Worldwide events; zarb e jamhoor newspaper; 174 issue; 04 10 may, 2014

Casinga Day Namibia May 04

Cassinga Day is a national public holiday in Namibia remembering the Cassinga massacre. Occurring on 4 May yearly, the day "remembers those (approximately 600) killed in 1978 when the South African Defence Force attacked a SWAPO base (refugee camp) at Cassinga in southern Angola". Commemorations are marked yearly by ceremonies at Heroes' Acre, outside of Windhoek. These ceremonies are attended by many important national political figures, including Presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba and Sam Nujoma.

National Youth Day China - May 04

Youth Day (青年节) in the People's Republic of China is on May 4. It was established in December 1949 by the Government Administration Council to commemorate the beginning of the May Fourth Movement.

Proclamation of Independence Latvia - May 04

The Declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia" (Latvian:Deklarācija Par Latvijas Republikas neatkarības atjaunošanu) was adopted on 4 May 1990, by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR. The Declaration stated that, although Latvia had de facto lost its independence in 1940, when it was annexed by the Soviet Union, the country had de jure remained a sovereign country as the annexation had been unconstitutional and against the will of the people of Latvia.

Therefore it resolved that the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 were illegal, and annulled the declaration on the accession of Latvia to the Soviet Union of 21 July 1940, re-instituted the Constitution of Latvia of 1922, which was thereupon partly suspended, and set a period of transition to de facto independence, which would end upon the first session of Saeima. It also ruled that during the transitional period the Constitution of the Latvian SSR and other laws would remain applicable as long as they did not contradict articles 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the Constitution of Latvia, which were reinforced by the declaration. It was provided that a committee to elaborate a new edition of the Constitution of Latvia should be created. Social, economic, cultural and political rights were granted to citizens and residents of Latvia in accordance with international human rights. The declaration also stated that Latvia would form its relationship with the Soviet Union on the basis of the Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty of 1920, in which the Soviet Union had recognized the independence of Latvia as inviolable "for all future time".

Overview

Historical and juridical background:

In its beginning the Declaration establishes several historical facts and on the basis of these facts concludes that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country. It observes that the Republic of Latvia proclaimed independence on 18 November 1918, and was internationally recognized in 1920, and that Latvia was admitted to membership in the League of Nations in 1921. The first country to recognize the independence of Latvia de jure was Soviet Russia on 11 August 1920, when the Soviet-Latvian Peace treaty was signed (it is generally considered that the independence of Latvia de jure was internationally recognized on 26 January 1921, when it was recognized by the Allies of World War I). The declaration notes that in April 1920 the Latvian nation followed the principle of self-determination by electing a Constitutional Assembly of Latvia, which adopted the Constitution of Latvia on 15 February 1922, in general, equal and direct elections, based on proportional representation.

On 23 August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. Latvia was apportioned to the Soviet sphere and on 5 October 1939, signed a mutual assistance pact. On 16 June 1940, the Soviet Union issued an ultimatum to Latvia accusing it of not carrying out the treaty, namely of forming amilitary alliance against the USSR, and requested a new government to be formed and to guarantee Soviet military free entrance in Latvia. The Latvian government decided to give in to the ultimatum and on 17 June 1940, Soviet forces entered Latvia. The Declaration states that the Soviet ultimatum and military aggression on 17 June 1940, should be viewed as an international crime, which led to the occupation of Latvia and loss of its sovereignty and points out that the new government was formed as dictated by the Soviet Union and by international law should not be viewed as executive of Latvia as it represented Soviet, not Latvian, interests.

On 14-15 July 1940 a parliament called the "People's Saeima of Latvia" was elected, which on 21 July 1940, declared accession to the Soviet Union. The declaration states that the election of the People's Saeima took place on the basis of unconstitutional and illegally adopted election law in a state of political terror and notes that out of 17 lists submitted for the election only one was allowed to participate in the election, which had not stated prior to the election that Soviet power should be established in Latvia and it should join the Soviet Union and that results of the election were falsified. The declaration observes that the People's Saeima was formed by misleading the people and therefore did not express the sovereign will of people of Latvia. It also notes that the People's Saeima had no right to change the political system in Latvia and liquidate its sovereignty as only the people have such right and the issue was never submitted to a national referendum. Therefore the Declaration rules that, in accordance with international law, the annexation of Latvia to the Soviet Union was not valid and the Republic of Latvia is still de jure subject to international law as recognized by more than 50 countries.

Basis:

After concluding that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country the Declaration makes note of previously adopted documents and explains that the Supreme Soviet is acting according to the will of inhabitants of Latvia.

First it notes two previous declarations of the Supreme Soviet — "On sovereignty of state of Latvia" of 28 July 1989, which declared that the Latvian SSR will act as a sovereign state and that laws adopted by the Soviet Union will come in force in the territory of Latvian SSR only if the Supreme Soviet has ratified them and "In question of independence of Latvia" of 15 February 1990, in which the Supreme Soviet condemns declaration "On accession of Latvia to Soviet Union" of 21 July 1940, however none of these explicitly called for secession from the Soviet Union.

Secondly it notes Appeal of All-Latvian congress of people deputies of 21 April 1990, which called for restoration of independence. Then it is stated that the Supreme Soviet is acting in accordance with the will of inhabitants of Latvia, which had been clearly expressed by electing as a majority those deputies, who had stated that they will restore independence of the Republic of Latvia in their reelection programme.

Act:

After establishing that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country and that by the will of its people it should be independent, the Supreme Soviet ruled: 1. To recognize the priority of international laws over national laws. To hold to be illegitimate the treaty between the USSR and Germany of 23 August 1939, and the consequent liquidation of independence of Latvia resulting from Soviet military aggression on 17 June 1940.

2. To proclaim the declaration "On accession of Latvia to Soviet Union" of 21 July 1940, to be void from the moment of adoption.

3. To re-establish the authority of the Constitution of Latvia. The official name of the state of Latvia is the Republic of Latvia, in short Latvia.

4. To suspend the Constitution of Latvia until a new edition is adopted, except for the articles, which in accordance with the 77 article of the Constitution can only be amended if submitted to a national referendum: 1. Latvia is an independent democratic republic.

2. The sovereign power of the State of Latvia is vested in the people of Latvia.

3. The territory of the State of Latvia, within the borders established by international agreements, consists of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.

6. The Saeima shall be elected in general, equal and direct elections, and by secret ballot based on proportional representation.

Article 6 shall be applied when the governmental institutions of independent Latvia have been restored, which grant free elections.

5. To set a period of transition to de facto independence until the first session of the new Saeima. During the transitional period the highest power of the state shall be the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia.

6. During the transitional period the Constitution of the Latvian SSR and other laws of the Latvian SSR in force at the time when the declaration was made may be applicable as long as they do not contradict articles 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the Constitution of Latvia. Disputes over the applicability of laws shall be resolved by the Constitutional Court.

During the transitional period laws shall be made or amended only by the Supreme Council.

7. To constitute a committee, which will elaborate a new edition of the Constitution of Latvia, suitable to the current political, economic and social state of Latvia.

8. In accordance with international human rights, to grant social, economic and cultural rights, as well as political freedoms, to the citizens of Latvia and other countries, who reside in the territory of Latvia. This shall fully apply to those citizens of the Soviet Union who chose to reside in Latvia without its citizenship.

9. To build Latvian-Soviet relationships upon the Latvian-Soviet peace treaty of 11 August 1920, in which the Soviet Union recognizes eternal independence for Latvia and which is still in force. To constitute a committee for negotiations with USSR.

Further developments

On 21 August 1991, after the Soviet coup d'état attempt, the Supreme Council adopted a Constitutional law, "On statehood of the Republic of Latvia", declaring Article 5 of the Declaration to be invalid, thus ending the transitional period and restoring de facto independence. However some elements which defined the transitional period remained in force until the first session of the 5th Saeima on 6 July 1993 - The Supreme Council remained the highest power of the state and the constitution was suspended. On 31 July 1990, the Supreme Council formed a work group of 22 deputies, which had to elaborate a new edition of the Constitution until 1 January 1990, though a new edition was never drafted and the Constitution was restored unamended. The Constitutional Court which was intended to resolve Constitutional disputes during the transitional period was only founded in 1996. To comply with international human rights as indicated in Article 8, the Supreme Council adopted a declaration of human rights immediately after the Declaration of independence.

Adoption The Supreme Soviet was elected on 18 March 1990; it was the first election in Soviet Latvia in which multiple parties

were allowed to participate. 201 deputies were elected. The declaration was adopted on 4 May 1990, in an open vote, a majority of two thirds — 132 votes — was required, 138 deputies voted for adoption of the declaration, 1 abstained, while others did not participate in the vote and therefore there were no votes against the declaration.

