However, for the time being even the location of the secretariat that will manage the existing modest arrangements remains undecided. The Bush Administration may turn out to be more relaxed about these developments than the control freaks of the Clinton Administration. These trends seem inevitable in the long run. But the long run can take a long time in Asia. This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer 4 or later.
Elections everywhere reflect certain national characteristics.
Full story Sharon's extra acre. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon recently gave an interview to the respected French daily - Le Figaro. From this emerged a chilling insight into Sharon's strategy for his country. Sharon is sometimes described as a 'hard negotiator'. The election of a new Prime Minister for Japan, the sale of advanced weapons by the US to Taiwan and the jailing of former President Estrada in the Philippines are seemingly unrelated events that could none the less have a significant and long lasting impact on the future political and economic life of the region.