US, India Vow Closer Security Partnership!
Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams- Chapter 592
Palash Biswas
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US, India Vow Closer Security Partnership!
The WAR is Between the West and the Rest of the World! As Obama says West will finish Libya fight, as Misrata mined! I have been speaking and writing for Long that Without understanding the ZIONIST BRAHAMINICAL Manusmriti APARTHEID Galaxy Order, we the Black Aborigine Indigenous Masses worldwide may NOT SUSTAIN ourselves!It has also EXPLAINED how US EXPORT Corporate Imperialism with MONOPOLISTIC UNILATERAL Aggression cover up with CIVIL SOCIETY Ruling Class Market Dominating Community Prominent US Sponsered Democracy in Every Corner of the UNIVERSE! Western Stance on ARAB SPRING Confirms the theory!
Mind you, Indian Brahaminical Hegemony Banks on US CORPORATE Imperialism and Indo US Zionist Brahaminical Nuclear strategic Alliance supported by the WEST and ISRAEL to Sustain LPG Mafia Manusmriti Rule in an EXCLUSIVE Economy based on APARTHEID UNTOUCHABILITY, EXCLUSION and Ethnic Cleansing! War on Terror is shifted in the Bleeding Divided South Asian geopolitics inflicted with Economic Reforms,ISLAMOPHOBIA, Blind Brahaminical Nationalism, SECURITY HYPE and ARMS Race, ETHNONATIONALISM and Regimented Genocided Culture! Arabian SPRING is Extended right in the Heart of Indian Nation as CIVIL SOCIETY, INTELLIGENTSIA, MEDIA, Brahaminical Forces and NGOs have taken over the Polity and Politics killing Democracy, Democratic Institutions, Constitution, Culture, Languages, Livelihood, Ethics,Citizenship, Civic and Human Rights!
P. Chidambaram issued the warning Friday as he met with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in New Delhi for talks aimed at increasing cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
Chidambaram said India's longtime rival Pakistan has become "fragile," as it faces a weakened economy and threats from militants.
Following Friday's security talks, the Chidambaram and Napolitano issued a joint statement reaffirming the United States' and India's resolve to defeat terrorism and calling on all countries to take steps to eliminate terrorist safe havens and infrastructure.
The two officials also pledged greater cooperation in a number of areas, including intelligence-sharing, cybersecurity, and forensics.
Chidambaram and Napolitano also agreed to cooperate and share information in India's ongoing investigation into the 2008 terrorist attacks in India's financial hub, Mumbai. Gunmen killed 166 people, including six Americans, during the siege that was blamed on the Pakistan-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Napolitano, who earlier paid tribute to victims at a memorial in Mumbai, told reporters Friday that Lashkar and al-Qaida should be viewed in the same light, as terrorist organizations.
The U.S. homeland security minister was on a four-day visit to India. Napolitano and Chidambaram say they will meet again next year in Washington to review progress in the U.S.-India homeland security dialogue.
Napolitano's trip took place as a U.S.-based businessman, Tahawwur Rana, is on trial in Chicago for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks.
President Barack Obama and other G8 leaders wrapped up a two-day summit in the French coastal town of Deauville with harsh words for the governments in Libya, Syria and Iran but promises of billions in aid for democratic transitions in Egypt and Tunisia.
Following talks Friday with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, President Barack Obama said the two were united in their call for Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi to go.
"We agreed that we have made progress on our Libya campaign but that meeting the UN mandate of civilian protection cannot be accomplished when Gadhafi remains in Libya directing his forces in acts of aggression against the Libyan people," the president said. "And we are joined in resolve to finish the job."
The push for Gadhafi's departure got a boost from Russia, which has offered to mediate the Libyan leader's departure. G8 leaders in Deauville also condemned Iran's nuclear program during their two-day meeting. Summit host, President Sarkozy, said he agreed with President Obama that Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad should either allow a democratic transition in his country - or step aside.
AP
US President Barack Obama (R) speaks with Egyptian PM Essam Sharaf (L) at the G8 summit in Deauville, France, May 27, 2011
But the G8 leaders also offered major incentives to two Arab nations on the road to democracy - promising $20 billion in aid to Egypt and Tunisia via multilateral institutions. President Sarkozy said another $20 billion was available to the two countries in bilateral assistance and other aid.
Tunisian Finance Minister Jalloul Ayed told reporters the country's top priority was to boost the economy and create jobs for hundreds of thousands of unemployed youths.
"The consolidation of democracy goes hand in hand with prosperity," Ayed said. "Because if Tunisians don't feel very quickly that democracy is creating the conditions for them to feel better, to feel more prosperous, then we run the risk to see that democratic process fail in the end."
Democracy was the hallmark of G8 talks with several leaders from sub-Saharan Africa.They included those from three countries - Ivory Coast, Guinea and Niger - who have recently held democratic elections.
Sarkozy said African countries understand the new G8 partnership with Africa will give priority to those countries who fight against corruption and for democracy.
Nongovernmental activists say the G8 summit should have given more priority to the environment and helping the poorest and most vulnerable. But some, like Save the Children's Global Campaign Director Adrian Lovett said this year's G8 also delivered good news.
"Well we think there are some good signs coming out of this French G8. We didn't have the highest hopes for the outcome for Africa but some signs of progress," said Lovett. "The critical thing for us is that the package that's been agreed for Arab countries musn't divert attention away from the existing promises that leaders have made to Africa, to the very poorest countries."
Besides supporting the so-called "Arab spring" declaration, G8 leaders also pledged to help Africa achieve peace, stability, economic development and growth.
The United States and France are united in their resolve to finish the job in Libya, US President Barack Obama said Friday as NATO reported that Moamer Kadhafi's forces had laid landmines in Misrata.
In a dramatic shift, meanwhile, Russia joined the call of Western powers for Kadhafi to step down but the outgoing head of the Arab League Amer Mussa said he doubted the embattled leader would leave voluntarily.
a delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India, May 27, 2011.
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The U.S. and Indian homeland security chiefs met in New Delhi this week to review a long list of law-enforcement challenges facing both countries. A key issue of concern to both countries is the risk of terrorists based in Pakistan.
Janet Napolitano, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, did not want to spend her time in India talking about terrorism threats from Pakistan, but one of her comments was sure to be welcomed by the Indian government and public.
Reflecting on the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008 in which 166 people were killed, Napolitano said those who attacked the Indian city were as dangerous a foe as the worldwide al-Qaida terrorist network.
The Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is believed to have planned and carried out the elaborate attack on Mumbai. Napolitano said there is little doubt about the threat posed by LeT:
"In my judgment as the homeland security secretary, LeT ranks right up there with al-Qaida and the al-Qaida-related groups as a terrorist organization," Napolitano noted.
Since U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Pakistan Friday for a separate round of high-level meetings, Napolitano declined to speak in greater detail on the subject.
Her Indian counterpart, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, said earlier Friday that India sees the "global epicenter of terrorism" is west of its territory, operating from what he called "safe havens in Pakistan."
Appearing together with Napolitano later, Chidambaran said the raid near Islamabad that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden this month shows that India and the United States cannot afford to let their guard down.
"Once an adversary is gravely affected or wounded, concerns do not lessen. Actually, concerns become even greater," said Chidambaran.
During the Indian and American secretaries' talks this week, court proceedings were under way in the United States against Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani and Canadian national accused of links to the Mumbai attacks. Testimony during the trial in Chicago has indicated a link between Pakistan's intelligence service and terrorist acts aimed at India, such as the bombings and shootings in Mumbai.
The Indian Cabinet official says his nation and the United States are looking at an ambitious range of areas for enhanced cooperation:
"Port, border, and coastal security ... mega-city policing and sharing of information ... illicit finance, illicit smuggling of cash, financial fraud and counterfeiting ... cyber-security and infrastructure protection... capacity building, technology upgradation and modernization," Chidambaran added.
This week's meetings between Napolitano and Chidambaran were aimed at furthering a U.S.-India dialogue on homeland security - a process that President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched during their summit talks last November.
Napolitano said Washington will continue its strategic partnership with India. "That strategic partnership is only going to intensify in the months and years to come," Napolitano explained.
The two secretaries say they will meet again next year in Washington to review progress.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/south/US-India-Vow-Closer-Security-Partnership-122726094.html
"We are joined in our resolve to finish the job," Obama said after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the G8 summit in the French resort of Deauville.
