Turkey to build railway to connect with Iran: report
ANKARA, March 30 (Xinhua) — Turkey is preparing to build a railway in its eastern part to connect its railway network with Iran, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Tuesday.
The railway will link eastern Turkish destinations of Kars, Igdir, Aralik and Dilucu and is part of the Istanbul-Islamabad railway project, said the agency.
The Istanbul-Islamabad project aims to make railway transportation between Pakistan, Turkey and Europe more efficient by shortening the train ride between Turkey and Pakistan to 4 days from 11 days, according to the agency.
Under the project, new rail lines will be built while the existing railway networks in Pakistan and Iran will be rehabilitated, making a massive network that runs 6,160 km, with 2, 600 km in Turkey, 2,570 km in Iran and 990 km in Pakistan, it reported.
The project is estimated to be completed in five years, said the report.
http://www.nmgmzbwg.com.cnMEDVEDEV CALLS FOR NEW COUNTERTERRORISM LAWS — RUSSIAN MEDIA http://www.marconimedical.com
Special Report: Twin blasts rock Moscow subway
Backgrounder: Major terrorism attacks linked to Russia\’s North Caucasus
Backgrounder: Major metro blasts in Russia since 1998
Backgrounder: Major blasts in Russia since 2009
? The Russian flag flies at half-mast over the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia, on March 30, 2010 during a day of mourning for the victims of a terrorist bomb attack. Two suicide bombers exploded themselves in two subway stations in Moscow during rush hours on Monday morning, killing at least 38 people and injuring more than 64 others. The first took place at 7:52 a.m. local time (0352 GMT) at the Lubyanka station and the second bomb detonated some 40 minutes later at the nearby Cultural Park station. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)
MOSCOW, March 30 (Xinhua) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday proposed to prevent terrorism by improving legislation ensuing the deadly twin blasts at central Moscow\’s subway stations, news agencies reported.
\”I think we should give attention to some issues relating to improvement of the legislation aimed at preventing terrorism, including clear work of various agencies in charge of investigating such crimes,\” said the president as quoted by the Interfax news agency.
Two deadly blasts struck the Lubyanka and Cultural Park subway stations in central Moscow during rush hours on Monday morning, with an interval of around 45 minutes, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 70.
The blasts were confirmed as having been set off by two female suicide bombers who probably were linked to terrorist groups in North Caucasus.
At a meeting dedicated to improving the judicial system, Medvedev also suggested a debate on the legislation related to transport security.
\”There is a reason to go back to the issue relating to the administration of justice in terrorism cases and associated crimes and to talk about the need to improve such practice,\” Medvedev said.
At the start of the meeting, the president said: \”We all grieve for the losses, for the people who were killed in the terrorist attacks. It\’s a horrific tragedy, a crime.\”
Tuesday was set as a Day of Mourning for those victims of the tragic bomb attacks.
Related:
Death toll rises to 39 in Moscow subway blasts
BEIJIJNG, March 30 (Xinhuanet)– The death toll from Moscow twin blasts has risen to 39 as another woman died in a clinic, the AP reported Tuesday.
BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) — Two explosions hit the Moscow subway system in the morning rush hour on Monday, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 70.
It has been confirmed the blasts were the work of two female suicide bombers with possible links to terrorist groups in Russia\’s North Caucasus.
Russia\’s North Caucasus includes the republics of Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia-Alainia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan.
The following are some of the major terrorist attacks within the republics or linked to terrorists in the region since 2009:
On Feb. 19, 2010, one policeman was killed and 16 others were injured in two explosions in Ingushetia.
On Nov. 27, 2009, at least 27 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in the derailment of a Russian express train. The train traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg left the tracks near the town of Bologoye on the border between the Tver and Novgorod regions. Preliminary investigations indicated the derailment was caused by a bomb blast.
On Aug. 17, 2009, a truck packed with explosives crashed through the gates of a police building in Ingushetia, triggering a powerful blast that killed at least 20 people and injured 138.
On July 26, 2009, four police officers and a suicide bomber were killed in a blast at an entrance to a concert hall in Chechnya. Ten others were injured.
On July 4, 2009, nine Chechen police officers were killed when gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked their convoy in Ingushetia. Nine other police officers were badly wounded in the roadside strike.
On June 22, 2009, the leader of the Republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, was wounded in an attack on his motorcade.
On June 13, 2009, former Deputy Prime Minister of Ingushetia Bashir Aushev was killed in a drive-by shooting.
On March 5, 2009, six people were killed and two others injured when a landmine exploded in a village of the Nazran district in Ingushetia.
http://www.minamik.com
Italy\’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi holds his ballot before voting at a polling station for regional elections in Milan, March 28, 2010. (Photo Source:CRIOnline.com)
by Silvia Marchetti
ROME, March 30 (Xinhua) — Despite negative forecasts and a low voter turnout, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi\’s centre-right government coalition triumphed in March 28-29 regional elections, final returns showed Tuesday.
