Chronology of Major Conflicts and Political Events - IEMed
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Chronologies
Appendices
Chronology of Major Conflicts
and Political Events
Chronologies
January 2014 months. On 21 January the Portuguese Monaco
debt drops from 5% for the first time
In Spain, the implementation of the since August 2010. • On 8 January the staff at the Hotel
new education bill finds opposition de Paris end an eight-day strike, the
from five autonomous regions. In Spain longest in Monaco’s history, after agree-
France, thousands demonstrate ing with the management to renegotiate
against the President François Hol- • On 8 January the Civil Guard arrests their salaries and contracts.
lande the same month that the govern- eight people accused of coordinating
ment approves fresh cuts. Monaco and carrying out orders from outside the Italy
experiences the longest strike in its country from the Euskadi ta Askatasuna
history. In Italy, the Agriculture Minister terrorist group (ETA) for their imprisoned • On 11-12 January the Italian navy
resigns. Malta and the European Com- members. rescues more than 400 immigrants.
mission reach an agreement on the • On 15 January the Spanish Wind • On 16 January the press reports the
Maltese Nationality Law. Croatia extra- Energy Association announces that, dur- Northern League’s (Padanian separa-
dites Josip Perkovic. Serbia begins EU ing 2013, Spain became the first and tist) latest move in its racist campaign
350
accession negotiations. The crisis in only country to have wind as its main against the Integration Minister Cecile
the government coalitions of Montene- source of energy. Kyenge, of Congolese origin, consisting
gro, Serbia and FYROM forces the • On 29 January five autonomous re- in the League’s newspaper, La Padania,
governments to consider early elec- gions express their opposition to the publishing Kyenge’s daily itinerary so
tions. In Kosovo, the former Serbian application of the Education Reform that its readers can harass her.
Minister for Kosovo is arrested ac- Bill approved in November 2013 by the • On 22 January 90 people are ar-
cused of war crimes. Greece imprisons parliamentary majority of the ruling rested in an operation against the
three members of the Golden Dawn People’s Party (PP, centre-right). Camorra Contini clan in Campania, Lazio
party for belonging to a criminal or- and Tuscany.
ganisation. In Turkey, the crisis be- France • On 26 January the Agriculture Minister
tween the government and the courts Nunzia De Girolamo (New Centre-Right)
continues over a corruption case in- • On 1 January Mayotte officially be- resigns over the government’s failure to
volving the leadership of the governing comes the ninth ultra-peripheral region defend her honour in relation to a court
AKP. In Syria, the regime continues its of the EU. investigation into influence peddling.
advance to recover control of areas in • On 9 January, at the request of the
rebel hands, while the Geneva II talks Interior Minister Manuel Valls, the Malta
are in progress. In The Hague, the Council of State cancels a perfor-
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trial begins for the murder of the Leba- mance in Nantes by Dieudonné, an • On 29 January Malta and the Euro-
nese President Rafiq Hariri. Egypt ap- anti-Semitic singer of Cameroon ori- pean Commission reach an agreement
proves the new constitution in a refer- gin, saying that it would incite racial on the Maltese citizenship law under
endum. In Libya, there are fresh hatred. which nationality can be bought for
outbreaks of violence in Sebha. Tunisia • On 14 January the President Fran- 650,000 euros, introducing an addi-
approves the new constitution and çois Hollande announces a long pro- tional requisite of uninterrupted resi-
names the interim government. cess to lower its national debt and pub- dency for a minimum of 15 months.
lic deficit, with budget cuts amounting
Portugal to 65 billion euros. Croatia
• On 26 January thousands demon-
• On 9 January Portugal issues long- strate in Paris calling for the resignation • On 9 January the Court of Velika Gor-
term debt for the first time in eight of the government. ica refuses to extradite the former headof the Yugoslav secret service Zdravko • On 28 January the former Serbian Cyprus
Appendices
Mustac to Germany for the 1983 murder Minister for Kosovo Affairs Oliver Ivanovic
in Munich of dissident Stjepan Djurekovic. is arrested in Kosovo suspected of com- • On 22 January the government ap-
The decision contrasts with that taken the mitting war crimes between 1999 and proves the draft bill to create a dispute
previous day by a court in Zagreb, and 2000. His arrest sparks protests in Bel- tribunal.
confirmed on 21 January by the Supreme grade and Mitrovica, where Ivanovic is • On 28 January Northern Cyprus
Court, which approves the extradition of emerging as a favourite in the city’s may- abolishes the law that criminalises ho-
Chronologies
former Yugoslavian intelligence chief Jo- oral elections scheduled for 23 February, mosexuality.
sip Perkovic, in the same case. after, on 11 January, the winner of the
November 2013 elections, Krstimir Pan- Syria
Montenegro tic, turns down the post, in a tacit re-
fusal to recognise Kosovo’s sovereignty. • On 3 January a major offensive be-
• On 25 January the Social Demo- gins, which continues throughout the
cratic Party (SDP) traditional ally of the FYROM month, led by the Free Syrian Army
governing Democratic Party of Social- (FSA) and the Islamic Front against the
ists (DPS) agrees to collaborate with • On 30 January the Internal Macedo- Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
the opposition Positive Montenegro nian Revolutionary Organisation – Dem- (ISIS).
Party, also social democratic, accelerat- ocratic Party for Macedonian National • On 9 January the National Coalition
ing the possibility of a split in the coali- Unity (VMRO-DPMNE, conservative) of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition
tion government. and its coalition partner the Democratic Forces (NCSROF) announces its deci-
Union for Integration (DUI, Albanian na- sion to re-elect Ahmad Jarba as its
Serbia tionalist) agree to hold early presidential president.
elections. • On 22 January the Geneva II Peace
• On 21 January Serbia initiates EU Conference begins, marked by the con-
accession negotiations. Greece troversial absence of Iran and aimed at
• On 25 January the Economy Minister deciding on a transitional government.
