Ambassador Michael Ohnmacht and President Mohammed El Menfi – Picture by Unity Government of Libya.
Thursday, 9 September 2021, Tripoli, State of Libya: Germany’s Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs,Ā Heiko MaasĀ was in Tripoli to re-open the country’s diplomatic mission two days after the formal accreditation of the country’s top envoy in Libya, AmbassadorĀ Michael Ohnmacht.Ā
Maas spoke during his opening remarks ofĀ a ‘new chapter’ in German-Libyan relations, seven years after the previous German chancery was shut down, another one is opening to aid Libya’s Unity Government in the colossal task of re-building the country. Elections have been set for 24 December of this year, after aĀ government recognisedĀ by the international community was formed in the spring. There are still many open questions as to the constitutional framework for the elections, and itsĀ modus operandi.Ā
The German Embassy had been abandoned in 2014, and its operations moved to Tunisia thereafter.
In 2018 German diplomats resumed working visits to Libya, and since 2020 they had been able to serve on Libyan soil for approximately one week monthly. The chancery’s edifice is shared with the Dutch Embassy as well as an Italian demining mission.Ā
During theĀ II Libya ConferenceĀ hosted back in June in Berlin by the German Federal Government, foreign powers agreed to support the departure of foreign mercenaries active in the country, however, the latter is yet to materialize. Approximately 18,000 mercenaries and foreign troops are currently active in Libya, albeit the UN, Germany and other countries are attempting to clear them out of the country.Ā
The German reactivation of its diplomatic mission is deemed by international experts as a possible step to re-opening a mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the future.Ā Heiko MaasĀ has reiterated that such step will only be taken with the support of the international community. CurrentlyĀ Qatar is a protectorĀ power for various European countries, and the U.S.A. in Kabul.Ā
Germany’s top envoy in Tripoli is Ambassador Michael Ohnmacht, who speaks fluent Arabic and hitherto had been serving as the Head of the Middle East Department at the German Foreign Office (2017-2021). He presented his credentials to the Chairman of Libya’s Presidential Council,Ā Mohammed Yunus El Menfi, on Tuesday, 7 September 2021.Ā
Ambassador Ohnmacht joined the diplomatic service in 1998, and has hitherto served in Palestina, Lebanon, France, Saudi Arabia and now in Libya.Ā
For the fifth consecutive year, the Diplomats Fun-Run and Walk took place in the Haagse Bos Park in the vicinity of Chalet ten Bosh. The date was on Sunday 5th September 2021.
Ms Olga Bondarenko, First Secretary, Embassy of Ukraine.
The event was organized by Diplomat Magazine to promote networking amongst the diplomatic community in The Hague. The Fun-Run and Walk might contribute to a healthy lifestyle, it will serve as a call for more active outdoor sporting activities for diplomats and others.
H.E. Mr. Firkat Akhundov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ms. Tatiana PĆ¢rvu, Ambassador of Moldova, H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica and his spouse Breatriz.
After taking some commemorative pictures, a good number of diplomats and representatives of International Organisations joined in the 5 km run or 3 km walk during a fantastic spring morning. Diplomats from all continents: Azerbaijan, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Germany, Ukraine, USA, Philippines, and others joined the sportive occasion. The joyous outdoor event has been an excellent opportunity to meet again after a long time.
Ms Cynthia Kwasie, Consular Officer, Embassy of Ghana, Mr. Khuta Salia, Counsellor, Embassy of Georgia and the Ghana Minister Counsellor, Mohammed Habid Idris.H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica, H.E. Ms. Marisol AguĢero Colugna, Ambassador of Peru and the Peruvian diplomat, Ms. Francis Chavez.
The V Diplomats Fun Run & Walk concluded with a nice lunch on the terrace of Chalet ten Bosch.
Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) President Ekaterina Trendafilova and Registrar Dr Fidelma Donlon took part in an interactive Outreach event with civil society and journalists in Mitrovica today, where they explained the activities of the court and how it is ensuring fair, impartial, independent and secure proceedings.
Participants expressed their views and asked questions during the meeting. The KSC has been conducting Outreach with people in communities across Kosovo since the start of its work.
During their first visit since the start of proceedings, the President and Registrar felt it was vitally important to continue the practice of going to where people live to make the court and its work accessible to the public.
President Ekaterina Trendafilova and Registrar Dr. Fidelma Donlon.
