February 2007 dfa NowYour voice to be heard

President and Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, at the Foreign Affairs Heads of Mission Conference held at Somerset West, Editorial Note International relations

DEAR COLLEAGUES, The dfa Now is an internal newsletter of Department of Foreign When we speak of a glorious African past, we tend to mention Mali. Its popular port, Timbuktu was HE MONTH OF FEBRUARY was a very busy Affairs published by the Directorate: Content Development. month. Of note was the President’s State of the not only a wealthy trading port, but also a centre for academics and scholars of religion, literature TNation Address on 9 February, which set the Editor-in-Chief: Ronnie Mamoepa tone for Government’s Programme of Action for the year and science about approximately 500 years ago. Today, part of ’s relations with Mali is 2007/08. Thereafter our Minister hosted the function Editor: Paseka Mokhethea for the Diplomatic Corps in Cape Town on Saturday 10 the recovery and documentation of this past for present and future generations. February. This event was followed by the 6th Heads of Editorial Committee: Mission Conference from 11 to 17 February where a Genge, MP: (Acting) Chief Dir: Policy, Research & Analysis; lot of fruitful discussions on international relations and Khoza, G: Dir: Strategic Co-ordination & Operations Centre; administration issues took place. Moloto, J: Dir: Offi ce of the Deputy Minister; During the month the Department also fi nalised the Dikweni, NL: Dir: Economic Policy and Programming; budgets and it is hoped that all Branches will heed the Mashabane, D: Dir Humanitarian Affairs; call to fi nalise and submit their business plans timeously Nompozolo, Mathu: Chief Dir Human Resources; so that the funds could be released. Priorities for the Shongwe, LV: Dir: Offi ce of the DG; country, especially in the fi eld of international relations, Mabhongo, X: Chief Dir : United Nations; have been outlined by the President in the State of Malawana XL: Operational Services the Nation Address and it is for all of us to roll-up our sleeves and get to work in forging new avenues and Design and Layout: Shaune van Wyk, Zimele Ngxongo, Seja Mokgawa sustaining existing achievements in foreign relations. Pictures: Jacoline Prinsloo, Sanjay Singh and the GCIS. During the past two months the following new Mis- sions were opened: Bucharest (Romania), Sao Tome The views expressed in this newsletter do not neccessarily refl ect (Sao Tome & Principe), Port-of-Spain (Trinidad & Toba- those of the DFA or the editors.The deadline for contributions is 19 go), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and Cotonou (Benin). March 2007. Contributions may be sent to cbe300 or mokhetheap@ Remember that DFA Now needs and value your foreign.gov.za views, opinions and inputs. Please forward your letters All enquiries: and articles to the Editor before the deadline. Paseka @ Tel: (012) 351-1569 • Fax : (012) 351-1327 Happy reading!

GEPF Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma together with her Malian counterpart, Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane, co-chairing the Second Session of the South Africa–Mali Joint Commission for Co-operation.

