Nord Stream 2: To Gain or to Refrain?

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Nord Stream 2: To Gain or to Refrain?

Why Germany Refuses to Bend under Sanctions Pressure

By Yvana Lima.

The chances of the sanctions war around Nord Stream 2 to rage on after the construction of the pipeline is finally over seem to be high. That said, we have to admit, with regret or with joy, that it will be completed, and for the following reasons:

Germany, like any other European country, has set itself the task of abandoning coal and nuclear energy within the next few decades.

Simultaneously forsaking gasoline and diesel cars, which is something Europe dreams about, will inevitably increase the EU’s demand for electricity. However, green energy is unlikely to satisfy Europe’s energy needs any time soon. Hopes for cheap thermonuclear energy are unlikely to come true until 2050 at best. Therefore, in the coming decades, natural gas, Russian and other, will obviously remain the most convenient and cheapest fuel. At the same time, regardless of where the pipelines run, Russian natural gas will account for a significant share of the European and world markets. This is not politics – just a simple economic reality.

Despite the attributed environmental benefits of Nord Stream 2 and the Russian natural gas, the positive impact of replacing coal with natural gas remains largely unclear as it depends on the volume of methane leaking from the processes of gas extraction and transportation. Nonetheless, Nord Stream 2 presents itself as an attractive alternative for the EU as it would help decrease gas prices because Russia will be able to supply the EU with higher amounts of gas, thus, decreasing demand for expensive imported liquified natural gas (LNG).

Nord Stream 2, although a privately-financed commercial project, has political implications. Politics and economics are too closely intertwined, and in the short term at that. The abandonment of Nord Stream 2 will hardly weaken Russia and force the Kremlin to introduce democratic reforms. This will only result in Europe losing a good opportunity to effectively ensure its energy independence, as well as that of its Baltic and Eastern European allies, many of whom, unable to fully integrate themselves into European energy systems, continue to buy electricity from Russia.

At the same time, Nord Stream 2 will help make Germany a guarantor of the EU’s energy security. More and more people now feel that the sanctions against the Russian-German project are essentially meant to undermine Germany’s growing influence. However, even this abnormally cold winter has shown that political problems and competition for influence in the EU are taking a back seat to energy security issues. The disruption in LNG supplies from the United States has only underscored Europe’s need for the Nord Stream. Besides, when completed and controlled by Germany, Nord Stream 2 could be used as a means of pressure against Russia and Russian supplies which is exactly what Brussels and Washington want.

Yet, the United States continues to oppose the Nord Stream 2 project and, thus, trans-Atlantic tensions between Germany and the United States are on the rise. Like the Obama and Trump Administrations which opposed Nord Stream 2 and introduced tangible steps to halt its progress, the Biden Administration is too faced with a lot of pressure by American lobbyists and members of the Congress in order to push back and halt Nord Stream 2 progress and efforts. However, until this very day, US President Biden and his administration did not sanction the project, which could be understood in lights of Biden’s struggling efforts to repair relations with Germany after the Trump Administration’s accusations towards and troop withdrawals from Germany. Thus, although the current administration under Biden still opposes Nord Stream 2, it is reluctant to impose any sanctions because its priorities lie with repairing US-German ties in the Post-Trump era.

The United States is not the only opposing International player to Nord Stream 2, but even many Eastern European countries, including Slovakia, Ukraine and Poland are against the pipeline project in fear of geo-economic insecurity. For instance, it is believed that Nord Stream 2 would cost Ukraine approximately $2 to $3 billion in losses as the transit volumes shift from Ukraine to Nord Stream 2. Another argument put forth by European opposition to Nord Stream 2 is that it would undermine the EU’s energy solidarity or even a potential “Energy Union”; however, Germany and supporters of Nord Stream 2 often highlight that the imported Russian gas would not only benefit Germany, but rather all of Europe. The pipeline is expected upon completion to be able to transport 55 billion cubic meters of Russian Natural Gas to Germany and other clients in Europe!

Despite oppositions, threats of sanctioning and the earlier construction halt in December 2019, it seems that the Gazprom-Pipeline Nord Stream 2 will be completed and will go online soon as the Biden Administration continues to refrain from imposing sanctions.

About Author:

Ivana Lima, Research fellow from the Rio-based Universidade Candido Mendes. Ms. Lima is attached to the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Brazil Chapter Executive). She also liaisons with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Following the spirit of our common market

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Following the spirit of our common market

By H.E. Dr. Euclides Acevedo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay

The minister shared his views on the issue of the Covid vaccines, reactivation of the economy, 30 years of MERCOSUR and the role of Paraguayan ambassadors worldwide in promoting trade; he also sent a message to European investors.

I agree that the vaccines, which should have been universally available, were not well distributed and are not reaching everyone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay has tried to remedy this situation.  To this end we have resorted to all our international contacts to obtain more vaccines.

We should highlight the response and cooperation of Chile, India and Qatar, and the signing of a contract, that we can talk about today. India is sending two million doses, and of course, we signed a contract with the Russian Federation for one million doses almost a year ago. These vaccines have been coming in instalments. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made itself available to the Ministry of Health for the coordination not only of the acquisition of the vaccines but also for the logistics and the vaccination rollout.

