DOCSLIB.ORG

European Pulse 44.Qxd

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
European Pulse 44.Qxd European pulse E l e c t r o n i c m o n t h l y m a g a z i n e f o r E u r o p e a n i n t e g r a t i o n - N o . 4 4 , M a y 2 0 0 9 IINNTTEERRVVIIEEWW President of Macedonian NCEI Radmila Sekerinska AANNAALLYYSSEESS When a prime minister forgets the basic postulates of democracy DDOOCCUUMMEENNTTSS EC general assessment: How close are Montenegrin institutions to fulfilling the criteria of the Roadmap FFOOCCUUSS OOFF TTHHIISS IISSSSUUEE Montenegro prepares for the Questionnaire F o r e w o r d / C a l e n d a r M a y , 2 0 0 9 On Montenegro in Berlin (4 May) - International conference "Montenegro on the road to EU - challenges and perspectives" was held in the headquarters of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Berlin. Montenegrin representatives at the conference were deputy prime minister Gordana \urovi}, presidents of the Socialist Peoples Party and Movement for Changes Sr|an Mili} and Neboj{a Medojevi}, director of the daily Vijesti @eljko Ivanovi} and executive director of Centre for Civic Education Daliborka Uljarevi}. During their stay in Germany Montenegrin representatives also spoke to the MPs of Bundestag as well as other German officials. 12 000 visas to be issued (8 May) - Slovenian ambassador in Podgorica Jernej Videti~ informed Montenegrin deputy prime minister Gordana \urovi} that the Embassy of CCUULLPPRRIITT Slovenia is now issuing visas for 12 countries of the Schengen agreement, and that around 12 000 visas are to be issued this year, three thousand more than in 2008. he white Schengen list is within our Thand's reach - members of the Euro- Day of Europe in @abljak (9 May) - Montenegrin government, European Commission pean Union will most probably decide to Delegation and Radio Television Montenegro (RTCG) organised celebrations for the give Montenegrin authorities until the 9 May - Day of Europe in @abljak. end of July to make additional efforts to fulfil the remaining requirements from Optimistic forecasts (12 May) - I the roadmap. T S E J If we are lucky, the Council of Economic crisis will not have a sig- I V o nificant impact on European inte- t Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs o h could perhaps even decide to give the gration of Montenegro and other p green light for the establishment of visa- countries of the region, was the free travel regime, which means that by conclusion of a meeting dedicated the end of this or the beginning of next to the effects of the crisis on the year we could travel to 22 EU member process of integrations, organised by states, Norway and Iceland with only a the weekly Monitor and Embassy of Montenegrin passport in our pockets. In case Montenegro does not make the Republic of Germany in Mon- it to the white list, the inevitable ques- tenegro. German ambassador Peter tion will be - whose fault that is? Plate said that "the EU will not for- Fingers should be pointed at the get about the countries of the Parliament which took until the end of region" and will help all the coun- 2008 to adopt the Law on Foreigners tries that are in the process of Peter Plate whose implementation is a requirement implementing necessary reforms. for the abolishment of visas. One should Deputy prime minister and Minister of Finance Igor Luk{i} said that the economic also seek culprits in the Government, crisis and the measures taken by the government to alleviate its consequences "will which is still procrastinating with the draft law on anti-discrimination, institutions not interfere with Montenegro's efforts to join the European family". responsible for fighting corruption and money laundering, few verdicts and many Germany ratified SAA (16 May) - Federal council of the German Bundestag adopt- inadequate investigations, and so on... ed the Law on ratification of Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between European Commission noted that Montenegro and EU. until the end of May Montenegro issued 100 952 new passports, many of which Will Montenegro get the white Schengen? (23 May) - Macedonia fulfilled all the con- will remain an ornament in their owners' ditions from the roadmap, and is expected to be put on the white Schengen list, while folders, given the desire and financial Serbia and Montenegro "largely" or "mostly" met the benchmarks, said European Stability ability of Montenegrins to work or trav- el in the EU. Initiative (ESI). According to ESI, there are three possible scenarios for Montenegro and If such Montenegro received the Serbia - visa-free regime will not be introduced with these countries until they fulfill all same assessment from the European the requirements; the EU will close an eye and let them have it together with Commission as Serbia, which is creating Macedonia, or he EU will give them some more time to fulfill the remaining condi- a major regional problem by issuing tions. Albania and BiH did not meet the benchmarks set in their Roadmaps. passports to Kosovo Albanians, and was graded the same on security issues as The questionnaire by 1 August (28 May) - Questionnaire for Montenegro could be Macedonia, in case the White Schengen completed by 1 August, announced Pierre Mirel, Director of Relations with Western List escapes us, one should not wonder Balkans in EC Enlargement Directorate after the last meeting of the temporary Com- if Montenegrin citizens decide to blame both their own Government as well as mittee for the Monitoring of Agreement on Trade and Related Issues and the ple- EU member states. V.@. nary session of the Enhanced Permanent Dialogue between Montenegro and EC. E u r o p e a n p u l s e N o 4 4 2 A t t i t u d e M a y , 2 0 0 9 A V I E W F R O M E U Ipx!up!pwfsdpnf!uif!cvsefo!pg!uif!qbtu //////// thanks in large part to the audience assem- enable greater cooperation, and I hope, in bled here today that this has not happened. turn, greater prospects of extradition of war It is also due to the influence that European crimes suspects within the region. If there integration has had in keeping the delicate are guarantees of a fair trial, irrespective of he process of process of transition in check. where that trial takes place, this should be TEU enlargement The Western Balkan countries progress possible. rests on the same towards European integration and EU Transitional justice has also to be about values that motivat- membership depends also on the success of rule of law, in the broadest sense, about ed the European transitional justice, starting with how they building up a culture of democratic gover- ideal in the first deal with the war crime issue. nance and protection of basic human rights, place some fifty The conditions are related to the about ensuring that the process of transition cooperation with ICTY as regards the per- and change is all inclusive. And this is why by Pierre Mirel sons who are suspected of the most serious civil society plays such an important role. war crimes. They are well known. But this Commissioner Rehn recently warned: years ago - peace, tolerance and democra- is only part of the story. "It is better that we export stability into the cy. As France and Germany did, the coun- The other part, possibly even more Balkans than import instability from there." tries of former Yugoslavia need to overcome challenging for all countries of the region, The Western Balkan countries should as the scars of the past and the wounds of the consists of bringing all other war crime sus- future Member States contribute to the spir- wars to be able to take their rightful place pects before justice. And this is not an easy it of loyalty and solidarity and work togeth- in Europe and fully engage in the European task since, as we all know, the vast majori- er with the other Member States, including project. ty of the war crimes are or will have to be their neighbours in the region, towards Bringing war crimes trials to comple- domestically prosecuted. common goals and shared values. tion is part of this process. It is an indicator The EU is bringing influence to bear But, for all that the EU can do and is doing, it cannot take ownership of the The Western Balkan countries progress towards European integra- process. Truth, accountability and reconcili- tion and EU membership depends also on the success of transi- ation must come from the region itself, if it tional justice, starting with how they deal with the war crime issue is to have a lasting effect. It is for your countries, with our support, to overcome of the capacity of a country - of a society through the Stabilisation and Association the legacy of the past. These efforts must be - to show maturity in the prosecuting and Process, which constitutes clear and tangible made at all levels - government, judiciary in the handling of, often, heinous crimes, sign of our political will and commitment to and the civil society. and dealing openly with the legacy of the the region. It is unique in that it is all- This is why I warmly commend the past. It is also a key element of a country's encompassing. initiative of NGOs, your own initiative, to readiness to join the EU, and something ICTY is only one piece in the jigsaw. I establish the Assembly coalition for a which we have been monitoring closely do not remember any single bilateral polit- Regional Commission for the determination through the Stabilisation and Association ical dialogue meeting where the European of facts related to war crimes and other Process which was established in 2000.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Remittances from Germany and Their Routes to Migrants' Origin Countries
