vips

LETTER N° 25

From 17 to 23 June

17
Japan

(Chiba)

Former Chiba Deputy Mayor Keiichi Tsuruoka, supported by Japan's three ruling parties, won mayoral election of the city of Chiba, a major city with a population of 892,000, beating five other rookie candidates, final returns showed.

17
Bulgaria

Parliamentary election. Results :

The National Movement Simeon II wins 43% of the vote, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov's Union of Democratic Forces 18%, the Socialist Party 17%, and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms 7%. Turnout is 67%.

The National Movement Simeon II (NMSII), created two months ago by former Bulgarian monarch Simeon Saxe-Coburg, managed to get more votes than the combined support for rivals United Democratic Forces (UtDF), which led the country over the past four years, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party-led Coalition For Bulgaria.

17
Moldova

Local elections. Results :

Ocnita town : Zalevskaia Galina (Communist), 86.9 percent ; Sangereii Noi, Balti County : Ceauseac Valentina (Social Democratic Party [PSDM]), 60.1 percent ; Chetrosu, Chisinau County : Colozub Andrei (Communist), 74.63 percent ; Calarasovca, Edinet County : Tolearet Nicolae (independent), 53.7 percent ; Gradiste, Lapusna County : Nistrean Gheorghe (Agrarian Democratic Party [PDAM]), 70.3 percent ; Sarata Noua, Lapusna County : second round will be held ; Nicoreni, Soroca County : Gatu Alexandra (independent), 70.3 percent ; Balti city : Vasili Panciuc (Communist), 74.2 percent ; Sarata Noua, Lapusna County, Braviceni, Orhei County, Macaresti, Ungheni County and Maximovca, Chisinau County : second round will be held. The second round of elections is scheduled in two weeks.

17
Russia

(Primorye)

Gubernatorial and regional elections 2nd round. Results :

Entrepreneur Sergei Darkin was elected governor of the Russian Far East region of Primorye. Darkin, a political newcomer, won 40.2 percent of the vote in runoff, the electoral commission reported. The second largest number of votes, 33.7 percent, was cast against all candidates - reflecting deep disaffection in a region plagued by energy shortages and often paralyzed by political infighting. Gennady Apanasenko, deputy to President Vladimir Putin 's official envoy to the Far East Federal District, received 24.3 percent of the vote. Voter turnout among Primorye's 1.5 million registered voters was 36 percent, said the chairman of the regional electoral commission, Sergei Knyazev. The results were based on all ballots cast except for a tiny fraction.

Darkin, a 37-year-old Primorye native, moved into private business in 1989, and serves as director of the Rossisky Leasing company, or Roliz, which is engaged in fishing and mayonnaise production.

The former governor of Primorye, Yevgeny Nazdratenko, was forced to resign after failing to reverse an energy crisis this past winter.

17
Croatia

Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic Resigns.

Born on 12 August in Trpanj. 1961-1962 Employed with the Trpanj Municipality. 1965 Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. 1972 Received a master's degree in administration sciences, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. 1981 Received a doctorate from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. Since 1966, worked at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb as assistant lecturer, research assistant (since 1972), senior lecturer (since 1981) and professor (since 1986). 1989-1995 President of the Council of Post-graduate Studies in Administration and Politics. 1990-1993 SDP, Vice-president and member of the Directorate (1993-1994). 1994-1995 Action of Social Democrats of Croatia (ASH), Vice-president. Since 1998, member of the Executive Committee, SDP City of Zagreb. Minister of Justice, Administration and Local Self-Government since february 2000.

17
Great Britain

Cardinal Thomas Winning, the staunchly conservative leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics, died at the age of 76, church officials said.

Leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Born in Wishaw, Thomas Winning was educated in Motherwell. He was ordained as a priest in Rome (1948) and returned to Rome to become Director of the Scots College (1961). He became a Bishop (1971), the Archbishop of Glasgow (1974) and was appointed a Cardinal (1994), becoming only the second Scot since the Reformation to reach this position. Winning held honorary degrees from the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Strathclyde. Widely respected and with a strong social conscience, Winning was also well-known for his conservative views on moral issues. No stranger to controversy, he has spoken out on abortion, the celibacy of priests and homosexuality, becoming a staunch supporter of a campaign against the liberalisation of attitudes to discussing homosexuality in the class-room, led by businessman Brian Souter (2000). He will perhaps be best remembered for his scheme to give financial support to young mothers in return for not having an abortion.

20
Pakistan

President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar is removed and Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf is sworn in as president.

General Pervez Musharraf, the second of three brothers, was born to an educated Syed family on August 11, 1943 in Delhi. After the creation of Pakistan the family chose to settle in Karachi. His father, the late Syed Musharaff-ud-Din a career diplomat retired in 1974 while his mother successfully devoted her time between caring for her family and serving the International Labour Organization, retired in 1987. The General had the opportunity of spending his early life (1949-1956 in Turkey and can, consequently, converse fluently in Turkish language. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 and was commissioned in an elite Artillery Regiment in 1964. A graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College, also distinguished himself at the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. Was promoted to the rank of General on 7th October 1998 and appointed Chief of Army Staff. He was given the additional charge of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee on 9th April 1999 and is performing duties as the Chief Executive of Pakistan since 12th October, 1999. He also continues to hold the office of Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

20
UNHCR

First World Refugee Day

June 20 2001 will mark the first ever universal Refugee Day. Countries across the globe will celebrate this day as World Refugee Day. Many countries have previously celebrated a refugee day, but this year marks the first internationally celebrated day.

SEE

20
Lithuania

Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas resigns. Eugenijus Gentvilas is appointed acting prime minister.

Eugenijus Gentvilas born 14 March 1960 in Telsiai. In 1978- 1983 he studied geography at the University of Vilnius. Graduated from Vilnius University Faculty of Natural Sciences (geography) in 1983 Since 1983 working at Department of Ecological Problems, Institute of Mathematics and Cybernetics, Academy of Sciences. Started as many other young politicians of Lithuania through Green movement at the end of the 80-s. In 1988 he joined Sajudis. E. Gentvilas was elected to the Supreme Council of Lithuania in 1990 in Klaipeda. In 1991- 1992 he served as a speaker of the Supreme Council. Nevertheless, he and his movement of Moderates lost in the elections of 1992. In 1993 he was back to academic career at the University of Klaipeda. But 1995 during the local elections he was elected to Klaipeda City Council. In recent years was a keen promoter of ideas of free trade area in Klaipeda region. Leader of Lithuanian Liberal Union. Minister of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania, since March 2001.

21/23
France

(Strasbourg)

World Conference against Death Penalty

The conference, instigated by an association "Ensemble contre la peine de mort"(Together against the death penalty )chaired by Michel Taube, has received the support of major associations standing up for Human Rights, as well as that of the Counscil of Europe, of the European Parliament or the National Assembly.It's aiming at a moratorium of all scheduled executions and forthcoming sentences wherever they come from. Its ambition is the mobilization of the citizens around the world in order to accelerate a universal abolition of the death penalty.

TO SEE MORE

22
Bosnia and Hercegovina

Prime Minister Bozidar Matic resigns.

Matic is a Croat, born in 1937 in the village of Bogatic, near Sarajevo. Currently he is performing the function of Director of the BH Academy of Science and Art. So far, he has not performed any important political duties. Further on, the announcement reads that the Alliance will propose Mladen Ivankovic, Director of "Lijanovic" Company from Siroki Brijeg, as the BH Federation Minister of Industry, and Milan Lovric from Citluk, as the BH Federation Minister of Trade. None of them have performed any important political duties in BH. Prime Minister since 22 February 2001

22
Turkey

Turkey's Constitutional Court closed the main opposition, pro-Islamic Fazilet Partisi, or Virtue Party, for its anti-secular activities. The decision is expected to deepen European Union concerns over Turkey's democratic credentials.

