In Memoriam: Antônio Cançado Trindade (1947-2022)

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In Memoriam: Antônio Cançado Trindade (1947-2022)

Par SE Philippe Couvreur

Ce 29 mai 2022 s’est éteint à Brasilia, où il avait longtemps enseigné, Antônio Cançado Trindade, un illustre intellectuel et juriste, un homme de convictions, défenseur infatigable des idéaux les plus nobles, un être d’une profonde bonté d’âme et d’une grande simplicité, un joyeux compagnon et un ami très cher.

Rien ne pouvait laisser pressentir que cet homme si robuste et dynamique, travailleur acharné, toujours engagé avec enthousiasme et bonne humeur dans de nouveaux projets,  passionné d’écriture, de livres et de musique (mais aussi, comme maints de ses compatriotes, de football) et doté d’un sens de l’humour de tous les instants, allait soudain connaître, au cours des deux dernières années, tant d’épreuves qui, à chaque fois surmontées avec un courage et une sérénité exemplaires, fort de l’appui de sa famille, avaient fini par laisser renaître tous les espoirs d’un rétablissement durable et d’une reprise prochaine de ses nombreuses activités, jusqu’à ce que la dernière eût raison de sa vie, ce triste jour de mai 2022…

Hélas, la souffrance humaine, si présente dans son oeuvre et qu’il avait tant à cœur de soulager, et, en définitive, la mort elle-même, sont indissociables de la vie…

Antônio Cançado avait vu le jour à Belo Horizonte (Brésil) en 1947. Après des études de droit à l’Université fédérale de Minas Gerais, il s’était spécialisé en droit international à l’Université de Cambridge, dont il sortit docteur en 1977 avec une thèse très remarquée sur la règle de l’épuisement des voies de recours internes, qui lui valut le prix Yorke. De retour dans son pays natal, il fut d’emblée nommé professeur titulaire de droit international public à l’Université de Brasilia (1978) et au prestigieux Institut diplomatique de Rio Branco (1979), charges qu’il conserva jusqu’à son élection à la Cour internationale de Justice en 2009.

Sa bienveillance naturelle et de son sens aigu de l’humanisme expliquent sans doute l’intérêt  particulier que le professeur Antônio Cançado Trindade nourrit presque instantanément  pour la protection internationale des droits de l’homme, à l’éveil duquel la préparation de sa thèse ne fut assurément pas étrangère. Il se convertit rapidement en l’une des plus éminentes autorités en la matière, et, pendant des décennies, fut appelé à partager son impressionnant savoir, solidement ancré dans l’histoire du droit des gens, et ses très vives aspirations à la « ré-humanisation » progressive de ce droit, dans les établissements d’enseignement et autres institutions académiques (Académie de droit international de la Haye, Institut international des droits de l’homme de Strasbourg, Institut inter-américain des droits de l’homme, etc.) les plus en vue du monde. Les honneurs divers qu’il y reçut ne se comptèrent bientôt plus.

En même temps, Antônio Cançado eut le privilège d’être confronté durant de longues années aux réalités exigeantes et aux servitudes multiples de la « politique juridique extérieure », exerçant des tâches aussi variées que celles de conseiller juridique du ministère des relations extérieures du Brésil, représentant du Brésil à maintes conférences internationales, expert et conseiller de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, de plusieurs de ses agences et Institutions spécialisées, ainsi que de l’Organisation des Etats américains.

C’est donc fort d’un savoir et d’une expérience aussi solides que complémentaires qu’il trouva assez naturellement le chemin de la Cour interaméricaine des droits de l’homme, dont il fut successivement Juge ad hoc (1990-1994), Juge titulaire (élu en 1995 et réélu en 2000), Vice-Président (élu en 1997) et enfin Président (élu en 1999 et réélu en 2002). On sait combien cette institution, d’une importance capitale sur le continent américain, le marqua…aussi profondément qu’il allait à son tour la marquer.

Les quelque quinze années passées au service de la Cour interaméricaine, où il se forma au difficile métier de magistrat international, lui offrirent l’occasion d’œuvrer sans relâche, depuis une position unique, à la promotion du respect des droits de l’homme par l’application du droit. Il l’a constamment fait avec une totale liberté d’esprit, fidèle à ses idéaux et en plein accord avec sa conscience d’homme et de juge, privilégiant invariablement la générosité des objectifs assignés à la règle juridique par rapport à ses rigidités formelles, une règle qu’il s’est toujours évertué à humaniser, en l’interprétant de façon ouverte, dynamique et évolutive,  pour lui conférer un maximum de ce qu’il estimait être son effet utile.

Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade, Juge à la Cour internationale de Justice et Président de son Comité de la Bibliothèque.

Élu membre de la Cour internationale de Justice en 2009, et réélu en 2018, Antônio Cançado Trindade s’y est inscrit dans la lignée des illustres juristes brésiliens qui l’y avaient précédé (Azevedo, Carneiro, Sette-Camara et Rezek); de tous, il fut celui qui siégea le plus longtemps à la Cour. Il lui insuffla un esprit nouveau. La Cour bénéficia à la fois de son savoir encyclopédique, qui n’avait d’égal que sa jovialité et sa modestie, et de sa vision éminemment progressiste du droit international, qui ne s’en nourrissait pas moins aux sources mêmes de celui-ci, les enseignements de ses pères fondateurs. Elle s’enrichit aussi de son expérience judiciaire antérieure. Antônio Cançado devait toutefois désormais exercer ses fonctions de juge dans un cadre assez différent. La Cour internationale de Justice, ouverte aux seuls Etats au contentieux, ne constituait  en effet pas une cour des droits de l’homme, même si, avec l’extension progressive du champ d’application matériel du droit international, elle avait été amenée à en traiter des aspects chaque fois plus variés. La présence exclusive des Etats devant la Cour, et leur rôle encore fréquemment prépondérant dans les relations juridiques internationales, furent pour lui l’objet de préoccupations et de frustrations constantes.

