DESPITE the bureaucratic mishandling of Wednesday`s announcement about the granting of Most Favoured Status nation to India no decisions have yet been taken, notwithstanding the information minister`s statement reports indicate that the government is seriously considering the move. If implemented, it would have a far-reaching impact on relations between the two countries.
Some political parties have expressed concerns over the consequences it would have on Pakistan`s security. Objections have also come from trade lobbies that fear Indian imports could hit domestic industry and add to unemployment. However, the issue is not so simple: the `Most Favoured Nation` tag is a misnomer, for it is actually a non-discriminatory regime that more or less all nations have to extend to each other as members of the World Trade Organisation. This would also strengthen Pakistan`s case for the removal of non-tariff barriers, which are a major source of the current imbalance in bilateral trade to Islamabad`s disadvantage.
It will take quite some time before the MFN process goes into effect. A number of issues will need to be ironed out before India can be brought in line with other countries Pakistan has granted MFN status to. The commerce ministry will also have to take up the issue with Indian officials for finalising a roadmap for freertrade. But as the commerce secretary said, `the entire trade liberalisation process is linked with the removal of non-tariff barriers` by India. If it does get going, the MFN regime would help reduce the considerable amount of informal trade between Pakistan and India and generate more revenue. Besides, stiff competition from imports would prompt Pakistani industry to improve the quality of its products and make its prices competitive.
The political advantages of mutual MFN treatment would outweigh the economic disadvantages that certain trade and industry groups are apprehensive about. The basic challenge is to move toward normalisation and make a success of the peace process that was so rudely broken by Mumbai-II. The 12-point statement issued by the two foreign secretaries in June and the satisfactory outcome of talks between Foreign Ministers Hina Rabbani Khar and S. M.
Krishna in Islamabad a month later have served to lower tensions and committed the sides to an `uninterruptible` peace process. The move towards freer trade, coming ahead of the Saarc summit meeting in the Maldives, should be seen in that spirit. One hopes that MFN status for India will eventually be granted and will prompt the two sides to make progress on other issues, especially the delayed visa liberalisation regime and India`s pledge to support Pakistan`s case for access to the EU market.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
GM mosquitoes - Genetic Engineering.
THE country has seen an unprecedented number of dengue cases over the summer and the authorities have proved virtually ineffective in tackling the crisis. In this context, the creation of genetically engineered mosquitoes appears, at first glance, a promising piece of research. The British biotechnology company Oxitec has created Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the male variety of which contains a fatal gene. When these mosquitoes are released into the wild, they will live long enough to mate but their progeny will die before reaching adulthood, diluting and eventually reducing mosquito populations. The first such release, discussed in a scientific paper published on Sunday, took place in 2009 in the Cayman Islands. An open-air test is now to be conducted in Florida Keys, pending approval from the US Agriculture Department. The project`s proponents believe that this is a more ecologically friendly method of mosquito control than insecticides.However, even supporters of the research are concerned that the public`s reaction to this development may be in line with its reluctance to accept genetically modified crops. Once the mosquitoes are released, there is no way of recalling them, and negative environmental or human/animal health consequences in the long term cannot be ruled out. Mosquitoes could evolve a resistance to the lethal gene. Also, thereis the chance oferror in the sorting of mosquitoes, which is done by hand: only males can be released since it is the females that bite and transmit disease. If millions of modified mosquitoes are released, even a small percentage of females among them could lead to a increase in the spread of disease. Oxitec has been accused of rushing into the field test stage without sufficient review, and in countries with weak regulations governing public health. It should proceed with caution, for playing with nature can lead to unintended consequences.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Confusion over MFN status for India
SLAMABAD, Nov 2: A flurry of contradictory statements by the information minister and the commerce minister in a single day kept the answer to the question unclear: has Islamabad given India the status of the most-favoured nation (MFN) or not? The issue of granting MFN status has been much-hyped in recent days, especially since the prime ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to meet during the Nov 10-11 Saarc summit in Maldives.
A cabinet meeting on Wednesday was to discuss the normalisation of trade with India.
Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashig Awan told a crowded press conference that the cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had `unanimously` decided to grant India the MFN status to improve trade relations between the two countries.
