Se crea base de datos nacional de huellas digitales sin consultar al parlamento en el Reino Unido

17 de abril de 2005Gran Bretaña — Desde 2006, los pasaportes británicos contendrán chips biométricos. Esencial para ese plan es la creación de una base de datos central de portadores de pasaportes conteniendo sus huellas y datos biométricos. Esa misma base de datos y las facilidades para tomar las huellas van a ser compartdas con el plan de la credencial de identidad (Identity Card).

El servicio británico de pasaportes ha dicho que se trata de una "Prerrogativa Real", lo que significa que esta propuesta no necesita el acuerdo del parlamento. Los críticos dicen que este es un atentado cínico del gobierno para introducir elementos claves del plan del "Identity Card" por un mecanismo subversivo e indirecto.

La base de datos nacional de huellas y datos biométricos es el elemento más controvertido en la propuesta del gobierno británico. Todos los residentes de Gran Bretaña serían registrados en una base de datos de computadora central – conteniendo al menos las huellas, la digitalización del iris, foto, dirección y fecha y lugar de nacimiento de cada residente. Además de estas informaciones se incluiría la ficha policial, licencia de conducir, datos financieros, de salud, teléfono, correo electrónico y movimientos migratorios. Esta data seria usados por agencias del gobierno incluyendo la policía, inmigración, servicios médicos y seguridad social. El acceso seria probablemente extendido a las agencias de inteligencia del extranjero tal como la CIA y la Interpol. Los bancos tendrían acceso parcial así como otros entes interesados en realizar una identificación segura. La base de datos misma podrá ser administrada por compañías privadas. Los críticos del proyecto argumentan que hay un potencial enorme para el mal uso de estos datos.

Hablando al diario The Guardian, Mark Oaten, del Partido de los Liberales Democráticos, dice que el gobierno esta tratando esconder el verdadero costo de su plan de "identity card" haciendo que los pasaportes tengan características similares a la "identity card".

"El plan de tarjetas de identidad obligatorios es un elefante blanco extremadamente costoso y una amenaza seria a las libertades civiles. Es un abuso de la democracia que el gobierno utilice la prerrogativa real para ir colocando las piezas del sistema en lugar de buscar aprobación en el parlamento," dice Oaten. "El país no está obligado a poner huellas digitales en los pasaportes. La idea despierta dudas importantes sobre privacidad que deben ser debatidas en publico y en el parlamento", agregó.

Hay otros elementos del plan de "Identity Card" en investigación por el servicio del pasaportes britanico (UKPS). Silicon.com reporta:

"Otros proyectos de UKPS incluyen:

El gobierno británico no ha contestado las críticas que claman que este plan no es necesario y es dañino.

Los gobiernos de Europa están bajo presión del Estados Unidos para producir pasaportes que incorporen un chip con información biométrica. Han impuesto como plazo el 26 de octubre de 2005, fecha después de la cual los residentes de Europa sin chip necesitaran una visa para visitar o transitar en los Estados Unidos. Actualmente, a las puertas de los Estados Unidos, se toman huellas y se digitaliza el iris al momento de llegada de los nuevos visitantes.

En Slashdot, un comentarista dice que "El gobierno holandés es fácilmente presionable por el gobierno de Estados Unidos para que coopere debido a la amenaza de revocación de importantes privilegios de importación y exportación para barcos de carga provenientes del puerto de Rótterdam."


Base de dados de impressão digital é iniciada sem consulta ao parlamento britânico

A partir de 2006, os passaportes britânicos conterão chips biométricos. Essencial para esse plano é a criação de uma base de dados central de
portadores de passaportes contendo suas impressões e dados biométricos. Essa mesma base de dados e as facilidades para tomar as impressões vão ser
compartilhadas com o plano da credencial de identidade (Identity Card).

O serviço britânico de passaportes disse que se trata de uma "Prerrogativa Real", o que significa que esta proposta não precisa da aprovação do
parlamento. Críticos dizem que este é um atentado cínico do governo para introduzir elementos importantes no plano do "Identity Card" por um
mecanismo subversivo e indirecto.

A base de dados nacional de impressões e dados biométricos é o elemento mais controverso na proposta do governo britânico. Todos os residentes de Grã-Bretanha seriam registrados numa base de dados de computador central – contendo ao menos as impressões, a digitalização do íris, foto, direção e data e lugar de nascimento de cada residente. Além destas informações, se incluiria a ficha policial, licença de conduzir, dados financeiros, de saúde, telefone, correio eletrônico e movimentos migratórios. Estes dados seriam usados por agências do governo incluindo a polícia, imigração, serviços médicos e segurança social. O acesso seria provavelmente estendido às agências de inteligência do estrangeiro tal como a CIA e a Interpol. Os bancos teriam acesso parcial bem como outras entidades interessadas em realizar uma identificação segura.
A base de dados mesma poderá ser administrada por companhias privadas. Os críticos do projeto argumentam que há um potencial enorme para o mau uso destes dados.

Falando ao diário The Guardian, Mark Oaten, do Partido dos Liberais Democráticos (Liberal Democrats), diz que o governo  tenta esconder o verdadeiro custo de seu plano de Identity Card ao fazer com que os passaportes tenham características similares ao Identity card.

"O plano de cartões de identidade obrigatórios é um elefante branco extremamente custoso e uma ameaça séria às liberdades civis. É um abuso da democracia que o governo utilize a prerrogativa real para ir colocando as peças do sistema em lugar de procurar aprovação no parlamento," diz Oaten. "O país não é obrigado a pôr impressões digitais nos passaportes. A idéia desperta dúvidas importantes sobre privacidade que devem ser debatidas em público e no parlamento", agregou.

Há outros elementos do plano de Identity Card em investigação pelo serviço de passaportes britânico (UKPS). O sítio Silicon.com reporta:

Outros projetos da UKPS incluem:

O governo britânico não contestou as críticas que dizem que este plano não é necessário e é prejudicial.

Os governos europeus estão sob pressão do Estados Unidos da América para produzir passaportes que incorporem um chip com informação biométrica. Impuseram como prazo o dia 26 de outubro de 2005. Depois dessa data  os residentes europeus sem o chip precisariam de um visa (autorização no passaporte para visitar ou transitar nos EUA). Atualmente, nos EUA, tomam-se impressões digitais e se digitaliza a íris no momento de chegada de novos visitantes.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair to resign on June 27

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Cabinet of the UK government the date when he will stand down from office and allow his successor to take over as leader of the Labour party, and thus Prime Minister, in a private meeting.

"The prime minister started cabinet by acknowledging that it wasn't quite a normal day. He confirmed that he would be going to his constituency. He confirmed that he would make an announcement. He also confirmed that announcement would be about his intentions and that those intentions had not changed," said the official spokesman for Blair.

Just before 11:00 a.m. local time he arrived at Teeside Airport, England, on his way to his parliamentary constituency of Sedgefield, where he was expected to publicly announce his resignation, to fulfill a promise to his constituents that they would be the first to know news of his departure.

Blair arrived at the Trimdon Village Labour Club in Sedgefield at 11:25 a.m. where he was greeted by supporters with banners and a large international media presence. At midday he made a speech that named 27 June 2007 as the date when he will officially step down as prime minister.

It is widely reported that the current Chancellor, Gordon Brown, will replace Blair. In the morning's fifteen-minute-long Cabinet meeting, Brown is said to have described Blair's premiership as a "unique leadership".


Royaume-Uni : Tony Blair annonce son départ pour le 27 juin

Tony Blair, leader du Parti travailliste et Premier ministre du Royaume-Uni, a annoncé officiellement au Cabinet réuni au 10, Downing Street à Londres, dans la matinée du jeudi 10 mai 2007, la date son départ simultané de la tête du parti et de celle du gouvernement, fixée au 27 juin prochain.

L'annonce « officielle » et publique de cette démission est survenue quelques heures plus tard dans les locaux du Parti travailliste à Trimdon [1], village du comté de Durham, dans la circonscription de Sedgefield [2] (Nord de l'Angleterre), dont M. Blair est le député sans discontinuer depuis 1983.

Le processus de désignation d'un nouveau chef pour le Parti travailliste et, par voie de conséquence, l'accession de celui-ci au poste de Premier ministre, va donc pouvoir commencer. De l'avis général, l'actuel chancelier de l'Échiquier (ministre des Finances) Gordon Brown, en poste depuis le printemps 1997, est le grand favori pour succéder à M. Blair.

L'annonce de cette démission était attendue depuis septembre 2006, M. Blair ayant à l'époque annoncé qu'il quitterait ses fonctions vers le milieu de l'année 2007. La date choisie permettra à M. Blair d'assister, du 6 au 8 juin, au 33e sommet [3] du G8, dans la station balnéaire allemande de Heiligendamm, puis au sommet des chefs d'État et de gouvernements de l'Union européenne (le Conseil européen) à Bruxelles, les 21 et 22 juin.

Si Tony Blair s'est bien gardé de présenter Gordon Brown comme son sucesseur naturel, alors que leur dix années de coexistence aux deux postes les plus importants du Cabinet ont fait alterner ou coexister leur alliance et leur rivalité, il faut remarquer que le Premier ministre, la semaine dernière, avait reconnu que M. Brown, à ses yeux, avait l'étoffe d'un « grand Premier ministre ».

Si l'accession de M. Brown au poste de Premier ministre, le mois prochain, compte tenu de son audience au sein du parti, ne paraît guère faire de doute, sauf énorme surprise, sa capacité à obtenir une majorité parlementaire lors des futures élections générales prévues en 2009, semble plus incertaine, compte tenu de la montée en puissance, dans les intentions de vote, du Parti conservateur et de son leader David Cameron.


Tony Blair si dimetterà il 27 giugno

Il primo ministro del Regno Unito, Tony Blair, ha annunciato che si dimetterà il prossimo 27 giugno. Nel suo discorso a Trinmdon ha detto che è stato un onore servire questo paese, e che si scusa per gli errori commessi. Blair è primo ministro dal 2 maggio 1997, rieletto 3 volte, e segretario del Partito Laburista dal 1994.


British warship HMS Invincible put up for auction online

The British warship HMS Invincible has been put up for auction online. Invincible, an aircraft carrier that served in the Falklands, Balkans, and Iraq wars, was decommissioned in 2005 after 25 years of service with the Royal Navy. Jon Rosamond, editor of a naval magazine said that it "has been offered by the MoD for non-warlike purposes." No bids have yet been received, but it is thought that it could sell for £2m.

During service, the vessel's four Rolls-Royce engines could propel it to a top speed of 28 knots, with a range of 7,000 nautical miles. The flight deck carried eighteen British Aerospace Harrier II fighter jets, and four Westland Sea King helicopters. In recent years, however, she has been reduced to reserve. Rosamond said: "Even if someone did want to take it on as a going concern it would never be used as an aircraft carrier again."

The MoD held a decommissioning service for the vessel in in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in August 2005. "Pipers played aboard Invincible while it sailed into Portsmouth Naval Base on 1 August for the last time. A gun salute and a flypast also marked the event," Wikinews reported at the time. Bids for the ship must be submitted by early January next year. Naval consultant Richard Scott said that the vessel "certainly carved her name out in history in 1982. But every ship reaches the end of its career and she is at the end of hers."


Insolite : un porte-avions britannique aux enchères

Sur le site edisposals.com, l'équivalent d'eBay pour le gouvernement britannique, une étonnante petite-annonce a fait son apparition : le HMS Invincible, un porte-avions qui a servi aux Malouines, les Balkans et les guerres en Irak, déclassé en 2005 après 25 années de service dans la Royal Navy a été mis en place pour les enchères en ligne.

