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Mercosur Earmarks $70 Million for Uruguay, Paraguay Development

The Mercosur Council approved on Thursday a $70 million fund to support development projects in Uruguay and Paraguay. The two countries have often voiced concerns about economic imbalance among the organization’s five member nations. To bring the countries to a more equal footing with Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela, the Mercosur Structural Convergence Fund will finance programs in social welfare, disease control and prevention, microfinancing, and road-building. Mercosur is currently in summit in Rio de Janeiro.

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/vernoticia.do?id=9682&formato=HTML

Digest

ASEAN Reaches Agreements With China, Australia During Summit

At the 12th ASEAN summit in Cebu, the Philippines, which concluded earlier this week, member nations agreed on a blueprint for the organization’s first charter, and further addressed issues such as counter-terrorism efforts, energy security, and the rights of migrant workers.

The summit was held concurrently with the 10th ASEAN-China summit, which produced a five-year plan for cooperative programs between China and ASEAN nations in the field of information technology.

At the Second East Asia summit, also held during this time in Cebu, Australia announced a commitment of AUD 5 million to help ASEAN member nations strengthen outbreak response teams to fight infectious diseases such as avian influenza.

http://www.aseansec.org/

Digest

ECJ Grants the Kurdistan Workers’ Party Standing to Contest an Anti-Terrorist Measure

On January the 18th, the European Court of Justice released its decision in the case The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) v. Council. The PKK and the KNK appealed a 2005 order of the Court of First Instance which dismissed the action on inadmissibility grounds. The parties are seeking annulment of a Council antiterrorist measure. The European Court of Justice held that the action was in fact partly admissible and referred the case back to the Court of First Instance for judgment on substance. For more information see here.

Digest

Bahrain Accedes to WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty

Upon depositing its instrument of accession at WIPO on December 18, 2006, Bahrain became the 136th contracting state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The Treaty will enter into force for Bahrain on March 18, 2007. The PCT allows for the filing of a single “international” patent treaty which applies as if a national patent application had been filed with the national patent office of each contracting state, eliminating the need for applicants to file separate patent applications with each individual member country.

For further information: http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2007/wipo_upd_2007_284.html

Online Scholarship

Remarks on the Military Commissions Act

I. REMARKS

The Military Commissions Act was signed by the President a few weeks ago, and a lot of questions have been raised around the world in response. In fact, I just returned from London last night, where I was giving a talk at the London School of Economics explaining the legislation and its implications. Because I know that people are very interested in this topic right now, I jumped at Jack Goldsmith’s invitation to speak to you about it. I have a few things to say to begin, after which I hope to move on to an open discussion.

Since 2005, when I became the Legal Adviser to the Secretary of State, detainee issues have arisen as one of the more troubling challenges facing Secretary Rice as she engages in diplomacy around the world. These issues have caused great controversy among friends, allies, and critics alike. And, the more involved Dr. Rice has become in the debate, the more opportunities I have had to take the lead in shaping the State Department’s approach to the topic.

The legal complexity of detainee issues makes it difficult for embassies and ambassadors around the world to appraise and discuss the subject. Unfortunately, over the past three or four years, the State Department has not done its best to
answer questions, clarify policies, or explain its actions to our allies. Dr. Rice has asked me to address this communications problem.

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