World Media Watch for March 26, 2004
Full excerpts, links up now at
http://www.zianet.com/insightanalyticalTomorrow at Buzzflash.com
1//The Independent, UK--THE GOLDEN HANDSHAKE: BRAVE STEP OR A CYNICAL PLOY? (Tony Blair offered Muammar Gaddafi the "hand of friendship" in a desert tent outside Tripoli yesterday as he held historic talks with the Libyan leader aimed at ending the 20-year isolation of the pariah state and recruiting it as a partner in the war on terror…In an attempt to stress the value of the rapprochement, British diplomats said the two countries were already sharing intelligence on North African groups linked to Osama Bin Laden. British businesses have also begun a rush to exploit Libyan oil and gas reserves potentially worth billions…But the return of Libya to the international fold has, in some quarters, been criticised as a cynical stunt.)
2//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey--BLAIR: TURKEY IN EU UNDERMINES TERROR CAUSE (Europe should allow Turkey to become a member of the EU to demonstrate its commitment to the creation of a tolerant and diverse Europe and to undermine cause of Islamic extremists, said British Premier Tony Blair. "Let us show by our willingness to bring Turkey, a proud Muslim nation, into the EU on the same and equal terms as all others, to show that Europe is committed not just in word but in deed to a Europe of diverse races, cultures and religions all bound together by common rules and a sense of human solidarity and mutual respect," he said…Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey could serve as a bridge between the European Union and the Muslim world.)
Related:ERDOGAN RAILS AGAINST YASSIN KILLING (Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the assassination of Palestinian Hamas group leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin by Israeli forces as an "act of terror" and said Turkish plans to mediate between Israelis and Palestinians were "ruined" by the killing.)
3//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--LATHAM’S LINE ‘ENCOURAGES TERRORISTS’, SAYS PM (Federal Opposition leader Mark Latham's call to bring Australian troops in Iraq home by Christmas would only encourage terrorists, Prime Minister John Howard said today…Asked if there was a threat to Australian lives, Mr Howard said: "He's made a very serious mistake, it could have that consequence, but I'm not making that claim independently". Mr Howard told Melbourne radio 3AW any weakening in the United States-led coalition in Iraq would only encourage terrorists.)
4//Inter Press Service, Italy--WAR ON TERROR ‘THREATENS AID’ (A rush of new EU proposals seek to link aid to the fight against terrorism. Inevitably, a group of leading non-governmental organisations have objected to the moves…The new proposals cited by BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development), a group of about 250 NGOs, openly link aid programmes to the fight against terrorism…The declaration includes proposals to increase development assistance for "targeted technical assistance" to "priority countries", and says the EU would introduce counter-terrorism concerns into "all relevant external assistance programmes.")
5//The Moscow Times, Russia--PUTIN CUTS BACK PRESIDENTIAL STAFF (President Vladimir Putin has approved radical cuts to his staff, living up to his promise to announce changes in the presidential administration within 10 days after the election…"This is not a sign of Putin's strength, but a reflection that at the beginning of Putin's second term his team is not ready to take full control of all processes," Petrov said. But Petrov warned that the compromise could end up being only a temporary measure. Another change -- the removal of the president's economic department -- could mean the administration is focusing on other issues.)
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