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Humanitarian Aid Forum for Syria to be Held in Geneva Next Week

2012-03-02T18:23:26Z

The UN in Geneva will hold an aid forum on 8 March to address the current challenges in getting humanitarian aid to the Syrian civilian population.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), alongside the Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European Commission’s humanitarian aid service will organize the humanitarian forum, according to OCHA spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs (AFP).

Humanitarian actors continue to voice their concerns about the situation in Syria, as they attempt to find a possible solution to help the wounded and affected population. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is currently working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver humanitarian assistance in Homs and Baba Amr. A first relief convoy is preparing to enter Baba Amr said deputy ICRC spokesman, Sebastien Carliez, in Geneva.

(With AFP) (Photo © OCHA)

German Economy Minister Urges EU to Create a Reconstruction Commissioner

2012-03-02T18:21:11Z

German Economy Minister, Philipp Roesler, has urged the EU to appoint a special commissioner assigned to supervise the implementation of reforms in member states affected by the debt crisis.

Germany had already proposed a similar idea regarding the creation of an economic commissioner that would keep an eye on Greece’s finances. The proposal was later rejected, however, by Greece and other Eurozone partners.

Roesler highlighted Greece’s reluctance to fully cooperate with Germany in tackling its financial problems. "I sometimes get the impression that the Greek people are fully aware of the sacrifices being asked of them, but that the elites in Greece don't want to forego their privileges". He added "it is all the more important that Greece is ready to cooperate better".

Berlin’s idea to create an EU reconstruction commissioner is likely to lead to fierce debate, given perceptions of an encroachment on member-states' sovereignty. Roesler explained that "the reconstruction commissioner would be primarily responsible for growth impulses and the implementation of reforms in countries (needing EU aid)" and suggested the portfolio could eventually be assigned to one of the 27 EU commissioners.

(With AFP) (Photo © Zimbio)

Increased Interdependence and Co-responsibility for European Countries

2012-02-14T17:53:09Z

European countries are heading towards increased ‘’interdependence and co-responsibility” according to Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council at Humboldt University (6th February). Speaking on 'The Discovery of Co-responsibility: Europe in the Debt Crisis’, Van Rompuy argued the Euro - "the Union's symbolic heart" - has played a crucial role in accelerating "economic and political interdependence" amongst countries in the Eurozone. He added that this also raised a "new awareness of co-responsibility amongst Europe’s leaders". During the address, Van Rompuy recognized the growing peer pressure felt by European governments and the need for each to be aware of their "co-responsibility" in a time of financial hardship. "Each country - and I am in particular thinking of Greece - is not only responsible for itself but also for the monetary union as a whole" declared Van Rompuy.

Reflecting on the future of the European Union in light of the current challenges threatening the Eurozone’s financial stability, Van Rompuy suggested that this crucial period in Europe’s history will not lead to the "re-nationalisation of European politics", but to a "Europeanisation of national political life".

(Photo © European Council)

Bolkovac Stands Up Against the ''Whistleblower Improvement Act''

2012-02-10T12:23:25Z

Kathryn Bolkovac has raised concerns over the ‘’ Whistleblower Improvement Act ‘’ by joining the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) in advocating for the safeguard of the rights and protections of whistleblowers. POGO, an independent nonprofit organization investigating federal government conduct, has strongly criticized the proposed legislation and its consequences for corporation liability and accountability as well as safeguards for whistleblowers. In a letter addressed to her local Representative, Bolkovac, former employee of the private security contractor DynCorp International for the International Police Task Force in Bosnia (and whose story inspired the blockbuster "The Whistleblower"), expressed her concerns about the consequences of the bill on the protection program currently in place for whistleblowers in the United States.

The ''Whistleblower Improvement Act'' was initially sponsored by the U.S. Congressman Michael Grimm. If passed, it will lead to an amendment of the ‘‘Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’’, the financial and corporate regulatory measures adopted last year. The new legislation would result in major changes; for example, whistleblowers would be required to report violations initally to their employer, through an internal compliance mechanism, instead of directly addressing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Such an amendment could seriously undermine the whistleblower's ability to report violations for fear of reprisals and retaliation by the employer. In addition, the proposed bill determines that whistleblowers who are guilty of wrong-doing may not be eligible for a financial reward. This important assurance for whistleblowers, and incentive to come forward with allegations of fraud and criminal activity, could then be undermined. According to Bolkovac's campaign letter, the ''Whistleblower Improvement Act'' will dissuade potential whistleblowers from reporting fraud and corporate crimininal activities.

