VOA News: Economy: Obama to Request Crackdown on Oil Traders

VOA News: Economy Economy Voice of America

Obama to Request Crackdown on Oil Traders Apr 17th 2012, 16:31 With American motorists facing high gas prices, U.S. President Barack Obama is set to call for a government "crackdown" on manipulation of oil markets. Obama is planning to ask Congress Tuesday to approve a $52 million request to regulate oil trading.  The White House said it is "critically important" to make sure that "illegal manipulation, fraud and market rigging" are not contributing to current high gas prices in the U.S. In a nation with motorists long wedded to their cars, many drivers are complaining about the high price of gas, which now averages more than more than $1 a liter ($3.90 a gallon).  That is lower than in many other countries, but high by U.S. standards, and a political problem for Obama as he seeks re-election to another four-year term. In the U.S., the price of crude oil on world markets accounts for about three-fourths of the cost of gasoline that consumers pay.  Oil has risen 5 percent this year, hovering above $104 a barrel in Tuesday trading on the New York market. Numerous factors affect the price of oil, including tensions over the West's demand that oil-producing Iran curb its nuclear weapons development program, an effort Tehran says is only for civilian purposes. Whether Congress will approve more regulation of oil trading is questionable.  Obama, a Democrat, has been unsuccessful in convincing opposition Republicans to end government subsidies to highly profitable oil companies.  Republican lawmakers have called for less government regulation of corporate interests and called on Obama to concentrate on boosting U.S. oil and natural gas production. Media files: eeuu_gas_price480x300_ap.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) US_Venezuela_Citgo_PDVSA_300x300_AP.jpg

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VOA News: USA: Retired Space Shuttle Makes Final Voyage to Washington-Area Museum

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Retired Space Shuttle Makes Final Voyage to Washington-Area Museum Apr 17th 2012, 16:21 NASA's space shuttle Discovery will leave the Kennedy Space Center on April 17, bound for a museum. Before it was retired, Discovery Completed 39 missions. Spent 365 days in space. Orbited the Earth 5,830 times. Traveled a total of 238,539,663 kilometers. The retired U.S. space shuttle Discovery has landed at the Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia on the way to its new home in a Washington-area aviation museum. The 28-year-old orbiter departed the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Tuesday, hitching a ride on the back of one of the U.S. space agency NASA's specially outfitted Boeing 747 jumbo jets. The shuttle was flown over a variety of landmarks in the Washington area before landing at Dulles, including the National Mall. Crowds of people gathered on the Mall to catch a glimpse of the spacecraft. From Dulles, Discovery will be taken to the nearby Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. It was a little more than a year ago that Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center on its final mission.   NASA retired the shuttle fleet last year to focus on developing the next generation of spacecraft that will travel beyond low earth orbit.   On April 19, Discovery will be unveiled as part of the collection at the Udvar-Hazy Center, just outside Washington.  Some of Discovery's famous former passengers will be in attendance, including astronaut John Glenn - who in 1962 was the first American to orbit the Earth.  He returned to space on Discovery in 1998.    The Air and Space Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world, with its main location in downtown Washington, near the city's grand monuments and attractions.  The museum's Udvar-Hazy annex alone attracts more than a million visitors each year. At Udvar-Hazy, Discovery will take the place of the world's first space shuttle, Enterprise, which has been part of the Smithsonian's collection since 1985.   Media files: voa_hishmeh_space_shuttle_discoverY_230_17Apr12.jpg US_SHUTTLE_VO_1st_UPD-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Asia: Malaysian Lawmakers Pass Law Curbing Arrest Abuses

