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  • Most Users Ever Online Is On July 20, 2011 @ 2:42 am

Christine Lagarde evokes an "orderly exit" of Greece in the euro area

May 16th, 2012

 

AFP - The CEO of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde spoke Tuesday in Paris the possibility of an "orderly exit" of Greece in the area euro, in an interview with television channel France 24.

"If the commitments were not required, it is appropriate revisions to be done and that means either additional funding and additional time is mechanisms output, which should be an orderly exit in this case, "she said.

"This is something that would be extraordinarily costly and would present great risks but that's part of the options we are obliged to look technically," she said. 

Greek Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos said Tuesday that Greece should return to the polls for parliamentary elections, in principle within one month, failing agreement between the leaders of political parties on a coalition government.

"They have undertaken major reforms, they made a number of sacrifices. Today, just send walk on deep political disagreement is really very unfortunate for the Greek people, "said Lagarde.

"I hope that a compromise solution will be found which will enable progress in respect of a program that of course we will be quite open to look at the margin, not in the fundamentals, "she said, adding:" in the fundamentals, there is unfortunately not 36 solutions ".

"This is something that belongs to the Greeks on the one hand, partners in the euro area on the other to decide together," she said.

The Fund has granted to Greece in March a new loan of 28 billion euros, succeeding the 30 billion euros in May 2010, two thirds had been paid ; s.

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DIPLOMACY: The Asean calls for the lifting of sanctions against Burma

April 3rd, 2012

 

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) gathered Tuesday in Phnom Penh summit called for the lifting of Western sanctions against Burma after the elections partial history of Sunday, said a senior Cambodian.

The Heads of State and Government of ASEAN "call for the lifting of all sanctions against Burma," he told reporters Deputy Foreign Minister Kao Kim Hourn , whose country holds the rotating presidency of the regional bloc.

"The lifting of sanctions would contribute positively to the democratic process and in particular to the economic development of Burma," he added, citing the leaders gathered behind closed doors. 

Burmese President Thein Sein assured his counterparts that Sunday's elections were "transparent, free and fair, then it accepts the results," he further said.

Sunday's election saw the triumph of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, elected MP for the first time, and her National League for Democracy (NLD), which won at least 40 of the 45 seats at stake, according to partial official results.

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NORTH KOREA: North Korean rocket ready for launch, Japan and the Philippines on alert

April 12th, 2012

 

Japan and the Philippines were put on alert Thursday against the imminent launch of a North Korean rocket whose trajectory had to fly over or near their territories.

"We are prepared for any eventuality," said Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, told reporters.

North Korea warned it would launch a rocket Unha-3 between 12 and 16 April, between 7:00 ET 12:00 local (2200 GMT and 0300 GMT), to place in sun-synchronous orbit a civilian satellite earth observation. No evidence has however suggested that their fire could be made Thursday.

The United States and its allies, including Japan and South Korea, called on Pyongyang to give up what they consider a ballistic missile test.  

The Japanese lower house of parliament on Thursday adopted a unanimous resolution calling on North Korea not to conduct the launch.

"It would be an act of destabilization and destruction of peace not only for Japan but also for all of northeast Asia", said the MPs.

The Japanese government has established a crisis facing the imminence of this shot. Officials and experts were brought together in a special office of the Prime Minister, to collect and analyze information during the coming days.

A Ishigaki, an island south of the southern Japanese archipelago of Okinawa located below the planned trajectory of the rocket, officials rallied early in the morning.  

"We will remain on alert every day 6:00 am to 2:00 p.m., until Monday," he told AFP Choichi Ameku, an official of the municipality of Ishigaki.

Authorities have advised residents of the island do not stay out in the minutes following the shooting of North Korea, and not to approach any possible debris falling to earth Because of their dangerousness, he said.

"We continue our normal activities but sports activities for children will be moved from morning to afternoon," said an official educational Ishigaki Akira Sakiyama.

The rocket must be launched from the base of Tongchang-ri, in the extreme northwest of North Korea. The first floor must fall in the Yellow Sea, west of the Korean Peninsula, and the second floor in the eastern Philippines, flying over some of the islands Okinawa.

Referring to the possible fall of the launch vehicle or its debris on its territory, Japan was willing to shoot down the rocket if necessary by means of missile interceptors.

The Philippine government has in turn directed the airlines to avoid an area that could be affected by falling debris from the rocket, which affected the routes taken by twenty flights.

The maritime authorities of the country have also asked not to sail boats in the area where the second stage of the rocket could fall. Navy and Philippine Coast Guard are responsible for enforcing the ban, sources said in Manila.

