News from G-20: Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

Development at the G-20 Leader's Summit:

U.S., U.K., and Japan call for immediate economic and fiscal stimulus to jumpstart the world economy, while European nations are less bullish, calling for tougher regulation of banks, financial markets, and potential sanctions on tax havens 

France and China seek to mend bilateral ties through high level envoys after 

China's Hu Jintao says China's $585  billion domestic stimulus package "is working" - seeks stabilization and regulation of world financial markets - led by other G-20 states, of course

See for yourself on http://www.g20.org/ !

In other news:

U.S. - Russia rekindle the joy of nuclear disarmament as Obama and Medvedev meet 

Saudi Arabia hosts Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court; Bashir is conducting a minor religious pilgrimage to Jeddah and Mecca 

Army Man: Gen. Petraeus requests for an additional 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan for 2010; says Israel could launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear program 

Protests continue to rock Thailand, stalling government economic stimulus packages 

Weekly Events Update

Monday, March 30th

@ The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Water and Agriculture Implications for Development and Growth
March 30, 2009 The conference will convene international leaders—from government, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and academia—to share their expertise in realms of water, agriculture and global development. Discussions will focus on the impact of these global resource trends on smallholder farmers, assessing strategies to increase both financial incomes and health outcomes in an effort to reduce poverty and improve smallholder farmer livelihood. Ultimately, the event will build awareness about agricultural and water issues, suggest key research initiatives relevant to future policy, and contribute to the ongoing debate about the nature and structure of U.S. development policy and U.S. international water policy.

9:30 am - 4:00 pm (Conference)

Rajeev Venkayya: Global Health Delivery Systems
March 30, 2009 The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Health Policy Center cordially invites you to hear Dr. Rajeev Venkayya, Director for Global Health Delivery at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He will concentrate his presentation on strategies for improving the delivery of essential health technologies and services in developing countries.

10:00 am - 11:30 am

Tuesday, March 31st

@ The Wilson Center

Can the G-20 Save the World Economy from Deeper Crisis and Protectionism?
March 31, 2009 As President Obama and world leaders travel to the April 2nd London Summit on the global economic crisis, CSIS’s Scholl Chair in International Business Steven Schrage invites you to a roundtable discussion examining the potential impact of the G-20 on critical issues facing the global economy.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, B1

@ CSIS

Islam(s) in Post-Soviet Eurasia: One or Many?
John Schoeberlein, Lecturer on Central Asia, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University. Read More

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., 6th floor conference room

Wednesday, April 1st 

@ The Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies, Georgetown University 

The Future of NATO
  
a discussion with 
  
His Excellency
José María Aznar 
Distinguished Scholar in the Practice of Global Leadership, Georgetown University
President of the Government of Spain (1996-2004) 

and

The Honorable
John R. Bolton
United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2005-2006)

and

Mr. Fred Kempe
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Atlantic Council

moderated by   
  
Dr. Angela Stent
Professor of Government and Foreign Service and 
Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies 
in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University

10:30 AM @ the Intercultural Center Auditorium

Click Here to RSVP

Thursday, April 2nd - Friday, April 3rd 

CCAS 2009 Annual Symposium: 
Palestine and the Palestinians Today

Held at: 
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Day 1, April 2, 2009: 

·  Changing Conceptions of Palestinian Nationalism

·  Politics and Leadership: The Changing Trajectory of Governance and Resistance

·  Economics and Development in Palestine

·  Human Rights and the Rule of Law

A reception for all conference speakers and guests will immediately follow the conclusion of Day 1 of the conference.

RSVP for Day 1 here

Day 2, April 3, 2009

·  Local Institutions and Issues: Health, Water and Culture

·  Palestinians and Israeli Policies

·  U.S. Policy Toward Palestine and Palestinians

·  Political Solutions for Palestine/Israel

RSVP for Day 2 here

Thursday Highlights

Don’t believe all the hype – despite the unavoidable frenzy over Secretary of the Treasury Time Geithner’s proposal for “comprehensive reform” that will come to smite the financial services industry in order to reduce systemic risk the reality may be less radical than what is being reported.

