By Syed M.Aslam
May 13 -19, 2002
*** "FRENCH POLITICS are a bit nauseating as a
general rule... I wanted to make that known in a very concrete
way."
(A French voter explaining why he wore gardening
gloves and clothes pin on his nose while casting ballot in the
decisive second round presidential election)
*** "WE WILL HOWEVER will not bow to insult
and intimidation."
(Iranian President Mohammad Khatami saying that
while his country is not hostile towards the US it will not tolerate
aggressive policies and rhetoric from America)
*** "... are there battles from time to time
within an administration? Of course there are."
(US Secretary of State Colin Powell denying reports
by two senators that 'his efforts to bring peace between Israel and
Palestine were undermined by his colleagues in the Bush
administration')
*** "WHY THIS VIRTUOUS MAN does not resign in
protest at the deliberate obstruction of crucial resolutions. Why does
he not quit in protest at the ineffectiveness of the international
body when it comes to (implementing) important resolutions."
(Saudi newspaper 'Al Bilad asking UN Secretary
General to step down over the failure of the world body to force
Israel to accept a fact-finding mission to the Palestinian refugee
camp of Janin, the scene of carnage by Israel)
*** "IF A POLITICAL or an official boycott
does not seem like an applicable move in light of the current global
situation, a personally-initiated boycott that would turn into a
popular stand would certainly yield goals."
(An UAE official favouring boycott of Israeli goods
in the Arab and Muslim markets)
*** "IT IS SHAMEFUL that all we Muslims can do
when the Israelis massacred the Palestinians in Jenin is to appeal to
others for pity and for help."
(Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad
criticizing the Muslim countries for being helpless during Israeli
atrocities against Palestinians. He was speaking at the meeting of
Organization of Islamic Conference)
*** "WE WANT TO SHOW that it is possible to
help..."
(Austrian leader Joerg Haider addressing a press
conference with two cancer-stricken children sitting in his lap who he
personally brought to Austria for treatment from his recent visit to
Iraq, his second in couple of weeks)
*** "IT IS CERTAIN that if the terrorist had
meant to affect Franco-Pakistan relations, they have failed. Our
bilateral relations will not be affected and we will come
closer."
(French Defence Minister Michelli Alliot-Marie
addressing at press conference after concluding a brief visit to
Karachi where suicide bombing claimed lives of over 15 persons,
including over a dozen French naval workers)
*** "THOSE WHO want to join... and form a
national government must be skinned alive."
(Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's harsh
warning to dissidents within her own party supporting the formation of
a unity government with her arch political rival — Prime Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe)
*** "ONE OF THESE CHILDREN will wave the flag
over a Palestinian state."
(Palestinian President Yasser Araft addressing a
rally welcoming the month long siege of his headquarters by the
occupying Israeli army)
*** "IN TERMS of absolute numbers, India will
overtake South Africa... In a few years time, India will have the
largest number of people with HIV in the world."
(UNAIDS' chief Peter Piot predicting that India
will have the largest number of people infected with HIV in next few
years)
*** "I AM PLEASED to pretend to be happy to
join you... I'm sure tonight's dinner and tonight's skit will be in
accordance with tradition. In other words, I'm sure the food will be
good but the skit will be bad."
(Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
chastising media men at the National Press Club's annual presidential
roasting in Manila)
*** "THE JEWISH LOBBY is very extremely strong
in America...One of the problems was that of Arab presence, an
informed Arab presence... because the Israelis sent their very best
people to the United States..."
(Former managing editor of The Washington Post Ben
Bradlee calling for engaging Arab presence in the US at the Arab Media
Summit organized by the Dubai Press Club)
|
