We open our April Newsletter with William Chislett's Inside Spain, our monthly review of events in Spain. On the Foreign Policy front, while Spain pulled its 200 troops out of Haiti despite a request by the United Nations for them to remain until the country's stalled electoral process is finally completed, the government said it was willing to send 100 soldiers to the Congo as part of an EU deployment to support UN peacekeepers during the elections to be held there in June. Also, Spain may increase the number of its peacekeeping force in Afghanistan by around 200 'to close to 800 troops' and is planning to establish a volunteer service for Latin America 'modelled somewhat on former President John F. Kennedy's Peace Corps' to fight underdevelopment.

On the Domestic Scene a crucial event has occurred which may bring about the end of Europe's last fully operative terrorist group: Spain is set to begin a long and complicated peace process, following the decision by Eta 'the terrorist group which has killed more than 800 people since the 1960s' to declare a permanent ceasefire. In another historic move, the Spanish Congress approved the new controversial charter giving greater autonomy to Catalonia, a watered-down version of the text presented to the national parliament by the Catalan parliament last year. Also, the Spanish and Mauritanian governments held crisis talks after more than 1,000 West Africans reached the shores of the Canary Islands following a perilous 300-mile sea journey.

As regards the Economy, the protracted and politicised battle to take over the energy group Endesa intensified when the European Commission called on the Spanish government to respect its sole right to scrutinise and approve pan-European deals. Also, in its annual review of the Spanish economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that Spain's economic growth has become 'increasingly lopsided' and that its underlying balances have intensified, while, according to a new report by the OECD Working Group on Bribery, Spain should rapidly amend its law so that companies can be found directly liable for bribing foreign public officials and sanctioned with serious fines. However, there is also some news on the bright side: according to the latest Forbes magazine ranking based on a composite score for sales, profits, assets and market value, three Spanish concerns, Santander Central Hispano, BBVA and Telefónica are among the world's 100 largest companies.

And now, the Institute's new production in English. As our readers know, this monthly bulletin announces the analyses and working papers originally written in English or translated into English from Spanish, and either produced by our own analysts or by external contributors. Our highlights this month include an interesting report by UN official Antonio L. Mazzitelli within our Sub-Saharan Africa Area. In The Challenges of Drugs, Organised Crime and Terrorism in West and Central Africa, Mazzitelli reports on the factors that explain the increased importance of West and Central Africa in the world mapping of transnational organised crime and criminal organisations. The efforts made by national governments in tackling the situation, he writes, have so far been limited mostly to legal frameworks, but the situation, if not faced with timeliness and vigour, might slow down, if not hijack, any progress made towards the rooting of liberal democratic societies in the region.

Our second and third highlights are written by two of our Senior Analysts. Within International Economy, Paul Isbell explains, under the title Energy Dependency and Spanish Interests how Spain is highly dependent on imported hydrocarbons, particularly the most problematic types 'oil and gas'; as a result, the Spanish economy is quite vulnerable to fluctuations in international oil and gas prices. Fernando Reinares, our Senior Analyst for International Terrorism, analyses the socio-demographic data relating to 188 people who were imprisoned in Spain between 2001 and 2005 under suspicion of involvement in Jihadist terrorism: this information enables us to map a social characterisation of the phenomenon.

In the first of a two-part ARI on Morocco: The Bases for a New Development Model?, and included in our Mediterranean and Arab World Area, Iván Martín, of Madrid's Universidad Carlos III, analyses the National Initiative of Human Development launched in 2005 and the Report on 50 Years of Human Development in Morocco published in January 2006, in order to determine to what extent they lay the groundwork for a new model of economic and political development for Morocco. Carlos Malamud, the Institute's Senior Analyst for Latin America, reports in Pulp Mills Divide the River Plate that although certain moves suggest the possibility of a negotiated settlement, the conflict between Argentina and Uruguay over the construction of two pulp mills in the Uruguayan city of Fray Bentos has become more complex and difficult to resolve.

