Photo : news.az/politico
By Alka Bala
FRANCE
Macron acknowledges French failure to stop Rwanda Genocide on its 30th anniversary
On 05 April, Politico reported that on the 30th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged France’s failure to stop the Rwanda genocide. Macron in a video message stated that “France, which could have stopped the genocide with its Western and African allies, did not have the will to do so.” The Rwandan genocide resulted in the ethnic cleansing of members of the Tutsi minority by Hutu militants between April and July 1994, killing 800,000 people. Macron was invited to Rwanda to commemorate the anniversary, however, was instead represented by Stéphane Séjourné, French Foreign Affairs Minister and Rwandan- born Hervé Berville, Secretary of State for the Sea. Earlier in 2021, Macron had visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial honouring victims in Rwanda, and had acknowledged France’s “responsibilities” but had also stated that the country “was not an accomplice” to the violence. (Seb Starcevic, “Macron to acknowledge France’s failure to stop Rwanda genocide, Politico, 5 April 2024)
GERMANY
Intelligence chief warns about rising far-right extremists with licenced arms
On 05 April, according to Deutsche Welle, a large number of far-right extremists and supporters of the Reichbürger group, still have permission to own weapons. Reichbürger group refers to a far-right radical movement that rejects the legality of the Federal State of Germany. According to the Interior Ministry, in 2023 about 1561 extremists and some 500 Reichsbürger possessed arms licenses. Martina Renner, a parliamentarian from the Left Party stated that “It is not announcements that are needed but concrete action by the authorities against Nazis and Reichsbürger.” She urged the government to pursue measures regarding weapons law. Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Interior Minister has announced regarding strengthening of laws around weapons licenses. However, amid discussions to develop new legal reforms, the Free Democrats Party voice for rigorous implementation of existing reform. (“Germany: Many far-right extremists licensed to own arms,” Deutsche Welle, 05 April 2024)
Germany launches “war-ready” military reforms with emphasis on cyber-warfare
On 04 April, Deutsche Welle reported that Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister plans to introduce military reforms and restructure the command structure. Reforms include, the establishment of a new branch focusing exclusively on cyber-warfare and will work in coordination with the army, air force and the navy. The new Cyber and Information Domann Service would focus on preventing and working against cyberattacks, protecting electronic infrastructure, and preventing disinformation and other hybrid threats. The change in the structure includes the oversight of all four branches under a new central command, which would be the unified point of contact for NATO. Pistorious stated that the German military, Bundeswehr would require an additional EUR 6.5 million in its budget for 2025 to implement these reforms. (“Germany launches military reform with new command structure,” Deutsche Welle, 05 April 2024)
KOSOVO
Kosovo Statistics Agency began its first census in ten years; Serb parties call for boycott
On 05 April, according to Deutsche Welle, Kosovo began its first nationwide census in the last ten years. The census would also include a survey of the ethnic Serb minority residing in the north. Albin Kurti, Kosovo’s Prime Minister had earlier urged the Serb minority to participate in the census. The census has been opposed by four Serb parties, including the Srpska Lista. Kosovo is dominated by the majority Albanian population, however, in the northern municipalities, Serbs are in the majority. The last population census in Kosovo was held in 2011 by the Kosovo Statistics Agency (ASK) and ended with a population count of 1.8 million people. The census would allow the government to tally the number of people, their households, education and employment to make plans for policies. ASK aims to conduct the census in six weeks, between 5 April and 17 May. The cost of carrying out the census is estimated to be 13 million dollars and has been funded by Eurostat, the World Bank and UN organisations. (“Kosovo begins first census in over 10 years,” Deutsche Welle, 05 April 2024)
THE UK
Government justifies quitting EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme
On 03 April, according to Politico, the UK quit the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme as the membership was too expensive to justify, owing to Brit’s poor foreign language skills. Nick Leake, a diplomat at the UK mission stated that lesser participation by the UK students in the scheme owing to language learning had forced the UK to pay EUR 300 million more each year into the program, than what it receives back. Although youth organisations have pushed the UK to rejoin the scheme, Leake’s statement at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) meeting in Brussels stated “The interests of the U.K. taxpayer is why we decided not to participate in Erasmus+.” Maurizio Cuttin, British Youth Council's ambassador to the European Youth Forum expressed the decision as a “devastating loss of exchange and educational opportunities for young people on both sides of the Channel.” Turing, UK’s study abroad scheme, was indicated to not have achieved its target of reaching 35,000 students but only reached 20,000 students. 80 per cent of universities also complained about the difficulties in the application process. (Jon Stone, “UK quit Erasmus because of Brits’ poor language skills,” Politico, 03 April 2024)
Bidding begins for government funds for zero-emission international shipping routes
On 05 April, Lord Davies UK’s Maritime Minister began the bidding process to reach the 1.5 million GBP required to develop zero-emission international shipping routes from the UK. The project is aimed at providing cleaner journeys for passengers and goods, generating employment and economic growth. The latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition aims at the creation of ‘green corridors’, the development of infrastructure and requirements such as green fuel and charging systems. The project would connect the shipping routes between the UK and Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Ireland. Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition was first announced in 2023 during London International Shipping Week. Ireland and the Netherlands will provide funding for their organisations to run the project, whereas Denmark and Norway will contribute through access to information and facilitate collaboration. (“New green international shipping routes backed by government funding,” Government of UK, 05 April 2024)
INTERNATIONAL
Slovak Prime Minister seeks to improve ties with Vietnam
On 05 April, according to Deutsche Welle, Robert Fico, Slovakia’s Prime Minister seeks to reshape his foreign policy and plans to improve ties with Communist states like Vietnam. Although the countries were historically close, relations deteriorated after the abduction of Trịnh Xuan Thanh, a Vietnamese fugitive in Berlin whom Vietnamese secret service agents abducted. This was followed by the expulsion of Vietnamese diplomats from Germany. Slovak who got re-elected in October, is in his third term and is set to follow a “sovereign Slovak foreign policy.” In January, Fico met with Pham Minh Chinh, the Vietnamese Prime Minister at the World Economic Forum. He also met Lubos Blaha, the deputy speaker of the Slovak National Council and Nguyen Tuan, the Vietnamese Ambassador. Fico’s foreign policy has drifted away from the West, received criticism from the EU as the country vowed not to arm Ukraine, and has called for a negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine. (David Hutt, “Vietnam-Slovakia ties to improve, thanks to new Slovak PM,” Deutsche Welle, 05 April 2024)
EU and US pledge 290 million USD for Armenia’s “resilience and growth”
On 05 April, according to Deutsche Welle, the EU and the US pledged to send a financial grant package of 290 million USD to Armenia over the next four years to boost “resilience and growth.” The EU chief, Ursula von der Leyen, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State and Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Prime Minister met in Brussels on Friday for the meeting. Von der Leyen stated that “Europe and Armenia share a long and common history and the time has come to write now a new chapter.” Blinken promised that the US would provide Armenia with 65 million USD this year to boost economic support, and it would “continue to support the 100,000 ethnic Armenians displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh region.” Armenia used to observe Russia as its closest ally and has now shifted towards the West, post Moscow’s failure to intervene in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia criticised the meeting, whereas Turkey which backs Azerbaijan stated that “the neutral approach that should be the basis for the solution of the complex problems of the region.” (“EU and US pledge fresh financial support for Armenia,” Deutsche Welle, 05 April 2024)