Ecuador Piano Concert at Sociëteit De Witte

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Ecuador Piano Concert at Sociëteit De Witte

By August Zeidman

The Great Hall of the Sociëteit De Witte is, as the name would suggest, an impressive venue and one in which many diplomats and other distinguished members of society in The Hague will be familiar with.

On Tuesday, September 20, it was graced with the presence of many such esteemed figures at the behest of the Latin America Table of the Society and the Embassy of Ecuador for the occasion of a piano concert. Aarón Ormaza Vera is a virtuosic pianist from Ecuador who currently resides in the Netherlands and was invited to share his talents and a repertoire including some music of his country.

Pianist Aarón Ormaza Vera.

Ambassadors and Society members first met Bar Hall for some introductory drinks and an opportunity for conversation with friends and colleagues.

The ornate space and friendly atmosphere allowed everybody to unwind after busy work days. Then, when the appointed time approached, guests trickled up the grand staircase of the venue towards the Great Hall where they settled into their seats and eagerly awaited the show.

Ms. Sonia Meijer, chair of the Latin America Table at Sociëteit De Witte.

Opening remarks were offered by Ms. Sonia Meijer, chair of the Latin America Table at Sociëteit De Witte and H.E. Mr. Andres Horacio Teran Perral, ambassador of Ecuador to the Netherlands.

They thanked everybody in attendance and introduced the featured talent of the night. Aarón Ormaza Vera, who received his Bachelor degree in Ecuador in 2016, is now a student at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he completed a second Bachelor degree and is now pursuing a Master’s in piano performance.

He is a very experienced chamber musician and has performed solo or in accompaniment with singers, strings, and other musical ensembles for over a decade. These performances have taken place in some of the most important venues in the Netherlands and in Ecuador.

He also briefly spoke, expressing his gratitude to Ambassador Teran Perral and the Latin America Table, and explained his background coming from musician parents who encouraged him and his brothers to nurture their mellifluous talents.

Among the many ambassadors attending we can see on the image, H.E. Ms. Elizabeth Ward Neiman, Ambassador of Panama.

The programme began with a revue of some of the true classics of chamber piano: Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein” and Dubussy’s Préludes pour piano, Livre II: La Terrasse des Audiences du Clair de Lune. He performed these works masterfully and set the tone for the evening as the melodies filled the atmosphere.

Then, he moved into Sonatina No. 3 by Willem Pijper followed by a Sonatina by Kees van Baaren, two of the most influential Dutch composers of the 20th century. Finally, the setlist was concluded with the Suite en Cuatro Números by Luis Humberto Salgado and pieces by Gerardo Guevara, including Fiesta. With these, Mr. Ormaza Vera introduced the audience to some of the magnificent compositions from Ecuador, by composers they may not have previously known who masterfully wove together the beautiful melodic tendencies of classical piano with the energetic and evocative sounds of traditional music of Ecuador’s highlands.

Sonia Meijer and the pianist Aarón Ormaza Vera.

At the conclusion of his final piece, Mr. Ormaza Vera received a standing ovation for several minutes and he was able to bask in the applause: a job well done. He and Ms. Meijer each offered some closing remarks, thanking everybody for their attendance and special thanks to the Embassy of Ecuador and Ambassador Teran Perral for organizing the event.

It was a moving performance and I see great things in the future for Aarón Ormaza Vera. Bravo, for a truly excellent evening!

Prinsjesdag Concert 2022  Amare The Hague

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Prinsjesdag Concert 2022  Amare The Hague

By Roy Lie Atjam

 The Residentie Orkest – Business Circle welcomed its members and partners to the traditional Prinsjesdag concert. The guests were treated to an excellent  walking dinner buffet.

The annual  Prinsjesdag concert took place at the Amare theatre in The Hague on 20th  September 2022. Hundreds of music lovers flocked to the Amare theatre. The welcome address was by Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen and Sven Arne Tepl, director of the Residentie orkest.

Anja Bihlmaier, Residentie Orkest conductor

On this festive occasion,  the Residentie Orkest introduced the new artist Yeol Eum Son, who played a classic by Ravel. Yeol Eum Son is, Versatile, graceful, young and timeless! Son beautifully opened the season.

The Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen and Sven Arne Tepl, director of the Residentie orkest.

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G clearly shows an American influence full of jazz and dynamics. A varied and surprising composition that challenges the pianist in virtuosity but also in finding the sound and touché.

The soloist and orchestra also stay with Ravel for the second piece, this time as orchestrator of Modest Musorgsky’s Painting Exhibition. A monumental and visual piece, which is just as unique as Son as a new artist in town.

The student orchestra, The Residents also performed. Together with the Residentie Orkest they played music from the movie the Avengers.

On the program.

  • Anja Bihlmaier conductor
  • Yeol Eum Son piano
  • Ravel Piano Concerto in G
  • Musorgsky/Ravel Painting Exhibition.

