David Miliband

Somalia: Search for a Political Solution

Anyone who wants to know what is at stake in Somalia - one of the great and dangerous ungoverned spaces in the world - should read this excellent article.

President Sharif has one of the toughest jobs in the world. The violence and bloodshed, never mind underdevelopment, is hugely challenging. I am clear that the Ethiopians took the right decision to leave in January, but President Sharif now needs strong support, as I argued in Oxford in May.

Posted at 17:08 29 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[7]

Arabs Need to Talk to the Israelis

This article by the Crown Prince of Bahrain deserves wide readership. It's really excellent. It cuts through the argument that peace is a zero-sum game. It tackles the idea that every move is either a concession or an advance.

There is a group of Arab leaders who now view a regional approach as key to progress in the Middle East and see the 'rush' of moves for peace as far better than the status quo of stand-off and separation. This energy needs to find release, and that is the significance of the American drive to establish a freeze on settlements as a trigger to direct negotiations.

Posted at 12:25 29 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]

Natalia Estemirova

I was horrified by the recent kidnap and murder of Natalia Estemirova. This spring she came to a conference the FCO held in London for international human rights activists. She was a key figure in getting independent information out about the reality of life in Chechnya, and her murder is the latest in a list that has included journalist Anna Politkovskaya and human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov.

As I said in my Wilberforce speech last year, when Anna Politkovskaya was posthumously recognised for her work, we have a duty to mark the bravery of those who stand up for democracy and freedom.

All governments must ensure that there is a safe working environment for NGOs. In this case it is essential that we see a full and transparent investigation into Natalia's murder. I welcome President Medvedev's commitment to ensuring justice is done

Posted at 11:01 29 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[3]