www.news24.com 25/01/2003 11:03  - (SA)  

New Delhi - Iran has condemned the "misuse" of the global campaign against terrorism that had created a situation of war, and has called for a peaceful resolution of the Iraq crisis.

"Unfortunately the world today is scarred by terror and terrorism," Iranian President Mohammad Khatami told reporters on Saturday in New Delhi after a ceremonial welcome at the presidential palace.

"The misuse of the present situation has created a situation of war."

Hope for peaceful resolution

Khatami did not elaborate, but added: "While we recommended to Iraq to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions, we hope there will be no war against Iraq. I hope the present situation would be solved without any war in a peaceful way."

Discussion on terrorism

Khatami arrived on Friday on a four-day official visit to India.

He is scheduled later on Saturday to hold talks with Indian leaders on issues such as terrorism, regional tensions and an oil pipeline.

Khatami, who is guest of honour at India's Republic Day celebrations on Sunday, is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Defence Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani and Science and Technology Minister Mostapha Moin.

Countries do not agree with unilateral action

Speaking to reporters before the official welcome, Kharazi, too, highlighted the need to avoid war in Iraq.

"Every country is very much concerned about the crisis in Iraq" and its impact on their national security, he said.

"We must do our best to avoid war in the region ... this is the time for multilateralism, not unilateralism."

When asked to comment about sharp differences between the United States and European countries including France and Germany on military action against Iraq, Kharazi said this proved European countries do not agree with "unilateral action," against Baghdad.

"European countries can play a very important role in advising the US ... European countries should insist on multilateralism," he said.

Eorpean concerns brushed aside

On Thursday, Germany and France urged "a peaceful and negotiated solution to conflicts, which is always preferable to the use of force and its disastrous consequences," while calling for UN weapons inspectors to be given more time to do their work in Iraq.

Washington however brushed aside the Franco-German statement saying the two countries were not representative of modern Europe.

On Friday, the UN's nuclear watchdog warned it needed several more months to complete weapons inspections in Iraq.

A spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said at its Vienna headquarters that it would ask the UN Security Council on Monday for more time to complete their job.

Oil price could rise dramatically

Also speaking to reporters at the official welcoming ceremony in New Delhi Saturday, Iranian Oil Minister Zanganeh warned that the price of oil could rocket in the event of a US-led war on Iraq.

"The price depends on political and military tension in the Middle East and elsewhere in Venezuela," where an opposition-sponsored strike to force President Hugo Chavez from office has crippled the oil industry.

Though there was currently no shortage of oil in the market, if Iraq stopped production there would be shortfall of about one and a half to two million barrels, Zanganeh warned.

"We hope not to witness it," he added.

When asked if Iran would increase production to ease the situation, the Iranian minister said Tehran would go along with the decision taken by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. - Sapa-AFP

www.samoaobserver.ws By Terry Tavita 23 January 2003

A warning on defective tires issued by the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry has been questioned by a local tire dealer. “How can you warn consumers on buying new wheels when many cars here are running on bald tires?” he asked.

TCI yesterday issued a press release signed by the Secretary, warning consumers not to purchase tire models Bridgestone/ Firestone R4S, R4SII and A/T Tires. The reason given is that the US.

Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the compatibility of these tires.

It goes further to say that the models have been banned in Saudi Arabia, and is been looked at in Venezuela, Mexico and South Africa.

The tire dealer pointed out that cars in these countries travel at 200 km per hour on the highway, “you can’t compare that to the slow traffic in Samoa.”

“Since cars travel so fast there, any slight defect is looked at carefully. “You put out public notices based on conditions here, not because you read something on the Internet that says so,” said the dealer.

“Most dealers in Samoa import second hand tires from mainly Hawaii and California which are still in good condition, compatible with our roads and driving conditions.”

“The prices are also very affordable for car owners.”

The average second hand tire, he said, costs $70. A new tire of the models in question is sold by a local motor company at $250-$500 depending on the size.

“If TCI is serious about fair trading, then that is a fair trade.

“I’m sure those people at TCI have better work to do than waste time on such mundane issues,” he concluded.