Sasa Radulovic (Serbian Progressive • On 6 January Greece files a com- On 30 January the talks end without
Party, SNS, conservative) resigns over plaint against the Troika to the European reaching an agreement.
his failure to reach an agreement with Parliament for making incorrect calcula-
351
trade unions to liberalise the labour mar- tions on the implementation of the re- Lebanon
ket. His departure intensifies the crisis quired austerity measures and the effects
in the coalition government and increas- they would have on the Greek economy. • On 16 January the trial in absentia
es the chances of early elections. The country urges the EU to extend the begins at the Special Tribunal for Leba-
• On 29 January the former President repayment deadlines and lower the in- non in The Hague against four members
Boris Tadic leaves the Democratic Par- terests of the economic bailout. of Hezbollah for the murder in 2005 of
ty (DS, social democratic) because of • On 11 January three Golden Dawn the Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and an-
disagreements with the leadership. members are jailed pending trial for be- other 21 people.
longing to a criminal organisation. With • On 16 January five people are killed
Kosovo under United Nations Security this ruling from the Greek judiciary, five in an attack in Hermel, a Hezbollah
Council Resolution 1244 of the 19 MPs from the neo-Nazi party stronghold. On 21 January another four
are behind bars. people are killed in a fresh attack in
• On 11 January Albania and Kosovo Haret Hreik. This brings the number of
hold their first bilateral summit in Prizren Turkey attacks against Hezbollah to five since
to advance together on their respective the group announced its participation in
European accession processes. • On 7 January the government sacks the Syrian conflict in June 2013.
• On 15 January radical Kosovo Serbs, the police chiefs of 15 provinces. The • On 17 January seven people are killed
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opposed to the agreement between dismissals add to those carried out by mortar shells fired from Syria into
Belgrade and Kosovo to normalise bi- since December 2013 and affect Arsal. With a majority Sunni population
lateral relations, murder Dimitrije Janici- around a thousand police officers inves- in favour of the Syrian revolution, Arsal
jevic, the Kosovo Serb municipal coun- tigating a possible corruption case that has virtually been shelled on a daily basis.
cillor in Mitrovica and member of the involves the ruling Justice and Develop-
Kosovo coalition government. ment Party (AKP, Islamist). Egypt
• On 27 January the Parliament fails to • On 9 January the government pre-
agree on a constitutional modification sents a draft bill to limit access to the • On 9 January 113 Muslim Brother-
proposed by the ruling Democratic Internet and monitor what pages users hood members are handed down sen-
Party of Kosovo (PDK, centre-right) to are visiting, as part of a new block of tences of up to three years’ imprisonment.
reserve 20 seats for Montenegrin and conservative regulations presented by • On 14-15 January Egypt holds the
Croatian minorities. the Ministry of Family and Social Policy. referendum for the new constitution.Confrontations and clashes break out • On 21 January the Interior Minister Mauritania
Appendices
between Muslim Brotherhood support- submits a report to the GNC that docu-
ers and security forces leaving at least ments 643 political assassinations dur- • On 2 January the journalist Mo-
nine dead and 444 arrested. On 18 ing 2013 and reveals serious breaches hamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed is ar-
January the Electoral Commission an- in domestic security. rested in Nouadhibou accused of
nounces that 98.1% of voters have ap- • On 29 January the deputy Prime Min- apostasy.
proved the new constitution with a ister and Interior Minister Seddik Ab-
Chronologies
38.6% turnout. delkarim survives an assassination at- EU
• On 22 January the Muslim Brother- tempt in Tripoli.
hood and the Alliance to Support Le- • On 1 January Greece takes over the
gitimacy, call for 19 days of protest Tunisia EU Presidency with priorities of fighting
against the government sparking unrest against youth unemployment, reducing
throughout the month. • On 9 January the Prime Minister Ali illegal immigration, strengthening the
• On 27 January the social democrat Larayedh resigns to make way for the monetary and banking union and pro-
deputy Prime Minister and International new interim government of Mehdi moting a safety-focused European
Cooperation Minister Ziad Baha el-Din Jomaa, who was elected the new Prime maritime policy.
announces his resignation, saying that Minster in December 2013. Larayedh • On 1 January Latvia officially adopts
his decision is coherent with the transi- also cancels the new taxation on agri- the euro as its currency.
tional process. cultural vehicles from the 2014 Finance • On 16 January the European Parlia-
• On 27 January the Supreme Council Law, which has sparked protests since ment approves the requirement for all
of the Armed Forces authorises the vice December. members to respect the right to free
President and Defence Minister Abdel • On 10 January the US adds Ansar movement, including for Romanians
Fattah Al-Sisi to run in the next presi- al-Sharia to its list of terrorist organisa- and Bulgarians, for who restrictions
dential elections. tions. were lifted on 1 January.
• On 28 January Mohammad Saeed, • On 15 January the members of the
head of the Technical Office of the In- High Electoral Commission take their
terior Minister is assassinated in Giza. posts after being elected on 8 January. February 2014
• On 31 January Saudi Arabia an- • On 26 January the National Assem-
nounces a new 4-billion-dollar aid pack- bly approves the new constitution with
352
age for Egypt. 200 votes in favour, 12 against and four Spain faces an immigration crisis at
abstentions. the Melilla border. In France a new
Libya • On 29 January the new government demonstration is held in protest
is approved by the National Assembly. against the policies of François Hol-
• On 8 January the self-declared au- lande. In Italy, Matteo Renzi becomes
tonomous government of Cyrenaica an- Algeria the new Prime Minister. Switzerland
nounces that it will resume oil exports caps the number of Croatian citizens
outside of state control. • On 7 January an agreement between allowed entry into the country. In Bos-
• On 9 January clashes break out in Algeria, Statoil and British Petroleum is nia a wave of protests erupts against
Sabha, Fezzan, between the Toubou announced to resume gas production government mismanagement and cor-
community and the Awlad Suleiman mi- in Tiguentourine, a year after the terror- ruption. The second round of interna-
litias. On 20 January the situation wors- ist attack and kidnapping carried out by tional negotiations on Syria ends with-
ens with the capture of the Tamenhet the el-Moulathamine Brigade. out an agreement. Lebanon forms a
military base by Gaddafist militias. On • On 17 January Algeria calls presi- new government. In Egypt, the gov-
18 January the General National Con- dential elections for 17 April. ernment resigns and Ibrahim Mahlab
gress (GNC, Parliament) declares a • On 13 January the government de- is appointed the new Prime Minister.
state of emergency and approves mili- ploys 3,000 soldiers and police officers In Libya, new protests denounce the
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tary intervention. On 27 January the to control unrest between Malikis and extension of the General Nation Con-
death toll rises to 99. On 29 January the Ibadis in Ghardaia. gress’ mandate in the same month
army and Misrata Battalion take back that the country elects the Constituent
the Tamenhet base. Morocco Assembly. In Algeria, the Islamist par-
• On 12 January Abd-Rabbo al-Bar- ties announce that they will boycott
assi, Prime Minister of the self-de- • On 17 January the government an- the presidential elections. In Maurita-
clared autonomous region of Cyrenai- nounces the suspension of gasoline and nia, a new government is formed. Ten-
ca, survives an assassination attempt fuel oil subsidies. sion mounts in Ukraine over whether
in Bayda. • On 22 January the Parliament ap- the country should align with the Eu-
• On 12 January the deputy Minister proves the deletion of a paragraph from ropean expansion process or remain
of Industry Hasan al-Droui is assassi- the Penal Code that absolves the rapist in the Russian orbit.