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AMERICAN POLITICS: "Being Republican in the U.S. or France, it's the same thing"

April 19th, 2012

 

Ellen is a Republican Wasylina pure juice. Professor of International Relations from California, she wants health care reform Obama is abolished, it honnit the concept of welfare state and readily recalls that it had supported the U.S. intervention in Iraq in 2003.

Yet she decided to live in France, a country the antithesis of the statist model it promotes, known for its social welfare system, its INCOME TAX ; ts high and that led, in 2003, the sling to the Security Council of the UN against the Iraq war.

She is member of a small association of Republicans living in France, which are grouped within the French branch of Republicans Abroad (Republicans from abroad). France24.com Wasylina asked Ellen how she lived her life as a Republican in France.

France24.com: Why have you moved to France?

Wasylina Ellen: I came to do an MBA [Diploma in Business Administration, ed] in 1986. I loved the country. I met a French person and I have started a family [Ellen lives near parisiennne, note]. I took French lessons at the age of 10 years, I had always dreamed of living in France.

F24: How hard is it to be republican in France?

E. W. No, I'm always Republican. Be Republican in the U.S. or France, it is the same for me. My values ​​will not change because I live abroad. The French do not judge me and are not surprised, and I like to wrestle with some of them, including my students. Recently, at Celsa (Graduate School of Information Science and Communication), where I hold a seminar on cultural differences through the lens of primary re publicaines and Elections, my students and I had a vigorous debate and ignited.

F24: What do you like most about France?

E. W. : Wine, cheese and, as a woman, women's fashion. I also like the quality of life and quality of food in general. It's very interesting to live in a system and a different environment. I would not live otherwise.

F24: What do you like least?

E. W. Probably strikes. But it does not really affect me.

F24: Do you feel well integrated?

E. W. : After 25 years in a country, we are necessarily integrated. It happened very simply for me. I have European parents, my father was Ukrainian and my mother was born in Saxony, Germany. My first trip to France, I did at the age of 12 years.

F24: What do you think of the French social security system? What view do you have on the health reform initiated by Barack Obama in the U.S.?

E. W. : The French health system is very good, but it involves high levels of taxation. Do we want the same tax in the United States than in France? I do not think so. Obamacare [health reform initiated by President Obama, note] should be repealed. This is contrary to the tenth amendment: the federal government can not force the Americans to bring health coverage. As proposed by Republican candidates in the primaries, let the states handle this problem.

F24: What do you think the tax system in France?

E. W. : I think the French could cut their tax rates. They could also reduce their payroll taxes to encourage entrepreneurship. The charges are so high that if you want somebody in here you have to pay twice his salary for the recruit.

F24: Do you follow the election campaign in France? Which candidate do you feel closest to?

E. W. : I am following this very closely. To get France out of the crisis, I think we need that the state does not spend more and that citizens are not taxed at a rate of 75% [as proposed by the socialist candidate Francois Hollande to the very high incomes, note]. Difficult to compare the American and French political systems, but I identify more with the UMP. And I really like the important reforms undertaken by President Sarkozy.

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DIPLOMACY: Washington and Kabul finalize a draft partnership agreement

April 23rd, 2012

 

AFP - Afghanistan and the U.S. have finalized the draft of a strategic partnership agreement designed to determine the relationship between Kabul and Washington after 2014, said a statement from the presidency Sunday.

"The draft agreement on the long-term partnership between Afghanistan and the United States has been finalized and initialed Sunday in Kabul by the leaders of both delegations for negotiations in Kabul, "said the statement.

"The agreement is now ready to be signed by both Presidents."  

No details were revealed about the content of the draft agreement to be submitted now to the presidents of Afghanistan and the U.S. Congress as well as improve ; Rican and the Afghan Parliament.

The strong NATO force of 130,000 men who help the Afghan government to fight for ten years against the Taliban insurgency will end its operations and will retire by the end 2014, and both countries are in talks regarding their relations in the future.

Kabul has already received satisfaction of two conditions she had asked to sign the agreement - the transfer to Afghan authorities control the Bagram prison and the late night raids by international forces against Taliban insurgents. 

However the agreement does not cover the crucial question on how the U.S. presence in Afghanistan after 2014, including the possible establishment of permanent bases, a sensitive issue in a country historically allergic to any foreign military presence. This will be addressed once the agreement is signed, according to the U.S. Embassy.

Washington had failed to conclude a similar agreement in Iraq, unable to obtain a government guarantee for the judicial immunity of its soldiers, and eventually decided to withdraw all of its troops.  

In Afghanistan, the death last month of 17 villagers, including nine children, killed during the night at home by an American soldier, did not facilitate the negotiations.