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

Malaysian Lawmakers Pass Law Curbing Arrest Abuses Apr 17th 2012, 14:46 A law aimed at preventing police from detaining suspects indefinitely or arresting them for their political beliefs has been approved by Malaysia's parliament. The legislation, passed Tuesday by the lower house of parliament, replaces the notorious 1960 Internal Security Act, a draconian law long used to detain opposition leaders and other government critics without trial. The new law, which limits detentions without charge to 28 days, was introduced last week by Prime Minister Najib Razak, just months ahead of expected national elections.  The legislation also says no one can be arrested on the basis of their "political affiliation, activity or belief." Opposition leaders and activists have welcomed the new legislation, which requires the formality of endorsements by parliament's upper house and the country's constitutional monarch before becoming law. Some analysts said Najib was forced to back the legislation as his National Front party struggles to maintain its parliamentary majority in the face of opposition demands for improved human rights and greater government transparency. William Case, the acting head of the Department of Asian and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong, said much of the impetus for the new legislation was generated last year by major street demonstrations, known as the Bersih ("clean elections") protests, in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. "It was, I believe 2010. The Clean Elections Movement mounted a major demonstration in Kuala Lumpur," said Case. "It was a very large and very vigorous set of street processions, which the police then reacted to with unusual force.Police have not always been very accommodating, but this time the repression was quite severe." Case said the police crackdown, which resulted in hundreds of arrests and mounting public pressure against the government, pushed the prime minister toward reforms, which included promises to ease restrictions on media, free speech and assembly. Media files: RTR30IL0_Malaysia_Law_17APR12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) RTR30IL0_TEASE_Malaysia_Law_17APR12.jpg

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VOA News: Asia: New Footage Depicts Self-Immolation in Tibet

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

New Footage Depicts Self-Immolation in Tibet Apr 17th 2012, 15:19 A pro-Tibetan advocacy group says it has obtained video of one of the dozens of Tibetans who have set themselves on fire this year to protest against China's repressive rule. Self-immolation History Self-immolation has a long history of being used as a political tool around the world. The act is one of desperation, with incidents in Asia, Eastern Europe, North Africa and the United States. The International Campaign for Tibet says the video shows the self-immolation of Losang Jamyang on the streets of the western Chinese city of Aba back in January as witnesses look on in horror.  The footage shows the man running in circles while engulfed in flames, before a police officer knocks him to the ground using a pushcart.  Other officers then converge on the man and douse him with fire extinguishers. Some of these images may be disturbing. Tibetan advocacy groups say more than 30 people have set themselves on fire in Tibet over the past year, mostly Buddhist monks and nuns.  Kate Saunders, the ICT's London-based communications director, tells VOA the video of Losang Jamyang's self-immolation challenges the very idea of China's legitimacy in the region. "The self-immolations have raised the stakes in Tibet, both in terms of increased global attention and also in the context of change inside China itself.  These self-immolations, like the one that you can see so vividly in the footage, are a dramatic and a visible counter to the claims of the Chinese communist party to be improving Tibetan lives," said Saunders. <!--IMAGE-RIGHT-->Saunders says the group has obtained several videos of self-immolations smuggled out of Tibet from exiled Tibetan sources, but notes this is the first one depicting a fatality. The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, recently told reporters there are indications that China is ready to push through political reforms in Tibet. "I think here, one hopeful sign is that Wen Jiabao, last few years, in numbers of locations he expressed that People's Republic of China needs some political reform and in one location he even extended that China needs the western style of democracy," he stated. The Chinese government has described the self-immolations as barbaric and terrorists acts.  It accuses overseas groups and the Dalai Lama of inciting separatism.  Beijing also has also portrayed those who have set themselves on fire as outcasts and criminals. Media files: AP_self-immolation_17apr12-resizedpx480q100dpi96shp8.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) AP_self-immolation_17apr12-resizedpx300.jpg Grey-Tibet-300-Immolations-March30.jpg

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VOA News: Economy: IMF: Global Economic Growth 3.5 Percent This Year

VOA News: Economy Economy Voice of America

IMF: Global Economic Growth 3.5 Percent This Year Apr 17th 2012, 15:27 The International Monetary Fund is a little more optimistic about global economic growth as European nations have taken action to cope with their debt crisis, and the U.S. economy grew a little faster. Speaking about IMF's  "World Economic Outlook" on Tuesday, research director Oliver Blanchard said the global economy has been on a "roller coaster" for the past six months, leaving an "uneasy calm." The International Monetary Fund's report comes as officials from the many member nations of the IMF and the World Bank gather in Washington for talks this week. Blanchard said the world economy will expand by about 3.5 percent this year, and a little faster next year.  The report says emerging  markets will continue to grow faster than developed economies.  For example, the United States' economy will expand 2.1 percent in 2012, Europe will shrink by three-tenths of a percent, while China will expand more than 8 percent. Media files: ap_italy_financial_crisis_12Apr12-resizedpx480q100shp8.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) ap_italy_financial_crisis_230_12Apr12.jpg

