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REPORTS ARCHIVE FOR THE YEAR 2001
The following is the complete collection of InternationalLawHelp.com REPORTS for the year 2001.
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2001 Reports |
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ITLOS Declines to Order Provisional Measures Against UK in MOX Plant Case, Orders UK and Ireland to Cooperate in Prevention of Marine Contamination
On December 3, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued its ruling on the request for provisional measures in the MOX Case (Ireland v. UK). The MOX Case arises from Ireland's objection to the UK's construction of a mixed oxide (MOX) Plant in Cumbria that could potentially release radioactive material into the Irish Sea. Ireland instituted arbitral proceedings against the UK pursuant to the dispute settlement provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and sought provisional measures against the UK in the ITLOS. UNCLOS permits the application for provisional measures pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal. Citing the UK's promise not to transport additional radioactive material and the lack of urgency of the situation, the ITLOS did not provisionally order the UK to cease operation of the MOX plant. Instead, the ITLOS ordered both the UK and Ireland to cooperate by exchanging information, monitoring risks and devising measures to prevent pollution to the Irish Sea from the MOX Plant. The provisional measures will remain in effect until the constitution of the arbitral tribunal. Click here for a link to the ITLOS Order in the MOX Case on the ITLOS website.
Straddling Stocks Treaty Enters into Force
In what is being hailed as a milestone in marine fisheries law, the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (Straddling Stocks Treaty) entered into force on December 11. Under the terms of the treaty it entered into force 30 days after the deposit of ratification of the 30th member state. Malta was the 30th state. The treaty is expected to address some of the key difficulties of international fisheries law that remain from the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Specifically, the problem of fish stocks that regularly swim between ("straddle") the high seas (international waters) and the waters under the jurisdiction of a given state, or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In addition, it is hoped that the treaty will alleviate the problem of free-riders. That is, fishing vessels from states not participating in regional fishery organizations that fish with no restriction in those parts of the high seas governed by those regional fishery arrangements. Click here for the text of the Straddling Stocks Treaty.
China Officially Joins WTO
On December 11, China officially became the 143rd member of the World Trade Organization. As part of its admission, China has agreed to implement a number of reforms to transform its economy and open its markets to multinational companies and foreign investment. Click here for a link to more news on China's membership in the WTO on the WTO website.
Milosevic Will Be Tried In Two Separate Trials
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) decided on December 11, that the allegations against former Serb Leader Slobodan Milosevic, arising from three indictments of crimes in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo, will be addressed in two (2) separate trials. This decision which is something of a setback for chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte who sought one trial to address all counts against Milosevic. The decision is somewhat surprising as judicial economy might suggest all three (3) cases be combined. On the other hand, the allegations arising from the situation in Kosovo was much later and involved a different type of responsibility. Specifically, Milosevic was president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at the time of the Kosovo allegations. In addition, the logistics of two trials will likely be easier for the court as the prosecution intends to call approximately 600 witnesses in proceedings that could last three years or more. Click here for a link to the latest facts and documents in the case against Milosevic on the ICTY website.
US to Withdraw from ABM Treaty
After months of debate the Bush administration has decided to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the US and Russia. The treaty was negotiated by Richard Nixon. The US withdrawal will become effective in six months and clears the key obstacle in international law to President Bush's proposed testing of an anti-ballistic missile weapons system. Recent negotiations between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian President Vladimir Putin that might have reached a compromise between the terms of the treaty and Bush's objectives ended in a deadlock.
Biological Weapons Conference Ends Without Agreement on Verification
After a 3 week review of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (available on the Documents Page) talks in Geneva broke down on the implementation of a system to verify treaty compliance. The review of the treaty is held every 5 years and the present negotiations to develop a system to detect non-compliance began in 1994. The US rejected an earlier proposal to achieve the goal of verification claiming that it was counter to US interests in business and defense and that it would not slow proliferation of the weapons. At the conference, the US demanded accountability by countries it believes are flouting the Convention. The US representative specifically singled out Iraq and North Korea as violators of the treaty as indicated Iran, Libya and Syria were also likely to violate it. The Convention not only prohibits the use of biological weapons, but their development as well. The urgency of this meeting was highlighted by the recent anthrax attacks in the United States.
