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On 12 November the study "Supporting European security and defence with existing EU measures and procedures" was presented to the Subcommittee on Security and Defence by Dr. Kolja Raube, Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, University of Leuven and Daniel Fiott, Institute for European Studies, Free University of Brussels.
Further information
Presentation by Dr. Kolja Raube and Daniel Fiott
Study "Supporting European security and defence with existing EU measures and procedures"
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia has created a control system on its nuclear facilities that has brought the main risks of radiation ecological disasters to nil.

"Je suis profondément choquée par les dramatiques attentats en France. Je présente mes plus sincères condoléances aux familles des victimes innocentes. En tant qu'Européens nous devons rester unis, avec la France, pour condamner et combattre le terrorisme. La lutte contre le terrorisme doit être globale et, dans le cadre de ses compétences, notre sous-commission restera engagée à contribuer au renforcement de la sécurité internationale."

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris, Anna Fotyga, Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence stated:

"I am deeply shocked by the dreadful terrorist attacks in France. I convey my deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims. As Europeans we must stand united with France in condemning and combating terrorism. The fight against terrorism should be global and, in the frame of its responsibilities, our subcommittee will remain committed to contribute enhancing international security."

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP

The deteriorating situation in Burundi is a perfect storm of much that undermines stability in Africa today — presidents seeking impunity and power through dubious new terms, authoritarian regimes muzzling opposition and independent media, regional rivalries stalemating efforts to bring peace and outside powers unwilling or unable to act.

La Lettre d’information parlementaire désarmement et non‐prolifération, de novembre 2015, publiée par le PNND et l’Observatoire des armements est désormais disponible. Sommaire et Extraits :

(lire la suite…)

L’UDC l'exige. Le ministre de la Défense, Ueli Maurer, évoque cette option. Le Conseil fédéral reste l'arme au pied.

Suite aux attentats de vendredi à Paris, "au moins 129 personnes sont mortes, 352 autres blessées, dont 99 sont toujours en état d’urgence absolue" rapporte Le Monde. Un argument contre la politique migratoire européenne pour certains, une illustration de ce que vivent au quotidien les populations empruntant la route des Balkans pour d'autres. Les réactions ont fusé sur l'ensemble du vieux continent durant cette fin de semaine sous le signe du deuil.

Im September 2015 verabschiedeten die Vereinten Nationen (UN) einen neuen globalen Entwicklungsrahmen – die „2030-Agenda für nachhaltige Entwicklung“. Die darin formulierten Ziele nachhaltiger Entwicklung (Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs) lösen die Millenniums-Entwicklungsziele (MDGs) ab, die bis Ende 2015 hätten umgesetzt werden sollen.
Welche Rolle spielt Global Economic Governance in der 2030-Agenda und für die SDGs?
Die MDGs haben Probleme der Global Economic Governance nicht angemessen gelöst. So hat MDG 8, das den Aufbau einer globalen Entwicklungspartnerschaft bis 2015 vorsah, kein wirksameres und gerechteres weltwirtschaftliches Umfeld geschaffen, um menschliche Entwicklung zu fördern. Zudem hat die zunehmende wirtschaftliche Globalisierung mit ihrer wachsenden Interdependenz zwischen den Ländern und wechselnden wirtschaftlichen Kräften seit der Verabschiedung der MDGs die Weltwirtschaft verändert.
In den letzten 20 Jahren hat sich der Welthandel vervierfacht und der Süd-Süd-Handel sogar verzehnfacht. Im gleichen Zeitraum stieg der Anteil der Schwellenländer an ausländischen Direktinvestitionen (ADI) von 5 auf mehr als 30 Prozent. Ebenso sind Finanzströme nicht nur angestiegen, sondern haben auch die Richtung geändert: Gewinne aus Schwellenländern fließen jetzt „bergauf“ und kompensieren Leistungsbilanzdefizite fortgeschrittener     Länder. In nur 10 Jahren haben sich internationale Kooperationsbeziehungen von der Dichotomie „reicher Norden“/ „armer Süden“ zu neuen Formen internationaler Wirtschaftskooperation umgestaltet.
Unter diesen veränderten Bedingungen sollten die SDGs den weltwirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen (Global Economic Governance), die teils gar nicht, teils unzureichend thematisiert werden, mehr Bedeutung beimessen.
Die 2030-Agenda für nachhaltige Entwicklung schenkt dem Thema Global Economic Governance zwar mehr Beachtung, lässt aber wichtige Aspekte zentraler weltwirtschaftlicher Herausforderungen außer Acht:

• Die internationale Handelsordnung muss so angepasst werden, dass Handel und ausländische Investitionen nachhaltige Entwicklung verlässlich fördern. Mehr muss getan werden, um den Zugang der Entwicklungsländer zu globalen Wertschöpfungsketten zu verbessern, ihre Handelskosten zu senken und das multilaterale Handelssystem zu reformieren, gerade angesichts mega-regionaler Handelsabkommen.
• Die Regeln und Institutionen des globalen Finanz-wesens müssen modernisiert werden, um Finanzstabilität zu garantieren und die internationale Zusammenarbeit zur Bekämpfung illegaler Finanzströme und -transfers zu verbessern. Das globale finanzielle Sicherheitsnetz und das globale Verschuldungsregime bleiben unvollständig.

Les massacres commis à Paris ont soulevé une vague d'indignation. Mais certains expriment également leur satisfaction.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the investigation of debris found in the wreckage of the Russian A321 passenger jet that crashed over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on October 31, killing all 224 on board, has entered its final stage.

By John A. Akec

All economies, large and small, experience periods of boom and bust. Like us humans, all economies get sick; and from time to time, require fixing to bring them in line with respective national economic policy objectives: namely, maintaining low inflation, sustaining economic growth, and achieving full employment. Causes of economic crisis may differ from one country to another. Each demands appropriate diagnosis and right prescription in order to recover. And we all agree that South Sudan's economy been experiencing challenges for sometimes. Notable among these challenges has been the continuous hikes in prices of consumer goods. In economists' jargon, we are experiencing serious inflation (due to rise in cost of buying dollar for imports, and aggravated by increase supply of national currency in circulation month after month). This inflation is so severe that it qualifies the description of ‘a crisis' as prices of food and durable goods have tripled or quadrupled over the last few months. It is also seen in the disappearance of fuel from the market and the sights of long queues of vehicles and boda-bodas at petrol stations in nation's capital, Juba.

The causes of this economic crisis are well understood. Briefly summarized, the drop in the global prices of oil has meant that very little revenue is accruing to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. War has also led to shutting down of production of oil in Unity State resulting in reduction of total oil output by 30 percent. All factors combined have created a large deficit (or shortfall) in the government public finances. The shortfall which amounts to SSP 600 million a month or SSP 7.2 billion a year is being funded through central bank's borrowing. Central bank borrowing, also known as deficit financing, is believed to be responsible for massive increase in the amount of national currency notes circulating in the economy, whereas the supply of hard currency (dollar) available for exchange remained fixed or somewhat reduced. In other words, deficit financing has resulted in “too many South Sudanese pounds chasing too few dollars.” Consequently, our national currency has fallen in value by almost 300 percent against dollar (from SSP 5.5 to a dollar in January 2015; to SSP 18.5 to a dollar by the end of October 2015). And since we are import-oriented economy, prices of imported goods have subsequently tripled. Some traders have shifted to US dollar as the preferred medium of exchange and better store of monetary value, first sign that our economy is about to dollarise.

THE BEST WAY TO DESTROY A NATION

And to be sure, instability in value of national currency is a matter that deserves an utmost attention. It is no lesser critical than deciding to go to war; or declaring a state of emergency. History has it that Vladimir Lenin, the first leader of Communist Russia, once shrewdly observed that the best weapon for destroying a nation is to destroy its currency. Later on, history tells us, Adolf Hitler, having independently come to the same conclusion as Lenin, planned to fly airplanes over England not to drop bombs, but to unload tones after tones of counterfeited notes of British currency! No one is sure if those plans ever materialized. However, its mention here doe help to drive this point home –stability of national currency is a matter of life and death.
As a nation, we face two scenarios: the first is to absolutely to do nothing but sit back and watch our currency decent into insignificance, just as we have been doing so far, and be ready to pay the ultimate price for inaction. The second scenario is to wake up and take some corrective measures in order to restore confidence in our national currency.