Response

On 4 May 1990, after the declaration was adopted, the Communist Party of Latvia resolved that it was unconstitutional, contained notable contradictions and historical inaccuracies, and noted that such issues should be decided by referendum. The Communist Party deemed that the declaration might trigger the President of the Soviet Union to take countermeasures, therefore the party should launch a propaganda campaign against the declaration and ask the President of the Soviet Union to annul the declaration of the Supreme Soviet. On 14 May 1990, the President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev issued a decree stating that the declaration violated the Constitution of the Soviet Union and the Constitution of the Latvian SSR and thus stood void from the moment of adoption. The Supreme Council answered that the Constitution of the Soviet Union did not grant the president the right to annul acts adopted

by Supreme Soviets of Soviet republics. Furthermore the Supreme Council announced that the Supreme Soviet, as the legal successor of the People's Saeima, had the right to annul its decisions which contradicted the Constitution of Latvia which was in force at the time these decisions were made and as the Constitution of the Soviet Union ruled that the Soviet Union was founded upon principles of self-determination, but Latvia was forcibly annexed, reference to it had no juridical basis regarding the Latvian SSR. It also noted that the law of the Soviet Union regarding secession from the Soviet Union to which the decree also referred was not in force in the territory of the Latvian SSR as the Supreme Soviet had not ratified it and that the law contradicted the Constitution of the Soviet Union and the Constitution of Latvian SSR, which provided that Soviet republics can freely secede from the Soviet Union. It was stated that the call for a referendum on secession from the Soviet Union to take place has neither a legal or a political basis, because Latvia had been annexed by the Soviet Union without holding a referendum, which was required by the Constitution of Latvia and Latvia was not seceding from the Soviet Union, but restoring its independence. It was noted that the Constitution of the Latvian SSR did not call for a referendum as it had been stated in the decree, but recommended two alternatives - either a referendum or a public debate which had de facto taken place as it had been discussed in the press and several public opinion polls had taken place showing that a majority of the public supported independence. Similarly in the All-Latvian congress of people deputies of 21 April 1990, 8003 had voted for restoration of independence and the declaration had been adopted by a vote of two thirds of members of the Supreme Soviet which was required for constitutional amendments. Furthermore, the Supreme Council referred to the result of elections of Supreme Soviet as a clear indicator of public opinion that supporters of independence had won the election. The Supreme Council stated that by 28 May 1990, it had received letters and telegrams from 646,726 residents of the Republic supporting the declaration and only 8,993 people had expressed opposition. Given these provisions, the Supreme Council stated that the Declaration was legitimate and in force.

Remembrance Day Netherlands - May 04

Remembrance of the Dead (Dutch: Dodenherdenking) is held annually on May 4 in the Netherlands. It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II. Until 1961, the commemoration only related to the Dutch victims of World War II. Since 1961, the victims of other military conflicts (such as the Indonesian National Revolution in Indonesia) and peacekeeping missions (such as in Lebanon or Bosnia) are remembered on May 4 as well.

Traditionally, the main ceremonies are observed in Amsterdam at the National Monument on Dam Square. This ceremony is usually attended by members of the cabinet and the royal family, military leaders, representatives of the resistance movement and other social groups. At 8:00 p.m., two minutes of silence are observed throughout the Netherlands. Public transport is stopped, as well as all other traffic. Radio and TV only broadcast the ceremonies from 19.00 until 20.30.

Since May 4, 1994, the flags, having hung at half-staff during the day, are then hoisted to the music of the "Wilhelmus", the Dutch national anthem. Since 2001 the new protocol says it is correct to let the flag hang half-staff.

The main celebrations in Amsterdam are broadcast by the public broadcasting company NOS, but there are ceremonies in other cities and places as well. Especially notable are those at the Waalsdorpervlakte near the Hague, where many Dutch resistance fighters were executed during the war, and at the war cemetery Grebbeberg, which are broadcast by the commercial broadcasting companies. In many towns, before or after the two minutes of silence, people gather around a monument, listen to speeches, and lay down flowers to remember the dead.

The next day, on May 5, Dutch people celebrate the liberation of the nation from the German occupation of 1940 to 1945.

2010 incident The 2010 ceremony on Dam Square was disrupted towards the end of the two-minute silence by a 39-year-old man

with a history of violent crimes and drug trading. Standing on the Rokin side of the square dressed as an Orthodox Jew, he refused to end a loud conversation on a cell phone during the two-minute silence, then pushed his way through the crowd while muttering unintelligibly and issued an extended loud scream that was heard all over the square. A person nearby dropped a suitcase in the resulting panic which prompted a cry of "Bomb, bomb, run!" which caused a panicked stampede among the 20.000 people crowd. Many people were trampled and some ended up trapped underneath crowd control barriers that were pushed over in the chaos. The sounds of the barriers falling were mistaken for gunshots by many people and added to the chaos. A total of 63 people were treated for injuries, mostly minor ones and some broken bones. The panic reaction was explained by many as resulting from the tension after the attack on the Dutch royal family that killed eight people just over a year before the incident.

Queen Beatrix, who had been rushed to safety with the rest of the royal family, returned once the situation was under control and the ceremony was continued. The owner of the dropped suitcase was arrested but released because his suitcase contained only personal belongings. The 39-year-old man was also arrested and charged with disrupting public order and indirectly causing bodily harm. He later confessed to the police that he had been drinking and had screamed because of "frustrations in his personal life." He professed to be sorry and claimed there was no deeper meaning or thought behind his action.

Greenery Day Japan - May 04

Greenery Day (みどりの日 Midori no hi) is a Japanese holiday. Between 1989 and 2006 it was celebrated on April 29.

In 2007 Greenery Day was moved to May 4.

The present observation of Greenery Day as a national holiday in Japan stems from the celebration of the Emperor Shōwa's birthday on April 29 every year during the Shōwa era. In 1989, following the ascension of the current Emperor Akihito to the Chrysanthemum Throne, the name of the holiday was changed from "Birthday of the Emperor" to "Greenery Day". Officially, as its name suggests, it is a day to commune with nature and to be thankful for blessings.

The day was renamed to "Greenery Day" to acknowledge the controversial wartime emperor's love for plants without directly mentioning his name. However, in practice it is seen as just another day that expands the Japanese Golden Week vacation.

In 2007, Greenery Day moved to May 4, and April 29 was changed to Shōwa Day in accordance with a 2005 revision of the law pertaining to public holidays. The Shōwa Emperor reigned for 62 years and 2 weeks. On May 3, 1947, he became a symbol of Japan by the new constitution of the country.

Children's Day South Korea - May 05

In South Korea, May 5 is officially recognized as Children's Day (어린이날). Parents often give presents to their children, as well as spend time with them. The children are taken on excursions to zoos, museums, and various venues of children-oriented entertainment.

Children's Day was first conceived by innovative Korean students and social leaders on the basis of the March 1st Movement to achieve Korean independence from Japanese colonialism. From Jinju, many people gathered to promote and improve the social status of children and encourage adults to teach awareness of their deprived sovereignty. In 1923, several groups of students studying in Tokyo agreed to designate May 1 as Children's Day. A predominant intellectual figure, Bang jeong hwan (방정환,方定煥), greatly contributed to the popularization of the holiday.

Because it overlapped with Laborer's Day, Children's Day was moved to May 5. Bang Jeon Hwan first coined the modern Korean word for children,eorini (어린이), replacing the previous words aenom (애놈) and aesaekki (애새끼). Until 1939, Japanese authorities based in Seoul oppressed the movement to stop Korean social activists congregating for the festival. After independence in 1945, the movement to respect children was revived. The children's welfare law written in the constitution officially designated May 5 as Children's Day in 1961. And by 'the law of holiday of government office', Children's day became a holiday in Korea in 1970.

Constitution Day Kyrgyzstan - May 05

Kyrgyzstan marks the Constitution Day today. This is a public holiday in the country. May 5, 1993 has become a historical date when sovereignty of the Kyrgyz Republic has been formalized. During the last years, the wording of the Constitution was changed entirely 4 times. In 2006 the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic was changed twice, first time -- in November during large scale rallies of the opposition at the central square of the capital city.

According to experts, the November 2006 wording of the Constitution actually made Kyrgyzstan the parliamentary republic.

Yet, the Constitution was amended on December 30, when more powers to the president were given. At the beginning of September 2007 the Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic invalidated the process of adoption of the November and December wordings of the Constitution by the Parliament. In the result, the country came back to the 2003 wording of the Constitution.

Coronation Day Thailand - M a y 0 5

The coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej took place on 5 May 1950. His Majesty is the ninth King of the Chakri Dynasty. On 5 May of every year, the Thai people rejoice and express their affection and loyalty to him by organizing a celebration on his coronation day.

Prior to the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut), there was no coronation ceremony in Thailand, there was only private ceremony held by high ranking officials to celebrate their Royal Regalia and positions in the 6th lunar month.

A coronation, however, took place for the first time when King Rama IV was crowned on 15 May 1851. King Mongkut thought that the Coronation was an auspicious occasion but thought that it would be dificult to explain the meaning of the coronation day to his subjects in detail, he thus called this day as a “ceremony to commemorate the Royal Regalia” but was quite similar to that of a coronation.

On that day (the 13th of the full moon in the 6th lunar month), following day monks were invited to have meal at the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall in Grand Palace.During the reign of the present king, the ceremony is performed for three days. The first day falls on 3 May in which the following ceremony will be performed; the king performs a merit-making ceremony at the Audience Hall of Amarindra in dedication to the deceased kings while Buddhist monks chant, give a sermon and perform a requiem on the royal ashes of the deceased kings.