22
Thailand

(Phitsanulok)

In Phitsanulok the former Allahabad Municipal Corporation Mayor Rita Bhaughuna Joshi were among the seven women Mayors and councilors from Asia and Pacific Region who received awards for their outstanding contribution to their respective community at the Asia-Pacific Summit ofWomen Mayors and Councilors here.

The awardees were women Mayors and Councilors from China, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand in recognition of their services to communities and for breaking barriers against participation and representation of women in local Government.

Phitsanulok is 377km (236mi) by road from Bangkok. It is one of the economically most important provinces in the North, serving as a center for commerce, transportation and communication.

22
Japan

Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka appointed Masaki Orita, former ambassador to Denmark and Lithuania, as the ministry's second inspector general in the wake of a high-profile fraud case involving a former Foreign Ministry official, ministry officials said.

Orita Masaki's profil : 1942- Born in Japan. 1965 Graduated from Tokyo University, Faculty of Law. Entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Entered Oxford University (St. Catherine's College). 1967 Embassy of Japan, United Kingdom. 1969 Second South East Asia Division, Asian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1971 Treaties Division, Treaties Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1975 First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, the Soviet Union. 1977 First Secretary, Permanent Delegation of Japan to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France. 1979 Deputy Budget Examiner of the Budget Bureau in charge of Science, Technology and Culture, Ministry of Finance. 1981 Director, Treaties Division, Treaties Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1984 Political Counsellor, Embassy of Japan, the United States of America. 1987 Director, Overseas Establishments Division, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1989 Deputy Director-General, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister. 1992 Consul-General of Japan, Hong Kong. 1994 Director-General, Treaties Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1995 Director-General, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1997 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Denmark. Also accredited to the Republic of Lithuania.

23
Northern Ireland

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has been re-elected to the helm of his party with no challenge from anti-Good Friday Agreement members.

William David Trimble was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland. He received a law degree from Queen's University, Belfast, and taught law at the university from 1968 to 1990. He was elected to the British House of Commons in 1990. In 1995, he became the leader of the UUP. He had joined the party in 1977. Trimble shared the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize with John Hume, the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The SDLP favors Northern Ireland's union with the Republic of Ireland achieved through a democratic process of consent. The two men won the prize for their efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland. They participated with other political leaders from the United Kingdom and Ireland in talks that concluded with the signing of a peace agreement in April 1998. The agreement established a legislative assembly for Northern Ireland that would control many local affairs. Trimble was elected to the new assembly and became its leader.

23
MERCOSUR

Mercosur leaders also reiterated their support for a hemisphere-wide free-trade accord set to be completed by January 2005. The presidents also stressed their hopes for progress in trade talks with European Union officials, slated for July.

Attending the summit were Presidents Fernando de la Rua of Argentina, Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, Luis Gonzalez Macchi of Paraguay and Jorge Batlle of Uruguay. Neighbors Chile and Bolivia were represented by Ricardo Lagos and Hugo Banzer, respectively. Also taking part as special guests were Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

This week :

VIPS-PARL

ITALY - The new Presidents of the Senate and the House of Deputies. The government officials will be presented next week.

THIS WEEK'S STORY

June 16, 1963

FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE

On June 16, 1963, aboard Vostok 6, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman to travel into space. After 48 orbits and 71 hours, she returned to earth, having spent more time in space than all U.S. astronauts combined to that date.

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was born to a peasant family in Maslennikovo, Russia, in 1937. She began work at a textile factory when she was 18, and at age 22 she made her first parachute jump under the auspices of a local aviation club. Her enthusiasm for skydiving brought her to the attention of the Soviet space program, which sought to put a woman in space in the early 1960s as a means of achieving another "space first" before the United States. As an accomplished parachutist, Tereshkova was well equipped to handle one of the most challenging procedures of a Vostok space flight: the mandatory ejection from the capsule at about 20,000 feet during reentry. In February 1962, she was selected along with three other woman parachutists and a female pilot to begin intensive training to become a cosmonaut.

