Showing posts with label international affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international affairs. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Americans MUST ATTEND (focus, concentrate), Demand Strict Attention to Essentials:


Critical Matters of World and National History
Knowledge Memory
Principle, Practice Preservation Propriety


United States public officials must be reined and required to serve not themselves but the people of the United States of America. Recorded documentation, direct textual transcription, and preservation of official actions and words are part of this critical matter.

Documentation of actions and policies taken on behalf of, in the name of, and in the position or in professional office representing the United States of America is absolutely essential to the life and memory of the United States and its people. Without exception, US public officials while in office (as servants of the people, the institution of Government; not owners of corporations; in international affairs, not deal makers but diplomats) must be required under strictly enforced law to submit in the moment all of their actions, policies, statements, all content to direct transcription (fully and completely without editing, redacting or altering in any way) and to the nation’s archive or library for public study or use. Such documentation is essential to the life and health of the country, essential for the clear thinking, the clarity and understanding and reflection of the citizenry.


Essentiality of Depth and Clarity
Knowledge, Reflection, Memory
Understanding and Truth
Respect for People, Culture, History

 

“…Symbolically…, there is an international date line nearby, on the border between Russia and the United States, where you can literally step from one day into another. I hope that we can do the same in political affairs.”

“Our countries are… are two islands, one Russian and one American, separated by a mere four kilometres…. We are close neighbours (and) … our shared history and many positive events are largely related to Alaska. There is still an enormous cultural legacy preserved since the age of Russian America, with Russian Orthodox churches and more than 700 place-names of Russian origin.… [T]his legacy will help us restore and develop mutually beneficial and equal ties at this new stage, even in the most challenging conditions”…. “[I]t is crucial and necessary that our countries turn the page and get back to cooperation.” —Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

This is an example of Due Diligence, Essential Documentation at the Official Website of The President of Russia August 16, 2025 
Verbatim (font changes, color, caps, bold, italics added)


Joint news conference by the President of Russia and the President of the United States, August 16, 2025, Anchorage, Alaska, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held a joint news conference following Russia-US talks. http://en.special.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/77793

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen,

We held our talks in a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere, and they have proved substantive and productive.

I would like to once again thank my US counterpart for the proposal to come to Alaska. It is quite logical to meet here since our countries, albeit separated by oceans, are, in fact, close neighbours. When we stepped out of our planes and greeted each other, I said, “Good afternoon, dear neighbour. I am glad to see you alive and in good health.” I believe it sounds very friendly and neighbourly. Our countries are separated only by the Bering Strait — essentially, there are two islands, one Russian and one American, separated by a mere four kilometres. We are close neighbours, that’s a fact.

It is also important to note that our shared history and many positive events are largely related to Alaska. There is still an enormous cultural legacy preserved since the age of Russian America, with Russian Orthodox churches and more than 700 place-names of Russian origin.

During World War II, Alaska served as the starting point for the legendary air route that delivered lend-lease supplies, including military aircraft and other equipment. It was a dangerous and challenging route over enormous ice-covered territories. Nevertheless, the pilots and experts of both countries did everything they could to bring victory together. They risked and sacrificed their lives for our common victory.

I have just visited the Russian city of Magadan. A monument honouring Russian and American pilots stands there, adorned with the Russian and American flags. I know that here, too, there is a similar monument, and at a war cemetery a few kilometres away from here, there are graves of Soviet pilots who lost their lives in that heroic mission. We appreciate the efforts of US officials and citizens to preserve their memory. This is a dignified and noble undertaking.

We will always remember other examples from history when our countries stood together against common enemies in the spirit of combat camaraderie and alliance, rendering each other help and support. I am certain that this legacy will help us restore and develop mutually beneficial and equal ties at this new stage, even in the most challenging conditions.

As you know, Russian-American summit talks have not been held for over four years. That is a long time. This period has proved exceptionally difficult for bilateral relations, and, let’s face it, they have deteriorated to their lowest point since the Cold War. And this does not benefit either our countries or the world in general.

Obviously, sooner or later we had to remedy the situation, to move from confrontation to dialogue, and in this regard, an in-person meeting between the two heads of state was really overdue – of course, with serious and thorough preparations, and this work has been done.