Defending the coalition government`s decision, she said the step was taken in view of national and geo-strategic interests. `All stakeholders were taken into confidence, including our military and defence institutions,` she claimed, adding that no compromise would be made on national sovereignty.
Furthermore, she said, the move would not affect Pakistan`s stance on the Kashmir issue a sore point between the two countries that for decades has marred economic and trade relations.
When asked if Kashmiri leaders had been taken into confidence, the minister said the two parts of Kashmir were already trading across the Line of Control (LOC), bus services were operational, and that the Kashmiri leadership had been engaged on the issue.
To further justify her government move, Dr Awan gave the example of China, which has bolstered its trade relations with India despite having territorial disputes. `We cannot live in regional isolation,` she insisted.
However, a press note issued after the briefing by the commerce ministry did not mention that Pakistan had granted MFN status to India. It just said that the ministry apprised the cabinet on the current process of trade normalisation with India.
`The cabinet fully endorsed the efforts of the ministry for complete normalisation of trade relations and directed to implement in letter and spirit the decisions taken in this regard,` the statement read. It further said that the cabinet gave the ministry `the man-date to take the process of normalisation forward, which would culminate in the observance of MFN principle in its true spirit` When Dawn contacted Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood, who briefed the cabinet on the trade talks held so far with India, he too avoided saying that `MFN status for India had been granted` but admitted that it was a vital part of the trade normalisation process.
He elaborated that a roadmap for trade normalisation would be finalised during his meeting with his Indian counterpart in November.
`But the entire trade liberalisation process is linked with the removal of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) by the Indian government,` he insisted.
India granted Pakistan MFN status in 1996, but Islamabad was reluctant to reciprocate arguing that India maintained a long list of NTBs that restrict Pakistan`s exports to India despite having the MFN facility.
Meanwhile, after the issuance of the commerce ministry statement when Dawn approached the information minister, she backtracked from her earlier announcement.
Asked whether the cabinet had granted MFN status to India, she replied that the cabinet had granted approval to the secretary commerce to continue the trade normalisation talks with India.
`Commerce secretary cannot talk to India without the cabinet approval.` Ms Awan said the commerce secretary would meet his Indian counterpart in India in mid-November to discuss ways to boost trade. `They will sign documents during the meeting,` she said but did not elaborate on the nature of the documents.
Statistics show that trade between the two countries was $1.4 billion in the year 2009-10.
Of these, Indian exports to Pakistan stood at $1.2 billion, while Pakistan exports to India were a mere $268 million clear proof that India had not opened up its market for Pakistani goods.
This is not surprising as Pakistan trades with India under the positive trade list. While Pakistan has allowed 1,946 items to be imported from India, the latter does not allow trade of 850 items from Pakistan.
Under the trade normalisation process, one issue would be the switching over from positive list to negative list based trade, and if word is to be believed then the ministry of commerce has already worked out a negative list in consultation with all stakeholders. This list is awaiting approval of the cabinet.
Meanwhile, responding to a supplementary question in the Senate, Minister for Commerce Amin Fahim said India had assured that it would support Pakistan in the World Trade Organisation for getting access to the European market. Mr Fahim, who did not inform the house about the cabinet proceedings whether it granted the MFN status to India or not, just referred to the one-time trade facility that the European Union announced last year for Pakistan to help the floodaffected people but that facility was blocked by India in January last.
A cabinet meeting on Wednesday was to discuss the normalisation of trade with India.
Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashig Awan told a crowded press conference that the cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had `unanimously` decided to grant India the MFN status to improve trade relations between the two countries.
Defending the coalition government`s decision, she said the step was taken in view of national and geo-strategic interests. `All stakeholders were taken into confidence, including our military and defence institutions,` she claimed, adding that no compromise would be made on national sovereignty.
Furthermore, she said, the move would not affect Pakistan`s stance on the Kashmir issue a sore point between the two countries that for decades has marred economic and trade relations.
When asked if Kashmiri leaders had been taken into confidence, the minister said the two parts of Kashmir were already trading across the Line of Control (LOC), bus services were operational, and that the Kashmiri leadership had been engaged on the issue.
