Conflict Resolution & Peacemaking

A Filipino United Nations peacekeeper was wounded and hit by “a wayward indirect fire” at Camp Ziouni in ceasefire line Golan Heights.

All external players are aware that the upcoming peace conference on Syria will serve as a turning point. If a shift occurs in favor of a compromise between the warring parties, it will be a truly historic event, given the long-standing impasse. Russia’s stance is both intransigent and consistent — two qualities by no means inherent to Russian policy, which have therefore wrong-footed its partners. Over the past two years, Moscow has been coaxed, exhorted, criticized, abused and mocked for its alleged short-sightedness. Bemused observers have constantly looked for signs of a softer approach... But to no avail. Russia's latest steps are intended, according to Moscow's logic, to improve the chances of the peace process. The Kremlin is steadfast that any alternative would only worsen the chaos, since the allies of Damascus will not allow its opponents to gain the upper hand. And they will avoid intervention at all costs. Russia is deliberately supplying Syria with defensive means, which can only be used to prevent a large-scale intervention. From the very outset, Moscow has clearly and unequivocally opposed any Libya-style involvement.

The agreement reached is a milestone within the historical political, social and military conflict Colombia has experienced for the last 50-plus years.

An independent UN investigator said that the majority of the foreign-backed opposition militants who are fighting the Syrian government don’t want democracy.

The US-Russian initiative for a comprehensive peace conference to resolve the Syrian crisis needs honest effort of those involved, in particular, USA.

The dispute between Taipei and Manila over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by a Filipino coast guard vessel is a case study in how initially skilful diplomacy can quickly be undermined by missed opportunities. Manila has been willing to respond to the Taiwanese demands, but the Filipinos wish to do it properly under its “one China” policy since the Philippines and Taiwan do not have official diplomatic relations. This meant that the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), Manila’s de-facto embassy in Taiwan, would handle the matter instead of Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s cabinet. The Philippines did not want to anger Beijing by breaking its commitment to a “one China” policy, and diplomatically, this was as far as Manila could probably go — something that Taipei knew full well. By accepting the MECO apology, however “unofficial” it may have been, the Ma administration would have shown magnanimity while making it possible for both sides to bow out gracefully. But Taiwan did not do that. President Ma, with his low popularity ratings, chose to lose the moral high ground and much of the goodwill it had accumulated from the international community..

Iran will host on Wednesday an international forum to help find a "political solution" for the conflict in ally Syria, the foreign ministry said, as France, the United States and Russia push for their own peace conference. More than 40 countries and a representative of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan are expected to attend.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has agreed to accept China's advice by participating in dialogue with relevant parties. China hopes that all relevant parties should stick to the goal of denuclearization, persist on maintaining peace and stability of the peninsula and resolve problems through dialogue and consultation and called for the parties to adopt substantial actions to ease tensions, actively embark on dialogue and restart the six-party talks as soon as possible.

The illegal Israeli occupation has created a de facto One State – an evil state of oppression and brutality, in which half the population (or slightly less than half) deprives the other half of almost all rights – human rights, economic rights and political rights. The Jewish settlements proliferate, and every day brings new stories of woe. The people who speak now of the “one-state solution” are idealists and do a lot of harm for it is the fight against the settlements that is absolutely essential. iI is the main battlefield in the struggle for peace. Uri Avnery, the original advocate behind the "Two-State Solution" idea, contends in the article that the two-state solution is not dead and that it cannot die, because it is the only solution we have.

Iran and Jordan have stressed the need to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria that maintains the unity of Syria's territories and people through comprehensive dialogue involving all components the Syrian people. Iran warns of the repercussions of the crisis on all states, saying that any vacuum in Syria would have serious repercussions on the region, clarifying that cooperation between all is inevitable to avoid the repercussions of the crisis.

President Moncef Morzouki of Tunisia ponders after reading Shlomo Sand's The Invention of the Jewish People, and asks about the lessons and consequences it might have for other nations and peoples. Applauding the courageous historian who meticulously outlined in his book the various methods of fabrication pursued by the Zionist historians of 19th c. Europe as they weaved this legend to which the Palestinians became victims, to which until this day is taught in Israeli schools (and around the world) as absolute and complete truth. When TRUTH be told, Ben Gurion, one of the founders of the State of "Israel", concurred until the end of the 1920s that the Palestinians were the grandchildren of the Ancient Israelites, and that they would open their arms and hearts to their immigrating brethren. But when the Palestinians held on to their Arabness, Ben Gurion's views changed and he flipflopped as it wasn't convenient for his political agenda —and so did the conceptual paradigm, making the Palestinians into foreigners who had conquered the Land of the Fathers and the Grandfathers, and therefore must be expelled. Our present generation, therefore, is now facing a unique phenomenon in figuring out where to start since there is TRUTH in that all national histories, which are taught in high schools all across the world, are in fact fabricated from A to Z, thanks to the massive sophisticated propaganda and historical distortions of the mainstream media and publishing houses that Zionists control. This is one of the very reasons for The Santos Republic's existence and the heart of Universal Fusionism - to usher the New Paradigm based on TRUTH so our world can come back to harmony, mutual prosperity and peace. The lies and propaganda have only contribute to suffering and destruction.

Mar. 10, 2013 (TSR) - After being abducted for three days by Syria militants in Golan, 21 UN peacekeepers of the Filipino nationality crossed to freedom in Jordan. Head of...