Lebanese army fights for equipment

來源：Al Jazeera English，半島電視台英文版

標題：Prominent Iraqis criticise oil law

日期：Wednesday, August 15, 2007

原文網址：

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AD19F8CA-E314-4901-8DDE-450A31ED2255.htm

翻譯與評論：Rembrandtfu

Lebanese army fights for equipment

By Zeina Khodr

Lebanon's army has used artillery, bombs and ground troops in an attempt to overcome fighters from Fatah al-Islam, who are lodged inside a Palestinian refugee camp at Nahr al-Bared.

黎巴嫩的軍隊已經投入了大砲、炸彈以及地面部隊，試圖戰勝法塔赫(Fatah al-Islam)的戰士，這些法塔赫成員盤據在Nahr al-Bared的巴勒斯坦難民營中。

Helicopters have launched bombs to destroy Fatah al-Islam's underground bunkers and Lebanese army soldiers have advanced into the camp to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the opposition fighters.

黎巴嫩已經使用直升機投射炸彈去摧毀法塔赫的數個地下碉堡，而黎巴嫩士兵也進軍到難民營中與敵方短兵相接。

But as the conflict enters its fourth month, the army has still not been able to wipe out the group.

但隨著戰事進入第四了月，黎巴嫩軍隊還是不能夠徹底地掃蕩對手。

Some experts say the army troops are inexperienced and have never fought this type of urban guerrilla warfare before.

某些專家指出，黎巴嫩的軍隊缺乏經驗並且不曾從事過這樣的城市游擊戰。

Fatah al-Islam's fighters are well-prepared. They are ready to die rather than surrender.

法塔嚇的戰士則準備充分。他們準備好從容赴死而非繳械投降。

The army estimates that around 70 fighters remain inside the camp in northern Lebanon.

黎巴嫩軍方估計大約還有七十名戰士殘存在這黎巴嫩北方的難民營中。

Army under-resourced

The lack of sophisticated weaponry is a major reason for the army's failure to take the camp, General Michel Suleiman, commander of the Lebanese army, has said.

黎巴嫩軍隊的指揮官Michel Suleiman將軍表示，缺乏精密的武裝是遲遲無法攻佔該難民營的主要原因。

Some former generals agree with Suleiman.

許多過去的將軍也都贊同Suleiman的看法。

"The army doesn't have an air force ... and even its helicopters are not armed," Nizar Abdel Qadder, a retired general, told Al Jazeera.

一名退役的將軍Nizar Abdel Qadder向半島電視台表示，「黎巴嫩的軍隊沒有空軍……而且直升機也沒有火力配備」

"What the army has to do is fit bombs on the ageing transport helicopters, which are not fit to be equipped with weapons in the first place."

「軍隊要做的事就是安裝炸彈到這些不斷老化的運輸直升機上，而它們打從一開始就不適合裝備武器。」

"We need weapons, conventional and advanced ammunition,'' he said in reference to Washington's package of military aid.

在談及華盛頓方面的軍事支援時，他說：「我們需要武器還有傳統的與先進的彈藥。」

When the battles broke out, the US sent helmets, body armour, night-vision goggles and ammunition for weapons the army already possessed.

戰事爆發時，美軍送來頭盔、防彈衣、夜視鏡以及黎巴嫩軍方手中武器所需的彈藥。

Suleiman thanked the US for its assistance but he hoped the support package would have included modern weapons and advanced ammunition.

Suleiman感謝美軍的協助，但他也希望支援的包裹中可以有現代化的武器與先進的彈藥。

Sale conditions

Shamel Mouzaya, a member of Lebanon's parliamentary defence committee, told Al Jazeera "superpowers have placed conditions [on us in order] to sell and provide sophisticated and heavy weapons, like ending the state of war with Israel".

一名議會的國防委員會成員Shamel Mouzaya告訴半島電視台：「強權國家有條件地出售與提供我們精密且有力的武裝，就像是結束以色列戰爭狀態那時一般。」

Analysts say the US is concerned that its advanced weaponry could end up in the hands of non-state groups opposed to Israel.

分析人員指出，美軍關切的是他們提供的先進軍備可能最終會落入反以色列的無國家組織手中。

The US has responded to Suleiman's statements by saying they are meeting all the demands of the Lebanese army.

美軍同時也對Suleiman的發言做出回應，表示他們正在滿足黎巴嫩軍隊的所有要求。

The Lebanese government, which is backed by the US administration in its power struggle with the Hezbollah-led opposition, agrees with Washington's line.

黎巴嫩政府贊同華盛頓當局的立場，黎巴嫩政府在與Hezbollah這個反對勢力抗衡的過程中受到美方的支持。

"The US provided money and equipment ... maybe the army wants more but whatever they requested, they got," Ahmed Fatfat, minister of youth and sports, told Al Jazeera.

青年與運動部部長Ahmed Fatfat向半島電視台表示：「美軍提供前與設備……或許黎巴嫩軍隊想要更多，但無論他們要求什麼，他們都得到了，」

"And I don't think sophisticated weaponry will be of use in such a battle which really involves street fighting."

「而我不認為精密武器能在這樣的巷戰中起得了作用。」

Suleiman's comments have been criticised by some as a political statement, especially since he is now considered a presidential candidate if no agreement is reached on a successor to Emile Lahoud, Lebanon's outgoing president.

Suleiman的評論被部分人士批評為出於政治理由，特別是他目前公認有可能成為一名總統候選人，如果即將離職的總統Emile Lahoud後繼無人的話。

Political issues

"Politicians shouldn't talk about military matters and military men shouldn't talk about political issues," Fatfat said.

Fatfat表示：「政治人物不應該對軍事發表意見而軍人也不應該涉足政治議題。」

The fighting at Nahr al-Bared has made the military the symbol of Lebanese unity, and its commander has been praised for keeping the army out of the political wrangling between the government and the opposition.

