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A kisebbségi kérdések, az igazságszolgáltatás függetlensége és hatékonysága, valamint a közbeszerzés, az adatvédelem és a versenyjog kérdései is szerepelnek abban az együttműködési megállapodásban, amelyet Trócsányi László magyar és Nikola Selakovic szerb igazságügy-miniszter írt alá Belgrádban. 2015-05-04T12:55:00+02:00 2015-05-20T13:00:25+02:00

Az igazságügy-miniszter szerint a halálbüntetéssel kapcsolatban is az emberi jogok európai egyezményét kell irányadónak tekinteni Magyarországon, más kérdés, hogy a témáról vitatkoznak. 2015-04-30T12:54:00+02:00 2015-05-20T12:55:13+02:00

Des représentants des 28 pays de l’Union européenne et les six membres du Partenariat oriental (Ukraine, Géorgie, Biélorussie, Arménie, Moldavie et Azerbaïdjan) sont réunis en sommet à Riga depuis jeudi 21 mai au soir. Au cœur de ce rassemblement, la situation avec la Russie et le fonctionnement du partenariat.

May 21, 2015 (JUBA) – The United States has condemned Tuesday's attack at a United Nations base, in which four people were killed in and eight others wounded in South Sudan's oil-rich Upper Nile state.

US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power (Photo: AFP/Andrew Burton)

The incident, it said, were “brutal violent acts against civilians".

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims and reiterate our call for those responsible for attacks on civilians and UN facilities to be held accountable,” Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN said in a statement issued on Thursday

“Today's attacks are only the latest in a series of brutally violent acts against civilians, including the raping and murder of children,” she added.

Fighting has, in recent days, intensified between government forces and those loyal to the rebel-allied militia commander, Johnson Olony in Upper Nile state.

The rebels briefly captured Melut, a town next to the oilfield on Tuesday, but it was retaken by government forces on Wednesday.

The UN said a bomb landed at its protection of civilian site in Malakal, the Upper Nile capital on Tuesday, killing four people, including a child, and injuring eight others.

However, the US envoy to the UN said South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir and rebel leader, Riek Machar should be held responsible.

“The international community is footing the bill for president Salva Kiir's and opposition leader Riek Machar's shameful disregard for the devastating humanitarian crisis facing the people of South Sudan,” said Power.

She said the country's political and military leaders on all sides of this conflict must put aside their self-serving ambitions, bring an end to the fighting, implement the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement to which both have already agreed, and engage in negotiations for a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement to establish a transitional government and bring about a reform process that addresses the root causes of the ongoing conflict.

She said South Sudan political leaders have continuously “refused” to prioritise the well-being of their own people and that this could necessitate an increase in international pressure.

She warned of consequences for failure by both warring factions to end the war and respect UN mission in the country (UNMISS) bases.

“In this vein, we will continue our work with the UN Security Council's South Sudan Sanctions Committee to gather and review evidence that might be useful for sanctions listings that target political spoilers and those who violate and abuse human rights and violate international humanitarian law,” warned Power.

The world body said it is sheltering over 120,000 civilians at bases across the country.

(ST)

With Thailand’s ailing monarch fading from the scene, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha is positioning himself to rule indefinitely — by silencing all dissent.

May 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - European Union (EU) representative in Sudan Thursday dismissed claims that they are hostile to the Sudanese government and reiterated the support of the European body to the national dialogue in the east African country.

Presidnetial assistant Ibrahim Ghandour shakes hands with EU ambassador to Sudan Tomas Ulicny on 21 May 2015 (Photo EU Delegation- Sudan)

Tomas Ulicny held a meeting today with the Sudanese presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour. The two sides discussed efforts to resume the national dialogue, the situation in South Sudan and the rising radicalization in the region of Horn of Africa.

After the meeting, Quincy told reporters he " re- confirmed the European Union's position on the importance of an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue to resolve the Sudanese problems".

"Both the government and opposition have to put Sudan and its people on the first place. He added further delays on the process complicates the situation and threaten its credibility," he added.

He was keen to underline EU support for Sudan's territorial integrity, its rejection for violent regime change and support for peace and stability in Sudan.

The meeting took place following unconfirmed reports in Khartoum about meetings of the Sudanese opposition in Europe in the upcoming days.

National Congress Party (NCP) political secretary, Mustafa Osman Ismail earlier this month said the role of "foreign forces in the dialogue would be marginal" and called to halt interfering in the internal process.

