Thirty years of Croatian diplomacy
By H.E. Dr. Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.
In January 2021, Croatia celebrates the 30th anniversary of its international diplomatic recognition. The recognition came at the time of dire need and turned the tides in Croatia’s struggle to defend itself against the military campaign spearheaded by Serbia’s Slobodan Milošević that aimed also to subdue Slovenia and, later, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
While facing incredible challenges that threatened the very existence of the state, Croatian diplomatic service, had to be built from ground up and facilitate an international response to stop the unfolding tragedy. After achieving peace, Croatian diplomacy stayed on track and focused on building alliances with like-minded countries. Today, Croatia is a member of NATO and of the European Union, pivoting to extend the European area of peace, stability and prosperity to its neighbourhood.
The experience of carrying on regardless of how difficult the challenge resulted in a very swift and agile diplomatic service, capable of adapting and acting with determination in the harshest of circumstances, which proved exceptionally valuable during Croatia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world.
First steps – Legacy of a bold generation
Within the circumstances that came after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Communist regimes in Europe, and while facing a war for its very survival and independence, Croatian diplomacy showed relentless dedication to achieving peace and stability as the path that has no alternative.
Primary goal of, at that time, nascent Croatian diplomatic service was securing international recognition. Although Iceland and the Vatican were the first to recognise Croatia, it was the recognition of all 12 members of the then European Community on 15 January 1992 that started the tide. This act of political and moral courage was soon followed by others, each of them proving anew the pointlessness of war and laying the building blocks of the peace to come.
Croatian military successes in liberating its territory, supported by the remarkable diplomatic efforts, brought the horrors of war to an end. They also made possible the signing of the Dayton peace agreement, with which the war in the neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina ended in 1995. The last remaining part of Croatia was liberated in 1998 by diplomatic means alone, which to this day represents a case study in peaceful conflict resolution.
Teaming up with NATO and the EU
After peace was restored, Croatian foreign policy focused on building a lasting alliance with like-minded countries, more specifically by becoming a NATO and European Union member. This was not just a diplomatic but a country-wide effort through which Croatia looked to anchor itself in the civilizational project based on the common values of peace, democracy, rule of law, and human rights.
The road to NATO and EU membership also required a rethink on how our diplomatic service operates, as it needed to be larger and ready for the more prolific role it would take with the membership. It took Croatia nine years to become a NATO member, and during those years, Croatian defence forces made significant contributions to international peace missions and operations, of which we are exceptionally proud.
Remarkable diplomatic work needed to be invested into achieving our next strategic goal. Eight years ago, Croatia joined the European Union, and in January 2020 we were the youngest member state to preside over the Council of the European Union. Our presidency coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted all forms of “normal” life. Adequate response to the pandemic, especially at its beginning when the uncertainties were greatest, necessitated thinking out of the box. In these circumstances, our diplomatic service, its adaptability and resourcefulness, came forward and we managed not only to overcome the logistic obstacles for continued communication and coordination under our Presidency by transforming into the EU’s first “digital presidency”, but also to reshape and restructure our own priorities.
The safety of European citizens and the pandemic response became our focus. At the same time, we did not want to lose from sight our pre-pandemic priorities of European perspective of our neighbouring countries. Croatia is unwavering in its belief in the European future and the EU perspective for our neighbours and we are very proud to have facilitated removing the deadlock from the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia during our Presidency.
Looking ahead
The pandemic has certainly been a dominant disruptive force in our lives, but other stressors, like global economic instability, increasing uncertainty, regional divisions and environmental catastrophes alert us to be more aware, to give greater attention to the role of multilateralism and cooperation.
Stress in the global economy, together with the sense of a growing socio-political frustration in the world, including the threats of armed conflicts, demand us to be attentive and to engage in dialogue on innovative ways to strengthen our multilateral connections and ensure a much needed predictability of a level playing field.
Croatia, as a tourist-oriented and ecologically well-preserved country, is especially mindful of the fragility of our environment. Extreme climate conditions and other effects of the global warming are a persistent reminder of the urgency, not only of the need for a green transition, but of the importance of improving the way our societies and economies engage with the environment. Certainly, diplomacy will take on a greater role in this field as well.
Croatian diplomacy, through its lessons from the past, the tremendous work it has done in building alliances and securing regional stability, testifies that perseverance, belief in one’s abilities and joint work based on trust are the foundation to achieving even the most difficult goals. Let’s make it so.
Population and pollution and urbanisation
By Dr J Scott Younger.
This article looks at the population growth with time and how this has impacted on man’s endeavours. The population numbers grew slowly but steadily from many centuries before the 1960s, when it took a sudden acceleration from 3 billion over the next 50 years to today’s level of over 8+ billion. The reason is twofold; people living longer, due to advances in medical science, as well as having more children. It is expected to rise further to approximately 10.5 billion by mid-century and slowly decline thereafter to be about 9 billion by the turn of the century.
An interesting example in population growth comes from Indonesia where the population doubled in the 30 years from 100 million in 1970 to 200 million in 2000, and the average age of the population was dramatically raised from 40 to 70 years. Along with sensible government handling of the basics, food, water and education, looking after the physical and mental well-being of the people, the economy not surprisingly grew in parallel. The World Bank congratulated the country on the way the economy was being handled in 1989.
The notable increase in population along with the change in the age mix, i. e. the ratio of those elderly to those younger has changed, and ratio will vary in location and in ethnicity. Against this trend, however, it is notable that the indigenous population of highly developed countries, such as Japan, have been in decline for some time. In addition, these factors will be affected by the relative wealth or poverty of individuals and nations, and on which continent they are situated and by which climate they are affected.
The Years Ahead
Today the younger generation, except those in poverty, are the drivers of new inventions, building on what has gone before wherever and whoever they are. They are stimulated and see the opportunities. These youngsters, from a very young age, accept, as a matter of fact, miniature computers which have the power to process in a fraction of the time, what a new mainframe of 60 years ago could do, taking up a large room. At the age of 3, youngsters can today play simple computer games. Computerisation was just appearing at university courses in the early 1960s. I know because I was there! And today, we can reach for the stars, literally.
But at the other end of the scale, we still have very large numbers in poverty, approximately I billion, for a variety of reasons – fighting, war, corruption, changing climate, lack of opportunity, incompetent government, and so on – and this is a blight on us all. We have the knowledge and tools to provide the opportunity for people to be lifted out of poverty and most people in poverty respond well given the chance and encouragement. What we now call Sustainable (Humanitarian) Development should take place.
A dedicated example of this has been undertaken for 22 years for 17,000 people in northeast Bali, Indonesia living in a number of villages. At the start, among the villagers there was 85% illiteracy, the infant mortality was well over standard levels and life expectancy was well below the national average. There was too much dependence on cassava, which led to goitres; the diet was well below international norms.