In 1963, Tereshkova was chosen to take part in the second dual flight in the Vostok program, involving spacecrafts Vostok 5 and Vostok 6. On June 14, 1963, Vostok 5 was launched into space with cosmonaut Valeri Bykovsky aboard. With Bykovsky still orbiting the earth, Tereshkova was launched into space on June 16 aboard Vostok 6. The two spacecrafts had different orbits but at one point came within three miles of each other, allowing the two cosmonauts to exchange brief communications. Tereshkova's spacecraft was guided by an automatic control system, and she never took manual control. On June 19, after just under three days in space, Vostok 6 reentered the atmosphere, and Tereshkova successfully parachuted to earth after ejecting at 20,000 feet. Bykovsky and Vostok 5 landed safely a few hours later.

After her historic space flight, Valentina Tereshkova received the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union awards. In November 1963, she married fellow cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev, reportedly under pressure from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, who saw a propaganda advantage in the pairing of the two single cosmonauts. The couple made several goodwill trips abroad, had a daughter, and later separated. In 1962, Tereshkova became a member of the Supreme Soviet, the USSR's national parliament, and she served as the Soviet representative to numerous international women's organizations and events. She never entered space again, and hers was the last space flight by a female cosmonaut until the 1980s.

ALSO SEE

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

17 Japan (Chiba)		Former Chiba Deputy Mayor Keiichi Tsuruoka, supported by Japan's three ruling parties, won mayoral election of the city of Chiba, a major city with a population of 892,000, beating five other rookie candidates, final returns showed.
17 Bulgaria		Parliamentary election. Results : The National Movement Simeon II wins 43% of the vote, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov's Union of Democratic Forces 18%, the Socialist Party 17%, and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms 7%. Turnout is 67%. The National Movement Simeon II (NMSII), created two months ago by former Bulgarian monarch Simeon Saxe-Coburg, managed to get more votes than the combined support for rivals United Democratic Forces (UtDF), which led the country over the past four years, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party-led Coalition For Bulgaria.
17 Moldova		Local elections. Results : Ocnita town : Zalevskaia Galina (Communist), 86.9 percent ; Sangereii Noi, Balti County : Ceauseac Valentina (Social Democratic Party [PSDM]), 60.1 percent ; Chetrosu, Chisinau County : Colozub Andrei (Communist), 74.63 percent ; Calarasovca, Edinet County : Tolearet Nicolae (independent), 53.7 percent ; Gradiste, Lapusna County : Nistrean Gheorghe (Agrarian Democratic Party [PDAM]), 70.3 percent ; Sarata Noua, Lapusna County : second round will be held ; Nicoreni, Soroca County : Gatu Alexandra (independent), 70.3 percent ; Balti city : Vasili Panciuc (Communist), 74.2 percent ; Sarata Noua, Lapusna County, Braviceni, Orhei County, Macaresti, Ungheni County and Maximovca, Chisinau County : second round will be held. The second round of elections is scheduled in two weeks.
17 Russia (Primorye)		Gubernatorial and regional elections 2nd round. Results : Entrepreneur Sergei Darkin was elected governor of the Russian Far East region of Primorye. Darkin, a political newcomer, won 40.2 percent of the vote in runoff, the electoral commission reported. The second largest number of votes, 33.7 percent, was cast against all candidates - reflecting deep disaffection in a region plagued by energy shortages and often paralyzed by political infighting. Gennady Apanasenko, deputy to President Vladimir Putin 's official envoy to the Far East Federal District, received 24.3 percent of the vote. Voter turnout among Primorye's 1.5 million registered voters was 36 percent, said the chairman of the regional electoral commission, Sergei Knyazev. The results were based on all ballots cast except for a tiny fraction. Darkin, a 37-year-old Primorye native, moved into private business in 1989, and serves as director of the Rossisky Leasing company, or Roliz, which is engaged in fishing and mayonnaise production. The former governor of Primorye, Yevgeny Nazdratenko, was forced to resign after failing to reverse an energy crisis this past winter.
17 Croatia		Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic Resigns. Born on 12 August in Trpanj. 1961-1962 Employed with the Trpanj Municipality. 1965 Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. 1972 Received a master's degree in administration sciences, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. 1981 Received a doctorate from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb. Since 1966, worked at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb as assistant lecturer, research assistant (since 1972), senior lecturer (since 1981) and professor (since 1986). 1989-1995 President of the Council of Post-graduate Studies in Administration and Politics. 1990-1993 SDP, Vice-president and member of the Directorate (1993-1994). 1994-1995 Action of Social Democrats of Croatia (ASH), Vice-president. Since 1998, member of the Executive Committee, SDP City of Zagreb. Minister of Justice, Administration and Local Self-Government since february 2000.
