A group of Central and Eastern Europe's most influential political figures have written an open letter to US President Barack Obama warning him of 'Russia's increasing intimidation' in their region and calling for the US to take a strong line. The letter, signed by 22 former leaders, including Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel, expressed deep concern over what it alleged as America's declining interest in a part of the world exhibiting "growing signs of nervousness" owing to Russian foreign policy. "Russia uses overt and covert means of economic warfare, ranging from energy blockades and politically motivated investments to bribery and media manipulation in order to advance its interests and to challenge the trans-Atlantic orientation of Central and Eastern Europe," the letter claimed.
The letter, signed by 22 former leaders, including Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel, expressed deep concern over what it alleged as America's declining interest in a part of the world exhibiting "growing signs of nervousness" owing to Russian foreign policy.
"Russia uses overt and covert means of economic warfare, ranging from energy blockades and politically motivated investments to bribery and media manipulation in order to advance its interests and to challenge the trans-Atlantic orientation of Central and Eastern Europe," the letter claimed.
After a lengthy debate parliamentarians in Iceland have paved the way for accession talks with the European Union. Iceland's government plans to launch its EU membership bid in Brussels before the end of this month. The Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, gave the green light for the government to bid for membership in the European Union, with 33 of the nation's 63 parliamentarians voting in favor of the proposal. A total of 32 votes were required to pass the proposal, but opposition to the move was limited to 28 lawmakers, while another two abstained. Thursday's narrow victory came as a relief to crisis-stricken Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who hopes to stabilize Iceland's economy by joining the 27-member bloc. In the end, however, it will be the citizens of Iceland who will have the final word on whether the government pursues membership. If and when Iceland completes successful accession negotiations with the European Union, the question will then be put to the people in a referendum.
The Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, gave the green light for the government to bid for membership in the European Union, with 33 of the nation's 63 parliamentarians voting in favor of the proposal.
A total of 32 votes were required to pass the proposal, but opposition to the move was limited to 28 lawmakers, while another two abstained.
Thursday's narrow victory came as a relief to crisis-stricken Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, who hopes to stabilize Iceland's economy by joining the 27-member bloc.
In the end, however, it will be the citizens of Iceland who will have the final word on whether the government pursues membership. If and when Iceland completes successful accession negotiations with the European Union, the question will then be put to the people in a referendum.
EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG - The election of two sectoral champions to the European parliament's industry and environment committees on Thursday (16 July) has set the stage for five years or bruising encounters between the two bodies. Controversial German MEP Herbert Reul from the centre-right European Peoples Party was elected chairman of the powerful industry, research and energy committee while former environmentalist Jo Leinen, an MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, takes over the helm of the legislature's environment committee. Over half of the committee chairpersons were decided on Thursday, with the rest to follow on Monday Before the vote, a number of industry committee members expressed concern that the proposed chairman held overly close links with the business world, with the Liberal delegation saying "transparency must be the watchword." In previous parliament negotiations on the car emissions law and on opening up the energy market in the EU, Mr Reul was accused of handing in amendments that came directly from industry.
EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG - The election of two sectoral champions to the European parliament's industry and environment committees on Thursday (16 July) has set the stage for five years or bruising encounters between the two bodies.
Controversial German MEP Herbert Reul from the centre-right European Peoples Party was elected chairman of the powerful industry, research and energy committee while former environmentalist Jo Leinen, an MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, takes over the helm of the legislature's environment committee.
Over half of the committee chairpersons were decided on Thursday, with the rest to follow on Monday
Before the vote, a number of industry committee members expressed concern that the proposed chairman held overly close links with the business world, with the Liberal delegation saying "transparency must be the watchword."
In previous parliament negotiations on the car emissions law and on opening up the energy market in the EU, Mr Reul was accused of handing in amendments that came directly from industry.
France's health minister Roselyne Bachelot has anounced that the Government will spend one billion euros on ninety-four million doses of the vaccine to combat the influenza A H1N1 virus. The H1N1 virus has caused the deaths of more than 400 people worldwide and the number of cases is nearing one hundred thousand. In France, the government has announced a mass programme of vaccinations - 94 million doses of the vaccine to the tune of one billion euros. It also has an option on 44 million doses more. France's Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, says it is money well spent: "You've got to look at the loss to the economy in terms of time off work and sick leave. There are statistics showing that a flu epidemic could cost billions in lost earnnig. Investing in health is always a good investment."
The H1N1 virus has caused the deaths of more than 400 people worldwide and the number of cases is nearing one hundred thousand.
In France, the government has announced a mass programme of vaccinations - 94 million doses of the vaccine to the tune of one billion euros. It also has an option on 44 million doses more.
France's Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, says it is money well spent: "You've got to look at the loss to the economy in terms of time off work and sick leave. There are statistics showing that a flu epidemic could cost billions in lost earnnig. Investing in health is always a good investment."
The presentation says existing government orders for H1N1 vaccines total 850 million to 900 million doses. On average, governments have ordered one dose per person, but most have options for, or are considering ordering, two doses per person, which would increase total orders to about 1.8 billion doses.
