When following the news, the public has mostly been given the impression that the COP 26 summit in Glasgow was no great success , and more probably that it was half a failure. A litany of words producing more words, without tangible results. Good intentions could only partly be banked upon. The essential phrase about phasing out coals was watered down at the last moment. The next COP conference is already in a year’s time in Egypt, Sharm al Sheikh, if the world is allowed to return to the old rhythm of every year another COP.
Also, a lot of attention went to the question of the financial support for developing nations, which is one of the clear commitments under the Paris Agreement: from 2020 the developed countries had to provide US $ 100 billion per year while actually they set aside $ 86 billion dollars only. Against this not so bright background, I wanted to know what the summit had really produced, so I read carefully the Glasgow Climate Pact, which is the final document as I found it on internet.
And guess what, there is reason to be not too pessimistic.
Surely a full exit from coal, let alone fossil fuels, could not be codified, but nonetheless the language of the declaration under the chapter “Mitigation” speaks firmly of accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies… (para 20) . To say the least, this is a direction the meaning of which can not be misunderstood.
More importantly, there is a different part of the declaration where the language is undiluted, clear and determined. Under the opening chapter of the Glasgow Climate Pact “Science and Urgency”, the conference recognized the importance of the best available science for effective climate action and policy making. In my view this is the same as jumping over any debate about the role of human intervention in climate change, as the current science from IPCC is absolutely clear about this; the climate crisis is a man-made crisis, mainly due to greenhouse gases and particularly to carbon (CO2) emissions .
And even more explicit, in para 3 of the Climate Pact, the Conference of the Parties “Expresses alarm and utmost concern that human activities have caused around 1.1 degree Celcius of global warming to date and that impacts are already being felt in every region” . That is an admission of great relevance, and it puts human activities right in the calculated centre of the climate concerns.
In even more practical terms, the Conference of the parties also recognizes that limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius requires rapid, deep and sustained reductions in global greenhouse emissions by 45 percent in 2030 relative to the 2010 level and to net zero around mid century, as wellas deep reductions in other greenhouse gases. We know that Europe has a more ambitious plan, namely a 55 % reduction by 2030, but to have this goal of minus 45% relating to the 2010 level agreed at world level is at least an achievement of major significance.
There is more that could be drawn from the Glasgow Climate Pact in the same vein, but I think the examples given demonstrate that Glasgow has produced an explicit foundation for positive further work. A basis which can not be undone by countries or future leaders who would come to feel otherwise. The US, China, Russia, the EU, Brazil and India are all on board.
Something which struck me particularly in the coal debate was that Australia, a notable consumer and producer of coal, was not seen to be vocal or difficult in the debate about phasing down or phasing out. When I was in Sidney two years ago for the International Law Association, the Australian government was in great difficulty over the electricity pricing in conjunction with the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The proponents of further coal development then seemed to have the upper hand. Not so now, it seems.
I hope and I assume that this one phrase from the Glasgow Climate Pact about “alarm and utmost concern” about harmful human activities will stand the test of time , and that it will indeed form the basis for future decisions to substantially reduce global warming. Viewed from that angle, the judgement about Glasgow should be: not so bad, not so bad at all. But much work has still to be done, in order to keep the desired 1.5 degrees global warming a realistic perspective. Or as the title of the UN High-Level Event for Global Climate Action on 11 November had it: “Racing to a Better World”.
Wine and spirit connoisseurs assembled at the Leonardo Royal Hotel (The Hague) on Monday, November 1 2021 for the second edition of the exclusive Diplomat Wine and Spirit Extravaganza. Embassies celebrated their wine and spirits industry at the soiree and used the occasion to promote their products to the Dutch market. It ended up being an excellent tasting and sales experience.
Over the years Diplomat magazine has promoted various wine producing countries: Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Lebanon, Hungary, South Africa, Czech Republic, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Greece, India, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, North Macedonia, and others.
The countries that were featured at the show this year were: Chile, China, Georgia, Guatemala, Peru, Russia and Tunisia.
Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s publisher, H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of Russia and the Ambassador of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Gamaliel Mkurunziza.
Ambassadors and representatives of participating countries addressed the guests, among them the Russian AmbassadorH.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin.
“Tonight, the Russian side has the honor to present two exceptional Russian wineries:Valery Zaharin and Lefkadia Valley.
Wine is not a simple product to make – it requires a continuity of generations. The winemakers of Valery Zaharin company stand on the shoulders of their ancestors. The history of winemaking in Crimea is centuries old, it dates to the Russian Empress Catherine the Great who authorized the development of national wineries there.
Our second group of wines comes from Lefkadia region in the South of Russia. More than 15 years ago local wine lovers got the idea that was simple and crazy at the same time: to create an outstanding Russian wine of world quality. And they achieved the goal – in 2019 Lefkadia Valley became our first wine to score 91 points on Robert Parker’s scale of the Wine Advocate magazine.
And finally, to make this evening even more memorable, we bring you as well Russian number one premium vodka brand – Beluga. I dare you to try it. You can hardly ever find a better vodka than Beluga.
I really hope that you will enjoy this evening, that the conversations will flow and as a result we could all let down our guard a bit and become a little closer. In the end that is what today’s world really needs.“
H.E. Mr. Jorge Skinner-Klée Arenales, Ambassador of Guatemala.
H.E. Mr. Jorge Skinner-Klée Arenales, the Ambassador of Guatemala, declared the following: “Guatemala is world famous for its quality products like coffee, cardamom, cocoa and, of course, rum.
Guatemala’s diversity enables it to make a rum that is unique and certainly among the best in the world. In fact, Guatemala’s rich volcanic soil, along with the varied landscape and numerous multi-climates, create perfect conditions for producing virgin cane which is used to distil and then age rum. Thereafter, the temperatures of the highlands at 2,300 meters above sea level, permit to age rum giving it its remarkable signature.
Zacapa, rum from Guatemala. Premium rum from Guatemala, Zacapa.
This is what makes Guatemala’s rum among the most elegant, complex and expressive in the world. Once again, thank you very much for joining us today. We kindly invite you to come to our stand and try the taste of Guatemala, the land of eternal spring, and it’s unique rums.“
Ambassador of China, H.E. Mr. Jian Tan expressed: “I think if we drink enough Baijiu, we can solve anything” said former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger when he visited China in 1974. Even being the most-drunk spirit in the world, Baijiu is little-known beyond China. A sip of this intriguing Oriental spirit gives you an unforgettable taste in the mouth and a peak into Chinese culture.”
At the Embassy of China’ stand guests had the opportunity to taste the famous Baijiu, in fact the best seller liquor in hearth and a mayor representative of Chinese culture. Artall Culture Trading importer of Chinese spirits, notably Baijiu from Yangue Destillery, served cocktails and also the liquor on its own. Artall have been selling Yanghe brand of baijiu in the Netherlands since 2018 and exporting it from the Netherlands to other European countries.
The Ambassador of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Slim Ghariani, when on to say: Tunisia might mainly be renowned to some of you for its weather, beaches and three-thousand yearlong civilization. But Tunisia has also a history with wine dating back over 2,000 years. In fact, the first vines planted in Tunisia dates back to the Punic era, when the city of Carthage was established. Wine production continued after the Romans occupied Carthage in 146 BC.
Indeed, it is no coincidence that one of the most highly rated wines in Tunisia (Magon) is named after Mago, the Carthaginian agronomist who wrote the first guide on how to make wine. This red wine is cultivated in Mornag, in the northeastern part of the country. This region honors the Carthaginian Magon, the worshipped Master of agronomy, who cultivated his grapes near the village of Majus in the south of Carthage and certain rules of whom are nowadays still used.
Wine production slowed down somewhat when Islam arrived but saw a revival at the end of the 19 th century, when large numbers of Italians came to Tunisia, followed by the French. Most Tunisian grapes are the same as the ones you would find in the south of France, like Cabernet-Sauvignon, Carignon, Syrah and Mourvèdre for wine, and Chardonnay, Muscat, Ugni and Sauvignon for whites.
Today, Tunisia produces some fantastic wines and boasts seven AOC’s “Controlled Designation of Origin”, including the Magon (AOC Mornag, Syrah and Merlot).
Tunisian wines just keep getting better and are winning gold medals at international competitions.
Donated with unique geology and climate, Tunisia can satisfy all demands in terms of wine production. Tunisia produces white, red and rosé wines that represent true quality, by international standards.
Finally, I would like to invite you to taste our excellent wines. I hope that Dutch wine exporters and restaurants that distribute a wide variety of wines will consider adding Tunisian products to their supply.
The Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Mr. Hernán Salinas Burgos.
The Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Mr. Hernán Salinas Burgos, “Chile is a paradise for wine production thanks to its high temperatures in summer and cold winters. In addition, the Andes Cordillera provides irrigation through snowmelt and a natural barrier against pests and diseases.
The climatic effects help the vines to have a slow maturation process while preserving the acidity in the fruits and producing wines with very good natural acidity, excellent coloring, and balance.
There are 800 active wineries in Chile, more than 11 thousand producers, and 394 wine exporting companies, of which 76% are small and medium enterprises.
Chile has one of the world’s broadest programs for accrediting sustainability and 79 wineries have earned Wines of Chile Sustainability Code certification. Between them, these wineries account for 80% of the bottled wine exported from Chile. These bottles are easy to identify on any shelf around the world due to the distinct “Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile” seal they display. This sustainability code has been earned by all types and sizes of Chilean wineries from small-scale producers to large national cooperatives.
