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GPF List-Serv
May 28 - June 1, 2001
Greetings from Global Policy Forum!
Ten Security Council delegates returned on May 26 from a mission to the Great Lakes region. Ambassador Levitte of France announced that the UN will assist the DRC in establishing an International Criminal Tribunal to punish war crimes at Kinshasa's request. Discussing the mission in the Security Council, members of the delegation said the situation has improved and steps toward peace have been taken.
In Sierra Leone, the situation is clearly beginning to improve. The RUF just released 424 child soldiers in a ceremony where the Sierra Leonean government, RUF leaders and the UN were present. Last week, about 2,600 rebels and pro- government militia members surrendered their weapons. "This clearly demonstrates the commitment of the RUF to the total stoppage of this war," said Oluyemi Adeniji, the UN special envoy to Sierra Leone. But he did not mention that the rebel group and pro-government militias were fighting in the country's eastern diamond areas, having broken a week-old cease-fire pledge. UN officials and Western diplomats believe that the RUF begun peace talks partly because of the increasing pressure on Mr. Taylor.
While the situation is stabilizing in Sierra Leone, it has deteriorated in Liberia and neighboring Guinea. President Charles Taylor of Liberia accuses the UK of helping to keep alive the regional conflict in West Africa by training and supplying Sierra Leonean governmental troops.
In regards to Iraq, a US-UK draft resolution for changing the sanctions has been under scrutiny by the Security Council. France apparently submitted compromise proposals with new ideas to bridge the gap between the US and the UK on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other. With the current Oil-for-Food program expiring on June 4, the Council has decided to extend it for further six months. The US wants more time to convince members of the Council to agree to their draft resolution, other members of the Council want more time for their concerns over the draft to be considered. This delay is a major setback for US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who made revising the sanctions a high priority since he is in office.
Globalization
On the 40th anniversary of its founding, Amnesty International issued a report finding that while globalization has brought economic prosperity to some, it has left too many others mired in debt, poverty and oppression. Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson stated that globalization is leading to a rise in racism and xenophobia, as rich countries are determined to keep the benefits of globalization to themselves.
International Justice
Countries from the Southern African Development Community met to examine the process of ratification and harmonization toward the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), indicating growing regional support for the court.
As President Bush grapples with what position he should take on US ratification of the ICC, he should consider that: (1) US failure to ratify, by the terms of the treaty itself, would result in the inability to participate in shaping the court in its early formative years; (2) the US delegation to the ICC talks during the Clinton Administration already has negotiated for provisions that alleviate any legitimate fears the US may have of establishment of the court; (3) the US federal government has the constitutional power to participate in international treaty regimes; and (4) it is in the US national interest to recognize the importance of international law.
Global Taxes
Helen Hayward demonstrates that the globalization of financial markets has led to a succession of financial and economic crises, with devastating consequences for the developing world. A two-tier Tobin tax could act to calm market volatility and prevent further crises.
And now for this week's links: