- March 31st, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
The International Court of Justice at The Hague has ruled emphatically against Japan, and in favour of Australia, in their dispute over whaling in the Antarctic region.
The court found Japan was in violation of obligations under the international Whaling Convention , by taking large numbers of whales for commercial use, on a justification that this was for scientific purposes.
The panel of judges determined 12 to 4, that Japan’s whaling permits are to be revoked and no new ones are to be issued to it; the decision binding, no appeals to be permitted.
New Zealand was joined in the case on Australia’s side. … Read More »
- March 27th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
Keeping together is the theme for the Europeans and United States, faced with Russia’s seizure of Crimea, and the ongoing ructions in South-eastern Europe.
President Barack Obama’s visit to Brussels to see heads of NATO and the European Union (27.3.14), not going to national capitals first-up, drew attention to the idea of Europe as a whole.
Most other political leaders and high officials were saying the same, keep together; while action was controlled and incremental, its main thrust to isolate the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. … Read More »
- March 10th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
The new Romanian Ambassador in Canberra, Nineta Barbulescu, can claim some special knowledge of Australia through her earlier work as a specialist in non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (i.e. nuclear, chemical and biological weapons). … Read More »
- March 7th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
Political allies of Russia in the Crimea moved to get the region incorporated into Russia, as the United States laid out its first diplomatic and financial steps against Russian interests, and European Union heads of government conferred in Brussels (6.3.14). … Read More »
- March 5th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
If words will sort out what the confrontation is about, and what can be done, the parties are providing ample material for a very full explanation, some day. … Read More »
- March 3rd, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
In the course of one week the crisis in Ukraine worsened, with the overthrow of the President, and then, with the intervention of Russian troops, the fear of war. Lee Duffield writes. … Read More »
