Armed Forces, Peace and Democracy

On Understanding and Acceptance of Cultures

Cyrano — 2013-01-05T12:45:40Z

We regularly use this Forum to give the floor to members and friends of our international network .

This time we publish considerations on a theoretical approach to the establishment and maintenance of peace.

A young German Army officer tries to take this to the Kantian principle of our network: "The state of peace amongst men living side by side is not really a state of peace, but is rather a state of war, that is to say a state in which hostilities, even if they have not been openly declared, are a continual threat. A real state of peace must therefore be created. For the absence of hostilities is not sufficient to guarantee peace".

Immanuel Kant, Towards everlasting peace, 1795 By distributing this Letter, we'd like to contribute to the discussion and hope to create a lot of interest and fruitful exchanges.

How do you obtain peace and how do you maintain it? This is a central question which emerges when considering global policy from an ethical point of view.


Immanuel Kant, 1724 - 1804: Schöpfer unseres Leitmotivs Quelle:Wikipedia

According to Kant's motto, which is posted on this website, peace has to be created. This means that something has to be done in order to maintain it. Without active cooperation - that is how Kant's idea has to be understood - peace is nothing more but armistice.

But what could it be that has to be done to preserve peace? There are various possible answers to this question. One of these I will discuss in this article, and you may already have heard of it.

However, we should first ask ourselves the following question: “What is actually our problem?”

Few words are needed to give an answer: our problem is a lack of understanding and acceptance for foreign cultures.

The West, as a community of values, has declared human rights to be the highest principle in its hierarchy of values and puts the respect of human dignity on its top. With this goes along the idea of a pluralistic society and the pursuit of a maximisation of individual liberty and the simultaneous increase of independence of everyone. Another part of this system of values is the tendency to turn away from traditional habits, as for instance the equalisation of men and woman .

It should be added at this point that even in the sphere of the western community of values, these are rather recent developments, which is why they could be classified as post-modern.

Indeed, this system of values has not been put to the test yet and, therefore, it is unclear wether it is sustainable or not. Seemingly convinced of the irrefutability of this system of values, the western community attempts to impose it everywhere, which means all around the world. If necessary, this happens by force.

As soon as disregard of these values can be observed, the western community reserves itself the right of intervention to reestablish the – in its opinion - right order. That is what we saw during the conflicts in northern Africa in 2010. These are the official reasons for the intervention in the Syrian conflict, and that is, among other things, what is reproached to the Iranian, the Chinese, the Russian and the North Korean regimes. The majority of the blamed states is of muslim character, and so it comes that the Islam is collectively blamed for the disregard of the aforementioned values. This way, a whole cultural space is identified as a potential enemy. …


Syrien-Konflikt: Demonstration für Syriens Freiheit und Demokratie in Berlin Photo: Paul Zinken/dapd

Those values which, according to current western standards, are considered to be universal are so dominant that mustering up understanding for different systems of values - that is to say, for different cultures - becomes an issue of lesser importance. Surely, intervention in such cultures may lead to the potential establishment of these so-called universal values, but we should at the same time ask ourselves what could be destroyed by such interventions. Even if there are doubts as to whether some traits of a foreign culture correspond to the human rights, an intervention into such a cultural system may be very delicate. Such a system may be far too fine and complicated as that an intervention could be without dire consequences. The idea of a surgical cut, which seemingly does not take out anything but the malicious parts, is misleading.

Consequently, external interventions into foreign cultures can mean their modification or even their destruction. And, after all, who has the right to destroy other cultures by putting his own culture above them? Here, western standards are forced upon foreign cultures by helping western-friendly groups to come into power and prompting them to establish western structures in the country. By simultaneously setting up executive powers, such as the police and the military, the people in the country are forced to adopt a foreign system, may it be opposing to their original culture or not. In this context, it is very often the economic plight of the population which plays the role of a reliable recruiting partner for these executive powers. This is what is currently happening in Afghanistan.

Culture defines itself mainly and ultimately by how decisions are taken in a society. However the logics behind these decisions may be, the fact is that they work because they are in harmony with the people who apply them. What can be the consequences of this western intervention policy that is lacking sensitiveness and understanding can be seen in the example of many African countries. During the colonial period, western logics were introduced to various African societies which led to impairment of the original cultures, that ever-since guaranteed a functioning living together. After all, they developed over long periods in harmony with the the people and the environment. Today, most African societies do not function anymore because the people, taken off their own cultures, live in systems that are foreign to them. One then talks about “Failed States”. Creating multicultural societies and at the same time reducing the cultural variety of our planet seems contradicting. As much as the western world relies on human rights, as little it respects the peoples' right of self-determination.

Those who deal with politics know that putting forward the duty of protection of foreign interests can nearly always be seen as a circumstantial evidence that the real motives are to be found elsewhere. To stand up for foreign interests is in the public's taste and thus is appropriate to raise acceptance for any kind of project. After all, it is not yourself you are fighting for – or, at least, so it seems.

We should thus keep a constant level of distrust and pay attention to the fact that the intention to liberate a people from its anti-human-rights-regime is not misused as a cloak for own, often imperialistic interests. This would be, contrary to what is wanted to be believed, of utmost immorality.

The negative points that are inherent in the current intervention policy are summing up and the only morally-speaking positive point remains the protection of the individual. But even this responsibility of protection is only a point of view, that seems to enjoy a strong priority but without necessarily being justified. Another point of view puts the respect of the culture of a people and their self-determination above the protection of the individual.

The two world powers China and Russia, for example, are supporting this point of view which can be seen, for instance, in their refusing attitude in UN-negotiations concerning interventions inside foreign states. Hence, the protection of the individual on the international level has no universal character. It is contestable.

Let us go back to the question we initially posed and ask ourselves what should be done to preserve peace in the long run.

What is needed is a common basis. A basis which determines basic values that are so universal and far-reaching that they restrict no one but at the same time urge everyone to respect the other.

Such as free-trade, christianity or communism were basic convictions that should serve as platforms on which people could meet without conflict, there is another basic conviction, presented to you here, that could serve as a platform for peaceful international understanding. Only it is far more universal than the previously mentioned ideas which, ultimately, all failed. Free-trade has never been, and still is no, guarantor for peace, for it is at war with all those who do not submit to it. All those who do, get destroyed, as the standardization of consumer goods standardizes the lives of the people on earth and finally destroys all cultural diversity. Christianity never avoided any war but –on the opposite- has been the reason for numerous conflicts, either because of its missionary expansion (e.g. Saxon Wars) or because of the emergence of Protestantism and the entailed persecutions (e.g. French Wars of Religion). Moreover, Christianity is something of foreign roots that is not originally from the regions where it is practiced, nor was it created by the people who live there. Christianity, too, was forced upon the people, until they forced it upon themselves.

Communism had the problem that it wanted to force upon the people all over the world a social system which, however, half of them rejected as otherwise they would have had to change their lives fundamentally. All of these approaches have in common hat they only work if a large part of humanity is willing to give up its identity and this in a collective manner. It is not necessarily the individual that has to give it up –free trade would never force them to- but to the next generation a large part of the old customs will already be unknown. In the generation after that, they will already all watch the same movies and no one will know about sentimental films with a regional background, so called “Heimatfilme”.

Soon after, they will all read the same newspapers, until finally they all speak the same language. (In numerous African cultures, they speak English or French instead of their original languages. Neologisms such as 'Denglisch', 'Franglais' or 'Spanglish' speak for themselves.) All approaches disregard the cultural variety and pass over the fact that people cling to their culture and sense a particular love for it. It gives them an identity, it gives them background, roots and it gives them depth. Collectively speaking, one may say that culture gives character to a people. It is this force, this love that we should respect. Love for the own identity and for the own origin is what the term “patriotism” means. And it is this term which is at the roots of the following solution.

Patriotism, that is to say the attachment to culture is a feeling, an understanding that, if you have it, leeds you towards an understanding that others can have the same affection for their culture. That means that the patriotism of one is at the same time the understanding for the patriotism of another. A patriot knows how much he is devoted to his culture and he knows how difficult the preservation of it has become. He also knows that every threatened Identity means an uprising threat for his own. Patriotism can thus become a basis trough which everyone knows protected his own freedom and, at the same time, guarantees the protection of the others freedom.

It is important, nowadays, to point out clearly the difference to nationalism: Nationalism defines itself trough rivalry while patriotism is a conviction that is self-sufficient. While a nationalist sticks to an order of precedence in his viewpoints, the patriot sees an equality of cultures. A culture is unimpeachable and has full acknowledgement and acceptance just even because of the fact that it is a culture. For a nationalist, every foreign culture is a potential enemy because its gain in strength means a relative weakening of his own position. From the love to his own culture, the patriot scoops love for other cultures because he knows what magnificence lies behind a culture.

The nationalist sees his culture as being superior and thus subordinates all other cultures. From this can come hatred and aversion to other cultures and, in a further stadium, the wish can appear to dominate others or even to force ones own culture upon them.

A solution to this problem can thus be seen in patriotism as a far-reaching basis of values which systematically promotes mutual understanding and acceptance of foreign cultures. It opposes to the decline of cultures and their variety and exerts on their preservation and their progress. The one who believes that the standardisation of different cultures on a global scale means progress is mistaken, or rather, lets himself be taken in.

And because today the own culture is becoming a larger unknown, I refer to the initially formulated problem and remove the word “foreign”. The problem is thus “a lack of understanding and missing acceptance for cultures”. Because only the one who respects his own culture can embody the universal character of patriotism and bring its sense to bear.

A contemporary contribution to promoting the understanding of cultures will be presented to you next time.

