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31. 10. 2016.

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE (FRANÇAIS/ENGLISH) - L’Expert de l’ONU exhorte les grands




English version, see below
La version anglaise se trouve ci-dessous

L’Expert de l’ONU exhorte les grands émetteurs à agir maintenant pour aider les pays vulnérables comme Madagascar
  
ANTANANARIVO / GENÈVE (31 Octobre 2016) – Le Rapporteur spécial des Nations Unies sur les droits de l’homme et l’environnement, M. John H. Knox, a appelé aujourd’hui les principaux émetteurs dans le monde à agir sans tarder pour aider les pays vulnérables comme Madagascar afin d’éviter les pires effets du changement climatique.

« Madagascar est l’un des pays les plus vulnérables dans le monde au changement climatique », a déclaré M. Knox à la fin de sa première visite officielle dans le pays. « Les principaux émetteurs de gaz à effet de serre doivent agir rapidement pour mettre en œuvre et renforcer leurs engagements d’atténuation dans le cadre de l’Accord de Paris, qui entrera en vigueur ce vendredi. »

« En même temps, les pays développés doivent honorer leurs engagements à fournir une assistance financière aux pays pour leur permettre de s’adapter aux effets du changement climatique », a souligné l’expert.

Le Rapporteur spécial a noté que la sécheresse qui frappe actuellement le sud de Madagascar, qui a provoqué une insécurité alimentaire aiguë pour plus de 800 000 personnes selon les agences de l’ONU, a été attribuée à l’effet du phénomène El Niño, exacerbé par le réchauffement climatique.  Pour éviter une catastrophe, ils ont besoin de plus de 100 millions de dollars en financement additionnel.

« Cette terrible sécheresse est un signe avant-coureur d’événements futurs similaires, » at-il souligné.  « L’augmentation des températures va continuer à augmenter la fréquence et la gravité des sécheresses, ainsi que les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes et l’élévation du niveau de la mer, qui va miner la capacité du peuple malgache à jouir de leurs droits à la santé, à la nourriture, à l’eau et au logement, parmi tant d’autres. »

« Les droits de l’homme sont essentiels à la conservation et vice versa », M. Knox a déclaré « La pleine jouissance des droits de l’homme dépend d’un environnement sain, et l’exercice des droits de l’homme contribue à assurer la protection de l’environnement. » Par exemple, il a expliqué qu’en vertu des lois internationales sur les droits de l’homme, chacun a le droit à l’information sur les questions environnementales et le droit de participer à la prise de décisions environnementales.

L’expert a noté que, en dépit de sérieux défis, Madagascar a longtemps été un pionnier dans l’exploration et la mise en œuvre des moyens pour permettre aux communautés locales de participer à la gestion, et de recevoir des avantages de la protection de sa diversité biologique si inestimable, l’une des grandes merveilles du monde.

M. Knox a visité un parc communautaire à Andasibe, où une association locale protège l’habitat des lémuriens, caméléons, et bien d’autres espèces en danger critique, entre autre en produisant et en replantant des jeunes plants, par l’éducation environnementale, les activités d’écotourisme, et l’élimination des espèces envahissantes.

« Le travail de ces communautés locales est un complément essentiel aux efforts déployés par les parcs nationaux de Madagascar pour protéger les espèces uniques du pays, qui continuent d’être gravement menacées, y compris par le trafic illégal pour satisfaire les marchés dans d’autres pays », a t-il dit.

L’expert indépendant a souligné que la communauté internationale et le gouvernement de Madagascar doivent redoubler leurs efforts pour lutter contre le trafic illicite, y compris le trafic de bois de rose et d’autres bois précieux, ainsi que des tortues marines.

Au cours de sa visite de sept jours, M. Knox a rencontré un large éventail de personnes, y compris des responsables gouvernementaux, des membres d’organisations de la société civile et des citoyens dans la communauté d’Andasibe.

Le Rapporteur spécial examinera ces questions et d’autres plus en détail dans son rapport au Conseil des droits de l’homme, qu’il présentera au Conseil en Mars 2017.  

