HERO OR DESPOT the Ever-Changeable Rule of President Aleksandar Vučić E

August EUR PE 2020 Diplomatic magazine

KILLER ROBOTS - WHOSE FINGER ON THE TRIGGER? The controversy over ‘lethal autonomous weapons’

FEE-FI-FO-FUM! One woman tackles a 4-headed giant Europe’s competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager HERO OR DESPOT The ever-changeable rule of President Aleksandar Vučić E

3 BRUSSELS - PARIS - GENEVA - MONACO

EUROPEDIPLOMATIC IN THIS ISSUE

n Hero or despot The ever-changeable rule of President Aleksandar Vučić ...... p.5

n Fee-fi-fo-fum! One woman tackles a 4-headed giant Europe’s competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager ...... p.11 5

n Turkey’s latest political battleground Byzantine basilica becomes a mosque ...... p.18

n Killer robots whose finger on the trigger? The controversy over ‘lethal autonomous weapons’ ...... p. 21

11 n News in brief ...... p. 28

n Still going strong at 70 The birthday of the European Convention on Human Rights ...... p. 30

n The United Nations of Europe Europe likely to recover faster than anywhere else, thanks to the European model ...... p. 37 21

n Schadenfreude for fun and profit The surprising fall of Wirecard an emerging German giant ...... p. 40

n Covid-19 European Commission secures EU access to Remdesivir for treatment of covid-19 ...... p. 48

30 n Newly accredited European Ambassadors ...... p. 50

n A place to visit August 2020 - January 2021 ...... p. 52

n Van Gogh museum acquires 1888 letter from Van Gogh and Gauguin to Bernard for 210,600 euros ...... p. 54

40 n Books Our selection...... p. 58

EUR PE “EUROPE DIPLOMATIC MAGAZINE” is characterized by a very open editorial line that allows it to capture all the themes that affect directly or indirectly the European political, economic, social and security issues. Whether piracy in the Gulf of Aden Diplomatic and its threats to the global economy, articles about political leaders, geostrategic situations or technological developments magazine affecting our civilization, Europe Diplomatic Magazine strives to work in comparing opinions and providing an objective analysis based on extensive research. For a wide audience composed of both members of the diplomatic corps, lobbyists, international officials or academics, the magazine gives everyone the necessary and useful information about all topics that make up our daily lives. Covering sensitive issues such as nuclear, the rise of Islamism and energy dependence, the magazine opens its pages to recognized specialists who would like to express first order and exclusive information. But Europe Diplomatic Magazine is not only a source of information on recent topics. It is also addressing older facts with deep thought fur further analysis. Whether it’s news, security, diplomacy, technology, energy, terrorism, European affairs, no subject is treated superficially. Europe Diplomatic Magazine is an independent media, conveying balanced ideas of openness and analysis based on almost 30 years of experience in the journalistic world. Visit our site and please give us your comments: https://europe-diplomatic.eu/ [email protected]

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Nikola Hendrickx

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“A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” That was how Britain’s wartime leader, Winston Churchill, described the likely reaction of Stalin’s Russia to the outbreak of the Second World War (In fact, Churchill said it in 1939, shortly before he became prime minister; Neville Chamberlain was still in charge at the time). It would also be, however, a reasonable description of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, whose rule in Serbia still commands some support among EU member state leaders whilst appearing to lapse at times into autocracy. Videos of severe police brutality, described by the news website Euractiv as “unmatched anywhere in contemporary Europe”, have gone viral around the world.

riddle wrapped in a mystery contemporary Europe”, have gone viral COVID-19 and resistance to Vučić’s inside an enigma.” That was how around the world. decision to impose a weekend lockdown. Britain’s wartime leader, Winston We’ve seen similar protests in other “AChurchill, described the likely reaction The violence was certainly extreme countries, especially the United States, of Stalin’s Russia to the outbreak of the and shocking, with protestors being where conspiracy theories seem more Second World War (In fact, Churchill beaten to the ground with batons and infectious than the Sars-CoV-2 virus, said it in 1939, shortly before he became then repeatedly kicked. In one incident, but the brutality of the Serbian police prime minister; Neville Chamberlain was three men simply sitting together on a was extreme. Serbia’s Interior Minister, still in charge at the time). It would also park bench are targeted by the baton- Nebojsa Stefanović said the police had be, however, a reasonable description wielding thugs of Belgrade’s finest and acted ‘with restraint’ and only in self- of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, beaten to the ground. These are horrific defence. The footage now on the internet whose rule in Serbia still commands scenes and demonstrate that something suggest that Stefanović is suffering from some support among EU member state is rotten in the state of Serbia, as Hamlet’s self-delusion over self-defence. Vučić leaders whilst appearing to lapse at times friend Horatio might have said. In this himself blamed ‘far-right radicals’ (having into autocracy. Videos of severe police particular instance, though, the cause been one once upon a time he ought brutality, described by the news website of the violence was - theoretically - the to know them) and ‘foreign agents’ for Euractiv as “unmatched anywhere in spread of conspiracy theories about the trouble. The country’s ombudsman

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insisted that the police had not used and other kinds of poison. You have to on Vučić to try to rein in his excesses, excessive force. In that case, I’d hate to be have a ruthless autocrat and politician to but the EU, as on previous contentious there when they are using excessive force. even want that sort of control, anyway. occasions, prefers to keep its head One reason for the protest is that there The problem is that Serbia seems to have down and hum to itself to drown out have been credible claims that Vučić lied one of its very own, in the person of the the cries and screams. It’s never brave about the number of COVID-19 cases in country’s President, Aleksandar Vučić. when confronting contentious issues, Serbia in order to calm the public before generally preferring the status quo to elections that he wanted to go ahead. Serbia is rated by the US-based non-profit continue as long as ‘stability’ triumphs. These allegations came first from the NGO Freedom House as a “transitional That’s why so far, their response to or hybrid regime”. Corruption is rife and Balkan Investigative Research Network the violent repression is, largely, an some of his opponents have pointed out (BIRN), which wrote in an article that, embarrassed (and embarrassing) silence. Vučić’s venality since he took power in according to its investigation of the data, Six member states have blocked further 2012 as evidence that the country is a the number of deaths from the pandemic negotiations for membership, partly virtual kleptocracy, lining the pockets up to the 1st June was 632 instead of the because Vučić still insists that Kosovo, of Vučić and his cronies (or allies, if you reported 233. The sudden clampdown an ethnically Albanian province, should prefer). Freedom House cites another came as a shock, while some were again become part of Serbia; he refuses example of political violence that to recognise its independence. Kosovo circulating the sort of conspiracy theories almost marks a turning-point in the created to sow doubt and discord. broke away in 2008 after a brutal war country’s recent development: “As 2018 in which atrocities were committed drew to an end, one event set the scene on both sides. Vučić was Minister of for the start of 2019,” it says in a report Information during that conflict, and he on Serbia. “In November, just before introduced huge fines for any journalists an opposition meeting in the town whose reporting didn’t agree precisely of Kruševac, one of the leaders of the with the views of Serbia’s leader at that opposition coalition Alliance for Serbia time, Slobodan Milosović. At the peace (SzS), Borko Stefanović was attacked and talks in The Hague, I recall, Milosović beaten, leaving him bloodied. In many was fairly dismissive of the accusations ways, the attack was the last straw for against him and his country, and very government critics. Opposition leaders friendly with all of us journalists who blamed Serbian president and SNS attended, making jokes and performing leader Aleksandar Vučić for creating a surprisingly accurate impersonations contentious climate in which violence of his fellow leaders. He could have against political opponents had moved made his living entertaining people from the verbal to the physical level.” on the gibanica-and-chips-in-a-basket

BIRN Serbia journalists Jelena Veljkovic and circuit, if he had wanted (gibanica is Aleksandar Djordjevic have won this year’s an egg and cheese pie in filo pastry and Dejan Anastasijevic Investigative Journalism Award in the online media category for is said to be Serbia’s national dish. It a series of articles about the father of the sounds delicious). His impersonation Serbian interior minister’s involvement in of Franjo Tuđman was especially clever arms trading but not very kind. Milosović was not a kind man. Neither, according to most reports, is Vučić. It would be wrong, though, to suggest that all those who protested outside the During Milosović’s time, Vučić was Serbian parliament were moved to action with the far-right nationalist party. After simply by silly and easily refutable beliefs Milosović was overthrown, he became about the pandemic. We’ve had them a leading figure in the opposition of elsewhere, with people blaming China the government that followed. In 2008, (or the US or Israel or ISIS or aliens) with the same year as Kosovo began its creating the virus, while others suggest - independent existence, a new, slightly ludicrously- that it’s being spread by the © Wikipedia more moderate party was founded in new 5G mobile phone network (did they Borko Stefanović Serbia, the Serbian Progressive Party never study physics or biology at school?) (SNS), still well to the right of centre or even, silliest of all, it’s so that Bill GOING FORWARD WITH but now pro-European Union and Gates can include some sort of drug or THE BRAKES ON populist in nature. Interestingly, at one microchip in a vaccine in order to ‘control time Vučić was banned from entering mankind’. I’ve met Gates and interviewed Vučić has stated that he still wants to the EU; now he has been photographed him and he’s just not like that, as far as I see Serbia join the European Union with the President of the European could tell. He was very friendly, and he and likens his country’s long wait to Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and is actually doing some very useful good that of Turkey, an outcome that is about with the EU’s head of foreign policy, work in the developing world, which is as likely with both countries’ current Josep Borrell, not to mention European more than can be said for the Internet leadership. Opposition politicians have Council President, Charles Michel. And trolls who spread conspiracy theories appealed to EU leaders to apply leverage so the world turns.

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It’s been alleged that Thaçi’s ethnic The aim is to assist Kosovo’s authorities in Albanian group was responsible for the area of rule of law, specifically in the nearly 100 murders during the war and police, judiciary and customs. Speaking that the victims of their crimes included at a meeting in late July in the dialogue Kosovo Albanians, Serbs, Roma and between Belgrade and the Kosovan members of other ethnic groups. His capital, Priština, Vučić said “We are place in any talks has now been taken by not interested in what is in compliance Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, with the Kosovo Constitution and what but according to Vučić they are still a is not. We want serious, specific talks, long way apart. but if someone thinks that we should recognise Kosovo and get nothing, that Kosovo also wants to join the EU and © Predsednik is the wrong path that will not take us has its supporters among many (but not Aleksandar Vučić Prime Minister of Serbia presenting anywhere.” He dismissed the views of the Belgrade-Nish high-speed railway project all) of the Union’s member state leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and but Serbia does not even recognise its French President Emmanuel Macron, Vučić claims to have restored prosperity independence. The most recent meeting effectively saying they are biased in to Serbia, with large-scale construction by video link was not very successful, projects, such as the restoration of the according to the website European favour of Kosovo. Resnik-Valjevo railway line, on which Western Balkans. “The Albanian side,” an extra 201 kilometres are due to be it reported, “came out with demands completed from Valjevo to Vrdnica and for preserving the territorial integrity Montenegro, with other railway projects of Kosovo, the Constitution of Kosovo, under negotiation. The cost will be mutual recognition, membership in the around €450-million. He also claims that UN, that other EU countries recognize there are now over 61,000 construction Kosovo, and only then will they deal projects under way in the country and with the missing.” That, the website that he is striving to lift the barriers to said, was the view of Vučić. Angelina a more efficient economy. He wants to Eichhorst, Director for Western Balkans clear a way through the red tape that and Turkey for the EU’s External Action throttles free movement of goods and Service (EEAS), has praised Serbia’s services. “According to an estimate of cooperation with various EEAS missions the World Bank,” he told the latest talks © Predsednik and points out that the EU is investing in The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar between Serbia and Kosovo, “if we could Serbia’s development: “the EU provides Vučić, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of implement all these principles, we could €80-billion each year in development Serbia, Ana Brnabić attending the commemoration of save more than 3.5-billion (currency not the Day of Remembrance of all Serb victims during assistance, covering 69% of global official the Bosnian war specified but presumably euros). Note development assistance and is by far that half of that money goes to Serbia, as the largest donor in Serbia and the rest Serbia holds 45% of the region’s GDP and of the region – by investing in the fight LIGHT OR MORE is the largest exporter in the region, and against climate change, the fight against DARKNESS? holds 60% on foreign direct investment,” corruption and organised crime, the Vučić said. The advantages of the EU’s development of responsive domestic Freedom House is far from satisfied with famous ‘four freedoms’ - of movement, institutions, and many other lines of Serbia’s progress towards being a fully capital, goods and services - perhaps effort, we are also investing in our own functioning democracy. “The state of explains why he is also on record as saying stability and security.” his aim is to secure EU membership for democratic governance at the national Serbia by 2026. That looks somewhat It would seem, though, that as long as level in Serbia,” its report on the country ambitious, especially after the scandalous Kosovo is regarded - and regards itself reads, “remains at a historic albeit stable way in which the protests in Belgrade - as independent while Serbia doesn’t, low. Power is heavily centralized in the were put down. He has also said he wants then progress is unlikely. Kosovo is hands of President Aleksandar Vučić, peace talks with Kosovo to resume, recognised as an independent country who, despite the very limited prerogatives despite war crimes charges filed against by about a hundred countries, including invested in his office, maintains a tight the Kosovan President, Hashim Thaçi. the United States, and by all but five grip over politics and the government of the EU member states. The EU through his control of the ruling SNS.” is also active in Kosovo through its The report is mildly pleased that events Special Representative (EUSR), and the during 2019 were not overshadowed by European Security and Defence Policy elections and the inevitable campaigning, (ESDP) as well as its mission in the rule although it seems to believe that Serbia’s of law area (EULEX). The EU is also politicians haven’t quite grasped the present through member countries’ realities of modern life. “Public discourse Embassies and Liaison offices. The continued to deteriorate during the year European Union Rule of Law Mission driven by the ruling party’s efforts to in Kosovo (EULEX) is the largest discredit political debate. As an example,

© Wikipedia Hashim Thaçi, President of Kosovo (L) civilian mission ever launched under the on April 11, Minister of Defence Avdullah Hoti, Prime Minister of Kosovo European Security and Defence Policy. Aleksandar Vulin and Belgrade Deputy

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Mayor Goran Vesić announced that they, Media freedom, though, is not all it During the summer, BIRN also published along with other SNS officials, would should be. Back in the days when Vučić revelations about a network of Hungarian begin a hunger strike in protest at the imposed fines on journalists who failed and Serbian companies with connections supposed violence of anti-government to support Milosović, leading the closure to the inner circles around Hungarian demonstrators. The threat was quickly of some newspapers, he was clearly no Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Vučić, and withdrawn, but not before being believer in the freedom of the press. Now Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, ridiculed across much of the country.” he has more power as president, his views which were winning the bulk of public And in a number of other countries, too. seem not to have changed. On January lighting contracts in Serbia. “Shine a It was, perhaps, one of the daftest and 25, he said that Dragoljub Simonović, light in the dark spaces where corruption most feeble threats to emerge from any then the SNS-appointed head of Grocka hides,” wrote Cathleen Falsani, an ruling party in Europe. municipality, had been arrested for American journalist, who often writes on allegedly ordering an arson attack in spiritual matters, but I’m pretty sure that’s 2018 on the home of Milan Jovanović, not what she meant. an investigative journalist. “Simonović was eventually indicted for incitement to HERO OR DESPOT arson,” says Freedom House, “although Meanwhile, protests continue and some experts questioned whether he stability seems as elusive as ever. should have been indicted for incitement According to media reports, eggs were to murder. recently thrown at MPs as they left the parliament building for a short break. In March, Simonović was released from The protests were allegedly headed by a detention, and while being ousted as

© Balkaneu defrocked monk, Antonije Davidovic, municipal president, he was allowed Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin who stood on the steps of the National to remain an SNS member. In parallel Assembly with a megaphone in his hand. with his lawsuit, the politician also At one point, he took a few eggs and, But what of the man himself? He’s not the filed more than 15 libel suits against apparently within the sight of the police, first politician to have sidled very slightly Jovanović and journalist and Zig Info started throwing them towards the leftwards from a far-right party in order owner Željko Matorčević.” Judicial issues building. Security forces then closed the to win credibility and - more importantly also give cause for concern. In October main entrance and police officers were - power. His record is mixed but he has 2019, judge Danijela Milojević asked to reported to have led one of the protesters proved himself a clever operator. When be removed from a case in which the away. But this was child’s play, compared he took over at the Ministry of Defence, local mayor, Radoljub Vidić, was suing with the protests of early July. They were he quickly discovered that the financial the sports journalist Milojko Pantić described across much of the media, not positions of both it and the military for defamation. Milojević claimed that only in Serbia but elsewhere, as well, as were in dire straits, so he went looking in the previous month Vidić, who is ‘anti-lockdown riots’, which we’ve seen in for overseas customers. He found them, also President of the municipality of other countries. Not true, says Dr. Marija too, returning with orders from Russia Kursumlija, had endangered her family Pantelic, Lecturer in Public Health at and the United Arab Emirates worth and caused her husband to lose his job, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, hundreds of millions of dollars. He causing what she called ‘disturbance and University of Sussex, writing for the helped to organise an air show, "Batajnica insecurity’ for her and her family. It all broadcaster Al Jazeera. “The immediate 2012" to mark the centenary of aviation fits together with the general corruption trigger of the protests was public anger in the country, and it was there that a of the country: in 2019 Serbia was rated over Vučić 's decision to lift the initial new Serbian-designed and -built pilot 91st on a corruption table in which lockdown in May and to portray himself training aircraft was unveiled. It has been zero represents no corruption and one as having successfully tackled the moderately successful; Vučić is a good hundred is very corrupt. Serbia’s score outbreak ahead of the June 21 elections, organiser and a good salesman. was an unimpressive 42. thereby making political gains but also allowing a new spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.” Hundreds of doctors in Serbia have since then rung the alarm bells over a spike in COVID-19 cases, labelling the situation a "health disaster". The group of 350 doctors have sent an open letter calling for the government to sack its coronavirus management unit and investigate the decisions they believe prompted the fresh outbreak.

