Monday, 18 July 2022, Berlin, Germany: At Bellevue Palace, German Federal President, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier was delighted to receiving New Zealand’s new top envoy to Germany, Craig John Hawke, during an accreditation ceremony that took place in the saloon Langhanssaal, and was followed by a tête-à-tête focused on bilateral relations between the Head of State and Ambassador Hawke.
Craig Hawke arrived in Berlin after having served in the capacity as New Zealand Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York City between 2017 and 2021.
Before his UN assignment, Craig Hawke was Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prior to the this, Deputy Secretary, International Development 2013-2014. In the latter role he was the Foreign Ministry’s Chief Adviser on Pacific and International Development Cooperation issues. He has held a variety of other roles within the Foreign Ministry including the one of Chief Operating Officer – International Development, and has headed the Multilateral and Humanitarian Division as well as the Pacific Division at the Foreign Ministry. He has also worked on Africa, Asia, and environmental issues during his prolific career.
His other offshore assignments have paramountly been focused on the Asia-Pacific region. For instance, he served in the capacity as Deputy Ambassador in the Independent State of Samoa, 1998-2001, and First Secretary at New Zealand’s Embassy in the Republic of Korea, 1993-1996. He served in the New Zealand Trade Minister’s Office as Private Secretary from 1997-1998, and was seconded to the Australian Foreign Ministry in 1991 working on trade and Latin American issues.
Ambassador Hawke holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and Economics from the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
During his tenure in Germany, he will likewise serve as non-resident head of mission responsible for relations to the Czech Republic, the Swiss Confederation as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. Accreditations to these countries will follow in due course.
The Ministry of Tourism of Greece, in collaboration with the Ministries of Digital Governance, Finance, and Development & Investments, launched a new online program to stimulate the domestic tourism activity as part of the government’s broader strategy for supporting Greek households and businesses against the effects of the global inflationary crisis.
The government’s revamped “Tourism for All” subsidy program launched online on Saturday.
It is available on vouchers.gov.gr, and concerns the subsidization of holiday expenses for some 200,000 people.
With the new “Tourism for All” pass, beneficiaries will be able to issue a virtual, digital debit card, which they can use for their stay at hotels and other accommodation.
The latest nationwide census in Greece yielded unexpected figures that show a clear reduction in the overall population.
In the 2021 census the results were 10,815,197 which contrasts with the 2022 results which were a total of 10,432,481. A difference of 382,716 people including 5,357,232 women and 5,075,249 men.
Data from the independent statistics agency ELSTAT.
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.
Algerian business mission with H.E. Ms. Salima Abdelhak, Ambassador of Algeria at the official residence.
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.
Group photo of the participants to the Algerian B2B.
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 .
In close coordination with the Dutch Embassy in Algeria and with its valuable support, an Algerian trade mission visited the Netherlands from June 27 to 30, 2022 as part of its participation in “Africa works 2022”.
Co-chaired respectively by the President of the Algerian Economic Renewal Council (CREA), Mr. Kamel Moula and the President of the Algerian-Dutch Business Council (CAAN), Mr. Mohamed Djadi, the delegation was made up of 8 businessmen, including CEOs of major companies operating in the sectors of industry, waste management, agri-food, hydraulics and maritime transport as Laboratoires Venus (Industry), Sopi Mama (agrifood), Copresud (transport of energy), Union Froid (agrifood), Agrivil (agrifood and pharmaceutical and veterinary industry), Alpo ( agrifood) and Green Sky (energy and environment).
The Algerian delegation accompanied by H.E. the Ambassador of Algeria to The Netherlands, Salima Abdelhak participated in the opening ceremony of « Africa Works” held on 28 June 2022 in The Hague.
Convened by the Africa-Netherlands Business Council (NABC), the Conference dedicated two successive sessions, scheduled field visits and B2B for the Algerian delegation.
The sessions offered an opportunity for the Algerian delegation to introduce the Algerian market and advocate for Dutch-Algerian partnership. While Ambassador Abdelhak reviewed the bilateral relations between Algeria and The Netherlands highlighting Algeria’s potential for a strong and diversified partnership, the chairs and the member of the Algerian delegation instructed the attendance on business environment and opportunities of the Algerian market as well as on the incentives recently enshrined in the new Algerian investment law, which are likely to foster partnership between the two countries.