The second point of the presidential proposal regarding the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to health and Itaipu’s Annex C, is in fact, the reactivation of our country’s Economy. As you know, there can be no economic reactivation without investment, and with no investment there can be no development. This means planning and working towards a fair distribution of what is generated.

In that sense the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not wasted any time and liaised with bilateral and multilateral organizations to identify new markets and set up long term projects. We turned to our neighbours, and to Mercosur, following the spirit of our common market. If we do not join forces in projects that lead to the economic prosperity of the block, it means that we are not really united. For this reason, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pooled its resources, its very competent professionals, liaised with the industrial union, with the FEPRIN, with the guilds, associations, with syndicates and with social organisations, seeking to work on a project of economic recovery.

Fighting the virus, preventing its spread or setting up a health system that can handle this sanitary emergency, is one thing, but we also need to think about what to do about those who have recovered and are healthy. It is no use having a healthy country if we do not have an economic project that will provide what is necessary. Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not neglected that aspect: to combat the pandemic and prevent the spread of the virus as much as possible, but at the same time stimulate the reactivation of our economy, using imagination, intelligence, and our human talents.

Thirty years of a Mercosur that started with great enthusiasm at a time when the countries in the Region were recovering our freedoms.

After thirty years we have an aging Mercosur that is almost paralysed, still foreign and contradictory.

This pandemic helped us realise that it is important to stimulate regional unity. Regional unity does not mean merely having a simpler customs system, or unifying our common foreign tariffs, it is not just that, but rather, setting up a development project for our continent, to face the challenges of the post-pandemic, a pandemic that caught us all unprepared.

I believe that thirty years on, at a time when we cannot meet each other except through this channel, we gave it a blood transfusion and regained the lost tempo. In the end, Mercosur might be our problem, but Mercosur is also our solution and our way out of this crisis.

My political seniority has led me to the conclusion that the Ambassador is both a spy and a sales rep.

A spy because they must find information, share this information with their metropolis, their headquarters; and they are sales reps because they need to sell, and to do so, it is essential that they know well the markets where they operate, so that we can start producing in response to their specific demands. Why produce what other countries are not going to buy?

In that sense, we with our ambassadors, who not only responded to last year’s repatriation with selflessness and worked hard searching for vaccines this year but are now fully dedicated to the reactivation of our economy and the re-foundation of our Republic. We now must stimulate economic activities that are market-oriented and production-oriented. We do not want to limit ourselves to star products such as beef and soya, but also value-added products. I believe that our vision is very clear, and our ambassadors are in permanent contact not only with us but also through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with our Producers and the Republic’s apparatus for the sector.

I think that at a time when information travels fast and where you can no longer lie, Europeans and non-Europeans know very well why they should come and invest in Paraguay. Here we will provide them with everything that they need in a State with political governance despite the ups and downs and the shortcomings typical of a democracy.

I would like to address in particular the Europeans. There is an agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, but that agreement has not yet been signed. It is important that Europeans understand that we can be an ally, rather than a dishonest competitor. Therefore, I think it is important for them to assume that what has been agreed has to be signed, otherwise, what has been agreed would become a fraudulent hope, which, I do not believe reflects the European culture and its tradition of solidarity.

Minilateralism for the future of Europe and its strategic neighbourhood

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Minilateralism for the future of Europe and its strategic neighbourhood

On the historic date of March 08th – International Women’s Day, a large number of international affairs specialists gathered for the second consecutive summit in Vienna, Austria. This leg of the Vienna Process titled: “Europe – Future – Neighbourhood at 75: Disruptions Recalibration Continuity”. The conference, jointly organized by the Modern Diplomacy, IFIMES and their partners, with the support of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, was aimed at discussing the future of Europe and its neighbourhood in the wake of its old and new challenges.[1] 

Along with the two acting State Presidents, the event was endorsed by the keynote of the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement, His Excellency Olivér Várhelyi. The first, of the three-panel conference, was brilliantly conducted by the OSCE Sec-General (2011-2017), current IFIMES Euro-Med Director, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier. Among his speakers was a former Deputy Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center Ms. Monika Wohlfeld. Discussing pan-European and regional issues of the southern Europe, this is what Dr. Wohlfeld outlined in her intervention.

By Dr. Monika Wohlfeld

The list of global and regional challenges that affect the Euro-Med region is too long to discuss here in depth. Clearly, the region experiences soft and hard security challenges and conflicts over ‘territorial claims, the proliferation of weapons, terrorist activities, illegal migration, ethnic tensions, human rights abuses, climate change, natural resources disputes, especially concerning energy and water, and environmental degradation’.[2] The Covid-19 pandemic lay bare and enhanced many of these challenges, in social, political and economic as well as security realms. The Euro-Med region is also not well equipped to tackle these problems and difficulties in a cooperative and coordinated manner, despite the existence of some common organizations, institutions and agendas.

So how to foster dialogue and a cooperative approach on addressing common challenges in the region? I will focus largely on security in a broad sense and the notion of cooperative security.

The OSCE (or rather its more unstructured predecessor, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe) has in the recent decades been presented as a possible example for co-operative security arrangements in the Mediterranean region.  The idea of a Conference on Security and Co-operation in the Mediterranean (CSCM) did not get a lot of traction in the region so far. It has been argued that such a project must succeed and not precede cooperative regional dynamics it seeks and that the conflictual patterns of relations, which exist across the Mediterranean, therefore do not lend themselves to cooperative security frameworks. The absence of a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace would preclude parties in the region from applying cooperative security methods that have proved effective in the framework of the CSCE/OSCE.

