A crucial milestone The 19th Conference of the Parties to the U.N.

Framework Convention on Climate Change (CoP 19), which began on Monday in Poland, marks a crucial milestone towards negotiating an effective global warming treaty. At CoP 19, the fault lines remain the same: industrialised countries would like to see a significant cut in global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), while developing nations are prepared to reduce their carbon footprint only with financial and technical assistance from the West. Negotiators have given themselves two years to connect the dots on a comprehensive agreement when they meet in Paris in 2015. Predictably, this deadline has proven tough to meet. Most countries agree that it would be unrealistic to have the treaty prescribe the quantum of emission cuts. There seems to be broad support for the bottomup approach, which would involve countries submitting voluntary commitments assessed and monitored for compliance by the treatys guardians. Even so, the devil is in the detail: the EU, for instance, will push for legally binding commitments to halve GHG emissions by 2050 in comparison to 1990 levels. The U.S. wants a mix of legally and non-legally binding commitments. The Obama administration has said it has no plans to ratify the Kyoto Protocol which imposes a binding emissions cut on developed countries. For its part, India wants to retain the Kyoto Protocols preferential treatment of developing countries. Along with BASIC group members Brazil, China and South Africa, India has based its negotiating position on the principle of equity. New Delhi has made its climate commitments contingent on mitigation actions which would entail assistance to it in the form of finance, technology transfer and capacity building measures. The challenge for Indian negotiators at CoP 19 will be to secure these demands without being billed as a holdout to the treaty. India has already faced flak, rather unfairly, for its

objection to bringing hydrofluorocarbons under the Montreal Protocol, as opposed to the UNFCCC. Meanwhile, fissures have shown up in the BASICs negotiating line as a whole. Last month, South Africa suggested the new treaty must include binding carbon cuts for all parties. The imperative of climate change what with several natural disasters this year, and the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide having crossed 400 parts per million is no doubt lending urgency to negotiations. Indias climate diplomacy must be aimed at dispelling the notion that it is reluctant to tackle global warming. Meanwhile, it must ensure Indian industry affordable access to western technology to meet our commitments effectively. The challenge in Maldives In ordering a stay on the run-off round of polls to choose a new President, the Maldivian Supreme Court has unwittingly precipitated a constitutional crisis which will have far-reaching implications. A new President had to be sworn in by November 11 according to the Constitution, and, as Speaker of the Peoples Majlis, Abdulla Shahid, has correctly pointed out, Article 107 of the Constitution stipulates that a presidential term is for five years. There is no provision to extend it. President Mohamed Waheeds term he was anointed in controversial circumstances on February 7, 2012 ended on the night of November 10. The Supreme Court, which earlier had taken inordinately long to decide on the fairness of the first round of polls held on September 7 (which it finally annulled), went even further on November 9, and, in direct conflict with the Constitution, extended the term of the President till a new President is sworn in. Again, as the Speaker, who belongs to the aggrieved Maldivian Democratic Party, the largest party in the country, points out, according to Article 262, to amend the term of office of the President Article 107 would need to be revised and approved by a three-fourths majority of Parliament, and prior to being ratified by the President

must receive majority support in a public referendum. On his part, Dr. Waheed, a former international civil servant conversant with legalities that are involved in his decision to stay on till November 16 (without pay), has contended that the Constitution is silent on a way forward. Hence to avoid a constitutional void, he submitted the issue to Parliament for a constitutional solution. The plea that disrupted the second round of polls on Sunday has its merits that one political party will not have enough time to be able to tell its supporters which way to vote. This was known earlier too, but was not brought up by any candidate in the several meetings they attended. From the sequence of events since September 7, it is clear that coalition partners in the Waheed government, which includes the party founded by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom after he returned to the country, the Progressive Party of Maldives, are not keen on holding the second round of polls. And, from the polling pattern it is very clear that the deeply divided country will vote to elect the MDPs Mohamed Nasheed President as and when a second round is held. Surely, that is no reason to subvert the entire process. Elections must be held on November 16. The process of healing and rebuilding the fractured democracy cannot wait any longer. Surrender on CHOGM Once again, foreign policy objectives have been sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. After Pakistan and Bangladesh, the surrender by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress to political opposition and a narrow regional view on Sri Lanka is not surprising, but it is disappointing all the same. For India, the two main objectives in its dealings with Sri Lanka are to ensure a just deal for that nations Tamil minority, and to protect its own interests in a region of strategic importance. The Prime Ministers decision not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting came after weeks of pressure by Tamil Nadu political parties, including a