WTO Fourth Ministerial Conference Concludes in Doha, Qatar
The members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) held their fourth Ministerial Conference from November 9th to 14th in Doha, Qatar. Among the key achievements of the Doha conference was the admission of China as a member of the WTO immediately followed by the admission of Taiwan. In addition, the conference produced a declaration on the Trade Related Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement and public health in the area of pharmaceuticals and public health crises such as HIV/AIDS. The ministerial conference is the organization's highest-level decision making body. It meets at least every two years as required by the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. Click here for a link to documents and highlights of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on the WTO Website.
Agreement Reached on Kyoto Protocol Details
Final details of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have finally been agreed upon following two weeks of intensive negotiations in Marrakesh, Morocco. The Kyoto agreement is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). This new Marrakesh Accord paves the way for the Protocol's entry into force once it has been ratified by 55 states, including a group of industrial countries responsible for at least 55 percent of the heat-trapping emissions in 1990. The industrial countries that sign on will be required, as a group, to cut emissions by the year 2012 to 5 percent below emissions levels in 1990. The United States which attended the Marrakesh meeting as an observer has consistently indicated it will not become a party to the Kyoto Protocol. The Bush administration expressly rejected the Protocol in March. The primary objection of President Bush is the agreement's disproportionate impact on developed, industrial states and the likely negative impact it would have on the US economy. The US is the major emitter of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, and without its participation the threshold level of reductions can only be achieved with the participation of both Japan and Russia. Russia has signaled strong support and has seen a precipitous drop in its own emissions since the end of the Soviet era. Japan will need to make significant reductions if it is to ratify and some sectors of Japanese industry oppose the treaty. This agreement is being hailed as a breakthrough and a milestone in international environmental law. Click here for a link to the "Marrakesh Accords" and the "Marrakesh Declaration" on the UNFCCC website (pdf document).
ICTY Appellate Panel Reverses Some Convictions; Trial Panel Adds Kosovo Indictment Against Milosevic; Convicts 5 Serbs for Bosnian Prison Camp
An appellate panel for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) reversed convictions of three (3) Croatian men: Zoran Kupreskic, Mirjan Kupreskic and Vlatko Kupreskic, who had been convicted for crimes arising from an attack in 1993 on a Moslem village in the Bosnian War. The men were immediately released after the five (5) judge appellate panel found that mistakes were made during their trial that led to a miscarriage of justice. The reversal indicates the appellate panel system, provided for the ICTY statute, is not a rubberstamp for its trial panel counterpart. In other ICTY news, on October 30 it added a second indictment against former Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic to include allegations of crimes in Kosovo. The first indictment against him, upon which he was arraigned earlier this year, included allegations arising from Serb conduct in Croatia. A third indictment is expected soon to include charges arising from the Serbian actions in Bosnia. On November 2, the ICTY trial panel also convicted five (5) Bosnian Serbs of war crimes for their atrocities in the Omarska prison camp against Muslims in the summer of 1992. The Omarska Prison Camp came to be emblematic of Serb ethnic cleansing. Click here for a link to the ICTY website.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani Bluntly Challenges UN to Do More to Fight Terror and End Moral Relativism
On October 1, 2001, at the opening session of the General Assembly debate on terrorism, NY Mayor Rudolph Giuliani challenged the UN members to end moral relativism in their treatment of terrorism and understand the clear distinction between those who commit terror and those who combat it. In a thinly-veiled reference to the UN's repeated condemnation of Israel's ongoing efforts to combat Arab terrorism while ignoring the terrorist acts themselves, Mayor Giuliani stated, "You're either with civilization or with terrorists." Mayor Giuliani's invitation to speak to the UN General Assembly is only the third time in history that a New York mayor has been asked to address that body. This comes in the wake of the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City and the death of approximately 3,000 people in the terrorist acts of September 11. The United States and coalition parties are currently conducting a campaign against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda terror group in Afghanistan. Mayor Giuliani received international acclaim for his poised leadership in the wake of the crisis.
