DOCSLIB.ORG

June 16 – June 30

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
June 16 – June 30 June 16 – June 30 CONTENTS Foreword (General Observations).………………………………………......3 Americas……………………………………………………………………….6 Arms Control and Disarmament……………………………………………13 China and East Asia………………………………………………………….18 Europe…………………………………………………………………….......21 Global Terrorism…………………………………………………………….25 Middle East & West Asia……………………………………………………28 South Asia (I)…………………………………………………………………36 South Asia (II)………………………………………………………………..41 United Nations…………..................................................................................47 2 Area Briefs: 16-30 June, 2019 General Observations Pakistan • On June 29, the government passed the federal budget in the National Assembly with a majority vote. • In a sign of improving Pakistan-Afghan relations on June 27, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in Pakistan. The leadership in both countries “agreed to open a new chapter of friendship and cooperation” between the two neighbours. Ghani also held delegation- level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including political relations, trade, economic, security, peace and reconciliation, and education. Earlier on June 22, 2019, Afghan leaders participated in peace talks in Murree titled the “Lahore Process”. The conference covered a wide range of issues pertaining to the economy, health and repatriation of refugees. • On June 26 Pakistan and the European Union signed the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP). The plan will provide a framework for greater cooperation and strengthen ties between the two sides. • On June 24, 2019, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The two sides reviewed the status of bilateral cooperation, and exchanged views on the regional political and security situation. • On June 24, Pakistan and the United Kingdom held military-to-military talks on the geo- strategic environment and discussed ways to intensify defence cooperation. Earlier on June 19, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt held the 4th review of Pakistan-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Qureshi also met with the UK’s DFID Secretary Rory Stewart at the DFID Headquarters in London. on June 24, 2019, Chief of Army Staff, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa held talks the Chief of Defence Staff, Nick Carter, at the Ministry of Defence in London. Both parties agreed on achieving sustainable, irreversible, enduring peace and stability in the region through meaningful international partnership. • On June 24, 2019, Pakistan received an assurance from Qatar for a $3 billion package consisting of a foreign currency deposit and ‘direct investment. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, arrived in Islamabad Earlier on June 22 for a two-day state visit to Pakistan. The two countries signed a series of Memoranda of 3 Understanding (MOU’s) across different sectors including trade and investment, tourism and security. • On June 21 Pakistan reiterated its commitment to taking all necessary measures to ensure completion of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan in a timely manner. • On June 19, the Commander of the Chinese ground forces, General Han Weiguo, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss various areas of bilateral cooperation. • On June 18, Pakistan and the World Bank (WB) signed three loan agreements under which the WB would provide $918 million to help the Pakistani government expand the country’s tax base and improve education standards in strategic economic sectors. • On June 18, the government formed a high-powered body, the National Development Council (NDC) to formulate development and economy-oriented policies of the country. International • On June 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar asked Pakistan to rebuild trust and develop an environment conducive for progress. The Indian Premier was responding to messages of felicitation from Prime Minister Imran Khan. Modi said that for cooperative ties, it was “important to build an environment of trust, free of terror, violence and hostility.” • On June 30 President Trump became the first sitting American commander in chief to set foot in North Korea when he met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone. The two leaders agreed to restart negotiations on a long- elusive nuclear agreement. • On June 29 US President Donald Trump and his Chinese Counterpart President Xi Jinping agreed to resume trade talks following a seven-week breakdown. Their decision has helped avert an escalation of their tariff war that had shaken global markets and threatened the future of the two largest global economies. Trump’s decision to resume talks with both the Korean and Chinese leaders was prompted, in part, by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s June 21 meeting with Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. According to observers both Xi and Kim were looking to each other for help in gaining leverage with President Trump. 4 • On June 27 world leaders gathered in Osaka, Japan, for the annual meeting of the Group of 20 major economies. Official themes for 2019 included global economic risks, trade disputes, innovation and artificial intelligence, and women in the workplace. • Liberals dominated the June 27 Democratic debate. The development has made the moderates anxious, as they fear it won’t be an effective approach to defeat President Trump. • In their first move to restrict President Trump’s immigration crackdown Democrats voted on June 25 to send $4.