• EU urges Israel to protect the rights of the Arab-Palestinian minority whilst strengthening economic relations

    Jul 28
    In a recent statement, the EU-Israel Association condemned Israel for a vast range of human rights violations in the state and “occupied Palestine territory”.

    Addressing various issues, the statement noted Israel’s obligation to protect the rights of the Arab-Palestinian minority, emphasising that this issue was a core problem that had to be addressed in it’s own right.

    The statement also confirmed the EU’s continuing support for human rights defenders as a “ long established element” of its human rights external relations policy, whilst condemning Israel’s practice of administrative detention.

    Discussing the topic of administrative detention, the EU statement Urged Israel “to refrain from actions which may.. curtail the freedom of association and freedom of speech”

    Despite the EU’s acknowledgment of the Israeli government’s violations, the EU Israel Associations statement also indicates that the EU will still strengthen economic relations with Israel.

    Commenting on the EU’s actions, human rights groups: Physicians for human rights-Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture said,
    “The inconsistency between the EU stand on Israel’s police towards human rights and its decision to strengthen economic ties may promote impunity. The principles of human rights, deep democracy and international law should be the main principles in EU-Israel relations and must steer any enhancement of its trade relations and must steer any enhancement of its trade relations with Israel,”

  • UN fails to agree on proposed arms treaty
    A proposed treaty to regulate the arms trade failed to be agreed upon at the United Nations on Friday, with no decision having been made.

    Over 170 countries have been in New York to negotiate the terms of the treaty, which could have been vetoed by any one country. With no consensus having been reached, further talks may occur at the UN General Assembly by the end of the year.

    Commenting on the failure to reach an agreement, British foreign secretary, William Hague said,
    "This is not the result we wanted. But we have made huge progress. The chair's draft treaty has our full support as well as that of the great majority of other states. But to be fully effective, the treaty will need very broad – ideally universal – participation. It is clear that more time is needed to reach the widest possible agreement."
    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also expressed “disappointment” at the negotiations, stating,
    "The conference's inability to conclude its work on this much-awaited ATT, despite years of effort of member states and civil society from many countries, is a setback,"
    Activists, who earlier criticised the draft treaty for having "ambiguities and loopholes", said that a small group of states including Syria, North Korea, Iran, Egypt and Algeria were opposing arms control during the talks.

    However a Western diplomat told the AFP,
    "It's the fault of the United States that we failed… They derailed the process and we will have to wait for the US presidential elections"
    Earlier 51 American senators wrote to the US administration, urging them not to sign the treaty, saying,
    “As defenders of the right of Americans to keep and bear arms, we write to express our grave concern about the dangers posed by the United Nations’ arms trade treaty.”
    Scott Stedjan, a senior policy adviser at Oxfam America, commented,
    "Moving forward, President Obama must show the political courage required to make a strong treaty that contains strong rules on human rights a reality."
  • Russia distances itself from Assad
    Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday, that Russia was “not even thinking about” providing asylum for Assad, in a sign that the country may be distancing itself from the besiged Syrian regime.

    When asked about media reports that Russia was ready to offer Assad asylum, Lavrov replied,
    “We have said more than once publicly that we are not even thinking about this.”
    Lavrov echoed  statements by Putin and other Russian officials that Moscow has no special relationship with the Syrian government, and even went on to suggest that it may make more sense for a Western nation to take him in.

    Russia continued the rhetoric that it is not propping up Assad and would accept his exit from power in a political transition decided by the Syrian people, but remained adamant that he must not be pushed out by external forces.
  • UN calls for an independent investigation over violence in Burma
    The UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, has asked for a prompt independent investigation due to claims of abuses by security forces in Burma’s Rakhine state, noting that that the crisis reflected the long-standing systemic discrimination against the Muslim Rohingya community, who are not recognized by the Government and remain stateless.

