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Posts Tagged ‘talks’

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N. Korea officially proposes talks with South: KCNA

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:11 am

North Korea Monday officially proposed dialogue with South Korea, less than two months after launching a deadly bombardment of a South Korean island.


Three official bodies separately sent notices to Seoul’s unification ministry calling for talks and announcing the reopening of a Red Cross border liaison office, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said.


It said the messages proposed holding a working contact for talks in the North’s border city of Kaesong on January 27, and suggested talks between Red Cross organisations in the southern city of Munsan on February 1.


The Red Cross liaison channel at the border truce village of Panmunjom would be reopened from January 12, the agency announced.


A Seoul government source quoted by the South’s Yonhap news agency confirmed the North had sent an official letter. There was no immediate response.


South Korea, which had been seeking a request through official channels, reacted coolly earlier Monday to a weekend proposal made through state media for the “unconditional and early opening” of talks.


The North’s November 23 bombardment of Yeonpyeong island near the disputed Yellow Sea border killed four people including civilians and drove tensions to their highest level for years.



 

Source: SGGP

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Chinese vice premier in trade-focused London talks

In Uncategorized on January 12, 2011 at 7:10 am

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang arrives in London on Monday to meet Prime Minister David Cameron on the second day of a visit to Britain aimed at bolstering economic ties between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Prime Ministerr Li Keqiang (C) is escorted on a tour of the Pelamis Wave Power factory in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the first of a four-day visit to the United Kingdom on January 9, 2011.

The government is rolling out the red carpet for Li, who is widely tipped to become Chinese premier next year, as Britain scrambles to catch up with European rivals Germany and France in landing trade deals with China.


Li, accompanied by a 150-strong business and political delegation, was also to hold talks with finance minister George Osborne and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Monday and will make a speech at a banquet on Tuesday.


Having already visited Spain and Germany on his three-country European visit, Li started his trip to Britain on Sunday in Scotland where he sealed a modest renewable energy deal between Scottish and Chinese companies.


In Scotland, he said Britain and China had grown closer together in recent years.


Closer cooperation between London and Beijing would not only benefit the two countries and peoples, “but also contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity”, Li was quoted as saying, according to the official Xinhua news agency.


The visit follows Cameron’s trip to China in November, when he too was accompanied by a team of ministers and business leaders.


Cameron was the first Western leader to visit China since the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.


While he did not publicly confront Chinese leaders over human rights, Cameron used a speech to university students to call for “greater political opening” as the Chinese economy surges forward.


Clegg has insisted that “no subject will be off limits” during the talks with Li in the four-day British visit.


In trade terms, Cameron’s visit to Beijing produced deals for British companies worth around one billion pounds (1.5 billion dollars, 1.2 billion euros).


In contrast, a few days earlier a visit to France by Chinese President Hu Jintao yielded 20 billion dollars of aviation and energy contracts between Chinese and French companies.


In an article in the Financial Times on Monday, Li said the world should not fear a rapidly growing China.


“China’s development benefits other countries,” he wrote. “We welcome the entry into our market of competitive good and services from around the world, and will provide a fair and even more transparent environment for foreign investors.”


Cameron has said Li’s visit would “build on the momentum” from his trip to Beijing, adding that “stronger relations with China offered a real opportunity for Britain in terms of trade, jobs, and economic growth”.


Li’s trips to Germany and Spain have focused on business.


In Berlin, he said China and Germany, the world’s top two exporters, should deepen their economic cooperation both in traditional areas such as machinery and cars but also in low-carbon technologies and energy efficient industry.


While in Madrid, Li said Beijing was willing to buy around six billion euros worth of Spanish debt, daily El Pais quoted government sources as saying.


After eurozone members Greece and Ireland were forced to seek bailouts worth tens of billions of euros last year, Spain, together with Portugal, have been seen as next in line in the 17-country currency union to need help.


 

Source: SGGP

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S.Korea, US lukewarm on North’s call for talks

In Uncategorized on January 8, 2011 at 4:13 am

The United States and South Korea responded cautiously Thursday to North Korea’s call for unconditional talks, saying Pyongyang must be judged on actions rather than words.


North Korea offered “unconditional” negotiations with the South Wednesday, in its most conciliatory remarks since the nuclear-armed state sent tensions on the peninsula soaring in November by shelling a South Korean island.


In an unusually cordial statement, carried by its KCNA agency, North Korea said it “courteously proposes having wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations”.


Pyongyang is “ready to meet anyone, anytime, anywhere”, it said, calling for “unconditional and early opening of talks” with officials with “real power and responsibility”.

South Korean Special Warfare Forces hurl snow during a winter exercise in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on January 4, 2011.

But South Korea dismissed the approach.


“We don’t consider it as a serious offer for dialogue,” Unification Ministry Spokeswoman Lee Jong-Joo told AFP.


She noted the North had regularly issued similar statements until 2007 as part of what she said was a long-standing strategy of driving a wedge between the South Korean government and its people.


The North should instead show it was serious about its obligations under a 2005 agreement on denuclearisation and apologise over the November shelling and the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year, she said.


Washington echoed Seoul’s response, saying that the North had to take “useful steps” to show that its proposal was serious.


“It needs to demonstrate it is sincere in the offer,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters, noting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed the plan with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.


“There are still things that North Korea has to do to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose,” Crowley said, such as ending its provocative behaviour and recommitting itself to a 2005 declaration for nuclear disarmament.


The offer came as the top US envoy on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei and Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun in Beijing, after a visit to Seoul focused on reducing tensions.


Bosworth was expected to head for Tokyo later Thursday, while US Defence Secretary Robert Gates was also scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart in a visit to Beijing starting January 9.


Foreign ministry officials said Bosworth stressed during talks in Seoul that Pyongyang needed to show it was sincere about mending ties with Seoul if six-party international talks on its nuclear programme were to resume.


The North has previously refused to discuss the nuclear issue directly with the South, saying it only wants to deal with Washington, but its latest statement suggested it may be willing to engage with Seoul on the topic.


The North’s proposal put the South in a dilemma, analysts said.


“This dialogue offer places the South in a very awkward position, especially when both China and the United States want to see tension reduction through dialogue,” Hong Hyun-Ik at the private Sejong Institute said.


“The North is shifting the blame for the lack of dialogue to the South.”

He added that the North could conduct a third atomic test unless progress is made at stalled six-party talks on ending the North’s nuclear programme — a scenario echoed by Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of Dongguk University.

The North quit the six-nation talks in April 2009 and staged a nuclear test a month later, its second since 2006, in protest at continuing “hostile” US policy toward the communist state.

Efforts to resume the talks recently gained momentum as Beijing called for renewed dialogue and Pyongyang signalled it was willing to return to the negotiating table.

Relations between the two Koreas were stretched to breaking point after the North’s shelling in November, which killed four people, including two civilians.

But tensions have softened since the New Year, with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak offering closer economic ties if Pyongyang changes course.

Source: SGGP

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Pope talks of God’s ‘surprises’ in Christmas message

In Uncategorized on December 24, 2010 at 5:56 am

Pope Benedict XVI will say that God is faithful to his promises but often surprises us by how he fulfils them, in a message for for BBC radio’s “Thought for the Day” to be broadcast later Friday.


In a special event to mark Christmas Eve, Benedict recorded the message in Rome on Wednesday and his comments will go out in the slot during the corporation’s flagship Today programme at 0745 GMT.


“I keep all of you very much in my prayers during this Holy Season,” the pope says in the broadcast, excerpts of which were carried on the BBC’s website.

Handout picture from the BBC shows a picture released by The Vatican press ofiice of Pope Benedict XVI recording a message for BBC radio’s Thought for the Day programme

The pontiff is quoted as saying that Christmas recalls the time in history when the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah, whom they pictured as a great leader who would restore their freedom.


But God surprised them because it was Jesus, a child born in Bethlehem, who would become their saviour instead.


The broadcast comes three months after the 83-year-old Benedict visited Britain.


In the message, listeners will hear the pope say: “I am glad to have the opportunity to greet you again, and indeed to greet listeners everywhere as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.”

