Order of the Union for Dr Zaki Nusseibeh – Picture by MOFAIC UAE
Wednesday, 10 February 2021, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Deputising for the UAE President, His Highness The Crown of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, presented HE Dr. Zaki bin Anwar Nusseibeh with the Order of the Union. The country’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was present for the bestowal.
Dr. Zaki Nusseibeh was awarded the Order of the Union recognising his many years of cultural and diplomatic commitments for the UAE. It was further announced that Dr. Nusseibeh departs his position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to become Advisor for Cultural Affairs at the Presidential Court of the UAE.
Nusseibeh is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, member of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates Diplomatic Academy and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University.
Wednesday, 10 February 2021, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: HE Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan bin Mubarak bin Mohammad bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been appointed Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation alongside Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar.
Sheikh Shakhboot began his diplomatic career as Emirati Ambassador to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). He is an avid equestrian, former President of the Emirates Equestrian Federation and son of the incumbent Minister of State for Tolerance and Coexistence, HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Shakhboot holds a BA in applied science and applied media studies from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi and a graduate diploma from Dr. Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (erstwhile Emirates Diplomatic Academy). Shakhboot first joined the Foreign Ministry in 2013.
During his ambassadorial tenure, Sheikh Shakhboot bint Nahyan focused on establishing synergies between the socio-economic visions of the leaderships in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He is likewise credited with stimulating further channels of trade between the two GCC countries.
By H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.
On February 10, Russia celebrates the diplomat’s day. This holiday was introduced back in 2002 by the President Vladimir Putin to celebrate the anniversary of establishment of the first foreign office in our country in 1549, called ‘Ambassadorial Prikaz’, which became the prototype of the modern Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Russian diplomacy can be proud of its rich history. Diplomats served their Motherland for dozens of generations: heroically defended the interests of state during wars and armed conflicts, they made efforts to settle disputes and ensure peace on the planet, and significantly contributed to the liberation of Europe from the Nazi invaders during the Second World War.
Russian diplomats, relying on the glorious traditions laid down by their predecessors, are still working to resolve the most important global and regional problems. The Russian Foreign Ministry actively participates in the development of the international agenda and maintains a dialogue with foreign partners on the basis of international law, provisions of the UN Charter, principles of equality and mutual respect, in order to ensure security and stability on the world arena.
The priorities of the Russian MFA, embassies and permanent representations are to create favorable foreign policy conditions for the sustainable socio-economic development of Russia, and to protect the rights of Russian citizens and compatriots abroad. Our diplomacy is working to build a truly equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with all counterparties. We strive to defend the key role of the UN, to consolidate the international community in the fight against the threat of terrorism, and to strengthen the foundations of strategic stability and non-proliferation regimes for weapons of mass destruction.
Speaking about the Embassy of the Russian Federation in The Hague, here we do our best to strengthen our amicable relations with the Netherlands. Our mission abroad is to establish political contacts and ensure mutually beneficial conditions for economic and cultural exchange with the host country. The Consular section of the Embassy provides all necessary assistance to Russian citizens residing in the Netherlands and the subjects of the Kingdom in matters of entry into the territory of Russia.
At this difficult times, when the world is facing a new challenge – the COVID-19 pandemic – it is of special importance to unite diplomatic efforts in the face of a common calamity. Russia is therefore open to constructive cooperation in order to jointly defeat the new coronavirus infection.
H.E. Lucian Fătu has presented his letters of credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Kingdom of The Netherlands to H.M. King Willem-Alexander on the 10th of February, 2021.
After being admitted to the Diplomatic Service in 1992, Lucian Fătu ranks currently as Minister Plenipotentiary.
Between 2013 and 2019, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Hellenic Republic. Previously, he held the same office in the Republic of Finland, with additional accreditation to the Republic of Estonia (2006-2011), and in the Republic of Lithuania, with additional accreditation to the Republic of Latvia (2001-2004). His initial foreign postings included London, as Deputy Head (2000-2001), and Washington, D.C., as political officer (1995-1999).
In the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest, Lucian Fătu was National Coordinator for the EU Danube Strategy, with the rank of Director General (2012), Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (2011-2012), Deputy Director General of the EU Department (2004-2005), Director for Western Europe (2000), and Deputy Director for North America (1999).
