The Guardian 15 November, 2006
Global briefs
URUGUAY: Meeting in Montevideo on November 4-5, foreign ministers and chief executives from 22 countries turned the 17th Ibero-American Summit into a veritable rally against the Bush administration. The delegates called for the trial or extradition to Venezuela of anti-Cuba terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, currently in US custody, for his part in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people. They demanded that nations engaged in fighting terrorism adhere to international law. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicholas Maduro and Carlos Lage, leader of Cuba’s delegation, each condemned US plans to build a fence along the US-Mexico border. Mexican President Vicente Fox succeeded in having the summit pass a declaration rejecting the fence. The delegates also passed the "Montevideo Commitment" to human rights for immigrants throughout the world. Venezuela agreed to contribute US$5 million toward creation of an Ibero-American General Secretariat, a standing body that will have offices in three Latin American locations.
IRAN: According to www.globalresearch.ca, Israel has reportedly threatened to carry out a unilateral strike against Iran if the US does not act against Iran within six months. As if in response, Iran tested land, sea and air-based missiles and automatic cannon as part of its "Great Prophet 2" manoeuvres. Iran says its nuclear program is strictly for domestic energy production.
CHINA: With more than 41 heads of state on hand, the Third Summit Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, which opened on November 3, adopted a multifaceted action plan. Diplomatic exchanges, Chinese cooperation with the African Union and supportive interaction within the United Nations will bolster political ties. Announcing a US$5 billion investment fund, China plans to double economic assistance to the continent by 2009. Tariffs will be reduced, and debt reduction will continue. Over five years, China has cancelled US$1.4 billion in debts for 31 African nations. According to the People’s Daily, China is developing plans for widened medical, scientific, environmental and educational assistance as well as expanded tourism and cultural ties. Chinese President Hu Jintao told the gathering, "Our combined population accounts for over a third of the world total. Without peace and development in China and Africa, there will be no global peace and development."
KENYA: At a press conference prior to the UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi on November 7-16, UN officials released a report suggesting that global warming will cause massive human devastation in Africa, the continent least prepared to respond. Rising sea levels may destroy 30 percent of Africa’s coastal infrastructure. Water shortages may affect some 480 million people. From 25-40 percent of Africa’s inhabitants may be lost by 2085. By 2080, food production will have fallen by 5 percent. Severe droughts and floods will threaten the lives of all Africans. Ironically, among the world’s continents, Africa is the world’s lowest producer of greenhouse gases. The conference coincided with a reunion of signatories to the Kyoto Protocol, a pact on limiting greenhouse gases, which the Bush administration and the Australian Government have refused to sign.