Bangladesh – A nation en route to development

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Bangladesh – A nation en route to development

Interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abul Kalam Abdul Momen by Roy Lie Atjam

Prominent Bangladeshi economist, diplomat, and Foreign Minister Dr. Abul Kalam Abdul Momen came to The Hague on September 5th, 2021 to attend the Dialogue of the Global Center on Adaption (GCA), of which he is a board member. An open conversation with Diplomat Magazine set the point on Bangladesh’s goals and challenges.

The Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has been setting out a road map for Bangladesh to move from the LDC status to that of a fully developed country by 2040. At the moment, the UN has declared that Bangladesh meets all the requirements to qualify as a middle-income country (MIC). This transition is “a great accomplishment for the young nation” said the Minister and he believes that the key factor behind it lies in the leadership of PM Hasina.

Dr. Abdul Momen expressed that “achieving the MIC status could be regarded as a miracle when one considers where the young nation stood 50 years ago”. It was a rough journey as there were only a few nations such as India and Japan that supported Bangladesh; the country had to be self-reliant to reach where it stands today.

H.E Mr. M Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abul Kalam Abdul Momen.

PM Hasina leads with the motto “Where there is a will, there is a way; my land is fertile, and my farmers are hard workers” and under her guidance, Bangladesh today is a land of opportunities. The country has achieved food self-sufficiency, which allows for more funding in development projects that would have otherwise been used for food imports. These projects include energy production and Bangladesh currently generates 24,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. As a food independent nation, it is not surprising that agriculture is an important sector of the economy.

Funds are made available to subsidize the purchase of fertilizers at 16 Taka per kg, which is a big drop from the previous price of 68 Taka some time ago. In addition to agriculture, the garment sector is a vital pillar of the Bangladeshi economy as well as the pharmaceutical sector. Exports in the former in particular are up from 12 to 40 billion USD per annum. Remittances also support the economy, which generated 25 billion USD in the past year.

Bangladeshi workers can be found in the Middle East as well as many other regions across the globe. The nation’s GDP growth rate is at 5.2 percent with a GDP growth rate per capita of 4.0 percent as of 2020.

Diplomat Magazine’s publisher and editor with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s successes over the years are not limited to economic achievements but also encompass social achievements as well. The literacy rate has reached a high of 99 percent, with female education participation on the rise. At the moment, 53 percent of females participate in education, a significant increase from the previous 35 percent figure. This is in part because the Bangladeshi government has put in place a free scholarship scheme for girls and 336 million books are freely distributed at the beginning of each school year. In addition, the country’s poverty rate is declining to 3 percent and the government is making strides to eradicate poverty completely. Furthermore, life expectancy has risen from 61 to 79 years.

All of this is part of PM Hasina’s plan to build a Sonar Bangla or Golden Bangla. This was originally the dream of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – the Founding Father of Bangladesh – who wished for a prosperous Bangladesh that is free of hunger and poverty.

Bangladesh currently satisfies all the criteria of a nation en route to development and it is expected to be an upper-middle-income nation by 2030.

However, one of the greatest challenges posed to Bangladesh’s future development is climate change. The current state of our climate is exacerbating the river erosion problem in the country and a rise in sea level by one meter will have grave consequences for Bangladesh. If this is allowed to continue, approximately 30 million individuals of the population will be displaced. The recently published International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) report cannot be ignored. As many say, it is a wake-up call that stresses how climate change can affect an array of internationally guaranteed human rights; including rights to health, housing, water, and food. After witnessing the number of displaced people in the Balkans, Rwanda, Cambodia, and Myanmar, many say “never again” must this happen to any population.

However, Dr. Abdul Momen says “it is not enough to say ‘never again’ ” He stressed that industrialized countries must keep their promise of the 100 billion USD donation and suggested that 50 percent of it should go towards mitigating the impacts of climate change. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and the country needs assistance to combat and adapt to the situation. As climate change is a global issue affecting the entire world population, countries must unite to save the planet and help one another when possible.