After completing his tour of duty in Helsinki, where he served as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps between 2010 and 2011, Lucian Fătu received the highest Finnish recognition, when he was awarded Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Finnish Lion.
Lucian Fătu was born in Bucharest on June 2, 1959, is married and has three children. He holds a BA in Civil Engineering from the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute (1979-1984), and M.A. degrees in Political Science from the National School for Political and Administrative Studies in Bucharest (1990-1992), and in European Integration from the Limerick University in the Republic of Ireland (1991-1992). Lucian Fǎtu speaks English and French.
On February 10th H.E. Mr. Jian Tan has taken up his new role as top diplomat of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in The Hague, where he will serve his country both as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and as Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Ambassador Tan brings with him over thirty 30 years of experience in his country’s foreign service as well as with the United Nations.
Born in March 1965 in Jiangsu, Mr. Jian Tan earned a Master’s in Diplomacy and Trade and joined the PRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 1987 as a Staff Member. There, he worked for two stints in the Department of International Organizations and Conferences (1988-1991, 1994-2001), raising through the Department’s ranks up to the role of Director.
In the meanwhile, Mr. Jian Tan also made successful experiences as a diplomat abroad, first as Attaché at the PRC’s Embassy in Indonesia (1991-1994), and then as Counsellor at China’s Permanent Mission to the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland (2001-2007). Mr. Tan’s experience at the UN continued further after his long post in Geneva, as he took up the role of Special Assistant to the UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs (2007-2011).
In 2012, Mr. Jian Tan returned to Beijing, first as Deputy Director-General of the MFA’s Department of International Economic Affairs (2012-2017), and then as Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (2011-2017). Then, in 2017, Mr. Jian Tan received his first nomination as Ambassador, being tasked to represent his country in Ethiopia, where he remained until 2020.
Ambassador Tan is married, with a son.
Now, it is time for Ambassador Jian Tan to represent his country in the Netherlands. Diplomat Magazine and the whole diplomatic community welcomes him and wishes him the best for his new experience!
Time for glamor and fantasy. Precisely now, when our sense for art, design, and a positive attitude toward life are awakening again, the artists Frieda Vogel and Karin von Roques are bringing together innovative design and imaginative picture collages in the exhibition Glamorous.
Under the label FRAU FRIEDA Ms. Vogel has in the last three years created handbags made of the finest materials, in part set with sumptuous, genuine stones. Each is unique, a work of art of the highest craftsmanship. The exhibition will feature the complete collection for the first time.
The collages by Karin von Roques reveal a boundless play of how fashion is artfully transformed with female energy. The result are timeless artworks that by conveying a positive attitude toward life radiate desirability and inspire the senses.
About the artists – Frieda Vogel
Frieda Vogel studied visual communication and design at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin (now Universität der Künste Berlin). Her path led her to Arno Fischer, with whom she completed studies in photography.
In 2015 Ms. Vogel founded the successful luxury handbag and accessories label FRAU FRIEDA in Berlin. Attention to detail, knowledge of materials, precision, and perfection are her guiding principles. To do them justice, she allowed herself three years (2015–18) to find correspondingly high-quality materials and the best specialists for her collection, such as fine bag makers in Berlin, Beirut, and Ofenbach, as well as tanners, dyers, and goldsmiths, before she presented her first luxury model. Her main collection includes the classics Frieda No 1, Frieda No 2, Fräulein Frieda, Jackie, and Mondiva Unlimited. Her models are fancy Gesamtkunstwerks that meet the highest standards of quality.
Ms. Vogel is not only a designer with a great love of detail. As a successful photographer who has published impressive photos taken during her numerous travels in various books, she has also exhibited her work in several countries around the world. One of her recent favorite motifs are still lifes of handbags that she has designed. Her first camera, a Leica, inspired her to design Mondiva Unlimited.
Karin von Roques
After completing studies in theater and costume design at the Kunstakademie in Berlin, Karin von Roques studied Islamic art history at the Universität Bonn and specialized in contemporary Arab and Iranian art. She subsequently worked internationally as a costume designer for television, film, and theater. She also made a name for herself in fashion design and received various awards for her designs.