The first thing that had to be done was to address the health problems, for which there needed to be greatly improved road access and easier access to clean water. The initial funding was largely by David Booth MBE, the founder, and the project is and has been entirely privately financed. The location was considered too remote to prioritise by government. It was acknowledged that education was paramount and the first school was started in 2000 with not much more than a floor and the first children given paper and pencils. The eagerness on their faces was a joy to behold. For adults they did not need much persuasion to make simple concrete roads and erect big rainwater tanks to store water. The communities were all involved in preparing the soil for agricultural beds and growing vegetables; the edges of the beds stabilised in difficult mountainous terrain by fast-growing deep-rooted vetiver grass.
After some 13 years of steady development work, the project had 4 schools with classrooms, desks and support appurtenances, libraries, teachers, key simple road links had been built, water was either on tap or no more than an hour away, people were healthier and the first stages of a basic sanitation system was underway. This for an expenditure of US$ 450,000 – private sector. The first school leavers after 20 years had graduated from the local university[2].
This is a single simple example, although involves many interrelated, sometimes complex, disciplines with understanding and we need to duplicate, with dedicated people, something similar but only about thousands of times! It is time to raise the profile of Sustainable Development to a higher level as the UN has recognised.
One can see that there are many and complex issues to raise in answer to the question as to why things develop the way they do. It is thought that the increased inequality is the main reason for the issue but it is a fact that poorer people tend to have more children and thus the divide increases, until the total population numbers level out. We are gradually approaching that position but we need to plan that we have a quite different distribution of population and some of the locations are different from those of 60 years ago. This also affects the expanding urbanisation issue which looks very different than it did 30 years ago in terms of how structures should be built to take account of new or adaptable available energy sources and insulation, for example.
Pollution
Another factor of concern is pollution which will increase to an unsustainable level unless it is tackled vigorously from now on. This is of growing concern or should be. We have not taken adequate care of waste which has been augmenting at an alarming rate as population increased.
An example is taken from England (not the other parts of UK which are not so densely populated) which is a sophisticated developed country. There has come to light that many, if not all, of the main rivers are heavily polluted by overflow from sewage plants, which suggests that these have no longer have adequate capacity and need to be reviewed or upgraded, or totally new plants built. In addition, there is a dangerous level of agricultural pesticides in stormwater run-off, which is more difficult to tackle and, thirdly, there is an unacceptable level of plastics. Altogether, this has gradually been emerging; an all-embracing environment report is eagerly awaited There has to be an all-round master plan that cleans up groundwater, as the situation cannot continue or we risk poisoning ourselves and, heaven forbid, another pandemic. Where possible, more attention has to be paid to recyclable or reusable water before discharging, which is perfectly possible in the case of sewage works.
The other big pollutant that has been gathering attention is non-biodegradable plastics in the sea, probably because they are increasingly washed up on beaches across the world, sometimes travelling thousands of miles from the source. Occasionally, members of concerned communities act as beachcombers to clean up nearby beaches and they have to be applauded for their awareness. But the problem of plastic waste in the sea has to be measured in the billions of tonnes to take in the oceans which cover 70% of the world’s surface and the millions of sea-going journeys and the waste from these, often due to lack of care, that has occurred over the past many decades. Some scientists have been studying sea creatures and are coming up with alarming damaging facts which cannot be ignored. For instance, plastics which are ingested and get into the food chain.
A principal health hazard concerns the quality of air we breathe, particularly in big city environments because of fossil fuel vehicles. This is particularly bad in several parts of Asia with many cities of the Indian sub-continent and China being badly affected. Delhi is often quoted, because of polluting vehicles, but also it is badly affected being downstream from the prevailing wind which carries the smoke from land-clearing and burning of undergrowth, crop stubble, in preparation of the following year’s harvest. Indonesia has a similar problem in mid-year when the ground is prepared by burning the residue from last year’s palm oil crop and the smoke is carried on the prevailing anti-monsoon wind to Singapore and Malaysia
All these and other polluting issues are as important as those to do with climate change. What’s more there are solutions to hand to deal with all of them; in some cases, e.g. clean air, the climate is also being tackled. It is important that this is addressed right away.
Urbanisation in the years ahead
In 2011, Jakarta hosted the World Delta Summit, in which I was quite involved. It was realised that by mid – century 70% of the then population would be urban, some 6 billion people. In comparison, at the time of the Summit the world urban population was less than 3 billion. It meant that about 3 billion people would have to be accommodated in many places, usually at lower levels, which could be subject to sea level rise with climate change, wherever this takes place, which is one of the factors which concerns civil /environmental engineers.
This is a major topic beyond the scope of this article, which could, however, be said for most of the topics covered. Architects and planners are going to have to think about climate and how (renewable) energy can be used more efficiently for buildings more than they had to in the past, depending on region. A study[3] of the main materials used in construction – concrete steel, timber – indicated that timber was the only material that could be affected by a changing climate in any significant way. Since it is being looked at increasingly for construction the temperature has to be factored into design, The next 30 + years should see an increasing amount of building whatever the material used and techniques and systems that provide quick and economic answers will be favoured. There is a backlog of buildings to be erected across the world.
Final comments
The above has highlighted a number of issues that are viewed as very important today and in the years ahead, partly as a result of significantly increased population in a short time span. In most of the cases we have the knowledge and tools now to deal with them and, for the others; it is a question of studying them with knowledge, which can increasingly be brought to the fore by the younger generations.
It does not mean that they should not watch out for the world’s climate. They should, but that still contains many scientific factors that are as yet unknown, albeit that allows other complex lines of study. After all it is their future, but don’t forget our fellow human beings looking for a way out of poverty.
This article has been published by IFIMES
About the author:
Dr J Scott Younger, OBE, is a professional civil engineer; he spent 42 years in the Far East undertaking assignments in 10 countries for WB, ADB, UNDP. He published many papers; he was a columnist for Forbes Indonesia and Globe Asia. He served on British & European Chamber boards and was a Vice Chair of Int’l Business Chamber for 17 years. His expertise is infrastructure and sustainable development and he takes an interest in international affairs. He is an International Chancellor of the President University, Indonesia. He is a member of IFIMES Advisory Board. Lived and worked in Thailand from 1978 to 1983 and visited Burma, Bangladesh and Nepal for projects.
I Colori per la Pace, a commitment to peace
In 2015 Antonio Gianelli, President of the association, founded the initiative I Colori per la Pace in Sant’Anna di Stazzema, Tuscany, Italy, with the sole purpose to develop a harmonious preparatory project for Peace for children all over the world. In 2021 the association counted more than 138 countries and participating territories, 18 representations and 3 subsidiaries.
“In four years, we have had thousands of children interact with us, and in many cases with each other, through their drawings. Drawing, for our target audience of 3-11 years old, is the best way to express. To date children of 135 nations representing 5 continents have joined the Primary and Pre-primary school’s initiative.” Explained Myriam Kruisheer Ortega, the organization’s envoy for the Netherlands and Suriname.
