The Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo hosted the opening of the art exposition Silent Conversation by the artists Arjeta Mala, graphic designer, and Eduart Baçe, sculptor. The venue is the Embassy of Kosovo in The Hague, it will run from 4 – 25 November 2022. Both the first and ground level of the Chancellery have been prepared to facilitate the exposition.
Both artists were introduced and invited to address the guests. In the audience were the Ambassadors of Albania, Egypt, and Luxembourg and a British diplomat and friends of Kosovo.
Silent Conversations – Embassy of Kosovo exhibition
The pianist Mirsa Adami augmented the ambience at the festive opening of the exposition with her virtuoso piano performance. The numbers played included Baresha and Ballada No. 4 Pastorale.
Pianist Mirsa Adami, Embassy of Kosovo. Silent Exhibition Exhibition.
H.E. Ambassador Dren Doli expressed how pleased he was to see so many attending the event. He quoted Salvador Dali “ A true artist is not the one who is inspired, but the one who inspires others”. Silent conversation, “the artist’s conversation with his work. Meanwhile, when the work is exposed, the visitor’s conversation with the work of art begins… These silent conversations are also a kind of symbol for our daily life.”
On show, paintings, drawings and ceramic statuettes. All items could be purchased. The opening was followed by a reception.
Wednesday, 23 November 2022, Belweder Palace, Warsaw, Republic of Poland: The Polish Head of State, President Andrzej Duda received for a presentation of letters of credence the Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius Christelle Sohun.
Ambassador Sohun is resident in Germany, and accredited to the latter country since Thursday, 6 May 2021. Her mission’s concurrencies include the Czech Republic (accredited since 21 September 2022) and the Republic of Poland.
Previous to her incumbent mission, Ambassador Sohun served as her country’s high commissioner to the Commonwealth of Australia with concurrencies to New Zealand as well as Japan between 2017 and 2020. Before that Sohun was employed in the private sector as a legal executive in her homeland.
Christelle Sohun (b. 1981) is a legal professsional by education, having graduated with Honours from Holborn College, University of Wolverhampton in England, UK. She speaks fluently the English and French languages.
With an intimate and solemn ceremony in the Malvinas Argentina’s Room and with the presence of a group of Argentine citizens living in the Netherlands and coming from different backgrounds: students, officials of international organizations, scientists, journalists, business representatives, relatives, among others, the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in The Hague presented a significant tribute to the veterans of the Malvinas.
The year 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the South Atlantic conflict, and Argentina has launched the “Agenda Malvinas 40 years”, which has as its main axes to highlight the recognition and tribute of the Argentine people to the fallen, their families and the Malvinas veterans.
Argentinian embassies around the globe are carrying out different activities in memory of fallen veterans.
“In his speech, His Excellency the Ambassador of Argentina to the Netherlands, Mario Oyarzabal, explained: “With the recognition and tribute to the Malvinas veterans, we want to deepen the dissemination and visibility of Argentine sovereign rights over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas and the persistence of a sovereignty dispute -recognized by the United Nations- still unresolved today.
“It should be recalled that in 1982, at the time of the hostilities in the South Atlantic, Argentina was governed by an illegal and illegitimate military dictatorship, which acted with its back to the Argentine people and departed from Argentina’s traditional commitment to the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes and, in particular, to the search for a peaceful solution to the question of the Malvinas Islands.” Declare ambassador Oyarzabal.
” Throughout all democratic governments, the Argentine Republic has consistently rejected the use of force and has continuously shown its willingness to engage in bilateral negotiations as a means to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute, in accordance with the resolutions of the General Assembly and international law.
Argentina has repeatedly expressed its willingness to dialogue with the United Kingdom on all issues related to the “Question of the Malvinas Islands” and maintains its firm will to negotiate in order to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations and multiple pronouncements of the international community”.
The Malvinas War in 1982 resulted in the loss of numerous Argentine lives who fought in the conflict with the legitimate conviction of defending the national interest.
Within the framework of the Malvinas agenda, the Argentine State designed a Presidential Commemorative Medal, which was produced by the Mint and which during 2022 will be given to Malvinas veterans; to the families of those who died in the South Atlantic Conflict; and to those veterans who died post-conflict.
H.E. Mr. Mario Oyarzabal, Ambassador of Argentina during his speech.
