Crown Princess' Birthday Sweden - Jul 14
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland (Swedish: Victoria, Sveriges kronprinsessa, hertiginna av Västergötland, Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée; born 14 July 1977) is the heiressapparent to the Swedish throne. If she ascends to the throne as expected, she will be Sweden's fourth queen regnant (after Margaret, Christina andUlrika Eleonora) and first since 1720.
life Early Victoria was born on 14 July 1977 in
Stockholm, Sweden, and is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Germanborn Queen Silvia (née Sommerlath). She is a member of theRoyal House of Bernadotte. Born as a Princess of Sweden, she was designated Crown Princess in 1979 (SFS 1979:932) ahead of her younger brother. Her first place in succession formally went into effect on 1 January 1980 with the parliamentary change to the Act of Succession that introduced equal primogeniture. Victoria is currently the only female heir-apparent in the world (though there are several females who are heiresses-apparent of an heir-apparent) and is usually styled HRH The Crown Princess. Through her father, a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, Victoria is also in the line of succession to the British and other Commonwealth thrones, being currently 205th in the line. Her given names honour various relatives. Her first name comes primarily from her great-great-grandmother, Victoria of Baden, the queen-consort of Sweden as wife of King Gustaf V. The same name also glorifies her (twice-over paternally) great-great-great-grandmother,Victoria of the United Kingdom. Her other names honour her great-aunt Ingrid of Denmark; her maternal grandmother, the Brazilian Alice Sommerlath (née de Toledo); and her ancestor Désirée Clary, the queenconsort of Charles XIV John and a former fiancée ofNapoleon I of France. She was christened at The Royal Palace Church on 27 September 1977. Her godparents are King Harald V of Norway, her maternal uncle, Ralf Sommerlath, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and her aunt Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld. Victoria is also godmother to a number of royal children, most of them future heirs including Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Prince Christian of Denmark, as well as Princess Eléonore of Belgium.
Education
Victoria attended a state elementary school (Ålstensskolan) and Enskilda Gymnasiet in Stockholm, graduating in 1996. She next studied for a year (1996/97) at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest atAngers in France, and in the fall term of 1997 participated in a special program following the work of the Parliament of Sweden. During the years 1998 to 2000, Victoria resided in the United States, where she studied various subjects at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. In May 1999 she was an intern at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C. In 2000, she studied conflict resolution and international peacekeeping at the Swedish National Defence College(Försvarshögskolan). Victoria followed the Swedish presidency of the European Union and completed a study program at the Government Offices (Rosenbad) in 2001. During spring semester 2002, Victoria completed a study program with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and in June and September was an intern at the United Nations in New York; in the fall she was an intern at the Swedish Trade Council's offices in Berlin and Paris. In 2003, Victoria's education continued with visits to Swedish businesses, a study and intern program in agriculture and forestry, as well as completion of the basic soldier training at SWEDINT (the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre). In 2004, Victoria continued with visits to Swedish businesses, and that fall she continued with courses in political science, international relations and conflict resolution at the Swedish National Defence College. In 2005, she continued with private tutored studies in society-related subjects as well as some courses at the University of Stockholm. In 2006, Victoria enrolled in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' Diplomat Program, running from September 2006 to June 2007. The program is a training program for young future diplomats and gives an insight to the ministry's work, Swedish foreign and security policies and Sweden's relations with the rest of the world. The education entails lectures, seminars, group work and visits to authorities and institutions. In 2007, Victoria studied French privately and held an internship at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union. In June 2009, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Uppsala University.
Change in status
She was made Crown Princess and heir apparent on 1 January 1980 by the change made in 1979 to the Act of Succession of 1810 (Successionsordningen). This constitutional reform meant that the throne would be inherited by the monarch's eldest child without regard to sex. This not only made Victoria the first heiress apparent to the Swedish throne, but also made her the first female in the line of succession. The retroactive constitutional change was apparently not supported by her father, who favoured his son as heir-apparent because he was born as such, a view that has been commented on in the media. When she became heiress, she also was made titular Duchess of Västergötland, which is one of the historical provinces of Sweden. Prior to this constitutional change, the heir-apparent to the throne was her younger brother, the then-Crown Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland. He is now third in line to the throne, behind the Crown Princess's daughter. She also has a younger sister, Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland.
Declaration of majority
Victoria's declaration of majority took place in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on 14 July 1995. As of the day she turned 18, she is al- Crown Princess Victoria on lowed to act as Head of State when her father is not in the country. Victoria the National Day of Swemade her first public speech on this occasion. Located on its usual dais in the background was the same silver throne that den, 2006 her father used at his enthronement, still in symbolic use since 1650. Later, the Royal Family took part in the annual public celebration on Öland of her birthday, called Victoria Day.
Royal duties
As heir apparent to the throne, Victoria is a working member of the Swedish Royal Family with her own agenda of official engagements, and she holds a significant supportive role to her father. Victoria attends the regular Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs and the information councils with Government ministers headed by the King, and steps in as a temporary regent (Riksföreståndare) when needed. Victoria also takes part in the regular official dinners hosted by the King and Queen, state visits to Sweden, high level and official visits from foreign dignitaries, the opening of the Riksdag (Parliament), celebrations of the Swedish National Day and the annual Nobel Prize festivities. Victoria has made many official trips abroad as a representative of Sweden. Her first major official visit on her own was to Japan in 2001, where she promoted Swedish tourism, design, music, gastronomy and environmental sustainability during the "Swedish Style" event. That same year, Victoria also travelled to the West Coast of the United States, where she participated in the celebrations of the Nobelcentenary. In 2002, she paid official visits to Kosovo where she visited Camp Victoria, the United States, Spain, Uganda and Ethiopia. In 2003, she made official visits to Egypt and the United States. In early 2004, she paid an official visit to Saudi Arabia, as a part of a large official business delegation from Sweden, and in October 2004, she travelled to Hungary. In January 2005, Victoria made a long official visit to Australia, promoting Swedish Style and businesses, and in April she visited Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to follow aid work and become informed about the work in the aftermath of the tsunami. In April 2005, Victoria made an official visit to Japan where she visited the Expo 2005 in Aichi, laid the foundation for a new IKEA store in Yokohama together with Princess Takamado and met with Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito and Sayako Kuroda. In June 2005, Victoria travelled to Turkey on an official visit where she participated in the Swedish Business Seminar and Sweden Day celebrations in Ankara during a historic visit, which was organised by the Swedish Embassy in Ankara and Swedish Trade Council in Istanbul. Victoria also visited the historic sights such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia. This was the first official Royal visit from Sweden to Turkey since 1934. In September 2005, she made an official visit to China. In March 2006, Victoria made an official visit to Brazil where she followed the Volvo Ocean Race and visited projects supported by the World Childhood Foundation, such as the Abrigo Rainha Sílvia. In December, she paid a four-day official visit to Paris where she attended a French-Swedish soirée arranged by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, the Swedish Trade Council and the Swedish Embassy, during which she also awarded the Prix d’Excellence 2006. The visit to Paris also included events with the Swedish Club in Paris, attendance at a church service in the Sofia Church (the Swedish church in Paris), a study visit to the OECD headquarters and meetings with the SecretaryGeneral José Ángel Gurría, the Swedish Ambassador to the OECD, Gun-Britt Andersson, and other senior officials. She also attended a gala dinner hosted by La Fondation Pour L’Enfance at Versailles. State visits, in which she has participated in Sweden are Austria 1997, South Africa 1999, France 2000, Germany 2003, Jordan 2003,Latvia 2005, Malaysia 2005, Republic of Botswana 2006, China 2007, Brazil 2007, Bulgaria 2007; abroad Finland 1996 (her first),Belgium 2001, Finland 2003, Iceland 2004, Denmark 2007.
The Crown Princess's household Crown Princess Victoria was given her own household in October 2004. The Crown Princess's household is headed
by the Marshal of the Court. The Crown Princess's household’s task is to coordinate the official engagements of The Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess Victoria Fund The Crown Princess Victoria Fund was set up in 1997 and is run as a part of Radiohjälpen, the fundraising branch
of Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio. The fund’s aim is to provide support for leisure and recreational activities for children and young people with functional disabilities or chronic illnesses. Applications can be addressed to the fund year round and the use of grants can cover everything from compensations to assistants at recreational trips to leisure activities such as horseback riding, skiing, wheelchair floorball, camps and outings. Every summer, Sveriges Television carries out fundraising drives for the fund via messages on television, these are especially concentrated around the Swedish national holiday on 6 June and the Crown Princess's birthday, Victoriadagen, on 14 July. On the Crown Princess's birthday, when a long televised entertainment program is aired from Borgholm where the people and the Royal Familycelebrate Victoria, the public is also able to call in and donate money at the same time as they compete for prizes. The Crown Princess Victoria Fund’s means mainly derive from donations by the public, but large companies such as Arla Foods, Swedbank and AB Svenska Returpack are constant sponsor partners. Additional support comes from The Association of Swedish Bakers & Confectioners who every year arrange a national “princess cake week” during which the participating cafés and bakeries give 2,50 SEK per sold princess pastry and 10 SEK per sold princess cake to the fund. The result of this fund-raising drive is usually presented to Victoria herself on her name day on 12 March every year; in 2007, the total amount was 200,000 SEK. Congratulatory and memorial cards are also issued by Radiohjälpen benefitting the fund, a simple way to pay respects and do a good deed in one act. In 2006, The Crown Princess Victoria Fund raised a total of 5,5 million SEK. Every year Victoria visits one or several clubs or projects that have been granted money. These visits are not announced via the official royal diary but kept private, instead Sveriges Television often accompanies her and airs short programs from these visits at some time during the year.
Personal life
Crown Princess Victoria at Skultuna
Though Victoria had long refused to discuss her private life, she Messingsbruk with the managing had frequently been the object of press speculation regarding pur- director Viktor Blomqvist ported romances. Only two men were confirmed as her boyfriends. Both of those relationships lasted for a considerable length of time. Victoria’s first such boyfriend was Daniel Collert. They socialized in the same circles, went to the same school and were already friends when their romance developed in the mid-1990s. When Victoria moved to the United States in 1998 to study and recover from her eating disorders, Collert moved with her across the Atlantic and settled in New York. In September 2000, Victoria's relationship with Collert was confirmed in an interview with her at Expo 2000, and later by then-Director of the Press and Information Department at the Royal Court Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg. They broke up in 2001. In May 2002, Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Victoria had a new boyfriend, her personal trainer at Master Training, Daniel Westling. When the news broke and the media turned its attention on him, it was obvious that he did not like being in the public eye. Once Westling was photographed crossing a street against a red light in order to avoid a camera. In July 2002, Victoria and he were pictured kissing for the first time at a birthday party for Caroline Kreuger, a close friend of Victoria's. In a popular personal report called Tre dagar med Victoria, which profiled her work during a three-day period that aired on TV4 in December 2004, Victoria commented on criticism directed at Westling, “Many unfair things are written. I understand that there is speculation, but some day justice will be done there, too.” Victoria also gave her opinion that happiness is important, and that these days it is not so much about background and pedigree but about two people who have to live with each other. She said that if they are not happy and comfortable with each other, it is impossible to do a good job. During her April 2005 visit to Expo 2005 in Nagakute, Victoria was interviewed by Mikio Yikuma of the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shinbun. Yikuma brought up the subject of royals marrying commoners, to which the princess responded, "I think the general idea with the Swedes is that the modern way is to marry someone you love, not necessarily based on where she or he comes from." Though she did not mention Westling by name, Victoria did admit, "There is someone in my life", but that marriage was not on her mind then. The interview was conducted at the Swedish embassy in Tokyo and published in the paper on 18 April 2005.