在Nahr al-Bared的戰鬥使得軍方成為黎巴嫩團結的象徵，而指揮官也應讓軍隊遠離政府與反對勢力的政治紛擾而受到稱讚。

Yet there remains concern that the army could be dragged into the crisis.

然而軍隊還是有被拖入政治糾紛的危機。

The real test is whether the military will be able to stay united and neutral - unlike the days of the 1975-1990 civil war when it split along sectarian lines.

真正的考驗是軍方是否能保持團結與中立，而不像1975至1990年間的內戰時，因為派系而分裂。

Source: Al Jazeera

Abe looks to boost India trade ties

Abe looks to boost India trade ties

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/39206496-CEA5-48FA-A56F-1238062735A9.htm

Japan's prime minister has arrived in New Delhi on a visit aimed at boosting cooperation in civil nuclear energy and business ties between Japan and the fast-growing Indian economy.

日本首相參訪新德里促進日本與經濟快速成長的印度雙方核能及貿易聯繫合作

Shinzo Abe, who is travelling with a 212-strong delegation of business leaders and academics, held talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.

Shinzo Abe(安培晉三，日本現首相)與212個商業與學術領袖代表團一同抵達印度，星期三與印度代表Manmohan Singh進行談話

Yasukuni Enoki, Japan's ambassador, said the large delegation was "a demonstration of high interest the Japanese economic circle has in India".

日本大使Yasukuni Enoki表示該龐大的代表團證明日本經濟圈對印度有強烈的興趣

For his part Abe said the relationship between the two countries was "stronger and deeper and broader" than it had ever been.
Shivshankar Menon, India's foreign secretary, said "both sides expect their business to increase".

Abe表示雙方的關係比以前更強、更深厚且更廣闊，Shivshankar Menon印度外交官員說，雙方都期待貿易增加

But trade between Asia's largest and third-largest economies has so far failed to fulfil its full potential as Japan has focused on China and South-East Asia.

To help boost ties, the two sides will discuss a plan to build a $90bn industrial corridor with state-of-the-art infrastructure linking Delhi and Mumbai, India's financial capital.

為了增進關係，兩邊開始計畫建造一個花費$90bn的工業通道並且有美觀的公共建設，連接德里和孟買，印度的經濟首都

The aim is to boost Indian manufacturing by making use of its cheap workforce while solving one of the bugbears of India's economy - its poor infrastructure and transportation.

目標是為了增進印度工業發展，利用當地便宜的勞力解決印度經濟的困境—貧乏的公共建設和交通運輸

Singh said efforts were under way to ensure a favourable climate in India to attract Japanese investment.

Singh表示所有正在進行的努力都是為了在印度製造合適的氣氛去吸引日本的投資

"In today's changed international system, the political, economic and strategic interests of India and Japan have never been so convergent," he said.

今日國際的變化、政治、經濟、政策從來沒有如此聚集於一點適合雙方合作過

Indian government officials predict bilateral trade could double to around $14bn by 2012.

印度政府官員預測雙方貿易在2012年會成長雙倍至$14bn
Defence ties

Besides economic ties, Abe and Singh were also so discuss ways to step up defence co-operation.

除了經濟條約，安培和Singh也討論了防衛合作條約

Japan and India are to join the US, Australia and Singapore in naval exercises scheduled to be held in the Bay of Bengal next month.

日本和印度都加入了美國、澳大利亞和新加坡下個月在孟加拉的海軍演習

Also on the agenda were talks on civil nuclear co-operation with India hoping to tap into a global trade in civilian nuclear use, after a gap of three decades.

在議程中同時也談到核能合作，印度希望能跟上世界使用核能的潮流彌補30年的差距

Earlier this month it revealed the details of an agreement with the US that requires the approval of a group that includes Japan.

本月初傳出美國同意日本加入組織的消息

Critics say allowing nuclear India - which is not a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty - access to US nuclear technology and fuel would undermine global non-proliferation
efforts.

批評者表示讓印度擁有核能這違反了反擴散條約，由美國核能燃料科技制定，破壞了反擴散的努力

On the environment, Abe is expected to seek co operation from India, one of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, in his so-called "Cool Earth 50" initiative aimed at halving global emissions by 2050 from current levels.

關於環保，大家預測安培也會尋求印度的協助，日本是排放最多溫室氣體的國家之一，他稱為”冷靜地球50” 的計畫，目標為在2050年前減少溫室氣體排放量到正常標準

Abe will address a joint session of parliament during his three-day visit, a rare honour that officials tout as a sign of the importance of the visit.

安培在三天的參訪中會參與關鍵的議會，這項殊榮顯示了這次參訪的重要性

Singh addressed the Japanese parliament on a visit to Tokyo at the end of last year
Singh已在去年年底參觀過日本東京國會


心得
為了翻譯這篇所以我稍微看了一下日本最近的政局發展，發現總統或是總理支持度下降似乎是世界潮流，日本前陣子農林水產大臣因被指浮報辦公室事務費等問題受到在野黨攻擊，後來自殺，接任的大臣也爆發弊案下台，上個月議院選舉，執政的自民黨大敗，首相備受批評，看完這些消息後，覺得台灣似乎不是唯一政局不穩定的，或是說全世界的政治都有相同的問題。

然後這篇提到日本與印度的合作，為什麼是印度呢? 印度地處東亞，擁有大量便宜的勞力和積極力爭上游的知識份子，且相對於中國強勢的作風，印度人的態度可說是溫和許多，看看圖片中安培嬌羞的模樣，想必是對這夥伴相當滿意，不過似乎是我多心了，圖中的阿三的眼神好像有點鄙夷…

