Daily Archives: Dec 27, 2012

Syria Needs ‘Real Change’ To End Conflict – Brahimi

International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called on Thursday for real change in Syria to end 21 months of conflict.

He said a transitional government must be established with full powers to rule the country until new elections.

Brahimi, speaking in Damascus at the end of a five-day trip to Syria during which he met President Bashar al-Assad, did not spell out what measures were needed but said that only substantial change would meet the demands of ordinary Syrians.

``Certainly it was clear in Geneva, and it's even clearer now that the change which is needed is not cosmetic or superficial,’’ Brahimi said, referring to an international meeting on Syria in Switzerland six months ago.

``I believe the Syrian people need, want and aspire to genuine change and everyone knows what this means,’’ he said.

``A government must be created with full powers. Full powers means this government must have all the powers of the state,’’ Brahimi stressed. ``This government will hold power during the transitional period.’’

Brahimi is due in Moscow on Saturday and said he is also expected to have a third joint meeting with U.S. and Russian officials soon following two rounds of talks earlier this month.

However, he denied what he said were reports of a U.S.-Russian plan to end the conflict in which 44,000 people have been killed.

The veteran diplomat, who took over as Syrian envoy in August from former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, also said he was not yet proposing a ``complete plan’’ to resolve the crisis.

``What is preferred is that we don't present such a plan until we feel that all sides have agreed to it. That way, implementing it is easy.

``If that doesn't happen, the other solution could be to go to the UN Security Council to issue a binding resolution for everyone,’’ he said.  

               

              

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JTF Destroys 10,000 Drums Of Illegal Product, Arrest Police ASP

Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, Sector 3 of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, on Wednesday destroyed 10,000 drums used for lifting illegal diesel product in Cross River.

Capt. James Joseph, the Public Relations Officer of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army told newsmen in Calabar, that five people were arrested including a serving Assistant Superintendent of Police.

NAN reports that the drums containing the illegal diesel was destroyed at Nigerian Army burning site at Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the JTF arrested the illegal `bunkerers' at Mesembe Avenue at Anatigha in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River through an intelligent report.

Joseph said that the oil thieves were arrested on Christmas eve at 7 p.m, noting that the area was one of the hideout in Calabar South.

``We got an intelligent reports about this hideout, you can see in their hideaway, there are over 10,000 drums of diesel products and when we came, we raided the place,’’ he said.

He said that Nigerian Army was determined to curb the activities of oil theft in Cross River in particular and Nigeria in general.

NAN reports that the oil thieves dredged carnal in Calabar South to enable their boats convey the illegal diesel through water channel.

``Our soldiers have been combing Calabar South to make sure that illegal bunkering does not make headway in Cross River,’’ Joseph said.

Joseph said that Nigerian Army was working in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to check the activities of oil thieves in the state.

He advised the perpetrators of the act to desist from the illegal bunkering or the long arm of the law would catch up with them.

The Army spokesperson said that the six people arrested had been handed over to Civil Defence for further investigations.

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Aliyu Blames Slow Development Of The North On Insecurity

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Wednesday said the security threat by the Boko Haram group in the northern part of the country had stalled development in the region.

Aliyu made the remark during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Minna.

He said that insecurity caused by the sect in the North had made it difficult for investors to invest in the region for fear of losing their investments.

``I am not satisfied with the slow pace of development in the northern region, but under my leadership as chairman of Northern Governors' Forum, we have given the region good leadership.

``Because of the kind of unity, solid decision and encouragement that we have done, if not for security situation that intervened, we will have been what we call a paradise.

``In terms of progress, I am not satisfied with the situation the North is now, because of insecurity slowing down economic activities to the extent that when you invite investors, they are afraid to invest their money for fear of losing their investments,’’ he said.

He said that the development of any state in the North depended on how the governor implemented the decisions of the Northern Governors Forum.

``I can only implement the decisions in Niger state and not in other states,’’ he said.

Aliyu, however, said the slow economic activities was not peculiar to the region alone but the country at large as the activities of the group had given the country a negative image abroad.

 

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