[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 06/30/08: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Finally, and after a long wait, the famous Lebanese prisoner, Samir al-Kantar, will return to his family. The prisoner swap deal between Hezbollah and Israel brought good news to Samir’s mother, Siham al-Kantar, who did not lose hope for 30 years. Aware that time and imprisonment must have left their mark on her son; Siham knows that the most important thing is the reunion of Samir and the other prisoners with their mothers. Ellian Shatri reports from the town of ‘ibay at Mount Lebanon.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
The quiet town of ‘ibay rests on one of the hills of Mount Lebanon. There, Siham al-Kantar is teary eyed in her home, thinking and contemplating. She has waited 30 years for her son to return, and now, instead of counting years, she is counting days. After spending 3 decades in Israeli prisons, Samir’s return to his homeland, town, and home is now certain.

Guest, FEMALE, #3
I never lost hope that Samir will come back home. Specific information arrived and it was confirmed 100% that they’ve approved the deal. The latest news came last night saying that they have signed the papers for his acquittal. This confirms that we’re nearing the conclusion. We were certain of this earlier, because of the kidnapping of the soldiers, which were the reason for his release.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
The icons of Hezbollah decorate the home of the Kantar family, even though Samir was a member of the Palestinian liberation front when he carried out his operation in 1979. Soon, Kantar will return as an icon and a general of Lebanese prisoners in Israeli prisons, after he was a resistance fighter at an early age.

Guest, MALE, #1
The maximum number of days for the completion of this deal is 12 days. The Israeli government has announced, through the German mediator, that it wants this deal to be completed before the anniversary of the 6th Lebanon war on the 12th of July 2006.

Reporter, FEMALE, #2
Samir al-Kantar, along with four other prisoners, and dozens of resistance fighters’ body parts will be returned to Lebanon, in exchange for the two Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. They were captured by Hezbollah on the 12th of July 2006; and are presumed dead. Meanwhile, everyone here is waiting for the conclusion of the swap deal between Hezbollah and Israel. Kantar, the longest held Lebanese prisoner in Israeli prisons, will return to the arms of his family. This did not require another war, but rather negotiations, completed in secret and in public. From the home of Kantar in the town of ‘ibay, Ellian Shatri, Dubai TV, Mount Lebanon.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
The new swap agreement between Hezbollah and Israel includes several articles: Hezbollah to give Israel the body parts of the two Israeli soldiers, whose abduction was the reason that Israel launched a war against Lebanon in July 2006. Israel to get a report about the airman Ron Arad, who has been missing in Lebanon since 1986, and a report about the remaining body parts of Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 offensive. In turn, based on this agreement, Israel will release Samir al-Kantar and four other Hezbollah members. It will also deliver dozens of corpses to the Lebanese, including eight Hezbollah members. Israel will provide the UN Secretary General with information about the four Iranian diplomats who disappeared in Lebanon in 1982. Within this agreement, Israel will also release a number of Palestinian prisoners, but their number and release date will be determined later. The implementation of this agreement will take place within the next 2 weeks- at the latest. With that, the Lebanese prisoner file between Israel and Hezbollah will be closed. Both sides have previously swapped prisoners through German mediation. The largest swap deal took place in 2004. Israel turned over 400 Lebanese and Arab prisoners to Hezbollah in exchange for the Israeli businessman,Elhanan Tennenbaum, and the corpses of 3 Israeli soldiers, which Hezbollah kept after they were killed in 2000. In October of 2007, another swap deal took place, where a Lebanese prisoner and 2 corpses of Hezbollah members were returned in exchange for the corpse of an Israeli settler, and information about the Israeli airman, Ron Arad, who went missing in Lebanon since 1986. In June of this year, Israel released Naseen Nisr, after 6 years of imprisonment on charges of spying for Hezbollah. In return, Hezbollah gave Israel the body parts of soldiers who had died during the July war of 2006. On the Palestinian side, Hamas announced yesterday that it accepted the Egyptian offer of conducting indirect negotiations with Israel, to make a deal in which the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit would be exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Hamas said that the official time for these negotiations’ has not been set, and that they will commence once it is sure that Israel is fully committed to the ‘calm’ agreement, which begina with lifting the siege over Gaza.

[Summary]

PM Ehud Olmert says after approval of the prisoner exchange agreement with Hezbollah, he will be focusing on securing the release of Gilad Shalit.

A Tehran court sentenced an Iranian man to death, on charges of being a spy for Israel. The man was convicted of supplying Israel with information regarding electronic merchandise that he supplied to military, security, and defense centers across the country. Israel has announced that it has no knowledge of the case.

The prisoner-exchange deal is expected to be signed within the next few days. Among other things, Israel will receive a report about Israeli pilot, Ron Arad, who has been missing since October 1986.