(*) Voir la déclaration de fin de mission du Rapporteur spécial: http://www.ohchr.org/FR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20791&LangID=F  

FIN

Le Conseil des droits de l’homme de l’ONU nomma M. John Knox en 2012 comme Expert indépendant, et reconduit son mandat en 2015 comme Rapporteur spécial sur la question des obligations relatives aux droits de l’homme se rapportant aux moyens de bénéficier d’un environnement sûr, propre, sain et durable. Le Conseil demanda à ce professeur de droit international de l’Université de Wake Forest aux Etats-Unis, de préciser l’application des normes relatives aux droits de l’homme à la protection de l’environnement, ainsi que d’identifier les meilleures pratiques dans l’emploi des obligations des droits de l’homme pour l’élaboration de politiques environnementales. Pour en savoir plus, connectez-vous à: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/SREnvironment/Pages/SRenvironmentIndex.aspx

Les Rapporteurs spéciaux de l’ONU font partie des procédures spéciales du Conseil des droits de l’homme. Les procédures spéciales, le plus grand organisme d’experts indépendants dans le système des Nations Unies relatif aux droits de l’homme, est le nom général de missions d’enquête et de surveillance des mécanismes indépendants du Conseil qui traitent soit situations spécifiques des pays ou des questions thématiques dans toutes les régions du monde. Les experts des procédures spéciales travaillent sur une base volontaire; ils ne font pas partie du personnel des Nations Unies et ne reçoivent pas de salaire pour leur travail. Ils sont indépendants de tout gouvernement ou organisation et siègent à titre individuel

 
Pour avoir plus d’information et les demandes des médias, veuillez contacter:
Au cours de la mission: Mme Volahery Andriamanantenasoa (+261 32 23 100 60 / VAndriamanantenasoa@ohchr.org ) ou Mme Soo-Young Hwang (+41 79 752 0486 / shwang@ohchr.org ) ou écrire à srenvironment@ohchr.org  
Avant et après la mission: Mme Soo-Young Hwang (+41 22 917 9778 / shwang@ohchr.org ) ou écrire à srenvironment@ohchr.org  


Pour les demandes médias liés à d’autres experts indépendants de l’ONU:
Xabier Celaya, Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies – Service presse (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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des contenus multimédias et des messages clés sur nos communiqués de presse sont disponibles sur les comptes officiels du Haut-Commissariat sur les medias sociaux, listés ci-dessous.  Merci de nous référencer en utilisant les pseudonymes suivants:

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NEWS RELEASE

UN expert urges major emitters to act now to help vulnerable countries like Madagascar

ANTANANARIVO / GENEVA (31 October 2016):  The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, John H. Knox, today called on the main global emitters to act without delay to help vulnerable countries such as Madagascar avoid the worst effects of climate change.

“Madagascar is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change,” Mr. Knox said at the end of his first official visit* to the country. “The major emitters of greenhouse gases must act quickly to implement and to strengthen their mitigation commitments in the Paris Agreement, which enters into force on Friday.”

“At the same time, developed countries must fulfill their commitments to provide financial assistance to countries to enable them to adapt to the effects of climate change,” the expert stressed.  

The Special Rapporteur noted that the current drought in southern Madagascar, which UN agencies have stated has caused acute food insecurity for more than 800,000 people, has been attributed to the effect of El Niño, as exacerbated by global warming. To avoid catastrophe, they need more than $100 million in additional funding.  

“This terrible drought is a harbinger of future events like it,” he emphasised.  “Increasing temperatures will continue to contribute to the frequency and severity of droughts, as well as extreme weather events and sea level rise, all of which will undermine the ability of the Malagasy people to enjoy their rights to health, food, water, and housing, among many others.”  

“Human rights are essential to conservation, and vice versa,” Mr. Knox said “The full enjoyment of human rights depends upon a healthy environment, the exercise of human rights helps to ensure the protection of the environment.”  For example, he explained, under international human rights law, everyone has the right to information about environmental matters and the right to participate in environmental decision-making.  

