The International Criminal Court is aware and profoundly concerned about unwarranted and unjustified coercive measures reportedly taken against ICC officials, notably the Prosecutor of the Court and the judges of Pre-Trial Chamber II by the authorities of the Russian Federation.
The ICC finds these measures unacceptable. The Court will remain undeterred in the conduct of its lawful mandate to ensure accountability for the gravest crimes of concern to the international community as a whole.
The ICC stands firmly by its personnel and officials and, in line with the statement issued by the Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties earlier today, calls on all its States Parties and Rome Statute stakeholders to enhance their efforts to protect the Court, its officials and its personnel, and ensure it is capable to continue to deliver on its independent mandate.
We remember September 21 in the Province of Drenthe as one of the most surprising and stimulating day of 2022, after visiting the town of Frederiksoord and the museum of Drenthe that reveals part of the Netherlands’ history, unknown for many of us.
The organisation of the trip was meticulous. Every minute spent among the people of Drenthe was valuable. It was part of the memorable commemoration of the 31st Anniversary of Armenia’s independence day organized by H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, who chose Drenthe to bring over 40 colleagues ambassadors, representatives of international organizations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and journalists to an outstanding day out to enjoy, under sunny day, all the beauty of the village of Frederiksoord and the Museum De Proefkolonie, visiting the cities of Westerveld and Assen.
Ambassadorial trip to Drenthe Province by Armenia.
“We learned everything about the colonies of Benevolence and what makes these colonies so special. After visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site, we got acquainted with the ancient treasures of Armenia, its culinary delights and sublime music that Tigran Balayan, ambassador of Armenia, brought us.” Said one guest ambassador.
Welcome to Drenthe! Ms. Jetta Klijnsma, King’s Commissioner in the province of Drenthe and H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of Armenia.
The cultural day began with a visit to Frederiksoord village where we had the honour to meet Ms. Jetta Klijnsma, the King’s Commissioner in the province of Drenthe. She addressed the invitees with great enthusiasm offering a general overview of the history, the cultural and business live of the region.
Ambassadors at Colony of Benevolence – Frederiksoord village.
After the Governor’s speech, the guests visited a museum dedicated to the Colonies of Benevolence which were recently awarded the status of UNESCO Heritage Site showing the history of Johannes van den Bosch and his Society of Benevolence of 1818 who wanted to offer to paupers in the Netherlands a chance for a better existence.
The Society founded the Colonies of Benevolence, calling it Colony Frederiksoord.
The event continued in Assen, where the ambassador of Armenia hosted a guided visit of the exhibition Under the Spell of Ararat. The treasures of Ancient Armenia from the Museum of Yerevan includes a unique relic from Noah’s Ark at the Drents Museum.
This remarkable exhibition was planned for years and was on hold during two more years due to the pandemic before landing in Drents Museum. Almost all the artefacts and pieces have never travelled out of Armenia. There were great expectations to see the relic coming from Noah’s Ark.
The wooden reliquary containing a piece of wood from Noah’s Ark is decorated with silver mounts and semiprecious stones. Etchmiadzin Cathedral has three pieces of the wood from the Biblical Ark. Tradition has it that the wood was found by Bishop Jacob of Nisibis (now Nusaybin in eastern Turkey) in the early fourth century AD. The bishop is depicted on the back of the reliquary holding a fragment of wood from the Ark in his left hand.
Under the Spell of Ararat. The treasures of Ancient Armenia from the Museum of Yerevan at Drents Museum.
A reception was dedicated to the National Day of Armenia. During the welcome speech, Ambassador Tigran Balayan thanked the Governor for her warmth hospitality and support during the organization of the visit. “I would like to express our utmost gratitude to Ms. Klijnsma for the reception extended to us and for the opportunity to gather together in the beautiful province of Drenthe.
Thanks to this province, Armenia came to the Netherlands and this is the continuation of Armenia’s presence in the Netherlands. According to the records, the last time such a group of Ambassadors visited Drenthe was in 2009”.
Relic from Noah’s Ark
He also referred to the difficult situation in which Armenia is celebrating its independence day as follows, “This year we celebrate the 31th Anniversary of our Independence in the gravest circumstances, when our nation is facing a military aggression in blatant violation of international law and order. Today, as we stand on the threshold of our next decade, the territorial integrity of our country is under an imminent threat. Today, as we stand against aggression and indifference we pay tribute to our friends. We are grateful to everyone that supported Armenia in this difficult situation.”
Drents Museum – Ambassadorial visit by Armenia.