► Euro-ISME Annual Conference 2013

Manfred Rosenberger — 2013-01-03T11:54:00Z

Dear Members and Friends of Euro-ISME


euroisme_president

At the very beginning of this New Year, on behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to express our sincere thanks for your interest and support during the initial phase of our association.

In particular, my gratitude is due to all members and partners who allowed us to organise so successfully our 2nd Annual Conference at the UK Defence Academy at Shrivenham in June last year .

In the same spirit, and with equal dedication, we are now preparing the 3rd International Conference.This will take place on the 2nd & 3rd of May 2013 at the Royal Netherlands Navy Event Centre in Amsterdam.

It is with pleasure that I use the Forum to communicate a preliminary programme & information about this forthcoming conference.

You will also find hereby a registration form, which I hope you will use in the near future to to register your attendance.

Your proposals for contributions are still welcome before the 15th of February (see Call for Papers) .

Allow me also to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a happy new year, one in which I hope you will see your aspirations fulfilled.

I look forward to meeting you in Amsterdam.

With kind regards,

Benoît Royal

3rd Annual Euro-ISME Conference on "Reconciliation & Reconstruction - "Ethical Issues in Conflict Zones and at Home"

Preliminary Programme & Information


Royal Navy Event Center Amsterdam

The Euro-ISME Conference 2013 at the Royal Netherlands Navy Event Center in Amsterdam (ECA) is organised by the "International Society of Military Ethics in Europe" (association under French law).

It is the Association's 3rd Annual Conference after the Inaugural Conference held in Paris in June 2011 and the 2nd Annual Conference co-organised last year with the UK Defense Academy / Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.

It thus continues to establish a regular exchange on Military Ethics in close cooperation with European educational institutions. It also provides the opportunity for the annual "General Assembly" of the Euro-ISME members with a special focus on the the definition of the Action Plan for 2014 & 2015.

General Sequence of Conference Events

Wednesday, 1st of May 2013

CONFERENCE PRELUDE : HISTORICAL / CULTURAL EXCURSION

For more details visit

Thursday, 2nd of May 2013

08.00 - 09.00 Registration

09.00 Opening of the Conference by General T.A. MIDDENDORP, Chief of Netherlands Defense Staff (asked)

09.30 - 17.30 Plenary or Parallel Sessions

Friday, 3rd of May 2013

09.00 - 15.30 Plenary or Parallel Sessions

15.45 - 16.30 Closing Session

For more details please load down the Programme and/or the Call for Papers.

If you wish to register you can find the Registration Form here.

On Understanding and Acceptance of Cultures

Cyrano — 2012-12-30T10:10:24Z

We regularly use this platform of the Letter of the Month to give the floor to members and friends of our international network .

This time publish a reflection on a theoretical approach to the establishment and maintenance of peace.

A young German Army officer tries to take this to the Kantian principle of our network:


Immanuel Kant, 1724 - 1804: Schöpfer unseres Leitmotivs Quelle:Wikipedia

"The state of peace amongst men living side by side is not really a state of peace, but is rather a state of war, that is to say a state in which hostilities, even if they have not been openly declared, are a continual threat. A real state of peace must therefore be created. For the absence of hostilities is not sufficient to guarantee peace".

Immanuel Kant, Towards everlasting peace, 1795 By distributing this Letter, we'd like to contribute to the discussion and hope to create a lot of interest and fruitful exchanges.

How do you obtain peace and how do you maintain it? This is a central question which emerges when considering global policy from an ethical point of view.


Immanuel Kant, 1724 - 1804: Schöpfer unseres Leitmotivs Quelle:Wikipedia

But what could it be that has to be done to preserve peace? There are various possible answers to this question. One of these I will discuss in this article, and you may already have heard of it.

However, we should first ask ourselves the following question: “What is actually our problem?”

Few words are needed to give an answer: our problem is a lack of understanding and acceptance for foreign cultures.

It should be added at this point that even in the sphere of the western community of values, these are rather recent developments, which is why they could be classified as post-modern.


Syrien-Konflikt: Demonstration für Syriens Freiheit und Demokratie in Berlin Photo: Paul Zinken/dapd

Let us go back to the question we initially posed and ask ourselves what should be done to preserve peace in the long run.

What is needed is a common basis. A basis which determines basic values that are so universal and far-reaching that they restrict no one but at the same time urge everyone to respect the other.

A contemporary contribution to promoting the understanding of cultures will be presented to you next time.

Letter of the Month ► News from Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia

Vitaly NIKOUÏKO — 2012-08-08T11:04:35Z

We regularly use this platform of the Letter of the Month to give the word to our friends and members of the International Network.

They share their experiences with us or simply inform us about the security situation in their countries, where the relations between the armed forces and civil society are still not focussed on dialogue and mutual understanding.


national emblem of Kirghizstan: wikipedia

One of the most assiduous is our correspondent for the Bishkek region, to whom we asked to give us again his impression on the situation nearly exactly two years after the events of June 2010 in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan.

On the basis of a detailed analysis of press articles and internet blogs Nikuiko Vitali, who has participated in several of our meetings, delivers his assessment.

We are grateful for his contribution, which in the given circumstances is a courageous demonstration of his commitment to the idea of dialogue and which attracts at the same time attention on the strategically important region of Central Asia.

During these summer days - despite the olympics - you might find a little time space to empathize with our friends in those crisis areas and share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

We wish you a relaxing summer break, where ever you may spend your holidays, and we look forward to your comments.

News from Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia

(Press Review summer 2012)


flag of Kirghizstan: wikipedia

The situation in Kyrgyzstan in particular and in Central Asia in general remains ambiguous and complex. This trend continues during the last twenty years. It became especially obvious for the last ten years, after the beginning of the known military operation in Afghanistan. Only Kazakhstan could be exclusion here, but there too everything is not so smoothly.

Let's look at the situation by the eyes of the US State Department, which depicted it with respect of human rights observance, by making recourse to its last annual report.

The report states that in Uzbekistan the central executive authority dominates in the political life and almost totally controls all other branches of power. The security forces put the prisoners to tortures and abusive treatment, and refuse the suspects of committing crimes in fair trials. The freedom of religion is limited; representatives of religious minorities are subjects to persecution and imprisonment… Getting ahead in the text of report let's note that all this was recorded with regard to all below-mentioned countries.


Kirghizstan in June 2010

The interethnic tension persists in Kyrgyzstan. The tragic events of June 2010 in the South of the country were the high point of that tension. The discrimination with respect of ethnic Uzbeks and representatives of other minorities is largely spread. Law-enforcement employees in the South of the country are found out in such breaches as illegal arrests, abusive treatment, tortures and extortion with regard of all demographic groups but particularly – with regard of ethnic Uzbeks. Inability of the central government to bring to responsibility the human rights abusers allows the local security forces to act voluntarily. Besides, the weakness of the central authority contributes to such breaches at the local level as aggressions against defendants, lawyers, witnesses and judges.

Tajikistan is an authoritarian state; the president Emomali Rakhmon and his supporters – mainly natives of one country's region, - dominate in the politics. The constitution provides for a multiparty political system, but in practice the government hinders the political pluralism. Turkmenistan is also acknowledged as an authoritarian regime, the presidential elections in February 2007 and the parliamentary ones in December 2008 did not comply with international standards. There are three important problems in the sphere of human rights protection: illegal arrests, tortures and disregard of civil freedoms, including limitations of the freedom of speech, press, gatherings, religion and movement.

The presidential elections having had place on April 3, 2011 in Kazakhstan did not conform to international standards – as in other countries of the region, except for Kyrgyzstan, where the same process went “relatively fair”. [1]

In social aspect regarding Kyrgyzstan with its wounds still bleeding from the interethnic carnage of two year time of prescription there is the following opinion:

According to the Russian newspaper “Kommersant” the International Crisis Group (ICG) is afraid of a new bloodshed in the South of Kyrgyzstan, which is mentioned in the ICG's report. Reported by the newspaper the authors of the document come to the conclusion that: the Uzbek population of the Osh region is subject to discrimination and as a result of that new interethnic clashes could take place. But this time neighboring Uzbekistan may get engaged into the conflict. The ICG vice-president Alain Délétroz told in the interview to the newspaper whether it is possible to prevent new clashes.

“After the events of 2010 the Uzbeks have been dismissed from all managerial positions in the Osh region, they cannot be found at all within the “force structures”. The police detains young Uzbeks demanding a $ 2-3 thousand USD ransom for their release, - says the deputy-head of the ICG. – Our experts come to sad conclusions: in order to make an impression about what is the segregation upon ethnicity, it is necessary coming to the Osh region, where one part of the population oppresses openly and with impunity another part. There are not many places like that on the planet, but Osh is one of those”.

In actual fact Uzbekistan did not practically intervene in those events. The maximum what was done by Tashkent, - it opened the border for refugees from Kyrgyzstan, and they were about 100 thousand. But a bit later the people were sent back. Many Osh Uzbeks support the opponents of the president of Uzbekistan, and they are dangerous elements for Tashkent”. According to his words, “the Uzbek mass-media avoid this topic. They did not report much about the 2010 events either”. “But the inhabitants of Uzbekistan got used to get the information from other sources, therefore they know about the situation in Osh region. And if the massacre starts there again, I am not confident that Uzbekistan will manage to hold out of that”, - believes the deputy-head of the ICG. Moreover, he notes, “the mutual enmity of the two communities is too big. And the authorities do nothing but warm it up”. “Now Osh Uzbeks are keeping their heads down, they shrank into themselves; they do not believe somebody is able to protect them. The people turn more and more to Islam – it can be seen on the way the women dress up. Not long ago in Pakistan there was a terrorist act committed by a suicide-bomber – an Uzbek from the Osh region. He left his last note where he explained: he was revenging for all what his family had to survive in 2010. That is a dangerous tendency: the situation can be used by radical islamists”, - says Alain Délétroz. In addition, he is also saying, “the situation is understood in Bishkek, but the problem is that the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan live in fact according to their own laws. They do not take orders from Bishkek”.

