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See - Sada Elbalad
27-06-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Ukraine's Constitution: A Pillar of Sovereignty & A Guiding Light for The Future
Mykola Nahornyi, Ukrainian Ambassador to Egypt On June 28, Ukraine celebrates Constitution Day, a day that goes beyond legal symbolism to encompass profound historical, political, and civilizational dimensions. For the Ukrainian nation, the Constitution is not merely the highest law of the land; it is a symbol of the state's continuity, a tool to safeguard freedom, and a guarantor of democratic progress. At the heart of this foundational text lie human dignity, state independence, and the unity of its territory, all rooted in a rich historical-philosophical tradition. Historical Roots of Ukrainian Constitutionalism: From Pylyp Orlyk to Today The origins of Ukrainian constitutional thought stretch back to the 18th century, when the exiled Hetman Pylyp Orlyk, alongside leading Cossack figures in 1710, declared a constitution after their defeat to the Russians at the Battle of Poltava and subsequent exile alongside Ivan Mazepa. This document stands as one of Europe's earliest efforts to enshrine limited governance and parliamentary authority. It clearly outlined the prerogatives of the Hetman, imposed checks on his power, defined the role of the General Council (parliament), and enumerated the rights of the Cossacks and all social strata. Though never implemented due to external politics and ongoing Moscow control of Cossack territories, it left a significant mark on European legal thought and anchored Ukrainian political culture in democracy, rule of law, and separation of powers. In subsequent eras, the Ukrainian people repeatedly pursued self-determination through constitutional means. In the 19th century, Galicia under Austro-Hungarian rule saw early autonomy, parliamentary representation, and legal foundations. In the 20th century, the 1918 Constitution of the Ukrainian People's Republic constituted another step toward a democratic rule-of-law state guaranteeing citizenship equality and protecting rights and freedoms. Similarly, the short-lived Western Ukrainian People's Republic documents embodied the aspiration to enshrine independence in lawful governance. Even under Soviet occupation, Ukraine retained a constitutional form. The Soviet constitutions of the Ukrainian SSR, adopted in 1919, 1937, and 1978, while subordinated to the centralized communist system, formally preserved elements of Ukrainian sovereignty. This legal existence later facilitated independence in 1991 and allowed Ukraine to become a founding UN member, establishing its international legitimacy. The 1996 Constitution: Legal Foundation of an Independent State On the night of June 27–28, 1996, Ukraine's parliament passed the constitution of the independent state after extensive and rigorous debate. This moment was a watershed in national history, firmly establishing national sovereignty, democratic governance, institutional separation, human rights and liberties, and the indivisibility of Ukrainian territory. This constitution paved the way for Ukraine's transformation from a post-Soviet republic to a fully democratic country open to the world. It not only recognized Ukrainian as the official language, but also enshrined equality among citizens regardless of ethnicity, religion, or belief. It explicitly declared the inviolability of Ukraine's territory. Development and Modernization: The Constitution as a Living Document Although institutionally stable, Ukraine's Constitution is far from static. Over more than 25 years, it has evolved to reflect the political system's growth, address societal aspirations, and respond to external challenges. Among the most notable changes was the 2004 reform that strengthened parliament to better balance power. Although temporarily repealed in 2010, it was reinstated following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity in response to public demands for democratic legitimacy and rule of law. In 2019, key amendments were made to enshrine Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration as a strategic national choice, not just symbolic, but grounded in political consensus and public will to join security, value-based frameworks guaranteeing sovereignty, prosperity, and progress. Referenda and Territorial Integrity: Law Over Illusion Ukraine's Constitution places high importance on national referendums as a form of direct democracy. Article 73 stipulates that any change to state borders must be resolved via a nationwide referendum conducted under constitutional procedures, legal oversight, and transparency, with public participation and international recognition. Consequently, all so‑called referenda organized by Russia in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, are inherently invalid, lacking any