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Die Griechen gehen am Sonntag mit gemischten Gefühlen zur Wahl: erneut dominieren Unentschlossenheit und parteipolitische Enttäuschung bei der Wahlentscheidung.

Wenige Wochen vor der Wahl löst die Präsidentengarde die Übergangsregierung auf. Vor dem Präsidentschaftspalast versammelten sich Hunderte Demonstranten.

Demographischer Wandel, Digitalisierung und gesellschaftliche Differenzierung: Parteien brauchen veränderte Angebote für eine veränderte Gesellschaft. Wie sehen zeitgemäße Parteien im 21. Jahrhundert aus? Wie kann Parteiarbeit für engagierte Bürgerinnen und Bürger interessanter gestaltet werden?

September 16, 2015 (JUBA) - Authorities in South Sudan's oil-rich Unity state have commended the speech of president Salva Kiir on Tuesday which addressed the nation on the commitment of the government to observe permanent ceasefire and the implementation of the peace agreement which he signed in August to end the 21-month long civil war in the country.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir speaks at a public rally in Juba on 18 March 2015 (Photo: AP/Jason Patinkin)

Minister of youth, culture and sports in Unity state, Lam Tunguar, said the president's speech covered important issues pertaining to the peace agreement president Kiir signed with his former deputy, Riek Machar.

“As the state government and people of Unity state, we commend the speech of the president. It covered very important issues, especially his commitment to full implementation of the peace agreement and his call on all the institutions to support him in the implementation,” Tunguar told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

“We pledge support and allegiance to the president and the leadership of the government of the republic of South Sudan never shall our people stand in the confusion. We will disseminate and sensitize them to understand the agreement so they become part of the implementation process,” he said.

Tungwar said he would work together with other youth ministers and leaders from across the country in support of the president and the government in the course of implementation of the peace agreement.

“As youth leaders, we will work together with all the groups to ensure that the government is given the support it deserves in any capacity, whether in mobilisation of artists to convey the message of peace in their own unique way, [or] whether with the members of the civil society organisations, with the faith based groups and community leadership across the country,” he further stressed.

He said the state government and citizens would be supporting Unity state's governor, Joseph Nguen Monytuil and president Kiir.

(ST)

September 16, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government on Wednesday issued a statement commending Russia and Angola for rejecting imposition of targeted sanctions on the army's chief of general staff and a former militia ally turned rebel commander.

President Salva Kiir, (L), accompanied by army chief of staff Paul Malong Awan, (R), waves during an independence day ceremony in the capital Juba, on July 9, 2015 (Photo AP)

South Sudanese deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Peter Bashir Gbandi, said the leadership of his country was grateful and commended those countries which opposed imposition of sanctions on the chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan.

“We are grateful as people and as the government of the republic of South Sudan for diplomatic support extended to us by the government of Russia and Angola at the United Nations Security Council,” said Gbandi.

He said it would be unwise and undesirable at this time to impose sanctions, whether targeted or not, when the government had demonstrated willingness to implement the peace agreement and end the conflict.

“We welcomed and commended these countries for standing with us at this critical and trying moment. We appealed for support not punitive measures because it would be unwise and undesirable decision,” he added.

The second top diplomat in the war-ravaged South Sudan explained that sanctions would complicate the situation in the region and might stand in the way of finding amicable solutions to resolving the issues through mutual understanding with support and cooperation of friends and assistances from the region and international community.

The comments come after the United States of America proposed through the UN Security Council sanctions committee that South Sudanese army chief Paul Malong and rebel commander Johnson Olony be placed to a global travel ban and asset freeze, but Russia, backed Angola, which is the only African nation and Venezuela which opposed the move.

Gordon Buay, one of the representatives of the government of South Sudan at its mission to the United States told Sudan Tribune during an exclusive interview shortly after the proposal was objected by the Russian government and two other countries that the rejection was an indication that the UN Security Council was now becoming a global organization.

“There were no basis for wanting to impose sanctions on the chief of general staff. There was nothing wrong he did to warrant imposition of a punitive measure against him”, said Buay.

