An Cosantóir

10 | world strategic picture EUROPE Only 43% turned out in Croatia to vote on European Union membership. The vote was passed two-to-one. Hav- ing completed its negotia- tions with Brussels last year and, assuming no hiccups, Croatia will become the EU's 28th member on July 1st 2013. The Serbian-dominated northern Kosovo, voting in a two day referendum that asks: "Do you accept the institutions of the 'Republic of Kosovo'?" Probably 99% voting will say no. The vote has been organised by the four Serbian municipalities of northern Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence four years ago this month. The Serbian government are positioning themselves for a Serbian general election likely to be held in early May. Serbia hopes to gain candi- dacy status for EU member- ship at the end of Feb. Their attempt to gain candidacy status in December fell flat. So far none of the three con- ditions set have been met. The European Union agreed to block imports from Iran in order to make it halt its nuclear programme. The European Union banned all new oil contracts with Iran and existing contracts must be phased out by July 1st. Iran urged Arab states not to increase production of oil in response to the sanctions. THE AMERICA'S The US prepares to build its first new nuclear power reactors in three decades, con- cerns about an early genera- tion of plants have resurfaced since last year's disaster in Japan. It's the same design that was used at Japan's Fuku- shima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where three reactors melted down after the station was struck by the tsunami that followed Japan's historic earthquake in March 2011. 38 people died during a pris- on riot in Monterrey, Mexico. Inmates took a guard hostage as clashes broke out, but it is unclear what caused the clashes. This happened in a part of the prison where most inmates are serving time for federal drug trafficking of- fenses. Authorities have not indicated whether the dead are inmates or employees. Mexican Presi- dent Felipe Calde- ron called on US officials to stop gun trafficking across the border, saying it would be the best thing America could do to stop the brutal drug violence. "The criminals have become more and more vicious in their eagerness to spark fear and anxiety in society," said the President. "One of the main factors that allow criminals to strengthen themselves is the unlimited access to high- powered weapons, which are sold freely, and also indiscrimi- nately, in the USA." An Cosantóir March 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie MIDDLE EAST ASIA At least two Tibetan protest- The Yemeni's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, went into temporary exile after a deal with the opposition. Power will be transferred to a new government. An Arab League backed UN Security Council reso- lution, which condemned the violence in Syria and for President Bashar Assad to step down, was blocked by China and Russia. The Arab League suspended its observer mission in Syria. Fighting in Syria intensi- fied as government forces launched a heavy rocket and artillery assault on the rebel town of Homs. The US closed its embassy while many European and Gulf states withdrew their ambassadors. AFRICA The UN announced that the famine in Somalia had ended. The UN said that over one-third of Soma- lia's population still needs emergency aid. In Egypt's Sinai region, Bedouin tribesmen re- leased 25 Chinese work- ers they had kidnapped. Relatives of the tribes- men had been arrested for a bomb attack in 2004. The Egyptian gov- ernment agreed to retry the relatives. ers were killed in clashes with security forces in south-western China. This is the latest in a series of clashes following pro- tests on government controls in the region. Myanmar's reforms are paying off. The European Union said it is going to lift visa restrictions on Myanmar's president and other officials. The United States restored full diplomatic relations. The move came after landmark visits by senior United States and European officials. Nine dissident groups (out of twelve) in India's north-eastern state of Assam agreed to a ceasefire. Some 700 dissidents laid down their arms at a formal ceremony in return they received roses from India's home minister. Airstrikes in the Philippines killed a dozen militants, including senior members of the Jemaah Islamisah and Abu Sayyaf groups. The dead included a Malaysian, Zulkili bin Hir, with a bounty of $5m on his head. Further moves were taken in Afghanistan to see an end to the fighting there. Afghan president, Hamid Karzai and American of- ficials, held preliminary talks with Hizb-e-Islami, a powerful militant group with ties to al-Qaeda. US defence secretary, Leon Pametta, said NATO forces in Afghanistan would be withdrawn mid-2013. This is nearly 18 months earlier than planned.

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