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Am 15. März 2011 begannen im südsyrischen Deraa friedliche Demonstrationen gegen das Assad-Regime, welches die Proteste blutig niederschlug. Dies markierte den Beginn des syrischen Bürgerkriegs. Innerhalb eines Jahrzehnts wurden große Teile des Landes zerstört, die Auswirkungen auf die Nachbarländer sind wegen der hohen Flüchtlingszahlen immens. Mittlerweile gilt die herrschende Assad-Clique als militärisch siegreich, dennoch steht rund ein Drittel des syrischen Staatsgebiets außerhalb ihrer Kontrolle. Die wirtschaftliche und humanitäre Lage spitzt sich durch eine galoppierende Inflation und COVID-19 immer weiter zu. Rund 90 % der Bevölkerung leben unterhalb der Armutsgrenze. Es kommt wieder zu offenen Protesten gegen das Regime. Syriens ursprünglicher, von jeher ungleicher Gesellschaftsvertrag ist durch den Krieg implodiert. Assad verschärft die Situation, indem er auf einen „Eliten-Vertrag“ setzt, der ausschließlich Loyalisten und Kriegsgewinnler einschließt. Allen anderen Syrer*innen entzog er sukzessive staatlichen Schutz und Daseinsvorsorge. Politische Teilhabe hatte es ohnehin nie gegeben. Während die internationale Gemeinschaft mit der Agenda 2030 darum ringt, niemanden zurückzulassen, betreibt Syriens Machthaber die Exklusion aller (vermeintlich) Andersdenkenden.

Am problematischsten für den zukünftigen Wiederaufbau ist der fehlende Schutz von Grundbesitz. Das Eigentumsgesetz von 2018 bereitet den Boden für Enteignungen und treibt dadurch die Entrechtung „unerwünschter” Bevölkerungsteile voran. Nur ein Bruchteil der Geflüchteten führt gültige Identifikations- oder Eigentumsnachweise mit sich. Letztere gab es in informellen Siedlungen ohnehin oft nicht. Doch nur mit entsprechenden Dokumenten können Betroffene innerhalb eng gesetzter Fristen Eigentumsansprüche geltend machen. Damit orientiert sich staatliche Wiederaufbauhilfe vornehmlich an der Loyalität der Betroffenen gegenüber Assad, nicht am Grad der Zerstörung eines Stadtviertels. Mitunter werden ganze Bezirke, meist ehemalige Rebellenhochburgen, zugunsten von Luxuswohnraum abgerissen.

Zudem macht sich die fehlende staatliche Schutzfunktion ausgerechnet bei sogenannten „Aussöhnungsabkommen“ in zurückeroberten Gebieten und am Rechtsstatus ehemaliger Kämpfer*innen bemerkbar: Beides wird vom Regime diktiert – wer den Bedingungen nicht zustimmte, wurde in die Region Idlib, jetzt ein Sammelbecken für Oppositionelle, umgesiedelt – und dient weniger der Konfliktbeilegung als der staatlichen Machtdemonstration. Denn auch gültige Aussöhnungspapiere bieten keinen Schutz; nachweislich werden immer wieder vermeintlich rehabilitierte Personen in ihrer Bewegungsfreiheit eingeschränkt, inhaftiert und gefoltert, zwangsrekrutiert oder ermordet. Dokumente, die während des Krieges etwa durch den Islamischen Staat (IS) oder die Syrische Übergangsregierung ausgestellt wurden, werden von der Assad-Regierung nicht anerkannt. Sie bieten keine juristisch garantierte Wiedereingliederung in den syrischen Gesellschaftsvertrag.