On 4 May, the Coronation Ceremonies begin with the proclamation of the Coronation Day read by the Chief of Brahmin priests followed by an evening chanting performed by Buddhist monks. Finally, 5 May is the actual date of the ceremony in which food is to be offered to monks and followed by a celebration of the Royal Regalia. At noon the Army and Navy fire a 21-gun salute in honour of the king. On this day, His Majesty the King also presents the royal decorations to the people who have made a valuable contribution to the country.

Midwives Day Worldwide - May 05

International Midwives' Day was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has since been observed in over 50 nations around the world.

The idea of having a day to recognize and honor midwives came out of the 1987 International Confederation of Midwives conference in the Netherlands.

History It is known that midwives have been making efforts to meet

internationally for over 100 years. There are records of a midwives´ conference held in Berlin, Germany, in the year 1900, when over 1,000 midwives attended. You may wish to consider for a moment that this was arranged without the use of telephones, computers, credit cards or aeroplanes - and took place at a time when women travelling on their own was difficult and not always acceptable.

In 1919, a group of European midwives, centred in Antwerp, Belgium, established the first beginnings of what was to become the International Confederation of Midwives. By this time, many countries already had a national association of midwives; communication among them increased and a series of regular meetings was launched.

During the 1930s and 1940s, travel and communication in Europe was disrupted by war and unrest. Unfortunately, the detailed records of the earlier midwives´ meetings and documents were destroyed. However, the desire to continue international work was still strong. In 1954, the initiative grew again and this time the location was London, UK. For the first time, the name of ´International Confederation of Midwives´ was decided, and also the idea of regular triennial congresses was established. Since 1954 the series of such meetings every three years has remained unbroken.

The ICM now has over 100 members – all autonomous midwifery associations, from around 100 countries spanning four regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe. Each member association sends delegates to the ICM Council, which is the overall governing body; each region elects representatives to a smaller board, which oversees the continuing business of the Confederation.

The ICM Council decided in 1999 to move the location of the headquarters office from London to The Hague, in the Netherlands, and it has been established there ever since. The headquarters permanent staff has increased from the appointment in 1987 of one part-time executive secretary, to the present larger group including the Secretary General, Programme Co-ordinator, Communications Manager and other part-time administrative assistance. The ICM journal, International Midwifery, is now in its 18th year of communicating "to, from and among midwives across the world" and the ICM website at www.internationalmidwives.org has been assisting speedier access to ICM news and activities since 2000.

International congresses are held every three years. The site of each is decided six years ahead, and the event is co-hosted by ICM and one of its member associations. Venues over the past 50 years have included Jerusalem, Kobe, Manila, Santiago, Sydney, Vancouver and Washington, as well as numerous European cities. These congresses have become the major regular focus for midwives’ global business, professional and scientific meetings.

In addition, regional meetings and conferences are often held in the years between congresses.

The ICM's Mission is to "advance world-wide the aims and aspirations of midwives in the attainment of improved outcomes for women in their childbearing years, their newborn and their families wherever they reside".

Senior Citizen's Day Palau - M a y 0 5

Palau celebrates Senior Citizen’s Day on the 5th of March every year. The holiday aims to recognize the important role played by the old folks when they were still young. Palau citizens believe that how the young treat its old citizens is a reflection of their culture and their personal values.

History

Palau is one of the few countries in the world with comprehensive programs on the welfare of old citizens. It dedicates this holiday to people whose age fall from 55 and up.

Palau also provides trips to Airai, Ngardmau, and Melekeok, for senior citizens during the celebration. The holiday is a clear indication that Palau’s culture shows appreciation and value to the elders and that the bonds between the elderly and the youth is still strong and that the seniors are the clear link to Palau’s national heritage and traditions.

Celebrations During Senior Citizens’ Day, local dance performances from seniors and children are held along with handicraft ex-

hibitions. Parades with colourful floats are common in streets during the holiday with senior citizen contingents coming different sectors of society.

It is also during this time when the government announces important projects or laws pertaining to this sector and reports on the many developments for the welfare of its senior citizens. Local governments invite key senior citizens in the region for seminars, and luncheons.

Senior Citizens’ Day is a public holiday; it is a work-free day and government offices including the congress are closed.

Cinco de Mayo Mexico, U.S. - May 05

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla). The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico—which is actually celebrated on September 16.

History

Events leading to Cinco de Mayo:

Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the French occupation of Mexico, which took place in the aftermath of the MexicanAmerican War of 1846-48, the Mexican Civil War of 1858, and the 1860 Reform Wars. These wars left the Mexican Treasury in ruins and nearly bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years. In response, France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, at the time ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor French interests, the Second Mexican Empire.

The French invasion:

Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat. Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City, the French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans near Puebla, at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The 8,000-strong French army attacked the much more poorly equipped Mexican army of 4,000. Yet, on May 5, 1862, the Mexicans managed to decisively crush the French army, one which, according to an article in Philadelphia's The Bulletin daily newspaper, was the best army of the time.

The Mexican victory:

The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large. In the description of The History Channel, "Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement." The description of Time magazine was: "The Puebla victory came to symbolize unity and pride for what seemed like a Mexican David defeating a French Goliath." It helped establish a much-needed sense of national unity and patriotism.

Hidirellez Festival Turkey - M a y 0 6

When looked at antiquity (ancient times) in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran, Greece and even in countries surrounding the Mediterranean it has been seen that rituals and celebrations had been performed in the name of some Gods in relation with arrival of spring or summer. Documents showing that one of the oldest of these rituals had been performed in Ur city of Mesopotamia by the end of III. Thousand B.C.. The said ritual had been performed at the end of Winter in the name of “Tammuz” representing stimulating power of Euphrates (Fırat) and Tigris (Dicle) irrigating Mesopotamia plain. Upon arrival of Spring revival of nature and prosperity and abundance and productivity had been celebrated by festivals in the name of the God called “Dumuzi”. It has been known that culture of “Tammuz” had been transferred to the ancient Greece and Anatolia via Hebrew over Syria and Egypt.

Arrival of Spring or Summer which means revival of Nature and its starting to live again is an important event in the life of human being in every corner of the World. A widespread belief in connection with tradition of “Hıdırellez” is performance of a celebration for commemoration of the date on which “Hızır” and “İlyas” came together. The day of “Hıdırellez” has been generally celebrated on May 6th. In some regions May 5th has been accepted as the day of Festival and May 6th as the day of “Hıdırellez” and ceremonies have been arranged accordingly. The day of “Hıdırellez” (Ruz-ı Hızır) has been considered as the beginning of Summer in the Public Calendar. According to the Public Calendar among Turks one year has been divided into two sections. The period from the day of “Hıdırellez” (May 6th) to November 8th is 186 days and mentioned under the name of “Hızır Days”. This period has been named as the Summer season. The second period extending from November 8th to May 6th is the Winter season and named as “Days of November”, lasting 179 days.

Traditions, beliefs, ceremonies established around “Hıdırellez” have been confused generally with “Sultan Nevruz” and other traditions and ceremonies performed for meeting the Spring. Because Spring Festivals have been concentrated on several important days. In this connection it is possible to see whole of “Hıdırellez” or other Spring ceremonies in the course of celebration of any one of them.

In Turkish communities both in Anatolia and out of Anatolia with the approach of “Hıdırellez” assorted preparations have been made. Houses have been thoroughly cleaned up, household effects, kitchenware, clothes have been cleaned from top to toe. These works have been performed in order to have “Hızır” (A.S.) visit the house. On the other hand on “Hıdırellez” day lamb or kid, assortment of dishes have been cooked, and in the mean time preparation of a lot of food has been completed. In some regions there are some people who meet “Hıdırellez” by fasting (oruç) one day before the day of “Hıdırellez”. Upon completion of all preparations people go to the nearest picnic places full of trees and having spring and try to pass the day of “Hıdırellez” happily with various plays, entertainments.

Places where “Hıdırellez” has been celebrated are generally watery and green areas. In conformity with the tradition there are picnic places called “Hıdırlık” at various regions of Anatolia. At these regions such customs as visiting tombs of great religious leaders, vowing or tying a piece of cloth at such places as graveyard, tomb of a holy person (saint), etc. which have been considered sacred places by indigenous people have also been exercised.

Of course the most important ceremony exercised in “Hıdırellez” is the “play of wish”. It has been exercised in order that young girls become lucky, determine their fortune. According to regions the play has different names: drawing lots of wish, fortune pot, lucky, prosperity, etc. The play has been performed as follows: water brought in a pitcher is poured in a pot. Everybody throws a sign into the pot holding water. Such signs may be also sweet basil, mint, “mantuvar” flower in addition to usually ring, earring, etc. The pot is covered with a cloth on the eve of “Hıdırellez” and placed under a rosewood. A lock is put on the pot and locked as a custom. On the other day girls coming together again take the pot under rosewood. Lock is opened and one of them starts to draw lots. In the mean time folk songs are sung. Each folk song is accepted for the fate of the girl whose sign is drawn. This play goes on until the last sign is drawn. In folk songs which have been sung during performance of the play such themes as hope, joy, firmness, love, affection, tenderness, goodness, brotherhood, living abroad, patriotism, etc have been treated.

