Tony Blair can count on the support of at least one old ally as he manoeuvres himself into position to become the first President of Europe -- Silvio Berlusconi. The Italian Prime Minister found time out from his own political battles to write a front-page letter in a right-wing newspaper, declaring his former holiday companion to be the best man for the job. "Tony Blair has got everything it needs to become the first president of the European Council," he wrote in Il Foglio. "He has everything it needs to be designated to that role, as soon as it will be judicially and politically possible . . . "In agreement with many other heads of government, and heads of state, and in co-ordination with the powers of the European Parliament, my Government and I will work to ensure we do not lose a great political legacy, made with courage, equilibrium and prudence without uncertainty."
Tony Blair can count on the support of at least one old ally as he manoeuvres himself into position to become the first President of Europe -- Silvio Berlusconi.
The Italian Prime Minister found time out from his own political battles to write a front-page letter in a right-wing newspaper, declaring his former holiday companion to be the best man for the job.
"Tony Blair has got everything it needs to become the first president of the European Council," he wrote in Il Foglio. "He has everything it needs to be designated to that role, as soon as it will be judicially and politically possible . . .
"In agreement with many other heads of government, and heads of state, and in co-ordination with the powers of the European Parliament, my Government and I will work to ensure we do not lose a great political legacy, made with courage, equilibrium and prudence without uncertainty."
He also played a memorable role in their Italian holidays, treating the Blairs to his legendary hospitality during a visit to his villa in Sardinia in 2004.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has endorsed Tony Blair as his preferred candidate to be president of the European Union.Mr Blair had "the right credentials" and should get the job as soon as "legally and politically possible", he wrote to Italian newspaper Il Foglio. Mr Berlusconi also said changes to the way the EU is run would leave a "great political legacy" for Europe. Mr Blair, UK prime minister until 2007, is currently a Middle East peace envoy. The presidency would be created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, which still has to be ratified by the Czech Republic.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has endorsed Tony Blair as his preferred candidate to be president of the European Union.
Mr Blair had "the right credentials" and should get the job as soon as "legally and politically possible", he wrote to Italian newspaper Il Foglio.
Mr Berlusconi also said changes to the way the EU is run would leave a "great political legacy" for Europe.
Mr Blair, UK prime minister until 2007, is currently a Middle East peace envoy.
The presidency would be created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, which still has to be ratified by the Czech Republic.
Some people hate Tony Blair for what he did in office, most notably assisting in the unseating of Saddam Hussein. Others hate him for what he has done since being forced out of office by Gordon Brown, most notably for making what his former mentor, Neil Kinnock, called "loadsamoney". Still others hate him for what he might become - the president of the European Union, a post created by denying citizens in key European countries a voice in the process by which the Lisbon constitution - er, treaty - was adopted. All the Blair haters are wrong. [...] Finally, there is the EU presidency, or the possibility of it. I yield to no one in my dislike of the unaccountable, kleptocratic bureaucracy and its appropriation to itself of the prerogatives of parliament. But you lost that fight when your prime minister reneged on his promise of a referendum and signed the constitution - er, treaty. The EU's interest, which is what the role is all about now, is clearly in appointing (elections are not the thing in the EU) a famous, dynamic leader who can give it instant credibility on the world stage.
[...]
Finally, there is the EU presidency, or the possibility of it. I yield to no one in my dislike of the unaccountable, kleptocratic bureaucracy and its appropriation to itself of the prerogatives of parliament. But you lost that fight when your prime minister reneged on his promise of a referendum and signed the constitution - er, treaty. The EU's interest, which is what the role is all about now, is clearly in appointing (elections are not the thing in the EU) a famous, dynamic leader who can give it instant credibility on the world stage.
Some people hate Tony Blair for what he did in office, most notably assisting in the unseating of Saddam Hussein
Does he really believe that's how we see it ? Or is his framing so deliberatel;y dishonest that it's just a wind-up.
