National Coalition

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) was formed in 1990 following the refusal of the military junta to honor the previous year’s election results. The NCGUB serves as the external arm of the National League of Democracy (NLD), Burma’s democratic opposition led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and their main task is to help restore democracy and human rights in Burma. Independent Diplomat is providing diplomatic and strategic advice to the leadership of the NCGUB on their activities to promote a transition towards democracy in Burma, drawing upon insight gained in diplomatic forums such as the UN Security Council, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU.

Somaliland

Somaliland is a former British protectorate that used to be part of the Republic of Somalia. Having experienced years of discrimination and military aggression at the hands of the government in Mogadishu, it re-constituted itself as an independent state in 1991 following the Somalia civil war. Since then Somaliland has held democratic elections (widely assessed as free and fair) and enjoyed considerable peace and security. Independent Diplomat is supporting this poorly resourced country – whose entire government budget is little more than $30m – with the development of its diplomacy and its quest for international recognition, which has been overwhelmingly backed in a popular referendum.

Western Sahara

The Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony which was illegally occupied by Morocco in 1975. Over 30 years on, Saharawis in the occupied territories remain subject to human rights abuses, 150,000 refugees live in desert camps in Algeria, the status of the territory is unresolved and the risk of a resumption of the conflict remains. UN-managed talks between the Polisario Front, the government-in-exile of the Saharawis, and Morocco began in the summer of 2007. Independent Diplomat is advising the Polisario on its objective of securing self-determination for the Saharawi people – in the face of strong international backing for Morocco on the Western Sahara for unrelated geo-political reasons.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Cyprus has been divided since the 1960s when power-sharing arrangements between Greek and Turkish Cypriots broke down; in 1974 a Greek Cypriot coup led to Turkish military intervention and the creation of the TRNC. The President of the TRNC is committed to the re-unification of the island of Cyprus notwithstanding the rejection by Greek Cypriots in 2004 of a UN reunification plan in advance of Cyprus’s admission to the EU. Independent Diplomat is providing independent and expert information and diplomatic advice on the international context following the failure of the 2004 plan.

Kosovo

Kosovo is not allowed a foreign ministry or diplomatic representatives and yet has had to navigate a complex diplomatic process to determine its final status. ID has supported both the government and the Kosovo negotiation team during the final status process.

UN Security Council – Reform of Working Methods

Independent Diplomat’s first advocacy project focuses on the working methods of the UN Security Council.

There is widespread frustration within and outside the UN at the closed and secretive nature of decision-making, above all in the UN Security Council, whose decisions remain dominated by the five permanent members. Greater transparency of the UN Security Council, as well as increased inclusiveness of and greater accountability, will make the Council more legitimate and will be of broad benefit for Independent Diplomat’s clients, who are generally excluded from the Security Council’s decision-making, although they may be most affected by the Council’s decisions. While there are many calls for reform of the UN and the Security Council, these voiceless populations continue to be ignored.

Independent Diplomat, in close consultation with our clients, with diplomats, advocates and other interested parties, will research past and current efforts to reform the UNSC working methods, identify obstacles to reform and explore new ways towards bringing more transparency to international decision-making processes and making diplomacy in the Security Council more inclusive.

Climate Change

ID is working with a group of North Pacific small island states to enhance their influence in multilateral forums on climate change, in particular the negotiation of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Stronger global climate agreements will lead to lower emissions and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, thus reducing the impact on small island states of predicted sea-level rise, ocean acidification, coastal erosion and more frequent and severe natural disasters in tropical zones.  These agreements will also be crucial for setting international commitments to fund efforts by small island states to adapt to climate change impacts, and to improve the resilience of their habitats and communities to the dangerous effects of a warmer world and oceans.

Other

Independent Diplomat advises other organizations from time to time on a less formal basis. Those we have advised include the Oxford Research Group; the Free West Papua Campaign UK; the Western Sahara Campaign UK; and ActionAid International Somaliland.

ID can advise clients in areas of conflict or past conflict seeking to consolidate their peace and stablility through European integration – helping them to navigate the integration process, meet the political criteria for membership and develop relations with existing member states and the Commission.

ID can help prospective and current "elected" (or non-permanent) members of the UN Security Council prepare for and handle the demands of the 2-year membership with research and advice on today's long and complex Security Council agenda. ID can help set priorities for the duration of membership, advise on how to deal with the permanent members or how to make the most of the UN Secretariat, or assist with the everyday details of managing a Security Council team, handling the Council Presidency, or drafting a resolution or Security Council statement.

ID is also considering approaches from individual governments and coalitions of governments working together on thematic issues, such as climate change.

Please note that ID will only work in accordance with its philosophy and code of ethics.