La mise à prix est libre mais la marine britannique espère en tirer les 2 millions de livres (soit 2,4 millions d'euros) d'ici à la fin de l'enchère le 5 janvier 2011 à 10 heures du matin.

Le HMS Invicible pèse 17 000 tonnes. Doté de quatre moteurs Rolls-Royce, il pouvait aller à la vitesse maximum de 28 nœuds (soit 52 kilomètre/heure) sur une distance de 7 000 milles nautiques (soit 13 000 kilomètres). Il a servi la Royal Navy de 1980 à 2005. Ce bâtiment de guerre a participé à quatre conflits armés : les Falklands, les Balkans et les deux guerres en Irak.


Britons seized from finance ministry in Iraq

Five British citizens have been seized in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.  The group, comprising a finance expert and four bodyguards, were captured from the finance ministry by kidnappers wearing police uniforms and driving police vehicles. The BBC is reporting that over 40 police vehicles were involved in the incident.

In separate incidents, at least 22 people were killed and 55 injured in a bus explosion elsewhere in the city, and at least 15 people were killed in a car bomb which injured a further 36, possibly more.

It is believed the four bodyguards are employed by Canadian GardaWord, a subsidiary of Garda.


Fünf Briten im Irak entführt

Bagdad (Irak), 30.05.2007 – In Bagdad sind nach Angaben der irakischen Regierung fünf Briten entführt worden. Die Männer seien bei einem „Vorfall im irakischen Finanzministerium“ verschleppt worden. Bewaffnete in Polizeiuniformen hätten das Gebäude gestürmt und gezielt westliche Ausländer entführt. Es fuhr ein Konvoi von bis zu 40 Polizeifahrzeugen auf das Ministerium zu.

Der Vorfall habe sich um 11:40 Uhr Ortszeit ereignet. Diplomaten der britischen Botschaft seien in Kontakt mit den Behörden. Eine Sprecherin der kanadischen Sicherheitsfirma Garda sagte, vier der fünf Entführten seien Mitarbeiter ihres Unternehmens. „Ich kann bestätigen, dass sie für Garda World arbeiten“, erklärte Nathalie de Champlain.

Bei einem der Entführten handelte es sich um einen aus dem Vereinigten Königreich stammenden Mitarbeiter der US-Beratungsfirma BearingPoint. Das sagte eine Firmensprecherin der Nachrichtenagentur Agence France-Presse in Berlin. Zuvor hieß es aus irakischen Regierungskreisen, es seien drei Mitarbeiter eines deutschen IT-Unternehmens aus dem irakischen Finanzministerium entführt worden. Sie hätten Mitarbeiter des Ministeriums beraten.

Am Dienstag konnte Bundesaußenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier die Entführung deutscher Staatsbürger nicht bestätigen. Er habe die große Hoffnung, dass es bei dieser Erkenntnis bleiben werde. Es seien besonders viele ausländische Berater im Einsatz, weil es hier vor zwei Monaten einen schweren Bombenanschlag gab und die Infrastruktur erneuert werden muss.


Bronislaw Komorowski sworn in as president of Poland

Polish politician Bronisław Komorowski has been sworn in as president of Poland after winning the presidency in the presidential runoff election of July 4. Komorowski belongs to the Civic Platform Party and won the presidential runoff by a margin of 53% to 47% against Jarosław Kaczyński, who is from the Law and Justice party. Kaczyński was the twin brother of former President Lech Kaczyński, who died in an airplane accident in Russia.

The new president had held the post as acting speaker of parliament (the Sejm) since April 10 of this year. He assumed the presidency after the plane crash in Smolensk, Russia that killed 95 political figures, including the president.

Civic Platform is a liberal conservative political party while Law and Justice is conservative and has an "anti-corruption, conservative, law and order agenda."

Komorowski, 58, is the fourth President of Poland since the fall of communism. He has called for more cooperation and less fighting and hatred in the political arena. "The democratic institutional order we have built in Poland for over 20 years of change has shown that in these difficult times, we have been able to ensure continuity of the state to tax and proudly pays tribute to disaster victims," Komorowski said.


Bronislaw Komorowski jura como presidente de Polonia

6 de agosto de 2010Varsovia, Polonia — El político Bronisław Komorowski ha jurado como nuevo presidente de Polonia tras haber logrado la victoria en la segunda vuelta electoral del 4 de julio con un 53% sobre Jarosław Kaczyński, hermano gemelo del anterior presidente Lech Kaczyński, quien falleció en un accidente aéreo.

El nuevo presidente venía ejerciendo el cargo en funciones en calidad de presidente del Parlamento (Sejm) desde el 10 de abril, fecha en que se produjo el accidente aéreo ocurrido en Smolensk (Rusia) en el que fallecieron 95 personalidades políticas, entre quienes se encontraba el presidente.

Komorowski, de 58 años, es el cuarto Presidente de Polonia desde la caída del comunismo. En su posesión, ha pedido más cooperación y menos lucha y odio en el ámbito político. También agregó: "El orden democrático institucional que hemos construido en Polonia durante más de 20 años de cambios ha demostrado que, en estos momentos difíciles, hemos sido capaces de garantizar la continuidad del Estado y de tributar con orgullo un homenaje a las víctimas del desastre" y anunció un acercamiento a Rusia para procurar el desarrollo de la región. Durante la ceremonia se guardó un minuto de silencio por las víctimas del accidente aéreo.


Bronisław Komorowski zaprzysiężony na prezydenta Polski

Bronisław Komorowski dzisiaj o godzinie 10.00 został zaprzysiężony. Od tego momentu formalnie piastuje on urząd prezydenta Polski.

Podczas uroczystości obecna była jego żona Anna, posłowie i senatorowie, a także wielu zaproszonych gości. W momencie składania przysięgi parlamentarzyści stali, a następnie wszyscy, oprócz posłów PiS, nagrodzili go brawami.

Tekst przysięgi brzmiał: Obejmując z woli Narodu urząd Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, uroczyście przysięgam, że dochowam wierności postanowieniom Konstytucji, będę strzegł niezłomnie godności Narodu, niepodległości i bezpieczeństwa Państwa, a dobro Ojczyzny oraz pomyślność obywateli będą dla mnie zawsze najwyższym nakazem.

Komorowski na końcu dodał: "Tak mi dopomóż Bóg".


Bronislaw Komorowski wins Polish presidency in run-off

See Portal:Poland for other articles about Poland.


போலந்தின் அரசுத் தலைவராக புரொனிசுலாவ் கொமரோவ்ஸ்கி தெரிவானார்

போலந்தில் கடந்த ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை இடம்பெற்ற அரசுத்தலைவர் தேர்தலில் புரொனிசுலாவ் கொமரோவ்ஸ்கி வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ளதாக அதிகாரபூர்வமாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

தேர்தல் முடிவுகளின் படி, பதில் அரசுத்தலைவர் 53.01% வாக்குகளையும், இவரை எதிர்த்துப் போட்டியிட்ட யாரொசுலாவ் காச்சின்ஸ்கி 46.99% வாக்குகளையும் பெற்றனர்.

கடந்த ஏப்ரம் மாதத்தில் விமான விபத்தில் கொல்லப்பட்ட முன்னாள் அதிபர் லேக் காச்சின்ஸ்கியின் சகோதரர் யாரொசுலாவ் காச்சின்ஸ்கி ஆவார். ரஷ்யாவில் நடந்த வைபவமொன்றில் கலந்து கொள்வதற்காக போலந்து ஜனாதிபதி விமானத்தில் சென்றவேளை அந்த விமானம் விபத்துக்குள்ளானது. இதையடுத்து ஜனாதிபதிப் பதவி வெற்றிடமானது.

கொமரோவ்ஸ்கியின் வெற்றி மூலம் நாட்டில் பிரதமரும், அரசுத் தலைவரும் ஒரே கட்சியைச் சேர்ந்தவர்களாக வந்திருக்கின்றனர். இதனால் நாட்டில் ஒரு அரசியல் ஸ்திரத் தன்மை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதாக அவதானிகள் கருதுகின்றனர்.

செவ்வாய், சூலை 6, 2010


Bulgaria and Romania to enter European Union

The European Commission has accepted Bulgaria and Romania as members of the EU from January 1, 2007 under what analysts call the strictest terms in recent history.

The Commission emphasizes that the new members will have to do a better job fighting organized crime but also fight political corruption, which has plagued both since the fall of the Soviet Union. Both governments have been criticized for not being tough enough on corruption, a hot political ticket in the duo.

The president of the Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has called for a pause in enlargement of the EU afterwards in order to carry out institutional reform within the Union and solve the question of a constitution for the EU, which became less certain last year when French and Dutch voters rejected the proposal. An EU treaty currently mandates institutional changes within the Union before the number of members go beyond the 27 maximum, which the Union will reach by the accession of the two new members.

If the two countries will not be able to comply with the terms, they may face consequences, some of which are directed specifically at the accession process but most of which are general requirements that all members face if they fail to meet certain standards. Specific to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria is losing up to a quarter of farm payments unless they succeed in setting up an operational database for animals called IACS by April 2007.

Furthermore, corruption and organized crime have to be addressed. Some members of the Commission have said that allowing them to enter may actually help them tackle corruption more than it would be leaving them outside of the Union. Every six months, both countries will have to report on the progress to fight corruption.

Although both economies are growing rapidly, they will be the poorest countries within the EU with GDP per capita only at about one third of the EU average. As always, there are debates about whether that's good or bad in terms of accession, some arguing that it will result in mass migration of workforce to richer countries resulting in unemployment, others by that the richer countries of the Union benefit the Union by going for cheap labor within itself, as opposed to for example India or China.

Trade of pigs from the two countries will still be forbidden as farmers from both countries have had to deal with serious diseases in pigs.

All members of the EU have to ratify the entry of new members. France, Germany, Denmark and Belgium have yet to ratify the entry of the two countries, but analysts say that they're expected to do so soon, a refusal to do so being extremely unlikely.


Roemenië en Bulgarije mogen toetreden tot de EU

Roemenië en Bulgarije mogen op 1 januari 2007 officieel toetreden tot de Europese Unie. Dat staat in het advies van de Europese Commissie.

De EU zal wel problemen in beide landen in de gaten moeten houden, zoals de voedselveiligheid en het justitieapparaat. Als deze dingen niet verbeteren, blijven de landen voorlopig op dat terrein buiten de EU.

Voordat de landen lid worden van de EU, moeten eerst de 25 huidige EU-landen nog toestemming geven.


Bulgarian and Romanian EU accession treaty is signed in Luxembourg

The accession treaty of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union was signed today in Luxembourg. As part of a ceremony, the treaty was signed by the heads of state of each of the 25 current EU members, as well as the Bulgarian and Romanian heads of state, in what is seen as the most important step towards EU accession.

The signature of the accession treaty marks the transition of Bulgaria and Romania from candidate countries of the EU to accession countries, which can now send observers to the European Parliament and participate in several European Union institution meetings. The countries will also receive extra funding between today and January 1, 2007, when the two countries are set to become full members of the European Union.