“If the withdrawal of the western troops from Afghanistan in 2014 encourages the growth of jihadism in the South, and the Uzbeks continue to estrange themselves from the regime, the government of Kyrgyzstan will face serious problems. Its security forces are the weakest in the region, and they are already going through some hard times. Therefore it is of government's interest to convince the Uzbeks that there is place for them in the future of Kyrgyzstan. The UN, EU, donors and other organizations, which rather inefficiently reacted to the events of 2010, can help now by attaching the economic assistance to democratic criteria”, - said in the ICG report.

Besides, some social tension certainly incomparable with the South of the country is present in the North.

According to the words of the head of the analysis consortium “Perspektiva” Valentin Bogatyrev there are several systemwide problems in Kyrgyzstan. Among them – the society is in condition of crisis. “If we talk about the condition of the state, the situation there is considerably worse. No efficient system of state governance has been launched. The parliament works chaotically; all principle decisions of Jogorku Kenesh (Kyrgyz Parliament) are formed in the presidential wing. There are no positive changes in the condition of the state and there are not in view”, - he added.

“I do not remember such a level of decrease of rhythms of economic growth, problems with power outages, scope of agricultural problems. We are at the threshold of serious challenges to the food security, - underlined Valentin Bogatyrev. – It is important that the president attempts to fight against external monopolization in the electrical power sphere. But it is necessary to be ready they may produce negative consequences”. [2]

In Kyrgyzstan, where accumulated more than enough of explosive material and the traditions of state construction do not just exist, the external factor clearly comes to the first place. The future of the country to a great extent depends on it.

The choice is not very large. Today there exist only four players of the global politics at the world arena: USA, the European Union, Russia and China.

China offers a mild economic expansion, which when necessary could transform into a rude territorial absorption.

Russia offers a different form on integration: first Customs Union, then Common Economic Space, as consequence common currency and then, in foreseeable future, – military and political bloc. This is the most probable and the most acceptable scenario for the Central Asian countries of post-Soviet era.

The USA is financing their deficit solely by organization of demand for dollars and state loan securities. Today the demand has come down with a run. The solution could be seen in destabilization of all other currencies and financial instruments in order to ensure a constantly high need for dollars. This financial policy of giant bubbles in stock markets led the humankind to the economic crisis sweeping away the industrial patterns of the planet as a card-castle. The main purpose is to limit the ability of national elites to carry out stable political governance of countries and hardly decrease the possibilities of providing comfortable life conditions.

For the last thirty years Americans have been actively embedding into the minds of politically enlightened citizens of all countries the exotic theory of chaos. The final political purpose of this embedment – distance from possible negative consequences of indirect involvement of the US State Department into internal conflicts of sovereign states. By the way, we should not forget that the great world religion having had a gigantic potential for development – Islam, is being subject for some forces to be transformed with the help of the same theory of chaos into an abyss soaked with terrorism, which in case of necessity could be thrown from Central Asia to the world hegemon's enemy number one – China.

However, nowadays Kyrgyz politics is so far from understanding these processes as honorable European gentlemen of Rome and Paris, who choked in a cant way over the Libyan pie not long ago, are far from altruism.

By the way, what can the European Union offer to Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia?...

“The Kyrgyz authorities became hostages in the geopolitical struggle of national interests between the USA and Russia in Central Asia”, - stated to the press agency “24.kg” professor of the Madrid University Kadyr Malikov commenting the situation after declaration of the president Almazbek Atambaev about withdrawal of the Transit Centre from the international airport “Manas”.

According to his opinion, with new coming to power of Vladimir Putin “the external policy of Russia in Central Asia aimed to get back its previously lost positions in the countries of Russia's strategic interest will probably be more exacting and more dynamic”.

“All this is happening at the background of obvious stepping-up of the USA in Central Asia with the purpose to support their interests both directly and through the countries-satellites and to push Russia out of the region, - thinks the expert. – The situation in Afghanistan is far from being stable, and it is rather unlikely the USA leave from Afghanistan in scheduled term – by 2014”.

In Kadyr Malikov's words, “the recent demonstration of the “Taliban” capacities in Kabul, within the very “green zone” showed that without the NATO military assistance the government of Khamid Karzay will not stand long”. "While Pakistan continues its policy of obstruction to full cargo deliveries for NATO contingent in Afghanistan through its territory, the USA have the pretext and will be seeking alternative ways through Central Asian countries…”, - says the expert.

The main struggle with Russia will be for the control over the hydro resources in the region. “The USA by the mouth of their State Secretary Hillary Clinton let know they are intending to work in the direction of the “US Partnership on water resources”, because according to their intelligence possible conflicts between the countries of Central Asia could happen especially upon the lack of water”, - he says. Along with that Kadyr Malikov notes, that “the USA, having anchored for long in the region, also have a possibility to play in three directions – China, Iran, Russia”.

“Russia, trying to anticipate the US moves in the region, pretends for controlling blocks of shares in the construction of hydro power stations not only in Kyrgyzstan but also in Tajikistan, - he says. - Harsh deterioration of relationships between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, border problems, problems of irrigation water, total dependence of the last from Russia on fuel and lubricants, severe position of Tashkent concerning construction of Rogunskaya hydro power station, request of transmitting about 80% of shares to Russia and point of Russian loan, disputes on payment and prolongation of agreement for Russian military base to stay in Tajikistan, ambiguity of labor migration issues – identical Kyrgyz picture, and all main instruments of Russian “conviction” with the purpose to protect its interests in the region”.


national emblem of Kirghizstan: wikipedia

“Hence the forced search by Kyrgyzstan of alternative sources of fuel and lubricants via Azerbaijan, of economic and investment projects through Qatar and Japan, and political tying in to Turkey and Georgia, - thinks Kadyr Malikov. – Moreover, Turkey got the role of the US Trojan horse in Central Asia, bait in the form of Pan-Turkism plus laic Islam instead of Islam as a system.

There is a different option too – the policy of deterrence, where Russia and the USA get themselves in agreement, balance one another in Kyrgyzstan, apportioning all over again different spheres and political forces for zones of influence according to well tested formulas “o.n.o.” and “divide and rule”.

Now some words about the burning topic which is drug trafficking through Central Asia, because it Asia plays a key role in heroin trafficking from Afghanistan.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its published last month report treats of the fact how the traffickers transport the heroin and opium from Afghanistan (main producer of this poison) to Russia (its main consumer). Ninety tones of purest heroin are transported annually through the territory of Central Asia – which makes a quarter of the entire quantity exported from Afghanistan. At this in 2010 the authorities of the region managed to intercept less than 3% of that mass of drugs. Despite the assistance of the international community this figure continues decreasing.

The stranglehold of corruption in Central Asia makes the region an ideal route for drug trafficking, noted in the document. High positioned officials, especially of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, whether involved into the drug trafficking, whether take bribes and close their eyes to what is going on. Absence of interoperability between the neighboring countries is an additional plus for traffickers.

“According to the UNODC evaluations the heroin sale net profit of Central Asia drug traffickers made 1.4 billion dollars in 2010. The bigger part of that money probably fell into the pockets of Tajik drug dealers, taking in consideration the fact that the majority of the poison stream passes through the Tajik territory ”, - said in the report. They make money, because when the drugs reach the Russian territory the price takes off for 600%. The drugs are mainly transported on terrain routes multiplying on the way the drug addicts' army in Central Asia.

One of the biggest revelations of the report is the description about how few efforts are made by Kazakhstan in this direction. “The level of economic development is inversely proportional to the efficiency of its drug control services work, which is the lowest in Central Asia”, - noted by the authors of the document.

Moreover, there are all possibilities available for enlargement of the drug trafficking in this direction. Thanks to the creation of the Customs Union, which linked the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia and Byelorussia, the customs check-points were removed from the Northern border. The common economic space may render its negative influence by contributing to the increase of the drug traffic to Russia, where there are more than 2 million drug addicted people. The Customs Union “is able to serve a bad turn here, because the drug traffickers may decide to redirect their deliveries of opiates to Europe by forwarding them on the Northern route instead of the traditional Balkan one”.

Approximately 200 kg of heroin and 50 kg of opium come to Tajikistan every day. They confiscate less and less and the national economy becomes more dependent on drug incomes. The heroin and opium are forwarded from Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan is a preferable direction because of its weakly protected part of the border with Tajikistan stretching for 870 km long (two thirds of that length were never officially demarked) and also because of a “large scale corruption” in the country. The city of Osh located not far from the border represents an “accumulating point for drugs” and a base for criminal gangs which played their role in mass ethnic riots in 2010. The unstable situation persisting in Kyrgyzstan directly and indirectly encourages the illegal drug trafficking, noted by the authors of the report.

Uzbekistan treating its neighbors with deep suspicion better secured its border with Afghanistan. Uzbekistan is the only country in the region where in 2010 there was a growth (for 25%) of quantity of captured drugs. Anyway the opiates penetrate into the territory of the country from Tajikistan by rail and terrain routes. Besides, Uzbekistan as well as all other countries of the region faces the problem of bribery among representatives of law-enforcement and security bodies, closing their eyes to the drug trafficking.

