APRIL 8th PREDICTION

[rollinTHUNDER]

EU: Castro Shares Interest in Closer Ties

Mar 26, 11:17 PM (ET)

By VANESSA ARRINGTON

HAVANA (AP) - A top European Union official said Cuban President Fidel Castro shares the bloc's interest in strengthening ties and tackling sensitive issues such as human rights and called on all parties to avoid "useless provocations."

EU development commissioner Louis Michel met with Castro as Cuba struggles with international criticism over political prisoners and an upcoming U.N. vote on the island's human rights record.

"We spoke together about all the issues, even about the difficult issues, and sensitive issues, and there is of course a common interest to relaunch a political dialogue," Michel said.

The commissioner, who was set to leave Havana on Sunday, underscored the delicate nature of EU-Cuba relations and urged all involved parties to avoid "useless provocations."

(AP) Louis Michel, right, European Union development affairs commissioner meets with Cuban Chancellor...

Full Image

"I think the situation, the way in which we are working, remains rather fragile - it is not so easy to lead these conversations," he said. "The challenge is so important, that we have to be very prudent with any kind of useless provocations."

Cuba-EU ties have been strained for several years, primarily over the issue of human rights and political freedoms on the communist-run island. The breaking point came when the Cuban government launched a massive crackdown in 2003 that put 75 political activists behind bars, prompting the EU to impose sanctions against the island.

But a new chapter was opened earlier this year when European nations lifted the sanctions, partly in response to Cuba's release of 14 of the 75 political prisoners for medical reasons last year. The policy will be up for review this summer, but Michel made clear he hopes new sanctions will not be necessary.

"The sanctions lead to nothing, and I would like that all these discussions and debates lead to something," he told reporters.

Michel also met with several activists Saturday, as well as wives of the political prisoners. "The Cuban government in no way interfered with these meetings," Michel said, calling that a hopeful sign.

Earlier this year, Castro showed little enthusiasm for renewed diplomatic ties, saying Cuba did not need the 25-nation bloc.

"I was not so happy with that," Michel said of Castro's previous remarks. "But I think things have changed."

Meanwhile, the lead member of a delegation of a dozen EU lawmakers also in Havana warned that new advances in Cuba-EU ties could be undermined by anti-Castro exiles and other enemies of Cuba.

"There are powerful sectors that will try to sabotage this process ... among them the United States and its mercenaries," Miguel Angel Martinez said at a news conference Saturday, wrapping up a weeklong trip to the island.

Martinez, of Spain's ruling Socialist party, expressed sympathy for the Cuban government, saying it was discriminated against on many levels. But he also met with dissidents while here and said imprisoned activists did not constitute a security threat to Cuba and should thus "be back at home."

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20050327/D89337PO0.html

[rollinTHUNDER]

EU Will Seek to Impose Sanctions on U.S.

By RAF CASERT, Associated Press Writer

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union head office said Thursday it will seek to impose additional sanctions of up to 15 percent on U.S. products to punish Washington for failing to repeal an antidumping law ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization.

The European Commission said its action would be joined soon by seven other nations, including Japan, South Korea and Brazil, which had all requested the WTO authorize retaliation.

The EU's move would slap additional duties of up to 15 percent as of May 1 on such U.S. products as paper, textiles, machinery and farm produce. The European Commission's proposal still needs to be approved by the EU member states.

Targeted items ran from writing pads to sweetcorn, tablecloth and sports footwear.

The EU said that according to the latest information, the level of retaliation would amount to slightly less than $28 million.

The agency said it took its latest step "in light of the continuing failure of the United States to bring its legislation in conformity with its international obligations."

Richard Mills, spokesman for the U.S. trade representative, said the Bush administration was "disappointed" with the EU move.

"The United States is working to comply with the WTO decision regarding the Byrd Amendment," Mills said. "It's important to remember that the WTO decision in the dispute does not affect our underlying trade laws. The United States will continue to vigorously implement our trade laws to make sure Americans are treated fairly."

The 25-nation EU has long asked for Washington to repeal the 3-year-old legislation and the Bush administration has been working with Congress to bring it into line with its obligations. Yet the EU executive Commission said it was time to bring further action.

The Geneva-based WTO first ruled the U.S. legislation illegal in 2002 and gave the United States until the end of 2003 to conform. When it didn't, the eight complainants were given the option late last year to impose sanctions.