In December 2011, the House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprise approved the proposed amendments. The bill will next be reviewed by the Financial Services Committee. Supporters of the proposed legislation and its sponsor Rep. Michael Grimm assure that it will help the SEC deal with whistleblowers' allegations more efficiently. According to a press release published in July 2011 by Rep. Michael Grimm's office, ''The overreaching provisions in Dodd-Frank make these internal programs obsolete, open the floodgates of claims to an already overburdened SEC, and delay action on escalating crimes within a company.'' Hence the need for new legislation.

Despite Republican and the financial industry's support for the new legislation, Kathryn Bolkovac firmly believes the ''Whistleblower Improvement Act'' will have harmful consequences, and she expressed her doubts about the bill by sending POGO's campaign letter to her local congress. In the letter, Bolkovac transcribed POGO's clear message: ''Wrapping these destructive policies in the guise of protecting whistleblowers is a cruel joke to all the whistleblowers who risk their careers and livelihoods to report wrongdoing and save investors billions of dollars. This bill would push back important and hard-won whistleblower protections and make it easier for institutions to defraud investors, taxpayers and the government."

The Fight For Internet Governance Results in Blackout

2012-01-19T12:37:32Z

In the United States, the battle over Internet governance is on. Two days before the web ‘’blackout’’, Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia tweeted: ‘’Student warning! Do your homework early. Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday!’’. On January 18th, Wikipedia joined hundreds of websites in a 24 hour ‘’blackout’’ to protest against the recent legislation Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) proposed at the US House of Representatives on October 26th 2011. On January 18th, any Wikipedia’s English-speaking user accessing the website could read ‘’ Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge” written over a black background. Others, including Facebook and Google, chose less drastic measures to raise awareness of the proposed legislation, for example, Google visitors on the search engine webpage found the company’s logo ‘’blacked out’’ in protest against the American anti-piracy legislation.

Currently, in the United States, the pro-legislation debate is focusing on protecting intellectual property and impeding copyright infringement from ‘’rogue websites’’.

The two controversial bills include the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), introduced in the US House, and Protect IP Act (PIPA), the US Senate version of the bill. SOPA aims to identify and take-down websites involved in copyright infringement through the enforcement of new liability rules, by holding Internet site providers, search engines and social networks responsible for monitoring their users' content and by blocking access to ''rogue websites''.

Advocating against the proposed legislation, Wikipedia, Google, Expedia, Yahoo, Amazon.com, eBay, IAC and Bloomberg LP formed Net-coalition. This platform is used by these Internet-based companies to publish their discontent with the proposed legislation. According to Net-coalition, ‘’PIPA is the new SOPA’’.

Strong critics of SOPA condemn the proposed legislation by suggesting that it will curtail the growth of an environment favorable to innovation and create a threat to web-related services and Internet-based economy.

Companies in favor of the anti-piracy legislation are mainly from the entertainment industry, such as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Recording Industry Association of America and the US Chamber of Commerce. For instance, MPAA has stated that ‘’rogue websites’’ are currently threatening more than 2.2 million American jobs in the film and television industry.

This ongoing battle to establish the benchmarks for Internet governance in the United States has highlighted the struggle to effectively protect intellectual property and establish anti-piracy measures. Some argue in favor of fighting Internet censorship while others continue to advocate for the full protection of American jobs in the entertainment industry. What seems clear is that the current legislation, mainly SOPA, does need to be reconsidered; strong reservations have been expressed about its negative impact on the Internet-based industry. However, the question remains: how should the Internet be governed? Is the ultimate solution to give governments more power over the Internet by establishing increased regulations?

(Photo © DR)

China Affirms Renewed Commitment to Sino-African Relations

2012-01-13T17:45:11Z

For China, the start of the New Year marks its renewed commitment towards building a strong strategic partnership with the African continent. A few days into 2012, China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yang Jiechi, re-affirmed its strong commitment to reinforcing Sino-African relations, following his official visits to Cote d’Ivoire, Namibia and Niger. Minister Jiechi stressed that countries "should not reduce help and input into Africa", in the context of the current financial crisis. He underlined his commitment "to further enhance unity and co-operation between China and Africa" - describing it as a matter of "strategic importance" for his country.

In 2003, China’s direct investment in the African continent added up to $490 million; by the end of 2009, it had grown to $9.33 billion. This exponential growth in investment is also reflected in the increase in trade volume between the two regions. According to the 2010 white paper "China-Africa Economic and Trade Co-operation", released by the Chinese government, the trade volume grew from $1 billion in 1980 to $114.81 billion in 2010.

