In the center of special attention

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In the center of special attention

By Viktor Abaturov, Center for Economic Research and Reforms

Victor Abaturov in his analytical article examines the socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in recent years and the prospects for further transformations within the framework of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy.

The President of Uzbekistan visited the Republic of Karakalpakstan to get acquainted with the development of the region and the life of the population. It is no coincidence that the head of state paid so much attention to the region.

On the one hand, the Republic of Karakalpakstan has a huge development potential – large natural, mineral and agricultural resources, labor potential, road, transport and engineering and communication networks, industrial infrastructure, convenient geographical location and a considerable territory. But, on the other hand, the republic is in a difficult environmental situation associated with the Aral Sea. Climate change on a global scale creates many negative problems for this region. According to the UNEP Aridity Index, most of the region is classified as an arid zone and therefore highly prone to land degradation. This has an extremely adverse effect on people’s health, incomes and living standards. That is why the issues of socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan are in the focus of special attention of the country’s leader.

Last year, for example, Shavkat Mirziyoyev began his election campaign with Karakalpakstan in order to learn more about the situation in this difficult region. During that visit, he ordered the creation of more than 160,000 new jobs in the region in order to solve one of the main problems of the republic – unemployment, and as a result of a promise made during that visit, schools in Karakalpakstan began to provide free lunch for students in grades 1-4 at the expense of the budget. Earlier, on November 11, 2020, a Presidential Decree “On measures for the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in 2020-2023” was issued, which set out the tasks of increasing the economic potential of the region, employment and the welfare of the population, the effective use of opportunities and resources of Karakalpakstan.

This year, attention to the socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan has increased significantly. Ahead of this visit, teams of experts visited the region to analyze the situation and identify existing problems, on the basis of which the necessary decisions will be made. Each district of Karakalpakstan is assigned to one of the regions of Uzbekistan. During this trip of the President, for the first time in history, all the khokims of the regions of Uzbekistan were in Karakalpakstan, who came with their teams to develop specific projects to support this region. In particular, the city of Muynak is assigned to the Tashkent region, and the capital of Karakalpakstan, Nukus, to the khokimiyat of the city of Tashkent, which will assist in the development of the drivers of the city of Nukus – the food industry, the building materials industry, and tourism. With this in mind, a program of complex socio-economic development of Nukus in 2022, which provides for the implementation of 10 projects worth 1 billion 361 million soums with the creation of 3 thousand jobs. It should also be noted that this year the campaign “Do Business in Karakalpakstan” is actively carried out in all regions of Uzbekistan. Within the framework of this company, 264 projects have already been developed for a total of $350 million. In total, 811 projects worth $332.1 million should be launched in Karakalpakstan this year, due to the implementation of which more than 14.7 thousand new jobs can be created in the region.

Economic development

The economy has developed especially dynamically in recent years. The region’s gross domestic product (GRP) over the past five years (at the beginning of 2022) increased by 32%, industrial production – by 30.5%, agricultural production increased by 20%, the volume of market services by 75%, the volume of foreign investment increased by 3,810.6 million US dollars, the number of operating enterprises increased by 59%, and the number of new jobs amounted to 127.3 thousand. Particularly noticeable progress in the development of the economy was achieved in 2021, when the economy of the Republic of Karakalpakstan was recovering steadily after the pandemic-related decline in growth rates in 2020. Gross Regional Product in 2021 grew by 7.4% compared to 2020 and reached 26.3 trillion soums, and its per capita volume grew by 6.0% compared to 2020 and amounted to 13.6 million soums. Industry developed dynamically in 2021. Industrial products worth 16621.3 billion soums were produced, which is 7.4% more than in 2020, thanks to which the republic took 8th place among the regions of the country in terms of industrial growth. At the same time, 22.4% of industrial output was produced by small businesses and private entrepreneurship. In 2021, the share of textile products increased to 13.6% (12.6% in 2020), the share of chemical products increased to 61.6% (59.8% in 2020), while the share of food decreased slightly by increasing the share of other sectors- to 14.9% (16.4% in 2020). The volume of industrial production per capita also increased by 17.3% compared to 2020, amounting to 8584.9 thousand soums. According to this indicator, the region already ranks 6th among other regions.