A decade later Ms. Roques began curating her first exhibitions featuring work by Arabic artists for museums and galleries such as the Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt am Main; the Kunstmuseum Bonn; the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi; the Sundaram Tagore Galerie, New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong; the Internationale FotoFest Biennale in Houston, Texas; and the me Collectors Room in Berlin. She was a consultant at Sotheby’s in London and advisor to such clients as the Deutsche Bank regarding the purchase of Arabic art. Moreover, she has served as a jury member at international art competitions including in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and in 2007 at the 11th International Cairo Biennale.
Ms. Roques’s numerous travels and stays in the Arab countries sparked her imagination, which she in turn has aimed at expressing via the exhibited figurines. Together with Frieda Vogel emerged a perfect symbiosis of beauty and fashion.
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Images courtesy of Karin von Roques – All rights reserved
Contributes €10,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology
THE HAGUE, Netherlands–13 October 2020–The Government of Lithuania has contributed €10,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).
The contribution was formalised during a ceremony between the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Vidmantas Purlys, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, which was held yesterday at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.
Ambassador Purlys remarked: “Lithuania regards OPCW as a very important multilateral organisation for advancing international disarmament and upholding security. The work of the OPCW brought about the elimination of almost an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. However, there are many challenges and new threats that the international community is facing in relation to chemical weapons.
Unfortunately, over the last several years we have seen chemical weapons being used in Syria, the United Kingdom, Russia and other countries. There are threats of chemical terrorism and the use of sophisticated toxic chemicals as weapons. We need to make sure that the OPCW is well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. We consider the Centre for Chemistry and Technology a flagship project in this regard. Therefore, the Lithuanian Government has decided to make a voluntary contribution to the establishment of the ChemTech Centre.”
The Director-General stated: “I commend Lithuania’s support for the ChemTech project. Such voluntary contributions are essential to the completion of this major endeavour that will advance our shared goal of maintaining and reinforcing the global ban on chemical weapons.”
Director-General Arias appealed to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.
So far, 45 countries, the European Union, and three other donors have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
The fifth parliamentary (early) elections in Kosovo, since its declaration of independence on 17 February 2008, will take place on 14 February 2021.
The Kosovo Assembly has 120 representatives, with 20 mandates reserved for members of minority communities. Specifically, the Serb community gets 10 mandates, while the Bosniak community gets three, Turkish two, RAE (Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian) four and Goran community one mandate.
The early elections were announced after the Kosovo Constitutional Court has ruled unconstitutional the vote of representative Etem Arifi from the Ashkali Party, because he had been sentenced to a prison term of 15 months for fraud related to subsidies, but still participated in the election of the government headed by Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti (LDK) on 3 June 2020, which was elected with the support of 61 representative (61/120). On the basis of the decision of the Constitutional Court, the Acting President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani announced early elections for 14 February 2021.
The same decision of the Constitutional Court stipulates that the persons who had been sentenced in the period of the last three years cannot run at the upcoming elections.
Vjosa Osmani has been the Acting President of Kosovo since 5 November 2020, when Hashim Thaci (PDK) resigned from office, after the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC-SPO – Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office) had confirmed the indictment against him for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Analysts assess that the upcoming parliamentary elections are the last chance for a showdown with crime and corruption, as well as war crimes, without which there can be no economic recovery, visa liberalization and integration of Kosovo into modern international trends. This is a matter of ending an era of war leaders in Kosovo, majority of which had been engaged in war crimes, as well as deeply involved in crimes. The election campaign is taking place at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, when gatherings are limited to a maximum of 4 people, and the major floods in some parts of Kosovo. That is why the media, internet and social networks, dominated by younger population, will play an important role in the election campaign.
Analysts believe that[2], bearing in mind the recent gatherings of political parties prior to the beginning of the election campaign, the country has become an experimental area in which the fight for power is uncompromising. Many countries that are more stable than Kosovo could not afford to have three governments in a period of one year.
The situation in Kosovo is already alarming, because there are only € 34 million in the budget reserves. The political structures ignore the citizens and the business community, while the workers are suffering major damage. This will strongly reflect on the economic and social aspects, primarily psychological, because Kosovo citizens have already lost hope in a better tomorrow. Remittances from the diaspora were two times bigger than the government’s recovery package. It is assessed that since 1999 the diaspora has sent to Kosovo more than € 40 billion. In 2020 alone, the remittances from the diaspora amounted to € 800 million (€ 1 billion less because of the Covid-19 pandemic). A point of concern is also the fact that more than 50% of the Kosovo budget is spent on salaries and per diems. In comparison to other countries, Kosovo received the smallest amount of resources from international funds for combating the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic recovery. The most responsible for such a situation are the Kosovo Government and Parliament.
