Independence Day Georgia - May 26
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads ofWestern Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. Georgia covers a territory of 69,700 km² and its population is almost 4.7 million. Georgia is a unitary, semi-presidential republic, with the government elected through a representative democracy. During the classical era independent kingdoms became established in what is now Georgia. The kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia adopted Christianity in the early 4th century. A unified Georgia reached the peak of its political and economic strength during the reign of King David IV and Queen Tamar in the 11th– 12th centuries. At the beginning of the 19th century, Georgia was annexed by the Russian Empire. After a brief period of independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Georgia was occupied by Soviet Russia in 1921, becoming the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic and part of the Soviet Union. After independence in 1991, post-communist Georgia suffered from civil unrest and economic crisis for most of the 1990s. This lasted until the Rose Revolution of 2003, after which the new government introduced democratic and economic reforms. Georgia is a member of the Council of Europe and the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development. It contains two de facto independent regions, Abkhazia andSouth Ossetia, which gained limited international recognition after the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Georgia considers the regions to be part of its sovereign territory under Russian military occupation.
Etymology
Ethnic Georgians call themselves Kartvelebi(ქართველები), their land Sakartvelo(საქართველო – meaning "a land of Kartvelians"), and their language Kartuli(ქართული). According to the ancientGeorgian Chronicles, the ancestor of theKartvelians was Kartlos, the great of the Biblical Japheth. The name grandson Sakartvelo(საქართველო) consists of two parts. Its root,kartvel-i (ქართველ-ი), specifies an inhabitant of the core central-eastern Georgian region ofKartli, or Iberia as it is known in sources of Eastern Roman Empire. Ancient Greeks(Strabo, Herodotus, Plutarch, Homer, etc.) and Romans (Titus Livius, Tacitus, etc.) referred to early eastern Georgians as Iberians (Iberoi in some Greek sources) and western Georgians as Colchians. Coat of Arms The terms "Georgia" and "Georgian" appeared in Western Europe in numerous early medieval annals. At the time, the name was folk etymologized – for instance, by the French chronicler Jacques de Vitry and the compiler John Mandeville – from Georgians' especial reverence of Saint George. Another theory, popularized by the likes of Jean Chardin, semantically linked "Georgia" to Greek andLatin roots, respectively, γεωργός ("tiller of the land") and georgicus ("agricultural"). The supporters of this explanation sometimes referred to classical authors, in particular Pliny and Pomponius Mela, who wrote of "Georgi" tribes, which were named so to distinguish them from their unsettled and pastoral neighbors. According to some scholars, "Georgia" could have been borrowed in the 11th or 12th century from the Syriac gurz-ān or -iyān and Arabic ĵurĵan or ĵurzan, derived from the New Persian gurğ or gurğān.
History
Prehistory:
The territory of modern-day Georgia has been inhabited by Homo erectus since the Paleolithic Era. The proto-Georgian tribes first appear in written history in the 12th century BC. Archaeological finds and references in ancient sources reveal elements of early political and state formations characterized by advanced metallurgy and goldsmith techniques that date back to the 7th century BC and beyond.
Antiquity:
The classic period saw the rise of the early Georgian states Diaokhi (XIII BC) of Colchis(VIII BC), of Sper (VII BC) and of Iberia (VI BC). In the 4th century BC a unified kingdom of Georgia—an early example It is said that Georgians were of advanced state organization under one king and an aristocratic hinamed because they revered erarchy—was established. The two early Georgian kingdoms of late antiquity, known to Greco- Saint George. Roman historiography as Iberia (Georgian: იბერია) (in the east of the country) and Colchis(Georgian: კოლხეთი) (in the west), were among the first nations in the region to adopt Christianity (in AD 337, or in AD 319 as recent research suggests). In Greek mythology, Colchis was the location of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and theArgonauts in Apollonius Rhodius' epic tale Argonautica. The incorporation of the Golden Fleece into the myth may have derived from the local practice of using fleeces to sift gold dust from rivers. Known to its natives as Egrisi or Lazica, Colchis was also the battlefield of the Lazic War fought between Byzantine Empire and Persia. After the Roman Empire completed its conquest of the Caucasus region in 66 BC, the Georgian kingdoms were Roman client states and allies for nearly 400 years. In 337 AD King Mirian III declared Christianity as the state religion, giving a great stimulus to the development of literature, arts, and ultimately playing a key role in the formation of the unified Georgian nation. King Mirian III's acceptance of Christianity effectively tied the kingdom to the neighboring Eastern Roman Empire which exerted a strong influence on Georgia for nearly a millennium, determining much of its present cultural identity.
Middle Ages:
The early kingdoms disintegrated into various feudal regions by the early Middle Ages. This made it easy forArabs to conquer most of eastern Georgia in the 7th century. The various independent regions would not be united into a single Georgian Kingdom until the beginning of the 11th century. Although Arabs captured the capital city of Tbilisi in AD 645, Kartli-Iberia retained considerable independence under local Arab rulers. In AD 813 the prince Ashot I – also known as Ashot Kurapalat – became the first of the Bagrationi family to rule the kingdom. Ashot's reign began a period of nearly 1,000 years during which the Bagrationi, as the house was known, ruled at least part of what is now the republic. Bagrat III (r. 1027–72) united western and eastern Georgia. In the next century, David IV (called the Builder, r. 1089– 1125) initiated the Georgian golden age by driving the Seljuk Turks from the country and expanding Georgian cultural and political influence southward into Armenia and eastward to the Caspian Sea. The Georgian Kingdom reached its zenith in the 12th to early 13th centuries. This period has been widely termed as Georgia's Golden Age or Georgian Renaissance during the reigns of David the Builder and Queen Tamar. This early Georgian renaissance, which preceded its West European analogue, was characterized by the flourishing of romantic-chivalric tradition, breakthroughs in philosophy, and an array of political innovations in society and state organization, including religious and ethnic tolerance. The Golden age of Georgia left a legacy of great cathedrals, romantic poetry and literature, and the epic poem "The Knight in the Panther's Skin". David the Builder is popularly considered to be the greatest and most successful Georgian ruler in history. He succeeded in driving the Seljuks out of the country, winning the major Battle of Didgori in 1121. His reforms of the army and administration enabled him to reunite the country and bring most lands of the Caucasus under Georgia's control. David the Builder's granddaughter Tamar succeeded in neutralizing opposition and embarked on an energetic foreign policy aided by the downfall of the rival powers of the Seljuks and Byzantium. Supported by a powerful military élite, Tamar was able to build on the successes of her predecessors to consolidate an empire which dominated the Caucasus, and extended over large parts of present-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, and eastern Turkey, until its collapse under the Mongol attacks within two decades after Tamar's death. The revival of the Georgian Kingdom was set back after Tbilisi was captured and destroyed by the Khwarezmian leader Jalal ad-Din in 1226. The Mongols were expelled by George V of Georgia, son ofDemetrius II of Georgia, who was named "Brilliant" for his role in restoring the country's previous strength and Christian culture. George V was the last great king of the unified Georgian state. After his death, different local rulers fought for their independence from central Georgian rule, until the total disintegration of the Kingdom in the 15th century. Georgia was further weakened by several disastrous invasions byTamerlane. Invasions continued, giving the Kingdom no time for restoration, with both Black and Whitesheep Turkomans constantly raiding it's southern provinces. As a result, Georgian Kingdom collapsed into anarchy by 1466 and fragmented into three independent Kingdoms and five semi-independent principalities. Neighboring empires exploited the internal division of the weakened country, and beginning in the 16th century, the Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire subjugated the eastern and western regions of Georgia, respectively. The rulers of regions which remained partly autonomous organized rebellions on various occasions. However, subsequent Persian and Ottoman invasions further weakened local kingdoms and regions. As a result of incessant wars the population of Georgia dwindled from 5 million in the 13th century to 250,000 inhabitants at the end of the 18th century. Eastern Georgia, composed of the regions of Kartliand Kakheti, had been under Persian suzerainty since 1555. With the death of Nader Shah in 1747, both kingdoms broke free of Persian control and were reunified through a personal union under the energetic king Heraclius II in 1762.
Georgia in the Russian Empire:
In 1783, Russia and the eastern Georgian Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti signed the Treaty of Georgievsk, which recognized the bond of Orthodox Christianity between Russian and Georgian people and promised eastern Georgia protection. However, despite this commitment to defend Georgia, Russia rendered no assistance when the Turks and Persians invaded in 1785 and in 1795, completely devastating Tbilisi and massacring its inhabitants. This period culminated in the 1801 Russian violation of the Treaty of Georgievsk and annexation of eastern Georgia, followed by the abolishment of the royal Bagrationi dynasty, as well as the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Pyotr Bagration, one of the descendants of the abolished house of Bagrationi would later join the Russian army and rise to be a general by the Napoleonic wars. On December 22, 1800, Tsar Paul I of Russia, at the alleged request of the Georgian King George XII, signed the proclamation on the incorporation of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti) within the Russian Empire, which was finalized by a decree on January 8, 1801, and confirmed by Tsar Alexander I on September 12, 1801. The Georgian envoy in Saint Petersburg reacted with a note of protest that was presented to the Russian vice-chancellor Prince Kurakin. In May 1801, under the oversight of GeneralCarl Heinrich Knorring Imperial Russia transferred power in eastern Georgia to the government headed by General Ivan Petrovich Lasarev. The Georgian nobility did not accept the decree until April 1802 when General Knorring compassed the nobility in Tbilisi's Sioni Cathedral and forced them to take an oath on the Imperial Crown of Russia. Those who disagreed were temporarily arrested. In the summer of 1805, Russian troops on the Askerani River near Zagam defeated the Persian army and saved Tbilisi from conquest now that it was officially part of the Imperial territories. Following the annexation of eastern Georgia, the western Georgian kingdom of Imereti was annexed by Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The last Imeretian king and the last Georgian Bagrationi ruler Solomon II died in exile in 1815. From 1803 to 1878, as a result of numerous Russian wars against the Ottoman Empire, several of Georgia's previously lost territories – such as Adjara – were recovered. The principality of Guria was abolished and incorporated into the Empire in 1828, and that of Megrelia in 1857. The region of Svaneti was gradually annexed in 1857–59.
Declaration of independence:
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Georgia declared independence on May 26, 1918 in the midst of the Russian Civil War. The parliamentary election was won by the MenshevikGeorgian Social-Democratic Party. Its leader, Noe Zhordania, became prime minister. In 1918 the Georgian–Armenian War erupted over parts of Georgian provinces populated mostly by Armenians which ended because of British intervention. In 1918–19 Georgian general Giorgi Mazniashvili led a Georgian attack against the White Army led by Moiseev and Denikin in order to claim the Black Sea coastline from Tuapse to Sochi and Adler for independent Georgia. The country's independence did not last long. Georgia was under British protection from 1918–1920.