Certainly, then, something to stir public anger, but this was a different order of © Predsednik Serbian investigative journalist Milan Jovanović in protest and those taking part (many of front of his burned home in Vrčin. In December 2018 them injured in the police brutality) unknown individuals set fire to his home and garage and shot at his front door. Jovanović and his wife © Wikicommons were middle class, not the average rebel: were able to escape through the back window. Ana Brnabić Prime Minister of Serbia lecturers, university students, shop-

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manipulating the infection figures to get a elected to the National Assembly. The good electoral turn-out but she admitted following year he became Secretary- there had been mistakes. Pantelic claims General of the party, a position he held that once the polls closed, videos were until 2008. He became director of a shown of victory celebrations that were previously run-down business and sports not coronavirus-safe and featuring both centre called Pinki in 1996. The business Vučić and Brnabic. They clearly feel was in Zemun, coincidentally where he safe enough for the time being, from had been to High School at the Zemun the pandemic but also from political Gymnasium, and he made a success repercussions, although surely Vučić of it, greatly boosting the employees’ remembers what happened to Milosević? earnings. In 1998 he became Minister of Perhaps he should. Information in Milosovic’s Government of National Unity. Serbia's finance ministry has recently launched an investigation into alleged money laundering and the financing of terrorism, but its targets have been dozens of pro-rights groups,

© Predsednik independent journalists and opposition Aleksandar Vučić, President of the politicians; in fact anyone who has dared Republic of Serbia to criticize government corruption and anti-democratic policies. According to keepers, people with white collar jobs. So Euronews, the investigation is seeking the COVID-19 stunt was, if you like, the to access private bank account data from straw that broke the camel’s back, “But several groups and individuals. The the roots of the mass civil disobedience ministry denies that it is a targeted attack lie in years of political dissent among © Nõvosti on critics, saying they are quite normal Former President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolić Serbians of all walks of life, fed up with proceedings. “These are regular activities the rife corruption, media suppression, aimed at assessing the risk of terrorism neoliberal policies and creeping financing," Zeljko Radovanovic, acting In 2008, he co-founded the Serbian authoritarianism of the Vucic rule,” director of the state authority against Progressive Party, together with Tomislav writes Dr. Pantelic. Vučić had suddenly money laundering, is reported as saying. Nikolić, and at the Founding Convention switched from a very strict lockdown - The civic groups have demanded that in October 2008, he was elected the one of Europe’s strictest - to permitting the Serbian government immediately Party’s Deputy President. In 2012, Nikolić what Dr. Pantelic calls “super-spread ceases what they say is an abuse of the resigned as president and Vučić was events, including a Serbian Football Cup mechanism against money laundering unanimously elected to take over the job. semi-final match with 20,000 spectators.” and financing terrorism to intimidate The following year, as First Deputy Prime On 21 June, Vučić’s SNS won a landslide organizations which act as checks and Minister, his job (his opponents might election victory when less than 50% of balances for the executive. It’s unlikely to say ironically) was fighting crime and the electorate turned out, partly because cause Vučić many sleepless nights. corruption. Following the party’s victory the main opposition boycotted what in the 2014 elections, he became Prime they could see would be a rigged election What about the man himself? Minister, a post he continued to hold after but also by “disillusionment fuelled by Aleksandar Vučić was born in Belgrade his party won the election two years later. a widespread belief that the vote would in 1970. He joined the Serbian Radical He instituted various reforms to save be undemocratic.” Brnabic later denied Party in 1993 and in the same year was Serbia from bankruptcy, although many of the measures were deeply unpopular, such as cutting pensions and public sector salaries. Following the elections of 2017, he became President of Serbia. As a point of interest, he has also won a number of ‘man of the year’ awards. (He was also involved in the award for “lie of the Year” in 2018, which was won by the statement of MP Aleksandar Markovic that President "Vucic never lied in his political career". However, in the records of Istinomer, a news website, there are a large number of untruths of the President of Serbia). His awards (not that one, of course) may allow him to look down on other leaders, as may his height: he is a

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NO END IN SIGHT

In June, 2020, Vučić met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and according to the Council’s own report, “underlined the EU's unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans as reaffirmed by the 6 May Zagreb Summit, its commitment to enlargement and support for Serbia's future merit-based EU membership.”

Just the sort of message the Serbian leader wants to hear. It’s not unconditional, © Predsednik President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić and European Commission President though, said the Council report: Ursula von der Leyen “President Michel noted that the pace of Serbia's accession negotiations continues to depend on progress in the areas of Not all of Serbia’s intellectuals, though, to get angry. Incidentally, and completely rule of law and fundamental rights, as are critical of Vučić. Take the academician irrelevantly, Peterle also plays a mean well as in the normalisation of Belgrade's Dragoslav Mihailović, for instance, as harmonica and always carries one with relations with Priština. President Michel reported on the Serb news site, Alo.rs. He him. congratulated President Vučić on his spent two years in the former Yugoslavia’s party's victory in last Sunday's elections.” notorious Goli Otok prison camp under But I digress. As mentioned previously, Opposition parties say those elections the old regime. He thinks the current Vučić is a clever negotiator and he now were clearly rigged and that they had president is doing OK. “Vučić is doing seems to be drawing Belgrade closer to boycotted them, so their supporters an excellent job, taking into account the Beijing. Serbia has agreed to buy China’s didn’t bother to vote. It’s something to interests of Serbia and our people,” he is latest type of radar-guided surface-to-air which the EU chooses to turn its habitual on record as saying. “Now he did best in missiles, the FK3, imported through the blind eye. Vučić and Michel discussed the elections and all that speaks of the state-run arms company, Yugoimport, the pandemic (but not the issues that mood of the people. The Serbian people which claims to have made 163 import later led to street violence) and the should live independently and nurture deals with 31 countries, according to €100-million the EU has provided to good relations with the surrounding and, Reuters, with a value of $620.3-million Serbia for tackling it. Michel’s comment by God, those peoples who are a little (€525.78-million) in 2019. The deal has about it a hint of irony, given what further from us. We have to take care of includes drone systems. It seems that later happened in the streets of Belgrade: ourselves, of what other nations think of Vučić now sees China as more important “I am confident that Serbian citizens are us and to take a serious state. I like what than Russia, or even the EU. Certainly, reassured and proactively informed that Vučić is doing. Maybe I'm wrong, and China provided aid and expertise to deal support from the European Union is maybe I'm not wrong.” Mihailović has with the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit unwavering, and will continue in good little time for those Serbs who hanker less than the EU did, but Vučić seems to times and in crisis times, such as those after a united Balkans once more. “I see Xi Jinping as rather more important we have all just experienced due to honestly don't think that would be good to Serbia’s future than either Vladimir Covid-19.” Of course, Brussels wants the for Serbia,” he has said. “At the time when Putin or Ursula von der Leyen, President Belgrade- Priština talks to continue. So Titoism ruled with all its might, I also of the European Commission. In terms does Vučić, but only on his terms. thought so about Yugoslavia. It would of outright strength, he’s undoubtedly be good if the Slavic peoples united, but right. The difference really comes in not to start mutual quarrels, but to listen what is asked for in return. The EU wants to each other. But as history has shown, stability, democracy and the rule of law, the Balkans cannot unite and implement while China may be expecting a more it without a collision. I think that what generous return on investment. But in a Vučić is doing, who has never pulled battle of influences, Russia holds a trump that Yugoslav option, is good.” Certainly, card, according to the Carnegie Moscow Josip Broz Tito is not forgotten. In a Center: it can veto Kosovan membership memorable and most enjoyable flight of the UN. If Kosovo becomes part of over Solvenia in a microlight aircraft, Serbia, it loses that leverage. Vučić has to piloted by Slovenian MEP and former decide who offers the best options. He’s Prime Minister, Alosz Peterle, we flew a good negotiator but choosing between over a small field in which an old-time the devil and the deep blue sea is never Communist farmer, loyal to his country’s easy. Only the EU offers a lifeboat, albeit former leader, had made a planting that a leaky one, but the ever-ambitious Vučić spelled the name ‘Tito’ in huge letters. © Consilium.europa may want more. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Peterle was, I think, slightly embarrassed Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia and annoyed by it, but he was too polite Tobias Bowman-Grant

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There are a number of commonly- just try mentioning GAFA. It’s an but the sentiment is similar. used acronyms that suggest things that acronym that first appeared in the are worrying and possibly dangerous: French media, standing for four of the Back in 2016, the European AIDS, of course, stands for acquired US-based tech giants, Google, Apple, Commission had ordered that Ireland’s immune deficiency syndrome. It’s used Facebook, and Amazon. Where, one favourable treatment of Apple Sales to describe a number of potentially life- may well ask, is Microsoft in that list? International and Apple Operations threatening infections and illnesses that The media has cast Vestager as the Europe had amounted to state aid, and, happen when your immune system has nursery tale character, Jack the Giant as such, illegal under EU law. been severely damaged by the HIV Killer. In the English folk story, Jack virus. Then there’s AWOL: absent encounters giants with one head, two without official leave, normally used heads and even three heads, defeating for a member of the military who has them all. Vestager has taken on one with deserted his or her duties and taken four heads and, so far, has not emerged an unofficial break. Some American the winner. One giant, you may recall, politicians, especially Democrats, in the separate but related story of Jack might be wary of the acronym POTUS, and the Beanstalk, finds Jack in his which stands for President of the house and announces his intention to United States. But if you really want to defeat his attempts to relieve him of his annoy Margrethe Vestager, Executive wealth with the words: Vice President of the European “Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum. Commission with the ungainly title of “Commissioner for a Europe Fit for I smell the blood of an Englishman” the Digital Age” (who thinks up these

ludicrous titles?), as well as Competition In this case, for the tech giants, it’s not the European Union of Justice of © Court Commissioner (much more sensible) an Englishman but a Danish woman, General Court of the European Union

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The court at that time ordered Apple to lawyers involved. She may need more SPECIAL OFFERS pay back €13-billion in back taxes to the than the legendary Jack’s magic sword, Irish government. Both Apple and Dublin cap of knowledge, cloak of invisibility Of course, to defeat the crafty tax- appealed against the judgement and now and shoes of swiftness to defeat the giant avoidance methods employed by the the General Court of the European Union GAFA, who has the staunch support of tech giants and other multinational (GCEU) has overturned the original the POTUS, to re-use an earlier acronym. corporations, what the world needs is decision. It’s a big set-back for Vestager, a global tax system. The OECD was who had become the hate figure of US The issue of corporate tax avoidance holding talks with that aim in mind, but tech corporations and who had been was supposed to have been settled with the United States has opposed the idea the entry into force of binding new anti- described by President Donald Trump as and it has been shelved, at least for now. abuse measures on 1 January, 2019. “the tax lady”. Apple’s chief executive had Even some European capitals are against also derided the original verdict. The EU’s forcing the tech giants to pay their taxes argument was that by allowing Apple where they actually earn their profits. to round up its earnings from Europe, Ireland’s defence of the Apple deal may be Africa, India and the Middle East into connected with the fact that Ireland has the earnings of one Ireland-based entity, a corporate tax rate of just 12.5%, which it had allowed the company to avoid makes the country very appealing to taxation on a massive scale. The EU large American corporations looking for contested that by bundling its earnings an EU base. In any case, with the UK out into a low-tax state with special taxation of the EU, Ireland is now the only English agreements, it had successfully avoided language member. paying Irish taxes to the tune of almost €13-billion between 2003 and 2014.

© Wikipedia Pierre Moscovici, the French politician and former Minister of Finance for France, who served as European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs from 2014 to 2019

Pierre Muscovici, the French politician and former Minister of Finance for France, who served as European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs from 2014 to 2019, clearly hoped it would put an end to tax dodges by big multinationals. At the time, he said “The battle © Finegael.ie Seán Kelly, member of the European is not yet won, but this marks a very Parliament for Ireland South since 2009

© Court of Justice of the European Union of Justice of © Court important step in our fight against those Steve Jobs visits Apple’s new facility in Cork, who try to take advantage of loopholes October 1980 in the tax systems of our member states An Irish MEP, Seán Kelly, once told me to avoid billions of euros in tax.” Well, it he would strongly oppose any moves to looked promising at the time, but big Apple, which manufactures iPhones in force Ireland to increase the rate. Ireland’s corporations can afford very clever tax distance from mainland Europe means Ireland, had argued that the earnings lawyers and they would rather pay them should not have been taxed in Ireland it has to take fairly drastic measures to lots than pay even more in taxes. The attract inward investment, and the fact anyway because they were all destined to rules introduced then were based on that it now has no land border with be transferred to the United States. The standards developed by the OECD in another EU member state makes that Irish government has also welcomed the 2015. Under them, member states were more important than ever. Its tax rate is GCEU’s decision, claiming that Dublin obliged to tax profits moved to low-tax rather like the “buy-one-get-one-free” had imposed the appropriate tax level countries where the company does not offers made by supermarkets to lure in and that Apple had not been given special have any genuine economic activity. shoppers. treatment. Oddly, the company was The rules also discouraged companies paying tax in Ireland at the astonishing from using excessive interest payments As it is, large corporations with a presence rate of less than 1% for two decades, to minimise taxes, with member states in several tax jurisdictions often try averaging 0.005% in one year. Vestager being compelled to limit the amount of to turn a profit wherever the tax will may appeal against the decision at the net interest expenses that any company be lowest. This is hardly surprising, of European Court of Justice, but that has could deduct from its taxable income. course; who wouldn’t? What the latest to be done within two months of the Member states were also empowered to rules seek to do is to clamp down on judgement. Most experts think she will tackle tax avoidance schemes in cases what are called BEPS. This is yet another not. If she does, the move will probably be where other anti-avoidance measures acronym, this one referring to Base welcomed with open palms by the several could not be applied. Erosion and Profit Shifting. In fact, it

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refers to tax avoidance strategies that plummeted. The problem arises in exploit ‘loopholes’ in tax regulations by keeping up with the multinationals, artificially moving profits to jurisdictions which can move around and adjust to where there is a more favourable tax whatever new rules are brought in, to environment. More than a hundred try to get them to pay their share. The countries and jurisdictions are currently OECD again: “Halfway through 2020, collaborating as part of a co-ordinated the world is now facing the prospect approach, led by the OECD, to tackle of an even more severe economic tax avoidance by tackling BEPS. As large downturn as the economic impact corporations have spread and become from the COVID-19 crisis continues more complicated and sophisticated, so to unfold. As a result, the public’s their tax experts, accountants and lawyers tolerance for tax avoidance is expected have developed equally sophisticated to reach historic lows. Fiscal measures, and often extremely opaque methods many of which are ultimately funded of tax planning. Why not pay tax where by public revenues, are a critical tool

the tax rate is lowest? Indeed, why pay in the fight to mitigate the negative © Bdo taxes at all if you can get away with not impact from this economic shock, and The accountancy firm, BDO doing it? Of course, though, the losers in tax administrations are oftentimes on this battle are inevitably us, the citizens, the front lines of providing relief to “The Directive provides for the mandatory deprived of the revenue our governments taxpayers.” automatic exchange of information could do with to provide the services between member states about certain we expect. It’s been estimated that BEPS WITH SWORD, SHIELD cross-border arrangements. It is part of AND CALCULATOR abuse costs the world’s tax gatherers the European Commission’s ongoing work on promoting tax transparency and between $100-billion and $240-billion In June 2016, the OECD/G20 Inclusive preventing international tax avoidance.” (€86-billion and €206-billion) a year. Framework came to fruition as its And in case you live in the UK and think 82 members attended its inaugural that being based in a post-EU jurisdiction meeting in Kyoto, Japan and the exempts you from any new regulations implementation of BEPS began in Brussels may introduce, think again. earnest. Its membership has since “The UK Government has committed swollen to 135 countries. The work to participating fully, notwithstanding continues, of course, as the OECD withdrawal from the European Union,” report states: “In January 2020, the warns BDO. “The regulations come into OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework force, and the first reports will be made, at its plenary meeting reaffirmed its on 1 January 2021. However, the Directive commitment to reach a consensus- requires that relevant arrangements based long-term solution by approving entered into from 25 June 2018 must be the ‘Statement by the OECD/G20 reported. Organisations and individuals Inclusive Framework on BEPS on affected by these rules will, therefore, the Two Pillar Approach to Address need to interrogate their records for the the Tax Challenges Arising from the last two years to identify arrangements Digitalisation of the Economy’. Building that are now subject to a requirement to on the Unified Approach released by © European Parliament report. Going forward, reporting will be the OECD Secretariat in October 2019, Margrethe Vestager required within 30 days of certain trigger the Statement included an ‘Outline of events (broadly, initiating a relevant the Architecture of a Unified Approach reportable arrangement).” BDO further on Pillar One’, as well as an updated One of the abuses the latest EU rules warns that most of the arrangements Programme of Work, which identified are designed to tackle is what are called deemed to be ‘reportable’ will have a 11 building blocks where further work ‘hybrid mismatches’, which the OECD was required to develop the solution. tax advantage of some sort, but that the defines as follows: “Hybrid mismatch A progress note on Pillar 2 was also rules go further and cover arrangements arrangements are used in aggressive agreed.” The problem is that, ingenious without an obvious tax advantage. “In tax planning to exploit differences as those fighting tax avoidance may be, particular, they include transfers that in the tax treatment of an entity or the accountants and lawyers employed are ‘base erosive’ simply in virtue (sic) of instrument under the laws of two by the corporations are even more so, transferring certain assets or businesses or more tax jurisdictions to achieve and almost certainly better-rewarded from one jurisdiction to another. They double non-taxation, including long- for their efforts. also cover arrangements that may be term taxation deferral.” In other designed to frustrate EU or OECD rules words, claim the same expenditure The accountancy firm, BDO, has warned on transparency (e.g. circumventing (perhaps described differently) in firms based in the UK and the EU to be the Common Reporting Standard or more than one tax jurisdiction. The aware of what the new rules - essentially obscuring beneficial ownership of certain rules were introduced in the wake the ‘The International Tax Enforcement assets). While the OECD’s 2018 model of the 2008 financial crash, when (Disclosable Arrangements) Regulations disclosure rules on tax transparency do tolerance of financial shadiness 2020’ - mean. not have the force of law, they will be used

