Sachs argues in favor of "international law"

Sachs argues in favor of "international law"

"As frightening as the Ukraine crisis is, the more general disregard of international law in recent years must not be overlooked," Jeffrey Sachs writes.

Warning about "skeptics of international law who believe that it can never prevail over the national interests of major powers" and that maintaining a balance of power among competitors is all that can be done to keep the peace, he noted that "without some scaffolding of law, open conflict is all too likely."

"This is especially true today, as countries jostle for oil and other vital resources. It is no coincidence that most of the deadly wars of recent years have taken place in regions rich in valuable and contested natural resources," Sachs, a Columbia University professor and special adviser to the UN secretary-general on the Millennium Development Goals, noted.

In an analysis published at the Project Syndicate website and carried by Spain's El Pais newspaper, Sachs stated that "Russia’s actions in Ukraine constitute a serious and dangerous violation of international law."

He believes that respecting the UN system and the Security Council's decision is the only way to preserve peace in the world and prevent serious disturbances in the world economy.

"As frightening as the Ukraine crisis is, the more general disregard of international law in recent years must not be overlooked," he wrote, and added:

"Without diminishing the seriousness of Russia’s recent actions, we should note that they come in the context of repeated violations of international law by the U.S., the EU, and NATO. Every such violation undermines the fragile edifice of international law, and risks throwing the world into a...