The expert noted that, despite serious challenges, Madagascar has long been a pioneer in exploring and implementing ways for local communities to participate in the management of, and to receive benefits from, the protection of its invaluable biological diversity, one of the great wonders of the world.  

Mr. Knox visited a community park in Andasibe, where a local association safeguards the habitat of lemurs, chameleons, and many other critically endangered species, including by growing and replanting seedlings, providing environmental education, conducting ecotourism, and removing invasive species.      

“The work of these local communities is a critical complement to the efforts of the Madagascar National Parks to protect Madagascar’s unique species, which remain under severe threat, including by illegal trafficking to satisfy markets in other countries,” he said.  

The independent expert highlighted that the international community and the government of Madagascar itself must redouble its efforts to combat illegal trafficking, including of rosewood and other precious woods, as well as of sea turtles.  

During his seven-day visit, Mr. Knox met with a wide range of people, including government officials, members of civil society organizations, and citizens in the community of Andasibe.  

The Special Rapporteur will address these and other issues in more detail in a report to the Human Rights Council, which he will present to the Council in March 2017.  

(*) See the Special Rapporteur’s full end-of-mission statement:

ENDS

The UN Human Rights Council appointed Mr. John H. Knox in 2012 to serve as Independent Expert, and reappointed him in 2015 as Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The Council requested him, a professor of international law at Wake Forest University in the United States, to clarify the application of human rights norms to environmental protection, and to identify best practices in the use of human rights obligations in environmental policy-making. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Environment/SREnvironment/Pages/SRenvironmentIndex.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

UN Human Rights, country page – Madagascar: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/MGIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact:
During the mission: Ms. Volahery Andriamanantenasoa (+261 32 23 100 60/ VAndriamanantenasoa@ohchr.org) or Ms. Soo-Young Hwang (+41 79 752 0486 / shwang@ohchr.org) or write to srenvironment@ohchr.org  
Before and after the mission: Ms. Soo-Young Hwang (+41 22 917 9778 / shwang@ohchr.org) or write to srenvironment@ohchr.org  


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

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NEWS RELEASE - UN expert urges fresh action on conflict-related people trafficking –=?UT




UN expert urges fresh action on conflict-related people trafficking – New UN report
  
NEW YORK / GENEVA (31 October 2016) - So many people fleeing conflict are now being caught up in trafficking that a new approach by governments is needed, a United Nations rights expert has warned.

“Trafficking in people in conflict situations is not a mere possibility but something that happens on a regular basis,” the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, told the UN General Assembly during the presentation of her latest report*. “This means anti-trafficking measures must be integrated into all humanitarian action and all policies regarding people fleeing conflict.”

Her report corroborates the link between conflict and trafficking highlighted in a recent survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which found that more than 70% of migrants who reached Europe via North Africa had become victims of human trafficking, organ trafficking or other forms of exploitation.

“Conflicts always create a favourable situation for human traffickers,” Ms. Giammarinaro said. “As institutions break down, the protection normally offered by families and communities is destroyed. Organized criminal groups can operate with impunity, and people are impoverished or displaced.

“Traffickers target vulnerable people and offer them an opportunity to leave the country,” she noted. “However, this places people at high risk of sexual or labour exploitation, as they are compelled to repay the traffickers in order to continue their journeys.”

The UN expert expressed particular concern about children caught up in conflict, who face a high risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation, whether fleeing alone or with their families.            
“Children working in the informal economy become the only source of income, and often end up in heavy exploitation,” she said.  “Children travelling alone, hoping to reunite the whole family in a safe country, are exposed to a range of exploitation to reach their destination.”

Ms. Giammarinaro highlighted UNICEF figures suggesting that 300,000 children were involved in more than 30 armed conflicts worldwide, with boys facing the highest risk of being recruited as combatants, and many girls suffering abduction, rape and sexual slavery.

The Special Rapporteur emphasized the declaration made at the recent New York summit on migrants and refugees, calling for the establishment of safe and legal channels of migration as the main tool to prevent trafficking and exploitation. She reminded States that their policies could exacerbate the vulnerability of people fleeing conflict.

States dealing with an influx of refugees and migrants should work with NGOs and international organizations to ensure people were interviewed in a friendly environment, to identify people at risk of trafficking, and to provide affected people with tailored solution, she added.

Ms. Giammarinaro also urged States to ensure that children were never detained.  “The best interests of the child must be the primary concern,” she said. “As a consequence, the detention of children must be banned at all times, as it is never in the best interests of the child.”

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur report: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/71/303

Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro (Italy) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014. Ms. Giammarinaro has been a Judge since 1991 and currently serves as a Judge at the Civil Court of Rome. She was the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings of the OSCE, and served in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security in Brussels, where she was responsible for combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. She drafted the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Trafficking/Pages/TraffickingIndex.aspx  

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

For more information and media requests, please contact Selma Vadala (+41 22 917 9108 / svadala@ohchr.org / srtrafficking@ohchr.org)


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

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MEDIA ADVISORY - UN Committee against Torture to review Ecuador, Finland, Monaco, Sri Lanka, Namibia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Cape Verde from 7 Novemb




UN Committee against Torture to review Ecuador, Finland, Monaco, Sri Lanka, Namibia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Cape Verde

GENEVA (31 October 2016) - The UN Committee against Torture is meeting in Geneva from 7 November to 7 December to review the following countries in sessions that will be webcast live: Ecuador (8-9 November); Finland (9-10 November); Monaco (11 and 14 November); Sri Lanka (15-16 November); Namibia (18 and 21 November); Turkmenistan (21-22 November); Armenia (23-24 November); Cape Verde (24-25 November).

The above are among the 159 States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and so are required to undergo regular reviews by the Committee on how they are implementing the Convention and the Committee’s previous recommendations.    

The Committee, which is composed of 10 independent experts, will engage in a dialogue with the respective government delegations. The public sessions, held at Palais Wilson in Geneva, begin at 10:00 Geneva time and continue at 15:00 the following day. The sessions will be webcast live at: http://webtv.un.org/.


The Committee will publish its findings, officially known as concluding observations, on the respective states here on Wednesday, 7 December. A news conference to discuss the findings is scheduled for 12:30 on 7 December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Liz Throssell +41 (0) 22 917 9466/ +41 79 752 0488 / ethrossell@ohchr.org)



Background
Members of the CAT are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. 

For your news websites and social media: 
Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

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MEDIA ADVISORY - UN rights expert to assess situation of migrants in Australia and off-shore detention centres in Nauru




UN rights expert to assess situation of migrants in Australia and off-shore detention centres in Nauru
  
GENEVA (31 October 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, will visit Australia from 1 to 18 November  2016 to assess the migration programmes, policies and laws developed by the Australian authorities in recent years.

“This is an opportunity  for me to understand how Australia manages its overall migration policies, and their impact on the human rights of migrants,’’ Mr. Crépeau said announcing his first information-gathering mission to the country following the postponement of his visit last year.

During his 18-day visit to Australia, the independent expert will meet with a range of government officials responsible for border management, civil society, trade unions, the Australian National Human Rights Commission, international organisations, and migrants themselves, to discuss the complex management of Australia’s borders.

Mr. Crépeau will carry out his meetings in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, and in on-shore detention centres and the off-shore detention centres in the neighbouring island Republic of Nauru.

At the end of the mission, the UN Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary conclusions at a press conference on 18 November 2016 at 10:30am, at the UN Information Centre, Level 1, 7 National Circuit Barton, Canberra. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

The country mission report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2017.

