Uzbekistan’s leading think tank delegation visits Europe to promulgate the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026.
After taking the oath of office at a joint session of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on 6 November 2021, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered an encouraging discourseon the directions of Uzbekistan development “Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 “
The think tank delegation visited Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and other places. Therefore the Uzbekistan Embassy, the Brussels Press Club and the Uzbek. Development Strategic Centre organized a presentation of the Priority Direction of the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan for 2022 – 2026.
Press Club Brussels Europe, Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026.
The presentation took place at the Press Club Brussels Europe, on 7th March 2022. On the program, a panel debate. Panellists were :
Dr Eldor Tulyakov, Executive Director of the Development Strategy Center, develop the theme “Developing a free civil society, making the principles of justice and the rule of law the condition for development in Uzbekistan.
The next panellist was Dr Umid Abidhadjaev, Director Institute of forecasting and Macroeconomic Research under the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty reduction of Uzbekistan. Dr Abidhadjaev hopes the private sector to unleash its creative energy in bringing about the New Uzbekistan.
H.E. Ambassador Dilyor Khakimov of Uzbekistan chaired the panel debate, which was followed by a question and answer session and a networking reception.
The New Uzbekistan Development Strategy for 2022-2026 document sets out the development plans for the next five years and the country’s long-term sustainability strategy. It has been utterly pleasurable listening to the two panellists who are on a European mission to personally present the prestigious 2022 -2026 Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan to Europe and the world.
The development strategy encompasses seven priorities and a hundred goals the Uzbek government aspires to achieve within five years. Furthermore, the government of Uzbekistan has been undertaking a cluster of developmental programmes to provide essential items to improve the lives of all of its citizens and not just for a selected few. Obod Qishloq (Prosperous Village) and Obod Mahalla (Prosperous Neighbourhood) Programs were adopted by presidential decrees in 2018. These two authentic elements will be an integral part of New Uzbekistan.
Acceleration of the processes of Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO is also among the priorities of the Development Strategy of Uzbekistan. In the meantime, the expansion of exports of finished products to European countries within the framework of the GSP + system will remain a priority.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s concluding remarks at his 6th November 2021 discourse were:Together with you, together with our people, we will undoubtedly reach high levels.
Face au fracas des armes, plus que jamais l’ambition de la Cour Internationale de Justice, siégeant à La Haye, d’établir la Paix par le Droit apparaît comme une impérieuse nécessité.
A cet égard la décision du Procureur de la Cour Pénale Internationale de se saisir dès le 28 Février 2022, des crimes commis lors de l’invasion de l’Ukraine fût une bonne nouvelle, de même que le renvoi, deux jours plus tard, de cette situation par 39 Etats, qui a permis au Procureur de commencer immédiatement ses enquêtes, sans avoir besoin d’attendre l’autorisation des Juges.
La procédure va cependant se heurter à un problème majeur: tout comme le précédent malheureux du Président Omar el Baschir qui continue à défier la CPI malgré sa mise en accusation et un mandat d’arrêt depuis des années, il est douteux que le Président Poutine soit arrêté demain et traduit devant la CPI.
Or le procès in absentia (par défaut) n’existe à ce jour, en Droit Pénal International que devant le Tribunal Spécial pour le Liban (avec, en cas de condamnation, la possibilité pour la personne jugée en son absence, de faire opposition à la décision et d’avoir alors un nouveau procès en sa présence, comme l’a rappelé la Chambre d’appel du TSL dans sa décision du 10 Mars 2022).
Et son corollaire, un Bureau de la défense, comme Organe indépendant dudit Tribunal, garant de l’équité du procès par défaut, (demandé expressément par la Russie lors de la création du TSL… !), n’existe pas encore devant la CPI malgré nos demandes récurrentes.
Si donc l’on veut juger un jour l’accusé Vladimir Poutine devant la CPI, il est impératif d’opérer lors de la prochaine Assemblée des Etats Parties, une modification du Règlement de Procédure et de Preuve pour inclure enfin ces deux précieuses nouveautés de procédure.
Ceci vaut bien entendu pour tout Tribunal ad hoc qui serait créé pour juger le crime d’agression de la Russie contre l’Ukraine, comme le demandent aujourd’hui d’éminents juristes.
Ainsi, de même que des Présidents africains ont pu être jugés, en leur présence, devant la Cour Pénale Internationale, assistés d’un avocat, le Président Poutine pourra l’être en son absence si personne ne parvient à l’arrêter.
Et le Chef du Bureau de la Défense commettra alors des avocats à sa défense puisque, comme l’a rappelé à maintes reprises M. Richard Golstone, premier Procureur des Tribunaux Pénaux Internationaux modernes, « il ne peut y avoir de Justice Pénale Internationale sans une défense forte ».
Oui Monsieur Poutine et ses proches, devront un jour répondre de leurs actes et des qualifications pénales que les enquêtes en cours détermineront.