But the most dynamic development in Karakalpakstan last year was in the service sector, which accounted for 8.3 trillion soums, which is 19.3% more than in 2020. The share of services in the structure of the gross regional product of the region reached 33.6%. Moreover, the growth of individual areas of the service sector occurred unevenly. In 2021 relative to 2020, education services increased by 36.3%, financial services by 27.7%, health care services by 22.5%, transportation services by 22.0%, real estate services by 20.9%, repair services for various personal appliances by 19.2%, and personal services (hairdressers and beauty salons) by 15.3%. Here it should also be noted that 43.6% of the volume of services provided in the region in 2021 was the share of Nukus. But, nevertheless, in a number of districts the growth rate of the sphere of services grew rapidly. Thus, in Takhtakupir, Muynak and Buzatau regions, they were 123.5%, 121.1% and 129.5%, respectively. Dynamic growth rates in 2021 were also observed in construction (10.5%), retail trade turnover (8.8%), consumer goods production (6.1%). In agriculture, they were slightly lower – the growth was 3.7% compared to 2020, and the volume of output was 12.3 trillion soums. Investments in fixed capital grew by 2.1%, reaching 7.9 trillion soums. Karakalpakstan’s participation in Uzbekistan’s foreign economic activities is also expanding. Thus, in 2021, the foreign trade turnover of the region was about $657.2 million. The trade balance of the region maintained a positive balance. In 2021, the Republic of Karakalpakstan traded most with China, the share in trade with which was 23.2%, Russia – 18.9%, Turkey – 16.4%, Kazakhstan – 9.7%, Latvia – 5.0% and the Republic of Korea – 4.7%. Exports increased by 15.4% compared to the previous year and amounted to 418.6 million dollars. It is quite indicative that the export of machinery and equipment, i.e. products with high added value, increased sharply, which increased by 7.62 times. At the same time, export of cotton fiber increased by 1.75 times, and goods of chemical industry – by 1.12 times.

In 2021, there was also a significant increase in imports by 35.3%, which reached $238.6 million, due to the need to modernize the economy of Karakalpakstan. This is evidenced by a significant increase in imports of machinery and equipment at 1.71, which accounted for 46% of total imports. Import of services increased by 1.58 times, energy resources by 1.44 times and chemical industry goods by 1.16 times.

“Green Energy”

Due to Karakalpakstan’s negative environmental situation, “green energy” is receiving a lot of attention in its economic growth. As a result, all districts will gradually adopt new renewable energy capacities, including at the home level, in compliance with the corresponding resolution of the head of state. In the Khodjeili district, for example, 48 solar modules with a total capacity of 14.4 kW were installed on the top of a recently constructed multi-story residential building.

Wind energy is also developing in Karakalpakstan, so last year an international tender was announced for the construction of a wind power plant in this republic, in which about 20 foreign companies applied. This tender was won by ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia, which is investing $108 million in this project. The company offered the lowest tariff – 2.56 cents per 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity produced under a public-private partnership. According to the contract, the power plant, located on the territory of Karauzyak and Beruni districts of Karakalpakstan, should be launched in mid-2023. It will generate 360 million kilowatt/hours of environmentally friendly electricity per year. The project provides for the installation of 25 windmills, the construction of a 20-kilometer power transmission line with a capacity of 220 kilowatts, which will be fully integrated into the country’s energy system.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev laid a capsule in the first stone of this station during his current visit to Karakalpakstan. “Three wind farms with a capacity of roughly 1,800 megawatts will be operational in the region in the next five years,” the head of state remarked.

Environmental innovation

The Republic of Karakalpakstan’s innovative development is also a priority under the current program. Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a resolution in July last year titled “On measures to implement the remarkable resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of May 18, 2021” declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovation and technology.

According to this decree, the Academy of Young Scientists and the Technopark of Youth are being created in Nukus to support novice scientists and researchers, which will open a laboratory with a genetic bank of plant seeds, a business accelerator and a training center at the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea Region. It is also planned to introduce electronic mapping and create a database of endangered flora and fauna.

Testing laboratories will be modernized and logistics services will be established for the delivery of samples to the laboratory. It is planned to form a complex center for biochemical analysis in order to determine the bonitet score of saline soils. A comprehensive assessment will serve to identify the health needs of local residents against the backdrop of dramatic environmental and socio-economic changes.

Ecological innovations are already being successfully implemented. So, last year in the Chimbai region, a generator for the production of drinking water from atmospheric air was put into pilot operation, which allows producing from 12 to 30 liters of water per day. This device is adapted to places where drinking water is not available, and its delivery is quite expensive.

