Brasil Celebrates 200 Years of Independence

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Brasil Celebrates 200 Years of Independence

By Roy Lie Atjam

Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Paulo Roberto França and his spouse, Mrs Ivana Mainenti França, cordially welcomed the hundreds of guests to a reception celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Independence of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The festivities took place in Wassenaar on 7 September 2022.

The National Anthem of Brazil and the Netherlands was by Brazilian artist Elizabeth Fadel on the Piano.

The venue was filled to capacity, and scores of ambassadors and diplomats from all continents attended. Namely, India, Thailand, Cameroon, Panama, Morocco, Costa Rica, Portugal, UK. and many others. Further, Dutch dignitaries and business people, academia, DG and Deputy DG of the OPCW, Internationals, the Brazilian diaspora and numerous friends of Brazil. It was an exciting atmosphere!

The Brazilian National Day reception is one of the first major activities in the diplomatic community after the summer holidays. One Ambassador amicably observed that it looks like “the first day of school”, and people are eager to reconnect with colleagues and friends.

Brazil 200 Years of Independence’s reception.

On the program, a Piano performance by Elisabeth Fadel, Brazilian artist Andrew Laureth performing Brazilian music, and a Capoeira sessions by Academia de Capoeira Senzala under the stewardship of Mestre Claudio Lemos. 

Capoeira de Angola is a dance-fight game that enslaved Africans brought from Angola to Brazil. Capoeira is music, spirituality, dance, attack, defence, cunning and playfulness. 

Independence Day celebration in Brazil, the President spearheaded a civil-military parade. Further activities, patriotic performances, fireworks, waving flags and banners. People dance sing songs, play football, go for outdoor fun activities and much more.

The day is remembered throughout Brazil with different celebrations at various institutions. But those noteworthy remembering are the children’s school parades. Colour, music and enthusiasm fulfil a unique atmosphere.

Brazilian pianist Elizabeth Fadel

With elections looming around the corner, a candidate made use of the independence day celebrations and went on the campaign trail, visiting a football match at Maracanã stadium and the Copacabana beach canvassing to solicit votes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs illuminated its headquarters with the beautiful colours of the Brazilian flag. A true kaleidoscope of colours.

Ambassador Paulo Roberto França started his welcome remarks “ It is a great pleasure to have all of you here today, on this joyous occasion in which we celebrate the bicentenary of Brazil’s independence.

I arrived here with my family in December 2020, and had the honor of presenting my credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander just a few days later.  Since then, despite the restrictions we all faced during the tougher periods of the pandemic, I have sought, through contacts and travel, to extend my familiarity with the country, beautiful country. I have been continuously impressed by the vibrancy that is evident on so many levels, and am thankful for the warmth with which I have been received.

Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Paulo Roberto França and his spouse, Mrs Ivana Mainenti França.

It is particularly gratifying to be Ambassador for Brazil in a country with which bilateral relations have such a long and rich history. Brazil and The Netherlands, besides shared history, have fostered strong ties of friendship and cooperation in so many different areas.  Since my arrival, I have been a witness to the diversity of converging interests and partnerships that bring our countries together.  I have also actively engaged, mobilizing the efforts of the Embassy, in their promotion.  Many of you present here today, whether Dutch or Brazilian, contribute, on a daily basis, to strengthening these bonds through your work in academia, the cultural sector and in business, amongst others.

In this regard, I would like to address the Brazilian community in the Netherlands.  Brazil-Dutch relations are rooted in common principles and aspirations, but it is from people-to-people contacts that they gather strength.  With your permission, I would therefore like to say a few words in Portuguese to the Brazilians residing in the Netherlands present here today.

É uma alegria enorme recebê-los hoje para comemorarmos o bicentenário do nosso Brasil.  Este ano preferimos realizar a festa neste espaço, e não na Residência Oficial, para permitir uma comemoração maior, à altura da importância da data de hoje.  Quero reconhecer e agradecer a contribuição de todos vocês para a aproximação entre o Brasil e os Países Baixos.  Contem conosco, na Embaixada na Haia, bem como com meus colegas no Consulado em Amsterdã, representado aqui pelo consul-geral, embaixador Cezar Amaral, para apoiá-los  nos seus esforços.  

Desejo a todos uma ótima festa. 

Since I have addressed our Brazilian community, this is perhaps a good moment to mention the list of sponsors for tonight’s event, which helps to illustrate the diversity I’ve referred to.  All of these Brazilian companies are leaders in their fields:  Braskem, in the chemical and petrochemical industry; Embraer, in the aerospace business; CBMM, in mining and development of niobium technology; Cutrale, in the fruit juice sector; and Seara and JBS, in the meat and poultry sectors.  I take this opportunity to warmly thank them for their contributions.

I can’t fail to mention, as well, our friends from Rodízio Brazilian Grill, who will be preparing grilled meats and caipirinhas for us to savor. 

Capoeira sessions by Academia de Capoeira Senzala under the stewardship of Mestre Claudio Lemos.

Dear friends, Allow me to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Professor Antonio Augusto Cançado Trindade, one of Brazil’s most brilliant and dedicated jurists, who passed away earlier this year.  Having twice been elected as a judge to the International Court of Justice, professor Trindade’s qualities are well known to the diplomatic community in the Hague. I want to acknowledge, as well, the presence at this event of Professor Leonardo Caldeira Brant, Brazil’s competent jurist with vast knowledge and experience in international Law. We are proud to launch the candidacy of professor Leonardo Caldeira Brant here in the Hague to fulfill the remainder of the 9 year term of office that had been held by professor Trindade, in the elections to take place this November. We wish professor Leonardo Caldeira Brant success, which he most certainly deserves.

Lastly, I’d like to refer to tonight’s cultural performances.  I thank them all.  Elizabeth Fadel, who we have already heard playing the Dutch and Brazilian anthems, will continue with a repertoire of Brazilian classics, including well-known chorinhos.  On guitar and voice, Andrew Laureth’s music focuses on Brazilian Popular Music. Furthermore, the capoeira Senzala school.

Finally, let me thank my team at the Embassy, that have done their utmost for a very successful commemoration of our bicentenary. 

My warmest greetings to all of you!”

The Brazil @ 200 reception has made quite a splash !

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Photography by Thainá Rodrigues from Amour Fotografie

The CFC celebrates 33 years of impact

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The CFC celebrates 33 years of impact

On the 15th of September in 1989 the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) was founded with a mission to tackle commodity dependence in developing countries and support smallholders out of poverty.

Celebrating its anniversary, it is worth looking back at the organisation’s achievements – its financial support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working with the world’s poorest commodity producers has indeed boosted the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.

Up to 2021, the CFC had approved 448 projects worth USD 937 million, involving 70 commodities in 99 countries. As shown below, these are spread across a range of sectors in some of the poorest nations with a particular focus on the least developed countries (LDCs).

Commodity value chain

These accomplishments, however, do not preclude the disproportionate impact of pressing global issues such as climate change, health crises, conflicts and gender inequality on smallholder farmers. For this reason, the CFC is seeking to expand its impact, as reflected by the expected positive benefits on the current CFC portfolio and the 11 new investments approved in 2021.

CFC

What makes the CFC so unique is the local impact it achieves through international collaboration and knowledge sharing designed to ease the trap of commodity dependence. The CFC believes this has a key role to play in achieving the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Looking ahead, building more partnerships with impact investors is essential for reaching more underserved regions and providing the backing agribusinesses need to thrive. Leveraging this potential, the CFC recently became a member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) to create more connections that will create more connections that will grow both the impact investing industry and the CFC’s impact.

The CFC is also strengthening its ability to respond to challenges such as the enduring pandemic, the impacts of war in Ukraine and the need to contribute to the sustainability agenda. Accordingly, by harnessing the power of technology to transform commodity chains and launching its new Commodity Impact Investment Facility (CIIF), the organisation will enhance its support for the communities it serves.

Poverty cannot be alleviated by acting in isolation. Supported by its member states, the CFC will continue to contribute to the fight by providing economic opportunity for many of the world’s 570 million smallholders and the SMEs they rely on.

Central to the CFC’s achievements are its brilliant team members, who combine expertise in the field with a passion for alleviating poverty. It is their work that has enabled the CFC to deliver 33 years of impact alongside the businesses the organisation supports, and their work that will keep changing lives for many years to come.

Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s publisher and H.E. Sheik Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Funds for Commodities.

What to watch for at SCO Head of States summit in Samarkand

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What to watch for at SCO Head of States summit in Samarkand

By Vita Kobiela

On the 15-16th of September, in the ancient city of Samarkand, the jewel of the Great Silk Road, Uzbekistan welcomed the 14 heads of state who jointly represented half of the world’s population. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin together with the other 12 Heads of State, including from India, Pakistan, Turkey, and 4 Central Asia nations – all gathered in Samarkand – to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Summit on the 15-16th of September 2022. The Samarkand Summit has already been called historical as its decisions and outcomes became the game-changer for the whole Eurasian continent.

Political outcomes

The number of signed documents, excluding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reached the number of 44. The procedure for granting Belarus membership of the SCO has been initiated, while Iran has signed a Memorandum of Obligations that would begin a year-long formal process for the country to attain full member status. On the 14th of September, both Qatar and Egypt signed a formal memorandum to become SCO’s official partner-States, which is the first step to potential future accession. Applications for partner status of Bahrain and Maldives were also approved.

Economic outcomes

When it comes to the economic outcomes, the total amount of contracts signed only by Uzbekistan is estimated at $26 billion. Uzbekistan and China signed agreements worth $15 billion, while a package of new investment agreements signed between Uzbekistan and Russia were worth $4.6 billion.

After 20 years of complex negotiations, within the framework of the SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China have finally signed a tripartite agreement on the construction of the transnational railway. Another historical breakthrough for Central Asia is the implementation of the project, which will expand the geography of trade and transportation from China through Uzbekistan to Europe and the Persian Gulf states through the Southern Corridor. New transport routes will redesign the Eurasian connectivity per se, the goods from South and Central Asia will be travelling to Europe faster, at a cheaper cost.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan by Henri Estramant.

However, these are the side-effects of the event.

The most impressive was to see that at a time when the major powers are trying to divide the world and fight among themselves, or even wage wars, Uzbekistan calls for peaceful coexistence.

The Samarkand Declaration signed on the 16th of September within the framework of the summit, marked the beginning of a new era for the SCO, and perhaps for the entire Eurasian continent.

Uzbekistan has come up with the revolutionary idea, proposing to SCO members as well as to the whole world to rethink the value of multilateral cooperation at a time of great geopolitical and economic upheaval. The clash at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border or between Armenia and Azerbaijan that started just on the very eve of the SCO summit, just proved the pertinence and importance of the Uzbek Initiative.