Auch viele Personen, die ununterbrochen auf syrischem Staatsgebiet und im politisch „richtigen“ Lager lebten, spielen in Assads Syrien allenfalls noch eine nachgeordnete Rolle: Das Regime ist finanziell und politisch von wenig verlässlichen ausländischen Partnern und einer Handvoll Wirtschaftsmagnaten – Kriegsprofiteure mit guten Kontakten in die Politik – abhängig. Assads Fokus auf finanzstarke Stakeholder liegt an Syriens klammen Kassen: ein Jahrzehnt horrender Militärausgaben, Zerstörung produktiver Infrastruktur sowie der Verlust wichtiger Rohstoffvorkommen haben ein tiefes finanzielles Loch gerissen. Ob Immobilien, Agrarflächen, Rohstoff-Förderung oder Pachtverträge für Marine- und Luftwaffenbasen: Syriens Regime verkauft offensichtlich das Tafelsilber, um langjährige Getreue und Bündnispartner zu entlohnen.

Dies treibt die westliche Staatengemeinschaft in eine Zwickmühle: Dringend benötigte Hilfen für die notleidende Zivilbevölkerung werden zuweilen vom regimenahen Organisationen abgeschöpft. So können bereits begonnene Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen städtischer Infrastruktur Assads hochexklusiven Gesellschaftsvertrag sogar noch zementieren, nicht zuletzt da die syrische Bauwirtschaft von Assads Protegés dominiert wird.

Dennoch müssen Geber weiterhin versuchen, Bedürftige auf allen Seiten zu erreichen. Eben wegen ihrer beschränkten Einflussmöglichkeiten sollten sie ihr gesamtes außenpolitisches Handeln (Diplomatie, Zusammenarbeit, Migrationspolitik) eng und möglichst widerspruchsfrei koordinieren.  Sie müssen im Blick behalten, welche staatlichen Dienstleistungen bereits abgebaut wurden und welche Gesellschaftsgruppen derzeit außen vor bleiben. In Anbetracht der Machtverhältnisse vor Ort sollten Geber über humanitäre Hilfe hinaus zunächst sozialen – statt physischen – Wiederaufbau forcieren. Kleinteilige, flexible Maßnahmen auf lokaler Ebene, die auf vulnerable Gruppen abzielen und sozialen Zusammenhalt befördern, sind zu priorisieren. Die internationale Gemeinschaft muss die Folgen ihres Tuns abschätzen und im Verlauf monitoren, um einen in Grundzügen inklusiven Gesellschaftsvertrag zu ermöglichen oder diesem zumindest nicht entgegenzuwirken. Im Zweifelsfall darf selbst bei begonnenen Projekten der Mut zu einem ‚take it or leave it‘ nicht fehlen.

Tina Zintl ist Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Programm „Transformation der Wirtschafts- und Sozialsysteme“ am Deutschen Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE).

Yannick Sudermann (Humangeograph) forscht zu Stadtentwicklung und sozialer Ungleichheit in Syrien. Zuletzt beschäftigte er sich im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojekts an der Universität Tübingen mit der institutionellen Diskriminierung Geflüchteter im deutschen Bildungssystem.

Ha Igor Matovič (OĽANO) miniszterelnök nem tesz eleget jövő szerdáig az SaS koalíciós párt felszólításának, hogy mondjon le a kormányfői tisztségéről, akkor az SaS kilép a kormányból – mondta Richard Sulík az SaS hétfő délelőtti sajtótájékoztatóján.

Burna Boy remporte le prix du meilleur album globale, tandis que son compatriote Wizkid remporte le Grammy du meilleur clip vidéo.

A lakásunkon kívül hétfőtől kötelezően reszpirátort vagy hasonló eszközt kell viselnünk minden zárt térben – tájékoztatta a TASR hírügynökséget Daša Račková, az SZK Közegészségügyi Hivatalának (ÚVZ SR) szóvivője.

Alors que le scandale de la vente des espaces publics, dans la région de Thiès (70 km de Dakar) n’est pas retombé, on apprend qu’on proche du marabout mouride, Serigne Modou Kara Mbacké, est impliqué dans ces transactions nébuleuses, avec le Cadastre et la DSCOS au beau milieu de cette affaire. La région de Thiès […]

L’article Sénégal : vente d’espaces publics à Thiès, un proche du marabout Kara indexé est apparu en premier sur Afrik.com.