Participation in international life

Thanks to the ongoing policy, the participation of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in international life is also growing. Thus, last year the chairmanship of the SCO passed to Uzbekistan. Among the main initiatives put forward by President Mirziyoyev in his capacity as chairmanship is the SCO Green Belt program, which provides for increasing cooperation between the organization’s member countries in the field of environmental protection. And it is very symbolic that the first event under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the organization took place in the most environmentally difficult region of the country – in the city of Nukus, where in October last year a meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of the SCO member states was held with the participation of representatives of Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India and Pakistan.

Improving management

In order to successfully achieve the goals of socio-economic development, the effectiveness of the mechanism for managing these processes is of great importance, which should ensure the coordination of efforts at the republican, regional and local levels. And this year, such a mechanism is being introduced in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

A new system of interaction between mahallas and authorities is being introduced. “Project groups” have already been created in the region, headed by khokims of districts and cities, which will become a link between ministries and departments, commercial banks and other structures and residents of mahallas. The purpose of the activities of such groups is to identify untapped economic potential, attract interested entrepreneurs to its implementation and organize their interaction with mahallas.

In addition, a situational center for investment projects has been created in the city of Nukus, the activities of which the head of state got acquainted with during his current trip to the region. On the basis of this center, a unified system for the formation, implementation and monitoring of business projects has been formed, which makes it possible to ensure operational interaction between ministries, departments, regions and organizations on the principle of a “single window”. Three groups operate in the center – regional projects, strategic development and operational assistance to entrepreneurs. In addition, the Council of Entrepreneurs has been established in Karakalpakstan, which effectively interacts with project teams in discussing new ideas and proposals, and also actively involves entrepreneurs in their implementation.

In conclusion, it should be said that the special attention shown in recent years to the socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan is already bringing very significant positive results. The Republic has significantly improved its positions in a number of important indicators. This year, a mechanism is being created to ensure the consolidation of efforts of all levels of government and all regions of Uzbekistan to support the development of this region. And we can confidently say that these efforts will not be fruitless, and the most difficult region in terms of its environmental conditions will be able to achieve impressive results in its development this year.

ICC Prosecutor underlines commitment to support the Special Criminal Court of the Central African Republic

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ICC Prosecutor underlines commitment to support the Special Criminal Court of the Central African Republic

ICC Prosecutor underlines commitment to support the Special Criminal Court of the Central African Republic following address by Deputy Prosecutor, Mr Mame Mandiaye Niang at opening of first trial in Bangui

Following the opening of the first trial before the Special Criminal Court of the Central African Republic (“SCC”), the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”), Mr Karim A. A. Khan QC strongly welcomed this landmark moment and underlined the commitment of his Office to actively support the work of the SCC in line with the principle of complementarity.

This followed the visit by Mr Mame Mandiaye Niang, ICC Deputy Prosecutor to Bangui, Central African Republic (“CAR”) during which he took part on behalf of the Prosecutor in the opening ceremony of the first trial at the SCC.

Emphasising the importance he attached to the participation of his Office at the opening ceremony of the proceedings of the SCC at this important moment, Prosecutor Khan underlined his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (“OTP”) and SCC: “I have been clear since I took up office one year ago. Justice is best delivered closest to those impacted by crimes. We should support all efforts that aim to engage with and empower communities, that allow them to participate more directly in the process of justice. The SCC is an excellent example of how this partnership between the international community, national authorities and local actors can result in tangible steps towards this goal.”

During his visit to Bangui, Deputy Prosecutor Niang was received by Mr Arnaud Djoubaye-Abazene, Minister of State for Justice, the Promotion of Human Rights, and Good Governance of the CAR, who reiterated the commitment and willingness of the Government to supporting the SCC in carrying out its mandate, and to strengthening cooperation with the OTP in the conduct of its investigative and prosecutorial activities.

In his remarks to the SCC, Deputy Prosecutor Niang emphasised the historic and symbolic nature of this first trial for crimes under the jurisdiction of the SCC, also noting the hopes it has raised. He emphasised: “[t]oday’s opening of the first trial of the Special Criminal Court, here in the CAR — the very country where the crimes under international law alleged by the Special Prosecutor are supposed to have been committed — is a high point in the symbolic distribution of justice. But beyond the symbols, it is also a crucial meeting with all those victims and survivors of unspeakable atrocities, many of whom were losing hope of seeing justice done in their lifetimes.”