President Trump and I have established very good direct contacts. We have had frank conversations on the phone multiple times. As you know, the US President’s Special Envoy, Mr Witkoff, has visited us in Russia several times. Our aides and heads of foreign ministries have maintained regular contacts.

As you are well aware, the situation around Ukraine is one of the key issues. We acknowledge the commitment of the US administration and President Trump personally to help resolve the Ukrainian conflict, and the President’s willingness to understand the root causes and its origins.

I have repeatedly said that the developments in Ukraine present fundamental threats to Russia’s national security. Moreover, we have always considered the Ukrainian people – and I have said this many times – a brotherly people, no matter how strange it may sound in today’s circumstances. We share the same roots, and the current situation is tragic and deeply painful to us. Therefore, our country is sincerely interested in ending this.

Yet, we are convinced that, for the conflict resolution in Ukraine to be long-term and lasting, all the root causes of the crisis, which have been repeatedly explained, must be eliminated; all of Russia’s legitimate concerns must be taken into account, and a fair security balance must be restored in Europe and the rest of the world.

I agree with President Trump. He said today that Ukraine’s security must be ensured by all means. Of course, we are ready to work on this.

Hopefully, the understanding we have reached will bring us closer to this goal and open up the road to peace in Ukraine.

We hope that Kiev and the European capitals will take the current developments constructively and will neither try to put up obstacles nor attempt to disrupt the emerging progress with provocative acts or behind-the-scenes plots.

By the way, under the new US administration, our bilateral trade has been on the rise. So far, it is a symbolic figure but still, the trade is 20 percent higher. What I am saying is that we have many interesting areas for cooperation.

It is obvious that the Russian-US business and investment partnership holds tremendous potential. Russia and the United States have much to offer each other in trade, energy, digital and high technologies, and space development.

Cooperation in the Arctic and the resumption of region-to-region contacts, including between the Russian Far East and the West Coast of the USA, also appear relevant.

Overall, it is crucial and necessary that our countries turn the page and get back to cooperation.

Symbolically, as I have already said, there is an international date line nearby, on the border between Russia and the United States, where you can literally step from one day into another. I hope that we can do the same in political affairs.

I would like to thank Mr Trump for our joint work and for the friendly and trust-based conversation. The main thing is that there was a commitment on both sides to produce a result. We see that the US President has a clear idea of what he wants to achieve, that he sincerely cares about his country’s prosperity while showing awareness of Russia’s national interests.

I hope that today’s agreements will become a reference point, not only for resolving the Ukrainian problem but also for resuming the pragmatic business relations between Russia and the United States.

To conclude, I would like to add the following. I remember that in 2022, during my last contacts with the former US administration, I tried to convince my former US counterpart that we should not bring the situation to a point fraught with serious repercussions in the form of hostilities, and I said directly at the time that it would be a big mistake.

Today, we hear President Trump saying: “If I had been president, there would have been no war.” I believe it would have been so. I confirm this because President Trump and I have established a generally very good, businesslike and trustworthy contact. And I have every reason to believe that, as we move along this path, we can reach – and the sooner the better – the end of the conflict in Ukraine.

Thank you for the attention.


 
“…Hottest country anywhere in the world… dealing … to try to get this over with—United States President Donald Trump. (No transcript of press conference posted on US government-the White House's official website.) Kremlin transcript continues


PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much, Mr. President. That was very profound, and I will say that I believe we had a very productive meeting.

There were many-many points that we agreed on, most of them, I would say, a couple of big ones that we have not quite gotten there, but we have made some headway. So, there is no deal until there is a deal.

I will call up NATO in a little while. I will call up the various people that I think are appropriate, and I will, of course, call up President Zelensky and tell him about today’s meeting. It is ultimately up to them. They are going to have to agree with [what] Marco [Rubio] and Steve [Witkoff] and some of the great people from the Trump administration who have come here, Scott [Bessent] and John Ratcliffe. Thank you very much. But we have some of our really great leaders. They have been doing a phenomenal job.

We also have some tremendous Russian business representatives here, and I think, you know, everybody wants to deal with us. We have become the hottest country anywhere in the world in a very short period of time. We look forward to that, we look forward to dealing; we are going to try to get this over with.

We really made some great progress today. I have always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin, with Vladimir. We had many tough meetings, good meetings. We were interfered with by the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. It made it a little bit tougher to deal with, but he understood it. I think he has probably seen things like that during the course of his career. He has seen it all. But we had to put up with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. He knew it was a hoax, and I knew it was a hoax, but what was done was very criminal, but it made it harder for us to deal as a country in terms of the business and all of the things that we would like to have dealt with. But we will have a good chance when this is over.

So just to put it very quickly, I am going to start making a few phone calls and tell them what happened. We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to. There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there. We did not get here but we have a very good chance of getting there.

I would like to thank President Putin and his entire team, whose faces, who I know, in many cases, otherwise, other than that, whose faces I get to see all the time in the newspapers. You are almost as famous as the boss, but especially this one right over here.

But we had some good meetings over the years, right? Good, productive meetings over the years, and we hope to have that in the future. But let’s do the most productive one right now. We are going to stop, really, five, six, seven thousand, thousands of people a week from being killed, and President Putin wants to see that as much as I do.

So again, Mr. President, I would like to thank you very much, and we will speak to you very soon, and probably see you again very soon. Thank you very much, Vladimir.


VLADIMIR PUTIN: NEXT TIME IN MOSCOW.
DONALD TRUMP: Oh, that is an interesting one. I DO NOT KNOW. I will get a little heat on that one, but I could see it possibly happening. Thank you very much, Vladimir. And thank you all. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you so much.




Final Points (my thoughts) Worth Repeating


The stewardship of the United States Presidency and the proper documentation and preservation of official acts is the duty of office owed to the PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF America, and indeed, to History.

The Head of State of the United States of America (and other employees of the United States Government) must ensure the diligent transcription and recording of official documents. Make available — on the official government websites (and in the libraries and archives of the government of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA (the White House, the Congress, various departments) —full transcripts of statements, speeches, press conferences, other official news and events. The casual and unprofessional practice of using corporate outlets, volatile media environments and platforms susceptible to interference, modification, and redaction should be strictly prohibited.

Moreover, INTERLOPERS (or extra-governmental), regardless of “intended” “goodness,” should be prohibited from presuming to represent or giving the impression of representing the United States of America.
Just as people positioned officially in government office should be schooled (or school themselves, substantively) in matters concerning the nation (the homeland, domestically); and, perhaps even more importantly and potentially perilously, in matters concerning international affairs—the wife or the relative of any public official not employed by the Government of the United States of America and so appointed and approved by appropriate branches and processes of the US Government SHOULD NEVER BE PERMITTED to represent, to give the impression of representing or presume to represent the United States of America in international affairs or in foreign or domestic matters.





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Prolific Southern-Born American Writer Dr. Carolyn LaDelle Bennett focuses on People, Press, Politics USA; Domestic and Foreign Affairs (no copyright claimed in direct quotes and individual image)
https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett
https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/
Latest book: Are There No Champions? Yes and No
https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/859250-are-there-no-champions-yes-and-no
https://www.xlibris.com
Email: Nolandanisland@hotmail.com or Authorswork@gmail.com


Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Sources Documenting Historic March 18, 2025, Telephone Meeting of East-West Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Donald Trump of the United States of America

Side by side 
Official Mention of 
Historic Government Actions
Instructive Variations 








» Official Website President of Russia     » White House Website President of USA 

Telephone conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump March 18, 2025,  http://en.special.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76477

 

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump.

 The leaders continued their detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation surrounding Ukraine. Vladimir Putin extended gratitude to Donald Trump for his striving to achieve the noble goal of ending the hostilities and loss of life.

 Confirming his fundamental commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the President of Russia expressed willingness to thoroughly work out possible solutions in cooperation with the American partners, aimed at reaching a settlement that would be comprehensive, reliable, and lasting, and, naturally, take into account the essential need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, as well as Russia's legitimate security interests.

 Concerning US President's proposal to declare a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side outlined a number of significant points regarding ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire frontline, as well as the need to stop the forced mobilisation in Ukraine and rearming the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was noted that some serious risks exist pertaining to the intractability of the Kiev regime which had repeatedly sabotaged and violated negotiated agreements. An emphasis was made on barbaric acts of terrorism committed by Ukrainian militants against civilians residing in the Kursk Region.