Secretary General Kofi Annan and the United Nations Win the Nobel Peace Prize
On October 12, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the United Nations were both awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in two equal parts "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world" according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Despite the recent award, Mr. Annan and the UN organization as a whole continue to be controversial in world affairs. Although most observers of international affairs credit Mr. Annan with presiding over necessary reforms of the organization and improving its relations with the United States, he also deserves some responsibility for the UN's conference on racism in Durbin South Africa in September 2001. By many accounts, the conference was unduly influenced by radical Islamic interests pushing an anti-Israel, anti-Western and anti-Semitic agenda. The virulent nature of the session and related proceedings precipitated a walkout by the United States and Israel and drew criticism by other states and conference attendees. The climate and agenda of the Durbin conference is seen by many as laying the groundwork for legitimizing terror against the United States and Israel. As Secretary General, Annan is also held partly responsible by Israel for the failure to turn over UN videotapes of the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers a year ago. In that incident, the Hezbollah terrorist group breached the Israel-Lebanese border in the presence of UN officials and staged the kidnapping. Click here for a link to news on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize on the UN Website.
New Non-Permanent Members Elected to UN Security Council: Syrian Seat Controversial
On October 8, five (5) new states: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and Syria were elected by the General Assembly to the Security Council as non-permanent members. They will begin their terms on January 1, 2002 and replace the outgoing members Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mali, Tunisia and Ukraine. Article 23 of the UN Charter provides that the General Assembly shall elect non-permanent members to two year terms. Among the new members, by far the most controversial is Syria which remains on the United States State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism. By some reports, if Syria does not end its support for terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, it may potentially be a future target in the current war on terrorism which the United States and other countries have been waging against the Taliban of Afghanistan and the Al-Qaeda terror network since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack against the United States. Click here for a link to the October 8, 2001 election results in the General Assembly on the UN Website.
UN Passes Sweeping Anti-Terrorism Resolution, Requires Cooperation
On September 28, 2001, the UN Security Council passed a sweeping anti-terrorism resolution that called for far-reaching cooperation among member states to act against terrorism at various levels; specifically, suppressing the sources for terrorist funding, blocking terrorists' transboundary movement and calling for rigorous application of national laws in this area. The Security Council also established a committee to monitor implementation of the resolution. In a rare showing of international unity, the resolution passed unanimously. Interestingly, and perhaps significantly, the Resolution did not define the term "terrorism". Click here for a link to the September 28, 2001 UN Security Council Resolution.
US Attacked by Terrorists: Plans Forceful and Multilevel Response
On September 11, 2001, the United States of America was the victim of the worst terrorist attack in history when well-organized cells of hijackers took control of four civilian aircraft and directed them into both buildings of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The Trade Center towers completely collapsed and the Pentagon sustained considerable damage. The fourth plane, although heading for Washington DC, crashed in western Pennsylvania, apparently after a passenger uprising. The loss of life is estimated at over 5,000 and could potentially go much higher (later revised downward to approximately 3000, HSS 2002). The victims were from many different nationalities. The United States believes these acts were carried out by the terrorist network of exiled Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden. Accordingly, the US has declared a war on terrorism and vowed to bring the perpetrators of these acts and those who harbor and sponsor them, to justice. An international coalition is being assembled in this war on terror and operations will likely include the rigorous application and enforcement of domestic laws to combat terror, international sanctions and military action against groups and states that support terrorism. NATO has invoked Article 5 of the NATO treaty specifying that the attack on the United States was an attack on all NATO members. Many other states, including some moderate Arab states, have also pledged assistance and support. Although Bin Laden's exact whereabouts are presently unknown, he has been a guest of the Taliban government of Afghanistan. Click here for a link to the September 12, United Nations Security Resolution condemning the terrorist acts.
ICTY Convicts Serb of Genocide in 1995 Srebrenica Massacre; First Genocide Conviction
On August 2, the ICTY found former Bosnian Serb general Radislav Krstic guilty of genocide for his participation in the July 1995 execution of over 7,000 unarmed Bosnian Muslim men and boys near Srebrenica. The three member trial chamber's decision was unanimous and was read by Portuguese Judge Almiro Rodrigues. Citing specific conduct of Krstic, the tribunal ruled that in his role as commander of the Drina Corps, Krstic had full knowledge and command responsibility for the executions. The tribunal noted that at some point "ethnic cleansing" became genocide. Although the ICTY has convicted other individuals of war crimes and crimes against humanity, this was the first conviction by this tribunal on the charge of genocide. Krstic received a sentence of 46 years. Click here for the Judgment of the ICTY in the Krstic case on the ICTY website.