resolution by the State Assembly. But if the primary reason for staying away is to express displeasure at Sri Lankas reluctance to address alleged atrocities against Tamil civilians during the final battles against the LTTE, it is doubtful if the decision will yield a different, more positive outcome. More likely is a further erosion of New Delhi's influence on the Rajapaksa regime to effect a just settlement of the Tamil question. It was thanks to India's prodding that Sri Lanka held elections in September to the Northern Provincial Council, convincingly won by the Tamil National Alliance. This significant milestone in ethnic reconciliation has given Tamil-dominated northern Sri Lanka a popularly elected administration for the first time. Unfortunately, instead of projecting this as an example of constructive diplomacy, the Congress allowed itself to be blackmailed by its present and potential allies in the State. Political parties in Tamil Nadu virtually ignored the NPC election, giving rise to the suspicion that it is not the interests of Tamils across the Palk Strait that they espouse but their own, as in this election season it is easier to flog the emotional overtones of the issue than respond to more pressing domestic concerns. A decision by Dr. Singh to go to CHOGM and include a visit to Jaffna would have been a powerful reaffirmation of New Delhi's stakes and interests in the region. India must now deal with the consequences of its decision to stay away, both on the Tamil question and on its own larger interests. In Sri Lanka, it will affect the task of reconciliation considerably, including Indias efforts to ensure the 13th Amendment is not diluted or done away with entirely. It is to be hoped that both countries will guard against any adverse consequences on people-topeople links, and India will have to manage the huge strategic and diplomatic fallout. It is debatable if Sri Lanka will turn into a Chinese satellite in the Indian Ocean as is commonly feared, but clearly, the island will be looking for other allies in the region and beyond.

1.

quantum

(physics) the smallest discrete quantity of some physical property that a system can possess (according to quantum theory) 2. compliance

*Family life, outside interests, age and perspective have all made him the most Zen person on the planet whose day job entails hitting 200 mph. Forbes (Oct 8, 2013) 9. flak

15.

annul

like human Time (Oct 5, 2013) 22. prod

rights.

cancel officially *After six increasingly unhappy years, Effie fell in love with her husband's protege Millais and set about having the marriage annulled. The Guardian (Mar 29, 2013) 16. aggrieve

to push against gently *Prodded into politics by Harry Truman, Skelton represented his largely rural, conservative district in Missouri for 34 years before being defeated in November 2010. Reuters (Oct 29, 2013) 23. reconciliation of cordial

artillery designed to shoot upward at airplanes *Indeed, over the past two years, Summers has taken flak for going to work with the much maligned Citigroup as well as hedge fund D.E. Time (Aug 13, 2013) 10. fissure

the act of submitting; usually surrendering power to another *He then worked in private practice as a consultant before becoming an assistant superintendent forcompliance in Baltimore. Washington Post (Oct 30, 2013) 3. guardian

cause to feel sorrow *Mobile phone operators face less regulation outside the EU European mobile operators already feelaggrieved by the weight of regulation coming out of Brussels. BBC (Aug 14, 2013) 17. ratified

the reestablishing relations

a long narrow depression in a surface *Wednesday's release opened fissures in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rightist government. Reuters (Oct 30, 2013) 11. imperative

a person who cares for persons or property *In fact, extended family members on both sides can be appreciated as guardians of religious lore and family history. Time (Nov 6, 2013) 4. ratify

formally approved and invested with legal authority *"If not ratified we will consider all other alternatives," Tracy said, adding that included putting 777X wing work in Japan. Reuters (Nov 12, 2013) 18. referendum

*Afghan diplomats had suggested Pakistan was trying to hinder the reconciliation process by backing more hardline elements within the Taliban. BBC (Sep 21, 2013) 24. strait

a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water *And it soon emerged that other countries were in similar dire straits. BBC (Sep 21, 2013) 25. espouse

requiring attention or action *That same new typical college student faces a range of economic and social pressures that make pursing higher education an imperative. Slate (Sep 23, 2013) 12. dispel

approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation *First it needs to be passed by senate, and then ratified by the king. Time (Nov 4, 2013) 5. equity

a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate *The decision followed peaceful referendum on a new constitution which expands civil liberties in Zimbabwe organised by a coalition government. BBC (Nov 11, 2013) 19. conversant

choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans *He can espouse current management fads like shared value, in which firms are said to look out for the community as well as making profits. Forbes (Feb 11, 2013) 26. fallout the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after a nuclear explosion *Every Swiss fallout shelter has been designed to withstand a nuclear blast, which can fry electronics as surely as human flesh. Forbes (Nov 5, 2013)

conformity with rules or standards *Moreover, 62 percent of its private equity assets are already publicly listed, making asset sales easier by simply selling shares in the stock market. Reuters (Nov 8, 2013) 6. contingent or

to cause to separate and go in different directions *It might also dispel a few myths along the way by showing Australia that gay men can and do play tough contact sports like rugby. New York Times (Aug 28, 2013) 13. implication

(usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly *It is while running or thinking of running, Hall said, that he feels most conversant with and dependent on God. New York Times (Jul 15, 2012) 20. altar

determined by conditions circumstances that follow

something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied) *And in my experience with technologies that bring people closer together, these changes have lasting implications. Forbes (Oct 31, 2013) 14. stipulate

*A $4.6 billion rescue arranged by banks last year is contingent upon Sharp posting both an operating and net profit for the full year. Reuters (Oct 31, 2013) 7. mitigation

a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are made *They set up an improvised altar, adorned with images of Pope Francis, who was born in Argentina. BBC (Oct 10, 2013) 21. expediency

the action of lessening in severity or intensity *"Even with aggressive mitigation, the changes are substantial," Field said, "and they're still very fast." Scientific American (Aug 2, 2013) 8. entail

specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement *Hun Sen has ignored that, saying the rules stipulate a new government can be appointed with 63 of the 123 lawmakers voting in favour. Reuters (Sep 23, 2013)

the quality of being suited to the end in view *Critics accuse its executive committee of making closed-door decisions based on politicalexpediency, ignoring issues

have as a logical consequence