legal legitimacy under national or international law. These staged events, conducted under threat, lacking international observers, and grossly violating Ukrainian and international standards of human rights, amount to propaganda tools aiming to justify aggression or normalize occupation. Those who uphold the rule of law cannot recognize such sham referenda. The Constitution as a Compass: Lessons Today and Visions Tomorrow Ukraine's Constitution today is more than a legal text—it is an everyday instrument in the fight for freedom, sovereignty, and national dignity. Amid the ongoing war with Russia, the Constitution supports institutional balance, ensures functioning governance, protects citizens' rights, and charts the nation's path forward. In a world marked by rapid upheaval, Ukraine stands as a living example that a constitution can, beyond being a legal document, signify the resilience of the national spirit. It enshrines inviolable values: sovereignty, dignity, freedom, rule of law, and territorial integrity. From this standpoint, Ukraine's experience offers a powerful message to other nations grappling with the balance between stability and freedom, security and dignity. Ukraine's Constitution is thus not merely the supreme law; it is a cornerstone of national identity, a tool of resistance, and a guidepost toward the future. read more Analysis- Turkey Has 0 Regional Allies... Why? Analysis: Russia, Turkey... Libya in Return For Syria? Analysis: Who Will Gain Trump's Peace Plan Fruits? Analysis: Will Turkey's Erdogan Resort to Snap Election? Analysis: What Are Turkey's Aspirations in Iraq? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Mercenaries In Libya... Who Should Be Blamed? 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Hans India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
DMK to unveil 2026 Assembly election work plan at general council meet on June 1
Chennai: The ruling DMK is gearing up for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with a target of winning 200 out of 234 seats. As part of its early groundwork, the party will unveil a comprehensive election work plan during its General Council meeting scheduled to be held in Madurai on June 1. While an official announcement is still awaited, sources confirm that the DMK leadership has already appointed eight senior leaders as regional in-charges to oversee election-related activities across various parts of the state. These leaders have been entrusted with multiple responsibilities, including coordinating preparatory work, assessing grassroots dynamics, and resolving internal disputes among local functionaries. The state has been divided into eight regions, each managed by a high-ranking party leader with considerable influence. A. Raja, former Union Minister and Deputy General Secretary, will handle the Chennai region. The southern districts have been divided between Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi and Minister Thangam Thennarasu, each taking charge of separate zones. Minister R. Sakkarapani has been assigned to the region covering Madurai, Dindigul, and Theni. Former Minister V. Senthil Balaji is in charge of the Coimbatore region. The delta and central districts fall under the purview of the Principal Secretary and Minister, K.N. Nehru. Ministers E.V. Velu and M.R.K. Panneerselvam will oversee the northern districts. Sources indicate that the exact delineation of regions and their constituent districts will be finalised and announced officially at the General Council meeting in Madurai. In the meantime, the regional in-charges have already begun groundwork in their respective areas. They are conducting consultations with local leaders, including district secretaries, MLAs, and ministers, and are actively addressing issues such as factionalism and disputes among party cadres. The party has formed a five-member high-level committee, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, to oversee the resolution of more serious or unresolved internal issues. Regional in-charges and district-level functionaries held multiple rounds of meetings with this committee at the DMK headquarters in Chennai on Tuesday, with discussions reportedly focused on districts under the supervision of Thangam Thennarasu and K.N. Nehru. These consultative meetings are expected to continue in the days ahead. According to party insiders, these sessions are serving two critical purposes: first, to resolve intra-party conflicts well before the election process intensifies, and second, to ensure early and efficient implementation of the party's poll strategy. With less than a year to go before the 2026 elections, the DMK is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a smooth and coordinated campaign across the state, aiming for a resounding mandate for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and a second consecutive term in power.