    Remittances from Germany and their Routes to Migrants' Origin Countries A study on five selected countries Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH Postfach 5180 65726 Eschborn Internet: www.gtz.de Division 41 Economic Development and Employment Section Financial Systems Development Section Migration and Development E [email protected] E [email protected] Authors: Elizabeth Holmes Carola Menzel Torsten Schlink Frankfurt School of Finance & Management www.frankfurt-school.de Responsible: Dr. Irina Kausch Dr. Brigitte Klein Dr. Hans Werner Mundt Jenni Winterhagen ^ Thérèse Zák Design: Jeanette Geppert www.jeanette-geppert.de Print: Druckreif, Frankfurt Source: Bildberg, Jeanette Geppert Bildquelle: aboutpixel.de/Brötchen 5 Pfennig-Teil 2 © Konstantin Gastmann Eschborn 2007 Germany is one of the most important countries of origin for remittances— money transfers from migrants. In 2006 they amounted to approximately ten billion euros. However, as this study shows, migrants face considerable difficulties with the transfer process. Despite its large volume, the market for money trans- fers is extremely intransparent. Intensive research is needed to discover which financial institutions offer what kind of services, and at what cost. In some cases the cost of these services is extremely high. The result is that transfers are frequently made through informal channels. According to a World Bank study, half of all remittances to Serbia are transported as cash. This form of money transfer reduces the developmental potential of remittances. To make better use of these and increasingly steer remittances into formal channels will require increased cooperation with the financial sector. The financial sector itself will benefit as formally transferred remittances help strengthen inclusive financial systems providing services to population groups that have been neglected so far.
    [Show full text]
  • Mr Peter KOUROUMBASHEV Second Vice-Chair S&D Mr Cristian Dan
    1 Delegation to EUROPEAN UNION - MONTENEGRO STABILISATION and ASSOCIATION PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE Report from a mission to Podgorica, Montenegro (16-17 July 2018), which included 15th meeting of EUROPEAN UNION - MONTENEGRO STABILISATION and ASSOCIATION PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE (SAPC) Participating Members: Mr Peter S&D KOUROUMBASHEV Second Vice-Chair Mr Cristian Dan PREDA EPP Mr György SCHÖPFLIN EPP Mr Alojz PETERLE EPP Mr Jozo RADOŠ ALDE Mr Thomas WAITZ Greens Ms Joëlle BERGERON EFDD Summary The task of the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee is to consider all aspects of relations between the EU and Montenegro and, in particular, the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The mission to Montenegro was organised in order to fulfil this objective. The mission was partly co-organised with AFCO, and two of its members and Members of the Constitutional Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro participated in the SAPC, too. All elements of the programme (meetings with EU ambassadors, authorities, NGOs, the SAPC meeting and visit to EU founded projects) have fulfilled the expectations. With participation in the SAPC meeting of yet another opposition party, a year-and-half long boycott could be seen as gradually finishing. However, two remaining opposition parties (URA, Democrats) continued the boycott of both the SAPC and the Montenegrin Parliament. MEPs held a series of preparatory meeting ahead of the SAPC meeting including with the EU ambassadors accredited to Montenegro. Members also had a working lunch with representatives of non-governmental organisations. These meetings allowed for a better preparation of discussions in the SAPC. The meetings with the politicians were on the highest level (President of Montenegro, President of the Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister).
    [Show full text]
  • Adjusted Refusal Rate - B-Visas Only by Nationality Fiscal Year 2013*
    ADJUSTED REFUSAL RATE - B-VISAS ONLY BY NATIONALITY FISCAL YEAR 2013* ADJUSTED COUNTRY REFUSAL RATE Afghanistan 62.7% Albania 40.4% Algeria 28.3% Andorra 25.0% Angola 24.8% Antigua and Barbuda 18.1% Argentina 1.7% Armenia 37.9% Australia 16.6% Austria 8.7% Azerbaijan 9.4% Bahrain 4.1% Bangladesh 43.5% Barbados 9.9% Belarus 20.7% Belgium 9.4% Belize 19.7% Benin 34.6% Bhutan 42.0% Bolivia 15.4% Bosnia-Herzegovina 26.5% Botswana 17.3% Brazil 3.5% Brunei 20.7% Bulgaria 19.9% Burkina Faso 31.7% Burma 23.5% Burundi 52.7% Cambodia 28.9% Cameroon 37.3% Canada 43.1% Cape Verde 36.4% Central African Republic 46.4% Chad 36.3% Chile 1.6% China - Mainland 8.5% Colombia 10.4% Comoros 32.6% Congo (Brazzaville) 27.5% Congo (Kinshasa) 41.9% Costa Rica 13.7% Cote D`Ivoire 30.3% Croatia 5.9% Cuba 61.1% Cyprus 4.0% Czech Republic 5.8% Page 1 of 5 ADJUSTED REFUSAL RATE - B-VISAS ONLY BY NATIONALITY FISCAL YEAR 2013* ADJUSTED COUNTRY REFUSAL RATE Denmark 11.0% Djibouti 62.6% Dominica 30.2% Dominican Republic 41.3% Ecuador 16.9% Egypt 39.5% El Salvador 45.1% Equatorial Guinea 16.2% Eritrea 40.5% Estonia 13.6% Ethiopia 35.6% Federated States Of Micronesia 100.0% Fiji 27.2% Finland 15.0% France 13.0% Gabon 20.3% Georgia 38.3% Germany 12.8% Ghana 61.8% Great Britain And Northern Ireland 16.9% Greece 26.0% Grenada 25.8% Guatemala 37.7% Guinea 52.5% Guinea - Bissau 43.6% Guyana 52.7% Haiti 47.1% Honduras 37.0% Hong Kong (BNO HK passport) 2.4% Hong Kong S.
    [Show full text]
  • LARSON-DISSERTATION-2020.Pdf
    THE NEW “OLD COUNTRY” THE KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA AND THE CREATION OF A YUGOSLAV DIASPORA 1914-1951 BY ETHAN LARSON DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Professor Maria Todorova, Chair Professor Peter Fritzsche Professor Diane Koenker Professor Ulf Brunnbauer, University of Regensburg ABSTRACT This dissertation reviews the Kingdom of Yugoslavia’s attempt to instill “Yugoslav” national consciousness in its overseas population of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, as well as resistance to that same project, collectively referred to as a “Yugoslav diaspora.” Diaspora is treated as constructed phenomenon based on a transnational network between individuals and organizations, both emigrant and otherwise. In examining Yugoslav overseas nation-building, this dissertation is interested in the mechanics of diasporic networks—what catalyzes their formation, what are the roles of international organizations, and how are they influenced by the political context in the host country. The life of Louis Adamic, who was a central figure within this emerging network, provides a framework for this monograph, which begins with his arrival in the United States in 1914 and ends with his death in 1951. Each chapter spans roughly five to ten years. Chapter One (1914-1924) deals with the initial encounter between Yugoslav diplomats and emigrants. Chapter Two (1924-1929) covers the beginnings of Yugoslav overseas nation-building. Chapter Three (1929-1934) covers Yugoslavia’s shift into a royal dictatorship and the corresponding effect on its emigration policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Midwives' Collaborative Activism in Two U.S. Cities, 1970-1990
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations 2013 Midwives' Collaborative Activism in Two U.S. Cities, 1970-1990 Linda Tina Maldonado University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the History Commons, and the Nursing Commons Recommended Citation Maldonado, Linda Tina, "Midwives' Collaborative Activism in Two U.S. Cities, 1970-1990" (2013). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 896. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/896 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/896 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Midwives' Collaborative Activism in Two U.S. Cities, 1970-1990 Abstract ABSTRACT MIDWIVES' COLLABORATIVE ACTIVISM IN TWO U.S. CITIES, 1970-1990 Linda Tina Maldonado Dr. Barbra Mann Wall, PhD, RN, FAAN This dissertation uses historical methodologies to explore the means through which activist midwives in two northeastern cities collaborated, negotiated, and sometimes conflicted with numerous stakeholders in their struggle to reduce infant mortality. Infant mortality within the black community has been a persistent phenomenon in the United States, despite a growing dependence on advancing medical technologies and medical models of birth. Studies in the early twentieth century typically marked poverty as the dominant factor in infant mortality affecting black communities. Refusing to accept poverty as a major determinant of infant mortality within marginalized populations of women, nurse-midwives during the 1970s and 1980s harnessed momentum from the growing women's health movement and sought alternative methods toward change and improvement of infant mortality rates. Utilizing a grassroots type of activism, midwives formed collaborative relationships with social workers, community activists, physicians, public health workers, and the affected communities themselves to assist in the processes of self-empowerment and education.