Mais qu’ils soient présents, ou plus vraisemblablement absents, la Cour Pénale Internationale doit pouvoir les juger lors d’un procès équitable, lequel ne peut avoir lieu que dans les conditions ci-dessus.
Alors un avocat, « acteur de justice » comme le rappelle la Cour Européenne des Droits de l’homme, mettra sa robe, se lèvera, et défendra, car telle est sa mission. Et il le fera avec professionnalisme, avec éthique, avec l’humanité que Monsieur Poutine nie aujourd’hui à ses victimes.
Tel est l’honneur mais aussi la responsabilité de la Justice Pénale Internationale, que ne démentira certainement pas le Procureur actuel, qui fût un grand avocat, et défenseur lui-même d’un Président africain présent devant la CPI.
L’auteur:
François Roux
S. E. M. François Roux, Avocat Honoraire. Ancien Chef du Bureau de la défense au Tribunal Spécial pour le Liban (2009-2018).
Ancien avocat de Douch au Cambodge. Ancien avocat devant le Tribunal Pénal International pour le Rwanda.
Lt.-Gen. Mikhail Mayramovich Mindzaev (alternatively spelled as “Mindzayev“), appointed in 2005 as the Minister of Internal Affairs of the de facto South Ossetian administration until at least 31 October 2008;
Gamlet Guchmazov (alternatively spelled “Hamlet” and “Kuchmazov”), Head of the Preliminary Detention facility of the de facto Ministry of Internal Affairs of South Ossetia at the time of events; and
David Georgiyevich Sanakoev, de facto Presidential Representative for Human Rights of South Ossetia, also known as “Ombudsman” at the time of events.
Since the Pre-Trial Chamber authorised the opening of an investigation in the Situation in Georgia on 27 January 2016, my Office has examined evidence related to alleged crimes committed by all parties to the armed conflict between 1 July and 10 October 2008. In keeping with the Prosecution’s standards, the investigation was at all times carried out in an independent, impartial and objective manner, and solely informed and guided by its evidentiary findings and its obligations under the Rome Statute.
On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that these three individuals bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes committed in and around the territory of South Ossetia, Georgia, between 8 and 27 August 2008: Unlawful confinement – article 8(2)(a)(vii)-2; Torture – article 8(2)(a)(ii)-1; Inhuman treatment – article 8(2)(a)(ii)-2; Outrages upon personal dignity- article 8(2)(b)(xxi); Hostage taking – article 8(2)(a)(viii); and Unlawful transfer – article 8(2)(a)(vii)-1.
My application for these warrants of arrest focuses specifically on unlawful confinement, ill-treatment, hostage taking and subsequent unlawful transfer of ethnic Georgian civilians in the context of an occupation by the Russian Federation. The investigation also uncovered the alleged role of Vyacheslav Borisov, Major General in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces at the time of events, who is believed to have intentionally contributed to the execution of some of these crimes, and is now deceased.
At the time of the events, the majority of the Georgian civilian population living in South Ossetia fled to Undisputed Georgian Territory. Almost immediately after the Georgian armed forces were driven out of South Ossetia, Russian forces and – primarily – South Ossetian forces began capturing Georgian civilians, mostly the elderly and sick who were unable or unwilling to abandon their homes and flee the fighting. They were not given a valid reason for their capture and detention, nor were they afforded any kind of procedural right. The evidence shows that many of these people were unlawfully confined in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, insulted, beaten, tortured and humiliated.
My Office has made findings of similar patterns of conduct during its preliminary examination of the Situation in Ukraine. I remain profoundly concerned about ongoing allegations of international crimes occurring amidst active hostilities in Ukraine today.
I wish to underline my call to all parties to such conflicts that adherence to international humanitarian law is not optional. Those who carry weapons, those who participate in armed conflict, hold a heavy burden of responsibility to ensure their conduct complies with international law. If they fail to do so, my Office is empowered to hold them to account in accordance with the rule of law.
Should the Pre-Trial Chamber approve my application for these warrants of arrest, I will be working closely with the Registrar in all efforts to apprehend these three individuals. Going forward, I count on the support by all States, especially States Parties to the Rome Statute, to ensure they are brought to trial before the International Criminal Court.
30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kingdom of Belgium
On March 3, 2022 at the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Brussels, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kingdom of Belgium, was held the fashion show of national clothes of the Kyrgyz Fashion house «Baira».
On January 20, 1992 Belgium recognized the independence of Kyrgyzstan. On March 25, 1992 diplomatic relations were officially established between the countries. Over the 30 years of cooperation the parties have carried out a lot of significant bilateral visits and consultations at the highest levels, a certain level of development has been achieved, which the parties intend to further develop and strengthen.
Among the guests of the evening were members of the Belgian Parliament and the Foreign Ministry, representatives of the diplomatic corps of Brussels, European institutions and international organizations, media, think tanks, as well as compatriots and friends of the Embassy.
