SOLIDARITY AND THE DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

We are witnessing planetary convulsions. An imperfect world order is under the risk of being replaced by a more dangerous and unpredictable global disorder. In a recent address at Harvard University Kofi Annan (the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General) stated inter alia that: “We are threatened now by a triple crisis… It challenges us both to live up to our best ideals and our best traditions. What does this crisis consist of? First, a crisis of collective security. Second, a crisis of global solidarity. And third, a crisis of cultural division and distrust.

From Digital Divide to Global Digital Solidarity

  The first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (Geneva, 10-12 December, 2003) proved to be a diplomatic success and a genuine "venue of opportunity”. This was the most important political event dedicated to the Information Society since the European Commission coined the title phrase in the mid-Nineties. A total of 11047 participants representing 1486 entities were registered for the Summit, including a unique meeting of leaders, policy-makers, ICT business people, voluntary and non-governmental organizations of every possible kind, and top-level thinkers and speakers. The three-days of Plenary meetings and high-level roundtables were supplemented by nearly 300 side-events meant to bringing the dream of an inclusive information society one-step closer to reality. Negotiators from 192 countries had resolved during several preparatory meetings most of their disagreements over draft documents presented to Heads of State and Government. Following eleventh hour discussions, sticking points such as references to human rights, media freedom, intellectual property rights and Internet governance were overcome. The globe’s political and ICT leaders discussed the digital divide between the worlds’s rich and poor. One focus of the conference was to find ways to boost Internet and mobile phone penetration in developing nations. The Summit declared itself fully aware that the benefits of the information technology revolution are today unevenly distributed between the developed and developing countries and within national societies. It formulated the commitment to turning this digital divide into a digital opportunity for all, particularly for those who risk being left behind and further marginalized. The final conclusion of Declaration of Principles adopted by consensus and entitled Building the Information Society: a global challenge in the new Millennium was that we were collectively entering a new era of enormous potential, that of the Information Society and expanded human communication. In this emerging society, information and knowledge can be produced, exchanged, shared and communicated through all the networks of the world. All individuals can soon together build a new Information Society based on shared knowledge and founded on global solidarity and a better mutual understanding between peoples and nations. These measures will open the way to the future development of a true knowledge society. For achieving that objective it is necessary to seek and effectively implement concrete international approaches and mechanisms, including financial and technical assistance. Therefore, while appreciating ongoing ICT cooperation through various mechanisms, the Summit invited all stakeholders to commit to the “Digital Solidarity Agenda” set forth in the Plan of Action. The worldwide agreed target is to contribute to bridge the digital divide, promote access to ICTs, create digital opportunities, and benefit from the potential offered by ICTs for development. Consequently, the Summit recognized the will expressed by some States to create an international voluntary “Digital Solidarity Fund”, and by others to undertake studies concerning existing mechanisms and the efficiency and feasibility of such a Fund. In fact, the minimal consensus was in favour of global digital solidarity, but there was no agreement on the actual creation of a special fund or on other modalities of action. Therefore, a cogent and topical appeal was addressed to all political leaders of the world to enter into forging a ‘unity of purpose’ in aiming to achieve universal access to ICT. If that appeal does not become operational, the remaining digital gap will widen. The second phase of the Summit is scheduled in Tunis, on November 16 -18, 2005

DIPLOMACY FOR A SAFER WORLD

New dramatic challenges to diplomacy emerge from coping with man-made and natural disasters. This paper will focus primarily upon the Tsunami in South East Asia and the response of various states and world organizations. It will demonstrate the central role of diplomacy in dealing with natural disasters in general

