vips

2002

LETTER N° 05

From 27 January to 02 February

27
North Osetya-Alaniya

Alaniya Republic, Gubernatorial election. Results :

President Aleksandr Dzasokhov is reelected with 56.2% of the votes against 28% for Stanislav Suanov.

Dzasokhov profile : Bor in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, in 1934. As a child, he dreamed of joining the military. But after high school, Dzasokhov chose the North Caucasus Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals. As a student, Dzasokhov was an active Komsomol member, and his career developed according to a relatively common Soviet scenario. Career : 1957 - started his political carreer in Komsomol. 1967-1986 - worked in the Soviet Committee for Solidarity with the Countries of Asia and Africa, eventually becoming its director. 1986-88 - Soviet Ambassador to Syria. 1988-90 - first secretary of the North Osetiyan Oblast committee of the CPSU. 1990 (Jul) - appointed member of the CPSU Politbyuro. 1992 - elected to the Russian Congress of People's Deputies. 1993 - elected deputy of the State Duma. 1995 - elected deputy of the State Duma from the single mandate constituency no.21. Nominated candidate by the electorate. Member of Nikolay Ryzhkov's pro-Communist Popular Power faction. Chairman of Russia's delegation to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. 1998 (Jan) - elected President of North Ossetiya-Alaniya

27
Germany

(Nordrhein-Westfalen)

Former minister-president of Nordrhein-Westfalen (1958-66) Franz Meyers dies.

Profil : Born on 31.7.1908 in Moenchengladbach. He was a lawyer in his hometown . In 1948, he joined the CDU and in 1950 he served for two years as a représentative of the Landtag. In February 1952, he became Mayor of Moenchengladbach and in October he was appointed Home minister of RNW. Following the fall of Arnold's government, in 1956 he was entrusted with the organization of elections to the Bundestag in 1957. In 1958, following the death of Charles Arnold he became chairman of the RNW Council. When he was elected to the Landtag on 25.7.1966 Meyers won a mild victory. On 8.12.1966 on in Dusseldorf Landtag they came to a constructive vote of no-confidence and consequentlly to the end of Meyers' government.

27
Honduras

Ricardo Maduro takes office as president.

Profile : Ricardo Maduro, leader of the Partido Nacional, was the 71th president elected of Honduras,a 554-year-old businessman and banker, he was born in Panamá, but is a Hondurian by nacionality. The "nacionalist" leader has a B.A degree in Economícs from Stanford University (US). Attended his primary school in Tegucigalpa and the secundary in Pennsylvania (US). His political career started 16 years ago amidst the Partido Nacional, of which he was a member at the Local Committee of Tegucigalpa and at the Central Committee which he presently chairs. He served as director for Rafael Callejas'campaign in 1985 and 1989, the latter was won by the Partido Nacional. When Callejas was sworn in , on January 27,1990 he named Ricardo Maduro to Chair the Banco Central de Honduras and as a coordinator of the Económic Office, and the liberals had no further questions then regarding his nationality or his administration. However,the liberals now accuse Maduro of being the author of a bunch of drastic economic measures which Callejas'government applied. Maduro was married to Miriam Andreu, and is the father of 4 children : Ricardo, who was murdered druirng a kidnapping attempt in April 1997 ; Carolina, Cecilia and Lorena. One of his three daughters could assume the role of "first lady".

27
Gabon

The prime minister said the "battle for development of the country can only take place in public calm and social peace," which was why he said Bongo decided to open up the government to the opposition. A new cabinet is named including Paul Toungui as finance minister and Idriss Ngari as interior minister. Paul Mba Abessole of the main opposition National Woodcutter's Rally (RNB-RPG), along with three other opposition politicians, will join the government as state minister in charge of human rights. Two other members of Abessole's party will also be in the cabinet, as will the head of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou, as state minister for agriculture, animal breeding and rural development. The new cabinet will be comprised of 39 members, six more than before. The key portfolios of foreign affairs and defence remain in the hands of Jean Ping and Ali Bongo, the son of the head of state.

28
Kazakhstan

Earlier Monday, former Kazakh prime minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev resigned, which required the resignation of the entire Cabinet.

Tokayev Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev nominated Imangali Tasmagambetov to the post of prime minister and the nomination was approved by the Kazakh parliament Tasmagambetov is now required to submit his proposals on the structure and the composition of a new Kazakh Cabinet within ten days, in line with the Kazakh Constitution.

29
Albania

Prime Minister Ilir Meta resigns.

Profile : Born in 1969, Ilir Meta became Europe's youngest premier when he succeeded Panjedli Majko at age 30. In a region where governments rarely finish one full term, Albania's Meta managed to secure a second in parliamentary elections. Meta has a degree in economics from the University of Tirana. He started his political career in 1990 when he joined a student movement that helped topple the communist government. In 1991, Meta joined the Young Albanians Euro-Socialist Forum and was appointed its chairman in 1995, a position he still holds. When the Communist Party changed its name and platform to become the Socialist Party, Meta joined the reformed organization in 1991. He served as party vice chairman from 1993 to 1996 and international relations secretary from 1995 to 1996. In 1997, Meta served as secretary of state for Euro-Atlantic integration. In parliament, he represents Skrapar, a mountainous district south of Tirana. He has won the seat four times: in 1992, 1996,1997 and 2001. In October 1998, Meta became deputy prime minister; a year later he was tapped for the premiership.

29
Japan

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sacks Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and assumes the post himself until a successor is chosen.

