Inaugural visit of the Egyptian Ambassador to Saxony-Anhalt

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Inaugural visit of the Egyptian Ambassador to Saxony-Anhalt

Thursday, 25 May 2023, Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt: Premier Dr. Reiner Haseloff received the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H. E. Mr Khaled Galal Abdelhamid, for his official inaugural visit to the State Chancellery in Magdeburg.

During the joint talks, among other things, the expansion of bilateral relations between Egypt and Saxony-Anhalt were discussed, and current political issues were exchanged.

The ties between Egypt and Saxony-Anhalt date back to the Middle Ages. In today’s Saxony-Anhalt, for example, the veneration of two Christian saints who originated in Egypt, Mauritius (leader of the Theban Legion) and Catherine (of Alexandria), the two patrons of Magdeburg Cathedral St. Mauritius and Catherine, were particularly pronounced.

Magdeburg Cathedral contains several columns and a fountain fragment from pre-Christian times that is used today as a baptismal font. The material of these ancient spolia – rose porphyry or purple stone – comes from the (Roman) quarries at Mons Porphyrites (Chebel Duchan Mountains) in Egypt.

For further information 

Government of Saxony-Anhalt: https://europa.sachsen-anhalt.de/internationales/aktuelles-international/antrittsbesuch-des-botschafters-der-arabischen-republik-aegypten

Embassy of Egypt in Germany: https://egyptian-embassy.de

National Autonomous University of Mexico wins 10th ICC Moot Court Competition, Spanish version

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National Autonomous University of Mexico wins 10th ICC Moot Court Competition, Spanish version

Today, 7 June 2023, the National Autonomous University of Mexico won the final round of the 10 th Edition of the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition, Spanish version, held in ICC Courtroom I in The Hague (Netherlands). On the judge’s bench for this competition were ICC Vice President Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, presiding judge on the competition, Judge Socorro Flores Liera and Judge Sergio Ugalde Godínez.

The University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and the University of Nariño (Colombia) won, respectively, second and third places. The award for the Best Speaker went to Julieta Valentina Ricagno of the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Members of the winning team are Diego Sánchez Acosta, Miguel Ángel Olvera Jácome, Juan Antonio Zamora and Héctor Germán Hernández Cardeña. The teams competed on a fictitious case, presenting oral arguments in the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Defense and Legal Representatives of Victims, which were web-streamed live on the Court’s website and Facebook page.

Members of the winning team from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Diego Sánchez Acosta, Miguel Ángel Olvera Jácome, Juan Antonio Zamora and Héctor Germán Hernández Cardeña.

The 10 th edition of the Spanish version of the ICC Moot Court Competition takes place as part of the annual Iberoamerican Week of International Justice and Human Rights, held in The Hague, and is organized by the Ibero-American Institute for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice (IIH), with the institutional support of the International Criminal Court. Top students of 10 universities from 6 countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Mexico and Uruguay) participated in the preliminary stage of this year’s ICC Moot Court Competition.

In the context of its Academic Programme, the ICC supports the organization of ICC Moot Court Competitions in Chinese, English, French and Spanish, with a view to also support an Arabic version in the future. These initiatives play a critical role in galvanizing interest in the Court’s work with academic communities as well as in enhancing promotion and respect for international criminal law.

Pakistan and the Netherlands: Celebrating 75 Years of Bilateral Relations

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Pakistan and the Netherlands: Celebrating 75 Years of Bilateral Relations

By Roy Lie Atjam

The Embassy of Pakistan in The Hague organised a talk by Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former Foreign Secretary and Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the Netherlands on his book “Diplomatic Footprint” (memoir). The book reading was on 5 May 2023, “Bevrijdingsdag”, liberation day in the Netherlands.

Diplomatic Footprint is a memoir offering commentary and first-hand accounts of topics from the perspective of an experienced diplomat. The 654 pages book in the English language was first published in 2021.

Hardcover, ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9693533682, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9693533682.