Across the country over 40 million voters were eligible to cast their ballots to elect local governors and councils in 13 out of Italy\’s 20 regions. The elections were set to be a crucial test for the government.
However, voter turnout touched a record low of 64 percent, 8 percentage points less than in the 2005 regional elections, which highlighted Italians\’ apathy toward politics.
According to final results issued Tuesday by the Interior Ministry, Berlusconi\’s People of Freedom Party and his allies scored victory in six regions with almost 40 percent of total votes.
The centre-right coalition gained four out of 11 of the most populated, strategic regions traditionally belonging to the centre-left, including Latium, where Rome is located; Piedmont; Calabria and Campania, where Naples is.
In the Latium region former trade union leader Renata Polverini defeated the centre-left candidate and former European Union (EU) commissioner Emma Bonino.
In Piedmont, Roberto Cota, candidate of the Northern League Party, a coalition ally of Berlusconi, won over exiting governor Mercedes Bresso of the Democratic Party.
Together with traditionally centre-right Veneto, where Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia was elected governor, and Lombardy, where Roberto Formigoni was confirmed for a second mandate, Berlusconi\’s coalition now leads Italy\’s biggest and most important regions.
For the governing coalition it\’s a great result, demonstrating that the regional elections turned out a positive test.
Crucial for Berlusconi\’s victory was the anti-immigration government ally,the Northern League Party, which triumphed in the north of the country.
Another novelty of the elections was the success obtained by the party of controversial comic Beppe Grillo, which drained votes from the traditional left.
The Democratic Party, leader of the centre-left, thus suffered a severe blow, holding on to power exclusively in its traditional strongholds, including Tuscany and Umbria.
Berlusconi welcomed the electoral results, saying they proved that Italians still supported him.
According to a statement of Culture Minister Sandro Bondi, who is also coordinator for the People of Freedom party, the prime minister\’s involvement was crucial in the centre-right\’s victory.
\”Italy was the only European country whose government, despite the economic crisis, saw its consent increase rather than decrease,\” he said.?
Special Report: Twin blasts rock Moscow subway
Backgrounder: Major terrorism attacks linked to Russia\’s North Caucasus
Backgrounder: Major metro blasts in Russia since 1998
Backgrounder: Major blasts in Russia since 2009
? ?The Russian flag flies at half-mast over the Kremlin in Moscow, capital of Russia, on March 30, 2010 during a day of mourning for the victims of a terrorist bomb attack. Two suicide bombers exploded themselves in two subway stations in Moscow during rush hours on Monday morning, killing at least 38 people and injuring more than 64 others. The first took place at 7:52 a.m. local time (0352 GMT) at the Lubyanka station and the second bomb detonated some 40 minutes later at the nearby Cultural Park station. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)
?
MOSCOW, March 30 (Xinhua) — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urged on Tuesday law enforcement and security agencies to find masterminds and accomplices of the deadly twin Moscow blasts, saying it as a matter of honor.
Those responsible for the tragic explosions that claimed at least 39 lives should be \”scraped out from the bottom of the sewers,\” said Putin as quoted by news agencies.
\”We know they (the masterminds and accomplices) have lain in hiding, but it is a matter of honor for law enforcement agencies to bring them out from the sewer into God\’s light,\” said Putin at a transport security meeting.
\”I am sure this will be done,\” he added.
Two deadly blasts struck the Lubyanka and Cultural Park subway stations in central Moscow during rush hours on Monday morning, with an interval of around 45 minutes, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 70.
? ?People pray for the bomb victims at the Lubyanka Metro Station in Moscow, capital of Russia, March 30, 2010. Tuesday was set as a Day of Mourning for those victims of the tragic bomb attacks. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)
Ensuing the blasts, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday proposed to prevent terrorism by improving legislation.
Both Medvedev and Putin have pledged to fight terrorism to the end without hesitation on Monday.
SOFIA, March 30 (Xinhua) — Bulgarian Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev resigned Tuesday after the District Prosecutor\’s Office charged him with making money on government purchases and damaging the public interest.
In a statement, Nanev dismissed the charges as \”groundless.\”
According to the prosecutor\’s press service, Nanev, on behalf of the health ministry, last December signed two deals with a foreign private company for the delivery of Tamiflu, an A/H1N1 flu vaccine, and was suspected of making personal gains in the deals.
The prosecutor said there was a cheaper offer proposed by the National Health Service in Britain and the Bulgarian health ministry lost a total 1.69 million U.S. dollars by taking the more expensive option.
If found guilty, Nanev may spend at least five years behind bars.