In order to comply with the current COVID-19 measures and ensure safe participation for everyone, participants engaged in the event both in-person and online. At the meeting, the President spoke about the history of the establishment of the court and the current stage of proceedings. The President was grateful to be given the opportunity to talk about the court and answer questions. To this end, she emphasized that the court remains committed to communicating in an open and transparent manner about the work of the institution and its proceedings.
The Registrar spoke about the robust system of witness protection in place, victimsā participation and how the Registry ensures the management of detention facilities in line with all international standards. āVictims can continue to apply to participate in proceedings and I assure everyone that the application process is confidential and secure. The Victimsā Participation Office stands ready to assist and answer any questions in confidence,ā the Registrar said.
Today, 8 September 2021, Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court composed of Judge Joanna Korner, Presiding Judge, Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou and Judge Althea Violet Alexis-WindsorĀ scheduled the opening of the trial in the caseĀ The Prosecutor v. Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”) for 5 April 2022.
Mr Abd-Al-Rahman was transferred to the ICC’s custody on 9 June 2020, after surrendering himself voluntarily in the Central African Republic.
His initial appearance before the ICC took place on 15 June 2020. The confirmation of charges hearing was held before Pre-Trial Chamber II from 24 to 26 May 2021.
OnĀ 9 July 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court unanimously, issued a decision confirming all the charges brought by the Prosecutor against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”) and committed him to trial before a Trial Chamber.
The 31 charges include intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such, as a war crime; murder as a crime against humanity and as a war crime; pillaging as a war crime; destruction of the property of an adversary as a war crime; other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity; outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime; rape as a crime against humanity and a war crime; forcible transfer as a crime against humanity; persecution as a crime against humanity; torture as a crime against humanity and a war crime; cruel treatment as a war crime; attempted murder as a crime against humanity and a war crime.
Se comparte con la comunidad peruana y amigos del PerĆŗ residentes en los PaĆses Bajos el segundo podcast realizado por esta Embajada, a cargo la diplomĆ”tica y abogada peruana Francis ChĆ”vez Aco, titulado “El rol de la diplomacia peruana en el reconocimiento de la independencia del PerĆŗ por EspaƱa”. En la referida presentaciĆ³n, la ponente abordarĆ” los aspectos histĆ³ricos, jurĆdicos, polĆticos y diplomĆ”ticos concernientes al reconocimiento de la independencia del PerĆŗ por parte de EspaƱa. Ā”Que lo disfruten!
#BicentenarioPeru #DiplomaciaCulturalPeru #IndependenciadelPeru #ReconocimientodeEspaƱa
In January 2021, eight months ago, when rumours about the possibility of appointment of Christian Schmidt as the High Representative in Bosnia occurred for the first time, I published the text under the title āHas Germany Lost Its NATO Compass?ā. In this text I announced that Schmidt was appointed to help Dragan ÄoviÄ, the leader of the Croatian HDZ party, to disrupt the constitutional structure of Bosnia-Herzegovina and create preconditions for secession of the Serb- and Croatian-held territories in Bosnia and the countryās final dissolution. I can hardly add anything new to it, except for the fact that Schmidtās recent statements at the conference of Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft have fully confirmed my claims that his role in Bosnia is to act as ÄoviÄās ally in the latterās attempts to carve up the Bosnian Constitution.
Schmidt is a person with a heavy burden, the burden of a man who has continuously been promoting Croatian interests, for which the Croatian state decorated him with the medal of āAnte StarÄeviÄā, which, in his own words, he āproudly wearsā and shares with several Croatian convicted war criminals who participated in the 1992-1995 aggression on Bosnia, whom Schmidt obviously perceives as his ideological brethren. The question is, then, why Germany appointed him as the High Representative in Bosnia?
Germanyās policy towards Bosnia, exercised mostly through the institutions of the European Union, has continuously been based on the concept of Bosniaās ethnic partition. The phrases that we can occassionaly hear from the EU, on inviolability of state boundaries in the Balkans, is just a rhetoric adapted to the demands by the United States to keep these boundaries intact. So far, these boundaries have remained intact mainly due to the US efforts to preserve them.
