vips

LETTER N° 37

From 09 to 15 September

09
Belarus

President 1st round. Results :

The incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka wins about 76% of the vote, against about 15% for Vladimir Goncharik.

09
Brazil

PMDB Party:Internal leadership election. Results :

Delegates at a rowdy national convention of the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) voted 63 percent in favor of lawmaker Michel Temer to lead the party for the next two years. He defeated Senator Maguito Vilela. The party is a partner with Cardoso's Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) and the Liberal Front Party (PFL) in a center-right coalition that governs the country.

09
Lebanon

Municipal elections in former Israeli-occupied southern Lebanon. Worthy mentioning that these elections which are taking place in 115 liberated towns and villages in South Lebanon are made for the first time since more than 25 years during which these areas were under the Israeli occupation. The results are expected on Monday 17.

10
Norway

Parliamentary elections. Results :

In parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's Labour Party wins 43 of 165 seats, the Conservatives 38, the Christian Democrats 34, the Progress Party 26, and the Socialist Left Party 23. Turnout is about 74%.

Labour 24.4 (-10.6) 43 MPs (-22) ; Socialist Left 12.4 (+6.4) 23 (+14) ; Red Alliance 1.2 (-0.5) 0 ( - ) ; Agrarians 5.6 (-2.4) 10 (-1) ; Christian People 12.5 (-1.2) 22 (-3) ; Liberal Left 3.9 (-0.6) 2 (-4) ; Conservatives 21.2 (+6.9) 38 (+15) ; Progress Party 14.7 (-0.6) 26 (+1) ; Coastal Party 1.7 (+1.7) 1 ( - ) and Others 2.5 (+2.6)

10
Pakistan

Local government elections in eight districts of NWFP and four districts of Balochistan province. Results : Next week

10/11
OAS

OAS foreign ministers meet - Lima

At the special meeting called for the purpose, the ministers of the 34-nation Organization of American States plan to adopt the InterAmerican Democratic Charter. The presidents of the Western Hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April announced the charter, aimed at establishing democracy as the only legitimate political system for OAS member states. It links human rights to democracy, establishes preventive measures to assist democracies in crisis and refines the OAS's ability to address nascent and subtle threats to democracy in the region. The foreign ministers have the task of turning the leaders' pledge into a plan of action.

The site

11
United Kingdom

Election to Conservative Party chairman. Results :

Iain Duncan Smith is the new Conservative Party Leader. Mr Duncan Smith polled 155,933 votes to Mr Clarke's 100,864 - a 61% to 39% share of the vote.

Profile : Iain Duncan Smith was born in April 1954. He was educated at Dunchurch College of Management ; the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; the Universita di Perugia, Italy ; and HMS Conway, Anglesey. He is married with four children. He was Publishing Director of Jane`s Information Group from 1989-92 ; Director of Bellwinch Plc from 1988-89 ; Director of GEC/Marconi from 1981-88 ; and a Scots Guard Officer between 1975 and 1981. He was Vice-Chairman of Fulham Conservative Association in 1991. The following year he was elected Member of Parliament for Chingford. From 1992-97 he was secretary of the Conservative Back Bench Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Committee and a member of the Conservative Back Bench Defence Committee. From June 1997 he was Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security. In June 1999 was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.

11
Saint Kitts and Nevis

A new administration headed by Premier Vance Amory is sworn.

See composition next week

12
U. N.

United Nations 2001 Assembly opens

Heads of state of member countries arrive for the opening session of a new year that sees the possibility that the United Nations will reinvent itself. The "new" United Nations would concentrate more on prevention of conflicts than on big - and expensive - operations involving UN troops. The recollection of debacles, such as the UN involvement in Somalia, is still fresh in the organization's memory. Former US president George Bush Sr. was a prime mover in sending in troops in 1992. The multilateral force was expected to put an end to the civil war and hunger there, but was recalled in 1994 amid even more chaos. The fresh issues include human cloning, and in debates likely to start on Sep 14, France and Germany are leading a push to have the United Nations declare a worldwide ban. Germany is particularly sensitive to the issue because of the Nazi dream of creating an Aryan super race. Even if the will for a ban prevails, arguments over the wording are likely delay implementation until 2004 or later. Word is that the first cloned baby will be born in the meantime. Any United Nations debate on measures to ease the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, is likely to fall victim to blame-slinging for the recent suicide attacks in Israel and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian political headquarters in Jerusalem and military incursion in the Palestinian town of Jenin. The United Nations expects to end the year with a rare positive cash balance - if back dues owed by the United States and Japan materialize in time. The United States disputed the UN's estimate of back dues - US $1.7 billion - and the figure appears to have been whittled down to US $582 million. Peacekeeping costs are projected to increase from US $2.1 billion to US $2.6 billion.