The collected drawings were exhibited on August 12 during the commemoration of the massacre on 12 August 1944 in the Peace National Park of Sant’Anna di Stazzema. A selection of works was then sent to exhibitions in Italy, Russia, Japan, Romania, Moldova, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Nepal, Israel, France, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico Albania, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Italy, among many other countries.
“We attended the G7 in Lucca with the installation in the of the “Wall of Peace” made of children’s drawings. On that occasion, the participants of the summit met in the Ademollo room where the drawings were exhibited. Our presence at the G7 allowed us to be invited to the EEAS-SEAE by the High Representative of the European Union, Mrs. Federica Mogherini, on the occasion of Europe Day.
In Italy we presented our project at the Expo in Milan at the Museum of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, in the headquarters of the Tuscan Regional Council, in the Colosseum in Rome, in the Salone dei Cinquecento of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, in Bitonto in Puglia, in Longobucco in Calabria, in Forte dei Marmi and in numerous locations in the Province of Lucca. In 2017 we received the patronage of the Tuscan Regional Council and the Tuscan Student Parliament. In 2019 we received the High Patronage of the European Parliament.”
A multidisciplinary artist, Myriam Kruisheer Ortega’s natural enthusiasm reflex her vast experience, she has lived in many countries like Mexico, the Netherlands, UAE, India, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Greece, to name a few. Traveling extensively to China, South-Africa, Lebanon, most of Europe, Tajikistan and other countries. She joined Colors for Peace Association in May 2018 in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah where she was living that time.
“Previously I was involved in setting up the representation of Mexico, Nepal, at present The Netherlands and The Republic of Suriname.
I worked with the Dutch and international communities at Emirati schools in the United Arab Emirates . I also had the honor to represent Nepal and Mexico at the international exhibition for Colors for Peace in Tirana Albania and at the Coliseum of Rome during the International Peace Day.” Said Myriam proudly.
A hymn written by Myriam Kruisheer for I Color for Peace has been launched as the official song of the association, the music for the anthem is created by the well known Russian composer, Valida Akopian and interpreted by the International tenor Rafael Jorge Negrete from the Mexican Negrete Dynasty.
I Colori per la Pace Association, is a nonprofit organization that promotes children’s art internationally to reduce social and economic distances between rich and poor countries. Colors for Peace commits to transform the “children of today” in “the adult of tomorrow”, to become a conscientious bearer of peace, rejecting any logic of war or division of people.
In pursuing its goals Colors for Peace is faithful to the following values.
- Equality
- Respect for the neighbour
- Solidarity
- Justice
Cities around us
By Alexandra Paucescu
To all of us, living the diplomatic life along with our families, every country of residence will leave a permanent mark on us. Every city we called home for a while will be forever in our hearts and memory.
To Adriana Méndez Murguía, all these cities were also inspiration for her latest author collection of paintings, called ‘Cities around us’. Your heart will for sure exalt seeing at least one of them.
Since she left her hometown, Mexico City, she lived with her diplomat husband in eight countries around the world and, as she tells me, all the countries where she has lived are close to her heart. She says: ‘I adopt every country as my own. I love its culture, food and people. Every time I leave a country, I feel I leave a part of my heart, too. It is always painful to say goodbye to what you had there: your home, your friends, your memories, your daily life… but I can honestly say that Spain feels closer to my heart, since my daughter decided to spend her college years there. Spain and Mexico are very similar in many ways, so I feel Spain is like home. I love its culture, history, food, and its warm and friendly people.’
This beautiful lady, with dark sparkling eyes and a big, warm smile studied Architecture in Mexico and completed several professional projects home and abroad. As she started moving along with her family, she later took undergraduate courses in abstract painting at the Corcoran Institute of Art and Art History at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C, monotype lessons in Mexico City and engraving in Madrid, at the Jose Rincón atelier. While in Portugal, she learned tile painting in Washington DC she learned the technique of stained glass. Art has always been a passion and an integral part of her life. So, it is only natural that she gradually developed and perfected her artistic nature and talent.
She tells me candidly: ‘I have always loved painting in all techniques, as watercolor, acrylics and oil and I have made several exhibitions over the past years. I consider it a way of life and a profession, as a visual artist. My present exhibition is a dream come true. I feel much honored to have been invited to show my art. ‘Cities around Us’ is my tenth exhibition, after a few others in Mexico, Bulgaria and Spain.’
Her nomadic life offered the perfect ground for her art, which was certainly enriched by all the traveling. Getting to know deep down countries like Portugal, the United States of America, Spain, Norway, Chile, Peru, Turkey or Thailand, with their different religions and culture, inspired her to create beauty and to express her feelings through art.
She confesses that she gladly embraced the diplomatic life and her position now, as wife of an ambassador, by acknowledging her role into the diplomatic puzzle and trying to make the best out of it.
‘We all represent our countries. We organize events, entertain people, prepare lectures, have cultural activities, do charity work and support our spouses in many ways. Many times, we put aside our own personal interests and activities. I feel that being a diplomatic spouse is an important and complex job, which should be recognized and much more appreciated.
Representing Mexico, talking about its art, rich culture and gastronomy, inviting people to discover more about my beautiful country is something that I really embrace and I am proud of’.
But, above all her work and activities, she says that being a mother and raising her daughter in this complex world is her most important profession in life. No mother could argue against that…
While she thinks that being in a host country demands diplomatic skills and a flawless behavior at all times, she also says that life is to be lived to the fullest.
She tries to make the best of every moment. And then she paints it all in bright colors. Her paintings are like an invitation to discover the world, to discover the cities around us.
About the author:
Alexandra Paucescu- Author of “Just a Diplomatic Spouse” Romanian, management graduate with a Master in business, cultural diplomacy and international relations studies.
She speaks Romanian, English, French, German and Italian, gives lectures on intercultural communication and is an active NGO volunteer.
A conversation with the H.E. Mr. Nikola Selaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
Diplomat Magazine had the pleasure to engage in a conversation with H.E. Mr. Nikola Selaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia. In this conversation, the Minister provided his insights on the bilateral relations between Serbia and the Netherlands, as well as with the European Union more at large. He also explained his government’s stance regarding the ongoing dialogue with Pristina on the Kosovo issue, as well as Serbia’s relation with other international players and bodies, including the Eurasian Economic Union, China, Russia, and the United States.
Your Excellency, could you give us your take on the current state of the bilateral ties between your country and the Netherlands?
Serbia attaches great importance to its bilateral relations with the Netherlands, both within the framework of political dialogue and in the area of economic cooperation. We wish to further deepen and intensify our high-level political dialogue, which was reinvigorated with the visit of the then Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok to Belgrade in November 2019. My visit to The Hague, the first one in the last 14 years, should serve as a demonstration of our readiness to engage in an open discussion with our Dutch partners on all issues of common interest.