Reforming the United Nations: Prospects and Limitations

Created by 51 countries in 1945, the United Nations (UN) needs a radical reform. The Heads of State and Government committed 191 countries, through the 2005 World Summit Outcome (Appendix), to continue the efforts to reform the UN to make it more efficient, effective and relevant. Many substantive aspects of the document still need further elaboration and multilateral negotiations.The document reaffirms fundamental values and contains clear commitments on steps needed to reach, by 2015, the development goals agreed upon at the Millennium Summit in September 2000. It is aimed at strengthening the UN’s capacity for peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace-building, including a detailed project for a new peace-building commission. It contains recommendations to establish a Human Rights Council.A more dynamic reform process is needed. It has to be tailored to respond effectively to the most ominous threats to international peace and security. If “effective multilateralism” is to be achieved, all States have to go beyond what is immediately significant and urgent to each of them at a strictly national level and help bring about a new multilateral approach for a new agenda on substantive and institutional issues.Member States cannot establish a new world policy agenda without an effective UN system adapted to the new realities of a changing human society at planetary level.In times when there are voices calling into question the relevance and even the utility of the world organization and when the UN Secretariat has to cope with a succession of recent mismanagement revelations, additional efforts are necessary to visibly ensure the UN’s efficiency and credibility. The Security Council should be enlarged and adapted to the new realities and increasing demands. But how? The divergences of views are still great.Whatever the qualifications given to the 2005 World Summit Outcome, the UN reform encouraged by it is still a work in progress. It conveys a mandate for change, but without offering practical consensus solutions. Words and promises are insufficient. They must be followed by convincing action able to give tangibility to existing commitments and to bring the world organization’s founding ideals to life

A New Stage of International Cooperation in the Field of Youth

On the proposal of the Group of 77 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed by consensus an International Year of Youth (IYY): 12 August 2010 - 11 August 2011.Under the theme “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”, the IYY is expected to encourage a more intensive dialogue and better understanding across generations and promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity.The major objective is to harness the energy, imagination and initiatives of the world’s youth in overcoming the current challenges facing humankind. While giving prominence to youth active involvement in this complex area, the article deals more specifically with the younger generation’s contribution to fighting violence and corruption.Regional initiatives, including those promoted in the Asia-Pacific region, are crucial in giving tangibility to youth aspirations for a globalization with a human face. Suggestions of action at local, national, regional and global levels are advanced, in harmony with the IYY objectives

Towards a Strategic Partnership between the USA and ASEAN

Globalization demands a global diplomacy adaptable to regional requirements. In the Asia-Pacific area the close engagement between the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States of America (US) remains a key foundation for regional peace, security and prosperity.For ASEAN the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia (TAC) is a legal code of conduct governing relations in the region. The US acceded to the TAC in 2009. That was a very significant symbol of collective political commitment offering useful juridical foundations for the implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership released in November 2005. This partnership must continuously be adapted to new dynamics and realities.By the Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting of November 20, 2012, the door was officially open to elevate this partnership to a strategic level. The US endorsed ASEAN centrality in future attempts to build a new regional architecture. Defining a long-term workable and comprehensive strategy requires more energetic diplomatic efforts from all parties for deepening and broadening multi-dimensional cooperation in South-East Asia in the years to come

ASEM and the Management of Global Crises

The Seventh Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) which took place in Beijing on October 24 - 25, 2008 at summit level registered the highest attendance in its 12 years history and attracted world-wide attention. The 45 participants reached agreement on combating current global financial crisis and revealed their clear determination to change the current world financial architecture. They expressed their willingness to cooperate and their resolve to use multilateral diplomacy to handle global crises, in harmony with the fundamental objectives of Asia-Europe cooperation.The importance of the ASEM 7 is confirmed by several factors. It was the first diplomatic Summit since its second round of enlargement in 2006. At present, ASEM member countries account for 50 percent of the world’s Gross National Product (GNP), 58 percent of global population and 60 percent of the world’s total trade volume.Confronted with the reality of a severe global financial crisis, both Asian and European countries are greatly affected by the threats of economic slowdown and recessions. If in the past, some of them paid insufficient attention to ASEM, during the Beijing Summit they changed to some extent their position, and are now in favor of taking collective measures calibrated to further strengthen cooperation between the two continents in more areas and to find together constructive solutions to global crises, be it in the financial, food, climate change or energy fields. That is why the Beijing Summit’s results have an undeniable strategic value for the world community.Indeed, the Beijing 2008 consensus illustrates the determination of ASEM’s participants to help regain confidence in the global process of cooperation. Global problems cannot be solved by any individual country or group of countries. They demand global efforts to reach global solutions. The Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development reflects this reality. The document emphasizes that Asia and Europe will strengthen cooperation on energy security, jointly handle the challenge of climate change and contribute to social harmony.As an effective forum of multilateralism, ASEM is expected to become a genuine driving force for the future by consolidating its role as a dynavic facilitator in key cooperation areas.ASEM 8 will take place in Brussels in 2010

