LETTER N° 4

From January 23 to January 29

24 Croatia		In the first round of presidential elections, Stipe Mesic wins 41.1% of the vote, Drazen Budisa 27.7%, and Mate Granic about 22%.
24 Sudan		Finance Minister Abdel Wahab Osman is sacked and replaced by Muhammad al-Kheir al-Zubeir.
24 Venezuela	Isaías Rodríguez	President Hugo Chávez installs Isaías Rodríguez as executive vice-president, a post established by the new constitution.
25 Guinea		Sheik Amadou Camara replaces Ibrahima Kassory Fofana as finance minister.
26 Bosnia and Hercegovina		Mirko Sarovic assumes the presidency of the Republika Srpska, a move not recognized by the international High Representative.
27 Croatia	Ivica Racan	Social Democratic leader Ivica Racan is appointed by president Pavletic as the new primer minister. His six-party coalition cabinet replaces the one chaired by Zlatko Matesa. The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was defeated in the parliamentary elections held on Jan 3.
27 Turks and Caicos Islands		Mervyn Jones is sworn in as governor.
28 Vietnam		Nguyen Di Nien is appointed foreign minister.