Pushing to rein in North Korea, Kerry to meet Japan leaders

Reuters/Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi deliver remarks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing April 13, 2013.

 REUTERS/Paul J. Richards/Pool

By Arshad Mohammed

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Japan on Sunday, the last stop on an Asian tour aimed at solidifying support for curbing North Korea's nuclear program and reassuring U.S. allies after weeks of threats of war from Pyongyang.

The North has threatened for weeks to attack the United States and South Korea since new U.N. sanctions were imposed in response to its latest nuclear arms test in February. Speculation has mounted of a new missile launch or nuclear test.

"We must make them (North Korea) recognize that their provocative actions will not benefit them at all," Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying during a tour on Sunday of Iwo Jima, the site of a major battle towards the end of World War Two.

Kerry's talks with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, coincide with preparations for the North's biggest holiday of the year on Monday, the Day of the Sun, the birth date of state founder Kim Il-Sung - an occasion for pomp and perhaps a military display.

The North's state media, one of the few ways of glimpsing what is happening in the reclusive country, have so far ignored Kerry's talks in Beijing and Seoul.
On Sunday, state television showed officials and servicemen applauding speeches extolling Kim Il-Sung in a vast hall, a giant portrait of the state founder hanging from a backdrop.
The KCNA news agency reported at length on floral tributes to the leader who launched the 1950-53 Korean War. But it also rejected as a "cunning trick" South Korean President Park Geun-hye's suggestion last week of holding talks with the North.
"If South Korea truly does have a will to have talks, they should rather change their confrontational attitude instead of playing on words," the agency said, quoting the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea.
North Korea has repeatedly said it has no intention of abandoning its nuclear program.
The South Korean capital, Seoul, displayed the calm it has shown throughout the crisis. Residents strolled in bright sunshine, visiting street bazaars and ancient temples.
On Saturday, Kerry met leaders in China, the North's sole diplomatic and financial benefactor, and said China and the United States were committed to "the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner".
During his first stop in South Korea, where the United States has 28,000 troops stationed, Kerry said North Korea, furious at joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, would be making a "huge mistake" if it were to launch a missile during the current stand-off.
He also said China was in a position to influence the North's policy and had to put "some teeth" into efforts to persuade Pyongyang to alter its policies.

Japan, separated from North Korea by less than 1,000 km (625 miles) of water and a frequent target of its anger, is well within range of North Korea's medium-range missiles.

Iraq yakusudia kuanzisha chuo cha mafuta na gesi Tanzania

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Balozi wa Iraq Kanda ya Afrika Mashariki Dr. Adel Mustafa Kamil akisalimiana na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi Ofisini kwake Vuga.

Serikali ya Iraq inafikiria wazo la kuanzisha chuo cha mafunzo ya Taaluma ya uchimbaji wa mafuta na gesi ndani ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano  wa  Tanzania katika azma yake ya kuimarisha uhusiano wa muda mrefu kati ya pande hizo mbili.

Balozi wa Iraq katika kanda ya Afrika Mashariki   Dr. Adel Mustafa Kamil ambaye makao makuu yake yapo Mjini Nairobi Nchini Kenya alisema Iraq imeamua kufungua ukurasa mpya wa mawasiliano na marafiki zake ikilenga zaidi mataifa ya Bara la Afrika.

Akizungumza na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi hapo Ofisini kwake Mtaa wa Vuga Mjini Zanzibar Balozi wa Iraq katika Kanda ya Afrika Mashariki  Dr. Adel Mustafa alisema hatua hiyo itaweza kuijengea Uwezo Tanzania ambayo tayari imeshaonyesha dalili za kuwa na rasilmali hiyo.

Alisema wakati Tanzania inajiandaa kuwa na muelekeo wa uchumi mpya  ni vyema mipango hiyo ikaenda sambamba na upatikanaji wa wana taaluma wazalendo watakaokuwa na uwezo kamili wa  kuendesha miradi hiyo kitaalamu.

Hata hivyo Balozi Adel Mustafa alishauri kwamba itapendeza zaidi iwapo baadhi ya wanafunzi hao wakapatiwa mafunzo ya mwanzo Nchini Iraq ili kupata taaluma  ya nadharia na ile ya vitendo.

Balozi huyo wa Iraq Kanda ya Afrika ya Mashariki  Dr. Adel Mustafa alifahamisha kwamba Iraq imepita  katika kipindi kizito cha vita kilichopelekea kulega lega kwa uhusiano wake na Mataifa mengi Duniani.

Dr. Adel Mustafa alisema hatua inayoendelea kuchukuliwa na Serikali ya Iraq hivi sasa ni kuwatumia Viongozi na maafisa wake kuhakikisha uhusiano wake na nchi rafiki unarejea kama kawaida.     

Katika kuendelea kudumisha uhusiano wa pande hizo mbili Balozi Adel Mustafa ametoa ombi maalum kwa Viongozi wa Juu wa Serikali zote mbili ile ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar kufanya ziara maalum  Nchini Iraq kwa lengo la kudumisha uhusiano huo.

“ Tunaanza kufarajika hatua kwa hatua kufuatia maombi tunayopokea kutoka kwa mataifa yanayohitaji  watendaji na wananchi wao kupatiwa fursa za masomo Nchini Iraq “. Alifafanua Dr. Adel Mustafa Kamil.

Akitoa shukrani zake Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alimueleza Balozi wa Iraq Kanda ya Afrika Mashariki na Kati Dr. Adel Mustafa Tanzania imefarajika kuona Iraq imerejea tena katika hali ya utulivu na amani.

Balozi Seif alisema migogoro ya kisiasa inayotokea au kubuniwa na baadhi ya watu wakorofi popote pale duniani mara nyingi husababisha  kuwakosesha  haki zao wananchi walio wengi.

Alieleza kwamba amani ni muhimu na bila ya hilo hakuna maendeleo. Hivyo wananchi wa Zanzibar na Tanzania kwa jumla wanatarajia kwamba amani waliyonayo Wairaq itawapa fursa ya kupiga hatua zaidi katika kuimarisha uchumi wake.

“ Tanzania ilishtuka  kidogo kutokana na mitihani iliyoipata nchi ya Iraq. Lakini  hivi sasa tumefarajika kusikia na wakati mwengine kuona katika mitandao kwamba Iraq imerejea katika hali ya amani kama kawaida yake “. Alisisitiza Balozi Seif.

Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar alimfahamisha Balozi huyo kwamba Zanzibar inahitaji  zaidi  kupata fursa za taaluma katika kuwaendeleza wananchi wake hasa katika sekta ya mafuta na Gesi.

Balozi Seif alisema Taifa la tayari limekuwa na uzoefu na kupiga hatua kubwa katika taaluma ya  masuala ya mafuta na gesi.

Othman Khamis Ame

Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar