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On 19 July 2024, the International Criminal Court hosted online the sixth Asia Pacific Forum of The Hague. The webinar featured the President of the Court, judge Tomoko Akane , ICC judges Keebong Paek and Erdenebalsuren Damdin, ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan and other ICC representatives and Counsels from the Asia-Pacific region to promote awareness of the Court in the Asia Pacific region.
The event featured a High-Level Dialogue with the ICC Judges and Deputy Prosecutor on the theme âJustice Across Borders: The Role of the ICC in the Asia-Pacificâ, a Panel Discussion on âInside the Courtroom: Advancing International Justice Through Diverse Roles of Partiesâ, followed by an information session by the Courtâs Human Resources on Career Opportunities âWorking for International Justiceâ.
President Tomoko Akane emphasized the significance of platforms like the Asia Pacific Forum and stated, âDiversity in personnel is crucial to strengthening the ICC as an institution and enhancing its credibility. Since the law we apply reflects major legal systems worldwide, blending common law and civil law traditions, it is overwhelming to have lawyers from diverse legal backgrounds working together at the Court.â
During the high-level dialogue, Judge Keebong Paek discussed recent developments at the Court, including an introduction to the Court’s structure, the main roles of each organ and offices, key pending cases, and other updates.
Judge Erdenebalsuren Damdin shared his personal experience as a lawyer from a developing country joining the ICC. He highlighted that the diversity and inclusion of judges, lawyers, and legal professionals from various backgrounds ensure that different cultures and legal systems enrich the deliberative process. This promotes a deeper understanding of the global context in which crimes occur.
Finally, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan reflected on the Pacific region’s contributions and discussed various policy developments addressing the Asia-Pacific. She provided insights into why better engagement with the region is crucial for the Office of the Prosecutor’s work and for strengthening the Rome Statute through domestic laws.
The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most underrepresented regions at the ICC. The Asia Pacific Forum started in 2018, aiming to facilitate an open dialogue about the Asia Pacific region’s engagement with and contribution to international criminal justice.
This event forms part of a broader effort to enhance global understanding and support for the Rome Statute and the Court and to promote cooperation at the regional level. These include the organization of or participation in high-level regional cooperation seminars and symposiums, technical events and workshops aimed at Government leaders and officials, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, academics and civil society representatives. The International Criminal Court expresses its appreciation to the European Union for the funding provided for the organization of this webinar.
Today, 19 July 2024, Jilin university won the final round of the 2024 Edition of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition, Chinese version, held in ICC Courtroom I in The Hague (Netherlands). On the judge’s bench for this competition were ICC Judge Chang-ho Chung, presiding, and ICC legal officers Michaela Wagner and Ja Yon Kim.
Sichuan University and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics won, respectively, second and third places. The award for the Best Speaker went to Lan Qiyu of the Jilin university.
Members of the winning team are Yu Runtian, Chen Qi, Chen Hongyu, Wang Siyu, Zhang Yufan, Wei Xiaoxu, Lan Qiyu and Geng Siwen. The teams competed on a fictitious case, presenting oral arguments in the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Defense and the Legal Representatives of the Victims.
In the context of its Academic Program, the ICC supports the organization of ICC Moot Court Competitions in Chinese, English, French and Spanish, with a view to also support an Arabic version in the future. These initiatives play a critical role in galvanizing interest in the Court’s work with academic communities as well as in enhancing promotion and respect for international criminal law.
The ICJ has released its advisory opinion, requested in December 2022 by the United Nations General Assembly, today, Friday, July 19, 2024.
Deliberations among ICJ judges began on February 27, 2024, following the conclusion of hearings at the Peace Palace in The Hague the previous day.
In its advisory opinion, the ICJ has concluded in a very strong way that Israel’s prolonged occupation since 1967 is illegal and that it must be immediately suspended.
In addition, the ICJ is of the opinion that all new colonization activity must be suspended and that Israel has an obligation to make reparation and compensation to all natural or moral persons who have suffered the effects of its prolonged occupation and colonization of the Palestinian territory.
The ICJ is also of the opinion that Israel must evacuate without further ado the Israeli settlers located in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
La CIJ ha dado a conocer su opiniĂłn consultiva, solicitada en diciembre del 2022 por la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, hoy viernes 19 de julio del 2024.
