Second term for Moussa Faki at AU

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Second term for Moussa Faki at AU

Saturday, 6 February 2021, Addis Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union has re-elected Moussa Faki Mahamat from the Republic of Chad, as the African Union Commission Chairperson for another four-year term from 2021-2024.

The election took place during the ongoing 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly which is being held virtually due to the containment measures instituted as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 

Chairman Faki sought a second term mandate for the position of AUC Chairperson following the end of his first term tenure (2017-2020). The Chairperson of the AU Commission is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. The Chairperson of the AU Commission is the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer. 

Faki will be deputised by Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa from Rwanda. Dr. Nsanzabaganwa secured the majority of votes in a highly contested position which saw two other female candidates vying for the post. Dr. Nsanzabaganwa becomes the first female to occupy the position of the Deputy Chairperson.  

The rotating presidency of the AU is currently being held by the Democratic Republic of Congo, and thus by President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. 

For further information 
https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20210206/34th-au-summit-reelects-moussa-faki-chairperson-au-commission

International Online Conference “Covid-19 pandemic in the context of humanitarian crisis: Eastern Ukrainian situation and international experience”

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International Online Conference “Covid-19 pandemic in the context of humanitarian crisis: Eastern Ukrainian situation and international experience”

The Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Ukraine in cooperation with the Embassy of Croatia and the Embassy of Romania jointly organized the International Online Conference, “Covid-19 pandemic in the context of humanitarian crisis: Eastern Ukrainian situation and international experience”, on 4 and 5 February 2021. 

Globally, during 2020 there have been more than 90 000 000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including almost 2 000 000 deaths. At the beginning of 2021, the number of confirmed Covid 19 cases continues to grow. Global sanitary situation is a matter of strong concern around the world.

Unfortunately, it is even more dramatic in the contexts of the existing humanitarian crisis. One of these delicate scenarios unfolding in the Eastern Ukraine, which is already ravaged by six years of armed conflicts.

Representatives of the Ukrainian government, international organizations and specialists were invited to the dialogue to testify directly about the situation and exchange information. The event aimed at informing on the current epidemic COVID -19 situation in Ukraine and especially in its Eastern regions, to highlight the new criticisms and needs in the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic in the areas, aggravated by severe humanitarian crisis. Jointly the necessary measures were highlighted and the exchange of experience between national and international guests was launched.

The discussion about the implementation of Covid-19 vaccination in Ukraine and the roadmap of possible future strategies was set.

Special thanks were given to the Swiss Institute of Cultural Diplomacy and Diplomat Magazine  for their support. 
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Images courtesy of the Swiss Institute of Cultural Diplomacy

Tribute to Gioconda Ubeda Rivera

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Tribute to Gioconda Ubeda Rivera

By H.E. Mr. Rodolfo Solano, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica.

The year 2020 will be a year of dark memories for Costa Rica and for all the countries in the world, suddenly shaken by a pandemic that still continues to leave a trail of deaths, layoffs, stagnation of activities and economic catastrophe.

For the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Worship this year will also be one of sorrow for the parting of valuable people who devoted to us much of their lives, with tremendous dedication, intelligence and discipline. Among them was Attorney Gioconda Ubeda Rivera, during times when she was fulfilling her position as Ambassador of Costa Rica in Panamá.

We gather to remember Mrs. Gioconda with respect and affection, and to dedicate a modest tribute to her memory.  We will also unveil a plaque in her memory, in the office of the Legal Directorate, one of the units of this Ministry that was brightly enlightened by her talent and knowledge and where she worked with great dedication and effort.

Mrs. Gioconda Ubeda was born in Jinotepe, Nicaragua, on December 23, 1959, in the home of Mr. Maximino Ubeda Aráuz and Mrs. Ercilia Rivera Zeledón. She came to this land when she was a child and made it her own, and gave it all. She graduated as a lawyer at the University Costa Rica, and also pursued her Master`s Degree studies in the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences.

From a very young age, she revealed a great vocation for public affairs, and participated with great enthusiasm in university and national politics.

She entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship during the first administration of Mr. Oscar Arias Sánchez, and twice held diplomatic positions in commission. Later, at the time of Foreign Minister Mr. Fernando Naranjo, she took charge of the Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  First on an interim basis and then as the incumbent to the post.  Endowed with an equally quick and analytical mind, she was always eager to strengthen and increase her knowledge of  the law, she carried out this position with special dedication and a great sense of duty and responsibility. In addition to her mastery of Public International Law in general, she placed a special emphasis on the topic of Human Rights, a legal subject that she was passionate about and in which she could render notable services to Costa Rica.

In addition to fulfilling the position of Juridical Director, serving this Ministry, Mrs. Gioconda was commissioned by the President in the Mesoamérica Project, Ambassador in Mexico, Vice Minister from 2013 to 2014, and Acting Minister several times, Ambassador in the Republic of Argentina and lastly, our Ambassador in Panama. In the international arena, it is worth mentioning that she was also Secretary General for the Agency for the prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL in Spanish). She shone with her own light in all these positions, demonstrated her great professional capacity, her juridical wisdom, her negotiating talent and her inspiring drive.  

She also ventured in journalism and teaching. She was a profesor of Public International Law at the University of Costa Rica and also taught lessons at the Manuel Maria Peralta Institute.