To further justify her government move, Dr Awan gave the example of China, which has bolstered its trade relations with India despite having territorial disputes. `We cannot live in regional isolation,` she insisted.
However, a press note issued after the briefing by the commerce ministry did not mention that Pakistan had granted MFN status to India. It just said that the ministry apprised the cabinet on the current process of trade normalisation with India.
`The cabinet fully endorsed the efforts of the ministry for complete normalisation of trade relations and directed to implement in letter and spirit the decisions taken in this regard,` the statement read. It further said that the cabinet gave the ministry `the man-date to take the process of normalisation forward, which would culminate in the observance of MFN principle in its true spirit` When Dawn contacted Secretary Commerce Zafar Mehmood, who briefed the cabinet on the trade talks held so far with India, he too avoided saying that `MFN status for India had been granted` but admitted that it was a vital part of the trade normalisation process.
He elaborated that a roadmap for trade normalisation would be finalised during his meeting with his Indian counterpart in November.
`But the entire trade liberalisation process is linked with the removal of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) by the Indian government,` he insisted.
India granted Pakistan MFN status in 1996, but Islamabad was reluctant to reciprocate arguing that India maintained a long list of NTBs that restrict Pakistan`s exports to India despite having the MFN facility.
Meanwhile, after the issuance of the commerce ministry statement when Dawn approached the information minister, she backtracked from her earlier announcement.
Asked whether the cabinet had granted MFN status to India, she replied that the cabinet had granted approval to the secretary commerce to continue the trade normalisation talks with India.
`Commerce secretary cannot talk to India without the cabinet approval.` Ms Awan said the commerce secretary would meet his Indian counterpart in India in mid-November to discuss ways to boost trade. `They will sign documents during the meeting,` she said but did not elaborate on the nature of the documents.
Statistics show that trade between the two countries was $1.4 billion in the year 2009-10.
Of these, Indian exports to Pakistan stood at $1.2 billion, while Pakistan exports to India were a mere $268 million clear proof that India had not opened up its market for Pakistani goods.
This is not surprising as Pakistan trades with India under the positive trade list. While Pakistan has allowed 1,946 items to be imported from India, the latter does not allow trade of 850 items from Pakistan.
Under the trade normalisation process, one issue would be the switching over from positive list to negative list based trade, and if word is to be believed then the ministry of commerce has already worked out a negative list in consultation with all stakeholders. This list is awaiting approval of the cabinet.
Meanwhile, responding to a supplementary question in the Senate, Minister for Commerce Amin Fahim said India had assured that it would support Pakistan in the World Trade Organisation for getting access to the European market. Mr Fahim, who did not inform the house about the cabinet proceedings whether it granted the MFN status to India or not, just referred to the one-time trade facility that the European Union announced last year for Pakistan to help the floodaffected people but that facility was blocked by India in January last.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Lahore Show. Sharif Brothers---------!
ALTHOUGH the Sharif brothers were already at war with President Zardari and his party, Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif formally announced this at a Lahore rally. Shahbaz Sharif demanded the president resign, but the language in which this demand was made cannot be reproduced because of journalistic ethics.
The language was neither civilised nor political.
Shahbaz Sharif apart from his fiery speech also displayed his singing talent ... A new polarisation is in the offing. Fullstrength is being used to block the Senate election scheduled for next March. And to achieve this goal, all promisesare being made to roll back the democratic system.
Elections are a part of the democratic process and those who claim to be champions of democracy are bent upon raising hurdles ... to overthrow [the president] ... [this] cannot be termed democratic.
When Gen Musharraf overthrew the Nawaz Sharif government, it was an illegal and unconstitutional act..
Anti-democratic forces after their defeat in the 2008 elections were pushed to their deathbed. These were the forces that had sent Nawaz Sharif packing, but now the Sharif brothers are becomingtools in the hands of those forces. Anti-democratic forces have been active in our country and habitually change on the chessboard and in the power paradigm..
We would like to recall the words of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif which he has repeated on a number of occasions that he will not be part of the game of overthrowing the elected government.