The ambassador also referred to the developments in the bilateral relations between Armenia and the Netherlands, highlighting the visit of the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Netherlands and the implementation of the agreements reached during the visit. “Despite all the difficulties, the year 2022 is also a remarkable one in terms of our bilateral relations with the Netherlands. This year we are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We took stock of the existing level of partnership and outlined the architecture of our future cooperation”, concluded Ambassador Balayan.
Ambassador Balayan with musicians interpreting ancient Armenian music. Armenian dinne at Drents Museum.
The official part of the event ended with an awarding ceremony. The Governor of Drenthe, Ms. Jetta Klijnsma, was awarded with the Medal of Honor of the Embassy of Armenia. The Director of the Museum, Mr. Harry Tupan, was awarded with the Gold Medal of the Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, and Mr. Nikolay Romashuk-Hayrapetyan was awarded with the Medal of Honor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia for his contribution to the organization of the exhibition and for the promotion of Armenian Culture in the Netherlands.
H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of Armenia together with the Governor of Drenthe, Ms. Jetta Klijnsma and the Direcgtor of Drents Museum, Mr. Harry Tupan.
The Embassy of Armenia has decided to celebrate Armenia’s National Day in different provinces each year. In 2021 it was celebrated in Eindhoven with the Dutch business community. In 2022, the celebration took place in Drenthe with the diplomatic community, with international organizations, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the medias. We are now waiting for Armenia to announce the 2023 National Day’s venue that is expected to be an interesting one.
In Tashkent, the Hilton Tashkent City Hotel hosted the II International Forum on the topic: “Implementing of best practices in poverty reduction“, organized by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) jointly with the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Uzbekistan(Ministry of Employment), with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund in Uzbekistan (UNICEF).
Alfred Nobel Prize Laureate, co-founder of the global initiative to combat poverty J-PAL — Abhijit Banerjee addressed the Forum participants with a greeting.
The expert noted that governments around the world are strengthening their social protection programs in response to the coronavirus pandemic, in particular, about 3,856 programs have been planned or implemented to date.
“Speaking, for example, about Uzbekistan, the tools that are used to create social programs, how do you determine the right target audience, what they need, how do you support them, how do you support entrepreneurship, how do you separate the poorest and those who need start-up support. The fact that you understand that different target audiences need different solutions to problems, and how effective the various programs adopted are, how the education system works — all this is quite difficult work, but I am glad that your country shows example to other countries how to fight poverty. Standing here today, I feel the spirit of in this country and I am proud that I can say “let’s do it,” the expert said.
In his presentation, Abhijit Banerjee noted that when expanding access to programs and benefits, many countries relied on existing programm platforms, demonstrating how important investments in social protection systems and institutions are. J-PAL researchers evaluated social protection programs in India, Bangladesh and Ghana, as well as in other countries. According to Abhijit Banerjee, well-designed randomized assessments can test specific hypotheses and identify their cause-and-effect relationships. They give a deep insight into the mechanisms that can change the situation, and their results can surprise all of us.
Speaking about the social programs accepted in the world, Abhijit Banerjee said that very little is known about which programs really work and which do not. At the same time, decisions on the implementation of such programs are made intuitively rather than on the basis of actual data. The expert noted that India has the largest number of people in the world living in multidimensional poverty (25% of the country’s population).
Abhijit Banerjee noted that economic theory is only a starting point in the development of effective policy.
“Economic theory is based on assumptions, it does not give a complete picture of the real situation, and assumptions are often unverifiable and unstable. At the same time, economic models warn us very well about various possible mechanisms, but they do not tell us which of these mechanisms actually work and which do not. However, there are various effective solutions taking into account economic efficiency,” the expert noted.
Speaking about proven mechanisms in the field of education, the expert noted three promising approaches: 1 – support for students with low academic performance through a remedial training program; 2 – providing additional training materials using machine learning; 3 – focusing on a specific skill using the “Read-a-thon” program to improve reading skills.
The expert also touched upon the impact of ecology on the level of household well-being. He noted that indoor air pollution poses a serious threat to health worldwide. For example, about a third of households in the world use fossil fuels, including coal. Women and young children are disproportionately affected by the resulting indoor air pollution.
What possible solutions come to mind? Installation of improved kitchen stoves and hoods in households, as well as the use of more environmentally friendly fuel. However, will improved stoves be able to have a positive effect on health? Will they consume less fuel and will there be less emissions into the atmosphere? Do people agree to use them? The results of a randomized study in India showed that improved kitchen stoves did not improve health indicators due to low consumption. One of the reasons is that households did not use the improved stoves regularly andior properly.