Anyway, it's just one of Murdoch's goons doing Murdoch's dirty work keep to the Fen Causeway
Europe and America are trying to obtain an agreement between Bosnian leaders on the reform of the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, the Croatian daily Novi List reports that the EU appears to be unable to exert much pressure in the negotiations, which may prove crucial to the future of the country. Should the summit at NATO's Butmir military base [see box below] be interpreted as yet further proof that America, intends to follow its unblocking of stalled negotiations on Croatian accession to the EU, with a renewed drive to stabilize the region and accelerate the development of closer links between NATO and the EU? Croatia is making strides in its bid to join the EU, and Serbia could soon follow in its footsteps. Sadly, the same is not true for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which simply appears to have wasted the last 14 years. In 1995, the Dayton Agreement brought an end to the war, but since then little has been done to prepare Bosnia-Herzegovina for peace. Washington has no doubt understood that the negotiations that are now underway probably represent the sole remaining opportunity to prevent the disintegration of the country. The United States and the European Union want to present a united front, and to this end, Washington abandoned its plan to appoint Clifford Bond, the former American ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, to the post of special envoy for the application of constitutional change -- which Bosnia needs to implement if it is to present a credible application for membership of the EU -- because Brussels opposed his nomination. But the difference in approach is not easy to hide. The head of the Swedish diplomatic service, Carl Bildt, who was the first High Representative of the international community in Bosnia, from 1995 to 1997, takes the view that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) is now obsolete, while the Americans believe that politicians in the country are still unable to work together without the supervision of a foreign governor.
Europe and America are trying to obtain an agreement between Bosnian leaders on the reform of the constitution of Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, the Croatian daily Novi List reports that the EU appears to be unable to exert much pressure in the negotiations, which may prove crucial to the future of the country.
Should the summit at NATO's Butmir military base [see box below] be interpreted as yet further proof that America, intends to follow its unblocking of stalled negotiations on Croatian accession to the EU, with a renewed drive to stabilize the region and accelerate the development of closer links between NATO and the EU? Croatia is making strides in its bid to join the EU, and Serbia could soon follow in its footsteps. Sadly, the same is not true for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which simply appears to have wasted the last 14 years. In 1995, the Dayton Agreement brought an end to the war, but since then little has been done to prepare Bosnia-Herzegovina for peace. Washington has no doubt understood that the negotiations that are now underway probably represent the sole remaining opportunity to prevent the disintegration of the country.
The United States and the European Union want to present a united front, and to this end, Washington abandoned its plan to appoint Clifford Bond, the former American ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, to the post of special envoy for the application of constitutional change -- which Bosnia needs to implement if it is to present a credible application for membership of the EU -- because Brussels opposed his nomination. But the difference in approach is not easy to hide. The head of the Swedish diplomatic service, Carl Bildt, who was the first High Representative of the international community in Bosnia, from 1995 to 1997, takes the view that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) is now obsolete, while the Americans believe that politicians in the country are still unable to work together without the supervision of a foreign governor.
Britain is facing the real risk today of a bombing campaign that targets random civilians for death - but it is being virtually ignored. When its supporters step closer every day to mass murder, nobody notices. When its perpetrators are caught, there is (at best) a little flick of information in News in Brief, before everyone goes back to talking about the Strictly Come Dancing race row. This silence suggests something dark about us - and requires us to change our behaviour, fast. The campaign I am talking about is not being planned by jihadis or fringe Irish nationalists but by white "neo-Nazis" who want to murder Asians, black people, Jews and gays in the bizarre belief it will trigger a "race war". They have struck before. Exactly a decade ago, a 22-year-old member of the British National Party called David Copeland planted bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane (where I live), and a gay pub in Old Compton Street. He managed to lodge a nail deep in a baby's skull, and to murder a pregnant woman, her gay best friend, and his partner. He bragged: "My aim was political. It was to cause a racial war in this country. There'd be a backlash from the ethnic minorities, then all the white people would go out and vote BNP."
Britain is facing the real risk today of a bombing campaign that targets random civilians for death - but it is being virtually ignored. When its supporters step closer every day to mass murder, nobody notices. When its perpetrators are caught, there is (at best) a little flick of information in News in Brief, before everyone goes back to talking about the Strictly Come Dancing race row. This silence suggests something dark about us - and requires us to change our behaviour, fast.
The campaign I am talking about is not being planned by jihadis or fringe Irish nationalists but by white "neo-Nazis" who want to murder Asians, black people, Jews and gays in the bizarre belief it will trigger a "race war".
They have struck before. Exactly a decade ago, a 22-year-old member of the British National Party called David Copeland planted bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane (where I live), and a gay pub in Old Compton Street. He managed to lodge a nail deep in a baby's skull, and to murder a pregnant woman, her gay best friend, and his partner. He bragged: "My aim was political. It was to cause a racial war in this country. There'd be a backlash from the ethnic minorities, then all the white people would go out and vote BNP."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to announce the deployment of additional troops to Afghanistan in an address to parliamentarians Wednesday. Reuters - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will make a statement on Afghanistan on Wednesday amid expectations he will announce a modest increase in British troop levels. Worsening violence in the U.S.-led eight-year war with the Taliban has triggered calls for a change of strategy, including the possibility of NATO forces sending more troops to try to stabilise larger areas of Afghanistan.