Your correspondent was there for the entirety of the hearing and the statements and questions between the Secretary and the members of House Financial Services Committee indicated much more moderation, caution and consensus than the soundbites may indicate. Incidentally, the Dow closed 175 points higher. Lesson here: Don’t believe the news, believe in results.

Asia, but not as you know it (anymore) – China is engaging in military development that is upsetting the delicate balance of power in Asia and this will lead to regional instability, a more assertive PRC and cause general uncertainty for all involved, according to a recent Pentagon report to Congress.

China has accused the Pentagon of “Cold War thinking”. And the dance of diplomacy continues.

Hating the world, one summit at a time – Big global summits are notorious for attracting all manner of anti-globalization protesters and have a long tradition of turning violent. In anticipation of “unprecedented” protests London police are taking extra precautions to control the situation. Hard to pick who to bet on.

Daily Update

Czech Government Collapses as Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek fails a vote of no-confidence - Czech Republic's 6-year EU Presidency in jeopardy: are the EU's efforts to curb the global recession in jeopardy too?

00-Punjab? U.S. intelligence suggests ties between Pakistani ISI spy service and Taliban - Taliban commanders planning major confrontation of international force in Afghanistan; roadside bomb kills 9

“Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade” - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking about the drug war in Mexico

Georgian politics bipolarize as videos allegedly depicting opposition leaders encouraging violent demonstrations to drive the current government out of party

IMF will deny Zimbabwe financial assistance until the country enacts policy reforms and repays its outstanding debt to the Fund; Zimbabwe's humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly since hyperinflation due to shortages of daily necessities combined with a cholera outbreak last August

PM Morgan Tsvangirai, left, and President Robert Mugabe

British PM Gordon Brown stung on fiscal stimulus while abroad

India reports 25 dead from fighting in Kashmir

It's Still the Economy, Mostly

Tuesday and Thursday – Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before the House Financial Services Committee on oversight issues with the bailout(s).

Also, mark your calendars. This coming Thursday, March 26, Secretary Geithner will be testifying again before the Financial Services Committee. This time he will be testifying on overhauling financial regulation. Particularly relevant in the lead up to the upcoming G-20 summit.

Here are the details for those of you who can make it:

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2128
10:00am (but arrive at least half an hour early to get a seat in the public gallery of the hearing room).

Strange bedfellows in Israel: The leftist Labour party has voted to join the right-wing Likud party in a coalition that has split Labour but gives Likud much welcomed mainstream support from a major third party.

Outback steakhouse – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is in town to meet with government officials and gave a variety of issues ranging from the financial crisis to strategy in Afghanistan. Since the Bush years the strategic importance of Australia has grown for the United States and both PM Rudd and President Obama will no doubt be keen to maintain the positive relationship.

Progressive Saudi Arabia? – In one of the most culturally conservative countries in the world a glimmer of hope for reform? Don’t hold your breathe but still an interesting story.

Daily Update

New Hutu attack sends Congolese into flight

Trade barriers increase globally

Nearly 100 Tibetan monks are arrested by Chinese police after attack on police station

Despite the current economic state of the world, India's rural market is seeing great expansion

In El Salvador, leftists are on the rise with the greatest opportunity they've seen in more than a decade

Madagascar's leader is sworn in

According to NATO, a high ranking Taliban leader is dead

Ties strengthened between Cuba, El Salvador and Costa Rica

The state of Sudan worsens with the expulsion of aid groups

Spain expected to withdraw troops from Kosovo

Daily Update

French protest against government economic policies, similar protests seen in other EU nations. While France's alleged protectionism of motor companies has highlighted broader economic tensions within the EU, Sarkozy has announced that France seeks a return to NATO military command 

Israel's holy war? IDF soldiers describe religious justification for entering Gaza

Afghanistan's religious council has called for King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to mediate talks with the Taliban over reducing violence in the region  

Arab states meet to mend ties with Syria in preparation for Doha talks - former alarmed by Iran's influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza 

Greek vessel "Titan" seized by pirates off Somali coast