VII. The Contemporary Period, 1945–2000 > B. Europe, 1945–2000 > 5. Diplomatic Relations and European Pacts > 2000, Feb. 7
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
2000, Feb. 7
 
The EU passed sanctions against a right-wing government after Austrian elections, held Feb. 4, left Nazi sympathizer Joerg Haider's Freedom Party in a prominent position within the coalition government. Haider later resigned his position as party leader and on Sept. 12 the EU sanctions were lifted. The U.S. and Israel had been included in the resistance to bilateral diplomatic relations with Austria (See Sept. 12).  1
 
June 14
 
Georgia became the 137th nation to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).  2
 
June 26–27
 
In Warsaw, Poland, representatives from 108 nations and 12 international organizations attended a two-day conference that was aimed at supporting democracy worldwide.  3
 
Aug. 12
 
Raising serious questions in the EU about Russia's political, military, and economic stability, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea; all 118 sailors aboard died. Russia was severely criticized by many European diplomats for its handling of the disaster.  4
 
Sept. 11
 
As the Asian economic crisis, along with huge protests against high petroleum prices, threatened to spill over into countries belonging to the EU, the euro hit a record low in exchange value.  5
 
Sept. 26
 
More than 15,000 delegates from 182 countries met in the Czech Republic capital of Prague for the annual conferences of the IMF and World Bank. Violent protests against IMF and World Bank policies in developing countries were staged outside the center where the conference was held (See Sept. 26–27).  6
 
Sept. 27–28
 
The EU met with OPEC nations to discuss making changes in OPEC policy. EU officials stressed that it was OPEC supply limitations on oil that had contributed to the massive gas crisis plaguing EU countries during Sept. 2000.  7
 
Oct. 3
 
Amid neo-Nazi violence and anti-foreigner demonstrations in the southern part of the nation, Germany celebrated its tenth year of East–West unification.  8
 
Oct. 9–14
 
Directly following the ousting of Yugoslav dictator Slobodan Milosevic, who had lost a Sept. 24 election to Vojislav Kostunica but refused to yield power, the EU lifted sanctions against Yugoslavia and promised economic aid to the new government.  9
 
Oct. 24
 
Although Colombian president Pastrana requested $1 billion, the EU pledged only $321 million in anti-drug aid to Colombia.  10
 
Dec. 6–7
 
Further talks between EU countries broke down when agreement eluded conference members on issues concerning the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.  11
 
Dec. 11
 
In a summit held in Nice, France, the EU government was revamped and a new rights charter approved for EU member nations. In light of EU military inadequacies that had led to NATO-directed forces intervening in the 1999 Kosovo crisis, a greater emphasis was placed on developing substantial military forces that would be part of the EU.  12
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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