MANUAL TAX DIRECTIVES N MORE RECENT TIMES, if one INCE THE ELECTRONIC link AADVICED V I C E thinks of Mali, one also thinks of of the Government Employees I“Operation Timbuktu” which is the Mission Possible: SPension Fund (GEPF) with fi rst offi cial cultural project of the New the South African Revenue Services GGovernmentovernment EmployeesEmployees Partnership for Africa’s Development (SARS), tax directive requests from (Nepad), the socio-economic revival South Africa Forges Further the GEPF to SARS were generated PPensionension FFundund ((GEPF)GEPF) plan of the African Union. South Africa electronically and supplied likewise by has thrown its weight behind efforts Relations with Mali SARS. The link has resulted in the ex- exit documents faster. This however, cerned is still in possession of a man- to preserve the priceless Timbuktu pedient issuing of tax directives thus only serves to complicate the process. ual tax directive. SARS will therefore manuscripts. These are ancient reducing the time between the receipt In terms of the arrangement between require that the manual tax directive documents that hold the key to some history, contrary to popular opinion build a new library to house between of benefi t claims documents and the SARS and the GEPF, all tax direc- be returned to its offi ces for cancella- of the secrets of the continent’s history that oral tradition alone preserved its 200 000 and 300 000 ancient manu- payment of such benefi ts. tives to the GEPF must be processed tion before the GEPF can request an and cultural heritage. heritage. Some of the manuscripts scripts currently housed in 24 private electronically. A manual tax direc- electronic one. Needless to say such The Timbuktu Manuscripts, some include mathematical and scientifi c libraries in and around the Malian city. WHAT OTHER MEMBERS tive is therefore not acceptable when a process will result in the unneces- of which date back to the 13th Cen- texts covering astronomy, medicine Also part of the plan is the training of DO processing a benefi t payment. sary delay of a process that otherwise tury, are Arabic and African texts that and geomancy. While most are in Ara- local librarians in the preservation of a There are however, some members of would have taken a maximum of three hark back to the city’s glorious past. bic, some are in indigenous languages treasure that was threatening, literally, the GEPF who, upon exiting the Fund, When a manual tax directive has days. They detail how Muslim merchants such as Songhai and Hausa, written to disintegrate. approach SARS personally to obtain been issued, an electronic one cannot In light of the above, the GEPF traded in gold from West Africa to using Arabic script. They shatter the Last year, after the conclusion of manual tax directives, which are then be issued before the manual one has requests its members to refrain from Europe and the Middle East in return conventional historical view of Africa bilateral discussions between Presi- supplied to the GEPF. In doing this, been cancelled. The GEPF can there- approaching SARS for a manual tax for salt and other goods. Most impor- as a purely “oral continent”. dents Thabo Mbeki and George Bush these members believe that they are fore not request another tax directive directive as this will only delay the tantly, the manuscripts point to the fact A consortium of South African in Washington, the Foreign Affairs assisting the GEPF to process their from SARS while the member con- processing of their benefi ts. that Africa has a rich legacy of written businessmen are part of the plan to Continue on pg 4 ...

2 DFA Now • February 2007 DFA Now • February 2007 3 International relations International relations

... Continue from pg 3

Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, proceeded to where she, together with Minister’s her Malian counterpart, Foreign Minis- ter Moctar Ouane, co-chaired the Sec- 2007 Opening ond Session of the South Africa–Mali Joint Commission for Co-operation of Parliament (SA-Mali JCC). banquet CONSOLIDATING THE AFRICAN AGENDA While the JCC Session primarily took place within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen bilateral political, economic and N AN ANNUAL basis the trade relations with Mali, it should be Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr understood as part of our country’s Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma continuous effort to consolidate the O African Agenda. Bilateral relations holds an Opening of Parliament ban- between South Africa and Mali are quet in honour of the members Dip- good and are based mainly on the lomatic Corps. The event which over Malian government’s strong support the years has become a highlight on The Timbuktu Manuscripts for the African Renaissance initiative the February calendar month of the and