les carnets de clarisse

Une sélection des liens et articles lus en ligne – semaine du 7 au 13 septembre.
Cette nouvelle rubrique est un rendez-vous hebdomadaire qui paraîtra tous les lundi.

GRÈCE

• Revues de presse en français

Revue de la presse hellénique

Préparée par le service de presse et de communication de l’ambassade France en Grèce, préparée trois fois par semaine, elle regroupe l’actualité hellénique parue dans les médias grecs.

Revue de la presse hellénique du Nord

Préparée une fois par semaine par le service de presse du Consulat général de France à Thessalonique. Hebdomadaire, elle regroupe l’essentiel de l’actualité hellénique parue dans les quotidiens grecs de Grèce du nord.

SERBIE

Coopération policière – Eulex/Serbie
La Mission européenne de police et de justice au Kosovo (Eulex) a signé vendredi un accord de coopération policière avec Belgrade, visant à combattre la corruption, le crime organisé et autres trafics entre le Kosovo et la Serbie.

VATICAN

Dialogue Vatican-traditionalistes « dans les prochains jours» 
Le Vatican entamera « dans les prochains jours un dialogue»  avec les traditionalistes de la Fraternité Saint-Pie X, fondée par l’archevêque français Mgr Marcel Lefebvre, excommunié en 1988 et décédé en 1991, sur les questions théologiques litigieuses, a annoncé le cardinal-archevêque de Vienne, Christoph Schönborn.
Selon l’agence de presse catholique autrichienne Kathpress, le Vatican a formé un groupe d’experts chargé de dialoguer avec les traditionalistes. Ce groupe est présidé par le secrétaire de la commission vaticane Ecclesia Dei, le prélat italien Guido Pozzo, et comprend notamment le Dominicain suisse Charles Morerod, le Jésuite allemand Karl Josef Becker et le vicaire général de l’Opus Dei, le prélat espagnol Fernando Ocariz Brana. Côté traditionalistes, c’est un dignitaire espagnol, Mgr Alfonso De Galaretta, qui est en charge des discussions.

RUSSIE

• OTSC
Signature d’un Mémorandum anti-drogue
Les responsables des services anti-drogue des pays membres de l’Organisation du Traité de sécurité collective (OTSC: Arménie, Biélorussie, Kazakhstan, Russie, Ouzbékistan, Tadjikistan) ont signé jeudi un mémorandum sur la lutte contre le trafic de stupéfiants et la légalisation des revenus criminels.

• Nucléaire
Information center for nuclear energy to be opened in Murmansk
An information center for nuclear energy will be opened in Murmansk by the end of this year in the framework of the target program of Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation.

Volgodonsk NPP: 10 years under Protection of Holy Mary
On Sept 10 2009 the Protection of Holy Mary Church situated in the territory of Volgodonsk Nuclear Power Plant is marking its 10th birthday.

• Paratroopers
Barents girl to become paratrooper
More and more Russian girls are studying at military academies. A girl from Apatity in Murmansk Oblast is the only girl from Northwest Russia to be admitted to the Ryazan Higher School for Paratroopers.

• Norvège-Russie
Norwegian-Russian border guard cooperation
The Norwegian Coast Guard vessel “Barentshav” has arrived in Murmansk with a delegation of higher Norwegian coast guard and border guard officials.
The Norwegian delegation in Murmansk is led by head of the Regional Command in Northern Norway Rear Admiral Trond Grytting and includes Head of Coast Guard Squadron North, Commander Steve Olsen and Head of Sør-Varanger Garrison and Deputy Border Commissioner Jørn Erik Berntsen.
Their hosts are amongst others Head of FSB’s Border Service in Murmansk Oblast Major General Vyacheslav Biryukov and FSB’s official representative in Norway Colonel Aleksandr Likhtorovich.

Agreement on visa-free travel by the end of the year
A Norwegian-Russian agreement on visa-free travel for the two countries’ border zone inhabitants could be ready by the end of the year says Chief of police in Eastern Finnmark police district Håkon Skulstad.

• FSB
Daghestan /opération spéciale
Le leader d’une bande qui opérait dans la capitale daghestanaise a été anéanti lors d’une opération spéciale à Makhatchkala.

Norvège / Border guards training
Leader of the FSB border guards in Murmansk last week welcomed Vice Commander of Norway’s National Joint Headquarter. Over the last years, the two leaders have met regularly in a bid to strenghten trust and confidence.
This year’s training, which starts this week in Murmansk Oblast will include five scenarios – joint action in forest fires, an oil catastrophe, a car crash, seeking and rescue and a situation with radiation spills.
In a meeting with the Norwegian Barents Secretariat earlier this year, Mr. Grytting said he was impressed by the preparations made by the Russians side ahead of the Barents Rescue training. He also highlighted the importance of both the Northern Fleet and the FSB participating in the training.

