Wired News on June 17 & 18, 1995

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International Delegation Refused Entrance to Burma

      OSLO, June 18 (Reuter) - Norway expressed regret that an international
delegation was barred from visiting Burma and seeing dissident Aung San Suu
Kyi later this week. 

    ``It is strongly regrettable that Burmese authorities have refused a
delegation from the Socialistic International to enter the country to visit
opposition leader and Nobel laureaute Aung San Suu Kyi,'' the Foreign
Ministry said late on Saturday. 

    Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent campaign for
democracy and has become a symbol for Burmese seeking to end decades of
military rule. She has been held under house arrest since July 1989. 

    Thorbjoern Jagland, leader of Norway's ruling Labour Party, was part of
the delegation which had planned to visit Rangoon on June 20-22. 

    ``The Norwegian government will again appeal to Burmese authorities to
release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and begin a credible
process of reconciliation,'' the Norwegian Foreign Ministry statement said. 

REUTER
*************

Full Text of G7 Closing Communique

****  Please see the section of ASIA-PACIFIC. ****

      DOCUMENT DATE: JUNE 17, 1995 

    HALIFAX, Nova Scotia - Following is the full text of the chairman's
statement on political and security issues, released at the close of the
Halifax Summit 

   1. In this 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the
birth of the United Nations, we discussed in a spirit of cooperation
political issues of global importance. Noting with satisfaction what has been
achieved through reconciliation and cooperation, we confirmed our desire to
work together ever more closely in finding solutions. 

    COMMITMENT TO MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT 

    2. We reaffirm our commitment to the U.N., whose Charter lays down the
fundamental principles for an international order based on peace and
security, sustainable development and respect for human rights. 

    We support measures to strengthen the U.N., which is called upon to play
an ever more important role in the post Cold War period, and will work with
other Member States to build, through concrete reforms of the institutions, a
more effective and efficient organisation to meet the challenges of the next
half-century. We call upon Member States to meet their financial obligations
and urge early agreement on reform of the system of assessment. 

    3. The United Nations must be able to act more quickly and effectively to
address threats to international peace and security. We, for our part, are
determined to coordinate more closely our individual efforts to assist in the
prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. 

    A high priority should be placed on the early warning of crises,
political mediation and, in accordance with realistic mandates, the rapid
deployment of U.N. civilian and military personnel, including peackeepers, to
areas of conflict. 

    We encourage further efforts to improve operational planning and
procedures for peacekeeping missions as well as to modernise command and
control equipment, logistical arrangements and facilities. We also stress the
need for measures to ensure the security of U.N. personnel, including the
early entry into force of the recently-adopted U.N. Convention for the Safety
of United Nations and Associated Personnel. 

    We welcome the growing role of regional organisations and arrangements in
building stability and security, in the prevention and management of
conflicts, and we attach special importance to reinforcing cooperation
between such organisations and the United Nations. 

    ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT 

    4. We welcome the indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty and the commitment of States party to the universalisation of the
Treaty as well as their decisions to strengthen the review process and adopt
a set of principles and objectives for non-proliferation and disarmament. The
entry into force of START I is a major landmark in the process of nuclear
arms control, which was greatly helped by the decision of Ukraine to accede
to the NPT. We now look forward to the early ratification of START II. We
support the safe and secure dismantlement of the nuclear weapons eliminated
under START I and welcome the work of the United States and Russia on
measures to ensure that the fissile material from these weapons is rendered
unusable for weapons purposes. The disposal of weapons-grade plutonium
deserves particular attention and we encourage its further study. 

    5. We are encouraged by the growing international recognition of the need
to complete without delay universal, comprehensive and verifiable treaties to
ban nuclear weapons tests and to cut off the production of fissile material
for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices. Recognising the
continuing dangers posed worldwide by criminal diversion and illicit
trafficking of nuclear materials, and drawing on the decisions taken in
Naples and the practical work undertaken by our experts since then, we
resolve to work together to strengthen systems of control, accounting and
physical security for nuclear materials; to expand our cooperation in the
area of customs, law enforcement and intelligence and to strengthen through
venues such as the IAEA and INTERPOL the international community's ability to
combat nuclear theft and smuggling. We emphasise the importance of bringing
the Chemical Weapons Convention into force at the earliest possible date, and
call for rapid progress in developing verification systems for the Biological
and Toxin Weapons Convention. 

