Minister Ximena Lombana swears in Vice Minister of Tourism, Ricardo Galindo Bueno – Picture by MINCIT
Wednesday, 21 July 2021, Bogotá, Republic of Colombia: Colombia’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, María Ximena Lombana Villalba, sworn in her deputy in charge of the tourism portfolio, Ricardo Galindo Bueno.
Ricardo Galindo Bueno, is a professional in Finance and International Relations, graduated from the Universidad Externado de Colombia.
In his professional career he has served as Deputy Comptroller, General Director of the National Road Safety Agency and manager of Proexport. In addition, he has held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He will also be responsible for continuing the implementation of tourism Law 2068 of 2020 in its four pillars: sustainability, quality, formalisation and reactivation.
14-15 July 2021, Prague, Czech Republic: For her first trip abroad after taking office in the capacity as Minister for European Affairs in January 2021, Melanie Huml deliberately chose the Czech Republic’s capital Prague.
In Prague, Minister Huml held numerous talks with high-ranking representatives of the Czech government and parliament with the aim of further developing and strengthening Bavarian-Czech relations. She met with Czechia’s Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek, with the Coordinator of Bavarian-Czech Parliamentary Cooperation Jan Bartošek as well as the Chairman of the EU Committee Ondřej Benešík, with State Secretary Dr. Jindřich Fryč and Vice-Minister Dr. Pavel Doleček at the Ministry of Education and the Czech State Secretary for European Affairs, Milena Hrdinková.
Specifically, Huml agreed with her Czech partners to intensify mutual youth exchange and language acquisition. The Czech Republic will be one of the focus countries of the “Youth Exchange Bavaria” foundation newly established by the Free State of Bavaria. A start-up project is to be a language animation and encounter programme for kindergartens and primary schools in the border region with the Czech Republic.
As part of an expanded language assistance programme, Bavarian and Czech students are to be given the opportunity to assist in language teaching as native speakers in the neighbouring country. With the Czech Secretary of State for Europe, Hrdinková, it was agreed to continue the exchange on European policy, especially on the latest proposals of the European Commission on the Green Deal.
Europaministerin Melanie Huml, MdL, in Prag vom 14.07. bis 15.07.2021
Bild: Bayerische Staatskanzlei
Fotograf: Vaclav Bacovsky
During their talks, Minister Huml stressed the need to move forward together after the Corona pandemic. “During the Corona restrictions, the close cooperation between Bavaria and the Czech Republic helped us a lot. The intensive exchange in the past months has made us grow even closer together,” said the Minister as per statement linked below.
With the Czech Foreign Minister Kulhánek, she agreed to draw up an overall inventory of cooperation at the meeting of the joint Bavarian-Czech intergovernmental commission to be held in November 2021 in order to advance topics and structures of Bavarian-Czech cooperation in their full breadth and to set new priorities. For example, the existing coordination for crisis situations is to be expanded, the exchange on topics of innovation and competitiveness of the economy is to be intensified, and cooperation in science and infrastructure is to be strengthened.
In this context, municipal and regional concerns are to be increasingly integrated into the work of the Commission in order to take into account the special importance of the common border region for Bavarian-Czech cooperation.
On 17 July 2021, the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) hosted the Third Asia-Pacific Forum of The Hague via online format bringing together judges and staff from the Court, and around 200 students and young professionals from the Asia-Pacific region. The event was co-organised by the ICC and The Hague Project Peace and Justice.
The event facilitated a dialogue on enhancing the contribution of international justice for the Asia-Pacific region as well as encouraging students and young professionals from the region to consider a career in the field of international justice. Out of the 123 States Parties to the Rome Statute, 19 are Asia-Pacific States.
“Despite the important contributions of the Asia Pacific, we do not have enough staff members from the region at the Court and we would really like to see that situation change in the future. We also hope that more people from the Asia-Pacific region come to work with us – it would help spread the understanding of the ICC, and over time, contribute to interest in and joining the Rome Statute among those States that have not yet done so,” said ICC President Judge Piotr Hofmański.