    [Show full text]
  • 3G INTERNET and CONFIDENCE in GOVERNMENT∗ Sergei Guriev R Nikita Melnikov R Ekaterina Zhuravskaya Forthcoming, Quarterly
    3G INTERNET AND CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT∗ Sergei Guriev ○r Nikita Melnikov ○r Ekaterina Zhuravskaya Forthcoming, Quarterly Journal of Economics Abstract How does mobile broadband internet affect approval of government? Using Gallup World Poll surveys of 840,537 individuals from 2,232 subnational regions in 116 countries from 2008 to 2017 and the global expansion of 3G mobile networks, we show that, on average, an increase in mobile broadband internet access reduces government approval. This effect is present only when the internet is not censored, and it is stronger when the traditional media are censored. 3G helps expose actual corruption in government: revelations of the Panama Papers and other corruption incidents translate into higher perceptions of corruption in regions covered by 3G networks. Voter disillusionment had electoral implications: In Europe, 3G expansion led to lower vote shares for incumbent parties and higher vote shares for the antiestablishment populist opposition. Vote shares for nonpopulist opposition parties were unaffected by 3G expansion. JEL codes: D72, D73, L86, P16. ∗We thank three anonymous referees and Philippe Aghion, Nicolas Ajzenman, Oriana Bandiera, Timothy Besley, Kirill Borusyak, Filipe Campante, Mathieu Couttenier, Ruben Durante, Jeffry Frieden, Thomas Fuji- wara, Davide Furceri, Irena Grosfeld, Andy Guess, Brian Knight, Ilyana Kuziemko, John Londregan, Marco Manacorda, Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, Chris Papageorgiou, Maria Petrova, Pia Raffler, James Robinson, Sey- hun Orcan Sakalli, Andrei Shleifer, Andrey Simonov,
    [Show full text]
  • The Montenegrin Political Landscape: the End of Political Stability? by Milena Milosevic, Podgorica-Based Journalist Dr
    ELIAMEP Briefing Notes 27 /2012 July 2012 The Montenegrin political landscape: The end of political stability? by Milena Milosevic, Podgorica-based journalist Dr. Ioannis Armakolas, “Stavros Costopoulos” Research Fellow, ELIAMEP, Greece The recent start of accession negotiations between the European Commission and Montenegro came against the background of the ever perplexing politics in this Western Balkan country. The minor coalition partner in the ruling government – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) - announced the possibility that it will run in the elections independently from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the successor of the Communist Party and the party of former Montenegrin leader Milo Djukanovic. SDP and DPS have been in coalition in the national government continuously since 1998. In contast, opposition parties are traditionally perceived as weak and incapable of convincing voters that they can provide a genuine alternative to DPS-led governments. However, at the beginning of July, news of two opposition parties trying to unite all anti-government forces, with the help of the country’s former foreign minister Miodrag Lekic, once again heated up the debate over the opposition’s strength. At about the same time, news concerning the formation of new parties have also dominated the headlines in the local press. Most of the attention is on “Positive Montenegro“, a newly-formed party whose name essentially illustrates its platform: positive change in the society burdened by past mistakes and divisions. The ambivalent context within which the contours of the current Montenegrin political landscape are being drawn further complicates this puzzle. On one hand, the country’s foreign policy and relations with its neigbours are continuously praised by the international community.