The diplomat revealed that diplomatic efforts, which his government through its foreign offices in the United States and at the United Nations Security Council exerted in explaining the position of the government and its commitment, contributed to changing the mind of Russia to come out in their support against imposition of sanctions on military commanders.

“US officials had initially hoped they could push through a United Nations sanctions resolution, but our efforts at the embassy here and our colleagues at the permanent mission to the United Nations headquarters at the New York proved effective after managing to convince our allies at the Security Council. Russia came out and was followed by Angola and Venezuela. We are grateful for their support and commended them for demonstrating true friendship,” he said.

Unity state minister of youth, culture and sports, Lam Tungwar, in a separate interview with Sudan Tribune, commended the decision taken by Russia, Angola and Venezuela.

“As youth leaders from across South Sudan and in East African countries, appreciate and very much welcomed the support we received at the United Nations Security [Council] from the government of Russia, Angola and Venezuela. Sanctions are not means of resolving issues,” he said.

Army chief, Malong Awan was allegedly responsible for mobilization of the Dinka ethnic militia group and presidential guards that massacred civilians on 15 December 2013 in the national capital, Juba. He is also accused of violating the ceasefire agreement.

He and opposition's top commander in Upper Nile state, Johnson Olony, were named in the draft resolutions as against the peace process.

(ST)

September 16, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) has distanced itself from a statement issued by the rebel umbrella Sudanese Revolutionary Movement (SRF) announcing their readiness for a six-month cessation of hostilities.

Video footage showing SLM-AW leader Abdel-Wahid al-Nur, dressed in military uniform speaks to his troops in an undisclosed location this month (File/ST)

Last Monday, the SRF chairman Malik Agar issued a statement expressing their willingness to sign a truce for six months in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region provided that Khartoum be committed to the inclusive dialogue process and accept the pre-dialogue process.

"The SRF thus resolved that it is prepared to sign a six-month agreement for a Cessation of Hostilities for the purposes of: (1) protecting civilians; (2) providing unhindered humanitarian assistance; and (3) creating a conducive environment for the peace process and National Constitutional Dialogue," he further said.

In press release issued on Wednesday, the official spokesperson for the Office of the SLM-AW leader, Mohamed Abdel Rahman al-Nayer, said they only attended the SRF meeting with the international special envoys on 9 September where they presented a position paper rejecting any negotiation with the Sudanese regime before to disarm the government militiamen and to protect civilians.

"The Movement did not participate in the discussions about the statement made on behalf of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front on September 14, 2014, and it does not represent the (SLM-AW's position) in any way," al-Nayer further said.

SRF factions including the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the SLM- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) held a series of meetings in Paris from 10 to 14 September dedicated to the SRF road map for peace in Sudan and national dialogue.

Al-Nayer said the meeting asked them to "accept the principle of negotiating with the genocidal regime without conditions," but they totally refused the demand.

He went further to accuse the organizers of expelling SLM-AW representatives Abdel Latif Abdel Rahman Abkr and Ahmed Ibrahim Youssef from the hotel where the rebel delegations were accommodated .

Since the peace process of Abuja, the SLM-AW refuses to participate in any negotiations with the government, saying Khartoum has used to dishonour the signed peace agreement.

The rebel group proposes that Khartoum unilaterally implements a number of measures aiming to restore security and ensure the return of villagers to their homeland. After what, the warring parties can engage in a process aiming to address the root causes of the conflict and not its consequences.

(ST)

A vast global ocean of water exists between the icy crust and core of Saturn’s 6th largest moon Enceladus, NASA’s Cassini Mission data reveals.

L'organisation Médecins sans frontières (MSF) se mobilise en faveur des réfugiés en Europe. Pour encourager l'accueil des migrants et lutter contre la fermeture des frontières, MSF a envoyé le 14 septembre, à chaque gouvernement de l'Union européenne, un gilet de sauvetage trouvé sur un bateau de fortune.

Tervei szerint a jövő év elején jelenik meg saját virtuális devizájával a BitRubellel a fizetési tranzakciók bonyolításával foglalkozó orosz Qiwi vállalat - számolt be szerdán a cointelegraph.com hírportál.

