Green Hydrogen: A Promising Future For Chile And The World

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Green Hydrogen: A Promising Future For Chile And The World

By H.E. Mr. Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, Ambassador of Chile to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Chile, a long country at the end of the South American continent, is well known for several things: our Nobel Prize winning poets, Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda, Eastern Island, the astronomical observatories, and our rich geography, among others, which gives us so many natural wonders. Thanks to this geography, we are recognised for our fruit, wine and salmon, as a tourist destination for adventurers, but also for our mineral resources, such as copper and lithium. Today, a new energy source of the future has been added to our export offer: hydrogen.

Hydrogen is set to be the definitive replacement for fossil fuels, with zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other polluting gases. To produce it, a process called electrolysis is required, which, based on high amounts of electricity (produced by renewable energies) breaks the water molecule (H2O) and separates it into hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). While the hydrogen is stored for use as fuel, the oxygen is released into the atmosphere.

Chile could produce green hydrogen – thanks to solar and wind energy – at a very low cost, and could have an installed capacity of 25 Giga Watt by 2030, according to a study by global strategic management consultancy McKinsey & Company.

How will we achieve this? Thanks to the sun in the north of the country and the wind in the south. In the north, where the Atacama Desert is, the driest in the world, and where the astrological observatories are located due to the clarity of the skies, we have an enormous capacity for the installation of solar plants that will feed the electrolysis plants that will produce the hydrogen. In the south, in the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic, where the American continent ends and the Strait of Magellan is located, wind energy could produce 13% of the world’s green hydrogen, considering that the annual potential for wind power generation in Magallanes could exceed the current electricity generation of the Chilean electricity grid by 7 times.

H.E. Mr. Jaime Moscoso Valenzuela, Ambassador of Chile.

The Atacama Desert is well known for having the highest UV radiation on Earth with a solar energy potential of over 1,400 GW and the strong winds in the Magallanes region reaches a total on-shore wind potential of 130 GW, allowing in both cases for world-leading capacity factors. This huge potential combined with a mature renewable energy sector with the presence of the main international companies, gives Chile the best conditions to produce green hydrogen in the short term and become a green hydrogen exporter leader by 2030.

To achieve this goal, we need to attract more investment, but also find a new way of developing projects internally, with a more inclusive overview and a close relationship with communities and territories to improve our ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance.

At the same time, experts estimate that green hydrogen production will allow the implementation of a decentralised development model, generating local energy markets that commercialise hydrogen and electricity. This is also in line with President Gabriel Boric’s commitments to decentralise Chile and give more autonomy and development to the regions.

Chile has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in its National Determined Contribution (NDC), and green hydrogen could go a long way towards achieving this. The deployment of green hydrogen in applications such as freight transport, motor uses in mining and industry, and residential and industrial heat could account for 24% of the reduction of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2050 in a carbon neutrality scenario. As in the Chilean case, green hydrogen will help many countries to reach this critical goal, as was urgently raised at the just concluded COP27. That is why we are working with the Netherlands on a green hydrogen supply corridor from Chile to Europe.

We are in a first phase of developing industrial-scale pilot projects, which will shape the second phase of building the infrastructure and the capacity to produce and export, to achieve the third phase of exporting. Simultaneously we are working on certification standards, transport and shipping carriers. Therefore, bilateral efforts are focused on working together in international forums to improve certification, and to advance in the creation of a regulated market for this new commodity, but also to strengthen institutional and private sector ties.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chilean Ministry of Energy and the Port of Rotterdam in 2021 was a first step and the legal framework to establish this green hydrogen corridor. Two Dutch Trade Missions to Chile in a year are proof of the strong commitment of both countries to develop the hydrogen market. On the last Trade Mission, from the 5th to the 13th of November, more than 25 businessmen and women visited Chile: Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción, Mejillones, and Calama, to see by themselves the industrial sites, innovation initiatives, the main ports, and the first concentrated solar power plant in Latin America.

As Embassy, we are coordinating with our Dutch counterparts to follow up and continue the bilateral relationship. Personally, I feel that green hydrogen represents a huge opportunity to reduce greenhouse gases and to be an agent of change in the energy transition. If we achieve this historic shift from fossil fuels to green fuels, it will be a tipping point for humanity. Chile can transition from a country that grows by extracting nonrenewable resources to one that produces the clean and renewable fuels that the world requires to avoid climate change. The country can also become a site of green industrialisation, using our potential to attract energy-intensive industries. Green hydrogen will bring new opportunities to develop a competitive clean energy industry to use locally and to export, while building a sustainable economy around it.

This will have a great impact on our country’s brand, adding green value to the products exported from Chile, such as being the world’s leading producer of green copper. Carbon footprint reduction in transport and a new supply of green minerals and goods, will generate innovation, promote growth and employment, and create new companies with local and global impact. Green hydrogen could prove to be the missing link to a climate-safe energy future for Chile. That is why we welcome the commitment of the Netherlands to developing countries, because the energy transition and mitigation of the consequences of climate change cannot be achieved alone, it is a community effort that requires the concurrence of all.

One dream goal: boosting the relations between our countries and people

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One dream goal: boosting the relations between our countries and people

The Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay have more in common than they really perceive.  Both may sure benefit with a closer partnership.

By H.E. Mr. Alvaro González  Otero, Ambassador of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Netherlands and Uruguay have small territories and they are influenced by contiguous neighbors.  Both share similar landscapes, surrounded by waters, undulating slight hills and very friendly people.

