Friday, November 13, 2009

[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, November 13, 2009

 

From the Council on Foreign Relations

November 13, 2009

View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

-Obama lands in Japan to begin tour of Asia.
-Turkey offers to store enriched uranium for Iran.
-Conflict in Nepal intensifies.
-Eurozone inches out of recession in third quarter.

Top of the Agenda: Obama-Hatoyama Meeting

U.S. President Barack Obama met with Japanese leadership (NYT) in Tokyo Friday, seeking to improve strained relations with Japan on the first day of his one-week tour of Asia. Following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yuko Hatoyama, the leaders said their talks covered the war in Afghanistan, non-proliferation and climate change. Obama plans to deliver a major speech Saturday about U.S. relations with Asia before traveling to Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Obama told reporters (BBC) after the talks that their bond was based on shared values that should be renewed, while Hatoyama said that after fifty years, their alliance needed to adapt. Hatoyama confimed that Japan would no longer refuel ships for forces in Afghanistan but promised aid to Afghan civilian projects. He pledged to work with the United States on combating climate change and nuclear proliferation, but on the dispute between the countries over the U.S. air base, he said only that it was a "difficult issue." Obama said both countries would work quickly to resolve the matter.

Analysis

The Asia Times reports that Obama's twenty-four hour visit to Tokyo may not have been enough time to change public opinion in the country, which has reacted negatively to the U.S. government's approach to relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Okinawa.

A CFR media conference call discusses the security and economic issues that will dominate Obama's agenda in Asia.

An Economist editorial says that the Obama administration has "done itself few favors" in heightening tensions with Japan and should now reinforce the countries' alliance.

In a Washington Post op-ed, CFR's Shield Smith says Obama's visit to Asia is an opportunity to calm and energize U.S.-Japan relations.

In a Financial Times op-ed, Evan Feigenbaum says the United States risks marginalization unless it more actively seeks a new regional economic and political order in Asia.

Background

A CFR Backgrounder examines the rise of political opposition and reform in Japan.

MIDDLE EAST: Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that if asked, his country would be willing (Jerusalem Post) to temporarily store Iran's enriched uranium. Yildiz's comments follow a suggestion by International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei that Turkey could play a role in solving the crisis, since it is Muslim, a NATO member, and has good relations with Iran and the United States.

Yemen-Saudi Conflict: Yemen's Houthi fighters say Saudi Arabia has bombed their villages (al-Jazeera), as Saudi forces continue to enforce a buffer zone to keep the rebel group away from its southwest border.

PACIFIC RIM: APEC Summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao outlined a plan (Xinhua) to boost economic growth and support the global recovery during a speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Singapore Friday. The plan promotes trade and investment liberalization and opposes protectionism.

SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Nepal Conflict

The Asia Times reports that growing tensions between Nepal's Maoists and its central government threaten to throw the country back into civil war, with Maoists claiming support from China and Nepal's government considered pro-India.

Pakistan: A suicide car bomb hit Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency in Peshawar, killing at least ten (al-Jazeera).

In this CFR podcast, Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir discusses the deteriorating security conditions in her country and expresses concerns over the past and continuing military operations.

AFRICA: Zimbabwe Political Crisis

Botswana President Ian Khama accused Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (Reuters) of failing to honor a power-sharing deal with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and called for new elections to resolve the political crisis .

Nigeria: Construction growth in Nigeria is set to become the fastest in the world (This Day) because of increased wealth and urbanization from its oil industry, according to a new ten-year forecast from Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics.

AMERICAS: U.S. Targets Iran Assets

U.S. federal prosecutors took steps to seize the assets (WSJ) of the Alavi Foundation, which they say may be part of a front for the Iranian state-owned Bank Melli. Bank Melli is subject to Treasury Department sanctions on the grounds that it finances Iran's nuclear proliferation program

In an interview, CFR's expert Ray Takeyh says Washington's Iran policy needs to frame the nuclear development question within the context of a broader range of diplomatic issues, and that Iran's domestic turmoil hinders negotiations on its nuclear program.

Brazil: During a visit with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Brazilian President Lula da Silva defended the upcoming visit (MercoPress) to Brazil of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad scheduled for November 23, and offered to mediate the Middle East conflict.

EUROPE: Eurozone Recession

The Eurozone emerged from recession in the third quarter with GDP growth of 0.4 percent (FT), though the rebound was weaker than expected and not as strong as in the United States.

EU-U.S. Banking Deal: The United States and European Union have reached a draft deal (Deutsche Welle) to give U.S. law enforcement access to European financial data to combat terrorism, raising concerns consumer and privacy advocates.

TRANSNATIONAL: Drug Prohibition

A new article in the Economist says prohibiting drug sales has become increasingly difficult to enforce, due to full jails, stretched budgets and many countries' overall fatigue with the war on drugs.
 

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