Source: SGGP

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Irish bailout talks accelerate as PM faces new setback

In Uncategorized on November 26, 2010 at 11:21 am

DUBLIN, Nov 26, 2010 (AFP) – Ireland’s government was Friday awaiting the results of a by-election expected to cut its already slim majority, as talks on an international bailout for the country’s ailing economy gathered pace.


As polls closed Thursday, Prime Minister Brian Cowen’s Fianna Fail party was widely expected to lose its seat in County Donegal in northwest Ireland to the nationalist Sinn Fein party.

Protesters hold a demonstration in Dublin on November 24.(AFP)

If they did lose the seat it would cut the coalition government’s majority to just two seats.


A day after publishing a four-year package of austerity measures designed to smooth the way towards huge loans from the EU and IMF, Cowen warned Thursday that everyone would have to tighten their belts if Ireland was to recover.


Cowen told parliament the plan — unprecedented in Irish history — gave people a chance to see the sharp “adjustment” necessary to shore up the national finances and “plan ahead for the future”.


“People in their own household experience know that you can’t go on with a situation if your revenues are back to what you were earning in 2003 and that your spend is right up to date in 2010 terms.


“People know that is not a sustainable position,” he said.


Having built up a deficit equivalent to 32 percent of gross domestic product this year, Ireland is in talks to borrow about 85 billion euros (114 billion dollars) from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.


Negotiations on the bailout are set to wrap up on Sunday, diplomatic sources in Brussels told AFP.


The international intervention to help Ireland has failed to remove doubts about its ability to stabilise its shattered finances.


That concern, and fears of contagion spreading to Portugal and the far larger Spanish economy, continued to hurt the euro, which was worth 1.3360 dollars at 0100 GMT.


Nor was the austerity plan enough to calm the bond markets: the yield on benchmark 10-year government bonds jumped to record highs above 9.0 percent as markets remained nervous.


The draconian austerity plan and a budget on December 7 are crucial steps to show Ireland’s fellow eurozone members that it is putting its finances in order.


The 15-billion-euro series of austerity measures include slashing 25,000 jobs, raising VAT, or sales tax, to 23 percent, and cutting the minimum wage.


Ireland has however managed to preserve its ultra-low 12.5 percent corporation tax rate, a key reason that foreign companies have invested there.


Economists supported Ireland’s tax stance.


“This will send out a clear statement that Ireland, despite its economic difficulties, is still very committed to incentivising the creation and maintenance of high value jobs,” Ernst and Young’s Kevin McLoughlin said.


The government’s decision to turn to the EU and IMF has enraged Cowen’s opponents, who accused him of humiliating the country.


The anger surfaced in the by-election in Donegal South West, a rural area of northwest Ireland where resentment towards the EU runs high. Polls opened at 0600 GMT and closed at 2200 GMT with the result set to be declared late Friday.


Turnout for the poll was expected to be well down on the 66 percent seen in the last election as mistrust in the political system convinced voters to stay at home.


In Donegal town, butcher Ernan McGettigan said he saw a grim future ahead.


“The way our country is going at the moment we will have to declare ourselves bankrupt.


“There are only four million people and we have incurred a debt of around 4,000 euros for every person.”


President Mary McAleese recognised the nation’s rage. “I want to acknowledge the understandable distress and dismay being experienced by people all around the country who feel fearful about their future,” she said.


Finance Minister Brian Lenihan acknowledged there was “no denying the reputational damage Ireland has endured” in the economic crisis.


But writing in the Financial Times, he argued that the country had the attributes to pick itself up and stressed that the country still ranked second in Europe for productivity.


“The government faces many challenges but we have the necessary support to pass the budget in December,” Lenihan insisted.

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Source: SGGP

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Iran offers new dates for nuclear talks

In Uncategorized on November 10, 2010 at 3:51 am

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PM talks with Fields Prize winner

In Uncategorized on November 9, 2010 at 9:51 am

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Japan to join Pacific free-trade talks: reports

In Uncategorized on November 6, 2010 at 7:20 am

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Breakthrough ‘near’ at UN biodiversity talks

In Uncategorized on October 29, 2010 at 9:40 am

NAGOYA, Japan (AFP) – A UN biodiversity meeting is close to adopting what would be a historic deal governing the use of genetic treasures such as those found in the Amazon, host Japan said on Friday.