12
Fiji

New government

The 18 cabinet members, sworn in by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo yesterday afternoon, include two from Mr Speight's Conservative Alliance party, which favours complete political supremacy for indigenous Fijians.

14
OSCE

Day of grief and mourning declared by OSCE

The 55-nation Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) decided to declare the day of Friday 14 September a day of grief and mourning at its meeting today. The flags of the participating States of the OSCE in Vienna will be flown at half-mast.

In the decision, the participating States express their sorrow, outrage, horror and revulsion at "the barbaric acts of terrorism which have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage in New York City and Washington, D.C." The 55 participating States express their deepest and sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and their solidarity with the people and Government of the United States.

14
Afghanistan

The legendary anti-Taliban guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Masood died in an Afghan hospital from wounds suffered in a suicide bomb attack this week by two Arabs.

Profile : Born in Panshir, northern suburb of Kabul province in 1956. Graduated from Kabul French high school of Isteklal. He started fighting against Soviets in early 1980s. Ahmad Shah Massoud is the only Mujaheedin commander who have never been outside the country during the Jihad. During the Afghan jihad against Kabul regime, Ahmad Shah Masoud was a member of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan, a non-Pashtun organization, headed by B. Rabani. He was nominated as Defense Minister after Mujaheddin became to the power in 1992 in Kabul. In 1996, Massoud and his allies left Kabul and the Taliban movement took power in Kabul. At the present time, the Taliban regime controls about 90% of the territory of Afghanistan. Currently, Masoud is the main leader of opposition forces and Northern Alliance who fight against Taliban regime. In the last few months Massoud has established a new alliance mainly from former military opposition forces against Taliban regime. Masoud's forces fight jointly with North Alliance (Dostum's Forces) against Taliban regime. All political and military situation is controlled by Masoud. He believes that "the war is not the solution for Afghan problem". He is strongly against Pakistani military interferes in Afghanistan. Massoud visits France and meets with French foreign minister and European parliamentary to ask for help and stop Pakistani military supporting Taliban regime. Visit a European country is his first and rare trip outside the country in the last two decades.The Afghan people expects new hopes for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

15
East Timor

East Timor Assembly sworn in

The 88-member Constituent Assembly, elected in East Timor's first democratic election, will be sworn in. The Assembly's task is to write a constitution for the country-to-be, a vital step on the way to nationhood in early 2002. Fretilin, the party which led East Timor's 24-year fight for independence, won 57 per cent of the vote. It holds 55 seats in the 88-member body. The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, in cooperation with the Timorese National Council, has been in control of the territory where, in a referendum held in August 1999, an overwhelming majority of East Timorese voted in favor of independence.

14
Bangladesh

Islamic Constitution Movement (ICM) Ameer, Pir of Charmonai, Syed Fazlul Karim said that they would establish an Islamic government in the country if voted to power. The ICM is a component of Islami Jatiya Oikya Front (IJOF) led by H M Ershad and Syed Fazlul Karim. ICM is fielding 23 candidates across the country while the IJOF 288 candidates.

LAST ELECTIONS RESULTS

Zimbabwe
Municipal election in Bulawayo and legislative byelection in Makoni-West. Results :

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) overwhelming defeated the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) by winning the post of mayor in Bulawayo, a city of more than 600,000 people. The MDC won captured 60,988 votes to ZANU-PF's 12,783.

he MMD was still licking its wounds after being defeated in a July by-election in Lusaka's Chawama constituency, when it last week lost its Kabwata seat in Lusaka and the Isoka East constituency in Northern Province near the Tanzanian border.

Argentina
(Cordoba)

Cordoba's new constitution, which halves the legislature to create a unicameral 70-member body, was adopted yesterday. The Alianza members, the UCR and Frepaso, opposed the move, and, in particular, a clause that cuts the mandates of 66 lower-house and 33 senate members, who were due to serve until 2003.

VIPS VISITS

10-12
Morocco King's historic visit to Mauritania

King Mohammed of Morocco in official visit intended as a turning point in the two countries' troubled relations. The king was met by Mauritanian President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya and senior members of his government at the airport in the capital Nouakchott. The two men met for private discussions before attending an initial meeting accompanied by delegations from their respective countries. Relations between the two countries have been strained in the past by the long-running dispute over Western Sahara, which was occupied by Morocco in 1975.

