The WTO’s General Council approved Vietnam’s membership agreement on November 7 after eleven years of preparation and 8 years of negotiations. The country will accede to membership thirty days after it informs the WTO of its ratification of the membership agreement. See http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres06_e/pr455_e.htm.
On October 27, an OECD Working Paper was released, entitled “From Inactivity to Work: The Role of Active Labor Market Policies.” The paper finds that unemployment benefit expenditures have risen in many OECD countries. It also gives an overview and an analysis of the work-availability requirements imposed on unemployment benefit recipients.
On October 16, the Intelligence Fusion Centre In Support of NATO (IFC) was officially opened in Britain. IFC’s mission is to share global intelligence among NATO allies and partner nations. In doing so, the Center hopes to intelligence support directly related to the Allied Command Operations (ACO).
For further information, see http://www.nato.int/shape/news/2006/10/061016a.htm.
In an effort to stem the ongoing crises in Sudan, President Bush signed into law on October 13 the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006 (DPAA) and issued an executive order “blocking property of and prohibiting transactions with the Government of Sudan. While not committing the U.S. to any type of intervention, the order does recognize that genocide and crimes against humanity are occurring in Sudan. Furthermore, the order specifically forbids transactions relating to Sudan’s petroleum and petrochemical industries. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061013-14.html.
On October 11th, the Secretary General of NATO stated that the organization has broadened its UN-mandated mission to include the East of Afghanistan. Consequently, NATO’s mission will now be extended over the entire country.
For more information, see http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-117e.htm.
France has consented to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in a case filed by the Republic of Djibouti. The consent is limited to the current claims filed by the Republic of Djibouti and is made pursuant to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court of the International Court of Justice.
For more information, see the press release of the ICJ here.
