Russia Demands Explanation for U.S. Missiles in Poland

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday demanded a detailed explanation from Washington and Warsaw for the deployment of U.S. missiles near the Polish-Russian border. Polish and U.S. officials unveiled on Wednesday the first battery of U.S. surface-to-air Patriot-type missiles to be stationed on Polish soil, at a base just 60 kilometers from Russia’s Kaliningrad territory. The move came despite a recent improvement in ties between Russia and the United States following the signing of a long-awaited nuclear arms reduction deal in April and a thaw with Poland after years of mistrust. “We expect that some articulate explanations will be given,” Lavrov told reporters. “So far we’re just told: ‘Do not worry, this is not against you.’ We have heard this,” he said in televised remarks. “We expect that the new nature of our ties with Washington and Warsaw allows us to count on more detailed explanations of what is happening.” Russian officials have said the deployment of the missiles jeopardizes stability in the region and does not help bilateral ties. Poland says the deployment was aimed at upgrading its air defenses and the site of the Patriot battery, a military base in the northeastern Polish town of Morag, was not chosen for political reasons. Up to 150 U.S. troops based in Kaiserslautern, Germany, are to service the battery in Poland and train Polish soldiers to operate it.(AFP)

Russian Consul General offers full cooperation to Pakistan

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: Consul General of Russia based at Karachi, Aldrei  V Belidov, has said that his country was ready to cooperate with Pakistan over Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and to pull out Pakistan from the ongoing energy crisis.

Speaking with newsmen at  Balochistan Arts Council after watching photographic exhibition here Tuesday, the Russian Consul General said that unlike the Americans,  his country was not interested in opening consulate in Balochistan adding, “We would improve our economic, political and cultural relations with Pakistan first.”

He said when people of Balochistan would invite the Russians for any kind of cooperation then they would “definitely” come here but not at the verge of force.  ‘Balochistan issue is economic and when everyone get basic facilities at this doorsteps, it would be resolved,’ he said.

Aldrei  V Belidov said his country supported Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme but would never like any country, including Iran, to have atomic arsenal.

He said he had learnt a lot from his country’s past in Afghanistan. Unfortunately some countries did not get any lesson from Afghanistan’s past and they have to pay a price for this.

“We are optimistic keeping in view law and order situation situation, Afghan and other forces will take positive decisions,” he said.

Nato installs surveillance tower on Pak-Afghan border

The Baloch Hal News

CHAMAN: Nato forces in Afghanistan have installed a sophisticated surveillance system along the Pak-Afghan border to monitor the movement of insurgents in the area.

Equipped with more than half a dozen security cameras, the sprawling three hundred yards tall balloon type satellite tower has been installed at Spin Boldak town and can easily be seen from Chaman town, which lies about a kilometer south of Spin Boldak.

An Afghan security official told this news agency on the conditions of anonymity that the tower would be instrumental to monitor the border especially during the Nato operation against the Taliban in Kandahar.

He added that if needed more such towers would be installed inside The Afghan territor adjoining Pakistan.

In the Caspian Sea has a ghost of the Gulf of Mexico

Caspian Sea shelf. The Island of Dr. at the Kashagan field. 2009.

26.05.2010

Azamat MAYTANOV

The incident in the Caspian Sea, a similar accident on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, may result in ecological disaster. Prerequisites for the disaster occurred on the Caspian Sea is, say the pessimists.

Ghost of the Gulf of Mexico

In mid-April in the Gulf of Mexico, an explosion occurred on a drilling platform, the company British Petroleum and the gap was formed, through which is ejected into the bay, according to some estimates, more than 750 thousand liters of oil every day. An oil slick has brought the deaths of many living things in its path.

Pernicious catastrophe so great that its concerns expressed and the U.S. president Barack Obama. British oil company BP, which is responsible for the operation of the drilling platform, promises to repair any damage to the legitimate claims.

But for several years in the northern Caspian Sea is a quiet environmental catastrophe: killing seals and birds, declining populations of fish, including sturgeon. Despite assurances from oil companies on his innocence, local, independent scientists and environmentalists believe that the death of animals is due to regular environmental pollution and industrial activities on the Caspian shelf.

Accident at Kashagan in confidence

Drilling the first well at Kashagan started Aug. 11, 1999. Winter of 2000 was opened first subsalt sequence with huge reserves of oil and gas – 38 billion barrels, or 6 billion tons, of which extracted about 10 billion barrels of oil. Officially, this was announced in July 2000, when the floating drilling platform “Sunkar” Kashagan visited by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nursultan Nazarbayev, who blessed the opening, and anointed the first Kashagan oil face the then head of the company Kazakhoil Nurlan Balgimbaev and Akim of Atyrau region Imangali Tasmagambetov.

Immediately after the problems began, often hidden oilmen. Thus, the winter of 2000 when tested wells number one place emissions, explosions and fires. And in the spring and summer of 2000, according to the Ministry of Environment of Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea was mysteriously killed 10 and a half thousand seals. Independent Kazakh environmentalists say the 30 thousand dead seals.

Even today in the Kashagan project, according to the Atyrau media and fishermen periodically detected oily stains several kilometers. However, the causes and amounts of these contaminants has not been formally disclosed, and not commented upon. Himself an international oil consortium Azhip KKO, like his predecessor OKIOC periodically reassures the public that oil operations in the Caspian Sea are conducted in strict accordance with

Old flowing oil well in the Atyrau region. (Archive photo)
environmental rules and regulations of the Government of Kazakhstan.

However, do not know who and how will share the responsibility, if the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan in its sector, the failure of oil platforms. Insurance in a reputable international companies, as demanded by the independent Kazakh ecologists, not done. Public hearings on oil operations, which took place in Atyrau and Mangistau areas were, according to critics, in the mode of pre-prepared performance.

The last officially confirmed case of pollution on marine Kashagan field became known to the public in March 2009. Then it was discovered spot unidentified liquid in the vicinity of the drilling rig “Sunkar.

At the scene of an accident, left the group to respond to emergencies of “Azhip KKO” (at the time the project operator), were delivered to a place Absorption collections to collect the liquid.Around the spots were exposed fencing boom barriers and conducted Processing absorbent.According to the press service of Agip KCO, the amount of spillage was negligible – only 0.15 cubic meters.

Meanwhile, double-check the data almost impossible, since the only marine environmental laboratory belongs to the operator of the project – the company North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC). Independent State Laboratory, which would fix the pollution of the sea, does not meet the required modern standards.

On the part of supervisory authorities have repeatedly put forward the claim to the company NCOC, carrying out oil operations in the Caspian Sea shelf. Under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between the Government of Kazakhstan and foreign companies, drilling and subsequent oil extraction on the shelf should be conducted on the principle of zero emissions.However, the company NCOC been repeatedly accused of violating the PSA.

As shown in world history, such a non-transparent activities and disregard for international environmental standards, transnational companies employ in third world countries with authoritarian regimes.

WORN Caspian fleet

Meanwhile, in the Caspian Sea, we are now seeing strong growth in oil tanker traffic, mostly obsolete vessels. According to forecasts, in the near future volumes of transportation of oil from Aktau to Baku will reach 20 million tons per year. The major carriers are national Azeri company “Caspian Shipping Company and the Kazakh company Kazmortransflot, as well as private companies Volgotanker,” Palmali “and” Anship.

An analysis of state regulatory bodies in Kazakhstan, most of the Caspian fleet is worn out and requires a survey to confirm suitability for further operation in accordance with international maritime regulations.

Floating object Shapagat “on the Caspian shelf. (Archival photo).
Since 2001, the Caspian Sea oil spills occur repeatedly, mainly in the production of loading operations in the oil tankers. Causes of the spill were the poor state of cargo-handling equipment of oil tankers, negligence and poorly trained staff and inadequate monitoring of the coastal services of the technical readiness of the vessel to receive the oil.

Over the past few years Kazmortransflot water had been lowered just two new tanker “Astana and Atyrau, meeting modern requirements.

Flooding “mines” in slow motion

Another factor that threatens environmental catastrophe Caspian Sea, is the presence of many conserved “oversaline” oil wells (closed 20-30 years ago), which since 1993 have been submerged by the rising level of the Caspian Sea. During the Soviet era are preserved and the eradication of these wells was carried out without regard to the possible flooding of sea water in the case of raising the level of the Caspian Sea.

These flooded and abandoned oil wells are a kind of “mine” in slow motion, which gradually pollute the sea and can yank anytime.

Of the world’s oil production practice is known that during the decades of production from any field is removed, only one third of the volume of oil. Since the secondary extraction is ineffective and too costly, and oil is usually canned. Over time in the womb, especially in the subsalt fields, reservoir pressure is restored and leaking due to hydrogen sulfide corrosion starts leaking oil wells. For example, this happened in the fields of Aksaray in the Astrakhan region of Russia and Tengiz fields in the Atyrau Oblast of Kazakhstan.

In 2004, the Committee of Geology and Mining Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Kazakhstan carried out work on the survey and inventory of flooded oil wells in the areas and fields of Atyrau and Mangistau regions.

We identified 1,383 oil wells in the area of flooding by the Caspian Sea. Was drawn up an inventory of 90 wells, requiring priority conservation. To date, liquidated in 1972 flooded wells, among which were “fonyaschie” that let oil into the sea. Liquidation works are carried out very slowly due to lack of funding.

Genie In The Bottle

Chairman of Atyrau environmental non-governmental organization Caspian Tabigat Makhambet Khakimov convinced that Kashagan project is fraught with great environmental disasters.

- The mega sea Kashagan field will be drilled 240 wells for the extraction of the subsalt deposits 1.5 billion tons of oil and after the work is completed in the subsoil will another 3 billion tons of oil. But we care more – this is a high degree of risk of environmental disaster at sea – said Makhambet Hakim.

It is, in his words, there is the exploration, drilling, production, and even after the petroleum operations in Kashagan, as the volume of remaining oil in reservoirs is always greater than the volume extracted.

- At Kashagan will produce oil with high content of highly toxic sulfur compounds, which literally eats metal. There is scientific evidence of Russian and French scientists, because of the aggressive environment serovodorodistoy metal construction of wells for six years come to the unsuitability and begin to flow oil. Meanwhile, in the world practice there is simply no effective way to fully prevent corrosion in the wells, – said Makhambet Khakimov our correspondent radio Azattyk.

As an example, environmentalist and social activist mention the hundreds of releases and accidents at Tengiz in the period of 1980-2008 years, which led to the displacement of villagers Karaton Kenaral, Sarykamys in Atyrau region.

- The worst accident occurred in 1985 – then the people have fled, and only after 398 days of the forces from all over the Soviet Union was able to eliminate that awful “rehearsal Apocalypse.Because only one emergency well number 37 was thrown out and burned 3 million tons of oil, billions of cubic meters of various gases. The radius of the negative impact has reached 400 kilometers, the following year hurt, 50 percent of the population of Atyrau region and killed nearly one million birds on the sea coast, and in the minds of men firmly lodged “tengizofobiya.After the horrific accident at Tengiz passed in 1923, but so far there is no radical solutions to prevent this type of catastrophe – says Makhambet Hakim.

OIL FILM ENOUGH FOR ALL THE CASPIAN SEA

It is estimated Makhambet Khakimov, in case of catastrophe on Kashagan, the number of spilled oil (in the form of films) will be enough for all the Caspian Sea, and discarded greenhouse gases will have on the Earth’s atmosphere have more influence than the emissions of greenhouse gases from all over the world.

- In addition to this coming “oil bomb”, even under normal emission zone established pollution will be equal to 160 kilometers by 160 kilometers in Tengiz and 230 kilometers by 230 kilometers at Kashagan – says ecologist.

Environmental disaster in the Caspian Sea will be one to one similar to today’s accident in the Gulf of Mexico, predicts Makhambet Hakim.

- In contrast to the Russian and Azerbaijani high coast, Kazakh Caspian coast is lower and very similar to the low marshy shores of Louisiana, which suffered from an oil spill. On the shore of the Caspian Sea are protected wetlands, opposite the Kashagan field is located State Nature Reserve “Ak Zhayik”, home to rare species of birds and animals. God forbid, of course, but if a similar disaster in the Caspian Sea, with oil prices surge winds easily fall on the muddy coast, where it will collect just impossible. Marshes with reeds easily as a sponge, absorbs the oil, and the unique nature of the Caspian Sea die – says the ecologist.

Recall that commercial oil production at Kashagan, after a long dispute between the Kazakh government and the international consortium to develop the North-Caspian project was moved to the end of 2012.

The expected volume of oil production at Kashagan has to be up to 50 million tonnes per annum by the end of the next decade. According to some projections, oil production at Kashagan in 2019 should reach 75 million tons per year. It is expected that with the Kashagan project in Kazakhstan will enter the top five of the world’s oil powers.

Kashagan project participants are: the Italian company Eni, Kazakhstan – KMG Kashagan BV (subsidiary of KMG “), French – Total, U.S. – ExxonMobil, the British-Netherlands-Royal Dutch Shell, which each have 16.81 per cent stake, as well as U.S. – ConocoPhillips, which has 8.4 per cent, and Japanese – Inpex, possessing shares of 7.56 percent.

Israelis To Purchase Kazakh Uranium

“Uranium forge” Central Asia is open to the Israelis

arrived in Israel akim (governor) of one of the most industrialized and resource-rich regions of Kazakhstan. Following the Israeli minister of industry, he began to translate into action the various initiatives on bilateral cooperation.

In Israel, the two-day visit was mayor of East-Kazakhstan region, the former Minister of Labour and Social Protection Berdibek Saparbayev. Arriving here on personal business (one of his relatives being treated in hospital “Ihilov”), he nevertheless hold a series of official meetings and presentation of its area to Israeli businessmen.

As the portal IzRus the Embassy of Kazakhstan, May 24 in Tel Aviv Hotel Carlton, in conjunction with the Israeli Institute for Export Saparbayev will hold a conference on opportunities for cooperation with Israeli firms. The potential in the field led by him is enormous, because it is rich in reserves of polymetallic and copper ores, tantalum, uranium, gold, coal, oil and other minerals. It is called the “uranium forge” Kazakhstan and the central city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, referred to as the “capital of non-ferrous metals” of the country.

As noted in the embassy after the April visit to Kazakhstan Industry Minister Ben-Eliezer, Berdibek Saparbayev decided to speed up the implementation of specific collaborative initiatives. He will present Israeli businessmen a number of projects which offer or invest, or contribute to the development of delivery technologies.

Saparbayev going to visit several industrial sites. In particular, he is interested in the sphere of bio-fuels, its production and use. Saparbayev plans to visit one of the companies in the south, which produces such fuel.

05/23/2010 Alexander Kogan

Source - izrus.co.il

Stability in Turkmenistan – a myth?

30.11.2009

Miriam Elder

Heroin, illegal arms trafficking and the Taliban pose a threat to Turkmenistan.

At first glance, Turkmenistan – a land of nod. In the capital of this state Ashgabat with its ancient streets and newly constructed skyscrapers silence reigns, as in a ghost town. Streets sparkle clean, as countless number of women continuously sweep him with brooms. However, behind this facade is brewing storm.

Neighbouring countries with Turkmenistan not differ very respectable behavior. Turkmenistan has a long border with Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan.

Here is how this situation one Western diplomat: “We are surrounded by snakes, scorpions and the Taliban.

This is not being overlooked by the U.S., which is quietly being constructed in the present, several border posts in Turkmenistan in order to – at least in the short term – to stop the flow of drug trafficking in the country. Such a border post on the border in Iran was discovered in 2006, with Afghanistan – in 2007, and Uzbekistan – in late October this year. The construction of at least two more such posts.

This is a very sensitive issue. In official documents Turkmenistan is designated as an independent state with permanent neutrality. It became the basis of neutrality and foreign policy of this country that has not allowed the Americans to deploy a military base there to serve in neighboring Afghanistan military operations, but the Russian military base was closed shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

And, nevertheless, potential threats to stability in Turkmenistan – are not empty words. According to sources inside Turkmenistan, drugs safely move within the country and across its borders. However, drugs have come and other forces – arms dealers, Islamic fundamentalists and the Taliban.

Turkmenistan – a predominantly Muslim state, but there is also a Russian, a minority who consider themselves Orthodox Christians. At the moment Islam assimilated state, but strict adherence to the canons of faith not so much common.

A few years before his death in 2006, the eccentric dictator and the first post-Soviet president Turkmenbashi has built a huge mosque in one and the outlying areas of the capital. Its walls are decorated – other than quotations from the Koran – the very words of this former president. In other Muslim countries such proximity would be called blasphemy.

By basing its post-Soviet identity, Turkmenistan, opted for rigid nationalism. The country banned all that is extraneous – opera, ballet, circus. The current President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov soften the policy, but he began to support the strengthening of other forms of nationalism, such as forcing children to school wearing traditional clothing.

“If they can not create its own ideology, then we know what ideology will succeed,” said one Western diplomat.

Widely publicized stability in Turkmenistan rests on autocratic president, but people are mostly quite the status quo, since all receive substantial assistance from the state.

Officially, unemployment stands at 5 percent. International organizations, as well as themselves, Turkmens, believe that it is about 50 percent.

“Find a job very difficult – recognized the driver engaged in an illegal cab driver. – But in Uzbekistan is even worse. Everything is expensive, and should pay for everything. “

About Turkmenistan can not say. Basic services – water, gas for heating – all for free. Wheat is sold at subsidized prices. Every citizen gets a month free of charge a certain amount of electricity and gasoline for their cars, even though their price and so is extremely low. Those Turkmens, who manage to find a job, earn an average of 200-300 dollars a month.

“They do not need money to survive, as many here free of charge – yet another Western diplomat. – If you strictly observe all the rules, do not complain about the regime, the president, then you have everything in order.”

Some Turkmens disagree. The most shocking confirmation of this occurred in September 2008, but this incident has almost nothing was reported in local media under strict government control and refusing to cooperate with foreign media. So after a year, much remains unclear.

You can only say that a group of people who are former security officers – some consider them to drug traffickers, while others believe that they were activists of the local mosque – seized an abandoned factory of soft drinks in a quiet suburb of Ashgabat. In their possession was a decent arsenal of weapons – machine guns and grenades, which allowed them for several hours (according to various estimates from 18 hours to three days) not to allow themselves to security forces. Then gunfire erupted. The government advanced tanks. As a result of the assault all the members of this group were killed, also died and 50 security officers.

It was an unprecedented event for this relatively peaceful country, in possession of the wide spy network for the surveillance of its citizens.

We can say that in the eyes of some of the Turkmens of this siege has acquired mythical status as the only example of opposition to the State that has trampled on the freedom and simultaneously receiving huge profits from the sale of energy resources, but these funds do not reach the majority of the population.

“He is a hero, – said 24-year-old resident of Ashgabat, referring to the head of the rebel group. – Its all supported. We then, together with the neighbors thought: “What do we do? We would have took to the streets, if all did so, but no one dared. “

That is what the current regime and fears the most. While many observers positively assess some conquered under Berdymukhammedov freedom – especially freedom of movement and access to the Internet – and many of those who condemned the government for the fact that prisons are still dozens of political prisoners.

In late October, one of the most prominent opponents of the regime, has repeatedly clashed with the government, was arrested on charges of hooliganism. According to the same charges he was arrested and some time in prison in December 2006, after which he was prohibited from leaving the country. Environmental activists Andrei Zatoka claims in his letter that he prepared in the event of his re-arrest and who was in possession GlobalPost, that he had been pressured by the security forces of the country.