NEPAD as well as its strong Department is meant to provide an commitment to the promotion of informal platform for the members of democracy and good governance. Trade fi gures between South Africa and Mali, to a large extent, refl ect the the Diplomatic Corps to engage with The visit was also seen as part of activities of two major South African gold mining companies namely An- principals of the South African gov- South Africa’s effort to strengthen its glogold and Randgold. The former operates three gold mining operations: ernment particularly the Minister of economic diplomacy at both continen- Yatela (in the southwest of Mali), Sadiola (near the town of Kayes in the Foreign Affairs. This year the banquet tal and global level. At a multilateral extreme west of Mali) and Morila (200km south of Bamako) which it operates took place in Cape Town, Somerset economic level, co-operation between jointly with Randgold. However, South Africa’s main import products from West, at Vergelegen Wine Estate on South Africa and Mali in the gold min- Mali are textiles and textile articles. Eskom Enterprises was successful in 10 February 2007, a day after Presi- ing industry is being pursued, inter alia winning the international bid in July 2001 for the hydro-electrical generation dent Thabo Mbeki’s’ State of the Na- within the context of initiatives such as project in Manantali, a joint initiative between the governments of Mali (who tion Address. the African Mining Partnership. will receive 51% of the output), Senegal (34%) and Mauritania (15%). The banquet was held under the OPERATION TIMBUKTU theme of “Celebrating South Africa’s At the level of cultural diplomacy, the counterpart, Foreign Minister Moctar concluded her visit by paying a cour- Progressive role in the United Na- visit was also aimed at further “beef- Ouane, Minister Dlamini Zuma signed tesy call on Malian President, General tions”. With this in mind every aspect ing-up” the Operation Timbuktu as the Agreed Minutes as a testimony on Amadou Toumani Toure and reiter- of the event symbolised sentiments of a South African presidential project, progress made in the co-operation. ated our country’s commitment to en- appreciation and gratitude to the he- co-ordinated by the Presidency and Issues discussed focused, amongst suring the further strengthening of the roes and heroines who were involved the Department of Arts and Culture others, on a review of progress in the already strong relations between the in paving the way for South Africa to through the National Archives in Pre- various areas of co-operation such two countries. ultimately occupy the non-permanent toria. This aims to make good on an as Agriculture, Arts and Culture, De- If we continue to strengthen intra- seat in the United Nations Security offer of help to the Malian government fence, Education, Health, Minerals Africa partnerships such as this one Council (UNSC). A pictorial exhibition made by President Thabo Mbeki dur- and Energy, Science and Technology, and, if, as fellow Africans, we continue was used at the event to showcase ing a state visit in 2001. The project Trade and Industry and Transport. In to work hard towards the realisation milestones and infl uential stalwarts aims to preserve African thought and this way, the discussions also provid- of an African Renaissance, then the who were and are still involved in en- writing and to trace this particular his- ed a unique opportunity for two coun- time will surely come when Africans hancing South Africa’s participation tory and have done so for centuries. tries to refl ect on international and re- will take pride in their intellectual ac- and contribution in the multilateral The project dismisses stereotypes of gional issues of common concern and complishments and Timbuktu will arena. The beautifully staged event projecting Africa as the continent of how to work towards mutual political, once more take its pride of place as presented class and elegance, boast- song and dance, where knowledge is economic and cultural goals at this a milestone in our history and on the ing cabinet Ministers, members of par- only transmitted orally. challenging time. road to African prosperity and sus- liament, captains of the industry and The Minister’s visit occurred within Both Ministers emphasised the tained development. of course members of the Diplomatic the context of South Africa’s priority need to strengthen existing co-op- Corps in attendance. to strengthen bilateral, political, eco- eration and also looked into the pos- By Directorate: Media Research, nomic and trade relations with Mali sibilities of pioneering co-operation in Analysis and Speechwriting By Sewela Sebola and subsequently the Consolidation the fi elds of gender co-operation as of the African agenda. With her Malian well as the environment. Our Minister