The presentations have drawn a great deal of interest among Dutch businessmen and economic operators. On the other hand, Algerian participants concluded by calling for acceleration of the financing of priority investment projects and establishing business relations and partnership between companies of both sides.
As part of their mission in The Netherlands, The Algerian delegation made a tour to some energy and water facilities in Rotterdam. Afterwards, they visited the Port of Rotterdam and some diary and mushrooms production plants where they have been thoroughly instructed on the functioning of these vital facilities.
The Algerian delegation had also the opportunity to meet with officials from the ministry of agriculture and established contacts with Dutch economic operators within the framework of B2B meetings and visited Dutch companies.
Later on, H.E. Mrs. the Ambassador of Algeria in The Hague offered a cocktail dinner in honour of the Algerian delegation amidst a friendly and pleasant atmosphere at the Residence of Algeria, drawing the participation of representatives of Dutch official institutions, African Ambassadors and Dutch business leaders active in the port, agricultural, renewable energy and industry sectors and enabled the Algerian delegation to continue its discussion and networking.
Ambassador Salima Abdelhak gave a welcome speech to her guests, introduced the members of the Algerian delegation and dressed the objectives of their visit.
Mrs Fens Rosmarijn, Managing Director of NABC commended the Algerian Mission being the first one after a long break and expressed her wishes to receive many others in the upcoming months.
About Mr. Kamel Moula
Kamel Moula
Mr. Kamel Moula, President of the CREA hailed the mission of the CREA, and recalled its main role in boosting the economic development of Algeria.
Putting ahead the size and potential of the Algerian market, he has drawn the attention into the new legal incentives put in place in order to attract investments especially the new investment Law.
Elected for three years, Kamel Moula, 44 years old, becomes the first Chairman of the Council for Algerian Economic Renewal (CAER/CREA).
The CREA was officially created on February 19, 2022 following a recommendation of the National Conference on Industrial Recovery held from December 4 to 6, 2021, under the high patronage of H.E. the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune during which he emphasized the importance of mobilizing all actors around the objectives of economic recovery.
The Council was created at the initiative of the leaders of 69 public and private sector companies based throughout the national territory, including internationally renowned companies such as the national oil company Sonatrach, the mobile operator Mobilis, the insurance company SAA, the pharmaceutical group Saidal and the External Bank BEA.
This employers’ organization is a key player in the national business community and an essential interlocutor of the various foreign business organizations. It will constitute a force of proposal and action on the national and international levels with the common objective of creating an attractive business climate conducive to development in order to achieve the economic renewal of Algeria.
Kamel MOULA has been, for 20 years, the CEO of LABORATOIRES VENUS, of which he has made a flagship of the Cosmetics Industry in Algeria. Passionate about his job, he makes of his business, a vector of innovation by providing it with a R&D and three quality control laboratories.
On July 14th the ambassador of Argentina, H.E. Mr. Mario Oyarzábal gave a garden reception for the delegation from the “Centro Ana Frank Argentina”.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this was the 11th time they visited The Hague! The Centro Ana Frank runs a museum in Buenos Aires and organizes many lectures and other activities to teach young people about the horrors of the Holocaust fostering an awareness that will hopefully help that this horrible history will not repeat itself.
Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp.
The reception, entirely held in the lovely gardens of the residence, was attended by many ambassadors and diplomats from fifteen countries! The visit this time was extraordinary because Mr. Hèctor Shalom, director of the Centro, had brought along a big delegation from the Historias Desobedientes, familiares de genocidas por la Memoria, la Verdad y la Justicia.
This is a group of descendants and relatives of the perpetrators of Crimes against Humanity under the various dictatorships in Latin America. Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp spoke movingly as only he can and told about the SS officer in charge of a razzia detail on his parent’s house. He was immediately taken by the three-month-old Awraham.
“What a beautiful baby, it’s such a pity he is a Jew.”
Awraham’s father looked at him, “You don’t need to feel pity, at least he will never have a murderer for a father.”
At this the officer said “Dirty Jews. You’re too filthy to put on a train. Get cleaned up and we’ll come and get you tomorrow”. Of course, the family fled that same evening. Rabbi Soetendorp spoke of the family that had taken him into hiding, pondering on the momentous decision such saviours took, often without having time to think. “These instant acts of supreme mercy are the specks of light that together form a beam that illuminates our humanity.”
Véronica Montenegro, Argentinian Parliamentary.
