Kosovo declares independence from Serbia

At 15:00 GMT today, Kosovo announced its independence from Serbia. Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi declared that Kosovo would become a democratic country and would respect the rights of all its communities. It is expected that several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and most members of the European Union, will recognise its independence on Monday. Serbia and Russia are against an independent Kosovo. Approximately 10% of Kosovars are of Serbian descent, the majority is Albanian.

The declaration was passed unanimously by the Kosovar parliament, who subsequently signed it. The Prime Minister told MPs that "We have waited for this day for a very long time", and that "the independence of Kosovo marks the end of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia". He also said that Kosovo would be working to follow the plan drawn up by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, and the United Nations. MPs have also selected a new flag (pictured on the right), showing the shape of the country in gold, on a blue background, with six white stars.

The Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica said that the declaration made Kosovo a "false state". Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic had this to say about the declaration:

He had previously said that if Kosovo were to declare independence, "we shall undertake all diplomatic, political and economic measures designed to impede and reverse this direct and unprovoked attack on our sovereignty."

The British Foreign Office said that the declaration was "an important development which creates a new context for Kosovo status", and U.S. President George W. Bush said that he "strongly supported the Ahtisaari plan", which had resulted in the declaration.

Javier Solana, the European Union's co-ordinator of foreign policy said that "stability in Kosovo as well as of the whole Balkan region is essential", and that he is "convinced that the Kosovar leaders will be up to their responsibilities in this crucial moment". French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said that he wished Kosovo good luck.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, however, said that they expected UN and NATO peacekeeping forces to "out their mandate" and take "tough administrative measures" against the declaration. The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has criticised European states that are backing the declaration by pointing out that other separatist groups like Basques in Spain and Turks in Northern Cyprus are not granted the same support. He has said that supporting Kosovo's announcement “...is not moral or legal”.

The Netherlands minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, said that he wanted to study the constitution and the declaration of independence before supporting the new nation. Belgium Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht also welcomed the Ahtisaari to secure safety and stability in the region.


Kosovo proglasilo nezavisnost

Priština (Kosovo), 17. februar 2008. –

Skupština Kosova proglasila je danas na vanrednoj sjednici nezavisnost Kosova, nakon čega je potpisana Deklaracija o nezavisnosti koja sadrži osnovne principe iz preambule prijedloga novog ustava Kosova - obavezu ostvarivanja plana međunarodnog posrednika Martija Ahtisarija i poziv Misiji EU-a da dođe na Kosovo, kao i zahtjev da NATO ostane na teritoriji Kosova.

Nijedan novi pokušaj nastavka pregovora i postizanja sporazuma nije bio uspješan. 10. decembra prošle godina istekao je i posljednji rok za dogovor. Kosovski Albanci odlučili su se za nezavisnost usprkos protivljenju Beograda.


Kosovo declara su independencia

A las 15:00 UTC de hoy, Kosovo declaró su independencia de la República de Serbia.

Hashim Thaçi, Primer Ministro provisional del nuevo país, dijo que será "una república democrática, multiétnica y no discriminatoria" y que garantizará los derechos de todas las comunidades.

Se espera que el Reino Unido, los Estados Unidos y la mayoría de los miembros de la Unión Europea reconozcan la independencia de Kosovo el lunes. Rusia y Serbia, aliados a través de la historia, se niegan a reconocer al nuevo Estado. Vojislav Koštunica, Primer Ministro de Serbia, dijo que Kosovo es "un estado falso".

La declaración fue aprobada unánimamente por el Parlamento kosovar, quien luego la firmó. El Primer Ministro dijo:


Le Kosovo déclare son indépendence


Il Kosovo proclama la propria indipendenza, proteste dalla Serbia e dalla Russia

Il Kosovo è uno stato indipendente. La dichiarazione unilaterale con la quale la regione si è staccata dalla Serbia è stata ratificata questo pomeriggio verso le 15:50 dal Parlamento kosovaro riunito in seduta straordinaria, alla presenza delle alte cariche dello stato. Insieme all'indipendenza, è stato mostrato anche il nuovo vessillo nazionale, ovvero la geografia dello stato in giallo, su sfondo blu, sormontato da sei stelle, chiaro richiamo alla bandiera dell'Unione Europea. Si conclude così il cammino tortuoso dell'indipendenza di questa regione, che il 24 maggio 1992 muoveva i primi timidi passi con un referendum autogestito per l'indipendenza (mai riconosciuto internazionalmente, sebbene fossero presenti osservatori internazionali), che aveva visto un tasso di partecipazione del 80% ed un prorompente 98% di pareri favorevoli.

Il Parlamento, composto dai deputati kosovari e dalla minoranza filo-serba, ha approvato a larghissima maggioranza il documento dell'indipendenza, letto dal premier Hashim Thaçi e votato per alzata di mano; i serbi si sarebbero astenuti dal voto. Dopo la votazione, la firma di tutti i parlamentari. In aula, oltre a Thaçi, era presente il presidente Fatmir Sejdiu, eletto nel 2006 e il presidente dell'assemblea Jakup Krasniqi, che hanno controfirmato il documento.

Lungo le strade di Pristina, in particolare nella via Nena Tereze, si sono riversati migliaia di manifestanti per festeggiare l'avvenimento. Nella parallela di questa, accessibile alle auto, queste strombettavano facendo sventolare bandiere albanesi, americane, europee (in minor numero), salutando così la nascita del nuovo Stato. Tutto è avvenuto senza particolari incidenti, ed il premier Thaci è convinto che ciò sia dovuto non tanto al freddo polare di queste ore, quanto piuttosto ai numerosi ed accorati appelli da parte dell'amministrazione, che ha invitato i partecipanti ad esultare sì, ma con moderazione, in quanto alcune frasi avrebbero potuto essere interpretate come un tentativo di provocazione. E così è stato.

Molti kosovari, intervistati, hanno affermato che attendevano un momento così da una vita; alcuni universitari, alquanto goliardicamente, avevano delle magliette con su scritto «L'indipendenza è meglio del sesso» oppure «L'indipendenza è meglio di un visto Schengen».
Durante i festeggiamenti, il premier ha scoperto una enorme scritta gialla commemorativa: 'new born', riferita appunto al nuovo stato, mentre migliaia di palloncini gialli si libravano in aria e veniva diffusa una musica di sottofondo degli U2.

Subito dopo l'ufficializzazione dell'indipendenza, sono giunte le numerose reazioni internazionali: in testa, come già prima dell'atto, quelle della Serbia, che si vede privata di una buona parte del territorio della sua nazione; tramite il presidente, Boris Tadic, ha fatto sapere di «non accettare l'indipendenza» e che «reagirà con tutti i mezzi pacifici, diplomatici e legali per annullare quanto messo in atto», cercando di ostacolare l'ingresso del Kosovo nell'ONU e nelle maggiori associazioni internazionali; durissimo il primo ministro, Vojislav Kostunica, che afferma che si tratterebbe di uno «stato fantoccio» in mano alla NATO, continuando in maniera ancora più forte: «Il Presidente degli Stati Uniti, che è il responsabile di questa violazione, sarà scritto nel libro nero della storia serba, insieme ai suoi partner europei. [...] gli USA hanno costretto l’Europa ad abbassare la testa, ma la Serbia ha rifiutato di umiliarsi. Se non riusciremo noi a correggere l’ingiustizia, lo farà una nuova e migliore generazione.». Insomma per la classe dirigente serba, il kosovo è stato, è e sarà sempre Serbia e loro non lo riconosceranno mai come entità a se stante. Sulla stessa lunghezza d'onda la Russia: il ministro degli esteri, Sergej Lavrov, ha lapidamente annunciato di «sostenere in pieno la reazione di Belgrado».
Reazioni non entusiastiche anche dalla Cina, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Georgia, e da alcuni paesi dell'unione europea.

I timori espressi fuori dalla Serbia si concentrano soprattutto sul fatto che l'avvenimento potrebbe costituire un pericoloso precedente per tutte quelle enclavi minoritarie di etnie diverse sparse in paesi di tutto il mondo; solo per fare un esempio la Transilvania in Romania o per la questione di Cipro. Gli antagonisti della secessione del Kosovo, affermano appunto che esistono circa 200 situazioni simili in tutto il mondo che potrebbero esplodere.

In Bosnia i leader della Republika Srpska (una sorta di enclave serba in Bosnia) guardano con preoccupazione l'avvenimento e lo condannano, in quanto fuori dall'adeguata cornice di legalità internazionale; teoricamente tale condanna suonerebbe un po' strana da parte loro, se non fosse per il fatto che sono serbi e quindi vicini alla posizione della loro madrepatria.

Reazione fredda, ma giustificata dalle polemiche serbe, quella degli Stati Uniti d'America, che hanno fatto sapere di prendere atto della decisione kosovara. La NATO ha assicurato il proseguimento dell'operazione militare di pace, mentre gli USA e il Vaticano hanno auspicato che i due stati «esercitino la massima moderazione e evitino qualsiasi provocazione».

Nella giornata di domani si riuniranno i 27 ministri degli esteri UE, per comunicare la posizione europea, che tuttavia sembrano d'accordo solo su un punto, ovverosia la situazione particolare ed alquanto 'sui generis' del Kosovo (e che quindi non dovrebbe essere presa ad esempio da altri movimenti indipendentisti mondiali):


コソボがセルビアからの独立を宣言

日経新聞や毎日新聞によると17日、セルビア共和国南部コソボ自治州のハシム・サチ首相が議会にて同州の独立を宣言した。一方的な独立宣言ながらも米国や欧州連合（EU）加盟国の大半が独立を承認する見込みだ。

毎日新聞が報じたところによると地元紙が入手した新憲法法案により新国家名は「コソボ共和国」。「多民族国家」という位置づけられ、世俗主義を掲げつつも信教の自由をうたうという。また、コソボには北大西洋条約機構（NATO）の部隊約1万6000人が引き続き駐留し、EUも約2000人の文民支援部隊を派遣するとのこと。

しかし毎日新聞や朝日新聞によると反発の動きも見られている。セルビアのボリス・タディッチ大統領が独立宣言の無効と議会解散を訴えたほか、ロシア、中国、南アフリカ、インドネシアなどが懸念を表明し、対話の継続を訴えた。

読売新聞によればセルビア各地では暴動も起こっている。17日、ベオグラードでは若者約2000人がアメリカ大使館前で警官隊と衝突したほか、ベオグラードや北部ノヴィサドで各商業施設が破壊された。また、セルビア人の集中するコソボ北部ミトロビツァではEUと国連大使館に手投げ弾が投げ込まれ、炸裂するという事件も発生している。

また、東京新聞によると現地時間21日夜、独立宣言へ反発した暴徒が米大使館へ乱入して放火し、排除しようとした警官隊と衝突。この騒ぎで暴徒と思われる1人が死亡、警官隊オランダ人記者を含む約150人が負傷した。また他に英国、ドイツ、トルコ、クロアチア、ボスニアの各大使館やマクドナルド、外資系銀行などでも暴動が起こりガラスが割れれるなどしたほか、自動車や市電、バスなどが放火される騒ぎも起こっている。


Kosovo roept onafhankelijkheid uit

Vandaag heeft het Kosovaarse parlement in een bijzondere zitting de onafhankelijkheid uitgeroepen. De verklaring zat er al langer aan te komen en was dan ook voor niemand een verrassing. Rusland en ex-moederland Servië zijn radicaal tegen, de Verenigde Staten zijn voor. De meeste EU-landen zijn gematigd enthousiast en willen de nieuwe staat snel erkennen, maar Spanje (dat vreest voor nationalistische reflexen in eigen land) en Cyprus (vanwege Turks-Cyprus) zijn tegen. Morgen zal de Europese Raad proberen een gemeenschappelijk standpunt uit te werken.

"Ik voel de hartslag van mijn voorouders, maar ik kijk ook naar de toekomst. Kosovo wordt een Europese staat voor al zijn burgers," aldus premier Hashim Thaci. In Kosovo komen de burgers inmiddels massaal op straat. De sfeer is uitbundig. Het land heeft ook een nieuwe vlag, naar Europees voorbeeld: een blauwe achtergrond met daarop de contouren van Kosovo en zes sterren erboven. Ze illustreert de ambities van het land om snel een volwaardige EU-lidstaat te worden.

