46 Issue | Zarb-e-Jamhoor e-Newspaper | 20-26 Nov, 2011

Día de la Revolución MEXICO - Nov 20 The Day of the Revolution (in Spanish, “Día de la Revolución”) is celebrated annually in Mexico on November 20, the anniversary of the 1910 start of the popular movement which led to the overthrow of dictator José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori after 34 years of military rule but ushered in over a decade of civil war which ultimately led to the promulgation of the nation ’s constitution in 1917 and the 1920 ascension to the presidency of General Álvaro Obregón.

Dia da Consciencia Negra BRAZIL - Nov 20

The Day of Black Awareness ("Dia da Consciência Negra" in Portuguese) is celebrated annually on November 20 in Brazil as a day on which to reflect upon the injustices of slavery (from the first transport of African slaves to Brazil in 1594) and to celebrate the contributions to society and to the nation by Brazilian citizens of African descent. It takes place during the Week of Black Awareness.

The day is marked on the anniversary of the death of Zumbi dos Palmares (1655-1695), the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares.

Members of the organization "Black Movement" (the largest of its kind in the country) organize educational and fun events involving mainly children of African descent.

Their focus during these events is to dissolve the perception of Africans' inferiority in society. Other "hot topics" in the black community during the Day of Black Awareness are the assimilation of African-Brazilian laborers with Caucasian-Brazilian and other laborers, ethnic identity, and black pride.

Black Awareness Day has been celebrated since the 1960s and has only amplified its events in the last few years.

13th of May is now a holiday (Brazilian Abolishment of Slavery).

Television Day Worldwide - Nov 21 In December 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day commemorating the date on which the first World Television Forum was held in 1996.

Opposition to this declaration took the form of 11 abstentions to a vote on the resolution; in expressing their opposition, the delegation from Germany said:

Independence Day SURINAME - Nov 25

Suriname officially the Republic of Suriname (Dutch: Republiek Suriname), is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as Dutch Guiana. Suriname achieved independence from the Netherlands on 25 November 1975.

At just under 165,000 km2 (64,000 sq mi) Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America (French Guyana comprises less territory, but is French territory and not sovereign). It has an estimated population of approximately 490,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.

Etymology The name Suriname may derive from a Taino (Arawak-speaking) group called "Surinen" who first inhabited the

region prior to European arrival.

Originally, the country was spelled Surinam by English settlers who founded the first colony at Marshall's Creek, along the Suriname River, and was part of a group of colonies known as Dutch Guiana. Surinam can still be found in English. A notable example of this is Suriname's own national airline, Surinam Airways. The older English name is reflected in the English pronunciation, /ˈsʊrɨnæm/ or /ˈsʊrɨnɑːm/. In Dutch, the official language of Suriname, the pronunciation is with the main stress on the third syllable and and a lenthened 'ee' sound.

History

Colonial period:

Beginning in the 16th century, French, Spanish, and English explorers visited the area. A century later, plantation colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains. The earliest documented colony in Guiana was along the Suriname River and called Marshall's Creek. The area was named after an Englishman. Disputes arose between the Dutch and the English. In 1667, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Suriname conquered from the English, resulting from the Treaty of Breda. The English were left with New Amsterdam, a small trading post in North America, which later became New York.

In 1683, the Society of Suriname was founded by the city of Amsterdam, the Van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck family, and the Dutch West India Company. The society was chartered to manage and defend the colony. The planters of the colony relied heavily on African slaves to cultivate the coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton plantations along the rivers. Treatment of the slaves by their owners was notoriously bad, and many slaves escaped the plantations.

With the help of the native South Americans living in the adjoining rain forests, these runaway slaves established a new and unique culture that was highly successful in its own right. Known collectively in English as the Maroons, in French as the Nèg'Marrons and in Dutch as "Bosnegers" (literally meaning "bush negroes"), they actually established several independent tribes, among them the Saramaka, the Paramaka, the Ndyuka or Aukan, the Kwinti, the Aluku or Boni, and the Matawai.

The Maroons would often raid the plantations to recruit new members, acquire women, weapons, food and supplies.

These attacks were often deadly for the planters and their families, and after several unsuccessful campaigns against the Maroons, the European authorities signed several peace treaties with them in the 19th century, granting the Maroons sovereign status and trade rights.

Abolition of slavery:

There are already three United Nations days encompassing similar subjects: World Press Freedom Day; World Telecommunication Day; and World Development Information Day. To add another day does not make much sense...

[T]elevision is only one means of information and an information medium to which a considerable majority of the world population has no access... That vast majority could easily look at World Television Day as a rich man's day. They do not have access to television.

There are more important information media and here I would mention radio in particular.

We think it is more important to enhance the role of those media than that of television.

Feast of St Cecilia St. LUCIA - Nov 22

Saint Cecilia (Latin: Sancta Caecilia) is the patron saint of musicians and Church music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". St. Cecilia was an only child. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches on November 22. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. It was long supposed that she was a noble lady of Rome who, with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and a Roman soldier Maximus, suffered martyrdom, c. 230, under the Emperor Alexander Severus.

The research of Giovanni Battista de Rossi, however, appears to confirm the statement of Venantius Fortunatus, Bishop of Poitiers (d. 600), that she perished in Sicily under Emperor Marcus Aurelius between 176 and 180. A church in her honor exists in Rome from about the 5th century, was rebuilt with much splendor by Pope Paschal I around the year 820, and again by Cardinal Paolo Emilio Sfondrati in 1599. It is situated in Trastevere, near the Ripa Grande quay, where in earlier days the ghetto was located, and is the titulus of a Cardinal Priest, currently Carlo Maria Martini.

The martyrdom of Cecilia is said to have followed that of her husband and his brother by the prefect Turcius Almachius. The officers of the prefect then sought to have Cecilia killed as well. She arranged to have her home preserved as a church before she was arrested. At that time, the officials attempted to kill her by smothering her by steam. However, the attempt failed, and she was to have her head chopped off. But they were unsuccessful three times, and she would not die until she received the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Cecilia survived another three days before succumbing. In the last three days of her life, she opened her eyes, gazed at her family and friends who crowded around her cell, closed them, and never opened them again. The people by her cell knew immediately that she was to become a saint in heaven. When her incorruptible body was found long after her death, it was found that on one hand she had two fingers outstretched and on the other hand just one finger, denoting her belief in the trinity.

The Sisters of Saint Cecilia are a group of women consecrated religious sisters. They are the ones who shear the lambs' wool used to make the palliums of new metropolitan archbishops. The lambs are raised by the Cistercian Trappist Fathers of the Tre Fontane (Three Fountains) Abbey in Rome. The lambs are blessed by the Pope every January 21, the Feast of the martyr Saint Agnes. The pallia are given by the Pope to the new metropolitan archbishops on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29.

of the name Meaning The name "Caecilia" was shared by all women of the Roman gens known as the Caecilii, whose name may be

related to the root of 'caecus', blind. Legends and hagiographies, mistaking it for a personal name, suggest fanciful etymologies. Among those cited by Chaucer in The Second Nun's Tale are: lily of heaven; the way for the blind; contemplation of heaven and the active life; as if lacking in blindness; a heaven for people to gaze upon.

Patroness of musicians Cecilia's musical fame rests on a passing notice in her legend that she was beheaded and at the same time praised

God, singing to Him, as she lay dying a martyr's death. She is frequently depicted playing an organ or other musical instrument. Musical societies and conservatories frequently have been named for St. Cecilia. Her feast day became an occasion for musical concerts and festivals that occasioned well-known poems by John Dryden and Alexander Pope, and music by Henry Purcell (Ode to St. Cecilia), George Frideric Handel (Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, Alexander's Feast) and Benjamin Britten (Hymn to St. Cecilia), as well as Herbert Howells with text from a poem by W. H. Auden.

Gerald Finzi's "For Saint Cecilia", Op. 30, was set to verses written by Edmund Blunden.

