LETTER N° 21

From 20 to 26 May

20

Russia

Federal Duma Deputy by-election at Tihkoretsk District. Results : non available

20

Chad

Presidential election. Results :

Chadians are due to decide on Sunday, 27 which of seven presidential candidates will run their country for the next five years. Incumbent President Idriss Deby, who seized power in 1990, won elections in 1996 against most of the candidates running against him on Sunday. The foremost challenger is the current speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the Union pour le renouveau et la democratie, General Wadal Abdelkader Kamougue and Saleh Kebzabo, Kassire Koumakoye. His rassemblement national pour la democratie et le progres has no seat in parliament. The other candidates are, Oumar Saleh of the Parti pour la liberte et le developpement, Jean Bawoyeu of the Union pour la Democratie et la republique, and Ngarledjy Yorongar of the Federation action for the republic.

20

Mongolia

Presidential election. Results :

President Natsagiin Bagabandi was reelected for a second four-year term, the head of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP).President Natsagiyn Bagabandi is reelected with 57.9% of the votes, followed by Radnaasumbereliyn Gonchigdorj with 36.6% and Luvsandamba Dashnyam with 3.6%. Turnout is 82%.

20

Croatia

Local elections. Results :

The reformist coalition, headed by the Social Democrats (SDP) of Prime Minister Ivica Racan, led in 14 out of 21 counties, including the capital Zagreb.

20/21

Rwanda

(Kigali)

First ladies from 10 African nations met to discuss how to convince their husbands - and their governments - of the need to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS on the continent. Some 26 million people in Africa are infected with the HIV virus that causes AIDS, and 55 percent of them are women, accounting for 80 percent of all women living with the virus. According to United Nations, 17 million people in Africa have died from AIDS-related causes.

The gathering was hosted by Jeanette Kagame, wife of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The meeting runs through Tuesday and is attended by the first ladies of Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria and Rwanda. The first ladies of other countries sent representatives.

21

Guyana

Samuel Rudolf Insanally is sworn in as foreign minister.

Mr. Insanally was born on 23 June 1936 in Georgetown, Guyana. Prior to entering the diplomatic service, Mr. insanally held teaching positions in modern languages from 1959 to 1966 at Kingston and Jamaica Colleges, Jamaica ; Queen's College, Guyana; and at the University of Guyana. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in modern languages from the College of the Went Indies - London University, and undertook post-graduate work in modern languages and international relations at the University of Paris, France and the University of Brussels, Belgium.

22

Ukraina

President Leonid Kuchma, has said he will nominate the head of a pro-business political party, Anatoliy Kinakh, as the new prime minister.

Mr Kinakh Was born in 1954. Graduated from Leningrad ship-building institute (speciality - engineer - ship-builder). 19788-1992 - worked at ship-building and ship-repairing plants, occupations - from foreman of the dock to head of the production. 1990- elected as the deputy to Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian Parliament). 1992-1994 - representative of the President of Ukraine in Nikolaev Region, head of Region State Administration. 1994-1995 - Head of Nikolaev Council of People's Deputies. 1995-1996 - Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for industrial policy. Since 1997 - Advisor to the President of Ukraine for industrial policy. First Deputy to Head of Council of International Congress of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, member of Supreme Economic Council under the President of Ukraine, Head of Interdepartmental Coordination Council for Privatization of strategically important industrial enterprises, member of National Council of Ukraine for Problems of Quality. Since March 1998 - Deputy of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the 14th convocation, Head of Verkhovna Rada Committee for Industrial Policy. Since May 1998 - President of National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce, since November 1998 - Head of Coordination Council of Confederation o Employers of Ukraine.

22/23

Swerige

(Stockholm)

Toxic chemicals treaty

In a landmark agreement in December, 122 countries agreed to phase out and eliminate some of the world's most dangerous chemicals. The Stockholm event is the formal signing of the treaty. The problems start after the signing, when the parliaments of some 50 countries must ratify the treaty for it to take effect. A treaty regulating refrigerants that deplete the earth's ozone layer, the Beijing Amendment, had been ratified by only one signatory almost two years after it was signed.

The 12 substances included in the persistant organic pollutants (Pops) treaty include polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dioxin, both believed to be carcinogenic, and various agricultural chemicals. The draft stipulates that each nation should ban PCBs by 2025 and complete detoxification measures by 2028. For dioxin, the member nations pledged efforts to reduce the quantity with the eventual aim of complete abolition.

Conclusions : Almost 130 nations formally agreed a U.N. treaty to ban or minimize use of a ``dirty dozen'' toxic chemicals blamed for causing cancers and birth defects in people and animals. Environment ministers or senior officials from 127 countries, including the United States which came under renewed criticism for abandoning a climate pact, agreed in Stockholm to the deal to axe 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

24

Cyprus


The government of Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu in North Cyprus resigns.