As I highlighted when I learned of her death, Mrs. Gioconda distinguished herself by her dedication and commitment to the country and the Institution, and by her permanent fight for the defense and promotion of human rights. But today I would like to highlight that, in addition to her successful professional performance in this Ministry, in teaching and in all the other activities in which she participated, Mrs. Gioconda was characterized by a deep human sense and great solidarity with her fellow people. She knew how to earn the respect and affection of all the people who worked with her or were her students, for her cordial treatment and charisma, but above all for being genuinely interested in them, her team spirit, her conviction that loyalty and enthusiasm grow naturally when, in addition to duty, affection and understanding prevail.

She endured severe trials in life. A painful family tragedy brutally affected her in highlighting moments of her career, but far from bending and breaking her, it made her renew her fighting spirit and give herself in love and solidarity to those in need.

She was stricken by the disease when she with her usual capacity, was carrying out the position of Ambassador in Panama. She could have retired or withdrawn from office to take care of her health, but that was not in her nature, in her intensely vital character. And she parted from this world last October 21, leaving an admirable example of dedication and commitment, responsibility, love and loyalty to the country.

As I reiterate our condolences to her daughters and her husband Jean Pierre, today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship pays tribute to Mrs. Gioconda with this symbolic unveiling of a plaque which will perpetuate her name and her contributions, but above all, in doing so we remember this extraordinary woman with respect and affection, we honor the indefatigable fighter that Gioconda Ubeda Rivera was, someone whose example is and will be an inspiration for those of us who work here.

The representation of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Berlin celebrates its 20th anniversary

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The representation of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Berlin celebrates its 20th anniversary

By the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Germany is a federal state, whose competences are shared between the federal level and regional (state) and local governments. The Land of Rhineland-Palatinate, located at the heart of Europe with borders to France, Belgium and Luxembourg, has two representations outside of the state. One is located in Brussels and deals with EU policies and their impact on the Land.

The second representation is located in the federal capital Berlin and plays a key role in the federal legislative process. German federalism requires all 16 Länder to be represented at the federal level, in order to maintain a continuous link between the different levels of government.

After German reunification it was decided to move the Bundestag, a part of the federal ministries and other institutions from Bonn, former capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany, or Bonn Republic), to Berlin. Shortly thereafter all Länder opened new representations in Berlin. The former ministerial gardens of the Weimar Republic in the centre of Berlin became home to the new architecturally impressive buildings, including the new representation of Rhineland-Palatinate to the federal government.

Today the representation lies prominently near the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. It is neighbour to the Holocaust Memorial and has been built on the former death strip flanking the Berlin Wall, which separated the German capital for nearly three decades. The foundation stone was laid by the former Rhineland-Palatinate Premier Kurt Beck and the former long-time representative to the federal government, State Secretary Karl-Heinz Klär.

For the last six years two women have been heading the regional representation – Premier Malu Dreyer and State Secretary Heike Raab, the Plenipotentiary of the Land of Rhineland-Palatinate for Federal Affairs, for Europe, the Media and Digital Affairs.

A part from its political role the Rhineland-Palatinate’s “embassy” in Berlin, the representation can be perceived as a government institution with a wide range of tasks. It is a gateway between the Land’s capital Mainz on the river Rhine and the federal capital Berlin. It is an important meeting point for members of the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, the federal government, NGOs, citizens and other policy actors. Furthermore, it is a space for political discussions, negotiations and networking. German Länder hold the competence for broadcasting matters and Rhineland-Palatinate, as an important media site, traditionally chairs the broadcasting commission of the 16 German Länder which frequently gathers in the representation.

In addition to intensive political activity, Rhineland-Palatinate is keen to display its culture and way of life. Therefore, the representation became a well – known address in Berlin for book presentations, concerts, performances within the Berlinale festival calendar and, for example, the exhibition for caricature and political photography “Rückblende“, which is well-known throughout Germany and beyond. Many centuries ago, the Romans brought the tradition of wine making to the region that today covers our state. Rhineland-Palatinate is proud to produce two thirds of the annual German wine production. The representation is an ideal place to combine politics, art, history and culture and its broad range of events is often accompanied by high quality regional wines.

In 2020 the representation of Rhineland – Palatinate celebrates its 20th birthday, an occasion which was supposed to be celebrated with an innovative event and numerous guests, partners and companions. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the representation finds itself pioneering in the realisation of a very special anniversary. Yet, with positive and creative force the series “20 Years–20 Moments” with different digital and analogue event s was created mirroring the tasks of the representation and the merits of the state Rhineland- Palatinate.

For further information 

Representation of Rhineland-Palatinate to the German Federation: https://landesvertretung.rlp.de/de/startseite/

More on Rhineland-Palatinate: 

https://diplomatmagazine.eu/?s=Rhineland-Palatinate

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Image courtesy of Staatskanzlei Rheinlandpfalz / Premier Malu Dreyer & Plenipotentiary Heike Raab

Serbia, investing in regional cooperation

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Serbia, investing in regional cooperation

and intensifying bilateral relations with the Netherlands

By H.E. Ms. Ksenija Milenkovic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Looking back at 2020, it was a year of challenges, fears and losses for the whole world. We learned how to live away from but still close to each other. We managed to transfer to the virtual sphere and function “normally” at work, in schools and at our homes. We protected our elderly and vulnerable and continued to love them and care for them remotely. However, 2020 was also a year of resilience and determination. It was also a year in which the principle of solidarity, although tested, became an ultimate value in itself.