The European Union has criticized the level of organized crime and corruption in Bulgaria.
http://www.chinacourse.com
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R2) leaves a polling office with local polling station representative Sara Giudice(L2) after voting in regional elections in Milan on March 28, 2010. Despite negative forecasts and a low voter turnout, Berlusconi\’s centre-right government coalition triumphed in March 28-29 regional elections, final returns showed Tuesday. The 24-year-old Giudice is a university graduate majoring in? marketing, and also a faithful supporter to Berlusconi\’s People of Freedom Party (PDL).?It is reported that she earned the appreciation of Berlusconi for soliciting?votes of Youth. She is not the only one who gets political help from Berlusconi. (Photo Source: CRIOnline.com)
Italy\’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi holds his ballot before voting at a polling station for regional elections in Milan, March 28, 2010. (Photo Source:CRIOnline.com)
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ANKARA, March 30 (Xinhua) — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday wrote back to a 9-year-old girl in Germany who had sent a \”White Peace Pigeon\” bibelot and a peace message to him through visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Turkish media reported.
In the letter, Erdogan praised the girl for contributing to peace efforts, promising to deliver the white pigeon to students in the Turkish city of Istanbul to spread peace message, the semi- official Anatolia news agency reported.
\”Your white pigeon has passed through the mountains, rivers and seas and reached me through German Chancellor Merkel. I was very pleased to get it,\” Erdogan was quoted of writing in the letter.
\”Turkey exerts extreme efforts to end all clashes in the region and the world … We are at the same time in a sincere effort to prevent spread of nuclear weapons, prevent climate changes and remove prejudices among different cultures and civilizations,\” he said.
Merkel presented the gift and message from Lara, a student at the school of Katharinenschule in Germany\’s Unna city, when meeting Erdogan during her visit to Ankara on Monday.
In her message, Lara said the pigeon is a symbol of peace and part of the peace movement of several elementary schools in Germany, Turkey and Hungary.
\”After looking at the pigeon for several days, please send it to another person or establishment so as to continue world peace .. . this way, we can follow the \’peace path\’ of the pigeon,\” said Lara.
Merkel arrived in Turkey on Monday for a two-day visit.
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BUCHAREST, March 30 (Xinhua) — Europe could remain in a \”second league\” of the global economy amid the current global financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief said here Tuesday.
Addressing the Economic Studies Academy in Bucharest, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Europe ran the risk of lagging behind Asia and America in the economic race unless actions were taken.
\”Everybody knows that the Asian economies are growing much faster and we can expect a change of forces in the developed countries,\” Strauss-Kahn said, adding that \”if we do not take immediate and sufficient action, the global reality will change in 10-20 years.\”
But the IMF chief also expressed confidence Europe would make the necessary changes, saying the region would become one of the world\’s most important players in the decades to come.
Strauss-Kahn said he did not believe the destiny of Europe was to be in the shadow of the United States or Asia.
One of the lessons Europe needed to learn following the crisis was that one cannot have a common currency, such as the euro, without having coordinated economic policies, he said.
The IMF chief also urged Romania and the whole of Europe to work hard to emerge from the crisis and prepare the country and the EU to fulfill their destinies, as there would not be a second chance.
Strauss-Kahn is in Romania for a brief visit to assess the performance of the rescue agreement signed by Romania and the IMF last year.
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NICOSIA, March 23 (Xinhua) — Cyprus state officials, high up from President Demetris Christofias down to members of parliament, accepted on Tuesday a 10-percent pay cut as a voluntary gesture to contain the budget deficit within European Union levels.
The move was initiated on Monday night by President Christofias, who first announced a cut in the salaries of himself and his cabinet members.
He called upon other officials to follow suit in a bid to help public finances.
His challenge was taken up by all parliamentary parties and a positive response is expected from other high-level officials.
However, ordinary public servants called upon the government to find the money it needs by collecting billions of euros of unpaid taxes.
Christofias has faced strong criticism even from his coalition partners for failing to announce comprehensive measures to bring the economy back in line with EU standards.
A record budget deficit of six percent of GDP was recorded last year, up from a 3.5-percent surplus in the previous year. The public debt went up from 48 percent to about 55 percent.
\”Salary cuts amount to a drop in comparison with the ocean of measures needed to put the economy back on track,\” said Demetris Sillouris, leader of the European Party.
It is estimated that cuts in the salaries of state officials will save about 150,000 euros, only a small amount of the total needed to bring the deficit down to the three-percent level set by the EU.
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VIENNA, March 23 (Xinhua) — Werner Faymann, the prime minister of Austria, said after a meeting of the council of ministers on Tuesday that Austria doesn\’t want Greece to be expelled from the eurozone, the Austria Press Agency (APA) reported.
