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New Prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone

UN Secretary-General Annan appointed Mr. Stephen Rapp as the new Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. .Mr. Rapp, an American, has been Chief of Prosecutions at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) since May, 2005. Prior to that appointment he was Senior Trial Attorney against the principals of RTLM radio and the editor of the Kangura newspaper in what is commonly referred to as the “Media Trial”. Mr. Rapp succeeds Desmond da Silva, QC, who decided not to renew his contract after it expired in June 2006.

See here for more information.

Digest

UN Security Council Mission Report on Afghanistan

Reviewing the final report of last month’s mission to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Security Council on December 7th emphasized the importance of improving the present security situation as well as the need for further advances in the area of human rights. The mission, led by Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, found that the Taliban insurrection and other factors continue to destabilize the reconstruction process. Nevertheless, the Council remained hopeful with respect to the Afghanistan Compact, a five-year all encompassing development plan to which Afghanistan and donor nations amongst the international community subscribed in February.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20888&Cr=afghan&Cr1=

Digest

WTO Reaches Provisional Agreement on Procurement Revisions

On December 8, WTO negotiators reached preliminary agreement on revisions to the 1994 Agreement on Governmental Procurement (GPA), aimed at making the provisions of the agreement more user-friendly and adapting them in light of advances in electronic procurement tools. The proposed revised GPA, which will be finalized in the spring of 2007 alongside negotiations to open more procurement areas to international competition, shortens the time period for procurement of goods available on the commercial market and builds in exceptions for developing countries. For a full report, see here: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/gproc_8dec06_e.htm.

Digest

Panel Finds Chile Price Bands Violate WTO Agreement

On December 8, the WTO compliance panel found that Chile remained in violation of Article 4.2 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture by maintaining its price band system governing import duties on wheat, flour, and vegetable oils. The panel found that the system amounted to a variable import duty or minimum import price levy under the Agreement and recommended that the Dispute Settlement Body request Chile bring its regulations into compliance.

For a summary of the case, DS207, see here: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds207_e.htm.

For the full panel report, see here:
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news06_e/207rw_e.htm

Digest

ICC Closes Fifth Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute

The fifth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the legislative body overseeing the administration of the ICC, concluded on December 1. The Assembly adopted four resolutions: (1) to strive for full adoption of the Rome Statute; (2) to approve a budget of €88,871,800 and a 647-person staff; (3) to focus on the Alexanderkazerne site as the permanent premises of the Court; and, (4) to implement the ‘Strategic Plan of the Court’ which concerns matters such as victims’ interests, outreach and communication, and budget.

See http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/214.html

Digest

UN Grants ASEAN Observer Status

ASEAN officially obtained observer status in the United Nations on Monday by the unanimous vote of the UN General Assembly. The status allows the organization to attend General Assembly sessions and participate in UN work pertaining to its interests. The General Assembly also passed a separate resolution on the same day regarding ASEAN-UN cooperation.

http://www.aseansec.org/18992.htm

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