My country Serbia faced similar difficulties and challenges like any other country in the world. Still, Serbia succeeded in preserving its economic stability and continued to grow in spite of unfavourable objective circumstances. Serbian economic growth in 2020 was above 5 per cent GDP, which is a remarkable result especially considering the overall economic climate. Our public depth remained low, even compared to more developed economies. In the year of corona, Serbia attracted 2,9 billion Euro worth foreign direct investments, which further demonstrates the high quality of the country as a desired investment destination.

While we still cannot say we emerged victorious against the virus, the first steps of vaccination in Serbia show more than promising results. Serbia commenced with vaccination of priority categories of citizens on 24 December 2020, while on 19 January 2021 en masse vaccination began. The system of registering for vaccination is fully digitalized and our citizens can choose between three different vaccines – Pfizer Biontech, Sputnik V and Sinopharm. Serbia is currently ranked second in Europe by the number of vaccines administered per 100 citizens and in total more than 500.000 citizens of Serbia to date received the first dose of the vaccine. The strategy of our president and our government to negotiate directly with the producers thus providing vaccines quickly proved to be a highly successful one. Moreover, we are part of the Covax system and Serbia in 2020 donated more than 2 million Euro to the global coalition for vaccination.

Throughout 2020 Serbia remained committed to the European integration which remains the strategic priority goal for our government. The government elected in the end of October 2020 following parliamentary elections in Serbia set the reforms in the area of rule of law as one of its six top priorities, which already resulted in a number of concrete steps and activities. Serbia accepted the new European Union methodology for accession negotiations with candidate countries and we look forward to its implementation for the overall benefit and higher quality of the accession process. While 2020 was a difficult year for the enlargement overall, we are hopeful that in 2021 we will see steps forward for all candidate countries in the region of the Western Balkans.

Serbia continued to invest in regional cooperation, with the main goal of achieving better connectivity and less obstacles for citizens and economy in the Western Balkans. An initiative by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia known as the so-called Mini Schengen continued to contribute to creating the area of free movement of people and workers between the three countries. In a region where in the past more borders were created than lifted, the governments of three countries decided to enable movement without passports and with IDs only. Serbia is hopeful that the initiative will be accepted and joined by all in the region because it is aimed at benefiting all our citizens without exception. Serbia continued to actively participate in the Berlin process and all other initiatives created to foster regional cooperation.

Serbia is fully committed to the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina based on the understanding that the only viable solution is a compromise and readiness of both sides not to be fully satisfied with the end result. Unfortunately, almost eight years after the achieving of the so-called Brussels Agreement its part on the creation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities has not been fulfilled by Pristina. Still, Serbia will continue to play a constructive part in the dialogue and maintain its role in securing regional stability. We are ready to explore different and creative solutions and hopefully move forward with the political dialogue under the EU facilitation.

As diplomats who are used to personal contacts and informal networking, adjusting to the new reality was not easy. However, in 2020 and early 2021 we succeeded in further developing and intensifying our bilateral relations with the Netherlands. With help and support from our colleagues from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs we continued the bilateral dialogue and jointly explored ways to continuously improve political, economic and cultural relations between Serbia and the Netherlands. In January 2021, the first bilateral political consultations were held between our two ministries, when Serbian and Dutch colleagues exchanged views on bilateral relations, European integration of Serbia, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest. On the Serbian side we are confident that this is the first step in building close relations and a substantial political dialogue with the Netherlands in all relevant areas.

Serbia is approaching its National Day celebrated on 15 February, the date which bears a special historical symbolism – it is the day when Serbia got its first modern constitution in 1835, the so-called Sretenje Constitution named after an orthodox christian holiday celebrated on the same day. More importantly, the Sretenje Constitution marked an important step in regaining Serbian statehood and its full independence.

We may not be able to celebrate our National Day this year the way we are used to in the diplomatic circles. And although we will miss dearly all our colleagues from the broad diplomatic community in the Hague, the entire staff of the Embassy in Serbia wishes you to be well and safe and we hope to see you all in the “Serbia house” in the Hague next year.

Chronique d’une épidémie Le Corona 19

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Chronique d’une épidémie Le Corona 19

Par Mariarosaria Ilorio, analyste politique.

Un événement effrayant se répandit au printemps 2020 en partant de Chine, les premiers cas y avaient été détectés en janvier 2020 dans une ville chinoise, la ville de Wuhan. La Chine, lointaine géographiquement, était de façon improviste si proche par la maladie. 

Au début de la pandémie, l’incrédulité sur la possibilité que l’épidémie arrive en Europe a prévalu. Les individus en parlaient dans les couloirs et dans les rues. En quelques semaines la mort est arrivée en Europe. La crise épidémique est ensuite devenue crise économique mondiale.   

En début mars 2020, nous étions au bureau et dans la confusion des réunions annulées et organisées et puis renvoyées : la tension montait sans savoir pourquoi… Je sentais la fibrillation: quelque chose allait changer rapidement. Les messages se firent de plus anxiogènes, et parlaient de possible changement de façon de travailler.  Puis l’annonce officielle: le Coronavirus, maladie mortelle prenant les voies respiratoires, était désormais arrivée en Europe.

L’Italie a été le premier pays touché, ensuite l’Espagne, la France, le Royaume Uni (qui avait nié au départ être touché par une telle pandémie et annonça que les britanniques devaient de préparer à perdre des personnes chères), et puis petit à petit toute la planète a sonné au son de l’épidémie. 

