DiploSalsa – A Salsa Dance Workshop, Sponsored by the Embassy of Cuba

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DiploSalsa – A Salsa Dance Workshop, Sponsored by the Embassy of Cuba

“Opened to all diplomats – regardless of fitness level, dancing skills, or the presence of a partner”. This was the message conveyed by the invitation sent by the Embassy of Cuba and Diplomat Magazine to diplomats credited to the Netherlands, tempting all of them to get out again after the last lockdown and get into the music and dance of this charming Caribbean country.

With the expert Cuban salsa teacher, Rafael Cala, diplomats came to share the passion for the Cuban dance in a relaxed and fun atmosphere throughout four weeks.

Cuban Salsa Workshop

During the last day of the course, in the company of some delicious mojitos and tasty Cuban food, H.E. Ms. Anet Pino Rivero, Ambassador of Cuba, awarded a certificate of accomplishment to each participant. This was a stimulant and joyful activity that we plan to repeat next year. We wish to thank all the participants for their energy, as well as the Embassy of Cuba for the organization. 

Haarlem Diplomats Walking Tour

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Haarlem Diplomats Walking Tour

Diplomat Magazine organised a friendly walk throughout Haarlem. The walking tour – organized for diplomats only – highlighted some of the most exciting sites to be visited in this beautiful city, which is unfortunately too often overshadowed by Amsterdam.

Haarlem, an incredibly authentic ‘Hollandse’ city, welcomed the group with a sunny day – the perfect whether for a walking tour.

A large number of diplomats – from Switzerland to Canada, from Rwanda to Cuba, from Azerbaijan to Sweden, from Peru to Germany, from Ghana to Vietnam and more – enjoyed this beautiful city, with its canals, windmills and 17th-century narrow houses with huge windows.

They learned about Haarlem’s history and its absolutely beautiful and peaceful hidden gardens.

Historian Johannes Enschedé and H.E. Mr. Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe , Ambassador of Rwanda.

Besides admiring the beauty of Haarlem, the group was privileged to benefit from the expertise of two unique tour guides, the expert Sherman McGrew, as well as Mr. Johannes Enschedé, one of the most notorious lawyers and historians from Haarlem, and a direct descendant of Izaak Enschedé, the first printer of Dutch bank notes in 1703 and of the local newspaper “Opregte Haarlemsche Courant” in 1737 (one of the oldest newspapers in the world).

Mr. Enschedé accompanied the group from Haarlem Central Station through all the key places in the city, explaining details about historical buildings, churches, statues, plazas, as well as about the Enschedé Museum, a part of the Dutch history and of his own too. We will never thank enough Mr. Enschedé for the privilege of his personal engagement with our group of diplomats. 

The tour started at Leonardo Royal Hotel at 11:00, with the group getting into the bus at the parking lot of the hotel. The walking tour was about four hours long, including time to shops at the market in the center, as well as to enjoy good food and drinks to cool down at the end of the day.

Conference to mark the ICC’s 20th anniversary

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Conference to mark the ICC’s 20th anniversary

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is pleased to announce the conference “International Criminal Court at 20: Reflections on the Past, Present and the Future”, taking place on Friday, 1 July 2022, at the World Forum in The Hague, the Netherlands. The conference will be webcast live in English, French and Spanish on the ICC’s YouTube channel.

The conference will be an occasion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the International Criminal Court as one of the permanent pillars of the international legal system. The entry into force, on 1 July 2002, of the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, enabled the commencement of the Court’s operations under its mandate aimed at ensuring accountability for the gravest crimes under international law, contributing to their prevention, and providing justice to victims.

The conference will start with a keynote speech by the Chair of Rome Conference and first ICC President, H.E. Mr. Philippe Kirsch, followed by three substantive panels on various aspects on the Court’s work. Speakers will include the President, Prosecutor and Registrar of the ICC, the President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims, the President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association, as well leading academics, civil society experts and practitioners.