最後是關於核能方面，溫室效應似乎使核能重新被重視起來，畢竟相對於現今其他的替代能源，核能的效益大概是天與地的差別，於是現在偶爾會聽到各國在建核電廠的消息，台灣的核四廠也繼續在建造，(之前停建損失大約兩百億，是我覺得政府目前最大的政策錯誤了…)，依現在的情勢看來，將來核廢料很有可能會丟到外太空去，或許會產生新產業也不一定。

Prominent Iraqis criticise oil law

來源：Al Jazeera English，半島電視台英文版

標題：Prominent Iraqis criticise oil law

日期：Wednesday, August 15, 2007

原文網址：

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AD19F8CA-E314-4901-8DDE-450A31ED2255.htm

翻譯與評論：Rembrandtfu

Prominent Iraqis criticise oil law

By Ahmed Janabi

A statement, signed by 419 Iraqi oil experts, economists and intellectuals, expresses grave concern that the newly proposed law would deprive Iraq from its most vital natural resource, oil, and give foreign oil companies ultimate domination over Iraq's oil wealth.

一則由419位專家、經濟學家與知識分子所簽署的聲明，對於一則新近提出的法案表達了嚴鄭的關切，該法案可能會使伊拉克喪失他們最珍貴的天然資源──石油，並且給予外國公司對伊拉克石油極大的的支配能力。

Iraq's intellectuals demand a fundamental modification to the proposed law, and a referendum, the statement said.

該聲明表示，伊拉克的知識份子們要求對該草案做出根本的修正，並且進行公民投票。

The law is expected to be discussed in the Iraqi parliament next month, after the parliamentary summer holiday is over.

該草案預計將會在下個月暑期休會結束後，在議會中被提出討論。

Issam al-Chalabi, Iraq's former oil minister and a signatory to the statement, told Al Jazeera: "We strongly recommend a real modification to the proposed law, and that Iraq's veteran experts be consulted and given a role in rewriting the law.

伊拉克前石油部長，也是該聲明簽署人之一的Issam al-Chalab，告訴半島電視台：「我們強烈建議對該草案進行一個實際的修正，同時伊拉克老經驗的專家也該被諮詢，並且能在改寫草案的過程中具有影響力。」

"We urge that a modified oil law be passed only by a referendum, simply because oil is the wealth of all Iraqis and it affects every Iraqi's livelihood and future."

「我們極力主張修正後的草案應該只能由公民投票來決定通過與否，因為石油是所有伊拉克人的財富，並影響著所有伊拉克人的生計與未來。」

Sovereignty issue

Some Iraqi politicians view oil as a sovereignty issue; therefore anything related to it must be done in co-ordination between the government and people.

有些伊拉克的政治人物將石油議題視為主權議題，因此任何與此相關的事宜都應經過政府與人民之間的協調。

Nouri al-Marsoumi, a political activist, former deputy minister of culture and a signatory to the statement, told Al Jazeera: "The oil law, from a political and economic point of view, is not less important than the constitution itself. National control over oil is a major sign of sovereignty.

一名政治激進份子Nouri al-Marsoumi，也是過去的文化部副部長、這份聲明的簽署人之一，告訴半島電視台：「該項石油草案，由政治或是經濟角度來看，其重要性都不下於憲法本身。國家對於石油的控制是主權的重要象徵。」

"It is a national issue, and everyone must enjoy the right of understanding it and saying what he thinks about it. Therefore, the people of Iraq must have the final say about any proposed oil law, not the parliament, let alone the current parliament, whose legitimacy is under question because it was elected under the occupation."

「這是項國家議題，每個人都享有了解與發表意見的權力。因此，必須擁有對於任何與石油相關法案之最終決定權的，是伊拉克人民而非議會。更何況目前的這個議會其合法性受到質疑，它是在佔領期間被選舉出來的。」

Remarkable experience

Iraq's oil experts insist that their country enjoys a remarkable experience in the oil industry, and it does not need foreign help to develop the country's oil infrastructure.

伊拉克的石油專家堅持伊拉克擁有卓越的石油產業經驗，不需要國外的協助來建立石油工業的基礎建設。

Al Jazeera spoke to Kamal al-Kaisi, a former oil ministry official and Iraq's representative to Opec 1979-1985. He said: "The question is: Do we really need that oil law? Is it really that urgent, and cannot wait until Iraq is better off?

一位過去的石油部門官員，同時也是伊拉克在1979年至1985年於的代表Kamal al-Kaisi向半島電視台表示：「問題是：我們真的需要石油法案嗎？它真的有這麼急迫，不能等到伊拉克更有餘裕之後嗎？」

"Iraq has achieved the nationalisation of oil in 1973, we ran our oil industry effectively for decades, before and after the nationalisation, and our experience has become a model for the region's countries.

「伊拉克於1973年完成石油國有化，數十年間我們經營我們的石油產業經營得很好，不論是在國有化之前或是之後，而我們的經驗也成為了鄰近國家的楷模。」

Production-sharing agreements, which would allow foreign oil companies to invest in oil, and pay a profit margin to the government have been widely criticised by Iraqi oil experts.

「生產分享協議」（ production sharing agreements,PSA)將會允許國外的石油公司進行投資並且提供伊拉克政府部分利潤，但一直以來受到伊拉克石油專家廣泛地批評。

Al-Kaisi said: "If we want to increase oil production, then we do not need to risk our necks by surrendering our oil to foreign companies, it could be done internally. Iraq is full of high-quality oil engineers. All we need is to borrow some money, may be, but we definitely do not need the production share agreements (PSA).