Deputy Prosecutor Niang also congratulated the national authorities of CAR and noted that the fight against impunity and the strengthening of the rule of law are essential components in the reconstruction and reconciliation process in the country. He stressed: “[t]his essential justice is first and foremost the justice of proximity: one which is rendered in the immediate environment of the alleged perpetrators of the crimes and the victims. This is what the principle of complementarity, an essential pillar of the Rome Statute, which the Prosecutor Karim Khan, has been forcefully reminding us of since he took office in June 2021, is all about […] The Court must remain a mechanism of last resort, and The Hague a city of last resort.”

Deputy Prosecutor Niang met Mr Michel Landry Louanga, President of the SCC, its Vice-President, Mr Herizo Rado Randriamanantena, and the SCC Registrar, Mr Dieudonné Senego, who expressed their appreciation for the support of the OTP and recalled the importance of cooperation in order to mutually reinforce efforts to fight impunity for crimes committed in the CAR.

He encouraged the SCC in its efforts and recalled the availability of the OTP to strengthen cooperation and synergy between the two institutions. He said that the OTP would seek to facilitate the provision of effective support to national courts wherever possible. Where national courts did not have the capacity to act, whether for security or other reasons, the ICC would be there, he said. And where action by the ICC was mandated, Prosecutor Khan wanted to explore all possibilities of having a presence in the country, including holding hearings outside of The Hague.  The Deputy Prosecutor stressed that: “[it]t is this synergy and these combined actions that make the fight against impunity for crimes under international law effective and that make justice relevant to the most affected communities.”

Mr Niang also held meetings with Ambassador Douglas Carpenter, Head of Delegation of the European Union to CAR; Ms Patricia Mahoney, Ambassador of the United States of America to CAR, and Mr Jean-Marc Grosgurin, Ambassador of the Republic of France to CAR. Discussions focused on the necessary support and backing of partners in the fight against impunity in the CAR and continued cooperation with the ICC.

Finally, Deputy Prosecutor Niang recalled the importance of the support provided to the SCC by all partners, noting in particular, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the United Nations Development Programme. Deputy Prosecutor Niang also recognised the crucial work of non-governmental organisations working for victims in the delivery of justice by the SCC.

Takedown of online investment fraud

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Takedown of online investment fraud

Takedown of online investment fraud in Albania: 15 arrests

With support from Eurojust, authorities in Albania and Germany have taken down a fraudulent online investment platform that defrauded victims, including many Germans, of at least several million euros. During a recent action day, 15 suspects were arrested and eight places were searched in Tirana, Albania.

The suspects used companies running call centres in Albania. Beginning in 2018, the perpetrators managed two fraudulent electronic platforms, ‘BrokerZ’ and ‘Globalix’, which lured victims in Germany into investing in non-existent financial products that promised large benefits. Among those arrested is one of the alleged leaders of the scam.

During the searches in Albania, servers, various IT equipment, documents and other related materials were seized. A German prosecutor as well as law enforcement officers from Germany participated in the action day in Albania. Eurojust assisted in the coordination of the cross-border judicial cooperation in this case, including support to execute the request for Mutual Legal Assistance from Germany to Albania.

Albania is one of the ten third countries that currently have Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust. In addition to Albania, these countries are Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The following authorities took part in the operation:

  • Albania: Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime of Tirana; Unit “C” of the General Directorate of Albanian State Police
  • Germany: Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime at the Bamberg General PPO; Criminal Investigation Departments Bayreuth and Oberfranken

DiploSalsa – A Salsa Dance Workshop, Sponsored by the Embassy of Cuba

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DiploSalsa – A Salsa Dance Workshop, Sponsored by the Embassy of Cuba

“Opened to all diplomats – regardless of fitness level, dancing skills, or the presence of a partner”. This was the message conveyed by the invitation sent by the Embassy of Cuba and Diplomat Magazine to diplomats credited to the Netherlands, tempting all of them to get out again after the last lockdown and get into the music and dance of this charming Caribbean country.

With the expert Cuban salsa teacher, Rafael Cala, diplomats came to share the passion for the Cuban dance in a relaxed and fun atmosphere throughout four weeks.

Cuban Salsa Workshop

During the last day of the course, in the company of some delicious mojitos and tasty Cuban food, H.E. Ms. Anet Pino Rivero, Ambassador of Cuba, awarded a certificate of accomplishment to each participant. This was a stimulant and joyful activity that we plan to repeat next year. We wish to thank all the participants for their energy, as well as the Embassy of Cuba for the organization. 