Tanaka profile : Born : 1944. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation}. Political career : Is the second time she has been appointed to a cabinet post. Her previous appointment was in 1994, when she was named director general of the former Science and Technology Agency in the Murayama Cabinet. Note : Only daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka

27 North Osetya-Alaniya		Alaniya Republic, Gubernatorial election. Results : President Aleksandr Dzasokhov is reelected with 56.2% of the votes against 28% for Stanislav Suanov. Dzasokhov profile : Bor in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, in 1934. As a child, he dreamed of joining the military. But after high school, Dzasokhov chose the North Caucasus Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals. As a student, Dzasokhov was an active Komsomol member, and his career developed according to a relatively common Soviet scenario. Career : 1957 - started his political carreer in Komsomol. 1967-1986 - worked in the Soviet Committee for Solidarity with the Countries of Asia and Africa, eventually becoming its director. 1986-88 - Soviet Ambassador to Syria. 1988-90 - first secretary of the North Osetiyan Oblast committee of the CPSU. 1990 (Jul) - appointed member of the CPSU Politbyuro. 1992 - elected to the Russian Congress of People's Deputies. 1993 - elected deputy of the State Duma. 1995 - elected deputy of the State Duma from the single mandate constituency no.21. Nominated candidate by the electorate. Member of Nikolay Ryzhkov's pro-Communist Popular Power faction. Chairman of Russia's delegation to the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. 1998 (Jan) - elected President of North Ossetiya-Alaniya
27 Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen)		Former minister-president of Nordrhein-Westfalen (1958-66) Franz Meyers dies. Profil : Born on 31.7.1908 in Moenchengladbach. He was a lawyer in his hometown . In 1948, he joined the CDU and in 1950 he served for two years as a représentative of the Landtag. In February 1952, he became Mayor of Moenchengladbach and in October he was appointed Home minister of RNW. Following the fall of Arnold's government, in 1956 he was entrusted with the organization of elections to the Bundestag in 1957. In 1958, following the death of Charles Arnold he became chairman of the RNW Council. When he was elected to the Landtag on 25.7.1966 Meyers won a mild victory. On 8.12.1966 on in Dusseldorf Landtag they came to a constructive vote of no-confidence and consequentlly to the end of Meyers' government.
27 Honduras		Ricardo Maduro takes office as president. Profile : Ricardo Maduro, leader of the Partido Nacional, was the 71th president elected of Honduras,a 554-year-old businessman and banker, he was born in Panamá, but is a Hondurian by nacionality. The "nacionalist" leader has a B.A degree in Economícs from Stanford University (US). Attended his primary school in Tegucigalpa and the secundary in Pennsylvania (US). His political career started 16 years ago amidst the Partido Nacional, of which he was a member at the Local Committee of Tegucigalpa and at the Central Committee which he presently chairs. He served as director for Rafael Callejas'campaign in 1985 and 1989, the latter was won by the Partido Nacional. When Callejas was sworn in , on January 27,1990 he named Ricardo Maduro to Chair the Banco Central de Honduras and as a coordinator of the Económic Office, and the liberals had no further questions then regarding his nationality or his administration. However,the liberals now accuse Maduro of being the author of a bunch of drastic economic measures which Callejas'government applied. Maduro was married to Miriam Andreu, and is the father of 4 children : Ricardo, who was murdered druirng a kidnapping attempt in April 1997 ; Carolina, Cecilia and Lorena. One of his three daughters could assume the role of "first lady".
27 Gabon		The prime minister said the "battle for development of the country can only take place in public calm and social peace," which was why he said Bongo decided to open up the government to the opposition. A new cabinet is named including Paul Toungui as finance minister and Idriss Ngari as interior minister. Paul Mba Abessole of the main opposition National Woodcutter's Rally (RNB-RPG), along with three other opposition politicians, will join the government as state minister in charge of human rights. Two other members of Abessole's party will also be in the cabinet, as will the head of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou, as state minister for agriculture, animal breeding and rural development. The new cabinet will be comprised of 39 members, six more than before. The key portfolios of foreign affairs and defence remain in the hands of Jean Ping and Ali Bongo, the son of the head of state.
28 Kazakhstan		Earlier Monday, former Kazakh prime minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev resigned, which required the resignation of the entire Cabinet. Tokayev Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev nominated Imangali Tasmagambetov to the post of prime minister and the nomination was approved by the Kazakh parliament Tasmagambetov is now required to submit his proposals on the structure and the composition of a new Kazakh Cabinet within ten days, in line with the Kazakh Constitution.
29 Albania		Prime Minister Ilir Meta resigns. Profile : Born in 1969, Ilir Meta became Europe's youngest premier when he succeeded Panjedli Majko at age 30. In a region where governments rarely finish one full term, Albania's Meta managed to secure a second in parliamentary elections. Meta has a degree in economics from the University of Tirana. He started his political career in 1990 when he joined a student movement that helped topple the communist government. In 1991, Meta joined the Young Albanians Euro-Socialist Forum and was appointed its chairman in 1995, a position he still holds. When the Communist Party changed its name and platform to become the Socialist Party, Meta joined the reformed organization in 1991. He served as party vice chairman from 1993 to 1996 and international relations secretary from 1995 to 1996. In 1997, Meta served as secretary of state for Euro-Atlantic integration. In parliament, he represents Skrapar, a mountainous district south of Tirana. He has won the seat four times: in 1992, 1996,1997 and 2001. In October 1998, Meta became deputy prime minister; a year later he was tapped for the premiership.
29 Japan		Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sacks Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka and assumes the post himself until a successor is chosen. Tanaka profile : Born : 1944. Party : LDP (Jiyu Minshu To / Liberal Democratic Party) {no factional affiliation}. Political career : Is the second time she has been appointed to a cabinet post. Her previous appointment was in 1994, when she was named director general of the former Science and Technology Agency in the Murayama Cabinet. Note : Only daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka