Friday, January 31

Diplomacy

The GER covers diplomacy, international organizations, and meetings. Looking beyond our individual political systems we find people and organizations working to make life better for people in both conflict-ridden places as well as secure, developed countries. It is not enough to focus on the end results of international relations. It’s worth focusing on the day-to-day work of diplomacy. Often, that’s where breakthroughs occur.

Palestinian State-Building Faces ‘Considerable Obstacles,’ Norway FM Says
18Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

Palestinian State-Building Faces ‘Considerable Obstacles,’ Norway FM Says

Meeting in Oslo, Norway of the AHLC on Nov. 17, 2021. Credit: MFA/Mathias Rongved Separately, U.S. Ambassador to UN Tours Middle East, Emphasizes U.S.-Israel Ties & Remarks on Refugees November 18, 2021--Following a ministerial meeting of donors and interested parties supporting Palestinian governance, Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited "significant challenges" facing the Palestinian Authority, including budgetary problems, widespread unemployment, occupation, and an "enormous need" for investment. "Comprehensive, far-reaching measures are needed to reverse the negative economic trend in Palestine and strengthen the Palestinian institutions that the donors have been helping to develop for nearly three decades," said Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitf...
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As Israeli Leader Rejects Palestinian State, Norway Steps Up Diplomacy
17Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

As Israeli Leader Rejects Palestinian State, Norway Steps Up Diplomacy

November 17, 2021--Amid a rejection of the two-state solution by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Norway's Foreign Ministry is hosting talks today with the goal of building up rule of law in the Palestinian territories. Today's meeting in Oslo, Norway represents the first in-person ministerial meeting by the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in two years. Norway's newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt led the discussion. It's significant on multiple fronts. First, Norway is often instrumental in achieving breakthroughs in diplomacy. Earlier this year, the country's representatives achieved a solution for aid workers to continue to use a border crossing between Turkey and Syria. Later they helped bring Venezuelan leaders together with its opposition in Me...
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India Aims for 2070 Net-Zero, Asks For $1 Trillion
12Nov By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Foreign Aid, International Development, Types of News: Analysis, UN Security Council

India Aims for 2070 Net-Zero, Asks For $1 Trillion

COP26 event Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Editor's Note: One of the outcomes of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland was a pledge by India to reach "net-zero" within 50 years time. Net-zero means that a country or company would compensate for greenhouse gases it emits, bringing the total to zero. India has long been a holdout of promising net-zero. The announcement by Prime Minister Modi to set a target breathed life into the conference. Moreover, it's significant because India is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, after China and the United States. It is also noteworthy because as the world's sixth-largest economy, a shift to a green economy would impact financing. By Ramsha Zubairi November 12, 2021 — When Indian ...
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As Migrants Freeze on EU-Belarus Border, Political Tensions Heat Up
11Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Globalization, Global Disintegration, Human rights, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

As Migrants Freeze on EU-Belarus Border, Political Tensions Heat Up

Photo Source: Belarus Government November 11, 2021--Political tensions between the European Union and the dictatorship of Belarus are rising, and the lives of thousands of migrants are caught quite literally in the middle. President Alexander Lukashenko, whom many call the last dictator in Europe, has been systematically encouraging migrants into his country only to push them across the border into Europe. Now, as cold weather sets in, thousands of migrants are camped between the Poland and Belarus border, under siege. Belarus encourages visa-free travel through the Minsk airport from Turkey. Migrants are reportedly coming from war-torn countries of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Yesterday, the Belarus border officials said they met with delegates from the UN High Commissioner for Refuge...
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UN Peacekeepers Under Investigation for Trafficking Diamonds And Gold
8Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Types of News: Brief, UN Security Council