Wine accounts for a significant contribution to the Chilean economy, representing 0.5% of the GDP and employing over 100,000 people in direct work, of which only 53% work in the vineyards. The wine industry is one of the most relevant industries for our country.
Finally, Chile is the leading exporter in the Americas and the fourth largest in the world after France, Spain and Italy.“
The Georgian Ambassador, H.E. Mr. David Solomonia.
Another speaker was the Georgian Ambassador Mr David Solomonia, talked about centuries-old winemaking culture and unique methods. “Archaeological evidence suggests that wine has been made in Georgia as far as 8000 years ago. To put this into context, Georgian viticulture is older than the great pyramids of Giza.
Numerous displays related to centuries-old winemaking practices have been kept well and alive. Georgia’s climate and territorial conditions are perfect for growing grapes. There are more than 500 endemic grape species, from which the best-quality wines are produced.
Central to Georgian wine making is Qvevri – large earthenware, egg-shaped clay vessel in which grapes are fermented with their raw materials, thus producing rich, structured, tannic wines. Qvevri is buried underground to maintain a steady temperature and to let the wine age. It is carefully crafted from locally sourced clays and this technology is a product of accumulated ancestral knowledge and experience. There are many samples of Qvevri which age more than a century and are still in use.
Qvevri is kind of a living symbol of the Georgian viticulture and also a reminder, that wine making in Georgia is an indigenous tradition. In 2013, Georgia’s winemaking method of fermenting grapes in Qvevri has been inscribed on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
The Minister Counsellor of Peru, Mr. Cesar Larrain.
Mr. Cesar Larrain, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Peru, expressed: “Peru is represented by the company FIA International of Mrs. Myriam Jara, a pioneer company in the export ofPisco, our flagship distillate, in the Netherlands and with a decade of experience in the Dutch market. Along these lines, we will present a wide variety of Pisco types and brands from the most prestigious vineyards of Ica, department of the south-central region of Peru, as well as from the Arequipa region.
Likewise, we shall present a selection of Intipalka wines, from the renowned Queirolo vineyards, also located in the aforementioned department of Ica, Peru.“
Many of the invitees were able to appreciate the gustation of wines and spirits from countries both ancient and modern. The occasion also created fine opportunities to network and create new potential partnerships.
Admission to the Diplomat Wine and Spirits Extravaganza was by invitation. Entertainment was provided by the Daniel Nicholas Jazz Band which contributed to create a convivial atmosphere.
The impromptu participation of H.E. Mr. Juan Bautista Duran, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, with his rendition of My Way augmented the ambiance even further.
Approximately 250+ persons attended the event. Among the invitees were importers, sommeliers, wine bars and shops, restaurants, members of the press, Ambassadors and representatives of participating and none participating countries such as Costa Rica, Belarus, Burundi, Ghana, Philippines, Tanzania South-Africa and USA.
Diplomats Wine and Spirit Extravaganza Edition 2021 has for the second time been a resounding success. The wide selection that was available, the elegant décor, the program and staff, whose professionalism and attention to detail were beyond compare making the evening an outstanding one.
H.E. Mr. Juan Bautista Duran, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic.Singer Egle Petrosiute
with Daniel Nicolas’ band.
The Hague 19 October 2021. Diplomat Magazine in collaboration with the Diplomatic Front Office Police and the Police Cybercrime Unit organized a timely two-part symposium to address practical security issues for the diplomatic community.
The Diplomatic Front Office (DFO) Unit The Hague is the central point of contact for the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organizations, providing advice and information on the services of the Police in general, as well as on security-related questions.
Besides acting as a liaison between the National Police and the diplomatic community, the Diplomatic Front Office maintains contacts with external partners, the City Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the NCTV (National Coordinator on Counterterrorism and Security).
Dr. Mayelinne De Lara of Diplomat magazine delivered the inaugural remarks. “Crime is increasing, robberies are not on top of the list but the more sophisticated types of crimes are menacing embassies and diplomats daily. This is a two-part symposium. Mr Frans Scholten and Mr Vincent Stittelaar from Diplomatic Front Office Police and Cybercrime Unit, will each deliver a part. We are confident that taking part in today’s symposium will be enriching”.
The officers Scholten and Stittelaar presented valuable information to the 120 plus ambassadors and diplomats from Burundi, Cyprus, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Panama, Russia, Singapore, Sudan, USA, Ukraine, Cuba, Austria, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Turkey, Estonia, Panama, Rwanda, Yemen, Canada, Spain, Cyprus, Poland to mention a few.
Officer Frans Scholten focus on the subject of residential protection and public safety.
“A burglary is not something one will soon forget, burglary victims never get over it, strangers have been in your house; they have gone through your belongings and have stolen items that are irreplaceable. The place you considered safe, suddenly does not seem safe anymore.