“A draft decision has been agreed upon by representatives of regional groups. I would like to consider the adoption of this draft agreement later,” Japanese Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto told delegates.

An area of Sumatran forest cleared by a logging company, seen in August 2010. AFP

Negotiators involved in the talks have said that, if the deal is struck, it would likely pave the way for agreement on a 20-point plan aimed at protecting ecosystems and curbing the rapid extinction of animal and plant species.


However, delegates cautioned that each individual country still needed to approve the proposed “Access and Benefits Sharing Protocol”.


“On the edge of our seats in Nagoya. Do we have a deal on ABS?” European environment commissioner Janez Potocnik said in a message posted on microblogging website Twitter.


Brazil and other developing countries argue rich nations and companies should not be allowed to freely take genetic resources such as wild plants to make medicines, cosmetics and other products for huge profits.


The 12-day summit is due to end on Friday night.

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Source: SGGP

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More high-level Taliban interested in talks: Holbrooke

In Uncategorized on October 25, 2010 at 9:37 am

High-level Taliban leaders are showing interest in talks with the US-backed government in Kabul in increasing numbers, as pressure mounts from an intensifying NATO military campaign, a special US envoy said Sunday.


But Richard Holbrooke, the administration’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, cautioned that the feelers so far add up to “contacts and discussions” rather than peace negotiations to end a war now in its tenth year.


“What we’ve got here is an increasing number of Taliban at high levels saying, ‘Hey, we want to talk,'” he said. “We think this is a result in large part of the growing pressure they’re under from General (David) Petraeus and the ISAF command.”


Holbrooke’s comments in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria were the latest sign that Washington is encouraging Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s peace overtures toward the Taliban as it looks to begin drawing down a US surge force next year.

US Army soldiers arrive at a military camp after patrolling in Siah Choy village in Zari district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Karzai has set up a High Council for Peace to pursue a dialogue with the Taliban and other insurgent groups.


The New York Times reported last week that Taliban leaders were being offered safe passage by NATO troops from their sanctuaries in Pakistan, and in one case were flown to Kabul in a NATO aircraft.


Some commentators have seen the turn as part of a “fight and talk” strategy by Petraeus, the ISAF commander, who has escalated drone attacks in Taliban sanctuaries while using his surge forces to weaken insurgent strongholds in the south.


Holbrooke, a veteran of war-ending peace negotiations in other conflicts, cautioned not to expect the war in Afghanistan to be settled by formal peace negotiations as they were in Vietnam or Bosnia.


“In this particular case, unlike the two issues I mentioned a moment ago, there is no clear single address that you go to.


“There’s no Ho Chi Minh. There’s no Slobodan Milosevic. There’s no Palestinian Authority. There is a widely dispersed group of people that we roughly call the enemy,” he said.


The list of groups includes the Afghan Taliban led by Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Pakistani Taliban, the Al-Haqqani network, Hesb-e-Islami, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Al-Qaeda.


The only group Holbrooke specifically ruled out talks with was Al-Qaeda.


“So the idea of peace talks, to use your phrase, or negotiations, to use another phrase, doesn’t really add up to the way this thing is going to evolve,” Holbrooke said.


But he said the war could not be won militarily and “some kind of political element to this is essential, and we are looking at every aspect of this.”


Holbrooke was guarded about the role in talks of Pakistan, which is widely reported to maintain links to Taliban groups as a way to preserve its influence in Afghanistan after NATO forces depart.


Pakistan has resisted US pressure to move against militants in North Waziristan, a tribal area on its northwestern border with Afghanistan that some of the most effective militant groups have used as a sanctuary.


Beyond the threat it poses to US and NATO operations in Afghanistan, the sanctuary is also seen as a base to plot and train for attacks against the West by groups like Al-Qaeda.


“Let me just say that we have discussed this with the Pakistanis. Right now they have 70,000 of their troops working on flood relief in Pakistan,” Holbrooke said.

“I’m not here to defend the Pakistani military or to attack them. They know our views on the importance of this area you’re talking about.”

Source: SGGP