The first session of the Forum was reserved for presentations of ICC Judge Chang-ho Chung and Judge Tomoko Akane, who spoke on the topic of “Enhancing the Contribution of International Justice for the Asia-Pacific Region.”
In the second session of the Forum, ICC staff from the Asia-Pacific region addressed the topic of “A Career in International Criminal Justice,” by sharing their individual career perspectives and experiences with participants.
This Forum forms part of a broader effort to enhance global understanding and support for the Rome Statute and the Court and to promote cooperation at the regional level. These include the organization of or participation in high-level regional cooperation seminars and symposiums, technical events and workshops aimed at Government leaders and officials, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, academics and civil society representatives.
Thursday, 15 July 2021, Munich, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: Bavaria’s Premier Dr. Markus Söder and the Head of Bavarian Chancellery, Dr. Florian Herrmann, Minister of Federal and Media Affairs, welcomed a delegation of ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific region in a visit organised by the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (Ostasiatischer Verein).
The discussion with the ambassadors, and subsequent reception was based upon the possibilities to expand bilateral trade, and cultural exchanges between Bavaria and the larger Asia-Pacific region.
With exports worth €28.6 billion to countries such as Japan, New Zealand, Singapore or India, Germany’s most important trading partners outside Europe are lie in the Asia-Pacific region.
For further information German Asia-Pacific Business Association: https://www.oav.de
On the picture from bottom to top, from left to right: Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of Bavarian Chancellery; Prof. Dr. Ing. Axel Stepken, Chairman of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association; Dr. Markus Söder, Premier of Bavaria; Indonesia’s Ambassador Dr. Arif Havas Oegroseno. 1st stars: Laos’ Ambassador Phomma Boutthavong; Mongolia’s Ambassador Ganbat Bontoi Damba.
3rd row to the right, Brunei Darussalam’s Ambassador Pengiran Hajah Krtini Pengiran Haji Tahir.
4th row to the left, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Manori Premila Unambuwe. 6th row Cambodia’s Ambassador Phen Savny; New Zealand’s Ambassador Rupert Holborow. Left side of the stairway: Singapore’s Ambassador Laurence Bay; Japan’s Ambassador Yanagi Hidenao; Bangladesh’s Ambassador Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan; Viêt Nam’s Ambassador Dr. Nguyễn Minh Vũ.
By Dr Mayelinne De Lara, Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher.
The pandemic gave the world’s diplomatic community an opportunity to demonstrate its innate resilience, inventiveness, and sense of duty. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, diplomats kept on working incessantly to repatriate nationals, to look for vaccines for their countries, to ensure the logistics for saving the lives of millions, always maintaining diplomatic channels open regardless of the extremely difficult conditions.
Over the last year and a half, we have all had the opportunity to discover new ways of living and working, moving ahead during critical times thanks to the discovery of new solutions and new ideas. Diplomacy has been reinvented – and Diplomat Magazine has been there all the way to support you in this process.
In this edition of Diplomat Magazine, you will find an impressive article by Russian President Vladimir Putin reflecting on NATO expansion and European security, as well as on ideas for international cooperation from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This masterpiece should be read together with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s article, “The Law, the Rights and the Rules”.
The edition also features four more Ministers of Foreign Affairs exposing their views on current issues.
Argentina’s Felipe Solá and Paraguay’s Dr. Euclides Acevedo talk about the Southern Common Market and its 30th anniversary; Costa Rica’s Rodolfo Solano Quirós celebrates his country’s 200th anniversary; and New Zealand’s Foreign Ministers reflects on whether diplomacy can work over a webcam.
HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah
In addition, HH Sheikha Intisar al Sabah from Kuwait explains why mental health support needs to become a part of international humanitarian aid.