Haarlem Diplomats Walking Tour

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Haarlem Diplomats Walking Tour

Diplomat Magazine organised a friendly walk throughout Haarlem. The walking tour – organized for diplomats only – highlighted some of the most exciting sites to be visited in this beautiful city, which is unfortunately too often overshadowed by Amsterdam.

Haarlem, an incredibly authentic ‘Hollandse’ city, welcomed the group with a sunny day – the perfect whether for a walking tour.

A large number of diplomats – from Switzerland to Canada, from Rwanda to Cuba, from Azerbaijan to Sweden, from Peru to Germany, from Ghana to Vietnam and more – enjoyed this beautiful city, with its canals, windmills and 17th-century narrow houses with huge windows.

They learned about Haarlem’s history and its absolutely beautiful and peaceful hidden gardens.

Historian Johannes Enschedé and H.E. Mr. Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe , Ambassador of Rwanda.

Besides admiring the beauty of Haarlem, the group was privileged to benefit from the expertise of two unique tour guides, the expert Sherman McGrew, as well as Mr. Johannes Enschedé, one of the most notorious lawyers and historians from Haarlem, and a direct descendant of Izaak Enschedé, the first printer of Dutch bank notes in 1703 and of the local newspaper “Opregte Haarlemsche Courant” in 1737 (one of the oldest newspapers in the world).

Mr. Enschedé accompanied the group from Haarlem Central Station through all the key places in the city, explaining details about historical buildings, churches, statues, plazas, as well as about the Enschedé Museum, a part of the Dutch history and of his own too. We will never thank enough Mr. Enschedé for the privilege of his personal engagement with our group of diplomats. 

The tour started at Leonardo Royal Hotel at 11:00, with the group getting into the bus at the parking lot of the hotel. The walking tour was about four hours long, including time to shops at the market in the center, as well as to enjoy good food and drinks to cool down at the end of the day.

Conference to mark the ICC’s 20th anniversary

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Conference to mark the ICC’s 20th anniversary

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce the conference “International Criminal Court at 20: Reflections on the Past, Present and the Future”, taking place on Friday, 1 July 2022, at the World Forum in The Hague, the Netherlands. The conference will be webcast live in English, French and Spanish on the ICC’s YouTube channel.

The conference will be an occasion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the International Criminal Court as one of the permanent pillars of the international legal system. The entry into force, on 1 July 2002, of the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, enabled the commencement of the Court’s operations under its mandate aimed at ensuring accountability for the gravest crimes under international law, contributing to their prevention, and providing justice to victims.

The conference will start with a keynote speech by the Chair of Rome Conference and first ICC President, H.E. Mr. Philippe Kirsch, followed by three substantive panels on various aspects on the Court’s work. Speakers will include the President, Prosecutor and Registrar of the ICC, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims, the President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association, as well leading academics, civil society experts and practitioners.

The conference will allow for in-depth discussions on the different aspects of the Court’s concrete operations, from the earliest reports of alleged crimes to final judgments and the reparation of victims. It will also be an occasion for reflections on how well the ICC has met expectations, as well as what main trends can be discerned for the further development of the international criminal justice system going forward.

While in-person participation at the conference is by invitation only, virtual attendance is open to all interested persons.

The International Criminal Court would like to express its appreciation to the European Commission as well as to the Embassy of the French Republic in The Netherlands and the Municipality of The Hague for the financial support provided for this conference.

Operation against drug traffickers in Italy, Spain and Netherlands: 24 arrests

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Operation against drug traffickers in Italy, Spain and Netherlands: 24 arrests

Authorities in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands  yesterday conducted an operation against a major drug trafficking network, which allegedly used the art trade in the Netherlands to launder the profits of its illegal business. Eurojust coordinated and supported the action, which led to the arrest of 24 suspects.

Investigations into the organised crime group (OCG) started in 2019 when the Italian authorities unravelled a local drug trafficking network, run by two Milanese restaurant owners. This investigation led to links with a larger network of traffickers, who never met in person and took nicknames based on fictional characters, using encrypted communication tools.

Thanks to information from the French authorities, following the successful – and Eurojust-supported – EncroChat and SkyECC operations, the structure of the OCG could be laid bare. The network ran a multitude of large-scale drug trafficking operations, trading in cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, with the Netherlands as one of its main hubs.

