Zimbabwe Government Opens Up Fuel Imports

06 MAR, 2019 - 00:03

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa

Felex Share
Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

Government has liberalised the importation of fuel with Cabinet yesterday giving big companies with free funds the green light to import fuel for their own consumption. This is meant to augment supply gaps in the market. Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa confirmed the development while addressing journalists after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

This comes as Cabinet also resolved that the ongoing partial privatisation of ZUPCO, which is in sync with public enterprise reforms espoused in Government’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), be expedited to boost recapitalisation of the company.

On the liberalisation of fuel importation, Minister Mutsvangwa said: “Cabinet received the weekly supply situation report from the Minister of Energy and Power Development. In order to close the fuel supply gaps in the market during the course of the week eight million litres of diesel were released into the market. Following the release of funding by the RBZ, the fuel supply situation is now expected to stabilise as the week progresses. Furthermore, Cabinet has given a green light to large companies such as those in the mining sector to use their funds to import fuel for their use.”

In 2015, Statutory Instrument (SI) 171 was amended to allow members of the public to import up to 2 000 litres of fuel per month for personal use.

However, the legal instrument was repealed two years later through SI 122 of 2017, which stipulated that only companies licensed in terms of Section 29 of the Petroleum Act were allowed to import fuel. The market is currently plagued by intermittent stock-outs, which are negatively affecting individual consumers and businesses.

Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo said individuals will not be allowed to import fuel on their own.

“Government has given the green light to mining companies and those in the farming sector to import fuel using their own funds,” he said.

“At the moment no individual is allowed to do that. Regarding the issue of diesel, it is true that last week there was shortage of diesel and the His Excellency allowed us to use stragetic reserves to bring in diesel to mitigate the situation as we were allowing oil companies to do their usual ordering of fuel into the market. We hope that come end of week, things will have stabilised for both products.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet deliberated on ways of improving ZUPCO operations.

“Cabinet resolved that ZUPCO be capacitated through recruitment and training of critical personnel thereat,” she said.

“It resolved that an electronic ticketing system be introduced to increase revenue collection and service efficiency and that the options to either import finished buses and/or knocked down kits for assembling locally be speedily concluded. Cabinet also mandated the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development together with the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and other related key stakeholders to assiduously work on revamping the country’s urban mass transport system, beginning with Harare and Bulawayo.”

She said for Harare the programme will incorporate aspects such as completion of the Airport Road and the flyover towards Enterprise Road and construction of ring roads and flyovers around Harare to decongest and bring sanity in the Central Business District (CBD).

Installation of an electonic traffic management system consistent with the smart city concept,she said, should also done under the programme.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo said the ZUPCO system was progressing well in all urban areas.

“We have been able to cover our vehicle operation costs and that is important,” he said.

“The hiring of those vehicles is like your capital expenditure that we have not been able to cover right now. So there is an element of subsidy that we are doing but we are happy that the operations can cover fuel and salaries. We think we can create a viable system in urban areas. We are fine- tuning because in some areas we put too many buses and we are downsizing. In some areas like Harare we had to increase the number of buses because the commuter omnibuses were having difficulties in accessing fuel.”

He said Government was paying each bus $700 per day.

“We charged a flat rate of $700 RTGS per day, “ said Minister Moyo.

“We expected at that time that each bus will run nine trips but those have not been achieved because of congestion. So the subsidy in the first month was larger than normal but we think that in the next month it is going going to be lower. We are now fine-tuning with the bus owners for us to pay for a bus that has done work.”

International Bidders for Zimbabwe Dam Projects

 04 MAR, 2019 - 00:03 
Fidelis Munyoro
Senior Reporter
Herald

Government has floated an international tender for the construction of 19 major water infrastructure facilities, including dams and water purification structures to enhance agricultural production and meet the demands of the growing urban population.

Several investors have shown interest in funding water infrastructure in the country whose economy is heavily reliant on agriculture.

Government has anchored the revival of agriculture on irrigation and construction of dams countrywide and will go a long way in ensuring the success of such national projects as Command Agriculture.

Investment in public infrastructure is one of the key policy measures advanced by President Mnangagwa’s administration as it focuses on projects in the fields of energy, water and sanitation, housing and transport.

Under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), Government is also focusing on expediting completion of ongoing infrastructural projects with a view to contributing to the revival of the economy.

The tender was floated by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement.

Government said it intended to develop water infrastructure in partnership with the private sector on the basis of Build –Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT).

According to an advert published in The Sunday Mail yesterday, the ministry said climate change and rainfall variability continued to have an impact on the country, hence the massive projects to mitigate against these impacts.

“Pursuant to this objective, potential investors in the form of individuals, partners or companies are invited to tender for the available water infrastructure projects on offer,” read the advert.

“All technical feasibility studies and determination of the project bankability shall be at the potential investor’s cost and part of the

Governments role shall be to supervise the studies for feasibility bankability including the implementation of the infrastructure.”

Government would be responsible for land acquisition and maintenance of the servitude for the water infrastructure. It would also be responsible for oversight during panning, implementation and tenure of the concession until handover of the project.

“Over and above this responsibility, the Government shall facilitate the repatriation of investor proceeds during the tenure of the concession to whatever destination and wherever the investor wants.”

Government would also do what is necessary to improve the costs of the BOOT arrangement.

In this case, Government would enable the concession holder to import plant and equipment on temporary import basis and duty free so that equipment and plant can be re-exported after the completion of the project and not at the end of concession.

“Rebate on company and expatriates income tax will have a reduction effect on the cost of the project,” said the ministry. “The dam servitudes which comprise all the activities that are undertaken but the National Parks will be under the concession holder in order to increase their revenue stream and hence increase project viability to the funders. This includes the land in and around the dam, development of tourism and marine activities.”

However, Government institutions namely the Zinwa, Zimparks, EMA and Ministry of Transport and infrastructural Development still remained the regulators of the projects.

The Ministry said concession holders would still maintain the payment of respective royalties to regulators that maintain the statutory requirements of the Government to ensure the safety and quality of the project.

“All the design reports that is, preliminary, feasibility, full design, geological and hydrological reports, should be lodged with the Ministry of Lands Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement and Zinwa.

These will become intellectual property of the Government of Zimbabwe.”

The roles of the Government and the investor during the implementation and operation of the water infrastructure are also outlined in the project prospectus.

Details for the projects can be found in a bidding document and project prospectus to be obtained after paying a non-refundable fee of $10.

The deadline for the submission of tenders is May 3.

Nigeria Police Say More Than 300 Held for Voting Offences

 05 MAR, 2019

Electoral officials compile voting results at a collation centre in Yola, in Nigeria. - AP

ABUJA. – More than 300 people were arrested on suspicion of committing electoral offences during Nigeria’s recent elections, the top police chief has said.

“A total of 323 offenders have so far been arrested for various electoral offences and sundry crimes across the country,” Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu said on Monday.

“Two officers also paid the supreme sacrifice, while some others were assaulted and injured,” he added, vowing to liaise with the electoral commission for any prosecutions.

The February 23 polls saw incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress, defeat his main rival Atiku Abubakar from the People’s Democratic Party.

Abubakar has rejected the result, calling the election a “sham” and vowed to file a legal challenge.

– AFP

Unknown Attackers Threaten to Worsen Ebola Epidemic in Congo

 04 MAR, 2019 - 22:03

YAOUNDE. – Aid workers at the epicentre of the worst Ebola epidemic in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo say they are facing a spike in attacks and threats, slowing their work and potentially triggering a surge of new cases.

While two Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) facilities treating Ebola patients in North Kivu province were attacked last week, aid workers said they are only the latest in a series of incidents.

One of the facilities has since reopened.

“We had at least 10 cars that were broken into in Katwa,” said Michel Yao, incident manager for the World Health Organization referring to an attack last month in an area in the eastern trading hub of Butembo, a city with strong links to neighboring Uganda.

“There are increasing attacks on different teams,” Yao told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone from Butembo.

He cited the difficult conditions faced by aid staff working on disinfection, safe burials, support of health facilities, those providing vaccinations to treat Ebola and others.

The current Ebola epidemic, first declared in August, is believed to have killed at least 561 people, so far, and infected over 300 more. It is unclear who exactly is behind the attacks, said Jean-Philippe Marcoux, country director for the Mercy Corps charity in Congo.

“It’s a minority of groups but sometimes they react violently and target response workers,” he said.

“To a certain extent, Ebola has been politicized during the run up to (December’s presidential) elections,” said Marcoux.

Some communities believe the Ebola response to be part of a political conspiracy to control or exclude the local population from the electoral process, he said.

Some people accuse the government or the international community of “bringing us Ebola”, Marcoux said. In some neighbourhoods, locals ignore potentially life-saving precautions, Marcoux added.

“They refuse treatment, they refuse follow ups, they refuse vaccinations and they refuse assistance for the (safe) burials.”

“The teams and staff are very scared,” WHO’s Yao said. “When our team enters (certain areas), they are suddenly surrounded by hostile people who are even armed.”

“We saw bullet marks on the wall,” Yao added, referring to an attack on an Ebola treatment center in Butembo on Wednesday.

The centre was set on fire while an extended gun battle between the attackers and security forces ensued, health officials said.

The torching of the two centres prompted Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) to suspend medical activities.

“It will definitively affect the prognosis of people surviving Ebola,” Yao said.

“The fear is that if we cannot work in the coming days and weeks, we will have a major surge of cases in Butembo. I cannot exclude re-infection in places where the outbreak has been brought under control. This is really our fear.”

Blaming the attacks on insecurity and violent gangs “would be too easy,” said Marcoux in a statement released on Thursday.

“Building community acceptance and securing trust has not being given the same weight as treatment, and we are continuing to see the consequences – suspicion abounds and case numbers rise,” he added.

“The only way around it is to establish dialogue, which takes time, resources, and with the right people that (communities) can trust – that would be a good place to start.” – Reuters

Ethiopia PM to Mediate Between Kenya and Somalia

Daniel Mumbere
Africa News

Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday, accompanied his Somalian counterpart Mohamed Farmaajo to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, where the former will lead efforts to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Last month, Kenya summoned its ambassador to Somalia, saying it was protesting a decision by the Mogadishu government to auction oil and gas exploration blocks at the centre of a maritime territorial dispute in the Indian Ocean.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is considering a claim on the two countries’ maritime boundaries brought by Somalia in 2014 after negotiations over the 100,000 square km stretch of sea floor broke down.

The office of the Ethiopian prime minister said mediation efforts were designed to ‘ ease tensions that have been building’.

Abiy left with Farmaajo, after holding bilateral talks in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia, Eritrea Leaders Visit South Sudan for High-level Talks

Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban 
Africa News
04/03 - 11:22

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki are in South Sudan on an official visit.

The two departed from Asmara International Airport on Monday morning and have arrived in Juba to bolster existing ties between their countries. Abiy had visited Asmara on Sunday along with Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Office of the Prime Minister said the discussions were to be centered on regional peace, economic ties and infrastructure development.

“In addition they will also be addressing issues of developing joint capacities and working together in an integrated manner,” the office said in a social media post.

South Sudan president Salva Kiir who was on a tour of one of the country’s northwestern Bahr el Ghazal state cut short his trip to meet with the visiting leaders.

Some engagements slated for the trio include a tripartite meeting in the morning. A joint press statement is expected to be issued. Abiy and Afwerki will depart later in the day.

British Museum Agrees to Return Ethiopian Emperor's Hair

The hair belonging to Emperor Tewodros II will be repatriated after a request from Ethiopia, National Army Museum says.

4 Mar 2019

Two locks of hair belonging to widely revered Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II will be repatriated after a request from Addis Ababa, the National Army Museum in the UK announced Monday, as more African countries seek to reclaim heritage they say was taken decades, even centuries, ago.

An outcry erupted last year among some Ethiopians over an exhibit by another institution, the Victoria and Albert Museum, on the 1868 British expedition to what was then called Abyssinia. During that campaign, in which 13,000 troops were deployed to free several British hostages, the emperor killed himself and his fortress was captured and looted.

Ethiopia's government at the time said it would use "whatever legal and diplomatic instruments" to secure the return of related items including an intricate golden crown.

That another British museum, the National Army Museum, held locks of the emperor's hair was seen as particularly sensitive. "Displaying human parts in websites and museums is inhumane," Ethiopia's minister for culture and tourism, Hirut Woldemariam, told The Associated Press last year.

That museum has said the hair was donated in 1959 by relatives of an artist who painted the emperor on his deathbed.

"Our decision to repatriate is very much based on the desire to inter the hair within the tomb alongside the emperor" at a monastery in northern Ethiopia, Terri Dendy, the National Army Museum's head of collections standards and care, said in a statement.

'A great start'

It was not clear when the formal handover would occur. The Ethiopian Embassy in London said it would hold talks with the museum on Thursday about the repatriation, which comes at the end of a yearlong commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the confrontation known as the Battle of Maqdala.

The embassy in a statement commended the museum's decision as an "exemplary gesture of goodwill," adding that "a display of jubilant euphoria is to be expected when (the hair) is returned to its rightful home."

Now Ethiopians say they seek the return of the bones of the emperor's son, Prince Alemayehu, who was taken to Britain and died there at age 18. He was buried at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The decision to return the emperor's hair is "a great start, both in encouraging the British toward looking into the possibilities of returning our looted antiquities and also the Ethiopian stakeholders whose decades-long, painstaking efforts actually can bear fruit," Yonas Desta, director-general of Ethiopia's Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage, told the AP.

The bulk of what was taken, however, remains in the hands of the descendants of the British soldiers, according to Alula Pankhurst, a former professor at Addis Ababa University and an expert on Ethiopian studies.

"Some items in private collections have already been returned but the bulk of the items are in public collections within the UK and those cannot be restituted without an act of Parliament, and that is something that requires a big change in popular opinion and a bill has to be presented by members of Parliament," he said last year. "This is something that cannot be done overnight."

Some in Africa expect the momentum to grow in repatriating heritage from institutions overseas.

Late last year, a study by French art historian Benedicte Savoy and Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr, commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron, recommended that French museums give back works that were taken without consent, if African countries request them.

That could increase pressure on museums elsewhere in Europe to follow suit. The experts estimated that up to 90 percent of African art is outside the continent, including statues, thrones and manuscripts.

SOURCE: AP NEWS AGENCY

Somalia President in Addis Ababa for Talks with Ethiopia PM

Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban
Africa News

Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” arrived in Ethiopia on Monday (March 5) on an official visit.

He was received at the Bole International Airport by hist host Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Both leaders are expected to hold talks on bilateral and regional issues.

“The visit has come as part of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s initiative for regional peace and security and economic integration in the Horn of Africa region,” the PM’s office noted.

The Somali delegation included top government officials whiles the reception officials also included Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu and Peace Minister Muferiat Kamil.

Farmaajo’s last visit to Ethiopia was in February 2019 when he joined heads of government for the 32nd African Union, AU, summit.

He visited last year flying to Bahir Dar in the Amhara region to join Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki for the second edition of a tripartite summit between the three countries.

He was billed to visit in February when Somaliland leader was also due in Addis Ababa. Despite official confirmation of the meeting between Farmaajo and Muse Bihi, his participation did not materialize.

It is not known if the current talks will include conditions for a possible meeting with leader of Somaliland – the semi-autonomous region of Somalia.

Ethiopia and Somalia have a long history with Addis Ababa in the recent years accused of being behind instability in Somalia even though Ethiopian troops continue to serve under the AU mission, AMISOM.

English Councils Are Flogging Off Public Assets to Plug Financial Holes Caused by Austerity

Morning Star, London

An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism finds 12,000 publicly owned spaces and properties have been sold since 2015-16

Former Chancellor George Osborne allowed councils in 2016 to spend proceeds of sell-offs on cost-cutting measures

ENGLISH councils are flogging off land and property to developers to plug financial holes caused by government cuts and to pay for redundancies that they make during austerity.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s claim that “austerity is over” has been shattered by an investigation by the independent non-profit Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Using the Freedom of Information law, it found that 12,000 publicly owned spaces and properties have been sold since 2015-16.

The sell-offs of public spaces, libraries, community centres and playgrounds have raised £9.1 billion to offset deficits caused by austerity.

In April 2016, the then Chancellor George Osborne relaxed the rules to allow councils to spend proceeds of sell-offs on cost-cutting measures, when before they could only pay for buying new assets.

The investigation found that one in six councils in England have raised £381 million from sales of buildings and land to pay for cuts since April 2016. Almost a third – £115 million – was spent on redundancy payments.

The five local authorities that spent the highest amount on redundancies paid for through the new spending powers were Birmingham (£23m), Haringey (£8m), Stoke-on-Trent (£7.7m), Telford and Wrekin (£5.9m) and Wakefield (£5.9m).

The investigation found that the average number of redundancies over three years was 75 per cent higher at councils that made use of the new spending powers than at those which did not.

Birmingham was the worst hit, with the investigation finding that the council disposed of 167 buildings or plots of land between April 2016 and July last year.

The lost public assets in the city include community centres, allotments, car parks, an outdoor education centre and a university building.

The council’s workforce has halved since 2010.

Last week Birmingham Council announced plans to cut another 1,095 jobs.

Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Perry Barr in Birmingham, said: “This is an absolutely ridiculous way to do business. We should never have been doing this. We should never have been selling the land that we have inherited from our forefathers for future generations.

“It just takes the future away from our children and grandchildren to come and that is really devastating.”

Shadow communities and local government secretary Andrew Gwynne said: “Austerity has hollowed out the heart of our communities. This report reveals the shocking disposal of our community assets under the Tories.

“Since 2010 local government has lost 60p out of every pound that the last Labour government invested in our local communities.”

Algeria: Bouteflika Vows Political Reforms in Face of Protests

5 March 2019
Telesur

Analysts warn that while protests are a consequence of the country's economic crisis, international actors may be interested in influencing the political situation due to Algeria's geopolitical importance.

Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika officially presented his candidacy for the April presidential elections before the country's Constitutional Council. He also published an open letter to calm those who have been protesting in Algiers, Tlemcen, Ghardaia, and other cities for weeks against his fifth bid in office.

Bouteflika promised to quickly implement "public policies guaranteeing a more equitable and just redistribution of the national wealth as well as the elimination of marginalization and social exclusion," the The World Socialist Web Site reported and commented that "the ruling class's great fear is that demonstrations could provoke a broader work mobilization against unemployment, poverty and social inequality."

In his letter, the Algerian 82-year-old president also vowed to enhance "the change of the system" by holding an "inclusive and independent National Conference," which is expected to discuss, elaborate and implement political reforms.

This will be accompanied by the elaboration of a new Constitution, which will be adopted through a referendum for the birth of a "New Republic." In order to do so, President Bouteflika announced that the electoral law will be revisited and an independent electoral organization will be created.

His most important announcement, however, was that he would call for early elections, in which he will not be a candidate, once the new constitution and reforms are approved, meaning he would not be completing a full term in office if he wins the upcoming election.

The snap elections' date, he said, would be defined by the independent electoral organization.

While protests continue and as some opposition parties reject the president's proposal, other political actors and parties see Bouteflika's plan as a realistic one for a political transition from two decades of his rule and the dominance of his leftist National Liberation front, though popular support.

Ilies Berdiche, a member of the National and Democratic Rally (RND) party, described Bouteflika's proposal as "a fair deal" telling Al-Jazeera that "It will give enough time to opposition parties and civil society organizations to be ready for a major political transition."

Meanwhile, political analysts warn that while the recent protests are a consequence of the country's economic crisis, international actors may be interested in influencing the political situation due to Algeria's geopolitical importance.

Bachir Ahmed Aomar, an international analyst who does not rule out that demonstrations could be used by France and its allies for political purposes. "Algeria is North Africa's biggest player in energy issues and has had France as an enemy... we have the experience of what France did in Libya, a country which no longer exists because [the world's] powers destroyed it," Aomar told teleSUR in a recent interview.
For other observers, recent demonstrations remind the region of the 2011 popular uprisings which ended with several North African governments being ousted as the case of Egypt and Tunisia, although such protests did not succeed in Algeria due to different factors and political realities.

Nevertheless, the upcoming elections are an opportunity for the people to choose in total freedom and sovereignty, Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia said.

Hugo Chavez's Memory Lives on in the Hearts of Latin Americans

Hugo Chavez's presidency in Venezuela extended from 1999 to 2013, but his presence still remains in the streets and the heart of the country. | Photo: EFE

5 March 2019
Telesur

Chavez’s spirit was contagious and empowered the region with a passion for Latin America and its colorful history.

Six years since his passing and the memory of Hugo Chavez still remains not only in the hearts of Venezuelans but of Latin Americans around the globe.

