Need to coordinate efforts
DAVID MILIBAND, who served as Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under the government of former prime minister Gordon Brown, urged US President Barack Obama to refrain from playing safe to reshape the political dialogue on world issues, especially after the killing of Osama bin Laden in an article published by the British Times newspaper on May 23, 2011. He believes this is important, considering the contributions of more important players, particularly those currently undergoing real tests like Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine, Israel, Pakistan and Libya.
Miliband said the issues in South Asia are interlinked with those in China, Russia, Turkey and India; hence, the need for everyone to coordinate their efforts to maintain stability. He suggested the appointment of a Muslim UN mediator to take all this forward.
For Miliband, the next logical step after the killing of bin Laden is to shift focus from the security issues to the economy and energy by strengthening the commitment of the West to forge genuine partnership with the Europeans led by the UK to make a difference in the world. He said this is a significant move, especially after Obama expressed support for the 1967 borders between Israel and Palestine.
I think Miliband’s suggestions are important in an area that has become almost ‘numb’ — where nobody believes in any solution. For over 60 years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going back and forth, and it seems to be going nowhere.
The fascinating and promising part is the call to support Obama’s 1967 borders deal, strengthen the commitment of Europe, and initiate a mediation process backed by the UN to make an actual contribution to the process, which requires a radical step to maintain world peace and security.
Email: Labeed.abdal@gmail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: Labeed Abdal - Attorney-at-Law
http://arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/169743/reftab/36/t/New-angles-for-stability-seen-in-the-Islamic-world-/Default.aspx
Tuesday 31 May 2011
Saturday 7 May 2011
Yemen and GCC initiative
Reforms not beneficial when a regime loses sense of justice
UNDER the GCC ‘transition of power’ initiative on solving the crisis in Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh should resign within one month and he must hand over power to his deputy within a week after signing the initiative. A government with the ability to strengthen national unity will be formed by members of the incumbent govt, the opposition and other political groups to be followed by its oath taking in the presence of Saleh.
However in terms of timing and content, the initiative came too late. It was presented only after the people of Yemen took to the streets to demand for change and the alleged killing of several young protesters by Saleh’s forces, thereby raising doubts on the legitimacy of the regime.
Without a doubt, there are similarities between the tense situation in Yemen and that of Egypt before the downfall of the previous regime. Reforms are no longer beneficial when the regime loses the sense of justice and respect for the people, especially their fundamental right to express their views freely.
Moreover, the regime reached a point of no return when it lost the people’s trust.
Email:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: Labeed Abdal - Attorney-at-Law
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/168859/reftab/73/t/Reforms-not-beneficial-when-a-regime-loses-sense-of-justice/Default.aspx
UNDER the GCC ‘transition of power’ initiative on solving the crisis in Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh should resign within one month and he must hand over power to his deputy within a week after signing the initiative. A government with the ability to strengthen national unity will be formed by members of the incumbent govt, the opposition and other political groups to be followed by its oath taking in the presence of Saleh.
However in terms of timing and content, the initiative came too late. It was presented only after the people of Yemen took to the streets to demand for change and the alleged killing of several young protesters by Saleh’s forces, thereby raising doubts on the legitimacy of the regime.
Without a doubt, there are similarities between the tense situation in Yemen and that of Egypt before the downfall of the previous regime. Reforms are no longer beneficial when the regime loses the sense of justice and respect for the people, especially their fundamental right to express their views freely.
Moreover, the regime reached a point of no return when it lost the people’s trust.
Email:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By: Labeed Abdal - Attorney-at-Law
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/168859/reftab/73/t/Reforms-not-beneficial-when-a-regime-loses-sense-of-justice/Default.aspx
Tuesday 3 May 2011
Bin Laden killing draws mixed ‘reactions’ from Kuwaiti MPs
Kuwaiti lawyer, Labeed Abdal, said the death of Bin Laden means justice for the thousands of victims who died in the various terror attacks carried out by his organization, al-Qadea, most notably 9/11.“His death should also send a strong message to people like him who commit savage acts of terrorism to terrorize and kill people. You can run away from justice for some time but you can’t hide from law for a long time.”Labeed Abdal added that the international community should make sure that all those people who commit such dastardly acts of crime against humanity like Bin Laden did should be brought to justice.Abu Mohammed, a citizen who preferred to be anonymous, said Osama is a Muslim and only God can tell if he is guilty of those things he is accused of. “Osama will now meet his Lord, where the judgment will be fair. If he is indeed guilty, he will be duly punished. Only God can judge him.”
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/168685/t/Bin-Laden-killing-draws-mixed-%E2%80%98reactions%E2%80%99-from-Kuwaiti-MPs/Default.aspx
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/168685/t/Bin-Laden-killing-draws-mixed-%E2%80%98reactions%E2%80%99-from-Kuwaiti-MPs/Default.aspx
Kuwait, world and Earth Day
It must be a day of reflection on the way of life
THE first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 and it was the brainchild of an American senator. In 2009, the United Nations (UN) declared April 22 as International Mother Earth Day and over 140 countries around the world has been commemorating the day since then. This day should not be taken as a once-in-a-year event to remember Mother Earth. It must be a day of reflection on the way of life in every continent. Preventing water, land and air pollution to save Mother Earth is a global responsibility. We have to take care of the Earth for it to last and give more to the human race.The concerned authorities in the local and international communities should closely monitor the activities of individuals and companies, especially those that destroy natural resources, increase carbon emissions, engage in greenwashing — the deceptive use of green marketing to promote a misleading perception that a company’s policies are environment-friendly, and use the media to distort facts about the environmentally hazardous operations of some companies.Earth Day must be commemorated daily through the conscious effort of everyone to increase food production, reduce pollution levels and minimize hunger. It has been reported that more than a billion people are currently suffering from hunger.In Kuwait, we also need serious initiatives from the Municipality and other government authorities to stop the distribution of expired food products in the local market by increasing the number of inspection teams and imposing harsh penalties or higher fines on irresponsible companies to prevent them from destroying the community and to protect public health.Email: labeed.abdal@gmail.com
By: Labeed Abdal - Attorney-at-Law
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/168597/reftab/73/t/Kuwait-world-and-Earth-Day/Default.aspx
THE first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 and it was the brainchild of an American senator. In 2009, the United Nations (UN) declared April 22 as International Mother Earth Day and over 140 countries around the world has been commemorating the day since then. This day should not be taken as a once-in-a-year event to remember Mother Earth. It must be a day of reflection on the way of life in every continent. Preventing water, land and air pollution to save Mother Earth is a global responsibility. We have to take care of the Earth for it to last and give more to the human race.The concerned authorities in the local and international communities should closely monitor the activities of individuals and companies, especially those that destroy natural resources, increase carbon emissions, engage in greenwashing — the deceptive use of green marketing to promote a misleading perception that a company’s policies are environment-friendly, and use the media to distort facts about the environmentally hazardous operations of some companies.Earth Day must be commemorated daily through the conscious effort of everyone to increase food production, reduce pollution levels and minimize hunger. It has been reported that more than a billion people are currently suffering from hunger.In Kuwait, we also need serious initiatives from the Municipality and other government authorities to stop the distribution of expired food products in the local market by increasing the number of inspection teams and imposing harsh penalties or higher fines on irresponsible companies to prevent them from destroying the community and to protect public health.Email: labeed.abdal@gmail.com
By: Labeed Abdal - Attorney-at-Law
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/168597/reftab/73/t/Kuwait-world-and-Earth-Day/Default.aspx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)