But the US leader warned that the "UN mandate of civilian protection cannot be accomplished when Kadhafi remains in Libya directing his forces in acts of aggression against the Libyan people."
G8 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States called in the draft of their final summit statement for Kadhafi to step down.
"Kadhafi and the Libyan government have failed to fulfil their responsibility to protect the Libyan population and have lost all legitimacy. He has no future in a free, democratic Libya. He must go," the draft summit statement said.
Ahead of the summit, Russia -- which has criticised the NATO air war on Kadhafi's regime -- was seen as reluctant to take a hard line, but it too toughened its stance on Libya during the Deauville meeting.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: "Yes, we are ready to admit... he needs to go. We believe that Colonel Kadhafi has forfeited legitimacy due to his actions... indeed we need to help him go."
But the Arab League's Mussa said there was a yawning gap between Tripoli and the rebel National Transitional Council on the question of Kadhafi, with the rebels demanding he go immediately and the regime saving his exit for "later."
"Knowing the man, I don't think he's going to step down," he said.
A Western diplomat meanwhile said Kadhafi has become increasingly paranoid about NATO air strikes and that he "appears to be moving from hospital to hospital, spending each night in a different one."
"He is moving from one place that we won't bomb to another place that we won't bomb," the diplomat said citing British intelligence reports.
NATO accused Kadhafi's forces of laying landmines in Misrata, the main rebel-held city in western Libya.
"This morning's reports showed that a minefield was laid in the Misrata area," Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, the commander of the NATO mission in Libya, told a Brussels news conference.
"Anti-personnel landmines, in contravention to international law, had been laid in the Misrata area to prevent the population from moving," he said. "Mines do not make a difference whether it is a child or an adult."
Bouchard also said NATO was gearing up to deploy French and British attack helicopters against Kadhafi's forces as soon as possible.
He welcomed the arrival of four French Tattack helicopters and four British Appaches as particularly "timely."
The low-flying helicopters would allow NATO to conduct an "effective and aggressive" mission against Kadhafi's forces and make it easier to pinpoint vehicles involved in attacks against civilian populations, he said.
Two international rights groups, meanwhile, said on Friday Kadhafi's forces are indiscriminately attacking towns in the Nafusa mountains of western Libya, sending residents fleeing, with some being forced to live in caves.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report released Friday that Kadhafi's forces have been pounding towns in the Nafusa mountains of western Libya, firing Grad rockets, which are an "an inherently indiscriminate weapon," and "forcing people to leave the area and even live in caves."
"Grad rocket attacks are launched almost every day into residential areas with no discernible military target," said Sarah Lea Whitson, Middle East and north Africa director director at Human Rights Watch.
Another advocacy group, Amnesty International, said the Nafusa mountain towns have been "under siege and under fire" since early March but fighting between rebels and troops loyal to the regime intensified mid-April sending thousands of people fleeing to neighbouring Tunisia.
The London-based rights watchdog said it also had documented cases of "enforced disappearances," particularly of young men who are believed to have been snatched by Kadhafi's forces.
On Thursday, the Libyan regime said Tripoli wanted a monitored ceasefire.
"We have asked the United Nations and the African Union to set a date and specific hours for a ceasefire, to send international observers and take the necessary measures" to end combat, Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi said.
But NATO insisted it would keep up its air raids in Libya until Kadhafi's forces stop attacking civilians and until the regime's proposed ceasefire is matched by its actions.
Anna warns govt: No hanky panky with Lokpal bill
Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare today warned the government that if it did "something hanky panky" with the Lokpal bill he would again undertake a fast-unto-death.
"If the Jan Lokpal bill becomes a law, it will eradicate corruption 60-70 per cent. It will lay the foundation for total eradication of corruption," he said addressing villagers in Begur village in Bangalore Rural district.
Hazare, who had undertaken an indefinite fast in Delhi to press for anti-graft legislation last month, asked the villagers to be ready for a nationwide protest if Lokpal bill was not implemented.
Likening his campaign against corruption to "first aid if one gets hurt", he said to root out corruption completely it is necessary that right values are inculcated from childhood and this can be done most effectively by the womenfolk.
Hazare said he had tried his best to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, of eradication of corruption and rural development by developing a model village in his home state of Maharashtra.
