We will have 3.5 million people vaccinated by April 20

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
We will have 3.5 million people vaccinated by April 20

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from Hungary, spoke today about vaccination plans for the upcoming weeks, the “sinful” anti-vaccination campaign, and future cooperation with Matteo Salvini and Mateusz Morawiecki.

Beginning his regular Friday morning interview on public radio, Prime Minister Orbán revealed that more than 2 million people in Hungary have already been vaccinated, and around 860,000 of these have already received their second dose. However, the prime minister warned, “the experts are right;” if we disobey the regulations during Easter, “we could find ourselves in big trouble.”

“Soon, we will reach the point where the vaccination progress will lead to decreasing infection figures,” Prime Minister Orbán said, adding that following Easter, there will be more than 2.3 million people in Hungary who have received at least the first shot of the vaccine. “The week after that, this number will hit 3 million, and 3.5 million the following week,” the PM said.

According to the prime minister, the fact that close to 2.5 million people will be vaccinated right after Easter means that new regulations, including longer opening hours and a later curfew, can finally come into effect. “If we reach 3.5 million people vaccinated, then we are going to introduce another round of new measures, but I will talk about that probably next week,” Prime Minister Orbán said.

“Many believe that we can stop the virus with restrictions. They are wrong. This British mutation of the virus is different; we can slow its spread, but we cannot stop it. The only way to kill it is with the vaccine,” PM Orbán stressed. As to the fact that other EU member states are lagging behind in terms of inoculating their populations, the prime minister said that “ignoring Eastern vaccines due to political and ideological reasons, or because of an old feeling of superiority, was a mistake.”

Speaking up against the anti-vaccination campaign in Hungary, the prime minister called it an “outright sin,” as “those who are talked out of getting vaccinated may die; they will die if they listen to left-wing parties.”

“The next time we meet, I hope I will be able to tell you that everybody above the age of 65 has received the shot,” PM Orbán said, adding that currently there are 3.7 million people who have signed up for the jab. “If we tie the services that are connected to a happy and normal life to getting vaccinated, then people’s willingness to register will also increase.

About his meeting yesterday in Budapest with Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki and Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Prime Minister Orbán said that the idea of a future cooperation in Europe took center stage during the discussions. “We believe that the European People’s Party has committed itself to the European Left for the long run,” the PM said, adding that the cooperation of Europe’s Right and Left took the form of the right-wing accepting the Left’s program.

Information published by About Hungary:

http://abouthungary.hu/blog/pm-orban-in-radio-interview-we-will-have-35-million-people-vaccinated-by-april-20/

France contribution to OPCW

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
France contribution to OPCW

France Contributes €200,000 to Future OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology

In the picture the French Ambassador H.E. Mr. Luis Vassy, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands–31 March 2021–The Government of France has contributed a further €200,000 to a special Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Trust Fund to support 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 France to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Luis Vassy, and OPCW Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, which was held today at OPCW Headquarters in The Hague.

Ambassador Vassy stated: “I am very honoured to announce today this new donation from France, which will allow the OPCW to launch the construction of the ChemTech Centre. Serving our collective security, the future Centre will strengthen the OPCW’s ability to address the threat of the re-emergence of chemical weapons use. It will also be a centre of excellence and a training platform, in the interests of international cooperation. We are pleased to contribute to bringing this project into existence and we recall France’s unwavering commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention.”

The Director-General expressed his gratitude to the Government of France and noted: “With this generous contribution from France, the ChemTech Centre Trust Fund has met its fundraising target for the Centre’s construction. This is an important milestone in the project that will allow the OPCW to sign the contract with the selected construction company and immediately initiate the preparations for the construction to begin in the summer.”

Director-General Arias expressed his gratitude to the OPCW States Parties and other donors who supported the project. 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 to the benefit of all 193 OPCW Member States.

So far, 46 countries, the European Union, and four other donors have contributed or pledged to contribute financially to the ChemTech Centre project, and €33.6M has been raised to date.