The best way to fight burglary is through prevention. In other words, make it difficult for them to enter your house.”
Research has shown that people, in general, do not take adequate safety measures. The more difficult you make it for burglars, the greater the chance to keep them away from your property. Secure Your Home.
How to deter burglars:
Never leave keys on the inside of a (door) lock.
Provide adequate lighting at entrances.
Take pictures of valuable goods like jewellery and watches.
If you keep valuables at home, consider the purchase and use of a burglary-resistant safe.
Be aware of the value of your smartphone.
Don’t turn your house into a display window, keep valuables out of sight.
Ensure burglar-resistant hinges, bolts and locks with Politiekeurmerk Veilig Wonen (PKVW)
When not at home, leave as many lights on as usual.
Use a timer for these lights and don’t forget the rooms upstairs.
Close doors and windows as securely as possible.
Always lock the door (deadbolt and pin-lock) even during a short leave.
Never leave keys under a doormat or anywhere else outside.
Cybersecurity
Ransomware affiliate programs enable a larger group of criminals to attack big corporations and public institutions by threatening them with multi-layered extortion methods such as DDoS attacks.
Mobile malware evolves with criminals trying to circumvent additional security measures such as two-factor authentication.
Online shopping has led to a steep increase in online fraud.
Explicit self-generated material is an increasing concern and is also distributed for profit.
Criminals continue to abuse legitimate services such as encrypted communication services and cryptocurrencies. (source Security Delta (HSD))
The Herenwegschool Wassenaar and the Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag developed a virtual climate village project based on the current situation in Malino, South Sulawesi applying Microsoft Minecraft.
The Embassy of Indonesia hosted the talk show and handover ceremony of this auspicious Climate Village project at the “Nusantara” auditorium of the Indonesian Embassy on 23 November 2021. In attendance were a total of 30 offline- and 60 online participants from The Netherlands and Indonesia.
Participants from Herenwegschool Wassenaar, and Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag, with Ambassador Mayerfas, Dr. Bernard Bot, Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme and Herman Tahir.
A short review of what Ambassador Mayerfas asserted in his welcome remarks.
“Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy of the Netherlands, Dr. Bernard Bot, Member of Trustees of Indonesia Nederland Society, Directors, teachers, and students of Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag and Herenweg School, Bapak dan Ibu dari Kementerian/Lembaga terkait, who join the event through Zoom.
When I firstly heard about this Climate Village project, I was very encouraged, and decided right away for the Embassy to be on board. Why? It is because this Climate Village project is a unique and timely initiative. It is unique for three reasons.
First, this is a collaboration between 64 Indonesian and Dutch students in The Netherlands to think, discuss, and come up with a proposal about the climate mitigation in Malino South Sulawesi in Indonesia.
“Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy of the Netherlands.
The collaboration is encouraging. How the young generations from two different countries and cultures worked together as an effort in climate change mitigation.
Second, the project can be considered as a new method of learning experience in climate education.
It involved the use of game application, Minecraft from Microsoft, to explore and propose climate adaptation and mitigation solutions. The students walked through their own learning process and created a creative problem solving.
Third, the project involved children in quite early age, from 10 to 14, to contribute to the climate change mitigation.
This will create awareness about the climate change to the children and, hopefully, will construct their behavior towards the environment in the future.
The project is also timely as it can contribute to the outcome of COP 26, to reduce the emissions and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Climate Village is conducted through a penta-helix approach involving Governments, Business, Academicians, Communities, and Mass Media.
Climate Village project is presented to Ambassador Mayerfas.
As you may be aware, Indonesia has a commitment to reduce 29% of greenhouse gas emissions with our own efforts by 2030. This Climate Village project is part of that effort. Since its inception in 2016, the Climate Village has been established in 2.775 locations in Indonesia. The target is to have 20 thousand Climate Village in Indonesia by 2024″
A talk show in the hybrid format followed offline as well as online. Participants included: the students; director of Herenwegschool Wassenaar, Mr Bob van den Steenhoven; director of Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag, Mr Herman Tahir; panellists Prof. dr. ir. Arjen Wals (Wageningen University); and others.
Subsequently, the students symbolically handed over the project to the Indonesian Ambassador H.E. Mayerfas as the representative of the government of Indonesia; and to the Dutch Climate Envoy, Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parma, representing the government of The Netherlands.
As was mentioned, the Climate Village Project was a collaboration between Sekolah Indonesia Den Haag students and Herenweg School students, aged 10-14 years, from 16 September to 1 November 2021, with the support of the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague and the Indonesia Nederland Society. In Minecraft, the students’ built climate adaptation and mitigation programs based on the situation in Malino that they identified through interviews with the villagers.