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"My village which 13 years ago had 40 places where arrack was manufactured now has none. Nobody smokes or even partakes gutka in my village", he said.
Despite leading a spartan life "with no bank balance", he was healthy and very happy which "many crorepatis do not enjoy".
"I live in a temple, have only a bed to sleep and a plate to eat but I am still very happy and content. At the age of 76, I am agile and healthy as I have no vices", he said.
Source: PTI
Delaying Afzal Guru's execution is vote bank politics: BJP
New Delhi: A day after mercy petitions of two death row convicts were rejected by President Pratibha Patil, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday demanded rejection of the mercy plea of parliament terror attack accused Afzal Guru, terming the delay in his execution "vote-bank politics".
"It is a copy book example of vote-bank politics. A few days back there was a comment from (Delhi Chief Minister) Sheila Dikshit and her officers that the then home minister Shivraj Patil had asked to delay the petition," party spokesman Ravishankar Prasad told reporters.
"Tthe mercy petition should be rejected at the earliest and action be taken," Prasad said.
"This (the parliament attack) was an attack on the nation. Had even one person gone inside parliament with an AK-47, the entire leadership of all political parties could have been killed, and it has been treated like this," he said.
President Patil Thursday rejected the mercy petition of Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who was convicted for the 1993 car bomb attack outside the Indian Youth Congress office in New Delhi that killed 12 people and injured 29.
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The president has also rejected the mercy petition of Mahendra Nath Das of Assam, who was sentenced to death for murdering a person while out on bail in another murder case.
Afzal Guru is accused of collaborating with five terrorists who attacked India's parliament Dec 13, 2001, killing nine security personnel and staff before being gunned down.
Source: IANS
Omar asks separatists: Where are you during winter?
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday questioned the motive of Kashmiri separatists in getting restive more during summers.
Ahead of radical Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's participation in Friday prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter: "What is it about out Hurriyat friends (and their) need to create trouble on Fridays only in summer. Where were they all through winter????"
He was pointing out to the sudden flurry of activity by the separatist Hurriyat Conference leaders during summer while they were either in New Delhi or travelling abroad during winter.
In a retweet to one of his followers, Omar said the separatist leaders "want to see a death".
But his comments about the Hurriyat Conference provoked some to react sarcastically.
One of them, Shahid Bhat, posted on the Twitter: "At least they are visible through the summers. The government is nowhere to be seen, be it winter or summer."
To this, Omar retweeted: "Well, if you roam around with your eyes tightly squeezed, you won't see anything, will you?"
Source: IANS
Pakistan must take decisive steps to fight terror: Clinton
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that relations between the United States and Pakistan had reached a turning point after the killing of Osama bin Laden and Islamabad must take "decisive steps" in the days ahead to fight terrorism.
Clinton made the remarks after meeting with Pakistani civilian and military leaders on a brief trip to Pakistan meant to repair relations that have been badly frayed by the May 2 U.S. raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader who had been hiding in a comfortable house in an Army town not far from the capital, Islamabad.
The Pakistanis were angry that they weren't told of the raid in advance, while the location of bin Laden's hideout raised U.S. suspicions that members of the security services must have known bin Laden's whereabouts.
Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff who also was in Pakistan, was blunt.
"I think we all realise the challenges under which this relationship now labours," he told reporters. "We had very candid discussions, the kind of discussion two friends should be able to have at times like this."
Clinton and Mullen are the highest-ranking U.S. officials to confer with Pakistani leaders since the raid, which splintered already fragile support in both countries for the agenda of cooperation that top U.S. and Pakistani officials say they want.
A portion of the meeting between Clinton and President Asif Ali Zardari briefly witnessed by reporters was stiff and awkward, with no smiles among the U.S. delegation.
Clinton said relations "had reached a turning point," but she thought Pakistan knew the stakes involved.
She said "it was up to the government of Pakistan to take decisive steps in the days ahead" against militants, but did not give any details.
Clinton also pointed to the reality facing the United States as it contemplates how to deal with Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nexus for extremism and terrorism in a strategically vital region.
The U.S. relies on Pakistan for transit and supply routes for the war in Afghanistan and will need its help if Afghanistan is to broker a peace deal with Taliban militants that can end the war. The country is believed to have influence over several Afghan insurgent commanders.
