Birthday of King Harald VNORWAY - F e b 2 1

Harald V (born 21 February1937) is the king of Norway.He succeeded to the throne ofNorway upon the death of hisfather Olav V on 17 January1991. The son of the then-Crown Prince Olav and ofPrincess Märtha of Sweden,Harald was born at the CrownPrince Residence at Skau-gum, Akershus, Norway. Amember of the House ofSchleswig-Holstein-Sonder-burg-Glücksburg, originallyfrom Northern Germany, Har-ald became the first Norwe-gian-born prince since Olav IV,who was born in 1370. HaraldV is the formal head of theChurch of Norway and theNorwegian Armed Forces. Hehas two children, CrownPrince Haakon and PrincessMärtha Louise. His grandchil-dren are Maud Angelica(2003), Leah Isadora (2005),Emma Tallulah (2008),Princess Ingrid Alexandra(2004), and Prince SverreMagnus (2005). Harald hastwo older sisters: PrincessRagnhild of Norway, Mrs.Lorentzen, (Ragnhild Alexan-dra, born Oslo, 9 June 1930),who lives in Brazil, andPrincess Astrid of Norway,Mrs. Ferner, (Astrid Maud In-geborg, born Oslo, 12 Febru-ary 1932), who lives in Oslo.He is 8th in line in the line ofsuccession to the headship ofthe House of Schleswig-Hol-stein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.He is the great-grandson ofEdward VII of the United King-dom, and 68th in line to theBritish throne. He is a paternalsecond cousin to Elizabeth IIand the late Princess Margaretand also a maternal firstcousin to Baudouin of Belgiumand his successor Albert II ofBelgium.

C h i l d h o o dand educa-tionPrince Harald was born inSkaugum. The young princewas baptised in the RoyalChapel in the Royal Palace inOslo on 31 March by BishopJohan Lunde. In 1940 the en-tire royal family had to fleetheir homes because of theGerman invasion. The dra-matic journey northbound wasmarked by the Germans' re-peated attempts to kill the Kingthrough bombing. It wasdeemed safer for the family tosplit up. The King and Crown Prince Olav would remain in Norway and the Crown Princess was to make her way toSweden with the three children. The latter party reached Sweden on the night of 10 April, but although CrownPrincess Märtha was Swedish-born, they encountered problems at the border station. According to Princess Astridand others who were present, they were admitted only after the driver threatened to ram the border gate. Anotheraccount does not describe the escape so dramatically. However when the King and Crown Prince inquired of Swedishforeign minister Christian Günther whether they could sleep one night in Sweden without being interned, they weredenied. Prince Harald spent the following days in Sälen before relocating to Prince Carl Bernadotte's home in Frötunaon 16 April. On 26 April the group moved to Drottningholm in Stockholm. Accounts tell us that King Gustaf V had anamicable relationship with his Norwegian guests, but the topic of the war in Norway was not to be raised. However,influential Swedish politicians including Minster of Justice Westman wanted the Crown Princess and Prince Haraldto be sent back to Norway so he could be proclaimed King by the Germans. After the King and Crown Prince had toleave Norway on 7 June they felt Sweden might not be the best place for the rest of the family. They started planningfor them to be relocated to the USA. On 17 August the Crown Princess and her children left for the USA from Pet-samo, Finland, aboard the ship American Legion. Harald and his mother and sisters lived in Washington, D.C., duringthe war, while his father, Prince Olav, and his grandfather, King Haakon, stayed in London with the Norwegian gov-ernment-in-exile. One of the notable events he remembers from that time is standing behind Franklin D. Rooseveltwhen he was sworn in for his fourth term on the South Portico of the White House in 1945. Such childhood experi-ences are reflected in a trace of an American accent when he speaks English. The Doris Kearns Goodwin book NoOrdinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the Home Front in World War II contains a picture of the King(Then Prince) playing with FDR's dog, Fala, on the North Lawn of the White House in 1944. Prince Harald visitedNorwegian servicemen on training in the United States. The prince also visited outside America, travelling north tovisit Norwegians training in Canada's "Little Norway" in Ontario, Canada. He attended The White Hall Country Schoolfrom 1943. Prince Harald returned to Norway along with his family at the war's end in 1945. In the autumn of 1945he was enrolled in third grade of Smestad skole as the first royal to attend a public school. In 1955 he graduatedfrom Oslo katedralskole and in the autumn of that year, Harald began studies at the University of Oslo. Later he at-tended the Cavalry Officers' Candidate School at Trandum, followed by enrollment at the Norwegian Military Acad-emy, from which he graduated in 1959. In 1960, Harald entered Balliol College, Oxford where he studied history,economics and politics. He was a keen rower during his student days at Oxford. In 1960 he also made his firstofficial journey abroad, visiting the United States in connection with the fiftieth anniversary of the American Scandi-navian Foundation.

Adult lifeThe Crown Prince ofNorway served asdeputy of the King fromthe day he was 18 yearsof age. Crown PrinceHarald attended Councilof State for the first timeon 27 September 1957and took the oath to theConstitution of Norwayon 21 February 1958. Inthe same year, he alsoserved as regent in theKing's absence for thefirst time. Harald marrieda commoner, Sonja Har-aldsen, at OsloDomkirke in Oslo on 29August 1968, a marriagethat sparked much pub-lic controversy. The cou-ple have two children,Princess Märtha Louiseand His Royal HighnessCrown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne. The King heads the government meetings at Oslo Palace everyFriday (Council of State). He also has weekly meetings with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. He receivesforeign envoys, and opens parliament every September. According to the Norwegian constitution, he appoints hisgovernment. Since 1884 parliamentarism has been in place in Norway, so the government has to have support fromParliament. The King appoints the leader of the parliamentary block with majority as prime minister. When the par-liamentary situation is unclear the king relies on the advice of the president of Parliament and the sitting prime min-ister. He travels extensively throughout Norway and makes official state visits to other countries. An avid sailor,Harald represented Norway in the yachting events of Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 and in Mexico City in 1968and the Munich 1972. The Crown Prince carried the Norwegian flag at the opening parade of the 1964 SummerOlympics. In 1994, both the King and Crown Prince Haakon played roles during the opening ceremony of the Lille-hammer Olympics. The King declared opened the games, while the Crown Prince lit the cauldron, paying tribute toboth the King and his grandfather as Olympians. The King has also represented Norway at opening ceremonies ofOlympic Games, among them Torino and Beijing. However, he wasn't present in Vancouver, the Crown Prince at-tended instead. With his sailing crew he won World Championship bronze, silver and gold medals, in 1988, 1982,and 1987, respectively. In July 2005, the King and his crew aboard the royal sailboat Fram XV won the gold medalat the European Championships in Sweden. In the 2007 World Championship the King obtained a sixth place. Twiceduring recent years King Harald has been absent as ruler owing to hospitalization and convalescence: in December2003 to mid-April 2004 due to urinary bladder cancer, and in April to early June 2005 due to aortic stenosis (fordetails see "The King's health", below). Crown Prince Haakon served as the country's regent on both occasions.

Positions as King of Norway and honorary titlesAs King of Norway:The King is the nominalhead of the Church ofNorway.He is a Four-star Gen-eral, an Admiral and for-mally the SupremeCommander of the Nor-wegian Armed Forces.The infantry battalion HisMajesty the King'sGuard are consideredthe King's and the RoyalFamily's bodyguards,they guard the Royalresidences, including theRoyal Palace and theCrown Prince Residenceat Skaugum, as well asthe Royal Mausoleum atAkershus Castle.

Honorary ti-tles:In the British Army, theKing was the finalColonel-in-Chief of theGreen Howards. It remains to be seen whether there will continue to be an active association between the 2nd Bat-talion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and the Norwegian Royal Family. He is also an honorary Colonel in theBritish Royal Marines.The King is a Knight of the Garter, and is The Grand Master of the Order of St. Olav. He is also a Knight GrandCross of the Royal Victorian Order, and a recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain as well as numerous other ordersof chivalry.The King is patron of theAnglo-Norse Society inLondon, together withQueen Elizabeth II. Heis also patron of the Nor-wegian-American Foun-dation (Norge-AmerikaForeningen) and theNorse Federation(Nord-manns-Forbundet) in theUnited States.He received the hon-orary degree Doctor ofCivil Law from OxfordUniversity in 2006 (asdid his father, King Olav,in 1937, and his grand-father, King Haakon, in1943). The King hasearlier been appointedan honorary doctor oflaw by the University ofStrathclyde (1985) inScotland and byWaseda University(2001) in Japan (2001). He is also an honorary fellow at Balliol College, Oxford.King Harald V is Honorary President of the Offshore Racing Congress and also the Co-President of Honour of theInternational Sailing Federation with the King Constantine II of Greece. He holds the degree of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire due to his old German ancestry.

Other honours:Norway - Grand Master of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav -

Grand Cross with collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. OlavNorway - Grand Master of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit - GrandCrossNorway - St Olav's medalNorway - Defence Service Medal with Laurel BranchNorway - The Royal House Centenary MedalNorway - Haakon VIIs Commemorative Medal 1. October 1957Norway - Haakon VIIs Jubilee Medal 1905–1955Norway - Haakon VIIs Centenary MedalNorway - Olav Vs Commemorative Medal of 30. January 1991Norway - Olav Vs Jubilee MedalNorway - Olav Vs Centenary MedalNorway - Defence Service Medal with three starsNorway - Army National Service Medal with three starsNorway - Krigsdeltakerforbundet Badge of HonourNorway - Norwegian Red Cross Badge of HonourNorway - Norwegian Reserve Officers Federal Badge of HonourNorway - The Naval Society Medal of Merit in goldNorway - Norwegian Shooting Society Badge of HonourNorway - The Norwegian Confederation of Sports Centenary MedalNorway - Norwegian Shooting Society Commemorative Medal in goldNorway - Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in GoldUnited Kingdom - Knight of the Order of the GarterCommonwealth realms - Royal Victorian ChainCommonwealth realms - Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian

OrderUnited Kingdom - Honorary Freedom of Newcastle upon TyneDenmark - Grand Commander of the Order of the DannebrogDenmark - Knight with Collar of the ElephantFinland - Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White RoseIceland - Grand cross with Collar of the Order of the FalconSweden - Knight with Collar of the Order of the SeraphimSweden - Gustaf Vs 90th Anniversary MedalSweden - HM King Carl XVI Gustaf 50th Anniversary MedalAustria - Decoration of Honour for MeritBelgium - Grand Cross of the Order of LeopoldBrazil - Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern CrossBulgaria - Grand Cross of the Order of Stara PlaninaEstonia - The Collar of the Cross of Terra MarianaFrance - Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneurGermany - Grand Cross 1. class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyGreece - Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the RedeemerGreece - The Royal House of Greece Centenary MedalHungary - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian RepublicIOC - The Golden Olympic orderItaly - Grand Cross with Collar of the Italian Order of MeritJapan - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the ChrysanthemumJordan - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin AliYugoslavia - Order of the Yugoslav Great StarLatvia - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Three StarsLithuania - Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the GreatLuxembourg - Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of NassauLuxembourg - Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of NassauLuxembourg - Medal to commemorate the wedding of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-CharlotteNetherlands - Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands LionNetherlands Grand Cross of the Order of the CrownNetherlands - The Order of the Golden ArkNetherlands - Medal to commemorate the enthronement of Queen BeatrixPoland - Grand Cross of the Order of the White EaglePortugal - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. James of the SwordPortugal - Grand Cross of the Order of AvizPortugal - Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Infante Dom HenriqueRomania - Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of RomaniaSpain - 1,192nd Knight and Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1995Spain - Grand Cross Collar of the Order of Charles IIISouth Africa - Grand Cross of the Order of Good HopeThailand - Knight Grand Cordon of the Order Chula Chom Klao (First Class)Ireland - Freedom of the City of Cork.A 230 000 km² area in Antarctica is named Prince Harald Coast in his honour.In 2007 King Harald was awarded the Holmenkollen medal with Simon Ammann, Frode Estil, Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset,and his wife Queen Sonja.

Health On 1 December 2003, King Harald was announced to be suffering from bladder cancer. A successfuloperation took place on 8 December at Norway's National Hospital, Rikshospitalet, in Oslo: his bladder was removedand a new one constructed. The King was then on sick leave from all official duties. Crown Prince Haakon was Nor-way's regent during King Harald's illness and convalescence. The King resumed his duties on 13 April 2004. The King was once known to be a chain-smoker, but quit that habit entirely when he was diagnosedwith cancer. On 1 April 2005 Harald underwent successful heart surgery, an aortic valve replacement, correctinghis aortic stenosis. It had been known for some time that he had this condition; however, until early 2005 it had onlybeen of a moderate degree. During the three-hour operation atRikshospitalet the doctors also performed a coronarybypass procedure on the King. On 10 April it was announced that the King had also undergone a pericardiocentesisto treat a complication of surgery, a pericardial effusion (an accumulation of fluid around the heart). After the two operations in the spring of 2005, King Harald remained on sick leave for almost twomonths, Crown Prince Haakon again substituting as the country's regent. The King returned to work on 7 June, adate which carried particular significance in 2005, with Norway celebrating the centennial of the dissolution of the1814–1905 union with Sweden. The King recuperated well enough to win the European Championships in oceansailing just three months after his latest operation. Following advice from his personal physician, King Harald finally decided in late 2005 to scale downhis official duties, primarily effected by taking Wednesdays off and trying to keep weekends free as much as possible.However, he planned to continue attending weekend sports events of interest, and to lead Friday Cabinet meetingsand carry out other constitutional duties.

Patronages The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters The National Rifle Association of Norway The Norwegian Association of UN Veterans The Norwegian Reserve Officers’ Federation Norges Militære Kameratforeningers Forbund ("The Norwegian Federation of Military Associations") The Norse Federation The Norway-America Association Det Nasjonale Aldershjem for Sjømenn ("The Norwegian Seamen’s Retirement Home") Norsk Anchorite Klubb ("The Norwegian Anchorite Club") The Norwegian Association of Hunters and Anglers The Norwegian Bible Society The Norwegian Seamen’s Church – Church of Norway Abroad The Offshore Northern Seas Foundation The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra The Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences Bergen International Festival The Norwegian Cancer Society Lions Clubs International – Norway Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen ("The National Association for Public Health") The Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports The Norwegian Choir Association The Norwegian Forestry Society Friends of the Earth Norway/Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature Ridderrennet ("The Knights’ Race", a Norwegian skiing event for the blind and mobility impaired) The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue The Sons of Norway Foundation The American-Scandinavian Foundation The Anglo-Norse Society The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota Skogfjorden, the Norwegian language program of Concordia Language Villages, Bemidji, Minnesota Oslo Militære Samfund

Patrilineal descentHarald's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son.Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the gener-ations - which means that if Harald V were to choose an historically accurate house name it would be Oldenburg,as all his male-line ancestors have been of that house.

House of Oldenburg:1. Egilmar I of Lerigau, dates unknown2. Egilmar II of Lerigau, d. 11423. Christian I of Oldenburg, d. 11674. Moritz of Oldenburg, d. 12095. Christian II of Oldenburg, d. 12336. John I, Count of Oldenburg, d. 12757. Christian III, Count of Oldenburg, d. 12858. John II, Count of Oldenburg, d. 13149. Conrad I, Count of Oldenburg, 1300–134710. Christian V, Count of Oldenburg, 1340–142311. Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg, 1398–144012. Christian I of Denmark, 1426–148113. Frederick I of Denmark, 1471–153314. Christian III of Denmark, 1503–155915. John II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, 1545–162216. Alexander, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, 1573–162717. August Philipp, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1612–167518. Frederick Louis, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1653–172819. Peter August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1696–177520. Prince Karl Anton August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1727–175921. Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, 1757–181622. Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, 1785–183123. Christian IX of Denmark, 1818–190624. Frederick VIII of Denmark, 1843–191225. Haakon VII of Norway, 1872–195726. Olav V of Norway, 1903–199127. Harald V of Norway, b. 1937

Issue Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise, born on 22 September 1971. She was married to Ari Behn,born on 30 September 1972, on 24 May 2002. They have 3 daughters: Maud Angelica Behn, born 29 April 2003 Leah Isadora Behn, born 8 April 2005 Emma Tallulah Behn, born 29 September 2008 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, born on 20 July 1973. He married Mette-MaritTjessem Høiby, born 19 August 1973, on 25 August 2001. She has a son from a previous relationship, Marius BorgHøiby, born 13 January 1997. They have 2 children: Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra, born 21 January 2004, Hereditary Princess of Norway His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus, born 3 December 2005

George Washington's BirthdayUS - F e b 2 2

George Washington (February 22, 1732 – De-cember 14, 1799) was the dominant military andpolitical leader of the new United States of Amer-ica from 1775 to 1799. He led the American vic-tory over Britain in the American RevolutionaryWar as commander in chief of the ContinentalArmy in 1775–1783, and he presided over thewriting of the Constitution in 1787. As the unan-imous choice to serve as the first President ofthe United States (1789–1797), he developedthe forms and rituals of government that havebeen used ever since, such as using a cabinetsystem and delivering an inaugural address. AsPresident, he built a strong, well-financed na-tional government that avoided war, suppressedrebellion and won acceptance among Americansof all types, and Washington is now known asthe "Father of his country".In Colonial Virginia, Washington was born intothe provincial gentry in a wealthy, well connectedfamily that owned tobacco plantations usingslave labor. He was home schooled by his fatherand older brother, but both died young, and hebecame attached to the powerful Fairfax clan,who promoted his career as a surveyor and sol-dier. Strong, brave, eager for combat and a nat-ural leader, young Washington quickly becamea senior officer of the colonial forces, 1754–58,during the first stages of the French and IndianWar. Indeed, his rash actions helped precipitatethe war. Washington's experience, his militarybearing, his leadership of the Patriot cause inVirginia, and his political base in the largestcolony made him the obvious choice of the Sec-ond Continental Congress in 1775 as com-mander-in-chief of the Continental Army to fightthe British in the American Revolution. He forced the British out of Boston in 1776, but was defeated and nearly captured later that year when he lostNew York City. After crossing the Delaware River in the dead of winter, he defeated the enemy in two battles, retook New Jersey, and restored momentumto the Patriot cause. Because of his strategy, Revolutionary forces captured two major British armies at Saratoga in 1777 and Yorktown in 1781. Ne-gotiating with Congress, governors, and French allies, he held together a tenuous army and a fragile nation amid the threats of disintegration and in-vasion. Historians give the commander in chief high marks for his selection and supervision of his generals, his encouragement of morale, hiscoordination with the state governors and state militia units, his relations with Congress, and his attention to supplies, logistics, and training. In battle,however, Washington was repeatedly outmaneuvered by British generals with larger armies. Washington is given full credit for the strategies that forcedthe British evacuation of Boston in 1776 and the surrender at Yorktown in 1781. After victory had been finalized in 1783, Washington resigned ratherthan seize power, and returned to his plantation at Mount Vernon, proving his opposition to dictatorship and his commitment to republican government.Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention that drafted the United States Constitution in 1787 because of his dissatisfaction with theweaknesses of Articles of Confederation that had time and again impeded the war effort. Washington became the first President of the United Statesin 1789. He attempted to bring rival factions together to unify the nation. He supported Alexander Hamilton's programs to pay off all state and nationaldebt, implement an effective tax system, and create a national bank, despite opposition from Thomas Jefferson. Washington proclaimed the U.S. neutralin the wars raging in Europe after 1793. He avoided war with Britain and guaranteed a decade of peace and profitable trade by securing the Jay Treatyin 1795, despite intense opposition from the Jeffersonians. Although never officially joining the Federalist Party, he supported its programs. Washington's"Farewell Address" was an influential primer on republican virtue and a stern warning against partisanship, sectionalism, and involvement in foreignwars.Washington had a vision of a great and powerful nation that would be built on republican lines using federal power. He sought to use the national gov-ernment to improve the infrastructure, open the western lands, create a national university, promote commerce, found a capital city (later named Wash-ington, D.C.), reduce regional tensions and promote a spirit of nationalism. "The name of American," he said, must override any local attachments. Athis death, Washington was hailed as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen". The Federalists made him the symbol of theirparty, but for many years the Jeffersonians continued to distrust his influence and delayed building the Washington Monument. As the leader of the firstsuccessful revolution against a colonial empire in world history, Washington became an international icon for liberation and nationalism. His symbolismespecially resonated in France and Latin America. Historical scholars consistently rank him as one of the two or three greatest presidents.

Early life (1732–1753)The first child of Augustine Washington (1694–1743) and his second wife, Mary Ball Washington(1708–1789), George Washington was born on their Pope's Creek Estate near present-day Colo-nial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia. According to the Julian calendar (which was in effectat the time), Washington was born on February 11, 1731 (O.S.); according to the Gregorian cal-endar, which was adopted in Britain and its colonies in 1752, he was born on February 22,1732.[Note 1] Washington's ancestors were from Sulgrave, England; his great-grandfather, JohnWashington, had immigrated to Virginia in 1657.George's father Augustine was a slave-owningtobacco planter who later tried his hand in iron-mining ventures. In George's youth, the Washing-tons were moderately prosperous members of the Virginia gentry, of "middling rank" rather thanone of the leading families.Washington was the first-born child from his father's marriage to Mary Ball Washington. Six of hissiblings reached maturity including two older half-brothers, Lawrence and Augustine, from his fa-ther's first marriage to Jane Butler Washington and four full-siblings, Samuel, Elizabeth (Betty),John Augustine and Charles. Three siblings died before becoming adults: his full-sister Mildreddied when she was about one, his half-brother Butler died while an infant and his half-sister Janedied at the age of 12 when George was about 2. George's father died when George was 11 yearsold, after which George's half-brother Lawrence became a surrogate father and role model. WilliamFairfax, Lawrence's father-in-law and cousin of Virginia's largest landowner, Thomas, Lord Fairfax,was also a formative influence. Washington spent much of his boyhood at Ferry Farm in StaffordCounty near Fredericksburg. Lawrence Washington inherited another family property from his fa-ther, a plantation on the Potomac River which he later named Mount Vernon. George inheritedFerry Farm upon his father's death, and eventually acquired Mount Vernon after Lawrence's death.The death of his father prevented Washington from crossing the Atlantic to receive an educationat England's Appleby School, as his older brothers had done. He attended school in Fredericks-burg until age 15. Talk of securing an appointment in the Royal Navy was dropped when his motherlearned how hard that would be on him. Thanks to Lawrence's connection to the powerful Fairfaxfamily, at age 17 George was appointed official surveyor for Culpeper County in 1749, a well-paidposition which enabled him to purchase land in the Shenandoah Valley, the first of his many landacquisitions in western Virginia. Thanks also to Lawrence's involvement in the Ohio Company, aland investment company funded by Virginia investors, and Lawrence's position as commanderof the Virginia militia, George came to the notice of the new lieutenant governor of Virginia, RobertDinwiddie. Washington was hard to miss: at about six feet two inches (188 cm; estimates of his height vary), he towered over most of his contempo-raries.In 1751, Washington traveled to Barbados with Lawrence, who was suffering from tuberculosis, with the hope that the climate would be beneficial toLawrence's health. Washington contracted smallpox during the trip, which left his face slightly scarred, but immunized him against future exposures tothe dreaded disease. Lawrence's health did not improve: he returned to Mount Vernon, where he died in 1752. Lawrence's position as Adjutant General(militia leader) of Virginia was divided into four offices after his death. Washington was appointed by Governor Dinwiddie as one of the four district ad-jutants in February 1753, with the rank of major in the Virginia militia. Washington also joined the Freemasons in Fredericksburg at this time.

French and Indian War (1754–1758)In 1753, the French began expanding their military control into the "Ohio Country", a territoryalso claimed by the British colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania. These competing claims ledto a war in the colonies called the French and Indian War (1754–62), and contributed to thestart of the global Seven Years' War (1756–63). Washington was at the center of its beginning.The Ohio Company was one vehicle through which British investors planned to expand intothe territory, opening new settlements and building trading posts for the Indian trade. GovernorDinwiddie received orders from the British government to warn the French of British claims,and sent Major Washington in late 1753 to deliver a letter informing the French of those claimsand asking them to leave. Washington also met with Tanacharison (also called "Half-King")and other Iroquois leaders allied to Virginia at Logstown to secure their support in case of con-flict with the French; Washington and Tanacharison became friends and allies. Washington de-livered the letter to the local French commander, who politely refused to leave.Governor Dinwiddie sent Washington back to the Ohio Country to protect an Ohio Companygroup building a fort at present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but before he reached the area,a French force drove out the company's crew and began construction of Fort Duquesne. Asmall detachment of French troops led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, was discovered byTanacharison and a few warriors east of present-day Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Along with theirMingo allies, Washington and some of his militia unit then ambushed the French. What exactlyhappened during and after the battle is a matter of some controversy, but the immediate outcome was that Jumonville was injured in the initial attackand then was killed...whether tomahawked by Tanacharison in cold blood or somehow shot by another onlooker with a musket as the injured man satwith Washington is not completely clear. The French responded by attacking and capturing Washington at Fort Necessity in July 1754. However, hewas allowed to return with his troops to Virginia. Historian Joseph Ellis concludes that the episode demonstrated Washington's bravery, initiative, inex-perience and impetuosity. These events had international consequences; the French accused Washington of assassinating Jumonville, who theyclaimed was on a diplomatic mission. Both France and Britain were ready to fight for control of the region and both sent troops to North America in1755; war was formally declared in 1756.

Braddock disaster 1755:In 1755, Washington was the senior American aide to British General Edward Braddock on the ill-fated Monongahela expedition. This was the largestBritish expedition to the colonies, and was intended to expel the French from the Ohio Country. The French and their Indian allies ambushed Braddock,who was mortally wounded in the Battle of the Monongahela. After suffering devastating casualties, the British retreated in disarray; however, Washingtonrode back and forth across the battlefield, rallying the remnants of the British and Virginian forces to an organized retreat.

Commander of Virginia Regiment:Governor Dinwiddie rewarded Washington in 1755 with a commission as "Colonel of the Vir-ginia Regiment and Commander in Chief of all forces now raised in the defense of His Majesty'sColony" and gave him the task of defending Virginia's frontier. The Virginia Regiment was thefirst full-time American military unit in the colonies (as opposed to part-time militias and theBritish regular units). Washington was ordered to "act defensively or offensively" as he thoughtbest. In command of a thousand soldiers, Washington was a disciplinarian who emphasizedtraining. He led his men in brutal campaigns against the Indians in the west; in 10 months unitsof his regiment fought 20 battles, and lost a third of its men. Washington's strenuous effortsmeant that Virginia's frontier population suffered less than that of other colonies; Ellis concludes"it was his only unqualified success" in the war.In 1758, Washington participated in the Forbes expedition to capture Fort Duquesne. He wasembarrassed by a friendly fire episode in which his unit and another British unit thought theother was the French enemy and opened fire, with 14 dead and 26 wounded in the mishap.Washington was not involved in any other major fighting on the expedition, and the Britishscored a major strategic victory, gaining control of the Ohio Valley, when the French abandonedthe fort. Following the expedition, Washington retired from his Virginia Regiment commissionin December, 1758. He did not return to military life until the outbreak of the revolution in 1775.

Lessons learned:Although Washington never gained the commission in the British army he yearned for, in these years the young man gained valuable military, political,and leadership skills. He closely observed British military tactics, gaining a keen insight into their strengths and weaknesses that proved invaluableduring the Revolution. He demonstrated his toughness and courage in the most difficult situations, including disasters and retreats. He developed acommand presence—given his size, strength, stamina, and bravery in battle, he appeared to soldiers to be a natural leader and they followed himwithout question. Washington learned to organize, train, drill, and discipline his companies and regiments. From his observations, readings and con-versations with professional officers, he learned the basics of battlefield tactics, as well as a good understanding of problems of organization andlogistics. He gained an understanding of overall strategy, especially in locating strategic geographical points. Historian Ron Chernow is of the opinionthat his frustrations in dealing with government officials during this conflict led him to advocate the advantages of a strong national government and avigorous executive agency that could get results; other historians tend to ascribe Washington's position on government to his later American Revolu-tionary War service.[Note 2] He developed a very negative idea of the value of militia, who seemed too unreliable, too undisciplined, and too short-termcompared to regulars. On the other hand, his experience was limited to command of at most 1000 men, and came only in remote frontier conditionsthat were far removed from the urban situations he faced during the Revolution at Boston, New York, Trenton and Philadelphia.

Between the wars: Mount Vernon (1759–1774)On January 6, 1759, Washington married the wealthy widow Martha Dandridge Custis. Sur-viving letters suggest that he may have been in love at the time with Sally Fairfax, the wife ofa friend. Nevertheless, George and Martha made a compatible marriage, because Martha wasintelligent, gracious, and experienced in managing a slave plantation. Together the two raisedher two children from her previous marriage, John Parke Custis and Martha Parke Custis, af-fectionately called "Jackie" and "Patsy" by the family. Later the Washingtons raised two of Mrs.Washington's grandchildren, Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis.George and Martha never had any children together — his earlier bout with smallpox in 1751may have made him sterile. Washington proudly may not have been able to admit to his ownsterility while privately he grieved over not having his own children. The newly wed couplemoved to Mount Vernon, near Alexandria, where he took up the life of a planter and politicalfigure.Washington's marriage to Martha greatly increased his property holdings and social standing,and made him one of Virginia's wealthiest men. He acquired one-third of the 18,000 acre (73km²) Custis estate upon his marriage, worth approximately $100,000, and managed the re-mainder on behalf of Martha's children, for whom he sincerely cared. He frequently bought ad-ditional land in his own name and was granted land in what is now West Virginia as a bountyfor his service in the French and Indian War. By 1775, Washington had doubled the size ofMount Vernon to 6,500 acres (26 km2), and had increased the slave population there to morethan 100 persons. As a respected military hero and large landowner, he held local office andwas elected to the Virginia provincial legislature, the House of Burgesses, beginning in 1758.Washington lived an aristocratic lifestyle—fox hunting was a favorite leisure activity. He also enjoyed going to dances and parties, in addition to the the-ater, races, and cock fights. Washington also was known to play cards, backgammon, and billiards. Like most Virginia planters, he imported luxuriesand other goods from England and paid for them by exporting his tobacco crop. Extravagant spending and the unpredictability of the tobacco marketmeant that many Virginia planters of Washington's day were losing money. (Thomas Jefferson, for example, would die deeply in debt.)Washington began to pull himself out of debt by diversifying his business interests and paying more attention to his affairs. By 1766, he had switchedMount Vernon's primary cash crop from tobacco to wheat, a crop that could be sold in America, and diversified operations to include flour milling, fishing,horse breeding, spinning, and weaving. Patsy Custis's death in 1773 from epilepsy enabled Washington to pay off his British creditors, since half of herinheritance passed to him.A successful planter, he was a leader in the social elite in Virginia. From 1768 to 1775, he invited some 2000 guests to his Mount Vernon estate, mostlythose he considered "people of rank." As for people not of high social status, his advice was to "treat them civilly" but "keep them at a proper distance,for they will grow upon familiarity, in proportion as you sink in authority.". In 1769 he became more politically active, presenting the Virginia Assemblywith legislation to ban the importation of goods from Great Britain.In 1754 Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie had promised land bounties to the soldiers and officers who volunteered to serve during the French and IndianWar. Washington tried for years to get the lands promised to him and his men. Governor Norborne Berkeley finally fulfilled that promise in 1769-1770,with Washington subsequently receiving title to 23,200 acres near where the Kanawha River flows into the Ohio River, in what is now western WestVirginia.

American Revolution (1775–1787)Although he expressed opposition to the 1765 Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the colonies,he did not take a leading role in the growing colonial resistance until protests of the TownshendActs(enacted in 1767) became widespread. In May 1769, Washington introduced a proposal,drafted by his friend George Mason, calling for Virginia to boycott English goods until the Actswere repealed. Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts in 1770. However, Washington re-garded the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774 as "an Invasion of our Rights and Privileges".In July 1774, he chaired the meeting at which the "Fairfax Resolves" were adopted, whichcalled for the convening of a Continental Congress, among other things. In August, Washingtonattended the First Virginia Convention, where he was selected as a delegate to the First Con-tinental Congress.

Commander in chief:After the Battles of Lexington and Concord near Boston in April 1775, the colonies went to war.Washington appeared at the Second Continental Congress in a military uniform, signaling thathe was prepared for war. Washington had the prestige, military experience, charisma and mil-itary bearing of a military leader and was known as a strong patriot. Virginia, the largest colony,deserved recognition, and New England—where the fighting began—realized it needed South-ern support. Washington did not explicitly seek the office of commander and said that he wasnot equal to it, but there was no serious competition. Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. Nominated by John Adams of Massa-chusetts, Washington was then appointed Major General and Commander-in-chief.Washington had three roles during the war. In 1775-77, and again in 1781 he led his men against the main British forces. Although he lost many of hisbattles, he never surrendered his army during the war, and he continued to fight the British relentlessly until the war's end. He plotted the overall strategyof the war, in cooperation with Congress.Second, he was charged with organizing and training the army. He recruited regulars and assigned General von Steuben, a German professional, totrain them. He was not in charge of supplies, which were always short, but kept pressuring Congress and the states to provide essentials. Washingtonhad the major voice in selecting generals for command, and in planning their basic strategy. His achievements were mixed, as some of his favorites(like John Sullivan) never mastered the art of command. Eventually he found capable officers, like General Nathaniel Greene, and his chief-of-staffAlexander Hamilton. The American officers never equaled their opponents in tactics and maneuver, and consequently they lost most of the pitched bat-tles. The great successes, at Boston (1776), Saratoga (1777) and Yorktown (1781), came from trapping the British far from base with much larger num-bers of troops.Third, and most important, Washington was the embodiment of armed resistance to the Crown—the representative man of the Revolution. His enormousstature and political skills kept Congress, the army, the French, the militias, and the states all pointed toward a common goal. By voluntarily steppingdown and disbanding his army when the war was won, he permanently established the principle of civilian supremacy in military affairs. And yet hisconstant reiteration of the point that well-disciplined professional soldiers counted for twice as much as erratic amateurs helped overcome the ideologicaldistrust of a standing army.

Victory at Boston:Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in the field at Cambridge, Massachusetts in July 1775, during the ongoing siege of Boston.Realizing his army's desperate shortage of gunpowder, Washington asked for new sources. American troops raided British arsenals, including some inthe Caribbean, and some manufacturing was attempted. They obtained a barely adequate supply (about 2.5 million pounds) by the end of 1776, mostlyfrom France. Washington reorganized the army during the long standoff, and forced the British to withdraw by putting artillery on Dorchester Heightsoverlooking the city. The British evacuated Boston in March 1776 and Washington moved his army to New York City.Although highly disparaging toward most of the Patriots, British newspapers routinely praised Washington's personal character and qualities as a militarycommander. These articles were bold, as Washington was enemy general who commanded an army in a cause that many Britons believed would ruinthe empire.

Defeat at New York City and Fabian tactics:In August 1776, British General William Howe launched a massive naval and land cam-paign designed to seize New York. The Continental Army under Washington engagedthe enemy for the first time as an army of the newly independent United States at theBattle of Long Island, the largest battle of the entire war. The Americans were badlyoutnumbered, many men deserted, and Washington was badly beaten. Subsequently,Washington was forced to retreat across the East River at night. He did so without lossof life or materiel. Washington retreated north from the city to avoid encirclement, en-abling Howe to take the offensive and capture Fort Washington on November 16 withhigh Continental casualties. Washington then retreated across New Jersey; the futureof the Continental Army was in doubt due to expiring enlistments and the string oflosses. On the night of December 25, 1776, Washington staged a comeback with a sur-prise attack on a Hessian outpost in western New Jersey. He led his army across theDelaware River to capture nearly 1,000 Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey. Washingtonfollowed up his victory at Trenton with another over British regulars at Princeton in earlyJanuary. The British retreated back to New York City and its environs, which they helduntil the peace treaty of 1783. Washington's victories wrecked the British carrot-and-stick strategy of showing overwhelming force then offering generous terms. The Amer-icans would not negotiate for anything short of independence. These victories alonewere not enough to ensure ultimate Patriot victory, however, since many soldiers didnot reenlist or deserted during the harsh winter. Washington and Congress reorganizedthe army with increased rewards for staying and punishment for desertion, which raisedtroop numbers effectively for subsequent battles.Historians debate whether or not Washington preferred a Fabian strategy to harass theBritish, with quick shark attacks followed by a retreat so the larger British army couldnot catch him, or whether he preferred to fight major battles. While his southern com-mander Greene in 1780-81 did use Fabian tactics, Washington, only did so in fall 1776to spring 1777, after losing New York City and seeing much of his army melt away. Tren-ton and Princeton were Fabian examples. By summer 1777, however, Washington hadrebuilt his strength and his confidence and stopped using raids and went for large-scaleconfrontations, as at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Yorktown.

1777 campaigns:In the late summer of 1777 the British under John Burgoyne sent a major invasion army south fromQuebec, with the intention of splitting off rebelliousNew England. General Howe in New York took his army south to Philadelphia instead of going up the Hudson River to join with Burgoyne near Albany.It was a major strategic mistake for the British, and Washington rushed to Philadelphia to engage Howe, while closely following the action in upstateNew York. In pitched battles that were too complex for his relatively inexperienced men, Washington was defeated. At the Battle of Brandywine on Sep-tember 11, 1777, Howe outmaneuvered Washington, and marched into the American capital at Philadelphia unopposed on September 26. Washington'sarmy unsuccessfully attacked the British garrison at Germantown in early October. Meanwhile, Burgoyne, out of reach from help from Howe, wastrapped and forced to surrender his entire army at Saratoga, New York. It was a major turning point militarily and diplomatically. France responded toBurgoyne's defeat by entering the war, openly allying with America and turning the Revolutionary War into a major worldwide war. Washington's lossof Philadelphia prompted some members of Congress to discuss removing Washington from command. This attempt failed after Washington's supportersrallied behind him.

Valley Forge:Washington's army of 11,000 went into winter quarters at Valley Forge north of Philadelphia in December 1777. Over the next six months, the deathsin camp numbered in the thousands (the majority being from disease), with historians' death toll estimates ranging from 2000 to 2500 to over 3000men. The next spring, however, the army emerged from Valley Forge in good order, thanks in part to a full-scale training program supervised by Baronvon Steuben, a veteran of the Prussian general staff. The British evacuated Philadelphia to New York in 1778, shadowed by Washington. Washingtonattacked them at Monmouth, fighting to an effective draw in one of the war's largest battles. Afterwards, the British continued to head towards NewYork, and Washington moved his army outside of New York.