KGB officers – both in form and in civilian clothes – watch everywhere and for all, they control the streets and businesses. They carefully observe the behavior of its citizens.

“They’re everywhere. Most often they work in civil, – admits resident of Mary, located in the heart of Turkmenistan. – People are afraid of them. Nobody criticizes our president, no one says a word against him. And if someone says, then he immediately go to prison. “

Recently, one Western diplomat noted that the state was interrupted religious meetings under the pretext that there are going to drug traffickers. So the state tries to prevent the creation of organized opposition.

While all of this, apparently – only preventive measures. “Against the background of what is happening in this region, the situation here is very stable and calm,” said first-mentioned Western diplomats.

Translation Rambler

If you want peace – prepare for war

 

Sergei Mikheyev

In Ashgabat recently discussed the problem of disarmament in the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. Meanwhile, in reality, countries in the region continue to actively arm. In the first place to fight with each other.

Ashgabat hosted the second consultative meeting on preparations for the International Conference on Disarmament Issues in Central Asia and the Caspian basin. According to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, the meeting was attended by representatives of foreign ministries and diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. In particular, it was considered a draft program of the forum, which is expected to include topics such as the review and analysis of the situation on Disarmament Issues in Central Asia and the Caspian basin, the international legal framework for disarmament and its improvement, the role of international organizations in addressing issues of disarmament global and regional dimensions.

In this regard, particularly relevant to the Caspian states is the issue of security of their borders and adjacent areas. Thus, opposition to the military-political threats to the Caspian Sea significantly to the maintenance of Russia’s defense capability. Such complex challenges can be linked with the resolution of other conflicts or crises. Such as the problem of Karabakh from Azerbaijan, the risk of conflict "of Iran – the U.S., as well as internal problems of the North Caucasus. Russian republics and regions in the south of the country are in need of a conscious policy of the Caspian Sea in Russia, implying the involvement of major economic projects.

Therefore, a threat to its security, and Russia sees a growing militarization of the region, and therefore actively trying to prevent the emergence of the Caspian Sea armed forces of other extra-regional states. Having the most powerful military forces in the waters of the sea, Russia, however, extremely limited in the mode of its effective use. Military force is more important as a factor of deterrence, rather than as an element of coercion. At present, the Caspian states, in general, share this approach Russia and are ready to consider its concerns in this matter.

At the same time the rest of the region, despite the peace-loving rhetoric, de facto attempt to build up its military power in the Caspian Sea. For example, until recently, the operation of naval units in Kazakhstan was reduced to the protection of state borders, which implements the border boats and one patrol boat. However, already in 2001-2002. Kazakhstan began the gradual deployment of its navy. By some estimates, the personnel of the latter was at that time three thousand people. The Naval Forces were 10 military and 2 small hydrographic launches, as well as naval aviation in the three MI-8 helicopters and six Mi-2. Subsequently, the strength of the Kazakh navy was increased to 5 thousand troops. The structure of the Navy includes naval flotilla, marines and coast artillery. Their main base is the port of Aktau. Expansion Flotilla carried out mainly through the acquisition of Republic of various ships and boats in foreign countries. For example, in 2001, in the exercise of free military aid to Turkey handed Kazakhstan gunboat type "Turk". In 2006, three patrol boats, such as "Sea Dolphin" – "Shapshal", "Batir" and "Izet" had been received from South Korea.

Capacity his group on the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan has been an argument in the negotiations on the transit projects. Baku has managed to convince its Western stalls in its own solvency to ensure the security, as the routes of export of raw materials and production capacity themselves offshore and in fact refused to accept the Americans put in Azerbaijan military contingent to provide security for Azerbaijan’s Caspian oil fields and pipelines, which oil and gas delivered to Western markets. This grouping implies the marine component. The project received the common name "Caspian Guard» (Caspian Guard). Experts from other countries indicate that the project under specious pretexts pedaliruetsya U.S. with the ultimate aim of establishing its control over the situation in the Caspian Sea.

Turkmenistan in recent years has purchased in the Ukraine and Poland about 30 Coast Guard boats and other vessels for military use. In addition, a few years ago, Iran handed over a long term lease Turkmenistan seven boats and one destroyer, which greatly increased the Turkmen military fleet in the Caspian Sea. Coast army group has about 2 thousand people.

Iranian group on the Caspian Sea also increased significantly since the Soviet collapse. This is Iran has created a precedent of military pressure on the Caspian Sea. As mentioned above, in July 2001 on the Caspian Sea took place the first and the last armed incident between the two Caspian littoral states. Iranian warships prevented the implementation of the project of an international consortium led by British BP on development of prospective structures "Alov", "Araz" and "Sharq", located in the southern part of Caspian sea near the border of Azerbaijan and Iran.

Thus, the answer to the question "Why do against someone armed with the Caspian states?", Unfortunately, is obvious. They are arming themselves against each other for a possible settlement of disputes in the Caspian Sea through military means. This is extremely dangerous logic, leading to unpredictable consequences and threatening a potential catastrophe for the Caspian Sea and the Caspian region.

Therefore, now clearly seen attempts to bring Caspian littoral states cooperation not only in economic but also political plane. Especially in this respect stands are framed in Russia in 2006 the establishment of the Caspian Sea a kind of collective security in a single naval group of operative interaction Casfor. However, no positive feedback from other Caspian littoral states this idea has not yet been received.

It seems that the presence of such a system would be beneficial to all five Caspian states. The very specificity of the Caspian Sea as a closed body of water pushed to the idea of joint control of military activity in the Caspian "five". This would allow:

1. Organise military activity in the Caspian Sea, which is too small and vulnerable to uncoordinated, chaotic activity;

2. Write a safeguard mechanism against unforeseen military incidents;

3. To create conditions for peaceful and more effective economic development of Caspian resources;

4. To coordinate action to combat poaching, international terrorism and crime;

5. Optimize military policy and the costs of Caspian littoral states in the region;

6. Safeguard against possible attempts of the military penetration into the region of third countries.

As mentioned above, it is clear that the lack of coordination between the five Caspian littoral states will inevitably lead to interference in internal affairs of the region of the external forces that are most inclined to believe, to rake up the fire by someone else, in spite of negative consequences for the region.

In the military plane, such interference is particularly dangerous.

For example, it is clear that the hypothetical military presence in the region, NATO forces could be directed not only to ensure the safety of transit pipelines. In the current geopolitical realities, such a presence actually had two main objectives – Iran and Russia. Moreover, as the recent experience of the war in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, NATO morally quite ready to unleash a large-scale military conflict on the territory of others with very dire consequences for the region. Moreover, it is a war with someone else’s territory and resources of others to achieve their goals consistent with the principles of military strategy the United States and NATO.

Therefore, the involvement of external forces as an arbitrator for the resolution of intraregional disputes can end in disaster for the littoral states. This can be avoided only by coordinating their actions in the five-sided format. The Caspian Sea can and should become a sea of peaceful cooperation and resolve all problems through non-military.

About the author: Sergey Mikheev – vice-president of the Center for Political Technologies.

Source:: Politkom.ru

Five Kurdish Children Killed In Grenade Attack In Turkey

Child killed, five others wounded by explosion in eastern Turkey

ISTANBUL – Daily News with Wires

One child died and five others were injured Tuesday in the eastern province of Van after ammunition they reportedly found near a military barracks exploded.

News agencies reported that the children were playing with ammunition they found outside the fence of the shooting range of the Mustafa Muğlalı Barracks when the explosion occurred.

However, Murat Durmaz, the mayor of Özalp district in which the explosion occurred, said Wednesday there was a witness who saw a soldier throw a bomb at the children and run.

Olcay Akyürek, 13, was rushed to the hospital with a helicopter because of serious injuries, but could not be saved.

Nurullah Erçiçek, 9, Orhan Erçiçek, 11, Yunus Yaman, 13, Doğukan Meşe 12, and Fidan Coşar, 9, were transported to Özalp State Hospital by ambulance, where they were reported to be in fair condition.

The incident created tension in the district, with shop owners refusing to open their stores Wednesday in protest.

A group of approximately 500 people gathered in front of the District Governor’s Office, chanting slogans as they walked towards the Özalp office of the Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, to wait for the arrival of the funeral cortege from Van.

The protestors chanted slogans in Turkish and Kurdish while passing the Musatafa Muğlalı Barracks, including “Muğlalı Barracks shall leave Özalp,” “Muğlalı Barracks, the home of killers,” and “Martyrs do not die.”

After the funeral, Cüneyt Caniş, the BDP’s provincial head, asked people to open their stores and not to fall for provocations.

Later, a group that wanted to march toward the barracks was calmed down by Durmaz.

Soldiers from the barracks have caused tension in the past. On July 30, 1943, 33 locals from Özalp, which is close to Iran, were detained for smuggling and taken into military custody on the orders of Gen. Mustafa Muğlalı before being allegedly shot dead.

In 1949, the Democrat Party, or DP, opposition submitted an application for an inquiry into the matter. Muğlalı pled guilty and a military court sentenced him death, which was later commuted to 20 years in prison due to his age.

The top military appeals court overturned the sentence but he died in prison in 1951 at age 71 while the appeal process was underway.

In 2004, the General Staff named the Gendarmerie Border Command in Özalp after the general, a move that angered many locals.

Manas Airbase, the geopolitical game in Central Asia and the merchant Kurmanbek Bakiyev

As Bakiev traded Manas »(III)

Bishkek, Zpress.kg

Alexander Cooley: Manas Airbase, the geopolitical game in Central Asia and the merchant Kurmanbek Bakiyev (III)

(Concluded). Lack of such thinking was twofold: firstly, the political system of Uzbekistan and its development after independence differs from that in Kyrgyzstan. Authoritative-generic way of Uzbekistan remained tight since the beginning of 1990. Political power is concentrated in the hands of the president and the reformers were extremely slight attraction or space. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov with its powerful internal security haunted by all forms of political opposition to his regime earning a reputation as one of the most repressive in the world.

On the other hand, the political culture in the Kyrgyz Republic has remained much more open, despite her bouts of incapacity, to the extent of how this small country in Central Asia, preserved the civil society, some independent media and political space for struggle at the national level for power competing elites and regional factions. Moreover, the “tulip revolution” in 2005, during which President Askar Akayev was overthrown after popular protests, is the latest evidence of the vulnerability of the ruling regimes in Kyrgyzstan. Unlike the situation in Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz security services at the time of the confrontation between Protestants and waves of street demonstrations did not intervene to support any regime Akayev, Bakiyev’s regime and no. Thus, there never was a single standard “Central Asian” political culture, which would be applicable to all countries in the region.

Secondly, the case of Kyrgyzstan also shows that the desire to reach a compromise between the often cited support for “political stability” in the authoritarian governments and the promotion of good governance and democracy, is often the wrong choice. U.S. officials mistakenly came to the decision to accept authoritarianism Bakiyev as evidence of political stability in Kyrgyzstan, while the cumulative effect of its repression and corruption in itself has brought the country to poverty as well as to destabilize it. What is characteristic, namely, public discontent with high levels of corruption and mismanagement, particularly in the energy sector, led anti-government protests in the northern cities of Naryn, and Talas, and their overthrow of the regime with such suddenness. It is obvious that excessive corruption of power and mismanagement have contributed to his downfall fleeting.

Recommendations and comparative lessons

U.S. officials, in case they want to guarantee the future of “Manas”, must take seriously the growth of anti-American sentiment in Kyrgyzstan. Decision interim government will automatically extend the lease for another year is progress, which should be welcomed. It provides those who make policy decisions in the U.S. several months of review and implementation of new policy priorities, which in the case of a thorough mining can provide the “Manas” a more solid legal and political framework. But it is vital that U.S. officials do not fall into the trap of thinking that access to the “Manas” can be guaranteed only a simple redirection of the same questionable payments for the base to the new interim government or its successor. If the new treaty will not be quickly concluded with the provisional government headed by Rosa Otunbayeva, the status of the base will become a major problem in the next presidential campaign in Kyrgyzstan through the six-month period. A number of these candidates as head of the Communist Party and the new speaker of parliament Iskhak Masaliyev, will base a campaign on a platform against the base, introducing himself as “pro-Moscow” candidates, “antibakievskih” Democrats or new trustees posed a threat to the sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan.

First, the United States needs to take bold and decisive action to restore its shaky public perception in Kyrgyzstan. With only 80 million dollars, which are reported to remain in the state budget of Kyrgyzstan, a good first step would be to provide humanitarian assistance and the positive response to the request of the Kyrgyz support of priority issues, including the funding of forthcoming elections. Russia has already promised to provide $ 50 million in emergency assistance, and the United States is doing the right thing, if you select the same amount or exceed it. Continued instability and the fall of the interim government would not be in the interest of neither the Kyrgyz people, nor the United States.

Second, U.S. officials must publicly declare their readiness to cooperate with any investigation of the Kyrgyz-related business practices on the basis of the reign of Bakiyev and provide data on these cash transactions to the public. Such an investigation will undoubtedly embarrass the officials of the base, but it is very important to base and the embassy publicly perceived as ready to cooperate in this politically sensitive time. U.S. officials should also explore ways in which they can draw associated with the “Manas” payments and maintenance contracts for the benefit of society in Kyrgyzstan as a whole, rather than a private source of income for those with communication on individuals. One option might be to guarantee that revenue from maintenance contracts will fall directly into the Kyrgyz national budget, rather than individuals with offshore registrations.

Third, U.S. officials should use the situation in Kyrgyzstan to build a more constructive relationship with their Russian counterparts. If we put an end to the competitive dynamics of the “Great Game” by the “Manas”, and ideas from both sides that Russia and the U.S. got involved in a zero-sum struggle for influence in Central Asia, it will be crucial for the stability of any future government of Kyrgyzstan . Of course, in the Russian military community, there are factions who will never accept the legitimacy of the U.S. military presence in post-Soviet space, regardless of the purposes of such presence. But it is also clear that if a consultation, the Kremlin can be persuaded to play a constructive role. In this context, recent discussions with the Obama presidency, Medvedev and Nazarbayev have contributed to migrate Bakiev of Kyrgyzstan, are an example of how important it is for Washington to maintain open lines of communication and, where possible, coordinate their policies with other important regional players.

Fourth, as Obama himself, and the U.S. Congress must as soon as possible to improve relations with the public in Kyrgyzstan, expressing commitment to resuming full economic, political and social cooperation with the U.S. this impoverished Central Asian state. Assistant Secretary Blake has already promised to double aid to civil society and democracy in Kyrgyzstan, which is a welcome step that should be supported by Congress.

Finally, it is important that we understand that what happened in Kyrgyzstan, is one example of a recurring historical picture of the political perception of U.S. bases overseas. Again and again we see how the new government in moving towards democratization of the state in which there are U.S. bases, can quickly cool down to the U.S. military presence, linking it with support from the United States the previous authoritarian regime. The events in Kyrgyzstan repeat similar political developments in the Philippines, Thailand, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Korea, where the new government as part of anti-US related to democratization, the backlash challenged the validity of any U.S. presence, or in fact expelled from the United States of important objects.

These lessons are especially important now, when those responsible for planning, the Ministry of Defense continues to expand the global network of bases in the new regions, including Central Asia and Africa, in which the U.S. has traditionally had no ground military presence. The case of Kyrgyzstan is not unique. A couple of years ago the United States failed to achieve new contract to deploy the base in Manta, Ecuador, due to unforeseen domestic civil society campaign and its allies in the Parliament of Ecuador, which questioned the legal status and political legitimacy on the base. If the U.S. wants to maintain an extensive global network of military facilities, it is imperative that the Defense Ministry planners were thinking more in the strategic plan on how the presence of base interacts with local political conditions and be ready, and not to oppose the democratic political change in the host countries.

Literature

1. Alexander Cooley. «Base Politics: Democratic Change and the US Military Overseas». Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2008.

(I spent on-site interviews on the “Manas” during separate research trips to Kyrgyzstan in 2005, 2008 and 2009. I used to live in Kyrgyzstan in 1998, when conducted field research for my dissertation on the impact of international assistance to the Kyrgyz interior political structures and taught at the American University in Kyrgyzstan (currently it is the American University in Central Asia).

2. Estimates of net economic impact received from the articles Roger McDermott. «Reflections on Manas». «Eurasia Daily Monitor», June 30, 2008, and Alexander Cooley. «Depoliticizing Manas: The Domestic Consequences of the US. Military Presence in Kyrgyzstan ». PONARS Policy Memo 362, February 2005.

3. David Cloud. «Pentagon’s Fuel Deal is Lesson in Risks of Graft-Prone Regions». «New York Times». Nov. 15, 2005.

4. Andrew E. Kramer. «Fuel Sales to US at Issue in Kyrgyzstan». «New York Times», April 11, 2010.

5. Jim Nichol. «Kyrgyzstan and the Status of the US Manas Airbase: Context and Implications». Congressional Research Service Report, July 1, 2009, p. 4.

6. Deirdre Tynan. «US Intends to Construct Military Training Center in Batken». «Eurasianet», March 4, 2010.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav030410.shtml

7. Deirdre Tynan. «Kyrgyz Contracts to Face Scrutiny». «Eurasianet», April 8, 2010.http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav040810c.shtml

8.Alexander Cooley. «Base Politics». «Foreign Affairs», Vol. 84, No. 6, November / December 2005.

Translation - “Zpress.kg-UVU”

Pentagon’s covert operations gaining momentum

Iran, Syria, Yemen and Somalia have become targets of secret shares

26.05.2010 / Nicholas Surkov

Force special operations needs in Yemen and Somalia . Photo Reuters

The head of Central Command Gen. David Petraeus gave a secret order to broaden the range of covert operations in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. According to the American media, Force Special Operations (OSS) required to conduct reconnaissance and engage in contacts with local forces in countries such as Yemen, Somalia and Syria . This order also directs begin gathering information to prepare a strike against Iran.

Newspaper New York Times, whose reporters on the eve able to see the seven-page document, wrote that while the Pentagon conduct covert operations have been authorized by the Administration of George W. Bush, Petraeus’ command displays this activity to a new level, giving it a more systematic and long-term. The newspaper reminds that the Head of Central Command is one of the proponents of the view that in order to more effectively combat international terrorism U.S. troops should not be limited to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The main goals of this clandestine activity – the destruction of cells of al-Qaida and other extremist groups, as well as “preparing the conditions for future operations, U.S. or local military. In accordance with an order unit MTR also used to gather information about terrorist organizations and other threats in the Middle East and beyond.

The document authorizes covert operations in Iran. It is assumed that their objective is to collect data on Iranian nuclear facilities and links to anti-government groups. Pentagon must have an elaborated plan in case the president Barack Obama decides to carry out military operations against Tehran.

Against this backdrop, observers note that recent American military demonstrated the desire to reduce its dependence on the CIA and other intelligence agencies to become more self-reliant in the issue of intelligence collection.

It is noteworthy that some results of the implementation of this directive can be found even now, because Petraeus has signed an order on September 30 last year. Since the MTR unit were sent to several countries for surveillance, including collecting information on airports and bridges. In addition, they were used for “offensive operations” in Syria, Pakistan and Somalia.

For example, in the framework of this strategy the fighters MTR liquidated in September last year, one of the most wanted leaders of al Qaeda in East Africa, Kenyan Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan.