Another important tool of our bilateral political relations are regular political consultations between the two ministries of foreign affairs. The first political consultations were held in January this year and they were marked by an active discussion between the two sides about numerous bilateral, regional, and global issues. We hope to continue this newly established format and hold political consultations with the Dutch Foreign Ministry at least once a year.
On the economic front, companies from the Netherlands are among the major foreign investors in Serbia. The trade between our two countries has increased 10 per cent in the course of this year alone, despite the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. Continued presence of Ahold-Delhaize corporation, Heinken, KLM and many other companies clearly shows not only that Serbia is a desirable investment destination, but that our country also provides favorable and stable legal, economic, and legislative conditions for foreign investors. We further look to expand our economic cooperation in the field of agriculture, given that the Netherlands is the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world. Furthermore, we are interested in the transfer of know-how in the area of digital agriculture, which is in line with our domestic priority to modernize our agricultural production.
We believe that there are many areas in which Serbia and the Netherlands can successfully work together. Our two nations have a 122-year-old history of diplomatic relations and there is also space for strengthening cultural, educational, and people to people contacts. Almost 20,000 Serbs live, work or study in the Netherlands and it is of great importance for them to see strong bonds existing between the two countries.
Going beyond the Netherlands, what is the current state of Serbia’s ties with the European Union more at large?
Serbia is a candidate country for EU membership and the European integration is a strategic priority for our government. Over last twelve months, Serbia has intensified reforms in all areas focusing on the reforms in the area of the rule of law. While the reform agenda is among key criteria for the EU membership, we have done it because we are convinced that reforms are beneficial to all our citizens and have a positive impact on their overall quality of life. And this is not only the matter of our need to make our own society more functional and economically advanced, but it also has to do with the fact that Serbia belongs to the European family geographically as well as in civilizational terms and according to its values. We hope that the Netherlands will recognize and acknowledge such a position and that it will objectively consider the efforts that Serbia is making and the results it is achieving on its path to full EU membership.
We are pleased that, in its 2021 Progress Report on Serbia, the European Commission recognized our reform efforts and recommended to the EU member states further steps in our accession process. In our assessment, this year’s report is the most positive report on Serbia in the last few years. We are therefore hopeful that the member states will agree with the European Commission and decide on opening further negotiating clusters with Serbia in line with the revised methodology for accession negotiations. On our part, we are fully prepared to open clusters 3 and 4, which include important areas such as energy, green agenda, social policy, and tax policy.
Serbia will in the meantime maintain its commitment to the reform agenda. The most recent example of our credibility is the process of constitutional changes aimed at ensuring independence of judiciary, which is to be completed by mid-February 2022.
Your Excellency, could you provide us some insights on your government’s stance in relation to dialogue with the authorities in Pristina?
Belgrade remains fully committed to dialogue with Pristina with an aim of reaching a compromise solution acceptable for both sides. Regrettably, during this year we have witnessed a complete lack of willingness by Pristina to either fulfill its obligations from the Brussels agreement of 2013 or to contribute to any progress in the dialogue. Whilst Serbia has fulfilled all its obligations from the Brussels agreement – related to police, judiciary, elections, to name a few – Pristina has been continuously refusing for more than eight years to even discuss the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities, which is their major obligation from the agreement. Moreover, the representatives of Pristina openly claim that what their predecessors signed is not binding for them, that is, that they do not intend to fulfill their obligations. In this way, they not only jeopardize the dialogue process, but also challenge the authority of the EU as a facilitator and guarantor of the implementation of the agreements reached in that process.
Recent unilateral actions by Pristina – including sending special police forces to the north of Kosovo and Metohija, which is in full contravention of the agreements reached – led to further intimidation and sense of insecurity among the Serbian people in the province. Since the beginning of the year, as many as 118 ethnically motivated incidents against Serbs, their property and the Serbian Orthodox Church have been recorded, and this speaks volumes about the nature of the society being established in the self-proclaimed “Kosovo”, and about what is Pristina’s true approach to human rights and regional stability.
We appreciate a proactive engagement of the EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak in easing the tensions, but at the same time we call on the international community to condemn such unilateral actions and exercise its influence on the representatives of Pristina to return to a meaningful dialogue. The statements given by prime minister of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina, Albin Kurti, about the unification of the so-called Kosovo with Albania have been particularly worrying. Regardless of all this, Belgrade will continue to demonstrate a constructive role in the dialogue which is in the interest of peace and stability of the Western Balkan region.
Minister, could you tell us more about the recent free trade agreement between Serbia and the Eurasian Economic Union?
Serbia, as a country in the entrance hall of the EU, is compelled to use every opportunity to strengthen its economy. By doing so, we are building a successful state, but we are also preparing for the moment when the EU will give the green light for enlargement to the Western Balkans. The issue of our economic relations with the Eurasian Economic Union is a matter of a pragmatic approach and responsibility towards the interests of our citizens, and it is often given unnecessary political emphasis in conversations of this kind. Those who benefit the most from our trade relations with countries outside the EU are none other than the companies from the EU exporting from Serbia to those markets. However, I need to emphasize that the economic interests of Serbia are primarily related to the EU and the countries of our region covered by the CEFTA agreement. EU countries are the source of over 70% of foreign direct investment in Serbia. The EU is also the most important foreign trade partner of Serbia, because two thirds of Serbian exports of goods and a little over a half of exports of services are realized with the EU.
And besides the EU, Your Excellency, how are Serbia’s relations with other major international players, such as for instance China, Russia, and the United States?
Serbia is conducting an independent foreign policy which includes traditionally good and friendly relations with China and Russia. In our view, these relations are not contrary to our European aspirations given that different EU member states also maintain good relations with both Russia and China. As a small-sized country Serbia is focused on strengthening ties with different countries on a global scale, while at the same time maintaining a neutral position on open issues between world’s great powers. Military neutrality and political independence remain to be consistent pillars of our foreign policy.
On the other hand, the priority of our foreign policy is to refine cooperation with countries with which we have not always had harmonious relations in the recent past, because Serbia today is building a new image of an economically advanced and dynamic state and a reliable partner in preserving regional stability. This year Serbia and the US celebrate 140th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and we see this jubilee as an opportunity to further strengthen our bilateral political and economic relations. We also hope to see positive results of an increased interest of the US administration in the Western Balkans.
Many thanks, Your Excellency, for your insights, and best of luck with your precious work!
Yemen: Seeking to restore peace and security
In September, Yemeni Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak visited the Netherlands as part of a European tour aimed at relaunching diplomatic efforts to reach a political settlement in Yemen. In an interview with Diplomat Magazine, the Minister outlined his government’s view of the Yemeni conflict, expressing a wish to improve cooperation with European countries to achieve peace and security in the country. The interview has been edited for the purpose of length and clarity.
Seven years after the eruption of the war, Yemen has not yet managed to re-gain peace. Your Excellency, could you tell us your government’s perspective about Yemen’s political impasse?