However, from the notorious Lisbon Conference in February 1992 to the present day, the European Union has always officially stood behind the idea that Bosnia-Herzegovina should be partitioned along ethnic lines. At the Lisbon Conference, Lord Carrington and Jose Cutileiro, the official representatives of the then European Community, which has in the meantime been rebranded as the European Union, drew the maps with lines of ethnic partition of Bosnia-Herzegovina, along which the ethnic cleansing was committed, with 100.000 killed and 1,000.000 expelled, so as to make its territory compatible with their maps.
Neither Germany nor the European Union have ever distanced themselves from the idea they promoted and imposed at the Lisbon Conference as āthe only possible solutionā for Bosnia, despite the grave consequences that followed. Nor has this idea ever stopped being a must within their foreign policy circles, as it has recently been demonstrated by the so-called JanÅ”a Non-Paper, launched a couple of months ago, which also advocates the final partition and dissolution of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Such a plan is probably a product of the powerful right-wing circles in the European institutions, such as Schmidtās CSU, rather than a homework of Janez JanÅ”a, the current Prime Minister of Slovenia, whose party is a part of these circles, albeit a minor one. To be sure, Germany is not the original author of the idea of Bosniaās partition, this author is Great Britain, which launched it directly through Lord Carrington at the Lisbon Conference. Yet, Germany has never shown a will to distance itself from this idea, nor has it done the European Union. Moreover, the appointment of Schmidt, as a member of those political circles which promote ethnic partition as the only solution for multiethnic countries, testifies to the fact that Germany has decided to fully apply this idea and act as its chief promoter.
In this process, the neighbouring countries, Serbia and Croatia, with their extreme nationalist policies, can only act as the EUās proxies, in charge for the physical implemenation of Bosniaās pre-meditated disappearance. All the crimes that Serbia and Croatia committed on the Bosnian soil – from the military aggression, over war crimes, ethnic cleansing and genocide, up to the 30 year-long efforts to undermine Bosniaās sovereignty and territorial integrity – have always had a direct approval and absolute support of the leading EU countries.
During the war and in its aftermath, Great Britain and France were the leaders of the initiatives to impose ethnic partition on the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and now Germany has taken up their role. In such a context, the increasing aggressiveness of Serbia and Croatia can only be interpreted as a consequence of the EUās intention to finish with Bosnia for good, and Schmidt has arrived to Bosnia to facilitate that process. Therefore, it is high time for the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina to abandon any illusions about the true intentions of the European Union and reject its Trojan Horse in the form of the current High Representative. Ā
About the author:
Dr. Zlatko HadžidediÄ is the founder and director of the Center for Nationalism Studies, in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina (www.nationalismstudies.org).
Afghan ambassador to Italy, Khaled Ahmad Zekriya, gave an overall message to the nation, stating that the Westās war in Afghanistan is far from over during a recent interview at the countryās embassy in Rome.
āWestern forces may have pulled out of the country,ā he proclaimed, ābut this has only created a new set of issues that U.S. President Joe Biden and others will now be forced to deal with.ā
As allied troops were drawing down in August, Taliban militants seized control of Afghanistan in a sweeping offensive. Earlier this month, they announced an all-male interim government of hardline clerics, seasoned fighters and wanted terrorists ā immediately ignoring calls from the international community to take a more inclusive approach.
That has left Afghanistanās foreign diplomatic missions as the final outposts of the now-deposed government erected after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
āThe government is exiled, scattered, but it is functioning, working on evacuations and with humanitarian organizations,ā Zekriya insisted. āIt is business as usual.ā
Afghanistanās foreign diplomatic staff remains loyal to the former government, according to Zekriya, reporting to caretaker President Amrullah Saleh. And theyāre trying to rally support to combat extremism in Afghanistan ā both within the ruling Taliban and among the terrorist networks they argue will now prosper.
Franceās Notre Dame Cathedral is finally stable and secure enough for artisans to start rebuilding it, more than two years after the shocking fire that tore through its roof, knocked down its spire and threatened to bring the rest of the medieval monument down, too.
The government agency overseeing the reconstruction announced in a statement Saturday that the works to secure the structure ā which began the day after the April 15, 2019 fire ā are at last complete.
The agency is maintaining President Emmanuel Macronās goal of allowing visitors back inside in 2024, the year Paris hosts the Olympics.
About the author:
Michelle Rahimi is a Diplomacy and International Relationās Masterās candidate at the School for International Training, located in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States of America.
