Kiflom discusses Eritrea's desertification challenges and presented some issues concerning vegetation distribution by zones, the causes of their desertification, government policy and strategy taken to tackle them, and suggested options for solving desertification.

The European Union (EU) has gone through a long and difficult process to finally acquire its present structure. Contradicting opinions prevail as to what the European Union precisely is. Some simply take it as a set of intergovernmental institutions, useful for specific purposes, but lacking any wider implications. Others define it as a device in a strategy which has lost its purpose of cornering the USSR or containing Germany. Eurosceptics view it as a delusion of European unity which now has to be thrown off, and as the transcending of evil in the lives of nations. Those with positive opinion insist that the European Union is something unique in relations among states that have retained their sovereignty and equality.

In this paper, Ambassador Hanna Simon provides a short background on the construction of the European Union before looking into its institutions and their functions. The paper deals with the issue of enlargement with special focus on Turkey's candidature to join the Union, and provides analysis of the European Union's political weakness.

RELIGIOUS DIPLOMACY: THE FORMULA FOR LASTING WORLD PEACE?

Glenville Ashby presents his analysis on diplomatic techniques and instruments applied to inter-religious dialogue, and how religion influences inter-state diplomatic relations.

LATIN AMERICA: THE PATH OF CONSTRUCTIVISM AND THE STRUGGLE FOR STABILTY AND PROSPERITY

The military skirmish on the border of Ecuador and Colombia captured world attention and threatened the relative peace in the region. In Bolivia, internal piqued the concern of political pundits and students of international relations.

Glenville Ashby examines the causative factors of these conflicts and introduce theories of international relations and of global conflict to better elucidate the unique nature of Latin America politics. His intention in this paper is to establish a paradigm to identify and predict social, political, and economic trends.

The paper advances that despite the problems that have been outlined, Latin America is following the path of constructivism. In strengthening inter-governmental organizations, it has created a sense of regional homogeneity, self reliance, and commitment to conflict resolution.

DIPLOMATIC REPORTING
By Glenville Ashby (candidate for the Doctorate degree in Diplomacy and International Affairs)

Glenville Ashby reflects on various concerns besetting the world of diplomatic reporting, current media trends, ethical reporting, political trust, constitutional provisions, and a host of related issues.

Glenville argues that diplomatic Reporting is entering a new phase of its existence. The distortion, if not the suppression of information is a thing of the past. While it cannot be viewed as an arm of a government aimed at bending others to its will, human, material and technological resources must be allocated accordingly to foreign governmental agencies so that they can regain a competitive edge.

THE WORLD BANK, THE IMF and THE CCA
Is Ending World Hunger a Fallacy?

MULTICULTURALISM: The Case of the Netherlands
The struggle of immigrants in the face of Islam radicalism
By Marites Nijhof (candidate for the Masteral study in Diplomacy and International Affairs)

Marites examines the effects brought about by Islam radicalism on the Dutch multicultural society and how it influenced people's perception and attitude towards immigrants in totality. The mismanagement of the Dutch multicultural society triggered the murders of Pim Fortuyn and Theo Van Gogh. This event fueled anger and mistrust by many against Muslims including diverse groups of immigrants. Apparently, mainstream opinion makers failed to make a clear distinction between the real culprits for society's ills and those who do notably well in the Dutch society.

Kiflom presents Eritrea's important strategy for poverty reduction: Self-reliance that embraces the principle of "learning by doing." Relying on internal resources, Kiflom reiterates the importance of the whole population's engagement in different tasks to achieve freedom, as well as Eritrea's goal for survival as an independent State and from its long fight for independence without the support of the "superpowers." What started as a deficit in Eritrea's struggle turned into strength which continues to shape Eritrea's culture and its relations with the rest of the world, including prospective donors.

REFLECTIONS OF AN AMBASSADOR FROM A SMALL COUNTRY

Zeraslasie discusses the indifference of major UN Security Council member states, mainly the U.S. and Soviet Union, to Eritrea’s plea for decolonization. The paper presents brief historical background of Eritrea and in addition, it discusses on deliberations of Allied Powers meetings and UN General Assembly sessions on the fate of Eritrean, held from 1946 - 1950. Moreover, the paper discusses how Ethiopia, with the U.S. and Soviet backing, from 1962 – 1991, hindered UN involvement in Eritrea’s relations with Ethiopia. The paper concludes, with the liberation of Eritrea in 1991, and how the UN was allowed to engage in the issue because U.S. was left with no alternative solution to the problem. The author urges the Security Council not to repeat past mistakes but act impartially to solve the current Eritrea – Ethiopia border problem.

George shows and analyses some of the elements under Article 1 of the United Nations' Charter, and why these aspects continue to show dark spots in respect of human rights in Africa both in implementation and assessment, and further, whether this trend could be reversed with the adoption Organisation of African Unity charter on human rights.

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