THE BEST CASE SCENARIO: FLOATING THE EXCHANGE RATE IRRESPECTIVE OF OUR FINANCIAL STANDING

The best case scenario is to abolish the fixed exchange rate as soon as possible, irrespective of our financial standing. It is to be recalled that an economic workshop was organized by the government in May 2015. Many economists who attended agreed that the problem stems from deficit financing; and that the best remedy is to move away from the fixed exchange rate policy to a market-determined rate. However, economists could not agree on pre-conditions for such measures nor the best timing. The result has been stagnation, and continuous decline of South Sudan in currency market. However, there are strong arguments against inaction.

For example, the pro-alignment camp argues that at the current parallel exchange rate against dollar of SSP 18.5 to dollar (as of Sunday 8 November 2015), the Ministry of Finance will fetch SSP 1.11 billion for USD 60 million, the estimated monthly oil revenue accruing to the government of South Sudan, or an estimated annual income of SSP 13.320 billion per year (on flexible exchange rate policy). That is, at the stroke of a pen, it does away with the huge deficit.
Add to it the tax revenue of SSP 1.44 billion annual tax revenue, and we have total income of SSP 14.76 billion of government annual income. That is, 4.75 billion additional funds that can be used on development and partly on increasing the salaries of workers on low income in order to reduce income disparities. This is better when compared to estimated SSP 3 billion annual government revenue at current fixed exchange rate of 2.96 to a dollar and a deficit of SSP 7 billion in the approved budget of SSP 10 billion for 2015/2016. It is important to note that these reforms can be implemented with or without foreign currency cushioning. Furthermore, reform of income tax (to include constitutional post holders) could raise additional SSP 2.4 billion per year, taking the total estimated revenue for this financial year to about SSP 17.16 billion.

Furthermore, additional measures include removing fuel subsidies. Currently, Nile Petroleum Corporation spends about USD 18 million per month on fuel or USD 216 million per year (SSP 4 billon) in real term at parallel market rate. A liter of petrol or diesel sells at SSP 6 or USD 2 at fixed exchange. In real terms and based on parallel exchange rate, it should sell at SSP 37 a liter.

Hence there is subsidy of SSP 31 per litter which works out to 83% fuel subsidies paid by Nile Pet on our behalf. Still below the black market price of SSP 60 per liter which many are ready to pay.

Hence, removing the subsidies fully (for argument's sake), the government can get back an estimated amount of SSP 3.3 billion (USD 179.3 million) a year. All in all, the government revenue can rise to SSP 20 billion without increasing the taxes. With these measures, it is possible to recalibrate and stabilize the South Sudanese pound.

THE WORST CASE SCENARIO: DOING NOTHING

This is the favoured scenario by the majority of our economists and members of legislative assembly. The argue that we do nothing until our financial standing improves (a buffer to defend the pound when demand for dollar at market price increases. This is in complete defiance of inverse relation between demand and prices. And doing nothing, fortunately, does not require lengthy explanation to understand. It means our Minister of Finance will continue to run a budget with large shortfall of SSP 7 billion a year; funded through central bank's borrowing which means pumping more currency notes into circulation every month. The South Sudan pound will continue its free fall by an average of SSP 2 per month; and by February 2016, the exchange rate of our currency against dollar will hit or exceed SSP 25 mark. Millions of low-waged individuals will be squeezed out of the market as they will no longer afford to feed their families. Salaries (even for the best paid) will come to mean nothing. Fuel prices will continue to rise. Life will be unbearable for most with the exception of few. The successful implementation of peace agreement will only bring in additional USD 30 million per month (SSP 90 million per month at fixed exchange rate of SSP 2.96 to a dollar). That is, if production in Unity State resumes by December 2015, which is unlikely. Even that addition to government revenue will not make huge difference as long as the exchange rate remains fixed at SSP 2.96 to a dollar, the deficit will fall by SSP 90 to SSP 510 million per month (SSP 6.1 billion annually); and the fall of South Sudanese pound will continue unabated.

