The Invisibles Against US Missile Defense

Masked protestors that call themselves the “Invisibles,”march through Wenceslas Square during a protest against the planned US radar base, on 7 December 2008; in Prague, Czech Republic.

The pacific movement Nenasili protested against the planned stationing of a U.S radar base, as part of the U.S missile defence shield, on Czech soil.

The petition mentioned in the video called, “No Star Wars;” which is with those who disagree with a U.S missile defence shield and the installation of a US military base being put on Czech Republic territory can be found here, along with more information about this situation.

Canaanite's Laugh at EU Police Mission Officer

EU Police Mission officer stands in front of Canaanite terrorist corps loyal to global terrorist Interpol fugitive Mahmud Abbas during the intimation of a terrorist operation in the city of Ramallah, on 3 November 2008; which the Canaanite terrorist corps in there arrogance, is laughing at the woman and the EU Police Mission for being in Palestine .

EU Police Mission are in Palestine to help secure the state of Palestine against Canaanite terrorism, which has became a growing concern in recent months because of Canaanite terrorist operations against Palestine citizens and to help secure there safety, as well as in aiding the further stabilization of the country against Canaanite terrorism; with much gratitude of the Queen of Palestine and her people.

It is with much hope, that EU Police Mission learn what the Canaanites are actually like to also further there safety, in Palestine.

Bushonomics: What is Recession?

The U.S Definition: A recession is a contraction phase of the business cycle. The U.S. based National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) defines a recession more broadly as "a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales." A sustained recession may become a depression.

Historical Commentary: What may not be said, while the 1930’s Great Depression was occurring the US government kept insisting they where merely in a recession, due to a historical fact; they did not want to confess to the country in creating a more severe panic by saying the word, “Depression.”

Which the majority of the population at the time, already understood they where in a depression due to the continues tightening of there belts.

It also has been recorded in history, that one of the major contributors to the crash of ‘29,was the crippling financial burden that was sustained, because of World War 1.

US Media Reports on EU: While the US. reports that certain European Union (EU) countries are already in recession, it should be known that the US has the sole dubious honor of having this particular badge; it was further reported.


What ever you do, do not tell the US Presidential candidates?

It has been flashed in the media they would disagree, on the recession or depression truck running them over.

E.U. Summit Seeks United Response To Financial Crisis

15 October 2008

European Union- European Union (E.U.) leaders will try to formulate a common response to the financial crisis that emanated in the United States, when they meet for a crunch autumn summit in Brussels Wednesday and Thursday.

On the eve of the summit, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso renewed his call on the 27 E.U. member-states to rally round plans thrashed out Sunday in Paris among Eurozone countries in tackling the financial crisis and revive the flagging confidence in shell-shocked banks.

"To try and go it alone in this climate would be a fatal mistake for any government anywhere in Europe. This is an unprecedented crisis... this is something that requires unprecedented E.U. action," Barroso said Tuesday.

In emergency talks in Paris, leaders from the 15 Eurozone countries sharing the euro, plus Britain, agreed to prop up the hardest-hit banks through cash injections and underwriting loans between financial players.

It was also agreed that national governments would buy into banks to boost their finances and temporarily guarantee bank-refinancing to ease the credit crunch.

They also agreed on banking guarantees lasting until December next year, along with inter-bank loans. The Eurozone countries were also willing to underwrite new loans of up to five years as well as guarantee more than €50,000 of their citizens' bank deposits and to bail out financial institutions by providing them with cash in exchange for a share in such companies.

Stock markets in Europe responded positively to the measures during the first two days of this week with a massive rally, from the beaten-down levels reached last week during one of the worst routs in years.

Determined to contain the crisis, governments across Europe earlier pledged about €2.0 trillion ($2.7 trillion) to bring banks back from the brink of collapse, and to reassure people, they have raised the ceiling on deposits they are willing to guarantee. Britain also joined the move by injecting billions of pounds-sterling into the country's three major banks.

Despite these efforts, the European markets saw some of the most turbulent days in their history last week.

Until the Paris talks, E.U. member-states acted independently in response to the crisis, creating the impression of disorder, and sending confusing signals to financial markets. Despite the injection of billions of euros into the financial system by the European Central Bank, their piecemeal and ad hoc nature weakened the impact.

Calls for Europe-wide action in tackling the financial crisis strengthened after the continent's major markets experienced their worst turbulent days last week, with FTSEuro first 300 index of top European shares down 22 percent for the whole week.

"I am glad that there is now a consensus on the necessity and on the substance of a coherent effort," Barroso said of the plan involving an estimated €2 trillion ($2.7 trillion). "I expect confirmation and strengthening of this coherent effort by the European Council," he added, referring to the summit of E.U. leaders.

However, East European countries, which have not been badly hit by the financial crisis, simply see no need to undergo these economic hardships and worry about being disadvantaged.

Meanwhile, in addition to the financial crisis, E.U. leaders also need to reach a consensus in their fight against climate-change. Barroso urged E.U. member-states Tuesday not to use the financial crisis as an excuse to water down the plan.

E.U. leaders agreed last year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent in 2020 from the 1990 level, increase the use of renewable energy to 20 percent of the total, and to cut energy consumption by 20 percent.

The Diminished Imagine of the U.S. in Latin America and the Global Condition

Demonstrators write "Out Yankees" on a wall outside the U.S. Palmerola military base in Honduras during a protest against American military presence in Latin America last Monday.

12 October 2008

In a matter of weeks, a Russian naval squadron will arrive in the waters off Latin America for the first time since the Cold War. It is already getting a warm welcome from some in a region where the influence of the United States is in decline.

"The U.S. Fourth Fleet can come to Latin America but a Russian fleet can't?" said Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa. "If you ask me, any country and any fleet that wants can visit us. We're a country of open doors."

The United States has collapsed its power in Latin America by most measures, including trade, military cooperation and the sheer size of its embassies. Yet U.S. clout in what it once considered its backyard has sunk to perhaps the lowest point in decades. As Washington has also loss its footing in the Middle East, Latin America swung away from Washington also.

The United States' financial crisis is not helping. Latin American countries forced by Washington to swallow painful austerity measures in the 1980s and 1990s are aghast at the U.S. failure to police its own markets.

"We did our homework — and they didn't, they who've been telling us for three decades what to do," the man who presides over Latin America's largest economy, President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva of Brazil, complained bitterly.

Latin America's more than 550 million people now "have every reason to view the U.S. as a banana republic," says analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington. "U.S. lectures to Latin Americans about excess greed and lack of accountability have long rung hollow, but today they sound even more ridiculous."

From 2002 through 2007, the U.S. image eroded in all six Latin American countries polled by the Pew organization, especially in Venezuela, Argentina and Bolivia. (The others were Brazil, Peru and Mexico.) People surveyed in 18 Latin American countries rated President Bush among the least popular leaders in 2007, along with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and just ahead of basement-bound Fidel Castro of Cuba, according to the Latinobarometro group of Chile.

In three years of presidential elections ending last year, Latin Americans chose mostly leftist leaders, and only Colombia and El Salvador elected unalloyed pro-U.S. chief executives. In May, the prestigious U.S. Council on Foreign Relations declared the era of U.S. hegemony in the Americas over. And in September, Bolivia and Venezuela both expelled their U.S. ambassadors, accusing them of meddling.