PRESENTER, FEMALE #1
Are we about to enter into an actual stage of heavy duty military preparations or the entire issue is nothing but part of strategic psychological warfare between Iran, Israel, and the US? The depth of the bottle and the Straits of Hormuz, the main artery of international oil, were added by Iran to its equation of struggle in the event its territories are attacked. Meanwhile, the Head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jaafery, warned Israel against attacking Iran, confirming that the Hebrew State is now within the range of Iranian missiles.

REPORTER, MALE #1
In the context of the language of threats and counter threats, the Head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jaafery, hinted that his country can use oil as a weapon. In a press conference, Jaafery said that Iran will impose restrictions on the freedom of aviation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in the event its nuclear installations come under attack by Israel or the US. According to a report by the Sunday Times British Newspaper, Iran has positioned its Shihab series missiles toward Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor.

GUEST, MALE #2
Even if a war doesn’t erupt, the talk about the oil and its use as a weapon and a tool as part of the military action will have bad repercussions on the Iranian internal front.

REPORTER, MALE #1
In an unprecedented move, General Jaffery described the non-Iraqi armed groups fighting the US forces in Iraq as “Islamic revolutionaries fulfilling their religious duties.” Meanwhile, the Iraqi embassy in Tehran declined to comment on Jaafery’s remarks.

GUEST, MALE #3
By saying “Muslim revolutionaries,” Jaafery didn’t mean those individuals who are killing the Iraqi people and destroying Iraq’s infrastructure. I think he was referring to those forces which are taking part in the resistance against the occupiers.

REPORTER, MALE #1
Parallel to the US and the Israeli threats regarding a military strike against the Iranian nuclear installations, Iran continues to develop and improve its missile capabilities, which is part of its defense strategy in the areas of air, naval and electronic warfare systems.

GUEST, MALE #4
According to statements issued by Iranian military and political leaders, Iran will not start any aggression; however, any attack, no matter how insignificant it may seem, on Iranian territories, will be met with a counter attack that will be disastrous for the aggressors.

REPORTER, MALE #1
Amidst the military threats facing it, Iran rejected the policy of the stick and carrot adopted by the West in dealing with the Iranian nuclear program. Iran has rejected three UN resolutions demanding the country halt its uranium enrichment program.

GUEST, MALE #5
They are not in a position to use the language of rewards and threats in dealing with Iran. They can use this type of action with weak and small countries, and not with Iran.

REPORTER, MALE #1
Despite the verbal escalation between Iran and the West, Tehran believes that these threats are nothing but a political card to mount pressure on Iran in any future negotiations, confirming that this type of action will not stop it from moving forward with its nuclear activities. Ahmad Ameen, for Madar Program, Abu Dhabi Channel, Tehran.

[Summary]

Syria blames U.S. for Israeli Nukes.

Eight civilians have been killed in Afghanistan in U.S.-led operations, in the country’s Nimruz province.

Spain is hosting a four-day world petroleum congress in Madrid which will focus on how to calm the tense energy markets. Consumer nations say that everything will be fine if oil producers pump up more oil. Meanwhile, oil prices surged past $143/ barrel for the first time ever, causing gasoline prices in the U.S. to hit an all-time high.

PRESENTER, MALE #1
Iraq’s Oil Minister, Hussein Al-Shahristani, said that six of Iraq’s large oil fields will be open to foreign companies for long-term bids; this will pave the way for international companies to enter the Iraqi oil market.

PRESENTER, FEMALE #1
After nearly thirty-eight years of being told to leave Iraq following a decision in 1972 to nationalize Iraqi oil, Iraq decided today and for the first time to allow foreign companies into its oil fields.


REPORTER, MALE #2
Thirty eight years have passed since Iraqi oil was nationalized. On June 1, 1972, the Iraqi government, then led by the Arab Socialist Baath Party, demanded that all foreign oil companies leave Iraq; a decision that was then described as “suicidal” because it puts Iraq in direct confrontation with influential international powers, especially Britain, which had the exclusive rights of extracting oil in Iraq. In addition, the Western countries, backed by giant oil companies, imposed an oil embargo on Iraq lasting nearly nine months. Amidst the oil embargo, Iraq experienced a suffocating financial crisis, in which the government was unable to pay its employees. After nine months of sanctions and after a series of measures were taken to counter the financial crisis in Iraq, the Iraqi government and the international oil companies came to an agreement and signed what was then known as “the victory accord.” According to the agreement, the foreign companies would transfer their privileges in the Mosul Oil Company to the Iraqi government and would also pay Iraq the sum of 141 million Sterling pounds; most importantly, the deal would allow Iraq to administer its oil fields. After this long period and in the shadow of the occupation, these foreign oil companies returned today to Iraq from its widest door. The Iraqi government decided to open 6 large oil fields to foreign companies in order to develop them. The fields are: Kirkuk, Al-Rumaila, Al-Zubair, Niassan, Al-Kurina, and Bahi Hassan. Among the 35 foreign oil companies, some reports confirmed that 4 oil companies from the US, France, Britain, and Denmark, will have a better chance of getting the bids. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government denied that this latest move may override its nationalized oil decision; however, the move, without a doubt, will open the door wide towards privatizing Iraqi oil fields.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Chaudary Ahmad Mukhtar, denied Afghanistan’s accusation against his country of trying to assassinate President Hamid Karzai. This comes after the Afghanistan Intelligence Agency officially accused the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence of playing a part in the failed assassination attempt against Karzai, last April.

