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Your View e-polls e-paper Subscription Weather RSS Feeds e-poll document.write(''); content = document.getElementById("pollcontainer").innerHTML; myReg=/Sorry/; myAr=myReg.exec(content); if (myAr == "Sorry") { // document.getElementById("pollcontainer").style.height="0"; document.getElementById("pollcontainer").style.display="none"; } document.write(''); Mr Lula and his nation arrive Last Updated: March 15. 2010 10:30PM UAE / March 15. 2010 6:30PM GMTThe visit by Brazil's president to the Middle East at first appears like another instance of a left-leaning Latin American president engaged in mischief. The itinerary of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva features stops in Jerusalem and Ramallah, where disputes involving his continent's big neighbour to the north, the United States, have only become more complicated. There is also a lingering suspicion that his sojourn is merely an attempt to inoculate himself politically ahead of a controversial visit to Iran in May, which has caused a few raised eyebrows in the Gulf. But by throwing Brazil's weight behind the Middle East peace process, this logic goes, the Brazilian leader is seeking to strengthen his credibility as a peacemaker and his current position that further sanctions against Tehran for failing to come clean on its nuclear programme are premature. Mr Lula also represents the sentiments of more than a few people when he says the Middle East peace process requires “someone with neutrality” to speak to all sides – an obvious commentary on Washington's tattered role of honest broker.
While Mr Lula doubtless has politics on his mind, it would be a misreading of his visits to the region to conclude that they are ill-considered. Brazil deserves a prominent place on the international stage. It is the world's fifth-largest country with the world's fifth-largest population – at least seven million of whom are of Lebanese or Syrian descent. Within a decade, Brazil is likely to have the world's fifth-largest economy. Mr Lula's diplomatic ambitions are in keeping with the rise of Brazil's standing, marked by Rio de Janeiro's selection as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The real test for Mr Lula will come during his visit to Tehran this spring when the idea of engagement with Iran will perhaps have its last major test before tougher sanctions are imposed. Brazil wants no repeat of the 2003 UN Security Council vote for military intervention in Iraq. In its view, the vote, based on inconclusive evidence about weapons of mass destruction, undermined the principle of collective security and demonstrated how the non-proliferation regime could be manipulated by stronger states against weaker ones.
document.write('');Equally tricky for Mr Lula will be dealing with the Iranian government's treatment of its political opposition. It would be ironic, to say the least, if a man who was imprisoned by a military dictatorship in the 1970s for his trade-union activities allowed the Iranian government to use his presence in Tehran to dignify its harsh treatment of its opponents.Mr Lula can play a useful role if he succeeds in winning Tehran's compliance with UN resolutions and helping avert an unnecessary or unjustified war over Tehran's nuclear programme. We wish him luck.
Send to friend Print var addthis_pub="noahkhan"; var addthis_brand = "The National"; var addthis_logo = "http://www.thenational.ae/images/the_national_logo.gif"; var addthis_logo_color = "3261A5"; Mr Lula and his nation arrive Last Updated: March 15. 2010 10:30PM UAE / March 15. 2010 6:30PM GMTThe visit by Brazil's president to the Middle East at first appears like another instance of a left-leaning Latin American president engaged in mischief. The itinerary of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva features stops in Jerusalem and Ramallah, where disputes involving his continent's big neighbour to the north, the United States, have only become more complicated. There is also a lingering suspicion that his sojourn is merely an attempt to inoculate himself politically ahead of a controversial visit to Iran in May, which has caused a few raised eyebrows in the Gulf. But by throwing Brazil's weight behind the Middle East peace process, this logic goes, the Brazilian leader is seeking to strengthen his credibility as a peacemaker and his current position that further sanctions against Tehran for failing to come clean on its nuclear programme are premature. Mr Lula also represents the sentiments of more than a few people when he says the Middle East peace process requires “someone with neutrality” to speak to all sides – an obvious commentary on Washington's tattered role of honest broker.