Kosovo is one of the countries in the region that still has a problem with the final electoral register, which is unprocessed and untrustworthy, because it is illogical that there are more voters than citizens in Kosovo.
Kosovo flag
Kosovo political “Trio”
The early parliamentary elections in Kosovo will be dominated by three main political rivals: the Self-Determination Movement Vetëvendosje (LVV) headed by Albin Kurti, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) headed by Isa Mustafa, and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) headed by its Acting President Enver Hoxhaj. In addition to the “great Trio”, Ramush Haradinaj with his Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK) also trying to impose himself and his party as the fourth main actor at the elections. A new actor that has emerged on the political scene is the Građanska lista /Citizen List/ headed by Vjosa Osmani, which could win over support of a part of LDK voters. That is why the pre-election and winning alliance between Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani is the strongest political force, because they represent a new quality, which brings together the broadest political spectrum in Kosovo, and majority of citizens will be able to relate with it. It is interesting that the leading parties did not report any pre-election coalitions to the Election Commission, which is also an illustration of their mutual relations.
With the introduction of 100% taxes on the import of goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, Haradinaj has grossly violated the international Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and caused irreparable damage to Kosovo in international relations and a damage amounting to € 600 million, while the damage caused to Serbia totals € 400 million.
Haradinaj is still under the suspicion that he had committed war crimes and criminal offenses. He is also a symbol of “dark forces from the past” which Kosovo does not need, because such forces cannot provide Kosovo a brighter future- as they have demonstrated over their past 20 years in power. Hashim Thaci exacted for himself the presidential position four years ago, believing that in such a way he could avoid being prosecuted. This was a period of significant regression and deterioration of international image of Kosovo. Haradinaj was also driven by his own selfish and he has nominated himself for the position of President of Kosovo.
Analysts believe that the new convocation of the Kosovo Parliament could adopt modification of the provision of the Constitution regulating that the Kosovo President is elected in the Kosovo Parliament, so that in the future the president is elected directly at presidential elections. In such a way the president of Kosovo would have a bigger legitimacy – as in such a way, trade among the parties, which is very often at a level of a criminal offense, would be eliminated. Namely, an interparty agreement on who will be the next president of Kosovo were made several months or even years in advance. Such practice includes elements of a criminal offense and has nothing in common with democracy and the democratic election process.
“Kosovo Four” reminds of so-called “Croatian six”
After the indictments against the four leaders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (OVK/UCK), Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, for a number crimes against humanity and war crimes, including assassination, forced disappearance of persons, persecution and torture had been confirmed (KSC-SPO), they were transferred to The Hague. Although some experts had expected that mass demonstrations would be organized before their departure to The Hague, nothing of the kind happened. Hashim Thaçi (PDK), Kadri Veseli (PDK) and other indictees listed bear criminal responsibility for almost 100 assassinations. The victims of the crimes listed in the indictment include hundreds of persons whose identity is known and who include Kosovo Albanians, Serbs, Roma and persons of other ethnicities, as well as political opponents.
Analysts believe that the departure of the four OVK/UCK leaders remind of the departure of the so-called “Croatian six” (Jadranko Prlić, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petković, Valentin Ćorić, Berislav Pušić and Bruno Stojić) to The Hague in 2004. They were first indicted and later sentenced for the war crimes they had committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Except for the brief “mourning period” and “expression of bereavement”, accompanied with an emphasis on the stance that they are “the heroes”- nothing spectacular happened. The situation was similar with the so-called “Kosovo Four”- which was not only accused of war crimes, but majority of them were also involved in and/or connected with crimes in peacetime. If they were not to be tried for war crimes, they would be tried for the crimes they had committed in peacetime. The situation is the same with the so called “Croatian Six”. They are proven criminals and their prosecution brought a relief to their countrymen and other citizens from the area.
