UN Security Council slaps new sanctions on North Korea

Security Council unanimously imposes new sanctions on Pyongyang in watered-down version of initial draft resolution.

 

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea following its sixth and largest nuclear test.

With backing from China and Russia, the council voted 15-0 on Monday to slap a ban on textile exports and restrict shipments of oil products to North Korea.
The resolution is a watered-down version of the original US proposal.

It does ban North Korea from importing all natural gas liquids and condensates.
But it only caps Pyongyang's imports of crude oil at the level of the last 12 months, and it limits the import of refined petroleum products to 2 million barrels a year.

OPINION: Peace with North Korea is still possible

It also bans all textile exports and prohibits all countries from authorising new work permits for North Korean workers - two key sources of hard currency.
The initial US proposal included an assets freeze on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a complete ban on countries selling oil to his government, but the measures were softened to appease China and Russia.

It is the ninth resolution unanimously adopted by the 15-member council since 2006 over North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.

Not looking for war'

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said the bans on textile exports and overseas workers alone would starve the Pyongyang of at least $1.3bn in annual revenues - an estimated $800 million and $500 million respectively. 

UN Security Council 'strongly condemns' North Korea nuclear test

She added that the US is not looking for war with North Korea and Pyongyang has "not passed the point of no return".

"If it agrees to stop its nuclear programme, it can reclaim its future. If it proves it can live in peace, the world will live in peace with it," she told the UN Security Council after the adoption of new sanctions.

"Today's resolution would not have happened without the strong relationship that has developed between President [Donald] Trump and Chinese President Xi."

Trump has vowed not to allow North Korea to develop a nuclear missile capable of hitting the mainland United States.

However, Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay, reporting from the South Korean capital Seoul, said that "we seem to be stuck in this endless cycle of provocation and condemnation, and there is no sign of either side - the US and South Korea combined or North Korea - backing down from their state positions". 

North Korea was condemned globally for its latest nuclear test on September 3, which it said was of an advanced hydrogen bomb.

Resume talks 'sooner rather than later'

China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi called on North Korea to "take seriously the expectations and will of the international community" to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile development, and called on all parties to remain "cool-headed" and not stoke tensions.

Liu said relevant parties should resume negotiations "sooner rather than later".

To kick-start talks, China and Russia have proposed a dual suspension of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile testing, as well as US and South Korean military exercises.

"We think it's a big mistake to underestimate this Russia, China initiative. It remains on the table at the Security Council and we will insist on it being considered," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council.

Source: www.aljazeera.com


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North Korea Threatens ‘pain and suffering’ Ahead of UN Sanctions Vote

North Korea has warned that it will inflict “the greatest pain and suffering” on the US if it continues to call for fresh sanctions in response to the regime’s sixth nuclear test last week.

According to a draft resolution leaked to the media, Washington wants the UN Security Council to support a halt to oil exports to North Korea and a freeze on the assets of its leader, Kim Jong-un.

In the court of Kim Jong-un: a ruthless, bellicose despot, but not mad. The US, which is seeking a meeting of the security council later on Monday, also backs an end to textile imports and a ban on North Koreans working overseas, where they earn much-needed foreign currency for the regime.

Pyongyang claims it tested a hydrogen bomb on 3 September that can be loaded onto an intercontinental missile [ICBM], drawing widespread condemnation and increasing pressure on Donald Trump to respond.

North Korea’s recent volley of missile launches, combined with last Sunday’s nuclear test, suggest it is edging closer to its goal of building a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland – a game-changing development that Trump vowed in January “won’t happen”.

In a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency on Monday, North Korea’s foreign ministry warned the US that if it “did rig up the illegal and unlawful ‘resolution’ on harsher sanctions, the DPRK shall make absolutely sure that the US pays a due price”.

Referring to the country by its official title, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, it added: “The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the US the greatest pain and suffering it has ever gone through in its entire history.

“The world will witness how the DPRK tames the US gangsters by taking a series of action tougher than they have ever envisaged.”

Differences have opened up between permanent security council members about how to respond to the nuclear test, weeks after they unanimously backed tougher sanctions when Pyongyang launched two ICBMs that, theoretically, could reach several US cities.

China, by far the biggest exporter of crude oil to the North, condemned last week’s nuclear test but is wary of any measure that could foment political instability in Pyongyang.

China’s greatest fear is a united post-Kim Korean peninsula under Seoul’s control, with tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops ranged along its border with the North.

