World Scene
March 7, 2008
NICARAGUA
Colombia ties cut over Ecuador raid
MANAGUA — President Daniel Ortega announced yesterday that Nicaragua is breaking relations with Colombia because of its raid on a guerrilla base in Ecuador.
Mr. Ortega announced his decision while sitting beside Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, who is touring the region to rally opposition to Colombia's attack Saturday, which left a senior Colombian guerrilla leader and more than 20 others dead.
Nicaragua has a long-standing maritime boundary dispute with Colombia and Mr. Ortega is a strong ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Mr. Correa.
Nicaragua will not renew relations with Colombia until it complies with parts of a decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague that favor Nicaragua in the maritime dispute, Mr. Ortega said.
RUSSIA
Sanctions lifted on Abkhazia
MOSCOW — Russia said yesterday that it is lifting trade and financial sanctions on Abkhazia, a breakaway Georgian region that wants to be recognized as an independent country — like Kosovo.
Russia strenuously objected to Kosovo's declaration of independence last month, and President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would not "ape" the West, indicating it will not move swiftly to recognize the breakaway regions. But the Foreign Ministry said that due to "changed circumstances" Russia is not obliged to follow the trade, financial and other restrictions it and other former Soviet republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States had imposed.
BURMA
U.N. envoy returns to revive talks
BANGKOK — U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Burma yesterday amid waning optimism about his mission to get the military junta to start talks with the opposition on political reform.
The Nigerian envoy, on his third visit to Burma since a bloody crackdown on monk-led protests last September, held talks with Foreign Minister Nyan Win.
The visit is Mr. Gambari's first chance to hold face-to-face talks with the generals since their unexpected announcement last month of a constitutional referendum to be held in May, to be followed by a general election in 2010.
AFGHANISTAN
Norwegian named as U.N. envoy
NEW YORK — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday named Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide his new envoy for Afghanistan. Mr. Eide, a former Norwegian ambassador to NATO, replaces Tom Koenigs of Germany.
In a letter obtained by Reuters news agency, Mr. Ban notified the Security Council of his "intention to appoint" Eide. The appointment is formally subject to the council's approval but in practice takes effect if there are no objections.
INDIA
Kashmir poisons stray dogs
SRINAGAR — Authorities in Indian Kashmir have begun poisoning stray dogs in an anti-rabies drive that aims to kill some 100,000 dogs in the region's main city, officials said yesterday.
Animal rights activists vowed to go to court to stop the slaughter planned by Srinagar city, saying it is an illegal and cruel solution to a problem that could be better addressed with other methods.
India accounts for more than 60 percent of the world's estimated 35,000 annual rabies deaths, according to the World Health Organization, and stray dogs are often blamed.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/...plate=printart