    6. The excessive transfer of conventional arms, in particular to areas of
conflict, is on of our main preoccupations. We are appalled by the continuing
injuries to civilians caused by anti-personnel landmines. We urge States to
become party to the 1980 Conventional Weapons Convention and to participate
in its review conference this fall in an effort to strengthen multilateral
controls over anti-personnel landmines. We urge all countries to support full
implementation of the U.N. Register of Conventional Arms, and note that
Article 26 of the U.N. Charter calls for ``the least diversion for armaments
of the world's human and economic resources.'' Regional organisations can
help promote transparency and confidence- building measures that reduce
excessive stockpiling of conventional weapons. We shall work with others for
effective and responsible export controls on arms and sensitive dual-use
goods and technologies. 

    PROMOTING NEW APPROACHES 

    7. New approaches are needed in the U.N. and elsewhere to deal with
emerging global challenges such as environmental degradation, unsustainable
population growth, mass displacement of victims of conflict and involuntary
migration across borders. Initiatives such as the U.N. Secretary General's
Agenda for Development that highight the linkages between economic, social
and political issues could make an important contribution to international
stability. We commit ourselves to working with other Member States to build
on it. We also recognise the importance of non-governmental organisations in
the U.N.'s work on economic and social development, including human rights
and humanitarian assistance, and believe that greater coordination of their
efforts with those of the U.N. and other organisations would benefit the
world community. We reiterate our firm belief in the necessity for the
international community to promote efficient means to respond promptly to
humanitarian emergencies, and support the work of the WEU in this area. 

    8. Respect for the rights of the individual is at the heart of a durable,
secure and prosperous international order. We will work to promote good
governance and democratic accountability, which are the surest guarantees of
respect for universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. We condemn all
forms of discrimination and intolerance, including aggressive nationalism and
the mistreatment of persons belonging to minorities. We call upon all States
to protect the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
and to ratify and comply fully with international Covenants and other
multilateral human rights instruments. We reaffirm our support for the U.N.
High Commissioner for Human Rights and his coordinating role on human rights
throughout the U.N. system. We call for the strengthening of international
mechanisms of accountability for human rights violations, and on governments
to cooperate fully with courts, tribunals, and investigative commissions,
including on the effective pursuit of individual cases within the bounds of
international and domestic law. 

    9. We restate our resolve to defeat all forms of terrorism. Following
recent outrages, we agree to share more intensively our experiences of, and
lessons learned from, major terrorist incidents, and to strengthen our
cooperation in all areas of counter-terrorism, including research and
technology. We call upon all States that assist terrorists to renounce
terrorism and to deny financial support, the use of their territory or any
other means of support to terrorist organisations. We attach particular
importance to measures to impede the ability of terrorist organisations to
raise funds, and urge other governments to strenuously enforce laws against
terrorist activity and join existing treaties and conventions against
terrorism. In pursuit of these shared aims, we charge our terrorism experts
group to report to a ministerial level meeting on specific, cooperative
measures to deter, prevent, and investigate terrorist acts. These sessions
should be held prior to our next meeting. 

      10. Transnational criminal organisations are a growing threat to the
security of our nations. They undermine the integrity of the financial
systems, breed corruption, and weaken emerging democracies and developing
countries around the world. To counter their criminal activities effectively,
we will work to reinforce existing institutions, strengthen our cooperation,
exchange of information, and assistance to other nations. Sanctuaries
provided by some countries to transnational criminal organisations and their
agents create a major difficulty in the implementation of justice. We all
agree to cooperate more closely together, and with others, to ensure that
they cannot escape justice by crossing borders. We encourage all governments
to adhere to and implement relevant international conventions and the
recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force. We recognise that
ultimate success requires all governments to provide for effective measures
to prevent the laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking and other serious
crimes. To implement our commitments in the fight against transnational
organised crime, we have established a group of senior experts with a
temporary mandate to look at existing arrangements for cooperation both
bilateral and multilateral, to identify significant gaps and options for
improved coordination and to propose practical action to fill such gaps. The
group will report back to the summit in 1996. 