The accession treaty signing has been met with celebration in both Bulgaria and Romania. Romania also organised in Luxembourg a series of cultural events, known as Zilele României la Luxembourg (Romania's Days in Luxembourg). The cultural events included traditional Romanian music, concerts, an artistic performance and exhibitions by several important Romanian visual artists. Before the ceremony, Romanian Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu said:

The 860-page treaty finalises the candidacy of the two Southeastern European states, who will now have to work hard to implement last-minute reforms until their accession date, less than 21 months away. Both states must crack down on corruption, as well as secure their external borders, strengthen the judiciary and align competition law with EU standards. Romania has recently been praised for taking decisive action against corruption, even though EU lawmakers said that there is a lot left to be done. Upon accession in 2007, Romania will also have the second-largest external border in the European Union, after Finland. Due to this, it has recently upgraded several of its border checkpoints with Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, even though more is left to be done until 2007.

The accession treaty signed today also includes references to a safeguard clause, which makes way for a delay in accession until 2008 if either Bulgaria or Romania do not meet their commitments.

Apart from the political reforms needed to join the European Union, EU funds will also help economic development in the two countries, enabling them to improve infrastructure, especially roads, clean up the environment and modernise their industries. While both countries are among the most developed in their region of Southeastern Europe, their per-capita income is between 30-35% of the European Union average. Therefore, when they join, they will be the two poorest countries in the EU.

The signing of the accession treaty should also boost foreign investment to the two countries. Both countries have benefited in terms of foreign investment from being candidate countries of the EU, and their new accession country status is expected to lure more foreign investors. Romania also introduced a flat tax rate of 16% on personal income and corporate profit this year to attract more foreign investment.

When Bulgaria and Romania join in 2007, the European Union will have a population of approximately 484 million people, 30 million more than now. It will also raise the number of its members to 27, and add two extra official languages: Bulgarian and Romanian. The Bulgarian language will be the first official language of the European Union to be written in Cyrillic script.


Договор с Европейския съюз

България подписа договора за присъединяване към Европейския съюз. Президентът Георги Първанов и министър председателят Симеон Сакскобургготски подписаха едновременно. Присъединяването ще се извърши на 1 януари 2007 г. ако разбира се не бъде приложена предпазната клауза за отлагане с една година.


Cérémonie de signature du traité d'adhésion de la Bulgarie et de la Roumanie à l'Union européenne

La cérémonie de signature du traité d'adhésion de la Bulgarie et de la Roumanie à l'Union européenne a eu lieu lundi 25 avril 2005, en l'abbaye de Neumünster (Grand-duché de Luxembourg), en présence de divers chefs d'État ou de gouvernements et autres représentants officiels des différents pays membres de l'Union européenne et de diverses institutions supranationales de l'Union.

Sous réserve d'une ratification du traité par les parlements des 25 États membres de l'Union, la Bulgarie et la Roumanie devraient devenir, à partir du 1er janvier 2007, membres à part entière de l'Union européenne, portant ainsi à 27 l'effectif des États membres.

L'adhésion formelle de l'un ou l'autre des deux pays pourrait toutefois être retardée d'un an en cas de non-respect de certaines des formalités arrêtées entre l'Union et les deux pays durant les négociations préparatoires au traité d'adhésion.

Avant la signature du traité, le Premier ministre roumain, a notamment déclaré, dans une allocution :


Bułgaria i Rumunia podpisały traktat akcesyjny

Mieszkańcy Bułgarii i Rumunii świętują podpisanie przez władze tych państw europejskiego traktatu akcesyjnego, który toruje tym krajom drogę do wstąpienia do Unii Europejskiej w styczniu 2007 roku.

Podpisany traktat zawiera klauzulę, według której wstąpienie Rumunii i Bułgarii do UE może się opóźnić o rok, jeśli kraje te nie spełnią ustalonych standardów.

Unia Europejska domaga się większej niezawisłości sądownictwa w tych krajach, by mogły one stawić czoła korupcji.

Ceremoni podpisania traktatu odbyła się w Luksemburgu.

Jeśli Bułgaria i Rumunia przystąpią w 2007 roku do struktur UE, będzie do piąte poszerzenie Unii. Liczba krajów członkowskich wzrośnie do 27.

W maju ubiegłego roku Unia Europejska powiększyła się o 10 państw, z czego 8 to kraje post-sowieckie.
Bułgaria i Rumunia nie znalazły się w gronie tych państw, bo nie wprowadziły na czas reform ustrojowych i gospodarczych.

Oba kraje są znacznie biedniejsze niż jakikolwiek z obecnych 25 państw członkowskich UE.


Bundestag approves EU Constitution

German parliament's lower house, the Bundestag, passed the European Union Constitution yesterday, with 569 yes votes, 23 against and 2 abstentions.
Two-thirds majority was required to pass it.

The Constitution still needs to be passed through the Bundesrat, the upper house, before it is officially ratified by Germany.

The overwhelming support did not come as a surprise, since Germany, one of the founders of the pact, is one of the biggest EU supporters amongst all members. The German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, was quoted by Der Spiegel as saying: "Whoever wants more democracy in Europe must vote for the constitution." The Bundesrat is expected to pass the Constitution with similar ease on May 27.

All 25 Union members must ratify the European Constitution before it takes effect.


Der deutsche Bundestag ratifiziert die EU-Verfassung

Berlin (Deutschland), 12.05.2005 – In der Abstimmung zur Anerkennung des Vertrages zur Europäischen Verfassung haben bei 594 abgegebenen Stimmen 569 Abgeordnete aller Fraktionen des Bundestages in namentlicher Abstimmung mit  „Ja“ gestimmt.

23 Parlamentarier, darunter 20 Mitglieder der CDU/CSU Bundestagsfraktion, die beiden fraktionslosen Abgeordneten der PDS, sowie der fraktionlose Abgeordnete Martin Hohmann stimmten gegen den Verfassungsvertrag. Zwei Mitglieder der SPD-Fraktion enthielten sich ihrer Stimme.

Damit ist die nötige Zwei-Drittel-Mehrheit für die Annahme des Vertrages zur EU-Verfassung durch den Bundestag erreicht.

Am 27. Mai 2005 wird der Bundesrat über die Annahme entscheiden. Die Zustimmung der Länderkammer ist für die Ratifizierung durch Deutschland erforderlich. Der CSU-Abgeordnete Peter Gauweiler kündigte an, mit Annahme des Vertrages durch den Bundestag vor das Bundesverfassungsgericht zu ziehen, um die Rechtmäßigkeit der Verfassung prüfen zu lassen. Gauweiler hatte direkt vor der Abstimmung sein "Nein" zum Europäischen Verfassungsvertrag vor dem Deutschen Bundestag erklärt.

Der Verfassungsvertrag tritt in Kraft, wenn ihn alle 25 EU-Mitgliedsländer ratifiziert haben.


El Bundestag aprueba la Constitución Europea

La cámara baja alemana, el Bundestag, ha aprobado la Constitución Europea este jueves con 569 votos a favor, 23 en contra y 2 abstenciones. Hacían falta dos tercios de los votos para aprobarla.

Para que la Constitución Europea sea oficialmente ratificada por Alemania, todavía es necesaria la aprobación de la cámara alta, la Bundesrat.

El apoyo mayoritario obtenido no es sorprendente, dado que Alemania es miembro fundador y uno de los mayores soportes de la Unión Europea. El canciller alemán, Gerhard Schroeder, declaró para Der Spiegel: "Aquellos que deseen más democracia en Europa deben votar por la Constitución." Se espera que la Bundesrat la apruebe el 27 de mayo.

La Constitución Europea deberá ser ratificada por todos los 25 miembros de la Unión antes de que entre en vigencia.


Le Bundestag approuve la Constitution européenne

Le Bundestag, chambre basse du parlement allemand, a approuvé, jeudi 12 mai 2005, le traité instituant une Constitution pour l'Europe.

Les députés ont voté pour la ratification par une majorité de 569 « oui » contre 23 « non » et 2 abstentions. La majorité requise était de 396 soit les deux tiers de l'effectif total de 594.

Le vote avait été précédé d'un débat au cours duquel le chancelier Gerhard Schröder a notamment déclaré que « les survivants (de la Seconde Guerre mondiale), à l'époque, n'auraient jamais même pu penser rêver à une Constitution européenne pour les peuples du continent, les peuples qui vivent ensemble en voisins pacifiques ».

Le projet doit encore être approuvé, le 27 mai prochain, par le Bundesrat, chambre haute du parlement allemand, avant d'être définitivement adopté. Selon tous les observateurs, le vote devrait sans surprise y être également favorable.

Le gouvernement allemand avait choisi la ratification par voie parlementaire puisque, la constitution allemande ne prévoyant pas la procédure référendaire, il aurait fallu procéder à une révision de la constitution pour permettre une ratification populaire.

Si la ratification avait été proposée aux électeurs allemands, les sondages montrent que ceux-ci se seraient également prononcés à une large majorité en faveur de la constitution : un sondage publié dimanche 8 mai par la chaîne de télévision ARD montrait que 59 % des personnes interrogées auraient voté « oui » contre 15 % « non » et 26 % de personnes indécises ou ne se prononçant pas.


Konstytucja Unii Europejskiej przyjęta przez Bundestag

Zdecydowaną większością głosów Bundestag ratyfikował konstytucję Unii Europejskiej.

Podczas debaty poprzedzającej głosowanie kanclerz Niemiec Gerhard Schroder wskazywał na zalety przyjęcie traktatu.

Za konstytucją opowiedziało się 569 posłów. 23 opowiedziało się przeciwko, w tym część chadeów i dwie posłanki postkomunistycznej PDS. Zarzucili oni przede wszystkim oddanie zbyt wielu kompetencji europejskiej centrali. Aby ratyfikować konstytucję potrzebne były 2/3 głosów. Do całkowitej ratyfikacji potrzebna jest jeszcze decyzja Bundesratu, jednakże wynik wydaje się przesądzony.

Aby konstytucja europejska została oficjalnie przyjęta, potrzebna jest zgoda wszystkich obecnych 25 członków wspólnoty.


Burma introduces military draft

According to an official document, the Burmese junta has passed a law dated November 4, 2010, requiring able-bodied persons over the age of 18 to register with local authorities. Furthermore, the law requires all men between the ages 18 and 45 as well as all women between 18 to 35 to join the army if they are called upon.  Those who fail to report for military service could be imprisoned for three years, and face fines. Those who deliberately inflict injury upon themselves to avoid conscription could be imprisoned for up to five years, as well as fines.  Civil servants, students, those serving prison terms, and those caring for an elderly parent are currently excluded from the draft, but they could be later called to serve. Totally exempt are members of religious orders, disabled persons, and married or divorced women with children.

The Democratic Voice of Burma claims that the law was passed just before the new parliament convened in order to avoid scrutiny of the practice by the new parliament.  However, laws surrounding forcible conscription are murky and it is unclear how tightly the new law would be enforced.

The new law has faced stiff criticism by Burmese around the world. Aung Kyaw Zaw, a military analyst on the China-Burma border, said that there are pros and cons to the new law. "From the bad side, our country is already in deep poverty and the people barely have anything to eat. So [adopting such a law] may cause bigger negative effects on the country, which is already…struggling to feed the current army and carry the burden of military expenses."

"On the plus side, civilians will learn how to use guns and be given a chance to understand the nature of the military. With the knowledge of how to handle weapons, the people will be able to rise up against the military – in a way they will be trained for the revolution."

Many people see the draft as a threat to ethnic armed groups, who have been long embroiled in guerrilla conflicts with the government.

Burma is a military dictatorship and already has a standing army close to half a million, one of the biggest per capita in the world.  Previously, professionals, including doctors, engineers and mechanics, between the ages of 18 and 44, and females between 18 to 33, were required to serve in the military for up to three years.  However, the new law extends this to five years in case of a national emergency.


