BRICS Summit

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit is being held at a time when there is great upheaval in several Islamic countries. The heads of the organization have assembled in China's Sanya City. Hints of a cease-fire between Israel and the HAMAS on the Palestine issue are being thrown.

India is striving to improve its relations with its neighbor, Pakistan, through the cricket diplomacy. India also appears to be desirous of holding talks with China on all major issues, including the border dispute. India also appears to be desirous of mutual cooperation between the countries.

Aim and Objective

The aim of the BRICS is to enhance cooperation among member countries and working together at the international forums. Clearly, it is an opportunity for India to improve and strengthen its relations with China and strive to get their disputes resolved.

The summit is being held on 14 and 15 April. Recently, while relations between India and China have largely improved, some issues have become intense. The report of the infiltration of the Chinese soldiers, for instance, in Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese activities in some areas in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the issuance of stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir by China. All these led to escalation of tension between them. Yet, the leadership of the two countries judiciously did not let their relations deteriorate. In fact, India-China relations are imperative not only for the two countries alone, but for the progress of the entire Asia and the world peace at large.

Importance of BRICS Countries

The importance of the BRICS countries is no less either. Some member countries in the organization are among the fast emerging economies in the world. At the same time, the world has come to realize that to bring an end to the unipolar world and to maintain the power balance, the importance of Russia cannot be ignored. Countries such as China and Brazil not only want to maintain close relations with the United States, but with Russia as well. At the same time, despite recent closeness between India and the United States, there is the need to reiterate and rejuvenate old friendship and traditional relations with Russia as well.

Ever since its independence, South Africa has made progress in several fields of human endeavors. Its trade relations with the BRICS and other countries deserved to be lauded. In short, the summit assumes greater importance in the world spectrum. If the member countries succeed in reaching some concrete decisions during the two-day deliberations, it would be of immense benefit to the region for US industrial development.

West Asia and Other Issues

The trade and economic relations and then development and discussions on the situation in West Asia and other countries are on the agenda of the BRICS. The inclusion of the situation in West Asia can be termed a positive indication that going by the fact that the United Nations, which has turned into a puppet in the US hands, cannot be expected to play any major role to play in the West Asia and check the intervention of the US and its allies in these countries.

The United Nations also cannot be expected to find an amicable and just solution to the Palestine issue. Under the circumstances, it devolves around the organizations like BRICS, that they evince keen interest in getting international issues resolved but also present the US and its allies to implement their game plan in West Asia and prevent them from fishing in troubled waters in the Arab world.

At the same time, the economic issues being faced by the United States have also cast their shadows on several Asian countries. If the BRICS succeeds in extending and strengthening economic and trade relations among them, it would help in emancipating Asia and the rest of the world for the impact of the economic crisis and help in accelerating industrial development. One should hope that the BRICS summit would be able to give a new identity to the organization at the international level.

Revolutionary Typhoon Reaches Libya

After the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Bahrain, Libya is in the grip of a wave of 'People's Revolution.' After 41 years Colonel Gaddafi's rule, Libyan people are desirous of removing him. But it is a matter of pity that in the antithesis of Egypt, leaders of Bahrain, Yemen, and Libya are clinging on to power and making all efforts to crush the revolution against them, in their greed for power. In this, the most aggressive and harsh attempts are being adopted by Libya's Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, where the army is firing live bullets upon unarmed protesters.

Background
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is no ordinary leader. He is famous for his irrational and erratic behavior. Whenever he goes on a foreign tour, he takes along with him a tent and stays in that only. He says he wants to be close to the roots of his tribe, and this is the reason for his erratic behavior. In 2007, when he was in Paris, a tent was put up for him in the Presidential palace. Next year, he adopted the same practice in Rome. This is the reason that he does not make many foreign tours because problems arise because of his penchant of sleeping in tents. In some countries, there were objections to this behavior. Another problem is that he is constantly surrounded by female bodyguards.

After the defeat of Arabs in the 1976 war at the hands of Israelis, there was wave of military coups in Arab countries. During this period, on 1 September 1969, Gaddafi took over reins of power in Libya. He considered himself to be the true legatee of Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser, and started issuing statements of his intention to destroy Israel and defeating the United States. But with time, his attitude began to change and the reality of the Arab predicament started dawning on him, and he started feeling helpless between Israel and the United States.