Emmeline Pankhurst Day U.K. - Jul 14
Emmeline Pankhurst (born Emmeline Goulden) (15 July 1858 – 14 June 1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement which helped women win the right to vote. In 1999 Time named Pankhurst as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century, stating: "she shaped an idea of women for our time; she shook society into a new pattern from which there could be no going back." She was widely criticized for her militant tactics, and historians disagree about their effectiveness, but her work is recognized as a crucial element in achieving women's suffrage in Britain. Born Emmeline Goulden and raised in Moss Side, Manchester, England by politically active parents, Pankhurst was introduced at the age of 8 to the women's suffrage movement. Although her parents encouraged her to prepare herself for life as a wife and mother, she attended the École Normale de Neuilly in Paris. In 1878 she married Richard Pankhurst, a barrister 24 years her senior known for supporting women's right to vote; they had five children over the next ten years. He also supported her activities outside the home, and she quickly became involved with the Women's Franchise League, which advocated suffrage for women. When that organization broke apart, she attempted to join the left-leaning Independent Labour Party through her friendship with socialist Keir Hardie but was initially refused membership by the local branch of the Party on account of her sex. She also worked as a Poor Law Guardian and was shocked by the harsh conditions she encountered in Manchester workhouses. After her husband died in 1898, Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union(WSPU), an all-women suffrage advocacy organisation dedicated to "deeds, not words."The group placed itself separately from – and often in opposition to – political parties. The group quickly became infamous when its members smashed windows and assaultedpolice officers. Pankhurst, her daughters, and other WSPU activists were sentenced to repeated prison sentences, where they staged hunger strikes to secure better conditions. As Pankhurst's oldest daughter Christabel took the helm of the WSPU, antagonism between the group and the government grew. Eventually arson became a common tactic among WSPU members, and more moderate organisations spoke out against the Pankhurst family. In 1913 several prominent individuals left the WSPU, among them Pankhurst's daughters Adela and Sylvia. The family rift was never healed. With the advent of the First World War, Emmeline and Christabel called an immediate halt to militant suffrage activism in support of theBritish government's stand against the "German Peril." They urged women to aid industrial production and encouraged young men to fight. In 1918 the Representation of the People Act granted votes to women over the age of 30. Pankhurst transformed the WSPU machinery into the Women's Party, which was dedicated to promoting women's equality in public life. In her later years she became concerned with what she perceived as the menace posed by Bolshevism and – unhappy with the political alternatives – joined theConservative Party. She died in 1928 and was commemorated two years later with a statue in London's Victoria Tower Gardens.
National Day Iraq - Jul 14
14 July 1958 is the day the Hashemite monarchy was overthrown in Iraq by popular forces led by Abdul Karim Kassem, who became the nation's new leader. The event was commemorated in Baghdad with a statue in 14 July Square.
Sultan's Birthday Brunei Darussalam - Jul 15
Hassanal Bolkiah, GCB GCMG (full name: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni AlMarhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the lands under its sovereignty. He is also the first and incumbent Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam. The eldest son of the late Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien III(later the Begawan Sultan) and the late Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit (later the Suri Seri Begawan Raja), he succeeded to the throne following the voluntary abdication of his father as the 28th Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 4 October 1967.
years and education Early The Sultan was born on 15 July 1946 in Istana Darus-
salam, Brunei Town (now called Bandar Seri Begawan) as Pengiran Muda ("Prince") Hassanal Bolkiah. In 1961 he was bestowed as the Pengiran Muda Mahkota ("Crown Prince") and subsequently as theSultan of Brunei Darussalam on 4 October 1967, after his father had abdicated voluntarily. His coronation was held on 1 August 1968 and thus made him the Yang di-Pertuan ("Head of State") of Brunei Darussalam. Like his father, he has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, of which Brunei was a protectorate until 1984. The Sultan received high school education at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, after which he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
Other assets:
In Brunei, mockingly dubbed the "Shellfare State", a reference to the significant influence of the Shell Oil Company, Bruneians have free education and medical services. There are no personal income taxes in Brunei. The Sultan's official residence is the Istana Nurul Iman, with 1,888 rooms, 290 bathrooms, and a floor area of 2,152,782 square feet(200,000 m2). The Istana also houses several offices of government, including that of the Office of the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan, the Office of the Grand Chamberlain as well as the offices within the Prime Minister's Department. Parts of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance are also located at the palace. The Crown Prince, who is the Senior Minister, also works from offices at the Istana. Hyatt Borneo Management Services and HM The Sultan's flight also maintain offices there.
Rise of Peronism:
The bases of modern Argentina were established by the Generation of '80, a political movement that opposed Mitre and sought to industrialize the country. A wave of European immigration led to the strengthening of a cohesive state, the development of modern agriculture and to a near-reinvention of Argentine society and economy. The country emerged as one of the ten richest countries in the world, benefiting from an agricultural export-led economy as well as British and French investment. Driven by immigration and decreasing mortality the Argentine population grew fivefold and the economy 15fold. However, the National Autonomist Party (PAN) could not meet its original goals of industrialization, and the country stayed as a pre-industrial society. President Juárez Celman faced an economic crisis that generated popular discontent and the Revolution of the Park in 1890, led by the Civic Union. With the resignation of Mitre, the Civic Union became the Radical Civic Union (UCR). Although the Coup d'état failed, Celman resigned from the presidency, starting the decline of the PAN. Conservative élites dominated Argentine politics until 1912, when President Roque Sáenz Peña enacted universal male suffrage and the secret ballot. This allowed the UCR to win the country's first free elections in 1916. President Hipólito Yrigoyen enacted social and economic reforms and extended assistance to family farmers and small businesses. Argentina stayed neutral during World War I. The second administration of Yrigoyen faced a huge economic crisis, influenced by the international Great Depression. The military made a coup d'état and ousted him from power, which began the Infamous Decade. José Félix Uriburu led the military rule for two years.Agustín Pedro Justo was elected with electoral fraud, and signed the RocaRunciman Treaty.Roberto María Ortiz and Ramón Castillo stayed neutral during World War II. Britain supported the Argentine neutrality, but after the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States requested all of South America to join the Allied Nations. Castillo was finally deposed by theRevolution of '43, a new military coup that wanted to end the electoral fraud of the last decade. Argentina declared war to the Axis Powers a month before the end of World War II in Europe. The minister of welfare of the military, Juan Perón, became highly popular among workers. He was fired and jailed, but a massive demonstration forced his liberation. Perón ran for the presidency in 1946, and won by 53,1%. Juan Perón created a political movement known as Peronism. Taking advantage of the import substitution industrialization and the European devastation left by the immediate aftermath of World War II, he nationalized strategic industries and services, improved wages and working conditions, paid the full external debt and achieved nearly full employment. The economy, however, began to decline in 1950. Perón intensified censorship as well as repression: 110 publications were shuttered, and numerous opposition figures were imprisoned and tortured. His wife Eva Perón was highly popular and played a central political role, mostly through the Eva Perón Foundation and the Female Peronist Party, as women's suffrage was granted in 1947. However, her declining health did not allow her to run for the vice-presidency in 1951, and she died of cancer the following year. The military began to plot against Perón in 1955, andbombed the Plaza de Mayo in an ill-fated attempt to kill him. A few months later, Perón resigned during a new military coup, which established the Revolución Libertadora. Perón left the country, and finally settled in Spain.
Political role as Sultan
Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, the Sultan is the head of state with full executive authority, including emergency powers since 1962. On 9 March 2006, the Sultan was reported to have amended Brunei's constitution to make himself infallible under Bruneian law. Bolkiah is also the Prime Minister as well as holding the portfolios of Minister of Defence and Finance. As Minister of Defence he is also the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; an Honorary General in the British and Indonesian armed forces and an Honorary Admiral of the Fleet in the British Navy. He appointed himself as Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Royal Brunei Police Force. He addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Brunei Darussalam's admission to the United Nations in September, 1984. In 1991, he introduced a conservative ideology to Brunei called Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) (or Malay Islamic Monarchy), which presents the monarchy as the defender of the faith. He has recently favoured Brunei governmentdemocratization and declared himself Prime Minister and President. In 2004, the Legislative Council, which had been dissolved since 1962, was reopened. His designated successor is his eldest son, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah.
Titles, styles and honours Rise of Peronism:
In Malay the style and title of the Sultan in full is Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Academic honours:
The Sultan received an honorary doctorate from a Russian university. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Oxford,England, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Aberdeen,Scotland. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the Chulalongkorn University of Thailand. In 2003, he received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities and Culture from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta,Republic of Indonesia. On 27 January 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the National University of Singapore. On 14 April 2011, he was conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Law by King's College London. The scroll for the honorary doctorate was presented by Lord Duoro, the chairman of the Council of King's College London. He was awarded with an honorary doctorate in philoposhy and humanities on 21 April 2011 from Universitas Indonesia, one of the oldest universities in Asia having been established 160 years ago.
Military honours:
The Sultan holds an honorary commission in the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom as an Air Marshal. He is also an HonoraryAdmiral of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, a title given to him by Queen Elizabeth II when he took the salute at the passing out parade of the 2001 summer term at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, the Royal Navy's officer-training school in the United Kingdom. He has an English residence at Binfield Manor in Berkshire. In April 2008, he was made an honorary member of the Indonesian Satgas Atbara Special Operations Unit. He holds the rank of Honorary Colonel of Pakistan's Special Service Group (SSG), awarded to him during his visit to the Pakistan Army's SSG headquarters at Cherat. He possesses red beret and paratrooper wings of the Black Hawk paratroopers, presented to him by the Indian Army during his state visit to India.
St. Swithin's Day U.K. - Jul 15
St. Swithin's Day is 15 July, a day on which people watch the weather for tradition says that whatever the weather is like on St. Swithin's Day, it will continue so for the next forty days. St. Swithin (or more properly, Swithun) was a Saxon Bishop of Winchester. He was born in the kingdom of Wessex and educated in its capital, Winchester. He was famous for charitable gifts and building churches.
History A legend says that as the Bishop lay on his deathbed, he
asked to be buried out of doors, where he would be trodden on and rained on. For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then, the monks of Winchester attempted to remove his remains to a splendid shrine inside the cathedral on 15 July 971. According to legend there was a heavy rain storm either during the ceremony or on its anniversary.
Constitution Day South Korea - Jul 17
Engagement:
Swedish media have often speculated about upcoming engagements and marriages for Victoria. On 24 February 2009, rumours that wedding plans were imminent became particularly intense preceding an information council between the King and Prime MinisterFredrik Reinfeldt. Under the terms of the Swedish Act of Succession, the government, if requested by the King, must approve a marriage of a Prince or Princess of Sweden. Otherwise, the prince or princess loses his or her right to the throne. Later that day, it was confirmed that permission had been granted and that Victoria would marry Daniel Westling in the summer of 2010. The wedding date was set in Stockholm Cathedral for 19 June 2010, the 34th anniversary of her parents' marriage.
Wedding:
The wedding took place on 19 June 2010. More than 1200 guests including The Duke and Duchess of royalty and statesmen from various countries were invited to the wedding cer- Västergötland after their emony which took place at Stockholm Cathedral. After the wedding the new- wedding in June 2010 lyweds were driven through Stockholm in a coach and then rowed in the antique royal barge Vasaorden to the royal castle where the wedding banquet was held. On the evening before the wedding, there was a gala concert dedicated to the couple in the Stockholm Concert Hall (where the Nobel Prizes are handed out). More than half a million Swedes waved with Swedish flags and cheered the couple from in their cortege, from the church to the castle. The popularity of the monarchy exploded after the wedding, and a SIFO showed that more than 70% of the Swedes supported the monarchy and only 16% wanted to abandon it. Following their wedding the Duchess and Duke of Västergötland moved to Haga Palace.
Children:
On 17 August 2011 the Swedish royal court announced that Crown Princess Victoria was pregnant and expecting the couple's first child in March 2012. At 4:26 am on 23 February 2012, Victoria gave birth to a baby girl, measuring 51 cm long (20 inches) and 3,280 grams (7 pounds, 3 ounces). The newborn is second-in-line to the Swedish throne. Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland (Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary of Sweden). •
Anorexia
In 1996, it was established that Victoria suffered from anorexia, it was however not confirmed until the next year. Already at that time she was getting professional help, but given her public position in Sweden it was getting increasingly difficult to handle the situation. Victoria had planned to study at Uppsala University, but after intense media speculation and public discussion when pictures of an evidently too slim Victoria in sleeveless dresses at the Order of the Innocence’s ball and the gala dinner for the incoming state visit from Austria surfaced in April 1997, the Royal Court decided to confirm what was feared. After a press release from the Royal Court announced that Victoria had eating disorders in November 1997, plans changed for her and she moved to the United States where she received professional help and studied at Yale University. By making this drastic decision, Victoria lived an anonymous life while getting professional help and recovering without having to worry about media speculations or if people were recognizing her on the streets. In an interview with Björn Carlgren for SVT2 in June 1999, Victoria said, “It was a really hard time. This kind of illness is hard, not only for the individual but for the surroundings. Today I’m fine.” In November 2002, the book “Victoria, Victoria!” came out, speaking further about her eating disorder. Victoria said: “I felt like an accelerating train, going right down... during the whole period. I had eating disorders and was aware of it, my anguish was enormous. I really hated how I looked like, how I was... I, Victoria, didn’t exist. It felt like everything in my life and around me was controlled by others. The one thing I could control was the food I put in me”. She further said that “What happened cost and I was the one who stood for the payments. Now I’m feeling well and with the insights I’ve acquired through this I can hopefully help someone else”.