Las deliberaciones entre los jueces de la CIJ iniciaron el 27 de febrero del 2024, al concluirse el dĂa anterior las audiencias en el Peace Palace de La Haya.
La Corte Internacional de Justicia ha emitido una opiniĂłn consultiva declarando que la ocupaciĂłn israelĂ de territorios palestinos desde 1967 es ilegal y debe cesar de inmediato. La CIJ tambiĂ©n sostiene que Israel debe detener todas las actividades de colonizaciĂłn y compensar a las vĂctimas de su ocupaciĂłn. Los Estados miembros de la ONU tienen la obligaciĂłn de no reconocer la ocupaciĂłn ni asistir a Israel en su mantenimiento. Solo una jueza disintiĂł de esta opiniĂłn.
La opiniĂłn consultiva en breve
En su opiniĂłn consultiva, la CIJ concluyĂł que la ocupaciĂłn de Israel de territorios Palestinos desde 1967 es ilegal y que debe ser inmediatamente suspendida.
Adicionalmente, la CIJ es de la opiniĂłn que toda nueva actividad de colonizaciĂłn debe ser suspendida y que Israel tiene la obligaciĂłn de reparar e indemnizar a todas las personas fĂsicas o morales que hayan sufrido los efectos de su prolongada ocupaciĂłn y colonizaciĂłn en el territorio palestino. La CIJ opina ademĂĄs, que Israel debe evacuar sin mĂĄs preludios a los colonos israelĂes situados en el territorio palestino ocupado.
Para la CIJ, los demĂĄs Estados miembros de Naciones Unidas tienen la obligaciĂłn de no reconocer efectos legales a la situaciĂłn ilegal que deriva de la ocupaciĂłn ilegal del territorio palestino ocupado, como tampoco prestar asistencia alguna a Israel para mantenerla.
La Corte Internacional de Justicia ha emitido una opiniĂłn consultiva declarando que la ocupaciĂłn israelĂ de territorios palestinos desde 1967 es ilegal y debe cesar de inmediato. La CIJ tambiĂ©n sostiene que Israel debe detener todas las actividades de colonizaciĂłn y compensar a las vĂctimas de su ocupaciĂłn. Los Estados miembros de la ONU tienen la obligaciĂłn de no reconocer la ocupaciĂłn ni asistir a Israel en su mantenimiento. Solo una jueza disintiĂł de esta opiniĂłn.
The 15th edition of the Thailand Grand Festival returned with great fanfare on 13 July 2024, gracing the prestigious Lange Voorhout in The Hague. Organized by H.E. Mr. Asi Mamanee, the Ambassador of Thailand to the Netherlands, the festival saw an impressive attendance of over 10,000 visitors, including the Honorable Mr. Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague as Guest of Honour.
After a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the festival made a triumphant return, coinciding with the celebration of the 420th anniversary of Thailand-Netherlands diplomatic relations. “This year, the festival is a part of the celebration of 420th Anniversary of Thailand – the Netherlands Diplomatic Relations,” expressed H.E. Mr. Asi Mamanee during his opening speech. He highlighted the deep-rooted and dynamic relationship between the two kingdoms, which have maintained strong and cordial bonds over the centuries, sharing values and aspirations for sustainable development.
The festival showcased a rich selection of Thailand’s cultural heritage and modern innovations. Highlights included a demonstration of Muay Thai martial arts, followed by a unique performance by the renowned Dutch Biggles Big Band, which fused traditional Thai songs with a festive jazz style. The event also featured Sak Yant, a world-famous tattoo style from Thailand, known for its intricate designs and mystical powers.
In addition to the cultural performances, the festival offered a variety of experiences for attendees. Special cocktails themed around Thai-Dutch relations were a hit, alongside the ever-popular Thai cuisine, represented by numerous food stalls. Visitors also enjoyed stalls selling traditional clothing, art, and spices, providing a holistic Thai cultural experience. Beautiful Thai dances, performed by artists with roots in both Thailand and the Netherlands, captivated the audience.