An additional difficulty is that this possible example for cooperative security arrangements focuses largely on the interaction of states while it is increasingly clear that civil society and its organizations may have a necessary and constructive role to play in this respect.

Nevertheless, the notion of cooperative security framework(s) has been supported by many analysts, not only from the northern shore, but from also southern shore of the Mediterranean.  Abdennour Benantar, in his discussion of possible security architectures for the Mediterranean region, analyses the security situation in the region and asks whether the concept of cooperative security, as developed in the European context, could be transposed or applied in the Mediterranean.[3] Benantar argues in favour of creating a regime of security cooperation in the Mediterranean, while taking into account the sub-regional diversity of the Mediterranean region.

One key conclusion of the discussion of CSCM is that not extending existing European models, or exporting models of cooperative security to the Mediterranean region, but rather using such models as sources of inspiration and support to subregional or regional cooperative security efforts is likely to be more successful[4] in establishing cooperative security principles and frameworks in the Mediterranean.

Another key finding is that with multilateralism under pressure globally and regionally, new concepts deserve attention. One such concept is minilateralism or selective and flexible cooperation, currently being developed in the context of the problems faced by multilateralism globally. As Stewart Patrick explains, ‘states increasingly participate in a bewildering array of flexible, ad hoc frameworks whose membership varies based on situational interests, shared values, or relevant capabilities. These institutions are often ‘minilateral’ rather than universal; voluntary rather than legally binding; disaggregated rather than comprehensive; trans-governmental rather than just intergovernmental; regional rather than global; multi-level and multistakeholder rather than state-centric; and ‘bottom-up’ rather than ‘top down’.[5] Thus, while multilateralism is under pressure, there are possible ways of bottom-up, smaller in terms of numbers of states involved and flexible approaches.

A Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung strategic foresight exercise for the MENA region in 2030 suggests there are opportunities for common approaches and co-operation on long-term challenges that affect all states of the region. Thus, there are key risks and opportunities that might enhance cooperation. ‘With this as a starting point, through building single-issue institutions and multilateral trust, other chapters for cooperation might open up.’[6]

This observation could benefit from being placed in the perspective of the concept of minilateralism, presented above. With multiple, flexible layers of such minilateral cooperation, cooperative security approaches can be introduced into various regional formats in the Mediterranean. They deserve the political and financial support of all state or non-state actors that engage on behalf of multilateralism and cooperative security.

Before closing, few words about the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, which  is a regional institution, funded by the governments of Malta, Switzerland and Germany. It trains diplomats and more recently also civil society activists from the Euro-Med region who work and live together for the duration of the Master’s degree, accredited by the University of Malta. The Academy thus functions as a regional confidence-building measure, per se. 

In 2009, when this author joined the Academy, a course on security studies has been developed, which emphasizes non-zero sum game approaches, cooperative security and conflict prevention and conflict resolution aspects. Twelve cohorts of students later, using their written assessments of the impact of the course as well as conversations with alumni (many of whom are reaching top jobs in their countries), it changed the way they view security issues and conceptualize solutions to common security challenges.

It could be giving hopes. There is increased emphasis on youth and confidence building in the Euro-Med region, and strong interest and support from Northern African countries in the academic training the Academy provides. However, the pandemic and the economic situation in the region do not bode well for prospects of projects such as the Academy. One very recent positive development I can share though is that the German Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs has renewed its funding for the German Chair for Peace Studies and Conflict Prevention at the Academy for the next two years.

This is the author’s main take on the situation: It will take support, time and patience to advance minilateralism and also multilateralism as a way of addressing common challenges in the Euro-Med region. We need all hands on deck for this, especially during the difficult moments the region experiences currently.

About the author:

Dr. Monika Wohlfeld

Lecturer, German Chair in Peace and Conflict Prevention Center, MEDAC, University of Malta. Former NATO fellow and the Deputy Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

On sauve les pêcheurs

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On sauve les pêcheurs

Par Alexandre Kodhakov.

Un jour le téléphone sonne. Je venais juste de m’allonger pour faire un somme. Cette fois c’est le capitaine du port de Libreville. Il me prie de venir d’urgence, mais assure qu’il ne s’agit pas d’un problème. Il y a des formalités à remplir. La capitainerie du port est en ville, j’y suis en dix minutes. Là, je trouve le commandant de la Gendarmerie et le commandant de la Marine. On se salue comme de vieux amis. Dans le cabinet du capitaine du port je rencontre aussi quelques compatriotes qui m’expliquent de quoi il s’agit.

Un pétrolier plein à craquer se dirigeait vers le port de Malabo, en Guinée équatoriale. La mer était calme, la visibilité mille sur mille. L’officier de pont remarque au large, presqu’à l’horizon, un petit bateau, ou plutôt une chaloupe. Ça bouge à bord. On apporte des jumelles : c’est un groupe d’Africains qui gesticulent frénétiquement et agitent leurs vêtements ; il est clair qu’ils essayent d’attirer l’attention. Ils sont en détresse, il n’y a aucun doute. Le capitaine jure, mais décide de changer de cap. Le pétrolier met à l’eau sa vedette à moteur et bientôt les Africains montent à bord. Ils sont visiblement épuisés et déshydratés, certains ne peuvent pas se tenir debout.

