April 21, 2004.

Blast in Saudi Arabia Kills Many

At least nine people were killed and 125 injured Wednesday when two car bombs exploded outside Saudi security headquarters, hospital officials said.
"The explosion resulted from two car bombs that were parked about 50 feet away from the building," a police official told The Associated Press. He said "a number of charred bodies" were carried away from the scene. More

Indian Railways to Do Business in Saudi Arabia

“Indian Railways have enormous opportunities to take up mass rapid transit system, sky bus and provision of catering and packaged drinking water to the Haj Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia”. This was stated by Shri K. Hassan, Advisor while giving an audio-visual presentation on “The Haj Experience—A First Hand Account” under the aegis of the Institute of Rail Transport here. Shri Hassan was speaking about his experience of the Haj this year in Saudi Arabia. Talking of the various opportunities in Saudi Arabia, Shri Hassan said the Indian Railways could participate in business, technology, transport, communications, medicines through its public sector arms of IRCON, RITES and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), taking advantage of the current Arab disenchantment against the West. He said India was rated very high in the Arab world and Indian Railways could take advantage of it. He further said that during the annual Haj Pilgrimage, more than two million people congregate and about eight lakh people perform Umra, a ritual similar to the Haj, daily. Managing such a large congregation was a daunting task, which could afford immense business opportunities for the Indian Railways, he said.

BAE SYSTEMS EXPERTS ADDRESS RIYADH ELECTRONIC WARFARE SYMPOSIUM

HELICOPTER OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY AND INTEGRATED SYSTEMS IN SPOTLIGHT

Dubai 20/04/04 Leading experts from BAE Systems, the international systems, defence and commercial aerospace company, are addressing armed forces representatives from around the Gulf at the Second Electronic Warfare Symposium being held in Riyadh this week. Taking the conference platform as keynote speakers are Colonel David Husband (Rtd), head of Helicopter Operational Capability in BAE Systems Avionics and Ron Marquis, IntegratedSystems product manager in the BAE Systems’ joint venture AMS. The company is also demonstrating its state-of-the-art systems at the event’s associated exhibition and is presenting an introduction to its C4ISR systems - the new generation of command, control, communication, computers, information, surveillance and reconnaissance technology for the electronic battlefield.

Also being showcased are BAE Systems’ electronic warfare training packages and the development of customised training for military personnel of all levels. Workshops are also being held to demonstrate the importance of new technology and how training to operate it can be conducted in a classroom environment.

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. The company is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company employs 90,000 people, generating annual sales of approximately £12 billion, through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations. BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.

JVC Launches Thirty Products Into Mid East and Africa Aims to Become Regional Flat Screen, Audio and Video Powerhouse

 

Dubai 21 April 2004 JVC Gulf , innovators for the perfect experience in consumer electronics, has launched 30 new products across its flat-screen, video and audio ranges and says it intends to revitalise the brand across the Mediterranean , Africa , Middle East , Central and West Asia .“JVC is a well known brand; but the time has come to elevate its standing in the consumer electronics community,” said Mr. Yoshikazu Yamamoto, President, JVC Gulf .

“JVC has a reputation for pioneering consumer electronics products and recognition for its innovation and achievements has grown over the years in its peer group. Our growth through to 2006 will make JVC even more synonymous with high-quality, value-added premium products.

JVC’s regional sales growth has seen revenues increase from US$100m in 2001 to US$200m in 2003 – an average year-on-year rise of 50%. The company anticipates that level of growth to continue with revenues of over US$300m being targeted by 2006.“We intend to enhance our regional perception and grow the brand’s rightful stature as an innovator and a regional powerhouse in audio, flat-screen and video products,” said Mr. Yoshiki Matsushima, General Manager – Sales, JVC Gulf “While all JVC product categories had shown steady and healthy growth last year, the largest contribution to sales growth came from the car-audio and camcorder sectors.“In the last two years, increases in colour TV and DVD-player sales have also added to increased revenues.” Matsushima added there was a dramatic market shift from VCD to DVD players across the region during 2003, heralding a new era in home entertainment.