Clinton acknowledged this, saying "for reconciliation to succeed Pakistan must be part of this process".
Clinton also gave a clean chit to Pakistan in the Osama bin Laden saga, saying that the US has "absolutely no evidence" to show that anyone at the highest levels of the Pakistan government knew about the al-Qaeda leader's hideout before he was located and killed by US forces in a May 2 raid on his compound.
She told Pakistan, where anti-US sentiments run deep, that it must understand anti-Americanism will not make the country's problems disappear.
Clinton, who arrived in Islamabad on Friday on an unannounced visit, cited corruption, economy, electricity and extremism among the key problems plaguing Pakistan.
She emphasised that in recent years, the United States has tried to be a "very good friend" to Pakistan, and referred to billions of dollars provided by America to the country in aid.
She also stressed the US will stand with Pakistan and support it as it moves to take tough yet necessary decisions, but clearly stated the US cannot, and should not solve Pakistan's problems, which should be addressed by the country's leadership.
The U.S. visit comes a day after a Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber detonated a pickup truck loaded with explosives near several government offices in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 32 people. Thursday's blast was the latest in a series of attacks to hit the country since the bin Laden raid.
Source: IANS
India, US pledge to boost intelligence sharing, cooperation in counterterrorism
NEW DELHI — India and the United States said Friday a new homeland security dialogue will be crucial to cooperation in counterterrorism, intelligence sharing and cybersecurity.
They identified port, border and coastal security; efforts to stop illegal money to terror and criminal groups and cooperation in mega-city policing as areas of cooperation between the countries.
( Manish Swarup / Associated Press ) - Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram, left, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, prior to a delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India, Friday, May 27, 2011. Napolitano is on a four-day visit to India to increase cooperation in counter terrorism, intelligence sharing and cyber security between the two countries.
The joint statement by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and India's Home Minister P. Chidambaram reaffirmed their governments' resolve to defeating terrorism and called for effective steps by all countries to eliminate safe havens for terrorists.
During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union shared close ties, while the U.S. tilted toward India's rival, Pakistan. But in recent years, New Delhi and Washington have drawn closer, finding common ground in their concern over global terrorism, commitment to democracy and booming trade.
Napolitano visited India as a businessman stands trial in Chicago in connection with the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed at least 166 people. India has blamed Pakistan-based insurgent groups for the killings.
She earlier this week paid tribute to victims of the attacks, laying a wreath and observing a brief silence at a memorial to 16 policemen killed during the three-day siege of India's financial capital.
Concluding her four-day visit, Napolitano told reporters the new homeland security dialogue would be a forum "to strengthen our strategic partnerships, to share best practices and to identify future areas of collaboration."
The dialogue will be held in Washington next year, she said.
"The United States and India face common threats and in return we must develop common approaches to protect shared critical infrastructure and free flow of people and commerce across our borders," Napolitano said.
She described India as a steadfast partner and said both countries should work together to strengthen their law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
US, India Vow Closer Security PartnershipVoice of America - - 1 hour ago Photo: AP Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram, left, shakes hands with US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, prior to a delegation level meeting in New Delhi, India, May 27, 2011. The US and Indian homeland security chiefs met in New Delhi ... LeT responsible for Mumbai terror attacks: Janet NapolitanoDaily News & Analysis - 2 hours ago Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI The US today ranked Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), responsible for Mumbai terror attacks, in the same league of al-Qaeda. "I think in my judgement, the LeT ranks right up there in the al-Qaeda and related groups as ... Napolitano says Pakistan's LeT 'equal' to Al-QaedaAFP - 3 hours ago NEW DELHI — The US Homeland Security chief said on Friday she viewed the banned Pakistani Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as an equal in danger to the Al-Qaeda network. Janet Napolitano, speaking on a trip to New Delhi where she met top Indian ...