Titles, styles, and honours Titles and styles:
• • •
14 July 1977 – 31 December 1979: Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Sweden 1 January 1980 – 9 January 1980: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Sweden 9 January 1980 – present: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergöt land
Swedish honours:
• •
Member with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (14 July 1995) HM King Carl XVI Gustaf 50th Anniversary Medal (30 April 1996)
Foreign honours:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (2001) Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (2007) Bulgaria: Grand Cross of the Order of Stara Planina Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (14 July 1995) Estonia: Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, First Class (11 September 1995) Estonia: Order of the White Star, First Class (18 January 2011) Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose (1996) France: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit Germany : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2003) Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour (21 May 2008) Iceland: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (7 September 2004) Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum Jordan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (2003) Latvia : Grand Officer of the Order of the Three Stars (2005) Lithuania: Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (21 No vember 1995) Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (April 2008) Malaysia: Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (1995) Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1995) Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2008)
Bastille Day International - Jul 14
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on the 14th of July each year. In France, it is formally calledLa Fête Nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly le quatorze juillet (the fourteenth of July). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. Festivities and official ceremonies are held all over France. The oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on the morning of 14 July, on the ChampsÉlysées avenue inParis in front of the President of the Republic, French officials and foreign guests.
Events and traditions of the day The parade opens with cadets from the École Polytechnique, Saint-Cyr, École Navale, and so forth, then other in-
fantry troops, then motorized troops; aircraft of the Patrouille de France aerobatics team fly above. In recent times, it has become customary to invite units from France's allies to the parade; in 2004 during the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, British troops (the band of the Royal Marines, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Grenadier Guards and King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery) led the Bastille Day parade in Paris for the first time, with the Red Arrows flying overhead. In 2007 the German 26th Airborne Brigade led the march followed by British Royal Marines. The president used to give an interview to members of the press, discussing the situation of the country, recent events and projects for the future. Nicolas Sarkozy, elected president in 2007, chose not to give it. The President also holds a garden partyat the Palais de l'Elysée. Article 17 of the Constitution of France gives the President the authority to pardoncriminals and, since 1991, the President has pardoned many petty offenders (mainly traffic offences) on 14 July. In 2007, former President Sarkozy declined to continue the practice.
History
The storming of the Bastille:
On 19 May 1789, Louis XVI convened the Estates-General to hear their grievances. The deputies of the Third Estate representing the common people (the two others were theCatholic Church and nobility) decided to break away and form a National Assembly. On 20 June the deputies of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath, swearing not to separate until a constitution had been established. They were gradually joined by delegates of the other estates; Louis XVI started to recognize their validity on 27 June. The assembly renamed itself the National Constituent Assembly on 9 July, and began to function as a legislature and to draft a constitution. In the wake of the 11 July dismissal of Jacques Necker, the people of Paris, fearful that they and their representatives would be attacked by the royal military, and seeking to gain ammunition and gunpowder for the general populace, stormed the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris which had often held people jailed on the basis of lettres de cachet, arbitrary royal indictments that could not be appealed. Besides holding a large cache of ammunition and gunpowder, the Bastille had been known for holding political prisoners whose writings had displeased the royal government, and was thus a symbol of the absolutism of the monarchy. As it happened, at the time of the siege in July 1789 there were only seven inmates, none of great political significance. When the crowd—eventually reinforced by mutinous gardes françaises—proved a fair match for the fort's defenders, Governor de Launay, the commander of the Bastille, capitulated and opened the gates to avoid a mutual massacre. However, possibly because of a misunderstanding, fighting resumed. Ninety-eight attackers and just one defender died in the actual fighting, but in the aftermath, de Launay and seven other defenders were killed, as was Horseman of the French Republican the 'prévôt des marchands' (roughly, mayor) Jacques de Fles- Guard during the 2007 military parade on the Champs-Élysées. selles. Shortly after the storming of the Bastille, on 4 August feudalism was abolished and on 26 August, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed.
The Fête de la Fédération:
The Fête de la Fédération on the 14 July 1790 was a huge feast and official event to celebrate the uprising of the short-lived constitutional monarchy in France and what people considered the happy conclusion of the French Revolution. The event took place on the Champ de Mars, which was at the time far outside Paris. The place had been transformed on a voluntary basis by the population of Paris itself, in what was recalled as the Journée des brouettes ("Wheelbarrow Day"). A mass was celebrated by Talleyrand, bishop of Autun. The popular General Lafayette, as captain of the National Guard of Paris and confidant of the king, took his oath to the constitution, followed by the King Louis XVI. After the end of the official celebration, the day ended in a huge four-day popular feast and people celebrated with fireworks, as well as fine wine and running naked through the streets in order to display their great freedom.
Origin of the present celebration:
On 30 June 1878, a feast had been arranged in Paris by official decision to honour the French Republic (the event was commemorated in a painting by Claude Monet). On 14 July 1879, another feast took place, with a semi-official aspect; the events of the day included a reception in the Chamber of Deputies, organised and presided over by Léon Gambetta, a military review in Longchamp, and a Republican Feast in the Pré Catelan.All through France, as Le Figaro wrote on the 16th, "people feasted much to honour the Bastille". On 21 May 1880, Benjamin Raspail proposed a law to have "the Republic choose the 14 July as a yearly national holiday". The Assembly voted in favour of the proposal on 21 May and 8 June. The Senate approved on it 27 and 29 June, favouring 14 July against 4 August (honouring the end of the feudal system on 4 August 1789). The law was made official on 6 July 1880, and the Ministry of the Interior recommended to Prefects that the day should be "celebrated with all the brilliance that the local resources allow". Indeed, the celebrations of the new holiday in 1880 were particularly magnificent. In the debate leading up to the adoption of the holiday, Henri Martin, chairman of the French Senate, addressed that chamber on 29 June 1880. "Do not forget that behind this 14 July, where victory of the new era over the ancien régime was bought by fighting, do not forget that after the day of 14 July 1789, there was the day of 14 July 1790. ... This [latter] day cannot be blamed for having shed a drop of blood, for having divided the country. It was the consecration of the unity of France. ... If some of you might have scruples against the first 14 July, they certainly hold none against the second. Whatever difference which might part us, something hovers over them, it is the great images of national unity, which we all desire, for which we would all stand, willing to die if necessary."
Bastille Day Military Parade:
The Bastille Day Military Parade is the French military parade that has been held on the morning of 14 July each year in Paris since 1880. While previously held elsewhere within or near the capital city, since 1918 it has been held on the Champs-Elysées, with the evident agreement of the Allies as represented in the Versailles Peace Conference, and with the exception of the period of German occupation from 1940 to 1944. The parade passes down the ChampsElysées from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where the President of the French Republic, his government and foreign ambassadors to France stand. This is a popular event inFrance, broadcast on French TV, and is the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe. In some years, invited detachments of foreign troops take part in the parade and foreign statesmen attend as guests. Smaller military parades are held in French garrison towns, including Toulon and Belfort, with local troops.
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Belgium
Liège celebrates the Bastille Day each year since the end of the First World War, as Liège was deco rated by the Légion d'Honneur for its unexpected resistance during the Battle of Liège.
Hungary
Budapest's two-day celebration is sponsored by the Institut de France.
South Africa
Franschhoek's week-end festival has been celebrated for the last 15 years. (Franschhoek, or 'French Corner,' is situated in the Western Cape.)
United Kingdom
London has a large French contingent, and celebrates Bastille Day at various locations including Bat tersea Park.
United States
Over 50 U.S. cities conduct annual celebrations Baltimore has a large Bastille Day celebration each year at Petit Louis in the Roland Park area of Bal timore City. Boston has a celebration annually, hosted by the French Cultural Center for over 35 years. Recently, the celebration took place in The Liberty Hotel, a former city jail converted into a boutique hotel, though more often the festivities occur in Boston'sBack Bay neighborhood, near the Cultural Center's head quarters. The celebration typically includes francophone musical performers, dancing, and French cui sine. Chicago has hosted a variety of Bastille Day celebrations in a number of locations in the city, including Navy Pier and Oz Park. The recent incarnations have been sponsored in part by the Chicago branch of the French-American Chamber of Commerce and by the French Consulate-General in Chicago. Houston has a celebration at La Colombe d'Or Hotel. It is hosted by the Consulate General of France in Houston, The French Alliance, the French-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts. Milwaukee's four-day street festival begins with a "Storming of the Bastille" with a 43-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower. Minneapolis has a celebration in Uptown with wine, French food, pastries, a flea market, circus per formers and bands. Also in the Twin Cities area, the local chapter of the Alliance Française has hosted an annual event for years at varying locations with a competition for the "Best Baguette of the Twin Cities." Montgomery, Ohio has a celebration with wine, beer, local restaurants' fare, pastries, games and bands. New Orleans has multiple celebrations, the largest in the historic French Quarter. New York City has numerous Bastille Day celebrations each July, including Bastille Day on 60th Street hosted by the French Institute Alliance Française between Fifth and Lexington Avenues on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Bastille Day on Smith Street in Brooklyn, and Bastille Day in Tribeca. The Em pire State Building is illuminated in blue, white and red. Orlando has a boutique Bastille Day street festival that began in 2009 in the Audubon Park Garden District and involves champagne, wine, music, petanque, artists, and street performers. Philadelphia's Bastille Day, held at Eastern State Penitentiary, involves Marie Antoinette throwing locally manufactured pastries at the Parisian militia, as well as a re-enactment of the storming of the Bastille. San Francisco has a large celebration in the downtown historic French quarter. Seattle's Bastille Day Celebration, held at the Seattle Center, involves performances, picnics, wine and shopping.
Constitution Day (제헌절) in South Korea is on July 17, the day that the Korean Constitution was proclaimed in 1948. The date was deliberately chosen to match the founding date of July 17 of the Joseon Dynasty.
Background
Although Korea was liberated from Japanese rule at the end of World War II on August 15, 1945, the peninsula was caught in the middle of the Cold War between Russia and the United States and it was only in 1948 when a democratic election for National Assembly members was held separately in South Korea. The elected assembly members set upon creating a constitution, and decided upon a presidential and unicameral system. The constitution was formally adopted and promulgated by President Syngman Rhee on July 17, 1948.
Hurricane Supplication Day US Virgin Islands - Jul 17
Hurricane Supplication Day marks the beginning of the hurricane season. Special church services are held to pray for safety from the storms that ravage these and other Caribbean islands. The custom probably dates back to the "rogation" ceremonies which began in fifth-century England—from the word rogare, meaning "to beg or supplicate." Rogations usually followed a frightening series of storms, earthquakes, or other natural disasters, although sometimes they took place annually on the ROGATION DAYS that precededASCENSION DAY. At the end of the hurricane season in October there is a Hurricane Thanksgiving Day . Church services are held on the third Monday in October so that the islanders can give thanks for being spared the destruction of a major storm.
Munoz Rivera Day Puerto Rico - Jul 17
Luis Muñoz Rivera (July 17, 1859 – November 15, 1916) was a Puerto Rican poet,journalist and politician. He was a major figure in the struggle for political autonomy of Puerto Rico. In 1887, Muñoz Rivera became part of the leadership of a newly formed Autonomist Party. In 1889, he successfully ran a campaign for the position of delegate in the district ofCaguas. Subsequently, Muñoz Rivera was a member of a group organized by the party to discuss proposals of autonomy with Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, who would grant Puerto Rico an autonomous government following his election. He served as Chief of the Cabinet of this government. On August 13, 1898, the Treaty of Paris transferred possession of Puerto Rico from Spain to the United States and a military government was established. In 1899, Muñoz Rivera resigned his position within the cabinet and remained inactive in politics for some time. In 1909, he was elected as Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico and participated in the creation of the Jones-Shafroth Act, proposing amendments before its final approval. Shortly after, Muñoz Rivera contracted an infection and traveled to Puerto Rico, where he died on November 15, 1916. His son, Luis Muñoz Marín would subsequently become involved in politics, becoming the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
Constitution Day Uruguay - Jul 18
A Constitution of a country is a set of regulations for the administration of that country. The functioning of a government in any country is highly dependent on the country’s Constitution as it specifies the powers, functions, responsibilities and duties of the government and also specifies the rights and duties of citizens of the country. The Constitution of a country may be codified (that is, contained in a single document) or uncodified, and it may be written or it may be unwritten. Uruguay has a codified, written Constitution.
