Category Archives: The World

By Kofi Annan Democracy is a universal value and aspiration, unbound by region, ethnicity, culture or religion. In the last two decades, it has spread across the world in unprecedented ways. Elections are fundamental to the ethos and principles of democracy. They provide citizens with a say in the decisions that affect them and governments with a legitimate authority to govern. When elections are credible, free and fair, they can help promote democracy, human rights and security. But when elections are fraudulent, as we have seen in a number of countries, they can trigger political instability and even violence. This means that for democracy to fulfill its potential as a … Continue reading →

By William Hague Six years ago the international community began detailed work on an Arms Trade Treaty. We are now in the final week of negotiations. The UK remains steadfast and determined to get the strongest possible Treaty. We will not sign up to a weak text. We want an agreement which is robust and legally binding and achieves significant gains for the international community, particularly greater security and the preservation of human rights. The UK wants a treaty which acknowledges the responsibility of all States to effectively regulate and control the international transfer of conventional arms. The remaining negotiations will be tough and some countries seem determined to block … Continue reading →

By Alan Duncan Over the last six years, the UK has led international efforts to agree a robust and effective Arms Trade Treaty. In 2006, the UK co-authored the first UN Resolution on this subject, alongside Kenya, Costa Rica, Australia, Japan, Finland and Argentina. This eclectic group of countries demonstrates the strength and breadth of international support for a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. This work is coming to a head at the United Nations in New York where intensive negotiations on the text of a treaty are due to conclude Friday 27 July. International regulation of the arms trade is urgently needed. More than 740,000 men, women and children … Continue reading →

By Robert Asketill We have had to listen via the media on the success of the European-inspired Arab Spring but which, looked at sensibly by those of us with long personal experience with the Arab and African problems, knew could lead to disaster . This is certainly so for the poor and uneducated masses who have now found themselves homeless, on the edge of starvation, waterless and with guns appearing in place of the digging tool so desperately needed. Yet the voices of those who created the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ can still be heard from their luxurious vastly expensive banqueting conferences, boasting of success and of being well on the … Continue reading →