Cocaine was shipped to Dutch ports from Latin America and transported to Italy using articulated lorries and cars with hidden compartments. Additionally, the OCG was involved in the ketamine trade from Lithuania, which was also run via the Netherlands. Spain was used as a trading route for the smuggling of cannabis from North Africa.

As of 2020, authorities both in the Netherlands and Italy have managed to intercept large quantities of drugs. Several arrests of other OCG members have already taken place over the past months, with the action day as the culminating point of the investigations so far.

During the action day, a total of 47 locations were searched, including an art gallery in Amsterdam. Furthermore, bank accounts that were allegedly used for money laundering purposes have been frozen by authorities in the Netherlands.

Overall, an estimated EUR 150.000 in cash was seized, as well as over 150 kilos of various types of illicit drugs.

Eurojust supported the operation by organising five preparatory coordination meetings and assisting with the execution of European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants. The Agency also enabled the cooperation of the various authorities involved during the day.

The operation was carried out and supported by:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) Milan; State Police Milan (Polizia di Stato, Questura di Milano)
  • Spain: National Police (Policía Nacional)
  • The Netherlands: International Legal Assistance Centre (IRC) Amsterdam; National Coordination Centre for International Legal Assistance (LIRC); Regional Investigation Service (DRR) Amsterdam Police
  • France: Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction (JIRS) Lille; National Jurisdiction Against Organised Crime (JUNALCO) Paris; Gendarmerie Nationale C3N; National Judicial Police (DCPJ)
  • Lithuania: Prosecutor General’s Office; Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau

ICTR Fugitive Protais Mpiranya Confirmed Dead

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ICTR Fugitive Protais Mpiranya Confirmed Dead

Arusha, The Hague, 12 May 2022 – The IRMCT Office of the Prosecutor confirms today the death of Protais Mpiranya, the last of the major fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and alleged to have been a senior leader of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. There are now only five outstanding fugitives under the IRMCT’s jurisdiction.

In reaction to today’s announcement, IRMCT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz stated:

Accounting for the last of the major ICTR fugitives – Protais Mpiranya – is an important step forward in our continued efforts to achieve justice for the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

For the victims of his crimes, Mpiranya was a feared and notorious fugitive, leader of the Presidential Guard during the Genocide and later a top commander in the FDLR. Confirming his death provides the solace of knowing that he cannot cause further harm.

The results of this investigation are also a testament to the United Nations’ relentless pursuit of accountability for those indicted for the most serious crimes. Nearly three decades after the Genocide, my Office continues to track fugitives and prosecute our remaining cases, like the trial of Felicien Kabuga, while also giving our support to national prosecutions in Rwanda and elsewhere.

I would like to extend our gratitude to partners whose contributions were essential. The Government of Rwanda continues to be among our strongest supporters and played an important role in this investigation. Law enforcement agencies and prosecution services from Belgium, France, Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zimbabwe and elsewhere also provided assistance. My Office would like to further recognize again the excellent forensic support provided by the Netherlands Forensic Institute, which conducted the DNA analysis of Mpiranya’s remains.

As Commander of the Presidential Guard, Mpiranya was indicted by the ICTR in 2000, which was made public in 2002. He was charged with eight counts of genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Notably, he was charged with responsibility for the murders of senior moderate Rwandan leaders at the start of the genocide, including Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Information. He was also charged with the murders of ten Belgian United Nations peacekeepers during that same period.

Following a challenging and intensive investigation, the OTP has determined that Mpiranya died on 5 October 2006 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Following the publication of the ICTR indictment against him, Mpiranya fled to Zimbabwe in late 2002, where he resided until his death. Mpiranya’s presence in Zimbabwe, and later the fact of his death, were deliberately concealed by the concerted efforts of his family and associates, including up to the present. A summary of the results of the OTP’s successful investigation, which uncovered many key facts despite difficult circumstances, can be found in the attached annex.
The OTP will submit a motion to IRMCT judges in due course to officially close the case against Mpiranya.

UN rights chief denounces Christian-Muslim violence in Ethiopia

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UN rights chief denounces Christian-Muslim violence in Ethiopia

Michelle Bachelet calls on authorities to conduct independent investigations into the deadly religious violence.

Aljazeera (07.05.2022) – https://bit.ly/3kWLOrt – The UN human rights chief has voiced alarm at recent deadly clashes between Muslims and Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia and called on authorities to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday that she was “deeply distressed” by the violence that erupted late last month in northern Ethiopia, reportedly killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100 others.

