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LETTER N° 7

From 11 to 17 FEBRUARY

11
Thailand

(Bangkok)

City Council byelections for 8 seats.Results : Thai Rak Thai and the Democrats shared the spoils in the City Council by-election. Bhichit Rattakul's Mod Ngan group and Thin Thai party missed out as the "big two" won three seats each. Prachakorn Thai and an independent candidate secured the remaining seats. It was a quieter day than the BangkokMetropolitan Administration expected, with voter turn-out at just under 25%.

11
Cape Verde

Presidential election. Final results of the 2000 Presidentials :

Carlos Veiga 46.51 %, Pedro Pires 45.82 %, Jorge Fonseca 3.93 % and Hopffer Almada 3.74 %. Abstention : 48.84 %. Definite results of the Presidential elections will be determined in the second round within 2 weeks.

11
Liechtenstein

In parliamentary elections, the Progressive Citizens' Party wins 49.9% of the vote (13 of 25 seats), the Fatherland Union 41.4% (11), and the Free List 8.8% (1). Turnout is 86.7%.

13
India

The chief minister of Manipur, Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh, resigns.

Radhabinod Koirjam of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has staked claim to form the new government.

13
Canada

(Newfoundland)

Roger Grimes (Liberal) takes office as premier of Newfoundland.

Roger Grimes was born in 1950 in Grand Falls-Windsor. After graduating from high school, attended Memorial University of Newfoundland graduating with Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education and Masters in Education degrees. Roger taught math, physics and chemistry in schools from Grand Falls to Bishop's Falls and Norris Arm. In the 1989 election, was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Liberal Premier Clyde Wells. In 1991, he became Minister of Labour, in 1993 Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and in 1996 Minister of Education. In 1999, was appointed Minister of Mines and Energy and subsequently Minister of Health.

13
Unaited States

(Guam)

Congressman Robert Anacletus Underwood was appointed to the House subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans as its senior Democratic member.

Following an impressive career as an educator, beginning as a high school teacher in 1972 and culminating with the academic vice presidency of Guam's university, Robert Anacletus Underwood was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. Virtually unopposed, he easily won reelection in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000.

14
Senegal

(FANAF)

25th FANAF Assembly.

Despite good economical results reached by many African countries, poverty keeps growing among the populations.The African insurers showed their concern about it and have placed their General Assembly under the theme of strife against poverty. Let us remind that the companies members of the FANAF have collected over 1999, a 57 Billion CFA Francs saving compared to the 50 Billions spared over 1998, that is a 14% progress. As for taxes, this sector of insurance companies has collected for the State about 3 Billions CFA Francs.

14
Kuwait

In a cabinet reshuffle, Sheikh Jabir Mubarak Al Sabah becomes defense minister and Yussif al-Ibrahim finance minister.

14/15
Bahrain

Referendum on a new national charter.

Bahrainis turned out to vote in the country's first referendum in 30 years, with women exercising their right to vote in the conservative Gulf Arab state for the first time ever. Women have been given the right to vote for the first time, a rarity in the Gulf Arab region, as the island state votes on a charter that calls for a partially elected parliament, a constitutional monarchy and an independent judiciary. There was a strong turnout in the two-day referendum in which 217,000 Bahrainis over the age of 20 are eligible to vote.

15
Senegal

President Abdoulaye Wade has dissolved parliament and brought forward elections for a new assembly from April 29 .

16
Lithuania

National Holiday : Statehood Day (16 February 1918)

A Lithuanian linguistic and cultural revival began in the 19th cent., inspired largely by the Roman Catholic clergy and accompanied by frequent anti-Russian uprisings. World War I and the consequent collapse of Russia and Germany made Lithuanian independence possible. Proclaimed (Feb., 1918) an independent kingdom under German protection, Lithuania became (Nov., 1918) an independent republic.

16
Bulgaria

The parliament rejects (135-74) a no-confidence motion against the cabinet of Prime Minister Ivan Kostov.

17
Australia

(Queensland)

Queensland (Australia), State election. Results :

Australian Labor Party 47.86% ; Liberal Party 14.14% ; National Party 13.49% ; Pauline Hanson's One Nation 8.53% ; City Country Alliance 2.40% ; The Greens 2.33% ; Democrats 0.33% ; CDP 0.04% and Other Candidates 10.88%.

17
Thailand

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra unveiled his new Cabinet, handing many of the top jobs to close friends including a U.S.-educated marketing guru who was named finance minister. King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave Thaksin his formal approval for the 36-member Cabinet during a 20-minute audience at his seaside palace in Hua Hin south of Bangkok, Cabinet secretary Visanu Kreungam said. The Cabinet will be sworn in Sunday.

New, this week :

Our web-site VIPS-GOV includes this week the composition of 5 countries out of 6 of the founders of the European Union.The remaining member-countries will be included later this week.