In addition, the Central Command had brought in the Horn of Africa drones Reaper, used to destroy the Taliban in Pakistan. These UAVs will use against the militants in Yemen and Somalia, and even against pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

MTR active in Yemen, where they, together with local military personnel are fighting with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which claimed responsibility for an attempt in December 2009 attempted bombing of the American passenger aircraft in the skies over the Atlantic.

However, even in the Pentagon, not all unequivocally welcomed the decision Petraeus on building a secret intelligence and counter-terrorist activity and the expansion of its geography.

Some officials have expressed concern that it could negatively affect relations with friendly countries on whose territory the operations are done (Saudi Arabia and Yemen), and increase hostility from such countries as Iran and Syria. In addition, skeptics point out that if U.S. troops get into film, performing secret missions outside the “official” combat zones, then they would be treated as spies, and not as ordinary prisoners of war whose rights are protected by the Geneva Convention.

In a conversation with “NY” GRU colonel, retired Vitaly Shlykov skeptical about the possibility of such a serious leakage of information, but it noted that he would not have been surprised by the appearance of such an order, which wrote New York Times. “International terrorism – it is not public education. Therefore, the U.S. decided to fight with him, regardless of frontiers. Then the Americans took a very tough position. Therefore, if the governments of countries where terrorists operate, can not alone cope with this problem, the normal commander employs its own resources “, – explained the expert. He added that the Russian leadership has also repeatedly promised to get the terrorists have taken refuge in other countries. Commenting on the relationship between the Pentagon and the CIA, Shlykov said that it is impossible to talk about the dependence of U.S. military authorities on data from Langley, because of the military intelligence budget and the possibility of much more.

Georgian opposition fanned “Irangate”–(Goog.Trans.)

Georgian opposition fanned “Irangeyt”

In Kiev, trying to guess who profits regular weapons scandal

26.05.2010 / Tanya Ivzhenko, Victoria Panfilov

Such complexes Buk-M1 “Ukraine supplied Georgia. Photo by Victor Litovkin

Kiev for several days has remained silent on the statement of the Georgian opposition for re-sale of Ukrainian weapons to Iran. This topic has not heard any official level or in the media. The authorities pretend not to notice the loud political accusations. However, some officials have expressed concern that this is not about self-playing Georgian opposition, and the new U.S. campaign – like almost forgotten “Irakgeytu”, covering the Ukraine in 2002.

Recall, last Friday the agency sent a statement of the candidate for mayor of Tbilisi, Zviad Dzidziguri, who said that the Georgian leadership previously resold to Iran missiles imported from Ukraine. He noted that no supporting documents, but he knows that the U.S. is now checking the secret arms deals. As it known, ex-Prime Minister of Georgia, and now opposition leader Zurab Nogaideli also said the involvement of the country’s leadership to illegal arms deals.

In this context, the Georgian opposition and the media consider a recent visit to Georgia, FBI Director Robert Mueller. Military expert George Melitauri believes that the reason for the visit could become a weapon of the transaction. He told journalists that he has neither a confirmation nor denial of the opposition of words: “As the supply of arms to Iran of reliable official information does not exist. But I want to recall that two years ago in Georgia was conducted covert special operations, in which the citizen was detained in Iran. He was accused of illegal arms trade. Then it can be explained logically. ” Just at that moment Ukraine supplied Georgia artillery systems, tanks, armored vehicles, aircraft and approximately 500 missiles and launchers.

Later, the Ukrainian opposition released a series of statements implicating Viktor Yushchenko to participate in the alleged illegal and clandestine arms shipments to Georgia.

Associates of the former president confirmed the trade in arms, but stressed that all the transactions were legitimate and transparent. Head Ukrspetsexport Sergei Bondarchuk in the past year confirmed the newspaper “Today”: “From Georgia we have a long-standing, strong ties. Our two countries signed a treaty of friendship, documents on military-technical cooperation, ie the whole legal framework for the market supply of weapons available. In 2007, for example, supplying a system of radar, precision weapons, various types of firearms, as well as air defense system … These systems – of course, the defensive … “

Yesterday, representatives of the environment, as Saakashvili and Yushchenko noted that the Labor Party leader Shalva Natelashvili, contributed actively to inflate another arms scandal as head of the Conservative Party Zviad Dzidziguri, repeatedly made allegations that were subsequently no basis in fact.

As you know, Natelashvili recently told reporters that Saakashvili invited the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit Georgia – in retaliation Barack Obama, who in April failed to take the Georgian president. “First, Saakashvili was preparing to Georgia as a base against Iran, implored Americans to strike at Iran from Georgia” – said in an interview Natelashvili “Alia”. When this plan failed, the Georgian leader to use the other scenario, defiantly privechaya Iranian counterpart at a time when the UN Security Council began consideration of a new resolution on sanctions against Iran.

Supporters of Yushchenko and Saakashvili believes that the mainstreaming of the scandalous topic of illegal arms deals are not connected with the nuances of geopolitics. In their view, the reason lies in the “black PR”, which is traditionally very popular during the election campaign in Georgia, as in Ukraine. Therefore, declined to comment, all ministries and agencies responsible for arms trade. Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia Temur Yakobashvili told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that “the current statement of opposition, like many others – from the sphere of fiction. To treat such allegations seriously can not. So I do not comment on them. “

Ukrainian political analyst Konstantin Bondarenko, too, believes that the scandal is useful primarily Georgian opposition. However, he recalled the events of 2002, when injected from the press statements and unsubstantiated speculation flared up large-scale international scandal involving allegations of President Leonid Kuchma of involvement in the machinations of the Supply install “Mail” to Iraq. “The facts have not been confirmed, the scandal was hushed up, but who heard about it after vociferous accusations?” – Reminded Bondarenko.

Employee Research Center Army, Conversion and Disarmament Sergei ZHURETS also remembered in the first place “Irakgeyt”: “They found those Kolchuga or not, but soon after the scandal, the U.S. attacked Iraq.” This military experts doubt that Iran might be interested in buying Ukrainian missiles: “They have their own weapons of high class. If you talk of interest in the external supply, then Iran is important to complete the deal with Russia to supply S-300. They can dramatically change the balance of power in the region, and Ukrainian rocket – no. ” In addition, ZHURETS doubts that Tehran would need to get involved in the illegal supply chain, because he can buy samples of interest directly, openly: still restrictions on such transactions was not.

Some officials and experts in Kiev suggest that the situation may be related just with the Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-300 in the supply of which to Iran is not interested in the U.S.. Perhaps under the guise of a new scandal, some forces are trying to disrupt the Iranian-Russian deal, noted experts. For now the situation is frozen in uncertainty. As the agency, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council Mikhail Margelov has recently said that the draft new UN resolution will not affect contracts already signed between Russia and Iran. At the same time Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security Viktor Ozerov said: “Of course, if the international situation and the maintenance of peace will be established that we will have to give up something for the sake of higher interests, we will do it.”

It is noteworthy that the arms scandal broke out against the background of the total absence of relations with the Russian authorities the Georgian authorities and the extensive contacts with the leaders of Russia Georgian opposition. Almost all spring main Georgian opposition figures, most recently representing the Georgian authorities – the former speaker Nino Burjanadze and former prime minister Zurab Nogaideli – flew to Moscow last visit in May, they met with Vladimir Putin. He explained to the public, why did he meet with him. According to the Russian prime minister, his meeting today with representatives of the Georgian opposition leaders, including Speaker Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Nogaideli not say that Moscow wants to “interfere in the internal affairs of Georgia and that Georgia’s public understands what you need to build at least normal relations between states. He noted that now the Russian leadership “develops a dialogue with the people with whom recently had been quite difficult to talk. “We believe that the Georgian people friendly people in relation to Russia and Russian people. What has happened in recent years – the result, to put it mildly, misguided, if not criminal policy of the current Georgian leadership “, – said Putin. Experts in Kiev and Moscow believed that the armory history that has received publicity from the filing of the Georgian opposition, as well as possible, it demonstrates.

Kiev

Shia community starts Long March towards Quetta on 4th July

The leaders of Pakistani Shia Community on Sunday warned that they would start a Long-March towards Quetta from across the country and besiege the Governor and Chief Minister house on July 4th, if their demands would not fulfill.

Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir),

The leaders of Pakistani Shia Community on Sunday warned that they would start a Long-March towards Quetta from across the country and besiege the Governor and Chief Minister house on July 4th, if their demands would not fulfill.

Addressing the meeting and protest rally organized by Shohda-e-Balochistan Organizing Committee to condemn the genocide of Shia Muslims in Balochistan, Tehreek-e-Jaffaria Chief Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen Secretary General Maulana Raja Nasir Abbas, Allama Ameen Shaheedi, PML-Q leader Marvi Memoon, Maulana Afzal Haideri, Shia Conference Balochistan leader Ashraf Zaidi and others have condemned the genocide of Shia Muslims in Balochistan.

The leaders pointed out that law and order situation in Balochistan was out of control from the provincial government and demanded of the federal government to immediately sack the Balochistan Government over their failure to control the genocide of Shia Muslims in Balochistan Province.

Shia leaders demanded of the government to take stern action against perpetrators involved in the incidents of target killings of Shia Muslims in Balochistan especially in Quetta and Mastung.

They warned that Shia community would march towards Quetta and besiege the Governor and Chief minister house on 4th July, If the government will not taken the action against the terrorists and not fulfill the demands of Shia community till June 20th.

Allama syed Sajid Ali naqvi said that conspiracies had been hatched from the very beginning against the Shia community, while act of barbarism against shia community in Quetta and Mastung were highly condemnable.

He said that Shia c ommunity was played a significant role in development of Pakistan and had never become a part of any conspiracy hatched against the country.

He said that they had raised voice against the incidents of target killing on every platform but the incidents of target killing were still on the rise and government was silent over  the genocide of Shia Muslims in Pakistan.