Yemen is currently facing a critical situation due to the Houthi militia’s reluctance towards peace initiatives. Unfortunately, the rebellious militia obstructed – until now – all international diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving peace. It thwarted the endeavours of the former United Nations special envoy Martin Griffiths to reach a political compromise. The same was done during the tenure of his predecessor, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh, when we were very close to a political solution after more than 100 days of negotiations in Kuwait. The government showed flexibility and made concessions to achieve the aspirations of the Yemeni people to restore security and stability. Yet, the government’s commitment towards peace and national reconciliation needs a genuine partner which is still not available.
Despite these challenges, the government will continue pursuing peace, encouraging the rebel group to come to the negotiating table and deal positively with peace initiatives based on the three references: the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the national conference dialogue, and the UN Security Council resolution 2216. Mr. Hans Grundberg was appointed recently to be the fourth UN special envoy to Yemen. We fully support him, and we are looking forward to working together intensively to reach a comprehensive cease fire and ending the war.
Your Excellency, what are the reasons that have underpinned the protracted conflict in Yemen? What issues lie at the core of this conflict?
The current conflict in Yemen, as well as all internal conflicts occurring in the past, has its roots in the rebel movements’ refusal of a fair and just distribution of power and wealth. In 2011, Yemen was one of the countries influenced by the Arab Spring. The Yemeni people revolted to end the unjust manipulation of power and wealth, which had led to massive corruption and had hindered the country’s development. The revolution called for justice, good governance, decentralization, integrity, transparency, and accountability. The revolution did manage to cause a political change: President Hadi was elected, a new government (including both the former regime and other political parties) was formed, and an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue conference was launched.
Yemen’s different political and social factions, including the Houthis, participated in the national dialogue conference and addressed a wide range of issues. A new constitution was drafted and was supposed to be voted on. Yet, after being part of the national dialogue and agreeing on its outcomes, the Houthi militia – in coordination with the former regime – staged a coup d’état, thus hindering the political process, suppressing the people’s aspirations, and imposing a corrupted, racist, and totalitarian regime. These aggressive actions triggered the conflict in Yemen, which has led to the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world.
What are the main reasons due to which, seven years after the start of the war, Yemen’s conflict has not been solved yet?
There are three main reasons explaining the persistence of the conflict in Yemen. First of all, the Houthi militia’s ideology is based on the divine right to rule and on domination by force and violence. For the militia, war becomes an aim in itself – and even more so after the militia has been profiteering from the war and has established a parallel economy. Second, the Houthi militia has aligned itself with Iran and its regional agenda, which aims to undermine peace, security, and stability in the region. The militia is backed, supported, and equipped by the terrorist Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The fact that the militia’s decisions have been controlled by the Revolutionary Guards has complicated Yemen’s problems and has delayed the process of reaching a political settlement. Finally, no efficient pressure is being put to compel the Houthi militia to comply with the peace process.
Your Excellency, your visit in the Netherlands come as part of a broader European tour. What do you hope to accomplish through this raft of visits to European capitals? And are you also hoping to cooperate with countries outside of Europe?
In terms of my European tour’s aim, at the official level, I hope to resume our bilateral cooperation with the European Union, to come to a mutual understanding of the political roots of the crisis in Yemen, and to clarify the government’s views on how to resolve the conflict. At the public diplomacy level, I wish to address the public opinion in Europe through dialogues with think tanks and the national media, explaining our just cause and refuting wrong narratives about what is happening in Yemen.
As for the cooperation with countries outside of Europe, we do indeed look forward to cooperating with all countries that are seeking to help Yemen to restore peace and security in the country.
In a statement published in the EU Observer, you have been calling for a new European approach to help solving the Yemeni crisis. What kind of partnership would you want to form with the EU? And which concrete, immediate measures would you envision from the EU and other international partners?
The Yemeni government shares the EU’s same goals in Yemen, that is, restoring peace and security, improving the humanitarian situation, and stabilizing the economy. The best way to achieve these goals is to support state institutions through a full partnership with the Yemeni government. The government is ready to discuss openly with the EU all the concerns that may exist and that may prevent us from achieving such partnership.
In terms of concrete measures, we first of all ask our partners to channel all humanitarian assistance and financial flows through Yemen’s Central Bank, so as to improve the value of the Yemeni Rial and prevent a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation. Moreover, we ask them to support the Yemeni government in reaching an immediate nation-wide ceasefire, most notably by pressuring the Houthi rebels and the Iranian regime. We consider the ceasefire as the most important humanitarian measure and as the first step towards solving the country’s crisis and tackling all other humanitarian issues.
Many thank you for your time, Your Excellency, and best wishes for your European tour!
El Salvador: A millennial leadership for a prosperous future
A Talk with Vice President Félix Ulloa
Protagonist of enormous political changes, the new government of El Salvador is now on its way to develop the country under the leadership of its ingenious leader, President Nayib Bukele. Born in 1981, President Bukele belongs to the generation that has been named as “millennials”.
Following his election in 2019, El Salvador’s reputation has been quickly improving from that of a poor, violent and corrupt Central American nation marked by massive outflows of migrants to one of an emerging economy, as well as a new investment and tourism destination. We talked to Vice President Félix Ulloa, an experienced and wise diplomat, politician and international lawyer, during his European political tour in Sweden, France and the Netherlands. In this conversation, we discovered why the eyes of the world are now turning towards El Salvador.
Our conversation started with the historic transformations currently taking place in El Salvador in the areas of economic development, security and regional leadership.
“There are two issues that President Bukele decided to prioritise. The first one was seeking to reverse the wrong developmental model we had for so long under the previous administrations, which is at the root of migratory flows to the United States. That model did not put enough focus on El Salvador’s need to work on agricultural production, and it was premised on the idea that we would better buy – rather than produce – what we need. So we started buying vegetables from Guatemala, meat from Nicaragua, beans from Ethiopia. We abandoned the fields, as the politicians decided to turn El Salvador into a service provider country and started to sell the working force of our people to the United States.”
“What was the effect of abandoning the farms?” – the Vice-President continued. “This model caused exploitation and the development of an artificial economy, made out of flouting capitals that could come and go without any compromise to workers. People left the countryside to go to the city, to walk around avenues selling stuffs, or they decided to travel to the United States. This generated a profound poverty among the people. We had a country that expelled its own people, and it was great source of violence.”
“Now, by contrast, there is a strategic plan for developing the country’s agricultural sector. We allocated funds for USD 1,200 millions to reactivate the economy in the countryside. Among these, USD 647 millions have been allocated exclusively to renovate coffee plantations. In earlier times, El Salvador was a major coffee producer, making 4 or 5 million of quintals per year. This year we did not reach make one million. We are now getting back to our traditional production.”
Vice-President Ulloa went on to describe the new administration’s efforts to improve the security situation in the country. “From day one, the President took the decision of create the National Territorial Control Plan, a multi-phase national security strategy to combat gang violence, improve security and regain control over territories occupied by armed groups. Almost a third of the country was in the hands of gangs in 2019, we were losing our sovereignty. For example, there was an area that the government recuperated that hosted 500 houses, which criminal organisations had taken away from the people.”