Bij de Russen is de verklaring volledig in het verkeerde keelgat geschoten. Zij riepen vanavond een speciale bijeenkomst van de VN-Veiligheidsraad bijeen. Moskou voert aan dat de onafhankelijkheid alleen maar zal leiden tot nieuw etnisch geweld in de regio en wil dat NAVO en VN de Kosovaren onmiddellijk tot de orde zullen roepen. De Servische president Boris Tadić liet luttele minuten na de verklaring weten nooit ofte nimmer de Kosovaarse staat te zullen erkennen.


Kosowo ogłosiło niepodległość

17 lutego 2008 o 15:00 czasu uniwersalnego Kosowo ogłosiło niepodległość. Premier Hashim Thaçi zadeklarował, że jego kraj stanie się demokratyczny i będzie respektował prawa wszystkich społeczności. W przybliżeniu 10% Kosowian to obywatele pochodzenia serbskiego, większość ma pochodzenie albańskie.

Deklaracja została przyjęta jednogłośnie przez kosowski parlament, który następnie podpisał ją. Premier powiedział do członków parlamentu: "Czekaliśmy na ten dzień bardzo długi czas" oraz "niezależność Kosowa kończy skazę nierozwiązaną po dawnej Jugosławii". Dodał także, że Kosowo będzie podążało za planem zarysowanym przez fińskiego prezydenta Martti Ahtisaari i Narody Zjednoczone. Parlamentarzyści wybrali nową flagę, przedstawiającą kształt kraju w złocie na niebieskim tle z sześcioma białymi gwiazdami.

Serbski premier, Vojislav Koštunica powiedział, że obecna sytuacja Kosowa jest "sztucznym stanem". Serbski minister spraw zagranicznych Vuk Jeremić powiedział o deklaracji:

Zapowiedział wcześniej także, że jeśli Kosowo ogłosi niezależność podejmiemy wszelkie dyplomatyczne, polityczne i ekonomiczne kroki, aby utrudnić i odwrócić ten bezpośredni i niczym niesprowokowany atak na naszą suwerenność.

Brytyjskie biuro do spraw zagranicznych uznało, że deklaracje była "ważnym wydarzeniem, które pokazało status Kosowa w nowym kontekście", a prezydent Stanów Zjednoczonych George W. Bush powiedział, że "mocno wspierał plan Ahtisaari", którego skutkiem była ta deklaracja.

Javier Solana, koordynator spraw zagranicznych w ONZ powiedział, że "stabilność Kosowa, tak samo jak i całych Bałkanów jest sprawą zasadniczą" oraz, że "jest przekonany, iż kosowscy przywódcy staną na wysokości zadania w tym decydującym momencie".

Francuski minister spraw zagranicznych powiedział, iż życzy Kosowu powodzenia.

Rosyjskie Ministerstwo do Spraw Zagranicznych oznajmiło jednak, że oczekuje, aby siły pokojowe NATO i ONZ, aby "wykorzystały swoje pełnomocnictwo" i "zastosowały najostrzejsze środki" przeciwko deklaracji. Prezydent Rosji Władimir Putin skrytykował państwa europejskie, które popierają deklarację wskazując na inne odseparowane grupy, tj. Basków w Hiszpanii i Turków zamieszkujących północny Cypr, które nie dostają takiego samego wsparcia. Uważa, że wsparcie dla kosowskiego obwieszczenia "...nie jest ani moralnie słuszne, ani legalne".

Holenderski minister spraw zagranicznych, Maxime Verhagen, powiedział, że chciał przestudiować konstytucję i deklarację niepodległości przed wsparciem nowej nacji.


Kosovo declara independência da Sérvia

Às 15:00 GMT do domingo (17/02), Kosovo anunciou a sua independência da Sérvia. O Primeiro Ministro Hashim Thaçi declarou que Kosovo se tornaria um país democrático e que respeitaria os direitos de todas suas comunidades. É esperado que vários países, incluindo o Reino Unido, os Estados Unidos da América e a maioria dos integrantes da União Europeia, reconheçam a sua independência na segunda-feira. A Sérvia e a Rússia são contra a independência de Kosovo. Aproximadamente 10% dos kosovares são de descendência sérvia, a maioria é albanesa.

A declaração de independência passou por unanimidade pelo parlamento de Kosovo, o qual em seguida ratificou-o. O primeiro ministro disse aos deputados: "nós esperamos por este dia por muito tempo" e "a independência de Kosovo marca o final da dissolução da antiga Iuguslávia". Ele também declarou que Kosovo trabalharia para seguir o plano sugerido pelo ex-Presidente da Finlândia, Martti Ahtisassri e pelas Nações Unidas. Os deputados também escolheram uma nova bandeira, que mostra o mapa do país dourado, num fundo azul, com seis estrelas brancas.

O Primeiro Ministro da Sérvia, Vojislav Kostunica disse que a declaração tornou Kosovo "um falso estado". O Ministro das Relações Exteriores sérvio Vuk Jeremić disse o seguinte: "Deixe-me ser bem claro. A República da Sérvia nunca aceitará qualquer violação da integridade do seu território. Nunca reconheceremos a independência de Kosovo. Não renunciaremos, não desistiremos, nem deixaremos este acto covarde passar em branco. Não agora. Não em um ano. Não numa década. Nunca."

Jeremić dissera em outra ocasião que se Kosovo declarasse independência, "tomaria todas as medidas diplomáticas, políticas e econômicas a fim de impedir e reverter um ataque direto e sem motivo" à soberania de seu país.

O gabinete britânico das Relações Exteriores emitiu a declaração de que "foi um acontecimento importante que cria um novo contexto para a situação de Kosovo". O Presidente dos EUA George W. Bush disse que "apoiou fortemente o plano de Ahtisaari" que resultou na declaração.

Javier Solana, o coordenador da União Europeia para a política internacional disse que "a estabilidade em Kosovo e também em toda Bálcãs é essencial", e que ele está "convencido que os líderes kosovares assumirão suas responsabilidades neste momento crucial". O Ministro das Relações Exteriores francês Bernard Kouchner disse que ele deseja boa sorte a Kosovo.

O Ministro das Relações Exteriores da Rússia disse que espera que as forças de paz das Nações Unidas e da OTAN façam sua obrigação e "tomem medidas administrativas" contra a declaração. O Presidente da Rússia Vladimir Putin criticou os estados europeus que apoiaram a declaração lembrando que outros grupos separatistas como os bascos na Espanha e a República Turca ao norte de Chipre não receberam apoio semelhante. Ele também disse que o apoio à declaração de Kosovo "não é moral, nem legal".

O Ministro das Relações Exteriores dos Países Baixos, Maxime Verhagen, disse que gostaria de estudar a constituição e a declaração de independência antes de apoiar a nova nação. O Ministro das Relações Exteriores da Bégica, Karel De Gucht, aconselhou Ahtisaari a garantir a segurança e a estabilidade na região.


Косово объявило о своей независимости

Парламент автономного края Косово и Метохия в 17:00 по местному времени объявил об отделении региона от Сербии и создании независимой Республики Косово.

Премьер-министр Хашим Тачи обратился с речью к депутатам, в которой гарантировал безопасность всем национальным меньшинствам края, в том числе и сербскому населению, составляющему около 10 процентов от общего числа жителей региона. Он также заверил мировое сообщество в приверженности плану Марти Ахтисаари и поблагодарил Организацию Объединённых Наций за её роль в решении «косовского вопроса».

Президент края Фатмир Сейдиу заявил, что Косово будет стремиться к вступлению в НАТО и евроинтеграции.

Затем на трибуну вновь поднялся премьер-министр Хашим Тачи. Он обратился со словами благодарности к представителю семьи Яшари, которая, по словам Тачи, «внесла значительный вклад в дело независимости Косово», а затем зачитал парламентариям текст Декларации независимости Косово.

После этого на голосование был поставлен вопрос о независимости края. Депутаты единогласно проголосовали «за».

Также были приняты герб и флаг Косово.

Премьер-министр Сербии Воислав Коштуница уже назвал Республику Косово «лжегосударством на территории Сербии».

Российские власти ранее заявляли, что в случае объявления краем независимости, намерены созвать консультации Совета Безопасности ООН. В четверг в ходе консультаций по этому вопросу лишь пять государств из 15 его членов высказались за предоставление Косову независимости.

В ходе пресс-конференции Коштуница призвал всех граждан Сербии поддержать живущих в Косове сербов, но бороться против отделения края исключительно ненасильственными средствами.

Президент Сербии Борис Тадич заявил, что его страна будет «всеми доступными дипломатическими и законными средствами добиваться аннулирования одностороннего объявления независимости Косова, но не прибегнет к силе ни при каких обстоятельствах»

17 февраля 2008 года


Усвојена декларација о независности Косова

17. februar 2008.Приштина-   (Beta) - Skupština Kosova usvojila je danas Deklaraciju o nezavisnosti Kosova.

Kosovski parlament nastavlja rad na vanrednoj sednici usvajenjem državnih simbola - grba i zastave.


Kosovo seeks recognition as independent state

A day after declaring independence from Serbia, Kosovo is hoping for recognition from the global community, especially the European Union and the United States.

"We expect to be recognized by the first countries any minute," said Prime Minister Hashim Thaci to his cabinet. Most of the EU's 27-member nations are expected to recognize Kosovo. The United States is prepared to recognize Kosovo as well; President George W. Bush supported their actions during his trip to Africa. In an interview broadcast live from Tanzania, Bush said, "The Kosovans are now independent. It's something I've advocated along with my government."

Meanwhile, Serbia continued to oppose Kosovo, and has now taken legal action against its leaders. Serbian lawmakers rejected the proclamation as "invalid" and "illegal". The President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Kosovo were charged with "a serious criminal act against the constitutional order and security of Serbia", according to the Interior Ministry.

Serbia will also attempt to prevent Kosovo from gaining admission into the U.N. and other international organizations, with the help of Russia. "The so-called Kosovo state will never be a member of the United Nations," said Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic. "Serbia will use all diplomatic means at its disposal to block Kosovo's recognition."

Russia, which has historically been against Kosovan independence, reiterated their opposition to the act. "Our position is that this declaration should be disregarded by the international community," said Vitaly Churkin, Russia's United Nations ambassador. Churkin said he worried for the safety of the Serb minority in Kosovo. "We'll strongly warn against any attempts at repressive measures should Serbs in Kosovo decide not to comply with this unilateral proclamation of independence," he said.

Several thousand ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo went to rallies to protest the declaration, where chants of "This is Serbia!" could be heard. Marko Jaksic, leader of the Serbian Assembly of Kosovo and Metohija, showed up at one of the rallies. "America is no longer the single world power," he said. "The Russians are coming. As long as there is Russia and Serbia, there will never be an independent Kosovo."

Protests held in the Bosnian city of Banja Luka were more violent. Dissenters held up signs reading "Kill the Albanians!", and stones and eggs were reportedly thrown at police.

The European Union has agreed to send some 2,000 police officers and civil administrators to Kosovo to stabilize the situation and help build institutions. "I think it's very important that we recognise that all of the countries of the Western Balkans are European countries and therefore it's critical that Europe shows real leadership in how it ensures that peace and stability are the order of the day," said United Kingdom foreign secretary David Miliband.

Despite the majority of European Union members that are expected to recognize Kosovo, several nations, including Spain, have already rejected their claim to independence. "The government of Spain will not recognize the unilateral act proclaimed yesterday by the assembly of Kosovo," said Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Spain thinks the declaration does not respect international law, he explained.

In China, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao expressed concern over Kosovo's bid for independence. "Kosovo's unilateral act can produce a series of results that will lead to seriously negative influence on peace and stability in the Balkan region," he said.

Other nations which will not recognize Kosovo include Sri Lanka, Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan.

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to discuss the issue later today.