13-05-2025
- Business
Japan LDP OKs Pension Reform Legislation
News from Japan Politics May 13, 2025 23:50 (JST) Tokyo, May 13 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday approved draft legislation for pension system reform at a meeting of the party's decision-making General Council. The government aims to adopt the legislation at a cabinet meeting Friday and submit it to the current session of the Diet, the country's parliament. Before the General Council meeting, executives of the LDP and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, held talks, agreeing to work for the enactment of the legislation during the Diet session ending in June. The government originally expected to introduce the legislation in March. But the move has been delayed because the LDP was reluctant to hold Diet debates on pensions, a hot topic, ahead of this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber. At the General Council meeting, former digital minister Taro Kono expressed opposition to the legislation as he seeks "radical reform." But he did not oppose its submission to the Diet. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US 'in arrears' at the WTO
The United States has not paid its 2024 dues to the World Trade Organization and is therefore now deemed to be in "arrears", the WTO's spokesman said Friday. "The chair of the committee on budget, finance, and administration informed members during the General Council meeting in February that the United States is currently in 'Category 1' arrears," Ismaila Dieng told AFP. The United States did not pay its contribution for 2024, he said. Washington has also not yet paid its dues for 2025, though contributions from the WTO's 166 members often do not come in until mid-year. Last year, the United States was due to pay around 23.2 million Swiss francs ($26.3 million) -- amounting to roughly 11 percent of the WTO's budget. Category 1 arrears -- the least serious of three levels -- consist of those that have not paid their contributions for at least one year, but for less than two years. The nine members currently in Category 1 arrears are Angola, Chile, Eswatini, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Uganda and the United States. WTO members in this category are not permitted to chair the Geneva-based global trade body's various bodies. They are also not permitted to receive WTO documentation and are subject to reports at meetings of the organisation's General Council, its highest-level decision-making body in Geneva. "Generally, arrears can impact the operational capacity of the WTO secretariat," said Dieng. "But the secretariat continues to manage its resources prudently and has plans in place to enable it to operate within the financial limitations imposed by any arrears." - Tariffs and Trump's order - On February 4, Trump signed an executive order sparking a 180-day review all international organisations which the US is involved in or funds, to determine whether they are contrary to US interests or could be reformed. A source close to the discussions at the WTO told AFP: "At the March 4 meeting, the US delegate indicated that the suspension of US contributions to the budgets of international organisations also affected the WTO." The findings of the reviews will be presented to Trump along with recommendations as to whether Washington should withdraw from such bodies. On March 7, back from meeting US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said "the indications I got is that they remain part of WTO". Since returning to office, Trump has launched a widening trade war against the United States' main partners by threatening to ratch up tariffs. Canada has launched two separate complaints at the WTO over Trump's tariff manoeuvres. However, continuing a practice initiated under president Barack Obama, Washington keeps paralysing the WTO's final mechanism for resolving trade disputes by blocking the appointment of judges to its Appellate Body. The United States put the block on for the 85th time on Monday. apo/rjm/gv
Express Tribune
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi will receive another important position, but which one?
Mohsin Naqvi addresses the media during his visit to the Mega Passport Center on Peco Road in Lahore. Photo: Screengrab Listen to article Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is set to take on a new leadership role following the ICC Champions Trophy. According to reports, Naqvi will assume the presidency of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after the Champions Trophy final, Express News reported. Currently, the position is held temporarily by Shami Silva, the president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. However, after the upcoming General Council meeting, the presidency will officially be handed over to Naqvi. In addition to the leadership change, the General Council meeting will also discuss the venues for the upcoming Asia Cup, which will be held in India later this year. It is expected that Pakistan's matches will be scheduled in Dubai or Sri Lanka, pending further discussions. There have also been reports that the 2023 Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy, both of which saw India's absence due to political tensions, may continue under a hybrid model. However, India will retain the hosting rights for these events. The decision by the ACC to make these arrangements aims to avoid further controversy between Pakistan and India in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy. Last year, Mohsin Naqvi, was elected unanimously and unopposed as the Pakistan Cricket Board's Chairman for a three-year term.