4 DFA Now • February 2007 DFA Now • February 2007 5 Departmental Events InternationalDepartmental relations Events

HE SIXTH SOUTH AFRICAN Africa (ASGISA) one year on, the Dep- bership of the United Nations Security He (Minister Trevor Manuel) world order that was emerging was HEADS OF MISSION Con- uty President emphasized that there Council (UNSC). unsustainable and that in the interest warned, however, that Tference (HOMC) took place were about four million extremely poor The very important input by Minis- of humanity, the world should strive from 11 – 16 February 2007 at the 2007 under- and unemployed South Africans ter of Finance, Trevor Manuel, focused South Africa still faced to build an international movement to Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West, to focus on who were, to begin with, on the solid performance of the South fi ght for a world of peace, democracy, numerous challenges. As Province. The very 6th Heads predominantly unskilled. In order to African economy over the past few freedom from poverty, non-racism and important biannual Heads of Mission achieve the targets of the 2014 Millen- years, economic growth and devel- an example he pointed out non-sexism. conferences aim to assess progress nium Development Goals the economy opment on the African Continent and Apart from the presentations by made over the preceding two years of Mission had to grow, and the growth had to be some of the challenges South Africa the consequences of moving Members of the Cabinet, the Confer- in respect of the achievements of de- shared. Bigger and bolder policy and faced in further accelerating growth in away from deep structural ence also looked at preparations for partmental (and missions’) goals and Conference programmes were needed to achieve the country. 2010; branding South Africa interna- to strategise on how to advance new these goals. Regarding Joint Initiative Making an input in respect of eco- issues, such as traditional tionally; the international strategies of priorities identifi ed annually by the on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA), nomic diplomacy the Minister of Trade reliance on commodities, the national broadcaster (SABC); and Cabinet Lekgotla. Heads of Mission around the presence of the President, the Deputy President mentioned that in and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, in- communication strategies towards re- Conferences thus forms an impor- Deputy President and Ministers. partnership with all stakeholders, criti- formed the Conference that due to its and the problems posed by it newal of Africa in a better world. The tant event on the calendar of serving During the session with the Presi- cal skills that are required for growth growing economy, South Africa had a to economic growth and the inputs by Mr Danny Jordaan, CEO of Heads of Mission. The Conference dent, which took the form of a question and the establishment of infrastructure, good entry point into the global eco- South Africa’s 2010 World Cup Organ- was also planned to follow on Presi- and answer, the many topics covered such as engineers, architects, quan- nomic system. He warned, however, eradication of poverty. ising Committee, Ms Yvonne John- dent Mbeki’s State of the Nation Ad- included South Africa’s role in the Afri- tity surveyors and technicians will be that South Africa still faced numerous ston, CEO of the International Market- dress to Parliament, which was made can Union, the situation in Zimbabwe, identifi ed. The Deputy President also challenges. As an example he pointed involve organized crime such as bank ing Council, Adv Dali Mpofu, Group on 9 February 2007. The State of the Sudan, DRC, Latin America, relations identifi ed education as most critical for out the consequences of moving away robberies, cash in transit heists, etc. CEO of SABC and Mr Tony Trew of Nation Address therefore also served with China and South Africa’s non-per- the short and long term sustainability of from deep structural issues, such as The Minister agreed that crime levels the GCIS provided the Heads of Mis- as the point of departure to guide the manent membership of the United Na- JIPSA and ASGISA. traditional reliance on commodities, in South Africa were high. He stated sion the opportunity to exchange ideas discussions during the week. tions Security Council (UNSC). This The sessions with Minister Dr Nko- and the problems posed by it to eco- that a lack of managerial skills in the on topical issues with the role players In order to develop a common un- high level input by the President on sazana Dlamini Zuma, offered Heads nomic growth and the eradication of SAPS was crippling its response to dealing directly with the issues, there- derstanding of the focus of the Depart- important foreign policy issues pro- of Mission the opportunity to get high poverty. crime. The Minister emphasized the by being capacitated to further South ment on South Africa’s foreign policy vided valuable guidance for the use level guidance on many issues not Addressing the issue of crime Min- need for South Africans to deal with African objectives in respect of these the fi rst day of the Conference was of Heads of Mission when conducting touched on by the President. The top- ister of Safety and Security, Chales the “RDP of the soul”. He emphasized areas. devoted to regional breakaways dur- South Africa’s foreign policy abroad. ics covered included the challenges Nqakula, informed the Heads of Mis- that communities should become The Director-General, in his fi nal ing which Head Offi ce Business Units, During her inspiring address to the facing the AU in the operationalisa- sion that could more involved in fi nding solutions to remarks invited Heads of Mission to and the Missions they are responsi- Conference, Deputy President Mlam- tion of its structures, AU involvement be grouped into two categories: fi rstly, social crime. the next biannual HOMC expressing ble for, discussed opportunities and bo-Ngcuka focused on a mid-term re- in confl icts on the Continent, SADC, social crimes that occur between peo- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affars, the hope that the 2009 Conference challenges in the context of the IRPS view of the Government’s Programme IBSA, relations between Africa and ple who know one another; and, sec- Aziz Pahad, delivered the closing re- would take place in the new DFA build- Cluster priorities decided on during of Action. Commenting on Accelerated the EU, Latin America and China, and ondly, serious and violent crimes that marks at the Conference. In his con- ing, construction of which was due to the Lekgotla of January 2007. The in- and Shared Growth Initiative for South South Africa’s non-permanent mem- are motivated by greed and mostly clusion, he mentioned that the new commence in April 2007. puts from these breakaway meetings will form the basis of the departmen- tal business plan and guide Heads of Mission in the development of their own business plans. The Heads of Missions were ad- dressed by the following Members of Cabinet and other offi cials: President Thabo Mbeki; Deputy President P Mlambo-Ncguka; Minis- ters Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Trevor Manuel, Mandisi Mpahlwa, ; Mr Danny Jordaan, CEO of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup Lo- Deputy President cal Organising Committee; Ms Yvonne Phumzile Mlambo- Ncguka fl anked by Johnston, CEO of the International Deputy Ministers Marketing Council (IMC); Advocate Aziz Pahad (left) and Dali Mpofu, SABC Group CEO; and Mr Sue van der Merwe Tony Trew, Depty CEO of the GCIS. (right). Deputy Ministers of Foreign Af- fairs, Aziz Pahad and Sue van der Merwe, also attended the conference throughout and played important facili- tating and supporting roles, especially