Self-isolated Turkmenistan is less related to the Northern route. The majority of heroin passing through the Turkmen territory – this is only 2-4% from the entire transit in the region – goes on the “Balkan route” to Iran and Turkey, and from there – to the countries of South-East Europe.

One more thing contributing to the mass drug stream is the absence of coordination of actions between the countries. That could be seen on the territory of the entire region, “aggravated by mistrust and conflicts, including on the most important issue of demarcation of borders”. In the situation when armed insurgents and waves of violence are threatening to flow over those borders, the unwillingness to cooperate and to interoperate is to the detriment of the Central Asian countries themselves. To tell the truth the authors of the report positively reflect the new steps towards cooperation between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

For the development of the topic I would like to cite some extracts from the press concerning the vision of the situation around Iran and problems of the Afghani campaign by the Central Asian countries. The Central Asian capitals treat with big circumspection the tries of their involvement to the further confrontation with Iran. Moreover, the leaders of the countries of the region treat with caution the plans of the USA and Israel to solve the so-called Iranian nuclear problem by the military way. They understand that the destruction of Iranian nuclear objects and oil and gas industries may lead to the regional ecologic catastrophe, including the waters of the Caspian Sea. In addition, the recent wave of so-called Arabic revolutions, which were supported by the USA and their allies from NATO and EU, also provokes certain anxieties in the ruling circles of the post-Soviet countries of Central Asia. Whether the USA will have a wish to carry out with the course of time the “democratization” in the Central Asian countries according to the western scenario? In fact until very recently they did not conceal in the West their evaluations of the regional regimes as “dictatorial”, “non-democratic”, “anti-popular”. Having achieved the change of regimes in Syria and Iran Washington can include in agenda the democratization of the Central Asian region.

The war in Afghanistan is an American war: it was started in 2001by the USA in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which were planned from the Afghani territory. The UN mandate was issued later in 2003 and allowed only to enlarge the participation of other countries in that war, having left the leading role after the USA.

Even the war is considered as an armed conflict of “low-level intensity”, it became the longest in the US history and rather expensive. Nearly one million dollars was spent per year at the pick of actions in this country calculated as per one soldier including the economic assistance. This is the main reason of the reinforced discontent of the American population of this conflict. In general the war is lost. Not only in military, but also in political and economic aspects.

The stake on Khamid Karzay as the leader of the new regime in Kabul turned out to be unlucky. In 2001 the capital of the country was liberated by the forces of the Northern Alliance with support of the US aviation and Special Forces. The Alliance mainly consisted of ethnic Uzbeks and Tajiks. However Washington preferred a president-Pashtun representing the biggest ethnic group. But he could do nothing.

The rampant corruption in the Afghani state machine – is a generally acknowledged fact. But the assistance programs to Afghanistan turned out to be corrupted too. They had a showy character, they were inefficient, and few means reached the destination dispersing among contractors. Foreign companies spent huge money for security services and paid off from local armed gangs, including the talibs.

There was no reconstruction of the most important enterprises and infrastructure objects, built as far as with the USSR assistance – these are grain storage silos, power stations, cement factories, roads. The Russian suggestions on this matter were ignored.

In what direction the situation is going to further develop after 2014? Zamir Kabulov, who was before the Ambassador of Russia to Afghanistan, thinks that the events may go according to the worst scenario. It is that the Taliban will boost its military actions, and ultimately it will turn into the recommencement of the civil war on interethnic grounds.

It may happen as well that the talibs will try to penetrate into the countries of Central Asia. In this case the Collective Security Treaty Organization (ODKB) can be involved in order to counteract against the external threat.

The present press review was prepared with the use of the following informational resources: www.ferghana.ru, www.centrasia.ru, www.24.kg, www.akipress.kg, www.lenta.ru

[1] Annual US State Department Human Rights Report for 2011 reported in International press agency “Fergana”...

[2] According to www.24.kg materials

BROADCAST N° 1/2012 - CALL for PAPERS

Manfred Rosenberger — 2012-03-10T18:05:00Z

It is done:

Euro-ISME has been enregistered into the french register of associations as the "International Society for Military Ethics in Europe/Société internationale d'Ethique Militaire en Europe in Europe (assocaition loi 1901)" .


logo_euroisme

By the present broadcast, we want to inform you about work fulfilled by the interim board of directors (BoD) and about our main activity planned in first semester 2012.

Following the resolutions of the inaugural conference in Paris on 16th of june 2012 see also our forum article here and on the basis of the results of our questionnaire, the interim BoD has forwarded the finalised statutes to the competent prefectural office in order to be registered and seated at the Research Center of the Officers Schools of French Army in Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan.

We cordially thank all members who have already enrolled and we now hope for affiliation of many scientifics and practitioners who were still indetermined to join and to enrich our society with international expertise.

With the beginning of the new corporate year, the society will increase its activities and especially undertake the preliminaries for the first general assembly which will be organised in the frame of the yearly Euro-ISME-conference 2012 at the UK Defense Academy / JSCSC in Shrivenham near London.

We benefit from this Letter of the Month to communicate the Call for Papers and invitation broadcasted by the Euro-ISME president Ronan Doaré, director of the Research Center of French Army Officers Schools Saint-Cyr.

Dear Members and Friends of Euro-ISME !

The 2nd annual Euro-ISME-conference will be held at the UK Defence Academy / JSCSC in Shrivenham on the 14th and 15th of June 2012.

This year's conference theme will be "Military Ethics and the Responsibility to Protect: A Statement of Universal Values or Ethical Imperialism?"

This is expected to touch on multiple areas, including how technology is affecting military operations, the impact of the new age of austerity on assumptions and aspirations, crisis management interventions, common ethical approaches, what is included in our understanding of intervention, exploring how ethical issues away from home may be (or appear to be) different to those at home.


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As always, papers will be welcomed on any theme related to military or defence ethics in addition to this broad theme.

For further information about the aims and objectives of Euro ISME, conference details, registration form and updates as the conference organisation develops, please refer to

If you would like to present a paper, please submit a proposal, including at least a half page outline, to admin@euroisme.org. Priority will be given to fully developed/completed papers. To maximise the time available for discussion, it is expected that most papers will be limited to 20 minutes length. The paper submission deadline will be the 15th of April 2012.

If there is sufficient interest, a trip will be organised before the conference on the 13th June to the Royal Navy Dockyard at Portsmouth to visit Admiral Nelson's famous flagship, HMS Victory, flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar 1805. Transport will leave from the Defence Academy at 12.30 hrs on Wednesday 13th June, returning for dinner in the evening.

For those planning to attend Euro ISME 2012, the registration form must be completed and returned NOT LATER THAN 18 May 2012 to Mrs Beverly Oliver, DEFENCE STUDIES DEPARTMENT, JSCSC, SHRIVENHAM, SWINDON, SN6 8TS (01793 788177) boliver.jscsc@da.mod.uk

Looking forward to your contributions and hoping to meet you at Shrivenham

Sincerely yours

Ronan Doaré

Bienvenu à Shrivenham

Letter of the Month of November - 2nd International Colloquium of DAKAR

Mbaye Cissé — 2011-11-27T14:31:00Z

Le 2° Colloque International organisé sous l'initiative de l'Etat-major général des armées du Sénégal s'est tenu à Dakar, à l'hôtel Méridien Président, du 9 au 11 novembre 2011.

Hôtel Meridien Président de Dakar

Sous le thème général «Forces de Défense et de Sécurité face aux menaces transfrontalieres en Afrique de l'Ouest », le colloque a notamment réuni les Chefs d'etat-major des armées du Benin, du Burkina Faso, du Cap-Vert, de la Côte d'Ivoire, de la Gambie, de la Guinée Bissau, de la Mauritanie, du Mali, du Togo, ainsi que des délégations provenant de la Commission paix et sécurité de la CEDEAO, du Centre d'Etudes Stratégiques de l'Afrique, de L'Alliance Internationale de Militaires soutenue par la Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le Progrès de l'Homme, de la Fondation Konrad Adenauer et du Centre de Politique de Sécurité de Genève. En outre, des personnalités de haut rang de l'Université de Dakar, de la société civile et du centre d'études diplomatiques et stratégiques de Dakar se sont associés aux échanges de très haute qualité.

Voici le rapport synthétique de ce deuxième Colloque dans la série des conférences internationales organisées dans le cadre du Forum Europe - Afrique de l'Ouest qui ont vocation à être annualisées.

Hôtel Meridien Président de Dakar

Le 2° Colloque International organisé sous l'initiative de l'Etat-major général des armées du Sénégal s'est tenu à Dakar, à l'hôtel Méridien Président, du 9 au 11 novembre 2011.

Sous le thème général «Forces de Défense et de Sécurité face aux menaces transfrontalieres en Afrique de l'Ouest », le colloque a notamment réuni les Chefs d'etat-major des armées du Benin, du Burkina Faso, du Cap-Vert, de la Côte d'Ivoire, de la Gambie, de la Guinée Bissau, de la Mauritanie, du Mali, du Togo, ainsi que des délégations provenant de la Commission paix et sécurité de la CEDEAO, du Centre d'Etudes Stratégiques de l'Afrique, de L'Alliance Internationale de Militaires soutenue par la Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le Progrès de l'Homme, de la Fondation Konrad Adenauer et du Centre de Politique de Sécurité de Genève. En outre, des personnalités de haut rang de l'Université de Dakar, de la société civile et du centre d'études diplomatiques et stratégiques de Dakar ont participé aux échanges d'une qualité extraordinaire.