Dr. Abdul Momen is optimistic that something good will materialize at the GCA conference this time since the USA is back in the Paris Agreement. Its representative is Mr. John Kerry and together with the UK, these two countries are serious about moving things along. On a domestic level, the government of Bangladesh has also formulated Delta Plan 2100, which is a comprehensive development plan focusing on economic growth, environmental conservation, and enhanced climate resilience. It lays out holistic and cross-sectoral actions needed to improve productivity and minimize disaster risks.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh with Diplomat Magazine editor.

Expanding on the issue of human displacement, Dr. Abdul Momen expressed that PM Hasina saved the face of the civilized world by taking in over one million displaced Rohingya that were facing ethnic cleansing. The Rohingya were part of the government in Myanmar in 1962 but this changed in 1982. Bangladesh has extended invitations to the Myanmar regime to come and talk to the Rohingya people but this offer has only been taken up once. The Rohingya case was brought before the International Court of Justice and the Myanmar government claims they have built houses for when the Rohingya returns.

At this moment in time however, not one Rohingya has returned to Myanmar. Dr. Abdul Momen called attention to those who comment on how sickening the situation is yet still invest billions of dollars in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the Myanmar military is prioritizing investments in sophisticated weaponry from China and Russia. He warns that “if no effective measures are taken, over time pockets of extremism and terrorism will emerge and attack Myanmar’s investors and friends. It is sad to see that a generation of Rohingya has been lost.” Dr. Abdul Momen is proposing to all media to start a global public awareness campaign regarding this human tragedy.

Similar to other countries throughout the globe, Bangladesh is currently battling against COVID-19. This pandemic has put strains on its critical agricultural sector; however, the first wave was successfully managed and the second wave was limited to 7020 fatalities in a population of over 166 million. President Erdogan of Turkey inquired how that was accomplished and Dr. Abdul Momen answered that Bangladesh has “God, a young population, and [it placed an] immediate halt to flights from the epicenter of contamination, and vaccination”. Bangladesh is among the first countries in Asia that started a COVID-19 vaccination program in January 2021. PM Hasina believes that vaccines are a public good which Western countries have a surplus of yet are reluctant to share. Instead, they have been used as a “negotiating tool”.

The G7 agreed to provide Bangladesh vaccines via COVAX and the UK also agreed to give vaccines directly. However, it was revealed that not a single vaccine has been provided by them. In addition, the country approached Russia for its Sputnik vaccine but the latter considers the demand too high; the current focus is on co-production but the project is on hold. On the other hand, an agreement has been signed with China’s Sinovac for co-production with Bangladesh’s Incepta. Bangladesh now has a free flow of WHO-approved vaccines to support the vaccination drive and the fight against COVID-19 in general.

ICC Prosecutor appoints Seventeen Special Advisers

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ICC Prosecutor appoints Seventeen Special Advisers

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr Karim A.A. Khan QC announced the appointment of 17 experts to serve as his Special Advisers pursuant to article 42.9 of the Rome Statute.

The appointments, drawn from different regions of the world with cultural, linguistic and gender diversity, bring on-board rich expertise and experiences from different legal systems and specialisations. These appointments form part of Prosecutor Khan’s vision, early in his mandate, to build on what has been accomplished to date and reinforce the Office’s capabilities to effectively and efficiently discharge its mandate under the Statute, and to strengthen specialisation on a wide range of issues touching upon public international law, sexual violence in conflict, crimes against and affecting children, slavery crimes, amongst other priority areas identified by the Prosecutor.

“I am delighted to welcome such an outstanding group of experts and I am grateful for their willingness to serve as my Special Advisers. I have no doubt that with their enormous experience and hugely impressive credentials, they will significantly contribute to the work of the Office and the cause of international criminal justice. I very much look forward to working with and learning from them.”, said Prosecutor Khan.

Prosecutor Khan has created various new posts of Special Advisers for the first time, including portfolios on the Crime of Aggression; the Darfur, Sudan Situation; Gender Persecution; Genocide; International Criminal Law Discourse; Islamic Law; Knowledge Transfer; Slavery Crimes and Public International Law.

He has further appointed Special Advisers Without Portfolio, again a novelty at the Office.  These Special Advisers are as follows:

  • •     Dieng, Adama – Special Adviser Without Portfolio (Bio);
  • •     Othman, Mohamed Chande – Special Adviser Without Portfolio (Bio); and
  • •     Van den Wyngaert, Christine – Special Adviser Without Portfolio (Bio).

