FEDERAL VOTING .COM

Havana, Nov 1 (EFE) Cuban leader Fidel Castro has said that tourists from countries like Canada and Spain brought the AH1N1 flu virus to his country, and that US President Barack Obama influenced it by easing restrictions on Cuban-Americans’ visits to the island.

In a new article released by the Cuban news media Saturday, Castro recalls that “the initial symptoms of AH1N1 arose in Mexico in the first quarter of this year, and almost simultaneously spread to the US and Canada,” and from there “it reached Spain”.

“When the current US president raised restrictions on Cuban-Americans traveling to Cuba, the epidemic had already reached a great number of states in that nation. Thus it happened that the four countries generating the most tourism and travel for other reasons to our country were those that, to a high degree, were suffering from the epidemic,” he said.

In April, US President Barack Obama eliminated limits on Cuban-Americans’ travel and remittances to the island, and gave the green light to the possibility that telecommunications firms could offer cell phone services in Cuba.

According to Castro, “the first carriers of the virus (in Cuba) were travellers,” initially the number of people infected on the island “were relatively few”, and for months there were no deaths.

“But to the degree that the virus spread to all provinces, chiefly those with the greatest number of family members living in the United States, it became necessary to acquire new analysis equipment,” the article said.

“So we have the strange case that the US on the one hand authorized travel for a greater number of carriers of the virus, and on the other, bans the acquisition of equipment and medicines to combat the epidemic,” Castro said.

The Cuban ex-president further said that he does think “that this was the intention of the United States government, but it is the real result of the absurd and shameful blockade imposed on our people.”

Washington, Nov 1 (DPA) Six Chinese Uighurs who had been held at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp were released to the Pacific island nation of Palau, the US Justice Department said.

The Chinese Muslims have been held at Guantanamo for years even though the Pentagon has declared they are not enemy combatants and are eligible for release.

The Obama administration has been seeking out third countries who can resettle the detainees as it tries to close the controversial prison on the remote US naval base in Cuba by the end of January.

“As we near the completion of our review of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, we will continue to work closely with the Department of State to implement transfer decisions, and we are grateful to the Republic of Palau for its assistance in the resettlement of these individuals,” Matthew Olsen, executive director of the Guantanamo review task force, said in a statement Saturday.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals by the Uighurs still held at the remote military base in Cuba.

A federal judge in October 2008 ordered the government to release the Uighurs into the United States if other countries cannot be found, but that decision was later overturned by a higher court.

The United States transferred four of the detainees to Bermuda in June. Washington refuses to send the Uighurs back to China over concerns they will be abused.

More than 550 detainees have been transferred from Guantanamo to other countries.

Jerusalem, Nov 1 (DPA) US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Saturday called Israeli concessions on construction of settlements in the West Bank “unprecedented”.

The remarks came after the top US diplomat held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Clinton also insisted that a total freeze on settlement was not a precondition for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

“There has never been a precondition,” she said, in a shift from earlier US demands for a settlement freeze. She added that the settlement freeze “has always been an issue within the negotiations.”

Israel has offered to halt construction in the settlements except for the completion of 3,000 housing units already being built. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject a complete freeze on the settlements. Like previous Israeli governments, he has also rejected to negotiations on the situation in east Jerusalem.

Netanyahu and Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Clinton in different meetings Saturday night that Israel is willing to enter into peace talks with no preconditions, but that Palestinians are not.

Clinton said she was eager “to see both sides as soon as possiblebegin in negotiations” although Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected an Israeli offer Saturday in a meeting in Abu Dhabi. She proposed that Abbas resume negotiations with Israel pending a deal reached between the US and Israel over the issue of Jewish

settlements in the West Bank.

Abbas rejected talks with Israel unless there was a complete freeze of construction within Jewish settlements in the West Bank including Jerusalem, he said in a meeting with Clinton in Abu Dhabi earlier Saturday.

“Halting settlement activities, including what Israel terms as the natural growth within settlements is essential to restarting any peace negotiations,” Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement released after the meeting.

“It’s essential that all the sides make an effort to start negotiations; this is a unique opportunity,” Barak said adding that “a death end in the diplomatic process will only serve Hamas and the other extremist elements in the region.”