    Speaking on the issue Ms Pillay said,
    “Reports indicate that the initial swift response of the authorities to the communal violence may have turned into a crackdown targeting Muslims, in particular members of the Rohingya community.”
    Addressing the Burmese government, she said,
    “The government has a responsibility to prevent and punish violent acts, irrespective of which ethnic or religious group is responsible without discrimination and in accordance with the rule of law.”
    She went on to urge national leaders to speak out against discrimination, the exclusion of minorities and racist attitudes and to support equal rights for all in Burma.

    The UNHCR says that about 80,000 people had been displaced due to the violence. Extremist Buddhist monks have also been urging people to shun the Muslim Rohingya community and block aid from being distributed to them.

  • Rwanda demands ‘respect’ as more aid cut
    Rwanda has demanded respect from Western nations, accusing them of treating the country like a child, in response to further cuts in funding to the African country.

    Addressing a Kenyan business club, Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said,
    "This child-to-parent relationship has to end ... there has to be a minimum respect”
    "As long as countries wave cheque books over our heads, we can never be equal."
    Her comments come as the Netherlands announced they were suspending aid worth approximately 5 million Euros a year, in light of allegations that rebel group M23 was receiving direct aid from top Rwandan officials, including weapons, ammunition and recruits.

    The allegations were made in a UN Group of Experts report, published at the end of June, which has been dismissed as containing “flimsy evidence” by Mushikiwabo. Labelling the cutting of aid as “hasty”, she brushed the moves off, commenting,
    "We have been in much worse situations than dollars being withheld from us,"
    Germany also suspended 21 million Euros worth of payments to Rwanda with their Development Minister Dirk Niebel stating,
    "Rwanda did not use this time to rebut these serious allegations... suspending budget aid is a clear sign to the Rwandan government."
    Britain, Rwanda’s largest multilateral donor, and the United States have also cut or withheld funding to the country.

    See our earlier posts:

    Rwandan aid frozen by Britain (27 July 2012)

    US cuts aid to Rwanda (22 July 2012)
  • Former Milosevic aide sworn in as Serbian Prime Minister

    A spokesperson for the late Slobodan Milosevic, the former Serbian and Yugoslavian President charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Serbia.

    Ivica Dacic was sworn in earlier, in a parliament dominated by Serbian nationalists and socialists; including Milosevic’s party the Socialist Party of Serbia headed by Dacic.

    Addressing parliament in Belgrade, Dacic stated that Serbia would refuse to recognise Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence, but would respect European Union brokered agreements with the country. The issue of Kosovo has been particularly contentious in Serbia’s attempt to becoming a member of the European Union (see here and here).

    Dacic told the Serbian Parliament,

    "Our goal is the acceleration of the process of European integration with a maximum effort to get a date for the start of EU accession talks,"

    "Serbia wants to be a factor of peace and stability in the region... all outstanding issues should be resolved peacefully.”

    "Serbia is extending its hands in reconciliation with everyone. We will not concern ourselves with the past; let's concern ourselves with the future."

    He also stated that he had already discussed matters with the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who commented that Serbia “needs an effective government” that will “continue to deliver on the European integration agenda, regional cooperation and reconciliation, including through the early resumption of dialogue” with Kosovo.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel also commented on Serbia’s appointment, urging “normalization of the neighbourly relations with Kosovo.”

    Also in Serbia's new cabinet is Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Milosevic's former information minister infamous for his extremist views during the Kosovo War and new General secretary Veljko Odalovic, a senior official during the conflict.

  • British PM to challenge Putin on Syria during Olympic visit

    The British Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that he will raise concerns over Syria with Russian President Vladmir Putin, when he visits London next week to watch the Olympic Games.

    Putin will be visiting Britain for the first time in 9 years, and will be watching the judo event on Thursday with the British leader.

    Speaking to the Global Investment Conference in London on Thursday Cameron said that he would be focusing on trade between the two nations, commenting,

    "We will be at the judo so it may be a bit off-putting. But nonetheless I know my major priority is to get those trade deals, to get that investment and not to concentrate on what is happening on the mat."

