position:minister

Un accord entre les Philippines et l’Arabie saoudite sur le travail des femmes dans le royaume. Un pas en avant ?

http://gitm.kcorp.net/index.php?id=649031&news_type=Top&lang=en

Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and Saudi Deputy Labor Minister Mufarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani signed a labor agreement Sunday on the hiring of Filipino household service workers (HSWs). Al-Haqbani signed on behalf of Labor Minister Adel Fakeih.

“The agreement is historic and today is a very significant day in Philippine-Saudi bilateral relations,” said Baldoz. The agreement is the first by the Saudi Ministry of Labor with a manpower-supplying country.

“This agreement heralds an era of stronger bilateral labor cooperation between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia for the protection and welfare of Filipino HSWs in the Kingdom,” she said.

Egypt’s Minister of Culture to investigate corruption files

http://en.aswatmasriya.com/news/view.aspx?id=442a9f3d-1614-4b58-850e-b35c924c1ab9

La saison de la question parlementaire est rouverte à Koweit, avec le ministre du pétrole dans le retentissant scandale de Dow Chemicals (une rupture par Koweit d’un contrat de JV avec l’Aéricain DC qui lui a valu une amende de 2.2 milliards de $) et le ministre de l’intérieur, accusé -par des parlementaires chiites- de manque de coopération avec les EAU dans l’affaire du démantèlement des cellules des FM ...et mieux encore du vol de M16 automatiques +munitions dans un lieu de stockage du ministère

"“The Dow Chemical deal is one of the biggest financial crimes in the history of Kuwait,” said the grilling."

http://gitm.kcorp.net/index.php?id=648101

Three MPs yesterday filed to grill Oil Minister Hani Hussein over a variety of violations and misconduct, mainly on the payment of the $ 2.2 billion penalty to US Dow Chemical after the government pulled out of a joint deal. Two other MPs meanwhile filed a second request to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah alleging his failure to cooperate with the National Assembly and attempting to cover up a Kuwaiti “terror” cell having links with Islamists under trial in the United Arab Emirates.

The submission of the two grillings came after a morning of drama yesterday as MPs had initially planned to file three grillings against the oil minister, all focusing on the payment to Dow besides other alleged violations. But after a brief discussion, the three teams agreed to file one grilling to be signed by MPs Saadoun Hammad, Yacoub Al-Sane and Nasser Al-Marri, which highlighted four major violations with the Dow payment remaining the main issue. Besides the Dow issue, MPs also accused the minister of allowing commercial deals with Israel, not taking any action to prevent the sale of alcohol at Kuwait-owned petrol stations in Europe and approving illegal staff promotions at state-owned oil companies.

The three MPs also accused the minister of failing to take action to stop the sale of alcohol at thousands of petrol stations in Europe owned by Kuwait Petroleum International, a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC). He also failed to punish officials who were responsible for maintaining Kuwaiti investments in a company in Europe even after an Israeli company bought a stake in it. The three MPs also accused the minister of approving a large number of staff promotions at oil companies that were in violation of Kuwaiti laws. [...]

Meanwhile, MPs Safa Al-Hashem and Youssef Al-Zalzalah filed to grill the interior minister over allegations he is not fully cooperating with the Assembly and over the theft of thousands of bullets from ministry stores. The two lawmakers called on the minister to resign because they have solid evidence about the accusations they made in the grilling. They charged that the minister failed to cooperate with MPs by first failing to implement a number of recommendations and also by not answering their questions as he only answered less than half of the questions.

They held the minister responsible for the robbery of thousands of bullets and even M16 automatic rifles from Interior Ministry stores and that he has failed to maintain law and order in the country, besides failing to implement thousands of court verdicts. But the main issue the lawmakers highlighted are accusations that the minister has refused to supply UAE authorities with information about a number of Kuwaiti Islamists – members of the Muslim Brotherhood – who have links with a group of Emirati Islamists on trial on charges of plotting to overthrow the government.

They said that the prime minister has acknowledged the information but the interior minister still told UAE authorities that there was no Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait, thus undermining the security of Kuwait and its Gulf partner UAE. The two grillings are expected to be debated after two weeks unless the Assembly decides to delay the debate or for any other reason like a government resignation, the ministers’ resignations or others.

Egyptian authorities will distribute in October smart cards as part of its new system for rationing government-subsidised fuel, Finance Minister Fayad Abdel-Moneim told the state-run Al-Ahram Arabic website Sunday.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/71297.aspx

Under the new system, consumers will be provided with limited amounts of subsidised fuel, beyond which they will have to pay at market prices.

Egypt, which spent LE120 billion in fuel subsidies this fiscal year, according to former Petroleum Minister Osama Kamal, is obliged to implement drastic cuts to rein in a galloping budget deficit and secure a $4.8 billion International Monetary Fund loan.

Kamal, who spoke to Ahram Online last month, expected the smart card system to save some LE30 billion out of Egypt’s fuel subsidy bill, which the government expects to reach LE99.6 billion, in the coming 2013/14 fiscal year — some 15 percent of total forecast public expenditures.

#economy

REVUE DE LA PRESSE IRANIENNE PAR POMED

Iran Weekly Update - May 10, 2013
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8a185f96ecfeb10569f5120d0

 
 
Presidential Candidate Registration Begins:
The registration period for the upcoming presidential election began on Tuesday. According to Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, 243 individuals have submitted applications, including: former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rouhani; Mohammad-Reza Aref, Vice President under Mohammad Khatami and Expediency Council member; Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, a conservative former Health Minister; Ali Fallahian, a conservative member of the Assembly of Experts and former Minister of Intelligence; and Mostafa Kavakebian, a former reform-leaning MP. The registration period will end on Saturday evening.
 
Sources: 
Mohammad-Reza Aref Registers as Presidential Candidate BBC Persian [Persian], 5/10/2013
243 Register in 3 Days Fars News Agency [Persian], 5/9/2013 
Candidate Wanted by Interpol Registers for Iran Elections Iran-Pulse [English], 5/9/2013
Iran’s Presidential Race Gets Underway Uskowi on Iran [English], 5/7/2013
Iran’s Presidential Candidates Begin Registration Process Iran-Pulse [English], 5/7/2013

Speculation Surrounding Rafsanjani and Mashaei:
Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani made headlines Sunday after claiming that he intends to speak with Khamenei about his candidacy. Sadeq Zibakalam, a prominent political analyst, claims that Rafsanjani will eventually stand. On Friday, former President Khatami reiterated that, in his opinion, Rafsanjani is the best option. Other political experts believe there is a possibility that, in the absence of Rafsanjani’s candidacy, all three members of the 2+1 Coalition will register and run in the election, rather than choosing one unity candidate. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a member of the 2+1 Coalition, seemed to confirm this option, saying, “…it is yet not clear when exactly we will announce the result [on the designated unity candidate],” but "the announcement will not take place” before the Guardian Council has completed the candidate vetting process. On Thursday, the conservative Coalition of Five became the first coalition to announce a unity candidate: former First Deputy-Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard. In an interview published on Thursday, Bahman Sharifzadeh, a Mashaei supporter, asserted that Mashaei would register on the last day of the registration period. 
 
Sources:
Coalition of Three to name candidate after vetting process Press TV [English], 5/10/2013
The Best Presidential Option: Rafsanjani BBC Persian [Persian], 5/10/2013
2+1 Unity Candidate May Be Determined after Registration Fars News Agency [Persian], 5/9/2013
Sharifzadeh: “Mashaei to Register on Saturday” Entekhab [Persian], 5/9/2013
Rafsanjani Says He Won’t Run Without Khamenei’s Consent Iran-Pulse [English], 5/6/2013

New Minister of Labor Approved; Head of Medical Association Blocked:
On Sunday, Parliament approved President Ahmadinejad’s Minister of Labor nominee, MP Asadollah Abbasi. On Wednesday, reports emerged that the writ of approval for Iran’s new Medical Association head was sent to the office of President for the third time, with Ahmadinejad again refusing to sign it. Ahmadinejad’s refusal to sign the approval may stem from his dissatisfaction with the vetting process and the denial of his favored candidates during the Medical Association elections in February. 

Sources:
Majlis approves Abbasi as Labor Minister Tehran Times [English], 5/5/2013
Abbasi becomes Minister of Labor Entekhab [Persian], 5/5/2013 

Kahrizak Trial Continues:
On Tuesday, the seventh session of the Kahrizak trial was held behind closed doors. During the session, Director General of Tehran’s Prisons Sohrab Soleimani testified that the now-closed Kahrizak facility was not a legal detention center. One of the defendants, former Deputy Prosecutor Ali Akbar Heidarifar, argued that the Ministry of Justice’s failure to nullify the detainees’ imprisonment orders was tantamount to granting its approval for them. 
 
Sources:
Iran holds 7th court session to hear Kahrizak case Press TV [English], 5/8/2013
Judicial Documents Published on Website Kalameh [Persian], 5/8/2013
Judge Positively Evaluates Kahrizak Case Alef [Persian], 5/7/2013
 
Intelligence Ministry Releases Details of Government Scandal:
Earlier this week, Minister of Intelligence and presidential hopeful Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi released a report concerning a 450 million Euro scandal involving the government’s alleged construction contract in the free trade area of Kish. Reports indicate that construction proceeded without the appropriate auctioning procedures. The government has denied the allegations.
 
Sources:
Details of Government Scandal Published Kalameh [Persian], 5/8/2013
Intelligence Ministry Publishes Details of Scandal Alef [Persian], 5/7/2013
Attorney General Condemns Revealing Scandal BBC Persian [Persian], 5/6/2013 ❞

Des suites de la repression saoudienne contre les travailleurs immigrés en situation illégale.
Disons pour le moins que la politique saoudienne est un peu brutale dans son application.

Over 18,000 Indians want to leave Saudi Arabia, seek emergency certificate - The Times of India, 9 May 2013

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Over-18000-Indians-want-to-leave-Saudi-Arabia-seek-emergency-certificate/articleshow/19960080.cms

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: India could witness large-scale reverse migration in the coming months as the three-month grace period given by the Saudi Arabian government for implementation of the Nitaqat law comes to an end soon.

Over 18,000 Indians have already approached the Indian Embassy in Riyadh seeking an Emergency Certificate (EC) to leave Saudi Arabia amid concerns about possible job losses. The Indian workers have applied for issuance of EC to leave the country as they had given their passports to the sponsors, overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi told Parliament on Wednesday.

Le débat sur l’orientation de la politique d’importation de lmain d’oeuvre à Koweit : un parlementair, Saas al Bous, dénonce la loi de 2008 qui permet la déportation des étrangers pour infraction au code de la route ; la responsabilité que la loi fait porter aux étrangers lorsque ces derniers sont trompés et importés à Koweit par des « vendeurs de visas » (sans emplois correspondant). Enfin il critique le plan de réduction du nombre d’étrangers annoncés par le Minsitre du Travail et des Affaires sociales en demandant des précisions sur sa mise en oeuvre.

http://gitm.kcorp.net/index.php?id=647355

A lawmaker called on the government yesterday not to adopt excessive punishments against expatriates and to rationalize the use of deportation as a penalty against expatriates who break the traffic law, amid reports the latest anti-expats measures have increased the cost of recruitment of laborers as well as domestic helpers.

MP Saad Al-Bous said penalties applied against expatriates should be proportionate to the violations they commit without the need for rash and unfair decisions that may adversely impact Kuwaiti democratic system. The lawmaker said that before deporting expatriates for grave traffic offenses, they should be given at least three opportunities before deporting them.

He also said that with regards to laborers recruited by visa traders, these people should not be deported and instead be given enough time to legalize their stay by obtaining residence permits from other companies, because these laborers have committed no mistake as they entered the country through a proper work permit.

In this case, visa traders should be punished and not the laborers who normally pay their savings to come to Kuwait and then when they arrive we force them to leave. “This is illogical to punish the victim and spare the perpetrators” he said in a statement. Bous urged Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rasheedi not to take rash decisions that may contribute to distorting Kuwait’s image abroad, especially with regards to deporting laborers who are found to work for employers other than their sponsors, adding that these people should be allowed to transfer their residence permits.

He said that according to statements by officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, there are around 1,000 paper companies and if we suppose each company employs around 10 expats on average, then that means we have to deport about 10,000 workers. Instead of deporting them and recruiting new workers from abroad, it is better to allow them to legalize their stay and benefit from their experience, Bous said.

The lawmaker’s statements come amid reports that the cost of recruiting workers or domestic helpers from outside has jumped sharply due to the minister’s statements and measures adopted by authorities. Rasheedi said two months ago, that Kuwait plans to deport around 100,000 expatriates every year over the next 10 years to reduce the number of foreigners by one million people. Foreigners currently number 2.6 million against 1.2 million Kuwaitis.

Quand une grande entreprise poursuit en diffamation un ancien ministre qui défend les droits des employés, évidemment, les habituels tenants de la liberté d’expression n’ont plus rien à dire. La liberté d’expression, c’est bon quand on travaille avec Israël, pas quand on aborde la question sociale au Liban : Nahas challenges prosecution during Spinneys hearing.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/nahas-challenges-prosecution-during-spinneys-hearing

The trial of Charbel Nahas vs. Spinneys CEO Michael Wright opened Wednesday, as Nahas defended himself against charges brought against him by the Gulf capital-owned company.

Lebanon’s former Telecommunications and Labor Minister Nahas is being sued on three charges – publishing incorrect information, slander and libel.

Nahas was granted around 15 minutes to defend himself against the three charges brought against him, attendee and supporter Nadine Moawad told Al-Akhbar.

J’attends que tous ceux qui se sont offusqués sur Facebook de la censure de Ziad Doueiri montent au créneau pour Charbel Nahas : on a le droit de ricaner.

#slapp #censure

US seeks talks with Bahrain on worker rights | GulfNews.com
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/us-seeks-talks-with-bahrain-on-worker-rights-1.1180637

The United States is seeking talks with Bahrain over workers’ rights following a report that cited the deterioration of labour protections in the Gulf state after the unrest in 2011, officials said on Tuesday.
Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and acting Secretary of Labour Seth Harris said they had requested consultations over the alleged firings of trade union leaders and sectarian-related discrimination in employment since the March 2011 general strike.
Such issues would be inconsistent with the labour chapter of the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, they said.
“Ensuring that workers in Bahrain — and in other countries — can exercise their fundamental labour rights is a top priority for the Obama administration, and we expect that the action we are taking today will produce a collaborative discussion and positive resolution to these important labour issues,” Marantis said in a statement.

On Sunday, Bahrain’s cabinet approved a parliamentary proposal to take unspecified action to stop “interference” in the kingdom’s affairs by the US ambassador.
“The cabinet has approved a proposal by the parliament to put an end to the interference of US Ambassador Thomas Krajeski in Bahrain’s internal affairs,” government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab said, according to the official BNA news agency.
The measure also aims at ending “his repeated meetings with instigators of sedition” — a government term for protesters who frequently clash with police.

Egypte, remaniement : 9 ministères sont concernés, le PM Qandil garde comme prévu son poste (l’opposition demandait son départ pour lancer les négociations)

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/70853.aspx

Liste complète des ministres : http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/70864.aspx

Profils : http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/70884.aspx

[Oil & Gas Updates] : Weekly Roundup, May 6, 2013 | Middle East Strategic Perspectives
http://www.mestrategicperspectives.com/2013/05/05/oil-gas-updates-weekly-roundup-may-6-2013

Malgré la publicité en forme d’autopromotion qui lui fait le ministre par intérim Bassil, le processus d’octroi de licences d’exploration pétrolière et gazière au Liban reste marqué par de nombreuses incertitudes.

The map of offshore blocks still needs government approval, and, although unlikely, the next cabinet may decide to redraw or introduce certain changes to the boundaries of offshore blocks.

The model contract faces similar uncertainties. It is now available for pre-qualified companies to view and comment on. Comments must be submitted through the PA’s new website, also unveiled on May 2. The PA may then amend the model contract before submitting it to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Intéressante analyse de l’évolution des enjeux poliliques autour de cette question. Cette revue de presse hebdomadaire devient une source très intéressante.
#pétrole
#gaz
#énergie
#Liban

SA police caught dead to rights | Opinion | Comment and Analysis | Mail & Guardian
http://mg.co.za/article/2013-04-26-00-sa-police-caught-dead-to-rights

Police ­Minister Nathi Mthethwa was ordered by the Durban High Court to pay R165 000 in damages to two activists from the shack-dweller movement Abahlali ­baseMjondolo and a member of the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban who had been injured by police gunfire.

#bidonvilles #afrique_du_sud #répression #logement

Le dialogue piétine, les esprits s’échauffent

Gulf Daily News » Local News » Stop stalling...
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=352273

A TOP minister has dismissed accusations of an “under the table” dialogue taking place in favour of certain political societies.

Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa said opinions from different factions were welcomed, but serious claims that affects the National Dialogue process are unacceptable.

He also accused certain groups of holding up talks by “back tracking” statements and endlessly debating principles of the dialogue’s mechanism.

“We refuse this unprecedented audacity by some groups to come out and say there is one dialogue on the table and another happening under the table,” he said.

“We are dealing with inexhaustible patience till date so that there is progress made to push for the final agenda that will shape these crucial talks.”

Shaikh Khalid was speaking during a Press conference last night at the end of the 15th session of the National Dialogue that is being held at the Isa Cultural Centre in Juffair.

He stressed that all outcomes of the dialogue should be agreed on by participants “on the table”.

“If there are any meetings by the working teams it must be first approved on the dialogue table,” said Shaikh Khalid, who is representing the government in the talks along with Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi and Works Minister Essam Khalaf. [...]

Opposition groups want the final outcome of the dialogue to be issued through public referendum and constitutional means.

However, it is being strongly opposed by the National Coalition (Sunni contingent) and the National Assembly, who want the outcomes referred to His Majesty King Hamad without conditions. [...]
“Constitutional amendments mean changes, deletions and/or additions to the constitution which are to be referred to His Majesty.” [Sunnis Coalition]

Mr Abdulrahman said opposition groups also submitted an 11-point document that includes explanations of principles it presented on March 17. However, discussion on the document was postponed until further study.

Point de presse hebdomadaire avec les ministres bahreiniens : une mesure positive très certainement...mais la réforme par le haut continue, alors qu’une partie de la population ne suit plus...

Gulf Daily News » Local News » OPEN DOORS
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=352257

GOVERNMENT ministers will soon host a weekly open house in a bid to enforce transparency.

The first meeting will be held on May 8 at the Cabinet in Gudaibiya, said Minister of State for Information Affairs and the government’s official spokeswoman Sameera Rajab.

She said the move will create an open channel between ministers and the media, and promote transparency in government bodies.

“Sunday’s Press conferences will be only concerned with what’s being discussed or approved during the Cabinet’s session,” she said during a Press conference following Cabinet’s weekly session.

"Present will be the responsible minister whose projects, schemes or legislation are on schedule, besides myself as I will give an insight into what has been discussed and approved.

“We will all work as a team complementing each other as I will give points and the responsible minister will give details.”

Rassemblement à Maspero (Le Caire) aujourd’hui pour dénoncer les propos à caractère sexuel du ministre de l’Info à destination de journalistes femmes.

« Quand le ministre tient de tels propos, comment s’étonner que le harcèlement sexuel perdure et augmente ? », dit un manifestant.

Sa démission est réclamée.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentMulti/70328/Multimedia.aspx (vidéo)

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/70261.aspx

#EndSH

Saudi to keep ban on churches – minister
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/saudi-keep-ban-on-churches-minister-499626.html

Saudi Arabia has no plans to lift a long-standing ban on the construction of non-Muslim places of worship, according the Gulf kingdom’s Minister of Justice.
In comments to Saudi media on Thursday, Mohammed Al-Issa said that the country is "home to the Muslim holy places, it does not allow the establishment of non-Muslim places of worship”. Al-Issa is currently on an official trip to Brussels.

Interview du ministre égyptien du Pétrole Osama Kamal qui évoque plusieurs sujets, dont les risques de coupures d’électricité, les aides du FMI, Iran/Israël

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/70056.aspx

#énergie

“Several women’s rights groups are set to hold a protest on Sunday at the Maspero building against the recent remarks by Minister of Information Salah Abdel Maqsoud.
(...)
The groups will call for the dismissal of Abdel Maqsoud due to recent remarks he made that have been perceived as sexual harassment.
Abdel Maqsoud provoked public anger following his response to a question by a female journalist during a press conference held on 13 April, where he responded to a question regarding freedom of the press by saying “Come here, and I’ll tell you where”, a phrase that has a sexual connotation in colloquial Egyptian Arabic. The minister repeated his response to the question in a press conference held a few days later.

“Dismissing this harassing minister is crucial now. It is not enough, though, he should also be punished on charges of indecent assault,” said Marwa El-Sherif, a member of the Fouada Watch women’s rights group.
(...)
Abdel Maqsoud responded to the accusations a few days ago, saying that he did not intend to insult the TV anchor or the journalists. During a phone interview with Al-Mehwar TV channel, he said that his statements were falsely interpreted in an attempt to distort his image and undermine his achievements.”

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/04/27/womens-movements-protest-against-harassment-minister

#EndSH

Requiem pour un tortionnaire de longue date.

OP-ED : Ian Henderson and Repression in Bahrain : A Forty-Year Legacy- http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/04/op-ed-ian-henderson-and-repression-in-bahrain-a-forty-year-legacy

Ian Henderson’s death announcement Apr. 15 in Bahrain brings to an end the life of a British expatriate who was the architect and supervisor of the harsh internal security policies of the al-Khalifa ruling family since the early days of independence over 40 years ago.

Henderson’s life’s work intertwined intimately with al-Khalifa, especially with the family’s all-powerful perennial Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman, the ruler’s brother.

The policies of discrimination, exclusion, and intolerance practiced by the Sunni minority ruling family against the Shia majority were designed and executed by Henderson and his subordinates and blessed by the prime minister. They have been grounded in fear, repression, systematic violations of human rights, and in some cases torture.

This is the legacy that Ian Henderson has bequeathed to the people of Bahrain.

Henderson was a British national and a colonial officer who was renowned for using violent tactics to subdue the anti-British Mau Mau movement in Kenya. After independence, the British government in 1968 removed him from Kenya and installed him in Bahrain as a security adviser to Al-Khalifa.

Requiem pour un tortionnaire de longue date.

OP-ED : Ian Henderson and Repression in Bahrain : A Forty-Year Legacy- http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/04/op-ed-ian-henderson-and-repression-in-bahrain-a-forty-year-legacy

Ian Henderson’s death announcement Apr. 15 in Bahrain brings to an end the life of a British expatriate who was the architect and supervisor of the harsh internal security policies of the al-Khalifa ruling family since the early days of independence over 40 years ago.

Henderson’s life’s work intertwined intimately with al-Khalifa, especially with the family’s all-powerful perennial Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman, the ruler’s brother.

The policies of discrimination, exclusion, and intolerance practiced by the Sunni minority ruling family against the Shia majority were designed and executed by Henderson and his subordinates and blessed by the prime minister. They have been grounded in fear, repression, systematic violations of human rights, and in some cases torture.

This is the legacy that Ian Henderson has bequeathed to the people of Bahrain.

Henderson was a British national and a colonial officer who was renowned for using violent tactics to subdue the anti-British Mau Mau movement in Kenya. After independence, the British government in 1968 removed him from Kenya and installed him in Bahrain as a security adviser to Al-Khalifa.

Füle : EU-Armenia Readmission Agreement key to increased mobility

http://www.enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id_type=1&id=32781&lang_id=450

“key to moving towards further enhancement of mobility,”

Quand on sait ce qu’est un "accord de réadmission", la violence, la brutalité que subissent les êtres humains qui en sont victimes, cette manière de présenter les choses est assez cynique (to put it mildly comme on dit de l’autre côté du Channel)

Successful implementation of the EU-Armenia Readmission Agreement is “key to moving towards further enhancement of mobility,” Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle told Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian after the signature ceremony of the Agreement last Friday in Brussels.

#migrations #asile #réadmission #ue #europe #arménie

Morsy in crisis talks with judges over reform

President Mohamed Morsy held crisis talks with the country’s top judges on Monday after the justice minister resigned over demands by the ruling Muslim Brotherhood for a “purification” of the judiciary.

The secular, liberal and left-wing opposition denounced what it called a planned “Brotherhoodization” of the judiciary and called for demonstrations outside Parliament.

A presidential source said Morsy met the Supreme Judicial Council and the prosecutor general to discuss a draft law reforming the judiciary due to go through the Islamist-dominated upper house on Wednesday.

Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky tendered his resignation on Saturday following a protest by Morsy’s Islamist backers to demand that judges appointed during ousted former President Hosni Mubarak’s nearly 30-year rule be purged.

(...)

Critics say it would eliminate more than 3,000 judges at a stroke, including most members of senior bodies such as the Constitutional Court which has repeatedly stymied Morsy’s legislative and election plans.

Leaders of the opposition National Salvation Front called for demonstrations outside the Shura Council on Wednesday to protest against what one senior liberal politician, Mohamed ElBaradei, called "the judges’ massacre.”

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/morsy-crisis-talks-judges-over-reform

Egypte : manifestation devant le siège de la TV et radio d’Etat (Maspero), pour réclamer la démission du ministre de l’Information et dénoncer les liens entre les médias et le président.

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/04/21/workers-protest-at-maspero

Réponse du ministre http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/69941.aspx

#medias #Maspero

Le silence pesant d’Aung San Suu Kyi face au génocide en Birmanie, et des tentatives d’explication par Muhamed Sacirbey (Former Bosnian foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ambassador-muhamed-sacirbey/aung-san-suu-kyi-silence-_b_3032958.html

#Birmanie #Myanmar #Burma

Attention, les trois paragraphes suivants sont exemplaires : politiciens, littoral et argent séoudien…
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/ghazi-aridi-lebanese-mp-falls-jumblatt%E2%80%99s-favor

First, Aridi’s financial “bulge” has become the talk of the town and Baissour’s most urgent concern, according to a regular visitor to Jumblatt’s residence in Mukhtara. The minister’s wealth multiplied in the past five years to staggering heights. Some of this money, according to the PSP source, was obtained in partnership with Jumblatt, such as the briefcases full of money he brought from the Saudis. Some of it remained a secret until it was accidently exposed during a meeting between Jumblatt and the owner of the Kempinski – previously known as the Summerland beach resort – located in southern Beirut.

According to someone who attended the meeting, Walid Saab, the project’s owner, thanked Jumblatt for covering up his project’s violation of maritime property laws by passing a bill that allowed Kempinski to expand its installations from 28,000 m² to 30,000 m².

Saab asked Jumblatt if he was satisfied with the shares he received, consisting of several chalets in the new resort. Jumblatt looked into the issue and discovered that Aridi’s son had received shares in the project listed in Jumblatt’s name. This was too much for Jumblatt.

Paradoxalement, c’est à croire que la loi sur le littoral n’a pas pour unique vocation l’enrichissement des politiciens qui couvrent ses innombrables violations.