ENDS

Mr. François Crépeau (Canada) was appointed Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council.. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity. Mr. Crépeau is also Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of McGill University, in Montréal, where he holds the Hans and Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law and is scientific director of the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Migration/SRMigrants/Pages/SRMigrantsIndex.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Read the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CMW.aspx

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Australia: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/ENACARegion/Pages/ITIndex.aspx  
       
For more information and media requests, please contact Julia Dean (+61 02 62709205 (m), +61 433 944 427 or / dean@un.org), Elizabeth Wabuge (+41 79 444 3781 / ewabuge@ohchr.org) or Alice Ochsenbein (+41 79 444 43 55 / aochsenbein@ohchr.org)


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

For your news websites and social media: 
Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:

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EU i Kanada potpisale sporazum o slobodnoj trgovini




EU i Kanada potpisale sporazum o slobodnoj trgovini                                     
Objavljeno : 31.10.2016.                         
  
Drama oko slobodne trgovine EU i Kanade okončana je 30. oktobra potpisivanjem sporazuma nakon što je dan ranije belgijski region Valonija objavio da ga prihvata. Sporazum o slobodnoj trgovini ukloniće 99% carina i uvećati trgovinu sa Kanadom za 12 milijardi evra godišnje i doprineće ekonomskom rastu i zapošljavanju sa obe strane Atlantika. EU tvrdi da sporazum neće sprečiti vlade da štite ekološke i socijalne standarde ako ocene da je to potrebno, uprkos bojaznima u Valoniji i drugim evropskim regijama da će velike kompanije "imati odrešene ruke".

"Postavili smo međunarodne standarde koje će slediti oni sa kojima pregovaramo o slobodnoj trgovini", istakao je predsednik Evropske komisije Žan-Klod Junker.

Dok su se ispred sedišta EU u Briselu okupljali protivnici sporazuma, kanadski premijer Džastin Trudo, predsednik Evropskog saveta Donald Tusk, predsednik Komisije i premijer Slovačke, zemlje koja predsedava EU, Robert Fico potpisali su Sveobuhvatni ekonomski i trgovinski sporazum EU-Kanada (CETA).

"Sporazum je plod dugih diskusija. Teških diskusija koje su se međutim uvek odvijale uz poštovanje među partnerima koji dele zajedničke vrednosti", rekao je Trudo novinarima nakon potpisivanja, prenela je agencija AP.

EU je za potpisivanje sporazuma bila potrebna saglasnost svih 28 članica a Belgija je morala da ima saglasnost svih regiona za sporazum CETA.

Potpisivanje sporazuma, planirano za 27. oktobar, moralo je da bude otakazano zbog protivljenja Valonije.

Valonija, region manji od američke države Nju Džerzi, nije bila za sporazum 500 miliona građana EU i 35 miliona Kanađana. Političari iz tog regiona tvrdili su da će CETA potkopati ekološke, standarde rada i potrošačke standarde i omogućiti multinacionalnim kompanijama da unište lokalne firme.

Nakon više rundi pregovora tokom poslednje nedelje oktobra, Belgija je 29. oktobra ujutru formalno objavila da prihvata sporazum.

"Činjenica da ljudi postavljaju pitanja o sporazumu koji će značajno uticati na naše ekonomije daje nam priliku da pokažemo da će efekti biti pozitivni i to je dobra stvar", istakao je Trudo.

Junker je pozdravio sporazum kao "najbolji i najnapredniji koji je EU ikada potpisala". Kako je dodao, EU je "zahvalna Kanadi što je bila strpljiva".

Međutim, Junker je rekao i da "Belgija treba da razmisli kako funkcioniše u međunarodnim odnosima".

Rad na sporazumu CETA počeo je 2009. a tekst je završen pre dve godine ali se čekalo odobrenje.

Odlaganje potpisivanja sporazuma CETA nametnulo je pitanje da li je EU sposobna za velike trgovinske sporazume.

Pregovori o sličnom sporazumu sa SAD - TTIP, jedva da su napredovali ove godine a neki značajniji progres se ne očekuje pre nego što SAD u januaru dobiju novog predsednika.

"Nije realno očekivati zaključenje sporazum TTIP u ovom trenutku", rekla je 30. oktobra evropska komesarka za trgovinu Sesilija Malmstrem ukazujući na predsedničku kampanju u SAD.

A EU čekaju i pregovori o trgovini sa Britanijom kada ta zemlja počne proces izlaska iz bloka.

Izvor: AP

Foto: AP

EU: Gasprom može povećati isporuke gasa Evropi




           EU: Gasprom može povećati isporuke gasa Evropi                                          
Objavljeno : 31.10.2016.                             

Evropska komisija je odobrila ruskoj kompaniji Gasprom da isporuke gasa Evropskoj uniji poveća za deset milijardi kubnih metara godišnje preko gasovoda Opal kojim se ovaj energent od gasnog čvorišta Severnog toka u Nemačkoj isporučuje Češkoj, što je odmah izazvalo oštre zamerke naročito Poljske i Ukrajine. EK je to obrazložila odredbom da povećanje kapaciteta Opala omogućava i drugim zainteresovanim kompanijama da se uključe u isporuke gasa preko ovog gasovoda s ukupnim kapacitetom od 36 milijardi kubnih metara godišnje. Komisija je predočila da je to čisto komercijalna odluka koja nema veze s politikom.

Mediji u EU su odmah ocenili da takva odluka neumitno zadire u "politički čvor" odnosa evropske dvadesetosmorice i Rusije i pokreće pitanje najave Gasproma da će do kraja 2019. obustaviti isporuke gasa Evropi preko Ukrajine, dok su Rusija i Turska nanovo iskazale rešenost da grade moćan gasovod Turski tok kao moguću alternativu isporukama preko Ukrajine.

Takođe je ukazano na oštre zamerke koje su neke članice Unije uputile zbog načelno odobrenog sporazuma zapadnoevropskih kompanija i Gasproma o izgradnji druge trase gasovoda Severni tok ispod Baltičkog mora do Nemačke, dok je Evropska komisija zaustavila izgradnju gasovoda Južni tok preko Crnog mora i Bugarske.

EK sada pregovara s Gaspromom o "prijateljskoj nagodbi", što je ponudila ruska kompanija, za istragu koju je Brisel pokrenuo protiv Gazproma zbog sumnji za monopolitičke poteze na tržištu gasa u Evropi.

Poljska je saopštila da će Evropsku komisiju zbog "slučaja Opal" tužiti Evropskom sudu pravde jer smatra da se time povećavaju isporuke ruskog gasa Evropi iako su se članice Unije dogovorile da sve učine da se smanji zavisnost od tih isporuka.

Evropska komisija je objasnila da je od nemačkog ureda za zaštitu konkurencije Bundesnecagentur obaveštena da može odobriti udvostručenje isporuka gasa preko Opala jer se to ne kosi s pravilima o konkurenciji.

Evropski komesar za energetiku Maroš Šefćović je 27. oktobra izjavio da se "čine najveći mogući napori" da se posreduje u sporu između Moskve i Kijeva i obezbedi da ne dođe do obustave gasa u Ukrajini i Evropi.

"Dosad u tom nismo bili uspešni", rekao je visoki zvaničnik EK, mada je ruski predsednik Vladimir Putin stavio do znanja da je Rusija spremna da nastavi isporuke gasa Ukrajini čim Kijev pristine na dogovor da za isporuke plati unapred.

List italijanskih poslovnih krugova Il sole 24 ore smatra da se odlukom o dodatnom korišćenju Opala "daju ustupci Rusiji i Gaspromu" i "dolazi u opasnost da se zaoštre razmirice unutar EU".

Ovaj list i drugi komentatori ukazuju na to da su, mada nekad iz sasvim različitih razloga, protiv izgradnje Severnog toka 2 bili Poljska, Češka, Slovačka, baltičke zemlje, kao i Mađarska, Bugarska, Rumunija i Italija.

Il sole 24 ore ukazuje i na to da je italijanski premijer Mateo Renci snažno kritikovao Evropsku komisiju što je "rekla ne Južnom toku, što je izazvalo sulude sporove između raznih zemalja i kompanija…da bi potom olako odobrila udvostručenje Severnog toka".

