kelly	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
March	O	O
22	O	O
,	O	O
Admiral	O	O
Dennis	O	O
Blair	O	O
,	O	O
commander-in-chief	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Pacific	O	O
Command	O	O
,	O	O
told	O	DSE
the	O	O
House	O	O
Armed	O	O
Services	O	O
Committee	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
can	O	O
maintain	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
balance	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Straits	O	O
if	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
continue	O	O
modernizing	O	O
their	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
this	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
military	O	O
balance	O	O
is	O	O
what	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
leader	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Last	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
when	O	O
receiving	O	O
a	O	O
special	O	O
delegation	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
House	O	O
of	O	O
Representatives	O	O
,	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
strong	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Congress	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
April	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
-	O	O
ensured	ESE	O
a	O	O
balanced	O	O
cross-Straits	O	O
military	O	O
situation	O	O
and	O	O
peace	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Straits	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
reaffirmed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
promises	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
all	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
and	O	O
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
declared	DSE	DSE
he	O	ESE
would	O	ESE
abide	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
-	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
necessary	O	O
protection	O	O
against	O	O
Beijing	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Chen	O	O
was	O	O
quoted	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Taipei	O	O
Times	O	O
as	O	O
saying	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
most	O	O
cases	O	O
,	O	O
those	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
sow	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
wind	ESE	O
will	ESE	ESE
reap	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
whirlwind	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
robust	O	O
military	O	O
build-up	O	O
may	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
bring	O	ESE
the	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
balance	O	O
but	O	O
menace	ESE	ESE
instead	ESE	ESE
cross-Straits	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
and	O	O
stability	O	O
.	O	O

Helping	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
build	O	O
its	O	O
military	ESE	O
muscle	ESE	O
will	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
foment	O	ESE
pro-independence	O	ESE
forces	O	ESE
.	O	O

Since	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
remarks	O	O
and	O	O
events	O	O
may	O	ESE
give	O	ESE
these	O	O
forces	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
on	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
side	ESE	O
and	O	O
ready	O	O
to	O	O
provide	O	O
military	O	O
protection	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
may	O	ESE
become	O	ESE
provocative	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
push	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
island	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
edge	ESE	O
.	O	O

Ministry	O	O
Criticizes	DSE	O
`	O	O
Odious	ESE	O
'	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Report	O	O

The	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
was	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
surprised	DSE	DSE
,	DSE	O
to	ESE	ESE
put	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
mildly	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Russia	O	O
's	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
record	O	O
and	O	O
objected	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
particular	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
odious	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
section	O	O
on	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
One	ESE	ESE
gets	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
impression	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
its	O	O
writers	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
used	ESE	ESE
old	ESE	ESE
drafts	ESE	O
,	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
nothing	O	ESE
had	O	O
happened	O	O
in	O	O
either	O	O
Russia	O	O
or	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
had	O	O
not	O	O
occurred	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
had	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
closed	O	DSE
ranks	O	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
battle	O	O
against	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
statement	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
's	O	O
annual	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
published	O	O
Monday	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Russia	O	O
had	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
poor	ESE	ESE
record	O	ESE
regarding	O	O
the	O	O
independence	O	O
and	O	O
freedom	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
media	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
.	O	O

Russian	O	O
security	O	O
forces	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
have	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
demonstrated	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
respect	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
basic	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
credible	ESE	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
serious	ESE	ESE
violations	O	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
numerous	O	O
reports	O	O
of	O	O
extrajudicial	O	ESE
killings	O	ESE
by	O	O
both	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
Chechen	O	O
fighters	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Russian	O	O
officials	O	O
from	O	O
President	O	O
Vladimir	O	O
Putin	O	O
on	O	DSE
down	O	DSE
have	DSE	DSE
portrayed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
terrorists	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	O
partially	DSE	DSE
endorsed	DSE	DSE
that	O	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
pointing	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
rebel	O	DSE
leaders	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Shamil	O	O
Basayev	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Jordanian-born	O	O
Omar	O	O
Ibn	O	O
al	O	O
Khattab	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
have	O	O
financial	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
ties	O	O
to	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
's	O	O
al-Qaida	O	O
terrorist	O	O
network	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
also	O	O
note	O	DSE
that	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rebels	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	O
have	O	O
international	O	O
ties	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
criticized	DSE	DSE
Russian	O	O
military	O	O
and	O	O
police	O	O
abuse	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
civilians	O	ESE
--	O	O
although	O	O
the	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
was	DSE	DSE
toned	DSE	DSE
down	DSE	DSE
greatly	DSE	O
after	O	O
Russia	O	O
became	DSE	O
an	DSE	O
enthusiastic	DSE	O
member	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
coalition	O	O
,	O	O
sharing	O	O
intelligence	O	O
information	O	O
,	O	O
opening	O	O
its	O	O
airspace	O	O
to	O	O
humanitarian	O	O
flights	O	O
and	O	O
giving	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
green	DSE	O
light	DSE	O
to	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
deployment	O	O
in	O	O
Central	O	O
Asia	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
pronouncement	O	DSE
on	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
reflected	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
efforts	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
certain	ESE	O
circles	ESE	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
that	O	O
object	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
U.S.-Russian	O	O
partnership	O	O
against	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
These	O	O
circles	O	O
have	O	O
persistently	ESE	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
reanimate	O	O
the	O	O
`	O	O
Chechen	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
,	O	O
'	O	O
and	O	O
turn	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
irritant	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Russian-American	O	O
dialogue	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
ministry	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ministry	O	O
also	O	O
suggested	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
before	ESE	O
judging	ESE	O
others	ESE	O
'	O	O
rights	O	O
records	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
investigate	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
at	O	O
home	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
failure	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
ratify	ESE	O
some	O	O
international	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
agreements	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
death	O	O
penalty	O	O
.	O	O

Russia	O	O
introduced	O	O
a	O	O
moratorium	O	O
on	O	O
capital	O	O
punishment	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
prerequisite	O	O
for	O	O
joining	O	O
the	O	O
Council	O	O
of	O	O
Europe	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
1996	O	O
.	O	O

Tokyo	O	O
irked	DSE	DSE
by	O	DSE
US	O	DSE
stance	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
Kyoto	O	O

TOKYO	O	O
-	O	O
Coral	O	O
reefs	O	O
will	ESE	O
die	ESE	O
from	O	O
water	O	O
that	O	O
's	O	O
too	ESE	ESE
hot	O	ESE
.	O	O

Polar	O	O
bears	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
less	ESE	ESE
room	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
roam	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
crowding	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
existence	ESE	O
.	O	O

Birds	O	O
will	ESE	O
start	O	O
flying	O	O
an	O	O
extra	ESE	O
mile	O	O
north	O	O
each	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
starve	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
they	O	O
get	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

These	O	O
are	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
dire	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
consequences	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
,	O	O
say	DSE	O
climate-change	O	O
experts	O	O
.	O	O

At	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
was	O	O
it	O	O
clearer	ESE	O
that	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
take	ESE	O
steps	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
slow	ESE	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
than	O	O
when	O	O
150	O	O
countries	O	O
signed	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
now	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
ratify	O	DSE
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
shaped	O	O
in	O	O
part	O	O
to	O	O
fit	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
concerns	DSE	DSE
five	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
accord	O	O
's	O	O
ultimate	ESE	ESE
effectiveness	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	DSE
doubt	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
irritated	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

For	DSE	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
nation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nature-lovers	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
shaping	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
accord	O	O
on	O	O
their	O	O
soil	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
source	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
pride	ESE	DSE
-	O	O
and	O	O
proof	ESE	O
that	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
still	ESE	O
relevant	ESE	O
players	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
stage	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
absolutely	ESE	ESE
inadmissible	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
greatest	ESE	O
gas-emitting	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
once	ESE	O
again	ESE	O
turn	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
and	O	O
present	O	O
something	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
against	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
framework	O	O
convention	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Mie	O	O
Asaoka	O	O
,	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kiko	O	O
Network	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Tokyo	O	O
environmental-umbrella	O	O
organization	O	O
representing	O	O
about	O	O
150	O	O
Japanese	O	O
groups	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
clash	O	O
over	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
stop	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
while	O	O
allowing	O	O
sluggish	O	O
economies	O	O
to	O	O
prosper	O	O
occurs	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
awkward	ESE	ESE
point	O	ESE
in	O	O
US-Japanese	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
analysts	O	O
looking	O	DSE
east	ESE	DSE
say	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
as	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
dominance	ESE	O
in	O	O
Asia	O	O
diminishes	ESE	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
US-Japan	O	O
relationship	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
Department	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
recently	O	O
left	O	O
Japan	O	O
off	O	O
its	O	O
list	O	O
of	O	O
nations	O	O
contributing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
post-Sept	O	O
.	O	O
11	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terror	O	O
.	O	O

Realizing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
accidental	ESE	O
slight	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
later	O	O
apologized	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
overlooking	ESE	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
-	O	O
considered	DSE	ESE
tremendously	ESE	ESE
ambitious	ESE	ESE
here	O	ESE
-	O	O
to	O	O
alter	O	O
the	O	O
interpretation	O	O
of	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
post-World	O	O
War	O	O
II	O	O
pacifist	O	O
constitution	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
dispatch	O	O
warships	O	O
for	O	O
noncombat	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
.	O	O

During	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
visit	O	O
here	O	O
last	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
gently	DSE	O
balked	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
's	O	O
proposed	O	O
alternative	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
agreement	O	O
,	O	O
saying	O	DSE
that	O	O
Japan	O	O
would	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
like	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
see	O	DSE
further	ESE	ESE
efforts	O	ESE
''	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
protesters	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
streets	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
an	DSE	O
air	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
indignation	DSE	O
here	O	O
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
do-it-our-way	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
something	O	O
that	O	O
effects	O	O
the	O	O
whole	O	O
globe	O	O
.	O	O

Among	O	O
the	O	O
Kiko	O	O
Network	O	O
's	O	O
handouts	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
pamphlet	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
cartoon	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

On	DSE	O
one	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
defensively	ESE	O
holds	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Kyoto	ESE	O
Protocol	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	DSE	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
fiendish-looking	ESE	O
Bush	O	O
seizes	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
weeping	ESE	ESE
globe	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
monster-size	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
.	O	O

In	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
eyes	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
many	O	O
US	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
not	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
ratify	O	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
is	O	O
one	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
many	O	ESE
signals	O	ESE
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
is	DSE	ESE
growing	DSE	ESE
increasingly	DSE	ESE
unilateralist	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
six	O	O
months	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

From	ESE	O
pulling	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
-	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
process	O	O
of	O	O
being	O	O
ratified	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
-	O	O
to	ESE	DSE
labeling	ESE	DSE
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
an	O	O
``	ESE	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
and	O	O
prime	ESE	O
targets	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
phase	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
allies	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
seeing	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
a	O	O
growing	ESE	O
tendency	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
act	ESE	O
first	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
consult	ESE	O
later	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
is	DSE	O
offering	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
own	DSE	O
alternative	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Clear	O	O
Skies	O	O
and	O	O
Global	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
Initiatives	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
aides	O	O
say	O	O
are	O	O
more	O	ESE
market-sensitive	O	ESE
and	O	O
will	O	O
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
worst	O	O
air	O	O
pollutants	O	O
by	O	O
70	O	O
percent	O	O
while	O	O
finding	O	O
a	O	O
strategy	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
intensity	O	O
by	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	ESE
environmental	O	ESE
advocates	O	ESE
say	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
alternative	O	O
will	O	O
allow	ESE	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
the	O	O
amount	O	O
of	O	O
gas	O	O
it	O	O
emits	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
fear	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	O
forging	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
way	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
smaller	O	O
nations	O	O
that	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
could	ESE	O
start	O	O
backing	ESE	DSE
out	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
lead	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
a	O	O
two-tier	O	O
system	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
others	O	O
-	O	O
Australia	O	O
and	O	O
Canada	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
follow	ESE	ESE
suit	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
will	O	O
choose	O	O
their	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
targets	O	O
,	O	O
while	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
rest	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
limited	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
stricter	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
limits	O	O
.	O	O

Not	O	ESE
everyone	O	ESE
in	O	O
Japan	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
upset	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
alternative	O	O
.	O	O

Japanese	O	O
industry	O	O
has	O	O
already	ESE	O
gone	O	O
through	O	O
vigorous	ESE	O
energy-saving	O	O
-	O	O
and	O	O
thus	O	O
environmentally	ESE	ESE
friendly	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
drives	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
energy	O	O
crises	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1970s	O	O
and	O	O
1980s	O	O
,	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Mitsuru	O	O
Shinozaki	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
spokesman	O	O
for	O	O
Keidanren	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
influential	ESE	ESE
business	O	ESE
lobby	O	ESE
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
Earth	O	O
Summit	O	O
of	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
ago	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
says	O	DSE
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
discussed	O	O
and	O	O
implemented	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
self-action	O	DSE
plan	O	DSE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
carbon-dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Any	ESE	ESE
further	ESE	ESE
policy	O	ESE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
will	O	ESE
hurt	ESE	ESE
Japanese	O	O
industrial	O	O
competitiveness	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

China	O	ESE
plays	DSE	ESE
down	DSE	ESE
friction	O	ESE
with	O	O
US	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O

BEIJING	O	O
:	O	O
China	O	O
played	DSE	ESE
down	DSE	ESE
sensitive	O	ESE
differences	O	ESE
with	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
holding	DSE	O
his	DSE	O
tongue	DSE	O
over	O	O
US	O	O
commitments	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
arm	O	DSE
the	O	O
diplomatically-isolated	O	O
island	O	O
.	O	O

Jiang	O	O
portrayed	DSE	DSE
talks	O	DSE
with	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
as	O	O
low-key	ESE	O
,	O	O
telling	O	O
reporters	O	O
both	O	O
sides	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
``	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
`	ESE	O
Taiwan	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
'	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	O
hope	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
solving	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
question	O	O
peacefully	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

Jiang	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
subdued	ESE	ESE
tone	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
despite	O	ESE
US	O	O
pledges	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
press	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
with	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taipei	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
defence	O	O
summit	O	O
''	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
officials	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
underlined	O	O
his	O	O
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
avoid	ESE	DSE
disputes	O	DSE
with	O	O
Washington	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
leadership	O	O
handover	O	O
this	O	O
autumn	O	O
.	O	O

Jiang	O	O
said	O	DSE
Bush	O	O
had	O	DSE
restated	O	DSE
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
long-standing	O	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
``	O	O
one	O	O
China	O	O
''	O	O
policy	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
states	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
mainland	O	O
belong	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
single	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
signal	ESE	DSE
of	O	DSE
continued	O	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
said	DSE	O
he	O	O
would	O	DSE
honour	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
pledge	O	DSE
to	O	O
help	O	O
arm	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
regarded	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
a	ESE	O
rebel	ESE	O
province	ESE	O
since	O	O
a	O	O
1949	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
split	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
position	O	O
of	O	O
my	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
changed	O	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
peaceful	O	O
settlement	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Bush	O	O
told	O	DSE
a	O	O
news	O	O
conference	O	O
after	O	O
talks	O	O
with	O	O
Jiang	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
day	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
urge	DSE	DSE
there	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
provocation	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
continue	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
passed	O	DSE
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Relations	O	O
Act	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
year	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
switched	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
from	O	O
Taipei	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
in	O	O
1979	O	O
,	O	O
reaffirming	DSE	DSE
its	O	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
pledging	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
maintain	O	DSE
arms	O	DSE
sales	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
relieved	DSE	O

Chinese	O	O
analysts	O	O
who	O	O
advise	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
comment	O	DSE
on	O	O
policy	O	O
also	O	O
played	DSE	DSE
down	DSE	DSE
tensions	O	DSE
between	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
--	O	O
which	O	O
Beijing	O	O
always	O	DSE
says	DSE	DSE
is	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
issue	ESE	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
bilateral	O	O
relationship	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
problem	O	O
is	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
old	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
and	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	ESE
there	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Jin	O	O
Canrong	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
top	O	O
researcher	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
prestigious	O	O
China	O	O
Academy	O	O
of	O	O
Social	O	O
Sciences	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	O	O
with	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
America	O	O
widening	O	O
their	O	O
scope	O	O
of	O	O
cooperation	O	O
the	O	DSE
priority	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
problem	O	O
in	O	O
bilateral	O	O
relations	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
lowered	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Bush	O	O
's	O	O
statement	O	O
will	O	O
come	O	O
as	O	O
a	DSE	O
relief	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
watching	O	O
his	O	O
two-day	O	O
visit	O	O
closely	O	O
fearing	DSE	DSE
Washington	O	O
may	O	ESE
give	O	O
something	O	O
new	O	O
away	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
for	O	O
Beijing	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
US-led	O	O
war	O	O
on	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
analysts	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
democratic	O	O
island	O	O
run	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
pro-independence	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Progressive	O	O
Party	O	O
relies	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
as	O	O
its	O	O
main	O	O
arms	O	O
supplier	O	O
and	O	O
trading	O	O
partner	O	O
.	O	O

Bush	O	ESE
stands	DSE	ESE
firm	DSE	ESE

Washington	O	O
angered	DSE	DSE
Beijing	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
by	O	O
offering	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
arms	O	O
package	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
decade	O	O
--	O	O
including	O	O
submarines	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
time	O	O
--	O	O
and	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
Washington	O	O
would	O	O
do	O	O
``	O	O
whatever	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
takes	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
demanded	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
end	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
step	O	ESE
back	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
explicit	DSE	ESE
statements	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
Beijing	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
threatened	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	ESE
attack	DSE	ESE
if	O	ESE
it	O	O
declares	DSE	DSE
independence	O	O
or	O	O
delays	O	O
reunification	O	O
talks	O	O
indefinitely	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
stood	DSE	DSE
firm	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
his	O	O
Asian	O	O
tour	O	O
.	O	O

Speaking	O	O
to	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
Diet	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
parliament	O	O
,	O	O
before	O	O
heading	O	O
to	O	O
Seoul	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
reassured	O	DSE
Taiwan	O	DSE
by	O	DSE
saying	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
America	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
remember	DSE	DSE
our	O	DSE
commitments	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	ESE	O
another	ESE	O
controversial	ESE	O
move	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Defence	O	O
Department	O	O
said	O	DSE
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	O
take	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
closed-door	O	O
conference	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
that	O	O
private	O	O
organisers	O	O
call	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
defence	O	DSE
summit	O	O
''	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
event	O	O
which	O	O
would	O	DSE
typically	ESE	DSE
anger	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
another	ESE	ESE
ice	ESE	O
age	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
cooler	O	ESE

As	O	O
countries	O	O
gear	O	O
up	O	O
for	O	O
battles	O	O
over	O	O
ratifying	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
recent	O	O
study	O	O
suggests	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
already	ESE	O
has	O	O
stepped	O	O
along	O	O
the	O	O
path	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
future	O	O
cooler	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
might	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Researchers	O	O
at	O	O
NASA	O	O
's	O	O
Goddard	O	O
Institute	O	O
for	O	O
Space	O	O
Studies	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GISS	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
declining	O	O
greenhouse-gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
late	O	O
1980s	O	O
have	O	O
slowed	O	O
the	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
's	O	O
ability	O	O
to	O	O
retain	O	O
heat	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
researchers	O	O
link	O	O
the	O	O
slower	O	O
rate	O	O
to	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1987	O	O
Montreal	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
countries	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
phase	O	O
out	O	O
production	O	O
of	O	O
gases	O	O
that	O	O
erode	O	O
the	O	O
Earth	O	O
's	O	O
protective	O	ESE
ozone	O	ESE
layer	O	ESE
.	O	O

Known	DSE	O
collectively	O	O
as	O	O
chlorofluorocarbons	O	O
,	O	O
these	O	O
gases	O	O
also	O	O
trap	O	O
heat	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
times	O	O
as	O	O
effectively	O	O
as	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
focus	O	O
of	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
rate	O	O
of	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
had	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
maintained	O	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
peak	O	O
reached	O	O
in	O	O
1980	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
climate	O	O
by	O	O
2050	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
reached	O	O
temperatures	O	O
not	O	O
currently	O	O
anticipated	DSE	DSE
until	O	O
2100	O	O
,	O	O
when	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
concentrations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
have	O	O
doubled	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
researchers	O	O
calculate	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
slowdown	O	O
also	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	O
due	O	O
in	O	O
part	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
slower	O	O
growth	O	O
of	O	O
methane	O	O
and	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
reasons	O	O
that	O	O
are	ESE	DSE
n't	ESE	DSE
well	ESE	DSE
understood	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
need	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
study	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
James	O	O
Hansen	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
NASA	O	O
researcher	O	O
who	O	O
conducted	O	O
the	O	O
study	O	O
with	O	O
Makiko	O	O
Sato	O	O
,	O	O
also	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
GISS	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
slower	O	ESE
growth	O	ESE
in	O	O
carbon-dioxide	O	O
concentrations	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
increased	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
uptake	O	O
by	O	O
land-based	O	O
plants	O	O
and	O	O
marine	O	O
organisms	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
suggests	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
work	O	O
grows	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
longer-term	O	O
effort	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
scientists	O	O
to	O	O
explore	O	O
paths	O	O
to	O	O
adjusting	O	O
the	O	O
globe	O	O
's	O	O
thermostat	O	O
other	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
politically	O	O
charged	O	O
effort	O	O
embodied	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
focusing	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
carbon	O	DSE
dioxide	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
pact	O	O
sets	O	O
its	O	O
sights	O	O
on	O	O
curbing	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
held	DSE	ESE
most	DSE	ESE
responsible	DSE	ESE
for	O	O
contributing	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
climate	O	O
's	O	O
warming	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
curbs	O	O
on	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
mean	O	O
curbs	O	O
on	O	O
burning	O	O
coal	O	O
,	O	O
oil	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
natural	O	O
gas	O	O
-	O	O
the	O	O
fuels	O	O
of	O	O
booming	ESE	O
economies	O	O
.	O	O

Drs.	O	O
Hansen	O	O
and	O	O
Sato	O	O
argue	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
policymakers	O	O
can	O	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
significant	ESE	ESE
headway	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
attacking	O	O
other	O	O
pollutants	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
black	O	ESE
carbon	O	ESE
soot	O	ESE
,	O	O
ozone	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
smog	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
lower	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
methane	O	O
from	O	O
landfills	O	O
,	O	O
mining	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
oil	O	O
and	O	O
gas	O	O
production	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
duo	O	O
calculates	O	O
that	O	O
by	O	O
reducing	O	O
methane	O	O
emissions	O	O
by	O	O
30	O	O
percent	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
effect	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
comparable	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
effect	O	O
from	O	O
cuts	O	O
in	O	O
CO	O	O
2	O	O
envisioned	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
during	O	O
its	O	O
first	O	DSE
commitment	O	DSE
period	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
runs	O	O
from	O	O
2008	O	O
to	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

Their	O	O
study	O	O
appeared	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Dec.	O	O
18	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Proceedings	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Academy	O	O
of	O	O
Science	O	O
.	O	O

New	O	O
man	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
NASA	O	O
mission	O	O

Forget	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
shuttles	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
orbiting	ESE	O
telescopes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
more	ESE	O
robotic	ESE	O
rovers	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
Mars	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
next	O	O
mission	O	O
for	O	O
NASA	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
steer	ESE	ESE
soaring	ESE	O
space-station	ESE	O
costs	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
toward	ESE	O
earth	ESE	O
and	O	O
restore	ESE	O
credibility	ESE	O
to	O	O
what	O	O
many	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
dysfunctional	ESE	O
space	O	O
program	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
weekend	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
bade	DSE	DSE
farewell	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
administrator	O	O
Daniel	O	O
Goldin	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
resigned	O	O
after	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
in	O	O
office	O	O
-	O	O
an	O	O
agency	O	O
record	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	DSE	O
nominated	DSE	O
Sean	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
,	O	O
deputy	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
's	O	O
Office	O	O
of	O	O
Management	O	O
and	O	O
Budget	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
replace	O	O
him	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
doing	O	O
so	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
is	O	O
swapping	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
silver-visored	ESE	O
helmet	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
space	ESE	O
cadet	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
green	ESE	O
eyeshade	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
consummate	ESE	ESE
bean	ESE	ESE
counter	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Where	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Goldin	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
product	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
aerospace	O	O
industry	O	O
,	O	O
Mr.	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
has	O	O
served	O	O
as	O	O
chief	O	O
financial	O	O
officer	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
Navy	O	O
secretary	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
business-school	O	O
professor	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
known	DSE	DSE
as	O	O
a	O	ESE
space	O	ESE
enthusiast	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	O	DSE
Keith	O	O
Cowing	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
former	O	O
NASA	O	O
scientist	O	O
and	O	O
editor	O	O
of	O	O
NASAWatch.com	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	ESE	ESE
he	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
what	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
agency	ESE	O
needs	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
now	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Under	O	O
Goldin	O	O
,	O	O
unmanned	O	O
craft	O	O
found	O	O
evidence	O	O
of	O	O
water	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
moon	O	O
,	O	O
inaugurated	O	O
a	O	O
long-term	O	O
program	O	O
to	O	O
explore	O	O
Mars	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
opened	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
door	O	ESE
to	O	O
competition	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
aerospace	O	O
industry	O	O
and	O	O
universities	O	O
to	O	O
plan	O	O
and	O	O
execute	O	O
missions	O	O
.	O	O