One of the widespread beliefs concerning the day of “Hıdırellez” has shown itself in the tradition of making yoghurt.

On the day of “Hıdırellez” yoghurt is made without using ferment. If it becomes yoghurt it is believed that “Hızır” visited home.

National Nurses Day U.S. - M a y 0 6

Events after the Battle:

The Mexican victory, however, was short-lived. Thirty thousand troops and a full year later, the French were able to depose the Mexican army, capture Mexico City, and establish Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico. However, the French victory was also short-lived, lasting only 3 years, from 1864 to 1867. With the U.S. Civil War over in 1865, the U.S. was able to provide more assistance to Mexico to expel the French, after which Maximilian I was executed by the Mexicans, along with his Mexican generals Miramón and Mejía, in the Cerro de las Campanas, Queretaro.

Significance

The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons.

First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army. "This battle was significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years." Second, it was significant because since the Battle of Puebla, no country in the Americas has been invaded by any other European military force.

to the Cinco de Mayo dancers greeted by U.S. Consequences President George W. Bush States United historians have argued that France's real goal was to help break up the American Union, at the time in the

Some midst of a civil war, by helping the southern Confederacy: "The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build a powerful army. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War." The consequence of Cinco de Mayo to the United States has been thus recognized: "The defeat of the French army had consequences for America as well...the French defeat denied Napoleon III the opportunity to resupply the Confederate rebels for another year."

Donald W. Miles adds, "At the time, there were fears in the United States that the French would use Mexico as a base to back the Confederacy, so President Lincoln and his Secretary of State went out of their way to appear 'neutral' in the Mexican situation. They did not want to take on the French and the Confederates at the same time". Dr. Miles goes on to explain that "Napoleon III had hesitated to take on the United States directly, but now the news of the Civil War changed everything". It meant that the Americans would be occupied with their conflict between North and South for some time. Upon hearing the Spaniards and the British had sailed off to grab the customs house in Veracruz to start collecting their duties, Napoleon decided he would not only send the French navy, but would also start looking for someone to place as emperor in Mexico. He would then use Mexico as a base to help the Confederates win their war against the United States. Napoleon saw this as an opportunity not to be missed.

Dr. Miles then concludes, "The Emperor of France ordered his generals to spend a few months taking on Mexico and then - using Mexico as a 'base' - help the Confederates win their war against the United States.

What if they had succeeded? The United States would never become the significant world power it is today...the Mexicans not only took their nation back, but influenced the outcome of the U.S. Civil War." Historian Justo Sierra has written in his Political Evolution of the Mexican People, that had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862, France would have gone to the aid of the South in the U.S. Civil War and the United States' destiny could have been very different.

National Nurses Day, also known as National RN Recognition Day, is always celebrated on May 6thand opens National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, the birth date of Florence Nightingale.

National Nurses Week is one of the nation's largest health care events, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurses make and educating the public about the significant work they perform. The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports and encourages National Nurses Week through state and district nurses associations, educational facilities, and independent health care companies and institutions. The week-long celebration is designed to accommodate the variety of schedules nurses are required to work.

Activities during National Nurses Week typically include banquets and recognition dinners, state and city proclamations, continuing education seminars, and other community events. Nurses are typically honored with gifts, dinners, and flowers by friends and family members, coworkers such as doctors and administrators, and patients who want to show their appreciation.

The history of Nurses Day can be traced back to 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made, but the following year National Nurses Week was observed from October 11 – 16, marking the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea.

In 1974, President Nixon proclaimed a "National Nurse Week." In 1981, a resolution was initiated by nurses in New Mexico to have May 6th declared "National Recognition Day for Nurses." This proposal was promoted by the ANA Board of Directors and in 1982, with a joint resolution, the United States Congress designated May 6th to be "National Recognition Day for Nurses." The proposal was signed by President Reagan, making May 6 the official "National Recognition Day for Nurses." It was later expanded by the ANA Board of Directors in 1990 to a week-long celebration (May 6-12) known as "National Nurses Week."

National Student Nurses Day is celebrated each year on May 8th. At the request of the National Student Nurses Association, the ANA Board of Directors designated May 8th as National Student Nurses Day beginning in 1998. And as of 2003, the ANA has declared that National School NurseDay is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12th of each year. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) commemorates this day each year with the production and distribution of the International Nurses' Day Kit which includes educational and public information materials for use by nurses everywhere. The ICN has celebrated International Nurses Day since 1965.

Hari Hol Pahang Malaysia - M a y 0 7

Hari Hol Pahang falls on 7th May in the State of Pahang, Malaysia. This day commemorates key historical events to honor the past Sultan, ruler of the state and announced as a public holiday.

V-E Day Int’l - M a y 0 8

Observances United States:

On June 7, 2005, the U.S. Congress issued a Concurrent Resolution calling on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with ap- Cinco de Mayo performers at propriate ceremonies and activities.

In a 1998 study in the Journal of American Culture it was reported that the White House there were more than 120 official U.S. celebrations of Cinco de Mayo, and they could be found in 21 different states. An update in 2006, found that the number of official Cinco de Mayo events was 150 or more, according to José Alamillo, professor of ethnic studies at Washington State University in Pullman, who has studied the cultural impact of Cinco de Mayo north of the border.

In the United States Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico.Celebrations tend to draw both from traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgen de Guadalupe, and from prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States, including César Chávez. To celebrate, many display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate pupils about its historical significance.

Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. Examples include baile folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles, near Olvera Street. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration, advertising Mexican products and services, with an emphasis on beverages, foods, and music.

History of observance:

Mexicans and Latinos living in California during the American Civil War are credited with being the first to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States.

According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on that day first started in California in the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico. "Far up in the gold country town of Columbia (now Cinco de Mayo celebration in Columbia State Park) Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news Saint Paul, Minnesota that they spontaneously fired off rifles shots and fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches." A 2007 UCLA Newsroom article notes that "The holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously since 1863, is virtually ignored in Mexico." TIME magazine reports that "Cinco de Mayo started to come into vogue in 1940s America during the rise of the Chicano movement." United Press International reports that "The holiday crossed over into the United States in the 1950s and 1960s but didn't gain popularity until the 1980s when marketers, especially beer companies, capitalized on the celebratory nature of the day and began to promote it."

Mexico:

Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday limited primarily to the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country.

Elsewhere:

Events tied to Cinco de Mayo also occur outside Mexico and the United States. For example, a sky-diving club near Vancouver, Canada, holds a Cinco de Mayo skydiving event. In the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitarcompetition. As far away as the island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, revelers are encouraged to drink Mexican beer on May 5.The city of Brisbane, Australia, also holds an annual Mexican Festival to honour the day.

Children's Day Japan - May 05

Children's Day (こどもの日 Kodomo no Hi?) is a Japanese national holiday which takes place annually on May 5, the fifth day of the fifth month, and is part of the Golden Week. It is a day set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was designated a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948.

Tango no Sekku

The day was originally called Tango no Sekku (端午の節句), and was celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th moon in the lunar calendar or Chinese calendar. After Japan's switch to the Gregorian calendar, the date was moved to May 5. The festival is still celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as the Duanwu Festival or Tuen Ng Festival (Cantonese), in Korea as the Dano Festival, and Vietnam as the Tết Đoan Ngọ on the traditional lunar calendar date. It was originally for boys but has since been changed to include both boys and girls.

Sekku means a season's festival (there are five sekku per year). Tango no Sekku marks the beginning of summer or the rainy season. Tan means "edge" or "first" and go means "noon".

Although it is not known precisely when this day started to be celebrated, it was probably during the reign of the Empress Suiko (593–628 A.D.). In Japan, Tango no Sekku was assigned to the fifth day of the fifth month after the Nara period.

Until recently, Tango no Sekku was known as Boys' Day (also known as Feast of Banners) while Girls' Day (Hinamatsuri) was celebrated on March 3. In 1948, the government decreed this day to be a national holiday to celebrate the happiness of all children and to express gratitude toward mothers. It was renamed Kodomo no Hi. Before this day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming), one for each boy (or child), display a Kintarō doll usually riding on a large carp, and the traditional Japanese military helmet, kabuto. Kintarō and the kabuto are symbols of a strong and healthy boy.

Kintarō (金太郎) is the childhood name of Sakata no Kintoki who was a hero in the Heian period, a subordinate samurai of Minamoto no Raikou, having been famous for his strength when he was a child. It is said that Kintarō rode a bear, instead of a horse, and played with animals in the mountains when he was a young boy.

Mochi rice cakes wrapped in kashiwa (oak) leaves—kashiwa-mochi (mochi filled with red bean jam) and chimaki (a kind of "sweet rice paste", wrapped in an iris or bamboo leaf)—are traditionally served on this day.

Prague Uprising - 1945 Czech Republic - May 05

May the people of the Czech uprising was an armed uprising of the Czech people against the German invaders in the second World War II in the Czech Republic, which took place in early May 1945 . Actively attended by about 130 000 people plus 14 000 (part of them were Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian ethnicity) guerrillas. Another 100 000 people helped build barricades in Prague.

Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) commemorates May 8, 1945 (in commonwealth countries; May 7,1945), the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until May 9, 1945. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and ratified on 8 May in Berlin, Germany.