The other newly appointed Special Advisers to Prosecutor Khan, their portfolios and biographies are listed below:

  • ·         Akhavan, Payam – Special Adviser on Genocide (Bio);
  • ·         Aubert, Véronique – Special Adviser on Crimes Against and Affecting Children (Bio);
  • ·         Bergsmo, Morten – Special Adviser on Knowledge Transfer (Bio);
  • ·         Clooney, Amal – Special Adviser on Darfur (Bio);
  • ·         Davis, Lisa – Special Adviser on Gender Persecution (Bio);
  • ·         Heller, Kevin Jon – Special Adviser on International Criminal Law Discourse (Bio);
  • ·         Kress, Claus – Special Adviser on Crime of Aggression (Bio);
  • ·         Lowe QC, Vaughan – Special Adviser on Public International Law (Bio);
  • ·         McCormack,  Tim – Special Adviser on War Crimes (Bio);
  • ·         Rabb, Intisar A. – Special Adviser on Islamic Law (Bio);
  • ·         Sadat, Leila Nadya – Special Adviser on Crimes Against Humanity (Bio);
  • ·         Seelinger, Kim Thuy – Special Adviser on Sexual Violence in Conflict (Bio);
  • ·         Sellers, Patricia V. – Special Adviser on Slavery Crimes (Bio); and
  • ·         Soufan, Ali – Special Adviser on Investigations (Bio).

The Prosecutor will be looking to appoint additional Special Advisers, in particular from the GRULAC and Asia-Pacific regions.

A meeting will soon be convened by the Prosecutor to plan the work ahead and to coordinate between the respective mandates and portfolios of the newly appointed Special Advisers.

Special Advisers to the Prosecutor are persons with outstanding professional credentials and expertise in their fields. They provide advice to the Prosecutor within their respective mandates as Special Advisers and may assist in training initiatives of the Office. They work on a pro bono basis and are required to sign a confidentiality agreement and are bound by the ‘Standards of Conduct’ stipulated in, inter alia, Annex I to Administrative Instruction ICC/AI/2016/002.

Specialist Prosecutor: SPO investigation focused solely on individuals, not KLA

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Specialist Prosecutor: SPO investigation focused solely on individuals, not KLA

In his opening statement at the commencement of the first trial to be held at the Specialist Chambers, that of Salih Mustafa, Prosecutor Jack Smith described the Kosovo Specialist Chambers as a court that was “inspired by Kosovar voices and created by acts of the Kosovar people” and which is evidence of Kosovo’s commitment to the rule of law.

Prosecutor Smith stressed that the business of a prosecutor was individual accountability for crimes that can be proven beyond reasonable doubt and that criminal responsibility for crimes before the Specialist Chambers was personal. “The SPO does not levy accusations against the KLA or against the war it fought for Kosovo’s independence. It is neither the job nor the desire of the SPO or myself to do so,” Prosecutor Smith said.

“As a prosecutor it is beyond my remit to argue or decide what wars were just and what wars were not, but I can say that war crimes on one side do not justify war crimes on the other side,” Prosecutor Smith added. “Perhaps most importantly, I also know that truth never damages a cause that is just.”

Prosecutor Smith made clear his view that this should be a court for, and about, victims. Noting that many victims “have been forced to wait two decades to ask for justice for the crimes committed against them and against their family members who are no longer with us,” he explained that: “If we are to properly serve these victims, there can never be an expiration date on accountability.”

With respect to the victims in the case against Mr Mustafa, Prosecutor Smith noted that while in other cases the SPO has brought, the victims were a mix of Kosovar Albanians, Serbs, Roma and other ethnicities, each of the victims of the accused were fellow Kosovar Albanians.

Prosecutor Smith said that: “These people were not enemies of the state of Kosovo, they were not spies. They were fellow community members, innocent Kosovar Albanians whose only crimes was to be viewed, for one reason or another, as an impediment to the KLA and certain of its leaders, and thus labelled collaborators.