Milosevic Arraigned in ICTY and Rejects Authority of Tribunal
On July 3, Slobodan Milosevic was formally arraigned before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He rejected the assistance of a lawyer and instead defiantly addressed the Court, stating he did not recognize the power of the Tribunal to try him for crimes against humanity. The purpose of an arraignment in any criminal justice system is for the accused to be formally presented with charges against him or her and enter a preliminary plea to those charges. Milosevic rejected the reading of the charges and refused to enter a plea. The Court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf and adjourned the matter until late August for further pre-trial proceedings. Click here for the latest information and documents on the case against Milosevic on the ICTY website.
ICJ Rules For Germany and Against US in LaGrand Case: US Breached Duty of Consular Notification, Orders of Provisonal Measures are Binding
On June 27, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled for Germany and against the United States in the LaGrand Case. Karl and Walter LaGrand were German nationals who were tried, convicted and executed in the State of Arizona even though US law enforcement officials never informed them of their right to contact German consular officials to assist in their defense. The right of consular notification and access is guaranteed by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Both the US and Germany are members of the Vienna Convention. After Karl LaGrand was executed, Germany brought the case to the ICJ and made an application for provisional measures under Article 41 to order the US not to execute Walter until the ICJ could hear the merits of the case. The ICJ granted the order but Walter was executed anyway. In a clear rebuke of the US, the ICJ ruled in the Judgment that the US not only breached its obligation under the Vienna Convention by failing to inform Karl and Walter LaGrand of their rights under the Vienna Convention but also that it was wrong in ignoring the Court's Order of provisional measures. Significantly, this is the first time in the history of the ICJ that it clearly acknowledged its powers of provisional measures are binding. The US has consistently admitted the treaty violation, apologized to Germany and agreed to take steps to improve its compliance with the Vienna Convention. Click here for a link to the ICJ's Judgment in the LaGrand Case on the ICJ Website.
Yugoslavia to Extradite Milosevic to Hague Tribunal
New Climate Change Report May Stimulate U.S. Policy Shift
Although still very suspicious of the potential economic impact of the Kyoto Treaty, President Bush is responding with some interest to a new report on climate change issued by a panel of the National Academy of Sciences. The report was prepared at the request of the White House and the early indications are that President Bush and his staff are now taking the issue of climate change, or global warming, much more seriously, possibly positioning the U.S. for more of a leadership role on the issue. Until now, the Bush administration has pointed to economic costs and scientific uncertainty about the matter and disagreement over the anthropogenic, or human cause, of global warming. The latest report concludes human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, is indeed causing an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and is a factor in climate change. Click here for a link to the National Academy of Sciences Report on the National Academy of Sciences Website.
Japan Expands 'Scientific' Whale Hunt, U.S. Protests
Japan has decided to expand its existing whale hunts which it justifies as 'scientific research' even though the meat is sold commercially in Japan. On May 10, a Japanese fleet left for the North Pacific where it intends to kill 160 whales by late July. The harvest is intended to be 100 minke whales, 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales. The Bush administration has sharply criticized the hunt and stated it is considering trade sanctions against Japan. The U.S. has threatened, and indeed certified, Japan for similar sanctions in the past although they have never been fully implemented. Sperm whales are listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and both Sperm and Bryde's whales receive some protection under U.S. law. The International Whaling Commission, of which both the U.S. and Japan are members, currently has a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling but the moratorium does not apply to so-called 'scientific whaling.' The criteria and licensing of Scientific whaling is determined unilaterally by the issuing government.