With	O	O
a	O	O
mandate	DSE	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
costs	O	O
,	O	O
Goldin	O	O
implemented	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
faster	O	ESE
,	O	O
better	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
cheaper	O	ESE
''	O	O
approach	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
spring	O	O
of	O	O
1992	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Jet	O	O
Propulsion	O	O
Laboratory	O	O
in	O	O
Pasadena	O	O
,	O	O
Calif.	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
had	O	O
five	O	O
spacecraft	O	O
in	O	O
space	O	O
and	O	O
three	O	O
or	O	O
four	O	O
under	O	O
development	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
last	O	O
month	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Today	O	O
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	O	O
13	O	O
in	O	O
space	O	O
and	O	O
27	O	O
under	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
's	O	O
credibility	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
come	DSE	DSE
under	DSE	DSE
fire	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
manned	O	O
spaceflight	O	O
-	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
International	O	O
Space	O	O
Station	O	O
,	O	O
now	O	O
completing	O	O
its	O	O
first	O	O
year	O	O
of	O	O
full-time	O	O
crews	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
project	O	O
's	O	O
costs	O	O
,	O	O
like	O	O
those	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
space-shuttle	O	O
program	O	O
before	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
ballooned	ESE	O
far	ESE	O
beyond	ESE	O
original	O	O
estimates	O	O
-	O	O
from	O	O
an	O	O
initial	O	O
$	O	O
17.4	O	O
billion	O	O
to	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
$	O	O
30	O	O
billion	O	O
.	O	O

Early	O	O
on	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
planned	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
scale	O	O
back	O	O
US	O	O
involvement	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
core	O	ESE
''	O	O
station	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
crew	O	O
of	O	O
three	O	O
instead	O	O
of	O	O
six	O	O
.	O	O

Future	O	O
US	O	O
modules	O	O
were	DSE	O
red-penciled	DSE	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
this	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
task	O	O
force	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
project	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
concluded	DSE	O
that	O	O
NASA	O	O
's	O	O
cost	O	O
estimate	O	O
for	O	O
finishing	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
core	O	ESE
''	O	O
station	O	O
between	O	O
2002	O	O
and	O	O
2008	O	O
``	O	O
is	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
credible	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

It	O	O
presented	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
scenario	O	O
for	O	O
scaling	O	O
back	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
confirmed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Senate	O	O
,	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
jumps	O	O
with	O	O
both	O	O
feet	O	O
into	O	O
this	O	O
fiscal	ESE	O
morass	ESE	O
.	O	O

Fixing	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
require	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
accounting	ESE	ESE
savvy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
also	ESE	ESE
deft	ESE	ESE
diplomacy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
task-force	O	O
report	O	O
stirred	O	DSE
opposition	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Canada	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
partners	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
cut	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
's	O	O
scope	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
argue	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
violates	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	O
agreements	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
would	O	ESE
essentially	ESE	ESE
close	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
international	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
station	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
assessing	O	O
how	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
might	O	ESE
fare	O	ESE
under	O	ESE
O'Keefe	O	ESE
,	O	O
some	O	O
analysts	O	O
say	DSE	DSE
it	ESE	O
could	ESE	ESE
blossom	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
did	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
Apollo-program	O	O
heyday	O	O
under	O	O
another	O	O
numbers	O	O
guy	O	O
,	O	O
James	O	O
Webb	O	O
.	O	O

Yet	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
's	O	O
objectives	DSE	DSE
have	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
growing	O	DSE
less	ESE	O
visionary	ESE	O
since	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
John	O	O
Pike	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
GlobalSecurity.org	O	O
in	O	O
Alexandria	O	O
,	O	O
Va.	O	O
``	O	O
Webb	O	O
's	O	O
mandate	DSE	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
a	O	O
man	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
moon	O	O
.	O	O

Richard	O	O
Truly	O	O
's	O	O
...	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
the	O	O
agency	O	O
recover	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Challenger	O	ESE
disaster	O	ESE
.	O	O

Goldin	O	O
's	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
cut	O	O
NASA	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
.	O	O

Now	O	O
O'Keefe	O	O
's	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
fix	O	O
the	O	O
space	O	O
station	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

O'Keefe	O	O
's	O	O
appointment	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
message	ESE	ESE
from	DSE	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
:	O	O
NASA	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
clean	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
act	ESE	ESE
before	O	O
we	O	O
can	DSE	O
talk	DSE	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
neat	ESE	ESE
stuff	ESE	ESE
we	O	ESE
'd	O	ESE
like	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
see	O	DSE
NASA	O	O
do	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
Patricia	O	O
Dasch	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Space	O	O
Society	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
Disapproves	DSE	O
Use	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
`	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
'	O	O
in	O	O
International	O	O
Relations	O	O

Chinese	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Kong	O	O
Quan	O	O
said	O	DSE
Friday	O	O
that	O	O
China	O	O
disapproves	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	DSE	O
use	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
such	ESE	O
words	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

Kong	O	O
made	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
remark	O	DSE
when	O	O
asked	O	O
to	O	O
comment	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
different	O	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
given	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
Times	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
recentlyon	O	O
a	O	O
statement	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
leader	O	O
describing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Democratic	O	O
People	O	O
's	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
,	O	O
Iran	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
disapprove	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
such	ESE	O
words	ESE	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Kong	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
also	O	O
made	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
same	O	DSE
comment	O	DSE
when	O	O
answering	O	O
related	O	O
questions	O	O
earlier	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
noticed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
public	O	DSE
opinion	O	DSE
and	O	O
general	O	O
public	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
wording	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
pointing	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
consequences	O	O
are	O	O
bound	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
serious	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
logic	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
wording	O	O
is	O	O
followed	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
always	ESE	O
holds	DSE	O
that	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaigns	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
based	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
irrefutable	ESE	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
attacks	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
expanded	O	O
arbitrarily	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
Kong	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
handling	O	O
state-to-state	O	O
relations	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
follow	ESE	O
the	O	O
purposes	O	O
and	O	O
principles	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Charter	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Five	O	O
Principles	O	O
of	O	O
Peaceful	O	O
Co-existence	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
that	O	O
all	O	O
countries	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
treated	O	ESE
on	O	O
an	O	O
equal	ESE	ESE
footing	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

This	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
manner	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
conducive	O	O
to	O	O
safeguarding	ESE	ESE
long-term	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
and	O	O
stability	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
and	O	O
related	O	O
regions	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
slams	ESE	O
US	O	O
arms	O	O
sales	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O

BEIJING	O	O
:	O	O
China	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
slammed	ESE	DSE
increasingly	ESE	DSE
close	ESE	DSE
ties	O	DSE
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
demanding	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
end	O	O
to	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
weapons	O	O
sales	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
continual	ESE	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
or	O	O
upgrading	O	O
of	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
will	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
lead	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
tensions	O	ESE
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Zhang	O	O
Qiyue	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
strictly	ESE	ESE
abide	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
made	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
correct	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
erroneous	ESE	ESE
acts	O	ESE
or	O	O
remarks	O	O
so	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
new	O	O
harm	O	O
to	O	O
China-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Zhang	O	O
further	DSE	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
alarm	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
announcement	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
defense	O	O
department	O	O
officials	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
visit	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
eight	O	O
diesel	O	O
electric	O	O
submarines	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
always	DSE	DSE
resolutely	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
any	O	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
or	O	O
military	O	O
intercourse	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Zhang	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
issue	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
core	O	O
of	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
biweekly	O	O
ministry	O	O
briefing	O	O
.	O	O

Military	O	O
tensions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
were	O	O
``	O	O
not	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
self-interests	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

She	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
confirm	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
April	O	O
26	O	O
to	O	O
May	O	O
3	O	O
visit	O	O
by	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Hu	O	O
Jintao	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
press	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
visit	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
Beijing	O	O
allows	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	DSE
widely	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
centered	O	O
on	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
over	DSE	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
a	O	O
renegade	ESE	O
province	O	O
since	O	O
1949	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
threatened	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
bring	O	O
it	O	O
back	O	O
by	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
if	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
continues	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
indefinitely	DSE	DSE
refuse	DSE	DSE
proposals	O	DSE
for	O	O
``	O	O
peaceful	O	ESE
reunification	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
establish	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
any	O	O
nation	O	O
that	O	O
maintains	O	O
official	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
it	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
encouraged	DSE	DSE
economic	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
all	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
also	O	O
bashed	DSE	DSE
remarks	O	DSE
made	O	DSE
last	O	O
month	O	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Paul	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Florida	O	O
,	O	O
attended	O	O
by	O	O
visiting	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yao-Ming	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
doing	O	O
whatever	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
defend	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Wolfowitz	O	O
,	O	O
echoing	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
first	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	O	DSE
position	O	DSE
is	O	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
continued	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	O
oppose	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Wolfowitz	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	O	O
deployment	O	O
of	O	O
forces	O	O
and	O	O
tactical	O	O
missiles	O	O
to	O	O
areas	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
from	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
officials	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
Wolfowitz	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	DSE	O
reflected	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
change	O	ESE
in	O	O
US	O	O
policy	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
remarks	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
are	O	O
a	O	O
...	O	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
made	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
interference	ESE	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
firmly	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chinese	O	O
missile	O	O
tests	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
1996	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
deploying	O	O
two	O	O
aircraft	O	O
carrier	O	O
battle	O	O
groups	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Guantanamo	O	O
to	O	O
hold	O	O
terror	O	O
prisoners	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
at	O	O
Guantamano	O	O
Bay	O	O
,	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
once	O	O
a	O	O
detention	O	O
center	O	O
for	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
Cubans	O	O
and	O	O
Haitians	O	O
seeking	DSE	DSE
freedom	O	O
in	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	ESE
become	ESE	O
a	O	O
prison	O	O
for	O	O
men	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
radically	ESE	ESE
different	ESE	ESE
view	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
house	O	O
captured	O	O
al	O	O
Qaeda	O	O
terrorists	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
fighters	O	O
for	O	O
an	O	O
undetermined	O	O
time	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
island	O	O
's	O	O
isolated	O	O
eastern	O	O
coast	O	O
,	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
said	O	DSE
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

Despite	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
logistical	O	ESE
hurdle	O	ESE
of	O	O
moving	O	O
at	O	O
least	O	O
several	O	O
dozen	O	O
presumably	ESE	O
dangerous	ESE	O
men	O	O
around	O	O
8,000	O	O
miles	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
called	DSE	DSE
Cuba	O	DSE
``	O	DSE
the	O	ESE
least	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
place	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

U.S.	O	O
Rep.	O	O
Ileana	O	O
Ros-Lehtinen	O	O
,	O	O
R-Miami	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
she	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
idea	O	DSE
,	O	O
in	O	O
part	O	O
,	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
would	O	ESE
underscore	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
naval	O	O
base	O	O
's	O	O
strategic	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
at	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
some	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
Congress	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
urged	DSE	DSE
returning	O	O
the	O	O
territory	O	O
to	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
's	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
excellent	ESE	ESE
location	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	DSE	O
It	O	ESE
gives	ESE	ESE
new	ESE	ESE
life	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Gitmo	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	DSE
often	O	DSE
called	O	DSE
.	O	O

Because	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
on	O	O
U.S.	O	O
soil	O	O
,	O	O
people	O	O
detained	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	ESE
entitled	O	ESE
to	O	O
American	O	O
residency	O	O
and	O	O
eventual	O	O
citizenship	O	O
privileges	O	O
.	O	O

U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
began	O	O
using	O	O
it	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
offshore	O	O
holding	O	O
station	O	O
during	O	O
a	O	O
Haitian	O	O
refugee	O	O
crisis	O	O
in	O	O
1991	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
the	O	O
1994-95	O	O
rafter	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
50,000	O	O
Cubans	O	O
and	O	O
Haitians	O	O
were	O	O
housed	O	O
there	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
tent	O	O
encampment	O	O
after	O	O
U.S.	O	O
naval	O	O
vessels	O	O
had	O	ESE
picked	O	ESE
them	O	ESE
up	O	ESE
at	O	O
sea	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
arrive	O	O
for	O	O
weeks	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
said	O	DSE
there	O	O
are	O	O
no	O	O
plans	O	O
to	O	O
stage	O	O
military	O	O
tribunals	O	O
or	O	O
trials	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
home	O	O
to	O	O
about	O	O
1,100	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Navy	O	O
and	O	O
Marine	O	O
Corps	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
biggest	ESE	ESE
challenge	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
getting	O	O
prisoners	O	O
from	O	O
South	O	O
Asia	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
reportedly	O	O
being	O	O
held	O	O
on	O	O
warships	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Others	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
compound	O	O
in	O	O
Kandahar	O	O
,	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
where	O	O
U.S.	O	O
forces	O	O
built	O	O
a	O	O
stockade	O	O
of	O	O
sorts	O	O
to	O	O
house	O	O
them	O	O
.	O	O

1999	O	O
PLANS	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
Southern	O	O
Command	O	O
in	O	O
Miami	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
's	O	O
base	O	O
for	O	O
military	O	O
operations	O	O
in	O	O
Latin	O	O
America	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
,	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Steve	O	O
Lucas	O	O
said	O	O
planners	O	O
had	O	O
pulled	O	O
out	O	O
blueprints	O	O
from	O	O
April	O	O
1999	O	O
--	O	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
Clinton	O	O
administration	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
briefly	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
housing	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
20,000	O	O
refugees	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Kosovo	O	O
conflict	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
.	O	O

Then	O	O
,	O	O
the	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
was	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
make	O	O
comfortable	O	O
traumatized	DSE	O
victims	O	O
of	O	O
civil	O	O
war	O	O
uprooted	O	O
from	O	O
a	O	O
violent	O	O
,	O	O
cold	O	O
climate	O	O
.	O	O

Planners	O	O
scrambled	O	O
to	O	O
deploy	O	O
healthcare	O	O
workers	O	O
and	O	O
Muslim	O	O
clergymen	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
abandoned	DSE	ESE
that	O	ESE
idea	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
instance	O	O
,	O	O
military	O	O
sources	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
prisoners	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
much	O	ESE
smaller	O	ESE
--	O	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
dozens	O	O
--	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
logistics	O	O
would	O	ESE
focus	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
on	O	O
security	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
45-square-mile	O	O
base	O	O
and	O	O
less	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
comfort	O	ESE
of	O	O
prisoners	O	O
who	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
either	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
terrorist	O	O
network	O	O
or	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
terrorists	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
of	O	O
Thursday	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
had	O	O
an	O	O
estimated	O	O
45	O	O
prisoners	O	O
in	O	O
custody	O	O
.	O	O

Guantanamo	O	O
has	O	O
detention	O	O
space	O	O
for	O	O
about	O	O
100	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
All	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
pretty	ESE	ESE
well-planned	ESE	ESE
out	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
we	O	O
have	O	O
used	O	O
it	O	O
to	O	O
house	O	O
illegal	O	O
migrant	O	O
detainees	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
,	O	O
Cubans	O	O
and	O	O
Haitians	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Lucas	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	DSE	O
It	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
bit	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
situation	O	O
but	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
basic	O	ESE
stuff	O	ESE
is	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

SLICE	O	O
OF	O	O
U.S.	O	O

With	O	O
an	O	O
outdoor	O	O
movie	O	O
theater	O	O
,	O	O
bowling	O	O
alleys	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
McDonald	O	O
's	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
mini-mall	O	O
,	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
curious	ESE	O
slice	O	O
of	O	O
Americana	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
edge	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
of	O	O
1999	O	O
,	O	O
2,400	O	O
civilians	O	O
were	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
families	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
sailors	O	O
and	O	O
Marines	O	O
who	O	O
manage	O	O
the	O	O
port	O	O
and	O	O
patrol	O	O
the	O	O
fence	O	O
line	O	O
that	O	O
separates	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
from	O	O
communist-ruled	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

No	O	O
updated	O	O
figure	O	O
was	O	O
available	O	O
Thursday	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
extremely	O	ESE
isolated	O	ESE
.	O	O

Visitors	O	O
can	O	ESE
reach	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
under	O	O
strict	O	O
military	O	O
escort	O	O
and	O	O
with	O	O
prior	O	O
permission	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
,	O	O
aboard	O	O
special	O	O
small	O	O
shuttle	O	O
flights	O	O
that	O	O
reach	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
circuitous	O	O
flight	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	ESE
rare	O	ESE
occasions	O	ESE
,	O	O
Cuban	O	O
defectors	O	O
get	O	O
there	O	O
by	O	O
swimming	O	O
through	O	O
dangerous	O	ESE
waters	O	O
or	O	O
by	O	O
traversing	O	O
a	O	O
Cuban	O	O
minefield	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
gate	O	O
between	O	O
Cuba	O	O
proper	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
sometimes	O	O
opened	O	O
for	O	O
meetings	O	O
between	O	O
military	O	O
commanders	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
to	O	O
repatriate	O	O
Cubans	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
taken	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
.	O	O

Cuban	O	O
leader	O	O
Fidel	O	O
Castro	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
argued	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
occupation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
base	O	O
is	O	O
illegal	O	ESE
,	O	O
while	O	O
U.S.	O	O
officials	O	O
say	O	DSE
the	O	O
base	O	O
exists	O	O
under	O	O
a	O	O
lease	O	O
agreement	O	O
that	O	O
was	O	O
part	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
1934	O	O
treaty	O	O
with	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Washington	O	O
diplomats	O	O
consider	DSE	DSE
giving	O	O
back	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
a	O	O
potential	ESE	O
carrot	ESE	O
for	O	O
negotiation	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
democratic	O	O
Cuban	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

Ros-Lehtinen	O	O
suggested	DSE	DSE
Thursday	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
move	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
raise	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
hackles	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
Cuba	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
dismissed	DSE	DSE
those	O	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	ESE	DSE
n't	ESE	DSE
anticipate	ESE	DSE
any	ESE	O
trouble	ESE	O
with	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Castro	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	ESE	DSE
praise	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
`	ESE	O
damn	ESE	ESE
Yankees	ESE	ESE
'	O	O

WASHINGTON	O	O
-	O	O
On	O	O
the	O	O
face	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
things	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	O	O
hard	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
see	ESE	ESE
how	O	O
any	ESE	ESE
reasonable	ESE	ESE
person	ESE	ESE
could	ESE	ESE
object	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
war	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	DSE
now	O	DSE
waging	O	DSE
against	O	DSE
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
and	O	O
terrorist	O	O
regimes	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
targets	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
conflict	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
common	ESE	O
enemy	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
civilized	ESE	O
men	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
women	ESE	O
,	O	O
regardless	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
race	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
colour	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
creed	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
and	O	O
the	ESE	O
magnitude	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
threat	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
pose	ESE	O
was	O	O
revealed	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
morning	O	O
of	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
.	O	O

That	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
compelled	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
unpreparedness	ESE	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
conduct	O	O
this	O	O
fight	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
military	O	O
dimension	O	O
almost	ESE	O
single-handedly	ESE	O
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
cause	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
soul-searching	ESE	DSE
gratitude	ESE	DSE
among	O	O
those	O	O
allies	O	O
,	O	O
hardly	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
resentment	DSE	ESE
we	O	O
have	O	ESE
so	O	ESE
often	O	ESE
seen	O	ESE
.	O	O

To	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
far	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
discerned	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
polls	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
free	O	O
Western	O	O
world	O	O
is	DSE	O
indeed	DSE	ESE
grateful	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
balance	O	O
quite	DSE	ESE
supportive	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
cause	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
are	O	O
leading	O	O
.	O	O

Where	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
polls	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
tyrannies	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
,	O	O
of	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
occasional	O	O
evidence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
respect	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
can	O	O
command	O	O
--	O	O
the	DSE	DSE
belief	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
for	ESE	O
all	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
flaws	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
remains	O	O
the	O	O
champion	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Perhaps	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
evidence	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
this	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
huge	ESE	DSE
demand	O	DSE
for	O	O
U.S.	O	O
visas	O	O
--	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
places	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
and	O	O
Gaza	O	O
.	O	O

Potential	O	O
terrorists	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
concealed	ESE	ESE
among	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
for	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
great	O	ESE
majority	O	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
is	DSE	O
common	DSE	O
knowledge	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
a	ESE	O
land	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
freedom	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
opportunity	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
the	O	DSE
preferred	ESE	DSE
destination	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
emigrants	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
better	ESE	ESE
part	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
past	ESE	O
two	ESE	O
centuries	ESE	O
.	O	O

Action	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
eloquent	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
words	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
real	ESE	ESE
attitudes	DSE	ESE
of	O	ESE
people	O	ESE
are	O	O
often	O	O
revealed	O	O
in	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
take	DSE	O
for	DSE	O
granted	DSE	O
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	ESE	O
especially	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
intellectuals	O	O
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
sometime	ESE	ESE
masters	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
paradox	ESE	ESE
-LRB-	O	O
though	ESE	O
sometimes	ESE	O
paradox	ESE	O
is	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	ESE
master	ESE	ESE
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
many	ESE	O
thousand	ESE	O
generously	ESE	O
funded	ESE	O
U.S.	O	O
universities	O	O
are	O	O
magnets	ESE	O
for	O	O
young	O	O
literates	O	O
from	O	O
every	O	ESE
culture	O	ESE
.	O	O

Often	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
radicals	O	O
who	O	O
spout	DSE	O
anti-American	ESE	O
doctrines	ESE	O
imbibed	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
amidst	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
safety	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
leisure	ESE	O
of	O	O
U.S.	O	O
campus	O	O
life	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
their	ESE	DSE
confusion	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
ends	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
means	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
make	O	O
free	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
technology	O	O
and	O	O
media	O	O
largely	O	O
developed	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
prominent	ESE	O
self-styled	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
refugee	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Edward	O	O
Said	O	DSE
,	O	O
is	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
perfect	ESE	ESE
example	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
this	O	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
man	O	O
who	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
nothing	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
chic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
prestige	ESE	ESE
conferred	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
elite	ESE	O
U.S.	ESE	O
universities	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
publishing	O	O
institutions	O	O
of	O	O
New	O	O
York	O	O
,	O	O
N.Y.	O	O
.	O	O

This	DSE	O
man	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
advanced	DSE	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
mendacious	ESE	ESE
critique	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
``	O	O
Orientalism	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
is	ESE	O
himself	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
product	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
scholarship	O	O
he	O	O
demeaned	DSE	O
;	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
command	O	O
audiences	O	O
in	O	O
Egypt	O	O
and	O	O
elsewhere	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
because	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
his	O	ESE
success	O	ESE
in	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

Second	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
terrorism	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
muted	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
often	ESE	ESE
self-satisfied	ESE	ESE
anti-Americanism	O	ESE
puts	O	O
a	O	O
great	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
open	ESE	O
display	ESE	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
conventional	O	O
and	O	O
verbal	O	O
anti-Americanism	O	O
is	O	O
in	O	O
a	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
league	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
strikes	ESE	O
--	O	O
closer	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
hypocrisy	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	DSE
murderous	ESE	DSE
hatred	ESE	DSE
--	O	O
I	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
two	O	O
are	O	O
animated	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
common	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
:	O	O
a	O	O
cause	O	O
to	ESE	DSE
be	ESE	DSE
sought	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
murk	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
individual	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
soul	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
externals	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
argument	ESE	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
come	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
this	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
after	O	O
three	O	O
decades	O	O
of	O	O
adult	O	O
life	O	O
,	O	O
having	O	O
encountered	O	O
and	O	O
often	O	O
tried	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
resist	DSE	O
anti-Americanism	O	O
in	O	O
several	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

Again	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
again	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
I	O	O
have	O	O
discovered	O	O
it	O	O
is	ESE	O
a	ESE	ESE
simple	ESE	ESE
prejudice	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
rather	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
product	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
comprehensive	ESE	O
reasoning	ESE	O
:	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
charges	DSE	O
brought	DSE	O
against	O	O
those	O	O
``	O	O
damn	ESE	ESE
Yankees	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
shift	ESE	O
loosely	ESE	O
between	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
U.S.	ESE	O
polity	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
are	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
sooner	ESE	ESE
effectively	DSE	ESE
rebutted	DSE	ESE
than	O	O
more	O	O
charges	O	O
come	O	O
forward	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
place	O	O
.	O	O

There	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
quality	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
knowingness	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
about	O	O
them	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	ESE
flavour	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
conspiracy	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
most	ESE	O
open	ESE	O
nation	O	O
and	O	O
society	O	O
were	O	DSE
secretly	ESE	DSE
behind	ESE	DSE
every	ESE	ESE
local	ESE	ESE
misfortune	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
know	DSE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
column	O	O
I	O	O
wrote	O	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
very	ESE	O
day	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
catastrophe	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
I	O	O
touched	O	O
upon	O	O
the	O	O
envy	DSE	O
of	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
I	O	O
believed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
its	O	O
``	O	O
root	ESE	O
cause	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	DSE	O
column	O	O
drew	O	DSE
incredulous	DSE	DSE
responses	DSE	DSE
from	O	O
several	O	O
fairly	ESE	O
sophisticated	ESE	O
readers	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
words	O	O
of	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
ca	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
believe	DSE	DSE
anyone	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
sacrifice	O	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
and	O	O
many	O	O
others	O	O
over	ESE	O
something	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
petty	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
envy	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Almost	O	O
five	O	O
months	O	O
later	O	O
,	O	O
I	O	O
feel	DSE	DSE
more	DSE	DSE
certain	DSE	O
that	O	O
my	O	O
analysis	O	ESE
was	ESE	ESE
essentially	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
:	O	O
We	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
look	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
rather	ESE	O
than	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
causes	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
``	O	O
natural	DSE	O
''	DSE	O
antipathy	DSE	O
that	O	O
so	O	ESE
much	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	O
planet	O	O
shares	O	O
.	O	O