6 DFA Now • February 2007 DFA Now • February 2007 7 Departmental Events Departmental Events

Heads of Mission (HoM) Conference Social Events

WELCOME BRAAI – 11 FEBRUARY 2007

HE ‘WELCOME BRAAI’ was hosted on the 11th of February 2006 at the Lord Charles lawns as it was Tthe fi rst day of the conference. The main aim of the event was to give the Ambassadors and High Commission- ers a warm welcome home and to also entertain DFA senior managers before they start discussing the serious issues. The welcome braai was sponsored by South African Breweries (SAB). They provided the marquee, African food, drinks and entertainment for the evening. The event was a casual relaxed evening as most of the delegates had just arrived. The entertainment was provided by Loading Zone who played different kind of genres and made the guests get down and dance. FAREWELL GIG – 16 FEBRUARY 2007 VALENTINES DINNER – 14 FEBRUARY 2007 The purpose of the event was to say goodbye to the The event was meant to show the HOM delegates that delegates, especially the Excellencies, as it was the end of even if they are away from their loved ones the department the deliberations and they were going back to their country still cared for them and valued their work. The event was of accreditation to implement what have been discussed semi-formal and the mood was to relax and have fun. throughout the conference. The event was sponsored by Distell and Sasol and was The event was sponsored by Vodacom and SA Tour- hosted at the Oude Libertas Wine Farm in Stellenbosch. ism. Vodacom paid for the catering, drinks and venue Distell sponsored drinks and the venue while Sasol spon- while SA Tourism paid for the entertainment and sound. sored the catering, entertainment and sound. The main performer for the day was the Nqcukana Broth- The performance for the evening was from the South ers who made the place small with their moving music. Easter Quartert, playing Jazz music aimed at feeding the People danced until late in the evening. souls of our guests as it was Valentines Day. By: Sibongile Mabasa

8 DFA Now • February 2007 DFA Now • February 2007 9 Departmental Events Book Review

and social development of the South The Community Organisations Regional Network (CORN)/DFA Workshop African society. Even though private sector was not represented, their so- HE 2ND TO THE 4TH OF FEB- Dr NC Dlamini Zuma and attended by cial responsibility programmes were RUARY 2007 saw the Depart- senior DFA offi cials including Ambas- identifi ed as an initiative that is ear- Tment of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sador Duarte who represented the de- marked for poverty alleviation. implementing the President’s call of partment. The objectives of the work- The departments that were in at- “Deepening the debate.” It took the shop were: tendance undertook to ensure civil so- form of a workshop that happened a) to decipher information from the ciety participation in their programmes at the Burgers Park Hotel between government departments regard- which are meant for the upliftment of DFA and civil society. Apart from the ing the various programmes they society with DFA playing a facilitative Community Organisations Regional have. role. Some of the programmes identi- Network (CORN) which comprises of b) To determine the role of civil soci- fi ed are going to be part of the Com- thousands of community based organ- ety in aiding government to imple- munity Outreach Programme that has izations from different provinces, there ment such programmes; been developed by DFA. There will be were tertiary institutions, NGO rep- c) To agree on establishing a partner- ongoing communication and interac- resentation, etc. The workshop was ship on certain programmes. tion with the units that are responsible jointly hosted by the Department of for programmes which necessitate Foreign Affairs and CORN which was DFA was identifi ed for its pro- civil society participation. Such par- attended by various government de- grammes e.g NEPAD, WSSD, IBSA, ticipation can only aide the accelera- partments. To mention a few, Commu- etc. A number of outcomes of the tion of delivery and meeting the Batho nications, Social Development, Agri- workshop were as a result of in depth Pele Principles that all government culture and Land Affairs and SALGA. discussions that took place over the 3 departments have compacted to com- day period. ply with. OPENING The parties shared knowledge on By Nokuthula Khumalo The workshop was opened by the the government programmes that are Director: Liaison Offi cer (Minister’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, meant for the eradication of poverty offi ce)

OME PEOPLE WRITE BET- Douglas Hurd, Memoirs, Abacus, 2004 The complicated and nuanced nego- suffering. This approach provides an reality of foreign policy formulation TER THAN OTHERS. Doug- tiations with the People’s Republic of insight into the doubts, fears and un- and execution as “an untidy tangle of Slas Hurd, now Lord Hurd of China on the handover of Hong Kong certainties of a policy- maker faced different threads .. of meetings, paper Westwell, who held a number of posi- making for fascinating reading: it is for 1989, as Foreign Secretary. Hurd to Chinese sovereignty is accorded a with wide policy options and only the submissions, telephone calls, jour- tions in Conservative Governments in instance revealing to learn that even served as the UK’s top diplomat dur- separate chapter. vaguest of doctrinal contours under neys, surprises, hours of boredom, the United Kingdom, is also an accom- the great and good are constantly ing one of the most challenging and circumstances where any policy deci- anxiety or relief all mixed together …” plished novelist, and his writing ability plagued by fi nancial worries! intriguing periods of modern times: Domestic politics are also dealt sion (like air strikes or the lifting of an (415). These remarks probably hold is clearly evident in this autobiography. the fall of the Berlin Wall unleashed with in detail, with the description of arms embargo) may either result in the true for the operation of most modern This and the fact that the book aims to ABOUT THE BOOK hitherto unknown forces onto the in- Thatcher’s fall from power and the saving of civilian lives and a reduction foreign ministries. The infl uence of give a personal account of the author’s The book is divided into seven ternational stage, which resulted in the consequent triangular leadership con- of suffering, or in the opposite. This fo- matters such as time pressures, infor- life until the time of his resignation as parts. The fi rst deals with his child- dissolution of the Soviet Union and the test in which the author participated, cuses attention on a somewhat unex- mation and issue overload, staff short- Foreign Secretary in 1995, make it hood, school days, national service in wars of Yugoslavian fragmentation, making particularly fascinating read- plored but increasingly relevant theme ages, technical breakdowns, tiredness highly readable, much more so than the Army and university studies. Other totally reshaping the European land- ing. After Major’s election Hurd con- in domestic and international politics: and human relationships on the daily is usually the case with biographies of parts deal with his entry into domestic scape. Also on the agenda were the tinued to serve as Foreign Secretary, the responsibility of the policy-maker conduct of diplomacy are sometimes eminent politicians. This personal ap- politics as an offi cial of the Conserva- position of a reunited Germany in Eu- offering the opportunity to compare for the lives and well-being of civilians underestimated in post facto analysis. proach is enhanced by the fact that it tive Party, his entry into Parliament rope and a re-defi nition of the concept the vastly different leadership styles of in foreign states. Furthermore, it illus- is based on diaries kept from an early (where he served fi rst as a back- of international security resulting from Major and his illustrious predecessor. trates the positive development that The book is lucidly written, and age from which the author regularly bencher and later as a junior minister the end of the Cold War, the territorial the debate on the politics, legality and interspersed with humour and anec- quotes, enhancing the reader’s insight in the Foreign and Home Offi ces) and disintegration of states and a level of Hurd’s views on the civil wars in ethics of humanitarian intervention dotes, very readable. The author also into his personal experiences and im- his elevation to Cabinet, fi rst occupy- confl ict unknown in Europe since the Bosnia and Croatia are especially has undergone since the time of Bos- never falls into the trap of self-justifi ca- pressions of events and personalities, ing the hot seat of Secretary of State end of the Second World War. British noteworthy. He draws a distinction nia, when it was merely a vague con- tion, as is so often the case with politi- ranging from the three Prime Minis- for Northern Ireland and then serving diplomacy during this period was also between the clear-cut moral and in- cept, till the recent recognition of an cal autobiographies. Those interested ters under whom he served (Heath, as Home Secretary. For the present focused on the onerous negotiation of tellectual approaches that suffi ced in international responsibility to protect in politics, diplomacy or merely an ac- Thatcher and Major) to foreign lead- reviewer, however, the most interest- the Maastricht Treaty and the domes- dealing with issues such as German vulnerable populations in the report of count of an interesting and eventful ers from all parts of the world and also ing thread running through the book is tic approval thereof by Parliament, unifi cation, Maastricht, Hong Kong the UN’s High Level Panel on Threats, life, will enjoy it. some more unsavoury characters like the author’s involvement in diplomacy, the question of EU enlargement and and the Gulf War, as opposed to the Challenges and Change. By Andre Stemmet Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Kara- fi rst as a young diplomat in postings the Allied military operation (Desert ethical and intellectual problems be- Law Advisor, Department of Foreign dic. Throughout the text details of the such as Beijing, the United Nations in Shield/Dessert Storm) to dislodge Iraq setting policy formulation against the A further noteworthy aspect of the Affairs public fi gure’s private life are revealed, New York and Rome, and later, from from its illegal occupation of Kuwait. background of large- scale human book is the accurate depiction of the

10 DFA Now • October 2006 DFA Now • October 2006 11 Heads of Mission Conference 2007