 

It was pointed out that a complete cessation of providing Kiev with foreign military aid and intelligence must become the key condition for preventing an escalation of the conflict and making progress towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means.

 

Referring to Donald Trump's recent appeal to spare the lives of the Ukrainian servicemen surrounded in the Kursk Region, Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian side was willing to embrace humanitarian motives and guaranteed that the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine would live and be treated fairly in accordance with Russian legislation and international law in the event of surrender.

 During the conversation, Donald Trump put forward a proposal for the parties to mutually refrain from strikes on energy infrastructure for 30 days. Vladimir Putin responded favourably to the proposal and immediately gave the relevant order to the Russian troops.

 Just as favourable was the Russian President's response to Donald Trump's suggestion to implement a well-known proposal regarding the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. The leaders agreed to begin talks to further work out specific details of such an agreement.

 Vladimir Putin made it known that on March 19, the Russian and Ukrainian sides would carry out an exchange of prisoners, each swapping 175 people. Additionally, as a gesture of goodwill, 23 heavily wounded Ukrainian soldiers currently receiving aid at Russian medical facilities will also be repatriated.

 The leaders confirmed their intention to continue efforts aimed at reaching a settlement in Ukraine bilaterally, with due regard in particular to the aforementioned proposals by the US President. For this purpose, a Russian and an American expert task forces are now being formed.

 Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump also addressed some other international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and in the Red Sea region. Joint efforts will be made to stabilise the situation in the crisis spots and establish cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and global security. This will, in turn, contribute to improving the overall ambiance of relations between Russia and the United States. One positive example is the recent vote in the UN on a resolution on the Ukraine conflict, in which the two countries aligned their stances.

 The leaders expressed mutual interest in normalising the bilateral ties in light of the special responsibility for ensuring global security and stability borne by both Russia and the United States. Within that context, they addressed a wide range of areas where the two countries could establish cooperation, discussing several ideas aimed at fostering potential ties of mutual interest in economy and energy.

 Donald Trump expressed support for Vladimir Putin's idea to hold ice hockey matches in both the United States and Russia between Russian and American players from the NHL and the KHL.

 The presidents agreed to stay in touch on all the issues raised.

 March 18, 2025

Source President of Russia Official Website News   / March 18, 2025, “Telephone conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump” http://en.special.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76477

 

 

BRIEFINGS & STATEMENTS

Outcomes of the United States and Russia Expert Groups On the Black Sea 

The White House March 25, 2025

Outcomes of the United States and Russia Expert Groups On the Black Sea in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

March 23-25, 2025   https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/03/outcomes-of-the-united-states-and-russia-expert-groups-on-the-black-sea/

 

In line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald J. Trump and President Vladimir Putin, the United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Russian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

 Following those discussions:

 The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

 The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

 The United States and Russia agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Putin’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.

 The United States and Russia welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.

 The United States and Russia will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

 The United States reiterated President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.

 The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 Source White House Official Website / Briefings & Statements, March 25, 2025, “Outcomes of the United States and Russia Expert Groups On the Black Sea” https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/03/outcomes-of-the-united-states-and-russia-expert-groups-on-the-black-sea/

 [No notes on or transcript of actual two presidents’ meeting]

 ENDXXXXXXXXENDXXXXXXXXXEND



Other Website Records of the March 18, 2025, Presidents Putin and Trump Telephone Conversation


“Full text of Kremlin’s Official Readout of the Telephone Conversation between President Putin and President Trump on March 18, 2025 (in our [Pravda English] translation)”: 

The leaders continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for his efforts to help achieve the noble goal of ending hostilities and human casualties.

Confirming Russia’s fundamental commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, President Putin stated his readiness to work closely with American partners to explore possible solutions. These solutions must be comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term, while also addressing the root causes of the crisis and respecting Russia’s legitimate security interests.

Regarding President Trump’s initiative for a 30-day ceasefire, the Russian side highlighted several key points: ensuring effective monitoring of any ceasefire along the entire line of contact, halting forced mobilization in Ukraine, and stopping the rearmament of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Serious concerns were also raised about the inability to reach agreements by the Kiev regime, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated previous agreements. Attention was drawn to the barbaric terrorist crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against civilians in the Kursk region.
It was emphasized that a key condition for preventing further escalation and pursuing a political and diplomatic resolution must be the complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence support to Kiev.