“The second step of the strategy was to bring the state to the communities, building community-centered preventive strategies that create alternative opportunities for young people predisposed to criminal activity. This entailed creating educational and entrepreneurial opportunities; improving health and scholarship benefits; developing infrastructure projects such as schools, skate parks, and sports centers; increasing the public services, health, education, and sports – all this in order to bring back tranquillity to the people.”
“The completion of the first and second part of the strategy was achieved with our own monetary resources” – the Vice-President explained. “Then, at the third step, the President took two loans from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), one of 91 millions and a second one of 109 millions. These funds were used to fortify El Salvador’s national security forces, to better equip them with new resources and technology. The security forces were in a very bad conditions, while on the other hand gangs were very much better equipped.”
“With the Territorial Control Plan, we eliminated the control of the gangs on the territory of El Salvador. Looking at the statistics related to the levels of violence shows the effectiveness of our plan: before the plan, figures for daily deaths caused by the violence had two digits, while last August the figure was zero. In two years, we lowered that figure from an average of 19-20 daily deaths to 0-3. This is a clear indication of a radical change, almost a miracle, which changed our image and – together with other projects – allowed us to attract more foreign investments than any Central American country.”
The Vice-President went on to explain his country’s recent economic successes. “According to the projections by the Central Bank, CEPAL, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, our GDP is growing by 9%, as compared to our historical growth rate of only 2% – all of this despite the pandemic. Previsions were made according to which we would have a markedly negative impact in our growth, and yet we now display positive growth rates. Remittances, which are still our first source of income, increased by US 2,000 million this year – in 2021 we received US 7,000 million. The second income source, which is textiles, grew by 41%. Third comes plastics, fourth is pharmaceutical products, and fifth is sugar cane.”
“We created 66,000 new employments from January to June 2021. During the pandemic 5,000 new enterprises registered, mostly small and medium size businesses. They were supported by the government with emergency fonds to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. Sensitive sectors like tourism, hotels, and restaurants received loans with low interest rates of 2%, with one year of grace. Also, for the first time, not loans but donations were made to the artists (USD 50,000 to orchestras, USD 25,000 to mariachis, USD 10,000 to trios, and USD 1,000 to individual artists), coming from a US 600 million fund for the recuperation of enterprises. We are also supporting families with a food plan.”
“Also very controversial was a decision from the President to decree a salary increase of 20%. Traditional economists were reluctant regarding this measure, arguing that it would created inflation and unemployment, and that small businesses would not have the capacity to increase salaries. The government subsidised the 20% salary increase with money from our Central Bank for the first year, until businesses will reach a normalisation of production. President Bukele also allowed USD 100 millions to the Council of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises as credit to the informal business. More than 60% of our commercial activity is informal, not regulated, like people selling on streets. We are now formalising these enterprises through the provision of this credit.”
“The diaspora is also coming back to the country to instal their own businesses. This is mostly because of two reasons: the reactivation of the economy, and the return of security in the country. The government is supporting the diaspora to return with tutorials, financing, and everything they may need to be successful, including technical support, center of trainings for entrepreneurs, and 25 mobile units that go into the cities and remote areas in the country, each unit having space for 25 students. The instruction I received from the President is to make these programs last for the future.”
Vice-President Ulloa also provided an update on the revision of El Salvador’s legal structures, as well as on its efforts to promote regional integration. “We have also worked on a new constitution, which is now being reformulated. We are now revising the Protocol of Tegucigalpa, all the laws that need to be adapted to our times. This year we are celebrating 200 years of independence and the 30th anniversary of SICA (Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana), which was signed in 1991 originally by 5 countries, and then joined by Panama, Belize, and the Dominican Republic. These 8 states together represent the 4th economy of Latin America, second only to the economies of Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. In terms of territory, SICA counts 580 million square kilometres. We are in the middle of a crisis, but we will go ahead. We have the same language, religion, and race, we can be stronger together and we will be so.”
Ulloa is also in charge of leading the El Salvadorian side on the El Salvador: A millennial leadership for a prosperous future proposed by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC). The Plan is a trinational treaty focused on improving the living conditions of border communities in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the South-East of Mexico, which includes eight border states of Mexico. This Comprehensive Development Plan is a development process consisting of environmental and territorial management in the region to promote development, security, migration governance, environmental protection, and energy security, as well as to address the structural causes of irregular migration. It involves 20 UN agencies, funds and programs operating in Latin America.
“This area is part of the former Maya region. This provides us with a unique cultural patrimony which has come under threat due to the violence generated by gangs. Cooperation started with USD 60 million donated by Mexico to develop small agri-projects, such as Young Making its Future from Honduras and Young Start Business from El Salvador. Each country presented its own projects to benefit from the general fund, and now donors are joining to increase the fund itself. By adding Colombia and Mexico and new programs, we are now seeking to overlook a Mesoamerican mechanism of almost 400 million habitants, with the goal to develop the entire region – because what affect one of us, also affects the others.”
Vice-President Ulloa continued by praising his President’s vision in regard to the introduction of cryptocurrencies in El Salvador’s economy. “Being only 39 years old, our President is the first president born during the digital era, a millennial, and people need to accelerate to catch up with him and his vision. For instance, he decided to start using a cryptocurrency as a regular currency in El Salvador. In this regard, the first question was: ‘how do we motivate the people to start doing business with this currency?’ President Bukele’s idea was to give USD 30 Big Coin money to each citizen, and people started to use it immediately. Now we have 3 millions of cryptocurrency accounts and you can go to the supermarket, to the gas station, to the pharmacy, to any business and pay with Big Coins and even get a 10% discount. The government framed the transactions through laws, and it is now mandatory for all commerce activities to accept the cryptocurrency. People can also change it to USD money. This is giving a new push to the economy. Now remittances are also in Big Coins, thus avoiding commission fees. Before, Salvadorians used to pay USD 400 million only in remittances commissions. Following our lead, other countries are now looking to introduce the cryptocurrency in their economy as we did. In December, we will meet in El Salvador with investors and businesspeople for consultations about the implementation of our cryptocurrency strategy.
All these successes, Vice-President Ulloa explained, were achieved despite major difficulties arising from both the country’s political scenario and external factors. “When we entered the government in 2019, we had an opposition-controlled legislature, and therefore it was difficult to implement any measure because of opposition from the congress. This year, in 2021, there was a huge change in the congress, because the people generated that change. We have asked our population to start looking at the government’s performance from now on. Previous years were marred by constant fights to get any policy approved, and the COVID-19 pandemic made everything more difficult. But true leaders have the capacity to grow during crises – and this was the case for our President, whose popularity grew enormously. In our region, we are the country that best managed the pandemic, as said by the World Health Organization. We have the biggest hospital in Latin America only dedicated to COVID-19, with more than 1,000 intensive care units. Up to now we are using different vaccines, including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Pfizer – almost all except Sputnik.”