Use in contemporary music

The New York post-hardcore band Polar Bear Club refer to St. Cecilia in their song "Song To Persona". David Byrne and Brian Eno's song, The River, on the album, Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, also refers to St. Cecilia's Day. Paul Simon, of Simon and Garfunkel fame, wrote the song "The Coast" which references her when a family of musicians taking refuge in the Church of St. Cecilia. There is also evidence that another of Paul Simon's songs was also in her honor, as "Cecilia" can be interpreted to refer to her and the frustration of song writing. English lyrics were written for a Swedish popular song "Min soldat" and released as "The Shrine of Saint Cecilia". It was recorded by a number of American close harmony and doo-wop groups during the 20th century like Willie Winfield and the Harp-Tones. Others were the Bon Aires and the Andrew Sisters. The song was first released in the U.S. in 1941. Stalk-Forrest group (an early incarnation of Blue Oyster Cult) recorded a song called "St. Cecilia" on their album that was scrapped by Elektra records. The album finally saw a limited release in 2003 through Rhino Handmade under the title St. Cecilia: The Elektra Recordings. Then in 2007 Radioactive Records released the album (on cd and vinyl) as St. Cecilia: The California Album – Remastered.

Use in contemporary poetry

A poem by Australian poet A.D.Hope (1907–2000) "Moschus Moschiferus" is sub-titled 'A Song for St Cecilia's Day'.

The poem is of 12 stanzas and was written in the 1960s.

Independence Day LEBANON - Nov 22

Lebanon officially the Republic of Lebanon is a country in Western Asia, on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has dictated its rich history, and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity.

The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than 7,000 years—predating recorded history.

Lebanon was the home of the Phoenicians, a maritime culture that flourished for nearly 2,500 years (3000–539 BC). Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empireafter World War I, the five provinces that comprise modern Lebanon were mandated to France. The French expanded the borders of Mount Lebanon, which was mostly populated by Maronite Catholics and Druze, to include more Muslims. Lebanon gained independence in 1943, and established a unique political system, known as confessionalism, a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities – Bechara El Khoury who became independent Lebanon first President and Riad El-Solh, who became Lebanon's first prime minister, are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and are national heroes for having led the country's independence.

French troops withdrew from Lebanon in 1946.

Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the country experienced a period of relative calm and prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, and banking. Because of its financial power and diversity, Lebanon was known in its heyday as the "Switzerland of the East". It attracted large numbers of tourists, such that the capital Beirut was referred to as "Paris of the Middle East." At the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure.

Until July 2006, Lebanon enjoyed considerable stability, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete, and increasing numbers of tourists poured into the nation's resorts. Then, the month-long 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon caused significant civilian death and heavy damage to Lebanon's civil infrastructure.

Due to its tightly regulated financial system and the highest gold reserve in the Middle East, Lebanese banks largely avoided the financial crisis of 2007–2010. In 2009, despite a global recession, Lebanon enjoyed 9% economic growth and hosted the largest number of tourists in its history; however, by 2011, economic growth had slowed to below average for the region.

Lebanon is known for its unique efforts in the Middle East to guarantee civil rights and freedom to its citizens, ranking first in the Middle East and 26th worldwide (out of 66 countries) in the The World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index 2011.

Etymology

The name Lebanon comes from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white", likely a reference to the snow-capped Mount Lebanon. Upon his arrival to Lebanon around 47 BC, Julius Caesar proclaimed "Lub" "Na'an", meaning "WhiteLand" in Semitic.

Occurrences of the name have been found in texts from the library of Ebla, which date to the third millennium BC, nearly 70 times in the Hebrew Bible, and three of the twelve tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh (perhaps as early as 2100 BC).

The name is recorded in Ancient Egyptian as Rmnn, where R stood for Canaanite L.

Geology and Archaeology

Lebanon is mainly composed of Jurassic age rock overlaid in places with a Cretaceous layer, the oldest of which is sandstone, usually occurring at altitudes of over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level. Evidence of early habitation in Lebanon has been shown in flint industries dating to the Lower Paleolithic.

History

Ancient history:

Evidence of an early settlement in Lebanon was found in Byblos, which is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and date back to earlier than 5000 BC. Archaeologists discovered remnants of prehistoric huts with crushed limestone floors, primitive weapons, and burial jars left by the Neolithic and Chalcolithic fishing communities who lived on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea over 7,000 years ago.

Lebanon was the homeland of the Phoenicians, a seafaring people that spread across the Mediterranean before the rise of Cyrus the Great. After two centuries of Persian rule, Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great attacked and burned Tyre, the most prominent Phoenician city. Throughout the subsequent centuries leading up to recent times, the country became part of numerous succeeding empires, among them Egyptian Empire, Persian, Assyrian, Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, Arab, Seljuk, Mamluk, Crusader, and the Ottoman Empire.

Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in Suriname in 1863, but the slaves in Suriname were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10 year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture. As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations, in favour of the city, Paramaribo.

As a plantation colony, Suriname was still heavily dependent on manual labour, and to make up for the shortfall, the Dutch brought in contract labourers from the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and India (through an arrangement with the British). In addition, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small numbers of mostly men were brought in from China and the Middle East. Although Suriname's population remains relatively small, because of this history it is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world.

On 23 November 1941, under an agreement with the Netherlands government-in-exile, the United States occupied Dutch Guiana to protect bauxite mines. In 1954, the Dutch placed Suriname under a system of limited self-government, with the Netherlands retaining control of defense and foreign affairs. In 1973, the local government, led by the NPK (a largely Creole, meaning ethnically African or mixed African-European, party) started negotiations with the Dutch government leading towards full independence, which was granted on 25 November 1975. The severance package was very substantial, and a large part of Suriname's economy for the first decade following independence was fueled by foreign aid provided by the Dutch government.

Independence:

The first President of the country was Johan Ferrier, the former governor, with Henck Arron (the then leader of the Nationale Partij Suriname (Suriname's National Party)) as Prime Minister. Nearly one third of the population of Suriname at that time emigrated to the Netherlands in the years leading up to independence, as many people feared that the new country would fare worse under independence than it did as an overseas colony of the Netherlands.

Suriname's diaspora therefore includes more than a quarter of a million people of Suriname origin living in the Netherlands today, including several recent members of the Dutch national football team.

On 25 February 1980, a military coup overthrew the democratic government and declared a socialist republic. On 8 December 1982, the military, then under the leadership of Dési Bouterse, rounded up several prominent citizens who were accused of plotting against the government. They were executed during the night, and the Netherlands quickly suspended all foreign aid to Suriname after this event. Bouterse is currently standing trial for the December murders of 1982, when a number of his political opponents were assassinated, and he has been convicted in absentia in the Netherlands for drug smuggling. Elections were held in 1987 and a new constitution was adopted, which among other things allowed Bouterse to remain in charge of the army. Dissatisfied with the government, Bouterse summarily dismissed them in 1990, by telephone. This event became popularly known as "the telephone coup". Bouterse's power began to wane after the 1991 elections however, and an ongoing brutal civil war between the Suriname army and the Maroons that had begun in 1986, loyal to the rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk, further weakened his position during the 1990s.

Suriname's democracy gained some strength after the turbulent 1990s, and its economy became more diversified and less dependent on Dutch financial assistance. Bauxite (aluminium ore) mining continues to be a strong revenue source, but the discovery and exploitation of oil and gold has added substantially to Suriname's economic independence. Agriculture, especially of rice and bananas, remains a strong component of the economy, and ecotourism is providing new economic opportunities. More than 80% of Suriname's land-mass consists of unspoiled rain forest, and with the establishment of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve in 1998, Suriname signalled its commitment to conservation of this precious resource. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve became a World Heritage Site in 2000.

Violent riots broke out in Albina in 2009 between the local Maroon population and Brazilian gold diggers. In July 2010, Desi Bouterse was elected president despite charges against him for the 1982 killings, and despite having been convicted for drug smuggling in the Netherlands, and sentenced to 11 years.

St. Catherine's Day-Nov 25 Great Britain, Canada, Estonia, France

St. Catherine's Day (Estonian: Kadripäev) is on 25 November each year. It has retained its popularity throughout the centuries and is still widely celebrated in modern-day Estonia. It marks the arrival of winter and is one of the more important and popular autumn days in the Estonian folk calendar. It is a day of celebration for the women of the culture, though different meanings come from each culture itself of this day.

meaning of Kadripäev Historical St. Catherine’s Day commemorates the martyrdom of St.