Celebrations

In the United Kingdom, more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. In the UK, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall toBuckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime MinisterWinston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before the cheering crowds. PrincessElizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander anonymously among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.

In the United States, President Harry Truman, who turned 61 that day, dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April. Flags remained at half-mast for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period. Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and especially in New York City'sTimes Square. Victory celebrations in Canada were marred by the Halifax Riot.

Soviet Victory Day:

As the Soviet Union was to the east of Germany it was May 9 Moscow Time when German military surrender became effective, which is why Eastern European countries like Russia and former Soviet republics commemorate Victory Day on May 9 instead of May 8.

May 8 United as public holiday Kingdom - 1995 May Day Bank Holiday was moved from 1 May to 8 May to commemorate the •

50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War. The former East Germany as Tag der Befreiung (Day of Liberation), a public holiday from 1950 to 1966 • and in 1985. Between 1975 and 1990, as Tag des Sieges (Victory Day (May 9)).

The German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, since 2002, a commemorative day as Tag der Befreiung • vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the 2nd World War).

France as Victoire 1945 • Slovakia as Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom (Victory over Fascism Day) • Czech Republic as Den vítězství or Den osvobození (Day of Liberation) • Norway as "Frigjøringsdagen" (Liberation Day) • Denmark (May 5) as "Befrielsen" (The Liberation) • The Netherlands (May 5) as "Bevrijdingsdag" (Liberation Day) • Ukraine (9 May) Victory Day •

Red Cross Day Worldwide - M a y 0 8

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, sex,religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

The movement consists of several distinct organizations that are legally independent from each other, but are united within the movement through common basic principles, objectives, symbols, statutes and governing organs. The movement's parts are: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) • is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, by Henry Dunant. Its 25-member committee has a unique authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. The ICRC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions (in 1917, 1944 and 1963).

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was founded in 1919 • and today it coordinates activities between the 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within the Movement. On an international level, the Federation leads and organizes, in close cooperation with the National Societies, relief assistance missions responding to large-scale emergencies. The International Federation Secretariat is based inGeneva, Switzerland. In 1963, the Federation (then known as the League of Red Cross Societies) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the ICRC. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every country in the world. Currently 186 • National Societies are recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members of the Federation. Each entity works in its home country according to the principles of international humanitarian law and the statutes of the international Movement. Depending on their specific circumstances and capacities, National Societies can take on additional humanitarian tasks that are not directly defined by international humanitarian law or the mandates of the international Movement. In many countries, they are tightly linked to the respective national health care system by providing emergency medical services.

Indian Heritage Day Guyana - M a y 0 8

In Guyana the holiday is celebrated on May 8th commemorating the first arrival of indentured servants from India to the country, on May 8, 1838. On this day, the workers arrived in Guyana to work in sugar plantations. Their descendants today comprise 44 percent of Guyana's population of over 750,000.

Victory Day Int’l - M a y 0 9

Preparing for the insurgency With the approaching end of the war, the

military leaders of Hitler's Germany realized that the end of the Third Reich is unavoidable, and their only hope was the desire to create rift between the Allies and German troops involved in the fighting against the Soviet Union alongside the U.S. , Britain and France . On the territory of Bohemia and Moravia should be created "Fortress" where it should be worth millions Schörner army stopped the procedure the Red Army , which was important to avoid the expected uprising of the Czech population, which was prepared by the Czech resistance .Already in 1944 the aktivizovala guerrilla war that led to the western, eastern revolt there. Conditions were prepared for the transportation of weapons from abroad and capture the weapons they produced Czech arms factories. In the second half of the year played an increasingly important role in resistance organization , the Council of three . There was výsadkům penetration and guerrilla groups in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia , among which played a big role to play, Guerrilla Brigade Jan Žižka , partisan divisions Jermak , Miroslav Tyrš , John Kozina , and Jan Hus . Other guerrilla groups began to occur mainly in March and April 1945 , when the culmination of a guerrilla struggle against the German occupiers, and particularly in the eastern and western Moravia (Wallachia and Highland ), there were also open to guerrilla warfare. There were more assaults German columns were discharged from the fuel tank, vykolejovány trains, blown bridges. Eg. 10th April was an important rail track fired Brno - Jihlava , which was not until the end of the war corrected. At this event, was blown up by a German military transport which killed or injured nearly 200 people. In addition to the actions of diverse assaults on the track were the Nazi crew, ammunition depots, military installations, was punctuated by electric and telephone and telegraph lines.

Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War (also known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union and most post-Soviet states). It was first inaugurated in the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May, by Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin.

Though the official inauguration happened in 1945 (which means it has been celebrated since 1946), the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in some of the countries.

In communist East Germany, a Sovietstyle "Victory Day" on 9 May was an official holiday from 1975 until the end of the republic in 1990. Prior to that, "Liberation Day" was celebrated on 8 May, between 1950 and 1966, and again on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Since 2002, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has observed a commemoration day known as the "Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War".

In 1988, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Victory Day ceased to be observed in Uzbekistan, but was partially restored in 1999 as Memorial/Remembrance Day. After their separation from the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries now commemorate the end of WWII on 8 May, the Victory in Europe Day. But many people in Baltic countries still gather to celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May.

History outbreak of the uprising The By late April Soviet troops has two operations - Ostrava and Prague-Brno liberated part of Moravia, with a subsequent Two separate capitulation events took place at the time. First, the capitulation to the Allied nations inReims was signed

report on Hitler's death given us reason for defiance. uprising began on 1 May Přerov when spread wrong messages about the surrender of Germany . It was disarming German and Hungarian troops took the power of the National Committee . The revolt spread to the same day in Olomouc and the surrounding communities, but are affected unit SS . But insurgents have managed to stop the transport and disposal of industrial equipment and supplies that the Germans wanted to take away from Ostrava, Vsetínsko and Zlín. 2nd May rose Nymburk , Podebrady , Chlumec over Cidlinou , Upice next day Semily , Zelezny Brod , Turnov , Jilemnice , Old and New Paka , Pribram , Beroun , Vizovice , 4th May Vsetin andKladno , 5th May Louny , Jindrichuv Hradec , Rokycany , Klatovy , Domazlice etc. for about a thousand sites have been reported anti-occupation demonstrations, which consisted of posting Czechoslovak flags, banners, Germany's disposal, destruction indicative tables to celebrate the liberation demonstrations, protest actions against the occupation authorities Were also like to strikes in factories and confiscating weapons from the arms race in favor of the insurgents. The negotiations on the takeover took place more than 120 locations Protectorate. In some areas of the insurgency burst through the activities of guerrilla groups, which are increasingly entering into open warfare. Eg. in Vsetín fourth attack May Guerrilla Brigade Jan Žižka the Germans , who began to perform the work in the city of destruction, which had to be stopped. The city was the fourth the afternoon free units first Czechoslovak Army Corps . Guerrilla groups have also played a major role in the foothills and elsewhere.

Prague (and others) Rebellion

On 5 broke out in May uprising in the capital city of Prague . The Czech National Council issued a statement about the end of the Protectorate and the takeover of government and executive power. Here first demonstration took place, but soon moved into open opposition.Insurgents in Prague and throughout the territory of Bohemia and Moravia in strength of arms, occupies the post, rail and major road intersections. The odbojovým and guerrilla groups were added one thousand rebels from the Czech population, ex-military, gendarmerie, and the Soviet liberation of prisoners working at menial jobs in the Protectorate. Occupiers were prevented from removal made machinery, equipment and vehicles to Germany , to prevent the destruction of factories, etc. (plan ARLZ - scorched earth tactics).

Insurgents prevented a continuous supply of the front and a retreat organized by the Wehrmacht .

The uprising, which erupted in 37 cities and 240 villages, got in some tough places Counterstrike - German troops began to occupy the major roads, streets, intersections, railway stations and posts, was announced by the state of emergency , the occupants hostage and murdered interested to intimidate the Czech population. Their goal was not to allow the creation of a continuous rebel territory. However, insurgents have managed to bind itself with great force of German troops that could be used to suppress the uprising in Prague . Countryside Prague supplied not only food but also medical equipment and light weapons were zbudovávány roadblocks thrown bridges that Wehrmachtunits and the Waffen SS as much as transport is difficult. The resistance of the population continued in the countryside, where he is constantly expanding. In many places there was an open battle, elsewhere only to sabotage actions.

Germans are increasingly resorting to assassinations and massacres of the Czech population, which took as hostages or decapitating the warning, not only in Prague , but virtually throughout the occupied territories of Bohemia and Moravia.

On 8 May 1945 began a retreat Staff Field Marshal Ferdinand Schorner , who was at Hořic rebels attacked and partially scattered. A day later, the crew was broken at the Saaz tank armies Red Army . 8th May at 16.00 pm was among the German leadership and the Czech National Council signed a protocol that allowed the Germans to Prague with a passage that is to stop fighting.