Our discussion with Vice-President Ulloa also touched on El Salvador’s major potential as a tourist destination. “El Salvador just hosted the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games, and it instantly became the new global surf destination. Fifty-two countries and 450 athletes participated in the competition, which saw Team France crowned with a golden medal. More important than anything for us, however, was that judges and participants found out that El Salvador is the only country that can host a surf tournament running non-stop from sunrise to sunset. The reason is that in most surf beaches the reflex of the sun on the water prevents judges from seeing manoeuvres from 12:00 to 16:00, thus limiting the competition time. This is not the case in our country. We have been awarded this privilege by mother nature. Now that the World Travel Agents Association Alliance said that the country is a safe country and a privileged surfing destination, we are climbing upwards in the international scene as a top place for surfers” – Vice-President Ulloa said with enthusiasm.
Botswana: Diamonds and challenges
Interview with Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of Botswana
Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have made Botswana one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, came to Brussels for high level political discussions, with the aim to show to all Botswana’s development and get support from the European Union to fight the country’s latest challenge, COVID-19.
Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates Botswana’s economic activities, although the country is also rich in copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, and silver, and tourism is a growing sector thanks to the country’s solid conservation practices and its extensive natural reserves.
Botswana is seeking to develop a knowledge-based economy through fiscal discipline and sound management. The country has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country, maintaining one of the world’s highest growth rates since independence in 1966. Botswana is also ranked by two different rankings as having the best credit risk in Africa.
“When you have limited resources, you are usually more efficient with them. We may have more supply of diamonds than other people, but we also really have to get the most out of them. With our culture of humility, we interact with everything and everyone with respect, trying to manage our resources so that they have a positive impact on the country.”
“Our first step has been to decree that all natural resources belong to the state, and this is fundamental. Diamonds and other resources are not privatized, they are a public national good. Therefore, it is up to the government to redistribute the wealth that comes from these resources. Moreover, we have put in place a legislative framework that governs this, so the process is rules-based” – President Masisi explained.
Diamond mining has fueled much of Botswana’s economic expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for nine-tenths of export earnings.
Botswana’s progressive land legislation in Sub-Saharan Africa allows for different regimes of land management, including tribal land, state land, and freehold land. Yet, natural resources are managed by the government even if they are extracted from land under the freehold regime. “You may own the land, but you do not own the minerals. That is to the state. The State will manage how the minerals are extracted, and issue licenses though regulations. Those who apply and are successful will manage the operations, and the state will tax and supervise them, so as to ensure public returns. The state is co-investor in this chain” – President Masisi explained.
While the state has asserted its ownership over the minerals, it is also engaged in major mining partnership with other countries that have invested in diamonds extraction and exploration in Botswana.
“There is South African company, which is an old Anglo-American company called De Beers, and Botswana’s government owns 50% of it. They are a big mining company. We regulate all of this, and we have developed a unique joint-venture between De Beer and Botswana’s Government. It is called Debswana, it is the world’s leading producer of diamonds by value, and it operates four diamond mines as well as a coal mine. It is a 50-50 partnership – a very successful one, and one of the longest in the world. We also have a sales agreement, we tax the company, and we collect royalties.”
“There is also a small Canadian company, Lucara Diamond Corp, which operates a mine, and it has an exploration licence that it has managed very successfully.” Lucara also owns Clara Diamond Solutions, a digital sales platform which ensures diamond provenance.
Despite this natural wealth, the government still has to deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty, as well as with the highest rates in the world on HIV. Lately, COVID-19 has added further pressure on the country’s health situation.
“To begin with, as you well know, the impact of COVID-19 was devastating – as everywhere in the world. Being in the developing world, Botswana received vaccines only late, and only a small amount of them. Therefore, it was upon us to leverage our values and our own strength to promote prevention. We launched a sensibilization campaign, we put together a Covid presidential task team to develop health protocols, and as we learned more we sought to inform the public about COVID-19. This worked very well for us for a while” – President Masisi recounted.
Botswana implemented an ambitious national prevention program before the arrival of vaccines.
“Only prevention was standing between us and the graves. We made prevention from COVID-19 a number one priority nationally, so we reprioritized our budget, moving huge sums into the prevention campaign. We invested in medicines and PPE equipment, we expanded the capacity of hospitals, we trained our health staff, we launched a massive multimedia information campaign, inviting people to follow protocols. We also started to buy vaccines through the COVAX initiatives and through bilateral arrangements, spending a considerable amount of money for a small country like Botswana. Luckily, we managed to benefit from higher diamond prices to fund our efforts. Our diamond money has always been used for development, and the same has happened during COVID-19 times.”
Against the backdrop of the pandemic’s devastating effects, the country is now on track to vaccinate 64% of the population before the end of the year.
President Masisi also drew attention to the National Vision 2036 program and to the government’s efforts to raise Botswana to the rank of High-Income Nation by that year.
Part of these efforts hinge on energy reforms. “We are revamping the country, increasing and diversifying our sourcing and generation of electricity. We have an integrated resource plan by which we want to diversify our energy risks, so that we do not only depends on thermo electricity, but we also get electricity from the sun. We are introducing solar energy generation on a large scale. We also have the intention to tap into the wind’s energy generation potential, when research is completed, and investments will come into the sector. We hope that the private sector will invest in this.”
As part of the national development program, the government is also implementing a vast sanitation program that relies on improving sanitation facilities. “We are a very water-scarce country. Water is really precious – hence the name of our currency, Pula, which means rain. Pula is very important – ‘well wishes’ is Pula, ‘goodbye’ is Pula. Despite water scarcity, however, Botswana does have a good crops production and livestock rearing, although for some crops it is hard to grow due to the climate conditions.”
The President continued by highlighting the effects of climate change in Botswana. “Climate change affects Botswana a lot, and all we have to do is to invest a lot on adaptation. Rising heat has the potential to harm those who are more vulnerable, like the youngest and the oldest segments of the population. Heat also affects the ability to work during the day, particularly for those who go to school or work in the fields. We feel the heat waves very badly. We also have to face the challenge of limited rainfall, which has a direct effect on the flora and the fauna.”
The President also praised his country’s commitment to address climate change related issues. “We certainly feel the effect of climate change, and we are playing our part in contributing to the reduction of emissions.” Botswana has signed international environmental agreements related to Biodiversity and Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, as well as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
“Let’s hope that it will rain in Botswana” – President Masisi said. “Let’s hope that we can also get fertilizers, because COVID-19 has disrupted supply chains and the cost of fertilizers has increased more than three times, making it more difficult for us to afford it.”
President Masisi also talked about Botswana’s relations with the European Union. “We talked to the European Union about their diplomatic engagement in our country, which has a strong focus on green energy and on partnerships related to climate adaptation projects. These include replanting efforts, interventions in small-scale agriculture, interventions in the industry sector to promote efficiency, the establishment of early warning systems, as well as interventions in the education sector, so that there is more content on issues related to the environment.”