Georgia in the Soviet Union:
In February 1921 Georgia was attacked by the Red Army. The Georgian army was defeated and the Social-Democrat government fled the country. On February 25, 1921 the Red Army entered the capital Tbilisi and installed a Moscow directed communist government, led by Georgian BolshevikFilipp Makharadze. Nevertheless the Soviet rule was firmly established only after a 1924 revolt was brutally suppressed. Georgia was incorporated into the Transcaucasian SFSR uniting Georgia,Armenia and Azerbaijan. The TSFSR was disaggregated into its component elements in 1936 and Georgia became theGeorgian SSR. Joseph Stalin, an ethnic Georgian, was prominent among the Bolsheviks, who came to power in the Russian Empire after the October Revolution in 1917. Stalin was to rise to the highest position of theSoviet Georgian girl holding a poster and candles during the 2008 Russostate. From 1941 to 1945, during World War II, almost 700,000 Georgians Georgian War fought in the Red Army against Nazi Germany. (A number also fought on the German side.) About 350,000 Georgians died in the battlefields of the Eastern Front. On April 9, 1989, a peaceful demonstration in the Georgian capital Tbilisi ended up with several people being killed by Soviet troops. Before the October 1990 elections to the national assembly, the Umaghlesi Sabcho (Supreme Council) – the first polls in the USSR held on a formal multi-party basis – the political landscape was reshaped again. While the more radical groups boycotted the elections and convened an alternative forum (the National Congress) with alleged support of Moscow, another part of the anticommunist opposition united into the Round Table—Free Georgia (RT-FG) around the former dissidents like Merab Kostava andZviad Gamsakhurdia. The latter won the elections by a clear margin, with 155 out of 250 parliamentary seats, whereas the ruling Communist Party (CP) received only 64 seats. All other parties failed to get over the 5%-threshold and were thus allotted only some single-member constituency seats.
Georgia after restoration of independence:
On April 9, 1991, shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia declared independence. On May 26, 1991, Zviad Gamsakhurdia was elected as a first President of independent Georgia. Gamsakhurdia stoked Georgian nationalism and vowed to assert Tbilisi's authority over regions such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia that had been classified as autonomous oblasts under the Soviet Union. He was soon deposed in a bloody coup d'état, from December 22, 1991 to January 6, 1992. The coup was instigated by part of the National Guards and a paramilitary organization called "Mkhedrioni" or "horsemen". The country became embroiled in a bitter civil war which lasted almost until 1995.Eduard Shevardnadze returned to Georgia in 1992 and joined the leaders of the coup — Kitovani and Ioseliani — to head a triumvirate called "The State Council". In 1995, Shevardnadze was officially elected as president of Georgia. At the same time, simmering disputes within two regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, between local separatists and the majority Georgian populations, erupted into widespread inter-ethnic violence and wars. Supported by Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, with the exception of some "pockets" of territory, achievedde facto independence from Georgia. Roughly 230,000 to 250,000 Georgians were expelled from Abkhazia by Abkhaz separatists and North Caucasian volunteers (including Chechens) in 1992–1993. Around 23,000 Georgians fled South Ossetia as well, and many Ossetian families were forced to abandon their homes in theBorjomi region and moved to Russia. In 2003, Shevardnadze (who won reelection in 2000) was deposed by the Rose Revolution, after Georgian opposition and international monitors asserted that the November 2 parliamentary elections were marred by fraud. The revolution was led by Mikheil Saakashvili,Zurab Zhvania and Nino Burjanadze, former members and leaders of Shevardnadze's ruling party. Mikheil Saakashvili was elected as President of Georgia in 2004. Following the Rose Revolution, a series of reforms were launched to strengthen the country's military and economic capabilities. The new government's efforts to reassert Georgian authority in the southwestern autonomous republic of Ajaria led to a major crisis early in 2004. Success in Ajaria encouraged Saakashvili to intensify his efforts, but without success, in breakaway South Ossetia. These events, along with accusations of Georgian involvement in the Second Chechen War, resulted in a severe deterioration ofrelations with Russia, fuelled also by Russia's open assistance and support to the two secessionist areas. Despite these increasingly difficult relations, in May 2005 Georgia and Russia reached a bilateral agreement by which Russian military bases (dating back to the Soviet era) in Batumi and Akhalkalaki were withdrawn. Russia withdrew all personnel and equipment from these sites by December 2007 while failing to withdraw from the Gudauta base in Abkhazia which it was required to vacate after the adoption of Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty during the 1999 Istanbul summit.
2008 military conflict with Russia:
2008 saw a military conflict between Georgia on one side, with Russia and the separatist republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other. In response to the shelling of Georgian towns around South Ossetia, supposedly by South Ossetian militias well equipped with Russian military supplies, Georgia massed military forces near the region. Russia also massed larger military forces near the border with South Ossetia. On August 7, Georgian forces began a massive artillery attack on the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, which started after months-long clashes between Georgian police and peacekeepers, and Ossetian militia and Russian peacekeepers. On early August 8, Georgian Army infantry and tanks, supported by Interior Ministry commandos, began pushing into South Ossetia, supported by artillery and multiple rocket launcher fire and Su-25 strike aircraft. After several hours of fierce fighting, Georgia had captured numerous villages throughout South Ossetia, and had captured almost all of Tskhinvali from Ossetian militia and Russian peacekeepers. A Russian peacekeepers' base stationed in South Ossetia was shelled, and personnel were killed. Units of the Russian58th Army, supported by irregular forces, subsequently entered South Ossetia through the Russian-controlled Roki Tunnel, and a three-day battle left the city of Tskhinvali heavily devastated. Georgian forces were driven out of South Ossetia, and Georgian villages were burned by Ossetian militia to prevent refugees from returning. The Russian Air Force launched a series of coordinated airstrikesagainst Georgian forces in South Ossetia, and multiple targets inside Georgia proper, but met heavy resistance from Georgian air defenses. The Georgian Air Force also managed to carry out air attacks on Russian troops throughout most of the battle. At the same time, the separatist Republic of Abkhazia launched an offensive against Georgian troops in the Kodori Valley with the support of Russian paratroopers, marines, and naval forces. Georgian troops offered minimal resistance and withdrew Russian paratroopers launched raids against military bases in Senaki, Georgia, from Abkhazia. The Russian Navy stationed a task force of sixteen ships off the coast of Abkhazia, and in a brief naval skirmish with Georgian missile boats and gunboats, sank a Georgian Coast Guard cutter. Following their defeat in South Ossetia, Georgian forces regrouped at Gori with heavy artillery. Russian forces crossed into Georgia proper, and all Georgian forces retreated toTbilisi, leaving some military equipment behind. Russian forces entered the city and occupied numerous villages completely unopposed. Irregulars such as Ossetians, Chechens and Cossacks followed and were reported looting, killing and burning. Russian troops removed military equipment abandoned by retreating Georgian troops in Gori, and also occupied the port city of Poti, where they sank several naval and coast guard vessels moored in the harbor, and removed captured military equipment, including four Humvees. Georgia lost a total of 150 pieces of military equipment (including 65 tanks), 1,728 small arms, and 4 naval vessels during the war. On August 12, President Medvedev announced an intent to halt further Russian military operations in Georgia. Russian troops withdrew from Gori and Poti, but remained in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which it recognized as independent countries. Georgia, on the contrary, considers those territories to be under Russian occupation. Russia also created temporary checkpoints in several locations inside Georgia, but gradually withdrew from them. Because of the intensive fighting in South Ossetia there were many disputed reports about the number of casualties on both sides, which targets had fallen under aerial attacks, the status of troop movements, and the most current location of the front line between the Georgian and Russian-Ossetian combat units. South Ossetian and Russian officials claimed the Georgian Army was responsible for killing 2,000, and later 1,400 South Ossetian civilians. These allegations have not been substantiated, and Human Rights Watch and European Union investigators in South Ossetia accused Russia of exaggerating the scale of such casualties. The actual death toll, according to the Russian Prosecutor's Office, is 162. Another 150 South Ossetian militiamen were also killed. Russian casualties totalled 67 dead or missing, and 323 wounded. Abkhaz forces lost 1 dead and 2 wounded. Georgian military casualties totaled 170 dead or missing, 1,964 wounded, and 42 taken prisoner. Georgian civilian casualties stand at 228, with a total of 12 police officers killed or missing. A Dutch journalist, Stan Storimans, was also killed.
Independence Day Guyana - May 26
Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and (for over 200 years) the British. It is the only state of theCommonwealth of Nations on mainland South America, and the only one on that continent where English is an official language. It is also a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has its secretariat headquarters in Guyana's capital,Georgetown. Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966, and became a republic on 23 February 1970. In 2008 the country joined the Union of South American Nations as a founding member. Historically, the region known as "Guiana" or "Guyana" comprised the large shield landmass north of the Amazon River and east of the Orinoco River known as the "Land of many waters". Historical Guyana is made up of three Dutch colonies: Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice. Modern Guyana is bordered to the east by Suriname, to the south and southwest by Brazil, to the west by Venezuela, and on the north by theAtlantic Ocean. At 215,000 km2, Guyana is the third-smallest independent state on the mainland of South America (after Uruguay and Suriname). Its population is approximately 770,000.
Etymology
The name "Guyana" is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that now includes Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and parts of Venezuela and Brazil. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name comes from an American Indian word meaning "land of many waters".
History
Guyana was inhabited by the Arawak and Carib tribes of Native Americans. AlthoughChristopher Columbus sighted Guyana during his third voyage (in 1498), the Dutch were the first to establish colonies: Essequibo (1616), Berbice (1627), and Demerara (1752). The British assumed control in the late 18th century, and the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. In 1831 the three separate colonies became a single British colony known as British Guiana. Since Independence in 1824, Venezuela has claimed the area of land to the west of the Essequibo river. Letters from Simon Bolivar warned the British government about the Berbice and Demerara settlers settling on land the Venezuelans claimed was theirs. In 1899 an international tribunal ruled the land belonged to Great Britain. Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966 and became a republicon 23 February 1970, remaining a member of theCommonwealth. The US State Department and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), along with the British government, played a strong role in influencing political control in Guyana during this time. The American government supported Forbes Burnham during the early years of independence because Cheddi Jaganwas a self-declared Marxist. They provided secret financial support and political campaign advice to Burnham's People's National Congress to the detriment of the Jagan-led People's Progressive Party, mostly supported by Guyanese of Indian descent. In 1978, Guyana received considerable international attention when 918 members, almost entirely American, (more than 300 of whom were children) of the Jim Jones-led Peoples Temple died in a mass murder/suicide in Jonestown – a settlement created by the Peoples Temple. An attack by Jim Jones' bodyguards at a small remote airstrip close to Jonestown resulted in the murder of five people, including Leo Ryan, the only congressman ever murdered in the line of duty in US history. In May 2008, President Bharrat Jagdeo was a signatory to The UNASUR Constitutive Treatyof the Union of South American Nations. Guyana has ratified the treaty.
Sorry Day Australia - May 26
National Sorry Day is an annual event that has been held in Australia on 26 May, since 1998, to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of the continent's indigenous population. The Australian government's most controversial policies resulted in an entire "Stolen Generation"—i.e., "Aboriginal children separated, often forcibly, from their families of origin in the interest of turning them into white Australians". 26 May carries great significance for the Stolen Generations, as well as for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and non-indigenous Australians. On 26 May 1997, the "Bringing Them Home" report was tabled in Parliament. The annual National Sorry Day commemorations remind and raise awareness among politicians, policy makers, and the wider public about the significance of the forcible removal policies and their impact on the children that were taken, but also on their families and communities.