Ce sont des pêcheurs gabonais à qui la fortune a tourné le dos. Ils dérivent dans le Golfe de Guinée depuis une semaine. Le moteur de leur chaloupe de pêche a calé, les tentatives de le réparer ont échoué, les réserves d’eau et de nourriture s’épuisent très vite. Quelques navires passent à proximité, mais ne font aucune attention à leurs signaux de détresse. Le courant les éloigne de plus en plus loin de la côte. Le sauvetage arrive juste à temps.

Le médecin du pétrolier donne aux pêcheurs du bouillon. Ils se mettent à genoux : « Encore à manger, encore ! » Mais le docteur reste implacable et refuse. Il a parfaitement raison – manger à gogo après un jeûne d’une semaine, cela peut tuer. « On ne vous a pas sauvés pour que vous rendiez l’âme à Dieu à bord de notre bateau », – leur dit-il.

Le capitaine annonce qu’il va reprendre son cap sur Malabo, son point de destination, et les pêcheurs seront remis aux autorités équato-guinéennes. Les pêcheurs retombent à genoux et supplient le capitaine de les amener à Libreville. Les relations entre Libreville et Malabo sont tellement tendues que les Gabonais ont peur d’être jetés tout de suite en prison d’où ils n’auront aucune garantie de ressortir.

Le capitaine jure encore, très énergiquement, mais cède à leur demande et met le cap sur Libreville. Le tirant d’eau du pétrolier est si grand qu’il n’est pas question d’amarrer au port même, il doit rester en rade, à la distance d’à peu près un kilomètre de la côte. Les deux commandants gabonais ont leurs propres moyens de locomotion. Moi, pour aller à bord je dois me servir de la vedette du pétrolier. Elle est petite et la houle est entretemps devenue assez forte. J’ai le mal de mer dès que je vois une vague ; la route est longue, quarante minutes de croisière me paraissent une éternité. Ma peau devient verdâtre. Heureusement, je reprends vite couleur normale une fois arrivé à bord. Le pétrolier est en effet énorme, il n’y pas de roulis ni de tangage.

Dès qu’on monte, le capitaine nous invite à passer à table. Comme la tradition le veut, il y a de la vodka et une bonne collation. On lève le verre à la santé du capitaine. Les pêcheurs se sont déjà plaints des navires qui avaient ignoré leurs signaux de détresse. Le geste du capitaine soviétique est d’autant plus apprécié.

Les formalités sont vite réglées – je rédige un acte, le tape à la machine (le capitaine en a une), les représentants gabonais et le capitaine le signent et je m’apprête à partir avec les Gabonais qui offrent de me déposer. À ce moment-là le capitaine me tire par le coude : « Vous savez que pour un sauvetage en mer on paie une prime ? » Je lui réponds à mi-voix : « Regardez-moi ces pauvres types, ce sont des mendiants, ils n’ont pas le sou. Et croyez-moi, le gouvernement ne paiera pas non plus. Il vaut mieux renoncer. » Alors le capitaine annonce à haute voix qu’il renonce à la prime de sauvetage. Tout le monde applaudit. Sur cette note optimiste je repars avec les deux commandants et le capitaine du port.

La presse gabonaise – c’est-à-dire « L’Union » – a consacré un article plein de louanges à l’adresse des marins soviétiques. Cela a permis d’apaiser les esprits et de tourner la page – on ne parlait plus des incidents avec nos bateaux.

Information sur l’auteur:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is WhatsApp-Image-2020-11-08-at-15.44.451-768x1024.jpeg
Alexander Khodakov

Né à Moscou en 1952, Alexander Khodakov fait ses études de droit  à  l’Institut de relations internationales de Moscou (MGIMO). Après trois ans à MGIMO, il fait un an d’études à l’université d’Alger. En 1974 il est recruté par le Ministère des affaires étrangères de l’URSS et part en poste au Gabon. Rentré à Moscou, il intègre le département juridique du Ministère. De 1985 à  1991 il travaille  à New York au sein de la mission permanente de l’URSS auprès des Nations unies. De retour à Moscou en 1991 il revient au département juridique, dont il devient directeur en 1994. Quatre ans plus tard il est nommé ambassadeur de Russie aux Pays-Bas et représentant permanent auprès de l’Organisation pour l’interdiction des armes chimiques (OIAC). En 2004 il passe au service de l’OIAC comme directeur des projets spéciaux et ensuite secrétaire des organes directifs. En 2011 il rejoint le greffe de la Cour pénale internationale et exerce pendant trois ans comme conseiller spécial pour les relations extérieures.

Depuis 2015 il vit  à La Haye, avec sa famille. Il a écrit Cuisine Diplomatique un vibrant récit des histoires inédites sur sa vie diplomatique.