President Masisi was optimistic when talking to us about Botswana’s social and economic recovery. “Botswana is stable. We don’t have security challenges in terms of terrorism, for instance – we never had them. We just deal with what any country would occasionally have to deal with do.”
Our conversation finally turned to the President’s beloved land, which is – in the President’s words – a true paradise. “I can speak about my country because this is what I know best. This is not to suggest that tourism is not vibrant in other countries – the region is amazing. But Botswana is unique, it is a gem. It is the epicenter of southern Africa. We have majestic sites and venues. The Okavango Rive, for instance, which ends into the Kalahari desert. The river comes from the highlands of Angola, and is also shared with Namibia. It is not a small river – its inflow is above 11.3 billions cubic liters of the freshest, cleanest, and tastiest water you can imagine. Its delta in the desert of Kalahari creates a unique environment with a fantastic aquatic life. You can see the fishes, the frogs, the butterflies, the antelopes, the crocodiles, the biggest elephants, the birds. Everything that has been created, you will find it there. I don’t know if you read the Genesis in the Bible. You get immersed into the nature, your feel into your skin, your breath. In the Okavango delta in Botswana you can visit the Garden of Eden.”
Diplomat Magazine wishes to thank H.E. Mr. Samuel Outlule, Botswana’s ambassador to Belgium and a true top-notch diplomat, for organising our meeting with President Masisi in a remarkable way.
Photography by August Zeidman.
Some of Costa Rica’s Contributions for Combating Climate Change
By H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
One of the tangible outcomes of the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 (COP26) is a Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use, so far subscribed by 141 countries. In this Declaration, a commitment was established to “working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030”, which includes strengthening efforts to “conserve forests and other terrestrial ecosystems and accelerate their restoration”. This is an area where Costa Rica’s experience may be of interest to other countries. As a Costa Rican, I refer to it with much pride.
Indeed, for its successful forest and ecosystem conservation model, shortly before the COP 26 Costa Rica received UK’s Royal Foundation “Earthshot” award in the Protect and Restore Nature category, awarded to incentivize change and help repair the planet for the next ten years, a crucial decade for Earth. The award is an acknowledgement of the Costa Rican conservation model, which has made it possible to protect a large part of its biodiversity—around 5% of the world’s known species— combining a System of Conservation Areas with a Payment for Environmental Services (PES) program to reverse deforestation.
To assess the path Costa Rica took towards a remarkable recovery of its tree coverage, it must first be noted that between 1950 and 1987 forest coverage in Costa Rica dropped from 72% to 21%, with a deforestation rate of 3.9% per year, or 50,000 hectares, one of the largest rates in the world. This was due to a great extent to policies and legislation that provided positive incentives to agriculture, cattle ranching and forest clearing. Thus, a first key element was a change in policies and legislation to remove any such incentives.
On the other hand, Costa Rica’s National Forestry Law N° 4465 of 1969 provided for the creation and administration of a system of National Parks and Biological Reserves, which in 1998 was transformed into the National System of Conservation Areas. Between 1974 and 1978 protected areas expanded from 3% to 12% of the national territory, and from 1993 to 2011 from 12.5% to 26%. These protected areas include national parks, biological reserves, wildlife refuges, wetlands and private reserves. Costa Rica has currently some 163 protected areas covering 1,840,448 hectares, equivalent to 26.21% of the nation’s continental territory and 2.7% of its sea surface.
The final element was the development of a program to incentivize forest protection and reforestation. This was done mostly through the Payment of Environmental Services Program, which is a financial mechanism that promotes forest conservation and sustainable forest management. It is administered by the National Forestry Financing Fund or Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento Forestal (FONAFIFO), established in 1996 by the new Forestry Law No. 7575. A voluntary contract with land owners is drawn, through which land-use practices likely to secure environmental services are paid for by the government. Participants who implement forest protection, reforestation, natural forest regeneration, or agroforestry systems are eligible for payments because of the environmental services provided by their land voluntarily registered at FONAFIFO.
In accordance with the Forestry Law Nº. 7575, Costa Rica recognizes as environmental services the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions (fixation, reduction, sequestration, storage and absorption); protection of biodiversity for its conservation and its sustainable, scientific and pharmaceutical use, research and genetic improvement, as well as for the protection of ecosystems and ways of life; water protection for urban, rural or hydroelectric use; and scenic natural beauty for tourism and scientific purposes.
The program is funded through Costa Rica’s fuel tax (3.5% of the fuel tax goes to the environmental services program), financial contributions through the ordinary and extraordinary budget, and donations or credits by national and international organizations, and public-private partnerships. Between 1997 and 2019, more than 18,000 contracts have been subscribed under the program, for an accumulated total coverage of 1,312,686 hectares and 8,089,423 trees in agroforestry systems.
Through the combination of these initiatives, today around 54% of Costa Rica’s land territory has tree covering.
In October 2020, the Payments for Environmental Services Program obtained the 2020 United Nations Global Climate Action Award, under the category “Financing for Climate Friendly Investment”. This award is granted to the projects that are recognized as innovative solutions to address climate change, and also drive progress in other Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), such as innovation, gender equality and economic opportunity.
In September 2019, Costa Rica also received the Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honor, for its role in the protection of nature and its commitment to ambitious policies to combat climate change. This award was presented to Costa Rica in the Policy Leadership category for its plan to decarbonize its economy by 2050, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN’s’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan (NDP) was presented in February 2019 and includes mid- and long-term targets to reform transport, energy, waste and land use. The aim is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, meaning the country will produce no more greenhouse gas emissions than it can offset through its forests and other carbon sinks. The NDP proposes a set of actions organized around ten axis related to the main economic and infrastructure sectors of Costa Rica’s economy. Of the economic sectors, transportation and mobilization pose pressing challenges, as the country faces a lag in infrastructure and standards, and the efficiency and access to public transportation should be improved. The NDP contemplates that 70% of all buses and taxis should be electric by 2030, with full electrification projected for 2050. Other challenges lie in improving processes to reduce energy use and carbon intensity in buildings, industry, agriculture, and livestock, as well as in collecting, treating, and reusing liquid and solid waste.
The electricity sector, on the other hand, is very close to producing zero emissions. Costa Rica has been running on more than 98% renewable energy since 2014; in 2020 it was 99.78%. Around 72% of its energy comes from hydropower, 14.9% from geothermal sources, 12% from wind and 0.54% from biomass and solar panels. In 2017, the country ran for a record 300 days solely on renewable power. The aim is to achieve 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.
When environmental concerns are placed at the heart of political and economic policies, sustainability and measures to combat climate change are both achievable and economically viable. In reality, we have no other choice at this time in history. Although many areas remain where there is still room for improvement, Costa Rica’s experience proves this is possible, and the strategies it has been implementing might be of help to some countries that share the will to bring about a much-needed progress in the global efforts to combat climate change.