Diplomacy according to Mr Aiza A. Chaudhry, is a profession which requires diligence, finesse and tact. Chaudhry offers a unique points to understand Pakistan’s foreign policy choices.

Mr Aiza A. Chaudhry’s memoir describes meetings with world leaders like Biden, Obama, Ghani, Karzai, Xi, Putin, Modi, and other high officials, explaining from the perspective of a practitioner some of the difficult choices faced by the country’s leadership and its diplomats.

Mr Chaudhry has also written a book “Pakistan Mirrored to Dutch Eyes”, recounting an experiment in public diplomacy.

The event was organised to highlight the significant relationship between Pakistan and the Netherlands in connection with 75 years of bilateral relations, celebrations in Islamabad and the Hague. Among the attendees were members of the Dutch parliament, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, academia, journalists and members of the Pakistani community.

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry talking about his book Diplomatic Footprint, underlined the importance of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands and Pakistan’s overall foreign policy. Ambassador Chaudhry appreciated efforts by the Pakistan Embassy in further strengthening bilateral relations in areas of mutual benefit.

It was an enormous pleasure listing to the emeritus Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

Ambassador Suljuk Mustansar Tarar briefed the participants about enhanced bilateral cooperation including in the fields of trade and investment, water and agriculture between Pakistan and the Netherlands over the last 75 years.

Hong Kyun Kim enhances ties with Bundestag’s President Bas

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Hong Kyun Kim enhances ties with Bundestag’s President Bas

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: Korean Ambassador in Germany, Hong Kyun Kim was welcomed for a tête-à-tête by the President of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Bärbel Bas, a top politician from the Social Democratic Party. Speaker Bas is in office since 26 October 2021.

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of an embassy’s mission in a given foreign country. Germany maintains a bilateral parliamentary system, with a Bundestag elected directly by the electorate as well as one upper chamber representing the German federal states, or Länder. Whereas Korea is home to but a unilateral National Assembly (대한민국 국회 大韓民國國會). The National Assembly has 300 seats, with 253 constituency seats and 47 proportional representation seats; 30 of the proportional representation seats are assigned on additional member system, whereas 17 proportional seats use the parallel voting method. Incumbent Speaker is Kim Young-joo. 

Ambassador Kim joined the Foreign Service in 1984. He has been stationed in the USA, Senegal, Switzerland, Thailand as well as Belgium throughout his career. He took up the office of Ambassador Extraordintary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea on 24 October 2022 upon his accreditation before Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, that took place at Bellevue Palace in Berlin-Tiergarten neighbourhood. 
Previous to his ambassadorship, Ambassador Hong Kyung Kim was briefly Senior Staff at the Subcommittee on Foreign and National Security, The 20th Presidential Transition Committee from March 2022. Ambassador Kim has served in the capacity as Deputy Minister for Political Affairs as well as Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs.

 
Hong Kyun Kim holds a M.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, USA. 

For further information

Embassy of Korea in Germany: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/de-de/index.do

National Assembly of Korea: https://korea.assembly.go.kr:447

Yadir Salazar Mejía encounters Speaker Bas in the Bundestag

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Yadir Salazar Mejía encounters Speaker Bas in the Bundestag

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: Colombia’s Ambassador in Germany, Yadir Salazar Mejía was welcomed for a tête-à-tête by the Speaker of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Bärbel Bas, a top politician from the Social Democratic Party. Speaker Bas is in office since 26 October 2021, and joined the Bundestag back in 2009.

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of an embassy’s mission in a given foreign country. Germany maintains a bilateral parliamentary system, with a Bundestag elected directly by the electorate as well as one upper chamber representing the German federal states, or Bundesländer.

