March 2012 International Affairs

The Arab league summit was held in Baghdad from 27 March 2012 to 29 March 2012. The three-day summit was hosted by Iraq for the first time since 1990. 22 Arab league states participated in the summit. The Baghdad summit discussed the uprising in Syria and the Iraqi debts to its neighbours. The previous Arab league summit was held in Sirte. Syria didn’t participate in the Summit. It was suspended in the midst of the uprising against the Assad regime.

The second Nuclear Security Summit was held in Seoul, on 26-27 March 2012. 53 heads of state and government, as well as representatives of the United Nations (UN), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), European Union (EU) and INTERPOL, attended the 2012 summit.The first Nuclear Security Summit was held in Washington in April 2010. It was initiated by US President Barack Obama.

Rebel troops in Mali ousted its President Amadou Toumani on 22 March 2012. The rebels blamed the government for failing to control an ethnic Tuareg insurgency in the Northern part of Mali. The Tuareg insurgency includes fighters who supported Mummar Gaddafi in Libya. The army leaders who staged the coup called themselves the National Committee for the Reestablishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State (CNRDR). USA suspended military aid and other funds directed to Mali’s government in its response to military coup in Mali. It called for immediate restoration of constitutional rule.

Syria on 27 March 2012 accepted the 19-point UN peace plan to end violence in the country. The 19-point plan was handed over by Kofi Annan to Syrian President during his recent visit to the Syria. The plan calls for a cease-fire by Syrian forces and to commit to a daily two-hour halt in fighting to allow humanitarian access and medical evacuations. It also calls for a full cease-fire to be supervised by the UN so that all parties can discuss a political solution.

UN Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution about human rights violations committed by the Sri Lankan army in its war with LTTE, which concluded IN 2009. 24 countries including India voted for the resolution and 15 voted against it. However, India emphasised that resolutions of this nature should fully respect the sovereign rights of states and contribute to Sri Lanka’s own efforts in this regard.

World Water Day is observed annually on 22 March with an objective to focus attention on the importance of freshwater as well as to advocate sustainable management of freshwater resources. In 2012, the International World Water Day is observed with the theme The World is Thirsty because we are Hungry.

Vladimir Putin from United Russia Party won the Russian Presidential Election with 63.75 percent of votes on 5 March 2012.Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov came second with 17.18 percent of the votes. Putin has already served eight years as President (2000-2004 and 2004-2008) and four years as PM (2008-2012). This will be his third term as President.

The UN Human Rights Council asked Syria to immediately stop the attacks on civilians by the security forces. The death toll in the ongoing violence in Syria has crossed 7500.The UNHRC is likely to approve resolution for indicting the Syrian officials who are responsible for attacks on the civilians.

North Korea agreed to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme in return for US food aid. USA had promised North Korea 240000 tonnes of nutritional assistance. North Korea also agreed to allow UN inspectors to monitor its reactor in Yongbyon .This step was taken two months after Kim Jong-un came to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. It is expected to bring peace in East Asian region and ease the tension between North Korea and South Korea.

The Dubai Metro, comprising the red and green lines, has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest driverless metro network in the world spanning 74.695 km.

Qatar has been ranked as the world's wealthiest country in a new list compiled by the prestigious US magazine Forbes. The second and third positions were occupied by Luxemburg and Singapore. Liberia and Congo took the last positions.

Input From Sakshi