She obtains an extensive passion for international relations with first-hand knowledge from traveling across many countries and is experienced in working with different teams and individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
Will America turn back to its historic isolation era? Because, according to Joe Biden āthe USA cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a warā as āAfghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.ā
Since the beginning of this century, the USA military has engaged in never ending war against many Asian countries to carry out its divine aspect for flourishing democracy. But the imposing democracy has been rejected, even, by the extreme admirers of democracy in the USA invaded totalitarian countries. At the end of days, the USA divine intervention became aloof from the people in different countries such as Iraq, Libya or Afghanistan. It also proved that the imposed democracy is not better option of the totalitarian system. The USA people became frustrated with such meaning less war and bloodshed.
Thus, the prevailing situation is now demand to re-evaluate the USA foreign policy and look back to the last centuryās USA isolation.
During the 1930s, the Great Depression and the tragedy of in World War I pushed American public opinion toward isolationism. Therefore, the USA government put a policy to non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and even, non-entanglement in international politics.
The Japanese sudden air-raid on the USA- pacific fleets in 1941 shifted public opinions and the USA broke up isolation policy by engaging in the second-world war on the side of the Allies.
During the world war, America was undamaged at home and gradually geared up its global influence.
After the end of war, The USA elevated in the apex of the global economy as it overstepped the global dominance of old colonial countries of Europe.
After the end of second-world war, the eco-political structures of Europe were highly unstable and totally ruined. Although the Axis Powers lost the war but indiscriminately, all the inhabitants of Europe were plunged into immense suffering in the post war era. In this circumstance, the US Marshall Plan Aid made a partial contribution for economic recovery and political integrity of the Western Europe. Besides, the move was clearly intended to strengthen the US economy and consolidated the US role as a greatest global player.
The United States investment in the Europe mitigated the war-fear of continent for centuries. In addition; the United States turned away from its traditional isolationism and got the leadership of the free world.
The war-defeated Japan and Germany welcomed the USA military presence as protection from the Russian retaliation and as a saviour of the capitalism.
The upshot of the USA global role following the world war contributed to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countering the global expansion of communism.
But the USA interferences were rebuffed in Vietnam, Korea and other Asian countries. Ignoring the peopleās phycology, the USA engaged in long-term fatiguing war in Asia.
The USA involvement in Korea war failed to creation of the North Korea republic, whereas, the USA evaded from Vietnam in disgraceful way which consolidated the communist regime in Vietnam.
In the beginning of twenty-first century in 2001, Bushās Operation Enduring Freedom launched to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and wash out Osama bin Ladenās terrorist network.
Two years later, the USA President George W. Bush switched on another Gulf War āto disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Husseinās support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.ā The USA regime change mission in Iraq was without approval of the UN and some of its NATO allies including France and Germany.
The people of these countries set aside the USA designated democracy moreover, the US forces became an occupational force to them.
These two incomprehensible wars had no justification for long-term blood-shading of the USA soldiers.
Former US President Donald Trump was the pathfinder of 21-centuryās American Isolation policy as he adopted his āAmerica Firstā agenda to retreat from a leading contributor to its traditional allies.
He raised the question of the existence of NATO and pushed the alliance to the verge of break up.
He pulled out from the Paris climate treaty, the Iranian nuclear deal and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. He also reduced the USā global responsibilities in the UNESCO, the United Nations Human Rights Council and the World Health Organization.
Significantly, he began a large repatriation of US soldiers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
In October 2019, Trump launched a drive to withdraw the US troops from northern Syria. Trump also restrained from the opportunity to oust NicolƔs Maduro in Venezuela.
In his tenure, former US President Donald Trump also avoided further direct war.
Joe Biden sticks to the Isolations policy of his predecessor Donald Trump specially, while he deals in Afghanistan issues. `I will not repeat the mistakes weāve made in the past.ā Biden reaffirmed.
Joe Biden declared the end of the 20 years USA invasion in Afghanistan war worth $2.26 trillion ā the longest war in American history.
But the USA pull-out from Afghanistan annoyed its Asian allied specially Israel furthermore, the Asian power balance extensively tilts towards China.
āMatters in Asia ultimately must be taken care of by Asians. Asiaās problems ultimately must be resolved by Asians and Asiaās security ultimately must be protected by Asians.ā The Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Shanghai on 21 May 2014. Indicating the USAās interference in Asia, Xi called upon Asian countries to be united and forge a way together, rather than get involved with third party powers. The Taliban got a prompt clapping from China after conquering Kabul, even before forming Taliban-government in Afghan capital. There is nothing to hide the Chinese desires to be a head honcho in Asian.