Que les droits des individus fussent directement ou plus médiatement en cause dans les affaires qu’il eut à traiter, le Juge Antonio Cançado, faisant preuve d’une vigilance sans faille, n’a jamais manqué l’occasion de remettre les intérêts de la personne humaine – qu’il regardait comme sujet plénier et permanent du droit international –  au centre du débat, les faisant primer sur ceux des Etats, conformément aux exigences de ce qu’il dénommait le « nouveau jus gentium » et au « principe d’humanité ». Ce dernier devait selon lui trouver application bien au-delà des limites formelles du droit humanitaire et fonder les règles les plus essentielles de l’ordre juridique international, telles celles de l’interdiction du génocide et de la torture ou du droit à l’autodétermination des peuples, toutes règles qu’il considérait relever du jus cogens en vertu d’une opinio juris communis, émanation de la conscience universelle.

Dans les très nombreuses opinions qu’il signa, il n’eut de cesse de militer en faveur d’une « justice objective », propre au droit naturel, et de s’insurger contre les « effets pervers » du volontarisme étatique et du formalisme juridique, qu’il regardait comme des phénomènes, non seulement obsolètes et toxiques, mais aussi gravement immoraux, dès lors qu’ils étaient susceptibles de porter atteinte aux droits des personnes (« La Cour ne peut rester indifférente …au sort des êtres humains, ainsi qu’à leurs souffrances…il demeure nécessaire (pour elle) d’atténuer (ces) souffrances…, en faisant en sorte (avant tout) que justice soit faite »). Au « jus voluntarium » sécrété par les Etats devait, pour Antônio Cançado, se substituer le « jus necesarium » dérivé des valeurs objectives de l’humanité toute entière. Maintes fois, le positivisme juridique, participant à son sens d’une « vision myopique du droit », a constitué la cible de ses attaques; il n’y voyait rien de moins qu’un facteur de « fossilisation du droit international », responsable de son maintien dans un état de « sous-développement ».

Ainsi n’a-t-il pas hésité à soutenir que le consentement des Etats à la juridiction de la Cour devait être interprété de manière à donner aux clauses compromissoires insérées dans les conventions de protection des droits de l’homme un effet utile maximal conforme à la nature et à l’objet de celles-ci (« La Cour ne peut demeurer l’otage du consentement des Etats »; « la conscience l’emporte sur la volonté ») ou que le droit d’accès des individus à la justice et leur droit à un procès équitable (droits fondamentaux relevant d’un  jus cogens qu’il regrettait parfois être en voie de « déconstruction ») devaient primer sur les immunités des Etats (non destinées à leur assurer l’impunité) lorsque des violations graves du droit international étaient en cause (« Il est inadmissible…que des Etats prétendent s’accorder pour suspendre des droits naturels de la personne humaine »). Dans le même esprit, le Juge Cançado s’en est pris à certaines « fictions juridiques », aujourd’hui si communes, telles celle de la protection diplomatique (« fiction vattelienne »), insistant sur ce que toute reparatio dans ce cadre devait être « déterminée du point de vue des victimes », dès lors que « les êtres humains – et non les Etats – (devaient) bénéficier des réparations des violations des droits de l’homme commises à leur détriment ». D’une manière plus générale, l’éminent Juge a par ailleurs fréquemment mis en relief l’importance de la renaissance d’une « justice réparatrice » des souffrances de l’humanité, qu’il appelait de tous ses vœux.

En dépit de son activité judiciaire intense, Antônio Cançado a réussi à poursuivre, à un rythme soutenu, les activités académiques et de recherche qu’il affectionnait tant, apportant une contribution substantielle aux travaux des nombreuses institutions de prestige dont il était membre (telles l’Institut de Droit international ou l’Academia brasileira de Letras juridicas) et ne renonçant jamais à écrire, au point que l’on peut affirmer sans hésitation qu’il est l’un des auteurs les plus prolifiques de sa génération (près de 80 ouvrages et 800 articles ou autres publications).

Tout départ d’un être cher laisse un vide cruel auprès de ses proches et de ses amis. Celui d’Antônio Cançado Trindade laissera assurément aussi un vide énorme au sein de la communauté universelle des juristes. On doit à l’illustre défunt, parmi tant d’autres œuvres,  un petit opuscule publié en 2013 à Valence et intitulé « Conversación con Antonio Augusto Cançado Trindade. Reflexiones sobre la Justicia Internacional », qui contient ces très belles paroles:

    « La verdad es que hay una relación  íntima de los vivos con sus muertos, que los         “posmodernos”, en su pobreza de espíritu, han dejado de cultivar, sometidos como están a la  tiranía del “aquí ” y del “ahora”. En cambio, las culturas más antiguas de América latina enseñan que nuestros muertos siguen vivos dentro de nosotros, y solo mueren definitivamente el día en que nos olvidamos de ellos ».

S’il est vrai que la véritable mort est l’oubli, l’ami Antônio vivra, car il demeurera longtemps encore présent dans nos mémoires.

                                                                                                     

The papyrus roll of Qenna: magical spells for the afterlife

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The papyrus roll of Qenna: magical spells for the afterlife

Exhibition about an Egyptian ‘Book of the Dead’ and a large-scale conservation project

A 17-metre-long, 3000-year-old Egyptian papyrus roll full of magic spells, gods and symbols: this is the ‘Book of the Dead’ of Qenna, a merchant from ancient Egypt. It is the longest papyrus in the collection of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities) in Leiden.

The museum has worked on its conservation for the past three years. Now, for the first time since its purchase in 1835, the colourful manuscript can be seen as a single continuous whole, in the exhibition ‘The papyrus roll of Qenna. Magical spells for the afterlife.’ Animations and projections bring the colourful images and magical spells to life.

The exhibition also covers themes such as the tomb of Qenna and how a papyrus was made. Special attention is paid to the conservation project and the results of the materiality research that preceded it. The exhibition, which is suitable for young and old, will run from 22 June to 4 September 2022.

Tickets can be purchased from www.rmo.nl (advance reservation is not obligatory).

Caspar Reuvens, the first director of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, bought the 17-metre-long Book of the Dead at auction in London in 1835.