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as a source of interpretation of the EU stop them wriggling out of too many. Her rules.” BDO, in case you were wondering, defeat in the case of Ireland and Apple is stands for Binder Dijker Otte, a firm a huge blow. It was viewed in Europe as with 80,000 partners that operates in 162 a matter of prime importance; losing the countries, so is clearly experienced in case puts her on the back foot. Some have cross-jurisdiction tax affairs. argued before that state aid legislation is the wrong way to tackle tax avoidance issues, rather like trying to punish a bank robber by charging them instead with trespass on bank property or not

having the appropriate licence for the gun © Starbucks being used. Vestager has come in for a Starbucks Virtual Backgrounds 2 Palma de lot of personal criticism, especially from Mallorca politicians in Paris and Berlin. As the Politico website reports, “Both the French Without a doubt, the ruling on Apple is and Germans are ramping up pressure the biggest blow so far, but in September on her to push the competition rule book of 2019 she lost a similar case against in a more geopolitical direction, hoping Starbucks, although she won one against the car-maker, Fiat. The court ruled that © Apple to forge EU champions in the face of US Apple New Central World in the heart of Ratchaprasong, and Chinese rivals, but the Apple case is in the case of Starbucks, the Netherlands Bangkok fast turning into a textbook study of how was entitled to grant its favourable tax hard it is to marry strategic ambitions arrangement to the coffee roaster and that with highly technical legal investigations.” the sum of €25.7-million could not be It would be a mistake to imagine tax It seems the multi-headed giant was just clawed back as Vestager had demanded. money being siphoned off to some palm- too feisty for Jack on this occasion. The way the system works was explained fringed tax haven, lapped by waves and in the periodical, Accountancy Daily: filled with largely empty offices with “The case centred around use of the arms’ just brass plates to show the theoretical length principle with two prongs to the presence of some bank, financial Commission’s argument. It disputed institution or firm of accountants. The the level of royalties paid to a Starbucks accountancy outfit NO MORE TAX subsidiary, Alki, which was UK based, (the capitals seem to be part of the title) for coffee roasting expertise, as well as offers clients ways to minimise their tax arguing that Starbucks Manufacturing payments legitimately and in a way that is paid inflated prices for green coffee beans all above board. They issued this warning: from another subsidiary in Switzerland, “In the first part of 2019, the European further reducing its tax liability.” But Parliament issued a report which argues the court said no offence had been that seven EU countries, namely, Belgium, committed and Starbucks Manufacturing Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, BV, or SMBV, can keep the money. The Malta, and the Netherlands, display traits Tim Cook and Leo Eric Varadkar, former ruling of the GCEU said “As regards the of tax havens and facilitate aggressive tax Taiseiseach (head of the Government of the amount of the royalty paid by SMBV planning.” In those countries, according Republic of Ireland) to Alki, according to an analysis of to the European Parliament, the business SMBV’s functions in relation to the of aggressive tax avoidance is conducted Even so, she remains combative, despite royalty and an analysis of comparable fairly openly. “The operations allowed her department’s run of defeats over tax. roasting agreements considered by the large companies, such as Allergan, Apple, She explained that of some €16-billion Commission in the contested decision, Disney, GlaxoSmithKline, IKEA, Koch of Apple’s reported profit from its the Court finds that the Commission Industries, Nike, and Skype, to create tax Irish subsidiary in 2011, Ireland only failed to demonstrate that the level of optimization opportunities that served considered €50-million to be subject to the royalty should have been zero or little or no commercial purposes,” says Irish tax. The Commission will continue that it resulted in an advantage within NO MORE TAX. “The seven countries to look into aggressive tax planning the meaning of the Treaty.” Fiat Chrysler identified by the report include some measures, but Vestager conceded that Finance Europe was not so lucky. The of the smallest nations of Europe and what was really needed was “a change court agreed with the Commission that together account for less than 9% of the in corporate philosophies and the right its financing entity should be treated like total population of the European Union.” legislation to address loopholes and a bank and all of its capital taken into BDO itself has offices in Belgium, the ensure transparency.” With the United account, which is why it has been obliged Netherlands and Bulgaria. States blocking further work on the idea repay €20-30-million to Luxembourg. by the OECD, progress in that area looks Other cases are pending that involve HUMBLE PIE unlikely for the time being. other multinational companies. Vestager had more success in the past, when Multinationals will, of course, continue For Vestager, her policy of using the she successfully imposed huge fines on to look for ways to minimise their tax rules on state aid to attack suspicious tax Amazon, Google, Qualcomm and other commitments; it’s their legal duty to their arrangements have met with only limited large multinationals for violating anti- shareholders. It’s Vestager’s duty to try to success. trust laws.

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Vestager’s rôle at the Commission was CROSSING BORDERS, avoided.” So wrote Hairul Azlan Annuar, seen as being at risk following elections in SAVING MONEY Associate Professor at the International Denmark last year which saw a change of Islamic University of Malaysia, Ibrahim government. The Prime Minister, Mette In point of fact, finding a good way Aramide Salihu, PhD, and Siti Normala Frederiksen, elected in 2019, is a Social to tax corporations with a presence Sheikh Obid, also from the International Democrat, Vestager is a Liberal, but in several countries is not easy. In Islamic University of Malaysia, in a paper Frederiksen told the Danish media at the fact, one might say, it’s very taxing. As on corporate ownership, governance time that her compatriot had done a good Professor Thomas Piketty wrote in his and tax avoidance. The self-evident job in Brussels and would be nominated highly-acclaimed 2014 book, Capital statement clearly has some subtle for a second stint at the Commission. She in the Twenty-First Century, some points. Their report was produced for a was, returning as part of the team headed common activities may be viewed as 2014 international conference in Kuala by President Ursula von der Leyen. borderline criminal by tax authorities Lumpur and published in Science Direct. but as legitimate ways to minimise “The cash savings lead to increased Vestager remains as keen as ever to their tax liabilities by the companies cash flow to the firm which offers it the rein in the more avaricious of the big concerned. “The problem with the opportunities for further investments corporations. She told Ravi Agrawal, current system,” Piketty writes, “is that and in turn increases the firm’s value,” it the managing editor of the publication multinational corporations often end argues. “The shareholders' wealth is also Foreign Policy in its summer 2020 edition, up paying ridiculously small amounts enhanced in terms of more dividends, that she wants to protect the more honest because they can assign all their profits and increased shares value. The managers companies that abide by the law. “This is artificially to a subsidiary located in a are also not left out of these benefits my sixth year as a law enforcer, and I see place where taxes are very low; such a given the compensations for effective so many businesses that really make an practice is not illegal, and in the minds of tax management. In fact, the managers’ effort to do things by the book and that many corporate managers it is not even compensations are determinants of tax struggle to innovate and to present the unethical.” Referring to the eurozone avoidance practices in most cases.” best possible service to their customers. And then I see a few companies—some in particular, Piketty urges switching to a system under which corporations The reasons for corporations to avoid that are returning customers where we tax if they can are very obvious (and tax keep receiving complaints—and we keep would make a single declaration of their profits at the European level, avoidance is, of course, very different finding issues that give us reason to hand from tax evasion. It’s legal, for a start). So, out big fines.” and then tax that profit in a way “that is less subject to manipulation than too, are the reasons for trying to make is the current system of taxing the it as difficult as possible. Cash-strapped profits of each subsidiary individually.” governments do not like to see wealthy Piketty believes that EU member states businesspeople buying third homes in a should adopt a different method of sun-drenched tax haven and a yacht to collecting corporate taxes. “It makes use while they’re there, when essential more sense,” he argues, “to give up the services within the country are running idea that profits can be pinned down to out of cash. It’s not just in Europe that tax a particular state or territory; instead, reform is needed, either, but equally on the one can apportion the revenues of the other side of the Atlantic. The American corporate tax on the basis of sales or economist Joseph Stiglitz in his book The wages paid within each country.” Great Divide, highlights the way in which tax policies there encourage multinational Now here’s a statement that looks to be corporations to seek ways to avoid paying self-evident (but isn’t really): “The most them which also, incidentally, impact

© Wikicommons obvious benefit of being tax avoidant in Europe. “Taxing multinational firms Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is the cash savings from the taxes on their global income would close

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what might be called the Apple-Google a sensible and measured proposal but name and shame the 17 jurisdictions loophole,” he suggests. “Globalization has twelve countries voted against the idea, it includes. Despite the potential it has given these companies new opportunities Ireland being one of them. It had been to encourage listed jurisdictions to to dodge taxes by claiming that their estimated that such a rule would have adopt transparency reforms in their immense profits originate not from the cost the GAFA group some €500-billion national legal frameworks, the list ingenuity of their American researchers a year in tax, which they currently avoid currently does not envisage sanctions, or the seemingly limitless demand from by shifting their profits from high tax neither for the jurisdictions themselves American consumers for their products countries, such as Germany, France and nor for European companies making but from a few employees scattered across the UK, to those with low tax regimes, use of them.” One deterrent could by low-tax jurisdictions, such as Ireland. By such as Ireland but also Luxembourg Public Country-by-Country Reporting taxing all corporations on the basis of and Malta. As an illustration, Ireland’s (CBCR), but although this has been production and sales here, we can raise corporate tax rate can be as low as 6.25%, under discussion in the EU since 2016, significant revenues to create jobs and compared with 15% in Germany, 31% in it still remains in limbo, despite the fact spur growth.” France (reduced to 28% if the turnover that it would almost certainly curb some doesn’t exceed €250-million for this of the excesses. “Even though this is well- year only), and 19% in the UK. The known, why is the EU not acting upon Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) it?” asks Transparency International. has warned that accepting the EU “The European Commission published proposal would have done enormous its proposal already in April 2016 and damage to the Irish economy, where the the European Parliament adopted its corporate taxes paid to Dublin by the big position in July 2017. Ever since, progress multinationals, despite the low tax rate, on the file has been stalled and the EU account for half of all the corporate taxes has struggled finding an agreement. At paid there, despite coming from just ten the end of 2017 the EU Council has yet companies. The other countries that to adopt its position before entering into voted against the plan included Austria, trilogue negotiations with the other two Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, EU institutions.” In other words don’t Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia. hold your breath. Sweden voted against for unrelated reasons and Germany abstained. The big I still recall the angry but oddly prophetic © Wikicommons The Central Bank of Ireland

It’s the job of tax authorities to seek out the subtle little tricks employed by some large corporations to retain as much as possible of their profits free of tax. The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) of the EU’s Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), which came into force on 1 January 2019, provides a way in. “In computing corporate tax liability,” it reads, “the tax authority of a Member State may ignore an arrangement or series of arrangements which are not genuine under the relevant

facts and circumstances if it determines Margrethe Vestager and Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen President of the European Commission that the main purpose or one of the main purposes of the arrangement is to obtain a tax advantage that defeats the purpose tech companies must really love the EU words of the late Alex Falconer, a Scottish of the applicable tax law. A non-genuine member state governments, even if they Labour MEP, on the day the World Trade arrangement is an arrangement that was often annoy Vestager. Organisation with its various tools and not put into place ‘for valid business mechanisms was agreed. “You mark my So where does the money go while reasons which reflect economic reality.’ words,” he said, poking me in the chest The GAAR supplements specific anti- it’s hiding from the tax authorities? with his finger, “from now on all the abuse rules under national legislation and According to the German NGO big decisions won’t be taken by elected in that sense is intended to cover gaps in Transparency International, it sometimes politicians. They’ll be taken behind closed those specific rules.” goes to tax havens where it cannot be doors by members of corporate boards!” touched. “On 5 December 2017, the EU This was long before the tech giants and The EU has made a proposal that would adopted its first blacklist of tax havens, even before the Internet and electronic have forced multinational companies to which, however, did not do much to communications came along, but I rather reveal how much profit they make in fill the current legislative gaps,” reports think he may have had a point. each EU member state and also how little the organisation. “The tax havens list, tax they pay in each. It may sound like as of now, remains mostly a tool to Anthony James

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Empires have fallen, religions have been replaced, the city itself has changed names. But the dome of the Hagia Sophia (Divine Wisdom) has withstood it all. Commissioned by the Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century as an expression of might and piety, the Byzantine basilica was the greatest architectural achievement of the early Christian church.

lmost a millenium later, when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453, instead of demolishing Hagia Sophia, Sultan Mehmed II Aimmediately converted the cathedral into a mosque, adding four minarets around the building’s grand central dome as well as a ‘mihrab’ which is a niche in the wall where the Imam would lead prayer in the direction of Mecca.

But there was no escaping the fact that this conversion was superficial. Islamic elements had merely been bolted onto a church. Somehow, Christianity was always showing through. So, all the mosaics along the walls depicting Christian religious scenes were covered with plaster. Deesis mosaic (13th-century) in Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

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In 1931, the founder of the Byzantine As it happened, the AKP lost out to conversion to a mosque could be Institute of America, Thomasits long-time rival, the Republican in violation to the World Cultural Whittemeore traveled to Istanbul and People’s Party (CHP). Heritage Convention and regretted that obtained the permission of Mustafa it had not been notified ahead of time. Kemal Ataturk, the first president Informed sources have suggested that of the Republic of Turkey to oversee President Erdogan’s controversial It has also said it will be reviewing the removal of plaster covering the decision was motivated by a desire Hagia Sophia’s status as a world Byzantine mosaics in Hagia Sophia to inflict some sort of punishment to heritage site. the inhabitants of Istanbul, who voted In 1935, Ataturk utilised the edifice decisively against him. The move also for another act with great symbolic appears to be designed to appeal to significance ; he officially turned it his ruling Justice and Development into a museum, a symbol of the new party’s conservative voter base as secular state, inclusive of all religions. the government struggles to shore up popular support amid a growing Since then, it has been a meeting point economic crisis due in part to the of many faiths, but held by none ; a Coronavirus crisis. place where popes, heads of state as well as millions of ordinary citizens There are also a number of new and tourists have come from across political parties that appear to appeal the world to pay their respects and to the religious voters and seem to be challenging Erdogan’s ruling AK Party. marvel at the architecture. © Edm Pope Francis

During Sunday’s Angelus on July 26, Pope Francis, speaking from the window of his studio above St Peter’s Square referred to the Hagia Sophia : "The sea is taking my thoughts far away to Istanbul. I am thinking of Santa Sofia (Hagia Sophia) and I am deeply pained".

As far as Russia is concerned, Hagia Sophia has always been at the core © Wikicommons of Eastern Christianity and holds a Cross section of Hagia Sophia in 1908 particular place in the hearts of the Russian Orthodox community. It can be argued that Istanbul already It has been suggested by a number has over 2,945 active mosques, including of political analysts that the move Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow spoke many representative ones. So, the city is also part of a plan to consolidate about this in very strong terms, doesn’t really need another mosque. the president’s position by stirring saying that converting it to a mosque sectarian animosity between his would be an attack on all of Christian But of course, this is about something religious followers and those attached civilisation and would cause deep pain altogether different. The Hagia Sophia to secular traditions. to the Russian people. is the ultimate symbol of the Muslim Ottoman conquest of Christian In any event, the net result has been As a matter of fact, the decision by Constantinople and President Recep that Islamist groups have fought to Turkey came just one week after Tayyip Erdogan knows this only too well. pray at the Hagia Sophia, angering Russians voted in a plebiscite for a neighbouring Greece which says new constitution which specifically He has consistently used religion as a the building is part of its Orthodox states that Russia is a Christian nation. tool and in his 17 years at the helm, and Christian history and prompting This article had never figured in any has steadily worked to bring Islam into its culture ministry to describe the previous constitution and in a way the mainstream of Turkish politics. Turkish court decision as an ‘open cements the return to power of the provocation’ to the civilised world. Russian Orthodox church afters years He has overseen prayers in the out in the cold during the Soviet era. museum and raised its status at local Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos election rallies. Mitsotakis said : "What is happening in However, under President Putin in the Istanbul is not a show of force, but proof of last two decades, there has been an And during the municipal elections of weaknes. For Orthodox Christians like us, increasingly close, almost symbiotic 2019, he warned his supporters that Hagia Sophia today is in our hearts more relationship with the Kremlin. if his Justice and Development Party than ever. It is where our heart beats". (AKP) were to lose Istanbul, then they So, for the Russian church and indeed stood to lose Turkey. UNESCO has warned Turkey its the Russian state, this was a big shock.

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Council of State to overturn Ataturk’s landmark decision of 1935 and approve President Erdogan’s decision to place the monument under the management of the Religious Affairs Department.

In a scathing article published on July 15 by the Washington Post, Judith Herrin, emeritus professor at King’s College, London even went so far as to describe the Turkish decision as ‘an act

© akparti.org.tr of cultural cleansing’. President Erdoğan visits Hagia Sophia Mosque The Turkish president however remained totally unperturbed : "The This decision which seems to have issue of deciding the purpose of Hagia been taken to shore up President Sophia is about the sovereign rights Erdogan’s position will most probably of Turkey. Opening Hagia Sophia to put stress and strain on diplomatic prayers with a new regulation is just relations between Russia and Turkey, about Turkey exercising its sovereign resulting in some kind of response. rights", he defiantly declared during a press conference. The US State Department issued a © akparti.org.tr statement saying : "We are disappointed And in mid-July 2020, he had signed a President Erdoğan performs Friday prayer at by the decision by the government decree declaring Hagia Sophia will be Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque of Turkey to change the status of the reopened for Muslim worship. Hagia Sophia," Secretary of State, On Friday, July 24 2020, President Mike Pompeo who is an evangelical His declaration about his country's Erdogan arrived by helicopter to Christian and who frequently speaks most popular tourist destination came attend the first prayers at Hagia about religious freedom called the after Turkey's highest administrative Sophia in 85 years. He began the museum status an "exemplar" of court, the Council of State revoked its service with a recital from the Quran Turkey’s "commitment to respect the status as a museum - clearing the way before the head of Turkey’s religious faith traditions and diverse history" for it to be turned back into a mosque. authority. of the country and said a change President Erdogan promptly declared : He was accompanied by senior risked "diminishing the legacy of this ministers and other officials who remarkable building." “This is Hagia Sophia breaking away from its chains of captivity. It was the knelt on new, turquoise carpets while The European Union foreign policy greatest dream of our youth. It was the large curtains covered the original chief, Josep Borrell described as yearning of our people and it has been Byzantine-era mosaics of Jesus and ‘regrettable’, the ruling by the Turkish accomplished.” the Virgin Mary. Outside, an estimated 300,000 people joined in the prayers in Sultan Ahmet Square. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has put religion firmly back at the heart of Turkish national life, chipping away at decades of secular dominance. The mosque conversion certainly appeals to his voters, many of whom argue that it better reflects the country’s identity which is overwhelmingly Muslim. And for the Turkish president, the outrage and dismay that his move has triggered internationally seems to represent only unwarranted attacks on Turkey’s own sovereignty and troublesome meddling in its internal affairs.