They are also countries who firmly defend multilateralism and the principles and purposes of the United Nations. We maintain several compatible positions in this field, mainly with regard to Peace and Security.

Three main subjects have already been identified for working together, since we may add common areas of interest: green hydrogen; logistics, and agricultural developments. Nevertheless, there are also other valuable topics to grow up together.

Uruguay stands out in Latin America for being an egalitarian society, for its high per capita income and for its low levels of inequality and poverty. In relative terms, its middle class is the largest in the Americas, representing more than 60% of its population.

Its economy grew 4.4% in 2021, after a 6.1% drop the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2022, it is expected to grow 4.8%, mainly driven by the opening of borders to foreign tourism last summer and an increase in agricultural production. For 2023, growth of 2.7% is expected. This slowdown will be driven by lower growth in the main Mercosur partners, the global economic slowdown, the tightening of monetary policy, and the completion of extraordinary investments related to a new pulp mill for US$3 billion, in addition to complementary public works.

The strong economic advances that Uruguay has made, particularly since the 2002 crisis, added to the solid social pact that characterizes it, support the path towards poverty reduction and the promotion of shared prosperity that the country has travelled.  Also defined by its strong vocation in terms of social protection, it should be mentioned, that historically, inclusive social policies have focused on expanding the coverage of programs, for example, around 90% of the population over 65 years of age is covered by the pension system: this is one of the highest coefficients in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with Argentina and Brazil.

Today, there are a number of structural constraints that can hinder progress towards sustainable development goals. In one hand, the country is in an advanced phase of the demographic transition and is in the process of reforming its social security system, which currently generates large fiscal costs. In addition, Uruguay faces challenges to improve its competitiveness and long-term growth. In turn, Uruguay faces challenges to incorporate women into economic activity and transform education and labour institutions to take advantage of technological change productively, in addition to promoting investment in infrastructure and integration into global value chains. Finally, despite the fact that the incidence of poverty in Uruguay remains relatively low in regional comparison, there are still disparities in terms of age, sex, region, and ancestry, which could have deepened with the pandemic.

Strong institutional performance in other areas, such as trust in government, low corruption, and a consensus-based political approach, as well as a strong commitment to strengthen institutional arrangements, give the country a firm foundation on which to continue renewing their social contract and establish policies to attack current limitations.

On a different subject, the country achieved a transformation of its energy matrix and continues to take firm steps towards greater use of clean energy.  Favored by its geographical location for the generation of solar, wind and hydraulic energy, Uruguay is undergoing a process of investment in renewable energies that has become a priority with institutional support. It currently allocates approximately 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to energy infrastructure, which places it in fifth place in the world in terms of investment in clean energy, according to the Renewables Global Status Report prepared by REN21. In addition, according to the global index prepared by the World Economic Forum and the consulting firm Accenture in 2021, Uruguay was for the second time the best positioned in Latin America in this aspect. Investment in renewable energy has become a national priority that materializes in the exponential increase in electricity production through clean sources. This change in the energy sector began with a public-private model, in which the public sector was in charge of coordinating and managing national and international contributions and the private sphere was the source of investment, a model that was praised by the International Energy Agency Renewables. The country has been committed to this cause since its participation at the end of 2019 in the annual summit of the United Nations Macro Convention on Climate Change. From here it managed to combine its natural resources, future-oriented legislation and investments to achieve an energy transformation that allows it to produce more than 97% of its energy from renewable sources.

In the touristic sector, the beach resort city of Punta del Este, offers not only pristine ocean coasts, but also activities like visits to typical estancias, adventure tours, hunting, horseback riding and much more.  Another attractive destination is Colonia del Sacramento, a beautifully preserved colonial town, originally founded by the Portuguese, which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  Also, the city of Montevideo -the nation’s capital and home to nearly half of Uruguay’s population-, is a vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life. Stretching 12.5 miles (20km) from east to west, the city wears many faces, from its industrial port to the exclusive beachside suburb of Carrasco near the airport.

In the wine production sector, it is important to mention that two of its tannat wines -Uruguay’s flagship variety- were awarded gold and silver medals in London. Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the most important awards in the industry organized by the prestigious British magazine Decanter, awarded the Sacromonte winery in Maldonado, Uruguay, in its 2022 edition with a gold medal for its 2020 tannat wine and a silver medal for its tannat concrete-aged. In the competition, held between April 24 and 30 in London, more than 54 countries participated and 300 international experts evaluated nearly 18,000 wines.  The history of wine in Uruguay is more than 250 years old and this is one of the reasons that has contributed to the recognition it enjoys in international markets. It is among the top four wine producers in Latin America, located between latitude 30° and 35°, a privileged geographical location as that of the best wine producers in the world. The tannat grape was consolidated as the main variety in the country due to its good adaptation to the soil and climate. Among the wine producing countries, Uruguay is identified by this unique and characteristic varietal strain, which achieves a wine of elegant intensity and character.

Taking advantage of the World Cup in Qatar, in which Uruguay is participating, the country sees the opportunity to exhibit the excellence of ultra-fine Uruguayan wool.  Through the initiative “Lana Celeste a Catar”, the country plans to dress the players of the Uruguayan Soccer Team with national Merino wool suits of the highest quality. Like the Uruguayan Soccer Team, Uruguayan wool competes with the best in the world, which is why it was decided that the players wear suits made with the highest quality Uruguayan Merino wool during the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The “Lana Celeste a Qatar” project represents an excellent opportunity to promote the country as an exporter of differentiated and high-value natural products, as well as a benchmark in fashion and sustainable design. Our wool is recognized as a natural, renewable, recyclable product, produced in a sustainable way, with certified processes and products, friendly to the environment and animal welfare. The use of this product in Qatar -a state with a very hot climate- will demonstrate that it offers optimal thermal insulation compared to other natural and synthetic fibers, which is why it can be used in both summer and winter. Superfine Merino wool, less than 18 microns for these suits, allows to produce Super 130’s fabrics, light, 260 grams per meter, which adapt to the climatic conditions of Qatar, with excellent comfort on the skin and following the trend of international fashion.

