Ambassador Shaan Shakir presents credentials in Finland

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<strong>Ambassador Shaan Shakir presents credentials in Finland</strong>

Wednesday, 15 February 2023, Helsinki, Republic of Finland: At the Presidential Palace, the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö received the letters of credence of Maldivian non-resident Ambassador Aishath Shaan Shakir for a presentation of her letters of credence signed by the Maldives’ President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 

Aishath Shaan Shakir is based in Berlin wherein she serves in the capacity as head of mission since Monday, 22 August 2022 after presenting credentials to German Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The Maldives mission in Berlin overseas relations to Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland as well as the Ukraine.

Ambassadhor Shaan arrived in Germany after serving in the capacity as Chief of Protocol at the Maldivian Foreign Ministry. She led her first mission in Bangladesh in the capacity as high commissioner from 2016 to 2020. Having joined the diplomatic service in 1984, she has served likewise in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. 

As part of her visit to Finland, Ambassador Shaan sat down with the Under-Secretary of State (Internal and External Services) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Puustinen. During the latter meeting the Maldivian ambassador was briefed on the current national and international issues of interest for the Finnish side. 

Counsellor Umaira Mohamed accompanied Ambassador Shaan during the ceremony in Helsinki.

For further information 

Finnish Presidency: https://www.presidentti.fi/en/news/president-niinisto-received-credentials-from-new-ambassadors-4/

Gutmann College House opens in Pennsylvania

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<strong>Gutmann College House opens in Pennsylvania</strong>

Thursday, 2 February 2023, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA: The incumbent President of the University of Pennsylvania, Liz Magill welcomed to campus Ambassador Dr Amy Gutmann, for a ceremony and celebration naming ‘Gutmann College House’ in the latter’s honor. Dr Gutmann herself served as president of the university for eighteen years up to her ambassadorial appointment in early 2022. Gutmann was accompanied to the event by her spouse, Dr Michael W. Doyle. 

Gutmann College House is a living-learning space, and the thirteenth of its kind. It allows for all second-year undergraduate students to live on campus. “Gutmann College House recognizes and commemorates a signal achievement in the life of this University, and a wonderful fulfillment in the lives of our students,” said Magill as per statement linked below.

For further information 

University of Pennsylvania: https://president.upenn.edu/event-galleries/Gutmann-College-House-Celebration, https://www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/about/gutmann

Photography by Eddy Marenco and Eric Sucar

HKETO Berlin Celebrates Year of the Rabbit

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<strong>HKETO Berlin Celebrates Year of the Rabbit</strong>

Monday, 13 February 2023, Berlin, Meistersaal am Potsdamer Platz, Germany: The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) gathered friends, business people, public officials and partners of Hong Kong to welcome the Year of the Rabbit with a concert and a subsequent reception. Key contacts from government, political, business and cultural sectors came together and learned about Hong Kong’s return to the economic world stage and the city’s openness to business travellers, investors and tourists alike.

At the event the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Germany was represented by Minister Junhui Zhang, the German Federal Foreign Office by Jörn Beißert, Head of China Division, and the host city of Berlin by Dr. Rainer Seider, Head of Unit for International Affairs. 

In her opening speech at the reception, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Ms Jenny Szeto shared the positive developments of easing all remaining pandemic restrictions in Hong Kong. “As we entered into the Year of the Rabbit, I’m proud to say that Hong Kong is already embracing the liveliness of the Rabbit, as we open up ourselves once again after three full years of pandemic restrictions. Having lifted all travel restrictions, Hong Kong is now back to business with a fresh start,” Ms Szeto said.

Hong Kong resumed its seamless connection to Mainland China, which brings advantages across all business sectors. “The good news is that Mainland China is also resuming its economic activities and connection with the rest of the world. China’s return to the world map will not only benefit Hong Kong’s exports and tourism, but also drive up consumption and investment in the region. As Hong Kong regains its momentum and strengths as an international financial, trade and logistics centre, our economy is expected to see a visible rebound this year,” Ms Szeto emphasised.

In closing her speech, Ms Szeto invited the guests to visit Hong Kong and experience the unique East-meets-West culture and seize opportunities under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.

While Warsaw and Berlin enjoyed the privilege to be among the first cities in Central and Eastern Europe where HKETO Berlin celebrated the Chinese New Year with the government, business and cultural communities, more receptions will be held in Budapest, Zurich, Ljubljana, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague in the weeks ahead. Hong Kong music talents from the Ponte Orchestra were invited to perform classical and modern pieces at the receptions, showcasing Hong Kong’s diverse music scene.

HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

For further information 

HKETO Berlin: https://www.hketoberlin.gov.hk/en/

Images courtesy of HKETO Berlin 

…

The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr Selçuk Ünal 

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The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Mr Selçuk Ünal 

H.E. Mr Selçuk Ünal is the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in The  Kingdom of the Netherlands. He presented his Letters of Credence to HM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands on 15th February 2023.

Ambassador Selçuk Ünal, a career diplomat, studied International Relations at Ankara University.  He began his career at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, at the Western Europe Department. Afterwards, he was posted as Third Secretary to the Turkish Embassy in Doha (1995-1997), and then as Second Secretary at the Turkish Embassy in Dublin (1997-2000). At headquarters, he worked at the  Middle East-Iraqi Department as First Secretary (2000-2002).

H.E. Mr Selçuk Ünal, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in The  Kingdom of the Netherlands.

He was Counsellor at the Turkish Permanent Mission to the UN Office in Geneva (2002-2006), which was followed by a tour in Ankara as Head of Department and Deputy Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister (2006-2008). He was posted as Counsellor at the Turkish Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (2008-2010).

H.E. Mr Selçuk Ünal is the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye.

Back in Ankara, he was the Deputy Director General of Information and Press Department and Spokesperson of the Ministry (2010-2013) and then Deputy Director General, Special Adviser to the Foreign Minister (2013-2014). In September 2014, he was appointed  Ambassador to Canada, a post he concluded in December 2018. Before assuming the post as Ambassador in The Hague, Mr Selçuk Ünal served in Ankara as Ambassador, Director General for Syria (2019-2023).

Ambassador Selçuk Ünal speaks the following languages: English (Excellent), French (Intermediate), Arabic (Beginner).

A cordial welcome to Ambassador Selçuk Ünal and best wishes during your stay in the Netherlands.

Pictures are courtesy of the Embassy of Turkey.

Ambassador Dariusz Pawłoś welcomed by NRW Premier Wüst

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<strong>Ambassador Dariusz Pawłoś welcomed by NRW Premier Wüst</strong>

Tuesday, 14 February 2023, Düsseldorf, NRW, Germany: Premier Hendrik Wüst received the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Dariusz Pawłoś at the State Chancellery. 

Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery, also took part in the conversation. The topic of the discussion was the strengthening of the relationship between North Rhine-Westphalia and Poland, especially against the background of the Russian war of aggression against the Ukraine and its consequences for North Rhine-Westphalia, Poland and Europe.

Premier Hendrik Wüst said as per statement linked below in its original German-language version: “The relations between North Rhine-Westphalia and Poland are deeply rooted in the history of our countries. The Russian war of aggression on Ukraine brings us even closer together. We are united by the common and non-negotiable goal of providing comprehensive support to Ukraine at many different levels. At the same time, we also want to build a bridge to the future together on other topics: the transformation of energy supply, decarbonisation of industry, the digital economy, sustainable supply chains and securing skilled labour are high on our bilateral agenda.

Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media and Head of the State Chancellery: “We have a close partnership and friendship with Poland in the heart of Europe. For more than 20 years, North Rhine-Westphalia has maintained a lively, regional partnership with Silesia, which is supported and lived every day not only at the political level, but above all by municipalities, associations, schools, experts and artists. I am particularly impressed by the joint civil society commitment of our countries to Ukraine. The state government would like to recognise this in particular with the Richeza Prize, which is being awarded for the fifth time.”

North Rhine-Westphalia has maintained multifaceted and friendly relations with the Republic of Poland for many years. This year, the Richeza Prize will be awarded for the fifth time. Since 2009, the North Rhine-Westphalian government has been supporting and promoting understanding, dialogue and civic exchange between the people of Poland and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Background North Rhine-Westphalia and Poland

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has had close ties with Poland for many years. Approximately 220,000 Polish citizens and over 650,000 people of Polish origin live in North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition, Poland ranks seventh in the list of North Rhine-Westphalia’s most important trading partners, with a trade volume of over 23 billion euros. 

Culturally and socially, there is also a close exchange that is lived out in numerous municipal partnerships, including Cologne – Katowice, Düsseldorf – Warsaw, Essen – Zabrze or Rhein-Kreis Neuss – Mikołów District. In 2021, the more than 20-year-old regional partnership with the Silesian Voivodeship was renewed. Since 2019, there has also been a partnership between the Katowice metropolitan region and the Ruhr Regional Association, which are dedicated to local public transport, among other things.

For further information 

Government of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-hendrik-wuest-empfaengt-den-botschafter-der-republik-polen

Guatemala’s Cooperation With the Permanent Court of Arbitration

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Guatemala’s Cooperation With the Permanent Court of Arbitration

By Roy  Lie A Tjam

The Hague, on 8 December 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala and the Permanent Court of Arbitration signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. A memorandum of cooperation aims among other things to promote mutual assistance and the sharing of expertise.