“The truth, as will be laid before this Court in the coming weeks, is that certain KLA leaders including Mr Mustafa, used their powers to victimize and brutalize fellow Kosovars, including individuals whose only crime was to have political views that differed from those of the KLA and its leaders.”

Prosecutor Smith emphasized that the proceedings against Mr Mustafa must be conducted according to the highest international standards and urged the Court’s detractors to watch how it functioned in both the current trial and those that follow before judging it.

“The work of this Court represents opportunity,” he said. “An opportunity for Kosovo to put the issues of this war behind it once and for all. An opportunity for victims to have their voices heard, and heard in a setting where they can speak the truth without fear of intimidation or retribution.”

ICC to opening an investigation on the Philippines

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ICC to opening an investigation on the Philippines

Today, on 15 September 2021, the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court granted the Prosecutor’s request to commence an investigation in relation to crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court allegedly committed on the territory of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign.

On 14 June 2021, the Prosecutor filed a public redacted version of the request to open an investigation, initially submitted on 24 May 2021, requesting authorization to commence an investigation into the Situation in the Philippines, as provided for in Article 15(3) of the Rome Statute.

Pre-Trial Chamber I composed of Judge Péter Kovács, Presiding Judge, Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera, examined the Prosecutor’s request and supporting material. The Chamber also considered 204 victims’ representations received pursuant to Article 15(3) of the Statute.

In accordance with Article 15(4) of the Statute, the Chamber found that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, noting that specific legal element of the crime against humanity of murder under Article 7(1)(a) of the Statute has been met with respect to the killings committed throughout the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign, as well as with respect to the killings in the Davao area between 1 November 2011 and 30 June 2016.

The Chamber emphasized that, based on the facts as they emerge at the present stage and subject to proper investigation and further analysis, the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign cannot be seen as a legitimate law enforcement operation, and the killings neither as legitimate nor as mere excesses in an otherwise legitimate operation. Rather, the available material indicates, to the required standard, that a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population took place pursuant to or in furtherance of a State policy, within the meaning of Article 7(1) and (2)(a) of the Statute.

Philippines, State party to the Rome Statute since 1 November 2011, deposited a written notification of withdrawal from the Statute on 17 March 2018. While the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Statute took effect on 17 March 2019, the Court retains jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party, from 1 November 2011 up to and including 16 March 2019.

While the relevant crimes appear to have continued after this date, the Chamber noted that alleged crimes identified in the Article 15(3) Request are limited to those during the period when the Philippines was a State Party to the Statute and was bound by its provisions.

EU luncheon with focus on health hosted by Slovenia in Germany

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EU luncheon with focus on health hosted by Slovenia in Germany

Tuesday, 31 August 2021, Berlin, Germany: Slovenia’s Ambassador in Germany, Franc But hosted the second meeting of EU Ambassadors in Berlin within the framework of the Slovenian European Council Presidency. 

The luncheon was of particular relevance, for its the guest of honour was Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn. Hence the main topic on the agenda was a vivid discussion concerning the measures and restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, health cooperation amongst EU member states as well as vis-à-vis third parties. Minister Spahn, and the ambassadors exchanged views on possible EU mechanisms in order to prevent, or rather milden the societal effects of future pandemics. 

Discussions with Minister Spahn likewise focused on the current domestic political situation in Germany, and the upcoming federal elections and the other state elections, namely in the capital of Berlin, in Thuringia (early election) as well as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. 

The event was organised on the premises of the European Union Representation in Germany located a stone’s throw away from the Brandenburg Gate. 

For further information 


German Federal Ministry of Health: https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/en/ministry.html
————

Image courtesy of the Embassy of Slovenia in Germany

From left to right (all personalities with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Germany unless otherwise thus noted): Inga Skujiņa (Latvia); Maria Marinaki (Greece);  Dr. Vanni Xuereb (Malta); Maria Papakyriakou (Cyprus); Ronald van Roeden (The Netherlands); Susanne Hyldelund (Denmark); dr. Györkös Péter (Hungary); Host Franc But; Tomáš Kafka (Czechia); German Federal Minister of Health, Jens Spahn; Prof. Dr. Andrzej Przyłębski (Poland); Adriana Stănescu (Romania); Francisco Ribeiro de Menezes (Portugal); Dr. Gordan Bakota (Croatia); Elena Radkova Shekerletova (Bulgaria); Ramūnas Misiulis (Lithuania)

Westphalian Peace Prize ceremony for Zaev and Tsipras

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Westphalian Peace Prize ceremony for Zaev and Tsipras


Saturday, 28 August 2021, Münster, Westphalia, NRW, Germany: After a hiatus of almost a year due to the pandemic, the International Prize for the Peace of Westphalia 2020 was awarded in person, jointly to Alexis Tsipras, former Prime Minister of Greece, as well as Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, for their agreement in settling the North Macedonian name dispute.