Soon afterwards, the papyrus was cut into 38 manageable sheets – a common practice in those days. Only some of those sheets have ever been on display. The summer exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see this special Book of the Dead in its entirety.

Magical spells for the afterlife

The ‘Book of the Dead’ was found in the western hills of Luxor. The papyrus lay folded over the mummified body of an Egyptian merchant called Qenna, who had lived around 1300-1275 BC.

Like everyone in ancient Egypt, Qenna hoped that after death he would live an immortal life with the gods in the hereafter. For that reason, his body was mummified and a papyrus roll containing 40 magical spells was placed in his tomb. The spells were meant to help him endure trials in the underworld, protect him against monsters, and transform him into a powerful immortal being.

The exhibition follows Qenna in this metamorphosis, and introduces visitors to the stories, spells, gods and symbols. Their meaning is explained from right to left, the direction in which the papyrus should be read: from the veneration of the gods and the Lake of Fire, to the divine tribunal and the weighing of Qenna’s heart. To prove he had lived a good life, his heart could not be heavier than an ostrich feather. A magical spell invokes the god Thot to come to Qenna’s aid.

The text of the papyrus begins with the daily cycle of the sun in the form of the sun god Re, who is re-born every morning on the horizon. Each night, the sun unites with the god Osiris in the realm of the dead –like Qenna himself hopes to do. Thanks to the papyrus, Qenna knows the names of all the monstrous overseers and gatekeepers he will encounter. Qenna will only be allowed to pass safely if he utters the right names. There are also spells to defeat dangerous creatures, such as the four crocodiles who threaten to take away his magical powers, and the snake Apep, the deadliest enemy of the sun god Re. At the end of the papyrus, Qenna is able to begin his eternal life in the hereafter. The Book of the Dead concludes with his tomb in the western mountains, where the arms of the goddess Hathor push the sun over the horizon each morning, symbolising a new beginning.

Still from animation – papyrus Qenna

Conservation and research

Although the papyrus sheets were repaired several times in the past 200 years, the glue and layers of paper from older restorations were themselves causing damage. During a large-scale conservation project (2018-2022), as much as possible of the older repair material was removed. New additions were kept to a minimum, so that as much of the original papyrus as possible could be displayed. All of the small, loose bits of papyrus and pigment were re-attached, and each sheet was finally mounted between two new plates of glass. This will protect the sheets properly and they can be viewed from both sides.

All of the sheets were examined in detail by a team of conservators, curators, scientists and photographers. This was necessary to establish the condition of the papyrus and all of the old restorations, and to find out more about how the Book of the Dead was made. Techniques such as microscopic research and photography with ultraviolet and infrared light were used to analyse the various papyrus layers, ink, pigments and old repairs.                       

The research and the conservation of the papyrus were made possible by a financial contribution from the Rembrandt Association and the association’s Van der Klaauw Fund. The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden is supported by the Vriendenloterij.

‘The papyrus roll of Qenna. Magical spells for the afterlife’, 22 June–4 September 2022

Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability – New Perspectives

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Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability – New Perspectives

The Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability (IIJS) to Present New Perspectives in Building Bridges Between the Public and Private Sector in Order to Achieve Sustainable Development.

The Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability, located in Washington, D.C, will present today new perspectives to contribute to sustainable development in cooperation with some of the principal stakeholders, from the public as well as private sectores, who will assume a central role in accelerating the transition to a green economy.
The presentation of these innovative proposals with hemispheric collaboration will take place on May 26th, 2022 in the capital of the United States of America, within the framework of the official in-person launch of IIJS.

We must remember that IIJS, an organization led by women with a unique differentiated gender perspective, arose just before the pandemic as an “Institutional Startup,” a new model of social entrepreneurship, that is, in essence, private but with a public interest socioenvironmental mission. IIJS is a hemispheric platform with a global reach, with specific experience in countries. As its slogan states, the focus of this international Startup is grounded in bridging justice, sustainability, and prosperity.

This proposal highlights the development of cutting-edge solutions for nonconventional challenges that are not only related to sustainability and justice, but offers transversality across all sectors, supported by experience, and focused on the innovation and knowledge of different political socioeconomic contexts in the hemisphere.

In times of fast paced emerging and evolving challenges in environment, climate, health, economic and social wellbeing, its mission to strengthen the rule of law and good governance is all the more important.

The IIJS provides expertise, strategic technical policy assistance, and facilitates capacity building programs.

IIJS

The IIJS brings together key justice system stakeholders, country institutions, multilateral and regional financial development institutions, and the private sector as partners and allies to promote efforts for justice and sustainability in the Americas.

The IIJS is pledging to support multi-stakeholders’ efforts and roles on environmental and climate justice, as well as on the sustainability of business, development, trade, and investment practices which are critical for human rights, as well as environmental and social compliance in the Americas.

On this formal launching — postpandemic, that is– after two years of arduous work, the Executive Director of IIJS, Claudia S. de Windt, highlights that “IIJS is born out of the necessity for concertation and innovative approaches to end the fragmentation through certainty and sustainability to confront the scenarios of today and of the future.”

Alongside the Executive Director de Windt, two founding partners of the Inter-American Institute on Justice and Sustainability will participate, Sheila Abed and María Amparo Albán, experts in environmental law, who will lay out the challenges in an agenda of integration in pursuit of environmental justice.

Additional attendees will include Gustavo Alanís-Ortega, founder and Executive Director of the Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (Mexican Environmental Law Center—CEMDA), member of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) and the Climate Change Advisory Committee in Mexico, Francisco Naranjo, Director of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil- RSPO and the Vice President of Technology and Innovation of Sherritt International, Nathan Stubina, along with other international stakeholders.
Highlighted Ex-Officio members include Scott Fulton, President of the Environmental Law Institute and Ricardo Lorenzetti, ex-president and current minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina.

