ISSN:1061-0324 Page 4129

International Observer of Countries and Governments February 2009 Vol. 28 No. 464

Viewing the World Robert Sedrakovich Kocharian, , since 1998; LEADERSHIP TURNOVER IN 2008 Alfred Gusenbauer, Federal , since 2007, when the “grand In 2008, 73 of the world’s current 195 coalition” fell apart after a year and-a-half; states changed heads of state or Festus Gontebanye Mogae, President of government (64 in 2007). There were two Botswana, since 1998; coups d’état, in Guinea and again in Bertie Ahearn, Prime Minister of Ireland, Mauritania. A number of the changes and since 1997; elections that occurred would not pass the Prof. Romano Prodi, Prime Minister of international standard of fairness and Italy, since 2006; openness. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan, resigned and was replaced by his party There were 21 changes, excluding after only one year in office; reelections of incumbents, at the head of Roo Moo hyon, President of the Republic state level (20 in 2007). At least 52 heads of Korea, since 2004; of government were elected, reelected, or Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the second newly appointed (48 in 2007). Two heads President of the Maldives, since 1978; of state (Guinea and Zambia) died in King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shav Dev of office. The chairmanship of the presidency Nepal, since 2001, when the monarchy rotated in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was abolished and replaced by a Switzerland and in two semi- republican form on government; annual changes took place. Ms. Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, since 1999; Most of the turnovers again occurred in General Pervez Musharraf, Military Ruler Europe (24; 17 in 2007), and in Africa (18; of Pakistan, since 2001; 13 in 2007), followed by Asia (14; 17 in Vladimir Vladimorovich Putin, President of 2007), and in the Americas (8; 8 in 2007). Russia since 2000 (but reappeared a day Fewer shifts took place in Near East and later as prime minister); North Africa (5; 9 in 2007) and in Oceania Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister of (3; 6 in 2007). Serbia, since 2004; Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, President of A number of widely known government South Africa, since 1999; leaders were not reelected or resigned Chen Shui-bian, President of Taiwan, during the year: since 2000, found himself not only in legal trouble after leaving office but under arrest Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President and Head for alleged corruption; and of Government of Cuba since 1976, George Walker Bush, President of the decided not to stand for reelection United States of America, since 2001. because of poor health; [Last report, IO 2008, p. 3509]. International Observer 464 February 2009 Page 4130

Forecast April 2009 European Union (EU): 1st EU Eastern Partnership Summit meeting in Prague. European Union (EU)-Russia: 4th round of negotiations on cooperation agreement in early April. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Expiration of term of NATO Secretary General. 1 Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC): Kazakhstan and Russia plan to launch Customs Union. 1 San Marino: Election of two captains regent or heads of government by the Grand and General Council for a six-month . 2 International: Summit meeting of group of 20 (G-20) in London. 3 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Summit meeting on 3-4 April in Kehl, Baden- Württemberg, Germany, and Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin Department, France. 3 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): Admission of Croatia (Tentative). 4 Slovakia: 2nd round of presidential election. 5 Interparliamentary Union (IPU): 120th Assembly on 5-10 April in Addis Ababa. 5 Moldova: Election of 101-seat Parliament. 7 European Union (EU): Expiration of sanctions against leadership of Belarus. 8 India: Election of 542-seat Lob Sabha on 8-15 April (Tentative). 9 Algeria: Presidential election. 9 Indonesia: Election of 550-seat House of Representatives. 15 United Nations (UN): Deadline for development of mandate for UN Mission in Somalia to replace the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) (UNSC Resolution 1863 of 16 January 2009). 19 Haiti: Election of 12 seats of 30-seat Senate. 19 Cyprus-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: Election of 50-seat House of Representatives. 20 United Nations (UN): Durban Review Conference: Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, on 20-24 April, in Geneva. 22 South Africa: Elections of 400-seat National Assembly, president, and provincial legislatures. 24 Trilateral Commission (TC): Annual meeting on 24-26 April in Tokyo. 25 International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group: Spring meetings of the Boards of Governors on 25-26 April in Washington DC. 25 Denmark: Party Congress of the Socialist People's Party (SF) on 25-26 April. 26 Ecuador: Election of 100-seat National Congress and president. 27 Yemen: Election of 301-seat House of Representatives. 30 United Nations (UN)/African Union (AU): Expiration of mandate of United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). 30 United Nations (UN): End of mandate of UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). 30 Canada: Convention of the Liberal Party of Canada on 30 April-3 May in Vancouver BC and election of leadership.

