diff --git a/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/GlobalizationConfig.java b/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/GlobalizationConfig.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4eb2e69be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/GlobalizationConfig.java
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2010 pboy (pboy@barkhof.uni-bremen.de) All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of
+ * the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+ *
+ */
+
+package com.arsdigita.globalization;
+
+import com.arsdigita.runtime.AbstractConfig;
+import com.arsdigita.util.StringUtils;
+import com.arsdigita.util.parameter.StringParameter;
+import com.arsdigita.util.parameter.StringArrayParameter;
+import com.arsdigita.util.parameter.Parameter;
+
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+
+
+/**
+ * A configuration record for configuration of the core globalization package
+ *
+ * Accessors of this class may return null. Developers should take care
+ * to trap null return values in their code.
+ *
+ * @author Peter Boy <pboy@barkhof.uni-bremen.de>
+ * @version $Id: $
+ */
+public class GlobalizationConfig extends AbstractConfig {
+
+    /** A logger instance.  */
+    private static final Logger s_log = Logger.getLogger(GlobalizationConfig.class);
+
+    /** Singelton config object.  */
+    private static GlobalizationConfig s_conf;
+
+    /**
+     * Gain a UIConfig object.
+     *
+     * Singelton pattern, don't instantiate a lifecacle object using the
+     * constructor directly!
+     * @return
+     */
+    public static synchronized GlobalizationConfig getConfig() {
+        if (s_conf == null) {
+            s_conf = new GlobalizationConfig();
+            s_conf.load();
+        }
+
+        return s_conf;
+    }
+
+
+
+    /**
+     * Default character set for locales not explicitly listed above in the
+     * locales parameter.
+     * This parameter is read each time the system starts. Therefore, modifications
+     * will take effect after a CCM restart.
+     */
+    // In OLD initializer: DEFAULT_CHARSET as String
+    private final Parameter m_defaultCharset =
+            new StringParameter(
+                    "core.globalization.default_charset",
+                    Parameter.REQUIRED, "UTF-8");
+
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs an empty RuntimeConfig object.
+     *
+     */
+    public GlobalizationConfig() {
+    // pboy: According to the comment for the getConfig() method a singleton
+    // pattern is to be used. Therefore the constructor should be changed to
+    // private!
+    // private GlobalizationConfig() {
+        register(m_defaultCharset);
+
+        loadInfo();
+
+    }
+
+    
+
+    /**
+     * Retrieve the default char set to be used for locales not explicitly
+     * listed in the supported locales list.
+     *
+     * @return root page url
+     */
+    public String getDefaultCharset() {
+        return (String)get(m_defaultCharset) ;
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/GlobalizationConfig_parameter.properties b/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/GlobalizationConfig_parameter.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..50c9d090d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/GlobalizationConfig_parameter.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+core.globalization.default_charset.title=Default Charset
+core.globalization.default_charset.purpose=Default character set for locales not explicitly listed in the  locales parameter.
+core.globalization.default_charset.example="UTF-8"
+core.globalization.default_charset.format=[String]
diff --git a/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/Initializer.java b/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/Initializer.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f3619aa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ccm-core/src/com/arsdigita/globalization/Initializer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2010 pboy (pboy@barkhof.uni-bremen.de) All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of
+ * the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+ *
+ */
+
+package com.arsdigita.globalization;
+
+// import com.arsdigita.runtime.ContextInitEvent;
+import com.arsdigita.runtime.DomainInitEvent;
+// import com.arsdigita.runtime.ConfigError;
+
+import org.apache.log4j.Logger;
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @author pb
+ */
+public class Initializer extends com.arsdigita.runtime.GenericInitializer {
+
+    /** Creates a s_logging category with name = to the full name of class */
+    private static Logger s_log = Logger.getLogger(Initializer.class);
+
+    /** Config object for the UI package   */
+    private static GlobalizationConfig s_conf = GlobalizationConfig.getConfig();
+
+    
+    /**
+     * Constructor
+     */
+    public Initializer() {
+    }
+
+
+    /**
+     * Implementation of the {@link Initializer#init(DomainInitEvent)}
+     * method.
+     *
+     * @param evt The domain init event.
+     */
+    @Override
+    public void init(DomainInitEvent evt) {
+        s_log.debug("Core globalization domain initialization started.");
+
+        LocaleNegotiator.setApplicationLocaleProvider(
+                                              new ApplicationLocaleProvider());
+        LocaleNegotiator.setClientLocaleProvider(new ClientLocaleProvider());
+        LocaleNegotiator.setSystemLocaleProvider(new SystemLocaleProvider());
+
+        String defaultCharset = s_conf.getDefaultCharset();
+        Globalization.setDefaultCharset(defaultCharset);
+
+
+        s_log.debug("Core globalization domain initialization completed");
+    }
+
+}