For more information www.ii-js.org

ICC holds high-level regional conference on cooperation and complementarity in Senegal

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ICC holds high-level regional conference on cooperation and complementarity in Senegal

From 23 to 25 May 2022, the International Criminal Court (ICC or the Court), in close cooperation with the authorities of the Republic of Senegal, held a regional conference in Dakar, Senegal. The conference gathered more than 190 participants who discussed the strengthening of the international criminal justice system and the fight against impunity through cooperation between the Court and States. Discussions emphasised the importance of collective efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the principle of complementarity, with a particular focus on States from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Conference participants included Ministers of Justice and other senior officials of 15  ECOWAS Member States, Republic of Chad and Central African Republic, and high Senegalese officials, Representatives of the diplomatic corps, the Senegalese Bar, Academia, Civil Society and Journalists. In particular, the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of Senegal, H.E. Malick Sall, the President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, the ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański, the ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, the Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims Ibrahim Sorie Yillah, and the President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association Jennifer Naouri took part in the event.

During the opening of the conference, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of Senegal H.E. Malick Sall declared: “The Court derives its legitimacy, in fact, from the confidence placed in it by the States Parties, from the mandate which they have conferred upon it and from the support which they would like to provide to it, for the processing, by it, of any facts subject to its jurisdiction. … The effectiveness or the success of the Court depends on the respect by the latter, just as by the States parties, of the statutory provisions which govern their relations, but also and above all of the will of each of our countries to play their part in the delivery of criminal justice at the national level. All in all, the ICC cannot act without the cooperation of States, which have the monopoly of the police, and without which the identification and appearance of the accused, as well as of victims and witnesses, would be unlikely.”

Addressing the opening session of the conference, ASP President Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi expressed the gratitude of the Court to the Republic of Senegal for its hospitality and for accepting to host the conference. She stated: “We observe a growing interest in justice and the proliferation of a number of mechanisms and initiatives to achieve it. We are thus witnessing the emergence of a global system of justice, in which courts acting at different levels have a role to play, sometimes a central role, sometimes a complementary or supporting role. The ICC has proven that it can play all of these roles effectively.”

ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański said: “Regardless of the continent and regardless of the nationality of the victims or the perpetrators, the ICC’s mandate and purpose remains the same: to fight against impunity for the most serious atrocity crimes. We strive for accountability. We strive to provide justice to victims. And we strive to prevent future crimes. But the ICC cannot do any of this alone. That is why this conference is so important. It is an opportunity to draw best practices and lessons-learned, and to discuss what we can do to enhance the cooperation in our joint quest for justice.”

ICC Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang thanked Senegal for hosting the Conference and stated: “Engaging in a frank dialogue with Africa is at the heart of Prosecutor Khan’s vision, in order to strengthen cooperation with African States within the framework of dynamic complementarity and effective cooperation. The Rome Statute is a court of last resort and national courts must have primacy. If sub-regional or regional judicial bodies can play a part, this option should be encouraged. In short, yes to complementarity but yes, above all, to positive complementarity; one where the ICC contributes to building the capacities of national authorities and is in constant communication with them to reduce as much as possible the impunity gap.”

Representing ICC Registrar Peter Lewis, Nouhoum Sangaré, Chief of ICC Offices in Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, highlighted the importance for the Court to secure cooperation agreements, including on relocation of witnesses, enforcement of sentences, and on asset recovery which are areas where cooperation and complementarity should be further enhanced.

Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims Ibrahim Sorie Yillah said: “The creation of the Trust Fund for Victims in the Rome Statute is an unprecedented message of the international community’s ambition to redress the harm suffered by victims of armed conflict. Cooperation and complementarity are needed to provide justice for victims. The implementation of reparations for crimes within the ICC’s jurisdiction is still new. Africa also needs to take financial engagement for reparation programmes to victims on the continent. Let us together make them a meaningful reality for victims”.

The Court renews its gratitude to the Republic of Senegal, the European Commission, and the Republic of France for their generous financial contribution and support to this conference. Senegal was the first country in the world to ratify the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty, and has also later played a significant role in advancing international criminal justice, inter alia by hosting the Extraordinary African Chambers in 2017. Currently, Senegal is co-facilitator on cooperation in the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, together with France.

This event forms part of efforts to further advance cooperation and complementarity between States, the Court and its partners. Experience from similar events that took place in other regions of Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific has demonstrated that ICC regional seminars are key forum to enhance global support for the Court and international criminal justice more broadly. They also create a space of dialogue aiming at promoting and strengthening cooperation, and to advance the fight against impunity for Rome Statute crimes, and other serious and related crimes.

MEP’s want a special international tribunal for crimes of aggression

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MEP’s want a special international tribunal for crimes of aggression

The special international tribunal should investigate Russian leaders and military commanders and their allies for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, Plenary session AFET.

By European Parliament

EU Reporter (23.05.2022) – https://bit.ly/3lE9Yr5 – In the resolution adopted on 19 May, Parliament calls on the EU to take all necessary action in international proceedings and courts to support the prosecution of the Russian and Belarussian regimes for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression. These investigations and consequent prosecutions should also apply to all Russian armed forces personnel and government officials involved in war crimes, MEPs ask.

The resolution on the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine was adopted by show of hands.

A special international tribunal

The adopted text asks the EU to support setting up a special international tribunal to punish the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine, for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction, and hold Russian political leaders and military commanders and those of its allies to account.

MEPs also want the EU to provide, as soon as possible, all the necessary human and budgetary resources and administrative, investigative and logistical support needed to establish this tribunal.

According to the EP, reported atrocities such as indiscriminate shelling of cities and towns, forced deportations, use of banned ammunition, attacks against civilians fleeing via pre-agreed humanitarian corridors, executions and sexual violence amount to violations of international humanitarian law. They may qualify as war crimes, say MEPs, stressing that all of them have so far gone unprosecuted.

Act swiftly

MEPs stress that the EU must take action swiftly, since there is a grave risk that, due to the ongoing hostilities, evidence related to war crimes is being destroyed.

They express their full support for the investigation by the ICC Prosecutor and the work of the Commission of Inquiry of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as independent civil society organisations and Ukrainian authorities working to collect evidence.

MEPs welcome the joint investigative team being set up by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, which is coordinated by the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation Eurojust, and in which the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC will participate, and encourage other member states to join this team.