Samarkand Solidarity Initiative for Common Security and Prosperity, coined by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev became the cornerstone of the SCO joint political declaration.

Samarkand Initiative, which is, in fact, the practical embodiment of the UN Declaration on Dialogue among Civilizations, adopted in 2001 by the UN General Assembly – is the symbiosis of the Shanghai and Samarkand spirits. The former is built on mutual trust, benefit, equality, striving to resolve issues through 1consultations, respect for the diversity of civilizations, and movement towards joint development. The latter, as President Mirziyoyev pointed out, is an embodiment of constructive dialogue, mutual understanding, good-neighbourliness and friendship.

Within this Initiative, the President of Uzbekistan proposed to rethink the value of multilateral cooperation in the framework of the global inter-civilizational inclusive dialogue. This dialogue will be conducted in 2023 as the International Forum, the main objective of which is to engage all states concerned in a global inter-civilization inclusive dialogue, to seek concerted approaches and solutions, restore trust, defuse global tensions, uncertainty, and unpredictability to build international cooperation.

The formula proposed by the Uzbek president is simple, however, it is a “squeezing” of the independent and multifaceted foreign policy pursued by Tashkent since 2016, which in practice has enabled the country to balance the interests of medium and small countries in the SCO space, as well as upgraded its regional position and role.

With the 80 events organised at the highest level, as well as the adoption of 30 concept papers Uzbekistan has set an example of truly engaged and productive chairmanship (Uzbekistan chaired SCO from September 2021-September 2022). During its time in the organisation, the Republic has put forward more than 54 initiatives, including – for example – the current mechanism for admitting new members to the SCO (which was used for the admission of India and Pakistan). Moreover, after a detailed analysis of SCO activities since 2016 – it became clear that Uzbekistan has become the SCO’s main driver of progress.

What is more, Uzbekistan has become a well-known mediator for “dialogue” between different states and international organisations. The high level of trust in Uzbekistan and recognition of its important role in the region is evidenced by the fact that after the SCO summit, Uzbekistan will host the GCC summit, the CA-EU High Level Conference and the EBRD meeting.

14 Leaders attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Samarkand.

“Historically, the world looked upon from Samarkand has been seen as single and indivisible, rather than fragmented. This is indeed the essence of the unique phenomenon of the «Samarkand spirit», which can serve as the basis for a fundamentally new format of international interaction, including within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation”, said President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his article “The SCO Samarkand Summit Dialogue and Cooperation in an Interconnected World”.

Concluding remarks

Although the Samarkand Initiative was initially addressed to the SCO member states, it also refers to Europe as Uzbekistan has presented a unique approach that could serve as a point of convergence for two increasingly antagonising worlds – the Eurasian and the Western worlds.

One thing is clear – Shavkat Mirziyoyev is not just the president of an ordinary state – he is a visionary: he sees and assesses international processes not only globally, but also rationally and pragmatically. With his vision of the regional and global world order, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has not only breathed new life into the SCO but also showed a possible third way for the development of international relations.

At the same time we see that Uzbekistan has already become an effective platform where states with different geopolitical views and interests come together to resolve interstate, interregional and global issues. That is why there is no better place than Uzbekistan to implement this important and much needed Samarkand Initiative.

About the author:

Ms. Vita Kobiela

Vita Kobiela is an independent policy and research analyst on
EU-Central Asia and EU-EaP relations, communications consultant at Volt Brussels

Migrant smugglers using private aircrafts grounded in Belgium and Italy     

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<strong>Migrant smugglers using private aircrafts grounded in Belgium and Italy     </strong>

Five suspects arrested and two planes seized during the joint action day

The Hague, 16 September 2022

Supported by Eurojust and Europol, judicial and law enforcement authorities in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and the United States dismantled a criminal network involved in migrant smuggling, document fraud and money laundering.

Up to EUR 20 000 for a place in private aircraft

The migrants, mainly Iraqi and Iranian of Kurdish origin, boarded private aircrafts in Türkiye carrying false diplomatic passports. However, the official destinations of the trips (usually the Caribbean) were never reached. During the stopovers at different European airports, including in Austria, France and Germany, the migrants left the plane, disposed of their false passports and systematically applied for asylum. The suspects charged up to EUR 20 000 per smuggled person.

It is believed that, between October and December 2020, at least five smuggling operations took place in five different European countries. In addition, several plans were made to carry out other smuggling operations. In addition to migrant smuggling and forging identity documents, the organised crime group is also suspected of issuing false checks and scamming airlines in an attempt to build its own fleet. The suspects also allegedly defrauded hotels by not paying the invoices.

The action day on 13 September led to:

  • 5 arrests (2 in Belgium and 3 in Italy) 
  • 7 house searches (1 in Belgium and 6 in Italy)                                          
  • Seizures of 2 aircrafts, EUR 80 000 EUR cash, 1 high–end car, electronic equipment and equipment to forge ID documents (card printers, stamps, holograms and white plastic cards)  
  • EUR 173 000 EUR frozen in Italy

Eurojust supported the authorities involved with the setting up and funding of a joint investigation team (JIT) in June 2021. The Agency also hosted four coordination meetings to facilitate judicial cooperation and provide support for the coordinated investigative efforts.