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VOA News: USA: Dwindling US Space Budget Worres Scientist

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Dwindling US Space Budget Worres Scientist Apr 17th 2012, 15:13 The landing of two Americans on the moon, in July 1969, was among the most inspiring scientific and technical achievements in human history. But today, both the political will and federal funding to sustain that level of achievement appear to have waned. It's a trend that troubles astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, an outspoken advocate for space research and exploration. The director of the American Museum of Natural History's Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York, he's written a dozen books on the topic, including his latest: "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier."<!--IMAGE-LEFT--> Tyson grew up during the 1960s and 70s, an era of optimism for space exploration which led to the moon landing and the space shuttle program. It was also an era of generous federal funding for NASA. But Tyson believes that era is over. The Obama Administration recently proposed deep cuts in the 2013 budget for the U.S. space agency, almost a year after it shut down the 30-year-old space shuttle program. "Right now, the United States has no vehicle of its own to take our astronauts into orbit," he says. "We have to hitch a ride with the Russians. If you hitched a ride it implies you got on for free. But we are riding with the Russians because we are paying for those seats. It's a little embarrassing, I think." Tyson wants to see NASA's budget dramatically increased, saying the nation can't afford not to make space a national funding priority. <!--IMAGE-LEFT--> "Because it's just that kind of adventure that stokes the health of our economy and in the 21st century scientific and technological innovation will define who leads the century and who does not," he says. "What we have found in the golden era of space exploration in America that even though space was driven by war, the consequence of that was a complete shift in the outlook that the entire country had about what was possible for our future…. And the people who bring tomorrow into today are the scientists and technologists." That can be seen, Tyson says, in the multitude of devices that once seemed like science fiction but are now commonplace. Miniature electronics. Laser eye surgery. Even cordless power tools. But for Tyson, the most valuable spinoff of a beefed-up space program is the inspiration it can provide to young people to become the innovators and visionaries of the future.       "There is a quote, I forget who said it, that if you want to teach someone to sail, you don't train them to build a boat. You compel them to long for the open seas," he says. "And it's the longing that triggers a level of innovation because it is through love and the romance of that goal that stimulates your creative thinking."   It will take "a shift in the mindset," says Tyson, to spark a true renaissance in space science - one that could revitalize both the U.S. economy and the national spirit. Media files: 4801277.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) apNASASpaceJunk24Mar2012-resizedpx480q100dpi96shp8Tease.jpg Neil DeGrasse Tyson.jpg Space Chronicles.JPG Astrophysicist_Tyson_Voicer-Ax-Trax.mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: Europe: Norway Gunman: 'I would do it again'

VOA News: Europe Europe Voice of America

Norway Gunman: 'I would do it again' Apr 17th 2012, 15:24 The Norwegian gunman who admits he killed 77 people last July, says he would do it again. Anders Behring Breivik called the massacre the most "spectacular" political attack in Europe since World War II. In a court statement he read from a pre-written text, Anders Behring Breivik said the massacre had come from a place of goodness, not evil. His actions, he said, were aimed at deterring civil war. "The most important thing today is that he gets to explain why he did what he did," said Vibeke Hein Baera, a defense lawyer for Breivik. On July 22 he set off a bomb in Norway's capital, Oslo, killing eight people. He then went to a nearby island where members of the youth wing of the Labor Party were at summer camp. He shot dead 69 people; most of them were young campers. Breivik has admitted the killings, but says the act is not criminal because his aim was to defend Norway. His testimony will not be aired on television to avoid its use as propaganda for his extremist views. There has been concern in Norway the trial will give the killer publicity. A survivor of the island shooting, Bjoern Magnus Jacobsen Ihler, was in the courtroom. "It is difficult to sit there in the same room as the man who killed very many of my friends and who tried to kill me,"said Ihler. ""But, at the same time, it is good to see him in this position because he is very reduced from where he was at the island. He can not harm me anymore and that is in many ways good to see." Many in Norway would prefer the trial not become a media circus. Student Hildegunn Fallangbe also survived the shooting spree. She says she will not attend the court hearing because she does not want to take part in anything that will shine a spotlight on Breivik. "He has expressed that parts of the reason he did it was to get attention, and attention to his manifesto," she said. And I do not really want to give him what he wants. To me we could just forget him." One of the lay judges in the trial was dismissed Tuesday for saying Breivik deserved the death penalty, a punishment that does not exist in Norway. A major focus of the 10-week trial will be to determine if Breivik is clinically insane. If he is found to be so, he will be sent to a psychiatric institution indefinitely. If he is found to be guilty and sane, he will face a maximum 21-year sentence that could be extended indefinitely if he is considered a continuing threat.  Media files: reuters_norway_killer_eng_480_17apr12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) reuters_norway_killer_eng_230_17apr12.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Mali Soldiers Arrest Key Government Figures