Apology to the Stolen Generations
On 13 February 2008, then Prime Minister The Honorable Kevin Rudd moved a motion of Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples, apologising for past laws, policies, and practices that devastated Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples—in particular members of the stolen generations. This was the new parliament's first order of business, and Kevin Rudd became the first Australian Prime Minister to publicly apologize to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian federal government. Tom Calma AO, then Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission, delivered the formal response to the apology.
Reconciliation Week Australia-May 27
National Reconciliation Week was initiated in 1996 by Reconciliation Australia to celebrate indigenous history and culture in Australia and foster reconciliation discussion and activities. It is held between 27 May and 3 June of each year, with the dates holding special historical significance: the former marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum in Australia and the latter marks the anniversary of High Court of Australia judgement on the Mabo v Queensland of 1992.
Republic Day Azerbaijan - May 28
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR; Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Xalq Cümhuriyyəti) was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world (pre-dating the Republic of Turkey). The ADR was founded by the Azerbaijani National Council in Tiflis on 28 May 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire. Its established borders were with Russia in the north, Democratic Republic of Georgia in the north-west, Democratic Republic of Armenia in the west, and Iran in the south. It had a population of 2 million. Ganja was the temporary capital of the Republic as Baku was under Bolshevik control. Under the ADR, a government system was developed in which a Parliament elected on the basis of universal, free, and proportionate representation, was the supreme organ of state authority and Council of Ministers held responsible before it. Fatali Khan Khoyski became its first prime-minister. Besides the Musavat majority, Ahrar, Ittihad, Muslim Social Democrats as well as representatives ofArmenian (21 out of 120 seats), Russian, Polish, Jewish and German minorities gained seats in the parliament. Some members supported Pan-Islamist and Pan-Turkist ideas. Among the important accomplishments of the Parliament was the extension of suffrage to women, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim nation to grant women equal political rights with men. In this accomplishment, Azerbaijan also preceded the United Kingdom and the United States. Another important accomplishment of ADR was the establishment of Baku State University, which was the first modern-type university founded in Azerbaijan.
Anniversary of the death of President Ali Soilih Comoros - M a y 2 9
Ali Soilih, full name Ali Soilih Mtsashiwa, (January 7, 1937 – May 29, 1978) was a Comorian socialist revolutionary and political figure.
Biography Soilih was born in Majunga, Madagascar.
He lived much of his early life there, and was educated in Madagascar and France. During the early 1960s he went to Comoros and worked in agriculture and economic development.
Rise to power:
In 1970 Ali Soilih entered politics as a supporter of Said Ibrahim, leader of the Democratic Assembly of the Comoran People,Rassemblement démocratique du Peuple Comorien (RDPC), and soon developed an ideology based on hostility against France asformer colonial power. His ideas were somewhat influenced by Maoism but without renouncing his Islamic principles. Less than a month after Comoros gained independence from France, Soilih overthrew President Said Mohamed Jaffar and became head of a revolutionary council which took over Comoros. This occurred on August 3, 1975 when Soilih, whose adherents were barely armed, hired French mercenary Bob Denard to overthrow Abdallah. Soilih officially became President of the revolutionary council in January 1976. He adopted extended powers under the terms of a new constitution, and implemented socialist economic policies. In 1977 he held a referendum on his presidency, with 56.63% of voters endorsing it.
Revolutionary program:
Soilih embarked on a revolutionary program that was mainly directed against the traditional Muslim society of the country. His vision, based on a mixture of Maoist and Islamic philosophies, was to develop the Comoros as an economically self-sufficient and ideologicallyprogressive Islamic modern state. Condemned as wasteful and cumbersome, certain inherited customs of Comorian culture were abolished, like the 'Anda', the traditional "grand marriage", as well as traditional funerary ceremonies, criticized as being too costly. Soilih advanced the cause of the youth by discouraging the study of history and allowing young people to take more power. In order to reach his goal the voting age was lowered to fourteen and teenagers were put in positions of responsibility. Among the most striking of his reforms were some measures designed to gain the favor of the youth, like the legalization of cannabis and promoting the removal of the veil among the women of Comoros. Soilih created the 'Moissy', a young revolutionary militia trained by Tanzanian military advisers. The Moissy was a Comorian version ofMao Zedong's Red Guards and their methods were similar to those that had been employed by their Chinese counterpart during theCultural Revolution. Moissy units terrorised villages and specialized in violent attacks against conservative elders, formerly revered old men.
Consequences:
As a result of Soilih's confrontational policies, France, the former colonial power in the islands, terminated all its aid and technical assistance programs to Comoros. The teenage Moissy were perceived as a repressive political police, and their intimidation tactics and often random and chaotic activity caused widespread resentment among the Comorian population. Their humiliation at the hands of the Moissy and the undermining of their authority alienated the traditional leaders of the Comoros who resented the progressive elimination of age-old traditions. Growing discontent promoted by the political opposition resulted in four unsuccessful coup attempts against the Soilih regime during its two and a half-year existence. On May 13, 1978, Soilih was finally overthrown by a fifty-member European mercenary unit, hired by exiled former leader Ahmed Abdallah in France and led by French Colonel Bob Denard. After Abdallah took over, Soilih's policies were reversed and the name of the country was changed to "Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros", Abdallah became president, and Soilih was soon assassinated by Abdallah's supporters.
Aftermath More than a decade later, in 1989, Soilih's older half-brother, Said Mohamed Djohar, overthrew Abdallah, possibly with the help of Denard. He served as president of Comoros until 1996. The effects of the social policies of Ali Soilih are still apparent in the Comoros, particularly on Anjouan.
Prince Fredrik's Birthday Denmark - May 26
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, RE, SKmd (Danish: Frederik André Henrik Christian, Kronprins af Danmark, Greve af Monpezat; born 26 May 1968) is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.
and career Education On 14 January 1972 he became Crown Prince of
Denmark when his mother succeeded to the throne as Margrethe II. The Crown Prince attended elementary school at Krebs' Skole during the years 1974–1981, from 1974–1976 as a private pupil at Amalienborg Palace, and from the third form atKrebs' Skole. In the period 1982–1983, the Crown Prince was a boarder at École des Roches in Normandy, France. In 1986, Crown Prince Frederik graduated from the upper secondary school of Øregaard Gymnasium. In 1989, the Crown Prince began to study for an academic degree, when he began a course in Political Science at University of Aarhus. This included a year at Harvard University (1992–1993) under the name of Frederik Henriksen, studying political science. He then took up a position for three months with the Danish UN mission in New York in 1994. In 1995 Crown Prince Frederik obtained his MA degree in Political Science fromUniversity of Aarhus. He completed the course in the prescribed number of years with an exam result above average. His final paper was an analysis on the foreign policy of the Baltic States, which he had visited several times during his studies. The Crown Prince was posted as First Secretary to the Danish Embassy in Paris from October 1998 to October 1999. He has completed extensive military studies and training in all three services, notably completing education as a sailor in the naval elite special operations forces (members of this are known as frogmen or frømænd in Danish). His frogman nickname is "Pingo". In the period 2001 and 2002, the Crown Prince completed further training for leaders at the Royal Danish Defence College. Crown Prince Frederik remains active in the defence, and in the period 2002–2003 served as a staff officer at Defence Command Denmark, and from 2003 as a senior lecturer with the Institute of Strategy at the Royal Danish Defence College.
Military service:
The Royal Life Guard 1986. Lieutenant in the Reserve (Army) 1988. Reconnaissance Platoon Commander with the Royal Guard Hussars’ Regiment 1988. First Lieutenant in the Reserve (Army) 1989. Royal Danish Navy Frømandskorpset 1995 (equivalent to the Royal Navy Special Boat Service, or US Navy
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SEALs). First Lieutenant in the Reserve (Navy) 1995. • Captain in the Reserve (Army) 1997. • Lieutenant Commander in the Reserve (Navy) 1997. • Royal Danish Air Force Flying School 2000 • Captain in the Reserve (Air Force) 2000. • Command and General Staff Course, Royal Danish De• fence College 2001-2002. Commander (Navy) and Major (Army, Air Force) 2002. • Staff Officer, Defence Command Denmark 2002-2003. • Senior lecturer with the Institute of Strategy at the Royal • Danish Defence College, 2003-. Commander, senior grade (Navy), lieutenant colonel (Air • force, Army) 2004. Captain (Navy), Colonel (Air Force, Army) 2010. • The Crown Prince in Vágur, Faroe
Islands, on 21 June 2005. Marriage and children In the Council of State on 8 October 2003, Queen Margrethe gave her consent to the marriage of Crown Prince Fred-
erik to Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian marketing consultant whom the prince met when he was attending the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The wedding took place on 14 May 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, Copenhagen. On 25 April 2005 the Danish royal court announced that Crown Princess Mary was pregnant with the couple's first child, and on 15 October 2005 she gave birth to a Prince. As it is a tradition in the Royal House that kings are named Frederik or Christian in alternating order, the baby was baptised Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John on 21 January 2006. On 26 October 2006, the Danish court announced that the Crown Princess was pregnant with her second child. On 21 April 2007, The Crown Princess gave birth to a baby daughter at Copenhagen University Hospital, the first Danish princess born since 1946. The Crown Prince was at his wife's side the entire time. Their daughter was christened PrincessIsabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe on 1 July 2007. The Crown Princess gave birth to Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at 10:30 am local time (weight 2.674 kg (5 lb 14 oz), length: 47 cm (18 in.), and Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda at 10:56 am (weight: 2.554 kg (5 lb 10 oz), length: 46 cm (18 in.) on 8 January 2011. The names were made public at their christening on Thursday, 14 April 2011, which took place at the Church of Holmen in Copenhagen.
Areas of interest
Scientific research, climate change and sustainability:
Frederik has a special interest in scientific research, climate change and sustainability. The Prince was interviewed by Financial Times and CNN International, in the Future Cities program, for their commitment to sustainability. He participated in expeditions, forums and events on climate. The prince has represented Denmark as a promoter of sustainable Danish energy. The prince was one of the authors of the Polartokt Kongelig (Polar Cruise Royal), about the challenges of climate, published in 2009 with a preface written by Kofi Annan. In 2010, wrote the book's foreword Naturen og klimaændringerne i Nordøstgrønland (The nature and climate change in Greenland). Supports scientific research projects, as a patron, as expeditionary, with regular attendance at events and through his foundation, Kronprins Frederiks Fond.
Sports and Health:
The Prince encourages Danish participation in sports. He is a patron and honorary member of various sports organizationsand a member of the International Olympic Committee. He also promotes an active lifestyle in society. Frederik is an avid sportsman, running marathons in Copenhagen, New York and Paris, and completing the 42 kilometers with a respectable time of 3 hours, 22 minutes and 50 seconds in the Copenhagen Marathon. Frederik is a keen sailor, being a competitive Farr 40 skipper as well as an accomplished Dragon sailor. He won victories and was a leader in the steps championships. He finished in fourth place in the European Championship Dragon Class 2003 (with 51 boats participating), and at number 4 in the Farr 40 Worlds 2008 (with 33 boats participating). He was the first in his class boat inFyn Cup 2010 in Denmark, and at number 2 in the Dragon DM 2011 (with 25 boats participating).