nated in Sirte. of a minor if he marries his victim.Portugal a new reformist government, which he Serbia
Appendices
presents to the President Giorgio Na-
• On 7 February the Parliament politano on 17 February. • On 13 February Dragan Tomic, MP
amends the 2014 budget with cuts on • On 20 February the Parliament ap- in the ruling Serbian Progressive Party,
pensions, amounting to over 1,000 eu- proves the new party financing law is arrested for financial wrongdoings
ros per month, and an increase in health which will end public financing of parties related to affairs of Univerzal Banka.
insurance contributions for civil servants between now and 2017. • On 15 February thousands gather in
Chronologies
to mitigate the effects of miscalculations • On 25 February Matteo Renzi con- Nis and Novi Sad to demand that meas-
made by the Constitutional Court in De- solidates his position in the government ures be taken against the increase in
cember 2013 regarding the reduction after winning a parliamentary confidence violence in the country.
in civil servant pensions. vote.
• On 12 February the IMF authorises Kosovo under United Nations Security
a new aid tranche for Portugal of 910 Slovenia Council Resolution 1244
million euros.
• On 24 February the Parliament ap- • On 5 February the Transport Minister
Spain proves the appointment of Metod Drag- and vice-President of the ruling PDK
onja as Minister of the Economy, Alenka Fatmir Limaj and the Parliament Speak-
• On 6 February nine sub-Saharans die Trop Skaza as Health Minister and er Jakup Krasniqi leave their party to join
trying to swim across the Spanish-Mo- Gorazd Zmavc as Minister for the Dias- the opposition over disagreements with
roccan border into Ceuta in the area of pora. the leadership.
Tarajal, on a day on which a further 300 • On 5 February Uke Rugova, son of
illegal immigrants try unsuccessfully to Croatia the former President Ibrahim Rugova is
enter Spanish territory. On 28 February arrested at the request of the EU rule-
214 sub-Saharans successfully enter • On 16 February Switzerland an- of-law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) for
Melilla in a mass assault on the border nounces that it will not grant freedom of his involvement in organised crime.
fence, the fifth since the year began. residence to Croatian nationals. On 18 • On 11 February Serbia’s war crimes
February Switzerland reaches an agree- court sentences nine members of the
France ment with the EU under German me- paramilitary group The Jackals to be-
diation to establish a cap, after the EU tween two and 20 years in prison for the
353
• On 2 February a large conservative suspends Switzerland’s involvement in murder of more than 120 ethnic Alba-
demonstration in Paris protests against the Erasmus and Horizon 2020 pro- nians during the Kosovo conflict.
the government’s policies, particularly grammes on 17 February. • On 20 February EULEX presses
the same-sex marriage and adoption fresh charges against Fatmir Limaj for
law. Bosnia and Herzegovina corruption and involvement in organised
crime.
Monaco • On 5-6 February unrest erupts in • On 23 February the pro-Serbian
Tuzla between police and demonstra- candidate Goran Rakic wins Mitrovica’s
• On 12 February the company Borg- tors protesting against job losses after municipal elections.
Warner announces the closure of its the privatisation of several public com-
Monaco factory, which will lead to the panies. As of 8 February the protests FYROM
dismissal of 153 workers. This adds to and unrest, the worst in 20 years,
the closure of the Mercaplast factory, spread to several areas of Bosnia de- • On 1 February Albania and FYROM
which resulted in 85 dismissals in 2013. manding political reform and measures fail to reach an agreement in the nego-
to be taken against corruption, to create tiations over Skopje’s plans to build a
Italy jobs and improve the governability of dam in Radika River, cause for concern
this fragmented country. in Tirana due to the project’s possible
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• On 4 February Mariano Riccio is ar- repercussions on water levels of the
rested in Naples, head of the Amato- Montenegro Drin River that generates Albania’s elec-
Pagano Camorra clan. tricity.
• On 5 February the Italian navy res- • On 15 February clashes break out in • On 18 February unrest erupts in
cues 1,123 sub-Saharans in waters Podgorica between the police and anti- Skopje between police and demonstra-
around Lampedusa. government protesters. tors protesting against the cuts and
• On 14 February Enrico Letta resigns • On 19 February the opposition Dem- privatisations.
after losing the support of his party and ocratic Front announces a parliamen-
other groups that supported his govern- tary boycott against the decision taken Albania
ment. The move leads the secretary by the ruling DPS to vote against the
general of the Democratic Party (PD electoral law reform required to advance • On 20 February the Democratic
social democrat), Matteo Renzi, to form in the EU accession process. Party (DP, centre-right) leads a dem-onstration against the ruling Socialist Syria Libya
Appendices
Party, which it accuses of failing to
keep electoral promises and authori- • On 3 February at least 36 people are • On 3 February the Prime Minister
tarianism. killed in Syrian air strikes on Aleppo, Ali Zeidan urges pro-autonomy dem-
adding to the 120 people killed on the onstrators who have been blocking
Greece previous two days. ports in Cyrenaica to put an end to
• On 3 February Nasser al-Qudwa, their actions, threatening them with
Chronologies
• On 5 February the former President vice-President of the international team military intervention.
of the defunct Hellenic Postbank Ange- leading the Syria peace talks is dis- • On 3 February the GNC extends its
los Filippidis is arrested for tax fraud. missed, in accordance with demands mandate, which was due to end on 7
• On 17 February the government made by Damascus. February, to be able to finish drafting the
announces that, without taking into • On 10 February a second round of constitution before August and hold
account the interest on its debt, Geneva II peace talks begins in Mon- elections at the end of 2014.
Greece registered a financial surplus treux, which ends without an agreement. • On 5 February the GNC approves
in 2013 of over 1.5 billion euros, al- • On 12 February the Syrian army and an amendment to the penal code under
though the unemployment rate contin- Hezbollah force the FSA to withdraw which anyone publicly undermining the
ued to grow, reaching 28% in Novem- from Yabroud. power of the State can be sentenced to
ber 2013. • On 16 February the FSA replaces its up to 15 years in prison.