U.S. Economic and Faltering Funding
Along with the loss in political standing has come a decline in economic power. U.S. direct investment in Latin America slid from 30 percent to 20 percent of the total from 1998 to 2007, according to the U.N. Economic Commission on Latin American and the Caribbean.

The U.S. still does $560 billion in trade with Latin America, but in the meantime other countries are muscling in. China's trade with Latin America jumped from $10 billion in 2000 to $102.6 billion last year. In May, a state-owned Chinese company agreed to buy a Peruvian copper mine for $2.1 billion. Which all these trade funds are going to war funding.

Other countries are also biting into U.S. military sales in the region. Boeing Co. is vying with finalists from France and Sweden for the sale of 36 jet fighters to Brazil. Venezuela's Chavez has committed to buying more than $4 billion in Russian arms, from Sukhoi jet fighters to Kalashnikov assault rifles. In April, Brazil and Russia agreed to jointly design top-line jet fighters and satellite-launch vehicles, and Brazil is getting technology from France to build a submarine.

"Similar deals could have been made with the United States had it been willing to share its technology," said Geraldo Cavagnari, of the University of Campinas near Sao Paulo.

Last month, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin offered to help Chavez develop nuclear power. Even Colombia, the staunchest U.S. ally in South America, isn't limiting its options. After expressing alarm about the Russian warships a week ago, its defense minister, Juan Manuel Santos, promptly headed for Russia himself to discuss "better relations in defense." Chavez says he expects to hold joint Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises as early as November.

Bolivia also is looking to deepen ties with Russia and Iran.

Although the Islamic republic's ambassador has yet to arrive in South America's poorest country, its top diplomat there announced Friday that Iran will open two low-cost public health clinics.

And while Bolivia's only announced Russian hardware purchase is five helicopters for civil defense, Moscow's ambassador told the AP — after Bolivia booted the U.S. ambassador — that Russia has every right to help Latin American nations arm themselves.

"We know of many historical cases of U.S. intervention in Latin American countries," said the diplomat, Leonid Golubev.

Diminished U.S. profile
Thomas Shannon, U.S. assistant secretary of state for the hemisphere, wouldn't comment directly on whether the U.S. has lost influence in Latin America. But he added that there is no doubt that the U.S. still holds most of the military power in the Caribbean, and said it has no interest in reviving "Cold War rhetoric." Shannon also noted that overall U.S. aid to the region will reach $2.2 billion for 2009, to total more than $14 billion during Bush's presidency. It has also been found that US influence in the Caribbean has also became something of a yesteryear.

However, critics point out that roughly half that aid is for the military or counter narcotics, and that Washington’s finances annually to the Jews in Palestine has collapsed; due to there
physical freedom from slavery by U.S. influence and the independence of Palestine, on 14 March 2008. Even U.S. giving has been dwarfed by Chavez's checkbook diplomacy, which easily eclipses U.S. aid between outright gifts and discounted oil.

His largesse has lured several longtime U.S. friends. Honduras' president, Manuel Zelaya, said last month that after pleading with Washington and the World Bank, he accepted $300 million a year from Chavez for agricultural investment to help fight rising food prices.

Costa Rica's president, Oscar Arias, says Venezuela offers Latin America about four or five times as much money as the United States. Costa Rica has become the 19th member of Petrocaribe, through which Chavez sells Caribbean and Central American nations cut-rate oil at very low interest.

The diminished profile of the U.S. in Latin America comes after a history of influence dating back to President Franklin Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor" policy of the 1930s, which emphasized cooperation and trade over military intervention. There have been major bailouts, such as Washington's $20 billion rescue of Mexico in the 1994 peso devaluation crisis. As former Assistant Secretary of State Otto Reich noted, "We are the assistance bureau of first choice for the region."

History of covert intervention
But the U.S. has an ugly legacy of covert intervention there, including in Chile, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Cuba. Chile's center-left president, Michele Bachelet, was jailed and tortured by a U.S.-backed military dictatorship in the 1970s. She recently recalled telling Washington's ambassador to Chile an old joke: "Some say the only reason there's never been a coup in the United States is because there's no U.S. Embassy in the United States."

The United States has also long served as chief educator to Latin America's elite. Correa is among its presidents with a U.S. graduate degree — though that didn't stop him from accusing the CIA of infiltrating his military, or refusing to renew a lease for U.S. counter drug missions to fly out of Ecuador.

With the U.S. facing its own financial crisis, it's unlikely to be able to leverage economic influence in Latin America anytime soon. Sen. Barack Obama's senior adviser on Latin America, Dan Restrepo, acknowledges that his candidate is essentially proposing a symbolic shift in style — albeit adding a special White House envoy for the Americas.

"Barack doesn't see the United States as the savior of the Americas, but as a constructive partner," Restrepo told the AP.

Reich, an adviser to Sen. John McCain who served three Republican presidents in the region, put it even more bluntly.

"No matter who is elected in November, there is not going to be any money for Latin America," he said. "Latin Americans expecting financial resources, any kind of help from the United States, they are barking up the wrong tree."

Asian markets mixed after Australia's big rate cut

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, on 6 October 2008.

7 October 2008
By KELLY OLSEN

SEOUL-South Korea -European stocks posted modest gains Tuesday ahead of Wall Street's opening on hopes the world's leading central banks will cut interest rates soon, possibly in a coordinated manner to deal with the world financial crisis.

Those hopes, which were fueled by the Reserve Bank of Australia's overnight move to cut borrowing costs by a massive 1 percentage point to 6 percent, helped diminish the impact of another bad day for bank stocks.

Britain's Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC shed around 40 percent of its value at one stage amid ongoing liquidity and solvency concerns and reports that the government might seek a stake in British banks as a way to boost their balance sheets.

"There's some optimism in the markets in the hope of a global coordinated rate cut, and if it's going to be coordinated there's little reason to wait til Thursday," said Richard Hunter, head of UK equities at Hargreaves Lansdowne.

By afternoon in London, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 56.23 points, or 1.2 percent, at 4,645.42.

Higher oil prices helped BP PLC and Shell, two of the FTSE's biggest companies, post solid gains, which helped the overall index to recover ground. Oil prices rebounded more than $3 to near $91 in Europe after plunging to an 8-month low Monday on concerns a significant slowdown in global economic growth will undermine demand for crude.

But RBS topped the list of declining issues with a 25.6 percent drop. The bank's shares were down 20 percent on Monday.

In Germany, the DAX index was 2.37 points higher, while the CAC-40 in France, which lost nearly 10 percent of its overall value Monday, was up 1.5 percent.

The Australian central bank's cut was its biggest since 1992 and the scale of it was unexpected. Analysts were predicting a half-point cut, especially after the Australian dollar slumped by nearly 10 percent Monday.

RBA Gov. Glenn Stevens said the Australian central bank had judged that a large cut in the cash rate was needed after studying the outlook for global growth and its likely effect on Australia.

The move sent Sydney's S&P/ASX-200 index, which had opened 3.7 percent lower, up 1.7 percent and helped the Australian dollar push back up above 71.70 U.S. cents. Other markets, including the main indexes in South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, rebounded after the bold move and market observers said the same could happen if other central banks follow suit.