Portugals Regierung ist "optimistisch", dass in den Verhandlungen über die Reformen der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik der EU (GAP) bald eine Einigung erzielt werden kann, so Landwirtschaftsministerin Maria do Céu Antunes.

Pendant qu’un groupe de jeunes sans-papiers Algériens traversait la campagne espagnole, près de San José, dans la région d’Alméria, Ils ont été surpris par les éléments de la Guardia Civile, qui ont mis fin à leur bref séjour illégal en Espagne. Tout avait commencé quand les policiers espagnols ont trouvé une navette rapide intacte, abandonnée […]

L’article Espagne : 8 Harragas Algériens arrêtés, la police espagnole dépassée est apparu en premier sur .

EDA today issued a call for applications from parties interested in participating in the ‘EDA Defence Innovation Prize 2021’ which is dedicated this year to the topic: Innovative solutions & technologies on Human-Machine Interfaces enabling Human-Machine-Teaming for Defence.

The EDA contest is rewarding companies and research entities who come up with innovative and ground-breaking technologies, products, processes or services applicable in the defence domain.

Applicants are called to come up with stimulating innovative solutions & technologies on Human Machine Interfaces to enable Human Machine Teaming for Defence Applications in Air, Land and Maritime platforms. 

Examples of these technologies are:

• Gesture commands
• Head and tracking; eye gesture and wide area eye tracking
• Voice commands and 3-D audio
• Immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality
• Wearable human-machine-interfaces
• Human multi-asset interaction
• Haptic control and feedback
• Virtual Assistants
• Crew Monitoring System such as brain computing interface and pilot sensing and monitoring
• Stress and health monitoring
• Autonomous decision-making functions such as human-AI interaction.

Medical and casualties evacuation, supply chain and precision air drop or intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR) are only some examples of domains where the innovation on these technologies could enable Human Machine Teaming for Defence operations.

The winning idea/concept will be worth 30,000€.

How to apply?

The deadline for submitting applications is 31 August 2021. 

The contest rules and application criteria/details can be found here (plus the annexes to the call for applications here).

The prize winner will be selected by an evaluation committee composed of EDA staff. The prize will be handed over during the 2021 EDA Annual Conference in Brussels later this year.

Submitted innovations must be the applicants’ own intellectual property. However, submissions may include improvements of already existing ideas, new combinations or adaptations of them applicable in a different context. The applicants must demonstrate the innovative added-value of their ideas, compared to what exists already. Proposals must be innovative, implementable through a collaborative project and financially affordable in terms of future development and exploitation.

Who can apply?

The contest is especially (but not exclusively) aimed at non-traditional defence industries (civil or dual-use producers) and researchers as they play a growing role in inventing and creating the disruptive capabilities that Member States’ Armed Forces will need tomorrow. The contest also provides a good opportunity for small and medium sized enterprises, research organisations and universities involved in defence R&D activities to demonstrate their know-how, maximize dual-use synergies and create partnerships with key players in the defence field.

Background

Since 2018, the Agency organises the 'EDA Defence Innovation Prize' which rewards companies and research entities who come up with ground-breaking technologies, products, processes or services applicable in the defence domain. The contest aims to stimulate defence innovation in Europe and provide non-traditional defence stakeholders (civil industries, SMEs, research organisations, universities, etc.) with an opportunity to showcase their know-how in domains relevant for defence.