• On 26 February dock workers go on current army chief Selim Idriss with Ab- • On 7 February a demonstration in
strike and demonstrate in Athens delilah al-Bashir. Tripoli protests against the decision to
against the partial privatisation of the • On 26 February an ambush by the extend the current GNC mandate.
Port of Piraeus. On the same day, farm- Syrian army and Hezbollah leaves 175 • On 14 February general Khalifa Haf-
ers also protest against the increase in rebels dead from the al-Nusra Front in tar, one of the revolution leaders, issues
taxes on agricultural production. Damascus. a statement in which he calls the army
• On 28 February the FSA force ISIS to take control of the country and dis-
Turkey to pull out of Azaz five months after the solve the GNC.
group took control there. • On 20 February Libya holds elec-
• On 6 February the mayor of Istanbul tions to choose the 60 members of the
Kadir Topbas presents the redevelop- Lebanon Constituent Assembly that will draft the
354
ment project for Taksim Square which new constitution.
preserves Gezi Park in its entirety. The • On 15 February after a 10-month • On 26 February the murder of two
previous project included the removal power vacuum, the Prime Minister Tam- security agents in Benghazi sparks new
of the latter triggering the largest wave mam Salam succeeds in forming a na- protests that end in clashes.
of protests seen against the government tional unity government.
in ten years. • On 19 February the jihadist group Tunisia
• On 8 February protests and unrest the Abdullah Azzam Brigades claims
erupt in Istanbul over laws that would responsibility for the double suicide • On 4 February the Interior Minister
tighten control of the Internet, approved bombing in an Iranian cultural centre in Lotfi Ben Jeddou announces the death,
on 5 February by the Parliament. Beirut, which leaves at least five dead. the previous day, of Kamel Gadhgadhi,
• On 15 February the AKP obtains one of the top leaders of Ansar al-Sh-
parliamentary approval of a law giving Egypt aria and prime suspect in the murder of
the government greater power over Chokri Belaïd in February 2013.
prosecutors and judges, in a session • On 6 February the Court of Cassa- • On 8 February security forces cap-
that ends in a brawl. tion in Cairo overrules the decision ture Ahmed Melki in Borj Louzir, sus-
made by the Port Said Criminal Court, pected of murdering Mohamed Brahmi
Cyprus which sentenced 21 people to death for in July 2013.
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the massacre at the Port Said football • On 10 February the Religious Af-
• On 11 February reunification nego- stadium in February 2012. fairs Minister Mounir Tlili announces
tiations resume after an 18-month • On 7 February at least three people are the government’s plans to stop imams
break, provoking the Democratic Par- killed in al-Fayum, Minia and Giza in pro- interfering in the nation’s political af-
ty’s (DIKO, centre-right) departure tests called by the Muslim Brotherhood. fairs.
from the government coalition on 26 • On 24 February the Prime Minister • On 14 February the Interior Minister
February. Hazem el-Beblawi and his government announces stricter controls on people
• On 27 February the Parliament re- resign. On 25 February the President wearing the full veil (niqab).
jects the law to privatise state compa- Adly Mansour names the Housing Min- • On 17 February a demonstration in
nies, set as a prerequisite by the Troika ister Ibrahim Mahlab, from the banned Jendouba condemns the murder of four
for the fourth tranche of the financial Democratic National Party (PND) as the people at the hands of Islamist militants
bail-out. new Prime Minister. on 15 February.Algeria tion in EU relations towards signing the Spain
Appendices
Stabilisation and Association Agree-
• On 15 February the Islamist Front of ment. The new government issues an • On 22 March the so-called Dignity
Justice and Development, Ennahdha arrest warrant for Yanukovych, who flees Marches arrive in Madrid which set off
and the Movement of Society for Peace first to secessionist and pro-Russian from different parts of the country in
announce that they will boycott the Crimea and then Russia. Moscow re- February to protest against the auster-
presidential elections in April. calls its ambassador to Ukraine and ity policies. The protests end in violent
Chronologies
says the new government is not legiti- clashes with police.
Morocco mate. NATO promises to defend Ukraine • On 23 March Adolfo Suarez, the first
if tensions heighten in Crimea, where Prime Minister of Spain’s current de-
• On 19 February a court in Casa- pro-Russian militants take over the re- mocracy and a key figure in the transi-
blanca orders the Takfiri imam Abdelha- gional government on 27 February and tion, dies.
mid Abounaim to pay 45 euros and the main airports the following day. • On 25 March the Constitutional
gives him a month’s suspended prison Court confirms that the Catalonian
sentence for defamation against Driss government’s decision to hold a refer-
Lachgar, member of the Socialist Union March 2014 endum on self-determination is uncon-
of Popular Forces (USFP), who he ac- stitutional.
cused of apostasy in December 2013 Police in Portugal go on strike. In Spain,
for calling for a ban on polygamy. the former Prime Minister Adolfo Su- France
arez dies. France holds municipal elec-
Mauritania tions. In Italy, the government approves • On 11 March the Prime Minister
new anti-crisis measures and the high Jean-Marc Ayrault admits that both he
• On 12 February the Prime Minister court confirms Silvio Berlusconi’s ban and the Justice Minister Christiane
Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf an- from public office. In Bosnia, the Inte- Taubira knew that telephone conversa-
nounces the composition of the new rior Minister is sacked by the Parlia- tions between the former President
government, following the victory of the ment. In Serbia, the Progressive Party Nicolas Sarkozy and his lawyer Thierry
Union of Democratic Forces (UFD, so- wins in the parliamentary elections. Herzog were being tapped in February
cialist) in the November and December Kosovo announces plans to create its 2013 on the orders of judges 6 months
elections. The Defence, Interior, For- own army. In Turkey, the AKP wins the earlier, in the investigation into the Ka-
355
eign, Finance and Justice Ministers re- municipal elections, the same month rachi corruption case.
tain their posts. that the government tries to block the • On 23 and 30 March France holds
social network Twitter and closes down municipal elections with a record ab-
EU a network of Hizmet schools, which is stention rate of 38.5%. The Socialist
critical of government policies. In Cy- Party (PS), with 40.5% of the votes, is
• On 11 February the EU warns Swit- prus there are changes in the cabinet defeated by the centre-right parties
zerland that bilateral relations will suffer and the management of the Central who obtain 45.1%. The PS retains con-
if Berne sets quotas for EU workers or Bank. In Syria, the army makes fresh trol in Paris but loses 151 towns while
limits the free movement of people, advances. In Egypt, the new govern- the Union for a Popular Movement
measures called for by the ultra-con- ment takes over and Abdel Fattah Al- (UMP, centre-right) wins 142 and the
servative Democratic Union of the Cen- Sisi announces his candidacy in the National Front (FN, far-right) finishes in
tre and approved in a referendum. presidential elections in May, while an third position with 6.85% and winning
• On 21 February the EU agrees to Egyptian court hands down death sen- 11 towns.