History
In Uruguay, Constitution Day is celebrated on July 18. Uruguay is not the only country to celebrate a Constitution Day- a specific day to commemorate the signing, promulgation or adoption of the Constitution of a particular country is observed in several countries of the world. The Constitution Day of Uruguay is officially known as Jura de la Constitución de la República Oriental del Uruguay. Constitution Day has been observed in Uruguay since 1830, when Uruguay adopted its first Constitution. Presently, it commemorates the Constitution of 1951, which established a collegiate form of government in the country.
Traditions and activities
Constitution Day is a public holiday in Uruguay. Normally, the country’s President, Vice-President, ministers, legislators and common citizens attend the celebrations. The celebrations are marked by playing of the national anthem and speeches made by political leaders. The media coverage of the Constitution Day in Uruguay is exhaustive. Apart from the official celebrations, there are social events organised by the citizens to commemorate the day. Races, parades, rallies, marathons and marches are common events. Participation in such activities is not compulsory, but citizens participate willingly since this is a day of great national pride and glory and commemoration of this day by the citizens of Uruguay is natural. Also, this is a wonderful occasion for the citizens of the country to interact with their fellow countrymen.
Nelson Mandela`s Birthday South Africa - Jul 18
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: born 18 July 1918) is a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before being elected President, Mandela was a militant anti-apartheid activist, and the leader and co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mandela went on to serve 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to the establishment of democracy in 1994. As President, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa. In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata(Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades.
Early life Nelson Mandela belongs to a cadet branch of the Thembu dy-
nasty, which reigns in theTranskei region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. He was born in Mvezo, a small village located in the district of Umtata. He has Khoisan ancestry on his mother's side.His patrilineal great-grandfather Ngubengcuka (who died in 1832), ruled as the Inkosi Enkhulu, or king, of the Thembu people. One of the king's sons, named Mandela, became Nelson's grandfather and the source of his surname. However, because he was only the Inkosi's child by a wife of the Ixhiba clan (the so-called "Left-Hand House"), the descendants of his branch of the royal family were not eligible to succeed to the Thembu throne. Mandela's father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, served aschief of the town of Mvezo. However, upon alienating the colonial authorities, they deprived Mphakanyiswa of his position, and moved his family to Qunu. Despite this, Mphakanyiswa remained a member of the Inkosi's Privy Council, and served an instrumental role in Jongintaba Dalindyebo's ascension to the Thembu throne. Dalindyebo would later return the favour by informally adopting Mandela upon Mphakanyiswa's death.Mandela's father had four wives, with whom he fathered thirteen children (four boys and nine girls). Mandela was born to his third wife ('third' by a complex royal ranking system), Nosekeni Fanny. Fanny was a daughter of Nkedama of the Mpemvu Xhosa clan, thedynastic Right Hand House, in whose umzi or homestead Mandela spent much of his childhood. His given name Rolihlahla means "to pull a branch of a tree", or more colloquially, "troublemaker". Rolihlahla Mandela became the first member of his family to attend a school, where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the English name "Nelson". When Mandela was nine, his father died of tuberculosis, and the regent, Jongintaba, became his guardian. Mandela attended a Wesleyan mission school located next to the palace of the regent. Following Thembu custom, he was initiated at age sixteen, and attended Clarkebury Boarding Institute. Mandela completed his Junior Certificate in two years, instead of the usual three. Designated to inherit his father's position as a privy councillor, in 1937 Mandela moved to Healdtown, the Wesleyan college in Fort Beaufortwhich most Thembu royalty attended. At nineteen, he took an interest in boxing and running at the school. After enrolling, Mandela began to study for a Bachelor of Arts at the Fort Hare University, where he met Oliver Tambo. Tambo and Mandela became lifelong friends and colleagues. Mandela also became close friends with his kinsman, Kaiser ("K.D.") Matanzima who, as royal scion of the Thembu Right Hand House, was in line for the throne of Transkei, a role that would later lead him to embrace Bantustan policies. His support of these policies would place him and Mandela on opposing political sides. At the end of Nelson's first year, he became involved in a Students' Representative Council boycott against university policies, and was told to leave Fort Hare and not return unless he accepted election to the SRC. Later in his life, while in prison, Mandela studied for a Bachelor of Laws from theUniversity of London External Programme. Shortly after leaving Fort Hare, Jongintaba announced to Mandela and Justice (the regent's son and heir to the throne) that he had arranged marriages for both of them. The young men, displeased by the arrangement, elected to relocate to Johannesburg. Upon his arrival, Mandela initially found employment as a guard at a mine. However, the employer quickly terminated Mandela after learning that he was the Regent's runaway ward. Mandela later started work as an articled clerk at a Johannesburg law firm, Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman, through connections with his friend and mentor, realtor Walter Sisulu. While working at Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman, Mandela completed his B.A. degree at the University of South Africa via correspondence, after which he began law studies at the University of Witwatersrand, where he first befriended fellow students and future anti-apartheid political activists Joe Slovo, Harry Schwarz and Ruth First. Slovo would eventually become Mandela's Minister of Housing, while Schwarz would become hisAmbassador to Washington. During this time, Mandela lived in Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg.
Mandela Day
Mandela Day on his birthday, 18 July, is an annual international day adopted by the United Nations. Individuals, communities and organisations are asked to donate 67 minutes to doing something for others, commemorating the 67 years that Nelson Mandela gave to the struggle for social justice.
Liberation Day Nicaragua - Jul 19
Liberation Day is similar to Independence Day. It marks the date of the liberation of a country from occupation by another country, or the date of a revolution that overthrew the existing system in the country and replaced it by another. In Nicaragua, a Central American democratic republic, Liberation Day is observed on July 19th. The day commemorates the flight of the Somoza family from Nicaragua on this day in 1979.
History The family of Anastasio Somoza had ruled the coun-
try as a dictatorship between the years 1937 and 1979. The Somoza family’s coming to power was actually facilitated by the US-influenced pact of 1927 according to which there would be the formation of a National Guard that would replace the small individual armies which had ruled parts of the country for many years. General Sandino was the only Nicaraguan who refused to sign this pact and fought the US Marines for more than five years from his base in the mountains of Las Segovias. When the US Marines finally left the country after an agreement with the guerrilla Sandinistas, the National Guard was left in control of the state and Anastasio Somoza Garcia held the highest position in the National Guard. Somoza’s foresight made him fear a future armed attack from General Sandino, and on basis of this fear, Somoza invited Sandino to a meeting in Managua, and Sandino was assassinated by the National Guard on 21st February, 1934. The dictatorship began of the Somoza family as, after having his most potent rival killed, Somoza took control of the country and destroyed any potential armed revolt. Somoza himself was assassinated by a Nicaraguan poet named Rigoberto López Pérez, and was succeeded by his eldest son Luis Somoza Debayle. Luis Somoza’s brother Anastasio Somoza Debayle was made the leader of the National Guard. Luis Somoza died of a heart attack in 1967 and was succeeded by Rene Schick who was more or less a puppet president as Anastasio Somoza held control of the National Guard. Somoza officially took charge of the presidency soon afterwards. Meanwhile, in 1961, Carlos Fonseca, a young student inspired by the ideals of the late General Sandino, formed the Sandinista National Liberation Front which eventually ousted Somoza and took power on 19th July 1979. Somoza abandoned the country and finally landed in Paraguay, only to be assassinated by members of the Argentinian Revolutionary Workers’ Party in September 1980.
Traditions and activities
Liberation Day in Nicaragua is taken very seriously and is celebrated enthusiastically by the citizens, most of whom had witnessed the rise to power of the Sandinista National Liberation Front. The day is celebrated like Independence Day in any other country- with parades, speeches, singing of the national anthem, hoisting of the national flag and even fireworks.
Edgar Degas' Birthday France - Jul 19
Edgar Degas (Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas, 19 July 1834 – 27 September 1917), was a French artist famous for his work in painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. He is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism although he rejected the term, and preferred to be called a realist. A superb draftsman, he is especially identified with the subject of the dance, and over half of his works depict dancers. These display his mastery in the depiction of movement, as do his racecourse subjects and female nudes. His portraits are notable for their psychological complexity and depiction of human isolation. Early in his career, he wanted to be a history painter, a calling for which he was well prepared by his rigorous academic training and close study of classic art. In his early thirties, he changed course, and by bringing the traditional methods of a history painter to bear on contemporary subject matter, he became a classical painter of modern life.
Early life
Degas was born in Paris, France, the oldest of five children of Célestine Musson De Gas, a Creole from New Orleans, and Augustin De Gas, a banker. The family was moderately wealthy. Degas' mother died when he was thirteen, after which his father and grandfather were the main influences on his early life. At age eleven, Degas (in adulthood he abandoned the more pretentious spelling of the family name) began his schooling with enrollment in the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, graduating in 1853 with a baccalauréat in literature. Degas began to paint early in life. By the age of eighteen, he had turned a room in his home into an artist's studio, and in 1853 he registered as a copyist in the Louvre. His father, however, expected him to go to law school. Degas duly enrolled at the Faculty of Law of theUniversity of Paris in November 1853, but made little effort at his studies. In 1855, Degas metJean Auguste Dominique Ingres, whom he revered, and whose advice he never forgot: "Draw lines, young man, and still more lines, both from life and from memory, and you will become a good artist." In April of that same year, Degas received admission to the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied drawing with Louis Lamothe, under whose guidance he flourished, following the style of Ingres. In July 1856, Degas traveled to Italy, where he would remain for the next three years. In 1858, while staying with his aunt's family in Naples, he made the first studies for his early masterpiece, The Bellelli Family. He also drew and painted numerous copies after Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and other artists of the Renaissance but, contrary to conventional practice, he usually selected from an altarpiece a detail that had caught his attention—a secondary figure, or a head which he treated as a portrait.
Martyr's Day - Jul 19 Myanmar/Burma
Martyrs' Day is a Burmese national holiday observed on 19 July to commemorate Gen. Aung San and six other leaders of the pre-independence interim government—Thakin Mya, Ba Cho, Abdul Razak, Ba Win, Mahn Ba Khaing and Sao San Tun—all of whom were assassinated on that day in 1947. It is customary for high-ranking government officials to visit the Martyrs' Mausoleum in Yangon in the morning of that day to pay respects. Myoma U Than Kywe led the ceremony of the First Burmese Martyrs' Day on July 20, 1947 in Rangoon.
History
On July 19, 1947, at approximately 10:37 a.m., BST, several of Burma's independence leaders were gunned down by a group of armed men in uniform while they were holding a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat in downtown Yangon. The assassinations were planned by a rival political group, and the leader and alleged master-mind of that group Galon U Saw, together with the perpetrators, were tried and convicted by a special tribunal presided by Kyaw Myint with two other Barristers-at-law, Aung Thar Gyaw and Si Bu. In a judgment given on 30 December 1947 the tribunal sentenced U Saw and a few others to death and the rest were given prison sentences. Appeals to the High Court of Burma by U Saw and his accomplices were rejected on 8 March 1948. In a judgment written by Supreme Court Justice E Maung (1898–1977) on 27 April 1948 the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal against the original judgment. (All the judgments of the tribunal, the High Court and the Supreme Court were written in English. The judgment of the tribunal can be read in "A Trial in Burma" by Dr Maung Maung (Martinus Njhoff, 1963) and the judgment of the High Court and Supreme Court can be read in the 1948 Burma Law Reports.) The President of Burma Sao Shwe Thaik refused to pardon or commute the sentences of most of those who were sentenced to death, and U Saw was hanged inside Rangoon's Insein jail on 8 May 1948. A number of perpetrators met the same fate. Others, who had played relatively minor roles and were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, also spent several years in prison. The assassinated were: Aung San, Prime Minister • Ba Cho, Minister of Information • Mahn Ba Khaing, Minister of Industry • Ba Win, Minister of Trade • Thakin Mya, Minister of Home Affairs • Abdul Razak, Minister of Education and National Planning • Sao San Tun, Minister of Hills Regions • Ohn Maung, Deputy Minister of Transport • Ko Htwe, Bodyguard of Razak • Tin Tut, Minister of Finance, was seriously wounded but survived. Many Burmese believe that the British had a hand in the assassination plot one way or another; two British officers were also arrested at the time and one of them charged and convicted for supplying an agent of U Saw with arms and munitions enough to equip a small army, a large part of which was recovered from a lake next to U Saw's house in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Soon after the assassinations, Sir Hubert Rance, the British governor of Burma appointed U Nu to head an interim administration and when Burma became independent on 4 January 1948, Nu became the first Prime Minister of independent Burma. July 19 was designated a public holiday and to be known as Martyr's Day.