His leadership and legacy revolutionized the state of Venezuela, like no other administration in the nation’s history, cutting the chord from imperialist countries in the north, taking the reins and changing South America’s future.

After centuries of passivity, under Chavez’s administration, Venezuela bloomed into one of the strongest, most independent nations on the continent.

Over the 14 years of his presidency, Chavez made it his mission to bring equality to lower classes from mediating race discrimination to increasing employment opportunities and introducing social programs.

By exploring the expenditure of Venezuela’s oil industry, the former president was able to allocate funds for free housing, literacy, and health care initiatives. Pensions for the elderly surged, jumping from 400,000 to over two million; some 1.5 million Venezuelans benefited from the Mission Robinson I and learned to read and write.

Under Chavez’s policies, poverty rates were cut in half and the level of extreme poverty decreased by two-thirds; child malnutrition decreased and the amount of safe, clean drinking water grew.

In an article published by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Roger D. Harris, Task Force on the Americas, said, “Venezuela went from being among one of the most economically unequal nations in Latin America to being among the most equal through the exercise of state power for the populace.”

Chavez’s spirit was contagious and empowered the region with a passion for Latin America and its colorful history.

His experience was pivotal in the creation of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) which united Venezuelan and Cuba in 2003 in a mutually respectful and reciprocal fair trade arrangement. What started as a two-member agreement, soon grew into an 11-member nation concord.

A second initiative, PetroCaribe, made waves in 2005 when 17 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean joined together to secure a steady energy supply, without overdue interference from Canada or the United States.

Similarly, The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) were created again as a means to break from centuries of tradition and submission orchestrated by the Northern Hemisphere.

The progress realized in Venezuela over the last decade and a half hardly make it surprising that the United States is desperate to instate a Washington-approved head of state.

Over the last few months, the U.S. has increased its efforts to dislodge Chavez’s democratically elected successor, Nicolas Maduro. In its most recent attempt, the U.S. sent “humanitarian aid” to Colombia in a show of solidarity with the Venezuelan opposition and the “suffering boys and girls.” However, violence- perpetrated by opposition forces- broke out along the border and resulted in the injury of numerous state police officials.

This “philanthropic” ploy was denounced by Venezuelan government officials before an international delegation at the United Nations last week, when Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza revealed that the trucks of “food” were carrying equipment for barricades and anti-government movements lodged by the opposition.

Despite these hardships, Maduro's government continues Chavez’s mission, founding new social programs to boost the economy and employment opportunities, while still ensuring the heart and spirit of “Chavismo” is reflected in modern-day Venezuela.

Israel Pushing for Africa Foothold with Military Training: Report

Mon Mar 4, 2019 11:51AM
presstv.ir

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), flanked by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd L) and military officials, inspects a guard of honor at the State House in Nairobi on July 5, 2016. (By AFP)

A report says Israeli commandos are training local forces in more than a dozen African nations where Israeli arms exporters are already accused of being complicit in war crimes.

Israel’s Channel 13 on Sunday showed footage of Israeli officers coaching Tanzanian troopers in hand-to-hand krav maga, hostage operations and urban combat, saying there is dramatic rise in Tel Aviv's military activitites in Africa.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made inroads into Africa a key part of his agenda, becoming the first Israeli leader to visit the continent in 50 years in 2016.

“I’ve been in Africa four times in the last two years, that’s gotta tell you something,” Netanyahu said in a speech at an event in February.

Over the past two years, he has traveled to several African states in a bid to convince them to stop voting against the Israeli regime at the United Nations.

Israel is also said to be seeking to take advantage of insurgency and Takfiri militancy gripping parts of Africa to sell advanced military equipment to conflict-ridden states in the continent.

Tel Aviv’s policy to spice up ties with Africa, the report said, also features combined efforts by Israeli foreign ministry, military, Mossad spy agency and the regime’s so-called security agency, Shin Bet.

The report named Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi , Zambia, South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Ivory Coast and Ghana as among the African countries that Israel was seeking to stake out a niche.

Israel’s military cooperation with the African states possibly emanated from the fact that many of those nations take part in peacekeeping missions on the border between the occupied territories, Syria and Lebanon, it said.

It would be advantageous to Israel if these forces were led by Israeli-trained soldiers, said the report.

An Israeli delegation has reportedly been traveling to countries in Africa and “carefully” weighing requests for further military collaboration.

The delegation is taking into account how likely Israeli military expertise could be used in committing mass atrocities in the continent, the report said.

Israeli media reported in November that Tel Aviv was actively working to establish diplomatic ties with Sudan, as part of wider efforts to upgrade relations with central African countries.

The Israeli TV channel also reported that Israel’s ministry of military affairs recently summoned retired Maj. Gen. Israel Ziv for a hearing after the US accused him of selling $150 million in weapons to both sides of the civil war in South Sudan.

Last year, the US Treasury Department placed sanctions on the Israeli businessman for his role in the civil war in South Sudan.

A recent report by the London-based Middle East Eye said the head of Mossad met his Sudanese counterpart in Germany last month as part of a secret plan by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE to oust President Omar al-Bashir.

In January, Bashir was quoted to have lamented that he had been advised to normalize ties with Israel because a normalization would help stabilize growing unrest sweeping Sudan.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt Oppose Bids Against Normalization of Ties with Israel: Report

Mon Mar 4, 2019 04:55PM
presstv.ir

Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh, the speaker of Saudi Arabia's Consultative Assembly, attends the 29th Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Amman, Jordan, on March 3, 2019. (Photo by Reuters)

Delegates from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt at a meeting of Arab states have reportedly opposed bids condemning the normalization of relations with the Israeli regime.

Russia's RT Arabic television news network reported on Monday that Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh, the speaker of Saudi Arabia's Consultative Assembly, together with his Emirati and Egyptian counterparts opposed a paragraph in the final communiqué of the 29th Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in the Jordanian capital city of Amman, which demands an end to efforts aimed at normalizing ties with Israel and condemns all forms of rapprochement with the occupying regime.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Speaker of the People's Council of Syria Hammouda Youssef Sabbagh and the Palestinian representative, in return, supported the decision to reject any sort of ties normalization with Israel, and stressed the need to keep the piece in the statement.

The paragraph states that “one of the most important steps to support Palestinian brethren requires the cessation of all forms of rapprochement and normalization with the Israeli occupiers. Therefore, we call for resilience and steadfastness by blocking all the doors of normalization with Israel.”

The paragraph remained intact in the final communiqué of the conference, rejecting any normalization of ties with the Israeli regime.

“Arab peoples categorically reject the rapprochement and normalization with Israel, and … Arab parliaments will submit to the will of Arab peoples,” Speaker of Jordan's House of Representatives Atef Tarawneh stated.

This comes amid reports that Israel and several Arab states have had secret contacts for years, and the two sides have stepped up their attempts to bring their clandestine relations out in the open.

On February 17, a report published by Israeli Channel 13 television network said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had held a “secret meeting” with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita last September.

French-language website Le Desk also reported in January that Israel’s national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, was working to arrange a meeting between Netanyahu and King Mohammed VI of Morocco in the North African state.