Clinton arrived in Jerusalem Saturday night in her first visit since Netanyahu took office in March. The trip comes as the sides have failed to find a compromise that would enable a revival of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, broken off in late 2008 as Israel headed into new elections.

President Barack Obama announced at a three-way summit in New York last month that his administration would hold intense contacts with both parties with the goal of reviving the talks still this autumn.

Washington, Oct 31 (IANS) India and the US are making concerted efforts to make Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s upcoming state visit to America, the first such visit under the Obama administration, a success with top officials making preparatory visits.

Among the visitors from India last week was the National Security Adviser M K Narayanan who met with key US officials focussing on the emerging strategic relationship between the two nations since the signing of US-India civil nuclear deal.

In his interaction with his US counterpart General James Jones, Narayanan “a wide range of issues were touched upon that reflects the strategic partnership between the United States and India,” according to the National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer.

“The focus of the meeting certainly was trying to make excellent preparations for a successful State visit” by Manmohan Singh, who is set to meet President Barack Obama at the White House Nov 24 as the President’s first guest at a state dinner.

Jones met with his Indian counterpart “as part of the ongoing relationship that they have developed” dating back to their meetings in London and Delhi earlier this year,” he said. The two had “a broad discussion” on a number of subjects of mutual interest and concern.

The low-profile visit of Narayanan occurred just before the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left for Pakistan along with Special US Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke.

Human Resource Development Minsiter Kapil Sibal has just concluded a visit with a delegation of top Indian university representatives to drum up US interest in investing in Indian higher education.

A new US-India Education Council on the lines of the US-India Business Council is on the anvil. A new forum of India and US CEOs is also expected to be formed and to meet with Obama and Manmohan Singh during the visit.

Meanwhile, more than 30 US government visitors of deputy assistant secretary rank or higher have been or will be in India to lay the ground for the Prime Minister’s visit.

Earlier this week, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, on a Delhi visit, noted that the US is currently India’s second-largest export destination but is America’s 18th largest trading partner and a lot can be done to close that gap.

New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Backing a place for India in the UN Security Council, former US president George W. Bush Saturday said he was “incredibly optimistic” about the future of bilateral ties and stressed that the two countries would together fight “an ideological battle against extremism”.

Almost a year after he left the White House after helping transform the world’s once estranged democracies into engaged partners, Bush turned on his charm offensive and said his admiration for India, “a modern and vibrant nation”, had only grown stronger.

“Life has changed, but some things haven’t changed like my respect for India,” Bush said at the Hindustan Times leadership summit.

In a speech punctuated by witticisms that drew laughter from the audience, Bush underlined that common interests and values of democracy and freedom bind the two nations and said he had come to India as “a pilgrim and an admirer”. “America feels special kinship with the people of largest democracy.”

On his first major visit abroad since his retirement, Bush confessed his admiration for India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with whom he struck a landmark nuclear deal that was to liberate the two countries from a past marked by mutual suspicion.

“I really, really like your prime minister. He is a wise leader and really good man and I am proud to call him a friend,” Bush said. Describing Bush “a great friend of India”, Manmohan Singh had Friday hosted a lunch at his residence for him and thanked him for bringing the nuclear deal to fruition.

“(By signing the deal) the US recognised India’s nuclear weapon’s programme. It is India’s passport to the world,” Bush said, while describing the accord as “historic”.

Bush, who was here on a two-day visit, left soon after his interaction at the summit.

Underlining his confidence about the course of the relationship under the Barack Obama presidency, Bush said the US and India should have one of the best relationships in the world.

Looking relaxed, Bush, who was at his humorous best, said the global recession occurred when “the Wall Street got drunk and we got the hangover”. He added that India was leading the world out of recession.

He backed India’s claim for a seat in the UN Security Council, but indicated that it’s going to be a “complicated process” due to global politics.

“We must see the possibility of a seat for India in the United Nations Security Council. India has arrived as a strong democratic country in the world. It is a tolerant, peaceful and multi-religious democracy.”

He, however, added that before India’s case is considered, fundamental questions about the nature of change and the future composition of the council need to be addressed.

After helming the US for eight long years, Bush defended the war on Iraq and Afghanistan that created much hostility against the US in the Muslim world, saying it was “an ideological struggle” between extremism and terrorism on the one hand and freedom and democracy on the other.