Poem for Martyr's Day
Aung San Zarni Born on February 13 was he Born in 1915, son of Lawyer U Hpa Of Natmauk, in Magwe District Mother's name was Daw Suu The year 1947 died he On July 19 everyone wept He is the cause of our Independence He is the father of this nation. The blessings he had given us, the words he had uttered... How can we ever take those out of our minds...
Birthday of Crown Prince Haakon Norway - Jul 20
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway (born on 20 July 1973 in Oslo), with the full name Haakon Magnus, is the heir apparent to the Throne of Norway and the son of the current King, Harald V. He is a member of the House of SchleswigHolstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, which is a branch of the House of Oldenburg. In accordance with Norway's agnatic primogeniture succession, he became Crown Prince when his father ascended to the throne in 1991. He has an older sister, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. When becoming King, he will be known as Haakon VIII. The latest king of this name was his great-grandfather Haakon VII (r. 1905– 1957), and the very first was Haakon I (r. ca. 934–961).
Family and heritage On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus, and it was
stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. The godparents of Haakon the Crown Prince of Norway are King Olaf V of Norway,Princess Astrid of Norway, Prince Carl Bernadotte, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden,Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Princess Anne, The Princess Royal. As a descendant of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Haakon is also in line to the throne of each of the sixteen Commonwealth Realms. He is a third cousin to Charles, Prince of Wales, present heir to the thrones of the Commonwealth Realms. Haakon has one sibling, Princess Märtha Louise (born 1971). In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was altered, granting absolute primogeniture to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. This was not, however, done retroactively (as, for example, Sweden had done in 1980), meaning that Haakon continues to take precedence over his older sister.
Education and military life
Haakon served in the Royal Norwegian Navy undertaking his first-level officer's education at the Norwegian Naval Academy, followed by a year aboard missile torpedo boats and other vessels. He then went abroad, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. Haakon later attended lectures at the University of Oslo and took the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' civil servant introductory course in 2001. He completed his education in 2003 at the London School of Economics, where he was awarded an MSc in development studies, specialising in international trade and Africa.
Marriage
Haakon married commoner and single mother MetteMarit Tjessem Høiby on 25 August 2001, at Oslo Cathedral, who upon her marriage became Crown Princess. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was the best man. When the engagement between Crown Prince Haakon and Høiby was announced, many Norwegians felt that the Crown Prince’s choice of wife was inappropriate. This was primarily about her being a single mother, but information concerning her involvement in the Rave scene in Oslo, which included a significant drug-subculture, also added to the controversy. In addition, the father of her child was convicted of drug-related offences. In a heartfelt press conference before the wedding the Crown Princess explained about her past, saying among other things that her youthful rebelliousness might have been stronger than most young people. Although some still find her inappropriate as a future leader of the country, the issue of Mette-Marit's past has largely been laid to rest in Norwegian public discourse.
Issue:
• Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra born on 21 January 2004, in Oslo. • His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus born 3 December 2005 in Oslo.
Royal duties
Beginning Tuesday afternoon 25 November 2003, and ending in the evening of 12 April 2004, Haakon was the country's regent, during the King's treatment for cancer and the subsequent convalescence period. Likewise, Haakon was Norway's regent from 29 March 2005 until the King had fully recovered from the heart surgery he underwent on 1 April. This period ended on 7 June. In addition to his official duties, Haakon has a strong interest in cultural matters. In January 2006, Haakon (along with the Norwegian Royal Family) revised his patronage list. He now has twelve patronage roles in his portfolio including the annual Bjørnson literary festival. The patronage roles will last for five years, after which they will be up for renewal and other groups can apply for Royal support. In 2006, Haakon established Global Dignity with Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant. Global Dignity is an independent, non-political organization that promotes the universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess' Humanitarian Fund was established in 2001 in connection with the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The couple announced that they wished for donations to the fund as wedding gifts. The fund allocates funds to humanitarian projects in Norway and abroad. In Norway the fund mainly focuses on projects aimed at improving conditions for children and young people. Abroad, the fund mainly focuses on projects related to health and education.
Grant recipients: 2011
• • • •
Arbeidsinstituttet, Buskerud Pøbelprosjektet, Stavanger Gatekunstakademiet, Oslo Kjør for livet, Norway
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"Shonglap", Bangladesh Jovenes emprendedores, Ecuador
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"Vær stolt", Oslo Ungdomsprosjektet HYWA, Bærum
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Fundación Xochiquetzal Fundasion Šusital, Nicaragua
2010 2009 2008 2007
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The good childhood: A collaboration between the Norwegian municipality Karasjok and Lovozero mu nicipality in Russia
• •
The Church City Mission: A youth project directed by the PMV Centre for health, dialogue and devel opment (Oslo, Norway) The AIDS Centre, “Project Bus”, Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia
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Right to Play: A sports and health project (Uganda)
2006 2005 2004
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Yirga Alem Hospital Fistula Unit (Ethiopia) Rehabilitation of child soldiers (Democratic Republic of Congo)
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Norwegian People’s Aid project ”Følgesvennen”, providing companions and provisional guardians to asylum seekers (Asker, Norway) Norwegian Red Cross project “Leksehjelpen”, offering help with homework to pupils from minority back grounds (Oslo, Norway)
•
2003
2002
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National Community of Women Living with Aids (Uganda) Education through Sport (Zambia)
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The Vard Model (Haugesund, Norway) Basic education in Alefa Takusa (Ethiopia) Prevention of HIV/AIDS (Mozambique)
2001
Patronages
The intent of the Crown Prince patronage is to raise public awareness of an organization or a specific event that supports a worthy cause. 4H Norge – Norwegian 4H Organization • The Arctic Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra • The Christian Radich Sail Training Foundation • The Ibsen Stage Festival • Nordland Music Festival • The Northern Light Festival • The Norwegian Association against Substance Abuse • The Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association • The Norwegian Band Federation • The Norwegian Festival of International Literature • The Norwegian International Film Festival • The Norwegian Lifesaving Society • Stavanger Symphony Orchestra • Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival •
Personal interests
The Crown Prince was involved in several sports and seemed to take a particular liking to windsurfing. However, he has not engaged in serious competitions. Haakon is known as a big music fan. When he was younger, he attended music festivals all over Europe, including the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway. He has also been part of Olympics ceremonies. In 1994, the Crown Prince and his father played roles during the opening ceremony inLillehammer. While the King declared open the Games, the Crown Prince lit the cauldron, paying tribute to his father and grandfather having served as Olympians. He attended the opening ceremony in Vancouver.
Honours and awards
National orders and decorations:
• • • • • • • • • • •
Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav ° Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit ° Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch ° Royal House Centenary Medal ° Olav V's Commemorative Medal ° Olav V's Jubilee Medal ° Olav V's Centenary Medal ° Royal Norwegian Navy Service Medal ° Norwegian Reserve Officers Federal Badge of Honour Naval Society Medal of Merit in gold ° Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in Gold °
Foreign orders:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Austria : Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria Brazil : Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross Bulgaria : Grand Cross of the Order of Stara Planina ° Denmark : Knight of Order of the Elephant ° Estonia : Grand Cross of Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ° Finland : Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose ° Germany : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany ° Italy : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ° Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum ° Jordan : Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Order of Al-Nahda) ° Latvia : Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars ° Lithuania : Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great ° Luxembourg : Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of Nassau ° Netherlands : Grand Cross with swords of the Order of Orange-Nassau ° Poland : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland ° Portugal : Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique ° Spain : Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III ° Sweden : Knight of the Order of the Seraphim °
Other awards:
• • •
Pakistan : 14 August Committee’s Bridge Building Prize 2011 Olympic Games : Lighter of the Olympic Cauldron; 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, opened by his father, King Harald V. A horse race bears his name, Kronprins Haakons Pokalløp. It is held every year in June, at Drammen Travpark.
Declaration of Independence Colombia - Jul 20
Colombian Declaration of Independence refers to the historic events which happened on July 20, 1810, in Santa Fe de Bogota, at the time the Viceroyalty of New Granada seceded and the related events around this date that defined the uprising of the Republic of Colombia.
History
An important factor in detonating the events of the independence of Colombia and other countries of South America was the crisis of the Spanish monarchy due to the abdication of King Carlos IV forced by Napoleon Bonaparte in favor of Fernando VII who was also forced to abdicate in favor of Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte. King Joseph was cheered initially by Spanish afrancesados ("Frenchified"), who believed that collaboration with France would bring modernisation and liberty. An example was the abolition of the Spanish Inquisition. However, priesthood and patriots stirred up agitation among the populace, which became widespread after the French army's first examples of repression (Madrid, 1808) were presented as fact to unite and enrage the people. The remaining afrancesados were exiled to France following the departure of French troops. The pro-independence side included both traditionalists and liberals. After the war, they would clash in the Carlist Wars, as new king Ferdinand VII, "the Desired One" (later "the Traitor king"), revoked all the changes made by the independent Cortes, which were summoned in Cádiz acting on his behalf to coordinate the provincial Juntas and resist the French. He restored absolute monarchy, prosecuted and put to death everyone suspected of liberalism, and altered the laws of royal succession in favour of his daughter Isabella II, thus starting a century of civil wars against the supporters of the former legal heir to the throne. The liberal Cortes had approved the first Spanish Constitution on 19 March 1812, which was later nullified by the king. In Spanish America, the Spanish and Criollo officials formed Juntas that swore allegiance to King Ferdinand. This experience of self-government led the laterLibertadores (Liberators) to promote the independence of the Spanish–American colonies.. Together with other Spanish authorities in America, viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbóndeclared loyalty to the Sevillan Junta. However, the participation of Americans in the juntas was very restricted, and the Junta of Quitofounded in 1809, was hastily repressed. Other major factor besides the institutional crisis was the systematic exclusion of the white americans (also named criollo people) of the public administration, aggravated with the uprising of the House of Bourbon allowing only Spanish-born citizens to such jobs. King Carlos III, as a typical Enlightened absolutist promoted the arts and allowed the expression of the Age of Enlightenment in America, while at the same time maintaining strong political power. His support for the United States Declaration of Independencegenerated the creation of new taxes, causing disturbances such as the Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada) and the Túpac Amaru II's rebellion. Carlos IV was not very interested in political power, leaving such duties to his ministers, especially Manuel Godoy. Carlos IV was more interested in arts and science subjects and gave very little importance to the American colonies, which were forbidden from trading with other colonies, or countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States of America leaving Spain as their only source of goods and merchandises, although Spain were unable to fulfill the trade demands of the Colonies.
Memorial de Agravios - 1809 (pleading of offenses):
"Memorial de Agravios" was an open letter written by Camilo Torres Tenorio to the Spanish Monarchy criticizing the policy of exclusion of the white Americans, as if they were second class citizens, alleging the rights of the criollo people as "the off springs of the Conquers" and the "legitim heirs of the hegemony", although with great contempt towards the aborigins.The letter has very little effects politically and Torres was executed by hanging later, in 1816.
The first autonomous boards
On August 10, 1809, a group of criollos, led by Juan Pío Montúfar, established an autonomous Government Board in Quito, swearing loyalty to Ferdinand VII, but rejecting the viceregal authorities. The Viceroy of New Granada Antonio José Amar y Borbón considered this a rebellious act, and fearing for similar acts in the country, ordered repraissals against Quito, together with the troops sent by the Viceroy of Peru. The next incident happened in Caracas, on April 19, 1810. The mantuanos, (the rich, criollo elite of Venezuela) together with military and eclessiatic authorities, declared autonomy, again, swearing loyalty to Ferdinand VII but rejecting the viceroyalty. The Cadiz Board of government decided to order the destitution of Amar y Borbon, sending a notification with the royal visitor Antonio Villavicencio, who arrived in Cartagena on May 8. On May 22 in Cartagena de Indias, the Cartagena Board of government was created with similar terms to the previous one. Shortly after, same scenarios surged in Santiago de Cali, Socorro and Pamplona. Finally, Bogota, the central cathedra of the Viceroyalty rebelled on July 20. Initially, the government board declared to Amar y Borbón as president, but shortly after, on July 25, he was deposed and arrested. The spark for this was the flower base incident at local businessman José González Llorente's Bogota residence on the morning of the 20th.