The conference will allow for in-depth discussions on the different aspects of the Court’s concrete operations, from the earliest reports of alleged crimes to final judgments and the reparation of victims. It will also be an occasion for reflections on how well the ICC has met expectations, as well as what main trends can be discerned for the further development of the international criminal justice system going forward.

While in-person participation at the conference is by invitation only, virtual attendance is open to all interested persons.

The International Criminal Court would like to express its appreciation to the European Commission as well as to the Embassy of the French Republic in The Netherlands and the Municipality of The Hague for the financial support provided for this conference.

Operation against drug traffickers in Italy, Spain and Netherlands: 24 arrests

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Operation against drug traffickers in Italy, Spain and Netherlands: 24 arrests

Authorities in Italy, Spain and the Netherlands  yesterday conducted an operation against a major drug trafficking network, which allegedly used the art trade in the Netherlands to launder the profits of its illegal business. Eurojust coordinated and supported the action, which led to the arrest of 24 suspects.

Investigations into the organised crime group (OCG) started in 2019 when the Italian authorities unravelled a local drug trafficking network, run by two Milanese restaurant owners. This investigation led to links with a larger network of traffickers, who never met in person and took nicknames based on fictional characters, using encrypted communication tools.

Thanks to information from the French authorities, following the successful – and Eurojust-supported – EncroChat and SkyECC operations, the structure of the OCG could be laid bare. The network ran a multitude of large-scale drug trafficking operations, trading in cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, with the Netherlands as one of its main hubs.

Cocaine was shipped to Dutch ports from Latin America and transported to Italy using articulated lorries and cars with hidden compartments. Additionally, the OCG was involved in the ketamine trade from Lithuania, which was also run via the Netherlands. Spain was used as a trading route for the smuggling of cannabis from North Africa.

As of 2020, authorities both in the Netherlands and Italy have managed to intercept large quantities of drugs. Several arrests of other OCG members have already taken place over the past months, with the action day as the culminating point of the investigations so far.

During the action day, a total of 47 locations were searched, including an art gallery in Amsterdam. Furthermore, bank accounts that were allegedly used for money laundering purposes have been frozen by authorities in the Netherlands.

Overall, an estimated EUR 150.000 in cash was seized, as well as over 150 kilos of various types of illicit drugs.

Eurojust supported the operation by organising five preparatory coordination meetings and assisting with the execution of European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants. The Agency also enabled the cooperation of the various authorities involved during the day.

The operation was carried out and supported by:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) Milan; State Police Milan (Polizia di Stato, Questura di Milano)
  • Spain: National Police (Policía Nacional)
  • The Netherlands: International Legal Assistance Centre (IRC) Amsterdam; National Coordination Centre for International Legal Assistance (LIRC); Regional Investigation Service (DRR) Amsterdam Police
  • France: Interregional Specialised Jurisdiction (JIRS) Lille; National Jurisdiction Against Organised Crime (JUNALCO) Paris; Gendarmerie Nationale C3N; National Judicial Police (DCPJ)
  • Lithuania: Prosecutor General’s Office; Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau

ICTR Fugitive Protais Mpiranya Confirmed Dead

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ICTR Fugitive Protais Mpiranya Confirmed Dead

Arusha, The Hague, 12 May 2022 – The IRMCT Office of the Prosecutor confirms today the death of Protais Mpiranya, the last of the major fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and alleged to have been a senior leader of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. There are now only five outstanding fugitives under the IRMCT’s jurisdiction.

In reaction to today’s announcement, IRMCT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz stated:

Accounting for the last of the major ICTR fugitives – Protais Mpiranya – is an important step forward in our continued efforts to achieve justice for the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

For the victims of his crimes, Mpiranya was a feared and notorious fugitive, leader of the Presidential Guard during the Genocide and later a top commander in the FDLR. Confirming his death provides the solace of knowing that he cannot cause further harm.