Ambassador Mayerfas stated the Climate Village Project could be implemented in real life. “This Climate Village Project can be a good contribution to the Indonesian Government and people, including in Malino. The Indonesian Government has conducted the Climate Village Program since 2016 and built the village in more than two thousand locations. If implemented in Malino, this project will contribute to the achievement of the Indonesian Government’s target to build 20 thousand Climate Village in 2024,” explained Ambassador Mayerfas.
The Dutch Climate Envoy Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme also welcomed the project. “The students in a creative and fun way find a solution for the world’s problem (climate change). The proposed solutions are in line with the problems faced in Malino, such as waste management. The Dutch Government is currently working with the Indonesian Government through the circular economy for waste management,” said Prince Jaime.
The member of the Board of Trusteesof the Indonesia Nederland Society and former Dutch Foreign Minister, Bernard Bot, who witnessed the handover stated, “This project can stimulate and reach out the policymakers. Hence, it would be good to integrate the project into the curriculum of primary education.”
The Climate Village project is a project in which the students learn about global citizenship. The students learn to approach a problem within predetermined frameworks from different perspectives. They learn to make their considerations and to articulate them. By entering into dialogue with each other, their learning process is stimulated and they make reasoned choices that they have to defend.
The Climate Village was constructed in 6 weeks and addressed seven main problems in Malino, these are clean water, waste, food security, wildfire, deforestation, electricity, and climate-related disease. They proposed to build a clean water filter; a waste management system; a farming and farmer’s market; a river around the forest to prevent wildfire; tree plantation; hydroelectric and solar panels; and a hospital.
The project has been a success and tastes like more. A follow-up project was soon rolled out which gave the school national acclaim. Van den Steenhoven said that the students would give a presentation in the town hall that very week. This result did not go unnoticed; Microsoft, VNG, Podemos, the PO Raad (Council for Primary Education) and two knowledge institutions want to work together with the school for the development of citizenship education. The project coordinator is Monica Bouman (PhD)
Wednesday, 24 November 2021, Munich, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: Bavaria’s Minister of State for European and International Affairs, Melanie Huml, received high-ranking representatives of the Chinese central government for bilateral talks at Prince Carl Palace.
The Prinz-Carl-Palais (Prince Carl Palace) is the official seat of the Bavarian Premier (Ministerpräsident) yet is normally used for representation purposes. It is named after Prince Carl Theodor of Bavaria, a brother to King Ludwig I.
The delegation was led by the Deputy Chairman of the Political Consultative Conference of the Chinese People, Wan Gang who was accompanied by Shi Mingde, erstwhile ambassador of the PRC in Germany (2012-2019).
The People’s Republic of China has been Bavaria’s most important trading partner since 2018. The Free State maintains partnerships with the provinces of Shandong (since 1987) and Guangdong (since 2004), which are among the top economic performing provinces in China. In addition to the latter, Bavaria maintains foreign representative offices in Shandong (Qingdao) and Guangdong (Shenzhen) and, since July 2018, in Sichuan (Chengdu).
One of the main topics of discussion was market access, and investment restrictions for European companies in China.
24-25 November 2021, Warsaw, Republic of Poland: Hamburg’s First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher travelled to Warsaw at the invitation of Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who attended this year’s Matthiae-Mahl as guest of honour in February.
In the run-up to Hamburg’s presidency of the Bundesrat in 2022/23, First Mayor Tschentscher encountered the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Prof. Dr Tomasz Paweł Grodzki. Additionally, First Mayor Tschentscher likewise visited the Pawiak Prison Museum as well as the Memorial to the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Instytut Energetyki, one of the largest research institutions in the field of renewable energy in Poland.
Dr. Tschentscher was accompanied for the high-level visit by State Counsellor Almut Möller, Plenipotentiary to the German Federation, the European Union and for Foreign Affairs. The German Ambassador in Poland Dr. Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven, partook at the bilateral rendezvous.
Rafał Trzaskowski, Dr. Peter Tschentscher and Almut Möller – Picture by Senatkanzlei, Pressestelle.
Tête-à-tête with the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski
The meeting between First Mayor Tschentscher and Mayor Trzaskowski took place at noon. Both parties wished to deepen the cooperation between their two cities. The exchange, lasted several hours, and focused on climate protection and the role of cities in implementing the European Green Deal.
As per statement below in its original German version, First Mayor Tschentscher said: “Worldwide, cities are responsible for 70 to 80 percent of all CO2 emissions; in the European Union, three quarters of all citizens live in large cities and conurbations. As European metropolises, Hamburg and Warsaw bear a special responsibility for the implementation of global climate protection goals. Together, we want to contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal through sustainable, innovative urban development. The climate-friendly transformation of the economy, our energy supply and mobility infrastructure are among the great challenges of the 21st century, which we can overcome more quickly if we work together.”
