VIENNA, March 9
(AFP)
As the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are officially inducted into NATO on Friday, the nine other countries which failed to make it will have to bide their time for quite a while yet.
Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the three Baltic states of Estonie, Latvia and Lithuania, have the common feature of having been turned down by the alliance for the time being.
All they can hope for is that negotiations on their entry will continue, but all do not have the same weight within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Romania is among the most unfortunate candidates, having been supported by most of the NATO allies when the invitations were being mulled in 1997, only to be turned down because of its political, social and economic difficulties.
Bucharest does not conceal its frustration, with Defence Minister Victor Babuic demanding that NATO grant a special status to the most deserving of the remaining candidates.
There should be timetable and a set list of conditions for Romania and Slovenia to join rapidly, he said.
Bulgaria was totally ignored by the allies when the first wave of invitations was issued, but Sofia�s stock is rising, and it too claims special treatment within NATO�s Partnership for Peace and an action plan to become a member.
�Bulgaria should be treated differently from the other countries of the Partnership because they include former Soviet republics like Ukraine,� said Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov.
Slovakia�s chances are also improving because of political changes since the electoral defeat of the autocratic prime minister Vladimir Meciar last September.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said that if reforms continue and Slovakia improves relations with its neighbours it would be a solid candidate for the next round of admissions.
The Bratislava government has expressed the hope that the upcoming 50th anniversary summit of NATO in Washington will confirm an open door policy and lay down a timetable for Slovakia�s admission.
Slovenia�s support remains steady but not very strong. It is backed notably by Italy, which sees it as a missing link with Hungary, and is doing its best to improve its chances.
In October it decided to allow NATO aircraft to use its airspace for eventual operations in connection with the Kosovo crisis.
The situation of Albania and Macedonia, two impoverished Balkan states, goes against them, but thanks to the situation in neighbouring Kosovo they have their compensations.
These include a liaison bureau in Tirana and the stationing of NATO troops near Skopje.
As for the Baltic states, they have support from the Nordic countries but have the disadvantage of having been under direct rule from Moscow before breaking away with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
No moves are expected at the Washington summit towards enlarging NATO further. The alliance wants to digest the arrival of the three newcomers first.
ALMATY, March 11
(THE GLOBE)
Recently, the Second Summit of D-8 was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 1-2 March 1999. Many of us have not heard about the group called D-8. �The Globe� has interviewed Mr. Hashim Ismail, Charge d�Affaires of the Malaysian Embassy to obtain some information on this meeting.
The Globe: Could you briefly explain to us about D-8
CDA: D-8 was an association of eight Muslim countries namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. The First Summit was held in June 1997 in Istanbul, Turkey. The idea to establish D-8 was first brought up by the former Turkish Prime-Minister Prof.Decmetin Erbakan when he visited Malaysia in 1996.
The Globe: Muslim countries already have its own grouping i.e. the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). Why needs another club?
CDA: First let me tell that D-8 is not an exclusive club among the (OIC). In future, it will be opened to other members. Meanwhile, this small group of countries have pledged to commit themselves towards the acceleration of economic and technical cooperation among its members. You see, OIC is too large. It is very difficult to reach an agreement or to find a quick solution to a certain proposal in such a large organization. Many members also means many different ideas and priorities. We hope this small group will be more practical and could act fast.
The Globe: Having established for nearly 2 years, what have been done or achieved so far?
CDA: During the First Summit in Istanbul, the member countries have agreed to divide various tasks among them based on the principle of comparative advantages. Since Malaysia is seen as strong in banking, finance and privatization, the country has been asked to work out a programme in those sectors. In this respect, Malaysia has worked out an Islamic Insurance Scheme known as TAKAFUL which already been introduced in Indonesia and Brunei (non-member of D-8). Consequently, Turkey has been incharged to undertake the production of agricultural aircraft, Pakistan to work on aquaculture project, Iran (Industrial and technological date base), Bangladesh (rural development), Indonesia (HRD and poverty alleviation), Nigeria (micro hydro power plants, solar system and small-scale mining) and Egypt to promote private sector activities.
The working groups of the above committees will meet this year to discuss the implementation of their various programmes.
The Globe: What else discussed by the leaders of D-8 in Dhaka?
CDA: The most pertinent issues of course related to the global economic and financial crisis, which required urgent solutions. Other than deliberating on this issue, the summit also discussed a wide range of international trade matters related to WTO and Uruguay Round. In short, the Summit called for the International community to address the weaknesses in global economic and financial system, as well as calling for the implementation of a fare trading mechanism among the countries of the world. Sustainable development and environmental issues were also discussed.