The results of this investigation are also a testament to the United Nations’ relentless pursuit of accountability for those indicted for the most serious crimes. Nearly three decades after the Genocide, my Office continues to track fugitives and prosecute our remaining cases, like the trial of Felicien Kabuga, while also giving our support to national prosecutions in Rwanda and elsewhere.

I would like to extend our gratitude to partners whose contributions were essential. The Government of Rwanda continues to be among our strongest supporters and played an important role in this investigation. Law enforcement agencies and prosecution services from Belgium, France, Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zimbabwe and elsewhere also provided assistance. My Office would like to further recognize again the excellent forensic support provided by the Netherlands Forensic Institute, which conducted the DNA analysis of Mpiranya’s remains.

As Commander of the Presidential Guard, Mpiranya was indicted by the ICTR in 2000, which was made public in 2002. He was charged with eight counts of genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Notably, he was charged with responsibility for the murders of senior moderate Rwandan leaders at the start of the genocide, including Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Information. He was also charged with the murders of ten Belgian United Nations peacekeepers during that same period.

Following a challenging and intensive investigation, the OTP has determined that Mpiranya died on 5 October 2006 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Following the publication of the ICTR indictment against him, Mpiranya fled to Zimbabwe in late 2002, where he resided until his death. Mpiranya’s presence in Zimbabwe, and later the fact of his death, were deliberately concealed by the concerted efforts of his family and associates, including up to the present. A summary of the results of the OTP’s successful investigation, which uncovered many key facts despite difficult circumstances, can be found in the attached annex.
The OTP will submit a motion to IRMCT judges in due course to officially close the case against Mpiranya.

UN rights chief denounces Christian-Muslim violence in Ethiopia

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UN rights chief denounces Christian-Muslim violence in Ethiopia

Michelle Bachelet calls on authorities to conduct independent investigations into the deadly religious violence.

Aljazeera (07.05.2022) – https://bit.ly/3kWLOrt – The UN human rights chief has voiced alarm at recent deadly clashes between Muslims and Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia and called on authorities to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday that she was “deeply distressed” by the violence that erupted late last month in northern Ethiopia, reportedly killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100 others.

The clashes began in Gondar city in the Amhara region on April 26, reportedly in connection with a land dispute, before quickly spreading to other regions and the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, she said.

The Islamic Affairs Council of Amhara said the funeral of a Muslim elder had been attacked, describing the scene as a “massacre” by heavily armed “extremist Christians”.

The cemetery where the attack occurred neighbours a mosque and church and has been the subject of an ongoing dispute between Muslims and Orthodox Christians, who are the dominant group in Ethiopia.

“I understand two mosques were burnt and another two partially destroyed in Gondar,” Bachelet said in her statement.

“In the apparent retaliatory attacks that followed, two Orthodox Christian men were reportedly burnt to death, another man hacked to death, and five churches burnt down” in the southwest of the country, she said, adding that other regions had since seen clashes.

In all, police had reportedly arrested and imprisoned at least 578 people in at least four cities in connection with the clashes, she said.

“I call on the Ethiopian authorities to promptly initiate and conduct thorough, independent and transparent investigations into each of these deadly incidents,” Bachelet said.

Prevent further inter-religious violence

Authorities should strive to “ensure that those found to be responsible are held to account”, she said, stressing that “individual accountability of perpetrators is essential to prevent further violence.”

At the same time, “those arrested must be fully accorded their due process and fair trial rights in accordance with international human rights law, without discrimination.”

The UN rights chief also called for broader action to reconcile communities in Ethiopia, where Muslims make up about a third of the population.

“To prevent further inter-religious violence, it is crucial that the underlying causes of this shocking violence are promptly addressed,” she said, urging “meaningful participation of survivors, families and affected communities”.

Such violence in Ethiopia is not a new development. In 2019, authorities arrested five people suspected of burning down four mosques in the town of Motta in the same region.

Fighting in Ethiopia’s wider conflict has eased since the federal government declared a unilateral ceasefire last month, saying it would allow humanitarian aid to enter Tigray.