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Mali Soldiers Arrest Key Government Figures Apr 17th 2012, 14:20 Officials in Mali say soldiers have arrested at least seven prominent political figures, raising questions about a promise by coup leaders to return power to civilians. Witnesses and political aides say the arrests happened in the capital Bamako late Monday and early Tuesday. A source close to those arrested said that former prime minister Soumaila Cisse is among those seized.  Cisse was a front-runner in a presidential poll that had been set for April 29 before the junta took power. Others arrested include former prime minister Modibo Sidibe, former interior minister Kone Kafougouna and former defense minister Sadio Gassama, according to the source. There was no word from junta leaders on the reason for the arrests. On Sunday, Captain Amadou Sanogo, the leader of last month's coup, declared on state television that the military would be stepping up patrols in Bamako to, in his words, "protect citizens and their belongings." Under intense international pressure, coup leaders agreed earlier this month to restore civilian rule and allow a transitional government to organize new elections. On Thursday parliament speaker Dioncounda Traore was sworn in as the interim president, replacing his predecessor Amadou Touman Toure, who resigned last week. Toure was ousted by on March 22 by renegade soldiers who objected to his handling of a Tuareg rebellion in the north. Since then the rebels have seized three major towns along with an Islamist group, Ansar Dine.  The Tuaregs declared the north an independent state but their declaration was rejected by neighboring countries and the African Union. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. Media files: apMaliCoupFighters17apr2012-resizedpx480q100shp8.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) apMaliCoupFighters17apr2012-resizedpx480q100shp8Tease.jpg

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VOA News: Arts and Entertainment: Grand Ole Opry Honors Keith Urban; Nicki Minaj Tops Billboard 200