In response to Donald Trump’s recent request to spare the lives of surrounded Ukrainian servicemen in the Kursk region, Present Putin confirmed that the Russian side would act on humanitarian grounds. In the event of surrender, Ukrainian soldiers would be guaranteed life and humane treatment in accordance with Russian laws and international norms.

During the conversation, Donald Trump proposed a mutual 30-day halt on strikes against energy infrastructure by both sides of the conflict. Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately issued the corresponding order to the Russian military.

President Putin also responded constructively to Donald Trump’s proposal to implement a well-known initiative on maritime security in the Black Sea. The leaders agreed to begin negotiations to work out the specific details of such an agreement.

Vladimir Putin informed Donald Trump that on March 19, there will be a prisoner exchange between the Russian and Ukrainian sides — 175 for 175. Additionally, as a goodwill gesture, 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen currently receiving treatment in Russian medical facilities will be released.

The leaders confirmed their intention to continue working toward a resolution of the Ukrainian conflict through bilateral channels, including on the basis of the aforementioned proposals by the U.S. President. To this end, Russian and American expert groups are being established.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump also discussed other international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Joint efforts will be made to stabilize these crisis zones, strengthen cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation, and enhance global security — steps that will help improve overall U.S.-Russia relations. One positive example of this cooperation was the recent consensus vote at the United Nations on a resolution concerning the Ukrainian conflict.

Both leaders expressed mutual interest in normalizing bilateral relations, recognizing the special responsibility of Russia and the United States for maintaining global security and stability. A wide range of potential areas for cooperation was discussed, including economic and energy partnerships.

Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in both the U.S. and Russia between Russian and American players from the NHL and KHL.

The presidents agreed to stay in contact on all issues discussed. https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/03/18/1157249.html


Readout The White House, March 18, 2025, “The below is attributable to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt” 

By U.S. Mission Russia | 18 March 2025 | Topics: News, Political Affairs, President of the United States, Press Releases U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia
“President Donald J. Trump’s Call with President Vladimir Putin”
Home | News & Events | President Donald J. Trump’s Call with President Vladimir Putin
Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.

This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts. The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East.

The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts. They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.

The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved. https://ru.usembassy.gov/president-donald-j-trumps-call-with-president-vladimir-putin/


With Particular Interest in 
Variations in Documentation and 
Usage of Terms (the latter highlighted mainly in blue)
Assembled from Sources 

Prolific Southern-Born American Writer Dr. Carolyn LaDelle Bennett focuses on People, Press, Politics USA; Domestic and Foreign Affairs (no copyright claimed in direct quotes and individual image)
Latest book: Are There No Champions? Yes and No
Links: https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett
https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/
(live limited) https://www.bennettsareherenochampions.com/
https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/859250-are-there-no-champions-yes-and-no
https://www.xlibris.com
Email: Nolandanisland@hotmail.com or Authorswork@gmail.com


Sunday, March 17, 2019

NATO to New Zealand

Please Stop feigning “shock” and face reality.   

As New Zealanders mourn and others blame and shame and feign “shock,” consider this 
The 29-member United States-led military aggressor called North Atlantic Alliance or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has slaughtered and maimed millions and millions of Muslims (and not only Muslims), and continues to do so with impunity, right across the world.
No one blinks or sheds a tear. 

These criminal, social and moral realities are not lost on ordinary people, people who may be mentally impaired, people who are dormant or rising criminals. 

Let’s be clear about the state of the world:
About endless, even celebrated, global Western-led (unprovoked) aggression.
Let us be honest about the established criminal pattern in international affairs (i.e., NATO and sundry U.S. military, CIA, proxies and partnered massacres from the Americas to Yugoslavia to Iraq to Syria to Yemen to Somalia to Sudan to the Gaza Strip, Western-allied Burma against Rohingya, and many others). 