The Prinsjesdag concert is part of the Residentie Orkest’s project Artist in de Residence,  which runs from 20 September 2022 to 16 April 2023.

The 2022 Prinsjesdag concert was another unforgettable one, with shouts of applause as a token of appreciation.

 Henceforth, the new season of the Residentie Orkest is declared open.

A Malaysian Rainforest Concert in The Hague

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A Malaysian Rainforest Concert in The Hague

By Roy Lie Atjam

The Hague, the Embassy of Malaysia hosted a Malaysian Rainforest Concert featuring the authentic Sarawak musical string instrument Sape. The event was sponsored by the Government of Sarawak.

The venue for the unique concert was the historical Nutshuis in The Hague on 23 September 2022.

The State of Sarawak in Malaysia is considered the cradle of the sape instrument. The artist Mr Jerry Kamit, a renown contemporary  sape artist, has not only promulgated the instrument but also technically improved it.

Master Sape artist Jerry Kamit performing.

The sape, in the Sarawak’s Kenyah dialect means ‘scratching.  It is a traditional plucked lute chordophone family of instruments used by many of the Orang Ulu (Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit), or ‘upriver people’, who live in the longhouses that line the rivers of Central Borneo and Kalimantan. The instrument is widely used by the Orang Ulu people.

Here are the opening remarks by H.E. Dato Nadzirah Osman Ambassador of Malaysia in the Netherlands. “A wise man once said “Music is the universal language of mankind”. A universal language that breaks down language barriers and cultural differences, music promotes cooperation; understanding and mutual respect among people, communities and nations; contributing to a culture of peace.

It is our pleasure to have you here with us tonight to relish in the Malaysian Rainforest Music played through a traditional instrument called the ‘Sape’. The ‘Sape’ that we have today is derived from a traditional wood-carved lute that is native to the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Throughout the years, the ‘Sape’, commonly played to complement the sounds of nature in the Malaysian biodiversity-rich rainforest, has reached a wider range of musical compositions. This diverse range will be showcased today by our award-winning ‘Sape’ player, Mr Jerry Kamit.

Audience participation sape concert.

I hope tonight’s performance will evoke interest in the diverse cultural heritage of Malaysia and the places to visit to get the best cultural exchange experience. For some of you who have already been to Malaysia, I hope the musical arrangement tonight will bring you beautiful memories.

Once again, thank you for your presence. I hope you will have a pleasant night with us. Terima kasih, Dank u wel.”

Dancing to the tunes of sape music.

At the concert in The Hague, Mr Jerry Kamit put on a dazzling and electrifying performance, part of the show was interactive. Mr Deckson Anak Bundak from Sarawak Tourism Board graced the evening with traditional dance and song demonstrations. Many in the audience got on their feet and joined in the dancing. The evening was a demonstration of Cultural Diplomacy, featuring facets of Malaysian cultural heritage. A Rainforest World Music Festival will take place in Sarawak Malaysia in 2023.

The cultural event ended with a Sarawak treat including the famous layered cake or known as kek lapis Sarawak, a local delicacy that you cannot miss while visiting the state of Sarawak.

All left the Nutshuis in high spirits.

Ecuador Celebrates its 213 Independence Anniversary

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Ecuador Celebrates its 213 Independence Anniversary

By Roy Lie Atjam

The Embassy of Ecuador in the Netherlands hosted various activities on 16,17 and 20 September 2022, celebrating its  213 years of Independence.

It started with a presentation on the extension of the Galapagos marine reserve. On June 28, 2002, in order to make the local community aware of Ecuador’s contributions to the conservation of the environment and nature, as well as for the purpose of promoting the tourism and investment in this sector, H.E. Ambassador Andrés Terán Parral made a presentation on the background and effects of the expansion of the Galapagos marine reserve and the agreements established with neighboring countries, which has placed this presidential initiative at the center of world attention.

This event was attended by an important audience from the Sociëteit De Witte in whose facilities developed the presentation, also with the assistance of several friends from Ecuador, colleagues and personalities who contribute to the dissemination of the priority interests of Ecuador. In addition, articles on the central theme of the event were published in the newspapers “The Holland Times” with which a wide spectrum of diffusion was covered, as well as in the monthly magazine of the Sociëteit De Witte itself, which is a Dutch private entity of very high social and economic hierarchy. The central objective was to identify potential stakeholders in cooperation and investment in Ecuador.

On September 16th, 2022, an official reception celebrating the National Day of Ecuador took place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in The Hague, which was attended by nearly 200 people, including authorities from different Dutch entities, businessmen and the diplomatic community.

The event had various sponsors. Air Europa donated two air tickets Amsterdam – Quito, which were raffled during the reception, as well as looms, and ponchos were donated by the Dutch-Ecuadorian company “Ecuafina” and hats donated by “Ecualanda” owned by compatriot Tania Peláez, who also set up an attractive stand to demonstrate to attendees during the reception, the art of weaving toquilla straw hats.

Ecuadorian roses were offered to the Embassy by the company Farm Direct. On departure attendees were presented roses.

Travel agencies and other companies (Nutreco), added to the positive impression of Ecuador’s relationship with Dutch companies, also Dutch exporters and importers.

The official National hymn of Ecuador and the Netherlands were performed by the Ecuadorian singer living in the Netherlands, Carolina Peña, with piano accompaniment, which was appreciated and praised by the attendees.

In his official National Day address,  H.E. Ambassador Andrés Terán Parral, emphasized the political, diplomatic and commercial relations between Ecuador and the Netherlands, and highlighted the favorable conditions offered by the current National Ecuadorian Government, for investment in various economic sectors of the country. The Ambassador  referred to the bilateral and multilateral relations with the Netherlands,  evidenced during the recent bilateral political consultations held on September 12, in the city ​​of Quito.

Ecuadorian chef Héctor Tapia.

The reception featured Ecuadorian snacks made in cooperation with Hotel Leonardo and the Ecuadorian chef Héctor Tapia, who traveled from Ecuador and was sponsored by ProEcuador  commercial office in The Hague.

Other events, a business breakfast on September 16, 2022, at the Leonardo Hotel and was attended by several Dutch businessmen and company representatives.

The Ambassador thanked the attendees and highlight the potential that exists for investors to expand their investments in Ecuador. The director of the office Commercial of ProEcuador, Mrs Andrea Montoya, made a presentation publicizing in greater detail business and investment opportunities in the country.

Gastronomic Festival of Ecuador

The Embassy together with ProEcuador coordinated the participation of Ecuador in the gastronomic festival promoted annually by the Leonardo Royal Hotel and Diplomatic Magazine. On 16 – 17  September 2022, chef Héctor Tapia offered various flavors and gastronomic traditions at the Ecuadorian Food Festival on 16th September.

Mrs Eleni Godevenou, Attache, Embassy of Greece and Mr. George Lellis.
Oscar Izquierdo, Minister Counsellor of Ecuador and guest.
Mme Esther Mambo Epse Ekwalla and the Ambassador of Cameroon, H.E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua.
H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral, Ambassador of Ecuador, H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral.

H.E. Ambassador Andrés Terán Parral opened the festival in the company of chef Héctor Tapia and Embassy officials, thereby fulfilling an important aspect of the promotion of the strengths of Ecuador, such as its attractive gastronomy, which encourages complementing the tourist interest in the country.

The Embassy invited sponsoring companies to the National Day reception and the food festival.

H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral, Ambassador of Ecuador.

The celebration of the 213 years of Independence also included a piano concert by Aarón Ormaza Vera, at  Sociëteit De Witte on 20 September, which was well attended and had a high turnout. The Embassy received many positive reactions.

By means of  these activities, the Embassy has made a wide deployment of resources of various kind to position Ecuador in a visible place with a favorable impact that leads to the opening of  opportunities for the benefit of the  interests of Ecuador.

Aarón Ormaza Vera
Aarón Ormaza Vera

These were eventful Ecuadorian days in the Netherlands.

If humanity does not wake up, there is no future

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If humanity does not wake up, there is no future

“To address current global crises, everyone has to play a role and we must build and strengthen policies of complementarity that are born from the civilizing horizon of the indigenous peoples, such as “Living Well”. – Bolivian Vice-President

During his visit to the Netherlands, Vice-President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia H.E. Jilata David Choquehuanca Céspedes spoke about the multiple crises affecting our planet, chief among them the environmental crisis. “If humanity does not wake up, there is no future” – he said, pointing at the role that every individual can have in reversing the current trends.

The message delivered by the Bolivian Vice-President was one that mixed realism and hope. On the one hand, Mr. Choquehuanca Céspedes made it clear that the current circumstances are not easy ones. “Everyone knows that things are not going well, that we are going though multiple crises. The upcoming COP meeting in Egypt will tackle one of the most important ones, that of the environment, which is also tightly linked to others crises like those of food and energy”. On the other hand, however, the Vice-President also sought to convey a message of hope, stressing that “everyone knows that there is now an opportunity to change things, to move away from this path that is leading us to death”.

Bolivia is one of the countries that are most affected by the climate crisis, despite having contributed little to it. “The current global crises – Mr. Choquehuanca Céspedes stressed – are rooted in the implementation of a Western capitalistic developmental model. Developed countries need to take responsibility for their actions. In international fora, as Bolivia we have brought up proposals in this regard”.

Asked about what individuals could do in order to address the current crises, the Vice-President stressed that “We all need to speak out, we cannot stay silent anymore. In Bolivia, for instance,  due to the effects of global warming, we have lost a huge part of our mountain glaciers over the last 10 years. Scientists had foreseen this, but no one listened to them, and now that it happened, no one talks about it. We need to talk about these issues, we need spaces for discussion, debate, exchange of experiences, cooperation and creation of new knowledge. These discussions need to start at the local level, at the level of neighborhoods.”