La pandémie s’est répandue dans le monde entier

D’abord, les personnes âgées, ensuite aussi les plus jeunes, et puis toute catégorie d’âge était désormais en danger, selon les annonces officielles. La mort par pandémie a ainsi fait sa réapparition en Europe. 

Les époques des épidémies qui semblaient désormais lointaines sont revenues dans notre quotidien avec de nouveaux mots d’ordres.  Confinement, distance sociale, masques, morts, hygiène, se laver les mains, restez chez vous, crise économique, chômage massif, pauvreté: une malédiction qui ramène l’humanité entière au cœur de sa vulnérabilité et de sa fragilité. 

Une expérience inattendue

  • L’Europe avait oublié les pandémies.
  • L’Europe avait oublié la production destinée à la santé publique.
  • L’Europe avait oublié la coopération et la collaboration entre  les peuples vivant sur le continent. 
  • L’Europe avait oublié la solidarité entre citoyens.
  • L’Europe avait oublié ses infirmiers et ses médecins.
  • L’Europe avait oublié les équipements sanitaires.
  • L’Europe avait oublié ses ainés dans les maisons de repos.
  • L’Europe avait oublié de produire ses produits alimentaires de base.
  • L’Europe avait oublié ses pauvres.
  • L’Europe avait oublié la solidarité et l’entre aide entre Etats. 
  • L’Europe s’est oubliée.

J’ai vécu cette expérience de confinement puis avec un esprit d’expérimentation et d’observation des réactions humaines en situation de crise. Le spectacle a été émouvant, attristant et révoltant à la fois. Je m’explique.  

Au début de l’épidémie il y a eu l’incrédulité de la part des européens: dans l’inconscient collectif « une telle pandémie ne pouvait exister en Europe ».

Le déni

La mort est entrée dans les discours et dans tous les esprits, même les plus cartésiens. Intéressant voir la peur de la mort et l’inquiétude de la perte de contrôle rentrer de plus en plus dans le quotidien des européens.

Peuples désormais habitués à l’illusion de tout contrôler ou à avoir l’illusion de tout contrôler. Même les Présidents les plus récalcitrants ont du accepter l’évidence: la santé des citoyens devaient passer avant l’activité économique.  Difficile choix.

Les dirigeants comme dans un sursaut de lucidité se sont rendus à nouveau compte que sans citoyens en bonne santé, il n’y avait pas d’économie.

Aux questionnements hésitants: 

Santé des citoyens ou activité économique?

Confinement pour protéger la santé publique ou continuation de l’activité économique européenne et mondiale?

Le vrai dilemme entre santé publique et activité économique

Depuis des années, nous avions en tant que observateurs politiques exprimé le regret de la tendance de l’Europe et des USA à libéraliser les services de santé et en laisser la gestion à des  acteurs privés. Nous avions à maintes reprises fait noter que les services de santé n’étaient pas des services comme les autres et que la vision libérale des services de santé était un non sens. 

Bien avant l’épidémie de Coronavirus, de nombreuses voix s’étaient levées pour attirer l’attention de l’éventuel désastre qui nous attendait. 

Personne ne pouvait imaginer que le Corona 19 débarque dans nos maisons, dans nos sociétés nous laissant démunis dans l’urgence de la mort qui ne regarde personne en face et qui ne se pose pas la question de la pertinence de son action.

Une évidence s’est posée à moi: la déshumanisation de l’Europe avait été en marche depuis longtemps sans que les citoyens en soient conscients. 

Pris dans le jeu de la compétition et de l’enrichissement, les européens avaient perdus de vue le sens de leurs choix politiques et économiques.

L’Europe et ses dirigeants nationaux avaient épousé la doctrine économique libérale fondée sur l’individualisme, la course à plus d’argent, moins de services d’intérêt général et surtout: l’encouragement à l’intérêt personnel contre l’intérêt général. 

Pendant la pandémie, l’Europe a montré encore une fois ses divisions, ses faiblesses, ses intérêts nationaux, son manque de fédération et a donné aux pays membres, en particulier aux pays du Sud de l’Europe l’impression qu’il y avait désormais une Europe officiellement à deux vitesses : UNE Europe du Nord qui se sent très sure d’elle-même ayant gagné sur tout les fronts depuis la seconde guerre mondiale ;  et UNE Europe du Sud qui serait à la traine et à laquelle l’Europe du Nord fait remarquer ses faiblesses.

J’ai pensé à la division Nord-Sud du monde, entre pays riches et pays pauvres, et à la division Nord-Sud en Italie, le Nord riche (l’Europe et les Etats Unis) et le Sud pauvre: la géographie serait-elle un facteur de déterminisme social et économique, comme théorisé dans nombreuses théories politiques? 

Comme si en quelques sortes ayant été virulente en Italie, la  pandémie serait venue « punir » un pays déjà en grandes  difficultés économiques depuis des décennies. 

Cette pandémie serait venue donner à l’Italie le coup final.

L’Europe serait ensuite venue pour la redresser en utilisant le Mécanisme économique de stabilité (MES).   

Surprenant

En écoutant les discours des jours qui ont suivis la pandémie, j’ai noté quelques expressions qui m’ont étonnée: « temporary solidarity » « the mafia is waiting for the EU funds. » 

Il y aurait donc une solidarité européenne « temporaire » sur laquelle il ne faudrait pas conter sur base continue et à long terme.  La solidarité des pays du Nord serait donc temporaire et conditionnée par des contreparties qui pourraient casser l’Europe en deux, notamment des crédits avec des intérêts à faibles taux. 

Déboussolant

Et puis, pitié !  

Tout ce débat rappelle la diatribe sur la coopération internationale entre prêts et subventions de l’aide au développement. 

Le Nord du monde qui endette le Sud du monde

La remise de la dette. A nouveau des prêts à taux faibles qui augmentent la dette existante et ainsi de suite.   

Pour ce qui est de la mafia qui attendrait les fonds européens, il est temps de clarifier que les organisations mafieuses se sont désormais lancées dans la finance et dans l’investissement et le recyclage en Europe et dans le monde.

Ces organisations peuvent en distribuer de l’argent !  Vite et de façon ciblée, notamment en finançant les segments les plus pauvres de la population. En somme, les organisations mafieuses peuvent « s’occuper » vite et bien des segments de la population « oubliés » par le gouvernement italien.     

Au fur et à mesure de la crise, il s’est dessiné une Europe à deux vitesses 

Malgré la crise mortelle ayant touché les pays du Sud d’abord et du Nord ensuite, l’Europe a montré au monde que la solidarité n’était pas une valeur sociale et politique fondatrice, mais plutôt une valeur « temporaire » à laquelle faire appel à géométrie variable et à certaines conditions.  

Incroyable

En période de confinement, de mort, de décisions économiques difficiles, l’Europe a pris des mois à discuter sans arriver à un acte fort de prise de décision.

Etonnant

La dynamique est devenue chaotique.

Les intérêts nationaux ont repris le dessus avec les stéréotypes qui vont avec.

Dommage

Au-delà des questions techniques, cette expérience a mis en exergue l’idée stéréotypée que les pays du Nord de l’Europe se font fait des pays du Sud de l’Europe. 

Dans les discours officiels, il en ressort une méfiance évidente pour la gestion des fonds européens de la part de l’Italie, en particulier, mais aussi de l’Espagne. 

J’ai été étonnée d’entendre que les Ministres se seraient soit disant mis plus ou moins d’accord sur les mesures de « solidarité » à prendre, comme le SURE (pour les chômeurs), le Fonds spécial pour les entreprises et le MES pour l’Italie (et l’Espagne), un MES qui serait « sans conditions » avec une ligne destinée uniquement aux dépenses de santé.   Mais, sans arriver à une action rapide.

Effrayant

La solidarité temporaire

La mort entretemps a fait son cours. Une « solidarité temporaire » serait aussi à la base des mesures discutées par le Conseil de l’Europe. Concept intéressant la « solidarité temporaire » : il mérite quelques lignes de réflexions. 

La solidarité européenne ne pourrait donc pas durer « à l’infini ». Donc une solidarité limitée dans le temps serait tout ce que l’Europe peut se permettre.

Pourquoi ?

Est-ce que cette définition de solidarité temporaire voudrait dire que les européens ne se sentent pas unis dans le même destin ?   

Les liens entre peuples européens ne seraient donc pas organiques ? 

Si tel est le cas, quel serait alors le facteur commun de l’Union européenne ?

Le marché

Nous serions de nouveau dans la dichotomie entre marché et solidarité. 

Si la solidarité n’est pas une valeur unifiant les européens qui restent donc dans leur individualisme, quelle autre valeur pourrait être portée dans la construction sociale pour qu’il se justifie une action commune dans cette crise sanitaire et économique ?

La coopération, vue comme l’ensemble des actions tendant à préserver l’intérêt général ? 

Quel serait l’intérêt général dans ce cas ? 

L’intérêt général serait celui de la continuation de l’Union européenne comme processus d’intégration des peuples et des Etats. 

Cet intérêt général doit être reconnu par les Etats membres de l’Union qu’ils soient au Nord ou au Sud.

Pourquoi ?

Parce que si l’Union n’est pas obligée d’être solidaire, elle ne survivra pas à la compétition interne et au manque de coopération.  La situation actuelle doit nous faire réfléchir à l’intérêt général européen au-delà des intérêts nationaux.

La valeur argent et l’intérêt national sont au centre de la sociologie européenne et mondiale 

Je comprends mieux pourquoi les discours médiatiques ont du parler des « héros » et le magazine « TIME »  a mis en première page les photos des « héros » de cette crise sanitaire, notamment les infirmiers et les médecins.

« Héros » 

Aurions-nous besoin de « héros » si nous avions gardé en Italie et en Europe le cap tendant à valoriser et à investir dans les secteurs de la santé publique ?

Aurions-nous besoin d’importer des masques et des ventilateurs, si nous n’avions pas réduit les dépenses de santé car considérées inutiles ? 

Je pense qu’il n’y a pas besoin de « héros » : il y a besoin de personnel sanitaire et d’infrastructures de santé en mesure de faire face à la crise sanitaire, en soignant les personnes âgées et les personnes fragiles.     

Pourquoi avons-nous eu besoin de « héros » ?

Pourquoi avons-nous dû arrêter des secteurs entiers et confiner tout un pays ?  

La réponse que je donne est que le système de santé italien, comme ceux des autres pays européens touchés par la crise, a été mis à mal par des années de désinvestissement systémique initié dans les années 80 et qui a continué dans le temps.  

Ce désinvestissement a laissé un système sanitaire au minimum indispensable ne prévoyant pas de crises de l’ampleur que nous avons vécu au printemps 2020 et qui continue encore en 2021. 