However, the fighting lasted even after the signing of the unconditional surrender of Germany on the 8th May 1945 , when German troops tried to surrender to the U.S. Army because of Soviet captivity, fears. These fighting units of the participants in the Waffen SS , but it was the exception that the names of the participating units and the Wehrmacht . Even from 9 to 11 May there was sporadic fighting and killings of civilians Czech. Eg. in the village Lejčková Tabor shot on the ninth May the German troops to the people who came to watch the road retreat of German army to shoot unarmed civilians there and elsewhere. Last shots fell on the 11th May 1945 Milína in Pribram , where units of the SS elicited a white flag partisan parliamentarian and shot them. 1945th Then the battle began, in which an open confrontation with the Germans fell 60 Czech partisans.

In total, Czech uprising required in Prague 3700 lives, in the Czech and Moravian countryside died about 8000 other people, while the number of victims are included as people who fought against the invaders, the Nazis and murdered civilians. Czech uprising in May significantly undermine the German leadership's intentions to build a "fortress" that should be defended to the rift between Western powers and the USSR . Avoid the widespread and devastating military engagements in the Czech Republic and probably was also shortened the war.

Liberation Day Netherlands - M a y 0 5

In the Netherlands, Liberation Day (Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is celebrated each year on May 5th, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. The nation was liberated largely by Canadian troops, with the assistance of the British and American Armies (see Operation Market Garden) and French airborne (see Operation Amherst). On the 5th of May 1945, the Canadian General Charles Foulkes and the German Commander-in-Chief Johannes Blaskowitz reached an agreement on the capitulation of German forces in the Netherlands in Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. One day later, the capitulation document was signed in the auditorium of Wageningen University, located next-door to the hotel.

After the liberation in 1945, Liberation Day was commemorated every 5 years. Finally, in 1990, the day was declared to be a national holiday, when the liberation would be commemorated and celebrated every year.

On May 4th, the Dutch hold the Remembrance of the Dead for the people who fought and died during World War II, and in wars in general. There is a remembrance gathering in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam and at the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam. Throughout the country, two minutes of silence are observed at 8:00 p.m. On May 5th, the liberation is celebrated and festivals are held at most places in the Netherlands.

Army Day Bulgaria - M a y 0 6

Bulgaria celebrates, May 6, the Day of Saint George the Victorious, and the Day of the Bulgarian Army.

May 6 was officially pronounced as the Day of the Bulgarian Army on January 9, 1880, shortly after the establishment of the country's military with a decree of Knyaz Alexander Battenberg.

After the Communist regime came to power, in 1946, the holiday was banned to be reinstated on January 27, 1993 with a decision of the Bulgarian cabinet.

Since 1998 it has been marked as a national holiday, and it is a day off for workers across the country.

On the sidelines of the celebrations of the Day of Bulgarian army, May 6 marks also the national feast Gergyovden, the day of one of the most popular saints - St. George, who is among the few venerated by Christians and Muslims alike.

Saint George the Victorious (Pobedonosets), canonized by the Church because of his brave deeds, is usually painted on icons as riding a white horse with his lance stabbed in the throat of a beast - the dragon. Legend has it that the dragon used to attack the shepherds and their sheep and steal a sheep or a lamb. The shepherds were desperate.

Then St. George appeared and killed the dragon.

The holy martyr St. George the Victor has been considered one of the most important Saints ever since Christianity became the official state religion in Bulgaria in the 9th century.

In Bulgaria St. George is the patron of spring verdure and fertility, and of shepherds and farmers. His Day, May 6, is believed to set in summer and the new farming cycle.

A common ritual is to cook and eat a whole lamb, which is an ancient practice possibly related to Slavic pagan sacrificial traditions and the fact that St. George is the patron saint of shepherds.

Special place on the table is attributed to the ritual Gergyovden bread. All sorts of bread are made for the feast - the cross bread, the shepherd's bread, the large ring-bread, as well as small ones, or the special ring-shaped bun baked by the young wife in the house.

In Bulgaria, May 6 is the name day of Georgi and Gancho for the males, and of Gergana, Ginka, Galiya for the females.

Martyr's Day Lebanon, Syria - M a y 0 6

Syria shares the celebration of Martyr’s Day with Lebanon on the 6th of May every year. The holiday commemorates the death of both Syria and Lebanon’s nationalists during the occupation by the Ottoman Empire. The nationalists were executed on May 6, 1916 in Marjeh Square (Damascus, Syria) and Burj Square (Beirut, Lebanon) respectively by the Ottoman Young Turk Ahmed Djemal or more commonly known as Jamal Pasha.

History

Syria has been under the control of the Ottoman Empire since the latter part of the 15th century until the downfall of the latter on May 1916.

The march towards Syrian independence was long and bloody. The earlier part of the 20th century saw the birth of Syrian intellectuals who heavily campaigned for the independence of Syria from the Ottoman rule. The clandestine conferences and meetings they had with other intellectuals in Paris, France were made known to the Turks. As a result, Sultan Abdul Hamid ordered the arrest of these Arab leaders and forced to renounce their nationalist ideals and plans towards a democratic and independent Syria. However, the nationalists bravely stood by their resolve and bravely faced their destiny so that in May 6, 1916, all of them were executed by hanging in Damascus and Beirut.

The nationalists executed were Shukri al-Assali, Omar al-Jazairi, Rushdi al-Shamaa, Abdelhamid al-Zahrawi, Shafiq al-Muayyad, and. Abdel Wahab al-Englizi. Their martyrdom has created strong international ties between the Syria and Lebanon since then.

Celebrations Leaders of Syria and Lebanon celebrate this day by visiting

the war memorial in Damascus, Syria, particularly the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier a memorial tomb dedicated to the Syrian soldiers who perished in the war against the Ottoman Empire. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was built in 1994 shape like a dome with an arch right above it.

The monument is famous for the five large paintings displayed along the hall which depicts the five heroic battles fought in the history of Arab nations namely: Battle of Yarmouk, Battle of Sultan Yacoub, Battle of Mount Hermon, Battle of Maysaloun, and the Battle of Hattin.

The government of Syria may hold a luncheon or banquet for the children or relatives of the martyrs as a way of paying respects to the bravery of martyrs. Public speeches coming from local government officials delivered in behalf of the president are held every year in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus.

Samuel K. Doe Day Liberia - M a y 0 6

Samuel Kanyon Doe (May 6, 1951 – September 9, 1990) was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.

Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland Liberia. The Krahn are a minority ethnic group but part of the large majority of the Liberian population that are of indigenous descent.

These groups faced economic and political domination by the Americo-Liberian elites, who were descended from free-born and formerly enslaved blacks from America who founded Liberia in 1847.

Under Doe, Liberian ports were opened to Canadian, Chinese and European ships, which brought in considerable foreign investment from foreign shipping firms and earned Liberia a reputation as a tax haven.

Doe attempted to legitimize his regime with a new constitution in 1984 and elections in 1985. However, opposition to his rule only increased, especially after the 1985 elections which were declared to be fraudulent by the U.S. and other foreign observers. In the late 1980s, as fiscal austerity took hold in the United States and the threat of Communism declined with the waning of the Cold War, the U.S. became disenchanted with entrenched corruption in Doe's government and began cutting off critical foreign aid to Doe. This, combined with the popular anger generated

by Doe's favoritism toward his native Krahn tribe, placed him in a very precarious position.

A civil war began in December 1989, when rebels intent on toppling Doe entered Liberia. Doe's forces were defeated, and in September 1990 he was captured, tortured, and killed.

on 7 May 1945, effective 23:01 CET 8 May. This date is commonly referred to as the V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) in most western European countries. The other World War II victory day, the V-J day (Victory in Japan Day) is commemorated in August, and is of considerably lesser significance in Europe.

However, the Soviet Union's only representative in Reims was General Ivan Susloparov, the Military Liaison Mission Commander. General Susloparov's scope of authority was not entirely clear, and he had no means of immediate contact with the Kremlin, but nevertheless decided to sign for the Soviet side. Susloparov was caught off guard; he had no instructions from Moscow. But if he did not sign, he risked a German surrender without Soviet participation. However, he noted that it could be replaced with a new version in the future. Joseph Stalin was later displeased by these events, believing that the German surrender should have been accepted only by the envoy of the USSR Supreme command and signed only in Berlin and insisted the Reims protocol be considered preliminary, with the main ceremony to be held in Berlin, where Marshal Zhukov was at the time, as the latter recounts in his memoirs: “[Quoting Stalin:] Today, in Reims, Germans signed the preliminary act on an unconditional surrender. The main contribution, however, was done by Soviet people and not by the Allies, therefore the capitulation must be signed in front of the Supreme Command of all countries of the anti-Hitlercoalition, and not only in front of the Supreme Command of Allied Forces. Moreover, I disagree that the surrender was not signed in Berlin, which was the center of Nazi aggression. We agreed with the Allies to consider the Reims protocol as preliminary.”

Therefore, another ceremony was organized in a surviving manor in the outskirts of Berlin late on 8 May, when it was already 9 May in Moscow due to the difference in time zones. Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel submitted the capitulation of the Wehrmacht to Marshal Georgy Zhukov in the Soviet Army headquarters in Berlin-Karlshorst. To commemorate the victory in the war, the ceremonial Moscow Victory Parade was held in the Soviet capital on 24 June 1945 (four years and two days after the beginning of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union).