The so-called “Kosovo Four” will be very quickly forgotten and their influence will gradually waken, because Kosovo needs to be developed as a modern society based on the rule of law and respect of true European values. The priority is the visa liberalization, which is now getting a chance to be implemented, while the so-called “Kosovo Four” will very quickly be forgotten, just like Croatian one was.
Analysts warn of the threat of assassination of the protected witnesses and the danger of release of the so-called “Kosovo Four”, because Thaçi and Veseli have already been accused by the Kosovo Specialist Chamber for obstruction of the work of the court[3], which they later manipulated through the Association of OVK/UCK Veterans and its engagement in the criminal offences against the judiciary, obstruction of officials in the exercise of their official duty, intimidation of witnesses, retaliation and breach of the secrecy of the proceedings before the KSC-SPO. It is necessary to conduct an investigation into how and why have 13 protected witnesses been killed so far, and to sanction both the order-givers and the perpetrators.
Hoxhaj and Rama stopped international recognitions of Kosovo
Enver Hoxhaj (PDK) stated in late December 2020 in Tirana: “We will also have concrete proposals on integration of economies of Kosovo and Albania.” Hoxhaj evidently does not understand economy and obvious lacks vision, because Kosovo needs to be integrated into the modern European and global economic trends, not Albanian trends.
Kosovo has not seized the favorable moment for its recognition. Serbia got actively engaged on stopping new international recognitions of Kosovo and having some existing recognitions withdrawn. In fact, it was partly successful in that respect. The then coalition partners, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) headed by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) headed by Kadri Veseli brought Kosovo into a difficult situation- in all the segments and particularly with respect to international recognitions. Their mutual rivalries went so far that the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo Enver Hoxhaj (PDK) blocked the activities on further international recognition of Kosovo, so that any possible success could not be attributed to the then Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and the LDK.
With the rhetoric about annexation of Kosovo to Albania, the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (PS) discouraged the states that had intended to recognize Kosovo – and they eventually gave up on their intentions to recognize Kosovo. This created irreparable damage to Kosovo.
“Srpska lista” targeted by Albanian parties and Serb opposition
Analysts believe that the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Kosovo will be marked by a new showdown between a part of the Serb opposition and the Albanian political parties, including the Serb List (SL – Srpska lista), which is supported by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić (SNS). In fact, through the Serb List (SL), which is the favorite of the Kosovo Serb community in the elections, they will try to “settle the accounts” with the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. As a result, in Kosovo, in the final phase of the election campaign the tensions against the Serb List will significantly increase- not excluding the possibility of use of violence. It is of exceptional importance to finalize the dialogue between the official Belgrade and Priština with the signing of a legally binding agreement, to “abolish” borders in the region and remove the barriers, and in such a way commence intensive mutual cooperation, which would constitute true European behavior. In fact, the “Mini Schengen” regional initiative is aimed at fulfillment of such goals. This is confirmed also by the fact that in the past year Serbia attracted 60% of all direct foreign investments in the region, while the percentage of such investments in Kosovo is negligible.
Who is against “Vučić’s” vaccines in Kosovo?
The Kosovo authorities have not adequately responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. Kosovo citizens are distraught, as they constantly hear that the vaccines have still not been procured for Kosovo, nor have they been ordered, as well as that it is in spring 2021 that they can expect arrival of a small quantity of vaccines, which will be provided as a part of international assistance.
It was announced that the vaccination of a larger part of population will take place next autumn or in 2022. Both Kosovo and international media report on the dramatic situation in the Kosovo healthcare system.
Serbia was the first country in the region and the second in Europe to procure a contingent of vaccines from the US Pfizer company. In Serbia the vaccination of population begun on 24 December 2020. Serbian healthcare institutions expect arrival of significant quantities of vaccines of other manufacturers, including the Russian and Chinese ones, in January 2021. Serbian Minister of Health Zlatibor Lončar stated that he had been instructed by Serbian President Vučića that there must not be any segregation of people on ethnic, religious or any other basis, because vaccines delivered to Kosovo were intended for all those who need them. After the vaccines, which were dubbed “Vučić’s” vaccines, were delivered, Kosovo authorities protested. This generated disappointment among Kosovo citizens, because they badly need the vaccines. The vaccines sent from Serbia are intended for Kosovo citizens independent of their ethnic affiliations, which is why the citizens do not understand who is against “Vučić’s” vaccines? In the current difficult situation in the healthcare sector any humaneness and humanity is priceless. There is a reasonable possibility that the negligence of the Kosovo Government and its failure to undertake appropriate measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the delayed procurement of vaccines, could result in additional 5,000 victims.
Kurti has no obstacles to become a representative or prime minister
The decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo ruling the Kosovo Government headed by Avdullah Hoti unconstitutional also stipulates that persons who in the past three years had received a final sentence cannot run at elections. Such a decision is primarily related to Albin Kurti and his LVV.
The criminal offense for which Kurti was issued a suspended sentence had been committed in 2015, when Criminal Code no. 04/L-082 was in force. Namely, Article 100/2 of the Law regulated that legal consequences of the punishment cannot be created where a fine, suspended sentence or judicial admonition is imposed on the perpetrator.
Article 3 of the Code envisages that the law in effect at the time a criminal offense was committed shall be applied to the perpetrator.
The situation would be completely different had the offense been committed after 2019, that is after the new Code no. 06/L-074 had entered into force. Pursuant to Article 93/2, of the aforementioned Code, legal consequences of the punishment cannot be created where a fine or judicial admonition is imposed on the perpetrator.
Analysts believe that it is a paradox that those who had voted in favor of the illegal Government of Kosovo, as was confirmed by the relevant ruling of the Constitutional Court, are now trying to dispute Kurti’s democratic right to be a candidate for the Kosovo Parliament and the position of the Kosovo Prime Minister, despite the fact that there are no legal obstacles for him to run at the elections. In fact, the ones who had appointed an illegal government and who have no credibility, nowadays argue that Kurti cannot run at the elections because a suspended sentence- which has already expired- had been issued against him. The Kosovo Election Commission is still under the influence of Hashim Thaci and the PDK, and, therefore, special attention should be paid to it.
Respect of international obligations and signed agreements
The new Kosovo Government will have to respect the undertaken international obligations and the signed agreements such as the Brussels Agreement, which also includes the obligation to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), the CEFTA Agreement, the Washington Agreement, etc. A positive example can be found in the the Government of Montenegro, which after the fall of the autocratic Milo Đukanović‘s (DPS) regime, has taken over all the international obligations and the agreements signed.
The undertaken obligations cannot be avoided but are to be fully, not selectively, implemented. The achieved agreements can be reconsidered, but in no way negated.
The dialogue will not be simple at all, because once again the focus will be put on the painful issue of missing persons, as well as the non-fulfillment of what has been agreed and signed in Brussels in April 2013 – the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).
A testimony that the dialogue between the official Belgrade and Priština cannot be observed through the “black-and-white” prism are the words of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić (SNS), who had stated on several occasions: “We can talk about everything only in the context of a compromise. You will never get my signature for an option in which the Albanians get everything, while Serbia gets nothing. You will also not have my support for something of the kind. Currently, I am the President of Serbia. Maybe you will find someone else who will be willing to accept something of the kind -without achieving a compromise, but just by following ultimatums.“
Analysts believe that key importance should be attached to finalization of the dialogue between the official Belgrade and Priština under EU mediation and the full implementation of the agreed – particularly bearing in mind that the implementation of the Brussels Agreement was proven faulty.
Ljubljana/Washington/Priština, 18 January 2021
Published by IFIMES – The International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES)[1] from Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyzes developments in the Middle East, the Balkans and around the world. IFIMES has analyzed the current political situation in Kosovo in the context of the early parliamentary elections, which are to take place on 14 February 2021.
The Hague, Netherlands–14 October 2020–The Government of Malaysia has contributed €10,000 to a special Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support the project to upgrade the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store. This project will result in the construction of a new facility, the OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology (“ChemTech Centre”).The contribution was formalized during a ceremony between the Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Representation of Malaysia to the OPCW, Dr Mohd Norhisyam Mohd Yusof, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, which was held at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague. Charge d’Affaires a.i. Dr Mohd Yusof remarked: “Malaysia views the upgrading of the current OPCW Laboratory and Equipment Store to the ChemTech Centre as a crucial step in strengthening the Organisation’s capabilities to comprehensively address new and re-emerging chemical weapons threats. The new ChemTech Centre will also catapult capacity-building efforts for OPCW Member States, particularly in developing countries. Malaysia, for instance, is interested in advancing our expertise as a nation and a regional player. As a highly principled and committed member of the OPCW, Malaysia stands ready to contribute to our joint efforts to end the use of chemical weapons.