Victory at Yorktown:In the summer of 1779 at Washington's direction, General John Sullivan carried out a scorched earth campaign that destroyed at least 40Iroquoisvillages throughout present-day central and upstate New York; the Indians were British allies who had been raiding American settlements on the frontier.In July 1780, 5,000 veteran French troops led by General Comte Donatien de Rochambeau arrived at Newport, Rhode Island to aid in the war effort.The Continental Army having been funded by $20,000 in French gold, Washington delivered the final blow to the British in 1781, after a French navalvictory allowed American and French forces to trap a British army in Virginia. The surrender at Yorktown on October 17, 1781, marked the end of majorfighting in continental North America.

Demobilization:Washington could not know that after Yorktown the British would not reopen hostilities. They still had 26,000 troops occupying New York City, Charlestonand Savannah, together with a powerful fleet. The French army and navy departed, so the Americans were on their own in 1782-83. The treasury wasempty, and the unpaid soldiers were growing restive, almost to the point of mutiny or possible coup d'état. Washington dispelled unrest among officersby squelching the Newburgh Conspiracy in March 1783, and Congress came up with the promise of a five years bonus.By the Treaty of Paris (signed that September), Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States. Washington disbanded his army and,on November 2, gave an eloquent farewell address to his soldiers.On November 25, the British evacuated New York City, and Washington and the governor took possession. At Fraunces Tavern on December 4, Wash-ington formally bade his officers farewell and on December 23, 1783, he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief. Historian Gordon Wood con-cludes that the greatest act in his life was his resignation as commander of the armies—an act that stunned aristocratic Europe. King George III calledWashington "the greatest character of the age" because of this.

1787: Constitutional ConventionWashington's retirement to Mount Vernon was short-lived. He made an exploratory trip to the western frontier in 1784, was persuaded to attend theConstitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, and was unanimously elected president of the Convention. He participated little in thedebates (though he did vote for or against the various articles), but his high prestige maintained collegiality and kept the delegates at their labors. Thedelegates designed the presidency with Washington in mind, and allowed him to define the office once elected. After the Convention, his support con-vinced many to vote for ratification; the new Constitution was ratified by all thirteen states.

Presidency (1789–1797)The Electoral College elected Washington unanimously as the first president in 1789,and again in the 1792 election; he remains the only president to have received 100 per-cent of the electoral votes. John Adams, who received the next highest vote total, waselected Vice President. At his inauguration, Washington took the oath of office as thefirst President of the United States of America on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in NewYork City.The 1st United States Congress voted to pay Washington a salary of $25,000 a year—a large sum in 1789. Washington, already wealthy, declined the salary, since he valuedhis image as a selfless public servant. At the urging of Congress, however, he ultimatelyaccepted the payment, to avoid setting a precedent whereby the presidency would beperceived as limited only to independently wealthy individuals who could serve withoutany salary. The president, aware that everything he did set a precedent, attended care-fully to the pomp and ceremony of office, making sure that the titles and trappings weresuitably republican and never emulated European royal courts. To that end, he preferredthe title "Mr. President" to the more majestic names suggested.Washington proved an able administrator. An excellent delegator and judge of talentand character, he talked regularly with department heads and listened to their advicebefore making a final decision. In handling routine tasks, he was "systematic, orderly,energetic, solicitous of the opinion of others but decisive, intent upon general goals andthe consistency of particular actions with them."Washington reluctantly served a second term. He refused to run for a third, establishingthe customary policy of a maximum of two terms for a president.

Domestic issues:Washington was not a member of any political party and hoped that they would not be formed, fearing conflict that would undermine republicanism. Hisclosest advisors formed two factions, setting the framework for the future First Party System. Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton had bold plansto establish the national credit and build a financially powerful nation, and formed the basis of the Federalist Party. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson,founder of the Jeffersonian Republicans, strenuously opposed Hamilton's agenda, but Washington typically favored Hamilton over Jefferson, and itwas Hamilton's agenda that went into effect.The Residence Act of 1790, which Washington signed, authorized the President to select the specific location of the permanent seat of the government,which would be located along the Potomac River. The Act authorized the President to appoint three commissioners to survey and acquire property forthis seat. Washington personally oversaw this effort throughout his term in office. In 1791, the commissioners named the permanent seat of government"The City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia" to honor Washington. In 1800, the Territory of Columbia became the District of Columbia whenthe federal government moved to the site according to the provisions of the Residence Act.In 1791, Congress imposed an excise tax on distilled spirits, which led to protests in frontier districts, especially Pennsylvania. By 1794, after Washingtonordered the protesters to appear in U.S. district court, the protests turned into full-scale defiance of federal authority known as the Whiskey Rebellion.The federal army was too small to be used, so Washington invoked the Militia Act of 1792 to summon the militias of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and severalother states. The governors sent the troops and Washington took command, marching into the rebellious districts. The rebels dispersed and there wasno fighting, as Washington's forceful action proved the new government could protect itself. These events marked the first time under the new constitutionthat the federal government used strong military force to exert authority over the states and citizens.

Foreign affairs:In 1791, shortly after the Haitian Revolution broke out, Washington's administration, at French request, agreed to send money, arms, and provisions tothe French colony of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) to assist distressed colonists. This aid formed part of the US repayment of Revolutionary Warloans, and eventually amounted to about $400,000.In spring 1793 a major war broke out between conservative Britain and its allies and revolutionary France, launching an era of large-scale warfare thatengulfed Europe until 1815. Washington, with cabinet approval, proclaimed American neutrality. The revolutionary government of France sent diplomatEdmond-Charles Genêt, called "Citizen Genêt," to America. Genêt was welcomed with great enthusiasm and propagandized the case for France in theFrench war against Britain, and for this purpose promoted a network of new Democratic Societies in major cities. He issued French letters of marqueand reprisal to French ships manned by American sailors so they could capture British merchant ships. Washington demanded the French governmentrecall Genêt, and denounced the societies.Hamilton and Washington designed the Jay Treaty to normalize trade relations with Britain, remove them from western forts, and resolve financial debtsleft over from the Revolution. John Jay negotiated and signed the treaty on November 19, 1794. The Jeffersonians supported France and strongly at-tacked the treaty. Washington's strong support mobilized public opinion and proved decisive in securing ratification in the Senate by the necessary two-thirds majority. The British agreed to depart from their forts around the Great Lakes, subsequently the U.S.-Canadian boundary had to be re-adjusted,numerous pre-Revolutionary debts were liquidated, and the British opened their West Indies colonies to American trade. Most importantly, the treatydelayed war with Britain and instead brought a decade of prosperous trade with Britain. The treaty angered the French and became a central issue inmany political debates.

Farewell Address:Washington's Farewell Address (issued as a public letter in 1796) was one of the most influential statements of republicanism. Drafted primarily byWashington himself, with help from Hamilton, it gives advice on the necessity and importance of national union, the value of the Constitution and therule of law, the evils of political parties, and the proper virtues of a republican people. He called morality "a necessary spring of popular government".He said, "Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us toexpect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."Washington's public political address warned against foreign influence in domestic affairs and American meddling in European affairs. He warnedagainst bitter partisanship in domestic politics and called for men to move beyond partisanship and serve the common good. He warned against "per-manent alliances with any portion of the foreign world", saying the United States must concentrate primarily on American interests. He counseled friend-ship and commerce with all nations, but warned against involvement in European wars and entering into long-term "entangling" alliances. The addressquickly set American values regarding foreign affairs.

Retirement (1797–1799)After retiring from the presidency in March 1797, Washington returned to Mount Vernon with a profound sense of relief. He devoted much time tofarming and other business interests, including his distillery which produced its first batch of spirits in February 1797. As Chernow (2010) explains, hisfarm operations were at best marginally profitable. The lands out west yielded little income because they were under attack by Indians and the squattersliving there refused to pay him rents. However most Americans assumed he was truly rich because of the well-known "glorified façade of wealth andgrandeur" at Mount Vernon. Historians estimate his estate was worth about $1 million in 1799 dollars, equivalent to about $18 million in 2009 purchasingpower.On July 4, 1798, Washington was commissioned by President John Adams to be lieutenant general and Commander-in-chief of the armies raised orto be raised for service in a prospective war with France. He served as the senior officer of the United States Army between July 13, 1798, and December14, 1799. He participated in the planning for a Provisional Army to meet any emergency that might arise, but did not take the field. His second in com-mand, Hamilton, led the army.

Death:On Thursday December 12, 1799, Washington spent several hours inspecting his farms on horseback, in snow, hail and freez-ing rain - later that evening eating his supper without changing from his wet clothes. Friday morning, he awoke with a severesore throat (either quinsy or acute epiglottitis) and became increasingly hoarse as the day progressed. Sometime around 3am that Saturday morning, he awoke his wife and said he felt ill. The illness progressed until Washington's death at homearound 10pm on Saturday December 14, 1799, aged 67. His last words were "'Tis well." Throughout the world, men and women were saddened by Washington's death. Napoleon ordered ten days of mourningthroughout France; in the United States, thousands wore mourning clothes for months. To protect their privacy, Martha Wash-ington burned the correspondence between her husband and herself following his death. Only three letters between the couplehave survived.On December 18, 1799, a funeral was held at Mount Vernon, where his body was interred.Congress passed a joint resolution to construct a marble monument in the United States Capitol for his body, supported byMartha. In December 1800, the United States House passed an appropriations bill for $200,000 to build the mausoleum, whichwas to be a pyramid that had a base 100 feet (30 m) square. Southern opposition to the plan defeated the measure becausethey felt it was best to have his body remain at Mount Vernon.In 1831, for the centennial of his birth, a new tomb was constructed to receive his remains. That year, an attempt was madeto steal the body of Washington, but proved to be unsuccessful. Despite this, a joint Congressional committee in early 1832debated the removal of Washington's body from Mount Vernon to a crypt in the Capitol, built by Charles Bullfinch in the 1820s.Yet again, Southern opposition proved very intense, antagonized by an ever-growing rift between North and South. Congress-man Wiley Thompson of Georgia expressed the fear of Southerners when he said:“ Remove the remains of our venerated Washington from their association with the remains of his consort and hisancestors, from Mount Vernon and from his native State, and deposit them in this capitol, and then let a severance of theUnion occur, and behold the remains of Washington on a shore foreign to his native soil.”This ended any talk of the movement of his remains, and he was moved to the new tomb that was constructed there on October7, 1837, presented by John Struthers of Philadelphia. After the ceremony, the inner vault's door was closed and the key wasthrown into the Potomac.

LegacyFirst in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just,humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform, dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that examplelasting...Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgenceto his public virtues...Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.Lee's words set the standard by which Washington's overwhelming reputation was impressed upon the American memory. Washington set many prece-dents for the national government, and the presidency in particular, and was called the "Father of His Country" as early as 1778. Washington's Birthday(celebrated on Presidents' Day), is a federal holiday in the United States.During the United States Bicentennial year, George Washington was posthumously appointed to the grade ofGeneral of the Armies of the United Statesby the congressional joint resolution Public Law 94-479 passed on January 19, 1976, with an effective appointment date of July 4, 1976. This restoredWashington's position as the highest-ranking military officer in U.S. history.

Cherry tree:Apocryphal stories about Washington's childhood include a claim that he skipped a silver dollar across the Potomac River atMount Vernon, and that he chopped down his father's cherry tree, and admitted the deed when questioned; "I can't tell a lie,Pa." The anecdote was first reported by biographer Parson Weems, who after Washington's death interviewed people whoknew him as a child. The Weems version was very widely reprinted throughout the 19th century, for example in McGuffeyReaders. Moralistic adults wanted children to learn moral lessons from the past from history, especially as taught by great na-tional heroes like Washington. After 1890 however, historians insisted on scientific research methods to validate every story,and there was no evidence apart from Weems' report. Joseph Rodman in 1904 noted that Weems plagiarized other Washingtontales from published fiction set in England; no one has found an alternative source for the cherry tree story, but Weems' cred-ibility is questioned.

U.S. postage issues:George Washington appears on contemporary US currency, including the one-dollar bill and the US quarter. On US postagestamps however, Washington appears numerous times and in many different denominations. He appears on one of the firstpostage stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office in 1847, along with Benjamin Franklin. Beginning in 1908, the US Post Officeissued the longest running series of definitive stamps in the history of the US Post office when it issued the Washington-Franklin Issues, a series of more than 250 postage stamps bearing Washington's and Franklin's engravings. Washington hasbeen depicted on U.S. postage stamps more than all other notable Americans combined, including Abraham Lincoln and Ben-jamin Franklin.

Monuments and memorials:Starting with victory in their Revolution, there were many proposals to build a monument to Washington. After his death, Con-gress authorized a suitable memorial in the national capital, but the decision was reversed when the Republicans took controlof Congress in 1801. The Republicans were dismayed that Washington had become the symbol of the Federalist Party; fur-thermore the values of Republicanism seemed hostile to the idea of building monuments to powerful men. Further politicalsquabbling, along with the North-South division on the Civil War, blocked the completion of the Washington Monument untilthe late 19th century. By that time, Washington had the image of a national hero who could be celebrated by both North andSouth, and memorials to him were no longer controversial. Predating the obelisk on the National Mall by several decades, thefirst public memorial to Washington was built by the citizens of Boonsboro, Maryland, in 1827.Today, Washington's face and image are often used as national symbols of the United States. He appears on contemporarycurrency, including the one-dollar bill and the quarter coin, and on U.S. postage stamps. Along with appearing on the firstpostage stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office in 1847, Washington, together with Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson,and Lincoln, is depicted in stone at the Mount Rushmore Memorial. The Washington Monument, one of the most well knownAmerican landmarks, was built in his honor. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, wasconstructed between 1922 and 1932 with voluntary contributions from all 52 local governing bodies of the Freemasons in theUnited States.Many places and entities have been named in honor of Washington. Washington's name became that of the nation's capital,Washington, D.C., one of two national capitals across the globe to be named after an American president (the other is Monrovia,Liberia). The state of Washington is the only state to be named after a United States President. George Washington Universityand Washington University in St. Louis were named for him, as was Washington and Lee University(once Washington Acad-emy), which was renamed due to Washington's large endowment in 1796.Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland (es-tablished by Maryland state charter in 1782) was supported by Washington during his lifetime with a 50 guineas pledge andwith service on the college's Board of Visitors and Governors until 1789 (when Washington was elected President). CountlessAmerican cities and towns feature a Washington Street among their thoroughfares.The Confederate Seal prominently featured George Washington on horseback, in the same position as a statue of him in Rich-mond, Virginia.London hosts a standing statue of Washington, one of 22 bronze identical replicas. Based on Jean Antoine Houdon's originalmarble statue in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia, the duplicate was given to the British in 1921 by theCommonwealth of Virginia. It stands in front of the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square.

Papers of George WashingtonThe serious collection and publication began with the pioneer work of Jared Sparks in the 1830s, Life and Writings of George Washington (12 vols.,1834–1837). The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799 (1931–44) is a thirty-seven volume set edited byJohn C. Fitzpatrick. It contains over 17,000 letters and documents and is online.The definitive letterpress edition was begun by the University of Virginia in 1968, and today comprises 52 published volumes, with more to come. Itcontains everything written by Washington, or signed by him, together with most of his incoming letters. The collection is online.

Personal lifeheir Bushrod Washington, son of George's younger brother John Augustine Washington. After his uncle's death, Bushrod became an Associate Justiceon the US Supreme Court. George's relationship with his mother, Mary Ball Washington, however, was apparently somewhat difficult and strained.As a young man, Washington had red hair. A popular myth is that he wore a wig, as was the fashion among some at the time. Washington did not weara wig; instead, he powdered his hair, as represented in several portraits, including the well known unfinished Gilbert Stuart depiction.Washington suffered from problems with his teeth throughout his life. He lost his first adult tooth when he was twenty-two and had only one left by thetime he became President. John Adams claims he lost them because he used them to crack Brazil nuts but modern historians suggest the mercuryoxide, which he was given to treat illnesses such as smallpox and malaria, probably contributed to the loss. He had several sets of false teeth made,four of them by a dentist named John Greenwood. Contrary to popular belief, none of the sets were made from wood. The set made when he becamePresident was carved from hippopotamus and elephant ivory, held together with gold springs. The hippo ivory was used for the plate, into which realhuman teeth and bits of horses' and donkeys' teeth were inserted. Dental problems left Washington in constant pain, for which he took laudanum. Thisdistress may be apparent in many of the portraits painted while he was still in office, including the one still used on the $1 bill.

Slavery:On the death of his father in 1743, the 11-year-old inherited 10 slaves. At the time of his marriage to Martha Custis in 1759, he per-sonally owned at least 36 (and the widow's third of her first husband's estate brought at least 85 "dower slaves" to Mount Vernon).Using his wife's great wealth he bought land, tripling the size of the plantation, and additional slaves to farm it. By 1774, he paidtaxes on 135 slaves (this does not include the "dowers"). The last record of a slave purchase by him was in 1772, although helater received some slaves in repayment of debts. Washington also used white indentured servants; in April 1775, he offered a re-ward for the return of two runaway white servants.One historian claims that Washington desired the material benefits from owning slaves and wanted to give his wife's family awealthy inheritance. Before the American Revolution, Washington expressed no moral reservations about slavery, but in 1786,Washington wrote to Robert Morris, saying, "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adoptedfor the abolition of slavery." In 1778, he wrote to his manager at Mount Vernon that he wished "to get quit of negroes". Maintaininga large, and increasingly elderly, slave population at Mount Vernon was not economically profitable. Washington could not legallysell the "dower slaves," however, and because these slaves had long intermarried with his own slaves, he could not sell his slaveswithout breaking up families.As president, Washington brought seven slaves to New York City in 1789 to work in the first presidential household. Following thetransfer of the national capital to Philadelphia in 1790, he brought nine slaves to work in the President's House. At the time of hisdeath, there were 317 slaves at Mount Vernon– 123 owned by Washington, 154 "dower slaves," and 40 rented from a neighbor.Dorothy Twohig argues that Washington did not speak out publicly against slavery, because he did not wish to create a split in thenew republic, with an issue that was sensitive and divisive.