Josef Proell, Austria\’s Minister of Finance, also pointed out that sanctions against Greece can only be applied when all concerned parties agree.
Expelling a member country from the eurozone will influence the credibility of the currency, said the minister.
Both Proell and Faymann stressed bilateral responsibilities, though the Austrian government has not revealed any details on how it plans to assist Greece.
Proell expressed hope that Greece\’s domestic austerity package could help level off its financial market efficiently.
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ATHENS, March 23 (Xinhua) — The Greek credibility deficit is not only confined to the financial and markets sector, and the new government also aims at restoring the leading role Greece can hold in foreign affairs in its neighborhood, Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitrios Droutsas said on Tuesday while addressing a forum in Athens.
\”We try to return to an energetic foreign policy with initiatives that will create opportunities for strengthening the stability and security in the broader area, promoting economic and social well-being,\” Droutsas stressed during a speech at an international conference on Greek economy, citing the Greek efforts concerning the Balkans and Turkey as an example of this new spirit.
Athens seeks a fair solution which could be accepted by both sides on the name dispute issue with Macedonia, in the framework of the Agenda 2014 campaign toward the future admission of the rest of the Balkans countries to the EU, the minister said.
\”We seek a solution based on geographical terms that will reflect reality, will not leave open issues, or the feeling that a country is not treated just,\” Droutsas said ahead of a new meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in Brussels on Thursday.
Regarding Greek-Turkish relations, Droutsas underlined that Greece supports strongly the prospect of a Turkish full membership in the European Union, and not just a special relationship as other EU member states suggest, \”as long as Ankara fulfills all obligations\” under the criteria set for all applicants.
http://www.gemuhope.com
MOSCOW, March 30 (Xinhua) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree Tuesday to implement stronger UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang\’s nuclear program last year.
The decree banned purchase of weapons and relevant materials from the Democratic People\’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) by government offices, enterprises, banks, organizations and individuals currently under Russia\’s jurisdiction.
It also prohibited the transit of weapons and relevant materials via Russian territories and their export to the DPRK.
Any financial aid and educational training that might facilitate Pyongyang\’s nuclear program and proliferation activities are also forbidden.
\”Security is being stepped up in Russia in order to prevent any such operations in accordance with Russia\’s legal system,\” said the decree, published on the Kremlin website.
The UN Security Council on June 12, 2009, unanimously adopted Resolution 1874, condemning Pyongyang\’s underground nuclear test on May 25 and beefing up economic sanctions against the country.
The DPRK rejected the resolution and announced its withdrawal from the six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
No reasons were provided for the timing of Medvedev\’s decision.
http://www.nmgmzbwg.com.cn
BUCHAREST, March 30 (Xinhua) — The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Tuesday the agency was helping Romania to recover from its ongoing financial crisis.
IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is in Romania for a brief visit, said: \”We are helping to put a country like Romania, which has a lot of opportunities, back on track to take advantage from those opportunities, and we want to protect the ones which are most vulnerable in crisis times, the poorest people.\”
He strongly backed the Romanian government\’s efforts to keep the macroeconomic balance, noting the fund understood the pressure on the budget, but would help Romania to implement its policies.
In a TV interview, Strauss-Kahn said the IMF would be flexible and would not try to impose a certain policy on Romania or any other country. It would instead function as a doctor prescribing a treatment.
Strauss-Kahn said he was worried by Romania\’s fiscal deficit, which stood at 8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) last year, and he hoped it could be reduced.
But the \”the way you do it is the country\’s choice,\” he said. \”You have to spend less or you have to raise the taxes or the two together. It\’s the choice of the government.\”
Romania is slowly recovering from a deep recession, which dragged down the country\’s GDP to 7.1 percent in 2009 after eight years of sustained growth.
The country signed rescue agreements with the IMF and other international aid agencies, such as the World Bank, last year in a bid to tide over the crisis.
The IMF has already provided Romania with 12.91 billion U.S. dollars from a promised 17.4 billion dollars.
The fund has accepted that Romania might use part of the money to repair its fiscal deficit. It was the first time in its history that the IMF agreed to finance the fiscal deficit of a country, as the money was projected to protect the local currency.
The IMF was criticized by some concerning the \”flexible\” approach, and is eager to see success in Romania.
http://www.cne.cc
MOSCOW, March 30 (Xinhua) — The Russian Navy has started its largest drills in recent years, aimed at \”providing strategic and regional deterrence,\” a Navy spokesman said Tuesday.
The departure of the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliki (Peter the Great) from the Severomorsk port, main base of the Russian Northern Fleet, started the exercises Tuesday, said the spokesman.
Peter the Great will take part in the exercises together with warships, support vessels and naval aviation of the Northern, Baltic and Pacific fleets, he said.