    [Show full text]
  • Adjusted Refusal Rate - B-Visas Only by Nationality Fiscal Year 2012*
    ADJUSTED REFUSAL RATE - B-VISAS ONLY BY NATIONALITY FISCAL YEAR 2012* ADJUSTED COUNTRY REFUSAL RATE Afghanistan 59.3% Albania 40.5% Algeria 24.2% Andorra 100.0% Angola 19.9% Antigua and Barbuda 24.1% Argentina 1.5% Armenia 38.5% Australia 16.6% Austria 11.1% Azerbaijan 11.4% Bahrain 7.7% Bangladesh 26.0% Barbados 12.4% Belarus 19.5% Belgium 7.1% Belize 22.7% Benin 33.0% Bhutan 52.2% Bolivia 16.3% Bosnia-Herzegovina 14.4% Botswana 12.5% Brazil 3.2% Brunei 25.5% Bulgaria 18.0% Burkina Faso 35.3% Burma 31.0% Burundi 46.1% Cambodia 33.9% Cameroon 41.1% Canada 44.3% Cape Verde 36.6% Central African Republic 32.2% Chad 43.8% Chile 2.8% China - Mainland 8.5% Colombia 11.2% Comoros 22.1% Congo (Brazzaville) 30.7% Congo (Kinshasa) 37.4% Costa Rica 11.3% Cote D`Ivoire 27.7% Croatia 4.4% Page 1 of 5 ADJUSTED REFUSAL RATE - B-VISAS ONLY BY NATIONALITY FISCAL YEAR 2012* ADJUSTED COUNTRY REFUSAL RATE Cuba 38.7% Cyprus 1.9% Czech Republic 6.4% Denmark 14.7% Djibouti 64.5% Dominica 31.7% Dominican Republic 32.0% Ecuador 18.5% Egypt 32.4% El Salvador 41.4% Equatorial Guinea 10.0% Eritrea 39.2% Estonia 14.9% Ethiopia 39.7% Federated States Of Micronesia 50.0% Fiji 26.9% Finland 7.6% France 13.4% Gabon 24.1% Georgia 31.8% Germany 16.4% Ghana 61.7% Great Britain And Northern Ireland 20.6% Greece 26.1% Grenada 32.5% Guatemala 30.9% Guinea 54.2% Guinea - Bissau 50.0% Guyana 46.5% Haiti 54.0% Honduras 29.8% Hong Kong (BNO HK passport) 2.6% Hong Kong S.
    [Show full text]
  • English Version of This Statement Is the Only Official Document
    INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION Republic of Serbia — Early Parliamentary Elections, 24 April 2016 STATEMENT OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS Belgrade, 25 April 2016 – This Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions is the result of a common endeavour involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Volodymyr Ariev (Ukraine) headed the PACE delegation. Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens is the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM), deployed from 18 March 2016. The assessment was made to determine whether the elections complied with OSCE commitments and Council of Europe standards for democratic elections, as well as Serbia’s international obligations and domestic legislation. Both institutions involved in this IEOM have endorsed the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. This Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions is delivered prior to the completion of the electoral process. The final assessment of the elections will depend, in part, on the conduct of the remaining stages of the electoral process, including the count, the tabulation and announcement of results, and the handling of possible post- election day complaints or appeals. The OSCE/ODIHR will issue a comprehensive final report, including recommendations for potential improvements, some eight weeks after the completion of the electoral process. The PACE delegation will present its report at the meeting of the Standing Committee in Tallinn on 27 May 2016. PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS The 24 April 2016 early parliamentary elections offered voters a variety of choices. The election administration performed its duties efficiently and generally enjoyed the trust of the electoral stakeholders.