“I am the daughter of a criminal” were the first words of Véronica Montenegro a member of Parliament from Buenos Aires. She came with the group of the Historias Desobedientes to help keep our collective memory alive to the dangers of dictatorships. Her parents were twenty and eighteen, and she was just thirteen days old, when they were arrested.
The parents were never heard of again and she was taken into the home of an army colonel, where she was raised as his own child and called Maria Sol. She was married with three children before she found out that she was not their daughter and that her father was killed, probably in one of the infamous death flights.
Argentina, Historias Desobedientes.
The colonel was convicted to four years in prison, where he died. She is still searching for what happened to her mother. It took her seven years to search for a new equilibrium. Her book, Hasta ser Victoria, details this difficult journey.
Despite all that had happened, she loved her foster parents to the very end. She has devoted her life to a better society and to help teach as many people as possible about what had happened in the hope of helping to make this a better world.
Centro Ana Frank, Argentina 2022.
All those present were deeply touched and grateful to the Embassy of Argentina for organizing this very special event.
Mr Hèctor Shalom and Mr. Ronald Leopold, directors of the Centro Ana Frank Argentina and the Anne Frank Stichting Amsterdam respectively.
UN Human Rights Council appoints Dr Nazila Ghanea as UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
HRWF (12.07.2022) – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has appointed Dr Nazila Ghanea as the new Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
Dr Ghanea, confirmed by the Council on 8th July, is a professor of international human rights law and director of international human rights programmes at the University of Oxford. She will take over the mandate from Dr Ahmed Shaheed, who served as rapporteur from 2016-2022.
The Special Rapporteur on FoRB is an independent expert appointed by the UNHRC and tasked with identifying “existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and [presenting] recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles.”
The position was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1986 under the title of ‘Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance’, which was subsequently changed to ‘Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief’ in 2000.
Human Rights Without Frontiers congratulates Dr Ghanea for her well-deserved appointment and looks forward to working closely with her.
Biography
Dr Nazila Ghanea is Professor in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford.
She serves as Associate Director of the Oxford Human Rights Hub and is a Fellow of Kellogg College (BA Keele, MA Leeds, PhD Keele, MA Oxon).
She serves as a member of the OSCE Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief and on the Board of Trustees of the independent think tank, the Universal Rights Group.
She has been a visiting academic at a number of institutions including Columbia and NYU, and previously taught at the University of London and Keele University, UK and in China.
Nazila’s research spans freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, women’s rights, minority rights and human rights in the Middle East.
Her publications include nine books, five UN publications as well as a number of journal articles and reports.
Her research has been funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Board, the UK Economic and Social Research Council, Open Society and the QNRF.
She has been invited to address UN expert seminars on seven occasions. From 2012-2014 she is co-leading a research team to look at the Domestic Impact of UN Treaty Ratification in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
From 2010-2013 she was part of a research term investigating ‘Religion and Belief, Discrimination and Equality in England and Wales: Theory, Policy and Practice’ (2010-2013). She has also received a number of university scholarships and academic awards.
Nazila has acted as a human rights consultant/expert for a number of governments, the UN, UNESCO, OSCE, Commonwealth, Council of Europe and the EU.
She has facilitated international human rights law training for a range of professional bodies around the world, lectured widely and carried out first hand human rights field research in a number of countries including Malaysia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
She is a regular contributor to the media on human rights matters.
Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC upon conclusion of the Ukraine Accountability Conference.
“The Ukraine Accountability Conference today marked an important moment in our collective efforts to deliver justice for alleged international crimes.
Through positive engagement across national authorities, international and regional organisations and civil society actors, we have charted a renewed course for common action in relation to atrocity crimes that prioritises dialogue across initiatives, promotes coherence and above all places the rights and experiences of victims at its centre.” Prosecutor Khan said.
“This is reflected in the agreement amongst participants to work towards the establishment of a Dialogue Group with the objective of promoting visibility and engagement across the various accountability initiatives relevant to the situation in Ukraine, as well as the identification of opportunities for enhanced coherence of action in these efforts.
The Conference does not mark the beginning nor the end of a process but an important further step on a path toward the collaborative vision we have already begun to develop.
In recent months we have seen the ability of institutions, national authorities and civil society partners to work together in new ways towards our common goal of justice. This was shown in many of the initiatives highlighted by participants today, including the joint development by my Office and Eurojust Genocide Network of Guidelines on Documentation Efforts by Civil Society Actors as well as the establishment of a Joint Investigation Team, which my Office recently joined as a participant along with Ukraine and other relevant States.