Vice Admiral Nikolai Maximov, Russian Northern Fleet Commander, said at the sending-off ceremony the cruiser \”would march in the far sea zone for no less than six months.\”
\”During the exercises, it will carry out military exercises, port visits and joint exercises with our foreign military partners,\” Maximov said.
Peter the Great\’s last exercise lasted about six months, starting in September 2008, during which the cruiser conducted joint exercises with navy forces of countries including Venezuela and India.
http://www.cne.cc
NICOSIA, March 30 (Xinhua) — Leaders of Cyprus\’ two rival communities, who have been engaged in peace talks for almost two years, on Tuesday reiterated their commitments to the reunification process, which will be suspended ahead of a key Turkish Cypriot vote next month.
President Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat underlined their \”serious effort\” in finding a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem \”in the shortest possible time\”, said the statement, which was issued after their last meeting before the April 18 vote to elect a Turkish Cypriot leader.
\”We are encouraged by the important progress we have made so far on the chapters of governance and power sharing, EU matters and the economy and we are convinced that, with perseverance, we shall achieve a comprehensive settlement,\” the statement said.
Talat faces a strong challenge from nationalist politician Dervis Eroglu in the upcoming \”presidential elections\” of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey.
Analysts believe that, if a hardliner replaces Talat, who is considered to be a pro-solution moderate, the peace process may be set back.
Meanwhile, Christofias was under pressure from all Greek Cypriot parties not to consent to a statement detailing progress in the talks, in which wide divergences still exist on issues left by the Turkish military intervention in 1974, following a coup by Greek army officers.
The negotiations have been conducted under a principle of \” nothing is agreed unless everything is agreed\”, and any possible solution has to be approved in separate simultaneous referenda.
Diverging issues under discussion include withdrawal of Turkish forces, abrogation of guaranties established after Cyprus independence giving Turkey, Britain and Greece intervention rights, return of occupied properties and withdrawal of mainland Turkish settlers, whose number reportedly exceed that of indigenous Turkish Cypriots.
Veteran politician Dervis Eroglu leads Talat in the polls while Talat is thought to better serve Ankara\’s ambition to join the European Union.
Turkey\’s accession depends to a large extend on a Cyprus solution, because the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member can block Turkey\’s negotiations.
The European Commission, which has followed closely the development in Cyprus, expressed its hope on Tuesday that this long standing conflict on European soil will come to an end.
Jos Manuel Barroso, the President of European Commission, welcomed the joint statement and progress made so far by the two leaders.
\”These achievements clearly demonstrate that a settlement is in reach and that there is a chance to finalize the talks in the next few months,\” said Barroso in a written statement.
\”I would like to reiterate the full support of the European Commission to the efforts of the leaders of the two Communities aimed at reaching a settlement soon and our readiness to provide all the necessary support to the process,\” he added.
PRAGUE, March 24 (Xinhua) — The Czech Republic will host the signing of a new nuclear arms agreement between Russia and the United States, a Czech Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Filip Kanda confirmed to Xinhua that his country has agreed to play host to Russia and the United States.
\”But we do not know about the date yet,\” the spokesperson said.
Moscow and Washington are reportedly moving closer to finalizing a successor to their 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, which expired in December.
Russian officials said on Monday that an agreement could be reached in days.
U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech last spring in Prague where he set out his vision for arms control and nuclear non-proliferation.
Kanda told Xinhua that Obama would be joined by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for the signing of the treaty.
Related:
Russia, U.S. to sign arms treaty early April: senior lawmaker
MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) — Russia and the United States will sign a new nuclear arms reduction treaty in early April, a senior Russian lawmaker said Tuesday.
\”The treaty will be signed definitely before the Washington nuclear security summit (on April 12-13),\” said Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia\’s parliament.? Full story
Russia, U.S. to finalize arms deal within days: diplomat
MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) — Russia and the United States will complete talks on a new strategic arms reduction treaty (START) within days, said a Russian diplomat on Monday.
\”We are literally on the verge and I believe that we will end this within days,\” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters, adding that \”it is still early to say where it will be signed.? Full story
What\’s barring Moscow, Washington from clinching new START deal?
MOSCOW, March 10 (Xinhua) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that a new Russia-U.S. treaty on nuclear arms reduction could be signed within two or three weeks.
However, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the same day that Washington did not intend to \”rush the negotiations.\”? Full story
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ISTANBUL, March 30 (Xinhua) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who visited Turkey\’s tourist resort of Istanbul on Tuesday, praised the city as a qualified European Capital of Culture.
\”Like Essen, Istanbul deserves to be the European Capital of Culture, and I hope you will have a beautiful day affirming close relations between Turkish and German people,\” Merkel said before listening to a concert to mark the election of Istanbul and German city of Essen as the 2010 European Capital of Culture.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accompanied Merkel for the concert, said the concert of Turkish and German performers would enrich and make the day meaningful.