VOA News: Arts and Entertainment Arts and Entertainment Voice of America

Grand Ole Opry Honors Keith Urban; Nicki Minaj Tops Billboard 200 Apr 17th 2012, 13:21 Nicki Minaj Tops Billboard 200 Nicki Minaj debuts at Number One on this week's Billboard 200 chart with her new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.  First-week sales reached 253,000 copies.  Its first single, "Starships," holds at Number 6 on this week's Hot 100 list.  Other Top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 include Changed by Rascal Flatts at Number 3, My Head Is An Animal by Of Monsters and Men at Number 6 and I Win by Marvin Sapp at Number 9. Grand Ole Opry to Induct Keith Urban <!--IMAGE-LEFT--> On April 21, Keith Urban will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.  He was given the news at his April 10 "All For The Hall" benefit concert in Nashville.  Urban hosts the annual charity show to raise funds for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  Near the end of the event, Vince Gill brought Rascal Flatts on stage to present Urban with a black duffel bag that contained the Opry's signature microphone stand.  After Gill invited Keith to become the Opry's newest member, Urban said, "I don't know what to say - but first, YES!  Thank you very much to everybody at the Grand Ole Opry who made this possible.  I'm shocked.  How beautiful for this to happen tonight of all nights.  I will always remember the first time I played the Opry.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart." Idol Judges 'Save' Sanchez <!--IMAGE-LEFT--> On April 12, American Idol judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez used their one 'save' of Season 11 to keep Jessica Sanchez in the competition.  The 16-year-old from San Diego, who's been a frontrunner the entire season, was eliminated after receiving the lowest number of viewer votes.  The judges 'save' overruled America's decision, allowing Sanchez to return to compete again this week (April 18).  In addition to Jessica Sanchez, the remaining finalists are Hollie Cavanaugh, Colton Dixon, Joshua Ledet, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine and Phillip Phillips. Chesney-McGraw Single Gains Ground Among Country Fans <!--IMAGE-LEFT--> Country stars Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw debut at Number 13 on this week's Country chart with their new duet, "Feel Like A Rock Star."  That's the second-highest start on the Top Country Songs list since Nielsen BDS monitoring began in 1990.  Garth Brooks holds the record for the highest entry.  In 2007, he entered at Number One with "More Than A Memory."  "Feel Like A Rock Star" is from Kenny's upcoming album, Welcome to the Fishbowl. Lion King Breaks Sets Broadway Record The stage musical The Lion King recently became the highest-grossing Broadway show ever.  Box office tallies report a cumulative gross of $853,846,062.  That knocks the former leader, Phantom of the Opera, to Number 2 with a cumulative total of $853,122,847.  Phantom is the longest-running show in Broadway history.  It opened in January 1988.  The Lion King began its run in November 1997. New Album Releases / April 17: "Love Is A Four Letter Word" by Jason Mraz "California 37" by Train "In The Time Of Gods" by Dar Williams Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits: On April 20, a concert will be held in Austin, Texas to honor the late Country legend Johnny Cash.  Performers at "We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash" include Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn, Amy Lee, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and many others.   "Our family is honored to know that this amazing line-up of artists will gather together on one stage to pay tribute to the music and history of my father," Cash's son, John Carter Cash said. "There is no doubt in my mind that, although he is no longer with us in body, his spirit will shine true on this night thanks to these inspired artists." Star Birthdays On April 15, British singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Edmunds will turn 68.  In 1970, Edmunds debuted on the pop charts with the Top 5 single, "I Hear You Knocking."  Six years later, he and Nick Lowe formed the rock quartet Rockpile.  In 2000, Edmunds underwent triple bypass and heart valve replacement surgery, but has since made a full recovery. Pop singer Bobby Vinton will celebrate his 77th birthday on April 16.  Born Stanley Robert Vinton in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Bobby debuted on the charts in 1962 with the Number One single "Roses Are Red (My Love)."  His other chart-topping hits include "Blue Velvet," "There! I've Said It Again," "Mr. Lonely," and "My Melody Of Love."  From 1975 to 1978, Vinton hosted his own musical variety television series.  In 2002, he sold his Blue Velvet Theater in Branson, Missouri, but Vinton still performs concerts throughout the U.S. <!--IMAGE-LEFT--> Victoria Beckham (a.k.a. Posh Spice of the Spice Girls) will turn 38 on April 17.  The Spice Girls' debut album "Spice" was released in 1997.  The collection sold more than seven million copies in the U.S. and produced such hits as "Wannabe," "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1."  In late 1997, Virgin Records released the Spice Girls' second CD, "Spiceworld."  Sales of that album reached four million copies.  Their final collection, "Forever," was released in late 2000.  Victoria married professional soccer player David Beckham in 1999.  They have three sons, 13-year-old Brooklyn, nine-year-old Romeo and seven-year-old Cruz, and a daughter, nine-month-old Harper.  In 2007, the couple moved to California, where David plays soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy.  That same year, the Spice Girls reunited for an arena tour.  Victoria has a line of accessories and clothing that includes denim jeans, dresses, sunglasses and her own fragrance.  During the past few years, she's been a guest judge on "Project Runway," Germany's Next Top Model" and American Idol auditions.  Jazz-rock keyboardist Jan Hammer will celebrate his 64th birthday on April 17.  Born in Prague, Hammer performed on tour with Sarah Vaughan and was a member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra.  In 1985, he recorded the theme from the hit television series, "Miami Vice."  The song reached Number One on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.  Since then, he has recorded several jazz collections, including "Melodies," "Beyond the Mind's Eye" and "Drive."  In 2002, One Way Records released Jan Hammer's double CD, "Miami Vice: The Complete Collection."  The following year, Sony Music Group issued a remastered version of Hammer's 1975 American debut album, "The First Seven Days."  April 20 marks the birth date of rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Vandross (born 1951).  Vandross got his start in the music business by singing commercial jingles and working as a session vocalist.  His numerous hits include "Here And Now," "Never Too Much" and "Power of Love."  In 1994, Vandross received three Grammy Award nominations and won the American Music Award for Best Male R&B artist.  That same year, he recorded a duet version of the Diana Ross and Lionel Richie hit "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey that was included on his album of cover tunes, "Songs."  In 1998, Luther switched to Virgin Records, which released "I Know."  In 2001, he signed with Clive Davis' former label, J Records.  Vandross recorded his final album, "Dance With My Father," just prior to suffering a massive stroke in April of 2003.  The album debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 chart.  It earned him 11 industry awards, including four Grammys.  Luther died of complications from the stroke on July 1, 2005.  Look Who's Going On Tour! <!--IMAGE-LEFT--> On April 17, Coldplay will kick off its 2012 tour in Edmonton, Alberta.  The 59-date trek supports the rock band's latest album, Mylo Xyloto.  Released in October 2011, the album became Coldplay's third Number One collection.  Its hits include "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall," "Paradise" and "Princess of China."  North American dates run from April 17 to May 5 and from June 22 to August 11.  The group will also perform shows throughout Europe from May 18 to June 10 and from August 30 to September 22. 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey recently took to his Twitter page to let fans know that rumors circulating about an upcoming reunion tour are not true.  He wrote, "So psyched to see all the excitement for a 98 degree tour, but the only tour I'll be doing this summer is at baby's 'r us!"  Nick and his wife, Vanessa Minnillo, are expecting their first child later this year. Media files: Nicki Minaj Pink Friday Roman Reloaded 300.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) Keith_Urban_Country_Music_300x300_AP.jpg Keith Urban Get Closer CD 230.jpg AP-american-idol-230.jpg Chesney McGraw CD 230.jpg Reuters Victoria Beckham 17Apr12 230.jpg Chris_Martin_Coldplay_AP_300.jpg