This week

VIPS2000

SOUTH AMERICA - update

THIS WEEK'S STORY

September 11, 1973

Allend dies in coup

Chile's armed forces stage a coup d'état against the government of President Salvador Allende, the first democratically elected Marxist leader in Latin America. Allende retreated with his supporters to La Moneda, the fortress-like presidential palace in Santiago, which was surrounded by tanks and infantry and bombed by air force jets. Allende survived the aerial attack but then apparently shot himself to death as troops stormed the burning palace, reportedly using an automatic rifle given to him as a gift by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Profile : Salvador Allende Gossens, was born July 26, 1908, in Valparaiso, Chile, into a radical political family. As a medical student, he was arrested several times because of his opposition to the dictatorship of General Carlos Ibanez. In 1933 he became co-founder of the Chilean Socialist Party. In 1937 he was elected to Chile's national legislature, and was minister of health (1939&endash;42) and president of the senate (1965&endash;69). Four times a presidential candidate, he won in 1970 by a narrow plurality. Attempting to implement socialism by democratic means ("the Chilean road to socialism"), he nationalized industries, including the U.S.-owned copper multinationals, and pushed extensive land reform. As a minority president, however, his programs provoked strong resistance in the opposition-controlled congress and judiciary. The Chilean people, too, became highly polarized, resulting in vocal support and often violent opposition. Instability was further fueled by soaring inflation and widespread shortages, caused in part by the U.S. economic blockade and the undercover activities of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. In Sept., 1973, Allende was overthrown in a bloody military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. Official reports state that he committed suicide during the coup, though many assert that he was murdered. Democracy was not restored in Chile until 1990.