The Balkan states of Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina are artificial constructs that are dependent on international organizations to function. Unlike in Iraq, there is no end in sight for this foreign rule and Europe seems to have little in the way of an exit strategy. There is probably no one who knows his way around the Balkans , that unloved stepchild of Europe, better than Valentin Inzko. He has family roots in Slovenia, and he speaks Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Czech. Even for an Austrian career diplomat, this is unusual. Inzko, 60, is a walking encyclopedia on the history and contemporary affairs of these countries, all of which are now clamoring to be accepted into the European Union. Spanish soldiers, members of the EU peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The international community has sent Inzko to Bosnia-Herzegovina, armed with two grand titles: High Representative of the United Nations and EU Special Envoy. This sounds impressive and, in fact, Inzko has considerable standing in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, where he is a proconsul of sorts, with the power to unseat ministers and other members of the local elite. FROM THE MAGAZINE Find out how you can reprint this DER SPIEGEL article in your publication. Today, Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country that resembles what Iraq was until recently. A horrible war claimed about 100,000 lives and left behind deep wounds, in a country that is now occupied and that is weighed down by deep ethnic and religious conflicts. While regulating Bosnia-Herzegovina's affairs, Inzko and his six predecessors have dismissed an astonishing 600 officials, including two presidents -- presumably a world record.
The Balkan states of Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina are artificial constructs that are dependent on international organizations to function. Unlike in Iraq, there is no end in sight for this foreign rule and Europe seems to have little in the way of an exit strategy.
There is probably no one who knows his way around the Balkans , that unloved stepchild of Europe, better than Valentin Inzko. He has family roots in Slovenia, and he speaks Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Czech. Even for an Austrian career diplomat, this is unusual. Inzko, 60, is a walking encyclopedia on the history and contemporary affairs of these countries, all of which are now clamoring to be accepted into the European Union.
Spanish soldiers, members of the EU peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The international community has sent Inzko to Bosnia-Herzegovina, armed with two grand titles: High Representative of the United Nations and EU Special Envoy. This sounds impressive and, in fact, Inzko has considerable standing in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, where he is a proconsul of sorts, with the power to unseat ministers and other members of the local elite.
FROM THE MAGAZINE Find out how you can reprint this DER SPIEGEL article in your publication. Today, Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country that resembles what Iraq was until recently. A horrible war claimed about 100,000 lives and left behind deep wounds, in a country that is now occupied and that is weighed down by deep ethnic and religious conflicts. While regulating Bosnia-Herzegovina's affairs, Inzko and his six predecessors have dismissed an astonishing 600 officials, including two presidents -- presumably a world record.
Once a popular holiday getaway for the communist elite, tiny Abkhazia is now a de-facto republic at odds with most of the world. President Sergei Bagapsh spoke with SPIEGEL ONLINE about his nation's plans, friends and foes -- and prime real estate. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Other than Russia, your neighboring Black Sea states do not recognize Abkhazia as a nation. Are you isolated? Dreams of Independence: Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh. Sergei Bagapsch: We are a small country with around 242,000 inhabitants. At the moment, our connections with Russia suffice to allow us to develop our economy. Of course, we would be happy if Europe was more open toward us. But I think that's just a question of time. At the moment, we are trying to develop economic relationships with Iran, Jordan, Turkey and Belarus. We won't beg for diplomatic recognition. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Up until now, only Russia and Nicaragua have recognized your republic. Did that change anything for the Abkhazian people? Bagapsch: The most important thing is that our people now know they can have normal lives. We know that it takes time to build an independent state. And we want a state based on a constitution and founded on the norms of international law. That requires new laws and a new way of thinking.
Once a popular holiday getaway for the communist elite, tiny Abkhazia is now a de-facto republic at odds with most of the world. President Sergei Bagapsh spoke with SPIEGEL ONLINE about his nation's plans, friends and foes -- and prime real estate.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Other than Russia, your neighboring Black Sea states do not recognize Abkhazia as a nation. Are you isolated?
Dreams of Independence: Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh. Sergei Bagapsch: We are a small country with around 242,000 inhabitants. At the moment, our connections with Russia suffice to allow us to develop our economy. Of course, we would be happy if Europe was more open toward us. But I think that's just a question of time. At the moment, we are trying to develop economic relationships with Iran, Jordan, Turkey and Belarus. We won't beg for diplomatic recognition.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Up until now, only Russia and Nicaragua have recognized your republic. Did that change anything for the Abkhazian people?
Bagapsch: The most important thing is that our people now know they can have normal lives. We know that it takes time to build an independent state. And we want a state based on a constitution and founded on the norms of international law. That requires new laws and a new way of thinking.
Russian human rights watchdog Memorial has accused Chechnya's Moscow-backed President Ramzam Kadyrov of being responsible for the death of a leading human rights activist investigating abuses in the former Soviet republic. A leading Russian human rights group has accused Chechnya's strongman president of being responsible for the killing of a prominent human rights activist. Memorial's Natalia Estemirova was abducted in Chechnya's capital Grozny on Wednesday. Her bullet-riddled body was found in neighbouring Ingushetia hours later. Estemirova had been gathering evidence of an alleged campaign of house burnings as collective punishment by government-backed Chechen militias.