Let us be honest about endless wars of aggression
About prior and present attitudes, actions and conditions
About the callousness of imperialism (world domination) coupled with the carelessness of capitalism (investment in war promotion and propaganda, in making and selling killer weaponry, in economies rooted in making, training and deploying killers).
Let us be honest about surround-sound forces playing out in copycat common-criminal behaviors. 
Let us dry our tears. raise our heads, rise from our knees, un-wring our hands.
Stop feigning “shock” and face reality. 
End the “legalized” pattern, the example before the world, of Establishment violence. 
Address and solve our underlying, age-old domestic and international (people) problems. 
 
Insight Beyond Today’s News, CLB - © All Rights Reserved

 


Saturday, August 18, 2018

Political Will toward Multilateralism, Global Solidarity will Better the World— Diplomat Kofi Annan



We Are Responsible for Earth we do not own but Hold in Trust for Future Generations

W
est African born Kofi Atta Annan was the United Nations' seventh Secretary-General after having moved up the ranks of several international agencies. 

In addition to his work experience, he prepared academically: in economics from the Kumasi (Ghana) College of Science and Technology (later named Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology of Ghana) and undergraduate studies in economics from Macalester College (St. Paul, Minnesota, USA); diplôme d'études approfondies DEA degree in International Relations from The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva, Switzerland); and graduate studies in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management (business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA). His service awards are too numerous to count.

After his years as UN Secretary General Annan in 2007 founded and chaired the Kofi Annan Foundation.
“In most cases the expertise and evidence needed to solve pressing problems such as poverty, armed conflict and poor governance already exist. What holds us back is lack of leadership or political will to identify and deliver solutions.” The Kofi Annan Foundation claims as its mission:  the mobilization of “political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights.”
Five years after establishing the foundation, Annan served briefly as the UN–Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria whose stated mission was “to help find a resolution to the ongoing Syrian conflict.” In 2016, he led “a UN commission to investigate the Rohingya crisis” in Myanmar.

R
emembered with honor and respect the diplomat who rose from West Africa: Kofi Atta Annan April 8, 1938-August 18, 2018.



Excerpts from two speeches (2006 and 2018) 
Annan’s Lessons 
“W
e are all responsible for each other’s security.
We can and must give everyone the chance to benefit from global prosperity.
Both security and prosperity depend on human rights and the rule of law.
States must be accountable to each other, and to a broad range of non-state actors, in their international conduct.
We can accomplish these only by working together through a multilateral system, and by making the best possible use of the unique instrument of the United Nations.

Multi-nation Multilateral Responsibility

“The earth is not ours but something we hold in trust for future generations”
“…We have a responsibility not only to our contemporaries but also to future generations – a responsibility to preserve resources that belong to them as well as to us, and without which none of us can survive.
That means we must do much more, and urgently, to prevent or slow down climate change. Every day that we do nothing, or too little, imposes higher costs on our children and our children’s children. …
[I]t reminds me of an African proverb: the earth is not ours but something we hold in trust for future generations. I hope my generation will be worthy of that trust.”
Solidarity

Global solidarity is both necessary and possible. … We are not only all responsible for each other’s security. We are also, in some measure, responsible for each other’s welfare.

… [F]oreign aid by itself is not enough. …; market access, fair terms of trade, and a non-discriminatory financial system are equally vital to the chances of poor countries. …” In advanced North American and European countries and large developing countries “broader national interest” must be placed “above that of some powerful sectional lobbies.”
“… [W]ithout a measure of solidarity no society can be truly stable, and no one’s prosperity truly secure. … It is not realistic to think that some people can go on deriving great benefits from globalization while billions of their fellow human beings are left in abject poverty, or even thrown into it. We have to give our fellow citizens, not only within each nation but in the global community, at least a chance to share in our prosperity.”
Human Rights and Impartial Rule of Law

The world continues to be divided—not only by economic differences but also by religion and culture,” which “is not in itself a problem” but “throughout history human life has been enriched by diversity and different communities have learned from each other.” 
…If our different communities are to live together in peace we must stress also what unites us: our common humanity, and our shared belief that human dignity and rights should be protected by law.
No community anywhere suffers from too much rule of law. Many suffer from too little—and the international community is among them. This… must change.”
“[A]ccountability between states is highly skewed. Poor and weak countries are easily held to account, because they need foreign assistance; but large and powerful states, whose actions have the greatest impact on others, can be constrained only by their own people, working through their domestic institutions.”
The people and institutions of such powerful states, therefore, have “a special responsibility to take account of global views and interests, as well as national ones.” Taken into account must be “all the myriad ‘non-state’ forms in which people come together voluntarily to think about or try to change the world.”

