World Information Tuesday

Russia, US need talks amid
missile row: Medvedev
 Toyako

Moscow and Washington should keep up dialogue despite failing to overcome differences on US missile defence plans in Europe, a key irritant in ties, the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, said on Monday.
‘There are certain questions on our agenda where we agree, and these are the matters pertaining to Iran and North Korea,’ Medvedev said after meeting the US president, George W Bush, for the first time on the fringes of a Group of Eight rich nations’ summit in northern Japan.
‘But then certainly there are others with respect to European affairs and this missile defence where we have differences,’ Medvedev, who took office in May, told reporters after his hour-long meeting with Bush. ‘We would like to agree on these matters as well.’
The assertive foreign policy of Medvedev’s predecessor Vladimir Putin, who presided over eight years of economic boom in Russia, has put Moscow at odds with Washington over a series of issues ranging from Kosovo to NATO expansion.
Still, warm personal ties between Bush and Putin helped prevent disagreements on specific issues from souring bilateral relations overall.
Russia watchers were keen to see whether Medvedev would follow suit, and the new Russian leader made clear he would.
Bush, whom Medvedev called by his first name, was equally keen to show a budding relationship with the new Russian leader, whom he described as ‘confident.’


Betancourt faces appeals to run
for Colombian president
Agence France-Presse . Bogota


Newly freed Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt faced Monday new appeals that she run for president of her country, while others called for her to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
An opinion poll conducted by the National Consulting Centre, published in Semana magazine, found that 31 per cent of Colombians said they would vote for Betancourt were she to seek the presidency in 2010, putting her near the top of a short list of possible presidential contender. The 46-year-old ran for Colombian president in 2002 and it was while she was out on the campaign trail that she was taken hostage by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
She has become a cause celebre since being freed on Wednesday, along with 14 other hostages, after some six years in captivity in the jungle. When asked by Semana magazine about her political plans now, Betancourt demurred.
‘I have come to the conclusion that I probably will return to politics, because it is my destiny, but I’m not going to speak about that now,’ she said in an interview published Sunday.
‘I’m thinking about the greatness and the generosity of my children, and my family, and for now that will be my priority,’ said Betancourt, who is currently with family members in France, which had pressed hard for her release.
The president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has invited Betancourt, who also has French nationality, to attend Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, when he is expected to personally award her the Legion of Honour, France’s highest distinction, according to an Elysee source and her support committee. Other leaders have talked of seeking more honours for her. The Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, was among those calling Sunday for Betancourt to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.


EU ministers hopeful of rapid
deal on ‘immigration pact’
Agence France-Presse . Cannes, France



EU interior ministers expressed optimism Monday for a rapid agreement on new guidelines for controlling immigration, but denied the plan would erect walls around Europe.
‘It is a good proposal for a common position for everybody,’ said the Czech interior minister, Ivan Langer, as he arrived for informal EU talks in the French Riviera resort city of Cannes.
The ‘European Pact on Immigration and Asylum’ sets out principles for the EU to manage migration, fight illegal immigration and help development in poor countries that people are leaving or travelling through to get to Europe.
France, which has just taken over the bloc’s rotating presidency, wants to have the guidelines wrapped up by October, so that it can be endorsed at a summit of EU leaders.
‘I hope that even today we will be able to reach a political agreement on this pact that could be finalised during the French presidency,’ said the Greek interior minister, Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
‘It is a plan, a framework for immigration policy that is absolutely necessary for Europe and for the rest of the world,’ he said.
Even Spain, which has put up most resistance to the pact in the drafting stages, said the document largely respects its system of immigration.
‘We are satisfied, we believe that this recognises the major part of our model of immigration,’ said Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba.
Other ministers insisted that Europe was not turning into a fortress, even though the 27 nations have had to increase security on their borders to the outside world, in exchanging for enjoying passport free travel inside.