Barma zavádí brannou povinnost

Podle oficiálních informací barmská vláda schválila zákon datovaný 4. listopadu 2010, který vyžaduje od všech neinvalidních osob starších 18 let, aby se přihlásili na místních úřadech. Pro muže mezi 18 a 45 lety a pro ženy mezi 18 a 35 lety se navíc zavádí povinnost, aby narukovali na zavolání.

Kdo by se bránil službě ve vojsku, může být pokutován a uvězněn až na tři roky. Ten, kdo se úmyslně zraní, aby se vyhnul branné povinnosti, může být uvězněn na pět let a také pokutován. Nařízení se zatím netýká studentů, státních zaměstnanců, vězňů a těch, kdo pečují o staré rodiče, ale je počítáno s jeho případným rozšířením. Naopak zcela vyjmuti jsou členové náboženských řádů, osoby invalidní a také vdané nebo rozvedené ženy s dětmi.

Barma je vojenskou diktaturou a s půlmilionovou armádou má už dnes jeden z nejvyšších počtů vojáků vzhledem k počtu obyvatel. Někteří kritikové míní, že další odvody oslabí již dnes živořící ekonomiku země a zvýší chudobu. Také je možné, že zkušenost více lidí se zbraněmi zvýší pravděpodobnost budoucí násilné revoluce.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Burma introduces military draft na anglických Wikizprávách.


Burma's military rulers arrest leaders of pro-democracy protests

Three of the last remaining leaders of the 88 Generation Students Group, which led the recent pro-democracy rallies in Burma, have been arrested by Burma's military junta.

The wave of protests, which began on August 15, 2007, was triggered by the Burmese government's decision to remove fuel subsidies, leading to dramatic increases in the price of diesel and petrol.  The Burmese government's subsequent violent crackdown on the protests was condemned by the United States, Britain, and France, among other nations.  On October 12, the U.N. Security Council released a statement saying that it "strongly deplores" Burma's response to the protests.

The three leaders, named Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, and Aung Thu, were arrested on Saturday morning in Rangoon, according to dissident sources.  Human rights group Amnesty International expressed extreme concern for the well being of the three activists, saying that they "risk torture and ill treatment."

On Saturday, thousands attended a pro-government rally in Rangoon in which participants denounced Western countries and media.  The participants in the rally had allegedly been paid to join the demonstration and were transported to the area by bus.  One of the participants in the rally told AFP news agency that each factory in the city's industrial zone had been obliged to send 50 participants to the rally.


La Junta Militar de Birmania arresta líderes pro-democracia

14 de octubre de 2007Rangún, Birmania —

Tres de los últimos líderes del Grupo de Estudiantes de la generación del 88, que ha dirigido recientes manifestaciones prodemocracia en Myanmar (ex-Birmania), han sido arrestados por la Junta Militar que gobierna el país.

La ola de protestas, que comenzó el 15 de agosto de 2007, fue causada por la decisión de la junta de remover subsidios a los combustibles, causando que los precios del diesel y el petróleo incrementaran drásticamente.

Las medidas que ha tomado la Junta Militar para con las protestas –en la cual se estima podrían haber sido asesinadas 200, aunque la Junta reconoce poco más de una docena– ha sido condenada universalmente, incluyendo a Estados Unidos, Reino Unido, Francia y Argentina entre otras naciones. El 12 de octubre, el Consejo de Seguridad de Naciones Unidas declaró que "deplora fuertemente" la respuesta de Birmania para con las protestas.

Los tres líderes –llamados Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, y Aung Thu– fueron arrestados el sábado por la mañana en Rangún, de acuerdo a fuentes. Amnesty International, un grupo que vela por los derechos humanos, expresó gran preocupación por la seguridad de los tres activistas, declarando que se ven amenazados de sufrir tortura y mal trato.

El sábado, miles acudieron a una marcha pro-Junta en Rangún, en la cual los participantes repudiaron a los países y la prensa occidentales. Los participantes habrían sido pagados para atender a la manifestación y fueron transportados por autobús.

Un participante declaró a la Agence France-Presse que cada fábrica de la zona industrial fue obligada a enviar un mínimo de 50 participantes.


Burundian Hutu extremists have killed 300 civilians in the last two months

The Burundian Hutu-extremist group Palipehutu-FNL (commonly known as FNL), has killed 300 civilians in the last two months, according to local sources.

Burundi's Radio Publique Africain has reported the discovery of three mass graves in the provinces of Bubanza, and Bujumbura-Rurale - an FNL stronghold.

"Some of them are killed because the FNL accuses them of collaborating with national defence forces, and others are assassinated simply because they have deserted the movement", army spokesman Adolphe Manirakiza is quoted by Reuters as saying.

The FNL, a hardlined splinter group of the "Partie pour la libération du peuple Hutu", has been fighting the Burundian government since the mid-1990s. Civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, according to human rights groups. The organisation has consistently been linked with remnants of the Rwandan Hutu militia who carried out the 1994 genocide, and is believed to share a similar ideology.

In August last year, the FNL admitted responsibility for the massacre of 152 Congolese Tutsis at the Gatumba refugee camp in western Burundi. Rwandan and Congolese groups are also believed to have taken part in the attack. The FNL later claimed that the refugee camp was a military base. UN investigators found no evidence for the allegation, and human rights groups pointed out that most of the dead were women and children.

Although the FNL is known for its hostility to the Tutsi ethnic group, many of its victims have been Hutus accused of disloyalty.

Burundi's ruling FRODEBU party was recently accused by their electoral rivals of employing FNL fighters to disrupt the country's first polls since 1993. FRODEBU denied the charges, but admitted "political collaboration" with the group.

Speaking to Reuters, FNL spokesman Pasteur Habimana admitted that his group had killed civilians in recent months, but said that those killed had been "people who are sent by the army with a mission of eliminating our fighters by giving them poison". Habimana also accused the Burundian army of attacking civilians.


ブルンジのフツ族過激派、2か月で300人の一般人を殺害

ブルンジのフツ族過激派グループ「解放のための国民軍」(通称FNL) が、ここ2か月で300人の一般人を殺害したと地元の複数の報道機関が報じた。

ブルンジの「ラジオ・ピュブリク・アフリカン」 (Radio Public African) は、ブバンザ県とFNLの拠点であるブジュンブラ・ルラル県で3箇所の墓群が発見されたと報道した。

ロイター通信によると、アドルフ・マニラキザ陸軍スポークスマンは「彼らの一部は、一般人が国軍と協力したとFNLが告発した為、殺された。その他の人たちは、たんに運動から離れたために、暗殺されただけだ」と述べた。

FNLは、フツ解放党 (Partie pour la libération du peuple Hutu)の強硬派らによって出来たグループで、1990年代半ばからブルンジ政府側と戦い、人権団体によれば、民間人を暴行の矢面に立たせたという。FNLは、たえずルワンダのフツ族民兵と関連付けられている。このフツ族民兵は、1994年の大量虐殺を実行し、そして、同種のイデオロギーを広めていると信じられている。

昨年8月、FNLは152人のコンゴ人ツチ族を西ブルンジのガツンバ難民キャンプで虐殺した責任を認めた。ルワンダ人とコンゴ人の組織がこの虐殺に加担したとも信じられている。のちにFNLは難民キャンプが軍事基地だったと主張した。国連の調査官はこの告発に対する証拠を何ら見つけなかった。また人権団体はほとんどの死者は女性と子供であったと指摘している。

FNLはツチ族と敵対している事で知られているものの、その犠牲者の多くは背信行為で告発されたフツ族であった。

ブルンジの支配政党であるブルンジ民主戦線 (FRODEBU)は、同国では1993年以降初めてとなる選挙を混乱させるためにFNLの戦士を雇ったとして、選挙での対立陣営から最近告発された。FRODEBU はこの嫌疑を否定したが、グループとの「政治的協力」は認めている。

FNLのパストゥール・ハビマナ報道官はロイター通信に対し、グループがここ数か月に一般人を殺したことは認めたが、「殺された人々には我々の戦士を毒殺する任務を負って軍から送られてくる人々がいる」と言った。ハビマナ報道官もまた、ブルンジ軍が一般人を攻撃したと非難している。


Bus explosion in Armenian capital kills two

A bus explosion in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on Monday killed two Armenians and reportedly injured at least seven others. Deputy head of the rescue service at the Ministry of Emergency Situations Major-General Grigoryan said the blast was reported on Monday at 10:00pm local time (1800 UTC).

In remarks to News.am, Armenian Health Minister Armen Muradyan said six injured were transported to a local medical centre. One passenger was revealed to be pregnant, and News.am reported at least five others were in critical condition.

Reportedly the blast destroyed nearby houses' windows, and could be heard for miles.

While authorities are still investigating the incident, the Emergencies Ministry said the bus was using diesel fuel so it wasn't a gas explosion.  In remarks to Associated Press (AP), investigative committee member Sona Truzyan said they have considered and rejected a terrorist explanation. Truzyen reported the committee is currently investigating a party to a domestic dispute.  An investigator told AP the suspect had threatened to give them a bomb, which could have exploded accidentally en route to its intended target.

The suspect's telephone SIM card was recovered from the scene,. A detonator, TNT, and other electronics were found at his residence, and evidence of TNT was discovered on the bus.

A 2016 study by crowdsourced site Numbeo says Armenia has the 93rd highest crime rate in the word. It's behind a number of other countries, including the United States and many European countries.

General Prosecutor's Office of Armenia said they would give the public regular updates on the ongoing investigation.


Explosão de autocarro em Arménia mata 2 e fere 6

Uma explosão de ônibus/autocarro em Yerevan, capital da Armênia/Arménia, matou pelo menos dois armênios e feriu sete pessoas, de acordo com o canal de notícias russa RT. Vice-Chefe do serviço de resgate do Ministério de Situações de Emergência, Major-General Grigoryan, disse que a explosão foi relatado em 25 de Abril às 10:00. De acordo com a RT, Grigoryan disse, "embora a princípio pensava-se que uma pessoa foi morta na explosão, fragmentos do segundo corpo foi encontrado mais tarde durante a observação do ônibus e local".

O ministro da Saúde da Armênia/Arménia, Armen Muradyan, disse à News.am da Armênia/Arménia os sete feridos foram transportados para um centro médico nas proximidades armênio/arménio logo depois que eles foram retirados do veículo. Foi revelado que uma passageira estava grávida e pelo menos outros cinco estão em estado crítico. As identidades das duas pessoas mortas são ainda desconhecidos.

De acordo com a Radio Free Europe Liberty testemunhas disseram que a explosão foi tão forte que a explosão janelas casas próximas 'destruído, e outros relataram que podiam ouvir a explosão de milhas de distância'. Uma declaração emitida pelo presidente armênio, Serzh Sarkasian disse: "Nossa ordem da polícia para intensificar os serviços de segurança e de patrulha" e acrescentou: "O Ministério da Saúde está a tomar as medidas necessárias para prestar assistência médica aos feridos".

Embora as autoridades ainda estão a investigar o incidente, RT informou que o Ministério de Emergências descartou a possibilidade de certas causas, como explosões de gás, como o ônibus operado em combustível diesel. De acordo com o chefe da polícia da Armênia, Vladimir Gasparyan, a probabilidade de um ataque a bomba ainda não foi descartada. No entanto, ele concluiu todas as teorias atuais são preliminares e ainda é muito cedo para determinar a causa oficial.