Invited Kyrgyz designer Tolgonai Kerimkulova is the founder of the «Bayra» fashion brand, known for its specific style, focused on creating clothes with the ethnic identity of the Kyrgyz nomads. The presented collection of the autumn-winter 2022-2023 season «Shyrdak» – authentic and at the same time relevant, was presented at the Milan Fashion Week – 2022. All outfits are 90% handmade, outerwear was created using the unique technique of carpet weaving of Kyrgyz nomads.
The show of national women’s clothing: from ethnic beldemchi and chapans to modern denim outfits, was held to Kyrgyz folk melodies and enthusiastic applause from European guests. The guests were especially interested in handmade felt products and a very actual accessory – masks with national ornaments.
During the event were presented the video materials on the tourism and investment potential of the Kyrgyz Republic, were held an exhibition-fair of national products and a buffet of national dishes.
Cultural diplomacy makes it possible to demonstrate not only the national character and culture of the country, but also to talk about the tourism and investment potential, to convey to the attention of a big audience the country’s position on topical issues of the regional and world agenda.
The Leonardo Royal Hotel Den Haag Promenade is represented by a variety of employees. Both new and more experienced colleagues work together as one team, to deliver great service and to depict the hotel’s values. In these monthly written pieces, there is a focus on the value: sincere. Who are the employees as an individual? Allow us to introduce you to Tessa.
Nationality: Dutch
Function: Front Office Agent
Department: Front Office
When did you start working at the Promenade Hotel?
Oddly, only in May 2021, but I already have many precious memories at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Den Haag Promenade. Also, I feel strongly connected with many of my colleagues and therefore barely realize I have only been working at the Promenade Hotel for less than a year.
What was your first impression of the Promenade Hotel?
We are encouraged to be ourselves.
The day of my interview, I got to introduced to employees (now colleagues), who made me feel like I was at home immediately. I particularly remember Houssain, Bas and Else who had such a positive vibe around them, that I could just feel all the nerves for the interview fade away. I believe this is one of the strengths of our team: being sincere.
As all of us are sincerely interested in other people and share the passion of ensuring our guests feel at ease and are comfortable.
What makes the Promenade Hotel suitable for welcoming people from all around the world?
At the Promenade Hotel our team consists of open-minded, genuine, honest, and international- oriented people. Many of us have been raised in another country or have been travelling for studies or personal development. Therefore, as a team, we are excited to welcome people from all around the world and are convinced all people are one, no matter where you are from.
Many of us have been raised in another country or have been travelling for studies or personal development.
What do you value most in the organization of diplomatic events at the Promenade Hotel?
What I value the most is how all departments work together. This is taken to the next level during the planning and execution of diplomatic events. We are able to do this through using various communication methods, but especially see the importance of talking to each other. This way, everybody can be and is aware of the events that will happen the upcoming week and are able to make sure that all our guests, including the diplomats, have a pleasant experience at our hotel.
What did you learn so far by working with diplomats? Some tips, rules or values to share?
I have not been working in the hotel industry for a long time, however, my mindset is that everybody is unique. I truly believe that working with stereotypes or assumptions about people’s origin in mind does not provide the same experience as when focusing on the unique characteristics/features of a person. Hence, one could say ‘interest’ and ‘empathy’ are worthful values to keep in mind.
Which Food Festival has been your favorite so far or would you like to experience?
During the last Food Festival, I was travelling, so I could not experience it myself this time. When I heard from my colleagues how amazing it was, I regretted I was not able to do this culinary ‘trip’ to Peru with them. Therefore, I would really like to experience the next one, the sooner the better. If I really have to be more specific: visiting new towns, cities, countries, is one of my passions and I have not yet been to Central and South-America. Accordingly, a Food Festival from one of these beautiful countries would be a pleasant first experience.
What local food(s), from abroad, have you tried already?
Despite eating healthy when I am spending my time at home in the Netherlands, I like to go all the way when travelling: from enjoying chimney cake & langos in Budapest, Spinakoptika in Athens, Pinchos in Madrid, Gnocchi di Zucca near San Marino to trying many traditional dishes (before I decided to eat vegetarian) like moussaka, tikka masala, Mexican burritos, töltött kaposzta and conejo en salmorejo.
What is your favorite drink or dish at LEO’s International Flavors?
Monkey 47 Gin Tonic. LEO’s has so many different tonics to choose from, making the Monkey 47 even more special.
What sustainable development goal do you value most? Why this one?
The goal I value most is ‘reduced inequalities’.
Currently inequality can be seen in so many issues that are encountered all over the world: poverty, gender differences, climate change, quality of education, oppression, human rights crises, and the lack of peace in various places on this planet. By reducing inequalities, I genuinely hope it is possible to overcome the problems that are currently threatening people all around the world. I hope to see the day that everyone can at least suffice in their mental and physical needs, but there is still a long way to go.
What piece of good advice did you receive, and from whom, that you would like to forward?