Addressing the current global crises, including the environmental one, is set to be no easy task, as a wide array of actors have vested interests in the current model. Yet, this does not mean that we should not try our best, Mr. Choquehuanca Céspedes stressed. “The stakes are very high. Everything is now at risk, our plants, our mountains, mother earth, life. If the catastrophe is global, everyone will lose – actually, the ones who have the most will also be the ones who lose the most. Our planet is like a plane. Some people are in first class, others in economy class, but if the plane goes down, we all go down with it. We need to awaken everyone’s consciousness, rich and poor people alike. If humanity does not wake up, there is no future”.

H.E. Mr. Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Vice-President Choquehuanca Céspedes.

Vice-President Choquehuanca Céspedes stressed that there are already active movements that seek to counter the dominance of the current global economic model and its disastrous effects on the planet. “In many places, people are implementing what is called a circular economy – that is, an economy of non-accumulation, of redistribution. This redistribution should involve not only wealth, but also power: power needs to flow around and circulate, it cannot be concentrated into the hands of a few”.

In these efforts, the Vice-President stressed, “everyone has to play a role”. “In the past, there was discrimination and exclusionary dynamics, as people thought that men were superior to women, that city dwellers were better than peasants, that Europeans were better than Southern Americans, or that educated people were better than non educated people.

They had us believe these lies, but we know that these are lies. In reality, no one is superior to anyone else – we all are how we are, and we are all complementary, we all need each other. When one is alone, he or she cannot be complete. In Bolivia, a cultural and democratic revolution is ongoing, where we are doing away with all these forms of discrimination. We are doing away with colonization, with patriarchy. We all have the same responsibilities” – and we all need to work together towards solving the crises that are currently threatening our planet.

Vice-President Choquehuanca Céspedes during the interview with Diplomat Magazine.

Capitalism has created a wasteful, consumerist, exclusive, clientelist civilization that generates opulence and misery, which we urgently need to transform. The planet and humanity are in grave danger of extinction. Forests are in danger, biodiversity is in danger, rivers and oceans are in danger, the earth is in danger. The Plurinational State of Bolivia, echoing the voice of the indigenous peoples of the world, assumes an ethical obligation towards the planet and proposes the need to recover the sense and awareness of unity and belonging to Mother Earth. We are at a crucial moment for the definition of the future of our planet. In our hands and in our consciences lies the responsibility to agree on the path we will follow to guarantee the eradication of poverty and the redistribution of wealth, as well as the creation and strengthening of our social, material and spiritual conditions to live in harmony and balance with nature.

We must build and strengthen policies of complementarity that are born from the civilizing horizon of the indigenous peoples, such as “Living Well”. Our vision of Living Well is based on rights and not on the market, it is based on the full realization of the happiness of the people, of the peoples and populations, through the integral fulfillment of the rights of peoples, persons and Mother Earth, in a complementary, inclusive and interdependent manner.

Algeria works and it is worth it

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Algeria works and it is worth it

By H.E. Ms Salima Abdelhak, Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Netherlands 

I was delighted to participate, with an Algerian trade mission, to
“Africa Works 2022” Conference after a lengthy pause due to Covid-19
pandemic as a sign of a business bump.  The sessions dedicated to Algeria,
gave me the opportunity to outline the priorities of my tenure as Ambassador of
Algeria in the Netherlands and shed light on the significant potential of
Algerian Dutch cooperation and partnership.

Indeed, the assessment of the economic relations between Algeria and The Netherlands shows their great potential in setting up a strong partnership.  If they are still relying on exports of hydrocarbons from Algeria and agricultural products from the Netherlands, with an overall volume of trade exchange of 2.2 billion dollar, they are likely to multiply and diversify. In my book, hydrocarbon from Algeria represented in 2021 more than 85% of the overall volume of trade cooperation. As for The Netherlands, agriculture evolves around 3 top-areas; sustainable potato production, dairy sector and rational use of water in agriculture.

Training programs designed for young entrepreneurs in agriculture and agro-food industries holds also lion’s share of an agreement between the two countries. As for water management and given the fact that the Netherlands are well-seasoned in this very field, cooperation prospects are even more promising, particularly in terms of flood control and basin development pouring. Public works and transport are not the least when it comes to investment opportunities as the two parties are considering to kick off a cooperation project between the Ports of Oran and Rotterdam.

These results are commendable. However, I do believe that we can do much better turning our efforts into a comprehensive med-long term strategy that would pave the way for a more diversified partnership.

Sectors have been already depicted as vital by both parties such as port management, renewable energies (solar, wind and hydrogen), water resources management, mining exploration, transports facilities upgrading, innovation, start-up and waste management. In addition, the Dutch are known for their commercial dynamism, importing different products for resale on the European market. Algeria could take advantage of Dutch expertise in the field of re-exporting products in order to promote the Algerian label on international markets.

The Dutch business community are invited to explore further the massive Algerian market and play its due part alongside with other local and international companies operating in Algeria, in country with a thriving economy and a genuine treasure trove of both human and natural resources that are only awaiting for keen explorers like the Dutch.