Al-Kaisi表示：「如果我們想要增加石油產量，我們不需要冒這種風險將我們的石油交給外國公司，這個目標我們自己就可以達成了。伊拉克有的是高水準的工程師。或許，我們需要的只是借到一些錢，但是我們絕對不需要『生產分享協議』。」

"The nation is in ruins, people are afraid to stay in their own homeland, foreign troops are occupying the country, the government alliance is falling apart - among many other problems. Is the oil law a priority in such circumstances?

「這個國家現在是一片廢墟、人民害怕待在自己的家鄉、外國的軍隊佔據著這個國家、聯合政府分崩離析，還有許多其他的問題。在這樣的情況下，石油問題真的應該被優先考慮嗎？」

The proposed oil law licenses PSA for the first time in decades. The law states that foreign oil companies would pay 12% profit margin to the Iraqi government. Oil experts say this is an unjustifiably small figure in the light of the current high oil prices.

這項草案准許「生產分享協議」一次執行數十年。這項草案聲稱外國的石油公司會提供百分之12的利潤給伊拉克政府。伊拉克專家表示，按照現今的高油價來看這是個小的無理的數字。

評論

首先介紹「生產分享協議(production sharing agreements,PSA)」。簡言之其功能在於決定外國公司投資某特定國家之事業所能獲取的利潤，通常這種事業指的是開採天然資源，特別是石油。較缺乏資金的國家利用這種方式吸引外資進入，而這些外國公司也因此降低許多開採過程中所面臨的投資風險。「生產分享」的概念最早應用在50年代的玻利維亞，其後到60年代「生產分享協議」成功地在印度登場，而後逐漸變國際間各大石油與天然氣公司所採用，全世界目前有超過四十個國家接受這樣的協議，包括埃及、馬來西亞、俄羅斯、秘魯、亞塞拜然……等等。

既然PSA在國際間早已行之有年，伊拉克為何會有這麼強烈的反對聲音呢？第一，伊拉克的油田多數是極易開採的類型，並且產出的原油品質也很高，因此可以使用相對簡單的技術來處理，在這樣的情況下，投資者所面臨的投資風險其實很低，但卻可以獲得很高的利潤；第二，伊拉克議會打算通過的法案，明訂三分之二已知的伊拉克石油油田將由跨國公司開採，合約可以長達十五至二十年，不但與過去三十年來的石油政策背向而馳，更直接由法律保障PSA的正當性並為其鋪路，將來要變更合作方式將有很大的困難；第三，該法案規定地方政府可以和投資公司進行商討，可能會導致油量蘊含較豐的地區出現與其他省份分離的聲音，使得原本就不安的伊拉克政局更添亂因；第四，其他具有豐富石油蘊含的國家，諸如：沙烏地阿拉伯、伊朗、科威特等所採用的模式是技術服務合約，外國公司只提供服務，可能是煉油廠、輸油管道或是技術支援等等，但取得應有的收費之後就要離開，如此一來石油的生產控制權才是在國家手上。

我的評論只有：但願伊拉克人真能找到適合他們和平生存的方式。

參考資料：

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_sharing_agreement

2. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0D09B919-D28A-4CC4-A79F-0EE500239225.htm

3. http://forum9.uwants.com/viewthread.php?tid=2727312&extra=page%3D1&page=10

4. http://www.inmediahk.net/public/article?item_id=199395&group_id=28

China delegates to discuss safety in U.S.

Source : CNN.com

Origin : http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/15/china.recall.reut/index.html

Title : China delegates to discuss safety in U.S.

Date :Aug 17th 2007

Translater and Reviewer : TJY

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- China will send delegations to the United States in August and September to discuss food and product safety following a spate of product recalls, a Chinese Embassy official said on Wednesday.

在一連串的產品回收動作之後，中國駐美大使館宣佈，中國將於八九兩月派遣代表團至美國討論食物與產品的安全性。

Zhao Baoqing, first commercial secretary of the embassy, told reporters the senior-level delegations would discuss the recent problems and Chinese safety measures with U.S. authorities from the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

大使館的貿易幹事Zhao Baoqing告訴記者，比較高階的代表團將會就現存的問題與中國的(產品)安全措施和美方的相關單位如FDA和CPSC(消費者產品安全委員會)作討論。

The first delegation will arrive later this month, and a second delegation of vice-ministers will visit in September, he said.

他表示，第一個代表團將於八月底到達，另一個有次長隨行則將於九月抵達。

Mattel Inc., the largest U.S. toy company, on Tuesday recalled 18.2 million toys globally, including 9.5 million in the United States. The toys were recalled due to hazards from small, powerful magnets and lead paint.

美國最大的玩具商Mattel於星期二大動作回收了全球182萬件玩具，其中在美國境內佔了95萬件。回收的原因則是因為內含有危險的強力小磁石及含鉛的塗料。

The recall prompted some U.S. lawmakers to demand a temporary halt and inspections of shipments of Chinese products for children that contain paint and to demand that China open its toy factories for inspections.

這個動作讓激起一些美國的立法者要求暫時停止(進口)、檢查中國製且有塗料兒童用品貨物、以及要求中國開放其玩具工廠以供檢查。

In a rare news briefing at the Chinese mission in Washington, Zhao outlined measures Beijing authorities had taken since the "Made in China" scare emerged in March. He also mixed appeals for cooperation with a show of frustration at the U.S. handling of the widening problem.

在由中國大使館罕見的聲明稿中，Zhao大略地指出一些在這波『MIC恐慌』中中國政府所作的處理措施。他同時綜合了一些在此次事件中遭受影響的廠商的訴求。

"When we found problems with food imported from the United States, we usually took a completely different approach than our U.S. colleagues," he said, referring to recent Chinese complaints with U.S. poultry, pork and pistachios.