Europol prioritised the case at an early stage, assigning a dedicated analyst and specialist to support the national investigations to identify the members of the criminal network and to dismantle it. Europol facilitated the operational information exchange and provided analytical and financial support. On the action day, Europol activated a Virtual Command Post to facilitate the information exchange in real time. Europol also deployed three analysts – one to Belgium and two to Italy – to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases and thus provided further investigative leads to the participating national law enforcement authorities. 

Law enforcement authorities involved:

  • Austria: Criminal Intelligence Service Austria (Bundeskriminalamt), Provincial CID of Tyrol (Landeskriminalamt Tirol) and Schwechat City Command of the Federal Police (Stadtpolizeikommando Schwechat)
  • Belgium: Belgian Federal Police (Federale Politie, Police Fédérale), Aviation Police Wevelgem
  • France: French Border Police (OCRIEST/Police Aux Frontières)
  • Germany: German Federal Police Munich Airport
  • Italy: National Police (Polizia di Stato: Servizio Centrale Operativo, Squadra Mobile di Bari e Roma, Servizio di Polizia Scientifica and Ufficio di Polizia di Frontiera di Bari)
  • United States: U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service.

Judicial authorities involved:

  • Austria: Public Prosecutor Offices of Korneuburg
  • Belgium: Examining Magistrate Brussels, Federal Prosecutor’s Office
  • France: Examining Magistrate of Tribunal Judiciaire de Créteil
  • Germany: Landshut Public Prosecutor’s Office
  • Italy: Public Prosecutor Offices of Bari and Rome
  • United States: U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia

The Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. Mr. Jožef Drofenik

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The Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. Mr. Jožef Drofenik

His Excellency Mr. Jožef Drofenik is the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Ambassador Drofenik presented credentials to His Majesty the King of the Netherlands on 14 September 2022. On 19 September 2022, he presented credentials to the Director-General of OPCW.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Drofenik served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia (2020-2022), Ambassador of Slovenia to India (2015-2019), accredited also for Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal (2016-2019), National Coordinator for OECD (2014-2015), Ambassador of Slovenia to Poland (2005-2009).

Before that, he was, among other, Head of Department for Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chair of the EU Council Working Party on EFTA during the first Slovenian EU Presidency (2008), Deputy Head of Mission of Slovenia in Geneva, Chargée d’Affaires of the Embassy of Slovenia in Bratislava, Head of Department for International Trade Policy at the Ministry for Economic Relations and Development… He led negotiations of bilateral trade agreements with various countries, Slovenia’s negotiations for membership in GATT/WTO, and was a key figure in the negotiations of the Association Agreement between Slovenia and the European Community.

Decorations: 3rd class – Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland

Born in 1959, Mr. Drofenik holds a B.A. in Economics, International Economic Relations from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He speaks English, Spanish, Serbian, and Polish.

Ambassador Drofenik is married and has two children.

On the forthcoming SCO summit

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On the forthcoming SCO summit

By Dr. Daniyar Kurbanov, Acting Director of the Center for International Relations Studies under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The 22nd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held on September 15-16 this year in Samarkand, and will be the largest diplomatic event of the year in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region. The heads of states and governments of all eight SCO members, three observer states, leaders of invited countries and 10 international organizations are expected to take part in the summit.

The expectations associated with the summit are primarily conditioned by the growing authority, political weight, economic potential and international attractiveness of the Organization.

Today the SCO is not just the largest regional organization occupying 60% of the territory of Eurasia with approximately half of the world’s population.

First of all, in more than 20 years of its existence, it has become an important element of the modern international system and the security maintenance in the Eurasian space. The huge potential of economic cooperation between the countries of the Organization is related to the fact that its total GDP already accounts for about 25% of the global GDP and may increase up to 35-40% by 2030.

The development of mutual trade and investments by member states can also contribute to the realization of their unique opportunities to expand the transport interconnectedness of Eurasia, and create new transport corridors in the direction of South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The speed up of these processes will be stimulated by digital transformation, the active introduction of the latest technologies and the overall expansion of scientific, technological, educational and cultural-humanitarian contacts.

Uzbekistan during its presidency, in cooperation with other member states, has done much to draw attention to the activities of the SCO both in member states and globally.

Tashkent’s dynamic agenda (more than 80 events), innovative and result-oriented style of activities have significantly improved the image of the Organization as a living structure actively seeking ways to adapt to new international realities and improve its activities and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation.

Such issues as the development of industrial and technological cooperation, digital economy, intraregional trade and transport interconnectedness, security and protection against cyber threats were the focus of Uzbekistan’s presidency.

           Uzbekistan’s presidency has also made it possible to demonstrate both our country’s actively implemented program of large-scale reforms and innovative foreign policy, especially the effectiveness of efforts to promote regional cooperation in Central Asia and expand the region’s interaction with leading countries and associations.

          These issues will, we think, also be in the focus of the summit of the Shanghai Organization, since our region is not just the geographical core of the SCO, linking the Eurasian part of the Shanghai Group with the South Asian part. Not less important, that a more cohesive and cooperative Central Asia is becoming an important factor in strengthening interaction among member states, opening up new opportunities to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

         Solid results of Uzbekistan’s presidency and the large package of agreements to be signed are evidence of the enormous potential of interaction within the SCO. More than 30 documents are expected to be adopted aimed at expanding the Organization’s multifaceted cooperation.

         The coordinated approaches of member states on key issues of multilateral cooperation and critical issues of contemporary international relations will be reflected in the final political document of the summit – the Samarkand Declaration.

