2008 Woodie Awards
International Updates
Brian O'Connor
Issue date: 11/10/04 Section: News
Hungary to Withdraw Soldiers from Iraq by Year's End
After polls showing strong opposition to troop placement, and internal debates over the legitimacy of a war they once supported, Hungarian leaders adopted a plan of withdrawal for the 300 troops now stationed in Iraq.
Following the lead of other European nations that recently withdrew their troops from the country, Hungary decided that their involvement in the American-sponsored war would end after the nation saw the completion of their first electoral cycle in January. Despite pleas from Iraqi officials, Hungary's spokesperson for the defense ministry, Peter Matyuc, said that was not an option for the nation.
"By March 31, 2005, we will bring our troops back from Iraq. From then on, the existence of a stable democratic and safe Iraq has to be created by different means, above all political means. If Iraq is not safe, Hungary is not safe," said Matyuc.
One of only eight European nations that agreed with the American push towards occupation, Hungary's departure is merely another statistic of countries leaving the "Coalition of the willing" that invaded Iraq in the spring of 2003. This summer, Norway withdrew 155 engineers from the nation, and after a terrorist attack in April, Spain withdrew their 1,300 troops from the volatile region.
Palestinians Anxious as Arafat's Health Deteriorates
A noticeably frail Yasser Arafat left his West Bank compound last week in order to undergo treatment for an undisclosed medical condition in France. Recent reports by the BBC allude to further degradation of Arafat's health, leaving many Palestinians anxious about their future.
Last Friday Arafat flew out of the region, with Israeli consent, to seek medical treatment in Paris for an unknown condition. Finding no traces of leukemia or cancer, doctors plan to address the public once they can figure out what illness plagues Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian liberation movement and demagogue behind the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Earlier in his transport from the West Bank to Paris, various aides to Arafat commented on his chances at a quick recovery. Recent developments in his condition, most of which pointing toward a degradation of his health, leave many of his aides at a loss for words. Leila Shahid, a Palestinian envoy, told the BBC "Obviously in his case, there could be setbacks at times and this is a setback."
If Arafat's health continues to deteriorate, many question the future of the Palestinian cause for independence. Arafat, a leader of the Palestinian cause since the first Intifada in the mid-Seventies, remains active within Israeli-Palestinian politics and his influence permeates nearly every discussion between the two nations leaving many wondering who could replace him as a spokesperson for Palestinians.
Sudan Defends Decision to Relocate Refugees
Citing concerns over the safety of the ever-increasing number of refugees from the burgeoning civil war in the nation, the Sudanese government made efforts to move many of those forced from their homes because of the bitter fighting and the high rate of civilian casualties.
After the Janjaweed militia, a pro-Sudanese government group, began forcing people from their homes in the north of the country, the borders of the nation swelled with refugees fleeing the violence caused by the fighting between the Janjaweed and rebel militias. Recent attacks on the refugee camps by the Janjaweed led the Sudanese government send many people back to the villages they fled from earlier.
United Nations human rights experts concluded that the movement of refugees violates the rights of those moved, drawing further criticism from the organization - a central concern for Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Responding the claims made by the United Nations, Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said, "It is the responsibility of the government to move [refugees] to a suitable place."
Current figures project that over 250 people have moved out of refugee camps within the past week, and more people are to be moved shortly.
North Korea Warned by United Nations Weapons Inspector
Worldwide concerns over the nuclear capabilities of North Korea prompted the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed El Baradei to offer warning to North Korea over their unwillingness to allow inspectors back into the country.
Frustrated by North Korean hostility toward IAEA inspection and six-member discussions over the state of their nuclear energy program, El Baradei said that the world community would only be interested in helping the impoverished nation if they cooperated with inspectors.
"A prerequisite is for them to commit themselves to full, verifiable, dismantlement of their weapons program," said El Baradei late last week.
Without urging North Korea to dismantle their nuclear program, El Baradei suggested that the only way for the struggling nation to receive international aid would be through full cooperation with inspectors - a prospect that looks less than likely after the nation withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty two years ago. The rhetoric of George W. Bush in his 2002 State of the Union Address put focus on the actions of North Korea, and deemed it as a possible threat to American and worldwide security due to their uncooperative relationship with the United Nations. After the famous "axis of evil" mentioning, North Korea continued along a path of nuclear technology and diplomatic isolation which spurned concern from many nations faced with the threat of nuclear war and terrorism.
After polls showing strong opposition to troop placement, and internal debates over the legitimacy of a war they once supported, Hungarian leaders adopted a plan of withdrawal for the 300 troops now stationed in Iraq.
Following the lead of other European nations that recently withdrew their troops from the country, Hungary decided that their involvement in the American-sponsored war would end after the nation saw the completion of their first electoral cycle in January. Despite pleas from Iraqi officials, Hungary's spokesperson for the defense ministry, Peter Matyuc, said that was not an option for the nation.
"By March 31, 2005, we will bring our troops back from Iraq. From then on, the existence of a stable democratic and safe Iraq has to be created by different means, above all political means. If Iraq is not safe, Hungary is not safe," said Matyuc.
One of only eight European nations that agreed with the American push towards occupation, Hungary's departure is merely another statistic of countries leaving the "Coalition of the willing" that invaded Iraq in the spring of 2003. This summer, Norway withdrew 155 engineers from the nation, and after a terrorist attack in April, Spain withdrew their 1,300 troops from the volatile region.
Palestinians Anxious as Arafat's Health Deteriorates
A noticeably frail Yasser Arafat left his West Bank compound last week in order to undergo treatment for an undisclosed medical condition in France. Recent reports by the BBC allude to further degradation of Arafat's health, leaving many Palestinians anxious about their future.
Last Friday Arafat flew out of the region, with Israeli consent, to seek medical treatment in Paris for an unknown condition. Finding no traces of leukemia or cancer, doctors plan to address the public once they can figure out what illness plagues Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian liberation movement and demagogue behind the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Earlier in his transport from the West Bank to Paris, various aides to Arafat commented on his chances at a quick recovery. Recent developments in his condition, most of which pointing toward a degradation of his health, leave many of his aides at a loss for words. Leila Shahid, a Palestinian envoy, told the BBC "Obviously in his case, there could be setbacks at times and this is a setback."
If Arafat's health continues to deteriorate, many question the future of the Palestinian cause for independence. Arafat, a leader of the Palestinian cause since the first Intifada in the mid-Seventies, remains active within Israeli-Palestinian politics and his influence permeates nearly every discussion between the two nations leaving many wondering who could replace him as a spokesperson for Palestinians.
Sudan Defends Decision to Relocate Refugees
Citing concerns over the safety of the ever-increasing number of refugees from the burgeoning civil war in the nation, the Sudanese government made efforts to move many of those forced from their homes because of the bitter fighting and the high rate of civilian casualties.
After the Janjaweed militia, a pro-Sudanese government group, began forcing people from their homes in the north of the country, the borders of the nation swelled with refugees fleeing the violence caused by the fighting between the Janjaweed and rebel militias. Recent attacks on the refugee camps by the Janjaweed led the Sudanese government send many people back to the villages they fled from earlier.
United Nations human rights experts concluded that the movement of refugees violates the rights of those moved, drawing further criticism from the organization - a central concern for Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Responding the claims made by the United Nations, Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said, "It is the responsibility of the government to move [refugees] to a suitable place."
Current figures project that over 250 people have moved out of refugee camps within the past week, and more people are to be moved shortly.
North Korea Warned by United Nations Weapons Inspector
Worldwide concerns over the nuclear capabilities of North Korea prompted the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed El Baradei to offer warning to North Korea over their unwillingness to allow inspectors back into the country.
Frustrated by North Korean hostility toward IAEA inspection and six-member discussions over the state of their nuclear energy program, El Baradei said that the world community would only be interested in helping the impoverished nation if they cooperated with inspectors.
"A prerequisite is for them to commit themselves to full, verifiable, dismantlement of their weapons program," said El Baradei late last week.
Without urging North Korea to dismantle their nuclear program, El Baradei suggested that the only way for the struggling nation to receive international aid would be through full cooperation with inspectors - a prospect that looks less than likely after the nation withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty two years ago. The rhetoric of George W. Bush in his 2002 State of the Union Address put focus on the actions of North Korea, and deemed it as a possible threat to American and worldwide security due to their uncooperative relationship with the United Nations. After the famous "axis of evil" mentioning, North Korea continued along a path of nuclear technology and diplomatic isolation which spurned concern from many nations faced with the threat of nuclear war and terrorism.