Public Determination
The people's protest in Libya has entered its sixth day. Fifty religious leaders have appealed to the army not to kill its own people so mercilessly. Only time will tell how much effect this appeal has had on the army, but the public determination seems to have grown with the army attacks. There is one trait that seems to be common between Colonel Gaddafi and former Egyptian President Honsi Mubarak that both of them have clung on to power for a long time, and both wanted to make their sons their descendents. Hosni Mubarak had a dream of seeing his son Gamal Mubarak succeeding him, and Gaddafi dreamed of handing over power to his son Saif-al Islam (The sword of Islam).

The wave of revolution has spread to Bahrain and Yemen where people want a change in administration. People of these countries are facing army bullets, which has made leaders of all other countries very afraid indeed. But these bullets have not been able to stop the people's march. The casualties in Bahrain have crossed the 100 mark. In Yemen, the agitation against President Ali Abdullah Saleh has gained speed. Like Colonel Gaddafi, Saleh is adamant to cling on to power. He says he will not leave the country, and breathe his last there, but will not surrender power. Keep in mind that the Egyptian president was also adamant not to surrender power, but he finally had to bend his knees in front of 'people's power.'

US Losing Hegemony
The country that is most worried by this wave of revolution sweeping West Asia and Libya is the United States. Although European countries are also worried by this wave, their worry is confined to supply of oil only. The United States is worried about losing its hegemony in West Asian politics.

If all revolutions brewing in this area succeed, then the area's map will change beyond all recognition. That is the reason that the United States will make all efforts to replace one stooge with another so that it can protect its protégé, Israel. The real purpose of this revolution will be achieved only when true democracy is established there, and these US puppets are removed.

Biased Attitude of IAEA, UN Toward Iran

Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has accused Iran of developing nuclear missile. The agency confirmed that Iran had started its uranium enriching activity to the stage of producing atomic bombs. Such actions had triggered new tension between Teheran and the IAEA.

Meanwhile, the Director General of IAEA Yukiya Amano also alleged Teheran refused to give commitment to the IAEA officers to inspect Iran's nuclear plant in Qom and claimed that there were a number of facilities and techno plant of nuclear program concealed underground in the mountainous area nearby Shiite holy city, Qom.

Teheran Refutes Allegation
Iran had refuted the allegation of the IAEA director general who took over the task from Mohamed El Baradei since 1 December 2009 by claiming that Amano had presented an inaccurate report and biased against Teheran in the meeting of this United Nations body in Vienna. Iran instead clarified that Teheran had given its commitment to the atom development inspection body to carry out their inspection as scheduled. Yet, why did Iran allege the IAEA as practicing a 'biased' policy in assessing its nuclear development program?

The IAEA was set up in July 1957 with the purpose to act as a responsible body to encourage nuclear development for peace, to control the activity of nuclear development and to check the activity of developing nuclear for military purpose by any country.

In general, the IAEA is an 'ideal' body responsible for preserving world peace and protecting the world from the threat of nuclear. However, in practice, it is not too much to say today that the IAEA can be deemed as the 'Trojan Horse' of the United States which helps the latter to collapse the attempt of any country which tries to strengthen their power in nuclear development.

Thus, Teheran's allegation against the IAEA which claimed that Yukiya Amano's report as a biased and inaccurate report was also influenced by the factor of the IAEA's 'willingness' to become the 'Trojan horse' of the superpower, the United States. We can evaluate the stand and perspective Iran holds toward the IAEA based on the attitude of the agency itself which sees Iran as a 'sinful' country which is doing 'big sins' in nuclear development while there are many other countries developing nuclear arms but not imposed any sanction and pressure.

The reality is that Iran is seen 'victimized' in big powers' maneuver against new countries developing nuclear program. Iran has faced various sorts of sanctions between 1979 and 2010, including the sanctions imposed by the United States and UN. But why does Iran become the only victim?

Whether Iran develops nuclear for the purpose of peace or arms, the international atomic body should evaluate its own shortcomings in carrying out its responsibility worldwide. This is because while the United States tries to act like the 'world police' advocating the effort to bring global peace, the superpower is itself the country having the largest stock of nuclear arms in the world, estimated at more than 11,500 units of nuclear weapons.