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When I was a child, my parents used to buy me the Eagle comic which I loved. It was full of information, as well as exciting stories. One of its major cartoon strip heroes was the space traveller, Dan Dare, with his sidekick, Digby. Their (and planet Earth’s) most deadly foe was the Mekon, a small green figure with an enormous head who travelled about on a floating platform and who led his people, the green-skinned Treens, to wage war against humankind. Looking back, the Treens were an odd lot.

ggressive, of course - they aim is always to conquer and take over their own decisions about whom to were the dreaded enemy after the universe, an ambition that some kill are becoming a reality. all - but they seemed to be all in government have said Cummings Amale, in which case it’s odd that they You may recall the Arnold shares. In one story (there were many), Schwarzenegger films about The successfully reproduced, assuming the Mekon had created an army of Terminator, a cyborg killer sent back they did. Heartless and unfeeling killer robots that he called Electrobots, in time to kill the mother of the they certainly were, but they were not described in the text as ‘mechanical human leading the future resistance machines. The Mekon was a terrifying monsters’, that only obeyed his voice to robots that have taken over the little figure with an uncomfortable (surely the dream of many of today’s world. The story revolves around resemblance (apart from his green more autocratic leaders). Theyan entity called Skynet, an artificial colour) to the British Prime Minister’s were defeated when a young cadet intelligence that grows to see humans current advisor, Dominic Cummings. impersonated the Mekon’s voice and (not unreasonably) as unreliable and Both tend to bark orders at people and instructed them to destroy themselves. remarkably messy, so it instigates a refuse to listen to anyone else’s point Perhaps it’s a technique we should nuclear war to wipe out people and of view, with an unshakeable belief in bear in mind, because what are called allow it to take total control of the their right to be in charge. The Mekon’s ‘lethal autonomous weapons’ that take planet Earth. Back in 1984, when

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Terminator was made, such ideas the commercial sector and especially Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate were purely science fiction. Hopefully, in the digital domain – creating an Effects, whose acronym would be they still are in the main, but each increasingly dense network of almost the CPRUCCWWMBDBEIHIE. country tries to keep secret its work real-time connectivity in all areas of If you haven’t heard of it, that title on artificial intelligence and there is social activity that is unprecedented may be the reason why; it’s not even no doubt that research is being carried in scale and pace. As a result, new pronounceable. In any case, it dates on into weapons that can take their technologies that are readily available, from 1980 and entered into force own decisions on whether or not cleverly employed and combined in December 1983, before AI was to kill. Some already exist. In 2017, together offer both state and non- as advanced as it has since become. President Vladimir Putin told students state actors a large spectrum of Even so, it has been signed by 125 in Moscow of his belief in Artificial new tools to inflict damage and state parties, so the various would-be Intelligence. “It comes with colossal disruption above and beyond what developers of killer robots (or LAWS, opportunities, but also threats that are was imaginable a few decades ago, not if you’d rather) presumably adhere to difficult to predict. Whoever becomes only on traditionally superior military it, or at least say they do. The acronym the leader in this sphere will become forces on the battlefield, but also LAWS sounds a little euphemistic for the ruler of the world.” China has the on civilian populations and critical what it represents, I think. same belief and has set itself the goal infrastructure.” Where is Arnold of achieving that dominant rôle by Schwarzenegger when you need him? OUT-SMARTING A 2030, although nobody knows how far COMPUTER along that road it has progressed. I’ve never understood why anyone thinks It was in 1950 that Alan Turing, the they should run the world when most English mathematical genius whose of those who do have already made pioneering work on cryptanalytics such a confounded mess of their own helped break the Nazi naval ciphers, countries. suggested a test for AI. Known as the Turing Test, it involves somebody NATO’s Assistant Secretary-General holding a 3-way conversation with a for Emerging Security Challenges, human and a computer, without being Dr. Antonio Missiroli, writing in told which is which. The conversation a personal capacity, reminded his would be in text only, such as through readers that Putin had already a computer keyboard. If it’s not possible announced the successful testing of to tell which reply comes from a human Russia’s new ‘hypersonic glide’ vehicle, Debebe © UN Photo/Eskinder being and which from the computer, capable of flying at 27 times the speed Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres then that computer has passed the test. of sound and the fastest missile in It was called ‘the imitation game’ and the world by far, while In September was designed to answer his question: The Secretary-General of the United 2019, Houthi rebels from Yemen used ‘can machines think?’ Incidentally, Nations, António Guterres has a massive coordinated drone attack on Turing also developed a general- expressed concern, not so much two oil production facilities in Saudi purpose computer he called the bombe, about AI itself but about the direction Arabia, having successfully evaded which can still be seen at Bletchley Park Saudi air defence systems. in which the research seems to be in England, where Turing and the other going. In a message to the Group of code-breakers were based. It greatly Governmental Experts in March 2019, speeded up the analysis of messages the UN chief said that “machines encoded on the Nazi Enigma machine. with the power and discretion to take More recently, Google announced lives without human involvement its new Assistant, developed with its are politically unacceptable, morally Duplex technology. Its voice sounds repugnant and should be prohibited by international law”. He insisted that decisively human and it can even make no country is actually in favour of restaurant or hairdresser appointments, Russian Tsirkon hypersonic missile ‘fully autonomous’ weapons that can for instance, without the person at the take human life. other end ever realising they’re talking to a machine. It does that partly by AI is also thought to have been involved To be perfectly honest, that seems including the ‘ums’ and ‘ers’ of normal in deliberate cyber-attacks on medical like wishful thinking; some speech - the little errors we all make - care facilities during the COVID-19 undoubtedly are. He is certainly just as Turing said it should, all those crisis. In our interconnected world, keen for progress to be made on years ago. But this is a tech giant the use of AI in attacks targeted the control of ‘lethal autonomous trying to take over the market, not a against supposed enemies is known as weapons systems’, or LAWS. There is government trying to take over the ‘net-centric warfare’, and we’re going to an existing agreement, the lengthily- world. It may book you a meal, but it have to get used to it. “The 21st century titled Convention on Prohibitions won’t come around and shoot you or has in fact seen a unique acceleration or Restrictions on the Use of Certain blow up your home. Sadly, there are of technological development,” writes Conventional Weapons Which people working on designing AI that Dr. Missiroli, “thanks essentially to May Be Deemed to Be Excessively can and will do both.

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type systems do not exist yet,” says the ECFR, “but there are hundreds of research programmes around the world aimed at developing at least partly autonomous weapons. Already in use are military robotics systems with automated parts of their decision cycle.” There are bodies determined to stop the development of autonomous weapons, such as the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC) and the Campaign to Stop

© UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe © UN Photo/Eskinder Killer Robots (CSKR). There are some The 9A52-4 Russia's Killer Robot Rocket Launcher tentative signs of progress, according to the ECFR, but they’re very tentative, as this commentary from September Writing on the Theatrum Belli website in a book called Autocorrect Fail, of a 2018 makes clear: “Last week’s in August 2019, Dylan Rieutord casts conversation by text, one end of which meeting, the sixth, ended without doubt, intentionally or otherwise, on was being dictated through one of the breakthrough that activists had a rôle for the human dimension in those computer voice assistants, such st hoped for, namely, the move to combat decisions. “If the decision- as Siri or Alexis. 1 speaker: “Are you formal negotiations about a ban. The making loop will still be a reality by ready?” Reply: “Just lemon Parkinsons”. st document issued at the end of the 2030, that is to say that Man remains 1 speaker again, puzzled: “Hello?” meeting recommended only for non- st in the loop and at the center of the Reply: “Lemon pork knee pie”. 1 binding talks to continue.” I suppose decision, some such as the United speaker, getting frustrated: “Dude, you we should be glad they’re talking at States, Russia, or Israel demonstrate gotta give up on Siri”. Reply: “Lucky all, although it’s hard to take much claims to total autonomy for their ship. I donut a swan with this phone.” comfort from a lot of top politicians robot armies.” It’s a terrifying thought: Now, if that had been instructions to saying “we’ll think about it” while people are inventing the machinery to an autonomous weapons system, it holding guns behind their backs. march (or roll or fly) into your country could have been disastrous. Imagine if and kill you without inventing Arnold the instruction “proceed at measured TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN? Schwarzenegger first. Those countries pace” was understood as “protester: that fear they may get left behind, spray with Mace”. Or if an overheard Russia, China and the United States writes Rieutord, are also playing catch- comment such as “I’m afraid I’m going are opposed to any total ban on LAWS. up. “Ukraine, Estonia, China, Turkey, to puke” turned into “Raid the place, After all, they’re thought to be busy Iran, Iraq are robotized, trivializing then nuke”. developing them. The issue remains and encouraging this new race to a problem for Germany, which sees armament plagued by difficulties due It’s a development that worries itself as not really a military power to the terrestrial environment for a the European Council on Foreign and whose public is uncomfortable military application of robotics.” It’s a Relations. It points out that it’s very with the topic, whilst also wanting funny thing, I’ve been on documentary hard to define exactly what LAWS to be at the forefront of AI research, shoots in which a cameraman has used are, but basically, says the ECFR, and as the ECFR reports “Some of the a sophisticated professional drone they’re weapons that can be airborne countries that are reluctant to support that can return to its launch point unmanned drones, underwater robots a ban on LAWS are worried that such faultlessly in the event of problems. or missile defence systems or even a move could impact on their ability cyber weapons. to research and develop other types They’re handy for aerial shots and of AI, as well as some military AI arguably get over-used in a lot of uses they may be interested in further modern TV drama. But neither I nor down the line.” AI, after all, could be the cameraman had any intention of invaluable in bomb disposal and mine killing people, merely filming them, clearance. Even the European Union is and with their cooperation. The fact not in favour of regulations that might that it’s so easy to do that suggests that restrict research into robotics, when replacing the camera with a rocket AI has a great many peaceful civilian launcher would be feasible and quite uses, quite apart from helping an simple. But he or I would have still armed robot to decide whether or not retained control; the race is now on A Royal Air Force drone armed with a to kill someone. for weapons without a human input. missile, working autonomously without any You wouldn’t want something like that human control France is opposed to a ban on lethal to short-circuit or to misunderstand autonomous weapons and Germany instructions. Are you sure you want seems keen to try and please everyone to give verbal instructions to Siri or Their decisions are governed by AI. by supporting France in wanting a Alexa? What if they turn against you? The future looks worrying. “Intelligent, political declaration about them, rather I recall an excellent example, quoted fully autonomous, lethal Terminator- than a full ban. It has drawn criticism,

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however. They want a compromise functions of selecting and attacking degree of accuracy is only possible in based on regulation, while activists targets. If left unchecked the world ideal conditions,” it admits, “where believe Europe should be “leading the could enter a destabilizing robotic there is consistency in lighting and charge” for a ban, according to the arms race. Replacing troops with positioning, and where the facial news site, Politico. The Campaign to machines could make the decision features of the subjects are clear Stop Killer Robots group, comprised to go to war easier and shift the and unobscured. In real world of 65 non-governmental organizations burden of conflict even further on to deployments, especially, perhaps, in in 28 countries, was furious: “We civilians. Fully autonomous weapons the chaos of a conflict zone, accuracy are disappointed that Germany has would make tragic mistakes with rates tend to be far lower. For example, decided to work so closely with unanticipated consequences that the FRVT found that the error rate France to promote measures less than could inflame tensions.” Another for one leading algorithm climbed a ban, and less than a legally binding NGO, simply called Ban Lethal from 0.1% when matching against instrument or a legally binding treaty,” Autonomous Weapons, has on its high-quality mugshots to 9.3% said Mary Wareham, the group's global website a terrifying short video called when matching instead to pictures coordinator. Stopping research into Slaughterbots about tiny killer drones of individuals captured ‘in the wild,’ LAWS though is probably impossible: that can be released in swarms to kill where the subject may not be looking as in the old book of Arab folk tales, anyone chosen by those who unleash directly at the camera or may be One Thousand and One Nights makes them. I recommend you to seek it obscured by objects or shadows.” clear, once the genie gets out of the out. In the case illustrated, they attack bottle it’s virtually impossible to get and kill a group of peacenik students Tests have also shown that the him to go back in. for talking about pacifism. It might technology can be less reliable class as science fiction, but only just. with some groups of people. This is At the end of the video is a statement especially worrying where driverless from Stuart Russell, Professor of vehicles are concerned. They rely Computer Science at the University on AI and various sensors to drive of California, Berkeley, who has been safely but they still need good working on AI for more than 35 years. weather and calm streets to be safe. “Its potential to benefit humanity The American Civil Liberties Union is enormous, even in defence. But (ACLU) tested face recognition allowing machines to choose to kill software on all the members of the humans will be devastating to our US Congress, matching them against security and freedom,” he said. a set of mugshots from a database. Twenty-eight of the Congressmen and women were misidentified as being from the database. And that, of course, is using clear and properly- © Nobelwomensinitiative.org taken photographs. The Project on The Stop Killer Robots Global Campaign Coordinator Mary Wareham Government Oversight, POGO, warns that “Numerous studies - including those by MIT, an FBI The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots technology expert and the ACLU - is, as you might expect, unequivocal have also found that facial recognition in its opposition to LAWS. “Fully is significantly less accurate when autonomous weapons would decide identifying people of color and who lives and dies, without further women. So long as these higher human intervention,” says its website, Killer robot Rmt Fellaga misidentification rates continue, “which crosses a moral threshold. facial-recognition surveillance will As machines, they would lack the constitute not just a threat to the inherently human characteristics Killer robots have to rely on facial liberty and life of innocent people, such as compassion that are necessary recognition software, widely used but also a serious civil rights concern to make complex ethical choices.” by law enforcement agencies in because it could create de-facto Some of the harsh responses to recent some countries, especially in China algorithm-based racial profiling.” protests and demos suggest that but to a lesser extent in the US and You may well wonder if this sort not all humans are prepared always UK. Accuracy rates have improved of system that should be helping to show compassion. In the death dramatically in recent years, even to pick targets for an autonomous of George Floyd, the Minneapolis reaching 99.97% in some tests weapon. Of course, Google, Apple, police showed very little compassion, conducted under ideal conditions. Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft for instance. But without human But if a killer drone is flying around, are all working on facial recognition intervention, the NGO fears, things you wouldn’t want to be the 0.03% it software, but Google has dropped out will be worse. “The US, China, Israel, mistakenly believes to be its target. of working on it as part of defence South Korea, Russia, and the UK are It’s pretty impressive, though, as the technology because of errors and developing weapons systems with Center for International and Strategic problems with identifying women significant autonomy in the critical Studies reports. “However, this and people of colour.

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© Us Air Force An MQ-1B Predator, left, and an MQ-9 Reaper A Squadron ground control station maintainer, powers a ground data terminal used to transmit signals needed to fly both the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper

Google employees reacted strongly to “Sources of errors in automated face outcome will enable transformative the company’s involvement in Project recognition algorithms are generally new robot functionality or Maven, a US Department of Defence attributed to the well-studied substantially enhance existing robot project to use AI-controlled drones for variations in pose, illumination, functionality.” surveillance. As a result, the company and expression, collectively known decided not to renew its contract as PIE. Other factors such as when it expired in March 2019. image quality (e.g., resolution, Many employees are against weapons compression, blur), time lapse (facial research and Google has since dropped aging), and occlusion also contribute out of the Joint Enterprise Defence to face recognition errors. Previous Infrastructure (ironically, the acronym studies have also shown within a is JEDI. George Lucas has a lot to specific demographic group (e.g., answer for) with the Pentagon, which race/ethnicity, gender, age) that is worth $10-billion (€8.5-billion) over certain cohorts are more susceptible ten years. The other tech giants are to errors in the face matching © berkeley.edu said to be still in the running. process.” If it’s done in aid of crowd Stuart Russel Professor of Computer Science control, finding a missing person at the University of California, Berkeley or arresting a criminal then errors can be checked and corrected. If the mistakes are made by a killer drone Of course, autonomous and semi- (or other autonomous weapon) that autonomous robots have a range of option doesn’t exist. It’s no good invaluable uses. Take, for example, apologising to a corpse. the Curiosity Rover, still creeping over the surface of Mars at 30 BRAVELY GOING metres an hour - long after it was expected to have stopped working In March 2020, the National Science - and carrying out varieties of tests. Foundation issued an invitation Messages from Earth take between 4 for proposals for investigation and and 24 minutes to arrive, depending research into robotics. The NSF on the planets’ relative positions, gives a rather nifty definition of so Curiosity has to be able to make what they’re after: “For the purposes some of its own decisions about of this program, a robot is defined the route, as it has done since 2011 as intelligence embodied in an when it joined Opportunity and engineered construct, with the Spirit. Soon it will be joined by the ability to process information, sense, most advanced robot explorer yet, and move within or substantially Perseverance, which, among its other alter its working environment.” It tasks, will be drilling core samples goes on to explain what it’s hoping which it will leave on the surface for to achieve, more or less: “The goal a planned future mission to collect of the Robotics program is to erase and bring back to earth. Robots are artificial disciplinary boundaries far better designed to explore alien

© Vitaly V. Kuzmin © Vitaly V. and provide a single home for worlds than we fragile humans will MRK-27 BT with RShG-2 and RPO Shmel is a vehicle foundational research in robotics. ever be. Also, they can take months- intended for bomb disposal equipped with a 7.62mm Robotics is a deeply interdisciplinary long journeys to other planets machine gun, RShG-2 rocket-propelled assault grenades and the thermobaric weapon RPO-A SHMEL field, and proposals are encouraged without the need for water, food, across the full range of fundamental sleep or sanitary provisions. That engineering and computer science makes for much lighter spaceships A scholarly report by the Institute of research challenges arising in with more capacity for carrying fuel Electrical and Electronic Engineers robotics. All proposals should and equipment; water is heavy, and (IEEE) reports on the issues: convincingly explain how a successful robots don’t need to go to the toilet.