Moreover, the Warsaw conference – a US-sponsored gathering that was held in the Polish capital on February 13-14 -- brought together Netanyahu and representatives from a number of Arab states, including Oman, Morocco, Saudi Arabic, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt.

The so-called Middle East security forum was not, however, warmly received by Washington’s European allies, which had either boycotted or sent low-ranking officials to the conference.

Meanwhile, the Israeli regime also recently re-launched a “virtual embassy” in a bid to “promote dialogue” with the Persian Gulf Arab states.

In the most high-profile visit by an Israeli official to Persian Gulf kingdoms, Netanyahu in late November last year visited Oman, where he met Sultan Qaboos at the Bait al-Barakah Royal Palace in the coastal city of Seeb near the capital Muscat.

Israel’s English-language daily newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that the two sides discussed ways to advance the so-called Middle East peace process as well as a number of issues of mutual interest with regard to the region’s stability.

Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab states that have diplomatic ties with Israel.

Committed to Tel Aviv Regime, US deploys THAAD to Israel for 1st Time

Mon Mar 4, 2019 06:55PM
presstv.ir

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful test in an unknown location in this undated handout provided by the US Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency. (Photo via Reuters)

The Pentagon has for the first time deployed its most advanced missile system in Israel, hailing the move as Washington’s “continued commitment” to the security of the regime in Tel Aviv.

The US European Command (EUCOM) said in a statement on Monday that the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was ordered by acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in March last year and was intended “as a demonstration of the United States’ continued commitment to Israel’s regional security.”

The statement added that US military forces would be stationed in a number of locations during THAAD’s deployment to “practice operational procedures for augmenting Israel’s existing” systems.

“THAAD is the most advanced integrated air and missile defense system in the world, and this deployment readiness exercise demonstrates that US forces are agile, and can respond quickly and unpredictably to any threat, anywhere, at any time,” EUCOM said.

THAAD is a ground-based missile defense system designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the arrival of THAAD and said the deployment was “further evidence” of the United States' commitment to Tel Aviv. “The American THAAD system is considered among the most advanced systems in the world, and together with our defense systems, we are stronger in dealing with threats, close or distant, emanating from all areas of the Middle East.”

The deployment comes a week after Israeli and US militaries wrapped up a week-long drill in Israel, simulating the deployment of American troops to aid in missile defense operations.

Saudi Arabia has signed a letter of offer and acceptance with the United States for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system.

The US has already supplied the advanced missile system to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In November, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy 44 THAAD launchers, missiles and related equipment from the United States in a deal valued at $15 billion.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has been seeking to loosen restrictions on American arms sales to boost the country's weapons industry.

Washington, in the meantime, is under pressure to suspend its arms sales to Riyadh, which has been leading a deadly campaign against Yemen since 2015.

Lavrov Stresses Need for Solving Crisis in Syria According to Resolution No.2254

4 March، 2019

Riyadh, SANA-Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underlined on Monday the importance of the political solution to the crisis in Syria according to UNSC resolution No.2254.

Lavrov, during a press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Saudi regime Adel al-Gubeir in Riyadh, said that Russia will not retreat from its method to implement resolution No.2254 on Syria and launch a political process led by the Syrians themselves.

Resolution No. 2254, adopted unanimously by Security Council, affirms that the Syrians are the only ones who determine the future of their country.

Mazen

AIPU: Stop All Forms of Normalization with Israeli Occupation Entity

4 March، 2019

Amman, SANA- The Arab inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) affirmed the need for stopping all forms of normalization with the Israeli occupation entity and taking a firm stance in this regard to continue efforts for supporting the Palestinian cause at all levels.

The concluding statement of the 29th Conference of the Arab inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) held in Amman, Jordan, stressed that any solution that ignores the Palestinian rights stated in the international resolutions is not a viable solution.

The statement indicated that the continuous Israeli attacks on the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem (al-Quds) and Israel’s continuous attempts to obliterate the features of al-Quds are provocations and portend a more complex stage, adding that what is required is to work forward to protect al-Quds from any attempts aimed at tampering with its historical and Islamic identity.

The end of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the restoration of security and stability to the region will only be achieved through the end of the occupation of the Arab lands and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital according to the line of June 4, 1967, the statement said

The statement affirmed the importance of continuing to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in order to continue to provide health and education services to the Palestinian refugees.

Shaza/H.Said

In Response to Terrorists Attacks, Army Destroys Dens of “Al-Ezza Battalions” Terrorists in Hama

4 March، 2019

Hama, SANA- Units of the Syrian Arab Army operating in northern Hama on Monday launched intensive strikes against positions for “al-Ezza Battalions” terrorists in Latmin town in response to their repeated breaches of the de-escalation zone agreement in Idleb attacking military points and safe areas, SANA reporter said.

Many terrorists were killed and injured in the strikes, in addition to destroying their dens , positions , weapons and munitions.

Meanwhile, SANA reporter said that units of the army killed members of a terrorist group in Morek and Latamneh towns in Hama northern countryside.

 US-led Coalition Shells al-Baghouz Farms in Deir Ezzor with White Phosphorus Bombs

4 March، 2019

Deir Ezzor, SANA-A number of people were martyred, mostly women and children, in airstrikes conducted by warplanes of the US-led “International Coalition” on Sunday which targeted the gatherings of the locals in al-Baghouz Farms in Deir Ezzor eastern countryside with white phosphorus bombs.

Local sources in Deir Ezzor told SANA reporter that warplanes of the US-led coalition  fired white phosphorus bombs at al-Baghouz farms which extends on the Syrian-Iraqi borders with white phosphorous bombs as a number of people were martyred, mostly women and children and others were injured.

On Saturday, warplanes of the US-led coalition shelled the area of al-Baghouz Farms with white phosphorous bombs putting the lives of hundreds of civilians and abductees detained by Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization at risk.

Ruaa al-Jazaeri

Israeli Enemy Fires a Shell on Quneitra Countryside, No Damage Reported

4 March، 2019

Quneitra, SANA- The Israeli enemy on Sunday evening fired a shell on the area to the west of Hadar town in Quneitra countryside.

SANA’s reporter said that the Israeli enemy on Sunday evening targeted a deserted area to the west of Hadar town in Quneitra countryside with a shell without causing any damage.

On Feb. 11th, the Israeli enemy attacked with a number of shells and rockets a number of sites in Quneitra province causing only material damages.

Ruaa al-Jazaeri

Al-Rawda Café…Museum That Stores Memories of Syrian Intellectuals

4 March، 2019

Damascus, SANA_ Amid buildings and modern shops and down the road from the parliament, al-Rawda café in al-Abed Street in Damascus, for more than 80 years, still retains its identity as a socio-cultural forum.

The 800 square meters café, renowned meeting-place of artists, intellectuals and politicians, is often described as Syria’s miniature parliament.

On a marble table and a bamboo chair, many novels, love poems and verses of poetry for leading intellectuals and poets such as Adonis, Mohamed al-Maghout, Walid Ekhlasi and others were written.