Мировое сообщество решает вопрос о независимости Косова

После провозглашения независимой Республики Косово во всём мире рассматривается вопрос о признании новообразованного государства.

Первым Косово признал Афганистан. Представитель МИДа Султан Ахмад Бахин заявил, что его страна ценит приверженность жителей Косово демократическим ценностям, правам человека и желает им процветания.

Затем президент Соединённых Штатов Америки Джордж Буш во время своей поездки в Танзанию заявил: «Косовары теперь независимы. Это именно то, что я защищал вместе с моим правительством». Позднее независимость была признана официально.

Из стран Европейского Союза первой о готовности признать Косово объявила Франция, затем к ней присоединились Великобритания, Италия, Германия и Финляндия. 17 из 27 стран ЕС согласились признать Косово, однако Испания, Кипр, Греция, Словакия, Болгария и Румыния выступают против. Официальное признание уже объявили Бельгия, Франция, Великобритания и Италия.

Республика Китай (Тайвань) также признала независимость республики.

Тем временем Сербия обвинила лидеров Косово в совершении «серьезное уголовное преступление против конституционного порядка и безопасности Сербии», приняв участие в объявлении «незаконного государства» на сербской территории.

(Английский)

18 февраля 2008 года


Kurds announce deal with Assad's government as Turkey invades Syria's northeast

Late on Sunday, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced it had entered into an agreement with the government of Syria after Turkey began a military offensive into north-eastern Syria on Wednesday. According to Syrian state media, government forces began deploying into previously SDF controlled territory yesterday. Also on Sunday, the United States announced a complete withdrawal from the region, beyond the withdrawal from the "immediate area" first announced seven days earlier on October 6.

In a statement, the SDF said, "An agreement has been reached with the Syrian government — whose duty it is to protect the country's borders and preserve Syrian sovereignty — for the Syrian Army to enter and deploy along the Syrian-Turkish border to help the [SDF] stop [the Turkish] aggression".

The Syrian Army — whose commander-in-chief is President Bashar al-Assad — entered Tell Tamer and Ain Issa yesterday according to state media. The SDF said hundreds of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) fighters escaped following Turkish airstrikes from a camp at Ain Issa.

On October 6, US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the phone. Then both nations issued statements speaking of an imminent incursion into northeast Syria, and the US statement spoke of Turkey assuming the duty of guarding captured ISIS militants.

On Wednesday, Turkey began a military offensive with airstrikes followed by a ground invasion. Erdoğan said the invasion was "to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area." He named it "Operation Peace Spring" and named both the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and People's Protection Units (YPG) as terrorists. PKK is a banned militant organization in Turkey; YPG is the main fighting force of the SDF, largely Kurdish and, according to Turkey, supportive of the PKK.

The operation was condemned by members of the European Union. Erdoğan cited Article 5 of the NATO treaty and said, "They need to stand by us", while addressing the press yesterday. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote, "I count on Turkey to act with restraint & ensure that the gains we have made in the fight against ISIS are not jeopardised."


Turkse leger begint offensief in Noordoost-Syrië

Woensdag is het Turkse leger begonnen met "Operatie Ontluikende Vrede (en)", de naam die de Turkse regering zelf geeft aan het reeds lang verwachte en gevreesde militaire offensief in de Noord-Syrische regio Rojava tegen de Koerden in dat gebied. Het Turkse leger sprak gisteren van een "succesvolle" operatie die "loopt zoals gepland". De inval is mogelijk geworden nadat de Amerikaanse president Trump eerder deze week het Amerikaanse leger definitief uit het betreffende gebied heeft teruggetrokken. President Erdoğan niet alleen alle groeperingen uit het gebied verdrijven die hij als terroristen ziet. Hij wil er ook een "veilige zone" creëren om grote groepen Syrische vluchtelingen vanuit Turkije naar terug te sturen.

Het offensief begon woensdagmiddag met luchtaanvallen. In de nacht van woensdag op donderdag zijn ook Turkse grondtroepen de grens  overgestoken. Volgens het International Rescue Committee zijn zo'n 64.000 mensen hun woningen inmiddels ontvlucht. Volgens het Turkse ministerie van Defensie waren er vanmorgen vroeg in totaal 181 doelen in Noordoost-Syrië aangevallen. De Turkse strijdkrachten zouden inmiddels de YPG-strijders uit 11 dorpen hebben verdreven. Over het aantal doden is weinig duidelijk. De Syrische Democratische Strijdkrachten zeiden afgelopen nacht op Twitter dat drie van hun strijders waren omgekomen evenals vijf burgers. De Koerdische Rode Halvemaan maakte gisteren melding van vijf burgerdoden, van wie er drie in Kamishli zouden zijn gevallen. Daily Sabah (en), een Turkse krant die erg pro-regering is, had het gisteren over 228 "geneutraliseerde" (deze term kan ook betekenen dat ze zijn gevangen of zich hebben overgegeven) YPG-strijders. Inmiddels is ook de eerste dode aan Turkse zijde gemeld.

Terreurdeskundigen zijn met name bevreesd dat de duizenden IS-strijders die tot nu toe in Noord-Syrië gevangen werden gehouden van de huidige situatie zullen profiteren door te ontsnappen en zich te hergroeperen. Het waren juist de Koerden die in het gebied tot nu toe verantwoordelijk waren voor de bewaking van deze gevangenen. Turkije ziet de Koerden echter puur als terroristen en scheert hen op één kam met andere groeperingen zoals IS. Het Amerikaanse leger heeft inmiddels twee beruchte Britse IS-strijders (die deel uitmaakten van de zogenoemde "Jihadi Beatles") weggehaald uit het Syrische detentiekamp en overgeplaatst naar Irak.


Kurmanbek Bakiev sworn in as president of Kyrgyzstan

Kurmanbek Bakiev has been sworn in as the president of Kyrgyzstan after winning the elections one month ago with an 89% majority.

Following the exile of the previous president, Askar Akayev, Bakiev was appointed acting president until elections were held.

Mr Bakiev's main competitor in the elections was Felix Kulov. They agreed upon a power-sharing pact, meaning that Mr Kulov would become Prime Minister if Mr Bakiev became president.

Bakiev took his oath of office after a military parade, in front of diginitaries in Bishkek's central square.


Amtsantritt des kirgisischen Präsidenten Bakijew

Bischkek (Kirgisistan), 14.08.2005 – Kurmanbek Bakijew, der neue Präsident von Kirgisistan, hat offiziell sein Amt angetreten.

Vor zehntausenden Menschen legte fünf Wochen nach seinem Wahlsieg der frühere Oppositionspolitiker in der Hauptstadt Bischkek den Amtseid ab. Im März diesen Jahres war Bakijew durch einen friedlichen Umsturz als Übergangsstaatschef an die Macht gekommen.

In der Wahl am 10. Juli 2005 wurde Bakijew mit mehr als 88 Prozent der Stimmen bestätigt.


Kurmanbek Bakijew nowym prezydentem Kirgistanu

Kurmanbek Bakijew, były przywódca kirgiskiej opozycji  został w niedzielę oficjalnie zaprzysiężony jako prezydent Kirgistanu w stolicy kraju - Biszkeku.

Bakijew wygrał lipcowe wybory prezydenckie uzyskując 89% głosów. Od 25 marca 2005 roku tymczasowo pełnił służbę głowy państwa po obaleniu Askara Akajewa w wyniku tulipanowej rewolucji.

Po przejęciu władzy 55-letni Bakijew chce zlikwidować korupcję. Zamierza także poprawić gospodarkę kraju, gdzie blisko 40% obywateli żyje poniżej granicy ubóstwa. Pragnie również poprawić demokratyzację i polityczną stabilność Kirgistanu.

"Wielu obywateli mojego kraju żyje w biedzie i nie jest pewnych co do przyszłości swojej jak i swoich dzieci" - powiedział.

W ramach gospodarczej odbudowy kraju zamierza rozwinąć turystykę, energię z elektrowni wodnych oraz górnictwo. Planuje znaleźć pracę dla wielu z niemal 5 milionów mieszkańców.

Kurmanbek Bakijew urodził się 1 sierpnia 1949 w mieście Masadan. Karierę polityczną rozpoczynał od funkcji lokalnego sekretarza radzieckiej partii komunistycznej. Później został liderem Ludowego Ruchu Kirgistanu. Ponad to pełnił funkcję gubernatora obwodu Czu od kwietnia 1997 do grudnia 2000 roku. W okresie 21 grudnia 2000 - 22 maja 2002 był premierem Kirgistanu.


Kyrgyz government declares elections valid, refuses to declare state of emergency as opposition cements control of the south

Kyrgyz authorities declared 71 of the 75 seats elected to parliament valid on Tuesday as the opposition cemented control and attempted to maintain order of the country's south, including the cities of Jalal-Abad and Osh, by holding joint patrols with local policeman.

President Askar Akayev, saying protests against him were part of an attempted coup, claimed "criminal elements connected to the drug mafia" were behind the activities, and "the opposition is directed and funded from outside."

However, the president ruled out declaring a state of emergency, saying he was "fully committed to not taking such measures."

Bazambai Solpuyev, a leader of the opposition, claimed that joint public safety patrols has been set up with local police, and this claim was confimed by a spokesman for the Kyrgyz interior ministry.

Anvar Artykov, head of the opposition-backed Osh provisional authority, declared that president Akayev’s authority was no longer being recognized in the region in a statement broadcast on a local television station.

Prominent opposition figure Roza Otunbayeva claimed that "people’s power" provisional authorities controlled five of the eight districts of Jalal-Abad Province, all but one district of Osh Province, four districts in Talas Province, and one in Naryn.

Law-enforcement bodies in the regions have transferred their allegiance to the provisional authorities, although some policemen were not reporting for work. According to reports, relative calm prevailed throughout opposition-controlled regions.

"We are moving towards control over half the country," Otunbayeva said. "The next goal will be [the capital of] Bishkek."


Rząd Kirgistanu: Wybory były uczciwe!

Władze Kirgistanu zadeklarowały dzisiaj, że wybór 71 z 75 członków nowego parlamentu był uczciwy, podczas gdy opozycja utrzymuje już niemal całą południową część kraju, z miastami Dżala Abad i Osz na czele.

Prezydent Askar Akajew twierdzi, że protesty przeciwko jego rządom są częścią planowanego przewrotu. Zadeklarował on także, że "kryminaliści związani z mafią narkotykową" stoją za zamieszkami, a "opozycja jest kierowana i została utworzona przez kogoś z zewnątrz".

W kraju został wprowadzony przez prezydenta stan zagrożenia.

Bazambai Solpujew, przywódca opozycji, zadeklarował, że zostały utworzone przez policję i opozycjonistów wspólne patrole bezpieczeństwa.

Anwar Artykow, głowa proopozycyjnego rządu regionalnego w Osh, powiedział dla lokalnego radia, że władza prezydenta Akajewa nie będzie dłużej uznawana w tym regionie.

Roza Otunbajewa, ważna działaczka opozycyjna, zadeklarowała, że "ludzka siła" prowizorycznych nowych władz Kirgistanu kontroluje 5 z 8 głównych regionów administracyjnych prowincji Dżalal Abad, brakuje jej 1 okręgu do objęcia pełni władzy w Osz, także ma 4 okręgi w prowincji Talas i jeden w Naryn.


Kyrgyz president orders election probe as protesters seize control of second city

Thousands of protesters seized control of a second city in Kyrgyzstan as President Askar Akayev ordered a probe into allegations that the elections were seriously flawed on Monday.

“The south of the country is under the control of the people. Now we should concentrate on [the capital of] Bishkek,” said former ambassador to Britain and opposition leader Roza Otunbayeva to The Times. “We have only one demand — that Akayev should resign.”

President Akayev ordered the Central Election Commission and Supreme Court to begin an investigation into allegations that sparked the protests. According to his office, he ordered them "to pay particular attention to those districts where election results provoked extreme public reaction ... and tell people openly who is right and who is wrong."

About 1,000 protesters armed with flammable liquid and clubs seized the governor's building in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city. The crowd of protesters, which swelled to 2,000, then seized the regional police and security stations of the city located 300 kilometres south of Bishkek.