The Argentine Embassy presented the commemorative medal to two Malvinas veterans living in the Netherlands: Mr. Edgardo Higinio González, and Mr. Gustavo Enrique Monti. “This medal is an enormous and eternal gratitude from all the Argentine people for their fight and patriotism; for defending our flag and our territory. Your example, inspires us to continue working to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute.” said the ambassador.
Gonzalez, who at the age of 22 was one of the 90 volunteer private pilots who participated in the war, emotionally dedicated his medal to his fallen comrades and remembered his commander and other comrades who perished. Monti a Navy soldier who was at ARA General Belgrano cruiser said: “the real heroes are those who lost their lives in Malvinas, we only have the mission that they are not forgotten”.
After Ambassador Oyarzabal’s speech, there was a video message by the Minister of Malvinas, Antartida and Atlantico South, Ambassador Guillermo Carmona from Buenos Aires.
There is a commemorative plaque with the motto “Malvinas unites us” at the Malvinas Argentina’s Room.
ZOiS (03.03.2022) – Since the end of the Soviet Union, dozens of theologians and scholars of religion elaborated on the complicated relationship within the church community of the so-called Holy Rus’. The Moscow Patriarchate defines its territory of spiritual responsibility in the borders of the Soviet Union—except for the old churches of Armenia and Georgia. The core of this spiritual community is Kyiv as the place of baptism of Rus’ in 988 and Moscow as the residency of the head of the church, today Patriarch Kirill. Bitter as it is, the territory of the Soviet Union was always closer to the ecclesiastical understanding of this sacred territory than the Russian Federation and its independent neighbor states, and the Russian Orthodox Church made comprehensive theological, historiographical, and political efforts to design the unity of the people in a new way.
As in other places of the world, national independence has finally caused the establishment of an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine. However, it was not Moscow as mother-church to release the Ukrainian Orthodoxy in its independence, because that would have questioned the unity of the one tradition. For three decades, the Moscow Patriarchate succeeded in its concept of spiritual unity by underlining its respect for national sovereignty. This was a balancing act, but most Ukrainian Orthodox and global Orthodoxy committed to this concept and refused to acknowledge the self-proclaimed Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate in 1992.
The concept started to fail when, simultaneously, the Moscow Patriarchate strengthened its ideology of a common Orthodox civilization united by a conservative set of values and, on the other side, Ukrainian society engaged increasingly in European integration. During the first Maidan, or “Orange Revolution” in 2004, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) managed to handle the diverging claims from Russia and the West mainly due to the conservative agenda of the ruling elites in Ukraine. The second Maidan in 2014, the “Revolution of Dignity” with its clear pro-European political stance, however, challenged the attitude of unity seriously, as did the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas, the violation of the national borders of Ukraine by Russia.
To maintain the reality of unity, the reaction of the Russian Orthodox Church was a slight yet effective shift in its ideology. Since 2014, the ideology of the “Russian World” ceased from official ecclesiastical statements as the church tried to avoid being equated to Russia’s imperial claims on sovereign nations. As a new frame, the defense of persecuted Christians evolved. With this concept, the Moscow Patriarchate not only legitimated Russia’s participation in the war in Syria and paramilitary activities in Africa. It also used the human rights framework to justify these state actions and its involvement in the territory of other Orthodox Churches. Since 2018, the Moscow Patriarchate systematically supplemented its concept of persecuted Christians in Ukraine with a massive campaign concerning violent attacks on property and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Granted, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate had to face massive social and media pressure due to its remaining ties with the church of the aggressor state, suffering violent attacks and misleading legal initiatives like the draft law on renaming the church. These are cases of undermining religious freedom. The church vanished in the public discourse in Ukraine, trapped between its spiritual bonds with Moscow and its Ukrainian identity. Unfortunately, the Russian Orthodox Church refused to acknowledge both. While the Ukrainian Metropolitan Onufry became silent on almost all social and political issues in Ukraine to avoid new accusations, the Russian church leadership enforced its spiritual and socio-cultural claims on Ukraine. The discourse about the spiritual unity of Holy Rus’, meaning Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, increased to counter the engagement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It reached the level of negating the Ukrainian identity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a whole. After years of trying to keep the balance, the ROC joined the state propaganda about Ukraine as an inherent part of Russian identity and space of influence.