    [Show full text]
  • Extraordinary Elections in Serbia – Nothing Extraordinary Happened
    László Horváth Extraordinary Elections in Serbia – Nothing Extraordinary Happened Abstract: This analysis sets the political scene for the Serbian elections of April 24, 2016. It relates the efforts of the Hungarian national community of the 1990’s to the fate of this northern province of the country. Besides presenting the circumstances and results of the elections, it also describes the challenges and tasks facing the new government in relation to the Hungarian com- munity. The author identifies the long-lasting problems and controversies which have been resolved or partially resolved in Serbian-Hungarian relation. It also points to the issues that require further efforts to be settled. The aim of my analysis is to examine the elections held in Serbia on 24 April 2016 in a wider context, and to present the political processes and aspirations which preceded the elections from the perspective of the Hungarian community living in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in Northern Serbia, starting in the 1990s. In addition to the pre- sentation of the circumstances and results of the elections, I also examine the new gov- ernment’s planned tasks and reforms concerning the Hungarian national minority. The analysis also presents the results or partial results which were achieved due to the work of the local Hungarian community in the field of long-standing problems and questions, and the issues which require further efforts. In my analysis I also draw attention to the fact that regarding the internal political events which took place in the past 25 years in Serbia, it is not unusual that governments do not serve out their full terms.
    [Show full text]
  • Strengthening Parliaments and Political Parties Across the World
    Westminster Foundation for Democracy Strengthening parliaments and political parties across the world Annual Review 2008 Chairman’s Welcome WFD is in the business of strengthening parliaments and political parties internationally. If parliaments are the pivotal institution in any democracy, strong parties are essential to their effective functioning. You cannot have a multi-party democracy without political parties. International aid programmes in six additional donors recognise emerging democracies. that strong One of our achievements over governance is the last year has been the an essential creation of the Westminster prerequisite for Consortium for Parliaments and development. Democracy. This new, WFD-led Few donors are willing or entity is already beginning to able themselves to tackle the see much closer co-ordination institutions of governance which between the international are overtly political. WFD brings programmes of the House of together these two vital fields Commons, National Audit Office of international assistance - and Commonwealth Parliamentary parliaments and political parties Association (UK Branch). Working - under one organisational roof; closely with them and others, such and it has unique experience of as the Universities of Cardiff and working with overseas Essex, the Reuters Foundation and political parties through their the International Bar Association, UK counterparts. we are already the UK’s most As an officially sponsored but important source of information independent political foundation, and expertise
    [Show full text]
  • UK VISA REQUIREMENTS ALL Nationals of the Countries and Territories Listed Below in Red (Underlined) Need Visas to Enter Or Transit the UK
    UK VISA REQUIREMENTS ALL nationals of the countries and territories listed below in red (underlined) need visas to enter or transit the UK. ALL nationals of the countries and territories listed below in black need visas to enter or transit the UK landside. ALL visa nationals may transit the UK without a visa (TWOV) in certain circumstances. Please see below for details. 1. Holders of diplomatic and special Afghanistan Comoros Indonesia (7) Morocco Sri Lanka passports do not require a visa for Albania Congo Iran Mozambique Sudan official visits, tourist visits or transit. Algeria Congo Dem. Iraq Myanmar (Burma) Surinam 2. Holders of diplomatic passports do not require a visa. Service passport Angola Republic Ivory Coast Nepal Syria (8) holders may transit without a visa. Armenia Cuba Jamaica Niger Taiwan (6) Holders of a public affairs passport Azerbaijan Cyprus northern Jordan Nigeria Tajikistan may not transit without a visa. Service Bahrain (1) part of (3) Kazakhstan North Macedonia Tanzania and public affairs passport holders do Bangladesh Djibouti Kenya Oman (5) Thailand not require a visa if travelling with a serving Chinese government minister Belarus Dominican Republic Korea (Dem. Pakistan Togo on an official visit to the UK. Benin Ecuador People’s Republic) Palestinian Tunisia 3. Passport not recognised by HM Bhutan Egypt Kosovo Territories Turkey (7) Government – visa should be issued Bolivia Equatorial Guinea Kuwait (5) Peru Turkmenistan on a uniform format form (UFF). Eritrea Uganda 4. Holders of diplomatic or official Bosnia and Kyrgyzstan Philippines passports may transit without a visa. Herzegovina Eswatini (Swaziland) Laos Qatar (5) Ukraine 5.
    [Show full text]