The European Parliament simply can't go on with 'business as ususal in its dialog with the Duma' says MeP Kristiina Ojuland (Estonia), the shadow rapporter on Russia. "After the December resolution acknowledging that Duma elections in Russia were neither free not fair, it would be utterly false to pretend that the current institution can be a relevant partner, representing the interests of Russian people" she said. Ms Ojuland is sceptical about the possibility to use gas as a weapon by Kremlin, although it happened in the past because the EU-Russia relations is much more complex than that.
Read more... Lesotho is the ‘kingdom in the sky’ for good reason. This stunningly beautiful, mountainous country is nestled island-like in the middle of South Africa and it is a fascinating travel detour from its larger neighbour. The best kept secret of the mountain kingdom is Afri-Ski – a mountain magic dream of snow, sun, fun and laughter, located in the northern part of Lesotho.
Read more... A new oil-drilling company will soon be opened within Kazakhstan to create jobs for the inhabitants of the little town of Zhanaozen which is recovering after the outbreak of violence that started after the clashes between striking workers of ‘KazMunayGas’ and police during the celebration of independence day. With the recent appointment of Layzzat Kiinov as a chief executive of the ‘KazMunayGas’ national company and Alik Aidarbayev as a director of the 'KazMunasGas Exploration & Production company' President Nursultan Nazarbayev expects to improve the effectiveness of management, allowing a breakthrough in finding lasting solutions for protracted labour dispute.
Read more... ‘The resolution of the dispute between the workers and management of the oil company in Zhanaozen is in progress’ said Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerik Utembayev to EU Reporter today.‘It is good news for everybody at New Year’s eve, first of all for people of the Mangistau region’. At the moment a governmental commission is in charge of an intense search for a lasting and satisfactory solution to the socio-economic problems of the region. ‘Clearly it is a challenge to find a comprehensive solution to compensate for lost jobs, but one should start somewhere, - continued the Ambassador. – “People were proposed a range of solutions from moving to the other regions to construction works to restore their own town”.
Read more... ‘We are prepared to receive EU independent experts to carry out an investigation into the events in West Kazakhstan with maximum openness’ – said Kazakhstan ambassador to the EU Yerik Utembayev at a press-conference in Brussels. He confirmed his readiness to brief the journalist ‘every day, as much as required’. “Unarmed police came to secure the festivities at Zhanaozen main square,” he continued in an attempt to clarify the sequence of events surrounding the fatal shootings on the Kazakh independence anniversary day. “What would they do in Brussels if a crowd attacked the police?’
Read more... As Russian President Medvedev arrived in Brussels for talks with the EU, the European Parliament’s passed a majority resolution joining calls for Russia to annul the results of its parliamentary elections. On the eve of the EU-Russia Summit on 15th December, pro-Putin and pro-democracy forces tried to influence the EU position towards the Russian parliamentary elections and beyond.
Read more... I recently returned from a trip to the Middle East where I saw the progressive effect that a strong civil society can have. I was able to see the contrast, not between two states, Israel and Palestine, but between three clearly distinct polities: Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
Read more... Erik Aerts evaluates Youngpress, a recent three day conference on the future of journalism in Antwerp (Belgium).
Read more... During YoungPress.eu journalist Alex Wood presented his views about experimentation with online reporting. He stressed the importance of design for experiencing a strong narrative. “Journalism shouldn’t be reduced to bricks of information, but can deliver an exploration of a subject.
Read more... For a treaty ratified in Britain in the same year as the Profumo Affair that would bring down Harold MacMillan’s government, that the French Foreign Legion pulled out of Algeria and Doctors Watson, Crick and Wilkins won the Nobel Prize for unravelling the structure of DNA, it The Social Charter remains remarkably potent. And clearly very necessary.
Read more...

I’ll give this regime not more than three years! – Russian opposition politician Mikhail Kasyanov said at the hearing of European Parliament on Russia. The middle class of Russia, the educated population of big cities will claim respect for their Constitutional rights. The aspiration for democracy will only increase in time’. He underlined that the presidential elections will not be free and fair in spite of camera’s installed next to each transparent ballot-box, because in a decade Vladimir Putin has done his utmost to eliminate any political competition.
Read more... The extraordinary elections to the Parliament of Kazakhstan didn’t bring any surprises – a major victory belongs to ‘Nur Otan’ led by incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbaev
Read more... All Kazakh high officials, including ministers, heads of departments, governors, - will have all to celebrate the New Year in Kazakhstan. According to the latest presidential order there is a ban on spending the official holidays abroad. Diplomatic sources at the Kazakh embassy in Brussels confirmed to EU Reporter that the ban includes all official holidays of the forthcoming year. The debate on the ethical aspects of spending holidays abroad by top civil servants and their spouses is not new, in some countries it is seen as an unpatriotic gesture.
Read more... Iraq and the United Nations have agreed to re-settle more than 3,000 alleged terrorist Iranian exiles who have been based at a refugee camp near Baghdad since the 1980s. The residents of Camp Ashraf were part of the banned terrorist organisation the People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, which fought alongside Iraqi soldiers during the Iran-Iraq war. The organisation is on the EU's blacklist of banned terrorist organisations.
Read more... The Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho BENELUX/EU has the honour to present the compliments and wishes of a blessed Christmas filled with Happiness and a Happy New Year 2012 full of Prosperity!
Read more... According to opinion polls the leading party of Kazakhstan popular-democratic ‘NUr Otan’ led by president Nursultan Nazarbaev remains favorite to win the forthcoming parliamentary elections on 15th January 2012. The largest Central Asian state, Kazakhstan has managed to stay untouched by conflicts which occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite over 140 disparate ethnic groups the country remains the only Central Asian state to avoid ethnic and religious disputes.
Read more... 2011 is a landmark year for Kazakhstan. Twenty years ago, on December 16 1991, President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Constitutional Law “On State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
Read more... Last month’s shooting at US embassy in Sarajevo was a stark reminder that ethnic tensions still run high in the region.
Read more... Paul Lewis (The Guardian) reflects on the future of journalism. His article was written for Youngpress.eu, a conference in Antwerp, Belgium.
Read more... The foyer of the European Parliament in Brussels is the venue for an exhibition of gold and silver treasures from Bulgaria, paying homage the Bulgaria’s ancestors from Thracia. Thracia - Тракия in Bulgarian, - was the name of a province of the Roman empire in Macedonia.
Read more...