Russia has also indicated it opposes an oil embargo.

Read More: theguardian

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China Set to Ban Petrol, Diesel Cars

Chinese authorities said they are developing a national strategy on smart cars and are considering banning the production and sale of diesel and petrol cars and vans.

The country’s Vice Industry and information technology Minister Xin Guobin, told a forum on automotive industry development in Tianjin that the plan had started with “relevant research” but that it had not yet decided when the ban would come into force.

He said his ministry will work out the timetable. China made and sold more than 28 million vehicles in 2016, the eighth year as the world’s biggest producer and manufacturer. China’s auto industry contributed at least one tenth of total retail sales of consumer goods.

China also leads as the largest producer and market for new energy vehicles. More than 500,000 of them were built and sold last year. There are more than 1 million new energy vehicles on the road, or half of the world total.

To encourage development of new energy vehicles, subsidies of as much as half of the original price are available, but in the long term, such subsidies may lead to blind expansion by auto makers, said Song Qiuling, a deputy section chief from the Ministry of Finance, at the forum.

Subsidies will gradually be reduced and a new energy credit policy introduced, according to Song.

On June 13, the MIIT released a policy document for public opinion on fuel consumption control and new energy vehicle credits, requiring auto-makers to meet a new energy credit ratio of 8 percent in 2018, 10 percent in 2019, and 12 percent in 2020, to ease pressure on energy and environment. Xin confirmed that the policy would be put into effect in the near future.

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Sensitization Visit on School Resumption, Development Projects and Industrialization programme: This is What Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry Told Donga Mantung Elite (Full Speech)

September 8, 2017, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development headed a powerful delegation to Donga Mantung Division. As head of the delegation of the sensitization visit on school resumption, development projects and industrialization programme of Donga Mantung Division, he delivered a groundbreaking speech during the meeting with elites. Here below is the complete speech.

A SPEECH PRESENTED BY H.E. DR. FUH CALISTUS GENTRY, SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE MINISTRY OF MINES, INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE SENSITIZATION VISIT ON SCHOOL RESUMPTION, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND INDUSTRIALISATION PROGRAMME OF DONGA MANTUNG DIVISION, AT THE NKAMBE COMMUNITY HALL, TODAY THE 8^TH SEPTEMBER, 2017

·        THE SENIOR DIVISIONAL OFFICER, DONGA MANTUNG AND HIS ETAT MAJOR;

·        HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT;

·        THE MAYORS OF DONGA MANTUNG DIVISION;

·        ECONOMIC OPERATORS;

·        MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CPDM;

·        MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES;

·        YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES AND ARDOS OF DONGA MANTUNG;

·        ELITE OF DONGA MANTUNG IN ALL THEIR PARTS;

·        MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION FAMILY;

·        THE PRESS CORPS;

·        FAINAP REPRESENTATIVES;

·        DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES;

·        LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

 I welcome all of you here today to this great gathering which is important in the history of our nation. I come to you here today with a three point-agenda. I want to assure you that I and other Elite of Donga Mantung do not spare a day to carry all your concerns to the Prime Minister, Head of Government and to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Cameroon. That is why I come to you today with a specific three point agenda, as follows:

v An investment development package by the state to the people of Donga Mantung;

v The pursuit of an Industrialization Programme for our Division through the FAINAP Programme;

v The assessment of the state of our children to take the mantle from us as the future leaders of this nation; I mean the issue of resumption of schools for the 2017/2018 academic year.

          Concerning the Development Package of the Government to our Division, I want to assure you that the development concerns of this Division are a priority in the development agenda of this nation. I can assure you that I am perfectly involved in the pursuit of the financing of the entire Ring Road which is worth over 200 billion CFAF. While waiting and in very high level negotiations with the African Development Bank as well as the Islamic Bank, the Government has in the main time offered a package to give the population of this Division a comfort zone.  In this light, I am happy to announce to you the components of the 6 Billion Immediate Package put by the State:

1.     Kumbo – Ndu – Nkambe – Misaje, about 3 billion francs. Under this package, this stretch of the Ring Road will be fully resurfaced in laterite with major drainage infrastructure. Difficult parts of the road will be tarred to facilitate movement. These include the section from Kumbo to the stretch in Ndu Town from the Fon’s Palace Junction to beyond the Council Check Point towards Mbiyeh; over 2km in Binka covering the bad spots right up to the Fon’s Palace road; bad spots at Binshua; over 2km covering the Bansobi Hill on the way to Misaje and the entrance to Misaje up to the junction to Wum.