Voices	O	ESE
stilled	O	ESE
by	O	ESE
horror	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
wake	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
terror	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
America	O	O
,	O	O
resumed	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
anti-American	DSE	O
tirade	DSE	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
took	O	O
action	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
recently	O	O
raised	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
pitch	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
issue	O	O
at	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
hours	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
catastrophe	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
CBC	O	O
was	DSE	O
unselfconsciously	ESE	ESE
airing	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
procession	O	ESE
of	O	O
guests	O	O
making	ESE	O
liberal	ESE	O
use	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
construction	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
was	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
surprise	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
me	ESE	O
,	O	O
though	O	ESE
a	DSE	ESE
surprise	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
others	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
both	O	O
right-wing	O	O
tabloids	O	O
and	O	O
left-wing	O	O
pundits	O	O
joining	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
fray	ESE	O
in	O	O
Europe	O	O
over	O	O
what	O	O
I	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
come	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
call	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
facetiously	ESE	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
the	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
Gandhis	ESE	O
''	O	O
;	O	O
to	O	O
see	O	O
the	O	O
speed	O	O
with	O	O
which	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
mildly	ESE	ESE
conservative	ESE	ESE
fellow-Canadians	ESE	ESE
jumped	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	DSE
conclusion	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
was	ESE	O
mistreating	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
hostages	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
wilfully	ESE	O
ignoring	ESE	O
Geneva	ESE	O
Conventions	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
few	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
ever	ESE	O
read	ESE	O
.	O	O

Nor	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
now	O	O
eager	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
retreat	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
after	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
collapse	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
arguments	ESE	DSE
and	O	O
thorough	O	O
investigations	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Committee	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Red	O	O
Cross	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
left	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
compounded	ESE	ESE
anti-Americanism	ESE	ESE
into	ESE	ESE
dogma	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
right	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
Canada	O	O
,	O	O
Europe	O	O
and	O	O
beyond	O	O
,	O	O
participates	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
envy	DSE	O
of	O	O
U.S.	O	O
success	O	O
.	O	O

From	ESE	O
British	ESE	O
lords	ESE	O
down	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
humble	ESE	ESE
skinheads	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
sneering	DSE	O
at	O	O
the	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
vulgarity	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
confers	ESE	DSE
a	ESE	DSE
comforting	ESE	DSE
sense	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
personal	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
national	ESE	ESE
vindication	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
when	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
prop	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
found	ESE	O
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
me	ESE	ESE
pause	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
briefly	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
allow	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
America	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
imperfect	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
like	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
earthly	ESE	ESE
things	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
that	O	O
its	O	O
governments	O	O
and	O	O
people	O	O
have	ESE	DSE
committed	ESE	DSE
many	ESE	O
sins	ESE	O
;	O	O
that	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	O
;	O	O
that	O	O
power	O	O
and	O	O
wealth	O	O
are	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
themselves	ESE	ESE
;	O	O
that	ESE	O
goodness	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
truth	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
beauty	ESE	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
found	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
every	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
town	ESE	O
.	O	O

Let	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
sometimes	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
expect	ESE	DSE
more	ESE	O
from	O	O
people	O	O
born	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
every	ESE	ESE
earthly	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
sometimes	ESE	O
less	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
those	ESE	O
born	ESE	O
without	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
mistake	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
assume	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
envy	DSE	O
is	O	O
something	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
petty	ESE	O
.	O	O

Our	O	DSE
ancestors	O	DSE
wisely	ESE	DSE
placed	O	DSE
it	O	O
among	O	O
the	O	O
mortal	O	O
sins	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
canker	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
heart	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
spreads	ESE	DSE
by	ESE	O
vanity	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
soul	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
turning	ESE	O
worldly	ESE	ESE
into	ESE	ESE
spiritual	ESE	ESE
failure	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
indulge	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
disease	ESE	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
told	DSE	DSE
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
wrong	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	O
hate	DSE	ESE
our	O	ESE
enemies	O	ESE
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
begins	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
happen	ESE	ESE
when	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
hate	ESE	ESE
our	ESE	ESE
friends	ESE	ESE
?	O	O

Why	O	ESE
Kyoto	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
rip-off	ESE	ESE

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
a	O	O
study	O	O
released	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Canadian	O	O
Manufacturers	O	O
and	O	O
Exporters	O	O
,	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
treaty	O	O
would	O	O
cost	O	O
our	O	O
economy	O	O
450,000	O	O
jobs	O	O
and	O	O
as	O	O
much	O	O
as	O	O
$	O	O
40-billion	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
Jean	O	O
Chretien	O	O
is	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
worried	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
these	O	O
figures	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
There	O	O
is	O	O
nothing	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
gained	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
frightening	ESE	O
people	O	O
when	O	O
all	O	O
the	O	O
facts	O	ESE
are	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
known	DSE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
$	O	O
40-billion	O	O
figure	O	O
,	O	O
far	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
being	ESE	O
conceived	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
frighten	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
Canadians	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	ESE
plucked	ESE	ESE
straight	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	O
government	O	O
documents	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
report	O	O
released	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Air	O	O
Issues	O	O
Co-ordinating	O	O
Committee	O	O
on	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
staffed	O	O
by	O	O
officials	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
federal	O	O
,	O	O
provincial	O	O
and	O	O
territorial	O	O
governments	O	O
,	O	O
hitting	O	O
Canada	O	O
's	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
target	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
mean	O	ESE
``	O	O
the	O	O
loss	O	O
of	O	O
roughly	O	O
one	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
growth	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
,	O	O
viewed	O	DSE
in	O	O
absolute	O	O
terms	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
loss	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
economic	O	O
output	O	O
of	O	O
approximately	O	O
$	O	O
40-billion	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
or	O	O
$	O	O
1,100	O	O
per	O	O
capita	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
price	ESE	O
worth	ESE	O
paying	ESE	O
.	O	O

Governments	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
expected	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
protect	ESE	O
the	O	O
national	O	O
economy	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
deviate	ESE	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
mission	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
when	O	ESE
crucial	ESE	ESE
national	O	O
interests	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
stake	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
fighting	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

Yet	ESE	O
rising	O	O
temperatures	O	O
pose	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
threat	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
Canada	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
its	O	O
authoritative	ESE	O
Feb.	O	O
,	O	O
2001	O	O
,	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
projected	O	O
impacts	O	O
of	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Intergovernmental	O	O
Panel	O	O
on	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
identified	O	DSE
several	O	DSE
threats	O	DSE
to	O	O
Canadian	O	O
ecosystems	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
our	O	O
farmers	O	O
would	O	ESE
generally	ESE	ESE
benefit	ESE	ESE
from	O	ESE
warmer	O	O
temperatures	O	O
.	O	O

-LRB-	O	O
Non-farming	ESE	O
Canadians	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
most	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
whom	ESE	O
spend	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
least	ESE	O
part	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
winter	ESE	O
months	ESE	O
scraping	ESE	O
ice	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
cars	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
chopping	ESE	ESE
firewood	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
shovelling	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
walks	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	ESE	ESE
profit	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
-RRB-	O	O

As	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
the	O	O
globally	O	O
felt	O	DSE
benefits	O	DSE
that	O	O
would	O	O
follow	O	O
from	O	O
Canada	O	O
's	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
slight	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

By	O	O
2010	O	O
,	O	O
our	O	ESE
$	O	ESE
40-billion	O	ESE
sacrifice	ESE	ESE
would	O	O
yield	O	O
an	O	O
expected	ESE	DSE
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
annual	O	O
carbon	O	O
and	O	O
carbon-equivalent	O	O
emissions	O	O
of	O	O
about	O	O
46-million	O	O
tonnes	O	O
--	O	O
just	ESE	O
1/200th	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
total	O	O
projected	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
output	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
Canada	O	O
managed	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
convince	DSE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
every	ESE	O
other	ESE	O
Kyoto	O	O
signatory	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
,	O	O
world	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
still	ESE	ESE
soar	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Energy	O	O
Information	O	O
Administration	O	O
,	O	O
world	O	O
energy	O	O
consumption	O	O
will	O	O
increase	O	O
by	O	O
about	O	O
60	O	O
%	O	O
between	O	O
now	O	O
and	O	O
2020	O	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
most	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
upsurge	O	O
expected	O	DSE
to	O	O
come	O	O
from	O	O
developing	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
covered	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Under	O	O
the	O	O
fully	O	ESE
implemented	O	ESE
treaty	O	ESE
,	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
would	O	O
grow	O	O
26	O	O
%	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
1990-2010	O	O
period	O	O
.	O	O

Without	O	ESE
Kyoto	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
figure	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
34	O	O
%	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
worldwide	O	O
cost	O	O
of	O	O
that	O	O
8	O	O
%	O	O
dip	O	O
:	O	O
about	O	O
$	O	O
2-trillion	O	O
in	O	O
lost	O	O
GDP	O	O
--	O	O
give	ESE	O
or	ESE	O
take	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
trillion	ESE	O
.	O	O

There	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
ways	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
spend	O	O
that	O	O
money	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
cap	O	O
carbon	O	O
dioxide	O	O
emissions	O	O
--	O	O
a	O	ESE
costly	ESE	ESE
burden	ESE	ESE
at	O	O
home	O	O
and	O	O
an	O	O
impossible	ESE	O
task	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
developing	O	O
world	O	O
--	O	O
we	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
focus	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
abating	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
damage	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
does	O	O
in	O	O
at-risk	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
scientists	O	ESE
are	O	ESE
correct	O	ESE
,	O	O
higher	O	O
temperatures	O	O
and	O	O
rising	O	O
sea	O	O
levels	O	O
will	O	O
depress	O	O
grain	O	O
yields	O	O
in	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
Asia	O	O
,	O	O
fuel	O	O
the	O	O
spread	O	O
of	O	O
diseases	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
threaten	O	O
coastal	O	O
nations	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Bangladesh	O	O
and	O	O
Senegal	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
these	O	O
problems	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
abated	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
or	ESE	O
even	ESE	O
eliminated	ESE	O
,	O	O
with	O	O
Western	O	O
assistance	O	O
.	O	O

While	O	O
helping	O	O
Third	O	O
World	O	O
nations	O	O
plant	O	O
new	O	O
crops	O	O
,	O	O
vaccinate	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
relocate	O	O
coastal	O	O
towns	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
costly	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	ESE	O
bottom	ESE	O
line	ESE	O
will	O	ESE
likely	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	O
fraction	ESE	O
of	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
's	O	O
13-digit	O	O
price	O	O
tag	O	O
.	O	O

Camp	O	O
X-Ray	O	O
Or	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Med	ESE	O
?	O	O

AFTER	O	O
SPENDING	O	O
months	O	O
in	O	O
frigid	ESE	O
Afghanistan	O	O
caves	O	O
subsisting	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
Allah	ESE	ESE
knows	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
158	O	O
detainees	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	O
holding	O	O
in	O	O
tropical	ESE	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
think	DSE	ESE
they	O	O
've	O	O
died	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
gone	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
heaven	ESE	O
.	O	O

Well	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
heaven	ESE	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
72	ESE	O
virgins	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
detainees	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
look	DSE	O
at	DSE	O
the	O	O
balmy	ESE	O
Camp	O	O
X-ray	O	O
--	O	O
replete	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
running	O	O
water	O	O
,	O	O
three	O	O
square	O	O
meals	O	O
a	O	O
day	O	O
and	O	O
modern	O	O
medical	O	O
care	O	O
--	O	O
as	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
sort	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
Taliban	ESE	O
version	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Club	ESE	O
Med	ESE	O
.	O	O

Call	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
.	O	O

Yet	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
some	O	O
Americans	O	O
and	O	O
Brits	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
hollering	ESE	DSE
about	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
treatment	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
tough	ESE	ESE
guys	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

British	O	O
newspaper	O	O
headlines	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
screamed	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
U.S.	O	O
``	O	O
Torture	ESE	ESE
!	ESE	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
``	O	O
Monstrous	ESE	O
Inhumanity	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
while	O	O
stories	O	O
say	DSE	O
prisoners	O	O
are	O	O
treated	O	O
``	O	O
like	ESE	ESE
wild	ESE	ESE
beasts	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
in	O	O
``	O	O
cages	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
issued	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
release	O	O
accusing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
keeping	O	ESE
prisoners	O	ESE
incommunicado	O	ESE
,	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
using	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
sensory	O	O
deprivation	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
unnecessary	ESE	O
restraint	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
humiliation	ESE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
people	O	ESE
through	O	O
tactics	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
shaving	O	O
them	O	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
effort	O	O
to	O	O
`	ESE	O
break	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
individuals	O	O
ahead	O	O
of	O	O
interrogation	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

It	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
noted	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
much	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
uproar	DSE	ESE
is	O	O
over	O	O
photographs	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
taken	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
being	O	O
transported	O	O
from	O	O
airplanes	O	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
cells	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
military	O	O
wisely	ESE	ESE
shackles	O	ESE
prisoners	O	O
during	O	O
transport	O	O
:	O	O
That	O	O
's	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
's	O	O
easiest	O	O
for	O	O
violent	O	O
people	O	O
to	O	O
hurt	O	ESE
others	O	ESE
.	O	O

Also	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
British	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
team	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
spent	O	O
three	O	O
days	O	O
at	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
,	O	O
reported	O	O
that	O	O
three	O	O
British	O	O
citizens	O	O
being	O	O
held	O	O
there	O	O
had	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
no	DSE	DSE
complaints	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
their	O	O
treatment	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

As	O	O
the	O	O
Washington	O	O
Post	O	O
reported	O	O
,	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Office	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Ben	O	O
Bradshaw	O	O
also	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
``	O	O
no	O	ESE
gags	O	ESE
,	O	O
no	O	O
goggles	O	O
,	O	O
no	O	O
earmuffs	O	O
and	O	O
no	O	O
shackles	O	O
while	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
are	O	O
in	O	O
their	O	O
cells	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Still	ESE	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
people	O	O
just	ESE	ESE
have	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
bash	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
they	O	O
apparently	ESE	ESE
do	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
care	DSE	ESE
if	O	O
the	O	O
criticism	DSE	DSE
makes	O	O
them	O	O
look	ESE	O
clueless	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
what	ESE	ESE
really	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
inhumane	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Take	O	O
the	O	O
sensory	O	O
deprivation	O	O
charge	DSE	O
.	O	O

Does	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
wearing	O	O
a	O	O
hood	O	O
on	O	O
an	O	O
airplane	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
sensory	O	ESE
deprivation	O	ESE
,	O	O
instead	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
security	O	ESE
measure	O	O
?	O	O

Is	O	O
n't	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
code	O	O
all	O	ESE
about	O	ESE
sensory	O	ESE
deprivation	O	ESE
?	O	O

As	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
``	ESE	O
unnecessary	ESE	ESE
restraint	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
one	O	O
detainee	O	O
has	O	O
announced	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
kill	ESE	O
an	O	O
American	O	O
before	O	O
he	O	O
leaves	O	O
Cuba	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
another	O	O
detainee	O	O
bit	O	O
a	O	O
guard	O	O
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Capt.	O	O
Riccoh	O	O
Player	O	O
.	O	O

So	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
necessary	ESE	ESE
restraint	ESE	ESE
.	ESE	O
''	ESE	O

I	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
embarrassed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
press	O	O
corps	O	O
'	O	O
comments	O	O
during	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
's	O	O
Pentagon	O	O
briefing	O	O
.	O	O

Talk	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
clueless	ESE	O
.	O	O

First	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
reporter	O	O
who	O	O
likened	DSE	DSE
living	O	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
tropics	O	O
without	O	O
air	O	O
conditioning	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
torture	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Then	ESE	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
reporter	O	O
who	O	O
asked	O	DSE
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
Defense	O	O
Donald	O	O
Rumsfeld	O	O
if	O	O
American	O	O
Taliban	O	O
John	O	O
Walker	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
treated	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Will	O	O
he	O	O
be	O	O
put	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
8-by-8-foot	O	O
cell	O	O
that	O	O
has	O	O
no	O	ESE
walls	O	ESE
but	O	ESE
only	O	ESE
a	O	O
roof	O	O
?	O	O
''	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
follow-up	O	O
question	DSE	O
.	O	O

I	O	ESE
'd	O	ESE
guess	DSE	ESE
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
journalist	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
never	ESE	O
been	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
prison	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
an	O	O
8-by-8-foot	O	O
space	O	O
,	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
on	O	O
some	O	O
ships	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
we	O	O
would	O	O
cram	O	O
half	O	O
a	O	O
dozen	O	O
sailors	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
was	O	O
one	O	O
U.S.	O	O
official	O	O
's	O	O
reaction	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Then	ESE	O
there	O	O
's	O	O
the	O	O
status	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Brits	O	O
and	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
them	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
officially	O	O
classified	O	O
as	O	O
POWs	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
detainee	O	O
status	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
gives	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
the	O	O
leeway	ESE	O
to	O	O
interrogate	O	O
these	O	O
former	O	O
operatives	O	O
about	O	O
any	O	O
future	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
.	O	O

White	O	O
House	O	O
spokesman	O	O
Ken	O	O
Lisaius	O	O
rightly	ESE	DSE
noted	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
the	O	O
Club	ESE	O
Gitmo	ESE	O
guests	ESE	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
for	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
part	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
're	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
al	O	O
Qaeda	O	O
and	O	O
if	O	O
they	O	O
were	O	O
free	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
'd	O	O
engage	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
murder	ESE	ESE
once	ESE	ESE
again	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

You	ESE	O
could	ESE	DSE
understand	ESE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
outrage	DSE	DSE
if	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
were	O	O
torturing	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
otherwise	ESE	ESE
mistreating	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
.	O	O

Instead	ESE	O
,	O	O
Amnesty	O	O
International	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
comrades	ESE	O
are	DSE	DSE
outraged	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
is	O	O
treating	O	O
al	O	O
Qaeda	O	O
captives	O	O
like	O	O
prisoners	O	O
.	O	O

Oh	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
horror	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

You	ESE	ESE
get	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
feeling	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
Rummy	ESE	O
booked	ESE	O
these	ESE	O
tough	ESE	ESE
guys	ESE	ESE
into	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
Motel	ESE	O
6	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
they	ESE	ESE
'd	ESE	ESE
complain	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
room	ESE	O
service	ESE	O
.	O	O

Africa	O	O
Endorses	DSE	O
Mugabe	O	O
Victory	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Condemns	DSE	O
It	O	O

International	O	O
reaction	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
controversial	O	O
re-election	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
president	O	O
Robert	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
to	O	O
another	O	O
six	O	O
year	O	O
term	O	O
varied	O	O
widely	O	O
.	O	O

African	O	O
observers	O	O
generally	DSE	DSE
approved	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
his	O	O
victory	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
Western	O	O
governments	O	O
denounced	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

Observer	O	O
missions	O	O
from	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
,	O	O
Namibia	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Organisation	O	O
of	O	O
African	O	O
Unity	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OAU	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
respectively	O	O
,	O	O
described	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
poll	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
-	O	O
largely	ESE	ESE
satisfactory	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
transparent	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
credible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

All	O	O
three	O	O
observer	O	O
teams	O	O
noted	DSE	O
long	O	O
queues	O	O
and	O	O
delays	O	O
in	O	ESE
chaotic	ESE	ESE
voting	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Namibians	O	O
went	O	ESE
as	O	ESE
far	O	ESE
as	O	O
to	O	O
say	DSE	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
election	O	O
system	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
water	ESE	O
tight	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
without	ESE	ESE
room	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
rigging	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
South	O	O
African	O	O
observer	O	O
team	O	O
blamed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
long	O	O
lines	O	O
of	O	O
voters	O	O
unable	O	O
to	O	O
vote	O	O
despite	O	O
waiting	O	O
many	O	O
hours	O	O
on	O	O
``	O	O
administrative	ESE	ESE
oversights	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
description	O	O
that	O	O
drew	O	DSE
audible	DSE	DSE
laughter	DSE	DSE
from	DSE	O
journalists	O	O
and	O	O
diplomats	O	O
attending	O	O
their	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
,	O	O
Harare	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Daniel	O	O
arap	O	O
Moi	O	O
of	O	O
Kenya	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
calling	DSE	DSE
his	O	DSE
victory	O	DSE
``	O	O
testimony	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
confidence	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	DSE
high	ESE	DSE
esteem	ESE	DSE
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
hold	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
you	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
observations	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
14-member	O	O
Southern	O	O
African	O	O
Development	O	O
Community	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
SADC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
Parliamentary	O	O
Forum	O	O
team	O	O
differed	O	DSE
considerably	O	DSE
from	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
African	O	O
missions	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	ESE
sharp	O	ESE
contrast	O	ESE
to	O	O
other	O	O
African	O	O
observer	O	O
teams	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
forum	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
elections	O	O
fell	ESE	O
short	ESE	O
of	O	O
regional	O	O
expectations	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
climate	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
insecurity	ESE	O
obtaining	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
2000	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
elections	O	O
was	O	O
such	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
electoral	O	O
process	O	O
could	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
said	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
adequately	ESE	ESE
comply	ESE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
norms	O	O
and	O	O
standards	O	O
for	O	O
elections	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
SADC	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
forum	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
statement	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

That	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
chimed	O	DSE
closely	O	DSE
with	O	O
views	DSE	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
main	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
monitoring	O	O
group	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
Election	O	O
Support	O	O
Network	O	O
which	O	O
had	O	O
400	O	O
observers	O	O
monitoring	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
and	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
heavily	DSE	DSE
critical	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
SADC	O	O
parliamentarians	O	O
'	O	O
view	DSE	DSE
was	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
echoed	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Norwegian	O	O
observer	O	O
delegation	O	O
which	O	O
said	DSE	O
,	O	O
on	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
failed	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
meet	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
standards	ESE	O
.	O	O

Norway	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Jan	O	O
Petersen	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
statement	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
presidential	O	O
election	O	O
in	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
has	O	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
satisfied	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	O
fundamental	ESE	O
requirements	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
democratic	ESE	O
election	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Mugabe	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
main	O	ESE
challenger	O	ESE
,	O	O
Morgan	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Movement	O	O
for	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Change	O	O
,	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
result	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
illegitimate	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
a	ESE	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
case	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
highway	ESE	ESE
robbery	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
by	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
party	O	O
,	O	O
Zanu-PF	O	O
.	O	O

Tsvangirai	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
disenfranchised	ESE	O
supporters	O	O
were	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
seething	DSE	O
''	O	O
but	O	O
implored	DSE	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
stay	ESE	ESE
calm	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
MDC	O	O
leader	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
systematic	ESE	ESE
cheating	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
spoiling	ESE	ESE
tactics	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
rigid	ESE	O
new	ESE	O
laws	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
sheer	ESE	O
obstruction	ESE	O
-	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
political	O	ESE
violence	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
intimidation	ESE	ESE
-	O	O
were	O	O
just	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
irregularities	ESE	ESE
practised	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
authorities	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
run-up	O	O
to	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
was	O	O
announced	O	O
the	O	O
winner	O	O
with	O	O
56.1	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
vote	O	O
,	O	O
leaving	O	O
Tsvangirai	O	O
trailing	O	DSE
behind	O	DSE
with	O	O
42	O	O
percent	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
government	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
all	O	DSE
criticism	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
describing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
exemplary	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
free	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
fair	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
peaceful	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Western	O	O
governments	O	O
disagree	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Western	O	O
governments	O	O
are	ESE	O
lining	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
condemn	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
government	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
African	O	O
bloc	O	O
appears	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
have	DSE	ESE
opted	DSE	ESE
for	DSE	O
solidarity	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
Mugabe	O	O
.	O	O

Jack	O	O
Straw	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
foreign	O	O
secretary	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
colonial	O	O
power	O	O
,	O	O
Britain	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
locked	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
verbal	DSE	O
war	DSE	O
with	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
head	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
was	ESE	O
bent	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
achieving	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
one	ESE	DSE
goal	ESE	DSE
,	ESE	O
power	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
costs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	DSE	ESE
is	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
surprise	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
this	O	O
outcome	O	O
has	O	O
now	O	O
been	O	O
achieved	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
added	O	DSE
his	O	DSE
voice	O	DSE
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
night	O	O
,	O	O
categorically	DSE	DSE
rejecting	DSE	DSE
Zimbabwe	O	O
's	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
recognize	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
outcome	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
because	O	ESE
we	O	O
think	DSE	DSE
it	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
flawed	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

We	DSE	O
are	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
our	O	O
friends	O	O
to	O	O
figure	O	O
out	O	O
how	O	O
to	O	O
deal	O	O
with	O	O
this	O	O
flawed	ESE	ESE
election	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Bush	O	O
's	O	O
secretary	O	O
of	O	O
state	O	O
,	O	O
Colin	O	O
Powell	O	O
,	O	O
earlier	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
Mr	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
claim	DSE	ESE
victory	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
but	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
democratic	ESE	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

France	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
also	O	O
indicated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
had	O	O
failed	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
`	ESE	O
free	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fair	ESE	ESE
'	ESE	O
test	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Canadian	O	O
prime	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
Jean	O	O
Chretien	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
election	O	O
``	O	O
does	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
look	ESE	DSE
very	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
.	O	O

Australia	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
with	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
and	O	O
Nigeria	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
mandated	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
presidential	O	O
poll	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Commonwealth	O	O
,	O	O
was	DSE	O
equally	DSE	ESE
critical	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Zimbabwe	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
sense	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
cheated	ESE	O
through	O	O
the	O	O
election	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
some	O	O
could	O	ESE
resort	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
violence	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
foreign	O	O
minister	O	O
,	O	O
Alexander	O	O
Downer	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
'	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
,	O	O
Kofi	O	O
Annan	O	O
,	O	O
appealed	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
calm	O	DSE
after	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
and	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
Zimbabweans	O	O
to	O	O
refrain	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
violence	O	ESE
.	O	O

Annan	O	O
acknowledged	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
receiving	O	O
conflicting	O	O
reports	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
conduct	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
poll	O	O
.	O	O

