February 9, 2023, New York, NY – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The Ocean Cleanup today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on eliminating plastic pollution in oceans and rivers around the globe.
The goal of the partnership is to reduce leakages of plastics into marine ecosystems by boosting policies and behavior change aimed at advancing sound plastic waste management systems and reducing overall plastic pollution, and accelerating the deployment of interception technologies in rivers to end marine plastic pollution.
Plastic pollution poses an existential threat to the health of the world’s oceans and the billions of people who depend on marine resources for food and income. Partnerships play a critical role in addressing this complex global challenge.
“Eliminating plastic pollution in all its forms is key to protecting human and planetary health and safeguarding sustainable development,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. “This alliance is an important step to curb the flow of plastic pollution into oceans and rivers but also to raise awareness, support sound policy making, and trigger behavioral change along the entire plastic value chain.”
“After our valuable experience working with local UNDP teams to tackle riverine plastic pollution in the Dominican Republic, we are excited to partner with UNDP to further promote sustainable ocean health,” said The Ocean Cleanup founder and CEO Boyan Slat. “We believe that, through this alliance, we can help accelerate the deployment of our technologies to eliminate plastics from the oceans and rivers, as well as support broader policies aimed at waste management and reducing plastic pollution.”
This new partnership comes at a critical time as negotiations for an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, are taking shape.
Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup and Inka Mattila, Resident Representative UNDP Dominican Republic visiting The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor 004 in Rio Ozama, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Photo: The Ocean Cleanup, 2021
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 future leaders on its own.
Hence, by the Program’s launch on 24th February 2023, 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, intl organisations or industry. The FLEP 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 premisses of the city on two continents.
The second to the former Austrian state President, was the UK Tony Blair’s cabinet member, Defence Secretary Geoffrey William Hoon, who spend the full day with the highly anticipating audience of the Program.
Worth of mentioning is that Excellency Hoon received his education at Jesus College in Cambridge. Later in his exceptional career, he has taught at universities in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Secretary Hoon is a trained lawyer and a former senior cabinet member in the Tony Blair’s government of the United Kingdom. He has held a number of senior ministerial roles in addition to his time spent as a Member of Parliament (1992–2010) and a member of the European Parliament (1984–1994). From there, Secretary Hoon worked his way up to become an experienced senior industry executive with AgustaWestland, where he operated in both the defense and civil aerospace markets on an international scale. And more recently, he has held positions as a non-executive director (NED) as well as the chair of a charity and a private sector organization.
During the day-long exchanges with the FLEP participants Excellency Hoon elaborated on his career path, notably his role in the Labor Party, while contextualizing it in the general historical framework (premodern and modern political history) of Britain. He generously and enthusiastically shared elaborate views on the political structure of the United Kingdom and its main power brokers. In addition, he discussed the political development of the nation’s history in the post WWI, interwar and post-WWII periods.
The Post-war recovery, European integrations, Cold War, formation of multilateral forums in Europe (such as the Council of Europe, EEC, and Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe), fall of the Berlin wall and subsequent democratization in Eastern Europe, NATO and its R2P role, Brexit, Euro-MED dialogue as well as the war in Ukraine were main point that mesmerized participants all through the day.
Vivid exchanges of views and opinions marked the closuring part of the 9 hours long lecturing and tour-de-table. Content intensive, inspiring reflective and farsighted, yet amicable and family-like atmosphere with a direct, personal access to the notable guest (full of coffee-breaks and meals spent together) deeply impressed all. Closing the event, Excellency Hoon and President of ICYF Taha Ayhan (as a principal host to the event), jointly encapsulated what all participants already concluded in the course of the day- that the Program offers unique setting, unparallel anywhere else in the world. They both agreed that this particular format is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for emerging leaders from the state, intergovernmental and corporate sectors of all meridians.
And, indeed, the Program meeting hall was filled with the future that started on 24th February 2023 with the FLEP Istanbul program. The magic ship of knowledge and wisdom now sets its sails. It will reach its next fascinating port on insights in exactly a month time.