Catherine. St. Catherine was beheaded by Emperor Maximinus II in approximately305 AD in Alexandria. November 25 became the commemoration date in the 10th century, and many churches and particularly nunneries inEurope were dedicated to St. Catherine. In Lutheran countries, including Estonia, this day has also been associated with Catherine, the wife of Henry VIII. In Estonia, five parish churches and at least as many chapels have been dedicated to St. Catherine.

Similar to St. Martin's Day on November 10, St. Catherine’s Day also marks the arrival of winter, but it holds less importance for Estonians than for some other Baltic Sea peoples (particularly the Germans). Also like St. Martin’s Day, St. Catherine’s Day is basically a secular holiday and is even somewhat pagan. Generally, St. Martin’s Day and St. Catherine’s Day are described by their differences: St. Martin’s Day is primarily a holiday associated with men and St. Catherine’s Day is associated with women, which means that the latter day has acquired a strongly feminine meaning.

Customs

Great Britain:

The custom of lighting a revolving pyrotechnic display (a 'Catherine Wheel firework') to celebrate the saint's feast day is assisted by the ready supply of such fireworks during the month of November, due to the secular celebration of Guy Fawkes Night earlier in the month.

A traditional celebration of St Catherine's Day, which has seen something of a revival in modern times, is the baking of 'Cattern Cakes' in honour of St Catherine. The rise of the internet has assisted in this process, as recipes have become more readily available. The key ingredients are bread dough, egg, sugar, lard or butter, and carraway seeds.

Canada:

Slavery was abolished by the Netherlands in Suriname in 1863, but the slaves in Suriname were not fully released until 1873, after a mandatory 10 year transition period during which time they were required to work on the plantations for minimal pay and without state sanctioned torture. As soon as they became truly free, the slaves largely abandoned the plantations where they had suffered for several generations, in favour of the city, Paramaribo.

As a plantation colony, Suriname was still heavily dependent on manual labour, and to make up for the shortfall, the Dutch brought in contract labourers from the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and India (through an arrangement with the British). In addition, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small numbers of mostly men were brought in from China and the Middle East. Although Suriname's population remains relatively small, because of this history it is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world.

On 23 November 1941, under an agreement with the Netherlands government-in-exile, the United States occupied Dutch Guiana to protect bauxite mines. In 1954, the Dutch placed Suriname under a system of limited self-government, with the Netherlands retaining control of defense and foreign affairs. In 1973, the local government, led by the NPK (a largely Creole, meaning ethnically African or mixed African-European, party) started negotiations with the Dutch government leading towards full independence, which was granted on 25 November 1975. The severance package was very substantial, and a large part of Suriname's economy for the first decade following independence was fueled by foreign aid provided by the Dutch government.

Estonia:

The customs for the Estonian St. Catherine’s Day are generally associated with the kadrisants (kadri beggars) or kadris, which give the whole day a unique quality, although it is similar to the traditions practised on St. Martin’s Day. Both require dressing up and going from door to door on the eve of the holiday to collect gifts, such as food, cloth and wool, in return for suitable songs and blessings.

On Estonian farms, minding the herds and flocks were primarily the responsibility of women and therefore, St. Catherine’s Day involves customs pertaining more to herd keeping than farming. In addition, both men and women may dress up as women. In comparison to the mardisants, who were generally dressed in a masculine and rough manner and often wore animal masks, the kadris wear clean and light-coloured clothing, which is in reference to the coming snow.

As with mardi eve (the evening before St. Martin’s Day), when the village youth chose a mardiisa (father), the main player on kadri eve is kadriema (mother).

Regarding the songs for St. Martin’s Day and St. Catherine’s Day, the main content difference is that the former songs wished the visited families harvest luck and the latter songs luck with the herds and flocks, particularly with the sheep. On St. Catherine’s Day, in order to protect the sheep, shearing and weaving were forbidden and sewing and knitting were also occasionally banned.

St. Catherine’s Day has retained its popularity throughout the centuries, including the half-century of Soviet occupation, during which no direct official obstructions to the celebrations were made, probably due to the apolitical nature of the holiday. Thus, St. Catherine’s Day is still widely celebrated in modern-day Estonia. It is particularly popular among students and the rural population.

France:

On St. Catherine's Day, it is customary for unmarried women to pray for husbands, and to honour women who've reached 25 years of age but haven't married—called "Catherinettes" in France. Catherinettes send postcards to each other, and friends of the Catherinettes make hats for them—traditionally using the colours yellow (faith) and green (wisdom), often outrageous—and crown them for the day. Pilgrimage is made to St. Catherine's statue, and she is asked to intercede in finding husbands for the unmarried lest they "don St. Catherine's bonnet" and become spinsters. The Catherinettes are supposed to wear the hat all day long, and they are usually feted with a meal among friends. Because of this hat-wearing custom, French milliners have big parades to show off their wares on this day.

The French say that before a girl reaches 25, she prays: "Donnez-moi, Seigneur, un mari de bon lieu! Qu'il soit doux, opulent, libéral et agréable!" (Lord, give me a well-situated husband. Let him be gentle, rich, generous, and pleasant!") After 25, she prays: "Seigneur, un qui soit supportable, ou qui, parmi le monde, au moins puisse passer!"

(Lord, one who's bearable, or who can at least pass as bearable in the world!") And when she's pushing 30: "Un tel qu'il te plaira Seigneur, je m'en contente!" ("Send whatever you want, Lord; I'll take it!"). An English version goes, St Catherine, St Catherine, O lend me thine aid, And grant that I never may die an old maid.

HUNGARY NEWS

Medieval times:

In 1590, Fakhr-al-Din II became successor to Korkmaz. He was a skilled politician and described as a pupil of Machiavelli. Fakhr-alDin II adjusted to the lifestyles of the Druze, Christianity and Islam, according to his needs. He paid tribute to the Sultanate of the Ottoman Empire and shared the spoils of war with his masters. Eventually, Fakhr-al-Din II was appointed Sultan of Mt. Lebanon, with full authority. He was considered one of the greatest rulers of the region, also across the Middle of Lebanon. But, his enemies and governors angered the Ottoman Sultanate. Hence, a campaign, calling for the arrest of Fakhr-al-Din II, found the deposed leader Prince Bashir II "the Great" was in Istanbul, where he was executed by hanging. Shortly afterwards, Emir of Mt. Lebanon from 1788 until the Emirate of Mt. Lebanon that lasted more than 500 years was 1840. replaced, instead of the emirate meteor.

French mandate and independence:

Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years, until 1918 when the area became a part of the French Mandate of Syria and Lebanon following World War I. By the end of the war, famine had killed an estimated 100,000 people in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, about 30% of the total population. On 1 September 1920, France reestablished Greater Lebanon after the Moutasarrifiya rule removed several regions belonging to the Principality of Lebanon and gave them to Syria. Lebanon was a largely Christian (mainly Maronite territory with some Greek Orthodox) enclaves but it also included areas containing many Muslims (including Druze). On 1 September 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. A constitution was adopted on 25 May 1926 establishing a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government.

Lebanon gained independence in 1943, while France was occupied by Germany. General Henri Dentz, the Vichy High Commissioner for Syria and Lebanon, played a major role in the independence of the nation. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria to Iraqwhere they were used against British forces. The United Kingdom, fearing that Nazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon and Syria by pressure on the weak Vichy government, sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.

After the fighting ended in Lebanon, General Charles de Gaulle visited the area. Under political pressure from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gaulle recognized the independence of Lebanon. On 26 November 1941 General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. Elections were held in 1943 and on 8 November 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by throwing the new government into prison. In the face of international pressure, the French released the government officials on 22 November 1943 and recognized the independence of Lebanon.

The allies kept the region under control until the end of World War II. The last French troops withdrew in 1946.

Lebanon's unwritten National Pact of 1943 required that its president be Maronite Christian, its speaker of the parliament to be a Shiite Muslim, its prime minister be Sunni Muslim, and the deputy speaker of Parliament and the deputy prime minister be Greek Orthodox.

Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of political stability and turmoil (including a civil conflict in 1958) interspersed with prosperity built on Beirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade.

1948 Arab-Israeli war:

In May 1948, Lebanon supported neighbouring Arab countries against Israel. While some irregular forces crossed the border and carried out minor skirmishes against Israel, it was without the support of the Lebanese government, and Lebanese troops did not officially invade.Lebanon agreed to support the forces with covering artillery fire, armored cars, volunteers and logistical support. On 5– 6 June 1948, the Lebanese army captured Al-Malkiyya. This was Lebanon's only success in the war.

