Asia, hovering between peace and conflict
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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-05/01/c_13854174.htm
BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) — Hope for peace has reappeared in Asia as reconciliation messages spread from Palestine in the west to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the northeast. However, anxieties persist as a wish does not always lead to peace.
Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas on Wednesday signed a preliminary agreement on reconciliation during talks in Cairo, paving the way for forming an interim government to prepare for presidential and legislative votes.
“We have agreed to form a government composed of independent figures that would start preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections,” said Chairman of Fatah parliamentary bloc Azzam al-Ahmed, adding elections would be held within one year.
The agreement, which raises a beacon of hope for Palestine’s national reconciliation, comes at a time when fellow Arab nations of Libya, Yemen and Syria are in turmoil.
Some analysts said the reasons behind the agreement included the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who tried to bridge the Palestinian split by sponsoring reconciliation negotiations in 2009, and the situation in Syria — a strong Hamas supporter.
As changes continue in the Palestinians’ traditional supporters in the Arab world, the conflicts within the Palestinian territories will only benefit Israel, analysts said.
Nevertheless, a true “united front” still remains to be tested after Fatah-Hamas bloodshed, which claimed about 100 lives in 2007, cleaved the Palestinian territories into hostile rival camps.
Just one day after the Fatah-Hamas agreement, a similar reconciliation message came from the Korean Peninsula.
After concluding a three-day Pyongyang trip Thursday, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter went directly to Seoul to deliver a message from the DPRK: Kim Jong-il, top leader of the DPRK, is willing to negotiate any issue with all the other parties of the stalled nuclear disarmament talks without precondition, and is also “specifically” willing to hold summit talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
The message is a positive signal to the world and offers hope for the easing of tensions on the peninsula, where tension and the long-standing impasse over the DPRK’s nuclear program linger.
However, complicated global issues will not be solved by one or two visits, especially for the DPRK and South Korea, whose relations have continued to languish since last year’s Cheonan warship sinking and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.
Thus, an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula definitely requires constant efforts from the DPRK, South Korea and other concerned parties.
Turning to Southeast Asia, the journey to peace is difficult for Cambodia and Thailand. Exchanges of gunfire broke out again between troops of the two neighbors early Saturday on the disputed border despite a ceasefire agreement just two days ago.
Hovering between peace and conflicts, people realize that everyone is a loser in war and only peace is to be cherished.
Sudan peace accord signed, state media reports
An estimated 2.7 million people fled their homes because of fighting among rebels and government in Darfur.
(CNN) – Sudan on Tuesday signed a framework peace accord with rebels from the nation’s volatile Darfur region, state media reported.
The framework agreement is considered the first step towards the achievement of a lasting peace accord in Darfur.
The signing of the cease-fire agreement with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement coincided with a four-way summit in Doha, Qatar, the state-run SUNA news agency said.
Participants at the summit include the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani; Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir; the president of Chad, Idris Deby; and Eritrean President Assais Afwerki, SUNA reported.
The participants are expected to discuss means of achieving peace in the region, welcoming the steps for realizing peace in Darfur, progress of the relations between Qatar, Sudan, Chad and Eritrea and other issues of mutual concern, SUNA said.
China playing pivotal role to ensure peace, stability in South Asia
January 19, 2010 Filed under Commerce & consulates
By Chu Meng
China is playing a pivotal role to ensure peace and stability in South Asia, Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif saidin Beijing late Wednesday.
Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Photo by Zhang Yin
Sharif said China was Pakistan’s “most reliable friend” and that the countries’ “all-weather” friendship was “time-tested” and will remain strong.
“Pakistan and China are enjoying excellent fiendly relations in manifold arenas, which are growing with the passage of time. The two countries have an identical vision on most issues of global and regional significance,” said Sharif, who heads the opposition party Pkistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
He said he appreciated the strong support of China’s leaders and citizens and their generous assistance to Pakistan over the years. China’s substantial contributions to the kistani economy have won the gratitude of the people, Sharif said. He said he is confident Sino-Pakistan ties would continue to prosper, and that he would contribute to the effort whenever the opportunity arose.
Some 10,000 Chinese workers are involved in 120 projects in Pakistan, including infrastructure construction, power generation, mining and telecommunications development, the Council on Foreign Relations said. Chinese investments in the country amounted to $4 billion (27 billion yuan) in 2007 and is expected to rise to $15 billion this year, the Washington-based think tank said.
Sharif was received by Vice President Xi Jinping when he arrived with his delegation Monday. On Wednesday, he visited top local businesses. Deputy Minister of the Communist Party of China’s International Department, Liu Jieyi, hosted a luncheon meeting for Sharif where they discussed biateral cooperation and the region’s security.
Sharif will be meeting with government leaders and economists during his one-week stay.