About the author:
Shaikha Al-Marri
Shaikha Al-Marri, of Queen Mary University of London (MS in Intl Public Policy). She was attached to the office of the Qatar’s Minister of Sports and Youth (Youth Advisor).
Represented her country at the UNESCO Pre-Summit 2022. She is active friendship ambassador for the Foundation of Friendship Ambassadors associated with the United Nations.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF/GAFI), based in Paris, has unanimously removed Morocco from the so-called “grey” list of countries under heightened surveillance, following an assessment of its national system’s compliance with the anti-money laundering international standards. This development comes after the FATF approved a special action plan for the Kingdom of Morocco in February 2021, according to a statement from the office of the head of the Moroccan government.
The decision of the FATF General Assembly comes, after the recent hostile actions towards Morocco, especially within the European Parliament, to cover the efforts and proactive actions of the country in the context of a good fiscal governance, in accordance with the royal directives, with the object of a series of legislative, organizational measures, as well as awareness and control measures, implemented by the competent national bodies and authorities under the coordination of the National Financial Information Authority and in cooperation with legal entities of public or private law.
According to Moroccan observers, the decision of this world-renowned organization is a response to all those who underestimate the efforts made by the North African country in various fields in order to achieve its development goals to the maximum extent possible. Finally, Morocco’s exit from the gray list will positively affect the public debt and credit ratings of local banks, while it will strengthen the country’s image, its position in negotiations with international financial institutions, and the confidence of foreigners investors in the national economy.
Victory for Morocco in the heart of Paris: the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) unanimously decided, at its meeting on Friday 24 February, in the context of its General Assembly, to remove Morocco from the gray zone.
This new victory of the Kingdom is a clear answer to those who are moving within the European Parliament against Morocco and its interests, as well as to all those who refuse to accept that Morocco is progressing with a firm and decisive step on an irreversible path towards progress, transparency and good governance, thus standing out from neighboring countries trapped in outdated practices.
The new FATF decision confirms Morocco’s leadership position, regionally and continentally, in terms of good fiscal governance, making it a model country in the field.
The recognition of Morocco by this international economic body of reference is a strong response to its critics within the European Parliament, who are trying, unsuccessfully, to label it a pariah state.
The exit of Morocco from the surveillance zone, known as the gray list, at the very moment when South Africa, a supporter of the Polisario terrorist and separatist entity, enters it, is significant and is the culmination of Morocco’s effort and proactive actions, pursuant to royal directives.
Once again, an international reference institution applauds Morocco and its strategic, peaceful and proactive vision to adopt the highest possible standards in the fight against money laundering.
The recognition of Morocco by the FATF in the heart of Paris is, ironically, an eloquent response to the French media that attacked Morocco with a journalistic line that served dark designs of another era.
The FATF decision will strengthen the image and position of the Kingdom in its negotiations with international financial institutions, as well as the confidence of foreign investors in the national economy.
Professor Richard T. Griffiths, Emeritus professor International Studies (Leiden), Research fellow Institute for Asian Studies (Leiden), was one of the first contributors to the Diplomat Magazine since 2013 publishing articles related to European and Dutch diplomacy. In this interview he talks about the creation of the Virtual Museum of the Silk Road.
The project is directed by VirtualMuseum360 and supported by the IIAS from January 2023. The mission of a virtual museum is to encourage people to explore cultures along the overland and maritime sea routes between the Far East and Europe. The first museum site is now open (Nanjing) and the second (Venice) will follow towards the end of April.
DM – Tell us more about the idea of creating a virtual museum.
Richard Griffiths. It is a sad fact that after childhood the only time that most people visit a museum is as a compulsory cultural stop of a holiday or a day out. Then, having trudged round for hours looking at artefacts whose significance they barely understand and anyway kept behind glass, they resolve not to repeat the experience for a while.
A virtual museum is always open. It requires no travelling. It is never crowded. You can come, go, and revisit as you please. And it is free.
A virtual museum can also offer experiences impossible in a real-world museum. You can get up close to exhibits. You can unscroll handscrolls and turn the pages of illuminated manuscripts. In one place, you can see exhibits normally scattered throughout the world.