"This is a new day in our history," said an opposition official named Omurbek Tekebayev. He also said the opposition would hold elections for alternative executive bodies throughout the country, and that they plan to call the presidential election, which is scheduled for October of 2005, within three months.

According to Tekebayev, the deputy regional police chief has joined the opposition and will be in charge of police under the new regional government.

Elsewhere in the country, at least 17,000 people continued to protest the alleged electoral fraud.

Protesters also seized control of the southern city of Jalal-Abad on Sunday.


Starcia w Kirgistanie

W Kirgistanie niespokojnie. W Oszu i Dżałał Abadzie trwają manifestacje. Protestujący nie akceptują wyników wyborów parlamentarnych.

W niedzielę doszło do starć milicji z manifestantami. Opozycja zajęła budynki władz lokalnych w Oszu. W poniedziałek rano protestujący zostali usunięci.

Tego samego dnia prezydent Kirgistanu, Askar Akajew, na wniosek opozycji zarządził rewizję wyników wyborów. Szef Centralnej Komisji Wyborczej w oświadczeniu stwierdził, że wybory przebiegały prawidłowo, a ich wynik jest prawomocny. To nie przekonało manifestantów. W miastach Kirgistanu jest nadal niespokojnie. Porządku strzegą wzmocnione oddziały milicji.
Agencja RIA Novosti donosi, że w Oszu oddziały milicji przeszły na stronę opozycji. Dowodzi nimi wybrany 18 marca tzw. ludowy gubernator.

OBWE wydała oświadczenie, w którym stwierdza, że wybory w Kirgistanie nie spełniały demokratycznych standardów.
Wezwany dzisiaj do dymisji prezydent Akajew zdecydowanie odrzucił żądania opozycji. Zaznaczył też, że nie ma zamiaru użyć siły na dużą skalę wobec demonstrantów. Nie chce też wprowadzać stanu wyjątkowego.


Kyrgyzstan votes on referendum for new constitution

Kyrgyzstani citizens on Sunday voted on a referendum concerning a proposed constitution ahead of the country's elections this September.

Polls are open from between 0800 and 2000 local time (0200 and 1400 UTC) today, with results of the poll expected to be made public on Monday.  According to Kyrgyzstan officials, around 55% of the eligible population had participated in the poll, which was announced in April.

Under the proposed constitution, Kyrgyzstan would move towards becoming a parliamentary republic, with elections for the parliament held every five years, and presidential elections every six years.  The president would serve only one term.  The current interim government would stay in power until late 2011.

The current president of the country, Roza Otunbayeva, said as she voted that "the people of Kyrgyzstan are proving that the country is united, standing on its feet and going forward.  As a people, we want to heal the wounds we have sustained in recent times."

The referendum, which was backed by both the United States and Russia, has been criticized for coming too soon after recent violence in the country by both various human rights groups and opposition political parties within Kyrgyzstan.

The violence was triggered by the overthrow of the former president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, leading to riots in the southern part of the country, which both the government and ethnic leaders blamed the other for.


புதிய அரசியலமைப்புக்கு கிர்கிஸ்தான் மக்கள் அமோக ஆதரவு

நாடாளுமன்றத்துக்கு கூடுதல் அதிகாரங்களை வழங்கும் புதிய அரசியலமைப்புக்கு கிர்கிஸ்தான் வாக்காளர்கள் அமோக ஆதரவு அளித்துள்ளதாக அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

நேற்று நடந்த அபிப்பிராய வாக்கெடுப்பை அடுத்து அனைத்து வாக்குகளும் எண்ணப்பட்ட நிலையில், 90 விழுக்காடு வாக்காளர்கள் அரசுத்தலைவரின் அதிகாரங்களைக் குறைப்பதற்கு தமது ஆதரவைத் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

இந்த முடிவு அந்நாட்டில் தீவிரவாதத்தையே வளர்த்தெடுக்கும் என இரசிய அரசுத் தலைவர் திமீத்ரி மெத்வேதெவ் தெரிவித்தார்.

கடந்த ஏப்ரலில் அரசுத்தலைவர் குர்மான்பெக் பக்கியெவ் பதவி கவிழ்க்கப்பட்டதைத் தொடர்ந்து தற்போது பதவியிலிருக்கும் இடைக்கால அரசுத் தலைவர் ரோசா ஒட்டுன்பாயெவா அபிப்பிராய வாக்கெடுப்புக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்திருந்தார்.

இப்புதிய அரசியலமைப்பின் பிரகாரம் நாடாளுமன்றத்திற்கு அதிகளவு அதிகாரம் வழங்கப்படவுள்ளதுடன், எதிர்வரும் செப்டம்பரில் பொதுத் தேர்தல் நடைபெறவுள்ளது.

இம்மாத முற்பகுதியில் நாட்டின் தென்பகுதியில் கிர்கிஸ் மற்றும் உஸ்பெக் இனத்தவர்களுக்கிடையில் இடம்பெற்ற மோதல்களில் பல நூற்றுக்கணக்கானோர் உயிரிழந்தனர். வன்முறைகள் மிக மோசமானளவில் இடம்பெற்ற ஒஷ் நகரில் நடைமுறையில் இருந்த ஊரடங்கு தற்போது தளர்த்தப்பட்டிருப்பதாகத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

"கிர்கிஸ்தான் உண்மையான மக்களின் மக்களாட்சியாக உருப்பெறும்," என வாக்கெடுப்பு முடிவுகளை அடுத்து ரோசா ஒட்டுன்பாயெவா கருத்துத் தெரிவித்தார்.

அபிப்பிராய வாக்கெடுப்புக்கு ஐக்கிய நாடுகள், அமெரிக்க மற்றும் இரசியா தமது ஆதரவைத் தெரிவித்திருந்தன.

சோவியத் ஒன்றியத்தின் பகுதியாக இருந்த கிர்கிஸ்தான் 1991 இல் விடுதலை பெற்றது. அங்கு இரசியாவும், ஐக்கிய அமெரிக்காவும் தமது இராணுவத்தளங்களை வைத்திருக்கின்றன.

திங்கள், சூன் 28, 2010


L.A. elects Latino Mayor

Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa was swept to victory in Los Angeles on Tuesday, winning nearly 60% of the vote to defeat incumbent James Hahn. Becoming the first Latino mayor in 133 years, the historic election was marked by an anticipated low voter turnout of 30%.

By capitalizing on voter discontent, Villaraigosa was able to over-come his loss to Hahn in the previous election and gain the key support of the African American community and San Fernando Valley. According to a Los Angeles Times exit poll, 7 in 10 voters said they wanted the city to shift direction, including roughly a third of Hahn's own supporters, .

In a city where 47 percent of the population is Latino, Villaraigosa largely downplayed his ethenicity during the election and was able to garner cross cultural support. Whites make up 30 percent of the city population, while African-Americans and Asians account for about 10 percent each.

As a child, Villaraigosa was raised by his mother and grew up in poverty after his father abandoned the family. His high school attendance was spotty, but he went on to graduate from UCLA and earn a law degree at People's College of Law.

A one-time teachers union organizer, his political skills got him job of Assembly speaker in Sacramento in 1998. His next years were spent preparing for his first run for mayor in Los Angeles. In the 2001 campaign, he became a star in national politics by winning a race against six major candidates. But after losing to Hahn in the runoff, he turned his attention to running for, and winning, a seat on the City Council two years later. His district, which was north and east of downtown, and stretched from Eagle Rock to Boyle Heights and included Mount Washington, where he lives.


Un hispano es el nuevo alcalde de Los Ángeles

20 de mayo de 2005Los Ángeles, Estados Unidos — Con el 58,66% de los votos -frente a 41,44% de su oponente, James K. Hahn, alcalde actual y también demócrata- y con una participación del 30,55%, el concejal Antonio Villaraigosa, descendiente de mexicanos, se convirtió este martes en el nuevo alcalde de la segunda mayor ciudad de los Estados Unidos.

Villaraigosa, cuyo nombre de pila es Antonio Villar, nació al este de Los Ángeles en 1953. Criado por una madre soltera, tuvo una infancia difícil y conflictiva y una juventud algo inestable. Al casarse con Corina Raigosa en 1987, fusionó los apellidos de ambos y se cambió el nombre. Se hizo abogado de la UCLA y en 1994 logró un puesto en la Asamblea Estatal. Kahn lo derrotó en las elecciones para la alcaldía de 2001 y Villaraigosa derrotó a Nick Pacheco en 2003 en la elección por la curul del 14o. Distrito del Concejo de Los Ángeles.

Al celebrar la victoria, Villaraigosa declaró "no importa si crecieron en el este o en el oeste, o si son del sur o de Sylmar (...) somos todos angelinos y tenemos que hacer la diferencia". El alcalde electo se posesionará el próximo 1 de julio y será el primer alcalde hispano de la ciudad desde Cristóbal Aguilar, quien gobernó el entonces villorrio de 6.000 habitantes entre 1866 y 1868 y de nuevo entre 1870 y 1872. Hoy, Los Ángeles es una urbe de 3,7 millones de habitantes, 47% de los cuales es de origen hispano.

El voto de la comunidad hispana y de la comunidad afroamericana habrían sido vitales en la elección de Villaraigosa.


Lakota activists declare secession from US

A delegation claiming to represent the Lakota Indian Tribe, an Indian nation within United States borders, have signed a document stating that the tribe withdraws and or cancels all treaties with the U.S. and formally establishes independence from the country. The letter was  hand delivered by activists for the tribe to Deputy to the Public Liaison at the State Department, Daniel Turner.

"We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us. This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically article six of the constitution. It is also within the laws on treaties passed at the Vienna Convention and put into effect by the US and the rest of the international community in 1980. We are legally within our rights to be free and independent," said Russell Means, an activist for Native American rights to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday in Washington, D.C..

"Today is a historic day and our forefathers speak through us. Our Forefathers made the treaties in good faith with the sacred Canupa and with the knowledge of the Great Spirit. They never honored the treaties, that's the reason we are here today," said Garry Rowland who is also known as Wounded Knee.

The delegation wrote a formal letter to the Department of State which was hand-delivered by activists of the tribe announcing their secession. So far, the U.S. has not issued a public response regarding their decision. Wikinews attempted to contact the State Department, but in an e-mail Director of the Office of Media Affairs Kirsten Petree stated that "this is not an issue for the State Department" and referred us to the Department of the Interior.

Under the declaration, the tribe, which consists of people from Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming, would create and issue its own driver's licenses and passports. According to a report by Agence France-Presse, all residents who currently live within Lakota borders can continue to reside there without paying taxes, as long as they renounce their U.S. citizenship.

The attempt to gain independence began in 1974 when activists wrote up a draft declaration of independence, which was modeled after the 1776 Declaration of Independence that the U.S. signed in declaring freedom from England.

Many of the treaties the tribe signed with the U.S. are over 150 years old.

"We have 33 treaties with the United States that they have not lived by. They continue to take our land, our water, our children," said activist Phyllis Young, who was one of the individuals who helped to organize a 1977 conference in Geneva on "indigenous rights."

The other members of the activist delegation were Duane Martin Sr., Gary Rowland and Phyllis Young.  Duane Martin Sr. is a leader of a group called the Strong Heart Society.  Gary Rowland is a leader of a group called the Big Foot Riders.  Phyllis Young is the founder of a group called Women of All Red Nations.

Means' group is based in Porcupine, South Dakota on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  Means' group is not an agency or branch of any Lakota tribe, although he ran unsuccessfully for president of the Oglala Sioux tribe in 2006.


Activistas lakota declaran su independencia de los Estados Unidos

Ayer, unos activistas pertenecientes a los lakota, una tribu de amerindios en suelo estadounidense, han cancelado sus tratados con los Estados Unidos y han declarado la independencia de su nación indígena, creando su propio país.

Russell Means, uno de los activistas políticos que defienden los derechos de la población indígena en Norteamérica, dijo en una conferencia de prensa en Washington D.C.:

Los activistas de la tribu le escribieron una carta formal al Departamento de Estado declarando su secesión, la cual fue entregada personalmente por ellos. Hasta ahora, el gobierno estadounidense no ha hecho una declaración oficial en respuesta de esta decisión.