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the border to address horrific conditions facing a crush of migrants, attaching significant rules on how the money could be spent. Meanwhile a similar measure with far fewer strings restricting the President has drawn bipartisan support in the Senate. • President Trumps June 20 decision to stop a retaliatory strike against Iran highlights the complexities of the Iran nuclear issue. US Intelligence and military officials are seeking clandestine ways to deter attack without escalating tensions into a full-blown conflict. The efforts include operations similar to the American cyber attacks against Iran targeting an Iranian group believed to be behind a series of attacks on tankers in the Middle Eastern region. Leaders across the world have cautioned both sides about the risk of war remaining very real. The decision to conduct the retaliatory strike came in the aftermath of Iran’s June 20 decision to shoot down a US drone after it entered Iranian airspace. • In a repeat of the March 2019 vote the preferred candidate of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was defeated on June 24 by the opposition in the race for Istanbul Mayor. • On June 20 British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and former Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson emerged as the two remaining candidates in the race to become British Prime Minister. Johnson is the favourite to win the election. • On June 18 US President Trump introduced a new slogan, “Keep America Great,” and pledged to fight for his supporters during the rally in Orlando, Florida where he formally opened his re-election campaign. ---Amina Afzal 5 AMERICAS Domestic • During the Democratic debates on June 26, candidates attacked US President Donald Trump’s handling of the US economy and the migration crisis at the US-Mexico border. Democratic hopefuls clashed on healthcare, inequality and foreign policy, and made promises on immigration, reproductive rights and the economy. During the second night of debates, Kamala Harris dominated the debate with her criticism of former Vice President Joe Biden’s track record on race. • On June 26, the Republican controlled Senate passed its own $4.6 billion border aid bill, rejecting the one passed by Congress. Earlier on June 25, the Congress passed a $4.5 billion emergency aid package to support detained migrant families and children. The Congress passed a $4.5 billion emergency aid package after reports emerged that young detainees in a facility in Texas were being held in “inhumane conditions”, and a chilling image of a drowned migrant and his daughter created public outrage. The Trump Administration is facing mounting criticism of their handling of detainees with several children who have died in US custody. The Republican controlled Senate however, passed its own $4.6 billion border aid bill on June 26, 2019 which was similar to the bill passed by the Congress, but allowed the Trump Administration greater flexibility and fewer restriction on how the funds could be used. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats on June 27, 2019 to “reluctantly” approve the Senate plan as she argued “The children come first. At the end of the day, we have to make sure that the resources needed to protect the children are available”. Congress ultimately passed the Senate’s bill with 305 votes to 102 on June 27, 2019. • On June 25, Customs and Border Protection commissioner John Sanders resigned amid a public outcry over the treatment of immigrants in detention centers. Sanders will officially step down from his position on July 5, 2019 and will be replaced by Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mark Morgan. • On June 25, US President Donald Trump announced Stephanie Grisham will replace Sarah Sanders as the White House Press Secretary. Grisham will also assume the position of White House Communications Director and continue in her role as First Lady Melania Trump’s Communication Director. • On June 23, former Pennsylvania
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Remarks by H.E. MURATA Takashi, Ambassador of Japan to Finland, “Online Seminar on Marine Plastic Pollution” on 5 March 2021
    Remarks by H.E. MURATA Takashi, Ambassador of Japan to Finland, “Online Seminar on Marine Plastic Pollution” on 5 March 2021 My name is MURATA Takashi, Ambassador of Japan to Finland. It is my great pleasure to host an online seminar to share Japanese experience with distinguished experts in Finland and Baltic Sea countries on marine environment protection in a challenging COVID-19 pandemic situation. On this opportunity, I wish to say a few words. First, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Rüdiger Strempel, Executive Secretary of HELCOM and its secretariat for their great support in organizing this online seminar. My deepest gratitude also goes to Prof. ISOBE Atsuhiko, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics of Kyushu University, for lecturing at this seminar out of his busy schedule. Prof. Isobe is a Japanese leading expert, who is active domestically and internationally, with physical oceanography as his major field of interest. He is working to elucidate how marine plastic litter is being transported and to predict the amount of floating microplastics in the oceans in 50 years, for the first time in the world, from scientific viewpoint. Now marine plastic litter is one of global environmental challenges that the international community as a whole should address. In virtue of its high-level convenience, plastics are said to be the greatest invention of the 20th century. However, maritime pollution by plastic litter has been spread globally and concern has also increased over adverse effects of the floating microplastics on marine environment and ecosystem in the oceans. The report released by World Economic Forum in 2016 predicted that oceans would contain more plastics than fish by weight by 2050.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 G20 Osaka Summit Host Prime Minister Abe Failed to Lead on Climate Issue Japan Should Raise Its Ambition Level to Reduce GHG Emissions
