45,000 people attend Hiroshima memorial ceremony

TOKYO, August 6 (Itar-Tass) - One thousand white pigeons flew up in
Hiroshima on Wednesday during a traditional ceremony in memory of the
victims of the American atomic bombardment of 53 years ago.

The ceremony, which took place in the memorial Peace Park, was attended by about 45,000
people, among them Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the leaders of both houses
of parliament, and representatives of foreign countries, including those
of Russia.

The ceremony began at 08:15, local time, the moment when 63 years ago,
on August 6, 1945, an American B-29 strategic bomber had released an
atomic bomb codenamed Kid over the defenceless city.
Those present at Wednesday's ceremony marked that moment by minute of
silence and verberations of the traditional memorial bell.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Fukuda assured those present
that Tokyo would strictly abide by the three non-nuclear principles: not
to have, not to produce, and not to bring nuclear weapons into the
country. He reaffirmed that elimination of means of mass destruction
remains one of the diplomatic priorities of Japan as the world's only
country subjected to atomic bombing.
Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, in a traditional Peace Declaration,
condemned the United States for continuous counteraction to efforts
towards disarmament. He recalled that the US had been among few countries
that voted at the UN last year against a resolution, which called for the
elimination of nuclear weapons. The mayor said Hiroshima folks hope that
the next US president to be elected in November would heed the voice of
the majority that regards mankind's survival as top priority.
An official in the ceremony organising committee has told Itar-Tass
that the number of those who had died as a result of the atomic strike
against Hiroshima has amounted to 258,310 by now. This year alone, the
names of 5,000 people who died of diseases connected with the atomic
bombing have been added to the mournful list of victims.

.Brazil president to promote Rio candidacy for '16 Olympics.

RIO DE JANEIRO, August 6 (Itar-Tass) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva of Brazil arrives in Beijing on Wednesday to attend the Olympic
Games opening ceremony, hold meetings with the political leadership of
China, and promote the candidacy of Rio de Janeiro as a venue for the 2016
Olympics.
Presidential press secretary Marcelo Baumbach has told journalists
that the visit pursues two aims. In keeping with the political part of the
programme, Lula da Silva is to meet with Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and President Hu
Jintao of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
During the upcoming talks the sides are expected to touch upon the
present state of trade-and-economic relations between the two countries.
These relations are characterised by a considerable excess of Chinese
import over the Brazilian export. Lula da Silva is to offer cooperation to
the Chinese president in the production of biofuel.
As far as international issues are concerned, as Baumbach said, the
leaders of the two countries are to discuss the outcome of attempts that
ended in failure last week to take the talks on the liberalisation of
world trade under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation out of
deadlock.
Lula da Silva will avail himself of the stay in Beijing to hold
bilateral meetings with the leaders of other countries. However, only the
planned talks with President Shimon Peres of Israel have been confirmed so
far.
The sports part of the programme provides for President Lula's
meetings with Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) and other IOC leaders. He is to assure the IOC high
officials that Rio de Janeiro is in a position to play host to the XXXI
Summer Olympic Games.
In June this year, this Brazilian city on the coast of the Atlantic
Ocean was put on the finalists' list of contenders for the holding of the
'16 Games. The list also includes Chicago (USA), Tokyo (Japan), and Madrid
(Spain). Lula da Silva is to leave Beijing on Saturday, a day after the
official opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

.Olmert, Abbas to discuss possible peace accord framework.

BEIRUT, August 6 (Itar-Tass) - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel
and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority meet in
Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss the framework of a possible peace
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Saeb Erekat, political adviser to the Palestinian leader, has
announced that the sides will consider the results of contacts between the
Israeli and Palestinian delegations in Washington under the auspices of US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Abbas will also touch upon security measures taken by the Israeli
military command. In the opinion of the Palestinians, those measures are
excessive. Abbas will once again raise the issue concerning the release of
Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian ex-Premier Ahmed
Kurei, who headed the delegations at meetings in Washington, will also
take part in the forthcoming talks. The sides are to compare notes ahead
of the US State Secretary's yet another trip to the Middle East. The trip
is scheduled for August 20.
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