November 1 – Africa: BOTSWANA
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) wins general elections, which gives President Festus Mogae a second term in office. Voters elect the National Assembly, which then elects the president. Botswana is one of Africa’s most stable countries with the oldest multiparty system uninterrupted by coup d’etat.
November 1 – East Asia: SOUTH KOREA
As a part of a global realignment plan, the United States withdraws most of its troops from the truce village of Panmunjom on the North-South Korean border. South Korean troops will replace the American soldiers. The U.S. will pull a third of its troops out of South Korea by 2008.
November 1 – South Asia: PAKISTAN
The upper house of Pakistan’s parliament passes legislation allowing President General Pervez Musharraf to remain both president and army chief until 2007. The supporters of the bill say it is vital for the country’s security. Opponents argue that keeping both offices is unconstitutional and an ordinary law cannot override provisions laid out in the constitution. Previously President Musharraf pledged to quit his military post by the end of 2004.
November 3 – South Asia: AFGHANISTAN
Hamid Karzai is officially announced the winner of Afghanistan’s first-ever presidential election held on October 9th, receiving 55.4 percent of the vote. Karzai’s main opponent, Yunus Qanuni, who finished second with 16 percent of the vote, accepts the results despite allegations of irregularities. Karzai will use his new mandate to unite the country torn by tribal, ethnic, religious, and regional conflicts.
November 3 – East Asia: TAIWAN/VANUATU
Taiwan establishes diplomatic relations with the small South Pacific island of Vanuatu, making it the 27th country recognizing Taiwan as a separate entity. Most of these allies are small Latin American and African countries.
November 3 – Europe/Middle East: HUNGARY/IRAQ
Hungary announces it will withdraw all of its 300 non-combat troops from Iraq by the end of March 2005, after the Iraqi elections. The Hungarian government has been pressured by the public and opposition groups to pull out from Iraq.
November 4 – Europe: GREECE/MACEDONIA
Greece makes an official protest over the United States’ recognition of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for its disputed name. Greece and Macedonia have had strained relations over Macedonia’s name, which is also the name of Greece’s northern province. Both countries have held UN-sponsored talks on the issue for a decade.
November 4 – North America: UNITED STATES
Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry concedes the state of Ohio to George W. Bush, saying that there are not enough uncounted absentee ballots and provisional ballots that would secure his victory. Ohio’s 20 electoral votes make George W. Bush the winner of the presidential election.
November 4 – North America: UNITED STATES
The Republican Party expands its current majorities in the November 2nd elections, extending the party’s control of Congress. Republicans increase their Senate seats to 55 and increase their majority in the House of Representatives by 26 seats. Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle loses his South Dakota seat, making him the first Senate leader in over 50 years to be voted out of office.
November 4 – North America: UNITED STATES
Greece makes an official protest over the United States’ recognition of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for its disputed name. Greece and Macedonia have had strained relations over Macedonia’s name, which is also the name of Greece’s northern province. Both countries have held the UN-sponsored talks on the issue for a decade.
November 5 – Europe/International Organizations: RUSSIA/KYOTO PROTOCOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which clears the way for the treaty to come into effect as of next year. In order for the treaty to work, it needed participation of developed countries, which produce 55 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, blamed for global warming. So far, more than 100 countries have joined the pact. The United States pulled out of the treaty in 2001.
November 8 – East Asia: THAILAND
In an open letter, 144 Thai academics from 18 universities condemn the government’s policy of force in the Muslim south and call for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to change its failed policies and apologize for the deaths of 85 Muslims who died of suffocation while in police custody.
November 8 – Latin America: COLOMBIA
A Colombian rebel group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), issues orders to all guerrilla groups to assassinate Colombia’s president, Alvaro Uribe, in response to his attempt to change the constitution, which would allow him to run for reelection. Uribe has survived at least 10 assassination attempts and is the most highly protected Latin American leader.
November 9 – North America/Middle East: UNITED STATES/IRAQ
U.S. and Iraqi troops seize the northern third of the Sunni Muslim city of Falluja from insurgents during the second day of a full-scale operation involving 15,000 troops. Falluja has been a stronghold of resistance to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
November 11 – Europe: LITHUANIA/EUROPEAN UNION
The Lithuanian parliament ratifies the new European Union constitution, making Lithuania the first out of the 25 EU members to do so. Before the constitution takes effect, the other 24 countries have to approve it.
November 13 – Former Soviet Republics/Europe: GEORGIA/RUSSIA
Russia accuses the opposition in Georgia’s breakaway province of Abkhazia of attempts to overthrow the Russian-backed government and pledges to intervene if the post-election crisis persists. In response, Georgia calls for the international community to protect its independence, referring to Russia’s statements as unacceptable.
November 15 – North America: UNITED STATES
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell hands in his resignation. President George W. Bush chooses his national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice, to replace Powell in his new cabinet.
November 16 – Africa: COTE D’IVOIRE
More than 10,000 people flee Côte d’Ivoire to neighboring Liberia and 4,500 foreigners are evacuated amid renewed civil war. The UN Security Council votes unanimously to impose an arms embargo on the Ivorian government and the rebels. Both sides have a month to revive the peace process or they will face more sanctions.
November 17 – South Asia: INDIA
India starts withdrawing about 1,000 troops from Indian-administered Kashmir due to an improved security situation in the region. India has an estimated 180,000 to 350,000 soldiers in the region and fought two wars over Kashmir with Pakistan.