ARCTIQUE

UN General Secretary in the Arctic
General Secretary of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon yesterday took off from the Svalbard Archipelago towards the Arctic ice brim.
The North Pole mission of the UN leader comes about three months ahead of the important climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

USA

Un militant anti-avortement tué près d’un lycée, un autre homme abattu
Un militant anti-avortement a été tué par balles vendredi depuis une voiture près d’un lycée du Michigan et la police a indiqué que le même tireur avait tué un autre homme.

11-Septembre : les garde-côtes sèment la peur à Washington
Les garde-côtes américains ont semé l’inquiétude à Washington vendredi, jour de l’anniversaire du 11-Septembre, en menant un exercice sur le Potomac, qui a fait croire à une tentative d’attentat au moment où le président Barack Obama rendait hommage aux victimes.
« C’est absolument inexcusable» , a estimé dans un communiqué l’association Military Families United, expliquant que l’alerte avait infligé un « stress»  inutile aux familles réunies pour la cérémonie.
La Maison Blanche a quant à elle tancé les médias pour avoir semé l’alerte dans la capitale. « Avant de rapporter ce genre de choses, il serait bon de vérifier» , a estimé le porte-parole de la présidence, Robert Gibbs.
En avril dernier, un survol de New York à basse altitude par un avion de la flotte présidentielle avait semé la panique dans la ville touchée par l’attentat contre le World Trade Center. Les responsables avaient ensuite été sanctionnés.

JAPON

Shifting balances of power – Hugh Cortazzi, ambassador to Japan (1980 to 1984)
The new Japanese government will be able to enhance Japan’s world interests only by ensuring that Japan is represented effectively abroad. This requires the appointment of ambassadors willing and able to join in international debates on equal terms with others. It also means that Japan should try hard to find more articulate and able English-speaking officials to serve in international organizations.
Japan can no longer afford to be represented solely by old-fashioned bureaucrats who never put a foot wrong. But Japan’s diplomats must be given the necessary resources to do their job effectively.
The United States remains the world’s only superpower, but as events in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown, there are real limits to what the only superpower can achieve. Modern wars against terrorists are totally different from World War I and II when battles were fought over territories which were won or lost.

BOLIVIE

French Company Submits Plan to Develop Bolivian Lithium Deposits
French conglomerate Bolloré has presented the Bolivian government a plan to develop lithium deposits in the Uyuni Salt Flats, which are said to hold the world’s largest reserves of that metal.
In addition to Bolloré, the Japanese companies JOGMEC, Sumitomo and Mitsubishi and South Korean conglomerate LG also have expressed interest in developing Bolivia’s lithium reserves.

RÉPUBLIQUE DOMINICAINE

Haitian Wanted for Killing French Diplomat Arrested
A Haitian wanted for killing a French diplomat has been arrested in the Dominican Republic, the DNCD drug enforcement agency said Wednesday.
Amaral Duclona, one of the most-wanted men in Haiti, is the subject of a French extradition request.

INDE / CHINE / ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Military Buildup Across the Himalayas: A Shaky Balance
[...] the two Asian powers still suffer from a trust deficit and are increasingly concerned about each other’s strategic intent, particularly over their respective military developments across the Himalayas.
Although leaders on both sides try to downplay the border sparring, there is ample evidence pointing to the further augmentation of defense forces and military infrastructure along the border. This could be the harbinger of a spiraling arms race.
- long distance rail link between Beijing and Lhasa – would later be extended to Xigaze, South of Lhasa, and then to Yatung, near Nathu La passes / plans to widen the Karakoram Highway / improve infrastructure
- substantial military concentration / airfields / major military exercise / operations over long distances
- strong logistic back up, which enables the rapid deployment of troops and a robust offensive capability.

Interestingly, there is a maritime dimension to the military developments in the Himalayas. Located at an altitude of 14,500 feet, the Pangong Lake is under the control of both China (90 kilometers) and India (45 kilometers), but a stretch of about 5 km is disputed (Indian Express, October 6, 2008). Both sides have positioned patrol vessels and conduct routine surveillance.
There are fears in India about China’s military modernization and augmentation of military infrastructure along the borders.

It is fair to argue that China is biding time to build its comprehensive national power including military capability reflected in Deng Xiaoping’s thought “tao guang yang hui,»  which literally translates as « hide brightness, nourish obscurity,»  and in Beijing’s interpretation, « Bide our time and build up our capabilities»  and then challenge India at the time of its choosing.