H.E. Mr. Asi Mamanee extended his deep gratitude to the sponsors, supporters, local performers, and musical artists who contributed to the festival’s success. He also thanked the companies and vendors participating in the event and expressed his appreciation to the City of The Hague for being a gracious host.
Mayor Jan van Zanen, attending as the Guest of Honour, was recognized for his dedicated service to the people of The Hague and his efforts in making the city a safe place. His presence underscored the strong local support for the festival and the enduring friendship between Thailand and the Netherlands.
The Thailand Grand Festival 2024 celebrated a memorable milestone and provided a great platform for cultural exchange.
Today, July 17, 2024, is the Day of International Criminal Justice, which marks the 26th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Rome Statute is the first international treaty of its kind, establishing the International Criminal Court, and aiming to end impunity for perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. 124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute.
ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane remarked on this occasion: “On the Day of International Criminal Justice, it is important that we remember why the ICC was created and how essential it is that the Court be allowed to carry out its mandate fully, without external pressures Through our work, we fight impunity for the most grievous crimes, and with every case we adjudicate, we take a step closer towards building a more just world. strengthening the rule of law at the international level.”
ICC Prosecutor Karim AA Khan KC stated: âThe mission of my Office and the Court is to vindicate the promise of international humanitarian law that all lives have equal value, and that all those subjected to violations have the right to justice. The progress made in the past years is significant, yet our work is far from complete. My Office is committed to working with all of our partners to deliver more effectively on our mandate and make the protection of the Rome Statute a tangible reality for all.”
ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler remarked: âOn the Day of International Criminal Justice, we both mark the steps taken towards developing a more just world, free from impunity for these most egregious crimes, as well as critically reaffirm the need for revitalization of this common commitment to safeguard and protect the independent and impartial mandate of the International Criminal Court and its work in service of justice and victims.â
To mark the day, the ICC President and First-Vice President Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala will participate in several meetings and events at the United Nations headquarters in New York, including the opening of an ICC exhibition ” Common Bonds ” and a high-level panel discussion hosted by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. These and other activities marking 17 July seek to strengthen support for and deepen public understanding of the Court, its mandate and processes, and the Rome Statute system as a whole.
En un paso importante contra el crimen organizado, Eurojust ha firmado este mes de julio, acuerdos de trabajo con las fiscalĂas de Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador y PerĂș con la finalidad de luchar contra la delincuencia a escala mundial. Los nuevos acuerdos harĂĄn mĂĄs eficaz la cooperaciĂłn estratĂ©gica entre las autoridades de estos paĂses y Eurojust. Los fiscales generales de Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador y PerĂș ademĂĄs de PanamĂĄ, que ya tiene un acuerdo de trabajo con Eurojust, asistieron a la firma de estos acuerdos.
El 68% de las redes delictivas mĂĄs amenazadoras operan a escala mundial, y el 36% de ellas se dedican al trĂĄfico de drogas, segĂșn un informe de Europol. Estas redes blanquean el producto de sus actividades a escala mundial, y el 32% de ellas lo hace tanto en la UniĂłn Europea como en el resto del mundo.
Para desmantelar estas redes es esencial la cooperaciĂłn internacional. Eurojust apoya a las autoridades nacionales de la UE para que colaboren con otros paĂses. Los acuerdos de trabajo con Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador y PerĂș reforzarĂĄn la cooperaciĂłn en la lucha contra la delincuencia organizada y el terrorismo. Un acuerdo de trabajo similar con PanamĂĄ, firmado en enero de 2024, ya ha incrementado el uso de las herramientas de cooperaciĂłn judicial de Eurojust por parte de las autoridades panameñas.
La estrategia de la UE para hacer frente a la delincuencia organizada destaca la importancia de la cooperaciĂłn de Eurojust mĂĄs allĂĄ de la UniĂłn Europea para desarticular las redes delictivas y las rutas de transporte mundiales.