We also have two new analyses in the US and Transatlantic Dialogue area: Eva Borreguero, Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University, reports on George W. Bush's recent tour of South Asia, which concluded satisfactorily by simultaneously bolstering relations with India and Pakistan, an unprecedented achievement. Our senior analyst Soeren Kern, under the suggestive title Where Are the Neo-Cons?, examines the revised 'National Security Strategy of the United States of America', dated March 2006. 'The central thesis of the new strategy' 'he writes' 'is that spreading democracy is the best way to build a better world? While the revised document leaves US strategic priorities basically unchanged from before, it restates them in a more diplomatic tone. It also reformulates them with more pragmatism.'

Finally, former British diplomat Shaun Riordan writes on Alliance of Civilisations or 'Alliance of the Civilised'? The successes of the Alliance of Civilisations, he argues, have been largely presentational. While the need for a new focus in diplomacy in the 21st century is undeniable, the Alliance of Civilisations does not fill the gap; however, Riordan believes that instead of abandoning it, the Alliance of Civilisations can be reformed, especially by focusing on concrete problems and giving a greater role to NGOs.

Pulp mills on the River Plate: a divisive issue (ARI)
Carlos Malamud
The conflict between Argentina and Uruguay over the construction of two pulp mills in the Uruguayan city of Fray Bentos is becoming more serious, although certain moves suggest the possibility of a negotiated settlement

Document of Interest
International migration, human rights and development in Latin America and the Caribbean
This report was presented to government delegates meeting at ECLAC?s Thirty-first Session in Montevideo, this 20-24 March. Migration generates benefits from sending and receiving countries and the number of migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean rose to 25 million in 2005. This figure reveals the need to put forward orientation to deal with the challenges and opportunities for development posed by migration, from the perspective of the human rights of migrants and their families

Morocco: the bases for a new development model? (I): the National Initiative of Human Development (INDH) (ARI)
Iván Martín
The INDH puts Morocco's social issues front and centre among the country's political priorities. Among its most positive features is that it has adopted a participatory approach, which involves civil society and local authorities in the planning and implementation process. However, it is not clear how it fits with a national development strategy and with the country's general economic policy, nor how it will help transfer greater political power and resources to local governments as the key agents in the current democracy-building process

Where Are the Neo-Cons? (ARI)
Soeren Kern
The revised 'National Security Strategy of the United States of America', dated March 2006, explains the strategic underpinning of American foreign policy. It is the first revision of the original security doctrine developed by the Bush Administration in September 2002. The central thesis of the new strategy is that spreading democracy is the best way to build a better world. It also recognises the unique opportunities and formidable challenges posed by globalisation. While the revised document leaves US strategic priorities basically unchanged from before, they are restated in a tone that is much more diplomatic. They are also reformulated in an approach that is more pragmatic

George W. Bush's visit to the Indian subcontinent (ARI)
Eva Borreguero
George W. Bush's recent tour of South Asia concluded satisfactorily with Washington's success in simultaneously bolstering relations with India and Pakistan, an unprecedented achievement. The American administration's strategic realism has allowed it to achieve a triangular balance by which the two nations have agreed to accept the indirect benefits to be derived from the new situation

Document of Interest
The National Security Strategy
President George W. Bush presented a New National Security Strategy for the US on 16 March 2006. The new strategy backs the policy of pre-emptive war and singles out Iran as the greatest single current danger. It also stresses US preference for "transformational diplomacy" and coalition building, but not necessarily within United Nations or Nato frameworks. This document also highlights a string of other global issues such as the spread of Aids, the threat of pandemic flu and the prospect of natural and environmental disasters

Document of Interest
U.S.-India Joint Statement
President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reaffirm their commitment to expand the ties between their two countries in the following areas: international economy and trade, energy security, environment, innovation and knowledge economy, global safety and security

The challenges of drugs, organized crime and terrorism in West and Central Africa (ARI)
Antonio L. Mazzitelli
There are numerous factors that explain the increased importance of West and Central Africa in the world map of transnational organised crime and criminal organisations. The effects of political, economic and social shortcomings are amplified by the concurrence of external factors. In this context, well-established foreign transnational criminal networks seeking safe operational bases for their illicit businesses (narcotics, human beings, pirated goods, illegal migration and natural resources) cooperate and cohabit with newly-born and successful West African indigenous criminal networks

