On 22 March 2023, H.E. Mr Rodrigo Alberto Chaves Robles, President of Costa Rica, visited the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was received by ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański, ICC Registrar Mr Peter Lewis and ICC Registrar Elect Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler. As part of the Costa Rican delegation was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr Arnoldo André Tinocoand H.E. Mr.Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Netherlands.
H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E. Dr. Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, the President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chavez Robles, the ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański and the ICC Registrar Peter Lewis .
Thanking President Chaves for his visit and for Costa Rica’s multifaceted and sustained support of the Court, President Hofmański stated: “The leadership Costa Rica has shown during the first two decades of the ICC is of immense importance for international criminal justice. As the Court faces a heavy workload, the commitment and cooperation of the States Parties to the Rome Statute remains as important as ever for the delivery of the ICC’s mandate.”
Mr. Rodrigo Chavez Robles, President of Costa Rica and ICC registrar elect, Mr. Osvaldo Zavala Giler.
Costa Rican President H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Alberto Chaves Robles stated: “In these times of great global challenges, it is essential to have an independent and impartial International Criminal Court to guarantee that the worst international crimes do not go unpunished. Costa Rica reaffirms its unwavering commitment to international criminal justice, the integrity of the Rome Statute and the protection of the judicial independence of the International Criminal Court. It is equally essential to ensure justice for victims, including through assistance, especially to the most vulnerable, as well as the rehabilitation of those who have suffered physical and psychological trauma. We must continue to vigorously promote the Rome Statute to achieve its universality.”
The visit of President Chaves to the ICC highlights Costa Rica’s commitment to the Court and the joint efforts deployed in the fight against the impunity of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes that affect the international community as a whole. Costa Rica signed the Rome Statute on 7 October 1998 and deposited its instrument of ratification of the Rome Statute on 7 June 2001.
The President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chavez Robles and the ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański after meetings.
The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute refers to threats against the International Criminal Court as well as measures announced against its Prosecutor and Judges involved in the issuance of arrest warrants in the Ukraine situation. The Presidency of the Assembly regrets these attempts to hinder international efforts to ensure accountability for acts that are prohibited under general international law.
The Presidency of the Assembly emphasizes that the Court, its elected officials, and its staff have the strong support of the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute. We reaffirm its full confidence in the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution and reiterate our strong commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats.
The International Criminal Court embodies our collective commitment to fight impunity for the gravest international crimes. As an institution of last resort, the Court is complementary to national jurisdictions. We call on all States to respect its judicial and prosecutorial independence.
19-21 March 2023, North Macedonia: European Affairs Minister Nathanael Liminski travelled to North Rhine-Westphalia’s partner country North Macedonia for bilateral talks. In the capital Skopje, the Minister was received at government level and exchanged views with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and Foreign Minister Dr Bujar Osmani on joint projects within the framework of the partnership. Other important topics are the EU accession process and economic cooperation. The aim of the delegation trip is to support the Western community of values and a strong Europe through a variety of close relations in politics, business and civil society.
Minister Liminski as per statement below in its original German-language version: “The answer to Putin’s heinous war of aggression against Ukraine is a united European community of values. We counter Russian attempts to fuel conflicts in the Western Balkans by continuing and intensifying our close cooperation within the friendly family of states. Northern Macedonia belongs to Europe. The state government therefore very much welcomes the fact that the first EU accession conference finally got underway last year. After two years of partnership, we can already look back on many successful joint projects – for example, we have been able to support the development of competitive and sustainable agricultural structures, launched initiatives for civil society and community actors, and arranged counselling, training and internships for young students and graduates to improve their career opportunities.”
The Minister was accompanied by a business delegation invited to the trip by NRW Global Business together with the Dortmund Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The entrepreneurs from North Rhine-Westphalia are looking at North Macedonia as a possible production location with a view to permanently securing currently disrupted or interrupted supply chains and as an investment location. The partner country offers foreign investors particularly favourable framework conditions and has created several special economic zones in the country. The German Chamber of Foreign Trade in Skopje supports the expansion of economic ties.
In Skopje, Minister Liminski visited, inter alia, the Düsseldorf-based manufacturer of pharmaceutical packaging Gerresheimer and exchange views with young professionals, interns and scholarship holders from support projects of the state government. The trainings and internships within the framework of the funded projects in cooperation with the World University Service (WUS) as well as the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) facilitate the transition from studies to the labour market for the participants and offer them custom-fit additional qualifications that they can use on the domestic labour market.