The Globe: Did the Summit Discuss Political Issues
CDA: So far no and I do not think that D-8 will be turned into a political forum that soon. However the Summit reiterated its support to the initiative to make the year 2001 as the Year for Dialogue Among Civilizations which was adopted at the 53rd UNGA at the initiative of the Iranian President in order to promote greater understanding and exchanges between different cultures.
The Globe: What is your perception on the future of D-8?
CDA: It is still too early to judge. However, all the 8 members of the group are determined and committed to their goals. Please remember, although only 8 out of 53 Muslim countries D-8 represents more than 800 million populations. The impact would be great if they managed to achieve something. We will see the outcome when the leaders of D-8 will meet again in the 3rd Summit which will be held in Cairo in the year 2001.
The Globe: Is there any possibility that Kazakhstan will join the group.
CDA: Why not. Not only Kazakhstan, perhaps other countries too will be attracted to join the group in the future if it is proven to be effective.
Hilary Skeels
London (THE GLOBE)
The Brit Awards, the British music awards ceremony very similar to the Grammies, seems to have found itself with a tendency for a bit of a scandal in recent years. In 1996, Jarvis Cocker of British band Pulp invaded the stage to rather aimlessly dance around during Michael Jackson�s rendition of �Earth Song�, and last year Alice Nutter of Chumbawumba managed to pour a bucket of water over British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. But this years Brit awards went smoothly, opening with Robbie Williams singing his recent smash hit �Angels�.
The evening proceeded to go rather well for Mr. Williams, who had won three awards by the end of it all - Best British Male, Best Single for �Angels� and Best Video, again for �Angels�.
The Best International Group, a very prestigious award, went to relative newcomers, Irish group The Corrs. Best International Male went to Beck, an American songwriter who has a recently released his �Mutations� album, a unique combination of country and western and modern styles. Natalia Imbruglia, a former soap-opera star from Australia, won �Best International Female�, after considerable success with her first album �Left of the Middle�.
Perhaps the most curious winner of the evening was Scottish alternative group �Belle and Sebastian�, who won Best International Newcomer, despite having released their third album at the end of 1998. Their relative obscurity became apparent when mainstream music journalists were seen backstage asking which one was Belle and which one was Sebastian, when in fact there are eight people in the band. In order to win the award, they beat boy bands 5ive and Another Level, Cornershop, Propellerheads, Cleopatra, Steps and Hinda Hicks.
The �Best British Group� award went to Manic Street Preachers, who also won the award in 1997. Nicky Wire, the band�s bass guitar player, accepted his award with eyeshadow on, a reference to the bands glamour period, when the all male band frequently wore feather boas and eyeliner. �Best British Female� went to Des�ree, who recently made a come-back with her hit song �Life�. She beat Billie, whose song �Because we want to� was one of the biggest hits last year, Hinda Hicks, Billie Myers, and PJ Harvey, whose new album �Is This Desire? � had been critically acclaimed even before it�s release.
The Outstanding Contribution award went to 80�s pop group �Eurythmics�, most recently noted for the Marilyn Manson cover of their song �Sweet Dreams�. Their award was presented by Stevie Wonder, who urged them to �Keep on rocking and rolling!� Jubilee 2000, the movement to cancel all third world debt for the new millennium, won the Freddie Mercury Award, in honour of the deceased singer of Queen. Mohammed Ali, as one of the public spokespeople for the project, accepted the award from Bono of Irish band U2, who is also strongly involved in the project. The last laugh of the relatively quiet evening went to Boy George of Culture Club, who, in reference to the genetically modified vegetable debate, said to the Prime Minister: �Tony Blair, stop messing about with the vegetables, please!�
By Alessandro
RAIMONDI
BELLINZONA, Feb 7
(THE GLOBE)
Summertime is the ideal period of the year to enjoy outdoor activities, music listening among those. And in fact it�s between June and September, but with the highest concentration in July and August, that music festivals are popping up all over Europe.
Among music genres opera is experiencing a revival of interest caused by the wider culture and access to it enjoyed by ordinary citizens and students alike in the Old Continent.
Now these two conditions are intersecting at Bellinzona, the capital of Canton Ticino in Italian-speaking Switzerland, where a summer production of Gioacchino Rossini�s �The barber of Seville� has just been organized for the coming summer.
Venue of the event will be the outside court of Castelgrande, able to seat some 3,700 audience, while the performances that the famous Turin Philarmonic Orchestra is called to produce will take place on July 23, 24, 28, 30, 31 and August 3.