Milanski dnevnik smatra da sadašnje odluke Komisije na čelu s Žan-Klodom Junkerom "ponovo otvaraju ovu raspravu".

Španski list Pais ide čak dotle da Evropskoj komisiji pripisuje da je Rusiji dala oduška na strategijskom energetskom sektoru u času sukoba oko rata u Siriji.

Nemački medij Dojče vele ocenjuje da odluka o Opalu "utire put Moskvi da proširi gasovod Severni tok i u isporukama gasa Evropi zaobiđe Ukrajinu", koja bi time izgubila 425 miliona dolara koje godišnje zarađuje od tranzita ruskog gasa u EU.

Ali, primećuje Dojče vele, "Evropska komisija se nada da će ovom odlukom uticati na Moskvu da zajamči da će nastaviti da isporučuje gas Ukrajini, s kojom prestaje ugovor 2019".

Jedan zvaničnik EK je novinarima nezvanično preneo da odluka o "zelenom svetlu" Gaspromu za udvostručenje dotura gasa preko Opala "nije doneta iz baš političkih razloga, već i zato što želimo da ostanemo u prijateljskim odnosima s Gaspromom".

Evropski instituti koji prate energetska pitanja primećuju i da bi "zeleno svetlo za Opal moralo da se sagleda i u činjenici da opada priliv gasa u Zapadnu Evropu sa Severnog mora i Holandije.


28. 10. 2016.

„SOMBORSKA JESEN 2016“ - FOTO GALERIJA


            
  „SOMBORSKA  JESEN 2016“ 


          Predsednik Skupštine doktor primarijus Zoran Parčetić                     otvorio "SOMBORSKU JESEN 2016"

Sombor,28.10.2016.godine

FOTO GALERIJA IZLAGAČA















fotografije
Nebojša Vladisavljević





NEWS RELEASE - UN Special Rapporteur lists catalogue of rights breaches in Belarus




UN Special Rapporteur lists catalogue of rights breaches in Belarus

GENEVA (28 October 2016) – Hopes of an improving human rights picture in Belarus have been dashed, according to a new report from the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the country, Miklós Haraszti.

He listed a catalogue of issues including government control of recent elections, a vote count which was “neither honest nor transparent,” the lack of a free press, the suppression of people’s freedom to meet, and the jailing of a political blogger.

“Unfortunately I have to report an unchanged legal and administrative system of the restriction of human rights, which by its mere existence cannot be conducive to meaningful elections,” Mr. Haraszti told the UN General Assembly as he presented his annual report*. “In a nutshell, nothing has changed in Belarus on the human rights front.”

Elections for the presidency last October and parliament in September had been carefully scrutinized by the human rights community for signs of progress, he said, but hope had been refuted by reality.

“The release of political prisoners on the eve of the presidential election, and the absence of violence during it, had raised hopes of an improvement in the general human rights situation, and that the conduct of the parliamentary elections would contribute to such a change,” he said.

“However, the nominal modifications made at the margins of the electoral process did not affect the fully government-controlled character of the elections,” the expert noted. “During the parliamentary elections, there was no equal access to the media for the candidates, the turnout was not verifiable, and the vote count was neither transparent nor honest.”

The Special Rapporteur said the election of two “token” opposition members of parliament had only underlined the “guided nature” of the process.

“Belarus is far from breaking away from the standard of the last two decades during which it has been the only nation in Europe with no modicum of pluralism in its parliament,” he said.

Mr Haraszti said fundamental freedoms of expression and of the media also continued to be violated.  Belarus was the only European country with no privately-owned nationwide media, and the state media were used as a platform for candidates supported by the Government.

He highlighted the case of Eduard Palchys, a political blogger held from May to October 2016 “on made-up grounds, but in reality because of the political views expressed in his blog”.  His incarceration ended a short period during which there were no political prisoners in Belarus.

People’s freedoms of association and assembly continued to be violated, he reported.  Any gathering, political party or association needed State approval, and anyone taking part in unauthorized activities was held to be breaking the law.

