

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/09
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/18
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AMGT
ASEC
AEMR
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
ADANA
AJ
AF
AFIN
AMED
AS
AM
ABLD
AFFAIRS
AMB
APER
ACOA
AND
AA
AE
AADP
AID
AO
AL
AG
AORD
ADM
AINF
AINT
ASEAN
AORG
ABT
APEC
AY
ASUP
ARF
AGOA
AVIAN
ATRN
ANET
AGIT
ASECVE
ABUD
AODE
ALOW
ADB
AN
ADPM
ASPA
ARABL
AFSN
AZ
AC
AIAG
AFSI
ASCE
ASIG
ACABQ
ADIP
AFGHANISTAN
AROC
ADCO
ACOTA
ANARCHISTS
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARABBL
ASCH
ANTITERRORISM
AGRICULTURE
AOCR
ARR
ASSEMBLY
AORCYM
AFPK
ACKM
AGMT
AEC
APRC
AIN
AFPREL
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AINR
AOPC
AFAF
AFARI
AX
ASECAF
ASECAFIN
AT
AFZAL
APCS
AGAO
AIT
ARCH
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AMEX
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
AOIC
ASEX
ASEK
AER
AGR
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AEMRS
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ACS
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
ACAO
BA
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BTIO
BK
BL
BE
BMGT
BO
BM
BX
BN
BWC
BBSR
BTT
BC
BH
BILAT
BUSH
BHUM
BT
BTC
BMENA
BOND
BAIO
BP
BF
BRPA
BURNS
BUT
BBG
BCW
BOEHNER
BOL
BASHAR
BIDEN
BFIN
BZ
BEXPC
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CTR
CG
CF
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CB
CW
CM
CHR
CD
COE
CV
COUNTER
CT
CN
CPUOS
CTERR
CVR
CVPR
CDC
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CONS
COM
CACS
CR
CONTROLS
CAN
CACM
COMMERCE
CAMBODIA
CFIS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITES
CONDOLEEZZA
CZ
CTBT
CEN
CLINTON
CFED
CARC
CTM
CARICOM
CSW
CICTE
CYPRUS
CBE
CMGMT
CARSON
CWCM
CIVS
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CENTCOM
CAPC
COPUOS
CKGR
CITEL
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CAFTA
CVISU
CDB
CEDAW
CNC
CJUS
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAJC
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CNARC
CIS
CEUDA
CHINA
CAC
CL
DR
DJ
DEMOCRATIC
DEMARCHE
DOMESTIC
DISENGAGEMENT
DB
DA
DHS
DAO
DCM
DAVID
DO
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DOC
DTRA
DK
DAC
DOD
DRL
DRC
DCG
DE
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DS
DKEM
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EIND
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ES
EI
ELTN
ET
EZ
EU
ER
EINT
ENGR
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EFTA
ETRN
EMS
EUREM
EPA
ESTH
EEB
EET
ENV
EAG
EXIM
ECTRD
ELNT
ENVIRONMENT
ECA
EAP
EINDIR
ETR
ECONOMY
ETRC
ELECTIONS
EICN
EXPORT
EARG
EGHG
EID
ETRO
EINF
EAIDHO
ECIP
EENV
EURM
EPEC
ERNG
ENERG
EIAD
EXBS
ED
EREL
ELAM
EK
EWT
ENGRD
EDEV
ECE
ENGY
EXIMOPIC
ETRDEC
ECCT
EUR
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EFI
ECOSOC
EXTERNAL
ESCAP
ETCC
EENG
ERA
ENRD
ECLAC
ETRAD
EBRD
ENVR
ECONENRG
ELTNSNAR
ELAP
EPIT
EDUC
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
EIVN
EDRC
EGOV
ETRA
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ESA
ETRDGK
ENVI
ELN
EPRT
EPTED
ERTD
EUM
EAIDS
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
EDA
EPREL
EINVEFIN
EAGER
ETMIN
EUCOM
ECCP
EIDN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EFIM
ETIO
EATO
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
ENRGIZ
EAIG
ENTG
EUC
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
FR
FI
FOREIGN
FARM
FIR
FAO
FK
FARC
FAS
FJ
FREEDOM
FAC
FINANCE
FBI
FTAA
FM
FCS
FAA
FORCE
FDA
FTA
FT
FCSC
FMGT
FINR
FIN
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FO
FMLN
FISO
GM
GERARD
GT
GA
GG
GR
GTIP
