Albanians vote Sunday in legislative elections seen as critical for the EU membership aspirations of one of Europe's poorest countries. The EU has indicated that progress toward membership depends on peaceful elections. AFP - Albanians go to the polls on Sunday for legislative elections seen as crucial for the European future of the country, with polls showing the two main rivals neck and neck. Some 3.1 million voters are being asked to elect 140 parliamentary deputies for a four-year mandate in the election -- the seventh since the fall of communism in the 1990s -- choosing among 4,000 candidates representing 39 parties and coalitions. Polls are to open at 7 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and close 12 hours later. Various surveys have put Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democrats and Edi Rama's opposition Socialists close in the polls, seen as key to the country's hopes of joining the European Union.
AFP - Albanians go to the polls on Sunday for legislative elections seen as crucial for the European future of the country, with polls showing the two main rivals neck and neck. Some 3.1 million voters are being asked to elect 140 parliamentary deputies for a four-year mandate in the election -- the seventh since the fall of communism in the 1990s -- choosing among 4,000 candidates representing 39 parties and coalitions. Polls are to open at 7 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and close 12 hours later. Various surveys have put Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democrats and Edi Rama's opposition Socialists close in the polls, seen as key to the country's hopes of joining the European Union.
Sunday's vote in the former communist state will be closely monitored by some 400 foreign observers, especially since it is considered a key test for Albania's European Union membership bid. Ahead of Albania's parliamentary elections, both US and EU diplomats urged the small Balkan state to hold fair elections and clear the path for closer links with the West. "Anything less than that would be a step back," the American ambassador to Tirana John Withers warned. "In all the previous elections, the required standards were not met. The manipulating practices of the past should not be repeated."
Ahead of Albania's parliamentary elections, both US and EU diplomats urged the small Balkan state to hold fair elections and clear the path for closer links with the West.
"Anything less than that would be a step back," the American ambassador to Tirana John Withers warned. "In all the previous elections, the required standards were not met. The manipulating practices of the past should not be repeated."
The Czech Republic's presidency of the European Union, which ends on Tuesday, will not be remembered as a success. The country's government fell before it had even reached the half-way stage. The first Czech presidency of the EU got off to an intense start in January, thanks to the conflict in Gaza and the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies. Yet the government of then-Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek won early praise, particularly for its diplomacy in the gas dispute. Yet the government ran into trouble during the last week of March, when the Czech opposition succeeded in toppling Topolanek's government. The government was eventually replaced by an interim cabinet, but by then it had already become, in the eyes of many, something of a lame duck. That view is disputed by Stefan Fule, Europe minister in the new caretaker government, who described the Czech's six-month presidency as "very successful."
The first Czech presidency of the EU got off to an intense start in January, thanks to the conflict in Gaza and the dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies.
Yet the government of then-Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek won early praise, particularly for its diplomacy in the gas dispute.
Yet the government ran into trouble during the last week of March, when the Czech opposition succeeded in toppling Topolanek's government. The government was eventually replaced by an interim cabinet, but by then it had already become, in the eyes of many, something of a lame duck.
That view is disputed by Stefan Fule, Europe minister in the new caretaker government, who described the Czech's six-month presidency as "very successful."
When Russia and Georgia fought a five day war in 2008, NATO broke off military ties with Russia. But now, Russia and the alliance have agreed to start a new era of cooperation. After nearly a year with no formal ties, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his NATO counterparts on the Greek island of Corfu and re-convened the NATO-Russia Council. "The NATO-Russia Council is now back in gear. We agreed not to let disagreements bring the whole train to a halt. On Georgia, there are still fundamental differences ... (But) Russia needs NATO and NATO needs Russia," said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. And the fundamental differences between NATO and Russia will not go away, particularly when it comes to Georgia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia's recognition of two Georgian regions after last August's war is irreversible.
After nearly a year with no formal ties, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his NATO counterparts on the Greek island of Corfu and re-convened the NATO-Russia Council.
"The NATO-Russia Council is now back in gear. We agreed not to let disagreements bring the whole train to a halt. On Georgia, there are still fundamental differences ... (But) Russia needs NATO and NATO needs Russia," said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
And the fundamental differences between NATO and Russia will not go away, particularly when it comes to Georgia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia's recognition of two Georgian regions after last August's war is irreversible.
Foreign ministers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened talks on the Greek island of Corfu on Sunday aimed at forging a new security framework for Europe. The 56-member OSCE has launched a debate to update the 1975 Helsinki accords and adapt the continent's security apparatus to meet the modern challenges of terrorism, dependable energy supplies and political unrest. EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said on Sunday that "nothing has been finished; this is the beginning." "With events taking place (and) the new challenges of today, I think there is room to move to what we may call a Helsinki plus," Solana said.