Unfortunately, now the Sharif brothers are leading the campaign for overthrowing this elected government. Many interesting scenes were wit-nessed at the Sharifs` Lahore show. ...Protests are a democratic right.
But the way the Sharif brothers are resortingto these does not suit those who claim to be democrats.
.When the Sharif brothers returned home they did not stage such a protest against the dictator Gen Musharraf, who had overthrown their government. Was there no danger to democracy and the country at that time? We would like to advise the Sharif brothers to use civilised language. It appears they are acting according to a prepared script to block the Senate elections, which does not suit any democrat. ... (Oct 29)= Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi
The language was neither civilised nor political.
Shahbaz Sharif apart from his fiery speech also displayed his singing talent ... A new polarisation is in the offing. Fullstrength is being used to block the Senate election scheduled for next March. And to achieve this goal, all promisesare being made to roll back the democratic system.
Elections are a part of the democratic process and those who claim to be champions of democracy are bent upon raising hurdles ... to overthrow [the president] ... [this] cannot be termed democratic.
When Gen Musharraf overthrew the Nawaz Sharif government, it was an illegal and unconstitutional act..
Anti-democratic forces after their defeat in the 2008 elections were pushed to their deathbed. These were the forces that had sent Nawaz Sharif packing, but now the Sharif brothers are becomingtools in the hands of those forces. Anti-democratic forces have been active in our country and habitually change on the chessboard and in the power paradigm..
We would like to recall the words of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif which he has repeated on a number of occasions that he will not be part of the game of overthrowing the elected government.
Unfortunately, now the Sharif brothers are leading the campaign for overthrowing this elected government. Many interesting scenes were wit-nessed at the Sharifs` Lahore show. ...Protests are a democratic right.
But the way the Sharif brothers are resortingto these does not suit those who claim to be democrats.
.When the Sharif brothers returned home they did not stage such a protest against the dictator Gen Musharraf, who had overthrown their government. Was there no danger to democracy and the country at that time? We would like to advise the Sharif brothers to use civilised language. It appears they are acting according to a prepared script to block the Senate elections, which does not suit any democrat. ... (Oct 29)= Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi
PTI rally
LAHORE has broken the monotone and created space for Imran Khan to send his message across.
At the Minar-i-Pakistan meeting on Sunday, Mr Khan highlighted some salient features of his `Save Pakistan` campaign.
He threatened a countrywide blockade if those in government did not declare their assets; he vowed he would rather die than beg for money; he said that he would never use the army against its own people.
This was more or less a repeat of his recent speeches. It was the size of the rally and its venue which lent greater significance to the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf challenge.
The rally was easily one of the biggest in Lahore in recent times a surprise to both detractors and old fans frustrated by Mr Khan`s inability to live up to the promise he made when his party was set up a decade and a half ago.
Imran Khan the politician has taken a long time to arrive in his hometown.
His arrival now has been facilitated in large measure by the popular disillusionment with the old power politicians. These old players are viewed by people as being too involved in their own persistent duels to allow a surge for real change in Pakistan. In a way, Mr Khan today stands at adistance from the deeply polarised Pakistani politics where a debunking of President Zardariis often equal to support for the Sharif camp, and vice versa. His recent rise as a popular leader has coincided with his attacks on the PML-N. His stance on the judiciary has helped as have his relatively bolder positions on serious Pakistani problems such as the war on terror and the drone attacks.
The gathering at the rally was varied as it was big; young and old, men and women, children, professionals, political activists many drawn from the PML-N and the PPP.
Some among them may have an issue with certain parts of Mr Khan`s emerging ideology, but it appears as if they are prepared to, for now, ignore these details and commit themselves to a drive for dismantling the old and for creating a third option in Pakistan. They have made a start but the task will take some doing, still.
The successful PTI show on Sunday has led to comparisons with Benazir Bhutto`s rally held at the same venue in 1986. The Minar is a pyramid rooted in people`s wishes with a cage-like top. It can also serve as a symbol for the sad compromises those who have been hailed in its shadow have later had to make to be in power.
At the Minar-i-Pakistan meeting on Sunday, Mr Khan highlighted some salient features of his `Save Pakistan` campaign.