This 1772 painting by Peale ofWashington as colonel of the Vir-ginia Regiment, is the earliestknown portrait

Washington enlarged the house atMount Vernon after his marriage

15 February: The King and Queen are presented with the Govern-ment's gift for their 75th anniversaries: a series of exhibitions enti-tled

29 January: King Harald attends the consecration of Atle Sommer-feldt, the new Bishop of the bishopric of Borg (Photo: Linn CathrinOlsen / Scanpx)

26 January: King Harald attends the Norwegian championships inNordic diciplines at Voss

14 - 15 January: King Haraldand Queen Sonja attend the40th anniversary of Queen Mar-grethe as Regent of Denmark.Here they arrive for the galabanquet at Christiansborg

National DayKUWAIT - Feb 25

From the beginning, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah realized the threat approach-ing from the Ottoman Empire, the greatest Islamic government at that time,so he took a decisive step to protect his country from direct or indirect Ot-toman intervention. In February 1897, he asked to meet Colonel Meade, theBritish Political Resident in the Arabian Gulf to ask for British protection toprevent the dominance by the Ottoman Empire over his country.Though the position of Kuwait was important to British interests and this im-portance had been known since 1775, Great Britain did not desire to protect Kuwait because of the required military and financial commit-ments, not to mention its inclination not to disturb its relations with the Ottoman Empire.owever, in 1898 many elements incited Britain to reconsider its policy towards Kuwait. Such as the Ottoman military activities near Basra,and the Russian and German plans that were threatening British interests in the region of the Arabian Gulf. Thus, on the basis of a decisionfrom Lord Curzon, the British viceroy in India, British Political Resident Mead concluded a protectorate agreement with the ruler of Kuwait,Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah on January 23, 1899, which defined Kuwait as: "An independent Country Under British Protection" Britain prom-ised to protect Sheikh Mubarak and his heirs, and in turn the latter agreed to conclude no treaties with other powers, to admit no foreignagents and to cede no part of Kuwait's territory without British consent. This agreement limited the rights of Kuwait to deal conclusively withits lands without British approval. However, the agreement did not give Britain the right to intervene in the internal affairs of Kuwait. In No-vember 1914, Britain recognized Kuwait as an independent emirate that enjoyed British protection. Since 1934, Kuwaiti-British relationswent beyond the Arab domain, They were influenced by other greater international influence due to the competition of American companiesin drilling for oil in Kuwait and other emirates of the Arabian Gulf. On the internal scene, Kuwait witnessed advances both related to the ruleand the local administration. In 1921, the State Consultative Council was formed by appointment. The second national regular school wasestablished and called Al-Ahmadiya School. It was given the name of the ruler of Kuwait at that time, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.The first national regular school had been inaugurated in December 1911. It was called Al-Mubarakiya School after the name of the rulerof Kuwait, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah. The municipality was founded in 1930. The members of the city council were elected in 1932, whenKuwait witnessed the first election in its history. Life was difficult in this period. This was due to the fact that the traditional economy ofKuwait, like any other country or emirate in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, was closely based on the sea. Diving for pearls,fishing, shipbuilding and nets as well as other activities related to the desert, such as herding were the professions prevailing at that time.Kuwaiti society showed its sympathy for the cases of the Arab Nation, with the Palestinian case at the top. In 1936, Kuwait witnessed a do-nation campaign carried out by the Kuwaiti people for Palestine. In December 1934, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the ruler of Kuwaitat that time, signed an agreement for oil drilling with the Kuwait Oil Company (Anglo-American Company). In 1936-1938, the primary drillingoperations proved that Kuwaiti lands were rich in oil, a matter that dramatically increased the importance of the country. Concerning thegovernment, in June 1938, Kuwait witnessed the election of the first legislative council that was held from July to December 1938. In June1946 the first shipment of Kuwaiti oil was exported. In the late forties (1949) a construction movement started in Kuwait with the building ofsome public utilities, a new hospital and roads.Simultaneously with this economic, cultural and population development, Kuwait proceeded towards progress and independence since thebeginning of the fifties. The economic, intellectual and cultural movement flourished in Kuwait and the number of the literate people and theschools increased. In addition, more educational missions were sent to the universities all over the world. In this period, Kuwaiti societyhad to face many internal and external challenges as Kuwait evolved from a poor country to a rich one enjoying great financial potentiality.At many different levels, oil production was a turning point for Kuwait, a matter which intensified British interest in Kuwait, as its internationalimportance increased. At the beginning of the fifties, Kuwait witnessed development and reformation in the local administration. The HighExecutive Committee was formed in 1954; then the Supreme Council and the Organizational Authority in 1956; in addition to governmentallocal councils such as the Education Councill, City Council and Health Council.

DECLARING INDEPENDENCESheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah realized that the protectorate agreement was no longer appropriate after the changes that had takenplace in the conditions of Kuwait. At that time, Kuwait was heading for independence and had already taken large strides on its way. TheKuwaiti people no longer accepted the restrictions imposed by the protectorate agreement, though they realized very well that this protec-torate had many advantages in this period. Yet, circumstances had changed, which necessitated cancellation of the agreement. Thus, theruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, expressed his desire to replace the old agreement with a new friendship agreementthat went along with the development and changes that had taken place.

Mother Language DayWorldwide - F e b 2 1

International Mother Language Day is anobservance held annually on 21 Februaryworldwide to promote awareness of linguis-tic and cultural diversity and multilingual-ism. It was first announced by UNESCO on17 November 1999. Its observance wasalso formally recognized by the United Na-tions General Assembly in its resolution es-tablishing 2008 as the International Year ofLanguages.International Mother Language Day origi-nated as the international recognition ofLanguage Movement Day, which has beencommemorated in Bangladesh (formerlyEast Pakistan) since 1952, when a numberof students including the students of theUniversity of Dhaka were killed by the Pak-istani police in Dhaka during Bengali Lan-guage Movement protests.

HistoryOn 21 March 1948, Mohammed Ali Jinnah,the Governor general of Pakistan, declaredthat Urdu would be the only official lan-guage for both West and East Pakistan.The people of East Pakistan (nowBangladesh), having mother languageBangla, started to protest against this. On 21 February 1952, (8th Falgun 1358 in the Bangla calendar), stu-dents in the present day capital city of Dhaka called for a provincial strike. The government invoked a limitedcurfew to prevent this and the protests were tamed down so as to not break the curfew. The Pakistani policefired on the students despite these peaceful protests and a number of students were killed. Four of themwere Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abul Barkat and Abdul Jabbar.

International observancesThe Linguapax Prize is presented annually on International Mother Language Day.UNESCO sets the theme for each International Mother Language Day and holds related events at its head-quarters in Paris on or around 21 February each year.In 2008, the International Year of Languages was formally launched on International Mother Language Day.

Forensic reconstruction of Wash-ington at age 45

Washington rallying his troops atthe Battle of Princeton

Depiction by John Trumbull ofWashington resigning his commis-sion as commander-in-chief

Forensic recreation of Washington atthe time of his first inauguration aspresident

Equestrian statue (1860, Clark Mills) in-Washington Circle, Washington, D.C.

Shaheed Minar, or the Martyr's monument, lo-cated at Dhaka University Campus, Bangladesh,commemorates the sacrifice for Bangla Lan-guage on 21 February 1952

Independence DaySt. LUCIA - F e b 2 2

Saint Lucia is an island country in the east-ern Caribbean Sea on the boundary withthe Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser An-tilles, it is located north/northeast of the is-land of Saint Vincent, northwest ofBarbados and south of Martinique. It cov-ers a land area of 620 km2 (238 sq mi) andhas an estimated population of 173,765(2009 census). Its capital is Castries. Theisland nation has been the home of twoNobel laureates, Arthur Lewis and DerekWalcott. It is the nation with the secondmost such honorees per capita after theFaroe Islands. One of the Windward Is-lands, it was named after Saint Lucy ofSyracuse by the French, the first Europeancolonizers. They signed a treaty with the native Carib peoples in 1660. England took control of the islandfrom 1663 to 1667; in ensuing years, it was at war with France 14 times and rule of the island changed fre-quently (7 times French and British each). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island. Becauseit switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of theWest Indies." Saint Lucia has a legal system based on British common law. The judiciary is independentand conducts generally fair public trials. The financial sector has weathered the global financial crisis, butthe recession has hurt tourism.Representative government came about in 1924 (with universal suffrage from 1953). From 1958 to 1962the island was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. Finally, on February 22, 1979, Saint Luciabecame an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations. The island nation celebrates this every yearwith a public holiday. It is also a member of La Francophonie.

HistoryEuropeans first landed on the island in either 1492 or 1502 during Spain's early exploration of the Caribbean.The island was first settled by the French, who signed a treaty with the local Caribs in 1660. Like the Englishand Dutch, the French began to develop the island for the cultivation of sugar cane on extensive plantations.After the seven year war between Great Britain and the France-Spanish coalition was brought to an end bythe treaty of Paris (10 February 1763) in which the signatories agreed to an exchange of colonial territories.When the British acquired the island trying to use the Caribs as labourers, they imported enslaved Africansas workers. Many of the Caribs died because of lack of immunity to Eurasian diseases, such as smallpoxand measles, and as a result of being overworked and maltreated by the Europeans. Caribbean conditionswere hard, and many slaves died as well. The British continued to import slaves until they abolished thetrade due to the slave and Carib revolutionary wars against them. By that time, people of ethnic African andCarib descent greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background.Thereafter Saint Lucia was much contested by the two European powers until the British secured it in 1814.It was part of the British Windward Islands colony. It joined the West Indies Federation (1958–62) when thecolony was dissolved. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies AssociatedStates, with internal self-government. In 1979 it gained full independence under Sir John Compton. Compton,of the conservative United Workers party (UWP), was again prime minister from 1982 to 1996, when he wassucceeded by Vaughn Lewis. Kenny Anthony of the Labour Party was prime minister from 1997 to 2006,when the UWP, again led by Compton, won control of parliament. In May, 2007, after Compton suffered aseries of ministrokes, Finance and External Affairs Minister Stephenson King became acting prime minister.He became prime minister after Compton died in September 2007.

People Power DayPHILIPPINES - F e b 2 2

The People Power Revolution (also knownas the EDSA Revolution and the PhilippineRevolution of 1986) was a series of popularnonviolent revolutions and prayerful massstreet demonstrations in the Philippinesthat occurred in 1986, which marked therestoration of the country's democracy. Itbecame a subsequent inspiration for theRevolutions of 1989 that ended communistdictatorships in Eastern Europe. It is some-times referred to as the Yellow Revolutiondue to the presence of yellow ribbons dur-ing the arrival of Benigno Aquino, Jr..These protests were the culmination of along campaign of civil resistance by thepeople against the 20-year running author-itarian, repressive regime of then president Ferdinand Marcos and made news headlines as "the revolutionthat surprised the world". The majority of the demonstrations took place at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue,known more commonly by its acronym EDSA, in Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila and involved over2,000,000 Filipino civilians as well as several political, military, and religious figures, such as Cardinal JaimeSin. The protests, fueled by a resistance and opposition of years of corrupt governance by Marcos, occurredfrom February 22–25, 1986, when Marcos fled Malacañang Palace to the Hawaii and conceded to CorazonAquino as the legitimate President of the Philippines.

Background and HistoryFerdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965, defeating incumbent Diosdado Macapagal by a very slimmargin. During this time, Marcos was very active in the initiation of public works projects and the intensifica-tion of tax collections. Marcos and his government claimed that they "built more roads than all his predeces-sors combined, and more schools than any previous administration". Amidst charges of vote buying and afraudulent election, Marcos was reelected in 1969, this time defeating Sergio Osmeña Jr. Marcos's secondterm for the presidency, however, was marred by allegations of widespread graft and corruption. The in-creasing disparity of wealth between the very wealthy and the very poor which made up the majority of thecountry's population led to the rise of crime and civil unrest around the country. These factors, including theformation of the New People's Army, an armed revolt that called for the redistribution of wealth and land re-form in the Philippines, and a bloody Muslim separatist movement in the southern island of Mindanao led bythe Moro National Liberation Front, contributed to the rapid rise of civil discontent and unrest in the Philip-pines. Marcos was barred from running for a third term as president in 1973, so on September 23, 1972, byvirtue of a presidential proclamation (No. 1081), he declared martial law, citing rising civil disobedience asjustification. Through this decree, Marcos seized emergency powers giving him full control of the Philippinemilitary and the authority to suppress the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and many other civilliberties. Marcos also dissolved the Philippine Congress and shut down media establishments critical of theMarcos government. Marcos also ordered the immediate arrest of his political opponents and critics. Amongthose arrested were Senate President Jovito Salonga, Senator Jose Diokno, and Senator Benigno AquinoJr., the staunchest of his critics and the man who was groomed by the opposition to beat Marcos in the 1973elections. Marcos would also abolish the Philippines' 1935 constitution and replace it with a parliamentary-style government (the Batasang Pambansa) along with a new constitution written by him. With practically allof his political opponents arrested and in exile, Marcos' pre-emptive declaration of martial law in 1972, andthe ratification of his new constitution through political coercion, enabled him to effectively legitimize his gov-ernment and hold on to power for another 14 years beyond his first two terms as president. At a period whenthe Cold War was still a political reality, Marcos's dictatorship ensured the political support of the UnitedStates by Marcos' promise to stamp out communism in the Philippines and by assuring the United States ofits continued use of military and naval bases in the Philippines. Throughout his presidency, Ferdinand Marcoshad set up a regime in the Philippines that would give him ultimate power over the military and the nationaltreasury, as well as set up a personality cult. Following his declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972,Marcos immediately began to embezzle money from the government and order the military to kill any politicalcompetition against him. As a result, the Philippine economy began to tumble greatly, and the nation lost itscompetitive edge in Southeast Asia. He also ordered many stores, hotels, schools, universities, and otherpublic places to place his Presidential picture prominently or otherwise their facilities were shut down. Themedia frequently "eulogized" Marcos through public service announcements and news reports. Even bill-board advertisements across the country were replaced with his propaganda messages on justifying hisregime's actions. Marcos also ordered the shutdown and takeovers of businesses in the country, then putthese businesses either under the government control, or under the control of Marcos cronies. Severalgroups of people, however, even within the government, conspired throughout the term of the Marcos regimeto overthrow him. They were led by the popular public figure, incarcerated opposition senator Benigno "Ninoy"Aquino Jr, who Marcos accused as leaning to a left-wing solution. While gaining popularity amongst the Fil-ipino people for his stance against Marcos, Aquino was eventually forced to seek exile in the United Statesfor health and safety reasons. However, in 1983, Ninoy Aquino announced of his plans to return to the Philip-pines as a challenge to Marcos's government. Within the military and the police, disillusioned junior officerssilently conveyed their grievances. This led to the formation of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement(RAM), Soldier of the Filipino People (SFP), and Young Officers Union (YOU). RAM which was lead by grad-uates of the Philippine Military Academy Class of '71, Lt. Col. Gringo Honasan, Lt. Col. Victor Batac, and Lt.Col. Eduardo Kapunan, found an ally and mentor in the Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.

World Thinking DayWorldwide - F e b 2 2

February 22 is World Thinking Day or just ThinkingDay for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around theworld. It is a day to think about the meaning ofGuiding and Scouting and about Scouts andGuides in all the countries of the world. Manytroops use it as an opportunity to study about othercountries and cultures. Donations are collected forthe Thinking Day Fund which supports projects tohelp Guides and Scouts around the world. Febru-ary 22 was chosen as it was the birthday of Scout-ing founder Robert Baden-Powell and of OlaveBaden-Powell, his wife and World Chief Guide.On the nearest weekend to World Thinking Day,Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from across the worldcome together on ScoutLink to chat with eachother and celebrate their Founders. Others are in-volved with Thinking Day on the Air (TDOTA) usingamateur radio. Some World Association of GirlGuides and Girl Scouts member organizations useit as an opportunity to do projects with their 'twin'organization, such as Canada and Dominica. Onetradition is that every Scout or Guide, ex-Scout orex-Guide, places a candle in their window thatnight at dusk:- "This is my little Guiding Light, I'mgoing to let it shine." It is also a tradition to send letters or postcards to other Scout and Guides before Think-ing Day. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 a postcard campaign was organized by the Ring deutscher Pfadfinderver-bände, Ring Deutscher Pfadfinderinnenverbände, Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten, Swiss Guide and ScoutMovement, Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins and Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs.

How it started"Thinking Day was first created in 1926 at the fourth Girl Guide/Girl Scout International Conference held atGirl Scouts of the USA's Camp Edith Macy (now called Edith Macy Conference Center). Conference atten-dees decided that there should be a special day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from around the world to"think" of each other and give thanks and appreciation to their "sister" Girl Scouts. The delegates chose Feb-ruary 22 as the date for Thinking Day because it was the mutual birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, founder ofthe Boy Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, who served as World Chief Guide." "To emphasize the globalaspect of Thinking Day, members at the 30th World Conference, held in Ireland in 1999, changed the namefrom Thinking Day to World Thinking Day."

Republic DayGUYANA - F e b 2 3

Mashramani, often abbreviated to "Mash", is an an-nual festival that celebrates Guyana becoming aRepublic in 1970. The festival, usually held on 23February – Guyanese Republic Day – includes a pa-rade, music, games and cooking and is intended tocommemorate the "Birth of the Republic". The word"Mashramani" is derived from an Amerindian lan-guage and in translation means "the celebration ofa job well done". It is probably the most colourful ofall the country's festivals. There are spectacular cos-tume competitions, float parades, masqueradebands, and dancing in the streets to the accompa-niment of steel drum music and calypsos. Masquer-ades frequent the streets performing acrobaticdance routines, a vivid reminder of Guyana's African heritage. Calypso competitions with their witty socialcommentaries are another integral part of "Mash", and this culminates in the coronation of a King or Queenfor the particular year.

OriginThe Jaycees of Linden had, since Guyana became independent in 1966, been organizing an IndependenceCarnival in Mackenzie. When Guyana became a Republic in February 1970, they formed a Jaycees RepublicCelebrations Committee. Basil Butcher was selected as Chairman but due to his being selected to tour Aus-tralia with the West Indies Cricket Team, Jim Blackman was appointed as the Deputy to carry on. A broadbased committee including resource personnel such as Wordsworth McAndrew, Arthur Seymour, and AdrianThompson, began the organization of the Carnival activities. The search for a name to replace Carnivalbegan and it was suggested by Basil Butcher that an Amerindian name be chosen. This was agreed to andseveral individuals including Mr. Allan Fiedtkou, an Amerindian, were contacted. Mr. Fiedtkou held discus-sions with his grandfather who explained a type of Festival that was held by Amerindians whenever theygather to celebrate a special event. This event he said was like "Muster Many" (or Mashirimehi in Amerindian)and sounded in Arawak like Mashramani. Steps were taken to confirm this. Adrian Thompson concludedthat since no one could have confirmed or denied that the Arawak word for Festival was Mashramani, thenthe Festival could be called Mashramani. On 23 February 1970 the Festival called "Mashramani" was a hugesuccess with people drawn from all Regions of Guyana to Linden welcoming Guyana's status as a republicwith over three days of frolic and fun. After witnessing the massive crowds, glitter and level of competition,Mr. David Singh a Government Official held discussion with the Jaycees Committee about bringing the eventto Georgetown, the nation's capital. Approval was also given by the then President Forbes Burnham forMash to be a National Event for the Republic celebration. Mash activities were rotated in Linden, Berbiceand Georgetown but due to sponsorship, the Costume Bands contest remained in Georgetown.

CelebrationWith Guyana being as large as it is, people travel from miles out of town to be a part of the celebrations:children, food and all, because they see this day as a day of celebration. The Mash Day depicts a hive ofactivity from Vlissingen and lrving streets all the way to the National Park, with an air of expectancy. Thou-sands of people summon to the streets to participate in the annual Mashramani celebrations, which hasbeen a part of Guyanese culture for over 30 years.Mashramani Day is considered to be the ultimate party and 'you' day. Both men and women alike dress upin costumes that are bright and colorful. When it comes to costumes on Mash Day, revelry is the name ofthe game; the more festive and lively the costume the better.

Defender of the Fatherland DayRUSSIA - F e b 2 3

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a holiday ob-served in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and severalother former republics of the Soviet Union. It is cel-ebrated on February 23.

HistoryThe holiday marks the date in 1918 during the Russ-ian Civil War when the first mass draft into the RedArmy occurred in Petrograd and Moscow. It wasoriginally known as Red Army Day. In 1949, it wasrenamed Soviet Army and Navy Day. Following thefall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday wasgiven its current name.