North Macedonia has been a partner country of North Rhine-Westphalia since 1 March 2021 and is supported by North Rhine-Westphalia on its way into the EU. North Macedonia has been an official EU candidate since 2005, and the first accession conference took place in 2022. There are 100,000 people of Macedonian origin living in Germany, 41,000 of them in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Wednesday, 14 December 2022, Stockholm, Kingdom of Sweden: Mali’s non-resident ambassador to Sweden, Oumou Sall-Seck was received for a ceremony of presentation of credentials by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at the Royal Palace in the city-centre.
Oumou Sall-Seck is a graduate in Cooperation and Development from Mandé Bukari University, Bamako, Mali, and holds a Certificate in International Law and Comparative Human Rights Law of the International Institute of Human Rights (IIDH) in Strasbourg, France.
She had pursued a political career previous to her ambassadorship and had served in the capacity as an expert to the High Representative of the President of Republic of Mali for the dialogue and inclusive inter-Malian talks of Algiers, and subsequently was a member of the Office of the Commissioner for Security Sector Reform CSSR
Most of you will have noticed that the results of last week’s election were pretty spectacular. The traditional big parties lost, the ultra-right FVV got chopped, and a brand new party won spectacularly big. The BBB, the Movement of Farmers and Townspeople became so successful, that they are now the biggest party in all of the provinces in The Netherlands. This means that they will also become the biggest party in the Dutch “Eerste Kamer”, the Senate. This is because while the “Tweede Kamer” is chosen directly by the voters, the Senate is chosen by the members of the provincial “States” or provincial parliaments. The ruling coalition will then no longer have a majority in the Senate and will have to adapt its nitrogen policies.
The important thing, however, was how the country and the powers that be reacted to this political tsunami. There were no complaints about voting fraud, broken machines, or the sheer impossibility of the outcome. Except for the FVV, which kept mum, the coalition parties reacted quietly and chastened. They realise there is much discontent and expressed that they had to change and get closer to the public. ‘Of course, the BBB must now lead in the formation of the provincial coalitions’, was the general reaction.
This dignified dealing with the new situation, the lack of ad hominem attacks, and the acceptance of having to deal with the new situation are in stark contrast with the extreme partisan policies in many other countries.
It may have escaped a lot of ex-pats that there were simultaneous elections for “Waterschappen”.
These are public bodies that deal with everything to do with water. They protect the land against floods, regulate the groundwater level, manage the locks, and maintain thousands of kilometers of dykes. But why is there a need for special bodies to do this and why is it a political entity rather than an administrative organization?
First of all, there is tradition. The oldest Waterschap was founded 777 years ago by Count Willem II of Holland. Secondly, because of the lay of the land, they do not conform exactly to the borders of the provinces, and they have mainly functioned very well indeed, so why fix something that isn’t broken?
Then, why are there elections for these bodies? Well, different parties have very different priorities for water management. Farmers may like to have the groundwater level lower than nature lovers, river traffic has different views about the water level and currents in the rivers and canals than people living along them. Whenever major forces are pulling in different directions, a consensus has to be found and by having the Waterschappen be an elective body, everyone’s voice can be heard.
We are not perfect. The problems with the earthquakes in Groningen and the subsidy scandal are clear proof of that, but the way we dealt with the election result and the archaic but efficient institution of the Waterschappen, makes your correspondent proud to be Dutch.
Friday, 17 March 2023, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany: Eurogroup President and Irish Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe was in Berlin to celebrate the Irish national day, Saint Patrick’s Day, and used the opportunity for meetings in Frankfurt, Cologne and naturally Berlin, the days prior to the actual St Patrick’s Day holiday.
He started his visit by paying a call on the European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde, where he presented her with the national emblem – the shamrock. The same evening, he attended a reception hosted by Ireland’s Consul General in Frankfurt, Anne-Marie Flynn, held in the Deutsches FilmMuseum, with several hundred guests in attendance. The following day, he had a great exchange with students at the Frankfurt European School where he fielded questions about his favourite football team.
Presentation of the Ambassador of Ireland – St Patrick Day’s Award to Prof. Dr. Katharina Rennhak.
Travelling on to Cologne, he attended a national day reception hosted by Ireland’s Honorary Consul General in Cologne, Brigitte Wagner-Halswick, featuring a strong contingent of business people in attendance.
In Berlin, Minister Donohoe had the opportunity to meet with key interlocutors, including Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner; State Secretary at the Federal Chancellorship Jörg Kukies; as well as the Chair of the Bundestag Finance Committee, Alois Rainer.
President of the Eurogroup, Minister Paschal Donohoe & German Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner.