Merkel and her entourage also visited the landmark Hagia Sophia and the Blue mosque in Istanbul, and the German High School. Later, she went to the German Protestant Church in the famous district of Beyoglu.
The German chancellor arrived in Turkey on Monday for a two-day state visit.
In November 2006, a European Union (EU) committee declared Istanbul, together with Pecs city of Hungary and Essen, as the European Capital of Culture for 2010.
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural life and development.
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MADRID, March 24 (Xinhua) — Spanish Minister of Industry and Commerce Miguel Sebastian on Wednesday announced that the government was setting aside 25 million euros (33.5 million U.S. dollars) to help finance young entrepreneurs.
The money will be available as a loan through the National Innovation Company (ENISA), which is dependent on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The loan, with a ceiling of 50,000 euros each, will be given to entrepreneurs aged 18-35 in any sector except property and finance.
The aim is to stimulate the creation of small and medium-sized companies by young people with a vision for the future. For that reason those applying for the loan need to show innovation either in their product or service or in management and commercial techniques.
The applicant for a loan has to be able to provide at least 15 percent of the capital needed for the investment plan, but does not need to present a bank guarantee. Meanwhile the interest rates on the loans are set at the level of the Euribor plus 1.5 percent and have to be paid within five years.
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BRUSSELS, March 30 (Xinhua) — European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Tuesday pledged over 1.6 billion U.S. dollars for Haiti\’s recovery and reconstruction on the eve of international donor\’s conference to be held in New York.
\”I can announce that the EU will contribute over 1.2 billion euros (around 1.6 billion U.S. dollars) to Haiti\’s reconstruction and development process,\” said Catherine Ashton, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
Ashton along with commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs and aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva will attend the ministerial-level international donors\’ conference titled Towards a New Future for Haiti that will take place on March 31 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The conference will be co-chaired by Brazil, Canada, the EU, France, and Spain as leading donors to Haiti, with its first goal to secure the foundation for Haiti\’s recovery and reconstruction through pledges from all sources to meet the 3.8 billion dollars required over the next two years.
The EU delegation will stress the need for a long-term strategy over the next 10 years to complete the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) projects to rebuild the country which it is estimated will cost in the region 10 billion euros, according to the high representative.
\”I and my fellow commissioners will stress the need for a 10- year economic plan to be put in place to allow the Haitian people recover from this tragedy and emerge stronger to face a better future that they clearly deserve,\” Ashton said.
So far, the EU has mobilized more than 600 million euros to support relief and rebuilding in Haiti.
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PARIS, March 24 (Xinhua) — France is working on ways to tax banks after providing them with tens of billions of euros in assistance during the financial crisis, Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Wednesday.
\”The whole question is what the amount of this tax is and how it affects them,\” Lagarde told local radio RMC in an interview, saying a tax on banks can pay for aid handed out during the financial crisis.
France has been working on the tax for several months, Lagarde said.
\”We have discussed it with members of the International Monetary Fund. We have asked Dominique Strauss-Kahn (chief of the International Monetary Fund) to make us proposals,\” Lagarde said.
Though inspired by Germany, the French minister pointed out a bank tax to address France\’s problem is \”not necessarily exactly like the Germans.\”
Germany has drafted a bank tax aimed at funding bailouts and is due to launch it at the end of this month with Lagarde\’s presence as a observer.
Britain is also expected to unveil new bank taxes when the government presents its budget plan on Wednesday, according to reports.
After the global economic crisis, France, like its western allies, last year provided tens of billions of euros in loans and guarantees to banks and has introduced a small-scale tax on bankers\’ bonuses as financial alarms later died away.
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ATHENS, March 30 (Xinhua) — Greece reissued on Tuesday a 20- year state bond in an urgent auction which lasted just a few hours, and closed with a total of 390 million euros (about 525.8 million U.S. dollars) raised at an interest rate of 5.9 percent.
The amount gathered by the Greek Organization of Public Debt Management is much less than the target set this time. The organization sought one billion euros initially.
The development enforces the skepticism expressed by some analysts considering the short-term prospects of the Greek economy, which contradicts the government\’s optimism that the situation regarding the country\’s lending conditions in international markets in a first step will improve soon.
The latest developments in the Greek economy after the agreement of the EU leaders in Brussels last week for the support of Athens were discussed on Tuesday noon between Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and the Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos.
No statements were made to the press by this time, but the government pointed to Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou who stressed that the messages Athens received from international markets since last week are positive.
Papaconstantinou added that the news will get better and better, once Greece implements fully and within the timetable the measures included in the Stability and Growth Program approved by Brussels.