States Parties are encouraged to continue participating in this important project. Voluntary contributions will further be used to finance equipment and activities related to International Cooperation and Assistance to be performed at, by and/or through the ChemTech Centre.

Sheikh Abdullah Mohammed Saud Al Thani hailed minimum wage

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Sheikh Abdullah Mohammed Saud Al Thani hailed minimum wage

In the picture HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani – Picture by Ooredo.

Monday, 29 March 2021, Berlin, Germany: Qatar’s Ambassador to Germany and the Czech Republic, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, confirmed that the minimum wage law will directly benefit more than 400,000 workers and their families abroad, making Qatar the first country in the Gulf region to apply minimum, non-discriminatory wages, as part of a series of an overhaul to Qatar’s labour laws. 

In a press statement, Ambassador Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud stressed that the new law shall apply to all workers, of all nationalities and in all sectors, including domestic workers. He added: “To ensure the strict implementation of the new law, the government has put in place legal mechanisms to enhance detection of violations, impose immediate penalties, and increase the number of surprise inspection visits”. The law also stipulated the formation of a specialised committee to ensure the application of the new law, and to propose amendments in consultation with various government agencies, experts, workers and employers. 

The Ambassador noted that the International Labour Organization Office in Qatar welcomed the entry into force of the new law, and confirmed that the law was issued after a comprehensive study conducted by the State of Qatar and the International Labour Organization, in consultation with local and international experts, workers and employers from various economic sectors. 

Minister of State, Ambassador Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani (b. 20 October 1959) was accredited in Germany on Wednesday, 11 November 2020 at Bellevue Palace before the German Federal President, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He holds a long history of governmental service including as a Military Attaché serving at the Embassy of Qatar to St James’s Court and Ireland (London, 1990 – 2000), being Chief of Amiri Diwan (2000 – 2005), CEO of Qatar Investment Authority, and Member of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment (2014-2017), or Deputy Chairman of the board of Directors of Qatar National Bank – QNB (2014-2018). 

The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany is likewise accredited to the Czech Republic. 

For further information 

Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Federal Republic of Germany: https://berlin.embassy.qa/en

About Ambassador Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani: https://berlin.embassy.qa/en/the-embassy/ambassador, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulla_bin_Mohammed_bin_Saud_Al_Thani

ICC concludes five-day online Training for Counsel

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
ICC concludes five-day online Training for Counsel

Left: ICC Registrar Peter Lewis opening the online ICC Training for Counsel; right: some of the keynote speakers addressing Training participants ©ICC-CPI 

On 22-26 March 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) held a five-day Training for Counsel with the participation of 197 lawyers registered on the ICC List of Counsel and the List of Assistants to Counsel. This year’s training was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions and was organised in collaboration with the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) and with the financial support of the European Commission.

Welcoming the participants in his opening address, the ICC Registrar, Peter Lewis, said that “the Court celebrates once more another edition of the Training for Counsel, event that highlights and emphasises the commitment of the ICC to international justice and the importance of disseminating information about the Court’s mandate and its activities. This annual event has been evolving since its inception and adapting to new challenges but always firm in its commitment to bring together legal professionals as an opportunity for discussion and dialogue on issues of importance to the Court’s activities.”  

The session allowed ICC representatives, members of the ICC List of Counsel and the List of Assistants to Counsel, and members of the legal teams currently intervening before the Court to share experiences and discuss issues of mutual interest. Over the five days, the participants focussed in particular on the List of Counsel, Legal Aid Policy and relevant administrative procedures; composing and managing a team; punctual appointments as Counsels before the Court; interacting with victims and witnesses; preventing discrimination in the legal workplace; as well as harassment, ethics and disciplinary proceedings. The participants also received updates on key legal issues in the ongoing ICC cases.

ICC Seminars and Trainings for Counsel on the ICC List of Counsel have been an annual activity of the Court since 2004, providing a unique platform to not only celebrate the contribution of Counsel to the Court’s mandate, but to also engage in mutually beneficial dialogue with the legal profession.

Hessen’s digitisation Minister Sinemus hails EC act for digital markets

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Hessen’s digitisation Minister Sinemus hails EC act for digital markets

Digitisation Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus, photography by Salome Roessler.