During the war, some 100,000 Palestinians fled to Lebanon, and Israel did not permit their return at the end of hostilities. Palestinians, previously prevented from working at all due to denial of citizenship, are now forbidden to work in some 20 professions after liberalization laws. Today, more than 400,000 refugees remain in limbo, about half in camps.

Ministerial Keynote Speech on a New Organization for the Military National Security Services (Online) On November 8 the Hungarian Parliament opened a general debate on the proposed amendment to the Act on establishing a new organization for the military national security services. In his keynote speech Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende said “During the last 20 years, time after time the opportunity emerged to integrate the two military secret services, the Military Security Office and the Military Intelligence Office. Now we have the will and opportunity to implement the integration.”

To help the preparation of the proposed amendment to the Act, which is based on a concept developed by subject matter experts, the Ministry of Defence held preliminary consultations with the relevant committees of the Parliament and there was a five-party discussion on the topic as well.

In his keynote address the Minister said that “A new and integrated organization can better serve the goals of a unified military command and coordination of intelligence and Defence Minister Csaba Hende counter-intelligence work. It can gence. The new organization will support to the HDF contingents debetter serve the goals of gathering eliminate unnecessary duplications ployed in the areas of operations, information in the fields of military and boost the flow of information. and this in turn is going to increase policy, military technology and the The two organizations – which have the force protection level of the Hunarmed forces, as is required by the so far been operating separately –, garian troops on missions abroad. planning and organizing activities of will complement each others’ ex- Let me note that our allies have the Ministry of Defence and the pertise, which increases the quality praised the high professional stanMoD Defence Staff, and the simul- of knowledge management for the dards of both organizations”, Detaneous execution of the core tasks personnel. This will enable us to fence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende in the field of military counter-intelli- provide more effective and reliable said in his keynote speech.

A new era began with the soldiers in training

Civil war and beyond:

In 1975, civil war broke out in Lebanon. The Lebanese Civil War Picture of the 1983 Beirut barracks lasted fifteen years, devastating the country's economy, and result- bombing ing in massive loss of human life and property. It is estimated that 150,000 people were killed and another 200,000 wounded. Some 900,000 people, representing one-fifth of the prewar population, were displaced from their homes. The war ended in 1990 with the signing of the Taif Agreement and parts of Lebanon were left in ruins.

Cedar Revolution:

On 14 February 2005, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb explosion near the Saint George Hotel in Beirut. Leaders of the March 14 Alliance, a pro-Western coalition, accused Syria of the attack because of its extensive military and intelligence presence in Lebanon, and the public rift between Hariri and Damascus over the Syrian-backed constitutional amendment extending President Lahoud's term in office. Others, namely the March 8 Alliance and Syrian officials, claimed that the assassination may have been executed by the Israeli Mossad in an attempt to destabilize the country.

This incident triggered a series of demonstrations, dubbed the 'Cedar Revolution,' which demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1559 on 7 April 2005, which called for an investigation into the assassination of Rafik Hariri. Preliminary findings of the investigation were officially published on 20 October 2005 in the Mehlis report, which cited indications that high-ranking members of the Syrian and Lebanese governments were involved in the assassination. Eventually, and under pressure from the West, Syria began withdrawing its 15,000-strong army troops from Lebanon. By 26 April 2005, all uniformed Syrian soldiers had already crossed the border back to Syria.The Hariri assassination marked the beginning of a series of assassination attempts that resulted in the loss of many prominent Lebanese figures.

(Online) I am confident that building on the tradition of the ancestors of the academy as well as many non-commissioned officers of the Hungarian Army values contribute to the enrichment of organizational culture that will be an age too late posterity praises about us, about our work, our tradition, Mikus said Zsolt Colonel, Acting Commander.

The military base and re-Hungarian Army sergeants continues as the Academy of Szentendre ...

The training base flag was concluded on November 18. Mikus Psalm Colonel MH sergeants Academy appointed commander of speech, a landmark called the change than put it in the HDF Central Training Base and MH Paul Kinizsi NCO School since then a single new military organization, the Hungarian Army sergeants Academy under the name of the military base and retraining, and the

training culture, because of improvements, the military knowledge of domestic and international acquisition were consistent with the results of

The UN Investigation and the controversy:

2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict:

Nahr al-Bared conflict:

Nahr al-Bared (Arabic: ‫درابلا رهن‬, literally: Cold River) is a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, 16 km from the city of Tripoli. Some 30,000 displaced Palestinians and their descendants live in and around the camp, which was named after the river that runs south of the camp. The camp was established in December 1949 by the League of Red Cross Societies in order to accommodate the Palestinian refugees suffering from the difficult winter conditions in the Beqaa Valley and the suburbs of Tripoli. The Lebanese Army is banned from entering all Palestinian camps under the 1969 Cairo Agreement.

Late in the night of Saturday 19 May 2007, a building was surrounded by Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) in which a group of Fatah al-Islam militants accused of taking part in a bank robbery earlier that day were hiding.

The ISF attacked the building early on Sunday 20 May 2007, unleashing a day long battle between the ISF and Fatah al-Islam militants. As a response, members of Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared Camp attacked an army checkpoint, killing several soldiers in their sleep. The army immediately responded by shelling the camp and Launching Rockets Bringing down Specific Buildings.

The camp became the center of the fighting between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam. It sustained heavy shelling while under siege.UNRWA estimates the battle between the army and Islamic militant group Fatah al-Islam destroyed or rendered uninhabitable as much as 85 percent of homes in the camp and ruined infrastructure. The camp’s up to 40,000 residents were forced to flee, many of them sheltering in the already overcrowded Beddawi camp, 10 km south.

At least 169 soldiers, 287 insurgents and 47 civilians were killed in the army’s battle with the al-Qaeda-inspired militants. Funds for the reconstruction of the area have been slow to materialize, and life for the displaced refugees is difficult.

2008 Internal Strife:

When Émile Lahoud's presidential term ended in October 2007, the opposition refused to vote for a successor unless a power-sharing deal was reached, leaving Lebanon without a president. On 9 May 2008, Hezbollah and Amal forces, sparked by a government declaration that Hezbollah's communications network was illegal, seized western Beirut in Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975–90 civil war. Moreover, the violence, decried by the Lebanese government as an attempted coup, threatened to escalate into another civil war. At least 62 people died in the resulting clashes between pro-government and opposition militias.

On 21 May 2008, after five days of negotiation under Arab League mediation in Qatar, all major parties signed the Doha Agreement, which ended the fighting. Under the accord, both sides agreed to elect former army head Michel Suleiman president and establish a national unity government with a veto share for the opposition. This ended 18 months of political paralysis. The agreement was a victory for opposition forces, who received concessions regarding the composition of the cabinet, Hezbollah's telecommunications network, and the airport security chief, increasing their political clout.

2011 government collapse:

In early January 2011, the national unity government collapsed after all ten opposition ministers and one presidential appointee resigned due to tensions stemming from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was expected to indict Hezbollah members in the assassination of former prime minister Rafic Hariri. The collapse plunged Lebanon into its worst political crisis since the 2008 fighting, and indicated further political gains for the Hezbollah-led opposition March 8 Alliance, which gained a parliamentary majority. The parliament elected Najib Mikati, the 8 March candidate, Prime Minister of Lebanon, making him responsible for forming a new government.

warrant officer candidate schoolbased training.

Mikus Ps colonel stressed values by creating a permanent stock of both organizations contributed to the development of the Hungarian Army

the 21 century challenges and tasks for NATO membership. In the last five years the barracks - and the associated Csobánka and izbégi training objects - three thousand two hundred and contract soldiers, one thousand two hundred and fifty offi-

day. Remembrance Day is also known as Armistice Day or Poppy Day. Solymár is known not only as the

John F. Kennedy's Assassination US - Nov 22

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (18:30 UTC) on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was fatally shot while traveling with his wife Jacqueline, Texas governor John Connally, and the latter's wife, Nellie, in a Presidential motorcade.