         The adoption of the Comprehensive Plan of Implementation of the Treaty on Long-term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, one of the key documents of the SCO, the accession to which is required for membership of the Organization, will be particularly noteworthy among other major decisions.

        The Concept of Cooperation for the Development of connectivity and the Creation of Efficient Transport Corridors, to be adopted at the summit on the initiative of Uzbekistan, is an innovative document aimed at effective use of the huge transport and logistics potential of Eurasia. Its practical implementation will make it possible to form in the SCO region a diversified network of transport corridors, including such routes as Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China and Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railroads and North-South ITC.

         The program of stimulating industrial cooperation, also put forward by Tashkent, is designed to push up the industrial development of member states, increase mutual industrial investments and the formation of interregional supply chains in the SCO area.

         A number of decisions of the summit will open a new page in the process of expansion of the Shanghai Organization. The most important document is the Memorandum on Iran’s Accession Commitments, which will allow Tehran to become a full member of the organization at the next summit in India.

          Besides, a number of Arab countries will receive the status of dialogue partners – relevant memorandums will be signed with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, which will become the first African country – “member of the SCO family. Bahrain’s application for this status is also expected to be approved.

         Thus, Iran’s accession to member states and the granting of the status of dialogue partners to Arab countries signal the growing interest of Middle Eastern countries in the Shanghai Group. As the Saudi ‘Arab News’ notes, “the SCO has gained enormous traction across Asia. No surprise that a number of countries from the Middle East are lining up to join as dialogue partners, observers and members.”.

         This could further intensify political dialogue and practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Central Asian states with the Arab-Muslim world and such groups as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf or the Arab League.

         An important feature of the Samarkand meeting of SCO leaders will also be the high level of diplomatic activity, on the margins of the summit. The leaders of member states and other participants and guests of the summit will hold a number of meetings in bilateral and even trilateral formats to discuss the most important issues of mutual relations. One can say that during these days, Samarkand will become the “diplomatic capital of Eurasia” for a while.

         It will be a good opportunity for Uzbekistan to hold intensive diplomatic contacts with partners and official visits of a number of leaders to our country. This will allow to achieve significant progress in political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation with SCO partners, including agreements on the implementation of a number of concrete projects.

         In general, we can conclude that the hard work of Uzbek diplomacy during the presidency in SCO, with active participation and support of all member states, has provided a significant boost to interaction in priority areas of multifaceted cooperation. Diplomats of partner nations declare that the upcoming summit will open a new page in the process of development of Shanghai Organization, and allow to achieve tangible results in consolidating its international authority and its role in addressing the issues of security and development in the vast Eurasian space.

Viet Nam brought typical culture and agricultural products to Embassy Festival

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Viet Nam brought typical culture and agricultural products to Embassy Festival

By Viet Nam Embassy in the Hague

The Embassy of Viet Nam in the Netherlands attended the Embassy Festival which taken place at Lange Voorhout, The Hague on September 3, 2022. This is a prestigious cultural event organized annually by the event organization Prooost in collaboration with the city government of The Hague. After 2 years of the Covid-19 pandemic, this event was attended by nearly 50 embassies and attracted thousands of visitors. Besides foods, visitors can enjoy music performances, martial arts and traditional costumes from ethnic groups around the world.

The Mayor of The Hague, the HOnorable Jan van Zanen with ASEAN ambassadors.

Vietnam’s pavilion is located in the area of 5 ASEAN countries booth which included Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, creating a highlight of ASEAN’s cohesion. This place is also one of the most crowded areas of the festival, which is visited and supported by a large number of visitors. In particular, the ASEAN culture and cuisine corner was honored to be visited and enjoyed by the Mayor of The Hague, Mr. Jan van Zanen.

Vietnam diplomats with Mrs. Le Thi Hien Anh, spouse of Vietnam’s Ambassador.

Participating in this Festival, in addition to promoting Vietnamese culinary culture through typical dishes such as “bánh mỳ”, “nem”, the Embassy focused on promoting Vietnamese agricultural products through displayed products, from food and beverages such as coffee, fresh coconut water, mung bean cakes, lotus products (dry lotus seeds, lotus tea, lotus root snacks), spices to environmentally friendly non-food products like straws from grass, bamboo.

In particular, Vietnamese coffee imported and distributed in the Netherlands under Vietnamese brands such as Hoi An Roastery and Real Bean has attracted the attention of visitors. Many visitors enjoyed a cup of European-style coffee with 100% arabica beans or a mix of Arabica and Robusta beans with mostly Arabica ingredients which imported from Viet Nam. Especially, Hoi An Roastery coffee beans grew by farmers in Quang Tri Province, supported by Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) and developed in Dutch market by a Dutch company.

H.E. Mr. Pham Viet Anh, Ambassador of Viet Nam tasting Vietnamese coffee at Embassy Festival.

The group of Vietnamese students in the Netherlands performed a Silk Fan Dance on the background of the music “Beo dat may troi” at one of the three main stages of the Festival, leaving a strong impression on the audience. Many spectators who love Vietnam responded enthusiastically to the performance and lingered to ask for souvenir photos with the dance team.

Mrs. Le Thi Hien Anh, spouse of Vietnam’s Ambassador.

Russia’s war in Ukraine, the backdrop to Pope’s Kazakh visit

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Russia’s war in Ukraine, the backdrop to Pope’s Kazakh visit

The most noteworthy aspects of Pope Francis’ visit to Kazakhstan might be the missed opportunities.