When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power in 2018, he introduced sweeping political and economic reforms that won him international praise, culminating in the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for peacemaking efforts with longtime enemy Eritrea.

The Development and Geopolitics of New Energy Vehicles in Anglo-American Axis Countries

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The Development and Geopolitics of New Energy Vehicles in Anglo-American Axis Countries

By He Jun

While the global development of green energy and industries has been an ongoing matter, the war launched by Russia in Ukraine adds a deeper geopolitical dimension to it. In this shift, the “Anglo-American Axis”, comprising the United Kingdom and the United States, may once again lead the way.

Take the UK as an example. In promoting green energy and green industry, and reducing its carbon emissions, a series of seemingly radical policies have been introduced in the past two years. The UK government released the “Ten-Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution” in November 2020, proposing the development of offshore wind power, in addition to promoting the development of low-carbon hydrogen, and providing advanced nuclear energy, accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles, among others. It also includes action plans for the reduction of 230 million tons of carbon emissions in the transport and construction industries in the next decade.

In the policy paper Energy White Paper: Powering Our Net Zero Future published in December 2020, the UK has planned for the transformation of the energy system, and strive to achieve the goal of ne-zero carbon emissions in the energy system by 2050. On the conventional energy front, it announced a phase-out of existing coal power plants by October 2024. Focusing on the fields of energy, industry, transportation, construction and others, it aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030. Additionally, the UK has also launched the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on January 1, 2021, setting a cap on total greenhouse gas emissions for industrial and manufacturing companies, with the objective of achieving a net-zero emissions target by 2050. In March 2021, it took the lead among the G7 countries to launch the Industrial Decarbonization Strategy, supporting the development of low-carbon technologies and improving industrial competitiveness. The plan is to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing companies by 2030 and build the world’s first net-zero emissions industrial zone by 2040.

In terms of public transport, there is the March 2021 National Bus Strategy, and a green transformation plan for the bus industry is proposed. In July of the same year, the Transport Decarbonization Plan is announced, further integrating low-carbon transformation in transportation such as railways, buses, and aviation, and promoting the electrification of public and private transportation. At present, there are more than 600,000 plug-in electric vehicles in the UK, and the production of new energy vehicles exceeds one-fifth of the total car production. In the nation’s new car sales for February 2022, electric vehicle sales accounted for 17.7% of the market, the market share of plug-in hybrid vehicle sales is 7.9%. Adding traditional hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles account for more than one-third of the sales.

On April 8, 2022, the UK government announced the annual development goals for new energy vehicles. It is stipulated that by 2024, all-electric vehicles must occupy 22% of the market. This proportion rises to 52% in 2028 and 80% in 2030. The country’s authority hopes that these mandatory policies will force carmakers to, by 2035, increase the share of electric vehicles in sales every year, when all models must achieve zero emissions. It will then ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and hybrid cars from 2035, under plans unveiled two years ago.

As the world’s largest automobile consumer, the United States has also put forward the development plan for new energy vehicles. It should be pointed out that the marketization forces represented by Tesla have played a strong and spontaneous role in the U.S.’ development of new energy vehicles. On this basis, the supporting policies introduced by the U.S. government will have greater policy flexibility. After the Biden administration came to power, there are changes in the negative attitude of the Trump administration towards the new energy industry, and an agreement returning to the Paris Agreement has been signed. To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the U.S. government plans to increase the sales of new energy vehicles (including plug-in hybrid, pure electric, and fuel cell vehicles) to 40-50% by 2030.

The government and industry will provide subsidies for the purchase of these vehicles, improve the charging network, invest in research and development, and provide subsidies for the production of the vehicles and their spare parts. On March 31, 2021, the Biden administration proposed to invest USD 174 billion in supporting the development of the U.S. electric vehicle market, which involves improving the U.S. domestic industrial chain. It targets to construct 500,000 charging stations, electrify school buses, public transport, and federal fleets by 2030. In President Biden’s USD 1.75 trillion stimulus bill passed by the House of Representatives that year, there was a subsidy mechanism for new energy vehicles and additional subsidies for traditional American car companies.

