Vietnam & the Netherlands, celebrating the half-century of diplomatic relations

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Vietnam & the Netherlands, celebrating the half-century of diplomatic relations

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Interview with Ambassador Pham Viet Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Netherlands with Diplomat Magazine

In the framework of the visit of the Prime Minister of Vietnam to the Netherlands and in preparation for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973 – 2023) between the two countries, Diplomat Magazine interviews the Ambassador of Vietnam, H.E. Mr. Pham Viet Ahn.

1. Mr. Ambassador, could you tell us the purpose and message of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to the Netherlands?

On 6/12/2021, while the Covid-19 pandemic situation was still very tense in both countries, during a brief phone call, in addition to important content on anti-pandemic cooperation, Prime Minister Mark Rutte invited Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to pay an official visit to the Netherlands in the hope that the visit will broaden and deepen the already strong relations between the two countries. The Dutch Prime Minister made clear the purpose of this important visit.

The Covid-19 pandemic is a terrible and unprecedented thing in history that has weakened even the most powerful countries. This year, the world witnessed the chaos that unfolded in ways few could imagine. All these hasty events taught us that only peaceful and honest cooperation for the common goal of humanity can help us survive and develop.

I think this is also the message that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wants to bring to the Netherlands, especially before the New Year 2023, when the two countries celebrate the half-century of establishing diplomatic relations.

2. What is the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s focus during this visit?

The Netherlands and Vietnam have two strategic partnerships: “Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management” (since 2010) and “Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security” (since 2014). During the visit, the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid special attention to cooperation on climate change adaptation and energy transition. 

In addition, cooperation in the fields of science and technology, high-tech agriculture, semiconductor industry, digital transition, construction of smart seaports… are also content of interest to the Prime Minister. He also paid great attention to trade and investment cooperation.

Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher and the Ambassador of Vietnam, Mr. Pham Vietnam.

3. Over the past 50 years, what are the impressive marks in the Vietnam-Netherlands relationship?

I am impressed by the length of the 400-year history of relations between the two countries. I was also impressed by the Dutch protests against the American war of aggression in Vietnam, by the valuable help that the Dutch gave to the Vietnamese people during the war years and in the most difficult times. I was also impressed by the achievements that the Netherlands helped Vietnam overcome difficulties in the 1980s to become a rice exporter after long decades of food shortages.

Between the year 2000 and 2022, the relations of the two countries experienced a great leap forward. The number of high-level delegations from both countries has increased by 5 or even 6 times in the 1990s. As a result, cooperation in all fields of economy, science, education, culture, trade and investment has increased rapidly. Both strategic partnerships emerged during this period and the two countries agreed to upgrade relations to a comprehensive partnership during the Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s visit to Vietnam (April 4, 2019).

4. Mr. Ambassador, what areas of cooperation should Viet Nam promote in the coming time?

The two countries have a lot of potential for cooperation on a sharing basis in raising awareness of humanity’s common challenges for sustainable development. Among the urgent needs, I could mention the following areas:

– Cooperation on adaptation to climate change. The Netherlands sets very high climate targets and is determined to promote development cooperation, which motivates both countries to work together. Advanced Dutch technologies and initiatives can be tested and applied in Vietnam.

– Cooperation on energy transition. The Netherlands is working to develop renewable energy sources, green energy to replace fossil energy. Vietnam is also determined to develop solar, wind energy, even hydrogen.

– Cooperation in the development of semiconductor technology in Vietnam. This is a very important link for other industries, providing the brains of smart, modern machines and electronics that the whole world needs.

4. What do you think of the commercial cooperation between the two countries?

Trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has developed very strongly, partly thanks to the good policies of both governments, but the important part being the needs and efforts of businesses. 

Regarding trade, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has contributed significantly to creating positive changes in bilateral economic and trade cooperation. In 2022, the Netherlands is the Vietnam’s 2nd largest trading partner in the EU with bilateral trade turnover in the first 9 months of the year reaching nearly US$8.3 billion.

In terms of investment, the Netherlands is the EU’s largest investor in Vietnam with a total registered capital of about US$13.58 billion with nearly 400 projects, focused on the fields of processing industry, production, distribution of electricity, gas, water… The prospects for investment cooperation promise bright results when the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) is approved by EU members.