GH
GZ
GE
GB
GY
GAZA
GJ
GEORGE
GOI
GCC
GMUS
GI
GLOBAL
GV
GC
GL
GOV
GKGIC
GF
GWI
GIPNC
GUTIERREZ
GTMO
GANGS
GAERC
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
HR
HA
HYMPSK
HO
HK
HUMAN
HU
HN
HHS
HURI
HUD
HUMRIT
HUMANITARIAN
HUMANR
HL
HSTC
HILLARY
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HOURANI
HI
HUM
HEBRON
HUMOR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
ID
IV
IMF
IBRD
IWC
ICAO
ICRC
INF
IO
IPR
ISO
IK
ISRAELI
IQ
ICES
IDB
INFLUENZA
IRAQI
ISCON
IGAD
IRAN
ITALY
IRAQ
ICTY
ICTR
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IQNV
IADB
INTERNAL
INMARSAT
IRDB
ILC
INCB
INRB
ICJ
ISRAEL
INR
IEA
ISPA
ICCAT
IOM
ITRD
IHO
IL
IFAD
ITRA
IDLI
ISCA
INL
INRA
INTELSAT
ISAF
ISPL
IRS
IEF
ITER
INDO
IIP
IND
IEFIN
IACI
IAHRC
INNP
IA
INTERPOL
IFIN
ISSUES
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
KMDR
KPAO
KOMC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KTER
KS
KN
KSPR
KWMN
KV
KTFN
KFRD
KU
KSTC
KSTH
KISL
KGIC
KSEP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KCIP
KMOC
KTDB
KBIO
KBCT
KMPI
KSAF
KACT
KFEM
KPRV
KPWR
KIRC
KCFE
KRIM
KHIV
KHLS
KVIR
KNNNP
KCEM
KLIG
KIRF
KNUP
KSAC
KNUC
KPGOV
KTDD
KIDE
KOMS
KLFU
KNNC
KMFO
KSEO
KJRE
KJUST
KMRS
KSRE
KGIT
KPIR
KPOA
KUWAIT
KIVP
KICC
KSCS
KPOL
KSEAO
KRCM
KSCI
KNAP
KGLB
KICA
KCUL
KPRM
KFSC
KQ
KPOP
KPFO
KPALAOIS
KREC
KBWG
KR
KTTB
KNAR
KCOM
KESS
KINR
KOCI
KWN
KCSY
KREL
KTBT
KFTN
KW
KRFD
KFLOA
KHDP
KNEP
KIND
KHUM
KSKN
KOMO
KDRL
KTFIN
KSOC
KPO
KGIV
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KFPC
KNNB
KNDP
KICCPUR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KDMR
KFCE
KIMMITT
KMCC
KMNP
KSEC
KOMCSG
KGCC
KRAD
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KTIAPARM
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KMIG
KLAB
KSEI
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KWWW
KGHA
KY
KCRIM
KCRCM
KGCN
KPLS
KIIP
KPAOY
KTRD
KTAO
KJU
KBTS
KWAC
KFIU
KNNO
KPAI
KILS
KPA
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KNPT
KERG
KLTN
KPREL
KTLA
KO
KAWK
KVRP
KAID
KX
KENV
KWCI
KNPR
KCFC
KNEI
KFTFN
KTFM
KCERS
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KBTR
KEDU
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KPDD
KPIN
KDEV
KFRP
KTBD
KMSG
KWWMN
KWBC
KA
KOM
KWNM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KWMM
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MG
MU
MILI
MO
MZ
MEPP
MCC
MEDIA
MOPPS
MI
MAS
MW
MP
MEPN
MV
MD
MR
MC
MCA
MT
MIL
MARITIME
MOPSGRPARM
MAAR
MOOPS
ML
MA
MN
MNUCPTEREZ
MTCR
MUNC
MPOS
MONUC
MGMT
MURRAY
MACP
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MGT
MNUR
MF
MEPI
MOHAMMAD
MAR
MAPP
MNU
MFA
MTS
MLS
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MNVC
MIK
MBM
MILITARY
MAPS
MARAD
MDC
MACEDONIA
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NU
NG
NL
NPT
NS
NA
NP
NASA
NSF
NEA
NANCY
NSG
NRR
NATIONAL
NMNUC
NC
NSC
NAS
NARC
NELSON
NATEU
NDP
NIH
NK
NIPP
NR
NERG
NSSP
NE
NTDB
NT
NEGROPONTE
NGO
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NCCC
NH
NAFTA
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NSFO
NW
NORAD
NPG
NOAA
OPRC
OPDC
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
ODC
OIIP
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OFDP
OFDA
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OSCI
OM
OPAD
ODPC
OIC
ODIP
OPPI
ORA
OCEA
OREG
OMIG
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXP
OPEC
OFPD
OAU
OCII
OIL
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OSHA
OPCD
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OTR
OBSP
OGAC
OESC
OVP
ON
OES
OTAR
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PA
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PO
PRELTBIOBA
PKO
PIN
PNAT
PU
PGOVPREL
PALESTINIAN
PTERPGOV
PELOSI
PAS
PP
PTEL
PROP
PRELAF
PRHUM
PRE
PUNE
PIRF
PVOV
PROG
PERSONS
PROV
PKK
PRGOV
PH
PLAB
PDEM
PCI
PRL
PRM
PINSO
PERM
PETR
PPAO
PERL
PBS
PETERS
PRELBR
PCON
POLITICAL
PMIL
POLM
PKPA
PNUM
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PARMP
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PAO
PROTECTION
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PATTY
PSOC
PARTIES
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PAIGH
PARK
PETER
PHUS
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PMAR
PWBG
PAR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PTE
PY
POLUN
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PGOVPM
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PHUMA
PHUMR
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PARMS
PINL
PSI
PKPAL
PPA
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PREO
PHAS
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PS
PGVO
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PINT
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PTBS
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PREK
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PEDRO
PF
PGPV
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RO
ROW
ROBERT
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RELATIONS
RAY
ROBERTG
RIGHTS
RM
RATIFICATION
RREL
RBI
RICE
ROOD
REL
RODHAM
RGY
RUEHZO
RELIGIOUS
RELFREE
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
REO
REGIONAL
RUPREL
RI
REMON
RPEL
RSO
SCUL
SENV
SOCI
SZ
SNAR
SO
SP
SU
SY
SI
SMIG
SYR
SA
SW
SF
SR
SYRIA
SNARM
START
SPECIALIST
SG
SNIG
SCI
SGWI
SE
SIPDIS
SANC
SELAB
SN
SETTLEMENTS
SCIENCE
SENVENV
SENS
SPCE
SPAS
SECURITY
SENC
SOCIETY
SOSI
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SEN
SPECI
ST
SL
SENVCASCEAIDID
SC
SECRETARY
STR
SNA
SOCIS
SADC
SEP
SK
SHUM
SYAI
SMIL
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SCUD
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SAARC
SENVSXE
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCRS
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SAN
SM
SFNV
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
TBIO
TW
TRGY
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TSPL
TNGD
TZ
TS
TC
TK
TURKEY
TERRORISM
TPSL
TINT
TRSY
TERFIN
TPP
TT
TECHNOLOGY
TE
TAGS
TRAFFICKING
TJ
TN
TO
TD
TP
TREATY
TR
TA
TIO
TECH
TF
TRAD
TNDG
TWI
TPSA
TWL
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TL
TV
THPY
TSPAM
TREL
TRT
TNAR
TFIN
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
UK
UNESCO
UNSC
UNGA
UN
US
UZ
USEU
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
USTR
UY
USUN
UNEP
UNDC
UV
UNPUOS
UNSCR
USAID
UNODC
UNRCR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNCRIME
UA
UNHRC
UNRWA
UNO
UNCND
UNCHR
USAU
UNICEF
USPS
UNOMIG
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
UR
UNFICYP
UNCITRAL
UNAMA
UNVIE
USTDA
USNC
UNCSD
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
USSC
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNCLASSIFIED
USDA
UNCTAD
USGS
UNFPA
UNSE
USOAS
UE
UAE
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNC
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNHR
UNBRO
UNCHC
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
WHTI
WIPO
WTRO
WHO
WTO
WMO
WFP
WEET
WS
WE
WA
WHA
WBG
WILLIAM
WI
WSIS
WCL
WEBZ
WZ
WW
WWBG
WMD
WWT
WMN
WWARD
WITH
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WB
WBEG
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06BEIJING23804, CHINESE AND U.S. EXPERTS DISCUSS COAL MINE