Photo credits: AFP

Foreign Minister of Cameroon visits CFC

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Foreign Minister of Cameroon visits CFC

11 May, Amsterdam – “The people and the Government of the Republic of Cameroon are committed to provide the best possible support and services to the hard-working farmers and smallholders for greater diversification of their agri and other commodities. Cameroon expects that CFC will have a much bigger footprint in Cameroon in the future for smallholders and SMEs to enhance their productions and to transform their production through value addition and to conserve their nature in a bio-friendly way.”

H.E. Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations of Cameroon, stated the above when he was addressing the staff members of and its Managing Director Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal at the CFC secretariat.

H.E. Liguemoh Ondoua Madeleine, Ambassador of Cameroon and Ambassador Belal.

Cameroon Minister of External Relations expressed his utmost satisfaction at the current state of affairs of CFC. He also expressed his desire for a much expanded CFC as the world needs organizations like CFC to help smallholders/SMEs to enhance their income so that they can lift themselves from the poverty.

Elaborating on widespread socio-economic development programme in his country, Minister Mbella Mbella highlighted the importance of education and capacity building so that youthful nations like Cameroon could duly take advantage of their demographic dividend.

In response to a powerpoint presentation on the activities and future plans of CFC, Minister Mbella Mbella expressed his and his country’s unequivocal support for a much expanded and more active CFC.

Terming poverty as a curse, Minister Mbella Mbella stated that no human being deserved to be in poverty. He added that if we consider ourselves as good human being, we should not tolerate for a minute the incidence of poverty and thereby upheld the dignity of human being. Human dignity should not be a matter of negotiation, it should be non-negotiable, the Minister added.

Welcoming the Minister, Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the CFC, briefed the Minister about the enormity of challenges for organizations like CFC as supply of resources is so little compared to the high demand for CFC’s services. Ambassador Belal stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we can no longer treat seemingly far away crisis as distance problem.

What happens anywhere can affect people everywhere. This is why poverty alleviation has remained. the number one goal in the development of sustainable journey. Ambassador Belal urged Minister Mbella Mbella to consider working for a global fund for smallholders and SMEs in Africa. Such fund should be aimed at, what the Minister proposed to bring better productivity, better transformation through value addition and conservation of commodities in a bio-friendly way.

Expressing his satisfaction for the global decision of US$ 650 million allocation for SDRs to which his country Cameroon is also a signatory, Ambassador Belal urged Minister Mbella Mbella to make use of SDRs for the proposed fund for African smallholders and SMEs. In response, the Minister expressed his agreement to the proposal and stated that without proper support and finance the smallholders and SMEs cannot expect to grow.

Before taking leave, Minister Mbella Mbella also assured the Managing Director that he will report to his Hierarchy to see how Cameroon could make voluntary contribution to the CFC Fund.

H.E. Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations of Cameroon and CFC Managing Director Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal.

The Minister was accompanied by H.E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua, Ambassador of Cameroon to the Netherlands, Mr. Aurelien Eteki Nkongo, Director of European Affairs, Mr. Ahoudou Garba, Director of Communications, and Ms. Paula Nadege Ngo Song, Attaché at the Private Office, Office of the Minister of External Relations, while Ambassador Belal was accompanied by Mr. Nicolaus Cromme, Chief Operations Officer a.i., Mr. Hector Besong, Portfolio and Risk Manager, and Mr. Peter Nielsen, Project Manager.

The Arts Society The Hague 30th Anniversary Celebration

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The Arts Society The Hague 30th Anniversary Celebration

By Elizabeth Naumczyk


It is not often that one can enjoy an outstanding musical concert and reception at one of the most magnificent Diplomatic Residences in The Hague. On the evening of Wednesday May 11th a Special Event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Arts Society The Hague was held at the Residence of the British Ambassador to The Netherlands HE Joanna Roper CMG.

Her Excellency, is also Patron of The Arts Society The Hague. The choice of venue consolidated a long standing tradition where the Arts Society also held its 20th and 25th anniversaries.

H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, welcoming some guests.

After warmly welcoming the guests to her imposing Residence, HE Ambassador Joanna Roper handed over the proceedings to the Chairman of the Society, HE Mr Andrea Perugini (former Italian Ambassador to The Netherlands 2016-2020}. Mr Perugini outlined the history of The Arts Society The Hague which is affiliated to The Arts Society UK. The Arts Society UK is a leading non-profit Arts and Culture Organization with over 380 affiliated societies and almost 80,000 members worldwide, bringing people together through a shared interest in the Arts.

The Arts Society The Hague founded in 1991 (formerly known as The Decorative and Fine Arts Society of The Hague) has brought together and informed the community through many years of cultural activities delivered by experts in many fields. It is one of the most active affiliated societies and is proud to be fourth out of fifteen in Mainland Europe in terms of membership numbers.

The Arts Society The Hague 30th Anniversary Celebration.

To celebrate this occasion 60 guests were privileged to listen to a special non stop performance of over an hour by the renowned Dutch Baroque Music Ensemble, “Le Nuove Musiche”, very eloquently introduced and skillfully directed by Maestro Krijn Koetsveld at the harpsichord, with the participation of Soprano Margreet Rietveld and Tenor Falco van Loon.

The music in the recital spans the later Renaissance and Baroque stylistic era and was absolutely captivating.

Maestro Krijn Koetsveld.
Soprano Margreet Rietveld and Tenor Falco van Loon.

Maestro Koetsveld played on his own copy of a 1640 Harpsichord. After an opening piece by Giulio Caccini (1551-1618) Amarilli mia bella the programme included John Dowland (1563 1618), Come again, followed by Maestro Koetsveld playing solo on the harpsichord the Pavana Lachrimae again by John Downland set by William Byrd (1543-1623). It then focused on Henry Purcell (1659-1695), one of Britain’s best composers, with both singers performing Music for a while and My dearest, my fairest. Falco van Loon performed Evening Hymn while Sweeter than Roses was sang by Margreet Rietveld.