En la firma de los acuerdos de trabajo, el Comisario Europeo de Justicia, Didier Reynders, declarĂł: âHoy abrimos un nuevo capĂtulo en la cooperaciĂłn entre la UE y seis socios estratĂ©gicos en este ĂĄmbito. BasĂĄndonos en nuestros valores compartidos y en nuestros intereses estratĂ©gicos comunes, podemos dotar a las autoridades judiciales de los instrumentos necesarios para salvaguardar los derechos de nuestros ciudadanos, permitiendo al mismo tiempo una cooperaciĂłn eficaz âsobre el terrenoâ. Considero la conclusiĂłn de los acuerdos de trabajo con Eurojust como un hito en este proceso, y espero con interĂ©s avanzar en nuestro trabajo conjunto para construir una respuesta comĂșn a la delincuencia organizadaâ.
El Presidente de Eurojust, Ladislav Hamran, declarĂł: âEl trĂĄfico de drogas es la actividad delictiva mĂĄs lucrativa en la UE, ya que crea un mercado ilĂcito con unos ingresos anuales de al menos 31.000 millones de euros. Para mitigar y detener el enorme daño que causa a las sociedades y a las personas tanto en la UniĂłn Europea como en AmĂ©rica Latina, nuestra respuesta debe ser eficaz y basada en la colaboraciĂłn. Es esencial que los fiscales de Europa y AmĂ©rica Latina se unan y diseñen estrategias para una cooperaciĂłn mĂĄs estrecha, que nos permita no solo desarticular las redes delictivas, sino tambiĂ©n exigirles responsabilidades ante los tribunales. Es un honor para mĂ que Eurojust sirva de plataforma para construir esta arquitectura, y estoy deseando poner en prĂĄctica los acuerdos de trabajo que Eurojust estĂĄ firmando con las fiscalĂas de Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador y PerĂș tras el acuerdo de trabajo que firmamos con PanamĂĄ en enero de 2024â.
Los acuerdos de trabajo reforzarĂĄn la cooperaciĂłn en ĂĄmbitos delictivos que afectan tanto a la UE como a los paĂses latinoamericanos, como el trĂĄfico de drogas y armas, el blanqueo de capitales y la ciberdelincuencia. Es vital que las autoridades judiciales colaboren para combatir el creciente problema del narcotrĂĄfico, especialmente desmantelando las rutas de transporte que permiten la entrada de grandes cantidades de droga en la UE a travĂ©s de sus puertos. Con el apoyo de Eurojust, en 2023 se incautaron drogas por valor de 25.600 millones de euros, mĂĄs del doble que en 2022.
Para reforzar la respuesta judicial conjunta a la delincuencia organizada, los fiscales se han comprometido a aplicar los acuerdos de trabajo con el apoyo crucial de EL PACCTO 2.0, el programa de cooperación de la UE destinado a reforzar la asociación UE-ALC en los åmbitos de la justicia y la seguridad para luchar contra la delincuencia organizada transnacional. Los acuerdos de trabajo reflejan el compromiso de ambas regiones de hacer frente a los retos que plantean las redes delictivas que operan a través de las fronteras.
Los fiscales generales también trabajarån para la celebración de acuerdos internacionales con Eurojust, lo que representa el siguiente paso en el proceso de cooperación.
By Roy Lie Atjam
On the occasion of the 62nd Independence Day of the Republic of Burundi, H.E Ambassador Isabelle Ndahayo, hosted a reception at her residence on 6th July 2024. Despite the rain, the festivities went on as planned, commencing with a drumming session in the front court, continuing in the residence, and ultimately moving to the spacious lawn of the second court.
The event was attended by various dignitaries including Ambassadors from France, Morocco, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and South Africa, as well as the Deputy DG of OPCW, the Secretary General of ICJ, and representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and business community.
The reception was enlivened by the renowned “Le group des tambourinaires, Burundi Heritage.” The national anthems of both Burundi (Burundi Bwacu) and the Netherlands were played during the event.
H.E. Ambassador Isabelle Ndahayo delivered a celebratory speech emphasizing Burundi’s openness for business and investments. Here is a resume of Ambassador Isabelle Ndahayo discourse:
âPraise be to Almighty God, who has allowed this gathering to celebrate Burundi Nation Day, in this beautiful Kingdom of the Netherland. Normally, Burundi independency day, is celebrated annually, on 1 st July, but our Diplomatic mission has chosen to celebrate it today.