“It is important to understand how new technologies fit into the lives of people in poor households. For example, kitchen stoves could not be taken outside, which could explain why people refused them. A randomized trial was the right method to find answers to these questions, as they allow us to test a specific hypothesis, measure causal effects, and understand the mechanisms of interaction. It is encouraging to see that over the past two decades there has been a significant increase in the volume of thorough assessments in the measurement of multidimensional poverty and significant progress in the use of evidence for public policy decisions. So, our 20-year work on evidence-based research and policies has affected the lives of 600 million people around the world,” the expert noted.
Abhijit Banerjee spoke about possible areas for conducting evidence-based research in Uzbekistan:
What design elements can make social protection programmes more effective? As Uzbekistan increases its investments in social protection, it is useful to evaluate the targeting of these measures and other design features to ensure they are reaching the right people and producing the desired impacts.
What sorts of entrepreneurship support are most effective? Can we find ways to identify high-potential entrepreneurs who could benefit from additional support? How do new entrepreneurs respond to different tax incentives? What measures may be particularly effective for supporting female entrepreneurs?
What forms of vocational training are effective in helping successfully match workers to jobs? What formats are most cost-effective for supporting successful employment outcomes? What other support may workers need beyond training?
How can the quality of schooling and educational performance be improved? What kinds of pedagogical interventions could be useful in improving primary and secondary educational outcomes? As access to pre-school increases, what other measures may be needed to encourage enrollment and improve quality?
The Embassy of Guatemala in The Hague, in collaboration with Diplomat Magazine and Casa del Habano, organized an event on April 21 to share great cigars and rum with diplomats. Attendees joined from many embassies and international organizations to enjoy the friendly and relaxed atmosphere. This was the second installment of this event, in what is hoped will be an ongoing collaboration.
To open the evening, Mr. Lesther Ortega Lemus, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Guatemala thanked everybody for their attendance. Then, Mr. Raymond van Hoorssen, owner of the Casa del Habano, gave a brief speech, for any newcomers, explaining the different types of tobacco that make up a cigar, as well as how to properly light one. He then introduced the two different cigars that were available that night.
H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of Armenia, H.E. Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez Otero, Ambassador of Uruguay and H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica.
The first was a Nicaragua “My Father le Bijou,” a full-bodied smoke with notes of black coffee, wood, sweet nutmeg, and cherries. Also available was the Ecuadorian with Nicaragua filler “West Tampa White,” a medium bodied offering with creamy, earthy, and peppery flavors.
As for the accompanying drinks, a variety of Guatemalan rums were provided by the Embassy, including Ron Botran no. 15 Reserva, Ron Botran Cobre Spiced, Ron Botran no. 18 Reserva de la Familia, and Ron Zacapa 12.
These all proved popular choices, and those who partook enjoyed themselves, as a conversation amongst friends over a glass of rum and with a fine cigar, is all the more sweet on a Friday evening like that. It was a lively and relaxing way to send out the week.
Zacapa Rum from Guatemala
Rum and cigars are important industries for export in Guatemala, and across the region, so this was a fine way to showcase some of the many high-quality offerings that they have.
Rum production in Guatemala goes back to the late 16th century, so there is centuries of expertise behind what is produced there today. And Central America is widely considered the finest cigar and tobacco producing region in the world, with history going back to its use by local indigenous peoples. Needless to say, they know what they’re doing and hopefully we can expect more opportunities to enjoy these fine offerings in the future.
The Embassy of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh celebrated its 52nd anniversary of Independence. The actual date is 26 March, however, festive activities have been moved to April 28. Scores of friends of Bangladesh, the diaspora, diplomats and others came by to felicitate H.E. Ambassador Riaz Hamidullah, and participated in the celebratory evening.
Among the Ambassadors attending were: Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Ireland, Costa Rica, India, Papal Nuncius, Ghana, Rwanda, Lebanon and others.
Brigitta Tazelaar, Deputy Director General International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
Ambassador Riaz Hmidullah delivered a welcome speech. Mrs Brigitta Tazelaar, Deputy Director General International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, also delivered an address.
Welcome Remarks by Ambassador Riaz Hamidullah.
“ I welcome you all to the celebration of the 52nd Anniversary of independence of Bangladesh. We were actually to congregate on 26th March – on our National Day – but could not due to unavoidable circumstances.
Past one year has seen steady advancement in our engagements. While I must not bore you with the details, yet let me say that all underline the ways the people in the two deltas – Netherlands with 17 million, Bangladesh with 170 million – understand each other in respect of shared values and turning challenges into opportunities.
This shared appreciation connects Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Her Majesty Queen Maxima as well as Prime Minister Mark Rutte – in conversations on global justice, peace, women and girls or climate change.
