Tagged with dutch prime minister
TRIPOLI (BNO NEWS) — Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende says dozens of Dutch citizens were on board the airliner which crashed in Tripoli.
(Copyright 2010 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without explicit prior permission from BNO News B.V. Contact sales@bnonews.com for more information about subscriptions.)
THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — Retired U.S. general John Sheehan on Monday reportedly apologized to former Dutch Chief of Staff Henk van den Breemen over remarks that Dutch U.N. troops failed to prevent the 1995 Srebrenica genocide because of openly gay soldiers.
The ANP news agency reported that Sheehan apologized in an e-mail to Van den Breemen, saying his memory of discussions they had fifteen years ago about some social issues were ‘inaccurate.’ Sheehan also said that individual soldiers were in ‘no way’ responsible for the massacre, but said the problem was the ‘mandate’ for the soldiers.
The retired general made his controversial remarks during a U.S. Senate hearing on March 18, in which he argued against plans to end a ban on allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military. He claimed that openly gay soldiers in the Dutch army were one of the reasons that U.N. troops were not able to prevent the genocide. Sheehan also claimed that Dutch Chief of Staff Henk van den Breemen acknowledged that claim. Van den Breemen has denied that.
The remarks by Sheehan caused a wave of condemnation in the Netherlands. “The remarks were outrageous, wrong and beneath contempt,” Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende said during a news conference.
A spokeswoman for the Dutch Ministry of Defense was not immediately able to confirm the report.
(Copyright 2010 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without explicit prior permission from BNO News B.V. Contact sales@bnonews.com for more information about subscriptions.)
THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — Afghan President Karzai on Monday called Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende to show his appreciation for the work of Dutch soldiers and development workers in his country, the Dutch government said.
The call comes two days after a NATO request that asked Dutch troops to remain in Afghanistan toppled the Dutch coalition government.
Karzai applauded the Dutch efforts for economic and social development in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province. “President Karzai contacted Prime Minister Balkenende in light of the fall of the cabinet,” a government statement read. “Prime Minister Balkenende shed light on the current political situation.”
Balkenende also conveyed his sympathies to Karzai after a NATO airstrike killed at least 27 women and children on Sunday. Dutch soldiers were not involved in the aistrike.
The political crisis in the Netherlands erupted on Wednesday when Deputy Prime Minister and Labour leader Wouter Bos said he and his party were opposed to extend the Dutch mission in Uruzgan beyond its agreed 2010 end date. The Christian Democrats and the Christian Union wanted to keep all options on the table until March 1, the deadline for the decision.
THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — A long crisis over a NATO request that asked Dutch troops to remain in Afghanistan toppled the coalition government on early Saturday.
Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende confirmed the news in a press conference shortly after 4.15 a.m. local time, following cabinet talks of more than 15 hours. “The continuation of a cabinet can never be the goal of itself,” Balkenende said.
The crisis erupted on Wednesday when Deputy Prime Minister and Labour leader Wouter Bos said he and his party were opposed to a NATO request to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan beyond its agreed 2010 end date. The Christian Democrats and the Christian Union wanted to keep all options on the table until March 1, the deadline for the decision.
Labour leader Wouter Bos, whose party will exit the coalition, is expected to hold a news conference at 5.00 a.m. local time.
Controversial member of parliament Geert Wilders, the leader of the Party for Freedom, welcomed the news on his Twitter account. “Elections!! Fantastic news, pull out the flag,” Wilders wrote. “Finally the voter can speak.”
Wilders, who received international media coverage over his criticism of Muslim ideology and called for the Koran to be banned in Holland, is expected to make big gains during the general elections.
Dutch law requires general elections to be held within 83 days.
THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — A long crisis over a NATO request that asked Dutch troops to remain in Afghanistan toppled the coalition government on early Saturday.
Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende confirmed the news in a press conference shortly after 4.15 a.m. local time, following cabinet talks of more than 15 hours. “The continuation of a cabinet can never be the goal of itself,” Balkenende said.
The crisis erupted on Wednesday when Deputy Prime Minister and Labour leader Wouter Bos said he and his party were opposed to a NATO request to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan beyond its agreed 2010 end date. The Christian Democrats and the Christian Union wanted to keep all options on the table until March 1, the deadline for the decision.
Labour leader Wouter Bos, whose party will exit the coalition, is expected to hold a news conference at 4.45 a.m. local time.
Dutch law requires general elections to be held within 83 days.
THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — A long crisis over a NATO request that asked Dutch troops to remain in Afghanistan toppled the coalition government on early Saturday.
Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende confirmed the news in a press conference shortly after 4.15 a.m. local time, following cabinet talks of more than 15 hours. “The continuation of a cabinet can never be the goal of itself,” Balkenende said.