Countries in which 9 May is celebrated:

Armenia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Azerbaijan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Belarus has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considered it non-labor in the past;  Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism and considers  it a non-working day.

British Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey were not liberated from German occupation until 9  May 1945, and Sark on 10 May 1945, and celebrate those dates as their Liberation Days.

Georgia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  German Democratic Republic recognised Tag des Sieges (Victory Day) on 9 May as a public holiday  between 1975 and the end of the republic in 1990. Earlier, the Tag der Befreiung(Day of liberation) was celebrated on 8 May as a public holiday, from 1950 to 1966, and on the 40th anniversary in 1985.

Germany does not officially recognise 9 May as a holiday. However, celebrations continue to take place  in some areas of the former German Democratic Republic. Also, on 8 May, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2002 has recognised a commemorative dayTag der Befreiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War).  Israel has officially recognised 9 May since 2000.  Kazakhstan has officially recognised 9 May since 1947. It's a non-working day. The holiday is sometimes celebrated in connection with other national holidays on 10 and 11 May.  Kyrgyzstan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Moldova has officially recognised 9 May since 1951;  Russia has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working);  Serbia celebrates 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism but it's a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army, Minister of Defense and the President.  Tajikistan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Turkmenistan has officially recognised 9 May since 1946;  Ukraine has officially recognised 9 May since 1946 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working);  Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 1946 until 1988. Starting 1999, the holiday was restored as "Memorial/Remembrance Day;.  Yugoslavia officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism as an all-state non-working holiday.

Russophone populations in many world countries celebrate the holiday regardless of its local status. Many Russian communities in United States and Canada, also for example in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania organize public gatherings and even parades on this day. In Europe, some multi language broadcasting television chains translate the "Victory speech" of the Russian president and the parade on Red Square.

London

Victory Day London is a ceremonial event held annually since 2007 in London on 9 May in commemoration of the Arctic Convoys 1941-1945 and the victory in the Second World War. It is part of the wider commemoration of 9 May Victory Day, marking the German surrender to theSoviet Union. A ceremony is held aboard the cruiser HMS Belfast, moored on the Thames. The event serves as a reunion day for British and Russian veterans of the Arctic Convoys with members of the British Royal Family present. Other participants include the Russian Ambassador, ambassadors of other FSU countries, and other British and Russian dignitaries.

Constitution Day Micronesia - M a y 1 0

The Federated State of Micronesia, or simply, Micronesia, celebrates the founding of its constitution on May 10, 1979 on the same date every year. The celebration, called Constitution Day, is considered as a national holiday in Micronesia and used to commemorate the founding of the country’s first constitution and effort of the people who allotted their time and energy in the development of the supreme law of the land.

The Federated States of Micronesia is an island nation comprising four administrative divisions: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Military defense is provided by the United States.

History

Micronesia march to independence started when people from Kusaie, Yap, Ponape, and Truk (Micronesia’s four states), adopted a constitution in 1979. The Micronesian Constitutional Convention made the draft of the constitution in 1975 only to be adopted four years later.

In 1986, independence was finally achieved although people voted for a free association with the United States surrounded by the terms and conditions as listed in the Compact of Free Association as agreed by the two states.

Celebrations

The president of Micronesia delivers his message to his people as the country marks the celebration of the founding of its constitution. As always, the president will call for national unity and solidarity among people from the many islands that constitute the Federated State of Micronesia and the great strides Micronesians have made in society.

There is no significant celebration in the street during this day but families consider this day as a rest day where they could take their children to nearby parks or shopping malls to relax or unwind.

Mother's Day Mexico - M a y 1 0

In Mexico, the government of Álvaro Obregón imported the Mother's Day holiday from the US in 1922, and the newspaper Excélsior held a massive promotional campaign for the holiday that year.

The conservative government tried to use the holiday to promote a more conservative role for mothers in families, but that perspective was criticized by the socialists as promoting an unrealistic image of a woman who was not good for much more than breeding.

In the mid-1930s the leftist government of Lázaro Cárdenas promoted the holiday as a "patriotic festival". The Cárdenas government tried to use the holiday as a vehicle for various efforts: to stress the importance of families as the basis for national development; to benefit from the loyalty that Mexicans felt towards their mothers; to introduce new morals to Mexican women; and to reduce the influence that the church and the Catholic right exerted over women. The government sponsored the holiday in the schools. However, ignoring the strict guidelines from the government, theatre plays were filled with religious icons and themes. Consequently, the "national celebrations" became "religious fiestas" despite the efforts of the government.

Soledad Orozco García, the wife of President Manuel Ávila Camacho, promoted the holiday during the 1940s, resulting in an important state-sponsored celebration. The 1942 celebration lasted a full week and included an announcement that all women could reclaim their pawned sewing machines from the Monte de Piedad at no cost.

Due to Orozco's promotion, the catholic National Synarchist Union (UNS) took heed of the holiday around 1941. Shopowner members of the Party of the Mexican Revolution (now the Institutional Revolutionary Party) observed a custom allowing women from humble classes to pick a free Mother's Day gift from a shop to bring home to their families. The Synarchists worried that this promoted both materialism and the idleness of lower classes, and in turn, reinforced the systemic social problems of the country. Currently this holiday practice is viewed as very conservative, but the 1940s' UNS saw Mother's Day as part of the larger debate on the modernization that was happening at the time. This economic modernization was inspired by US models and was sponsored by the state. The fact that the holiday was originally imported from the US was seen as evidence of an attempt at imposing capitalism and materialism in Mexican society.

The UNS and the clergy of the city of León interpreted the government's actions as an effort to secularize the holiday and to promote a more active role for women in society. They concluded that the government's long term goal was to cause women to abandon their traditional roles at home in order to spiritually weaken men. They also saw the holiday as an attempt to secularize the cult to the Virgin Mary, inside a larger effort to dechristianize several holidays. The government sought to counter these claims by organizing widespread masses and asking religious women to assist with the state-sponsored events in order to "depaganize" them. The clergy preferred to promote 2 July celebration of the Santísima Virgen de la Luz, the patron of León, Guanajuato, in replacement of Mother's Day. In 1942, at the same time as Soledad's greatest celebration of Mother's Day, the clergy organized the 210th celebration of the Virgin Mary with a large parade in León.

There is a consensus among scholars that the Mexican government abandoned its revolutionary initiatives during the 1940s, including its efforts to influence Mother's Day. Today the "Día de las Madres" is an unofficial holiday in Mexico held each year on 10 May, because it's the date when it was first celebrated in Mexico.

Lupus Day Worldwide - M a y 1 0

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates auto antibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

Every day, more than 5 million people worldwide struggle with the often debilitating health consequences of lupus, a potentially fatal autoimmune disease capable of damaging virtually any part of the body, including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.

History

World Lupus Day began with a Proclamation 8 years ago by an international steering committee representing lupus organizations from 13 different nations when they met in Eaton, United Kingdom to organize the first observance of World Lupus Day. The Proclamation is a call to action for governments around the world to increase their financial support for lupus research, awareness and patient services.

The Proclamation reflects the emerging issues that people with lupus around the world must face every day. The Proclamation serves to give a single voice to all individuals affected by this devastating and debilitating chronic disease.

HUNGARY Minister of State Győri held talks in Vienna

Photo: Herbert Neubauer

(Online 28 Apr) Minister of State for European Affairs Enikő Győri represented Hungary in Vienna at the panel discussion “Returning to Europe: 10 years of integration”, EU along with Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia and Igor Senčar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.

Minister of State Győri attended the conference upon the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian Kurz and on the sidelines of the event she also met with Michael Linhart, Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Judith Gebetsroithner, European Policy Advito the sor Chancellor. During

the discussion they also touched upon the Ukrainian crisis, with respect to which, they agreed that Europe needed to assist Ukraine in its constructing state democratic structures.

Ms Győri underlined that the situation and the rights of minorities in Ukraine require special attention, in which she is counting on the cooperation of the new Kiev leadership. They agreed negotiations that are required with Russia, also involving the Ukrainian in government, order to resolve the conflict.

Special emphasis was made of the diversification of energy routes and procurement sources with a view to reducing energy dependence. unaniParties

The Holocaust was a tragedy of mankind, M inis te r M a r t ony i c a lls f or s t r onge r Hungarians and Jews as well EU Ea s t e r n Pa r t ne r s hip

Photo: Zsolt Burger

mously urged for the further enlargement of the European Union, while with respect to the impending institutional changes they agreed that further coordination will be required among the medium-sized EU Member States – like Hungary and Austria – in order to ensure appropriate representation in the EU institutions.

During the discussion mention was also made of the fact that the traditionally close and diverse AustrianHungarian relations point beyond the differences of opinion concerning the Land Act and the banking tax. With respect to the former, parties stated that both sides are interested in resolving their differences.

(Online 28 Apr) “The Holocaust, an unheard example of industrially executed terror, was the tragedy of mankind, Hungarians and Jews as well”, said Deputy PM Tibor Navracsics, Minister of Public Administration and Justice in Budapest during the commemoration of the Holocaust organized at the House of Terror Museum last Sunday.