Brigadier General Christopher R. Norrie bids farewell to Germany

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Brigadier General Christopher R. Norrie bids farewell to Germany

Wednesday, 2 June 2021, Free State of Bavaria, Germany: Head of Bavarian Chancellery, Dr. Florian Herrmann, Minister for Federal Affairs and Media, awarded the Commander of the 7th Army Training Command of the US Army, Brigadier General Christopher R. Norrie, with the Bavarian ‘European Medal’ for ‘his special services to the Free State of Bavaria in Europe, and the world’.

Dr. Herrmann said as per statement below: “Brigadier General Christopher R. Norrie was a real stroke of luck for Bavaria. From the very beginning, he sought open dialogue with the local elected representatives and the Bavarian State Government on matters of concern to the US Army and the neighbouring communities of the Grafenwöhr military training area.

This good cooperation has led, for example, to a reduction of noise pollution during manoeuvres for the population. The exemplary efforts of General Norrie in the Corona pandemic should also be highlighted. Thanks to consistent measures and close cooperation with the authorities in Bavaria, countless lives were protected and illnesses prevented. With a solidarity campaign in which videos of Bavarian and American associations were projected onto the water tower of the US garrison in Grafenwöhr, General Norrie strengthened the feeling of togetherness in difficult times and gave people courage. General Norrie is a diplomat in uniform – his commitment to Bavarian-American friendship deserves our special thanks and recognition.”

Brigadier General Norrie is succeeded by Brigadier General Joe Hilbert as Commander of the 7th Army Training Command. 

Since 1990, the ‘European Medal’ has been awarded to exemplary personalities who have rendered outstanding services to the Free State of Bavaria in a united Europe, or who have contributed to Bavaria’s international standing in the world. From the first award until today (including the current recipient), a total of 326 people have received the award.

On the other side, Minister Dr. Herrmann was also presented the ‘Meritorious Public Service Medal’ by Brigadier General Christopher Cavoli. The Meritorious Public Service Medal is US Army’s highest award for civilians in Europe. Bavaria is the largest stationing location for the US Army in Europe and stands firmly by its U.S. ally and partner. More than 40,000 US soldiers and civilians make a valuable contribution to protecting peace and security here.

Germany is an strategic partner for the U.SA., as a matter of fact, the republic’s Defense Attaché based in Berlin, Capt. Mike Wenke, serves likewise in the capacity as U.S. Defense Representative on behalf of the Combatant Commander, European Command.

Germany is home to the largest number of U.S. defense personnel outside the United States. Present U.S. troop strength is roughly 80,500 uniformed members. 

For further information:

Bavarian Government: https://www.bayern.de/staatsminister-dr-florian-herrmann-zeichnet-brigadier-general-christopher-r-norrie-mit-der-europamedaille-aus-dr-herrmann-herausragendes-engagement-fuer-die-bayerisch-amerikanische-zusammenarbei/

U.S. General Consulate in Bavaria (Consul General Meghan Gregonis): https://de.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/munich/consul-general/
Defense Attaché Office (Capt. Mike Wenke): https://de.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/government-agencies/the-defense-attache-office-dao/

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Ambassador Ramin Hasanov in courtesy call at Brandenburg’s Diet

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Ambassador Ramin Hasanov in courtesy call at Brandenburg’s Diet


Thursday, 5 November 2020, Postdam, Brandenburg, Germany: The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mr Ramin Hasanov, paid an official visit to the Federal State of Brandenburg. 

During his visit, he met with the Speaker of Brandenburg’s State Diet, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Liedtke. Ambassador Hasanov and Speaker Ulrike Liedtke exchanged views on bilateral relations and possibilities for future cooperation.

Regional issues, including the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, were also discussed during the meeting. 

At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Hasanov signed the guest book of Brandenburg’s State Assembly. 

Ambassador Hasanov is a career diplomat accredited to Germany since 7 September 2016, having served previously as Director of the Department on International Law and Treaties at his country’s Foreign Ministry. 

Speaker Prof. Dr. Ulrike Liedtke is a member of Brandenburg’s Diet since 2014, a Social Democratic politician and speaker since 25 September 2019. 

Picture by Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany.

For further information:

 
Brandenburg State Diet: https://www.landtag.brandenburg.de/de/970776

Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany (HE Ambassador Ramin Hasanov): https://berlin.mfa.gov.az/de/news/3783/botschafter-der-republik-aserbaidschan-in-der-bundesrepublik-deutschland-herr-ramin-hasanov-traf-sich-mit-der-landtagsprasidentin-von-brandenburg-prof-dr-ulrike-liedtke
…

OPCW Director-General briefs UN Security Council on the Syrian chemical dossier

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OPCW Director-General briefs UN Security Council on the Syrian chemical dossier

THE HAGUE, Netherlands–4 June 2021–The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, briefed in an open session the United Nations Security Council and senior UN officials on issues related to chemical weapons and Syria on 3 June.

During his online address to the monthly meeting of the UN Security Council, the Director-General stated: “The Syrian Arab Republic acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention in September 2013, one month after the sarin attack in Ghouta that claimed several hundreds of lives, investigated by a UN Mission. Since then, the OPCW Secretariat has been providing ample information to the Conference of the States Parties and the Executive Council of the OPCW, as well as to the Security Council, through the United Nations Secretary General, and through monthly reports and direct briefings by myself. It is a disturbing reality that, eight years down the path, the Syrian chemical weapons dossier remains far from closed. (…)

All the mandates given through the Convention and decisions by the OPCW Conference of the States Parties and Executive Council concerning the Syrian chemical dossier remain binding on all States Parties, and also on the Secretariat. Our work therefore continues on multiple fronts, including through engagement with Syria.”