Friday, 26 March 2021, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany: Hessian Digitisation Minister Sinemus welcomed the law proposal on digital markets presented by the European Commission, in the the framework of the minister’s participation at the Bundesrat in Berlin. 

At the Bundesrat session, wherein the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act was discussed, Hesse’s Digitisation Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus spoke out clearly in favour of “regulation with a sense of proportion”. “We must set clear limits for large internet platforms – without over-regulation,” the Minister emphasised in her speech. “The Digital Markets Act is overdue to get fair and transparent competition”.

“The Digital Markets Act would set the course for a fair platform economy and create opportunities for local information and communication technology companies and start-ups”. The regulation aims to ensure fairness on large online platforms with very high market power.  Together with the Digital Services Act, the law is one of the core elements of the EU digital strategy. 

Hesse’s Digitisation Minister is convinced that Europe had to catch up in the digital markets of the future, as only twelve of the 100 largest platforms were located in Europe. This requires the right regulatory environment so that innovative business models remain possible in Europe.

“New innovative platforms and digital services should also increasingly be created in Germany and Europe. After all, we have a strong industrial base in Hesse and Germany and many innovative companies in information and communication technology for which platforms are becoming increasingly important,” said Dr. Sinemus. 

According to a survey by the Federal Network Agency, small and medium-sized enterprises in particular need platforms for marketing and sales. “The rights of commercial and private end users should be strengthened. Therefore, we are in favour of regulation with a sense of proportion.”

Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus (b. 16 September 1963 in Darmstadt, Hesse) is the Hessian Minister of Digital Strategy and Development since 18 January 2019. She holds a doctorate in Biology from the Technical University of Darmstadt, and is a Professor in Public Affairs from the Quadriga College Berlin (Quadriga Hochschule Berlin). 

For further information 
Hessian Ministry for Digital Strategy and Development: https://digitales.hessen.de//

About Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus: https://digitales.hessen.de/ueber-uns/ministerin-sinemus

Allocution of Minister Sinemus at the 1002 Plenary session of the Bundesrat: https://www.bundesrat.de/DE/service/mediathek/mediathek-node.html?cms_id=2014969

Challenges of Radicalization in Bangladesh and the Region

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Challenges of Radicalization in Bangladesh and the Region

On Saturday 27 March 2021, the European Bangladesh Forum,  a network amongst Bangladeshis living in Europe and Europeans of Bangladeshi origin, organised a conference on the Legacy of Bangabandhu’s Secular Political Ideals highlighting the political philosophy of Bangabandhu. The speakers also addressed other issues, such as, alarming rise of anti-secular forces in Bangladesh and how Pakistan is still engaged in Bangladesh politics supporting allies forces such as the Bangladesh National Party, Jamaat-e Islami and others.

The Program focused on the  role of Pakistan in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, reiterating the demand for international recognition of the Genocide committed by Pakistan and demanding adequate ‘reparation’ also seeking an official apology from Pakistan government. “Pakistan must compensate those distressed families and martyred families, who have been suffering for the last 50 years.” One of the speakers expressed.

The discussion also addressed the threats of radicalization in Bangladesh and Europe in the name of religion, highlighting the recent series of killings in Paris and other European countries in the name of Islam.

The speakers were Mr. M. Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh in the Netherlands, Professor James Manor, Professor Emeritus of the Institute of Commonwealth, Mr. Niels van den Berge, Dutch Member of Parliament (MP) from Green Party, Ms. Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh in UK, Ms. Mahjabeen Khaled former MP (Member of Parliament) of Bangladesh, Mr Ansar Ahmed Ullah, co-President of European Bangladesh Forum and Mr Bikash Chowdhury Barua, co-President of European Bangladesh Forum.

