Chronologies Chronology of Major Conflicts and Political Events January 2011 • On 17 January a total of 10 people Slovenia are arrested accused of belonging to Appendices The year begins on the wave of revolts the banned organisations Ekin, Segi, • On 21 January Slovenia protests against various regimes of the Arab Batasuna and Askatasuna. against the Croatian regulation on fish- world. In Tunisia, the Jasmine Revolu- ing areas, which includes disputed ter- tion that began in December 2010, France ritorial waters subject to a signed agree- leads to the fall of the Ben Ali regime ment reached under international and is quick to spread to Egypt. In • On 12 January Jean Marimbert, di- mediation. Lebanon, the international investiga- rector general of the French Public 2012 tion into the assassination of Rafiq Health Agency resigns under pressure Croatia Hariri leads to the break-up of the from the opposition over his failure to Med. coalition government. In Albania, the withdraw the pharmaceutical Mediator • On 5 January the Bosnian authorities resignation of the Foreign Minister Ilir until 2009, which had killed 500 pa- arrest the Croatian Tihomir Purda, want- Meta intensifies the government crisis. tients since 1976. ed in Belgrade for war crimes in Vukovar In Kosovo, Prime Minister Hashim in 1991. His arrest and the publication Thaçi faces investigation by the Euro- Monaco of a list of another 340 Croatians want- pean Council over his possible in- ed by Serbia prompts criticism from 316 volvement in an organ trafficking net- • On 1 January Jose Badia replaces Zagreb. Serbia provided Croatia with a work. Widespread disappointment with Franck Biancheri as Foreign Affairs list of 40 names, which did not include governments is also reflected in Por- Minister. On 14 January Monaco com- Purda. On 29 January 1,500 people tugal, where Anibal Cavaco Silva is pletes its government reshuffle with the protest in Vukovar against the arrest. re-elected with the lowest turnout in appointment of Marco Piccini as Fi- • On 22 January fishermen stage pro- Portuguese history; in Greece, where nance Minister and Marie-Pierre tests calling for fuel prices to be low- protests continue against the govern- Gramaglia as Minister for Public Works, ered and an exclusive economic zone ment’s austerity measures; or in Alba- the Environment and Urban Develop- of 23,000 km² that “protects them from nia, where violent anti-government ment. excessive Italian fishing.” protests leave three dead. Italy Bosnia and Herzegovina Portugal • On 13 January the Constitutional • On 20 January Bosnia’s War Crimes • On 23 January Anibal Cavaco Silva, Court rules that the “legitimate impedi- Court sentences the Bosnian com- from the Social Democratic Party ment law” was partially invalid. The law mander Sefik Alic to ten years’ imprison- (PSD, conservative) is re-elected as was blocking two trials of the Mediaset ment, for instigating the murder of President with 52.9% of the votes and case and one from the Mills case Croatian Serb soldiers during “Opera- the lowest turnout in Portuguese his- against Silvio Berlusconi by granting tion Storm” in 1995. tory at 46.6%. him judicial immunity. Serbia Spain Malta • On 28 January a teachers strike de- • On 8 January the terrorist group Eu- • On 10 January Malta protests mands a 24% pay increase. skadi ta Askatasuna (ETA) announces against Italy’s decision to issue ten- a ceasefire in exchange for a definitive ders for oil exploration in the waters Kosovo under United Nations Security solution based on the right of self-de- around Pantelleria, Linosa and Lampe- Council Resolution 1244 termination. The news is not well re- dusa, part of whose continental shelf ceived since it makes no mention of a Malta considers to be under its sover- • On 8 January the EU Mission for Ko- definitive disarmament. eignty. sovo (EULEX) announces its decision to file charges against Sabit Geci and border with Turkey following the increase ri’s fall prompts calls for a “Day of Rage,” Riza Alija, former members of the Kos- in illegal entries via the Evros River. which leaves 50 people injured. On 28 ovo Liberation Army (UÇK), for war • On 19 January the railway, pharma- January the pro-Western bloc, led by crimes during the Kosovo conflict ceutical and legal sectors go on strike Hariri, rules out its participation in the against citizens accused of collabora- against a government proposal to open new government. tion with Serbia. traditionally restricted sectors to the • On 9 January the December 2010 competition. Jordan elections are repeated in 21 electoral • On 31 January public transport work- colleges because of irregularities. Vic- ers go on strike against the sector’s • On 14 and 21 January thousands of tory goes to the governing Democratic restructuring. demonstrators protest in Amman de- Party of Kosovo (PDK, social democrat). manding democratic and economic • On 25 January the European Coun- Turkey improvements and the resignation of the cil adopts Marty’s report, which ac- Prime Minister Samir Rifai. On 26 Janu- cuses the Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi • On 13 January thousands of demon- ary Abdullah II promises reforms. On 28 of trafficking arms, drugs and human strators clash with police in several cit- January thousands of Jordanians dem- organs. EULEX opens an investigation. ies, marking the start of a trial in Diyar- onstrate in several cities. The govern- bakir of 151 people accused of having ment announces 125 million dollars in Appendices Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedo- links with the terrorist organisation the social benefits. nia (FYROM) Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). On 16 January another demonstration in Istan- Egypt • On 18 January thousands of tobacco bul also ends in violence. producers demonstrate against the low • On 27 January the press reports the • On 1 January a bomb planted by the prices of their harvests, leading to clash- Supreme Court’s decision to sentence Palestinian Army of Islam in the church es with police. 16 members of the Turkish Hezbollah, of Saint Mark and Saint Peter, in Alex- 2012 • On 28 January the opposition leaves nine in absentia, to life imprisonment for andria, leaves 23 dead. The attack leads Med. the Parliament in protest against the around hundred murders in the 1990s. Christians to burst into a mosque spark- inspection of the accounts of television ing violent clashes. channel A1-TV, describing it as a move Cyprus • On 17 January a citizen sets himself against the channel, which is critical of on fire in front of the Parliament in pro- the administration. • On 28 January 10,000 Turkish-Cyp- test against the country’s political and riots demonstrate in Northern Cyprus living conditions. On 25 January the 317 Albania against their government’s austerity largest demonstrations in three dec- programme. ades, responding to the call for a “Day • On 14 January the Finance Minister of Rage,” demand political reforms, the and Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta re- Syria end to the Emergency Law in effect signs following his involvement in an since 1981 and measures against un- influence peddling case. On 17 January • On 16 January Robert Ford arrives employment, inflation and low salaries. Foreign Affairs Minister Edmond Haxhi- in Syria. He is the first US ambassador The government accuses the Muslim nasto is appointed Deputy Prime Minis- in the country since 2005. Brotherhood of fuelling the unrest. On ter and the Deputy Parliament Speaker 26 January the police disperse thou- Nasip Naco becomes the new Finance Lebanon sands of people gathered in Tahrir Minister. Square, injuring 150 and making 400 • On 21 January three demonstrators • On 12 January as a protest against arrests. On 28 January telephone and are killed in clashes outside the govern- the Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s rap- Internet communication is suspended ment headquarters. On 22 January the prochement with Washington, the with- and 20 members of the Muslim Broth- General Prosecutor orders the arrest of drawal of 11 Hezbollah Ministers and erhood are arrested in Cairo, hours six senior members of the Republican other forces from the March 14-led before the “Friday of Rage,” called Guard for murder and abuse of power. coalition government forces the govern- throughout Egypt. On 29 January The dispute deepens between the gov- ment’s downfall. Hezbollah and its allies Mubarak sacks his cabinet and ap- ernment and the opposition, which has accuse the US of frustrating the Syrian- points Intelligence Chief Omar Sulei- paralysed the Parliament since the con- Saudi initiative to “mitigate the negative man as vice-President. On 30 January tested June 2009 electoral results, fol- effects for Lebanon” of the investigation Mubarak asks the new Prime Minister lowing calls for widespread demonstra- of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Ahmed Shafiq to begin urgent reforms tions for 26 and 28 January. (STL) into the assassination of Rafiq and meets with military chiefs. The Hariri. On 18 January the Prosecutor army pledges its protection of the right Greece Daniel Bellemare issues charges that to freedom of expression. implicate several Hezbollah members. • On 29 January clashes in el-Arish, • On 4 January the Public Order Minis- On 24 January the opposition obtains a Sinai, between the police and Bedouin ter Christos Papoutsis confirms the deci- parliamentary majority to replace Hariri groups protesting against poor living sion to close 12.5 kilometres of Greece’s with the entrepreneur Najib Mikati. Hari- conditions leave 12 dead. Libya goods to halt the protests that have February 2011 rocked Algeria since 5 January and which • On 16 January protests in favour of have left five dead and over 800 injured. Northern Africa continues to dominate democratic reforms end in clashes with • On 8 January two gendarmes are the news, setting the political agenda of police in Tripoli, Benghazi and Darna.