November 19 – International Organizations/Middle East: WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL/IRAQ
A relief and development organization, World Vision International, pulls out of Iraq after its head of operations, Mohammed Hushiar, killed in a café in the city of Mosul. World Vision operated in Iraq for 18 months, improving schools, hospitals, clinics, and water supplies. Care International and Medecins Sans Frontieres have already pulled out from Iraq due to a dangerous environment.
November 20 – Latin America/International Organizations: CHILE/APEC
Twenty-one members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meet in Chile for a summit to boost trade and to improve counterterrorism measures. Chile is the first South American country to host the APEC forum.
November 21 – Africa: NAMIBIA
Hifikepunye Pohamba, the candidate of Namibia’s ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), wins 76 percent of the vote in the presidential election, becoming the third president of independent Namibia. The SWAPO party also secured 55 out of 72 seats in the parliament in the general election. Incumbent President Sam Nujoma stands down after 15 years in power.
November 22 – International Organizations/Africa: SAVE THE CHILDREN/SUDAN
An African Union helicopter rescues at least 30 employees of the Save the Children aid agency from Tawilla in Sudan’s Darfur region amid renewed fighting between government troops and rebels. The clashes erupt despite a recent African Union-backed agreement with the rebels to end the conflict.
November 23 – East Asia/Latin America: CHINA/CUBA
Accompanied by a large number of Chinese businessmen, Chinese President Hu Jintao pays an official visit to Cuba, where he meets with Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Both sides discuss cooperation in tourism and telecommunication. China also agrees to invest $500 million in Cuba’s nickel industry. The two communist countries are also expected to strengthen their military cooperation.
November 25 – Africa: ETHIOPIA
The Ethiopian government says it will accept an independent commission’s ruling on its border with former foe Eritrea, which would end a long dispute that has lasted since their 1998-2000 war. At the same time, Ethiopia still considers the border decision as illegal and unjust.
November 27 – Latin America: HAITI
Thousands of Haitians form a peaceful rally in the capital, Port-au-Prince, in support of deposed former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The demonstrators express their frustration with the continuing violence in Haiti and inaction of the interim government. They call for including Aristide in helping to bring peace to the island.
November 27 – Latin America: COLOMBIA
According to Colombian Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe, the largest guerrilla group in Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), attempted to assassinate U.S. President George W. Bush during his recent visit to the city of Cartagena. U.S. military aid and intelligence supplies for the Colombian government, as well as the issue of extradition, are the main reasons the FARC wants to assassinate the American president.
November 27 – North America: UNITED STATES
According to Colombian Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe, the largest guerrilla group in Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), attempted to assassinate U.S. President George W. Bush during his recent visit to the city of Cartagena. U.S. military aid and intelligence supplies for the Colombian government, as well as the issue of extradition, are the main reasons the FARC wants to assassinate the American president.
November 27 – Former Soviet Republics/Europe: UKRAINE
During an emergency session, Ukraine’s parliament declares the presidential election results invalid amid massive weeklong protests in Kiev and other major cities in Ukraine. Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, take part in mediation between Ukraine’s government and the opposition to solve the post-election crisis. Supporters of Viktor Yanukovych threaten that if Yushchenko becomes president, eastern Ukraine will seek autonomy.
November 29 – Europe: EUROPEAN UNION/RUSSIA
The European Union and Russia fail to complete negotiations on a strategic partnership agreement during the 14th Russia-EU summit in The Hague. Neither side could agree on security cooperation, specifically concerning Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and the Caucasus states. The EU is interested in closer ties with the former Soviet states, but Russia expresses its concern about expanding Europe into Russia’s sphere of influence.
November 9 – Middle East: IRAQ
U.S. and Iraqi troops seize the northern third of the Sunni Muslim city of Falluja from insurgents during the second day of a full-scale operation involving 15,000 troops. Falluja has been a stronghold of resistance to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
November 11 – Middle East: PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dies at age 75 of a multiple organ failure in a French military hospital near Paris. Doctors have diagnosed that he had a low count of blood platelets, but they are not sure what illness caused it. He will be buried in Ramallah. Arafat’s powers are divided among his officials, with former prime minister Mahmoud Abbas becoming head of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and prime minister Ahmed Qurei acting as president of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Farouk Kaddoumi takes over as head of Fatah, the movement co-founded by Yasser Arafat.
November 13 – Middle East: PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei calls for an immediate resumption of peace talks with Israel and announces that Palestine will hold elections to replace Yasser Arafat as the president of the Palestinian Authority on January 9. The dominant Fatah faction selects former prime minister and head of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Mahmoud Abbas as its candidate in the presidential election.
November 19 – Middle East: IRAQ
A relief and development organization, World Vision International, pulls out of Iraq after its head of operations, Mohammed Hushiar, is killed in a café in the city of Mosul. World Vision operated in Iraq for 18 months, improving schools, hospitals, clinics, and water supplies. Care International and Medecins Sans Frontieres have already pulled out from Iraq due to a dangerous environment.
November 23 – Middle East/East Asia/International Organizations: IRAQ/ARAB LEAGUE/ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE/G8/CHINA
World leaders conclude a conference on the future of Iraq, which took place in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh and was attended by the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the G8 nations, and China. The participants adopt a joint declaration, which declares support for the January 30 Iraqi election and emphasizes the leading role of the UN in helping Iraq prepare for the election. The declaration, however, does not set a timetable for the withdrawal of the coalition troops.