Mr Haraszti also highlighted the ongoing use of the death sentence. “Belarus handed down a death sentence the day after the lifting of most of the European Union sanctions against the country,” he noted.

Other concerns highlighted by the Special Rapporteur included the fact that the Central Election Commission has had the same chairperson for 20 years, and that the composition of all electoral bodies is decided either by the president or by local state authorities.  

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s report: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/71/394

ENDS

Mr. Miklós Haraszti (Hungary) was designated as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus by the UN Human Rights Council in 2012. In the 70s, Mr. Haraszti was a founder of Hungary’s human rights and free press movement, and in the 1990s he was a Member of the Hungarian Parliament. From 2004 to 2010, he served as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Since 2010, he has been a Professor at several universities teaching media democratisation. Learn more, log on to:  http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/BY/Pages/SRBelarus.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’ s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, country page – Belarus: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/BYIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests please contact Mr. Alexandre Girard (+41 22 917 9180 / agirard@ohchr.org) or write to sr-belarus@ohchr.org.


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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NEWS RELEASE - International community must not lose sight of Myanmar challenges, UN expert warns





International community must not lose sight of Myanmar challenges, UN expert warns
  
NEW YORK / GENEVA (28 October 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, has issued a strong call to the international community not to forget about the remaining human rights challenges in the country.

“Significant steps forward have been made and the government deserves to be congratulated,” said Ms. Lee, presenting a report to the UN General Assembly. “But the success story is not yet complete.”

She highlighted concerns including the continued detention of some political prisoners, a constitution which guarantees the military a quarter of the seats in parliament, worsening unrest in some areas, and ongoing discrimination against Muslim communities.

“The international community has a responsibility to continue to encourage the changes needed to ensure that everyone in Myanmar can access their fundamental human rights – regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic status or location,” said Ms. Lee.

Civilians, including children, were continuing to suffer amid escalating conflict in Shan, Kachin and Kayin states, she said, with humanitarian access to conflict areas currently worse than at any point in the past few years.

In Rakhine state, she said discrimination against Rohingya and other Muslim communities was affecting some of their most fundamental rights. She urged the removal of all discriminatory orders, policies and practices.  

Ms. Lee expressed alarm at other developments in Rakhine state, including the killing of nine police officers in the attacks on 9 October.  The resulting security operations led to numerous allegations of serious human rights violations, including torture and ill-treatment during interrogation, summary executions, arbitrary arrest and the destruction of mosques and houses in Muslim villages.

Some 3,000 members of the Rakhine community and up to 12,000 Muslims had fled their homes, she said.

“I am also extremely concerned that humanitarian programmes providing health, food, education and nutrition assistance have been suspended and access by humanitarian and other groups has not been granted,” the Special Rapporteur added.

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the release of 200 prisoners by the new government, but expressed concern about more than 200 others still in detention.  

“A number of individuals have been arrested since the new government came to power under outdated laws which I and my predecessors have repeatedly highlighted as in need of reform, but which remain on the books,” Ms. Lee said.  

She also highlighted the 2008 Myanmar constitution, which reserves 25% of seats in Parliament and three key ministerial posts for the military.

“Until there is constitutional reform, there is still much to be done for Myanmar to evolve from having a military government to a civilian one,” she said.

“Peace will be a pre-requisite for the long-term progress of Myanmar,” she added, welcoming recent talks between the government and armed groups at the Panglong Conference.  “Unfortunately on the ground peace still feels remote and communities still fear attacks, abductions and abuses,” she added.

(*) Check the Special Rapporteur’s report to the UN General Assembly: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/71/361

ENDS

Ms. Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. Ms. Lee served as member and chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2003-2011). She is currently a professor at Sungkyunwan University, Seoul, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. Ms. Lee is the founding President of International Child Rights Center, and serves as Vice-chair of the National Unification Advisory Council. Learn more, go to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/CountriesMandates/MM/Pages/SRMyanmar.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

UN Human Rights, country page – Myanmar: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/MMIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Ms. Azwa Petra (+ 44 22 928 9103 / apetra@ohchr.org)


For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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