Bangladesh and India share many things in common, especially in terms of history, politics and culture. India extended all-out support to Bangladesh to liberate her from the clutches of Pakistan in 1971. Bangladesh too lent all possible cooperation to India, inter alia, uprooting the armed insurgency from the soil of Bangladesh, who during the Bangladesh National Party Jamaat-e- Islami rule in late 70s and early 80s, tried to destroy the ideals of secularism and democracy from the country.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of the Nation of Bangladesh, joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1973 which was initiated by India and Yugoslavia. Bangabandhu’s political philosophy best reflected in the four guiding principles of the state: Nationalism, Democracy, Secularism and Socialism, all adopted in the constitution of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was barely four-years-old when a group of army officers and their men staged a bloody coup and killed Bangabandhu who had led the nation to freedom from Pakistan in 1971. After the assassination of Bangabandhu on 15 August 1975, Bangladesh moved to a different direction, far away from the above four principles and the country witnessed an alarming rise of anti-India and anti-secular forces under the leadership of General Ziaur Rahman and the Bangladesh National Party Jamaat-e- Islami (Islamic party) rule.

Pakistan’s role

“What is a matter of more concern and alarm is that Pakistan is still trying to wipe out the memory of their defeat in 1971 and making attempts to indulge in the internal politics of Bangladesh.

In one such instance, Pakistan Parliament passed a resolution expressing grave concerns over the execution of the Bangladeshi war criminals of 1971. It is reported that Pakistan High Commission paid a huge amount of money to BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami during the 2000 parliamentary elections of Bangladesh. It is also reported that ISI (Pakistan Intelligence Agency) is persuading the Rohingyas in the camps in Cox’s Bazar  Chittagong in Bangladesh not to return to their homeland and they are inciting this community to take part in violence.”

Rohingya camps have already turned into breeding centres of armed violence and in the camps a good number of Islamic NGOs were found active inciting Islamic radicalisation. “Pakistan is also reported to have been fuelling up terrorism and carrying out terrorist activities in the entire region using extremist outfits such as Laskar-i-Taiba.”

Time has now come to remember Bangabandhu, the father of nation of Bangladesh and recall his political philosophy and ideals. “We cannot afford the two years- 2020 and 2021- go unnoticed, as these two years are the most significant period for Bangladesh and India as well.

The year 2020 is the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 2021 is the 50th years of Bangladesh’s Liberation War and marking the establishment of Bangladesh-India bilateral diplomatic ties.”

On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in a video message said, “We are all witnessing that how, making terror and violence weapons of politics and diplomacy destroys a society and a nation. The world is also watching where the supporters of terror and violence are currently placed and in what state they are, while Bangladesh is scaling new heights.” By saying the above, the Indian Prime Minister pointed at Pakistan.

Trilateral pandemic cooperation – NRW, Belgium and The Netherlands

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Trilateral pandemic cooperation – NRW, Belgium and The Netherlands


Monday, 22 March 2021: One year of Corona cooperation / North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of European and International Affairs, Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner: With the Cross-Border Taskforce Corona, North Rhine-Westphalia, the Netherlands and Belgium are providing a powerful European response to the pandemic.

“Together, we are sending a strong signal of European cooperation” – this is the interim assessment that Minister for Europe, Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, Geert Muylle, and the Dutch State Secretary of the Interior Raymond Knops who drew in the Cross-Border Taskforce Corona through a digital conference held on 22 March 2021.

The occasion was the one-year anniversary of the cross-border body.
Geert Muylle, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Germany: “For more than a year, we have been living with a major challenge that we can only overcome through cooperation and solidarity, all the more so in the border regions. That is why we are pleased that this task force, in which we exchange information at least weekly, is working so well. It has helped a lot since last year to solve a whole range of problems, in fact often preventing them, and has also helped to avoid the border becoming a obstacle.” 

“Two elements have proved crucial. The first is a good understanding of the situation with the neighbours and the measures taken there, because measures, although not identical, can still have a similar effect. The second is that good – coordinated – planning is crucial. Right now, as we face a third wave, the absolute priority is to put in place a testing capacity that allows people to be tested quickly and efficiently before they cross borders.” 