To be attractive Algeria has lifted constraints and adopted incentives to facilitate trade and investment, including the abolition of the 51/49 rule governing foreign investments in 2020 and the adoption of the new investment Law. Other many preferences are available for products originated in Algeria within the African free Trade Area  (AfCFTA) where Algeria is a founding member.


Helsinki Spirit Revisited

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Helsinki Spirit Revisited

“DIPLOMACY IS AN ART”.

 “Bring young people to play leadership roles”.

H.E. Mr. Lamberto Zannier

As part of the Geneva Lecture Series concepted and conducted by prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, former Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Ambassador Lamberto Zannier gave a highly mesmerizing and content intensive lecture for the faculty members and Geneva-based diplomats.*  Excellency Zannier outlined his view on current affairs as the first speaker of the newly created executive program on world politics and diplomacy (EMIRGP).

H.E. Ambassador Mr. Lamberto Zannier is a distinguished Expert at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a career diplomat with high-level experience in the Italian Foreign Service and in International Organizations, namely NATO and UN specialized agencies, mainly specializing in multilateral and security affairs.  Before joining the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in September 2020, H.E. served as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (2017 – 2020), OSCE Secretary General (2011 – 2017), UN Special Representative for Kosovo with the rank of UN Under-Secretary-General (2008 – 2011), Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre (2002 – 2006).

Ambassador Zannier has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, the Advisory Board of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and the EU ISS Board of Directors. Ambassador Zannier holds a law degree and an honorary degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Trieste, Italy. His Excellency has authored a number of publications on security, conflict prevention and crisis management issues.

During his lecture, Ambassador Zannier gave a comprehensive analysis of the current security issues in Europe, in which he discussed a number of topics, such as: global politics; OSCE development phases; the war in Ukraine; challenges to multilateral diplomacy; the Kosovo case.

Presenting the development phases of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which is the world’s largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Zannier mentioned that its mandate includes issues such as arms control, promotion of human rights, freedom of press, free and fair elections. The Organization has its roots in the 1973 Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). The CSCE opened in Helsinki on 3 July 1973 with 35 states sending representatives. The Stage I, took five days to agree to follow the Blue Book. Stage II was the main working phase and was conducted in Geneva from 18 September 1973 until 21 July 1975. The result of Stage II was the Helsinki Final Act, whichwas signed by the 35 participating states during Stage III in Finlandia Hall between 30 July – 1 August 1975. It was opened by the Holy See’s diplomat Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, who was the Chairman of the conference. The concepts of improving relations and implementing the act were developed over a series of follow-up meetings, with major gatherings in Belgrade (4 October 1977 – 8 March 1978), Madrid (11 November 1980 – 9 September 1983) and Vienna (4 November 1986 – 19 January 1989). The Moscow Mechanism was agreed in 1991. (See https://www.osce.org/odihr/20066).

Relating to the further development of the OSCE, the fall of the Soviet Union required a change of role for the CSCE. The Charter of Paris for a New Europe, signed on 21 November 1990, marked the beginning of this change. The process was capped by the renaming of the CSCE as the OSCE on 1 January 1995, in accordance with the results of a conference held in Budapest in 1994. The OSCE now had a formal secretariat, a Senior Council, a Parliamentary Assembly, a Conflict Prevention Centre, and an Office for Free Elections, which later became the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (see https://www.osce.org/whatistheosce).

During the day, special focus was put on the current war in Ukraine, its consequences for the European Union and its struggle with energetic crisis. Ambassador Zannier portrayed geopolitical angles proficiently and detailed, with rigour and precise structure. Audience therefore anticipated with many interesting questions, understanding how geopolitical situation and security architecture, embedded in OSCE and NATO, alongside active involvement in global crisis management, creates a subtle, delicate, wobbly and unstable entity.

Faculty fellows and diplomats received the first hand insights by Mr. Zannier on the Kosovo case, as he was appointed as the UN Special Representative for Kosovo with the rank of UN Under-Secretary-General from 2008 to 2011.

Regarding the challenges of multilateral diplomacy, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Lamberto Zannier also explained the importance of multilateral endeavours and all obstacles we encounter in vast international milieu:

“All the trends outlined above have significant implications for efforts of the international community to prevent, manage and resolve current and future armed conflicts. Multilateral institutions like the UN or the OSCE struggle to keep up with the latest developments in modern warfare and address adequately crisis and conflict situations erupting around the globe. Challenging and complex conditions in many conflict areas, often marked by a very volatile and unstable security environment, make it extremely difficult for multilateral actors to adapt to a rapidly evolving situation on the ground. Despite increasing efforts to invest in prevention, the international community is too often engaging too late in crisis management and prevention policies focus mainly on the risk of further escalation”.

Excellency Zannier is a polyglot, open, wise, and extremely interesting conversationalist. We decided to ask him some mundane questions about the personal growth and competence development. Here is an interesting insight:

Q: “How do you win, by talking or by listening?