Dutch companies remain very dynamic, have been investing in Vietnam for decades and are very successful. Although Vietnamese companies have a very weak presence here, there have been very positive signs that Vietnam’s largest companies will bring Vietnamese products and establish offices in the Netherlands, such as Vinfast in automotive and FPT in software development.

I believe that businesses in both countries will benefit many times, contributing to the prosperity of both countries. In particular, I believe that cooperation with Dutch companies in the Netherlands is more than just a business. The Netherlands is proud of its entrepreneurs. In the 17th century, Dutch businessmen conquered markets around the world. Today, the growth of the Dutch economy is based on foreign trade. The experience of the Dutch businessman is therefore rich and respectable. This is the added value of this cooperation.

5. What do you think of the Vietnamese community in the Netherlands in promoting friendly relations between the two countries?

I am surprised at the capacity and accuracy of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). According to CBS, as of July 2021, the Vietnamese community numbered 24,594 people, of which the first generation numbered 14,910 people, the second generation 9,684 people. The Vietnamese community is well integrated and has stable jobs, respects the law and poses no obstacles to Dutch society. The Dutch Vietnamese are now contributing back to Vietnam. They want to be useful to both countries. In everyday life, they are the bridge of the Dutch and Vietnamese communities, they contribute to a better understanding of the Vietnamese people and Vietnamese culture among the Dutch.

The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms. Liesje Schreinemacher and Mr. Arjen IJff, creator of the official logo of ’NLVN50’ .

I would like to give you a special story which impressed me much. It’s about Mr. Arjen IJff, a Dutch designer who was born in Vinh Long province (Viet Nam) in January 1975. He was adopted at his 3 months old and brought to the Netherlands. He is now in the journey to find his blood parents who, in his feeling, are Vietnamese. Last month, he won the logo design competition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Dutch-Vietnamese diplomatic relations organized by the Dutch Embassy in Ha noi and Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. 

By all activities regarding the above-mentioned anniversary next year, I hope that he will have some clues to find his Vietnamese relatives. This story also reflects the friendship relations which promoted by a specific person.

Vietnam – Netherlands – new signals of comprehensive relation

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Vietnam – Netherlands – new signals of comprehensive relation

By Dr. Mayelinne De Lara

Close cooperation

Relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam have existed for more than 400 years, when the East India Company’s merchant fleet turned to East Asia, explored the market and sourced raw materials. At that time, Vietnam was not the promised land of Dutch trade and Vietnam was not what it is today. Then, after many historical events, Vietnam-Netherlands relations have become increasingly positive, especially in the past two decades, with visits by senior leaders of both countries. Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Máxima have visited Vietnam twice (2005 and 2011). In particular, Her Majesty Queen Máxima also visited Vietnam as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Mandate for the Promotion of Financial and Digital Inclusion.

The foundation of this good relationship is the need to complement each other and the ability to share common values, similarities of natural conditions as well as the challenges of nature itself. The implementation of the agreements of the “Strategic Partnership on Climate Change Adaptation – Water Management” (since 2010) and the “Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture – Food Security” (since 2014) occupies an important place in the cooperation between the two countries.

The Netherlands and Vietnam upgraded their relations to a comprehensive partnership in 2019 during Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s visit (4/2019). Since then, the two sides have cooperated extensively in many areas, from politics to diplomacy, economy, trade, investment… Within the EU framework, the Netherlands has developed an Indo-Pacific strategy, further affirming the guidelines for strengthening and deepening cooperation with Asian countries, such as Vietnam, for security and stability, sustainable development based on multilateralism and international law, and for the Millennium Development Goals.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher on 28 November 2022

Fruitful cooperation.

On trade, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has contributed significantly to creating positive changes in bilateral economic and trade cooperation, including during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Netherlands is still Vietnam’s 2nd largest trading partner in the EU with bilateral trade turnover in the first 9 months of the year reaching nearly €8.3 billion.

In terms of investment, the Netherlands is the EU’s largest partner for investing FDI in Vietnam with a total registered capital of about 13.58 billion euros with nearly 400 projects, focused on the fields of processing industry, production, distribution of electricity, gas, water… The prospects for investment cooperation promise bright results when the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement is approved by EU members.

In addition, the two countries cooperate closely in many other areas such as culture, education, promotion of the rule of law and human rights, crime prevention… Cooperation between organizations, companies, between cities and provinces such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Binh Duong, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven… is well appreciated, bringing positive effects to both sides, helping to improve understanding and shared prosperity of both countries.