Finally, the most important reasons why Uruguay has become a leader in South America for investments and business are:

1. Reliable country: Uruguay has political, democratic and social stability, and macroeconomic soundness, which creates the right environment for successful investment. It is also a stable and predictable country, qualities that are taken as a differential by investors.

2. Gateway to Latin America: Uruguay´s strategic location as the Gateway to the region offers the perfect springboard to Latin America. Uruguay provides top-level logistics infrastructure, state-of-the-art telecommunications technology and the best energy supply in the region based on renewable resources.  Through Uruguay is possible to access a market of 400 million people, which accounts for 68% of Latin America’s GDP and represents a flow of foreign trade of almost 74% of Latin America’s total.

3. The best partner to develop business: Uruguay has become the destination par excellence for international companies seeking quality, efficiency, experience and new opportunities in the most stable and reliable business environment in Latin America.  Both national and foreign investment has been declared of national interest. The foreign and local investors are treated equally. It also has a wide range of incentives that adapt to different types of activities, both industrial, commercial or services that want to be carried out in the country.

4. Availability of talent: Human resources in Uruguay are highly competitive, qualified and multilingual.  Moreover, the state promotes the implementation of training programs tailored for existing staff or new recruits, offering grants to companies that present eligible projects.

The state guarantees free access to education, from pre-school to university. Around 5% of the Gross Domestic Product of Uruguay is invested in education.

With all these notes in mind, our Embassy kindly invites all of you to visit Uruguay and directly confirm the similarities between these two progressive countries.

Algeria’ 68th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Glorious Liberation Revolution

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Algeria’ 68th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Glorious Liberation Revolution

By Roy Lie Atjam

On 11 November 2022, the Ambassador of Algeria to the Netherlands, H.E. Salima Abdelhak, hosted a reception to celebrate Algeria’s 68th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Glorious Liberation Revolution in 1954. A large number of Ambassadors, the business community, Dutch government agents, the diaspora and scores of other persons attended the reception.

Ambassador Abdelhak welcome H.E. Ambassador Joseph Manso Ambassador Permanent Representative of USA to the OPCW and spouse.

“It is indeed such a great privilege to welcome you all this evening in this magnificent mansion of Wassenaar to celebrate the 68 th anniversary of the Algerian revolution outbreak of November 1st, 1954. Tonight marks the first Algerian national day ceremony we have hosted since the start of the pandemic. I am, therefore, pleased that the global and local efforts to combat the pandemic have led to this moment, when we can once again gather in person.    

First of all, allow me to express my sincere thanks to all of you for sparing time from your busy schedule, to grace this ceremony with your presence. I appreciate it very much!

The Ambassador of the Republic of Algeria, H.E. Ms. Salima Abdelhak during her speech.

68 years ago, the patriots proclaimed the Revolution and issued an appeal to the Algerian people calling on them to take up arms against one of the most powerful colonial power at that era. It proved to be a long struggle which lasted seven and a half years and left one and half million martyrs that enabled, eventually, the Algerian people to regain freedom and dignity and restore the sovereignty all over their territory.

The Algerian liberation war was, in fact, a turning point in the history of modern Algeria and yet a glimmer of hope for the rest of countries under colonial yoke, as it greatly contributed to the acceleration of decolonization process by enshrining the principle of people’s right to self-determination and independence, through the adoption of the Resolution 1514 (XV), on December 14th 1960”.

Besides colonised countries, the Algerian people’s struggle found favourable echo and gained enormous sympathy among other peoples from all walks of life, who had no qualms championing Algerian people right for freedom and justice since the very first day of the Revolution outbreak. Here in the Netherlands, we have managed to spot some Dutch friends who had honourable stance towards the Algerian cause, some of them unfortunately departed from this world and some others, may God grant them long life, are happily present here to share with us these moments of joy and pride.

I can mention Mrs Margareet Koekbakker, Mr Ep Bonemaan and Mr Van Der Tijn. To all of them, I would like to express once again our sincere thanks and deep gratitude for being always faithful to their principles and their unwavering attachment to Algeria.

Algeria celebrates this auspicious anniversary, amid tremendous efforts made by the incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune who, since his election, conducted ambitious reforms covering most vital sectors.

These reforms evolved around providing business friendly-environment, diversifying the economy, boosting employment and improving life conditions in remote and rural areas, allowing Algeria to achieve, in a matter of few years, such a qualitative leap towards its economic and social renewal by moving firmly forward progress and sustainable growth.

As for foreign policy and driven by its own revolutionary history, Algeria has always advocated, since its accession to the United Nations, for full respect of the international law and legitimacy.                      

As matter of fact, promoting peace and stability, non-interference as well as respect of people’s right to self-determination constitute essential pillars of our diplomatic approach embodied in Algeria’s long standing record in bringing about peace, through mediation and negotiations, in many conflicts zone in Africa, the Arab world and beyond.