Whereas Colombia is also home to a bicameral legislature, namely a lower house, or House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes) with 188 seats as well as a 108-seat Senate, the upper house. Both chambers are elected through universal suffrage. David Racero is the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Ambassador Salazar Mejía was accredited in Germany on 24 October 2022 at Bellevue Palace. She speaks Spanish, English, German and French. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics of European Integration from the University of the Saarland, Germany as well as a Certificate in Environmental Management and Global Climate Change from Harvard University, USA. 

Salazar began her diplomatic career in 1997, and has served in Bonn (1999-2005, First Secretary of Foreign Affairs at the Embassy of Colombia in Germany – Head of Economic Affairs and Human Rights, Bonn, and Berlin); New York City (from 2010-2011, Alternate Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations); Washington D.C. (2011-2016 Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the Organization of American States – OAS) as well as Berlin (from October 2020, Minister Plenipotentiary; subsequently since August 2022 Chargée d’affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in Germany). She was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany in September 2022. 

For further information 


Colombian House of Representatives: https://www.camara.gov.co
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in Germany: 

https://alemania.embajada.gov.co/acerca/embajador

Parliamentary exchanges between Delattre & Bas 

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Parliamentary exchanges between Delattre & Bas 

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, Berlin, Germany: The French Republic’s Ambassador in Germany, François Delattre was welcomed for a tête-à-tête by the Speaker of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Bärbel Bas, a top politician from the Social Democratic Party. Speaker Bas is in office since 26 October 2021, and joined the Bundestag back in 2009.

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important component of an embassy’s mission in a given foreign country. Germany maintains a bilateral parliamentary system, with a Bundestag elected directly by the electorate as well as one upper chamber representing the German federal states, or Bundesländer, 16 in total.

Whereas France is also home to a bicameral legislature, namely a National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) with 577 seats as well as a 348-seat Senate, the upper house; elected partially by the country’s local councillors (in indirect elections) as well as by representatives of French citizens living abroad. Yaël Braun-Pivet is the incumbent National Assembly President. 

For further information 
French National Assembly: https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr

International Yoga Day 2023

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International Yoga Day 2023


The 9th edition of the International Day of Yoga will be celebrated in nine cities
The Embassy of India in the Netherlands and the Gandhi Centrum invite one and all to participate in this year’s event.

The events are organized by yoga enthusiasts, institutes, foundations and local community organizations in collaboration with the Embassy of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Yoga is an ancient tradition from India that combines physical, mental and spiritual practices to achieve harmony between body and mind. It is practiced by millions of people around the world.

Yoga Day The Hague 2016

On December 11, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 International Day of Yoga (IDY). The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from the ancient tradition of India. It embodies the unity of mind and body; thinking and doing; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but about discovering the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature”. The first IDY was celebrated around the world on June 21, 2015.

International Yoga Day by the Embassy of India 2018.

The Embassy of India in the Netherlands has been celebrating IDY every year since 2015. The IDY events planned for this year are at VU University on June 03, Utrecht on June 10, Eindhoven on June 11, Amstelveen on June 17, The Hague on June 18, Rotterdam on June 21, Roermond on June 24, Wageningen on June 25 and Leeuwarden on July 8.

More than 2000 people are expected to participate in these events.

For details see:

www.indianembassynetherlands.gov.in

The Gandhi Centre, cultural center of the Embassy of India, offers regular yoga classes. The center also organizes yoga events from time to time in different cities in schools and universities.

Chemical Industry of Uzbekistan Potential of the chemical industry

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Chemical Industry of Uzbekistan Potential of the chemical industry

By Mukhammadjon Rashidov

The chemical industry of Uzbekistan plays an important role not only in diversifying exports and strengthening the macroeconomic indicators of the republic, but also in providing the necessary products of other industries, and in meeting the vital needs of citizens. The number of consumers of chemical industry products includes agriculture, furniture, mining, electronic and electrical, oil and gas, construction, food industry and others.

To date, 44 enterprises and organizations operate in the system of JSC “Uzkimyosanoat”, of which 30 enterprises and organizations with a share of JSC “Uzkimyosanoat” in the authorized fund, 14 enterprises and organizations operating (associated) with JSC “Uzkimyosanoat”.