Allow me, first of all, on behalf of Burundi Government and all Burundian people who live here, in this beautiful Kingdom of the Netherland, to thank each one of you, for having accepted our invitation and decided to take this time, besides your busy agenda, to join the Burundi Diplomatic Mission in the Netherland and Burundian Community living here, in celebration of our national day, I really thank you and welcome you in this place, feel at home.
Today, we are celebrating the 62 nd anniversary of our Independence, achieved on July 1 st , 1962. Itâs thanks to the efforts and patriotism of the Hero of Independency, Prince Louis Rwagasore, that the flag of Burundi was raised for the first-time, we had freedom and confidence to be a sovereign country. The Theme of this yearâs independence is âThe only guarantee of effective freedom, is financial independencyâ. Letâs be dynamic to build our country and I am 100% with the motto of our President of Republic of Burundi H.E. General Major Evariste Dayishimiye, that: âtogether all is possibleâ.
When we celebrate Independence Day, we donât do it for the sake of celebrating, but it is an excellent occasion to pay tribute to all the heroes who understood that independence is a sine quoi none condition for the sovereignty and development of the country.
The celebration is equally, an opportunity given to us, to remind every Burundian about where our country came from, starting from the colonial era to independence and up to now. Burundi has gone through many tragic periods, which would not make our Hero of Independence happy, if he could be around, thatâs why in some extend, Burundi is not at the level it was supposed to be now. I will not come back on this, because today, Burundi has decided to pursue its ancestorsâ inheritance, in strengthening its independence through economic development.
I am also glad to inform you that, this year coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Burundi and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Therefore, we cannot prevent ourselves from celebrating, because this cooperation has been very important to our countryâs peace and security. The Kingdom of the Netherland contributed to the achievement of Arusha peace agreements, which has significant contribution to current stability of Burundi, and many other projects have been undertaken in Burundi.
I acknowledge and appreciate the presence of Madame Martine van Hoogstraten, the Deputy Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Department, who is here to represent the Minister in charge of foreign affairs of the Netherlands. Her presence testifies the friendship and brotherhood between our countries and peoples. At the same time, we recognise the importance and the contribution of Heineken, a Dutch company, to our countryâs development. We really appreciate and thank Heineken for everything including its contribution to this cerebration.
On behalf of the people of Burundi and on my own behalf, I would like to express our gratitude to the King and the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I therefore, take this opportunity to assure you my readiness and engagement to any efforts that will be deployed by our countries to strengthen and widen our bilateral cooperation in various sectors, for the best interest of our peoples.
Yours excellencies, Distinguished guests, dear compatriots, friends of Burundi, ladies and gentlemen, Permit me to takes this opportunity to inform all of you that currently, Burundi is a safe place to be, because of its hospitality, its strategic environmental location in the heart of Africa, its climate and business opportunities which offers a virgin and wide market with very cheap labour among others. In addition, Burundi possesses an extremely rich subsoil in mineral resources, among these treasures of our country, there is nickel, gold, cobalt and oil. Burundi is a home of 3T minerals which means Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten, Burundi has also rare earths, crucial elements for modern technologies and renewable energies.
For these reasons, you can agree with me that Burundi is a country of milk and honey, a country of thousand and one mountains and opportunities. Foreign investors from all corners are therefore invited to come and explore all those opportunities waiting to be exploited. Tell them, In the heart of every Burundian, there is a sentiment of freedom, a prerequisite condition for democracy, justice, rule of law and so forth. All this made Burundi as one of the dynamic and stable country in the region.
In terms of economic development, the government of Burundi is seriously committed to fight against poverty and its effort to that effect is summarised in the vision of Burundi âBurundi an emerging country in 2040 and a developed country in 2060â.
In our region, Burundi is more interested to integrative projects in priority areas of common market such as energy, transport, infrastructure {road & railway}, the construction of the railway will allow Burundi to intensify the exploitation of nickel whose reserve are ranked among the top ten in the world.
Burundi participates and contributes in regional & international mission to maintain peace and security and the fight against terrorism, particularly in DRC, Somalia and Central Africa Republic. Burundi is happy to do so, because it is like a return of what international community did to us.
Unfortunately, even if Burundi is trying its bests to strengthen its independence for development, like any other country around the world, it is also facing global challenges.