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BEIJING23804.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06BEIJING23804 | 2006-11-16 05:41 | 2011-08-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Beijing |
VZCZCXRO0349
PP RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #3804/01 3200541
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160541Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2129
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 7151
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 6429
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 7503
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 1846
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 6067
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 8453
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1429
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 BEIJING 023804
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR KARESH, A. ROSENBERG, MCCARTIN
LABOR FOR ILAB
TREAS FOR OASIA/ISA-CUSHMAN
USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC/MCQUEEN
GENEVA FOR CHAMBERLIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM EMIN CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE AND U.S. EXPERTS DISCUSS COAL MINE
SAFETY-RELATED LEGAL ISSUES IN CHINA
(U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED: NOT FOR INTERNET
DISTRIBUTION.
¶1. (SBU) Summary: On October 21-22, the American
Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS) co-
hosted a conference on "Legal Means to Address the
Problem of Mine Accidents" with Chinese experts in
Beijing. The Chinese experts were extremely candid
about the seriousness of China's mine safety problem,
and the reasons behind it. They described a failing
mine safety regime based on an incomplete legal
framework with poor enforcement. They described how
mine owners collude with corrupt government officials
to undermine this regime, and noted that mine workers
have virtually no effective means of protecting their
own rights. Chinese experts were very interested in
U.S. experiences, and how U.S. laws, regulations and
enforcement mechanisms have led to a vastly superior
safety record. Most Chinese experts showed a deep-
rooted suspicion of private ownership of mines, and
even private sector involvement in providing work
injury insurance. U.S. presentations were well
received, and Embassy believes Chinese experts and
policy makers are interested in, and would be
receptive to, more discussion of how the United States
has achieved its superior record on occupational
safety and health (OSH) within the context of a market
economy. End summary.
¶2. (U) On October 21-22, ACILS and the China
University of Political Science and Law co-hosted an
academic conference on "Legal Means to Address the
Problem of Mine Accidents." The proceedings painted a
picture of a fragmented and ineffective legal
framework for OSH regulation, enforcement and accident
compensation. Participants included an influential
cross-section of labor, OSH and work injury insurance
officials and experts. Several prominent Chinese
academic institutions were represented, as were the
Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MOLSS), the
State Administration for Work Safety (SAWS), the All
China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), and other
government and ACFTU-affiliated institutions. ACILS
Labor Law Counsel/China Program Director Earl Brown
and U.S. mine safety consultant Joe Main also
addressed the conference on the U.S. experience.
Laboff and Labor Assistant participated as observers.