Mons le Ministre des Armées

Placé sous la présidence d'honneur du Chef de l'Etat sénégalais, le colloque a été ouvert par le Ministre d'Etat, Ministre des Forces Armées du Sénégal qui a rappelé toute la pertinence de la démarche visant à promouvoir un espace de dialogue permanent entre les forces de défense et de sécurité de la CEDEAO. Il s'est félicité de l'initiative et à encouragé les participants à faire preuve d'ouverture et de pragmatisme dans leur démarche.

Auparavant, le Président de la commission scientifique du colloque, a exposé à l'assistance les grandes thématiques qui structurent le colloque. Posant la problématique des frontières dans leur dimension géopolitique, il a abouti au constat que l'Etat-nation en Afrique est confronté à une crise multidimensionnelle, aggravée par la recrudescence de la criminalité transfrontalière. D'où l'impératif de transcender les frontières nationales, de sortir du cloisonnement, pour faire face aux défis énormes qui s'imposent. Il a défini les trois grands axes majeurs du colloque à savoir : D'abord un état des lieux des menaces transfrontalières pour circonscrire la géographie des divers périls qui ont pour noms trafic de drogue, circulation de armes légères, mauvaise gouvernance des mouvements de personnes, terrorisme, blanchiment d'argent etc…

Ensuite, l'examen des stratégies régionales de lutte contre la criminalité transfrontalière, pour évaluer l'arsenal juridique et les mécanismes élaborés par la CEDEAO dans le but de créer un environnement sécurisé en Afrique de l'Ouest.

Enfin, les réponses apportées par les FDS, à travers l'étude de cas d'une expérience nationale, celle du Sénégal, complétée par l'apport que les FDS doivent attendre de la coopération internationale, levier incontournable dans la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières, mais aussi et surtout le vécu en la matière des FDS africaines présentes au colloque.

en salle de conférence 1

Il revenait au représentant du Commissaire en charge des Affaires politiques, de la Paix et de la Sécurité de la CEDEAO, de prononcer l'allocution d'ouverture consacrée aux « défis des menaces transfrontalières, face à la construction d'un espace de sécurité et de paix en Afrique de l'Ouest ». Après avoir chaleureusement salué l'initiative des organisateurs du colloque, il a rappelé le parcours parfois difficile de la CEDEAO, dans une Afrique de l'Ouest en proie à une série de conflits aussi violents les uns que les autres. Tirant les leçons des diverses études réalisées sur les conflits internes, et partant du constat du lien évident entre la sécurité et le développement, la CEDEAO à épousé l'idée de « Security First, Sécurité d'abord ».

Il a enfin réaffirmé la disponibilité de l'organisation sous régionale à jouer un rôle de premier plan dans la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières. Le premier sous thème consacré à la criminalité transfrontalière, a fait l'objet de deux séances plénières traitant respectivement de l'état des lieux des menaces transfrontalières et la montée du terrorisme en Afrique de l'Ouest.

Il ressort des principales interventions que les menaces transfrontalieres sont une réalité qui prennent leur essor dans la porosité des frontières, la fragilité des Etats africains, fragilité accentuée par les crises récurrentes, la faiblesse des appareils sécuritaires.

Le panel a mis en exergue la diversité et la gravité des menaces. Il a dressé les tendances lourdes de l'insécurité avec en pointe la montée du terrorisme lié au fondamentalisme religieux, l'absence de gouvernance de la gestion des flux humains, le blanchiment d'argent et ses impacts négatifs sur les économies nationales et enfin, le développement fulgurant du trafic de drogue, la piraterie, avant de proposer la mise en place de stratégies de lutte intégrées. Au sujet de la montée du terrorisme, le second panel a travers l'exemple de Boko HAram et de Alqaida au Maghreb a permis de mieux comprendre les facteurs macroéconomiques à la base de ce phénomène et qui sont entre autres, la pauvreté, la mal gouvernance, le désœuvrement de la jeunesse. Constatant que ce phénomène risque de s'internationaliser, le panel a appelé à la mise en place de solutions allant de la riposte pratique des FDS à une harmonisation et une régionalisation des réponses. A ce propos, ce panel a permis de voir que la réponse n'est pas seulement militaire, au contraire, elle a besoin de s'ouvrir à des formes étendues comme la mise en place de programmes de développement économique pour mettre en valeur ces vastes espaces abandonnées aux bandes armées.

en salle de conférence 2

La deuxième journée des travaux a traité des réponses institutionnelles et nationales face aux menaces transfrontalières. Il a circonscrit l'étendue des menaces dans l'espace communautaire, avant de rappeler les dispositifs et les mécanismes mis en place par la CEDEAO pour la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières, notamment le Protocole de 1999. Passant en revue l'arsenal juridique et législatif de la CEDEAO consacré à la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières, ce panel a dégagé la pertinence et la cohérence de ses textes tout en soulignant leurs insuffisances notamment au niveau de leur application et de leur harmonisation au sein des Etats.

A ce propos, même si la société civile est impliquée dans la promotion de la culture de paix dans l'espace CEDEAO, notamment au Sénégal et dans la sous-région, à travers différentes actions menées, son action mérite d'être amplifié par l'allocation supplémentaire de ressources et la nécessité pour les multiples organisations de la société civile de recentrer leurs actions pour plus d'efficacité.

En définitive, ce panel a permis de souligner que la dimension sécuritaire est totalement intégrée. La CEDEAO, à travers ses différents textes dédiés à la paix, est en passe de développer une véritable idéologie de la paix. L'implication active de la société civile africaine et l'installation de commissions nationales prouve qu'on assiste à une mutation du concept de paix, qui n'est plus seulement le silence des armes, mais aussi la promotion du développement socioéconomique.

Ce panel a permis de constater que malgré l'existence de législations collectives, les Etats ne manifestent pas beaucoup de volonté dans l'application du Protocole. Il a également recommandé d'élargir la réflexion dans une perspective comparative aux autres organisations régionales, voire internationales pour mieux asseoir la nécessaire articulation entre toutes les organisations, qui concourent toutes, en définitive à la paix dans le monde.

Abordant le chapitre des réponses apportées par les différentes forces de sécurité, le colloque s'est appuyé sur l'étude de cas des FDS sénégalaises (gendarmerie, police et douanes) pour passer en revue les différents mécanismes mis en œuvre pour lutter contre les menaces transfrontalières. Ces derniers s'appuient sur une coopération bilatérale et multilatérale et déploient des moyens de plus en plus sophistiqués (comme le recours aux NTIC) qui ont besoin cependant de trouver leurs répondants dans la région pour ajuster les instruments de lutte aux menaces transfrontalieres. Dans le même registre, un renforcement de la coopération et de la coordination entre FDS est souhaité pour développer la nécessaire interopérabilité des outils au plan national et régional.

Dans le même ordre d'idées, le colloque a consacré un panel à la dimension internationale de la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalieres par l'examen du rôle de l'ONU dans la croisade contre ces fléaux, celui de l'Union européenne. A travers l'exemple d'Africom, le panel a donné une idée précise des voies opérationnelles que pourraient revêtir l'implication de la communauté internationale. Les principes de cette coopération reposent naturellement sur le partenariat devant déboucher sur l'existence de passerelles permanentes entre les différents acteurs impliqués.

A ce titre, l'Afrique de l'Ouest peut compter sur l'apport financier de l'UE a condition de disposer de projets pertinents et bien articulés, ce qui est du domaine du possible au regard des efforts d'intégration réelle déjà enregistrés au sein de la CEDEAO. Elle peut également s'appuyer sur l'assistance d'Africom à travers les nombreux programmes développés, mais aussi les moyens humains et matériels déployés par Africom qui, dans la perspective clairement définie par le President Obama, œuvre pour une Afrique stable et sécurisée à tous points de vue.

Enfin, le dernier panel du colloque dédié au CEMGA a été l'occasion de partager les expériences et les attentes des pays de la CEDEAO présents à cette rencontre. Il ressort des différentes interventions que la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalieres nécessite la mobilisation de tous, sans exception. Stratégies concertées et permanence des échanges sont les seules armes à même de freiner l'expansion de ces fléaux et de soustraire l'Afrique de l'Ouest à un chaos dont elle se relèverait difficilement.

Monument "Renaissance d'Afrique"

Au chapitre des recommandations, partant de la gravité des menaces et leur acuité, le colloque a noté qu'il n ya plus de temps pour l'inaction. Dans un élan solidaire, dépassant les égoïsmes nationaux, avec un sens du suivi et le pragmatisme attendu des hommes d'action que sont les FDS, les Etats de la CEDEAO devraient :

1/Instituer dans le plus bref délai une instance de veille et de prévention regroupant tous les pays. A ce sujet, la proposition d'inscrire cette question à la prochaine réunion des CEMGA de la CEDEAO, a été retenue.

2/Cette action devrait être précédée d'un renforcement de la coopération entre FDS à l'échelle nationale, qui est le premier maillon de la chaine dont la solidité conditionne la capacité de survie et de renforcement de l'attelage régional.

3/Amplifier la culture de paix au sein de la CEDEAO en encourageant l'émergence de sociétés civiles fortes et dynamiques capables d'harmoniser leurs actions dans les domaines de la lutte contre les armes légères, la drogue etc.

4/Engager les partenaires stratégiques par des projets harmonisés pour éviter une approche parcellaire et désarticulée.

5/Prendre en compte que les facteurs d'éclosion et de développement des menaces transfrontalières prennent leurs sources dans la mauvaise gouvernance et l'instabilité dans nos différents états. A ce titre, cette lutte est inséparable des efforts de la CEDAO de promouvoir un environnement propice à l'enracinement de la démocratie et au développement socioéconomique des populations.

