The following articles are compiled by:

Rick Allinson

Rick@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

 

Doubts over EU president's start date
Source: MSNBC
 

14 January 2008 – The European Union's first full-time president may not be able to start work as planned on January 1 next year, because of delays in ratifying the treaty that creates the job, according to EU diplomats. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Sweden and the UK are five countries in which the ratification process could stretch well into the second half of this year, meaning that it would difficult to meet the January 1 target. Under the EU's Lisbon treaty, the new president will serve a two-and-a-half year, renewable term, replacing the practice under which each member-state holds the presidency for six months in turn.

Another innovation that risks delay is the introduction of extended powers for the EU's high representative for foreign policy, currently Javier Solana. But all eyes are on the new presidency because, if EU governments were to choose a high-profile and dynamic politician, he or she could evolve into Europe's most influential leader and the continent's public face to the world.

Among early names mentioned for the job are Tony Blair, the former UK premier, and Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg's prime minister and the EU's longest-serving head of government, having held office since 1995. However, most diplomats say it is far too early to talk of frontrunners. EU governments will not focus on the question until September at the earliest and are concentrating instead on how to ensure smooth approval of the treaty.

Janez Jansa, the prime minister of Slovenia, told reporters last week that he hoped almost 20 countries would ratify the treaty by the time Slovenia's EU presidency ended on June 30. "We would be happy if a majority ratified during the Slovenian presidency," he said. Slovenia itself plans to approve the treaty by the end of this month. If the Lisbon treaty were sure to come into effect next January, national governments would probably pick the EU's first president between September and December. This would enable President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, which will hold the EU presidency at that time, to play a big role in the selection process.

But the expected ratification delays suggest that the treaty is more likely to take effect in the second half of next year, after the June 2009 European parliament elections. In that event, government leaders may decide to strike a grand deal in which they pick the EU's first president, and the next head of the European Commission, after the election results are known.
 

Comments: This is one topic that I have been watching for in the news and if you remember the WWN article back in November of last year, this is one topic that I have been watching for in the news. The article above is touting the position of EU President as the position that will (possibly) evolve into Europe's most influential leader, it could be, but that remains to be seen. Yes, this position will be influential but Know one knows really knows who will come out on top. Remember, (article above) the EU high representative will be given extended powers and will be given a double hat as we have mentioned before. This will be interesting to see how this plays out and (again) see “whose look was more stout than his fellows”.

 

Here is a recap of my comments from the November article….

The high representative will have an extremely powerful position once the reform treaty is in place. This position is scheduled to be appointed in November of 2009 but what happens if the EU reform treaty is delayed? This could push the appointment of the high representative back a few months to maybe the middle of 2010? If this were to happen, that appointment would be right in the Mid Point of the EU’s 2007-2013 budget period, the same period as the European Neighbourhood Policy’s budget  which the high representative’s second hat controls as external relations commissioner. My point is…that appointment could be scheduled for 42 months right up to the end of the budget period.

 

We should keep an eye on the current high representative position and during that transitional period because if this is the AC’s seat, the bible tells us that he is scheduled “to continue”. Even now it is not clear when (above) the high representative position will enter the fray”.  Watch this!

 

Re 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

 

 

Da 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Israel-Palestinian talks open on core issues
Source: AFP
 

14 January 2008 – Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned on Monday that Israel and the Palestinians may not reach a peace deal within US President George W. Bush's target of a year as both sides began discussing the conflict's core issues.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei, the top negotiators, met in Jerusalem for the first time since Bush's landmark peace mission last week.

"The meeting lasted two hours in a good and constructive atmosphere," the foreign ministry spokesman told AFP afterward. "They discussed the core issues... (and) agreed to continue these talks on an intensive basis."

But even as the two sides discussed the most intractable issues of their conflict for the first time since reviving their negotiations in late November after seven-year freeze, Olmert warned they may not reach a deal.

"I'm not sure we can reach an agreement and I'm not sure we can reach its implementation," a senior government official quoted Olmert as telling parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee.

"But I will be committing a sin to my duty if I didn't try," he said. "The opposition and the head of the opposition want to maintain the status quo at any price. I say this is dangerous, adventurous and irresponsible."

Olmert has faced internal criticism over the talks, with two members of his coalition threatening to quit if core issues are discussed and opinion polls showing that right-wing opposition parties would win a new general election.

Meanwhile Livni said that details of the talks were unlikely to be divulged.
 

Comments: It might be worse for Olmert and Livni to discuss core issues without divulging information. The Israeli public will want to know what Olmert and Livni are prepared to give away on their behalf. With two members of Olmert’s coalition deciding to bolt, it bring down the government and end discussions on core issues altogether. Olmert would not get elected again by the unhappy public and if he is out of office there will be no deal.  Olmert may be right about his warning….Israel and the Palestinians may not reach a peace deal within US President George W. Bush's target of a year.
 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

Watchmen Watching HOME PAGE

Millennium Weekend Ministries Home Page