My parents have raised me from a view of religion, and I will always remember the golden rule they have taught me and by which I am trying to live my life: “wie goed doet, goed ontmoet (in English: all good things come to those who make them happen). Also, as I have conquered quite some battles in my personal life, I would like to remember all who are struggling mentally or physically (or both) to a quote of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2016): “We are meant to live in joy. This does not mean that life will be easy or painless. It means that we can turn our faces to the wind and accept that this is the storm that we must pass through,” (p. 220). And I can only add that what came after the storm was worth continuing for.
À l’UNESCO comme aux Nations Unies, les pays sont divisés en groupes électoraux régionaux, dans le but d’éviter des déséquilibres géographiques dans la répartition des sièges des différents organes de l’organisation tels que la Conférence générale, le Conseil exécutif, les comités ou les groupes de travail. Cette pratique permet de respecter le principe de représentation géographique équitable en accordant à chaque groupe un certain nombre de sièges.
Ainsi, les États membres de l’UNESCO sont répartis en 6 groupes électoraux régionaux :
Groupe I (États d’Europe occidentale et autres)
Groupe II (États d’Europe de l’Est)
Groupe III (États d’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes)
Groupe IV (États d’Asie et Pacifique)
Groupe V (a) (États d’Afrique)
Groupe V (b) (États arabes)
Le Groupe électoral I est composé des 25 Etats membres suivants : Allemagne, Andorre, Autriche, Belgique, Canada, Danemark, Espagne, Finlande, France, Irlande, Islande, Italie, Grèce, Luxembourg, Malte, Monaco, Norvège, Pays-Bas, Portugal, Saint-Marin, Suède, Suisse, Royaume-Uni, Turquie et Chypre.
En même temps, les États-Unis, Israël et le Saint-Siège font partie du Groupe I en tant qu’observateurs et sont États parties de quelques conventions.
La présidence du Groupe I dure un an et s’exerce de manière tournante entre les États membres du Groupe I. Dans le cas de l’Andorre, la présidence est exercée par l’Ambassadrice et Déléguée permanente de l’Andorre auprès de l’UNESCO, avec le soutien de l’équipe diplomate de l’Ambassade d’Andorre en France et Délégation permanente à l’UNESCO composée par Mme Laura Contreras, Deuxième secrétaire et Déléguée permanente adjointe, et par Mme Nahia Roche, Troisième secrétaire.
Cette présidence est un défi pour la petite équipe diplomate de Paris, car celle-ci n’a pas une vocation exclusive pour les thèmes de l’UNESCO, mais gère aussi les relations bilatérales avec la France et la Principauté de Monaco, participe aux travaux de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie et couvre les questions consulaires pour les ressortissants andorrans en France et de promotion et renseignement sur l’Andorre à Paris.
En ce qui concerne le fonctionnement du Groupe électoral I, celui-ci se réunit une fois par mois de manière ordinaire, mais la présidence peut aussi convoquer des sessions extraordinaires s’il y a des questions urgentes ou d’actualité qui l’exigent. La présidence prépare l’ordre du jour des réunions mensuelles, gère les questions liées aux élections des États membres du Groupe I dans les différents organes de l’UNESCO, se charge de coordonner et d’informer le Groupe I des travaux en cours aux différents comités ou groupes de travail pour mettre en œuvre les décisions prises dans le cadre de la 41e Conférence générale, et assume la communication entre le Secrétariat et les États membres.
Ainsi, lors de cette présidence, nous représentons le Groupe électoral I devant le Secrétariat de l’UNESCO et les autres groupes électoraux et, quand bien même notre fonction principale est celle de présider, nous assurons également le rôle de médiateur dans les négociations pour prendre certaines décisions et engagements.
La présidence du Groupe I est sans doute une nouvelle opportunité pour mon pays de montrer son engagement en faveur du multilatéralisme, et en l’occurrence envers l’UNESCO.
En effet, au cours des deux dernières décennies, la jeune diplomatie andorrane a montré en particulier son implication envers l’Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (OSCE), les Nations unies, le Conseil de l’Europe et la Conférence Ibéro-américaine en assumant des présidences tournantes ou volontaires.
Enfin, la présidence du Groupe I permettra de donner une plus grande visibilité à l’Andorre au sein de l’Organisation, auprès des États membres et du Secrétariat, cette année 2022, et de mettre en valeur la contribution et le travail des petits États dans les organisations internationales malgré leur petite dimension.
The National College of Arts, Lahore is one of the few places in the world where traditional miniature has been taught for long and a degree is awarded in miniature painting. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s few of the graduates started to experiment with ‘modernity’ and contemporary or neo-miniature evolved. Contemporary miniature from Pakistan is a powerful genre that has been recognized across the world. Imran Qureshi who graduated from NCA in 1993 is among the leading Pakistani artists who laid the foundation of contemporary miniature. He has received several national and global accolades.
Traditional miniature painting documented different facets of high life of royalties including in the Mughal South Asia. In time different princely states in the sub-continent further evolved the Mughal miniature into local styles like the Pahari school, which also started depicting everyday life scenes including sporting activities of the time. One of my favorite Pahari miniature which is in the collection of Lahore Museum is a portrait of a dapper lady playing with a red ball. It is a rare work because typically miniatures paintings show sporting activities like wrestling, hunting, chess or polo.