D'où l'invitation faite à tous de travailler résolument à l'émergence de la CEDEAO des peuples à la place de la CEDEAO des Etats. Fait à Dakar, le 11 novembre 2011

2nd International Colloquium of DAKAR 2011

Mbaye Cissé — 2011-11-25T14:10:00Z

The 2nd International Symposium organized under the auspices of the General Staff of the Armed Senegal was held the Meridien President Hotel of Dakar, from 9 to 11 November 2011.

Hôtel Meridien Président de Dakar

Under the general theme "Security and Defence Forces and transnational in West Africa", the conference brought together political and military leaders, Staff officers of the Armed forces of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Mali, Togo, as well as delegations from the Peace and Security Commission of the ECOWAS, from the Centre for AFRICOM Strategic Studies, of the International Alliance of Military supported by the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Center for Security Policy in Geneva. In addition, high-ranking officials of the University of Dakar, civil society and the center of Diplomatic and Strategic Studies of Dakar were associated to the exchanges of very high quality.

Here is the summary report of the second conference in the series of international conferences in the Forum Europe - West Africa which are intended to be annualized.

Hôtel Meridien Président de Dakar

Le 2° Colloque International organisé sous l'initiative de l'Etat-major général des armées du Sénégal s'est tenu à Dakar, à l'hôtel Méridien Président, du 9 au 11 novembre 2011.

Sous le thème général «Forces de Défense et de Sécurité face aux menaces transfrontalieres en Afrique de l'Ouest », le colloque a notamment réuni les Chefs d'etat-major des armées du Benin, du Burkina Faso, du Cap-Vert, de la Côte d'Ivoire, de la Gambie, de la Guinée Bissau, de la Mauritanie, du Mali, du Togo, ainsi que des délégations provenant de la Commission paix et sécurité de la CEDEAO, du Centre d'Etudes Stratégiques de l'Afrique, de L'Alliance Internationale de Militaires soutenue par la Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le Progrès de l'Homme, de la Fondation Konrad Adenauer et du Centre de Politique de Sécurité de Genève. En outre, des personnalités de haut rang de l'Université de Dakar, de la société civile et du centre d'études diplomatiques et stratégiques de Dakar ont participé aux échanges d'une qualité extraordinaire.

Mons le Ministre des Armées

Placé sous la présidence d'honneur du Chef de l'Etat sénégalais, le colloque a été ouvert par le Ministre d'Etat, Ministre des Forces Armées du Sénégal qui a rappelé toute la pertinence de la démarche visant à promouvoir un espace de dialogue permanent entre les forces de défense et de sécurité de la CEDEAO. Il s'est félicité de l'initiative et à encouragé les participants à faire preuve d'ouverture et de pragmatisme dans leur démarche.

Auparavant, le Président de la commission scientifique du colloque, a exposé à l'assistance les grandes thématiques qui structurent le colloque. Posant la problématique des frontières dans leur dimension géopolitique, il a abouti au constat que l'Etat-nation en Afrique est confronté à une crise multidimensionnelle, aggravée par la recrudescence de la criminalité transfrontalière. D'où l'impératif de transcender les frontières nationales, de sortir du cloisonnement, pour faire face aux défis énormes qui s'imposent. Il a défini les trois grands axes majeurs du colloque à savoir : D'abord un état des lieux des menaces transfrontalières pour circonscrire la géographie des divers périls qui ont pour noms trafic de drogue, circulation de armes légères, mauvaise gouvernance des mouvements de personnes, terrorisme, blanchiment d'argent etc…

Ensuite, l'examen des stratégies régionales de lutte contre la criminalité transfrontalière, pour évaluer l'arsenal juridique et les mécanismes élaborés par la CEDEAO dans le but de créer un environnement sécurisé en Afrique de l'Ouest.

Enfin, les réponses apportées par les FDS, à travers l'étude de cas d'une expérience nationale, celle du Sénégal, complétée par l'apport que les FDS doivent attendre de la coopération internationale, levier incontournable dans la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières, mais aussi et surtout le vécu en la matière des FDS africaines présentes au colloque.

en salle de conférence 1

Il revenait au représentant du Commissaire en charge des Affaires politiques, de la Paix et de la Sécurité de la CEDEAO, de prononcer l'allocution d'ouverture consacrée aux « défis des menaces transfrontalières, face à la construction d'un espace de sécurité et de paix en Afrique de l'Ouest ». Après avoir chaleureusement salué l'initiative des organisateurs du colloque, il a rappelé le parcours parfois difficile de la CEDEAO, dans une Afrique de l'Ouest en proie à une série de conflits aussi violents les uns que les autres. Tirant les leçons des diverses études réalisées sur les conflits internes, et partant du constat du lien évident entre la sécurité et le développement, la CEDEAO à épousé l'idée de « Security First, Sécurité d'abord ».

Il a enfin réaffirmé la disponibilité de l'organisation sous régionale à jouer un rôle de premier plan dans la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières. Le premier sous thème consacré à la criminalité transfrontalière, a fait l'objet de deux séances plénières traitant respectivement de l'état des lieux des menaces transfrontalières et la montée du terrorisme en Afrique de l'Ouest.

Il ressort des principales interventions que les menaces transfrontalieres sont une réalité qui prennent leur essor dans la porosité des frontières, la fragilité des Etats africains, fragilité accentuée par les crises récurrentes, la faiblesse des appareils sécuritaires.

Le panel a mis en exergue la diversité et la gravité des menaces. Il a dressé les tendances lourdes de l'insécurité avec en pointe la montée du terrorisme lié au fondamentalisme religieux, l'absence de gouvernance de la gestion des flux humains, le blanchiment d'argent et ses impacts négatifs sur les économies nationales et enfin, le développement fulgurant du trafic de drogue, la piraterie, avant de proposer la mise en place de stratégies de lutte intégrées. Au sujet de la montée du terrorisme, le second panel a travers l'exemple de Boko HAram et de Alqaida au Maghreb a permis de mieux comprendre les facteurs macroéconomiques à la base de ce phénomène et qui sont entre autres, la pauvreté, la mal gouvernance, le désœuvrement de la jeunesse. Constatant que ce phénomène risque de s'internationaliser, le panel a appelé à la mise en place de solutions allant de la riposte pratique des FDS à une harmonisation et une régionalisation des réponses. A ce propos, ce panel a permis de voir que la réponse n'est pas seulement militaire, au contraire, elle a besoin de s'ouvrir à des formes étendues comme la mise en place de programmes de développement économique pour mettre en valeur ces vastes espaces abandonnées aux bandes armées.

en salle de conférence 2

La deuxième journée des travaux a traité des réponses institutionnelles et nationales face aux menaces transfrontalières. Il a circonscrit l'étendue des menaces dans l'espace communautaire, avant de rappeler les dispositifs et les mécanismes mis en place par la CEDEAO pour la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières, notamment le Protocole de 1999. Passant en revue l'arsenal juridique et législatif de la CEDEAO consacré à la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalières, ce panel a dégagé la pertinence et la cohérence de ses textes tout en soulignant leurs insuffisances notamment au niveau de leur application et de leur harmonisation au sein des Etats.

A ce propos, même si la société civile est impliquée dans la promotion de la culture de paix dans l'espace CEDEAO, notamment au Sénégal et dans la sous-région, à travers différentes actions menées, son action mérite d'être amplifié par l'allocation supplémentaire de ressources et la nécessité pour les multiples organisations de la société civile de recentrer leurs actions pour plus d'efficacité.

En définitive, ce panel a permis de souligner que la dimension sécuritaire est totalement intégrée. La CEDEAO, à travers ses différents textes dédiés à la paix, est en passe de développer une véritable idéologie de la paix. L'implication active de la société civile africaine et l'installation de commissions nationales prouve qu'on assiste à une mutation du concept de paix, qui n'est plus seulement le silence des armes, mais aussi la promotion du développement socioéconomique.

Ce panel a permis de constater que malgré l'existence de législations collectives, les Etats ne manifestent pas beaucoup de volonté dans l'application du Protocole. Il a également recommandé d'élargir la réflexion dans une perspective comparative aux autres organisations régionales, voire internationales pour mieux asseoir la nécessaire articulation entre toutes les organisations, qui concourent toutes, en définitive à la paix dans le monde.

Abordant le chapitre des réponses apportées par les différentes forces de sécurité, le colloque s'est appuyé sur l'étude de cas des FDS sénégalaises (gendarmerie, police et douanes) pour passer en revue les différents mécanismes mis en œuvre pour lutter contre les menaces transfrontalières. Ces derniers s'appuient sur une coopération bilatérale et multilatérale et déploient des moyens de plus en plus sophistiqués (comme le recours aux NTIC) qui ont besoin cependant de trouver leurs répondants dans la région pour ajuster les instruments de lutte aux menaces transfrontalieres. Dans le même registre, un renforcement de la coopération et de la coordination entre FDS est souhaité pour développer la nécessaire interopérabilité des outils au plan national et régional.

Dans le même ordre d'idées, le colloque a consacré un panel à la dimension internationale de la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalieres par l'examen du rôle de l'ONU dans la croisade contre ces fléaux, celui de l'Union européenne. A travers l'exemple d'Africom, le panel a donné une idée précise des voies opérationnelles que pourraient revêtir l'implication de la communauté internationale. Les principes de cette coopération reposent naturellement sur le partenariat devant déboucher sur l'existence de passerelles permanentes entre les différents acteurs impliqués.