The clashes began in Gondar city in the Amhara region on April 26, reportedly in connection with a land dispute, before quickly spreading to other regions and the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, she said.

The Islamic Affairs Council of Amhara said the funeral of a Muslim elder had been attacked, describing the scene as a “massacre” by heavily armed “extremist Christians”.

The cemetery where the attack occurred neighbours a mosque and church and has been the subject of an ongoing dispute between Muslims and Orthodox Christians, who are the dominant group in Ethiopia.

“I understand two mosques were burnt and another two partially destroyed in Gondar,” Bachelet said in her statement.

“In the apparent retaliatory attacks that followed, two Orthodox Christian men were reportedly burnt to death, another man hacked to death, and five churches burnt down” in the southwest of the country, she said, adding that other regions had since seen clashes.

In all, police had reportedly arrested and imprisoned at least 578 people in at least four cities in connection with the clashes, she said.

“I call on the Ethiopian authorities to promptly initiate and conduct thorough, independent and transparent investigations into each of these deadly incidents,” Bachelet said.

Prevent further inter-religious violence

Authorities should strive to “ensure that those found to be responsible are held to account”, she said, stressing that “individual accountability of perpetrators is essential to prevent further violence.”

At the same time, “those arrested must be fully accorded their due process and fair trial rights in accordance with international human rights law, without discrimination.”

The UN rights chief also called for broader action to reconcile communities in Ethiopia, where Muslims make up about a third of the population.

“To prevent further inter-religious violence, it is crucial that the underlying causes of this shocking violence are promptly addressed,” she said, urging “meaningful participation of survivors, families and affected communities”.

Such violence in Ethiopia is not a new development. In 2019, authorities arrested five people suspected of burning down four mosques in the town of Motta in the same region.

Fighting in Ethiopia’s wider conflict has eased since the federal government declared a unilateral ceasefire last month, saying it would allow humanitarian aid to enter Tigray.

When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power in 2018, he introduced sweeping political and economic reforms that won him international praise, culminating in the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for peacemaking efforts with longtime enemy Eritrea.

The Development and Geopolitics of New Energy Vehicles in Anglo-American Axis Countries

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The Development and Geopolitics of New Energy Vehicles in Anglo-American Axis Countries

By He Jun

While the global development of green energy and industries has been an ongoing matter, the war launched by Russia in Ukraine adds a deeper geopolitical dimension to it. In this shift, the “Anglo-American Axis”, comprising the United Kingdom and the United States, may once again lead the way.

Take the UK as an example. In promoting green energy and green industry, and reducing its carbon emissions, a series of seemingly radical policies have been introduced in the past two years. The UK government released the “Ten-Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution” in November 2020, proposing the development of offshore wind power, in addition to promoting the development of low-carbon hydrogen, and providing advanced nuclear energy, accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles, among others. It also includes action plans for the reduction of 230 million tons of carbon emissions in the transport and construction industries in the next decade.

In the policy paper Energy White Paper: Powering Our Net Zero Future published in December 2020, the UK has planned for the transformation of the energy system, and strive to achieve the goal of ne-zero carbon emissions in the energy system by 2050. On the conventional energy front, it announced a phase-out of existing coal power plants by October 2024. Focusing on the fields of energy, industry, transportation, construction and others, it aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030. Additionally, the UK has also launched the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on January 1, 2021, setting a cap on total greenhouse gas emissions for industrial and manufacturing companies, with the objective of achieving a net-zero emissions target by 2050. In March 2021, it took the lead among the G7 countries to launch the Industrial Decarbonization Strategy, supporting the development of low-carbon technologies and improving industrial competitiveness. The plan is to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing companies by 2030 and build the world’s first net-zero emissions industrial zone by 2040.

In terms of public transport, there is the March 2021 National Bus Strategy, and a green transformation plan for the bus industry is proposed. In July of the same year, the Transport Decarbonization Plan is announced, further integrating low-carbon transformation in transportation such as railways, buses, and aviation, and promoting the electrification of public and private transportation. At present, there are more than 600,000 plug-in electric vehicles in the UK, and the production of new energy vehicles exceeds one-fifth of the total car production. In the nation’s new car sales for February 2022, electric vehicle sales accounted for 17.7% of the market, the market share of plug-in hybrid vehicle sales is 7.9%. Adding traditional hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles account for more than one-third of the sales.