More information

• Call for applications
• Annexes to call for applications
• EDA Defence Innovation Prize Work Programme 2021
• EDA Defence Innovation Prize webpage
• 2020 EDA Defence Innovation Prize Winners
  
  

By Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
SINGAPORE, Mar 15 2021 (IPS-Partners)

China is on the roll. Already the second largest economy in the world, it is poised to become the first sooner than expected, possibly within this decade. Small wonder that the focus of the globe should be on the lianghui currently being held in Beijing. This is the ‘two sessions,’ China’s annual Parliamentary meeting. They entail back- to- back sessions of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the highest advisory body, and the National People’s Congress (NPC), the principal legislative forum. There might lack the scintillating repartees of a debate in the House of Commons, and the thrill of the Question hour in Commonwealth Parliaments. But nonetheless would have an enormous impact on the lives of global citizens, including the proverbial man on the Clapham omnibus. That is because the sessions provide an insight into the plans and aspirations of the world’s most rising power.

Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury

These two significant events rolled in one were expected to propound and approve policies that would have significant knock-on effects on the global economy. By all counts, China’s rise is appearing to be increasingly inexorable. Decisions are being designed to reap maximum benefit out of the population of 1.4 billion and a middle class of 400 million. A major success over the past decade has been the lifting of over 100 million citizens from absolute poverty, over which President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party have recently declared “Complete victory”. Xi has called it a miracle that will “go down in history’’. The sessions would also mark the release of the nation’s fourteenth five- year plan, on the anniversary of the Party’s centennial of existence.

China is already in the process of implementing its ‘’dual circulation” strategy. It principally entails stimulating domestic demand, now facilitated by the burgeoning middle class (internal circulation) , as well as catering to the export market (external circulation) , though with reduced reliance on the latter. In other words, the country will continue to improve its participation in global trade, finance and technology, at the same time hedging against global market disruptions by sharpening focus on domestic consumption, production and innovation. This idea assumes importance given the backdrop of the trade spat with the United State, dating back to the Trump Administration. It now seems that the Chinese calculus is that even under President Joe Biden, the rivalry with the US, though somewhat less strident at least in language if not in substance will continue. All indications extrapolating from the ‘’two sessions “are that China will continue to have faith in the international trading system, but will keep its powder dry.

At the sessions Premier Li Keqiang announce a planned GDP rise of “over 6 per cent”’ for the year. He desisted from making a quantitative target last year because of Covid-19 related uncertainties. But despite the fact that the virus has originated in China, the country handled the crisis in an exemplary fashion, and was able to post a growth -rate of 2.3 percent, being the only major economy to achieve a positive number. So Premier Li’s declaration reflected a sense of confidence. In fact, the International Monetary Fund thinks China might do even better and rise by 8.1 per cent. Pundits feel that if the trend continues in a general fashion, China might overtake the US as the world’s largest economy by 2038, seven years ahead of predictions. This will put the nation well on the way to achieving as the somewhat demurely expressed aspiration of becoming a “’moderately prosperous country”.

But the Chinese eyes were fixed on more than development and prosperity. The anticipation of intense US competition led to a spike in defense spending. In this regard an increase of 6.8 percent, adding up to US $ 210 billion, surpassing last year’s 6.6 percent was announced. This will help China modernize its military, and expand its capabilities in newer domains of cyber, outer- space, deep- sea and electromagnetic warfare. In these dual- purpose sectors monies could also be sourced from other heads. China’s advance in areas of novel technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, has been remarkable. These could enable China to leap-frog ahead, off- setting western current conventional military superiority. In many ways we may be witnessing a reversal of the past cold-war scenario when the Warsaw Pact powers were conventionally superior to the West or NATO, and the latter pinned its doctrine to the “trip-wire” strategy. Accordingly, NATO would unleash a nuclear response automatically, should there be a conventional crossing of lines by the adversary. Except that, China could soon have the capability to effect devastating consequences through non-kinetic strikes.

But an accompaniment of China’s rise must be studied circumspection. China need not have to “hide its capabilities and bide its time” as in the 1970s and 80s anymore, but nor can it afford to recklessly pursue the classic formula of “kill one to persuade a hundred”. China will need the world to accommodate its burgeoning position., While it is true much of the world is willing to do so, it is also true there is a pervasive fear of China among many, of not just its military might but also economic clout. The US will clearly remain a competitor for the rivalry is structural. But most analysts agree it need not come to war. The responsibility for its avoidance is in the perceived national self-interest of both China and the US.