2.     Oku – Noni – Misaje, 800 million.

3.     Misaje – Nigeria Frontier, 1.5 billion with tarring of some steep slopes.

          Apart from the Ring Road, many other parts of the Division have the following road infrastructure:

-       Mbot – Wat = 500 Million; Misaje

-       Three Corners Tabenken – Binju = 500 Million;

-       Tarring of 5 streets in Binju = 500 Million;

-       Nkambe – Ako = about 800 Million;

-       Construction of roads, bridges with Police and Gendarme Gates in Nwa = 1 Billion.

          Other projects in the pipeline which should come up by  2018 are:

-       5 km of streets in Nkambe from CNPS to GBHS Nkambe;

-       5 km of streets in;

-       Electricity in Tabenken.

          All these come to add to the special privilege given to Donga Mantung in the LIFIDEP and GP-GERUDEP Projects. Of these, I can site amongst others, the Buku – Abafum Road, Mbiyeh – Ngarum – Taku – Ntundip – Luh and many health centres, schools, markets, cattle markets, veterinary and community centres.       

          On the second point concerning the industrialization of Donga Mantung, I want to inform and reassure you that the FAINAP Project is fully planted and will transform our Division forever. If Cameroon is Africa in miniature, I want to say Donga Mantung is Cameroon in miniature as we see in the forests of Ako, the Tea Estate of Ndu, the great Agro Basin of the Mbaw Plain, the vast pastoral lands of Misaje, just to name these few.

          The contracts for the award of 40 Million in special motorbikes for FAINAP Representatives and a multi-tilling and planting tractor have been launched. In the next FAINAP Board Meeting in November, I am optimistic to present all these to you.

          I am also happy to announce to you that MINEPAT will be approving an Agropole of close to 2 Billion for the palm oil sector   under the FAINAP Programme. A team from MINEPAT will be visiting our Division in the next few weeks to finalize studies submitted by FAINAP. Permit me to take inspiration from the words of Leroy Hood: ‘’don’t underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether the world is your office, your community, an industry or a global movement, you need to have a core belief that what you contribute can fundamentally change the paradigm or way of thinking about problems.’’

          On the third point concerning the assessment of the state of our children to take the mantle from us as the future leaders of this country   I am here referring to the issue of resumption of  schools for 2017/ 2018 academic year, I have this to say; Some issues concerning  aspects of National life,  particularly the Education and Legal sectors have been raised in the Northwest and Southwest Regions.the President of the Republic as guarantor of our Constitution, listened and acted and will continue bringing  more solutions to the issues raised. No society is perfect whether it be in America, France, and Great Britain etc… Permit me again to recall the words of a famous American Civil Rights Campaigner; ‘’let’s bear in mind that Education is the Passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’’  This makes me think we ought to allow our kids shape their future, for we will not be there tomorrow when they face a future we have compromised.

          I hereby call on the people of Donga Mantung to give the President the credit for the good work he has done so far and will always continue to do to make our country a better place to live. Today I have brought a development package and I promise more will come, because your Leader President Paul Biya is listening.

          Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Royal Highnesses, I want to thank all of you for coming here today and accepting that Donga Mantung works in a renewed hope of tolerance and greater expectations. I want to thank the Elite of this Division, wherever they are, for their unending struggle to make our Division attain the greatest from its potential. I however want to acknowledge the special presence or special contributions of the Elite who accompanied me as a development club for this division and especially for the organization of this event. I want to acknowledge the following Elite of our Division:

    Mr. Tamfu Simon, Geological Consultant and Former Director of Exploration, SNH;

    Mr. Talla Godlove, General Manager of BOFAS Construction Company;

    Mr. Adamu Musa, our own media icon who needs no introduction;

    Mr. Yerima Giyo, Civil Administrator and Director of Finance, University of Bamenda;

    Mr. Gbaka Ernest, Barrister Yaounde;

    Mr. Nforgwei Rogers International Book Publisher.

          My special thanks to our own New Senior Divisional Officer for the quick response he gave to the organization of this meeting.

God bless Donga Mantung Division.

Long Live the Republic of Cameroon and its Illustrious Leader, H.E. President Paul Biya.

                                                                        DR. FUH CALISTUS GENTRY

                                                                 SECRETARY OF STATE, MINMIDT

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