Pieces by Henry Lawes (1596-1662), Georg Friedrich Händel’s (1685-1759) and the Sound the trumpet by Henry Purcell were also played. The final notes were from Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Pur ti miro, bringing together all three performers for this most beautiful love duet created on the harpsichord, a simple base with all kinds of variations.

H.E. Ambassador Joanna Roper CMG.

A reception followed with canapés prepared by Chef Roberto Illari, who just started working for the five star Hotel de l’Europe in Amsterdam, together with wine and refreshments courtesy of the British Embassy.

The Chairman of the Society, Andrea Perugini also promoted the various lectures and activities that the Arts Society The Hague will offer for the 2022/23 Season (see https://theartssociety.org/the-hague ). He said in particular: “We organize – Live and via Zoom – eight one-hour lectures during the course of a season (October to May) in our main venue, the Warenar Cultural Centre, Wassenaar, where we can host over 200 people at a time. In addition the Society organizes Special Events, Lectures with local and foreign speakers and visits to Museums and exclusive guided tours.

Our Lectures are captivating and stimulating events where expert lecturers, academicians,
researchers, historians, museum curators and art experts share their specialist knowledge and passion on a wide range of subjects – from music to architecture, from fashion to craftsmanship, from archaeology to glassware, from visual arts to history, from ancient traditions to photography, from historical cities to lost civilisations.”

The Arts Society The Hague Committee members, Mainland Europe Chair Jo Ward, UK Ambassador Joanna Roper, and Wang Choy.

We can all agree with him that the Arts and Culture promote better mutual understanding and connectivity between peoples and act as a major instrument of peace and dialogue enriching everyone’s lives. We wish The Arts Society The Hague continued success and valued contribution to the cultural life of The Hague and its outreach to the wider community via Zoom.

New investigations on core international crimes increase by 44% since 2016 

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New investigations on core international crimes increase by 44% since 2016 

The Hague, 23 May 2022

Investigations and prosecutions of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (known collectively as core international crimes) have steadily risen within the European Union since 2016. A total of 1 547 new cases were opened in 2021, compared with 1 073 in 2016, which represents a 44% increase.  In 2021, 3 171 cases were ongoing across all Member States.

This trend can be attributed, in part, to the escalation of conflicts and grave human rights violations near EU borders (most recently in Ukraine, Belarus and Syria), leading to an influx of refugees into Member States. The higher level of expertise now available among national authorities also explains the increase in investigations.

Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust.

Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran said: ‘The EU Day Against Impunity serves to remind us of core international crimes that so far have been left unanswered and to strengthen our collective efforts in getting justice done. It leads Eurojust to work with prosecutors and investigators in different corners of the world, who count on our partnership and support. This is the front line of justice, and a cornerstone in protecting the rule of law against core international crimes going unpunished.’

European Commission for Justice Mr Didier Reynders stated: ‘In the current situation, we must recognise that peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted.With “war”, often come “war crimes”, which violate the most fundamental laws of international order. We must defend these laws at any cost because the consequences for the victims, and humanity, are too grave to accept.’

Didier Herbert, Head of European Commission in The Netherlands.

In addition to European Commissioner Mr Reynders and Eurojust President Mr Hamran, the French Ambassador to the Netherlands, H.E. Luis Vassy, and a panel of expert practitioners from Member States and civil society participated in the event. Mr Matevž Pezdirc, Head of the Genocide Network Secretariat, moderated and closed the event.

Experience has shown that Member States that have established specialised investigative and prosecution units have been increasingly successful in bringing cases to trial and securing convictions for core international crimes. This is explained by the fact that specialised staff are uniquely trained to handle specific challenges of this crime area and able to act proactively in opening new cases.

S.Exc. M. Luis Vassy, ambassadeur de France. Photographie par OPCW.

However, the establishment of such specialised units remains limited. As of May 2022, only six Member States have established fully independent specialised units within prosecution services and/or law enforcement services.

In addition, national authorities face other challenges including legislative gaps that hinder the full prosecution of crimes, the exercise of extra-territorial (universal) jurisdiction, as well as international judicial cooperation or mutual legal assistance.

Eurojust and the Genocide Network support national authorities in their investigations and prosecutions of core international crimes. Together, they serve as a central hub for the exchange of information and expertise. Since the addition of core international crimes to Eurojust’s portfolio in 2019, the number of cases supported by the Agency has gradually increased. In 2021, Eurojust supported seven new cases, with nine ongoing cases from previous years, and one joint investigation team (JIT). As of May 2022, Eurojust has supported three JITs in relation to core international crimes.

The main achievements and shortcomings of the EU judicial response to core international crimes can be found in the report 20 years on: Main developments in the fight against impunity for core international crimes in the EU, published today by the Genocide Network Secretariat. A factsheet that outlines the key factors for successful investigations and prosecutions of core international crimes has also been published.

The EU Day Against Impunity is an annual event aiming to raise awareness of the most heinous crimes – the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. This initiative promotes national investigations and prosecutions, recognises the common efforts of the EU and Member States in enforcing international criminal law, addresses the position and participation of victims in criminal proceedings for these crimes, and reinvigorates the Europe-wide commitment to the fight against impunity.

The ‘European Network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes’ (the ‘Genocide Network’) was established by the Council of the EU in 2002 to ensure close cooperation between national authorities in investigating and prosecuting the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Genocide Network facilitates the exchange of information among practitioners, encourages cooperation between national authorities in different Member States, and provides a forum for sharing knowledge and best practices. The Genocide Network is supported in its work through its Secretariat, based at Eurojust in The Hague, the Netherlands.

50th Anniversary of Sino-Dutch Diplomatic Relations

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50th Anniversary of Sino-Dutch Diplomatic Relations

By Roy Lie Atjam

50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Netherlands diplomatic relations, which took place on 18th May 1972. Ambassador H.E. Mr Jian Tan hosted a photo exhibition and a reception to celebrate the momentous anniversary of the establishment of China-Netherlands diplomatic relations.

The first contacts between the two nations go back to the 17th century in Guangzhou. However, official relations with the Peoples’ Republic of China began in 1954,  reaching the ambassadorial level in 1972.