The ten-month investigation by the Warren Commission, 1963–1964, concluded that the President was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone and that Jack Ruby acted alone when he killed Oswald before he could stand trial. These conclusions were initially supported by the American public; however, polls conducted from 1966 to 2004 found that as many as 80 percent of Americans have suspected that there was a plot or cover-up.

Contrary to the Warren Commission, the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) in 1979 concluded that President John F. Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy. The HSCA found both the original FBI investigation and the Warren Commission Report to be seriously flawed. While agreeing with the Commission that Oswald fired all the shots which caused the wounds to Kennedy and Governor Connally, it stated that there were at least four shots fired and that there was a "high probability" that two gunmen fired at the President. No gunmen or groups involved in the conspiracy were identified by the committee, but the CIA, Soviet Union, organized crime and several other groups were said to be not involved, based on available evidence. The assassination is still the subject of widespread debate and has spawned numerous conspiracy theories and alternative scenarios.

Kinro Kansha no Hi JAPAN - Nov 23

Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Japan.

It takes place annually on November 23. The law establishing the holiday cites it as an occasion for commemorating labor and production and giving one another thanks.

Events are held throughout Japan, one such being the Nagano Labor Festival. The event encourages thinking about the environment, peace and human rights.

It is not unusual for early grade elementary students to create drawings for the holiday and give them as gifts to local kōbans, or police stations.

History

Labor Thanksgiving Day is the modern name for an ancient cereals (rice, barley/wheat, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, proso millet, and beans)harvest festival known as Niiname-sai believed to have been held as long ago as November of 678, Traditionally, it celebrated the year's hard work; during the Niiname-sai ceremony, the Emperor would dedicate the year's harvest to kami (spirits), and taste the rice for the first time.

The modern holiday was established after World War II in 1948 as a day to mark some of the changes of the postwar constitution of Japan, including fundamental human rights and the expansion of workers rights. Currently Niinamesai is held privately by the Imperial House of Japan while Labor Thanksgiving Day has become a national holiday.

1 May is also celebrated as Labor Day by many trade unions in Japan, which hold large rallies and marches in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.

In the course of time this Sunday was elevated to the Memorial Day of the victims and soldier heroes of WW2 first, then of all armed conflicts; two weeks before Advent Sun-

final resting place of the British, Australian, New Zealand, South-African, Canadian as well as Polish and French soldiers, but also for the reason that it is one of the four Hungarian villages, which well before the

Chinese Quarantine Authority gives Green Light for Hungarian Beef (Online) There is a good chance that Hungary, which is free of BSE, will be the first to export beef to the Chinese market – stressed Endre Kardeván following a series of discussions in China. Hungary is free of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad-cow disease, and so China will soon give the go-ahead for the import of Hungarian beef.

In future, agricultural commerce between Hungary and China may become more efficient due to the fact that we will be working directly with the Chinese Quarantine Authority. The Authority is responsible for, among others, food import and export, food safety, and hygiene, but no direct link has been successfully forged until now. Issues are often lost for years in the labyrinth of diplomacy. 12 Hungarian firms are waiting for the chance to export their products to China – stressed the State Secretary for

Food Chain Control Supervision and Agricultural Administration of the Ministry of Rural Development, who held talks with the Authority's Deputy Minister, Wei ChuanChung.

The agreement will also mean that the licensing procedures regarding the export of Hungarian pork products, which have been in process for quite some time, will be accelerated – added Endre Kardeván.

The interdepartmental discussions also resulted in the birth of a joint declaration regarding plans for the establishment of a science and technology centre. The two Ministries will appoint a scientific institution each to maintain official relations, to harmonise research and to provide professional advice.

The potato propagation material and goose breeding projects are already underway via direct relations. As has been previously reported, thanks to positive

developments in Chinese-Hungarian agricultural relations this spring, a goose hatchery and rearing project made possible with the help of goose eggs and technology from the Hortobágy Goose Breeding Co. is underway in Luan, which the Hungarian delegation visited during their official trip.

The State Secretary stressed: there are an increasing number of joint Chinese-Hungarian projects, Hungarian companies are marketing various technological systems, but for instance, Hungarian corporations are also present on the Chinese market with tree saplings, seeds for cultivation, and animal husbandry technologies.

During his visit to China, Endre Kardeván also held talks with leaders from Inner Mongolia, who showed an interest in Hungarian hot paprika, potato propagation materials, grapevines for grafting, and horse breeding technology.

officially declared memorial days, commemorated the soldier heroes and war victims, on the occasion marked as the day of the local heroes.

On the Sunday event Father Dr. Frank Hegedűs offered the prayer, calling for remembrance, and then the Ambassador of Great Britain, H.E. Mr. Greg Dorey and the Ambassador of Canada H.E. Ms. Tamara Guttman remembered the fallen soldier heroes.

In what followed, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Hungary Dr. Csaba Hende, the Honorary Consul of New Zealand Consulate Mr. Rezső Gyula Sárdi, and nine ambassadors and military attachés, accredited to our Homeland laid the wreaths of remembrance at the marble Cross standing in the middle of the military cemetery, kept in exemplary condition.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, in the framework of an ecumenical service, prayers were said. Remembrance Sunday ended with the closing prayer of Father Frank Hegedűs.

Gripen on Gripen (Online) There is an aviation history event going on in Hungary’s airspace: this is the first time that Gripen fighters with Swedish and Hungarian markings are engaging in “air combat” against each other.

The idea of the joint training flight originated with the Swedish partners, and the participants of the Exercise Satenas Exchange 2011 had some special badges made with the words GRIPEN MAFIA 2011 on them.

The F7 squadron of the Swedish Air Force and the Puma Squadron of the HDF 59th ‘Dezső Szentgyörgyi’ Air Base are conducting an exercise in Kecskemét between November 9-16. This is the first joint training flight in which pilots of both countries are flying Jas-39 aircraft.

Lt.-Col. Csaba Ugrik, the air operations chief of the host air base of Kecskemét told us that the Swedish squadron is taking part in the exercise with three two-seat and three single-seat aircraft, 12 pilots, two

Therefore, the current flying event is important for the Swedish partners

too, as they now can see how the Hungarian pilots can fly the Jas-39 after finishing their conversion training program in Sweden.

Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Worldwide - Nov 25

Women's activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women(Resolution 54/134). The UN invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on this day as an international observance.

Women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence, and the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.

This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930–1961).

There is more information about the history of this day, and UN publications relating to violence against women, at the UN's Dag Hammarskjöld Library . The UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) also has a regular observance of the day, and offers suggestions for others to observe it.

cers, and officers, candidates were trained, but the career courses, vocational retraining is about two thousand people participated. In the last three years, while three hundred firemen made up of individuals and the convoy of the formal motion.

The responsible commander added that the pace of training, of course, still does not change. The military community has also to be soldiers in Szentendre Hungarian Army crossed the gate, and this is not going to change the future!

"The sergeants MH Academy includes the formation of a fresh start, renewal as well. Now the challenge we face, that the available resources sparingly, but the greater efficiency gazdálkodva open a new era in the Hungarian Army, the training of history is to further strengthen the Hungarian soldiers reputation kiképzettségét, honor around the world "- stressed Mikus Psalm Colonel .

In a speech after the ceremony was deducted from the HDF Central Training Base flag and handed it to the master. Szentendre, but life does not stop: the soldiers already in the 25 November ceremony, combined military oath.

Remembering Soldier Heroes in Solymár (Online) The Military Cemetery of the British Commonwealth of Nations was the venue of Remembrance Sunday on November 13.

At the Cross standing in the middle of the dead heroes’ graveyard, besides the diplomatic representatives and military attachés of the Commonwealth countries and other nations, also Minister of Defence Dr. Csaba Hende laid the wreath of remembrance.

As is well-known, Remembrance Day is attached to the armistice signed by the German and the Entente Forces in a railway carriage parked in the Compiegne Forest, North France “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” of 1918. With this event the First World War officially ended. Connected to this occasion, since then the memory of the heroes fallen in the line of duty is observed on the Sunday falling nearest to the historic day.

plans officers and 23 technicians.

They arrived from Satenas Air Base where the Hungarian pilots receive their conversion training for Gripen.