It�s the first time that the renown Swiss castle will be used for such a purpose, the organizers, however, seem not to have any doubt as for the success of the project. As an example � not to indicate world�s famous Verona Arena Festival or the Macerata Sferisterio Season, both taking place in nearby Italy � they mention Avenches Opera Festival, started only in 1994 but by now an inevitable event of the Swiss summer.
Avenches, in Canton Vaud, makes use of its Roman amphitheatre to please 6,000 audience, during summertime, with high class opera performances.
Avenches and Bellinzona have united forces and the outcome will be a co-production of Rossini�s �Il barbiere di Siviglia�.
The Philarmonic Orchestra of Turin will be conducted by maestro Claudio Desderi, while the staging will benefit of Daniele Abbado�s direction and Alfredo Corno�s scene painting. The cast of singers is still unknown but big names are being contacted.
Over 1,000 reservations have been already collected and the Swiss Railways are co-sponsoring the event which �risks� to become an evening summertime Swiss must.
Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini.
by Alain Jean-Robert
ROME, March 9 (AFP)
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Tuesday met with Italian leaders against a backdrop of protests, during the first visit by an Iranian leader to western Europe since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Italy�s foreign minister Lamberto Dini greeted Khatami after the Iranian leader�s plane landed at Ciampino military airport at 10:15 a.m. (0915 GMT).
Khatami was then whisked by helicopter to central Rome, where he met with Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro under heightened police guard, with roads closed to traffic and surveillance helicopters humming overhead.
In Rome, between 4,000 and 5,000 demonstrators, mostly Iranians living in exile, protested Khatami�s visit as he headed to the Italian Senate and parliament after his morning meetings.
Organizers said more than 5,000 people had responded to appeals by the Iranian opposition People�s Mujahedeen and Italian right-wing opposition parties Forza Italia and the National Alliance to protest.
�The West is wrong to think it is welcoming a new Gorbachev,� Behzad Naziri, a representative of the People�s Mujahedeen, told AFP.
�Khatami is not there to overturn the Islamic Revolution but to prevent it from being swept away,� Naziri said.
But Dini earlier Tuesday defended the decision to meet with Khatami, insisting that Iran had decreased its financing of terrorism.
Khatami, he said, �has condemned terrorism as a tool in political battles.�
But Naziri called the West �naive� and pointed out that since Khatami�s election in May 1997, Iran had been the site of �320 public hangings, nine stonings and the assassination of eight writers.�
Among the protesters were many Iranian women, their heads uncovered or dressed in brightly colored scarves, carrying portraits of People�s Mujahedeen leader Massud Rajavi, president of the National Resistance Council, and his wife Myriam.
�The mullah Khatami does not represent the Iranian people,� Mitra Bagheri, the Resistance representative in Italy, told the crowd.
�He is one of the key men of the theocratic Iranian regime and he shares the responsibility for all of the crimes committed since the beginning of the Islamic revolution in 1979,� he added.
A number of Italian deputies also participated in the protest, including Sandra Fei of the National Alliance, who called the visit �scandalous� and decried the regime�s �discrimination against women.�
Seven Iranians occupied the Paris embassy with another 20-30 outside. Police said the occupation was peaceful.
by Daniel Merolla
BUENOS AIRES, March 9
(AFP)
Britain�s Prince Charles was greeted here Tuesday with welcoming receptions � but also protests � as he began a diplomatically delicate three-day visit to Argentina.
�Tango-04,� Argentina�s presidential aircraft, brought the prince from the Ezeiza international airport outside Buenos Aires to a landing strip closer to the city�s center.
He was formally received in the capital�s San Martin Plaza by Argentine Foreign Minister Guido Di Tella and treated to a 21-canon salute and a special performance by an Argentine military band.
The heir to the British throne was clad smartly in a dark blue suit and sky-blue shirt with a tie striped in both shades as he spoke to the crowd of some 200 people assembled in the plaza.
Tight security was deployed for the event, with federal police stationed strategically around the open area.
The prince said the people of Britain were happy to see a revival of what he called the Anglo-Argentine friendship, and he said the two nations� cultural, political and even sports relations had strengthened in recent years. He hailed Argentine President Carlos Menem�s visit to Britain last October as an important milestone on the path of friendship between their two countries.
But not all Argentines greeted the British dignitary�s reciprocal visit to their country with open arms.
Plans for protest were announced by a range of organizations, including groups representing leftists, war veterans, gays and the poor.
The prince�s visit is seen here as part of an effort to improve ties following the 1982 Anglo-Argentine war over the Falkland islands, known in Spanish as the Malvinas.
Ten leftist parties announced plans for a march Tuesday night toward the hotel where Prince Charles was to be guest of honor at a grand reception held by Menem.
All Over the Globe is published by IPA House.
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