For now, with much good news emanating out of the “two sessions”, the mood in China seems euphoric. The people see this as an important milestone in the fruition of what in Mandarin is called, their “Zhang Guomeng”, or “China Dream”. The Chinese are not Anglo-Saxons. But the current sentiments in that ethos would be the same as in nineteenth century England, as evident in that phlegmatic jingle, inspired by a speech of Disraeli, which was the origin of the term ‘jingoism’:

“We don’t want to fight,
But by jingo, if we do,
We ‘ve got the ships, we’ve got the men,
We’ve got the money too!”

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury is the Honorary Fellow at the Institute of South Asia Studies, NUS. He is a former Foreign Advisor (Foreign Minister) of Bangladesh and President & Distinguished Fellow of Cosmos Foundation. The views addressed in the article are his own. He can be reached at: isasiac @nus.edu.sg

This story was originally published by Dhaka Courier.

The post The Fruition of the “China Dream”: Beijing’s Inexorable Rise appeared first on Inter Press Service.

La crise au sein du parti du Front de libération nationale (FLN) persiste, des dizaines de cadres et militants de cette formation politique, ont tenu un sit in pour réclamer le départ du  secrétaire général de Abou El Fadhl Baadji. Les membres du parti du Front de libération nationale et opposants du secrétaire général de […]

L’article À quelques mois des législatives, une crise s’annonce au sein du FLN est apparu en premier sur .

L’ancien premier ministre Ahmed Ouyahia vient d’être rattrapé par une note qu’il avait signée en 2010. Il s’agit d’une note qui a ouvert la porte au pillage du foncier touristique dans la wilaya de Skikda. En tout cas, c’est ce qui a été révélé hier dimanche lors de l’ouverture du procès en appel de l’affaire […]

L’article Procès foncier touristique : Une note signée en 2010 rattrape Ouyahia est apparu en premier sur .

Geografische Ursprungsangaben auf Lebensmittelverpackungen bieten einen klaren Mehrwert für die Vermarktung der Produkte und sind ein "wichtiger Wert" für ländliche Gebiete, heißt es in einer Studie der EU-Kommission. EURACTIV Frankreich berichtet.

Ancien ministre des travaux publics et des transports Georges Guédou est passé de vie à trépas ce dimanche 14 mars 2021 à l'hôpital d'Allada.

L'ex ministre du président Nicéphore Soglo est décédé dimanche dans sa 83e année des suites de Covid-19. Ancien député, Georges Guédou a occupé le poste de directeur général honoraire du Bureau Africain des Sciences de l'Union Africain. Professeur de lettres classiques, il a été également vice-président du Conseil national de l'éducation.
Dah Guedou, originaire de Zakpota dans le département du Zou, fut militant du parti la Renaissance du Bénin (RB).

A.A.A

Un bébé de 11 mois a été jeté, vendredi 12 mars 2021, dans un puits de 50 mètres de profondeur au quartier Saklo dans la commune de Bohicon.

Les raisons qui ont poussé la mère du bébé à commettre un tel acte ne sont pas encore connues. La mère âgée de 21 ans est placée en détention provisoire, informe Frissons radio.
Les sapeurs-pompiers ont retiré du puits le corps sans du bébé.
M. M.

Limogeage au Conseil National des Chargeurs du Bénin (CNCB). Le Directeur administratif et financier est relevé de ses fonctions.

Franck Kpahossou n'occupe plus le poste de Directeur administratif et financier (Daf). Selon le Potentiel, il aurait été limogé pour "avoir commis des fautes qualifiées de majeures et intolérables".

A.A.A

Hier erhalten Sie einen chronologischen Überblick über die geplanten Maßnahmen der EU zur Eindämmung der Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie im Jahr 2021.

