IDN-InDepthNews

Asia-Pacific2016-07-112023-07-10

China Pivots to Iran as U.S. Gets Caught Up in Sanctions

Analysis by Debalina Ghoshal *

NEW DELHI (INPS-IDN | Yale Global) – Since the signing of the controversial Iranian nuclear deal that lifted most international sanctions, China has emerged as a principal beneficiary. This is as much a result of aggressive Chinese push as it is difficulties faced by the West. China has pursued opportunities in the Iranian nuclear energy market, increased investment and expanded influence, with what could be rightly called a Middle Eastern pivot.

The country predicted to become the world’s largest energy consumer by 2030, is wasting no time in availing itself of Iran’s energy resources. China’s demand for oil imports is expected to grow from 6 million barrels per day to 13 million by 2035, and Iran, ranked fourth in the world with proven oil reserves and second with reserves of natural gas, is considered a reliable supplier.

OPINION2016-07-102023-07-10

New Global Power Equations Emerging Slowly But Surely

Viewpoint by Shastri Ramachandaran *

BEIJING (IDN) – Tashkent and Seoul were both in the news in the last week of June, for events which may have set in motion changes with far-reaching consequences for power equations in Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Hence, the two cities may well be remembered as the trigger-point of developments on which Sino-Russian strategic partnership may have an impact.

Seoul was the venue for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) plenary, which frustrated India’s attempts to gain entry. Around the same time, although Tashkent was witness to more momentous events, the bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping stole the thunder. Only because the Modi-Xi meeting was about India’s bid for NSG membership, widely publicized as enjoying unstinted U.S. support.

Asia-Pacific2016-07-102023-07-10

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Hillary Clinton and Sri Lanka

By Palitha Kohona *

COLOMBO (IDN) – During the 25-year war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka’s traditional arms suppliers imposed restrictions. The government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) had to look elsewhere – and China was willing to help.

Following the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, the former Mahinda Rajapaksa regime chose to focus on rapid economic revival and development of infrastructure. The U.S. reneged on its commitment to provide $500 million from the Millennium Development Account for road development.

The recently-released e-mails reveal that then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to block an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to GOSL and that the IMF did not like it.

UN INSIDER2016-07-092023-07-10

NATO Keen to Deepen Cooperation with the United Nations

By Jamshed Baruah

WARSAW (IDN) – Cooperation with the United Nations is becoming “increasingly important” for the world’s leading military alliance, NATO. The 28-nation bloc is therefore ready to “further deepen” existing interaction with the world body, particularly in view of the multiplying challenges to international peace and security.

While NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that the military bloc “poses no threat to any country,” its leaders agreed to enhance NATO’s military presence on the Russian borders in the east, with four battalions in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on a rotational basis – to be in place starting 2017.

Political observers expect this decision to deepen tensions with Russia, which would be reflected in the UN Security Council’s deliberations influenced by five veto wielding permanent members (P5): U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France.

Climate Action2016-07-082023-07-10

New Partnership to Implement Paris Climate Change Agreement

By Jutta Wolf

BERLIN (IDN) – Many developing countries have made their first ever commitment to complying with climate targets with the adoption of the Paris Agreement endorsed in December 2015. A new partnership – initiated jointly by the German Ministry for the Environment and that for Economic Cooperation and Development together with the World Resources Institute (WRI) – now aims to help them transform these targets into specific strategies and measures.

The initiative aims at supporting developing countries in specifying and implementing their nationally determined contributions and help them unify existing climate and development goals with a view to achieving greater harmonisation of various donor programmes. The partnership will be officially launched at the Marrakesh climate conference (COP22) in November.

UN INSIDER2016-07-082023-07-10

NEWSBRIEF: University Scholarships for Refugees Worldwide

BERLIN (IDN) – Germany is supporting the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by providing 2500 additional scholarships, according to the Federal Foreign Office. The DAFI programme enables those recognised as refugees to access university education in their country of first admission.

It is particularly Syrian refugees in Syria’s neighbouring countries who stand to benefit from the new student grants. Up to 1000 scholarships will be awarded in Turkey, a further 700 will be available for refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and northern Iraq.

Global Partnerships2016-07-082023-07-10

NEWSBRIEF: Sweden’s Petri Gornitzka Appointed New DAC Chair

PARIS (IDN) – Sweden’s Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General of the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), has been appointed as the new Chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

Petri Gornitzka replaces outgoing DAC Chair Erik Solheim, who recently became Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She will start her new role on a part time basis from July 11, 2016 and take up full-time duties in the autumn.

UN INSIDER2016-07-082023-07-10

Costa Rica’s Figueres Checkmates Runners for UN Chief’s Post

By Ramesh Jaura

BERLIN | NEW YORK (IDN) – The nomination of Christiana Figueres for the position of the United Nations Secretary-General one day after her term as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ended on July 6, comes as a checkmate to five other female and six male candidates vying for the world’s top diplomatic post.

President Luis Guillermo Solís announced on July 7 that the Costa Rican government is nominating Christiana Figueres because “the United Nations, and the world, needs a Secretary-General who is a bridge builder, who can listen and consult, who can help resolve disputes, build agreements and anticipate problems”.

UN INSIDER2016-07-082023-07-10

India Acclaimed for Contribution to UN Mission in Liberia

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – The Indian police officers, deployed as part of a Formed Police Unit (FPU), played a critical role in contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping mission’s success in Liberia, according to statements by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and other senior UN officials.

FPUs have three core duties: public order management, protection of United Nations personnel and facilities and support to such police operations that require a concerted response but do not respond to military threats.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) handed over security responsibility to national forces on June 30, 2016. Since Liberia’s civil war ended in 2003, UNMIL has been supporting the West African nation to rebuild its institutions so as to enable it maintain stability without its presence.

UN INSIDER2016-07-072023-07-10

NEWSBRIEF: Pretoria Rejects UN Move to Boost Civil Society

NEW YORK (IDN) – The Human Rights Institute of South Africa has expressed disappointment at the South African vote against a resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council on civil society, reports GroundUp. The resolution, aimed at creating safe spaces for civil society to operate, was passed on July 1, 2016 with 31 votes for, 7 against, and 9 abstentions.

The resolution, known as A/HRC/32/L.29, was introduced by Chile, Ireland, Japan, Sierra Leone and Tunisia. It was widely supported by civil society around the world; 244 organisations signed an open letter urging members of the Council to vote for the adoption of the resolution, including the Human Rights Institute of South Africa and international organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch which have a presence in the country.