A FRAGMENTED LEGAL FRAMEWORK
----------------------------
¶3. (U) China's system for compensating victims of
mine accidents has two main components according to a
senior official from MOLSS: 1) a social insurance
system, based on the Labor Law and Civil Service Law,
which provides benefits to accident victims directly
from the local government budget or government
administered social pooling fund, and 2) civil
compensation for victims which exempts employers from
legal liability. The social insurance system is the
benefit provider of first resort.
¶4. (U) The social insurance system currently covers
95 million Chinese workers, according to MOLSS, 15
percent of whom are in "high risk" industries.
Employers in high risk industries pay higher social
insurance contributions, but the system does not track
the safety records of individual employers. Compliant
employers effectively subsidize non-compliant
employers. Benefits are based on lost wages, with
death benefits set administratively at 48-60 months
wages. According to several participants, the social
insurance is fairly reliable, as long as the employer
participates in it, but can be slow in paying claims.
BEIJING 00023804 002 OF 007
¶5. (U) Under civil law, lump sum or sustained
compensation payments are based on the victim's
salary, the level of injury and duration of
disability. However, China has no specific
regulations on what civil damages should be. These
appear to be up to the discretion of local judges. In
practice, according to conference participants,
workers and their families rarely seek civil
compensation, especially if they are covered by social
insurance.
¶6. (U) The Law on Production Safety requires
employers to purchase work injury insurance for
employees "in accordance with the law," and allows
workers to pursue compensation claims against the
employer "if, according to the civil laws, they have
the right to do so apart from enjoying the employment
injury insurances." Conference participants noted
that in practice this is a very difficult process and
rarely used. Courts can also reject such cases if the
employee is covered by social insurance.
¶7. (SBU) Commercially available liability insurance
also plays a role in accident compensation, in some
locations and some industries. MOLSS noted that some
government agencies, e.g., the Ministry of
Construction, require employers to purchase liability
insurance policies for workers. Private insurance
only comes into play for claims not covered by the
social insurance program. One presenter called for a
greater role for private insurance companies, arguing
that they could play an important role in bringing
mines into compliance with health and safety
standards, but presentations from MOLSS and other
Chinese presenters revealed deep-rooted doubts about
private sector involvement in a social welfare
function.
¶8. (SBU) There was considerable discussion at the
conference of the use of administrative orders to set
minimum compensation standards for injury or death.
Shanxi Province, for example, enacted a regulation in
2006 requiring coal mine owners to pay standard
compensation of 200,000 yuan (about USD 25,000) in the
case of mine-related deaths. A participant from MOLSS
criticized such administrative standards as having no
basis in any overarching law, and running contrary to
the principal of risk sharing. He added that in some
cases, mine owners stopped contributing (illegally,
but without consequence) to social insurance programs
after such administrative orders went into effect.
These employers argued that there is no reason to pay
into an insurance system that does not reduce their
potential liability. Other participants acknowledged
that such orders are "extra-legal" but said they are
effective -- mine deaths dropped 10 percent in Shanxi
after the regulations when into effect. Despite
debate over the legality of administrative
compensation standards, there is strong support among
academics at the conference for higher standards of
compensation to increase the cost to employers of
accidents.
¶9. (SBU) Conference participants showed strong
interest in greater use of criminal penalties to
prevent and punish mine accidents. Several conference
participants noted that articles of the criminal code
on forced labor and major accidents could potentially
serve as a basis for criminal penalties, but that the
criminal code focuses on the results of negligence,
not on negligence itself. One participant said that
under current law, a mine owner who orders production
operations to proceed under conditions he knows to be
dangerous cannot be held criminally accountable unless
there is an accident. One observer noted that the
BEIJING 00023804 003 OF 007
crime of "negligence" is too weak a charge, and that
the criminal code should be amended to allow charges
of premeditated murder in cases of mine accidents
resulting from negligence.
