The Swedish government defended plans Thursday to equip fighter jets with cruise missiles capable of striking targets in Russia, days after announcing a military spending hike linked to the Ukraine conflict.
“In the future the ability to combat longer range targets can be important,”
Defence Minister Karin Enstroem told public broadcaster Sveriges Radio, adding
that the missiles would have “a high precision which acts as a deterrent.”
“So it would raise our collective defense capabilities and thus raise the
threshold effects of our defense.”
On Tuesday the center-right government announced plans for a 5.5 billion
kronor (€604 million, $835 million) rise in annual defense spending by 2024 — on
top of the current annual budget of close to 50 billion kronor — including an
additional 10 Swedish-made Saab Gripen fighter jets, bringing an air force fleet
upgrade to 70 planes.
In a statement the government referred to the “deeply unsettling development
in and around Ukraine” and Russia’s occupation of “parts of a sovereign
state.”
The Swedish defense forces have argued for longer range missiles to deter
Russia from destroying Swedish weapons from a distance. The new missiles — to be
fitted on Gripen jets — would double the current range at 1,000 kilometers (620
miles).
“It shows a potential opponent that we can fight at long distances and
therefore we believe it is a deterrent,” Colonel Johan Hansson told Sveriges
Radio.
“If we are detected early we must be able to have a firing range that is much
longer than what we’ve previously been used to.”
The new approach by the government marks a departure from the traditional
defensive stance by the non-aligned and previously neutral country.
As late as late 2013 Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wrote that cruise missiles
had never been considered part of the country’s defense.
Sweden’s second opposition party, the Greens, criticized the announcement,
warning that it marked a departure from the country’s defensive stance that
could “influence other parties” and encourage rearmament in the region.
However the shift towards a more offensive military force had the support of
Sweden’s largest opposition party the Social Democrats, who sought to play down
speculation of a confrontation with Russia.
“We have no such ambitions. In an acute situation there can be a need for
different options, but we are not a country that is out to attack anyone else,”
Peter Hultqvist, the Social Democrat chairman of the parliament’s defense
committee, told news agency TT.
Russia caught the Swedish military off-guard in a simulated air strike
exercise with fighter planes over the Baltic Sea in March 2013, sparking a
heated debate on national defense.
At the time the head of the armed forces controversially claimed that Sweden
could not defend itself in a military attack that lasted more than a week.
A major review of the country’s defenses is due for completion in mid-May.
fecha |
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08/03/2022| |
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08/02/2022| |
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09/05/2020| |
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08/05/2020| |
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29/04/2020| |
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16/03/2020| |
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12/03/2020| |
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10/03/2020| |
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06/03/2020| |
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05/03/2020| |
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02/03/2020| |
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24/02/2020| |
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22/02/2020| |
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18/02/2020| |
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08/02/2020| |
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08/02/2020| |
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29/01/2020| |
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21/01/2020| |
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30/12/2019| |
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28/12/2019| |
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16/12/2019| |
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14/12/2019| |
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25/11/2019| |
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24/11/2019| |
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10/11/2019| |
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23/10/2019| |
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18/10/2019| |
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14/10/2019| |
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29/09/2019| |
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29/08/2019| |
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12/08/2019| |
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10/08/2019| |
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01/08/2019| |
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25/07/2019| |
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22/11/2018| |
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05/11/2018| |
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18/10/2018| |
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17/10/2018| |
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10/10/2018| |
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15/09/2018| |
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11/03/2018| |
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20/02/2018| |
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20/02/2018| |
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28/12/2017| |
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25/08/2017| |
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15/08/2017| |
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04/07/2017| |
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10/05/2017| |
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04/05/2017| |
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17/04/2017| |
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10/03/2017| |
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16/02/2017| |
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30/12/2016| |
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07/12/2016| |
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27/11/2016| |
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21/08/2016| |
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09/07/2016| |
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19/05/2016| |
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18/04/2016| |
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08/04/2016| |
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07/04/2016| |
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05/04/2016| |
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05/04/2016| |
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02/04/2016| |
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01/04/2016| |
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25/12/2015| |
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12/12/2015| |
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19/11/2015| |
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08/10/2015| |
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04/10/2015| |
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08/07/2015| |
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15/06/2015| |
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07/06/2015| |
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17/03/2015| |
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08/10/2014| |
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07/10/2014| |
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06/10/2014| |
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27/08/2014| |
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25/08/2014| |
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25/08/2014| |
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20/06/2014| |
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29/04/2014| |
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28/04/2014| |
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24/03/2014| |
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29/12/2013| |
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29/12/2013| |
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20/11/2013| |
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20/11/2013| |
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08/11/2013| |
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31/10/2013| |
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27/10/2013| |
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26/10/2013| |
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26/10/2013| |
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15/10/2013| |
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15/10/2013| |
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04/09/2013| |
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24/08/2013| |
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22/08/2013| |
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17/08/2013| |
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15/08/2013| |
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09/08/2013| |
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27/07/2013| |
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26/07/2013| |
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20/07/2013| |
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20/07/2013| |
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20/07/2013| |
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03/07/2013| |
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27/06/2013| |
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14/06/2013| |
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14/06/2013| |