According to schedule, the pilots of the two squadrons are to take off 3335 times during the exercise, mainly to practice defensive counter air (DCA) and offensive counter air

(OCA) operations in one-on-one and two-on-one dogfights. In all in-

stances they fly in mixed formations, and the Hungarian pilots are going to have an opportunity to “get the hang of” the guests’ combat maneuvers in the air, sitting on the rear seat of the two-seaters. According to Lt.-Col. Ugrik, each flight is different, just like the pilots’ flying styles.

They can always learn something new from each other, for example the take-off speed of the aircraft or the techniques used to keep the best turning speed.

Maj. Richard Carlqvist, the commander of the F7 squadron also pointed to the importance of the exchange of experiences during the joint training exercise. He stressed that the Hungarian pilots are seasoned airmen who have already demonstrated their high standards in Satenas. During the conversion training program, however, they were mainly practicing air-to-air combat, so in the future they have to put more emphasis on conducting air-to-ground combat and reconnaissance missions. This means that they need to spend a lot of time in the air.

Hungary has arrived at a turning point (Online) The Hungarian economy has been based on new fundamentals in the past one and a half years. To this end, we had to cancel each old-type forms of cooperation which were obstacles to our economic independence. This we have managed to carry out and achieved that the Hungarian economy receives market financing and it does not depend on the goodwill of others. Thus, the age of renewal has ended and the age of growth has begun; for this we need to utilize every instrument at our disposal.

In the past one and a half years we have renewed Hungary’s economy.

During the period of renewal we focused on gaining economic freedom and rearranging Hungary according to national interests. To this end, we had to keep a distance from every kind of influence, thus we had to cancel such old-type forms of cooperation which had been obstacles to our economic independence. As a consequence, we managed to achieve economic independence and market financing, by which we have increased the number of opportunities at our disposal.

Swiss Food Festival 2011 is being hosted by the embassy of Switzerland on November 19 Islamabad: Nov 19, was a day of changing gears down at the Swiss Food Festival on Saturday.

The Sun’s shimmering radia n c e seemed to purify everyone it kissed in the grassy lawns of Swiss ambassador ’s residence.

E v e r y chocolate lover must know where Switzerland is and what it holds.

A day-long Swiss Food Festival here Saturday brought a diversity of Swiss culture to the federal capital with scrumptious cuisines and traditions from different valleys of Switzerland.

The Embassy of Switzerland organized the event providing a unique opportunity for Pakistanis to interact with Swiss people and get a true taste of their hospitality.

People flocked to the festival, though entry was on nominated invitations only. The embassy estimated that more than 1,400 people attended the festival with family and friends. People from Pakistan’s business community, academics, government officials, aid agencies officials, foreign visitors and diplomats attended the festival.

Popular brands of Switzerland having outlets in Pakistan setup their stalls of food items and exotic delicacies including Raclette (a melted cheese dish from Alpine Valleys), Bratwurste (traditional grilled sausages), Bunderfleish (dried meat

from the Grisons), Baselbieter Rahmtafeli (caramel toffees), Swiss Chocolates and other Swiss specialties.

During a press briefing ambassador said, “We proud to share the richness of Swiss culture with our Pakistani host community. This festival offers a unique platform for Pakistanis and expatriates to meet and learn about each other’s traditions,” said Swiss Ambassador Christoph Bubb.

He said Pakistani and Swiss corporations enjoyed excellent relations and that Switzerland is among Pakistan’s top ten foreign investors.

Among dozens of sponsors, that the Ambassador formally thanked for their support, were Nestle, Wilsons & Co, New Era Watches, Swiss Air, Capital Stratigies Group, Nexus Telrcom, UPM, 3 Dimensional Engineering, Victorinox, Bell, Wander, Ricola, Feldscholosschen, SIGG, Lakerlihuus and Superbe. Switzerland is among the top ten foreign investors in Pakistan, with excellent ties between Swiss and Pakistani Corporations.

The aesthetic venue for the festival was tailor-made for this type of event. It reflected the colours of the Swiss way of life and provided a feel

of the heaven on earth experience.

At the entrance were the stalls offering Swiss d a r k chocolate and carefully selected milk and confectionary products.

T h e mouth-watering bars sold like hot cakes as everyo n e stopped at the chocolate stall before moving forward.

The festival catered to all audiences including children. One little girl insisted on getting a Swiss label painted on her cheek as soon as she arrived.

With a taste of Swiss food in their mouths, the visitors got to learn more about Switzerland at stalls where they were given more information on one of Europe’s most beautiful countries. They bought Swiss souvenirs at the stalls, including army knives, watches and other products.

Hundreds tried their luck at winning prizes including tickets to Switzerland at a specially set up stall for lucky draws.

Moreover, at the Swat View Photo Project the visitors were provided with information on active Swiss projects in Pakistan and pictures of the scenic beauty of the Switzerland of East.

The embassy’s efforts to promote Swiss culture and tradition and acquaint Pakistanis with it were a success, even if the number of people invited were handpicked and thus limited. Had it been a public festival, there would have been many more satisfied chocolate lovers in Islamabad Saturday.

Haqqani did not write letter seeking US help against military: Malik Haqqani, who has offered to resign over the situation, but has denied the reports of his involvement, has now been called to Islamabad by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari to explain himself.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, Hussain Haqqani, did not write a letter seeking US help against the country’s powerful military, Pakistan’s interior minister said Saturday.

However, he was involved in communication via text message with an American national, Rehman Malik said.

Haqqani, a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, has played a key role in helping Pakistan’s civilian government navigate turbulent relations with Washington that nosedived over the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May. Local media reports implicated him in a memo allegedly sent from Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen, then America’s top military officer, seeking to curtail Pakistan’s military after it was humiliated by the Bin Laden killing.

Zardari reportedly feared that the military might seize power in one way to limit the hugely damaging fall-

out in Pakistan after Navy SEALs killed Bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2.

The alleged memo was revealed last month by American businessman Mansoor Ijaz.

Speaking in Islamabad, Malik said there was no written letter, but he added that Gilani and Zardari had decided to call ambassador Haqqani to explain the situation.

“This was not a letter, neither from presidency nor from any government organisation,” Malik said.

“This is communication through SMS (text messages) by two individuals.

One is an American national and second is our ambassador.”

He said the evidence available was “an exchange of SMS messages and Blackberry messages” and added: “Now we have to see that who initiated these.” Government officials in Islamabad said Haqqani was on his way to the capital.

“And if his point of view was not sat-

isfactory then it is clear that it is open for investigation,” Malik said.

“It is not according to the justice to cond e m n someone without hearing him.”

Haqqani has said he will cooperate with the inquiry while denying reports of the memo and calling the matter “non a issue”.

In an opinion piece in UK’s Financial Times on October 10, Ijaz wrote that a “senior Pakistani diplomat” telephoned him in May soon after Bin Laden’s death, urging him to deliver a message to the White House bypassing Pakistan’s military and intelligence chiefs.

“The president feared a military takeover was imminent” and “needed an American fist on his army chief’s desk to end any misguided notions of a coup and fast,” he wrote.

He said a memo was delivered to Mullen on May 10, offering that a “new national security team” would end relations between Pakistani intelligence and Afghan militants, namely the Taliban and its Haqqani faction.

Pakistan’s opposition leader Nawaz Sharif on Saturday demanded an independent commission to investigate the issue.

Malik urges Taliban to surrender Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday advised Taliban to furnish the children with pen and book, instead of preparing them for suicide attacks and asked them to surrender by disarming themselves and refrain from playing into the hands of the enemy.

He said the government had taken various steps to curb tendencies of extremism and terrorism in the country.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the passport office in Islamgarh town of Mirpur district, he said “We want the youth of Pakistan to carry book and pen instead of the suicide jackets.”

AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and others also addressed the ceremony.

The Interior Minister said suicide incidents had reduced considerably and law and order had improved to a great extent.

The minister said that following the reconciliatory policy of President Asif Ali Zardari, the country succeeded in achieving speedy progress, stability and prosperity.

Malik recalled that the country was on the verge of destruction when the PPP came into power. The law and order situation was worsening and the economy was in bad shape, he added.

He said the PPP government focused on improving the law and order situation. After relentless efforts of the law enforcing agencies, the terrorism was brought under control, he added.

The minister said efforts were being made to eliminate extremism and terrorism not only from the country but in the region as well.