Reporter, MALE, #1
The Afghanistan-Pakistan relations have returned to square one, with tension and mistrust prevailing between the two sides. This comes after the failed assassination attempt of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, while he was attending a military parade. Several people were killed in the attack, including a Parliament member. The Afghanistan Intelligence Agency investigated the case and questioned everyone involved. It said that witness accounts and the evidence showed that Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is the schemer and organizer of that operation.

Guest, MALE, #2
Based on the investigation and evidence we received, as well as the confessions by detainees, it became clear to us that the ISI is behind this. It trained its agents to carry out the attack against President Karzai.

Reporter, MALE, #1
These accusations by Afghanistan are nothing new. They are the result of accumulated and unresolved issues in security and politics, as well as social problems that exist between these two allied countries against so-called terrorism. The deterioration of the relationship, however, came as a result of a reconciliation agreement between the Pakistani government and the Taliban of Pakistan. Kabul viewed the agreement as Pakistan reneging on its promises to fight so-called terrorism and extremism.

Guest, MALE, #3
The problem between the two countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan is an old one. It keeps getting renewed with every new incident. Everyone on both sides has to revert to diplomatic solutions. The area cannot afford to go back to a state of war.

Reporter, MALE, #1
Regardless of the reasons behind the escalating crisis between Kabul and Islamabad, observers think that armed clashes and security breaches might take place on either side of the border between the two countries, if the accusations continue and the basic remedies for the crisis remain non-existent. Everyone here agrees that nothing good came out of the exchange of accusations between the two capitals of Kabul and Islamabad. The leaders need to be reasonable so as to spare the area from a new war that could deplete both nations. Mahmood Watheq, Al Alam, Kabul.

Presenter, FEMALE, #1
In Afghanistan, the NATO forces announced the death of 3 of its soldiers, in an attack that targeted a patrol of US forces in the Wardak district south of the capital Kabul. According to eye witnesses, the explosion burnt a US tank, killing and injuring a number of soldiers. Earlier, a helicopter of the Coalition Forces was downed in the Konar region, in Northeastern Afghanistan. According to the US occupation forces, no one was hurt in the attack. However, a Taliban spokesperson said that armed men downed the helicopter and killed everyone on board.

Presenter, Man # 1
The German Arab economic conference was held in Berlin to discuss ways to increase economic cooperation. Sudan has taken central stage among Arab countries in attracting foreign investments

Reporter, Woman # 1
The 11Th annual German Arab economic conference was held in the German capital of Berlin. The two day conference was attended by one thousand Arab and German officials and businessmen. The objective is to promote German Arab economic cooperation. This conference comes as economic relations between the two sides have notably grown especially in trade which exceeded 50 billion Euros last year.

Guest, Man # 2
There was a proposal to designate one Arab area, where all the Arab commodities would be sent to. It will be a staging area for exporting Arab commodities to the European Union.

Reporter, Woman # 1
During the opening ceremony, the German Economic Minister Michael Glose said that economic cooperation between the two sides should be increased. The president of the German Arab Industrial and Commerce Department, Tomas Bakh reiterated what the German minister said and focused on how economic relations can serve the two sides.

Guest, Man # 3 German
In any case, Germany must enter the Sudanese market. We must understand that we can’t only depend on importing natural resources from there. Some companies are seriously trying to tap into the Sudanese markets. Germany is gradually starting to understand this.

Reporter, Woman # 1
Some German observers said that the Germans must have an effective role in supporting Arab economies especially in Sudan because it enjoys a great deal of natural resources.

Guest, Man # 4
Arab-German trade reached 50 billion Euros last year.

Reporter, Woman # 1
Workshops were held about the possibilities of increasing investments and cooperation between Germany and all the Arab countries with an emphasis on the economic situation in Oman, the Guest of honor for this year’s conference. Some believe that the current level of economic cooperation is not up to the desired level. They attribute the reason behind the current high growth rate to the rise of oil prices, and demand that Germany increase its foreign investment in the Arab world and in Sudan in particular in projects pertaining to alternative energy sources.

Guest, Woman # 3
Economic relations between Germany and Sudan are being developed in Energy related sectors. Germany is one of the countries that is technologically advanced in energy related areas. Sudan has always been cooperating with Germany to find alternative energy, sustainable energy. These technologies should be transferred to Sudan especially because it has large amounts of natural resources.

Reporter, Woman # 1
The Arab world which has huge natural resources especially in Sudan has attracted foreign investment. However the Arabs want to become important economic partners, not just importers of German goods. Ange Salam, Sudan Television, Berlin.

[Summary]

In Morocco, and estimated 10,000 children live or work on the streets. A few brave people have dedicated their lives to finding these children and bringing them in from the cold.