European Union

"I strongly condemn today’s dreadful terrorist attacks in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the seat of many international organizations and institutions. I convey my deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims and I wish a quick recovery to those injured."
"As Europeans we must stand united with Belgium in condemning and combatting terrorism in all its forms. The fight against terrorism should be global and, in the frame of its responsibilities, our subcommittee will remain committed to contribute enhancing international security."
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The Subcommittee held a Public Hearing on the Review of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which is due in 2015, with experts from think tanks, NGOs and the EEAS.
Location : Brussels, room Altiero Spinelli 1G2
Programme
Draft programme
Poster
Poster
Background documents
Background documents
Presentations
Presentation by Rebecca Johnson, Director, Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The public hearing "The crisis in Syria and the role of international and regional actors: security implications for Europe" was held on 16 March with researchers closely working on the issue and a representative from the EEAS. The hearing provided a better understanding of the situation on the ground, a vital requirement for bringing the conflict to an end.
Location : Altiero Spinelli 3G-2
Programme
Programme
Presentation
Presentation by Michael Benhamou
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Presentation of the study "The future of EU Defence Research"
Securing commercial shipping lanes against piracy - Presentation by Simon Church, EU NAVFOR Somalia
Securing commercial shipping lanes against piracy - Presentation by Giles Noakes, BIMCO
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

33shares Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+What's This?var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

Five people were killed and at least 36 injured in İstiklal Avenue, Taksim, central Instambul suicide bomb attack on March 19.

The suicide bomb attack took place in front of the local governor’s office of Beyoğlu, as Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin told reporters.

Official government announcement made by Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, confirm 36 people were injured, including 12 foreign nationals and a child and seven of the victims are already hospitalized and are in critical condition. Doğan News Agency reported that three Israeli citizens were among the injured. This was confirmed by Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon. Nahshon could not confirm at the time the number of Israelis in hospital.

A Turkish official suggested to Reuters, that initial findings point to Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or linked group. Germany’s embassy in Ankara kept being closed in the days of EU summit, on 17-18 of March, warning German citizens in Istanbul after the attack to stay in their hotels and follow the media for security updates. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is said to call national security meeting in Ankara.

“We condemn the terrorist bombings that occurred in Istiklal Street” announced Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). “This attack was an act of terror that directly targeted civilians, just like the last Ankara bombing”, HDP continues, as reports on Erdoğan’s struggle to delegitimize HDP, by nominating the party as a terrorist organization.

“Massive bomb blast outside our hotel, I’m ok, very shaken, people dead, awful scenes”, tweeted Skin, the lead singer of Skunk Anansie, being witness of the attack. 

This is the second attack in Turkish ground and comes six days after a suicide car bomb attack in Ankara centre, killing 37 people. Ankara attack’s responsibiity was claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a terror group linked to PKK. Turkey had heightened security in Ankara and Istanbul in the run-up to a Kurdish spring festival of Newroz on March 21, which Kurds in Turkey traditionally use to assert their ethnic identity and demand greater rights.

Sources by (AP, Reuters, Doğan News Agency, Hürriyet).

The post 5 killed by suicide bomb attack in Taksim – Istanbul, at least 36 injured appeared first on New Europe.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on LinkedIn+var sbFBAPPID = '457641991045477';

The Presidential election on 20 March will be an historic, free, fair and peaceful election.

 

As a country we have travelled a long way in a short period of time. The authorities have rebuilt the state on the ruins of the civil war. President Denis Sassou N’Guesso has worked over the past number of years to consolidate peace and democracy. Efforts by the state have allowed us to build infrastructure and lay the groundwork for a dynamic economy.

 

This path has not been easy, nor without its obstacles. One should not underestimate the challenges of establishing a viable democracy in a country without a democratic history and culture, with deep divisions created by civil war, and in a region of Africa characterised by instability and conflict.

 

The people and the Government of Congo together have responded very well to this challenge. Thanks to recentreforms of the electoral law and the constitution, as well as rules on access to state media, our democracy has never been stronger or more vibrant than it is today. The number of new voters on the rolls thanks to a strong mobilisation effort in January and February is truly historic. The Presidential election represents a significant step forward in terms of the democratisation of the Congo.

 

Nine candidates, including a woman, in the race

 
We have 9 candidates standing in the election, which is unprecedented. We are proud that this includes candidates from around the country and a female candidate. They all have free and equal access to state media – a cursory glance at the television news will confirm this – and despite some claims to the contrary, the opposition candidates have been free to conduct very active, vocal, and critical campaigns.

 

An electorate studied by major European polling institutes

 

The main issue that the opposition faces is not any perceived lack of democracy, but rather its division in the face of a President who has won the support of his fellow citizens for bringing peace, stability and economic development to the country. Indeed, the trust of the Congolese people in the President and the absence of support for the opposition’s proposals has been shown in recent polls carried out by independent institutes Opinion Way and TNS Sofres. These polls were not directly or indirectly carried out by Congolese interests but rather international, independent media outlets whose credibility has never been challenged.

 

With President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Congo has succeeded in making major advances in creating solid institutions, economic infrastructure and better public services, especially in the fields of health and education. In recent years our country has contributed significantly to peace and stability in the region, with President Sassou Nguesso working actively to resolve conflicts in the area and notably in the Central African Republic.

 

We regret that the opposition, instead of proposing concrete proposals for the future and constructive criticism of the President’s record (bearing in mind that most candidates are former ministers or advisors of President Sassou Nguesso), has preferred taking an aggressive stance based on unfounded accusations. I truly hope that the opposition will respect the electoral process and the law and will not hide behind untruths around imagined or fabricated electoral irregularities if it does not win the election. It is the opposition’s responsibility to support free, fair and peaceful elections instead of endangering our democracy for their own gain.

 

These elections are historic. They will have a substantial impact on the future, the stability and the economic development of Congo. The country has begun to enjoy the fruits of work carried out by President Sassou Nguesso, but much remains to do.

 

To go further, the experience and wisdom of President Sassou Nguesso are objectively the best advantages Congo enjoys. I am convinced the Congolese people know this.
 

The post A free and fair election for all candidates appeared first on New Europe.