In security talks with US, India terms Pakistan fragile stateiNewsOne - 1 hour ago New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) In its security talks with the US, India Friday termed Pakistan a 'fragile' state harbouring terrorism as a 'state policy', even as New Delhi and Washington announced measures to step up counter-terror, intelligence accessing ... LeT on same rank with al Qaeda in terror: USZee News - 5 hours ago New Delhi: After the successful conclusion of the first round of the Homeland Security dialogue between the two sides, India and the United States on Friday agreed that the two countries faced a common threat. Addressing a joint press conference with ... India, US to begin internal security dialogueEconomic Times - May 25, 2011 NEW DELHI:Terror will top the agenda when US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Home Minister P. Chidambaram meet Friday for the first formal dialogue on internal security between the two countries. The talks coincide with the trial in ... US, India to discuss counter-terrorism strategyAFP - May 24, 2011 MUMBAI — US Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano on Tuesday paid homage to the police victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks as she began a four-day visit to India to boost counter-terrorism ties. Napolitano placed a ceremonial wreath and stood ... Pakistan uses terror as state policy: India tells USEconomic Times - 9 hours ago NEW DELHI: Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Friday that Pakistan, which it termed the "global epicenter of terrorism", was promoting terror infrastructure as "state policy" against India. "The vast infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan has for long ... US-India homeland security dialogue todayTimes of India - 20 hours ago NEW DELHI: Counter-terrorism and information sharing is expected to be a priority in the first homeland security dialogue between India and United States to be held on Friday. The meeting between home minister P Chidambaram and US homeland security ... US homeland security secretary pays tribute to 26/11 victimsHindustan Times - May 24, 2011 :An American delegation led by their homeland security secretary paid homage to martyrs and victims of the 26/11 terrorist attacks at the police memorial at Marine Drive on Tuesday. US homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano, who was accompanied ... | Timeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
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G8 Summit Ends with Harsh Words, PromisesVoice of America - - 1 hour ago President Barack Obama and other G8 leaders wrapped up a two-day summit in the French coastal town of Deauville with harsh words for the governments in Libya, Syria and Iran but promises of billions in aid for democratic transitions in Egypt and ... G8 commits to supporting Arabs, 40 bln USD for Tunisia, EgyptXinhua - - 2 hours ago DEAUVILLE, France, May 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a 40-billion-US-dollar aid package for Egypt and Tunisia at the end of the G8 summit on Friday as the club of economic powers joined a race against time to shore up the ... G8 Pledges $40 Billion For 'Arab Spring' CountriesRadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty - 1 hour ago Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) most industrialized countries have agreed on a $40 billion aid and loan package for fledgling democracies in the Arab world. The final statement of a G8 summit in Deauville, France, did not put a figure on financial ...
G8 promises Egypt and Tunisia $40 billion in aidBBC News - 2 hours ago To play this content JavaScript must be turned on and the latest Flash player installed. Members of the G8 countries have pledged $40 billion in loans, aid and debt relief for the march to democracy in Tunisia and Egypt. The announcement was made today ... G-8 Finds $40 Billion for Arab Spring From Development Banks, Direct AidBloomberg - - 2 hours ago French President Nicolas Sarkozy invited delegations from the two countries at the vanguard of the so-called Arab Spring movement to attend the second day of the G-8 summit he is ... Sarkozy's suggested joint trip to Libya to CameronBBC News - - 4 hours ago That's how an exasperated David Cameron reacted to the news that the French president had announced that he wanted to make a joint trip with the prime minister to the rebel capital of Libya - Benghazi. Given the security implications involved you can ... Highlights: Deauville G8 DeclarationReuters - 4 hours ago DEAUVILLE, France (Reuters) - Following are key passages from the Group of Eight leaders' Deauville Declaration. PREAMBLE We, the Leaders of the Group of Eight, met in Deauville on 26 and 27 May 2011. In this period of change, we reaffirmed our ... Activists say rich world aid to Arab countries shouldn't come at expense of ...The Canadian Press - 1 hour ago XSUM161-0527111309 DEAUVILLE, France (AP) — Leaders from the US, France, Britain and other rich world governments pledged to promote human rights and democratic governance across Africa, but some developing world activists warned that financial aid for ... Sarkozy to visit Benghazi for talks with oppositionRIA Novosti - - 3 hours ago French President Nicolas Sarkozy will pay a working visit to the Libyan opposition stronghold of Benghazi to hold talks with the country's insurgents. "The head of the Transitional Council has invited me, and I together with [French Foreign Minister] ... The G8 Summit By the Numbersmsnbc.com - 1 hour ago As world leaders convene in Deauville, France, for the annual G8 Summit, we break down the conference by numbers. After all, what better way to analyze a numerically-driven event? At left, President Barack Obama greets Canadian Prime Minister Stephen ... World
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Gaddafi ready for talks with rebels
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From:The Australian
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May 28, 2011 12:00AM
TRIPOLI: Libya's government is pushing a ceasefire proposal and has for the first time said it is prepared to speak with rebel adversaries, signalling that three months of fighting and NATO bombardment may be closer to forcing concessions.