在提到中國普遍對於美國進口之豬肉、家禽及開心果等產品的抱怨時，他表示，『當我們發現自美國進口的產品有問題的時候，面對這些問題的態度通常與我們美國的同伴們截然不同。』

China first contacts the U.S. embassy to discuss ways to sort out the problem imports, Zhao said, adding: "We would not immediately publish reports in newspaper or on the Web."

中國主動與美國理事館聯繫，希望能夠適當地處理這些有問題的進口商品。Zhao更進一步地說，『我們不會立即透過平面或是網路發表聲明稿。』

China signed a memorandum of understanding with the FDA in April 2006 on food safety that covered 20 percent of its food exports to the United States. Beijing hoped to conclude an MOU on the other 80 percent by the end of this year, Zhao said.

中國曾於2006年四月和美國FDA簽訂了有關其出口食品安全的規約，這項規約涵蓋了其總出口食品種類的20%。北京方面希望於年底前能夠與美方制定涵蓋其他80%產品的規約。

Zhao noted that 99.2 percent of China's food exports to the United States in 2006 met quality standards and said the "vast majority of China's food exports to the United States are safe." But he reiterated Chinese plans from September to make all of its food exports carry labels on sales and shipping containers that prove they had passed government inspections.

Zhao更提到，2006年中國進口到美國的食物中，99.2%的出口食物有達到品質的標準。『絕大多數的中國進口食品是安全的。』他很肯定的表示。但他仍表示北京方面於九月開始將會將其出口食品以標籤及容器妥善標示以確保這些食品已經偷過(中國)政府的檢測。

The Mattel toy recall prompted U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat who has stridently criticized Chinese trade practices, to call on the State Department to exert pressure on China to open up its toy-manufacturing plants to U.S. inspections, his spokesman said.

Mattel公司的回收動作同時引起曾經嚴厲地批評過中國貿易行為的美國參議員Charles Schumer的高度關切。他的發言人表示，Schumer呼籲州政府應該要向中國施壓，要求中國開放玩具製作工廠供美國檢驗。

Asked about independent testing of Chinese factories, Zhao said such checks should be a "matter of commercial agreement between the importer and the exporter."

問及中國工廠的個別檢驗，Zhao認為這項動作應屬於進口商與出口商本身的商業協定。

"We do not wish to make third-party testing compulsory as this would be disadvantageous to the importer, the brand-holder and the exporter," he said

『我們不希望強加上第三者的檢驗程序，這將對進口商、該品牌以及出口商都造成不良的影響。』他說。

Review and related news :

繼先前Bush成立進口食品管制小組後，中國這方面也在美國時間8/15日作出了回應。當然，在『玩具事件』爆發出來以後的這個時間點做出這項聲明不免有點亡羊補牢的味道。不過，有作總比沒有作好。細看這項新聞，會發現中國的發言人Zhao話中一些有趣的地方。譬如說他提到2006年，中國出口至美國的食品有99.2%符合標準，乍聽之下合格率相當高。但是實際上，文章中也有提到，所謂的規範其實適用的對象只有所有出口數的20%（在此筆者推斷所謂的20%應是指品項，而非數量，不過內文沒有寫清楚，待查），那麼剩下的80%呢？Zhao很巧妙地迴避了問題。政治話語果然是全球共通的語言，全世界的政治人物都講同一種話。

關於文中的powerful magnets，筆者在此作一些補充。這小磁石原本是dolly塑膠玩具裡面的配件，用以將衣服穿在娃娃身上。有個七歲的小女孩在玩這個玩具時，為了要把衣服分開，不小心吞入了兩個小磁石。結果這兩個小磁石到了他的腸子之後，又相吸在一起，傷害了腸壁組織，結果造成腸子裡有一小孔。這使得所有腸子裡的東西都能夠跑到女孩的體腔內，造成了一些感染，甚至差點失去性命。相關新聞的連結可以點這邊：http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/14/toy.victim/index.html

筆者是認為就這個案件來看，廠商實在是有點衰，當然沒有設想到這樣的危險性是廠商的疏忽，而且使用者的使用習慣廠商也不能事先預測。不過兒童用品就是這樣，一有危險就必須馬上回收，這是無庸置疑的。

另外，在Mattel大動作的回收之後，也有些一些其他的廠方進行了回收的動作，相關新聞可以在下列網址看到：

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/06/toy.oven.recall/index.html?iref=newssearch

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/01/toy.recall.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

最後再對於文中的MOU作一個補充，MOU事實上就是Memorandum of Understanding，翻成中文不太好翻，事實上就是一種規約。常見於部門、這種機關、或是關係相近的公司之間。詳可見wikipedia，網址如下：

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorandum_of_understanding

Abbas and Olmert meet in Jericho

來源：Al Jazeera English，半島電視台英文版

標題：Abbas and Olmert meet in Jericho

日期：MONDAY, AUGUST 06, 2007, 12:11 GMT

原文網址：http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/69B04F27-3A45-49E4-A979-8FB67CCD78F4.htm?FRAMELESS=true&NRNODEGUID=%7b69B04F27-3A45-49E4-A979-8FB67CCD78F4%7d

翻譯與評論：Rembrandtfu

Abbas and Olmert meet in Jericho

The Palestinian president and the Israeli prime minister have met in the West Bank in a bid to bridge gaping differences ahead of a US-called peace conference later this year.

巴勒斯坦主席與以色列總理在西岸(West Bank)碰面，企圖在即將於今年稍晚舉行、美國所謂的和平會議之前，努力克服雙方的歧異。

Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert met in Jericho on Monday, the first time in years that such a high-level meeting was taking place in Palestinian territory.

阿巴斯(Mahmoud Abbas)與歐麥特(Ehud Olmert)星期一在耶利哥(Jericho)碰面，是這麼多年來頭一次有層級如此高的會議在巴勒斯坦地區舉行。

Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said Abbas and Olmert had held a "deep and serious" meeting.