Tuesday\’s issue of the 20-year bond follows the launch of a new 7-year bond on Monday which was characterized positive by Athens, as it resulted in 5 billion euros at an interest rate of 5.9 percent. It is high according to European standards, but it is lower than the interest rate debt-ridden Greece got the previous time this year. On Tuesday Greece offered the 7-year bond issue to private savers also.
So far this year Greece has already borrowed 23.6 billion euros, can easily meet its financing needs for April and the government is expected to make decisions on the next steps after the following weekend\’s Easter holidays. (1 euro = 1.3482 U.S. dollars)
http://www.chinacourse.com
WARSAW, March 24 (Xinhua) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who goes to Brussels on Wednesday night for a two-day summit on Greece and the new economic strategy, will use the occasion to discuss with European leaders about priorities for the EU, local media reported on Wednesday.
\”The EU should keep reforming itself like Poland did in the last 20 years and continue investing heavily in roads, railways and the Internet,\” Tusk said in a letter sent recently to Herman Van Rompuy, president of the EU Council, Jose Luis Zapatero, prime minister of the Spanish EU presidency, and Jose Manuel Barroso, chief of the European Commission.
The priority of the EU economy should be investments in \”hard\” infrastructure, Tusk argued. Last year the EU laid out 1.338 billion U.S. dollars for broadband Internet development, while the United States managed to allocate 7 billion U.S. dollars for the same purpose, Tusk pointed out.
\”The letter emphasizes the imperative of economic reforms in the EU and points to Poland as a good example of what can be achieved through determined reforming,\” Polish European Affairs Minister Mikolaj Dowgielewicz told the Polish news agency PAP on Wednesday.
Tusk\’s opinions are increasingly shared by a growing number of countries which opt for cohesion policy to be a part of the EU 2020 economic strategy, he added.
\”We have to increase employment of all social groups, particularly among women, seniors and young people entering the labor market,\” Tusk said. \”Millions of young Europeans are losing confidence in a system incapable of offering them jobs and condemning them to exclusion.\”
\”We must jointly work out a comprehensive indicator that will measure effects of state and corporate efforts in the field of innovations and not be limited to outlays on R&D. We must describe the innovation process adequately in (the proposed EU economic) strategy,\” the prime minister said in his letter.
The strategy should also refer to infrastructure development. \” Well developed IT, energy and transport infrastructure should be the foundation of European economy,\” Tusk added.
The prime minister will meet the EC chief and prime ministers of other Visegrad Group states at a breakfast scheduled before the official start of the summit on Thursday.
http://www.minamik.com
ATHENS, March 30 (Xinhua) — Greek terrorist group \” Revolutionary National Socialist Front\” claimed on Tuesday responsibility for Sunday\’s bomb attack in the central Athens which caused the death of a 15-year-old Afghan boy and serious injury of his 10-year-old sister.
In a new development for local guerrilla groups which operate in Greece for years and mostly are anarchist and far-Left, the new terrorist group is pro-racist and targets immigrants on purpose, as well as political and financial targets. That is the first conclusion of counter-terrorism experts based on a statement released on an internet site.
\”In Greece in 2010 we are in danger of ending up as foreigners in our own country … Greek governments have no policy on migration … We will not accept this situation. Not at Patisia nor anywhere else. For their sake and ours, foreigners leave every district,\” said the statement which concluded with a warning that in the future no gathering in a mosque should be considered safe in Athens.
The perpetrators did not confirm police estimations that the Afghan teenager is a victim of a tragic mistake made by whoever is responsible, but stressed that they do not apologize for any death. \”We are at war and in wars even minors die,\” the statement said.
Greek police still have not confirmed the authenticity of the claim of responsibility, as just a few hours earlier on Tuesday another group \”Guerrilla Group Lambros Fountas\” also claimed responsibility for the same attack with a phone call to a Greek newspaper.
http://www.zokn.com
ISTANBUL, March 30 (Xinhua) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday suggested long-term visa for Turkish businessmen, students and artists.
The visiting German chancellor made the statement at a meeting of the Turkish-German economic forum in Istanbul on the second day of her visit to Turkey.
Merkel said the two countries should make efforts to remove obstacles against the improvement of economic relations.
The German chancellor also said security of Turkey\’s borders was an important issue within the framework of its European Union (EU) membership negotiations, adding that Turkey had exerted significant efforts to that end.
\”As the EU accession talks progress, we need to discuss what we can speed up,\” she added.
During his speech at the economic forum, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Germany was a natural ally of Turkey \” based on a historic friendship and cooperation.\”
Before attending the economic forum, Merkel toured historic landmarks in Istanbul and also spoke with students and teachers at a German High School.
Merkel departed from Turkey on Tuesday after finishing the two- day visit.
http://www.gemuhope.com
KIEV, March 24 (Xinhua) — Ukraine authorities pledged here on Wednesday to resume cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while its officials meeting with IMF mission, local media reported.