Lady wirh Red Ball collection Lahore Museum photo by author.
As the British consolidated their rule over subcontinent, the Company school of painting emerged which catered for the aesthetics of colonial rulers and was a mix of European and miniature painting. The British also introduced cricket to the subcontinent and it is today a game played and followed by most Pakistanis at home and abroad. In the Netherlands there are a few cricket clubs where Pakistani origin cricket enthusiasts play and practice. Only last year the Punjab Cricket Club of Rotterdam won a Dutch championship. The Dutch national cricket team has also done well and includes a number of Pakistani origin players. Pakistan is a world class producer of sporting goods to the world and exports around $ 200 Millions worth of sporting goods annually.
Photo Credit Islamabad United.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) was founded in 2015. It is a professional cricket league currently contested by 6 cricket teams of different Pakistani cities. PSL’s 2022 season was played in February. One of the PSL teams is Islamabad United (IU) owned by Ali Naqvi who along with Amna Tirmizi Naqvi has played an important role in promoting Pakistani arts through their AAN Art Space and Museum. With his long association with the art world, Naqvi thought of the opportunity to mainstream art using the most popular sport in Pakistan. Without being prescriptive considering the “gestural abstraction of Imran Qureshi,” he asked him to bridge art and cricket. Qureshi found the idea interesting and gave a life of its own to the project.
When Imran Qureshi told me about IQxIU (Imran Qureshi X Islamabad United) art project my mind immediately went to “Lady playing with a red ball” and that Pahari miniature of 1760’s attributed to famous miniature artists of his times Nainsukh seemed to me a contemporary work inspired by game of cricket.
Imran Qureshi with his work and Bono Photo credit Artist.
The common response for an art project would be for a visual artist to go to a cricket stadium and create a piece of art but Imran Qureshi with his ingenuity thought of bringing the cricketers to his studio in Lahore and engaged them in the process of creating art. There, he explained them his work and concept. He wanted the cricketers to understand the work and relate to it. This aroused interest of sportsmen in Qureshi’s work. Qureshi has in his oeuvre moved way beyond the traditional miniature practice. He is also known for his large-scale installations done in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Sharjah Biennale, London, Paris and elsewhere in the world.
Photo credit Usman Javed.
Despite the larger size works Qureshi still retains miniature’s discipline, finesse and aesthetics. Qureshi’s vast experience of large-scale installations became useful in the IQxIU art project. He conceived a miniature cricket stadium in his studio where he and the cricket players Asif Ali and Shadab Khan dipped the ball in paint and played cricket. Dipping cricket ball was a revisit of street cricket played in Pakistan. As children we have all played cricket in neighborhood streets or narrow alleys in houses and the ball at times ends up in a puddle and left splashes on clothes, street surface or the surrounding walls. A peculiar aspect of street cricket is the joy of tapping a tennis ball with red color tape to play cricket at home. Imran Qureshi’s studio created the same ambiance – the walls and canvas placed on different surfaces documented the movement of the ball and markings by the bat. Qureshi created his signature floral patterns within and around those marks in light blue color.
Imran Qureshi with his work and Christian Louboutin Photo credit unknown –
In terms of final products there is a big canvas diptych in blue; one capturing the balling marks and other documenting batting marks. There is a third smaller canvas in maroon and a number of cricket balls painted by Qureshi. The process has as Naqvi said resulted in “Qureshi’s work leaving the art centers of the world and entering cricket fields and TV screens in Pakistan.” The IU kits with Qureshi’s splashes are available across the country. Although aesthetically the splashes look odd and the kit’s color scheme is at variance with the light blue art work appearing like actual splashes, many a young children would wear them and have the opportunity to think or ask questions about the art and some may dream to follow creative professions.
Qureshi’s creative process was documented in a wonderfully done video by Qureshi’s equally talented brother Faisal Qureshi. It shows Qureshi dipping the ball and handing over to baller Asif Ali to ball to batsman Shadab Khan. The fast-moving ball sheds its layers like a snake sheds its layer. Each layer of the ball shows Qureshi’s signature materials like the gold, light blue, and finally the red cricket ball of Lady with the red ball emerges with light blue floral patterns of Qureshi.
Photo credit Usman Javaid
Ball sports have been part of painting in different countries. In the Netherlands Hendrick Avercamp’s (1585-1634) winter landscape paintings tell many stories and some of his characters indulge in skating and playing kolf – an early ice hockey and golf like game. Qureshi’s recent work, Nainsukh’s eighteenth century Lady with red ball or Avercamp’s seventeenth century ice scene displayed at the Maurithuis in The Hague show how artists centuries apart and from different cultural traditions bring us closer by depicting every day sporting activities.
About the author:
H.E. Mr. Suljuk Mustansar Tarar, Ambassador of Pakistan.