Crown Prince Frederik’s Foundation
The purpose of the foundation is to provide financial assistance to students of social policy and sciences, for one year’s study at Harvard. and provide financial support for scientific expeditions, particularly to foreign parts of the world, including Greenland and the Faeroe Islands and sports purposes, including those with a particularly social aspect.
Patronages • Aarhus University Male Choir
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Copenhagen International Furniture Fair Danish Deaf Association Danish Design Center Danish Railway Museum in Odense Juullip Nipitittagaa / The Greenlandic Christmas-Seal Foundation Odense International Film Festival Plant a Tree Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus Royal Awards for Sustainability Save the Children Fund The Anders Lassen Foundation The Association of Fine Arts (Kunstforeningen GL STRAND) The Associations of the Guard Hussars The Blood Donors in Denmark The Cabinetmakers’ Autumn Exhibition The Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland The Danish Association of the Hard of Hearing The Danish Dyslexia Organisation The Danish Military Sports Association The Danish National Committee of United World Col leges The Danish Naval Officers' Club The Danish Pleasure Crafts Safety Board The Danish Tennis Association The Foreign Policy Society The Georg Jensen Prize The Greenlandic Society The Naval-Lieutenant-Society The Soldiers’ Grant
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Honorary Vice-President of The Siam Society in Thailand Patron for Danish Red Cross Member of ISAF's (International Sailing Federation) Events Committee Member of IOC (International Olympic Committee) Member of Young Global Leaders
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Honorary tasks President of The Royal Danish Geographical Society
Arms of Crown Prince Frederik
Titles, styles, honours and arms
No-Tobacco Day Worldwide - M a y 3 1
World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed around the world every year on May 31. It is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe. The day is further intended to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to 5.4 million deaths worldwide annually. The member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. In the past twenty years, the day has been met with both enthusiasm and resistance across the globe from governments, public health organizations, smokers, growers, and the tobacco industry.
WHO and World No Tobacco Day World No Tobacco Day is one of many other world health aware-
ness days throughout the year organized by the WHO, including World Mental Health Day, World AIDS Day, and World Blood Donor Day, among others.
Timeline:
In 1987, the World Health organization of the WHO passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for April 7, 1988 to be "a world no-smoking day". April 7, 1988 was the 40th anniversary of the WHO. The objective of the day was to urge tobacco users worldwide to abstain from using tobacco products for 24 hours, an action they hoped would provide assistance for those trying to quit. In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed by the World Health Assembly, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on May 31. Since then, the WHO has supported World No Tobacco Day every year, linking each year to a different tobacco-related theme. In 1998, the WHO established the Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI), an attempt to focus international resources and attention on the global health epidemic of tobacco. The initiative provides assistance for creating global public health policy, encourages mobilization across societies, and supports the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The WHO FCTC is a global public health treaty adopted in 2003 by countries across the globe as an agreement to implement policies that work towards tobacco cessation. In 2008, on the eve of the World No Tobacco Day the WHO called for a worldwide ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. The theme of that year’s day was Tobacco-free youth; therefore, this initiative was especially meant to target advertising efforts aimed at youth. According to the WHO, the tobacco industry must replace older quitting or dying smokers with younger consumers. Because of this, marketing strategies are commonly observed in places that will attract youth such as movies, the Internet, billboards, and magazines. Studies have shown that the more youth are exposed to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to smoke.
Themes: Discussion:
Each year, the WHO selects a theme for the day in order to create a more unified global message for WNTD. This theme then becomes the central component of the WHO’s tobacco-related agenda for the following year. The WHO oversees the creation and distribution of publicity materials related to the theme, including brochures, fliers, posters, websites, and press releases. In 2008 for the theme Tobacco-free youth, Youtube videos were created as a part of the WNTD awareness campaign, and podcasts were first used in 2009. In many of its WNTD themes and related publicity-materials, the WHO emphasizes the idea of “truth.” Theme titles such as “Tobacco kills, don’t be duped” (2000) and “Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise” (2006) indicate a WHO belief that individuals may be misled or confused about the true nature of tobacco; the rationale for the 2000 and 2008 WNTD themes identify the marketing strategies and “illusions” created by the tobacco industry as a primary source of this confusion. The WHO’s WNTD materials present an alternate understanding of the “facts” as seen from a global public health perspective. WNTD publicity materials provide an “official” interpretation of the most up-to-date tobaccorelated research and statistics and provide a common ground from which to formulate anti-tobacco arguments around the world.
List:
2012 Tobacco Industry Interference 2011 The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 2010 Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women 2009 Tobacco health warnings 2008 Tobacco-free youth 2007 Smoke free inside 2006 Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise 2005 Health professionals against tobacco 2004 Tobacco and poverty, a vicious circle 2003 Tobacco free film, tobacco free fashion 2002 Tobacco free sports 2001 Second-hand smoke kills 2000 Tobacco kills, don't be duped 1999 Leave the pack behind 1998 Growing up without tobacco 1997 United for a tobacco free world 1996 Sport and art without tobacco: play it tobacco free 1995 Tobacco costs more than you think 1994 Media and tobacco: get the message across 1993 Health services: our windows to a tobacco free world 1992 Tobacco free workplaces: safer and healthier 1991 Public places and transport: better be tobacco free 1990 Childhood and youth without tobacco: growing up without tobacco 1989 Women and tobacco: the female smoker: at added risk 1988 Tobacco or Health: choose health
Event coordination:
The WHO serves as a central hub for coordinating WNTD events around the world. The WHO website provides a place for groups to register their planned WNTD events. The WHO publishes this information, by country, on its website. The registry helps foster communication and awareness between groups (locally, nationally, and globally) interested in the public health effects of tobacco, and it also serves as a way for interested individuals to quickly see if there is an event in their area.
Awards:
Since 1988 the WHO has presented one or more Awards to organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions to reducing tobacco consumption. World No Tobacco Day Awards are given to individuals from six different world regions (Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific), and Director-General Special Awards and Recognition Certificates are given to individuals from any region.
Global observance
Groups around the world—from local clubs to city councils to national governments—are encouraged by the WHO to organize events each year to help communities celebrate World No Tobacco Day in their own way at the local level. Past events have included letter writing campaigns to government officials and local newspapers, marches, public debates, local and national publicity campaigns, anti-tobacco activist meetings, educational programming, and public art. In addition, many governments use WNTD as the start date for implementing new smoking bans and tobacco control efforts. For example, on May 31, 2008, a section of the Smoke Free Ontario Act came into effect banning tobacco "power walls" and displays at stores, and all hospitals and government offices in Australia will become smoke free on May 31, 2010. The day has also been used as a springboard for discussing the current and future state of a country as it relates to tobacco. For example, in India, (which, with 120 million smokers, has one of the highest rates of tobacco consumption in the world), a special section of the Indian journal Current Science, together with the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, was published in time for WNTD, 2009. This section examined tobacco use and control in India in an attempt to spread awareness and build support for stricter tobacco control.
Resistance
For some, WNTD is nothing more than a “futile attempt to curb smoking” which has little to no visible effect in places like the former USSR, India, and China. For others, WNTD is seen as a challenge to individual freedom of choice or even a culturally acceptable form of discrimination. From ignoring WNTD, to participating in protests or acts of defiance, to bookending the day with extra rounds of pro-tobacco advertisements and events, smokers, tobacco growers, and the tobacco industry have found ways to make their opinions of the day heard.
Smoker response:
There has been no sustained or widespread effort to organize counter-WNTD events on the part of smokers. There is, however, an active community of smokers’ rights advocates who see the WNTD as unfairly singling them out and challenging their rights. The WHO maintains a listing of these organizations on its website. Some small groups have created local pro-smoking events. For example, the Oregon Commentator, an independent conservative journal of opinion published at the University of Oregon, hosted a “Great American Smoke-in” on campus as a counter to the locally more widespread Great American Smokeout: “In response to the ever-increasing vilification of smokers on campus, the Oregon Commentator presents the Great American Smoke-in as an opportunity for students to join together and enjoy the pleasures of fine tobacco products.” Similarly, “Americans for Freedom of Choice” a group in Honolulu, Hawaii organized “World Defiance Day” in response to WNTD and Hawaii’s statewide ban on smoking in restaurants.
Industry response:
Historically, the tobacco industry has supported initiatives that provide resources to help smokers quit smoking. For example, Phillip Morris USA operates a “Quit Assist” website that acts as a guide for those who choose to quit smoking. Acknowledging the fact that quitting is possible puts the power back into the hands of the individual and therefore alleviates responsibility from the tobacco companies. Additionally, advocating for cessation of smoking can allow companies to still advocate for alternative forms of tobacco, while cessation of tobacco would eliminate business completely. World No Tobacco Days have not induced a positive vocal response from the tobacco industry. For example, a memo made publicly available through www.tobaccoarchives.com was sent out to executives of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in preparation for the third annual World No Tobacco Day, which had the theme of “Childhood and Youth Without Tobacco.” The memo includes a warning about the upcoming day, a document that explains the arguments they anticipate the WHO making, and an explanation of how the company should respond to these claims. For example, in response to the anticipated argument that their advertisements target children, the company’s response includes arguments that claim their advertisements are targeted towards adults by using adult models, and that advertisements lack the power to influence what people will actually purchase. In Uganda, since the World No Tobacco Day is the one day that the media is obligated to publicize tobacco control issues, the British American Tobacco company uses the eve of the day to administer counter-publicity. In 2001, their strategy included events such as a visit with the President of the International Tobacco Growers Association. Unlike the tobacco industry, some big pharmaceutical companies do publicly support WNTD. For example, Pfizer was a large sponsor for many WNTD events in the United Arab Emirates in 2008. At the time, Pfizer was preparing to release its drug Champix (Varenicline) into the Middle Eastern market. The drug was “designed to activate the nicotinic receptor to reduce both the severity of the smoker's craving and the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine.”
Grower response:
Many tobacco growers feel that anti-tobacco efforts by organizations such as the WHO jeopardize their rights. For example, the International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) argues that poor farmers in Africa may suffer the consequences if WHO anti-tobacco movements succeed. They also argue that these efforts may gang up on manufacturers of tobacco and be an attack on the industry, therefore hurting the growers.
Independence Day Samoa - Jun 01
Titles and styles:
26 May 1968 – 14 January 1972: His Royal Highness Prince Frederik of Denmark • 14 January 1972 – 29 April 2008: His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark • 29 April 2008 – present: His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat • His official title in Danish is Hans Kongelige Højhed Kronprins Frederik til Danmark, Greve af Monpezat. If he succeeds to the throne and uses his first given name as his regnal name, he would be known as Frederik X. But if he uses his last given name, he'll be known as Christian XI.
Danish honours and decorations:
He has a number of decorations, the most notable of which are: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (R.E.) • Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (S.Kmd.) • Silver Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog • The Silver Jubilee Medal of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (accession to the Danish • throne) Commemorative 70th Birthday Medal of Her Majesty The Queen (Em.16.apr.2010.) •
Foreign decorations:
Belgium : Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold Brazil : Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross of Brazil Brazil : Grand Cross of the Order of the Rio Branco of Brazil Bulgaria : Order of Stara Planina, 1st Class, of Bulgaria Estonia : Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class, of Estonia Finland : Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland Germany : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Greece : Grand Cross of the Order of Honour of Greece Iceland : Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon Italy : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum Jordan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Renaissance of Jordan Latvia : Grand Officer of the Order of the Three Stars Luxembourg : Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau Nepal : Grand Cross of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya of Nepal Norway : Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav Romania : Grand Cross rank of the Order of the Star of Romania Sweden : Knight of the Order of the Seraphim Thailand : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
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Indian Arrival Day - May 30 Trinidad & Tobago
Indian Arrival Day is a holiday celebrated on various days in the nations of the Caribbean and the island nation of Mauritius, usually commemorating the arrival of people from the Indian subcontinent to that nation as indentured labor brought by British colonial authorities and their agents.
