Comments on issues raised by BBC WHYS

The invitation of the head of the UN’s nuclear agency Mohamed ElBaradei by North Korea for talks on its nuclear programme should be as a sign of détente between NK and the six nations groups, mainly the USA. If all parties show resilience in their discussion this can open a new era of entente between NK and its traditional opponents.

The most important is Mohamed ElBaradei shouldn’t return from NK empty handed, or with hands filled with promises that NK regime will break as he leaves NK soil. If the negotiations are successful, this will be advantageous to the USA. It will have more breathing space to manoeuvre against Iran nuclear project.

The comparison to draw between NK and Iran is that Iran allowed UN’s nuclear agency to visit its nuclear sites while progressing with its programme without arriving at a military test. NK shut the door at this agency and defiantly carrying experiments on nuclear missiles.

It remains to see what economic offer the six-nation group will present to the NK regime to make what would be a historic decision concerning nuclear weapon acquisition

The USA has been trying to democratise many countries, especially in the Middle East although it doesn’t seek to export or impose its style of government . It hasn’t succeeded, as the regimes there are reluctant to power sharing or power rotation. The notion of democracy varies from one country to another. The best thing the USA can do is to solidify the economic and educational infrastructures in countries whose regimes are friendly to the USA. It should let them have the style of democracy they seek.

It must be noticed that US turn a blind eye to undemocratic regimes in the Middle East because they’re cooperating with it to fight terrorism. Not to mention the close economic ties it has with them mainly through its US oil companies, which are one of the keys to US roaring economy.

On a footnote, many people in many countries around the world don’t seek US style of democracy or seek its support as they associate this with US imperialism and the risk of being under its domination. There are calls for close ties on regional basis away from American influence. American standards are still envied around the world. Only US foreign policy is still controversial on many levels in different countries.