17 Great Britain		Cardinal Thomas Winning, the staunchly conservative leader of Scotland's Roman Catholics, died at the age of 76, church officials said. Leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Born in Wishaw, Thomas Winning was educated in Motherwell. He was ordained as a priest in Rome (1948) and returned to Rome to become Director of the Scots College (1961). He became a Bishop (1971), the Archbishop of Glasgow (1974) and was appointed a Cardinal (1994), becoming only the second Scot since the Reformation to reach this position. Winning held honorary degrees from the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Strathclyde. Widely respected and with a strong social conscience, Winning was also well-known for his conservative views on moral issues. No stranger to controversy, he has spoken out on abortion, the celibacy of priests and homosexuality, becoming a staunch supporter of a campaign against the liberalisation of attitudes to discussing homosexuality in the class-room, led by businessman Brian Souter (2000). He will perhaps be best remembered for his scheme to give financial support to young mothers in return for not having an abortion.
20 Pakistan		President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar is removed and Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf is sworn in as president. General Pervez Musharraf, the second of three brothers, was born to an educated Syed family on August 11, 1943 in Delhi. After the creation of Pakistan the family chose to settle in Karachi. His father, the late Syed Musharaff-ud-Din a career diplomat retired in 1974 while his mother successfully devoted her time between caring for her family and serving the International Labour Organization, retired in 1987. The General had the opportunity of spending his early life (1949-1956 in Turkey and can, consequently, converse fluently in Turkish language. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 and was commissioned in an elite Artillery Regiment in 1964. A graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College, also distinguished himself at the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. Was promoted to the rank of General on 7th October 1998 and appointed Chief of Army Staff. He was given the additional charge of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee on 9th April 1999 and is performing duties as the Chief Executive of Pakistan since 12th October, 1999. He also continues to hold the office of Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
20 UNHCR		First World Refugee Day June 20 2001 will mark the first ever universal Refugee Day. Countries across the globe will celebrate this day as World Refugee Day. Many countries have previously celebrated a refugee day, but this year marks the first internationally celebrated day. SEE
20 Lithuania		Prime Minister Rolandas Paksas resigns. Eugenijus Gentvilas is appointed acting prime minister. Eugenijus Gentvilas born 14 March 1960 in Telsiai. In 1978- 1983 he studied geography at the University of Vilnius. Graduated from Vilnius University Faculty of Natural Sciences (geography) in 1983 Since 1983 working at Department of Ecological Problems, Institute of Mathematics and Cybernetics, Academy of Sciences. Started as many other young politicians of Lithuania through Green movement at the end of the 80-s. In 1988 he joined Sajudis. E. Gentvilas was elected to the Supreme Council of Lithuania in 1990 in Klaipeda. In 1991- 1992 he served as a speaker of the Supreme Council. Nevertheless, he and his movement of Moderates lost in the elections of 1992. In 1993 he was back to academic career at the University of Klaipeda. But 1995 during the local elections he was elected to Klaipeda City Council. In recent years was a keen promoter of ideas of free trade area in Klaipeda region. Leader of Lithuanian Liberal Union. Minister of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania, since March 2001.
21/23 France (Strasbourg)		World Conference against Death Penalty The conference, instigated by an association "Ensemble contre la peine de mort"(Together against the death penalty )chaired by Michel Taube, has received the support of major associations standing up for Human Rights, as well as that of the Counscil of Europe, of the European Parliament or the National Assembly.It's aiming at a moratorium of all scheduled executions and forthcoming sentences wherever they come from. Its ambition is the mobilization of the citizens around the world in order to accelerate a universal abolition of the death penalty. TO SEE MORE