impose sanctions on the government of tences to 529 members of the Muslim
Ukraine for the use of violence against Brotherhood. In Libya, the Prime Min- Monaco
demonstrators who, since November ister Ali Zeidan is dismissed. In Tunisia,
2014, have been calling for Kiev to leave the government lifts the nationwide • On 18 March public city mainte-
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Russia’s orbit and move towards the state of emergency. Algeria prepares for nance workers go on strike against the
EU. On the same day, the Ukrainian presidential elections in April, in which reduction of their weekly working
President Viktor Yanukovych announces Abdelaziz Bouteflika will run for re- hours from 40 to 37.5 hours and to
his resignation and calls early elections election, who also approves changes in demand that retirement age be raised
for 2014 after reaching an agreement his cabinet. The EU is largely focused from 60 to 65.
with the opposition, and the Verkhovna on Crimea’s secession from Ukraine.
Rada votes to release the former Prime Italy
Minister and opposition leader Yulia Ty- Portugal
moshenko. On 24 February the Rada • On 4 March the Undersecretary for
appoints Tymoshenko’s right hand Olek- • On 7 March thousands of police Infrastructure Antonio Gentile resigns
sandr Turchynov the acting President. officers protest in Lisbon against the accused of pressuring the newspaper
Turchynov announces a change in direc- government’s austerity measures. L'Ora della Calabria not to publish in-formation implicating his son in a cor- Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS, con- coma after being hit by a tear-gas can-
Appendices
ruption scandal. servative) and United Regions of Serbia ister during anti-government protests
• On 12 March the Chamber of Depu- (URS, liberal) respectively. in June 2013.
ties approves the election reform law • On 20 March the government
presented by the government aimed at Kosovo under United Nations Security blocks access to Twitter alleging that
ending Italy’s history of political instability. Council Resolution 1244 the social network has been used by
• On 18 March the Supreme Court its political enemies, after recordings
Chronologies
confirms the former Prime Minister Silvio • On 4 March the Prime Minister are posted pointing to the Prime Min-
Berlusconi’s two-year ban from public Hashim Thaci announces plans to trans- ister’s possible involvement in a cor-
office over the Mediaset corruption case. form the current security forces into a ruption scandal.
• On 21 March over 4,000 illegal im- full-fledged army. He also announces • On 30 March the AKP wins in the
migrants are rescued in the Strait of Sic- that the Ministry of Security will become municipal elections with 45.6% of the
ily after four days of operations. the Ministry of Defence. votes. The Republican People’s Party
• On 10 March the OSCE confirms (CHP, Kemalist) obtains 28%, the Na-
Slovenia that Serb residents in Kosovo will be tionalist Movement Party (MHP, far-
able to vote in the Serbian elections on right) 15.3% and the Peace and De-
• On 12 March the European Court of 16 March. mocracy Party (BDP, social democrat,
Human Rights orders Slovenia to pay • On 20 March a demonstration in Priz- Kurdish nationalist 6%.
compensation of between 29,400 and ren calls for the resignation of its mayor
72,770 euros to six Yugoslavs whose Ramadan Muja after being found guilty Cyprus
residency rights were illegally removed by a EULEX court for abuse of office.
after failing to apply for Slovenian citi- • On 11 March Chrystalla Georgh-
zenship in 1991. FYROM adji is appointed Governor of the Cen-
tral Bank of Cyprus.
Croatia • On 5 March the Parliament is dis- • On 4 March the Parliament pass-
solved after the main parties agree to es a bill to privatise the main public
• On 3 March Croatia asks the United hold early parliamentary elections in services, set as a condition by the
Nations International Court of Justice to April. EU and IMF for the disbursement of
come to a decision on whether Serbia fresh aid.
356
committed Genocide in Vukovar, Slavo- Greece • On 12 March the President Nicos
nia, during the Balkans War. Serbia, for Anastasiades appoints Costas Kadis,
its part, accuses Croatia of the same • On 31 March the Parliament ap- Philippos Patsalis and Tasos Mitsopou-
acts in Vukovar when it launched Op- proves fresh cuts to guarantee the los the Ministers of Education, Health
eration Storm. continuation of the EU and IMF bailout. and Defence respectively to replace
The reform also includes, however, 527 three ministers from the DIKO party,
Bosnia and Herzegovina million euros to be spent on the coun- which abandoned the government
try’s poorest, funded by 2013’s budg- coalition in February.
• On 12 March the European Commis- et surplus.
sion urges Bosnia to pass the law on Syria
money laundering and financing terror- Turkey
ism, blocked until now by Bosnian Serb • On 13 March the Parliament pass-
MPs who demand that these matters be • On 12 March the President Abdul- es a new election law which, in prac-
dealt with by the entities and not the lah Gul passes a bill to close down the tice, excludes practically all opposition
Federal Parliament. Hizmet school network, which follows candidates from running for the pres-
• On 14 March the Federal Parliament the doctrine of Fethullah Gülen, Islam- idency.
dismisses the Interior Minister Fahrudin ist cleric and former ally of the Prime • On 14 March the besieged rebels
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Radoncic for failing to prevent the vio- Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in Barzeh reach a ceasefire agreement
lence triggered by anti-government pro- which has great influence over wide with the government.
tests in February. sectors of the State. The decision • On 16 March the army takes back
comes after an alleged corruption Yabroud, the last rebel stronghold on
Serbia scandal involving the AKP instigated the Lebanese border.
by supporters of Gülen. • On 20 March the army takes back
• On 16 March Serbia holds a general • On 13 March two people are killed control of the Krac des Chevaliers Castle.
election. The conservative SNS of dep- in clashes that erupt in several cities • On 22 March the Turkish air force
uty Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic between police and opposing demon- shoots down a Syrian fighter-bomber
wins with 48.8% of the votes. On 19 strators, Islamists and leftists, sparked allegedly violating Turkish airspace.
March Vojislav Kostunica and Mladjan by the funeral of Berkin Elvan, who has • On 25 March the Ansar al-Sham
Dinkic step down as leaders of the died nine months after falling into a Brigade take Samra, Latakia.Lebanon • On 11 March the GNC dismisses EU
Appendices
the Prime Minister Ali Zeidan replacing
• On 5 March Syria again fires mortar him with the Defence Minister Abdul- • On 2 March NATO, the US and the
shells at the border town of Arsal. lah al-Thani. The move comes after the EU urge Russia to halt its military mobi-
• On 16 March four people are killed Libyan navy’s failure to stop a North lisation in Crimea. Ukraine calls up its
in a suicide bomb attack in Nabi Oth- Korean tanker loaded with oil supplied military reserves. The G7 cancels its July
man, under Hezbollah control. by Cyrenaica’s federalists from break- G8 summit in Sochi. On 3 March Rus-
Chronologies
• On 27 March a soldier is murdered ing the naval blockade imposed by sia accepts Germany’s proposal to cre-
in Tripoli during clashes between Sun- Tripoli, and in response to the rejec- ate a contact group to initiate political
nis and Alawites, which have already tion of the extension of the Parlia- dialogue on Ukraine. On 4 March in
left 28 dead over the past two weeks. ment’s mandate, which expired on 7 response to Russia’s military deploy-
February. ment, the US suspends its military and
Egypt • On 17 March a bomb attack on an trade cooperation with the country. On
army academy in Benghazi kills eight 6 March the Tartar population in the re-
• On 1 March the new caretaker gov- people. gion is mobilised to keep Crimea in
ernment is sworn into office, with 20 of • On 19 March Libya asks the United Ukraine. In Donetsk, the Ukrainian police
the 31 ministers remaining in office. Nations for international aid to re-estab- recover control of the town hall from the
• On 4 March the Cairo Court for Ur- lish internal security. pro-Russian militants that had taken
gent Matters outlaws Hamas’ activities over the building. The EU approves 11
in Egypt. Tunisia billion euros in aid to Ukraine and ac-
• On 8 March the President Adly celerates the association process with
Mansuor passes the law that will regu- • On 6 March the President Monsef Kiev, and NATO suspends its relations
late the upcoming presidential elec- Marzouki announces the end of the with Russia. On 13 March the OCDE
tions thus protecting the Electoral state of emergency. suspends membership negotiations
Commission’s decisions. • On 28 March Rachid Barauni is with Russia. On 15 March violent clash-
• On 19 March a demonstrator is named general manager of the National es break out in Donetsk between pro-
killed in clashes during a protest in Social Security Fund. Russians and pro-Ukrainians. On 16
Beni Suef in support of Mohamed March Crimea votes in favour of inde-
Morsi, on the third anniversary of the Algeria pendence from Ukraine and to join Rus-
357
first constitutional referendum. Protests sia with an absolute majority in a public
also take place in the universities of • On 3 March the President Abdelaziz referendum recognised only by Mos-
Cairo and al-Azhar. Bouteflika registers his candidacy for cow. On 17 March Vladimir Putin ratifies
• On 24 March 529 Muslim Brother- the presidential elections in the Consti- Crimea’s accession request despite
hood members are sentenced to death tutional Council. international sanctions. On 21 March
for the clashes following the dispersal • On 13 March the Energy and Mines the EU and Ukraine sign the Stabilisa-
of the Islamist protest camps in August Minister Youcef Yousfi is appointed tion and Association agreement. On 25
2013. On 25 March two new mass the new Prime Minister to replace Ab- March Russia is expelled from the G8.
trials are opened against 919 people delmalek Sellal, who will lead Boutef- • On 13 March the European Parlia-
on the same charges, among them the lika’s election campaign replacing ment gives the green light to the EU’s
Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mo- Ahmed Ouyahia, who is named the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund,
hammed Badie. presidency’s cabinet director replac- endowed with 3.1 billion euros up to
• On 25 March Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ing Mohamed Moulay Guendil. An- 2020.
steps down from his post to present other former Prime Minister, Abdelaziz • On 20 March the European Council,
his candidacy for the presidential Belkhadem, is appointed adviser to Parliament and Commission agree on a
elections. Bouteflika. mechanism to manage bankruptcies in
• On 15 March the Prime Minister financial institutions, ahead of the de-
IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2015
Libya Youcef Yousfi and Interior Minister finitive Banking Union.
Tayeb Belaiz visit Ghardaia hours after
• On 2 March two GNC members are three people are killed in ethnic clashes Arab League
injured by demonstrators opposed to in the city.
the extension of the current Parliament’s • On 25 March Kuwait hosts the 25th
mandate. Morocco Arab League Summit overshadowed by
• On 7 March several hundred Beng- political tensions between the countries
hazi residents take to the streets again • On 25 March the President of the of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the
to demand improvements in internal National Human Rights Council Driss death sentences given to 529 Islamists
security, a day after the international el-Yazami praises the government’s pro- in Egypt, a country that is requesting the
meeting held in Rome to monitor the posal to exclude civilians from being help of the pan-Arab organisation in
Libyan transition. tried by military courts. the fight against terrorism. The meetingends without reaching any decisive Spain ing the provinces and reforming the
Appendices
resolutions on Syria despite the urgent Senate.
call for help from Bashar al-Assad’s po- • On 28 April Isabel Garcia Tejerina is • On 9 April over 4,000 immigrants are
litical opposition. named Agriculture Minister to replace intercepted by Italy in just 48 hours in
Miguel Arias Cañete, who will head the the Strait of Sicily. The Interior Minister
People’s Party list in the European elec- Angelino Alfano declares that the situ-
April 2014 tions. ation is critical.
Chronologies
• On 15 April a Court in Milan orders
Portugal receives a new financial aid France Silvio Berlusconi to perform at least four
package after announcing fresh cuts. hours of community service a week in a
Italy and Croatia also approve new • On 1 April after the disastrous mu- residence for the elderly during the
austerity measures. Spain appoints a nicipal elections the government resigns course of one year, in the Mediaset case.
new Agriculture Minister. France shuf- and the President François Hollande
fles its cabinet and Manuel Valls is appoints the Interior Minister Manuel Malta
named Prime Minister. Malta elects its Valls as the new Prime Minister, who
President. In Slovenia, the change in presents his cabinet on 2 April, which • On 4 April Marie-Louise Coleiro
the leadership of Positive Slovenia includes Segolene Royal in charge of Preca, from the Labour Party, is elected
endangers the government coalition. Ecology, Arnadu Montebourg in Econ- President of Malta by the Parliament.
