Wochenübersicht (Länder)
Afrika
Burundi
Burundi opposition urges dialogue with president (03.09.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
A Burundian opposition coalition called Thursday for talks with President Pierre Nkurunziza, recognising his re-election for the first time since boycotting presidential polls in June.
Veering off the path of peaceful power-sharing (27.08.2010)
Quelle: Irinnews
The political climate is growing increasingly antagonistic in Burundi, where many of today’s political parties were yesterday’s rebel groups.
Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast presidential candidates agree on voter list (07.09.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
Disputes over voter eligibility in Ivory Coast have been the biggest obstacle to an election that has been delayed seven times in the past five years. So all the candidates agreeing on a new electoral list is the clearest sign yet that this vote may finally take place.
UN urges finalization of voters list in Côte d'Ivoire (31.08.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) today called for the finalization of the voters’ list to ensure that electoral process was proceeding according to schedule, as the West African country heads towards presidential polls on 31 October.
Ivorian rebels say back in barracks ahead of poll (31.08.2010)
Quelle: AlertNet
Ivory Coast's New Forces rebels said on Tuesday they had completed a programme of temporary disarmament and gathering of their troops into barracks ahead of elections set for Oct 31.
UN probe finds serious human rights violations during February protests (27.08.2010)
Quelle: UN News
Serious human rights violations were committed during the demonstrations held in Côte d’Ivoire in February following the dissolution of the Government and the national electoral authority, according to the United Nations mission in the West African nation.
Demokratische Republik Kongo
UN outlines steps to boost civilian protection in DR Congo in wake of mass rapes (07.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken several measures to improve the protection of civilians in the east of the country following the recent incidents of mass rape, but establishing State authority in conflict-affected areas would be the most effective way to end lawlessness and violence, a senior UN official said today.
UN force to probe slow response to DR Congo mass rapes (31.08.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo said Monday it is working to establish whether it could have prevented the mass rape of some 180 women in the east of the country early this month.
Rwanda threatens UN over DR Congo “genocide” report (28.08.2010)
Quelle: BBC
Rwanda has threatened to withdraw co-operation with the UN if a draft report criticising its army is published. Kigali said it would reconsider its contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, dismissing claims in the UN report as "insane".
U.N. Congo report offers new view on genocide (27.08.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
The 545-page report on 600 of the country’s most serious reported atrocities raises the question of whether Rwanda could be found guilty of genocide against Hutu during the war in neighboring Congo, but says international courts would need to rule on individual cases.
Liberia
UN envoy says further progress needed to consolidate fragile peace (08.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
Presenting Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on UNMIL, Ms. Løj stated that Liberia faces a number of “potentially destabilizing” security challenges arising from mob violence, ethnic and communal tensions, competition for natural resources, land disputes, sexual and gender-based violence and armed robbery.
Somalia
Ugandans divided over Somalia strategy (08.09.2010)
Quelle: IWPR
More than 2,500 Ugandan troops have been in Somalia since 2007 as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission to support the troubled country’s government.
UN refugee agency alarmed at civilian loss of life in Somalia’s capital (07.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The United Nations refugee agency today voiced alarm over worsening security in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where fighting between forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and armed Islamists has killed more than 230 civilians and wounded at least 400 others during the past two weeks.
UN political chief encourages Somali Government to do more for its citizens (02.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The United Nations political chief has voiced his solidarity with the people of Somalia … and encouraged its leaders to focus on governing the country. … He said the international community is very interested in supporting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), “but the Government itself needs to do more and learn to work as a cohesive team.”
African Union peacekeepers killed in Somalia (27.08.2010)
Quelle: BBC
Four African Union peacekeepers were killed when a mortar hit Somalia's presidential palace, officials say. It is not clear if any Somalis were hit by the shells, fired as Islamist insurgents continue to battle government forces.
Sudan
South Sudan army to buy helicopters, plans airforce (07.09.2010)
Quelle: AlertNet
North Sudan's army, which fought the south in a decades-long civil war, told Reuters the southern helicopter purchase would be seen as a "threat" and a violation of the 2005 peace deal that ended the conflict.
South Sudan names official opposition leader (07.09.2010)
Quelle: Times Live
South Sudan’s parliament on Tuesday named as official leader of the opposition a member of the breakaway Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Democratic Change, an offshoot from the ruling SPLM party.
UN mission opens first base ahead of referendum in southern Sudan (03.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The United Nations peacekeeping mission set up after the end of the north-south civil war has opened its first field office for the referendum to be held next January on whether the south should secede from the rest of the country.
Sudan: Defining the North-South Border – new ICG report (02.09.2010)
Quelle: International Crisis Group
The January 2011 referendum on self-determination could result in Sudan’s partition… The undefined boundary has hindered CPA implementation, fuelled mistrust between its signatories and, most recently, contributed to heightened anxiety and insecurity along the border.
Since peace deal south Sudan has failed to demobilize 84,000 soldiers (01.09.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
Out of 90,000 soldiers targeted to be demobilized by the SPLA – the former rebels who govern south Sudan – since a 2005 peace deal with the Khartoum government, only 6,000 have been reintegrated back into society, says the Vice President of the semi-autonomous region.
SPLA to demobilize all child soldiers by end of the year (31.08.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
The southern Sudanese army – the SPLA – said on Monday that it would demobilize all child soldiers from its ranks by the end of the year.
Obama administration intensifies efforts in Sudan (30.08.2010)
Quelle: Washington Post
In recent weeks, the administration has doubled its diplomatic presence in South Sudan and dispatched a respected former ambassador to help with negotiations on an independence referendum for the region, which is scheduled for January.
Sudan (Darfur)
SLM’s Nur threatens to declare war against Khartoum if attacks on IDP’s continue (07.09.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) warned today that he will "declare total war" if the government militias continue attacks on the camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
UN: Dozens dead in Sudan clashes (07.09.2010)
Quelle: Al Jazeera
The clashes come less than two weeks after the UN Security Council called for the demilitarisation of refugee camps in Darfur, which serve as a temporary home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
AU, UNAMID and US support Sudan’s new strategy in Darfur (27.08.2010)
Quelle: Sudan Tribune
Representatives of the African Union (AU), UNAMID and United States voiced today their support to Sudan’s news strategy to resettle displaced persons and develop the restive region.
Europa
Bosnien und Herzegowina
October poll crucial for Bosnia’s EU future (08.09.2010)
Quelle: ISN
As far as the international community is concerned, the outcome of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s 3 October general elections will determine whether the country moves forward along its EU path or remains stuck in political deadlock and ethnic animosity.
OSCE observers arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina to observe general elections (27.08.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the general elections to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 October.
Kosovo
Belgrade scraps UN resolution on Kosovo (09.09.2010)
Quelle: Balkan Insight
President Boris Tadic announced that an amended resolution agreed by Brussels and Belgrade, which does not condemn Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence or call for negotiations on status, would be submitted on Thursday.
EU welcomes new Serb Kosovo statement (09.09.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
European Union nations have welcomed a Serbian statement calling for a new EU-mediated "dialogue" with ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo over the future of the territory.
KFOR gets new commander (01.09.2010)
Quelle: B92
The new commander of KFOR is German General Erhard Buehler, and he will take over from his predecessor General Markus Bentler today.
German FM: Kosovo to be solved in Brussels, not NY (27.08.2010)
Quelle: Balkan Insight
Speaking during a visit to Serbia on Thursday, he said Kosovo's independence was a reality that last month's advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, that the state's 2008 independence declaration was not illegal, was not open to interpretation.
Kosovo, Serbia reject ICG land-swap proposal (27.08.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
Kosovar and Serbian government officials have both rejected a proposal by an influential think tank that a land swap between Kosovo and Serbia may help resolve the two sides' dispute over Pristina's independence.
Kroatien
Croatian president backs regional truth commission (31.08.2010)
Quelle: Balkan Insight
Croatian president Ivo Josipovic have given his support to setting up a truth commission aimed at establishing facts about war crimes committed in Yugoslavia's succeeding countries in the 1990s.
Republik Moldau
Turnout dooms Moldovan presidential reform (06.09.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
Low voter turnout in a referendum in Moldova on direct presidential elections appears likely to kill the initiative. A "yes" vote would have led to the reintroduction of a popular vote for president to replace the current system, wherein the head of state is selected through a vote in parliament.
Serbien
Bosniak Council wants international observers in Sandzak (07.09.2010)
Quelle: B92
The Bosniak National Council requested that international observers be sent to Sandžak, the mostly Bosniak populated region of southwest Serbia.
Kaukasus
Georgien
Abkhaz leader says Georgian refugee return “currently impossible” (03.09.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
Sergei Shamba told RFE/RL on September 2 that the key issue to be resolved to make it possible for Georgian refugees to return to Abkhazia was official recognition by Georgia of Abkhazia's independence.
Is there a foundation for peace between Russia and Georgia? (31.08.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
The director of the Moscow Carnegie Center, Dmitri Trenin, recently published his proposal for a peace agreement between Russia and Georgia. … First, Georgia should recognize Abkhazia's independence in exchange for the return of the Gali district … Second, Russia should withdraw from South Ossetia in exchange for some sort of intermediate status …
Nagorno-Karabakh
OSCE mediators urge to reinforce cease-fire (06.09.2010)
Quelle: Reliefweb
OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Karabakh are working on additional measures needed to strengthen the cease-fire between the two South Caucasus foes.
Nagorno-Karabakh Marks Anniversary, Vows Baku Will Never Claim Control (02.09.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh today marked the 18th anniversary of the disputed enclave's de facto secession from Azerbaijan and pledged Baku will never resume control of their territory … Bako Sahakian, the president of the Armenian-majority republic, condemned threats by Baku to abandon the ongoing peace process and resolve the issue by force.
Armenia warns Azerbaijan over new UN resolution (27.08.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
The draft resolution, which the General Assembly is expected to discuss on September 9, upholds the right of Azerbaijanis "expelled" from Karabakh and the Armenian-controlled territories surrounding it to return to their homes. It also urges the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to send a fact-finding mission to the conflict zone …
Naher und mittlerer Osten
Irak
Political deadlock damaging Iraq security - minister (07.09.2010)
Quelle: BBC
Oil and electricity minister Hussein al-Shahristani told the BBC that insurgents were exploiting the failure to reach a power-sharing agreement.
Obama Declares an End to Combat Mission in Iraq (31.08.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
President Obama declared an end on Tuesday to the seven-year American combat mission in Iraq, saying that the United States has met its responsibility to that country…
'Every Corner in the Region Is Frightened' (29.08.2010)
Quelle: SPIEGEL online
In a SPIEGEL interview, Ayad Allawi, Iraq's former and possibly future prime minister, discusses the withdrawal of US troops, the power struggle in Baghdad and the "very high possibility" of a new war in the Middle East.
Israel / Palästina
Clinton Expresses Confidence in Mideast Talks (02.09.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally reopened direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on Thursday, acknowledging that “we’ve been here before, and we know how difficult the road ahead will be,” but expressing confidence that the core disputes separating the two sides can be resolved within a year.
Libanon
Hariri withdraws accusation against Syria (07.09.2010)
Quelle: BBC
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said he was wrong to accuse Syria of assassinating his father - former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri.
Hezbollah chief rejects demand from U.N. prosecutor (03.09.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
Hezbollah’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, said that he did not recognize the legitimacy of the United Nations tribunal investigating the 2005 killing of Mr. Hariri and that he would cooperate with the Lebanese judiciary instead.
Security Council extends mandate of UN force in Lebanon (30.08.2010)
Quelle: UN News
In a unanimous resolution, the Council said it had determined that “the situation in Lebanon continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security” and had therefore decided to extend UNIFIL’s mandate until 31 August 2011.
UN backs call for dialogue in wake of Lebanese clashes (28.08.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The top United Nations envoy to Lebanon today backed the call made by the country’s leaders for dialogue to avoid further tensions following armed clashes earlier this week between Shi’a and Sunni Muslim groups in the capital, Beirut.
Süd-Asien
Nepal
Sixth bid to select Nepal PM fails (05.09.2010)
Quelle: Al Jazeera
Nepal's parliament has failed for the sixth time to select a new prime minister, leading the speaker of the house to warn of a "serious crisis" if a new government is not installed soon. The country has been without a prime minister since June 30, when Madhav Kumar Nepal resigned under pressure from the opposition Maoist party.
Süd-Ost-Asien
Salomonen
Ban commends Solomon Islanders for peaceful legislative elections (27.08.2010)
Quelle: UN News
A United Nations team trained, briefed and helped deploy international observers who monitored the elections as they took place earlier this month.
Timor-Leste
Timorese police resume primary duties in another district (07.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
The national police of Timor-Leste have resumed primary responsibility for the conduct of operations in another district of the South-East Asian nation, where it will be led by the country’s first female district commander.
Südamerika und Karibik
Haiti
Despite progress since quake, Haiti still threatened by unrest, Ban warns (08.09.2010)
Quelle: UN News
Eight months after the catastrophic earthquake, Haiti has fended off a second-wave disaster of epidemics and unrest, but the impoverished nation’s political, social and economic situation will remain fragile, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.
Zentral-Asien
Afghanistan
Afghan rights body concerned by plan to talk to insurgents (08.09.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
The head of Afghanistan's independent Human Rights Commission says that any peace talks with Islamic insurgents must be held in a way that does not "undermine human rights and justice" under the "pretext of peace efforts".
Kabul steps in to stop run on biggest bank (06.09.2010)
Quelle: Financial Times
Afghanistan’s financial institutions have stepped in to stop a run on Kabul Bank, the country’s largest lender … Mahmoud Karzai, a shareholder of Kabul Bank and brother of Afghan president Hamid Karzai, told the Financial Times that “the government has stepped in to reassure people”.
Lacking money and leadership, push for Taliban defectors stalls (06.09.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
A $250 million program to lure low-level Taliban fighters away from the insurgency has stalled, with Afghans bickering over who should run it, and international donors slow to put up the money they had promised.
NATO chief backs starting security handover to Afghans next year (31.08.2010)
Quelle: RFE/RL
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says he hopes NATO member states will agree at an upcoming summit to start handing over security responsibilities in Afghanistan to Afghan authorities next year.
Petraeus finishes rules for Afghan security transition (30.08.2010)
Quelle: New York Times
Petraeus … has completed work on new guidelines for turning some security duties over to Afghan forces in the months ahead, calling for American and allied troops to step back gradually from areas as they are pacified rather than handing off the task all at once to local units …
Afghanistan's Karzai “doubts Nato anti-Taliban policy” (27.08.2010)
Quelle: BBC
Mr Karzai warned that night raids and civilian casualties risk turning Afghans against his government and the mission to defeat the Taliban.
More than 100,000 Afghans returned home this year, reports UN agency (27.08.2010)
Quelle: UN News
Returnees have cited economic reasons, difficulties in Pakistan, and local improvements in security in some parts of Afghanistan as the reasons for coming back, UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva.
Kirgisistan
OSCE/ODIHR deploys mission to observe parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan (07.09.2010)
Quelle: OSCE
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened its election observation mission for the 10 October parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan Divided Over Foreign Police Presence (31.08.2010)
Quelle: Relief Web
Plans to deploy an international police force in southern Kyrgyzstan in the wake of June's ethnic violence has caused an outcry from those who see the move as a green light for foreign interference. Many analysts believe the furore is more a reflection of political strife.
In Central Asia, a new headache for U.S. policy (31.08.2010)
Quelle: Washington Post
Just a month after agreeing to extend for a year a $60 million lease on a U.S. air base here, Kyrgyzstan's generally pro-Western but increasingly impotent president, Roza Otunbayeva, has retreated from U.S.-backed security programs that Washington hoped would help fortify a fragile Kyrgyz government.
Tadschikistan
Are Tajikistan’s security services breaking down? (07.09.2010)
Quelle: EurasiaNet
Tajikistan’s security services are in the spotlight following two recent explosions and an audacious jailbreak in the Central Asian nation. The violence may be an indicator of faulty government personnel policies, some experts suggest.