A ce titre, l'Afrique de l'Ouest peut compter sur l'apport financier de l'UE a condition de disposer de projets pertinents et bien articulés, ce qui est du domaine du possible au regard des efforts d'intégration réelle déjà enregistrés au sein de la CEDEAO. Elle peut également s'appuyer sur l'assistance d'Africom à travers les nombreux programmes développés, mais aussi les moyens humains et matériels déployés par Africom qui, dans la perspective clairement définie par le President Obama, œuvre pour une Afrique stable et sécurisée à tous points de vue.

Enfin, le dernier panel du colloque dédié au CEMGA a été l'occasion de partager les expériences et les attentes des pays de la CEDEAO présents à cette rencontre. Il ressort des différentes interventions que la lutte contre les menaces transfrontalieres nécessite la mobilisation de tous, sans exception. Stratégies concertées et permanence des échanges sont les seules armes à même de freiner l'expansion de ces fléaux et de soustraire l'Afrique de l'Ouest à un chaos dont elle se relèverait difficilement.

Monument "Renaissance d'Afrique"

Au chapitre des recommandations, partant de la gravité des menaces et leur acuité, le colloque a noté qu'il n ya plus de temps pour l'inaction. Dans un élan solidaire, dépassant les égoïsmes nationaux, avec un sens du suivi et le pragmatisme attendu des hommes d'action que sont les FDS, les Etats de la CEDEAO devraient :

1/Instituer dans le plus bref délai une instance de veille et de prévention regroupant tous les pays. A ce sujet, la proposition d'inscrire cette question à la prochaine réunion des CEMGA de la CEDEAO, a été retenue.

2/Cette action devrait être précédée d'un renforcement de la coopération entre FDS à l'échelle nationale, qui est le premier maillon de la chaine dont la solidité conditionne la capacité de survie et de renforcement de l'attelage régional.

3/Amplifier la culture de paix au sein de la CEDEAO en encourageant l'émergence de sociétés civiles fortes et dynamiques capables d'harmoniser leurs actions dans les domaines de la lutte contre les armes légères, la drogue etc.

4/Engager les partenaires stratégiques par des projets harmonisés pour éviter une approche parcellaire et désarticulée.

5/Prendre en compte que les facteurs d'éclosion et de développement des menaces transfrontalières prennent leurs sources dans la mauvaise gouvernance et l'instabilité dans nos différents états. A ce titre, cette lutte est inséparable des efforts de la CEDAO de promouvoir un environnement propice à l'enracinement de la démocratie et au développement socioéconomique des populations.

D'où l'invitation faite à tous de travailler résolument à l'émergence de la CEDEAO des peuples à la place de la CEDEAO des Etats.

Fait à Dakar, le 11 novembre 2011

Letter of the Month of October - Elections in Kyrgyzstan

René Cagnat — 2011-10-27T02:28:00Z

On the 30th of October, the presidential election will take place in Kyrgyzstan. This election will have a major impact on Central Asia as a whole. In fact, if the election is a success, it will encourage a democratic development in the entire region, which is desperately in need of it. On the contrary, if the election fails to be a step towards more democracy, this will crush down the hopes for a more democratic future, not only in what was a few years ago called the “Switzerland of Central Asia” but also in its neighbouring countries.

The author, René Cagnat, has recently carried out several interviews in Bishkek and has also been on trips to the South (12-15th of September) and the East and Centre (13-19th of October) of Kyrgyzstan. The article below depicts the impressions he has then collected. To the article —>>

Kyrgyzstan: impressions and predictions ten days before the presidential election

l'Auteur René Cagnat

Traversée du Lac Issyk Koul

On the 30th of October, the presidential election will take place in Kyrgyzstan. This election will have a major impact on Central Asia as a whole. In fact, if the election is a success, it will encourage a democratic development in the entire region, which is desperately in need of it. On the contrary, if the election fails to be a step towards more democracy, this will crush down the hopes for a more democratic future, not only in what was a few years ago called the “Switzerland of Central Asia” but also in its neighbouring countries.

The author, René Cagnat, has recently carried out several interviews in Bishkek and has also been on trips to the South (12-15th of September) and the East and Centre (13-19th of October) of Kyrgyzstan. The article below depicts the impressions he has then collected.

*Impressions:

*The social and economic situation is catastrophic but not to the extent that is usually described. Occasionally positive developments can be observed [1]. These are the result of several things at the time: increase of illegal trade (in particular the re-exportation of Chinese goods), a good crop, money transfers coming from emigrated workers and quite a successful touristic season. All these developments make up for the losses caused by the events of spring 2010. However, the recent attack organized by Kyrgiz in Talas against foreign workers employed in a local gold mine has sent out a very negative message.

*The president Roza Otunbayeva enjoys quite a broad legitimacy. Her political prestige and dexterity could help avoid possible separatist movements and turmoil – even though the South still expresses mistrust against her.

*The most prominent mafia leaders have fled the country, leaving their teams on the ground alone and rendering their work much more difficult. Still, even if to a lesser extent than for the parliamentary elections on October 2010, it is expected to witness election fraud initiated by these different fractions – in the South of the country in particular. This is part of the local political culture.

*The preparation of the election runs quite smoothly as it is accompanied by military and police measures. There have been reports on unauthorized political meetings and roadblocks. The election campaign is under control. [2] Everybody knows that this election will be held under strict control (zhëstkoe nablioudenie). The propaganda of the different candidates has mostly been respected. But, mainly in Djalalabat, a few campaign posters have been damaged or even striped off. The population shows great interest in the election and follows the campaign on the news. At the same time, the registration rate of new voters is very low compared to the one for the last elections. Higher participation rates will therefore stand for successful and massive election fraud and not for an actual increase of participation.

Almazbek Atambaev,

*Atamabayev's candidacy is widely supported throughout the country but not in the South where only the Uzbek minority supports him. Atambayev has been prime minister twice and is perceived as a well experienced political actor. An unofficial opinion poll gives him 45% of the votes in the first election round. His main opponents, Adakhan Madumarov and Kamchibek Takhiyev, whose majority of voters are in the South, would only get 30% according to this poll. Lately, Takhiyev enjoys more popularity than Madumarov whose TV appearances were quite disastrous. The Kirgyz in the North blame those two candidates for having a bad reputation abroad. If they were elected, the international community might not grant the financial support to Kyrgyzstan that it desperately needs. The 16 other candidates only play a figurative role but could prevent Atambayev from winning the election already during the first ballot.

Forecast:

*The presidential should go well. Given the local political culture, election fraud will take place but to a lesser extent than usual. It should only be quite massive in the South. Attacks against election offices or during the transfer of the ballot boxes from the election offices to the regional counting centres could occur. As it has been the case previously, ballot boxes might be exchanged with falsified ones clearly supporting the one or the other candidate. [3] Eyewitnesses were threatened and stayed silent. Other kinds of fraud could be ballot stuffing, buying electors' votes (as proof the ballots are photographed), the use of votes from dead people or of the ones living abroad (e.g. the 600 000 emigrated Kyrgyz workers) or locally the manipulation of local election before sending them to national accounting. As for the 2010 parliamentary elections, this fraud could lead to very surprising election results. Particularly in the South it could translate into a great discrepancy between the voting intentions and the actual results.

* The contestation of the results will be especially severe if one of the candidates wins already during the first election round. [4] During a second ballot,the contestation would also be important and would be the expression of the cleavage between North and South.

national emblem of Kirghizstan

wikipedia

*According to the electoral law, the second ballot (hypothesis that will most likely occur) will be organized on the 13th of November. [5] One of the risk scenarios could be a confrontation between a Northern – Atambayev, supported by Russia and the West (mostly Turkey) – and a Southern candidate during the second election round. The latter's supporters would be more shady. Encouragement to commit election fraud would then be substantial. Even if the victory of a Southern candidate is possible [6], most likely it is Atambayev who will win this election with a tight majority. Hence, turmoil could occur but would be shut down by the upcoming winter season and a general Kyrgyz appeal to avoid partition. For the sake of stability and rapprochement, M. Madumarov could become vice-president. This new position in the state would then be created specially for him. Another Southern figure could become prime minister. This could be the actual president of the Chamber of Deputies M. Keldibekov or M. Marat Sultanov a former minister.

*A fair presidential election would be a strong sign against the corruption currently ruling the country and a step towards more democracy. The majority of the Kyrgyz population is tired of the ongoing political instability, craves for better living conditions and appeals to a democratic development. Unfortunately the vices of illegality, conflict and anti-democracy are already at work…

[1] local initiatives, road construction, improvement of the urban infrastructure, creation of small companies etc.

[2] Apparently Almazbek Atambayev has been publicly provoked on the website Centre-Asia which is launched by the NGO “Free Bloggers and Journalists”. The provocation did not get the expected resonance though. Also, the Russian TV is not allowed to broadcast live programs for the time of the campaign.

[3] It has already been reported on uncontrolled ballots that were sent out by the national printing company to unknown destinations.

[4] If Atambayev only gets a tight majority, the South would better accept it. On the contrary, if he wins with about 60% of the votes, the cheating would be so obvious that it would necessarily lead to riots in the South.

[5] It might also be postponed to December.

[6] there are more voters in the South than in the North

Letter of the Month of September

Dr. Ashgar Ali Engineer — 2011-09-28T14:37:00Z

This September, the 11th day of the month is the main topic covered by international media. Ten years after 9/11, the events have become a historical fact now worldwide in the centre of attention of those analysts who wish to understand what could actually lead to this tragedy.

wtc on 9/11

The USA bear in remembrance the 3000 victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with moments of silence and commemorations all around the country. At the very core of these ceremonies lies the inauguration of the Ground Zero Memorial by US President Barack Obama.