    EUROPE 

    11. After five decades of division, we now have the historic opportunity
to establish in all of Europe democracy, market economy, stability, peace and
prosperity. We strongly support the contribution of the European Union to
stability and cooperation through its Europe Agreements with Central European
countries and the Baltic States as well as through Partnership Agreements
with Russia, Ukraine and other newly independent States. We encourage States
to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded by the Pact on Stability
in Europe and NATO's Partnership for Peace programme for enhancing security
and stability in the whole of Europe. We encourage other multilateral fora
and arrangements to assist in the integration of Europe. We are pleased with
the steps taken at the Budapest Summit last year to strengthen the
capabilities of the OSCE, and we will contribute to the OSCE study into a
security model for Europe for the 21st century. 

    12. We are deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of hostilities
in Bosnia, especially in the area of Sarajevo. We appeal to all parties to
establish an immediate moratorium on military operations in order to allow
political negotiations, without which no lasting solution is possible, to
resume as quickly as possible on the basis of the Contact Group proposals
which we urge the Bosnian Serbs to accept. 

    13. We condemn the taking of UN hostages by the Bosnian Serbs, their
deplorable shelling of civilian populations and their obstruction of
UNPROFOR's freedom of movement.  We demand the immediate and unconditional
release of the remaining hostages, and hold the Bosnian Serb leadership
accountable for their safety. We call on the Bosnian government and all other
parties to renew the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, and to ensure the
free passage of humanitarian assistance. 

    14. We welcome the decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen
UNPROFOR and to provide it with a rapid reaction capacity to enhance its
security and its ability to protect civilians, facilitate the delivery of
humanitarian assistance and promote conditions for a lasting peace.  The
Rapid Reaction Force will be under UN command, as stipulated in the Security
Council resolution, and operate in accordance with UNPROFOR's existing
mandate. 

    15. We call for renewed impetus to be given urgently to the peace process
and, in this connection, we welcome the appointment of Carl Bildt as EU
negotiator, and offer our strong support to him and to UN negotiator Thorvald
Stoltenberg in their efforts to achieve a durable settlement. 

    16. We call for early mutual recognition between the republics of the
former Yugoslavia within their existing internationally recognised borders;
recognition between Bosnia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would be an
important first step, and we urge President Milosevic to take it.  The
Bosnian-Croat Federation is a way to advance reconciliation, and we continue
to support steps to help stabilise the situation in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. 

    17. We remain concerned about the risk of further fighting in Croatia.
 Both the Croatian government and the Croatian Serbs must exercise restraint.
 We urge the parties to honour the March 29, 1994 ceasefire and to cooperate
with the United Nations in implementing UNCRO's new mandate.  We call for
further development of the Economic Agreement between the two sides and the
opening of political talks to achieve a settlement respecting the
internationally recognised borders of Croatia while establishing autonomy for
the Serb population on the basis of the principles underlying the Zagreb-4
Plan for Croatia. 

    MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA 

    18. The Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty is an important building block for
peace throughout the region.  It is imperative that the momentum for peace be
maintained.  We encourage the conclusion of peace treaties between Israel and
Lebanon and Syria.  We pledge our firm support for the Israeli-Palestinian
Declaration of Principles.  We urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to
conclude, as agreed between them, the arrangements for elections in the
Palestinian Autonomous Territory and the redeployment of Israeli Defence
Forces.  We also recognise the importance of the economic basis for peace,
notably the need for regional integration. We reiterate our call to the
League of Arab States to end its boycott of Israel. 

    19. We call upon the Government of Iran to participate constructively in
regional and world affairs, and to desist from supporting radical groups that
seek to destroy the Middle East Peace Processs and destabilise the region.
 We also call on the Iranian Government to reject terrorism and, in
particular, to withdraw its support from the continuing threats to the life
of Mr. Salman Rushdie and others associated with his work.  We call on all
States to avoid any collaboration with Iran which might contribute to the
acquisition of a nuclear weapons capability. 

    20. We reiterate our resolve to enforce full implementation of each and
every relevant UN Security Council resolution concerning Iraq and Libya until
they are complied with, and recall that such implementation would entail the
reassessment of sanctions.  We urge Iraq to reconsider its rejection of UN
Security Council Resolution 986 which would permit the sale of oil and
purchase of humanitarian goods. 

    21. We support the positive steps of the Algerian Government towards
economic reform, and believe that peace and stability provide the only
durable foundation for success.  We call for an end to the violence in
Algeria, and urge all parties that accept non-violent and democratic
principles to pursue political reconciliation through peaceful dialogue and a
genuine electoral process. 

    22. We applaud the peaceful and democratic transition of power in South
Africa, the successful holding of elections elsewhere in Southern Africa, and
the Angolan peace process. These developments provide good grounds for
optimism about Africa's longer term prospects.  We will continue to support
efforts by African leaders to prevent conflict and enhance the welfare of
their populations through democratization, structural reform, and economic
liberalisation. 

    23. We condemn extremists in Burundi and Rwanda and support measures to
hold them accountable for their actions, including through the International
Tribunal for Rwanda. We call for greater international suport for
humanitarian assistance for the Rwanda/Burundi region. We support the
convening of a U.N. and OAU-sponsored Conference on Stability and Security in
the Lakes Region. 

      ASIA-PACIFIC 

    24. We welcome the emerging dialogue and cooperation in and with the
Asia-Pacific region in various forms including the ASEAN Regional Forum. We
welcome China's growing participation in international and regional fora
dealing with political, economic and security issues. Each of us will pursue
our respective dialogues with China in the interests of a more stable and
prosperous world. We look forward to a smooth transfer of government in Hong
Kong in 1997, with the object of maintaining its economic prosperity and
social stability. 

    25. We call on North Korea to observe the agreements reached at the NPT
Review and Extension Conference. We believe the Agreed Framework betweeen the
United States and North Korea offers a real prospect for resolving the North
Korea nuclear problem, and we are encouraged by recent developments in this
regard. We call on North Korea to fulfil its commitment to the regime of IAEA
safeguards and to uphold the terms of the Agreed Framework. The support of
the international community can be demonstrated inter alia through
participation in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO).
We also believe that progress in the South-North dialogue will contribute to
peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. 

    26. We are concerned about the potential for conflict in Kashmir and urge
all parties to pursue a peaceful settlement. To help lower tension and build
confidence on the subcontinent, as well as to strengthen the framework of
global security, we urge India and Pakistan to support international arms
control norms, accede to the NPT and refrain from taking further steps
towards ballistic missile deployment or any other mesures that might
precipitate a regional arms race. 

    27. We call on the Government of Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi and
other political prisoners, without conditions, and to engage in a dialogue of
reconciliation aimed at the full and early realisation of democracy and
national unity. 

    28. The South China Sea has become increasingly an area of territorial
dispute. We call upon all parties to resolve their differences in a peceful
manner respecting international norms. 

    AMERICAS    29. We encourage implementation by the States of the
Americas, of the Miami Summit Plan of Action to strengthen democratic
institutions, eliminate the threat of terrorism, eradicate poverty and
discrimination, conserve their natural environment, and negotiate the Free
Trade Area of the Americas. We support the Government of Mexico's bold steps
towards political reform and dialogue. We commend the efforts of the
Guarantor Group of the Rio Protocol to help Peru and Equador achieve a
permanent peace between them. We support international cooperation in Haiti's
economic and democratic development, and look forward to free and open
legislative elections scheduled for June 25. 

 END OF DOCUMENT
********
-------------------------------------end.