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First NATO-EU meeting under
new permanent arrangements
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The first meeting of the North Atlantic Council and the
EU Political and Security Committee at Ambassadorial level
under the new permanent NATO-EU consultation arrangements
took place on 5 February at the EU, under Swedish presidency.
Discussions centred around two main subjects: the way ahead
for NATO-EU relations and the contribution of both organisations
to the management of the crisis in the Western Balkans.
Regarding NATO-EU relations, Ambassadors discussed ongoing
business between the two organisations and the elements
that remain to be resolved; regarding the situation in the
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, they voiced their concern
over ongoing violence in the region and stated that NATO
and the EU are working together to help stabilise the situation.
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Public information course
for officers
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From 5 to 8 February, a public information course was conducted
at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)
in Mons for students from over fifteen NATO and Partner
countries. The course included training on information activities
such as setting up a press and information centre, supporting
TV interviews and organising press conferences. Students
were also given the opportunity to play the role of unit
spokesperson and discuss the role of a public information
officer with a journalist.
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New
UNHCR at NATO HQ
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Mr Ruud Lubbers, the newly appointed UN High Commissioner
for Refugees, came to NATO HQ on 6 February to meet Lord
Robertson for the first time since he took up his functions
on 3 January 2001. Mr Lubbers replaced Mrs Sadako Ogata
of Japan, who had served as High Commissioner from 1991
until 31 December 2000. Mr Lubbers was formerly Prime
Minister of The Netherlands.
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Studying
the application of physics to economic problems
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| Extreme economic events, such as stock market
crashes or booms, are increasingly being examined using
methods developed to study the physics of phase transitions
or critical phenomena. Some of the studies have led to theories
claiming to be able to predict these events. In the past
five years, there has been an enormous increase in these
activities, using statistical physics and computer modelling,
resulting in differing theories and occasional scepticism.
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