H.E. Mr. Slim Ghariani, Ambassador of Tunisia, H.E. Ms. Rawan Sulaiman, Chief of Palestinian Mission and Ambassador Ghariani spouse.

Committed to multilateralism, Algeria continues to be a leading voice on various topics such as peace, human rights, gender equality, climate change, counterterrorism, disarmament, and sustainable development.

All this made Algeria earn respect among its partners, illustrated recently by its well-deserved election as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2023-2025 and its promising candidacy as a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council for the period 2024-2025.

H.E. Ms. Maria Isabel Gomes Godinho de Resende Encoge, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola, the Ambassadors of Egypt H.E. Mr. Hatem Abdelkader and the Ambassador of Cameroon, H.E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua.

Within its regional groups, Algeria is still playing an active role as the African Union coordinator on counterterrorism and get, positively, involved in many African issues. Moreover, my country hugely contributed, under the banner of the African Commission, in the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a market of 1, 2 billion consumers and total GDP of more than 3000 billion dollars, making it the second largest free trade zone in the world.

As an Arab state, it also hosted on November 1st and 2nd, after a 03 years hiatus, the 31st  session of the Arab League Summit, against the backdrop of a raising global uncertainty and looming challenges.                  

At the conclusion of the meeting, Arab leaders unanimously adopted the Algiers Declaration, through which they took on various commitments and vowed to work hand in glove to tackle the ongoing issues on both regional and international stages. 

On bilateral level, Algeria keeps building its relations with other countries on the traditional basis of mutual respect and non-interference in other countries affairs. On the other hand, our diplomacy apparatus is increasingly geared to forge win-win   partnerships, attract foreign investments and boost trade exchange with reliable partners.  

This year, Algeria and the Netherlands celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic relations. These relations actually date much farther back in history, given the conclusion of peace and trade treaties in the 17 century between the two countries.

The relations between our two countries have grown steadily since their establishment. Recently and after a two-year gap, in the aftermath of covid-19 outbreak across the globe, signs of an upturn in our ties have emerged and marked by a growing number of business and technical missions carried out on both sides, which aims essentially at exchanging expertise and setting up an effective business network between the two parties in key sectors like water resources management, renewable energy, agriculture, port management and so on

At official level, last month, President Tebboune had a phone conversation with Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, during which they discussed current status of bilateral relations and agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, investment education and training.

Earlier this week, the two leaders met in the side-lines of their participation to COP 27 Summit in Egypt where they vowed to strengthen political dialogue between the two countries and upgrade economic ties in various field. And today as we are gathered here, our Minister of foreign affairs Ramtane Lamamra has met his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra in Paris in the margin of the 5th Paris forum of peace.

To this end, high level visits from both parties are expected to take place in the upcoming months, particularly within the framework of the Joint Commission of Economic and Technical Cooperation and the Political Consultation between the two MFAs. These two mechanisms, I believe, are more than ever paramount for shaping a comprehensive mid-long- term vision of our relations and putting our commitments into concrete actions.   

In this regard, I would like to seize this opportunity to renew my engagement to work relentlessly with my Dutch counterparts to reinforce existing ties between Algeria and The Netherlands, for the benefit of both peoples.

At the end, allow me to thank you once gain for kindly accepting our invitation and wish you a very nice evening”

Long live Algeria, Glory to our martyrs.

May the Friendship between Algeria and The Netherlands dwell forever !

The reception was actually an occasion for the Embassy to display the culinary delights of Algeria and its wonderfully colourful artistic, musical and dress aspects of its old-age traditions and ancestral culture.

44 arrested in Europe-wide crackdown against high-risk criminal network

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44 arrested in Europe-wide crackdown against high-risk criminal network

An unprecedented international operation, involving judicial and law enforcement authorities from 11 countries, has resulted in the arrest of 44 individuals. The arrested individuals were suspected of belonging to a high-risk criminal network considered one of the most dangerous in the European Union.

The investigations in eight countries uncovered that several criminal organisations were working together to carry out large-scale poly-criminal activities in and outside the European Union. These include drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal enrichment among others.

On 22 November, a total of 94 searches were executed across Europe, targeting both the leaders of these criminal organisations and their associates. The criminal network operated in Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Germany and the Slovak Republic. 

This international sweep follows complex investigations led by the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office together and the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, together with their partners in the Czech Republic, Latvia, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Spain and the United States, under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol.

Overview of the arrests:

  • Lithuania: 7 arrests
  • Czech Republic: 9 arrests
  • France: 9 arrests
  • Slovak Republic: 7 arrests
  • Latvia: 5 arrests
  • Poland: 2 arrests
  • Norway: 2 arrests
  • Germany: 1 arrest
  • Spain: 1 arrest
  • United States: 1 arrest

Across borders and between continents

The scale of drugs trafficking alone attributed to this criminal network is massive, with activities reported across three continents.  

Large quantities of various illicit drugs, such as cocaine, hashish and cannabis and methamphetamine were seized during the investigations. The criminal network is believed to be linked to major drug trafficking organisations outside the European Union.

Highly flexible, these criminals would quickly adapt to new drugs trafficking methods to try to evade law enforcement. Drug shipments have been found in vessels and trucks amongst others, often concealed in sophisticated hidden compartments.

The criminal network was structured like a business, with different criminal groups and brokers working together across borders to control the whole chain of drugs trafficking – from arranging huge shipments of drugs to the distribution throughout Europe and beyond.

Global cooperation

International cooperation coordinated by Europol and Eurojust was central in bringing the perpetrators to justice who were all located in different geographical locations across the world.