H.E.: “I believe by listening. Listen very carefully and make your own conclusions. Listen and understand what the concerns are”.

* OSCE Secretary-General Amb. Lamberto Zannier answered the call of the Geneva Swiss University on September 02nd, 2022, and gave this lecture under the auspices of so-called ‘Executive Master in Intl. Relations and Global Politics’. Lecture series will host current and former heads of states or government and other influencers in the world of politics, economy, security and energy.  

About the author:

Inna Turchenko,

Inna Turchenko, the ‘Executive Master in International Relations and Global Politics’ candidate.

She is specialized in risk-management, compliance and transformation of processes in Governmental authorities, European commercial banks and the National Bank of Ukraine.

The difference of Defence

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The difference of Defence

In a 15th-century priory nestled away in a prestigious neighbourhood of Geneva, an exclusive audience gathered on the gorgeous grounds of a university in Geneva before His Excellency Geoff Hoon, who served as the former Defence Minister of Great Britain under Prime Minister Tony Blair. Hoon was speaking as part of the Geneva Lecture Series conceived and conducted by Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic.*

“Dramatic world events can render irrelevant the most thoughtful of planning,” started Hoon, as he highlighted five significant world events that have served that kind of impact over the last eight decades, with the Cold War in 1941 as the first event.

“It led to the subsequent division of Germany and the occupation of Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union, which in turn triggered the first major western policy responses, namely Western Union in 1948 and NATO in 1949,” stated Hoon.

“The Cold War climaxed with the detonation of the Soviet atomic weapon in 1949 and the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. The 1955 Warsaw Pact emerged as a counterweight to NATO and crystallised the demarcation lines.”

Hoon recalled how Western Europe’s higher living standard and political freedom motivated Eastern Europeans to “vote with their feet” as they migrated westwards.

Highlighting the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 as the second event, Hoon reminded the audience how close to nuclear conflict the world once came.

“Most are unaware, but it was only revealed in later days that a compromise was reached for the US to remove its nuclear weapons from Turkey, in return for the Soviet’s removal of theirs from Cuba.”

The missile crisis led to Khrushchev’s proposal of a direct line between US and Russian leadership, and the creation of the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties.

Next on Hoon’s list was the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1990 and the Soviet Union in 1991.

“While these two events reduced the threat of nuclear conflagration, they also eradicated the containment of broader discords, as seen from the eruption of violent conflicts at the West’s doorstep, from Yugoslavia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia to Serbia,” Hoon paused before adding, “As defense minister, I ordered troops to Bosnia and Kosovo but encountered the arduous challenge of finding and deploying rapidly, flexible and agile forces.”

Hoon continued his list of events with the 9/11 attacks in September 2001. He stunned the audience by divulging how an old tourist map was relied upon due to the lack of intelligence and a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan’s geography.

“When it was evident that we needed boots on the ground, the US joined forces with the North Alliance while I took charge of procuring forces globally. However, I faced a deficiency in supporting troops and equipment, such as logisticians and heavy aircraft.”

In admirable humility, Hoon acknowledged that the lack of experience and capabilities in a hostile and primitive environment eventually led to the withdrawal from Afghanistan. He admitted that a large proportion of Afghanistan’s population was neither prepared for, nor receptive to the radical changes, and favoured the predictability of the Taliban rule over the foreign democratic style of governance.

The last event Hoon mentioned was all too familiar to the audience.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February revealed a colossal intelligence failure on the Kremlin’s part not to have anticipated the level of resistance of Ukraine. At this stage, there is no solution, and neither side is a clear winner,” said Hoon, “Truss’ calls for the return of Crimea to Ukraine as part of a peace deal are also unrealistic.”

Despite noting how the invasion has spurred countries to increase their defence spending, Hoon concluded his speech with a piece of sobering advice.

“The growing focus of the US in the Pacific, especially in the event of an attack on Taiwan by Mainland China, may pivot them away from Europe and leave the Baltic states vulnerable to a Russian attack. Europe must not only spend more, but do more to enhance our own deterring capabilities against Russia.”

________________

Geoffrey William Hoon is a former Defence Secretary, Transport Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons, and Government Chief Whip of Great Britain. His book, See How They Run, recounts his careers as an academic, lawyer, politician, and in international business. Along with a former OSCE Secretary General Ambassador Lamberto Zannier,

Excellency Hoon, along with Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, was the first invitee to the Geneva Swiss University on September 03rd, 2022, and gave this lecture under the auspices of ‘Executive Master in Intl. Relations and Global Politics’ programme. Lecture series will host current and former heads of states or government, Nobel prize laureates, and other influencers in the world of politics, economy, security and energy.  

About the author:

Lily Ong

Lily Ong is an APAC-based geopolitical risk analyst who also conducts global risk and security investigations for a Fortune 500 client.

Her travel experience spans over 95 countries and she is regularly invited to speak and moderate at high-level geopolitical and risk forums.

