Arabic Media

November 30 , 2007

Source: Al Akhbar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: China and the Task of Explaining Its Military Interventions

• Darfur Rebels’ threats against Chinese peacekeepers was not totally unexpected; it is just the first against the Chinese army, and as China delves into the minefield of foreign missions, it should expect more of it
• Up till recently, Chinese international engagement focused only on economic matters including investment opportunities, and securing markets and energy resources.  But its strategy included no ideological component
• This strategy will become increasingly hard to maintain as China’s economic presence around the world and its demand for secure energy supplies continue to grow
• Because of international sanctions, China became Sudan’s main economic and military partner, resulting in recent threats issued by Darfur rebel groups against its peacekeepers
• These realities put China at an awkward position of either increasing its military presence outside its geopolitical environment in order to protect its energy needs and / or adding an ideological component to its global presence and position

Source: Al Akhbar (Independent Lebanese daily with strong circulation)
Headline: Ban Ki-Moon Despondent because of Lack of Peace Progress in Darfur

• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stated that he was doing all he could to resolve piling problems and difficulties, adding that he was growing pessimistic about Darfur because despite an agreement with President Al Bashir, Darfur Hybrid force still faced numerous administrative obstacles just weeks before its deployment
• In addition, disagreement about equipment to be used, non-African troop participation, lack of land to build hybrid force headquarters and barracks, and use of transport and tactical helicopters, still persist

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: UN Complained of Difficulties Facing Humanitarian Aid in Darfur

• UN official John Holmes complained humanitarian aid work in Darfur continued to face numerous obstacles despite agreements between Sudan and UN to ease up restrictions on humanitarian work
• Meanwhile, in Cairo legal and humanitarian experts criticized absence of Arab humanitarian organizations in Darfur as well as lack of Arab concern over the various humanitarian crises in Sudan
• Workshop organized by Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies and Program for Arab Humanitarian Professionals urged respect of international human rights principles in Darfur
• Tamara Al Rifai, ICRC official, complained that Arab media ignores Darfur crisis but focuses on other crises, and does not provide any vivid or intimate reports on personal tragedies of civilian population in Sudan

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: New Clashes in Chad near Borders with Sudan

• Chadian military and rebels reported a new round of clashes just three days after another round of clashes that claimed hundreds of lives according to each side’s reports
• Because of these clashes, European Union postponed deployment of European peacekeeping force in eastern Chad and north of Central African Republic

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Chad Accused Sudan of Instigating Border Clashes

• Chadian government accused Sudanese government of supporting Chadian rebels to prevent deployment of European peacekeeping force
• Chadian prime minister said captured equipment used by the rebels were from Sudan
• Chadian authorities called in Sudan’s ambassador to protest Sudan’s support for Chadian rebels

Read the above in Arabic.