This Damascene talk-shop has turned into a quasi-real parliament, all sectors of Syrian society are represented, in addition to the artists and writers who run its more important debates.

Journalists frequent the café for professional reasons, to pick up news of the cultural world and arrange interviews.

It is a place where all sectors of Syrian society gather daily, from merchants, doctors,  lawyers, retired politicians and officers, even some characters who played role in the political life.

Outwardly, al-Rawda may seem no different than Damascus’s other well-known traditional coffeehouses. People play cards, and the clatter of backgammon dice drowns out all other sounds. The widescreen TVs along the walls are strictly tuned to Syrian or sports channels.

Abu al-Hakam has been working at the café for 40 years and is proud to have met most of the intellectuals of Syria and the Arab world  who visited the café.

To one corner, Abu al-Hakam says, you can see two people playing backgammon and to another sit a writer, who is a frequent visitor of the place, looking busy writing down something, while the youths, sweeping the central part, seem diving in their laptops…a wonderful combination of two generations and lifestyles.

These gatherings and discussions may help create a new free-thinking generation.

In 1938, the coffeehouse was an outdoor cinema. The popular café consists of two indoor and outdoor halls, beverages and hot drinks are served in addition to Hookah water pipe.

Wreath Laid at Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh

Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, laid a wreath at the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh on the morning of March 2.

Among the visitors were Kim Yong Chol, Ri Su Yong, Kim Phyong Hae and O Su Yong, members of the Political Bureau and vice-chairmen of the WPK Central Committee; Ri Yong Ho, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and foreign minister; No Kwang Chol, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and minister of the People's Armed Forces; Kim Yo Jong, alternate member of the Political Bureau and first deputy-department director of the WPK Central Committee; Choe Son Hui, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs; and other cadres.

Present at the wreath-laying ceremony were Dao Viet Trung, director of the General Office of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Le Ba Binh, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK.

Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un laid a wreath at the mausoleum.

He paid a silent tribute to the memory of Ho Chi Minh.

Brilliant Exploits for DPRK-Vietnam Friendship

President Kim Il Sung visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (the then Democratic Republic of Vietnam) from November 28 to December 2, Juche 47 (1958).

Vietnamese people from all walks of life warmly welcomed him, waving bunches of flowers and the flags of the two countries along the streets.

Kim Il Sung met with Vietnamese leaders, including President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong..

During the visit, he laid a floral basket at the martyrs cemetery on the outskirts of Hanoi and toured several places, including the Nam Dinh Textile Mill, an agricultural cooperative and the Military Academy of the Vietnamese People’s Army. He highly appreciated the fact that the Vietnamese people had bravely defeated the imperialists and are advancing along the road of socialism, creating beautiful and happy life under the leadership of the then Workers’ Party of Vietnam. He also explained the DPRK’s experience gained in building socialism.

Expressing gratitude to Kim Il Sung for precious instructions, Ho Chi Minh said he would learn from the experience of the DPRK. He stressed the need for his officials to keep following the example of the Korean Party as its policies were all clear and correct.

The Vietnamese party, government and people showed whole-hearted hospitality to Kim Il Sung who defeated two formidable imperialists and built Chollima country and was performing undying exploits in accomplishing the cause of independence against imperialism.

Earlier, Kim Il Sung had met with Ho Chi Minh on a visit to the DPRK in July 1957.

He paid another visit to Vietnam in November 1964 and performed immortal exploits in promoting the friendly relations between the DPRK and Vietnam.

He gave material aid and moral support to the Vietnamese people in their struggle for national salvation and socialist construction, in spite of difficult economic situation of his country. Until the last days of his life, he met with Vietnamese delegations tens of times and gave precious instructions, and extended active support and encouragement to the Vietnamese people in their revolutionary struggle.

He was awarded the Order of the Gold Star of Vietnam in September 1988.

Chairman Kim Jong Il, who carried forward the noble will of the President, paid close attention to developing the relations between two countries.

He met with President Tran Duc Luong in May 2002 and General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in October 2007, on their visits to Pyongyang.

The meetings marked a historic milestone in developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries onto a new, higher level.

Today, the friendly relations is being carried forward successfully by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

The Supreme Leader met with the head of a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam on a visit to the DPRK in order to attend the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War in July 2013, and other delegations of the Communist Party of Vietnam on several occasions.

The Korean people are rejoiced over the achievements the Vietnamese people are making in creating new life as their own, and with them good fruition in the efforts to build a prosperous country, true to the cause of Ho Chi Minh.

They also treasure the friendship with the Vietnamese people strengthened and developed on the road of building socialism against imperialism, and are full of determination to develop it as required by the new century.

Heinous Crimes Against Human Morality

March 1 a century ago was a historic day when the Korean people fully demonstrated their strong spirit, indomitable mettle and ardent patriotism for winning back their country lost by the Japanese imperialists and achieving its independence and sovereignty.

The deep-rooted grudge and anger of the Korean people who were subjected to contempt, maltreatment and harsh repression under the colonial fascist rule of the Japanese imperialists exploded into the all-people uprising.

However, the Japanese imperialists ruthlessly broke up the March First Popular Uprising by committing their repressive forces, while branding it as “violent gathering” and “riot.” Their heinous crimes against human morality still remain etched in the minds of the Korean people as an indelible scar.

They massacred in cold blood the peaceful demonstrators shouting “Long live the independence of Korea!”, shooting, bayoneting, beating and burning them to death.

Their atrocities were so horrible that even a Japanese scholar said that the Japanese were dead set on committing appalling barbarities and the Japanese gendarmerie bayoneted old persons, women and children and hanged them to death.

The police bureau of the Japanese government-general in Korea presented to its superior the following “civil administration written report No. 9 on the uprising” (March 1-10), which read: Over 50 000 men and 1 000 women arrested, over 10 000 men, 300 women and 300 children killed, and over 50 000 men and 1 000 women wounded.

It is a good deal understated figure by the Japanese imperialists.

Such international laws as Regulation No. 5 of the Tokyo Tribunal and Regulation No. 6 of the Nurnberg Tribunal stipulate the massacre as an A-class crime to be surely punished no matter whether it was committed before a war or during a war and no matter whether it was against local laws or not.

The scars Japan inflicted on the Korean people, crying out the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”, will remain unhealed in their minds, no matter how much water has flown under the bridge.

The Korean people will surely make Japan pay for their blood a thousandfold.

Japan Should Atone for Its Crime-woven Past

Today, the international community is calling into question all sorts of atrocities committed by the war-crime states in their colonial and dependent countries, and efforts are being directed to making them correctly liquidate their past wrongdoings.

For example, Germany, a criminal nation of World War II, saying that the past crimes and misfortunes should not be repeated, made sincere apology and reparations to scores of countries and tens of millions of victims around the world. It also abolished a wartime crime prescription system, and delivers stern verdicts on the Nazi war criminals, regardless of their age.

On the contrary, Japan is still leaving no stone unturned to justify its colonial rule over Korea and escape from liquidation of its crimes there, denying and distorting history.