Le commando parachutiste de l'air n°30 dont une équipe s'entraîne actuellement à Papa (Hongrie) est
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La Vigie 25

De l’Allemagne, entre vertus et rigueurs

L’Allemagne est de retour. Certes, l’affirmation a de quoi surprendre tant on n’a jamais eu l’impression, ces dernières années, qu’elle ait été vraiment absente. Au contraire, chacun pouvait constater à quel point elle avait pris la direction de l’Europe, pour le meilleur comme pour le pire. Chacun s’accordait à penser que sa puissance économique lui conférait des privautés politiques, notamment pour diriger la barque européenne. Mais personne ne la jugeait pour autant aimable. Au contraire, on dénonçait son égoïsme et le traitement de paille de fer qu’elle imposait au reste de l’Europe.

Voici donc qu’à l’occasion de la crise des réfugiés, l’Allemagne se découvre aimable, (…)

Fronts d’Asie

L’Histoire a trois fonctions principales, l’académique (relater scientifiquement une réalité d’hier), la politique (donner du sens aux faits d’alors) et la nationale (convoquer une dynamique collective d’aujourd’hui). Ainsi en va-t-il de la réintégration du 9 mai et du 3 septembre 1945 dans la chronologie de la fin de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale. Marquée par d’importantes cérémonies politiques et des grandes parades militaires à Moscou et Pékin, elle est à lire dans le contexte stratégique actuel.

Au retour de Pékin après le 3 septembre, voici quelques réflexions à partager. (…)

O. Kempf

Une fois n'est pas coutume, l'Europe de la défense avance dans les airs. Un centre référent pour la
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Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

L'Ile-de-France sera la théâtre de l'affrontement de plusieurs têtes d'affiche aux élections régionales. La présidence de la région se disputera entre Claude Bartolone et Valérie Pécresse.

To mark the 2015 International Day of Peace and the seventieth anniversary of the UN, the International Peace Institute (IPI), in partnership with the King Abdullah Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), will launch the KAICIID Peace Mapping Programme and its interactive website on September 21st.

Click here for the live webcast beginning at 1:15pm EST>>

The Peace Mapping Programme provides innovative tools to better understand organizations engaged internationally in interreligious dialogue. The Programme aims to show how interreligious dialogue contributes to conflict transformation worldwide, whether in preventive peacemaking or postconflict work.

Its research-based website shows numerous organizations using or promoting interreligious dialogue around the world, many of which can be important partners in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.  At the lunchtime event on September 21st, there will be a visual presentation of the project’s website, including an interactive map that shows efforts by organizations engaged in interreligious dialogue to strengthen resilience, and with testimonies of individuals involved in the dialogue activities. The Peace Mapping Programme’s website also provides a public online tool with detailed information on more than 400 organizations involved in interreligious dialogue activities internationally.

Welcoming Remarks:
Ambassador Hardeep Puri, Vice President of IPI and Secretary-General of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM)

Speakers:
Patrice Brodeur, Director of Research, KAICIID
Azza Karam, Senior Adviser, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Kusumita Pedersen, Co-Chair of the Interfaith Center of New York and Trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Moderator:
Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Senior Adviser, KAICIID and Professor, School of International Service, American University

En décembre, la droite compte emporter la nouvelle région Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine, entièrement dessinée par la réforme territoriale. Philippe Richert conduira une liste d'union Les Républicains-UDI.

(B2) La volonté du gouvernement britannique d’avoir le débat le plus limité sur la Strategic Defence Review a fait long feu. Le gouvernement qui vient de lancer une consultation sur la révision de sa politique de défense avait voulu limiter la glose reçue et imposé une limite de 1500 caractères pour chaque réponse. Un peu court ! Un procédé qui a ulcéré les députés britanniques de la commission Défense qui ont écrit une bafouille au gouvernement pour ôter cette limite à leur libre expression. Ils viennent d’obtenir raison. Le gouvernement a donc levé toute limite de longueur aux réponses à sa consultation.

Des milliers de réfugiés du Kosovo envahissent l'Albanie
Londres voudrait construire des camps de réfugiés en Albanie
Les dernières infos • #RéfugiésBalkans : la Hongrie construit aussi un mur avec la Croatie

/ #OpenEurope, Courrier des Balkans, Migrants Balkans, Albanie, Populations et minorités, Questions européennes