Over the years, China has effectively consolidated its strategic partnership with African countries, securing its access to valuable resources and energy. As well as signing important contracts that assure its access to oil, China has also heavily invested in renewable resources including solar and hydropower projects. According to International Rivers, an international environmental NGO, Chinese companies and banks are "the biggest builders and funders of dams around the world"; many of the companies involved are said to disregard environmental standards. Chinese engagement in dam projects include Kajbar Dam on the Nile and the Merowe Dam in Northern Sudan, where the China Export Import Bank has invested $1.8 billion.

Africa's increasing demand for the financing of infrastructure development has led Chinese companies to engage in over 500 projects. These projects have contributed to establishing close relations with numerous governments; in 2008, 70% of the investments were concentrated in projects in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and The Sudan. According to the 2008 World Bank report “Building Bridges: China’s Growing Role as Infrastructure Financier for Sub-Saharan Africa”, Chinese infrastructure investments on the African continent reached $7 billion in 2006, of which the majority were concentrated on hydropower projects and the transportation sector.

Since the creation of the ministerial conference Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, Sino-African relations have grown stronger: political and commercial ties have been strengthened through the adoption of a common agenda. China calls this ''South-South co-operation''. As an emerging donor, China has closely linked trade and commercial investment strategies to aid the creation of a new breed of development assistance. As a result, it has become necessary to distinguish between China's different assistance mechanisms to African countries, separating ''traditional aid'' from "co-operation" (in terms of private economic investment by Chinese companies and banks).

In the last three decades, China has built a new role for itself as a donor, a contractor, an investor and a strong commercial partner for several African countries. However, the consequences of Chinese investment in and aid to the African continent remain a subject of debate - for academics as well as practitioners - as many fear it is becoming a new kind colonization.

An Ongoing Quarrel Between De Schutter and Lamy on Food Security

2011-12-20T16:10:54Z

Two years ago, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to food, Olivier de Schutter, claimed in his first report that the ‘‘Doha Round will not prevent a food crisis’’. Not much has changed since 2009 as Doha negotiations remain stalled. However, a war of words persists between Schutter and WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy since the release of this initial report. The UN Special Rapporteur has accused WTO of maintaining a trade policy framework that undermines the full achievement of the right to food. Hence, the lack of compatibility between the agriculture trade system and the broader human rights framework. More recently, Schutter has publicized a briefing note “The World Trade Organization and the Post-Global Food Crisis Agenda: Putting Food Security First in the International Food System” (November 16) in which he argued that the WTO is holding food security ‘’hostage’’ by establishing reductionist trade rules and enforcing trade dependency in developing states in their struggle to achieve food security.

Food security in developing countries is jeopardized by the increasing pressure on these states to promote trade which affects local agriculture production, especially through competition with agro-export multinationals and decrease in investments in domestic agriculture. According to Schutter, there is a need for “higher tariffs, import restrictions, state purchase from smallholders, active marketing boards, safety net insurance schemes, targeted farm subsidies," and to "reconsider the creation of food reserves’’ to ensure food security in developing countries. Small-scale farmers must be supported, and safeguards applied, to ensure no damaging consequence of price volatility for these countries. Despite advancing potential solutions to food insecurity, Schutter claims that the WTO leaves no ''policy space'' for developing countries to implement such policies and measures.

Following the strong accusations made by Schutter, WTO director-general, Pascal Lamy, did not take long to react and responded to these claims with a letter noting his opposition to several points advanced by the Special Rapporteur. Pascal Lamy's letter (December 16) comes at a time where the debate on ''food security'' and ''trade'' is still raging. Responding to Schutter, Lamy maintains a strong point in advocating for the importance of trade as a tool to enable food security. In addition, Lamy underlines that ''Highly trade distorting support, the use of export subsidies, high levels of protection, and unpredictable trade measures restricting imports or exports were among the causes of the price spikes in 2008 and 2010.''

As the debate on food security continues to evolve, WTO remains constrained by its lack of leadership in food security and by the political power and control of member states in the scope of action of this organization. However, developing countries still await to see who will take the lead in governing global food security. Earlier this year, the G20 adopted the ‘’Action plan on food volatility and agriculture’’ which was perceived as an important step to address the symptoms of food insecurity in the world.