T&T
Indian Arrival Day is a holiday celebrated on May 30 in Trinidad and Tobago each year since the 1990s. It commemorates the first arrivals from the Indian subcontinent to Trinidad, on May 30, 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack (a rendering of the Arabic Fath Al Razak'Victory to Allah the Sustainer'). The many versions of the spelling for this historic ship reflects the difficulties of pronunciation and transliteration of foreign and East Indian names in Trinidad (as with the street festival of "Muhurram" or "Hosay" and "Hussay").
History of the celebration Indian Arrival Day was first celebrated in
Skinner Park, San Fernando, as the East Indian Centenary on May 30, 1945 which marked the hundredth anniversary of the coming of Indians to Trinidad. The Acting Governor representing the Government of the United Kingdom attended indicating the significance of the observance. Other local dignitaries who addressed the large crowd included Timothy Roodal,George Fitzpatrick, Adrian Cola Rienzi, and Murli J. Kirpalani. Greetings were also read from Mahatma Gandhi, Lord Wavell, and Colonel Stanley, the Secretary of State for the Colonies. After the 1945 Centenary extravaganza, however, the celebration of the anniversary of May 30 gradually declined. By the 1950s, theEast Indians who followed the Fatel Razack as immigrants to Trinidad were brought over not as free immigrants and farmers, but as "coolies". By the early seventies only the Hindu group the Divine Life Society of Chaguanas was staging an annual procession and ceremony under the name Indian Emigration Day. Indian Emigration Day, as it was called then, had been celebrated by various organizations after 1945 with limited success. By 1973 the latest was organized by the Divine Life Society, which had organized small annual processions in Chaguanas for Indian Emigration Day. By the late seventies even that small remembrance was dwindling. In 1976 the Indian Revival and Reform Association (IRRA) was formed. They were concerned about racism against Indians and were interested in developing ideas, writing pamphlets to bring about an Indian revival and renewed pride in Indian heritage and Indian culture. The IRRA wanted to preserve the good things about Indian heritage and reform the ones that were no longer useful or relevant. The anniversary of the coming of Indians to Trinidad was one of the good things that came to the IRRA notice. In 1977 IRRA formed committee was established to revive the memory of the coming of Indians to Trinidad on May 30, 1845 - Indian Emigration Day. The initial historic Committee comprised Anand Rameshwar Singh, Khalique Khan, Ramdath Jagessar, Rajiv Sieunarine, Azamudeen "Danny" Jang, Michael Sankar and Rajesh Harricharan. Rajnie Ramlakhan, Devanand Rameshwar Singh and Taj Hosein assisted in the first celebration. Anand Maharaj and Ashok Gobin was also instrumental in the second celebration The first active step was taken in early 1978, when they produced and distributed an onepage pamphlet with the title “Indian Emigration Day May 30, 1978”. It gave a brief account of the coming of Indians in 1845, and the importance of the event. The names of the first pioneers on the Fath-al Razack were listed, and there was a short description of the achievements of Indians in Trinidad since 1845. The Trinidad Express carried a press release, and the Trinidad Guardian printed an article by Kusha Haracksingh on the voyage of the Fath-al Razack. Mastana Bahar dedicated a show to Indian Emigration Day. San Fernando Secondary School organized a celebration. A major turning point occurred in 1979 when the group expanded by approaching the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha. The SDMS Secretary General Satnarayan Maharaj receptive to the idea, agreed to organize a major celebration at Lakshmi Girls College on May 27, 1979. IRRA and the SDMS in discussions agreed that Indians were no longer emigrants to Trinidad, but citizens who had arrived 134 years before. At a meeting held at Khalique's residence in Ward Lane, El Socorro, the group decided that the named should be changed to reflect our presence. Azamudeen Jang suggested the name Indian Arrival Day. The 1979 celebration was a great success and included the presence of some of the original immigrants born in India. Government ministers Sham and Kamal Mohammed were there, as was the Indian High Commissioner and Presbyterian Church moderator Idris Hamid. The event was widely covered by the local media and immediately knew about the event. In fact it took just two years and an idea to revive the memory of the Arrival of Indians in Trinidad to awaken the entire Indian community in Trinidad.The group decided to meet other community leaders and encourage them to start celebrations in their district. This was widely accepted and under the guidance of the original members, Indian Arrival Day celebration was finally established in Trinidad and Tobago. Subsequent years the Hindu Seva Sangh and other smaller groups approached the IRRA for guidance in developing in various communities throughout Trinidad. By 1980 Indian Arrival Day celebrations were held at the Spring Village, Cedros, Penal, San Juan, Chaguanas, and many other parts of the country. The National Joint Action Committee, the Catholic Church, libraries, mosques, mandirs and schools at this point joined in the observances. In a remarkably short time, Indian Arrival Day was sweeping through the country. By 1985 there were more than 10 significant Indian Arrival Day celebrations taking place. The Hindu community took the lead in the development of the celebrations. In 1991 Members of Parliament Trevor Sudama and Raymond Pallackdarrysingh first introduced to the House of Representatives the concept that Indian Arrival Day should be made a national public holiday. This call to make Indian Arrival Day a public holiday continued to be unheeded until 1995 Prime Minister Patrick Manning declared that the 150th Anniversary would be a public holiday called Indian Arrival Day, but thereafter the holiday will be called Arrival Day. The 1995 celebrations surpassed the 1945 celebrations with the Maha Sabha having major celebrations in Trinidad. In 1995 Prime Minister Basdeo Panday declared that 30 May would be known as Indian Arrival Day and not Arrival Day. Ironically, in the birthplace of Indian Arrival Day – Trinidad – there is a lobby to remove the word 'Indian' from the name. In the 1990s the Maha Sabha expanded the Indian Arrival Day celebrations and dubbed May as "Indian Heritage Month" which ends on Indian Arrival Day.
Similar observances in other countries
Since its establishment in Trinidad, Indian Arrival Day has given rise to similar celebrations in Jamaica, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, there is no similar celebration in Fiji, South Africa or Kenya, which are also home to large Indian-origin populations.
Armed Forces Day - May 31 Brunei Darussalam
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces was formed on 31 May 1961. Known as the Askar Melayu Brunei, (Brunei Malay Regiment in Malay) it was honoured with the royal title on 31 May 1965, when the word 'Diraja' (Royal in Malay) was added to the title. It was then known as Askar Melayu Diraja Brunei, (Royal Brunei Malay Regiment). Since Independence Day, 1 January 1984, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment has been renamed as the Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (Royal Brunei Armed Forces in Malay). Only Brunei citizens of the Malay ethnicity (Bumiputera) are allowed to enlist in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The Malay ethnicity comprises the Belait, Bisaya, Brunei, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut, and Tutong indigenous races as defined in the Brunei constitution. Military service is not compulsory for any segment of the population; there is no conscription. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) use a wide range of foreign equipment, with a large percentage originating from the United Kingdom, France/Europe and the United States. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces is the largest of the armed services, with a relatively small air force and navy. The Bruneian military lacks any recent combat experience but has been deployed regionally in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. Brunei also has extensive military relations with Singapore. In 31 May 2011, Royal Brunei Armed Forces reached its golden jubilee.
Role and Organisation The Role of Royal Brunei Armed Forces is to: •
Deter any outside powers intending to undermine directly or indirectly in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Brunei, and to prevent any subversive elements actual or potential operating in the State of Brunei; • Undertake military operations to counter aggres sion, terrorism or insurgency; • Assist in maintenance of public order in support of the Police and Civil Authority, if called upon • Maintain good Community relations by which the Royal Brunei Armed Forces can be identified with the Government and Civil population of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces is divided into four branches: • Royal Brunei Land Forces • Royal Brunei Air Force • Royal Brunei Navy • Training Institute
Samoa officially the Independent State of Samoa (Samoan: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Sāmoa), formerly known as Western Samoa, is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in Polynesia, Savai'i. The capital city, Apia, and Faleolo International Airport are situated on the island of Upolu. Samoa was admitted to the United Nations on 15 December 1976. The entire island group, inclusive of American Samoa, was called "Navigators Islands" by European explorers before the 20th century because of the Samoans' seafaring skills.
History
The oldest date so far from pre-historic remains in Samoa has been calculated by New Zealand scientists to a likely true age of circa 3,000 years ago from a Lapita site atMulifanua during the 1970s. The origins of the Samoans is closely linked to modern research about Polynesia in various scientific disciplines such as genetics, linguistics and anthropology. Scientific research is ongoing although a number of different theories exist; including one proposing that the Samoans originated from Austronesian predecessors during the terminal eastward Lapita expansion period from Southeast Asia and Melanesia between 2,500 and 1,500 BCE. The Samoan origins are currently being reassessed due to new scientific evidence and carbon dating findings from 2003 and onwards. Intimate sociocultural and genetic ties were maintained between the eastern Lapitacolonies and the archaeological record supports oral tradition and native genealogies that indicate inter-island voyaging and intermarriage between prehistoric Samoans, Fijians, and Tongans. Contact with Europeans began in the early 18th century. Jacob Roggeveen (1659–1729), a Dutchman, was the first known European to sight the Samoan islands in 1722. This visit was followed by French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729–1811), who named them the Navigator Islands in 1768. Contact was limited before the 1830s which is when English missionaries and traders began arriving. Mission work in Samoa had begun in late 1830 by John Williams, of the London Missionary Society arriving in Sapapali'i from The Cook Islands and Tahiti. By that time, the Samoans had gained a reputation of being savage and warlike, as violent altercations had occurred between natives and French, British, German and American forces, who, by the late nineteenth century, valued Samoa as a refuelling station for coal-fired shipping and whaling. According to Barbara A. West, "The Samoans were also known to engage in 'headhunting,' a ritual of war in which a warrior took the head of his slain opponent to give to his leader, thus proving his bravery." The Germans in particular began to show great commercial interest in the Samoan Islands, especially on the island of 'Upolu where German firms monopolised copra and cocoa bean processing; the United States laid its own claim and formed alliances with local native chieftains, most conspicuously on the islands of Tutuila and Manu'a (which were later formally annexed to the USA as American Samoa). Britain also sent troops to protect British business enterprise, harbour rights, and consulate office. There followed an eight-year civil war, where each of the three powers supplied arms, training, and in some cases, combat troops to the warring Samoan parties. The Samoan crisis came to a critical juncture in March 1889 when all three colonial contenders sent warships into Apia harbour, and a larger-scale war seemed imminent, until a massive storm on 15 March 1889 damaged or destroyed the warships, ending the military conflict. The Second Samoan Civil War was a conflict that reached a head in 1898 when Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States were locked in dispute over who should have control over the Samoa Islands. The Siege of Apia occurred during the Second Samoan Civil War in March 1899 at Apia. Samoan forces loyal to Prince Tanu were besieged by a larger force of Samoan rebels loyal to Mata'afa Iosefo. Supporting Prince Tanu were landing parties from four British and American warships. Over the course of several days of fighting, the Samoan rebels were defeated. American and British warships shelled Apia on 15 March 1899; including the USS Philadelphia. Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States quickly resolved to end the hostilities; with the partitioning of the island chain at the Tripartite Convention of 1899.