Nous applaudissions sans aucun doute nos « héros » des balcons. Mais avec le recul, il conviendra de s’interroger sur ce qu’il faudra changer, une fois passé ce cap de l’urgence sanitaire. 

En somme, la crise sanitaire a fait ressortir les maux de la  société européenne et mondiale. 

L’évident conflit entre santé publique contre économie capitaliste.  

L’investissement dans la santé publique est un une composante de l’activité économique durable.   

From Sadat to Saddam: The Decline of American Diplomacy in the Middle East

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From Sadat to Saddam: The Decline of American Diplomacy in the Middle East

By David J. Dunford, Reviewed by Albadr SS Alshateri.

David Dunford was a long-serving US diplomat whose career in the Foreign Service spanned 1966 to 1995. His book chronicles his experience in the Middle East, from his 1981 appointment as head of the economic section at the US Embassy in Cairo to his time as ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman.  After retirement in 1995, Dunford was recalled several times to serve in Egypt, Iraq and South Korea.[MOU1] 

Dunford attributes the decline of American diplomacy to the rise of the national security state after the trauma of 9/11. He contends that a “new generation of law enforcement and intelligence officials,” who had not had the experience or respect for diplomacy, came to lead their respective organization. Worse even, how by 2014 the “surveillance state was criminalizing ordinary diplomacy”.

The question that irks the author is how, despite unrivaled preponderant power, the US was not able to do better in its diplomatic achievement. Accordingly, the book uses the author’s “personal experiences to illuminate the reasons why” the US has not fared better.

Dunford outlines three purposes for writing this book. First, the uniqueness of diplomacy as a profession; second the meaning of decline of diplomacy to a professional diplomat; third, to show the young men and women who are interested in joining the Foreign Service what diplomacy is and what it means to be a career diplomat.

Dunford’s first post in the Middle East was Cairo, where he arrived in the summer of 1981. Unbeknownst to Dunford, who lacked any experience in Egyptian or Middle Eastern Affairs, a crisis was brewing in the host country. Four months after his arrival, President Sadat was gunned down by his own military officers during a military parade commemorating the October War.

The US Embassy in Cairo went into crisis mode to figure out the consequences of the assassination. Egypt weathered the storm, and the assassination was not a harbinger to a coup. The embassy’s biggest worry turned out to be how to organize the high-level US delegation to the funeral services for the fallen US ally. In one of the book’s anecdotes, the only crisis was seating Henry Kissinger next to an American teenager who had once been a personal guest of Sadat. Kissinger protested that he “hadn’t traveled several thousand miles to sit next to a bleeping kid”.

Egypt was the cornerstone of US foreign policy in the Middle East during Dunford’s tenure. When the author finished his tour in Egypt in 1984, he served as director of Egyptian affairs at Foggy Bottom. From his perch in Washington, DC, he managed the relationship with Cairo. He saw his job mostly as crisis management, including the 1985 seajacking of the Achille Lauro by Palestinian terrorists who shot and threw overboard a wheelchair-bound elderly Jewish American, Leon Klinghoffer.

The author provides a wider context for the violence that besets US policy in the Middle East, including Israel’s occupation of Arab lands and the invasion of Lebanon. Under the Reagan administration, “The pro-Israel lobby was at the height of its power” and would have attacked the administration for suggesting “moral equivalence between Arab terrorism and Israeli actions”.

At Dunford’s next assignment was deputy chief of mission (DCM) in Riyadh. The lack of an ambassador there put him in charge of one of America’s largest embassies. An early diplomatic tussle arose over Washington concern about the Saudis purchasing Chinese intermediate ballistic missiles that could reach Israel. The Saudis, however, persuaded Reagan that Riyadh needed those missiles, to the dismay of the Department of the State.

Dunford resumed his DCM role when Chas Freeman, perhaps one of the best diplomats in the US foreign service, was appointed as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Although Freeman foresaw Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait and conveyed his thoughts to State, Washington was consumed by the dissolution of the Soviet Union and paid little attention to the unfolding events in the Middle East. Sure enough, Saddam crossed the borders with Kuwait on the morning of August 2. The Middle East finally got Washington’s attention.

Of particular note is how much Secretary of State James Baker wanted to keep the diplomats at arm’s length and retain policy in his inner circle during the crisis. After the war ended, Ambassador Freeman “had put plenty of thoughts on paper but ideas originating outside Baker’s tight circle were not welcome”.

The last post for Dunford as a professional diplomat looked more like a reward than a chore, given Oman’s low ranking in Washington’s regional pecking order. Budget cuts under Bill Clinton eliminated the meager financial aid ($15 million per annum) to Oman; it was up to the ambassador to face the consequences.

In the concluding chapter, the author tackles the subject of the decline of US diplomacy. By decline, Dunford means the political leadership has utilized diplomacy less than the military and economic options. “We have used military force extensively since 9/11 attack and the results have been, at best, disappointing”, he declares.

The trauma of September 11 was one factor, but Israel was another. The author argues that James Baker weakened regional bureaus, particularly the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, because he believed the officers there were “sympathetic to Arab positions and not sufficiently supportive of Israel”.

Dunford points to two other factors contributing to what he perceives as the decline of American diplomacy. First, the propagation of political appointments, special envoys, and representatives that replaced career diplomats deprived the US of professionals and experts on the various regions. Second, leaks of diplomatic correspondence and conversations made foreign leaders cagy about expressing their concerns to US diplomats.