DM – Why was the topic ‘Silk Road’ chosen?
Richard Griffiths. The overland trade routed between Europe and the Far East (and all places in between) are the stuff of legends, but they also facilitated a spread of cultures that was reflected in adaptations of art and design. Admittedly this was between periods of slaughter and destruction, forced migration and enslavement. But when there was peace, trade flourished and exchanges intensified. These were the hey-days of the silk road. Moreover, when land routes were blocked, trade in spices, textiles, ceramics and glass continued by sea. The last days of the overland silk road spanned the period roughly between 1200 and 1500 CE. This is where the museum begins.
DM – What is the mission of the museum?
Richard Griffiths. The world of today immediate visual access to images of conflict. Apocalyptic commentators talk in terms of clashes in civilisations, often cast in religious terms – Buddhists, Christians, Hindu, Jews, and Muslims – both Shiite and Sunni. Our reactions become cauterised; we do not understand; we don’t try to understand.
The virtual museum allows us to stand back from our preconceptions and prejudices and to appreciate a distant culture, admittedly often an elite culture, from a past in where our emotions are less involved. It will allow us to see how different cultures portrayed themselves and their surroundings and how the art and artefacts influenced each other in form and decoration.
The museum is constructed as a series of different city sites, each representing a predominant culture. The first site is already open. It is Nanjing (1368-1450), the capital of the early Ming Empire and the starting point of the treasure voyages of Admiral Zheng He. The second site will be Venice (1261-1450), the richest European port and the starting point of the traveller Marco Polo. It will open in April.
It is hoped that visitors will start to understand different cultures and the influence of beliefs on the forms of art and representation. It is hoped that they will want to learn more (there are eLibraries of free online literature devoted to each site). It is hoped that they will want to visit real-world museums in their own neighbourhoods – and enjoy the experience.
DM – How does the museum work?
Richard Griffiths. You enter the museum through the website and choose a destination. For now, the only choice is to go by sea and visit Nanjing, but that will change very soon. Once the choice is made, you will enter the museum, where there will be some instructions on how to navigate the site. The museum ‘building’ will be the same for every site as you travel through time and space. At the moment the site offers a 3600 immersive experience but we hope to add a Virtual Reality version soon.
The artifacts are introduced with explanatory panels and a short audio commentary is available for some of the exhibits. The main language for all the sites is English. Audio translation is offered in the language of the culture represented. Nanjing offers translation in Chinese; Venice will also offer Italian.
One of the difficulties with the museum is that it is not suitable for artefacts that are very small (e.g. coins, small jade sculptures, pieces of jewellery) or very large (the interior or exterior of buildings). To compensate for this the museum has a city desk (for video ‘excursions’ to places of local interest) and an excursion desk in the ‘departure lounge’ for video excursions to experiences further afield. There is also a ‘theatre’ where the visitors to the Nanjing site can enjoy an opera and where visitors to Venice will enjoy some religious choral music.
DM – Can people participate in the project?
Richard Griffiths. It is not the intention to keep this as a top-down project. We invite the active participation of the local population as well as expertise of academics and museums. Here is a list of possible ways you can offer to help:
Photograph possible artefacts
Photogramme possible artefacts (especially larger pieces of sculpture)
Offer readings from contemporary literature
Form groups to recreate contemporary music or theatre
Check translations into local language
Make audio recordings in local language
Help create menus for the canteen (what did the local citizen eat eight hundred years ago?)
Offer additions to the eLibraries (especially in non-English languages)
Offer advice on inclusions on the site
Offer to assemble materials for site as part of a group project
I have never met Jessica in real life. We became online friends during the pandemic and we followed each other’s path on social media. Internet can sometimes bring special wonderful people into your life. She is certainly one of them. She is a beautiful young woman with such energy, that you immediately feel better when you see her. She inspires optimism through every breath and her smile is surely contagious. She is full of ideas and initiatives, like myself, and, also like me, she is the wife of a diplomat.