De acordo com um resumo cronológico do terrorismo turco pela Assembleia das Associações americanos turcos, ataques a bomba ter ocorrido contra os armênios no passado, mas um estudo de 2016 por Numbeo, diz que Arménia tem a maior taxa de criminalidade 93 na palavra. É por trás de uma série de outros países, como o dos Estados Unidos, Japão, muitos países europeus e mais. Armênios OSAC estatísticas criminais de 2013, 2014 e 2015, mostram crime e segurança situação geral da Arménia tem permanecido estável ao longo dos anos e os analistas descobriram que o crimes arménios não aumentou ou diminuiu significativamente.

Embora as autoridades não divulgaram uma declaração final sobre a causa da explosão, um representante da polícia Yerevan disse à mídia Yerkir que uma investigação está a ocorrer atualmente.


Bush and Putin suggest potential for World War III

United States President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been in a war of words this week, with Bush suggesting that the Iranian nuclear program could be the lynchpin for launching  World War III.

"So I’ve told people that, if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon" and "we got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. My intent is to continue to rally the world, to send a focused signal to the Iranian government that we will continue to work to isolate you in the hopes that at some point somebody else shows up and says it’s not worth the isolation," said Bush during a press conference.

The Tehran Times responded to Bush reporting that "either Bush has gone totally mad and now makes statements without consulting his advisors, or the neo-conservatives are dreaming of a new world order and no longer feel compelled to hide their goal and U.S. officials should put a muzzle on Bush to prevent him from giving people the impression that the United States is the main threat to world peace."

Putin in a telephone question and answer session advises that Russia is developing a "big, grandiose" plan to boost the country's defenses with new types of nuclear weapons to defeat the U.S. anti-missile system based in Europe.

"Our plans are not simply considerable, but huge. At the same time they are absolutely realistic. I have no doubts we will accomplish them. I can assure you that such steps are being prepared and we will take them," stated Putin.

Analysts said Mr Putin's latest remarks were designed to reassure his public that Russia still had an effective nuclear deterrent. But they were also a message to Washington: that its new and costly missile shield was effectively useless against the latest Russian technology.

Putin even suggested that the U.S. might be after Siberia’s resources and the U.S. has considered invading Russia. One thing Putin was certain of is that there are quite a few politicians in the United States who engage in what he described as "political erotica," something that "may or may not give pleasure to people, but is unlikely to generate any results," Putin added.


Bush y Putin sugieren que existe el potencial para la Tercera Guerra Mundial

20 de octubre de 2007Washington DC, Estados Unidos —

El Presidente de Estados Unidos, George W. Bush, y el Presidente de Rusia, Vladimir Putin, se han involucrado en una guerra de palabras, y Bush ha sugerido que el programa nuclear de Irán, de no detenerse, será el causante de la Tercera Guerra Mundial.

"Por ello digo [a los dirigentes mundiales]: si están interesados en evitar la Tercera Guerra Mundial, [me] parece que deberían estar interesados en prevenir que ellos [los iraníes] tengan el conocimiento necesario para fabricar armas nucleares", declaró Bush durante una conferencia de prensa. "Tenemos un líder en irán que ha anunciado sus intenciones de destruir Israel", dijo.

El Tehran Times respondió a Bush reportando que "o Bush se ha vuelto completamente loco y ahora hace declaraciones sin consultar a sus consejeros, o los neo-conservadores están soñando en un nuevo orden mundial y no se sienten obligados a esconder su meta y los oficiales estadounidense deberían ponerle un bozal a Bush para prevenir que le de la impresión a la gente de que los Estados Unidos son la mayor amenaza para la paz mundial".

Putin, por su parte, sugirió durante una entrevista telefónica que Rusia está desarrollando un "gran, grandioso" plan para impulsar las defensas del país con nuevos tipos de armas nucleares y así sobrepasar al sistema anti-misil estadounidense basado en Europa.

"Nuestros planes no son simplemente considerables, pero enormes. Al mismo tiempo son absolutamente realistas. No tengo dudas de que los lograremos. Les aseguro que tales pasos están siendo preparados y los tomaremos", declaró Putin.

Analistas opinaron que las últimas declaraciones de Putin fueron diseñadas para reasegurar a su público que Rusia aún tiene una efectiva fuerza nuclear. Pero también había un mensaje a Washington: que su nuevo y costoso escudo de misiles es efectivamente inútil contra la tecnología rusa más reciente.

Putin incluso sugirió que Estados Unidos podría estar tras los recursos de Siberia y que EE. UU. ha considerado invadir Rusia. Un punto en el cual Putin estuvo certero fue que existen pocos políticos en EE. UU. que se metan en lo que describió "erótica política", algo que "podría dar o no placer al pueblo, pero que no generará resultados", añadió Putin.


Bush e Puttin discutem ameaças para Terceira Guerra Mundial

O presidente Bush dos Estados Unidos e Puttin da Rússia, discutiram esta semana na imprensa, ameaças para uma Terceira Guerra Mundial.

"Então eu disse ao povo que, se você estiver interessado em evitar a III Guerra Mundial, parece que você deveria estar interessado em impedindo - os de ter o conhecimento necessário para fazer uma arma nuclear" e "nós começamos uma empresa líder no Irão , Que anunciou que pretende destruir Israel. A minha intenção é continuar a mobilizar o mundo, para enviar um sinal para centrou o governo iraniano de que vamos continuar a trabalhar para isolá - lo na esperança de que em algum momento alguém aparece e Diz que ele não vale o isolamento ", disse Bush durante uma conferência de imprensa.

O Tehran Times respondeu a Bush relatando que "nem Bush tenha desaparecido completamente louca e agora faz declarações sem consultar seus assessores, ou os neo - conservadores estão sonhando de uma nova ordem mundial e já não se sentem obrigados a esconder sua meta e os Estados Unidos. Funcionários deveriam colocar um focinho sobre Bush para impedi - lo de dar às pessoas a impressão de que os Estados Unidos são a principal ameaça à paz mundial. "

Putin por telefone em uma seção de perguntas e respostas, avisou que a Rússia está a desenvolver um "grande, grandioso" plano de reforço das defesas do país com novos tipos de armas nucleares para derrotar a barreira antimíssil americana baseada na Europa.


Bush appoints John Bolton United States' ambassador to the United Nations

In a televised press statement at 14:00 UTC (10:00 a.m. EDT) today, President of the United States George W. Bush announced that he was appointing John R. Bolton to the position of the United States' ambassador to the United Nations.

Stating that Mr. Bolton had received support from "a majority of Senators", but had been "unfairly denied the up-or-down vote that he deserved" by the "delaying tactics of a few", Mr. Bush announced that the post had stood vacant for long enough during what he termed "a war", and that he was "exercising his constitutional authority" to make the appointment.

"This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform," Bush said during an announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Bolton appeared with him and spoke briefly. "I am profoundly grateful and deeply humbled," Bolton said. "It will be a distinct privilege to be an advocate for America's values and interests at the U.N."

The President can make an appointment without the approval of the Senate while the Congress is in recess, but the term of such a "recess appointment" expires at the end of the Congressional session. The next session begins January 3, 2007.

The move comes despite a letter to the President last week saying that Mr. Bolton was "not truthful" while answering questions before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in March, and should not be given a recess appointment. The New York Times reports the letter was signed by 36 senators -- 35 Democrats and one Independent.

Some senators, including Republicans, have raised questions regarding Mr. Bolton's history of criticizing the United Nations, his treatment of subordinates, and over charges that he has tried to influence intelligence assessments to conform to his views, the Times reports.

During confirmation hearings, Republican Senator George Voinovich described Bolton as "the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be." Because of Voinovich's opposition, Bolton's nomination was sent to the floor of the Senate without a recommendation.

"At a time when we need to reassert our diplomatic power in the world, President Bush has decided to send a seriously flawed and weakened candidate to the United Nations," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "The reason Bolton is being recess appointed is because the president chose to stonewall the Senate. Mr. Bolton could have had his up or down vote had President Bush given senators the information they needed. Instead, Bolton arrives at the United Nations with a cloud hanging over his head."

"The president has done a real disservice to our nation by appointing an individual who lacks the credibility to further U.S. interests at the United Nations. I will be monitoring his performance closely to ensure that he does not abuse his authority as he has in the past," said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.

"We will work with him as the ambassador and representative of the president and the government," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said. "We look forward to working with him, as I do with the other 190 ambassadors".

Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas praised the president for using his authority "to end the obstruction against John Bolton." Cornyn said, "This is an important position and it's critical that it not remain vacant any longer. Bolton is exceptionally well qualified to fill this role at this time."


US-Präsident Bush ernennt John Bolton zum UN-Botschafter

Washington D.C. (USA), 01.08.2005 – US-Präsident George W. Bush gab in einer Fernsehansprache bekannt, dass er John R. Bolton zum Botschafter der USA bei den Vereinten Nationen ernannt hat.

Bush sagte, dass Bolton von „einer Mehrheit der Senatoren“ unterstützt wurde, aber in „unfairer Art“ bei der Abstimmung durch die „Verschleppungstatik weniger Abgeordneter“ abgelehnt worden sei. Präsident Bush erklärte, dass der Posten zu lange unbesetzt war und dass er für die Ernennung „seine verfassungsgemäße Macht“ nutze.

Dieses Amt sei zu wichtig um länger unbesetzt zu bleiben, im Besonderen während eines Krieges und einer wichtigen Debatte über die Reform der UNO, sagte Bush während der Ankündigung im Roosevelt Room im Weißen Haus. Bolton war bei der Ansprache anwesend und gab eine kurze Erklärung ab. „Ich bin hochgradig dankbar und äußerst demütig“, sagte Bolton. Es sei für ihn ein Privileg, Anwalt für die Werte Amerikas und die Interessen der USA in der UNO zu sein.

Der Präsident kann während der Parlamentsferien einen Botschafter ohne Zustimmung des Senats ernennen. Die Gültigkeit dieser Ernennung läuft am Ende einer Legislaturperiode des Kongresses aus. Die nächste Legislaturperiode beginnt am 03. Januar 2007.

Die Ernennung erfolgt trotz eines Briefs, der in der letzten Woche an den Präsidenten geschickt wurde, in dem steht, dass Bolton bei seiner Aussage vor dem Auswärtigen Ausschuss des Senats im März „nicht ehrlich“ war, eine Ernennung während der Parlamentsferien sei daher nicht zu empfehlen. Der Brief wurde laut New York Times von 36 Senatoren, darunter 35 Demokraten und einem Unabhängigen unterzeichnet.

Einige Senatoren, darunter auch Republikaner brachten Fragen auf, die Boltons Vergangenheit kritisieren, in der er die UNO kritisiert und untergebene Mitarbeiter schlecht behandelt habe. Außerdem gab es Vorwürfe, er habe, laut Berichten der Times Geheimdienstberichte beeinflusst, um seine Sichtweisen zu bestätigen.

Während der Diskussion über Bolton im Senat beschrieb der republikanische Senator George Voinovich Bolton als den „Innbegriff dessen, wie ein Diplomat nicht sein soll.“ Aufgrund der Kritik von George Voinovich wurde Boltons Nominierung ohne Empfehlung zur Abstimmung gebracht.