Bilateral conversation with Senate Marshal, Prof. Dr. Tomasz Grodzki
In the afternoon, First Mayor Tschentscher met the Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, Prof. Dr. Tomasz Grodzki. On the initiative of Senate Marshal Grodzki and former Bundesrat President Dietmar Woidke (incumbent Premier of Brandenburg), the German Bundesrat and the Polish Senate founded a friendship group in October 2021.
Its mission is to deepen German-Polish relations and strengthen cooperation between the two chambers. First Mayor Tschentscher represents Hamburg in the German-Polish Friendship Group. Senate Marshal Grodzki and First Mayor Tschentscher became acquainted to each other during a visit to the Bundesrat in September 2021, and used the exchanges in Warsaw as a possibility to enhance their personal relationship.
First Mayor Tschentscher said: “The German Bundesrat and the Polish Senate have maintained good relations for many years. We are very interested in a dialogue in partnership on important issues in Europe, including questions of the rule of law and a liberal society. I look forward to further deepening our cooperation with the Polish Senate in the run-up to Hamburg’s Presidency of the Bundesrat in 2022/23.”
State Counsellor Almut Möller_ First Mayor of Hamburg, Dr. Peter Tschentscher and German Ambassador Dr. Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven – Picture by Senatkanzlei, Pressestelle.
Commemoration of the victims of National Socialist crimes
First Mayor Tschentscher commemorated the victims of National Socialism in Warsaw with a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial in the courtyard of the Pawiak Prison Museum. During uprisings in 1943 and 1944, resistance fighters from the underground organisation “Armia Krajowa” (“Home Army”) and Jewish citizens in the Warsaw ghetto rose up against the German occupiers. Both uprisings were brutally put down.
6,000 people involved in the 1943 “Home Army” uprising were subsequently deported to the Neuengamme concentration camp in Hamburg and its outposts. A memorial plaque in the courtyard of Pawiak prison commemorates them. There is also a memorial plaque for the deportees of the Warsaw Uprising in the Neuengamme concentration camp memorial.
First Mayor Tschentscher: “6,000 members of the Polish resistance movement were deported to the Neuengamme concentration camp in Hamburg after the Warsaw Uprising. The Pawiak Prison Museum commemorates the victims of the suppression of the uprising and the deportation by the National Socialists. Germany and Hamburg bear a historical responsibility. The memory of the victims reminds us to stand up resolutely against nationalism, intolerance and discrimination. International understanding, democracy and freedom are the basis for a strong and peaceful Europe.”
Visit to the Institute for Energy Technology (Instytut Energetyki – IEn)
Following the meeting with Senate Marshal Prof. Dr. Tomasz Grodzki, First Mayor Tschentscher visited the Instytut Energetyki (IEn) later in the afternoon and spoke to Prof. Jakub Kupecki, who heads the Centre for Hydrogen Technologies at the institute. An exchange on the topics of the hydrogen economy and renewable energies against the background of the European Green Deal is planned.
The Instytut Energetyki is one of Poland’s largest research institutes in the field of innovative energy technologies. Among other things, the institute focuses on the energy transition and modern energy grids. The institute is subordinate to the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment.
The Hague deputy mayor for for Economic Affairs, International Affairs and Municipal Services Mrs. Saskia Bruines was very pleased when author Gerard Arp gave her his new book A walk in historic The Hague at her office in city hall. This 126 page book is a walking guide through The Hague with stories from international travelers from as early as the 17th and 18th century ago, giving us an interesting insight in what their thoughts were on The Hague. As the book cover says:
Go back in time, on a walk with guides who were here in the ‘golden age’ of The Hague. Their colorful stories, often funny or sarcastic, help us discover the history of sites and buildings that are still here. Many historic pictures and maps show the streets, buildings, men and women in that time.
The Hague was – and is – one of the important, international cities of Europe. This walk passes by historic sites, with stories and anecdotes about the buildings and the people who lived and died there. Where politicians like Van Oldenbarnevelt and De Witt were killed, where painters like Paulus Potter and Van Gogh lived and worked, where little Mozart and old Karl Marx lodged and walked, and where people prayed in hidden churches. On the way, (virtually) visit the many museums and listen to music of that time.
Besides the historic center, there are walks to nearby Scheveningen and the beach, in the old center of Voorburg, and in the historic wood and parks of The Hague. A great way for expats, visitors and ‘Haguenese’ to get to know the town.
QR codes to information on museums and other topics are provided serving the reader with easy accessible extra’s. This book is also available in the Dutch language.
Today, 26 November 2021, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Argentina) won the final round of the 9th Edition of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Moot Court Competition, Spanish version, held in ICC Courtroom I in The Hague (Netherlands). Due to current COVID-19 related restrictions, it was a hybrid hearing with judges present in the courtroom and students participating remotely by video-link. On the judge’s bench for this competition were ICC Judge Socorro Flores, presiding, and ICC Legal Officers Magali Bobbio and Juan Pablo Calderón.