Ambassador Dunford is a dedicated professional and the book – albeit marred by a few errors and typos — is an expression of devotion for his vocation. Unfortunately, despite the title, the book reads more like a memoir of the author’s long experience as a diplomat in the Middle East than an account of the decline of US diplomacy.

 [MOU1]He was recalled twice for service in three countries?  How does that work?

This article has been published November 2, 2020 in Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2020/11/02/from-sadat-to-saddam-the-decline-of-american-diplomacy-in-the-middle-east-book-review/

The woman with a hundred faces

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The woman with a hundred faces

By Alexandra Paucescu

Life often makes surprising twists, takes you to places you never expected and puts you in certain situations that will force you to go far beyond your limits and your comfort zone.

Diplomatic life is certainly one that fits this definition. What do you do, how do you cope with all the challenges and pressure? How do you find inner resources to redefine yourself over and over again? To many, this is a tedious matter… to her it came naturally, as a chain of situations and opportunities, which highlighted her multiple facets.

Slovakian born Monika Kapralikova is a woman with a hundred different faces and talents, which she naturally and modestly displays. One can only be amazed talking to her… and I certainly was. For the whole time of our discussion, I kept wondering myself: ‘Where does she get all the energy from?  How does she do all that?’

The intellectual woman who studied history and cultural studies at Comenius University in Bratislava, got her PhD and had a brilliant academic career, was swept away by her Spanish husband and, as she confesses herself, ‘in love, you often act, not think’… so she joined his nomadic diplomatic life and started her own lifetime adventure: Vienna, Madrid, Prague…

‘The first few years I fully immersed myself into motherhood, so I slowed down the pace and enjoyed family life’ she says.  But, as often happens with highly accomplished and active women, she soon realized she needed more, something to define herself outside being a partner and a mother, something to give her pleasure and satisfaction. And that is in fact what triggered her many talents being revealed.

She worked for different cultural projects (International Festival Divadelná Nitra in Karlovy Vary), volunteered for causes she held dear and started writing.

Book release.

Her academic background seemed to help and in 2017 she published her first book, ‘Beyond the province borders’, a cultural history of the period between the two World Wars in former Czechoslovakia and the life of the poet and editor Jan Smrek. The book was highly appreciated and won the prestigious ‘Egon Erwin Kisch Prize’ in 2018.

Being present as a speaker (2018) and then as an organizer at TEDx conferences in Bratislava came as a natural result of the attention the book received and as a recognition of her good work and talent, both as a writer, speaker and organizer.

TEDx Bratislava as presenter.

Did she stop there? Of course not! In 2019, another book followed. This time it was ‘Water drops on the rock’, a collection of 50 stories about women from different fields and backgrounds, who lived in former Czechoslovakia, from 19th century till today.

‘I co-authored this book, together with eight other writers and I am especially proud of it, as it is a family book with multiple moral aspects. It also teaches us that not only high achievers are worth mentioning!’ 

Indeed, that is something which especially children nowadays should learn and understand, easing the pressure of an often too demanding society!

She now works on two more books and also discovered her other artistic talent: she became part of a Spanish theatre group in Vienna, called ‘Soles del Sur’ (Southern Sun).

‘We usually have two productions per year, but because of the pandemic, we were forced to limit our performances. But I enjoy it immensely, it gives me so much pleasure and it is yet another way to express my artistic nature’.

Life is now full for Monika. She has ambitious projects, a nice family, two lovely young children who speak five languages already (‘a linguistic laboratory’ as she jokes about the situation) but who feel the pressure of this life as Third Culture Kids and react in their own ways to this reality, which will surely shape and influence their adult life.

Monika Kapralikova.

‘You can never be too prepared for moving, at least at the emotional level. It is always a struggle, a road to constant reinvention. I had, at the beginning, my own prejudices about the diplomatic life and the role of spouses, and it was a long process of acceptance, I didn’t want to be one of ‘those women’. But in time, I found my way, my role, I discovered also the benefits of diplomatic life, I’ve met wonderful and compassionate women and learned to face the reality: that everything in life is temporary and all problems will eventually be solved.’

Of course, being a foreign born diplomatic spouse could only add up to the difficulty of adjustment.  As she is now preparing to move ‘home’ to Madrid, she tells me ‘I feel like I never really go home. I am always a foreigner. Even when we move to Spain, to me it is like another foreign posting. It is like I live Homer’s mythical story of Ulysses, always on the way home to his beloved Ithaca, but never reaching it’.

I listen to her words and I can’t hide my amazement at this woman’s many facets. She tells me she also used to sing jazz in her younger years and, as if it wasn’t enough: she takes swims in the Danube, even now, at 0 degrees Celsius in winter time, along with a few other equally brave women. It is an exercise that proves strong will and determination, for sure, but she says: ‘I live by the golden rule ‘Better be tired to death of doing things, than dying with regrets you’ve never done it at all!’

Monika Kapralikova, swiming in the Danube in winter time.

It certainly seems that she has done a lot so far… and she still has a whole life of adventure in front of her… so world, be prepared… Monika is coming!

Main picture Monika Kapralikova with her husband at OECD charity ball.

About the author:

Alexandra Paucescu

Alexandra Paucescu- Romanian, Management graduate with a Master in Business,  studied Cultural Diplomacy and International Relations.