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VOA News: Middle East: Gulf Leaders Discuss UAE-Iran Island Dispute

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

Gulf Leaders Discuss UAE-Iran Island Dispute Apr 17th 2012, 13:02 Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council are holding an emergency meeting in Doha Tuesday to discuss an ongoing territorial dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which some believe could pose a threat to international security. The talks follow a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Abu Musa, a Persian Gulf island occupied by Iran, but also claimed by the UAE. Iranian state media said Ahmadinejad traveled to the disputed territory last week to deal with domestic issues. Abu Musa is one of three islands claimed by both Iran and the UAE that lie near the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic channel through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supplies are shipped. Iran threatened to close the strait earlier this year in response to sanctions targeting its nuclear program.  Analysts say, if it were to carry out the threat, it would likely use troops stationed on Abu Musa. Ahead of Tuesday's meeting, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan called on Tehran to end its "occupation" of the islands, saying it is not likely the consequences could "be contained by either the UAE or Iran" if the discord carried on much longer. However, Iranian officials said their rule of the land was "not negotiable". Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, professor of political science at the UAE University, expects Ahmadinejad's stopover in Abu Musa to become a turning point in the confrontation. "I think the UAE now is going to change course. It used to follow a more diplomatic, a more quiet, more peaceful approach," he said. "From now on, I think all options are open for the UAE." Iran has occupied the three islands since 1971, but recently agreed to bilateral negotiations with the UAE to resolve the dispute. Sheikh Abdullah says the Iranian president's recent actions undermined the agreement and deepened the mistrust between Iran and its neighbors. Sunni Arab states in the Gulf have become increasingly weary of Shi'ite Iran and accuse the country of fomenting unrest in Bahrain to extend its influence in the region. Tehran denies the accusations, but has been highly critical of Bahrain's crackdown on Shi'ite protesters, and even built a replica of the Pearl Roundabout monument on Abu Musa. Destroyed by the government, the original monument has become a symbol of Bahrain's opposition movement. In light of the escalating tensions between Iran and its Arab neighbors, David Roberts - deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in Qatar - suggests other regional issues will quickly overshadow the UAE's territorial dispute with Iran. "It's in this argumentative accusatory context that we are talking about this and therefore, given that tensions are still quite high," said Roberts. "I don't see how there is enough space for a reasoned, measured discussion to take place." Abdulla also doubts a resolution is on the horizon. "I expect the days to come are going to be a very difficult time for the UAE-Iran relationship and the UAE-GCC relationship and 2012 is not going to be an easy year for either of us here," he said. The UAE has urged Tehran to take the island dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Media files: AFP_IranAbu_Musa_17apr12-resizedpx480q100dpi96shp8.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.3 MB) AFP_IranAbu_Musa_17apr12-300.jpg

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