He warned that we could stop the other way of protest, if the target killings of Shia people would not stopped.

Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that those who violated the constitution of the country should be brought to justice and added that the rulers had badly failed to ensure the safety and security of the people.

“Agent s of Israel, India and Uniuted States were started the conspiracies to harm Pakistan, but we will foil their evil designs against the country,he added.

Criticising the Balochistan Government, Raja Nasir Abbas said that Balochstian Government was miserably failed to provide security to the people particularly Shia community and added that if action was not taken against the terrorists  and their patrons involved in the target killings of Shia community till June 20, then the people belonging to Shia community from across the country would initiate  long march towards Quetta and besiege the Governor and chief Minister house on 4th July.

The participants of the both meetings also adopt many resolutions seeking termination of Balochistan Government forthwith and immediate arrest of perpetrators and action against banned outfits.

Oily Obama

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Americans’ disgust with their government will only worsen as President Obama is increasingly seen as ineffective in mounting federal resources to address the BP oil spill. This could kill a second term for him.

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by Joel S. Hirschhorn
(libertarian)
Monday, May 24, 2010

Over thirty days into the BP oil spill one mile down into the Gulf of Mexico it should be clear to every objective person that President Obama has failed miserably. This oil spill is more than a disaster or crisis; it is a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. This environmental catastrophe will quickly morph into a national economic catastrophe as economic doomsday facing the fishing and tourism industries generate countless negative economic ripples throughout the US economy. Unemployment and economic growth will suffer.

President Obama has shown no effective leadership or any proportional response to this multi-catastrophe. All those who rightfully criticized President George W. Bush for his mishandling of the Katrina nightmare should wake up and see that Obama is failing to use every ounce of federal resources to compensate for the total failure of BP to stop the oil hemorrhaging from the floor of the Gulf. The BP failure to stop the gushing oil spill is sadly consistent with its failure to prevent the firestorm on the oil rig to begin with.

And now we learn that the Interior Department – Obama’s agency – has recently granted new permits and environmental waivers for a number of deep sea oil drilling projects.  Some are even deeper than the current failed BP project.  How could a rational government do this even as the BP oil spill remains active, uncontrolled and rapidly advancing on more and more coastal and marine resources.

Where is the national outrage? Even from Democrats. Where are the loud calls from everyone and the media demanding a stronger a federal response? Where is Obama’s clear anger and appropriate firing of many federal officials, starting with the Interior Secretary? Where is the Justice Department doing its job of quickly starting criminal prosecutions of BP and its two major contractors?

All Americans, regardless of their partisan positions, should be hollering incessantly for Obama to wake up and take this catastrophe a lot more seriously.

We should be sending a clear message that this BP oil spill catastrophe will justify preventing Obama from getting a second term. Maybe that would work to get this smarmy politician to do what is right and necessary for millions of Americans that will suffer a long time because of this corporate failure.

Obama should have seen this BP oil spill as an environmental invasion just as serious as a traditional invasion by an armed force or some awful terrorist attack. He should have mobilized the enormous federal resources in countless areas to not only deal with the oil invasion and contamination of countless natural resources but, even more critically, to stop the damn gushing of oil at the sea bottom.

It is only a matter of time until the horrendous quantities of oil wrap around Florida and then up the East coast. Maybe then more Americans will get as excited and alarmed as those poor people along the Gulf directly in the path of the oil invasion.

Maybe then President Obama will finally and belatedly show some presidential leadership. Maybe not.

India, Iran discuss building underwater gas pipeline

© RIA Novosti. Mihail Fomitchev

India and Iran are discussing building a gas pipeline between the two countries along the bed of the Arabian Sea to bypass Pakistan, a board director of the company developing the project said on Tuesday.

"The carrying capacity of the gas pipeline’s first leg will total 31 billion cu m annually, with the cost of construction estimated at $4 billion," T.H.P. Pao, a member of the board of directors and head of the supervisory board of South Asia Gas Enterprise Private Ltd. (SAGE), said.

The statement came ahead of a visit by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to India.

Pao said India and Iran were discussing the delivery of natural gas produced in Turkmenistan with Indian assistance to north Iran while the Islamic Republic will send natural gas from its southern deposits to Indian consumers.

A diplomatic source confirmed to RIA Novosti that Delhi had discussed the project with Teheran and Ashgabat and received their backing.

Under the project being worked on by SAGE, the gas pipeline will be 1,100 km (684 miles) long. The submersible part of the pipeline will start from the Iranian port city of Chabahar and will deliver gas to consumers in the Indian state of Gujarat.

According to SAGE, international investors will also finance the expensive gas pipeline project. In particular, Italian companies have expressed their readiness to join the project.

India, Iran and Pakistan have been discussing the project of building a gas pipeline between the three countries for the past three years. However, the negotiations have dragged on due to the worsening of relations between India and Pakistan.

NEW DELHI, May 25 (RIA Novosti)

U.S. Is Said to Expand Secret Actions in Mideast

By MARK MAZZETTI

 

WASHINGTON — The top American commander in the Middle East has ordered a broad expansion of clandestine military activity in an effort to disrupt militant groups or counter threats in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and other countries in the region, according to defense officials and military documents.

The secret directive, signed in September by Gen. David H. Petraeus, authorizes the sending of American Special Operations troops to both friendly and hostile nations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to gather intelligence and build ties with local forces. Officials said the order also permits reconnaissance that could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate.

While the Bush administration had approved some clandestine military activities far from designated war zones, the new order is intended to make such efforts more systematic and long term, officials said. Its goals are to build networks that could “penetrate, disrupt, defeat or destroy” Al Qaeda and other militant groups, as well as to “prepare the environment” for future attacks by American or local military forces, the document said. The order, however, does not appear to authorize offensive strikes in any specific countries.

In broadening its secret activities, the United States military has also sought in recent years to break its dependence on the Central Intelligence Agency and other spy agencies for information in countries without a significant American troop presence.

General Petraeus’s order is meant for small teams of American troops to fill intelligence gaps about terror organizations and other threats in the Middle East and beyond, especially emerging groups plotting attacks against the United States.

But some Pentagon officials worry that the expanded role carries risks. The authorized activities could strain relationships with friendly governments like Saudi Arabia or Yemen — which might allow the operations but be loath to acknowledge their cooperation — or incite the anger of hostile nations like Iran and Syria. Many in the military are also concerned that as American troops assume roles far from traditional combat, they would be at risk of being treated as spies if captured and denied the Geneva Conventionprotections afforded military detainees.

The precise operations that the directive authorizes are unclear, and what the military has done to follow through on the order is uncertain. The document, a copy of which was viewed by The New York Times, provides few details about continuing missions or intelligence-gathering operations.

Several government officials who described the impetus for the order would speak only on condition of anonymity because the document is classified. Spokesmen for the White House and the Pentagon declined to comment for this article. The Times, responding to concerns about troop safety raised by an official at United States Central Command, the military headquarters run by General Petraeus, withheld some details about how troops could be deployed in certain countries.

The seven-page directive appears to authorize specific operations in Iran, most likely to gather intelligence about the country’s nuclear program or identify dissident groups that might be useful for a future military offensive. The Obama administration insists that for the moment, it is committed to penalizing Iran for its nuclear activities only with diplomatic and economic sanctions. Nevertheless, the Pentagon has to draw up detailed war plans to be prepared in advance, in the event that President Obama ever authorizes a strike.

“The Defense Department can’t be caught flat-footed,” said one Pentagon official with knowledge of General Petraeus’s order.

The directive, the Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force Execute Order, signed Sept. 30, may also have helped lay a foundation for the surge of American military activity in Yemen that began three months later.

Special Operations troops began working with Yemen’s military to try to dismantle Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, an affiliate of Osama bin Laden’s terror network based in Yemen. The Pentagon has also carried out missile strikes from Navy ships into suspected militant hideouts and plans to spend more than $155 million equipping Yemeni troops with armored vehicles, helicopters and small arms.

Officials said that many top commanders, General Petraeus among them, have advocated an expansive interpretation of the military’s role around the world, arguing that troops need to operate beyond Iraq and Afghanistan to better fight militant groups.

The order, which an official said was drafted in close coordination with Adm. Eric T. Olson, the officer in charge of the United States Special Operations Command, calls for clandestine activities that “cannot or will not be accomplished” by conventional military operations or “interagency activities,” a reference to American spy agencies.

While the C.I.A. and the Pentagon have often been at odds over expansion of clandestine military activity, most recently over intelligence gathering by Pentagon contractors in Pakistan and Afghanistan, there does not appear to have been a significant dispute over the September order.

A spokesman for the C.I.A. declined to confirm the existence of General Petraeus’s order, but said that the spy agency and the Pentagon had a “close relationship” and generally coordinate operations in the field.

“There’s more than enough work to go around,” said the spokesman, Paul Gimigliano. “The real key is coordination. That typically works well, and if problems arise, they get settled.”

During the Bush administration, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld endorsed clandestine military operations, arguing that Special Operations troops could be as effective as traditional spies, if not more so.

Unlike covert actions undertaken by the C.I.A., such clandestine activity does not require the president’s approval or regular reports to Congress, although Pentagon officials have said that any significant ventures are cleared through the National Security Council. Special Operations troops have already been sent into a number of countries to carry out reconnaissance missions, including operations to gather intelligence about airstrips and bridges.

Some of Mr. Rumsfeld’s initiatives were controversial, and met with resistance by some at the State Department and C.I.A. who saw the troops as a backdoor attempt by the Pentagon to assert influence outside of war zones. In 2004, one of the first groups sent overseas was pulled out of Paraguay after killing a pistol-waving robber who had attacked them as they stepped out of a taxi.

A Pentagon order that year gave the military authority for offensive strikes in more than a dozen countries, and Special Operations troops carried them out in Syria, Pakistan and Somalia.