The USA core allies of the Asian-pacific regions became frustrated with the back out as the USA left the territory to China for implementing the Chinese-dream.
However, the USA Vice President Kamala Harris assured the allies in Asia-pacific regions as saying the US would “stand with our allies in the face of threatsā during a speech made in Singapore on the first leg of a South East Asian tour recently.
She perceived a hint of consolidating the USA military presence in the region to counter any Chinese offence.
The stance of Ms Harris has contradicted the perception of the USA isolation in 21st century.
Moreover, Joe Biden in his speech clarified the USA overseas mission in future as saying āwe can strike terrorists and targets without American boots on the ground ā or very few, if needed.ā
He also hinted that the USA might transmute the conventional war-strategy and introduce cyborg or star war technologies as like as in the science-fictions. The USA administration can assign multi-billionaires like Elon Musk of SpaceX or Jeff Bezos of aerospace to invent weaponries for star-wars in a bid to destroy the enemy of the USA in Afghanistan or elsewhere of the world āwithout American boots on the ground.ā
Therefore the USA repatriation from Afghanistan or Asia regions is not meant that the USA would be isolated from the global politics or be restrained from further military invasion.
About the author:
Sazzad Haider, Photographer Habib Raza.
Sazzad Haider is a writer, journalist and filmmaker living in Bangladesh. He edits The Diplomatic Journal.Ā
We all know The Hague as our elegant city; on one hand our tulipes, bikes, beaches, herring and āstroopwafelsā and on the other hand as a centre of diplomacy and negotiations.
Then Covid appeared and it was hard; it surprised and shocked the entire world, communities, families and individuals. Suddenly time stood still, diplomats were united in isolation, business and negotiations were done from a distance and online, bowing and waving to each other at distance instead of shaking hands, washing them 20 times a day, wearing masks and gloves.
Thanks to technology we all managed to connect virtually and keep in touch but offices, cafes and restaurants were empty, no hugging among friends, no more spontaneous get-togethers and almost alienated from the rest of the world. And the big question: how long will it last ?
Of course all the above had impact on the housing market.
We had numerous clients, already residing in The Hague, buying properties more than ever. Times could not have been more busy than during the last 1 Ā½ year. Everybody needed more space, space where they could work quietly and having online meetings but also family life became more and more important because of social restrictions.
A lot of properties were purchased from a distance and purchase prices went through the roof. The purchase market is now more tensed than it has been in 30 years. About 6 years ago consumer confidence found its way and since the beginning of Covid prices increased even more. Buying for the asking price is not possible anymore, the value is in most cases already higher than the advertised price and on top of that a buyer needs a lot of own capital to secure the house they want.
The rental market however, with respect to family houses, was at a very low point. Home owners decreased their monthly prices, just to cover the mortgage and expenses, hardly anybody new crossed the borders to start a new adventure in another city. Since one month this also has changed, houses and apartments in each price range rent out again and we are having more and more requests from new clients to find them a nice home.
We are extremely happy that more and more diplomats and expats are coming to our city again. Restrictions are still there but we see a change, a change that gives us hope for a more ānormalā way of life.
We have missed them and are very much looking forward to give them A WARM WELCOME AGAIN TO OUR ELEGANT CITY.
Meike Buma
That is what our goal is for our diplomates, a warm welcome in your new home city.
When you are coming to The Hague, a house is the first thing you are looking for, for you and your family. A home where you feel safe, in an area where each member of your family feels comfortable, where you can also go out for diner with your family and (new) friends and with nice elegant shops and cafes.
You probably do not speak the language, you do not know where to start, what are the nice areas, how do you know you are making the right decisions and what about legal matters such as contracts and other documents etc. You will have a lot of questions and you need professional guidance with personal involvement. We will be this person for you, we will be your guide and advisor.
We guide you from the very start until the moment you will have the key of your new home (and beyond). In most cases we have contact with our clients already the moment they take the decision to move to The Hague. We will guide you on your new adventure, a flawless process without worries, finding the right area, giving you advice and tips on all subjects and secure your perfect home. We are your partner in The Hague.
Apart from our standard services we offer tailormade packages depending on your specific needs. We can discuss this during our personal meeting, online or at our office.