The Netherlands and Vietnam also actively contribute to the promotion and development of the EU-ASEAN strategic partnership. The strengthening of relations between the two main prestigious regional organizations in Asia and Europe should be an important factor for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

In 2022, as soon as the Covid-19 epidemic recedes, cooperation between the two countries saw many new positive signals. At the end of November, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher and nearly 50 leading Dutch companies visited Vietnam. As the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries approaches next year 2023, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an official visit to the Netherlands in December. 

These visits will certainly open a new stage in the development of relations between the two countries. On this occasion, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will also visit several European countries and attend the EU-ASEAN Summit in Belgium.

Neutrality in the name of Peace and Prosperity

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Neutrality in the name of Peace and Prosperity

By Ambassador Sapar Palvanov

The key feature defining the role of Turkmenistan in the system of modern international relations is the doctrine of positive neutrality. Since gaining independence, the principle of neutrality in foreign policy has become the foundation of Turkmenistan’s political strategy.

The main characteristics of Turkmen neutrality are respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, non-interference in their internal affairs, refusal to use force in interstate relations, priority of UN decisions in international affairs, strengthening of good neighborliness and cooperation with all countries, etc.

As is known, on December 12, 1995, during the UN General Assembly session all 185 countries unanimously voted for the adoption of a special resolution on Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan.

Abadanchylyk

In February 2017, at the initiative of Turkmenistan, a new date emerged in the world political calendar – the International Day of Neutrality, celebrated on 12 December.

The Turkmen model of neutrality radically changes the ideas of neutrality that have existed up to now. Historically, obtaining a neutral status presupposes the existence of a historical context, expressed in military actions or other kind of international conflicts, the result of which is the neutrality of the State enshrined in the treaty of the parties concerned. In the case of Turkmenistan, we have, in fact, a unique phenomenon in the history of international relations.

Turkmen neutrality is recognized by origin, permanent in form and positive in content, which implies an active position in matters of maintaining peace and stability.

The neutral status of Turkmenistan affects such aspects of the country’s political life as foreign policy, economic, defense sectors, and ensuring state security.

The essence of Turkmen neutrality could be defined as follows: to be friends and maintain good relations with everyone equally, but not to be friends with anyone against anyone. Using the neutrality status, at the global level, Turkmenistan has managed to build equal partnership relations with the great powers and the main world actors – the United States, Russia, the European Union, China, and the countries of the Muslim world.

Turkmenistan’s status of neutrality, combined with a stable political system, determines the minimum level of foreign policy risks of the country’s partners, and, coupled with the richest resource potential, has predetermined a great interest in the country. Having huge reserves of natural gas, Turkmenistan strives to create favorable external conditions for equal and mutually beneficial relations in the economic sphere, and does not allow the politicization of these relations. At the same time, the neutrality strategy contributes to the diversification of natural gas supply routes to the world market.

As for the military-political aspect and characteristics of state security, the principled and unconditional refusal to participate in international military groupings and blocs allowed Turkmenistan not to be drawn into any form of regional rivalry.

Turkmenistan’s neutral status is not a self-exclusion from solving international problems and a way to isolate itself from the dangers and concerns of the outside world.

On the contrary, it is a strong position to actively influence the situation in the region and on the planet as a whole.

As a result, a Group of Friends of Neutrality for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development has been formed in the UN.

Given that preventive diplomacy is an integral part of neutrality, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia has been successfully functioning in Ashgabat for 15 years on the initiative of Turkmenistan.

It is noteworthy that Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality has clearly expressed regional focus. The country actively contributed to the unanimous adoption of the resolution declaring Central Asia a zone of peace, trust and cooperation at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in July this year.

The 27th anniversary of neutrality status is another very significant reason to look back at the neutral path of development, and draw conclusions based on insight gained from experience, enriching this status with national “flavor” and expanding its humanistic boundaries.

———–

Caption: A monument called “Abadanchylyk” (meaning: peace). This building symbolizes prosperity and peace reigning in the Turkmen land. The total height of the structure, consisting of five segments, is 47 m in height. It is crowned with a symbolic design in the form of a globe with images of five white doves with outstretched wings, and olive branches under them, as a symbol of unity and cohesion of all five velayats (regions) of the country.

Also in the background of the photo one can behold the building on top of which there is a large blue globe – the latter are the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. 

