| Kali Prasad |
Posted
on 28-Aug-02 11:09 AM
Green Minister's Resignation Shocks Belgium
BRUSSELS, Belgium, August 27, 2002 (ENS) - Belgium's Environment Minister Magda Aelvoet parted company with the government last night in protest over a weapons sale to Nepal. The Green minister's resignation followed approval by Liberal Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Foreign Minister Louis Michel of a Belgian shipment of 5,500 machine guns to Nepal, where a civil war is raging.
Aelvoet's spokesperson told reporters that the politician's decision had been made to resolve her "personal conflict with the position of the government" and to remain "coherent with her green beliefs."
Former Belgian Environment Minister Magda Aelvoet (Photo courtesy government of Belgium)
The minister, who represents the Flemish Green party Agalev in Parliament, had a wide reaching portfolio that included health, consumer affairs and social welfare.
Under the current six party ruling coalition in Belgium, the new minister must come from the Green party. The party itself is keen to find a replacement quickly to prevent a crisis of confidence in the government. A new appointment is expected to be announced this week.
The spokesperson said that the loss of Aelvoet would not result in changes in the policy direction she had established during her four years in the post. This includes a hard line on genetically modified organisms.
In May she invoked the precautionary principle to block field trials of a genetically modified oilseed rape and a transgenic apple tree trial. Three other applications were approved on condition that the firms concerned assume liability for any damage to human and animal health or property.
She also took a tough stance on chemicals. In April, she imposed tighter controls on three pesticide ingredients: diuron, simazine and alkylphenols.
During the Belgian Presidency of the European Union last year, Aelvoet stated her priority as "sustainable development and quality of life."
"This means that, throughout this Presidency, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns will serve as the principal guideline for the environmental policy of the European Union," she said.
Aelvoet supported European ratification of the Kyoto climate protocol which Belgium did ratify this year, along with the other European Union member states.
"It is the decision of the party to follow the policies of Mrs. Aelvoet," the spokesperson said. As for the future, with "elections next year, she will surely be active in the campaign," the spokesperson said.
{Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily, Europe's choice for environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd, London. Email: envdaily@ends.co.uk}
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Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2002. All Rights Reserved.
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| DWI |
Posted
on 28-Aug-02 11:53 AM
This issue is very serious, but I always took it from humerous approach.
When I first read the news on Nepalnews.com I was surprised to see the effect of small country like Nepal on belige parliament(not that big either). I think the issue was whether to sell arms to a country involved in civil war or not.
Boy we sure are making lotsa headlines, few recent ones:
1.Effect in the world: Rebellious Monarchy, unprecedented(in modern world) assasinations of entire royal family by its own member who is later dead. A king for a day.
2. Effect in Belgium: Recent turmoil in Belgium government because of approved sales of machine guns to Nepal.
3. Effect in India: Bihar's villages get flooded due to Nepali Rivers. Laloo's wife meets with PM to discuss the aftermath.
4. Sparks of communism, in the form of maoists, in an era when communism is dying.
That's a lot for a small country. Should we be proud of these news? Atleast, now people don't say, "are you a part of India?" They have started identifying us as an independent nation. Jai Nepal.
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