He reiterated the present govern-

ment’s reto solve take all political parties along while dealing major naistional sues in the national interest.

He advised the PML-N not to be anguished with the federal government as it was people had who confined it a to province.

He said that those talking of staging ‘long-march or short march’ will be able to evaluate their position in the coming March (referring to Senate election.)

Expressing solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir on behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, Rehman Malik said that Pakistan would continue to extend moral political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris struggle for the right to self-determination.

Earlier the Minister inaugurated the passport office at Islamgarh, the constituency of AJK Prime Minister Ch. Abdul Majeed.

The office will benefit thousands of UK-based Kashmiri expatriates hailing from Islamhgarh and rest of the adjoining areas.

Pakistan aims to contain military expenditure The cash-strapped country allocated “around $5 billion to the army’s budget” in the current fiscal year, military spokesman MajorGeneral Athar Abbas told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in the Moroccan city of Tangier.

Pakistan hopes to lower its costly military expenditure in the next fiscal year to below the 16 per cent it took of the state’s budget in the current 2011-2012 fiscal year, the army’s spokesman said on Saturday.

“That’s the equivalent of 16 per cent of the state’s budget,” said Athar.

Asked if the percentage figure would increase in the next fiscal year, Athar said: “Hopefully not because for about five years, the military budget remained at between 13 per cent and 14 per cent.

“It was increased only this year because of the environment of security, and a lot of things that was required

by the paramilitary in particular.

“I don’t see the military expenditure taking in more than $5billion (in the next fiscal year),” he added.

Pakistan government’s fiscal year runs from July 1 of the previous calendar year to end-June of the following year.

The state increased by close to 12 per cent the budget for the military in 2011-2012, in what analysts link to an annual inflation rate that hovers around 13 percent.

Pakistan’s budget targets a budget deficit of 4 per cent of gross domes-

tic product (GDP) for 2011/12 and an economic growth of 4.2 per cent.

Funds allocated by the government to the Pakistani army still represent a “very small amount”, he said.

“There is a lot of scope of enhancing the revenues of the government. If they go up by 70 or 80 per cent the military budget will boil down to 10 per cent,” Athar said.

With one of the world’s lowest tax-toGDP ratio, reaching around 10 per cent, Pakistan is growingly dependent on foreign funds and loans, even for development projects.

Pakistan’s economy badly needs immediate remedial measures: IMF The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday expressed its lack of confidence in the government’s economic policies, as fund representative told reporters that the IMF did not see improved budgetary and external account position of Pakistan.

And that could create difficulty in payment of external debt in the long run. Adnan Mezari said Pakistan’s ailing economy badly needed immediate remedial measures, as balanced current account position could be effected by the financial slowdowns around the world and Pakistan’s authorities had the ability to manage the internal and external accounts through corrective measures. Mezari, IMF Asia pacific director, was speaking at a press briefing with Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said Pakistan had achieved positive economic growth during the first four months, as the country’s exports had reached $6 billion, twenty percent more than in the same period last fiscal year. He said

the country had recorded 23 percent increase in remittances with $4.2 billion and 28 percent increase in tax collection at Rs 509 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal.

Shaikh said during the recent article IV consultation with IMF, both long and short term policies to revamp the economy had been taken up. “Long term growth strategy focuses on enhancing the efficiency of civil serattracting investments, vants, development of agriculture and industrial output and broadening the tax base of the economy. Reforms have been initiated in power distribution and power generation companies,” he said, adding that the boards of directors of power distribution

companies had been reformed and a process was underway to appoint CEOs to power generation companies. The finance minister said Pakistan enjoyed good relationship with IMF authorities and considered IMF consultations important for initiating economic reforms in the country. He hoped that the current phase of growth in external resources would continue and the current fiscal year would end up at a manageable fiscal and current account deficit. Mezari said Pakistan needed to reform its energy sector and improve the productivity and fiscal management of public sector institutions for long term macroeconomic stability of the country.

Economy showing improvement, says Hafeez Shaikh

In 2005, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Mehlis as the Commissioner of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 other people in Beirut. In October 2005, Jund al-Sham threatened to slaughter Detlev Mehlis while he was heading the UN inquiry into the assassination of Rafik Hariri, claiming that Mehlis was connected with Israel and the CIA. The Mehlis report was presented to the Secretary General on 20 October 2005. It implicated Lebanese and Syrian Military Intelligence in the assassination, and it accused Syrian officials, including now Foreign Minister Muallem, of misleading the investigation. A second report was submitted on 10 December 2005. On 11 January 2006 Mehlis, upon his own suggestion, was replaced by Serge Brammertz.

On 12 July 2006, after a few Israeli soldiers entered the Lebanese side of the border fence, Hezbollah captured two of them and killed many others. Israel responded by bombing Lebanon, causing damage to Lebanon's civil infrastructure (including Beirut's airport). Beirut's southern suburb was razed to the ground by Israeli airplanes.

The month-long conflict caused a significant loss of life; some 1,600 Lebanese and nearly 160 Israelis were killed in the conflict. In Israel, 3,970 Hezbollah rockets landed on northern Israel, landing many in urban areas and killing 44 civilians. The conflict officially ended on 14 August 2006, when the United Nations Security Council issued resolution 1701 ordering a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel and After Israel Declared Hezbollah's Victory. Goldwasser and Regev, two captured Israeli soldiers, were held for two years, without indication as to their health, until their remains were returned by Hezbollah to Israel on 16 July 2008 in a trade for all Lebanese prisoners, both dead and living. Hezbollah had told Israel, prior to the prisoner swap, that these soldiers were alive.

PAKISTAN NEWS

The results of these actions are obvious by now.

Taxes on labour have decreased, the savings of pensioners have escaped the attacks of speculators, as a phenomenon unique in Europe government debt has decreased and the budget has been stabilized.

Since Hungary joined the EU in 2004, the country can keep the budget deficit target for next year below 3 percent for the very first time. Besides Hungary, there will only be six countries among the EU 27 which can deliver the same result.

Government debt, which was almost 82 percent of GDP in 2010, has been reduced to 74 percent calculated on the basis of 2010 exchange rates, and GDP grew by 1.4 percent relative to the corresponding period in 2010.

Consequently, in the past one and a half years we have managed to fully enforce national interests without having to adapt to others’. Thus, we can build our new relationships on new fundamentals enforcing our national interests.

We have arrived at a turning point.

From now on we need to focus on boosting growth. And to this end, we

have to utilize every instrument at our disposal.

In order to spur growth we first and foremost have to protect our independence. It means that Hungary should be financed by markets, but it is hindered by the protracted crisis of the Euro-zone.

Therefore, a new type of cooperation with the IMF, adapted to our economy which has been transformed on the basis of our national interests, could be a potent instrument which would increase our financial and economic independence instead of hindering it like the old one. This new type of cooperation, unlike the old one, would not increase government debt as we do not take out a credit, but we will make an insurance contract in order to increase the safety of investors in Hungary.

In this way we will have the opportunity to kickstart economic growth according to the original schedule.

Within the regular annual economic policy consultations with the IMF, we have launched negotiations about this new type of cooperation.

Federal Minister for Fi- the trend would continue nance Abdul Hafeez during the rest of the Shaikh has said that year.

Shaikh expressed these views while economy of the country inaugurating a seminar here on Sathas shown “better per- urday. formance” during the He said that the government was committed to a reforms agenda to first four months of the ensure that economic stability recurrent fiscal year and mained intact. expressed the hope that He said that Pakistan was having good relations with the International

Monetary Fund (IMF) and that recent talks with the bank were held in a cordial atmosphere.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director IMF, Adnan Mazarei said that Pakistan was facing some short term issues, and stressed the need for addressing them on a long-term basis.

He said that there was a need to focus on fiscal growth and the banking and energy sectors on a long term basis.

PM hails EU’s support for war against terror Prime Minister Syed in the war against terror.

He said that their generous assisYosaf Raza Gilani, de- tance more than 300 million Euros scribing the European for theofflood victims was also instruUnion of 27 members as mental for their early rehabilitation. prime minister was talking to an important forum on The ambassador to European Saturday, appreciated its Pakistan’s Union Jalil Abbas Jilani, who had continued support for called on him.