The venue was the Embassy of China on 17 May 2022.

H.E. Mr Jian Tan welcome his guests to join in the festivities and delivered his welcome remarks this is what he had to say.

“For over 2 years, this hall of the embassy has been empty, thanks to the pandemic.  I feel really good to see it in festive atmosphere again. My warm welcome to all of you. Special thanks to the artists, teachers and students for their wonderful performances. 

Tomorrow, May the 18th, 2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level between China and the Netherlands. This half the century has witnessed continuous growth in our ties and fruitful cooperation in various areas. It deserves our celebration and blessing.

That’s why we have selected 40 moments in the past 50 years to highlight our cooperation achievements. But let me start with the logo for the 50th anniversary. I really like it. You can see the poster here, and the flower logo on the slope outside. It features national colors of China and the Netherlands: red and orange. 

The lines, making the number 50, symbolize water streams. Water is life, water is power, water is wisdom. Our two peoples understand that, and have shaped their land and lives by harnessing and harmonizing with water. Water conservancy projects such as China’s Dujiangyan and the Netherlands’ sea-blocking dam are well known to the world.  

Our relationship is like a river. 

Ambassador H.E. Mr Jian Tan and Mr Peter Potman, DDG for Foreign Economic Relations MFA commemorating 50th Anniversary of Sino-Dutch Diplomatic Relations.

It started as a stream as early as 400 years ago, when our two peoples established contacts through the maritime silk road. The stream turned into a river on 18 May 1972, when the leaders of the two countries, with a far-sighted strategic vision and political wisdom, upgraded our diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level. 

The river was widened greatly in 2014, when President Xi Jinping together with His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, defined Sino-Dutch relations as an open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation, injecting fresh impetus into its growth. Our memory flows with the river, as we go through the photos. Several key words come to my mind, which may best capture the nature and feature of our cooperation.

The first key word is connectivity. Although our two countries are geographically far away from each other, we are closely connected by sea, air and land. In 1996, the first Chinese civil air route to the Netherlands was opened, and now Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest terminals in Europe for passenger and cargo transport to and from China. 

In 2013, a Chinese freighter was named “ the best sustainable ship of 2012” at Rotterdam port, and now Rotterdam port is the first stop for nearly half of China’s deep-water freight routes to Europe. 

In 2021, the direct China-Europe railway express between Tilburg and Nanjing was opened, and there are in total 6 trips of China-Europe Railway Express each week between us. Connectivity brings us closer and stronger.  What’s more, China sees the Netherlands as a gateway for Europe. 

The second key word is win-win. As we can see in the photos, as early as in 1973, the Dutch Industrial and Technical Exhibition was held in Beijing. In 1974, China and the Netherlands reached trade mark registration reciprocal agreement.  Let me give an example about how big a difference 50 years of time could make. Our trade volume has grown nearly 1,700 times from 69 million US$ in 1972 to over 116 billion US$ in 2021.  

I bet this will make a record.  

Trade is mutually beneficial, so is investment. Among all the EU countries, the Netherlands is the largest destination of Chinese investment, and the second largest source of investment to China. China has benefited from Dutch investment. The Netherlands is a developed economy with a large number of world-class high-tech companies. Dutch business people tell me that the huge market of China is indispensable for Dutch companies to stay super competitive. 

The third is friendship. 

There are countless stories of our people to people friendship. Chairman of the Dutch kite association flied his 250-meter long kite at the birthplace of kites in Weifang China in 1984. A Dutch eye doctor treated over 2000 Chinese eye patients for free in 1995. In 2020, the two pandas living here gave birth to a baby panda Fan Xing, which is the fruit of our friendship. 

Recently, the most famous Chinese classic novel, the Dream of the Red Chamber, was translated into Dutch and immediately became a bestseller. Last year, I unveiled Nanjing Pavilion, a gift from my hometown Nanjing to its sister city Eindhoven. Our two countries have established more than 30 pairs of sister cities or provinces. Nearly 10,000 Chinese students are now studying in the Netherlands. 

Facing the common challenges of Covid-19, people from all walks of life of the two countries have rendered each other great support in this difficult time. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The affinity of our people lays the solid foundation for our relations. Last but not least is the international cooperation. In 1995, then Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok attended a Sino-Dutch clean coal seminar in Beijing. In 2011, the largest directly-driven wind power generator manufactured by China was installed in the Netherlands. 

In 2019, our prime ministers together unveiled the first overseas office of the Dutch-based global center on climate adaptation in China. Our bilateral relations not only benefits our own countries but also contribute to the mankind. We cooperate closely on climate change, sustainable development goals and many others high on the international development agenda. Both support multilateralism and an open world economy.

These achievements couldn’t be made without the leading role and political wisdom of our leaders and governments, without the resilience and entrepreneurship of our business people, and without the openness and hardworking of our two peoples.

While celebrating the accomplishments in the past, we are fully aware of and will not hide from the challenges ahead. Our world today faces a swirling combination of uncertainty and instability. Various traditional and non-traditional security threats keep flaring up. Peace and development, the themes of our times, are faced with severe challenges. 

Unprecedented challenges require unprecedented cooperation. We all share our fate in the same boat. With a view to addressing these global challenges and threats, President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. These two Initiatives give explicit answers to questions of our times, China’s contribution to the world in tackling peace and development deficit, for common security and prosperity. 

China is ready to work with Europe and the Netherlands for human progress, world peace and development. Over the past 50 years, China-Netherlands relations has stood the test of the visissitudes of the international landscape. With mutual respect and enhanced understanding, our relations can transcend the differences of social systems and ideology, and achieve healthy and stable development. 

50th Anniversary of Sino-Dutch Diplomatic Relations.

I am optimistic about the relations between our two countries, not because I am a glass-half-full man, but because our two countries have more common grounds than differences, no fundamental conflict of interest. And because there exists huge potential for cooperation between us, that will benefit not only our two peoples, but also the whole world. 