20th century:
The Tripartite Convention of 1899 partitioned the Samoan Islands into two parts: the eastern island group became a territory of the United States (the Tutuila Islands in 1900 and officially Manu'a in 1904) and is today known as American Samoa; the western islands, by far the greater landmass, became known as German Samoa after Britain vacated all claims to Samoa and accepted termination of German rights in Tonga and certain areas in the Solomon Islands and West Africa. By 1912 the German administration had apparently achieved its longterm objective of understanding the traditional forces in Samoa politics while maintaining a semblance of local participation in government. There was no more Tupu (King), nor even alii sili (similar to a governor), but the two Fautua (Advisors) were appointed. Tumua and Pule (tradi- Studio photo depicting preparational governments of Upolu and Savaii) were for a time silent; all deci- tion of the Samoa 'ava ceremony sions on matters affecting lands and titles were under the control of the c. 1911. Governor. To complete the process, theFa’alupega for all Samoa was revised. In a culture based on oratory, the Fa’alupega is a formal greeting which acknowledges those being greeted and their status. The Fa’alupega, which had been nationally accepted from at least the late 19th century (and probably for much longer than that), was as follows: "Tulouna a Tumua ma Pule, Tulouna a Itu’au ma Alataua, Tulouna a Aiga-i-le-Tai, Ma le Va’a-o-Fonoti, Tulouna a Tama ma a latou aiga Po’o aiga ma a latou tama". This firstly recognised the authority and identity of principal districts of Samoa through their spokesmen –Tumua ma Pule, Itu’au ma Alataua, Aiga-i-le-Tai, and the Va'a-o-Fonoti – and the highest titles which were bestowed by these groups. It concludes with the recognition of the great maximal descent groups of Samoa and their "sons" who had been chosen to hold the highest titles. The new Fa’alupega of German Samoa, which in its first line recognises the Kaiser (Kaisa), apparently required Malietoa Tanumafili and Tupua People in attendance at Tupua Tamasese to be sworn on oath to become advisors to the governing Tamesese's funeral. council: "Tulouna a lana Maiesitete le Kaisa o le tupu mamalu o lo tatou malo kasialika aoao. Tulouna a lana afioga le kovana kasialika o le sui o le kaisa I Samoa nei. Susu mai Malietoa, Afio mai Tupua Ua fa’amanatuiana ai aiga e lua I o oulua tofiga Kasialika o le Fautua. Tulouna a le vasega a Faipule Kasialika o e lagolago malosi I le Malo. Afifio mai le nofo a vasega o tofiga Kasialika o e usu fita I le tautua I le malo". The first German Governor, Wilhelm Solf, later went on to become Secretary for the Colonies of Imperial Germany. New Zealand troops landed on 'Upolu unopposed on 29 August 1914 and seized control from the German authorities, following a request by Britain for New Zealand to perform their "great and urgent imperial service." From the end of World War I until 1962, New Zealand controlled Samoa as a Class C Mandate under trusteeship through the League of Nations, then through the United Nations. There followed a series of New Zealand administrators who were responsible for two major incidents. In the first incident, approximately one fifth of the Samoan population died in the influenza epidemic of 1918–1919. In 1919 The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Epidemic concluded that there had been no epidemic of pneumonic influenza in Western Samoa before the arrival of the 'SS Talune' from Auckland on 7 November 1918. The NZ administration allowed the ship to berth in breach of quarantine; within seven days of this ship's arrival influenza became epidemic in Upolu and then spread rapidly throughout the rest of the territory. The second major incident arose out of an initially peaceful protest by the Mau (which literally translates as "strongly held opinion"), a non-violent popular movement which had its beginnings in the early 1900s on Savai'i, led by Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe, an orator chief deposed by Solf. In 1909, Lauaki was exiled to Saipan and died en route back to Samoa in 1915. By 1918, Samoa had population of some 38,000 Samoans and 1,500 Europeans. By the late 1920s the resistance movement against colonial rule had gathered widespread support during the mistreatment of the Samoan people by the New Zealand administration. One of the Mau leaders was Olaf Frederick Nelson, a half Samoan and half Swedish merchant. Nelson was eventually exiled during the late 1920s and early 1930s, but he continued to assist the organisation financially and politically. In accordance with the Mau's non-violent philosophy, the newly elected leader, High Chief Tupua Tamasese Lealofi, led his fellow uniformed Mau in a peaceful demonstration in downtown Apia on 28 December 1929. The New Zealand police attempted to arrest one of the leaders in the demonstration. When he resisted, a struggle developed between the police and the Mau. The officers began to fire randomly into the crowd and a Lewis machine gun, mounted in preparation for this demonstration, was used to disperse the demonstrators. Chief Tamasese was shot from behind and killed while trying to bring calm and order to the Mau demonstrators, screaming "Peace, Samoa". Ten others died that day and approximately 50 were injured by gunshot wounds and police batons. That day would come to be known in Samoa as Black Saturday. The Mau grew, remaining steadfastly non-violent, and expanded to include a highly influential women's branch. After repeated efforts by the Samoan people, Western Samoa gained independence in 1962 and signed a Friendship Treaty with New Zealand. Samoa, the first small-island country in the Pacific to become independent, joined the Commonwealth of Nations on 28 August 1970. In 2002, New Zealand's prime minister Helen Clark, on a trip to Samoa, formally apologised for New Zealand's role in the events of 1918 and 1929. In July 1997 the government amended the constitution to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa. The US territory of American Samoa protested the move, asserting that the change diminished its own identity. As of 2012 American Samoans still use the terms Western Samoa and Western Samoans to describe the independent State of Samoa and its inhabitants. Travel writer Paul Theroux noted marked differences between the societies in Samoa and American Samoa.
21st century:
From 7 September 2009, the government has changed the driving orientation for motorists and Samoans now drive on the left hand side of the road. This brings Samoa into line with many other countries in the region. Samoa is the first country in recent years, and the first in the 21st century, to switch to driving on the left. At the end of December 2011, Samoa jumped forward by one day, omitting 30 December from the local calendar, when the nation moved to the west of the International Date Line. This was designed to help the nation boost its economy by doing business with Australia and New Zealand. Before this change, Samoa was 21 hours behind Sydney, but the change means it is now three hours ahead. The previous timezone was agreed on 4 July 1892, to work in line with American traders based in California.
WORLDWIDE EVENTS NEWSPAPER CONGRATULATES GEORGIA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY 2013
W O R L D W I D E EVENTS NEWSPAPER CONGRATULATES NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM ON ARMED W O R L D W I D E NEWSFORCES DAY - 2013 EVENTS W O R L D W I D E EVENTS NEWSPAPER CONGRATUL A T E S INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY - 2013
PAPER CONGRATU L A T E S CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY - 2013
WORLDWIDE EVENTS NEWSPAPER CONGRATULATES REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN ON IREPUBLIC DAY - 2013
HUNGARY H unga r y s uppor t s a n int e gr a t e d EU e ne r gy m a r k e t : Gy őr i
N a t iona l C ons e ns us on R ot a r y Wing a nd A ir lif t C a pa bilit ie s
The Hungarian government has no disputes with Chancellor Angela Merkel
Photo: Barna Burger
(Online 23 May) Hungary supports the idea of creating an integrated EU energy market, but not price liberalisation until the smooth and efficient functioning of this market – said Minister of State responsible for EU Affairs Enikő Győri, after attending the meeting of the EU Ministers of European Affairs on 21 May 2013. The main theme of the meeting the preparation for the EU Summit on 22 May 2013. The Minister of State said it was positive in this respect that the so-called Final Conclusions of the Sumdealing with mit energy and taxation issues places a significant emphasis on energy prices. There is agreement that energy prices require discussion, however the parties disagree as to what extent price regulation should be left to the markets and to what extent authorities should be involved – said the Minister of State. pledges Hungary maximum support for the creation of an integrated energy market – emphasized Enikő Győri, who said that Hungary also supports the construction
of the required interconnections. The Minister of State pointed out that according to the agreement, the former will have to be implemented by 2014, whereas the latter by 2015. The objective of all this is would be to ensure that no Member State remains isolated in the European Union from an energy point of view. Enikő Győri also said that price regulation should not be left purely to the markets in the energy sector until this market functioning was smoothly and efficiently. “We cannot say at this moment that price liberalization would solve all our problems” – said the MFA Minister of State responsible for EU Affairs. She also revealed that some in the Council of Ministers would like to see undertakings for 2030 already, but the Hungarian position on this is that the objectives undertaken so far should be met first, after which impact studies and cost effianalyses ciency should be prepared on the new undertakings. Hungary also considers it important that Europe should access energy from
as many sources and through as many routes as possible – said Enikő Győri. “The bottom line is that there should be alternative sources and routes” – she said. With respect to the other main topic of the May 22 Summit – tax evasion, tax fraud and aggressive tax planning – Enikő Győri recalled that about 2.5% of the GDP of the entire European Union is not collected because of tax evasion. If this revenue was collected – either at EU or at Member State level – and this money could be spent on creating jobs, then this would exercise a significant impact on crisis management, for example – said the Minister of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who thought that steps against tax evasion and tax fraud should also be taken at an international level, within the G8, the G20 and the OECD. Enikő Győri welcomed the fact that she did not detect any efforts towards using this to support tax harmonisation, because – as she said – Hungary would not be a partner in this.
Crisis Management and Reform Policy in Central and Eastern Europe (Online 24 May) On Friday, at a conference organized by the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice and the Public Policy Research Institute as part of the Hungarian presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI) – entitled ‘Crisis Management and Reform Policy in Central and Eastern Europe’ – Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics said that Brussels must see that the response to challenges faced by the region is of crucial importance to the whole European community. Mr. Navracsics added that EU leaders need to recognize the responsibility inherent in their role in the development of recent events in the region,
in order to ensure that economic, political and cultural system changes can reach fruition as a historic success. The Deputy Prime Minister underlined that the Central and South-eastern European region enriches and strengthens the entire continent in economic, cultural and political terms. ‘Because we have lived through them, we know what the consequences will be if the region is isolated and weakened: it will fall victim to totalitarian ideologies, ethnic hatred and crime; the EU needs to know what a threat this would pose for our democracy,’ he added. Mr. Navracsics went on to say that the
Central and Eastern European region is more than a geographical entity: it has something to say to those who are willing to find out more about the countries of the region than can be gained from photo galleries with eye-catching captions which – when viewed in distant capitals – convey the image of a ‘problem area’. ‘We are holding this event because the Government of Hungary and Hungarians are among those who want to participate in a deeper understanding of the politics and societies of Central and South-eastern Europe,’ said the Minister of Public Administration and Justice.