Dr. Dervis Eroglu, was born in Ergazi, Famagusta in 1938. He studied Medicine in Istanbul University. He served as a Mucahit - Medical Doctor during the struggle of Turkish Cypriots against Greek Cypriots. In 1969 he resumed his medical studies and specialized as an urologist from Ankara University. He entered Parliament with the 1976 parliamentary elections, and has been re-elected to Parliament in the 1981, 1985, 1990, and 1993 elections. He served as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports during 1976-77. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly in November-1983. In his capacity as the leader of the National Unity Party, he was appointed as Prime Minister in four successive governments during 1985-1993. He was the Leader of the Main Opposition during January 1, 1994 - August 16, 1996. With the resignation of the DP-RTP coalition government on July 4, 1996, Dr. Eroglu was given, on August 1, 1996, the job of forming a new government. With the approval by the President of the new cabinet on August 16, 1996, Dr. Eroglu has assumed the post of Prime Minister in the NUP-DP coalition government currently in place. Dr. Eroglu, first became Chairman of the NUP in 1983 and has since been re-elected to that capacity in the 1994-86-88-90-92 and 1994 Party Congresses. Dr. Eroglu is married, has four children and three grandchildren.

25

Iran

Parliamentary and Experts Assembly by-elections. Results :

Iran's electoral watchdog announced the final list of 10 candidates for next month'spresidential election, pitting incumbent President Mohammad Khatami ) against nine less popular challengers. Khatami's most prominent challengers are Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani and former Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian, who areaffiliated with a hard-line faction led by Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Former Labor Minister Ahmad Tavakoli, a conservative economist who finished second in 1993 against former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, also made the cut, as did Abdollah Jasbi, head of the Islamic Azad University. Pro-reformists had objected to the candidacy of Shamkhani, who is an admiral as well as defense minister. They argued that the constitution bars the military from engaging in politics, but the council ignored the objection. Fallahian is a shadowy figure who served as intelligence minister from 1989 to 1997. The other candidates approved by the Guardian Council are former Energy Minister Hassan Ghafouri-Fard, university professor Mahmoud Kashani, former Vice President Mansour Razavi, former parliament member Shahaboddin Sadr and Mostafa Hashemi-Taba, head of the physical education organization.

25

OUA

The 38th Anniversary of the Founding Of the Organization of African Unity.

The Organization of African Unity was established on May 25, 1963, at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Charter of the Organization was signed on that occasion by Heads of State and Government of 32 independent African States. Its purposes are to promote the unity and solidarity of the African States; defend the sovereignty of members; eradicate all forms of colonialism ; promote international cooperation having due regard for the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; coordinate and harmonize Member States economic, diplomatic, educational, health, welfare, scientific and defense policies.

26

Colombia

Defense Minister Luis Fernández Ramírez resigns.President Pastrana named armed forces chief Gen. Fernando Tapias as his interim defense minister. Tapias is well regarded by U.S. officials.

26

Haiti

Former Haitian President Prosper Avril was arrested on charges of plotting against the state, family members said.

Remember : In 1988, following military-controlled elections, Leslie Manigat was elected to the presidency, but five months later Namphy overthrew him in a military coup. Four months after that, Namphy was himself unseated in a coup led by Gen. Prosper Avril. Under Avril, widespread repression of political parties, unions, student groups and other democratically oriented organizations ensued. In early 1989, Avril declared a state of siege, but continued protests, both within Haiti and from the international community, induced Avril to relinquish office in 1990. A provisional government led by Supreme Court Justice Ertha Pasqualle Trouillot set elections for December of that year.

This week :

VIPS-GOV.

SENEGAL

MACEDONIA

VIPS-FEDS.

UNITED STATES

RESULTS :

INDIA : Elections are held in several states.

In Assam, the Indian National Congress (INC) wins 70 seats against 20 seats for the Asom Gana Parishad and 8 for the Bharatiya Janata Party ; Tarun Gogoi takes office as chief minister on May 18.

In Kerala, the INC wins 62 seats against 23 seats for the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPM) and 16 for the Muslim League Kerala State Committee ; A.K. Antony takes office as chief minister on May 18.

In Tamil Nadu, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam wins 132 seats against 31 seats for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, 23 for the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and 20 for the Pattali Makkal Katchi.

In West Bengal, the CPM wins 143 seats, the All India Trinamool Congress 60, the INC 26, the All India Forward Bloc 25, and the Revolutionary Socialist Party 17. In Pondicherry, the INC wins 11 of 30 seats.

 

 THIS WEEK'S STORY

May 24, 1844

F. B. Morse envoie le premier message sur la première ligne de télégraphe.

Samuel F. B. Morse, once a portrait painter, turned to inventing to make his fortune. Morse had little training in electricity but realized that pulses of electrical current could convey information over wires. Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the eldest child of the Reverend Jedidiah Morse and his wife, Elizabeth Ann Breese, Samuel Morse attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and entered Yale College in 1805, graduating in 1810. Morse took out three patents on pumps in 1817 with his brother, Sidney Edwards Morse. Samuel Morse's interest in telegraphy began in 1832, and the elements of a relay system were worked out late in 1835. The equipment was gradually improved and was demonstrated in 1837. Morse developed 'lightning wires' and 'Morse code,' an electronic alphabet that could carry messages. The patent was applied for in 1840. A line was constructed between Baltimore and Washington and the first message, sent on May 24,1844, was 'What hath God wrought !' To support himself later in life Morse was largely dependent on dividends from telegraph companies. In 1858 several European countries combined to pay a gratuity of 400,000 francs as compensation for their use of his system. In 1861 the two coasts of the United States were linked by telegraph.

ALSO SEE

Chiefs of State and Heads of Government
Foreign Affairs
World Parliaments
Federated States and Provinces
World Governments
International Organizations