Kosovo approves the War Veterans omy, Michel Sapin in Finances, Bernard
law and a special court for war crimes Cazeneuve in the Interior and Benoît Slovenia
committed during the Kosovo conflict. Hamon in Education. Laurent Fabius,
In FYROM, the conservatives win both Jean-Yves Le Drian and Christiane • On 25 April the Prime Minister Alen-
the parliamentary and presidential Taubira retain their positions as the For- ka Bratusek loses the presidency of
elections. In Syria, the army launches eign, Defence and Justice Ministers Positive Slovenia, the main party of the
new offensives in Dara, Aleppo and respectively. government coalition, to the mayor of
Homs forcing more withdrawals from • On 8 April Manuel Valls announces Ljubljana Zoran Jankovic. The return
the armed opposition and Bashar al- an austerity plan that includes simplify- of Jankovic, who had to hand the pres-
Assad announces that he will run in ing administrative procedures and cuts idency of the party over to Bratusek
the presidential elections of 3 June. In of 50 billion euros, which, despite inter- after being accused of corruption, en-
358
Lebanon, the negotiations between nal disagreements in the Socialist Party, dangers the government coalition.
the political forces are yet to find a are approved by the National Assembly
candidate with the necessary consen- on 29 April. Croatia
sus to assume the presidency. Jordan
opens a new camp for Syrian refu- Monaco • On 17 April the government adopts
gees. In Egypt, protests led by the new measures to reduce the budget
Muslim Brotherhood continue amid • On 11 April France released a de- deficit from 4.5% to 0.4% of the GDP
further arrests of the organisation’s cree that reinterprets the 1963 Franco- and which include new taxes on petrol
members, in the same month that the Monegasque Fiscal Convention and and telecommunications.
judiciary confirms death or life sen- exempts French citizens born and resid-
tences for hundreds of Islamists. In ing in Monaco from paying taxes on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Libya, the recently appointed care- income earned in the principality.
taker Prime Minister Abdullah al-Tha- • On 25 April the owner of the French • On 15 April the International Criminal
ni submits his resignation. Algeria telecommunications company Free Xa- Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia re-
holds presidential elections which are vier Niel acquires 55% of Monaco Tel- jects a move to drop some of the most
won again by Abdelaziz Bouteflika. ecom. serious genocide charges against the
The EU approves new sanctions former Bosnian Serb military leader
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against Russia for its responsibility in Italy Ratko Mladic.
Ukraine’s internal crisis. • On 21 April four former Bosnian
• On 8 April the government expands Croatian paramilitary fighters are ar-
Portugal measures to reactivate economic rested by the Bosnian authorities ac-
growth, which include reducing tax cused of war crimes against the Ser-
• On 15 April the government adopts deductions on low incomes, increasing bian population of Odzak in 1992.
new austerity measures to save 1.4 bil- taxes on bank deposits to 26%, selling
lion euros and reduce the public deficit 1,500 official cars, reducing salaries Serbia
to 2.5% of GDP for 2015. of public sector managers, abolishing
• On 17 April the IMF authorises the superfluous public entities, privatising • On 14 April a court in Belgrade re-
release of Portugal’s penultimate goods and public companies, simplify- habilitates the deceased Queen Maria
851-million-euro aid tranche. ing administration procedures, abolish- of Yugoslavia ruling that she was ille-gally stripped her of her citizenship and outside the Parliament to denounce his town of Kafr Zita is victim to a poison-
Appendices
all her assets in 1947. precarious economic situation, after 20 ous gas attack.
• On 24 April Sinisa Mali, from the years waiting for compensation for the • On 16 April the Syrian army steps
Progressive Party, is elected mayor of abuses he suffered under the commu- up its offensive on the main rebel
Belgrade by the city assembly. nist dictatorship. stronghold, the city of Homs.
• On 27 April the Parliament voted in • On 22 April the MP Maher Abd al-
the new government of Aleksandar Vucic Greece Hafiz Hajjar, member of the opposition
Chronologies
whose main goal will be economic re- party tolerated by the Syrian regime,
covery. The 18-member cabinet, will • On 9 April the year’s first general has presented the first candidacy to
include three deputy Prime Ministers, strike is staged against the austerity the presidential elections, scheduled
Zorana Mihajlovic, also Public Works measures demanded by the EU and for 3 June.
and Transport Minister; Rasim Ljajic, also IMF. • On 27 April the joint mission of the
Trade, Telecommunications and Tourism • On 10 April a car bomb explodes United Nations and Organisation for
Minister; and Kori Udovicki, also Public outside the Central Bank of Greece in the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
Administration and Local Self-govern- Athens, on the same day that Greece (OPCW) reports that the Syrian regime
ment Minister. Ivica Dacic, will be the returns to the bond markets, following still holds 7.8% of their chemical arse-
new Minister of Foreign Affairs. a four-year absence, with the issue of nal, on the same day that the deadline
government bonds valued at 2.5 billion expires for its complete removal.
Kosovo under United Nations Security euros. • On 28 April Bashar al-Assad an-
Council Resolution 1244 nounces that he will run in the upcoming
Turkey presidential elections.
• On 3 April the Parliament passes the
War Veterans Law which is boycotted by • On 3 April the Constitutional Court Lebanon
the Democratic League of Kosovo, in lifts the ban on Twitter in force since
protest against the former guerrilla group 20 March under a government decree. • On 23 and 30 April the Parliament
the Armed Forces of the Republic of Ko- Despite the ruling, the government up- fails to elect a new President after none
sovo (FARK) not benefitting from the law. holds the ban. of the candidates obtain the minimum
• On 23 April the Parliament approves • On 15 April at least three people are of 86 votes – two-thirds of the house –
the constitution of a special tribunal for killed in Istanbul when a car carrying the in the first round.
359
war crimes set up to investigate allega- former MP Adnan Yildiz from the Ana-
tions against the Kosovo Liberation vatan party (centre-right, Turkish nation- Jordan
Army (UÇK) during the 1998-1999 alist) comes under fire.
Kosovo conflict. • On 23 April the Prime Minister Re- • On 30 April the Azraq refugee camp
cep Tayyip Ergodan offers his condo- opens, with a capacity for 130,000 peo-
FYROM lences to the descendants of the thou- ple. The camp will have to absorb the
sands of Armenians massacred in excess of Syrian refugees from the
• On 9 April the Constitutional Court 1915 by the Ottoman Empire. Although Zaatari camp, which is already housing
rules that the Lustration Law, under not an apology, this is the first time that 93,000 people and is stretched to the
which the State can investigate people the Turkish State has expressed its limit of its capacity.
suspected of spying or collaborating with condolences.