By Nicole Winfield and Kostya Manenkov

The Diplomat (13.09.2022) – https://bit.ly/3LbbRr6 – Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Holy See’s strained relations with China are the backdrop to Pope Francis’ visit this week to the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, where he is ministering to a tiny Catholic community and participating in an interfaith conference aimed at promoting peace and dialogue.

Francis was flying Tuesday to the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the state visit portion of the three-day trip. On Wednesday and Thursday, he participates in an interfaith meeting with more than 100 delegations of Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Shinto, and other faith groups from 50 countries.

The most noteworthy aspects of Francis’ visit might be missed opportunities: Francis was supposed to have met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church on the sidelines of the conference. But Patriarch Kirill, who has justified the war in Ukraine, canceled his trip last month.

Francis is also going to be in the Kazakh capital at the same time as Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is making his first foreign visit since the coronavirus pandemic.

Xi is not attending the religious congress. On the pope’s flight to Kazakhstan, Francis was asked about a possible meeting with Xi and replied: “I don’t have any news about this. But I am always ready to go to China.”

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Photo credits : Depositphotos

Link to this article on HRWF website: https://bit.ly/3UaItFK 

Why is Pope Francis visiting Kazakhstan?

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Why is Pope Francis visiting Kazakhstan?

The 85-year-old pope is about to set off an almost 3,000-mile journey, despite limited mobility 

By Luke Coppen

The Pillar (12.09.2022) – https://bit.ly/3qA7ZXd – Pope Francis will set off tomorrow on an almost 3,000-mile journey to a country with an estimated 250,000 Catholics. Why is the 85-year-old pope, whose mobility is limited by leg pain, making a three-day trip to Kazakhstan?

The Pillar takes a look.

Where’s Kazakhstan, again?

Kazakhstan, the world’s largest landlocked country, is in Central Asia, the meeting point between Europe and Asia. It borders the geographical giants of Russia and China, as well as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Despite its considerable size, Kazakhstan has a population of just 19 million people.

Around 70% of the population is Muslim. But the Republic of Kazakhstan, as the country is officially known, is a secular state. Roughly a quarter of the population is Christian, mainly Russian Orthodox.

Pope Francis seems to have chosen to visit Kazakhstan for two principal reasons. The first is so he can attend an event known as the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The congress, which aims to strengthen inter-religious ties, has been held in Kazakhstan at three-year intervals since 2003. Francis will be the first pope to attend the gathering, which this year has around 100 participants from 50 countries.

The second reason for the papal trip was a meeting with the Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill. But in late August, the Moscow Patriarchate signaled that the summit was off. Observers suggested that the cancellation was a tit-for-tat move after Pope Francis pulled out of a meeting with Patriarch Kirill scheduled for June in Jerusalem.

(China’s President Xi Jinping is expected to be in Kazakhstan at the same time as Francis, but the chances of a meeting appear slim.)

There are other, lesser reasons for the trip. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan — a significant milestone — and 21 years since John Paul II became the first pope to visit the country.

After reciting the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis asked for prayers ahead of his journey, which will be his 38th outside Italy since his election in 2013.

“It will be an opportunity to meet many religious representatives and to engage in dialogue as brothers, inspired by the mutual desire for peace, the peace our world thirsts for,” he said, adding: “I ask you all to accompany me with prayer on this pilgrimage of dialogue and peace.”

The ‘eighth sacrament’

The Catholic presence in Kazakhstan dates back centuries, but today’s community was forged in the furnace of 20th-century persecution.

As L’Osservatore Romano wrote in 2001, the year of the first papal visit, “it can be said that the history of the Catholic Church in Kazakhstan resumed in the 20th century when Stalin ordered the deportation to Central Asia of whole peoples of the Catholic tradition. Providence turned a diabolical plan into a missionary event beyond the boldest dreams of even Propaganda Fide or any missionary strategist.”

A list of priests, religious, and lay people imprisoned and exiled in Kazakhstan from the 1920s to the 1940s runs to 32 pages.

Archbishop Tomasz Peta, who is based in the capital Nur-Sultan, told AsiaNews in 2019 that, under Soviet rule, Catholics passed on the faith without priests or churches.

“Catholics created a sort of eighth sacrament: that of the prayer of the rosary,” he said. “The reason is that the only thing they could do during the persecutions was to baptize their children and pray the rosary. In some ways, the rosary has replaced the lack of the shepherds.”

A new chapter

The only previous papal visit to Kazakhstan took place in 2001, just 11 days after the terror attack on the Twin Towers. The intensive four-day visit by a frail, elderly John Paul II left a deep impression on local Catholics.

At a time when 300,000 people lived in the capital city, an estimated 40,000 people gathered in a main square on Sept. 23, 2001, for a papal Mass.

“Without exaggerating, I can say that the papal visit opened a new chapter in the history of our Church,” Archbishop Peta commented in 2019.

The first Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was held in 2003 and attended by Vatican officials. According to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the event was modeled on John Paul II’s day of prayer for peace in Assisi in 2002.

Changes

The Catholic community has changed significantly since the first papal visit, according to Archbishop Peta.

“In general, the number of Catholics has decreased in the past 20 years since the last visit of the pope,” Peta told the Astana Times last month. “But the Catholic Church has become more international.”