巴勒斯坦首席交涉員艾瑞凱(Saeb Erekat)表示，阿巴斯與歐麥特舉行了一場「深入且嚴肅」的會議。

He said the focus had been on the "fundamental issues of the peace process and ... means of quickly arriving at the creation of a Palestinian state".

他指出，會議的重點在於和平進程的「基本」議題以及快速建立一個巴勒斯坦國的方式。

Core issues

Before the discussions, Olmert had also said that the talks were aimed at restarting negotiations on establishing a Palestinian state.

在討論之前，歐麥特也曾經表示這次的會談會把目標放在重新開啟建立巴勒斯坦國的協商上。

However, exposing the differences between the two camps, Erekat said: "Personally, I think the negotiations have been totally exhausted... Now the leaders should decide.

然而在雙方陣營之差異如此明顯的情況下，艾瑞凱表示：「我個人認為，這個協商已經沒什麼用了，現在雙方領袖應該要下決定了。」

"We have no need to reinvent the wheel. Any peace process should aim at ending the Israeli occupation that started in 1967."

「我們毋須走回頭路。任何和平進程都應該把目標放在中止以色列從1967年開始的佔領上頭。」

Palestinian officials have been pushing for a deal on the "core issues" ahead of the autumn peace conference, with a view to implementing the agreement during the meeting.

巴勒斯坦官員被逼著在秋天的和平會議之前處理「核心議題」，並且是遵照這次會談所達成的共識。

However, Israeli officials have been reluctant to discuss key points before the conference, saying the two sides should create a basis or framework for an agreement before the meeting.

然而，以色列官員在該會議前並不願意去討論任何關鍵，反而表示雙方應該在會議前創造一個基礎或骨幹以利於達到共識。

Erekat said that the two leaders had agreed to meet at least three more times before the peace conference, which Israeli officials expect to take place in November after the Jewish and Muslim holidays.

艾瑞凱表示雙方領袖表示同意在和平會議前至少再碰面三次，以色列方面希望這些會晤能在猶太與回教節日過後的11月舉行。

Prolonged resistance

Israeli officials had baulked at describing the session as an attempt to address so-called final-status issues such as borders and the future of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, saying the two leaders would seek instead an agreement on "principles".

以色列官員之前不願把這會議描述為試圖處理所謂的「最後狀態」，例如邊境、耶路撒冷的未來以及巴勒斯坦難民，而表示雙方領袖會試圖達到「原則」上的一致。

"I came here in order to discuss with you the fundamental issues outstanding between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, hoping that this will lead us soon into negotiations about the creation of a Palestinian state," Olmert said, with Abbas standing at his side, at the start of their talks.

會談開始前，歐麥特站在阿巴斯身邊發表以下談話：「我到這裡是為了與你們討論以色列與巴勒斯坦民族權力機構間的基本議題，希望能夠更快地帶領我們開啟巴勒斯坦建國的協商。」

But it is unclear whether Olmert, whose popularity plummeted after last year's inconclusive war in Lebanon, can make major concessions, particularly to uproot Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

至於才因去年與黎巴嫩興戰而聲望下跌的歐麥特，是否能夠做出重大的讓步，特別是遷離在西岸占領區的猶太裔居民，仍然是未知。

It is also uncertain how Abbas can deliver on any deal with the Hamas movement, which is in control of Gaza and whose charter calls for Israel's destruction.

同樣是未知的還有阿巴斯與企圖瓦解以色列、目前占領加薩地區的哈瑪斯(Hamas)是否真能夠實現任何決策。

Ismail Haniya, the ousted Hamas prime minister, called the Jericho meeting a public relations gimmick that would yield nothing for the Palestinians.

被驅逐的以色列總理哈尼亞(Ismail Haniya)，認為耶利哥的會談只是一個譁眾取寵的伎倆，並不會給巴勒斯坦人帶來任何幫助。

"It is clear that the meetings between Palestinian and Israeli officials are a replay of what happened in the past - it's reproducing a long path that led the Palestinian people to nowhere," he said.

他表示：「很明顯的這次的會談只是過去發生的種種的回應，這只是在複製一條把巴勒斯坦居民帶向未知的路。」

The last round of final-status talks broke down six years ago.

上一次有關「最後狀態」的談判於六年前破裂。

Israeli officials said the proposed agreement on principles would broadly call for Israel to withdraw from about 90 per cent of Palestinian territory.

以色列官員表示，提案中原則上的共識，是以色列大幅度地遷離將近百分之九十以上的巴勒斯坦地區。

評論：

先在這裡向大家說聲抱歉，這一則新聞我自覺翻譯的並不好，許多原文的語意並沒有很確實的翻譯出來，甚至是沒有完全了解其意義，我猜想這篇英文稿可能也是翻譯自其他語言，當然也是我自己才疏學淺，希望大家不吝賜教。

所謂的「巴勒斯坦」，其範圍涵括約旦河西岸地區(West Bank)以及加薩走廊(Gaza strip)。目前該地區的管轄權大部分落在巴勒斯坦民族權力機構(Palestinian Authority)手上，其他則是由以色列管理。以巴關係多年來的演變非常複雜，巴勒斯坦人的意見本身就嚴重的分歧，一開始巴勒斯坦解放組織(旗下又有許多小組織)大概都以毀滅以色列為訴求，但是慢慢地有許多人改變意見，如成立初期堅持「革命暴力是解放家園的唯一手段」的法塔赫(Fatah)，政策就逐步改變，最終承認以色列的合法存在。其中最著名的人物是阿拉法特(Yasser Arafat)，一路從巴解首腦，到通過選舉成為巴勒斯坦民族權力機構的第一任主席。該機構是以巴和約下的產物，然而還是有許多的巴勒斯坦組織不認同阿拉法特，仍然以瓦解以色列為目標前進。而以色列方面對於對待巴勒斯坦的態度也有鷹派與鴿派之分。特別是在這麼多年來已有許多猶太裔居民在巴勒斯坦地區定居，大幅度地遷移勢必會掀起風波。