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29/05/2013| |
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15/05/2013| |
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14/05/2013| |
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07/05/2013| |
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27/04/2013| |
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11/03/2013| |
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25/02/2013| |
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24/02/2013| |
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24/01/2013| |
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30/12/2012| |
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15/12/2012| |
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03/12/2012| |
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29/11/2012| |
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17/11/2012| |
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14/11/2012| |
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11/09/2012| |
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27/08/2012| |
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25/08/2012| |
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21/08/2012| |
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17/08/2012| |
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08/08/2012| |
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06/08/2012| |
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01/08/2012| |
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01/08/2012| |
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31/07/2012| |
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31/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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24/07/2012| |
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19/07/2012| |
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18/07/2012| |
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18/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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13/07/2012| |
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12/07/2012| |
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12/07/2012| |
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10/07/2012| |
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06/07/2012| |
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04/07/2012| |
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04/07/2012| |
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03/07/2012| |
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29/06/2012| |
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18/06/2012| |
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17/06/2012| |
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28/05/2012| |
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22/05/2012| |
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16/05/2012| |
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11/05/2012| |
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10/05/2012| |
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06/05/2012| |
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06/05/2012| |
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05/05/2012| |
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02/05/2012| |
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01/05/2012| |
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30/04/2012| |
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22/04/2012| |
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21/04/2012| |
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20/04/2012| |
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28/03/2012| |
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26/03/2012| |
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19/03/2012| |
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19/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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06/03/2012| |
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06/03/2012| |
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04/03/2012| |
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04/03/2012| |
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02/03/2012| |
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02/03/2012| |
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02/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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25/02/2012| |
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25/02/2012| |
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25/02/2012| |
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20/02/2012| |
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20/02/2012| |
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20/02/2012| |
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05/11/2011| |
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03/11/2011| |
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25/10/2011| |
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25/10/2011| |
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16/10/2011| |
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15/10/2011| |
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05/10/2011| |
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02/10/2011| |
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01/10/2011| |
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29/09/2011| |
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29/09/2011| |
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29/09/2011| |
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28/09/2011| |
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27/09/2011| |
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26/09/2011| |
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22/09/2011| |
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15/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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07/09/2011| |
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07/09/2011| |
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01/09/2011| |
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01/09/2011| |
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31/08/2011| |
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31/08/2011| |
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19/08/2011| |
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17/08/2011| |
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12/08/2011| |
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20/07/2011| |
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20/07/2011| |
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18/07/2011| |
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18/07/2011| |
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15/07/2011| |
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15/07/2011| |
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12/07/2011| |
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12/07/2011| |
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03/07/2011| |
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03/07/2011| |
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30/06/2011| |
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30/06/2011| |
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20/06/2011| |
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20/06/2011| |
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16/06/2011| |
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16/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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11/06/2011| |
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11/06/2011| |
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10/06/2011| |
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10/06/2011| |
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05/06/2011| |
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05/06/2011| |
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26/05/2011| |
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26/05/2011| |
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25/05/2011| |
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25/05/2011| |
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24/05/2011| |
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24/05/2011| |
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21/05/2011| |
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21/05/2011| |
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20/05/2011| |
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20/05/2011| |
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19/05/2011| |
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19/05/2011| |
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18/05/2011| |
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18/05/2011| |
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17/05/2011| |
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17/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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14/05/2011| |
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14/05/2011| |
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11/05/2011| |
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11/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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05/05/2011| |
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05/05/2011| |
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29/04/2011| |
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29/04/2011| |
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23/04/2011| |
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23/04/2011| |
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22/04/2011| |
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22/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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20/04/2011| |