    Press Release 2019 G20 Osaka Summit Host Prime Minister Abe Failed to Lead on Climate Issue Japan should Raise its Ambition Level to Reduce GHG Emissions June 29, 2019 Mie Asaoka, President, Kiko Network On June 29, the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit concluded with participants agreeing on a leaders’ declaration. Climate change and energy were important topics on the agenda, and the declaration states that signatories to the Paris Agreement (excluding the United States) “reaffirm their commitment to its full implementation,” and by 2020 “aim to communicate, update or maintain our NDCs” (Nationally Determined Contributions). It also states that they “emphasize the importance of providing financial resources to assist developing countries…” On the other hand, the United States reiterated its position to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, as described in a separate clause of the declaration. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had emphasized that as host country of the G20 Summit, Japan would demonstrate leadership to address the climate crisis. However, he took a compromising stance from the beginning to reach a consensus, being considerably toned down in deference to US President Donald Trump’s administration. Japan’s watered-down draft led to conflict between the US and European countries over the wording, and jeopardized the agreement at one point. Japan’s weak stance on climate change was a betrayal not only for governments that are already committed to stronger climate action and a coal phase-out, but also for people around the world suffering from a tangible climate crisis. Citizens’ protests were held concurrently in several countries to criticize Japan’s climate policy, especially its promotion of coal power.
    [Show full text]
  • Prospects and Possibilities for Japan's 2019 G20 Osaka Summit
    Prospects and Possibilities for Japan’s 2019 G20 Osaka Summit PROGRAM (CONFIDENTIAL) December 10, 2018 Soka University, Tokyo, Japan Sponsored by: Soka University Peace Research Institute G20 Research Group, University of Toronto Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration DRAFT: November 29, 2018 8:45-9:15__Registration (At the Lobby of the Global Square) 9:15-9:30__Opening (MC: Prof. Hideki Tamai) -Opening Address: Prof. Jonathan Luckhurst -Welcome note: Prof. Ryohei Tanaka, Soka University Vice President 9:30-10:30_Session 1: “G20 Governance” Chair: Minoru Koide, Soka University Speaker: -Jonathan Luckhurst, Soka University “G20 Governance from 2008 to 2019” -Elizaveta Safonkina, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration “G20 Compliance: Making Commitments that Count” -David Welch, Balsillie School of International Affairs “G20 in the Asian Context” 10:30-10:45_Coffee/Tea Break 10:45-11:30_Session 2: “Japan’s Plans for the Osaka Summit” Chair: Caitlin Byrne, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Keynote Addresses from the Japanese Sherpa Office, Government, and Civil Society 11:30-12:45_Session 3: “G20 and Global Economic Governance” Chair: Jonathan Luckhurst, Soka University Speaker: -Daisuke Kotegawa, Canon Institute for Global Studies “G20 Macroeconomic Economic Governance & Japan’s Contribution” -Fabrizio Carmignani, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University “Inclusive Growth: Progress, Challenges, and the International
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Equality for a Sustainable Future
    GLOBAL SOLUTIONS JOURNAL ∙ ISSUE 5 ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS decision-making. Although the G20 has sources increase the workload of female Gender equality for addressed climate change, gender equal- farmers as it becomes harder for them to ity and health, it has done so in separate, secure household essentials. Consequent- siloed ways. Addressing the intersection of ly, girls are the first to leave school to help a sustainable future these issues and prioritizing the partici- manage the workload, thus decreasing pation of women in climate change deci- school enrollment rates for girls. Chang- sion making will lead to more equitable ing animal migration patterns and loss of G20 governance of the gender equality-climate and effective governance. It will also help biodiversity are increasing food insecurity contribute to meeting the United Nations and reliance on unhealthy, store-bought change link Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), foods. The resulting chronic undernutrition to which the G20 remains committed. The leads to higher rates of obesity and non- G20’s 2020 Summit in Riyadh has an op- communicable diseases such as diabetes. portunity to make progress on the link be- Weather-related crises and disasters also The author: INTRODUCTION tween gender equality and climate change, increase rates of gender-based violence, Scientists, stakeholders and the public as it aligns with Saudi Arabia’s two priori- with women and girls most at risk. Julia Kulik largely recognize the intense connec- ties of “Empowering People” and “Safe- Director of Research for tion between climate change and human guarding the Planet.” the G20 Research Group health.