I firmly believe that with joint efforts in the coming year, our open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation will be brought to a new high. Next time when we hold exhibition, there will be more photos of our cooperation on climate change, digital economy, green development, health care, space, science and technology innovation, etc. 

Now back to the logo, if you look carefully, you will notice the lines in our anniversary logo are designed as unfinished lines. The river of our relations is flowing into the future. Let’s build on the 50 years of Sino-Dutch friendship, add more momentum to the river, which contributes to the ocean of a more peaceful and prosperous world. 

A picture is worth a thousand words.  So let me stop here. May I propose a toast:

To Sino-Dutch relations,

To the friendship between our two peoples,

To the health and happiness of all of you,

Cheers!”

An animated program featured performances by Dutch and Chinese actors. The traditional Dutch orchestra Kleintje Pils opened the show. They performed Dutch and popular international tunes. The Dutch Chinese school and Confucious Institute in Delft stole the show with their children’s ballet.

A Dutch Chinese ladies duo concluded with a medley of Dutch and international tunes. Mr Peter Potman, DDG for Foreign Economic Relations MFA,  felicitated  Ambassador Jian Tan and elaborated on the long-standing Dutch-Sino relationship.

Among the attendees were Karin Mössenlechner, Director of Asia and Oceania MFA, Senator and the former Minister of Economic Affairs Annemarie Jorritsma, to name a few. Subsequently, the photo exhibition was declared open.

A reception and walking buffet concluded the joyous evening.

Malaysia Truly Asia Networking Reception

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Malaysia Truly Asia Networking Reception

By Roy Lie Atjam

Selamat Datang Tourism Malaysia event. The Embassy of Malaysia and the Marketing Manager of Benelux Tourism Malaysia arranged a networking reception in connection with the reopening of the borders. The MC for the day was Ms Naziha Kechouh of the Cultural Affairs Department and Marketing Manager Benelux (Tourism Malaysia).

The events was attracted a good number of vocational persons, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines as KLM, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Turkish Airlines and others. The venue, the prestigious Chancellery of Malaysia in The Hague, 12 May 2022.

H.E. Ambassador of Malaysia Mrs. Nadzirah Osman, Ms. Rosbi Mamat, Ms. Iris van Wijhe, Mr. Rob Harting and Mr Gerald van Amerongen. Malaysia- destination 2022

H.E. Ambassador of Malaysia Mrs. Nadzirah Osman presented the welcome remarks. A slate of speakers followed.

The  Director of Tourism Malaysia The Hague, Ms. Rosbi Mamat gave an  update on the post-Covid 19 situation. Next was Ms. Iris van Wijhe of Dutch Productions, a frequent visitor of Malaysia. She  is full of  enthusiasm about her recent tour of Malaysia.

Mr. Rob Harting, the proprietor of  Distant Greens Golfing Holidays, recounted personal experiences of his many pleasant visits to Malaysia. Mr. Gerald van Amerongen, founder and proprietor of DMC Happy Trails Asia, concluded the list of speakers with an elaborated presentation about why one should visit Malaysia.

Mr Gerald van Amerongen.

Ambassador Nadzirah Osman in her welcome talk stated the following: “The last two years have been an extremely challenging and difficult  period not only for the Malaysian tourism sector but also for the tourism industry worldwide. In 2020, only 14,486 Dutch tourists visited Malaysia, a sharp decrease of 82.4% compared to 2019 where we received 82,110 Dutch tourists.

In 2021, the numbers declined further as expected, as the country was still closed to foreign travellers due to the pandemic. The reopening of Malaysian borders via the Langkawi International Travel Bubble as of 15 November 2021, was the first step in reopening the country’s tourism sector.

The statistics for this pilot project showed that the Dutch people are eager to travel again to Malaysia. We are indeed pleased that the Netherlands ranked 13th out of 105 countries for tourist arrivals for the Langkawi pilot project. Considering the fact that the Netherlands’ population is relatively small as compared to other countries in the top 10, it clearly reflects the importance of the Dutch market for Malaysia.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Malaysia has fully reopened its borders to all international visitors since April 1, 2022. We have been working very hard for the past two years to prepare ourselves for this moment and we are eager and excited to reintroduce Malaysia to the world.

Everything is now in place for us to welcome international visitors, newcomers and regulars alike. We hope to attract 2 million international tourists this year and we hope to see Dutch tourists returning to Malaysia in big numbers.”

Ms Naziha Kechouh of the Cultural Affairs Department and Marketing Manager Benelux.

“The Netherlands was the top fourth largest contributor for tourist arrivals in Malaysia from Europe after United Kingdom, Germany and France, pre COVID 19. We are confident with a joint effort between the Malaysian Tourism Office here and all of you present today, we will be able to see it materialised.

We look forward to any possible partnership opportunities and business networking. So why should Malaysia be the Dutch preferred destination? The answer to that is because we are not only home to one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems but we can offer, plethora of activities, that can cater for everyone from all ages and with different interest. We not only have exciting nature and adventure travel but also the diversity of culture that clearly reflects Malaysia as a melting pot of Asia.

We have various new sustainable and responsible tourism attractions, such as the Habitat on Penang Hill which was officially designated as Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO on 15 September 2021.

We are currently emphasising more on ecotourism which I am sure will receive positive response from tourists who want to travel and reconnect with nature for recreation.”

The  Director of Tourism Malaysia The Hague, Ms. Rosbi Mamat.

“With your support, we hope to promote Malaysia as a safe and preferred holiday destination and to increase the visibility of Malaysia Truly Asia branding here in the Netherlands. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our tourism partners and stakeholders for your support and cooperation. I hope you will have a fruitful networking session”

As we now know, as of 1 April 2022, the covid 19 restrictions on entering Malaysia have been lifted. Malaysia is open for business, ready to welcome the thousands of tourists to her beautiful beaches and historical sites and enjoy her incomparable hospitality.

Malaysia is expecting to attract millions of tourists this year a substantial number will be Dutch.

“Malaysia, Truly Asia” There is only one place where all the fragrances, sounds, colours, flavours and sights of Asia merge, Malaysia.

Ms. Iris van Wijhe, Dutch Productions.

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