I.P.O. ANNUAL REPORT 2001

Vienna, 2 January 2002/P/RE/17410c
 

NEW PUBLICATION

-- The Concept of Humanitarian Intervention in the Context of Modern Power Politics. Studies in International Relations, XXXVI. ISBN 3-900704-20-1, 2001.
-- Chinese version: [Humanitarian Intervention against the Backdrop of Modern Power Politics], published by the China Institute for Contemporary International Relations in: Xiandai Guoji Guanxi / Contemporary International Relations, Monthly Chinese Edition, Beijing, n. 9, serial n. 143, 2001.
-- Arabic version to be published during 2002.

INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

In the course of the tragic events of September 2001, the International Progress Organization's earlier efforts towards establishing a precise definition of the term "terrorism" have been referred to by several governments and intergovernmental organizations. In its Geneva Conference on the Question of Terrorism (March 1987) the I.P.O. had undertaken to define acts of terrorism (including state terrorism) in the context of modern international law and with special reference to national liberation movements. In meetings with permanent representatives at United Nations Headquarters in New York in December 2001, the President of the I.P.O. expressed the organization's readiness to support - on the basis of its non-governmental status and in a strictly advisory function - further efforts towards a consensus on the definition of the concept "terrorism."
 

DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

In connection with the events of 11 September  2001 and on the basis of its long-standing commitment to civilizational dialogue, the International Progress Organization launched The Baku Declaration on Global Dialogue and Peaceful Co-existence Among Nations and the Threats Posed by International Terrorism. The declaration was issued in Baku, Azerbaijan on 9 November 2001 in the course of an information visit of the President of the I.P.O.

The long-standing commitment of the I.P.O. to inter-civilizational dialogue, in particular to Islamic-Christian relations, has acquired new relevance and urgency in light of recent global developments.

ELECTORAL OBSERVER MISSION

From 7 to 10 September 2001, the I.P.O. sent a delegation to Minsk to observe the presidential elections in Belarus that were held on 9 September. Apart from visits to numerous polling stations, meetings were held with representatives of the OSCE-Advisory and Monitoring Group Belarus, of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and with one of the presidential candidates, Mr. Sergei Gaidukevich, President of the Liberal Democratic Party. The I.P.O. issued a comprehensive report and made specific recommendations in regard to the electoral code of the Republic of Belarus.
 

ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW

In July 2001 the I.P.O. launched a research project with the title "International Criminal Justice - Law versus Politics?" The results of the research project will be published by the I.P.O. in the series "Studies in International Relations."

In a statement issued on 1 July 2001 and published by the German daily Junge Welt, the President of the I.P.O. commented on the problematic legal aspects of the extradition of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević to the "International War Crimes Tribunal" in The Hague.
 

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER MISSION AT THE SCOTTISH COURT IN THE NETHERLANDS

Dr. Hans Koechler, President of the I.P.O., and Mr. Robert Thabit, Permanent Representative of the I.P.O. to the United Nations, continued to observe the proceedings of the Scottish Court in the Netherlands (Lockerbie Trial). They attended the final session of the court at Kamp van Zeist and witnessed the reading of the verdict on 31 January 2001; together with the other international observers appointed by the United Nations, they visited the convicted Libyan national after the passing of the verdict at HM Prison Zeist.

In his capacity as international observer appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Hans Koechler issued on 3 February 2001 a comprehensive report on and evaluation of the Lockerbie Trial. The report was widely covered in the British and international media. Dr. Koechler gave interviews, among others, to the Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and to German radio. The I.P.O. submitted the report to the United Nations. Dr. Koechler's report was discussed in the British Parliament (House of Commons, Standing Committee D, 10 April 2001, and House of Commons, Daily Debates, 1 May 2001).

Dr. Koechler was invited to present his report at an international conference on the Lockerbie Trial held at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo/Egypt (7-8 April 2001). The conference was co-sponsored by the League of Arab States and the Union of Arab Lawyers. Dr. Koechler met with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Dr. Essmat Abdel Meguid.

In connection with their international observer mission, Dr. Koechler and Mr. Thabit met with the Under Secretary-General of the United Nations for Legal Affairs, Mr. Hans Corell, at UN Headquarters in New York (6 December 2001). Dr. Koechler held further consultations with the lawyer of the convicted Libyan national, Mr. Ibrahim Legwell, in Tripoli (27 May 2001) and with members of the British Parliament in London (13 December 2001), among them Mr. Tom Dalyell and Mr. Ross Cranston, former Solicitor-General of the United Kingdom.