"The EU understands that Canada will be announcing retaliatory measures against certain products from the United States and expects that other co-complainants will soon join it in applying retaliation," the EU head office said.

The other complainants are Brazil, Chile, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico.

The law, known as the Byrd amendment, allows American companies to receive proceeds from antidumping duties levied on foreign rivals.

It was approved in 2000 and in four annual distributions, over $1 billion has been distributed to such industries as steel and metal producers and food and household items.

The European Commission said there were no negotiating meetings with U.S. officials planned ahead of the May 1 deadline.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...trade_sanctions

[Lori0218]

Maybe it's time to close our door to foreign imports. We can support ourselves without their goods.

EU Will Seek to Impose Sanctions on U.S.

By RAF CASERT, Associated Press Writer

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union head office said Thursday it will seek to impose additional sanctions of up to 15 percent on U.S. products to punish Washington for failing to repeal an antidumping law ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization.

The European Commission said its action would be joined soon by seven other nations, including Japan, South Korea and Brazil, which had all requested the WTO authorize retaliation.

The EU's move would slap additional duties of up to 15 percent as of May 1 on such U.S. products as paper, textiles, machinery and farm produce. The European Commission's proposal still needs to be approved by the EU member states.

Targeted items ran from writing pads to sweetcorn, tablecloth and sports footwear.

The EU said that according to the latest information, the level of retaliation would amount to slightly less than $28 million.

The agency said it took its latest step "in light of the continuing failure of the United States to bring its legislation in conformity with its international obligations."

Richard Mills, spokesman for the U.S. trade representative, said the Bush administration was "disappointed" with the EU move.

"The United States is working to comply with the WTO decision regarding the Byrd Amendment," Mills said. "It's important to remember that the WTO decision in the dispute does not affect our underlying trade laws. The United States will continue to vigorously implement our trade laws to make sure Americans are treated fairly."

The 25-nation EU has long asked for Washington to repeal the 3-year-old legislation and the Bush administration has been working with Congress to bring it into line with its obligations. Yet the EU executive Commission said it was time to bring further action.

The Geneva-based WTO first ruled the U.S. legislation illegal in 2002 and gave the United States until the end of 2003 to conform. When it didn't, the eight complainants were given the option late last year to impose sanctions.

"The EU understands that Canada will be announcing retaliatory measures against certain products from the United States and expects that other co-complainants will soon join it in applying retaliation," the EU head office said.

The other complainants are Brazil, Chile, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico.

The law, known as the Byrd amendment, allows American companies to receive proceeds from antidumping duties levied on foreign rivals.

It was approved in 2000 and in four annual distributions, over $1 billion has been distributed to such industries as steel and metal producers and food and household items.

The European Commission said there were no negotiating meetings with U.S. officials planned ahead of the May 1 deadline.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...trade_sanctions

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest WhySoBlind]

Notice the particular language of these statements:

The agency said it took its latest step "in light of the continuing failure of the United States to bring its legislation in conformity with its international obligations."

So, we feed half the world, and now it is OUR "Obligation" to conform to rules THEY make up. This is truly starting to look like the "ten toes" after all. Part Iron, part clay indeed. Only thing needed is a few border changes to collapse it to the number "ten".

The 25-nation EU has long asked for Washington to repeal the 3-year-old legislation and the Bush administration has been working with Congress to bring it into line with its obligations. Yet the EU executive Commission said it was time to bring further action.

Instead of telling them to take a hike, we are being sold out by our own leaders. However, this does not reflect the ideals of a handfull of people, but that of a large sector of the nation, that would rather make one more dollar, rather than attempt to live with some semblance of rationale and Godly morals. "Further Action" is a vieled way of saying, "America, If you don't do what we tell you to, we are going to put taxes and sanctions on you until you can't afford to do anything about it anyway."

The European Commission said there were no negotiating meetings with U.S. officials planned ahead of the May 1 deadline.

They really aren't interested in the dumping laws at all, but are using it as a ploy to test the metal of America. This is actually a rather bold action, and should give some Americans a wake up call to just what the EU really is. They are powerful enough militarily and politically to back up their threats, else they would not dare to make them. This means America is no longer the "Sole Superpower" we like to think we are.