The U.S. Ambassador Ryan C.Crocker and National Security Advisor of Afghanistan Rangin Dadfar Spanta have agreed on the content of the draft agreement, entitled "strategic partnership agreement ; GIUM lasting between Afghanistan and the U.S. "

"The finalized document now provides a solid foundation for security in Afghanistan, the region and the world, and is a document for the development of the region," said M. Spanta said in the statement.

The Ambassador of the United States was estimated in this press release that the agreement would reinforce a long-term strategic partnership "between two equal sovereign states."

He added that his country through this strategic partnership was determined to do everything possible to help Afghanistan become "a unified state, democratic, stable and safe ".

Afghan forces are currently controlling night operations and the main prison controlled by the Americans is in Afghan hands within six months.

Night raids by international forces against the headquarters of the rebels were the main topic of friction in US-Afghan relations. 

April 8, Afghan and U.S. governments reached an agreement on night raids, which are now under Afghan responsibility.

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CYCLING: Italian Enrico Gasparotto won the Amstel Gold Race

April 16th, 2012

 

AFP - Italy's Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) won Sunday's Amstel Gold Race, the Dutch cycling classic run over 256.5 km from Maastricht to Valkenburg.

Gasparotto (30 years) has outstripped the sprint at the top of the Cauberg, the Belgian Jelle Vanendert and Slovak Peter Sagan.

The Spaniard Oscar Freire, left for the attack to 6 kilometers from the finish, was reached and surpassed that in the last 50 meters of that race played e cold weather.

A breakaway of nine riders (Bardet, Bilbao, C. Pineau, R. Kreder, Caethoven, Howes, Stortoni, Delfosse, Lietaer), part at the 39th kilometer, counted up to 13 min 20 sec ahead (Km 85).

The peloton, often led by BMC and Katusha, approached (4 min to 60 km, 2 min 20 sec to 40 km) before the French neo-pro Romain Bardet, the most ; comfortable group on the climbs, the adventure continues and insists to the threshold of the last 10 miles with American Alex Howes.  

After a brief attempt by the French Thomas Voeckler and Slovak Peter Sagan, Freire was reached at 6 km of the line, then imitated by Dutchman Niki Terpstra.

In the rise of arrival, the winner of the previous two editions, the Belgian Philippe Gilbert, forced the pace before weakening in the last 100 meters.

Gasparotto, third two years ago, won his first major classic. Pink jersey of the Giro in 2007, after the first stage, as he removed the Italian Championship in 2005.

The winner of the Tour de France, Australian Cadel Evans, dropped out after the second of three ascents of the Cauberg, when he had lingered at 75 kilometers from the arrival e.

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LIBYA: Seif al-Islam will be transferred next week in Tripoli

April 9th, 2012

 

AFP - The son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Seif Al-Islam, suspected of crimes against humanity, will be transferred next week in Tripoli and has agreed to hire a lawyer , said Sunday the representative of Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"Seif al-Islam will be transferred from his prison to a prison official Zenten in the capital Tripoli before the end of the week" next Jehani said Ahmed told AFP, declining to give an exact date for security reasons.

"The revolutionaries of Zenten agreed to hand him over to authorities for trial under Libyan law," he said, adding that Mr. Qaddafi had "refused to take a lawyer at first but agreed last two days to hire a lawyer" who may be abroad or Libyan.

Seif al-Islam, 39, arrested Nov. 19 in southern Libya, is covered by a warrant from the ICC, including crimes against humanity committed during the repression of the popular revolt last year, which turned into civil war.

The Court asked Wednesday to Libya, for the second time, to hand over immediately Seif Al-Islam.

"No amount of pressure will push it back to Libya," said Mr. Jehani.

Salwa Dugheili, president of the Judicial Council of Libya, also told AFP that Tripoli "has repeatedly said that it was the right of Libyans and their judges to conduct the trial" .

"Many other dignitaries of the former regime are held in prisons run by revolutionary brigades across the country pending a transfer to state prisons" , she added.

Organizations defending human rights have reported numerous abuses in the prisons run by the former rebels, where inmates suffer from lack of qualified personnel. 

Xavier-Jean Keita, the Defence Office of the ICC, including uploaded to guarantee the rights of defense, told AFP Thursday that Seif al-Islam Gaddafi " was physically assaulted (…) has been fully put in isolation (…) and also suffers major toothache due to lack of dental care. "

Mr. Jehani called the accusations "outdated," saying he had received medical care since the visit of the ICC on March 3.