Facing	O	O
perhaps	ESE	ESE
a	O	ESE
legal	O	ESE
challenge	O	ESE
from	O	O
the	O	O
opposition	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
contested	DSE	ESE
electoral	O	ESE
victory	O	ESE
,	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
is	O	ESE
becoming	O	ESE
increasingly	ESE	ESE
isolated	ESE	ESE
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
international	ESE	O
stage	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
European	O	O
Union	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
have	O	O
already	O	ESE
imposed	O	ESE
`	O	ESE
smart	O	ESE
'	O	O
,	O	O
selected	O	O
sanctions	O	O
on	O	O
Mugabe	O	O
and	O	O
19	O	O
people	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
inner	O	O
circle	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
Zimbabwean	O	O
leader	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
silent	O	O
since	O	O
his	O	O
final	O	O
campaign	O	O
rally	O	O
last	O	O
Friday	O	O
,	O	O
though	O	O
people	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
eagerly	DSE	DSE
awaiting	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
victory	O	O
speech	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
president	O	O
was	O	O
nowhere	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
seen	O	ESE
in	O	O
Harare	O	O
as	O	O
his	O	O
supporters	O	O
took	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
downtown	O	O
streets	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
capital	O	O
,	O	O
loudly	DSE	ESE
celebrating	DSE	ESE
his	O	ESE
victory	O	ESE
.	O	O

Mugabe	O	O
's	O	O
allies	O	O
and	O	O
detractors	O	ESE
may	ESE	ESE
all	DSE	ESE
hope	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	O
spending	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
reviewing	O	O
the	O	O
tense	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
and	O	O
working	O	O
out	O	O
how	O	ESE
best	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
calm	O	ESE
fears	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
and	O	O
rally	O	O
Zimbabweans	O	O
together	O	O
.	O	O

WHAT	O	O
THEY	O	O
SAID	DSE	O
:	O	O
No	ESE	ESE
tears	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	ESE
Tobin	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
but	ESE	O
some	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
al-Qaeda	ESE	O

OTTAWA	O	O
-	O	O
The	ESE	O
plight	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
prisoners	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
politicians	ESE	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
weighing	DSE	O
heavily	DSE	O
on	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
minds	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
editorial	O	O
writers	O	O
and	O	O
pundits	O	O
in	O	O
and	O	O
around	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
's	O	O
capital	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
's	O	O
been	O	O
a	O	O
week	O	O
now	O	O
since	O	O
Jean	O	O
Chretien	O	O
's	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
shuffle	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
dramatic	ESE	O
departure	O	O
of	O	O
Brian	O	O
Tobin	O	O
--	O	O
seven	O	O
days	O	O
during	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
print	ESE	O
pundits	ESE	O
have	ESE	O
had	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
ponder	ESE	ESE
his	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
what	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	DSE
said	O	DSE
about	O	O
him	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
been	ESE	ESE
pretty	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Still	ESE	O
,	O	O
before	O	O
discussing	O	O
the	O	O
antics	ESE	O
of	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Tobin	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
elevation	O	O
of	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
's	O	O
John	O	O
Manley	O	O
to	O	O
the	ESE	O
status	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
golden	ESE	O
boy	ESE	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
controversial	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
pressing	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
matter	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
plight	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
fighters	O	O
imprisoned	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
base	O	O
in	O	O
Cuba	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Even	ESE	ESE
thugs	ESE	ESE
deserve	ESE	ESE
humane	ESE	ESE
treatment	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
reads	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
headline	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
Citizen	O	O
editorial	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Conditions	O	O
for	O	O
detainees	O	O
in	O	O
Guantanamo	O	O
Bay	O	O
are	O	DSE
harsh	ESE	DSE
:	O	O
wire-mesh	O	O
cells	O	O
2.4	O	O
by	O	O
1.8	O	O
metres	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
sleeping	O	O
mat	O	O
and	O	O
blanket	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
bucket	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
toilet	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
writes	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Citizen	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
does	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
necessarily	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
inhumane	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

On	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
other	ESE	ESE
hand	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
U.S.	O	O
assurances	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
's	O	O
treating	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
humanely	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
mean	ESE	ESE
that	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
so	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
Citizen	O	O
argues	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Canada	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
``	O	ESE
insist	DSE	ESE
''	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
``	O	O
allow	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
`	O	ESE
competent	O	ESE
tribunal	O	O
'	O	O
to	O	DSE
decide	O	DSE
the	O	O
legal	O	O
status	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
detainees	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
required	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
.	O	O

...	O	O
That	DSE	O
might	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
find	O	O
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
remaining	O	ESE
thugs	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
laws	ESE	O
keep	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
behaving	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
them	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
Sudbury	O	O
Star	O	O
agrees	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
This	O	O
conflict	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
now	ESE	ESE
move	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
next	ESE	O
stage	ESE	O
.	O	O

A	DSE	O
tribunal	O	O
,	O	O
formed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
address	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
captured	O	O
fighters	O	O
and	O	O
determine	O	O
how	O	O
they	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
dealt	O	O
with	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Editorial	O	O
writers	O	O
at	O	O
The	O	O
Daily	O	O
Press	O	O
in	O	O
Timmins	O	O
disagree	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
editorial	O	O
appearing	O	O
this	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
newspaper	O	O
is	DSE	O
unequivocal	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
its	DSE	O
U.S.	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
ca	DSE	ESE
n't	DSE	ESE
help	DSE	ESE
but	DSE	ESE
wonder	DSE	DSE
if	O	O
some	O	O
politicians	O	O
and	O	O
civil	O	O
rights	O	O
advocates	O	O
are	O	O
overreacting	ESE	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
comes	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
treatment	O	O
of	O	O
captured	O	O
al-Qaeda	O	O
and	O	O
Taliban	O	O
fighters	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
For	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
military	O	O
to	O	O
treat	O	O
the	O	O
prisoners	O	O
any	ESE	O
differently	ESE	O
might	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
well	ESE	ESE
imperil	ESE	ESE
American	O	O
lives	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
reads	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
editorial	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	DSE	ESE
Osama	O	O
bin	O	O
Laden	O	O
is	O	O
still	O	ESE
alive	O	ESE
,	O	O
we	O	O
suspect	DSE	DSE
he	O	O
is	DSE	O
giving	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
civil	DSE	O
rights	DSE	O
advocates	DSE	O
a	ESE	O
hearty	ESE	ESE
thumbs	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

No	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
however	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
giving	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
hearty	ESE	ESE
thumbs	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Tobin	ESE	O
.	O	O

Rather	O	O
,	O	O
his	O	O
sudden	O	O
departure	O	O
from	O	O
politics	O	O
provoked	DSE	ESE
much	DSE	ESE
criticism	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
No	ESE	DSE
tears	ESE	DSE
will	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
shed	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
corner	ESE	O
since	O	O
Brian	O	O
Tobin	O	O
's	O	O
departure	O	O
represents	O	O
his	O	O
third	O	ESE
consecutive	O	ESE
betrayal	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
voters	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Walter	O	O
Robinson	O	O
,	O	O
federal	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Canadian	O	O
Taxpayers	O	O
Federation	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
regular	O	O
columnist	O	O
in	O	O
The	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
Sun	O	O
wrote	DSE	DSE
yesterday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Mr.	DSE	O
Tobin	O	O
seems	ESE	ESE
content	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
back	ESE	O
home	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Rock	ESE	O
playing	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
bag	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
marbles	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
collecting	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
parliamentary	ESE	O
pension	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
Citizen	O	O
,	O	O
columnist	O	O
Rosa	O	O
Harris-Adler	O	O
wrote	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
devastatingly	ESE	ESE
sarcastic	ESE	ESE
piece	O	ESE
,	O	O
ridiculing	DSE	ESE
Mr.	O	O
Tobin	O	O
's	O	O
assertion	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
leaving	O	O
for	O	O
family	O	O
reasons	O	O
.	O	O

She	O	O
chronicles	O	O
what	O	O
she	O	O
imagines	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
first	O	O
week	O	O
post-politics	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
like	O	O
:	O	O

``	O	O
Day	ESE	O
One	ESE	O
:	ESE	O
Brian	ESE	O
decides	ESE	DSE
it	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
finally	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
learn	ESE	ESE
how	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
diaper	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
baby	ESE	O
.	O	O

With	ESE	ESE
some	ESE	ESE
effort	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
he	ESE	O
pins	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
flailing	ESE	O
child	ESE	O
down	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
changing	ESE	O
table	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
discover	ESE	O
there	ESE	O
are	ESE	O
no	ESE	O
diapers	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
house	ESE	O
.	O	O

Brian	ESE	O
gives	ESE	ESE
up	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
confusion	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

By	O	O
Day	O	O
Seven	O	O
,	O	O
however	O	O
,	O	O
Ms.	O	O
Harris-Adler	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
though	ESE	O
Mr.	ESE	O
Tobin	ESE	O
has	ESE	ESE
finally	ESE	ESE
mastered	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
diapering	ESE	O
process	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
baby	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
15	ESE	O
years	ESE	O
old	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
not	ESE	ESE
amused	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

And	O	O
Michel	O	O
Vastel	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
columnist	O	O
in	O	O
Le	O	O
Droit	O	O
,	O	O
writes	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
goodbye	O	ESE
to	O	O
his	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
favourite	ESE	ESE
Newfie	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Tobin	O	O
walked	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
too	ESE	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
toes	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
made	ESE	ESE
too	ESE	ESE
many	ESE	ESE
enemies	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
wrote	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
while	O	O
the	O	O
former	O	O
minister	O	O
may	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
been	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
longest-serving	O	O
MPs	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
most	ESE	ESE
``	ESE	ESE
unstable	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
noting	DSE	O
his	ESE	O
career	ESE	O
was	ESE	O
like	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
rough	ESE	O
sea	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
''	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
highs	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
lows	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
never	ESE	ESE
calm	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
vitriol	ESE	ESE
continues	O	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
The	O	O
Kingston	O	O
Whig-Standard	O	O
Paul	O	O
Schliesmann	O	O
writes	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
Canadians	O	O
do	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
kind	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
politician	ESE	O
Brian	ESE	O
Tobin	ESE	O
had	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
--	O	O
flighty	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
opportunistic	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
lacking	ESE	DSE
in	ESE	DSE
commitment	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
his	ESE	O
job	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
Member	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Parliament	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
pundits	O	O
in	O	O
Ottawa	O	O
,	O	O
it	ESE	ESE
seems	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
have	DSE	ESE
saved	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
their	ESE	O
praise	ESE	DSE
for	O	O
John	O	O
Manley	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
and	O	O
a	ESE	O
hometown	ESE	ESE
favourite	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

''	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Mr.	O	O
Manley	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
has	ESE	ESE
proven	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
a	O	O
sensible	ESE	O
manager	O	O
who	O	O
Canadians	O	O
can	ESE	DSE
trust	ESE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
Sun	O	O
editorial	O	O
,	O	O
observing	DSE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
emerged	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
crisis	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
sensible	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
voice	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
Cabinet	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
And	O	O
the	O	O
Citizen	O	O
calls	DSE	DSE
Mr.	O	O
Manley	O	O
``	O	O
competent	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
scrupulously	ESE	ESE
honest	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Mr.	DSE	O
Manley	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	O	ESE
responsibility	O	ESE
for	O	O
national	O	O
security	O	O
,	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
added	O	O
clout	O	O
he	O	O
gains	O	O
as	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
,	O	O
bodes	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Commercial	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
Egypt	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
witnessed	O	ESE
much	ESE	ESE
development	O	ESE

Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
Jiang	O	O
Zemin	O	O
said	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
probe	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Mubarak	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
start	O	O
an	O	O
official	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Beijing	O	O
next	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
,	O	O
strategic	O	O
cooperation	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
hot	ESE	O
international	O	O
issues	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
combating	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
situation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
with	O	O
AL	O	O
Ahram	O	O
newspaper	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
commercial	O	O
relations	O	O
between	O	O
Egypt	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
have	O	O
witnessed	O	O
a	O	O
balanced	O	O
development	O	O
adding	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
volume	O	O
of	O	O
economic	O	O
and	O	O
commercial	O	O
cooperation	O	O
expanded	O	O
to	O	O
register	O	O
900	O	O
million	O	O
dollars	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
up	O	O
with	O	O
21	O	O
than	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
China	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
prepared	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
cooperate	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
Egypt	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
technological	O	O
field	O	O
at	O	O
various	O	O
levels	O	O
,	O	O
indicating	DSE	O
that	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
high	ESE	O
prospects	ESE	O
for	O	O
cooperation	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fields	O	O
of	O	O
scientific	O	O
research	O	O
,	O	O
technology	O	O
,	O	O
industry	O	O
and	O	O
human	O	O
resources	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
key	ESE	O
to	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
lies	O	O
in	O	O
reaching	O	O
a	O	O
just	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
cause	O	O
and	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
land	O	O
occupied	O	O
by	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
objects	DSE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
policies	O	O
represented	O	O
in	O	O
military	O	O
attacks	ESE	O
,	O	O
economic	O	O
siege	ESE	O
on	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
expansion	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
settlements	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
acts	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
violence	ESE	O
against	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
civilians	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
all	O	DSE
parties	O	DSE
concerned	O	DSE
should	ESE	ESE
work	O	ESE
for	O	O
resuming	O	O
peace	O	O
negotiations	O	O
as	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
resolutions	DSE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
issues	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
principle	O	O
of	O	O
land	O	O
for	O	O
peace	O	O
and	O	O
commitment	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
agreements	O	DSE
and	O	O
notes	O	O
of	O	O
understandings	O	DSE
which	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
reached	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
leader	O	O
said	O	DSE
President	O	O
Mubarak	O	O
telephoned	O	O
him	O	O
after	O	O
last	O	O
September	O	O
11th	O	ESE
incidents	O	ESE
urging	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	ESE
his	ESE	ESE
best	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
saving	ESE	O
the	O	O
peace	O	O
process	O	O
between	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
has	O	O
repeatedly	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
through	O	O
proper	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
channels	O	O
,	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Israeli	O	O
side	O	O
to	O	O
fulfill	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
pledges	ESE	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
respond	O	O
favorably	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
endeavors	O	DSE
aimed	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
reaching	O	O
a	O	O
settlement	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
through	O	O
negotiations	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
indicated	O	DSE
that	O	O
China	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	ESE
play	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
in	DSE	O
supporting	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
peaceful	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
would	O	O
discuss	O	O
with	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
will	O	O
visit	O	O
Beijing	O	O
next	O	O
month	O	O
,	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
reactivating	O	O
the	O	O
peace	O	O
process	O	O
between	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
Israelis	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
China	O	O
fully	DSE	DSE
supports	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
restoration	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
their	O	O
legitimate	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
right	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
State	O	O
,	O	O
adding	O	DSE
that	O	O
China	O	O
recognized	DSE	DSE
Palestinian	O	O
State	O	O
when	O	O
it	O	O
was	O	O
declared	O	O
in	O	O
1988	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
September	O	O
11	O	O
incidents	O	O
have	O	DSE
shocked	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
world	O	O
and	O	O
imposed	O	O
many	O	O
changes	O	O
,	O	O
referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
emergence	O	O
of	O	O
problems	O	O
with	O	O
universal	O	O
nature	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
multi-polar	O	O
system	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
guarantee	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
establishment	O	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
system	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Chinese	O	O
President	O	O
said	DSE	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
open	O	O
door	O	O
policy	O	O
and	O	O
reform	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	O
managed	ESE	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
a	O	O
strong	ESE	O
economic	O	O
structure	O	O
and	O	O
has	O	ESE
enhanced	ESE	ESE
Chinese	O	ESE
competitiveness	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
by	O	O
September	O	O

Brasilia	O	O
,	O	O
14	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Agencia	O	O
Brasil	O	O
-	O	O
ABr	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
In	O	O
a	O	O
document	O	O
entitled	O	O
Partnership	O	O
Brasil-Germany	O	O
:	O	O
Action	O	O
Plan	O	O
,	O	O
both	O	O
countrires	O	O
have	DSE	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
interest	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
seeing	O	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
take	O	O
effect	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Sustainable	O	O
Development	O	O
Summit	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Rio	O	O
+10	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
takes	O	O
place	O	O
in	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
,	O	O
next	O	O
September	O	O
.	O	O

Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
also	O	O
call	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	DSE
other	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
and	O	O
work	O	O
to	O	O
enforce	O	O
it	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
document	O	O
also	O	O
states	O	DSE
that	O	O
Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
intend	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
expand	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
area	O	O
of	O	O
environment	O	O
and	O	O
sustainable	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O

Both	O	O
countries	O	O
expect	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
present	O	O
common	O	O
positions	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Rio	O	O
+10	O	O
meeting	O	O
.	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
document	O	O
stresses	DSE	DSE
the	O	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
the	O	O
Pilot	O	O
Program	O	O
for	O	O
Protection	O	O
of	O	O
Tropical	O	O
Forests	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
PPG-7	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
German	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
program	O	O
.	O	O

Khatami	O	O
congratulates	DSE	DSE
Venezuelan	O	O
nation	O	O
for	O	O
Chavez	O	O
'	O	O
return	O	O

Tehran	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
20	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
--	O	O
President	O	O
Mohammad	O	O
Khatami	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
evening	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
nation	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
victory	O	O
and	O	O
restoration	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
legitimate	ESE	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
failed	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
a	O	O
telephone	O	O
conversation	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Khatami	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
his	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
counterpart	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavex	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
legitimate	ESE	ESE
president	O	O
and	O	O
government	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
victory	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
justice	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
freedom	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Iranian	O	O
president	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
government	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
able	O	ESE
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
its	O	O
exalted	ESE	O
objectives	DSE	DSE
with	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

Referring	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
difficult	O	ESE
period	O	O
the	O	O
venezuelan	O	O
nation	O	O
went	O	O
through	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
anti-democractic	ESE	ESE
attempts	O	O
to	O	O
topple	ESE	O
his	O	O
government	O	O
failed	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
help	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
Almighty	ESE	O
God	ESE	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
re-establishment	O	O
of	O	O
legal	O	O
order	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
briefed	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
president	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
latest	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

Referring	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
those	O	O
who	O	O
were	O	O
behind	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
wwanted	DSE	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
come	O	O
out	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
OPEC	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
therefore	O	O
tried	O	O
to	O	O
produce	O	O
more	O	O
oil	O	O
in	O	ESE
order	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
undermine	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
organization	O	O
.	O	O

President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
thanked	DSE	DSE
President	O	O
Khatami	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
telephone	O	O
call	O	DSE
and	O	DSE
wished	DSE	DSE
success	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
Iranian	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
nation	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
two	O	O
presidents	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
mutual	DSE	DSE
desire	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
meet	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Sunday	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
sent	DSE	DSE
congratulations	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
on	O	O
hearing	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
rule	O	O
of	O	O
law	O	O
and	O	O
reinstatement	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
legitimate	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
Chavez	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
two-day	O	O
military	O	O
collapsed	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Saturday	O	O
it	O	O
condemned	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
the	O	O
ouster	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
democratically	O	O
elected	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
resorting	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
a	O	O
coup	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
force	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
an	ESE	ESE
acceptable	ESE	ESE
method	O	ESE
to	O	O
bring	O	O
about	O	O
political	O	O
change	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
method	O	O
is	O	O
not	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
conformity	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
the	O	O
norms	O	O
of	O	O
present	O	O
human	O	O
society	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chavez	O	O
was	O	O
brought	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
early	O	O
Sunday	O	O
by	O	O
helicopter	O	O
from	O	O
a	O	O
Caribbean	O	O
island	O	O
where	O	O
he	O	O
was	O	O
detained	O	O
after	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
and	O	O
thereafter	O	O
resumed	O	O
his	O	O
functions	O	O
as	O	O
president	O	O
.	O	O

Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
mandate	O	O
was	O	O
due	O	O
to	O	O
end	O	O
in	O	O
2006	O	O
,	O	O
was	O	O
forced	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
office	O	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
armed	O	O
forces	O	O
who	O	O
blamed	DSE	DSE
him	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
deaths	O	O
of	O	O
15	O	O
people	O	O
during	O	O
demonstrations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
streets	O	O
of	O	O
central	O	O
Caracas	O	O
against	O	DSE
an	O	DSE
opposition	O	DSE
protest	O	DSE
which	O	O
later	O	O
became	O	O
violent	O	O
.	O	O

Chavez	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
a	DSE	DSE
staunch	DSE	DSE
supporter	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
oil	O	O
production	O	O
cuts	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
to	O	O
boost	O	O
prices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
market	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
initiated	O	O
a	O	O
successful	ESE	O
Caracas	O	O
OPEC	O	O
summit	O	O
in	O	O
September	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
40-year	O	O
existence	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Organization	O	O
of	O	O
Petroleum	O	O
Exporting	O	O
Countries	O	O
.	O	O

Cardoso	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
US	O	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
is	O	O
positive	ESE	ESE

Brasilia	O	O
,	O	O
13	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Agencia	O	O
Brasil	O	O
-	O	O
ABr	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
Today	O	O
president	O	O
Fernando	O	O
Henrique	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
declared	DSE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
adopt	O	DSE
measures	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
is	O	O
positive	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
even	O	ESE
though	O	ESE
there	O	O
was	O	O
a	O	O
formal	O	O
decision	O	DSE
not	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
ratify	O	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
party	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
convention	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
hope	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
measures	O	O
adopted	O	O
domestically	O	O
will	O	O
have	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
effect	O	O
as	O	O
adhering	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	O
Cardoso	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
great	ESE	O
leader	ESE	O
-LSB-	O	O
yongdoja	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
Comrade	O	O
Kim	O	O
Chong-il	O	O
has	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
out	DSE	O
the	O	O
following	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
conduct	O	O
proper	ESE	O
research	O	O
work	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
environment	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
air	O	O
and	O	O
water	O	O
,	O	O
in	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
maintain	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
health	O	O
and	O	O
provide	O	O
them	O	O
with	O	O
more	O	ESE
hygienic	O	ESE
and	O	O
civilized	O	ESE
living	O	ESE
conditions	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

At	DSE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
held	O	O
recently	O	O
in	O	O
Morocco	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
laid	O	DSE
artificial	ESE	DSE
obstacles	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
session	O	O
by	O	O
seeking	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
profit	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

In	O	O
discussing	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
openly	DSE	DSE
took	DSE	DSE
issue	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
because	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
contents	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
regulations	O	O
were	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
favor	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

It	O	O
grudgingly	ESE	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
it	O	O
only	ESE	O
when	O	O
some	O	O
countries	O	O
made	O	O
concessions	ESE	O
and	O	O
made	O	O
amendments	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
calculated	ESE	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	O
suffer	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
tremendous	ESE	ESE
loss	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
were	O	O
ever	O	O
passed	O	O
intact	O	O
and	O	O
would	O	DSE
be	O	DSE
adopted	O	DSE
as	O	O
a	O	O
legal	O	O
document	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
session	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
for	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
held	O	O
this	O	O
time	O	O
was	O	O
to	O	O
reach	O	O
on	O	DSE
an	O	DSE
actual	O	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
regarding	O	O
regulatory	O	O
problems	O	O
that	O	O
have	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
solved	O	ESE
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
adopted	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
so	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
may	O	ESE
reduce	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
effect	O	O
and	O	O
ecological	O	O
damage	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
becoming	O	O
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
each	ESE	O
passing	ESE	O
day	ESE	O
,	O	O
protect	O	O
human	O	O
lives	O	O
and	O	O
health	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
provide	O	O
favorable	O	O
conditions	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
promotion	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	ESE
civilization	O	ESE
.	O	O

As	ESE	DSE
is	ESE	DSE
feared	ESE	DSE
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
,	O	O
preservation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
environment	O	O
is	O	O
becoming	O	O
an	O	O
awfully	ESE	ESE
grave	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
pressing	ESE	ESE
problem	O	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
linked	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
existence	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
mankind	ESE	O
.	O	O

How	ESE	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
and	O	O
environmental	O	O
preservation	O	O
are	O	O
handled	O	O
today	O	O
will	ESE	O
have	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
major	ESE	ESE
impact	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
lives	O	O
and	O	O
health	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
as	ESE	O
well	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
the	O	O
future	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O

This	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
why	ESE	O
many	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
today	O	O
are	O	DSE
demanding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
take	O	O
concrete	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
for	O	O
protecting	O	O
the	O	O
environment	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
come	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
realize	DSE	ESE
its	O	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
was	O	ESE
revealed	O	ESE
this	O	ESE
time	O	ESE
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
position	O	DSE
to	O	O
take	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
lead	ESE	O
to	O	O
solve	O	O
the	O	O
environmental	O	O
problems	O	O
,	O	O
attempted	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
back	ESE	DSE
away	ESE	DSE
from	ESE	O
solving	O	O
the	O	O
problems	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
well-known	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
was	O	DSE
adopted	O	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
Fifth	O	O
Conference	O	O
of	O	O
Parties	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
Framework	O	O
Convention	O	O
on	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
held	O	O
in	O	O
Japan	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
.	O	O

According	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
are	O	O
supposed	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
set	O	DSE
goals	O	DSE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
emission	O	O
and	O	O
officially	ESE	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
2002	O	O
.	O	O

For	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
55	O	O
countries	O	O
have	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
ratify	O	DSE
it	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
the	O	O
1997	O	O
conference	O	O
,	O	O
representatives	O	O
of	O	O
many	O	O
countries	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
welcomed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
epoch-making	ESE	O
measure	O	O
to	O	O
curb	O	O
the	O	O
warming	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
surface	O	O
and	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
ratified	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
signed	O	O
it	O	O
and	O	O
would	O	O
have	O	O
a	O	O
legal	O	O
binding	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O

Emphasizing	DSE	ESE
the	O	ESE
significance	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Japan	O	O
loudly	ESE	O
trumpeted	ESE	O
at	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
produced	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
role	O	O
''	O	O
Japan	O	O
had	O	O
played	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
even	O	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
working	O	O
out	O	O
practical	O	O
measures	O	O
to	O	O
have	O	O
it	O	O
enter	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O

Nonetheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
changing	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
stand	ESE	DSE
this	ESE	O
time	ESE	O
,	O	O
opposed	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
and	O	O
even	ESE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
liquidation	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
draft	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
shows	O	ESE
how	ESE	ESE
capricious	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
is	O	O
and	O	O
how	ESE	O
frequently	ESE	O
it	O	O
changes	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
stand	ESE	DSE
when	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
stakes	ESE	ESE
matter	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Of	ESE	ESE
course	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
behind	O	ESE
the	O	O
Japan	O	O
's	O	O
behavior	O	ESE
lies	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
stakes	O	ESE
.	O	O

According	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
2008	O	O
-	O	O
2012	O	O
Japan	O	O
is	O	ESE
supposed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
reduce	O	O
its	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emission	O	O
by	O	O
six	O	O
percent	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
1990	O	O
level	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
Japan	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
this	DSE	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
put	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
lot	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
effort	ESE	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
restructure	O	O
the	O	O
plants	O	O
and	O	O
enterprises	O	O
,	O	O
introduce	O	O
new	O	O
technology	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
upgrade	O	O
production	O	O
lines	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
do	O	O
all	O	O
these	O	O
things	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
needs	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
tremendous	ESE	ESE
amount	O	ESE
of	O	O
money	O	O
for	O	O
investment	O	O
.	O	O

Never	ESE	ESE
doing	ESE	ESE
anything	ESE	ESE
unprofitable	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
the	ESE	O
nature	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
.	O	O

Accordingly	ESE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
never	ESE	ESE
readily	ESE	ESE
agree	DSE	DSE
on	O	DSE
putting	O	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
course	O	O
of	O	O
calculating	O	O
the	O	O
gains	O	O
and	O	O
losses	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
figure	O	O
out	O	O
what	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
should	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
found	O	O
a	O	O
good	ESE	ESE
excuse	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	O
to	O	O
do	O	O
the	O	O
most	O	O
to	O	O
implement	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
has	O	DSE
come	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
opposing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
draft	O	O
regulations	O	O
.	O	O

On	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
pretext	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
opposition	DSE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
was	O	O
attempting	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
realize	ESE	DSE
its	O	DSE
own	O	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
midst	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
situation	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Japanese	O	O
official	O	O
visited	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
received	O	O
the	O	O
instruction	DSE	O
that	DSE	O
Japan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
avoid	O	ESE
inordinate	ESE	ESE
behavior	ESE	ESE
with	O	O
respect	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
implementing	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

That	DSE	ESE
was	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
hint	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
good	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
Japan	O	O
to	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
leading	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
in	O	O
dealing	O	O
with	O	O
a	O	O
matter	O	O
detrimental	ESE	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
.	O	O

Since	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
has	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
spirit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
independence	ESE	O
and	O	O
has	O	ESE
always	ESE	ESE
acted	O	ESE
on	O	O
US	O	O
directions	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
had	O	O
continued	O	O
to	O	O
put	ESE	O
off	ESE	O
Diet	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
protocol	O	O
and	O	O
took	DSE	DSE
such	ESE	DSE
an	ESE	DSE
attitude	ESE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
session	O	O
held	O	O
this	O	O
time	O	O
,	O	O
under	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
plausible	ESE	ESE
pretext	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
meaningless	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
put	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
were	O	O
excluded	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	O
Japan	ESE	O
is	ESE	DSE
doing	ESE	DSE
with	O	DSE
respect	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
of	O	O
putting	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
is	O	O
tantamount	ESE	O
to	O	O
an	O	O
act	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
betrayal	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
mankind	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
effort	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
human	O	O
lives	O	O
,	O	O
health	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
earth	O	O
's	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
present	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
issue	O	ESE
,	O	O
whose	O	O
gravity	ESE	O
is	O	O
second	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
nuclear	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

Here	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
developed	O	O
countries	O	O
have	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
assume	O	ESE
especially	ESE	ESE
large	ESE	ESE
responsibilities	O	ESE
.	O	O

Nonetheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
is	O	DSE
backing	ESE	DSE
away	ESE	DSE
from	O	O
resolving	O	O
the	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
although	ESE	O
it	O	O
is	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
position	O	DSE
to	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
leading	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
condemned	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
for	O	O
that	O	O
.	O	O

Japan	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
unable	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
escape	ESE	O
stronger	O	O
denunciation	DSE	O
and	O	O
more	O	ESE
serious	O	ESE
isolation	ESE	ESE
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
it	O	ESE
continues	DSE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
seek	ESE	DSE
only	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
own	ESE	ESE
profit	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
create	ESE	O
stumbling	ESE	O
blocks	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
what	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
supposed	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
do	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
prevent	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
and	O	O
seek	O	ESE
environmental	O	ESE
preservation	O	ESE
.	O	O

Spanish	O	O
premier	O	O
,	O	O
EU	O	O
leader	O	O
urge	DSE	DSE
Russia	O	O
to	O	O
ratify	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
Text	O	O
of	O	O
report	O	O
by	O	O
Spanish	O	O
news	O	O
agency	O	O
Efe	O	O
Barcelona	O	O
,	O	O
14	O	O
March	O	O
:	O	O
The	O	O
current	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
,	O	O
Jose	O	O
Maria	O	O
Aznar	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Commission	O	O
,	O	O
Romano	O	O
Prodi	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
handed	O	O
over	O	O
a	O	O
letter	O	O
to	O	O
Russian	O	O
President	O	O
Vladimir	O	O
Putin	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
urge	O	DSE
him	O	O
to	DSE	DSE
promote	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
ratification	O	DSE
by	O	O
Russia	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
letter	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
Efe	O	O
has	O	O
had	O	O
access	O	O
,	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
Prodi	O	O
explain	O	O
that	O	O
on	O	O
4	O	O
March	O	O
the	O	O
council	O	O
of	O	O
EU	O	O
environment	O	O
ministers	O	O
agreed	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
adoption	O	DSE
of	O	O
a	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
approval	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
on	O	O
behalf	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Community	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
explain	DSE	O
that	O	O
this	DSE	DSE
agreement	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
an	O	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
step	O	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
in	O	O
fulfilling	O	O
the	O	O
political	DSE	O
pledge	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
achieve	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Protocol	O	O
before	O	O
the	O	O
Johannesburg	O	O
summit	O	O
on	O	O
sustainable	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	O
this	O	O
end	O	O
,	O	O
Aznar	O	O
and	O	O
Prodi	O	O
report	O	O
that	O	O
only	O	O
the	O	O
internal	O	O
ratification	O	O
processes	O	O
in	O	O
each	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
have	O	O
now	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
concluded	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
emphasize	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
these	O	O
are	O	O
at	O	O
an	O	O
advanced	O	O
stage	O	O
and	O	O
in	O	O
some	O	O
cases	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
completed	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Therefore	O	ESE
,	O	O
we	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
complete	DSE	DSE
confidence	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
instruments	O	O
of	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
Community	O	O
and	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
member	O	O
states	O	O
will	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
lodged	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Secretariat	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
time	O	O
scale	O	O
anticipated	DSE	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
other	O	O
words	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
early	O	O
June	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
year	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
they	O	O
add	O	O
.	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
letter	O	O
emphasizes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
enter	O	O
into	O	O
force	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
near	O	O
future	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
enough	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
EU	O	O
ratification	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
guaranteed	O	O
and	O	O
they	O	O
thus	O	O
urge	DSE	DSE
Putin	O	O
to	O	O
ensure	ESE	O
that	O	O
Russia	O	O
also	O	O
moves	O	O
ahead	O	O
with	O	O
ratification	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
make	DSE	O
this	DSE	DSE
request	DSE	DSE
``	O	DSE
convinced	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
Russian	O	O
Federation	O	O
's	O	O
resolute	DSE	DSE
commitment	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
believing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
manner	O	O
the	O	O
EU	O	O
and	O	O
Russia	O	O
would	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
show	O	O
the	O	O
``	O	O
leadership	ESE	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
have	O	O
shared	O	O
``	O	O
with	O	ESE
such	ESE	ESE
fruitful	ESE	ESE
results	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
international	O	O
cooperation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fight	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

United	O	O
States	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
finally	ESE	O
announced	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
's	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
for	O	O
fighting	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
effect	O	O
.	O	O

Seven	O	O
months	O	O
after	O	O
having	DSE	DSE
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
because	O	O
he	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
it	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
without	ESE	ESE
scientific	ESE	O
basis	ESE	O
,	O	O
detrimental	ESE	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
interests	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
unfair	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
not	O	O
obliging	O	O
medium-sized	O	O
nations	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
like	O	O
Brazil	O	O
and	O	O
India	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
their	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
proportion	O	O
as	O	O
that	O	O
imposed	O	O
on	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
made	O	DSE
public	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
plan	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
promised	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
would	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
any	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
defects	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
and	O	O
would	O	O
achieve	O	O
the	O	O
same	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
results	O	O
.	O	O

Basically	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
plan	DSE	O
makes	O	O
the	O	O
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
pollution	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
conditional	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
Gross	O	O
Domestic	O	O
Product	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
GDP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
.	O	O

Emissions	O	O
of	O	O
these	O	O
gases	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
rise	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
slower	O	O
pace	O	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
GDP	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	DSE
problem	ESE	DSE
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
critics	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
has	O	O
created	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
concept	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
intensity	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
which	O	O
could	O	O
be	O	O
defined	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
volume	O	O
of	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
divided	O	O
by	O	O
GDP	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
this	O	O
index	O	O
that	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
reduced	O	ESE
,	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
by	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
.	O	O

But	ESE	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
Government	O	O
does	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
emphasize	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
natural	O	O
tendency	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
is	O	O
for	O	O
services	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
their	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
GDP	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
industrial	O	O
activities	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
energy	O	O
consumers	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	O
diminish	O	O
.	O	O

Therefore	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
that	O	O
so-called	ESE	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
reduction	O	O
in	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
could	O	ESE
,	O	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
fact	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
represent	O	O
a	O	O
real	ESE	O
increase	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
absolute	O	O
quantity	O	O
of	O	O
such	O	O
gases	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
environmental	O	O
entities	O	O
calculate	O	O
that	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
plan	DSE	DSE
will	O	O
lead	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
's	O	O
emitting	O	O
!	O	O

,	O	O
in	O	O
2010	O	O
,	O	O
29	O	O
percent	O	O
more	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gases	O	O
than	O	O
it	O	O
did	O	O
in	O	O
1990	O	O
.	O	O

Technical	DSE	O
arguments	DSE	O
could	ESE	O
go	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
an	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
matter	ESE	O
little	ESE	O
here	O	O
.	O	O

More	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
are	O	DSE
two	O	DSE
indisputable	ESE	DSE
conclusions	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
both	O	O
potentially	ESE	O
embarrassing	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
and	O	O
extremely	ESE	ESE
threatening	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
whole	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
is	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
once	ESE	ESE
again	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
US	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
faced	ESE	O
with	ESE	O
a	O	O
controversial	O	O
issue	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	ESE
situating	DSE	ESE
itself	O	ESE
alongside	O	ESE
the	O	O
explicit	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
companies	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
energy	O	O
sector	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
long	O	O
-	O	O
standing	O	O
ties	O	O
Bush	O	O
and	O	O
several	O	O
of	O	O
his	O	O
leading	O	O
advisors	O	O
have	O	O
with	O	O
these	O	O
companies	O	O
allow	ESE	O
us	O	O
to	DSE	O
suppose	DSE	O
an	O	O
ultimate	ESE	O
conflict	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
interests	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
increase	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
the	O	O
government	O	O
's	O	O
persistent	ESE	ESE
alignment	DSE	ESE
with	O	O
their	O	O
goals	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Enron	O	ESE
scandal	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
already	O	ESE
taking	O	O
a	O	O
significant	ESE	ESE
political	O	ESE
toll	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
team	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
will	O	O
tend	O	O
to	O	O
increase	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
consequences	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
divorce	ESE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
case	O	O
could	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
serious	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
second	O	O
conclusion	DSE	DSE
is	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
contrary	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
what	O	O
some	O	O
optimists	ESE	O
were	DSE	DSE
predicting	DSE	DSE
after	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
seems	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
have	DSE	DSE
decided	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
stick	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
course	O	ESE
of	O	O
arrogant	ESE	ESE
unilateralism	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
conducting	O	O
his	O	O
foreign	O	O
policy	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
break	O	O
with	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
a	O	O
pre-attack	ESE	O
marker	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
,	O	O
for	O	O
having	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
the	O	O
latter	O	O
's	O	O
absolute	ESE	O
indifference	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
even	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
closest	ESE	ESE
allies	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
France	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Kingdom	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Japan	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Center	O	O
and	O	O
Pentagon	O	ESE
tragedies	O	ESE
,	O	O
there	O	O
were	O	O
some	O	O
who	O	O
thought	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
rapprochement	DSE	O
with	O	O
its	O	O
traditional	O	O
partners	O	O
was	O	O
inevitable	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
defeating	O	O
the	O	O
threat	O	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
after	O	O
a	O	O
brief	ESE	O
period	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
shock	ESE	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
resumed	O	O
his	O	O
solitary	ESE	ESE
road	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
as	O	O
he	O	O
clearly	ESE	DSE
demonstrated	O	DSE
in	O	O
his	O	O
State	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Union	O	O
speech	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
he	O	O
threatened	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
Axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
Evil	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
without	O	O
consulting	O	O
the	O	O
Europeans	O	O
and	O	O
Japanese	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
necessarily	ESE	DSE
agree	DSE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
appropriateness	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
antagonizing	ESE	O
the	O	O
governments	O	O
of	O	O
those	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
announcement	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
plan	DSE	O
that	O	O
is	O	O
supposedly	ESE	ESE
an	O	ESE
alternative	O	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
which	O	O
in	ESE	O
practice	ESE	O
rejects	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
in	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
that	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
taken	ESE	O
seriously	ESE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
countries	O	O
who	O	O
committed	DSE	O
themselves	O	O
to	O	O
it	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
among	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
Brazil	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
deserves	ESE	ESE
rejection	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
response	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
provoke	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	ESE
retrospect	ESE	ESE
an	O	O
enormous	ESE	ESE
concern	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
what	O	O
the	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
world	ESE	ESE
superpower	ESE	ESE
intends	DSE	ESE
in	O	O
future	O	O
.	O	O

18	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
Yonhap	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
The	O	O
government	O	O
on	O	O
Monday	O	O
announced	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
policy	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
discussed	O	O
internationally	O	O
along	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	O
international	O	O
treaty	O	O
adopted	O	O
in	O	O
1997	O	O
to	O	O
control	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Affairs	O	O
and	O	O
Trade	O	O
said	O	DSE
in	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
Government	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Korea	O	O
appreciates	DSE	DSE
continued	O	DSE
interest	DSE	DSE
shown	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
Government	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
efforts	O	O
in	O	O
presenting	O	O
on	O	O
February	O	O
14	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
initiative	O	O
to	O	O
address	O	O
this	O	O
issue	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
greatest	ESE	ESE
challenges	ESE	ESE
humankind	ESE	ESE
faces	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
21st	O	O
century	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
was	O	DSE
issued	O	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
name	O	O
of	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Choi	O	O
Sung-hong	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Korean	O	O
Government	O	O
notes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Government	O	O
initiative	O	O
adopts	O	O
a	O	O
flexible	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
gradual	ESE	ESE
approach	O	O
to	O	O
reducing	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
takes	ESE	O
into	ESE	O
consideration	ESE	DSE
the	O	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
said	O	DSE

The	O	O
!	O	O
Korean	O	O
government	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
view	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
in	O	O
order	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
initiative	O	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
discussed	O	O
in	O	O
more	O	O
detail	O	O
in	O	O
future	O	O
international	O	O
fora	O	O
,	O	O
greater	ESE	ESE
elaboration	ESE	ESE
is	O	ESE
needed	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
including	O	O
concrete	ESE	O
methods	O	O
to	O	O
establish	O	O
the	O	O
levels	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
intensity	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
continued	O	O
.	O	O

Parties	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Climate	O	O
Change	O	O
Convention	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
preparing	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
implementation	O	O
rules	O	O
last	O	O
November	O	O
in	O	O
Marrakesh	O	O
,	O	O
Morocco	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	ESE	ESE
light	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
this	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
Korean	O	O
Government	O	O
believes	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
consultations	O	O
amongst	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
are	O	O
needed	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
build	ESE	ESE
understanding	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
the	O	O
U.S.	O	O
initiative	O	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
statement	O	O
noted	O	DSE
,	O	O
adding	O	O
the	O	O
Seoul	O	O
government	O	O
will	O	DSE
actively	O	DSE
participate	O	DSE
in	O	O
this	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

Over	O	O
180	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	DSE
prepared	O	DSE
for	O	DSE
ratification	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
framework	O	O
that	O	O
requires	O	O
signatories	O	O
to	O	O
gradually	O	O
reduce	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
U.S.	O	O
administration	O	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Protocol	O	O
early	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
and	O	O
recently	O	O
announced	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
policy	O	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
which	O	O
aims	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
relative	O	O
to	O	O
Gross	O	O
Domestic	O	O
Product	O	O
or	O	O
economic	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

Before	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
had	O	DSE
been	O	DSE
severely	DSE	DSE
blamed	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
for	O	O
rejecting	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Meanwhile	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
Japan	O	O
and	O	O
Germany	O	O
,	O	O
already	O	DSE
issued	O	DSE
statements	O	DSE
on	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
new	O	O
climate	O	O
change	O	O
policy	O	O
in	O	O
rather	ESE	O
different	ESE	O
tones	O	O
.	O	O

At	O	O
a	O	O
Japan-US	O	O
summit	O	O
meeting	O	O
on	O	O
18	O	O
February	O	O
,	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Junichiro	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
some	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	DSE	O
that	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
DPRK	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
are	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

This	O	O
left	O	O
the	O	O
impression	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
Japan	O	O
stands	ESE	ESE
alone	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
this	O	O
issue	O	O
because	O	O
European	O	O
countries	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
cool	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
Bush	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
''	ESE	O
rhetoric	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
Japan	O	O
to	O	DSE
provide	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
US	DSE	O
,	DSE	O
as	DSE	O
it	DSE	O
did	DSE	O
when	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
attacked	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
US	O	O
forces	O	O
launch	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
Iraq	O	O
.	O	O

It	ESE	O
can	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
said	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Government	O	O
has	O	O
put	ESE	O
itself	ESE	O
in	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
position	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

At	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
of	O	O
several	O	O
officials	O	O
held	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
outset	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
summit	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
first	O	O
took	O	O
up	O	O
economic	O	O
issues	O	O
and	O	O
then	O	O
referred	O	DSE
to	O	O
his	DSE	O
``	DSE	O
axis	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
evil	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
urged	DSE	DSE
Japan	O	O
to	O	O
follow	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
by	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
needs	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	DSE
cooperate	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
change	O	O
Iran	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
North	O	O
Korea	O	O
's	O	O
action	O	O
pattern	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
of	O	O
spreading	O	O
weapons	O	O
of	O	O
mass	O	O
destruction	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

All	O	O
options	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
including	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
are	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
table	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

European	O	O
countries	O	O
are	DSE	DSE
critical	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
``	DSE	O
axis	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
evil	DSE	ESE
''	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
.	O	O

French	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Minister	O	O
Hubert	O	O
Vedrine	O	O
criticized	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
remark	O	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
simplistic	ESE	ESE
interpretation	ESE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

However	O	ESE
,	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
said	O	DSE
,	O	O
``	O	O
I	O	O
take	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
remark	DSE	O
as	DSE	O
the	O	O
indication	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
strong	ESE	DSE
resolve	ESE	DSE
to	O	DSE
fight	O	DSE
terrorism	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
has	O	DSE
repeatedly	DSE	DSE
suggested	DSE	DSE
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
its	O	O
taking	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
President	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Husayn	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
if	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
military	O	O
attack	O	O
Iraq	O	O
,	O	O
Japan	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
has	O	DSE
shown	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	DSE	O
axis	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
evil	DSE	ESE
remark	DSE	ESE
,	O	O
will	DSE	DSE
be	DSE	DSE
asked	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
provide	O	O
active	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
as	O	O
it	O	O
did	O	O
during	O	O
US	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

However	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	O
Self-Defense	O	O
Forces	O	O
to	O	DSE
provide	O	DSE
logistic	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
to	O	O
US	O	O
forces	O	O
attacking	O	O
Iraq	O	O
under	O	O
a	O	O
special	O	O
antiterrorism	O	O
law	O	O
aimed	O	ESE
at	O	ESE
eradicating	O	ESE
terrorism	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
was	O	O
enacted	O	O
after	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
on	O	O
11	O	O
September	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
is	O	O
also	ESE	ESE
politically	ESE	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
enact	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
law	O	O
considering	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
declining	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
Cabinet	O	O
,	O	O
said	DSE	O
a	O	O
source	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
's	O	O
Official	O	O
Residence	O	O
.	O	O

If	ESE	ESE
Japan	O	O
does	O	O
not	O	O
give	O	O
any	ESE	DSE
support	O	DSE
to	O	O
possible	O	O
US	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
Iraq	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
its	O	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
rhetoric	O	ESE
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
expectations	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
administration	O	O
will	O	ESE
certainly	ESE	ESE
change	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	DSE
disappointment	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

Although	ESE	O
the	O	O
Japanese	O	O
Government	O	O
has	O	DSE
expressed	DSE	DSE
understanding	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
axis	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
evil	DSE	DSE
remark	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
does	DSE	ESE
not	DSE	ESE
hope	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
see	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
taking	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
.	O	O

Because	O	O
of	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
Koizumi	O	O
noted	ESE	DSE
the	ESE	ESE
need	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
to	O	O
cooperate	ESE	O
in	O	O
tackling	O	O
Iraqi	O	O
issues	O	O
and	O	O
enthusiastically	DSE	DSE
asked	DSE	DSE
Bush	O	O
to	O	O
not	O	O
take	O	O
the	O	O
bold	ESE	ESE
course	O	ESE
of	O	O
launching	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
reply	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
President	O	O
said	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
We	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
resolve	O	O
all	O	O
issues	O	O
peacefully	ESE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
we	O	O
intend	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
continue	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
efforts	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O
However	ESE	O
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
unclear	ESE	ESE
whether	ESE	O
Japan	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
actually	ESE	ESE
prevent	O	ESE
the	O	O
US	O	O
from	O	O
taking	O	O
military	O	O
action	O	O
.	O	O

Islamabad	O	O
,	O	O
March	O	O
6	O	O
,	O	O
IRNA	O	O
--	O	O
Leading	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
defense	O	O
analyst	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
on	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
year	O	O
's	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
saying	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
was	O	O
``	O	O
a	ESE	O
pack	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
blatant	ESE	ESE
lies	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
propaganda	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

A	O	O
former	O	O
director-general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Pakistani	O	O
Inter-Services	O	O
Intelligence	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
ISI	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
told	DSE	DSE
IRNA	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
interview	O	O
here	O	O
that	O	O
each	O	O
country	O	O
which	O	O
resisted	DSE	DSE
American	O	O
hegemony	ESE	O
was	DSE	O
deemed	DSE	ESE
a	O	ESE
violator	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
In	O	O
a	O	O
fit	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
force	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
subjugate	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
entire	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
community	ESE	O
and	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
ready	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
tolerate	DSE	ESE
any	O	ESE
hurdle	O	ESE
in	O	O
this	O	O
direction	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
was	O	O
also	O	O
a	O	O
manifestation	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
hegemonistic	ESE	O
designs	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
the	O	O
lieutenant	O	O
general	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
retd	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
continued	DSE	O
.	O	O

Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
opinion	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
was	O	O
the	ESE	O
only	ESE	O
country	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
that	O	O
had	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
respect	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
religion	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
faith	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
norms	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	ESE
decency	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
rules	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
unprecedented	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
comity	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
nations	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
forcibly	DSE	O
wanted	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	O
prevent	DSE	O
countries	O	O
from	ESE	O
upholding	ESE	O
religious	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
cultural	ESE	O
values	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
fraudulent	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
terrorist	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
extremist	ESE	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

The	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
would	ESE	O
never	ESE	ESE
forget	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
barbarities	ESE	ESE
it	O	O
committed	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
innocent	ESE	ESE
Afghan	ESE	ESE
people	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
women	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
children	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
elderly	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
firmly	DSE	DSE
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

In	ESE	O
order	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
realize	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
vested	O	ESE
interests	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
allies	O	O
unleashed	ESE	DSE
oppression	ESE	DSE
against	O	DSE
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
used	O	O
latest	O	O
weaponry	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
defenseless	ESE	O
nation	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
this	O	O
regard	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
made	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
quick	O	DSE
reference	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
ongoing	O	O
killings	O	O
of	O	O
Indian	O	O
Muslims	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Since	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
rioting	O	DSE
erupted	O	O
last	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
over	O	O
600	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
mostly	ESE	O
Muslims	ESE	O
,	O	O
have	O	ESE
been	O	ESE
brutally	ESE	ESE
murdered	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
hands	O	O
of	O	O
extremist	ESE	O
Hindus	O	O
in	O	O
India	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
and	O	O
other	ESE	O
so-called	ESE	O
civilized	ESE	O
nations	ESE	O
kept	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
shameful	ESE	ESE
mum	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
remarked	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
Americans	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
see	DSE	O
violations	O	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
when	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
or	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
people	O	O
become	O	O
hurdles	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
realization	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
vested	ESE	ESE
interests	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
What	DSE	O
Israel	O	O
is	O	O
doing	O	O
in	O	O
Palestine	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Muslims	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
one	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
worst	ESE	ESE
examples	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
abuses	ESE	O
but	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	O
again	O	ESE
silent	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
when	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
react	O	O
to	O	O
Israeli	O	O
attacks	O	O
America	O	O
is	O	O
quick	O	O
to	O	O
The	O	O
logical	ESE	O
solution	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
free	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
independent	ESE	O
state	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Palestine	O	O
as	O	O
enshrined	ESE	O
under	O	O
UN	O	O
resolutions	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

