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ECtHR Finds Czech Violation of Human Rights

In its December 7 decision in the case Linkov v. the Czech Republic, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) announced that the Czech Republic had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by denying the applicant freedom of assembly and association. In 2000, the Czech Republic had refused to register a political party founded by the applicant. According to the ECtHR, however, there was insufficient evidence that the party’s proclaimed goal of “breaking the legal continuity with totalitarian regimes” was designed to undermine the democracy of the country; as such, the administration could not justify its refusal to register the party. Fore more information see here.

Digest

Brazilian Adviser Addresses Challenges Facing Mercosur

Upon returning from visits to Argentina and Uruguay this week, Ricardo Seitenfus, adviser to Brazilian president Lula da Silva and consultant to the Organization of American States, described what he saw as critical and pressing problems facing Mercosur. Among the many, he said, are worsening relations between Argentina and Uruguay; the inadequacy of Mercosur’s judicial bodies in resolving their dispute; a skewed balance of power among member nations; and the recent addition of Venezuela and Hugo Chavez’s controversial politics. Nonetheless, Seitenfus is guardedly optimistic about the proposed regional parliament.
http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9405&Palabra=mercosur

Digest

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

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