From an early stage in the investigation, an Operational Taskforce was set-up at Europol, with Eurojust setting up and financing two joint investigation teams (JITs), which served as a joint hub for criminal intelligence. The participating countries  were able to combine and analyse all the information and evidence obtained on these criminal networks at a national level, together with the information held in databases of the participating law enforcement authorities.

Based on this pool of information and evidence, the different authorities agreed on a common strategy to prepare for the final phase of the investigations and bring down the whole network.

Eurojust not only assisted with setting up and financing the JITS, but organised 15 coordination meetings to prepare for the action day and set up a coordination centre to provide cross-border judicial assistance.

From the onset, Europol has provided continuous intelligence development and analysis which allowed for the identification of the targets and the mapping of their criminal activities. During the action day, a total of 4 of its officers were deployed on the ground in France, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Spain, ensuring the swift analysis of data as it was being collected and adjusting the strategy as required.

Eurojust Vice-President and National Member for Lithuania Ms Margarita Sniutyte-Daugeliene stated: ‘This action day is the result of an exemplary and outstanding cooperation between judiciary and law enforcement, with the pro-active support of both Eurojust and Europol. This enabled a long term monitoring and well prepared operation, taking down at the same time several linked organised crime groups involved in large-scale drug trafficking.’

Commenting on this operation, the Head of Europol’s Serious Organised Crime Centre, Jari Liukku, said: ‘Criminals are good at cooperating across borders – operations like this one today shows them law enforcement and judicial authorities can do just as well. The success of this operation shows how powerful and far-reaching our actions can be when we join forces to turn the tables on these high-risk criminals, regardless of where they are located.’

The following authorities took part in these investigations:

·        Lithuania: Criminal Police Bureau; Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Department Prosecutor General’s Office

·        Czech Republic: National Drug Headquarters Criminal Police; Regional Public Prosecutor´s Office Ústí nad Labem, Liberec branch

·        Latvia:  2nd Unit (Drug Enforcement) Serious and Serial Organized Crime Enforcement Department Central Criminal Police Department of the State Police of Latvia; Specialised Prosecution Office for Organized Crime and Other Branches

·        Spain: Civil Guard (Guardia Civil); Investigative Court no. 1 Marbella; Specialised International Cooperation Public Prosecutor’s Office Málaga

·        United States: Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA)

·        Poland: Border Guard; Lublin Branch Office Department for Organised Crime and Corruption of National Prosecutor’s Office

·        Norway: Police

·        France: National Police (OFAST) and National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale – Section de Recherches Marseille – PACA); National Jurisdiction Against Organised Crime (JUNALCO)

·        Slovakia: National Crime Agency, Special Prosecutor´s Office

·        Hungary:  RSSPS National Bureau of Investigation

·        Germany:  State Criminal Office (LKA) Berlin/ REOC Special Unit 412; Public Prosecutor’s Office Berlin

New perspective for 43-year “Schwisterschaft” CDA South Holland – CDU Kreisverband Bonn

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New perspective for 43-year “Schwisterschaft” CDA South Holland – CDU Kreisverband Bonn

By Anton Lutter

After two years of interruption by Covid the CDA Foreign Affairs Network in South Holland, led by former deputy mayor Dick van Vliet, was able to hold annual twinning with the German political party CDU in Bonn again after the successful 40th anniversary in The Hague in 2019. This time again in Bonn from September 30 to October 2.

The theme: “Ukraine und neue Weltordnung”.

Mr. Dirk Brengelmann

That the CDU is very committed to European Christian Democratic cooperation from the bottom up was evident from the heavy line-up with leading speakers such as former health minister Jens Spahn, currently CDU/CSU deputy parliamentary group chairman in the Bundestag, and Roderich Kiesewetter, member of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, member of the European Parliament Axel Voss, among others, and finally former German ambassador to the Netherlands Dirk Brengelmann.

Also present were the mayor of Bad Godesberg Christoph Jansen and many members of the CDU Kreis Bonn.

Mr. Jens Spahn
Mr. Axel Voss

For the CDA, Wim van de Camp, chairman of the CDA national committee on foreign affairs and former member of the European Parliament, made a highly appreciated contribution.

For the first time, 2 CDA youth members were also represented in the CDA delegation to Bonn. While on the German side there were many members of the Junge Union and Schüler Union, with whom good contacts were made. The 3-day twinning concluded with a visit to the magnificent 18th century Kreuzberg church, where Holy Mass was celebrated by the well-known German theologian emeritus Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Menke, whose homily made a great impression on all.

Mr. Wim van de Camp
Mr. Roderich Kiesewetter

See also the attached link with a report and photos in the Union Kurier: https://www.cdu-bonn.de/artikel/jumelage-2022?page=0%2C0

Request to hold hearing on confirmation of charges against Joseph Kony in his absence

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Request to hold hearing on confirmation of charges against Joseph Kony in his absence

Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim A.A. Khan KC

Today, I filed a request before Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court  (ICC) seeking authorisation to hold a hearing on the confirmation of charges against  Joseph Kony in his absence. This is the first time that my Office has made such a request since the establishment of the ICC.  

The investigation into the situation in Uganda was opened in 2004. The arrest warrant against Joseph Kony, the founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, was issued in 2005 for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The allegations against him include murder, cruel treatment, enslavement, rape, and attacks against civilian population.   