Major U.S. domestic and international automakers, United Auto Workers, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the California government, the U.S. Climate Alliance, as well as other industrial and governmental agencies have issued a joint statement and support the Biden administration to accelerate the development of the new energy vehicle industry, so as to strengthen the leadership of the U.S. in this field. On the basis of marketization, the strong support of the U.S. to the new energy vehicle industry will greatly promote the development of this particular market in the country.

Researchers at ANBOUND believe that the UK and the American strategies and series of policies for the development of new energy vehicles are not merely concerning industry and green development. Instead, they carry profound influence and significance. Chan Kung, founder of ANBOUND, pointed out that the policy signals given by the Anglo-American axis represent the shape of the things to come. The development of new energy vehicles is not a purely industrial or technological issue. It is conspicuous that such a development means alternative ways of energy utilization have emerged, and this energy revolution has its geopolitical implication, where both the UK and the U.S. will further ditch their dependence on Russian energy. If the future industrial system and consumer market are no longer dependent on oil, then Russia, which is highly dependent on oil resources economically, will be hit greatly in economic sense.

It should be pointed out that due to the complexity and extension of the transportation system, this revolutionary policy of energy substitution will also drive the rapid development of other industries, as well as related technological buildout and the manufacturing of new products. It will not take long for a new manufacturing system to emerge in the countries and societies of the Anglo-American axis.

Chan Kung emphasized that it is also worth noting that from a geopolitical perspective, this large-scale new energy policy is also a measure to share geopolitical risks and pressures. In the past, countries and governments had to address issues caused by geopolitical risks, such as rising oil prices and inflation. These in turn, could lead to political instability if the ruling government failed to address them well. However, the rapid development of industries such as new energy vehicles has made a great change in the situation. The pressure on the government was quickly directed to the private sector, industry, and society. To improve the quality of life, people are spending money to buy new energy vehicles. This is tantamount to common people spending money to solve the geopolitical risks of the Anglo-American axis countries and governments. Once this pattern and market system are formed, the Anglo-American axis countries will not only eliminate the pressure of Russia’s weaponization of energy, they can also generate profits from it, even form a new manufacturing system that can scrap their dependence on the manufacturing industry of third world countries and China. From this ideal logic, the development of new energy vehicles can serve multiple purposes for countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

Noticeably, unlike in China, the “electric vehicles” or “new energy vehicles” mentioned in the supporting policies of the Anglo-American axis countries do not have any specific type (such as plug-in hybrid, pure electric, fuel cell vehicle, etc.). This is actually a wise decision in the design of public policy. The technology part is a technical issue, not a public policy issue. Separating public policy from technical issues not only distinguishes the functions of policy and market, but also effectively reduces the influence of interest groups.

About the author:

He Jun is an ANBOUND Partner, Director of China Macro-Economic Research Team and Senior Researcher. His research field covers China’s macro-economy, energy industry and public policy.

Titus Brandsma and the Challenges for Journalism in Troubled Times

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Titus Brandsma and the Challenges for Journalism in Troubled Times

A symposium Titus Brandsma: The Challenges for Journalism in Troubled Times will be organized in Rome by the International Association of Journalists Accredited to the Vatican (AIGAV) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Holy See on Tuesday 10 May 2022.

To participate virtually, please join the symposium by the following link:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86759182653

‘The Days Were Snowy But Warm’ by Korean artist Oh Myung Hee at the Venice Biennale 

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‘The Days Were Snowy But Warm’ by Korean artist Oh Myung Hee at the Venice Biennale 

On Thursday, 21 April 2022 at Palazzo Mora in Venice, Italy, Korean artist Oh Myung Hee opened her exhibition entitled ‘The Days Were Snowy But Warm’ in the framework of the Personal Structures larger exhibition hosted by the European Cultural Centre. It is curated by Tatiana Palinkasev and Éva McGaw.  