通過這篇新聞相關資料的找尋我對於以巴現況有了更多一點的了解，但同時也發現自己還有更多的不了解，只能希望通過未來持續的觀察能對中東情勢有更多的認識。

Niger children 'still in danger'

Niger children 'still in danger'
尼日小孩 “仍處於危險”
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/15F1B09B-73CF-49CA-971A-002BFCC21C07.htm

The UN Children's Fund has said that more than one in seven children under the age of three in Niger are suffering from acute malnutrition.
聯合國兒童組織表明尼日有超過七分之一的三歲小孩營養失調

Unicef said on Tuesday that although the number of children suffering from the severest forms of malnutrition had halved since the country's food crisis in 2005, many were still in danger.
聯合國兒童基金會在星期二聲明雖然現在與2005年食物危機時營養失調的小孩相比，數量已減少一半，但仍有許多小孩有營養失調的危險

"At the onset of the lean season, when communities are most vulnerable, still too many children are at risk of malnutrition," Unicef said of the situation despite the massive aid since 2005.
“當貧瘠的季節開始時，許多群落正值脆弱，仍然有許多小孩有營養不良的危險” 聯合國兒童基金會說這種情形是因為從2005年開始的援助工作一團混亂
Drought and poor harvests left an estimated 3.6 million people short of food two years ago in the arid country on the southern side of the Sahara.
這位於卅哈拉南邊的貧瘠國家的乾旱和低產量的農作物使約3.6百萬人口缺乏食物兩年
Shocking images of malnourished children helped launch a global aid appeal.
受營養不良所苦的孩童的震撼影像使國際援助開始行動
Figures
Unicef's latest nutritional survey showed 15.5 per cent of children below three years of age were acutely malnourished. In some areas the number of cases had risen sharply in recent months.
聯合兒童基金會最新的影養調查顯示15.5%三歲以下兒童嚴重營養不良，有些地方在這幾個月數字還不斷上升
In two of Niger's eight regions, acute malnutrition was above what is considered the emergency threshold, the fund said.
在尼日八個種族裡有兩個嚴重營養不良的種族超過了緊急情況的界線
Critics say aid groups need to revise their strategy if they are to solve the problem in the long term.
批評者認為如果援助團體想長久解決問題需要調整他們的策略
Development agencies complain their efforts are undermined by humanitarian relief organisations - who they say bypass local authorities to deliver food aid directly to those in need.
發展署抱怨他們的努力被人道組織破壞 – 說她們繞過地方權力組織（應該是指發展署）去直接分送食物給需要的人
Oxfam and Save the Children were among charities which commissioned a report in June saying foreign organisations were inflexible in aid-solution strategies and needed to bridge the gap between emergency and development responses.
六月，慈善機構中的牛津飢荒救濟委員會和解救孩子基金會被委託進行一份報告，報告指出外國組織對解決問題策略缺乏彈性，且需要在緊急情況和發展責任中取得平衡
Free food
Unicef said it would provide all children under the age of three, outside the capital Niamey, with free supplementary food for two months, in line with the World Food Programme.
聯合國兒童基金會說她們會提供首都尼阿美外圍所有三歲以下小孩食物兩個月，此為世界食物計畫
The agency will also increase aid to those not covered by feeding centres.
基金會同時會增加沒被補給的區域幫助
But it said longer-term measures were needed to address "the lack of access to age-appropriate food and feeding practices and the lack of access to basic health services".
然而長期的解決方法應著重於”缺乏管道種植適當的食物和栽種練習，還有缺少基本健康服務”

心得稍後補上

Taliban claims second Korean killed

來源：Al Jazeera English，半島電視台英文版 標題：Taliban claims second Korean killed 日期：MONDAY, JULY 30, 2007, 18:39 GMT 原文網址：http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/90F4A652-A5AC-4A07-87D8-7C96863181AF.htm 翻譯與評論：Rembrandtfu

Taliban claims second Korean killed

The Taliban says it has killed a second male South Korean hostage among a group of 23 Christian volunteers captured more than a week ago.

塔利班(Taliban)表示他們已經由一星期多前劫持的23名南韓基督教志工中，處決了第二名男性人質。

Al Jazeera received an exclusive video from outside Afghanistan showing some of the South Korean women hostages wearing headscarves, with fighters in the background.

半島電視台收到一捲來自阿富汗境外的獨家錄影帶，畫面中顯示了部分的南韓女性人質帶著頭巾，背後站著數名戰士。

Its authenticity as well as when and where it was made could not be verified.

該錄影帶的真實性與在何時何地拍攝均無從考察。

Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, told Reuters by phone on Monday: "We shot dead a male captive because the government did not listen to our demands."

塔利班的一名發言人尤素夫(Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi)於星期一藉由電話告知路透社：「由於政府並未實踐我們的要求，我們槍斃了一名男性俘虜。」

The AFP agency quoted him as saying: "We set several deadlines and the Afghan government did not pay attention to our deadlines.

法新社引用他的話：「我們定下了許多期限，但是阿富汗政府對這些期限一點都不在意。」

"Finally tonight at 8:30 we killed one of the Koreans named Sung Sin with AK-47 gunshots."

「最後在今間八點三十分我們用AK-47槍殺了一名叫做Sung Sin的韓國人。」

There was no independent confirmation of his death.

該名男子的死訊尚未獲得進一步的証實。

The body of the hostage had been dumped in the Qarabagh district of the southern province of Ghazni, Ahmadi said.