However, this arrest warrant remains unexecuted to this day. Mr Kony has sought to evade judicial proceedings at this Court for more than 17 years despite continuing efforts by my Office and the Registry of the ICC to locate and apprehend him – assisted by States, international organisations, and civil society actors. I have determined it is both necessary and appropriate to seek to advance proceedings against him to the fullest extent compatible with the Rome Statute. 

After a careful review of the circumstances, I have accordingly requested the Pre-Trial Chamber to hold a hearing to confirm the charges against Mr Kony in his absence pursuant to article 61(2)(b) of the Rome Statute and rules 123 and 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

In parallel, my Office will intensify its work towards the arrest of Mr Kony who is the ICC’s longest standing suspect at large. 

Should the Pre-Trial Chamber grant my request, it is my hope that this would represent a meaningful milestone for victims of Mr Kony’s crimes who have waited patiently for justice for almost two decades. It is a step that we can take together with civil society partners and with the direct engagement and participation of impacted communities. I will also renew my call to States to redouble efforts to execute the arrest warrant issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber 17 years ago.

As outlined in our application, these proceedings would also provide an opportunity to present the depth of evidence supporting the allegations of his criminal activities and allow for witnesses and survivors to provide their accounts to the Court. Crucially, if the charges are confirmed in his absence, a future trial following the arrest of Mr Kony could be taken forward faster and more effectively, in accordance with rule 126(3) of the Rules.

I have been clear since taking up the position of Prosecutor that my Office will be unwavering in its attempts “to guarantee lasting respect for and enforcement of international criminal justice”, as the Preamble to the Rome Statute mandates. Today is an important step in delivering on that promise in relation to the situation in Uganda and to provide impacted communities their opportunity to engage with the Court more fully in our common work towards justice.

Action against criminal website that offered ‘spoofing’ services to fraudsters: 142 arrests

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Action against criminal website that offered ‘spoofing’ services to fraudsters: 142 arrests

Judicial and law enforcement authorities in Europe, Australia, the United States, Ukraine and Canada have taken down a website that allowed fraudsters to impersonate trusted corporations or contacts to access sensitive information from victims, a type of cybercrime known as ‘spoofing’. The website is believed to have caused an estimated worldwide loss in excess of GBP 100 million (EUR 115 million).

In a coordinated action led by the United Kingdom and supported by Eurojust and Europol, 142 suspects have been arrested, including the main administrator of the website.

London’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated: ‘The exploitation of technology by organised criminals is one of the greatest challenges for law enforcement in the 21st century. Together with the support of partners across UK policing and internationally, we are reinventing the way fraud is investigated. The Met is targeting the criminals at the centre of these illicit webs that cause misery to thousands. By taking away the tools and systems that have enabled fraudsters to cheat innocent people at scale, this operation shows how we are determined to target corrupt individuals intent on exploiting often vulnerable people.’

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran said: ‘As cybercrime knows no borders, effective judicial cooperation across jurisdictions is key in bringing its perpetrators to court. Eurojust supports national authorities in their efforts to protect citizens against online and offline threats, and to help see that justice gets done’.

Europol’s Executive Director Ms Catherine De Bolle said: ‘The arrests today send a message to cybercriminals that they can no longer hide behind perceived international anonymity. Europol coordinated the law enforcement community, enriched the information picture and brought criminal intelligence into ongoing operations to target the criminals wherever they are located. Together with our international partners, we will continue to relentlessly push the envelope to bring criminals to justice’.

The services of the website allowed those who sign up and pay for the service to anonymously make spoofed calls, send recorded messages and intercept one-time passwords. The users were able to impersonate an infinite number of entities (such as banks, retail companies and government institutions) for financial gain and substantial losses to victims.

The investigations showed that the website has earned over EUR 3.7 million in 16 months. According to UK authorities, losses to victims at present are GBP 43 million (EUR 49 million), with an estimate worldwide loss in excess of GBP 100 million (EUR 115 million).

In an international coordinated action carried out in November 2022, 142 users and administrators of the website were arrested across the world. The main administrator of the website was arrested in the United Kingdom on 6 November.

On 8 November 2022, the website and server was seized and taken offline by US and Ukrainian authorities.

The case was opened at Eurojust in October 2021 at the request of the UK authorities. National authorities from 10 countries, including European Union Member States and third countries, supported the investigation. The Agency played a key role in facilitating the judicial cross-border cooperation among all parties involved. Two coordination meetings were hosted by Eurojust to coordinate the national investigations and prepare for the action.

At the request of the United Kingdom, Europol started supporting the case earlier that same summer (August 2021). Since then, Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) has been providing through the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT) continuous intelligence development to the national investigators. In addition, EC3 provided a secure platform for law enforcement to exchange large packages of evidence. In the framework of its analytical work, Europol was able to identify additional users of the iSpoof service, a number of which were already known for their involvement in other high-profile cybercrime investigations at the European level.

The following authorities took part in or supported this investigation:

  • Australia: Australian Federal Police
  • Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing Cybercrime Investigation Team Toronto
  • France: Cyber Crime Unit – PPO Paris; Law Enforcement : C3N – Gendarmerie Nationale
  • Germany: Office of the Public Prosecutor General in Bamberg – Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime

Transport and Logistical Potential of Uzbekistan Railway Corridor

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Transport and Logistical Potential of Uzbekistan Railway Corridor

By Roy Lie Atjam

Rotterdam, 2 November 2022, The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted a networking event revolving around the Transport and Logistical Potential of the Uzbekistan Railway corridor.

The event was in connection with the visit of a delegation of Uzbek Railways: Mr Akmal Kamalov – Deputy Chairman of the Board JSC “Uzbekistan Railways” and Mr Ismatilla Irgashev – Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan.

