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February 2008 Vol. 27 No. 452 On 25 November, Greenland, a dependency of Denmark, will hold a referendum among its 57,000 inhabitants. While there is movement toward independence, this year’s measure will ask for support for greater autonomy. Discouraging signs for the conservative partner of the German governing coalition: The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is now experiencing what the previous Green-Socialist government suffered in 2004 and 2005 when the Social Democratic Party (SDP) lost one state election after another. In Hesse (27 Jan.), the CDU ended up with a 10-percent smaller share than in 2003 and now in Hamburg the CDU lost its dominating position. (It will continue to govern in Lower Saxony). US election campaign is marked by a high drop-out rate. Primary elections in numerous states to select a candidate for nomination by the Democratic and Republican parties for president have drastically cut the numbers of contenders. Senators Ms. Hillary Clinton and Obama Barack are fighting it out for the Democrats while Senator John McCain is leaving Governor Mike Huckabee behind in the Republican contest. While other parties still have little chance to score meaningfully in national contests, not the least because of nearly total neglect and support by the media, only former candidate Ralph Nader has now declared himself. Unlike in Western Europe, Green parties who certainly have a significant and challenging agenda, remain relegated to a few local races. Malawi switched its support from Taiwan to the Chinese People’s Republic in late December. A Taiwanese liaison office was opened in Libya this month but it remains doubtful that the relationship will grow into full diplomatic ties. The Italian government’s plan to revert to the pre-Berlusconi electoral law failed at the last moment before parliament was dissolved. Currently parties must obtain at least two percent of the vote to be represented in parliament and the so-called majority premium of extra seats no longer goes to the party obtaining the largest number of votes but the largest percentage. Nominally, Indonesian regents are elected but Tangerang made national history. On 21 January, the regent was elected directly for the first time. Of the three contenders, the incumbent placed first. There are 349 regencies within the country’s 33 provinces. Tangerang of Banten Province is located near the capital. US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleeza Rice, generally receives a good press at home, especially from Republicans, and is usually well received abroad. Her staff emphatically disagrees. According to a poll commissioned by the American Foreign Service Association, only 18 percent of the diplomats think she is doing a good job, reported the Washington Post on 8 January. Overall, over one third of the respondents found fault with her for not fully defending the staff, not getting enough resources for the department, and for failing to keep the foreign service career attractive. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been steadily losing points in opinion polls. He is not being helped by poor economic performance but probably the two main criticisms, especially from his supporters who belong to older generations, is his unending stream of changes and innovations which are often not followed through and the impression that he lacks presidential dignity. Exchanges in street language with protesters rub many the wrong way and more serious observers deplore the president’s disregard of advice, especially from his ministers. viewing the world Regrettably, it’s fair to report that none of last year’s troublespots have disappeared. Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and the Sudan are still on the agenda of the United Nations, key powers, and human rights organizations. Ostensibly because of the feeling of a stolen election, peace and stability in Kenya became severely disrupted. Now it appears that the vote was just a pretext for releasing pent-up anger and dissatisfaction, some of it fueled by ethnic rivalries. Speaking about elections. Three presidents were reelected in Georgia, Kenya, and Uzbekistan of which the last one was not only patently undemocratic but also unrepresentative. Parliamentary elections in Thailand, however, returned the previously ousted party to power, rebuffing military rule. Internationally, Japan took over chairmanship of the Group of Eight (G-8) for one year, and Paris is preparing members of the European Union (EU) for its six-month-presidency on 1 July. This comes at a time when voices are again raised in the United Kingdom about the wisdom of staying in the EU and relations between France and Germany are marked by several cancellations or postponements of governmental meetings. The president of Venezuela is ever so busy not only goading the US Administration with favorable remarks about Colombian insurgents, proposing an anti-US military alliance and threatening to cut oil deliveries, but also hectoring farmers at home, especially dairy farmers. The Nepalese government is well on its way to turn the kingdom into a republic, at the strong urging of the new Maoist “partners.” After losing his property, the king will soon be replaced by an elected president. Iraq’s legislature finally approved the return of former Baath members to public life. Besides remaining the target of attacks by domestic militias, insurgents, and foreign militants, the government—and Kurdistan—are now faced with Turkish troops who unable to control the situation at home, have invaded and are pursuing fighters of the Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK) seeking recognition of the Kurdish minority. WORK STARTS ON NEW INDIAN STATE CAPITAL By 2010, Chhattisgarh will move its state capital 20 km away from its current location at Raipur to Naya Raipur, at Rakhi Village. The foundation stone for the capital complex was laid on 21 January, reported the Indian Express. In addition to government facilities, the new capital will feature hospitals, shopping malls, space for commercial offices, a law university and various recreation areas, all to be built on an area occupied by some 20 villages. The development authority stresses the environment friendly nature of the new city which was inspired by the new Malaysian capital of Putrajaya. Chhattisgarh became the 26th Indian state in November 2000, composed of Chhattisgarh-speaking districts in southeastern Madhya Pradesh. updates significant events January United Nations (UN): British prime minister supported permanent seat for India on the Security Council (20 Jan.). International: Japan assumed one-year presidency of Group of Eight (G-8) (1). Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC): Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia signed agreements forming a Customs Union (25). European Commission (EC): The French government was asked to reduce its deficit quicker than planned (30). European Union (EU): Slovenia assumed presidency for a 6-month term (1). Euro currency was introduced in Cyprus and Malta (1). Americas: Venezuela’s president urged Caribbean and Latin American states to form a military alliance against the United States of America (28). Middle East: Arab Charter on Human Rights entered into force (24). Bhutan: The country’s first election, of the new 25-member upper house, the National Council, was completed (31 December—15 seats--and 29 January—5 seats). (Five members are nominated by the king). Colombia: Venezuela’s president said the insurgent National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are “true armies.” (11) France: French president announced foreign policy priorities: overhauling ties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and launching the Mediterranean Union (18). India: State of Nagaland was placed under central rule (3). Indonesia: The armed forces chief said the country was not ready for democracy (24). Iran: Selection committees rejected more than half of 7,100 candidates for elections to the National Consultative Assembly (23). Iraq: National Assembly approved law to allow members of former Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (Baath) to return to public life (12). Nepal: Interim parliament approved nationalization of royal property (5). Russia: Ust-Ordyn Buryat Autonomous Okrug merged into Irkutsk Oblast' (1). The First Deputy Prime Minister and presidential candidate allowed that the current presidential system could be altered (24). Saudi Arabia: A petition to the king, signed by 12 Islamist reformers, asked for more freedom of expression and release of imprisoned fellow activists (29). USA: The president and Administration officials made 935 false statements in connection with invasion of Iraq since September 2001, reported the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity (23). Venezuela: President warned dairy farmers about selling milk abroad and not at home and threatened them with expropriation (20). new government leaders Barbados: David John Howard Thompson (DLP), Prime Minister, on 16 January. Central African Republic (CAR): Dr. Faustin Archange Touadéra, Prime Minister, on 22 January.
Croatia: Ivica Buconjic interim Prime Minister, on 2 January. Ivo Sanader (HDZ), Prime Minister, on 12 January. Georgia: Mikheil Saakashvili, President for a second five-year term, on 20 January. Vladimer Lado Gurgenidze, Prime Minister, on 21 January. Guatemala: Alvaro Colom Caballeros (UNE), President, on 14 January. Dr. Rafael Espada (UNE), Vice President, on the same day. Kenya: Mwai Kibaki (DP), President, for a second five-year term, on 30 December. Kalonzo Musyoka (LDP), Vice President, on 7 January. Marshall Islands: Litokwa Tomeing, President, on 14 January. Serbia-Kosovo: Fatmir Sejdiu (LDK), President, on 9 January. Hashim Thaçi (PDK), Prime Minister, on 9 January. Switzerland: Vice President Pascal Couchepin (FDP), Federal President for a one-year term, on 1 January. Hans-Rudolf Merz (FDP), Vice President, on the same day. Thailand: Samak Sundaravej (PPP), Prime Minister, on 29 January. Uzbekistan: Islom Abdug‘aniyevich Karimov (OLDP), President for a third five-year term, on 16 January. Venezuela: Colonel Ramón Alonso Carrizalez Rengifo (PSUV), Executive Vice President, on 4 January. peace and stability The federal government of the Comoros with the support of the African Union (AU) is close to invading its union island of Anjouan, it announced on 31 January. Goal is to reestablish order and remove the president who installed himself following an unauthorized election in 2007. Sunni militants in Iraq are directing their attention to the Shiite Awakening Council which is helping the government to reestablish order in Shiite neighborhoods. On 8 January, 18 Council members were abducted in the Shaab section of the capital and 14 people killed by militants. Post-election violence in Kenya is resulting in 1,000s of casualties and at the end of January regional and international efforts to restore order had not yielded results. Initially, the attacks on members of different ethnic groups were seen as an outbreak of ethnic warfare. Now it appears that violence was not spontaneous but planned by tribal chiefs and party leaders. Attacks in Lebanon, long seen as supported by elements of the Syrian government and Hezbollah, have gained a new sponsor. Ahmad Moussali, a professor of Islamic Studies at the American University in Beirut, noted on 16 January that the situation is increasingly exploited and widened by militants inspired by al-Qa’ida. Conflicting moves are now characterizing the conflict in Sri Lanka between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTEE) which are waging war to set up a Tamil state. While the government withdrew from the 2002 ceasefire agreement on 2 January, LTEE on 10 January announced its support for a continuing truce, all while both sides are keeping up their armed actions. Two weeks later, on 22 January, the island’s president lent his support to a political solution and said “I am against a military solution.” A presidential commission submitted its proposals to improve the situation of the Tamils—short of a federal solution--but by month’s end the government showed little interest in immediate adoption of the suggestions and is pushing forward with military actions, encouraged by recent setbacks of the LTEE. bio briefs info/literature Surveys and Documentation: Government Directory 2008: Political Leaders of the World, 16th Edition. (Issue contains 71 pages.)
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