"The move highlights how central banks' priorities are moving rapidly away from controlling inflation towards supporting growth and averting a deeper economic and financial crisis," said Alvin Pontoh, an analyst at London-based Capital Economics.

A trader takes a break as trading was halted on the main floor of the BM and F Bovespa stock exchange market in Sao Paulo, Brazil; on 6 October 2008.

"Central banks in the US and Europe — where the growth outlook is markedly worse than in Australia — will be left with little choice but to follow the RBA's lead in the days and weeks ahead," Pontoh said.

The Bank of England is now seen as almost certain to cut interest rates on Thursday, with the questions now being asked are whether it will reduce borrowing costs by half a point to 4.50 percent for the first time in seven years. There has been speculation the Bank of England might join the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank in a simultaneous cut.

RBS was not the only British banking stock in trouble amid news reports that the chief executives of Britain's largest banks met up with British Treasury chief Alistair Darling and Bank of England governor Mervyn King Monday night to discuss the possibility of the government providing funding, thought to be around 50 billion pounds in exchange for stakes in the banks.

Lloyds TSB PLC, which is in the process of taking over HBOS PLC, was down 7.8 percent, while Barclays PLC, which has denied it is asking for government funding, was 4.5 percent lower.

Confidence has also drained away in Iceland, which, according to the Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde is facing the prospect of bankruptcy after its banks went on the acquisition trail across the continent, accumulating massive debts in the process.

The government's latest response was to nationalize its second-largest bank Landsbanki under day-old legislation and fixed its currency exchange rate.

The moves came a day after trading in shares of major banks was suspended, the Icelandic krona lost a quarter of its value against the euro, and the government rushed through emergency legislation giving it new powers to deal with the financial meltdown.

Earlier, unlike its Australian counterpart, the Bank of Japan kept its interest rates unchanged at 0.5 percent, as expected.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index erased some of its early losses to close down 3 percent at 10,155.90 — still its lowest level in almost five years.

Russia's stock markets made early gains after trading opened several hours late Tuesday, a day after suffering steep plunges. The RTS exchange resumed normal trading at 1 p.m. (0900GMT) and was up 2.6 percent to 889.1 points as of 2 p.m (1000GMT). The MICEX, where most trading takes place, rose by 3 percent to 774.5 points. It opened at 1:15 p.m.

The euro was trading at US$1.3574 from US$1.3516 late Monday.

US Senior Diplomat attends Iran-EU talks

19 July 2008

Geneva-A senior United States official has taken part for the first time in international talks with Iran over the dispute on nuclear program.

The official, William Burns, is joining envoys from the EU and permanent members of the UN security council.

Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Ankara on Friday welcomed the US senior diplomat taking part in the meeting between Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed jalili and European Union Foreign Policy and Security chief Javier Solana.

He said that he expects the talks in Geneva will draw up a modality plan for settlement of the dispute.

Mr Burns' attendance is being seen as a major shift in US policy.

Sarkozy’s Illumination

The Eiffel Tower is illuminated in blue with gold stars, representing the EU flag, to mark the French European Union presidency on 30 June 2008 in Paris, France.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy assumed leadership of the European Union and will hold the title for six months.

Forgetting the Meaning of Private

US-EU private data sharing agreement at hand: report

29 June 2008

The United States and European Union are close to an agreement to share private data of their citizens, including credit card information, travel history and internet browsing information, The New York Times said Saturday.

Negotiations that begun in February 2007 however have to yet address whether Europeans can sue the US government for mishandling information, according to an internal report on the potential agreement obtained by the daily.

The negotiations are being conducted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Justice and State departments, and their European counterparts, the daily said.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not have an immediate response on the report when contacted Saturday by AFP.

One of the unresolved issues is the EU's privacy rights claims that would allow its citizens to sue the US government for any mishandling of their information, under the US Privacy Act of 1974.

The administration of President George W. Bush opposes such a move, the Times reported, because the Privacy Act gives US nationals -- but not foreigners -- the right to sue so the Act would have to be sent back to the Democratic-controlled Congress to be amended.

Officials consulted by the Times said Bush would like to sign the agreement before he leaves office in January and while EU members nations can still approve it individually, before they hand ratification power over to the European Parliament.

Jalili highlights national consensus over nuclear program

22 June 2008

Tehran-Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili on Sunday highlighted national consensus over civilian nuclear program.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after his meeting with Majlis deputies in a close session.

The session aiming to review the latest developments over national nuclear program was also attended by the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Reza Aqazadeh.

Majlis, as the "house of nation" has always supported the country's peaceful nuclear activities, he said.

After resolving the outstanding issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Islamic Republic of Iran provided the other side with a package of proposal, he said adding that the package provided a good opportunity for cooperation between Tehran and the nuclear powers.

Iran's package of proposal was warmly welcomed by several governments, Jalili said, adding they believe that the package contains numerous positive points.

On recent visit to Tehran of the European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Jalili said, "Mr Solana greeted the package and said the EU states were agreed with the general views of the package."

As to a package of incentives presented by the Group 5+1 to Iran, Jalili said, "Tehran will consider the package and will announce its views soon."

Tehran believes that the EU proposals along with those suggested by the Islamic Republic can be good base for resumption of negotiations, Jalili said.

Middle East "Quartet" to meet in Berlin on Tuesday

20 June 2008

The quartet of Middle East peace mediators will meet in Berlin on Tuesday for their first gathering since the Egyptian brokered cease-fire.

The quartet, which comprises the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States, will meet on the sidelines of a German-hosted conference to allegedly support Palestinian "civil security and rule of law."

The United States still hopes to achieve their illegal alleged peace agreement by the end of the year with U.S.'s insulting accusations that Jewish Prime Minster Ehud Olmert’s government is weak and the divisions among Palestinians.

As part of its efforts, Washington has sought to strengthen the terrorist security forces under Mahmoud Abbas and his organization.

This is to further aid the coup with the intention to create harm to the Palestinian populace in the guise of peace negotiations between Olmert and Abbas; along with the continued insults towards the Palestine legal government (PLG).

The one thing that is always interesting, that the U.S. government would insult everyone at this time for a decomposing corpse of a peace deal, as well as trying to shore up there coup, for every time things do not go according to the current administration at times one will hear things such as this.

Personally, I have had to listen to it for over fifty years and everyone before me. While the Bush administration may be thinking they are going to create a feelings sore and get there bullying way, my mother always taught me, is to not listen to bully’s.

Chinese assistant FM due in Iran

12 June 2008

Beijing-China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jieyi is to visit Iran in the near future, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said here Thursday.

He told reporters that Liu would accompany the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in his two-day visit to Tehran, scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Solana will deliver a package proposed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- China, Russia, France, Britain and the US -- plus Germany (Group 5+1) to Iranian officials.

A message by foreign ministers of the six countries would be also submitted to their Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, the spokesman added.

He expressed hope the sides would increase their diplomatic efforts to find a long-lasting solution to Iran's peaceful nuclear case.

Qin urged all sides to show more flexibility over Iran's nuclear case and strive to resume negotiations on the issue.