Currently, such large enterprises as JSC “Navoiazot”, JSC “Maxam-Chirchiq”, JSC “Fargonazot”, JSC “Ammophos-Maxam”, JSC “Dehkanabad Potash Plant”, JSC “Kungrad Soda Plant”, LLC “First Rubber Plant” and others operate in the Uzbek market. Today, the enterprises of JSC “Uzkimyosanoat” produce more than 180 types of chemical products.

Leading enterprises of the chemical industry

  • JSC “Navoiazot” has the following production capacities: ammonium nitrate — 950 thousand tons, carbamide — 577.5 thousand tons, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) — 100 thousand tons, methanol — 300 thousand tons, caustic soda — 75 thousand tons, etc.
  • JSC “Fargonazot” produces 530 thousand tons of ammonium nitrate, 400 thousand tons of urea, 20 thousand tons of sodium chlorate, 4.5 tons of sodium nitrate, 3.0 thousand tons of baking soda, etc.
  • JSC “Maxam-Chirchiq” produces 450,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, 270 thousand tons of urea, 294 thousand tons of ammonium sulfate, 60 thousand tons of low-density ammonium nitrate (LDAN) and others.
  • The capacity of JSC “Ammophos-Maxam” for the production of phosphorus fertilizers is 217.5 thousand tons.
  • In JSC “Dehkanabad Potash Plant” the production capacity for the potassium chloride is 600 thousand tons.
  • The capacity for the production of soda ash in LLC “Kungrad Soda Plant” is 200 thousand tons.
  • LLC “First Rubber Plant” has the following production capacities: automobile tires — 3.0 million units, agricultural tires — 200 thousand units, conveyor belt — 100 thousand linear meters.

Industry dynamics in 2022

Chemical enterprises in January-November 2022, produced products worth 14.4 trillion sums (growth rate — 108.1%). In particular, 1,424.4 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers were produced in pure form (growth — 102.5%), of which 1,097.5 thousand tons of nitrogen fertilizers (growth — 101.0%), 149.7 thousand tons of phosphorus fertilizers (growth — 118.9%) and 177.2 thousand tons of potash fertilizers (growth — 100%). The industry exported (to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Japan, Turkey, China, Afghanistan and Thailand) chemical products worth $461.2 million (130% of the plan, 1.4 times more, compared to the same period last year).

According to the investment program, $170.9 million of investments should be disbursed in 20 investment projects in 2022, including: $60.0 million in the framework of the project “Organization of production of complex mineral fertilizers at the enterprise of JSC Samarqandkimyo”, $35.0 million in the framework of the project “Organization of production of polyvinyl chloride at JSC Navoiazot” (stage II), $37.3 million within the framework of the project “Production of dry cyanols at JSC Navoiazot” and $39.0 million at the expense of the enterprises’ own funds.

On February 3, 2022, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-116 “On measures to create a chemical-industrial technopark “Chirchiq” in the Tashkent region” was adopted. A joint project of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tatarstan to create a chemical-industrial technopark “Chirchik” was launched in March last year. As part of this project, in 2022, Uzkimyosanoat JSC allocated funds in the amount of $18 million for the 1st stage of construction and installation works of technopark facilities, as a result of which 6 production units were built.

Currently, 16 projects totaling more than $50 million are being implemented in the technopark due to foreign direct investment. Thanks to the implementation of these projects, the production of over 30 new import-substituting goods with high added value will be mastered and 800 new jobs will be created. The production of such goods as polypropylene foam and products made of it, thermoplastic elastoplast and products made of it, fiberglass polymer products, fuel combustion catalysts for diesel engines, biofertilizers for plants, CPL panels for the furniture industry, stationery, charging stations for electric vehicles, cosmetics and household chemicals, medical simulators will be established.