Examples of practical successes of the taskforce:

  • Currently, partners are sharing vaccination strategies to prevent citizens from falling through the cracks of national vaccination strategies due to their cross-border work or living situations. The task force practitioners are certain: according to current knowledge, this will not happen. At best, there will be people with vaccination offers from two countries.
  • In order to allow people in the border area to commute without testing or quarantine obligations, pragmatic rules have been found. In some cases, this depends on the length of stay in the risk area (maximum 48 hours under Belgian law, maximum 24 hours under North Rhine-Westphalian law) or on the reason for the journey (exceptions specifically for border commuters, pupils and students in North Rhine-Westphalia, Belgium and the Netherlands). If entry rules for a country change, the task force discusses to what extent exceptions are possible
  • For example, there are almost 50,000 border commuters between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands – many work in system-critical professions.Hygiene and lockdown rules have been largely harmonised. The mask requirement, which initially did not apply in the Netherlands, is now equally mandatory in all three countries.
  • Hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia that had free capacity have so far admitted a total of 31 intensive care patients from Belgium and 64 covid patients from the Netherlands.
  • The lockdown measures posed concrete problems for commuters. People living in Germany and working in the Netherlands were threatened with a tax reassessment at their expense (“183-day rule”) when they changed from their “regular” place of work to a home office. Thanks to the task force, the problem was solved by agreements between the ministries of finance: Home office will be valued like work at the usual place of work in the neighbouring country.
  • When hotels in North Rhine-Westphalia had to close in spring 2020, this caused problems for Dutch train drivers: they could not comply with the prescribed rest periods. The task force stepped in and through their mediation, hotels were organised that could provide overnight accommodation.
  • At the end of the holiday season last spring (Easter holidays in Belgium and North Rhine-Westphalia, May holidays in the Netherlands), many people returned from their holidays in transit via a neighbouring country (Dutch via Düsseldorf airport, Germans via Amsterdam-Schiphol, for example). By providing information to each other in good time, transit traffic was able to move quickly – unlike at many other borders in Europe.
  • In all of this, communication was also coordinated. In the winter, when the situation had dramatically deteriorated, NRW Premier Armin Laschet appealed to citizens in a joint appeal with his Dutch colleague Mark Rutte and Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to stay at home and refrain from unnecessary journeys to neighbouring countries. 

For further information:


State Chancellery of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ein-jahr-corona-zusammenarbeit-minister-holthoff-pfoertner-mit-der-cross-border


Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the Federal Republic of Germany (HE Ambassador Geert Muylle): https://germany.diplomatie.belgium.be/nlAttachments area

Picture by Land NRW.

Webinar on Indian Budget 2021

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Webinar on Indian Budget 2021

By Tereza Neuwirthova.

The Embassy of India to The Netherlands in cooperation with Ernst & Young and NICCT (The Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade), organized virtual event to discuss the recently presented India’s Union Budget 2021.

During the webinar, the main speakers of the programme gave an overview of the macro-economic landscape and presented the opportunities that the budget provides for foreign investors and domestic players alike. India is one of the fastest recovering economies during the pandemic, with its GDP contracted by 23.9% 2020, the IMF forecasts 11.5% GDP growth in 2021, while the World Bank predicts a 5,4% growth to India’s GDP. This makes its budget particularly important, and consequently it is necessary to understand the measures providing investment impetus, as well as India’s economic developments in the past 12 months that are beneficial for foreign investors.

After the welcoming words of the chairman of NICCT Ms. Edith Nordmann, the First Secretary for Economy and Commerce from the Embassy of India in the Netherlands, Ms. Mrinalini Kaur Sapra, gave an address about the prosperous bilateral trade relations of the two countries. The Netherlands is the fourth largest investor to India with more than 200 Dutch companies present in the country, as well as the third largest trade partner of the country after the UK and Germany. During her presentation, Ms. Sapra also pointed to several historical events that have contributed to growing the partnership between the two countries, most notably:

  • The establishment in 1602 of the first Dutch company in India- the East India Company;
  • In 1947, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries, the 70th anniversary of which was celebrated in 2017;
  • In 2014, the partners’  signing of Memorandum of Understanding in Renewable Energy, Trade and Investment in Medicine and health.