ALSO SEE

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

09 Belarus		President 1st round. Results : The incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka wins about 76% of the vote, against about 15% for Vladimir Goncharik.
09 Brazil		PMDB Party:Internal leadership election. Results : Delegates at a rowdy national convention of the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) voted 63 percent in favor of lawmaker Michel Temer to lead the party for the next two years. He defeated Senator Maguito Vilela. The party is a partner with Cardoso's Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) and the Liberal Front Party (PFL) in a center-right coalition that governs the country.
09 Lebanon		Municipal elections in former Israeli-occupied southern Lebanon. Worthy mentioning that these elections which are taking place in 115 liberated towns and villages in South Lebanon are made for the first time since more than 25 years during which these areas were under the Israeli occupation. The results are expected on Monday 17.
10 Norway		Parliamentary elections. Results : In parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's Labour Party wins 43 of 165 seats, the Conservatives 38, the Christian Democrats 34, the Progress Party 26, and the Socialist Left Party 23. Turnout is about 74%. Labour 24.4 (-10.6) 43 MPs (-22) ; Socialist Left 12.4 (+6.4) 23 (+14) ; Red Alliance 1.2 (-0.5) 0 ( - ) ; Agrarians 5.6 (-2.4) 10 (-1) ; Christian People 12.5 (-1.2) 22 (-3) ; Liberal Left 3.9 (-0.6) 2 (-4) ; Conservatives 21.2 (+6.9) 38 (+15) ; Progress Party 14.7 (-0.6) 26 (+1) ; Coastal Party 1.7 (+1.7) 1 ( - ) and Others 2.5 (+2.6)
10 Pakistan		Local government elections in eight districts of NWFP and four districts of Balochistan province. Results : Next week
10/11 OAS		OAS foreign ministers meet - Lima At the special meeting called for the purpose, the ministers of the 34-nation Organization of American States plan to adopt the InterAmerican Democratic Charter. The presidents of the Western Hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April announced the charter, aimed at establishing democracy as the only legitimate political system for OAS member states. It links human rights to democracy, establishes preventive measures to assist democracies in crisis and refines the OAS's ability to address nascent and subtle threats to democracy in the region. The foreign ministers have the task of turning the leaders' pledge into a plan of action. The site
11 United Kingdom		Election to Conservative Party chairman. Results : Iain Duncan Smith is the new Conservative Party Leader. Mr Duncan Smith polled 155,933 votes to Mr Clarke's 100,864 - a 61% to 39% share of the vote. Profile : Iain Duncan Smith was born in April 1954. He was educated at Dunchurch College of Management ; the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; the Universita di Perugia, Italy ; and HMS Conway, Anglesey. He is married with four children. He was Publishing Director of Jane`s Information Group from 1989-92 ; Director of Bellwinch Plc from 1988-89 ; Director of GEC/Marconi from 1981-88 ; and a Scots Guard Officer between 1975 and 1981. He was Vice-Chairman of Fulham Conservative Association in 1991. The following year he was elected Member of Parliament for Chingford. From 1992-97 he was secretary of the Conservative Back Bench Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Committee and a member of the Conservative Back Bench Defence Committee. From June 1997 he was Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security. In June 1999 was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.
11 Saint Kitts and Nevis		A new administration headed by Premier Vance Amory is sworn. See composition next week
12 U. N.		United Nations 2001 Assembly opens Heads of state of member countries arrive for the opening session of a new year that sees the possibility that the United Nations will reinvent itself. The "new" United Nations would concentrate more on prevention of conflicts than on big - and expensive - operations involving UN troops. The recollection of debacles, such as the UN involvement in Somalia, is still fresh in the organization's memory. Former US president George Bush Sr. was a prime mover in sending in troops in 1992. The multilateral force was expected to put an end to the civil war and hunger there, but was recalled in 1994 amid even more chaos. The fresh issues include human cloning, and in debates likely to start on Sep 14, France and Germany are leading a push to have the United Nations declare a worldwide ban. Germany is particularly sensitive to the issue because of the Nazi dream of creating an Aryan super race. Even if the will for a ban prevails, arguments over the wording are likely delay implementation until 2004 or later. Word is that the first cloned baby will be born in the meantime. Any United Nations debate on measures to ease the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, is likely to fall victim to blame-slinging for the recent suicide attacks in Israel and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian political headquarters in Jerusalem and military incursion in the Palestinian town of Jenin. The United Nations expects to end the year with a rare positive cash balance - if back dues owed by the United States and Japan materialize in time. The United States disputed the UN's estimate of back dues - US $1.7 billion - and the figure appears to have been whittled down to US $582 million. Peacekeeping costs are projected to increase from US $2.1 billion to US $2.6 billion.
12 Fiji		New government The 18 cabinet members, sworn in by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo yesterday afternoon, include two from Mr Speight's Conservative Alliance party, which favours complete political supremacy for indigenous Fijians.
14 OSCE		Day of grief and mourning declared by OSCE The 55-nation Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) decided to declare the day of Friday 14 September a day of grief and mourning at its meeting today. The flags of the participating States of the OSCE in Vienna will be flown at half-mast. In the decision, the participating States express their sorrow, outrage, horror and revulsion at "the barbaric acts of terrorism which have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage in New York City and Washington, D.C." The 55 participating States express their deepest and sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and their solidarity with the people and Government of the United States.
14 Afghanistan		The legendary anti-Taliban guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Masood died in an Afghan hospital from wounds suffered in a suicide bomb attack this week by two Arabs. Profile : Born in Panshir, northern suburb of Kabul province in 1956. Graduated from Kabul French high school of Isteklal. He started fighting against Soviets in early 1980s. Ahmad Shah Massoud is the only Mujaheedin commander who have never been outside the country during the Jihad. During the Afghan jihad against Kabul regime, Ahmad Shah Masoud was a member of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan, a non-Pashtun organization, headed by B. Rabani. He was nominated as Defense Minister after Mujaheddin became to the power in 1992 in Kabul. In 1996, Massoud and his allies left Kabul and the Taliban movement took power in Kabul. At the present time, the Taliban regime controls about 90% of the territory of Afghanistan. Currently, Masoud is the main leader of opposition forces and Northern Alliance who fight against Taliban regime. In the last few months Massoud has established a new alliance mainly from former military opposition forces against Taliban regime. Masoud's forces fight jointly with North Alliance (Dostum's Forces) against Taliban regime. All political and military situation is controlled by Masoud. He believes that "the war is not the solution for Afghan problem". He is strongly against Pakistani military interferes in Afghanistan. Massoud visits France and meets with French foreign minister and European parliamentary to ask for help and stop Pakistani military supporting Taliban regime. Visit a European country is his first and rare trip outside the country in the last two decades.The Afghan people expects new hopes for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
15 East Timor		East Timor Assembly sworn in The 88-member Constituent Assembly, elected in East Timor's first democratic election, will be sworn in. The Assembly's task is to write a constitution for the country-to-be, a vital step on the way to nationhood in early 2002. Fretilin, the party which led East Timor's 24-year fight for independence, won 57 per cent of the vote. It holds 55 seats in the 88-member body. The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, in cooperation with the Timorese National Council, has been in control of the territory where, in a referendum held in August 1999, an overwhelming majority of East Timorese voted in favor of independence.
14 Bangladesh		Islamic Constitution Movement (ICM) Ameer, Pir of Charmonai, Syed Fazlul Karim said that they would establish an Islamic government in the country if voted to power. The ICM is a component of Islami Jatiya Oikya Front (IJOF) led by H M Ershad and Syed Fazlul Karim. ICM is fielding 23 candidates across the country while the IJOF 288 candidates.