When the escalation of the full-fledged war in Ukraine was inevitable, the religious world watched the Moscow Patriarchate turn its back to Ukraine. When analyzing the reaction of Patriarch Kirill, the different meanings of words said and not said should be recognized because they will serve as a point of reference in future talks about the role of the church in this war. On the one side, the Patriarch and other speakers for the church (Metropolitan Hilarion, chair of the external office; Vladimir Legojda, head of the information department) demand peace, a dialogue for all conflicting sides, and a prayer for peace. In all statements on Ukraine, they also refer to the unity of the Christians in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia and to the special responsibility of the Moscow Patriarchate for these regions. Metropolitan Hilarion claimed several days before the invasion that “War is not a method of solving the accumulated political problems.”
This quote now is used as a sign of dissent to the war within the ROC; however, the main focus of Hilarion in this interview is accusing the West of sharpening the “accumulated political problems,” and his commitment against war remains in general terms. The Patriarch did not contradict the words of “persecuted Christians,” which Putin used to justify his war against Ukraine on 21 February 2022. Until 4 March, neither the Patriarch nor any other speaker of the ROC used the word war to describe the situation in Ukraine. When monitoring the news on the website of the Moscow Patriarchate since 21 February, there are more reports about the activities of the ROC in Africa than about the situation in Ukraine, not counting several unconfirmed hints of alleged Ukrainian violence against churches of the UOC-MP, legitimizing armed acts of “defense.” There are no reports or pictures about the massive destruction of Ukrainian cities and cultural sites and no links to the statements by the hierarchy from the UOC-MP.
On the other side, we have to take into account the open support of the Russian military one day before the outbreak of war, when Russian armed forces were already arranged at the border to Ukraine in Russia and Belarus. On 23 February, Patriarch Kirill congratulated the heads of the Russian government on the occasion of the Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland, a Soviet tradition of glorifying veterans and male armed power. In his speech on that day, he said,
We live in peaceful times, but we know that even in peacetime there are threats. Unfortunately, even at the moment, there are threats—everyone is familiar with what is happening on the borders of our Fatherland. Therefore, I think that our military personnel cannot have any doubts that they have chosen a very correct path in their lives. Because by following this path, you are protecting the people even without any military action. The strength of the Armed Forces, the might of the Russian army is already a weapon that protects our people. But in order for these weapons to be taken seriously by those who have bad intentions, the Armed Forces of our country must always be on alert.
Finally, in his sermon on 27 February, after ensuring his awareness of the “difficult circumstances encountered today by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate,” the Patriarch stated,
It must not be allowed to give the dark and hostile external forces an occasion to laugh at us; we should do everything to preserve peace between our peoples while protecting our common historical Motherland against every outside action that can destroy this unity.
He said this, remarkably, on the fifth day of heavy shelling of Russian arms on the peaceful—Orthodox—civilians in Ukraine. This implies the prolongation of the narrative that the violence is provoked by the West and justified as a defense. It is a scandalous ignorance of the situation of the people in Ukraine, which he claims to defend, a deliberate reversal of perpetrator and victim, and it is in open support of the ideology of the murderous regime. This statement marks a final split between Russian and Ukrainian Orthodoxy, even if this split is not a canonical one. This split, however, is not demanded or intended by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose bishops and priests appealed to Moscow for support in naming the reality. This split is performed by the Moscow Patriarchate itself through the refusal to take pastoral responsibility for its flock. Such a situation is unique in the history of Orthodoxy and will provoke further theological and canonical debates within global Orthodoxy. To be clear, praying for peace is, without doubt, an important instrument of the church to impact conflict dynamics. When at the same time they neglect the very fact of war and its victims and warmongers, these prayers become false and dangerous.
The Hague, 1 December 2022– The Principals of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals yesterday held a briefing for the diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and international organizations.
During the briefing, which was attended by 50 ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, President Graciela Gatti Santana, Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Registrar Abubacarr M. Tambadou provided an overview and update of the Mechanism’s current activities.
All three Principals emphasized their commitment to efficiently, expeditiously and fairly completing the few remaining cases, as well as carrying out the Mechanism’s continuous residual functions in a manner consistent with the Security Council’s vision. President Gatti Santana briefed the diplomatic corps on the main priorities of her Presidency, including planning for future changes in the Mechanism’s work. Prosecutor Brammertz highlighted his Office’s efforts to track the remaining fugitives and assist national judiciaries. Registrar Tambadou outlined the support provided by the Registry to Mechanism activities, as well as ongoing work to further improve accessibility of the public judicial records and archives.