Suljuk Mustansar Tarar is Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Netherlands. He is also an art critic and his first book on Pakistani contemporary art All That Art was published last year. He can be followed on Twitter @suljuk & Instagram @suljuktarar
The Middle East strategy of China is gradually progressing. Recently, an official agreement between the governments of Iran and China brought the 25-year comprehensive cooperation treaty into effect, while Syria signed an understanding to join the Belt and Road Initiative. Massive trade and investment initiatives have helped China establish itself as a significant player in the Middle East.
Iran and Syria want to strengthen commercial and trade ties as the Syrian conflict fade. The end of the conflict in Syria represents the beginning of a new era of business connections between the two nations.
Syria and China signed a memorandum of understanding to join the Belt and Road Initiative. The “Five Seas Proposal”, which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad first mentioned in 2009, mirrored China’s current Silk Road project.
The Five Seas initiative connects the Mediterranean, Red, Persian, Caspian, and Black Seas, attempting to unify all nations in the area. With the notion of “Shamgen” articulated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was the Prime Minister at the time, but in the movement known as the Arab Spring, it was shelved.
The Belt and Road initiative, which includes Iran, is now being proposed for Syria. This action has various implications. Since Barack Obama, the USA has been working to finalize Middle Eastern agreements with China. However, China wants to incorporate the Middle East with Belt and Road initiative.
A branch of China’s Silk Road, Tehran, Baghdad continues down the Euphrates River via Al Bukemal, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, Aleppo, and Latakia. Thus, China may benefit from the land-accessible Latakia port as a major logistical hub. The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative strengthens the bonds of communication and cooperation between China and Iran, all the way to Syria. Damascus was a historic Silk Road station. The old inns are still standing. These inns are said to have utilized the first bills/checks.
The second branch from Tehran goes to Damascus, then Beirut. That’s why China sought money for the Beirut port following the great explosion. By negotiating with Lebanon for the Beirut port, China will have two ports opening to the Mediterranean, giving it a huge advantage.
As a consequence of the deal, Syria vowed that it would not make concessions to the West. Even after certain Arab nations re-established ties with Syria and France appointed ambassador, Syria continues to offend the West.
Russia and Iran are also unconcerned about Syria-China collaboration. Despite the potential of a favourable conclusion in the discussions over its nuclear activities, Iran is now doing as “the field needs” and establishing deals with China that will bind it for a quarter of a century and beyond. So, Russia, Syria, and Iran all meet in one area. Except for vetoes, China was quiet throughout the Syrian conflict. However, its worldwide rivalry with the USA may intensify, and the Syria move coincided with the “moment when counter-measures should be implemented.”
Russia has returned to the Middle East, and China will soon follow. After years of anticipation, Syria has finally joined the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Syria joined the initiative following a memorandum of understanding signed by the Syrian Planning and International Cooperation Authority head, Fadi Al-Khalil, and China’s ambassador in Damascus, Feng Biao, after official statements and mutual visits on the Beijing-Damascus line in recent years indicated Syria’s imminent accession to the BRI.
On the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that Syria may participate via infrastructure development. “China is a great nation that is attempting to enhance its influence in the globe, but not in a bad sense, but influence in the sense of depending on friends… as it depends on partnership and similar interests, instead of the hegemonic strategy followed by the West,” Al-Assad remarked at the time.
Assad went on “Syria is on the Silk Road, and China regards us as equals, not as a large nation with a minor. There are similar interests… a benefit for China, Syria, and other nations on this path… in the end, it benefits all nations. This implies greater global stability.”
The Syrian offer, which contained six Chinese projects aligned with the Belt and Road model, appears to have been well received in Beijing, which ultimately chose to include Damascus in its effort.
There are a number of projects that may be implemented as part of this initiative. These include rail links between Tartous and the Iraqi border, highways connecting the country’s south to its north, electricity generation, oil and gas exploration; as well as Chinese free zones in Syria.
Currently, the “leaning towards the east policy” is being followed; Damascus has announced this policy in response to what it perceives as the participation of the United States and Western countries in the war against Syria.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “leaning towards the east policy” aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s Belt and Road Initiative. Many compared the Chinese initiative to Syrian President’s “Five Seas” project, referring to the Mediterranean, Caspian, Black, Arabian Gulf and Red Seas.
China’s involvement in Syria has grown since 2018. In a statement released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Ambassador Qi Qianjin expressed his country’s desire to play a larger role in Syria’s economic, political, and military affairs. During a hospital visit in Damascus, the Chinese envoy remarked, “I believe it is time to focus on Syria’s growth and rebuilding. I think China will further up its support for the Syrian people and government.” Perhaps the recent $44 million in humanitarian aid to Syria bolster the Chinese ambassador’s claims.
In an August 2019 letter, the Chinese ambassador emphasized the development of Syrian railroads and ports; after promising $20 billion to Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Jordan for rehabilitation and economic growth.
The Belt and Road Initiative was announced by China in 2013 and intends to link nations across the globe with a network of roads, railroads, ports, oil pipelines, sea lanes, and telecommunications networks.
The initiative has two parts: the Silk Road Economic Belt, which aims to connect China with Europe through South Asia and Central Asia, and the Maritime Silk Road, which aims to connect China with Europe via Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The Syrian president recently declared that it has reached a formal deal with China to join the Belt and Road initiative. This initiative was initiated by China in 2013. It is a massive infrastructure project that intends to enhance China’s commercial linkages.
According to the deal inked between China and Syria, railways, international roads, power plants, and the expansion of Syrian ports would all be funded by China, with Syria paying a substantial portion of the expenditures over time.
The Chinese president vowed to contribute $20 billion in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon to restore infrastructure, with Syria’s part estimated at $9 billion.
However, China would not compete with Russia for the port of Tartus, but will strive to develop the port of Latakia via the same corporation that is already expanding the port of Tripoli in Lebanon.
Sino-Iranian agreement
“The comprehensive cooperation pact between Iran and China (25 years) has started the implementation phase,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
Abdullahian met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, where he is on a formal invitation, to discuss the current developments in bilateral ties and economic cooperation.
In addition to supporting Iran’s nuclear rights and easing the embargo, they discussed the current Vienna discussions on lifting the embargo.
Although the contents of this strategic agreement, which is a plan for long-term collaboration between the two nations, have not been released, a consensus was obtained. This agreement will include economic cooperation as a major component, which will need to be signed and executed in the form of separate agreements between the two nations.
In March 27, 2021, the two nations announced a “comprehensive strategic partnership” in a joint statement. According to paragraph 6 of the statement, all parties are prepared to discuss and develop a long-term cooperation pact. On April 27, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Wang Yi, the Iranian and Chinese foreign ministers, signed this treaty.
In recent years, the two nations’ trade volume has been about $20 billion. Since 1995, Iran exported about $9 billion to China and imported between $9 and $13 billion. China is a major provider of electrical, audio-visual, chemical and industrial goods to Iran. Iran, on the other hand, is one of China’s top oil suppliers, oil imports before the sanctions amounted for around 6% of overall imports. However, unofficial data shows that during the sanctions period, China was the largest buyer of Iranian oil.
The Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road are two trade routes proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. This initiative links China, Central Asia, Russia, and the Middle East to Europe. The Maritime Silk Road links China to Southeast Asia and Africa through the sea, and reaches over 60 Asian, European, and African nations.
The project will encompass 30% of global GDP and 35% of global commerce and has three key goals. The primary purpose is to free China from the naval blockade and depend entirely on the Straits of Malacca. More than 150 ships each day, predominantly Chinese and Japanese tankers, sail through the strait.
China will turn to be the world’s leading economic power by exporting technological and engineering products and services to other nations. Iran is a major supplier of energy, raw materials such as iron ore, and petrochemical crude products to China, making it a major priority in the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Minister of Economy declared that the 25-year deal between Iran and China is nearing completion. China announced $400 billion in Iran, with $280 billion going to the oil and gas sector and $120 billion to transportation.
Currently, the government has about 100,000 unfinished economic and development projects, which need a thousand billion tomans (1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Tomans) of credit to complete. In addition to continuing to purchase Iranian oil, the Chinese are helping to build big oil and gas reserves and modernize Iran’s refineries.
Most notable oil and gas projects where Chinese involvement is feasible are Phase 11 of South Pars, North Pars gas field development, Azadegan and Yadavaran oil field development and repair of ancient domestic refineries like as Abadan and Tehran refineries. The country’s other energy initiatives include developing sustainable energy and renovating aging power facilities. Promoting banking, financial and insurance cooperation, creating Iranian bank branches, and forming an Iran-China joint bank are feasible banking and financial collaboration.
Construction of railways in various parts of the country, electrification of railways such as the Tehran-Mashhad railway, development of metro networks in major Iranian cities, participation in the development of Makran beaches, development of Iranian ports such as Chabahar port, and completion of domestic and international highways and freeways in Iran are all part of the 25-year agreement.
In recent months, news of Chinese involvement in the form of industrialization of housing building for the National Housing Movement and the construction of four million housing units in four years. Other probable 25-year areas of collaboration include telecommunications, science-technology, education, health, and tourism.
About author:
Dr. Mohamad Zreik
Dr. Mohamad Zreik has PhD of International Relations, he is independent researcher, his area of research interest is related to Chinese Foreign Policy, Belt and Road Initiative, Middle Eastern Studies, China-Arab relations. Author has numerous studies published in high ranked journals and international newspapers.
Diplomats all over the world embrace, together with their families, a nomadic lifestyle which is neither easy nor comfortable for most. The stress of moving, the constant uncertainty about the near future and all that comes with it, are factors which strongly shape their personality and meanwhile make them more resilient and enterprising.
For Amel Derragui, having lived in eight countries only laid the groundwork for her strong and complex personality today and her successful business.
Originally from Algeria, born in India into a diplomatic family and becoming Austrian by marriage, Amel lived her whole life ‘on the move’.
After she studied in France and got her MBA in US, she worked in sales and then built most of her career in the advertising industry in France.