(Photo © Bernd Eidenmüller)

WTO Opens Its Doors to Russia

2011-12-15T10:03:21Z

After 18 years of negotiations, the initial bid by Boris Yeltsin for Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1993 has finally paid off. The long-lasting negotiations hold the current organization’s record for the longest negotiation period, even after China’s record of its 15 year-long accession talks came to an end in 2001.

During his years in power both as President and Prime Minister, Vladmir Putin displayed continuous scepticism and forced the country to adopt a nonchalant approach with regards to the country's potential adhesion to WTO. In 2008, a different approach was initiated by Dmitri Medvedev, the current President of the Russian Federation. Medvedev took a step forward by considering Russia’s accession to WTO as a political priority in the government’s foreign policy agenda, despite Putin's continuous skepticism towards Russia's accession to WTO.

The negotiations have encountered many hurdles along the way. In Russia, the automobile industry opposed the adhesion of the country to the organization. The dissent from the assembly industry is due to the fear of increased foreign competition and increase in assembly costs due to the rise in the cost of labour. Negotiations stalled as Georgia threatened to use its veto to oppose Russia's accession following disagreements on borders and border checkpoints.

Russia’s accession is an important symbolic step for the country. In terms of economic dimensions, for some, Russian’s accession to WTO will define a more transparent and predictable environment for trade with foreign partners. For Russia, this can also be seen as an opportunity to build a more diversified economy away from its current dependency on natural gas resources. However, Russia's accession to the WTO is unlikely to solve the current political problems and corruption undermining the country's domestic political arena.

The protocol of Russia’s accession to the WTO is expected to signed on December 16th in Geneva during the Ministerial Conference of the WTO (December 15th-17th).

Important questions remain following the country's accession to WTO, notably, on how Russia will use its position with the organization for political purposes? How it wants to be perceived within the WTO? How will Russia's accession change the country's political and economic relations with the United States?

(Photo © DR)

Global Health Governance Ten Years After Doha

2011-12-06T10:57:16Z

At the Global Health Diplomacy Symposium held in Geneva (November 23), speakers illustrated the complex relationship between public health concerns, trade and intellectual property. Traditional actors in the global health arena, including WHO alongside current leaders from other international organizations in both public and private sectors, gathered to express their determination to remain relevant and engaged in the global health governance arena. Ten years after the Doha Declaration, chiefs of WIPO, WHO and WTO remain under increasing pressure to ensure patent protection and the protection of intellectual property, to act according to the complex interrelation of their respective mandates, and to address public health concerns. To simplify this complexity, a trilateral relationship has been created to facilitate cooperation (between WIPO, WHO and WTO) on matters of public health, intellectual property and trade, and to ensure a proper balance between intellectual property and access to essential medicines and other public health concerns.

Since the 2011 Doha Declaration, one of the main challenges remains the states' lack of policy coherence when negotiating on 'trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights' (TRIPS). At the Symposium, Pascal Lamy, Director-general of WTO stated, "I sometimes see countries who in the WTO will take a very vibrant position on problems with the TRIPS Plus agreements," but who, elsewhere, "will de jure and de facto accept a TRIPS Plus agreement because they are in a negotiating context that leads to this.'' According to Lamy, international organizations have their hands tied by their limited political power and limited role in advocating the use of TRIPS flexibilities - which remain the responsibility of member states. Lamy remained cautious and diplomatic when speaking in the debates on intellectual property within his organization, including in the discussion stirred by the current implementation of the Doha Declaration Paragraph 6. The latter ensures the possibility of issuing compulsory licenses for pharmaceutical companies to produce generic medicines for countries that do not have the capacity to manufacture certain drugs. Since its inception, the paragraph 6 waiver to TRIPS has only been used for generic drug exports from Canada to Rwanda. Evoking this ongoing debate, Lamy declared ‘’It is not for me to take sides… We can only hope to have, as far as possible, an informed debate.’’

Despite the continuing debate on TRIPS, the discourse has shifted to the current need for incentives for innovation in global health. Director-general of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, is confronted by new players joining her organization's traditional role in global health governance. At the Symposium, Chan underlined that "the biggest challenge is how to find the right balance to provide incentives and at the same time to assure access." As organizations attempt to adapt to the current dynamics of global governance, WIPO Director-general, Francis Gurry, said "we need to find a way of encouraging innovation ... new medicines will come from innovation." WIPO's recent work in the global health governance arena includes the creation of its latest public-private partnership, WIPO Re:Search, which aims to increase collaboration between public and private actors in research on ''neglected diseases.''