Yugoslavia’s socialist regime, is legal. Egypt
• On 13 and 26 April the first and sec- Cyprus
ond rounds of presidential elections are • On 4 April the government amends
held, the latter coinciding with the par- • On 3 April Christoforos Fokaides is the Penal Code to toughen sentences
liamentary elections. In both elections appointed Defence Minister to replace for terrorism and expand its reach.
the ruling conservative VMRO-DPMNE Tasos Mitsopoulos, who died on 22 • On 15 April the Alexandria Court for
IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2015
wins, with 43.29% of the votes in the March. Urgent Matters bans the Muslim Broth-
parliamentary elections ahead of the • On 15 April dock workers in Limasoll erhood from running in elections.
Social Democratic Union of Macedo- accept the Labour Ministry’s offer in the • On 20 April Egypt’s Central Elec-
nia’s (SDSM) 24.78%, and with 55.93% negotiations, ending their strike over tion Commission announces the only
in the presidential elections for the cur- salary cuts and working hours. two candidates to the presidency,
rent President Gjorge Ivanov, ahead of field-marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, and
Stevo Pendarovski’s 40.4%. Syria Hamdeen Sabahi, the leader of the
Egyptian left.
Albania • On 13 April the army launches an • On 25 April Muslim Brotherhood
offensive to take back control of sev- spokesmen Yasser Mehrez is arrested
• On 24 April the dissident anti-com- eral rebel positions in Rif Dimashq, amid large-scale Islamist protests, main-
munist Kujtim Gaziu sets himself alight Duma and Hama. In the latter, the ly in Fayum and Cairo.• On 28 April the National Alliance to Algeria May 2014
Appendices
Support Legitimacy, the Muslim Broth-
erhood-led coalition, calls for a boycott • On 17 April Algeria holds presiden- Portugal brings its international financial
of the presidential elections, scheduled tial elections in which Abdelaziz Boute- assistance to an end. Spain and Italy
for 26 and 27 May. flika achieves his fifth consecutive vic- face mass immigrant arrivals. In France,
• On 28 April the judge Said Youssef tory obtaining 81.53% of the votes. the UMP Secretary General resigns.
confirms death sentences for 37 of the The Slovenian Prime Minister resigns.
Chronologies
529 Muslim Brotherhood supporters Morocco Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia are hit by
handed down on 24 March. The other severe flooding. In Turkey there are new
492 receive life sentences. On the • On 11 April the candidate of the par- anti-government protests following the
same day a further 683 of the 919 Is- liamentary majority Rachid Talbi Alami is collapse of a mine. The Syrian army
lamists are sentenced to death under elected President of the House of Rep- continues to advance and forces the
the same charges in a second trial ini- resentatives (lower house). rebels to withdraw from Homs. The
tiated on 25 March, including Moham- • On 29 April the government, employ- Lebanese Parliament fails to elect a
med Badie, the spiritual leader of the ers’ associations and trade unions agree new President for the country. Security
Muslim Brotherhood. to raise the minimum wage, increase in Libya continues to worsen with
pensions and scholarships and expand clashes between the army, Islamists
Libya state medical coverage. and the forces of Khalifa Haftar in the
same month that a controversial care-
• On 7 April the government and the EU taker government is announced. In
Cyrenaican federalists agree to imme- Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi wins the
• On 3 April Brussels hosts the 4th presidential elections. Tunisia passes
diately reopen two oil facilities, and hand
EU-Africa Summit, in which an Action the new election law. Algeria forms a
over the other oil-exporting ports to the
Plan is agreed to combat irregular mi- new government. The EU holds parlia-
Tripoli authorities. The Justice Minister,
gration and favour legal mobility be- mentary elections.
however, will investigate the sales of
tween 2014 and 2017. The EU also
hydrocarbons since the fall of Gaddafi,
commits to spending 28 billion euros in Portugal
study the removal of decree 42, accord-
aid between 2014 and 2020 through-
ing to which a special security force was
out Africa. • On 17 May Portugal ends it Troika
360
formed to lift the blockade imposed by
• On 14 April Ukraine’s ultimatum ex- surveillance after successfully conclud-
the rebels on oil wells, and all arrest
pires for the pro-Russian mutineers and ing the last inspection of its public ac-
warrants will be lifted against leaders or
the Ukrainian army advances to take back counts.
members of the militias that took control
control of various secessionist positions. • On 25 May the Socialist Party wins
of the oil docks in the summer of 2013.
Ukraine again accuses Russia of being in the European elections (31.46%)
• On 13 April the caretaker Prime Min-
behind the destabilisation by taking con- ahead of the Portugal Alliance formed
ister Abdullah al-Thani, resigns a day by the two major centre-right parties
trol of the east and south of the country.
after a failed terrorist attack on his life. Russia warns that Ukraine’s military (27.71%). The communist-green alli-
• On 29 April two gunmen burst into movements are leading the country to ance comes third (12.68%).
the GNC causing the MPs to flee, inter- civil war. On 17 April Ukraine, Russia, the
rupting attempts to elect a new Prime EU and US agree in Geneva on the dis- Spain
Minister to replace Abdullah al-Thani. armament of the illegal armed groups
and the evacuation of buildings occupied • On 12 May the President of Leon’s
Tunisia by pro-Russians. NATO strengthens its provincial government, Isabel Carras-
defences in Eastern Europe. On 22 April co, is shot dead by two members of her
• On 9 April the President Moncef the Ukrainian President Oleksandr Tur- party, the PP, in a personal revenge
Marzouki pardons 467 prisoners and chynov announces an anti-terrorist cam- attack.
IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2015
commutes death sentences given to paign against the pro-Russian uprising. • On 25 May the PP wins in the Eu-
two others to mark Martyrs’ Day. On 29 April the US and EU expand sanc- ropean elections (26.1%), followed by
• On 18 April Moncef Marzouki an- tions on Russia faced with the country’s the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party
nounces that he will reduce his own failure to comply with agreements (PSOE, 23%), United Left (IU, 10%)
salary by two-thirds in line with the aus- reached in Geneva. and the new far-left party, Podemos
terity programme being carried out by • On 30 April Switzerland lifts restric- (8%).
the current government to reduce the tions on the entry of Croatian workers • On 26 May the eviction of a squat in
country’s severe budget deficit, esti- into Swiss territory to reactivate rela- Barcelona triggers a week of unrest in
mated at around 2.25 billion euros. One tions with the EU, which have been fro- the streets.
of the most controversial measures is zen as a consequence of Berna’s ap- • On 28 May some 1,000 illegal im-
the removal of subsidies on fuel and proval of the aforementioned veto, migrants storm the Melilla border, half
certain basic food products. approved in a public referendum. of them succeeding in entering Spain,You can also read