Ambassador Dr Nicholas O’Brien hosted two receptions at the embassy’s chancery in Berlin, such is the popularity of the Irish national day. At lunchtime, a reception was held for the diplomatic community, and key official and business contacts. In the evening, there was a party atmosphere to the reception for the Irish community. The Ambassador recalled the strength of the German-Irish relationship within the context of shared membership of the European Union.
Presenting shamrock to President Lagarde.
Minister Donohoe acknowledged the contribution which Ambassador O’Brien has made to Irish foreign policy both in his current role and his previous role as State Secretary in the Finance Ministry. The Minister spoke about several commemorations, which Ireland will celebrate this year, namely i) 100 years as a nation engaged on the international stage, ii) 50 years of EU membership and iii) 25 years since the Good Friday Peace Agreement was signed.
Concluding his remarks at the official reception, Ambassador O’Brien presented the annual ‘Ambassador of Ireland – St Patrick’s Day Award’ to Prof. Dr. Katharina Rennhak of Wuppertal University for her contribution to the deepening of relations between Ireland and Germany and specifically her work on promoting Irish Studies in Germany.
Latvia is renowned for its Old City of Riga, beautiful natural surroundings, and rich cultural heritage. It is also a shining example of democratic government in the Post-Soviet era. Every November 18, Latvians celebrate their history and traditions during a patriotic period. On November 16, 2022, the Latvian Ambassador, Her Excellency Ms. Aiga Liepina, hosted a reception at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in The Hague to celebrate this special occasion with diplomat and friends of Latvia.
During her address to the distinguished guests, Ms. Liepina emphasized the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and Latvia’s shared Post-Soviet legacy and struggle for self-determination. She acknowledged the pain and suffering of the Ukrainian people and declared that this year’s National Day celebrations would be different for Latvia.
“The history of my country is an inspiring tale of perseverance and determination, transformation and resilience. It is a testament to the unyielding spirit of a people and a nation that have overcome daunting challenges, resisted oppression, and emerged as leaders. We are blessed today with peace and abundant opportunities, but our thoughts are also with Ukraine. The military aggression unleashed by Russia against Ukraine in February remains an ongoing and painful reminder to my fellow citizens that freedom cannot be taken for granted. For us, freedom is an action – a verb that requires constant vigilance and effort.”
The Ambassador of Latvia, welcoming the guests.
She also expressed her gratitude to the International Hague community for their support and invited them to raise a glass to the independence of Latvia and freedom for all nations.
Ms. Liepina also highlighted the importance of peace and justice and Latvia’s commitment to effective multilateralism. She praised the successful cooperation between Latvia and the Netherlands and their shared determination to create a better future.
“We, have an existential interest in effective multilateralism, therefore, Latvia will continue to work actively and closely with our host country, The Netherlands, and with you all towards this aim in the spirit of optimism and determination.
Our future starts here and now – decisions we make today may bring a different perspective on tomorrow.
I thank you for joining us tonight, and for being our partners in support of the independence and freedom that we all hold dear.” Ambassador Liepina expressed.
Latvia National Day.
The reception was a great success, and Latvia’s message of hope and solidarity resonated with all in attendance. The celebration of Latvia’s treasured values was a joyous occasion, and we congratulate Latvia on this special day and look forward to many more celebrations of their rich history and traditions.
Monday, 20 March 2023, Munich, Free State of Bavaria: At Prince Carl’s Palace, the Bavarian Minister of European Affairs Melanie Huml welcomed Oman’s top envoy to Germany, Maitha Saif Majid Al Mahrouqi, for the latter’s maiden visit to Bavaria since her accreditation to the Federal Republic of Germany, that took place on Tuesday, 22 November 2022.
The ambassadorial visit in Bavaria follows a 29-member strong economic mission led in November 2022 by the Bavarian State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Roland Weigert. In Muscat, Weigert exchanged views with Mohammed bin Nasser Al Wahaibi, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Firas Al Abduwani, Managing Director of the state-owned hydrogen company Hydrom, among others. A networking meeting with H.H. Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al Said, the patron of the Omani-German Friendship Association, Thomas F. Schneider, the German Ambassador to Oman, and selected Omani business representatives was likewise held. In addition, the Bavarian State Secretary for Economic Affairs visited the world’s largest commercial reed bed sewage treatment plant built by BAUER Resources GmbH of Schrobenhausen in Nimr.
Weigert travelled to Oman accompanied by company representatives from Bavaria and the members of the State Assembly such as Benjamin Adjei (The Greens) and Johann Häusler (Free Voters). From the world of sciences, Prof. Dr. Dr. H.C. Jürgen Lehmann, President of the Hof University of Applied Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Gerhard Sextl, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg, were among those taking part in the trip. With Managing Director Dr. Fabian Pfaffenberger, a representative of the Centre Hydrogen.Bavaria (H2B) was also part of the Bavarian delegation.