The international observers of the I.P.O. are continuing their observer mission at the appeal hearings of the Scottish Court at Kamp van Zeist. The first preliminary hearing took place on 15 October 2001.

UNITED NATIONS: SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS POLICY VIS-A-VIS IRAQ

On 28 February 2001, the International Progress Organization joined Mr. Hans von Sponeck, former United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Iraq, and several international NGOs in an appeal for the lifting of the United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

From 18 to 23 July 2001 the President of the I.P.O. undertook a fact-finding mission to Iraq. He met, among others, with the Vice-President of the Republic, Mr. Taha Mohieddine Marouf, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Tareq Aziz, with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Sadoun Hammadi, and with the Foreign Minister, Dr. Naji Sabri.

UNITED NATIONS: SPECIAL PROTECTION FORCE FOR PALESTINE

On 1 August 2001 the President of the I.P.O. called for the immediate dispatch of a United Nations Protection Force to the occupied Palestinian territories. Special messages were sent by the I.P.O. to the Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly and of the Security Council, and to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

KOFI ANNAN: NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2001

In a statement issued on 12 October 2001, the President of the I.P.O. welcomed the decision of the Nobel Committee in Oslo to award the Nobel Peace Prize 2001 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan. In February 1998, the President of the I.P.O. had submitted Mr. Annan's nomination to the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament. During that year, the International Progress Organization had launched a worldwide campaign for the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Mr. Annan.

NGO COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT

On 16 March 2001 the Committee addressed a Statement on the Implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration to the member states of the United Nations.

On 12 June 2001 the NGO Committee for Development held a seminar on Financing for Development at the United Nations Office in Vienna.
 

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE PRESIDENT

On 4 June 2001 Prof. Koechler met in Beijing with the President of the China Institute for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), Professor Zhongwei Lu.

On 6 and 7 December 2001 Prof. Koechler held consultations at United Nations Headquarters in New York with officials in charge of NGO relations, among them Mr. Frank Hoeffel, Chief of the NGO Section of the United Nations Department for Public Information, and Ms. Michele Brillant-Fedoroff, Deputy Head of the NGO Liaison Section of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

On 7 December 2001 Prof. Koechler held consultation meetings with the Permanent Representatives of the League of Arab States and of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

On 14 December 2001 Prof. Koechler met in London with the Secretary-General of the British Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization, Prof. Mohammed Arif.
 

SPECIAL LECTURES BY THE PRESIDENT

On 18 February 2001 Prof. Koechler gave a lecture in Munich/Germany on the legal aspects of the Palestine problem.

On 22 February 2001 Prof. Koechler delivered a statement at the meeting of consultations between the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and NGO representatives at the United Nations Office in Vienna.

On 8 June 2001 the President of the I.P.O. delivered a lecture on the Lockerbie Trial at the Pusan National University in Pusan/Korea. The meeting was co-sponsored by Pusan National University and the Korean Human Rights Center.

On 23 July 2001 Prof. Koechler delivered the keynote speech at a roundtable on the concept of humanitarian intervention organized by the Bait Al-Hikma Foundation (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad.

INFORMATION VISITS BY THE PRESIDENT

Within the framework of the I.P.O.'s activities in the fields of civilizational dialogue, international law and human rights, Prof. Hans Koechler undertook fact-finding missions and information visits to the following countries: Chile (4-8 February 2001), Argentina (9-11 February 2001), China (3-4 June 2001), Iraq (18-23 July 2001), Lithuania (8-10 August 2001), South Africa (19-24 August 2001), Namibia (25-27 August 2001), Uzbekistan (15-21 September 2001), Azerbaijan (8-9 November 2001).
 

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

The International Progress Organization participated in the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People which was held at the United Nations Office in Vienna (20-21 February 2001).

The Permanent Representative of the I.P.O. to the United Nations, Mr. Robert Thabit, participated in the special meeting on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at United Nations Headquarters in New York (29 November 2001).

The International Progress Organization participated in the international meeting on "News vs. Propaganda: The Gatekeepers' Dilemma," a forum on the media's impact on today's United Nations anti-discrimination agenda, at United Nations Headquarters in New York (6 December 2001). The meeting was organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information in co-operation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER NGOs

The International Progress Organization established co-operation with the China Institute for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), Beijing, in the field of research on international law.

The I.P.O. continued its co-operation with the Population Institute, Washington DC, and co-sponsored the World Population Awareness Week 2001 under the theme "Population and the Urban Future."

INTERNSHIPS

From January to June 2001 Ms. R. Kinbar (University of Iowa, USA) served as intern at the head office of the I.P.O. in Vienna.