Le président américain nomme John Bolton ambassadeur à l'ONU par décret

George W. Bush a affirmé que le poste d'ambassadeur des États-Unis à l'ONU (vacant depuis 6 mois) ne devait pas rester libre plus longtemps du fait que nous nous trouvons « en temps de guerre et en période de réforme de l'ONU ». Il a donc nommé à ce poste John Bolton, une personne très controversé pour ses prises de positions; il a notamment défendu  la thèse des armes de destruction massive d'Irak. Il est aussi connu pour ses prises de positions méprisantes envers l'ONU (favorable à la domination sans partage de cette organisation par les USA), ainsi que pour les lignes dures qu'il défent à l'égart de la Corée du Nord et de l'Iran. On l'accuse aussi d'avoir fait pression sur des analystes en désaccord avec ses opinions. Et dernièrement, il a été auditionné en rapport avec l'affaire Palme par l'inspecteur général du département d'État, ce qu'il avait démenti aux sénateurs démocrates. On le dit proche des néo-conservateurs.

En réalité, M.Bush a profité d'un vide juridique de la Constitution qui lui permet de nommer des responsables politiques lorsque le congrés est en vacances, ce qui est le cas depuis le weekend dernier. En effet, les démocrates refusaient d'approuver le choix du président, une majorité nécessaire à sa nomination par le Sénat ne se dégeagait donc pas. Mais, la nomination de John R. Bolton n'est valide que jusqu'à la prestation de serment d'un nouveau Sénat, en janvier 2007.

C'est la première fois qu'une administration américaine désigne à l'ONU un ambassadeur par ce procédé (recess appointment).

Même si M.Bush a réussi à nommer l'homme qu'il souhaitait, M.Bolton arrive tout de même en mauvais état à son poste. En effet sa légitimité posera problème, puisqu'il ne représentera pas le peuple américain mais uniquement le gouvernement Bush.


Bush meets with President of Guatemala

George W. Bush, the President of the United States, met in the Oval Office of the White House with Alvaro Colom, the President of Guatemala.

Bush spoke after the meeting: "We've had a good discussion about a variety of issues. We discussed bilateral relations between Guatemala and the United States, which are very strong. We are friends. We treat each other with respect. Our objective with U.S. foreign policy is to have a neighborhood that is peaceful and prosperous, where social justice is important; want to achieve social justice through good health policy, good education policy, good judicial policy. The United States is pleased to help this government as best as we possibly can help the average citizen get a good education and have good health care."

Mr. Bush mentioned that they had also discussed the issue of reform. "We talked about the reforms that the government is instituting inside of Guatemala, including tax reform, and reform to make sure that people who break the law are held to account," he said.

"I was particularly pleased to note that the Guatemalan government and its leadership is promoting laws to make sure women are treated well and that violence against women is prosecuted," Bush continued.

Colom later commented on the meeting: "We discussed, as the [US] President mentioned, the fight against drug trafficking. We are doing everything necessary to eliminate drug trafficking and drug traffickers from our territory. We discussed the issue of social investment. We have received support from USAID. We, our two countries, have common aims in this regard."

"We also discussed the issue of our migrants. We brought up TPS [Temporary protection status] with the President; we will be awaiting a response on that. We described our recent tax reform to the President; that is something we're starting in Guatemala because we need to ensure that we have the public funds to be able to carry out the reforms in the areas of social justice and others that we have discussed."

"We want to express our appreciation for the support that we have received from the United States to combat drug trafficking," Colom noted near the end of the speech.


Bush encontra-se com Presidente da Guatemala

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George W. Bush, o Presidente dos Estados Unidos da América encontrou-se no Salão Oval da Casa Branca com Álvaro Colom, Presidente da Guatemala.

Bush falou após o encontro: "Nós tivemos uma boa conversa sobre uma infinidade de assuntos. Discutimos as relações bilaterais entre a Guatemala e os Estados Unidos, que são muito fortes. Nós somos amigos. Tratamos um ao outro com respeito. Nosso objetivo com a política externa americana é ter uma vizinhança que é pacífica e próspera, onde a justiça social é importante; queremos obter justiça social através de uma política saudável, política de uma boa educação, boa política judicial. Os Estados Unidos estão felizes em ajudar este governo da melhor forma possível, assim como na medida do possível ajudamos o cidadão comum a ter uma boa educação e um bom serviço de saúde".

Bush mencionou que falaram sobre reformas. "Falamos a respeito das reformas que o governo está promovendo dentro da Guatemala, incluindo a reforma fiscal, e reforma a fim de assegurar que as pessoas que infringem a lei sejam responsabilizadas", disse.

"Eu fiquei particularmente satisfeito em notar que o governo da Guatemala e sua liderança promove leis para asseguar que as mulheres  sejam bem tratadas e que a violência contra a mulher seja punida", Bush acrescentou.

Collom em seguida comentou: "Nós conversamos, como o Presidente [dos EUA] mencionou, sobre a luta contra o tráfico de drogas. Estamos a fazer tudo que é necessário para eliminar o tráfico e os traficantes de drogas do nosso território. Discutimos a questão de investimento social. Temos o apoio da USAID. Nós, nossos dois países, têm objetivos comuns nesta questão".

"Também discutimos a questão dos imigrantes. Levantamos a questão da TPS (Temporary Protection Status ou condição de proteção temporária — espécie de asilo temporário dado quando o país natal do imigrante está em guerra ou em crise) com o presidente; vamos aguardar sua resposta a respeito disso. Descrevemos nossa nova reforma fiscal ao presidente; que é algo que estamos começando na Guatemala porque precisamos ter certeza de que os fundos públicos estão disponíveis para levar adiante reformas nas áreas da justiça social e em outras que discutimos".

"Nós queremos expressar nossa satisfação pelo apoio que acabamos de receber dos EUA no combate ao tráfico de drogas", Colom observou perto do final do seu discurso.


Bush nominates John G. Roberts for U.S. Supreme Court

US President George W. Bush today announced Justice John G. Roberts Jr. as his pick to fill the Supreme Court void caused by the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Roberts is known as a strong conservative, but is nevertheless endorsed by many from both parties. At 50 years of age, if confirmed, he will be the youngest judge on the court, and is expected to be able to serve 30 years or more. He was appointed to the D.C. Court of Appeals in 2003 by the President.

Bush offered the nomination to Roberts during a phone call at 12:35 p.m. EDT today, with the intention to release the information to the public tonight, at a 9 p.m. EDT press conference. The Associated Press had already revealed the president's pick at 7:45 p.m. EDT. Critics have already begun to voice complaints, including issues with free speech and religious freedom, along with reproductive rights. Supporters see Roberts as a conservative who cut his teeth with Nixon and Reagan — just the kind of nominee they were hoping for.

In 1990, Roberts wrote a brief on Roe v. Wade, which stated, "The court's conclusion in Roe that there is a fundamental right to an abortion ... finds no support in the text, structure or history of the Constitution." Though, during his confirmation hearings for the appellate court in 2003, Roberts stated that "Roe v. Wade is the settled law of the land... There is nothing in my personal views that would prevent me from fully and faithfully applying that precedent."


Bush nominiert „republikanisches Schwergewicht" für Oberstes Gericht


ブッシュ米大統領、ロバーツ氏を米連邦最高裁判事に指名

19日、米ジョージ・W・ブッシュ大統領は、ジョン・G・ロバーツ・ジュニア判事(50）を米連邦最高裁判事に指名したと発表した。ロバーツ判事は民主・共和両党から好感される保守派として知られる。ロバーツ判事は2003年からコロンビア特別州連邦高等裁判所判事を務めている。上院が就任を承認すれば、最高裁ではもっとも若い判事となり、サンドラ・デイ・オコナー判事の引退によって生じる空席を埋めることとなる。

ブッシュ大統領は19日東部時間午後0時35分にロバーツ判事に電話で指名を伝えた。またこのとき同日午後9時からの記者会見で指名を公表する意図を示した。政権の批判者は、出産の自己決定権をめぐる言論の自由と信教の自由にかかわる論争を含め、就任への不満を正式な指名前から表明した。支持者は、ロバーツ判事が、ニクソン、レーガン元大統領に対して保守派でありながら手厳しい批判を加えたことを評価し、この指名を歓迎している。

1973年に中絶を合法であるとして結審したロー対ウェイド裁判について、ロバーツ判事は1990年に訴訟事件摘要書を作成、そのなかで次のように述べている。「原告に対して基本的人権としての中絶の自由を裁判所は認めたが……憲法の条文、構成あるいは歴史からはこの結論は支持されない」。その一方で、2003年、控訴裁判事に就任する際の聴聞会では、「ロー対ウェイド裁判の判決は国家の確立した法である。この判例を完全にかつ誠実に適応するのに、自分の個人的見解が邪魔になるということはない」と判事は主張している。

ブッシュ大統領はロバーツ氏を伴い、ホワイトハウスでの会見に臨み、指名を公にし、ロバート氏を「この世代のもっとも優れた法曹人のひとり」と紹介した。

英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳を含みます。


Bush plans to roll out new Iraq strategy this week

U.S. President George W. Bush plans to announce his new strategy for Iraq sometime this week, according to a senior administration source quoted by the BBC.

That strategy will reportedly include a troop increase and will focus on securing Iraq rather than training Iraqi forces. Bush will reveal the strategy in a speech "within days," according to the BBC. Its theme will be sacrifice. Other news agencies have yet to confirm the BBC report.

The announcement comes as Democrats are preparing to start back to work on Thursday in Washington as the new majority, having won many of their new seats by vowing to pull troops out of Iraq.

Bush's new strategy would also prove to be a rebuke of the long-heralded Iraq Study Group report, which he commissioned. It nudged the president toward a policy of negotiations with countries like Iran and Syria, previously seen as enemies, and eventual withdrawal.

Bush met with advisers during December to decide how to proceed in Iraq. Before taking a vacation in Crawford, Tex., his spokesman said the announcement of a new strategy would come sometime after the New Year. Some have speculated that meant he would include in his State of the Union address to Congress expected later this month.

However, the timing of a speech this week may be pointed toward Capitol Hill anyway, as Democrats said they plan to largely sideline Bush's Republican party from the first 100 hours of lawmaking as the new legislature convenes.


Les médias prêtent à George W. Bush l'intention d'augmenter l'effectif des troupes américaines en Irak

Des rumeurs de plus en plus insistantes dans les médias anglo-saxons prêtent au président américain George W. Bush l'intention d'augmenter sensiblement l'effectif des troupes américaines déployées en Irak et d'en faire l'annonce dans les jours à venir, en tout cas avant le discours sur l'état de l'Union, qui doit être prononcé le 23 janvier prochain

Si cette inflexion de la stratégie américaine se révélait exacte, elle irait à contre-courant d'une opinion publique américaine qui semble de plus en plus hostile au coût humain de la guerre en Irak, guerre dont le total des victimes militaires américaines vient de franchir le cap symbolique de 3 000 soldats tués.

En outre, les élections de mi-mandat, le 7 novembre dernier, ont vu le parti démocrate, désormais soucieux de sortir le pays du « bourbier irakien », remporter une majorité en sièges dans les deux chambres du Congrès américain.

On avait relevé, jeudi 28 décembre, l'anecdote des cinq militants pacifistes qui avaient perturbé, pendant moins d'une demi-heure, la circulation sur une route proche du Prairie Chapel Ranch, propriété du président Bush située à Crawford, dans l'État du Texas, en s'asseyant ou se couchant sur la chaussée, empêchant le passage d'une escorte motorisée se rendant dans la propriété présidentielle.