India and the US need to work together to win the battle against extremists in Afghanistan and elsewhere, Bush said, adding that it was an ideological struggle against people who murder the innocents.

He said 9/11 in US and 26/11 in India were both moments of “clarity”, impelling the two nations tackle such acts of terror. “The extremists hate our vision of human rights, prosperity and peace,” he added. “Both our nations are engaged in an ideological struggle.”

The two countries sought “to advance our values of liberty, tolerance and hope”.

Recalling how one-time enemy Japan became an ally of the US, Bush said he was confident that the Middle East would also go the same way one day.

Responding to a question about his unpopularity in the Muslim world, Bush said he would appeal to Muslims not to let “the propagandists hijack their religion to murder innocent people”.

Islamabad, Oct 31 (IANS) An editorial in a leading English daily Saturday maintained that much of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s harsh words on Pakistan’s lack of seriousness in tackling the Al Qaida were true and that Islamabad should be honest enough to accept this.

Another editorial in the same vein said the “circumstantial evidence” of Al Qaida’s presence in Pakistan was “unending”.

“If we are honest, we cannot deny that much of what she said was true,” The News said in an editorial headlined “Clinton’s call”.

Clinton, who concluded a three-day visit to this country, Friday questioned Pakistan’s seriousness in taking on Al Qaida, saying she found it “hard to believe” Islamabad didn’t know where its leaders were.

“Al Qaida has had a safe haven in Pakistan since 2002,” Clinton told newspaper editors in Lahore Thursday, adding: “I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn’t get them if they really wanted to.”

“Maybe that’s the case; maybe they’re not gettable. I don’t know…As far as we know, they are in Pakistan,” Clinton, the senior most official of the Obama administration to visit Pakistan, maintained, questioning this country’s leadership on its repeated assertions that Al Qaida leaders are not in Pakistan.

“But for all her pleasant smiles, Clinton did not shy away from making some things quite clear,” The News noted.

Having said that, the rest of the editorial focused on Clinton’s remarks on Pakistan-US ties, saying: “For reasons buried in ideology, many of us, whether we draw influence from the right or the left of the political spectrum, have difficulty in suggesting that an alliance with the US could benefit Pakistan.”

At the same time, it held that it would be “naïve” to assume that Washington wishes to “help” Pakistan as an ally.

“International relations are after all geared around self-interest and self-preservation. There is nothing noble about Washington’s focus on Islamabad. But it is possible that at this particular moment in history the interests of both nations coincide. This is something we should use to our advantage,” The News contended.

“Circumstantial evidence is unending” of Al Qaida’s presence in Pakistan, Daily Times said in its editorial, adding: “Drone attacks regularly kill foreigners who can only be interpreted as Al Qaeda adjuncts.”

Pointing to Pakistan’s “tendency” to divide the terrorists into three categories: the Afghan Taliban who are good, the Pakistani Taliban who are bad and the “foreigners” sheltered by some Pakistani Taliban who are bad too, the editorial said: “These categories are patently false as is often proved by printed notices issued by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) naming Osama bin Laden and Mullah Umar as its patrons.

“There is a possibility that there is also an insufficiency of intent to take on Al Qaida and finish it off,” Daily Times contended.

The editorial was headlined “Is Al Qaida in Pakistan?”

Washington, Oct. 31 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Sngh’s Washington visit in November, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan met with his US counterpart General James Jones here to discuss a wide range of issues, including security cooperation to deepen the strategic partnership.

According to an official US statement, among the topics for discussion were the US government’s strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Both countries also shared commitment to combat terrorism, and the post-election situation in Iran.

Narayanan and General Jones also talked about energy and developing closer economic and trade links as well as defence ties.

General Jones outlined President Barack Obama’s desire to move quickly in the months ahead to make tangible progress on a range of issues that affect future ties.

Narayanan is also understood to have met other officials of the Obama administration handling intelligence and national security matters, besides terrorism.

Spokesman of the National Security Council Mike Hammer said, the focus of the meeting of National Security Advisors was certainly to make excellent preparations for a successful State visit by the Indian leader.

Singh is scheduled to meet Obama in the White House on November 24, the first state visit of the new US administration. (ANI)

Islamabad, Oct.31 (ANI): The United States may have to shell out more money for the land it had acquired for the expansion of its Islamabad embassy, as the Pakistan Foreign Office has suggested increasing the rate of the piece of the land provided to the US.