The PCA is an intergovernmental organization providing a variety of dispute resolution services to international parties from around the world.The Court of Arbitration or the Permanent Court of Arbitration often referred to as the PCA. Its headquarter is at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Mr. Marcin Czepelak, Secretary General, of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and H.E. Mr. Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala.

Representing the PCA, Mr. Marcin Czepelak, Secretary-General, Mr Martin Doe, Senior Legal Counsel, Mr. Markel Eguiluz Parte, Assistant Legal Counsel, and Ms. Ana Escobar, Assistant Legal Counsel

Representing Guatemala, H.E. Mr. Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Lesther Antonio Ortega Lemus, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in The Hague.

H.E. Mr. Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala., Mr. Marcin Czepelak, Secretary General, of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and Mr. Lesther Antonio Ortega Lemus, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in The Hague.

The meeting started with a guided tour of the Peace Palace by Mr Doe. Subsequently, the Guatemala delegation joined the PCA Secretary-General in the Small Hall of Justice for the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation.

H.E. Mr Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, visited The Hague from 7th to 9th December 2022. Búcaro Flores visit included heading Guatemala’s Delegation to the Assembly of States Parties of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and filing Guatemala’s Reply in the case concerning Guatemala’s Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim(Guatemala-Belize) before the International Court of Justice(ICJ)

However, the highlight of Minister Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores’s visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Permanent Court of Arbitration during a work meeting with PCA’s Secretary General  Mr Marcin Czepelak.

Lesther Ortega Lemus and Secretary General, Marcin Czepelak.

Minister Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores also met with OPCW’s Director General, Ambassador Fernando Arias, who briefed him on the most pressing topics, including the ChemTech Centre and the situation in Syria. He further met with Prosecutor Karim Kahn and President of the Asembly of the States Parties Silvia Fernández, with the Board of the Trust Fund for Victims and other dignitaries in The Hague.

H.E. Mr Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala and Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW. Photography by OPCW.

Minister Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores can look back on a successful mission to The Hague.

Martin Luther King Day in The Hague

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Martin Luther King Day in The Hague

By John Dunkelgrün

The twentieth century produced three giants in the non-violent battle for human rights, Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi, Martin Luther King jr., and Nelson Mandela.

At the initiative of Ms. Roberta Enschede the organization Overseas Americans Remember (OAR) started an annual memorial dinner for Dr. King in 1986, the year his birthday became a National Holiday in the U.S. This year the event was held on February 12th in Nieuwspoort, the press center of the Tweede Kamer (the lower house of the Dutch parliament).

The new U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, Her Excellency Shefali Razdan Duggal, opened the evening with a truly impassioned speech, in which she pointed out the many recent ‘wins’ for American women of color. She, Indian born, is the first woman of color to be the American ambassador to the Netherlands, Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first black woman on the Supreme Court and Kamela Harris is the first African-American/Asian-American woman Vice-President. That is how much has changed since the days of Dr. King.

Lois Mothershed Pot, who was the first black student at her university and the sister of Thelma Mothershed, one of the Little Rock nine (remember them?) told of her father who served as an officer in the segregated US army in WW II, where white soldiers looked the other way, so they wouldn’t have to salute him, and his disappointment of coming back to a still highly segregated South.

There were other moving speeches and beautiful singing but the thing that struck me most was a speech by a young girl, Ariela Cohen. She is Jewish Israeli-American and spoke of her deep friendship with Malk Alblawi a Muslima from Saoudi-Arabia. She was fed up with having to “explain their impossible friendship”, and was longing for the day when people could just be friends, whatever their background. It made me ponder. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the achievements about which the ambassador spoke, the fact that formal segregation no longer exists and that people of any color or creed can sit wherever they want, were so normal, they wouldn’t be worth talking about? Let us dream of the time when the achievements that the American ambassador spoke about so well, would be too humdrum even to mention.

Ms. Roberta Enschede is also the initiator of the annual Thanksgiving memorial in the Pieterskerk in Leiden, and was instrumental in getting April 19th formally recognised as Dutch-American Friendship Day by the U.S. Congress.

NRW Premier Wüst condoles Turkish Ambassador Başar Şen

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<strong>NRW Premier Wüst condoles Turkish Ambassador Başar Şen</strong>

Thursday, 9 February 2023, Berlin, Chancellery of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye: In view of the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, Premier Hendrik Wüst expressed his condolences to the Turkish Ambassador to Germany, Ahmet Başar Şen. Premier Wüst expressed his condolences to all people who have lost relatives and friends or who fear for the lives of their loved ones. The NRW premier signed the book of condolence, and exchanged views with Ambassador Başar Şen on the current situation in the earthquake region.

As per statement below written in the German language, Premier Hendrik Wüst said: “I am deeply moved by the terrible images from the earthquake region. Our thoughts go out to the many victims, the bereaved and the numerous injured. There has been a special bond between North Rhine-Westphalia and Türkiye for decades. Many people in North Rhine-Westphalia are worried about relatives and friends in the earthquake region and are eagerly waiting for signs of life. We stand by our Turkish friends in this difficult hour.