22 Bosnia and Hercegovina		Prime Minister Bozidar Matic resigns. Matic is a Croat, born in 1937 in the village of Bogatic, near Sarajevo. Currently he is performing the function of Director of the BH Academy of Science and Art. So far, he has not performed any important political duties. Further on, the announcement reads that the Alliance will propose Mladen Ivankovic, Director of "Lijanovic" Company from Siroki Brijeg, as the BH Federation Minister of Industry, and Milan Lovric from Citluk, as the BH Federation Minister of Trade. None of them have performed any important political duties in BH. Prime Minister since 22 February 2001
22 Turkey		Turkey's Constitutional Court closed the main opposition, pro-Islamic Fazilet Partisi, or Virtue Party, for its anti-secular activities. The decision is expected to deepen European Union concerns over Turkey's democratic credentials.
22 Thailand (Phitsanulok)		In Phitsanulok the former Allahabad Municipal Corporation Mayor Rita Bhaughuna Joshi were among the seven women Mayors and councilors from Asia and Pacific Region who received awards for their outstanding contribution to their respective community at the Asia-Pacific Summit ofWomen Mayors and Councilors here. The awardees were women Mayors and Councilors from China, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand in recognition of their services to communities and for breaking barriers against participation and representation of women in local Government. Phitsanulok is 377km (236mi) by road from Bangkok. It is one of the economically most important provinces in the North, serving as a center for commerce, transportation and communication.
22 Japan		Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka appointed Masaki Orita, former ambassador to Denmark and Lithuania, as the ministry's second inspector general in the wake of a high-profile fraud case involving a former Foreign Ministry official, ministry officials said. Orita Masaki's profil : 1942- Born in Japan. 1965 Graduated from Tokyo University, Faculty of Law. Entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Entered Oxford University (St. Catherine's College). 1967 Embassy of Japan, United Kingdom. 1969 Second South East Asia Division, Asian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1971 Treaties Division, Treaties Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1975 First Secretary, Embassy of Japan, the Soviet Union. 1977 First Secretary, Permanent Delegation of Japan to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France. 1979 Deputy Budget Examiner of the Budget Bureau in charge of Science, Technology and Culture, Ministry of Finance. 1981 Director, Treaties Division, Treaties Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1984 Political Counsellor, Embassy of Japan, the United States of America. 1987 Director, Overseas Establishments Division, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1989 Deputy Director-General, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister. 1992 Consul-General of Japan, Hong Kong. 1994 Director-General, Treaties Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1995 Director-General, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1997 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Denmark. Also accredited to the Republic of Lithuania.
23 Northern Ireland		Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has been re-elected to the helm of his party with no challenge from anti-Good Friday Agreement members. William David Trimble was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland. He received a law degree from Queen's University, Belfast, and taught law at the university from 1968 to 1990. He was elected to the British House of Commons in 1990. In 1995, he became the leader of the UUP. He had joined the party in 1977. Trimble shared the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize with John Hume, the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The SDLP favors Northern Ireland's union with the Republic of Ireland achieved through a democratic process of consent. The two men won the prize for their efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland. They participated with other political leaders from the United Kingdom and Ireland in talks that concluded with the signing of a peace agreement in April 1998. The agreement established a legislative assembly for Northern Ireland that would control many local affairs. Trimble was elected to the new assembly and became its leader.
23 MERCOSUR		Mercosur leaders also reiterated their support for a hemisphere-wide free-trade accord set to be completed by January 2005. The presidents also stressed their hopes for progress in trade talks with European Union officials, slated for July. Attending the summit were Presidents Fernando de la Rua of Argentina, Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, Luis Gonzalez Macchi of Paraguay and Jorge Batlle of Uruguay. Neighbors Chile and Bolivia were represented by Ricardo Lagos and Hugo Banzer, respectively. Also taking part as special guests were Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.