According to sources, the Foreign Office has submitted a report to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani suggesting that the rate of the land offered to the US for the expansion of the Islamabad embassy should be increased to 80,000 rupees per square yard from the existing 15,000 rupees per square yard.

The report said the US embassy should pay the difference failing which the size of the plot should be reduced to the originally earmarked 18.5 acres.

It said that while all other foreign missions had been asked to pay 80,000 rupees per square yard, it was only the US to which the land was being allotted at an older rate.

When enquired about the issue, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said the American officials have not yet been given an authority letter of the plot.

“The US authorities have so far not been given offer letter and only the Foreign Office had been informed that the CDA will charge at the rate of 15,000 rupees per square yard for additional land,” The Dawn quoted the official, as saying.

It is worth mentioning here that the Obama Administration is about to spend 405 million dollars for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the main embassy building and 111 million dollars for constructing a new complex for 330 personnel. A further 197 million dollars would be spent for construction of a housing unit for about 250 personnel.

18 acres of land has already been acquired by the US for the project for a meager one billion rupees, and a Turkish firm has already built a 153-room compound for the embassy, sources said.

The US is also planning to send about 1000 additional staff to Pakistan, where 750 US officials are already stationed against a sanctioned strength of only 350 personnel, fanning speculations regarding its intentions. (ANI)

Islamabad, Oct.31 (ANI): US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, has said that Washington had committed a mistake by supporting successive military regimes in the country in the past, and also assured that such a step would not be repeated in future again.

Clinton, who held an interactive meeting with several Parliamentarians at the Parliament House here, told them that the US had committed a mistake in the past by supporting successive military rulers, but added that it would not be repeated again.

“The US secretary of state in her meeting with parliamentarians acknowledged that the United States had made a mistake in the past to lend its support to successive dictators and assured that in future no relation would be established with individuals but with the state and people of Pakistan,” The News quoted Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, as saying.

During the three-hour long meeting, Pakistani Parliamentarians raised several issues including that of drone attacks in the tribal areas and the presence of private US security firm, Blackwater, inside the country’s territory.

Insiders said, while replying to apprehensions regarding the presence of private security guards, Clinton stressed that those hired by the US for safe guarding its installations would certainly abide by the law of the land.

Dr.Mirza said Clinton also pointed out that the Obama administration, after evaluating past policies, has now decided to interact with the people of Pakistan and parliamentarians for which a mechanism was being devised. (ANI)

Islamabad, Oct.31 (ANI): Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, through her blunt and tough talks, urged Pakistan during her recent visit to realise the ‘existential threat’ posed by the extremists and work towards normalising situation with India, which would then help the country counter the numerous problems facing it.

While analysts and experts are busy analysing Clinton’s unprecedented statements, which surely has upset a faction of the Pakistani political circle, an editorial in one of the leading English dailies of the country seconded the top US Diplomat’s view.

An editorial in The News said it was obvious that having a less hostile relationship with India would benefit the people on both sides of the border and help allay the otherwise heightened tension.

“Overcoming the militant threat and entering in to a less acrimonious relationship with India would benefit most citizens. There are segments that would stand to lose, but ways must be found to prevent them from subverting the interests of the majority. They have done so repeatedly through the decades since 1947,” the editorial said.

It highlighted that the Obama Administration has also realised the fact that a cordial relationship between India and Pakistan is the ultimate solution to some of the problems in the region.

“The Bush administration’s virtually blind backing for former president Musharraf created a number of the problems we face today. Our political leaders must assess the way we can most effectively counter these,” it said.

“If we are honest, we cannot deny that much of what she (Clinton) said was true. For reasons buried in ideology, many of us, whether we draw influence from the right or the left of the political spectrum, have difficulty in suggesting that an alliance with the US could benefit Pakistan,” the editorial went on to add.

The editorial concluded that Islamabad must utilise the opportunity, arising after Clinton’s visit, to lay out a more open relationship both with the US and India in order to pull the state of the vicious circle that it has entered into.

“The opportunities for a more open relation laid out by the secretary of state need to be seized and utilized to pull our country out of the pit into which it has stumbled as a result of errors made in the past,” it said. (ANI)