Şuşa, more than a city

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Şuşa, more than a city

By PD Dr. Michael Reinhard Heß, M. A.

On November 8, 2020, Azerbaijan´s armed forces liberated the city of Şuşa after more than twenty-eight years of foreign occupation. In doing so, they also implemented the UN Security Council´s resolutions, that had demanded “the withdrawal of all occupying forces” from Azerbaijan´s territory already in 1993. From a juridical point of view, Azerbaijan´s liberation of Şuşa is comparable to Ukraine´s liberation of the city of Kherson. Both were acts of national self-defense in the face of illegal foreign occupation.

Şuşa was of course not the only city that has been liberated since 2020. However, no other formerly or currently occupied Azerbaijani town equals its symbolic importance to the Azerbaijani people. This extraordinary attachment to Şuşa has much to do with history, and more particularly, cultural history.

Şuşa

It is impossible to summarize on two pages even the most salient achievements that numerous literati, composers, musicians, painters and other artists from Şuşa have contributed to Azerbaijan´s cultural heritage since the middle of the 18th century, when the town was founded by the Azerbaijani Panahali Khan, the first ruler of the Karabakh Khanate, in 1752. From the mid-18th century to 1822, Şuşa was the capital of the Karabakh Khanate. Üzeyir Hajibeyov (1885-1948), the creator of the first Western-style opera in the Islamic world, the poetess and patron Khurshidbanu Natevan (1832-1897), and the polymath Mir Möhsün Nevvab (1833-1918) all hail from it.

Of course, the origins of Azerbaijani culture lie much earlier than this period. However, what happened in Şuşa from the second half of the 18th century onward was much more than the organic transmission of Azerbaijani culture. At least in the case of Üzeyir Hajibeyov, in can be termed a veritable revolution.

Şuşa

This is a strong metaphor, but probably the best way to describe Hajbeyov´s merits. For it was him, the composer, music theorist, and writer inspired in and by Şuşa who gave the world an unprecedented, theoretically and methodologically sophisticated synthesis of classical Azerbaijani and Western music. However, Üzeyir Hajibeyov was not the only one to contribute to this process of integration. One may also name the playwright and author Abdurrahim Haqverdiyev (1870-1933) or Üzeyir Hajibeyov´s brother Jeyhun Bey Hajibeyov (1891-1962). All of them and others turned Şuşa into a site of world culture.

It is precisely the combination of these two phenomena – the transmission of Azerbaijan´s cultural heritage on one hand and an its advancement, transformation, and integration into global currents on the other hand – that have always given Şuşa a unique place in the hearts and minds of the Azerbaijanis. Even after Baku had eclipsed all other Azerbaijani cities, including Şuşa, as a cultural, economic and political center at the end of the 19 th century, and even throughout the Soviet era (1920-1991), Şuşa´s rank as a cradle of modern Azerbaijani civilization was never disputed.

It is crucial to stress that Şuşa´s special role in cultural history is not a mirage but made up of amply documented facts, although these facts are still not very well known. My book “Schuschas Vermächtnis” (“Şuşa´s heritage”), due to come out in English in early 2023, tries to help change this a little. In sum, what made Şuşa´s occupation so unbearable for Azerbaijanis were not only the loss of territory, population, the atrocities committed by the occupiers, the vandalism and damage. It was felt as if an indispensable part of Azerbaijan´s culture and identity was trying to be obfuscated. The staunch refusal of the Azerbaijani state, army and society, to give up even an inch of Şuşa´s ground must be understood against this backdrop.

For further information 

Şuşa city: http://shusha-ih.gov.az/az

Images by Etibar Jafarov

Cuba reinforces ties with Saxony-Anhalt

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Cuba reinforces ties with Saxony-Anhalt

Monday, 28 November 2022, Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt: Premier Dr. Reiner Haseloff received at the State Chancellery the Cuban Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Ms. Juana Martínez González, for her inaugural visit to the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. 

In addition to current developments, the participants in the bilateral talks exchanged views on cultural and economic topics and expressed the hope that bilateral relations between Cuba and Saxony-Anhalt would expand.

Exports from Saxony-Anhalt to Cuba amounted to a value of around EUR 1.6 million in 2021. Compared to the previous year 2020, this was an increase of around 99.5 %.

In the field of sport, too, there is already an established tradition with the regular participation of Cuban athletes in the international athletics event “Hallesche Werfertage”.