UN Peacekeepers Under Investigation for Trafficking Diamonds And Gold

File photo: UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. Source: UN November 8, 2021--Over 300 Portuguese police and military officers are investigating reports that elite Portuguese troops taking part in a UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic may have engaged in the illegal trafficking of diamonds, gold, and drugs. Officers issued 10 arrest warrants and raided properties in Lisbon, Funchal, Bragança, Porto de Mós, Entroncamento, Setúbal, Beja and Faro, The Guardian and other news outlets reported on Monday. “What we are looking into now is the possibility that some soldiers taking part in the national detached force in CAR were used as couriers in the trafficking of diamonds, gold and drugs,” the army said in a statement. According to reporting by The G...
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U.S. Government Adds Four Spyware Companies To Trade Blacklist
4Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Human rights, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

U.S. Government Adds Four Spyware Companies To Trade Blacklist

Israeli Spyware Firm NSO Group Named On Commerce Department's Prohibited List November 4, 2021—In a move meant to put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. Commerce Department announced yesterday it is adding four companies to a list of companies subject to trade restrictions. The four companies include Israel-based Candiru and the NSO Group, a Singapore-based company called the Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE (COSEINC), and Russia's Positive Technologies. In effect, the decision puts the companies on trade blacklist that imposes extra licensing requirements. Specifically, companies on the Entity List under Export Administration Regulations face limited availability of most license exceptions for, exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) to...
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Middle East Faces ‘Increasingly Desperate Reality’
2Nov By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments
Diplomacy, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Middle East Faces ‘Increasingly Desperate Reality’

UN Envoy Says Israeli Evictions Of Palestinians And Property Seizures Spurs Violence November 2, 2021—In recent weeks, a Middle East envoy to the United Nations expressed warnings about Israel-Palestinian relations. Demolition of homes by the Israeli military, construction of illegal housing by settlers, and evictions and displacement of Palestinians from their homes are causing a desperate and dangerous situation in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. For the Palestinians and the Bedouin community, these actions meant homelessness and loss of property. For Israeli citizens, the provocative actions by their government and illegal settlers put them at a greater risk of violence. In the following article, contributing writer Ramsha Zubairi reports. In his testimony to the Secu...
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What’s Ahead At The G20 Leaders Summit In Italy?
22Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Types of News: Videos

What’s Ahead At The G20 Leaders Summit In Italy?

October 22, 2021--Italian Amb. Mariangela Zappia discusses the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit to October 30-31. She mentions some key policy areas of G20 work, including global taxation, sustainable finance, digital tax, Afghanistan, and WTO reform. She spoke at a virtual event held by the Meridian International Center. https://youtu.be/6hF71yP1PR0
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U.S. Skips Moscow’s Meeting On Afghanistan
21Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development

U.S. Skips Moscow’s Meeting On Afghanistan

Russian-Led Troika-Plus Included Nine Central Asian Countries October 21, 2021—Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held an expanded Troika meeting in Moscow yesterday on the future of Afghanistan. It included representatives from the Taliban as well as Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Notably absent were diplomats from the United States, who took part in intra-Afghan Troika meetings in Qatar prior to the Taliban-takeover of the country. This content is supported by affiliate marketing. The GER chooses our partners carefully. Please consider purchasing products from Rumi Spice. The company empowers people by teaching them to raise and harvest crops in Afghanistan. To support our work, please make sure your browser enabl...
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Colin Powell On War, Diplomacy & Tolerance For Humanity
20Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Types of News: Quotes

Colin Powell On War, Diplomacy & Tolerance For Humanity

Powell Achieved Success With Optimism, Focus And Hard Work October 20, 2021—Colin Powell served the United States as a soldier, a national security adviser, chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, and the nation's top diplomat as Secretary of State from 2001-2005. While intensely popular for his leadership skills and political moderation, he shied away from a career in politics saying, he had "no political fire in his belly." On Monday, Powell passed away at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. He had COVID-19 despite having been vaccinated, multiple myeloma, and early-stage Parkinson's Disease. He was 84. For many Americans, Powell symbolized the ability to achieve success, not only as a strong leader but also as a minority who overcame difficulties o...
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