Universidad de Nariño (Colombia) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) won, respectively, second and third places. The award for the Best Speaker went to Elizabeth López García of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Members of the winning team are Ana Ines Sangiacomo, Matías Lautaro Acacio, Victoria Issin and Marco Atilio Bellotti. The teams competed on a fictitious case, presenting oral arguments in the roles of the Office of the Prosecutor, the Defence and Legal Representatives of Victims, which were web-streamed live on the Court’s website and Facebook page.
The 9th edition of the Spanish version of the ICC Moot Court Competition is organised by the Ibero-American Institute for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice (IIH), with the institutional support of the International Criminal Court. Top students of 10 universities from 6 countries participated in the preliminary stage of this year’s ICC Moot Court Competition.
In the context of its Academic Programme, the ICC supports the organisation of ICC Moot Court Competitions in Chinese, English, Russian and Spanish, with a view to also support Arabic and French versions in the future. These initiatives play a critical role in galvanising interest in the Court’s work with academic communities as well as in enhancing promotion and respect for international criminal law.
The Hague, 25 November 2021 – Judge Carmel Agius, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), yesterday concluded a three-day official visit to Zagreb, Croatia.
During the visit, President Agius met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Minister of Justice and Public Administration Ivan Malenica, and State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić. The Croatian Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dubravka Plejić Marković, was also in attendance.
President Agius provided the officials with an update on the Mechanism’s current activities and discussed a number of other topics, including the importance of regional cooperation for domestic war crimes prosecutions, as well as cooperation of the countries of the former Yugoslavia with the Mechanism. The discussions also advanced progress on the establishment of an Information Centre on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in Zagreb, including in relation to its location.
In addition, President Agius met with representatives of the highest courts in Croatia, namely the President of the Supreme Court, Judge Radovan Dobronić and President of the Criminal Department of the Supreme Court, Judge Damir Kos, as well as the President of the recently-established High Criminal Court, Judge Željko Horvatović. During these meetings, the Judges discussed technical matters including the jurisdiction and current judicial activity of their respective courts.
As part of the official visit, President Agius also presented a lecture to students of the Faculty of Law at the University of Zagreb regarding the establishment and mandate of the Mechanism and the legacy of its predecessor Tribunals, the ICTY and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Finally, the President attended an exhibition entitled “Sloboda se njegovim imenom zove” (“Freedom is called by its name”) at the National and University Library in Zagreb, which commemorates 30 years since the fall of Vukovar, and was shown part of the Library’s rare book collection.
This visit, originally scheduled to take place in April 2020, was the President’s first visit to the region of the former Yugoslavia since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The development of interaction with Afghanistan has been defined as one of the priority directions in the framework of Uzbekistan’s new regional policy aimed at building constructive and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring countries. Uzbekistan has always advocated for the soonest stabilization of situation in that country as an important condition of ensuring regional security, and a more favorable environment for developing the Uzbek economy, attracting investments and reinvigoration of foreign economic activity.
At the same time, profound shifts have occurred with regard to Afghanistan, which is increasingly seen as an integral part of Central Asia. The final document of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States in Tashkent in 2019 enshrined a regional consensus on supporting the peace process and involving Afghanistan in regional connectivity and infrastructure projects.
In March 2018, Tashkent hosted a high-level international conference on Afghanistan: “The Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Cooperation.” In his speech at the conference, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of implementing the trans-afghan transport and communication projects in Afghanistan to develop intercontinental transport corridors from East to West and from North to South by the shortest routes.
The Head of our State set a goal to intensify cooperation with South Asian countries and work on creating the Trans-Afghan transport corridor in 2020. The trilateral working group meeting was held in Tashkent with the participation of government delegations of Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan to implement the Mazar-e-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railroad project in February 2021.
The International Conference «Central and South Asia: regional interconnectedness. Challenges and opportunities» was initiated and conducted in order to address these challenges. In his speech at the conference, the President of Uzbekistan paid particular attention to the construction of transport and logistics infrastructure that would effectively connect Central and South Asia. It was stressed that the construction of Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railroad would allow to fully realize the transit potential of the two regions, generate the shortest route and significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods.
It is important to note that the meeting was also attended by representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, International Financial Development Corporation (USA), who confirmed their interest in the joint implementation of this project. The meeting resulted in the adoption of a joint action plan on the Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railroad project, and it was noted the importance of implementing the project on the principle of public-private partnership.
Meanwhile, the Taliban coming to power in Afghanistan has not weakened Uzbekistan’s aspiration to develop cooperation with Afghanistan. The President of Uzbekistan has paid again a particular attention to the Afghan problem and urged to prevent isolation of Afghanistan in his statements at the anniversary of SCO summit, SCO-CSTO meeting, 76th session of UN General Assembly in September this year. Uzbekistan, notwithstanding the complicated situation, has not ceased the work of the Uzbek-Afghan transport hub, the most important artery of food and oil products supply to that country, as well as the uninterrupted supply of the electricity to the neighboring country.