New N-E division with eye on China?
The Army is creating a new Mountain Division for the Northeast, headquartered in central Nagaland or the adjoining areas of Upper Assam.
Although it will be stationed in an area when the Army is engaged in counter-insurgency operations, sources say the division could also have the task of keeping an eye on the Chinese border in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, sources indicated.

Is China itching to wage war on India? – Brahma Chellaney
In recent months, hopes of a politically negotiated settlement of the lingering territorial disputes have dissipated amid muscle-flexing along the long, 4,057-kilometer Himalayan frontier. A clear indication that the 28-year-old border talks now are deadlocked came when the most-recent round in August turned into a sweeping strategic dialogue on regional and international issues. The escalation in border tensions, though, has prompted an agreement to set up a direct hotline between the two prime ministers. A hotline, however welcome, may not be enough to defuse a situation marked by rising military incursions and other border-related incidents as well as by new force deployments.
In addition, the significant improvement in China’s own relations with Taiwan and Japan since last year has given Beijing more space against India. A third factor is the weakening of China’s Pakistan card against India. Pakistan’s descent into chaos has robbed China of its premier surrogate instrument against India, necessitating the exercise of direct pressure.

INDE

Le Pragati de septembre est à télécharger sur le site de l’Indian National Interest.
Au sommaire :
The Khaki must shine – From ruler’s police to people’s police
After Sharm-el-Sheikh – Dealing with the strategic consequences of a disastrous summit
Life after extinction – The future of the LTTE
Addressing the real problem: climate of poverty – Global warming is low priority
Galvanising international studies – India’s rising profile demands investment in intellectual foundations
The July-August 2009 Parliament session
Let them come (even sans visa) – Academics, journalists and human rights activists should be welcomed
Monsoon failure – Bracing for the 2009 drought
Terminate NREGA – It’s populist. It’s ineffectual. It has to go.
Reforming for the poor – Regulations must not cramp economic freedom
Books – Crossed Swords: Pakistan, its Army and the Wars Within

Indian Army Trains Regular Troops to Counter Terrorism
Preparing to deal with Mumbai attacks-like terror sieges, the Indian Army has started training its units deployed at various places considered as potential terrorist targets, according to DD India.
« Army units based in cities like Goa, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Goa, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Jamnagar and various other places spread across the country are being trained to deal with hostage rescue operations as terrorists are most likely expected to strike at such places,»  the sources said.
At the moment, Army has six SF units which are based in locations such as Udhampur and Jodhpur. « Officers and men from the infantry units will go back to their battalions and teach their own men the skills learned from SF units,»  they said.

May have to revisit nuclear no-first use policy: Army chief
Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor may have opened a fresh discussion on India’s nuclear posture and preparedness with his recent remarks that if reports of Pakistan’s expanded arsenal are correct, then New Delhi may well have to reconsider its strategic stance.

PAKISTAN

Pak Navy gets frigate built in China
The first F-22 P frigate of the Pakistan Navy, PNS Zulfiquar, constructed in China, arrived here on Saturday and took part in the ongoing naval exercises in the Arabian Sea.

Dishonouring the Quaid’s legacy
Pakistan has become a lawless country not merely because we have the Taliban operating freely in parts of the land. It has become lawless because our rulers and leaders have consistently held the law of the land in their contempt. They have behaved like a law unto themselves, treating the constitution of Pakistan like scraps of paper that belong only to the dustbin. We have become a nation that has been covering up the grossest violations of its own laws by the power barons claiming to rule in the name of the people. We have become collectors of so many skeletons that our drawers are now creaking under their weight. It’s about time we opened these burgeoning closets; and if that releases some ghosts and demons, so be it.

So the Obama administration, knowing so well how intricately Zardari’s fate is tied with Musharraf’s, doesn’t want its apple cart to be upset by a trial of law-breaker Musharraf. King Abdullah couldn’t have said no to Washington, Ramazan or no Ramazan, to lean on Nawaz to pull back. It remains to be seen if Nawaz has the gumption to say no to his Saudi mentors and benefactors.

It’s their biggest challenge, to date, to retrieve the Quaid’s legacy from the grubby hands of robber-barons who have turned Jinnah’s splendid dream into a nightmare.

ISI chief attends Indian reception in surprise shift
September 10, 2009 was a milestone in the history of India-Pakistan relations. Just a day before the 8th anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks a very important development in India-Pakistan relations took place in the federal capital. It was the first time the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, was the guest of the Indian high commissioner, Sharat Sabharwal, at an Iftar dinner at a local hotel. Gen Pasha was wearing a Jinnah style black Sherwani, which is the national dress of Pakistan.
Pasha was not the only top ISI official present at the dinner. Two other top ISI officials were also present with their staff. The ISI director-general and High Commissioner Sabharwal exchanged smiles while sitting on the same table in the presence of former National Assembly speaker Gohar Ayub Khan.