“Thirty-twenty years ago, many had the idea that Catholics in Kazakhstan were mostly Germans, Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Lithuanians — nationalities that traditionally belong to the Catholic Church,” explained the archbishop, who was born in Poland. “Today in Kazakhstan there are dozens of different nationalities in the Catholic Church.”

The Kazakh Church has also emerged in recent years as what the New York Times writer Ross Douthat calls “the strange core of traditionalist Catholicism.”

On Dec. 31, 2017, three local bishops signed a “Profession of the Immutable Truths about Sacramental Marriage” in response to the “opening” toward Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia.

One of them was Bishop Athanasius Schneider, a descendant of Black Sea Germans from Odessa, in present-day Ukraine, who has emerged as a leading figure in the traditionalist movement.

The Catholic writer Dan Hitchens noted at the time of the letter that “Kazakhstan is not a capital-T Traditionalist country: the Extraordinary Form is not especially widely celebrated. But many practices associated with pre-Vatican II liturgy are common. Reception of the Eucharist on the tongue and kneeling is the norm.”

He quoted a priest in Kazakhstan who described the nation’s Catholics as “rather traditional and conservative.”

“For us,” the priest said, “it means being faithful to Holy Church, to Catholic teaching, to God.” He underlined that the community had suffered for the faith within living memory.

Political upheaval

Kazakhstan has also seen notable political changes since 2001. Back then, it was led by Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled for three decades before standing down as president in 2019.

The first official act of his successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was to rename the capital city Nur-Sultan in his predecessor’s honor. (It was previously known as Astana.)

Tokayev’s reign has been turbulent. He declared a state of emergency in parts of the country at the start of 2022, following protests against a rise in fuel prices. More than 200 people are believed to have died in the unrest and resulting crackdown, dubbed “Bloody January.” At the start of September, Tokayev announced a snap presidential election in the fall.

The Ukraine war has presented a dilemma for the president, given Kazakhstan’s close economic ties to neighboring Russia. Tokayev has declined to recognize separatist republics established in Ukraine with Moscow’s backing. But he hailed the “strategic partnership” between Kazakhstan and Russia during a meeting with Vladimir Putin in August.

The papal visit’s motto is “Messengers of Peace and Unity,” a sign of Francis’ desire that the trip will promote peacemaking and strengthen interfaith ties.

The pope’s presence should also offer encouragement to Catholic minorities — not only in Kazakhstan but also in surrounding countries. Thousands of pilgrims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and even Mongolia are reportedly planning to attend the papal Mass in Nur-Sultan on Sept. 14.

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Photo: Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan.

Link to this article on HRWF website:  https://bit.ly/3qzxPuD 

The SCO Samarkand Summit: Dialogue and Cooperation in an Interconnected World

Diplomat Magazine
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The SCO Samarkand Summit: Dialogue and Cooperation in an Interconnected World

By Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the SCO has fallen on a dynamic period, fraught with various events and trends – the period of the «historical rift», when one era comes to an end and another begins – thus far unpredictable and unknown.

The modern system of international cooperation, based on the universal principles and norms, begins to falter. One of the main reasons for this is a deep crisis of trust at the global level, which, in turn, provokes a geopolitical confrontation and the risk of reviving the bloc thinking stereotypes. This process of mutual alienation complicates the return of the world economy to its former course of development and the restoration of global supply chains.

The ongoing armed conflicts in different parts of the world destabilize trade and investment flows, exacerbate the problems of ensuring food and energy security.

Along with this, global climate shocks, growing scarcity of natural and water resources, decline in biodiversity, spread of dangerous infectious diseases have exposed the vulnerability of our societies as never before. They lead to destruction of existential common goods, threatening the basis of people’s life and reducing sources of income.

In these circumstances, it is obvious that no country alone can hope to avoid or cope with these global risks and challenges.

There is only one way out of the dangerous spiral of problems in an interconnected world where we all live today – through a constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation based on consideration and respect to the interests of everyone. It is exactly at the time of crisis, when all the countries – whether they are large, medium or small by size – must put aside their narrow interests and focus on such mutual interaction, unite and multiply the common efforts and possibilities to counter the threats and challenges to peace, security and sustainable development that are related to each of us.

The effective international cooperation makes the world more stable, predictable and prosperous. This is the most viable, accessible and closest way to solving common problems of our time as well as a universal insurance policy against the future challenges and shocks.

A Model for Successful Regional Cooperation

The international cooperation that lays in the interest of everyone is impossible without multilateral institutions. Despite the certain shortcomings, they continue to serve as the most important agents of interaction between the countries – at the regional and global levels. The international and regional organizations help countries to overcome the differences and strengthen mutual understanding, to develop political and economic cooperation, to expand trade and stimulate cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

These are the goals and objectives that are pursued by one of the youngest multilateral institutions – the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In fact, it is a unique interstate structure that has managed to unite countries with different cultural and civilizational codes, their own foreign policy guidelines and models of national development. In a relatively short historical period, the SCO has come a long way, becoming an integral element of the modern global political and economic world order.

Today, the SCO family is the world’s largest regional organization, which has united a huge geographical space and about a half of the population of our planet.

The basis for the SCO’s international attractiveness is its non-bloc status, openness, non-targeting against third countries or the international organizations, equality and respect for the sovereignty of all participants, refusal to interfere in the internal affairs, as well as prevention of political confrontation and unhealthy rivalry.

The SCO’s success concept is the promotion of multifaceted cooperation through ensuring regional security.