¶10. (U) The 1992 Law on Mine Safety gives county-
and higher-level governments authority over mine
supervision and inspection, but one presenter noted
that the law has not been revised to reflect the
economic transition that has taken place since its
passage. He pointed out that a strict reading of the
law would make it non-applicable to illegal mines, for
example, and that the State Council's creation of the
State Administration for Work Safety (SAWS) and the
State Administration for Coal Mine Safety (SACMS), the
Chinese Government's flagship agencies for protecting
mine workers, may not technically even be legal.
Other presenters were critical of the 2002 Law on
Production Safety, including for being biased in favor
of production over workers interests.
UNEVEN IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT
-------------------------------------
¶11. (SBU) Almost without exception, Chinese
presenters described China's legal framework for
addressing the mine accident problem as "incomplete,"
and enforcement as weak. MOLSS noted that although
participation in the workplace injury insurance system
is mandatory, many mine owners simply ignore it.
Penalties for not contributing are limited to a few
thousand yuan (several hundred dollars), insufficient
to force compliance. When accidents occur in mines
where employers have not paid their insurance
contributions, some local governments simply bow out,
advising victims and their families to seek civil
compensation, rather than paying benefits to the
victim and pursuing back contributions from the
employer. There is no guarantee fund to cover benefit
payments in cases where the employer is uninsured or
absconds. The social insurance contribution
collection and pooling system is ill-defined and
varies widely by location.
¶12. (SBU) Social insurance programs do not cover
informal employees, and when employers hire labor
through labor contractors or other middlemen, the law
provides little guidance regarding how to determine
who the "employer" is. (A draft Labor Contract Law,
currently under consideration in the National People's
Congress, may help to clarify this point.) One
presenter noted that the majority of mine workers are
migrant workers who do not enjoy full protection under
the law in any case. While the Labor Law makes no
distinction between migrants and other workers with
respect to rights and benefits, migrants often have
difficulty participating in local-government
administered social insurance programs, joining local
union branches, or receiving legal protection from
local law enforcement authorities or courts.
¶13. (SBU) MOLSS reported that 26 million migrant
workers are covered by work injury insurance in China
in all industries, but that no one knows how many
migrants are not covered. (Estimates of the total
number of migrant workers in China range from 120-200
million.) MOLSS hopes to achieve full workplace
injury insurance coverage for migrant workers in the
mining and construction industries by the end of 2008,
and is currently exploring ways to do this without
creating a new, duplicative system.
¶14. (SBU) A participant from the State Council Legal
Affairs Office criticized the system of accountability
for mine accidents. He said Central Government
BEIJING 00023804 004 OF 007
policies dating back to 2000, which hold local
government officials accountable for mine accidents
that occur within their jurisdictions, perversely
encourage these officials to cover up accidents or
pass off mine supervision responsibilities to younger,
less powerful officials. He added that regulations
governing mine accident investigations are overly
bureaucratic. Even local governments interested in
conducting investigations do not have the resources to
do so, especially given the large number of government
agencies required by law to be involved.
¶15. (SBU) Corruption was a major topic of
discussion. Numerous presenters blamed the high
frequency of mine accidents on collusion between mine
owners and local government officials responsible for
enforcing mine safety laws. One professor noted that
when compensation is paid to accident victims in
China, there is generally no follow-up to determine
whether the accident resulted from negligence by local
officials. Another professor, illustrating the point
that too many local government officials own shares in
small coal mines, described meeting a prison guard
with a share in a local coal mine. He added that
local governments cannot be relied upon to investigate
accidents. Local governments perform administrative
investigations before criminal investigations take
place, giving guilty parties an opportunity to
manipulate the accident site. One presenter noted
that many mine accidents, including accidents with
large numbers of fatalities, go unreported, and that
the actual number of mine fatalities and injuries is
unknown. If not for media attention, one participant
said, there would be even more violations.
