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Chiefs of State and Heads of Government
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LETTER N° 15

From 9 to 15 April

9

Greece

Antecipated elections. Final results of the April 9, 2000 general election : PASOK (Socialists) 43,79% - 158 seats ; New Democracy (Conservatives) 42,73% - 125 seats ; KKE (Traditional communists) 5,53% - 11 seats ; Left Coalition (ex-Euro-communists) 3,20% - 6 seats ; DIKKI (Hardline socialists) 2,69% - 0 seats. The total for New Democracy includes two Liberal Party members sitting as independents but cooperating with New Democracy. Twenty other parties divided the remaining 2.36 percent of the 2000 vote. Kostantinos Georgiou [Kostas] Simitis back to prime minister.

9

Georgia

Presidential elections results : Eduard Shevardnadze (SMK) 78,8% ; Dzhumber Patiashvili 16,7% ; Kartlos Gharibashvili (SEKP) 0,3% ; Avtandil Joglidze (Mdzleveli) 0,2% ; Vasha Zhgenti (Progreesive Party of Georgia) 0,1% ; Tengiz Asanidze 0,1%. President Eduard Amvrosiyevich Shevardnadze reelected for five years.

9

Peru

Presidential and parliament elections. In presidential elections, incumbent Alberto Fujimori wins 49.8% of the vote and Alejandro Toledo 40.3%. There will be a run off for presidential elections in Peru, stated mercredi the national Bureau of elections on Wednesday.Results définitifs des élections parlementaires : Peru 2000, 39,3% ; Peru Posible 22,3% ; Somos Peru 8,5% ; FIN 8% ; PAP 6,2% ; Solidaridad Nacional 4,6% ; U.P.P, 3,4% ; Avancemos 2,9% ; A.P 2, 7% ; FREE PAP 2,1%

9

Ukraine

Ukrainians vote in a controversial referendum that could give President Leonid Kuchma greater control over parliament in his fight against economic recession but is being closely watched by the West. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which monitors issues of democracy and human rights, has criticized the ballot as unconstitutional and threatened to suspend Ukraine unless a law on referendum procedures is adopted first. Leftist parties in the former Soviet state are bitterly opposed to the vote, which Kuchma hopes will increase his powers over parliament, which he has accused of blocking key reforms.

9

Moldavia

Repeat local elections in Tiraspol and Bender and other towns in the Dniester region.

10

Germany

Angela Merkel, former physicist of East Germany, elected at the head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with 95,94% of the vote from her party delegates. Mrs Merkel, 45, is the first woman to lead former Chancellor Helmut Kohl's party succeeding to Wolfgang Schaeuble, who remained at this charge fo 17 months. This election occurred in the course of a historical congress of the CDU that must draw to a close financial scandals and redefine a new policy for 2002 elections.

12

Latvia

Prime Minister Andris Skele resigns.

12

Guyana

A leading politician here says that general elections scheduled for January, 2001 is in doubt. Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, leader of the opposition Alliance For Guyana said too many activities, such as a referendum for the new constitution, are to be completed to facilitate the poll. However, the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic and the opposition People's national Congress have stated publicly in the past, that notwithstanding the volume of things to be completed, elections will be run off on schedule.

12

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso's parliament has passed a law, reducing presidential terms from seven to five years,with a maximum of two terms. The new law will not affect President Blaise Compaore's current seven-year term.Up to now, presidents were allowed to serve an unlimited number of seven-year terms. The law, also split the West African country's supreme court into four separate entities - a constitutional court, an appeal court, a council of state and a government audit office.

13

Nauru

President Rene Harris has been re-elected for another three year term. The 18 members of the country's new parliment elected in Saturday's general election, also elected Ludwig Scottie as speaker. Parliament will meet again on Monday to formalise the new cabinet.

13

Azerbaijan

The National Independence Party chairman Etibar Mamedov and Democratic Party of Azerbaijan co-chairman Ilyas Ismailov signed an agreement in Baku on 11 April pledging to coordinate their efforts to end by constitutional means the present "authoritarian" and "anti-national" regime. They also vowed to liberate the Azerbaijani territories currently occupied by Armenian forces. The two parties will try to consolidate all democratic forces to contend jointly the parliamentary elections due in November.

13

South Korea

Elections parliament. President Kim Dae-Jung's Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) is expected to take 127 seats against the opposition Grand National Party's (GNP) 120 in the 273-seat National Assembly, said an exit poll by MBC television. Another exit poll by the state broadcaster KBS said the MDP would take between 119 and 138 seats while the GNP would hold between 104 and 126. If confirmed, it will be a resounding victory for the president, who has pursued tough economic reforms and negotiated a historic summit with North Korea.

13

Kazakstan

Communist Party leader Serikbolsyn Abdildin told at a news conference in Almaty on 11 April that his party has proposed abolishing the presidency and establishing a parliamentary republic in Kazakhstan, Interfax reported. Abdildin also advocated that beginning in 2000, local governors should be elected, rather than appointed by the country's leadership. He added that the constitution should be amended to prevent regional governors adopting what he termed "separatist policies."

13

Belarus

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said parliamentary elections in 2000 are the main political task of the year. He pledged state support during those elections to the current deputies of the Chamber of Representatives, whom he handpicked in 1996 from among the ranks of the dissolved Supreme Soviet. He added that those deputies need no money for their re-election campaign. "We will provide you with full access to the people," he said, promising "to put in full operation the forces of our vertical public information.

14

Cyprus (North)

Around 126.000 Turkish - Cypriot voters go to the polls to elect the president of the Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus (RTCN- alleged by Ankara only). A vote assuring acting president Rauf DENKTAS as the most favorite. Receiving 43.7 percent of the vote, veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash failed to win an outright majority needed to avoid a runoff. Denktash will face Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, who got 29.5 percent. A run-off election to decide the next president of the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus is to be held next weekend.

14

Mauritania

Elections for one third of the seats at the Senate- second round if necessary.