CelebrationsOfficially, as the name suggests, the holiday celebrates people who are serving or were serving the RussianArmed Forces (both men and women), but unofficially, nationally it has also more recently come to includethe celebration of men as a whole, and to act as a counterpart of International Women's Day on March 8.The holiday is celebrated with parades and processions in honor of veterans, and women also give smallgifts to the Russian men in their lives, especially husbands (or boyfriends), fathers and sons. As a part ofthe workplace culture, women often give gifts to their male co-workers. Consequently, in colloquial usage,the holiday is often referred to as Men's Day.

VariationsIn Tajikistan, the holiday is known as Tajik National Army Day.In Chechnya and Ingushetia this holiday is celebrated with mixed feelings, because February 23, 1944 isthe date of the mass deportations of Chechens and Ingush to Central Asia. (See also, Operation Lentil, Pop-ulation transfer in the Soviet Union) The entire holiday is extremely controversial for Chechens and Ingushbecause of the date.

Día de la Bandera MEXICO - F e b 2 4

Día de la Bandera ("FlagDay") is a national holidayin Mexico. Flag Day is cel-ebrated every year on Feb-ruary 24 since itsimplementation in 1937. Itwas established by thePresident of Mexico, Gen-eral Lázaro Cárdenas, be-fore the monument toGeneral Vicente Guerrero,first to pledge allegiance tothe Mexican flag on March12, 1821. When the Pledgeis recited, it is customary tosalute the flag with theraised arm Bellamy Salutewhile speaking. When theflag is being paraded, thearm is held across thechest, palm parallel to theground.

Independence Day (1918)ESTONIA - F e b 2 4

Estonia (Estonian: Eesti), officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariik), is a state in the Baltic region ofNorthern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia(343 km), and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation (338.6 km). Across the Baltic Sea lies Swedeninthe west and Finland in the north. The territory of Estonia covers 45,227 km2 (17,462 sq mi), and is influenced by atemperate seasonal climate. The Estonians are a Finnic people, and the official language Estonian, is closely relatedto Finnish.Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic divided into 15 counties. The capital and largest city is Tallinn. With apopulation of 1.34 million, it is one of the least-populous members of the European Union, Eurozone and NATO.Estonia has the highest GDP per person among former Soviet republics. Estonia is listed as a "High-Income Economy"by the World Bank, as an "advanced economy" by the International Monetary Fund and the country is an OECD mem-ber. The United Nations lists Estonia as a developed country with aHuman Development Index of "Very High". The country is also rankedhighly for press freedom,economic freedom, democracy and politicalfreedom and education.

EtymologyOne theory is that the modern name of Estonia originated fromthe Aesti described by the Roman historian Tacitus in his Ger-mania (ca. 98 AD).On the other hand, ancient Scandinavian sagas refer to a landcalled Eistland, close to theDanish, German, Dutch, Swedishand Norwegian term Estland for the country. Early Latin andother ancient versions of the name are Estia and Hestia.Esthonia was a common alternate English spelling prior to independence.

HistoryPrehistory:Evidence has been found of hunting and fishing communities existing around 6500 BC near the town ofKunda in northern Estonia. Bone and stone artefacts similar to those found at Kunda have been discoveredelsewhere in Estonia, as well as in Latvia, northern Lithuania and in southern Finland. The Kunda culturebelongs to the middle stone age, or Mesolithic period.The end of the Bronze Age and the early Iron Age were marked by great cultural changes. The most signif-icant was the transition to farming, which has remained at the core of the economy and culture. Betweenthe 1st to 5th centuries AD resident farming was widely established, the population grew, and settlement ex-panded. Cultural influences from the Roman Empire reached Estonia.The first mention of the people inhabiting present-day Estonia is by the Roman historian Tacitus, who in hisbook Germania (ca. AD 98) describes the Aesti tribe. Tacitus mentions their term for amber in an apparentlyLatinised form, glesum (cf. Latvian glīsas). This is the only word of their language recorded from antiquity.In spite of this point, the Aestii are generally considered the ancestors of the later Baltic peoples.A more troubled and war-ridden middle Iron Age followed with external dangers coming both from the Baltictribes, who attacked across the southern land border, and from overseas. Several Scandinavian sagas referto retaliatory campaigns against Estonia. Estonian pirates conducted similar raids against the Vikings. The"pagan raiders" who sacked the Swedish town of Sigtuna during the early Middle Ages, in 1187, were Esto-nians.In the 1st centuries AD, political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two largersubdivisions appeared: the province (Estonian: kihelkond) and the land (Estonian:maakond). The provincecomprised several elderships or villages. Nearly all provinces had at least one fortress. The defense of thelocal area was directed by the highest official, the king or elder. By the 13th century the following major landshad developed in Estonia: Revala, Harjumaa, Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Läänemaa, Alempois,Sakala, Ugandi,Jogentagana, Soopoolitse, Vaiga, Mõhu, Nurmekund, Järvamaa and Virumaa.Estonia retained a pagan religion centred around a deity called Tharapita. The Chronicle of Henry of Livoniamentions Tharapita as the superior god of Oeselians (inhabitants of Saaremaa island), also well known toVironian tribes in northern Estonia.

Middle Ages:At the beginning of the 13th century, Lembitu of Lehola, a chieftain of Sakala sought to unify the Estonianpeople and thwart Danish and Germanic conquest during the Livonian Crusade. He managed to assemblean army of 6,000 Estonian men from different counties, but he was killed during the Battle of St. Matthew'sDay in September 1217.In 1228, in the aftermath of the Livonian Crusade, to the 1560s, Estonia became part of Terra Mariana, es-tablished on 2 February 1207 as a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and proclaimed by pope InnocentIII in 1215 as a subject to the Holy See. The southern parts of the country were conquered by Livonian Broth-ers of the Sword who joined the Teutonic Order in 1237 and became its branch known as Livonian Order.The Duchy of Estonia was formed in the northern parts of the country as a direct dominion of the King ofDenmark from 1219 until 1346 when it was sold to the Teutonic order and became part of the Ordenstaat.In 1343, the people of northern Estonia and Saaremaa rebelled against the German rule in the St. George'sNight Uprising, which was put down by 1345.Reval (known as Tallinn since 1918) gained Lübeck Rights in 1248 and joined an alliance of trading guildscalled the Hanseatic League at the end of the 13th century.After the Teutonic Order fell into decline following its defeat in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, and the defeatof the Livonian Order in theBattle of Swienta on 1 September 1435, the Livonian Confederation agreementwas signed on 4 December 1435. The Grand Duchy of Moscow and Tsardom of Russia attempted unsuc-cessful invasions in 1481 and 1558.The Livonian Confederation ceased to exist during the Livonian War (1558–82). The wars had reduced theEstonian population from about 250–300,000 people before the Livonian War to 120–140,000 in the 1620s.

Reformation and Swedish Estonia:The Reformation in Europe officially began in 1517 with Martin Luther (1483–1546) and his 95 Theses. TheReformation resulted in great change in the Baltic region. Ideas entered the Livonian Confederation veryquickly and by the 1520s they were well known. Language, education, religion, and politics were greatlytransformed. The Church services were now given in the local vernacular, instead of Latin, as was previouslyused. During the Livonian War in 1561, northern Estonia submitted to Swedish control. Southern Estonia in1560s formed an autonomous Duchy of Livoniain the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under joint controlof the Polish Crown and the Grand Duchy, containing two voivodeships of present-day Estonia: DorpatVoivodeship (Tartu region) and Parnawa Voivodeship (Pärnu region). In 1629, mainland Estonia came en-tirely under Swedish rule. Estonia was administratively divided between the provinces of Estonia in the northand Livonia in southern Estonia and northern Latvia, a division which persisted until the early 20th century.In 1631, the Swedish king Gustaf II Adolf forced the nobility to grant the peasantry greater rights, althoughserfdom was retained. King Charles XI withdrew large noble estates to the Swedish Crown effectively turningserfs to taxpaying farmers. In 1632, a printing press and university were established in the city of Dorpat(known as Tartu since 1918). This period is known in Estonian history as "the Good Old Swedish Time."The steady growth of the population continued until the outbreak of the plague in 1657. The Great Famineof 1695–97 killed some 70,000 people – almost 20% of the population.

Russian Empire:Following the Capitulation of Estonia and Livonia during the Great Northern War, the Swedish empire lostEstonia to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad. However, the upper classes and the higher middle class remainedprimarily Baltic German. The war devastated the population of Estonia, but it recovered quickly. Althoughthe rights of peasants were initially weakened, serfdom was abolished in 1816 in the province of Estoniaand in 1819 in Livonia. After the Russian revolution of 1917, Tallinn remained under Soviet control until 24February 1918, when Estonian independence was declared.

Declaration of independence:As a result of the abolition of serfdom and the availability of education to the native Estonian-speaking pop-ulation, an active Estonian nationalist movement developed in the 19th century. It began on a cultural level,resulting in the establishment of Estonian language literature, theatre and professional music and led on tothe formation of the Estonian national identity and the Age of Awakening. Among the leaders of the movementwere Johann Voldemar Jannsen, Jakob Hurt and Carl Robert Jakobson.Significant accomplishments were the publication of the national epic, Kalevipoeg, in 1862, and the organi-zation of the firstnational song festival in 1869. In response to a period of Russification initiated by the Russianempire in the 1890s, Estonian nationalism took on more political tones, with intellectuals first calling forgreater autonomy, and later, complete independence from the Russian Empire.Following the Bolshevik takeover of power in Russia after the October Revolution of 1917 and German vic-tories against the Russian army, between the Russian Red Army's retreat and the arrival of advancing Ger-man troops, the Committee of Elders of the Maapäev issued the Estonian Declaration of Independence inPärnu on 23 February and in Tallinn on 24 February 1918.After winning the Estonian War of Independence against both Soviet Russia and the German Freikorps andBaltische Landeswehr volunteers, (the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed on 2 February 1920). The Republicof Estonia was recognised (de jure) by Finland on 7 July 1920, Poland on 31 December 1920, Argentina on12 January 1921 and by the Western Allies on 26 January 1921.Estonia maintained its independence for twenty-two years. Initially a parliamentary democracy, the parliament(Riigikogu) was disbanded in 1934, following political unrest caused by the global economic crisis. Subse-quently the country was ruled by decree by Konstantin Päts, who became President in 1938, the year par-liamentary elections resumed.

National Democracy DayNEPAL - F e b 1 9

National Democracy Day (Rashtriya Prajatantra Divas) is being held in Nepal every 19th ofFebruary in honor of the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah, The Great led the country in achiev-ing freedom from the Rana regime. It is observed as a non-working day to all the offices ofthe government.

HistoryBefore achieving its independence on the latter part of the 18th century, Nepal was diverseand divided into different independents states under different leaders and was then ruledby Bahadur San. However, the opportunistic Ranas saw this condition of Nepal as an open-ing to enter the Palace and place the government in their hands. Janga Bahadur Rana evenbecame Prime Minister on 1947. During this administration, a lot of massacres and abusiveacts were committed by the Ranas, shamming the whole Palace and the whole of Nepal.The People of Nepal experienced a life full of nightmares while under the ruling power ofthe Ranas. The royal family has taken away a lot of opportunities to the people of the nationwhile the members of their family were enjoying the extravagance and abundance that theyhad from the highest office. Anomalies such as corruption, discrimination and violent be-haviors have ruled the country during this period of Nepali history. In the efforts of the peopleto free themselves from this kind of government, a lot of courageous souls have establishedgroups to expel the Rana government and bring back the equality and fair treatment in thewhole country. It is in this crucial time that the four martyrs of Nepal were made knownwhich inspired the citizens even more to continue what they were fighting for. The power of the people continued to become stronger andintact. And after 104 years of struggle, Nepal finally triumphed over the Ranas on 1951. Since then, the Nepalese yearly commemoratesthe 19th of February as Democracy Day to reminisce all the people’s efforts that brought back good governance in the whole country.

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIESEvery year during Democracy Day, people of Nepal celebrate with worships and prayers to give respect and honor to the heroes of theirDemocracy. Most government organizations and independent groups hold several activities and rallies all over the country as well. Part ofthe tradition also is that the people illuminate their home and establishments with lights and hold fireworks displays during the night of thecelebration.

HUNGARYViktor Orbán proposes Hungary’s mem-

bership of the fiscal compact(Online Febru-ary 13, 2012)On the first dayof the springparliamentarysession PrimeMinister ViktorOrbán urgedthe National As-sembly to adoptthe EuropeanTreaty on Sta-bility, Coordina-tion andGovernance inthe Economicand MonetaryUnion, and alsostressed thatthe future ofHungary iswithin the Euro-pean Union. In his speech the Prime Minister re-called that last December at the Eu-ropean Council meeting of EU PrimeMinisters there had been an attemptto develop a fiscal compact, but fur-

ther preparation had been decidedon, instead of an immediate decision.At that time the Government of Hun-gary had not taken a position, wish-ing to leave the decision to theNational Assembly.

The Govern-ment of Hun-gary nowbelieves thatevery obstacleto Hungary’saccession tothe Treaty hasbeen over-come, as twoc o n d i t i o n shave beenmet: new com-mon budgetaryrules will onlybe binding onc o u n t r i e swhich are nowmembers ofthe eurozone,and on othercountries onlyonce they join

the eurozone; and the Treaty makesno reference to tax harmonization. Asa result, the Prime Minister urged theNational Assembly to adopt theTreaty.

Hungary has sent its answers to the Euro-pean Commission

(Online Febru-ary 17, 2012)The HungarianG o v e r n m e n tsubmitted to theEuropean Com-mission today,within the re-quested dead-line, itsresponses inthe three in-fringement pro-c e d u r e sinitiated in Jan-uary (the inde-pendence ofthe HungarianNational Bankand of the Na-tional Data Pro-t e c t i o nAuthority andthe mandatoryretirement agefor judges) andalso to the two additional questionsraised by the European Commission(concerning the functioning of the ju-diciary and the situation of themedia).

The Hungarian authorities were con-tinuously in contact with the Euro-pean Commission and itsDirectorates General, and Prime Min-ister Viktor Orbán discussed the is-

sues person-ally with Com-m i s s i o nPresident JoséManuel Bar-roso. The let-ters reflect theoutcome ofthese consul-tations. Thenext step in theprocedure isthe evaluationby the Com-mission of theresponses pro-vided.Previous expe-rience showsthat we canexpect an ob-jective, impar-t i a l ,professionallyand legallysound analysis

from the Commission. The HungarianGovernment is committed to Euro-pean values and remains open tocontinue the dialogue with all institu-tions of the European Union.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is making notes inthe studio of Magyar Rádió (Hungarian Radio) pior to hisinterview with public radio mr1-Kossuth

Getting Closer to Each Other(Online Febru-ary 16, 2012)The commonroad we havewalked downwith the far-away Japanshows that it isworth meetingeach other, andit is worth work-ing together inthe spirit ofrecognition andmutual re-spect”, stressedDr. CsabaHende. The De-fence Ministeropened the dayof Japaneseculture in theMoD MilitaryHistory Institute and Museum onFebruary 11, which has been the firststage in the new program seriesaimed at introducing foreign cultures.“Customs vary” – Dr. Csaba Hendestarted hisspeech with thissaying which isw e l l - k n o w neverywhere, in-cluding Japan,and therebypointed to thespecial impor-tance of gettingto know eachother thesedays. “Thecommon roadwe havewalked downwith the far-away Japanshows that it isworth meetingeach other andit is worth work-ing together inthe spirit ofrecognition and mutual respect”, theMinister pointed out. Speaking aboutthe distant past, he went on recallingthe establishment of diplomatic rela-tions between the two countries.Turning to the present, he stated that“science and technology have de-

feated the distance between us, andI hope we are getting closer andcloser to each other. A remarkablesign of this is the fact that our rela-tions have significantly strengthenedand deepened since the 1989

change of regime.”The Defence Minister noted the out-standing performance of the largeJapanese companies operating inHungary, and its beneficial effect onHungary’s economic life. Dr. Csaba

Hende pointedout that theday was agood occasionfor gettingcloser to eachother, asJapan is acountry whichr e s p e c t sKodály’s andBartók’s her-itage the sameway as we do.Here in Hun-gary, more andmore youngpeople masterthe variousJapanese mar-tial arts, whichhelps themshape their

bodies, sharpen their minds andlearn a way of thinking that is usefulfor all of us. “This day is for meetinghistory, our common past, the Japan-ese culture and art which offer a lot

of beauty to allof us”, Dr.Csaba Hendesaid.In his speech,Ito Tecuo, Am-bassador Ex-t r a o r d i n a r yand Plenipo-tentiary ofJapan pointedout that sincehis taking of-fice in Hungarytwo and a halfyears ago, hehas constantlybeen experi-encing theHungar ians ’growing inter-est in the his-tory, culture,art and lan-

guage of Japan and the life of Japan-ese people. The ambassadorexpressed hope that the day wouldhelp the Hungarians find out moreabout Japan, and that learning moreabout each other would bring uscloser to each other.

Assisting the Peace Process(Online Febru-ary 16, 2012)The Chief ofPolice of Bagh-lan Province re-c e n t l ysubmitted anunusual re-quest. Gen.A s a d u l l a hSherzad re-quested theHDF ProvincialReconstructionTeam (HUNPRT) to helpthe reintegra-tion of formerinsurgents intosociety.The general re-quested assis-tance from theHUN PRT in supporting the reintegra-tion of ex-combatants into the Afghansociety at a village of Jadid District,Baghlan Province, as part of theroadmap to peace announced by theAfghan government, which is a prior-ity for ISAF. An allied task force was set up, rein-forced with the units of the AfghanNational Police (ANP), the AfghanNational Army (ANA) and the AfghanLocal Police (ALP). The persons in-

volved in the reintegration handed intheir weapons to the authorizedAfghan policemen, so that 50 insur-gents turned in 48 weapons. Thepeople to be reintegrated had oppor-tunity to personally meet the HUNPRT commander, Col. Dr. RomuluszRuszin and Gen. Asadullah Sherzad.Concurrent with the negotiations, themedical section of the HUN PRT, ledby Lt.-Col. Dr. István Toperczer, thehead of the section and his deputy,1st Lt. Dr. Éva Zsíros, set up medical

aid stations ontwo sites, incoopera t i onwith the Ger-man medicalstaff. At theseaid stations,they treated150 patients inthe short timea v a i l a b l e ,mainly peoplewho had notr e c e i v e db a s i c - l e v e lmedical treat-ment before.They wereonly able togive on-the-spot treatment,but they got acomprehen -

sive picture of the public health situ-ation of the region. They shared theirexperience with the health care officeof Baghlan Province. In support of the operation, the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) cell ofthe HUN PRT provided immediateassistance to the leaders of the vil-lage in the form of a relief supply thatmay be needed for protection againstthe winter weather.

Commentary to the Hungarian Constitu-tion published in English

(Online Febru-ary 17, 2012)Hungary's Insti-tute of PublicAdministrationhas published avolume of com-mentaries bylegal experts toHungary's newconstitution inEnglish, statesecretary forjustice BenceRetvari said atthe book's pres-entation at theH u n g a r i a nAcademy ofSciences onFriday.The Basic Lawof Hungary - AFirst Commen-tary is a study compiled by 18 lawprofessors from Hungary andabroad, and it aims to give the clearfacts on the much-debated text, Nor-bert Kis, a former director of the insti-tute, said.