U.S. Denied Seat on U.N. Human Rights Commission
The U.S. has not been re-elected to the U.N. Human Rights Commission for the first time since its inception in 1947. The May 3 election involved 4 states, France, Sweden, Austria and the U.S. vying for 3 "Western" positions on the Commission. The 53 member Geneva-based commission which exists under the auspices of the U.N. Economic and Social Council annually evaluates and reports on human rights abuses around the world. The failure of the U.S. to secure its re-election is seen as an indication of the growing influence of developing states and their antipathy to the U.S., as well as resentment over the U.S. delay in paying its U.N. dues. In the secret balloting, the U.S. claimed to have firm commitments of votes from 43 states but may have been a victim of "vote-swapping," where allies of the U.S. did not vote for it believing its election was assured. Vote-swapping is a common practice in U.N. bodies. U.S. absence on the Commission is likewise controversial because states elected include Sudan, Pakistan and Uganda among others that have highly questionable human rights records. Members of the U.S. Congress have threatened to take legislative action to delay next year's U.N. dues payment of approximately $224 million if the U.S. seat is not returned next year.
Affordable Medicines for Poor Countries Are Feasible According to WHO/WTO Workshop
One of the challenges of recent years in international trade and development has been the distribution of life-saving pharmaceuticals to developing countries. Not only has the cost hampered the distribution of these drugs to poorer countries, but pharmaceutical companies from developed states have long been reluctant to expose their products to legal systems with less-than-stringent intellectual property laws. A joint WHO (World Health Organization)/WTO (World Trade Organization) workshop by diverse experts held in Norway from April 9-11, however, has determined that making pharmaceuticals more affordable in developing countries is both possible and realistic. In particular, they highlighted the practice of "differential pricing" whereby companies charge different prices in different markets based on their ability to pay. In addition, it was recognized that generic drug manufacturers could play an important role. Addressing the important concern of intellectual property protection, the participants acknowledged that intellectual property protection is an important incentive for research and development into new drugs. On the other hand, it was emphasized that countries need to be able to make use of public health safeguards built into the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement which was a part of the 1994 GATT/WTO Agreement. Specifically, the TRIPS Agreement provides for "compulsory pricing" whereby a member country is able to license others to produce a patented invention without a patented owner's permission and "parallel imports" where patented products are supplied by the patent owner or a licensee at a lower price in another country. Click here for a WTO Press Release on the WHO/WTO workshop via a link to the WTO website.
First Yugoslav Citizen Surrenders to Hague Tribunal
The first Yugoslav citizen to appear before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) surrendered in the Hague on March 12. The accused is Blagoje Simic, 40, the former mayor of Bosanski Samac, a town taken by Serb forces in April 1992. It is alleged that Simic was head of the local government during a campaign of ethnic cleansing against non-Serbs. The new government of Yugoslavia, under the democratically elected Vojislav Kostunica, is reportedly encouraging indicted Yugoslavs to surrender and cooperate with the tribunal. Click here for the press release on Simic's detention on the ICTY website.
Three Serbs Convicted of War Sex Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity
On February 22, three Serbs were convicted of rape and enslavement as crimes against humanity occurring in the course of a war. The three men, Dragoljub Kunarac, Radomir Kovac and Zoran Vukovic were convicted in a trial chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) of engaging in rape, enslavement and torture of Muslim women in the municipality of Foca from early 1992 to mid-1993 during the Bosnian war. These cases, as well as others handled by the ICTY (See July 2000 Reports), signal a progressive development in both human rights and the laws of war. That is, rape and sexual violence against civilians during times of war may be considered both war crimes and crimes against humanity. Kunarac received a jail sentence of 28 years, Kovac a sentence of 20 years and Vukovic a sentence of 12 years. The rapes were part of the larger plan of "ethnic cleansing" committed against the Bosnia Muslims during that war. While the trial chamber was careful to point out that the evidence did not show systematic rape as a "weapon of war" in the sense it was part of combat activities, it did expressly find that sexual assault was employed as a means of terrorizing the local civilian population to force their expulsion. The Tribunal ruled that such actions constitute both a war crime and a crime against humanity. While other cases have classified rape and sexual assault during war as torture, these cases are the first to classify these wartime acts as crimes against humanity in their own right. Click here for the press release of the Judgement of the Trial Chamber for these cases on the ICTY website.
Federal Court Rules Miranda Rights Available to Suspects Questioned Outside of U.S.