"The extremists and those who portray the EU as hostile to Sudan refuse to accept frank and open dialogue about issues of common concerns," said the EU ambassador to Sudan

He described them as few but they are quite loud.

The diplomat pointed to the EU concern on rising extremism in the region.

He warned against the increased fragility and radicalization in the region to which Sudan is not immune.

He further expressed his optimism that Sudan and European countries can do better and work together for a prosperous region free from radicalization.

The national dialogue was launched by president Omer al-Bashir in January 2014. The inclusive and internal process aims to end war and reach a national agreement on democratic reforms .

The warring parties failed to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement in talks brokered by African Union organized in November December 2014.

Also, Sudanese government refused to participate in a pre-dialogue meeting before the electoral process, as the opposition and rebel groups propose to seek a new process instead of NCP proposed conference.

(ST)

May 21, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudan said it had returned its oil workers to the country's production areas, a day after they were evacuated from the oilfields in Upper Nile state due to heavy fighting between the two warring factions in the region on Wednesday.

Workers at the Petrodar oil concession flush out the remaining oil prior to a shutdown on oil production by South Sudan, on January 29, 2012. (Getty)

“Actually production did not stop. It was only due to precautionary measures that some workers, especially the international staff were allowed to relocate to Juba. It was not evacuation”, Upper Nile's information minister, Peter Hoth Tuach said Thursday.

He said enough forces were deployed to protect the country's oil facilities.

“These workers have are returning. The rebels have already been defeated from Melut. Our forces have destroyed three of their boats which have been causing panic. They are now still burning and weapons which they were using are now exploding,” said Tuach.

He added, “The civilians have started to return to their homes because the UN-run camp here in Melut is too small to accommodate all. It was over swollen on Tuesday”.

SPLA RETAKE MELUT

The South Sudan army (SPLA) spokesperson, Phillip Aguer said pro-government forces dislodged the armed opposition forces from Melut, a town close to the oilfields.

“This afternoon at 4:30pm, our gallant SPLA forces dislodged rebels of Riek Machar and forces of Johnson Olony from Melut,” Aguer told reporters in Juba on Thursday.

“The boats they used have been destroyed and our forces are still pursuing them. The general command of the SPLA asks the criminals and other forces in Malakal to leave", he added, saying the SPLA were capable of defending the nation's territory and citizens.

PALOCH OILFIELD BESIEGED

The rebel leader's spokesman, James Dak said the country's main oilfields of Paloch, some 200kms north of Malakal, had been besieged and designated priority target.

“SPLM/SPLA forces have converged around Paloch oilfields - Adar (Upper Nile) state - from different directions to capture the oilfields from pro-Salva Kiir forces any time soon,” Dak said.

He said the leadership of the movement also renewed “strong advice” to any remaining oil worker in Paloch to evacuate for safety reasons.

He accused the government of allegedly using some oil workers as human shield and said Juba would be responsible for any harm on them.

“We have learnt with disbelief that the government, out of panic, has prevented some of international oil workers from leaving the area, using them as human shield,” he said.

“We call on oil companies operating in the area to ensure their workers are evacuated.”

The rebels said their counter-offensive aimed to temporarily close down oil production or to cut off Juba from the oil revenues which they said president Kiir's government had been using to “hire mercenaries and buy weaponry to perpetuate the war.”

This, Dak said, was in response to government's “full scale offense” which he described as a violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the two warring parties.

(ST)

Noch nie saßen im Europäischen Parlament so viele EU-Gegner wie gegenwärtig. Welche Konsequenzen sind daraus entstanden?

Die Broschüre spitzt die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der Konferenz „Mehr Experimente! Nachdenken über die Volksparteien der Zukunft“ vom Dezember 2014 thesenhaft zu. Sie versteht sich als Anregung für mögliche Parteireformen in den Bereichen Parteiorganisation, Beteiligungsformate, Weiterentwicklung der Mitgliedergewinnung, Einbeziehung der Mitglieder sowie lokale Projektarbeit. Sie soll helfen, ausgetretene Denkpfade zu verlassen und neue Perspektiven einzunehmen.

Im Vorfeld der Europawahlen 2014 prognostizierte die Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung einen Aufstieg der EU-Gegner. Etliche der ursprünglich überwiegend fremden-, islam- oder einwanderungskritisch eingestellten Protestparteien hatten sich über die letzten 10 bis 15 Jahre die Europäische Union als zweites Feindbild aufgebaut. Zu dieser Gegnerschaft von rechts kam zunehmend auch eine vehemente Kritik an Politik der Union und ihren Entscheidungsverfahren von links. Die Prognosen wurden von der Wirklichkeit noch überholt: Noch nie saßen im Europäischen Parlament so viele EU-Gegner wie gegenwärtig.

A member of a pro-Islamic State forum has chipped in a rather out-of-the-box idea for jihad: turn Americans consumers off of salty snacks by associating them with beheadings -- a scheme he says will destroy the American economy.

A U.S.-led coalition is grappling over how to fight the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed allies in Libya and beyond without taking its eyes off Iraq and Syria.

An unlikely alliance of lawmakers, labor union, and the Tea Party could sink Obama's Asia trade bill in the House.

Edouard Perrin devant la commission du Parlement européen

(B2) Notre confrère Edouard Perrin était devant la commission spéciale du Parlement européen sur l’évasion fiscale, lundi (11 mai) avec son collègue Richard Brooks de l’ ">ICIJ. Tous les eurodéputés n’ont cependant pas été convaincus. Extraits…

« "> Il est symptomatique et dramatique à la fois de voir que, dans cette affaire, les seules poursuites existantes sont, à ce jour, sont dirigées contre ">ceux qui ont découvert le problème et non pas contre les sources (du problème) » a souligné notamment ">Edouard Perrin. « Je regrette vraiment profondément que le Parlement européen n’ait pas pu aller au bout avec une vraie commission d’enquête, et les moyens qui vont avec. (…) La première étape serait d’avoir vraiment un travail cohérent entre ce qui se passe ici et (…) la (future) directive sur les secrets d’affaires ».

« Le problème central avec le Luxembourg est qu’il se présente en tant qu’autorité responsable de l’économie, tout en agissant comme un paradis fiscal au coeur de l’Europe. C’ ">est plus dommageable que ce que vous pouvez reconnaître, ou que les paradis fiscaux bordées de palmiers sur une île ensoleillée » a expliqué le journaliste d’investigation Richard Brooks (ICIJ). Le Luxembourg « jouit des privilèges d’être un membre à part entière de l’ensemble des grands clubs économiques comme l’Union européenne et de l’OCDE ». (…) La myriade de méthodes utilisées — les prêts hybrides, des filiales suisses … et toutes sortes de structures étranges et merveilleuses — "> visent toutes un objectif unique : la réalisation effective de non-imposition au Luxembourg. (…) Il devrait y avoir une plus grande divulgation des conventions fiscales au sein de l’Europe. Ce devrait être complètement ouvert, de préférence, avec des entreprises nommées, mais, sinon, ">anonymisées, et surtout, en l’absence de l’OCDE à fournir une solution complète à cette question de l’évasion fiscale internationale, il doit y avoir des sanctions appliquées en Europe pour ceux qui exploitent les libertés offertes par le traité européen. »

Du côté des parlementaires, la tonalité n’était pas unanime

L’eurodéputé libéral allemand Michael Theurer (FDP), juge « incompréhensible qu’un citoyen qui informe les autorités d’un État membre de l’UE à propos de l’évasion fiscale puisse être poursuivie par une autre Eu ">pays, qui contredit aucun sens de la justice ». Une préoccupation que partage l’eurodéputé danois social démocrate, Jeppe Kofod (S & D, DK), « Un pays ne devrait pas être en mesure de sanctionner un journaliste qui a révélé cette information alors qu’il y a une affaire en cours, cela devrait être impossible à mon avis. Je pense qu’ ">il est vraiment un scandale que le Luxembourg fait ces accusations contre vous. » ">« Mon impression est que, la majorité ne sont pas préoccupés par la protection des journalistes ou des lanceurs d’alerte, mais de protéger Juncker » estime ">le député allemand de Die Linke, Fabio De Masi.

Mais pour l’eurodéputé luxembourgeois Frank Engel (PPE), il faut faire attention au risque de délocalisation. « Certains voudraient tout simplement fermer les centres financiers. Les entreprises resteront ailleurs (en dehors de l’UE). Que personne ne croit que ">Shanghai va arrêter une activité qui peut être fructueuse et très lucrative pour, si nous en Europe avons décidé de chasser les centres de décision des entreprises. »

">En conclusion, le président de la commission, le Français ">Alain Lamassoure (UMP/PPE), la difficulté est que « au sein de l’Union, chacun des 28 États membres est le paradis fiscal de quelqu’un. »

(NGV)

The NATO Resolute Support Mission’s (RSM’s) mandate to “train, advise, and assist,” but a better prerogative would be to “assess, train, advice, and assist.”