"[Los tratados con EE. UU.] son palabras que no valen nada en papel que no vale nada [y han sido] violadas repetidamente para robar nuestra cultura, nuestra tierra y nuestra habilidad de mantener nuestra forma de vida", dijeron los activistas de la nación lakota.

Bajo la declaración, la tribu, que consiste de gente de Nebraska, Dakota del Norte, Montana, Dakota del Sur y Wyoming, desean crear y expedir sus propias licensias para conducir y sus propios pasaportes. Según un reportaje de la Agence France-Presse, todos los que viven dentro de las fronteras del territorio de los lakota pueden seguir viviendo sin pagar impuestos, siempre y cuando renuncien su cuidadanía estadounidense.

El movimiento para la independencia de los lakota comenzó en 1974, cuando unos activistas redactaron un bosquejo de su declaración de independencia, basada en la Declaración de Independencia de los Estados Unidos, en la cual dicho país declaró su libertad de Inglaterra.

Muchos de los tratados que la tribu firmó con EE. UU. tienen más de 150 años.

El activista Phyllis Young, quien ayudó a organizar una conferencia en 1977 en Ginebra sobre los derechos indígenas, dijo: "Tenemos 33 tratados con EE. UU. por los cuales no han vivido. Continúan tomando nuestra tierra, nuestra agua y niestros niños".

Además de Russell Means, la delegación estaba compuesta por Duane Martin, padre, Gary Rowland y Phyllis Young.


Landless Workers Movement marches to Brasilia in protest

Brasilia, Brazil —
Thousands of members of the Brazilian Landless Workers' Movement (MST) completed their march to Brasilia on Tuesday, having started their 238 km journey on May 1.  They demanded President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meet land reform promises, and protested against the U.S. government and President George W. Bush.

The Brazilian government news agency Agencia Brasil reported that about 12,000 members of MST protested in front of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia.  The group gathered garbage and burnt with it an American flag. According to Rosana Fernandes, an MST representative, they were protesting against American culture, politics and corporations.

Representatives of MST also met with Brazilian President Lula da Silva.  According to Agencia Brasil, they presented four demands to the government: the restructuring of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra), the execution of the National Plan for Agrarian Reform announced in 2003, the creation of a special line of credit, and changes in the definition of unproductive land for expropriation.  MST claims that they reached an agreement with Lula, and that he agreed to spend about half, or 700 million reais ($282 million USD), of the land reform budget he froze in 2005.  Agrarian Reform Minister Miguel Rossetto denied that a deal had already been made, but said that the meeting had been positive and a proposal would be offered to the MST on Wednesday.

During the protests some members of MST conflicted with police forces in Brasilia.  According to the police, 20 policemen were badly injured and were hospitalized.  Also according to the police, the incident started after some MST members attacked a police car near the Palace of Justice.  A police officer that left the car to talk to the crowd was assaulted with punches and kicks.  The mounted police came to help the trapped officers and dispersed the crowd.  MST reported 32 of their members injured in the incident, although independent news sources report around 20.

The MST march to Brasilia was organized by Via Campesina, an international organization in support of rural worker's rights and sustainable agriculture.

The MST's leader João Pedro Stedile said that the MST must return home with their batteries recharged and increase the occupation of land in Brazil. [1]


Miles de Sin Tierra completan marcha hasta Brasilia

19 de mayo de 2005Brasil — Miles de activistas del Movimiento de los Trabajadores Rurales Sin Tierra (MST) de Brasil completaron su marcha de 238 kilómetros hasta Brasilia, que comenzó el pasado 1 de mayo, y se preparan ahora para irse. Los manifestantes exigieron del presidente brasileño Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva el cumplimiento de las promesas de la reforma agraria y protestaron contra el gobierno de los Estados Unidos y su presidente George W. Bush.

La agencia de noticias brasileña Agencia Brasil informó que cerca de 12 mil integrantes del MST protestaron frente a la embajada norteamericana en Brasilia. El grupo recogió una montón de basura y quemó la bandera de los EUA en medio. Según Rosana Fernandes, una representante del MST, ellos protestaban contra la cultura, política y corporaciones norteamericanas.

Representantes del MST también se encontraron con el Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. De acuerdo con la Agencia Brasil, presentaron cuatro reivindicaciones para el gobierno: la reestructuración del Instituto Nacional de Colonización y Reforma Agraria (Incra), la ejecución del Plan Nacional para la Reforma Agraria, la creación de una línea especial de crédito y cambios en la definición de tierras improductivas para la expropiación.

El MST dijo que el movimiento consiguió un acuerdo con Lula y que el presidente acordó usar la mitad del presupuesto de la reforma agraria congelado en 2005, cerca de 700 millones de reales (US$282 millones). El Ministro de la Reforma Agraria Miguel Rossetto, por su parte, negó que se haya logrado un acuerdo, pero dijo que el encuentro fue positivo y que una propuesta sería ofrecida al MST este miércoles.

Durante las protestas, algunos manifestantes del MST entraron en conflicto con fuerzas policiales en Brasilia. Según la policía, 20 agentes fueron seriamente heridos y necesitaron ser hospitalizados. El incidente habría comenzado después que algunos manifestantes del MST atacaran un coche de la policía próximo al Palacio de la Justicia. Un agente dejó el automóvil para dialogar con los manifestantes cuando fue atacado por una multitud y recibió puñetazos y puntapiés. La caballería de la policía fue a ayudarlo y consiguió dispersar la multitud. El MST reportó que 32 integrantes del movimiento quedaron heridos; fuentes independientes dijeron que fueron 20.

La marcha del MST hasta Brasilia fue organizada por la Vía Campesina, una organización internacional que dice apoyar a los trabajadores rurales y la agricultura sustentable.

El líder del MST João Pedro Stedile dijo que el MST va a retornar para casa con las baterías recargadas y que debe ahora intensificar las ocupaciones de tierra en Brasil.


Milhares de Sem Terra completam marcha até Brasília

Milhares de ativistas do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) do Brasil completaram sua marcha de 238 quilômetros até Brasília que começou dia 1 de maio e preparam-se agora para ir embora. Eles exigiram do Presidente brasileiro Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva o cumprimento das promessas da reforma agrária e protestaram contra o governo dos Estados Unidos da América e o presidente norte-americano George W. Bush. Alguns integrantes do MST queimaram uma bandeira dos EUA em meio a um monte de lixo, em frente à Embaixada dos EUA, em Brasília.

A agência de notícias brasileira Agência Brasil reportou que cerca de 12 mil integrantes do MST protestaram em frente à embaixada norte-americana em Brasília. O grupo recolheu uma porção de lixo e queimou a bandeira dos EUA no meio dele. Segundo Rosana Fernandes, uma representante do MST, eles estavam a protestar contra a cultura, política e corporações norte-americanas.

Representantes do MST também se encontraram com o Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. De acordo com a Agência Brasil, eles apresentaram quatro reivindicações para o governo: a reestruturação do Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária (Incra), a execução do Plano Nacional para a Reforma Agrária, a criação de uma linha especial de créditro e mudanças na definição de terras improdutivas para a expropriação.

O MST disse que o movimento conseguiu entrar num acordo com Lula e que o presidente concordou em usar metade do orçamento da reforma agrária congelado em 2005, cerca de 700 milhões de reais (U$282 milhões). O Ministro da Reforma Agrária Miguel Rossetto negou que um acordo foi realizado, mas disse que o encontro foi positivo e que uma proposta seria oferecida ao MST nesta última quarta-feira.

Durante os protestos, alguns manifestantes do MST entraram em conflito com forças da polícia em Brasília. Segundo a polícia, 20 policiais foram seriamente feridos e precisaram ser hospitalizados. De acordo com a polícia, o incidente começou depois que alguns manifestantes do MST atacaram um carro da polícia próximo ao Palácio da Justiça. Um policial deixou o automível a fim de conversar com os manifestantes quando foi atacado por uma multidão e recebeu socos e pontapés. A cavalaria da polícia veio para ajudar e conseguiu dispersar a multidão. O MST reportou que 32 integrantes do movimento ficaram feridos; fontes independentes disseram que foram 20.

A marcha do MST até Brasília foi organizada pela Via Campesina, uma organização internacional que diz apoiar os trabalhadores rurais e a agricultura sustentável.

O líder do MST João Pedro Stedile disse que o MST vai retornar para casa com as baterias recarregadas e que deve agora  intensificar as ocupações de terra no Brasil.


Landmark coalition offensive launched in Afghanistan

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has launched a large-scale siege of the town of Marja, currently held by Taliban insurgents.  The attacking forces consist of Afghan, American, British, and Canadian troops.

Operation Moshtarak marks the largest Afghan-ISAF joint offensive to-date. The aim of the operation is to wrest control of the town in Helmand Province from Taliban forces.

The operation was announced several days in advance in order to allow the 80,000 civilians in the town an opportunity to leave, or prepare for the siege. Reports indicate over 10,000 citizens subsequently left and the local government is preparing shelter for them in nearby towns. This strategy is hoped to minimise civilian casualties; however, the side-effect is giving Taliban defenders time to prepare.

15,000 troops are involved in the operation, while the Taliban defense is believed to consist of between 1,000 and 2,000 militants. The attack was launched with an initial wave of over 4,000 US Marines, 1,500 from the Afghan Army plus 300 US Army soldiers flying into the city by helicopter at about 2am local time (2130 UTC).

Operation Moshtarak is the first major operation in Afghanistan since the United States sent 30,000 reinforcements in late December. If successful, ISAF hopes it may mark a turning point in the conflict in Helmand, as Marja provides a base of operations for key Taliban figures in the province. Upon securing the town, NATO hopes to quickly restore public service and provide alternative livelihoods for the town's opium farmers — a bid to win over the population and prevent Taliban resurgence in the area.


Operation „Muschtarak“: 15.000 Soldaten im Einsatz bei Großoffensive in Afghanistan

Kabul (Afghanistan), 13.02.2010 – Truppenverbände mit einer Personalstärke von insgesamt 15.000 Soldaten rückten kurz nach Mitternacht in die Region Mardscha in der afghanischen Provinz Helmand ein. Die Region gilt als eines der Hauptanbaugebiete der Welt für Schlafmohn, woraus Opium gewonnen wird und als Hochburg der Taliban in Afghanistan. An der Operation Muschtarak nehmen Soldaten der Internationalen Schutztruppe für Afghanistan (ISAF) sowie afghanische Militäreinheiten teil. Britische, dänische, kanadische und estnische Soldaten sowie 2.500 afghanische Soldaten sind im Einsatz. Die militärische Führung liegt bei der US-Armee. Es handelt sich um die größte Militäroffensive gegen Stellungen der Taliban seit dem Sturz der Taliban im Jahr 2001.

US-amerikanische und afghanische Verbände waren kurz nach Mitternacht in der Stadt Mardscha von Hubschraubern abgesetzt worden. Das Vorrücken der US-Truppen wurde jedoch durch die starke Verminung der Region verzögert. Unter Berufung auf afghanische Militärangaben wurde von 20 toten Taliban-Kämpfern und zwei getöteten Soldaten der internationalen Streitkräfte berichtet. Außerdem sollen elf Talibankämpfer gefangen genommen worden sein. Die Taliban berichteten von sechs getöteten US-Soldaten.

Die militärische Großoffensive ist Bestandteil einer neuen US-Militärstrategie zur Befriedung der Region. Für die Zeit unmittelbar nach dem Angriff steht bereits eine große Zahl afghanischer Beamter bereit, die den Auftrag haben, sofort nach dem Ende der Kämpfe eine Stadtregierung zu bilden. Außerdem sollen dann 1.900 afghanische Polizisten für Sicherheit sorgen. Eine Wiederholung der Ereignisse bei den Kämpfen um Falludscha im Jahr 2004 soll vermieden werden. Damals waren nach dem Angriff der US-Armee auf die Stadt im April und November 2004 hunderte ziviler Opfer zu beklagen gewesen. Bei bisherigen Offensiven waren die Taliban vor dem Druck der angreifenden alliierten Streitkräfte zwar zurückgewichen, um dann nach dem Abzug des Großteils der ausländischen Truppen wieder in das umkämpfte Gebiet zurückzukehren und ihren Einfluss erneut weitgehend ungehindert auszuüben.