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combatants and civilian bystanders in a crowded urban battle space, as required by international law? Might a wolfpack of sub hunters, hot on the trail of an enemy submarine carrying nuclear-armed ballistic missiles, provoke the captain of that vessel to launch its weapons to avoid losing them to a presumptive U.S. pre- emptive strike?” If the AI we have in everyday use was as fool-proof as its manufacturers claim, everyone would be able to operate the TV remote, not just the teenagers in the

The danger comes when AI is left to its own devices with total autonomy in which it applies blind logic. Professor Russell cites the example of what’s called the ‘King Midas problem’. Midas wanted everything he touched to turn to gold, according to legend, and that’s what happened to his food, his drink, his family and so on. He died of starvation. Russell suggests as

an example of the dangers that you © Weibo ask AI to find a cure for cancer ‘as China’s new killer robot ship JARI, is designed for remote-control or autonomous operation quickly as possible’. The AI chooses the shortest route, by infecting Vehicle (ACTUV), Sea Hunter, a DON’T MENTION THE every human on earth with cancer catamaran designed to hunt and WAR-MONGERING and then trying out a wide range destroy submarines. Some have said of treatments until it finds one that it looks a little like a Klingon Bird of When the UN tried to establish a mandate works. That’s not what you asked Prey, except without the Klingons, for debating the Convention on Certain for but it’s how unfeeling AI may of course. It is unmanned, or ‘un- Conventional Weapons, it was blocked by interpret your instructions. Klingoned, if you prefer. The US Air the US, Israel, Russia and Australia, much Force also has the autonomous X47-b to the concern of UN secretary-general, aircraft, which needs no pilot. António Guterres. “The prospect of The Arms Control Association weapons that can select and attack a target also says that “The (US) Army is on their own raises multiple alarms – and testing an unarmed robotic ground could trigger new arms races,” he warned. vehicle, the Squad Multipurpose “Diminished oversight of weapons has Equipment Transport (SMET) and implications for our efforts to contain has undertaken development of a threats, to prevent escalation and to Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV). adhere to international humanitarian and These systems, once fielded, would human rights law. Let’s call it as it is. The accompany ground troops and prospect of machines with the discretion crewed vehicles in combat, trying and power to take human life is morally to reduce U.S. soldiers’ exposure repugnant.” A proposal for two weeks to enemy fire.” Needless to say, of discussion on the issue was vetoed by © U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams John F. by photo Navy © U.S. Russia, China and a number of Russia. “They insisted that one week was Sea Hunter Autonomous Vessel other countries are doing much more than enough,” reports the Arms the same. The Arms Control Control Association. “Their case was All these concerns, of course, do little Association (ACA) is concerned that ‘our delegation cannot agree with to deter those countries determined that dehumanising the battlefield the alarmist assessments predicting that to follow the route to autonomous risks breaching the international fully autonomous weapons systems will weapons which can engage the enemy conventions on warfare and inevitably emerge in the coming years.’ without putting your own soldiers at needlessly killing civilians while also And they have repeatedly said the whole risk. So what is out there at present? causing escalation. “For example, discussion is a waste of time and money Well, the US has the Anti-Submarine would the Army’s proposed RCV be because no one is actually developing Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned able to distinguish between enemy these weapons.”

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The Russian stealth robot 'suicide' tank Nerekhta

Which makes one wonder why they than separately,” he boasted. Whoopee! and demonstration programs. were showing them off at an arms That’s good news for the rest of us, isn’t Representatives of the Nuclear, fare near Moscow, and why President it? Biological and Chemical Protection Vladimir Putin and his people have Troops are going to take part in all been boasting that autonomous planned events.” Meanwhile China has weapons will dominate the battlefields come up with a tiny but deadly warship of tomorrow, with Russia (naturally) that is entirely robotic to counter US leading the way. According to the Forbes advances in naval strength, as reported website: “Sputnik News reported that in The National Interest. “The JARI the Russian weapons maker, Degtyarev, unmanned surface vessel is equipped has developed a stealth robot 'suicide' with a phased array radar, vertical- tank, the Nerekhta. Once launched it launched missiles and torpedoes can navigate autonomously to a target despite its small size of 15 meters in silent mode and then explode with a [49.2 feet] and low displacement of 20 powerful force to destroy other tanks or © kremlin.ru tons,” said China’s state-owned Global entire buildings.” Russia Today quoted President Vladimir Putin and Commander-in- Chief of the Aerospace Forces Colonel General Times, which cited an earlier Chinese President Vladimir Putin: “Whoever Viktor Bondarev watching demonstration state television report. “These weapons becomes the leader in this sphere will flights by the Russian Air Force are usually only seen on frigates become the ruler of the world.” Similar and destroyers with displacement of comments have been made by deputy And just in case you were wondering, thousands of tons, and their use on prime minister Dmitry Rogozin and the 6th International Military-Technical a ship as small as the JARI makes the Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, says Forum ARMY-2020, being held by vessel the most integrated naval drone Forbes. Viktor Bondarev, chairman of the Russian Ministry of Defence, is in the world.” And so it goes on: smaller the Federation Council’s Defense and going ahead as planned. As the on-line and smaller, deadlier and deadlier. And Security Committee, stated that Russia advertising says, “The International less and less inclined to discuss it. It will is pursuing “swarm” technology, which Military-Technical Forum ARMY- take more than a cadet who’s good at would allow a network of drones to 2020, which is to be held in August voice impersonations to save the world. operate as a single unit. “Flying robots 2020, is going to encompass an will be able to act in a formation rather exhibition, scientific and business T. Kingsley Brooks

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NEWS IN BRIEF

CRIMINALS DON’T TAKE BREAKS. EVEN AS EVERYTHING AROUND US IS BEING PUT ON HOLD, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO GENERATE PROFITS

The international organization Interpol, the world's largest police organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control has issued a warning about the threat of criminality during the present sanitary crisis.

Take care when buying medicines, especially online.

There has been a marked increase in cybercrime incidents being tailored around aspects of the coronavirus to target organizations and unsuspecting victims. Malicious domains, malware and ransomware are among the different types of cyberattack being reported

Telephone fraud and phishing are on the rise, with criminals tailoring their techniques to the current situation.

Scams linked to the virus include:

• Telephone fraud – criminals call victims pretending to be Interpol’s warnings: clinic or hospital officials, who claim that a relative of the victim has fallen sick with the virus and request payments As the COVID-19 virus spreads around the world, for medical treatment; anxiety is high. Citizens everywhere are looking for ways to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. • Phishing – emails claiming to be from national or global Unfortunately, criminals are preying on this vulnerability health authorities, with the aim of tricking victims to through a wide range of crimes and scams which exploit provide personal credentials or payment details, or to the fear and uncertainty surrounding the virus. open an attachment containing malware.

There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself. Source Interpol Be on the alert for counterfeit medical products, fraud and cybercrime. OLAF AIDS UKRAINIAN CUSTOMS Criminals are taking advantage of the pandemic to make IN SEIZURE OF MORE THAN 34M money. We are seeing an increase in fake or counterfeit CONTRABAND CIGARETTES medical items available on the market, including disposable The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has played an surgical masks, hand sanitizers, antiviral and antimalarial important role in a recent operation by the State Fiscal medication, vaccines and COVID-19 test kits. Service of Ukraine aimed at stopping the smuggling of cigarettes into the European Union. The operation led to the seizure of a shipment of more than 1.7 million packets of cigarettes destined for the Transnistria region of Moldova, from where it was expected to be smuggled into the EU. The estimated loss to public revenues of these cigarettes reaching the EU market would have been around €7 million.

Ukrainian customs authorities identified a shipment of three containers carrying more than 34 million cigarettes of the Business Club brand leaving the United Arab Emirates and destined for the Ukrainian port of Chornomors’kiy Rybnyi with Transnistria as the declared final destination. The

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Ukrainians informed OLAF of the shipment, which they suspected was ultimately destined for the EU market. The smuggling is thought to be run by a criminal organisation based in the Transnistrian capital, Tiraspol, according to available information.

Previous seizures of the Business Club brand of cigarettes had already taken place on EU territory, and OLAF’s analysis of the information provided by Ukraine confirmed the likelihood of this shipment also being smuggled into the EU. As a result, OLAF asked the Ukrainian customs authorities to take any action necessary to ensure that the cigarettes did not illegally enter the EU.

The Equinor Subsea Shuttle is a concept for an autonomous 135-metre drone that could transport CO2 back to the reservoirs, supplementing the pipeline carrying CO2 from Kollsnes outside Bergen to the reservoir, in a safe, cost- effective way, without emissions. With a range of 300 km, it could also be used to transport CO2 to reservoirs where it is not financially viable to build a pipeline. The Equinor

© Europol Subsea Shuttle could also be used to transport oil from An Illegal tobacco factory producing 2000 cigarettes a minute offshore fields and to land or to the nearest oil pipeline, enabling even quite small fields some distance away from established infrastructure to be developed in the future. In mid-May Ukrainian customs carried out two separate searches at the Black Sea fishing port, resulting in the seizure of 1,727,500 packs of Business Club cigarettes (totalling 34,550,000 cigarettes). The packets had no excise labels from Ukraine, Moldova or any other country, nor were they marked ‘For Duty Free Only’. The text and pictures of the health warning required to be carried on all cigarette packets destined for legal sale were also missing. The estimated cost to public coffers if these cigarettes had reached the EU is around €7 million.

Each year, significant quantities of cigarettes are moved into the Transnistria region, to which the Moldovan authorities have no access and therefore no possibility to check the final destination.

SUBSEA SHUTTLE: THE WORLD’S FIRST DRONE TO TRANSPORT CO₂ Equinor at a glance

The huge 135-metre shuttle concept was developed by a Equinor is a broad international energy company multidisciplinary team in Equinor and can be adapted headquartered in Norway and with operations in more for a variety of uses, including transporting CO2 back to than 30 countries around the world. oil reservoirs. The company is the world’s largest offshore operator, the We usually think of underwater drones as neat little robots with cameras. But what if we combined this with second-largest gas exporter to Europe, and a growing existing submarine technology to create a behemoth of force in renewables. The company is also world leader in the deep that could transport large volumes undisturbed carbon capture storage and carbon efficiency in oil and gas under the sea? production.

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n the centre of our movement organisations, business, academia, the United Nations’ own Universal stands the idea of a Charter religious groups, trades unions and Declaration of Human Rights. of Human Rights, guarded by leading politicians from all over Throughout the summer of 1949 more “Ifreedom and sustained by law.” Those Europe. They met in the Hall of than a hundred parliamentarians came words were spoken in 1948 by Winston Knights at the Europa Congress in The together to draft the charter. Britain was Churchill, Britain’s wartime leader but Hague in May 1948. There had been the first country to ratify it in March by then no longer prime minister. discussions about a legal commitment 1951. That makes it somewhat ironic to protect people’s rights since the early that the UK’s present Conservative years of the Second World War, when government has been talking about it was clear that a great many people’s withdrawing from it. Michael Gove, rights were being trampled on. The the UK government’s Minister for the idea throughout had been to prevent Cabinet Office, has said he favours governments from dehumanising a national bill of rights instead, in a people and abusing their rights. The concern over sovereignty. The idea was situation that led to the war must first raised in 2016 by former prime never be allowed to arise again. Apart minister Theresa May when she was from Churchill, the event was also Home Secretary. Well, I suppose 1951 is attended by, among others, the young a long time ago - before most members Pope Fran Signatories to the European François Mitterrand and the German of today’s parliament were born - and Convention on Human Rights cis Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer. memories can fade. Still, the idea that an international treaty can be ‘too It was at that gathering that a list of international’ seems somewhat bizarre, The occasion was a gathering of more the rights to be protected was drawn especially when your country helped than 750 delegates from civil society up, including some articles taken from draft it in the first place.

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It’s a clear fact that rights, if they’re to Human Rights (ECtHR) was set up in David Norris against the government be protected, need to be established Strasbourg. The court is there not only of the Republic of Ireland in 1988. in law. The 18th to 19th century to safeguard the ECHR but to create Again, the law was changed. Dudgeon’s English philosopher and jurist Jeremy the required case law and also to allow case against the United Kingdom was Bentham wrote that “right is a child people who believe their rights have also used by Justice Anthony Kennedy of law”. He had no time for the idea been denied to have their cases heard in a case brought in 2003 in the United of natural rights that stem from us in a neutral setting. Judgements made States: Lawrence v. Texas. The US simply being human. “From real by the court are legally binding and Supreme Court decision found that laws come real rights,” he wrote. “But countries against which successful anti-sodomy laws in the remaining from imaginary laws, from laws of cases have been brought are legally 14 states were unconstitutional, while nature, fancied and invented by poets, obliged to abide by them. Alexandros Modinos successfully rhetoricians and dealers in moral and brought a case against the government intellectual poisons, come imaginary of Cyprus, again citing the Dudgeon rights, a bastard brood of monsters.” It case. And all because one mistreated was something of a hobby-horse with Bentham. “Natural rights is simple gay man had the courage to enlist the nonsense,” he also wrote, “Natural help of the European Court to uphold and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical his rights. nonsense - nonsense upon stilts.” The trick for those politicians meeting in 1949 was to encode the rights that mattered within an enforceable legal framework. They succeeded, and the European Convention on Human

Rights (ECHR) came into effect on the Europe of © Council 3rd September 1953. The European Court of Human Rights is an international court established in 1959 by the Council of Europe “It was intended to be a simple, flexible roundup of universal rights, whose meaning could grow and MANY ACHIEVEMENTS adapt to society’s changing needs over time,” says Amnesty International, So what has the ECHR achieved? It has © Queerarchive.net a campaign organisation for human led to the decriminalisation of male Jeff Dudgeon rights. “Not only were ordinary people homosexual acts, for one thing. Jeff to be protected from abuse by the Dudgeon, a shipping clerk in Northern According to the blog of the European state, but duties were to be placed on Ireland who was gay, was arrested and Journal of International Law, the those states to protect individuals. It questioned for several hours by the has been hugely important in raising Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1975 European Court of Human Rights standards and increasing awareness for an act that was legal in England (ECtHR) has had an influence for of human rights across CoE (Council and Wales (and soon would be in good far outside Europe’s borders. “The of Europe) member states, and Scotland) but not in Northern Ireland innovative doctrines and principles beyond.” But if you want to have legal at that time. The case was admitted pioneered by judges in Strasbourg are judgements on rights issues, you need for a hearing at the Strasbourg court alive and well in other human rights not only the necessary laws but also a in 1981 and Dudgeon won. It led to a systems. Interpretive tools such as the court in which to enforce them and change in the law in Northern Ireland evolutionary nature of human rights, judges to adjudicate. That came in in 1982 and the verdict was cited as an the presumption that rights must be 1959 when the European Court of example in a similar case brought by practical and effective, the creative

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and strategic approach to remedies, This follows the after the brutal murder one victim told me. But then after she and cross-fertilization of legal norms of 27 year old Pınar Gültekin, which had put up with him controlling her are commonplace in the case law of has prompted protests across Turkey, and his regular bouts of violence, one all regional and sub-regional courts. demanding better protection for day he punched her in the head very For example, Inter-American judges women. Slovakian parliamentarians hard. “Then he punched me from the have applied these doctrines in several refused to ratify the Convention, kitchen, from the dining room, and types of cases, including the obligation stating that “It’s in conflict with the all the way back, in front of his friend, to investigate, prosecute and punish constitutional definition of marriage, and I was unrecognisable.” There is the perpetrators of past human rights which is worded as a union between a no moral case whatsoever, however violations, the prohibition of amnesty man and a woman.” It sounds as if they dressed up, that excuses withdrawal for such violations, the rights of LGBT believe a man has a right to beat his wife. from the Istanbul Convention, nor persons, and affirmative measures to I have seen the dreadful effect gender a refusal to sign up to it, unless you combat violence against women.” So violence has and interviewed several believe that men have a right to beat writes Laurence R. Helfer, a Professor of its many, many victims. One woman up their female partners. Sadly, some of Law and Co-director of the Center I spoke to tried to leave her violent men do, and it seems some politicians for International and Comparative Law husband several times, but he dragged agree with them. at Duke University. Professor Helfer her back, on one occasion by her hair, admits though that while most western saying she belonged to him; she was How does the Convention work? and developed world jurisdictions follow his possession. Eventually, the police First of all, the applicant has to have ECtHR judgements fairly closely, safe in intervened, and he was sent to prison, exhausted all the channels provided the knowledge that the Convention has apparently still not understanding why by their own country’s legal system. widespread popular support, courts in he wasn’t allowed to beat her. “Lots of When the case reaches the ECtHR, the Africa and other developing countries women are frightened that they’ll not court first contacts the government are sometimes more circumspect to be believed, and lots of women who concerned and tries to arrange a reflect widely-held moral and religious come through our door feel it’s their ‘friendly’ settlement. If that fails, the beliefs in the country concerned. It’s fault,” I was told by Julie Robinson, government concerned is given twelve also worth noting that notwithstanding who runs the Options Programme weeks to respond to the allegation. The the protection afforded to women by for victims of domestic violence applicant is then given time to respond the Istanbul Convention, Poland is on on Tyneside, in the North East of to whatever the government says. the verge of withdrawing from it, so, England. Why do men do it? “Power The admissibility of the case is then ironically, is Turkey, having never fully and control,” she explained. “He was decided by a single judge, a committee implemented it. a perfect gentleman when I met him,” of three judges or a chamber of seven judges before it’s deemed ready to go to a Grand Chamber of seventeen judges.