The 56-member OSCE has launched a debate to update the 1975 Helsinki accords and adapt the continent's security apparatus to meet the modern challenges of terrorism, dependable energy supplies and political unrest.
EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said on Sunday that "nothing has been finished; this is the beginning."
"With events taking place (and) the new challenges of today, I think there is room to move to what we may call a Helsinki plus," Solana said.
Two major Northern Irish Protestant paramilitary groups say they have destroyed their weapons to comply with a variety of peace agreements. After three decades of conflict, it's another step forward for diplomacy. Two of Northern Ireland's biggest loyalist paramilitary groups, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Red Hand Commando (RHC), say they have destroyed their weapons, and have promised to respect local laws. Another group, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), said it has started destroying its weapons, too. "The dark days are now behind us and it is time to move on," the UDA said in a statement. "There is no place for guns and violence in the new society we are building. It is time to work for a better future." The groups, which advocate Northern Ireland remaining a part of Britain, are responsible for almost 1,000 murders of mainly Catholics during the bloody 30-year conflict between Catholics and Protestants in the region.
Two of Northern Ireland's biggest loyalist paramilitary groups, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Red Hand Commando (RHC), say they have destroyed their weapons, and have promised to respect local laws. Another group, the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), said it has started destroying its weapons, too.
"The dark days are now behind us and it is time to move on," the UDA said in a statement. "There is no place for guns and violence in the new society we are building. It is time to work for a better future."
The groups, which advocate Northern Ireland remaining a part of Britain, are responsible for almost 1,000 murders of mainly Catholics during the bloody 30-year conflict between Catholics and Protestants in the region.
Berlusconi always seemed immune to scandal, but lurid reports of the sexual carousel of parties, models and money are taking their toll. Now the Catholic Church has turned on him.There is a sudden stench of decay coming off the court of King Silvio. The faithful retainers who have stood by him for decades, and grown immensely rich as a result, are still at his side: the pianist who tinkled along behind his singing on the cruise ships, the Sicilian lawyer fighting a long sentence for mafia crimes, the lawyer who did time for bribing Roman judges on Mr Berlusconi's account; none of them has dropped even a hint of dissidence or doubt in their padrone. But on the fringes of the circle, the unstoppable gusher of revelation and innuendo about the dozens of beautiful young women who flocked to his homes for all-night parties is beginning to do him palpable damage. It is no longer only his political enemies in the media who are drawing attention to the grotesque spectacle of a 72-year-old Prime Minister cavorting with bimbos young enough to be his granddaughters. This week, after a long, pregnant silence, powerful forces in the Catholic Church have begun to speak out against his excesses. First it was L'Avvenire (The Future), the daily paper of the Italian bishops, which asked the Prime Minister to give Italy "clarification" about what had been going on. Then an important Catholic weekly, La Famiglia Cristiana, published stern comments about "moral decadence". And now three senior churchmen have criticised him publicly. One of them, the Bishop of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, called on him to consider resigning. And one of the most powerful church figures in the country, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, head of the Italian Bishops Conference, warned, without mentioning Mr Berlusconi by name, of "men drunk on a delirium of their own greatness, who touch the illusion of omnipotence and distort moral values".
There is a sudden stench of decay coming off the court of King Silvio.
The faithful retainers who have stood by him for decades, and grown immensely rich as a result, are still at his side: the pianist who tinkled along behind his singing on the cruise ships, the Sicilian lawyer fighting a long sentence for mafia crimes, the lawyer who did time for bribing Roman judges on Mr Berlusconi's account; none of them has dropped even a hint of dissidence or doubt in their padrone. But on the fringes of the circle, the unstoppable gusher of revelation and innuendo about the dozens of beautiful young women who flocked to his homes for all-night parties is beginning to do him palpable damage.
It is no longer only his political enemies in the media who are drawing attention to the grotesque spectacle of a 72-year-old Prime Minister cavorting with bimbos young enough to be his granddaughters. This week, after a long, pregnant silence, powerful forces in the Catholic Church have begun to speak out against his excesses. First it was L'Avvenire (The Future), the daily paper of the Italian bishops, which asked the Prime Minister to give Italy "clarification" about what had been going on. Then an important Catholic weekly, La Famiglia Cristiana, published stern comments about "moral decadence". And now three senior churchmen have criticised him publicly. One of them, the Bishop of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, called on him to consider resigning. And one of the most powerful church figures in the country, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, head of the Italian Bishops Conference, warned, without mentioning Mr Berlusconi by name, of "men drunk on a delirium of their own greatness, who touch the illusion of omnipotence and distort moral values".
and even if it did, the damage he has caused renders the political system even more paralysed than it ever was. keep to the Fen Causeway
what i'm wondering is if other world bigwigs are engineering his downfall before the G8 out of sheer embarrassment at having to appear and schmooze with him.
there's one foreign intervention that may do some good!
like prodi, franceschini seems fairly decent, which is why the political system rejects him. veltroni was pure stooge, like d'alema.
which leaves di pietro, the only warrior left against this surreality show madness. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
French Prime Minister François Fillon said Saturday that the only way the government can make its retirement payments is to raise the retirement age from today's 60 years. Fillon has made lowering France's deficit a priority of his administration. French Prime Minister François Fillon on Saturday said that the only way the government can make its retirement payments is to raise the legal retirement age. "There is no other solution for saving the retirement system than working for a longer period," he said.
French Prime Minister François Fillon on Saturday said that the only way the government can make its retirement payments is to raise the legal retirement age.
"There is no other solution for saving the retirement system than working for a longer period," he said.
Well, except for those pesky "shocks", but abstracting from the shocks things are always getting better. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
The Lisbon Treaty is expected to take a key step towards becoming law across the European Union this week when Germany's highest court rules that it is broadly compatible with the country's constitution. The much-anticipated judgment will mean that only three out of the EU's 27 member states will still have to complete formal ratification of the treaty - Poland, the Czech Republic and Ireland. The former two countries merely need their presidents' signatures on the legislation to finalise the process. Ireland, where voters rejected the Treaty last year, will stage a new referendum in October - with the government increasingly confident of a "Yes" vote this time round after the EU assured Ireland of its independence over taxation, security, defence, abortion, and workers' rights. Politicians across Europe are now looking forward to a day when the controversial treaty gives the EU more streamlined institutions - with greater central power and, for the first time, a new "President of Europe" to represent all the member states around the world.
The much-anticipated judgment will mean that only three out of the EU's 27 member states will still have to complete formal ratification of the treaty - Poland, the Czech Republic and Ireland.
The former two countries merely need their presidents' signatures on the legislation to finalise the process. Ireland, where voters rejected the Treaty last year, will stage a new referendum in October - with the government increasingly confident of a "Yes" vote this time round after the EU assured Ireland of its independence over taxation, security, defence, abortion, and workers' rights. Politicians across Europe are now looking forward to a day when the controversial treaty gives the EU more streamlined institutions - with greater central power and, for the first time, a new "President of Europe" to represent all the member states around the world.
Leaders of one of Europe's most unlikely separatist movements are celebrating each step towards the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. The notion that breaking up a country as insignificant as Belgium could lead to anything more appealing in its place may seem far-fetched beyond its shores. But to many of the six million who live in the Dutch-speaking Flanders region, the growing strength of the EU makes it an increasingly attractive option."Belgium is too heterogeneous. There is too much diversity and too many different views," said Jeroen Overmeer, spokesman for Flanders' Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliante party, separatists who made big gains in this month's nationwide Belgian elections.
The notion that breaking up a country as insignificant as Belgium could lead to anything more appealing in its place may seem far-fetched beyond its shores. But to many of the six million who live in the Dutch-speaking Flanders region, the growing strength of the EU makes it an increasingly attractive option.
"Belgium is too heterogeneous. There is too much diversity and too many different views," said Jeroen Overmeer, spokesman for Flanders' Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliante party, separatists who made big gains in this month's nationwide Belgian elections.
A growing number of Catalans want independence for their prosperous region, spurred on by the possibility of separate nationhood within the European Union. "We are Catalans first and Europeans second, but don't call us Spanish!" say many in Spain's independent minded northeastern region, when asked to define their national identity.Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, is home to seven million of Spain's 44 million inhabitants - and over the past four years the proportion wanting complete independence from Madrid has risen by half, from 14 per cent to 21 per cent, according to the regional government's figures. Some 35 per cent also back creation of an almost entirely independent Catalonia within a federal Spain.
"We are Catalans first and Europeans second, but don't call us Spanish!" say many in Spain's independent minded northeastern region, when asked to define their national identity.
Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, is home to seven million of Spain's 44 million inhabitants - and over the past four years the proportion wanting complete independence from Madrid has risen by half, from 14 per cent to 21 per cent, according to the regional government's figures. Some 35 per cent also back creation of an almost entirely independent Catalonia within a federal Spain.