Various universities and faculties from Saxony-Anhalt maintain cooperation with Cuban institutions: these include the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Burg Giebichenstein University of Art Halle and Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences.

For further information 

Government of Saxony-Anhalt: https://europa.sachsen-anhalt.de/internationales/aktuelles-international/antrittsbesuch-der-botschafterin-von-kuba-in-der-staatskanzlei

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in the Federal Republic of Germany: https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/es/articulo/promueve-embajada-de-cuba-vinculos-con-el-estado-de-sajonia-anhalt

Maiden trip of Ambassador Yanagi to Bremen

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Maiden trip of Ambassador Yanagi to Bremen

Thurday, 2 December 2022, Monday, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany: The Ambassador of Japan, Hidenao Yanagi, was welcomed by Mayor Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte at the City Hall for his inaugural visit to the City-State of Bremen. Yanagi was accompanied by the Consul General of Japan in Hamburg, Kikuko Kato – who is responsible for Bremen- and the Deputy Consul General of Japan in Hamburg, Masaya Okamoto.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Ambassador signed the in the Upper Hall. This was followed by an exchange of ideas in the Güldenkammer.

The domestic and foreign policies of Germany and Japan were intensively discussed. Yanagi and Bovenschulte also exchanged views on the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine, the situation in the Indo-Pacific and on the Korean peninsula, and the role of China. Further appointments took the Ambassador to the Bremen Assembly and the Bremen Chamber of Commerce – IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven.

For further information 

Bremen Senate: https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/pressemitteilungen/japans-botschafter-zum-antrittsbesuch-im-rathaus-411982?asl=bremen02.c.732.de

Embassy of Japan in Germany: https://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_de/index.html

Consulate General of Japan in Hamburg -covering Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein (Consul General Kato Kikuko): https://www.hamburg.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00286.html

Kick-off of first Bavarian-Dutch field lab: ‘Machinery of the Future’

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Kick-off of first Bavarian-Dutch field lab: ‘Machinery of the Future’

Friday, 2 December 2022, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: Premier Dr. Markus Söder, gave the starting signal for the Bavarian-Dutch Fieldlab located at the Cleantech Innovation Park in Hallstadt for the joint development of future technologies.

“Transformation processes require new thinking and new answers. With the Cleantech Innovation Park, we are finding an answer to climate and economic change. With the Bavarian-Dutch Fieldlab, we are networking processes and ideas. The Free State of Bavaria is funding the Cleantech Park with 20 million euros. Research, innovation and inventiveness are key to the future viability of a country. It is a great honour to open the Fieldlab today together with His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau“, said Premier Dr. Markus Söder, MdL as per press statement.

With a merely the push on a virtual button, Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau, Special Envoy of the Dutch organisation Techleapnl, together with Premier Dr. Markus Söder launched the platform www.future-machinery.eu

As part of the fieldlab project, a (physical) machine will be built in the Bavarian side of the fieldlab at Cleantech Innovation Park, jointly by the participating partners from The Netherlands and Germany. A full digital twin of the same machine will be installed at the Dutch Brainport Industries Campus in Eindhoven. The intensive collaboration is planned for a period of 2 to 3 years.

Besides the Dutch Consulate General of the Netherlands in Munich, the Provincie North Brabant is involved, as well as several institutes, such as the Bayern Innovativ GmbH companies and universities from Bavaria and the Netherlands. 

For further information 

Royal Dutch Embassy in Germany (HE Ambassador Ronald van Roeden) : https://www.sieunddieniederlande.nl/ihr-land-und-die-niederlande/deutschland/ueber-uns/niederlandische-botschaft-berlin-wer-sind-wir

Dutch Consulate General in Munich (Consul General Annelies Faro – responsbile for Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg): https://www.sieunddieniederlande.nl/ihr-land-und-die-niederlande/deutschland/ueber-uns/generalkonsulat-munchen-wer-sind-wir/leitung-generalkonsulat

President Mattarella’s visit to the Netherlands

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President Mattarella’s visit to the Netherlands

By Domenico Letizia

Italy and the Netherlands can contribute to reinforcing the values of democracy, peace and human rights by strengthening their bilateral relations. From the 8th to the 11th of November 2022, the President of the Italian Republic, H.E. Sergio Mattarella, accompanied by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Antonio Tajani, paid a State visit to the Netherlands.

On day one, the President Mattarella was welcomed by H.M. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and H.M. Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.