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FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL: Jean-Luc Melenchon causes a red wave in the Pink City

April 6th, 2012

 

AFP - After the "Bastille Day" on March 18 in Paris, Jean-Luc Melenchon invested Thursday night the Place du Capitole in Toulouse for a new show of strength, and upper its 13 to 15% in the polls two weeks before the first round, he begins to dream of the second.

Tens of thousands of supporters (70,000, says FG) were pressed in the rain, on the main square of the pink city and around, waving red flags and posters "take power" or "Mé ; lenchon, children of light, the people are with you ". 

On the stage set up outside City Hall after a concert of "Big mouth", the candidate has developed a half-hour vision of sovereignty (establishment of a Constituent ), international politics (out of NATO) and Europe, who advocated a referendum on the EU treaty against the agreement "Merkozy".

In Toulouse, where the killings in a Jewish school is in everyone's head, the potential third man in the presidential length is taken to Nicolas Sarkozy. "No Mr. President, the first danger is not the confrontation between the West and Islam."  

And "the France of the Sixth Republic is not a Western nation, it is a universal nation", he argued, including a call to "fight against the death penalty not only in China but also in the United States of America. "

The president-candidate who made calculations "to the big dipper" on the program of FG, he asked "accounts for the curse" spread during his term "suffering", " rudeness "and" lowering of the motherland, "between job cuts of teachers and" delayed retirement ".

Mr. Mélenchon who joined the forum after Christian Picquet (United Left), Nicole Borvo (PCF) and Miriam Martin (NPA), called the crowd to get over the "gloubi-boulga PMU politician ". The man of the "citizens' revolution" has once again called for "civic insurrection", "a sacred duty of the Republic".

In doing so lyrical, he concluded, before singing the Marseillaise and traditional International: "We are in the month of Germinal, swollen buds of life have already been announced" and that "France beautiful and rebellious, just the cherry and happy days. "

In the last two weeks of campaigning, the FG hopes to further mobilize voters and to convince hesitant. With the goal may seem unrealistic to be faced with Francois Hollande, M. Mélenchon having almost tripled his score of voting intentions since the fall.

"I want to be in the lead!", Has also argued Wednesday the person, "or grayed or intimidated."

Around him, it is also taken to dreaming while Francois Hollande gets about twice as far as him. "We will not stop at 15%," trusts his advisor Eric Coquerel for whom "the best discussion of this second round would Mélenchon-Sarkozy".

In any case, "the overriding issue remains to be at the FN", do you recognize the FG, Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon being neck and neck for third place. As for a reconciliation with the PS, "we do not see how to govern together," one hears, while the Socialist candidate reiterated that he would not change his plan.

But "that the program will not be discussed is unrealistic," band Peter Lawrence, a number of PCF. And the idea that "a presidential wins in the center is an idea that lost the right left," he thinks, to the modem in fierce opponent of François Bayrou.

Shortly after the end of the meeting, while three-quarters of supporters had left the Capitol Square, a bomb threat was triggered following a stroke anonymous phone call and the police made from the last people.

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FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL: Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy continued their duel remote

April 27th, 2012

 

Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy continued their duel before their face-to-face meeting of May 2, opposing Thursday night on France 2 on the presumption of self-defense to police after have met their separate representatives of angry policemen.

Returning to the indictment of a policeman for murder of a habitual offender of 29 years, Francois Hollande said he was "not in favor in principle of the presumption of self- defense "for police.

He stood out from the head of state, who proposed to apply this measure on the agenda of Marine Le Pen. 

This was pleased to have won an "ideological victory": "Every day, Nicolas Sarkozy draws on my project," she told AFP. With its almost 18%, the FN candidate has called "stops" to "despise" his constituents in a letter to the two finalists.

Francois Hollande called the National Front party "who is authorized in the Republic", but held that it "denies a number of Republican values."

"The National Front is allowed to stand," argued the Socialist candidate. "Is that how it works is democratic? Ca, I did not check, "he said. "Does it contribute to the exercise of suffrage? Yes, since it has collected the voices of a number of millions of our citizens. "

Opening the show on France 2 by the chances of a draw, Francois Hollande, credited with 54% of the vote in the second round in a CSA poll released Thursday evening, said " yes "when asked whether he had spoken with Jean-Luc Melenchon from the first round Sunday.

Confirming that he would appoint if they win a Socialist prime minister, the member of Corrèze said "he had names in mind": "They are quite talented and respectable" ;, he said when reporters quoted Jean-Marc Ayrault or Martine Aubry. 

The score of the second round and the "ability to unite the majority" will be the selection criteria, he added.

PS The candidate refused to answer the question: "Are there too many foreigners in France?", A statement by Nicolas Sarkozy before the first round, and an anthem of the National Front.