As I often interact with visiting University students, I explain how the Dutch and Bangladeshis connect irrespective of our diversity in endowments or capacities. Our two peoples champion resilience, adaptation and innovation in battling the limits of nature. On a lighter note, the two far-away people connect for their ‛can do’ attitude. Even though when the Netherlands is the 16th largest economy while Bangladesh the 35th largest, globally.
Among the audience, H.E. Mr. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Ambassador of Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Basri Ambassador of Morocco and H.E. Dr. Francis Danti Kotia, Ambassador of Ghana.
Last August, Deputy Director-General, Birgitta Tazelaar, was in Dhaka to finalize the bilateral Cooperation Strategy with Bangladesh. As she returned, I was pretty scared to ask of her impressions. I was certain that terrible road traffic in Dhaka would top her accounts. Her first word however surprised me, “it was all about vibes.” Much relieved I was!
Dutch – Bangladesh collaboration commenced with water sector. Even pre-dating our independence. To bring up the stories as also the potential, last year, we wrapped up a unique Water Photo Contest with Deltares last year. That stirred many Dutch as well. We would shortly present few of the 1,600 images that emerged out of that Contest.
As Bangladesh moves beyond a shirt-to-ship story or, beyond one and half billion dollars bilateral trade, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and conglomerates are increasingly keen to tie up with Dutch peers, drawing on Dutch knowledge – technology – innovation. Newer modes of collaboration are emerging, in areas ranging from agriculture to culture. Last year, together with several Dutch entities, entrepreneurs and manufacturers from Bangladesh converged in Den Haag and Eindhoven to stitch collaborations.
Bangladesh National Day
For instance, around 100 Bangladeshi digital companies are engaged with their Dutch peers; Brainport in Eindhoven is exploring Bangladesh, especially on design-thinking; RVO has so far carried out 8 Market Scans. This June, a Dutch Trade Mission will be in Bangladesh; Bangladesh Government is engaged with Wageningen University on shaping three interventions, on the pathway for Transformation of Bangladesh Agriculture.
This February, Bangladesh Delta Plan moved to the next ten years’ Phase; Dutch impact investing community is showing growing interest; Dutch Orange Corners inaugurated its first Hub in Asia, in Dhaka, this February.
And, we now look forward to the Fifth Foreign Office Consultations, on 21st May, as Secretary-General Paul Huijts leads the Dutch side to Dhaka.
In order to present the sights – sounds – finer aspects from Bangladesh, the Embassy would be having you all at the Best of Bangladesh event in Westerpark Amsterdam, on 4th and 5th September.
At the global level, Bangladesh and the Netherlands engage, driven by a vision of shared prosperity – not just for the two peoples. As much as it is on securing justice and accountability for the Rohingyas, it is also in building global convergence on sustainable development – water – climate change – responsible business.
Frontiers in Art and Culture also beckon prospects. Growing number of younger Bangladeshi filmmakers are bringing their films to IDFA and other Dutch Film festivals. That is why, outside this Ballroom, we present select 12 art works from the Embassy’s collection!
These are to illustrate many ‛improbable’ that can be unpacked or turned around, as we celebrate Bangladesh, over music and food, this evening.
In presence of all Dutch friends in the audience, let me pay tribute to all women and men – entrepreneurs – NGOs – Foundations from the Netherlands who contributed to our widening canvass of friendship and engagements. And, continue to do so. They battled sun and rain in a humid delta with their Bangladeshi peers and friends. Together, Bangladesh wishes to advance the ties with the Netherlands to the next levels.
Let me conclude wishing good life and well-being to His Majesty King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima and the People of the Netherlands. Joy Bangla. “
The most devastating war in the history of mankind – the Second World War, moved to the territory of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, and was named the Great Patriotic War. This war brought unprecedented economic, military and human losses to the countries of the former Soviet Union, in particular to a number of countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus. Millions of Soviet soldiers were captured and sent to various concentration camps established in Europe in the first months as a result of the Wehrmacht’s lightning-fast war operations.
Between the cities of Leusden and Amersfoort in the Netherlands, a concentration camp, now called the Place of Sorrow, was established. The name of the concentration camp was due to the fact that the prisoners were kept in deplorable conditions, treated with extreme brutality and eventually executed.
The fate of the Central Asian prisoners of war, especially the one hundred and one prisoners from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, is a cause of great interest not only among Turkic peoples, but also among Europeans. In particular, journalist-researcher Remko Reyding is studying the history of the appearance of 101 POWs so far from the front line.