Retvari said the book was writtenpurely from a professional perspec-tive and is hoped to help the interna-tional community to get accurate,non-partisan information about Hun-gary's basic law. He highlighted that

cons t i t u t i onputs a cap onpublic debt asa first in Eu-rope, and thatit enhanceslegal protec-tion for vulner-able groups aswell as raisingenvironmentalrights.H u n g a r yadopted a newconstitution in2011 whichcame to effecton January 1,2012. Criticismfrom abroadincluded theEuropean Par-liament, whichin a resolution

of July 2011 called on the Hungariangovernment to address the issuesand concerns raised by the VeniceCommission regarding the basic law.

Agreement with the organizers of One Mil-lion for Freedom of the Press in Hungary

(Online Febru-ary 17, 2012)Hungary's Insti-tute of PublicAdministrationhas published avolume of com-mentaries bylegal experts toHungary's newconstitution inEnglish, statesecretary forjustice BenceRetvari said atthe book's pres-entation at theH u n g a r i a nAcademy ofSciences onFriday.The Basic Lawof Hungary - AFirst Commen-tary is a study compiled by 18 lawprofessors from Hungary andabroad, and it aims to give the clearfacts on the much-debated text, Nor-bert Kis, a former director of the insti-tute, said.

Retvari said the book was writtenpurely from a professional perspec-tive and is hoped to help the interna-tional community to get accurate,non-partisan information about Hun-gary's basic law. He highlighted that

cons t i t u t i onputs a cap onpublic debt asa first in Eu-rope, and thatit enhanceslegal protec-tion for vulner-able groups aswell as raisingenvironmentalrights.H u n g a r yadopted a newconstitution in2011 whichcame to effecton January 1,2012. Criticismfrom abroadincluded theEuropean Par-liament, whichin a resolution

of July 2011 called on the Hungariangovernment to address the issuesand concerns raised by the VeniceCommission regarding the basic law.

Agreement with the organizers of One Mil-lion for Freedom of the Press in Hungary

(Online Febru-ary 15, 2012)" H u n g a r i a nfoods of excep-tional qualityare highly com-petitive in Rus-sia" – saidMinister forRural Develop-ment SándorF a z e k a s ,rounding up hisexperiences onthe first day ofhis visit toMoscow.The Head ofthe Ministry is inMoscow for oneof Europe'smost importantA g r i c u l t u r a ltrade fairs, theProdexpo, and is also holding meet-ings with his Russian counterparts.Sándor Fazekas described Hungar-ian-Russian relations as being veryimportant, and stated that coopera-tion in a wide range of fields were ex-tremely successful. He accentuatedthe importance of food exports, say-ing that the figure of 230 millionEuros of Hungarian exports to Russiain 2010 speaks for itself. Exports toHungary during this period were min-imal. Final figures for 2011 are not yetavailable, but an export increase often percent is expected.The Minister of Rural Developmentdrew attention to the fact that theRussian market is a dependable part-ner, but is also extremely demanding,with stringent food surveillance. Forthis reason, Hungary is primarily ableto import its so-called "premium prod-ucts", Hungarian foods of exceptionalquality, to Russia, even in the current,extremely competitive market condi-tions. We are also very competitive interms of quantity."Hungarian foods hold a great re-spect and prestige in Russia, and thisis an opportunity we must seize" –said Sándor Fazekas, summing uphis experiences.Of the 2200 companies exhibitingtheir wares at the large-scaleMoscow trade fair, which runs untilFebruary 17, thirteen Hungariancompanies are also taking part.These include several well-knownwineries and wane producers, as wellas Merian Foods and Fit-Food Ltd.,who distribute goose liver products."In view of the fact that hundreds ofcompanies export to Russia, it is im-portant that were be present at the

highest level. This is part of the activeagricultural diplomacy that we con-duct here also. The whole world isstanding in line in Moscow at the Min-istry of Agriculture, The Ministry ofForeign Affairs, the President, andthe Prime Minister. If we surrenderour place in the queue to someoneelse, someone else will take ourplace. This is the task faced by Hun-garian agricultural diplomacy. Wemust be present and available to dis-cuss issues and negate administra-tive barriers." – stressed the Ministerfor Rural Development, who was ac-companied to his Moscow meetingsby State Secretary for Food ChainControl Supervision and AgriculturalAdministration.On Tuesday, Sándor Fazekas held ameeting with Russian Deputy Minis-ter of Agriculture Aleksandr Solovjov,which was also attended by AlekseySaurin, Deputy Director of the Russ-ian Federal Service for Veterinaryand Phytosanitary Surveillance, theRosselkhoznadzor.The Minister announced that al-though talks are still underway, itseems that the way will be openedfor the export of Hungarian muttonand goat meat to Russia. This sectoris experiencing difficulties at present,and requires new export markets.Various animal health and food safetyregulations need to be reviewed, butthe Russian party is also very opti-mistic with regard to this opportunity.Animal husbandry is also a very im-portant element in Hungarian-Russ-ian agricultural cooperation. TheMinistry strives to bring partners to-gether. The success of this policy isevident in view of the fact that the vol-ume of Hungarian-Russian com-

merce is in-creasing by10-20 percenteach year –said SándorFazekas.D iscuss ionswith our Russ-ian partnerstouched onseveral issues,including op-portunities forcooperation ine x c h a n g i n gt e c h n o l o g ywithin thefields of watermanagement,water purifica-tion and irriga-tion. Inaddition to thea g r i c u l t u r a l

seed market, there are also opportu-nities for the export of tree saplings.Ornamental plants are the prime ex-ports to Russia within this sector.Hungarian expert knowledge in thefields of horticulture, garden and parkdesign, and forest planting may alsobe validated in Russia.In the view of Sándor Fazekas, theHungarian agriculture industry andHungarian research and develop-ment will be able to play a role in thelarge scale Russian agriculture de-velopment programme aimed at self-sufficiency. There are opportunitiesfor realising proven Hungarian tech-nologies within the modernisation ofharvesting, storage, transport anddrying activities. Hungarian manufac-turers of food industry machinery andequipment, such as production linesfor processing sweet corn, tomatoesand bell peppers, and for manufac-turing dairy products, are taking partin this year's trade fair in Moscow,and are certainly competitive.The practical application of an earlieragreement means new opportunitiesfor cooperation between Hungarianand Russian agrarian universities.Preparations are underway for thepost-gradual training of ten foreignstudents each at the Saint StephenUniversity in Gödöllő, and theTimiryazev Agricultural University inMoscow, announced the Minister ofRural Development.Sándor Fazekas also announced thathe had invited his counterpart, Russ-ian Minister of Agriculture YelenaSkrynnik, to Hungary, and that ac-cording to plans she will be visitingthe country with a delegation ofRussian businessmen.

National Energy Strategy 2030 published(Online Febru-ary 15, 2012)The NationalEnergy Strat-egy 2030 waspublished bythe Ministry ofNational Devel-opment. Asfrom 14 Febru-ary 2012, thedocument isalso available inan electronicformat in Hun-garian andEnglish on theGovernment’swebsite.The NationalEnergy Strat-egy, based onnew founda-tions, will en-sure thelongterm sus-tainability, secu-rity andeconomic com-petitiveness ofenergy supplyin Hungary.Serving primarynational inter-ests, guaranteeing the security ofsupply, taking into account the leastcost principle and asserting environ-mental considerations, it enablesHungary to contribute to resolving

global issues to an extent proportion-ate to its international weight and asfar as its resources allow.In order to achieve the objectives setin the Strategy, five significant effortsare drawn up: increasing energy sav-

ings and en-ergy efficiency,increasing theshare of re-newable ener-g i e s ,integrating theCentral Euro-pean grid net-work andconstruct ingthe requiredc rossborderc a p a c i t i e s ,m a i n t a i n i n gthe existingnuclear capac-ities and utilis-ing thedomestic coaland lignite re-sources in ane c o f r i e n d l ymanner forpower genera-tion.Thinking re-sponsibly, theGovernmentconsiders it tobe of criticalimportance interms of en-ergy policy to

rebuild those Government positionsthat were given up in previous yearsdue to short-term fiscal considera-tions or even less transparent ormeaningful reasons.

Prodexpo Food Exhibition – IntensiveHungarian Presence in Moscow

(Online February 13, 2012) Agricul-tural Administration Endre Kardevánboth attended one of the most impor-tant international agricultural tradefairs held in Moscow. Hungary wasrepresented by its own national pavil-ion and by thirteen companies. Dur-ing the exhibition, Sándor Fazekaswill hold talks with the RussianDeputy Minister of Agriculture.2100 exhibitors from 55 countries areattending the event; food producers,processors, distributors and retailchains present their various products.Hungary is also present at the Prod-expo with a 156 square metre pavil-ion. The wide spectrum of waresexhibited by Hungarian producers in-cludes Tokaji wine, fresh and cannedmushrooms, peas and beans, as wellas duck and goose products.At the official opening ceremony of

the exhibition, Deputy Minister ofAgriculture Aleksandr AleksandrovichSolovjov told those present: the in-tensive development of Russian agri-culture and its consumer interest inhigh quality foods is demonstrated bythe fact that more exhibitors thanever before are attending the time-honoured Prodexpo trade fair.In an interview to representatives ofthe Russian press, State SecretaryEndre Kardeván emphasised: Russiahas always been an important marketfor Hungarian agricultural exports.Cooperation reached its peak in the90s, but we continue to support theuninterrupted presence of high qual-ity, premium category Hungarianproducts traditionally present on theRussian market, and the reinforce-ment of the image of "Hungariangoods – Hungarian quality". Endre

Kardeván also noted that within thefield of foreign trade with Russia, ex-ports of meat and meat products,dairy products, grain and oil-seedshave recently increased significantly.The State Secretary explained thatone important goal is the develop-ment of Hungarian-Russian cooper-ation in production andmanufacturing.Minister Sándor Fazekas is also at-tending the event, and will be holdingtalks with Russian Deputy Minister ofAgriculture Aleksandr AleksandrovichSolovjov, as well as with the DeputyDirector of Rosszelkhoznadzor, theRussian Federal Service for Veteri-nary and Phytosanitary Surveillance,and the Import Director of the Magnitsupermarket chain.

Safe and cheap nuclear energy may pro-mote combating climate change

(Online Febru-ary 13, 2012)RepresentingHungary, Minis-ter of State forC l i m a t eChange andEnergy PálKovács ad-dressed the in-f o r m a ldiscussion ofthe EuropeanUnion’s energyministers, heldon nuclear en-ergy in Paris on10 February2012. Theheads respon-sible for thisspecialisation inthe MemberStates dis-cussed energypolicy challenges, and the appropri-ate ratio and sustainability of nuclearenergy.Regarding energy policy goals, PálKovács made it clear that the suc-cessful implementation of efforts atcreating a low-carbon economy re-quires an overall approach to themanagement of this issue. For thisreason the European Union and itsMember States should use all avail-able means to increase the efficiencyof international conciliations. MrKovács drew the attention to the factthat the measures planned in the in-terest of setting the economy on alow carbon path must be developedin due regard to the risks related tovarious economic factors, competi-tion and social considerations.

Fourteen countries, more than half ofthe 27 Member States of the Euro-pean Union, have got operating nu-clear powers, and still, nearly 30percent of Europe’s total electricitydemand is provided from nuclear en-ergy. Being the cheapest low carbontechnology, nuclear energy may havea pivotal role in combating climatechange in the future. In Hungary, nu-clear energy will contribute signifi-cantly to the sustainability of energysupply, and due to its favourablecosts, also to economic competitive-ness. Pál Kovács stressed that thedecisions on the desirable energymix must be left within the compe-tence of the Member States. “Hun-gary is definitely in favour of thetechnology neutral approach”, he

said. The Na-tional EnergyStrategy ap-proved by Par-l i a m e n texpects tomaintain thecurrent role ofnuclear energyin the nextdecades.Mr Kovácsadded: in fulla g r e e m e n twith the Euro-pean Union’sposition, theH u n g a r i a nGovernmentwas interestedin the utilisa-tion of nuclearenergy withenforcement ofthe highest

standard security requirements. In afinal national report the HungarianAtomic Energy Authority informed theEuropean Commission of the resultsof the stress test performed in thePaks Nuclear Power Plant. Accordingto the report, no problem requiringprompt action was mentioned. How-ever, the test revealed certain inter-vention opportunities that mayeffectively increase the safety of thepower plant at the cost of a realisticinvestment. The nuclear power plantwill take the necessary measures tothis end. For every decision adoptedon and action taken in connectionwith the extension of the operatingtime of the Paks Nuclear PowerPlant, the Government pays specialattention to the safety of operation.

The Hungarian govt is committed to coop-erating with the EU

(Online February 10, 2012) DeputyPrime Minister and Minister for PublicAdministration Tibor Navracsics par-ticipated in the hearing called by theCommittee on Civil Liberties, Justiceand Home Affairs (LIBE) on Thursdaywhere he reinforced that the Hungar-ian government intended to continuedialogue with the EU and was com-mitted to freedom, democracy andthe rule of law. He asked representa-tives not to judge according to preju-dices, superficial knowledge andpolitical interest, but to state theiropinion based on accurate informa-tion, in the providing of which thegovernment gives every possibility.The minister, referring to the negoti-ations regarding the modification ofthe media law last year, remindedthat there was a continuous cooper-ation between the LIBE Committeand the Hungarian government, ashe stated, ’this is an intensive proce-dure which ahd its results int he pastas well.’As regards to the Act on data protec-tion, Tibor Navracsics said that thegovernment agrees with the commit-

tee thatthe inde-pendenceof the dataprotectionauthor i tyand om-budsmanhas to beincreased.The bodytext hasa l r e a d yb e e nd r a f t e dwhich theg o v e r n -ment willc o n s u l twith thecommittee and if they reach anagreement, the Act may finally bemodified. Speaking of the amendments to theAct on the retirement age of judges,he confirmed that the government didnot regard it as a matter of jurisdictionbut as an issue of the reform of thepension system. There is an onging

reform of the pension system in Hun-gary, in the course of which the gov-ernment and Parliament seek tocreate a regulation that is as generalas possible and free from exceptions.Thus the general retirement age willbe applied in jurisdiction as well.

Pakistan won’t help US attack Iran, saysZardari

(Online Feb-ruary 18,2012) ISLAM-ABAD - Pak-istan will notassist the USif it attacksIran, Islam-abad Fridaya s s u r e dTehran.Pakistan willnot provideA m e r i c a n sairbases tolaunch attackon its neigh-bour, Presi-dent Asif AliZardari saidafter the thirdtrilateral sum-mit of Pak-istan, Iran andAfghanistan.At the summitthe threestates expressed their resolve towork collectively for peace and stabil-ity in the region and enhancement ofmutual cooperation in different sec-tors, particularly economy and trade.Addressing a joint news conference,along with his Iranian and Afghancounterparts Mahmoud Ahmadinejadand Hamid Karzai, President Zardariemphatically stated that Pakistan’srelationship with the brethren coun-tries cannot be undermined by the in-ternational pressure of any kind.“Pakistan and Iran need each otherand no foreign pressure can hindertheir ties.”This is the first categorical assuranceof support to Tehran from the highestechelons of Islamabad, whose ownties with the Washington came undera severe strain in November last yearafter Nato airstrikes on two PakistaniArmy checkposts in MohmandAgency killed over two dozen sol-diers prompting Islamabad to takesteps including stopping the passageof Nato supplies through the countryand boycott of an international con-ference on Afghanistan.About international pressure on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, thehead of the state facing chronic en-ergy shortages, said Pakistan is lob-bying the world and our point of viewhas been looked at and accepted. Aprivate TV channel reported thatTehran has offered Islamabad to dou-ble the gas supply promised underIran-Pakistan gasline project. Zardarisaid Iran and Pakistan are neigh-bours and both the countries need tointer-depend on each other for pros-perity of the region.Iranian President Mehmood Ah-madinejad said several of the prob-lems have been imposed on theregion by outside forces. “There arecountries which have targeted our re-gion for their dominance.” He advo-cated for enhancing regionalcooperation and putting in use all re-sources to address these problems.Ahmadinejad also said that nuclear-armed nations were not superior toothers, a day after his sanctions-hitgovernment told world powers it wasready to resume stalled atomic talks.“(The) nuclear bomb is not going tobring about superiority,” he told whileaddressing the predominantly Eng-lish-speaking audience through atranslator.Ahmadinejad said Iran’s relationshipwith nuclear-armed Pakistan was anexample of an alliance that “is not be-cause of nuclear bomb or weapons…The foundation of our political rela-tionship is humanitarian and is basedon common cultural values… Pro-moting peace and fraternity are thecommon goals of the three countriesand our nations. We have got hopesto a victory in future.”Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who

reportedly adopted a hard line duringThursday’s delegation-level talks be-tween Islamabad and Kabul, ap-peared to be toned down during thejoint press conference. However, hesaid the impediments in the way ofPakistan-Afghanistan cooperationneed to be removed sooner than laterand stressed the need for evolving anactionable policy to deal with all theconfronting issues.Karzai also said the recent engage-ments between the two countrieshave been fruitful and deep in under-standing each other’s point of view.Expressing satisfaction over hismeetings with Pakistani leadership,Hamid Karzai said the tripartite sum-mit was futuristic, recognising the op-portunities and dangers that surroundthe region.President Zardari denied that Pak-istan’s military played a double gamein the 10-year war in Afghanistan, butadmitted that private Pakistanis maybe involved. “I deny this notion thatany of our armed forces are directlyor indirectly involved,” he said whenasked about the alleged involvementof Pakistani spies and officials in the“war on terror”.“Yes I cannot deny that there is aresidue in Pakistan of the war thatwas fought against the Soviet Union,”he said referring to Pakistan’s in-volvement in the 1980s war inAfghanistan that gave rise to the Tal-iban and al-Qaeda.“We cannot deny may be there arepeople among our population whoare involved in this, but this is a worldproblem,” Zardari said, adding, “Thethree presidents you see sitting to-gether, we shall fight this menace.Nobody is more concerned or moreinvolved in it than me personally,” hesaid.President Zardari thanked the visitingpresidents for coming to Pakistan toattend the trilateral summit. He in-vited the Iranian president to make abilateral visit to Pakistan at the earli-est.The Iranian president said Thurs-day’s summit in Islamabad and thenext to be held in Kabul are going tohave very positive impacts for peopleof the three countries. He said Iranianpeople greatly value their brotherlyrelations with Pakistan and hopedthese will further augment in future.Earlier the three presidents heldwide-ranging talks on cooperation indiverse fields focusing on coopera-tion in counter terrorism and transna-tional organised crimes includingdrug and human trafficking, bordermanagement and trade.In a joint statement issued at the endof the summit, the three countriespledged to develop framework ofcomprehensive cooperation and totake pragmatic steps for realising mu-tually beneficial cooperation to pro-

mote stability,peace andshared prosper-ity.The joint state-ment, signed byP r e s i d e n tZardari and hisIranian andAfghan counter-parts at the con-clusion of thesummit, re-solved to ensurerespect for theircountries sover-eignty, inde-pendence, unityand territorial in-tegrity, as en-shrined in theUN Charter.They agreed tocommence aprocess of trilat-eral consulta-tions for an

agreement pledging not to allow anythreat emanating from their respec-tive territories against each other.They resolved to strengthen cooper-ation for eradicating extremism, ter-rorism and militancy and to addressthe root causes of these menaces,condemning the killings of civilians aswell as any kind of assassinations.The three leaders also agreed tobroaden cooperation in political, se-curity, economic, cultural, social andeducational fields and enhance peo-ple-to-people contacts including ex-change visits of parliamentarians,academicians and journalists.The summit mandated foreign minis-ters of the three countries to prepareand coordinate a Road Map for Trilat-eral Cooperation for submission tothe next Summit.It also mandated the interior ministersto develop a framework of trilateralcooperation particularly in the areasof counter terrorism, counter-nar-cotics and border managementwithin six months.The three countries agreed to en-hance three-way trade by facilitationmeasures, including preferential tariffand free trade arrangements as wellas barter trade. Commerce ministerswould outline steps for enhancingthree-way economic cooperation.They also expressed commitment toexpand trade in transit and encour-age the private sector to invest in thethree countries.The joint statement said Pakistan,Iran and Afghanistan would cooper-ate in combating the problems of nar-cotic drugs production and traffickingand in combating transnational or-ganised crimes.They agreed to enhance connectivitythrough road and rail links; developmutually beneficial cooperation in theenergy, mining and minerals, agricul-ture and cooperate for the safe, vol-untary and early return of Afghanrefugees to their homeland in honourand dignity. They emphasised theneed for enhancing their cooperationat international level, especiallywithin the United Nations system.The summit mandated senior officialsto meet regularly to monitor the im-plementation of the decisions takenby the Trilateral Summit. The FourthTrilateral Summit would be held inKabul by the end of this year.Earlier in his opening remarks at thesummit, President Zardari said con-nectivity among the three countries isimperative. He tasked the foreignministers of the three countries toprepare a roadmap for trilateral coop-eration for consideration at the nextsummit meeting. “We must work to-gether to realise peace and prosper-ity in our region. To face the difficulttimes ahead we should solidify ourrelationships,” he added.

The Hungarian FM’s meetings in Berlin fo-cused on issues of foreign affairs

(Online Febru-ary 13, 2012)On 7 February2012 JánosMartonyi nego-tiated with Ger-man ForeignMinister GuidoWesterwelle inBerlin aboutcurrent issuesof the Euro-pean Union, theMiddle East,and Hungarian-German bilat-eral relations.On the invita-tion of his Ger-m a ncounterpart, theHungarian For-eign ministerarrived in Ger-many for a two-day visit tomark the 20thanniversary of the signing of theAgreement between the Federal Re-public of Germany and the Republicof Hungary on Friendly Cooperationand Partnership in Europe.On the press conference followingthe meeting in the capital of Ger-many, Guido Westerwelle empha-sised that for opening the borders inSeptember 1989 and for the solidar-ity manifested in this act, Hungary“will always have a special place inthe hearts of the German people”,and the agreement signed in 1992had laid new foundations for the re-lations between the two countries.“We will never forget the brave Hun-garian nation” contributing to theunity of Germany and, therefore, tothe unity of Europe, he said.János Martonyi highlighted that thevisit “is well-timed to celebrate the20th anniversary, to look back andponder what was successful andwhat was not”. He added that Ger-many “continues to be Hungary’smost important partner in economy,culture and on a human level aswell”. The Minister stated that Hun-gary considered the German Govern-ment’s position in various issues ofinternational politics to be extremelyimportant for several reasons includ-ing Hungary’s similarly active partici-pation in the Common Foreign andSecurity Policy. “We have many prob-lems; I would not like to list them.With regard to these as well, it is verymuch important to be in continuouscommunication in the framework of

our bilateral relations too,” he said.The Hungarian Foreign Minister con-gratulated the German Government,the German diplomacy for the suc-cess which had after all beenachieved by Europe agreeing to signthe fiscal pact, an intergovernmentalagreement: “For the time being, onlya political agreement was reached,but a vast majority of Member States– in all probability including eight non-eurozone countries – seem to sign it.”János Martonyi affirmed Hungary’sintention to join; in a few days theGovernment proposes that the Par-liament should authorise the PrimeMinister in a decision to sign theagreement, which is later to be rati-fied by the Parliament. He added:“We might say this does not costmuch for us, as these obligations cur-rently do not apply to us. This is true,but we really hope that these obliga-tions will bind us from the momentHungary joins the eurozone. Thisagreement is essential; I believe allof Europe can be grateful to Ger-many and to all supporting it from thebeginnings. We would have preferredthe amendment of the Treaties, but –as we all know – we did not manageto achieve this; however, it remainsour aim to include this agreement inthe Treaties.”In the negotiations the participantsspoke about the question of the can-didate status of Serbia as well, thesupport of which is of utmost impor-tance to Hungarian foreign policy.Turning to economy, János Martonyi

highlighted inthe press con-ference thatthe Hungariansituation wasbetter thangenerally con-sidered, hav-ing enormoussurplus in thebalance oftrade and pay-ments. “Wehave competi-tive industryand export (…), which isamong othersdue to Ger-m a n - o w n e dcompanies inHungary ex-porting com-petitively to allover theworld.” Con-cerning the

budget deficit, he made it clear againthat the government keeps it under3% this year and in 2013: “In the fol-lowing days we send further docu-ments to the European Commission,clearly supporting that the Hungarianbudget deficit of 2013 will also beunder 3%.” Mr Martonyi noted it wasgood news for Hungary as well thatthe German economy had recentlygiven positive signs.The infringement procedures againstHungary were also mentioned on thepress conference in Berlin. The Ger-man Foreign Minister explained that“the doubts, criticisms and concerns”surrounding certain laws “should betaken seriously”, and it was also inHungary’s interest to adjust the criti-cised laws to EU law, if necessary.Concerning the controversial issues,János Martonyi emphasised that theHungarian government would settlethem as soon as possible: “We havesolutions for basically all the ques-tions, and we really hope that thesewill be acceptable without excep-tions”. “We are open in all the otherissues as well; we listen to eachfriend of ours; moreover, we awaittheir comments”, added the Hungar-ian Foreign Minister. “We are readyto dispute, talk about, and correct allthe matters; the only thing we cannotaccept is the expression of doubtabout our commitment to fundamen-tal values, democracy, the rule of law,and human rights.”

János Martonyi and Guido Westerwelle at the press con-ference in Berlin

PAKISTAN

Senate elections: ECP rejects papers of 18candidates

(Online February 18, 2012) TheElection Commission of Pakistan(ECP) on Friday rejected the nom-ination papers of 18 candidates fora variety of reasons. Interestingly,half of them intended to contestthe Senate elections independ-ently.Officials said they failed to fulfill thelegal requirements for qualifying tocontest the elections under the ECP’selectoral rules. The ECP also issueda final list of all candidates after com-pleting the scrutiny process, heldfrom February 16 to 17. There are166 candidates in the fray against 54seats in the Senate.The nomination papers of Dr MazharHussain Mirza of Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz and Waqas QayyumGill of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlwere rejected because they failed toprovide complete credentials. TheECP also rejected the nomination pa-pers of Muhammad Mohsin KhanLeghari of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, who was aspiring to contestfrom Punjab for a general seat.Nomination papers of independentcandidates Sarfraz Ahmed, NajmaAhmed Jorge Pall, Manzoor Ahmed,Mungal Das Arwani, Neik Muham-mad Khan, Muhammad Tahir, AmmarAhmed Khan and Hussain Khanwere rejected.Papers of Muttahida Qaumi Move-ment leader Umar Khan Ali Sherzaiwere rejected on the grounds that hehas not completed the mandatorytwo-year period after his retirementas senator. Under ECP’s laws, no-body can contest elections untilhe/she has completed a period of twoyears after his/her term.Four candidates of Pakistan People’sParty also failed to submit completedocuments and ECP’s presiding offi-cers rejected their nomination pa-

pers. These include Fouzia Tabas-sum and Hina Bibi of PPP.The ECP will conduct hearings onappeals filed by the candidates,whose nomination papers were re-jected, on February 22 and 23. Thecomplete board of ECP will hear theirappeals. Candidates who wish towithdraw can contact the ECP onFebruary 24, and a final list of candi-dates will be published.Members National Assembly (NA)will elect one member to the Senateagainst the general seat and anotheron the seat reserved for technocratsincluding Ulemas from the federalcapital. National Assembly membersfrom FATA will elect to Senate fourmembers against the general seats.MPAs from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan willelect one member each on seats re-served for non-Muslims. A total of 50senators will retire in March aftercompleting their respective terms.25 candidates approved by Balochis-tanThe Election Commission (ECB),Balochistan, accepted the nomina-tion papers of 25 candidates for theupper-house election for Ulema,technocrats, minorities and reservedwomen seats. It rejected the nomina-tion papers of five candidates for nothaving party tickets or failing to ap-pear before the commission duringthe scrutiny process.As many as 12 out of 13 nominationpapers were accepted for seats re-served for women. The papers of Ra-heela Hameed Khan Durrani, RubinaIrfan and MPA Nasreen RehmanKhethran were accepted by the ECB.All three candidates belong to PML-Q.The PPP gave party tickets to twocandidates, Parveen Akhtar Mengaland Hina Gulzar, for seats reserved

for women. Gulzar had also submit-ted nomination papers for a minorityseat, which were rejected by thecommission.Others whose nomination paperswere accepted include independentcandidates Agha Pari Gul and FarahAzeem Shah; Sabina Rauf of JUI-F,Naseema Bibi of Balochistan Na-tional Party-Awami (BNP-A), MehrunNisa of Awami National Party (ANP)and Kishwar Ahmed of PML-N.The nomination papers of Mufti AbdulSatar and Kamran Murtaza of JUI-F,Abdul Jabbar Khan Kakar of ANP,Agha Faisal of PML-N, Rozi KhanKakar of PPP, Malik Taj MuhammadBazai and Basant Lal Gulshan ofPML-Q were accepted for seats re-served for ulema and technocrats.The nomination papers of RameshKumar Vankwani, Ashok Kumar,Heman Dass of JUI-F, Benish Sikan-dar Masih of ANP and Gulshan ofPML-Q were accepted for seats re-served for minorities.Independent candidate Kumar raisedobjections against the nomination offormer Sindh MPA Vankwani, statingthat he cannot contest from Balochis-tan since he was a permanent citizenof Sindh and was a member of theSindh Assembly from 2002 to 2007.“Vankwani was enrolled in Sindh’svoter list and had transferred hisname to Quetta after the announce-ment of the senate elections. It is aviolation of section 20 of the ElectionRules,” Kumar said.JUI-F, ANP and BNP-A have formedan alliance under the Islamic NationalDemocratic Alliance to field their can-didates. There also have been meet-ings between PPP, JUI-F, PML-N andPML-Q leaders for the forthcomingupper-house election.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court indicts primeminister

(Online Feb-ruary 18,2012) Pak-i s t a n ’ sS u p r e m eCourt indictedPrime MinisterYusuf RazaGilani on con-tempt of courtcharges lastMonday, hav-ing rejectedhis appeal onFebruary 10.The ruling hasintensified thecountry’s polit-ical crisis byfurther weak-ening the un-p o p u l a rgovernmentled by thePakistan Peo-ple’s Party(PPP).The court charged Gilani that he had“wilfully flouted, disregarded and dis-obeyed” its order to re-open corrup-tion cases against the country’sPresident Asif Ali Zardari. Gilani plednot guilty on Monday and his trial be-gins on February 27. If convicted, hecould be dismissed from office andimprisoned for six months.The Supreme Court had ordered thegovernment to re-open the corruptioncases against Zardari in 2009. Theaccusations stem from money-laun-dering charges against Zardari andhis wife, the late Prime Minister Be-nazir Ali Bhutto.Swiss courts tried them in absentia in2003. In 2007, however, the formermilitary strongman dictator PervezMusharraf granted amnesties toZardari, Bhutto and thousands of oth-ers through a National ReconciliationOrdinance (NRO).The NRO was arraigned in Washing-ton by the George W. Bush adminis-tration as part of its plans to returnBhutto to Pakistan to replace the un-popular Musharraf regime andmuster support for the US war inAfghanistan.Gilani and his lawyers argued thatZardari as president had “constitu-tional immunity” in Pakistan. Whilethe anti-democratic NRO and consti-tution are certainly designed to pro-tect the ruling elites, the court’sdecision to target Zardari is entan-gled with the country’s political tur-moil.Pakistani analyst Hasan Askari Rizvitold Reuters: “This will not be goodnews for democracy… Once again,non-elected institutions are trying tore-formulate the elected institutions.Previously, the military was doing it,now it is the judiciary.”The government protected Zardariand ignored the Supreme Court orderas any re-opening of the corruptioncases would further undermine itsposition. The opposition PakistaniMuslim League (PML-N), headed byformer Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,and Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf backed the court decision andare aggressively seeking to exploitthe issue.The ruling PPP cannot afford to have

a long-running corruption scandalfeatured in the media. Senate elec-tions are due to begin next monthand general elections next year. Thegovernment is desperately hoping toboost its stocks in these elections.Gilani has branded the chargesagainst Zardari as “politically moti-vated.”The court’s decision to indict Gilanialso strengthens the hands of thearmy. Relations between the govern-ment and the military deterioratedsharply after the unearthing of a se-cret memo in October. Allegedly dic-tated by Zardari, it sought US help indissuading the military from mountinga coup following the killing of OsamaBin Laden in Pakistan.The Supreme Court backed the callmade by army chief General AshfaqParvez Kayani and military intelli-gence chief Lieutenant GeneralAhmed Pasha for an investigationinto the memo. Gilani denounced themove as “unconstitutional and ille-gal.” The army responded by warningof “potentially grievous conse-quences” for the government.The standoff escalated in Januarywhen Gilani dismissed Defence Sec-retary Nareem Khalid Lodhi, a formergeneral and close ally of Kayani.Amid mounting speculation of acoup, the Supreme Court heard a pe-tition filed against a “possible moveby the government” to replace Kayaniand Pasha.At the end of January, however, Gi-lani backed down and retracted hisopposition to an investigation intomemo. As a result, tensions easedsomewhat. The Supreme Court iscontinuing its examination of the“memogate” affair and is hearing apetition against government’s at-tempt to remove Kayani and Pasha.At the same time, the Supreme Courthas attempted to distance itself fromthe military. On the day of Gilani’s in-dictment, the court compelled the mil-itary’s powerful agency—theInter-Services Intelligence (ISI)—toproduce seven men who were still incustody despite being acquitted ofterrorism charges in 2010.The ISI is notorious for its anti-demo-cratic methods. The seven were

emaciated andsickly. Severallimped or had tobe supported asthey walked.Chief JusticeChaudhry or-dered that theyreceive immedi-ate medicaltreatment andthat a medicalboard report ontheir state ofhealth on March1.Chaudhry’s will-ingness to crossboth the govern-ment and themilitary has ledto sections ofthe media hail-ing him as a de-mocrat andupholder of legalprocesses. In

reality, Chaudhry’s decisions reflectthe depth of the country’s political cri-sis. Sections of the ruling class arebacking Chaudhry as a means ofheading off another political coup, re-fashioning the deeply unpopular gov-ernment and putting on a show ofending corruption in order to attractdesperately needed foreign invest-ment.Chaudhry is notorious for helping tolegitimise Musharraf’s military coup in1999 and was appointed chief justiceas a result. He later fell out withMusharraf as political opposition tohis regime mounted and was sackedafter handing down several judg-ments that cut across Musharraf’sagenda.Behind the current political turmoil isthe country’s mounting economic andsocial crisis, which will only worsenas the International Monetary Funddemands greater taxes and the fur-ther winding back of social spending.This is compounded by widespreadopposition to the government’s back-ing for the US-led occupation ofAfghanistan and tacit support for USattacks on tribal border areas insidePakistan.The Gilani government shut downNATO supply routes through Pak-istan to Afghanistan after a deadlyUS drone attack on a Pakistani bor-der patrol in November. All the signsare that Islamabad is about to end itsposturing and again cave in to sus-tained pressure from Washington.The New York Timesrecently re-ported Pakistani officials saying thatthe supply routes would “probably”be re-opened.The Times quoted American officialswho said unofficial relations betweenthe CIA and the ISI had resumed.General James N. Mattis, head of theUS Central Command, is expected inPakistan this month to meet Kayani.The first US drone strike inside Pak-istan since the November attack tookplace last month.The resumption of Pakistani cooper-ation with the criminal US war insideAfghanistan and Pakistani tribalareas will only fuel the deep politicalcrisis in Islamabad.

Pakistan troops 'kill 17 Taliban in clash'(Online) PE-SHAWAR -P a k i s t a n itroops killed17 Taliban onFriday in aclash in thecountry's trou-bled north-west, with onesoldier andthree militia-men alsodying, securityofficials said.F i g h t i n gerupted afterP a k i s t a n itroops and agovernment-backed localm i l i t i alaunched ajoint operationagainst theTaliban in theS p i n d a n darea of Khyber tribal district, whichborders Afghanistan."At least 17 militants have been killedin the clash while one Pakistani sol-dier and three members of the militiaembraced martyrdom," a security of-ficial told AFP.Two security personnel and four mili-

tia members were wounded, he said."The number of injured from the Tal-iban side is unknown," he added.A local administration official in Khy-ber, Mutahir Zeb Khan, confirmed theclash."The target of the operation was alocal Taliban group, Lashkar-e-Islam.

The fightingstarted onT h u r s d a yevening and theexchange of firecontinued atshort intervals,"Khan told AFP.Some 18,000people fled theirhomes in Khy-ber in Octoberlast year amidfears of a freshonslaught offighting betweenthe army and Is-lamist militantslinked to thePakistani Tal-iban.P a k i s t a n ' sseven tribal dis-tricts near theAfghan borderare rife withhomegrown in-

surgents and are strongholds of Tal-iban and Al-Qaeda operatives.Islamist militants have killed morethan 4,800 people across Pakistansince government troops raided anextremist mosque in Islamabad inJuly 2007.

Pakistan, Afghanistan to develop co-oper-ation framework

(Online 17 Feb 2012) ISLAMABAD –Pakistan and Afghanistan February17 vowed to develop a framework forcomprehensive co-operation and totake steps to advance stability‚ peaceand shared prosperity.In a statement signed by PresidentAsif Ali Zardari and Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai, the leaders pledgednot to allow any threat arising fromtheir respective territories againsteach other.According to the statement, the lead-

ers also agreed to strengthen coop-eration in counter-extremism‚ terror-ism and militancy and to tackle theroot causes of these menaces.The summit mandated the interiorministers to build a mutual co-opera-tion framework particularly in combat-ing terrorism‚ narcotics and bordermanagement within six months.Pakistan and Afghanistan would alsojoin hands in fighting illegal narcoticsproduction and trafficking and in com-bating transnational organised crime,

according to the joint statement.Another summit will be held in Kabulbefore the end of 2012.Earlier, addressing a joint news con-ference, Zardari said Pakistani armedforces were not involved with mili-tants in Afghanistan.Meanwhile, Karzai said Afghanistanwill determine where to meet for talkswith the Taliban, adding that theycould be held in Turkey or Saudi Ara-bia.