At the same time, the contacts between Uzbekistan and the new authorities of Afghanistan were intensified with a view to establishing bilateral economic cooperation. The Uzbek delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and members of the interim government of Afghanistan held talks in Kabul on October 7.
A delegation from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan held talks at the level of deputy prime ministers with participation of the representatives of various ministries and agencies in Termez on 16 October. These meetings were focused on border security, cooperation in the areas of investment, mutual trade, energy, international freight and transit.
The sides paid a special attention to the implementation of infrastructure projects, in particular the trans-afghan railroad «Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar». The Afghan side expressed its willingness to ensure the safety of Uzbek specialists involved in this project.
According to experts, this railway is a strategically important project and will connect the regions of Central and South Asia, as well as the Middle East. It will open for Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries the possibility of access to Pakistani ports in the Indian Ocean and will significantly increase the transit potential of Central Asia.
According to preliminary estimates, the length of the railroad will be about 600 km. The project implementation time may take up to 5 years and the amount of credit resources – $4.8 billion. The route will significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods between South Asian and European countries through Central Asia, as well as increase the volume of transit traffic through Uzbekistan. If the project is fully implemented, the transportation of goods from Pakistan to Uzbekistan could take 3-5 days instead of 35 days, and the cost of a 20-pound container could be cut by almost three times. According to forecasts, the volume of freight traffic could be up to 10 million tons.
The project will also help to develop the Afghanistan’s transportation network, which remains in poor condition. The length of Afghanistan’s railroads is about 100 km and runs in the border areas with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. The road network also requires further expansion and substantial investment.
In this regard, Uzbekistan’s proposals aimed at developing Afghanistan’s transport infrastructure, including the construction of the trans-afghan railway route “Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar” has been supported by the new authorities of the country and could be implemented.
In addition, this project is also beneficial for other countries of the region and the entire Eurasian continent, since the developed transport transportation along the vector “East-West” can be complemented by the formation of a connected transport and logistics network in the direction of “North-South” with the shortest access to the markets of South, South-East and West Asia. The development of trans-afghan transit can contribute to the implementation on a mutually beneficial basis of a number of major interconnection initiatives, including Russia’s «Great Eurasian Partnership», the Chinese “One Belt, One Road” projects and the EU strategy to connect Europe with Asia.
It is important to note that the creation of the Trans-Afghan transport corridor is an integral infrastructural part of the comprehensive program for the development of connectivity and cooperation between Central and South Asian countries presented in the speech of the President of Uzbekistan at the Tashkent conference.
Tashkent’s initiatives envisage the development of interaction between the two regions on a wide range of issues, including the formation of favorable conditions for the development of trade and economic relations and the growth of mutual investment, the introduction of digital platforms, the joint search for ways to ensure food security, the promotion of «green» development, enhancing of tourist potential of the two regions and cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
The overall intensification of trade and economic cooperation and the development of sustainable commercial ties between the two regions, including a progressive increase in trade and transit traffic through Afghanistan using the existing transport and logistics infrastructure, will be important for the implementation of the railroad project. In this regard, it is necessary to continue work on the formation of a contractual and legal framework for bilateral and multilateral trade relations between Central and South Asian countries, as well as the adoption of comprehensive trade facilitation measures to ensure faster movement of goods and border crossing.
All this would stimulate the growth of freight traffic between the two regions and the demand for transit of goods through Afghanistan, which is necessary to attract the interest of investors to participate in the implementation of this major infrastructure project.
In the context of the developing situation in Afghanistan, the resumption of work on the design of the Trans-Afghan transport corridor is politically important. In fact, by continuing to work on the design and construction of the new railroad, Uzbekistan and other project participants, including the new Afghan authorities, demonstrate their desire for positive interaction aimed at achieving long-term goals and objectives of improving the socio-economic situation, stabilizing and developing of the Afghanistan, its involvement in sustainable regional trade, economic and political-diplomatic relations.
The contacts with representatives of Afghanistan’s interim government related to the railroad project are allow to strengthen mutual understanding, creating conditions for broader interaction of Uzbekistan and other countries with the new regime in Kabul, assisting in national reconciliation in Afghanistan, stabilizing the situation in the country and the region. Solution of these tasks, in turn, is necessary to form a favorable environment for the financing and implementation of this mega-project.
In general, the construction of the trans-afghan railroad is the most important infrastructure project, which meets the interests of all states of the Eurasian continent and can have a tremendous positive impact on the development of Central Asian countries, trade and economic relations of Asian countries and their interregional interconnectedness, will contribute to building mechanisms for long-term cooperation between states. At the same time, Afghanistan will not be an obstacle, but a bridge for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between Central and South Asia as well as other countries and regions.