According to this information, a third of the Central Asian prisoners did not survive the winter of 1941-1942. Some of them were victims of medical experiments. The remaining 77 prisoners were shot in the forest of Amersfoort on the morning of April 9, 1942, because the “propaganda” of fascism was not carried out, and their bodies were destroyed using special chemical means to hide the traces of the crime. At this place, where Uzbek, Kazakh and Turkmen soldiers were executed, the Monument Koedriest has been erected. On the eve of the liberation of Holland, the Nazis also destroyed prisoners of war and their personal documents, making it difficult to carry out effective investigations.
Currently, regular events are held to remember the victims of war. In particular, a conference dedicated to the memory of the victims buried in Amersfoort was organized on April 29 of this year. It was attended by 25 representatives of Uzbek, Kazakh, Azerbaijani and other Turkic-speaking nationalities living in the Netherlands, including official representatives of the embassies of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
During the event, the places where the victims were buried were visited and the Koran was read for their souls. Then an excursion was organized in the memorial complex “Soviet Field of Glory” and the museum part of the former concentration camp of the city of Amersfoort.
In addition, in the activists’ hall of the Eemland library of Amersfoort city, a lecture was given by R. Reiding about 101 Turkish victims, the processes and difficulties of clarifying their identity, and by journalist and translator Sharifjon Ahmad on the topic “Uzbekistan during the Second World War”. Mr. Ahmad noted in his speech about the contribution of Uzbekistan to the victory during the war years, the bravery of the Uzbeks, the military and food products that the Uzbek people sent to the war fronts.
Once again, the Tunisian embassy presents the best of its gastronomy in a continuation of the successful program that every year manages to enchant the public with the flavors and colors of Tunisia. The Ambassador of Tunisia, His Excellency Slim Ghariani, has taken care of every detail to make this event a major brand of presentation of its gastronomy.
The Embassy of Tunisia in the Hague is co-organizing with the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT), the 2023 edition of the ‘’Tunisian Gastronomic Days’’.
The Event will take place on 12 and 13 May 2023, at Leonardo Royal Hotel Amsterdam, starting from 06.30PM.
“The Tunisian Gastronomic Days will take you on a journey to savor the rich culinary art of Tunisia and to discover the Tunisian classic music. It aims to promote Tunisia as an important tourist and cultural destination. It will be attended by Dutch officials, Head of Diplomatic Missions, Businessman, Tour Operators, bloggers, journalists as well as the large public” explained Ambassador Ghariani.
“During the event, internationally renowned Tunisian Chefs Wafik Belaid, Haykel Ben Zayda, and Mohamed Ali Ben Abouda, will prepare a special menu full of authentic flavors arraying from savory specialties to delicacies as well as terroir products.” said the ambassador.
The three Chefs are members of the Tunisian Association of Culinary Arts Professionals. They have participated in several international culinary competitions. They also run famous cooking TV shows in Tunisia.
Four artists from the musical troupe “TARAB” will perform classic pieces from the Tunisian heritage. Their orchestra is well known for its traditional and contemporary music and has performed shows in Europe on several occasions.
In addition, a Tombola will be held, where people participating can win valuable prizes.
Following successes of the similar programs in Europe (Vienna and Geneva notably), the Istanbul-based International Organization along with its European (think-tank, academia, cultural diplomacy, and media) partners decided to launch the special executive program for the future leaders on its own.
Hence, by the Program’s launch – February this year, this format gathered participants of diverse professional backgrounds and varied geographies, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East – largely the emerging leaders from the government, international organizations, or industry. The Future Leaders Executive Program’s concept is rather simple: Participants are spending a whole day with top-level speakers – mainly the world leaders that shaped events of the past decades (two per month, last Friday-Saturday in month) in an open, Chatham House rules-based atmosphere, all situated within the historic premises of the city on two continents.
On the 29th of April 2023, Dr. Franz Fischler, former senior Minister (of the EU accession government of Austria) and the subsequent EU Commissioner (of the two consecutive terms) in the context of the 3rd monthly round of the above-mentioned program, entertained its participants on various issues, ranging from the European Union, rural development to the global food (production, distribution and sovereignty) crisis, and all the consequences its entails (including the ongoing war in Ukraine).
Excellency Fischler will be remembered by the very bold Agricultural reform during his time in Brussels, serving both Prodi and Barroso EU Commission. By many independent account, Fischler’ reform is considered as the most successful agricultural reform in Europe of all times.
Commissioner Fischler left a lasting impression on the audience by combining logical political and business strategies, outlining important socio-developmental issues in detail, and leaving enough room for debate from a range of viewpoints. The political choices and plans Dr. Fischler have made throughout his tenure (in the government, Commission and Alpbach Forum) are based on well-known traits of Austria, the state of its economy at the time, history, and his personal capacity to vision global events.
Following his presentation, topics covered included managing a world that is changing quickly; demography and rural development; fishery, agriculture; ethical and safety implication of the GMO usage; as well as geopolitical changes, globalization, international political economy, and democracy, etc.
Elaborating on the current global crisis and food issues, Dr. Fischler gave the following outline:
Hunger and famine are mainly caused by 3 key drivers: military conflicts and terrorism, economic shocks and weather disasters.
Since 2020 the number of hungry people is rising and the aim to achieve zero hunger by 2030 is very likely out of reach.
There is an enormous geographic imbalance and an uneven-distribution of food within the global society.
The most vulnerable are women and children.
Most experts share the view that the world could nourish up to 10 Bio. people.
Fighting hunger means providing access to food and a fair distribution of food between all countries.
The Ukrainian war worsened food security internally and also globally by adding another 13 Mio to the food insecure people and to provide enough wheat for the World Food Programme.
The free access to the Black Sea ports is of utmost importance to be able to bring enough food to the Middle East and to North Africa.
Addressing the governance crisis in Europe and beyond, Excellency Commissioner expressed the pressing need for a new leadership style, visionary and bold politicians of new generation.
As the session was moving toward its end, Dr. Fischler gave his insights on the role of EU in the cooperation on continental and global level as well as within the World Trade Organization (WTO). Brief reference on the Alpbach Forum – as one of the most prestigious and eldest heavy-weights exchange formats, was made, too.
In closing the session, he took advantage of a question asked on his opinion of youth participation in politics and expressed his faith in the capacity of the emerging leaders of the next generation to work for the betterment of the world.
As the event draw to a close, Dr. Franz Fischler and President of ICYF, Taha AYHAN (as a principal host to the event) jointly expressed what all participants had already concluded throughout the day: that the Future Leaders Executive Program offers a unique setting. Excellency Commissioner and President Taha both agreed that this particular format – in which an established experience meets the new passions and drives through cross generational leaders’ talks – represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for emerging leaders from verities of environments: the state, intergovernmental, and corporate sectors of all meridians.
The day-long talks with Excellency Fischler was an enlightening, farsighted and engaging experience for all who participated. It gave a lasting impression on the attendees and inked a top standard stamp for the Program’s forthcoming rounds.
The mesmerising ship of insights and wisdom gets a full swing sail once again. Its next fascinating port of call awaits before too long, with a former Prime Minister of Norway, Bondevik, and former Presidetn of Slovenia and top positioned UN official, Danilo Türk (on 26th and 27th May).
Author:
Yagmur Ceylan Korkut Hassan
Yagmur Ceylan Korkut Hassan author is Madinah Group Istanbul Turkey Office Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer. She was attached to the office of European Union Youth and Education Turkey.
On 8 May, HRWF organized a conference titled “EU-Pakistan: Human rights, religious freedom and the GSP+”, at the Press Club in Brussels. MEP Peter van Dalen who has for years been a staunch defender of human rights in Pakistan could not be present but he sent us a video (Minute 14’32”) with a strong message on the issue.
NGO representatives in Belgium, Pakistan, Italy and the US participated in the event addressing a series of serious issues. HRWF has the pleasure to present you parts of José Luis Bazan’s contribution to the debate:
“What is the GSP+?
The Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) is an EU scheme which grants privileged access (reduced or zero duties) to the EU market to products from certain less developed countries. When the eligible country gets GSP+ status, its products across approximately 66% of all EU tariff linesenter the EU market with 0% duties.
To become a beneficiary of the GSP+ status, the beneficiary country must demonstrate a tangible progress on the implementation of 27 international treaties regarding labour rights, good governance, climate and environment, and human rights (including freedom of religion and other rights pertaining to religious minorities and their members).
The GSP+ has been very beneficial for Pakistani business, increasing their exports to the EU market by 65% since the country joined GSP+ in 2014. As a result of the GSP+, more than 76% of Pakistan’s exports enter the EU duty and quota free. This represents almost 20% of Pakistan’s exports globally.
Pakistan is a country of high concern for its systematic and serious religious freedom and other human rights’ violations.
On 29 April 2021, the European Parliament called on the Commission and the European External Action Service to immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of recent human rights abuses, as “the government systematically enforced blasphemy laws and failed to protect religious minorities from abuses by non-state actors, with a sharp rise in targeted killings, blasphemy cases, forced conversions, and hate speech against religious minorities (…); whereas abduction, forced conversion to Islam, rape and forced marriage remained an imminent threat for religious minority women and children in 2020, particularly those from the Hindu and Christian faiths”.