And then, as in a blockbuster love story, she found her love, while visiting her parents, who were posted in Iran at the time.
She remembers: ‘the first night they took me to a dinner invitation at the Turkish residence. There, I met a very nice gentleman… Six months later we were engaged. A year later, I quit my job, we got married and moved to Iran.’
As she is a very intelligent, determined and strong minded woman, she figured out right from the start that she was not going to be able to continue her former career, while moving constantly with her husband. So she started looking for an alternative, which was to start her own business, as a consultant in marketing and communications.
‘I am very passionate about topics related to innovative businesses and social entrepreneurship. In fact, I strongly believe that it is possible to make profits while solving problems and making our world a better place’, she says. ‘While doing that I have stumbled upon a few issues and challenges. The first one was the loneliness. I really struggled to find other entrepreneurs like me who had to build their businesses in a foreign country. I realized that although having a business was a great solution to my career challenges on the move, it was still a challenge if my business was not portable. I felt lonely in this journey because even the great mentors that tried to help me to grow as an entrepreneur were not able to guide me as they have built their successful businesses while living a pretty settled life, in one place’.
All the gained expertise and experience helped Amel find a different kind of business and she founded a beautiful community, Tandem Nomads.
She tells me proudly; ‘Once I got to learn how to make my business truly portable and discovered so many great tools and ways to do it, I really felt like I wanted to share that with other diplomatic and expat spouses. I saw so many smart women around me who felt completely desperate, sometimes depressed as they had lost confidence and their sense of identity. I saw so many couples separating and unhappy marriages due to the resentment these spouses had developed over the years, because they had to give up their own careers. Even sadder, I saw a lot of spouses stuck in a relationship where they were not happy, just because they could not be financially independent. So, I wanted to help and share the message that it was possible to create a business aligned with our lifestyle.’
She confesses that at first she wasn’t sure how to get her message heard by as many people as possible, but one day she discovered the world of podcasts and that’s how she came up with the idea to start one. In November 2015, she launched Tandem Nomads podcast, sharing weekly inspiration about how to build a sustainable portable career on the move, thanks to entrepreneurship.
Ever since then, her Tandem Nomads community has grown constantly and that’s what made her decide to focus on developing online courses and coaching services, reaching global entrepreneurs all over the world.
She loves her job and she confesses that ‘it has been an amazingly rewarding journey and a great path to self-growth and personal development. I really see how much I’ve grown as a person and as a human being. One thing that makes me very happy is every time I see a client who has reached a milestone and has grown, when I receive messages like “Oh my God, this feels amazing! I just moved to a completely new country and do all the things that this new transition requires, but there’s one thing that did not change and that is my business, which allows me to continue doing what I love without having to start again from scratch. It feels so liberating!” This is exactly why I started Tandem Nomads.’
She then sincerely continues: ‘I would have not been able to do all that without creating my own support system. My biggest supporter has always been my husband, who has been there every step of the way. As much as I love being the diplomatic spouse and supporting wife, I love that I can also count on him when I need help. My husband and I share our journey learning how to support each other in this podcast episode: www.tandemnoamds.com/193’.
She also recognizes that the diplomatic community offers a close network and support to settle in and still feel at home. ‘It’s just like a family, I meet diplomats that I don’t even know, yet it still feels familiar because we immediately know what it is to live this lifestyle and we are all also aware of the challenges. So, most people are often willing to support and encourage newcomers – this is something I really love. But I must also share one thing that I’ve struggled with, in the diplomatic community. It is when we actually all get together, especially spouses of diplomats, and the first thing we do is introduce ourselves through the position of our husbands. I might be too much of a feminist, but this is something that really bothers me. I feel that it’s a huge honor and privilege to represent our countries and also build bridges between different cultures. But for me, the position of my husband or the country that we represent is not the number one thing that defines me. When for example I lived in Iran, I was always introduced either as my father’s daughter or the spouse of my husband, but my own name was rarely mentioned in networking events or receptions. This is something that I really fought hard to change. Slowly, people started being interested in me as the person and not just the title. I really encourage everybody to make sure that they don’t just become a label of their position!’
You can sense from her words that she is a fighter, a determined woman who will not take ‘NO’ for an answer when it comes to things that really matter to her and to her expat community. She intends to help and support those in similar situations to hers, and also to lobby and advocate for their cause.
‘Another issue that I think we need to urgently tackle is the legal restrictions that prevent diplomatic spouses from working or having their business, in many countries. These legislations do not fit to our current world anymore. There is still a lot of work to do in this direction!’
Over the years, she spoke at various international organizations such as the IMF and Foreign Affairs Ministries of various countries, providing guidance on how to use entrepreneurship as a solution to dual career challenges and how to make a business truly portable. Her work on the topic of entrepreneurship and women empowerment has been featured in various media such as Forbes Magazine and Global Living Magazine.
She transformed her life-time motto, ‘turn your challenges into opportunities’ into a lifestyle and she now successfully teaches others how to do it.
