JAPAN

JAPAN

Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo, Dec. 5: Iran, which is suspected of developing nuclear weapons, announced plans to build 10 additional uranium enrichment facilities. Construction will start at five of the facilities within the next two months. Such behavior only amplifies the distrust of international society.

Iran’s moves are inconsistent to say the least. In early October, it took part in negotiations with the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany. At the meeting, Tehran basically agreed to plans to transfer low-enrichment uranium in its possession to other countries and have it returned after it is processed into nuclear fuel. However, Iran later took a tougher line.

Change in attitude

At one point, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad showed a willingness to compromise, apparently because of the change in attitude of Russia, which had been pro-Iran.

But when the construction of the second facility came to light, even Moscow changed its stance and leaned toward not opposing additional sanctions against Iran.

Iranian companies have been hard hit by the U.N. sanctions, which are also weighing down on the everyday lives of Iranian people. Iran must change its hostile attitude, which only isolates the country, and return to the path of diplomatic settlement.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Khaleej Times, Dubai, Dec. 8: At last, a clear admission of ignorance on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden has come through from Washington: that, too, from U.S. Secretary Defense Robert Gates.

He brings vital experience to the U.S. administration from the time, post 9/11, when bin Laden became the chief target of U.S. war on terrorism. Secretary Gates has said that failure to ascertain the location of the value target has been the reason no action has been taken so far. It is both ironic and contradictory. It is ironic because to date key U.S. officials and the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have been claiming Osama’s presence in Pakistan’s restive border with Afghanistan. At least, such claims will now be set aside till telling intelligence points otherwise.

Actual facts

The contradiction arises from the fact that the recent U.S. troop surge for Afghanistan is primarily to hunt down Al Qaeda. If Secretary Gates has finally decided to come clean — to a degree — on the actual facts, it runs counter to President Obama’s war mandate. Even if Osama bin Laden is not the only target, his capture or killing remains the top goal of the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan.

This admission could actually serve U.S. interest if used to probe a larger dilemma that Washington refuses to acknowledge. What does Al Qaeda claim to stand against?

BRITAIN

London Evening Standard, Dec. 8: The Copenhagen summit on climate change is only just under way but already it is threatened by a damaging rift between the developed and developing nations.

A leaked document, drawn up by the Danish hosts together with the Americans and others, appears to sideline the role of the UN in future negotiations.

Low-carbon technologies

It would, moreover, make any payments to poorer nations for adapting to climate change contingent on them moving to low-carbon technologies.

Although the Danish text is only a draft, it would be depressing if this were the outcome for which richer nations are aiming.

The UN is a body where all member states feel represented; shifting the focus for negotiations elsewhere would marginalize poor countries.

Moreover, the draft suggests that rich countries would be free to produce twice as many carbon emissions as poor ones — giving the impression we wish to carry on as usual, while poorer countries suffer the brunt of climate change. As a basis for negotiation, this really will not do.