(Online 23 May) “We must generate the national rotary-wing capability, which means the creation of an economically operated and modern fleet meeting the challenges of the 21st century” – Minister of Defence Csaba Hende said in Budapest on May 22. In the morning of Wednesday, May 22, upon Minister of Defence Csaba Hende’s initiative a four-party consultation was held in the Ministry of Defence on the current state of the rotary and fixed-wing capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces. Besides the Minister of Defence, also present at the meeting were Csampa Zsolt (Fidesz), Imre Iváncsik (MSZP), Nándor (Jobbik), Jámbor Zsolt Németh (Jobbik) and Tamás Básthy (KDNP). At a press conference held after the meeting, Minister Hende said that they had reached a fourparty consensus and complete agreement on the key issues on the agenda. Both the rotary-wing and the fixed-wing capabilities must be preserved and recreated, because it is the interest of the country and the nation – in this spirit, the invitees unanimously thanked the Ministry of Defence for the professional preparation of these two issues, based on the available information. The four parties fully agree on the proand the cedure schedule drawn up by the MoD for managing these issues. Minister Hende told the press that the representatives of the parties had agreed that the rotary-wing and fixed-wing capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces were obsolete, and the final loss of capabilities would be totally impermissible and unacceptable. The Ministry is currently working out a
complex approach in order to be able to find the most economical and professional long-term solution, and to implement the optimal development projects. With the closedown of MALÉV, Hungary has been left without a state-owned airlift capability, so currently neither the military nor the civil nor the other state-level needs are satisfied, and the An-26 transport aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces are also obsolete. The goal is to create a state-owned airlift fleet, which would be able to carry out the tasks of passenger and cargo transport for Hungary and the Hungarian Defence Forces costeffectively and indeThis pendently. means airlifts to foreign missions and the delivery of hazardous materials to their destination that are not transportable by civil aircraft, the rescue of Hungarian citizens who are left stranded abroad because of extraordinary conditions and their rein-flight quired medical treatment, as well as the management of emergency organ transportation by air and the tasks of other state-level and law enforcement bodies abroad. The Minister pointed out that the national rotary-wing capability must be generated. This means the creation of an economioperable, cally modern fleet which meets the challenges of the 21st century, being capable of carrying out tasks related to territorial defence and allied commitments, disaster mana g e m e n t , counter-terrorism, air policing and other tasks of the national economy. The parliamentary parties gratefully approved the long-running preparations for the meeting, and the schedule for
generating the national rotary-wing capability. On this basis, a team of MoD experts will examine the needs of Hungary and the Hungarian Defence Forces in order to formulate the statements of requirements by this autumn, then it will prepare a tender meeting all these requirements. The Ministry will put forward the latter to the parliamentary parties at the next fourparty consultation, and then it will launch an EU public procurement procedure by the relevant laws. Potential bidders are required to hand in their proposals before next year’s parliamentary elections, so that the new government can make a virtually imdecision mediate about the procurement by a legal deadline. Answering a question, Minister Hende said that the Ministry of Defence adopts a complex perspective on generating the rotary-wing capability and on making the necessary capabilities available by operating the existing aircraft in the period until its creation. The number of aircraft to be upgraded and the extent of the upgrade will ensure the availability of necessary capabilities and Hungary’s security fort he period until the new and modern helicopters have entered service. “The Ministry of Defence will take the most cost-effective course of action regarding the limited life-cycle extension of the helicopters currently in our possession” – the Minister pointed out. The planned overhauls will be carried out with the greatest transparency possible and with full public control, by accepting the cheapest available proposal in an open public procurement procedure.
D e v e lopm e nt pr oje c t of ov e r H U F 4 bn c om ple t e d in Ege r
Legal issues should not be confused with political debates: János Martonyi (Online 24 May) In his opening lecture at the Pro Integratione 2013 conference on Friday, Minister Foreign János Martonyi declared that the system of European integration must be operated within a strict and welldefined legal framework, and if we confuse legal matters with political-ideological debates, then we endanger the operation of the entire system. Martonyi János pointed out that during the course of deepening our European intecertain gration principles, such as complying with the Treaties, must be inviolable, the trans-
parency of EU institutions must be preserved, and there must be legal guarantees that ensure the rule of law on a European level. The Hungarian Foreign Minister stressed that the advantages of Hungary’s EU membership compensate by far the disadvantages of membership. He claimed that the European Union had been confronted with three dilemmas; first the balance between political and economic union. János Martonyi said that political union is much more complicated and sensitive than economic union, and the former lags behind the latter.
The second dilemma is that the EU institutional framework is becoming increasingly complex and unfathomable, and the problem that needs to be addressed here is the growing distance between European institutions and citizens. The third dilemma is EU enlargement, for an organization that originally had six member states will soon have 28-30 members. This makes the decision-making process more cumbersome and increases the social, economic and political differences within the Union itself.
Photo: Gergely Botár (Online 24 May) ZF Lenksysteme Hungary, a manufacturer of steering systems,
tronic steering systems. Minister of State for Employment Policy
ering from the recession. Therefore, the coming years can be expected to be an era
Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n i s b a c k b o n e o f national economies (Online 24 May) The leaders of the specialised ministries of the Member Countries published a declaration on transport funding at the annual summit of the International Transport Forum held in Leipzig on 23 May 2013. The document, also approved by the Hungarian delegation by Minister of State for Infrastructure Pál Völner, calls for continuation of the policies aiming at the steady and sustainable financing of the sector. The discussions of specialist ministers gathered from all parts of the world focused on the way in which the funds can be raised for the operation of transport infrastructures, services and systems to meet present-day and future requirements. In accordance with the declaration, the governmental bodies and the sector must jointly look for new solutions
to ensure the steady and long-term financing of the sector. Transport infrastructure is much more than asphalt, concrete or steel: it is the backbone of national economies, providing connections for people and goods, access to jobs and services, enabling trade and the economy to grow. The declaration asserts that defining and identifying the full scope of costs and benefits are essential for setting up cost priorities in the case of substantial investments. Transparency and reliability of revenues in the transport sector are of key importance for the implementation of strategic objectives. The processes aiming at efficient cost control must be further developed and approved in a way that limits are set for the financing required for handing over the transport projects.
The document recognises that investments in transport – including reconstruction and maintenance – improve long-term productivity, boost construction industry activity and employment in the short-term and, therefore, they are particularly timely and topical measures in economies where growth is modest. The International Transport Forum (ITF) was founded in 2006 and counts 54 member countries at present. Hungary has been participating in the operation of the organisation and its legal predecessor, the Conference of European Ministers of Transport (CEMT) since 1991. The Forum holds its ministerial conference in Leipzig in once a year and the participants always focus on a single priority in the field of transport.
Roma immigration issue solved with Canada: Zsolt Németh (Online 24 May) During his visit to Canada, Parliamentary State Secretary Zsolt Németh declared that issues concerning Hungarian Roma immigrants in Canada have been resolved thanks to continuous bilateral dialogue, thereby bypassing any reintroduction of visas for Hungarian visitors. In February, Canada’s Immigration Ministry reported that the number of Hungarian asylum-seekers had dropped to almost zero after Canada introduced a more stringent evaluation system for immigrants.
Zsolt Németh, on his three-day visit to Canada, held talks with Minister for Immigration Jason Kenney, Deputy Foreign Minister Morris Rosenberg, Chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee Raynell Andreychuk, and with members of the Canadian Parliament. The Hungarian State Secretary emphasised that he had voiced support for plans to sign a free trade agreement between the European Union, the United States and Canada. The agreement could boost HungaryCanada trade by up to 20-30%, he said.
The talks also touched upon Hungary’s plan to re-open its consulate general in Toronto, which is supported by Canada and sought by the country’s Hungarian community, Németh said. The consulate general could play a major role in facilitating applications for Hungarian citizenship and in enhancing the identity of the Hungarian community in Canada. A lot of Canadian Hungarians live in the Toronto metropolitan area, which is also an economic hub, and is therefore important form the viewpoint of further developing bilateral trade relations.
Austrian and Hungarian experts discuss labour market prospects for youth in Burgenland (Online 23 May) Austrian and Hungarian professionals held a three-day conference on the labour market status of young people in Szalónak (Stadtschlaining) in the Austrian province of Burgenland, bordering Hungary. One of the most pressing issues in Europe is youth unemployment. The respective indicator is above 30 percent for eight EU member states. Youth unemployment in Hungary is also very high at 28 percent, Minister of State for Employment Policy Sándor Czomba told participants of the EXPAK
Austrian-Hungarian Expert Academy. However, he emphasized that despite the crisis there is still room to manoeuvre with regard to improving employment. This was the rationale for the reorganization of the secondary and tertiary education systems, within which steps have been taken to establish a dual training scheme that actively engages enterprises. He also mentioned the First Job Guarantee Scheme, aimed at improving youth employment, which helped 7300 young people find a job within four months in
2012, and some 50 percent of them were still employed after the fourmonth period was over. The employment scheme announced in February 2013 also includes guarantees for follow-up employment, and this measure has already helped 2000 young people find a job. The Minister of State also informed the audience that about half of employment-related housing subsidies, aimed at boosting labour mobility, had been applied for by young people below the age of 25.
Photo: Gergely Botár has expanded its existing production facility in Eger within the framework of a development project costing over HUF 4bn, the company announced as the new site was opened in the city. The subsidiary of the Germany-based ZF Lenksysteme Gmbh, which has 600 employees, received subsidies totalling HUF 1bn within the New Széchenyi Plan for increasing its output capacity of elec-
Sándor Czomba emphasized that the investment in Eger by the long-established company also signals that confidence in the country as well as in Hungarian skilled labour force remains high. In the opinion of the politician, the largest challenge Hungary is facing now is jumpstarting the economy and every single investment like this takes the country one step closer to recov-
of rapid investment and job growth. He also mentioned that Hungary and Germany, and their r e s p e c t i v e economies, are interconnected and the driving force behind this relationship is the car manufacturing industry. Thanks to the completed investment project and via suppliers, hundreds of jobs will be created in the region, Sándor Czomba pointed out.
(Online 23 May) The Prime Minister reiterated at a press briefing following an EU summit of heads of state and heads of government in Brussels that the Hungarian Government has no disputes whatsoever with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, nor does the governing Fidesz party with Germany's ruling CDU party. He said it was an unavoidable fact that Germany will hold elections in the autumn and Hungary does not wish to interfere in German domestic politics or “become a subject of
the campaign”. The Prime Minister added that the Hungarian Government will continue to reduce utility prices both for households and enterprises, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced. The Government will employ the instruments of the state to reduce the price of energy used by enterprises, he said. He added that Hungary has a vested interest in seeing a unified from of energy market, but it is more likely that this would happen only in the medium-term. He also noted that after a
long and painful process, Hungary should be able to exit the excessive deficit procedure, adding that there is a debate even within the government as to whether all of the measures announced two weeks ago are necessary. If needed, he would support raising the financial transaction levy, the bank tax and the “energy tax”, and possibly introducing a new tax on advertising. However, he stressed that no decisions have been made as yet.