Info

Literature

International Affairs The State of Sovereignty Territories, Laws, Populations, by Douglas Howland and Luise White, eds. Bloomington IN: Indiana University Press, 2008, 296 p. $24.95*.

Axis of Convenience Moscow, Beijing, and the New Geopolitics, by Bobo Lo. Washington DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2008, 300 p. $32.95.

International Observer 464 February 2009 Page 4131

GOVERNMENT DIRECTORY 2009

POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE WORLD

Heads of State and Government

This is the 17th revised and updated edition of this annual directory. In addition to current chiefs of state and heads of government and their deputies a number of selected immediate predecessors are also listed. Every reasonable effort is made to include current data from authoritative and expert sources and verify its accuracy.

Notes (1) Supreme Commander/Commander in Chief (2) General Secretary, Chinese Communist Party (CPC) (3) Yang di Peruan Agong (4) Sultan Mahmus Al-Maktafi Billah Shah (5) Transitional National Government, temporarily headquartered in Kenya (6) Following acceptance by referendum on 21 May 2006, Montenegro left Serbia and Montenegro and became an independent state on 3 June 2005. (7) After Montenegro declared its independence, the Republic of Serbia was proclaimed on 15 June 2006. (8) Dismissed the government and held executive powers from 1 February 2005-24 April 2006. (9) Honorific title. (10) Disputed the election of his successor and eventually stepped down and went into exile. (11) Term extended. (12) Appointment annulled by the High Representative on 23 March 2007 and former government installed. (13) The first elected President of Anjouan, Gendarmerie Colonel Mohamed Bacar (born 1962), refused to step down from office at the end of his term on 14 April. On 26 April, the Federal Constitutional Court proclaimed the office vacant. (14) Appointed interim President by the federal president. (15) Enthroned on 26 April 2007 for a five-year term. (16) President suspended by Constitutional Court. (17) Monarchy was abolished on 28 May 2008. (18) Federal Constitutional Court proclaimed the office vacant on 18 May 2007. (19) Former president installs himself following an unauthorized election. On 6 November, the federal government issues an ultimatum to the president to vacate his office and hold new elections. Dissmissed by the federal government on 20 March 2008 and fled island on 23 March. (20) For listings prior to unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February 2008, seeSerbia- Kosovo. (21) For listings of independent Republic of Kosovo, see Kosovo. (22) New position. (23) Government seized by the military and official removed. (24) Nomination disapproved by the Chamber of Deputies. (25) Dayton Agreement. (26) UNMIK. (27) EULEX.

International Observer 464 February 2009 Page 4132

Position # acting ... vacant

Names Shown in the order of last name, [title of nobility or religious title], first names, other names [abbreviated military rank, academic degree]. Some Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Melanesian, Polynesian, and Southeast Asian names begin with the principal name, followed by others.

(RANK) former military rank, retired [Name] former name, spelling variant

Term Dates are written in modified international , i.e., in the sequence of Day-month-year (e.g., 01- 06-00 = 1 June 2000 ). Date normally shows date of assuming position or appointment, except for c confirmed des designated e date of election f fled the country i irregular action (such as seizure of office) in incapacitated l life position n date of nomination ra reappointed rc reconfirmed re reelected ri reinstalled

[date] earliest known date of position held

-resigned = retired + died ++ violent death, assassinated x dismissed

DOB Date of birth (day-month-year)

Affil Affiliation, political party ( ) formerly affiliated

Abbreviations Assy Assembly Cdr Commander CNSP National Public Salvation Committee CRN National Reconciliation Council KPA Korean People’s Army KWP Korean Workers’ Party MJCD Military Council for Justice and Democracy NRC National Revolutionary Council PRC Provisional Ruling Council Repr. representing SLORC State Law and Order Restoration Council SPDC State Peace and Development Council VCP Vietnamese Communist Party

Source: IO Database, government announcements. Completion: Includes information available through 15 February 2009. (Replacing Annual Directory, International Observer no. 452, February 2008, pp. 8-63.

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