We need to seek the Lord's face concerning this and intercede for America and Israel, because God's judgment is beginning to be poured out. We have had favor for so very long, but this is evidence that said favor is further diminished.

Cry unto the Lord saints!

Zechariah 13:9 - And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

We have but two choices, cry unto the Lord now, or else face the famine, pestilence, and sword. We are as Israel in the days of Jeremiah, and the EU is like Babylon. Our false prophets, AHEM, leaders tell us we are the "greatest nation on the earth, there's no nation like us!" But the EU is already there!

[rollinTHUNDER]

Fri., April 01, 2005 Adar2 21, 5765 Israel Time: 03:13 (GMT+2)

One Middle East policy, for all

By Alfred H. Moses

There is again a glimmer of hope for a political settlement in the Middle East that will allow two fully democratic states, Israel and Palestine, to live in peace and security. Unlike Yasser Arafat, his predecessor, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) may yet move to corral the 12 or so independent militias operating in Gaza and the West Bank that direct terrorist attacks against Israel. His security minister, Mohammed Dahlan, and Nasser Yousef, the PA's minister of the interior, have said the right things, and Abu Mazen's government has brokered cease-fire agreements with Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. Islamic Jihad is also said to be on board, but the recent suicide bombing at a nightclub in Tel Aviv for which Islamic Jihad claimed credit casts doubt. Despite this setback, there has been sufficient progress on the anti-terror front to persuade Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government to release 500 Palestinian prisoners and to announce the withdrawal of Israeli security forces from Jericho and Tul Karm in the West Bank.

At the recent historic meeting between Sharon and Abu Mazen at Sharm el-Sheikh, where the two of them were flanked by Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to follow the United States' road map plan, leading to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The performance-based road map with clear phases, timelines, dates and benchmarks was formulated under the auspices of the Quartet, composed of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. For its part, the Quartet committed itself to support and facilitate implementation of the road map. At the end of the day, if the parties adhere to this plan, the critical issues of borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements will be finally and permanently resolved. The road map also calls for a comprehensive settlement between Israel and Lebanon, and Israel and Syria. There is agreement that the road map is the way; there is no other. And yet, three of the four members of the Quartet - the European Union, Russia and the United Nations - continue to act as if the plan hardly exists.

At the current, 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the world will again witness the abandonment of the road map by three members of the Quartet. The same shameful conduct occurred in the last UN General Assembly session in New York, where 19 resolutions singling out Israel for censure were adopted. No less than five resolutions are likely to be adopted by the conclusion of the human rights commission session supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, upholding the inalienable rights of the Palestinians, calling for an end to Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights and demanding the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, and release of Lebanese purportedly detained in Israel.

The decision of the Israeli government to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza and the removal of Israeli settlers in Gaza will be ignored in the rush to condemn Israel. So, too, will the fact that these issues are political in nature, having little, if anything, to do with human rights. Ironically, Israel's human rights record far outshines that of its Arab neighbors, which regularly trample on the rights of minorities, women included, do not allow universal suffrage as does Israel for Jews and Arabs alike, do not have a free press or uphold an independent judiciary.

Sadly, like other specialized UN agencies that began with a clear mandate to do good works, the human rights commission is no longer a credible protector of human rights. Countries with the worst human rights records vie to get on the commission to protect themselves from condemnation. The commission was recently chaired by Libya, one of the world's most flagrant human rights violators. Efforts to condemn outrageous human rights abuses, with few exceptions, regularly fail. China's oppressive measures against Falun Gong go unmentioned. So, too, Russia's actions in Chechnya. The nonexistence of human rights in Saudi Arabia is off-limits for the commission, as are human rights abuses in such countries as Malaysia, Zimbabwe, the Congo and Rwanda. One would think that the egregious human rights abuses in Darfur, where tens of thousands have been killed by Janjaweed militia, and many times that number have been made homeless, would merit condemnation by the commission. But, alas, the commission has been silent.

Such hypocrisy is not going away any time soon. What needs to change is the voting pattern in the UN of the signatories to the road map who, but for the United States, pursue two policies, one giving lip-service to the road map, the other engaging in a voting pattern at the UN that ignores the road map. The first step on the road map is for the Palestinians "to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis everywhere." In calling for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, the road map gives practical meaning to the empty rhetoric of UN resolutions calling for Palestinian "self-determination" and recognition of the "inalienable rights of the Palestinian people." So, too, the borders of the Palestinian state to be determined in Phases 2 and 3 of the road map will determine the fate of the settlements, which will remain and which will not remain.

The plain fact is that resolutions in the human rights commission, like those in the General Assembly, have not advanced the peace process one iota. They only confuse things by encouraging extremist elements in the Palestinian camp to point to votes in the UN as evidence that the world is on their side, thereby buttressing their rejection of the road map and Israel's right to exist. Ironically, the Palestinian representative to the UN in Geneva has no such illusions. He recently told me: "These resolutions are worthless words." He is right, but the dance goes on.

Only the European Union has the moral authority and the votes to put an end to this ridiculous situation by championing one balanced resolution to replace all other resolutions on the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This resolution should call upon the parties to commit themselves unconditionally to implement the road map with the aim of achieving an early comprehensive political settlement, which will allow two fully democratic states, Palestine and Israel, to live in peace and security. Anything else is a distraction from the real business of making peace.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/559682.html

Alfred H. Moses was an American ambassador and a special presidential envoy in Europe. Currently he serves as chairman of UN Watch, a Geneva-based NGO.

[Guest Reverend Turmoil]

RT and Why so blind,

Too many EU/RRE fanatics and not enough questioning that view, and too few considering another!

Reverend Turmoil

Edited April 3, 2005 by Reverend Turmoil

[rollinTHUNDER]

Putin and Solana: Russia-EU deal close to completion

15:35 2005-04-05

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Tuesday pledged to increase efforts to conclude a key Russia-EU agreement, planned to be signed in May.

"We are actively moving towards preparing documents that are scheduled to be signed on May 10 of this year in Moscow," Putin told Solana in his residence in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, in remarks broadcast on Russian state-run television.

"As you said, our relationship is growing better and better and I am sure the summit we are going to have in a few weeks on May 10 would be a success," said Solana, who was to fly onto Moscow for a meeting later in the day with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The pact focuses on Russia-EU cooperation in four key areas: the economy, external security, justice matters and cultural affairs, including research and education.

Russian and EU officials failed to sign the pact during the previous summit in November and promised to conclude the deal in May. Among unresolved issues are visa arrangements, joint efforts to end conflicts in the Caucasus and Russia's practice of charging EU airlines when they fly over Siberia.

The 25-nation EU wants Russia to commit to taking back all illegal immigrants who try to enter the EU from Russia, whether or not they are Russian citizens. The EU has made this a condition for easing visa requirements for Russians in the EU, but Moscow has refused to agree to the practice.

Associated Press

http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2005/04/05/59009.html

[rollinTHUNDER]

[Comment] Wolfowitz at the bank - A new transatlantic agenda for development?

01.04.2005 - 21:08 CET | By Peter Sain ley Berry

EUOBSERVER / COMMENT - In a curious way the appointment, now confirmed, of Dr Paul Wolfowitz to the Presidency of the World Bank sets the seal on a transatlantic partnership between Europe and America that has been newly revived following President Bush's re-election for a second White House term.

European acceptance of the American nomination indicates a restored level of trust and an acknowledgement that, while we may differ in our approach to world problems, we cannot make much progress unless we march in step.

Our public falling out, prompted largely by the Iraq war, did neither side any good. Nor did American remarks that seemed designed - on the eve of enlargement - to split Europe into 'old' and 'new.' These had added curiosity value given the US traditional stance, like some worried offspring, of always wanting to see Europe more united, not less. Europe's own actions, meanwhile, had not always been best calculated to heal the rift. Now both sides are rowing back. Indeed, if the purpose of President Bush's recent embassy to Europe was not to pay demi-penance for the turbulence of the Iraq war, then certainly it was to engage in some serious bridge-building.

Two-way bridge-building

Nor was this bridge-building one way. Back in January, for instance, Louis Michel, the Belgian Commissioner, who has charge of the International Development portfolio in Mr Barroso's Commission, delivered a talk in Washington in which he highlighted the challenges facing the world and the response that the Commission believed should be forthcoming from Europe and the USA during George Bush's second term. He called it 'A New Transatlantic Agenda for Development.'