    [Show full text]
  • Prospects and Possibilities for Japan's 2019 G20 Osaka Summit
    Prospects and Possibilities for Japan’s 2019 G20 Osaka Summit PROGRAM December 10, 2018 Soka University, Tokyo, Japan Sponsored by: Soka University Peace Research Institute G20 Research Group, University of Toronto Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration 8:45-9:15__Registration (At the Lobby of the Global Square) 9:15-9:30__Opening (MC: Prof. Minoru Koide) -Opening Address: Prof. Jonathan Luckhurst -Welcome note: Mr. Yasunori Tashiro, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Soka University 9:30-10:30_Session 1: “G20 Governance” Chair: Minoru Koide, Soka University Speaker: -Jonathan Luckhurst, Soka University “G20 Governance from 2008 to 2019” -Elizaveta Safonkina, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration “G20 Compliance: Making Commitments that Count” -David Welch, Balsillie School of International Affairs “G20 in the Asian Context” 10:30-10:45_Coffee/Tea Break 10:45-11:30_Session 2: “Japan’s Plans for the Osaka Summit” Chair: Caitlin Byrne, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Keynote Addresses (to be confirmed) 11:30-12:45_Session 3: “G20 and Global Economic Governance” Chair: Nikolas Emmanuel, Soka University Speaker: -Daisuke Kotegawa, Canon Institute for Global Studies “G20 Macroeconomic Economic Governance & Japan’s Contribution” -Jonathan Luckhurst, Soka University “Decentralizing Global Authority through G20 Economic Governance” -Naoki Tanaka, Centre for International Public Policy Studies “Business Perspectives
    [Show full text]
  • Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Group & Region Focus
    Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Group & Region Focus Distance Learning & In Japan) GENERAL INFORMATION ON Urban Solid Waste Management (Emphasis on Collection, Transportation and Final Disposal) (A) 課題別研修「都市の固形廃棄物管理の実務 （収集、運搬、最終処分に重点を置いた）（A)」 JFY 2021 Course No. 202003248 -J001 Course Period: Distance learning: From 1 July, 2021 to 31 October, 2021 In Japan : From 17 January, 2022 to 3 March, 2022 “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, please note that there is still a possibility the course period will be changed, shortened, or the course itself will be cancelled.” This information pertains to one of the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs (Group & Region Focus) of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) implemented as part of the Official Development Assistance of the Government of Japan based on bilateral agreement between both Governments. JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) The Japanese Cabinet released the Development Cooperation Charter in February 2015, which stated, “In its development cooperation, Japan has maintained the spirit of jointly creating things that suit partner countries while respecting ownership, intentions and intrinsic characteristics of the country concerned based on a field- oriented approach through dialogue and collaboration. It has also maintained the approach of building reciprocal relationships with developing countries in which both sides learn from each other and grow and develop together.” JICA believes that this ‘Knowledge Co-Creation Program’ will serve as a foundation of mutual learning process. 1 I. Concept Background Most familiar day-to-day public services are, in general, the responsibility of local government. Local governments play a significant role in the improvement of welfare of local residents, by implementing the local administration in an autonomous and comprehensive manner.
    [Show full text]
  • G20 Performance on Infrastructure for Development
    G20 Performance Possibilites G20 Japan G20 Performance on Infrastructure for Development Julia Tops March 31, 2020 | Last updated: April 14, 2020 Julia Tops, researcher for the G20 Research Group, assesses what makes Japanese infrastructure so effective, and examines the G20’s progress on developing key projects that will last generations. Infrastructure for development is one of the top priorities for the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit, as outlined by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Japan’s presidency. Japan has shown the world its ability to achieve a high level of modernisation within a short time. Infrastructure is foundational for such growth. Japanese infrastructure has four main strengths: technologies for local needs, co-creation, long-term commitment and economic efficiency over the lifecycle. Co-creation is the process where products, services and experiences are developed jointly by companies, their partners and the final consumer, so that the value created would be shared. Long-term commitment is transforming how a society deals with conflict, which can be a complicated process that requires multi-year timetables and long-term initiatives. Japan’s priority of quality infrastructure is carried over from Argentina’s presidency in 2018, where infrastructure was one of the top priorities. The emphasis for 2019 is on forging local partnerships to build quality infrastructure abroad for sustainable development. Conclusions Since the first G20 summit in Washington in 2008, the G20’s attention to infrastructure has fluctuated, as measured by the size of the summit’s communiqué conclusions on infrastructure. At Washington, the G20 included only 30 words on infrastructure. This rose to 113 words at London in 2009 and then decreased until Seoul in 2010 where 919 words appeared.
    [Show full text]
  • WCC-2020-Res-019-EN Stopping the Global Plastic Pollution Crisis in Marine Environments by 2030
    WCC-2020-Res-019-EN Stopping the global plastic pollution crisis in marine environments by 2030 ALARMED by the presence of plastic waste in the marine environment on a global scale; NOTING WITH CONCERN the impact of plastic waste pollution on the marine and coastal environment, and on the ways of life, health, economy and well-being of coastal communities; NOTING that the production of plastic in the world has been constantly rising for decades and already vastly exceeds collection and management capacities, and that production is due to increase by 40% over the next 15 years; FURTHER NOTING that the predominant throwaway model means that over 75% of the plastics ever produced to date are waste, notably because the price of plastic on the market does not represent all of the costs of its lifecycle to nature or society; NOTING that lost and abandoned fishing gear constitutes a source of plastic pollution in the oceans that causes significant harm; NOTING WITH CONCERN the increasing number of scientific studies and analyses highlighting the presence of plastic waste, notably in the form of microplastics, in the remotest and deepest parts of the ocean, as well as in the entire food chain; HIGHLIGHTING the lack of complete information in the medium and long term on the potential dangers of plastic pollution, both physical and chemical, to marine fauna and flora and also to human health, which does not prevent the need for actions based on the best available data; NOTING that all stakeholders can take important actions in order to prevent plastic
    [Show full text]
  • Legend Magazine
    LEGEND MAGAZINE (NOVEMBER- 2018) Current Affairs and Quiz, English, Banking Awareness, Simplification Exclusively prepared for RACE students Issue: 14 | Page : 48 | Topic : Legend of November | Price: Not for Sale LEGEND OF NOVEMBER 2018 MAGAZINE - INDEX S. NUMBER TOPICS PAGE NUMBER 1 NATIONAL AFFAIRS 1 2 STATES IN NEWS 3 3 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 7 4 BANKING AND BUSINESS 10 5 APPOINTMENTS 13 6 AWARDS & HONOURS 14 7 BOOKS AND AUTHORS & SPORTS 16 8 IMPORTANT DAYS 18 9 OBITUARY 19 10 CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ 19 11 ENGLISH VOCABULARY 25 12 BANKING AWARENESS 36 13 SIMPLIFICATION 44 NATIONAL financial instruments and technologies for CCEA approves Strategic Sale of PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Inland energy efficiency in India. Government Equity in Dredging Corporation Multi-Modal Terminal Port in Varanasi: During INSPIRE 2018, EESL and GAIL, a Of India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wholly owned subsidiary of GAIL (India) Limited The Union Cabinet has approved strategic sale inaugurated an inland port in Varanasi on the signed a MoU to develop natural gas-based of government stake in Dredging Corporation Ganga River. The multi-modal waterways cogeneration and trigeneration projects in of India to consortium of four ports. The terminal will allow the navigation of large vessels Commercial & Industrial Sectors in India. government currently holds 73.44 per cent in starting on the river between the holy city in Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL). Uttar Pradesh and Haldia in West Bengal. K9 Vajra and M777 Howitzer Guns Inducted The ports are Visakhapatnam Port Trust, The Varanasi port will connect with the into Indian Army: Paradip Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port National Waterway-1 (Haldia-Varanasi Three new artillery guns and equipment, Trust and Kandla Port Trust.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Partnership Agreement) 2 Supporting Japanese Companies to Expand Overseas Business
    Japan’s vision towards world and Latin America Tatsuhiro Shindo Japanese Ambassador to Uruguay June 25, 2019 Outline 1 Japan’s EPA/FTA Policy 2 FTA and EPA 3 Mercosur-Japan economic relationship 4 Uruguay-Japan economic relationship 5 G20 Osaka Summit 2019 1 Introduction Common values which Japan shares with the international community Democracy Market economy Freedom Respect for international Rule of law laws Basic human rights 2 Japan’s EPA/FTA Policy 3 Promotion of economic diplomacy is one of priority areas of Japan’s diplomacy Objective -Maintain and develop an open and stable rules-based international economic order -Promote economic growth of the world and Japan 3 aspects of Japan’s economic diplomacy 1 RulesPromotion-making to strengthen of a freeeconomic and open international diplomacy economic system → FTA (Free Trade Agreement) and（１） EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) 2 Supporting Japanese companies to expand overseas business 3 Promoting diplomacy for securing natural resources and promoting inbound flow 4 ＦＴＡ and ＥＰＡ ＦＴＡ (Free Trade Agreement)： Agreement to reduce or eliminate barriers on trade in goods and services ＥＰＡ (Economic Partnership Agreement)： Agreement to strengthen broadly economic relations, including rule making on investment, intellectual property, competition policy, etc. and cooperation in various areas, in addition to trade liberalization Principal Areas New Areas ・ ・ General Provisions Movement of Persons ・Energy and Mineral ・Trade in Goods ・Intellectual Property Resources ・Rules of Origin ・Competition
    [Show full text]
  • Participant Biographies
    Participant Biographies Asanga ABEYAGOONASEKARA Director General Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSS) Sri Lanka Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera is Director General of the Institute of National Security Studies of Sri Lanka (INSSSL) under the Ministry of Defense. Mr. Asanga has a BS in Computer Science and a MBA. Formerly, he was adviser to the Minister of External Affairs and Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies. He was also Director-General of BIDTI, a diplomatic training institute and Chairman of the Foreign Employment Agency and the Fishery Harbours Corporation. He has been Visiting Lecturer in International Political Economy at the University of London in Sri Lanka. He is an International Columnist and Commentator and the Founder and Chairman of Diri Saviya Foundation. 1 Armida S. ALISJAHBANA Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary UNESCAP Thailand Ms. Armida Alisjahbana, the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok. Ms. Alisjahbana’s leadership at the helm of the UN’s regional development arm comes at a crucial time as the global organization undergoes its own reforms while stepping up its support to countries to implement the ambitious targets set out by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Prior to joining ESCAP, Ms. Alisjahbana was Professor of Economics at Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia, a position she assumed in 2005. From 2009 to 2014, she was Minister of National Development Planning and the Head of the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Indonesia. She served as Co-chair of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation from 2012 to 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of the Social and Environmental Risks Posed by the Eu-Mercosur Trade Agreement
    ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS POSED BY THE EU-MERCOSUR TRADE AGREEMENT Authors & contributing researchers: Seán McCabe; Danielle Oliveira; Laura McKenna; Ciara McFadden; Criomhthann Morrison; James Cafferky & Tate Donnelly 2 List of Abbreviations AA Association Agreement AMR Antimicrobial Resistance CCSCS Cono Sur Trade Union Organisations Coordinator EC European Commission EC European Commission EFSA European Food Safety Agency ETUC European Trade Union Confederation EU European Union FCA Framework Cooperation Agreement FTA Free Trade Agreement Funai Fundação Nacional do Índio (The National Indigenous Foundation) INPE Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (National Institute of Spatial Research) OECD The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development PT Partido dos Trabalhadores (Workers’ Party) PTPA United States–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement SITC Standard International Trade Classification TRIPS Trade Related Aspects Intellectual Property Rights TRQ Tariff-rate quota TSD Trade and Sustainable Development UDHR Universal Declaration of Human rights UNDRIP United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 8 2. AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT ..............................................................................................................11
    [Show full text]