“JVC experienced a 100% increase in its DVD home-theatre system sales last year and we see this trend continuing. We are targeting a three-fold increase in sales of DVD systems for 2004,” he said. “Having said that, there are countries throughout the region that still rely on VHS technology and we intend to fully support that sector.”

Across the Mediterranean , Africa , Middle East , Central and West Asia , JVC Gulf has direct responsibility for over 80 countries in its territory. JVC’s current distribution model is active in 50 countries where it provides direct support in sales, marketing and after-sales for its distribution network. “Our mid term strategy will be to build on our core competencies focussing on innovation in technology and over the course of the next 18-months, we will steadily increase our distribution network across the remaining 30 countries,” said Matsushima.

“Our commitment to distributors in local markets will bring JVC closer to its customer base and ensure consistency in brand representation throughout the region.” JVC also has its eye on recapturing its customers’ imagination for a term that has lost a degree of cachet in the past. ‘High-fidelity’ may be a term recognised from years ago, but JVC believes it has a place in current terminology.

“JVC targets high-fidelity as a standard – that is it produces sound and vision products that give very high similarity between the original signal and the reproduced (recorded/played) signal,” said Mr. C. Purushotam, JVC Gulf ’s Marketing Executive. “Our commitment to Hi-Fi in video products has led to the development of an entire range which benefits from PAL progressive scan technology.”

JVC has invested heavily in developing progressive-scan technology across a number of product categories and is currently the only company to have developed a ‘family’ of products using PAL progressive-scan.

“Interlaced scanning is a method that creates a TV picture with alternating lines of information and is the cause for line-flickering on screen,” said Purushotam. “Progressive scanning creates a TV picture with consecutive lines of information that results in a smoother picture quality, without flickering lines.

“The JVC advantage is that if your video-camera, DVD-player and TV all benefit from progressive scan and high-calibre audio, the quality of your images and sound will be fully enhanced.”

JVC’s line up of 30 new products includes eight new mini-DV camcorders; eight new TVs; JVC’s latest mobile mini-PC laptop; three DVD recorders; seven DVD home theatre systems including the innovative Wood Cone DVD system and the first three products from JVC’s EXAD range, offering the best in high-end in-car entertainment.

“The Wood Cone system is a DVD compatible audio micro-component system that takes its name from the use of wood in the speaker diaphragm,” said Kenichi Iino, Marketing Manager – Audio, JVC Gulf FZE.“Much as in acoustic instruments like guitars or violins, the speaker uses the natural resonance of wood to produce astonishingly clear and natural high-definition sound.” JVC has also added innovation to its range of DV cameras. New features include 3D noise reduction and F1.2 aspherical super bright lens – which produce brighter pictures with less noise, even in low light conditions. The camcorder range also includes DV navigation; a USB PC link and software to allow for the instant creation of DVDs with one-touch burning. On the TV front, JVC is looking towards its DynaPix supported range of PDP, LCD and flat-screens to lead the way.

“The innovative DynaPix flat display devices are equipped with JVC’s exclusive D.I.S.T./Colour Management — a picture/colour improvement technology that promises a new level of viewing enjoyment,” said Michio Kato, Marketing Manager – CTV, JVC Gulf FZE.“Facial contours, each strand of hair and all skin tones are accurately reproduced true-to-life. Colours are vivid – every scene, every image is highly detailed and incredibly clear.”JVC’s Super DigiPure is one of the technologies that works with D.I.S.T. to adjust contour details to match the image. Dual processing finely tunes the image by diminishing or strengthening the edges of an object.

 

Furthermore, movement is detected with original algorithm that performs vertical, horizontal and diagonal adjustments separately. As a result, edges are clear for fast moving-image, slow motion images are natural yet sharp and still pictures are crisp and clear even for small lettering.All 30 of the new JVC products and its existing range are on display at a special exhibition open to the public on the 23 rd April at the Dubai InterContinental Hotel ballroom.“Too much is made of technology for technology’s sake these days and at JVC, we believe it is time to get back to basics,” said Yamamoto. “We’re all being told everything now benefits from digital technology, but does the customer understand exactly what that means?

“JVC’s brand statement is ‘The Perfect Experience’. It is our promise to customers; to propose a fulfilling lifestyle and create truly moving experiences through superior technology. All I can say to our customers is come and see for yourself the difference JVC can make.”