Not all cases get that far, and many are settled earlier and more quickly. But if the small committee, the chamber or the Grand Chamber agree that there is a case to answer, their verdict is referred to the Committee of Ministers (CoM). The CoM is made up of representatives of the governments of the 47 Member States, assisted by the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the Court. It’s their job to

32 EUROPEDIPLOMATIC insist that they are right, and the The report, by Austrian Socialist, was Court is wrong. However, the states passed overwhelmingly, based on have a legal obligation to remedy the Article 8 of the ECHR, which states violations found but enjoy a ‘margin that “Everyone Stefan Schennach has of appreciation’ as regards the means the right to respect for his private to be used. The measures to be taken and family life, his home and his are, in principle, identified by the state correspondence”. Schennach told the concerned, under the supervision Assembly that “most of these children of the Committee of Ministers. The have European parents. Young girls, Court can assist the execution process, who went there the age of 15 or 16, have in particular through the pilot- ended up there. We don’t know why. judgment procedure (used in case of We don’t know what was happening major structural problems). Examples in the social lives, how modern it was, of the general measures that have been and not all were Islamic, by the way. agreed include the introduction of And then they got babies, sometimes effective remedies against excessive from different men.” The assembly length of court proceedings; the agreed and it’s possible that the issue removal of discrimination against could end up at the ECtHR, if one of children born out of wedlock (such as the young women or their children in inheritance matters); the adoption brings a case. Ironically, ISIS - or of legislation to prevent arbitrary Daesh to use its other name - had no © Amicale-coe recourse to telephone-tapping; and respect at all for human rights or even Swiss Senator Dick Marty the lifting of undue restrictions on human lives, but that doesn’t alter the of judgements by the European Court journalists' freedom of expression. protection provided by the ECHR to its fighters’ offspring. Babies and children of Human Rights, which had passed STILL WORKING AFTER have no control over where they were judgements condemning quite a 70 YEARS born or their parents’ beliefs. few member states of the Council of Europe for violations of the European The Convention is still regularly PACE also debated the secret transfers Convention on Human Rights.” raised at the meetings of the Council and illegal detentions involved in what Those the CIA judged to have been of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly were called ‘extraordinary renditions’. involved in terrorism were eventually (PACE). The Assembly is made up As explained by the Open Society transferred to Guantanamo Bay. Five of elected parliamentarians from all Justice Initiative, Extraordinary of those accused of involvement in of the Council’s 47 member states. rendition is the transfer - without legal the 9-11 attacks have been put on trial Nobody has a veto and any relevant process - of a detainee to the custody in the prison camp, although their topic can be raised. These meetings of a foreign government for purposes lawyers can only contact them by are normally held four times a year, of detention and interrogation. People video link and hardly at all during the but the COVID-19 pandemic has - many of them totally innocent and COVID-19 pandemic. Dutch member thrown that schedule into disarray. seized by mistake - were snatched René van der Linden, a member of the For instance, at the last session from the street and taken off to secret centre-right EPP/CD group, who was before the coronavirus made travel detention camps in Poland, Estonia President of the Assembly at the time, all but impossible, in January 2020, a and Romania, among other places, told me “I believe the Marty Report resolution was adopted to try to oblige where they were subjected to what is one of the most important we have countries whose citizens had gone to the Americans called ‘enhanced had in the last 20 or 25 years because fight for ISIS to allow the children of interrogation’ - that’s torture, to you it was paying attention to all the those people to travel home, while and me. The initiative was begun after countries of Parliamentary Assembly retaining their citizenship. the 9-11 attacks on the United States, and also in the United States it got a but a lot of mistakes of identification lot of publicity.” Not always favorable were made, with people totally publicity in that case, but it opened unconnected from terrorism caught people’s eyes. In the Assembly itself, up because they looked similar or some countries’ delegates opposed it, shared a common name. but Marty was not surprised by that. That’s why a resolution was drawn up “They were against it (the report) by Swiss Liberal Senator Dick Marty, because they wanted to cover up their under Article 5 of the Convention, activities that were against the law and the Right to Liberty and Security, were therefore criminal activities.” in June 2007. “To begin with,” He also thinks that extraordinary Senator Marty told me, “it’s worth renditions may still take place. “It’s noting that an enormous majority hard to be definitive, but I think the of the Parliamentary Assembly of secret detentions continue, but that the Council of Europe adopted the the detained are no longer held in

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SINKING IN DISINTEREST “They died of starvation and did not military vessels. Strik carried out an manage to survive. Only eleven of investigation and interviewed the Then there was the issue of refugees them managed, by drifting back to the survivors. “I found out that in those crossing the Mediterranean from the Libyan coast, because they departed few weeks there were military vessels Libyan coast in inadequate boats and from Libya, a Libya that was at war at in the neighbourhood. There was also not receiving help from other vessels. that time. There were bombardments a helicopter, a military helicopter, that In April 2012, it was the subject of a from NATO and they really had to flee flew very low above them. They gave resolution passed overwhelmingly by the country in the end. Because no-one them some water and some biscuits, the Parliamentary Assembly under helped them, they found themselves but then they went away and never Article 2, the Right to Life. back at the Libyan coast, by the shore, came back. In the end, even when where they were immediately taken almost everyone was dead, when they Then there was the issue of refugees into detention again and two of them held up a baby who had died and crossing the Mediterranean from the died, because they were completely showed they didn’t have any water, Libyan coast in inadequate boats and weak.” They were eventually released there was still a very big military not receiving help from other vessels. several months later after someone vessel coming in their vicinity. The In April 2012, it was the subject of a on the outside paid a bribe, and the sailors had binoculars, so they really resolution passed overwhelmingly by survivors managed to escape from were looking at them, with cameras, the Parliamentary Assembly under and in the end they still sailed away.” Libya again. Article 2, the Right to Life. The In fact, ships’ masters face a difficulty member who drafted it was a Dutch when they come across migrants in Socialist Tineke Strik (now a senator distress. “Unseaworthy boats are often for the Green Links party), who was encountered, heavily overloaded, in alarmed by a story about 72 people serious peril and in need of rescue,” who had been in a rubber dinghy in says the legal firm Norton Rose the Mediterranean for fifteen days. Fulbright. “Most mariners will not “They had cried out for help to many hesitate to ‘do the right thing’ and vessels, people that they saw around,” conduct a rescue. Indeed, the law of she told me, “and no-one came to the the sea requires them to do so (my rescue in order to help them, in order emphasis). However, it is once the to survive, and take them on board rescue is conducted and migrants are or disembark them in a country.” It’s onboard that issues might arise. In the face of unprecedented levels of

worth remembering that the sea off © groenlinks.nl Libya was considered a war zone at Dutch member of the Senate for GreenLeft migration, EU states are becoming the time, but that doesn’t alter the Tineke Strik less welcoming.” Some are sending law of the sea nor the obligation of a migrants back to their port of origin, ship’s master to aid vessels in distress which is called refoulment and is, and their passengers. “So, for 15 days Strik’s report centred on the failure again, against international law. they drifted in the Mediterranean of other countries and vessels to Sea,” Strik told me, “and during those come to their aid at a time when Strik never found out to which country 15 days, sixty-three of them died. the Mediterranean was full of the helicopter and large naval vessels

34 EUROPEDIPLOMATIC had belonged; those responsible for That’s why, in October 2016, a the deaths of the migrants remain resolution was adopted on female unpunished, but as she says of her genital mutilation (FGM), which report “nevertheless it raised a very is much more common than most lively and urgent debate on how of us would choose to believe. It’s to act in these types of situation.” been estimated that 500,000 women “Our great regret,” said Jean-Claude and girls are living in the European Mignon, a French EPP/CD member Union who have undergone FGM, who was president of the Assembly at and a further estimated 180,000 are the time, “is that the European Union at risk of it, the figure is thought to did not quickly respond. It’s true that be 200-million. FGM is a terrible the Parliamentary Assembly of the example of violence against women Council of Europe did not have the and a very serious violation of human same powers as the European Union rights. Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, a Liberal to take action about it.” No-one did, member the Monaco Parliament, of course, and migration remains a was General Rapporteur on violence divisive issue. Strik admitted it was a against women in the Parliamentary ‘who-dunnit’ without the guilty party Assembly, and she was the author of the report on “Female Genital ever being identified. I was once told © Wikipedia Mutilation in Europe”. “The figures by the French politician and physician Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, a Liberal member the are alarming,” she said, “and reveal, Bernard Kouchner, co-founder of Monaco Parliament if indeed evidence were necessary, Médicines sans Frontières, that the that we are directly affected. We must only way to stop unwanted migration by itself has immediate and long- acknowledge that this practice takes into Europe is to raise living standards term consequences on the health place worldwide and must take action and psychology of women and girl- in the countries from which the to ensure prevention, protection refugees come. That would remove the children. Despite all the negative and appropriate punishment, and to consequences of FGM, at least 2 incentive to risk life and limb to get to remedy and deal effectively with the million infants, girl-children and what they hope will be a better life for long-term consequences on the lives women undergo the operation every them and their families. of these women.” year (that is about 6,000 per day or one in every 15 seconds).” The Council NON-DISCRIMINATION: Before anyone raises the notion that of Europe cannot prevent the practice VIOLENCE IS VIOLENCE it’s a practice required by religion, worldwide - it is almost universal in that is not true, although the practice sub-Saharan Africa - but it can try The rights conferred by the ECHR is deeply rooted in tradition. “FGM to clamp down on FGM in Europe are, of course, universal, and not is one of the harmful traditional itself. “I hope the report will have dependant on age, gender or ethnicity. practices that is widely practiced in That is confirmed in Article 14: “The at least 28 African countries, parts an impact,” Mme. Fresko-Rolfo told enjoyment of the rights and freedoms of the Middle East, pockets of some me. “I hope the report will convince set forth in this Convention shall be communities in Australia, the Far people that it exists.” She says: “it secured without discrimination on East and the immigrant population in may not be the requirement of any any ground such as sex, race, colour, Europe and the Americas originating religion, but the practice is rooted language, religion, political or other from FGM practising countries,” in the culture and beliefs of the local opinion, national or social origin, writes Dr. Ashenafi Moges on the community.” Fresko-Rolfo’s resolution association with a national minority, African-Women.org website. “The stresses that FGM is an act of violence property, birth or other status.” FGM operation which is painful against women and children and a flagrant violation of human rights. It also points out that as most of the victims are extremely young (from a matter of a few days old to 7 or 8 years of age) the practice also constitutes a violation of children’s rights. The report states that prevention must lie at the heart of attempts at eradication and it must involve all those involved, whether practising communities, social and educational services, the police, the justice system or health care professionals. Recognising the practice as violence against women and children and running public awareness campaigns is about as much © Unicef / Holt © Unicef Fatima, 7, sits on a bed in her home in Afar region, Ethiopia. She was subjected to FGM/C as the European nations can do and to when she was 1 year old change hearts and minds takes time.

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MURDER MOST FOUL all. Theuma is currently being treated “was that an independent inquiry be in hospital for serious wounds he set up, and yes, it was a bit of a battle, In June 2019, a report by Dutch EPP/ sustained, which the police said were but the independent inquiry was set CD member Pieter Omtzigt drew self-inflicted.” A man charged with up and of course there was a battle on attention to the murder in Malta murdering Daphne Caruana Galizia its terms of references, but after that has accused government of sitting on of the journalist Daphne Caruana battle on the terms of references, it his request for a presidential pardon Galizia, after she had exposed was pretty OK.” In his research before widespread corruption in government in return for information on the assassination plot and several other writing the report, Omtzigt also faced and elsewhere. Caruana Galizia was obstructions. “They tabled a motion murdered with a car bomb just outside unsolved crimes. Meanwhile Muscat, of no confidence in me, which had her Bidnija home on 16 October one of three men who planted and detonated the bomb, said he would never happened in the Parliamentary 2017. The report on it was brought to reveal all and provide information Assembly of the Council of Europe. the Assembly under Article 10 of the on previously unmentioned parties Someone connected there changed Convention: “Everyone has the right in order to help investigators join the to freedom of expression. my Wikipedia page and put some dots in the complex murder plot in nonsense on that page. Oh, yeah! return for a pardon. Under Maltese The pressure was applied.” Maltese law, libel actions brought against members tried to prevent the report Caruana Galizia were inherited by her surviving family. The Council of mentioning murder “as murder has Europe’s Human Rights Ombudsman, not been proved”. Omtzigt pointed out Dunja Mijatović has requested that that it’s hard to classify a car bomb as they should be dropped. an accident or an act of God. It could be classed as an act of the ungodly, Omtzigt had a difficult task to get his perhaps, I think. Omtzigt is not sure, resolution accepted, but it was. “It of course, that all will turn out well, was one of the organs of change in but at least for Malta the process of Malta,” he told me. It didn’t make him a popular figure on the island. “The self-examination is underway, along government of Malta and some of the with a growing realisation that the Maltese press have not put forward world is watching. The president of the a picture of me as being the most Assembly at the time, Swiss Socialist trustworthy person on Earth.” Liliane Maury-Pasquier, believes that Omtzigt’s report was an important achievement. “The prime minister has © Malta Times Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb in been replaced, got rid of, and Malta Bidnija now has an independent commission of inquiry.” She told me the procedure This right shall include freedom to had been good for Malta and good for hold opinions and to receive and democracy. impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and And so the world changes, a little bit regardless of frontiers.” Caruana at a time and in baby-steps. Looking Galizia was the one who exposed the across Europe as a whole, it would so-called Panama Papers, showing be true to say that just as in some graft and corruption at the highest places there are signs of progress, level, which drew vicious opposition elsewhere neo-nationalism and self- that resulted in her bank account interest are becoming increasingly being frozen and several libel cases. entrenched, with democracy itself The murder inquiry has always been being under threat here and there. a convoluted affair, as the latest report Some you win, some you lose, as the

(at the time of writing) from the Malta © pace.coe.int saying goes. The trick is to win more Today newspaper reveals: “Three men, Pieter Omtzigt than you lose, something at which George Degiorgio, Alfred Degiorgio the European Convention on Human and Vince Muscat, have been charged Rights has proved very useful. After with carrying out the assassination, The problems Omtzigt faced help to seven decades, it’s still possible for it while Yorgen Fenech is charged with underline the courage of Caruana to shake up undemocratic or corrupt masterminding the murder. Melvin Galizia. The car in which she died was governments. In Churchill’s words, we Theuma, who acted as a middleman a rental; by freezing her bank account still need to be “guarded by freedom between Fenech and the three the government stopped her from and sustained by law.” executors of the crime, was granted accessing her own vehicle. “The first a presidential pardon last year to tell thing we asked for,” Omtzigt explained, Jim Gibbons

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THE UNITED NATIONS OF EUROPE Europe likely to recover faster than anywhere else, thanks to the European model

Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom literally translated from Greek) was built in the 6th century in the imperial capital of the Roman empire Constantinople, formerly Byzantium and before the Ottoman empire’s reign (1453–1923), as a patriarchal cathedral and witness to several enthronments of Byzantian emperors. The church was dedicated to Logos, the Word, the second person of the Trinity, before being converted into a mosque in 1453 with the fall of Constantinople and the rise of the Ottoman empire which destroyed the Christian artworks and symbols inside the cathedral so that the Muslim prayers could proceed without distraction.

n July 24th 2020, history was Currently, with a looming monetary crisis repeated itself; President and a long term corporate debt problem, Erdogan ordered the remainder Turkey is struggling with a trade deficit of Oof the Byzantinian artworks carved $5.60 billion ($500 million in late 2019). under its 56 meters high dome inside However, its foreign reserves are intact as the museum to be covered so that the China has come to its rescue with a swap Friday prayers - occurring for the first for Turkish lira for Chinese renminbi time since its conversion to a museum valued at $400 million (12 billion yuan), by Attaturk in 1934 - could go ahead making Turkey use the Chinese yuan for without any interference from the past. import payments, a move that will further Most likely, the choice of date was a strengthen cooperation between the two coincidence and not a middle finger to countries. So far Turk Telecom, one of the Treaty of Lausanne signed on July the country's largest telecommunications th © akparti.org.tr President Erdoğan visits Hagia Sophia 24 1923 by Attaturk which defined the companies, has announced that it will use Mosque borders of the modern Turkish Republic. renminbi, or the yuan to pay import bills.

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In a different response to Mike Pompeo’s speech urging “the entire world to stand up against China”, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia and China have developed "relations of a special partnership", called China “our partner” and declared that Moscow will not join any alliance against Beijing.

In the meantime earlier this month Beijing and Tehran signed a 400 billion dollar security and economic pact over 25 years involving securing land routes and China’s access to the Iranian crude oil. With the US sanctions in place currently the Iranian economy does not have many options regarding the choice of trade partners.

On the other hand while India has President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Xi Jinping, attending the Belt and Road banned 59 Chinese applications on Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing its territory citing security reasons, together with Australia, the US and Next to a trade volume of $21.08 In a major speech about China, Japan, the four democracies are billion that has been between the two held symbolically at Richard Nixon joining a key naval exercise to tighten last year - with Turkey mostly at the Presidential Library in California, their military ties in order to contain buying side - China is planning to Mike Pompeo stated: “President Nixon China’s expansionist policies (claims make Turkey a crucial part of its Belt once said he feared he had created a on several islands) in the Pacific and Road Initiative (BRI). With heavy ‘Frankenstein’ by opening the world to region. investing into the Turkish logistics the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) ... And after the UK’s recent move to ban (48 percent of the Kumport Terminal And here we are.” Furthermore, he said Huawei 5G kit, France is expected for $940 million for example or the China’s military has become “stronger to follow suit and not to renew the Chinese-built and funded Marmaray and more menacing” and called for a licenses for any Huawei kit once they Tunnel that allow direct non-stop need to create an alliance to counter expire. Such a decision coming from freight trains from China to Turkey), China and said that the entire world one of the EU's prominent leaders there seem to be projects that would should stand against China. (France) is likely to have an influence upgrade Turkey from a corridor to an on other EU member states and the international trade hub on the New The next day, Beijing took a low blow future of Huawei in Europe. Silk Road, a project initiated in 2013 at Pompeo and equated him to an “ant by China and an alternative defying trying to shake a tree”. With the real boon of the current the European trade bloc and its infrastructures.

Meanwhile, China has ordered the closure of the American consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu, accusing the staff of meddling in its internal affairs. The move came as a tit for tat measure after the US police entered by the backdoor inside the Chinese consulate in Houston to evacuate the facility, following the decision of the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo alleging China was “stealing” intellectual property. The leaked video footage shows men inside the consulate busy burning papers in a bin, suggesting illegal operations linked to stealing scientific and medical research and specifically the covid-19 vaccine. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo © Edm

38 EUROPEDIPLOMATIC global geopolitical struggle lying on financial markets and handed out as The project is not perfect and to the techno-national front enabled by a mixture of grants/loans. France and name a few flaws, one can mention the 5G technology (see the article of the Germany had proposed 500 billion the following: the uneven economic last issue “Corona - the uneven recovery euros in grants; the Commission took strength of the member states, and geopolitical rivalry), a coordinated that and added another 250 billion structural issues which can only be ban on Huawei could be the start of a in loans and finally, after some deep resolved through reforms and not united move favouring intra-national quarrels, it became 390 billion in grants just money transfer, some countries cyber security measures within the and 360 billion in loans. being more prone to corruption frontiers of Europe. than others, different internal and The negotiations - without the external policies and thus different st On the 21 of July 2020, history was UK - went from north to south; government spendings and priorities, made in Brussels when after days the prosperous Frugal Four (the and last but not least, the emerging and nights of negotiations, French Netherlands, Austria, Finland and autocracies within the union that President, Emmanuel Macron managed Denmark) who were pushing for are in opposition to the Western to convince the German Chancellor, loans versus the badly Covid-hitten democracies. Angela Merkel - who for years was Italy and Spain that want solidarity opposed to issuing common European and grants, and from west to east, But despite its imperfections, it has debt - to guide the 27 European leaders where autocracies like Poland and reached two major objectives that and come up with a 750 billion euros Hungary stated their conditions and fit within the long-term vision of pandemic recovery plan, where money were given protection by Merkel in an expansive Europe: 1) the EU can will be collectively borrowed on the order for the deal to be reached. now create common debt, 2) it now

© Kremlin.ru Putin, Macron, Merkel, Zelensky in 2019 disposes of an architecture that can annual increase, while investment in world, the BRIC thesis recognizes handle future collective crises. Germany remained stable. This year that Brazil, Russia, India and China despite the Covid pandemic, 65% of have changed their political systems to Thanks to the Corona virus, a two the announced investment projects embrace global capitalism, and from decade-old question was answered; are in place in Europe, with 25% being being trade partners they have become how can a monetary union function delayed and only 10% cancelled. In a political organization. The New Silk without a fiscal union? the face of the pandemic, Europe is Road project is an example of how serious the counter politics work. This deal alone keeps the European likely to recover faster than anywhere markets attractive and investment- else, thanks to the European model, Faced with world competition, the old prone for foreign investments. Since the social system, the health care and virtuoso continent of Europe is now 2018, Europe's attractiveness is on the labour institutions. And right after the at a crossroads: either it stagnates and onward trend; “historical agreement”, the European gives the upper hand to populism by equities on the markets went into regressing into national borders, or it according to the European positive territory as the market reacted embraces its future as a true politico Commission in 2018, Foreign Direct well to the news, with the stability and economic bloc and preserves the Investment (FDI) in the EU totalled the cohesiveness of the region being legacies of the Age of Enlightenment €7.2 billion, accounting for 45% of confirmed. on the global level. In case it chooses the EU’s Gross Domestic Product the latter, a coordinated fiscal policy of (GDP). In 2019, France became While global capitalism - the the union is the indispensable step. Europe’s top destination for FDI capitalism that transcends national attracting 1,197 new projects, a 17% borders - is the current trend in our Vianne Savoli

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SCHADENFREUDE FOR FUN AND PROFIT The surprising fall of Wirecard an emerging German giant

t had been hailed as the high- that probably stretches back to 2015, Another executive now in custody is flying darling of Germany’s stock involving inflation of the company’s Oliver Bellenhaus, who ran Wirecard’s exchange: a huge provider of high- worth and balance sheets to deceive CardSystems Middle East, from an Itech financial services and processor investors. Wirecard’s former head of office in Dubai. He was arrested on of payments. Although it was seen as a finance, Burkhard Ley, has also been suspicion of conspiracy to commit blue-chip success story, suspicion had arrested, along with the group’s head fraud, attempted fraud and aiding trailed Wirecard, based just outside of accounting, Stephan von Erffa. and abetting other crimes. He had Munich, since an investigation by Britain’s Financial Times (FT) in 2019, coupled with revelations from whistle- blowers.