TRIPOLI: Libya's government is pushing a ceasefire proposal and has for the first time said it is prepared to speak with rebel adversaries, signalling that three months of fighting and NATO bombardment may be closer to forcing concessions.
Even so, the government insisted yesterday that Muammar Gaddafi would not relinquish power. His departure is a key demand of the US, European leaders and the rebels. "The leader, Muammar Gaddafi, is in the heart of every Libyan. If he leaves, the entire Libyan people leave," said Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi.
He said he was willing to hold talks with "all Libyans" including members of the rebel administration based in the eastern city of Benghazi.
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World Vision: Past G8 Promises Still Unfulfilled
Joe DeCapua May 27, 2011
Photo: AP
From left, US President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy wave as they arrive for a lunch meeting at the Villa le Cercle during the G8 summit in Deauville, France, Thursday, May 26, 2011. G8 leaders, in a two-day meeting, will discuss the Internet, aid for North African states and ways in which to end the conflict in Libya. (AP Photo/Yves Herman, Pool)
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With the closing of the G8 summit in Deauville, France, aid groups are once again saying leaders have failed to fully meet past promises.
World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, and other NGOs say the G8 is falling behind on commitments to development, health and hunger.
Deauville summit report card
"I'd probably give it a B minus," said Robert Zachritz, World Vision's government relations director, who's in Deauville.
"They initially sought to inspire around the issues of freedom and democracy, but they really needed to be much stronger around the humanitarian values," he said.
Zachritz praises the G8 for its honesty about past promises.
"They recognize that they've fallen about $19 billion short. They've made commitments around global AIDS, TB and malaria. Made commitments around global hunger…and child and maternal health. So, the good thing has been they're being accountable for that," he said, but added, "They need to be doing better."
He warned of a pending food crisis and said thousands of young children are still dying every day from preventable causes. "There's an urgency to those issues."
Recession
The Deauville summit was held as the world continues to recover from a global recession.
"I think you need to recognize that," said Zachritz, "but at the same time you can make commitments and you can make a difference. And the interventions for these items are very cost effective, even in tight economic times."
These include low-cost interventions for malaria, such as bed nets, and immunizations for childhood diseases.
This week the G8 Research Group at the University of Toronto gave G8 nations a grade of B in keeping their promises. It said higher grades might be unrealistic until the world economy improves. The group also said NGOs naturally demand higher grades because their job is to advocate for their causes.
At the L'Aquila summit in 2009, the G8 pledged $22 billion for agricultural investment. It was in response to the 2007/2008 global food crisis, which brought soaring prices and tight supplies.
"They say they are committed to continually following through with that commitment, which is good. I think their disbursements are low. I think about 25 percent of those commitments have come forward," he said.
At the earlier summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, leaders pledged universal access to AIDS prevention and treatment programs by 2010.
MDGs
The U.N. Millennium Development Goals are due in 2015. Many NGOs say without G8 funds, it will be difficult to achieve them on time.
"Clearly, that will have an impact," said Zachritz, "And I think there weren't really new commitments at this G8 around the Millennium Development Goals. But they were affirmed both in the main communiqué and in the joint statement with African leaders. So the commitment is there, which is good. And they're not backing away from their past commitments even though they're falling short."
Still relevant
The importance of the G20 is now clear, as emerging nations take their place on the world stage. So, is the G8 still relevant?
"The G20 clearly has become the dominant group on the world economy. They recognized that at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh and so that was a change," he said, "The G8 countries still give the majority of global development assistance. So, it's still an important body."
Zachritz said the G8 recognizes the need for new partners and new commitments. The next G20 summit is scheduled for November in Cannes, France.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua-g8-world-vision-27may11-122729004.html
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