Speakers were: the Deputy Chairperson of Uzbek Railways Mr. Akmal Kamalov.

Mr Ismatilla Irgashev – Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan. He observed that the Current Afghanistan government is more eager about the railway project.

A FENEX partner gave a presentation on Smart Container.

The Trans Afghan Rail Corridor is underway a mega-investment of approx. $5.96b. 

In a recent meeting with the European Council, the Uzbekistan government announced its opening of the Trans-Afghan Corridor to Foreign Direct Investors. 

The presentation has revealed the possibilities and opportunities of several corridors linking Uzbekistan to global markets. It also showcased the transport potential of Uzbekistan, its place and its potential to become a link of importance between Europe and Asia.

Some brief background data.

The development of international trade relations and the acceleration of growth in the volume of freight transportation have led to the emergence of the transport corridors as the backbone elements of international logistics systems.

The existing transport corridors undoubtedly have great potential for development, however, there are shorter routes for the formation of the more optimal corridors connecting South– and Southeast Asia with other countries of Eurasia.

The current geopolitical situation,  new alternative routes and transport corridors is becoming more urgent. In this situation, the issue under question becomes more relevant due to the transport cooperation with Afghanistan.

The formation of railway communication in Afghanistan dates back to 2010. The first is “Hairatan – Mazar-i-Sharif”, with a length of 75 km.

Over the past period, work has been carried out to form the Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar railway corridor. In 2018, the multilateral Working Group and the Project Office were established to coordinate the works. 

In 2021 negotiations were held with representatives of IFIs on the construction of the railway (WB, ADB, EBRD, IDB, AIIB, EIB). All participants supported the relevance of the route.

In 2022, the forum on the theme “Afghanistan: Security and Economic Development” was held in Tashkent, dedicated to strengthening peace, stability and economic recovery.

The formation of the new transport corridor as the continuation of the railway section in Afghanistan to the Pakistani border is an urgent task for the Eurasian countries.

In July and  August 2022, a field expedition took place along the entire route.The expedition was supported and financed by the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, work is underway to create orthophoto maps and a digital elevation model with funding from the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Following the results of the field expedition, the terms of reference for the development of a feasibility study were prepared.

The estimated cost of the project will be about 6 billion US Dollars, the expected duration of the project is five years.

Plans are to build 31 railway stations and 1,212 new structures, including five tunnels (5, 19, 26.7, 16.5, 9.7 km), 336 bridges and overpasses, and 107 crossings. The estimated cost is about 6 billion US Dollars, and the duration of the project is five years.

An important issue is to ensure safety during transportation through the territory of Afghanistan.The Government of Afghanistan guarantees the security at all the stages of work.

It should be noted that since August 2021, the new Afghan government has been fulfilling its obligations to ensure security during forwarding, loading and unloading operations in Afghanistan for the Uzbek company “Sogdiana Trans”.

The Afghan government(2021) has been fulfilling its obligations to ensure security during forwarding, loading and unloading operations in Afghanistan for the Uzbek company “Sogdiana Trans”.

Summarizing the above, we can say that the implementation of the project for the construction of the railway line “Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar” will further serve as a bridge to connect South- and Southeast Asia with Central Asia to Europe through Afghanistan, will accelerate the implementation of infrastructure projects in the energy sector, develop load areas, and discover new deposits.

The delivery time of goods from Uzbekistan to Pakistan will be reduced by 40%. The distance by 20-30%, 5 million new jobs will appear, including railway workers, new professions and jobs with turn up, and access to the ports of the Indian Ocean, in general, the socio-economic situation in the region will develop.

Today, the railway, logistics and other business companies from different countries, as well as international financial institutions are showing interest in the construction project of the railway line “Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar”.

In conclusion, to accelerate the implementation of the project for the construction of the railway line “Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar”, as well as the education of Afghan citizens and high-quality personnel training in the training centre in the city of Termez, we invite the IFIs, donor countries, business companies and others stakeholders to participate in financing and implementation of the project.

We invite IFIs, donor countries, business companies and other interested parties to participate in the financing of the feasibility study of the project, acquisition of the necessary rolling stock, digitalization, etc.

The presentation has attracted individuals from the Dutch logistics business and had its focus on international business &trade, public-private partnerships and investment opportunities for a new sustainable transport corridor between Central and South Asia and the Netherlands.

The event ended with a Q&A session and a networking reception featuring the world-renowned Uzbekistan dish Pilaf and other delicacies.

Lana Celeste a Catar

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Lana Celeste a Catar

Taking advantage of the World Cup in Qatar, in which Uruguay is participating, the country sees the opportunity to exhibit the excellence of ultra-fine Uruguayan wool.  Through the initiative “Lana Celeste a Catar”, the country dressed the players of the Uruguayan Soccer Team with national Merino wool suits of the highest quality.

“Like the Uruguayan Soccer Team, Uruguayan wool competes with the best in the world, which is why it was decided that the players wear suits made with the highest quality Uruguayan Merino wool during the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The “Lana Celeste a Qatar” project represents an excellent opportunity to promote the country as an exporter of differentiated and high-value natural products, as well as a benchmark in fashion and sustainable design.” Explained the Ambassador or Uruguay, H.E. Mr. Alvaro González  Otero.

“Our wool is recognized as a natural, renewable, recyclable product, produced in a sustainable way, with certified processes and products, friendly to the environment and animal welfare. The use of this product in Qatar -a state with a very hot climate- will demonstrate that it offers optimal thermal insulation compared to other natural and synthetic fibers, which is why it can be used in both summer and winter.