Jessica Cohaila, a gorgeous Peruvian brunette, was born in Tacna, a city known for its important role during the War of The Pacific (1879-1884), and studied law at The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. It is there where she met her future husband and from where their whole ‘diplomatic adventure’ began.
She recalls those days: ‘Our first posting started in 2015. We lived in Israel for 5 years and in about 5 months from now we are going to move for our second posting, to Bern, Switzerland. Israel will always hold a very special place in my heart and I think it will always be my home, because I’ve learned so much about life and marriage there. And of course, the cultural experience I had was just incredible’. Indeed, we all hold a special place in our hearts for our first postings, don’t we?…
But for her, leaving her independent life behind and stopping a flourishing career was hard. ‘I was used to have a job, but not just a job: I was independent in every aspect of it, since I was an associate at a law firm and had a lot of freedom. Going to a new place where not only the law system was different but also the language was one of the hardest things that I had to go through. But it is also one of the greatest ones because it gave me the opportunity to follow a dream I always had.
I love fashion and always did, so I got the opportunity to start a second career, as a fashion designer. I also discovered the Fashion Law, which is much more common in Europe but not in Peru. The Covid time, which was a very hard time for everyone, gave me a new opportunity, since I was not able to go back to work as a lawyer because of the quarantine. As soon as I came back home after Israel, I took the only available course in fashion law, while I was already enrolled in fashion school. I finally got the chance to embrace the idea of reinvention in every aspect of it. It really touches my heart when I read or hear this word: ‘reinvention’.
I can see she is passionate about the subject and, while I closely followed her on-line presence for the last couple of years, I could see her evolution, her hard work and determination to succeed.
She tells me: ‘Fashion industry can be a very controversial topic sometimes. I think most people do not understand the process behind the scenes, the hard work and the difference you can make with it. I believe people just see the superficial side, like the models, the stereotypes, the climate contamination, which of course is real but it is also in our hands to change things like this. I see fashion as art and as a way to express ourselves. The message you can send not only through clothes but through magazines, fashion shows or exhibitions can really make a difference. Take Coco Chanel, for example… she did so many things for us, she really changed the way we dress today and also she was a woman entrepreneur in a very patriarchal era. Nowadays we have Alessandro Michele, who is the former creative director of Gucci, giving the opportunity to mix clothes with history and also making genderless clothes more common. I could go on like this for hours, talking about amazing people to whom we owe a lot of the stylistic freedom we have today. History and fashion sometimes go hand by hand’.
Today, clothes can make powerful statements and are often used as soft diplomacy tools. She must be an expert in it. She also creates original patterns and designs and she hopes that one day she will become a fashion editor and maybe even have her own fashion magazine.
‘I love fashion and I firmly believe that through it we can have the chance to make a difference’, she says. She also adds that people should find out more about our own work, dreams and activities. ‘I think people should know more about our work ‘behind the scenes’, how we manage to reinvent ourselves, not only how we support our diplomat partners. So many things that people just don’t see. And maybe letting people know a little bit more about what we do can help not only each other but other people that probably are going through similar experiences’.
That’s how she is, always solar and willing to help others. ‘Every work that I do, every mood board, every pattern is just to empower women (and also men, why not?)’. ‘Empowering women through fashion ‘is my life motto these days… so that they can be whoever they wish to be and not be afraid to do it. I strongly believe I can do it through fashion’.
By H.E. Ms. Claudia Pieterse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Latvia
Last year, shortly after Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion in Ukraine, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra travelled to Riga. Here he stood shoulder to shoulder with his Latvian colleague, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs. Strongly united in their support for Ukraine and in the protection of freedom and democracy. During this meeting, Minister Hoekstra underlined that “the Netherlands will always continue to support Latvia and the other Baltic countries”. The Netherlands’ role in the security of this region is an active and committed one, for years already. Next to that, it is pursuing joint opportunities in the area of renewable energy and sustainability, reflecting the significant climate ambitions of both countries. Building upon 800 years of bilateral relations.
