Im Januar 1987 nahmen ca. 80 Wissenschaftler aus Pazificanrainerstaaten an einer Konferenz über Vertrauensbildung und Konfliktreduzierung im Pazifik in Kuala Lumpur teil. Fünf der damals vorgetragenen Beiträge werden in diesem Sammelband vorgestellt. Hierbei stehen die Konflikte, die die geopolitische Situation im Pazifik prägen, im Vordergrund. Während in die direkten Beziehungen zwischen den Großmächten der Region, USA, UdSSR und VR China eine gewisse Bewegung geraten ist, sind die Fronten in Korea und v.a. in Südostasien, wo der Konflikt um Kambodscha im Vordergrund steht, hart geblieben. (BIOst-Rsg)
To prepare the ground for the safe return and reintegration of dispersed population groups, it is necessary to solve the conflict between the government of Iraq and the government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq about Constitutional Article 140. The ministries of foreign affairs of the European Union member states should intensify the political dialogue with both sides to find a durable agreement and, in parallel, offer advice on reforms to increase civilian oversight of the security forces. As Iraq is no longer considered an emergency country, donors, including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), can gradually shift the emphasis of bilateral development aid towards the export of expertise. German advice in e-government and administrative set-up can contribute to reducing corruption and developing the basis for decentralisation (implementing Law 21). Effective and good governance is at the root to legally clarify property and land disputes many returning Iraqis are struggling with. A regular supply of basic services and the provision of infrastructure are prerequisites for the return and reintegration of displaced people. Taking care of the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) can be closely linked with livelihood support and compensation in the framework of long-term reconciliation and peacebuilding measures adjusted to varying local contexts. Together with European donors, the BMZ should engage in bilateral dialogues with the government of Iraq to facilitate the access of NGOs experienced in setting up these processes. German and European partners in development cooperation should support the economic reform envisaged by the government of Iraq. Given the long-standing dominance of the public sector, private sector development should go hand in hand with a gradual re-orientation of the public sector towards providing infrastructure and services for businesses and households. This dual focus will benefit returnees and receiving communities in the long run.
Für die deutsche Wirtschaft stellt die Region Südosteuropa traditionell eine wichtige Partnerregion dar. Seit Mitte der 90er Jahre verharren jedoch insbesondere die Länder des westlichen Balkans (Albanien, Bosnien-Herzegowina, Jugoslawien bzw. die Union Serbien und Montenegro, Kroatien und Makedonien) in wirtschaftlicher Agonie auf tiefstem Entwicklungsstand, wobei nur Kroatien wirtschaftliche Belebung zeigt. Langfristig kann Südosteuropa durchaus als perspektivische Entwicklungsregion mit hohem Aufholpotential gesehen werden, vor allem im Vergleich zu seinem bereits Ende der 80er Jahre erreichten Entwicklungsstand. Der Westliche Balkan hat 24,7 Millionen Einwohner mit zurückgestauten Konsumbedürfnissen und relativ hohem Bildungsstand. Zählt man noch Bulgarien und Rumänien zur erweiterten Südost-Region hinzu, ergibt dies immerhin insgesamt knapp 56 Millionen Konsumenten. Die verspätete, zurückgestaute Modernisierung der veralteten Industrie benötigt für den Aufholprozeß dringend Investitionsgüter, die vor allem die deutsche Maschinenbauindustrie zu liefern imstande ist. Das Beispiel Mittelosteuropa belegt dies. Hinzu kommt die Brückenfunktion der Region in Richtung Türkei und Nahost in vielfältiger Hinsicht: verkehrs- und infrastrukturtechnisch, aber auch in bezug auf mögliche Investitionskooperationen zwischen deutschen und türkischen Unternehmen auf dem Balkan. Voraussetzung ist aber zum einen, dass die Länder selbst die ihre Wirtschaftsentwicklung behindernden Faktoren erkennen und beseitigen, zum anderen verstärkte Hilfestellung von außen erfolgt, die über den bisherigen Rahmen hinausgeht und sich nicht auf Verbesserung der Infrastruktur und den Aufbau durchaus wichtiger demokratischer und rechtsstaatlicher Institutionen beschränkt. Die Studie spricht diese beiden Ansatzbereiche an.