¶16. (SBU) A vocal group of participants argued that
China should amend the criminal code to create
meaningful criminal sanctions against mine owners or
government officials whose negligence leads to mine
accidents. One presenter argued that mine owners who
knowingly allow production to continue under dangerous
conditions should be charged with premeditated murder.
Alternatively, he said, China could amend the criminal
code to create a new crime of "compromising production
safety," as long as this crime carried heavy sentences
sufficient to deter illegal behavior. Another
presenter suggested that China should add a new crime
to the criminal code for "dereliction of duty" in
order to make government officials legally liable when
they fail to enforce mine safety rules.
¶17. (U) The definition of what constitutes a
workplace injury is also an issue. For example, one
law school professor said that there is no legal
framework for dealing with injuries arising from
prolonged exposure to hazardous conditions, e.g., lung
disease. Without a specific accident in the
workplace, there is no way to compensate workers for
their injuries.
¶18. (SBU) Many presenters said China basically has
an adequate legal and administrative framework for
mine safety enforcement, but that the problem lies in
coordination and enforcement. One presenter argued
that legal responsibility for different aspects of
mine safety supervision and enforcement is unclear,
and that key functions fall through the cracks. He
described supervision and inspection activities by
local mine safety authorities as "perfunctory." Many
presenters pointed out that penalties for violations,
including serious violations, are too weak to deter
negligence or encourage investment in better safety
equipment, training and practices. SAWS reported that
cooperation between its local mine safety inspectors
who report to Beijing and those who still report to
BEIJING 00023804 005 OF 007
local governments remains problematic.
THE ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS
-------------------------
¶19. (SBU) By most accounts, the ACFTU plays no
significant role in preventing mine accidents or
protecting the interests of victims. The ACFTU has a
statutory right to supervise enterprise compliance
with OSH regulations and to participate in mine
accident investigations. However, academics at the
conference sharply attacked the union for its weakness
and its failure to represent its members in court.
One academic described the ACFTU to Laboff during a
coffee break as a "fake union." One presenter told
the conference that ACFTU unions are sometimes under
the control of the enterprise or its managers, and
that these unions side with management in pursuit of
their own personal interests. The presenter added
that despite the large number of mine accidents that
have occurred, he knows of no instance in which a
union branch has ever stood up to confront management
on behalf of workers' interests. Several presenters
noted that despite the special status afforded to
ACFTU by law, mine workers, especially migrant
workers, have no bargaining power, and that the union
does not protect the workers' right to call attention
to OSH violations in their workplaces.
¶20. (SBU) ACFTU representatives agreed that the
union needs to increase its efforts and offered no
examples of cases in which ACFTU union did stand up
against employers. One ACFTU presenter even said that
the union's level of activity in OSH work at the
enterprise level is in "obvious decline." She
attributed the union's weakness to the lack of a
formal, legally-established tripartite OSH
consultative mechanism. She described ACFTU's legal
role as participating in the "democratic management"
and "democratic supervision" of the enterprise,
meaning that it should encourage and assist the
government in supervising OSH compliance, point out
problems and raise "constructive suggestions" that
benefit both workers and the enterprise. There was no
discussion of strikes, halting production at non-
compliant mines, or defending workers who wish to
exercise their legal right to remove themselves from
dangerous working conditions. ACFTU experts said the
union is working with the Ministry of Justice to
establish new legal aid mechanisms for workers, and
trumpeted a program it is running to train 100,000
experienced coal miners as mine safety officers. Even
in the context of these limited programs, however, the
ACFTU expert warned against over-inflated
expectations, given the ownership structure of coal
mines and the legal framework for protecting workers'
interests.
INTERESTED IN U.S. EXPERIENCE
-----------------------------
¶21. (SBU) Several Chinese participants cited the far
superior mine safety record in the United States, and
showed interest in learning from the U.S. experience.