A leading Russian human rights group has accused Chechnya's strongman president of being responsible for the killing of a prominent human rights activist.
Memorial's Natalia Estemirova was abducted in Chechnya's capital Grozny on Wednesday. Her bullet-riddled body was found in neighbouring Ingushetia hours later.
Estemirova had been gathering evidence of an alleged campaign of house burnings as collective punishment by government-backed Chechen militias.
Some snippets:
There is currently a power struggle going on in Ingushetia triggered by the attempted murder of the republic's president last month and the murders of several of the republic's officials. (Actually, the murders may be part of the power struggle.) Many people are agitating for the return of the previous president, which has been blocked by UR and Kadyrov. Simultaneously, there is a power struggle going on between forces in Chechnya and forces in Ingushetia. The Chechen government wants to reunite with Ingushetia. Presumably, given the demographics of the region, this would make Chechens (specifically, Kadyrov) the dominant force in the reconstituted republic. The Ingush do not want to reunite, for obvious reasons. This amid accusations that people are attempting to set the vainnakh against each other. This is the background against which the murder takes place. A murder which, oddly, involved a suspicious Chechnya-Ingushetia border crossing.
Simultaneously, there is a power struggle going on between forces in Chechnya and forces in Ingushetia. The Chechen government wants to reunite with Ingushetia. Presumably, given the demographics of the region, this would make Chechens (specifically, Kadyrov) the dominant force in the reconstituted republic. The Ingush do not want to reunite, for obvious reasons. This amid accusations that people are attempting to set the vainnakh against each other.
This is the background against which the murder takes place. A murder which, oddly, involved a suspicious Chechnya-Ingushetia border crossing.
The assumption is that, because Kadyrov didn't want her snooping around, he must have decided to murder her rather than let her escape with whatever evidence of human rights abuses she found or might have found. But what could be worse PR than having a Memorial activist murdered in your backyard? This has attracted far more negative press coverage that any `new' revelations about the already well publicized detention and interrogation camps in Chechnya. In lieu of any real evidence, I'm inclined to think that "they kill whomever speaks the truth" remains a bit of an exaggeration, even in an age when государственны&# 1081; террор is knocking on the door..
In lieu of any real evidence, I'm inclined to think that "they kill whomever speaks the truth" remains a bit of an exaggeration, even in an age when государственны&# 1081; террор is knocking on the door..
I don't buy into the Kadyrov as culprit for Estemirova for many of the reasons Chris has stated. Key among them is Russia's weak central government, and if you follow what is going on in Chechnya-Ingushetia, there are all sorts of nefarious individuals who would have an interest in taking out a human rights activist. I'm not saying that I agree with the provocation theory (that is just to make Kadyrov look bad), but at the same time, I wouldn't discount the murder being part of a larger power struggle. Kadyrov is merely a symptom of a larger disease in the region.
Even though all signs point to Kadyrov, I can't be sure that I buy the theory that it was his direct order. He was running a healthy little theifdom with few problems from Moscow, and now I am sure he isn't too happy with some new pressures that are coming. It seems like the stories about Putin getting edged out of influence may have some merit. There is nobody of significance running policy in the Caucasus right now, and in this vacuum, parties likely related to Kadyrov took advantage.
It seems like the stories about Putin getting edged out of influence may have some merit. There is nobody of significance running policy in the Caucasus right now, and in this vacuum, parties likely related to Kadyrov took advantage.
Without going into a "who's who" of the Russia-watcher-sphere, I think it's worth pointing out that these comments are from quite different political corners. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
The sale of pardons is a fine old tradition in Italy, but Finance Minister Tremonti is on record as having said he will not countenance any further condoni, as they are known, since they undermine respect for the law. This is a worthy stand to take, and it is a pity that he has been over-ruled. The government is now proposing a pardon on a larger scale than anything yet. Hidden inside a draft law whose ostensible purpose is to raise money to help earthquake victims is a proposal that essentially puts the Italian state into the money-laundering business, and at a very competitive price. It allows any business or individual to bring into Italy funds previously held outside, with no questions asked and guaranteed impunity, whatever the crime - drug-smuggling, arms-dealing, people-trafficking, whatever - that may have given rise to those hidden funds. What is more, although the law specifies funds brought in from outside, there can be no proof that the money being declared is not simply funds that accrued within Italy, but was never declared to the tax authorities. So it is in effect a pardon for all tax avoiders, and at a cut-price rate. Normally one would expect to pay a money-launderer something like 40% for the service of exchanging "dirty" money for "clean" money. But the proposed law seems likely to charge a much smaller percentage - a previous such law passed by Mr Tremonti in 2002 charged only 2.5% of the funds declared. Coming so soon after the disclosure of the negotiations between the Mafia and Berlusconi in 1994, in which they pledged their support and asked for his (see post on July 10th), it seems a little rash to bring in a law that so clearly serves the interests of the less law-abiding sections of Italian society.
