International Events in June 2000
Jun. 2:
The Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Yoshiro Mori dissolves Parliament.
The Russian Orthodox Church grants sainthood for Tsar Nicholas II and his family.
Jun. 3:
Fiji's `civil coup' leader, Mr. George Speight goes back on offer to release hostages and issues a nine-point ultimatum.
Jun. 4:
Irian Jaya declares independence from Indonesia.
Jun. 5:
Rebel gunmen take hostage the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Mr. Bartholomew Ulufa'Alu and the Governor-General, Father John Lapli in a coup in the capital Honiara.
The Commonwealth Foreign Ministers suspend Fiji from the grouping's decision-making councils, but decide against economic sanction.
Jun. 7:
The Sri Lankan Industries Development Minister, Mr. C.V. Gooneratne (64) and 21 others, including the Deputy Mayor of Ratmalana, 15 km south of Colombo, die in a blast triggered by an LTTE suicide bomber on War Heroes Day.
One hundred people die in an attack by militiamen near the Solomon Islands capital Honiara. The Prime Minister, Mr. Bartholomew Ulufa'Alu freed after being held hostage for two days.
A U.S. Federal Judge, Mr. Thomas Penfield Jackson, orders that software giant, Microsoft corporation be split.
Jun. 8:
The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin imposes direct Kremlin rule in Chechnya.
Jun. 9:
The revolutionary United Front militiamen disarm 21 Indian peacekeeping soldiers in Sierra Leone and take them hostage.
Jun. 10:
The Serbian Education Minister, Mr. Milivoje Simonovic (49), dies in a crash on the Belgrade-Nis motorway 90 km south of the capital.
Jun. 13:
Fiji's deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Pal Chaudhry and 17 other hostages taste freedom after 55 days in captivity. The Great Council of Chiefs appoints a Speight supporter, Ratu Josefa Iloila as the new President.
Jun. 14:
Italy grants clemency to Mehmet Ali Agca, who tried to kill Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1981.
Jun. 18:
The Jordanian monarch appoints a liberal leaning politician, Mr. Ali Abu-al-Ragheb Prime Minister.
Ethiopia, Eritrea sign peace deal brokered by the Organisation of African Unity to end their two-year border war.
Jun. 19:
Over 116 people killed in Muslim-Christian clashes in eastern Indonesia.
The European Union leaders approve Greece's membership of the Euro from January 1, 2001, making it the 12th country to join the single currency launched in 1999.
Jun. 20:
The U.S. eases sanctions on North Korea close on the heels of the historic summit between the leaders of South and North Korea.
Jun. 22:
Barak Government in Israel survives as the Jewish Shas Party announces withdrawal of the resignation of its four Cabinet Ministers.
Thaw in Sino-U.S. ties as the U.S. Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright holds talks with the Chinese President, Mr. Jiang Zemin, the Premier, Mr. Zhu Rongji, the Vice-Premier, Mr. Qian Qichen and the Foreign Minister, Mr. Tang Jiaxuan.
The Iranian President, Mr. Mohammad Khatami and his Egyptian counterpart, Mr. Hosni Mubarak establish telephonic contact, the first since the leaders of the two countries broke off relations in 1980.
Jun. 27:
The Syrian Parliament unanimously approves the nomination of Dr. Bashar al-Assad to succeed his late father Hafez al-Assad, as the country's President.
Jun. 28:
The Norwegian envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim meets representatives of Sri Lankan Tamil parties.
South Korea's National Assembly approves Mr. Lee Han-dong as Prime Minister after a close vote among party lines.
Jun. 29:
The Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez returns o Cuba after more than seven months in the United States.
A ship with 500 people, many fleeing sectarian violence in the Maluku islands sinks in remote waters in eastern Indonesia.
Jun. 30:
South and North Korea sign accord to reunite relatives separated by the division of the Peninsula more than half a century ago.