The World Today

In most developing countries experiencing violent conflict or highly destructive natural disasters, there comes a time when the immediate emergency draws to a close and the people affected must pick up the pieces and continue with their lives as best they can. For the United Nations and the international community that is when humanitarian assistance winds down and development agencies begin to take over.

Presidents Clinton and Putin are to meet in Moscow in June. Both men have nuclear issues on their minds – just like an old- fashioned arms control summit some might say. But there is also the Chechen war and restoring Russia’s pride in a strong state – potentially an explosive mixture.

Could the new European defence initiative mark the beginning of the end of NATO? If Europe can look after itself, Americans might well conclude they don’t have to be over here at all. But there are projects like economic integration and missile defence, which could keep the alliance healthy and vibrant.

With a new defence capability, Europe has finally decided to give itself the power of the gun. But who will control the new force, how will it buy its weapons and will it ever give taxpayers real bang for the buck – or the Euro?

In April, Iran entered a particularly bumpy phase in the evolution of its Islamic democracy and we happened to be in Tehran to witness it. We were there along with speakers from Japan for a seminar about comparative economic and cultural responses to globalisation. It was a joint endeavour between Chatham House and the Institute of Political and International Studies in Tehran.

The Palestinian refugee issue is potentially the most explosive item on the agenda for the Middle East peace process. Whereas once it was the primary object of international attention and UN resolutions, since the Oslo Accords of 1993, the matter has been relegated to a sub-clause in Israeli-Palestinian bilateral negotiations. Left unresolved or marginalised, it could jeopardise the whole peace enterprise.