Since Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the bond between Latvia and the Netherlands has grown even stronger. We stand together in condemning Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and are united in our unwavering support to Ukraine. We are joint in protecting the fundamental values of freedom and democracy, human rights and rule of law. Working together on this as partners in the EU, NATO, UN and other multilateral fora.
In the Baltic region, the Netherlands has taken on a committed and active role in security. The Dutch Navy is often exercising in the Baltic Sea. Our ships and sailors can frequently be seen in the port of Riga as the Netherlands is part of the Standing NATO Maritime group and the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group. In addition, 350 Dutch soldiers are part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in neighboring Lithuania. Last but certainly not least, fighter planes of the Dutch Airforce are regularly patrolling the airspace above the Baltic countries.
Many might not know this, but the connection between the Netherlands and Latvia has been strong for centuries. In both countries, you can find traces of this historic link. For instance, in the North of the Netherlands, you can visit the Veenkoloniaal museum where you can step back in time, into the city of Riga in the 17th century. You can view old trading contracts and admire Riga silver spoons and porcelain, once brought back as souvenirs. On my travels through Latvia on the other hand, I stumbled upon old Dutch silver coins in Latvian villages, wooden structures made by Dutch shipworkers in Latvian churches and Delftware in Latvian castles.
Dutch-Latvian trade history is now better known in the Netherlands, as it is featured in the popular TV-series (and book) “The Heir”. It tells the story of Dutch trader Joan Münninghoff and his family, who ran a flourishing wood and wooden furniture company in Riga before WWII. Yet, even centuries before Münninghoff started his business, Dutch-Latvian trade relations existed, as part of the Hanseatic trading routes. We can proudly speak of more than 800 years of bilateral trade relations.
Today, the Netherlands is still one of the most important investors in Latvia. Dutch companies are active in a variety of sectors. From transportation to real estate, from woodworking to manufacturing and retail.
A promising new business opportunity that we, at the Dutch Embassy in Latvia, are currently pursuing is Wind Energy. Both the Netherlands and Latvia have big climate ambitions and now there is an increasing Latvian interest to explore Wind Energy possibilities, both onshore and offshore. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, Latvia has been focusing on strengthening its energy independence. For a country that used to be largely dependent on Russian gas, this energy transition represents a challenge. The Netherlands, with its extensive expertise and experience in Wind Energy, can be a great partner in the development of onshore and offshore wind parks in Latvia.
Latvia aims to increase its wind capacity from currently approximately 70 MW to 800 MW by 2030. In addition, the country plans to open the “ELWIND” tender, a 1 GW cross-border offshore project in collaboration with Estonia.
H.E. Ms. Claudia Pieterse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Latvia.
Last year, a delegation of Dutch Wind Energy companies visited Latvia, exploring opportunities and making key connections with local businesses. In return, a Latvian delegation visited the Netherlands, to see Dutch examples of Wind Energy for themselves. This year, we will follow up with another trade mission to Latvia in April, further advancing our cooperation on Wind Energy.
In line with our mutual climate ambitions, we work on activities in Sustainable and Smart mobility. Of course the Dutch are widely known for cycling, also in Latvia. To build on this, we connect Dutch companies to Latvian stakeholders. Last year, the embassy organized a study trip to the Netherlands for the Mayor of Riga and his mobility experts to learn more about Dutch best practices in cycling and mobility and to meet with Dutch companies active in this area. He gained real practical insights, even biking through Rotterdam himself and experiencing mobility solutions firsthand.
It is not strange that so many Dutch companies have found their way to Latvia. The familiarity with the Netherlands is striking in this part of Europe. The nearness of the sea with its wide sandy beaches and the long horizons with green farmland and forests. I can even ride my bike to work through the city of Riga, just like I would do through the city of The Hague. It is a true privilege for me to further build on the many centuries of rich relations between the Netherlands and Latvia.
MoU formalises and facilitates coordination between the JIT member countries and the US in their respective investigations and prosecutions
The Hague, 4 March 2023
The seven national authorities participating in the Eurojust supported joint investigation team (JIT) on alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Department of Justice. This MoU will enhance the coordination between the JIT partner countries and the US authorities in their respective investigations in connection with the war in Ukraine.