Socorro Constitution – 1809:
From 1809 to 1830 the government failed to remain centralized, due to the lack of a national constitution. Eight separated attempts of constitutions surged in the main populated centres of the country, being the Constitution redacted in Socorro (at the time, Capital city of the Santander Province) the first one to be completed.
Llorente's flower vase incident
On the morning of July 20, 1810, Joaquin Camacho went to the residence of the Viceroy Antonio José Amar y Borbón, requesting response on an application for the establishment of a governing board in Santa Fe, but the refusal of the Viceroy coupled his arrogance, made to proceed to join the fray with the excuse of the loan of a vase. Luis Rubio then went to visit the businessman José González Llorente to borrow the vase, to use it in a dinner for the visiting royal commissioner Antonio Villavicencio, but once Llorente refused to lend the vase with a haughty attitude. In light of this, and as was planned on the previous day, The "criollos" took the vase and broke it to provoke Llorente and thus raised tempers of the people against the Spanish. The "criollos" knew Llorente, being a merchant, would refuse to lend the vase, first because it was for sale and second because he would not lend any objects to the "criollos" to meet fellow "criollos". Subsequently, a group of natives, among whom was Francisco José de Caldas, made a bow of submission to Spain and the Regency Council. In response, Antonio Morales Caldas scolded him for prompting a turbulent response from the people, who tried to attack Llorente. The mayor of Santa Fe, José Miguel Pey, tried to calm the people attacking Llorente, while Jose Maria Carbonell encouraged people to join the protest. That afternoon, a Junta was formed (later called the People's Junta) with José Acevedo as chairman, but the crowds were angered by the Viceroy's decision to be nominated for president, which he accepted. Later, a rally called by Juan Sámano, a Spanish Army officer, would lead to the Junta being reorganized (Acevedo had earlier urged the people to help charge him for lese-majesty). The next day, July 21, the Junta ordered the arrest of Viceroy Aman and his officials (and also for his resignation from the Junta presidency), and on the 25th Aman was forced to resign and was arrested. Five days later, July 26, the Junta declared that its ties to the Seville Regency Council were finally cut.
W O R L D W I D E EVENTS NEWSPA P E R C O N G R A T ULATES FRENCH REPUBLIC ON BASTILLE DAY 2013
HUNGARY Peace and Freedom Day Northern Cyprus - Jul 20
Hungary army capabilities make major advance, says defence minister
Hungary's EU accession to be very positive: PM Orbán
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkishmilitary invasion in response to the 1974 Cypriot coup d'état. It is known in Turkey as the "Cyprus Peace Operation" (Turkish: Kıbrıs Barış Harekâtı), "Cyprus Operation" (Kıbrıs Harekâtı) or by its Turkish Armed Forces code name Operation Atilla (Atilla Harekâtı). The coup had been ordered by the military Junta in Greece and staged by theCypriot National Guard in conjunction with EOKA-B. It deposed the Cypriot president Archbishop Makarios III and installed Nikos Sampson, a leader in favour of Enosis, the union of Cyprus with Greece. In July 1974, Turkish forces invaded and captured 3% of the island before a ceasefire was declared. The Greek military junta collapsed and was replaced by democratic government. In August 1974 further Turkish invasion resulted in the capture of 40% of the island. The ceasefire line from August 1974 became the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus and is commonly referred to as the Green Line. More than one quarter of the population of Cyprus was expelled from the occupied northern part of the island where Greek Cypriots constituted 80% of the population. A little over a year later in 1975, there was also a flow of roughly 60,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south to the north after the conflict. The Turkish invasion ended in the partition of Cyprus along the UN-monitored Green Line which still divides Cyprus today. In 1983 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) declared independence, although Turkey is the only country which recognises it.
Background
In 1571 the mostly Greek-populated island of Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, following the Ottoman– Venetian War (1570–1573). The island and its population was later leased to Britain by the Cyprus Convention, an agreement reached during theCongress of Berlin in 1878 between the United Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. Britain formally annexed Cyprus (together with Egypt and Sudan) on 5 November 1914 as a reaction to the Ottoman Empire's decision to join the First World War on the side of theCentral Powers; subsequently the island became a British Crown colony. Article 20 of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 marked the end of the Turkish claim to the island. Article 21 of the treaty gave the minority Muslims on the island the choice of leaving the island to live as Turks in Turkey, or to stay on the island as British nationals. At this time the population of Cyprus was composed by both Greeks and Turks, who identified themselves with their respective "mother" countries. However, the elites of both communities shared the belief that they were socially more progressive (better educated and less conservative) and therefore distinct from the mainlanders. Greek and Turkish Cypriots lived quietly side by side for many years. Broadly, three main forces can be held responsible for transforming two ethnic communities into two national ones: education, British colonial practices, and insular religious teachings accompanying economic development. Formal education was perhaps the most important as it affected Cypriots during childhood and youth; education has been a main vehicle of transferring inter-communal hostility. British colonial policies also promoted ethnic polarization. The British applied the principle of "divide and rule", setting the two groups against each other to prevent combined action against colonial rule. For example, when Greek Cypriots rebelled in the 1950s, the colonial office expanded the size of the Auxiliary Police and in September 1955, established the Special Mobile Reserve which was recruited exclusively from the Turkish community, to crush EOKA. This and similar practices contributed to inter-communal animosity. Failure to fully adopt secular practices also fostered ethnic nationalism as the two main ethnic groups practised their own distinct religions, with very little crossover. Although economic development and increased education reduced the explicitly religious characteristics of the two communities, the growth of nationalism on the two mainlands increased the significance of other differences. Turkish nationalism was at the core of the revolutionary program promoted by the father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk(1881–1938)., and affected Turkish Cypriots who followed his principles. President of the Republic of Turkey from 1923 to 1938, Atatürk attempted to build a new nation on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire and elaborated the program of "six principles" (the "Six Arrows") to do so. These principles of secularism (laicism) and nationalism reduced Islam's role in the everyday life of individuals and emphasized Turkish identity as the main source of nationalism. Traditional education with a religious foundation was discarded and replaced with one that followed secular principles and, shorn of Arab and Persian influences, was purely Turkish. Turkish Cypriots quickly adopted the secular program of Turkish nationalism. Under Ottoman rule Turkish Cypriots had been classified as Muslims, a distinction based on religion. Being thoroughly secular, Atatürk's program made their Turkish identity paramount, and may have further reinforced their division from their Greek Cypriot neighbors. In the early fifties a Greek nationalist group was formed called the Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA, or "National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters"). Their objective was to drive the British out of the island first, and then to integrate the island with Greece. EOKA was a Greek nationalist organization and some members murdered Turkish Cypriots who were thought to have colluded with the British. EOKA wished to remove all obstacles, British, Greek Cypriot or Turkish Cypriot from their path to independence, or union with Greece. EOKA initiated its activities by planting the first bombs on 1 April 1951 with the directive by Greek Foreign MinisterStefanopoulos. The first secret talks for EOKA, as a nationalist organization established to integrate the island to Greece, were started in the chairmanship of Archbishop Makarios III in Athens on 2 July 1952. In the aftermath of these meetings a "Council of Revolution" was established on 7 March 1953. In early 1954 secret weaponry shipments to Cyprus started with the knowledge of the Greek government. Lt. Georgios Grivas, formerly an officer in the Greek army, covertly disembarked on the island on 9 November 1954 and EOKA's campaign against the British forces began to grow. The first Turk to be killed by EOKA on 21 June 1955 was a policeman. EOKA also targeted Greek collaborators. A year later EOKA revived its attempts to liberate Cyprus from British rule. The Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT, Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı) declared war on the Greek Cypriot rebels as well. On 12 June 1958, eight Greek Cypriot civilians from Kondemenos village were killed by the TMT near the Turkish Cypriot populated village of Geunyeli, after being dropped off there by the British authorities. After this the Turkish government ordered the TMT to blow up the offices of the Turkish press office in Nicosia to falsely put the blame onto the Greek Cypriots and prevent independence negotiations from succeeding. It also began a string of assassinations and murders of prominent Turkish Cypriot supporters of independence. The following year, after the conclusion of the independence agreements on Cyprus, the Turkish Navy sent a ship to Cyprus fully loaded with arms for the TMT. The ship was stopped and the crew were caught red-handed in the infamous "Deniz" incident. British rule lasted until 1960 when the island was declared an independent state under the London-Zurich agreements. The agreement created a foundation for the Republic of Cyprus by the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities, although the republic was seen as a necessary compromise between the two reluctant communities. The 1960 Constitution of the Cyprus Republic proved unworkable however, lasting only three years. Greek Cypriots wanted to end the separate Turkish Cypriot municipal councils permitted by the British in 1958, made subject to review under the 1960 agreements. For many Greek Cypriots these municipalities were the first stage on the way to the partition they feared. The Greek Cypriots wanted enosis, integration with Greece, while Turkish Cypriots wanted taksim, partition between Greece and Turkey. Resentment also rose within the Greek Cypriot community because Turkish Cypriots had been given a larger share of governmental posts than the size of their population warranted. In accordance with the constitution 30% of civil service jobs were allocated to the Turkish community even though at they time they only constituted 18.3% of the population. Additionally, the position of vice president was reserved for the Turkish population and both the president and vice president were given veto power over crucial issues. The veto power in particular made it difficult for the government to operate efficiently as any proposal had to be agreed to by both communities. The Turkish Cypriots had also vetoed the amalgamation of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot troops into the same units.
(Online 08 Jul) A major development capabilities of started four years ago within Hunarmed gary’s forces, the defence minister said in an interview. The development process will continue under the country’s military concept fully by supported NATO, he said. on Commenting
made changes since 2010, Csaba Hende noted that a system of voluntary reserve officers has been created as the largest-scale development of Hunmilitary gary’s capabilities in the past 20 years. The reserve staff has strengthgreatly ened the Hungarian army, which performed tasks out-
standingly in flood and operations other emergencies, Hende said. A revision of all conconcluded tracts under the previous governments during the period of 20022010 was carried out and changes were made which resulted in major savings in military spending, he said.
Pé t e r Szijjá r t ó s igns tr a de a gr e e m e nt s wit h B e la r us Pr im e M inis t e r
Greek military coup and Turkish invasion Greek military coup of July 1974:
In the spring of 1974, Greek Cypriot intelligence discovered that EOKA-B was planning a coup against President Makarios which was sponsored by the military junta of Athens. The junta had come to power in a military coup in 1967 which was condemned by the whole of Europe but had the support of the United States. In the autumn of 1973 after the 17 November student uprising there had been a further coup in Athens in which the original Greek junta had been replaced by one still more obscurantist headed by the Chief of Military Police, Brigadier Ioannides, though the actual head of state was General Phaedon Gizikis. Ioannides believed that Makarios was no longer a true supporter of enosis, and suspected him of being a communist sympathizer. This led Ioannides to support the EOKA-B and National Guard as they tried to undermine Makarios. On 2 July 1974, Makarios wrote an open letter to President Gizikis complaining bluntly that 'cadres of the Greek military regime support and direct the activities of the 'EOKA-B' terrorist organization'. He also ordered that Greece remove some 600 Greek officers in the Cypriot National Guard from Cyprus. The Greek Government's immediate reply was to order the go-ahead of the coup. On 15 July 1974 sections of the Cypriot National Guard, led by its Greek officers, overthrew the government. Makarios narrowly escaped death in the attack. He fled the presidential palace by catching a taxi after escorting a party of school children out of the building and went to Paphos, where the British managed to retrieve him by Westland Whirlwind helicopter in the afternoon of 16 July and flew him from Akrotiri to Malta in an Royal Air Force Armstrong Whitworth Argosy (AW.650 / 660) transport and from there to London by de Havilland Comet the next morning. In the meantime, Nikos Sampson was declared provisional president of the new government. Sampson was a Greek ultra nationalist who was known to be fanatically anti-Turkish and had taken part in violence against Turkish civilians in earlier conflicts. The Sampson regime took over radio stations and declared that Makarios had been killed, but Makarios, safe in London, was soon able to counteract these reports. In the coup itself, 91 people were killed (All Greek-Cypriots). The Turkish-Cypriots were not affected by the coup against Makarios; one of the reasons was that Ioannides did not want to provoke a Turkish reaction (The Tragic Duel and the Betrayal of Cyorus-Marios Adamides-2012). In response to the coup, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger sent Joseph Sisco to try to mediate the conflict. Turkey issued a list of demands to Greece via a US negotiator. These demands included the immediate removal of Nikos Sampson, the withdrawal of 650 Greek officers from the Cypriot National Guard, the admission of Turkish troops to protect their population, equal rights for both populations, and access to the sea from the northern coast for Turkish Cypriots. These demands were rejected as they would have given Turkey an unacceptable amount of power on the island. Turkey, led by Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, then applied to Britain as a signatory of the Treaty of Guarantee to take action to return Cyprus to its neutral status. Britain declined this offer, and refused to let Turkey use its bases on Cyprus as part of the operation.
situation, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he considered the balance of Hungary's EU accession to be very positive and acknowledged that the country is currently going through a difficult situation, but that the path completed so far was on the whole very successful. "There have been mistakes, but these are not the fault of Europe. These are the responsibility of Hung a r i a n governments", he declared. Regarding European criticism, the Prime Minister said that nobody can cite a real fact that is against democratic principles in Hun-
gary. According to him the liberals in the European Union are angry that he joined the European People’s Party faction and the socialists in Hungary are looking for support among socialists in the European Union, because they are unable to touch base in the Hungarian election arena. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the two thousand laws and provisions introduced over the last three years is unusual and could give rise to worry in partners, adding that he understands their questioning, but he remains focused on achieving the objectives that have been set.
