May 1997

LONDON– Let’s imagine what post-Mobutu Congo could become. It has diamonds, copper and gold. It has rain and sunshine in abundance. It is not, given its immense size, overpopulated. It has wise political leadership, a stable democracy, economic and financial discipline and good governance. It is the heart of Africa, not Conrad’s “The Heart of Darkness.” In a word it is not the Congo it is Botswana which, bar the rain (Botswana is a desert country), could be the Congo’s twin. Botswana in the 1960s was one of the poorest African countries, far poorer than the Congo. Today it is a prosperous middle-income country. During the 1970s it grew at a world record breaking 16% a year and in the 1980s a handsome 11%. in the 1990s it suffered a few bumps when it was blighted by the worst drought of the century and the diamond market hit the floor. (Diamonds...

LONDON– In Paris on Tuesday (May 27th.) President Boris Yeltsin and NATO’s 15 heads of government are going to sign a “Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security.” As the Economist noted last week it is “Russia’s second surrender.” Seven years ago the Soviet Union ended its hold on eastern Europe. Now Russia will allow its three most important ex-allies, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, to join the military ranks of its long-time protagonist, NATO. The western nations are making a mistake of far reaching consequences, one they stand a more than even chance of living to rue. They missed one historic chance to change for the better the face of Europe in 1991-93, when the radical democrats held the strings of power in Moscow, by refusing to provide Russia with the economic wherewithal to make its transition to capitalism a less debilitating and wrenching experience. And now they...

The Appeal of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Peace! If the Third Millennium could begin under the sign of non-violence… It’s the dream of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. They invite you to join them to influnece all governments of the planet. The Appeal of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates “FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD”To Heads of States of all member statesof the General Assembly of theUnited Nations. Today, in every country throughout the world, there are many children silently suffering the effects and consequences of violence. This violence takes many different forms: between children on the streets, at school, in family life and in the community. There is physical violence, psychological violence, socio-economic violence, environmental violence and political violence. Many children – too many children – live in a “culture of violence”. We wish to contribute to reduce their suffering. We believe that each child can discover, by himself,...

LONDON– Once again in Europe the discussion about admitting new members is coming to the boil and, once again Turkey, promised membership of the Union over 30 years ago, is not on the list. In fact it is even worse than that. Turkey is being actively blackballed. At a get-together of European Christian Democrats in March a prominent member, Wilfried Martens, was widely quoted as saying, “The European Union is in the process of building a civilization in which Turkey has no place.” It was also widely noted that another participant, Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany made no effort, unlike other leaders present, to distance himself from Mr. Martens. The hand of European chauvinism is again being dealt to Turkey, home to Istanbul, the city that strides two continents, the only city to have served as the capital of three empires, the historic meeting place of east and west, cradle of...

LONDON– The British election made one thing very clear and the other decidedly unclear. The former can be summed up simply, the second takes more space. If defunct prime minister John Major had any real commitment to Europe he totally betrayed it by the timing of his resignation as leader of the Conservative party. Although privately touting as his successor Chris Patten, the governor of Hong Kong and most pro-Europe of senior Conservatives, by resigning immediately he has made it impossible for Patten to throw his hat in the ring. Patten can’t make a move in British electoral politics until the hand-over of Hong Kong to China at midnight on June 30th. With Patten sidelined Prime Minister Tony Blair has to decide, if necess a leader who will drive them off to Euroscepticism, with plenty of back-seat advice from the still redoubtable Margaret Thatcher. Nevertheless, as the election revealed–for all the...

JAN ØBERGs KALEJDOSKOP1997 Dec 1997OSSEs toppmöte: Nya vägar, också på Balkan  Okt 1997Økonomien – en rod till “etniske” konflikter  Sept 1997Diana, Theresa, Turner och det civila samhället  Aug 1997Skapa din egen bild av världen!  Juli 1997Stor mand i lille land Juli 1997Försoningens tid  April 1997Det våras för FN  April 1997Väst och Kroatien vid en vändpunkt  Feb 1997Ett expanderande NATO är konfliktbevarande  Jan 1997Ickevåld i Belgrad, men sedan?