Dubai Festival City

Completes Excavation of The WATERFRONT

 

Piling Commences Following Removal of 800k Cubic Metres Of Material

 

Release Date: 21 st April 2004 Piling work has started on the Waterfront Centre, Dubai Festival City’s 2.5m sq. ft. retail, hospitality and entertainment hub, following the excavation of over 800,000 cubic metres of material to create space to house underground parking and services.The Dhs52 million contracts, awarded to Swissboring Overseas Piling, will see over 2900 piles driven into the waterfront Crescent site that will provide the foundations for a 160,000 square metre platform to support the iconic super-centre.“This marks a milestone in the evolution of one of the most important elements of Dubai Festival City ,” said Phil McArthur, Director of Marketing & Lasing of Dubai Festival City .

“The Waterfront at Dubai Festival City has been developed in conjunction with some of the world’s most acclaimed designers, operators and consultants to ensure we deliver a world-class down-town waterfront venue.”The deep excavations made were necessary to allow for two levels of basement parking and the support foundations for the three levels of leasing area above ground “A key advantage of the Waterfront Centre compared to other down-town facilities will be its expansive car parking,” said McArthur.“We have allowed for a ‘car parking to leaseable area ratio’ of 6.2 which is the highest in Dubai . This will ensure visitors have a hassle-free experience and that we in turn do not become a victim of our own success.”Piling work should be complete by August this year but work will commence on the substructure in June.

“This will be a fascinating structure to observe under construction,” said McArthur. “The entire building is fan-shaped - designed to curve around the man-made marina and that’s exactly how it will rise out of the ground, just like a fan opening alongside the Creek.” The Waterfront Centre structure at Dubai Festival City is due to be complete late 2005 and will open September 2006. Caption: Dubai Festival City directors see the first pile driven for the iconic Crescent. Dubai Festival City is being developed on 1,600 acres on the banks of Dubai ’s historic Creek. Comprising 15 distinct development zones, Dubai Festival City is a property development by the Al-Futtaim Group and is the Middle East ’s largest, privately-funded, mixed-use, real estate project.It will comprise a unique mix of entertainment, dining, shopping, edutainment, sport and leisure facilities, automotive dealerships, hotels, a marina, residential and office components. The first phase of construction is underway with The Al Badia Golf Resort, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by world-renowned golf course designer Robert Trent Jones II LLC, surrounded by Mediterranean style apartments and town homes, set to open in late 2004. The Waterfront Centre at Dubai Festival City, a 250,000 square metre retail, dining and entertainment centre set on a waterfront marina, is also under construction. Foundation work will commence soon on The Hotel InterContinental Dubai Festival City, an iconic convention hotel situated on the north-west peninsula of the marina.

Annan names independent panel to probe 'Oil-for-Food' allegations

21 April 2004 – United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today announced the formation of the independent panel that will conduct an inquiry into allegations of impropriety in the administration and management of the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme.

The panel will be chaired by Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System. Its other two members are Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa, who previously served as the Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and Mark Pieth of Switzerland, a Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Basel with expertise in money-laundering.

According to the terms of reference that will govern the independent inquiry, the panel will have the authority to investigate whether the procedures established by the UN for the administration and management of the Programme were violated; determine whether any United Nations officials, personnel, agents or contractors engaged in any illicit or corrupt activities in the carrying out of their respective roles in relation to the Programme, and; determine whether the accounts of the Programme were in order and were maintained in accordance with UN regulations and rules.

To ensure a thorough and meticulous inquiry, the members of the independent panel will have the authority to access all relevant UN records and information, written or unwritten, and to interview all relevant UN officials and personnel. The panel is authorized to obtain records and interviews from persons unaffiliated with the UN who may have knowledge relevant to the inquiry, including allegations of impropriety. It is also authorized to seek cooperation from UN Member States to conduct its inquiry.

In a separate action today, the Security Council adopted unanimously a resolution welcoming the appointment of the panel and calling upon the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), Iraq and all other Member States – including their national regulatory authorities – to fully cooperate with the inquiry.