George W. Bush et son épouse prenaient une semaine de vacances dans leur ranch et, lorsque l'incident s'est produit, ils recevaient la visite du vice-président Dick Cheney, de la secrétaire d'État Condoleezza Rice et du secrétaire à la Défense Robert Gates.

La militante pacifiste Cindy Sheehan, mère d'un soldat de 24 ans tué en Irak en avril 2004, avait ensuite expliqué au Waco Tribune-Herald, un quotidien de la région, que sa protestation visait à attirer l'attention sur l'intention prêtée au président Bush d'augmenter le nombre des soldats américains engagés en Irak.

Mme Sheehan, qui réside ordinairement à Vacaville, dans l'État de Californie, s'était déjà fait remarquer par le passé en ayant organisé, durant cinq semaines, un camping sauvage pacifiste à proximité de la limite du ranch de M. Bush, en août 2005.

Dans son message écrit de vœux de Nouvel an, diffusé le 31 décembre, le président George W. Bush, après avoir évoqué la situation politique intérieure américaine, consacre deux paragraphes à la guerre contre le terrorisme et à l'intervention en Irak.

Il estime notamment que « l'an dernier, l'Amérique a poursuivi sa mission pour combattre et gagner la guerre contre la terreur et pour promouvoir la liberté comme alternative à la tyrannie et au désespoir ». Il réaffirme sa détermination à « poursuivre l'offensive contre les ennemis de la liberté, à accroître la sécurité [des États-Unis], et à travailler vers un Irak libre et unifié », puis sa conviction que « la défaite des terroristes et des extrémistes est le défi de notre temps », et que les États-Unis « répondron[t] à l'appel de l'histoire avec confiance et combattron[t] pour la liberté sans hésitation ».

La veille, le président Bush, dans son communiqué de réaction à l'annonce de l'exécution de Saddam Hussein, avait déjà laissé entendre qu'il n'envisageait guère d'inflexion de la stratégie suivie depuis près de quatre ans. Il concluait son commentaire en laissant prévoir « beaucoup de choix difficiles et des sacrifices supplémentaires » et en argüant de « la nécessité, pour assurer la sûreté et la sécurité des Américains, de ne pas mollir et de s'assurer que la jeune démocratie irakienne continue à progresser ».

Signe de l'impopularité croissante de la guerre en Irak, même des républicains « bon teint » se mettent à critiquer ouvertement la gestion de la guerre.

Richard Lugar, sénateur de l'Indiana et président sortant de la commission des Affaires étrangères, invite le président Bush à mener des membres du Congrès avant toute annonce d'un accroissement du nombre de soldats américains en Irak. Le sénateur rappelle que le nouveau Congrès dispose d'une majorité opposée au président et que négliger ce rapport de forces pourrait entraîner de sérieuses difficultés pour l'hôte de la Maison Blanche. Il a également regretté que l'administration Bush ait négligé de consulter les parlementaires sur la conduite de la guerre.

Arlen Specter, sénateur de Pennsylvanie, estime de son côté que rien ne lui paraît justifier un accroissement des effectifs américains en Irak, tout en disant disposé à entendre les justifications du président Bush. Il se montre en outre partisan de larges consultations diplomatiques sur l'avenir de l'Irak, impliquant non seulement des puissances régionales « amies », comme la Turquie, la Jordanie ou l'Arabie saoudite, mais aussi des pays comme l'Iran ou la Syrie, rangés par l'administration Bush dans l'« Axe du mal ».

Chuck Hagel, sénateur du Nebraska, se serait déclaré, selon l'éditorialiste conservateur Robert Novak, « absolument hostile à l'envoi de troupes supplémentaires en Irak », stratégie qu'il aurait qualifiée de « folie ».

Du côté démocrate, les critiques abondent également, parmi lesquelles celles de de deux candidats à l'investiture du parti pour l'élection présidentielle de 2008.

Tom Vilsack, gouverneur de l'Iowa, estime par exemple que les États-Unis ne pourraient commettre de « plus grande erreur que de suggérer qu'une augmentation des effectifs [...] serait susceptible rendre l'Irak plus sûr ou meilleur ».

John Edwards, quant à lui, ancien sénateur de la Caroline du Nord et ancien candidat à la vice-présidence en 2004, qui avait pourtant voté en faveur de la guerre, estime que ce plan d'augmentation des effectifs américains en Irak porterait la marque du sénateur républicain de l'Arizona, John McCain, et pense que ce dernier est dans l'erreur.

On rapporte également des signes de malaise au sein des forces armées américaines. Le journal Military Times a publié les résultats d'un sondage mené auprès de ses abonnés, qui montre que 35 % des militaires d'active soutiendraient la conduite de l'affaire irakienne par George W. Bush et que 42 % la désapprouveraient. Le journal estime que la marge d'erreur de ces pourcentages serait de 3 %.

Un autre sondage, mené au début du mois de décembre pour Bloomberg et le Los Angeles Times, tend à montrer que, au sein de l'opinion publique américaine, la guerre serait encore plus impopulaire que parmi les seuls militaires, 52 % des personnes interrogées se montrant favorables à un retrait des troupes américaines d'Irak dans un délai fixé à l'avance, contre 12 % qui soutiendraient l'idée d'une augmentation numérique du contingent déployé.

Les médias anglo-saxons estiment que George W. Bush pourrait annoncer son intention d'augmenter l'effectif des forces américaines en Irak de 15 000 à 30 000 soldats, et que cette annonce pourrait prendre la forme d'une allocution télévisée, au cours de laquelle serait mise en avant la nécessité du « sacrifice ».

Certains commentateurs estiment que cette annonce pourrait survenir dans le courant de la semaine, et d'autres tablent pour le milieu de la semaine prochaine. Dans tous les cas, cette annonce, si elle se confirmait, devrait survenir avant le 23 janvier.

Une inconnue de poids réside dans l'attitude qu'adopterait le Congrès à majorité démocrate en cas d'annonce par George W. Bush de la nécessité « du sang, de la peine, des larmes et de la sueur », pour reprendre la formule de Churchill. Certains pensent que les parlementaires pourraient choisir de ne pas se heurter de front au président, préférant continuer à pointer ses erreurs de stratégie, mais d'autres estiment que certains congressistes républicains pourraient ne pas hésiter à mêler leurs voix à celles des démocrates pour s'opposer aux intentions martiales du président.


Bush says missile shield "urgently" needed to counter Iranian threat

In a speech on Tuesday, U.S. President George W. Bush said that deploying a missile shield in Europe is necessary to counter an emerging nuclear threat from Iran.  The planned missile shield is strongly opposed by Russia, which sees it as a threat to its security.

"The need for missile defense in Europe is real and I believe it's urgent. Iran is pursuing the technology that could be used to produce nuclear weapons, and ballistic missiles of increasing range that could deliver them," Bush said in a speech at the National Defense University. "Today, we have no way to defend Europe against the emerging Iranian threat, so we must deploy a missile defense system there that can."

In his speech, Bush emphasized the threat posed by the range of Iran's missiles. "Last November, Iran conducted military exercises in which it launched ballistic missiles capable of striking Israel and Turkey," Bush said.  He warned that, with "continued foreign assistance", Iran could develop an ICBM capable of reaching the United States by 2015.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that the United States and the West could rely on Russian-operated early warning radar in Azerbaijan to counter missile threats from Iran.

The U.S. missile defense plan includes 10 ground-based interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said previously that the shield was seen a "potential threat" by Russia and that Russia could take measures to "neutralize" it. In his speech, Bush said that the missile shield was not designed to intercept missiles from Russia and "would be easily overwhelmed by Russia's nuclear arsenal."

Also on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed delaying the activation of part of the missile shield if Russia cooperates with the project.  "We continue to encourage the Russians to partner with us in missile defense and continue our efforts to reassure them that these facilities are not aimed at Russia and could benefit Russia," Gates said. He also suggested that the missile shield could remain inactive until "definitive proof" of a threat arose. "We would consider tying together the activation of the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic with definitive proof of the threat, in other words, Iranian missile testing and so on," he said.


Bush dice que el escudo anti-misil es necesario para contrarrestar la amenaza iraní

24 de octubre de 2007Washington DC, Estados Unidos —

En un discurso hoy martes, el Presidente de Estados Unidos, George W. Bush, dijo que el despliegue del escudo anti-misil en Europa es necesario para contrarrestar a Irán, una amenaza nuclear emergente. El escudo anti-misil ha recibido varias críticas y negativa por parte de Rusia, que lo ve como una amenaza a su seguridad.

"La necesidad para una defensa contra misiles en Europa es real y creo es urgente. Irán está buscando la tecnología que podría ser utilizada para producir armas nucleares, y misiles balísticos de cada vez mayor alcance", dijo Bush en su discurso en la National Defense University. "Hoy, no tenemos modo de defender a Europa contra la emergente amenaza iraní, así que debemos desplegar un sistema de defensa de misiles allí."

En su discurso, Bush hizo énfasis en la amenaza que presentan los misiles de Irán. "El pasado noviembre, Irán condujo ejercicios militares en el cual lanzó misiles balísticos capaces de atentar Israel y Turquía", añadó el presidente. Además, Bush advirtió que, con la "continua asistencia extranjera", Irán podría, para 2015, desarrollar misiles ICBM capaces de llegar a los Estados Unidos.

El Presidente de Rusia, Vladimir Putin, sugirió que los Estados Unidos y el Occidente podían depender de un sistema de advertencia de radar en Azerbaiyán para contrarrestar amenazas balísticas de Irán.

El plan para la defensa de misiles estadounidense incluye 10 interceptores terrestres en Polonia y un sistema de radar en la República Checa. El Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores ruso, Sergey Lavrov, dijo previamente que el escudo era visto como una "amenaza potencial" para Rusia y que este país tomaría medidas apropiadas para "neutralizarlo".

Bush, en su discurso, dijo sin embargo que el escudo anti-misil no estaba diseñado para interceptar misiles de Rusia y "sería fácilmente abrumado por el arsenal nuclear ruso".

También el martes, el Secretario de Defensa Robert Gates propuso retrasar la activación de parte del escudo anti-misil si Rusia coopera con el proyecto. "Seguimos instando a los rusos que nos acompañen en la defensa de misiles y continuamos nuestros esfuerzos para reasegurarles que estas facilidades no están destinadas para Rusia y podrían beneficiar a Rusia", dijo Gates. También sugirió que el escudo anti-misil podría ser mantenido inactivo hasta que surgiere una "prueba definitiva" de la amenaza.

"Consideramos tratar juntos la activación de los sitios en Polonia y la República Checa con la prueba definitiva de la amenaza, en otras palabras, las pruebas de misiles iraníes", declaró el secretario.


Bush says US troop build-up in Iraq has brought 'hope'

US President George W. Bush says the so-called "surge" strategy in Iraq is working.

The President was speaking in Kuwait during one of several stops on a tour of the Middle East to build support for his administration's efforts to stabilize Iraq and to contain Iran's growing influence in the region.

President Bush said the United States' change of strategy in Iraq has sharply reduced violence there and should allow the military to withdraw 20,000 troops on schedule by July this year.

After meeting with his top military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, Mr.Bush told reporters that hope is returning to Baghdad.

The president said he has made no decision on withdrawing more troops from Iraq. He said that will depend on recommendations by General Petraeus, who is due to report to Congress on that issue in March. A day earlier, the president told the NBC television network that U.S. troops could remain in Iraq for at least a decade.

Mr. Bush also called on Syria to cut what he called "the flow of terrorists" into Iraq. He accused Iran of supporting militias and extremist groups in Iraq, and urged it to stop.