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-388 dated October 10, 2022 “On approval of the Target Program for strategic development of the chemical and gas chemical industry” defines the creation of technological clusters “Navoi Chemical Technopark”, “Fergana Chemical Technopark” and “Karakalpakstan Chemical Technopark”, within which 44 investment projects will be launched in 2022-2027. As a result, about 4,000 new jobs will be created and the production of various chemical products with high added value will be ensured, as well as direct investments and foreign loans in the amount of $9.9 billion will be attracted. It is planned to establish production of methanol, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), monoethylene glycol (MEG), PVC, soda ash and other types of products in the new technoparks.

In total, at the end of last year, 1,467.9 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers should be produced, of which 1,114.2 thousand tons of nitrogen, 160.0 thousand tons of phosphorus, 193.7 thousand tons of potash fertilizers, the volume of production has been brought to 15.3 trillion sums (or 106.2% of the plan), and annual export figures — up to $473.2 million with over-fulfillment of the established plan by 118.1%.

Plans for 2023

In 2023, the volume of chemical industry goods is planned to reach the level of 18.5 trillion sums (growth — 112.0%). In total, 1605.7 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers in pure form will be produced (growth — 109.4%), of which: nitrogen — 1,217.6 thousand tons (growth — 109.3%), phosphorus — 160.1 thousand tons (growth — 100.1%), potash fertilizers — 228.0 thousand tons (growth — 117.7%).

In 2023, based on the investment program, $417.5 million of investments will be disbursed within the framework of 17 projects, in particular, $357.1 million of foreign direct investment and loans, 3 projects with a total cost of $280.0 million will be launched and 570 new jobs will be created.

At the same time, due to the launch of the project “Organization of a complex for the production of mineral fertilizers at JSC “Samarqandkimyo”, it is planned to produce 600 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers per year. As a result of the implementation of the project “Production of dry cyansols at JSC “Navoiazot”, 40 thousand tons of cyansols per year will be produced. The implementation of the project “Production of technical gas (CO2) on the basis of JSC “Navoiazot” will serve the annual production of technical gas in the amount of 20 thousand tons.

In 2023, the chemical industry enterprises of the republic plan to export products worth $492.9 million (an increase of 104.2%), including mineral fertilizers worth $390.6 million.

In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PP-388 dated October 10, 2022 “On approval of the Target Program for Strategic development of the chemical and gas chemical industry”, it is planned to implement measures to sell shares of JSC Fargonazot and JSC Dehkanabad Potash Plant, privatize the share of JSC Uzkimyosanoat in LLC Kyzylkum Phosphorite Complex, realization of a share in the authorized capital (100.0%) of LLC “First Rubber Plant”. The mechanism of work on the privatization of industrial enterprises and the continuation of transformation processes in the chemical industry has also been determined.

Conclusion

In order to establish the production of innovative chemical and biological plant protection products (herbicides, insecticides), seeds of field crops (corn, wheat, animal feed, etc.) in Uzbekistan, it is advisable to attract foreign investors with innovative technologies to the development of the industry to establish domestic production, since the share of imports of foreign chemical products in the domestic market will remain high.

Such well-known manufacturers of household chemicals as Bayer AG, Procter&Gamble, Henkel, Colgate-Palmolive, Amway, deserve special attention, taking into consideration that they have left the Russian market and with which it is possible to establish joint production of personal hygiene products, household chemicals (cosmetics, shampoos, shower gels and deodorants), washing powders and other products in Uzbekistan, as well as organize their export to other countries.

The foundation created in the industry in recent years is able to ensure the dynamics of sustainable growth of the potential of the chemical industry in the coming years.

At the same time, the creation of a solid base for the long-term consistent development of all areas of the chemical industry creates the need to accelerate the transformation of the sphere, taking into account the most advanced foreign experience. The acceleration of the privatization of large industrial enterprises of the chemical industry will make a great contribution to the development of the chemical industry.