To play our role in further accelerating cooperation, I will seek to make my Office an even more effective partner for States with respect to their domestic accountability efforts. In that context, I welcomed the acknowledgement by participants in the Conference today of the role my Office can play in providing cooperation and assistance to national authorities in accordance with Part 9 of the Rome Statute, and their stated appreciation of my expressed intention to expand such assistance to national authorities.”
We must now convert this moment into tangible progress. This will start in the coming weeks with the formal launch of the Guidelines for Civil Society Organisations and our work together in the establishment of the Dialogue Group.
In addressing the Conference today, I had two key messages which I believe should guide this future work together:
(i) We must maintain our stamina in relation to the situation in Ukraine and we must ensure that the spirit of cooperation we see here today continues to guide our action.
Too much has already been promised to survivors and victims for us to lose focus. I hope this Conference assists in ensuring our continued vigilance and reinforces our commitment to work together towards accountability.
(ii)While our starting point today is Ukraine, this Conference also served as a platform for a global perspective.
The innovative approaches to cooperation we have seen in recent months, and the deepening of collaboration we have further catalysed at this Conference, should set the standard for our action globally.
In all situations across the world where international crimes are committed we should feel the same urgency for action and for cooperation. I believe that the work we do today can set a model for action that can be used to accelerate accountability efforts in all situations addressed by my Office.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to His Excellency Mr Wopke Hoekstra, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, and His Excellency Mr Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice, for their partnership in co-hosting this Conference.
I stand ready to support the further work of all actors in follow-up to the roadmap we have begun to set today.
The newest book of prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevicand his co-author, Ms. Nora Wolf (the 9th, for the American publisher NOVA); destined to all and any Euro-curious, whether directly or indirectly concerned, is designed to provide a concise summary of the history and architecture of the European Union.
Born from a common realization – the literature on the subject is predominantly technocratic and hard to intellectually process for non-specialists – as well as a common objective – render a complex institution accessible and easy to grasp in its basic and salient traits, the authors are thrilled to be able to present this reader adapted for every interested party regardless of their background, geographic location, political affiliations and involvement in the general theme that is the European Union.
It is the authors’ hope that as many people use this as a tool – rightfully theirs – to position themselves on the related debates and understand them more effectively.
Starting with the rebirth of a common European vision right after WWII, the book consequently elaborates on all the vital events and treaties that have come to substantially shape the course of the European Union to the point where it is today. Due reference is devoted to the current state-of-arts of the Union too (critically, but fairly and objectively assessed). Even though the European Union considerably contributes to improved living conditions being the form and the substance for European citizens and is commonly accepted as a heavy-weight tool on the global political stage, it is yet to fully realize its capacities.
Chapter 1 begins with an overview of the relevant historical components having led to the creation and development of the European Union so as to immediately allow the reader to contextualise whilst Chapter 2 then introduces the main key Institutions of the EU in a digestible and organic way, thereby informing further the metaphorical European landscape.
Chapter 3 is then dedicated to the presentation of the Economic Monetary Union, a milestone structure and rich component directly derived from the EU and virtually present throughout the whole European Continent and thus throughout the world-wide Economy.
Chapter 4 is centred on the Union’s expansion in the sense of how and why the Union spread geographically and politically through the new Member States to attain its present morphology.
Penultimate Chapter 5 offers a presentation of some of the most contemporaneous topics with relation to the EU’s setbacks, achievements, and reflection points derived from the 21st century movements. At last, Chapter 6 tackles the future prospects of the Union based on emerging global trends as well as past considerations.
The International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam is proud to announce that Professor Thea Hilhorst has been awarded the prestigious Spinoza Prize for her work on the impact of humanitarian aid on society and the ways in which people and institutions shape the organization of aid relations.
The Spinoza Prize Opens external is the highest award in Dutch academia. It is awarded by the Dutch Research CouncilOpens external (NWO) each year to researchers for their outstanding and groundbreaking research with a broad social impact. The prize comes with a bronze statue of its namesake, 17th century Dutch scientist Baruch Spinoza, and prize money of 2.5 million euros to be spent on academic research.
Professor Hilhorst is considered one of the founders of the relatively new research area of humanitarian studies. Her work is highly significant in the context of current global challenges such as international migration, climate change and pandemics.
