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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Monday, September 28, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. US-DPRK Terrorism Talks
US State Department Spokesman James Rubin ("STATE DEPARTMENT NOON
BRIEFING, SEPTEMBER 25," USIA Transcript, 09/25/98) announced that the US
and the DPRK will hold talks on terrorism on September 29 in Washington.
Rubin stated, "The terrorism is the agenda -- how to stop North Korean
support for terrorism."
2. ROK Food Aid for DPRK
The Associated Press ("S.KOREA SENDS MILK COWS TO NORTH," Seoul,
09/27/98) reported that officials at the ROK Ministry of Marine Affairs
and Fisheries said Sunday that the ROK civic group Iwutsaranghoi
(Neighborly Love Association) shipped 104 milk cows to the DPRK. The
officials said that a 3,000-ton freighter was due to arrive in Nampo port
on Monday. The group plans to send 96 more milk cows and 23 tons of
stock feed next month.
3. US Subcritical Nuclear Test
The Associated Press ("JAPAN CONDEMNS U.S. TEST," Tokyo, 09/27/98)
reported that Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito and Hiroshima Mayor Takashi
Hiraoka on Sunday condemned a US subcritical nuclear test held Saturday
at its Nevada Test Site. Ito said that the test "trampled on the request
by Nagasaki citizens and the people of the world" not to carry it out.
He added, "At a time when hopes are rising for the development of nuclear
disarmament, it is necessary to criticize the United States at the
international level." Hiraoka said that the test "will inevitably cause
a build-up in the nuclear weapons race." He added, "The failure to
faithfully accomplish nuclear disarmament as dictated by the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty led to nuclear tests by India and Pakistan."
4. PRC-Taiwan Relations
The Associated Press (Sau Chan, "CHINA OFFERS TAIWAN MORE AUTONOMY," New
York, 09/25/98) reported that PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, in a
speech at a luncheon sponsored by the Asia Society and the National
Committee on U.S.-China Relations on Friday, said that the PRC will offer
Taiwan more autonomy than Hong Kong or Macao if it reunifies with the
mainland. He added, "At present, we are vigorously pushing for political
talks between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits. We have proposed
to start discussing procedural arrangements for the political talks, the
promotion of personnel and economic exchanges." He also urged the US to
back its efforts for reunification, saying the move would not affect the
existing economic, trade and cultural relations and personnel exchanges
between the US and Taiwan. He added that US policy towards Taiwan "has
direct bearing on whether China-U.S. relations will grow healthily and
steadily." James Reardon-Anderson, professor of Chinese studies at
Georgetown University, called Tang's statement "quite a significant" one.
He stated, "This might be a signal from somebody trying to say that they
ought to be more flexible."
Dow Jones Newswires (Y.H. Sun, "TAIWAN COS PIN HIGH HOPES ON NEGOTIATOR'S
CHINA TRIP," Taipei, 09/28/98) reported that Taiwan's Economic Affairs
Minister Wang Chih-kang said Monday that the government will consider
changing its policy toward investment in the PRC if hostility between the
two sides eases. A meeting between top Taiwanese economic officials and
business leaders is scheduled for September 30 to discuss investment in
the PRC. Taiwanese businesses are hopeful that the upcoming trip by Koo
Chen-fu, chairman of the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, will
lead to a liberalization of cross-Straits trade regulations. However,
Kao Charng, a research fellow at the government-supported Chang-hua
Institution for Economic Research, stated, "There won't be any immediate
change in Taiwan's mainland economic policy." He said that any major
policy changes would have to wait until Koo and his PRC counterpart, Wang
Daohan, hold formal talks and reach specific agreements. Kao added,
"Whether (the policy) will be eased depends on Beijing's good will to
Taipei." He said that good will means recognizing Taiwan as a political
entity and halting its campaign to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.
5. US South Asian Sanctions
US State Department Spokesman James Rubin ("STATE DEPARTMENT NOON
BRIEFING, SEPTEMBER 25," USIA Transcript, 09/25/98) said that the US has
made clear to Pakistan that substantial progress across the board on "the
matters of concern to us" is necessary for the lifting of sanctions. He
added, "those are laid out in the Declaration of the Five and the UN
Security Council Resolution 1172, which call upon Pakistan and India to
adhere to global nuclear non-proliferation norms and to settle their
differences through dialogue." Specifically, Rubin stated, such progress
should include "the actual signature and ratification of this CTBT
[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty] as a goal; a restraint regime covering
the nuclear weapons and their means of delivery; an export control
system; a moratorium on the production of fissile material; pending
negotiation of the treaty and direct talks between India and Pakistan....
That is what we would regard as sufficient to consider suspension of
sanctions provided we receive that kind of flexibility and authority from
Congress which we now do not have." He said that US President Bill
Clinton's planned trip to South Asia is still under review.
1. Verification Researcher Position Available
RESEARCHER/SENIOR RESEARCHER, VERIFICATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Verification Technology Information Centre (VERTIC) invites applications
for a researcher/senior researcher to conduct policy-relevant research
into the scientific and technological aspects of the verification and
monitoring of international arms control, disarmament and peace
agreements. Applicants should have a higher degree in science or
technology, or equivalent experience, with a demonstrated interest in
scientific and technological developments outside one's own area of
expertise and their implications for international politics, including
verification. Proficiency in English and the ability to write for a
generalist audience are essential.
Salary range for a researcher is £15,000 to £21,000; for a senior
researcher £21,000 to £30,000. Closing date: 30 October 1998. For job
descriptions, selection criteria and application information see
VERTICO's website at http://www.fhit.org/vertic or contact: The
Administrator, Verification Technology Information Centre, Carrara House,
20 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6NN, Tel: +44 (0)171 925 0867; fax: +44
(0)171 925 0861 e-mail: info@vertic.org. VERTIC is an equal opportunity
employer.
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