President Bush's appearance in Slovenia

President George W. Bush attends a news conference with President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, center, and Janez Jansa, Prime Minister of Slovenia, right, during the United States - European Union Meeting at Brdo Castle in Kranj, Slovenia.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 10, 2008

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: (As translated.) Good afternoon, and welcome to Slovenia. Welcome to Brdo, where we have just concluded this year's summit meeting between the EU and the U.S.A. I welcome in our midst the President of the United States of America, Mr. George W. Bush, and the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Barroso.

For the U.S. President, this is the eighth summit, and his second visit to Slovenia. It happened on the same spot; also the press conference was held here. This is a historic event. On my visit to Washington two years ago, Mr. President, you welcomed us by saying that Slovenia is a piece of heaven on earth, and we enjoyed your excellent hospitality. I hope we are returning that hospitality to some extent today.

Our discussions at this summit were very good and open. We confirmed that the transatlantic partnership is solid and dynamic. This message carries special weight in the historic context of this summit. Sixty years ago, the U.S. offered the ravaged and divided Europe hope through the Marshall Plan and through courage, solidarity and vision. The first U.S. President, George Washington, once said that there will be a United States of Europe. This has not happened yet, but the European Union has been created, an area of freedom and progress uniting 500 million Europeans.

The European Union and the U.S. shared the most important fundamental values: democracy, free entrepreneurial initiative, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the respect for the principles of the rule of law. The EU and the U.S. together represent 10 percent of the world's population. The trade in goods and services amounts to €3 billion a day, and they together produce almost 60 percent of the world's GDP. And together, they contribute 75 percent of development aid to poor countries. However, they also emit the majority of greenhouse gases.

Because of all these reasons, they also share a significant joint responsibility impacting the key global challenges. Our views on certain paths differ. Our views are different on, for example, the death penalty, or the mandatory restriction on CO2 emissions, but we are openly discussing these differences and looking for solutions.

We spoke at length about the issues of climate change and energy security. These issues affect all humanity and are well-established habits in our way of life. We confirmed our readiness to face this challenge together. We in the European Union consider it necessary to define the mandatory objectives for reducing CO2 emissions, and to reach a global agreement. We must cooperate in protecting the environment, in searching new sources of energy, and in developing new technologies.

High oil prices have forced us to intensify our search for new energy solutions. We are on the threshold of a new industrial revolution. Low carbon production and transport are becoming an economic necessity in addition to an environmental one. We need the most efficient solution to the benefit of the present and future generations as soon as possible. The European Union and the U.S. will lead the new industrial revolution.

We must also create broad alliances. Several important meetings are ahead of us this year. We have great expectations concerning the G8 summit and the U.N. conference on climate change in Poland.

We spoke about the most topical issues of the world economy. Our goals include a secure future, preservation of jobs, and combating protectionism. We are determined to cooperate in eliminating the global imbalances and to attract to this task the new fast-growing economies. We are committed to continuing discussions on the Doha development agenda within the framework of the WTO and to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

We also discussed a series of regional issues. We focused in particular on the Western Balkans. In the European Union, we value greatly the role the U.S. played in the 1990s in putting an end to the violence in the region. Today, we are united and firm in our support of the prospect of these countries joining the Euro-Atlantic structures. This is the path which leads to peace and stability, as well as to the necessary democratic and economic reforms.

We were informed of the work carried out by the Transatlantic Economic Council. We remain committed to the elimination of barriers to mutual trade, a process which will bring economic growth and create new jobs. We are in favor of establishing the Transatlantic Economic Council as a mechanism for bringing tangible results that will benefit both consumers and producers in the EU and the U.S. The European Commission, and its President Barroso, are making every effort to this end.

The concrete results also includes the air transport agreement. The first stage of the agreement has already entered into force. It liberalizes conditions for mutual investment and enables a freer access to air services. And in the middle of the former months, we launched the negotiations on the second stage. The work on the aviation safety agreement has also been completed and I hope it will be signed by the end of the month.

We also spoke about visa-free travel to the U.S. for all EU citizens. I am pleased that we are close to seeing new countries join the visa waiver program soon. We are aware that certain restrictions are necessary for security reasons. Nevertheless, we remain determined to ensure that the need for enhanced security will not restrict the visa-free travel for our citizens.

(Speaking English) -- develop democracies. The last big EU enlargement, which included Slovenia and other Central and Eastern European countries -- has been one of the greatest achievements in terms of promotion of democracy. Today almost whole Europe is free and united. This is very strong message for 21st century. The world is now complex. Nobody alone can solve all problems. War, peace, security and promotion of democracy, climate change and fight against poverty are global challenges today. Even together we are not able to solve all of them, but if we don't work together and we are not able to form even stronger alliance, then I'm afraid we won't succeed.

I'm glad that we can conclude after last few and also after today's EU-U.S. summit that we indeed work together. Although we might have different approaches in some aspects, it should never overshadow the depth and quality of our cooperation. We covered, as I said, a wide range of issues during our talks, from foreign policy to economic cooperation. Many strategic projects are underway. Maybe we need to develop also a common name for them. Symbols and names are important in the world's politics.

Mr. President, we led strongly to the rich story of your -- this time's European tour -- 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and the Marshall Plan. United States engagement did not only bring rehabilitation to Europe by promoting integration; it set an irreversible process in motion. Today Slovenia is hosting EU-U.S. summit, something that seemed impossible 60 years ago; something that seeming impossible even 20 years ago during the Slovenian Spring, when our streets were full of people fighting for freedom and democracy.

Our history teach us that we must be ambitious. It's time to be ambitious. We have to create stronger alliance based on our democratic values -- ever to protect them, but also to share them with others. Alliance of democracies is strong (inaudible) inside and open to outside world. Alliance able to lead, to change, and to help. A new hope for those who suffer. Who else can start the work if the biggest and most developed democracies can't?

Now I invite the President of United States, Mr. George Bush, to take the floor, and then the President of the European Commission. Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you. Commission President Barroso, good to see you. Thank you for your time and friendship. Let me correct the record, Mr. Prime Minister. I said, "Slovenia was a little slice of heaven." (Laughter.) I'd like to -- with your indulgence, change my remarks. Slovenia is a big slice of heaven. (Laughter.) And I'm honored to be back in your beautiful country.

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: One of these days I'm going to come back as a tourist. As you know, I'm close to retirement. (Laughter.) And I'm looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful country and meeting more of your really gracious and hospitable people. So thank you very much.

This is my eighth EU-U.S. meeting. My message at the end is that it's really important for the United States to stay close with the EU. It's in our interest that the EU be strong, vibrant, and it's in our interests to work hard to have a partnership that solves problems.

And we discussed a lot of problems today. First, we discussed the Freedom Agenda. I find it ironic -- not ironic, just interesting, that 20 years ago, Mr. Prime Minister, you were in jail -- (laughter) -- because of your beliefs, because --

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: Not very happy times. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: You shouldn't have been happy about it. But because you had the courage to stand up and speak out clearly for freedom for all people, you were put in jail. And it seems like -- that any time we find people who were put in jail because they're willing to speak up for freedom, those of us who live in free lands ought to work to liberate them, Mr. Prime Minister.

And we spent a lot of time talking about how to help others realize the blessings of liberty, whether it be in the Balkans, whether it be a Palestinian state, and whether it be to use the EU as a way to encourage people to develop the habits of reformist societies.

