Content – Page 149 – Harvard International Law Journal

ECtHR Considers France’s Responsibility for 1999 NATO Bombing in Kosovo

November 15, 2006

On November 15, the European Court of Human Rights began hearings in the case of Behrami v. France. Mr. Behrami, a Kosovar, alleges Franceâ€™s responsibility for the death of one of his sons and for serious injuries suffered by his second son. Both events occurred in 2000 while the two children were playing with unexploded cluster bombs, dropped during the NATO bombing raids of 1999. During the operation France was in command of multinational forces operating in the sector. More information about the case is available here.

Digest

WTO Appellate Body Rules on US-EU Customs Dispute

November 14, 2006

The WTO Appellate Body ruled that the United States could challenge the collective implementation of EU customs regulations, but declined to rule whether or not the state-by-state EU system of regulation violated commitments to uniformity under WTO agreements. More particularly, the Appellate Body upheld a lower ruling that non-uniform EU regulation of customs on LCD monitors violated WTO commitments. The appellate body report, WT/DS315/AB/R, is available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds315_e.htm.

Digest

Vietnam to Become 150th Member of the WTO

November 7, 2006

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.

Digest

OECD Working Paper on Unemployment

October 27, 2006

On October 27, an OECD Working Paper was released, entitled “From Inactivity to Work: The Role of Active Labor Market Policies.”Â 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.

See http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/44/8/36945194.pdf

Digest

Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC) Opens in Britain

October 16, 2006

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.

Digest

President Bush Places Restrictions On Trade With Sudan

October 13, 2006

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 â€œblocking 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.