Bewohner der Region Mardscha hatten bereits Tage vor der Offensive der US-geführten Militärkoalition die Gegend in großer Zahl verlassen. Die NATO hatte vorher Flugblätter in der Region verteilt, in denen vor dem bevorstehenden Angriff gewarnt worden war.


Afganistan: alianci rozpoczęli szturm na talibską twierdzę

Międzynarodowe wojska ISAF rozpoczęły wielką ofensywę, której celem jest zdobycie miasta Mardża w afgańskiej prowincji Helmand. Miasto te jest silnie bronionym bastionem talibskim. Jest to największa operacja w Afganistanie od 2001 roku, czyli roku interwencji sojuszu NATO w tym kraju.

Walki rozpoczęły się w nocy 13 lutego (przed 22:00, 12 lutego czasu polskiego). W operację pod kryptonimem Musztarak (Wspólnie) zaangażowanych jest 15 tys. żołnierzy alianckich na których składają się Amerykanie, Brytyjczycy, Kanadyjczycy, Afgańczycy, wspomagani przez oddziały duńskie i estońskie. Talibowie zapowiedzieli, iż do obrony wysłali 2 tys. bojowników.

Większość żołnierzy stanowią amerykańscy marines, a także jednostki specjalne m.in. Delta i brytyjski SAS. Główne przygotowania, przegrupowania wojsk trwały trzy tygodnie.

Przed rozpoczęciem walk na miasto zrzucono ulotki, które instruowały jak zachować się podczas momentów zagrożenia, nawoływały do opuszczenia miasta oraz przekazywały by nie dawać schronienia talibskim rebeliantom. Skierowany był w nich apel również do samych talibów, których namawiano do złożenia broni.

Większość brytyjskich żołnierzy działa w dystryktach Laszkargah i Nad Ali, natomiast wojska amerykańskie szturmują miasto Mardża. Pierwsi marines zaatakowali miasto od południa z desantu 12 helikopterów Black Hawk.

Amerykanie zapewniają, iż dołożą wszelkich starań by uchronić ludność cywilną. Wiele tysięcy mieszkańców zdecydował się opuścić miasto.

Wg Amerykanów miasto będzie trudne do zdobycia ze względu na pułapki, pozostawione w nim przez rebeliantów. Powstańcy mieli dużo czasu na zaminowanie całego terenu. Miny-pułapki zmora żołnierzy ISAF rozmieszczone zostały na wszystkich drogi, ale pułapki mogą być umiejscowione w mniej oczywistych miejscach, zapaści skalne, popadające w ruinę na poboczach domostwa, czy porzucone pojazdy.

Miasto Marjah jest najważniejszym kontrolowanym miastem przez talibskich rebeliantów. Miasto okalają ogromne terytoria pól na którym uprawia się mak, wykorzystywany do produkcji opium. Talibowie miasto zdobyli w 2007 i stworzyli tam niej własną administrację i sądy, zorganizowali też ogromne fabryki min i innych rodzajów broń.

W 2009 w prowincji Helmand przeprowadzono kilka wielkich operacji, które na celu miały zwiększyć bezpieczeństwo w prowincji podczas wyborów w Afganistanie. 2 lipca rozpoczęła się operacja Cios Miecza, prowadzona przez amerykańskich marines do czasu wyborów w Afganistanie - 20 sierpnia. Operacja, która kosztowała życie 20 Marines, w dużym stopniu zwiększyła bezpieczeństwo w prowincji podczas wyborów, jednak rebelia talibów nie została zachwiana właśnie w okolicach Now Zad. W trakcie przygotowań do wyborów, w dniach 19 czerwca - 27 lipca armia brytyjska przeprowadziła operację Pazur Pantery, w której zginęło 10 Brytyjczyków. Ofensywy te spowodowały śmierć ok. 300 talibów. W grudniu walczono o miasto Now Zad. Jednak skutek militarny operacji był wymierny, bowiem rebelia talibska nie została poważnie zachwiana.


'Large-scale attack' against ex-Prime Minister Bhutto leaves more than 100 dead in Pakistan

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was the target of a bombing which killed at least 136 people Thursday night, hours after landing at Karachi Airport.

Bhutto's arrival in the country with more than 100 supporters, breaking eight years of self-imposed exile, was met by more than 20,000 police and military troops.  Security was tight, after a warning that militants could attempt to assassinate the former leader.

Bhutto is disliked by many traditionalist Pakistanis who consider her rule to have brought the country too close to the United States. Bhutto had told reporters she was "not scared" and was concentrating on her mission, only hours before the attack.

Bhutto, who was traveling from the airport to a rally atop an armoured truck, was unharmed and taken back to her ancestral home of Bilawal House by police and security forces. At least 20 police were killed in the bombing.

Sources indicate there may have been multiple explosions, with a smaller blast preceding the main one, in what CNN's Dan Rivers described as a "large-scale attack". Two other men were taken into custody following the attacks, one carrying a belt of explosives and another carrying a pistol.

Pakistani Minister of Information Tariq Azim Khan has stated that the attack, which injured another 150 people, was believed to be a suicide bombing. Manzur Mughal, a Karachi police officer, reported that a skull believed to belong to one of the bombers had been found, and taken to a forensics lab.

Bhutto was in the country, having been waived of any corruption charges by President Pervez Musharraf last week, to discuss the possibility of a joint government dedicated to fighting extremism in the volatile country. Bhutto had told reporters that she did not want the country associated with the training of terrorists.


Benazir Bhutto kehrte nach acht Jahren zurück nach Pakistan

Karatschi (Pakistan), 19.10.2007 – Unter schwersten Sicherheitsvorkehrungen kehrte gestern die ehemalige pakistanische Ministerpräsidentin Benazir Bhutto nach achtjährigem Exil unter Tränen in ihr Heimatland zurück. Mehr als 250.000 Anhänger bereiteten ihr einen begeisterten Empfang in der Millionenmetropole Karatschi.

Taliban und Angehörige des Al-Kaida-Netzwerks hatten im Vorfeld ihrer Rückkehr mit Anschlägen auf ihr Leben gedroht. Trotz der über 20.000 Polizisten, Soldaten und anderen mit Spürhunden ausgerüstete Spezialkräften, die Bhutto vor möglichen Attentaten schützten sollten, explodierten zwei Sprengsätze kurz nacheinander und brachten die Wagenkolonne der Führerin der Pakistanischen Volkspartei (PPP) zum Stillstand. Mindestens 100 Menschen sollen dabei getötet worden sein, darunter auch 20 Polizisten. Es wird jedoch erwartet, dass die Opferzahlen noch weiter steigen.

Bhutto steht für eine Modernisierung und Annäherung des Landes an den Westen. In ihrer Autobiografie schrieb sie: „Ich bin ein Symbol dessen, was die sogenannten Jihadisten, die Taliban und die Al-Kaida am meisten fürchten. Ich bin eine politische Führerin, die darum kämpft, Moderne, Kommunikation, Bildung und Technik nach Pakistan zu bringen.“ Ihre heutige Ankunft sowie die sich anschließende Demonstration sind der Auftakt zu ihrer geplanten Präsidentschaftskandidatur im Januar des kommenden Jahres. Bereits vor ihrer Ankunft hatte Bhutto gegenüber Journalisten geäußert, sie verfolge das Ziel die Demokratie in ihrem Land wieder herzustellen und das Ende der Militärdiktatur herbeizuführen. Der amtierende Präsident Pervez Musharraf war 1999 durch einen Staatsstreich an die Macht gelangt.

Bhutto hatte im Jahr 1999 Pakistan verlassen, nachdem Korruptionsvorwürfe ihr gegenüber laut geworden waren. Voraussetzung ihrer heutigen Rückkehr war ein Dekret des pakistanischen Präsidenten, laut dem die gegen Bhutto erhobenen Korruptionsvorwürfe juristisch nicht weiter verfolgt werden sollen. Es wird erwartet, dass Bhutto sich mit dem amtierenden Präsidenten Musharraf die Macht nach einer erfolgreichen Wahl teilen könnte, also unter ihm als Präsident als Ministerpräsidentin des Landes fungieren soll.

Es stehen aber noch Entscheidungen des obersten Gerichts Pakistans aus, in dem sowohl die Rechtmäßigkeit der vergangenen Präsidentschaftswahl, die von der Opposition boykottiert worden war und bei der Musharraf in seinem Amt bestätigt worden war, als auch die Amnestie für Bhutto geprüft werden sollen.


Ataque contra la ex-Primer Ministro Bhutto deja más de 100 muertos en Pakistán

Una serie de explosiones dirigidas a la ex-Primer Ministro de Pakistán, Benazir Bhutto, ha dejado al menos 100 personas muertas el jueves a la noche; el ataque ocurrió horas después de que aterrizara en el Aeropuerto Internacional Jinnah.

La llegada de Bhutto al país, rompiendo los ocho años de exilio, fue causa para el despliegue de más de 20.000 policías y tropas militares. La seguridad fue aumentada luego de una advertencia de que militantes podrían intentar asesinar a la ex líder, quien es repudiada por varios pakistaníes tradicionalistas que consideran que su mandato trajo al país demasiado cerca con Estados Unidos.

Bhutto declaró a los periodistas que no estaba "asustada" y que se concentraría en su misión, tan sólo horas antes del ataque. La ex-Primer Ministro se encontraba viajando del aeropuerto a una reunión en un tanque blindado, y no fue herida mientras era llevada a su ancestral hogar de Bilawal House por las fuerzas policíacas y de seguridad.

El Ministro de Información pakistaní, Tariq Azim Khan, declaró que la explosión hirió a 150 personas, y se cree fue un ataque suicida. Otras fuentes indican que han habido varias explosiones en lo que Dan Rivers de la CNN describió como un "ataque a alta escala".

Bhutto viajó al país, luego de que los cargos de corrupción fuera condonados por el Presidente Pervez Musharraf la semana pasada, para discutir el potencial de un gobierno conjunto dedicado al extremismo en el volátil país.


Pakistan: kamikaze contro la Bhutto, oltre cento morti

Finisce nel sangue il ritorno di Benazir Bhutto in patria dopo otto anni di esilio volontario. Dopo la festa per il suo ritorno, due bombe hanno causato oltre cento morti e moltissimi feriti fra la folla in festa che stava accogliendo la donna che vent'anni fa era diventata capo del governo, la prima in un Paese musulmano quale è il Pakistan.

Per i Bhutto si tratta di una strage orchestrata dagli 007 del presidente Pervez Musharraf, che aveva formalmente accettato il ritorno in patria di Benazir Bhutto, ma è possibile, sempre secondo lo staff della Bhutto, che settori deviati del governo non fossero d'accordo e avessero preferito far parlare le bombe.

Le due esplosioni hanno colpito il corteo d'auto che accompagnava la Bhutto: la donna è rimasta illesa, ma al momento si contano almeno 139 morti e 550 feriti, ma il bilancio è destinato a peggiorare. La folla era infatti composta da oltre 250 000 persone.

Il Pakistan, tassello fondamentale dell'equilibrio di una zona che comprende anche l'Afghanistan, è in bilico: la Corte Suprema, entro una decina di giorni, potrebbe decidere che il presidente non è eleggibile, in quanto capo dell'esercito, rendendo nulle le elezioni. In risposta Musharraf potrebbe dichiarare la legge marziale. La Bhutto vorrebbe porre fine a questa situazione precaria, riportando il Paese alla democrazia, ma su di lei pende un'accusa di corruzione, cancellata dal presidente in carica solo formalmente, poiché la Corte Suprema potrebbe decidere di annullare l'amnistia.

Intanto la Casa Bianca ha subito condannato l'attentato: l'asse Washington-Londra crede infatti che la coppia Musharraf-Bhutto possa stabilizzare un Paese che è anche possessore di armi atomiche.


