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LETTER N° 6

From 04 to 10 FEBRUARY

04

New Zealand

Former governor-general (1980-85) Sir David Stuart Beattie dies.

04

Sri Lanka

National Holiday : Independence and National Day (4 February 1948).

The Portuguese conquered the coastal areas in the early 16th cent. and introduced the Roman Catholic religion. By the mid-17th cent. the Dutch had taken over the Portuguese possessions and the rich spice trade. In 1795 the Dutch possessions were occupied by the British, who made the island a crown colony in 1798. In 1815 the island was brought under one rule for the first time when the central area, previously under the rule of Kandy, was conquered. Under the British, tea, coffee, and rubber plantations were developed, and schools, including a university, were opened. A movement for independence arose during World War I. The constitution of 1931 granted universal adult suffrage to the inhabitants ; but demands for independence continued, and in 1946 a more liberal constitution was enacted. Full independence was finally granted to the island on Feb. 4, 1948, with dominion status in the Commonwealth of Nations.

06

Russia

Putin then announced that he had demanded the resignation of Energy Minister Alexander Gavrin and signed a corresponding decree accusing the minister of "a chronic inability to solve the sector's problems."

Gavrin's resignation marks the first exit from Putin's Cabinet. He had served in the post for eight months and previously had worked for the Lukoil oil company.

06

Israel

Prime minister election. Result :

Ariel Sharon wins 62.5% of the vote in prime ministerial elections against 37.4% for incumbent Ehud Barak. Turnout is 62%.

SEE biography on VIPS Middle East

06

Niue

National Holiday : Waitangi Day (6 February 1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty).

South Pacific, freely associated with New Zealand. Alofi is the capital. The inhabitants are mainly Protestant Polynesians. Niue, once known as Savage Island, has fertile soil and exports coconut milk, copra, honey, and fruit. The island has an autonomous internal government.

06

Tokelau

National Holiday : Waitangi Day (6 February 1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Explored by British commodore John Byron in 1765, the group was made a British protectorate in 1877 and was included (1916&endash;25) in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony. In 1925 Tokelau was mandated to New Zealand, and from 1926 to 1948 the islands were administered from Western Samoa. In 1948 New Zealand acquired formal sovereignty, and in 1949 Tokelau officially became part of New Zealand. The islands were granted limited self-government in 1996; New Zealand statute law does not apply to Tokelau without its consent.

06

France

Three weeks after stepping down as head of United Nations operations in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner was reappointed to his old post, as France's Minister of Health.

07

Grenade

National Holiday : Independence Day (7 February 1974)

When Columbus discovered the island on his third voyage in 1498, it was inhabited by Caribs, who had migrated from the South American mainland, killing or enslaving the peaceful Arawaks who were already living there. The Amerindians called their island Camerhogue, but Columbus renamed it Concepción, a name which was not to last long, for shortly afterwards it was referred to as Mayo on maps and later Spaniards called it Granada, after the Spanish city. The French then called it La Grenade and by the 18th century it was known as Grenada. Aggressive defence of the island by the Caribs prevented settlement by Europeans until the 17th century. In 1609 some Englishmen tried and failed, followed by a group of Frenchmen in 1638, but it was not until 1650 that a French expedition from Martinique landed and made initial friendly contact with the inhabitants. When relations soured, the French brought reinforcements and exterminated the Amerindian population. Sauteurs, or Morne des Sauteurs, on the north coast, is named after this episode when numerous Caribs apparently jumped to their death in the sea rather than surrender to the French. In 1833, Grenada was incorporated into the Windward Islands Administration which survived until 1958 when it was dissolved and Grenada joined the Federation of the West Indies. The Federation collapsed in 1962 and in 1967 Grenada became an associated state, with full autonomy over internal affairs, but with Britain retaining responsibility for defence and foreign relations. Grenada was the first of the associated states to seek full independence, which was granted in 1974.

07

Haiti

 

Jean-Bertrand Aristide takes office as president.

SEE Biography on VIPS Caribbean

07

Nepal

Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat is appointed finance minister.

07

Bosnia and Hercegovina

The parliament refuses to confirm Prime Minister Martin Raguz.

07

U. N.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) appointed French actress Elsa Zylberstein as its Goodwill Ambassador and Face to Face campaign spokesperson for France. She was formally introduced in that capacity in the French Senate in Paris.

08

Indonesia

President Abdurrahman Wahid named the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Baharudin Lopa, as the new justice minister, replacing an official the Muslim cleric sacked for disloyalty. Yusril Mahendra, a leader of a minor Muslim-oriented party in Wahid's coalition Cabinet, had been critical of President Abdurrahman Wahid in recent days and suggested he step down following a censure by the nation's parliament last week that was a first step toward a possible impeachment.

08

Canada

Lorne Calvert (NDP) takes office as premier of Saskatchewan.

09

Thailand

Thailand's parliament formally elected controversial telecoms tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra as the country's new prime minister Friday, handing him an unprecedented mandate to carry out his populist promises.

09

Philippines

Teofisto Guingona Jr. is sworn in as vice president and foreign secretary.

Teofisto T. Guingona Jr. has had a distinguished career as a lawyer, law professor,businessman, legislator, Cabinet member and book author.

SEE GOVERNMENT

09-11

Liechtenstein

Landtag (Parliament) elections. Results : Not available.

10

Australia

(Western Australia)

Western Australia, State election. Results : The Labor Party wins state elections in Western Australia.

10

United States

Former New York City mayor (1974-78) Abraham D. Beame dies.

Born in London in 1906, Beame came to the United States a year later. A graduate of City College, where he received his degree in accounting in 1928, Beame opened up an accounting firm in Manhattan, taught in New York City public schools, and held many posts in city government, including Assistant Budget Director under Mayor O'Dwyer, Budget Director under Mayor Impellitteri, and City Comptroller in 1962. After an unsuccessful mayoral bid in 1965, Beame ran successfully as the Democratic candidate for Comptroller in 1969. He ran again for mayor on the Democratic ticket in 1973, winning by almost 700,000 votes.