The final collapse on 25 June came just seven days after the company’s long-term auditors, EY, refused to sign off the accounts for 2019 because €1.9-billion had disappeared. In a statement, EY said: “There are clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud involving multiple parties around the world.” Wirecard’s Austrian founder and CEO, Markus Braun, was arrested, accused by Munich prosecutors of a fraud © ir.wirecard Burkhard Ley

40 EUROPEDIPLOMATIC travelled from Dubai to Munich and looks more likely that he is hiding out the Austria-Russian Friendship handed himself in, but he remains in Belarus, where it will be harder to Society, a Russia-backed organisation in police custody because he is get him back. He may have travelled intended to improve Russo-Austrian considered a flight risk. All of this on to Russia. He is believed to have relations. casts doubt on Germany’s financial been working with (but not actually regulator, BaFin (Bundesanstalt für for) Russia’s military intelligence unit, According to the FT: “The Friendship Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht). the GRU, which is held responsible Society, which has courted criticism for the attempted murders of Sergei in the past because of its cosy Skripal and his daughter in the relationship with Moscow, hit the UK and for manipulating the 2016 Austrian headlines this week, after it presidential election in the United was revealed that its finance secretary States. had been receiving classified documents from Mr Marsalek - illegally obtained from Austria’s interior ministry and security service - and passing them to the country’s far-right populist party, the FPÖ.” Indeed, few of the people Marsalek had dealings with seem to have any idea of what his true intentions were. It’s fairly safe to say, though, that he wanted to provide military and financial aid to far right political © ir.wirecard Markus Braun causes and that he is deeply involved with Russian power politics. It seems possible that his militia recruits were An international arrest warrant has intended to police Libya’s southern also been issued for another Austrian, Wirecard Former COO, Jan Marsalek border against illegal immigration, Jan Marsalek, the company’s former giving him leverage in Brussels where chief operating officer, who has the issue remains a major problem. disappeared but whose interests He is now thought to have possible But the FT reports that in that may well tie him to the very heart links to Russia’s secret intelligence respect, Marsalek had other strings to of the fraud. Some sources initially agency, the FSB, as well and is known his bow: “When it came to his plans suggested he may be in the Philippines, to be ‘of interest’ to that agency. No to try to set up a southern Libyan where Wirecard has a presence and fewer than three western intelligence border force, Mr Marsalek regularly where he told colleagues he was going agencies have questions to put to told interlocutors he would have no ‘to find the missing millions’. But him, quite apart from asking why problem securing armed force on the the documentation for his journey a financial company executive was ground from Russia - thanks to deep seems to have been faked, possibly trying to recruit 15,000 Libyan militia relationships he held with Russian by officials at Manilla Airport. It now troops. Marsalek was involved with ‘security specialists’.”

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What was he up to? That’s something Wirecard’s shareholders and the police and financial authorities in Germany, Austria and Brussels would love to know. In any case, these are not the activities of your average company financial controller. When Wirecard went down, it owed its creditors almost €3.5-billion.

The collapse forced out Chief Executive Markus Braun who admitted that €1.8-billion of its book money simply didn’t exist. That’s a lot to lose down the back of the sofa. For now, at least, Marsalek is wanted by the authorities in Germany and Austria on charges of fraud and embezzlement. Instead of a simple embezzlement and fraud investigation, though, it begins to read like the plot of a novel by John le Carré. Marsalek is known to have had three © bellingcat.com separate Austrian passports, although Three passport photos from Marsalek’s Austrian passports one of them bore an unofficial number, as well as a passport issued

It was reported by the investigative by another unnamed country and a © wirecard.com website Bellingcat that Marsalek had diplomatic passport, again issued by Wirecard promotion made some sixty visits to Russia, an unidentified third country. The FSB initially using commercial flights but started to monitor his movements, The hedge fund with the biggest from 2016 on, in private executive jets which is unusual, according to short position, Coatue Management, and to a variety of Russian locations, Bellingcat. “We have previously seen is thought to have made a paper not just Moscow. “One particular trip global monitoring of foreigners in this profit of €271-million, according stands out for its party-like country- database only in one other case – that to calculations by Reuters. While hopping nature,” reports Bellingcat. of a financial backer of the UK Brexit Wirecard’s shares crashed from €104.5 “On 29 September 2016 Marsalek referendum in 2016.” Russia is also to €2.5 in less than a week, a fall of flew in from Munich to Moscow at refusing to cooperate with a Europol 97%, the ten known hedge funds 1:55 am, only to depart for Athens at request for help in finding Marsalek. made millions, and many more may 7:58 that same morning. The next day have made considerable gains as well. he flew back from Greece – this time In fact, according to Market Watch, into St. Petersburg, where he stayed “Short sellers, who borrow shares and only 5-and-half hours, before taking sell them hoping to buy them back off back to Greece – but this time to for less in the future, notched paper the vacation island of Santorini. He profits of $2.6 billion (€2.22-billion) changed three different private jets off Wirecard's plunge, according to during this whirlwind of a trip.” But data-analytics firm S3 Partners. Bets his alleged links with the FSB didn’t by the eight funds with the biggest stop the agency from refusing him short exposure to Wirecard, including the right to leave Russia in 2017. in options markets, delivered paper Bellingcat again reports that after a profits of $1 billion (€0.85-billion) 5-day visit to Russia he was denied the according to Breakout Point, a research right to leave. “Immigration records service.” A bonanza day for those who © Techcast.com show that on the morning of 15 Markus Braun believed the prophets of doom. In fact, September, at 8:05 his attempt to leave those prophets turned into profits. the country using a private business jet Schadenfreude for fun and profit, was denied by FSB’s border service. It WATCHING, WAITING, indeed. However, as Bloomberg points is not clear what caused the detention, FIDDLING out in an on-line opinion, short sellers but it appears that his initially booked also serve a useful purpose. Yes, they jet had to be let go without Marsalek. But it’s an ill wind that blows nobody make a profit, “But, believe it or not, for At 17:35 that afternoon, Marsalek did any good: a number of hedge funds many short sellers it’s not only about leave Russia after all, using a different have been shorting Wirecard’s stock the money. They perform an important private jet.” This was the last time he for some time and it’s now believed though rarely acknowledged function visited Russia, or at least the last time that at least ten of them have made a in rooting out corporate malfeasance he did so using his Austrian passport. killing on the collapse. through countless hours of detective

42 EUROPEDIPLOMATIC work, often at great expense. As with reports that an attempt to hack into never be repaid, including Germany’s Wirecard, they’re sometimes happy to its files had been made by Russia’s Commerzbank and LBBW as well as share their concerns with regulators.” GRU. The attack was uncovered by the Dutch lenders ABN Amro and One short seller, Fahmi Quadir of Dutch intelligence services in October ING. It’s an irony for Commerzbank, Safkhet Capital, which had taken a 2018. Had Marsalek’s Russian friends because its position on the blue-chip short position on Wirecard stock, provided the data? And if so, why? index was lost when Wirecard was wrote to the German regulator, BaFin, Was it just to prove that Marsalek is admitted to it. For Germany, where to draw attention to the problem not a fantasist and that nobody should the rise and rise of Wirecard was when BaFin took the bizarre step of touch Wirecard? Vladimir Putin’s hailed as a German success story, it’s banning short selling of Wirecard Russia, however, seems willing to leave hugely embarrassing. stock for a period of two months in its fingerprints on brazen outrages order to uphold market confidence. around the world that it later denies; Meanwhile, a social media campaign there’s no proof that could stand up in was launched against short sellers. court but more than mere suspicion Wirecard’s board always denied that Moscow wants everyone to know they were involved, but short sellers that it can exert its influence on the were subjected to Internet trolls and world stage without being nervous phishing attacks and one man claims about discovery. It’s the sort of thing his house was put under surveillance that keeps Russia’s restless (and often by unidentified men. It makes one extremely wealthy) emigrés on their wonder if the management were toes, aware of the fact that although quite so ignorant of Wirecard’s illicit they’re abroad, they’re never out of the shortcomings as they later claimed; Kremlin’s reach. they were very determined to protect © Wikipedia the fortunes they had built on fake Wirecard claims that the €1.9-billion BaFinHeadquarters in Bonn foundations. Wirecard admitted that disappeared from its operation in the Philippines, which was run by they had hired private investigators in The whole affair turns a timely spotlight Marsalek. The money vanished from the past. on the country’s oversight procedures. It’s especially embarrassing for Germany’s financial regulator, BaFin, which in 2018 seems to have played down negative reports in the media, especially an investigation by the Financial Times suggesting that Wirecard executives were cooking the books, just as some whistle-blowers were claiming. Instead of looking into the truth of the claims, BaFin banned investors from shorting their stock, while that stock fell in value by more than 40%. Interestingly, BaFin still © Wirecard believes it reacted correctly, although Members of the management board of Wirecard AG during a statement in Aschheim trying to appease shareholders just before the crash a German MP, Florian Toncar, of the Free Democratic Party, said in an interview on Norddeutscher Rundfunk radio that “This is a documented Various funds had been betting escrow accounts and Wirecard said it failure of supervision to intervene against Wirecard for years, which was had been the victim of fraud, before when there was clear evidence in this one reason why the elusive Marsalek admitting the money had never case.” It’s an especially damaging blow travelled to London in 2018, carrying existed. An escrow account is normally because Wirecard was regarded as an a dossier of files apparently from the used to hold funds in trust while two or innovative company. “Wirecard was Organisation for the Prohibition of more parties complete a transaction, until now,” said Toncar, “one of the after which the funds are dispersed to Chemical Weapons, OPCW. One of few functioning tech companies that the appropriate parties. The difference them gave details of the plot to kill have come up with new ideas in the Sergei Skripal, another contained here is that the supposed escrow marketplace and now it turns out that the chemical formula for Novichok, accounts didn’t actually exist. Banks that was to a great extent smoke and the world’s deadliest nerve agent in the Philippines said the documents mirrors.” and the one used in Salisbury, UK, produced by Wirecard appeared to be in the unsuccessful murder attempt false. The country’s central bank said THE FINGER OF BLAME that none-the-less killed an innocent the supposed money had never entered woman and seriously injured several its financial system. The money that is It's not the first time that a German other people. The OPCW is known missing leaves a number of lenders company has been caught out for its tight security, but the FT facing the probability that they will in dishonest acts, even though

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Wirecard headquarters in Munich

the country’s policy of co- of whom seem to have been happy at work environment characterized by a management (known in Germany the company. Marcus Braun had an wide range of opportunities to attain as Mitbestimmung) ensures that 81% approval rating among staff. It’s your personal goals.” We’re left to workers have a place on boards and worth remembering that Wirecard is wonder if Marsalek is attaining his therefore the right to scrutinise what more than Wirecard AG. According personal goals. Wherever he is. And the company is doing. Ever since to the eFinancial Careers website, in any case the website concludes 1951, it’s been the law that large firms, “Wirecard Bank, which processes with this unencouraging statement: initially in the coal and steel sectors, credit card payments, is not part of the “Unfortunately, there are currently no reserve half the board seats, together insolvency proceedings and the UK's open positions.” Apart from in police with voting rights, for members of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) cells awaiting the return of Marsalek, workforce, most often elected by the has said that Wirecard's U.K. business of course. workers themselves from union slates. can continue operating, issuing This meant that workers could vote e-money and providing payment THE BLAME GAME on all the firm’s strategic choices and services.” The FCA has imposed a have access to all the same documents number of requirements on Wirecard, Meanwhile, the EU’s European as management and shareholders. In however, including that it must not Securities and Markets Authority 1952, another law made it mandatory dispose of any assets or funds, and (ESMA) is conducting an inquiry of for large firms in other sectors to not carry out any regulated activities. its own into the responses of BaFin reserve a third of the seats on the board It is authorised to issue e-money and Germany’s Financial Reporting for representatives of the workforce. and provide payment services but Enforcement Panel (FREP) and into These laws were further enhanced must also say on its website that it is Wirecard AG’s collapse, which is in 1969 and 1982 while a law on co- no longer permitted to conduct any due to be completed by the end of management was enacted in 1976, that regulated activity. June salaries for October 2020. BaFin claims that it requires firms with more than 2,000 employees in Germany, France and lacks the powers to enforce the EU’s Transparency Directive. employees to save half their seats on Luxembourg are said to have been the board, together with voting rights, suspended. But it may not be the end for worker representatives, or in the of the Wirecard story. It's not clear case of firms with between 500 and what happens next in the U.S.,” writes 2,000 workers, one third of the seats. eFinancial Careers, “where Wirecard These laws have been used to explain was on a hiring drive and just brought Germany’s success as an industrial in a senior 'talent acquisition partner' power, although it didn’t stop unlawful based in Pennsylvania to oversee the practices: just look at Volkswagen and expansion.” However, Wirecard still the diesel emissions scandal. And has a recruiting website, on which it Germany is still making fairly slow says “As an international employer progress at improving board oversight, with locations on all continents, we getting more women onto company offer you a host of opportunities boards and trying to get companies to further your personal and to include financial experts among its professional growth. Our outstanding board appointees. pioneering spirit and highly motivated employees make Wirecard a truly In the case of Wirecard, it’s the parent unique company to work for.” Well, company, Wirecard AG, that has filed yes, but it’s been under some fairly for insolvency. It employed only about dodgy management, hasn’t it? The © Esma 200 people, although in the wider group website suggests not: “We provide Steven Maijoor Chair of ESMA (the European there were some 5,800 employees, most you an inspiring and interesting Securities and Markets Authority)

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ESMA was asked in a letter from the lax market culture and a regulator the company’s success while playing European Commission to investigate. captured by the industry which down any suggestion that it was not “The assessment will focus on holds and promotes that culture. only holed beneath the waterline but the application of the Guidelines The remedy can only be to create a that large parts of the hull simply on the Enforcement of Financial distance between the regulator and weren’t there. Information (GLEFI) by BaFin and the regulated. Europe has already FREP, the designated competent gone through this experience in the authorities for the supervision and case of the banking union.” OMFIF enforcement of financial information suggested the creation of a supervisor in the Federal Republic of Germany at the European Central Bank, safely under the Transparency Directive isolated from the risk of national (TD).” Add to these problems the pride getting in the way. The problem profound complexity of Wirecard’s here is that Wirecard was too small business activities, handling cashless to fall under ECB supervision, which payments among a complicated left BaFin in charge. OMFIF says network of credit card companies, that Europe should make use of this banks and merchants, while crisis to reform its institutions and according to Associated Press, much control. “The European Securities of the value shown in Wirecard’s and Markets Authority,” it suggests, balance sheets “was in the form of “an agency so far endowed only with weak coordination powers over intangible financial factors such as © Bafin accounting goodwill and customer national market supervisors, should Felix Hufeld, President of BaFin relationships.” You can’t put a price be restructured and empowered on a smile and a nod. “ESMA also with a new statute and legal basis. invited BaFin and the European The conditions which permitted the Commission,” according to its own Wirecard scandal to arise are still website, “in the country-specific with us. They should be removed, onsite report, to investigate whether not only in Germany, but in the the TD is correctly transposed by whole of Europe.” OMFIF points Germany, given BaFin’s self-declared out that something also needs to be inability to comply with the GLEFI done about regulatory arbitrage as due to a lack of enforcement powers.” more and more third country banks To make things worse, much of are repositioning to the European Wirecard’s activities took place in mainland, an issue made more hard-to-follow and uncooperative serious and urgent because of Brexit. Asian jurisdictions. Wirecard’s stunning rise should, perhaps, have rung more alarm bells than it did. From being a small

© ec.europa.eu company involved, according to DW, EU Commission Vice-President Valdis in “gambling and pornography”, Dombrovskis it had risen to become one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing The head of BaFin, Felix Hufeld, financial technology companies. This in itself was an achievement admits that the Wirecard affair is “a as Germany was generally regarded disaster” but has seemed reluctant up as somewhat behind the times in to the time of writing to admit any the world of financial technology. errors on the part of his organisation. “Over the years, the understandable His rôle is being investigated by EU enthusiasm for a rare German officials from ESMA. According to financial tech success story gave the Austrian broadcaster, ORF, EU way to the far more sinister force Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis told ‘Handelsblatt’:

© ruptly.tv of wilful misbelief,” writes DW’s German prosecutor Anne Leiding in charge Business writer, Kate Ferguson. “In “On the commission side, we of the Wirecard probe January of last year, when the FT are examining the lessons to be reported on the suppression of an learned from the Wirecard case internal investigation of Wirecard for EU financial market legislation The Official Monetary and Financial in Singapore, Germany's financial and whether we need to improve Institutions Forum, OMFIF, writes regulator, BaFin, responded by rules. In particular, we look at on its website that the work must now accusing the paper of attempting the transparency directive, the begin to find out what went so badly to manipulate the market.” Those accounting directive, the rules for wrong. “The first one, hardly unique whose job it was to keep an eye on auditors and the regulations against to Germany, is the nexus between a things preferred, it seems, to talk up market abuse.”

