News Timeline: International Organizations 2014

January 28 – United Nations

The United Nations International Court of Justice at The Hague settles a maritime border dispute between Peru and Chile that has lasted since the war of the Pacific in 1883 when Chile took rich lands from Peru. The Court awards Peru about 7,700 square miles and gives control over 10,000 square miles of international waters, but some rich fishing areas remain with Chile. Both sides pledge to abide by the UN ruling.

February 15 – United Nations

The Second round of Geneva talks between the United Nations special envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and representatives of the Syrian government and opposition reaches an impasse. The opposition demands a transitional government that would not include current President Bashar al-Assad, while the Syrian government calls the opposition terrorists and insists on fighting them before discussing any issues. The only agreement both sides were able to come to was allowing the civilians to leave the besieged city of Homs. Since 2011, more than 100,000 people have lost their lives and more than 9 million have been displaced in Syria’s conflict.

March 16 – United Nations/International Monetary Fund

More than 97 percent of people in the Ukrainian region of Crimea vote to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a controversial referendum organized by Russia with Russian troops controlling the area. Many Crimeans who oppose the secession boycotted the vote. Ukraine, the European Union and the United States say the vote is illegal and it will be never recognized. (March 17): The EU and the U.S. impose travel ban and freeze assets of some high-ranking Russian and Ukrainian officials after the Crimean vote. (March 21): Russia officially annexes Crimea. Ukraine and the EU sign an association agreement, establishing closer economic relations. (March 27): The United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution, which says that the referendum in Crimea was illegal. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves a loan for Ukraine in the amount of $18 billion. Also, the United States Congress passes  legislation guaranteeing a $1 billion loan for Ukraine.

April 24 – NATO/International Monetary Fund

Russia sends troops to its western border with Ukraine and orders military exercises, increasing tensions in already volatile situation. Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine overrun government buildings in several cities and place Russian flags on them. The United States sends a first contingent of about 500 troops to Poland for military exercises as part of the NATO security guarantees. (April 29): Pro-Russian separatists seize the regional government building and prosecutor’s office in the eastern city of Luhansk, opening fire at the local police station. There is fear of escalating tensions that might lead to a civil war. (April 30): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves a $17 billion bailout for Ukraine under strict conditions of economic reforms.

April 8 – OECD

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that development aid rose by 6.1 percent in 2013 reaching the highest level ever, amounting to $134.8 billion. The largest donors by the amount of money are the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, Denmark and Luxembourg. Among these nations, the U.S. is the largest donor, donating $31.5 billion a year. However, in terms of development aid as percent of gross national income (GNI), the U.S.’s contribution amounts to 0.19 percent, which is one of the lowest.  OECD is an organization dedicated to global development. It has 34 member countries from all world regions. They include many of the world’s most advanced countries, but also emerging countries such as Mexico, Chile and Turkey.

June 4 – NATO

The United States President Barack Obama meets with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Poland’s transition to democracy. While in Poland, he also meets with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and pledges $5 million in military aid in support of Ukraine’s fight with rebels who want to split the country. He also reaffirms the NATO principles of collective defense and announces a $1 billion plan of the European Reassurance Initiative to strengthen defenses in Europe. On his part, President Komorowski pledges an increase in military spending to 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

June 18 – World Health Organization (WHO)

The deadly Ebola virus strikes West Africa, with Guinea as the worst affected country. Since the beginning of the outbreak in February, the country registered 264 deaths. The virus then has spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola, with a case fatality rate of up to 90 percent. It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of infected animals or people. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with the West African countries on containing the disease.

July 15 – BRICS

The BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – agree to establish their own regional development bank and emergency reserve fund during the 6th Annual BRICS Summit held in Brazil. The bank is supposed to counter the influence of other regional banks, such as the World Bank, and give the BRICS countries more political influence. The BRICS Bank will focus on loaning more funds to developing countries.

August 7 – NATO

In response to economic sanctions for its support of Ukrainian separatists, Russia imposes a one-year embargo on meat, fish and agricultural products from the European Union countries, Norway, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The European Union, in its response to Russia’s embargo, makes an announcement that it will compensate those EU farmers who get hit by Russia’s embargo. The EU’s biggest exporters of agricultural products to Russia are Poland and Lithuania. Russia’s embargo has already had a negative effect on its own market, with rising prices and shortages of many basic foods, such as pork. (August 22): A convoy of dozens of Russian trucks enters Ukraine without permission. Russia says trucks carry humanitarian aid, but Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accuses Russia of moving troops and weapons into Ukraine to support the rebels. (August 28): NATO releases satellite images that show Russian troops and military equipment within Ukraine’s borders.

September 21 – International Issues: Climate

More than 300,000 environmentalists, business people, celebrities, and citizens take part in a rally organized ahead of the UN climate change summit due to take place in New York City, demanding action on climate change. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also takes part in the walk. Thousands of similar rallies across the world are taking place, including Australia and Europe.

October 6 – African Union

Somali and the African Union troops take over the town of Barawe, which has strategic importance in Somalia. The al-Shabab militants used Barawe as a supply route for weapons and food, as well as a base to launch attacks on the capital, Mogadishu.

October 20 – World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) declares Nigeria and Senegal Ebola-free. So far, the virus has infected more than 10,000 and killed close to 5.000 people, mostly in West African countries: Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Several patients who were treated for Ebola in the United States with an experimental treatment have recovered. The only person who died from the virus in the U.S. was Thomas Duncan, a Liberian national, who contracted the virus in Liberia before flying to the U.S.

December 28 – NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ends its 13-year long combat operations in Afghanistan, which began after 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Beginning in 2015, Afghanistan will be responsible for its own security; 12,000 NATO troops will stay in the country to provide training and support.

December 31 – United Nations

The United Nations Security Council rejects a draft resolution that called for ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories by the end of 2017, including the full withdrawal of Israeli troops and new negotiations based on the territorial lines from before the 1967 war. If approved, the motion would have paved the way to a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The motion needed 9 votes for passing; it received 8 (Russia, China, France, Argentina, Chad, Chile, Jordan and Luxembourg). The United States and Australia voted against it, with the UK, Lithuania, Nigeria, Korea and Rwanda abstaining. However, the resolution faced a veto by the U.S., which would have prevented its possible adoption.