A ex-premiê Benazir Bhutto sai ilesa de atentado no Paquistão, logo após aterrissar no aeroporto Jinnah International Airport. Mais de 120 pessoas morrem com as explosões dos homens-bombas, mais de 150 pessoas feridas,[1] em estado grave, foram levadas aos hospitais. A serviço secreto local (inteligência), identificou pelo menos três grupos jihadistas vinculados à Al Qaeda e ao Taliban. Todos podem estar envolvidos nestes ataques suicidas.[2]

Bhutto é detestava por muitos paquistaneses tradicionalista, que consideram a sua regra de ter trazido ao país demasiado estreita com os Estados Unidos. Bhutto já havia dito aos repórteres que  "não estava com medo de atentados", e foi concentrando-se na sua missão, apenas horas antes do ataque.

Bhutto, que estava viajando para o aeroporto para um comício, pore meio de carros blindados, em cima de um caminhão, foi levado de volta ao manto e seus ancestrais casa de Bilawal House pela polícia e pelas forças de segurança.  Pelo menos 20 policiais foram mortos no bombardeio.

Fontes indicam pode ter havido várias explosões, com uma pequena explosão precede o principal, em o repórter da  CNN, Dan Rivers, descreveu como um "ataque em grande escala".  Dois outros homens foram levados em custódia após os atentados, um transportando uma cintura de explosivos e outro com uma pistola.


Laurent Lamothe resigns as Haitian PM

Laurent Lamothe on Saturday announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Haiti amid political paralysis and anti-regime protests.

Lamothe's resignation had been recommended on Friday by a commission set up by President Michel Martelly. Martelly appointed Lamothe in 2011, the year after a major earthquake caused widespread devastation. Elections to the Senate, Lower Chamber, and numerous municipal offices were also due in 2011.

The Senate must approve amended electoral law before the votes can occur. At least sixteen of the thirty Senate members must attend to make a quorum. Only twenty places are presently filled, and six opposition members are refusing to attend.

The opposition accuses the government of unfairly favouring themselves with the amendments. In response the government claims opposition politicians wish to delay the votes to retain their seats. Hundreds of municipal seats, all of the Lower House, and most of the Senate all require elected. If votes are not in by January 12 the Senate will be reduced to a defunct ten members.

Lamothe told TV audiences "I am leaving the post of prime minister this evening with a feeling of accomplishment. Vive Haiti." The nation remains one of the poorest in the world but last year foreign investment was worth US$186 million (£118 million; €149 million), a 20% increase. He also says 84% of children are in education now, compared to 52% when he was appointed.

His social media savvy and multiple languages helped him develop a high profile at home and abroad. He also attempted to simplify business startups, and campaigned with tourism minister Stephanie Villedrouin to improve Haiti's image abroad. He was Martelly's third choice for Prime Minister, with Parliament rejecting his first two appointments. Lamothe's three-year term witnessed three cabinet reshuffles.

Protests over missed elections began in October, with citizens taking to the streets to demand Martelly and Lamothe both resign. The sometimes violent protests have not abated despite Martelly forming the eleven-strong commission late last month to try and reach a resolution.

Martelly has already indicated he accepts the commission's findings. Also recommended are resignations by the electoral commission and the head of the Supreme Court.


Dimiteix el primer ministre d'Haití

Laurent Lamothe, primer ministre d'Haití, va anunciar la seva dimissió la matinada d'aquest diumenge, enmig de fortes manifestacions antigovernamentals i una profunda crisi que ha afectat al país per més de tres anys.

"Deixo el lloc de primer ministre aquesta nit amb el sentiment del deure complert", va assegurar l'ara exprimer ministre en un missatge televisat.

La seva renúncia es realitza després de setmanes de protestes pel fracàs de Lamothe i del president Michel Martelly de fer eleccions, compromeses tres anys enrere.

Els manifestants havien exigit la renúncia de Lamothe i de Martelly. El 2011 s'havien d'haver convocat les eleccions. No obstant això, van ser postergades per desacords entre el govern i senadors de l'oposició respecte de la llei electoral.

L'oposició acusa Martelly de voler governar per decret i que la legislació que autoritzaria el vot afavoreix al govern. Port-au-Prince ha viscut manifestacions violentes en les últimes setmanes; dissabte passat un home va morir per causes desconegudes.

Una comissió creada pel president per finalitzar els desacords va recomanar la setmana passada la renúncia de Lamothe. També va recomanar el desmantellament del Consell Electoral i l'alliberament de presoners polítics.


Dimite el primer ministro de Haití

Laurent Lamothe, primer ministro de Haití, anunció su dimisión la madrugada de este domingo, en medio de fuertes manifestaciones antigubernamentales y una profunda crisis que ha afectado al país por más de tres años.

"Dejo el puesto de primer ministro esta noche con el sentimiento del deber cumplido", aseguró el ahora exprimer ministro en un mensaje televisado.

Su renuncia se realiza luego de semanas de protestas por el fracaso de Lamothe y del presidente Michel Martelly de realizar elecciones, comprometidas tres años atrás.

Los manifestantes habían exigido la renuncia de Lamothe y de Martelly. En 2011, se debió haber convocado a las elecciones. No obstante, fueron postergadas por desacuerdos entre el gobierno y senadores de la oposición respecto de la ley electoral.

La oposición acusa a Martelly de querer gobernar por decreto y que la legislación que autorizaría el voto favorece al gobierno. Puerto Príncipe ha vivido manifestaciones violentas en las últimas semanas; el sábado pasado un hombre falleció por causas desconocidas.

Una comisión creada por el presidente para finalizar los desacuerdos recomendó la semana pasado la renuncia de Lamothe. También recomendó el desmantelamiento del Consejo Electoral y la liberación de prisioneros políticos.


Haïti : démission du premier ministre

Laurent Lamothe, le  premier ministre d'Haïti, a annoncé sa démission ce dimanche alors que le pays est en pleine crise politique. Depuis trois ans, les Haïtiens réclament la tenu d'élections législatives et municipales.


Laws allowing same sex marriage in Washington, D.C. go into effect

The United States capital of Washington, D.C. legalized same-sex marriage on Wednesday. Beginning at 6 A.M. local time (1100 UTC), couples began submitting marriage applications at local courthouses citywide.

Washington D.C. becomes the seventh United States territory to legalize same sex marriage. The bill was ratified by Mayor Adrian Fenty last December. Due to city's territorial status as a federal district, the bill had to be reviewed by congress. The bill passed congressional review Tuesday night.

The bill faced opposition from many family values activists, who tried to stop the bill from becoming law. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rejected a lawsuit to prevent the measure.


Entran en vigor leyes que permiten matrimonio homosexual en Washington D. C.

4 de marzo de 2010Washington D. C., Estados Unidos —

La capital de Estados Unidos, Washington D. C., legalizó el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo el pasado miércoles. A partir de las 06:00 (hora local, 11:00 UTC) las parejas comenzaron a llenar solicitudes de matrimonio en los tribunales locales de toda la ciudad.

De esta manera, Washington D. C. se convierte en el séptimo territorio estadounidense en legalizar el matrimonio homosexual. Si bien el proyecto de ley fue ratificado el pasado mes de diciembre por el alcalde Adrian Fenty, debió ser revisado por el Congreso, debido a la condición de la ciudad como Distrito Federal. El proyecto, pasó por el Congreso en la noche del martes.

El proyecto debió enfrentarse a los opositores en favor de los valores familiares, quienes intentaron que el proyecto no llegara a ser ley. John Roberts, Juez presidente de los Estados Unidos, rechazó una demanda para impedir la medida.


Leader of South Korea requests foreign involvement in decommissioning of nuclear test site

On Tuesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in contacted the United Nations and requested U.N. supervision of the decommissioning of Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, a subterranean tunnel network beneath Mount Mantap where all six of North Korea's nuclear tests took place. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly said during April 27's session of the 2018 Inter-korea summit he would invite journalists and other experts from other countries to witness the site's closure.

A statement issued by the Blue House, the South Korean presidential residence, said President Moon phoned U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to request the United Nations confirm the shutdown, and Guterres responded, while that specific request had to go through the Security Council he would assign someone at the U.N. to work with South Korea. Moon's office also reported Kim Jong Un saying he would invite experts from the United States and other countries to view the site as it was closed.

On April 27, Kim and Moon met at a border village called Panmunjom to discuss relations between their two countries.  They emerged with the Panmunjom Declaration, calling for removal of all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula.  According to Moon's spokesperson, Kim told Moon, "If we maintain frequent meetings and build trust with the United States and receive promises for an end to the war and a non-aggression treaty, then why would be need to live in difficulty by keeping our nuclear weapons?"
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials, in remarks to NBC News, said the IAEA is willing to assist with the decommissioning of Punggye-ri.

Director Jeffrey Lewis of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies described the closure as "of limited value, but it's not meaningless. [...] I would compare it to the blowing up of the cooling tower at Yongbyon in 2008."

Last week, Chinese geologists published a report saying the tunnels of Punggye-ri are likely to have partially collapsed after last September's nuclear test, itself of seismic magnitude 6.3  and triggering subsequent earthquakes. Kim said this was not the case: "Some say that we are terminating facilities that are not functioning, but you will see that we have two more tunnels that are bigger than the existing ones and that they are in good condition," again reported through Moon's spokesperson.

"This is a small but welcome step. But, as always, we must take North Korea's actions with appropriate caution," said former United States diplomat Mintaro Oba. "We can't rule out that Kim Jong Un wants to be seen as a maverick. He has a clear taste for bold moves that surprise the international community, something that sets him apart from his father."

"If reports are true that the tunnels have collapsed," said Duyeon Kim of the Korean Peninsula Future Forum think tank, "then the test site would be useless for future nuclear tests anyway, so it would just be a symbolic gesture to close it down[...] It's not a serious or sincere gesture to denuclearize." He also observed, "Advanced nuclear states don't need to conduct explosive tests after a certain point, so Pyongyang might be trying to show it is a part of that nuclear club."

Officially, the Korean War, which began in 1950, never ended. There was a cease-fire in 1953 but no formal peace treaty.   At the April 27 summit, the leaders discussed nuclear disarmament, the reuniting of families separated by the partition, and general relations between the two countries.

Kim also announced plans to reverse a 2015 change to North Korea's time zone.  The country's clocks are currently set 30 minutes ahead of South Korea's. "I feel sad to see that there are two clocks hung on the wall of the Peace House, one for Seoul time and the other for Pyongyang time," Moon's spokesperson reported Kim said during the talks. "Since it is us who changed the time standard, we will return to the original one."

Kim Jong Un and United States President Donald Trump have spoken of meeting in a few weeks, but no date or location has been firmly announced.  President Moon plans to visit Pyongyang in person in the fall.


Zuud-Korea: nucleair teslokasie Punggye-ri in mei gesjlaote

Veurblaad - Lètste verangeringe, Willekäörige pazjena, Veur pagina's in, Alle artikele - De Kaffee, Zandjbak, Hölp, Spellingshölp - Nuujseuverzich

1 mei 2018 - 't Kaernwaopetesgebeed Punggye-ri van Naord-Korea zal de volgende maondj in 't aopebaar waere gesjlaote, in de aanwaezigheid van boetelandjse ikspaers. Yoon Young-chan, waordveurder names de Zuud-Koreaanse prizzedent Moon Jae-in, haet dit bekèndjgemaak. De Zuud-Koreaanse prizzedent brach op zien beurt de boeadsjap euver names Kim Jong-un, de leijer van Naord-Korea.

D'r liek dudelik sjpraoke te zeen van mier genieking tösje de twie Korea's. De leijers van bei lenj hadde aafgeloupe vriedaag veur 't iers in tien jaor 'n tóptreffe woebie ze aafsjproke de óngerling kóntakte te verbaetere. Daobie besjlote ze toe te wirke nao 'n blievende vraejeseuvereinkómme, as vervanging van de waopesjtèlsjtandj oet 1953 (woemit 'n ènj kwaam aan de Koreaanse Aorlog). Formeel zeen de lenj saerdeen altied in aorlog gebleve. Ouch sjproke de leijers aaf det 't tót 'n volsjtendige denuclearisering van 't Koreaanse sjiereilandj mót kómme.