Since the beginning of the month, the US media report on no other topic and the headline „Ten Years 9/11“ also spreads on the covers of most European Sunday papers.

On time for the anniversary, many books have been published about the topic. All of them having the ambition to expose new facts or alternatively to invigorate the myth of concealment of truth about the authors of the attacks.

Among all these analyses, the one of our friend and network member Dr. Ashgar Ali Engineer – Director of the Centre for Social Sciences and Secularism in Mumbai, India – seems to be a very interesting one. Dr. Engineer places the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the global context of world politics and investigates their repercussions up until the “Arab Spring”. Dr. Engineer remains very cautious about possible accusations and pleads for an intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

We want to foster the dialogue with our Indian network partner and this is why we pass you on these thoughts here, in our Letter of the Month of September. We look forward to your comments.

NINE ELEVEN AND ITS IMPACT

BY DR. ASGHAR ALI ENGINEER, SECULAR PERSPECTIVE, SEPTEMBER 2011.

It is ten years since 9/11 took place i.e. terrorist attack planned and executed by Osama bin Laden and Osama was also killed since by American forces. Why was it planned and what have been its consequences? First of all I would like to say it was not first and last of its kind in the world but since most powerful nation in the world had suffered such humiliation its retaliation also had to be equally powerful.

wtc on 9/11

First of all American propaganda machinery came into full fledged operation and tried to prove that it was result of Islamic fanaticism and America was victim of Islamic jihad and Islamic fundamentalism. America was totally innocent and these Muslims were jealous of American freedom and democracy. Few years before American professor Huntington had tried to prove that there is fundamental clash between Islam and western ways of life and the two can never coexist.

And this attack, as if, proved Huntington right. An average American also believed not only Huntington but also American propaganda machinery. The American media, especially T.V. channels were full of venom for Islam and Muslims. Many Muslim Americans wrote to me that we are living in constant fear and we have to bend backward to prove our loyalty to America and also that Islam is a peaceful religion.

One did not expect American democracy to behave this way. Bush went to the extent in saying that those who are not with us are against us. If American media had been against al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden it would have been understandable and justified. But the way it condemned Islam and Muslims was really not expected of American democracy which always boasts of its commitment to freedom and objectivity.

By blaming Islam and Muslims America tried to achieve two objectives: one, to shift entire blame on Islam and wash its hands off any responsibility in the matter and two intensify animosity against Islam so that it could find justification for its tighter control over Arab oil. But America ultimately failed in both of its objectives. It is true the people of America believed official propaganda in the heat of the moment but it did not have lasting impact on the minds of Americans.

veiled woman

A recent survey in America showed that 46 per cent Americans felt that 9/11 was not result of Islamic jihad but result of American foreign policy. In fact what American government was to hide from its own people came out openly and they understood it was American foreign policy i.e. favouring Israel blindly and trying to control Arab oil that angered Osama bin Laden who, once, had served American cause so faithfully that he turned against America.

Muslims were neither against America nor jealous of its freedom and democracy that motivated this attack. In fact many Muslims, especially those living under dictatorships (unfortunately most of these dictators were also supported by America) admired American freedom and democracy and wished their own countries had such freedom. And some countries like Egypt have thrown away dictatorial regimes and trying to usher in democracy.

In fact these dictators in Middle east were suppressing ruthlessly all democratic movements and America never criticized them instead looked away when Hasni Mubarak was ruthlessly torturing opponents of the regime. In fact Bush regime earlier also tortured innocent people in most inhuman ways and developed new techniques like water boarding for torture which was extremely painful. And when all this came out these prisoners were secretly transferred to East European prisons where such tortures could be carried out. So much for Bush's commitment to democracy of which Muslims were supposedly jealous.

To avenge the attack Bush regime attacked Afghanistan under the pretext of capturing Osama although the Taliban regime had clearly told America, as Prof. Noam Chomsky wrote, that give us credible proof and we will hand over Osama to you but instead America chose to attack Afghanistan but failed to capture Osama though it succeeded in toppling Taliban regime which probably was the real objective of America attack.

Many critics of America maintain that initially America was almost about to recognize Taliban regime but it did not agree to allow America to lay pipe line to bring gas from Central Asia to sea port at Gwador of Baluchistan. Whatever the truth, Taliban regime was toppled and Afghanistan could at least get democracy.

It also attacked Iraq to topple Saddam regime which was constantly defying America and also had dared to persuade European nations to pay petrol prices in Euro instead of dollar. Thus may have been an additional cause but real reason was to punish Saddam for its defiance of America and establish tighter hold over Iraq oil which has great reserves after Saudi and Kuwait. Also, Iraq had been consistently anti-Israel and Israel was also goading America to attack Iraq and topple Saddam regime. So much for American democracy and freedom.

The Bush regime lied to the world that there were weapons of mass destruction but after Saddam was toppled no such weapons were found and world discovered that it was a blatant lie perpetrated by Bush regime. Thus many illusions about American democracy were shattered thanks to 9/11 attack. Osama had also claimed that he would weaken American power and we had all laughed it off.

However, his claim is coming to be true. By waging these wars American economy has certainly weakened. Billions of dollars were spent on these two wars and with very little achievement to show. Today American budget deficit has risen to about 14 trillion dollars. It had never happened in American history. Though officially it will never be admitted that it was result of these futile wars to show might of America in which thousands of innocent people died. But it is one of the important reasons for such huge deficit in American debt, though not the only cause.

But these wars, supposedly waged to combat terrorism, terrorism is far from subsided in the Islamic world. However, it is true that America, as it always does, successfully deflected terrorism from its doors to Islamic countries themselves. Terroristic attacks have multiplied in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. Before 9/11 such attacks were never witnessed in these regions.

Today Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq see terror attacks almost on daily basis. Even holy month of Ramadan was no exception. And in Iraq even day of Eid witnessed horrific attack in which several innocent people died. Tehrik-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan is going strong and Drone attacks by America has not succeeded in weakening it. In Afghanistan America has officially acknowledged that it is not possible to win Afghan war and now America wants to negotiate peace with what it calls ‘good' Taliban. The American weakness has been very well exposed. It was exposed earlier in Vietnam too. It has to withdraw from a poor and small country like Vietnam without breaking or crushing its spirit. Thus might of a nation is no match to spirit of people.

India is also suffering consequences of 9/11 in a way. Since America exported terror attacks to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, many anti-India groups intensified their efforts to carry out terror attacks in India and 26 /11 was one such major attack. India, one can say, has been indirect victim of 9/11 terror attack. Of course there are internal causes too for these attacks but no doubt 9/11 and subsequent wars launched by America are also responsible as terror industry in Pakistan has emerged stronger.

One good thing that resulted from these terror attacks, especially 9/11 and repeated taunts that Islam is a religion of terror is that Muslims in some countries of Middle East decided to prove that we also love democracy and freedom and did it in totally non-violent ways. The Arab spring, as it came to be called proved the lie that Islam is violent and Muslims are jihadis.

Speerhead for a Culture of Common European Military Ethics

Manfred Rosenberger — 2011-08-25T21:59:00Z

A new European branch of the International Society for Military Ethics (ISME) has been created under the label “Euro-ISME”. Its goal is to favour the analysis and the development of best practices for the training of soldiers and also to promote the exchange of experiences on modern training methods within the European defence community.

The constituent assembly of Euro-ISME met on June 16-17, 2011 at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. It brought together over 100 participants, who decided to register Euro-ISME as a voluntary association under French law (Loi 1901), while waiting for a European register to be created.

Vortrag im Plenum

The renowned participating experts who came from all over Europe, the USA, Canada, Israel and Australia shared the same opinion: the international conference organized along with the constituent assembly of Euro-ISME was a great success!

For two days, the participants exchanged and worked on the topic „Ethics and Alliances: Military Ethics in a Multinational Environment“. Two conferences halls at the prestigious Ecole Militaire were consecrated to the discussions – that were sometimes organised in parallel.

You can download the programme here.

The conference minutes including all the scientific contributions and conclusions of discussions will be published in the course of fall.

Panel Religion : entre le relatif et l'absolu

In parallel, the first general assembly of Euro-ISME was held. The following resolutions on the preliminary actions of the Euro-ISME's association bodies were adopted:

Resolution n° 1:

Euro-ISME is established on the basis of the draft internal rules of procedure as distributed to the members prior to the constituent assembly and presented during the meeting.

You can find the draft internal rules of procedure here.

Resolution n° 2:

The association established according to resolution n°1 decides not to create all the association bodies right away. For the first 6 months, the work will be carried out by a temporary executive board of five members. One of these five members is to be the temporary executive director.

The executive board has the following mission:

to finalize the draft internal rules of procedure in the three working languages, via regular e-mail exchange,

to proceed with the registration of the association under French law,

to draft an action plan for 2012,

to organize an extraordinary general assembly where the rules of internal procedure, the role and tasks of the different association bodies and the 2012 action plan shall be approved.

Experten-Panel

Following people have been appointed as members of the executive board:

Manfred Rosenberger, Colonel. a.D. (temporary executive director)

Dr. T.A. van Baarda, Lecturer for Military Ethics at the Dutch Defence College, The Netherlands

Prof. Dr. Henri Paul Hude, Director, Institute for Military Ethics at the Officers' School of the French Land Forces, France

Patrice Mompeyssin, Brigadier General a.D., France

Dr. David Whetham, Senior Lecturer, King's College, London and JSCSC/Defence Academy, United Kingdom

We will update you on the next steps to be undertaken for the creation of Euro-ISME on a regular basis.