Each of those member-countries will be illustrated with photos and full biographies whenever avalaibable.

GERMANY - BELGIUM - FRANCE - LUXEMBOURG

11 Thailand (Bangkok)		City Council byelections for 8 seats.Results : Thai Rak Thai and the Democrats shared the spoils in the City Council by-election. Bhichit Rattakul's Mod Ngan group and Thin Thai party missed out as the "big two" won three seats each. Prachakorn Thai and an independent candidate secured the remaining seats. It was a quieter day than the BangkokMetropolitan Administration expected, with voter turn-out at just under 25%.
11 Cape Verde		Presidential election. Final results of the 2000 Presidentials : Carlos Veiga 46.51 %, Pedro Pires 45.82 %, Jorge Fonseca 3.93 % and Hopffer Almada 3.74 %. Abstention : 48.84 %. Definite results of the Presidential elections will be determined in the second round within 2 weeks.
11 Liechtenstein		In parliamentary elections, the Progressive Citizens' Party wins 49.9% of the vote (13 of 25 seats), the Fatherland Union 41.4% (11), and the Free List 8.8% (1). Turnout is 86.7%.
13 India		The chief minister of Manipur, Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh, resigns. Radhabinod Koirjam of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has staked claim to form the new government.
13 Canada (Newfoundland)		Roger Grimes (Liberal) takes office as premier of Newfoundland. Roger Grimes was born in 1950 in Grand Falls-Windsor. After graduating from high school, attended Memorial University of Newfoundland graduating with Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education and Masters in Education degrees. Roger taught math, physics and chemistry in schools from Grand Falls to Bishop's Falls and Norris Arm. In the 1989 election, was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Liberal Premier Clyde Wells. In 1991, he became Minister of Labour, in 1993 Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and in 1996 Minister of Education. In 1999, was appointed Minister of Mines and Energy and subsequently Minister of Health.
13 Unaited States (Guam)		Congressman Robert Anacletus Underwood was appointed to the House subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans as its senior Democratic member. Following an impressive career as an educator, beginning as a high school teacher in 1972 and culminating with the academic vice presidency of Guam's university, Robert Anacletus Underwood was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. Virtually unopposed, he easily won reelection in 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000.
14 Senegal (FANAF)		25th FANAF Assembly. Despite good economical results reached by many African countries, poverty keeps growing among the populations.The African insurers showed their concern about it and have placed their General Assembly under the theme of strife against poverty. Let us remind that the companies members of the FANAF have collected over 1999, a 57 Billion CFA Francs saving compared to the 50 Billions spared over 1998, that is a 14% progress. As for taxes, this sector of insurance companies has collected for the State about 3 Billions CFA Francs.
14 Kuwait		In a cabinet reshuffle, Sheikh Jabir Mubarak Al Sabah becomes defense minister and Yussif al-Ibrahim finance minister.
14/15 Bahrain		Referendum on a new national charter. Bahrainis turned out to vote in the country's first referendum in 30 years, with women exercising their right to vote in the conservative Gulf Arab state for the first time ever. Women have been given the right to vote for the first time, a rarity in the Gulf Arab region, as the island state votes on a charter that calls for a partially elected parliament, a constitutional monarchy and an independent judiciary. There was a strong turnout in the two-day referendum in which 217,000 Bahrainis over the age of 20 are eligible to vote.
15 Senegal		President Abdoulaye Wade has dissolved parliament and brought forward elections for a new assembly from April 29 .
16 Lithuania		National Holiday : Statehood Day (16 February 1918) A Lithuanian linguistic and cultural revival began in the 19th cent., inspired largely by the Roman Catholic clergy and accompanied by frequent anti-Russian uprisings. World War I and the consequent collapse of Russia and Germany made Lithuanian independence possible. Proclaimed (Feb., 1918) an independent kingdom under German protection, Lithuania became (Nov., 1918) an independent republic.
16 Bulgaria		The parliament rejects (135-74) a no-confidence motion against the cabinet of Prime Minister Ivan Kostov.
17 Australia (Queensland)		Queensland (Australia), State election. Results : Australian Labor Party 47.86% ; Liberal Party 14.14% ; National Party 13.49% ; Pauline Hanson's One Nation 8.53% ; City Country Alliance 2.40% ; The Greens 2.33% ; Democrats 0.33% ; CDP 0.04% and Other Candidates 10.88%.
17 Thailand		Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra unveiled his new Cabinet, handing many of the top jobs to close friends including a U.S.-educated marketing guru who was named finance minister. King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave Thaksin his formal approval for the 36-member Cabinet during a 20-minute audience at his seaside palace in Hua Hin south of Bangkok, Cabinet secretary Visanu Kreungam said. The Cabinet will be sworn in Sunday.