In a judicial decision that may have a profound impact on the prosecution of terrorist cases in U.S. courts, United States District Judge Leonard B. Sand of the Southern District of New York formally ruled on February 16, that foreign suspects interrogated abroad by U.S. law enforcement personnel are entitled to the same Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and right to counsel as those on U.S. soil. Consequently, they are entitled to the same Miranda warnings advising them of their rights. The judge ruled, however, that the specific language of the warnings might vary depending upon the circumstances existing in the country where the suspect is held (e.g., ability to locate an attorney for that individual). This issue arose in the case of three defendants on trial for the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in East Africa. The men were detained in Kenya and questioned by both American and Kenyan officials. Judge Sand held that the extension of Fifth Amendment protection was necessary where suspects detained by foreign governments might have been subjected to aggressive detention or interrogation practices by foreign officials not permitted by U.S. law. On the facts of these particular cases (United States v. Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owali and United States v. Mohammed Saddiq Odeh), however, Judge Sand ruled that the U.S. agents acted properly, orally advised the men of their rights and those rights were in fact waived by the defendants. The statements of the defendants will therefore be allowed as evidence. The U.S. attorney's office has indicated it will not appeal the ruling.
U.S. Senate Approves U.N. Dues
On February 7, the United States Senate voted 99-0 to immediately release $582 million in back dues to the United Nations. The House of Representatives is expected to approve the release as well. This follows a deal, brokered by former UN Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke in December 2000 ( See December Reports), whereby the US share of the general UN budget will fall to 22% from 25%. The share of the peacekeeping budget will fall to 25% from 31%. Other countries including Israel, South Korea, Hungary, Estonia and Slovenia, have agreed to increase their contribution to make up the shortfall. Under the plan an additional $244 million will be released next year on condition that the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies implement some auditing changes.
Pan Am 103/Lockerbie Verdict: One Conviction, One Acquittal
On January 31, the criminal tribunal sitting in Camp Zeist in the Netherlands handed down its verdict in the trial of two Libyan intelligence agents accused of conspiring to blow up Pan Am flight 103 in December, 1988. The terrorist explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland killed 259 passengers and 11 people on the ground. One of the defendants, Abdel Basset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi was found guilty of the bombing while co-defendant Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah was found not guilty. Al-Megrahi was sentenced to life in prison but may be eligible for parole in 20 years; he is appealing. This case and its unique history blended numerous elements of international law including sanctions imposed by the UN Security on Libya to secure the presence of the defendants. The trial took place in the Netherlands, a neutral location, although Scottish law was applied in the case. 1. Click here for a link to the verdicts on the Scottish Courts website (PDF and Word format). 2. Click here for a link to extensive documents, facts, photos and analysis of the Lockerbie trial.
New Climate Change Report Warns of Serious Global Warming and Highlights Human Cause
A report entitled, Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis was released on January 22 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Co-sponsored by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the report projects a potentially devastating increase of global temperature of perhaps 1.4-5.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st Century. Such increases in temperature can cause devastating consequences including rising sea levels and changing rain patterns. The report discussed strong evidence of the fact of global warming provided by tree rings, ice cores, and corals. In addition, the report indicated the human link (anthropogenic) as a contributing factor in climate change. This report was volume 1 of 3. The next volume is due in February 2001 and will focus on the impact of the phenomenon of climate change. Volume 3 will address response strategies and is expected to be completed in March 2001. Click here for a link to a summary of Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis on the IPCC website.
Former President of Bosnian Serb Republic Surrenders to War Crimes Tribunal
Biljana Plavsic, the former president of the Bosnian Serb Republic surrendered to officials at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague on January 10 upon learning of a pending indictment. Plavsic is a 70 year old woman who faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, violations of the laws and customs of war, and grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the laws of war. She is the most senior Bosnian Serb official, and the first woman, to face charges in the ad hoc tribunal. The ICTY was created by the Security Council in 1993 for the atrocities committed since 1991 in the area of the former Yugoslavia. Ms. Plavsic was a deputy of the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. Karadzic, also under indictment, is presently a fugitive. Click here for the Press Release on the Surrender of Biljana Plavsic via the link to the UN/ICTY website.