But	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
denying	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	O	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
it	O	ESE
clearly	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
Muslims	O	O
have	ESE	O
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
defend	ESE	ESE
themsleves	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
their	ESE	O
oppressors	ESE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
America	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
total	ESE	O
submission	ESE	O
of	O	O
Muslims	ESE	O
across	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
globe	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
situation	O	O
requires	ESE	O
a	O	O
concerted	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
resistance	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
Muslims	O	O
scholars	O	O
;	O	O
if	ESE	ESE
they	O	ESE
remain	DSE	ESE
indifferent	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
each	O	ESE
other	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
plight	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
hands	O	O
of	O	O
imperialist	ESE	O
forces	ESE	O
led	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
crushed	ESE	ESE
one	ESE	ESE
by	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

Muslims	O	O
rulers	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
forge	ESE	ESE
unity	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
their	O	O
ranks	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
resist	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
ever-increasing	ESE	O
US	ESE	O
influence	ESE	O
;	O	O
otherwise	O	ESE
,	O	O
they	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
targeted	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
by	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
,	O	O
Hameed	O	O
Gul	O	O
concluded	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

A	O	O
report	O	O
about	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
in	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
has	O	O
confirmed	O	O
that	O	O
36	O	O
new	O	O
settlement	O	O
sites	O	O
--	O	O
settlement	O	O
enclaves	O	O
--	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
created	O	O
since	O	O
Sharon	O	O
became	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
less	O	O
than	O	O
a	O	O
year	O	O
ago	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
published	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Bureau	O	O
for	O	O
Defending	O	DSE
Land	O	O
and	O	O
Resisting	O	O
Colonization	O	O
in	O	O
cooperation	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
International	O	O
Solidarity	O	O
Establishment	O	O
for	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
nuclei	O	O
of	O	O
36	O	O
new	O	O
settlements	O	O
were	O	O
established	O	O
from	O	O
March	O	O
2001	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
end	O	O
of	O	O
November	O	O
2001	O	O
in	O	O
various	O	O
parts	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
West	O	O
Bank	O	O
.	O	O

Also	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
whose	O	O
findings	O	DSE
were	O	O
announced	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
conference	O	O
yesterday	O	O
,	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
three	O	O
military	O	O
positions	O	O
were	O	O
turned	O	O
into	O	O
civilian	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
work	O	O
had	O	O
started	O	O
on	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
settlement	O	O
called	O	O
Giv	O	O
`	O	O
at	O	O
Sal	O	O
`	O	O
it	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
southern	O	O
valleys	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Taysir	O	O
Khalid	O	O
,	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
PLO	O	O
Executive	O	O
Committee	O	O
and	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
political	O	O
bureau	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Popular	O	O
Front	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
Liberation	O	O
of	O	O
Palestine	O	O
,	O	O
advocate	O	DSE
Faris	O	O
Abu-Hasan	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
Solidarity	O	O
Establishment	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Hasan	O	O
Ayyub	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Bureau	O	O
for	O	O
Defense	O	O
of	O	O
Land	O	O
,	O	O
took	O	O
part	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
conference	O	O
.	O	O

Construction	O	O
activities	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
in	O	O
settlements	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
period	O	O
totaled	O	O
49	O	O
.	O	O

In	ESE	ESE
addition	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
102	O	O
mobile	O	O
caravans	O	O
were	O	O
added	O	O
to	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
new	O	O
settlement	O	O
sites	O	O
and	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
705	O	O
donums	O	O
were	O	O
added	O	O
to	O	O
existing	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
also	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
work	O	O
on	O	O
bypass	O	O
roads	O	O
continued	O	O
at	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
rate	ESE	O
faster	ESE	O
than	O	O
that	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
Barak	O	O
who	O	O
gave	ESE	ESE
free	ESE	ESE
rein	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
settlement	O	O
activities	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
embarked	O	O
on	O	O
building	O	O
10	O	O
bypass	O	O
roads	O	O
,	O	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
which	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
approved	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
previous	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
estimated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
building	O	O
these	O	O
roads	O	O
threatens	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
bulldozing	O	ESE
and	O	O
destruction	O	O
of	O	O
more	O	ESE
than	O	ESE
31,730	O	ESE
donums	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
highlighted	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
damage	O	O
caused	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
agricultural	O	O
sector	O	O
as	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
result	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
also	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
settlers	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
occupation	O	O
authorities	O	O
pursue	DSE	O
a	O	O
comprehensive	ESE	O
destructive	ESE	O
policy	ESE	O
on	O	O
a	ESE	O
wide	ESE	O
scale	ESE	O
vis-a-vis	O	O
citizens	O	O
'	O	O
property	O	O
to	O	O
consolidate	O	O
facts	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
plans	O	O
drawn	O	O
up	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
occupation	O	O
government	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	O	DSE
that	O	O
about	O	O
487,093	O	O
fruit	O	O
trees	O	O
were	O	O
uprooted	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
second	O	O
half	O	O
of	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
and	O	O
32,000	O	O
donums	O	O
of	O	O
agricultural	O	O
land	O	O
were	O	O
bulldozed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
total	O	O
losses	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
agricultural	O	O
sector	O	O
amounted	O	O
to	O	O
$	O	O
432	O	O
million	O	O
according	O	O
to	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Agriculture	O	O
data	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
Gaza	O	O
Strip	O	O
1,051	O	O
donums	O	O
were	O	O
annexed	O	O
to	O	O
existing	O	O
settlements	O	O
,	O	O
32	O	O
new	O	O
housing	O	O
units	O	O
were	O	O
built	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
work	O	O
on	O	O
190	O	O
additional	O	O
units	O	O
was	O	O
started	O	O
.	O	O

And	O	O
1,857	O	O
donums	O	O
were	O	O
bulldozed	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
building	O	O
of	O	O
bypass	O	O
roads	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
strip	O	O
.	O	O

Taysir	O	O
Khalid	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
intifadah	O	O
has	O	DSE
raised	O	DSE
the	O	O
settlement	O	O
issue	O	O
anew	ESE	ESE
--	O	O
one	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
causes	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
--	O	O
in	O	O
unprecedented	ESE	O
force	ESE	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
basic	ESE	O
element	O	O
and	O	O
condition	O	O
for	O	O
reaching	O	O
any	ESE	O
solution	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
allocations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Sharon	O	O
Government	O	O
's	O	O
budget	O	O
for	O	O
supporting	O	DSE
and	O	O
widening	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
building	O	O
new	O	O
ones	O	O
,	O	O
despite	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
crisis	ESE	O
and	O	O
recession	O	O
from	O	O
which	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
economy	O	O
suffers	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	O	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
At	O	O
a	O	O
time	O	O
when	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
rate	O	O
declined	O	DSE
to	O	O
1.5	O	O
percent	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
budgets	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Ministry	O	O
of	O	O
Labor	O	O
and	O	O
Welfare	O	O
and	O	O
other	O	O
ministries	O	O
were	O	O
cut	O	O
,	O	O
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
government	O	O
maintained	O	DSE
its	O	DSE
support	O	DSE
for	O	O
settlements	O	O
and	O	O
increased	O	O
it	O	O
to	O	O
compensate	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
growing	ESE	ESE
exodus	ESE	ESE
from	O	ESE
settlements	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
need	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
concentrate	O	O
on	O	O
resisting	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
,	O	O
settlers	O	O
and	O	O
their	O	O
militias	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
abstaining	O	O
from	O	O
subjecting	O	O
this	O	O
file	O	O
to	O	O
any	O	O
discussion	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
condition	O	O
for	O	O
halting	O	O
the	O	O
intensified	ESE	O
settlement	O	O
activities	O	O
and	O	O
removing	O	O
existing	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	ESE
intifadah	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
proved	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
settlement	ESE	O
battle	ESE	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
over	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
noted	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
year	O	O
since	O	O
Sharon	O	O
became	O	O
Israel	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
pursuit	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
a	O	O
destructive	ESE	ESE
,	O	ESE
aggressive	ESE	ESE
policy	O	ESE
against	ESE	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
has	O	O
``	O	O
proved	O	ESE
that	O	O
the	O	O
conflict	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
people	O	O
who	O	O
cling	ESE	O
to	O	O
their	O	O
national	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
can	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
settled	O	ESE
by	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Advocate	O	O
Faris	O	O
Abu-Hasan	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	O	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
international	O	O
laws	O	O
represented	O	O
in	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
building	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	ESE	DSE
refusal	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
respond	O	DSE
to	O	O
international	O	O
appeals	O	O
and	O	O
violation	O	O
of	O	O
relevant	ESE	O
international	O	O
laws	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
settlement	O	O
building	O	O
constituted	O	O
two	O	O
grave	ESE	ESE
violations	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Geneva	O	O
Convention	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
pointed	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
international	O	O
law	O	O
provisions	O	O
that	O	O
forbid	O	O
moving	O	O
population	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupying	O	O
state	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
territories	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
There	O	O
are	O	O
two	O	ESE
grave	ESE	ESE
violations	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
first	O	O
concerns	O	DSE
settlement	O	O
building	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
transfer	O	O
of	O	O
settlers	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
territories	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
tens	O	O
of	O	O
settlements	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
built	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
second	O	O
is	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
enacting	DSE	O
of	DSE	O
laws	DSE	O
that	O	O
facilitate	ESE	O
expropriating	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
land	O	O
and	O	O
settlement	O	O
activity	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
matter	O	O
that	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
among	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
war	ESE	ESE
crimes	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
surveyed	DSE	O
the	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	ESE	O
unarmed	O	O
citizens	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
legal	ESE	O
protection	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
backing	ESE	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
provided	O	O
by	O	O
Israeli	O	O
governments	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	DSE
encouragement	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
this	O	O
gives	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
their	O	O
assaults	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
there	O	O
is	O	O
an	O	O
alternation	O	O
of	O	O
roles	O	O
between	O	O
settlers	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
in	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
aggressions	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
Palestinians	O	O
and	O	O
terrorizing	ESE	ESE
them	O	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
indicated	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
settlements	O	O
have	O	O
emerged	O	O
as	O	O
military	ESE	O
bastions	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
bases	ESE	O
for	O	O
launching	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
centers	O	O
were	O	O
used	O	O
as	O	O
human	ESE	O
shields	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
protection	O	O
of	O	O
settlements	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
that	O	O
about	O	O
90	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
bombardments	O	O
to	O	O
which	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
centers	O	O
were	O	O
subjected	ESE	O
originated	O	O
in	O	O
settlements	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
confirmed	DSE	O
that	O	O
30	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
were	ESE	ESE
martyred	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
hands	ESE	O
of	O	O
settlers	O	O
,	O	O
60	O	O
persons	O	O
were	O	O
hit	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
'	O	O
bullets	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
77	O	O
others	O	O
were	O	O
injured	O	O
in	O	O
various	ESE	O
assaults	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
since	O	O
the	O	O
outbreak	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intifadah	O	O
in	O	O
1987	O	O
,	O	O
18	O	O
percent	O	O
of	O	O
all	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
martyred	ESE	ESE
were	O	ESE
killed	O	ESE
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
noted	O	DSE
that	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
current	O	O
intifadah	O	O
settlers	O	O
uprooted	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
6,580	O	O
fruit	O	O
trees	O	O
,	O	O
destroyed	O	ESE
more	O	ESE
than	O	O
4,099	O	O
cultivated	O	O
donums	O	O
,	O	O
while	O	O
85	O	O
houses	O	O
,	O	O
90	O	O
commercial	O	O
premises	O	O
,	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
100	O	O
cars	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
17	O	O
ambulances	O	O
were	O	O
damaged	O	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
a	ESE	ESE
result	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
attacks	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
by	O	O
settlers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
referred	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
the	O	O
legal	ESE	O
cover	ESE	O
and	O	O
protection	ESE	O
settlers	O	O
enjoy	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	DSE
encouragement	ESE	DSE
this	O	O
gives	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
their	ESE	O
aggressions	ESE	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
explained	O	DSE
that	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli	O	O
court	O	O
recently	O	O
sentenced	DSE	O
a	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
opening	O	DSE
fire	O	DSE
in	O	O
which	O	O
no	O	ESE
one	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
hurt	O	ESE
to	O	O
seven	O	O
years	O	O
imprisonment	O	O
.	O	O

While	ESE	O
a	O	O
settler	O	O
who	O	O
opened	O	DSE
fire	O	DSE
on	O	O
a	O	O
group	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
wounding	O	O
four	O	O
of	O	O
them	O	O
was	DSE	O
sentenced	DSE	O
to	O	O
four	O	O
years	O	O
imprisonment	O	O
by	O	O
an	O	O
Israeli	O	O
court	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
presented	O	O
14	O	O
February	O	O
his	O	O
alternative	O	O
plan	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
designed	O	O
to	O	O
slow	O	O
down	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	DSE
proposal	DSE	DSE
places	O	ESE
no	O	ESE
obligation	O	ESE
whatsoever	ESE	ESE
on	O	O
industrialists	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
voluntary	O	O
measures	O	O
and	O	O
tax	O	O
incentives	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
hastened	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
describe	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
Bush	O	DSE
plan	O	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
audacious	ESE	ESE
program	O	ESE
in	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
aiming	O	O
at	O	O
reducing	O	O
power	O	O
station	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

But	O	O
environmentalists	O	O
immediately	DSE	O
attacked	DSE	O
this	O	O
US	O	O
proposal	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
A	ESE	O
Valentine	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
Day	ESE	ESE
gift	ESE	ESE
for	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
polluters	ESE	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O
Carl	O	O
Pope	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Sierra	O	O
Club	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
major	O	O
US	O	O
environmental	O	O
protection	O	O
associations	O	O
,	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
mince	ESE	ESE
his	ESE	O
words	ESE	O
when	O	O
describing	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
US	O	DSE
plan	O	DSE
to	O	O
replace	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

Presented	O	O
Thursday	O	O
14	O	O
February	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
alternative	O	O
plan	O	O
for	O	O
slowing	O	O
down	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
moves	ESE	O
away	ESE	O
from	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
binding	ESE	O
measures	ESE	O
of	O	O
implementation	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
recently	O	O
approved	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
more	O	O
than	O	O
170	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
Marrakech	O	O
,	O	O
but	ESE	O
rejected	DSE	DSE
in	O	DSE
March	O	O
2001	O	O
by	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
deemed	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
harmful	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
economy	O	O
and	O	O
reproached	DSE	DSE
it	O	O
for	O	O
imposing	ESE	O
constraints	ESE	O
on	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

So	O	O
this	O	O
new	O	O
version	O	O
has	O	O
new	O	O
bases	O	O
.	O	O

Contrary	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
preceding	O	O
one	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	DSE
plan	O	DSE
proposed	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
Washington	O	O
Thursday	O	O
thus	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
longer	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	O
any	ESE	O
binding	ESE	O
procedure	ESE	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
voluntary	O	O
measures	O	O
and	O	O
tax	O	O
incentives	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
advocates	DSE	DSE
a	O	O
voluntarist	ESE	O
approach	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
by	O	O
directly	O	DSE
linking	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
objectives	O	DSE
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
reduction	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
.	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
make	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
intensity	O	O
of	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emission	O	O
generated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
economy	O	O
''	O	O
by	O	O
18	O	O
%	O	O
over	O	O
the	O	O
next	O	O
10	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
an	O	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
Administration	O	O
as	O	O
``	O	O
comparable	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
to	O	O
that	O	O
imposed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O

For	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
moment	ESE	ESE
Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
simply	ESE	ESE
proposes	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
curb	O	O
the	O	O
increase	O	O
in	O	O
harmful	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
and	O	O
is	O	O
counting	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
the	O	O
good	DSE	DSE
will	DSE	DSE
of	O	DSE
US	O	O
industrialists	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
36	O	O
%	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
produced	O	O
by	O	O
industrialized	O	O
countries	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
as	O	O
opposed	O	O
to	O	O
31.6	O	O
%	O	O
for	O	O
Europe	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
objectives	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
as	O	O
set	O	O
out	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
slow	O	ESE
down	O	ESE
and	O	O
then	O	ESE
stop	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
growth	O	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
emissions	O	O
of	O	O
harmful	O	O
gases	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
if	ESE	O
scientific	ESE	O
studies	ESE	O
justify	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
,	O	O
diminish	ESE	O
them	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
aim	DSE	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
lower	O	O
polluting	O	O
emissions	O	O
from	O	O
183	O	O
tonnes	O	O
per	O	O
million	O	O
dollars	O	O
of	O	O
GDP	O	O
to	O	O
151	O	O
tonnes	O	O
in	O	O
2012	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	DSE
encourage	DSE	DSE
industry	O	O
and	O	O
consumers	O	O
to	O	O
demonstrate	O	O
environmental	ESE	O
public	ESE	O
spiritedness	ESE	O
Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
proposes	DSE	DSE
tax	O	O
incentives	O	O
of	O	O
$	O	O
4.6	O	O
billion	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
adoption	O	O
of	O	O
renewable	O	O
sources	O	O
of	O	O
energy	O	O
.	O	O

Mr.	O	O
Bush	O	O
calls	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	DSE
India	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
To	O	O
Act	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
asserted	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
moreover	O	ESE
,	O	O
his	O	O
determination	DSE	DSE
to	ESE	O
win	ESE	O
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
over	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
plan	O	DSE
,	O	O
stating	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
approach	O	O
would	O	O
give	O	O
them	O	O
a	O	O
``	O	O
yardstick	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
progress	ESE	O
on	O	O
climate	O	O
changes	O	O
which	O	O
recognizes	ESE	DSE
their	ESE	O
right	ESE	O
to	O	O
economic	O	O
development	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

He	O	O
asserted	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
in	O	O
an	O	O
allusion	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
binding	O	O
objectives	DSE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
``	ESE	O
unjust	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
counterproductive	ESE	ESE
to	O	DSE
condemn	ESE	DSE
developing	O	O
countries	O	O
to	O	O
weak	ESE	ESE
or	ESE	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
nonexistant	ESE	ESE
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
by	O	O
insisting	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
they	O	O
adopt	O	O
unrealistic	ESE	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
reduction	O	O
targets	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Mr.	DSE	O
Bush	O	O
did	O	O
,	O	O
nevertheless	ESE	O
,	O	O
affirm	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
interfere	O	ESE
with	O	ESE
the	O	O
countries	O	O
opting	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
ratification	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
But	ESE	O
I	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
intention	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
working	O	O
with	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
particularly	ESE	O
developing	O	O
nations	O	O
,	O	O
to	ESE	DSE
convince	ESE	DSE
them	O	O
that	O	O
a	O	O
better	ESE	ESE
approach	ESE	ESE
exists	O	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
considered	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
irresponsible	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
not	O	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
ask	DSE	DSE
India	O	O
and	O	O
China	O	O
to	O	O
reduce	O	O
their	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Developing	O	O
nations	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
China	O	O
and	O	O
India	O	O
already	ESE	O
account	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
majority	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
's	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
.	O	O

And	DSE	O
it	O	ESE
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
irresponsible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
absolve	ESE	O
them	O	O
from	O	O
shouldering	ESE	O
some	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
shared	O	O
obligations	ESE	O
''	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
global	O	O
warming	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	DSE
Discontent	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Environmentalists	O	O

As	DSE	ESE
far	DSE	ESE
as	DSE	ESE
the	DSE	O
US	DSE	O
Administration	DSE	O
is	DSE	O
concerned	DSE	O
,	O	O
this	O	O
approach	O	O
will	ESE	O
make	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
posible	ESE	O
to	O	O
``	O	O
stabilize	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
gas	O	O
concentrations	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
atmosphere	O	O
in	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
long	O	ESE
run	O	ESE
,	O	O
while	O	O
sustaining	O	O
the	O	O
economic	O	O
growth	O	O
needed	O	O
to	O	O
finance	O	O
our	O	O
investments	O	O
in	O	O
a	O	O
new	O	O
,	O	O
cleaner	O	O
energy	O	O
structure	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	O	O
White	O	O
House	O	O
hastened	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
describe	DSE	DSE
the	O	DSE
Bush	O	DSE
plan	O	DSE
as	O	O
``	O	O
the	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
audacious	ESE	ESE
program	O	ESE
in	ESE	O
American	ESE	O
history	ESE	O
aiming	O	O
at	O	O
reducing	O	O
power	O	O
station	O	O
gas	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
considering	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
would	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
possible	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
save	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
up	O	O
to	O	O
$	O	O
1	O	O
billion	O	O
,	O	O
compared	ESE	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
costs	O	O
that	O	O
binding	ESE	O
rules	O	O
would	O	ESE
lead	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
.	O	O

But	O	O
environmentalists	O	O
immediately	DSE	O
attacked	DSE	O
this	O	O
US	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
.	O	O

Philip	O	O
Clapp	O	O
,	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
National	O	O
Environment	O	O
Trust	O	O
,	O	O
sums	DSE	O
up	DSE	O
well	ESE	O
the	O	O
general	O	O
thrust	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
reaction	DSE	O
of	O	O
environmental	O	O
movements	O	O
:	O	O
``	O	O
There	O	O
is	O	O
no	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	DSE
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
polluters	O	O
are	O	O
suddenly	ESE	ESE
going	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
become	ESE	O
reasonable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Carl	O	O
Pope	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Sierra	O	O
Club	O	O
,	O	O
considers	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
his	O	O
part	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Bush	O	O
Administration	O	O
``	O	O
is	O	ESE
sticking	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
polluting	ESE	O
policies	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
energy	O	O
industry	O	O
asked	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
rather	O	O
than	O	O
taking	O	O
the	O	O
sensible	ESE	O
steps	O	O
that	O	O
can	O	ESE
protect	O	ESE
our	O	ESE
health	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

According	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
Steve	O	O
Sawyer	O	O
,	O	O
one	O	O
of	O	O
Greenpeace	O	O
International	O	O
's	O	O
climate	O	O
experts	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
plan	O	O
``	O	O
will	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
very	ESE	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
effect	O	O
on	O	O
emissions	O	O
,	O	O
assuming	ESE	ESE
it	ESE	ESE
has	ESE	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Instead	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
making	O	ESE
itself	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
champion	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
global	O	O
fight	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
greenhouse	O	O
effect	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	O	ESE
moving	O	ESE
in	O	ESE
exactly	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
opposite	ESE	O
direction	O	O
from	O	O
that	O	O
followed	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
rest	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Kyoto	O	O
Protocol	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
according	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Greenpeace	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	ESE
Israeli	O	ESE
tanks	O	ESE
push	O	ESE
their	O	O
way	O	O
into	O	O
one	ESE	O
Palestinian	ESE	O
population	ESE	O
center	ESE	O
after	ESE	O
another	ESE	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
more	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
more	ESE	ESE
difficult	ESE	ESE
to	DSE	ESE
guess	DSE	ESE
what	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
objectives	ESE	O
might	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	O
driving	ESE	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
Ariel	O	O
Sharon	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
says	O	O
he	O	O
wants	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
destroy	ESE	ESE
the	O	ESE
``	O	ESE
infrastructure	O	ESE
''	O	O
behind	O	O
the	O	O
suicide	O	O
attacks	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Israelis	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
can	DSE	DSE
understand	DSE	DSE
this	O	O
as	O	O
an	O	O
immediate	O	O
military	DSE	O
objective	DSE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
nothing	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	ESE
be	ESE	ESE
achieved	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
politically	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
temporary	ESE	O
security	ESE	O
it	O	O
may	ESE	ESE
produce	O	ESE
will	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
lost	ESE	O
immediately	ESE	ESE
if	O	ESE
the	O	O
troops	O	O
are	O	O
withdrawn	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
desperate	ESE	ESE
tableau	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
has	O	O
emerged	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
last	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
is	O	O
becoming	O	ESE
even	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
dismal	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
administration	O	O
of	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
does	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
appear	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
have	O	ESE
any	ESE	ESE
sort	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
logical	ESE	O
Near	O	O
East	O	O
policy	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
week	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	DSE	O
taken	DSE	O
a	DSE	O
stand	DSE	DSE
in	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabian	O	O
peace	DSE	O
plan	DSE	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
,	O	O
it	O	O
supported	DSE	DSE
-LSB-	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
call	O	DSE
for	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
the	O	O
removal	O	O
of	O	O
Israeli	O	O
troops	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
cities	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
areas	O	O
.	O	O

Nevertheless	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
subsequent	O	O
remarks	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
encouraged	DSE	DSE
Sharon	O	O
to	O	O
continue	O	O
.	O	O

Suicide	O	O
attacks	O	O
do	O	O
not	O	O
require	O	O
an	O	O
extensive	O	ESE
infrastructure	O	ESE
.	O	O

A	O	O
few	O	O
kilograms	O	O
of	O	O
explosives	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
simple	O	ESE
detonating	O	ESE
fuse	O	ESE
,	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	DSE
desperate	ESE	DSE
hatred	ESE	DSE
are	O	DSE
the	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
ingredients	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
categorical	ESE	ESE
moral	ESE	ESE
condemnation	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
terrorism	O	O
is	O	O
self-evident	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
this	O	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
free	O	O
Israel	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
problem	O	O
it	O	O
faces	O	O
.	O	O