Reuters - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will make a statement on Afghanistan on Wednesday amid expectations he will announce a modest increase in British troop levels. Worsening violence in the U.S.-led eight-year war with the Taliban has triggered calls for a change of strategy, including the possibility of NATO forces sending more troops to try to stabilise larger areas of Afghanistan.
Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions are met.They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained. There are currently about 9,000 UK personnel in Afghanistan. Some 221 have been killed there since 2001. The US could next week announce it is sending up to 45,000 extra servicemen and women, the BBC's Newsnight reports.
Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions are met.
They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained.
There are currently about 9,000 UK personnel in Afghanistan. Some 221 have been killed there since 2001.
The US could next week announce it is sending up to 45,000 extra servicemen and women, the BBC's Newsnight reports.
Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions are met. They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained the US promises that Gordon Brown will get a photo op with Obama on the WH lawn sometime just before the next General Eelection.
They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained the US promises that Gordon Brown will get a photo op with Obama on the WH lawn sometime just before the next General Eelection.
The internet connection for the whole of Sweden went down for almost an hour when routine maintenance broke every single .se address. At 9:45pm local time on Monday 12 October, every Swedish website went down, and no emails to or from Swedish domains could be received. Around 900,000 domains were affected. The problem was caused by an "incorrectly configured script" in an update of the .se domain, according to Pingdom, a Swedish web monitoring company.
At 9:45pm local time on Monday 12 October, every Swedish website went down, and no emails to or from Swedish domains could be received. Around 900,000 domains were affected.
The problem was caused by an "incorrectly configured script" in an update of the .se domain, according to Pingdom, a Swedish web monitoring company.
Sweden's Internet broken by DNS mistake | Royal Pingdom
The problem happened during planned maintenance of the .se domain. The .SE registry used an incorrectly configured script to update the .se zone, which introduced an error to every single .se domain name. We have spoken to a number of industry insiders and what happened is that when updating the data, the script did not add a terminating "." to the DNS records in the .se zone. That trailing dot is necessary in the settings for DNS to understand that ".se" is the top-level domain. It is a seemingly small detail, but without it, the whole DNS lookup chain broke down.
The problem happened during planned maintenance of the .se domain. The .SE registry used an incorrectly configured script to update the .se zone, which introduced an error to every single .se domain name.
We have spoken to a number of industry insiders and what happened is that when updating the data, the script did not add a terminating "." to the DNS records in the .se zone. That trailing dot is necessary in the settings for DNS to understand that ".se" is the top-level domain. It is a seemingly small detail, but without it, the whole DNS lookup chain broke down.
The sites were still up but at wrong adresses. Apparently an extra .se was added making the adress to the swedish Google-page google.se.se instead of just google.se.
As the site feber.se put it:
The cake was delivered (according to the same site) to the .se foundation. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Polish head of the EU parliament on Wednesday (14 October) underlined some basic facts about Joseph Stalin at an event held in the context of mounting historical revisionism in Russia. A Stalin-Hitler pact of 23 August 1939, called "Molotov-Ribbentrop" after the officials who signed it, carved up ownership of Poland, Finland, Romania and the Baltic states, saw millions deported and led to the deaths of 760,000 Poles, "many of them children," he said. "We can never forget those victims for they are a reminder of where we come from, and show us how much we have achieved." The parliament president portrayed the EU as a guarantee that great powers will no longer make deals over the heads of smaller countries, including on energy security.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Polish head of the EU parliament on Wednesday (14 October) underlined some basic facts about Joseph Stalin at an event held in the context of mounting historical revisionism in Russia.
A Stalin-Hitler pact of 23 August 1939, called "Molotov-Ribbentrop" after the officials who signed it, carved up ownership of Poland, Finland, Romania and the Baltic states, saw millions deported and led to the deaths of 760,000 Poles, "many of them children," he said.
"We can never forget those victims for they are a reminder of where we come from, and show us how much we have achieved."