Budget deficit targets safe, s a y s M i n i s t e r Va r g a
1963–1974:
In December 1963 the President of the Republic Makarios proposed thirteen constitutional amendments after the government was repeatedly vetoed by the Turkish Cypriot legislators, forcing deadlock over all major legislations and the budget. Makarios believed these amendments would help facilitate the functioning of the state and to more accurately reflect their ethnic make up. The amendments would have involved the Turkish community giving up many of their protections as a minority, including adjusting ethnic quotas in the government and revoking the presidential and vice presidential veto power. These amendments were rejected by the Turkish side and the Turkish representation left the government, although there is some dispute over whether they left in protest or whether they were forced out by the National Guard. The 1960 constitution fell apart and communal violence ensued. Turkey, Great Britain and Greece, the guarantors of the Zürich and London Agreements which had led to Cyprus's independence, wanted to send a NATO force to the island under the command of General Peter Young. Between 21 and 26 December 1963, the conflict centered in the Omorphita suburb of Nicosia, which had been an area of tension in 1958. The participants now were Greek Cypriot irregulars and Turkish Cypriot civilians and former TMT members, known as the "fighters" during the Cyprus problem, the Turkish fighters were less powerful, outnumbered and were held down in "ghettos" from the superior Greek Cypriot side who were supplied with stored EOKA guns and eventually guns from foreign powers. Many Greek and Turkish Cypriot civilians who were caught in the crossfire and chaos that ensued over the Christmas week were killed, others were massacred by Greek or Turkish irregulars and had their homes looted and burnt down in small villages as the problem developed. The government of Turkey used these events as an excuse to cancel the residence permits of 12,000 Greek citizens living in Istanbul leading to the confiscation of their property. Both President Makarios and Dr. Küçük issued calls for peace, but these were ignored. Meanwhile, within a week of the violence flaring up, the Turkish army contingent had moved out of its barracks and seized the most strategic position on the island across the Nicosia to Kyrenia road, the historic jugular vein of the island. So crucial was this road to Turkish strategic thinking that they retained control of that road until 1974, at which time it acted as a crucial link in Turkey's military invasion. From 1963 up to the point of the Turkish invasion of 20 July 1974, Greek Cypriots who wanted to use the road could only do so if accompanied by a UN convoy. 700 Turkish hostages, including women and children, were taken from the northern suburbs of Nicosia. By 1964, 193 Turkish Cypriots and 133 Greek Cypriots were killed, with a further 209 Turks and 41 Greeks missing, presumed dead. The British Daily Telegraph later called it the "anti Turkish pogrom". Thereafter Turkey once again put forward the idea of partition. The intensified fighting especially around areas under the control of Turkish Cypriot militias, as well as the failure of the constitution were used as justification for a possible Turkish invasion. Turkey was on the brink of invading when US president Johnson stated, in his famous letter of 5 June 1964, that the US was against a possible invasion and stated that he would not come to the aid of Turkey if an invasion of Cyprus led to conflict with the Soviet Union. One month later, within the framework of a plan prepared by the US Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, negotiations with Greece and Turkey began. After 1963–64 crisis, the Turkish population began to form enclaves in different areas that were blockaded by the National Guard and were directly supported by Turkey. In response to this, their movement and access to basic supplies became more restricted by Greek forces. Fighting broke out again in 1967 as the Turkish Cypriots pushed for more freedom of movement. Once again, this was only settled after Turkey threatened to invade on the basis that they would be protecting the Turkish population from possible ethnic cleansing by Greek Cypriot forces. In order to avoid this, a compromise was reached in which Greece was forced to remove some of its troops from the island, Georgios Grivas, leader of the EOKA had to leave Cyprus, and the Cypriot government lifted some restrictions of movement and access to supplies of the Turkish populations.
(Online 10 Jul) In an interview with French weekly news magazine L"Express, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that the current trend is bringing the European Union closer to an empire rather than to a union of nations, adding that it would seem the European elite still thinks we should develop towards a United States of Europe. He emphasised that he does not question the European treaties that Hungary has signed and pledged to comply with, however, the processes that follow on from the treaties must be a subject of debate. Despite the current
Photo: Prime Minister's Office
(Online 10 Jul) State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó concluded several trade agreements with Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich in Minsk on Wednesday, thus laying the foundations for the further development of trade relations. As a result, a direct flight route between Minsk, Budapest and Belgrade will be launched on 19 September. The parties also agreed that negotiations would begin on an investment protection agreement as soon as the required authorisation was received form the EU. In addition, talks will
also begin to re-enable exports of Hungarian cattle to the Eastern European country, said the State Secretary, who also met with the Belarus Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Belarus development bank. According to the State Secretary, there is also a good chance that Hungarian enterprises could take part in the construction of Dinamo Minsk's new stadium. Eximbank has opened a 250 million euro national credit line to enable Hungarian enterprises to operate successfully on the Belarus market. Trade between Hungary and Belarus was USD 237 million last year,
and trade during the first quarter of this year was the first time since 2008, by ten percent. The Belarus party expressed interest in cooperating with Hungarian automotive manufacturer Rába, because it would like to import engines primarily for agricultural machinery and buses. During the negotiations, an agreement was also reached on the launching of Hungarian language training at Minsk University. The Hungarian-Belarus Economic Joint Committee will be holding its next session on October 8-9 in Budapest, in conjunction with a Hungarian-Belarus business forum.
Gov t ha s c onc lude d a s t r a t e gic c oope r a t ion a gr e e m e nt with Er ic s s on
(Online 12 Jul) Hungary will keep its budget deficit this year and next under 3% of economic output and will not need to introduce new taxes, Economy Minister Mihály Varga told press. Varga also said the government would maintain its growth forecast of 0.7% for this year. “We now see that 0.7-1.0% growth could realistically occur this year,” he said, adding that the state of the Hungarian economy gave room for cautious opti-
mism. Varga spoke about a possible foreign currency bond issue. “For the February issue we did not use up the whole limit, so another 600-700 million dollar issue is still possible.” Hungary can comfortably finance itself from the forint markets, too, he added. Varga said the greatest achievement of the first half of this year was Hungary’s exit from the European Union’s excessive deficit procedure
launched nine years ago. He noted that when he took over the ministry in March this outcome had been in doubt as the European Commission insisted Hungary could not keep its deficit targets in 2013 and 2014. He said that there was currently no reason to introduce new taxes or contributions. “If you look at the state budget alone, there is no need even for a new tax on adverts”.
Latest data indicate that positive labour market trends persist (Online 12 Jul) In March-May 2013, the number of people in employment, aged 15-74 years, increased to 3 million 910 thousand, which was 62 thousand more than the level recorded in
March-May 2012. In the age group of 1564 years, the number of those in employment was 3 million 878 thousand, which constitutes an increase of 66 thousand compared to the corre-
sponding period of 2012. In this category, the employment rate edged up to 57.9 percent which is 1.2 percentage points higher in comparison to the figure of one year ago.
Govt is doing everything in its power to make going into business worthwhile
First Turkish invasion, July 1974:
Turkey invaded Cyprus on Saturday, 20 July 1974. Heavily armed troops landed shortly before dawn at Kyrenia (Girne) on the northern coast meeting resistance from Greek and Greek Cypriot forces. Ankara said that it was invoking its right under the Treaty of Guarantee to protect the Turkish Cypriots and guarantee the independence of Cyprus. The operation, codenamed 'Operation Atilla', is known in the North as 'the 1974 Peace Operation'. Turkish forces primarily used a clear and hold strategy, forcing many Greek Cypriots to flee to the south. By the time a ceasefire was agreed three days later, Turkish troops held 3% of the territory of Cyprus. Five thousand Greek Cypriots had fled their homes. By the time the UN Security Council was able to obtain a ceasefire on the 22 July the Turkish forces had only secured a narrow corridor between Kyrenia and Nicosia, which they succeeded in widening during the next few days in violation of that ceasefire, demanded in Resolution 353. On 23 July 1974 the Greek military junta collapsed mainly because of the events in Cyprus. Greek political leaders in exile started returning to the country. On 24 July 1974 Constantine Karamanlis returned from Paris and was sworn in as Prime Minister. He decided against further military involvement as the Turkish forces were much stronger. Shortly after this Nikos Sampson renounced the presidency and Glafcos Clerides temporarily took the role of president. The first round of peace talks took place in Geneva, Switzerland between 25 and 30 July 1974, James Callaghan, the British Foreign Secretary, having summoned a conference of the three guarantor powers. There they issued a declaration that the Turkish occupation zone should not be extended, that the Turkish enclaves should immediately be evacuated by the Greeks, and that a further conference should be held at Geneva with the two Cypriot communities present to restore peace and re-establish constitutional government. In advance of this they made two observations, one upholding the 1960 constitution, the other appearing to abandon it. They called for the Turkish Vice-President to resume his functions, but they also noted 'the existence in practice of two autonomous administrations, that of the Greek Cypriot community and that of the Turkish Cypriot community'. By the time that the second Geneva conference met on 14 August 1974, international sympathy (which had been with the Turks in their first attack) was swinging back towards Greece now that she had restored democracy. At the second round of peace talks, Turkey demanded that the Cypriot government accept its plan for afederal state, and population transfer. When the Cypriot acting president Clerides asked for 36 to 48 hours in order to consult with Athens and with Greek Cypriot leaders, the Turkish Foreign Minister denied Clerides that opportunity on the grounds that Makarios and others would use it to play for more time.
Second Turkish invasion, 14–16 August 1974:
The Turkish Foreign Minister Turan Güneş had said to the Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, When I say "Ayşe is going on vacation"(Turkish: "Ayşe Tatile Çıksın"), it will mean that our armed forces are ready to go into action. Even if the telephone line is tapped, that would rouse no suspicion. An hour and a half after the conference broke up, Turan Güneş called Ecevit and said the code phrase. On 14 August Turkey launched its "Second Peace Operation", to gain control of 40 percent of Cyprus. Britain's then foreign secretary (later prime minister) James Callaghan, later disclosed that U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger "vetoed" at least oneBritish military action to pre-empt the Turkish landing. 40% of the land came under Turkish occupation reaching as far south as theLouroujina Salient. In the process, many Greek Cypriots became refugees. The Cypriot government estimates their numbers at about 200,000, with other sources stating 140,000 to 160,000. The ceasefire line from 1974 today separates the two communities on the island, and is commonly referred to as the Green Line. After the conflict, Cypriot representatives and the United Nations consented to the transfer of the remainder of the 51,000 Turkish Cypriots that had not left their homes in the south to settle in the north, if they wished to do so. The United Nations Security Council has challenged the legality of Turkey's action, because Article Four of the Treaty of Guarantee gives the right to guarantors to take action with the sole aim of re-establishing the state of affairs. The aftermath of Turkey's invasion, however, did not safeguard the Republic's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but had the opposite effect: the de facto partition of the Republic and the creation of a separate political entity in the north. On 13 February 1975, Turkey declared the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus to be a "Federated Turkish State", to the universal condemnation of the international community (see UN Security Council Resolution 367(1975)). The United Nations recognizes the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus according to the terms of its independence in 1960. The conflict continues to affect Turkey's relations with Cyprus, Greece, and the European Union.