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20/04/2011| |
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19/04/2011| |
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19/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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16/04/2011| |
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16/04/2011| |
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13/04/2011| |
|
09/04/2011| |
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07/04/2011| |
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06/04/2011| |
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04/04/2011| |
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04/04/2011| |
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31/03/2011| |
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30/03/2011| |
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29/03/2011| |
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29/03/2011| |
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26/03/2011| |
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24/03/2011| |
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22/03/2011| |
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19/03/2011| |
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13/03/2011| |
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09/03/2011| |
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07/03/2011| |
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04/03/2011| |
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03/03/2011| |
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26/02/2011| |
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25/02/2011| |
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24/02/2011| |
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24/02/2011| |
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22/02/2011| |
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17/02/2011| |
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15/02/2011| |
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23/01/2011| |
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23/01/2011| |
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22/01/2011| |
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21/01/2011| |
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20/01/2011| |
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17/01/2011| |
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13/01/2011| |
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13/01/2011| |
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11/01/2011| |
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07/01/2011| |
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05/01/2011| |
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26/12/2010| |
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26/12/2010| |
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24/12/2010| |
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14/12/2010| |
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30/11/2010| |
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20/11/2010| |
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17/11/2010| |
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11/11/2010| |
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04/11/2010| |
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03/11/2010| |
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01/11/2010| |
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22/10/2010| |
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19/10/2010| |
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03/10/2010| |
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03/10/2010| |
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30/09/2010| |
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15/09/2010| |
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24/08/2010| |
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24/08/2010| |
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16/08/2010| |
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16/08/2010| |
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08/08/2010| |
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06/08/2010| |
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02/08/2010| |
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19/07/2010| |
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12/07/2010| |
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09/06/2010| |
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08/06/2010| |
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02/06/2010| |
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27/05/2010| |
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26/05/2010| |
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11/05/2010| |
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07/05/2010| |
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07/05/2010| |
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05/05/2010| |
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04/05/2010| |
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13/04/2010| |
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06/04/2010| |
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02/04/2010| |
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08/03/2010| |
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16/02/2010| |
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11/02/2010| |
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06/02/2010| |
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01/02/2010| |
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31/01/2010| |
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12/01/2010| |
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31/12/2009| |
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28/12/2009| |
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26/12/2009| |
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02/12/2009| |
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02/12/2009| |
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01/12/2009| |
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01/12/2009| |
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28/11/2009| |
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28/11/2009| |
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27/11/2009| |
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27/11/2009| |
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16/11/2009| |
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16/11/2009| |
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15/10/2009| |
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08/10/2009| |
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07/10/2009| |
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05/10/2009| |
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02/10/2009| |
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29/09/2009| |
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18/09/2009| |
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17/09/2009| |
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14/09/2009| |
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11/09/2009| |
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02/09/2009| |
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01/09/2009| |
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30/08/2009| |
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27/08/2009| |
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27/08/2009| |
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18/08/2009| |
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18/08/2009| |
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09/08/2009| |
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09/08/2009| |
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07/08/2009| |
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07/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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04/08/2009| |
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04/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/04/2009| |
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30/03/2009| |
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28/03/2009| |
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28/03/2009| |
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28/03/2009| |
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27/03/2009| |
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26/03/2009| |
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14/03/2009| |
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14/03/2009| |
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04/03/2009| |
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04/03/2009| |
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02/03/2009| |
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02/03/2009| |
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08/02/2008| |
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21/10/2007| |
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26/09/2007| |
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28/06/2007| |
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20/12/2006| |
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20/12/2006| |
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10/12/2006| |
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10/12/2006| |
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01/11/2006| |
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02/06/2006| |
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23/02/2006| |
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29/01/2006| |
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12/01/2006| |
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12/01/2006| |
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04/11/2005| |
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04/06/2005| |
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30/11/1999| |
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