Later, the president addressed a crowd of some 1,500 American troops at a U.S. military base in Kuwait.

"The history will say, it was when you were called upon, you served, and the service you rendered was absolutely necessary to defeat an enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home," he said.

Mr.Bush said the troops were part of what he called "an ideological struggle" against "cold-blooded murderers" with a "hateful vision of a future."

In his speech Bush said "Iraq is now a different place from one year ago," and that "we [Americans] must do all we can to ensure that 2008 will bring even greater progress"

He said the best way to defeat an ideology of hate is with an ideology of hope, based on liberty.

"There is no doubt in my mind that we will succeed," he said. "There is no doubt in my mind when history was written, the final page will say: Victory was achieved by the United States of America for the good of the world; that by doing the hard work now, we can look back and say, the United States of America is more secure, and generations of Americans will be able to live in peace."

Kuwait is the most pro-U.S. country in the Arab world, but even so there is deep anxiety there about some U.S. policies in the Middle East. With a large Shi'ite population and a large U.S. troop presence, Kuwait is worried about the possibility of a U.S. military strike on Iran. The emirate has said it will not allow its territory to be used in such an attack. It is also concerned about a spillover of violence from neighboring Iraq.

After Kuwait, the president continues on to Bahrain, headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. He will later visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt before returning to Washington next week.


Iraq: ottimista Bush, «torna la speranza»

Nonostante le pesanti critiche rivolte agli Stati Uniti d'America a causa della guerra in Iraq, il Presidente degli USA George W. Bush si è rivelato ottimista sulla situazione nel paese medio-orientale: ha dichiarato l'uomo politico americano in seguito ad un incontro col generale David Petraeus: «In Iraq sta tornando la speranza. La situazione è adesso molto diversa di quella che era un anno fa. Si tratta adesso di consolidare i progressi raggiunti e fare tutto il possibile perché il 2008 porti ulteriori progressi».

Ha inoltre affermato che ottenere la vittoria in Iraq è necessario per la stabilizzazione del medio-oriente e che Al Qaeda è stata «duramente colpita», ma è necessario «evitare di abbassare la guardia per non perdere i successi conquistati sul campo».

Il leader della Casa Bianca ha poi accusato Siria ed Iran di sostenere i terroristi: la Siria deve «ridurre ancora la sua flotta di terroristi» e l'Iran «cessare il suo sostegno alle milizie» di Al Qaeda.


Bush signs law to build fence at US-Mexico border

Today U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law the Secure Fence Act of 2006, a plan to build a 700 mile (1,125 kilometer) fence between the United States and Mexico, to prevent illegal immigration. Mexico has expressed strong opposition to the fence, which covers about one third of the total border length.

"Unfortunately, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and therefore illegal immigration has been on the rise," Bush was quoted saying. "Ours is a nation of immigrants. We're also a nation of law... We have a responsibility to address these challenges. We have a responsibility to enforce our laws. We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility seriously," the President explained.

Congress passed the bill last month with a convincing majority, but the signing has been delayed until now, 12 days before the mid-term elections in the U.S. Yesterday the president already envisioned funding and manpower increases for border control, and extra beds to counter the "catch-and-release at our southern border".

Earlier this month, Bush arranged a $1.2 billion budget for the fence, along with cameras, sensors, satellites and other security measures, to create a "21st-century" border —but the fence alone is roughly estimated to cost twice that amount. A U.S. poll this week showed that there are more Americans in favor of an increased number of Border Patrol agents, while less then half of those questioned agreed with the fence.

According to the BBC, about 10 million Mexicans live in the U.S., and about four million of them are estimated to be illegal. Though, since illegal immigrants are not registered in any official sense, this number may be much higher, and other figures have circulated in the press. Bush has declared he will attempt to counter "widespread document fraud", and opposes the idea of granting illegals who work in the U.S. quick citizenship, or amnesty. According to Bush, "There is a rational middle ground between granting an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation, and I look forward to working with Congress to find that middle ground."

Since Bush took office, he said, about 6 million have been intercepted and deported. Mexico previously said it deplored the idea, and considers taking this to the United Nations. The Organization of American States also expressed "deep concerns" over the fence, calling the proposal "a unilateral measure that goes against the spirit of understanding that should characterize how shared problems between neighboring countries are handled and that affects cooperation in the hemisphere." The outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox has compared the fence with the Berlin Wall, while President-elect Felipe Calderon thought it was a "grave mistake", and also that "the fence doesn't resolve anything", causing more casualties along the border. Other politicians in Mexico accused the U.S. of hypocrisy, benefiting from cheap Mexican workers but not allowing them to acquire citizenship.

T.J. Bonner, who heads the National Border Patrol Council, told AP that "A fence will slow people down by a minute or two, but if you don't have the agents to stop them it does no good. We're not talking about some impenetrable barrier."

The immigration issue has divided the U.S. Republican party recently, and has brought many demonstrators to the street. The plan could have been balanced with measures to legalize some immigrants already in the U.S., and a foreign worker program, but Bush couldn't convince many of his Republican Party colleagues.


George Bush unterzeichnete Gesetz zum Bau eines Zauns an der Grenze USA-Mexiko

Washington D.C. (Vereinigte Staaten), 28.10.2006 – US-Präsident George W. Bush hat am 27. Oktober 2006 ein Gesetz zum Bau eines mehr als 1.000 Kilometer langen Zauns an der Grenze zwischen den Vereinigten Staaten und Mexiko unterzeichnet. Der Zaun soll die illegale Einwanderung aus Mexiko erschweren. Bei der Unterzeichnung des Gesetzes sagte Bush, die Vereinigten Staaten hätten in dem letzten Jahrzehnt leider keine vollständige Kontrolle über die Grenze gewährleisten können. In der letzten Zeit hat die illegale Einwanderung aus Mexiko ständig zugenommen, einigen Schätzungen zufolge leben zurzeit etwa 10 Millionen Mexikaner in den Vereinigten Staaten, unter ihnen vier Millionen illegal. Mexiko hat sich gegen den Bau eines Zaunes ausgesprochen.

Das Gesetz über den Zaun wurde letzte Woche vom US-Senat angenommen. Der Bau des 1.125 Kilometer langen Zaunes wird 1,2 Milliarden Dollar kosten.

Der Außenminister Mexikos, Luis Ernesto Derbez, erklärte offiziell, dass eine solche Entscheidung beleidigend für Mexiko sei. Er fügte hinzu, dass sich Mexiko an die Vereinten Nationen wenden werde, um dem Bau des Zauns vorzubeugen. Der designierte Präsident Mexikos nannte den Zaun beschämend und verglich ihn mit der Berliner Mauer.

Zurzeit besteht an der Grenze zwischen den Vereinigten Staaten und Mexiko, die insgesamt 3.200 Kilometer lang ist, schon ein 112 Kilometer langer Zaun. Der neue Zaun soll in vier Staaten verlaufen: Kalifornien, Arizona, New Mexico und Texas.


Президент США Джордж Буш подписал закон о строительстве забора, длинной более 1000 км, на границе между США и Мексикой. Забор должен затруднить нелегальную иммиграцию из Мексики. При подписании закона, Буш сказал, что, к сожалению, за последние десятилетия США не смогли обеспечить полного контроля над границей. В последнее время нелегальная иммиграция из Мексики всё время увеличивалась, по некоторым оценкам, в настоящее время в США проживают 10 миллионов мексиканцев, из них четыре миллиона — нелегально. Мексика выступила с протестом против строительства забора.

Закон о заборе был принят Сенатом США на прошлой неделе. Строительство забора длинной 1125 км обойдётся в 1,2 миллиардов долларов.

Министр иностранных дел Мексики Луис Эрнесто Дербез (Luis Ernesto Derbez) заявил, что такое решение оскорбительно для Мексики. Он добавил, что Мексика будет обращаться в ООН, чтобы предотвратить строительство забора. Президент Мексики назвал забор бесстыдством и сравнил его с берлинской стеной.

В настоящее время на границе между США и Мексикой, общая длина которой составляет 3200 км, существует уже забор длиной 112 км. Новый забор должен пролегать в четырёх штатах: Калифорния, Аризона, Нью-Мексико и Техас.


Bush speaks of goals for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, decries calls for timetable

Executive Office of the President of the United States

U.S. President Bush re-stated his commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq and outlined goals for training Iraqi security forces that will guide such withdrawal. The presidential speech followed from a newly released White House document titled the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq. White House Press Secretary Scott McCellen claimed that the strategy outlined is what the administration has been following since 2003, and said that the released document is simply an unclassified version of the same for the public to review.

This release follows growing public and congressional dissatisfaction over the continuing violence in Iraq, rising US and Iraqi death toll, revelations of corruption and misadministration in the reconstruction program and the administration's handling of the war. A day before the president's address, Sen. Hillary Clinton, in an E-mail to her supporters had said "Given years of assurances that the war was nearly over and that the insurgents were in their 'last throes,' this administration was either not being honest with the American people or did not know what was going on in Iraq."

"As the Iraqi forces gain experience and the political process advances, we will be able to decrease our troop levels in Iraq without losing our capability to defeat the terrorists. These decisions about troop levels will be driven by the conditions on the ground in Iraq and the good judgment of our commanders," stated the President on Nov. 30 while speaking to Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

As was expected, Bush did not set a timeframe for U.S. troop withdrawal, which is in direct opposition to recent calls for such a timetable by congressional leaders. The administration and its supporters label such a timeframe as "artificial". In his speech, Bush characterized those calling for a withdrawal deadline as "sincere, but...sincerely wrong." and said "Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would vindicate the terrorists' tactics of beheadings and suicide bombings and mass murder -- and invite new attacks on America."

Bush admitted that there had been "some setbacks in training Iraq’s security forces,"  and that their performance is still “uneven in some areas." Earlier, in a congressional briefing, General Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, had said that so far only one Iraqi battalion out of 120 being trained was capable of mounting operations without support from U.S. forces. The strategy document released also stated that "it's not realistic to expect a fully functioning democracy able to defeat its enemies three years after Saddam is finally removed from power," prompting questions about when the administration made such a determination.

In the White House press briefing Scott McClellan did not directly answer a question about which, if any of the short, medium and long term goals set out in the strategy has been achieved, saying that "I want to say we've made real progress on all three fronts of the strategy for victory." Senate Majority leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn) echoed the same sentiment, saying " ... examining the results on the ground, it's clear that we continue to make progress on the political, security and economic fronts"

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass), felt the President was ignoring what his own generals are telling him.

"The large presence of American forces on the ground feeds the insurgency," stated Kerry.

Democratic politicians generally dismissed the speech as a repeat of old rhetoric.

Harry Reid (D-Nev), Senate minority leader, accused Bush of "recycling his tired rhetoric of 'stay the course'." According to Reid, Bush had "missed an opportunity to lay out a real strategy for success in Iraq that will bring our troops safely home."

Steve Clemons, director of the American Strategy Programme at the New America Foundation, said Bush's war aims failed to address the strains on U.S. armed forces imposed by Iraq. "It's a very expansive commitment and it blows by the structural questions," stated Clemons. He added that those problems could only be resolved by a withdrawal, changing the current rules limiting the frequency of combat tours for individual units, or by moving towards a draft. Clemons said Bush was trying to escape those problems by portraying Iraqi forces as more ready than they actually are.

Washington spends more than $6b a month to keep its forces in Iraq. More than 2,100 Americans and many more thousands of Iraqis have been killed since the March 2003 invasion.