In addition, within three months of the initiation of its work, the panel should provide the Secretary-General with a status report of its work. The Secretary General has stated that he will employ his authority so that the Organization's privileges and immunities do not impede efforts to hold accountable those who have engaged in unacceptable conduct."Obviously, these are serious allegations which we take seriously, and this is why we've put together a very serious group to investigate it," the Secretary-General told the press today at UN Headquarters. "The organization will take whatever steps may be appropriate to address the issues raised by the inquiry. We have assembled a group of respected individuals that I hope will complete its work as soon as practicable."

"As to the impact on our activities in Iraq, I hope the Iraqis realize that even if there have been wrongdoings by certain members on the UN staff, the UN, as a whole, did make a genuine effort to fill in their humanitarian needs," he added. "There were hundreds of UN staff who worked very hard and diligently to establish the food distribution system and ensure that supplies did go in and, I think, that positive aspect of it should not be overlooked either."As provided in the terms of reference, the panel's report will be made public.

Paul Volcker, chair of 'Oil-for-Food' inquiry, pledges full probe

21 April 2004 – Paul Volcker, the former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, today pledged a thorough inquiry into allegations of impropriety in the administration and management of the United Nations Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme.

 

"I didn't agree to do this lightly but I think there are very important accusations made about the UN, accusations about the administration of the Programme, accusations about activities outside the UN, which need to be resolved," Mr. Volcker told a press briefing in New York.

"The UN is an important institution, and these questions, once raised, have to have a deliberate and full investigation and an answer, so that the UN in fact can fulfil the responsibilities and take advantage of the opportunities that arise to contribute to not only the situation in Iraq but situations that are bound to come along in the rest of the world."Mr. Volcker also praised the qualifications of the other panel members: Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa, who previously served as the Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and Mark Pieth of Switzerland, a Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Basel with expertise in money-laundering.

Mr. Volcker hailed the passage today of a Security Council resolution requiring cooperation with the panel's work, saying it was important to "make sure that Member States knew what they were getting into," and stressing the critical importance of their cooperation.

He said the most urgent priority would be to deal with the specific allegations of corruption within the UN, "but there are broader questions about the administration of the programme, and without rising to the level of illegality or criminal action, was there maladministration - let me call it that - which will have lessons for the future?"

"The investigation of events [and] developments related to the Oil-for-Food Programme but not inside the UN I suspect will maybe be the most time-consuming and the most difficult part," he observed.Responding to press questions, he noted that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the Governing Council have indicated that the records will be made available to the panel, "so I feel somewhat comforted on that score."Mr. Volcker voiced confidence that the panel would have full UN backing. "Management of the United Nations I am convinced will do everything that's in their power to facilitate testimony, inquiries, investigation of individual United Nations [staff] members.""I don't minimize the challenge in getting this done," Mr. Volcker said, noting that he would need "a variety of talents," including experts in forensic accounting, legal issues and investigations, to conduct the investigation.

Asked how long the effort would take, Mr. Volcker said, "We'll go as fast as we can consistent with doing a thorough job." He predicted that the investigation would in any case take longer than three months."There's always some damage in the accusations but what seems to be important is finding out whether there's any substance to those," he said. "If there's not, and we've done as good an investigation as we can, that helps repair the damage; if there is substance to them, get it out there, get it out in a hurry, and cauterize the wound."

Security Council voices hope that UN envoy on missing Kuwaitis can go to Iraq

21 April 2004 – Stressing the importance of resolving the fate of Kuwaitis and others missing since Iraq's 1990 invasion, members of the Security Council today voiced hope that a United Nations envoy dealing with the issue could soon pursue his work in Baghdad.

In a press statement, the current Council President, Ambassador Gunter Pleuger of Germany, also expressed support for the High-Level Coordinator, Yuliy Vorontsov, and said the members would keep his mandate under review.In a recent report to the Security Council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan noted that a total of 92 files have been closed, although 240 sets of mortal remains had been brought to Kuwait for identification.

He also stressed the need for Mr. Vorontsov to travel to Baghdad to establish contacts with the new Iraqi authorities and confer with members of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).Ambassador Pleuger said Council members shared Mr. Annan's views. Strongly condemning the executions carried out by the former Iraqi regime, the members joined the Secretary-General in voicing hope that those responsible would be brought to justice.