Thereafter followed the presentation of the key policy sectors of the India 2021 Budget, which was led by Amit Jain (EY Leader Global Desk EMEIA & India Desk), Ronak Sethi (Senior Manager, EY India Desk London) and Erwin Sieders (EY Netherlands Tax Partner).

Main insights included the prospects about India’s fiscal policy, its (Goods and Services) tax collections strategy (GST), incentive schemes for 13 sectors, opening up FDI to 70%, move to a strategic disinvestment, and privatisation of one of the main insurance companies as well as other state-owned enterprises.

The key areas of the 2021 Budget are: healthcare, ports, shippings and waterways, agriculture and fisheries, as well as renewable green energy.

The key sectoral opportunities offered by the budget to foreign investors are:

Pharma and life sciences: India increased capital allocation to R&D, investment centres are an opportunity for the Netherlands, which has the technology for local medical infrastructure manufacturing retail and consumer products: increase in India’s Purchasing Power Parity leads to huge consumer base with increasing disposable income, above all textile investment, eliminating outdated exemptions in customs duty structures

Infrastructure projects: continued airport privatisation, as well as national monetisation pipeline for public infrastructure investment is particularly interesting for Dutch companies with experience with freight corridors and airports which could lead to opportunities to modernisations.

Financial services: infrastructure investments funds /InVIT, permanent investment infrastructure for bonds market, Asset Reconstruction Company.

After insightful presentations, participants had the opportunity to ask the experts relevant questions about the budget in a Q&A session. Among the topics discussed were the benefits that these incentives/investment schemes can provide for Dutch companies and start-ups, as well as the way Dutch pension funds may benefit from the introduced tax and dividend exemptions.

Lastly, the successful ongoing vaccination campaign in India, which is one of the most ambitious in the world and relies on the Covishield vaccine and COVAX initiative, was mentioned by Ms. Sapra from the Indian Embassy.

Première, Spanish state visit to the Principat

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Première, Spanish state visit to the Principat

Their Most Catholic Majesties flanked by the Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra to the left and the Representative to the French Co-Prince to the right. Picture by Casa de S.M. el Rey – Spanish Royal Household.

25-26 March 2021, Principality of Andorra: Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were bid farewell by Spanish dignitaries, at the State Pavilion ‘Adolfo Suárez Madrid’ located at Barajas Airport, before the aircraft carrying them to Andorra took off.

They are accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya as well as an official delegation for their first ever state visit to neighbouring Andorra. The King and Queen arrived in Andorra la Vella, where the State Visit to the Principality of Andorra began.

They were received by the ambassadors of Spain in the Principality of Andorra and of the Principality of Andorra in Spain, Ángel Ros and Vicenç Mateu, respectively, and by the head of Protocol of the Government of Andorra, María Marina. Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia then went to the historic headquarters of the General Council of Andorra – Parliament, Casa de la Vall, where they were officially welcomed by the Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra, Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília, Bishop of the Seu d’Urgell (located in Catalonia) and the Representative of the French Co-Prince (Emmanuel Macron), Patrick Strzoda.

Maria Ubach Font and Arancha González Laya – Picture by Govern d’Andorra.

This was followed by the salute to the flag, and Their Majesties the King and Queen were welcomed by the Head of the Government of Andorra, Xavier Espot, and the Syndic General of Andorra, Roser Suñé. Subsequently the national anthems of Spain and the Principality of Andorra were played.

After the official welcome, the King and Queen of Andorra met with the Síndic General of Andorra, and the parliamentary authorities of the Principality and signed the Book of Honour, followed by a visit to the Casa de la Vall.

Afterwards, Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia held a meeting with the staff of the Spanish Embassy in the Principality of Andorra at the Andorra Park Hotel.

To conclude the morning’s activities, Her Majesty The Queen held a working meeting with the Minister of Education and Higher Education of Andorra, Ester Viarrubla, and representatives of the educational community, on the model of inclusion of students with disabilities in the three educational models.