And, by the way, one subject we didn't spend a lot of time on that I'd like to clarify the U.S. position on is, we strongly believe Turkey ought to be a member of the EU, and we appreciate Turkey's record of democratic and free market reforms, and working to realize its EU aspirations.

We spent a lot of time on the Middle East. Besides the Palestinian state, we talked about Lebanon, Iran and Syria. One thing is for certain: If more people lived in free societies in the Middle East, the Middle East would be a more hopeful and more peaceful place. And so we strategized as to how to do that, Mr. Prime Minister, and I want to thank you for that.

I thank you for your support in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's amazing how these countries have gone from tyrannical situations to hopeful, young democracies. And I believe it's in our mutual interest to work hard to help these democracies survive for the sake of peace, and for the sake of human rights and human dignity. We talked about Cuba.

I want to thank very much your leadership, both of your leadership, in having the EU summit in South America. Obviously it's in the U.S. interest that you do so. We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood. I want to thank you very much for your expressions on Cuba. They said before relations should go forward, all political prisoners ought to be freed. If the Castro administration really is different, the first way to show that difference to the world is to free the political prisoners. That's something, Mr. Prime Minister, that I'm sure you can relate to.

We talked about Zimbabwe, Darfur, and Burma. We talked about how to make sure we have travel in a way that comforts our societies. I understand the visa waiver issue very well. I spend a lot of time talking to people that are worried about not being able to be treated like other members of the EU. I know the problem. We're on our way to solving it in a way that I think will satisfy countries as well as the EU itself, José.

We spent a lot of time on Iran. I appreciate the Foreign Minister Solana going to Iran to deliver a clear message: there is a better way for you to move forward than a way that so far has led to isolation. Iran with a nuclear weapon would be incredibly dangerous for world peace. And so we've got to continue to work together to make it clear, abundantly clear to them, that it's their choice to make: They can either face isolation or they can have better relations with all of us if they verifiably suspend their enrichment program.

We talked about trade and the Doha Round. We're committed to a successful Doha Round. It's not going to be easy, but it's, in our judgment, necessary that we continue to work together. I appreciate Ambassador Schwab and Commissioner Mandelson's cooperation in trying to get an agreement that we all can live with. It's really important to defeat the voices of protectionism now. And if you're truly worried about global development, if you're worried about poverty, one of the best ways to help poor people is to trade. And so we're committed to the global round.

I thought our discussions today were very good. We spent time talking about HIV/AIDS and malaria on the continent of Africa. The United States looks forward to working with EU nations to helping elevate folks from needless death. We've got a strategy in place that's effective, and we look forward to having partners join us.

And then finally, of course, we talked about energy and global climate change. I assured the leaders we have a strategy that we think will be effective at addressing global climate change, and at the same time dependence on hydrocarbons, and that is through a major economies meeting, a series of meetings, all aimed at getting the major developing --- the, major economies to agree to a firm goal and to commit to strategies to achieve that goal. The United States is more than willing to engage in those discussions. I will just tell you that unless China and India are at the table, unless they agree to a goal, unless they agree to firm strategies to achieve that goal, then I don't see how any international agreement can be effective.

And so therefore our strategy is to be realistic and to understand that the process is important, but not nearly as important as the results. And so we've had good engagement, Mr. Prime Minister, and Commission President Barroso. Thank you for your friendship. It's interesting, my first visit as U.S. President to Europe included a -- my first stop in Slovenia. My last visit as U.S. President to Europe includes first stop in Slovenia. It's a fitting circle. (Laughter.)

Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: Thank you.

PRESIDENT BARROSO: Thank you Thank you, Prime Minister Janša, President Bush. I'll start by this point. I think it's very symbolic and important that this summit here with President Bush, the last one you will be present as President of the United States, with European Union, is in Slovenia, a country that more or less 25 years ago was not yet free and independent; and today it's the presidency of the European Council, is a member of the euro zone, is a member of the Schengen area, and assuming full its responsibilities.

And let me underline this point, because it really deserves to be underlined: That would not have been possible without the European Union and without strong transatlantic relationship, because during the Cold War we have always had support of the United States of America.

And this is very important to understand, for the public in Europe, and I believe also in United States, that the support of the United States of America to freedom and democracy, and, indeed, to the European integration process was very, very important, and that this great project of European integration is well and running. Fifty years ago we were six member states; now we are 27 countries. This country where we were was not a free country. My own country 45 years ago was not a democracy, and now we have from the Atlantic to the Black Sea, from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea, democratic countries living together in peace and freedom.

This is indeed a great achievement, and this achievement was possible thanks to the commitment of founding fathers of the European Union to a united Europe, but also thanks to support of the United States of America. That's why I think it's fair to say to the United States sometimes, thank you. Thank you for all the support you have been giving to the integration and progress of democracy also in Europe.

So I believe it's important that we put all our relations in this perspective -- a community of values, a community of values not only for our respective nations, but beyond -- promoting and supporting a world based on human rights and democracy. President Bush and Prime Minister Janša already spoke about the main subjects. I will not repeat what -- everything they said. Let me just underline one or two points that are more in the competence of the European Commission.

On trade issues, we must work hard to achieve a fair and balanced outcome to the current round of WTO talks. The deal remains there to be done if the political will is there. I believe the deal will be good for developing countries in terms of new opportunities. It would also give a needed boost to the global economy, including the European Union and the U.S. economies. The time to move is now. We have a fair and balanced deal in our grasp that will help us face the challenges of globalization.

So I believe together United States and European Union can make a difference trying to bring others to a more realistic position so that we can achieve that deal on Doha trade and development talks.

One year ago, we have adopted a framework for advancing transatlantic economic integration, and I was proud, together with President Bush and Chancellor Merkel -- then President of the Council -- to create a Transatlantic Economic Council. We have put in place a new working methods. Today I'm happy to say that in just one year of existence, this body has brought more and steadier progress on some issues than in many years before. We have made progress on other investment, on accounting standards, on finding alternative methods to animal testing, on certification of electrical equipment.

This might be seen as rather technical, but all of these developments add up to major cost savings for European Union companies and United States companies, as well. This is understood by all parties. There were reports made by the transatlantic business community as estimated economic benefits of the items on our TEC -- on our Transatlantic Economic Council agenda -- as $10 billion -- $10 billion in terms of savings for business on both sides of the Atlantic.

So it is fair to say that Transatlantic Economic Council has given new momentum to the bilateral economic agenda. Indeed, the European Union and the United States of America count for the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. Transatlantic trade in goods and services totals over €1.9 billion a day, and the figures of all bilateral trade and investment show the high degree of interdependence of our economies. The European -- the United States remains the largest export destination for the European Union. In a time of important challenges to our economies, we have reaffirmed our commitment to free trade, open economies in the face of protectionist voices on both sides of the Atlantic.

The challenging economic situation makes the partnership ever more important. As we see with rising fuel and food prices, we now in Europe are discussing what are the right policy choices to increase energy diversification, energy efficiency, and also to improve food management. And we believe that these developments make it even more urgent to find a global agreement on climate change, and we spent a lot of our time discussing this.

What we have in common? The will to come to that agreement, we need that agreement to be global, so, of course, to add also China, India and others. And I believe it is important now to move ahead.

