INDIA AND JAPAN AS GLOBAL PARTNERS IN TECHNOLOGY & DEFENSE  Reuters 8/24/00

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Winter 2000 – NEW DELHI-
India and Japan have put aside differences caused by New Delhi’s nuclear testing two years ago to form a wide-ranging partnership. The basis is a new dialog on security, economic, regional, and international issues as a part of a broad range of contracts fostered by technology. Japa­nese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was quoted as saying; “Japan and India have become global partners from today.” 

The two Asian nations intend to develop close links in information technology and have a shared interest in joining an expanded United Nations Security Council as permanent mem­bers. “There was a clear meeting of the minds,” said Japanese Foreign ministry spokesman Ryu Yamazaki. After the nuclear tests made by India in 1998, Japan cut developmental aid to both India and Pakistan. Since this new agreement, Japan has resumed giving India foreign aid and India has reiterated its moratorium on nuclear testing. The Indian Prime Minister was quoted as saying; “As a result of this… our bilateral relations have acquired a new dimension and new depth.”

TWO KOREAS AGREE TO SPECIAL CURRENCY FOR BUSINESS
CNN/Reuters 11/10/00 SEOUL –

Officials from both North and South Korea have agreed on Friday to use a special currency for inter-Korean business settlements. The currency would be used in addition to the U.S. dollar to settle inter-Korean transactions. “The currency will be used exclusively for North-South trade and it will work like the euro,” said Lee Keun-kyung, South Korea’s chief negotiator.

South Korean reports stated that the two Koreas have agreed in principle on four main issues; investment guaran­tees, preventing double taxation, estab­lishing a payment system, and setting up a mechanism to resolve trade disputes. North and South Korea have had two rounds of working-level discussions in an effort to secure an agreement on legal pacts to promote inter-Korean economic cooperation in Pyongyang. South Korea’s Lee was quoted as saying; “We are putting the final touches on the agreement, as we resolved our differ­ences on the four main issues today and we plan to reach a consensus on the remaining issues, through unofficial talks between chief negotiators.”

Economic cooperation between North and South Korea has expanded rapidly over the past few years as a result of President Kim Dae-jung’s engage­ment policy toward North Korea. Inter-Korean trade rose to a record high of 333 million last year from 222 million in 1998. South Korea is now North Korea’s third largest trading partner, after China and Japan. Included in the trade is 500,000 tons of food to the famine-stricken North from the first round of talks in September. North Korea turned over reports about how the food was being distributed at the second meeting, in compliance with the agreement.

CHINA & RUSSIA CRITICIZE U.S. STAND ON DEFENSE
AP/Boston Globe 7/19/2000
BEIJING – China and Russia joined ranks to condemn what they consider U.S. attempt to dominate global order. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin, in a conspicuous show of solidarity took aim at the United States, especially the proposed national missile defense system.

The East to unify? It becomes clear in Revelation that this will have to happen. It is in the process now?

While not being confrontational, they agreed to cooperate more closely on international affairs and denounced the anti-missile shield. In a statement both leaders accused the United States of using the shield “to seek unilateral military and security advantages that will pose the most grave consequences” to China Russia and the United States. Putin and Jiang want Washington to comply with the 28-year-old Antiballistic-Missile Treaty, which prohib­its the missile defense system. The leaders warned that altering the existing treaty would “trigger an arms race and lead to an about-face in the positive trend that appeared in world politics after the end of the Cold War.”

Putin and Jiang also criticized a U.S. proposal for a limited anti-missile system to protect its troops and allies in East Asia, which Beijing fears would undermine their claim to Taiwan. In documents signed by Jiang and Putin at their meeting, they accused the United States of “hegemonism” and interfer­ence in country’s internal affairs. Some feel these were thinly veiled attacks on NATO and last year’s war on Yugoslavia.

Jiang and Putin said their meeting cemented already strong ties. Putin has invited Jiang to visit Moscow next year. “Our two countries presently share a common position on the global security balance,” Putin was quoted as saying by Interfax News in Russia.