What is rather odd is the list of countries - or perhaps just their leaders - apparently wanting to join this scheme, considering just how much they despise each other and in some, despise democracy.
Russia? Beloruss? Saudi Arabia? Israel?
If I was the prime-minister or president of a country so invited I would ask these twenty or so basic, really very obvious, questions; divided into five broad policy areas:
AIM:
- What is the purpose or aim of this "Board of Peace"?
- To whose benefit?
- How would it seek to achieve those aims?
- To whom will it be accountable?
MEANS:
- Will it be a military, political or economic bloc, or combination thereof?
- What authority does it seek over member-governments, and by what means?
- How will this international organisation ensure and maintain political neutrality?
- How will this international organisation ensure and maintain cultural neutrality?
- Is it free or likely to create supplementary bodies including but not limited to own military force and humanitarian-aid: if so, for what purposes, and how?
REPRESENTATION:
- Who will represent each member-nation (by governmental or civil-service post or level)?
- How will its own Chairman and senior political and managerial officers be selected?
- How would it discuss and decide overall policy and reactions to events?
- How will it interact and co-operate with non-member governments?
- How will it interact and co-operate with existing international bodies and treaties: United Nations, NATO,
European Union, BRICS, OPEC, trade-regulatory ones like MARPOL, etc.?
- How and by whom will its limits of authority and methods be set and overseen?
FINANCE:
- What does the $1bn joining-fee pay for?
- How will the BOP be funded in future?
- To whom will all fees be paid?
- Where will it be banked?
- By whom and how will its income and expenditure accounts be audited and published?
OWN STRUCTURE
- Where will it be based?
- How will it be managed internally?
- On which country's laws will its employment regulations will be based, to ensure its own staff are employed on modern, decent fair pay and conditions including freedom from religious, racial, sexual, sexuality or disability prejudice?
Have any of these matters been addressed seriously, by whom, when and how?
If it could not give immediate, convincing answers to any of these I would want to know why, and immediately.
If its reply shows despite its title it is inimical to peace and security, to democracy, to freedom from persecution, national sovereignity and existing co-operative arrangements; I would recommend my country keep well away from it.