An international conference for peace and prosperity in Asia and the Pacific was held last year, in which this insular country, far from making sincere apology for its horrible crimes it had committed against the Korean nation and other Asian countries, behaved rudely that it could not accept it, that it was an eccentric thing and that it would cope with it resolutely.

Over its four-decade-long military occupation of Korea, it inflicted innumerable misfortunes and pains on the Korean nation; it forcibly took away millions of young and middle-aged Koreans to do slave labour, kidnapped over 200 000 Korean women and forced them to serve as sexual slaves for the Japanese soldiers, and killed over one million innocent people.

This being the facts, it doggedly denies its shuddering crimes, insisting that “they are against the facts”, “they were not sexual slaves but prostitutes,” and “it has no intention to make apology.”

Last year, the south Korean supreme court decided that Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industry should make reparations to the victims who had been forcibly drafted during the period of the Japanese occupation of Korea. At that time, Japanese Foreign Minister Kono shamelessly uttered that it could never accept it and that they would take strong steps, with all options under consideration.

But, voices are ringing out more loudly in demand of Japan’s liquidation of its past crimes.

Last February, over 20 Japanese intellectuals including professors, lawyers and pressmen held a press conference at the hall of the House of Representatives in Tokyo and released a statement. Holding that Japan’s military occupation of Korea cast a shadow over the history between the two nations and that it could never be erased, they condemned their country for showing no sign of trying to reflect on its crime-woven past and apologize for it.

Most recently, an annual general meeting of the Korean Committee on Measures for the Sexual Slavery for Japanese Army and Drafting Victims took place in Pyongyang.

Noting that it is an important issue for Japan to properly resolve its past history in ensuring peace and stability in Asia and establishing the basic ethics and order of the international community, it underscored the need to dynamically conduct the movement for demanding Japan liquidate its crime-woven past this year marking the 100th anniversary of the March First Popular Uprising.

Reception Given to Mark Anniversary of Agreements Between DPRK and China

A reception was given at Okryu Restaurant on February 26 by the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and the General Administration of Civil Aviation on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of agreements on cultural cooperation and air transportation between the governments of the DPRK and the People's Republic of China.

Present there on invitation were Li Jinjun, Chinese ambassador to the DRPK, and his embassy officials and other Chinese guests staying in Pyongyang.

On hand were Jon Kwang Ho, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Pak Kyong Il, vice-chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and chairman of the DPRK-China Friendship Association, Ri Yong Son, deputy general director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation, and officials concerned.

In his speech Jon Kwang Ho said that the exchange and cooperation between the DPRK and China has increased and the friendly ties between the two peoples have grown stronger in the past 60 years since the conclusion of the agreements.

Firm is the stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to invariably develop the traditional DPRK-China friendship, he noted, expressing the will to actively promote the development of DPRK-China friendly relations, the common treasure of the two peoples.

The Chinese ambassador mentioned that the four rounds of meetings between General Secretary Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong Un made it possible to open up a new history of China-DPRK relations.

He stressed that immutable are the stand of the Chinese party and government on boosting China-DPRK relations, the friendly sentiment of the Chinese people with the Korean people and China's support for socialist Korea, whatever the international and regional situations might be.

He sincerely hoped that the Korean people would keep achieving greater successes in accomplishing the cause of socialism under the leadership of the WPK headed by Chairman Kim Jong Un.

KCNA

All’s Not Lost After Second Kim-Trump Summit

By Cheng Xiaohe
Global Times
2019/3/3 16:18:39

Defying all odds, the highly anticipated second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump wrapped up hastily without a joint declaration. The jaw-dropping ending to the meeting disappointed many analysts, who had focused on how big a deal the summit would produce rather than if it would produce one at all. Even though there were some warning signs related to the prospects of the meeting, analysts selectively ignored them and assumed that the two leaders, who spared a few days from their busy schedules to make the long trip to Hanoi, could not afford to return home empty-handed. Unfortunately, that was what happened. A number of reasons led to the talks falling apart.

First and foremost, the gap between demands on both sides was too huge to bridge in one summit. The US and North Korea exchanged allegations that the other side demanded too much but prepared to give too little.

From the US perspective, North Korea wanted all the sanctions, except those involving weapons sales and transfer, lifted in exchange for dismantling parts of the Yongbyon nuclear site. The US believes North Korea has other nuclear sites and not all Yongbyon nuclear facilities have been shut down and opened for inspection. In Trump's words, "they wanted sanctions lifted but they weren't willing to do an area we wanted. They were willing to give us areas but not the ones we wanted."

From North Korea's perspective, Kim's mere participation in the second summit demonstrated the country's determination to denuclearize, and his willingness to shut down nuclear facilities in Yongbyon constituted a substantive step toward denuclearization. In addition to the concession, North Korea was also ready to pledge in writing a permanent halt to nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. Thus, North Korea's demand for partial removal of sanctions that hurt its economy and people's lives is reasonable. To North Korea's dismay, the US had no intention to reciprocate, it even asked North Korea to take additional measures.

Obviously, as both sides dug in with their conflicting demands on critical nuclear issues, they had no appetite to discuss other problems, which could also trigger new conflicts. 

Second, inadequate preparations should be blamed for the bad finale to the summit. The gap between the US and North Korea's demands was bridgeable even though it was extremely hard to accomplish in one meeting. If both sides had had enough time and made an all-out effort to hold intensive negotiations with an aim to forge a minimum consensus, the second summit might have turned out to be different. The length of time over which talks were held and the number of times officials met ahead of the summit were inadequate for laying down a solid foundation for a successful Hanoi meeting. The second summit also presents a case study for students of international relations, revealing the limits of a top-down diplomatic approach adopted by the US and North Korea in addressing their problems.

We are used to believing that summit diplomacy undertaken by top leaders can save substantial amount of time and energy in seeking a quick solution to some long-standing contentious issues in a more efficient and effective way. In fact, this top-down approach has proved to be quite successful in dramatically transforming the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Nonetheless, the second summit taught us a bitter lesson that success of any meeting between powerful leaders still needs careful preparations and painstaking negotiations at various levels. It would be too risky to let top leaders cut a deal over most contentious issues in a very short time. 

Certainly, other factors such as his long-time attorney Michael Cohen's recent explosive testimony on Capitol Hill might have played a role in ruining Trump's mood and making him jittery. Trump admitted that the testimony that came "in the middle of this very important summit is really a terrible thing."

Even though the second summit did not produce a joint declaration as expected and led to a disappointing outcome, it is hard to characterize it as a complete failure. We still got some positive results from it. Both sides exercised significant restraints and there was no acrimony and hysterical finger-pointing. They expressed their willingness to carry on negotiations in the future. Trump maintained he still has a strong and friendly relationship with Kim whereas the latter "expressed his thanks to Trump for making positive efforts for the successful meeting and talks while making a long journey and said goodbye, promising the next meeting."

The second Kim-Trump summit helped reveal some, if not all, bottom lines in both North Korea's and the US' stances toward nuclear and related issues. The US has seemingly softened its position on sanctions but prefers to lift them in a phased manner under the condition that North Korea can do more than it has promised. North Korea agreed to shut down Yongbyon and to allow international inspections if the US agreed to end economic sanctions.

