Words that hold water even today
On New Zealand foreign policy & the Middle East, and our next event: Rules-Based International Order - Rhetoric or Reality?
In this update, we dig into the Diplosphere archive for words that stand the test of time in relation to New Zealand foreign policy and the Middle East (read below).
Also, don’t miss out on our upcoming event The Rules-Based International Order: Rhetoric or Reality? on Feb 27 in Wellington, register here, tickets are selling fast. (more below)
Finally, a Diplosphere’s article Soft power is New Zealand's greatest power was published by Newsroom, read it here.
Words that stand the test of time
Diplosphere Executive Director Maty Nikkhou-O’Brien, while browsing old Diplosphere event recordings, came upon an excerpt by former diplomat and CSS:NZ Senior Fellow Terence O’Brien talking on the Middle East and New Zealand.
As Maty states:
What he said is still so true today.
The discussion was with regards to New Zealand’s decision then to commit a NZ military contingent to Iraq. Terence argues forcefully that the decision is contradictory with an independent foreign policy - which was used effectively as a campaign platform for New Zealand to gain a Security Council seat in the year prior.
Outside military power will accomplish little. NZ’s claim to independent foreign policy should not moreover discount destructive political factors in the Middle East. For a century or longer no other region has suffered equivalent levels of prolonged outside intrusion by powerful governments bent upon imposing their versions of order. The record is tarnished and stringent. While our imaginations are gripped by the hideous inhumanity of radical Islam, it is important to acknowledge that there has been no monopoly on inexcusable violence within the region.
And what New Zealand can aspire to (bold by editor).
Our hard won UNSC seat provides that dimension. In its first UNSC pronouncement, NZ pinned its colours to helping re-energize the Palestine/Israel peace process, and appointed its UN Ambassador as special envoy. The UNSC seat is a rare privilege for NZ. It is logical and entirely respectable to represent our efforts around the Council table as an authentic contribution to resolving this particularly mortifying cause of so much Middle Eastern desolation. It requires that NZ be seen to expend diplomatic energy and ingenuity. There is no guarantee of success. There is no guarantee whatsoever either in regard to a military commitment. All the realities of NZ’s situation point resolutely to the diplomatic option, coupled with commitment to post-conflict rehabilitation and generosity with refugees.
Listen to Terence’s short five minute segment here:
Held at the NZ Parliament and broadcast by RNZ, you can listen to the whole discussion here.
Subsequently, in late 2017, and as one of its last acts on the Security Council, New Zealand, alongside Malaysia, Senegal, and Venezuela, put forward a historic resolution on Israeli settlements which was adopted.
UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (MFAT release)
The resolution was adopted with 14 members of the Security Council voting in favour and the United States abstaining. The Security Council chamber broke into rare applause following the vote.
A Quick Poll
Our Next Event
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has just warned that the world is entering into an 'age of chaos' referring to the current situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, where 'the principles and standards of the UN are systematically undermined'.
Diplosphere is delighted to host an event The Rules-Based International Order: Rhetoric or Reality? where you will hear from thoughtful speakers and network over a drink.
Diplosphere's panel will discuss:
What does 'rules-based order' even mean today? A few perspectives.
Who should be making the rules in the present multipolar world?
Rhetoric versus reality: Do our actions live up to our words?
How does New Zealand balance its security 'club' membership without compromising an independent foreign policy?
Speakers:
The Rt Hon Jim Bolger, former New Zealand Prime Minister
H.E. Ömür Ünsay, Turkish Ambassador, served in Egypt, Russia, the EU
Dr Rouzbeh Parsi, Head of the MENA Programme, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
H.E. Viktor Vavricka, Swiss Ambassador, served in Bangkok, Berlin, the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Elizabeth Longworth, Chair UNESCO NZ
Our latest Diplostack post on words that hold water event today, and our upcoming talk. Tell use what you think, hit like (if you like!)