He threatened a countrywide blockade if those in government did not declare their assets; he vowed he would rather die than beg for money; he said that he would never use the army against its own people.
This was more or less a repeat of his recent speeches. It was the size of the rally and its venue which lent greater significance to the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf challenge.
The rally was easily one of the biggest in Lahore in recent times a surprise to both detractors and old fans frustrated by Mr Khan`s inability to live up to the promise he made when his party was set up a decade and a half ago.
Imran Khan the politician has taken a long time to arrive in his hometown.
His arrival now has been facilitated in large measure by the popular disillusionment with the old power politicians. These old players are viewed by people as being too involved in their own persistent duels to allow a surge for real change in Pakistan. In a way, Mr Khan today stands at adistance from the deeply polarised Pakistani politics where a debunking of President Zardariis often equal to support for the Sharif camp, and vice versa. His recent rise as a popular leader has coincided with his attacks on the PML-N. His stance on the judiciary has helped as have his relatively bolder positions on serious Pakistani problems such as the war on terror and the drone attacks.
The gathering at the rally was varied as it was big; young and old, men and women, children, professionals, political activists many drawn from the PML-N and the PPP.
Some among them may have an issue with certain parts of Mr Khan`s emerging ideology, but it appears as if they are prepared to, for now, ignore these details and commit themselves to a drive for dismantling the old and for creating a third option in Pakistan. They have made a start but the task will take some doing, still.
The successful PTI show on Sunday has led to comparisons with Benazir Bhutto`s rally held at the same venue in 1986. The Minar is a pyramid rooted in people`s wishes with a cage-like top. It can also serve as a symbol for the sad compromises those who have been hailed in its shadow have later had to make to be in power.
Post-Qadhafi Libya
THE Nato high command has taken a sensible decision. On Thursday, it decided to end its mission on Monday, as was scheduled, rejecting Libya`s National Transitional Council`s plea for an extension `at least` till year`s end. Evidently, Nato was aware of the misgivings that were bound to arise if it were to extend the mission. The request to Nato also showed how weak and vulnerable the NTC felt itself politically and militarily. On the whole, it is not a very auspicious beginning for the new regime. Within days, it had to change its stance on Muammar Qadhafi`s death. Earlier, it had said that the late leader was killed in crossfire between his own loyalists. Now it has agreed to conduct a probe to determine how Col Qadhafi died and bring the killers to justice.
Evidently, the NTC feels shaken by the universal condemnation of the public display of the dead leader`s body in a market freezer and Col Qadhafi`s secret burial at an undisclosed place at night reminding people of what the Americans did to the corpse of Osama bin Laden.Libya`s infrastructure and oil installations have suffered immense damage, and the eight-monthlong fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens. The priority for the NTC should, therefore, be to rebuild Libya, rehabilitate the displaced, restore public utility services and return Libya to a semblance of normality as early as possible. More important, the new regime must try to heal the wounds inflicted by the civil war instead of persecuting Qadhafi loyalists, many of whom fought against the now former rebels as they obeyed orders from a lawful authority. The NTC must, therefore, obey the UN`s demand that it respect the rights of all detainees.
Seeking Nato`s help to build the new Libya`s defence and security systems, as indicated by NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, is to get the priorities wrong. The revolt against the Qadhafi regime was basically a revolt for a democratic way of life.
What the Libyans want is for the NTC to follow the Tunisian example and create conditions for holding fair elections at the earliest.
Evidently, the NTC feels shaken by the universal condemnation of the public display of the dead leader`s body in a market freezer and Col Qadhafi`s secret burial at an undisclosed place at night reminding people of what the Americans did to the corpse of Osama bin Laden.Libya`s infrastructure and oil installations have suffered immense damage, and the eight-monthlong fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens. The priority for the NTC should, therefore, be to rebuild Libya, rehabilitate the displaced, restore public utility services and return Libya to a semblance of normality as early as possible. More important, the new regime must try to heal the wounds inflicted by the civil war instead of persecuting Qadhafi loyalists, many of whom fought against the now former rebels as they obeyed orders from a lawful authority. The NTC must, therefore, obey the UN`s demand that it respect the rights of all detainees.