The parliament president portrayed the EU as a guarantee that great powers will no longer make deals over the heads of smaller countries, including on energy security.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The head of an association representing the families of young street protesters shot during the Romanian Revolution of 1989 has been on hunger strike for over two months over the refusal of authorities to heed a European Court for Human Rights demand that he be granted access to secret files about the events. Twenty years after the 1989 events, there still is no justice for the shot protesters After 72 days on strike, Teodor Maries scored a small victory on Tuesday (13 October), when the Romanian public attorney started to hand over to him all the non-secret files of the violent events surrounding the fall of the Communist regime. Back in December 1989, more than 1,200 people were killed and over 5,000 were injured and illegally arrested in Bucharest and other Romanian cities. The culprits have still not been put behind bars. Mr Maries on Tuesday said he would not stop his protest until the secret services de-classify all the remaining files and give him copies, which he intends to make public.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The head of an association representing the families of young street protesters shot during the Romanian Revolution of 1989 has been on hunger strike for over two months over the refusal of authorities to heed a European Court for Human Rights demand that he be granted access to secret files about the events.
Twenty years after the 1989 events, there still is no justice for the shot protesters
After 72 days on strike, Teodor Maries scored a small victory on Tuesday (13 October), when the Romanian public attorney started to hand over to him all the non-secret files of the violent events surrounding the fall of the Communist regime.
Back in December 1989, more than 1,200 people were killed and over 5,000 were injured and illegally arrested in Bucharest and other Romanian cities. The culprits have still not been put behind bars.
Mr Maries on Tuesday said he would not stop his protest until the secret services de-classify all the remaining files and give him copies, which he intends to make public.
The EU's economy commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, is keeping up pressure on Latvia to fulfil budget deficit cuts agreed under the terms of a €7.5 billion international loan led by the EU and the International Monetary Fund. "This will be extremely important to increase confidence in the markets vis-a-vis the Latvian economy," he told a news conference in Riga on Tuesday (13 October) following discussions with parliamentary leaders. Commissioner Almunia insists the deficit cuts are the best way to get Latvia's economy back on track "Honestly, I don't see an alternative," he added. Ongoing squabbling between members of the government's five-party coalition recently caused it to row back from the 500 million lat (€711m) deficit cut agreed for this year.
The EU's economy commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, is keeping up pressure on Latvia to fulfil budget deficit cuts agreed under the terms of a €7.5 billion international loan led by the EU and the International Monetary Fund.
"This will be extremely important to increase confidence in the markets vis-a-vis the Latvian economy," he told a news conference in Riga on Tuesday (13 October) following discussions with parliamentary leaders.
Commissioner Almunia insists the deficit cuts are the best way to get Latvia's economy back on track
"Honestly, I don't see an alternative," he added.
Ongoing squabbling between members of the government's five-party coalition recently caused it to row back from the 500 million lat (€711m) deficit cut agreed for this year.
October 19th officially marks the beginning of Ukraine's presidential race. Former Prime Minister and leader of the Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych, is one candidate. In 2004 Yanukovych was declared winner in a highly-charged presidential election. But following allegations of electoral fraud and peaceful protesting, dubbed the "Orange Revolution," the opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko took power. With three months until the election Yanukovych spoke to euronews about his election campaign and political program.
October 19th officially marks the beginning of Ukraine's presidential race.
Former Prime Minister and leader of the Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych, is one candidate.
In 2004 Yanukovych was declared winner in a highly-charged presidential election.
But following allegations of electoral fraud and peaceful protesting, dubbed the "Orange Revolution," the opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko took power.
With three months until the election Yanukovych spoke to euronews about his election campaign and political program.
In a progress report on would-be EU members, the European Commission told Turkey it needed to make more progress on political and civil rights reforms. The European Commission's annual progress report, released on Wednesday, called on countries seeking membership to the European Union to work on eliminating corruption, improving their judicial systems and improving their human rights situations. Most of the countries, including Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosova, were making uneven progress and would not be able to accede to the EU for many years.
The European Commission's annual progress report, released on Wednesday, called on countries seeking membership to the European Union to work on eliminating corruption, improving their judicial systems and improving their human rights situations.
Most of the countries, including Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosova, were making uneven progress and would not be able to accede to the EU for many years.
Pressure is piling up on embattled French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose 23-year-old undergraduate son looks set to head-up the main business district in Paris. Worryingly, not only have there been howls of disapproval at home, but the international community is now joining in as well.The imminent appointment of the French president's son to a top post at the country's biggest business district is doing damage to France's international image, according to domestic and international commentators. Jean Sarkozy - a 23-year-old undergraduate who is married to a wealthy heiress - is tipped to become chairman of the EPAD agency overseeing development in the Paris business area La Defense. Since the story broke on Thursday, French media have increasingly been questioning his meteoric rise in French politics, with many suggesting is inevitably down to his father's status as the country's head of state - blatant nepotism in other words. The international media immediately picked up on the story.