In contrast, General Petraeus’s September order is focused on intelligence gathering — by American troops, foreign businesspeople, academics or others — to identify militants and provide “persistent situational awareness,” while forging ties to local indigenous groups.

Thom Shanker and Eric Schmitt contributed reporting.

A version of this article appeared in print on May 25, 2010, on page A1

Former UN diplomat proposes re-thinking war on terrorism

SEVİM SONGÜN

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Veteran diplomat Alvaro de Soto says placing Hamas in the same terrorist category as groups like al-Qaeda is a misguided policy that closes avenues for negotiation and peace. Post-Sept. 11 US policies that prevent members of the international community from negotiating with groups on designated terrorist lists brings no benefits, says de Soto

There is far less room to mediate international conflicts as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, according to experienced United Nations diplomat Alvaro de Soto.

The Peruvian diplomat, who worked as a special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process until his resignation in 2007, lamented how Western nations have placed Palestinian group Hamas and al-Qaeda in the same category, saying the two cannot be equated.

“The problem is that on the list of terrorist organizations that has been developing over the years in Europe and the United States, there are a number of organizations that have sometimes used terrorist acts. But that is distinct from al-Qaeda,” he said. “These groups actually represent legitimate grievances that have support from large sectors of the population and that basically have an achievable political agenda. The clearest example is Hamas.”

Following the Sept. 11 attacks, then-U.S. President George W. Bush declared a global war on terror, meaning that international organizations could no longer have contact with designated terrorist groups, including Hamas, for fear of being blacklisted, he said, adding that the move has not decreased terrorism in the world.

De Soto said since Sept. 11 it is hard to think of a negotiation atmosphere arising similar to that which enabled the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998. The peace deal brokered by George Mitchell, who is now U.S. President Barack Obama’s special envoy to the Middle East, resulted in the IRA laying down its arms via a political solution to a terrorism problem.

“A RAND [a U.S.-based non-profit think tank] report from 2008 concluded that military force has rarely been the primary reason for the end of a terrorist group,” de Soto said.

The Palestinian organization began as a social solidarity group and assisted people in accessing the basics of life, medical attention and food, said de Soto, adding that he viewed Hamas as a liberation organization and a resistance movement against Israeli occupation.

Citing a speech by former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, de Soto said: “You have to be careful because sometimes the groups that carry out terrorist acts do so in support of aspirations that are legitimate.”

De Soto said a failure to address such issues could encourage further terrorist actions in the future.

These grievances must be managed politically while ending violence is only possible by addressing the group’s needs, said de Soto in reference to Hamas and the Palestinians.

Moreover, de Soto said, Hamas won a majority in legislative elections in January 2006 in the first polls the group ever contested.

Afterward, however, the group’s victory was ignored by the West and Israel, with Israel raising a blockade against the Palestinians, he said.

By participating in elections, Hamas not only agreed to reduce attacks on Israel but also implicitly accepted the 1993 Oslo Accords that sought to provide a framework for the solution to the decades-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

De Soto said the West and Israel missed a golden chance for engagement when they spurned a democratically elected Hamas following the 2006 polls.

“Instead, what you have is a blockade, collective punishment and a policy of isolation,”he said.

According to de Soto, the participation of Hamas in the election suggested that outside actors could have reached an understanding with the group.

“You have a policy that involves making peace with one half of the Palestinian people while waging war on the other half,” de Soto said in reference to Israel’s negative attitude toward Hamas, but engagement with al-Fatah, who are more secular and in control of the West Bank. “The international community and Israel deals only with al-Fatah, who were defeated in the last elections they had.”

Noting that the policy was not conducive to peace, he said: “Peace by definition is inclusive. You want to bring them in because you want them to stop the violence.”

‘Cyprus issue is a medieval padlock’

De Soto is optimistic about a solution to the Cyprus dispute. “[But] it’s like a 14th-century medieval padlock that requires four keys to open. All four keys have to be in place.”

Noting the concerns of Turkish Cypriots, he said: “You need to be assured that the Turkish Cypriots do not feel they are being dominated by the Greek Cypriots. They feel they were very badly treated by the Greek Cypriots in the early days of the Republic of Cyprus. There is a lingering feeling the Greek Cypriots are only seeking to dominate them.”

The 2004 Annan Plan, which de Soto helped draft, represented a chance to end the fears, he said, adding that Turkish Cypriots felt they could preserve their identity within a federal solution and feel secure thanks to the plan.

At the same time, he said Greek Cypriots had a lingering fear of Turkey and a feeling that the international community has imposed matters on the community since the 1960s, he said.

No matter how irrational a group’s fears, de Soto said such worries must be handled properly. “If somebody is afraid you have to deal with it.”

SPOOKY FASCISTS

Aangirfan

South Africa’s prime minister John Vorster (second from right), Israel’s prime minister Yitzhak Rabin (right) and Menachem Begin (left) with Moshe Dayan during Vorster’s 1976 visit to Jerusalem. Photograph: Sa’ar Ya’acov.(www.guardian.co.uk/…/feb/07/southafrica.israel)

1. Did the spooks blow up the London bus on 7 July 2005?

Listen to this Audio clip from a banned Sky TV interview(http://www.the4thbomb.com/the-book/)

It looks as if there may have been no Moslem with a rucksack on that bus that exploded in London on 7 July 2005.

And the Israeli fascists may be working with the fascists within the British establishment?

2. We know that the Israeli fascists worked with the white South African fascists.

South Africa’s former prime minister John Vorster was a member of South Africa’s fascist Ossewabrandwag and he was interned during World war II as a Nazi sympathiser.

In 1976, at a banquet attended by Vorster, Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin toasted "the ideals shared by Israel and South Africa."(Israel and apartheid: a marriage of convenience and military might )

Israel offered to sell South Africa nuclear warheads. (Revealed: how Israel offered to sell South Africa nuclear weapons …)

3. And, the Israeli fascists seem to be pally with the Australian fascists? (Australia intelligence chief makes secret trip to Israel.)

4. And does Mossad work with the fascists within the US establishment?

The Mohammed Atta who lived in the USA was probably an American-Israeli.

Mossad seems to have been working alongside Mohamed Atta.(http://ww1.sundayherald.com/print37707)

From the Sunday Herald:
A report by a French intelligence agency noted “according to the FBI, Arab terrorists and suspected terror cells lived in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as in Miami and Hollywood, Florida, from December 2000 to April 2001 in direct proximity to the Israeli spy cells”…

Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehi had settled in Hollywood, Florida, along with three other hijackers… where another Mossad team was operating close by.
The French intelligence report says the leader of the Mossad cell in Florida rented apartments “right near the apartment of Atta and al-Shehi”.

5. The following material comes from Daniel Hopsicker’s book ‘Welcome to Terrorland’

(democraticunderground.com/104×1433886).
1. In Venice Florida, Mohamed Atta lived for two months with an American stripper/lingerie model named Amanda Keller.
2. Atta enjoyed a party lifestyle with Keller nearly every night. He was a heavy drinker, snorted coke, was a stylish dresser and wore expensive jewelry.
3. According to Keller, Atta loved pork chops.

4. In Miami, Atta consorted with women known to be linked to the Mafia.
5. Atta’s email list included names of people who worked for defense contractors. One, for instance, worked for Canadian firm Virtual Prototypes, which helped develop the avionics for F-15, F-22 and B-2.
6. Atta was enrolled as a student at the International Officer’s School of Maxwell Airforce Base, and witnesses recall him having been introduced around at an officers’ club party.
7. According to Keller, Atta spoke Hebrew.
8. Atta, Keller, a stripper named Linda and two Germans, Peter and Johan, partied for three days in Key West. Atta paid for everything. Rented three rooms, one just for the men’s luggage, which Keller says contained drugs. Key West Airport is a known drug transit point.
9. The FBI timeline says Atta left Venice Florida in December 2000 after completing his flight training. Dozens of locals say different – his landlord, neighbours, cab drivers, restaurant employees and his girlfriend, for a few instances – and have been told not to talk about it by federal authorities.
The FBI publicly sought information regarding Atta’s time in various US locations, but not Venice Florida where the airfield reportedly has links to CIA operations.

1o. Six nights before the 9 11 attack, at a bar called Shuckums in Ft Lauderdale, Atta and two companions got drunk. Manager Tony Amos and bartender Patricia Idrissi identified both.
11. Wally Hilliard upon arriving in Florida entered into aviation businesses with an assortment of criminal and covert intelligence elements.
12. Hilliard denied knowing Atta. Keller recalled, on a visit to the airport, having Hilliard ask her, "What’s a nice girl like you doing with a guy like Mohamed?"
13. Less than three weeks after Atta and Marwan Al-Shehi began flying lessons at Huffman Aviation, a Lear jet owned by its financier, Wally Hilliard, carrying 43 pounds of heroin was seized by the DEA. Authorities called it the biggest seizure of heroin ever in central Florida.
14. John Villada, an aviation executive in Naples Florida: "After Wally’s plane was impounded with the heroin and his pilots had machine guns stuck in their faces, the DEA came to visit our maintenance facility and Wally shouted out to me – right in front of the DEA guy – ‘Make sure all the heroin and cocaine gets hidden!’" Hilliard’s mock warning seemed to show the DEA how little he thought of them, and how well he was protected.
15. Hilliard had got his Lear jet from World Jet Inc, owned by drug smuggling brothers Don and Bill Whittington, who had supplied the plane to CIA drug smuggler Barry Seal.
16. A former Huffman executive, speaking about the hijackers: "Early on I gleaned that these guys had government protection. They were let into this country for a specific purpose. It was a business deal."
17. Jeb Bush accompanied the FBI when they removed the flight school records on the early morning of September 12, and flew them to Washington.
18. Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris have flown and endorsed Hilliard’s air carrier.
19. In the days following 9/11, a number of Saudis fled the country from Florida after the attacks. They flew on Wally Hillier’s charter aircraft to private fields of military contractor Raytheon, and departed on a 747.
20. After the attacks, a virtually non-existent company that operated out of Venice Airport under Huffman’s license called Britannia Aviation was awarded a five-year, multi-million dollar contract to run the maintenance facility at Lychburg Virginia Regional Airport. (FYI, Lynchburg is the home of Jerry Falwell’s Liberty Baptist University.) Britannia executive Peter Martens boasted that his company had been providing maintenance at Venice Airport for "Caribe Air," which is a notorious CIA proprietary carrier.
21. Many of the Venice flight trainers moonlight by flying "missionary flights" to Central and South America, for such organizations as Pat Robertson’s Operation Hope.
22. Most of Atta’s closest associates in Venice were not Arabs, but Europeans with connection to the drug trade.