In fact, the United States has always invented various versions of nuclear weapons and the objective of developing nuclear weapons is to use them in war. Does the United States invent these nuclear weapons just for fun? This means the United States itself invents new nuclear weapons everyday, so that it can use them in war and kill their enemies. But the United States has not been taken any action by the IAEA and UN, although the weapons they produce are weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that could destroy human civilization.

The IAEA has also failed to check the nuclear development of Russia, which is until today estimated as possessing more than 7,500 units of nuclear weapons. The IAEA has also failed to control Britain, France and China which have so far been "free" to develop their techno plants and nuclear weapons without control from the international atomic body. Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan which was once part of the Soviet Union had also had nuclear weapons before; whereas member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) such as Belgium, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, and Turkey also have nuclear weapons stationed by the United States.

Worrying About International Sanction
Unfortunately the IAEA has not taken any action against these countries. More unfortunately, the IAEA has failed to control the nuclear development program of India, Pakistan, North Korea and South Africa as well. These countries are 'free' to develop nuclear without having the need to worry about international sanction. Similarly, the IAEA has to date continued to 'keep quiet' and close its eyes on the nuclear program developed by Tel Aviv since as early as 1956. Israel owns 250 to 300 units of nuclear weapons and is one of the countries which have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The nuclear program and weapons of the Jews are no longer a secret, instead countries in the world have known about nuclear weapons owned by Israel. This failure of the IAEA can be seen from the research done by Nuclear Age Peace Foundation which had estimated the number of nuclear weapons at 26,000, of which a majority are owned by the United States and Russia in addition to 40 other countries.

The growth of nuclear arms shows the failure of the IAEA and UN in controlling nuclear proliferation at international level. With this failure, can the IAEA and UN convince Iran to terminate its nuclear program? As a matter of fact, the IAEA only targets at Iran to cover up its own weaknesses.

The Saudi leader, a strong ally of the United States, Prince Saud al-Faisal also voiced out the biased attitude of the IAEA, the UN, and the United States when US State Secretary Hillary Clinton visited the country on 16 February. Prince Saud al-Faisal stressed that the effort to eradicate nuclear arms in West Asia had to include Israel and not only Iran.

Objective of Nuclear Program
Nevertheless, has the action of the United States and IAEA impeded Iran's attempt to achieve the objective of its nuclear development program? Based on the current development of its nuclear program, Iran appears to have made a successful step slowly in its nuclear program, despite the various pressure and sanctions from the international community.

According to the IAEA report, Iran is expected to succeed in its nuclear program by 2011. Under the anarchistic situation facing Iran in the political flow in West Asia and the world at this moment, it has had an influence on Teheran's stand of seeing nuclear as a need to assure its security and to protect other Islamic countries from the threat from Israel and the United States.

This stand of Iran was stated by Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 19 February 2010 who emphasized Iran's intention to work together with Islamic countries and to help cultivate stability and security in the region. Iran even clarified that it would not be hostile to countries in the same region. On the contrary, the nuclear development program of Teheran should be seen in a positive context in the face of oppressive big powers.

Japan, Palestine Create Cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama recently had a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Tokyo when the Palestinian leader visited to Japan recently.
The peace process in West Asia and friendship between Japan and Palestine became the major discussion topics during the meeting of the two leaders.

West Asia Peace Process
During the meeting, Hatoyama expressed Japan's readiness to assist Palestine to build its economy on its own and manage various institutions. This is to help Palestine to stand as an independent country one day later.
The Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie said, in order to achieve that objective, Japan and Palestine agreed to work together and set up the Corridor of Peace and Prosperity or Agro Industry Park in Jericho, West Bank.
In the meeting, Hatoyama also expressed the wish to work together with East Asian countries in contributing to peace in West Asia.
"In Hatoyama's opinion, East Asian countries can step up their roles in accordance with their respective economic and political status in the international arena to help in the peace process of West Asia," he said. Horie said so in a letter sent to Utusan Malaysia recently to inform about the meeting between Hatoyama and Abbas in Tokyo.