About the author:

Mukhammadjon Rashidov, Center for Economic Research and Reforms[1] under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

[1] The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan is both a research center and an Accelerator of socio-economic reforms. CERR provides comments and advice on suggestions for socio-economic programming and policies by the Ministries to solve the main development issues in a swift, operational and efficient way. CERR is in the Central Asian Top-10 by the «Global Go To Think Tank Index Report 2020» (USA).

The Hague Academy of International Law Celebrated its 100th Anniversary

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The Hague Academy of International Law Celebrated its 100th Anniversary

A Centenary of the Hague Academy of International Law

By Roy Lie Atjam

The Hague Academy of International Law, housed in the Peace Palace, celebrated its 100th anniversary. Various international guests, including jurists, diplomats, politicians and prominent lawyers, attend a celebratory session on May 24th 2023.

The Hague Academy is a centre for education and research in the field of international public- and private law. The Academy is renowned for its summer and winter courses and has trained more than hundreds of future lawyers and diplomats, from around the globe. The first courses of the Hague Academy of International Law were in 1923.

Prof. Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law.

It all began with Tobias Asser, the first Dutch national awarded the Nobel Peace Laureate in 1911. He contributed to the founding of The Hague Academy of International Law by donating part of his prize money. Asser is also the founder of The Hague Tradition. Tobias Asser was all means a diplomatic genius.

Speakers at the solemn sitting on the occasion of the centenary of the Academy were:

Prof. Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of the Academy, opened  the solemn sitting to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of The Hague Academy of International Law. He stated. “The founders of our institution understood that international civil society, whose foundation is international law, needed an institution like the Academy to better study, understand, disseminate and critique international law so that it could be improved and updated. The Academy has fulfilled this role very well and has occupied a unique position as a result.”

Mr Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague.

Prof. Geneviève Bastid-Burdeau, former Secretary-General of the Academy

H.E. Mr. Paul van den IJssel, Ambassador for International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands.

Mr Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague. In his remarks, he mentioned Tobias Asser strongly advocated for the Academy to be located in The Hague. The dissemination of knowledge and the training of new generations of jurists were matters dear to him.

Following a brief musical interlude the following speakers addressed the festive gathering.

Mr Piet Hein Donner, President of the Board of the Academy

H.E. Judge Peter Tomka, Judge at the International Court of Justice

H.E. Judge Hilary Charlesworth, Judge at the International Court of Justice

Mr. Peter Trooboff, Attorney at Law, Member of the Curatorium of the Academy from 1991 to 2019

Mr. Apollin Koagne Zouapet and Ms. Suzanne Zhou, Alumni of the Academy.

H.E. Mr. Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala and Professor, judge Yves Daudet.

On the occasion of the Centenary of The Hague Academy of International Law, the government of the Republic of Guatemala conferred the Orden del Mérito por Servicios Distinguidos, en grado de Gran Cruz, on The Hague Academy of International Law.

H.E. Mr. Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, presented the paraphernalia appertaining to the distinction to Professor and judge Yves Daudet, president of the curatorial of the Hague Academy.

Professor Yves Daudet, president of the curatorial of the Hague Academy, at the end of the conference, looked hopeful towards the future: “The Academy’s courses will continue to offer students a range of issues and reflections that complement the knowledge acquired at university. By opening themselves to innovative, sometimes ignored and elementary aspects, students will be able to organize their thoughts on a subject whose importance they have realized and learned to love, which is essential to practising the profession well.”

Upon departing, guests received a copy of the reference book 100th Anniversary.

A Reception generously supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala concluded the celebration of the  Centenary of the Hague Academy of International Law.

A Glimpse at History’s Most Expensive Qur’an

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A Glimpse at History’s Most Expensive Qur’an

By Prof. Richard T. Griffiths

Researching for the Silk Road Virtual Museum leads me to avenues that I never thought existed. Let me share this one with you. It starts at Christie’s Auction House in London. It is 25 June 2020 and we are here for its sale of Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets.