The MoU was signed on Friday 3 March by high-level representatives of the prosecution services of the seven JIT partner countries and United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
Commenting on the signing of the Memorandum, Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran said: ‘This Memorandum of Understanding clearly demonstrates that the wish to make justice prevail transcends national and continental borders. While we are united in our ambitions, we also need to be coordinated in our efforts – and that is precisely what this Memorandum will help us achieve. The JIT partner countries and the US can count on Eurojust’s continued support to reap the full benefits of their cooperation.’
‘I am pleased that the United States will be the first country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with all seven JIT members’, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. ‘This historic Memorandum of Understanding will formalize and facilitate coordination between the United States and JIT member countries on our investigations and prosecutions of atrocity crimes stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is also a signal to the world that the perpetrators of this invasion will not undermine our shared values of a free and democratic society.’
The main purpose of the MoU with the United States is to facilitate closer coordination between the investigations and prosecutions carried out by all national authorities concerned. The MoU enables practical arrangements for cooperation, information exchange and the participation of the United States’ authorities in coordination meetings organised with Eurojust’s support.
Within one month after the start of the war in Ukraine, Eurojust actively supported the setting up of the JIT by the Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian authorities on 25 March 2022. The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court became a participant in the JIT on 25 April 2022. Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia joined the JIT on 30 May 2022, with Romania becoming a member on 13 October 2022.
The JIT amplifies the message that all national authorities will take every possible measure to secure evidence on alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine and bring those responsible to justice.
United States War Crimes Accountability Team
On 21 June 2022 Attorney General Garland announced the launch of a War Crimes Accountability Team to strengthen the Justice Department’s ongoing work to hold accountable those who have committed war crimes and other crimes in Ukraine. This team brings together, among others, the department’s leading experts in investigations involving war crimes and human rights abuses.
The team provides wide-ranging technical assistance, including operational assistance and advice regarding criminal prosecutions, evidence collection, forensics and relevant legal analysis. A central component of the team’s mission is to further ongoing investigations of potential war crimes over which the United States possesses jurisdiction, such as the killing and wounding of American journalists covering the war in Ukraine.
The cooperation and coordination with the United States authorities will be facilitated by the United States Liaison Prosecutor* at Eurojust.
Core International Crimes Evidence Database
To support the JIT and other investigations into core international crimes, Eurojust has set up a Core International Crimes Database (CICED). For more information, please consult this factsheet.
For more information on all the actions taken by Eurojust since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, please consult our dedicated webpage.
* The following ten countries have Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust: Albania, Georgia, Montenegro, North-Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the United States.
Friday, 24 February 2023, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany: The East Asian Association Bremen (OAV) hosted its traditional foundation celebration for the 122nd time. It is part of the tradition that ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific region sign the Golden Book of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen on this occasion.
Kristina Vogt, Senator for Economic, Labour and European Affairs, welcomed diplomats from thirteen countries to the Senate Chamber: namely from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Maldives and Philippines. Senator Vogt represented Mayor Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte, who was attending the peace devotion on the first anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, at the Senate’s pre-reception.
Senator for Economic Affairs Kristina Vogt said as per statement below in its original German-language version: “The East Asian Association Bremen and its foundation festival are outstanding institutions for Bremen. For more than 120 years, they have promoted the internationalisation of Bremen’s economy to a special degree. The countries of Asia are important partners for our location and dynamic drivers of innovation. Of course, Singapore in particular should be mentioned here, which is the focus of this year’s Foundation Festival.”
The traditional temple gong then called the approximately 360 guests to the banquet in the Upper Hall of the Town Hall, where they were solemnly welcomed by OAV Chairman Thomas Kriwat (Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka) through a short speech. Mayor Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte also attended the banquet, which traditionally features curry.