We must also pay attention to the violation of the educational freedom of students and parents of religious minorities in the education system:
o The new Single National Curriculum (SNC) violates the right not to receive religious instruction against the religious beliefs of parents and those of the child: it imposes Muslim instruction in non-religious mandatory subjects (History, Mathematics…).
o The evaluation system that empowers the knowledge of Islam giving extra points to them, discriminating non-Muslim students.
o Authorised schoolbooks promote Islam among non-Muslim students in public schools.
On Jan. 17, 2023, the Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously voted to expand the country’s laws on blasphemy extending the punishment to those deemed to have insulted the Muhammad ‘s wives, family and companions, with 10 years in prison or life imprisonment. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has asked the Government, through its police, to deal more carefully with blasphemy cases and avoid the misuse of blasphemy laws,[1] in a process in August 2022.
The extreme social and legal vulnerability of members of religious minorities in Pakistan, most of them belonging to the poorest sections of society, make them easy targets of abuse, with no real possibility of claiming their human rights in a due process, often denied in law or in fact, in a context where the police and judicial authorities (particularly those of the lower courts) show little or no interest in prosecuting the crimes of which they are victims and in protecting their fundamental rights.
Why now?
The European Commission proposed on 22 September 2021 a new GSP Regulation, as the current one in force expires on 31 December 2023.New international conventions will be added to the list of obligations that GSP countries should respect.
An EEAS/European Commission report which will be adopted by the College of Commissioners and addressed to the Council and Parliament should have been published at the beginning of 2023.
The proposed GSP regulation requires the approval of the Parliament and the Council through the ordinary legislative procedure. This increases the political nature of the GSP+ which will be more than a mere trade agreement. Unlike the European Parliament, the EU Council wishes to maintain the Commission proposal to make GSP aid to beneficiary countries conditional on the readmission of their nationals who are illegally present in the EU. This issue was the subject of a debate characterised by particularly strong German opposition. A comprehensive EU-Pakistan dialogue on migration was launched in November 2022, with Commissioner Johansson visiting Pakistan.
Once adopted, the new EU GSP Regulation will apply from 1 January 2024 for 10 years.
The European Commission extended Pakistan’s GSP+ status but it will have to re-apply for get the GSP+ status before the end of 2015. Meanwhile, the current preferences continue to be applied.
Conclusions and proposals
This situation calls for a reassessment by the European Commission in its future discussions with the Pakistani authorities on the preservation of the country’s status as a beneficiary of GSP+ status, as it is clear that Pakistan shows little respect for the above-mentioned international obligations, in particular in relation to the country’s religious minorities. In addition, some report about how the ruling elite in Pakistan had used this instrument for their personal gains.[2]
Clear and precise demand for due legislation and practice should be made to Pakistani authorities in relation to religious freedom and minorities, as a condition to the GSP+ renewal, including:
Specific measures, such as:
1. Transfer of all blasphemy law cases to courts in the capital to avoid social pressure against first instance magistrates on the ground.
2. Immediate police protection of accused of blasphemy, and possible transfer to a safe place along with his family.
3. Criminal prosecution of false denouncers of blasphemy cases and severe punishment imposed upon them.
4. Disciplinary measures to members of the police and law enforcement bodies that don’t protect the accused of blasphemy or mishandle the case.
General measures, such as:
5. Reform of the National Single Curriculumand school textbooks with an appropriate portrayal of indigenous religious minorities, including their historical presence in the land, and their contribution to the country.
6. Due investigation, prosecution and condemnation of perpetrators of crimes against members of religious minorities.
7. Special Prosecutor/Court to protect minors belonging to religious minorities, including e.g., young girls against forced marriage, and an enforced ban of child marriage, making their consent non-valid in cases where the girl belongs to a religious minority.”
The second International Healthcare Week (IHW), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and supported by a wide range of healthcare sector partners, runs from 16 to 31 May in Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s strategic role as an innovation and investment healthcare hub in Asia.
The two flagship events of IHW are the third Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the HKTDC, and the 14th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair (Medical Fair), organised by the HKTDC.
Medical Fair exhibitors will include Hopebotics Limited which combines advanced intelligent wearable robot technology with neural engineering technology to help stroke survivors with their rehabilitation
Ms Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC (main picture, centre), said: “As an international financial centre, world-class research hub and important connector within the Guangdong-Hong-Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), Hong Kong offers an ideal platform for global healthcare development, with the city playing a pivotal role in the rapidly developing industry in Asia.”
Ms Fong was speaking at a news conference previewing the event yesterday. She was joined by Dr Donald Li, Chairman of the Elderly Commission (main picture, left) and Dr Lydia Leung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (right).