The UAE and the Netherlands: “Going beyond the status quo”

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The UAE and the Netherlands: “Going beyond the status quo”

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Jamal Jama Al Musharakh, explained to Diplomat Magazine Publisher Dr. Mayelinne De Lara the priorities of his mandate. While the two countries already enjoy a solid, multifaceted partnership, the Ambassador plans to further expand cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

Ambassador, how do you assess the current state of the relations between your country and the Netherlands?

The partnership between the UAE and the Netherlands is a multifaceted one, and it is in constant evolution. As the world changes, so do the priorities of both the UAE and the Netherlands, meaning that bilateral ties today focus on different topics as compared to 20 years ago. Today, our bilateral ties see a major focus on topics such as sustainability, climate change and energy. These topics were at the core of the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2020, which focused on the nexus of water, energy and food. Moreover, our Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, recently led a visit by a large Emirati delegation to the Netherlands. The visit was a great opportunity to discuss issues of common interest, such as climate change, food and water security, as well as agri-tech. The visit also served as a springboard for discussing potential partnerships with Dutch institutions, so as to further strengthen our cooperation in these fields.

All these developments come on the backdrop of an already solid relation between the UAE and the Netherlands. Investment between the two countries is flourishing, spanning across a wide range of sectors including construction, energy and farming. Business to business relations are strong, as are people to people ties. Crucially, the UAE has been an important platform for Dutch businesses interested in doing business not only with the UAE itself, but also with other countries in the region. There is also an upcoming joint economic committee meeting on the horizon.

As your mandate begins, what are your priorities for the next years?

The main priority is to build upon the existing relations and take them to a next level – to go beyond the status quo, beyond business as usual, even beyond existing expectations. There are tremendous avenues of cooperation that need to be explored, and we plan to do it with all of our energy. Climate-related topics are surely set to remain at the center of the agenda, given their interest to both the UAE and the Netherlands, as well as to the whole international community. The UAE will be hosting next year’s COP, and the Netherlands has already expressed its willingness to work on important issues in this regard.

In addition, we want to expand ties in other fields too. The cultural angle, for instance, is very important to us. We are keen to know more about Dutch culture and arts, which are very rich and diverse. We would also love the Netherlands to know more about us, beyond what can be read in a textbook. Expanding people to people ties, including students’ opportunities for exchanges, is always a good avenue in this regard, as there are many programs offered in English.

How do Emirati-Dutch relations fit into the broader framework of the UAE’s foreign policy?

The partnership developed with the Netherlands reflects the vision of our leadership in the UAE and the priorities of our ministers. There are a wide range of topics that we deem very important, and hence we assign specific ministries to them. Look, for instance, at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, or the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. These topics are not only our domestic priorities, but also the cornerstones of our partnerships with other countries, including the Netherlands.

These partnerships are a key element of our foreign policy. This was clear during the Covid-19 pandemic, when we relied on our partners for vaccines. To do so, we relied on both the United States and China, consistently with our strategy to have friends and partners everywhere, and building bridges. Our foreign policy is based on dialogue – a dialogue that allows us to constantly expand our network of alliances.

Stalled Western Balkan enlargement and does Turkey have anything to do with it?

Diplomat Magazine
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Stalled Western Balkan enlargement and does Turkey have anything to do with it?

By Javid Ibad

Western Balkan enlargement is one of the hot issues on Brussels’ agenda. While Montenegro and Serbia have been negotiating for a while, they got kickstarted for Albania and North Macedonia very recently. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the candidate status and Kosovo, as a partially recognized state, is a potential candidate. Nonetheless, from what we observe, the process lacks any substantial progress, and the accession of the Western Balkans into the EU retains a protracted nature. The reasons for the stalled advancement vary. On the one hand, indeed, the EU was not able to accentuate the Western Balkan enlargement as a top item on its to-do list due to the endless stream of crises (Recession in 2008-09, Euro in 2011-12, Crimea in 2014, Refugees in 2015-16, Coronavirus in 2020-22, and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war). On the other hand, the EU and the candidate states had hardship in consolidating their political will to accelerate the accession.

Over the last few years, Western Balkan enlargement suffered heavy blows in multiple directions. First, in 2019, France blocked the start of accession negotiations for Albania and North Macedonia by hindering countless efforts of Zoran Zaev’s administration to resolve the naming issue with the Hellenic Republic. While Greece and North Macedonia reached a solution, consequently, Bulgaria vetoed accession citing disagreements over history and other sociocultural matters. Bilateral relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia turned into a rollercoaster. On the one hand, they have achieved some progress by analyzing the actual roots of medieval monarchs. On the other hand, though, the progressive centrist Bulgarian government led by the Harvard graduate Kirill Petkov collapsed facing a no-confidence vote, partly because of “compromises” with North Macedonia on cultural and historical matters.