Das Projekt Nord Stream 2 stellt die Bundesregierung vor das Dilemma, sich zwischen energie- und außenpolitischen Interessen entscheiden zu müssen. Eine Priorisierung sollte nicht ohne den Blick auf den energiepolitischen Kontext erfolgen. In der Frage der Güterabwägung gibt es keine einfachen und "billigen" Antworten. Das gilt umso mehr, als die Energietransformation in Kooperation die größte Dividende für einen Interessenausgleich zu sein verspricht. Allerdings setzt sie einen Minimalkonsens innerhalb der Europäischen Union (EU), mit den USA, der Ukraine und auch Russland voraus. (Autorenreferat)
The Nord Stream 2 project presents the German government with the dilemma of choosing between energy and foreign policy interests. Geopolitical arguments often prevail in the political discourse. Yet, a weighing of priorities requires a look at the energy policy context, too. When it comes to balancing interests, there are no easy or "cheap" answers. With a focus on the energy context, it has to be emphasized that a cooperative approach toward energy transformation promises the greatest dividend for a balance of interests, but it presupposes a minimum consensus within the European Union (EU), along with the United States (US), Ukraine, and Russia. (author's abstract)
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has many potential impacts on people with mental health conditions and on mental health care, including direct consequences of infection, effects of infection control measures and subsequent societal changes. We aimed to map early impacts of the pandemic on people with pre-existing mental health conditions and services they use, and to identify individual and service-level strategies adopted to manage these. METHODS: We searched for relevant material in the public domain published before 30 April 2020, including papers in scientific and professional journals, published first person accounts, media articles, and publications by governments, charities and professional associations. Search languages were English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Relevant content was retrieved and summarised via a rapid qualitative framework synthesis approach. RESULTS: We found 872 eligible sources from 28 countries. Most documented observations and experiences rather than reporting research data. We found many reports of deteriorations in symptoms, and of impacts of loneliness and social isolation and of lack of access to services and resources, but sometimes also of resilience, effective self-management and peer support. Immediate service challenges related to controlling infection, especially in inpatient and residential settings, and establishing remote working, especially in the community. We summarise reports of swiftly implemented adaptations and innovations, but also of pressing ethical challenges and concerns for the future. CONCLUSION: Our analysis captures the range of stakeholder perspectives and experiences publicly reported in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in several countries. We identify potential foci for service planning and research. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00127-020-01924-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Objective. Periodic fever syndrome (PFS) conditions are characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and localized inflammation. This study examined the diagnostic pathway and treatments at tertiary centers for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), and mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD)/hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (HIDS). Methods. PFS specialists at medical centers in the US, the European Union, and the eastern Mediterranean participated in a retrospective chart review, providing de-identified data in an electronic case report form. Patients were treated between 2008 and 2012, with at least 1 year of followup; all had clinical and/or genetically proven disease and were on/eligible for biologic treatment. Results. A total of 134 patients were analyzed: FMF (n549), TRAPS (n547), and MKD/HIDS (n538). Fever was commonly reported as severe across all indications. Other frequently reported severe symptoms were serositis for FMF patients and elevated acute-phase reactants and gastrointestinal upset for TRAPS and MKD/HIDS. A long delay from disease onset to diagnosis was seen within TRAPS and MKD/HIDS (5.8 and 7.1 years, respectively) compared to a 1.8-year delay in FMF patients. An equal proportion of TRAPS patients first received anti-interleukin-1 (anti-IL-1) and anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) biologic agents, whereas IL-1 blockade was the main choice for FMF patients resistant to colchicine and MKD/HIDS patients. For TRAPS patients, treatment with anakinra versus anti-TNF treatments as first biologic agent resulted in significantly higher clinical and biochemical responses (P=0.03 and P< 0.01, respectively). No significant differences in responses were observed between biologic agents among other cohorts. Conclusion. Referral patterns and diagnostic delays highlight the need for greater awareness and improved diagnostics for PFS. This real-world treatment assessment supports the need for further refinement of treatment practices.