By Terry Tavita 23 January 2003

A warning on defective tires issued by the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry has been questioned by a local tire dealer. “How can you warn consumers on buying new wheels when many cars here are running on bald tires?” he asked.

TCI yesterday issued a press release signed by the Secretary, warning consumers not to purchase tire models Bridgestone/ Firestone R4S, R4SII and A/T Tires. The reason given is that the US.

Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the compatibility of these tires.

It goes further to say that the models have been banned in Saudi Arabia, and is been looked at in Venezuela, Mexico and South Africa.

The tire dealer pointed out that cars in these countries travel at 200 km per hour on the highway, “you can’t compare that to the slow traffic in Samoa.”

“Since cars travel so fast there, any slight defect is looked at carefully. “You put out public notices based on conditions here, not because you read something on the Internet that says so,” said the dealer.

“Most dealers in Samoa import second hand tires from mainly Hawaii and California which are still in good condition, compatible with our roads and driving conditions.”

“The prices are also very affordable for car owners.”

The average second hand tire, he said, costs $70. A new tire of the models in question is sold by a local motor company at $250-$500 depending on the size.

“If TCI is serious about fair trading, then that is a fair trade.

“I’m sure those people at TCI have better work to do than waste time on such mundane issues,” he concluded.

www.iol.co.za January 24 2003 at 10:53PM By Matthew Lee

The United States is advising US expatriates around the world to be prepared for emergency evacuations from their country of residence in the event of unforeseen circumstances, including war, the State Department said on Friday.

The department said it had sent cables to all US diplomatic missions abroad, instructing them to alert Americans in their jurisdictions to be ready for any eventuality amid increasing signs that military action in Iraq is looming.

Officials said the advice covers other eventualities, including natural disasters, personal emergencies and terrorism, but would not rule out a link between the cable and the situation with Iraq.

'I didn't say it was totally routine'"The department is asking all US embassies and consulates worldwide to send a warden message to local American communities with advice on preparedness for an emergency," said Susan Pittman, speaking for the department.

Warden messages are notices US embassies send to American communities in their jurisdictions that generally discuss terrorist threats, common crimes, natural disasters and other difficult situations they may encounter.

A senior department official said earlier that the cable had not been sent specifically in anticipation of a conflict with Iraq but pointedly would not deny that that possibility was behind the timing of the instruction.

"We thought it was appropriate to remind people to take ordinary and routine precautions," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "It mentions all the possible, various unforeseen events in the world."

The official said such instructions had been sent in the past but refused to describe Friday's cable as "totally routine."

"I didn't say it was totally routine," the official said. "I said we are doing this and we have done it before; it's just that we thought it was appropriate to remind people to take precautions."

Pittman, reading from the cable, said the embassies had been told to give US citizens "general steps" to follow to be prepared "for an emergency, whether it is a personal emergency or is the result of political or economic unrest, natural disaster or terrorist attack."

The cable provides a sample message for the embassies to impart, including advising people to store prescription drugs at hand, to ensure that passports and other documents are valid and to maintain adequate food supplies, she said.

"American citizens should always be prepared to depart a country quickly if necessary," Pittman said.

The cable notes that US citizens had in the past year been forced to hastily leave countries such as the Central African Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast and Venezuela, she said.

www.news-journal.com

WASHINGTON (AP)--In a move that appeared to be linked to a possible war with Iraq, the State Department said Friday it is taking steps to alert Americans overseas on how to prepare for emergency situations.

U.S. officials said such advisories are sent out periodically and that the new alert was not necessarily related to developments in the Middle East. But officials were unable to say when the last such advisory had been issued.

State Department spokesman Susan Pittman said the alert ``summarizes general steps American citizens traveling or living abroad should follow to ensure they are prepared for an emergency, whether it is a personal emergency or is the result of political or economic unrest, imminent disaster or terrorist attack.''

Pittman said the message contains advice such as the need to keep prescription medicines available, to keep passports and other travel documents valid and current and to maintain adequate food supplies.

She noted that each year hundreds of Americans return to the United States on short notice because of family emergencies.

``American citizens should always be prepared to depart a country if necessary.'' Pittman said.

In the past year, she said, U.S. officials have intervened to assist in the emergency departure of Americans from a number of countries, including Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Venezuela, Israel and Indonesia.