Annan on Democracy

Though “… growing numbers of citizens in both mature and fledgling democracies take democracy for granted or doubt its merits …,” Kofi Annan said in a 2018 speech, “I remain a committed believer in the value of democracy as a catalyst for better governance, greater security, and human development.”

T
he reason for public disenchantment, as evidenced in “lower levels of voter participation, falling membership of political parties and declining trust in politicians and institutions,” said “is a perception that democracy is not delivering.” This is a condition that “creates fertile ground for the rise of authoritarian leaders.”

Democratic discontent assents to authoritarianism 

“There are a number of reasons behind democratic discontent and the sense that democracy no longer affords citizens a genuine voice in how they are governed, and by whom:
… Political systems have not kept up with economic developments, creating high levels of inequality and a growing sense of economic disenfranchisement.
…Globalization has brought incredible changes, but its benefits have not been evenly shared: concentrated wealth concentrates political power and influence, creating an unsustainable “imbalance between the economic, social and political realms.” Democracy to be effective “has to be inclusive.”
L
acking an essential sense of equality, the quick-acting, decisive “authoritarian regimes” become “appealing to many, particularly to those living in poverty or in countries emerging from extended conflict who perceive authoritarianism as the fastest way up the economic ladder.” But the appearance of stability “often hides deep and fundamental weaknesses that eventually prove unsustainable.”

Yet despite the conditions of concentrated power and gross inequity, Annan concludes that citizens still aspire and are attracted to “democratic governance and democracy’s fundamental values of “equality, inclusion, accountability, and transparency.” 

Nevertheless, he warns that as “new challenges emerge, new technologies are invented, and as communities evolve and countries and regions are re-shaped by great and sometimes unforeseen global events— “democracy” itself, as of society in general, “will always be a work in progress.”

Other Annan Quotes of Note

The United Nations, whose membership comprises almost all the states in the world, is founded on the principle of the equal worth of every human being.
What governments and people don’t realize is that sometimes the collective interest—the international interest—is also the national interest.
Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.
Above all else, we need a reaffirmation of political commitment at the highest levels to reducing the dangers that arise both from existing nuclear weapons and from further proliferation.
 Well said and Well done, Kofi Atta Annan

Sources

Wikipedia
Kofi Annan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Annan

Kofi Annan Foundation Mission: “In most cases the expertise and evidence needed to solve pressing problems such as poverty, armed conflict and poor governance already exist. What holds us back is lack of leadership or political will to identify and deliver solutions.” The mission of the Kofi Annan Foundation is to “mobilize political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights.” https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/foundation/#our-mission

New York Times transcript “Text: Kofi Annan’s speech - Americas - International Herald Tribune” December 11, 2006 “Secretary General Kofi Annan’s address at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library… as supplied by the United Nations” https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/world/americas/11iht-web.1212kofi.3865463.html

Kofi Annan Foundation (speech transcript) “Electoral Integrity, Speeches, Supporting Elections and Democracy: Is Democracy Under Siege?” Keynote Address by Kofi Annan at the National Electoral Institute of Mexico (INE) This speech was given by Kofi Annan on Wednesday May 23, 2018 at the National Electoral Institute of Mexico (INE) Headquarters in Mexico City,
Mexico https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/supporting-democracy-and-elections-with-integrity/ine-mexico-democracy-under-siege/

UN News “A ‘charismatic leader’ dedicated to peace: UN officials bid farewell to former Secretary-General Kofi Annan” “The flag at United Nations Headquarters in New York is flying at half-mast this Saturday as the Organization marks the death of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Officials from across the UN system have been paying tribute to the man who led the global body for a decade, starting in January 1997.  He was Secretary-General during what has been described as one of the darkest days in the organization’s history: the August 19, 2003 bombing of the UN premises in Baghdad, Iraq.” UN Affairs August 18, 2018
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/08/1017442

UN News “UN mourns death of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, ‘a guiding force for good’” “The United Nations is mourning the death of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan who passed away peacefully after a short illness….” UN Affairs August 18, 2018 http://www.un.org/en/index.html

Brainy Quote https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/kofi_annan

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