Document of Interest
UN Security Council Resolution 1667 (2006). West Africa
The Resolution 1667 (2006) adopted by the Security Council -as its 5406th meeting on 31 March 2006- extends the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 30 September 2006. This reaffirms intention to authorize Secretary-General to redeploy troops between UN Mission in Liberia and Operation in C?te d'Ivoire as needed

Energy Dependency and Spanish Interests (ARI)
Paul Isbell
Spain is highly dependent on imported hydrocarbons, particularly the most problematic types 'oil and gas'. As a result, the Spanish economy is quite vulnerable to fluctuations in international oil and gas prices. Geographically, Spain is particularly dependent on countries that are not entirely reliable either in terms of supply or politics and it appears likely that the energy panorama will become even more complicated in the medium and long term

Document of Interest
European Council Conclusions
The European Council meeting on 23 and 24 March, under the Austrian Presidency, focused on job creation, cutting red tape, investment in skills and scientific research, and energy. Also, "the European Council calls for a Energy Policy for Europe" and "welcomed reports of the President of the Spanish Government on the announcement of a permanent ceasefire made by the terrorist group ETA". The document includes: European Pact for Gender Equality and Declaration on Belarus

Document of Interest
A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy
The European Council meeting on 23 and 24 March, under the Austrian Presidency, focused on job creation, cutting red tape, investment in skills and scientific research, and energy. Also, "the European Council calls for a Energy Policy for Europe" and "welcomed reports of the President of the Spanish Government on the announcement of a permanent ceasefire made by the terrorist group ETA". The document includes: European Pact for Gender Equality and Declaration on Belarus

Towards a social characterization of Jihadist terrorism in Spain: implications for domestic security and foreign intervention (ARI)
Fernando Reinares
This ARI analyses socio-demographic data relating to 188 persons who were imprisoned in Spain between 2001 and 2005, under suspicion of involvement in Jihadist terrorism, enabling us to map a social characterisation of this phenomenon: they are typically men born between 1966 and 1975, aged from 26 to 40 on arrest, basically North African immigrants andmostly in possession of legal immigration documentation; most had settled in Madrid, Barcelona and the Mediterranean coast; with a few exceptions, they are predominantly uneducated individuals with low standards of professional skills. Based on the above, a series of recommendations can be made to prevent Jihadist terrorism, in terms of both domestic security and action abroad

Document of Interest
Conference on Countering the Financing of Terrorism-Ministerial Conclusions
The Conference -held from 15 to 16 March 2006- was organized by the Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands and hosted by minister Gerrit Zalm. Knowledge and experience were exchanged between financial representatives and professionals from more than 41 countries.The document outlines that "the partnership of the financial sector (not only banks but also insurance industry, securities industry, money remitters and others) is key in an effective fight against the financing of terrorism and with that an effective fight against terrorism"

Document of Interest
European Commission Vice President's Letter to European Citizens on 11 March 2006'The Second European Day for the Victims of Terrorism
European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini, Commissioner for Justice, Freedom & Security, issued this open letter on the second anniversary of the Madrid train bombings -"the most deadly terrorist attack in Europe"- and the second European Day commemorating the victims of terrorism. Mr. Frattini expresses solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in Madrid, London and around the world. Also, he sets out the European Union's continuing efforts to fight against terrorism

Alliance of Civilisations or 'Alliance of the Civilised'? (ARI)
Shaun Riordan
The successes of the Alliance of Civilisations have been largely presentational. While the need for a new focus in diplomacy in the 21st century is undeniable, the Alliance of Civilisations does not fill the gap. It suffers both theoretical and practical problems, above all in its focus on the conflicts and differences between civilisations and their values, which could even worsen the global climate. However, instead of abandoning it, the Alliance of Civilisations can be reformed, especially by focusing on concrete problems and giving a greater role to NGOs

Document of Interest
Alliance of Civilizations
This initiative seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. It was launched by the  Secretary-General of the United Nations (http://www.unaoc.org/), co-sponsored by the Prime Ministers of Spain (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero) and Turkey (Tayyip Erdo?an)