The recipients share the prize of 100,000 euros with the climate ambassadors of “Plant-for-the-Planet” NGO, who received the Youth Prize.

The Peace Prize is awarded every two years by the Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe (WWL), in commemoration of the end of the 30 Years’ War in 1648. Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the award ceremony was held for the first time in the atrium of the State Museum of Art and Culture on the Cathedral’s Square as it offers more space for guests than the historic City Hall of Münster where the ceremony is normally conducted. 

Tsipras and Zaev received the award from the hands of Latvian President Egils Levits. In 2018, the three Baltic states were accorded the Peace Prize, laudator Levits representing the Baltic countries, symbolically handed over the bronze sculptures of the Westphalian horse to Tsipras and Zaev.

During his eulogy the Latvian head of state stated that the two laureates had made a significant contribution to the Prespa Accord, which in 2018 sealed an agreement in the long-running Macedonian name dispute. Thereby “not only signing a legal document, but also ending a problem for an entire region”. 

Levits emphasized the parallels between the Peace of Westphalia and the Macedonian settlement. “What we have in common is the spirit and will to overcome long-standing antagonisms and to find creative power together to create something the new, the better.” This spirit of good compromise that characterises the Prespa Agreement is what makes Tsipras and Zaev “worthy recipients of the Westphalian Peace Prize”.

In their acceptance speeches, the two politicians acknowledged their amiable cooperation, for which they had unselfishly put their own political careers on the line. Zoran Zaev also pointed out to parallels between the Prespa Agreement and the Peace of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia.

“In fact, the first article of the Treaty of Westphalia does not really speak of peace but of friendship between its signatories”, Zaev said. “This is also what the Prespa Agreement stands for!”

For further information:

 
Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe: https://www.wirtschaftliche-gesellschaft.de/presse/friedenspreis-2020/


Embassy of North Macedonia in Germany (HE Ambassador Ramadan Nazifi): https://www.mfa.gov.mk/en/page/37/europe/embassies

Embassy of Greece in Germany (HE Ambassador Maria Marinaki): https://www.mfa.gr/germany/de/


Embassy of Latvia in Germany (HE Ambassador Inga Skujiņa): https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/berlin/vestnieciba

Picture by WWL

Malaysia Ambassador present letters of credence

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Malaysia Ambassador present letters of credence

In the picture H.E. Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman, Ambassador of Malaysia and spouse. Ambassador Osman presented her Letters of Credence to HM. King Willem Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

By Roy lie Atjam

Noordeinde Palace The Hague, on the sunny morning of 8 September 2021, H.E. Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman, Ambassador of Malaysia was honoured to present her Letters of Credence to HM. King Willem Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

It was a privilege to receive such a warm welcome.

Ambassador Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman looks forward to furthering the long-established and warm bilateral relationship between the two friendly nations.

Ambassador Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman was collected and accompanied by a chamberlain of the King. To this end, the King made available to the ambassador a gala carriage and a so-called blue carriage for the embassy staff. The carriages were drawn by two horses. The gala carriage was preceded by two co-drivers in gala outfit. Two riders of the Mounted Marechaussee ride in ceremonial dress in front of and behind each carriage in procession.

H.E. Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman, Ambassador of Malaysia coming back from Noordeinde Palace.

A guard of honour and a military band was in place at the palace. The Guard of Honor consisted of a commander and two detachments from the Air Force Command.

The music was by the Marine Band of the Royal Navy & Tamboers en Pijpers. At the entrance of the palace were two honorary posts of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee Brigade The Hague.

After a drum salute and the national anthem of Malaysia, an inspection of the guard of honour followed, the ambassador subsequently entered the palace.  Upon departing Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman again received a salute of honour.

The new ambassador of Malaysia.

The Embassy of Malaysia hosted a reception in honnour of this memorable day.

We wish Ambassador Dato’ Nadzirah Binti Osman a successful and pleasant stint in the Netherlands.

Morocco shifts government

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Morocco shifts government

Friday, 10 September 2021, Fes, Kingdom of Morocco: His Sharifan Majesty King Mohammed VI charged renowned businessman, and hitherto Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Aziz Akhannouch with the task to form a novel government with himself serving in the position as prime minister. 

Akhannouch led his National Rally of Independents to a landslide victory in the latest general and municipal elections in Morocco; thus unseating Saadeddine Othmani and his Justice and Development Party, in power since 2011. 

The National Rally of Independents won 102 out of 395 mandates in Parliament. In the municipal elections it gained 9,995 out of 31,503 possible offices as well as 196 out of 678 votes in the regional ballots. 

Aziz Akhannouch has served in the Moroccan government since 2007. Additionally he is known as CEO of Akwa Group S.A., which manages assets and businesses in the fields of oil and gas, tourism, real estate as well as telecommunications. 

For further information 
Royal Moroccan Government:  https://www.cg.gov.ma/fr

Malta or the size of the idea

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Malta or the size of the idea

The Ambassador of Malta, H.E. Mr. Marc Antony Pace. 27 July 2021 Museum of Antiquities Leiden.

By Michelle Rahimi

On July 27th, Malta and the National Museum of Antiquities of Leiden organized an extraordinary exhibition showcasing Maltese culture and history.

The impressive exhibition took several years of preparation, investigation, and consultation from both Malta and the Netherlands leading up to the opening.

Despite the difficulties the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic brought about, including restrictions and the lack of personnel available from each country, the goal of hosting an opening exhibition was reached virtually and live.

The Ambassador of Malta, H.E. Mr. Marc Antony Pace, the director of the museum, Mr. Wim Weijland, and their team came together to work with one another despite the challenges this year has brought about.

Ambassador Pace addressed this in his speech, “The opening of this exhibition, even if in a virtual format, is even more special. It shows how much we can achieve when we work together beyond borders and cultures. Despite all the difficulties, the Rijskmusuem van Oudehen, Heritage Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority managed to make it happen.”

H.E. Mr. Mattew Neuhaus, Ambassador of Australia, Mr. Rick Bijkerk, Ms Angela Neuhaus and Ambassador Pace.

Malta obtains a long and exquisite history that predates entire civilizations including Ancient Egypt and Rome. It is also home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the oldest erected before the Stonehenge.

The Ambassador of Malta and H.E. Ms. Tatiana Pârvu, Ambassador of Moldova.

With stone being the archipelago’s only natural resource, its inhabitants came to be very skilled masons. Every phase of Malta’s history is said to have left an architectural legacy.

the director of the museum, Mr. Wim Weijland, the Ambassador of Malta and H.E. Mr. Nicolas Plexidas, Ambassador of Greece.

In the exhibition opening speech, H.E. Mr. Marc Antony Pace exclaimed “It is a well-known fact that Malta is a small country. But as a Maltese statesman used to often repeat “it’s not the size of the country, it is the size of the idea.”

It is quite apparent that the Maltese have made a lasting impression on the world, despite their size. Between 3600 and 2500 B.C., Malta experienced an architectural phenomenon and constructed megalithic structures across the island. These buildings were built to a very high degree of design and precision, with pieces of this unique spectacle displayed across the new exhibition.

The Ambassador of Lebanon. H.E. Abdel Sattar Issa, H.E. Mr Hatem Elsayed Mohamed Kamaleldin, Ambassador of Egypt and the Ambassador of Poland, H.E. Mr Marcin Czepelak.

“We hope that this exhibition will encourage those living in the Netherlands to visit Malta to experience first-hand the uniqueness of Malta’s prehistory and our other cultural treasures,” H.E. Marc Antony Pace mentioned in some of his closing remarks.

The new exhibition will no doubt foster and continue to build the relationship and partnership between Malta, the Netherlands, and all those who wish to experience the beauty of these cultures.