There is no doubt that the bottom lines can serve as a starting point in the next round, if talks jump-start in the future. Nonetheless, we have to bear in mind that the setback in the second summit inevitably has its political fallout, which will prove costly for Trump, who has already been grilled by mainstream US media over a variety of controversial issues. If a third party is willing to offer help and Trump and Kim desire to convert the recent setback into a new momentum for talks, there is reasonable hope that a denuclearized Korean Peninsula is not a pipe dream.

The author is associate professor, School of International Studies, Renmin University of China; senior researcher, Pangoal Institute. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

CPPCC Starts Annual Session

By Wang Cong
Global Times
2019/3/3 23:13:40

Political event to rally unity, build consensus for policy goal

The 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee kicks off its annual meeting on Sunday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, marking the start of this year's two sessions - the annual meetings of the CPPCC and the National People's Congress, China's top legislature - the most important annual political event in China. Photo: VCG

China's top political advisory body said Sunday that it has played a positive role and offered valuable input to the country's social and economic development over the past year and will continue to rally unity and support for the country this year, as it faces many challenges.

The 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee convened its annual meeting at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, marking the start of this year's two sessions - the annual meetings of the CPPCC and the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature - the most important annual political event in China.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said the body has made "new progress" in taking on its responsibility of making suggestions to the government and building consensus for major policy goals.

New progress

"We gave full play to the CPPCC's role as a body dedicated to consultation and carried out our dual responsibility of offering suggestions and building consensus," Wang told more than 2,000 members of the CPPCC National Committee in the televised speech.

Specifically, Wang said, the CPPCC National Committee focused on three areas of work in 2018: studying President Xi Jinping's thought on improving the CPPCC's work, Party building within the CPPCC system and improving the quality and efficiency of CPPCC work.

"We shifted our focus on what we did and how much we did to what is the result of our work," he said.

The CPPCC, whose members include government officials, members of other political parties in China, business leaders and other celebrities, plays an advisory or a think tank role to the government. CPPCC members bring proposals for areas they have expertise, including education, technology and economic policies.

In 2018, CPPCC National Committee members submitted 5,571 proposals and 4,567 were assigned to 165 responsible government agencies to address, according to Su Hui, vice chairwoman of the CPPCC National Committee. As of February 20, 99.2 percent were resolved, she said in an address at the opening ceremony.

"With the efforts of all sides, the results of the proposals have been adopted effectively and played an important function of serving policies and pushing for work," she said, adding the proposals were mostly focused on the country's three battles against major risks, poverty and pollution as well as promoting high-quality growth.

"This year's CPPCC work report was very pragmatic. It includes a very vivid description of specific things. There were no empty words," Xu Ziqiang, a member of the CPPCC National Committee from Central China's Hunan Province, told the Global Times on Sunday after the opening ceremony. "For me, the most important thing is for our proposals to be implemented and take effect."

New priority

To continue to improve the quality of the proposals of CPPCC members and the efficiency of implementing the proposals will be one of the top priorities this year, Wang said.

As the country faces challenges, this year's top priority will be helping the government achieve a moderately prosperous society in all aspects - the first centenary goal of the country, he added.

"At the moment, the task of reaching a moderately prosperous society is so heavy, contradictions, risks and challenges are so many, demands of different interests are so complicated. It is unprecedented," Wang said, adding that all CPPCC members' proposals this year will focus on the CPC and the government's central goals.

"The basic challenge is implementing the vision laid out in the 19th CPC National Congress, how to transition to high quality growth, how to transition well-being and in the shorter-term challenge is how to maintain macroeconomic stability during that transition," Ben Bingham, China country director at the Asian Development Bank who was invited to observe the CPPCC session, told the Global Times.

The Chinese economy continues to face downward pressure and a worsening external environment including an ongoing trade war with the US. Apart from economic woes, the country is also battling pollution and poverty.

CPPCC members struck a confident note on Sunday.

"I think if we all do our jobs and unite behind the leadership, we will be successful," Wei Shizhong, a member of the CPPCC National Committee from Central China's Henan Province, told the Global Times, "and our job is to offer some suggestions for the country and help better implement these policies."

World Should Open Its Eyes Wider to US Selfishness

Global Times
2019/3/3 19:48:39

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that "any armed attack on Philippine forces" in the South China Sea would trigger the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty requiring military intervention by US troops. This marks the first time that the US has publicly stated its intention to defend the Philippines. Washington didn't promise military intervention even when Beijing and Manila had more disputes in the South China Sea years ago.

Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, China-Philippines relations have seen a turnaround. One of his reasons was that the US wouldn't help the Philippines if China and the Philippines had clashes over islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

We believe that not many Philippine people would take Pompeo's statement seriously, nor would Manila blindly adopt aggressive policies toward Beijing just because of Pompeo's words. Instead of making the promise years ago, Pompeo did it just when tranquility has returned to the South China Sea. It's obvious that the US is stirring up trouble in China-Philippines relations.

Aiming at benefiting both China and the Philippines, Beijing is committed to improving relations with Manila and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. The US and the Philippines interpretation of the MDT won't change China's attitude toward disputes in the South China Sea.

Although Vietnam is not a US ally, China still exercises restraint in China-Vietnam disputes. But China will respond forcefully to whoever goes too far in the South China Sea, including US troops.

There are also Philippine people who wonder what kind of China-US relations will benefit Manila the most. They worry the tensions between the two countries will affect the Philippines. They are also afraid that Manila's interests will be harmed if Beijing and Washington improve relations. They want to use the US as a bargaining chip with China, and use China-Philippines relations to win US regard. These people are playing a complicated triangular game.

Pompeo's visit to the Philippines shows that Washington and Manila are using each other. China should understand that the US and the Philippines are allies, and this fact won't change in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, China is more and more important to the Philippines in economics. The two countries should manage their differences. Both sides will hurt if the disputes escalate.

Beijing shouldn't care or be contained by Washington and Manila's petty tricks. China-US relations and China-Philippines relations should be separated, and thus we can maintain more initiative in our strategy.

Big changes are unlikely in China-Philippines relations during Duterte's term of office. Instead of completely leaning toward Beijing, Duterte has made Manila independent from Washington. The Philippine people's opinions of China and the US are diverse, which reflects the fact that the Philippines is somehow neutral.

What's most ridiculous is that Pompeo warned the Philippines not to use China's Huawei Technologies and wanted the world to have "their eyes wide open" to Huawei's risks. We believe the whole world should instead keep their eyes wide open to Washington's selfish tricks.

Washington is interested in extorting its allies and other small and medium-sized countries. It tends to instigate these countries to intensify disputes with China and Russia. It uses hollow promises to make these countries serve Washington's strategic competition with Beijing and Moscow.

The US hasn't provided any massive aid to other countries in recent years and has refused to fulfill international obligations. Smaller countries would turn out to be naive if they blindly believe Washington's hollow promises.