We have discussed some of the events that we are preparing like that major economies meeting and also the G8 meeting, and we hope that the United States and Europe can work even closer in this matter, because we -- European and American leadership is quite clear for me that it will be easier to get that global agreement. We are trying to get it by 2009 in Copenhagen, a United Nations agreement that could, of course, create the right response, global response for a global problem in terms of climate change. We need that not only because of our responsibility towards our planet, but we need also because of energy security concerns and also because of the rising food prices and the pressure that those prices are putting on our economies, and the competitiveness of our economies.

So those were two of the subjects that we have discussed: the economic -- more in detail, the economic and trade and investment relations, and also climate change. There were many others that President Bush and Prime Minister Janša also referred, but let me congratulate you, Prime Minister Janša , for a very successful meeting and for the high quality of the debate and the open debate that you have today.

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: Now we have time for a few questions.

Q Mr. President, as you mentioned before, this is probably your last visit in Slovenia and Europe.

PRESIDENT BUSH: As President. (Laughter.)

Q As President, of course. With your past experience of last, say, eight years, how can you see the future of the European Union, and its relations with United States? There are certain problems.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, there are problems. On the other hand, there is much more that unites us than divides us. Of course there is going to be problems and differences. That's normal.

First of all, there's going to be differences within the EU. You have 27 nations all trying to come together to forge a common agenda. That's why I'd much rather have my job than José's job. (Laughter.) But there will be differences. But somehow they managed to forge a common position on a lot of key issues, and that's where we discuss these issues.

And -- but the thing that unites us, and this is important for all of us to realize, is that we share common values. And people say, oh, that's just corny; that doesn't mean anything. It means a lot if you believe in human rights and human dignity and rule of law and freedom to speak and freedom to worship. That's a lot. That's a foundation for a very firm and lasting relationship.

And so I am confident that whoever succeeds me as President will understand the importance of the EU in regards to United States foreign policy, and will work hard to make sure ties, you know, remain strong. But make no mistake about it -- there will be differences of -- on how to approach certain issues, and that's okay, just so long as we let those -- don't let those differences divide us permanently, and I don't believe they possibly can.

Q Thank you, gentlemen. I wonder if I could ask about your statement on Iran and the communiqué today. And you described a combination of incentives as well as additional measures that you might take, and I wonder if you think that that is enough -- the idea of the prospect of future action is enough or sufficient to get the Iranians to change their point of view? And for you, President Bush, sir, are you frustrated at all by the pace of the diplomatic negotiations underway, particularly in light of the IAEA findings and Iran's insistence that it's going to continue to enrich? Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: I'll start. We've always made it clear to the Iranians there's a better way forward; that if they want to have a relationship with the EU3 and the United States and other countries, they -- all they've got to do is verifiably suspend their enrichment program. And the reason why that's important is that they learn to enrich, it means they've learned to -- a key part of developing a nuclear weapon. And if they end up with a nuclear weapon, the free world is going to say, why didn't we do something about it at the time, before they developed it? And so now is the time for there to be strong diplomacy.

You know, the fundamental question is -- it's not ours to make; it's theirs to make -- and that is, are they going to continue on their path of obstruction? Or will they continue to isolate their people? Or are they going to continue to deny the people of Iran a bright future by basically saying, we don't care what the world says.

And that's the position they're in. I leave behind a multilateral framework to work this issue. I think the Prime Minister said it's -- you know, one country can't solve all problems. I fully agree with that. A group of countries can send a clear message to the Iranians, and that is, we're going to continue to isolate you; we'll continue to work on sanctions; we'll find new sanctions if need be -- if you continue to deny the just demands of a free world, which is to give up your enrichment program.

They've ignored IAEA in the past, and therefore they can't be trusted with enrichment. And I thought we had a very fruitful discussion. We're on the same page. And I want to thank both leaders up here, and Foreign Minister Solana, as well.

Q (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: This is "Ask George" day. (Laughter.)

Q I would have a question for both of -- President and the Prime Minister.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Which President? (Laughter.) Let me guess.

Q The President of the United States.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, all right. (Laughter.) Sorry, José. Just trying to work you in the deal here, you know? (Laughter.)

Q As you said, he's the Commission's press.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Okay, fine.

Q On Iran, I would like to ask you, Mr. President, there is -- seems to be an emerging debate in Israel about a military option against the nuclear installations in Iran. How do you see that debate?

And Prime Minister Janša, I would like to ask you on climate change, how do you rate the chances that in the following years there will be an agreement with the U.S. on this issue?

PRESIDENT BUSH: First of all, if you were living in Israel you'd be a little nervous, too, if a leader in your neighborhood announced that they -- he'd like to destroy you. And one sure way of achieving that means is through the development of a nuclear weapon. Therefore, now is the time for all of us to work together to stop them. There's a lot of urgencies when it comes to dealing with Iran, and the Israeli political folks -- and if you go to Israel and listen carefully, you'll hear that urgency in their voice, one of many urgencies. And I'm hopeful we can get it done.

And, by the way -- I don't want to preclude the Prime Minister's answer -- I think we can actually get an agreement on global climate change during my presidency -- just so you know.

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: (As translated.) I believe in global agreement for a joint fight against climate change. This is, as a matter of fact, the only solution. An agreement or a self-commitment of the most developed or industrial countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is not enough, especially because some developing countries are developing really fast. China will, in a few years, become the first, in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions. And a global agreement without the developing countries would be a short-term solution.

So as a matter of fact, we really need that everybody who is a key stakeholder sits at the table. And I have mentioned already in my introduction, those who are most developed should take the leading role. And therefore this alliance, these agreements, these discussions on bringing closer the standpoints is of such significance.

As President Bush has mentioned, the commitment of the most developed economies, which is mandatory to reduce emissions by a certain deadline, this is a key commitment. How individual economies does reach this is less important. However, the goals must be set, and we must have mandatory goals, and this is of key importance. And in this way, we will reduce the threat of climate change.

And, of course, we should also attract to this task the other countries. Without the leading role of the European Union and the United States of America, and without close cooperation, it is not possible to reach a global agreement in short term. Therefore this discussion is of extreme importance. And the G8 summit in Japan in next month should represent an important step forward if we wish, in time, before the U.N. conference in Copenhagen, reach this agreement. There is not much time left. The time is running out.

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's called technology. (Laughter.)

Q Thanks again.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes. (Laughter.) Glad to help out, you know.

Q I'd like to ask each of you leaders about economic issues. For President Bush, will the United States intervene to support the dollar if your current efforts to talk it up don't succeed? And what also is your reaction to the Saudi Arabian proposal for a summit on energy prices?

For Prime Minister Janša, what effects are you feeling in Eastern and Central Europe from the rising energy prices and the rising value of the euro? Did those factors pose a risk to growth and integration for those countries, for your countries?

And for President Barroso, given the proliferation of disputes between Europe and the United States over food safety issues, is there a concern that the EU is being too restrictive on those issues?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Okay, John -- interesting idea by the -- His Majesty, the King of Saudi Arabia. Secondly, I articulated a policy that I had been articulating ever since I had been the President. It's the same policy, which is we believe in a strong dollar, and that relative value of economies will end up setting the proper valuation of the dollar.