Here's the headline and photo of that article:
The text of the article itself is sober, informative, and fair. But the big letters at the top speak of "flames of dissent". The pictorial example shows burning flags. The casual reader glacing through may assume that the European continent is up in arms against Lisbon. Then the small-text caption says this concerns Catalan regionalists, so presumably the flames of dissent are coming from regionalists. From lower down the article:
European Union's Lisbon Treaty fuels flames of dissent across continent - Telegraph
leaders of some of Europe's separatist movements are celebrating the progress of the treaty towards full ratification. They are convinced that the more powerful the EU's own institutions become, the weaker the nation state - and the stronger the case for granting breakaway regions their independence.
So regionalists are for Lisbon, not igniting "flames of dissent".
The brainless duplicity of this kind of manipulation is staggering. And we wonder afterwards why the majority of the British are Eurosceptic/phobic.
thus the Telegraph's readers feel no dissonance because that lede is exactly what they'd expect to hear about Europe. keep to the Fen Causeway
And others (Sven, for example) will tell us the whole business is about selling advertising space. So here we have the editor doing advertising for what is not in the article, so the readership figures stay up (as far as possible) and the newspaper can get advertising income.
These two explanations can be seen as concordant. But I don't think it's that simple, because it doesn't take into account the role of the media in dynamising and augmenting an existing tendency in public opinion. How many Brits were Eurosceptic/phobic in the 1970s compared to now? How many are more so than they were then? Whatever the failings of Brussels (and they are many), how much and how often have British newspapers played on the Thatcher theme of nothing good ever coming out of continental Europe? In other words, how responsible are those newspapers for creating and sustaining an appetite for Europhobic red meat in their readership, and not (for example, and I would not wish them to do this) for anti-American red meat? Or anti-something else?
And why, if newspapers are gradually failing businesses that time and technology will sweep away, are wealthy businessmen interested in owning them? Not for the profits they can pull out of them. But also not because newspapers are without influence. No doubt their capacity to spread propaganda still offers a good bang for the buck.
Advertising should be used for the purposes of selling. In Italy, for the past twenty years it has been used for the purposes of buying. It is a simple yet twisted mechanism. Three out of every four of the Country's television broadcasting frequencies have been allocated to a private citizen since time immemorial. The individual in question is none other than the psychodwarf, who has benefited from State concessions granted to him in return for a low fee. Bargain basement fees if the truth be told. In return for the use of these frequencies, he pays one percent of turnover. It is like one of us conceding the use of our apartment to someone else and then being satisfied with receiving one percent of the rent that he charges for it. Only someone that is totally insane or is looking for some other favour in return would do such a thing. This is precisely what the D'Alema Government did back in 1999 by introducing an ad-hoc law (pg. 32: law 488, art.27 clause 9, dated 23 December 1999). The revenues that have been obtained via Publitalia have been immense. The Forza Italia party came into being thanks to Publitalia. A political-advertising creation, which grew thanks to the use of the world of advertising's persuasion and marketing techniques. A company party that was established to save the company and then to maintain and even increase advertising revenues. Many years ago already it was predicted that Italy would in future be moulded by television rather than by certain political parties or ideologies. Today instead, we see that Italy is the offspring of advertising and of its mechanisms. Advertising is in power. The psychodwarf is urging advertisers to refrain from placing any of their advertising with the catastrophist media. This is like saying that people should only advertise in the optimistic media that denies the economic reality, in other words, only in his media. He is merely canvassing support for more advertising at a time when advertising revenues are crumbling. State controlled companies such as ENI, the Government Railways Company and ENEL spend vast amounts of money on advertising. What better investment could there be, from a political point of view, for Mediaset, the television business owned by none other than our Prime Minister himself? This is an extraordinary mechanism to say the least. Money from public companies funding a privately owned television broadcasting business that makes use of public broadcasting frequency concessions obtained at bargain basement prices. Money that has ensured, and that continues to ensure that the owner of said television business remains in power. Advertising revenues control politics and information through a process of mass validation. It happens in a roundabout manner, so no one really notices what is happening. The major strength of this system, which is absolutely and unbelievably rotten to the core, is the advertising that is used as a bargaining chip and a source of power. An exchange of favours and a kind of protection racket that is perfectly legal and highly attractive, where the protection money is never extorted from anyone but is offered willingly. The only logical way forward for an Advertising Republic such as this is the boorish and trivial advertising spot that is currently being played out right before the very eyes of a totally dumbfounded world.