Dit artikel besleit aad nuujs en maak deil oet van oos arsjief van nuujsberichte.


Zuid-Korea: nucleaire testlocatie Punggye-ri in mei gesloten

Het kernwapentestgebied Punggye-ri van Noord-Korea zal volgende maand in het openbaar worden gesloten, in de aanwezigheid van buitenlandse experts. Yoon Young-chan, woordvoerder namens de Zuid-Koreaanse president Moon Jae-in, heeft dit bekendgemaakt. De Zuid-Koreaanse president bracht op zijn beurt de boodschap over namens Kim Jong-un, de leider van Noord-Korea.

Er lijkt duidelijk sprake van meer toenadering tussen de twee Korea's. De leiders van beide landen hadden afgelopen vrijdag voor het eerst in tien jaar een topontmoeting waarbij ze afspraken de onderlinge contacten te verbeteren. Daarbij besloten ze toe te werken naar een blijvende vredesovereenkomst, als vervanging van de wapenstilstand uit 1953 (waarmee een einde kwam aan de Koreaanse Oorlog). Formeel zijn de landen sindsdien altijd in oorlog gebleven. Ook spraken de leiders af dat het tot een volledige denuclearisering van het Koreaanse schiereiland moet komen.


Guerra entre as Coreias termina

Agência VOA

27 de abril de 2018

O Presidente sul-coreano, Moon Jae-in, e o líder norte-coreano, Kim Jong-un, comprometeram–se nesta sexta-feira, 27 de abril, a assinar um acordo de paz para acabar com a guerra entre as Coreias ainda neste ano.

O novo pacto vai substituir o armistício de 1953, um cessar-fogo que nunca teve um fim oficial.

Os dois líderes também concordaram em trabalhar para a desnuclearização da península.

"Os dois líderes solenemente declararam ante 80 milhões de coreanos e todo o mundo que não vai haver mais guerra na península da Coreia e que uma nova era de paz começou", diz a declaração, assinada em Panmunjon, a zona desmilitarizada entre os dois países.

Além do fim da guerra e da desnuclearização, Moon Jae-in e Kim Jong-un acordam em eliminar acções de propaganda, participar juntos de eventos desportivos, como os Jogos Asiáticos de 2018, esforçar-se para resolver rapidamente as questões humanitárias, retomar o programa de reunificação das famílias separadas pela guerra, manter diálogos e negociações em vários campos e encorajar trocas, cooperação e contactos a todos os níveis.

A conversa entre os dois líderes teve início às 10h15 locais.

Kim é o primeiro líder norte-coreano a pisar em solo sul-coreano desde o final da guerra em 1953.

As cenas de Moon e Kim a brincar e a caminhar juntos contrastaram de forma acentuada com a sequência de testes de mísseis da Coreia do Norte e do maior teste nuclear de sua história realizados no ano passado, que desencadearam amplas sanções internacionais e criaram temores de um novo conflito na península coreana.


Leaked Syrian government emails indicate weapons supplied to Hamas

Emails allegedly hacked from Syrian government accounts, leaked onto the Internet, indicate Iran and Syria are supplying weapons made in Ukraine and Belarus to Hamas in Palestine.

The online activist group known as Anonymous takes responsibility for the leak, which comprises over 2,000 emails and other files totaling around 1 gigabyte. The leak is part of Anonymous' ongoing campaign known as '#OpSyria' or 'Operation Syria' on the social networking website Twitter.

On Monday at 2030 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), 'Par:AnoIA,' one of many Twitter accounts connected to Anonymous, stated that the group would "release a stash of Syrian Government emails in the next 24h, featuring Kofi Annan correspondence, cash & weapon deliveries." Three hours later the same user announced a leak of "1 Gigabyte [of] internal emails from [the] Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs" onto the internet.

The first email leaked was called a "teaser", from the Syrian embassy in Tehran on November 20, to the British embassy in Belarus. In the communique, the embassy confirms the Iranians are supplying helicopters and Ukrainian made weapons to Hamas, which operates mostly from the Gaza Strip in Palestine. "1.2D projectiles of Ukraine origin found in Egypt and Syria" are some of the weapons being sent to Palestine along with "EC725 Helicopters".

"Since 2008 Iran is the main transit point for Palestine armament", says the email. It also goes on to say the weapons are made in Ukraine as part of "2008 arms trade operations sanctioned by The [Ukrainian] Minister of Defense Anatoly Gritsenko.

Although evidence could suggest Iran's willingness to supply arms to Hamas, in a report compiled on November 2, by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Iran is trying to stop weapons from being sent into Syria for the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The report quotes Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who called for the FSA "to lay down their arms to be able to deliver their demands to the Syrian government." ((ar))Arabic language: بإلقاء السلاح لتتمكن من إيصال مطالبها إلى الحكومة السورية In regards to the civil war in Syria, Khamenei went on to say that if outside entities "were to provide the opponents in every country of weapons from outside the country, it is natural that the regime responds to opponents" ((ar))Arabic language: لو تم تزويد المعارضين في كل بلد بالأسلحة من خارج البلاد فمن الطبيعي أن يتصدى النظام الحاكم للمعارضين.

This is not the first time Anonymous has hacked into Syrian government email accounts. In February, the group hacked into 78 Syrian government email accounts and leaked the usernames and passwords associated with them. The accounts accessed reportedly belonged to aides of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. One of the leaked emails, allegedly written by a press aide at Syria's mission at the UN in New York named Sheherazad Jaafari, talks about Assad's preparation for a December 2011 television interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters. In it, Jaafari wrote about ways the Syrian president might be able to manipulate the television audience.

"The American audience doesn't really care about reforms. They won't understand it and they are not interested to do so.... American Psyche can be easily manipulated when they hear that there are 'mistakes' done and now we are 'ﬁxing it.' ... Its[sic] worth mentioning also what is happening now in Wall Street [Occupy Wall Street] and the way the demonstrations are been suppressed by police men, police dogs and beatings," wrote Jaafari.


Anonymous filtra correos electrónicos del gobierno sirio indicando suministro de armas a Hamás

Correos electrónicos fueron hackeados de cuentas gubernamentales de Siria, y se filtraron a Internet, indicando que Irán y Siria están suministrando armas hechas en Ucrania y Bielorrusia a Hamás en Palestina.

El grupo de activistas conocido como Anonymous asumió la responsabilidad del filtro, que comprende más de 2 000 correos electrónicos y otros archivos que suman alrededor de 1 GiB de información. El filtrado es parte de la campaña en curso conocido como #OpSyria u Operación Siria en el sitio web de la red social Twitter.


Lebanese cabinet talks re-started by new PM

In the swiftly moving Lebanese political arena, hopes for national elections to come off as scheduled were revived as Najib Mikati was voted in Friday as the new Prime Minister, replacing former PM Omar Karimi who resigned Thursday.

The US- and EU-backed Mikati, a wealthy telecommunications businessman with ties to Damascus, was able to garner anti-Syrian opposition support to secure the nomination in a 128-member parliament vote. He immediately began work Saturday on building a new cabinet, and will continue Monday to build a cabinet team that can create a new government inside a two-week deadline. The government's 4-year parliamentary term ends May 31. Besides the formation of a new cabinet, there must be a confidence vote from parliament, and then the re-drafting of election laws for presentation to the assembly for  passage in an approval process.

Lebanon has been without a government since the end of February. The previous prime minister, the pro-Syrian Karimi, replaced the assassinated anti-Syrian Rafik Hariri, but was forced to resign under massive opposition protests. Despite his later reappointment by President Lahoud, he again resigned as he remained unable to gain opposition involvement in forming a new cabinet.

The new PM Mikati told a leading newspaper, Al-Nahar, that he intends to form a "restricted government that could hold elections as soon as possible" and sack security service chiefs who he believes would block UN efforts to probe the murder of Hariri.

The sister of Hariri, MP Bahia Hariri, who backed the Migati nomination in her first meeting with President Lahoud since her brother’s killing, said, "We were facing two things: either to enter a constitutional vacuum or offer a compromise, and this is what the opposition chose," according to a report by al-Jazeera.


Discuţiile din cabinetul libanez reîncepute de noul prim-ministru

În arena politică libaneză, speranțele pentru ca alegerile naționale să își urmeze cursul normal au fost reînviate de Najib Mikati care a fost votat vineri ca noul prim-ministru înlocuindu-l pe Omar Karimi care a demisionat joi.

În Statele Unite și Uniunea Europeană Mikati a reușit să atragă suportul opoziției anti-siriene pentru securizarea numirii în votul celor 128 de parlamentari. Noul prim-ministru și-a început activitatea sâmbătă construind un nou cabinet și va continua luni la construcția echipei de guvernare în termen de două săptămâni. Mandatul de patru ani oferit Guvernului de Parlament se termină în 31 mai.


Lebanese Government resigns amid protests

The Lebanese Government has resigned amid a protest by 10,000 people in Martyrs Square. The Syrian-backed government lead by Prime Minister Omar Karami was under pressure in recent weeks, particularly after former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was killed earlier this month.

The protests were demonstrating over Syria's large military presence in Lebanon. Syria has over 14,000 troops in Lebanon.

Announcing his resignation, Karami said, "Out of concern that the government does not become an obstacle to the good of the country, I announce the resignation of the government I had the honour to lead." In response to the governments decision to resign, opposition leader Walid Jumblat said, "The people have won."

The Syrian Government, which backed the government of Mr Karami said that the matter was "an internal affair" for Lebanon.


Rücktritt der Regierung im Libanon

Beirut (Libanon), 28.02.2005 – Während einer Parlamentssitzung, bei der es heftige Diskussionen zwischen Regierung und Opposition über den Mord am ehemaligen libanesischen Ministerpräsidenten Rafiq al-Hariri gab, erklärte Ministerpräsident Omar Karami seinen Rücktritt sowie den Rücktritt des gesamten Kabinetts.

Karami begründete seinen Rücktritt mit den Worten, er wolle vermeiden, dass die Regierung dem Wohle des Landes im Wege stehe. Mit seinem Rücktritt kam der Regierungschef einem Misstrauensantrag der Opposition zuvor.

Seit dem Attentat auf Rafiq al-Hariri am 14. Februar, bei dem 17 weitere Menschen ums Leben gekommen waren, haben Anhänger der Opposition und Gegner der syrischen Militärpräsenz mehrfach gegen die pro-syrische Regierung demonstriert. Hariri war bei einem Bombenanschlag ums Leben gekommen. Die libanesische Opposition macht indirekt Syrien sowie die pro-syrische Regierung für den Anschlag verantwortlich. Eine Beteiligung an dem Anschlag auf Hariri weist die Regierung in Damaskus aber von sich.

Heute versammelten sich trotz offiziellen Demonstrationsverbots mehrere zehntausend Menschen auf dem Märtyrer-Platz in Beirut, um für den Abzug der rund 14.000 syrischen Soldaten aus dem Libanon zu demonstrieren, die seit dem libanesischen Bürgerkrieg 1990 dort stationiert sind.


Le gouvernement libanais démissionne

Le gouvernement libanais a démissionné à la suite d'une manifestation regroupant 10 000 personnes sur la Place des martyrs. Le gouvernement -- soutenu par la Syrie -- est mené par le premier ministre Omar Karami et se trouvait récemment sous la pression de la communauté internationale (surtout des États-Unis et de la France), à la suite de l'assassinat de l'ancien premier ministre Rafik al-Hariri.

Les manifestations avaient pour objet une dénonciation de la présence militaire syrienne au Liban. Il est à noter que la Syrie a plus de 14 000 soldats stationnés dans ce pays.
Le gouvernement syrien soutient le gouvernement de Karami et dit qu'il s'agit d'une « affaire interne » libanaise.

Ceci est une traduction de l'article anglais (et ne comprend pas la section où il y a des citations du premier ministre).