"My answer is that the aliens lawfully in the territory will not be expelled. However, foreigners who are illegally in our territory will be taken to the border. I can not be clearer, "said Mr. Holland, without reference to adjustments "case by case", which is without its program.

The member of Corrèze came out against the policy of the "empty chair" on the renegotiation of the EU treaty.

Nicolas Sarkozy began his remarks after him, without the two rivals meet.

The two rivals will debate May 2 "I hope that is a debate that will go right down to it," assured Francois Hollande, who refused him that the three debates proposed Nicolas Sarkozy. "I will not let me lead the fight".

Thursday morning, their battle was fought on the theme of "lie."

After the statement by Nicolas Sarkozy on the eve of Ramadan that TF1 had called in his favor, the Socialist candidate has accused France Info radio the head of state of "lies" and " amalgams "

A little later on France Inter, the head of state said that Mr. Ramadan had publicly called Holland in March to vote "or a party that serves Islam."

But at midday, Tariq Ramadan himself has denied to AFP have asked to vote for the candidate PS.  

Projecting into the legislation, including the FN wants to do "the third round," Nicolas Sarkozy said the candidate of the UMP would remain in all cases, including de facto triangular PS / FN / UMP.

PS The candidate did not follow the lead of private to Francois Bayrou, who accused the Head of State "speech validating the National Front".

As the campaign turns to invective and exaggeration, M. Holland on Thursday denounced the attacks "unworthy" of UMP Lionnel Luca against his girlfriend, Valérie Trierweiler, called by the elected Alpes-Maritimes "Rottweiler" ;.

Nicolas Sarkozy has condemned Thursday night on France 2 to the member's UM, adding that "we hate to do it with (his wife) Carla".

"I condemn, I do not associate myself with nothing to it. I am even ready to tell Valérie Trierweiler, I know you see because she is a journalist, I'm sorry if she was injured " said the president.

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ISRAEL - IRAN: Israelis declare their flame to the Iranians over the Internet

March 31st, 2012

 

While the tone continues to harden between Israel and Iran over Tehran's nuclear activities, Iranian and Israeli citizens have chosen to celebrate the friendship between their two peoples.

The Jewish state has intensified, a few weeks ago, its threats of military intervention in Iran in order to prevent Tehran from moving towards a development project of atomic weapons. U.S. President Barack Obama has not ruled out using force as a last resort, even if for now prefers diplomacy and sanctions against Iranian regime. He claims, for its part, says its nuclear program is purely civilian.

It was in this tense situation Edry Ronny and his wife Michal Tamir, both professors of graphic design in Tel Aviv, have launched a campaign on social networks and a blog calling for respect between Israelis and Iranians , and rejecting calls to hatred. It has taken the form of an invitation to YouTube in a video calling users to relay his message of peace.

Internet users attracted and intrigued, others suspicious

Thousands of Israelis have shared on Facebook logo created by Ronny Edry, "Iranians, we love you" heart-shaped, sticking it on their profile pictures.

Their Iranian counterparts have, meanwhile, resumed the logo, but without showing their faces for fear of attracting reprisals from the regime. Instead of commenting openly on their blog or Facebook page, many Iranians have preferred to send private messages to Ronny.

Nevertheless, thousands of them have responded positively to the Israeli message, personalizing it, "Men of Israel, I do not hate you, I do not want war. Peace and Love ", as shown in this video-editing:

The campaign's success has surprised Ronny, who told the leftist newspaper Haaretz that he would never have thought that his initiative would take on such proportions in 48 hours. First described as "naive" by his friends, he was quickly overwhelmed by messages of respect and appreciation of Iranians.

"We, too, we love you, your words have survived despite censorship and we are affected," said one of these messages. "Hate speech is a propaganda of a regime [Editor's note the Iranian regime] will soon fall." In another, users expressed their dislike of the Israeli government: "The problem is not Israel but the Zionist government."

Two students in musicology, one Israeli and one Iranian, who share an apartment abroad, filmed themselves to show their peaceful coexistence and & rsquo ; enrichment linked to the discovery of each other's cultures.

Among the photos "participatory" posted on social networks, the most controversial shows a young Israeli Iranian kissing his girlfriend while showing their passports. Some commentators have called for vigilance: "Be careful not to injure the beliefs that forbid a Muslim to marry a non-Muslim". But others said that "the Iranian identity comes before the Muslim" and recalled that there are many places of worship Jews in Iran.

Last Saturday, a thousand demonstrators protested in Tel Aviv against the risk of a war with Iran, many of them carried posters "Iranians, we love you."

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