By Dr Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher.
The pandemic gave the world’s diplomatic community an opportunity to demonstrate its innate resilience, inventiveness, and sense of duty. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, diplomats kept on working incessantly to repatriate nationals, to look for vaccines for their countries, to ensure the logistics for saving the lives of millions, always maintaining diplomatic channels open regardless of the extremely difficult conditions.
Over the last year and a half, we have all had the opportunity to discover new ways of living and working, moving ahead during critical times thanks to the discovery of new solutions and new ideas. Diplomacy has been reinvented – and Diplomat Magazine has been there all the way to support you in this process.
In this edition of Diplomat Magazine, you will find an impressive article by Russian President Vladimir Putin reflecting on NATO expansion and European security, as well as on ideas for international cooperation from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
This masterpiece should be read together with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s article, “The Law, the Rights and the Rules”.
The edition also features four more Ministers of Foreign Affairs exposing their views on current issues.
Argentina’s Felipe Solá and Paraguay’s Dr. Euclides Acevedo talk about the Southern Common Market and its 30th anniversary; Costa Rica’s Rodolfo Solano Quirós celebrates his country’s 200th anniversary; and New Zealand’s Foreign Ministers reflects on whether diplomacy can work over a webcam.
In addition, HH Sheikha Intisar al Sabah from Kuwait explains why mental health support needs to become a part of international humanitarian aid.
Other Ministers and Ambassadors from many countries also expose their views on a broad range of important topics, including – but not limited to – the following: Jewish heritage in Albania; the restoration of Nigerian arts from Germany; the new challenges faced by the Croatian ambassador; the 200th anniversary of Greece; Serbia’s regional cooperation; Peruvian maritime rights; Panama commitment to the Empowerment of Women; China’s efforts to enhance its partnerships; the pillars of Romanian-Dutch relations; Georgia’s 30 years’ commitment to Euro-Atlantic Integration; the use of digital diplomacy by the Dutch General Consul in San Francisco; and Madagascar’s efforts to improve business and investment ties with Europe.
Moreover, in this edition there is also space for other important topics. In a conversation with Punta Cana founder Frank Rainieri, we reflect on the revival of tourism after the pandemic; and in collaboration with IHE Delft Institute we explore the linkage between water, peace, and security.
Other subjects include the expansion of ISIS, international cooperation from the UAE to Colombia, Russian trade with Germany, as well as the analysis of the COVID pandemic from different angles.
Besides these thematic articles, we also have wonderful stories from diplomatic spouses with unusual jobs, like Federal Agents or horse managers. And what about the next generation of diplomats? We explore the story of a worldwide famous designer, as well as that of two students from Indonesia in Europe.
To conclude, I would like to honour the memory of those who have left us, especially the ambassadors of Angola, H.E. Dr. Luis Jose de Almeida, and Costa Rica, H.E. Dr. Guioconda Ubeda Rivera, as well as the General Manager of the legendary hotel Des Indes, Coen Masselink. You will all be remembered.
I would also like to acknowledge the virtual support of ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, jurists, academics, politicians, students, and friends from all over the world: you all are Diplomat Magazine’s permanent support team!
