UN Rights Chief Calls for Investigation into Reports of Killings in Guinea

Since the start of a nationwide strike in Guinea on January 10, 2007, the UN has received reports that over 40 unarmed protesters have been killed by security forces. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour is calling for an independent investigation into the killings.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=21322&Cr=guinea&Cr1=

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ICJ Rules Against Uruguay’s Request in Pulp Mills Dispute

The International Court of Justice at The Hague yesterday rejected Uruguay’s request for provisional measures that would compel Argentina to remove blockades set up by environmental picketers on the main thoroughfares connecting the two countries. The blockades, which protest Uruguay’s construction of pulp mills near the border, have spurred ongoing controversy and litigation for almost a year. The ICJ ruled 14-1 that the current situation did not justify the measures sought by Uruguay, but urged the two countries to seek cooperative, lawful ways to resolve their tensions.

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/vernoticia.do?id=9705&formato=HTML

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WTO Trade Policy Review on Chad

In a Trade Policy Review issued January 22, the WTO Secretariat noted that Chad had experienced growth, but needed broad trade policy reform in order to encourage the investment required for diversification of its economic base and effective redistribution of large profits from new oil exports. The report found that reductions in both currently high tariffs and administrative restrictions were particularly critical to encouraging investment in Chad. For the report of both the Secretariat and the Chadian government, see here: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp275_e.htm.

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Saving St. Petersburg from Floods

In St. Petersburg, a 25-kilometer-long flood protection wall — Eastern Europe’s largest construction project ever — is nearing completion. In addition to a $245 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the project has been made possible by donors including Japan, the Netherlands, Taipei China, the United Kingdom, the European Commission and the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership. The estimated total cost of the project is $2 billion.
For a press release, see http://www.ebrd.com/new/stories/2007/070118.htm

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Secretary General Delivers State of the Council of Europe Address

Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe, delivered his annual address on the state of the council on January 22nd. Focusing on its achievements in 2006 and looking ahead to 2007, Davis said the council’s human rights watchdog activities, while not becoming belligerent, must never be overly accomodating to violators.
For the full text of the speech, see here.

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South American Summit Ends Amid Quarrels

Mercosur’s ministerial council concluded its two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro on Friday with no major policy agreements made between the 11 South American nations in attendance. The heads of state of Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela aired grievances on issues like foreign investment, the nationalization of major industries, and U.S. anti-drug policies.  Paraguay, which currently holds the Mercosur presidency, told Argentina and Uruguay they must resolve their deadlocked conflict over the construction of pulp mills along their border; the dispute is currently before the International Court of Justice.

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/vernoticia.do?id=9687&formato=HTML

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ECtHR Finds Violations of the European Convention in Chechnya

On January the 18^th the ECtHR issued a chamber judgment in the case of Chitayev and Chitayev v. Russia finding violation of several provisions of the European Convention. The Court found that the two applicants, Russian citizens who lived in Chechnya, suffered acts of torture while in detention and that their rights to liberty, security and fair process have been violated by Russian authorities. For more information see here.

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Mercosur Earmarks $70 Million for Uruguay, Paraguay Development

The Mercosur Council approved on Thursday a $70 million fund to support development projects in Uruguay and Paraguay. The two countries have often voiced concerns about economic imbalance among the organization’s five member nations. To bring the countries to a more equal footing with Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela, the Mercosur Structural Convergence Fund will finance programs in social welfare, disease control and prevention, microfinancing, and road-building. Mercosur is currently in summit in Rio de Janeiro.

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/vernoticia.do?id=9682&formato=HTML

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ASEAN Reaches Agreements With China, Australia During Summit

At the 12^th ASEAN summit in Cebu, the Philippines, which concluded earlier this week, member nations agreed on a blueprint for the organization’s first charter, and further addressed issues such as counter-terrorism efforts, energy security, and the rights of migrant workers.

The summit was held concurrently with the 10th ASEAN-China summit, which produced a five-year plan for cooperative programs between China and ASEAN nations in the field of information technology.

At the Second East Asia summit, also held during this time in Cebu, Australia announced a commitment of AUD 5 million to help ASEAN member nations strengthen outbreak response teams to fight infectious diseases such as avian influenza.

http://www.aseansec.org/

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ECJ Grants the Kurdistan Workers’ Party Standing to Contest an Anti-Terrorist Measure

On January the 18^th, the European Court of Justice released its decision in the case The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) v. Council. The PKK and the KNK appealed a 2005 order of the Court of First Instance which dismissed the action on inadmissibility grounds. The parties are seeking annulment of a Council antiterrorist measure. The European Court of Justice held that the action was in fact partly admissible and referred the case back to the Court of First Instance for judgment on substance. For more information see here.

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