UN officials expressed their support for the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the work of the OPCW.

Uzbekistan’s initiative Implemented Globally

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Uzbekistan’s initiative Implemented Globally

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified

By Akmal Saidov, First Vice-Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the global community during his speech at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly with several vital initiatives that can make the lives of every human being much better. These initiatives, that ranged in their scope from local to international, have been widely endorsed by the global community and are finding their place among implemented undertakings of UN.

Universal endorsement of the initiatives put forward can be perceived as confirmation of the right direction Uzbekistan has been moving under the leadership of the Head of state and the advanced role that the country is taking up in the international arena.

National law as a blueprint for international convention

First, challenges were turned into opportunities to grow and advance when 60 countries decided to co-author a UN Resolution to declare the Aral Sea region a zone of ecological innovations and technologies after the idea was initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the plenary session of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on May 18, 2021. The Resolution was adopted unanimously.

Second, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on May 29 discussed and approved the draft Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (New York, 13 December, 2006)” prepared by the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.

This was stated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his speech at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council on February 22, 2021. It is no coincidence that the Head of our state, addressing the international community with a proposal to establish a Regional Council regarding the self-realization of persons with disabilities, noted that Uzbekistan pays great attention to ensuring the rights of people with special needs.

Legislative initiative of the President: consistency and efficiency

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on February 27, 2009. At that time, our country expressed confidence in the future ratification of the Convention. Unfortunately, however, the issue of ratification, which is necessary for the successful implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has dragged on.

In this sense, it is noteworthy that in recent years, practical work in this area has intensified. The issue of accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is contained in the following policy documents of the Head of State:

firstly, in the Presidential Decree “On measures to radically improve the system of state support of persons with disabilities” (adopted on December 1, 2017);

secondly, in the Program of Actions dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (approved by the Presidential Decree of May 5, 2018);

thirdly, in the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights (approved by the Presidential Decree of June 22, 2020);

fourthly, in the speech of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 22, 2021.

In the final recommendations and considerations of the UN Human Rights Council and UN treaty bodies – the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Uzbekistan several times recommended taking measures to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In the meantime, work was carried out to improve the Law “On Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities in the Republic of Uzbekistan”, adopted on November 18, 1991 and approved in 2008. On the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan in 2017, a draft law “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” was developed. The project was posted on the Single Portal for Interactive Public Services on July 20, 2018.

In the draft law “On the rights of persons with disabilities”, developed on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan attention was paid to take into account the international standards and requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, most importantly, the use of the term “person with disabilities” instead of the “disabled”.

Then, on July 22, 2020, the draft law “On the rights of persons with disabilities” was adopted by the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament and approved by the Senate on September 11, 2020. The law came into force on 15 January 2021, when the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed it on 15 October 2020, in accordance with Article 49 of the law, three months after the date of its official publication.

Thus, at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, first of all, a separate law was adopted in this regard. In turn, within the framework of the international initiative of the President, the Parliament of Uzbekistan has now ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In sum, matters relating to following the principles of social justice, and guaranteeing living standards required to enjoy life fully for people with disabilities and for people in need of assistance or support are under continuous monitoring of Head of state.

The Convention is the World Constitution of Persons with Disabilities

It is known that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. In the case of February 2021, from 192 Member States of the United Nations, 182 of them ratified this Convention.

Note: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first human rights treaty adopted in the 21st century.

The Convention recognizes the rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, in particular their right to live, civil, legal protection, receive education, maintain their health, work on an equal footing with others, to participate in political, social, cultural life, leisure activities, recreation and sports, to have adequate living conditions for themselves and their family, and the rights to social assistance. Guarantees for the implementation of these rights are established.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities consists of 50 articles and was adopted on the basis of an analysis of the situation of persons with disabilities in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability and today their number has reached 1 billion.

Most importantly, the Convention was adopted on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the situation of persons with disabilities in the world. It is very important that this international legal document embodies the principles of diversity and dignity of the people.

The main idea of the Convention is that persons with disabilities should have access to all human rights and freedoms without discrimination.

The purpose of the present Convention as set forth in Article 1, “is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”. It covers a number of important issues such as access, personal mobility, health, education, employment, habilitation and rehabilitation, participation in political life, as well as equality and non-discrimination.

Article 4 of the Convention sets out general obligations to ensure, encourage and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. In particular, States Parties undertake the following obligations:

• to take all necessary legislative, administrative and other measures to exercise the rights of persons with disabilities;

• to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, and customs that are discriminatory against persons with disabilities;

• to take into account the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programs, and refrain from any actions or practice inconsistent with the Convention;

• to take the necessary measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise;

• to require the minimum possible adaptation to the specific needs of persons with disabilities, conducting or to promote research and development of goods, services, equipment and universal design objects;

• to promote the training of specialists and staff working with persons with disabilities to improve the provision of the assistance and services guaranteed by the Convention on these recognized rights.

Women with disabilities (Article 6) and Children with disabilities (Article 7) are identified as priority subjects in the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (18 members) has been established to monitor the implementation of the Convention, review the reports of the participating States and make recommendations and general recommendations on these reports.