H.E. Mr. Felipe Solá, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic
Other Ministers and Ambassadors from many countries also expose their views on a broad range of important topics, including – but not limited to – the following: Jewish heritage in Albania; the restoration of Nigerian arts from Germany; the new challenges faced by the Croatian ambassador; the 200th anniversary of Greece; Serbia’s regional cooperation; Peruvian maritime rights; Panama commitment to the Empowerment of Women; China’s efforts to enhance its partnerships; the pillars of Romanian-Dutch relations; Georgia’s 30 years’ commitment to Euro-Atlantic Integration; the use of digital diplomacy by the Dutch General Consul in San Francisco; and Madagascar’s efforts to improve business and investment ties with Europe.
H.E. Dr. Euclides Acevedo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay.
Moreover, in this edition there is also space for other important topics. In a conversation with Punta Cana founder Frank Rainieri, we reflect on the revival of tourism after the pandemic; and in collaboration with IHE Delft Institute we explore the linkage between water, peace, and security.
Other subjects include the expansion of ISIS, international cooperation from the UAE to Colombia, Russian trade with Germany, as well as the analysis of the COVID pandemic from different angles.
Rodolfo Solano Quirós, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica
Besides these thematic articles, we also have wonderful stories from diplomatic spouses with unusual jobs, like Federal Agents or horse managers. And what about the next generation of diplomats? We explore the story of a worldwide famous designer, as well as that of two students from Indonesia in Europe.
H.E. Gioconda Ubera Rivera, Costa Rica.
To conclude, I would like to honour the memory of those who have left us, especially the ambassadors of Angola, H.E. Dr. Luis Jose de Almeida, and Costa Rica, H.E. Dr. Guioconda Ubeda Rivera, as well as the General Manager of the legendary hotel Des Indes, Coen Masselink. You will all be remembered.
H.E. Luis Jose de Almeida
I would also like to acknowledge the virtual support of ministers, ambassadors, diplomats, jurists, academics, politicians, students, and friends from all over the world: you all are Diplomat Magazine’s permanent support team!
Wednesday, 19 May 2021, Bogotá, Republic of Colombia: President Iván Duque appointed lawyer and top diplomat María Ximena Lombana Villalba at the helm of the country’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
The Minister Lombana Villalba is a graduate of the Universidad del Rosario Law School, holds a Master’s degree in International Business Law from Washington College of Law at the American University as well as a Master’s degree in Commercial Law from the University of Paris II.
In the diplomatic field, she has served as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Colombian Embassy in Spain, the same position she held at the Colombian Embassy in France, and as First Secretary and Chargée d’Affaires at the Colombian Mission to the United Nations’ Organizations in Vienna (Austria).
Likewise she was a Researcher at the Organization of American States. In the public sector, she has also served as Secretary General of Bancóldex and at the Ministry of the Interior.
The Hague – The Peace Palace in The Hague, the international symbol for “Peace through Law” and one of the most iconic buildings in the Netherlands, opens its doors today to visitors from all over the world. With advanced technology, this global icon may now be viewed virtually 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague Academy of International Law and one of the most prestigious libraries in the field of international law. During the First Hague Peace Conference in 1899, delegations from all over the world met to discuss international justice and disarmament. During the conference it was decided to establish the Permanent Court of Arbitration, for which the Peace Palace was subsequently built. Nowadays issues of importance to the world community are dealt with in the Peace Palace such as, amongst others, legal cases between Iran and the United States, between Ukraine and Russia or The Gambia versus Myanmar.
“The Peace Palace is a building for the world. It was built by the global community and naturally, now that we have the technical means, it should be accessible to the entire world” states Erik de Baedts, Director of the Carnegie Foundation which owns and manages the Peace Palace. During construction, nations were invited to contribute by donating monumental artworks or materials. Today, gifts from more than 40 countries can be admired in the Peace Palace.
Virtual visitors can admire the spectacular architecture, the mesmerising interior and all of the original details. For the online tour more than 400 High Dynamic Range photographs were taken with a 360° camera and then drawn together with the most advanced software. From today, the virtual tour is freely accessible via the website of the Peace Palace: www.peacepalace.org/virtualtour.
With the unique virtual 360° tour the Carnegie Foundation is responding to a need to make the Peace Palace more accessible.
This iconic building is the showcase for The Hague as “International City of Peace and Justice”. The Peace Palace is, however, not a museum but a working palace and a courthouse. Due to court proceedings and security, the palace has only limited accessibility for visitors. Thanks to the virtual tour, the Peace Palace may now be “visited” at any time.
During lockdown the Carnegie Foundation developed exclusive online guided tours for groups that have been a great success and which are booked primarily by law firms and student associations. Director De Baedts: “The new virtual 360° tour is now making the Peace Palace accessible online for individuals. We want to open our doors to everyone regardless of where they come from or their background without hindering the court sessions. The building, its history, its interior and, of course, the work undertaken by the institutions in the palace, can inspire people worldwide: peace is possible by fighting in the courtroom rather than on the battlefield.”
ICC Pre-Trial Chamber A confirms charges of offences against the administration of justice and commits suspect to trial
Today, 15 July 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber A (Article 70) of the International Criminal Court confirmed the charges of offences against the administration of justice against Paul Gicheru and committed him to trial.
Pre-Trial Chamber A, composed of Judge Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou, based its decision on the evidence and submissions presented by the Prosecutor and the Defence.
The Chamber found that there are substantial grounds to believe that Mr Gicheru committed, as a co-perpetrator, or under alternative modes of liability, offences against the administration of justice (article 70(1)(c) of the Rome Statute) between April 2013 and the closure of the Ruto and Sang case on 10 September 2015, in Kenya. The offences were allegedly committed in the furtherance of a common plan implemented by a group of persons including Mr Gicheru, with the ultimate goal of undermining the Prosecution’s case in the Ruto and Sang case.
Specifically, with relation to eight witnesses, Mr Gicheru and other members of the common plan allegedly identified, located, and contacted the witnesses, offered and/or payed them financial or other benefits, and/or threatened or intimidated them, in order to induce them to withdraw as Prosecution witnesses, refuse to or cease cooperating with the Prosecution and/or the Court, and/or to recant the evidence which they had provided to the Prosecution.
The decision on the confirmation of the charges only serves to determine whether the Prosecutor’s case should proceed to trial. It does not establish the guilt of the accused person, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a trial chamber of the Court.
In cases concerning offences against the administration of justice (Article 70 of the Statute), pursuant to Rule 165(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence parties do not have the possibility to appeal a decision on the confirmation of the charges under Article 82(1)(d) of the Statute.
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte has sent a congratulatory message to Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on victory in early parliamentary elections. The congratulatory message reads, in part:
“The free and competitive parliamentary election shows Armenia’s commitment to continuing down the democratic path it has been following since its Velvet Revolution. The reforms and democratic changes in Armenia have not gone unnoticed. My sincere hope is that you will continue these important reforms, despite the challenging security situation of which I am well aware.
I look forward to continuing to work with you, and I am confident that together we can successfully foster the close partnership between Armenia and the Netherlands. As a country that believes strongly in the principles of democracy and good governance, the Netherlands will continue to support Armenia in implementing reforms, especially in the areas of democratization and the rule of law. We will also keep pursuing closer economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of agriculture and IT.
I strongly value our cooperation as part of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, and look forward to a fruitful Eastern Partnership Summit at the end of this year. Equally, I value our close cooperation within the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Your scheduled visit to the Netherlands in April of this year unfortunately had to be postponed on the account of pandemic in both our countries. I sincerely hope 2022 will be better in this regard, and I look forward to welcoming you to the Netherlands in 2002, to mark the successes of 30 years of diplomatic relations.
I wish you every success in addressing the challenges facing Armenia, in the best interest of the Armenian people.”
In the picture Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