    The Guardian reported that Syria would also be a topic of discussion between the two leaders, noting that Cameron recently stated,

    "The message to President Putin and to all those on the UN security council is: it is time for the UN security council to pass clear and tough messages about sanctions – I believe under chapter seven of the UN – and to be unambiguous in this."

    "Obviously we are a UN security council with permanent members and permanent members that have vetoes. We can't pass these things without everybody stepping up to the plate and taking the right action. But I would appeal to those who in the past have held out against tough action against Syria: what more evidence do we need about a regime that had brutalised its people?"

    Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will also be meeting with the British Prime Minister at a reception in London next Friday.

  • Kenyan witnesses in ICC cases face intimidation
    The prosecutor for the international criminal court (ICC) has raised concerns with the Kenya over the intimidation of witnesses in the two trials involving 4 Kenyans at the Hague.

    Speaking to a news conference in Nairobi on Thursday, Head of Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division Phakiso Mochochoko told the Hague that intimidation of the witnesses was very possible.

    “The threats continue and maybe there will be even more threats as we get to trails. Those threats must stop. The government of Kenya and the ICC will work together to make sure those people threatening witnesses are brought to book,” he stated.

    He also noted that though the prosecution witness were out of the country, their families and others perceived to be ICC witnesses were being intimidated.

    The ICC also stated that the outcome of the upcoming Kenyan vote would have no effect on the justice process.

    Mochochoko went on to state,

    “The ICC process is a judicial process, not a political. Whether you are a king or a prime minister you will face the same plight as anyone else.”

  • Rwandan aid frozen by Britain

    Britain has decided to freeze £16 million worth of aid to Rwanda, following allegations that the country was fuelling the conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Britain’s decision echoes steps taken by the US and Netherlands to condemn the Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, after a UN report accused Rwanda of arming rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Addressing the issue, The Department for international Development (Dfid) said that Britain’s aid recipients must adhere to strict ‘partnership principles’, which include human rights and other international obligations such as, good governance, transparency, fighting corruption and domestic accountability.

    The head of the US war crimes office Stephen Rapp, further emphasised international concerns by warning Rwandan leaders that they could be eligible to face prosecution at the international criminal court (ICC) for “aiding and abetting” crimes against humanity in a neighbouring country.

    The international change in stance on Rwanda was applauded by Human Rights Watch senior researcher, Carina Tertsakian.

    Speaking on the freezing of aid, she said,

    "We hope this signals a broader shift in international policy and that Rwanda's friends and allies will begin insisting on respect for human rights, inside Rwanda as well as in Congo."

    "The recent report that Dfid is delaying disbursement of some of its budget support could also be very significant in light of the fact that the UK is the largest bilateral donor to Rwanda and has been reluctant to take a strong public stand on Rwanda's human rights record."

    See our earlier post: US cuts aid to Rwanda (22 July 2012)

  • UN lifts sanctions on Taylor allies

    The UN Security Council has lifted sanctions on 17 allies of the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor.

    The sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes were imposed over 10 years ago to weaken Taylor’s regime.

    "The lifting of the travel ban is welcome news for the government of Liberia," AFP news agency quotes the Foreign Minister Augustine Naguafan as saying.

    25 former associates, including Taylor’s son remain on the list.

    Taylor’s ex-wife Jewel Taylor, who was removed from the list, told the BBC that her international isolation meant she had to live like a "fish in a small bowl".

    "It was quite difficult," she said.

    "If I had a chance I'll probably go to Israel and praise God."

  • Ethnic violence in Assam

    Recent ethnic clashes in the North-eastern state of Assam, India has so far claimed 44 lives and left 200,000 people displaced, Reuters reports.

    There has been a proliferation in recent years of anti-Muslim sentiment among Assam’s Hindu and Christian tribes against settlers from neighbouring Bangladesh.

    A government-funded think tank, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses said that the lack of coherent policy to deal with the ethnically sensitive region meant that Assam would remain prone to imminent ethnic clashes and communal tensions.

    More than 2000 people, most of whom were Bangladeshi immigrants, were killed in ethnic violence in 1983.