尤素夫表示該名俘虜的屍體被棄置在阿富汗南部Ghazni省Qarabagh地區。

The area is where the South Koreans on an aid mission were abducted on July 19 while travelling on the highway between Kabul and Kandahar, about 140km south of the Afghan capital

該區正是七月19日這批南韓人在進行援助活動時遭到劫持的地方，當時他們正在阿富汗首都南邊一百四十公里的地方，也就是喀布爾(Kabul)與坎大哈(Kandahar)間的高速公路上，。

Serious

The South Korean embassy in Afghanistan has refused to comment to the media on the case.

南韓駐阿富汗大使館拒絕對媒體發表有關這件事情的評論。

James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Afghanistan, said that while the Taliban had extended the deadline in the past, it was "serious this time".

半島電視台的阿富汗特派員James Bays指出，雖然塔利班已經將期限延後，但「這次的情況非常嚴重」。

He reported there was a build-up of security forces in the area near the main highway where the South Koreans were kidnapped.

他報導在南韓人質們遭到綁架的主要高速公路附近有更多維安部隊出現。

The leader of the group, Bae Hyung-kyu, a 42-year-old pastor, was shot dead on Wednesday and his bullet-riddled body found in a desert area of the province.

這群南韓人的領隊，42歲的牧師Bae Hyung-kyu於星期三被槍殺，而他被打成窟窿的屍體已經在該省的沙漠地區被找到。

Bae's body arrived in South Korea on Monday.

他的遺體已於週一返抵南韓。

Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan reported from Seoul that the family members would not hold a funeral until the rest of the hostages were safely back.

半島電視台記者Melissa Chan來自首爾的報導指出，Bae的家人們在其他人質安全回家以前不會舉行葬體。

Taliban denial

Earlier on Monday, Ahmadi had denied that there had been any agreement to extend talks.

星期一稍早，尤素夫否認曾經同意任何進一步的談判。

"We are still awaiting the decision of the leadership council. We have not extended the deadline till Wednesday," he told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location.

他經由電話從一個未知地區告訴路透社如下的消息：「我們還在持續等待領導階層的決定，我們在星期三以前不會延長期限」。

Reports had said that the Taliban extended its "final" deadline at the request of Afghan mediators, but insisted that the release of Taliban prisoners was the only way to settle the crisis.

有些報導指出塔利班會延長「最後」期限是因為阿富汗調停者的請求，但是他們堅持唯一能夠化解這場危機的辦法是釋放那些塔利班的囚犯。

The "final deadline" was issued by the movement's leadership council on Sunday and originally ran out at 07:30 GMT.

該活動的領導階層於星期天早上七點半，發表了新的「最後期限」。

The Taliban has demanded the withdrawal of South Korean troops from Afghanistan and the return of prisoners held by the Afghan authorities.

塔利班之前提出的要求為南韓部隊撤離阿富汗，並且釋放阿富汗當局所囚禁的囚犯。

On Sunday, Ahmadi said the group's demands remained the same.

尤素夫於星期天表示，塔利班的要求還是不變。

He said: "We have the same previous demands; the first is accepting to withdraw the Korean forces from Afghanistan.

他說：「我們的要求就和先前的一樣。第一件事為撤出在阿富汗的南韓部隊。」

"The second demand is still pending as the Afghan government delegation has said that it does not have the authority to release Taliban prisoners."

「第二項要求還未獲得解決，因為阿富汗的代表團表示他們無權釋放塔利班的囚犯。」

Hostage swap

Afghanistan's interior ministry and the presidential palace have said a hostage swap is out of the question.

阿富汗的內閣以及總統表示人質交換是不可能的。

An Afghan team that was supposed to have held more talks with the Taliban on Saturday could not reach the group because of security concerns in Ghazni province, a provincial source said.

一則當地的新聞指出，一個本該在星期天與塔利班進行更多談判的阿富汗小組無法與他們取得聯繫，因為Ghazni省受到更多的安全關注。

The Taliban has said that if anything happened to the South Korean hostages, "the Afghan government and the South Korean government will be responsible".

塔利班表示如果有任何事發生在南韓人質們身上，阿富汗政府與南韓政府將要為此負責。

評論：

無論這種方式的正確性為何，塔利班這一次的行動很成功地凝聚了國際關切。遭綁的對象是無辜的外國平民，而且還是前往阿富汗服務的基督教志工，強迫國際關切自己的訴求，恐怖行動一直都是最有效的作法。

目前的僵局是：由於這種事情有一就有二，阿富汗政府絕對不可以同意進行人質交換；再者，南韓方面可能也已經受到壓力，一旦他們同意撤軍，塔利班以後一定還會再採用類似的模式脅迫各國遠離阿富汗事務。如此看來，武力衝突或是解救人質的突擊行動恐怕是在所難免了，只是這樣的作法等於是將人質的性命當作國家尊嚴的賭注，難保結局不會像1972年慕尼黑慘案一樣，犧牲了所有人質的性命。

2001年塔利班政權在美國主導的軍事攻擊下瓦解。起初塔利班因為包庇「基地」組織與賓拉登而受到攻擊，失去阿富汗領導權轉入地下後，雖然曾經傳出與「基地」有摩擦，但是近年來兩者互相合作，以類似「基地」組織的游擊隊方式存在，持續給阿富汗政府以及駐阿北約盟軍干擾，使阿富汗成為恐怖組織的根據地。

雖然塔利班政權執政時做了不少壞事，但是它們在抗蘇戰爭之後平定阿富汗內部，是具有代表阿富汗地位的合法政府。而美軍因為阿富汗不願意交出賓拉登就出兵攻擊，這樣的「反恐戰爭」又和當時的蘇聯入侵有何區別呢？在譴責塔利班的綁架事件時，我們其實應該同時想想其他國家介入阿富汗內政的正當性。