In this exhibition, Oh Myung Hee, explores the pivotal years when ‘traditional’ South Korea began transforming into a modern-day society. She mixes old Hwajo techniques with new materials and technology, applying it on a series of family photographs. The artist also creates video works for a black lacquered cabinet from Jeju Island, where she spent her summers as a child, bringing those memories forward to our time and space. Through her multimedia artistic expression and her female gaze with a historic distance, the artist mirrors the remarkable journey South Korea has undertaken to become one of the world’s most prosperous nations.

In her quest, Oh Myung Hee is particularly interested in the social changes that occurred amongst South Korean women in 1954. These were partly inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s morale boosting visit to the American troops stationed there, following the armistice in 1953. She juxtaposes the image of a traditional Korean wife in an unassuming, monochromatic dress, seated in a dignified position with scarcely clad, confident and free Monroe standing in front of 17,000 American soldiers on one side. On the other side instead, she put Hye-Seok Nah, the Korean pioneering feminist, writer and artist, elegantly dressed with a luxurious fur collar, l’enfant terrible of her times. Both women ended their lives tragically, Monroe taking her own and Hye Seok Nah in abject poverty.  

It was while remembering that performance in front of the American troops in Korea that Monroe recollected that ‘it was snowing but it felt warm, it felt like home’. 

 
Oh Myung Hee also contrasts the images of a large Korean family from her father-in-law’s photo album, with two ‘wives’ on each side, the “main wife (bon-cheo)” and the “second wife (cheop)”, seemingly content. There is a stark contrast in the narrative of these images of solitary women, traditional or not, standing alone and strong, with the image of the two groups of men, tightly squeezed together and uniformly dressed, emanating the strength of a group.

The series of works of art ‘The Days Were Snowy But Warm’ and ‘Nostalgia’ shown in this exhibition, also form a part of Oh Myung Hee’s artistic inquiry into the significance of individual and collective memory. Likewise, the birds in her works of art symbolize the yearning of her spirit for utmost freedom. 

A preview to the exhibition can be enjoyed digitally on Google Arts and Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-days-were-snowy-but-warm/fAVxlaHfTD_EEA  

The exhibition can be visited free of charge until Sunday, 27 November at Palazzo Mora in Venice, Italy.  

EUR 69 million tax scam involving illegal ‘cloning’ of Italian into Bulgarian companies

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EUR 69 million tax scam involving illegal ‘cloning’ of Italian into Bulgarian companies

Eurojust has supported the Italian and Bulgarian authorities to counter an elaborate tax scam of at least EUR 69 million. During an action day, 26 suspects were identified who had illegally changed or ‘cloned’ Italian into Bulgarian enterprises, to avoid paying tax. A hotel and other properties, as well as other assets with a total value of EUR 11 million, were seized. The operation was the result of a joint investigation team (JIT) between the two authorities concerned, which was set up with the assistance of Eurojust.

The perpetrators administratively changed the registration of enterprises in the tourism, construction and food distribution sectors from Italian into Bulgarian hands, without genuinely handing over ownership. Via this illegal method, they had been managing to dodge taxes in Italy since 2013.

The illegal activities mainly took place in the province of Benevento, but a total of 29 places were searched in this region, as well as in Avellino, Rome, Milan, Naples, Cosenza, and Varese, as well as Sofia and Plovdiv in Bulgaria. Furthermore, in Bulgaria bank accounts have been frozen and ownership of the companies used there for the scam has been suspended.

Apart from supporting and funding the JIT, the Agency facilitated the execution of European Investigation Orders  for the gathering of evidence, and organised coordination meetings to prepare for the actions.

The operation was carried out on the ground by:

  • Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office Benevento, Guardi di Finanza Benevento and Naples
  • Bulgaria: Specialised Public Prosecutor’s Office Sofia
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