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2021 - EP

Women impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic wait to receive cash assistance from the World Food Programme in Kabul, Afghanistan. Credit: WFP/Massoud Hossaini

By Saber Azam
GENEVA, Mar 15 2021 (IPS)

There is much expectation about US President Joe Biden’s Afghanistan strategy to end the United States’ longest war effectively. So far, he continues to rely on Ambassador Zalmai Khalilzad, the Special Envoy for Afghanistan, appointed by Mr. Trump.

The initial statements issued by the White House, State Department, and Defense Department seemed promising. However, some highlighted that they ignored an essential element: the Afghan people’s wish about their future!

Following the latest visit of Ambassador Khalilzad to the region, various assumptions have emerged. It seems that he still pushes for a transitional government formula with the participation of Afghan chieftains and the Taliban, a new version of an old strategy that never proved efficient!

It may be futile to invoke details of what has transpired or speculate about President Biden’s intention on Afghanistan. However, an overview of the challenges will help define a sound solution, allowing foreign troops to regain their country in the most dignified manner and the Afghan people to dispose of its future.

As of the end of the 18th century, Afghanistan became the battleground for controlling central and south Asia between superpowers. Their “great game” and the ineptness of Afghan rulers who quickly succumbed to the “divide and rule” policy never permitted this country’s population to evolve as a nation.

Therefore, understanding the Afghan puzzle is laborious. So far, those who intervened in this eternally fragmented country, more recently the British Empire and the Soviet Union, never grasped fundamental hindrances. Both lost their glory as a result of their uncalculated decisions. The Biden administration must not rush and consider national challenges, regional impediments, and international hurdles to find a lasting, workable, and sustainable solution.

National Challenges

A significant source of eternal conflicts in Afghanistan is an unequal historical treatment of its diverse populations by their governments. Effective equal rights and opportunities and good-governance constitute the basis of a peaceful future. Some fundamental national challenges are as follows:

1 – Afghanistan has always been ruled based on kin, ethnic, religious, and relationship considerations. Meritocracy has hardly been a concern to those in power. This has been a significant reason for the failure of international support strategies so far. Nepotism, cronyism, and tribalism, unless addressed immediately, will be a devastating deterrent element for any positive action.

2 – Since the takeover of power by Communists in 1978, atrocious crimes against humanity have been committed by various regimes, warlords, Mujahidin chieftains, and more specifically, the Taliban and their Islamic State and Al-Qaeda associates. Without a truth and reconciliation process, it would be difficult for any peace effort to achieve its objectives.

3 – While Afghanistan is a country with defined borders and recognized status in major international and regional arenas, Afghans never constituted a nation. Without acknowledging this fact and undertaking a robust nation-building program, Afghanistan will remain a plaything in the hands of foreign adversaries.

4 – Afghanistan’s post-Taliban constitution was drafted without considering decades of profound political, social, and economic transformations in the country. It did not satisfy the aspirations of the population. A substantive reform of the current constitution can only improve the chances of durable peace in the country.

5 – Despite efforts undertaken by the international community, Afghanistan is affected by rampant corruption. It has gangrened all layers of central and provincial government institutions and even the private sector, hampering efforts to rebuild and reconstruct the country. A comprehensive good-governance and ethics framework, policy, and action plan for public and private sectors must be agreed upon and put in place instantly.

6 – Since Mr. Hamid Karzai was propelled to Afghanistan’s leadership and despite trillions of US dollars granted to various Afghan governments, the expected development path is unsatisfactory. Leaders have not been capable of defining where their country would be in a year, ten years, or thirty years from now. It is extremely urgent that Afghanistan’s leadership clearly describes short-, med-, and long-term political, social, and economic plans for the country and elaborate the appropriate action strategies so that the population comprehends the sacrifices that are still needed to attain peace and prosperity.