Seeking Nato`s help to build the new Libya`s defence and security systems, as indicated by NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, is to get the priorities wrong. The revolt against the Qadhafi regime was basically a revolt for a democratic way of life.
What the Libyans want is for the NTC to follow the Tunisian example and create conditions for holding fair elections at the earliest.
Punishment for admitting Palestine US stops Unesco funding
WASHINGTON, Oct 31: The United States said on Monday it is stopping financial contributions to Unesco after the Palestinians were admitted to the organisation as a full member.
The United States also acknowledged that it could lose international influence as it would lose its right to vote in the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation if it makes no payments over the next two years.
`We were to have made a 60 million dollar payment to Unesco in November and we will not be making that payment,` State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
Ms Nuland said the Palestinian admission `triggers longstanding (US) legislative restrictions which will compel the United States to refrain from making contributions to Unesco`.
The United States provides about 22 per cent of the Unesco annual budget.
The November payment amounts to a tranche of what US officials say is a total annual US contribution of $80 million (57 million euros) to the UN organisation.
Ms Nuland echoed earlier remarks by the White House which said Unesco`s admission of the Palestinians as a full member was `premature` and undermined international peace efforts and hopes of direct talks on a Palestinian state.
The vote, backed by 107 countries in Unesco, was asymbolic victory for the Palestinian drive towards full statehood recognition.
But the United States, which has vowed to block a separate Palestinian call for statehood recognition at the UN Security Council, believes the campaign detracts from tough bargaining needed with Israel on the terms of a Palestinian state.
Ms Nuland said the United States is aware its own interests could be undermined by its withholding funding to Unesco.
`Under Unesco`s constitution, a member state will have no vote in the general conference if it gets more than two years in arrears in its contribution. So our actual arrearage status will begin in January,` she said.
`We now need to have consultations with Congress,` she said.
`Not paying our dues into these organisations could severely restrict and reduce our ability to influence them, our ability to act within them, and we think this affects US interests,` Ms Nuland said.
`So we need to have conversations with Congress about what options might be available to protect our interests,` she said, declining to elaborate.
She conceded that one option would be to gain some sort of flexibility where Washington can still fund Unesco.
Ms Nuland said the United States is also concerned it could lose influence with other UN organisations if the Palestinians are admitted to them as a full member and Washington is automatically forced to withhold funds.-AFP
The United States also acknowledged that it could lose international influence as it would lose its right to vote in the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation if it makes no payments over the next two years.
`We were to have made a 60 million dollar payment to Unesco in November and we will not be making that payment,` State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
Ms Nuland said the Palestinian admission `triggers longstanding (US) legislative restrictions which will compel the United States to refrain from making contributions to Unesco`.
The United States provides about 22 per cent of the Unesco annual budget.
The November payment amounts to a tranche of what US officials say is a total annual US contribution of $80 million (57 million euros) to the UN organisation.
Ms Nuland echoed earlier remarks by the White House which said Unesco`s admission of the Palestinians as a full member was `premature` and undermined international peace efforts and hopes of direct talks on a Palestinian state.
The vote, backed by 107 countries in Unesco, was asymbolic victory for the Palestinian drive towards full statehood recognition.
But the United States, which has vowed to block a separate Palestinian call for statehood recognition at the UN Security Council, believes the campaign detracts from tough bargaining needed with Israel on the terms of a Palestinian state.
Ms Nuland said the United States is aware its own interests could be undermined by its withholding funding to Unesco.
`Under Unesco`s constitution, a member state will have no vote in the general conference if it gets more than two years in arrears in its contribution. So our actual arrearage status will begin in January,` she said.
`We now need to have consultations with Congress,` she said.
`Not paying our dues into these organisations could severely restrict and reduce our ability to influence them, our ability to act within them, and we think this affects US interests,` Ms Nuland said.
`So we need to have conversations with Congress about what options might be available to protect our interests,` she said, declining to elaborate.
She conceded that one option would be to gain some sort of flexibility where Washington can still fund Unesco.
Ms Nuland said the United States is also concerned it could lose influence with other UN organisations if the Palestinians are admitted to them as a full member and Washington is automatically forced to withhold funds.-AFP
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