W O R L D W I D E E V E N T S N E W S PA PER CONGRATULATES REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY - 2 0 1 3 Hungarian-American cooperation is a success: Péter Szijjártó
(Online 12 Jul) American manufacturer Jabil Circuit Hungary Ltd. has expanded its Szombathely factory unit with a new 8600 square metre production hall. At the inauguration ceremony, State Secretary for External
Economic Relations and Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó declared that this latdevelopment est project is also proof of the confidence that American production capital has in Hungary. The investment also proves that Ameri-
can-Hungarian cooperation is a success, a cooperation that will be further deepened during the summer, he added. The new production hall will create 450 new jobs.
Tibor Navracsics meets Vietnamese Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong (Online 12 Jul) Justice Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Ha Hung Cuong held bilateral talks with his Hungarian counterpart Tibor Navracsics. The ministers reviewed recently applied reforms and the political situation of both countries
after which they signed a working document for 20132014, which stipucontinuous lates coordination and the exchange of experience between the two ministries. The working document touches upon such issues as negotiating a bilateral
agreement on extradition, the review of the 1985 civil and criminal legal assistance treaty, exof change experience on the reconstitutional form process and on regulations relating to electronic public administration.
Photo: Ministry of National Economy
Photo: Ministry of National Economy
(Online 10 Jul) Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga and Ericsson's Head of Customer Unit Central Europe Thomas Jul signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Wednesday in Budapest at Ericsson Hungary's Research and Development Centre. Ericsson operates the largest research and development division within the Hungarian infocommunications sector, and after signing the agreement the company announced that it would be realising new development projects in Hungary and creating more jobs. The new projects, which would be realised in Budapest, are generally related to Cloud services and Big Data analysis. Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga praised Ericsson's role in Hung a r i a n technological development, supporting research and training activities, and the definitive role the company has played in Hungary over the past decades. Strategic cooperation is especially important to Hungary,
as it stresses the linking of Hungarian education, research, development and innovation to practical realisation and industrial application. "For innovation to really be successful in a country and for it to actually facilitate economic growth requires economic openness, financial stability and flexible regulations", the Minister stressed. "The Hungarian Government has already realised budget stability and has completed the reforms required for the competitive strengthening of the economy, in addition to which it is also ready to take the necessary steps to increase competitiveness within the fields of industrial policy and regulation. The budget deficit is stable at below 3 percent, government debt is continuously decreasing, and the country has exited the excessive deficit procedure", he pointed out. The Government's active investment policy aims to assure a more favourable environment both for enter-
prises already present in Hungary and for new investors searching for potential sites. The Government's goal is for Hungarian production to gradually shift to the manufacturing of products with increasing higher added value, the Minister stressed. Thomas Jul confirmed that Ericsson would continue to assure Hungary a prominent role in its global strategy. Ericsson currently employs 1700 people in Hungary, of whom 1200 work in research and development, with the remaining 500 performing engineering and business development services. 100 of the company's Hungarian employees have PhDs and Ericsson's experts have applied for a total of 550 patents. The Hungarian division is Ericsson's second largest research and development centre in Europe, in addition to which the company finances two research laboratories at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and two at the Eötvös Loránd University.
Two pr oje c t s f or EU low- c a r bon r e ne wa ble e ne r gy t e nde r (Online 09 Jul) Hungary’s development ministry said it had selected two projects for the second tender of the NER300 programme, which funds innovative low-carbon technology and renewable energy projects. NER300 is managed jointly by the European Commis-
sion, the European Investment Bank and member states. The projects of Earth Energy Hungary (geoplutonic power plant) and GREEN-IDS Technology (bioenergy plant) were sent on July 3 to the Commission and the EIB. The Commission is expected to publish the decision
on the winning projects on September 3 next year. In the first call for proposals of the NER300, the Hungarian project submitted won 39.3 million euros in funding for an innovative geothermal power plant to be built by EU-FIRE EGS Hungary Consortium.
Agreement concluded with leaders of sport associations
Péter Szijjártó holds talks with Arab business club chairman
Photo: Gergely Botár
(Online 09 Jul) Prime Minister Vi k t o r Orbán signed an agreement in Parliament with leaders of 16 sport associations. At the event, the Prime Minister empha-
Photo: Gergely Botár
(Online 12 Jul) State secretary for external economy Péter Szijjártó held talks with Hamdan Mohamed Al-Morshedi, chairman of the Arab Business Club. Szijjártó told his partner that Hun-
gary would open a trade house in AbuDhabi in the autumn and the country expected the strengthening of Hungary’s SMEs active in the United Arab Emirates. The Arab Business Club can provide expert-
in crisis, bec a u se th e fu tu r e of Hungary is in th e h a n d s o f o u r children, and when children are involved, nothing is too expensive. Regarding the role of the Hun-
Spokesperson András GiróSzász the Government will be supporting 16 sport disciplines with HUF 135 billion between 2014 and 2020, including table tennis, athlet-
ise in human sciences, infocommunications, water management and property investment, the state secretary’s press chief informed.
Cultural representation is one of H u n g a r y ’s s t r e n g t h (Online 11 Jul) Cultural representation has always been one of H u n g a r y ' s strengths by which it is well r e c o g n i s e d abroad, Foreign Minister János Martonyi said at an event organised by the cultural affairs centre Balassi Institute in Budapest on Thursday. Martonyi said that the Visegrád countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Rep, Poland) have also become an important forum of political-eco-
nomic cooperation through a strong cultural background and shared cultural roots. Pál Hatos, head of the Balassi Institute, said at the two-day event that the institute had organised some 200 exhibitions and 220 concerts abroad last year, while participating in 19 international book fairs and organising 15,000 Hungarian language courses to foreigners. Among the highlights of the past year he mentioned the Hun-
garian Days in Linz, which attracted 350,000 visitors and the recently ended US Smithsonian Folklife festival, which 1.2 million people attended. An exhibition of Hungary's trademark Herendi porcelain was organised in Tallinn, the "The Eight" picture exhibition in Vienna and the film "The Door" by István Szabó was premiered and the Hungarian-Italian cultural season organised, he said.
Photo: Gergely Botár sised that the goal of the agreement is to e n su r e th a t s u ccessful athletes need not work abroad. Prime Minister Vi kto r Or b á n d e clared that a significant pay rise would be given to those trainers who mentor athletes who achieve outstanding results, adding that Hungary is in a position to utilize its economic resources to spend on sports and recruitment even
garian Olympic Committee, the Prime Minister said that there is no Ministry for Sports, because the Government did not want a large part of sports management to b e c o m e th e ta s k of public admini str a ti o n , a d d i n g that only a small State Secretariat for Sport is functioning that supports the activities of the Hungarian Olympic Comm i tte e . According to Governmental
ics, wrestling, rowing, judo, canoe and kayak, cycling, skating, boxing, pentathlon, volleyball, competitive shooting, tennis, gymnastics, swimming and fencing. Th e s e s p o r ts d o n o t h a v e a cc e s s to money originating from tax enjoyed by the five most popular team sports in Hungary: football, basketball, handball, ice hockey and w a te r p o l o .
(Online 11 Jul) The Government is doing everything in its power to make going into business worthwhile, and new opportunities will be provided within all instruments and resources between
least as important as finances is the decreasing of administrative burdens, with regard to which progress has been made, although those affected do not always feel this first hand.
ture of traditional trades and the esteem of the arts and crafts industry, as well as to discover new market opportunities. The popularity and rank of the tender has grown continu-
Photo: Ministry of National Economy
2014 and 2020, announced the Ministry of National Economy's Parliamentary Minister of State for Economic Strategy in Budapest on Thursday. At the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's "Hungarian Artisan Masterpieces" award ceremony, the Minister of State, who is was also the event's chief patron, stressed that the country has a great opportunity ahead of it within the field of enterprise development. The Government would like to spend 1100 billion forints between 2014 and 2020 on reinforcing the status of small and medium-sized enterprises, fifty percent more than in the current sevenyear period, he stated, adding that the Government would also like to incorporate this budget into a kind of industrial policy in which an important role is played by the local economy. The Minister of state pointed out that at
Among the changes, which also help arts and crafts enterprises, the Minister of State pinpointed several measures aimed a simplifying employment. He also mentioned that the Government regards the reinforcement of local markets as an extremely important tool to help SMEs in the 2014-20202 development period. President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) László Parragh stated that they would be proposing that the preservation of arts and crafts and artisan activities be included among the tender opportunities during the distribution of European Union funds for the next seven-year financial period. In his speech, the MKIK President reminded those present that the Chamber had established the Hungarian Artisan Masterpieces tender eleven years ago in the interests of raising the business cul-
ously since then. In 2002, only 27 applicants submitted their creations, of whom 14 were awarded the title of Hungarian Artisan Masterpiece, but in 2013, 2013 entries were submitted, of which the jury awarded the title to 39. During the adjudication process, important criteria included the originality of the product, to extent to which it remained true to traditions that preserve the national culture and unique values, the quality of production and its possible contribution to tourism. In addition to the presentation of Hungarian Artisan Masterpiece awards, a special award was also presented to the winner of the public choice vote, first introduced during the 2012 tender and exhibition. The products of this year's winners will be in display in the Hungarian Museum of Agriculture between 12 July and August 11.
Tourism performs excellently: double figure increase in guest turnover in May (Online 11 Jul) In May, the number of guests received by commercial accommodation services and the number of guest nights increased by 15.2% and 13.7%, respectively, compared to the same month in the previous year, according to the latest data published today by the Central Statistical Office (KSH). Not only have the number of foreign guests increased significantly for the first time in a long while, but there was also a marked increase in domestic turnover. Tourism is one of the sectors that recovered fastest following the crisis; the main tourism-related indices reached their pre-crisis level again by 2011, and grew further to significantly exceed those figures in 2012. Based on data for the first five months of this year, the favourable trend is continuing in 2013. Inbound tourism has continued to expand; in May, the number of guest nights spent in Hungary by Russian, Polish and British tourists increased most prominently, by 60%, 29% and 25 %, respectively. In recent years it has been primarily the number of foreign tourists that has increased to the greatest extent, and accordingly it is especially gratifying that in May the number of domestic gusts increased by 12%
and the number of guest nights spent by them increased by 9.6%. According to the Ministry of National Economy, the spread and increasing polarity of the SZÉP Card, a form of employer fringe benefit providing vacation opportunities, is primarily behind the increase in domestic tourism. According to KSH data, while the c o m b i n e d turnover of Holiday Vouchers and the SZÉP Card was HUF 2.75bn in January-May 2012, the value of SZÉP Cards redeemed during the first five months of this year was HUF 3.9bn, an increase of 40%. By the end of May, 835 thousand employees at 21 thousand workplaces had a SZÉP Card. Employers prepaid HUF 34bn onto SZÉP Cards during the first five months of the year, which is more than the prepayments during the similar period of last year. Payout shave experienced an extremely sharp rise, increasing more than fourfold from last year's January-May figure of HUF 5.3bn to HUF 22.6bn. The fact that accommodation – and since July 1 spa and beach entry fees – may be paid for from all three pockets of the Card also favours domestic tourism. According to data form the OTP bank, cardholders are quick to exploit the interoperability between pockets:
one quarter of all payments from the catering pocket and a third of payouts from the leisure pocket occurred at hotels and other accommodation services in 2012. Another factor that contributed to the excellent May figures was the fact that monies paid into SZÉP Cards in 2011 had to be used until 31 May 2013, after which they expired and card issuers transferred the remaining funds back to employers. In addition to eh SZÉP Card, the increased activity and successful marketing efforts of tourism destination managem e n t organisations (TDMs) also play a role in the increase of domestic tourism. These organisations launch campaigns to promote domestic tourism using European Union funding, with which they dramatically increase the promotion of destinations and awareness of what service providers offer. In addition, the ever expanding array of available programs also plays a role in the picking up of domestic tourism. To help ensure a rich selection of events and programs, the Ministry of National Economy is helping to fund events and festivals with tourist attraction within the framework of tenders launched jointly with the National Cultural Fund.