\”It is very important for Ukraine to revive relations with the IMF and rapidly obtain the new tranche,\” Irina Akimova, deputy head of President Viktor Yanukovych\’s administration, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
\”Three major issues for continuing cooperation with the IMF were identified. This is strengthening of fiscal stability. And the most important part is the realistic budget for 2012 with a total deficit not exceeding 6 percent,\” Akimova added after the start of talks with the IMF mission.
At the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Tigipko told reporters that Ukraine wants to agree a new two-year program with IMF.
But Tigipko did not make it clear whether he wanted a new program to replace the current one or to follow it, only indicating that Kiev disagreed with some conditions — on gas price increases and the budget deficit.
A mission from the IMF arrived late on Tuesday for ten days of talks with the new Ukrainian government on resuming the suspended bailout.
The IMF in autumn 2008 approved the two-year bail-out program for Ukraine. So far, the Eastern European country has received 11 billion U.S. dollars of a 16.4 billion dollars IMF loan.
The IMF has suspended the rest of the money since last November, stressing Ukraine needed to implement economic reforms before IMF would hand over any more.
Cooperation with the IMF has been suspended twice after Ukraine failed to trim government spending, which was one of the key requirements Kiev had to meet if it wanted to receive the aid.
Yanukovych was sworn in as Ukraine President on February 25. Later, he urged Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to resume cooperation with IMF, saying it is an important task for the government.
http://www.tbogg.com
ISTANBUL, March 30 (Xinhua) — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged Germany to extend support for Ankara\’s European Union membership bid.
The Turkish leader made the statement at a meeting of the Turkish-German Business Forum in Istanbul, which was also attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel as part of her two-day visit.
Erdogan said his country considered Germany as \”a natural ally, \” adding that \”We want to see Germany as the country which makes the biggest contribution and extends the biggest support for Turkey\’s EU membership.\”
Turkey was eager to form a strategic partnership with Germany and set up a council for high-level strategic cooperation, he said.
Along with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Merkel remains one of the staunchest opponents of Turkey\’s bid to join the European Union, arguing that a vast, relatively poor country with a mainly Muslim 71-million population has no place in Europe.
http://www.minamik.com
PARIS, March 30 (Xinhua) — France and Russia will discuss anti- terrorism operation during their next meeting of bilateral relations, French prime minister\’s office said Tuesday in a statement.
According to the statement, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon talked with his Russia counterpart by telephone Tuesday and they have agreed that \”the issue of the fight against terrorism would be discussed at the forthcoming meeting on Franco-Russian relations.\”
Twin bombings rocked subway stations in central Moscow on Monday morning during the rush hours, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 70.
The Russian capital held a Day of Mourning Tuesday for victims of the catastrophe with flags flown at half mast over Kremlin and the State Duma buildings.
Fillon reiterated his condolence and sympathy to Russian people and called to bring the perpetrators to justice.
http://www.cne.cc
ATHENS, March 30 (Xinhua) — Greek employees in the public and private sector staged demonstration on Tuesday against government\’ s austerity measures in capital Athens, causing minor clashes and traffic jams.
Debt-strapped Greece toughened austerity measures this month and gained EU backing for a financial rescue plan, but the spending cuts also fueled public discontent.
Hundreds of members of labor unions gathered in front of the Athens old university and marched towards the Parliament building, chanting slogans against the government\’s economic policy and vowing a new round of protests after the Easter holiday which is to be celebrated at the forthcoming weekend.
The umbrella union of public servants ADEDY already considered the prospect of calling one more 24-hour general strike in the second half of April, representatives of the union said on Tuesday, as pensioners and young unemployed were waving flags and banners, denouncing the \”uneven and unfair share of burden.\”
Protesters repeated, as in every demonstration of the last few months in Athens, that they are not willing to accept the two packages of measures announced by the government, nor the third one that they expect is on the way, after the deal struck in Brussels last week on a support mechanism for Greece by EU and International Monetary Fund.
\”Take the measures back\” was the main platform of Tuesday\’s demonstration which ended with minor clashes in the center of Athens and caused a traffic jam for hours.
Earlier in the day hundreds of employees working for local government agencies held a 4-hour stoppage and a smaller protest in front of the Interior Ministry, denouncing the cutbacks on salaries and allowances, while a small group of a labor union blocked the entrance of the Labor Ministry, demanding the urgent financial aid for the unemployed with 1,000 euros.
Minor problems in transports were reported across Greece throughout the day due to stoppages by employees in trains, while many trials in courts were postponed due to the new 48-hour strike of lawyers which started on Tuesday. Greek lawyers reject the new VAT hikes and the new taxation system.
http://www.tbogg.com