Israeli	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
own	ESE	O
35-year-old	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
resettlement	O	O
policies	O	O
have	O	O
created	O	O
the	O	O
breeding	ESE	O
ground	ESE	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
terrorism	O	O
that	O	O
Sharon	O	O
is	O	O
now	O	O
trying	O	O
to	O	O
root	ESE	O
out	ESE	O
by	O	O
resorting	ESE	O
exclusively	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
military	O	O
means	O	O
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
if	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
contrary	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
operation	O	O
turns	O	ESE
out	O	ESE
to	O	O
be	O	O
successful	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
underlying	O	ESE
problem	O	ESE
would	O	ESE
remain	O	ESE
the	O	O
same	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
before	ESE	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
is	O	O
responsible	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
about	ESE	O
three	ESE	O
million	ESE	O
bitter	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
who	O	O
lack	O	ESE
political	O	ESE
rights	O	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
only	ESE	ESE
means	ESE	ESE
of	O	ESE
preventing	O	ESE
a	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
terrorism	O	O
would	O	O
be	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
to	O	O
launch	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
a	O	O
counter-terrorist	O	O
effort	O	O
that	O	O
extends	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
every	O	ESE
village	O	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
soon	ESE	ESE
erode	ESE	ESE
both	O	ESE
what	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
left	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
army	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
reputation	ESE	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
military	O	O
cutting	O	O
edge	O	O
.	O	O

Israel	O	O
's	O	O
resettlement	O	O
policies	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
justified	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
grounds	O	O
of	O	O
security	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
last	O	O
few	O	O
months	O	O
have	O	O
demonstrated	O	O
that	O	O
,	O	O
on	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
contrary	ESE	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
have	O	O
become	O	O
an	O	O
extraordinary	ESE	ESE
burden	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Traffic	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
settlements	O	O
prevents	O	O
the	O	O
effective	O	O
monitoring	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
borders	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
high	O	O
birthrate	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinian	O	O
population	O	O
guarantees	O	O
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
possible	O	ESE
to	O	O
change	O	O
the	O	O
population	O	O
balance	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
occupied	O	O
territories	O	O
by	O	O
stepping	O	O
up	O	O
resettlement	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Jewish	O	O
population	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
.	O	O

Since	ESE	O
Sharon	O	O
refuses	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
offer	O	O
the	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
their	O	O
own	O	O
state	O	O
with	O	O
acceptable	ESE	O
borders	O	O
and	O	O
conditions	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
two	O	O
alternatives	O	O
left	O	O
.	O	O

One	ESE	ESE
would	ESE	ESE
think	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
no	ESE	O
politically	ESE	O
prudent	ESE	O
Israeli	O	O
could	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
either	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
them	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

The	O	O
first	O	O
would	O	O
involve	O	O
continuous	O	O
occupation	O	O
and	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
the	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
an	O	O
apartheid	O	O
state	O	O
similar	O	O
to	O	O
South	O	O
Africa	O	O
.	O	O

Terrorism	O	O
will	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
absent	O	ESE
from	O	O
such	O	O
a	O	O
country	O	O
and	O	O
,	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
process	O	O
,	O	O
Israel	O	O
will	O	O
lose	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
right	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
count	ESE	ESE
itself	ESE	ESE
among	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
democracies	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
other	O	O
alternative	O	O
entails	O	O
the	O	O
massive	ESE	ESE
expulsion	O	ESE
of	O	O
the	O	O
three	O	O
million	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
to	O	O
neighboring	O	O
countries	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
human	O	O
and	O	O
political	O	O
catastrophe	ESE	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
accompany	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

Sharon	O	O
,	O	O
of	ESE	O
course	ESE	O
,	O	O
will	ESE	DSE
not	ESE	DSE
admit	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
he	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
anything	O	O
like	O	O
this	O	O
,	O	O
even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
idea	O	DSE
has	O	O
been	O	O
discussed	O	O
in	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Prime	O	O
Minister	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
explain	O	ESE
once	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
for	ESE	O
all	ESE	DSE
what	O	DSE
third	O	DSE
objective	DSE	DSE
he	O	O
might	ESE	ESE
have	O	O
for	O	O
his	O	O
actions	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
high	ESE	ESE
time	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
hurry	ESE	O
to	O	O
offer	O	O
its	O	O
assistance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
ingredients	O	O
for	O	O
a	DSE	DSE
decision	DSE	DSE
are	O	O
in	ESE	O
large	ESE	O
measure	ESE	O
in	O	O
place	O	O
if	ESE	O
they	ESE	O
would	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
admitted	DSE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
sides	O	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
are	O	O
the	O	O
simultaneous	O	O
ending	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
violence	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
Israeli	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
resettlement	O	O
policy	O	O
followed	O	O
by	O	O
negotiations	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
basis	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
Saudi	O	O
Arabian	O	O
proposal	O	DSE
and	O	O
the	O	O
earlier	O	O
results	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
talks	O	O
at	O	O
Camp	O	O
David	O	O
and	O	O
Taba	O	O
.	O	O

By	O	O
supporting	DSE	DSE
Sharon	O	O
's	O	O
irresponsible	ESE	ESE
saber	ESE	ESE
rattling	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Washington	O	O
places	ESE	O
strains	ESE	O
on	O	O
its	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
Arab	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
needlessly	ESE	O
puts	O	ESE
off	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
settlement	O	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
which	O	O
it	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
some	ESE	ESE
day	ESE	ESE
play	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	O
role	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
midwife	ESE	O
.	O	O

On	O	O
Saturday	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
13	O	O
April	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
--	O	O
two	O	O
days	O	O
aftr	O	O
Chavez	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
removed	O	O
from	O	O
power	O	O
by	O	O
a	O	O
military	O	O
coup	O	O
--	O	O
thousands	O	O
of	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
President	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
took	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
the	DSE	O
streets	DSE	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
after	O	O
occupying	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
,	O	O
they	O	O
returned	O	O
him	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

We	O	O
asked	O	DSE
Ali	O	O
Kianushrad	O	O
,	O	O
member	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Majles	O	O
National	O	O
Security	O	O
and	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Policy	O	O
Committee	O	O
,	O	O
to	O	DSE
state	O	DSE
his	DSE	DSE
views	DSE	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
recent	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
removal	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
his	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

Question	O	O
:	O	O
How	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
you	O	ESE
assess	O	O
the	O	O
sudden	O	O
downfall	O	O
and	O	O
more	O	O
sudden	O	O
return	O	O
of	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
?	O	O

Answer	DSE	O
:	DSE	O
The	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
experience	O	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
showed	ESE	O
that	O	O
regimes	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
based	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
votes	O	O
and	O	O
support	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
masses	O	O
and	O	O
adopt	O	O
relatively	ESE	O
independent	ESE	O
policies	O	O
toward	O	O
the	O	O
big	ESE	O
powers	ESE	O
and	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
America	O	O
are	O	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
favored	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
leadership	O	O
.	O	O

The	DSE	O
Americans	O	O
'	O	O
hasty	ESE	DSE
and	O	DSE
immediate	ESE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
shows	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
Americans	O	O
are	DSE	O
in	DSE	O
no	DSE	ESE
way	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
favor	DSE	ESE
of	O	O
national	O	O
and	O	O
independent	O	O
rules	O	O
coming	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

Also	DSE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
President	O	O
's	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
once	ESE	ESE
again	ESE	ESE
showed	O	ESE
that	O	O
if	ESE	O
rulers	O	O
are	O	DSE
endorsed	DSE	DSE
and	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
determination	DSE	DSE
can	ESE	DSE
affect	ESE	DSE
decisions	O	DSE
and	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
's	O	O
presence	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
scene	O	O
can	ESE	O
prevent	ESE	O
rules	O	O
and	O	O
decisions	O	DSE
with	O	O
which	O	O
they	O	O
totally	DSE	ESE
disagree	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

Question	O	O
:	O	O
How	O	ESE
do	O	ESE
you	O	ESE
assess	O	O
Iran	O	O
's	O	O
reaction	O	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
overthrow	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Chavez	O	O
Government	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
return	O	O
--	O	O
something	O	O
on	O	O
which	O	O
the	O	O
Foreign	O	O
Ministry	O	O
issued	O	DSE
a	O	DSE
statement	O	DSE
?	O	O

Answer	DSE	O
:	DSE	O
We	O	O
have	O	DSE
good	O	DSE
relations	O	DSE
with	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
there	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
reason	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
us	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
be	O	ESE
satisfied	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	O
any	DSE	O
way	DSE	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
overthrow	O	O
the	O	O
rule	O	O
there	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
when	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
regime	O	O
's	O	O
policies	O	O
enjoy	O	O
the	O	O
extensive	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
people	O	O
and	O	O
when	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
points	O	O
un	O	O
its	O	O
independent	O	O
policies	O	O
on	O	O
oil	O	O
that	O	O
converge	O	O
with	O	O
our	O	O
policies	O	O
and	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
positively	DSE	O
assessed	DSE	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
Islamic	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
Iran	O	O
.	O	O

Question	O	O
:	O	O
Did	O	O
the	DSE	O
opposition	DSE	O
by	DSE	O
the	O	O
Rio	O	O
Pact	O	O
member	O	O
countries	O	O
and	O	O
some	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
play	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
role	O	ESE
in	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
?	O	O

Answer	DSE	O
:	DSE	O
The	O	O
incidents	O	O
and	O	O
developments	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
and	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
were	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
rapid	ESE	ESE
that	O	O
the	ESE	O
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
intervention	O	ESE
by	O	O
other	O	O
powers	O	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
return	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
small	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

But	DSE	ESE
undoubtedly	ESE	ESE
there	O	O
are	O	O
basic	DSE	ESE
doubts	DSE	ESE
that	O	O
exist	O	O
about	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
and	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
immediate	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
and	O	O
what	O	O
springs	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
mind	DSE	O
is	O	O
the	O	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
possibility	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
some	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
intervention	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
's	O	O
domestic	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

23	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CNA	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
--	O	O
Republic	O	O
of	O	O
China	O	O
President	O	O
Chen	O	O
Shui-bian	O	O
expressed	O	DSE
the	O	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
bid	O	O
for	O	O
observer	O	O
status	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
World	O	O
Health	O	O
Organization	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
WHO	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
,	O	O
following	O	O
its	O	O
assistance	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
World	O	O
Trade	O	O
Organization	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
WTO	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
membership	O	DSE
bid	O	DSE
.	O	O

Chen	O	O
made	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
while	O	O
meeting	O	O
visiting	O	O
U.S.	O	O
Assistant	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
Commerce	O	O
for	O	O
Market	O	O
Access	O	O
and	O	O
Compliance	O	O
William	O	O
H.	O	O
Lash	O	O
,	O	O
III	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Presidential	O	O
Office	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
.	O	O

Lash	O	O
arrived	O	O
in	O	O
Taipei	O	O
Tuesday	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
four-day	O	O
visit	O	O
.	O	O

Chen	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
hope	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	O
negotiate	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
sign	O	O
a	O	O
free	O	O
trade	O	O
zone	O	O
agreement	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
countries	O	O
so	ESE	ESE
as	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
help	O	ESE
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
internalization	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
give	O	O
it	O	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
international	ESE	ESE
responsibility	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
gratitude	DSE	DSE
and	O	DSE
admiration	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
firm	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
for	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
maintaining	O	O
the	O	O
security	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
and	O	O
peace	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Asia-Pacific	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
pointed	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
U.S.	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
decision	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
sell	O	O
arms	O	O
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
last	O	O
April	O	O
was	O	O
made	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
an	O	O
imbalance	ESE	O
of	O	O
cross-strait	O	O
military	O	O
force	O	O
by	O	O
2005	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
one	O	O
hand	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
further	ESE	O
safeguard	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
democratic	ESE	O
achievements	ESE	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
other	O	O
.	O	O

Touching	O	DSE
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
entry	O	O
,	O	O
Chen	O	O
said	DSE	O
Taiwan	O	O
could	O	ESE
not	O	ESE
have	O	ESE
smoothly	ESE	ESE
entered	O	O
the	O	O
WTO	O	O
if	ESE	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
government	O	O
and	O	O
Congress	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
render	DSE	O
their	DSE	O
firm	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
bid	O	O
for	O	O
membership	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
access	O	O
has	O	O
given	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
a	ESE	O
window	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
,	O	O
a	ESE	O
window	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
century	ESE	O
and	O	O
a	ESE	O
window	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
opportunity	ESE	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
went	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	DSE
,	O	DSE
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
it	O	O
will	O	O
allow	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
upgrade	ESE	O
its	ESE	O
competitiveness	ESE	O
and	O	O
help	O	O
U.S.-Taiwan	O	O
trade	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

Lash	O	O
in	O	O
return	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
Chen	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
entry	O	O
and	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
shows	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
attaches	DSE	ESE
great	ESE	ESE
importance	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
U.S.-Taiwan	O	O
trade	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O

Taiwan	O	O
's	O	O
WTO	O	O
entry	O	O
is	O	O
not	O	O
a	O	O
conclusion	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
its	DSE	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
but	O	O
the	O	O
beginning	O	O
of	O	O
its	ESE	O
chance	ESE	O
to	O	O
play	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
world	O	O
,	O	O
Lash	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
adding	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
will	O	O
continue	O	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
realize	O	O
all	ESE	O
its	O	O
WTO	O	O
expectations	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

He	O	O
congratulated	DSE	DSE
Chen	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
ruling	O	O
Democratic	O	O
Progressive	O	O
Party	O	O
becoming	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	O	O
political	O	O
party	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Legislative	O	O
Yuan	O	O
with	O	O
last	O	O
December	O	O
's	O	O
legislative	O	O
election	O	O
.	O	O

Lash	O	O
also	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
gratitude	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
Chen	O	O
for	O	O
the	O	O
assistance	O	O
rendered	O	O
by	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
wake	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Sept.	O	O

11	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
for	O	O
its	O	O
participation	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
post-war	O	O
reconstruction	O	O
of	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
.	O	O

As	O	ESE
usual	O	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Department	O	O
published	O	O
its	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
on	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
practices	O	O
in	O	O
world	O	O
countries	O	O
last	O	O
Monday	O	O
.	O	O

And	ESE	O
as	ESE	O
usual	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
portion	O	O
about	O	O
China	O	O
contains	O	ESE
little	ESE	ESE
truth	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
many	ESE	ESE
absurdities	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
exaggerations	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
fabrications	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Its	O	O
aim	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
2001	O	O
report	O	O
is	O	O
to	O	O
tarnish	ESE	ESE
China	O	ESE
's	O	ESE
image	O	ESE
and	O	O
exert	O	O
political	O	O
pressure	O	DSE
on	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Government	O	O
,	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
experts	O	O
said	DSE	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
seminar	O	O
held	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
China	O	O
Society	O	O
for	O	O
Study	O	O
of	O	O
Human	O	O
Rights	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
CSSHR	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
on	O	O
Friday	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
was	DSE	DSE
slandering	ESE	DSE
China	O	O
again	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Xirao-Nima	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
professor	O	O
of	O	O
Tibetan	O	O
history	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Central	O	O
University	O	O
for	O	O
Nationalities	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
right	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
issue	O	O
such	ESE	O
a	ESE	O
false	ESE	ESE
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
experts	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	O
violated	ESE	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
spirit	DSE	ESE
of	DSE	ESE
not	O	ESE
interfering	O	ESE
in	O	O
other	O	O
countries	O	O
'	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Jin	O	O
Yongjian	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
former	O	O
deputy	O	O
secretary-general	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
Nations	O	O
has	DSE	O
held	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
high	ESE	DSE
goal	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
protecting	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Jin	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
But	O	O
it	O	O
never	ESE	O
requested	O	DSE
or	O	O
authorized	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
to	O	O
compile	O	O
or	O	O
release	O	O
such	O	O
reports	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	ESE
completely	ESE	ESE
violated	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
UN	O	O
Charter	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
principles	O	O
of	O	O
relevant	O	O
international	O	O
conferences	O	O
and	O	O
documents	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
has	O	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
only	ESE	ESE
made	O	O
a	O	O
procedural	O	ESE
mistake	O	ESE
,	O	O
but	O	O
the	O	ESE
facts	ESE	ESE
are	ESE	ESE
incorrect	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
officials	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	O
somewhat	ESE	ESE
softens	ESE	ESE
its	ESE	ESE
tone	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
China	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

But	O	O
it	O	O
nevertheless	ESE	O
uses	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
issues	O	O
to	O	O
slander	ESE	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
CSSHR	O	O
President	O	O
Zhou	O	O
Jue	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
I	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
to	O	O
Tibet	O	O
many	O	O
times	O	O
.	O	O

I	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	ESE
truth	DSE	ESE
there	O	ESE
,	O	O
which	O	O
is	O	O
very	ESE	ESE
different	ESE	ESE
from	O	O
what	O	O
some	O	O
US	O	O
politicians	O	O
with	O	ESE
ulterior	ESE	ESE
motives	ESE	ESE
have	DSE	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Xirao-Nima	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
Tibetan	O	O
.	O	O

Some	O	O
Westerners	O	O
who	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
there	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
also	DSE	DSE
seen	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
ever-improving	ESE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Tibet	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
added	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

After	O	O
visiting	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
several	O	O
times	O	O
,	O	O
Italian	O	O
senator	O	O
Renzo	O	O
Gubert	O	O
,	O	O
praised	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Government	O	O
's	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
protect	O	O
the	O	O
indigenous	O	O
cultural	O	O
and	O	O
religious	O	O
heritage	O	O
while	O	O
developing	O	O
the	O	O
local	O	O
economy	O	O
.	O	O

After	O	O
a	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Tibet	O	O
in	O	O
2000	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
Italian	O	O
parliamentary	O	O
delegation	O	O
issued	O	O
a	O	O
press	O	O
communique	O	DSE
agreeing	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
development	O	O
of	O	O
Tibet	O	O
is	O	O
far	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
what	O	O
has	DSE	O
been	DSE	O
reported	DSE	O
by	O	O
some	O	O
Western	O	O
media	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
central	O	O
government	O	O
has	O	O
built	O	O
and	O	O
renovated	O	O
a	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
monasteries	O	O
.	O	O

From	O	O
1989	O	O
to	O	O
1994	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
central	O	O
government	O	O
invested	O	O
53	O	O
million	O	O
yuan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
US$	O	O
6.4	O	O
million	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
repair	O	O
the	O	O
Potala	O	O
Palace	O	O
.	O	O

Later	O	O
spent	O	O
another	O	O
4.9	O	O
million	O	O
yuan	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
US$	O	O
590,360	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
to	O	O
update	O	O
the	O	O
palace	O	O
's	O	O
fire	O	O
safety	O	O
facilities	O	O
.	O	O

Renzo	O	O
Gubert	O	O
once	O	O
said	DSE	O
that	O	O
what	ESE	ESE
impressed	ESE	ESE
him	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
is	O	O
that	O	O
local	O	O
Tibetans	O	O
enjoy	O	O
a	O	O
high	ESE	O
level	ESE	O
of	O	O
religious	O	O
freedom	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Italian	O	O
senator	O	O
's	O	O
words	DSE	DSE
are	DSE	ESE
in	DSE	ESE
sharp	DSE	ESE
contrast	DSE	ESE
to	O	O
what	O	O
was	O	O
contained	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
China	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
compiled	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
blindly	ESE	O
accuses	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
of	O	O
restricting	O	O
religious	O	O
freedom	O	O
in	O	O
Tibet	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
uses	O	ESE
many	O	ESE
unsubstantiated	ESE	ESE
stories	O	ESE
to	O	O
illustrate	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
unwarranted	ESE	ESE
assertions	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
Throughout	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
,	O	O
there	O	O
are	O	O
many	O	O
doubtful	ESE	O
phrases	O	O
,	O	O
such	O	O
as	O	O
`	O	O
according	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
credible	O	DSE
reports	O	DSE
'	O	O
,	O	O
`	O	O
various	O	O
sources	O	O
'	O	O
and	O	O
`	O	O
anecdotal	O	ESE
evidence	O	ESE
,	O	O
'	O	O
to	O	O
name	O	O
a	O	O
few	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
shows	O	ESE
that	O	O
these	O	O
so-called	ESE	ESE
truths	ESE	ESE
are	O	O
not	ESE	ESE
true	ESE	ESE
at	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Xirao-Nima	O	O
.	O	O

To	O	DSE
back	O	DSE
up	O	DSE
their	O	O
reckless	ESE	DSE
conclusion	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
lists	O	O
many	O	O
incidents	O	O
where	O	O
it	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
religious	O	ESE
freedom	O	ESE
was	O	ESE
violated	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Take	O	O
the	O	O
case	O	O
of	O	O
Li	O	O
Guangqiang	O	O
for	O	O
example	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
have	O	ESE
arrested	O	ESE
Li	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
businessman	O	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
was	O	DSE
charged	O	DSE
with	O	O
smuggling	O	O
Bibles	O	O
into	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
in	O	O
July	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
His	O	ESE
behaviour	O	ESE
has	O	ESE
violated	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
law	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
Rev	O	O
Cao	O	O
Shengjie	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
China	O	O
Christian	O	O
Council	O	O
.	O	O

Cao	O	O
said	O	DSE
the	O	O
smuggled	O	O
Bibles	O	O
were	O	O
editions	O	O
translated	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
`	O	O
Shouters	O	O
'	O	O
sect	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
heresy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Cao	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
`	O	O
Shouters	O	O
'	O	O
claim	DSE	DSE
they	O	O
are	O	O
bigger	ESE	ESE
than	ESE	ESE
Jesus	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

The	O	O
sect	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
banned	O	O
because	O	O
of	O	O
its	O	O
activities	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
1980s	O	O
.	O	O

Cao	O	O
said	O	DSE
to	O	O
meet	O	O
the	O	O
demand	O	DSE
of	O	O
the	O	O
15	O	O
million	O	O
Protestants	O	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
28	O	O
million	O	O
copies	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Bible	O	O
,	O	O
including	O	O
those	O	O
printed	O	O
in	O	O
ethnic	O	O
languages	O	O
,	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
printed	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
also	O	O
accuses	DSE	DSE
China	O	O
of	O	O
taking	ESE	ESE
advantage	ESE	ESE
of	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
campaigns	O	O
to	O	O
crackdown	ESE	O
on	O	O
ethnic	O	O
group	O	O
people	O	O
living	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
Uygur	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
said	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
fears	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
a	O	O
spillover	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
campaign	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
and	O	O
a	O	O
perceived	DSE	O
opportunity	O	O
to	O	O
legitimize	O	O
measures	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
Muslim	O	O
Uighur	O	O
activists	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorism	O	O
umbrella	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

``	O	O
Some	O	O
US	O	O
politicians	O	O
have	O	ESE
made	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
mistake	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Those	O	O
that	O	O
want	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
secede	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
nation	O	O
and	O	O
engage	O	O
in	O	O
terrorist	O	O
activities	O	O
are	O	O
terrorists	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
any	O	O
particular	O	O
ethnic	O	O
group	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
Ma	O	O
Dazheng	O	O
,	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
Uygur	O	O
Autonomous	O	O
Region	O	O
's	O	O
Development	O	O
Research	O	O
Institute	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Academy	O	O
of	O	O
Social	O	O
Sciences	O	O
.	O	O

Whoever	O	O
engages	O	O
in	O	O
terrorism	O	O
,	O	O
whether	O	O
he	O	O
or	O	O
she	O	O
is	O	O
of	O	O
Han	O	O
people	O	O
or	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
minority	O	O
people	O	O
,	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
brought	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
justice	ESE	O
,	O	O
Ma	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
analogous	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
crackdown	O	O
on	O	O
terrorists	O	O
in	O	O
Afghanistan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Ma	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
often	O	DSE
says	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
although	ESE	O
al-Qaida	O	O
members	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Taliban	O	O
are	O	O
Muslims	O	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
troops	O	O
are	O	O
bombing	O	O
them	O	O
because	ESE	O
they	O	O
are	O	O
terrorists	O	O
,	O	O
not	O	O
Muslims	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
said	O	DSE
.	O	O

On	O	O
March	O	O
4	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
State	O	O
Depart-ment	O	O
released	O	O
its	O	O
annual	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
.	O	O

Apart	O	ESE
from	O	ESE
criticizing	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
axis	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
evil	O	ESE
''	O	O
countries	O	O
for	O	O
abusing	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
it	O	ESE
also	O	ESE
listed	DSE	ESE
abuses	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
several	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
interesting	ESE	ESE
about	O	O
the	O	O
reports	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
section	O	O
on	O	O
Israel	O	O
.	O	O

Since	O	O
Israel	O	O
suffers	ESE	O
from	O	O
terrorist	O	O
attacks	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
report	O	O
says	DSE	DSE
,	O	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
been	O	O
forced	ESE	O
to	O	O
take	O	O
counter-terrorism	O	O
measures	O	O
,	O	O
making	O	O
its	O	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
abuses	ESE	ESE
understandable	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
's	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
post-Sept	O	O
.	O	O
11	O	O
restrictions	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
on	O	O
entering	O	O
and	O	O
leaving	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
and	O	O
on	O	O
air	O	O
travel	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
measures	O	O
curbing	O	O
the	O	O
civil	O	O
rights	O	O
of	O	O
accused	O	O
persons	O	O
,	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	O
discussed	O	O
at	ESE	O
all	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
is	O	O
generally	ESE	ESE
quite	ESE	ESE
frank	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
its	O	O
wording	ESE	O
strong	ESE	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
it	O	O
proposes	O	DSE
no	O	ESE
corrective	O	ESE
action	O	ESE
.	O	O