In his welcome address, the Mayor underlined Bremen’s connections to the world and the importance of the Foundation Festival: “I am sure that Asia will continue to gain in importance for Germany and also for Bremen in the future.” In this context, the entire Indo-Pacific region must be given greater attention, Bovenschulte said: “Here, too, Germany’s goal is to reduce dependencies, develop partnerships on an equal footing and take mutual security interests into account.” The OAV has been doing valuable work in this sense for over 120 years. With regard to the relationship with China, the mayor made it clear that in addition to economic contacts, “open political dialogue” was also needed: “Constructive where possible, critical where necessary. For despite all political differences, “it is still true that it is better to talk ‘with’ China than ‘about’ it”.
This year’s guests of honour at the Foundation Festival are the author Sabine Hein and Dr. habil May-Britt U. Stumbaum from the Bundeswehr University in Munich.
Eurojust has assisted the Romanian and Moldovan authorities with dismantling a cryptocurrency scam that has resulted in at least 32 victims, who allegedly lost approximately EUR 320 000. During a joint action day, a total of 21 perpetrators from both countries were identified and charged with swindling in Romania, and money laundering executed by an organised criminal group, in the Republic of Moldova. Eurojust supported both national authorities with setting up and funding a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case.
Based on the evidence at hand, since at least 2020, the suspects had been luring victims into making significant investments in cryptocurrencies by presenting fraudulent predictions and results via social media. For this purpose, fake accounts were created on social media platforms, which pretended to be linked to companies that in reality did not exist. Endorsements of platforms from Romanian influencers were also used to build trust.
Further, the suspects promised so-called guaranteed profits of up to 100 %. Victims subsequently made significant financial investments, which were lost in their entirety. The proceeds of the crime were transferred to Moldovan accounts, controlled by the perpetrators, where the money was laundered to conceal its criminal origin.
To facilitate judicial cooperation between Romanian and Moldovan authorities, Eurojust supported the setting up and funding of a JIT and organised two coordination meetings to coordinate the investigations. In addition, the Agency facilitated the transmission and execution of European Investigation Orders to countries not participating in the JIT.
Eurojust also facilitated the exchange of information and evidence, and coordinated the action day, during which 21 locations were searched. Various means of evidence were seized, and assets were frozen to secure the recovery of the damages caused by the criminal activity
The operation was carried out on the ground by:
Romania: Local PPO Timisoara, Criminal Investigations Services Timiș, Iași, Constanța, Brașov, Hunedoara
Republic of Moldova: Prosecutor’s Office for Special Cases and Combatting Organized Crime, National Investigations Inspectorate within the Moldavian Police
Chess, is it a sport or an art? Some say it can be a sport, a science, or an art.
Diplomat Magazine organized an pre-lent chess tournament for diplomats and kiddies. The participants were chess fans of all ages, for example, the youngest participant was 6 years old. As in previous years the tournament aims to consolidate friendship and strengthen solidarity among Diplomats.
The tournament took place at Leonardo Royal Hotel in The Hague, courtesy of the Hotel, 18 February 2023. Participants came from, Albania, Algeria, Belgium, Bosnia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Italy, Japan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and the USA.
The ambassadors of Algeria and Bosnia participated in the tournament. The tournament again attracted children as young as six years old. After a series of matches during which the players made their best tactical moves, Peru excelled. Senegal came second. Among the children, Philippines, Ecuador and Japan.
Chikashiro Hara, from Japan and David Izquierdo from Ecuador. The Ambassador of Algeria, H.E. Ms. Salima Abdelhak and Col. Luigi Esposito,
Military Advisor – Permanent Representation of Italy to the OPCW•Embassy of Italy.
It has been great fun, players enjoyed the networking opportunity. In the end all the players were given trophies or medals as a souvenir of the tournament. Diplomat Magazine is looking forward to continuing to welcome diverse groups of participants, including the younger ones.
Cecilia Maria Gonzalez Amaya, Vice-Consul, Embassy of El Salvador and Jesús Andre Hernández León, from the Consulate of Peru. Henry Pierre Sarr, First Secretary, Embassy of Senegal and Hironori Hara, SEcond Secretary, Embassy of Japan.
Tom Vandecasteele, from Albania, First Diplomat Magazine’s Chess Champion, Roy Lie Atjam, Editor and Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher.