The Principals of the Mechanism also thanked State representatives for their steadfast support to the Mechanism since its inception and identified several areas where continued support from Member States remains essential. These include locating and arresting the fugitives; the remaining transfer of convicted persons to enforcement States and more generally securing the support of additional enforcement States; and, finally, providing the Mechanism with sufficient budgetary resources to undertake its work.
The Mechanism will continue to regularly update the diplomatic corps, both in Arusha and in The Hague, about its work and activities.
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Picture by UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
Not just the world cup is in play this week. In Punta del Este, Uruguay diplomats and experts from around the world have launched a two-year ambitious negotiation process towards an internationally legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. Stakes are high for INC-1. The first of five sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is expected to lay the foundation of a treaty that will define whether we live in a world where plastics improve our lives or make our planet unlivable.
Scoring a goal towards ending plastic pollution is in the best interest of Latin America and the Caribbean and regional positioning is of essence. The stakes for the region are even higher, just like with climate change, it is more vulnerable and suffers greatly the brunt effects without being a major culprit of plastic pollution. In LAC the need for effective governance to end plastic pollution is critical. The region must position itself and push to make it so.
To address ending plastic pollution in a fair and decisive way in the region, multilateralism and private investment is needed more than ever. The real challenge doesn’t lie in the creation of a treaty but one that can adapt to lessen the burden of future generations, is able to articulate existing frameworks and achieve multi-stakeholder dialogue, especially with non-state actors.
A roadmap has been endorsed by 175 countries,[1] and effective treaty talks will require an objective viewpoint and not losing sight of the ball. Plastics have solved critical problems of humanity including by providing lifesaving medical solutions that have benefitted the region greatly. The challenge is not plastic, but rather plastic pollution and getting consensus on how to end it. In addition to the hazards posed to the marine and terrestrial environment as well as to humans, plastics are also a substantial contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Plastic is the most persistent pollutant that exists. It travels through air, land and sea freightage or using oceans, rivers and streams as mediums, affecting the environment, hampering efforts to tackle the nature and climate crisis along with the guarantee of human rights. It is a global problem with local implications requiring responses at different levels. Plastic production in LAC only accounts to about 4% percent of the total global production of plastic materials, which amounts to approximately 368 million metric tons. LAC does not contribute significantly to the plastic problem. It generates less than 12% of the global waste according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) but bears a heavier brunt.
LAC is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the plastic lifecycle affect meeting global climate targets. Plastics have a significant carbon footprint and emit 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. About 8 million tons of plastic flow from rivers and beaches into the ocean every year and is forecast to triple by 2040. These plastics are broken down by waves and the sun into small microplastics (less than 5 mm). They transport absorbed persistent organic pollutants. Traces have been found in blood, clothing, migratory species and even in animals sampled from deep sea. Additionally, in LAC, the Mesoamerican Reef data shows that when plastic meets a reef, the coral is 20 times more likely to be afflicted by disease.
In addition, plastic is clogging landfills that poorly managed result in never ending fires that affect health and human rights of the poorest and most vulnerable communities that tend to live next to them. In addition to human rights concerns, plastic pollution clearly raises social and environmental justice concerns.
The existing legal architecture to address these concerns is fragmented and piecemeal.
There is not one single international treaty that deals exclusively with plastic pollution, there are at least nine Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), without counting regional instruments such as the Cartagena Convention,[2] that address different aspects of plastic pollution. One nation’s regulations do not prevent another nation’s waste from reaching its shores, as evidenced in the beaches from Yucatan to Santo Domingo. Generally, there are no uniform global standards or policies that guide the industry. Most strikingly, there is no common definition of biodegradable plastics. This has become an issue for multinational corporations selling in various countries. Some companies strongly support harmonizing definitions, reporting metrics, and methodologies that will simplify industry practices and improve management of waste. Despite some great advances at the regional and national level, the main problem remains reaching concerted action at the sectoral and the multilateral governance levels.
The Resolution establishing the INC provides a glimpse of what seems to be the framework and guide for treaty talks. Including elements such as financial mechanisms, the a secretariat; strengthening of the science-policy interface; taking effective and progressive actions at the local, regional, and global level among other. The scope that has been set up by countries for the projected instrument includes both binding and voluntary approaches. It is based on a comprehensive method that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic and considers the principles established by the Rio Conference on Environment and Development, as well as national circumstances and capabilities. The established roadmap does not aim for a cap or reduction in production, nor does it include a requirement that production numbers be reported along with other statistics. However, collection of production data represents the first step before any effective regulations could be written, and it’s a step that industry would like to avoid. In defining what the plastic lifecycle entails, negotiators opted to recommend a broader concept. The industry focused on waste management.