The imminent appointment of the French president's son to a top post at the country's biggest business district is doing damage to France's international image, according to domestic and international commentators.
In a bid to satisfy all of the contenders for a place in the future European Commission, President Barroso plans to create four new portfolios. But, as at least one commentator in the European press has humorously remarked, perhaps the real value of a commission post should be determined by counting the number of gifts received by the previous commissioner. José Manuel Barroso is faced with an onerous task. He has to present a brand new commission at the start of 2010, but, as Handelsblatt reports, in view of the doubts about the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, he has no definite information on the identity of candidates for commission portfolios or on the scale of the future executive. Worse still, he will have to find work for everyone, that is to say, for 27 commissioners if the Treaty comes into force. "There simply is not enough work in Brussels to keep 27 commissioners busy," remarks the German business daily. This problem is not a new one: to wit the appointment "of Romania's Leonard Orban to the post of Commissioner for Multilingualism, which is something of a running joke in Brussels." In response to this predicament, Handelsblatt explains that Barroso has decided to redesign the commission and to create "new portfolios, which better reflect the future challenges" faced by Europe. Having already announced a Commissioner for Climate Action to supervise the reduction of CO2 in Europe, and a Commissioner for Fundamental Rights with a mission to safeguard democratic values. He is also planning to appoint a Commissioner for Innovation with a brief to promote the commercial exploitation of the results of European research, and a Commissioner for Financial Services. Four portfolios, which as the daily remarks, "have not sparked any controversy."
In a bid to satisfy all of the contenders for a place in the future European Commission, President Barroso plans to create four new portfolios. But, as at least one commentator in the European press has humorously remarked, perhaps the real value of a commission post should be determined by counting the number of gifts received by the previous commissioner.
José Manuel Barroso is faced with an onerous task. He has to present a brand new commission at the start of 2010, but, as Handelsblatt reports, in view of the doubts about the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, he has no definite information on the identity of candidates for commission portfolios or on the scale of the future executive. Worse still, he will have to find work for everyone, that is to say, for 27 commissioners if the Treaty comes into force. "There simply is not enough work in Brussels to keep 27 commissioners busy," remarks the German business daily. This problem is not a new one: to wit the appointment "of Romania's Leonard Orban to the post of Commissioner for Multilingualism, which is something of a running joke in Brussels."
In response to this predicament, Handelsblatt explains that Barroso has decided to redesign the commission and to create "new portfolios, which better reflect the future challenges" faced by Europe. Having already announced a Commissioner for Climate Action to supervise the reduction of CO2 in Europe, and a Commissioner for Fundamental Rights with a mission to safeguard democratic values. He is also planning to appoint a Commissioner for Innovation with a brief to promote the commercial exploitation of the results of European research, and a Commissioner for Financial Services. Four portfolios, which as the daily remarks, "have not sparked any controversy."
Berlin - Czech President Vaclav Klaus has raised his additional demands regarding the Lisbon treaty very late, Ulrich Wilhelm, spokesman for the German government, told journalists today, commenting on Klaus's reluctance to sign the Lisbon treaty due to which the Czech Republic is the last EU member not to have ratified it. Klaus, whose signature under the Lisbon treaty is the last missing, said on Friday he demands an opt-out for Czechs from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, incorporated in the Lisbon treaty. His step has surprised both Czech and European politicians. Klaus said he fears that the charter might enable German deportees to claim their former property on Czech soil, confiscated from them after World War Two on the basis of the Benes decrees.
Klaus, whose signature under the Lisbon treaty is the last missing, said on Friday he demands an opt-out for Czechs from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, incorporated in the Lisbon treaty. His step has surprised both Czech and European politicians.
Klaus said he fears that the charter might enable German deportees to claim their former property on Czech soil, confiscated from them after World War Two on the basis of the Benes decrees.
sueddeutsche.de: Warum nennen Sie die Linke PDL? Schäfer-Gümbel: PDL steht für "Partei Die Linke". Ich weigere mich, eine Partei links zu nennen, die vor allem populistisch ist. Der Name ist ein Etikettenschwindel. Links ist ein Markenzeichen der Aufklärung und die Partei der Aufklärung sind wir, wir sind die linke Volkspartei.
Schäfer-Gümbel: PDL steht für "Partei Die Linke". Ich weigere mich, eine Partei links zu nennen, die vor allem populistisch ist. Der Name ist ein Etikettenschwindel. Links ist ein Markenzeichen der Aufklärung und die Partei der Aufklärung sind wir, wir sind die linke Volkspartei.
Any reference to Berlusconi is a complete coincidence, of course....