Appendix-Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development Beijing, 24-25 October 2008

Appendi

Multilateral Diplomacy and the Information Society

Diplomacy is the art of advancing national interests through permanent negotiations and a sustained exchange of information among nations and peoples. In the present world of instantaneous information, multilateral diplomacy has every chance to sustain even more its relevance.One of the most important components of multilateral diplomacy activities over the 2002-2005 period is dedicated to meetings at sub-regional, regional and global levels dealing with the future architecture of the Information Society. In 2001, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) decided to hold a World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in two phases: the first from 10 to 12 December 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland and the second in 2005 in Tunis, Tunisia.The global Information Society is evolving with extraordinary rapidity. The convergence between telecommunications, broadcasting multimedia and information and communication technologies (ICTs) is driving not only new products and services, but also new ways of conducting business and trade. Trade, social and professional opportunities are expanding alongside with new markets open to competition, foreign investment and participation. This unprecedented dynamic brought by globalization requires global discussions and negotiations. The WSIS will provide a unique opportunity for all concerned people to meet at a high-level gathering and to develop a better understanding of this revolution and its impact on the world community. It will bring together Heads of State, Executive Heads of United Nations agencies, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and civil society in a single political and diplomatic event.The anticipated outcome of the Summit is to endorse a concrete plan of action for achieving the goals of the Information Society, taking into account the different interests of various groups of States.A High-Level Summit Organizing Committee has been established under the patronage of Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, who has frequently argued that the principal challenge we face today is to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all peoples, instead of leaving millions behind in poverty and squalor.Many questions are waiting for adequate answers. The twin phase World Summit on the Information Society in 2003-2005 provides an excellent opportunity to make tangible progress in this area. It is vital to elaborate a set of basic principles of the Information Society which is expected to be universal and empowering. It should promote global digital solidarity and prevent new divisions.The humanistic concept of Opus Solidaritatis Pax, developed by the Holy See, is fully applicable in our globalizing world. The WSIS is expected to serve as a catalyst for “inclusive globalization” and afford a diplomatic and professional opportunity to deal with a large range of issues raised by the emergence of an information-intensive society. It should contribute to consolidating dialogue among civilisations. Socrates’ teaching is always topical: “There is only one good, knowledge; and only one evil, ignorance.” The WSIS is expected to give further tangibility to this truth. Diplomacy will not be condemned to irrelevancy in this process

Re-Visiting Multilingualism in Diplomatic Fora

The phenomenon of multilingualism may be described by considering it as a linguistic ability/ behavior of the members of a speech community which may alternately use two, three or more languages depending on specific circumstances. It may be understood also as the use of several languages by an individual or within a speech community. As a UN specialized agency and an active institution in the field of cultural diplomacy, UNESCO pursues the promotion of the right of each and every individual to self-development in the language and culture of his/her own origin and choice. Language rights are treated as a component of human rights. States have the duty not to take discriminatory measures on language grounds and to act in conformity with major international standard-setting or legal instruments. A significant event was the World Conference devoted to language rights, organized with the support of UNESCO in Barcelona, in June 1996. Its main achievement was the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights. UNESCO has taken initiatives for encouraging research and developing actions aimed at solving language problems of specific groups and is also involved in the preparation of an international convention on linguistic rights, as well as in the adoption of national and regional arrangements for the protection of linguistic diversity. In 2001 the UN General Assembly had on its agenda the item entitled Multilingualism and a report of the UN Secretary-General on that issue which establishes the framework for the question by distinguishing between official and working languages in various parts of the United Nations system. All are some combination of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, which are both the official and working languages of the General Assembly and Security Council. The article examines in detail the diplomatic consideration of this item which led on 15 February 2002 to the adoption by consensus of resolution A/RES/56/262 which states that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international understanding. The author emphasizes the topicality of UNESCO’s recommendations concerning the importance of multilingualism for the promotion of multiculturality on global information networks and comes to the conclusion that relevant nongovernmental organizations in the field of higher education can bring a valuable contribution to enlarging cooperation between universities at the international, regional, sub-regional and national levels in a promising multilingual environment