Several options have been laid on the table, potential elements; structure; key terms, plastics science; existing funding, priorities, needs, challenges and barriers to end plastic pollution along with scientific and governance information that might assist negotiators. Thus, many questions persist, divergent views, and a plethora of interested parties from industry lobbying to make their views known and reflected – some to encourage, some to block.
Action is needed from multiple angles and at each stage of the plastic life cycle for real impact in LAC. The role of non-State Actors in different fronts must be reconsidered. In implementation and monitoring for effective reporting and verification rather than burdensome enforcement procedures or mechanisms, but more so on market opportunities and circular economy. Shifting to a circular economy including bio-based plastics is an important part of the solution to the plastic pollution challenge. However, the transition has been slow and requires significant investments in sustainable business models.
The global plastic market size was estimated at more than USD 609.01 billion in 2022. It is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% from 2022 to 2030 reaching revenues of USD 811.57 billion. The increasing plastic consumption in the construction, automotive, packaging and electrical & electronics industries is projected to support market growth during the forecast period. For example, regulations to decrease gross vehicle weight to improve fuel efficiency and eventually reduce carbon emissions are driving plastic consumption as a substitute for metals, including aluminum and steel, for manufacturing automotive components. Regulation regarding depletion and recyclability of conventional materials -such as metal and wood- are anticipated to drive greater plastic demand from construction. Plastic has 85% less specific gravity compared to metals, enabling in the automotive and construction industries, approximately 80% weight savings and 30% to 50% cost savings in individual components.
A mere 4.5 % of the waste is recycled in LAC, significantly below the world average. To address plastic pollution effectively and fairly, multilateralism and private investment is needed more than ever.
Emerging markets in LAC have a role to play. The real challenge doesn’t lie in the creation of an international binding instrument but one that is able to articulate with other existing agreements and non-traditional plastic institutions as well as achieve multi-stakeholder dialogue, especially with non-state actors that can catalyze investment in the circular economy at scale.
[1] United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme, Resolution 5/14, “End plastic pollution: towards and international legally binding instrument”, Nairobi, Kenya, 28 February – 2 March 2022
[2] Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region
About the authors
Claudia S. de Windt
Claudia S. de Windt. International Environmental Lawyer, Expert in Political Sciences and Adjunct Associate Professor of Law. Chief Executive of the Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability (IIJS: www.ii-js.org). Steering Committee member of the World Commission on Environmental Law of the International Union for the conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its Agreement on Plastic Pollution Task Force.
Romain Collet
Romain Collet. Lawyer specializing in International Law of the Sea. Master of Laws in International Legal Studies of American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) and master’s degree in International Law at Université Paris Nanterre.
On 9 November 2022, the Repatriation and Departure Service -DT&V- commemorated its 15th anniversary with a symposium at the Louwman Museum The Hague.
“Together, we look back at a successful and inspiring international symposium. This symposium was specially organised on the 15th anniversary of the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) and took place on Wednesday 9 November 2022 in the Louwman Museum in The Hague.
The DT&V organised on this day an open discussion about the opportunities, possibilities and challenges migration professionals experience on the theme of return. A topic that is constantly on the move. During the symposium, participants were given the latest developments in national and European developments in the field of return. In this symposium, we have jointly bridged the gap between all cooperating partners and organisations.
Alessandro di Tolla, Director European Center for Returns Division – Frontex, Monika Sie Dhian Ho, Director of the Clingendael Institute, Ewald Riks, Acting General Director of the DT&V and Mari Juritsch, EU Return Coordinator – European Commission. Den Haag, 09–11-2022 Migration on the Move in Louwman museum Foto Martijn Beekman
Great interest
More than 130 participants, including ambassadors, national and international partners from the immigration process participated in the symposium. They followed an inspiring and interesting programme, facilitated by the moderator Donatello Piras. The plenary part started with a dazzling, colourful opening, which took those present along the story of Migration on the Move.
The Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro and the Minister for Migration, Eric van der Burg. Den Haag, 09–11-2022
Migration on the Move in Louwman museum
Foto Martijn Beekman
The Ambassador of El Salvador, H.E. Ms. Carmen Maria Gallardo, Minister for Migration, Eric van der Burg, and Ewald Riks, Acting General Director of the DT&V . Den Haag, 09–11-2022 Migration on the Move in Louwman museum Foto Martijn Beekman
Tailor-made return
Mari Juritsch, EU return coordinator since May this year, was the keynote speaker. Her position is new and aims to coordinate return initiatives efficiently in and with European countries. She emphasized two important ambitions. increase the number of voluntary returns and improve the quality of support for returnees. Such as increasing the investment in return counselling and services that enable reintegration as well as support for individuals with different needs.
Thus, a real tailor-made approach. This requires a large investment in the complex field of migration, she mentioned in her speech. During the panel discussion, she shows clearly her interest for the DT&V case management tool. A tool applied by the DT&V departure supervisors who is responsible for the foreign national from beginning to end in the departure process. She intends to introduce this took EU-wide.
The Ambassador of Egypt H.E. Mr. Hatem Abdelkader with the Minister of Migration and DT&V’S acting director. Den Haag, 09–11-2022 Migration on the Move in Louwman museum Foto Martijn Beekman
Panel discussion: International cooperation in return process & Tailor-made return
The panel discussion facilitated by moderator Donatello Piras was held with Alessandro di Tolla, Director European Center for Returns Division – Frontex, Mari Juritsch, EU Return Coordinator – European Commission, Monika Sie Dhian Ho, Director of the Clingendael Institute and Ewald Riks, Acting General Director of the DT&V. New insights were shared from each panellist’s perspective to work towards migration and mobility with mutual benefits, preferably at European level and in cooperation with the private sector.
Mrs Sie Dhian Ho emphasised the importance of strong agreements and real partnerships between countries in which new initiatives can flourish to improve the future of migrants. “There are great initiatives to stimulate off-shore employment. This is for both parties a good business model.”
Mari Juritsch, EU Return Coordinator – European Commission. Den Haag, 09–11-2022 Migration on the Move in Louwman museum Foto Martijn Beekman
Participants in the room underlined that migration is more than return and that legal migration, short or long, should be taken on board when considering a partnership approach.
The Ambassador of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Slim Ghariani, Den Haag, 09–11-2022
Migration on the Move in Louwman museum
Foto Martijn BeekmanNdey Haddy Jeng – Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim of The Embassy of The Gambia in Brussels. Den Haag, 09–11-2022
Migration on the Move in Louwman museum
Foto Martijn Beekman
Keywords in the panel discussion were sustainability and customization. The participants emphasized the importance of the human dimension whereby a foreign national returns with a future perspective. Mr Riks: “I try to contribute the best I can with capacity building projects, when it is within my mandate. If it is not within my reach, I try to make the link with other ministries or organisations who might have the possibilities to support within their mandate.”[BDv-B3]
The Ambassador of Panama, H.E. Ms. Elizabeth War Neiman. Den Haag, 09–11-2022
Migration on the Move in Louwman museum
Foto Martijn Beekman
There was a lively Q&A session, and Ambassadors, Diplomats and others made effective use of it. Among them the Gambia, Tunisia, Panama, Bangladesh, IOM and others. After the plenary session, a toast was proposed to the 15th anniversary of the DT&V, followed by a reception.
Den Haag, 09–11-2022
Migration on the Move in Louwman museum
Foto Martijn Beekman
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in The Netherlands celebrates the 92nd National Day
By Roy Lie Atjam
His Excellency Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Netherland, H.E. Mr. Ziad M.D Al-Atiyah hosted a reception in The Hague on September 22, on the occasion of the 92nd National day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
His Excellency received Scores of Dutch officials, Ambassadors, Secretary Generals of International Organizations in The Hague, friends and acquaintances of Saudi Arabia, who all wished the Kingdom and the Saudi people prosperity and ample success on this glorious occasion.
H.E. Mr. Nasser Allenqawi Ambassador of Qatar, H.E. Mr. Şaban Dișli, Ambassador of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Ali Ahmad Ebraheem S. Aldafiri, Ambassador of Kuwait, H.E. Ms. Rawan Sulaiman, Palestine Chief of Mission and H.E. Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa, Ambassador of Lebanon.
In his welcome speech, His Excellency extend his sincere congratulations on this occasion to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
His Excellency also highlighted that this year coincides with another important occasion, the 150th anniversary of Saudi-Dutch relations since the establishment of the first Dutch consulate in Jeddah in 1872, a milestone reflecting an old friendship that is always renewed with prosperity and dialogue.