In the final analysis, serious political and social upheavals will ensue as a result of unresolved economic crisis. And most probably by January or February in the new year could be troublesome to our stability. And if that happens, many of us will find ourselves agreeing with the economist John Maynard Keynes who expressed his frustration with the classical economists who would not advise their governments to intervene with stimulus in order to speed up economic recovery after the Great Depression which happened between 1920 and 1929.
To Keynes' dismay, the established classical economists occupying White Hall in Britain and beyond, insisted that governments in Britain, Europe, and United States do nothing but allow their economies to self-correct (in the long run). Against which John Maynard Keynes argued that the long run argument is a misleading guide to current affairs as they existed then. And that in the long run all will be dead. Keynes also lampooned classical economists' influence on political decision-makers to do nothing saying: “Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually slaves of some defunct economist[s].”

And if our defunct economists could have their way, Keynes, Lenin, and Hitler would be shaking their heads in their resting abode, amazed that someone in the enlightened twenty-first century would still choose to ignore their wise insights.

*The writer is Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, South Sudan.

November 13, 2015 (WAU) - The health minister in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, Isaac Clerto has announced the commencement of mass polio immunisation campaign.

A medical worker vaccinates a child against polio. (AFP)

The door-to-door campaign will target 13,500 children below five.

“We as government of South Sudan have recognised that since 2009, Polio case has been reported but the coverage is still a challenge [and] that is why we are continuing with the campaign and this the third,” said Clerto.

The campaign started on 14 November and will go till 17.

“We were suppose to start a week earlier but because the delay of vaccines we shifted it to one week. Vaccines have now arrived and these include the ones for counties as immunisation starts tomorrow,” he said.

Clerto, however, urged parents to cooperate with health officials during the exercise.

“What we need is cooperation among the parents to our staff. Even though your child is sick, he or she should be vaccinated because this vaccination gives more immunity to the child,” stressed the minister.

South Sudan has been polio-free since 2009. In 2013, however, health officials declared a national emergency after positive test results were discovered and launched emergency vaccination campaigns in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria states.

(ST)

November 13, 2015 (RUMBEK) - Authorities in South Sudan's Lakes state have cautioned against selling fuel on streets and using petrol generators in the capital, Rumbek.

Map detail of South Sudan showing Lakes state in red

The new directive was contained in an order signed by the Rumbek town clerk, Mabor Chawuop Mabor.

“[A fine of] 500SSP will be imposed on any person who violates the order and all fuel or petrol you are selling will be seized without compensation,” partly reads the order.

The director of the fire brigade, Chol Mayar Mayuen said it was extremely difficult to control outbreaks resulting from a generator that has caught fire.

“All those generators installed near public places need relocation to places that are distant from people, fuel station managers should observe public safety. Those selling petrol or fuel at roadside should stop it immediately because it is a high risk – there are no spaces for fire fighters to intervene if fire erupted because of lack of fire fighters and equipment,” stressed Chol.

He however urged all members of the fire brigade to observe their duties and engage the civil population to respect the rules of law within the state, saying “We are not part of tribal conflict in the state – our duty is to fight fire – we are civil defense forces".

The Lakes state capital currently has nine fuel stations which are fully in operation.

(ST)

Opinión - 16/11/2015
Fernando Reinares
El atentado del pasado viernes 13 de noviembre no va a ser el último. Estas son las claves de lo ocurrido en París.

(Article pour l’Opinion) Alors que les opérations militaires pourraient s’intensifier, la politique française du « ni Bachar, ni Daech » est de plus en plus contestée au sein du pouvoir

La task force antiterrorisme TETRA regroupe le SRC, FedPol, les polices cantonales et le Ministère public fédéral.