There was much interest in Lot 29 which was a copy of a fifteenth century Qur’an, printed on coloured Chinese paper and which was estimated to sell for between £600,000 and £900,000.

As always, there was a tension in the room. Most objects were going for near their estimated prices, but there were already two spectacular results. Lot 4, an early 13th century Iranian jug estimated to fetch between £50,000-70,000, was sold for over £400,000.

Lot 24, a Mamluk brass ewer, inlaid with silver and gold, which had been estimated to fetch £200,000-300,000, changed hands for almost £800,000 pounds. So, at first, no one was too surprised when the bidding for Lot 29 passed its estimate… and kept climbing.

Here is a screen shot of the moment when the bidding passed £6,000,000.

The bidding did not stop there. Agents, with telephones held to their ears, exchanged nervous glances to see who would back down first. Of course, all but one were to do so…. But not before the price reached £7,016,250 (€7,717,875 or $8,770,312)

So what do you get for that amount of money? One gets a 15th century copy of the Qur’an probably transcribed in Herat. What makes it special is the beautiful coloured paper, flecked with gold and occasionally decorated with flowers, that had been produced in China. Each of its 534 folios are dyed in rich hues of deep blue, turquoise, pink, purple, orange, green, yellow and cream. Look at the Qur’an from its side and this is what you see:

The kaleidoscopic variety was meant both to honour God in all His infinite variety and to evoke a pleasurable aesthetic response in the worshiper. 

The use of coloured paper in the Islamic world was not new but Chinese paper, with its luscious finish, vibrant colours and exotic designs, had a special attraction. And because the paper had been permeated with white lead, it has a silky texture which made it soft to handle.

We still don’t know the exact formula with which the paper was permeated and dyed. There are only four known versions of this paper in the world none of which is as ornate as this.

So, you ask yourself, where does the book come from and where can you go to see it? Well, that is where we have a small problem. Usually, you would expect a beautiful volume like this to have passed through the hands of kingly courts and famous libraries, or even rich private owners.

However, the only provenance given by Christie’s for this Qur’an was that it was bought by the vendor’s father in London in the 1980s. And the vendor’s identity is not revealed. You might think that this is not very satisfactory, but for Christies it was more than enough. The statement means that the Qur’an was already in London in the 1980s, and since we know nothing of its previous history, it automatically falls outside the 1954 Convention, designed to protect cultural items in times of war, and the 1970 UNESCO Convention which banned the illicit trafficking of cultural property. You might suspect that something is wrong, but without proof there is absolutely nothing you can do.

Let us now turn to the second question was – where can you go to see it? The first answer that you can’t. The identity of the purchaser is also a secret. He or she can peruse it at their leisure, until it presumably re-emerges onto the art market. At a second level, the answer is that there is a good chance that no one will ever see it intact again. A dealer will most likely dismember the book and sell it folio by folio.

Let us take a look at the economics. We have paid over seven million pounds for a book with 534 folios. That comes out at a little over £13,000 pounds per folio. On 24 October 2019, at another sale of Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets, Christie’s auctioned two folios from a Timurid manuscript, dating from 1465. One depicted the prophet Mohammed arriving at the second heaven, of pearls, the second showed the Angel of Death. The two, together, sold for £848,750. pounds. As for the provenance of those two pages – they had been sold privately by Christie’s before, in 2016 – so that was OK.

Looked at in this way, it is easy to appreciate why you don’t have to sell many of the pages to recoup your seven million pounds. As long as unscrupulous dealers are willing to dismember intact folios and equally avaricious collectors willing to part with vast sums to own the fragment, and auction houses more than willing to take their commission from vendors and buyers alike, we will continue to see more and more of these volumes filleted for private consumption.

It is not much of a compensation, but fortunately, you can download images of all the pages at the address shown here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j9mq9232ih7fig6/AAAhuQJe9JfRSu6uRPas4fAUa?dl=0

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