It was a thoughtful and moving speech that discussed the linkages between poverty and security, trade and health. Michel argued that the real threats to the transnational partnership - poverty, oppression, disease, terrorism - were better fought if Europe and America could present a united front. At its heart was the conclusion - partly based on a report by the eminent UN adviser Professor Jeffrey Sachs - that the world had made insufficient progress since the Millennium Summit in 2000 when world leaders set themselves certain key targets to be achieved by 2015, including the halving of the numbers living in absolute poverty.

Just how patchy progress has been - generally Asia has fared better than Africa - and whether the rich world holds to the pledges made five years ago - we shall discover in September, when the United Nations will host another World Summit in New York that will place both America and Europe on their mettle. The European Union is mindful of the challenges. At last week's European Council member states committed themselves to playing 'a major role within the UN and in preparations for the Summit in particular.' It was typical of Europe's desire to seek multilateral solutions.

Provocation?

So why then should President Bush seek to provoke Europe by nominating Dr Paul Wolfowitz, one of the chief architects of the unilateralist Iraq war, and closely identified with the strategies of the first Bush term, to the World Bank - the most important poverty fighting multilateral institution? Particularly when his experience of development and poverty issues is at best limited? And why did the Europeans accept him, when it was in their power to block the appointment?

Plenty criticised Mr Wolfowitz's abilities. "We have one nomination of a person with no experience in development and absolutely no clarity of what it means," thundered the same Jeffrey Sachs whose report on poverty Michel had used to illustrate his case. Sach's remarks on 22 March came just six days after Wolfowitz's nomination, according to Global Development Briefing. Others felt that Bush's former Deputy Secretary of Defence would turn the Bank into another foreign policy instrument acting, Mugabe-fashion, to steer largesse in the direction of America's supporters.

That was certainly how many characterised the appointment. Others, on the other hand, argued that Wolfowitz was a public servant who had demonstrated remarkable competence in a variety of jobs. Moreover, his status as one of Bush's most trusted and capable lieutenants suggested that the Administration was now beginning to attach a new importance to poverty issues, particularly in the run-up to the World Summit in September. After the European Governors of the World Bank (mostly Finance or Development Ministers) had listened carefully to Dr Wolfowitz's case, they were prepared to give him the benefit of any doubt. Accordingly, there was no veto.

A kind of handshake

Some have suggested a quid pro quo. Europeans are in the running for various senior multilateral posts, including the head of the $3 billion UN Development Programme and the UN Refugee Agency, where one of the candidates is Emma Bonino, a former European Commissioner. The major prize, however, is the World Trade Organisation - arguably the most influential of all the global agencies - to the head of which another former Commissioner, Pascal Lamy hopes for a call in September. But for this and for the other jobs US support is vital.

So were the Europeans just holding back on the principle of 'Buggin's Turn?' I don't think so. When Wolfowitz was asked whether he would give the Europeans greater influence by appointing more Europeans to the Board, his reply was measured but non committal. He accepts that more European money funds the Bank than anyone else's and that this buys appropriate influence, but that was as far as he wanted to go.

Far more important were the sentiments that he conveyed regarding the commitment to poverty reduction and multilateralism that his nomination entailed. The Bank had a unifying purpose, he said, and people would find him a capable leader. He would serve not America but the Bank's 184 shareholder nations. It became a kind of handshake, which Europe acknowledged and reciprocated. The two Continents continue to diverge in significant ways but perhaps, with the Wolfowitz appointment, Louis Michel's Transatlantic Agenda for Development is up and running.

The author is editor of EuropaWorld

http://euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=18773

[Christ's Free Servant]

I was wondering if anyone knows what influence Viktor Uspaskich has on all of this. I was reading about him lately and how he is the head or originator of the Labor Party, which he began a year ago and which surprised people by how quickly it gained popularity. I wonder if this Labor Party fits in with the last days somehow. Does anyone have any information of this man and this Labor Party and its influence in the EU?

[Guest horizoneast]

I was wondering if anyone knows what influence Viktor Uspaskich has on all of this. I was reading about him lately and how he is the head or originator of the Labor Party, which he began a year ago and which surprised people by how quickly it gained popularity. I wonder if this Labor Party fits in with the last days somehow. Does anyone have any information of this man and this Labor Party and its influence in the EU?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Christ's Free Servant,

You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don