Envoys want better leadership in 2012
London’s diplomats have appealed for “decisive” and “more honest” leadership in 2012 in an Embassy New Year poll.
With elections due in four of the permanent Security Council member states – US, Russia, China and France – diplomats are hoping for better leadership after a crisis-driven 2011, which they felt was marked by indecision by world leaders when facing tough challenges, including the solutions to the eurozone crisis and action on stabilising the Middle East.
One senior EU diplomat predicted a general “shift in the approach of decision-makers towards society” as well as a “more lucid acknowledgement of matching available resources to the population’s needs”.
Many respondents noted that disparities in wealth would become a headline issue in 2012, as will disputes over energy resources and worries over cyber crime.
On the regional front, there is a mixed picture. Diplomats expect financial consolidation in the eurozone to revive the slowing world economy. There are worries over stability in Belarus with upcoming parliamentary elections but on a positive note, a number of EU diplomats look forward to a more stable Balkans region as it moves towards greater integration with the EU.
The democracy uprisings in the Middle East will continue to dominate headlines, with increased instability predicted for Syria and possibly escalated tensions with Iran over their nuclear programme.
In South Asia, Pakistan is the main concern, while envoys predict positive changes in Southeast Asia, notably with more progress towards democracy in Myanmar.
One African economic attaché appealed for better trading relations between North and South and a bigger role for Africa in new markets, and another hoped international action in Somalia would halt instability spreading from the Horn of Africa.
Small island nations hope landmark climate change summits in Rio and Qatar will “reduce the scourge of global warming with more urgency”.
One Latin American envoy remarked that while their region was doing well, he warned that worrying signs of “social instability” would dominate big leadership electoral battles in Venezuela and Mexico.
IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu has urged a “rapid and full casualty investigation” in the wake of the Costa Concordia cruise liner incident and said safety regulations may have to be reviewed.
Speaking at the opening of an IMO sub-committee meeting, the Secretary-General said: “I would like to urge the Flag State administration to provide the findings [of the investigation] to the IMO under the provisions of SOLAS as soon as possible.”
The grounding of the vessel – which has claimed 17 lives so far with a further 15 unaccounted for – also prompted the IMO to postpone the launch of the World Maritime theme for 2012, which this year focuses on the centenary of the Titanic disaster.
“In the centenary year of the Titanic, we have once again been reminded of the risks involved in maritime activities,” the Secretary-General said.
He added: “We should seriously consider the lessons to be learnt and, if necessary, re-examine the regulations on the safety of large passenger ships.”
It is likely the Italian maritime authorities will present the preliminary results of its investigations to the IMO during the next Maritime Safety Committee meeting, scheduled for May 16-25.