On April 8, 2022, the UK government announced the annual development goals for new energy vehicles. It is stipulated that by 2024, all-electric vehicles must occupy 22% of the market. This proportion rises to 52% in 2028 and 80% in 2030. The country’s authority hopes that these mandatory policies will force carmakers to, by 2035, increase the share of electric vehicles in sales every year, when all models must achieve zero emissions. It will then ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and hybrid cars from 2035, under plans unveiled two years ago.

As the world’s largest automobile consumer, the United States has also put forward the development plan for new energy vehicles. It should be pointed out that the marketization forces represented by Tesla have played a strong and spontaneous role in the U.S.’ development of new energy vehicles. On this basis, the supporting policies introduced by the U.S. government will have greater policy flexibility. After the Biden administration came to power, there are changes in the negative attitude of the Trump administration towards the new energy industry, and an agreement returning to the Paris Agreement has been signed. To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the U.S. government plans to increase the sales of new energy vehicles (including plug-in hybrid, pure electric, and fuel cell vehicles) to 40-50% by 2030.

The government and industry will provide subsidies for the purchase of these vehicles, improve the charging network, invest in research and development, and provide subsidies for the production of the vehicles and their spare parts. On March 31, 2021, the Biden administration proposed to invest USD 174 billion in supporting the development of the U.S. electric vehicle market, which involves improving the U.S. domestic industrial chain. It targets to construct 500,000 charging stations, electrify school buses, public transport, and federal fleets by 2030. In President Biden’s USD 1.75 trillion stimulus bill passed by the House of Representatives that year, there was a subsidy mechanism for new energy vehicles and additional subsidies for traditional American car companies.

Major U.S. domestic and international automakers, United Auto Workers, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the California government, the U.S. Climate Alliance, as well as other industrial and governmental agencies have issued a joint statement and support the Biden administration to accelerate the development of the new energy vehicle industry, so as to strengthen the leadership of the U.S. in this field. On the basis of marketization, the strong support of the U.S. to the new energy vehicle industry will greatly promote the development of this particular market in the country.

Researchers at ANBOUND believe that the UK and the American strategies and series of policies for the development of new energy vehicles are not merely concerning industry and green development. Instead, they carry profound influence and significance. Chan Kung, founder of ANBOUND, pointed out that the policy signals given by the Anglo-American axis represent the shape of the things to come. The development of new energy vehicles is not a purely industrial or technological issue. It is conspicuous that such a development means alternative ways of energy utilization have emerged, and this energy revolution has its geopolitical implication, where both the UK and the U.S. will further ditch their dependence on Russian energy. If the future industrial system and consumer market are no longer dependent on oil, then Russia, which is highly dependent on oil resources economically, will be hit greatly in economic sense.

It should be pointed out that due to the complexity and extension of the transportation system, this revolutionary policy of energy substitution will also drive the rapid development of other industries, as well as related technological buildout and the manufacturing of new products. It will not take long for a new manufacturing system to emerge in the countries and societies of the Anglo-American axis.

Chan Kung emphasized that it is also worth noting that from a geopolitical perspective, this large-scale new energy policy is also a measure to share geopolitical risks and pressures. In the past, countries and governments had to address issues caused by geopolitical risks, such as rising oil prices and inflation. These in turn, could lead to political instability if the ruling government failed to address them well. However, the rapid development of industries such as new energy vehicles has made a great change in the situation. The pressure on the government was quickly directed to the private sector, industry, and society. To improve the quality of life, people are spending money to buy new energy vehicles. This is tantamount to common people spending money to solve the geopolitical risks of the Anglo-American axis countries and governments. Once this pattern and market system are formed, the Anglo-American axis countries will not only eliminate the pressure of Russia’s weaponization of energy, they can also generate profits from it, even form a new manufacturing system that can scrap their dependence on the manufacturing industry of third world countries and China. From this ideal logic, the development of new energy vehicles can serve multiple purposes for countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

Noticeably, unlike in China, the “electric vehicles” or “new energy vehicles” mentioned in the supporting policies of the Anglo-American axis countries do not have any specific type (such as plug-in hybrid, pure electric, fuel cell vehicle, etc.). This is actually a wise decision in the design of public policy. The technology part is a technical issue, not a public policy issue. Separating public policy from technical issues not only distinguishes the functions of policy and market, but also effectively reduces the influence of interest groups.

About the author:

He Jun is an ANBOUND Partner, Director of China Macro-Economic Research Team and Senior Researcher. His research field covers China’s macro-economy, energy industry and public policy.

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