Ms Fong was pleased local and global healthcare industry players rapidly reconnecting after travel links returned to normal. “The second IHW provides the perfect opportunity to bring together the world’s elite in the medical, research and financial fields in Hong Kong,” she added. Ms Fong also welcomed and thanked healthcare sector partners for joining IHW. “Our partnerships make this event very meaningful and highlights the importance of collaboration to drive forward the healthcare industry. We hope to collaborate with more groups next year.”
IHW will also feature 10 other events.
Hospital Authority Convention 2023
HKMHDIA Medical Fair Forum – Hong Kong as the International MedTech Hub
CUHK ENT Conference 2023
Seminar on Embracing the Era of Genomic Medicine: Research, Training and Clinical Applications
Seminar on Let’s Talk about Eczema
35th Anniversary Prostate Health Check and Exhibition
Scientific Seminar – 2023 AIRP Course in Hong Kong
Seminar on Prevention of Sarcopenia and Frailty
CU Allergy Week 2023
HKVCA 22nd China Private Equity Summit 2023 – Panel Discussion on Healthcare and Biotechnology industries
ASGH will run on 17 and 18 May, with the first day held in-person at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and the second day taking place virtually.
Themed Reimagining the Future of Healthcare, the Summit will feature more than 80 speakers, including healthcare officials and organisations from around the world, international science and medical experts, university academics and researchers, investors, business leaders and financial specialists. They will discuss developments in public health, medical technology and healthcare investment and explore the future of the healthcare ecosystem and opportunities within it.
Mr John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, will deliver opening remarks on the first day, with Ms Yu Yanhong, Member of the Leading Party Members’ Group of the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Deputy Director of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, addressing the summit as a guest speaker.
Plenary sessions will feature diverse healthcare leaders and industry experts highlighting the evolution of healthcare and the importance of closer cross-sector collaboration. These are complemented by thematic sessions that deep dive into various aspects of healthcare, including biotech and medtech, climate change and health, wellness and much more.
Deal-sourcing and deal-making sessions at the events will help enterprises, start-ups, investors and buyers build connections and expand business.
Bonejoy Limited has developed biomimicking photocrosslinkable nanocomposite (BPN) bone grafts, which mimic the natural bone structure
ASGH Deal-Making on day one of the Summit will connect project owners with potential investors and business partners worldwide. The projects will cover pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, AI and digital health, community health and wellness, and more. To facilitate business matchmaking and provide exposure for projects in need of fundraising, live project pitching by more than 30 start-ups will take place in the ASGH exhibition area.
Also on day one, the InnoHealth Showcase and exhibition area at the HKCEC will feature more than 140 healthcare start-ups. The Business of Healthcare Advisory Zone will feature biotechnology and healthcare start-ups. Investors and industry experts will be on hand to offer a range of consulting services for start-ups, including fundraising, R&D cooperation, market access and more.
Medtech trends
The Medical Fair, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), is themed Unleash the Power of Smart Health.
This year’s event has attracted more than 300 exhibitors from Hong Kong, Canada, Mainland China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States. Highlighted zones include Biotechnology, Hospital Equipment, Rehabilitation and Elderly Care, World of Health & Wellness, Medical Supplies and Disposables and Laboratory Equipment & Manufacturing Solutions, along with pavilions from the HKMHDIA and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP). Zones will feature the latest medical technologies and equipment along with medical, healthcare and related services, enabling industry participants to source the latest products and services.
Pro-Med Technology Limited showcases a robotic exoskeleton that helps patients relearn how to walk following spinal cord injuries, a stroke or other brain traumas
Universities have become major medtech R&D hubs and six Hong Kong universities will showcase their accomplishments at the Medical Fair. The HKSTP pavilion will showcase cutting-edge technological developments from 30 corporations including start-ups it nurtured.
The Medical Fair will highlight a wide range of medical equipment, such as a robotic exoskeleton that helps patients relearn how to walk following spinal cord injuries, stroke or other brain traumas.
Also on display will be a 5G hearing aid that successfully cuts noise 90% and helps users hear in noisy places, and a breath ketone analyser that measures breath ketones to help users monitor diabetes and weight management.
Medical Fair events include the HKMHDIA Medical Fair Forum organised by the HKMHDIA in partnership with the HKTDC on the first day (16 May). The Hong Kong as the International MedTech Hub session will cover the needs of medical technology enterprises in Hong Kong and other GBA cities and unpack the medtech ecosystems in both places, covering everything from regulations and intellectual property issues to product design, manufacturing and cybersecurity.
The EXHIBITION+ hybrid model at the fair will let exhibitors and buyers from around the world continue conducting business online via the Click2Match smart business matching platform until 25 May.
