An Assessment of the ICC Statute

The large number of signature States together with the current speed of ratification from various regions of the world seems to indicate the general acceptance of the treaty; many of the problems first identified have since been clarified and resolved. It seems reasonable to expect the Rome Statute to come into operation as early as next summer. While it is necessary to ensure effective criminal investigation and prosecution to counter serious human rights violations, we need also to develop additional ways and means for addressing the root causes that led to violations and impunity. Justice is important but justice alone cannot bring peace. We need both justice and peace. Criminal prosecution through courts and tribunals will not and cannot suit all situations, bring justice to all, or, still less, end all conflicts. Accountability and criminal responsibility are important and necessary. But the tribunals cannot deal adequately when massive cases are involved. Massive trials require large resources and are time-consuming, particularly when there are large numbers of defendants. In recent years, various measures of accountability have been employed for managing situations involving past serious violations of human rights. These measures include acknowledging and publicizing responsibility through truth commissions, dismissing or suspending officials connected with the abuses of the previous regimes, seizure of property and assets of the perpetrators, blocking financial sources of rogue organizations, and compensation for victims and their families. All these are intended to demonstrate that a sense of sanctions has been applied to misdeeds, though such sanctions may not be sufficient in all cases. The parties concerned must work out by themselves the best solution to suit their need

Ground and excited states of Li−^-, Be−^- through a density-based approach

Density functional calculations are performed for ground [He]2s$^2$ $^1$S$^e$, and three metastable bound excited states, 1s2s2p$^2$ $^5$P$^e$, 1s2p$^3$ $^5$S$^o$, 1s2s2p3p $^5$P$^e$ of Li$^-$ and [He]2s2p$^2$ $^4$P$^e$, [He]2p$^3$ $^4$S$^o$, 1s2s2p$^3$ $^6$S$^o$ of Be$^-$ each. The work-function-based exchange potential is used, while the correlation effects are included by employing the Lee-Yang-Parr potential. The relevant nonrelativistic KS equation is solved by means of a generalized pseudospectral discretization scheme offering nonuniform and optimal spatial grid. Computed total energies, radial densities, selected density moments, as well as two transition wavelengths (1s2s2p$^2$ $^5$P$^e \to$1s2p$^3$ $^5$S$^o$ of Li$^-$, [He]2s2p$^2$ $^4$P$^e \to$ [He]2p$^3$ $^4$S$^o$ of Be$^-$) show reasonably good agreement with the available theoretical and experimental data. The term energies show an absolute deviation of 0.007--0.171% with the largest deviation being observed for the even-parity $^5$P state of Li$^-$. The transition wavelengths of Li$^-$, Be$^-$ are calculated within 0.891 and 0.438% of the experimental values. This offers a simple practical route towards accurate reliable calculation of excited states of anions within density functional theory.Comment: 12 pages, 35 ref

RTS amplitudes in decanano n-MOSFETs with conventional and high-k gate stacks

Low frequency (LF) noise in MOSFETs has been a topic of interest to both academia and industry in recent years. It is becoming a major concern for analogue circuit performance, DRAM operation, and will eventually impact critically upon the reliability of digital logic especially as devices continue to scale towards nano dimensions. Random telegraph signals (RTS) caused by the capture and emission of carriers in traps at the Si/SiO/sub 2/ interface have been posited as a major component of low frequency noise in semiconductor devices. The change in the drain current associated with trapping events in defect states is usually referred to as the RTS amplitude. The magnitude of the RTS amplitude is largest in the subthreshold regime at lower gate voltages and is reduced in the strong inversion regime as mobile charge in the inversion layer increasingly screens out the electrostatic influence of the trapped charge. We study the magnitude of the RTS amplitudes in nano-CMOS devices with conventional and high- gate stacks. Traps at the front and back gate dielectric interfaces, as well as traps in the body of the dielectric are considered. The impact of poly gate depletion is also taken into account

Real Exchange Rate Behavior: New Evidence with Linear and Non-linear Endogenous Break(s)

Using monthly frequency data from 1981 to 2005, we test for the potential mean reversion of Japan-US real exchange rates using newly improved unit root tests allowing for endogenous (unknown) break(s) in the linear as well as non-linear manner. Both countries have contributed vital proportion in global trading on top of being the major trading partner to each other since 1960s. We identify structural breaks in 1985 and 1994 respectively via the Lumsdaine and Papell (1997)’s linear test, but the results were against the PPP hypothesis. The Saikkonen and LÄutkepohl, (2002)’s test, however, provides sufficient supports for non-linear adjustment of real exchange towards long run PPP. In addition, stronger evidence for PPP is found in the post-1994 period, in conjunction with the small persistence of real exchange deviations (half-life less than a year). Also, the exchange rate misalignment is less evident after the Plaza Accord 1985. In brief, our findings reveal that the Japanese authority has shown some form of PPP-oriented rule as a basis for their exchange rate policies, in the presence of structural break(s) and non-linearity.Real Exchange Rates, Endogenous Breaks, Non-linearity, Half-life

Deep Seabed Mining and Developing Countries

This presentation and panel discussion are part of the symposium entitled: Mining the Deep Seabed: a Range of Perspectives. The paper presents the views of the developing countries on the following group of issues: first, the Declaration of Principles and the value of seabed mining; second, the role of the Enterprise; and third, the institutional arrangements