H.E. Mr. Marc Anthony Pace, Ambassador of Malta, H.E. Ms Dubravka Plejic Markovic, Ambassador of Croatia and the Ambassador of Cyprus, H.E. Ms Frances Lanitou.

The Ambassador of Poland, Mr Marcin Czepelak and spouse enjoyed the exhibition.

87th European ministers conference in Chemnitz

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87th European ministers conference in Chemnitz

8-9 September 2021, Chemnitz, Free State of Saxony, Germany: The Conference of Ministers in charge of European Affairs of the German Länder (EMK) consists of those ministers, senators, state secretaries and state councillors of Germany’s federal states who are responsible for European Affairs, integration and subsidiarity.

The Free State of Saxony is represented by Katja Meier, State Minister for Justice and Democracy, European Affairs and Gender Equality.

The EMK represents the interests of the Länder in European Affairs with respect to the German Federal Government and to the European Union (EU). In order to acknowledge and take into account the views of various Länder representatives, its position on current European policy issues and projects that have been drawn up by means of joint decisions and opinions that are conveyed to the Federal Government, relevant institutions in Brussels and a host of other stakeholders.

Within the EMK, the Länder also coordinate how they intend to raise awareness about European Affairs and promote the idea of Europe.

The Free State of Saxony is chairing the EMK from 1 July 2021 until 30 June 2022. Saxony intends to take this opportunity to work together with the representatives of the other Länder to help make the EU more cohesive, and to ensure that Europe is a more democratic and a more socially and environmentally fairer place. 

To underpin its Presidency, Saxony is proposing five priorities for meeting these goals :

  • 1. Cross-border cooperation, i.e., German-Czech relations
  • 2. EU citizenship and the future of the EU
  • 3. The European Green Deal: innovation, climate and energy – implementing the EU’s climate objectives with an emphasis on regions
  • 4. The rule of law, democracy and equality5. Flight and migration.

The heart of our programme lies in strengthening a sustainable, democratic, European society and focusing on the EU’s core values. The Saxon programme will continue to develop dynamically in the course of the Presidency, taking into account the hopes, concerns and wishes expressed by all the Länder.

For further information:  

Saxony’s Ministry of Justice and Democracy, European Affairs and Gender Equality: https://www.europa.sachsen.de/EMK-aktuelles-und-programm.html

About the Saxon chairmanship: https://www.europa.sachsen.de/download/EMK_EN.pdf

Picture by EMK, Jörg Riethausen. On the image from right to left:

First row: 

Roland Theis, State Secretary and Plenipotentiary for European Affairs of the Saarland; Melania Huml, Minister of European and International Affairs of Bavaria; Lucia Puttrich, Minister of Federal and European Affairs of Hesse, Plenipotentiary to the German Federation; Hostess Katja Meier, Minister of Justice and Democracy, European Affairs and Gender Equality of Saxony; Birgit Honé, Minister of Federal and European Affairs, Regional Development of Lower Saxony, Plenipotentiary to the German Federation; Katrin Lange, Minister of Finance and European Affairs of Brandenburg; Kristina Vogt, Senator of Economic, Labour and European Affairs of Bremen. 

Second row: 

Almut Möller, Plenipotentiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg before the German Federation, the European Union and for International Affairs; Britta Lenz, Permanent Representative of Rhineland-Palatinate for Federal, European and Media Affairs; Gerry Woop, State Secretary for European Affairs of the City of Berlin; Claus Christian Claussen, Minister of Justice, European Affairs, Consumers’ Protection and Equal Opportunities of Schleswig-Holstein; Mathias Weilandt, Saxony’s State Secretary for Justice and European Affairs.

Third row: 

Florian Hassler, State Secretary for Political Coordination and European Affairs at the State Chancellery of Baden-Württemberg; Thomas Lenz, State Secretary at the Ministry for Home and European Affairs of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania; Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, Minister of Federal, European and International Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia, Malte Joas Krückels, State Secretary for Media and European Affairs, Plenipotentiary of Thuringia to the German Federation; Dr. Michael Schneider, State Secretary and Plenipotentiary to the German Federation of Saxony-Anhalt. 

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