Joint Statement
In the joint statement, Hatoyama called on Israel to stop all occupation activities in the territory of Palestine. He also expressed Japan's commitment in extending aids to people of the Gaza Strip.
The statement adds, in the meeting, Hatoyama and Abbas had reached an agreement that the peace talk between Israel and Palestine which had been delayed for almost one year should be resumed. The Israel-Palestine peace talk has halted since the end of 2008 when Israel launched attacks lasted for three weeks against the Gaza Strip. The attacks killed 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israeli citizens.
The Defense Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak described the absence of a peace treaty with Palestine as a bigger threat against the future of the Jewish country than any 'bomb from Iran'.
The joint statement of Hatoyama and Abbas added, Japan and Palestine also reached an agreement to implement several measures under the Japan-Palestine Program to Make Palestine an Advanced Country.
"Among the measures is that Japan will deploy a special mission to Palestine to study the needs and assistance Palestine needs from Japan in the aspects of institution and capacity building.
Other measure is to have discussion with Israel and Jordan next month to develop Jericho and valley area in Jordan as tourist spots," said the statement.
In addition, the statement also mentions that the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and representatives from Palestine will increase the efforts to promote trade and investment in Palestine.
In the joint statement, Hatoyama and Abbas also voiced their objection against using nuclear weapons and expressed their commitment in improving the friendly ties between Japan and Palestine.
The relations between Japan and Palestine are not something new. According to the website of the Foreign Ministry of Japan, Japan has been active in providing various kinds of aids to the people of Palestine since 1993, which include humanitarian aids, reconstruction, confidence building program and various types of aids so that Palestine could enjoy a sustainable economy.

Oppression of People
Japan is also one of the biggest donor country to Palestine with more than $1 billion aids extended since 1993. This was the second time Abbas, also known as Mahmoud Abbas, visited to Japan since he became the Palestinian President in 2005. In addition, Japan, Abbas also visited to Korea. Japan's concern over Palestine could to a certain extent help to reduce the burden of the Palestinian people who have lived under oppression over the years.
The international community should emulate Japan's concern over Palestine. Japan has been wishing to see the Palestinian people to live independently like citizens of other countries and the hope of peace in West Asia come true.

Iran Possesses Right To Launch Space Rocket for Peaceful Use

Iran has launched a space rocket capable to send manned satellite to the outer space. Although the Western military experts said the launch of Iran's rocket would not pose security threat to the United States. Washington has already responded negative by calling the launch of rocket by Iran a provocative act.
Many people know that the technology used to launch satellites can be used to carry long-range ballistic missile nuclear warheads. It is no wonder that Washington has all along viewed the research activities of Teheran with suspicion. This is despite the fact that Iran has repeatedly stressed that its research activities are for peaceful use.

Uranium Enrichment Programs
In May 2009, US and Russian experts have estimated that Iran would take at least six to eight years to have the capability to produce ballistic missiles which can carry 1,000 kg weight of nuclear warheads to reach a range of up to 1,000 km. However, the US Pentagon said that Iran has already strengthened its ballistic missile capabilities sufficient enough to threaten US and US allied military troop presence in West Asia. It seems that the US suspicion on Iran's intention to make nuclear weapon has increased with time.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suddenly announced on 1 February that Iran was willing to send its enriched uranium for other countries to handle. This is in fact one of the conditions the six countries' (the five UN Security Council permanent members namely the United States Britain France China and Russia, plus Germany) negotiated solution to settle Iran's uranium enrichment activities. When Iran expressed willingness to send concentrated uranium to other countries to handle, this announcement by the Iranian leader would eliminate one of the western concerns that Iran might produce nuclear weapons.
But the United States still suspects this is Iran's strategy to make such an announcement so that it can buy more time to carry out uranium enrichment programs before the United Nations imposes four sanction resolutions on Iran. The United States believes that if Iran were really sincere, it should inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about its decision.

Future Ambitious Plan
All along Washington has the intention to impose more severe sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council. Bu the United States has been unable to seek the consent of China, the other permanent member to the UN Security Council to pass the resolutions to impose more sanctions on Iran. Now, that President Obama has launched a series of provocative action on China and angered Beijing, it will be difficult for China to support Washington on the Iranian nuclear weapon issue, now.
After the launch of the space rocket, Iranian President Ahmadinejad said that Iran hoped to send a manned satellite to the space. It seems the Iranian leader has great ambition to turn Iran into a great nation. There is nothing wrong for Iran to be ambitious. If Iran really wants to develop nuclear energy for peaceful use, no country including the United States can prevent Iran to do so. Iran has the right to launch space rocket for peaceful use.