News Headlines

SPANISH NEWS

Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who never had made any public statement on the matter, stated yesterday that the nomination of former Defence Minister Jose Bono as the Socialist candidate for the Mayor of Madrid in next May’s elections, ‘was not based in reality’. He made this statement after the Socialist Party as a whole and general Secretary Pepiño Blanco had stated that Mr Bono was their candidate. Later Mr. Bono stated that he ‘was not interested’ in becoming the candidate for Mayor of Madrid, to face off against incumbent Alberto Ruiz Gallardon of the Partido Popular.

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United States armed forces yesterday participated in the Armed Forces Day parade in Madrid yesterday, giving Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero no other option than to stand as the United States flag was paraded in front of the VIP stands. The day appeared to be particularly bitter for the Prime Minister who was wolf-whistled and booed as he arrived and departed from the parade.

ALTER IT – OR ELSE

The Spanish Government was given an ultimatum by the European Union yesterday over the Valencian Land Laws or LUV that since last February have replaced the controversial and much disputed LRAU. This latest warning – the second this year – adds that Spain could be taken before the European Court of Justice if she does not alter certain aspects of the LUV within two months. An initial action was taken against Spain last April after considering that the LUV did not remedy the infractions committed under the LRAU, and according to the EU, the integrated action plans [PAI}of the urbanizing programme of the Consell are public contracts and as such should be subject to the European norms of public markets, something with the Consell disputes. Amongst the irregularities in the LUV that are reproached by the EU is that despite the selection process of businesses for any building project being simplified, the end result is still against EU practices. The EU adds that the authority that grants the building concession could alter the contract during the granting of the contract or after it has been signed, which, according to Brussels, indicates a judicial insecurity for those affected. However, Criostina Serrano, thye Valencian Secretary for The Territory stated that the EU ‘should take its complaint to the Courts’ now, as it ‘ is completely in line with EU policies and it is a considerable improvement over the prevuious laws. She also added that the European Norms over public contracts have still not been incorporated into Spanish laws, and added that the Government law contradicts the EU directives.

ENQUIRY OPENED

The Valencian Rail Services – FGV – have opened an enquiry into why a driver of the Valencian Metro Line 1 allowed a camera team from Spanish TV to enter his cabin and film him as he drove a train full of passengers above the regulatory speed limits, just three days after a metros crash killed 43 people. The man apparently admitted a team from Informe Semanal, the TV current affairs programme into his drivers’ cabin without the prior permission or knowledge of the FGV. The company added that under its rules, no one is allowed to enter the drivers’ cabin, or talk to him whilst he is on duty.

SIMPLY NO

An apocryphal tale has emerged of the visit of film director Quentin Tarantino to Alicante two years ago. It was June of 2004 when the director, along with actor David Carradine, producer Lawrence Bender and his long-time girlfriend Sofia Coppola, the director of Lost in Translation, were all in Madrid to promote the release on DVD of Mr. Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol 1. During a meal in a Madrid restaurant, someone mentioned that a new studio complex was being built in Alicante, and after finding out how far away it was from Madrid, decided it would be interesting to have a look at the installation for himself. Accordingly the group arrived at the gates of the complex only to be stopped by a security guard, who eventually managed to locate the site director Gonzalo Morell. The astonishing response from Mr. Morell was not to allow Mr. Tarantino and his group to visit the complex, as apparently Mr. Morell had no idea who he was.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea is likely to be elected by acclamation as next Secretary-General of the United Nations when the General Assembly meets at 3 p.m. New York time today to formally appoint the successor to Kofi Annan, who steps down on 31 December. The Secretary-General designate will not take the oath of office immediately, as is usual, but at a later date in December, which would allow him to finish some of his current responsibilities as his country’s foreign minister. He will begin his five-year term on 1 January. Laying out the procedure for the appointment, General Assembly spokesperson Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainte told a news briefing yesterday that Assembly Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa of Bahrain will first invite the Security Council President for October, Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, to report on the Council’s recommendation. On Monday, the 15-member body chose Mr. Ban as its nominee for the post, but the formal appointment rests with the 192-member Assembly. The Assembly will then “take action either by acclamation, as is usually the practice, or of course you know the possibility exists that somebody may ask for a vote, though we think it’s unlikely,” Ms. Bindley-Taylor Sainte said. Statements will be made by Sheikha Haya, Mr. Annan, the regional group chairpersons, the representative of the United States as host country and the Secretary-General designate himself, with a probable later press conference.

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