As Tibor Navracsics phrased it, “the Hungary of the 20th Century was a country of answers wrong given in wrong sit-

were other possibilities”, but he pointed that “one thing is out of that question: every member of this nation looks for public good and the well-being of the country, even while arguing”. The Deputy PM emphasized that a political community could not live solely being “enclosed in the past and entangled in a web of analyses of -century 20th tragedies”. As he said: “When other nations of Europe are living in the 21st Century, we cannot afford ourselves to always

shall start the building of future of Hungarians in the 21st Century.”

Schmidt, Mária Director-General of the House of Museum Terror said in her speech that there is no excuse for what happened during the World War II European with Jews and in the perilous months of 1944, with Hungarian Jews. She said that it is not only the tragedy of Jewish people, but the tragedy of while Europe, that adding wedged shame between Hungarians and Jews durthe black ing

Vis e gr a d c oope r a t ion ha s ga ine d s ignif ic a nc e : M inis t e r M a r t ony i

Photo: Zsolt Burger

Photo: Endre Véssey

(Online 28 Apr) The Visegrad Group (V4) is more important today than when its member states joined the European Union in Foreign 2004, János Minister Martonyi said on Monday, address-

ation of a battle group is also essential, he said.

Mr Martonyi said the reunification of Europe was far from complete and this work must be continued. He said he agreed with Václav Havel, who

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák agreed at the V4 meeting that EU membership helps relations between V4 countries by making it necessary for them to channel disputes in a way that con-

defined central Europe as a cultural and intellectual entity which has turned into an economic and political reality.

After addressing the conference, the Hungarian Foreign Minister held talks with his

forms to EU norms. There are only a few issues on which there dissenting are views, he added.

As regards the crisis in Ukraine, Lajčák said Russia should not be isolated, nor was he in favour of

Photo: Endre Véssey

ing a conference marking the tenth anniversary of the EU accession of member ten states.

Mr Martonyi declared that the V4 group of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia had,

uations”. As he said, the debates running in the present are on whether all this was due to that Hungarians gave otherwise wrong answers to questions raised or the questions themselves were such of a kind, to which no good answer existed. He added that political communities today are based partially through remembrance on such debates.

However, according to Tibor Navracsics it is necessary and of vital importance in regard to the future that a sense of agreement is directing the opinions lying behind these arguments.

He said that “we could argue on political situations and on answers; we could dispute on whether there

the re-interpret tragedies of the last century, again and again.”

He stressed it too victims that be should and mourned buried, perpetrators should be found and punished, but we proceed should forward to the 21st Century. As the Deputy PM put it, “we should move on to the next century through getting over and learning from the tragedy of the 20th Century” and that the children of the last century must start the debates of the next one.

The closing remarks of Tibor Navracsics were that “we should hold each other’s hands and get on with the political debates and tragedies of the last century. We

spring of 1944.

The shame of the outcast was the disgrace of humiliation and majority was ashamed out of its impotence. These ‘versions’ of shame still here are among us, as Schmidt Mária said and her opinion is that not only grief, but also shame should be worked out.

She emphasized that when we remember, we must remember both victims and perpetrators, but those should not be forgotten, who had not lost their humanity during inhumane times.

The Director-General highlighted in this regard the example of József Antall, Sr. (18961974), father of József Antall, the first prime minister after the transition.

Photo: Ministry of Defence

(Online 29 Apr) European The Union's Eastern Partnership policy should be made and "deeper faster" in the current geopolitical situation, Foreign János Minister Martonyi declared at the press conference held after the meeting of foreign affairs officials from the

Visegrad Four and EU Eastern Partnership countries in Budapest on Tuesday.

The Eastern Partnership initiative has never been diagainst rected Russia but has been a means to bolster the ties between the EU and Eastern Europe, the HungarForeign ian

Minister stated.

Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle said that the Eastern Partnership does not mean that the EU would force the countries involved to make a choice, but gives them the to opportunity decide freely about their future.

J oining t he EU wa s Fa v our a ble f or bot h A gr ic ultur e a nd R e c ov e r y

(Online 30 Apr) "Hungary is clearly a beneficiary of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy and of having joined the EU", the Ministry of Rural Development's Minister of State for Agricultural Economy György Czerván declared at a conference organised in Budapest to mark the 10th anniversary of Hungary EU accession.

During two morning session held on the closing day of the series of events entitled "Shall we prosper or fall behind?

10 years in the European Union", current and former government politicians as well as reand searchers experts discussed the state of Hungarian agriculture and the utilisation of EU funding.

During the debate on Hungarian agriculture, the speakers agreed to all intents and purposes that joining the EU had had a positive effect on the agrarian sector.

This view was shared not only by Mr. Czerván, but

also by former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development József Gráf, who said that "accession to the EU is a success story with regard to agriculture".

Amongst other things, Mr. Gráf spoke about the fact that at the time of the EU accession talks, Hungary practically had to jump onto a moving train: while those responsible were discussing the conditions for accession to the European Union, in the adjoining room EU leaders were already discussing the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the CAP. With regard to the questions of negotiawhether tions could have been held differently and whether things could have been done in another way in retrospect, Mr. Czerván replied that we should perhaps have achieved a more rapid level of recovery in reference to the 25 percent funding provided to farmers initially in compari-

son with their Western counterparts, and that we should have fought more efficiently in the interests of receiving more support for the pig and poultry sectors.

Mr. Czerván emphasised that it is very important that we understand why agricultural EU funding is necessary and useful: to ensure that food rerelatively mains cheap. He also pointed out that it may be easy to harbour anti-EU sentiment, but this is not correct behaviour and will lead to no good if in the meantime we are in need of EU funding.

Director General of the Research Institute for Agricultural István Economy Kapronczai quoted a few figures in his introductory speech to prove the point, including the fact that while agricultural output in the EU had increased by 20.7 percent in 2011/13 compared to 2004/06, the growth index in Hungary within the same period was 22.7 percent.

NEWS IN PICTURES

ODESSA, UKRAINE - MAY 2: According to official information, 38 people died in a fire and 30 others were poisoned by carbon monoxide, in a building, during a clash, started between proRussian and pro-Ukrainian activists in the centre of Odessa and moved to the Kulikovo field, an area in which the proRussian activists' camp was situated and then was captured by pro Ukrainian activists, in Odessa, Ukraine, on May 2, 2014.

50 people, including 10 policemen, asked for medical care during the clashes.--AA Photo

ALEPPO, SYRIA - MAY 3: Bomb causes a wide hole after the warcraft attack of Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar Assad's regime that destroy buildings and vehicles in Aleppo, Syria on May 2, 2014.--AA Photo

Photo: Endre Véssey

despite difficulties, notched up major achievements. Whereas the question of the future of the V4 had been raised after the 2004 EU accession, its importance had since grown. One of the secrets of its success was resisting the temptation to allow more countries into its fold or to set up separate institutions in order to realise cooperation. Even the greatest optimists would have thought the huge developments and successes of the Visegrad Group unimaginable at the start of the 1990s, he added.

The V4's role and responsibility are increasing, the Hungarian Foreign Minister claimed. It is not known what will happen as a result of the armed Ukrainian-Russian conflict in the next few days, months or years, and the V4 has an important role to play in this question; the cre-

Visegrad counterparts, with the exception of the Czech foreign minister who could not attend.

They agreed that the EU had helped the Visegrad cooperation move forward and that the V4 had aided bilateral relations perhaps to an even greater extent.

Mr Martonyi noted at the meeting that surveys show that Hungarians are aligned with a pro-European position above the level of the EU average, "which, of course, does not mean that EU-scepticism does not exist in the country". He added that there is one Hungarian political party running in the EP elections which would hold a referendum on EU membership, but even this viewpoint has softe n e d substantially recently, which he said is proof that Hungarians essentially understand the benefits of membership.

sanctions. But it remains a moot point as to what other options countries will have at their disposal in the current situation.

"Negotiations would bring better results," he said.Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, said Ukraine would perhaps benefit from the decentralisation demanded by Russia, but it is up to Kiev to make this decision. He added that Russian speaking has not been put at a disadvantage in eastern Ukraine, where it is spoken by all; conversely, the Ukrainian speakers are now at at disadvantage.

Foreign Minister János Martonyi stated that it had been a grave mistake on the part of the new Ukrainian leadership to block the existing Ukrainian language law, and he called on Kiev to show tolerance towards all minorities in the country.

HAMBURG, GERMANY - MAY 2: Nearly 600 people attend the march held by friends of Diren to commemorate him, in Hamburg, Germany.--AA Photo

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT - MAY 2: 2 pro-democracy demonstrators had been killed when security forces dispersed their rally in the west of the coastal city of Alexandria.--AA Photo

HAMBURG, GERMANY - MAY 2: Nearly 600 people attend the march held by friends of Diren to commemorate him, in Hamburg, Germany.--AA Photo

NABLUS, WEST BANK - MAY 2: Israeli soldiers interfere the Palestinians protesting the separation barrier and the Jewish settlement in Nabi Salih.--AA Photo

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - MAY 2: "Middle Age Tale" festival, telling about the wars of the knights, is held in St Petersburg, Russia within the May holiday.--AA Photo

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MAY 2: Italian divers Tania Cagnotto - Francesca Dallape compete in Synchro 3m Springboard under FINA Diving World Cup in Moscow, Russia.--AA Photo