Professor Ishizuka presented his findings and views on UN peacekeeping operations, while Professor Yonekama discussed the manipulation of refugees and Professor Kihara-Hunt the role of UN police in protection of civilians.
Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN, is trying to reassure everyone in the UN that all the statements from the Trump camp are “just noise,” but Trump has now proposed in its budget to cut America’s contributions to the UN and its own foreign-aid agency by $10.1bn, or 28% from its previous budget. According to the budget proposal, US contributions to UN Peacekeeping operations will be cut from 28 to 25 percent of the UN peacekeeping budget.
Japanese book entitled “Ningen no Anzen-Hosho to Heiwa Kochiku” (Human Security and Peacebuilding” contains essays contributed by twelve scholars, diplomats and practitioners including former Ambassador to the United Nations Kenzo Oshima, Sukehiro Hasegawa, former UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General in East Timor and others. Sadako Ogata, former JICA president and UNHCR wrote the preface. Memorial symposium will be held at Sophia University on April 22, 2017. Click here for detailed information.
Daisaku Higashi, an associate professor at Sophia University, explains in NHK TV news about how the Timorese political leaders reconciled and achieved peace.
Abe`s special assistant, Shibayama, visited Suva and obtained President Salva Kiir and SRSG David Shearer`s understanding of the Japanese decision.
Tokyo University Associate Professor Kihara-Hunt Ai examines the effectiveness of the UN’s accountability mechanisms and arrangements with reference to criminal behaviour by United Nations Police personnel.
In his opinion article contributed to the New York Times on 3 March, former British Prime Minister Blair finds the Trump revolution is partly economic, but mainly cultural, and suggests that the center needs to develop a new policy agenda that shows people they will get support to help them through the change happening around them.
Thakur points out the risk of falling victim to the Thucydides Trap, while Hasegawa warns the continued defiance of Kantian imperative and freedom will lead to armed conflict.
Thakur believes Guterres is ready to stand up to Trump.
Former Senior Vice Rector of the UN Univerity and UN Assistant Secretary-General, Professor Ramesh Thakur of the Australian National University advises “Not just Japan, but others too will have to conduct a more self-reliant diplomacy to cope with the ‘America First` administration.”