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The European Commission says “The operative, though what Russia’s aims team, the Wirecard whistle-blowers EU Transparency Directive gives could have been are very hard to and, most strangely of all, the hedge national supervisory authorities such guess. The Wirecard scandal has been funds who shorted Wirecard stock as BaFin clear responsibilities to ensure dubbed ‘Germany’s Enron’ by some and who have cleaned up because of that companies comply with their observers. its collapse. CNBC also reported a obligations regarding correct financial statement from EY, although they are reporting. The European Securities The auditors who finally brought the not offering any further commentary and Markets Authority (ESMA), based scandal to public notice by refusing on what happened at Wirecard. in Paris, sets common enforcement to sign off the accounts, EY, have also “Collusive frauds designed to deceive priorities for national supervisory come in for heavy criticism. CNBC investors and the public,” the statement authorities and in certain cases can reports that the law firm Schirp & says, “often involve extensive efforts also intervene directly in national Partner have brought a class action to create a false documentary trail. supervision.” The Commission’slawsuit against the EY on behalf of Professional standards recognize that office in Germany says that if ESMA’s Wirecard investors, alleging it failed to even the most robust and extended initial report reveals deficiencies in flag improperly booked payments on audit procedures may not uncover the enforcement of EU regulations Wirecard’s 2018 accounts. The German a collusive fraud.” The statement is on financial reporting by BaFin, shareholders’ association, SdK, has unlikely to deter either Schirp & “the EU should be ready to demand also filed a criminal complaint against Partner or SdK from pursuing their consequences.” The EU may well want the auditors, targeting two current legal actions. to see consequences for Hufeld but it employees and one former staff would be even happier to see Marsalek member at EY. BaFin may have egg on Every time it seems as if the mist brought back to face the consequences its face over the scandal but it seems surrounding the scandal is clearing, of his bizarre alleged actions, if only there is enough egg to go around a new piece of information thickens Russia would cooperate. That fact and cover several faces. Oddly and it again. Now the news website that it won’t suggests a possible link ironically, the only people who seem EURACRTIV says the scandal could with the Wirecard scandal that goes to have emerged from the mess with turn out to be much greater than has beyond a little investment and a rogue any credibility are the FT investigating so far emerged. “Following reporting

46 EUROPEDIPLOMATIC from Der Spiegel that the German BaFin spokeswoman.” Braun has chancellery had undertaken lobbying rejected the allegation through his work on behalf of the scandal-hit lawyer. Given that he presumably Wirecard financial services company, knew that the whole house of cards the Greens, liberal FDP and Die was about to come tumbling down Linke, who are in opposition, are now around his ears, it seems almost demanding a formal clarification from petty to engage in insider trading to Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD).” make a quick buck. It would be like carrying out an armed bank robbery and stopping on the way out to pinch the bank’s blotter, notebook and pen. In any case, given the seriousness of the allegations he’s expected to face, I would not have thought this

latest accusation holds many terrors, Rumpenhorst © Frank other than as a further indication Dr Jens Weidmann, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Member of the Governing Council of that illicit goings-on were going on. the ECB And for Wirecard shareholders, the news keeps getting worse. According to Finanzen.ch, the US Department But for now, the President of the of Justice is now reported to have Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, says launched an investigation into the Germany must toughen up its auditing German payment service provider. and accounting rules to prevent another There are more allegations against billion-euro fraud. In a newspaper © Federal Ministry of Finance/Thomas Koehler Ministry© Federal Finance/Thomas of the fallen financial payments firm: Olaf Scholz German Finance Minister interview, Wiedmann admitted falsification of the balance sheet, “we have to do more to prevent falsification of documents, arrests, it in future”, with more powerful, bankruptcy - all these are important Hasepost, based in Osnabrück, keywords for the news situation enforceable rules and procedures reports the very serious way the around Wirecard in the past given to German authorities. “For European Commission, especially its weeks. Now, says Finanzen.ch, “the example, the audit process and the vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis, scandal seems to be spreading even tasks, powers and liability of auditors is regarding the Wirecard scandal. further. As the Wall Street Journal should be reconsidered," Weidmann “Dombrovskis is also considering reported on Wednesday evening, the depriving national authorities told the newspaper. It now looks as if Department of Justice in Washington such as BaFin of oversight of large Wirecard had borrowed €3.2-billion has launched an investigation payment service providers such as under false pretences, with the money Wirecard and transferring them to into the German payment service now believed to be lost. Since the EU banking supervision,” reports provider. More specifically, it is said sudden collapse of the company, to be an online platform for buying the website. Dombrovskis has German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and selling cannabis,” a scam with confirmed that this is under serious has proposed to toughen financial an estimated value of $100-million consideration and the Commission oversight of companies, “seeking to will present a Fin Tech Action Plan (€85-million). Perhaps not surprisingly, Wirecard’s subsidiary pre-empt an expected parliamentary in autumn. “It will also look at how backlash over the failure of regulators major third-party financial service in the US, Wirecard North America to spot the unprecedented fraud”, providers will be subject to EU Inc., has put itself up for sale, with banking supervision in the future,” an investment bank coordinating according to Yahoo Finance. “Scholz Hasepost reports Dombrovskis as the transaction, if a buyer can be rushed out a reform agenda that saying. found. It seems likely one will; it’s would give financial watchdog BaFin been reported that a hundred or so greater investigative and enforcement Wirecard AG’s former CEO, entities have expressed an interest powers, broaden its mandate to cover Markus Braun, now faces additional in buying up whatever is left of non-banking financial institutions and Wirecard when the dust settles. questioning about alleged improper toughen penalties against lax auditors.” activities, according to the Swiss Wirecard’s shares have not fallen So don’t worry, the stable door is being financial news website, Finanzen. to zero - at the time of writing they ch. “Because of a share sale shortly have risen from 1.59 to 1.8794 (the firmly shut, even if the horse has not before the Wirecard bankruptcy,” price fluctuates second by second) only bolted but had been seen to be it reports, “the former company in three days - and some investors packing its bags to leave for years. director Markus Braun is suspected are hanging on to them, despite the No-one in power wanted to heed the of illicit insider trading. This was fact that Munich prosecutors have warnings or read the runes. As the old confirmed by the German financial raided the company’s offices. As long proverb goes, there’s none so blind as regulator BaFin on Wednesday. This as there is still money to be made, those that will not see. had been reported to the Munich of course, those who know how to public prosecutor's office, said a make it will continue to sniff around. Robin Crow

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© European Union Stella Kyriakides COVID-19 European Commission secures EU access to Remdesivir for treatment of covid-19 The European Commission has signed a contract with the pharmaceutical company Gilead to secure treatment doses of Veklury, the brand name for Remdesivir. Veklury was the first medicine authorised at EU level for treatment of COVID-19. As from early August onwards, and in order to meet immediate needs, batches of Veklury will be made available to Member States and the UK, with the coordination and support of the Commission.

tella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and BACKGROUND Food Safety, said: “In recent weeks, the Commission has been working tirelessly with Gilead to reach an On 3 July, Remdesivir became the first treatment to be Sagreement to ensure that stocks of the first treatment authorised for a conditional marketing authorisation. authorised against COVID-19 are delivered to the This authorisation facilitates early access to medicines EU. A contract has been signed yesterday, less than a in public health emergency situations, such as the month after the authorisation of Remdesivir, which will current pandemic. allow the delivery of treatments from early August for thousands of patients. The Commission is leaving no Remdesivir is a treatment against COVID-19 for stone unturned in its efforts to secure access to safe and adults and adolescents as from age 12 with pneumonia efficient treatments, and is supporting the development who require supplemental oxygen. The application of vaccines against coronavirus. Yesterday's agreement is for the marketing authorisation was submitted to another important step forward in our fight to overcome the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on 8 June. this disease”. EMA's recommendation was endorsed by the Member The Commission's Emergency Support Instrument States through the Standing Committee on Medicinal will finance the contract, worth a total of €63 million. Products for Human Use. This will ensure the treatment of approximately 30,000 While authorised in the EU, the medicine continues patients presenting severe COVID-19 symptoms. This will help to cover the current needs over the next to be monitored to ensure safety. Gilead has also few months, while ensuring a fair distribution at EU been requested to submit the final reports of the level, based on an allocation key, taking into account Remdesivir studies to the EMA by December 2020 as the advice from the European Centre for Disease part of the conditions to be fulfilled to move from a Prevention and Control. conditional marketing authorisation to a full marketing authorisation. Further data on the effectiveness and The Commission is now also preparing a joint safety of the medicine is expected to be submitted by procurement for further supplies of the medicine, August 2020 in order to finalise this process expected to cover additional needs and supplies as from October onwards. Source: ec.europa.eu

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Ambassador of Malta Carmel Vassallo (L) presents his Letters of Credence to H.E. Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic

The new ambassador of Portugal to the Islamic Republic of Iran Carlos Antonio Rico Da Costa Nos (left) presents his Letters of Credence to Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

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UK Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Emily Maltman, presents his Letters of Credence to Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo

President of the Republic of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi (right) received today the credentials of the new Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kosovo, Jörn Rohde

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin accepting the credentials of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (L) rubs elbows with new accredited Romanian Ambassador to Israel Radu Ioanid (left) Greek Ambassador Panayotis Sarris

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A PLACE TO VISIT August 2020 - January 2021

or the first time, the Cité de wealthy industrialist, who had a passion for From the first visionary models to the more l’Automobile will be focusing on things mechanical and was disappointed recent super sports cars-dream machines that Lamborghini in 2020 and bringing with the vehicles produced by the major stir the adrenalin-, the exhibition recounts Ftogether the Italian car manufacturer’s automobile marques of the time (Ferrari, the history of the automobile marque and flagship models, designed by renowned Maserati, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, etc.), set the reasons for its many resurrections that coachbuilders and designers. Since it himself the crazy challenge of competing have survived economic crises. was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini, with the legendary Ferrari marque. the automobile marque has created a sensation in automotive circles, appealing Angry and frustrated with Ferrari after to sportsmen, actors, and major figures, finding a faulty part in his car, Ferruccio and has become a benchmark for supercars Lamborghini decided to establish his own on the road and on the silver screen. automobile manufacturing company, Automobili Ferruccio Lamborghini, which Rare vehicles, such as the Lamborghini began operations on 1 July 1963 near Flying Star II, an exclusive shooting brake Modena. Several prototypes were developed, created by the coachbuilder Touring, and each of which was named after a bull- some of which are little known, will shed Ferruccio was born under the astrological Photo © akg/MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/Sergio © akg/MONDADORI Photo del Grande new light on the magnitude of the brand, sign Taurus-, which became the company’s Ferruccio Lamborghini between a from the 1960s to the twenty-first century. emblem and was synonymous with passion Lamborghini Jarama and a tractor, 1970 Photo and character, aimed at a sensation-seeking These exceptional loans, most of which clientele. have been given by private collectors, will Alongside exceptional vehicles will be complement the Schlumpf Collection, In 1965, Lamborghini unveiled the Miura, presented numerous archive documents the world’s biggest collection of historic the first roadgoing sports car with a central (photographs, film clips, etc.) and works of vehicles, and highlight the importance of rear-mounted engine similar to that of art (including Disintegrating X by Fabian Lamborghini, not only in the history of the racing cars and a speed of over 300 km/h Oefner). automobile but also in pop culture. (186.41 mph). The exhibition adopts a transversal approach In 1963, Ferruccio Lamborghini began From the unveiling of the first model, the to an innovative avant-garde marque that manufacturing luxury sports cars. The 350 GTV, at the Geneva Salon in 1964 has established a distinctive identity in the to the Urus desert crossing last year, the GT car and supercar market through the Lamborghinis, which proudly uphold uniqueness of its cars and its predilection for an Italian heritage and creativity, are speed. characterised by their radical design and aesthetics that push contemporary design Curatorship: Frédéric Brun, the author and technological theories to their limit. of several books on the history of the automobile, a journalist, collector, and a Via several themes, the exhibition recounts member of international juries at car beauty the sometimes turbulent history of the Italian contests. car maker, and highlights the uniqueness of the marque’s extraordinary cars and the Cité de l’Automobile dreams they continue to symbolise, while Musée national the marque, which is synonymous with supercars, has ventured into new territory: Collection Schlumpf on racing circuits and off road with one of Photo © AGIP/Bridgeman Images © AGIP/Bridgeman Photo Johnny Hallyday with his new Lamborghini the most audacious SUVs on the market 192, avenue de Colmar Miura,1 June 1967 today. Mulhouse

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VAN GOGH MUSEUM ACQUIRES 1888 LETTER FROM VAN GOGH AND GAUGUIN TO BERNARD FOR 210,600 EUROS

t an auction at Drouot in on their vision of modern art, as well to add such a remarkable letter as Paris, the Vincent van Gogh as considering their place in its future. this to our collection, especially in Foundation acquired a singular Their artistic dialogue at the time was these challenging times. The museum Aletter written by Vincent van Gogh. The ceaseless, and was sometimes continued would not have been founded or exist letter, which will be added to the Van at the brothel, as well as in this letter. today without the Vincent van Gogh Gogh Museum collection, was written This is the only letter that Van Gogh ever Foundation. It is once again thanks in 1888 by two of the greatest artists of wrote together with another artist. The to the foundation that we can add a the 19th century: Vincent van Gogh museum considers the letter to be the significant new item to the museum’s and Paul Gauguin. The two artists take most significant document written by collection. We always work closely turns to give an account of their stay Van Gogh that was still in private hands. with the foundation, and are thrilled at the Yellow House in Arles to their Emilie Gordenker, Director of the that – thanks to this acquisition – this artist friend Emile Bernard. During this Van Gogh Museum: ‘We are delighted important letter can be included in our intense period, Van Gogh and Gauguin and very grateful that the Vincent van autumn exhibition focusing on Van lived together and worked tirelessly Gogh Foundation has made it possible Gogh’s letters’.

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ABOUT THE LETTER Up until now, the museum collection I was a little surprised not yet to have did not contain any letters written received the studies that you promised in Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin by Van Gogh to Emile Bernard. exchange for mine. wrote the letter (in the complete This latest addition to the Van Gogh correspondence) in 1888, about a week Museum collection will go on display Now something that will interest you after Gauguin went to live with Van for the first time during the upcoming — we’ve made some excursions in the Gogh at the Yellow House in the South exhibition. brothels, and it’s likely that we’ll eventually of France, to work closely together go there often to work. At the moment as artistic partners. This was the first The Turing Foundation also agreed to Gauguin has a canvas in progress of concrete step towards realising Van support the purchase, but it was possible the same night café that I also painted, Gogh’s dream: to establish a utopian to acquire the letter without requiring but with figures seen in the brothels. It artists’ colony in Arles. Van Gogh was this contribution. promises to become a beautiful thing. also keen for the artist Emile Bernard to travel south, and sent him detailed TRANSLATION OF THE I’ve made two studies of falling leaves in descriptions of everything that happened LETTER: an avenue of poplars, and a third study of at the house. In this letter, the artists do the whole of this avenue, entirely yellow. not waste any words on pleasantries, My dear old Bernard, I declare I don’t understand why I don’t do figure studies,6 while theoretically it’s instead getting straight to the point: the We’ve done a great deal of work these past letter is a visionary explanation of their sometimes so difficult for me to imagine few days, and in the meantime I’ve read the painting of the future as anything other artistic collaboration and the future of Zola’s Le rêve,1 so I’ve hardly had time to modern art. than a new series of powerful portraitists, write. simple and comprehensible to the whole of the general public. Anyway, perhaps I’ll While the letter to Bernard is written Gauguin interests me greatly as a man — by both artists, it is also a dialogue soon get down to doing brothels. greatly. For a long time it has seemed to between Van Gogh and Gauguin me that in our filthy job as painters we themselves. They took turns to write I’ll leave a page for Gauguin, who will have the greatest need of people with the about their first impressions of the probably also write to you, and I shake hands and stomach of a labourer. More collaboration, but knew that the other your hand firmly in thought. natural tastes — more amorous and artist would also read the letter. The benevolent temperaments — than the Ever yours, artist friends’ different tones of voice decadent and exhausted Parisian man- add a psychological depth to the letter, about-town. Vincent particularly considering the tragic end of the partnership when Vincent cut off Now here, without the slightest doubt, Milliet the 2nd lieut. Zouaves has left his ear during a psychotic episode. we’re in the presence of an unspoiled for Africa, and would be very glad if you were to write to him one of these days. The letter also offers an intriguing creature with the instincts of a wild beast. With Gauguin, blood and sex have the insight into how the artists set to work: [Continued by Paul Gauguin] Van Gogh wrote: ‘Now something that edge over ambition. But enough of that, will interest you — we’ve made some you’ve seen him close at hand longer You will indeed do well to write him what excursions in the brothels, and it’s likely than I have, just wanted to tell you first your intentions are, so that he could take that we’ll eventually go there often to impressions in a few words. steps beforehand to prepare the way for you. w o r k’. Next, I don’t think it will astonish you Exhibition ‘Your loving Vincent’. Van greatly if I tell you that our discussions Mr Milliet, second lieutenant of Zouaves, Gogh’s Greatest Letters from 9 October are tending to deal with the terrific Guelma, Africa. 2020 subject of an association of certain painters. Ought or may this association Don’t listen to Vincent; as you know, This autumn, the museum will explore have a commercial character, yes or he’s prone to admire and ditto to be how, alongside being a talented artist, no? We haven’t reached any result yet, indulgent. His idea about the future of Vincent van Gogh was also an avid letter and haven’t so much as set foot on a a new generation in the tropics seems writer. With at least 875 documents, new continent yet. Now I, who have absolutely right to me as a painter, and the Van Gogh Museum is home to the a presentiment of a new world, who I still intend going back there when I find world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s certainly believe in the possibility of a the funds. A little bit of luck, who knows? letters (the complete correspondence great renaissance of art. Who believe of Vincent van Gogh contains some that this new art will have the tropics for Vincent has done two studies of falling 930 letters and associated documents), its homeland. leaves in an avenue, which are in my but these letters are rarely put on room and which you would like very public display due to their fragility. The It seems to me that we ourselves are much. On very coarse, but very good exhibition ‘Your loving Vincent’. Van serving only as intermediaries. And that it sacking. Gogh’s Greatest Letters offers visitors the will only be a subsequent generation that Send news of yourself and of all the pals. opportunity to view 40 of Vincent van will succeed in living in peace. Anyway, Gogh’s letters alongside iconic artworks all that, our duties and our possibilities Yours, such as The Bedroom (1888), The Sower for action could become clearer to us only (1888) and The Potato Eaters (1885). through actual experience. Paul Gauguin

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