Today, Climate change is a reality, Burundi is among affected countries in the world. This year the country, has suffered from the effect of El Nino, which caused inundations, internal displacement of people, loss of human lives, internal displacements of populations, destruction of crops in field, means of substances, houses and several socio-economic infrastructures. But the Government of Burundi together with its Partners intervened and is still mobilizing fund to deal with the issue.
To end this, allow me to thank all of you, once again, for having taken your time to join us in celebrating our national day and to listen to me. I wish you a very nice evening, use this time to enjoy Burundian cultural drummers and foods, tea and coffee which are served here and know much more about Burundi. You are most welcome. â
âThe only guarantee of effective freedom, is financial independencyâ.
To believers, may God bless you.
The reception concluded with a Burundian buffet, music, and an opportunity to dance to local tunes.
By Pietro Proglio
Recently, Acme Studios presented an exhibition titled “Dan Hallman: The Dutch Years” by Dan Hallman, a famed American-Argentinian photographer and artist. Mr. Hallman is the spouse of the Argentinian Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Mario OyarzĂĄbal. During his stay in the Netherlands, Mr. Hallman has been focused on creating a personal collection after leaving a twenty-year commercial and editorial photography career in New York.
The vernissage attracted a distinguished audience, including several ambassadors, diplomats, and prominent figures from the international community. Diplomat Magazine had the opportunity to interview Mr. Hallman. What follows is a transcript of the insightful conversation, in which he delves into the key themes of his work, the influence of his global experiences on his artistic journey, and the impact of Dutch culture on his creative process.
What are some key themes that you explore in your abstract photography and text-based artworks?
For the text-based work, each piece has a personal story or relation to someone I know, but the viewer brings their own interpretation of the text, which is what I prefer. Knowing my reasoning behind the text is sometimes interesting to people, but first, I want them to bring their own energy to the work. They are witty, some with hidden messages, thought-provoking, dark humor, and just plain funny, and the viewer should determine that for themselves.
Regarding my abstract photography, I am inspired by Abstract Expressionist and Minimalist artists. Each image challenges the viewer with an initial âIs this a painting, drawing, or photograph?â Aside from each having a personal meaning or memory to meâfacing the death of my mother, the joys (and difficulties) of living as an ex-pat, or finding beauty in everyday scenariosâthe viewer brings their own interpretation to the image. What I was doing, thinking, or which painter I am referencing is not of huge importance, but most people ask me the back story or âWhat is this,â and I am happy to answer.
Mr. Hallman, your husband’s diplomatic career has allowed you to travel the world and experience diverse cultures, namely the Dutch and Argentinian. How has this dynamic of constant change and the need to adapt influenced your artistic journey?
The constant change has given me different parts of the world to explore with my camera. It is different traveling on holiday and making my abstract photos vs. living somewhere and really exploring. For the text pieces, meeting new people from different cultures and listening to our conversations, I sometimes pull an idea from something someone has said or made me laugh/think. Usually, with a slight spin on the quote to make it my own.
Since relocating to the Netherlands following your husband’s appointment as Ambassador, you have described these years as highly inspirational and productive. How has Dutch culture shaped your creative process?
Culturally in the Netherlands, just being relaxed and welcomed by friendly Dutch people has been very inspiring and freeing. Having access to such amazing museums, galleries, and art fairs has been a huge joy. From the Rijks to Foam to Kunstmuseum to Art Rotterdam to UnseenâI am finding much inspiration from visiting various exhibitions. I can hop on my bike and go to my favorite museum, the Voorlinden, anytime I wish.
Has your art had any impact on your husband’s diplomatic work, or has your engagement in the arts opened new diplomatic opportunities?
I have helped Mario appreciate the arts more, which is an important factor for understanding a foreign culture and building bridges with different peoples and communities, which is, in the end, an important part of a diplomat’s work. It also gives him something different to discuss at dinners other than work!
I am part of a group called the Ambassadorsâ Spousesâ Association, and the spouses have been very supportive of my work, coming to a show I had in February and now this one, and visiting my studio at various times over the past four years. It is nice to have my âcolleaguesââ support.
About the author: Pietro Proglio is a World Politics student at Leiden University College.