Superfine Merino wool, less than 18 microns for these suits, allows to produce Super 130’s fabrics, light, 260 grams per meter, which adapt to the climatic conditions of Qatar, with excellent comfort on the skin and following the trend of international fashion.”

Angola Independence Day Celebration 2022

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Angola Independence Day Celebration 2022

By Roy Lie Atjam

Theme: Angolans, Hand in Hand to the Future

The Ambassador of the Republic of Angola in the Netherlands H.E. Ambassador Maria Isabel Gomes de Resende Encoge, organized a reception in The Hague on 14th November 2022 to celebrate her country’s 47th anniversary of Independence.

Guests were received by the sound of live drumming and dance and given a glimpse of the rich Angolan cultural legacy; one they probably have never seen before in The Hague.

Ambassador Maria Isabel Gomes de Resende Encoge was outfitted in gorgeous Angolan attire and flanked by her spouse, consul and the vice-consuls.

The Ambassador of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Hatem Abdelkader.
The Ambassador of South Africa, H.E. Mr. Vusimuzi Mandosela.
African Ambassadors attending the National Day of Angola. H.E. Dr Eniola Ajayi, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Mohamed Basri, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Ms. Margaret Wambui Ngugi Shava, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mr. Olivier Jan Patrick Nduhungirehe, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda, the Ambassador of the Republic of Angola, H.E. Mr. Slim Ghariani, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Ms. Salima Abdelhak Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Francis Danti Kotia Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon and H.E. Vusimuzi Mandosela, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa.

The master of ceremonies gave some background information on the significance of 11th November, and the national anthems of Angola (Angola Avante) and the Netherlands were played.

Further features on the program: the cutting of the cake, proposing of toasts, screening of a video, the captivating live music by vocalist Don Silas moved guests to take to the floor, further a dance demonstrations by the Kizomba Dance Company. The evening concluded with networking and a double buffet, Angolan and continental.

Subsequently, H.E. Ambassador Maria Isabel de Resende Encoge delivered her welcome address.

“Our National Independence Day is being held under the guidance of His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola. This celebration time has special importance, it eventuates at the same year that we celebrate the Centenary anniversary of Dr. António Agostinho Neto, Founder and First President of the Angolan Nation.”

The Nation’s founder Dr. António Agostinho Neto declared Angolan independent on 11 November 1975.

“The year’s National Independence Day Celebration slogan is “Angolans, Hand in Hand to the Future”, declared Ambassador Gomes “is a slogan that summarizes the past, present, and future of Angola. The Celebration of the Centenary Anniversary of Dr Antonio Agostinho Neto, which was considered for all ephemeris during 2022, demonstrates the strategic vision of the country that we have been building over the years.

Angola is not alone in this, as we have partners who are in solidarity with our cause for development. One of those partners are the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with bilateral relations with Angola dating back to 1976 when this friendly state became recognized the Republic of Angola as an independent and Sovereign State.

We have witnessed the continuous growth of bilateral relations since then in the Economic Sector, in the fields of specialized Services, in the Oil Sector and Liquefied Natural Gas Industry, in the Agriculture and Logistics fields, and there is still plenty to achieve in the field of bilateral cooperation.

Kizomba Dance Company.
H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan, Ambassador of Armenia.

The Angolan Government counts with the Kingdom of the Netherlands for this new phase, the attraction of foreign investment, in addition to the oil sector, is crucial for the economic and social development of our country. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge the Angolan community in the Kingdom of the Netherlands which continues to play an important role in strengthening our countries’ relations. We continue to count on the commitment, dedication, and contribution of each member of the Angolan community to enhance these relations, regardless of creed, race, religion, or political affiliation.

At the Multilateral level, Angola is a Member State of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) since 2015 and has been committed to contribute to further enhance the capabilities of the OPCW as a global leader in the efforts to rid the world of chemical weapons. Additionally, Angola is also a State Member of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) since January 1986 and aims to strengthen the cooperation with the intent to advance the process of economic diversification highlighted in Angola’s National Development Plan 2023-2027.

The Ambassador finalized her speech in Portuguese, “Gostaria de enviar uma saudação especial e calorosa aos representantes da comunidade angolana que foram tão amáveis em honrar o seu país, a sua pátria, a sua nação, estando presentes nesta cerimónia.”

The second speaker at the reception was Mr Huub von Frijtag Drabbe, Head of Section East and Southern Africa of the sub-Sahara Africa department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. In part this what Drabbe said: “Angola and the Netherlands are old friends. Our formal bilateral relations go back more than 40 years. Over the years, our bilateral relationship has progressed substantially. One of the key elements of our cooperation today is the promotion of trade and investment between our two countries.“ And specifically on some current programs:

 “A cornerstone of our cooperation is in the agriculture sector. Our efforts align closely with one of the Angolan government’s main priorities for the next years, namely economic diversification. The development of fruit export from Angola to the Netherlands, for instance, has been an area of cooperation and shows significant potential for both Angolan and Dutch businesses.’   

Mr. Huub von Frijtag Drabbe, Head of Section East and Southern Africa of the sub-Sahara Africa department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

Angola independence day celebration 2022. What an excellent ambience, guests left the venue with the rhythmic sounds of live drums still playing in their heads.

Angolans, Hand in Hand towards the Future!

Angolans, Hand in Hand towards the Future! repeated Ambassador Maria Isabel Gomes de Resende Encoge.
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