Real wages increased further in March (Online 22 May) Average net wages – excluding family tax allowances -- increased at above the rate of inflation in JanuaryMarch 2013, by 4.2 percent year-on-year. According to the latest data by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), real wages also increased taking only the third month of the year into account. In light of the statistics, the average gross wage of those employed in a full-time job was HUF 229 691 within the national economy in March 2013, which corresponds to an increase of 3.2 percent in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year. The net wage – at HUF 150 448 – was up by 4.4 percent compared to March 2012, but this figures does not take into ac-
count the favourable effect of family tax allowances for children. This improvement equals a wage increase of 2.2 percent in real terms, with annual inflation of 2.2 percent recorded in March. In Q1 2013, the average gross wage of full-time employees was HUF 225 605 within the national economy. Employees earned, on average, HUF 234 744 and HUF 212 561 in the private and public sectors (the latter excluding public work employees), respectively, while the average wage of a public work employee was HUF 77 300. In the initial three months of the year, average gross and net wages were up by 2.9 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, within the national economy compared to the figures of the same
period last year. Average net wages in the private sector increased by 3.9 percent, while at budgetary institutions net wages were up 4.2 percent, excluding public work schemes. In the initial three months of the year, the purchasing power of wages increased in both sectors, whereas within the national economy wages increased by 1.3 percent in real terms parallel to an inflation rate of 2.9 percent in JanuaryMarch 2013. On the basis of the latest data, it was the third month that the purchasing power of wages increased within the national economy, which may exert a positive influence on economic growth via higher consumer demand.
Hungary must be taken off the name-and-shame list (Online 21 May) Provided the European Union's decision on the EDP against Hungary is in line with its standard procedure, Hungary must be allowed to stand up from the dunce’s seat where it had been placed by former governments, Minister for National economy Mihály Varga said in an interview for political daily Magyar Hírlap. The Minister said in the article that in the next two
weeks the Ministry will try to convince EU officials that Hungary will be capable of keeping the general government deficit below 3 percent of GDP this year and next. The country could achieve this without the introduction of additional corrective measures, but as the EU has insisted, it was necessary to announce further adjustments. Mihály Varga said he hoped that political and
legal issues are not mixed up with fiscal affairs in Brussels. The Minister also said he had not been informed at all by the three main credit rating agencies with regard to a potential upgrade for Hungary. “While markets are already with us, the credit rating agencies appear to be sticking to their old – professionally highly questionable – viewpoint”, Mihály Varga added.
Amendment to the Budget Act submitted to Parliament (Online 21 May) The Government has submitted an amendment to the 2013 Budget Act to Parliament which contains certain measures to ensure that Hungary exits the Excessive Deficit Procedure. With this, the Government aims to lay down fiscal cornerstones for 2013 such as HUF 15 325bn for headline revenues and HUF 16 205bn for headline expenditures with a deficit figure of HUF 879.8bn. In the summary for the rationale leading up to the proposal, available at the Parliament’s website, the Government emphasizes that the Bill contains measures proposed to be introduced with the aim of Hungary’s exiting the EDP and which fall under the scope of competency of the National Assembly and require amendment of the Budget, address the concerns of law-enforcers and include the fiscal effects of measures the Government has already implemented. The Government prescribes the payment of HUF 1.5bn by the Hungarian Financial Supervisory Authority, a body with its own budget, from which amount the first instalment of HUF 500 million is to be paid until 30 June, while the remainder shall be paid in equal monthly instalments. Certain so-called “constitutional titles”, independof Government ent control, also contribute to the improvement of the fiscal balance, and thus until 30 June 2013 fund
reserves of varying amounts shall be set side. The amounts to be earmarked, for example within the Parliament Fund (including, among others, titles for the Equal Treatment Authority or the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information), the Office of the President of Hungary Fund or the Constitutional Court Fund, total some HUF 500 million, HUF 26.3 million and 35.5 million, respectively. The two largest amounts to be frozen are appropriations for judicial courts (HUF 1.5bn) and public prosecutor’s offices (HUF 732.9 million). Pursuant to the amendment, the National Asset Agency Management (MNV) would not be entitled to take out a loan or act as a guarantor, but the MNV would be authorized to act on behalf of the Government of Hungary with regard to the issuance of securities issued by Hungary which would be guaranteed by financial instruments that constitute a state asset. The Act on Motion Pictures stipulates that at least 80 percent of gambling tax revenues from the Hatoslottó lottery shall finance the activities of the Hungarian National Film Fund. In order to support the Hungarian film industry, the proposal – similarly to the 2012 regulation – provides a higher amount of funding than stipulated by the relevant regulation. The proposal orders that
savings resulting from the mandatory retirement of public sector employees shall be paid to the central budget. In addition, with regard to debt assumption, this proposal harmonizes with the regulation on the taking over by central budgetary institutions of tasks carried out by providers of in-patient and related services and by state-owned business organizations and of their related procedural activities. In the summary of rationale regarding the measures required for the termination of the EDP, the Government emphasizes that it disagrees with the European Commission’s macro-economic prognosis on Hungary published on 3 May 2013, and it is of the opinion that the 2013 Budget would certainly be capable of meeting the 2.7 percent fiscal target even without the adjustments required by the Commission. The measures do not affect funding and subsidies earmarked for families and private individuals, but they influence the operational expenditures of the state administration. The cost-cutting measures – from the aspect of the amounts saved –primarily effect institutions that are under Government management, but also proportionately impact the institutional exof penditures organizations which are independent of Government control.
Draft ecological farming action plan developed
(Online 21 May) The draft hectares within a few increase both producer of the Ministry of Rural years. Katalin Tóth em- and consumer awareDevelopment's Ecological phasised that the fact that ness, and cooperation by Farming Action Plan has Hungarian organic prod- producers, as well as to been completed and so- ucts are easily marketed aid the establishment of cial debate on the draft is abroad, and especially in consumer and producer expected to begin in early Western Europe, where networks. In addition, the June, the Ministry's only organic goods of ex- research background that Deputy State Secretary to cellent quality can be sold, supports ecological farmParliamentary, Social and is also a testament to the ing will also be reinforced International Relations work of Hungarian certifi- so that production can be told Hungarian news cation organisations. continually developed agency MTI. The majority of organic within this field, the Tóth spoke to MTI products are exported, but Deputy State Secretary C o n s t i t u t i o n a l C o u r t e s s e n - Katalin on Friday after visiting the we must do everything to listed. tial to Hungary: PM Viktor Hold Street market, tem- change the current prac- The aim of her visit to the porary home to the Vidék tice according to which Vidék Mustra farmers' Mustra farmer's market, 80-85 percent of this is ex- market, she said, was for which includes produce ported as basic ingredi- the Ministry to aid the from several organic farm- ents, she stressed. The marketing activities of orers, during the reconstruc- degree of processing ganic farmers and to help tion of Kossuth Square, must be increased within their product reach the the market's usual home this sector to enable the market. She also wished under the arches of the highest possible ratio of to draw the attention of Ministry of Rural Develop- the profit generated by shoppers to the fact that ment. higher added value can the consumption of The Deputy State Secre- remain in Hungary. healthy foods that are protary told the press that The social debate on the duced using ingredients ecological farming is cur- draft of the Ecological that are free of chemical rently taking place on Farming Action Plane now residues serve not only to some 124 thousand prepared by the Ministry preserve and improve hectares in Hungary. 80 of Rural Development is health, but also help to percent of the territory re- aimed not only at asking protect the environment quired has already been for the opinions of farm- and nature. To this end, classed as being for use ers, professional and civil every two or three weeks in ecological farming, and organisations and con- the Ministry is supporting classification of the re- sumers, but also at provid- the presentation of a difmainder is in process. ing an incentive for the ferent enterprise or farmer According to the Ministry's greater promotion of or- involved in organic farmplans, the area of land ganic farming and in- ing so that consumers used for ecological farm- creasing consumption of may become more aware Photo: Gergely Botár ing in Hungary could in- organic products. of their products. (Online 23 May) The exist without strong harmonious function- crease to 300 thousand The Ministry would like to time of constitutional constitutional safe- ing, adding that this debate is over, Prime guards, namely the is why he previously Minister Viktor Orbán Court. He added that also met with the H u n g a r y n a m e d C o o r d i n a t o r a n d stated on Thursday, this body must con- Head of the Curia, Co-President of the CTBTO monitor Hungary’s Supreme (Online 22 May) Hungary every other year. The meetings as well as at after a meeting with tinuously head of the Constitu- whether Hungary's Court and the Chief be performing the du- member states hold Minis- conferences and other tional Court Péter legislation is in line Prosecutor. He em- will of Coordinator and terial Meetings in years events, and their activity with the country's in- phasised that the ties Paczolay. acting as Co-President of when conferences are not serves to promote the earHe emphasised that ternational obliga- Government will reComprehensive Nu- organized. liest possible entering into the era of debate sur- tions. Chief Justice store the Court's the clear-Test-Ban Treaty Or- The next Article XIV Con- force of the Treaty. rounding the new Paczolay and the power to rule on ganization (CTBTO) for ference will be held in 183 countries have signed Fundamental Law Prime Minister both budget and tax-re- the two years. On New York City, in Septem- the Treaty, of which 159 was adequately deep spoke about the im- lated issues once May next members ber 2013, with the Hun- have also ratified it includand long, adding that portance of Parlia- public debt falls states21,of the the CTBTO garian and Indonesian ing three of the nuclear there is no democ- ment in incorporating below 50%. Hungary and In- foreign ministers as Co- weapon states: France, racy without debate. the Court’s deci- Chief Justice Paczo- named donesia to be Co-Presi- Presidents of the event. It the Russian Federation lay expressed his de- dents of the Organization is the task of the coordina- and the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister’s sions. that the between 2013 and 2015. tor states to prepare these However, 44 specific statement came after Prime Minister Orbán light the Constitutional stated that proce- meeting, at which the Article of the Compre- conferences. The role of countries must also sign, regulations parties were able to hensiveXIV Court’s Tuesday de- dural Nuclear-Test-Ban the foreign ministers of the ratify and become memcision to reject Om- governing the Consti- discuss Hungarian Treaty contains a special coordinator states is to ad- bers of the treaty for it to budsman Máté tutional Court's oper- constitutionality, into promote its vocate the objectives of come into force. Szabó's appeal to ation would not be cluding issues re- mechanism into force – a confer- the Comprehensive Nuannul the Fourth passed by Parlia- lated to the Court, entry ment without consul- had taken place. He ence designed to facilitate clear-Test-Ban Treaty at Amendment. Prime Minister Orbán tation and agreement shared his experi- this objective takes place bilateral and multilateral called the Constitu- from the Court itself. ences so far on the EU la ws a nd M e m be r St a t e s ’ la ws tional Court the num- He pointed out that new procedural reguber one protector discussion between lations, which in his s hould be in ha r m ony : M a r tony i and guardian of Hun- heads of constitu- opinion facilitate effi- (Online 21 May) The laws of the Eu- May 21 at the international confer- as well as their political and constitugarian constitutional- tional bodies is an cient decision-mak- ropean Union and its individual Mem- ence in Budapest, entitled “The En- tional order, Minister Martonyi stated. ber States should be brought into forcement of EU Law against Without such respect the integration within the balance, ity, and stated that a essential precondi- ing with the various constitu- Member States”. cannot function, he added, stating tional and political structures of mem- As defined in the Lisbon Treaty, the that there should be balance in the strong and sovereign tion of a democratic institution. bers being respected, Minister of EU must respect the equality of Mem- operation of the various EU instituHungary could not state’s stability and Foreign Affairs János Martonyi said ber States and their national identity tions as well.