Premier Wüst continued: “The affected regions now need, above all, fast and effective aid. We will do everything in coordination with the federal government to provide this aid. Aid organisations from North Rhine-Westphalia have also already arrived in the crisis areas – I am very grateful for their great commitment. It is now important that we all help the people affected and support the work of the relief organisations. Every donation helps to alleviate the plight of the people on the ground.”

The premier reiterated his support for the appeal for donations by “Aktion Deutschland hilft” (Action Germany helps) and “Bündnis Entwicklung hilft” (Alliance development helps). In addition, the State Chancellery is providing financial support to the two North Rhine-Westphalian organisations Help e.V. and Action Medeor e.V. for initial emergency relief measures.

Nearly one million people with Turkish roots and half a million people with Turkish citizenship live in North Rhine-Westphalia, many of whom are in great concern for friends and family in the affected areas.

For further information 

Government of North Rhine-Westphalia: https://www.land.nrw/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-hendrik-wuest-trifft-den-tuerkischen-botschafter-ahmet-basar

Osvaldo Zavala Giler elected as ICC Registrar

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Osvaldo Zavala Giler elected as ICC Registrar

On 10 February 2023, the judges of the International Criminal Court, sitting in a plenary session, elected Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler as Registrar for a period of five years by an absolute majority by secret ballot. Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler succeeds Mr Peter Lewis, whose five-year mandate ends on 16 April 2023.

Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler is a national of Ecuador with broad work experience at the International Criminal Court. He has worked at the Court in different capacities, including as Chief of Budget Section, senior special assistant to the Registrar and Head of Office of the Court’s liaison office to the United Nations in New York. He is also a founding member of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Network at the Court. Prior to his work with the Court, he has also worked as a legal officer, legal adviser and liaison officer to the United Nations for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court.

In accordance with the Rome Statute, the Registrar is the principal administrative officer of the Court, who exercises his or her functions under the authority of the ICC President (article 43(2)). The Registrar is responsible for the non-judicial aspects of the administration and servicing of the Court, without prejudice to the functions and powers of the ICC Prosecutor, whose office acts independently as a separate organ of the Court (articles 42(1) and 43(1)).

Joint action against human trafficking in Belgium and Spain

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Joint action against human trafficking in Belgium and Spain

The Hague, 8 February 2023

With the support of Eurojust and Europol, the Belgian, Polish, German and Spanish authorities have taken action against an organised crime group (OCG) involved in the trafficking of Chinese women for sexual exploitation in Belgium and other European countries. During a joint action, 28 suspects were arrested and 34 searches were carried out.

The suspects allegedly belong to a criminal network that recruits women in China and transfers them to Europe where they are forced into sexual exploitation. Customers can book their appointments on websites specialised in sex advertising. The encounters take place in hotels, holiday accommodations or in other locations arranged through online rental platforms.

The victims are frequently moved to different countries in Europe and are required to hand over a large part of their money to the OCG. A significant proportion of the victims no longer have legal residence status, which increases their dependence on the criminal network.

The OCG is believed to have acquired large sums of money through this criminal activity. This money is transferred abroad through legal and illegal channels.

The case was opened by Eurojust in October 2020 at the request of the Belgian authorities. Two coordination meetings were hosted by the Agency to facilitate judicial cooperation and provide support for the coordinated investigative efforts.

Europol provided additional analytical support to the investigation and set up a dedicated Operational Task Force.

During a joint action on 7 February, 28 suspects were arrested, 27 in Belgium and 1 in Spain. A total of 34 searches were carried out, 28 in Belgium and 6 in Spain.

EUR 1.5 million in cash and 4 tonnes of 1 and 2 euro coins were seized.

The following authorities took part in this investigation:

  • Belgium: Federal Prosecution Office (Federaal Parket/Parquet Fédéral); Investigating Judge Ghent (Onderzoeksrechter/Juge d’Instruction); Federal Judicial Police (Federale Gerechtelijke Politie/Police Judicaire Fédérale) – Brussels, Antwerp, Halle-Vilvoorde, Charleroi; Immigration Office (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken/Office des Étrangers)
  • Germany: Federal Police (Bundeskriminalamt)
  • Poland: National Police Headquarters – Komenda Główna Policji.
  • Spain: Prosecutor’s Office of Barcelona, National Police Corps (UCRIF CENTRAL- BCTSH), Investigating Court nº 4 of Hospitalet de LLobregat, Investigating Court nº 4 of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Investigating Court nº 4 of Badalona, Court of Instruction nº 4 of Torrevieja (Alicante) and Investigating Court nº 5 of Palma de Mallorca.
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