While Mr Lula doubtless has politics on his mind, it would be a misreading of his visits to the region to conclude that they are ill-considered. Brazil deserves a prominent place on the international stage. It is the world's fifth-largest country with the world's fifth-largest population – at least seven million of whom are of Lebanese or Syrian descent. Within a decade, Brazil is likely to have the world's fifth-largest economy. Mr Lula's diplomatic ambitions are in keeping with the rise of Brazil's standing, marked by Rio de Janeiro's selection as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The real test for Mr Lula will come during his visit to Tehran this spring when the idea of engagement with Iran will perhaps have its last major test before tougher sanctions are imposed. Brazil wants no repeat of the 2003 UN Security Council vote for military intervention in Iraq. In its view, the vote, based on inconclusive evidence about weapons of mass destruction, undermined the principle of collective security and demonstrated how the non-proliferation regime could be manipulated by stronger states against weaker ones.
document.write('');Equally tricky for Mr Lula will be dealing with the Iranian government's treatment of its political opposition. It would be ironic, to say the least, if a man who was imprisoned by a military dictatorship in the 1970s for his trade-union activities allowed the Iranian government to use his presence in Tehran to dignify its harsh treatment of its opponents.Mr Lula can play a useful role if he succeeds in winning Tehran's compliance with UN resolutions and helping avert an unnecessary or unjustified war over Tehran's nuclear programme. We wish him luck.
Send to friend Print var addthis_pub="noahkhan"; var addthis_brand = "The National"; var addthis_logo = "http://www.thenational.ae/images/the_national_logo.gif"; var addthis_logo_color = "3261A5"; Bookmark & Share See also Clenched fist of Iran spurns Obama's diplomacy Other Opinion stories Sanctions on Iran aren't a substitute for policy An enforcement solution for labour abuses Africa comes under the limelight Testimony that diet is key to fighting diabetes Mr Lula and his nation arrive The market calls document.write(''); Top stories Go-ahead for internet calls – but not Skype Unrest erupts in east Jerusalem US-Israel crisis 'worst in 35 years' Syrian still in UAE jail fears execution for Hariri murder A beauty contest that turned ugly The writing on the wall Abu Dhabi seals Volvo Race role Your View How do you feel about the doubling of parking charges in Dubai?Will you send your children to driving school?How will the new rent laws affect you?Have you had difficulties obtaining drugs at a pharmacy?Have you had problems getting your children enrolled in schools? Most popular stories Most read Most e-mailed Go-ahead for internet calls – but not Skype A beauty contest that turned ugly Promoters trying to tempt Pacquiao to Dubai Immigration officer and policeman acquitted of bribery in 'beautiful woman' case Saudi Arabia death row maid in a fight for her life Dubai World may offer new debt to creditors Syrian still in UAE jail fears execution for Hariri murder Parking fees raised in Dubai US-Israel crisis 'worst in 35 years' Maid charged with stealing Dh126,050 from home Property law gives landlords power to evict tenants and raise rents Government looks to more rights for women Black cloud hangs over the future of Oman's Blue City 800 firms banned from hiring workers Hidden Hyderabad Rupert Murdoch flags Abu Dhabi as key location in expansion Indian schools overwhelmed by demand Decree beefs up land agency Just five minutes to get ID card Diabetes affecting one in four Emiratis, health screenings show var countries=new ddtabcontent("countrytabs") countries.setpersist(true) countries.setselectedClassTarget("link") //"link" or "linkparent" countries.init() Products & Services Your View e-polls e-Paper RSS Feeds Home UAE World Business Sport About us Contact us Terms & Conditions FAQ Site map© Copyright of Abu Dhabi Media Company PJSC.