The situation in other countries on the agenda is tense as well. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, political clashes between constituencies are escalating, and Republika Srpska is deploying increasingly separatist rhetoric. Especially since the Russo-Ukrainian war, Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, takes an openly pro-Russian stance by jeopardizing stability within the region. Peace talks between Serbia and Kosovo are deadlocked, with no tangible progress seen nearby. President Vucic also flirts with pro-Russian sentiments, although in a much subtler manner than Dodik. Montenegro’s newly appointed PM, Dritaz Abazovic, was recently defeated in a no-confidence vote. He accused the political influence of Montenegrin organized crime of this outcome.

Bearing in mind the ongoing socio-political developments in Western Balkans, we can see that the Western Balkan EU enlargement agenda has stalled both because of the endless stream of crises within the EU (supply-side) and internal political developments of Western Balkan states themselves (demand-side). It is clear that, in current realities, the EU is not ready to accept new members. Considering the troubles that consensus-based decision-making brings to the table (Hungary and Poland are good examples), the EU has to reform itself if it wants to function with 30+ members (we should not forget about Eastern Partnership members). Moreover, acknowledging that not all incumbents of the region are committed to building sustainable democratic governance, they seem receptive to negotiations in being a part of alternative regional cooperation and/or security architecture (please note that most of the Western Balkans are NATO members).

While envisioning alternatives for regional cooperation, most analysts and pundits draw examples from Russia and China. However, some other actors are rising on the horizon. In its post-imperial history, Turkey avoided power projection in its neighborhood by sticking to Ataturk’s foreign policy doctrine of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World.” It, however, started to change in the 90s during Turgut Ozal’s presidency. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkey endorsed close relations with the Turkic-speaking post-Soviet states of Azerbaijan and Central Asian “Stans” (except for Tajikistan). Ozal’s premature death in 1993 halted this process. At that moment, the world started hearing about the escalation of ethno-religious conflicts in former Yugoslavia. The acute need of Yugoslavs (especially Bosnians and later Kosovan Albanians) for humanitarian aid opened a new window of opportunities for growing Turkish influence.

Over the last three decades, Turkey significantly expanded its activities within the Balkans and gained vital allies in the face of Albania, Bosnia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, which also have significant Muslim and even Turkish-speaking communities. Turkish soft power efforts were boosted since the reign of AKP from 2002 onwards. Ahmet Davutoglu, the primary architect of Turkish foreign policy doctrine, played a crucial role in these evolutions. Turkey concentrated its activities on numerous paths: cultural ties, education, media, and popular culture. TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) renovated countless Ottoman-period monuments and mosques. The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and Maarif Foundation actively work on reviving educational institutions in the region. Youngsters learn Turkish or study in Turkey via the efforts of Yunus Emre Institute. Anadolu Agency (AA) broadcasts in Bosnian, Albanian, and Macedonian. Furthermore, Turkish TV series are becoming increasingly widespread in the Balkan region. Moreover, Turkey supplied Western Balkans with personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical aid at the start of the pandemic, though suffering a blow later in the vaccine rollout period due to the lack of its vaccine.

However, soft power is insufficient as the Turkish influence on political decision-making was limited. Thus, Turkey launched an economic expansion in the region. Turkey has FTAs with all Western Balkan states and laboriously invests in infrastructure, construction, and defense industries. For example, more than 600 Turkish firms operate in Albania, with 15,000+ people being employed by them. Days ago, Albanian PM Edi Rama revealed the purchase of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. Ever-strengthening bilateral relations between Serbia and Turkey are also a substantial development in the region. Fostered by Vucic and Erdogan, who share similar worldviews on global affairs, both states relish an unprecedented amicability in their history.

But what do all these imply for the Western Balkan EU enlargement? Does it constitute a risk for it? Julie Lechanteux, French MEP from National Rally, questioned Turkish practices by enquiring to the Commission on the possible contradiction of such activities with the EU interests. The response constituted resolute approval for endeavors encouraging sounder relations among EU candidates for membership. Turkey and Western Balkan states experienced tense moments as well. After the failed coup in 2016, Turkey solicited the extradition of Gulenists in the region. National governments hesitated in cooperating with the Turkish government in this matter (due to the legality of Turkish assertions). Yet, Turkey seemingly has no problems with Western Balkan integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. All in all, Turkey is also a NATO member and an EU candidate. In addition, Turkey plays a crucial role in combatting radical Islam in the region by popularizing its more moderate model of a Muslim society.

In conclusion, while soft power efforts may have bolstered Turkey’s image within Western Balkan societies, they had limited success in influencing actual political decision-making. Turkey crucially developed its relations with Western Balkans in sociocultural, political, economic, and military domains. Yet, at critical junctions, Western Balkan governments still prioritize their EU membership path. Meanwhile, although EU-Turkey relations have deteriorated over the last few years, Turkey does not constitute a threat to the accession process. As a vital NATO member and an EU candidate, Western Balkan integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions and security architecture aligns with Turkey’s national interests. It is possible to say that Turkey merely seeks a more favorable role within the Euro-Atlantic framework in light of the Western Balkan enlargement.

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