Pakistan’s contributions The Ambassador informed the prime

minister that the provision of a tariff concession on 75 items and the subsequent provision of GSP Plus facility by the EU would help revive Pakistan’s economy, create jobs and ensure investment in the country.

The prime minister directed the ambassador to interact with the civil society and policy makers to apprise them of the sacrifices Pakistanis had rendered.

Restoration of the Castle Bazaar from funds available under the New Széchenyi Plan (Online) “For long decades the Castle Bazaar was the ornament of the Castle District along the River Danube.

Today it is merely an ugly blot on the historical cityscape”, said the minister’s commissioner Ferenc Zumbok on 15 November 2011 in the Buda Castle mentioning the restoration work of the Castle Bazaar and the Castle District.

In the ministerial commissioner’s opinion after the public procurement procedures the restoration of the Castle Bazaar may start next autumn.

The final and binding building permits and implementation plans have been obtained for the northern pavilion and the Water Carriers’ Stairway. The HUF 6.5 billion required for the works are available from funds granted by the European Union.

On 9 October 2011 the Government adopted a decision on launching the complete reconstruction and the long-term development of the Castle Bazaar. The plans related to the reconstruction of the Castle Bazaar must be elaborated by 31 December 2011 and the works must be completed by March 2014.

According to government spokesman András Giró-Szász, the Buda Castle is a significant part of our national history and identity, and the Government wants to support exactly such areas and objectives in the New Széchenyi Plan. The project is included among the National Programmes, which means that it is a development pointing beyond a merely regional perspective, as it can bring specific benefits to the entire country. “Today the Castle Bazaar is among the World’s 100 Most Endangered listed building complexes. This is what the Government wants to change not only because the Castle Bazaar is part of our history and identity, but also because this project will create jobs, which is an important objective of the government”, the government spokesmen stressed.

Tamás Gábor Nagy, Ferenc Zumbok, András Giró-Szász Ferenc Zumbok explained that for more than a century the Castle Bazaar has been underutilised. “In addition to the restoration, the most difficult task will be to identify the functions to make this territory a lively and visited centre of Budapest”, he added. The reconstruction plans include building of the parapet walk running around the palace, the construction of a deep garage for 130140 cars, and the creation of an underground cultural programme area on 1600 square metres. A travelator is planned next to the water carriers’ stairway to connect the sofar isolated Castle with the Danube Bank. Some of the premises once used as ateliers would be granted to young artists free of charge, while the rest will serve as restaurants and cafés. The former Youth Park would accommodate “booted tourists” in beer tents and cheaper restaurants.

Gábor Tamás Nagy, Mayor of District I welcomed the Government’s plans and stressed that they reflected the council’s recommendations. The mayor was pleased to learn that instead of offering the territory to private investors, the opportunity for the

state to participate in the overwhelming majority of the project would be allowed. “I am especially delighted to understand that the reconstruction will be realised with assistance from the European Union, as this is the most realistic and most fortunate solution”, the mayor said.

Based on the Government’s decision, the feasibility study required for the improvement of the very poor traffic conditions in the Castle District and its surroundings must be completed by the end of February 2012, and the deadline set in the government decree for the 25-year development strategy of the quarter is 31 May 2012.

In Ferenc Zumbok’s opinion the Buda Castle is not only a world cultural heritage but also an outstanding site in the history of Hungarians, and therefore its long-term development is inconceivable without seeking the opinions of expert and social organisations. Assistance and ideas are expected of the approximately 30 authorities, institutions and civil organisations involved in the consultation in connection with the development of the Castle District.

Hungary offers an attractive and competitive investment environment to China as well as other countries (Online) In summary of his visit to China, Minister of National Development, Tamás Fellegi, who also acts as Government Commissioner for Hungarian-Chinese Bilateral Relations declared that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have been experiencing the most intensive period in their cooperation. Further agreements are expected to be signed in the near future about the utilisation of the EUR 1 billion development limit granted for projects in Hungary. The first specific project to be implemented may be the urban rapid transit system connecting Budapest with the Liszt Ferenc Airport.

Among others, the Government Commissioner conducted forward-looking negotiations with the representatives of the Chinese national bank on the realisation of policy decisions related to bonds purchase. The parties confirmed that Chinese financial institutions and investment funds will continue buying Hungarian government bonds and securities.

Tamás Fellegi announced that in the near future he may sign an agreement with the Governor of the China Development Bank on the method and conditions of using the EUR 1 billion limit. In early 2012 the Hungarian Development Bank may enter into a contract with its Chinese counterpart concerning the list of the projects that can be financed from this amount and their time schedule.

Based on an arrangement between MÁV Zrt. and the construction industrial company China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), the urban rapid transit system connecting Budapest with the airport may be started first. The head of the Chinese company highlighted that they expected a significant amount of Hungarian subcontractors and suppliers to participate in the project that can be financed, among other sources, from the EUR 1 billion project financing limit.

In Shanghai the minister consulted the representatives of Chinese financial enterprises, including Haitong and Fosun, on the cooperation opportunities between these companies and the Hungarian Development Bank regarding investment, lending and the purchase of securities. In Hong Kong, he had talks with the finance minister, the foreign policy

leader of the region and the chairman of the local stock exchange. He also had talks on a provincial level on the

at the Shenzhen Hi-Tech Fair, Tamás Fellegi opened the forum together with Deputy Minister for Commerce Li

infrastructure and water management investments and joint projects considered feasible by the Hungarian and Chinese experts, and the manner of their financing.

The numerous partners on the minister’s negotiation agenda included the top management of the iron and steel company Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) and the railway operator China CNR Corporation. He visited the Ningbo facility of Wanhua Industrial Group, owner of BorsodChem, and Westinghouse Electric Company’s nuclear power plant under construction in Sanmen.

As the highest ranking foreign visitor

Jinzao, Acting Provincial Governor of Guangdong Wang Yang, and Mayor of Shenzhen Xu Qin, on 16 November 2011 in China’s high-tech centre.

In his lector he highlighted that research and innovation were focal elements in the Hungarian Government’s economic policy and the driving force in Hungarian-Chinese bilateral relations. With its favourable geographical location, high-standard education and scientific background, as well as its considerably streamlined tax system, Hungary is a Central European state that can keep the ground in the competition for Chinese investments.

Summary of the Proposed Judicial Reform The major objective of the judicial reform is to separate functionally the administrative management of courts from the professional jurisdiction of courts. The National Judicial Office will exercise the administrative powers, while the Curia (Supreme Court) will serve as the highest court of appeal, and the President of the Curia will be responsible for the professional management of courts. This is a clear break with the model introduced in 1997 that combined the two structures and concentrated leadership in one hand, since the same person was head of the Supreme Court and the head of the office for judicial administration.

Under the new model the President of the National Judicial Office will elected from among the judges by the Parliament with a two-thirds majority for a period of nine years on the recommendation of the President of the Republic. The judges of the Curia will also be elected by the Parliament with a two-thirds majority for a period of nine years on the recommendation of the President of the Republic.

The new model will be in harmony with the new Hungarian Constitution adopted by Parliament in April 2011. The new Constitution determines that the judicial system is to have a multi-level organization and the supreme judicial body shall be the Curia (Supreme Court). The Constitution also confers new tasks on the judiciary, as the courts will decide in cases of conflicts of local ordinances with other legislation as well as on the establishment of a local government’s failure to observe its statutory legislative obligation.

This chart shows the proposed changes in the status of the Curia.

Proposed regulations

Earlier regulations

The Curia is the supreme judicial body.

This will not change.

Tasks of the Curia: -Review procedures, -Third instance court proceedings, -Review of local ordinances, -Decision on the establishment of a local government’s failure to observe its statutory legislative obligation.

The Constitutional Court used to proceed in connection with the review of local ordinances and with the establishment of a local government’s neglect of its statutory legislative obligation.

The other tasks did not change.

Status of the President of the Curia: -Elected by the Parliament for nine years, -On the recommendation of the President of the Republic, -May be reelected, -If the Parliament does not elect a new president, his mandate is prolonged.

The President of the Supreme Court used to be elected for six years instead of nine and there was no possibility of prolongation of the mandate.

The President of the Curia does not exercise any central administrative powers.

The President of the Supreme Court used to be also the President of the National Council of Justice. The National Council of Justice used to be responsible for the central administration.