Tuesday, 14 February 2023, Erfurt, Free State of Bavaria: Dutch top envoy in Germany, Ambassador Ronald van Roeden was received by the Premier of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, for a bilateral exchange that included the ambassador signing the federal state’s golden guestbook.
The Dutch constitute the largest group of non-German tourists in Thuringia. The Netherlands is the second-largest international exporter to Thuringia, and the third-largest importer from Thuringia, so economic ties are booming.
Within the private sector Ambassador van Roeden met with OptoNet e.V. in Jena, the umbrella organization that encomprisses some 100 photonics companies in Thuringia. This cluster already holds very close business ties with PhotonDelta, Optics Netherlands and PhotonicsNL.
Ambassador van Roeden subsequently visited JENOPTIK in Jena. Jenoptik is a world leader in various photonic technologies for the semiconductor, healthcare and mobility industries. The company is a key partner of ASML and is experiencing impressive growth. JENOPTIK’s CEO Dr. Stefan Traeger discussed the various challenges his company faces as well as the industry as a whole, including geopolitical developments, the strong growth of the high tech sector in Thuringia or the challenge of finding enough qualified employees.
By H.E. Mr. Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Hellenic Republic
On March 19, Kazakhstan held early elections for the Mazhilis (lower house of parliament) and maslikhats (local representative bodies) of the country.
The preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission on March 21, reveal the Amanat party taking 53.90 percent. The Auyl party gained 10.90 percent, Respublica party – 8.59 percent, Aq Jol party – 8.41 percent, People’s Party of Kazakhstan – 6.80 percent, National Social Democratic Party – 5.20 percent and Baytaq party – 2.30 percent. Around 3.90 percent voted against all. It means that the Parliament is anticipated to comprise six party representatives who surpassed the requisite 5 percent threshold, occupying 69 of the available seats, while the remaining 29 seats will be allocated among single-mandate candidates.
The current elections have been unique in many respects. For the first time since 2004, the Mazhilis elections employed a mixed proportional-majoritarian model, in which 70 percent of deputies are elected proportionally from party lists and 30 percent from single-mandate districts. The elections for district and nationally significant city maslikhats have also used a mixed 50/50 electoral system, while lower-level maslikhats have been elected entirely on a majoritarian basis.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, H.E. Mr. Nikolaos Dendias and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Tileuberdi in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Moreover, an “against all” option has been added to the ballot paper, enabling voters to express their disapproval of all nominated candidates if desired. Additionally, a 30 percent quota for women, young people, and persons with special needs has been legally established for allocating parliamentary seats on party lists, ensuring a broader representation of all groups in Parliament.
The elections signified another crucial milestone in Kazakhstan’s democratic development. In recent years, the country has undergone significant political and socio-economic transformations.
Kazakhstan has consistently affirmed its commitment to free, transparent, and fair elections. As in previous elections, including the November 2022 presidential election, ten international organizations and numerous foreign observers were invited to monitor the electoral process. These include observation missions from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Voting station at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Athens.
The constitutional amendments implemented after a nationwide referendum in June 2022 have laid the groundwork for new democratic principles in Kazakhstan. These include increased parliamentary influence, limited presidential powers, streamlined registration procedures for new political parties, direct elections of rural Akims (Mayors), and other essential measures.
Several policy initiatives were launched in January this year, with the establishment of the Constitutional Court being particularly noteworthy. Any citizen, the Human Rights Ombudsman, and the Prosecutor General can appeal to this court, which ensures that the country’s laws are consistent with the Constitution and that citizens’ fundamental rights are protected. The chairwoman of the Constitutional Court, Elvira Azimova, formerly served as Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights, which highlights the court’s priorities and direction.
While the elections are not expected to transform the country overnight, they are considered to contribute significantly to building a Just Kazakhstan – a prosperous society with a vibrant, dynamic, and competitive political system. Such a country will be an even stronger and more dedicated partner within the international community.
It is somewhat symbolic that Greece will also hold elections for its main legislative body this year, adding momentum to our states’ efforts to strengthen and expand the existing foundation of extensive bilateral ties, adapted to the current needs and demands of the peoples of Kazakhstan and Greece.
As the world grapples with ongoing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, a stable and prosperous Kazakhstan serves the interests of not only its citizens but also those far beyond its region. Our political reforms, supported by competitive elections, form the basis upon which we will ensure our stability and continue to build our future.
