Global briefs
JAPAN: The organising committee for the 2004 World Conference against A & H-Bombs called on peace and progressive organisations to send representatives to the conference. The Conference is an historic opportunity to move towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and prepare for the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki next year. Among the participants in this year's conference are government officials from Egypt, Malaysia, and Mexico which take part in the New Agenda Coalition and/or the Non-Aligned Movement. The NAM has called for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The officials will join with representatives of the world's anti-nuclear NGOs and nuclear weapons test victims organisations to discuss ways to eliminate nuclear weapons. Christopher G Weeramantory, former vice president of the International Court of Justice, has declared that the use of nuclear weapons is illegal.* * * USA: US Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson urged Secretary of State Colin Powell to make an official request that the United Nations provide observers for the November 2 elections in the United States to "ensure free and fair elections". Thirteen Democratic Congress members, led by Johnson, (Representative from Texas), sent a letter on July 8 to UN General Secretary Kofi Annan requesting the presence of UN representatives in every county during the voting process and any subsequent recount. The UN was quick to knock back the request, saying it would be "intervention in a country's sovereignty" if it were not made by the US Government. A Florida Democrat Corrine Brown announced that the Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe has confirmed that it will be present in the United States — specifically in Florida — on Election Day. However, state election authorities in Florida have already announced that such observers would not be allowed access to the voting process and that they would have to remain more than 50 feet (15.2 metres) from the polling.* * * RUSSIA: President Putin of Russia issued a stern warning to the West not to get in the way of Russia and the Ukraine forging closer ties. The Russian and Ukrainian Presidents met in Yalta where a range of issues was discussed. Presidential elections are due on October 31. President Kuchma is eager to get as much support as possible from Russia as he attempts to put his choice, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, in a position to win the presidency. There are ten candidates in the race to succeeed Kuchma. Among the favourites is Kuchma's bitter opponent, the pro-western Viktor Yushchenko. Another strong candidate is Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko. Kuchma's team, as well as a number of Russian political consultants operating in the Ukraine in the run-up to the vote, are placing their bets on Yanukovych. The polls show all three with significant support and the election too close to call.