The Member States are required to submit an initial national report within 2 years of ratification of the Convention and then every 4 years thereafter.

Legal bases to guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities

One of the priorities of the state policy in the field of protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is the universally recognized norms and principles of international law in the exercise of civil, economic, political and other rights and freedoms provided to persons with disabilities, as well as ensuring equal opportunities with other citizens in accordance with international agreements of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

More than 760,000 people with disabilities live in Uzbekistan. They are covered by social protection and support, medical and social rehabilitation measures.

Especially, the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of April 28, 2021 approved the “Administrative regulations for the provision of public services for the appointment of pensions to certain categories of citizens in need of social protection”. According to this document, from 1 August 2021, public services for the appointment of benefits to certain categories of citizens in need of social protection will be provided.

In addition, by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated April 29, 2021, the Interagency Council on the affairs of persons with disabilities operating permanently under the Government was established.  The main tasks of the Interagency Council:

  • coordination of the activities of bodies implementing state policy in the field of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as local self-government bodies;
  • participation in the implementation of state programs of rehabilitation, social protection and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities;
  • assistance in education, vocational training, retraining, advanced training, employment of persons with disabilities;
  • participation in the creation of favorable conditions for the full participation of persons with disabilities in the life of society and the state.

The protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the political, socio-economic and cultural spheres of public life is based on the principle of non-discrimination, regardless of the situation, including the existence of a person with a disability. It is important that not only government agencies, but also civil society institutions are active in this regard.

Currently, there are about 600 non-governmental non-profit organizations in the field of disability in our country. Among them there are such NGOs as the Society of Disabled People of Uzbekistan, the Public Fund of Disabled People of Uzbekistan, the National Association of Disabled Women Entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan, the Center for Youth and Children with Disabilities, the Public Center “Umr” (Life) for helping children and Adolescents with disabilities of Uzbekistan, the Public Association of Disabled People “Inclusive life”, the Society of the Blind of Uzbekistan, the Society of the Deaf of Uzbekistan.

The analysis shows that the issues of ensuring and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities are currently regulated by more than 200 normative legal acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It includes the Constitution, more than 40 laws and more than 160 by-laws.

In particular, the rights of persons with disabilities in Uzbekistan are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Law on Education, the Law on Public Health, the Law on Employment, the Law on Guarantees of Children’s Rights, and the Law on State Pensions, Law on labor protection, Law on physical culture and sports and the Labor Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

National legislation regulating the rights of persons with disabilities:

  • legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the rights of persons with disabilities”, regulating all rights of persons with disabilities in the socio-economic sphere, as well as laws and other normative legal acts aimed at the implementation of rights of persons with disabilities to education;
  • laws and other normative legal acts;
  • health and medical services;
  • employment issues;
  • physical education, sports and recreation; use of social facilities and services, transport, communication and media;
  • fair trial;
  • participation in public and public affairs;
  • it consists of such norms as responsibility for violations of the rights of persons with disabilities.

To sum up, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Uzbekistan is an international legal document that guarantees equality, the rights of persons with disabilities, especially the education of women and children, the preservation of health, work, and decent living for them and their families.

The ratification of the Convention was based on three sources: national legislation, foreign legal practice, and the Convention itself. The experience of such countries as the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan was thoroughly studied.

Namely, such leading states as the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, along with the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, have adopted relevant national laws. The content of all these laws is identical, developed on the basis of the requirements of the Convention.

At the same time, it is also worth noticing that in Germany there are several laws aimed at the social protection of persons with disabilities. For instance, this includes the law “On Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Society, at Work and in the Professional sphere”.

Experience of Uzbekistan in this subject matter is unique with the approach that has been taken into integrating the international legal act into national legal system. For the first time in the history of law-making the international legal act was initially implemented into national legislation and was ratified only after results of such act in the unique cultural, geographical, and social context had been evaluated.

Essentially, following aims are put forward when ratifying the Convention:

first, national framework of protecting people with disabilities socially is expected to match the international norms and standards.

secondly, opportunities to invite international organizations to fund projects directed at strengthening the social protection of persons with disabilities is expected to be enhanced.

thirdly, status of the country in the international arena with regards to social protection of vulnerable layers of society will be improved further.

The Ambassador of North Macedonia, H.E. Ms. Beti Jacheva

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The Ambassador of North Macedonia, H.E. Ms. Beti Jacheva

H.E. Mrs. Beti Jacheva is the newly appointed ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She presented her credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander on June 2nd, 2021. 

Mrs. Jacheva has a background in law as she was enrolled in the Law Faculty Iustinianus Primus of the Saints Cyril and Methodius University in her home country. During her five years of education here, she was briefly involved in the Association of Commercial Lawyers from the Republic of Macedonia. She was the assistant to the Secretary-General of the Association for a year. After graduating in 1995, she spent a short period in the American Bar Association’s Central and Eastern European Law initiative office in Skopje as a legal assistant. 

In 1996, Mrs. Jacheva joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and began her long journey in diplomacy. 

She spent her first ten years in the MOFA’s Directorate for International Law. From an associate, she was promoted to expert associate and later Head of Unit in 1998. Towards the end of this period, she was the Head of Sector for International Law and Consular Affairs. 