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-4452332-2"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview(); //-1?'https:':'http:') +unescape('//me.effectivemeasure.net/em.js%22%3E%3C/script%3E')); //]]> var pvar = { cid: "mena-admedia", content: "0", sample_size: 10, server: "secure-uk" }; var feat = { surveys_enabled: 1 }; var trac = nol_t(pvar, feat); var _rsND = trac.getSchemeHost(); var _rsCI = "mena-admedia"; trac.record().post().do_sample(); var doLoad = true; if (doLoad) { updatePollMini(); } s.Account="saxotechthenational" s.cookieDomainPeriods="2" s.pageName="Opinion,Mr Lula and his nation arrive:20100316:703159870" s.server="S260608AT1VW921" s.channel="Opinion" /* Traffic Variables */ s.prop1="Story" /* E-commerce Variables */ s.events="event3" s.products="Poll;Would you change your habits to reduce the amount of electricity you use?/Would you change your habits to reduce the amount of electricity you use?" /* Hierarchy Variables */ s.hier1="Opinion,Mr Lula and his nation arrive:20100316:703159870" /************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************/ var s_code=s.t(); if(s_code)document.write(s_code)The visit by Brazil's president to the Middle East at first appears like another instance of a left-leaning Latin American president engaged in mischief. The itinerary of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva features stops in Jerusalem and Ramallah, where disputes involving his continent's big neighbour to the north, the United States, have only become more complicated. There is also a lingering suspicion that his sojourn is merely an attempt to inoculate himself politically ahead of a controversial visit to Iran in May, which has caused a few raised eyebrows in the Gulf. But by throwing Brazil's weight behind the Middle East peace process, this logic goes, the Brazilian leader is seeking to strengthen his credibility as a peacemaker and his current position that further sanctions against Tehran for failing to come clean on its nuclear programme are premature. Mr Lula also represents the sentiments of more than a few people when he says the Middle East peace process requires “someone with neutrality” to speak to all sides – an obvious commentary on Washington's tattered role of honest broker.
While Mr Lula doubtless has politics on his mind, it would be a misreading of his visits to the region to conclude that they are ill-considered. Brazil deserves a prominent place on the international stage. It is the world's fifth-largest country with the world's fifth-largest population – at least seven million of whom are of Lebanese or Syrian descent. Within a decade, Brazil is likely to have the world's fifth-largest economy. Mr Lula's diplomatic ambitions are in keeping with the rise of Brazil's standing, marked by Rio de Janeiro's selection as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The real test for Mr Lula will come during his visit to Tehran this spring when the idea of engagement with Iran will perhaps have its last major test before tougher sanctions are imposed. Brazil wants no repeat of the 2003 UN Security Council vote for military intervention in Iraq. In its view, the vote, based on inconclusive evidence about weapons of mass destruction, undermined the principle of collective security and demonstrated how the non-proliferation regime could be manipulated by stronger states against weaker ones.
Equally tricky for Mr Lula will be dealing with the Iranian government's treatment of its political opposition. It would be ironic, to say the least, if a man who was imprisoned by a military dictatorship in the 1970s for his trade-union activities allowed the Iranian government to use his presence in Tehran to dignify its harsh treatment of its opponents.Mr Lula can play a useful role if he succeeds in winning Tehran's compliance with UN resolutions and helping avert an unnecessary or unjustified war over Tehran's nuclear programme. We wish him luck.
Top stories Go-ahead for internet calls – but not Skype Unrest erupts in east Jerusalem US-Israel crisis 'worst in 35 years' Syrian still in UAE jail fears execution for Hariri murder A beauty contest that turned ugly The writing on the wall Abu Dhabi seals Volvo Race role Your View How do you feel about the doubling of parking charges in Dubai?Will you send your children to driving school?How will the new rent laws affect you?Have you had difficulties obtaining drugs at a pharmacy?Have you had problems getting your children enrolled in schools? Most popular stories Most read Most e-mailed Go-ahead for internet calls – but not Skype A beauty contest that turned ugly Promoters trying to tempt Pacquiao to Dubai Immigration officer and policeman acquitted of bribery in 'beautiful woman' case Saudi Arabia death row maid in a fight for her life Dubai World may offer new debt to creditors Syrian still in UAE jail fears execution for Hariri murder Parking fees raised in Dubai US-Israel crisis 'worst in 35 years' Maid charged with stealing Dh126,050 from home Property law gives landlords power to evict tenants and raise rents Government looks to more rights for women Black cloud hangs over the future of Oman's Blue City 800 firms banned from hiring workers Hidden Hyderabad Rupert Murdoch flags Abu Dhabi as key location in expansion Indian schools overwhelmed by demand Decree beefs up land agency Just five minutes to get ID card Diabetes affecting one in four Emiratis, health screenings show var countries=new ddtabcontent("countrytabs") countries.setpersist(true) countries.setselectedClassTarget("link") //"link" or "linkparent" countries.init() Products & Services Your View e-polls e-Paper RSS Feeds Home UAE World Business Sport About us Contact us Terms & Conditions FAQ Site map© Copyright of Abu Dhabi Media Company PJSC.
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