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: (As translated.) Past growth, or growth, with little comparison in the history, this is the growth of energy and food prices -- and the food prices are going up due to high cost of energy or oil, and this has a significant effect on the economy in Slovenia and throughout Europe. This is one of the key questions being dealt with at the national level and at the level of the European institutions, as has been mentioned by President Barroso. This is a serious problem. It will, on the one hand, make us search long-term solutions. I have mentioned this in part before. And on the other hand, it will make us search short-term solutions. And one of these is energy efficiency.

We have also discussed this at today's summit, and this is a strong message: The investment in research and development, the investment into what the economy can do, an economy that is less dependent on carbon, less dependent on fossil fuels -- this will have a long-term strategic effect on the price.

So the key is the technology. I remember the President of the United States saying two years ago at the summit meeting in Vienna that the key thing is investment in the development of new technologies. This is the key strategic reply to these challenges. And as far as the euro is concerned, on the one hand we are satisfied and happy that euro is a strong currency. And since the first of January of last year, Slovenia is also part of the euro zone. And I can say that in the majority the effects are positive. When calculating the high prices of oil in dollars, this slightly mitigates this jumps. And on the other hand, this is also a problem for importers in the European Union. We wouldn't like to see a weak euro and a strong dollar.

The press conference is nearly completed.

PRESIDENT BARROSO: Honestly, I don't see the proliferation of difficulties with United States on food. On the contrary, some of the issues that we have been discussing for some time have now known some progress. What I believe is that on food and energy in general, there are issues that we have to address together. Some of those challenges are really global by nature and we need to have a structured responses to them.

There will not be quick fixes. Some of those developments are long-term structural challenges. What is important, by the way, is that in the short term we do not take measures against what is the long-term solution for those problems -- namely, once again, we need a global agreement on climate change is the best way to fight some of the problems of energy prices and also to address some of problems of food security, namely in some developing countries.

But I don't see a proliferation of specific problems now on United States regarding food. On the contrary, I see a very cooperative position, and negotiations on the specific issues are going on with a very constructive mood.

PRIME MINISTER JANŠA: Mr. President, before we conclude this press conference, let me repeat once again how much we appreciate your visit here after seven years, concluding the circle, as you said. And our bilateral meeting which we had in this morning confirmed that Slovenia and the United States have established sound foundations for building excellent relations. And I want just to repeat the words from the President of the European Commission that without the vital support of United States for this positive changes in Europe before the fall of Berlin Wall and after it, maybe we wouldn't be here today at Brdo. And I surely wouldn't be here in this capacity. (Laughter.)

But I also want to say thank you because of one other thing. Sir, hundreds of thousands of Slovenes driven from homeland by economic and political hardship of our history have found open hands and hearts in the United States. Some of them are making great contributions in walks of life in the United States. We are proud of them here in Slovenia. We are also pleased that the progress that Slovenia has made since independence gives them pride. And I'm sure that today, as we host this summit, there is lot of proud Slovenes in the States, sir.

Mr. President, this was your eighth EU-U.S. summit. During this last eight years, our EU-U.S. strategic partnership has developed significantly. It has faced also some serious challenges, which we have successfully overcome. Today we are closer to common position to our most important global challenges than ever. It is not too early but it's not too late either. Thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. (Applause.)

END

New West Bank Policemen Ceremony held

European Commision policemen gather prior to a medal ceremony held for newly trained Palestinian policemen working with the EU mission, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on 29 May 2008.

Palestinian policemen salute during their national anthem at a medal ceremony held by European Commission policemen for newly trained Palestinian policemen in the West Bank city of Ramallah on 29 May 2008.

A Palestinian orchestra plays their national anthem during a medal ceremony.

The mission, which started in January 2006, has trained and equipped Palestinian police to help turn it into an effective force towards fighting crime and terrorism, for a safer Palestine.

Protests to be held on Saturday in 30 countries against the siege of Gaza

22 February, 2008

GAZA, (PIC) Lawmaker Jamal al-Khudari, President of the Popular Committee Against Siege (PCAS) said that Saturday will be an International day of protest against the oppressive siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

Khudari said in a press conference he held at the Ramattan news agency on Friday that protests will be held on Saturday in 70 cities in 30 different countries around the world to show solidarity with the people of Gaza "who are living extremely harsh conditions, getting worse by the day [as a result of the siege which] constitutes collective punishment and genocide."

He added that some people may think that the siege was broken by the brief breach of the Gaza-Egypt border, but this is wrong and the fact is that the siege continues and it is getting even harsher and effecting everyone and everything.

He also said that PCAS sent letters to all countries, and all levels, formal and popular to rally support for its campaign.

Khudari also welcomed the call by the European Parliament for ending the siege of Gaza and called upon the European Union and the International Community to take binding decisions in this regard.

Khudari said the day will be marked in the Gaza Strip by a general strike, laying a foundation stone for a monument to the victims of the siege and a march to the United Nations Office were a letter will be handed to the UN representative.

Protests will be held in many European capitals and cities according to Amin Abu Rashed, the President of the European Committee Against the Siege, who told PIC that his committee coordinated with PCAS to make Saturday 23 February 2008 a day of solidarity with the people in the Gaza Strip.

Putin Denounces US Missile Shield

Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the EU Commission, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, from left to right, arrive for a news conference at the end of the EU/Russia summit in the library of the 18th century Mafra Palace Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, in Mafra, north of Lisbon. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

26 October 2007

By MIKE ECKEL

MAFRA, Portugal -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday compared the U.S. proposal to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s.

"Analogous actions by the Soviet Union, when it deployed missiles in Cuba, prompted the 'Caribbean crisis,'" Putin said at a news conference at the end of a European Union-Russian summit in Portugal, using the Russian term for the Cuban missile crisis.

"Such a threat is being set up on our borders," he said.

At the same time, Putin suggested the tension was much lower that during the Cuban missile crisis because Russian-U.S. relations have moved on since the Cold War.

He also said he believes the United States is listening to Moscow's concerns about its missile plans. Putin said his relationship with President Bush helps iron out problems in relations with the U.S., calling him a friend.

Turning to his future in Russian politics, Putin said he would not assume presidential powers if he became prime minister after finishing his term in the spring.

"If someone thinks that I intend to move, let's say, into the government of the Russian Federation and transfer the fundamental powers there, that's not the case," he said at a news conference. "There will be no infringement on the powers of the president of the Russian Federation, at least while it depends on me."

The popular Putin is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in the March presidential election, but has strongly indicated he would seek to keep a hand on Russia's reins after he steps down. He has left the door open to becoming prime minister, recently announcing that he will head United Russia's election list in the December parliamentary elections.

Insulting the Palestinian People While Brokering a Land Deal and Not Calling It One

' Blair said one of this year's aims would be to get a sense of what a Palestinian state could look like.' Blair is being charged in International Court, on several counts of war crime’s.

Quartet announces new peace summit

24 September 2007

The Quartet of Middle East negotiators has pledged support for another Middle East peace conference, with the US indicating Syria would be one of the "natural invitees".

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said the summit would be "substantive and serious" and deal with the core issues of Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem and borders.

But Arab diplomats, already sceptical about US efforts this year to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace after six years of what critics regard as relative neglect, said they saw no use for the new conference unless it had clear goals and a realistic chance of meeting them.