Subsequently, the Head of State met with H.E. Mr. Giorgio Novello, Ambassador of Italy to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy’s personnel and representatives of local Italian organizations.

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, with His Majesty King Willem Alexander review the deployed units, on the occasion of the state visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (photo by Francesco Ammendola – Press and Communication Office of the Presidency of the Republic).

On November 10th President Mattarella, presented flowers at the Herdenkings Monument, followed by a visit to the Palace of General States, a fruitful meeting with the President of the Senate, Jan Anthoine Bruijn, and with the Vice President of the House of Representatives, Roelien Kamminga, and to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, at the Institutional Complex of Binnenhof, followed by a visit to Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam.

On November 11th, on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Treaty on the European Union, President Mattarella gave a speech at the House of Government, strengthen the relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and European partners.

Originally published by L’Opinione delle Liberta.

Dariusz Pawłoś handed credentials to German Federal President

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Dariusz Pawłoś handed credentials to German Federal President

Tuesday, 22 November 2022, Berlin, Bellevue Palace, Germany: German Federal President Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier received the letters of credence from Polish top envoy Dariusz Pawłoś.

Pawłoś holds a degree in German studies, and had been the Managing Director of the German-Polish Youth Office since 15 March 2022. From 2021 to 2022, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland in the capacity as Deputy Director of the Public and Cultural Diplomacy Department. 

From 2017 to 2021, he was the Spokesman of the Polish Embassy in Berlin as well as Head of the Communication and Public Diplomacy Unit. Before that, he worked for the Foundation for Polish-German Reconciliation for more than 20 years, which he headed as Chairman of the Board from 2008 to 2017. In the 1990s, he was a German teacher at the LXXIII High School in Warsaw.

For further information 

Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Germany: https://www.gov.pl/web/deutschland/dariusz-pawlos-ist-neuer-auerordentlicher-und-bevollmchtigter-botschafter-der-republik-polen-in-der-brd

Leonardo Faces – Mattia Rivillito

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Leonardo Faces – Mattia Rivillito

The Leonardo Royal Hotel Den Haag Promenade is represented by both new and more experienced employees working together with passion as one team, to deliver great service and to depict the hotel’s values.

In these monthly written pieces, there is a focus on their values and their approach to our international clients. Who are the employees as an individual? Allow us to introduce you to Mattia Rivillito.

  • Nationality: Italian
  • Function: Food & Beverage Supervisor
  • Department: Food & Beverage

When did you start working at the Promenade Hotel?

I started working for the Promenade Hotel per February 10, 2022. After four months, I got promoted to F&B Supervisor.

What was your first impression of the Promenade Hotel?

My first impression when I walked into the Promenade Hotel was absolutely positive. I experienced the warm atmosphere as similar to coming home.

What makes the Promenade Hotel suitable for welcoming people from all around the world?

It makes it suitable for guest all around the world because we host international events, such as Food festivals. Furthermore, Leo’s International Flavors, the new concept for our restaurant as well as the team are very international, which also creates a welcoming atmosphere for international guests.

What do you value most in the organization of diplomatic events at the Promenade Hotel?

What I value the most is to see how all departments work together, which is an added value. Additionally, working with all the diplomats together also makes it a great way to learn new cultures and traditions.

What did you learn so far by working with diplomats? Some tips, rules or values to share?

What I especially learned by working with different diplomats is; treat every guest equally and with respect. Especially if you work with a lot of diplomats you get to know what you expect and what they want.

Which Food Festival has been your favorite so far or would you like to experience?

The Ecuadorian Food Festivals was one of my favorites. I would love to see an Italian Food Festival with all popular dishes from my country!

What local food(s), from abroad, have you tried already?

I have tried many different cuisines and food in my life. I am a fan of the North Europe cuisine especially Norway and Sweden.

What is your favorite drink or dish at LEO’s International Flavors?

My favorite drink from Leo’s is the Coconut Espresso Martini. One of our new cocktails made with coconut milk, coffee liquor, espresso and vodka.

What sustainable development goal do you value most? Why this one?

Decent Work and Economic Growth: It’s important for everybody to have a decent work and a good work place, including young people and persons with disabilities.

What piece of good advice did you receive, and from whom, that you would like to forward?

One piece of advice that I follow for myself is to enjoy life every day. Believe in yourself, always. If you really want something you can do it.  

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