In the afternoon, the King held a meeting with the Cap de Govern of Andorra, Xavier Espot, together with the authorities of the Spanish and Andorran delegations, in the administrative building of the Government of Andorra.

The respective chiefs of diplomacy, Arancha González Laya for Spain, and Maria Ubach Font for Andorra also held a tête-à-tête to discuss bilateral relations, the upcoming Ibero-American Summit, the COVID-19 pandemic, education support the Catalan language in Spain, etc. 

To conclude this first day of the State visit to the Principality of Andorra, Their Majesties the King and Queen attended the official dinner offered in their honour by the Co-Princes of Andorra at the Andorra Park Hotel.
On Friday 26 March, Their Majesties the King and Queen continued their State visit to the Principality of Andorra with a visit to the Maria Moline Spanish School; a meeting with the Spanish educational community in Andorra; a visit to the Church of Santa Coloma and the “Espai Columba”; attendance at the official lunch offered by the Cap de Govern of Andorra in honour of Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia. They concluded this state visit with a visit to the Casa Museo d’Areny-Plandolit.

The State visit to the Principality of Andorra is the first of its kind by Spanish royalty to the Pyrenean country within the framework of the cordial bilateral relations existing between the two countries and framed within the Andorran presidency of the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held on 21 April, in which His Majesty King Felipe VI is expected to partake.

For further information 

Spanish Royal Household: https://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_viajes_detalle.aspx?data=830

Govern d’Andorra: https://www.govern.ad/afers-exteriors/item/12581-els-reis-d-espanya-inicien-la-seva-visita-oficial-a-andorra
XXVIII Ibero-American Summit: https://www.cumbresiberoamericanas.com

Greek FM discusses migration policy in NRW

Diplomat Magazine
-
0
Greek FM discusses migration policy in NRW

Tuesday, 23 March 2021, Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: Premier Armin Laschet received the Foreign Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Nikos Dendias, for talks at the State Chancellery. In addition to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, topics of discussion included the relationship between North Rhine-Westphalia and Greece as well as a European-coordinated migration policy and effective protection of the European external borders. Premier Laschet had last met the Greek Foreign Minister Dendias in person in Athens during his trip to Greece in August 2020.

Premier Armin Laschet as per statement below: “We need European solutions for the continuing tense situation in the Greek refugee camps. North Rhine-Westphalia is helping to take in unaccompanied minor refugees from the Greek islands. However, Greece also needs pan-European solidarity in the distribution of refugees amongst the EU member states. Migration policy also includes the protection of the European external border.

Within the framework of a Frontex operation on the Greek-Turkish border, the North Rhine-Westphalian state police are fulfilling their responsibility.” Foreign Minister Dendias and Premier Laschet likewise exchanged views on the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and Greece’s relations with Turkey. Following the talks with Premier Laschet, Foreign Minister Dendias headed to a NATO summit in Brussels. Premier Laschet: “It is a good signal that NATO partner Turkey has stopped exploring for natural gas in the Aegean. This clears the way for a constructive dialogue. Now it is a matter of clarifying the central issue of maritime borders in talks and creating legal certainty for Greece and Turkey.”

The visit comes after the recent accreditation of the Hellenic Ambassador to Germany, Maria Marinaki that took place on Thursday, 11 March 2021 at Bellevue Palace located in Berlin-Tiergarten. 

Ambassador Marinaki is a career diplomat who began her diplomatic service in 1980, and speaks fluent Greek, German, English and French. Albeit she was promoted to the ambassadorial rank in 2015, this is her first foreign ambassadorship, for between 2015 and 2020 she worked for the EU External Action Service as Principal Adviser in the Service for Gender/UNSCR 1325 for Women, Peace and Security and Coordination of EU strategies concerning gender. 

For further information:
State Chancellery of NRW: https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/ministerpraesident-armin-laschet-empfaengt-den-griechischen-aussenminister-nikos-0
Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in the Federal Republic of Germany (HE Maria Marinaki): https://www.mfa.gr/germany/de/the-embassy/head-of-mission/curriculum-vitae.html

Foto: Andreas Buck

1...242243244...869Page 243 of 869