AJK can produce 20,000MW for Pakistan:Yaqub

(Online 17Feb 2012) LA-HORE – TheNation Editor-in-Chief andN a z a r i a - i -Pakistan TrustC h a i r m a nMajid Nizamihas asked thepeople ofPakistan tovote for thosewho can wageJihad on Indiato free Kash-mir, to makePakistan asdreamt byQ u a i d - e -A z a mMuhammadAli Jinnah andA l l a m aMuhammadIqbal.Speaking atvarious sessions of the ongoing 4thNazaria-i-Pakistan Conference underthe aegis of Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trusthere on Friday, Mr Nizami advocatedthat even an atomic war against Indiawas not out of the question if it wasneeded to free the jugular vein ofPakistan.Four sessions were held on the sec-ond day of the NPC which attractedlarge a number of people from allwalk of life. Azad Jammu KashmirPresident Sardar Muhammad YaqubKhan and former finance ministerShaukat Tareen were invited as chiefguests to the NPC sessions on thesecond day of the conference. The 3-day conference proceedings will endon Saturday.Terming the recommendations madeduring Friday proceedings of theNPC as a solution for the country’sproblems, Majid Nizami regretted thatthe rulers were not willing to act inright direction.“They (rulers) are mum on the Indianact of blocking Pakistan’s water flow-ing through Kashmir which has se-verely affected agriculture and madeour fields barren.” Majid Nizami ob-served. He warned that if Kashmirwas not freed from Indian occupancy,the country would turn into desert. Headded that he had strong sentimentstowards Kashmir because his wifewas of Kashmiri origin and recalledthe days when he had visited Kash-mir in 1947.AJK President Sardar MuhammadYaqub said that there can be no

threat to the Kashmir cause and Pak-istan as long as people like MajidNizami are there. While talking aboutthe ongoing energy crisis, SardarYaqub said AJK could generate 18 to20 thousand megawatts of electricity,however the government has onlyemployed the valley’s resources togenerate 100 MW of electricity.The AJK President portrayed a thetrue picture of Indian atrocities in theheld valley saying that there was nopeace as the bodies of Kashmiri menkilled by Indian forces keep floatingto this side with the Neelam river. Heasserted that Kashmiris are not ter-rorists; in fact their struggle is to se-cure their right to self-determinationunder the UN resolutions. The AJKPresident said that dialogue betweenIndia and Pakistan on the resolutionof Kashmir dispute cannot succeedunless Kashmiris are made a part ofthe discussion. He opposed Indianefforts to become a permanent mem-ber of the UNSC, asking “How a ter-rorist state could get that status?”Sardar Yaqub applauded the contri-butions of the people of Pakistan forthe rehabilitation of quake victims inKashmir. He also invited the mem-bers of Nazaria Pakistan Trust to visitKashmir to hold such a conference.Speaking on the occasion, formerfederal minister for finance ShaukatTareen, called to increase the tax toGDP ratio for the ultimate economicwelfare of the public. He was deliver-ing a lecture at NPC on the topic of“The steps needed to bring Pakistanout of current economic crisis”. He

briefed the audi-ence about hisNine PointsAgenda and theactions he andhis team hadtaken for the re-vival of industryand agriculturesectors in thecountry. He saida broader but ra-tional and bal-anced taxstructure wasneeded, but itrequires astrong politicalwill on part ofthe government.He underlinedthe need for en-hancing tax toGDP ratio to 15to 20 percent toachieve 7 to 8percent growth

in the economy. He added that risingeconomies like China, Turkey andIndia have enhanced their tax to GDPratio beyond 20 percent to maintainhigher GDP growth.Shaukat Tareen said his ministry haddevised a five-year plan for shiftingfrom indirect to direct taxes, expand-ing the tax base and taxing the un-taxed sectors. However, he facedresistance in implementing his nine-point agenda and finally he wasshown the door by powerful lobbies.Talking about the ongoing power cri-sis in the country, Shaukat Tareensaid that the government should buildhydro-power generation units, to fulfilthe energy needs of the country. Hetold the audience that he had seriousreservations over rental power proj-ects.He added that the constitution ofPakistan places agriculture within theprovincial purview. However, provin-cial tax collection efforts are weak,with low compliance, numerous ex-emptions, and special treatmentregimes. Thus, the revenue gener-ated from agriculture is negligible al-though it is technically subject toincome tax and accounts for 21 percent of GDP.At the end of the session Majid

Nizami presented Shields to SardarYaqub, Shaukat Tareen, Col (retd)Jamshed Ahmad Tareen, Mian AMajid, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Brig(retd) Zafar Iqbal, Col (retd) Ikramul-lah, Muhammad Aslam Kamboh andDr MA Soofi.

We want a stable Pakistan, says Danishambassador

(Online 17 Feb 2012)Karachi – Despite somerough patches in the re-lationship between Den-mark and Pakistan, theDanish ambassadorsaid that there wasspace in this multi-faceted world for all ofus. He added that hiscountry was ready, will-ing and able to workwith Pakistan.While speaking at anevent organised by theEnglish-speaking Union ofPakistan, Ambassador UffeWolffhechel said that he knew it wasa difficult time for Pakistan and Den-mark wanted to strengthen the bondwith it by contributing towards devel-opment and stability of the country.He added that the Danish govern-ment had decided to give $28 millionfor democratic development, regional

stability, human rights and genderequality.In response to a question on the2008 bombing at the Danish em-bassy in Islamabad, the ambassadorsaid that the attack was carried outby individuals – not Pakistan. “Thecountry’s government was alwaysthere to help us,” he said. “It [the at-tack] did not affect our relationship

with Pakistan.” He addedthat there should be astronger focus on educa-tion as extremism was acomplex issue.There are around 21,000Pakistanis living in Den-mark and their first gen-eration has to a largeextent integrated in Dan-ish society.The vice president of theunion and chairman ofthe Avari Group of Com-panies, Byram DinshawjiAvari, shared a story

about his first trip to Denmark. At theage of nine, Avari went to Copen-hagen in 1951 with his family andafter an exhausting day of sightsee-ing went back to the hotel to order sixsandwiches. He said that when thefood got to his room he was pleas-antly surprised to see six trays of sixfoot-long sandwiches.

We will make Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline: Gilani(Online Feb-ruary 18,2 0 1 2 )K A R A C H I :Prime MinisterYousaf RazaGilani as-serted on Sat-urday thatPakistan willmake theIran-Pakistangas pipeline,while speak-ing to themedia inKarachi.Pakistan iscurrently fac-ing mountingpressure fromthe US toshelve theIran pipelineproject, whilePakistan andIran have al-ready signed a sovereign-guaranteeagreement on the project.The prime minister said that a rise inoil prices in Pakistan was due to arise in the international prices andthe global recession, and gave his

assurance that the Speaker hadformed a committee on the issueand will hold talks with the financeminister.Premier Gilani also commented onthe US Congressman’s resolution in

the House onthe Balochistanissue, and saidthat it wasagainst the sov-ereignty of thecountry. “Westrongly con-demn the USCongressman’smove,” he said.In view of theon-going trilat-eral meeting be-tween Pakistan,Iran andAfghanistan, Gi-lani said that itwas “extremelyimportant” forthe stability ofthe region thatall the neigh-bouring coun-tries were in agood relation-ship with each

other.“We want to have good relationswith all our neighbours, be it China,Afghanistan, Iran or India,” headded.

Wean from Iranian crude, US tells India,Pakistan

(Online February 18, 2012) Wash-ington has said it was talking toIndia, Pakistan, Russia, and Chinaabout what they can do to "weanthemselves" from Iranian crude asthe US imposed new sanctionsagainst Tehran."We are engaged in conversationswith all of these governments withregard to the importance of imple-menting existing international sanc-tions, national sanctions," StateDepartment spokesperson VictoriaNuland told reporters Friday whenasked about several countries stilldoing business with Iran.It was also talking to them about"doing what they can to increasesanctions, particularly to wean them-selves from Iranian crude. So this isa process, it's still going on", shesaid.But as Secretary of State Hillary

Clinton said Friday, "we do assessthat the pressure, economic anddiplomatic, on Iran is beginning topinch. And you see the fruit of that,and the fact that we - after manymonths, have Iran suggesting thatwe go back to the table", Nulandsaid.Asked about Pakistan saying that itis going ahead with the constructionof the gas pipeline between Iran andPakistan, she said: "We have issuesof concern and we've been veryclear about those with the govern-ment of Pakistan.""We think it's a bad idea; we'vemade that clear. But I'm not going topredict where this might go."Asked about Israel blaming Iran'sQuds Force for a string of attacks onIsraeli diplomats in India, Georgiaand Thailand, Nuland said: "I think,we are still where we are, that we

wouldn't be surprised if the finger-prints and the trail lead back to Iranbut we're not in a position to assessuntil the investigations of the hostgovernments are complete."In response to another question, shesaid the US had offered help in theinvestigations but could not say ifany of the countries had taken upthe offer.Nuland's comments came as the USimposed three new separate sanc-tions actions against Iran's primaryintelligence agency, the Ministry ofIntelligence and Security.Iran is under a few sets of UN Secu-rity Council sanctions. Westerncountries led by the US suspect thatthe Islamic Republic is seeking tobuild nuclear weapons, but Tehraninsists it needs nuclear power solelyfor civilian purposes.

India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan can pro-duce 200GW power: Sharma

(Online February 18, 2012) Islam-abad (SANA) Indian CommerceMinister Anand Sharma says, “India,Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan have acombined hydropower potential of200GW, of which more than three-quarters is yet to be harnessed.”India has made a strong pitch forsetting up a $300-billion trans-na-tional power grid in South Asia whichwould enable the region to trade inelectricity.Addressing the sixth SAFTA (SouthAsia Free Trade Agreement) minis-terial council here on Thursday,Commerce Minister Anand Sharmasaid, “India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pak-istan have a combined hydropowerpotential of 200GW, of which morethan three-quarters is yet to be har-nessed.”“We need to work together to har-ness this potential not only for fol-lowing the path of sustainabledevelopment but also as a source ofcost-effective power supply to retainour competitiveness in manufactur-ing,” he added.

Sharma said a trans-national powergrid across South Asia will not onlyensure energy security in the regionbut also result in substantial costsaving.Sharma pointed out that countries ofSouth Asia, which include Sri Lanka,Afghanistan and Maldives, have ahuge infrastructure deficit, which willneed massive capital flows. “Weneed to work in a policy environmentthat permits easier cross-border in-vestment flows, which perhaps iseven more important than crossbor-der trade,” he said.In the last decade, outbound foreigndirect investment (FDI) from Indiahas been $120 billion and yet morethan 90 per cent of this was directedout of South Asia. “We believe thatgreater capital flows within our coun-tries will have a transformational im-pact for growth and development ofour economies,” he said.The minister said the SAARC agree-ment on trade and services couldserve as a catalyst for cross-borderinvestment in several sectors, in-

cluding energy, tourism, telecom, ITenabled services, education andhealth. “This agreement should beexpedited to private commercialcapital flows,” he added.India also brought up the issue for abetter arrangement to enable cross-border movement of cargo vehiclesin the region through a multilateralmotor vehicle agreement.Sharma also pointed out that Indiahas addressed concerns of all least-developed countries of South Asiaas all items of their interest are nowallowed for import into the country atzero duty. He added that many othercountries in the region need to recip-rocate this policy.In an oblique reference to Pakistan,Sharma lamented that many nationsof the region import substantiallyfrom India and “we do not get tradepreference under SAFTA”. However,he said Pakistan had initiated stepsto grant most-favoured nation statusto India and the fact that it was play-ing host to the SAFTA conferenceshowed a positive spirit.

Pakistan slams US Congressman for havingtabled resolution for Balochistan independence

(Online February 18, 2012) Pakistanhas slammed US CongressmanDana Rohrabacher for having tableda resolution in the US Congress,calling for the independence ofBalochistan.The Pakistan Foreign Office de-

scribed the mover of the bill as being'oblivious to the ground situation'and expressed the hope that themove would never succeed, theDaily Times reports.It said that presentation of the bill

was in violation of the internationallaws and showed a 'highly irrespon-sible attitude' on the part of Con-gressman Rohrabacher.A week after he chaired a Congres-sional committee's hearing onBalochistan, CongressmanRohrabacher said that the Balochshould be given their right of self-de-termination and to their own sover-eign country, The Express Tribunereports.The House Concurrent Resolution

in the US House of Representativeshas been co-sponsored by Repre-sentatives Louie Gohmert and SteveKing. It highlights the history ofBalochistan, and says that revolts in1958, 1973 and 2005 "indicate con-tinued popular discontent againstrule by Islamabad, and the plunderof its vast natural wealth whileBaluchistan remains the poorestprovince in Pakistan."The text says that there is also an

insurgency underway in Sistan-Balochistan, which is being re-pressed by Iran.Congressman Rohrabacher's reso-

lution says that it is the US policy to"oppose aggression and the viola-tion of human rights inherent in thesubjugation of national groups ascurrently being shown in Iran andPakistan against the aspirations ofthe Baloch people."According to the resolution, the peo-ple of Balochistan that are "currentlydivided between Pakistan, Iran, and

Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination and to their own sov-ereign country and they should beafforded the opportunity to choosetheir own status among the commu-nity of nations, living in peace andharmony, without external coercion."

In a statement from his office,Rohrabacher, who is also the Chairof the House Foreign Affairs Sub-committee on Oversight and Investi-gations, said, "The Baluchi, likeother nations of people, have an in-nate right to self-determination. Thepolitical and ethnic discriminationthey suffer is tragic and made moreso because America is financing andselling arms to their oppressors in Is-lamabad."The press release further added

that Balochistan is "rich in natural re-sources, but has been subjugatedand exploited by Punjabi and Pash-tun elites in Islamabad, leavingBaluchistan the country's poorestprovince."

Sherry seeks US investment in Pakistan(Online Feb-ruary 18,2012) WASH-INGTON -P a k i s t a n ' sambassadorto the UnitedStates SherryRehman hasurged Ameri-can investorsto benefit frome n h a n c e dbusiness op-p o r t u n i t i e sPakistan of-fers in severalp o t e n t i a lareas.Speaking tomembers ofUS-PakistanB u s i n e s sCouncil, theenvoy citedthe exampleof fast-grow-ing telecommunication sector, say-ing telecom companies areaggressively bidding for a market of100 million mobile users and othersshould follow the suit.She highlighted the fact that a num-ber of American companies are al-ready successfully doing business inthe country and contributing to bettereconomic relations."The Council can greatly help in dis-pelling adverse perceptions in theUS by relating to their business suc-cess stories in Pakistan to their fel-low investors, political leaders andopinion makers," she said at the USChamber of Commerce. Islamabad, she said, is committed toprovide enabling environment and alevel-playing field to international in-vestors and has been rated at thetop in South Asia for ease in doingbusiness. The ambassador said one of the keypriorities during her assignment inWashington would remain promoting

stronger linkages between the pri-vate sectors of the two countries."The government gives priority to in-vestments in social sectors, pro-grams that promote justice,development and strengthening ofinfrastructure, industrialization, eco-nomic reforms and trade facilitation."Despite the continuing global finan-cial crisis and regional situation,Pakistan last year achieved a 28 percent increase in exports, which wereworth $ 25 billion."The positive trends have continuedin the last seven months, and othermacro economic indicators areshowing hopeful signs.""We recognize that we have work todo on infrastructure and we seekyour assistance on energy invest-ment," she added.Ambassador Rehman also reiter-ated Pakistan's interest towardsconcluding a Bilateral InvestmentTreaty with the United States."A free trade agreement with the USis an important priority for Pakistan .

I am sure manypeople presenthere are ferventadvocates ofopen marketand realize thebenefits to beachieved froman FTA betweenthe two coun-tries."Pakistan andthe UnitedStates had a ro-bust trading re-lationship andthe current vol-ume of bilateraltrade has dou-bled to $ 5.50billion."While this maybe a source ofsome satisfac-tion on bothsides, we firmlybelieve that the

potential for enhancing trade rela-tions between the two countries isfar greater than what has beenachieved so far."Welcoming the Pakistani ambassa-dor on behalf of members of the US-Pakistan Business Council,Chairman Miles Young said that de-spite international financial difficul-ties, the American companies havemade substantial profits and con-tinue to prosper.He committed to advancing jointbusiness goals together with thePakistani embassy while recountingseveral good news stories on Pak-istan's business potential.The meeting was attended by lead-ers and cheif executive officers ofcompanies including Shell, Procter& Gamble, Northrop Grumman, Har-ris Corporation,GE Transportation,Global Edison Corporation, MetLife,J.E. Austin Associates Inc. TheCoca-Cola Company and CaterpillarInc.

Picture News

January 27, 2012. Thousands of demonstrators filled Egypt’s Tahrir Square tomark the first anniversary of the Friday of Rage, a key day in the 2011 uprisingthat led to the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

January 30, 2012. Republican presidential candidate and former MassachusettsGovernor Mitt Romney carries a surprise birthday cake for Los Angeles Times re-porter Maeve Reston on his campaign plane in Jacksonville, Florida.

January 31, 2012. A narrow-gauge railway makes its way through a snow coveredforest at the Harz national park near Schierke, central Germany. After a period ofrelatively mild weather a cold spell has reached central and eastern Europe.

January 30, 2012. Republican presidential candidate and former MassachusettsGovernor Mitt Romney carries a surprise birthday cake for Los Angeles Times re-porter Maeve Reston on his campaign plane in Jacksonville, Florida.

January 31, 2012. Supporters shake hands with Myanmar pro-democracy leaderAung San Suu Kyi as she arrives in Bagan on her way to Pakokku in Bagan Town-ship.

First Time AOSpine Symposium was held inPakistan

(By Health Reporter) World knownfamous Spine Surgeons participatedin this symposium including Mr. MaxAibie from Switzerland, Mr. Zam-bighe from UAE, Mr. Ufuk Andilynefrom Turkey and more than fifty Pak-istani Orthopedics and Spine sur-geons. Mr. Max Aibie President ofAOSPINE has accepted GhurkiTrust Teaching Hospital for the Fel-lowship in AOSPINE, which is thesecond center in Middle East.Ghurki Hospital is a trust hospital

which was established back in 1991.Haji Muhammad Asghar Ghurki do-nated the land for first specializedspine surgery facility in Pakistan.Since 2005, Ghurki Hospital hasbeen arranging its own annualTranspedicular screw fixation hands-on cadaver workshop, which is verypopular with the younger surgeons.They have also received spine fel-lows since 2006, from Pakistan aswell as from countries in the Asia Pa-

cific region.I am pleased to have Ghurki hospitaljoin the AOSpine center network andI hope that other hospitals in Pak-istan will join too, so as to providespecialized spine care to a greaternumber of patients said Prof AmerAziz.I am confident that this Spine Centerwill continue to offer the patients ahigh standard of surgical and med-ical care said Firas Atallah, AOSMERegional Board member for Spine

Centers & Fellowships. A high stan-dard of training will be delivered byexpert surgeons who are renownedin the field of spine surgery.I have told before the Middle EastClinical Spine Network is one of mygoal, so I am pleased to see it finallytaking off, and I welcome Prof AmerAziz and his spine team to be part ofthe most prestigious scientific spineorganization in the world. I encourage other hospitals and clin-

ics to engage in this rewardingmethod of sharing their expertiseand knowledge of spine care witheach other. Once again I congratu-late Prof Aziz and his team and wishthem continued success with theirwork.Prof. Dr. Zafar Ullah Khan Presidentof College of Physician & SurgeonsPakistan was Chief Guest of theSymposium and he also declaredGhurki Trust Teaching Hospital forthe Post Graduate Degree Program

FCPS in Spine Surgery. It's a bigachievement for Ghurki Trust Teach-ing Hospital and Prof. Amer Aziz, Or-thopedic & Spine Surgeon. Its firsttime in the history of Pakistan, a hos-pital awarded FCPS in Spine Sur-gery. Amer Aziz was joined byShahzad Javed, Naeem Ahmad, IjazAhmad, Rizwan Akram, and Atiq uzZamanof who are all dedicated topromoting the education of spinecare at their hospital.