Brown's and Main's presentations on U.S. law, accident
prevention and compensation practices were very well
received. Chinese participants were particularly
interested in how the U.S. keeps track of who holds
financial interests in coal mines, and whether such
information is considered trade secrets. Explanation
of U.S. public disclosure rules led several Chinese
participants to conclude glumly that even if similar
regulations were enacted in China, owners would
circumvent them by buying and holding shares in
another person's name, or simply eliminating the paper
BEIJING 00023804 006 OF 007
trail that documents their ownership.
¶22. (SBU) Chinese participants showed strong
interest in U.S. laws under which employers, equipment
manufacturers, or other parties could face criminal
charges for intentional negligence, even in cases
where no accidents or injuries occur. Discussion of
U.S. law sparked debate among Chinese participants
about how to use criminal law to punish and deter
illegal or unsafe mining practices. Some Chinese
participants were intrigued by the idea that
misrepresentation or fraud could itself lead to
criminal sanctions. Several Chinese participants
lamented that existing Chinese criminal law focuses on
the consequences of criminal negligence, rather than
the criminal negligence itself.
¶23. (SBU) Chinese participants were interested in
U.S. rules which allow union members to demand safety
inspections at any time, at the employer's expense.
They also showed strong interest in U.S. and third
country models for Labor-Management Safety Committees.
LOOKING TO THE STATE FOR SOLUTIONS
----------------------------------
¶24. (SBU) The Chinese participants at the conference
presented a variety of viewpoints, but were generally
biased against the private sector, and skeptical that
market and civil mechanisms could effectively protect
workers' interests. Several participants suggested
that private ownership of mines leads inevitably to
non-compliance with OSH laws and regulations, that the
private sector is not "moral" enough to play a
significant role in providing workplace injury
insurance, or that the profit motive undermines any
possibility of achieving a balance between sustained
production levels and respect for workers' rights.
Participants were not blind to the Chinese
Government's failure to adequately resolve mine safety
problems, but still called for an even greater state
role -- tougher laws to deter corruption, stronger
administrative and criminal penalties, and increased
inspection and oversight to prevent mine accidents and
improve working conditions.
A CHANCE TO MAKE AN IMPACT
--------------------------
¶25. (SBU) Comment: The Chinese Government claims to
be serious about improving mine safety, and worker
safety in general, but has no clear strategy. Chinese
OSH experts at the conference were well aware of the
problems China faces, and see the United States as one
country which has valuable experience to offer.
Events like the conference on "Legal Means to Address
the Problem of Mine Accidents" provide an opportunity
for American presenters to introduce ideas that might
not come naturally to China's bureaucracy or
influential academics. At the same time, the candid
presentations of Chinese experts provided valuable
insight into China's management of labor-related
issues that could potentially affect China's social
stability. Embassy believes the conference was
beneficial for both sides, and thoroughly in line with
the goals of our Letters of Understanding with the
Chinese Government on labor issues. The conference
also brought to light key themes which the USG
agencies may wish to revisit when discussing OSH
issues with China. These include:
-- OSH is about rule-of-law, not property rights.
Private ownership of mines and other enterprises is
not inconsistent with high OSH standards. For
example, the U.S. coal industry, with 100 percent of
BEIJING 00023804 007 OF 007
mines in private hands, has an OSH record far superior
to China's.
-- The key to safe and healthy workplaces is a
functioning regulatory framework, combined with a
well-defined system for legal liability and effective
enforcement.
-- Civil law can provide just compensation for
accident victims and their families, and effectively
deter OSH violations, provided that damages are well-
defined and significant.
-- Private insurance can play a very useful function,
not only in sharing risk, but also by providing an
additional layer of scrutiny over the enterprises
covered by their policies. Private insurance
companies can base insurance premiums on an employer's
safety record, effectively forcing the non-compliant
employers to subsidize the compliant.
-- Worker involvement in monitoring OSH conditions
and reporting violations to management and/or relevant
government agencies can be extremely effective, but
only when workers are free to perform this function
without interference or fear of reprisal.
End comment.
RANDT