The Palestinians want the conference to produce an outline for a peace deal; the Israelis want more vague declarations.

UN, US, EU and Russia met behind closed doors on Sunday at the United Nations in New York, seeking to revive the stalled road map for Middle East peace and a Palestinian state.

The group expressed optimism that progress could be made with a new road map and backed bilateral talks between the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian president.

It also called on Israel to keep fuel and electricity services flowing to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip after Israel declared the area an "enemy entity" and said it would reduce fuel and power supplies in response to rocket attacks by Palestinians.

Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, now the Quartet's envoy, said one of the aims by the end of the year was to get a sense of what a Palestinian state could look like in terms of institutions and governance.

Invite for Syria

Rice would not say unequivocally that Syria would be invited, saying invitations had not been issued yet but "we would hope that the invitations would include the members of the Arab follow-up committee ... charged by the Arab League with following up with the international community on an Arab Peace Initiative" which offers peace with Israel in exchange for land.

The committee members are Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen.

Only two, Egypt and Jordan, have peace deals with Israel and Syria and Saudi Arabia remain technically at war with it.

Rice suggested that attending the US conference, expected to be held in the Washington area in November, came with some strings.

"Coming to this meeting also brings with it certain responsibilities," Rice told reporters at a news conference after the Quartet meeting.

"We hope that those who come are really committed to helping the Israelis and the Palestinians find a way through. And that means renouncing violence, it means working for a peaceful solution."

Video

Mike Hanna looks back at the many paths to peace which never quite made it.

Abbas Wants Framework Accord at Mideast Conference

In this handout image provided by the Palestinian Press Office (PPO), Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on September 2, 2007 in Ramallah, West Bank. Solana is speaking with Palestinian and Israeli politicians in preparation for a Middle East peace conference to be held later this year with the Quartet powers the EU, the USA, Russia and the UN. (Photo by Omar Rashidi/PPO via Getty Images)

Palestinian president says framework, timeline for implementation of peace agreement vital for success of upcoming conference

2 September 2007

Israel-Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants a planned Middle East conference to result in a framework agreement for peace with Israel and set a timeline for implementation, a senior aide said on Sunday.

We are concerned that November 15 will come - if this will indeed be the date for this international conference - without arriving at a specific agreement on all the issues, and that this meeting will be described as a failure," Abbas said.

Abbas has been pressing a reluctant Israel to discuss in depth matters at the core of any future agreement on Palestinian statehood - the shape of final borders and the fate of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.

"We need a framework agreement with a timeline for implementation," a senior Abbas aide said, describing the Palestinian leader's position.

At a news conference with Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Abbas said: "We do not want a meeting that results in merely a statement. We do not want a meeting that will end up a failure for everybody."

The senior aide said Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert failed to bridge their differences on the issue at their last meeting, on August 28.

Abbas said last week the conference proposed by U.S. President George W. Bush would be a waste of time if Israel continued to seek only a broadbrush "declaration of principles".

Israeli officials have used that phrase to describe what Olmert might offer in answer to calls for rapid, final talks in details on establishing a Palestinian state.

Raising the bar too high, the officials have said, could lead to disappointment and crush renewed efforts to revive peacemaking stalled by seven years of violence.

Palestinians Poorer Than Ever

By David Cronin

BRUSSELS, Aug 31 (IPS) - Poverty in the Palestinian territories has reached "unprecedented levels" because they have been held under an "economic siege" for almost seven years, a United Nations body has found.

During 2006 the number of Palestinians living in 'deep poverty' almost doubled to more than 1 million. Some 46 percent of public sector employees do not have enough food to meet their basic needs, with 53 percent of households in the Gaza reporting that their incomes declined in the last year by more than half.

This data is contained in a report, released Aug. 30, by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

It stated that an ostensible Israeli policy of 'separating' the Palestinian authorities from Arab and world markets by restricting the movement of people and goods has "squeezed the economy to a size smaller than a decade ago."

The Palestinians' reliance on imports as a proportion of their gross domestic product rose to 86 percent last year -- up from 75 percent in 2005, equating to the loss of 500 million dollars to the economy.

UNCTAD also complained that Israel declined to hand over more than 800 million dollars in tax revenues it had purportedly collected for the Palestinian Authority during 2006. Because of this refusal -- the second since 2002 -- the authorities' revenues shrank to under 600 million dollars, half what they were in 2005.

The report's publication coincided with a UN-sponsored conference on resolving the Middle East conflict in Brussels.

Controversially, the conference, which featured campaigners from the international Palestinian solidarity movement, was described as anti-Israel in some press reports.

Yet this allegation was dismissed by Paul Badji, a Senegalese diplomat who chairs the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. "It is not anti-Israel to defend the rights of Palestinians," he said.

Leila Shahid, delegate general of Palestine to the European Union, reminded the conference that it is 40 years since Israel began "the longest occupation in contemporary history."

Delivering a statement on behalf of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, she said that by setting up 550 permanent and mobile checkpoints, Israel has turned the West Bank into "a group of isolated cantons, while over 11,000 Palestinians, including elected representatives and municipal council members, languish in prison, and targeted assassinations continue."

Pierre Galand from the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine said he did not believe that the U.S. President George W. Bush and his administration could "do peace a favour by granting 30 billion dollars of military aid to Israel, an increase of about a quarter of the American military aid to the Israeli state for the next ten years.

"We do not believe either that Germany aided peace in the Middle East when delivering in August 2006, during the war against Lebanon, two submarines with nuclear capacity and a 4,500 km radius of action," he added.

But Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, welcomed efforts by Washington to convene a Middle East peace conference.

"There is no question that the U.S. is a very powerful country and very influential in our region," he told IPS. "Therefore, its participation in brokering a conference for the autumn could possibly be very constructive. It could help to get all the parties to the conflict to move in the right direction."

Jamal Juma, coordinator of the Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign in Jerusalem, strongly denounced the 760 km 'security fence' that Israel has been constructing in the West Bank. This barrier is being constructed in defiance of the International Court of Justice. In 2004, the Hague-based court declared that the wall flouted international law by infringing on the rights of the Palestinians.

"What Israel is creating on the ground is a ghetto system worse than the apartheid system in South Africa," Juma said.

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein from the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions pointed out that both South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have drawn parallels between the plight of the Palestinians and that of their country's black majority under apartheid.

She urged an international boycott of Israel similar to that which led many governments to impose economic sanctions against South Africa during the 1980s.

Clare Short, the former secretary for international development in the British government, said that Israel has razed 18,000 Palestinian homes since 1967 and that "each demolition is a war crime."

Short noted that a free trade agreement between Israel and the European Union contains clauses relating to respect for human rights. She asked why these provisions have not been invoked "to insist on Israeli compliance with international law."

New York-based Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, a spokesman for Jews United Against Zionism, said that the conduct of Israeli forces in the Palestinian territories is helping foment anti-Semitism. He also took issue with Israeli politicians who cite the Holocaust to defend attacks on Palestinians, which they claim are necessary to protect Israel's security.

"The state of Israel is not doing Jews a favour," he told IPS. "My grandparents died in Auschwitz and it is wrong to dig them up and use them to oppress the Palestinian people. They should not be used as a pawn."