She speaks Romanian,  English,  French,  German and Italian. Turned diplomatic spouse by the age of 30, she published a book about diplomatic life, writes articles and also gives lectures on intercultural communication.

Kazakhstan – success story after 30 years of independence

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Kazakhstan – success story after 30 years of independence

By H.E. Ambassador Dauren Karipov, Head of Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Kazakhstan gained its independence from the Soviet Union on 16 December 1991 and received international renown for voluntarily closing the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and renouncing the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal, which it had inherited from the USSR. In the three decades since, the ninth-largest country in the world has asserted itself as an economic powerhouse, aiming to join the ranks of the world’s most-developed countries by 2050.

Many experts would agree that the country is already well on its way, having seen an impressive post-independence 15-fold increase of GDP per capita, from $700 to $10,500, and being ranked 25th for investment attractiveness in the World Bank’s most recent Doing Business report.

Located in the heart of Eurasia, Kazakhstan maintains a strategic partnership with Russia, including within the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as with the USA and China, and maintains traditionally close relations with all of its neighbors. Relations with the European Union have been traditionally strong, as recently seen with the entry into force of the EU Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Kazakhstan.

Since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in February 1992, Kazakhstan and Germany have engaged in close political dialogue, investment cooperation, and cultural exchanges. These ties are reinforced by the “living bridge” made up by ethnic German immigrants from Kazakhstan living in Germany, as well as ethnic Germans residing in Kazakhstan.

Nur-Sultan City.

Kazakhstan currently ranks 51st among Germany’s trading partners, accounting for 80% of all trade conducted with the Central Asian republics. Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has received over $3.8 billion of German direct investments, 90% of which target our country’s manufacturing industry.

The Kazakh government has adopted a new preferential regime tailored for German investors, which includes tax breaks, preferences, and provision of land and infrastructure. A special governmental working group headed by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister has been tasked with providing prompt, high-level assistance to Kazakh-German investment projects.

Kazakhstan possesses tens of trillions of dollars worth of mineral deposits, including zinc, tungsten, silver, lead, chromite, copper and gold. The country has the world ninth-largest proven oil reserves, as well as abundant reserves of coal and uranium, which it leverages in order to gain access to high-tech technologies for its digitalization efforts.

Kazakhstan has rekindled its historical role as the main connecting link on the modern iteration of the Silk Road, transforming itself into the region’s largest business and transit hub for people and goods traveling between Europe and Asia. By 2025, the amount of cargo traveling through Kazakhstan will grow 1.5 times to 30 million tons per year.

The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Kazakhstan is well on its path towards democratic transformation. Recently adopted legislation has halved the registration barrier for creating political parties, introduced a 30 percent quota for including women and youth on electoral party lists, created an institution of parliamentary opposition, and established a notification procedure for holding peaceful meetings and demonstrations. A number of new laws related to strengthening the protection of human rights, children’s rights, the election of local governmental administrations, and the lowering of the threshold for parliamentary elections will be introduced into national legislation this year.

Speaking before the newly elected Lower House of Parliament (Mazhilis) on January 15, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced a third package of democratic reforms to further improve the quality of life and provide new opportunities to the populace.

The results of past thirty years of development give us reason enough to be proud of Kazakhstan’s achievements. Ensuring a worthy and prosperous future will require hard work of every Kazakh citizen, and we remain steadfastly confident that our nation’s creativity and unity will transform this goal into reality.

Home is a Feeling

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Home is a Feeling

By Yvonne Cocco from Style Me Cocco

Leaving your home country and settling abroad can be overwhelming, it requires  a very open-minded and positive attitude. There are days when you absolutely love where you are and others when you feel homesick; it can be difficult to deal with so much change at one time : culture, language, weather, making new friends, among others.

Being an expat myself, I believe home is a feeling and I encourage you to stay positive and nest in your new location by embracing your new surroundings.

I remember when I moved to Stockholm I did my best to find a spaceful apartment outside the city center and made it warm and charming, with a couple of additions.  I was always happy to come back from work and sink into my very own sanctuary, despite the extreme winter months. The fact that I felt so “at home”, made my whole experience a fantastic and rewarding memory abroad.

A home definitely demands to be created, so enhancing your living abroad experience means having a place you love. If your new rental seems dull and colourless, have fun with your decor and interior decoration. The range of experience gained from living in multiple cultures is quite valuable, display it and make it more personal.  

An easy way to create an intimate, elegant and/or warm atmosphere is by bringing accents of color and balance with: throw pillows, plants, books and rugs. All these placed purposely can elevate and lift a room, particularly when painting walls is not an option.

Let me help you bring cosiness and style to your living space (even if you feel it’s cold and uninviting). By adding texture, delightful materials and pleasant lighting, I can create for  you a home away from home that you look forward to be in everyday.  

Style Me Cocco is my home styling company and it delivers a multisensory experience : how you feel in a styled room, what you see is pleasing to the eye, what you touch has a pleasant texture and what you smell transports you to a happy place. Thus, adding home scents to the home styling service completes our mission of delivering feel-good-homes by providing a sense of well-being. We work exclusively with fragrances Made in France that provide the best and most sustainable quality.

We also offer an exquisite range of furniture and decor objects from Spain that will make a unique statement to any property.

Remember, happiness is an inside job and self care begins with your intimate space. Having an alluring home wherever you are is not an expense, it’s definitely an investment.

For Information:

Visit our website : www.stylemecocco.com

For your convenience, we can accomodate your needs in a virtual consultation.

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