7 – For decades under King Zaher Shah, Afghanistan benefited from a recognized neutral status that helped the country position itself as an unbiased element of the “great games”! Subsequently, it received development aid, particularly from the United States, major European countries, the Soviet Union, India, and the People’s Republic of China. The forceful change of regime by Daoud Khan from kingdom to republic with the help of Soviet-trained military officers annihilated Afghanistan’s privileged neutral status. Therefore, it is in the interest of this country to regain its neutrality in the international arena and stay away from the “new great game” battles.

8 – Since 2009, elections have been marred with an unacceptable level of corruption and mismanagement. The population has lost trust in the democratic process and does not believe in the elections’ outcomes. This is a significant handicap for the country’s future political, social, and economic development and peace and serenity prospects. Without a solid and unbiased election law, rules and procedures, and honest people in charge, there will be no future for democracy in Afghanistan.

Regional Impediments

Afghanistan is situated in a very volatile region of the world. For centuries neighboring powers crashed with each other and caused unforgivable tragedies. Below are some of the significant regional impediments to the Afghan crisis:

a – Regional rivalries, particularly the Indo-Pakistan and Saudi Arabia-Iran tensions, affect Afghanistan and have prolonged the conflict and discord among the population, transforming the country into a battleground for proxy wars. There are historical, religious, political, and strategic rationales that have pushed Afghanistan into this situation. Among all the neighbors, Pakistan has heavily facilitated harboring, training, and supporting terrorist movements, mainly the Taliban. There must be a clear understanding among regional powers to immediately spare this country from bearing further the burden of defending diverse foreign interests. More specifically, Pakistan must agree on an honest commitment of non-interference in internal Afghan affairs and end their support to the Taliban or any other subversive organization.

b – Exploitation of resources, in particular minerals and water, constitute a major source of discord. Moreover, climate change has affected Afghanistan to the extent of destroying its agriculture. Any effort by Afghanistan to exploit its water faces powerful neighbors’ fury, deteriorating the atmosphere for an amicable understanding and peaceful coexistence. Regional power must recognize Afghanistan’s vulnerability and assist overcome the difficulties through exploitation of their own natural resources.

c – Internal challenges of regional powers, particularly claims of autonomy or independence by the peoples of Baluchistan, Kurdistan, Yemen, and Kashmir, affect Afghanistan. There are reports of Afghans dispatched to fight in Kashmir, Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere. Often ethnic and religious motivations are the driving force for such insanity, resulting in the lack of unity within Afghanistan. Regional powers must restrain from using Afghans as foot soldiers for their interests.

International Hurdles

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world has become multipolar. In the absence of sound morality, there is a bitter competition for global political and economic leadership. The four years of the Trump administration unmasked glimpses of some’s ambitions to dethrone the United States from their leading positions.

While Europe is a stand-alone power and the Russian Federation rises from the ashes of the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China and India are undeniably the future centers of political and economic gravity.

The Middle East and Central and South Asia are the battlegrounds for a “new great game”. Therefore, the leading international hurdles for Afghanistan are as follows:

(i) Western powers have been shaken by the repeated failure of their policies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and many other countries, particularly in Africa. As a crushing tool, social media allows people to have numerous instantaneous information portals that reveal the difference between rhetoric and realities. This fact enables other powers, notably the People’s Republic of China, to ascertain and strengthen their stand in the international arena. Afghanistan seems to remain the playground for such competition that could last decades.

(ii) Afghanistan is no more a priority for the international community. Other emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic or an eventual conflict between important rivals in the world arena can make it even more irrelevant. It is, therefore, vital for the country to find lasting peace in a reasonably not distant future.

(iii) The horrendous terrorist attacks on the United States in Nairobi, Darussalam, Aden, and, more specifically, New York and Washington were perpetrated by Al Qaeda, whose leadership sought protection with the emerging Taliban movement in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islam, a religion of peace and mercy, was used as a pretext for their inhuman actions. “Islamic terrorism” inflicts misery on people in Asia, Africa, Europe, and elsewhere. The image of Islam is tarnished durably. Islamic countries and Afghanistan, in particular, must undertake unsurmountable efforts to bridge a sustainable trust among all peoples of faiths.