Consolidating	O	ESE
the	O	ESE
anti-terrorist	O	ESE
alliance	O	ESE
and	O	O
expanding	O	O
the	O	O
war	O	O
against	O	O
terror	O	O
are	O	DSE
overshadowing	ESE	DSE
concerns	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
exchange	O	O
for	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
its	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
on	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
is	O	DSE
tacitly	ESE	DSE
agreeing	ESE	DSE
to	ESE	O
ignore	ESE	ESE
abuses	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
other	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terror	O	O
coalition	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	ESE
most	ESE	ESE
glaring	ESE	ESE
examples	O	ESE
are	O	O
Russia	O	O
's	O	O
suppression	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
resis-tance	O	ESE
to	O	O
its	O	O
rule	O	O
in	O	O
Chechnya	O	O
,	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
suppression	O	O
of	O	O
independence	O	O
advocates	O	O
in	O	O
Xinjiang	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Falun	O	O
Gong	O	O
movement	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
Israel	O	O
's	O	O
treatment	O	O
of	O	O
Palestinians	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
activities	O	O
,	O	O
meanwhile	ESE	O
,	O	O
show	ESE	ESE
no	ESE	ESE
sign	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	O
promoting	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
universal	ESE	ESE
values	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
democracy	ESE	ESE
,	ESE	O
human	ESE	O
rights	ESE	O
and	ESE	O
peace	ESE	O
.	O	O

Six	DSE	O
months	O	O
have	O	O
passed	O	O
since	O	O
Sept.	O	O
11	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
focus	O	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
anger	DSE	DSE
has	O	O
turned	O	O
to	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
labeled	DSE	DSE
``	O	O
rogue	ESE	ESE
nations	ESE	ESE
''	O	O
and	O	O
members	O	O
of	O	O
an	O	O
``	O	O
axis	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

The	DSE	O
US	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
has	O	O
become	O	O
the	ESE	O
embodiment	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
two-sided	ESE	ESE
justice	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

``	O	O
If	ESE	ESE
you	ESE	ESE
're	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
with	ESE	O
us	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
you	ESE	ESE
're	ESE	ESE
against	ESE	ESE
us	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

The	DSE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
report	O	O
poses	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
substantial	ESE	ESE
challenge	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
interpretation	ESE	DSE
of	ESE	O
good	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Put	ESE	O
simply	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
what	ESE	O
we	ESE	O
are	ESE	DSE
seeing	ESE	DSE
is	O	O
the	O	O
naked	ESE	O
pursuit	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
.	O	O

No	ESE	O
one	ESE	O
who	ESE	O
has	ESE	O
ever	ESE	O
studied	ESE	O
realist	ESE	O
political	ESE	O
science	ESE	O
will	DSE	O
find	ESE	O
this	ESE	O
surprising	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

To	O	ESE
earn	O	ESE
legitimacy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
made	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	O
appear	ESE	ESE
just	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

Even	ESE	ESE
though	ESE	ESE
almost	O	ESE
all	O	ESE
military	O	O
mobilizations	O	O
in	O	O
history	O	O
have	O	O
been	O	O
motivated	O	O
by	O	O
notions	O	O
of	O	O
good	ESE	ESE
versus	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
or	O	O
of	O	O
orthodoxy	ESE	ESE
versus	ESE	ESE
unorthodoxy	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
efforts	O	O
to	O	O
present	O	O
the	O	O
naked	ESE	O
pursuit	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
battle	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
good	ESE	ESE
versus	ESE	ESE
evil	ESE	ESE
reflect	O	ESE
a	O	O
lack	ESE	O
of	ESE	DSE
understanding	ESE	DSE
and	ESE	DSE
tolerance	ESE	DSE
.	O	O

Demonizing	ESE	ESE
the	ESE	ESE
enemy	ESE	ESE
will	ESE	DSE
guarantee	ESE	DSE
that	O	O
peace	ESE	O
will	ESE	O
not	ESE	O
be	ESE	O
gained	ESE	O
through	ESE	O
war	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
report	O	O
expressly	ESE	DSE
points	DSE	DSE
out	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
It	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
extremely	ESE	ESE
easy	ESE	ESE
for	O	O
terrorists	O	O
to	O	O
find	O	O
supporters	O	O
in	O	O
countries	O	O
where	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
are	DSE	O
not	DSE	ESE
respected	DSE	ESE
and	O	O
where	O	O
individual	O	ESE
freedom	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
repressed	O	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

To	DSE	O
prove	O	O
that	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
are	O	O
important	ESE	ESE
ammunition	ESE	ESE
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
battle	ESE	O
against	ESE	O
terror	ESE	O
,	O	O
then	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
attack	O	ESE
terrorism	O	ESE
to	O	O
make	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
matter	DSE	O
to	O	O
these	O	O
countries	O	O
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
,	O	O
however	ESE	O
,	O	O
US	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
still	DSE	DSE
believes	DSE	DSE
in	O	O
the	O	O
supremacy	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
he	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
forget	O	ESE
the	O	O
breeding	ESE	ESE
ground	ESE	ESE
for	O	ESE
terrorists	O	ESE
that	O	O
exists	O	O
within	O	O
the	O	O
anti-terrorist	O	O
alliance	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
US	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
planning	DSE	DSE
to	O	DSE
extend	O	DSE
military	O	O
aid	O	O
to	O	O
several	O	O
countries	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
alliance	O	O
to	O	O
enable	O	O
them	O	O
to	O	O
root	O	O
out	O	O
terrorists	O	O
without	O	O
using	O	O
US	O	O
forces	O	O
.	O	O

Such	ESE	ESE
wishful	ESE	ESE
thinking	ESE	ESE
risks	ESE	ESE
making	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
an	O	O
accomplice	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
destruction	ESE	ESE
of	ESE	ESE
human	ESE	ESE
rights	ESE	ESE
.	O	O

If	O	ESE
the	O	O
US	O	O
,	O	O
which	O	O
claims	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
the	O	O
world	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
policeman	ESE	O
,	O	O
is	O	O
incapable	ESE	O
of	O	O
looking	O	O
beyond	O	O
US	O	O
interests	O	O
or	O	O
of	O	O
practicing	O	O
the	O	O
universal	ESE	O
values	ESE	O
of	O	O
human	O	O
rights	O	O
,	O	O
democracy	O	ESE
and	O	ESE
peace	O	ESE
,	O	O
then	O	O
should	ESE	ESE
n't	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
international	O	O
community	O	O
reconsider	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
role	O	O
played	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
UN	O	O
,	O	O
or	O	O
learn	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
way	O	O
the	O	O
European	O	O
parliament	O	O
works	O	O
?	O	O

After	ESE	ESE
all	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
compromising	ESE	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
many	O	O
different	O	O
countries	O	O
is	O	O
much	ESE	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
than	O	ESE
succumbing	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
interests	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
single	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

It	O	O
is	O	O
also	O	O
an	O	ESE
approach	O	ESE
better	ESE	ESE
suited	ESE	ESE
to	O	O
the	O	O
new	O	O
century	O	O
and	O	O
its	O	O
increasing	O	O
international	O	O
diversity	O	O
.	O	O

Chien	O	O
Hsi-chieh	O	O
is	O	O
a	O	O
DPP	O	O
legislator	O	O
and	O	O
executive	O	O
director	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Peacetime	O	O
Foundation	O	O
of	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
elected	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
``	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
''	O	O
-LSB-	O	O
punctuation	O	O
as	O	O
published	O	O
here	O	O
and	O	O
throughout	O	O
-RSB-	O	O
,	O	O
has	O	O
once	O	O
more	O	O
taken	ESE	O
up	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
reins	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
power	ESE	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
rapid	O	O
events	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
changing	O	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
indicate	ESE	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
putschists	O	O
did	O	O
not	O	O
enjoy	O	O
a	O	O
popular	O	O
base	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
people	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
military	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
country	O	O
did	DSE	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
endorse	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
coup	O	O
government	O	O
of	O	O
``	O	O
Pedro	O	O
Carmona	O	O
''	O	O
who	O	O
was	O	DSE
being	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

America	O	O
was	O	O
the	O	O
only	O	O
country	O	O
that	O	O
came	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
the	O	O
putschists	O	O
immediately	O	O
after	O	O
they	O	O
took	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
in	O	O
its	O	O
posturing	ESE	ESE
with	O	ESE
respect	O	ESE
to	O	O
this	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
declared	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
democracy	O	O
had	O	O
been	O	O
victorious	ESE	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
.	O	O

America	O	O
called	DSE	O
the	ESE	O
action	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
several	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
generals	ESE	O
,	O	O
who	O	O
were	DSE	DSE
supported	DSE	DSE
by	DSE	O
capitalist	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
bankers	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
victory	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
democracy	ESE	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
under	O	O
circumstances	O	O
where	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
had	O	O
come	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
1988	O	O
through	O	O
a	O	O
popular	O	O
process	O	O
.	O	O

What	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
more	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
promoting	O	O
of	O	O
a	O	O
constitutional	O	O
reform	O	O
plan	O	O
and	O	O
carrying	O	O
out	O	O
of	O	O
extensive	ESE	O
economic	O	O
reforms	O	O
have	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
re-election	O	O
in	O	O
July	O	O
2000	O	O
as	O	O
the	O	O
president	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
for	O	O
a	O	O
further	O	O
six	O	O
year	O	O
term	O	O
.	O	O

A	O	O
number	O	O
of	O	O
observers	O	O
believe	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
the	O	O
reasons	O	O
behind	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
its	DSE	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
Venezuela	O	O
under	O	O
the	O	O
generals	O	O
who	O	O
carried	O	O
out	O	O
the	O	O
coup	O	O
against	O	O
him	O	O
go	O	O
back	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
domestic	O	O
and	O	O
foreign	O	O
plans	O	O
and	O	O
policies	O	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

Following	O	O
a	O	O
series	O	O
of	O	O
domestic	O	O
reforms	O	O
,	O	O
especially	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
the	O	O
agriculture	O	O
,	O	O
energy	O	O
and	O	O
banking	O	O
sectors	O	O
and	O	O
describing	DSE	DSE
communism	O	DSE
and	O	O
capitalism	O	O
as	O	O
futile	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
caused	O	O
the	O	O
business	O	O
leaders	O	O
,	O	O
bankers	O	O
and	O	O
capitalist	O	ESE
to	O	ESE
distance	O	ESE
themselves	O	ESE
from	O	O
him	O	O
and	ESE	O
thus	ESE	O
paved	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
way	ESE	O
for	O	O
their	O	O
opposition	DSE	O
to	O	O
his	O	O
power	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
new	O	O
laws	O	O
were	O	DSE
described	DSE	DSE
by	O	O
leaders	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
economy	O	O
as	O	O
deviant	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
unfair	ESE	ESE
and	O	O
these	O	O
leaders	O	O
organised	O	O
and	O	O
stage-managed	ESE	O
street	O	O
demonstrations	O	DSE
against	O	DSE
Chavez	O	O
with	O	O
the	O	O
help	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
biggest	ESE	O
trade	O	O
and	O	O
commercial	O	O
unions	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
sector	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
army	O	O
.	O	O

Outside	O	O
the	O	O
borders	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
faced	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
hostility	DSE	ESE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
something	O	O
that	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
officials	O	O
have	DSE	DSE
acknowledged	DSE	DSE
on	ESE	O
many	ESE	O
occasions	ESE	O
.	O	O

They	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
been	DSE	DSE
thinking	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
ways	O	O
of	O	O
ousting	O	O
Chavez	O	O
from	O	O
the	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
in	O	O
Caracas	O	O
.	O	O

Ever	ESE	O
since	ESE	O
he	O	O
came	O	O
to	O	O
power	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
accept	DSE	DSE
America	ESE	O
's	ESE	O
biding	ESE	O
and	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
on	O	DSE
Washington	O	O
on	O	O
numerous	ESE	O
occasions	ESE	O
to	O	O
stop	ESE	ESE
intervening	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
his	O	O
country	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
also	O	O
accused	DSE	DSE
America	O	O
of	O	O
killing	ESE	ESE
innocent	ESE	ESE
children	ESE	ESE
and	ESE	O
people	ESE	O
during	O	O
the	O	O
Afghan	O	O
war	O	O
,	O	O
met	O	O
with	O	O
``	O	O
Mo'ammar	O	O
Qadhafi	O	O
''	O	O
and	O	O
``	O	O
Saddam	O	O
Hoseyn	O	O
''	O	O
,	O	O
the	O	O
presidents	O	O
of	O	O
Libya	O	O
and	O	O
Iraq	O	O
and	O	O
long-term	ESE	O
enemies	ESE	O
of	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
and	O	O
had	O	O
a	O	O
very	ESE	DSE
close	ESE	DSE
relationship	ESE	DSE
with	O	O
the	O	O
Cuban	O	O
leader	O	O
``	O	O
Fidel	O	O
Castro	O	O
''	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
combination	O	O
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
performance	O	O
and	O	O
policies	O	O
brought	O	DSE
on	O	DSE
the	DSE	DSE
wrath	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
American	O	O
President	O	O
Bush	O	O
to	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
extent	ESE	O
that	O	O
he	O	O
failed	ESE	O
to	O	O
hide	O	O
his	DSE	O
anger	DSE	DSE
during	O	O
his	O	O
visit	O	O
to	O	O
Peru	O	O
.	O	O

During	O	O
his	O	O
meetings	O	O
with	O	O
Peruvian	O	O
officials	O	O
,	O	O
Bush	O	O
spoke	O	DSE
of	O	DSE
America	O	O
's	O	O
dislike	DSE	DSE
of	O	O
Chavez	O	O
.	O	O

Moreover	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Secretary	O	O
of	O	O
State	O	O
``	O	O
Powell	O	O
''	O	O
also	O	O
has	O	O
recently	O	O
announced	DSE	O
in	O	O
his	O	O
annual	O	O
report	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
American	O	O
Congress	O	O
that	O	O
taking	O	O
into	O	O
account	O	O
Hugo	O	O
Chavez	O	O
's	O	O
closeness	ESE	DSE
to	O	O
countries	O	O
that	O	O
are	O	O
not	O	ESE
dependent	O	ESE
on	O	ESE
America	O	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
is	O	DSE
not	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
a	O	O
trustworthy	ESE	O
pawn	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Latin	O	O
American	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

Powell	O	O
had	DSE	DSE
stressed	DSE	DSE
that	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
is	O	O
able	O	O
to	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
,	O	O
that	ESE	O
is	ESE	O
to	ESE	O
say	ESE	O
,	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
era	ESE	O
of	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
military	ESE	O
rule	ESE	O
in	O	O
that	O	O
country	O	O
,	O	O
play	O	ESE
an	O	ESE
effective	ESE	ESE
role	ESE	ESE
in	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
policies	O	O
in	O	O
Latin	O	O
America	O	O
.	O	O

Besides	O	ESE
these	O	O
instances	O	ESE
of	O	ESE
American	O	ESE
hostility	DSE	ESE
towards	DSE	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
mention	O	O
must	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
made	O	ESE
of	O	O
his	O	O
oil	O	O
policy	O	O
within	O	O
OPEC	O	O
.	O	O

In	O	O
recent	O	O
years	O	O
,	O	O
Chavez	O	O
caused	O	O
OPEC	O	O
oil	O	O
policies	O	O
to	O	O
be	O	O
strengthened	O	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
face	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
positions	O	O
adopted	O	O
by	O	O
oil	O	O
consumers	O	O
.	O	O

He	O	O
has	O	O
managed	O	O
to	O	O
a	O	O
great	ESE	ESE
extent	ESE	ESE
to	O	DSE
adopt	O	DSE
policies	O	DSE
aligned	O	DSE
with	O	O
other	O	O
oil	O	O
producing	O	O
states	O	O
whenever	O	O
oil	O	O
crises	O	O
have	O	O
emerged	O	O
that	O	O
led	O	O
to	O	O
reduced	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
market	O	O
.	O	O

That	ESE	ESE
is	ESE	ESE
to	ESE	ESE
say	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
he	O	O
adopted	DSE	DSE
positions	DSE	DSE
where	O	O
supply	O	O
of	O	O
oil	O	O
by	O	O
OPEC	O	O
would	ESE	ESE
be	O	ESE
reduced	O	ESE
and	O	O
oil	O	O
prices	O	O
supported	O	DSE
.	O	O

This	O	O
is	O	O
while	O	O
before	O	O
Chavez	O	O
,	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
used	O	DSE
to	O	DSE
be	O	DSE
called	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
``	O	O
errant	ESE	O
member	ESE	O
''	O	O
within	O	O
OPEC	O	O
,	O	O
a	O	O
member	O	O
that	O	O
would	O	O
follow	O	O
less	O	O
the	O	O
concerted	O	O
decisions	DSE	DSE
of	DSE	O
OPEC	O	O
and	O	O
observe	O	O
less	O	O
its	O	O
own	O	O
quotas	O	O
.	O	O

This	O	ESE
is	O	ESE
why	O	ESE
one	O	O
can	ESE	ESE
not	ESE	ESE
dismiss	ESE	ESE
the	O	O
effects	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
intensification	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
Middle	O	O
East	O	O
crisis	O	O
,	O	O
Iraq	O	O
's	O	O
initiative	O	O
in	O	O
using	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
as	O	O
a	O	O
political	O	O
weapon	O	O
against	O	O
Washington	O	O
and	O	O
the	DSE	DSE
debate	DSE	DSE
on	DSE	O
an	O	O
extensive	ESE	O
oil	O	O
embargo	O	O
against	O	O
the	O	O
supporters	O	O
of	O	O
Israel	O	O
on	O	O
the	O	O
events	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
past	O	O
few	O	O
days	O	O
in	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
as	O	O
well	O	O
as	O	O
America	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
putschists	O	O
there	O	O
.	O	O

America	O	O
was	DSE	O
trying	DSE	O
to	DSE	O
guarantee	DSE	O
the	O	O
flow	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
crude	O	O
oil	O	O
to	O	O
itself	O	O
by	O	O
overthrowing	ESE	O
Chavez	O	O
and	O	O
the	O	O
seizing	ESE	O
of	O	O
power	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
presidential	O	O
palace	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
dependent	O	O
generals	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
people	O	O
of	O	O
Venezuela	O	O
thwarted	ESE	DSE
America	O	O
in	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

Finally	O	O
,	O	O
America	O	O
prescribes	DSE	ESE
liberal	O	ESE
democracy	O	ESE
for	O	O
others	O	ESE
yet	ESE	ESE
fails	ESE	ESE
itself	O	ESE
to	O	O
accord	O	O
any	ESE	O
value	ESE	O
to	O	O
democratic	ESE	O
principles	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
world	ESE	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
Bush	O	O
administration	O	O
's	O	O
support	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
the	O	O
Venezuelan	O	O
putschists	O	O
is	O	O
testament	ESE	O
to	O	O
this	O	O
.	O	O

BEIJING	O	O
,	O	O
April	O	O
11	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
AFP	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
-	O	O
China	O	O
on	O	O
Thursday	O	O
slammed	DSE	DSE
increasingly	ESE	DSE
close	ESE	DSE
ties	O	DSE
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
demanding	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
end	O	O
to	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
two	O	O
and	O	O
to	O	O
US	O	O
weapons	O	O
sales	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
continual	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
arms	O	O
by	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
or	O	O
upgrading	ESE	O
of	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
will	ESE	O
only	ESE	ESE
lead	ESE	ESE
to	O	ESE
tensions	ESE	ESE
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
foreign	O	O
ministry	O	O
spokeswoman	O	O
Zhang	O	O
Qiyue	O	O
said	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
demand	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
US	O	O
strictly	ESE	ESE
abide	ESE	ESE
by	O	O
the	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
it	O	O
has	O	O
made	O	O
to	O	O
China	O	O
,	O	O
correct	O	ESE
its	O	ESE
erroneous	ESE	ESE
acts	ESE	ESE
or	O	O
remarks	O	O
so	O	O
as	O	O
to	O	O
avoid	O	O
new	ESE	O
harm	ESE	O
to	O	O
China-US	O	O
relations	O	O
.	O	O
''	DSE	O

Zhang	O	O
further	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
alarm	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
Washington	O	O
's	O	O
announcement	O	O
Wednesday	O	O
that	O	O
defense	O	O
department	O	O
officials	O	O
will	O	O
soon	O	O
visit	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
to	O	O
discuss	O	O
the	O	O
sale	O	O
of	O	O
eight	O	O
diesel	O	O
electric	O	O
submarines	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
China	O	O
has	O	DSE
always	ESE	DSE
resolutely	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
any	ESE	O
form	O	O
of	O	O
official	O	O
exchanges	O	O
or	O	O
military	O	O
intercourse	O	O
between	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
and	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
Zhang	O	O
said	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
is	O	O
the	O	O
most	ESE	ESE
important	ESE	ESE
and	O	ESE
sensitive	ESE	ESE
issue	O	O
at	O	O
the	O	O
core	ESE	O
of	O	O
Sino-US	O	O
relations	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
at	O	O
the	O	O
biweekly	O	O
ministry	O	O
briefing	O	O
.	O	O

Military	O	O
tensions	ESE	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
Strait	O	O
were	O	O
``	O	O
not	ESE	O
in	ESE	O
the	ESE	O
self-interests	ESE	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
she	O	O
warned	DSE	DSE
.	O	O

She	O	O
refused	DSE	DSE
to	DSE	DSE
confirm	DSE	DSE
an	O	O
April	O	O
26	O	O
to	O	O
May	O	O
3	O	O
visit	O	O
by	O	O
Chinese	O	O
Vice	O	O
President	O	O
Hu	O	O
Jintao	O	O
to	O	O
Washington	O	O
,	O	O
as	O	O
reported	O	O
in	O	O
the	O	O
Hong	O	O
Kong	O	O
press	O	O
.	O	O

The	O	O
visit	O	O
,	O	O
if	O	O
Beijing	O	O
allows	O	O
it	O	O
,	O	O
is	O	DSE
widely	ESE	DSE
expected	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
be	O	O
centered	ESE	O
on	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
dissatisfaction	DSE	DSE
over	O	O
the	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
issue	O	O
.	O	O

China	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
considered	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
a	O	O
renegade	ESE	O
province	ESE	O
since	O	O
1949	O	O
and	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
threatened	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
bring	O	O
it	O	O
back	O	O
by	O	O
force	O	O
if	O	ESE
it	O	ESE
continues	O	ESE
to	O	DSE
indefinitely	DSE	DSE
refuse	DSE	DSE
proposals	DSE	DSE
for	DSE	O
``	O	O
peaceful	ESE	ESE
reunification	ESE	ESE
.	O	O
''	O	O

Beijing	O	O
has	O	DSE
also	O	DSE
long	DSE	DSE
refused	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
establish	O	O
diplomatic	O	O
relations	O	O
with	O	O
any	O	O
nation	O	O
that	O	O
maintains	O	O
official	O	O
contact	O	O
with	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
,	O	O
although	O	O
it	O	O
has	DSE	DSE
encouraged	DSE	DSE
economic	O	O
exchanges	O	O
between	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
and	O	O
all	O	O
nations	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
also	O	O
bashed	DSE	DSE
remarks	O	DSE
made	O	DSE
last	O	O
month	O	O
by	O	O
US	O	O
Deputy	O	O
Defense	O	O
Secretary	O	O
Paul	O	O
Wolfowitz	O	O
at	O	O
a	O	O
meeting	O	O
in	O	O
Florida	O	O
,	O	O
attended	O	O
by	O	O
visiting	O	O
Taiwanese	O	O
Defense	O	O
Minister	O	O
Tang	O	O
Yao-Ming	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
The	O	O
United	O	O
States	O	O
is	DSE	DSE
committed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
doing	O	O
whatever	ESE	O
it	ESE	O
takes	ESE	O
to	O	O
help	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
defend	O	O
itself	O	O
,	O	O
''	O	O
said	O	DSE
Wolfowitz	O	O
,	O	O
echoing	O	O
President	O	O
George	O	O
W.	O	O
Bush	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
made	O	O
when	O	O
he	O	O
first	O	O
took	O	O
office	O	O
last	O	O
year	O	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
Our	DSE	DSE
position	DSE	DSE
is	O	ESE
clear	ESE	ESE
,	O	O
''	O	O
he	O	O
continued	DSE	O
.	O	O

``	O	O
We	O	O
do	DSE	DSE
n't	DSE	DSE
support	DSE	DSE
Taiwan	O	O
independence	O	O
,	O	O
but	O	O
we	O	O
oppose	DSE	DSE
the	O	O
use	O	O
of	O	O
force	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Wolfowitz	O	O
expressed	DSE	DSE
concern	DSE	DSE
about	O	O
China	O	O
's	O	O
continuing	ESE	O
deployment	O	O
of	O	O
forces	O	O
and	O	O
tactical	O	O
missiles	O	O
to	O	O
areas	O	O
across	O	O
the	O	O
straits	O	O
from	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

US	O	O
officials	O	O
denied	DSE	DSE
Wolfowitz	O	O
's	O	O
remarks	O	O
reflected	O	ESE
a	O	ESE
change	O	ESE
in	O	O
US	O	O
policy	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
.	O	O

Zhang	O	O
said	DSE	DSE
:	O	O
``	O	O
The	O	O
remarks	O	O
of	O	O
the	O	O
US	O	O
official	O	O
are	O	O
a	O	O
...	O	O
violation	ESE	O
of	O	O
US	O	O
commitments	DSE	O
made	O	O
-LRB-	O	O
on	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
-RRB-	O	O
and	O	O
interference	ESE	O
in	O	O
China	O	O
internal	O	O
affairs	O	O
.	O	O

China	DSE	O
is	O	DSE
firmly	DSE	DSE
opposed	DSE	DSE
to	O	O
the	O	O
remarks	O	O
.	O	O
''	O	O

Chinese	O	O
missile	O	O
tests	O	O
over	O	O
Taiwan	O	O
in	O	O
1996	O	O
resulted	O	O
in	O	O
Washington	O	O
deploying	O	O
two	O	O
aircraft	O	O
carrier	O	O
battle	O	O
groups	O	O
to	O	O
the	O	O
region	O	O
.	O	O

For DSE
pre: 0.702429 rec: 0.690448 f: 0.696387
For ESE
pre: 0.696786 rec: 0.615679 f: 0.653727

