Kyrgyz Officials, OSCE Hold ‘Police Days’

KARAKOL, Kyrgyzstan—Making sure residents become better acquainted with the police officers working in their neighborhoods was the aim of recent “Police Days” in this northern Kyrgyz town, the capital of Bishkek and the southern city of Osh.  The Institute on Religion and Public Policy (IRRP) News Service says the events were organized with the Office of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Center in Dushanbe, the capital of neighboring Tajikistan, as part of a police assistance program.  During Police Day, residents participated in various competitions, rode police horses, examined police cars and motorcycles and attended a police dog show.  The head of the OSCE Center in this Central Asian country, Ambassador Markus Muller, says his organization wants to improve policing in Kyrgyzstan.  “The OSCE police assistance program was designed to develop a police force that works with the public and for the public to prevent and solve crimes,” he said, adding, that “this is one of the Center’s major projects and a pioneer project in Central Asia.”  Kyrgyz Interior Minister Murat Sutalinov said, “The main goal of the reform is to change the mentality of the Kyrgyz militia.  We would like the public to understand that the ministry is not a punitive body, but an organization that helps protect human rights and freedoms.”  

EU: Vietnam Fulfilled WTO Entry Requirements

BRUSSELS—At a recent meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Trade Truong Dinh Tuyen, the European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said Vietnam and the EU has reached an agreement on “all remaining World Trade Organization (WTO) multilateral issues of interest” to both parties.  Mr. Mandelson also said the EU sees “no further bilateral obstacles” to Vietnam joining the WTO.   He also said, “Vietnam has made remarkable progress towards WTO accession during the past year.  The hard work and persistence have paid off.  The DU has always been a staunch supporter of Vietnam’s accession to the W\TO, and I am delighted to pass this final milestone.  I look forward to our future meetings as equals partners in Geneva.”  During their meeting, Commissioner Mandelson and Minister Tuyen also discussed plans to strengthen their partnership with other Southeast Asian countries, focusing on intensifying cooperation on a range of economic issues and looking forward to the launching of a Free Trade Agreement. 

Asia Foundation Announces New Afghanistan Programs

KABUL—Since opening its office here in 2002, the Asia Foundation has embarked on a long-term approach to its programs in Afghanistan.  The organization says it is “building on programs in governance and higher education” through three new activities with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and AusAID (the Australian Agency for International Development).  These includes a $10.6 million UNDP grant to strengthen key government institutions in the Office of the President; a $7.9 million USAID grant for programs in public knowledge of political processes, capacity-building in electoral management and observation, survey research and investigative reporting and strengthening the executive branch of the government; and a $200,000 AusAID grant for the second phase of a program to build electoral management capacity.  USAID previously made a grant for strengthening the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

Taiwan President Visits Guam, Pacific Nations

TAIPEI—Republic of China (Taiwan) President Chen Shui-bian recently attended a summit of his country’s Pacific allies, news reports said.  Mr. Chen flew from Taiwan to Palau on the presidential jet for the first meeting between the Republic of China and its six diplomatic allies in the South Pacific, a spokesman said.  He stayed in Palau six days before going to Nauru, where he addressed that nation’s parliament.  On his return to Taipei, the Taiwanese president stopped in the U.S. pacific territory of Guam, known as “America’s Gateway to the West Pacific and Asia.”

U.S. Praises Cambodian Role in War on Terror

PHNOM-PENH—The American envoy to Cambodia has “praised” the Southeast Asian country for its “swift actions” against suspected terrorists since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S.  Those arrested include a Cambodian and two Thai Muslims sentenced to life in prison, according to a news report.  Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said, “Over the past five years, Cambodia has made great strides in securing its borders and rooting out terrorists that seek to use this country as a base of operations.  We are honored to count Cambodia as a steadfast ally in this struggle.”

Japan to Make Engineering, Fertilizer Loans to Iraq

TOKYO—Japan has announced its intention to provide yen loans up to a total of 20,199 million yen (approximately $170 million) to Iraq for implementing engineering services for the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project, and the Khor Al-Zubair Fertilizer Plant rehabilitation project. 

U.S. Thanks Philippines for Katrina Aid,

Provides its own for Typhoon Victims

MANILA—The U.S. thanked the Philippines for the Southeast Asian nation’s assistance to those affected by Hurricane Katrina at the same time the American ambassador here announced the donation of $100,000 in relief supplies for victims of a typhoon that hit parts of the country in September.  During a visit to a relief warehouse run by the Philippine National Red Cross, Ambassador Kristie Kenney said, “None of us can predict or prevent natural disasters, but we can stand together in humanitarian relief.  The Philippine people stood by the American people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and we wanted very much to do the same here as we saw so many of our friends and neighbors suffering from the impact of this typhoon.”  Washington Times “Embassy Row” columnist James Morrison said Mrs. Kenney and the chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, Richard J. Gordon, inspected relief supplies donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  These included blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, water containers, hygiene kits and other items.  

President Bush to Visit Vietnam in November

HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)—President George W. Bush will visit this former South Vietnamese capital during his trip to the country, now called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, November 18 and 19, the White House announced.  Mr. Bush is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APLEC) leaders’ forum in the capital of Hanoi.  In June 2005, former Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the White House, making him the highest-ranking official from Vietnam to visit the U.S. since the end of the Vietnam War in l975.

NBR Essay Looks at China’s Resources Pursuit, ‘Grand Strategy’

SEATTLE—The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) has published an essay exploring what it calls China’s “intensifying pursuit” of natural resources and the “implications for Beijing’s post-cold War grand strategy.”  Written by Aaron Friedberg and entitled “Going Out,” it says this strategy has four main “axioms”; 1) avoid conflict, especially with the U.S.; 2) build comprehensive national power, 3) advance incrementally in order to consolidate a position of strength and 4) maintain stability, defend sovereignty, achieve pre-eminence and pursue parity.  The report also says that “resource security concerns” could provide a catalyst for deepening U.S.-China cooperation, and that this, in turn “might” help hasten the communist country’s domestic political liberalization. 

U.S. Makes 2^nd Anti-Trafficking Grant for Cambodia

PHNOM PENH—The U.S. and Cambodian governments have announced the second phase of a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) anti-trafficking in persons project to be implemented by the Asia Foundation.  The foundation says that since 2003, Washington has provided approximately $5 million to support counter-trafficking programs in Cambodia.  The new phase will provide an additional $4.5 million over the next three years and promote greater coordination with the Cambodian government and other entities to build an “innovative and collective” approach to prevent human trafficking protect victims, help prosecute traffickers and facilitate the reintegration of trafficking survivors.

Singapore Finance Chief Nixes Idea of an “Asian Euro’

SINGAPORE—Should there be an “Asian Euro”?  Singapore’s Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance doesn’t think so.  Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has weighed the prospects for Asian monetary integration and concludes that continuing evolution toward “managed floats with inflation targeting”, rather than something like the European Monetary Union, is better for the region.  Mr. Shanmugaratnam was also unconvinced by arguments for a “basket” against which nations would manage their currencies or for a parallel composite currency that could promote a regional capital market.