”While thanking Malaysia for its contribution, Director-General Arias emphasized the importance of having Malaysia in the list of contributors and recognized the support of Malaysia to the OPCW.The Director-General also renewed his appeal to all OPCW Member States in a position to make voluntary contributions to do so. He further emphasised the important role the new ChemTech Centre will play in strengthening the OPCW’s ability to address chemical weapon threats and enhance capacity building activities. He highlighted that “all contributions, regardless of size, are greatly appreciated”.So far, 45 countries, the European Union, and three other donors have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and a considerable amount has been raised to date.
A recent study shows that the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands) contributes very positively to the international economy. The Peace Palace houses two of the most important Courts in the world, the United Nations International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. By solving conflicts in the courtroom, the Courts in the Palace help avoiding billions of damage and loss as a result of warfare.
Economic impact The recently published study by Decisio, shows that the Peace Palace has great value for the world economy as the institutions located at the Palace are saving the international community billions of euros in economic damage.
It is hard to measure exactly what would have happened without the intervention of the two Courts housed in the Peace Palace, which is why three scenarios with variations in the type and number of conflicts were applied during the study. In the lowest scenario, it was conservatively assumed that in the history of the Courts only 1 small-scale conflict was solved, and in the highest scenario 4 small-scale conflicts and 2 large-scale conflicts were prevented or solved. Of course, ensuring peace and saving human lives are of paramount importance, but the economic value of these scenarios is also enormous: billions in costs of damage and loss are saved by preventing wars.
Even on a national level, the Peace Palace contributes positively to the economy:It accounts for more than 720 jobs (of which 229 within the Palace) and the institutions located at the Peace Palace annually spend 120 million euros in the Netherlands, contributing an added value of 70 million euros to the Dutch GDP.
Societal impact and improvement of international law In addition to the economic impact, the study also demonstrates that the Peace Palace and the Courts housed in the Palace serve societal development. The researchers state that “a high rule of law score saves money, brings trust and investments and prevents people from getting stress-related diseases.” In addition to the facts and figures, the report shows that the development of international law provides additional social impact coming from the Peace Palace. It facilitates conferences during which concepts for important regulations such as international adoption law are elaborated. At the same time, The Hague Academy of International Law, since its establishment, has educated more than 50,000 students and lawyers from all over the world, the future ambassadors and judges of their countries.
International radiance of the cultural heritage site Only one of the six principal organs of the United Nations is located outside of New York – and that is the International Court of Justice based in The Peace Palace in The Hague. The more than a century old Palace is also the oldest of a small number of buildings related to the UN. It is registered as a National Monument and carries the European Heritage Label. According to the researchers, the Peace Palace therefore has a high cultural, historical and architectural value. “In the Peace Palace, international jurisdiction, cultural heritage and international relations come together on neutral ground and the fruits of these endeavors are made accessible to a broad public. We can be proud of this, but at the same time, we also have an obligation to maintain this successful concept for future generations” explains Mr. Piet Hein Donner, chairman of the board of the Carnegie Foundation and former Minister of Justice of the Netherlands.
The Peace Palace The Peace Palace was built after the First Hague Peace Conference in 1899 in which many countries at that time participates. It opened its doors in 1913, thanks to a donation from the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie who established the Carnegie Foundation to build and maintain the Palace in perpetuity. Today, the Peace Palace houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Hague Academy of International Law. The two Courts settle international disputes through arbitration and jurisdiction. The Carnegie Foundation also manages the Peace Palace Library that supports the Courts and the Academy with its collection of international law since their beginning.
Full report A group of international experts with, among others, a Judge from the International Court of Justice, as well as experts from Leiden University, the municipality of The Hague, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and several ambassadors contributed to the report. Decisio’s researchers collected and analyzed all figures, facts and interviews independently and neutrally, with the support of the Municipality of The Hague, and the commissioning party being the Carnegie Foundation that owns and manages the Peace Palace.