92nd National Day Kingdom Saudi Arabia. Marian Reijnen
Director MENA Business Council
International Project Manager
VNO-NCW/MKB-Nederland
Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers VNO-NCW
Royal Dutch Association of Small and Medium Enterprises MKB Nederland, H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen and H.E. Ms. Rawan Sulaiman, Palestinian Chief of Mission.
His Excellency then invited guests to take part of a historical journey in which a short movie highlighting historical and contemporary aspects of the Saudi-Dutch relations was projected. After that, guests were invited to enjoy an exquisite buffet of Saudi delicacies.
In November, the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) took place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
COP27 brought together 112 heads of state, over 46.000 delegates including ministers, scientists, policy-makers, activists and youth. This is the largest annual gathering on climate action. It takes place at a time when climate change is already impacting communities around the globe, and climate action is more urgent than ever.
“I deeply believe that COP27 is an opportunity to showcase unity against an existential threat that we can only overcome through concerted action and effective implementation.”
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi
On Monday, 28 November the debriefing and dialogue were intended to help professionals in The Hague understand the outcomes of COP27 and reflect on the next steps for real action on climate change. The debriefing was organized by The Hague Humanity Hub and KlimaatPositief, with program contributions by guest speakers.
The event in the Hague united professionals who share the same goal: to take decisive action on climate change. The Hague Humanity Hub offered a place to hear updates from COP27, exchange perspectives on the way forward, and connect with professionals from across sectors.
From Red to North Sea: COP27 debriefing for professionals in The Hague
Jill Wilkinson, Managing Director of The Hague Humanity Hub opened the event.
Paulien Boone – founder of KlimaatPositief and member of Humanity Hub was moderating the panel discussion.
Guest speakers who shared their experience and knowledge:
Bastiaan Hassing, Head of Delegation of The Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UNFCCC;
Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice-President & Regional Director for Europe, WRI;
Marlene Achoki, Global Policy Co-Lead, Climate Justice, at CARE Climate Justice Center (joined online from Nairobi);
Laura de Vries, board member, Youth Climate Movement (Jonge Klimaatbeweging).
The session has an interactive part: participants were invited to share their reflections on COP27, and their experiences working on climate action in a round-table format. The discussion included ideas on how to boost climate action.
Wednesday, 23 November 2022, Warsaw, Republic of Poland: Polish President Andrzej Duda received the letters of credence of Namibia’s non-resident top envoy, Ambassador Martin Andjaba during a ceremony held at Belweder Palace, south of Warsaw’s city centre.
Ambassador Andjaba is resident in the Federal Republic of Germany wherein he was accredited on Wednesday, 3 February 2021. His mission includes accreditations to the Republic of Türkiye, the Holy See (accredited since 17 December 2021), the Czech Republic (accredited since 23 February 2022) and the Republic of Poland (accredited since 23 November 2022).
Previous to his ambassadorship, Martin Andjaba served in the capacity as a member of the Namibian Parliament from March 2018 to March 2020. During the latter period he sat in the cabinet, and served as Minister to the Presidency from April 2018 and concurrently as Acting Minister of Education, Arts and Culture from July 2019 to March 2020.
Martin Andjaba was Ambassador of Namibia to the United States of America from September 2010 to March 2018. He was also accredited to The Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama. He was Head of Departmentof Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs from September 2006 to August 2010. From September 1996 to August 2006, he was Namibia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York City. Ambassador Andjaba was leader of the Namibian delegation to the UN Security Council (UNSC) from January 1999 to December 2000.
He was President of the Security Council in August 1999 and October 2000. During the conflict in East Timor, he led two successful Security Council Missions to Indonesia and East Timor in September 1999 and November 2000. The Mission in September 1999 paved the way for the deployment of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in October 1999. Likewise he served as Chairman of the Security Council Sanctions Committee on Liberia from January 1999 to December 2000. Ambassador Andjaba was a member of the Security Council Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Uganda from 4 to 8 May 2000, which was aimed at assisting the Parties to resolve the conflict in the DRC peacefully. The same delegation proceeded to Ethiopia and Eritrea from 9 to 10 May 2000 with the mandate of persuading the two countries to resolve their border dispute by peaceful means.
During his assignment at the UN, Ambassador Andjaba was also accredited to Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana in the capacity as High Commissioner. Prior to taking up assignment at the UN, Ambassador Andjaba was Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Namibia from March 1990 to August 1996. He attended the Diplomatic Training Course at the University of Namibia in 1990.