    See BBC article on what lies behind Assam violence here.

  • UN Secretary-General visits Srebrenica graves
    The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has visited Srebrenica and paid respects to the victims of the 1995 massacre, becoming the first UN chief to have done so.

    During his visit he also addressed MPs in Sarajevo, where he said,

    "In a tragedy of such epic proportions, there was so much blood and so much blame.”

    "The international community failed in preventing the genocide that unfolded. But we have learned from the horror and we are learning still".

    His comments were echoed by Hasan Nuhanovic, a former interpreter for the Dutch UN battalion in Srebrenica. Nuhanovic said,

    "The UN must take a position... [and] recognise its responsibility".

    "The people who delivered my family to the Serb forces were [UN] blue helmets."

    "There is no organisation which is more responsible for what happened in Srebrenica than the UN".

    Ban Ki-moon also visited Sarajevo’s Olympic stadium, where he participated in a symbolic run.

    8000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces at Srebrenica in 1995.

  • Britain confirms military presence in Somalia

    Britain has confirmed the presence of military personnel in Somalia according to the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday.

    Commenting that a team of ten military advisors had been deployed in Mogadishu, the Ministry of Defence stated that they will not have a combat role. Instead, the MoD said the personnel will assist and advise the African Union Force already present in the country.

    The African Union Force had its presence increased to almost 18,000 troops earlier this year and receives US and European funding.

    They have worked alongside Ethiopian troops and pro-government militias to support a UN-backed interim government.

    They have put pressure on Al-shabab, an Islamic militant group, having recently captured the town of Afgoye – where British military advisors were reported to have been seen.

    See the BBC report here.

  • Egypt eases blockade measures on Gaza
    The newly formed Egyptian government has eased restrictions on Palestinians travelling out of Gaza into Egypt, according to officials on Monday.

    Under the old regulations Palestinians under 40 years old were escorted across the border by security officials and were often held in detention for up to three days.
    The new move allows Palestinians to cross through Egypt on their own and permits them to stay in the country for up to 72 hours.

    Maher Abu Sabha, director of borders within Gaza's Hamas-run government said,
    "We were officially informed by the Egyptian side about a decision to allow any Palestinian under the age of 40 to travel through Rafah with his family without a visa, starting today."
    The original blockade was placed on Gaza since 2006, with one Gaza resident commenting,
    "The closure did not affect only the travel of passengers or the flowing of goods. Our brains and our thoughts were under blockade."
    Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon responded to the opening saying there was "additional responsibility on the Egyptians about what happens in Gaza" and that “cooperation will continue for the benefit of both sides."

    Last week Egypt’s new president Mohamed Morsi met with  Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and separately with Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal. Mashaal later commented on the meeting,
    "We are confident that Egypt, the revolution led by Morsi, will never provide cover for any new aggression or war on Gaza,"
    "We are confident that Egypt, the revolution led by Morsi, will not take any part in blocking Gaza."
  • Russia warns Syria against use of chemical weapons
    The Russian Foreign Ministry has released a statement warning the Syrain regime against the use of chemical weapons, as fighting continues to rage in the country.

    In the statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry reminded Syria that it in 1968 it had ratified an international protocol prohibiting the use of such weapons, stating,
    “The Russian side proceeds from the assumption that Syrian authorities will continue to strictly adhere to the undertaken international obligations,” 
    The statement comes as Russia warned its citizens against travelling to Syria “due to the continuing extremely tense situation” and the government owned airline Aeroflot announced they would be suspending flights from Moscow to Damascus from August the 6th.

    However, Russia and China both vetoed a United Nations resolution that threatened the Syrian regime with sanctions last week, the third time that both countries have done so on resolutions concerning the Syrian uprising.

    Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin stated that,
    "Assad is not our stooge, waiting for phone call from Moscow telling him what to do. He represents an entire power structure which needs to be reformed in order to satisfy the aspiration of the entire Syrian people, also, in a way not to offend and put at a considerable disadvantage the segment of the population he represents."
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