David Miliband

Goldstone

The Gaza conflict at the start of the year shocked and polarised opinion.  This week in New York we considered the Goldstone report.  Some say it is flawed and to be dismissed out of hand.  Some that the issues it raises are so serious we must endorse it.  I agree with both analyses, but disagree with both conclusions.  

The report is flawed but the issues grave.  Hamas rockets fired indiscriminately at Israeli citizens seriously violate international law.  Hamas should reject such actions and release Gilad Shalit.  But Israel should also see that their investigations so far have failed to convince not just dyed in the wool opponents, but those genuinely committed to Israel's security, that it has addressed some serious allegations.  We worked hard before the vote at the UN in New York yesterday to reach a consensus on calling for independent investigations.  In the end we had to abstain, with France and forty two others,  because voting for would have meant endorsing the report and ignoring its flaws.  But the issues are serious and the parties should address them.  

Posted at 16:53 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

African Union agreement on internally displaced persons

It’s extraordinary that there are over 11 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa. The African Union statement  highlights the problem across at least 20 African states where people are currently internally displaced. Now we need to turn the words into action and help these displaced people.

Posted at 16:28 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[2]

Waziristan

Gideon Rachman of the FT says the Pakistan Army’s action in Waziristan is the most important thing happening in the world at the moment.

This article by Anatol Lieven focuses on the key points. The links between the insurgency of West Pakistan and East Afghanistan are key to the future of both countries. And the links of government and population in each country - and the loyalty government commands – the essential resource for the future.

Posted at 13:32 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[2]

Chatham House awards Brazil’s Lula

I am sorry I am not in London this week to meet President Lula when he receives the Chatham House Prize, awarded annually to the statesperson deemed by Chatham House members to have made the most significant contribution to improving international relations in the previous year. President Lula's leadership of Brazil, domestically and internationally, has been remarkable.

Brazil has made itself a key player on a range of international issues, bridging traditional North-South and East-West divides with policies and approaches of humanity and rationality. (I’m biased, I suppose, because the Foreign Minister Celso Amorim was a student of my dad’s.) In the run up to the Copenhagen climate summit we will need Brazil more than ever. Here is President Lula’s UN speech: http://www.un.org/ga/64/generaldebate/pdf/BR_en.pdf

Posted at 10:36 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[0]

British Council's 75th birthday

The British Council celebrated its 75th birthday yesterday. Through the aftermath of war; the end of Empire; the chill of the Cold War and the rise of Al Qaeda, the Council has upheld the values of democratic governance and debate, delivering a service of intercultural relations which is much admired (and still being copied) around the world. Last year alone, the Council engaged face to face with 13.2 million people and reached 221 million.

In 1936 The British Council’s Chairman William Tyrrell defined the Council’s role as "removing misunderstanding and promoting understanding”. Today, public diplomacy is arguably more important than ever. Citizens are more literate  and more informed.  They are connected to the outside world through trade, media and travel;  more able to communicate with each other, to organise, to hold power to account, and to exert influence over political decision making. This is not just true in established democracies - public opinion also constrains more authoritarian leaders.

So if we are to promote our values and influence our world in the 21st century, we must renew our soft power. The British Council, alongside other organisations such as the BBC World Service, have a central role to play in people-to-people diplomacy and I wish them many happy returns!

Posted at 10:05 06 November 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[2]