The way forward

Afghanistan has been “an inspiration” for terrorist organizations for decades. However, it can be a significant source of regional and international stability too. It all depends on how the Biden administration shapes its strategy to bring lasting peace in this country with the firm assertion that they accomplished the objective of defeating terrorism in this country. Therefore, Afghans implore President Biden and his team to consider the following:

A – Learn from past mistakes of the US governments. The 5 December 2001 Bonn Agreement, an understanding among political traders, was a quick fix and did not bring peace and security. Another deal involving a selected number of chieftains with the Taliban’s inclusion may be an immediate “success,” but it would be a significant long-term disaster. A repeat of the mistake of 1992 that led to the sharp rise of international terrorism and direct attacks on the United States will cause devastations of much larger scales. The United States must not rush and earnestly seek the view of the Afghan people about their future. Effective durable peace in Afghanistan will strengthen the trust in American leadership.

B – Since 2002, the Afghan leaders proved inept, corrupt, and lawless. They cannot handle national challenges, regional impediments, and international hurdles surrounding their country. It is time to empower a new generation of young, competent, and incorruptible leaders within the country.

C – The United States and its allies must opt for a transitional government between five to seven years, formed by the new leaders who sound the population and address the national challenges and embark with regional and international powers to agree on a neutral and peaceful future for Afghanistan.

D – Initiate a new inclusive peace process, conducted by the transitional team with the support of regional and international powers, following which an honest and transparent election would be conducted under international monitoring. No transitional government member would be eligible to have substantial public office in the future. They can form an Ethics and Good-governance Council to scrutinize the future governments and private sector actions and take immediate corrective measures in cases of breach of ethics.

Peace in Afghanistan signifies the defeat of terrorism. Bringing terrorists and corrupt leaders to forge a future for this country will signify yet another immense failure.

* Saber Azam is also the author of SORAYA: The Other Princess, a historical fiction that overflies the latest seven decades of Afghan history, and Hell’s Mouth, also a historical fiction that recounts the excellent work of humanitarian and human rights actors in Côte d’Ivoire during the First Liberian Civil War. He also published articles mainly about Afghanistan and the need to reform the United Nations.

 

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The post How to Achieve Peace in Afghanistan appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Excerpt:

The writer* is a former United Nations official who served with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in key positions in Europe, Africa, and Asia

The post How to Achieve Peace in Afghanistan appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Strategic Sovereignty (or Autonomy) for the European Union appears to be its ability to decide and act according to its own rules, principles and values. The latter include the promotion of multilateralism, respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights, openness in trade relations. Given rapidly shifting global geopolitical and technology trends, and the seeming fragmentation of the multilateral order, the EU is being forced to strengthen its own position in the international arena.
The EU needs to secure its values and interests in new (and more determined) ways. If the EU wants to "do it its way" to quote HRVP Borrell's "Sinatra doctrine", several questions needs to be answered.

With the assistance of the EU Institute for Security Studies, and of top-level experts, this AFET workshop/webinar will tackle three important questions: 1- How can the EU deal more strategically with interdependencies in a less cooperative world? 2- How should the EU adapt existing and develop new strategic partnerships? 3- How can EU efforts to strengthen multilateralism both reinforce EU autonomy and global cooperation?
Draft Programme
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Le 9 mars dernier, la présidence française a annoncé la facilitation de « l’accès aux archives classifiées de plus de 50 ans, notamment celles sur la Guerre d’Algérie ». Néanmoins, des historiens évoquent déjà des « entraves » quant à la concrétisation de cette mesure. C’est l’historien français Gilles Manceron qui est revenu sur les mesures […]

L’article Algérie France : ces mesures qui entravent l’accès aux archives est apparu en premier sur .

The EU issued a declaration on the 10 years of the conflict in Syria reiterating its demands to end the repression, release the detainees, and that the Syrian regime and its allies engage meaningfully in the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.