Presently, it is not only the traditional actors who are addressing the need for innovation; other key players, including private-public partnerships, are attempting to be flexible as they face the difficulties of the financial crisis as well as increasing pressure to fulfill public health demands. Executive Director of the Global Fund, Michel Kazatchkine, whose organization is currently facing a significant financial crisis, made a clear statement about the Fund's work to remain efficient and relevant. "The Global Fund is trying to become more involved in market dynamics; that means inviting countries to join, be involved in procurement and voluntary pool procurement.’’ CEO of GAVI, Seth Berkeley, also stressed the need to consider innovation in global health governance, "the future is not going to be Big Pharma alone in the world of innovation …personalized medicine is going to come in. Innovation occurring in much smaller companies, such as academia…We are going to see new and innovative models…The engagement of the developing world is going to increase from generics manufacturers to R&D, innovation, open-source; serving markets from their innovation, focusing on the needs of the developing countries… Again, this requires innovative partnership but not only big companies or UN alone….it is going to be innovative market creation, we heard about the large purchasing fund GAVI, Global Fund, and how these morph over time. We are going to see markets affected by these funding mechanisms, including the transition.’’ Berkeley also stressed the need to create appropriate pricing in developing countries though innovative means, including the creation of purchasing co-ops.

Ten years after the 2001 Doha Declaration, the quest to lead in the global health governance arena is still on. This has clearly created new forms of authority and new relations of power. Since the 2001 Doha Declaration, the discourse on TRIPS has been reconsidered and reframed by shedding a light on the existing relationship between trade, innovation and public health, and the need to ensure the right balance. As the implementation of TRIPS flexibilities is considered by some to be unsuccessful, due to political and economic pressures from both public and private interests, the discourse has evolved and no longer revolves solely around the confrontation between intellectual property and access to medicines. It has embraced the need to consider the importance of innovation in health, with regard to product development and financing mechanisms.

Whither the Next Arab Spring?

2011-11-25T12:24:14Z

Speaking at the 2011 Halifax International Security Forum, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, warned that Iran continued to be a “major challenge, not just to Israel, but to the whole world’’ adding that "nuclear Iran is unacceptable, we should be, like the rest of the world, determined to prevent them from turning nuclear, all options should not be removed from the table.’’

Barak made the comment at the Forum on security threats (November 18-20) in Canada's Atlantic port city, which brought leaders from the military, government, business and academia to discuss current and future global security issues and challenges.

Apart from Iran, the crisis in Syria was a major topic at the forum. Former US State Department official, Anne-Marie Slaughter said when considering military intervention one must remember that the “cost of using force is going to outweigh the benefits’’. Currently a professor at Princeton University, Slaughter pointed to the recent intervention in Libya. ‘’In Libya, it looked like the benefits would outweigh the costs …if you look at Bahrain… the cost of using force, with Saudi Arabia right there, could be absolutely enormous''. In the case of Syria, she said three months ago she would not have believed that the Arab League would discuss military intervention. ''I would have told you absolutely not, but when you look into huge refugees flows in Jordan and Turkey, you look at the destabilization of the entire region that could result Syrian civil war. If we look at the benefits of trying to act in various ways to force the government to change it starts to looking different.’’

Radwan Ziadeh, Executive Director of the Syrian Center for Political and Strategic Studies, underlined the lengthy response by the international community to the events in Syria. ''The international community reacted within 11 days and in Syria it has been 9 months of ongoing crisis.'' He also called on the international community, specifically the Security Council members, to take a stand on Syria. In October, Russia and China exercised their veto on a previous UN resolution.

NATO General Charles Bouchard was asked if there is any discussion taking place in NATO following the recent call by the Muslim Brothers for military intervention by Turkey to protect civilians in Syria. Bouchard replied that he was not aware of any such discussions taking place but said if a military intervention is considered an "analysis needs to take place at a deeper level.’’

This year's Halifax International Security Forum underlined that the Arab Spring events pose wider security threats to the region and the rest of the world. Paul Salem, Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Lebanon, noted that some countries have not yet been affected by the Arab Spring such as Saudi Arabia and Algeria. As Saudi Arabia faces leadership and succession questions, Salem warned that "Saudi Arabia is the big risk going forward ... is too big to fail, but it's going to fail... if it doesn’t institute significant reforms.’’

At the conclusion of the third international security forum, Canada's Defense Minister, Peter MacKay stressed the need for ''cooperation and creativity'' to tackle security threats and challenges as global budgets continue to shrink.