6. The following is taken from:xymphora.blogspot.com/2002_04_28_l

Mohamed Atta was in Florida in April 2000, attending a pilot school and sending e-mails to a group which included people working for U. S. defence contractors (hardly the kind of group you’d think a quiet student in Hamburg, Germany would be able to assemble).
The problem is that in the summer of 2000 (I assume the article is referring to 2000, as the summer of 2001 would be even weirder) he apparently was presenting a model of Washington, D. C. to his architecture class in Hamburg.
He is in fact only supposed to have arrived in the United States in June 2000. How was he simultaneously at pilot school in April in Florida, and still a student in Hamburg who hasn’t yet left for the United States?…
As I have already written, the Atta born in Egypt and living in Hamburg is almost certainly not the same person as Atta the hijacker.
The fact that there are two ‘Attas’ tells us a lot (for one thing, it tells us how he can be in two places at once!).
Who had the power to pick a suitable identity (right age, ethnicity, piously fundamentalist Muslim) and give it to the man who used the Atta identity in Florida?
Who presented us with the fake identity, and who continues to cover up the truth?
Why was the obviously skilled pilot who flew into the World Trade Center attending two-bit (the first one went out of business while he was attending it, and the second one also has a shady past) flying schools in South Florida, which wouldn’t have been able to train him to so skilfully fly large passenger jets?
The reason is that flight schools can accept foreign students on student visas, and the paperwork for the visas which is prepared by the schools on behalf of the students forms the main basis for the fictitious identities of the hijackers (the seemingly senseless mailing of a visa renewal to two of the hijackers six months after September 11, which caused such outrage in the United States, was just another way of emphasizing the personal identity of the hijackers to the American people).
Why was Atta so extraordinarily sloppy in his relations with government bureaucracy (driving without a licence, not attending at his court hearing, abandoning a plane at Miami airport, and having, of all things, visa problems), all out of line with what is supposedly the al-Qaeda training manual which insists on terrorists keeping a low profile, unless he was trying to create an obvious record of his existence and identity in the United States?
My guess is that the person playing the role of Mohamed Atta was an American citizen… and intelligence operative, whose real name we’ll never know.

Russia Pushing Fight Against Afghan Opium and Drug-Barons

Russia has matured Afghan poppy. In Moscow, discussed the fight against drug menace

O. Allenova

Russia has matured Afghan poppy
In Moscow, discussed the fight against the drug menace

in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, yesterday discussed the problem of combating the Afghan drug threat, which in recent years Moscow has increased its attention.

official reason for yesterday’s meeting was the preparation for the international conference “The Afghan drug production as a challenge to the international community” to be held June 9 in Moscow and attended by representatives of the UN, NATO and the CSTO member-states.

A serious concern in Moscow, caused by the Afghan drug threat, Sergei Lavrov demonstrated last week in Rome at the meeting of foreign and defense ministers of Russia and Italy, calling on NATO partners radically combat opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. “The main reserve, which is necessary to engage in Afghanistan in the fight against drug trafficking – is the destruction not only of laboratories and routes for drug traffickers, but also the direct production of opium, – said Mr. Lavrov .- As long as the destruction of fields, we can not achieve an understanding of some of our European colleagues. “

It is noteworthy that the Russian side is not the first year, laments the “misunderstanding” of European and American counterparts. The director of the Federal Service for Drug Control (FSKN) Viktor Ivanov last year stated to Kommersant that the methods of dealing with NATO’s drug production in Afghanistan is extremely inefficient and, in fact, are a threat to national security of Russia. According to the Drug Control Agency, after the southbound on drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Pakistan and India was closed because of fighting in the tribal zone, the flow of drugs into Russia has increased substantially – to only one of Dagestan in recent years the volume of drug traffic has increased 20 times. Last week, Mr. Ivanov told reporters “L” even hinted at the reluctance of NATO to seriously address these challenges: “Russia and NATO cost not private, and on key issues. We’re talking about the need to destroy narcotic plants in Afghanistan and NATO say: “We will not deprive the peasants of their earnings, we will fight drug lords.” This position is in contradiction with international law. “

actively criticizing the “inefficiency” of NATO actions in the fight against drug trafficking, Moscow offers a way solution – developed by the Federal Drug Control Plan Raduga-2 “, which already bore the discussion in the NATO-Russia Council. “In the province of Gelment is about 90% of Afghan drugs – it is here necessary to conduct operations to destroy opium poppy – told Kommersant:” Mr Ivanov .- And enough to destroy 25% of the crop to drug production became unprofitable. Another measure of control, the proposed Federal Drug Control Service, is a tougher fight against the so-called landlords – Owners of land in the province Gelment. “These people do not live in Afghanistan, they live in the United Arab Emirates and other wealthy countries, and on their land farmers grow opium poppies – believes Mr Ivanov .- The peasants themselves are paid a pittance this work – the lion’s share of the profits are landlords. Necessary to draw up lists these people and declare them in the international search. “

Last week in Rome, Mr. Lavrov, in essence, repeated the thesis of the plan, “Raduga-2″, noting that “the people providing their own territory under the opium fields must be entered in the lists of the Security Council and be subject to sanctions “and that the destruction of opium poppy cultivation is necessary to obtain additional UN mandate. However, the foreign minister recommended to colleagues in NATO to strengthen cooperation with the CSTO and the activities of the organization called for the destruction of opium “effective.”

According to the expert the Centre for Contemporary Afghanistan Andrei Serenko, Russia did not accidentally spoke about the effectiveness of the CSTO and the special UN mandate for anti-drug Operations in Afghanistan: “The Kremlin has fought two models for solving the Afghan problem: one of them involves trust in all our partners in NATO and not to interfere in such a complex region where we had once lost. Another model of lobbying by security officials, including the head of Federal Drug Control Service – they believe that Russia should return to Afghanistan even under such a pretext, because if Russia would stand aside, the pie called “Asian region” will be shared without it. ” However, in his opinion, Russia does not want to bear all the costs of anti-drug campaign in Afghanistan itself – which is why the Kremlin is appealing to the need for joint operations with NATO.

Olga Allenova
№ 91 (4391) on 25.05.2010

Source - Newspaper “Kommersant”

India Disappointed As Pakistani Court Frees Alleged Mumbai Attacks Mastermind

Yamini Kaul – AHN News Contributor

Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) – India has expressed disappointment over the Pakistan Supreme Court’s verdict freeing Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest on Tuesday.

In a statement, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, “There is a sense of disappointment. I am sure everybody in this country will share same sense of disappointment on this development especially when we regard Hafiz Saeed as one of the masterminds of the Mumbai terror attacks [in November 2008] and he has openly urged jihad against India.”

In Islamabad, Pakistan’s high court dismissed an appeal challenging the release of the JuD chief from house arrest. The appeals were made against an earlier decision of the Lahore High Court allowing Saeed’s release. The matter, which came up for hearing on Tuesday, was taken up before a three-judge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Malik.

The justices said the Indian government had failed to provide evidence linking Saeed to the Mumbai attacks.

Saeed is the founder of the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and has been under house arrest since December 2008 after India accused Saeed of planning the terror attacks on Mumbai.

In her statement, Rao insisted that India had handed over “enough evidence” to Pakistan to prove Saeed’s role in the Mumbai attacks. She said, “Now since Pakistan has assured us that it will not allow its territory to be used against India, we hope Pakistan will be sensitive to our efforts and take meaningful action.”

Pakistan has, on different occasions, contended that India’s evidence against Saeed is inadequate.

North Korea Severs Ties With South–(Text)

Text from North Korea statement

SEOUL

(Reuters) – North Korea announced on Tuesday it was cutting all ties with South Korea in retaliation for Seoul imposing sanctions on Pyongyang after torpedoing one of the South’s warships.

The following are key points from the text of the report issued by the North’s KCNA news agency.

“The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, accordingly, formally declares that from now on it will put into force the resolute measures to totally freeze the inter-Korean relations, totally abrogate the agreement on non-aggression between the north and the south and completely halt the inter-Korean cooperation.

“In this connection, the following measures will be taken at the first phase:

“1. All relations with the puppet authorities will be severed.

“2. There will be neither dialogue nor contact between the authorities during (South Korean President) Lee Myung Bak’s tenure of office.

“3. The work of the Panmunjom Red Cross liaison representatives will be completely suspended.

“4. All communication links between the north and the south will be cut off.

“5. The Consultative Office for North-South Economic Cooperation in the Kaesong Industrial Zone will be frozen and dismantled and all the personnel concerned of the south side will be expelled without delay.

“6. We will start all-out counterattack against the puppet group’s ‘psychological warfare against the north.’

“7. The passage of south Korean ships and airliners through the territorial waters and air of our side will be totally banned.

“8. All the issues arising in the inter-Korean relations will be handled under a wartime law.

“There is no need to show any mercy or patience for such confrontation maniacs, sycophants and traitors and wicked warmongers as the (South Korean President) Lee Myung Bak group.”

(Reporting by Jonathan Thatcher; Editing by Paul Tait)