In 2006, Mrs. Jacheva embarked on her first assignment abroad at the Mission of North Macedonia to the EU. When she returned from Brussels in 2010, she was appointed Head of Sector in the EU Directorate. She continued to be deeply involved in EU affairs from this point onwards. 

Mrs. Jacheva returned to Brussels in 2013, but this time as the Deputy Head of Mission of the Mission of North Macedonia to the EU. After taking up the position for three years, she returned home to become Deputy Director at the EU Directorate in 2016. Two years later, she was promoted to Director. She took up this role until her current term in the Netherlands. 

In addition to English, Mrs. Jacheva also has some proficiency in French. 

The diplomat community in The Hague sends a warm welcome to Ambassador Jacheva and wishes her and her family all the best in her new term. 

H.E. Dr. Eniola Olaitan Ajayi, Ambassador of Nigeria

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H.E. Dr. Eniola Olaitan Ajayi, Ambassador of Nigeria

H.E. Dr. Eniola Olaitan Ajayi is the newly appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She presented her credentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander on June 2nd, 2021.

Before her career in politics and diplomacy, Dr. Ajayi was exceptionally active in the field of optometry. She acquired a Bachelor of Science in Optometry from the University of Benin in 1986 and went on to work at 445 Nigeria Airforce Base Hospital in Lagos. Here, she operated as an Ocular Pathologist and Chief Optometrist for over twenty years. During this time, Dr. Ajayi also pursued higher education. She earned a Master of Philosophy in Ocular Pathology in 1994 from the University of London and a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Benin in 2002. Due to her outstanding academic performance, she was the sole recipient of the A. H Bygott Postgraduate Studentship Award of 1993 and was the best graduating student of the Special Doctor of Optometry class of 2000.

After completing her education, in addition to committing herself to her position at the hospital, Dr. Ajayi also made multiple social contributions within the field of optometry. She was the chairperson for World Optometry Day in 2004 and 2005, as well as chairperson for the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) from 2005 to 2013. 

In 2007, Dr. Ajayi became a sole proprietor as she opened up her eye clinic, Enny Eye Care. In the few years that she ran her business, she was named Optometrist of the Year and NOA Chairman of the Year in 2009. In the following year, she was also awarded the title Eye-care Personality of the Year. Subsequently, in 2011, she also became a Fellow of the NOA. During this time, Dr. Ajayi continued her social contributions, namely being the Secretary of the Save a Sight and Vision Foundation, which is an NGO of the NOA’s Lagos branch. She has held this position from early 2009 until now.

Dr. Ajayi finally entered the political realm in 2010 when she was appointed Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology of Ekiti State. During her three-year term, she won the Top Elegance Magazine Award for Best Commissioner of the Year in 2012, as well as the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Benin Alumni Worldwide in the same year. Following this role, she was the Honourable Commissioner for Environment of Ekiti State from 2013 to 2015. Towards the end of her term, she was also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) for the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1, which was part of the House of Representative Elections in March 2015.

Not long afterward did Dr. Ajayi shift towards foreign service. In 2017, she embarked on her first term abroad as Ambassador of Nigeria to Hungary, with concurrent accreditation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia. As a result of her dedication to this role, she was presented with the Distinguished Ambassador of the Year Award by Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide in 2019. Additionally, her embassy was adjudged the best by Nigerians in Diaspora in the following year. Towards the end of her term, she also received the Best Ambassador Award from the African Forum in 2021. Even when she was out of the country, Dr. Ajayi continued to be active in the NOA as she became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2019.

H.E. Dr Eniola Ajayi, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Only a month after concluding this term in early 2021, Dr. Ajayi came to The Hague to begin her new term as Ambassador to the Netherlands. She is continuing to work towards several goals she set out to achieve in international diplomacy. These include inclusion for Nigerian citizens in host countries, investment drives, image building for Nigeria, amongst others.

One particular idea Dr. Ajayi has in mind is advancing a Citizens Charter, through which the interests and rights of the weakest are protected. The life of every Nigerian – able or vulnerable, young or old, male or female, Muslim or Christian, etc. would count. With this, she believes a greater Nigeria is possible.

When there is time to spare, Dr. Ajayi loves to read, listen to music such as jazz and gospel, and write. She usually creates poems or writes about contemporary issues; some of her publications include Nigeria: Land of Opportunities (2018), Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria (2019), and Food, Culture and Cuisine in Nigeria (2020). Her latest work with the Embassy of Nigeria in Hungary won the Nigeria Export Promotion Council Award earlier this year.

Aside from her aforementioned hobbies, Dr. Ajayi is also passionate about empowering and motivating the youth. This is why she contributed to several schools throughout the years, including the Chrisland School at Ladipo Oluwole, Ikeja, Lagos, as Chairperson of the parent-teacher association from 2005 to 2008. She has also been a member of the Board of Governors at Olashore International School from 2006 until now. Furthermore, she was the long-time President of the Christ School Ado – Ekiti Alumni Association 75/80 Set from 2005 to 2013. Additionally, Dr. Ajayi is devoted to supporting pregnant and expecting parents through Church Ministry.

The diplomat community in The Hague sends a warm welcome to Ambassador Ajayi and wishes her all the best in her new term.

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