In fact, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is called upon to become a pole of attraction without dividing lines, in the name of peace, cooperation and progress.

Therefore, the number of states that are ready to cooperate with the SCO is growing every year, and  this is especially noticeable in the context of the transformation of the modern system of international and regional relations.

The economic value of the SCO is enhanced by the self-sufficiency of its space, where there are dynamically developing economies of the world with huge human, intellectual and technological potential, and the existence of large volumes of unused natural resources.

Today, the total GDP of the SCO member states has reached about a quarter of the global figure. This is already a very solid contribution to the global sustainable development from a regional organization that has just crossed its 20-year threshold.

In a world with the new challenges and opportunities, the SCO has excellent prospects for transformation and growth, not only through quantitative replenishment, but also through the opening of new strategic vectors. These are transport and connectivity, energy, food and environmental security, innovations, digital transformation and green economy.

Uzbekistan’s Chairmanship: towards Common Success through Joint Development

Accepting responsible mission of Chairmanship in the SCO, the Republic of Uzbekistan has relied on the strategy of advancing the development of the Organization by opening up new horizons for cooperation and launching usage of untapped reserves that each of its members has.

Our slogan is «The SCO is strong if each of us is strong». Implementing this, we have made serious efforts to make the Organization even stronger from the inside and more attractive from the outside to our international partners.

At the platforms of more than eighty major events held during the year, a comprehensive agenda was formed for the SCO – starting from the issues of further expanding cooperation in the security, strengthening transport and economic connectivity and positioning the Organization in the international arena up to the search for new ways and points for development.

All these promising directions of cooperation for the SCO at the new stage of its historical development are reflected in more than thirty conceptual programs, agreements and decisions prepared during our chairmanship period.

I would say even more. Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the SCO is a logical continuation of an active and open foreign policy course that has been pursued by our country in the last six years. This policy is embodied, above all, in Central Asia, the geographical core of SCO, where positive and irreversible processes of strengthening good-neighborliness and cooperation are now taking place.

All SCO member states are our closest neighbors, friends and strategic partners.

The Chairmanship has given us a good opportunity to further strengthen multilateral collaboration and expand bilateral cooperation with each of them, as well as set new targets for even deeper partnership. 

I am full of confidence that it is important and necessary for the SCO to share its success story with Afghanistan. This country is an integral part of the larger SCO space. The Afghan people need good neighbors and their support now more than ever. It is our moral obligation to extend a helping hand, to offer them effective ways of overcoming the years-long crisis by promoting socio-economic growth of the country, its integration into regional and global development processes. 

Afghanistan that has played for centuries the role of a buffer in the historical confrontations of global and regional powers, should try on a new peaceful mission of connecting Central and South Asia.

The construction of the trans-Afghan corridor could become a symbol of such mutually beneficial inter-regional cooperation. It is also important to understand that by implementing joint infrastructure projects such as the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railroad we are not just solving socio-economic, transport and communication problems, but also making a significant contribution to ensuring regional security.

By bringing our positions closer to each other, together we can develop a new SCO agenda for a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Only in this way can we create a truly stable and sustainable SCO space with an indivisible security.

 «Samarkand Spirit» – the Embodiment of Cooperation, Mutual Understanding and Friendship

After a three-year pandemic pause that has caused serious disruption in trade, economic and industrial ties, the countries and peoples of the SCO need to communicate directly.

The ancient city of Samarkand, the jewel of the Great Silk Road, is ready to welcome the leaders of fourteen countries with new breakthrough proposals and initiatives designed to serve for good and prosperity of the SCO and each of its members.

There is no doubt that this legendary city will open another chapter of the SCO success story. Glorious historical heritage of Samarkand will contribute to this. 

For many centuries, this city has been threading together countries from Europe to China, merging North and South, East and West into a single node.

Historically Samarkand has been a melting pot of ideas and knowledge, that was “cooking” a common goal of living better, being more successful and becoming happier. And everybody has known that the friendly neighbors are half of your wealth, you yourself are a blessing for them, because you know that cooperation, trade, oeuvre, science, art and the best ideas do good, enrich and bring nations together. 

These unique qualities of Samarkand, which today has a modern and dynamically developing infrastructure, turning it into the most suitable and demanded platform for joint discussions, searching for necessary responses to regional and global challenges.

The integrity and interconnectivity of mankind are such that most challenges require joint work not only at the regional level, but also at the global arena.

Relying on the experience of our many years of joint work, we are confident that the Samarkand SCO summit will set an example of how we can launch a new, inclusive dialogue based on the principles of mutual respect, trust and constructive cooperation for the sake of common security and prosperity.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Samarkand can become the platform that can unite and reconcile states with different foreign policy priorities.

Historically, the world looked upon from Samarkand has been seen as single and indivisible, rather than fragmented. This is indeed the essence of the unique phenomenon of the «Samarkand spirit», which can serve as the basis for a fundamentally new format of international interaction, including within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The «Samarkand spirit» is designed to naturally complement the very «Shanghai spirit», thanks to which more than 20 years ago our countries decided to create a new and eagerly sought organization.

Therefore, we are confident that in Samarkand we shall witness the birth of a new stage in the life of SCO – the number of its members will grow, and its future agenda will be formed, and this is highly symbolic.

We are full of optimism and are convinced that the decisions of the upcoming summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization will make a feasible contribution to strengthening the dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation both at the regional level and on a global scale.

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